Chapter Three

Ah, you're back at last. When am I going to see Meowth?
"When I say you can."
Look, not everything I say is a deliberate attempt to annoy you. In fact very few things are. It would be dangerous if I tried to provoke you, so I don't. Why don't you try to loosen up a little? I know that Meowth can be a little confrontational, but that's just his nature. It's like Giovanni. They used to have to be that way to survive. It was there only way to do that. True, that was a long time ago, but old habits die hard. I'm not like that. You really can relax around me.
"Look, I'll put it to you simply, since you don't seem to understand it yet, despite many, many clues. As far as I'm concerned you hurt people for a living. Meowth actually seems proud of it, and you, even if you're not as bad, don't seem guilt- ridden either. As far as I'm concerned, you should both do time, but you get to go into the witness protection programme instead. You have no idea how lucky you are. You're the only people who know anything about Team Rocket. If I hit you a couple of times nobody's going to care though. I can tell them you went for me first. No one here likes you except you. So tell me what I want to know, and nothing else, or be prepared to get hurt. Got it?"
I think you've made your position blatantly obvious.
"Good. Then tell me what happened after you left Giovanni's office, and don't try my patience."
Sure. Why not? When we got back in the elevator I knew that Giovanni had said something very significant to Meowth whilst I wasn't in the room. I was very curious. I also knew immediately that Meowth wouldn't tell me what it was, no matter what. It's a matter of honour with him. If you tell him to keep a secret, he does it. He thinks of it as integrity, no matter if not telling might harm someone. He's always reminded me of a real gangster. I don't just mean the tough guy persona or the Brooklyn accent. He also has all these social codes which he thinks he needs to obey, or else. I've known both him and Giovanni for a long time, so I've had plenty of time to observe and analyze their personality traits. It's also something I seem to have a natural affinity for. I've realized that they both want power, but they go about getting it in completely different ways. If Giovanni wants something, he wants it now, and he had better get it or others will pay. He bullies and refuses to give up in order to win. He'd be very aggressive in a Pokemon battle. Unfortunately, I've never had one with him. Only Meowth had that privilege, but more about that later. I want to keep explaining things in chronological order. Meowth is much more cautious about what he wants. He's an opportunist. Giovanni is well educated, but Meowth is streetwise. He can think on his feet. He wins by lying and cheating. Yet he only manipulates people he doesn't know well. If he comes to think of you as his friend, that gangster mentality comes into it, and he becomes instantly loyal to you. He keeps quiet about his thoughts and emotions. Giovanni seems to proudly put them on display. Yet I do sense something that constantly accompanies Meowth. It's a sort of sadness. I know how clichéd this sounds, but I think he's always been lonely. Even in a room full of people he knows, he seems to be trapped in a cage. He can't touch others, and they can't touch him. I can't say I think he likes feeling like that, but he doesn't seem to be able to let go of the idea that he's an outsider. Giovanni doesn't care about that as far as I can see. He's placed him self up as high as possible, seemingly just so no one can reach him. Despite their differences, in the end Meowth and Giovanni still both fight till the bitter end, in their own ways, to get what they want. It's an overwhelming trait that they both share. They also both hurl anger at the world whenever they are given an opportunity to do so.

The elevator brought us down a surprisingly long way. Instead of maybe two minutes of time inside it, which is what you'd normally expect, we must have been in there for almost five minutes. I guessed we were somewhere deep underground. It was strange being down there. It was another network of corridors, filled with guards. Personally I didn't see any reason for having "AUTHORISED PERSONNEL ONLY" signs everywhere. Even if an unauthorised person could get in, he'd run out in fear after five minutes. I was starting to get the impression that the lower down the building you go, the less inviting everything looks. Or looked. I don't know. The underground corridors were cold. Naked pipes ran along the ceiling, and the metal floor was uncarpeted. The smell of damp prevailed over everything. I started to think about asbestos.
"Nice place we get here hu?" Meowth asked as we walked on.
"It could do with better decoration" I responded.
"We don't even got windows. Though dat's 'cause we couldn't of course. We're underground."
"This place makes me nervous."
"We're nearly there. Oh, and a little bit a' advice; never admit ya nervous now you're a Rocket. In this building you'll look like a wimp. Outside it could be fatal."
"Right."
"Dis is it."
I saw a door just in front of us, with another one of those guards in front of it. It was a sliding metal door. It was almost same as all of the ones I'd seen so far, except the door of Giovanni's office of course. The only difference with this door was there was no handle, or window. It was blank, except for a small panel with numbers on it.
