Chapter 3

*** Flashback 19 years ***

"Push Jessie push!"

"I AM PUSHING YOU BOBBLE BRAINED BAFFOON!"

"Well … errm … push harder?"

"PUSH HARDER? PUSH HARDER! WHAT DO YOU THINK I'M DOING?! IT'S ALL YOUR FAULT I'M IN THIS MESS JAMES! WHY DO I GET ALL THE PAIN AND SUFFERING?! OOOOOOOOOH IT'S NOT FAIRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH!"

Jessie's face flushed red as another contraction swept through her body.

"You're doing amazing Jessie! I can see the head!" Nurse Joy complimented the Team Rocket agent as she readied a towel to catch the baby birthing. "One more big push!"

Jessie, James and Meowth had been out on a small mission – much to James's discouragement, but Jessie was never one to play by the rules - when Jessie's waters broke. Miles away from the nearest human hospital and in the desires of staying incognito, the duo had checked into the nearest pokémon centre anonymously.

Although out of her jurisdiction, Nurse Joy obliged the couple to assist in the miracle of human childbirth, putting her medical expertise into practice.

Meowth sat in the waiting room, anxiously waiting news of his friends and the new arrival. His ears flattened every time he heard Jessie scream out. Her cries so loud they could be heard all over the centre. He cringed as he heard another wail coming from behind the scenes.

"You hear that Jessie? Just one more big push! Come on you can do it!" James encouraged Jessie.

"Ahhhhh I'm trying! AGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

"Arggghhh Jessie that's my handdddd!" James squealed in pain as Jessie gave his supporting appendage a bone crushing squeeze.

"YOUR HAND?! THAT'S NOTHING COMPARED TO WHAT MY !"

"Push Jessie! One more time!" Joy encouraged the woman. "The shoulders are out."

"Waaaahhhhgggg waaahhhhhhgggggg" The sounds of Jessies screams were replaced with the sound of a baby wailing.

"That's it, Jessie! You've done it! Our baby is out, it's out!" James peppered his wife's hand over and over with light kisses, his face overjoyed.

"Congratulations, it's a little boy. Daddy would you like to cut the cord?" Nurse Joy beamed.

"Did you hear that, Jessie? A little boy. You've given me a son!" James left a lingering kiss on his wife's hand and left her side to wander over to his new-born son. After cutting the cord and cleaning him up, Joy wrapped the bundle up in a towel and passed him over to James.

James stared at the infant boy in awe. His eyes welled up as he studied his son's perfect features. He had his own brilliant green eyes and Jessies smaller upturned button nose and mischievous glint. A small tuft of brown hair protruded on his forehead. "He's beautiful … just perfect …"

"James, let me see our son. Bring him to me." Jessie called out softly, her face although exhausted and sweaty, radiated a soft welcoming contentment.

James walked over and placed their boy in her arms. He kissed the top of Jessies long magenta hair, matted to her forehead with sweat and wrapped an arm around her shoulder cuddling in as a family.

"Hello there, little bean." Jessie's eyes glistened as they began to tear up with happiness. "Oh, James he's just the most beautiful thing I've ever seen. And that is a very high bar to reach."

"What shall we call him?" James smiled down over Jessies shoulder.

"Shane." Jessie replied affirmatively.

"Shane?" James tilted his head, he was thinking George or Jack, or maybe something more exotic like Jupiter.

"Yes. The name means God's gracious gift." The new mother smiled, curling her fingers gently around her infant boy's hand.

James thought about the name for moment before smiling. "I like it." He rested his cheek on Jessie's head and smiled warmly at his new son. "Truly, a gift from God."

"Hi Shane."

"Prepare for trouble." Jessie stepped out and posed with hand on hip.

"An make it dwobwe" Toddler Shane posed next to his mother, mirroring her positioning. He was clad in a miniature version of his father's signature white team rocket uniform.

"To protect the world from devastation."

"To untie all pweoplow within nation."

"No no, honey, sweetie, darling. Unite. Not untie. Unite." James corrected his son as the duo taught their child their famous Team Rocket motto. James clapped his hands "Ok again. From the top!"

"Don't ya think the kids time is better spent elsewhere than filling his brain up with dat junk?!" Meowth quipped, looking on unimpressed at their home school topic.

