There is a reason for every door. I came through here with Power-set, so without loss of generality Replacement should now take me–

What is that?

Footsteps. Voices.

Oh no. I am not alone. I need to work faster.

–* * *–

"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!"

"James!"

"Team Rocket blast off at the speed of light!"

"Surrender now or prepare to fight!"

"Meowth, that's right!"

They looked up at the Meowth-shaped balloon hovering above them. "It's Team Rocket!" shouted Ash, clenching his fist.

"Wow, what gave it away?" replied Jessie. "Was it the Team Rocket uniforms? Or was it the part where we said 'Team Rocket'?"

"Ugh, what are you three doing here?" asked Brock.

"The same thing you three are doing here," James answered. "We're here for the Machine. But it looks like you've already done all our work for us!"

"Now just hand it ovah and nobody gets hoyt!" ordered Meowth, brandishing his claws.

"Never! The Machine is ours!" said Ash defiantly.

"Now now, didn't your parents ever teach you to share?" Jessie retorted. "We have exactly as much a right to that Machine as you do."

"–Which is to say, none at all!" finished James.

"Not a chance!" said Ash. "Right Misty, right Brock?"

"Y'know, Ash, they do have a point…"

"Oh come on Misty, you're either with us or you're against us!"

"You should listen to the little twerpette," said Jessie. "You might learn a thing or two."

"Twerpette? Why you–"

"Oh, why can't they ever do this the easy way?" James asked.

"Never mind them," answered Jessie. "If they want a fight, they'll have it. Go, Arbok!"

"Go, Weezing!" James followed. "Smokescreen attack, now!"

The three of them coughed on the noxious fumes, and could barely see a thing. Suddenly, Ash felt a furious swipe across the face by what must have been Meowth.

"Yowch! Pidgeotto, use your Gust to blow this away!"

"Pid-jahhh!" The smoke cleared, revealing Arbok baring its teeth at Brock and Misty. "Uh-oh!" They backed away. "Kch-aaa-baaakaa!"

Of his own initiative, Pikachu leapt in between them and knocked out Arbok cold with a swift Thunderbolt attack, prompting Jessie to recall it. Ash dusted himself off and stood up straight. "Now, Pidgeotto, you know what to do!" The bird flew up and dove beak-first at the surface of the balloon.

"Oh no!" said James. "Hurry, Weezing, return! You too Meowth!" They drew him back up by the rope tied around his waist, and Pidgeotto made contact–

A familiar pop and hiss sent them spiraling into the deep blue evening sky. "Looks like Team Rocket's blasting off again!"

Twinkle.

"Well, that was easy," said Brock. "But we should get out of sight. Silph is still looking for us."

"More like, out of town," Misty replied. "They've got people all over this city."

"Right. Ash, where do you think we should go?"

"The train station's just a few blocks from here, isn't it?" Ash suggested. "If we get there fast enough, we'll be in Vermilion before they're any the wiser."

"Good idea," Brock agreed. "But we'd better make it quick, the next train leaves in ten minutes!"

– – –

They reconvened at a secluded table at the Vermilion City train station. "So, Ash," asked Brock, "can we see this Machine?"

He pulled it out of his jacket pocket. "Here it is."

"That's it?" Misty said. "That dinky little thing?"

"Sure, Misty, I saw it myself. Here, take a look." He carefully opened the lid of the box. Inside was a small, oblong clay brick resting on top of a greeting card, which Ash unfolded in confusion. An upbeat melody began to play. "Ah, ya ya ya…" sang the card, accompanying the enclosed picture of Meowth making a large, toothy, lopsided grin.

"What's that thing, Ash?" inquired Brock. "Ash?"

Ash was silent. He crushed the package in one hand. There was fire in his eyes.

– – –

Jessie cackled triumphantly in the repaired balloon. "Marvelous plan, James. Brilliantly executed." She cradled the Machine in her hands, turning it over to examine the cartridge in the back.

"You weren't too shabby yourself, Jessie," he replied.

"And remember, ya couldn'ta done it wittout Meowth!"

"Now," she said, "by the time those twerps realize what happened, we'll already be in Viridian with the boss!"

"And when he sees that we brought him the Universal Machine," continued James, "he'll promote us on the spot!"

"You know, James, are thinking what I'm thinking?"

"I don't know, Jessie, what were you thinking I was thinking?"

"This Machine can make an unlimited number of any item, right? So, before we hand it over to the boss, let's make a bazillion Nuggets and Rare Candies to sell at premium prices!"

"Why, we'll be rich beyond our wildest dreams!" Meowth exclaimed.

"Oooh, I like that, Jessie!" squealed James. "But we can't let the boss know we're skimming stuff on the side. We'd better make a detour somewhere else, and sell the items there."

"Good thinking, James. Change course for Cinnabar Island!"

"Uh-oh, Jess, sometin's followin' us," Meowth interrupted, looking through a pair of binoculars.

"What? No way! Give me those!" Jessie screeched, grabbing the binoculars and strangling Meowth with the neck strap. "No. It can't be!"

– – –

Misty and Brock were relaxing comfortably with a nice hot pot of tea. "Wow, it's actually pretty nice in here," Brock remarked.

"Chu." Pikachu crossed his arms and looked away.

"Suit yourself." Misty turned back to Brock. "How do these things work anyway?"

"Not sure. Something involving gyroscopes, I think."

"Hm. Say, how did Ash ever convince Charizard to go along with this?"

"I think he'd never seen Ash so angry before," answered Brock.

"I'll say. Ash looked like he'd become the destroyer of worlds."

"Yeah, I guess that flame'll only listen to someone just as hot-headed."

"Well, I hope they know what they're doing out there," said Misty, glancing at the curved wall. "Wouldn't want anyone to get hurt, y'know?"

[Author's Note: See you next Friday!]