Rewritten
Chapter Four
Shadow
A handful of Team Rocket agents all lined in their ranks against the wall of a corridor deep inside their headquarters. Everyone present had been summoned to meet there for it meant that a significant operation was going to be conducted.
Yet, Misty made no mad rush. She stepped into the corridor with no sense of urgency but did not exactly dawdle either.
She was still adjusting or readjusting, rather to her life here. Two days had gone by since her stint in the infirmary; since she woke up. And though Misty was able to leave the infirmary and into her own room within the dorms, Dr. Reiko monitored her, supplying her with pieces of information that Misty did not remember.
Physically, Misty was fine. The headache she suffered the moment she woke that morning subsided within hours. The stiffness in her body was easily remedied by walking around, but slowly at the advice of Dr. Reiko.
Still though, her memories were missing and to Misty, she considered that to be the worst affliction. There was a nagging feeling in her gut that something was off, but not wrong. It was befuddling to her but she trusted Dr. Reiko's guidance and later that day was able to leave the infirmary.
Yet she was ordered to maintain distance between herself and the other agents just for that day. Misty did not protest the suggestion as she really wanted to be alone. And so she did just that once she retreated into a separate room near the dorms. She did not have any company there and by the looks of the single bed would not have company.
Dr. Reiko did drop by for a visit to Misty's room just to gauge how she was doing, along with asking Misty a couple questions. And after that, the medic deemed Misty fine and ready to resume participation in the upcoming Team Rocket assignments. Though, Dr. Reiko did assure Misty that she will regain her memories in time. However, Misty failed to have seen the derision in Dr. Reiko's face.
The corridor was quiet— uncomfortably quiet. And as Misty settled herself at the end of the line, eyes straight ahead, the corridor became stifling with curiosity. All the while the redhead ignored the side glances everyone shot towards her, some more discreet than others.
Still the grunts remained silent, maintaining their professionalism.
However, one in particular was brave enough to speak to the stoic redhead.
"You finally decide to join everyone, have you?" a female who stood a person away from Misty said, sardonically. "Didn't realize you were on par with the boss. No wonder you took your time coming down here… And now that you're here, might I add what an honor it is to be graced with your presence," she continued to jab with resentful sarcasm.
The female's comments inspired another agent to speak up. This time the male that stood between the one that spoke and Misty. "It's consequential that you be here on time." His tone was more serious and advisable than his female cohort. "Team Rocket doesn't allow for lax behavior. It's common knowledge when you're recruited."
Misty did not make any sort of response. Her stare remained ahead and impassive as though she were deaf to these agents' words. Still, her silence did not dissuade everyone's interest nor did it deter the girl who spoke earlier to speak again.
"Whatever," she clicked her tongue and crossed her arms as she reclined against the wall. "She'll be plucked out before the day is finished. If waking up is such a burden, no doubt a mission will force her out… And she has the gall to be here with us."
"Isn't she the girl with amnesia?" another agent murmured further down the line. "She was in the infirmary…"
"So that's her excuse then?" came the scornful reply from the first girl. "She just forgot to wake up and meet everyone here…"
"I can't help but feel like I've seen her face before," one more agent muttered.
The curious stares and murmurs regarding Misty lingered, but soon fell dead as most agents resumed their spots in their ranks. Again they waited in silence. But another pair could not withhold their own comments on the quiet redhead.
Butch and Cassidy stood side by side, peering over to where Misty remained. They eyed her suspiciously, memories of that fateful night replaying briefly through their minds.
They were employed to escort her to the infirmary, after Giovanni had Hypno finish the hypnosis attack. With strict orders not to tell anyone of the what happened other than Dr. Reiko when they left Misty in her care, the duo were good on their word.
At the time, it seemed like everything would turn out fine and that Giovanni would handle their error of bringing her back to base for them.
Yet, as Misty stood at the end of the line, face deadpanned, the two grunts felt a little irked by the whole thing. Something different had definitely taken place.