"Please! Raw talent this pure needs to be moulded and nurtured. What could be more important than teaching the delicate art of showmanship?" Jessie dismissed Meowth's claims. Placing her hands squarely on her hips.

"Erm try swiping goods undetected? Breaking an' entering? How to scam a free meal? Da kid's gotta learn ta eat, or da streets are gonna eat him alive."

"All in good time Meowth. Shaney boy has only just mastered walking. One must learn to run, before one can steal." James came to the defence of their parenting choices.

Shane looked from Jessie to Meowth to James back to Jessie, not really understanding what was going on.

"Meowth does bring up a point though James. How are we going to bring up Shane? With the inheritance money we got from your family, he doesn't need to scrap for scraps like I did growing up. We can provide him a better life, one to follow his dreams. His passions."

"I don't want to decide for him, Jessie. All I want for our boy is pure freedom. I don't want society brining him up and dictating his every move like I endured as a lad. Living outside the box have been the best years of my life."

"I just want him ta be happy." Meowth sat by the little boy and rubbed his head against his body with a big smile and purr. Shane beamed and gently stroked his best friend.

"Well then, I guess it's decided. We'll teach him the basics to survive and then it's up to him to make his own choices." Jessie nodded.

"Except his wardrobe, because these plaid check chinos are to die for." James beamed as he held up a pair of little toddler sized trousers in a brown and taupe pattern.

*** End ***

I can't believe I'm about to get my parents back! Shane could barely contain his excitement as he ran back to the research base. Amber, Thea and Meowth lagged behind, barely keeping up. After all these years! Finally!

"He … sure … does … have … a … lot … of … … pep." Meowth panted, his advanced age and small size making him work twice as hard.

"I haven't … phew … seen him so … excited in … ages." Thea responded. "Not since … we learned … they were … here."

"We're almost … … back at base." Amber chimed in.

The party soon made it back to their destination. Thea, Amber and Meowth slumped down at the entrance, catching their breath. Shane zoomed ahead in desperate search of Cara Liss. It didn't take long for the excitable teenager to find his objective.

"Cara! I have it! I have the stone!" The brunette boy rushed forwards; his hand outstretched showing off his prized shiny stone.

Cara looked up from her research notes and brushed her fringe out of her eyes. Shane bounded up to her, shoving the stone right up into her face. She narrowed her face to focus on the super close-up object. "Yep that's a shiny stone alright. Drizzile kid has pulled it off."

"Can we boot up the machine now?!" Shane ignoring the derogatory nickname beamed, jogging on the spot he could barely contain his anticipation.

"Sure, let's go." The elder woman got up and began to get ready.

They were going to do it! Human rejuvenation!

Everyone stood around the fossilised rocks of Jessie and James. Cara Liss prepped the machinery. It was a large orange cylinder around 5 ft. with a rounded top and a pair of antennae with bulbous tips. It looked slightly rickety, and weather beaten, as it had clearly been used many, many times.

"Look Jess! Our boy came through for us!"

"I just knew he would James. He is our son after all."

"That's kinda what I was afraid of … we don't have the best track record of getting things done …" James replied sheepishly.

"WHAT WAS THAT?!"

Foster stood to the side, his arm folded and face full of scepticism. He looked over at the crowd gathered, at the forefront was an eagerly awaiting Shane, dutifully next to him as always was Thea holding his hand. Amber was stood the other side of Shane, Meowth in front of her, wringing his paws with nervous excitement. Leaf and Tracey stood behind the teenagers and behind them a small plethora of researchers, scientists, and medical personnel. All waiting to see history be made.

I have a bad feeling about this. The scientist's chest fell looking at the jubilant teenaged boy. Arecus if this doesn't work, he's going to be heartbroken …

Cara Liss delicately placed the shiny stone in the slot holder and booted up the machine. "Ok everyone. Here goes nothing."

"See you on the other side James." "See you soon, Jessie my love."

Thea gave Shane's hand a tight little squeeze, he turned to look at her, she gave him a reassuring smile. He didn't realise how much he needed to see that until she provided it to him. He blushed in response and looked back at his rock parents.

Two smaller antennae raised out of the bulb tips. A ray beam launched out from them and engulfed the two human fossil rocks in a soft yellow light.

The rocks glowed.

