Note: Just a warning that this is not only very much not M1, but also Mewtwo is very much not M1 Mewtwo. The original first movie is great, just not where we're going here.

66: Mew vs. Mewtwo

Jessie returned Mew to its immaculately polished pokeball, grinning at her defeated opponent as she did. She shook hands with the man who had thought he might beat her, though he really hadn't stood a chance. Jessie denied further challengers as she exited the arena outside Team Rocket's formerly secret headquarters. She'd become known as the Mew trainer, maybe because she was one of the few the boss allowed to train Mew, and the only who actually completed battles with it.

But Mew didn't really seem like it was Jessie's pokemon. Even though Jessie had technically caught it, that had been for all of Team Rocket. Mew was definitely lent out to her, and there was some distance besides that. Mew didn't seem to have developed as much of a bond as Arbok, or even Lickitung, as annoying as the latter was. It listened to Jessie more often than other trainers, but still did what it wanted a lot of the time. After feeding it and letting it train some, Jessie was ready to give it back.

"Hey, Jess!" Meowth hopped up, trying to get her attention.

"Out of the way," Jessie said, stepping around the pokemon. "I need to get Mew back before those scientists get too antsy about it being gone."

"Where's your partner?" Meowth asked as it went into the building after her.

"Who knows when James would even come back, anyway..." Jessie muttered.

She hadn't seen him in several years. When returning to Kanto, Cassidy had gone to visit. She'd invited Jessie, who had declined, not wanting to get in the way of family matters. Based on other conversation, it was easy to assume that Cassidy would stay with the kid and James would be back, but that hadn't been the case. James stayed right where he'd been and still was, while Cassidy came right back. "I don't want to uproot him again. He's doing so well," Jessie's temporary partner had said. "I'll figure something out when he's done with comp-ed."

"Are you leaving Team Rocket then?" Jessie had asked.

Cassidy had just shrugged in response. "For now, we're getting all the bonuses and accolades, aren't we? But I wonder if Team Rocket has any further use for me now that they have Mew."

So, she might go, but at least for the moment, Cassidy was still around and James was gone. Talking to him on the phone didn't sound fun at all, so Jessie didn't call, just looked forward to him returning, if he ever did. Though it would be fun to celebrate Team Rocket's rapidly approaching success with him, he was free to do whatever he wanted.

"I'm talking about the lady partner!" Meowth said, interrupting Jessie's sulky musings.

Oh, right, people did see her and Cassidy as field partners now. They'd gone overseas together and caught Mew. Now, even though they were back and often assigned to separate tasks, people still grouped them as a pair. "Who knows. I'm not her baby-sitter," Jessie said.

"The boss wants her! Help me find her before you go up to the lab, stat!" Meowth demanded.

Jessie laughed to herself. She went along with the request without resistance, maybe because Meowth ordering her around seemed so nostalgic. Eventually, they found Cassidy returning to her desk. "Hurry up! The boss wants you now!" Meowth said, jumping up and slamming its foot on her stack of books to get her attention.

Cassidy hardly seemed to like being pushed around by the pokemon herself, but still came along. Instead of going to the staircase that led to the boss's office, Meowth followed Jessie over to the lab. The boss was there, and greeted them both. "There you are!" he boomed toward Cassidy, but approached them both with a grin. "Would you all like to be privy to the results of our current top secret project?" he asked.

"You're really gonna tell me, boss?!"

The rocket boss glanced down at Meowth before up at the two humans. "Of course. Soon, everyone in our organization will know. You'll all be the first," Giovanni declared. "Come in," he invited, opening a door. Inside, there was a video call setup. "This is a live feed from our actual secret location," Giovanni informed.

Meowth hopped on the table, looking closely at the pokemon in the large tube on the screen. "What is that?" it wondered.

"Looks like Mew," Jessie said, outlining the shape of the sleeping pokemon's head with her finger. "But it's different."

"Was it your plan to create more mew?" Cassidy asked.

"Jessie is correct, this is different from Mew," Giovanni continued. "This is Team Rocket's own created pokemon, Mewtwo."

Mew released itself from the pokeball, floating close to see the new pokemon for itself. "Mew?" it called.

"The boss means what he says," Meowth replied.