Indeed, she looked the same, physically. But she was like a ghost, a shadow, taking on the same form, though her eyes were dimmed with what seemed to be confusion. Much like a droid, having its insides replaced. It was as though a fire in her was extinguished that night, and succeeded by an icy soul; one that was unfeeling. And this transformation could not be ignored by Butch and Cassidy.
"She looks a little…creepy?" Butch whispered into Cassidy's ear, unsure of how to describe Misty. "The boss outdid himself with her. I'm guessing it worked, since she's here, wearing our uniform."
Cassidy's eyes narrowed, still fixed on Misty, but she nodded in acknowledgement to Butch's words. "Practically a specter of her former self. Although I'm impressed, I'm still weirded out by it."
Butch nodded slowly and both were reverted back to the scene in which Giovanni carried out the task of brainwashing Misty.
From the blank, hollowness in her once fiery eyes to the devilish spark in Giovanni's, Butch and Cassidy's fear of their leader was renewed. The fact that he was so capable of doing such a thing and relishing in it made them shutter.
Despite having worked for Giovanni for years now, they still felt like they hardly knew him. He was still a man clad in mystery and danger with the power to do anything they could ever imagine; for a man to make a person a captive of her own mind…
The two fell silent then, preferring not to speak about it anymore, at least not with the possible intruding ears of their cohorts. And soon the corridor was quiet again, just as awkward as before.
Within minutes, slow footfalls were heard from the end of the corridor. Everyone in rank stiffened as Giovanni appeared, walking past and stopped right in the center, across from his subordinates.
"Agents," he snarled, although it was more of a normal greeting to the others by this point. "If you haven't presumed by now, our work in Cerulean is not quite finished…"
The man's scowl scanned the line of grunts, slowly. He reached the end of the line and his eyes lingered on Misty for a moment. A sneer made its way onto his face, then he resumed the meeting.
"Aside from snatching Pokémon from unsuspecting trainers," he went on. "But that's not all that Team Rocket is after. Today, you will be going into town to seize something else."
Cassidy furrowed her brows in confusion. She thought her and Butch already got what was needed from Cerulean City (and of course the added bonus of kidnapping Misty), but what else was he after?
She chanced a side glance at Butch who also looked a little baffled but remained quiet. Of course Giovanni was going to continue thieving from the city's residents while they were still around but it still didn't explain what more Giovanni was after.
Although Cassidy, Butch and the others were left in the dark as to what Giovanni was truly seeking this time. The man was a heavily veiled enigma of a human.
Even after stealing many valuable Pokémon from Vermilion City and Saffron City, Giovanni refused to move the operation until he was fully sated. But by what?
There was clearly something more important that Giovanni was obsessing over, hence why each stakeout in the previous cities lasted them much longer than ever before.
And it looks like Cerulean City was going to be the same as the others.
"Today's heist will take place near the lighthouse on the outskirts of the city," Giovanni carried on. "By the lighthouse is a small laboratory. Those selected to spearhead this operation are required to infiltrate the lab."
Everyone watched Giovanni intently, hanging on his every word.
"Like most of these heists, this will occur much later, tonight. From there," Giovanni urged. "You will be looking for an item. One that is considered to be rare. That item is a stone."
Instantly, the assumption of it being some sort of evolutionary stone all pricked the minds of the agents. Though they all assumed that it was just an ordinary stone at first. But with Giovanni claiming that it was rare then the likelihood of it being something more and different intrigued them.
This was certainly a shift in their routine. Although, Giovanni had assigned agents in the past to certain tasks (like Butch and Cassidy with the Cerulean Gym) in the cities they were stationed at prior to this one, the members of Team Rocket may just get a glimpse into what Giovanni was after this time around.
In a way it excited them, if not terrified them all the same. And because this meeting had summoned members of the elite, save for Misty, a yearning grew within all of them, an opportunity for competition perhaps.
