-Chapter Three-



(Celadon Game Corner Employee Lounge, Celadon City)


When Annie retired early from Team Rocket and moved to Celadon City, she had hoped for an easy life with no stress from Giovanni, no calls from Giovanni, no threats from Giovanni…all in all, she had hoped she wouldn't see any more of Giovanni. Her and Oakley had split up a long time ago, and it wasn't as fun working solo as she had thought. So, after a few years, she was offered the pleasure of early retirement. Sure, she would miss her friends Jessie, James, Meowth, Mondo, and the whole gang. But the prospect of not working for Giovanni was far too appealing to pass up. So, she moved to Celadon City she worked for a while in the large department store. And after that, she got a job at the popular Celadon Game Corner. Little did she know, that Celadon Game Corner used to be a secret rocket base.
So now here she was, fumbling with the unopened package of coffee, Giovanni sitting in his orange Italian suit in a metal chair in the Employee Lounge. She was fortunate for now, however, since he was fussing at his phone, and not her.
"What is wrong with this damned thing? What happened to my perfect reception?"
He punched a few buttons.
"Can you hear me now?" He growled mockingly. "No, I can't, dammit! I should never have listened to those fucking commercials!!!"
Domino stood across from him, her hands on her hips, with an emotionless expression. Mondo trembled and cowered behind her. Annie finally managed to rip open the package with her newly manicured nails. She smiled nervously at her ex-boss as she poured the coffee grounds into the coffee maker.
"Having some trouble with your phone, sir?"
He cut his eyes at her.
"Well, I'm certainly not having a picnic over here," he snarled.
Annie gulped and Domino smirked at her. She turned to Giovanni.
"Perhaps something happened to Parker's phone, sir."
Giovanni seemed to calm down and looked at the phone.
"Yes, perhaps…" he grumbled.
Persian yawned on the floor and stretched out, scratching the floor with its sharp claws. Annie sweatdropped and sighed.
"Great…"
"What was that, Annie?"
"Oh, nothing, sir!"
She turned around with a smile plastered on her face and held out a plastic cup.
"Here's your coffee, sir!"
He waved it away.
"We've no time for coffee now. Annie, you must take us down to the base."
Annie's smile fell.
"Sir…the base? I can't take you down there, it would cost me my job!"
Giovanni stood at his full height and walked up in front of her. Annie's eyes widened and she looked up at him.
"Annie, which do you value more? Your job or your life?" He asked in all seriousness in his threatening voice.

(Black Fortress, Central Monitor Room, Indigo Mountain)

Midas stroked his chin thoughtfully as he watched the large monitor before him. He smiled a little and turned to the doorway where ShapeShifter was standing.
"Hello, my lovely."
"Hello, sir. You called for me?"
Midas nodded and looked back at the screen.
"Yes. Summon your master's little pets. There's a treat for them in Celadon City."
ShapeShifter's ruby lips pulled up into a grin.
"Of course, sir."
"But remind them not to harm my cousin. If they do…"
ShapeShifter nodded.
"I understand, sir."
She bowed to him and left.

(Underground Team Rocket Base Passageway 1, Celadon City)

Annie held up a lit lantern as she led Giovanni and his Persian, Domino, and Mondo down the dark hallway. Mondo's ears perked up at the sound of something crawling above him and shivers went down his spine. Persian emitted a low growling sound and jumped up into Giovanni's arms. Mondo stepped close to Domino, making her scowl. She reached over and gave him a hard push away, knocking him roughly against the wall. For a moment, everyone froze as the hallway began to shake. Dirt and dust fell from above them, making them cough and wheeze.
When everything cleared away and they were still again, Annie started to walk again. Giovanni grabbed her arm.
"Stop."
"Sir?"
"Listen."
They all stood completely still and silent. For a few seconds, no one heard anything. But then, from the dark shadows, came the sound of quickly approaching feet. Hundreds of them.
"Run, fast!" Giovanni yelled.
For the next several seconds, everything they did seemed to happen in slow motion. They ran and the pace of the feet behind them quickened, gaining speed and getting substantially closer. Finally, a door came into sight.
"In there," Giovanni panted in Annie's ear.
As they came nearer, the sounds behind them grew louder and excited chattering and growling could be heard. Annie reached forward and opened the door, throwing herself in. The others soon followed, with Domino shutting the chasers off by slamming the door behind them and bolting it. For a long while, everyone listened to the heavy pants of each other as they caught their breath and wiped away the sweat that was rolling down their faces.
Outside the door, a mob of demons sat down and started a game of poker. Giovanni and the rockets had to come out sometime, after all. And they had an eternity to wait.

End of Chapter Three