"James! I feel … I feel … … no different." "Me neither Jessie … I'm still totally stiff."

Cara pulled out some instruments and took measurements. She turned to address the eagerly awaiting crowd. "Right, well guess we may as well break for lunch now."

The crowd fell over.

"Rejuvenation of this calibre I assume will take a good few hours to take effect. I'd say at least four. We'll be here awhile, may as well have full stomachs." Cara Liss began to walk away.

The crowd righted themselves and went about their business, leaving the scene.

"Hey! What about us?! Don't just walk away!" "Umm I think she's already gone Jess …" "That geek!"

"Well, that was somewhat anticlimactic." Leaf shrugged, she gave Shane a little squeeze on his shoulder and walked off with Tracey.

The teenage boy looked from left to right to left again. He couldn't believe everyone was just leaving! "H-hey! Where are you all going?!"

Foster placed a firm hand on the boy's shoulder. "Please son, this is all such unknown territory for us still, please don't get your hopes up too high that this trial will be successful."

Shane stood rooted to the spot. His eyes not leaving his parental rocks. He tensed his jaw at the remark and nodded but said nothing. No this was going to work. It had to work.

Foster sighed. He patted Shane gently on the back and looked to Amber. "How about we go work on your fossil?" Amber nodded and looked at Shane. "I guess I'll catch you later?"

"Um." Shane nodded not looking at her.

Amber and Foster left the scene. Amber gave one last glance over her shoulder at Shane. His face was determined and serious.

Everyone had left. Thea looked her boyfriend. "Soooooo you wanna?"

"I want to stay right here. I'm going to be the first person they see when they come back."

"But we could be waiting here all day …"

"I'm staying Thea. You don't have to, if you don't to." With that the teenager sat down.

Thea smiled softly and sat down next to her beau. She placed her hand a top of his. "I'll stay too. I'm in this with you."

"Me too." Meowth sat with Shane and Thea. The three of them looked hopefully at the fossils as the radiating glow of the machine began to die down.

"So, the issue we've got with your fossil, Amber, is that it's incomplete." Foster showed her the bird fossil she'd brought to Galar. He placed it on the floor, indicating where it started and where it ended, pointing out where it had fractured and split.

"Incomplete?"

"Yes. It's only part of a pokémon. We need another part to bring it to life." Cara Liss added as the three stood around the fossilized rock on the floor.

Amber frowned and squatted down to get a closer look. Her eyes widened as she felt unsteady in her composure. The weight shift in her backpack caused the teen to lose her balance and topple over unceremoniously. Sitting back up, she angrily pulled out the offending rock she tripped over in the wild area that weighed down her backpack and continued to plague her. "Dumb rock!"

Cara Liss snatched the rock out of the red head hands and studied it excitedly. "This! This is perfect! Chimchar Kid, where did you get this?!"

Chimchar kid ... Amber gritted her teeth but let the name go. "I found it in the wild area, why? What is it?"

"It's a fossilised drake! We can use this to combine with the fossilised bird you brought us and bring a pokémon back to life!"

"You can?!" Amber's eyes widened.

"Yes! Absolutely we can! Watch this! HEY! BRING THE RESTORATION MACHINE!" Cara shouted loudly across the research camp to no one in particular.

"Ooh a pokémon fossil is being restored? This I gotta see!" Tracey appeared from seemingly nowhere, Leaf not far behind him. Tracey pulled out his sketch pad in anticipation. Nothing was more exciting to the ol' pokémon watcher than fossil restoration. He looked at Leaf. Well almost nothing else.

A scientist came running over, bringing with him the restoration machine. It was like the previous machine used on Jessie and James, but a scaled down version and yellow. It looked almost like a pressure cooker with two antennae on the top.

"Ok Doctor, here goes." The scientist began to boot up the device. It sputtered and whirled, not inspiring much confidence to the uninitiated.

Cara Liss placed the drake fossil on the ground next to the fossilised bird.

"Ok let's cross our fingers." "And our toes." The two scientists commented as they booted up the machine. The antennae on top of the machine extended out and emitted a red beam out onto the fossils, like the beam from a pokéball. The two rocks rose off the ground and merged. A being started to form in the light.

Amber clenched her fists with excitement. What kind of pokémon would it be? Strong like Regieleki? Unpredictable like Morpeko? Or teeny and sweet like Pincurchin?