Giovanni grinned at the piqued interest in his workers. He briefly glanced back at Misty and although her eyes lacked any sort of excitement, he remained pleased to see the blankness in her stare; evidence that the hypnosis had worked.
"Squadrons are assigned," Giovanni instructed, regaining the attention of everyone again. "By this point in your career as a Team Rocket criminal, I expect every single one of you to know how to act and for the heist to be successful…
"Any missteps that present themselves, it'll be up to you to fix them," Giovanni ordered gravely. The pressure was paramount. "In short, the main goal of today is to find this stone and extort it." His eyes then became stormy, his faint grin now morphing into a more familiar frown. His expression was meant to threaten them and it never did fail.
"Sir," the agents confirmed with poise in unison.
"Now as far as what the stone looks like," Giovanni continued. "It's more like a gem; round, with varying blends of red and blue. It won't be hard to miss, I ensure you." As he said this, he stroked the stone on his ring.
Butch and Cassidy noticed this and were able to decipher that whatever it was had some sort of connection to the ring that Giovanni was wearing.
"Sir," the agents agreed.
Giovanni gave no sign of being impressed. Instead he pulled out an envelope from the inside of his blazer. He took a few steps forward, handing the envelope to Cassidy, much to her surprise.
"That envelope holds the roster of what squadrons you'll be assigned to. It'll explain your roles further, along with additional instructions."
The man then took a step back, giving his elite members one final warning scowl and then turned a heel, exiting the corridor.
Once their boss was gone, Cassidy opened the envelope, mostly only allowing Butch to look at the roster alongside her. And naturally the first thing they did was search for their names and what they'd be doing. Much to their glee, they were assigned to the squadron that would be entering the lab.
They weren't going to be alone for that assignment, though. Right by their own names, Cassidy read aloud the other two familiar agents that would be joining them: a female by the name of Perry and a male named Knox.
However, both Butch and Cassidy had to do a double take as they discovered a third and final name listed among their squadron. Cassidy's voice was undecided between bewilderment and evenness. "Misty…" she said finally and then shoved the roster to the nearest grunt.
Misty turned to face Cassidy when her name was announced. Everyone else paid no heed as they all patiently waited for whoever had the roster to find out what they were doing.
Rudy and Knox had already made their way towards Misty. Both agents having worked with Team Rocket nearly as long as Butch and Cassidy and were normally paired together. Perry had a slight frame, standing the same height as Misty, her face looking on the snooty side while her purple hair hung passed her shoulders. Knox was one of the tallest elite members, but like Perry also slight in frame.
Butch and Cassidy hung by for a moment, quickly exchanging looks of uncertainty before joining their squadron.
"Morning," Cassidy greeted, forcing her glossed lips to form a derisive smile. "Perry, Knox…Misty." Cassidy's stare remained on Misty's who's own green eyes did not waver nor flicker in intimidation. Instead like Perry and Knox, Misty gave a nod in greeting.
"How're you feeling, Misty?" Butch asked. He, Cassidy, Perry and Knox all turned to the redhead, waiting for her to respond.
"Doing fine," came the deadpan reply, allowing her squad to hear her voice for the first time that morning.
"Sleep well?" Cassidy asked in mock concern.
"Yes," Misty said flatly.
She really doesn't remember what happened to her, Cassidy silently noted.
Perry and Knox looked at her blankly, both undisturbed by her response. Butch and Cassidy, however couldn't ignore how different she sounded too.
She was just simply quiet but not in a timid way. More like a calculating way. It was entirely discerning for the duo but they did not press any further.
"Looks like we're the lucky ones who get to break into the lab," Knox said, haughtily, exchanging grins with Perry. "What else did the roster say, Cassidy?"
Cassidy turned to face her cohort, suddenly remembering the additional instructions that was required of them. "We have to meet the boss in his office, right away for a little more details. So, let's get to it then, shall we?"
