AN: Here is chapter 3! And we get to see even more familiar names :)
Fated
Summary: Jessie finds herself in exile, forced into captivity with a mysterious stranger. With nowhere to go and seemingly no hope of escape, they share the stories behind their miserable fates. Hers is filled with questions. His is filled with answers.
Chapter 3: Sibling Rivalry
"So that's the beginning of my story," Jessie said, looking across the room as Jack set some logs in the fireplace, "You did say that you would keep talking," she reminded him. He chuckled.
"Persistent," he commented
"Bored is more like it," Jessie muttered.
"Well, after the party, my brothers and I resumed our normal duties. As the sons of our mother's organization, we stood to inherit it when she passed on. Unfortunately, we didn't share too well with each other. We each had to work to inherit the company. As the sons of it's leader, we were give a fairly easy job: recruitment…
"I challenge the Viridian City Gym Leader to a pokemon battle," a boy of sixteen cried, flicking a strand of dark hair from his face.
"I accept your challenge," Giovanni said, grinning confidently at the boy before shooting a smirk in the direction of the pretty brown-haired girl who was sitting on the sidelines cheering on the boy.
"The match between Gym Leader Giovanni and the challenger, Heath Ketchum from Pallet Town-
"Ketchum?" Jessie spluttered, wincing as she jerked her sore leg in surprise.
"Do you know a Ketchum, Jessilina?" Jack asked, smirking amusedly at the look on her face.
"Yeah! The twerpy kid who made my life miserable for six years! Ash Ketchum, also from Pallet," Jessie replied. Jack shook his head, comprehension dawning on his face.
"Ah, Pallet Town…that was one of Gio's favourite haunts. He'd disappear for sometimes days to spend a little time there. He was quite close with Heath Ketchum's close friend, Delia Hazelwood. Anyways…
Joseph officiated the match-up between Giovanni and Heath Ketchum while I sat on a bench, talking with the pretty brown-haired girl that Ketchum had entered with.
"Jack Sakaki," I introduced myself, preparing myself for the first phase of our recruitment plan: talking to the friends.
"Delia Hazelwood," she greeted me a little shyly.
"Pretty name. So, is your friend any good?" I asked, watching as the boy sent out a krabby to battle Giovanni's nidorino. Delia smiled and blushed.
"Heath is…well…he tries…" she said. That was transparent enough. This could be easier than we thought. Generally trainers who "tried" were also more desperate than most.
"So he has a slight battling problem?" I questioned, watching as my brother made quick work of Ketchum's krabby.
"Slight," she agreed, "but he's so determined and he works hard."
"Admirable qualities," I said, watching as Ketchum's second pokemon, a beedrill was trounced. Determination and hard work. Those were the two qualities that we were taught to look for.
"And here's the part where Ketchum comes back and wins it," Jessie muttered bitterly. Jack laughed and continued.
"We could use someone like that for our organization," I said thoughtfully, cringing a little as Ketchum's third and final pokemon, an ivysaur fainted, "Of course, we would give him battle training."
"Well, you'd have to run that by Heath. He's very proud…and a little stubborn," Delia said as she watched Giovanni shake hands with Ketchum.
"Please, my brothers and I won't take no for an answer," I told her, getting to my feet as Ketchum, Giovanni, and Joseph approached us.
"All you need is a bit of training, my boy," Giovanni said, patting a shaken Ketchum on the back.
"Heath, are you okay?" Delia asked sympathetically.
"Yeah. Fine," the boy said weakly.
"You know, I was just telling your charming friend here about our organization," I said, gesturing to Delia, "We could give you the training you need."
"Organization?" Ketchum asked, confused.
"We're a group dedicated to helping pokemon everywhere," I explaine, using the sales pitch we had been taught, "When we see a pokemon in distress, or under the care of an…undeserving trainer, we take action and set it free."
"That sounds like a wonderful cause," Delia gushed.
"Oh, it is," Giovanni answered, flashing her a smile, "I can't imagine anything else I'd rather be doing."
"Yes," Joseph agreed raising an eyebrow at Giovanni. Apparently he also saw Giovanni's near transparent attempts at flattery, "and upon seeing the way you raise your pokemon, Mr. Ketchum, I think you may be just the kind of trainer we're looking for."
"Me?" Ketchum asked, "But I lost."
"That's nothing," I shrugged, "It's apparent that you have the drive and determination to make a difference, and that's what really matters. We'll give you all the training that you'll need, right, brothers?" I asked, looking to Gio and Joe for support. We'll give him the training, get him to pull of a job, and then when he'd try to turn righteous, we'd blackmail him into cooperating. It was fun being bad.
