Now then from Ash's last stand point, it has been a mere few short hours since Ash put on his new uniform. It is indeed rather fetching with Ash's uniform being a black under shirt with a big red letter R. His jacket is a short sleeve open jacket that is grey in color, with pants, and boots, plus he wears black fingerless gloves. To top it off both literally and figuratively, Ash wears a hat almost like a ball cap but with a round flat top. Now then in Giovanni's office, he tells Ash what his first mission is going to be. Giovanni tells Ash that he wants all of the main Pokémon Gyms under his domain. The first one he wants Ash to visit is the Gym Leader in Pewter City by the name of Brock. His specialty is rock Pokémon and are proven to be quite powerful indeed. Giovanni wants that power for Team Rocket and tells Ash to make Brock join willingly. Although if Brock will not join, then the gym is to be demolished and to simply move on to the other gyms.

Ash understands his mission quite clear, but does have to tell Giovanni his only Pokémon is his Raichu. Which everyone knows electric types are not strong against rock types, so then Giovanni gives Ash a water Pokémon. It happens to be a very powerful Blastoise that Giovanni tells Ash has a full range of attacks. It is strictly for loan and that Ash will need to capture more Pokémon for himself. Ash understands that and will return the Blastoise when he completes his mission that Giovanni bestowed upon him. So then Ash makes his journey by jet to Pewter City where he intends to fulfill Giovanni's order without fail. As he makes way, Giovanni now alone asks for apparently another young agent to enter his office. He's another young man with auburn colored hair. Giovanni speaks, "Welcome Agent Ritchie. I know you will be a valuable asset to Team Rocket. You even performed higher than Agent Ketchum on your entrance exams. Which is why I want the two of you to be my new Team Rocket duo. As soon as he returns from the mission I gave him, then your partnership will begin at once."

Ritchie understands indeed and is excited to be working along side Ash and will show he has the guts to be Ash's partner. Now then with that settled, Ash has reached the Pewter City Gym and can see the building first hand. Its appearance is very similar to a large gravel quarry, but that can not distract him. As slams the door open, then walks in and speaks, "I am here to speak to the Pewter City Gym Leader! Show yourself now or else!" He does appear as a light shines with the Gym Leader sitting on some kind of a platform. His back is turned to Ash and he asks if Ash is here for a Gym Battle. Ash states he is not, but tells Brock he is a member of Team Rocket. Which by order of said organization: Brock must turn over his gym to them at once or suffer greatly. Brock does not intend to surrender so lightly and if he is to comply in some form, then Ash must battle him. So then Ash must accept, so then Brock summons his first Pokémon which is an Onix.

It has a very large snake appearance with a horn that sticks from the center of its head and lets out a loud roar. Ash sees what he is up against, so he sends out the Blastoise that Giovanni gave him. Now Blastoise being a water type will give Ash a tactical advantage against a rock type, but that will not just get him victory. Ash must have confidence as well as compitence in facing his opponent. Now while Ash has never been in a real battle before, Ash has gone over many simulations and strategies. So then Ash begins by commanding Blastoise to use its water gun attack which is very effective. Onix roars in agony, as all rock type Pokémon hate water and cannot stand the slightest touch. Brock orders for Onix to shake it off and so now he commands it to use rock throw. Onix grabs rocks with its powerful tail and suddenly begins tossing them at Blastoise. Ash commands for it to duck inside its own shell to withstand the rock throw. It works, so then Ash commands for Blastoise to use its hyper beam attack which being a fully evolved Pokémon it is capable of doing.

The hyper beam indeed proves to be very powerful and takes Onix out in a single blast. So then Brock must recall his Pokémon and has to admire Ash's skill, although he merely states it could be luck. Ash does not believe in the concept of luck and so then he demands Brock to relinquish his gym to Team Rocket at once. Brock gets a shock when his brothers and sisters grab Ash and try to hold him down. They refuse to allow Brock to turn over his gym which then Ash struggles to free himself. Brock demands for them to let Ash go however they do not intend to do so. As so then Ash is forced to come up with a solution to end this conflict once and for all. Ash commands Blastoise to turn to Ash at once which then he states, "Listen Brock, you will turn over your gym to me or else. As in unless you do so or else I command Blastoise to use his hyper beam on all of us. Wouldn't that be interesting how a Gym Leader would sacrifice his family over something as trivial as a gym?"