Together in their squad, Butch and Cassidy shuffled in the same direction as Giovanni did earlier, strutting ahead of everyone else. Together they abandoned the corridor, in preparation of beginning this heist.
"What've you found? Any leads?"
"No distinguishable fingerprints, other than the ones belonging to the employees here."
"Has there been any follow up on the missing person?"
"None, Officer Jenny. The workers here say they haven't seen the Gym Leader for two days, and are unable to contact her Pokégear."
Officer Jenny pursed her lips. Since the report of a disappearance, the Cerulean Police have been busy, trying in vain to trace the source of the criminal activity. She and her colleagues were investigating the Cerulean Gym at the moment, checking for clues of prints but all they were able to find was a few suspicious puddles of water. Being a water type gym did not really help much.
The police responded to a call the previous night from a worker at the Gym, claiming that the Gym Leader has been missing, along with a few Pokémon. One of those Pokémon no longer in its holding tank where the puddles of water were found.
"Let's check the security footage again," Jenny suggested.
The police were determined to hunt down who or what was responsible for all the theft across Kanto. And now that a person has disappeared, the threat was getting much closer and much more dangerous.
Midnight arrived several hours later. Everywhere around them, Team Rocket was protected by the cloak of night. The moon was absent in the sky this time, allowing all of Cerulean City and its surroundings to be swallowed by darkness.
Yet, Butch, Cassidy, Perry, Knox and Misty still managed to reach their destination just fine.
The rotating, surveying light from the lighthouse made it easy for them to find. Along with the lab, the lighthouse rested on a high precipice, hovering over an inlet of water that led to the main beach, close to the city. The looming tower stood tall and the closest to the cliff's edge, which was guarded by railing.
With the chill of the ocean air, the darkness of nightfall and eerie silence, save for the gentle waves from the ocean, the tower looked ghostly.
But they weren't going to enter the lighthouse. Their mission was to break into the lab that rested before the tower, which in contrast looked much different. It was a small building, very small, and unlike the aged lighthouse, the lab was still new.
The other squadrons were scattered within the vicinity, keeping guard on the outskirts, camouflaged in their black attire, blending well with the dark skies.
Squadron Two all stood before the laboratory, which no doubt was armed and warded. And after receiving the clear from the others, Butch, Cassidy, Perry, Knox and Misty worked to devise a way to get inside the empty lab.
They had already determined that the doors held electromagnetic locks. Perry quietly sent out her Magneton to set to work undoing the lock. The metal creature emitted a high, magnetic current, which would nullify the electromagnetism in the locks, dispatching its own currents and allowing Team Rocket entry. The sonic waves droned amidst the sound of the waves, nearly lulling the grunts to sleep.
Once that worked, the doors were unlocked. And thanks to the sonic waves, the alarm set up was dispatched, allowing easy entry into the now unguarded lab.
"We're in," Perry whispered, twisting one of the door handles and pushing it open. Quickly her cohorts scurried inside not before Butch gave a thumbs up to the agents that remained outside on guard duty.
The lab was empty just as Giovanni had claimed, and small too. Only a few desks flanked the walls with hovering cabinets above them. A table was stationed at both the front and back of the lab. The table in the back was occupied with two computers, which were off at the moment. Encompassing the back table were tall bookshelves, crammed with heavy, thick tomes and textbooks. While the one in the front held a couple of papers, all neatly stacked in metal bins. Behind the front table hung several maps from the Kanto region to the Sevii Islands, all the way to Kalos.
One notable thing about the lab was that it had another room attached, a window on the wall allowing visual access to the inside. Through the glass, it was much smaller than the lab itself and was empty of desks but had one table, a counter and a sink. Team Rocket would have to search that room too.
But first they had to begin in the lab itself. Each agents picked a spot in the room to begin their pursuit for this stone. Perry took the back, Knox and Cassidy look.