"Are you curious about your own genetic legacy?" Giovanni asked the elusive pokemon. "Yes, this was created partially using the sample we got from you. Of course, Mewtwo will be superior to you in many ways."

"Mew..." Mew called, sinking lower as it flew in a circle in front of the screen.

"Maybe if you listen up, he'll tell you," Meowth said.

"We've been experimenting with creating pokemon for quite some time. There were many failures. Our own early attempts failed to stabilize enough to even live. That Cinnabar scientist may have made a pokemon that successfully exists, but that's all. It was completely weak. But with information from it, that scientist's cohort, other sources, our own experiments... We've been able to perfect the technology. You two arrived just in time for us to start the Mewtwo experiment." Giovanni nodded at Jessie and Cassidy. "Mewtwo isn't just a copy of Mew. It's a complete perfection of Mew, and all pokemon. It's stronger, all weaknesses removed."

"Mew isn't weak," Cassidy pointed out, folding her arms.

"Certainly not," Giovanni said. "But Mewtwo is beyond any pokemon that's existed before. That's why I wanted you here. I'll need you to help arrange for every trainer on staff to go to a location. I'll put you to work categorizing them by relative strength. We'll test Mewtwo's powers. I'm fairly sure it will defeat all of them." Cassidy nodded in response to his request.

"E-Every trainer on staff?" Jessie repeated.

"Yes. Not just field agents, but any scientists, assistants, or office staff that may have any pokemon as well," Giovanni clarified, looking with satisfaction at the pokemon on the screen.

"You mean every Team Rocket trainer that exists? This pokemon can beat them... But not all at once, right?" Jessie asked.

"All at once was the idea," Giovanni said. Jessie responded by yelping in surprise. He laughed. "Are you starting to understand the magnitude of this, Jessie?"

"I guess I'll believe it when I see it," Jessie said with a shrug.

"You will," Giovanni said with a nod. "This created pokemon is such an improvement that soon all others, such as Meowth and even Mew here, will be obsolete."

"Mew?" Mew questioned.

"What?" Meowth ignored everything else, glaring at the screen before looking back at Giovanni tearfully. "You don't mean it, do you boss?"

"Stop moping," Jessie chided. "Of course he's just exaggerating. Pokemon aren't a computer that goes obsolete or anything. You're powerful creatures that keep getting stronger. Any created pokemon will work alongside the ones we already have. You're all important. Right, boss?" Jessie looked over her shoulder.

Giovanni paused only a moment. "Of course," he eventually said. "You two get to work on categorizing the trainers. Wendy downstairs should have a complete list."

"Yes, boss," Jessie and Cassidy agreed before turning toward the door. Jessie returned Mew before they finally left.

"The boss is really overly zealous today, isn't he," Cassidy commented as she sat at her assigned desk studying the list of Team Rocket members.

"And why shouldn't he be, if what he says is true?" Jessie replied. The other woman didn't respond, just got to work. Jessie mostly sat to the side as Cassidy remained absorbed in the task. Though occasionally asking for Jessie's input, it seemed Cassidy was content to rank Team Rocket's trainers all on her own. How boring. Jessie had only been roped in by being there when the boss had called for her apparent field partner. Then again, that was the price of knowing about the exciting news before anyone else. If Mewtwo was really that powerful, Team Rocket would certainly be able to assert its authority in ruling the region, and then the world.

"Pst."

Jessie caught sight of her pokemon friend on the floor, peeking around the corner. "What is it?" she whispered.

"Guess what!" Meowth replied in its own whisper.

Cassidy peered up from her work, sharply glancing their way. "You two are distracting," she said as she flipped a paper. "If you want to gossip, go elsewhere. Don't give away what the boss told us. I'm sure he wants to be the one to share the news."

Jessie waited until she was outside before she spoke again. "As if I need anyone else to tell me to obey the boss."

"Yeah, I know! That lady's even bossier than you," Meowth said.

"You're one to talk about anyone else being bossy," Jessie commented, then shook her head. "Never mind. Was there something else to do with Mew- um, you know."

Meowth shook its head. "It's not that!" it declared happily. "Guess who's back."

"James?" Jessie questioned. Well, it had been implied that James might return after his kid was done with comp-ed, and it was April already, so about that time.