"Certainly," Joseph agreed.
"It would be a pleasure," Giovanni said, smirking at the young Delia.
"Alright then," Heath said, mustering up a smile. We exchanged triumphant grins and gave Heath and Delia all of the information that they needed to commence the training.
"Another recruit," Joseph said happily, reclining in a chair once Ketchum and Delia left.
"Plus one," Giovanni added deviously, obviously thinking of Delia Hazelwood.
"Have you forgotten that you're married, Gio?" I asked, frowning at him.
"I have my heir. That's all that matters," Giovanni said simply. I rolled my eyes in disgust, thinking of how Jade would feel about that comment.
"Speaking of heirs, I've only got about six more months before I get to meet mine," Joseph said happily, attempting to put an end to an argument before it could begin.
"Girl or boy?" Giovanni asked suddenly.
"Still don't know," Joseph shrugged. Giovanni nodded. I knew that Gio hoped that Joseph's child would be a boy so that it wouldn't be able to make the connection with the Morgan boy that Mother so desired. If Joe had a girl, we all knew that Mother would be sure to arrange a marriage between it and the Morgan kid. Of course, this would give Joseph a boost in Mother's eyes.
"And what of little Silver?" I asked Giovanni, who shrugged.
"Jade does most of the mothering. He'll grow into quite the leader, I'm sure," he said. Suddenly a video phone leapt to life and the wavy image of a green-haired woman appeared on the screen.
"I'm sorry to interrupt, Mr. Sakaki, Mr. Sakaki, and Mr. Sakaki, but your mother requests your presence," their mother's timid secretary, Amy, spoke.
"Speak of the devil," Joseph joked.
"Thank you, Amy," I said, flashing her a smile. I hung up and we made our way to Mother's headquarters just outside of Viridian Forest. We were beckoned inside by a timid and heavily pregnant Amy. She was due any day, but she still came into work like the devote worker that she was.
"And how did the recruitment go?" Mother asked as we walked inside. I immediately noticed the three agents from the party: Miyamoto, Catherine, and Daphne. Miyamoto smirked, and again, I'm pretty sure only I saw it.
"Beautifully. We've managed to lure in about fifteen trainers in this past month," Joseph replied, beaming.
"Excellent, Son," she gushed, "I suppose you are wondering why you are here, yes?" she asked.
"We're not here for a visit?" Giovanni asked, smiling. I had to force myself not to make a face of disgust. Could he be more of a kiss ass?
"Don't be a brat boy, Giovanni," Mother chided him. I had the pleasure of watching the large vein on Gio's forehead pulse. Never have I been more thankful that I didn't resemble Father the way Giovanni did, otherwise, I'm sure I would have been subjected to the same treatment. I knew that Mother loved Father in her own way, yet in a lot of ways, she also resented him. She thought he was weak, far too weak to be helming Team Rocket, the crowning jewel of the family.
"What is the purpose, Mother?" I asked, taking my eyes off of the three women standing just behind her.
"I will be leaving the city for a couple of days and I require someone to temporarily fill my position," she said.
"I'll do it!" we chorused together before glaring at each other.
"I've decided," she continued, ignoring us, "that Giovanni will direct the agents and Jack and Joseph will control the gym. All three of you will make any administrative decisions while I am away. If you need help, feel free to ask Miyamoto, Catherine, or Daphne. Team Rocket is our family's crowing jewel. I'll have you all remember that when I am gone. That is all," she dismissed. We bowed respectfully, but on our way out, Joe and I couldn't help but glare at Gio as he strutted smugly down the halls. Then I heard footsteps behind us, so I turned and found myself looking into the light blue eyes of Miyamoto. I felt my brothers mimicking my motion.
"We just wanted to let you know that whatever you need, we'll be more than happy to help," Miyamoto said on behalf of her team.
"That's very kind of you," I replied, smiling at her.
"Anything at all," the shorter blond, Daphne, added, her grey eyes landing on Giovanni. Joseph and I exchanged a look and I could see Miyamoto and Catherine do the same.
"We'll be in touch," Giovanni said silkily, smiling at her before he turned.
"As will we," I added, trying and failing to hid a chuckle. Before Joe dragged me away, I swore I saw Miyamoto trying to hid a small smile of her own.
"I can't believe she left that oaf in charge," Joseph fumed to me when we walked towards our rooms.
"I'm sure nobody will believe it, Joe," I sighed, running a hand through my hair.