Switching the lights on was forbidden, in the case that someone who was wandering the cliffside noticed movement within the lab. Not to mention that the windows held no curtains or blinds, allowing visibility into the lab. So everyone brandished their small torches, scattered and began their pursuit.
Misty decided to check the separate room since the others were already sifting through the majority of the lab. Making her way to the door, which was not locked, Misty entered the room, inspecting the sink. She found nothing worth noting other than that the sink had some remnants of sand. She deduced that this room was used to wash and store rocks, gems and shells. No sign of stones, yet.
The room barely held anything besides the counter and table, which were both empty.
Resigning to belief that there was nothing to be found here, Misty was about to return to the main lab when her flashlight locked onto a long cabinet at the end of the room. She hadn't noticed this before, likely due to the darkness and because it was past the window.
It was just a plain cabinet, but Misty couldn't dismiss it yet. Stalking swiftly to the cupboard, the redhead, pulled the doors apart and what greeted her was a tray residing on the inner shelf.
Lined in perfection were stones, a few of which were evolutionary stones and colorful shards. Her eyes, however froze at one gem in particular; round, shiny and a blend of red and blue, with a unique looking sigil in the center.
And then Misty realized that she had just found what they were after.
The rough, cragged ground were treaded on with delicate, slow footsteps. Ash, Brock and Pikachu had managed to make their way out of the forest by dusk and were now getting much closer to their destination.
Although, the soft, grassy surface of the forest floor was much more forgiving to their tired and achy feet than the hard, rough trail, which carried on, overlooking the black ocean.
The trio had been walking for hours now and were growing slow in their pace, preferring not to overexert their already numb limbs. It's not to say that they were so worn out that they could not move, but Ash and Brock in particular were becoming just a tad sluggish, an normal side-effect to traveling on foot.
But, they marched forward. After following the light from the tall pillar of the lighthouse while still tucked in the forest, Ash, Brock and Pikachu were relieved to discover that they weren't too far off. If anything, seeing the lighthouse was a good omen, considering their past of getting lost even with maps and proper navigation. Somehow they'd always managed to take a turn and were off trail.
Not this time, though. The three of them were making pretty good time, considering how spontaneous this journey is— well at least for Ash and Pikachu.
There was still hope that they'd reach the city and since they were so close, the trio could not bear to delay any further. It was still only midnight, so once they reached the Pokémon Center, they'd be able to rest properly.
And after spending the first leg of their journey chatting and catching up, Ash and Brock fell into a comfortable, easy-going silence at times, perfectly content, just with the other's company.
The view was obscured by a sheet of darkness. Judging by the sounds of the ocean, the water was still, lacking its usual vigor as though it was asleep.
"Just down this path," Brock noted, peering beyond. "The city is about thirty minutes away by foot."
True to his word, the city skyline was visible beyond the ocean vista.
"Alright," Ash yawned. "Can't wait for that bed at the Pokémon Center."
"Mhm," replied Brock, his voice somewhat hoarse with drowsiness.
However, in the midst of their tired musings, Pikachu's ears picked up a faint sound, similar to voices.
"Pi?" it said in curiosity. Ash and Brock were oblivious to Pikachu's musings.
Within seconds, though, Pikachu saw a few figures hovering near the tower. All were dressed in black and Pikachu instantly tensed, uneasy and untrusting these figures.
The closer they got, the more imposing the figures seemed. And Pikachu was able to make out the figures as humans. Unbeknownst to Pikachu, Ash and Brock had stopped to further admire the tower, talking about its height and reminiscing on when they first saw it.
Pikachu crawled slowly, thirsting with curiosity but also trepidation. The humans were clearly guarding the area; stances stiff in case they need to quickly spring to action, their heads shooting in every direction every minute.
Then there was more movement. This time Pikachu noted that doors swung open, slowly. Coming out were five more bodies and one that seemed to strike Pikachu as too familiar. And the familiarity it was feeling, coinciding with the uneasiness about the other humans made Pikachu act.