"Yeah, he's over there." Meowth motioned toward the area behind the main building. "And-"

Before Meowth could finish, Jessie took off running. She spotted James leaning against a building, gazing toward the practice arena. "James!" Jessie called. She and James ran toward each other, then embraced in a hug. "I thought you might not come back," she said.

"I told you I would," James said, beaming at her as they broke their hug. "There's no way I'd miss out on Team Rocket history."

"I should have known you wouldn't," Jessie said. "There is a lot happening soon, actually. Per the boss's order, I don't want to give away too much. But you might say Team Rocket's almost ready to soar throughout the galaxy."

James snickered. "From what I hear, our white tomorrow is almost here!" he declared, clenching his fist as he grinned in satisfaction. "We can discuss that later. What about you? I've heard you've gained status as the captor of Mew, and its trainer. That's so amazing, Jessie!"

"That's overstating things, but only a little," Jessie said. "I did catch Mew with Cassidy. I happened to be the one to throw the pokeball that caught it. Since then I helped train it, but it's not my pokemon."

"It's still quite impressive," James complimented as he smoothed his hand down Jessie's shoulder. "We should celebrate any success."

Jessie touched James's glove, then held his hand, the two of them squeezing their hands together as they smiled at each other. It was just so good to see her longtime companion again that Jessie could hardly stand it. Maybe it was an even better feeling than the time she'd presented Mew to the boss. Of course, James had things going on himself since they'd been separated, of course, so she shouldn't just concentrate on herself and her feelings. "What about yours?" Jessie asked.

"I'm afraid I wasn't able to accomplish anything like you have," James said. "Not that I had planned to. I was occupied with many other tasks."

"Right, of course." That was why he'd left in the first place. "What you did was important too, you know," Jessie declared.

James nodded. "Well, yes. It absolutely was," he said. "My dear son can be quite independent, but the care I provided him was vital to his growth. He's such an incredible person, Jessie. And you wouldn't believe how delightful! I know he's getting older, but he really is still cute, too. He gets excited over the smallest things! It's been so fun to show him everything!"

Jessie smirked. Of course James was always going to instantly become the perfect, doting parent. Even seeing how he'd tripped up and hearing his previous stupid thoughts on the subject, she'd really had no doubt of that. Thinking of the boy James spoke of, Jessie glanced from side-to-side, noting they were alone. "What did you do with the kid, anyway?" she wondered.

"Well, he's too young to go out on his own completely," James said.

"Oh, really?" Jessie said with some amusement. That was quite the difference in James's attitude. Before leaving, James had acted ready to throw the kid to the wolves immediately upon turning ten.

"Yes, especially without pokemon," James said with a nod. "So I brought him here with me and managed to get him a pokemon!"

"Huh? He's here? At HQ?" Jessie tried to spot him, but didn't see him anywhere around.

James nodded. "The boss approved him to join, of course," he informed. "Jonathan is quite intelligent for his age. He learned a lot about pokemon staying where we did, with other trainers, and he's eager to learn more. I'm sure he'll be one of Team Rocket's best agents as he grows. Ooh!" James prodded Jessie away, heading toward one of the storage sheds. "There he is!"

The kid walked next to Mondo, dressed in a Team Rocket uniform. "Hello, senpai," Mondo greeted. "I could only find an old style uniform in his size. It works for now, doesn't it?"

James shouted out happily. "Look, Jessie! Look at him in the little uniform, with that petite hat! Isn't he adorable?"

The kid was wearing one of those pageboy hats that were given to them upon recruitment. Newbies wore them, while most seasoned agents had long lost them and stopped trying to replace them, especially when they started to be seen as a marker of low rank. Jonathan pulled his own over his eyes, probably embarrassed since he was long past the toddler age when he might like adults to coo over him and call him 'adorable'. James ran over and hugged him, jostling the hat which Jonathan again adjusted. Despite any embarrassment, James's kid smiled, appearing happy overall.

"Look sharp there, rookie. We'll be counting on you," Jessie said, and the boy nodded back. "Now," Jessie began, walking toward the pair as she motioned toward the field. "I heard you have a pokemon. Are you ready for a practice battle?"

"Ready," Jonathan said, taking out his pokeball with a nod and smile. They went over to the practice field, waiting their turn while other agents battled. Mondo and Meowth both joined them, the group of them jovially commenting about the matches and pokemon in front of them. "Jessie, you have a normal type like that one, don't you?" Jonathan said, pointing toward the wigglytuff on the field.

