Dr Smith, as it turned out, was faring no better than the others. He and the robot had been running back towards the Jupiter 2 to sound the alarm when suddenly they'd become caught in some kind of net. They had no idea who the culprits were because they'd just as soon being blindfolded and led through the woods to a location unknown.
Fast forward several minutes and Dr Smith could feel he was being led down a long flight of stairs, presumably to some underground location. He had never been more terrified in his entire life and he'd been very terrified many times throughout his life, especially over the last few years since he'd been cast into deep space as a reluctant stowaway due to a 'simple misunderstanding.' He was however, able to take some comfort from the fact the robot was still with him. He knew this by the sound of the Robot's treads continually made a loud, cackling sound behind him, as they made repeated contact with the hard steps. Dr Smith was doing all he could to maintain his balance as they continued their painstaking journey down the long, steep staircase, so much so that an unknown person had to keep reaching out to keep him upright.
After what seemed like an eternity, they finally made it to the bottom of the stairs. They were then led down what Dr Smith assumed was a long underground hallway, before making another turn which led them down another passage of the deep underground cavern. The freezing cold air of the underground labyrinth was now chilling Dr Smith to the bone.
Once they reached the end of the next passage, they were both placed on seats, where they had their wrists and ankles bound with rope, and given water to drink. Moments later, their blindfolds were removed, as Dr Smith heard the sound of a light switch. When he opened his eyes, Dr Smith saw nothing but darkness. Those who had kidnaped himself and the robot obviously did not want to be seen at this stage.
"Robot, are you ok?"
"I'm ok Dr Smith", he replied warmly.
"Do you have any idea where we are?" Dr Smith hissed.
"We appear to be in some kind of underground chamber beneath the forest we were taken from. Beyond that, I know no more than you."
"A load of good you are", Dr Smith wined in a frightened voice. "Why did you let me get into this mess?"
"It was you who chose to abandon Will and Penny when they were in danger and still I chose to show my loyalty by coming after you Dr Smith. I think I'm at least deserving of a thank you."
"A thank you my foot! You've led us into a trap you pusillanimous pipsqueak." Just then their argument was interrupted by the sound of sniggering. Then suddenly the lights flicked back on, revealing a rather ordinary albeit benign chamber which appeared more like a rumpus room. There was a sofa on their left and in front of that a television! While at the other end of the room, adjacent to he door they'd been led in through, lay a fridge. There was even some kind of bar set up in the area to their right. It was from behind this bar that two figures suddenly emerged. A young man and woman, medium sized and slender. The man, who was the slightly taller of the two, had straight purple coloured hair and blue eyes, while the woman had straight maroon coloured hair and green eyes. They both wore white jumpers with a large pink coloured 'R' logo on them.
After making a somewhat flamboyant entrance, with their backs turned to one another, the voices finally spoke: "prepare for trouble, your big words don't scare us!"
"And make it double because this pair are too cool for school! "
"To protect the world from devastation."
"To unite all peoples within our nation."
"To denounce the evils of truth and love."
"To extend our reach to the stars above."
"Jessie!"
"Jaaames."
"Team Rocket blasts off at the speed of light."
"Surrender now or prepare for a fight."
"Meowth that's right!" Screeched a talking cat-like creature which suddenly appeared out of nowhere. But the next creature terrified Dr Smith two fold.
"Wo-buu-ffet!"
"Whaahhhh...whaaahhh!" Dr Smith squealed at the sight of the blue, blob-like creature. "Get that terrifying creature away from me. Get it away! Get it away!"
"Hahaha", the man and woman laughed. "You're really that afraid of Wobbuffett?" The woman asked mockingly.
"What do you want with us?" Dr Smith retorted.
"That big powerful Pokémon you've got with you", she answered, pointing at the robot.
"A Poke-what now?" The woman seemed stunned by his response. 'Surely he was lying or joking', she reasoned.
"Surely you've heard of Pokémon?"
"I assure you my dear young lady I've never heard of such a thing. This fellow here", gesturing towards the robot, "is an environmental control robot. I created him myself", he boasted.
"Then how was he able to execute that powerful move on that flock of Taillow earlier?" Dr Smith soon realised they were referring to the robot zapping a flock of birds which had swooped down and attempted to attack them back in the forest.
"That was merely his electrical discharge", he answered. "My friend has a very high voltage." The man and woman began to talk amongst themselves. It appeared to Dr Smith they had mistaken the robot for some other species of animal or machine. He wasn't sure. What he was certain of however was that he knew a way he could get onside with this pair of villains.
A minute later they finished their discussion. This time the man who'd called himself James spoke: "we've agreed that you and your machine will remain with us until we arrive at our organisation's headquarters. Our boss will decide what to do with you."
"And where may I ask are your headquarters?" Dr Smith asked nervously.
"It'll be about a two week journey from here." Dr Smith didn't like the sound of that. He decided now was a good time to kick his plan into gear.
"May I present you with an alternative?" He answered snidely. They nodded dubiously.
"You know there was a spaceship which crash landed here earlier today?" Again they nodded.
"I can take you to the aliens from that ship. I saw them with my own eyes. They called themselves Robinson's. Not only that", he continued shamelessly, "but I saw their spacecraft while myself and my metallic friend here were traipsing through the forest on an early morning bird watching expedition."
"A bird Pokémon watching expedition you mean?" James asked suspiciously.
"Yes, my good gentleman. A bird Pokémon watching expedition. Anyway", he continued boldly, "their space ship was light years ahead of any technology we have on this planet. I'm sure an organisation such as the great Team Rocket which harbours aspirations to blast off at the speed of light would be very interested in such technology."
"He's right Jessie", James exclaimed.
"Yeah", the cat like creature which had called itself Meowth added, as Dr Smith sank back into his seat with terror, "with a real life alien spaceship we'd be promoted for sure. And if we could actually catch these aliens, that would just be a bonus."
"Agreed", the woman named Jessie declared. "We'll use this man and his powerful machine to help us."
"Alright", Jessie declared a short time later, staring intently at Dr Smith. "You lead us to your ship and if you try any funny business whatsoever we'll set Wobbuffett on you."
"Not to mention a whole bunch of other Pokémon." James added. Dr Smith had a horrified expression written on his face as he stared nervously at the large blue creature, then back towards Jessie.
"Yes ma'am, whatever you say."
"Good", she responded coldly, as she began to untie Dr Smith and the robot. "Then we understand one another."
"Oh yes ma'am", he responded sincerely. "I'll do anything."
"Then show us the way." Dr Smith nodded nervously, hoping his cunning plan would fall into place.