Brock doesn't believe Ash at first as then Ash himself would get caught in the crossfire too. However Ash commands for Blastoise to get ready to use it which then Brock concedes this argument. Ash tells Blastoise to stand down and then shakes Brock's siblings off of him, then orders Blastoise to return to its Poké Ball. Ash then leaves the building and outside he contacts Giovanni by phone. He reports the mission was a success and Pewter Gym belongs to Team Rocket now. That is indeed good news, but Ash comments he needed to use a little leverage to make it so. As he put Brock's family in harm's way in order for Brock to submit to Ash's demands. Giovanni finds than enlightening and commends Ash for using such brute tactics. He then orders Ash to return to base for he then says, "From now on Ash you will be working with a partner. Return at once, he has already been chosen." Ash obeys his boss and soon will return to base by the Team Rocket jet he used to come to the gym.

Ash has now made it back to Team Rocket headquarters where he returns the Blastoise to Giovanni. Which is very good and now Giovanni introduces Ash to his new partner Ritchie. The two young men meet face to face now with both Ash and Ritchie shaking hands. Ritchie is happy to work with Ash, as he has heard much about Ash and his tactics, plus just heard about what went along at Pewter Gym. However Giovanni gives the new order, "Gentlemen with this victory over the Pewter Gym I am confident more will fall easily. So your next task is to go to the Orange Islands. The two of you will meet with Professor Ivy and take a very rare Poké Ball from her. It is called the GS Ball and this particular Poké Ball can possibly benefit Team Rocket. Especially if we can figure out if there is a powerful Pokémon inside of it. Now go there at once and do not return until it is in your hands."

Both young agents bow to Giovanni and vow to get the GS Ball for their boss and will do it at all cost. Both of them are going by jet and Ash simply stares out the window and Ritchie tries to make a conversation. Ash has to say, "Listen Ritchie, I'm sure you're a good agent and all, but I don't need a partner. I completed my first mission on my own and I don't need a partner that will only slow me down." Ritchie can understand what Ash means, but he personally requested to be Ash's partner. Ritchie wanted to see what Ash can do and feels that he can even show Ash a thing or two. As Ritchie has to comment he scored higher than Ash on the entrance exams. Ash has to scold Ritchie a bit, but before he can too much, their pilot alerts the pair. It seems they have finally arrived here at the Orange Islands and he is preparing to land at once. Ash first states he wants a full aerial view of the island and then the pilot can land which the pilot obeys.

Ash wishes for this as he wants to get a view at all the different Pokémon that can be seen on the islands. As he figures since they're here, then the both of them can catch some Pokémon and send them strait to Giovanni. They've circled the island enough and now it's time to land and get this GS Ball from Professor Ivy. On the ground at last, the jet landed in a forest that is littered with all sorts of different Pokémon. Which means it is time to do a little capturing. Ash calls forth his Raichu while Ritchie seems to summon a Vaporeon and so then they do battle. Raichu and Vaporeon do a double hyper beam attack and hit the Pokémon in the surrounding area. Then with a combination water gun and thunderbolt attacks, more Pokémon fall before them. So the Team Rocket grunts inside the jet with them begin tossing Poké Balls and soon the Pokémon are captured. With that settled Ash and Ritchie go forth and plan to take the GS Ball from Professor Ivy.

Who as it happens, is inside her laboratory studying the GS Ball on her computer, but there is no luck. She tells her herself, "Cracking the GS Ball is a lot harder than I expected, but I am adamant at unlocking its secrets." Another voice from behind her simply states maybe he can open it for her. She turns around to see Ash, as well as Ritchie, who both demand she relinquish the GS Ball to them. Professor Ivy refuses to give it to them, so then Ash and Ritchie summon their Pokémon. Professor Ivy summons her own Pokémon which so happens to be a Nidoqueen. She commands it to use dynamic punch only for them to dodge with speed and grace. Vaporeon is ordered to attack it with swift attack, which Nidoqueen dodges and uses an ice beam attack. Ash sees Ritchie is not fairing well so then Raichu is ordered to attack Nidoqueen. He orders Raichu to attack its horn, which it does and causes Nidoqueen extreme pain.

Raichu is then ordered to get Professor Ivy out of the way, which it accomplishes and allows Ash to get the GS Ball. It is in Ash's hands and now it is time for both Ash and Ritchie to make their escape. Professor Ivy tries to go after them, but Raichu holds her back with its thunderbolt attack. She is down for the count and now both Ash and Ritchie make way back to their jet. Which on board Ash tells Giovanni of their good fortune with obtaining the GS Ball, as well as capturing a whole mess of Pokémon. He is glad to hear such news and congratulates them both on a job well done. Giovanni orders them back for their next mission and promises to reward them both in the future. Ash and Ritchie look at each other and shake hands at a job well done. Both are indeed proud of themselves and with this success they are having, their egos spike. Quickly followed with both of them having a very sinister laugh and soon more Pokémon will be captured by this new sinister partnership.

TO BE CONTINUED...