a/n: Sorry it took so long to get this chapter up. My muse was on vacation for a month.
Chapter 2
The Dark Hand
Finn and Chow, Who were sitting on the couch watching TV, stood up and walked over to where Veronica and Ratso were standing.
"Big V said he wanted to see us about something," Finn said.
"Well, shouldn't we go find out what he wants?" Veronica inquired.
"You see," Chow began, "Valmont's been acting strange. He's been talking about disbanding the Dark Hand."
"Why would he want to do that?" Ratso asked sounding worried.
"Don't worry he hasn't made any announcements yet," Veronica said reassuringly.
They walked through the open door to Valmont's office.
"You wanted to see us?" Veronica asked.
"Yes... It's...about...the...Dark...Hand...,"Valmont said in a shaky voice.
"We're not disbanding?" Ratso said in a worried.
Valmont, who was on the verge of tears, just nodded.
For five minutes, everyone stood there silent in awe of the news. No one knew quite what to say. Veronica opened her mouth like she was about to say something, but quickly closed it.
"Where will we go?" Ratso asked in a worried voice.
"I have no idea," Finn replied..
At these words, the tears Valmont was struggling to hold back began streaming down his face. He buried his face down on his desk. Finn, Chow, and Ratso left the room and closed the door, leaving Veronica to stay and comfort him.
Upon hearing the door close, Valmont looked up. He had stopped crying and was looking at Veronica.
"Are you okay?" she asked kindly.
"I'm fine... It's just all this stress...," Valmont began. "Yesterday the police came and took some bank statements."
"They must have had a good reason."
"I just figured it would be a good time to go strait."
"That's good."
"I went broke trying to finance the Dark Hand."
"Maybe you could find something to do."
I hope so."
"Well I guess I'll go see what the others are up to."
Veronica exited the office and walked into the living room. Nobody was there. So she walked into the kitchen.
Finn, Chow, and Ratso were sitting around the table talking about what they were going to do now that the Dark Hand disbanded. Veronica sat down next to Ratso.
"I was thinking of opening a recording studio," Finn said.
"That's great!" Veronica said enthusiastically.
"I want to be a detective," said Ratso.
Everyone looked at Ratso.
"I heard the pay's not all that great," Chow replied.
"Does it really matter what we do?" Veronica said. "I deliver packages for Team Rocket."
Chow looked at Veronica. "You're still delivering packages!" he asked surprised. "You should've be promoted by now."
"I know," Veronica replied, "but Uncle Giovanni still thinks 'I'm a danger to myself and others'."
"But you're not," Ratso said looking at Veronica.
"I know," Veronica replied. "Go figure."
Five minutes later, Valmont walked in. He took a frozen Greek pizza out of the refrigerator and put it in the microwave.
"I was thinking of starting an import/export business," Valmont said, leaning his back against the counter.
"That's great!" Ratso exclaimed.
Thirty minutes later, the microwave went off. Valmont got a potholder and pulled out the pizza. He set it in the middle of the table and started to look for a pizza cutter. Ratso opened a cabinet and pulled out paper plates and plastic cups and set them on the table.
Two minutes later, Valmont found a pizza cutter and placed it on the table. He opened the refrigerator and found sweet tea and cola. He set them on the table and proceeded to look for napkins.
"I just became Team Rocket's new boss!" Chow exclaimed.
"Don't they already have a boss?" Ratso asked, passing out plates.
"Uncle Giovanni retired last month and had the headquarters relocated to Vermillion City," Veronica replied.
Valmont found a pack of napkins, which he opened and placed on the table. "So, when do you start?" he asked Chow, while cutting the pizza.
Everyone began serving themselves drinks.
"Tomorrow," Chow replied, sitting back down.
"We should celebrate!" Finn exclaimed, raising his glass. "Cheers!"
"Cheers!" Ratso, Valmont, and Veronica chorused, raising their glasses.
Everyone set their glasses down and began taking slices of pizza.
Once they were settled in their seats Finn looked at Chow and asked, "You wanna go out later?"
"Okay!" Chow replied. "Maybe we could go eat at St. Valentines."
"Don't you need to make reservations?" Finn asked.
"That's only for Valentines Day," Veronica replied. "That's the only day St. Valentines is jam-packed."
They finished eating and cleared the table. There wasn't any pizza left, so the box was thrown away. The rest of the cups, plates, and napkins were put away.
Once the table was cleared, they went into the living room to relax. Valmont sat down in an easy chair and Veronica, Ratso, Finn, and Chow sat down on the couch. They sat in silence for about five minutes.
"It feels weird," Veronica said. This being our last day here and all."
"I know what you mean," Chow replied.
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It was about eight o'clock at night when they decided to leave. Valmont was going home; Finn and Chow were going to St.. Valentines.
Having not yet decided where they were going to eat Veronica and Ratso drove along a side street. They stopped at a red light.
Just up ahead Veronica saw a Denny's sign. "We could go eat at Denny's," she suggested pointing to the sign.
"Okay," Ratso replied.
The light turned green and they turned into the Denny's parking lot. They parked the car and got out.
They walked up the path to the entrance. Ratso opened the door and they stepped into the entrance where they were seated right away.
My name is Christina and I will be your waitress tonight," the waitress said handing them both menus. "What would you like to drink?"
"Chocolate milk," Ratso replied.
"Chocolate milk," Veronica replied.
Christina left after writing down their drink orders.
Veronica and Ratso poured over their menus for ten minutes. Christina came back to take their orders; they both ordered the pancakes.
After dinner, they went down to the arcade. They stayed there until three o'clock in the morning.
"It's getting late, maybe we should go," Veronica said.
"Okay," Ratso said.
They left the arcade and drove to Lawrence III's mansion. When they got there all the lights were out. (Well, except for the outside lights.)
"Maybe you should stay at my place tonight," suggested Ratso.
"I was just gonna climb through the window, but I'll take your offer instead," replied Veronica.
They drove on until they came to an apartment building at which they parked the car and got out. They walked into the building and went to an elevator.
"My apartment's on the third floor," Ratso said, pushing the up button.
Five seconds later, the elevator doors opened and they walked in. Ratso pressed the button for the third floor. The doors closed and the elevator started rising.
Ten seconds later, it stopped at the third floor and the doors opened. Veronica and Ratso stepped out. They walked down the hall until they reached apartment number three-D.
Ratso took the key out of his pocket and unlocked the door. He opened the door and they stepped into the living room.
To be continued.