"I.D. please" the guard said when we reached him.
"Here" Meowth said, handing him his card. I did the same. I was amazed that day, although I'm used to it by now, that no one was shocked to see a talking Meowth walking around the building on two legs. Everyone seemed to know him, even if the guards knew it was their job to pretend they didn't. I didn't realize then of course just how long he'd been there.
"There are very few like dis. Da guard enters da code for all of dem, except for da Stadium one. You open dat, as ya heard earlier" Meowth explained, as I watched the guard enter the code. The door opened to reveal a vast warehouse. The floor and the rows of shelves were made of yet more grey metal. The shelves contained boxes filled with Pokemon equipment. Mostly Pokeballs and Pokedexs. The miniature computers weren't for storing information about new Pokemon, like the ones a Trainer would normally use. I learnt that about them later. Team Rocket as a collective entity is familiar with every type of Pokemon. They've even learnt about Legendary types from Team Aqua and Magmar. The Pokedexs were used by the powers that be to monitor how well the lower ranks were doing in their Pokemon Training. They indicate how many we capture, which indicates our skill level. Meowth handed one of these blue, calculator-like devices to me. There had to be at least a hundred of them, and the same number of Pokeballs in the room. With the room's only source of light, dim, flickering bulbs, shinning down on them from the high ceiling. I followed Meowth through the room, past a cart filled with cleaning products.
"Welcome to da collection we…obtained from other Trainers. Da low level Pokemon are over dare" he explained, once he reached the back of the room. I knew exactly what he meant by "Obtained." I saw the boxes with Pokeballs in them had labels on them stating which Pokemon were in them. There were the usual starters there; Bulbasaur, Chimpchar, etc...However, there were also unusual starters there, like Pikachu and Jigglypuff.
"Choose kid. Da world is yours" Meowth said. Pokemon were bigger than mountain bikes, Nintedo DS' and football trading cards. They were what everyone dreamed of having from the very moment they were old enough to know what a Pokemon is. I couldn't wait to have one. I could imagine proudly commanding it in battle, hearing the applause when I won, holding it in my hands when it needed comfort. They are different from pets and different from best friends, but they have the best qualities of both. You know that expression "Your money's burning a hole in your pocket"? Well my Pokeball belt was burning a hole in my stomach. I wanted a Pokeball on that built more than I wanted to keep breathing. In other words, I'd know for years what kind of Pokemon I wanted if I could ever have the chance. I didn't think up till that point that I would ever have the chance. More about why that was later.
"I want a Growlithe. The magnificent dog of fire" I said.
"Was dat rehearsed? It's a pretty flowery way ta describe it" Mowth observed.
"I rehearsed it a little. Please give me one. You won't believe how much I want one."
"Sure. It's a good choice. A friend a' mine had one a' those." Meowth looked sad for a moment. Was this connected with the people called Jessie and James, that he mentioned earlier? I'd have to find out later. For now I was too excited about the Growlithe that was heading my way. Meowth searched the box labels with his eyes for a moment, then tossed a Pokeball in my general direction. I hastily grabbed it. I looked down at it for a few seconds, preparing my self. Thinking that a historic event is now taking place.
"Go Growlithe!" I cried, hurling the 'ball to the floor like I'd seen so many times on TV. I always loved the televised battles. As you might guess I want to be in one someday. Though I guess I've got to keep a low profile from now on.
"You won't be Training again. I can promise you that."
Thanks. You really know how to make me feel welcome.
"You're not welcome. This is a police station. The only person who's welcome here is me, and I bet the taxpayers wouldn't mind getting rid of me. Just get on with the story before I lose anymore of my patience."
Ok. I'm going as fast as I can. So the Pokemon emerged from the 'ball in a flash of golden light, but the light was nothing compared to the creature it surrounded. His claws were stainless steel knives. His fur was a fiery, defiant red. His eyes were an endless black vortex. He was, and still is, magnificent. Please let me see him again. Where are you keeping him? Is he all right?
"I'd be willing to swear before a high court judge that we've already been over this. He's in a kennel. He's being well treated. He'll be returned to you once you give us what we want. There's no point in us hurting him is there? He was just following orders."
I was just following Giovanni's orders. Then Meowth's of course.
"But your Growlithe is-"
Is what? Stupid? Is that what you were about to say? Too stupid to know better? Just a simple Pokemon?