"He's such a cad. Did you see the way he was acting around that girl? She couldn't have been more than seventeen!" Joseph carried on.
"Not to mention he's married," I added, rolling my eyes. He shrugged.
"Sometimes it's fun to play around," he said. I gaped at him.
"What?" I asked.
"Come on, Jackie, you know how it is," he said, elbowing me in the ribs, "Different broad every night, new stuff to play with…how many girls have you had this last month?" he asked. Okay, yeah, he had me there, but I was single! He was the one with the wife and kid on the way.
"I'm not married!" I exclaimed, incredulous, "I didn't take any vow to be loyal to someone until death do us part!"
"Ah, Jack, so naïve," he sighed, "One woman…and a woman like Isa…every so often a guy needs a break."
"Then why get married?" I asked.
"Jack, marriage is not all happy, lovely, stuff-from-the-movies. It's a business contract saying your partnered to one person for life. And we both know, that it isn't a crime to talk to reps from other companies," he lectured.
"Glad to know I'm the only one who believes in the sanctity of marriage," I scoffed.
"Soon you'll get married, Jackie, and you'll see," Joseph said, "You'll be asking your big brothers for advice on how to hide the lipstick stains on your collar."
"You're hopeless," I muttered, "When I get married, it'll be when I'm damn good and ready to be a decent husband and NOT anytime soon."
"We'll see, Jack," Joseph said, shaking his head, "But all I'm sayin' about Gio is that if his eye's gonna wander, he ought to pick someone legal and hot."
"Delia Hazelwood wasn't bad looking," I replied.
"Yeah, but that Daphne?" he cringed, "She could fit in his pocket."
"Is that your only issue?" I asked.
"Gallon of make-up," he replied, "I mean, I understand when they use the blush and a little eye-liner and lipstick, but that one…sheesh…she looked like she belonged on a street corner…or at a child's birthday," he added, shuddering.
"I wouldn't let that one near small children," I said, remembering her unpleasant scowl.
"No kidding," Joseph laughed, "Nah, if I had a choice…it'd be her partners I'd be chasing."
"Her partners?" I asked, freezing a little as that playful smirk on Miyamoto's lips sprang to my mind.
"That Miyamoto and Catherine…can you imagine?" he asked. I was suddenly imagining a lot more than just Miyamoto's smirk. Her eyes, her skin, her body, the way her purple hair would feel as I ran my fingers through it…
"I wonder if they're close," Joseph was saying, "Wouldn't it be something? A little ménage à trois?" he smirked. I looked over at him, blinking as I realized what he was saying.
"Uh, yeah," I managed, "So anyways, I guess…um…Gio's in charge," I changed the subject. He rolled his eyes.
"Yeah, he's such a kiss-ass. I'd love to knock him down a peg or two."
I couldn't help the idea that flew into my mind. I smirked at my brother, "Well, Joey, I'd be more than happy to help you with that."
"With what?" Joseph asked, blinking in confusion. I sighed. There were times that my brother could be a little bit dense.
"Knocking our dear brother down a couple pegs. I'm sure Mother would be ever so pleased to see her crowning jewel tarnished in the hands of our brother," I explained, watching as Joseph's face went from confusion to comprehension.
"Oh, yes. I'm sure Mother would just love that," he smirked, "Why don't you stop over for a drink and we'll discuss it, Jay? Isabelle is off with Annette tonight."
"You do come up with all the good ideas, don't you?" I laughed as I followed him into his suite.
"So you conspired against Giovanni?" Jessie asked, smirking at the thought.
"We did," Jack chuckled, "and we enjoyed it when Mother came back to find that a water pipe had burst in her office and that three teams had been arrested."
"Wow. Talk about sibling rivalry issues," Jessie commented. He laughed.
"You have NO idea," he said empathetically.
"You and Joseph seemed pretty close," she observed. He smiled a little bitterly.
"At times," he said, "He was notorious for taking sides when it best suited him."
"So what happened next? Who did you and your brothers end up doing?" Jessie asked. He smiled.
"You'll find out after you tell me what happens next on your side of things. I believe last time, you left us with your fears of my cad of a brother," he reminded her of their arrangement. She scowled at him.
"I wasn't scared," she shot at him, "I was CONCERNED."
"Keep telling yourself that," he muttered. She glared at him.
TBC
AN: I thought it would be kind of cool, since we're dealing with the past, to deal with the whole 'who is Ash Ketchum's father' deal. So next chapter, we get to see Jessie's side of things. Hopefully that'll be up soon! In the meantime, I hope you enjoyed this little chapter.