"Hm?" Jessie turned, surprised the little one knew her name, let alone her pokemon. "Not exactly the same, but that's right, a normal type. Maybe you want to battle against it?" she said, taking out Lickitung's pokeball.

Jonathan's mouth parted slightly and his eyes widened. But he eventually smiled and nodded, gripping his own pokeball and staring at her seriously. Jessie giggled maniacally. Maybe James's supposedly over-sensitive kid had what it took for Team Rocket after all. They stepped onto the field once it was their turn. "Go, Lickitung!" Jessie said.

"Go, Exeggcute!" Jonathan shouted, tossing out his own pokeball. Since he was an amateur that may not have even battled before, he tossed it haphazardly and it landed too close to him. But Exeggcute in all six parts soon bounced ahead to the correct position on its own, seeming more than ready for the battle.

So that was his pokemon? Jessie imagined James had been able to commandeer this one for his son because of how much their co-workers had dismissed the species, commenting how it looked like it could be broken as easily as eggshells. Jessie had considered picking it up for her own team, but thought better, given all of the time needed for her other pokemon and current responsibilities including training Mew. But it seems that had just left it open for this kid, so it was all for the best after all. Jessie knew James's son would absolutely give this pokemon the best of care.

That didn't mean she was just going to let them win the way she'd let the younger Jonathan initially win all those stupid board games against her back when they'd first met. Maybe it was in the realm of possibility that they might be the victors, but that chance was slim. They'd be going against the esteemed Mew trainer, after all. Jessie grinned as she pointed forward and gave her first order, "Lickitung, stomp!"

"Exeggcute, barrage!" Jonathan's order came immediately after. The larger Lickitung towered over the series of little eggs, ready to trample. It stomped on one egg, the others shouting in surprise, and raised its foot again before Exeggcute's barrage began. The first projectile hit Lickitung right in the forehead. Lickitung's eyes and mouth went wide. As the large normal type seemed to try and figure out what was going on, the second projectile of Exeggcute's attack went right into its mouth.

Lickitung's eyes opened even wider, the normally vacant-faced pokemon's expression showing definite shock. "Lickitung!" Jessie shouted. That was an effect of the attack that she hadn't expected, not that she'd ever gone against any other exeggcute. Was it choking?

No, Lickitung's face soon returned to normal as it swallowed. Afterward, its mouth opened wide in a sort of smile. "Licki!" it called, charging toward Exeggcute who had partially retreated at that point, then licking three of its faces with its large tongue. The newbie pokemon seemed to roll over, or at least some of its egg-like parts did, likely paralysis. But Lickitung went to use its lick technique again.

"No! Wait!" Jonathan shouted.

"Lickitung thinks it's found an after meal snack!" James lamented, pulling at his hair.

"Are you battling or dreaming of a buffet?" Meowth asked.

"Exeggcute isn't really eggs! It isn't food!" Jonathan said.

"Lickitung! You get fed enough!" Jessie said. Stomping one foot onto the field was enough to get her often misbehaving pokemon to take one step backward, subtly glancing up with apparent guilt. "Don't act all innocent! We all saw you thinking about it." Jessie folded her arms, furrowing her brow at her pokemon.

"Licki..." Lickitung bounced back toward its trainer, apparently still trying to deny its thought.

Jonathan stepped onto the field, checking his pokemon as he laughed. "Exeggcute is fine. It's all paralyzed from the lick attack, though." James came onto the field with a container, likely of the paralyze heal. Both he and Jonathan kneeled down to treat the pokemon. Jonathan lifted up the various parts, patting and comforting them while James sprayed. Jonathan kept talking as they did. "Did you know all the different parts of Exeggcute all think as one? It's five faces, one pokemon! They all work together! They just seem separate until they evolve."

Jessie did know, actually, but still let the enthusiastic boy tell her and the rest present all about his new pokemon. "Not bad for a first battle," she complimented once he had returned his pokemon, all of them stepping off the field. "And evolution..." Jessie paused a moment in thought. "Hey, isn't this one of those pokemon that can use an evolution stone, like James's was?" she asked Mondo, who sat in the spectator's area as they walked by.

"It is!" James replied instead. "I had nearly forgotten."