"Don't you dare start an argument with me! Especially one about something so unimportant."
He is not unimportant! He's my Pokemon!
BANG!
"If you raise your voice again, I'll hit you again, and that time it will be harder."
Ok. Ok. I'm calm.
"Good. Now, just to remind you, I do know what Pokemon look like ok?"
I was trying to describe how he looked to me personally.
"Fine. Just continue."
Ok then. So Growlithe and I stared at each other for a few seconds. We were just sizing each other up, both a little uncertain. Then he jumped towards me. I was suddenly horrified that he was about to attack me. Start scratching me or something. I wanted to put my hands up to my face to protect my self, but I was frozen in panic. Growlithe leapt into my arms, and stayed there. He just looked at me. He was a little heavy to be honest, being about two and a half feet long. He weighed about forty pounds.
"I think he's saying he accepts you. Beautiful. Let's go" Meowth said, a little sarcastically. It was true though. It dawned on me that he was, if not exactly my best friend yet, at least willing to see whether or not I am, I was, whatever, a good Trainer. He wasn't grumpy about being kept in a Pokeball for so long either. Both good signs.
"Hey" was all I could say.
"Growlithe" my new Pokemon replied. That was all that needed to be said. We belonged to each other. I decided he should walk by my side, rather than be trapped in a 'ball most of the time. So I put him down. He seemed to understand my intentions, and to be grateful. Now I could concentrate on getting annoyed at Meowth's sarcastic attitude as we made our way out of the warehouse. Growlithe was new to me. He had novelty value. More than that, much more in fact, he was my first Pokemon. He was very important to me, and I knew he would always be. How could Meowth dare to be sarcastic about my attitude towards the importance of my initial meeting with Growlithe? Maybe if he'd been casual I'd have understood it. He had seen this happen to many other Trainers of course. It would still have been irritating, but I could have dealt with it. Being sarcastic was something else though.
"I wish you wouldn't dismiss the importance of what just happened" I told him.
"I've never had a Pokemon. I am a Pokemon. You're a lackey to da guy at da top 'a dis tower, but I'm even lower. I'm a lackey to da lackey. Don't forget dat. Every time I see dis happen I wanna scream" Meowth responded in a quiet, but very harsh voice, so I could tell he was furious. Deliberately so I could tell.
"I find your attitude to me a little unfair."
"And I find your everything a little unfair."
"Meowth, it's not my fault you can't be a Trainer. It's reality's fault and you can't blame reality, so you might as well get over it."
"Ya may have da right ta say dat. Ya might even have da right ta get pissed at me for blaming ya. But I got da right ta fell sorry for my self, and ya can't take that away from me."
"Fine. Enjoy it. On your own. I'm going back to my room."
"No ya not. Like ya said, I gotta show ya da ropes whether I like it or not. If we can't get on wid each other, we can at least get used to each other. I've got more stuff ta show ya. Ya had breakfast yet?"
"I had it before I set off for the HQ."
"Well I didn't, and ya look like ya could at least use a cup of coffee. We're going ta da cafeteria. I'm gonna introduce ya to my friends. Those who haven't been fired yet anyway. Dat's my final word on da matter."
So I went with him. What else could I do?

The cafeteria was a cafeteria. In other words, it was nothing special. The décor favoured practicality over style. The cooking process favoured quantity over quality. The place was filled with wobbly plastic tables and chairs. At least it had windows though, and they showed the outside of the building, which was even better. I felt like I hadn't seen the outside for a long time. It might have had something to do with the fact that I was very tired when I drove up there early that morning, but it was more likely something to do with what had transpired since I got there. To get into the building you have to go through a pair of steel gates monitored by CCTV cameras connected to alarms. Or drive through the brick wall that surrounds the building, but you'd need a tank for that. Once you went through the gates, you could drive down a wide concrete path, or walk along a narrow dirt path, both of which passed through a green field with tress scattered across it. Insect-like Nincadas and Catterpies hung out on the grass, as did Team Rocket members. Whilst bird Pokemon, such as Spearows and Pidgeys, nested above them. I stared at this view once Meowth and I sit at a table with our slop, I mean food, on wooden trays. My companion saw two of his friends coming in, and he waved to them.
"We'll get some food and join you in a minute if that's ok."
"Great."
