Chapter 2: New Agents

Dressed in the team uniform of black suit and hat, white gloves and a red R right in the middle of their chest, the group, with seven other new members, stood in a room and recited the anthem of Team Rocket; "To protect the world from devastation, to unite all people within our nation. To protect the purity of truth and love, to extend our reach to the stars above. Team Rocket blast off at the speed of light, surrender now or prepare to fight!"

"Good, at ease, sit," a high ranked female agent ordered. Following those orders, everyone sat. "Now, before your special guest speaker comes in, do any of you have any questions?"

In a flash, Brock was standing next to her holding both her hands. "Oh to one that has beauty! So high words cannot begin to describe them, would you do me the honor of going out with me?"

"Get back to your seat, Private!" the Agent yelled. Brock's face then turned blue and ran back to his seat. Her angry face returned to a serious one. "Now, are there any real questions?"

No one answered, either from not having a question or just plain fear. "In that case, please give your full attention to, Lieutenant General Norman."

As she left the stage, a tall man with short blue hair to walked out and looked over the small group. "Hey look, its dad," Max said, pulling on his sisters sleeve.

"Your right, it is," she replied excitedly.

"No way, your father is the great Norman?" Ash asked with wide eyes. "I've heard so many stories of his heroic events in this Organization."

"Our father is something special," Max gloated.

"Welcome, new Agents. From what I have heard, you are all that passed the test from the 50 who came in to become honorable members of the Team Rocket Organization. It doesn't mean that they were not worthy, just that they were not as ready as they thought they were. But you, you are all ready to protect and serve the people of this beautiful city and to eliminate the Poke'mon menace that threatens to take our city away. This is the best turnout of new agents I have seen in a while. We are usually lucky to get only 5 cadets. This Organization needs as much help as possible to uphold the rights of everyone who want to live a normal life. Now, I know you are all thinking about it, but I want to hear it. What are we here to eliminate?"

"Poke'mon!" they all cheered.

Norman smiled and clapped his hands. "Surrender now, or prepare to fight."

"That's right!" they all cheered once again.

"Dismissed," Norman said, with all the Agents stood up and walked toward the door.

But our five stay as May and Max ran up to Norman. "Dad!"

"May, Max. I'm so proud to see you both made it in," he replied, hugging both his children then releasing them. "Your mom is going to be so proud to hear that you both made it on your first try."

"Well, we all know I would make it," Max boosted, "it was May we all had our doubts about."

Out of no where, May had her arm around her brother's neck. "Do you want to repeat that, Max?"

"You two haven't changed a bit," Norman said with a smile. Then he looked over at Ash and was shocked. "Ash, Ash Ketchum is that you? I haven't seen you in over 10 years. How is your mother?"

Ash was shocked, the great Norman didn't just know his name, he knew his family. "She's fine, you know me personally?"

He walked over to Ash. "Your father and I were best friends here. You have really grown up."

"My father, was a Team Rocket Agent?" Ash asked in shock.

"One of the best, I never met a better Agent in all my life. If he was still alive today I bet he would be running, Team Rocket. Your mother never told you?"

Ash became a bit depressed. "No, she didn't."

"Don't worry about it, she probably had her reasons. But I bet you and May have caught up on a few things."

Both May and Ash looked at each other then looked back at Norman. "We know each other?" they both asked.

"It has been 10 years since you last saw each other but you two were the best of friends. It must have been faith to see you back together after all this time. When my family and I lived closer to yours Ash, I never saw you two apart. It was like you two were joined at the hip: you played together, took naps together, went swimming together, and even took baths together."

After he mentioned that, both May's and Ash's faces turned bright red. "You say they took baths together?" Max asked slyly.

"Shut up, Max!" May yelled.

"Even after we moved to the east part of the dome from the west, your father and I would bring you here to the playroom, since this is right in the middle of the dome. But after your father died, we lost touch. After all these years, it's so good to see that you and your mother are all right."

"Well it's good to find out my father was such a respected man here. But we should be going; we will be late for our room placement."