"Right... I'm sure I can get one approved for your use," Mondo said.

"That's so exciting!" James shouted, putting a hand on his son's shoulder. "Don't you think so?" he asked. "Exeggcute will get to evolve already!" Jonathan nodded back with the same grin as his father. Jessie chuckled at the happy scene of parent and child. Seeing the two of them there at the base together, happy, getting along, and ready to stay with each other as family while working toward Team Rocket's goals, gave a definite sense of satisfaction. There was happiness for James for being able to find this kind of bond, but a background feeling that something she'd been waiting a long time for had come to fruition. Maybe the world wasn't always terrible after all.

Bright lights flickered on, illuminating the large tank. The surrounding supportive liquid drained, leaving the pokemon to sit on the ground. Nearby, footsteps, voices, and shouts of other pokemon could be heard. Eventually, the man that had visited several times before slowly walked within view of the contained pokemon, a smaller creature following at his feet.

"It must be dull in there," the man said. "Wouldn't you like to leave for more excitement?" There was a pause, the only sound being the buzz of the lights along with a slow drip of water. The man glanced down at the creature next to him.

"It's not saying anything, boss," the small pokemon replied.

The man stepped forward, looking in the tank. "I know pokemon. You're not content to stay like this. You all have a drive to battle. Wouldn't you like to try again? I'm ready to provide a much better challenge than before. Are you willing to give it a try?" the man goaded.

The memory of the previous battle was still fresh in mind. The feeling of using a technique to defeat the other pokemon had been the most exciting yet. That kind of experience was much better than the current dingy reality of sitting alone in this place.

"Looks like you are," the man said as they met eyes. He chuckled. "I should have known you'd be eager. Looks like there was no need for you, Meowth. Mewtwo has its own ways of telling me it's ready to fight."

"Is that really what it's saying?" the smaller pokemon inquired, its face scrunching up in confusion. "I didn't hear anything at all."

"Yes," the man asserted. "What else could the pokemon created to be the most powerful in existence want? I'll provide it with the challenge it seeks, and it will provide Team Rocket with the status we deserve."

"Alright! The most valuable pokemon there ever was is Team Rocket's! You're the best, and you're gonna prove Team Rocket's the best too! Everybody's gonna love you."

Hm? Now Mewtwo's focus was on the small pokemon that jumped and cheered for it. The warm sentiment and declaration of its worth replaced the previous dreariness with a different sort of feeling than the battle. The other pokemon's admiring words and the human's direction solidified the idea that battling and winning was the path to everything it needed.

Mewtwo accepted being drawn into the pokeball. When it was let out, it found itself surrounded by many other pokemon. Their energy attacking indicated the battle was more of a sport, though they were ganging up on it, quite the difference from the single pokemon it had gone against during its first battle. Mewtwo used its telekinesis to throw some of them away. "Mewtwo!" the human that had sent it out shouted. "Enough of that, use psychic!"

Mewtwo had performed the named technique several times thus far. It extended its arms, starting it now. The extended energy of the psychic technique encased all surrounding pokemon before they were knocked out. Mewtwo stood at attention, hardly satisfied with such a quick conclusion. Soon enough, other pokemon appeared. "Mewtwo, thunder!" the human ordered. Mewtwo raised its arms, summoning lightning bolt after lightning bolt, which caused the pokemon around it to fall one after being hit. Several got up to barrage it again. "Now, gust!" Hearing the order, Mewtwo circled its hands as it stirred up wind, the invisible force of air itself picking various off the ground and causing them to cry out. Eventually all the pokemon that had tried to attack it were enveloped by the light of their pokeballs and disappeared, leaving Mewtwo the only pokemon on the field.

"You see?" the man that had directed Mewtwo now spoke to the surrounding humans. "This is evidence of both the might and ingenuity of Team Rocket."

The various humans around all cheered and spoke various words about how extraordinary Mewtwo was, emphasizing how much they loved having it as a part of their group. Mewtwo got ready to battle again and keep those sentiments strong. Before the next set of trainers sent out their pokemon, a woman shouted out in dismay. "Mew- It just let itself out!" she said.