I watched them as they ordered what I generously call their meals. You probably serve better food in here. I'm not being rude. Take it as a compliment. One of them was fairly similar to me. About my age, height, weight. He was clean shaven though and he looked younger. Kind of eager to please. He was a Grunt. The other was taller. Lanky. He wore glasses and he had, has, greasy black hair. He was an Executive, despite being under thirty judging by appearances. I knew this straight away because the Executives wear a slightly different uniform to the lower ranks. Instead of a one piece uniform, the top is a suit jacket, with a white T-shirt underneath. The basic design and colours are still the same though. When they reached us, the Executive hold out his hand for me to shake, the other didn't. He didn't look hostile though. Anything but. I figured the Executive was just a more formal kind of guy.
"Ben Kails" I said, shaking the Executive's hand.
"Bradley Staunton. This is Justin Bower. Meowth you already know."
"Nah. He just sat down at my table fa no apparent reason" Meowth said.
"So which department do you work for?" I asked anyone who wanted to answer.
"I'm with legal. I'm the guy you should call on any time you make a mess ok?" Bradley responded. He doesn't like the name Brad because he thinks it doesn't suit him. I have to with him on that one.
"Are you going to give me your card now?" I joked.
"I knew there was some reason why I wrote 'Go to printers' in my diary."
"I can wait."
"I'm one of you. I look forward to working with you" said Justin. He meant he is a Grunt.
"Ya don't know him yet" said Meowth. Possibly he was joking, or maybe he was being grumpy. Sometimes it's hard to tell with him.
"I think we've been given a two person assignment" I said hastily, just in case Meowth was being bad tempered, and Justin took offence.
"Interesting. And what would the nature of this assignment be?" Bradley asked. It sounded like curiosity or gossip, but the truth is he probably thought he'd be involved at some point. He's always acted like everything that takes place in the world happens just to please him. This makes him seem smug sometimes. He's a wordsmith too, which doesn't help. It creates a picture of privilege and academic achievement which some people resent. He tends to feel sorry for himself despite this apparent good start in life. He's not really like that though. Everyone in Team Rocket seems to have surface gloss, or, more usually, rust. They present a picture to the world that's not real in order to protect their true natures. Bradley always does the right thing in the end. He just claims that he won't, and that no one has the right to ask him to. Justin is the exception to the surface rust rule. He has depths. He presents whatever emotion he is genuinely feeling at the time. He can be funny, sad, interesting, sympathetic, rebellious, angry, nervous…the list is endless. On the day I first met him, Justin was nervous. That was why he was being so quiet. He only gets that way when he's nervous or depressed. Some would call him random, though you certainly couldn't call him volatile. That's what Giovanni was. Justin was too polite and kind to let you see fierce anger or jealousy, or any other emotion that might hurt others. He did his best to only do that when he was alone. Only occasionally would it show through whilst he was with others. In those instances it was so passionate and sudden that it was scary, but it was very rare. He usually apologised afterwards. Others did it all the time and didn't care about the consequences.
"Can I tell them?" I responded to Bradley's question, though I directed it to Meowth.
"Dare're harmless."
"Was that a compliment or an insult?" Bradley asked.
"You know me" Meowth replied.
"That's why I'm worried."
I leaned closer to Bradley and Justin, in a conspiratorial manner, and checked the canteen for anyone who might be listening.
"Brad…I mean Bradley, Justin, Meowth and I are going to bring down the Elite Four."
"How?" Justin asked, his observations clearly still very sensible, but monosyllabic.
"Giovanni's been claiming for years that he'll do it one day. I doubt he really means it this time" Bradley said.
"You sound like you're against this" I said, laughing. The truth was though that I was starting to panic a little. I must admit I was just starting to get excited about my first assignment, and my first chance to go on the Pokemon trail. Meanwhile, Growlithe was living up to his name and his nature as my loyal, dog-like Pokemon.
"Calm down. They aren't hurting me" I told him.
"My Vulpx is a bit like that. I think it's just that they're both fire types" Justin said. I noted that this was the first insight into his personal life that he'd allowed me to have so far, albeit a small one.
"Look, all I know is I'm going to be the Trainer, Meowth and Growlithe are going to be my Pokemon, and we're going to beat the Elite Four in a battle after going on the gym trail" I told the others.
"Well good luck. You'll need it. It's an audacious plan" Bradley said.
"I like 'Audacious' plans" Justin said.
"Ok. Enough with the thriller movie dialogue. I'm getting sick of this. I need a break. I'm going to find Meowth. At least he tells me about people who really matter, like Giovanni."
You told me to tell you this stuff. I-
"Don't you dare!"
Ok. Don't go crazy. I'll see you later.