Breaking into an agile leap, Pikachu made a beeline towards the front of the lighthouse. "Pika!" it cried.
Ash and Brock looked down, only to find Pikachu sprinting feet away from them.
"Pikachu?" Ash asked, before breaking into a run himself, soon followed by Brock.
"What's it after?" Brock huffed, trailing behind Ash as his muscles contracted with stiffness.
Ash did not reply as he did not know the answer himself. Instead he continued to run, shouting after his Pokémon in befuddlement. "Pikachu, what're you doing?"
"Pika!" came Pikachu's response, resolution in its tone.
"Got the stone?" one grunt that stood guard outside asked as Butch, Cassidy, Perry, Knox and Misty all stepped out.
Misty held the striking stone in her hand, pulling it up in response.
"Cool," the same grunt said, eyes squinting, but even through the darkness the stone held a glint. "Now, let's get going before someone catches us."
"Right," Cassidy agreed. "What about you, any trouble out here?"
"Nah," the grunt said.
"Good," Knox replied. "We better head off to the chopper so we can make it back to base undetected."
"Hold it," Rudy said suddenly, causing everyone to whirl in her direction. Her hands strained in the night as she tried to get a clear glimpse of something small approaching. "I see something coming."
The rest of Team Rocket darted away from the lab's doors to where Perry stood, slightly crouched as she continued to strain her eyes to see. They all saw it too and it drew closer and closer before finally it was obvious that a Pikachu was aiming itself towards them.
"Why's that Pikachu coming over here?" Knox asked, ambivalently. "Is it wild?"
Misty watched too. The Pikachu was swiftly rushing in their direction. She tilted her head a bit, as though dissecting what she was seeing. However, her observation was cut short as the voices of two boys were heard, followed by the owners of those voices.
"Pikachu, wait!" one young boy said, voice a little hoarse, not doubt from running and shouting.
But Pikachu did not stop and wait until it finally appeared before the intruders of the lighthouse. Its tail hiked up and its cheeks sparking with static.
Yet once Pikachu's eyes met Misty's, its stance eased, the sparks dying in its cheeks. "Pikachupi?" it said in confusion, yet as though it was addressing an old friend.
No one said anything, watching Pikachu as it stared at Misty with some sort of yearning. Then skidding to a halt behind it were the two boys.
Butch and Cassidy paled, recognizing these two instantly, despite the very few encounters they've had with them. Still, those run-ins were enough to remain etched on their memories. And then it came to them, these were Misty's friends.
"Pikachu…why—?" Ash began to say before noticing the group of grunts standing before them.
Brock stopped right by Ash's side, also absorbing the sight that stood in front of them. He and Ash stiffened a bit realizing they were in the presence of Team Rocket; their bold 'R' emblem being the dead giveaway.
"Whoever you are, you better scram," Perry hissed, rearing her arm back, a Pokéball clasped into her hand. The others took her lead and all grabbed a Pokéball from their person, not releasing anything yet but just in case.
Ash then stood back, taking a battle stance himself, his hand lowering to his belt. Though his arm dropped limp to his side upon facing a figure before him.
Unable to see clearly at first, but with the help of the passing light from the lighthouse, revealing the visage of the figure. Framed with short, red hair and recognizable green eyes.
Brock followed Ash's gaze and they both stood perplexed. Ash's wide eyes had a hard time registering what he was seeing.
But what made this whole scene more stupefying was that it looked as though they were in accomplices with each other. Ash then took in the sight of his friend brandishing the same 'R' on her attire, matching those of Team Rocket.
He swallowed in disbelief, unsure of how to react. He took one step forward as though he wanted to reach out.
"Misty?" his voice was as soft as a murmur.
But all he was met with was a pair of cold and impassive eyes.
TO BE CONTINUED…
A/N:This chapter has been rewritten. It is still similar to the original draft with a couple of changes.