"Mew, mew," the pokemon called, then continued to express itself. It called quickly, its sentiments hitting Mewtwo poignantly. The others around them had said Mewtwo was wonderful, a delight to have here, battling. This pokemon thought Mewtwo was a bane to humans, an insult to other pokemon, and shouldn't even exist. Mewtwo's makeup was dangerous, it implied.

"Mew! Get back here!" the woman shouted while holding out the pokeball. A light beamed through the area from the pokeball device to try and bring it back in as the small, floating pokemon teleported around it, continuing to degrade Mewtwo.

"It's fine," the man in charge spoke. "The original would like to battle the improvement? I'd been planning such a match up anyway."

Mewtwo got ready. This 'Mew' deserved to be knocked down for trying to destroy the reprieve Mewtwo had gotten, being surrounded by and valued by so many others. Mewtwo was valuable, that was what they all said. If Mew wanted to erase that, then maybe Mew should be the one to be erased instead.

Without being asked, Mewtwo reached its arm forward, enveloping Mew with psychic energy. Mew flipped in the air before calling out, "Mew!" As it did, rocks began to appear around Mewtwo, hitting the created pokemon one after another. Mewtwo sunk lower and lower, faltering before it hit the ground. "Mew!" Mew howled in a low call, flying forward in a dash toward its opponent.

"Rock type attacks? Now earthquake, maybe!" Mew's trainer of sorts ordered. Mew followed her advice, and the ground shook around the larger pokemon. Mewtwo winced, not calling out at all.

"Mewtwo, hyper beam!"

Mewtwo picked itself off the ground as it heard the order. It now telekinetically floated in the air as it put its arms together, pointing them toward the smaller yet similar pokemon in the sky. A massive amount of energy formed, shooting toward Mewtwo's opponent, the white beam seeming to get even more intense as it approached its target. Mew was hit, blown away by its force. The formerly elusive pokemon was momentarily unseen by any observers before it appeared again, circling around in a spiral as it descended back toward the arena. "Mew, mew!" it called at Mewtwo, wanting it to be careful.

Was care needed for a battle to prove the worth of one's existence? Mewtwo made its own decision for its next move and began gathering energy, which formed into a single, dark ball. "Wh-what is that?" the supposed trainer of Mew stammered.

"A previously unknown technique?" The revered man that had taken Mewtwo out of the tank it was born nodded with approval. "As expected from Team Rocket's finest creation." Mewtwo threw the concentrated ball of ghostly energy toward Mew, who cried out in pain as it was hit. "Keep hitting your predecessor with that, Mewtwo!"

The words fueled Mewtwo, giving it still more energy. Not paying attention to the human directing Mew and ignoring the smaller pokemon's own attempts at offense, Mewtwo continued relentlessly attacking the hateful pokemon with the technique that formed shadows in a ball, following the important man's orders completely. Mew fought back with just as much fury, enveloping Mewtwo in various psychic, fire, ice, and electric attacks. Eventually, as one final dark sphere of Mewtwo's energy hit, the small pokemon curled up, spiraling toward the ground. The woman that had previously been unable now caught it with the pokeball's beam.

Mewtwo flexed as the humans and even some of the pokemon cheered for it. It couldn't lose, wouldn't lose. No one could question its worth, which far outmatched anyone that criticized it.

Murmurs of excitement and various whoops of elation could be heard as the boss declared Mewtwo the winner and returned the created pokemon to its pokeball. He then started talking about the next steps. Mewtwo's strength, and by extension, Team Rocket's strength, would be shown to the public at large in a flashy display. Mewtwo was experimental. After they'd used it a while and seen its limits, there would be more created pokemon, just as perfect, any limitations removed. The entirety of Team Rocket hung on Giovanni's promises before he dismissed them, approaching Cassidy as he exited. "Oversee the caretaking of the defeated pokemon," he ordered her as he passed. "They're all still necessary."

"Yes, sir," Cassidy agreed. There were others assigned to that task, so she supposed he was just asking her to make sure they actually did the job. The whole team's mood was too good for there to be much trouble. It seemed everyone there believed that their boss was going to lead Team Rocket to a success where they'd all rule the world and have powerful created pokemon that could defeat anyone else's on top of that.