"That can wait," Norman replied, "I want to show you something, Ash. You all can come along."

They all stood at a door, above the door were the letters DIA. "Max," May whispered to her brother. "What does DIA stand for?"

"Died in Action," Max answered.

Norman opened the door; lights came on down a row to reveal thousands of pictures lining the walls. "Why are we here?" Ash asked.

"Here is the place with the people holding the highest honor of them all, fighting for our freedom with their very lives. The Team Rocket Organization sees nothing but respect for them and their families. And here is why we are here."

He pointed to a picture larger than the rest, by at least 3 times its size. They all stood in awe. Ash was more stunned then all of them put together. What he saw was a large picture of a man, standing proudly. His right hand was over his heart and a satisfied smile gracing his face. On the bottom of the frame, engraved on a small gold-plated tab was his name, Akio Ketchum. "Your father was no exception. It was a strong blow to this Organization when it happened, but he will never be forgotten."

Ash slowly glided his fingers over the engraved letters on the golden tab, he didn't know much about his father before today but he was glad to find out he was such a respected member of Team Rocket. "Thanks," Ash said to Norman with a smile on his face.

Norman smiled in return, placing his hand on Ash's shoulder. "I wouldn't be surprised if you became as great as an agent as your father. I also know your father wouldn't be more proud on how you turned out. Now you kids go get your room assignments and mention you were with me at the time and you won't get in trouble. Now salute!"

They all stood straight up and saluted with their right hands. Norman returned the salute. "Dismissed."

"Wow, I never thought that you were the son of, Akio," Brock said while they walked down the hall. "My father told me so many stories about him. Norman was right, he was a great guy.

"Thanks," Ash replied, but his tone made him sound as if he was in his own thoughts.

"Is there something wrong, Ash?" Misty asked in concern.

Ash's voice changed back to its normal tone. "I'm fine, Misty. It's just that, I never knew much about my father. It feels strange to see so many people know him so well."

"If you want I could tell you the stories my dad told me. He has told me them so many times I practically know them by heart," Brock replied.

"Thanks, maybe later," Ash answered.

The group came up to the Registration Office just as they were closing. "Sorry, we're closed."

"Lieutenant General Norman told us to tell you we were with him," Misty said saluting. The tone of the man in the booth completely changed.

"Oh! In that case, please put in your temporary ID cards into the slot and I will give your permanent ID card which will also be programmed as your door key."

May and Misty walked into their new room. "I still can't believe we were assigned as roommates," May declared, walking over to a bed and sitting down on it.

"I can't believe Ash, Brock and Max are roommates too. By how your brother and Ash get along, Brock is going to have to be the referee," Misty replied, walking over to the other bed on the other side of the room. Both of them were laughing.

"You're probably right. But I can't believe that I used to be so close to Ash, I really don't remember him at all. I do vaguely remember playing with a boy my age when I was a kid but that's about it."

"Don't think too much about it, you were young and that was at least ten years ago."

"I know, but if you took a bath with someone else," May added, her cheeks turning red, "you think you would remember something like that."

Misty's face also turned a shade of red. "Well, maybe."

"Why do you get the single?" Max yelled.

"What are you complaining about, you have the top of the bunk bed," Ash replied.

"This place feels just like home," Brock said with a smile, sitting on the bottom bunk bed.

"So, do you have a younger brother or sister?" Ash asked.

"More like 3 brothers and 3 sisters (can't remember how many)."

"Wow, and I thought having only one sister was a pain," Max replied.

"I don't see it like that, I love taking care of all my siblings. That's another reason I joined Team Rocket. I know what I do will make them sleep easier every night. Which reminds me, we are probably going to be really busy tomorrow, so let's get some sleep and stop complaining about the beds."

To Be Continued

Ash found out that his father was one of the most respected Agents in Team Rocket and he was childhood friends with May. What else will be discovered as this story goes on? Read and review. I can't tell if you've read it if you haven't reviewed it.