Cassidy knew better. Giovanni planned to be very public when enacting this plan, which would destroy the progress they'd made over the past few years. After capitalizing on the sympathy that one of the then-active champion's pokemon had killed one of their own, Team Rocket had been built up as a peaceful organization in the public's eyes. But with the kind of actions their boss was suggesting they'd take, memories of them being a criminal group would resurface. Even if there was an acceptable spin for the masses about why the 'peaceful' Team Rocket was threatening those in power for the sake of its own power, there were plenty of powerful trainers among those really in the know that they'd made enemies of. That group would stand up to the rocket boss and his created pokemon.

Mewtwo might be exceptional, but it hadn't defeated all of their pokemon, much less 'at once'. Giovanni had the lowest tier trainers go first, then hadn't had those labeled higher level trainers try after the Mew battle. Mewtwo could, and would be overcome. There would also be a push to finally investigate Team Rocket affiliated scientists, and who knew what they'd find then. There would probably be some fighting and other discord, but Team Rocket was done in the near future.

So it was a good thing she was leaving. This little revelation had come just in time. She'd visited Jonathan to congratulate him on completing his compulsory schooling just a week before. James had said he was going to take care of some things before they left the area. Cassidy had long planned to use her lucrative reward for catching Mew to find them a comfy place to live. She'd then help her son to navigate what to do for the next stage of his life. She'd have fun talking to him about what school he might attend next, or maybe what trade he might enjoy. She'd knock down any roadblocks and make sure he could pursue anything to his true potential.

Thinking about it, Cassidy absent-mindedly looked toward the child next to Mondo, who was handing out potions as requested by various agents, then taking the empty containers. Since when were any children this young part of Team Rocket? At first, Cassidy supposed she thought he looked like her son because Jonathan was the first thing on her mind at the moment. A few moments later, she realized it actually was her son, here at this ridiculous headquarters, dressed in a Team Rocket uniform.

A numbness overtook her before being consumed by an overwhelming anger. Cassidy hesitated only a moment, supposing Jonathan would be okay with Mondo, then went to find James.

He had indeed returned and was chatting jovially about the event, the same as everyone else. "Excuse me," Cassidy began coldly. The agent James had been speaking to greeted her. She just glared at him until he went away. Alone with James, she asked the question, "Did you bring Jonathan here?"

"Yes!" James happily admitted guilt. "He's going to join Team Rocket now that he's finished his schooling. I made sure he'd be ready, so don't worry about that."

"Why would you ever think he should join?" Cassidy asked coldly. "He deserves much better than this."

"This is the best he can hope for."

Upon hearing that terrible comment, Cassidy smacked James across the face. She noted other agents, including Jessie, started to watch the situation, but was too angry to care. Saying, or even thinking something like that deserved what she'd just done and worse. Cassidy raised her arm to hit him again.

James grabbed her wrist to stop her. "Did you have something you wanted to say?" he asked, maintaining all composure.

Cassidy pulled away. Despite her shame at having such an outburst, basically called out by James's calm, she was too angry to just leave it at that. "What made you think my loving, sensitive, delicate son belonged anywhere near here?" she demanded.

"He may not be as delicate as you thought," James declared.

"You don't know him at all!" Cassidy protested, raising her voice as she spoke. It was a mistake to trust this person with her child. Not long before her late field partner had died, Butch had insisted James should be nowhere near Jonathan. She'd rebuked him for the very suggestion, insisting she wasn't petty enough to keep a grudge over something said in a dire situation. The idea had seemed an overdramatic overstep at the time, though maybe she should have listened. Then she wouldn't be in this situation, having to explain obvious things to the idiot that had made such a grievous mistake. Cassidy stood firm as she began to attempt to do so. "He's a sweet boy that belongs in a place where he can be happy. Where he's supported and can support others. Why would you bring him to a place full of dangerous crooks? Don't you realize how having been a part of this sinking ship could be held against him once Team Rocket implodes?" Asking the questions James should have been thinking himself, Cassidy became even angrier, shouting even more. "You didn't think at all, did you! Get him out of here! My son doesn't belong in this degenerate den of criminals!"

"Hey!"

Cassidy looked down, realizing that one of the growing audience members to their fight was the boss's pet talking meowth. It glared back up at her. "What's with you? Are you calling Team Rocket a 'sinking ship'?" the pokemon inquired, narrowing its eyes.

Recognizing her now large audience and taking note of their expressions of displeasure, Cassidy started to sweat. This wasn't her late field partner she was talking to. It wasn't even a private conversation at all. Everyone around her was completely caught up in Team Rocket and how fantastic it was to be a part of such a wonderful, legitimate organization that would forcefully assert its power. They all thought it was great. Even if they had their doubts, they'd want to shoot her as the messenger.

"Yeah, you did!" the meowth accused. "And you're calling us crooks and criminals? I bet the boss'll be interested in what you really think of us!"

"Tell him!" a man next to the meowth shouted. Others called out their own agreement with the idea.

There was really nothing she could do now, given how they'd all heard what she'd said. Cassidy tried to think of a possible response, but remained quiet in her panic. Eventually, she noted some movement in the otherwise stationary audience as Jessie pushed her way to the front of the developing crowd. That outspoken woman would likely be more than willing to add her thoughts as to what the punishment ought to be.

Jessie gazed down and shouted at the pokemon instead, "Lay off her, will you?"

The meowth was just as surprised as Cassidy herself. "Did you hear what she said? She's acting like we're all a bunch of degenerates instead of being part of an elite group!" it protested.

"And you've never been discouraged?" Jessie asked, putting her head up. "She's part of us, and she's been here longer than any of us. She knows all about the series of failures that led to today's success. She's done more for Team Rocket than anyone here! Way more than all of you!" Jessie now turned her rage to the grunts that had gathered. "What she's done probably made things easier for all of you. Do you think there would even be a Mewtwo without her dedication to finding Mew? No way!"

"Yeah... I know she found it," Meowth admitted. "The boss always thought she was the most promising to do so. But she still doesn't seem to have the best opinion of us. So I don't trust her."

"Well, I do," Jessie declared. She reached over and grabbed Cassidy's hand before looking back at the audience. "She's worried about her kid, so what? Every mother is. She wants the best for him, and knows all she's been through, and doesn't want him to have to deal with the same. She could have died when we were out there going after Mew, you know. She almost did. Of course she wouldn't want that for her kid. She wants him to be safe."

"I'm sorry," James spoke up now, pouting with shame before he met Cassidy's eyes. "I just thought it was the perfect next step for him, but I admit I should have discussed this with you the last time you visited. I understand your concerns, but he won't be assigned to anything too dangerous as a rookie, I'm sure."

"And he'll be supported! James will obviously support him, and I will too," Jessie promised. "Even Meowth will, probably."

"Yeah, why wouldn't I support James's little larva? Plus the kid's one of us now!" the pokemon declared. Others declared their own support, some starting to walk away in their disinterest now that the sentiment had shifted.

"See, Jonathan will be able to support everyone here as well," James said. "That is what you want for him, right? And once Team Rocket rules Kanto, and then the world, he'll be part of that elite." He grabbed Cassidy's other hand as he made the declaration.

"That's right." Jessie nodded. "Don't worry so much. We're on our way to a blazing, sure success."

"We certainly are," James agreed. "I know I've been absent, but I can see our collective efforts are about to blast through atmosphere, brightly illuminating the sky in a way none can deny."

"Anyone can see that," Jessie said with a grin. "Team Rocket will soon conquer the world with pokemon, and any humans involved will protected. Not just that, exalted! That's why we've been through so much until now, you know. All the toil and strife until now will finally be rewarded!"

"Yes, it's just as Jessie says, so please don't be so upset," James said, honest sympathy in his voice. "This is a day to celebrate. I'm sure the boss will listen to any concerns you have."

"Yeah," Jessie agreed, squeezing Cassidy's hand again. "I know we don't always get along, but Meowth is right, we're all part of this. I'll be here for you too," she declared.

"Yes! We're all part of the most elite organization working with pokemon, and we all support each other!" James agreed.

The crowd that had previously looked so aggressive had now lost interest and dispersed thanks to Jessie and James's conversational shift. The pair stared in Cassidy's eyes, smiles on both of their faces as they tried to comfort her. They honestly believed everything they were saying, that this was a wonderful movement to be part of, and only rewards were waiting for them in the future. They had faith in Team Rocket, and even the person they were speaking to. These two sincerely wanted Cassidy to feel better and understand what they saw as the reality. Who couldn't appreciate them? They were both so genuine, sympathetic, and caring.

And they were so stupid.

Next chapter: Misty vs. Team Rocket