"Ok Gary Oak, let's see what all the fuss is about on your precious discovery." Leaf folded her arms and looked on.

The light finally subsided and slowly revealed the pokémon. A tail emerged, long and thick like a dinosaur or dragon, green with red scales and spines. Powerful back legs formed with razor sharp red claws.

"Ooooh" Everyone watched in amazement. Amber's eyes glistened with anticipation.

Then the torso and head emerged, yellow and spikey with lightning bolt wings on spindly arms.

Only the head and upper body were five times smaller than the back half.

"Draaaaaaa co zolt" The pokémon cried out in a teeny voice.

Amber fell to the floor.

"…. What is that … thing?" The teenager stood dumbfounded, squinting one eye in aversion. This pokémon was funny looking and well just downright weird.

"Congratulations! You're now the proud owner of a Dracozolt." Cara Liss commented proudly at her accomplishment to restore another extinct pokémon. "It's a part dragon, part electric type. It generates electricity thanks to its powerful tail muscles. It overate its plant-based food sources, causing it to eventually go extinct."

"Allegedly. This is likely not the case due to Dracozolt being combined from two separate pokémon that each had their niches before going extinct." Foster added quickly correcting the overzealous scientist.

Cara Liss stuck her tongue out at Foster. He was always spoiling her fun.

"Soooo, this is the super mystery pokémon that the great Gary Oak couldn't figure out? Honestly, I think it was better unsolved." Leaf couldn't help but laugh out loud.

Tracey stifled a giggle himself. "At least it's an electric type for you Amber…" The watcher reasoned, trying to be diplomatic.

"And I thought I liked all electric pokémon." Amber grimaced as it's pokéball was placed into her open hand.

"Hey, look on the bright side kid. Your opponents will be so weirded out by it, you'll probably win your battles by default." Leaf continued to joke at the teenagers expense.

"Draaaaaa" The odd looking pokémon cried out weakly once more.

"Ugh. Here goes … I guess." Amber grimly tossed the pokéball at her new pokémon. Dracozolt put up no resistance and the ball clicked accepting it's new resident. She looked at the pokéball with an unimpressed face. Not exactly the yamper or toxel she was hoping for from her trip to Galar.

The teenagers rotomphone pinged. "Dracozolt has been added to your pokédex."

"Oh, please record Gary Oak's face when you show him this. I can just imagine; it will be a picture! I'd pay to see it." Leaf continued to giggle.

Tracey frowned slightly for the briefest of moments at Leaf mentioning her ex. It didn't sit right with him.

"Well *ahem* exotic looking or not, it's still a marvel of scientific achievement. I chalk this down as another completely successful rejuvenation. Congratulations Team, we've made another miracle." Foster applauded all involved.

"I'm so proud of the team and myself on our progress, I believe that was our fastest rejuvenation process yet. We certainly have come on leaps and bounds." Cara Liss added. Another round of applause echoed around.

Everyone cheered in unison, except for Amber who was still looking at her new pokéball with a disgusted look. She shrank the ball down and placed it into her backpack for safe keeping. "Think I'll go check on Shane. See if there's been any progress …" Amber trudged off, grumbling to herself.

Leaf watched the young trainer leave. She slightly smirked, seemingly enjoying the teenager's misfortune. Tracey noticed the subtle expression. He frowned gently and shook his head slightly.

Leaf noted the watcher's expression and glared in response. "What?!"

Tracey paused before looking away. "…Nothing."

"Hmm." Leaf walked away. She gave Tracey a glance over her shoulder and carried on.

Tracey watched her leave and looked away. I hope.

Amber walked over to see Shane, Meowth and Thea still sat exactly where she left them earlier. Thea, bored out of her mind, was first to clock the newcomer.

"Hey." The blonde saw the unhappy look on the red heads face and couldn't help a sly smile. "What's up your ass?"

Amber looked Thea in the eye and deadpanned. "Don't ask … What's up here?"

Thea looked over at Shane, his serious gaze hadn't left his still fossilised parents. She sighed. "Don't ask …"

Amber's expression turned sad. Clearly there had been no change. She looked up at the position of the sun. "There's still time. Cara Liss said it could take hours."

"It has been hours …" Meowth added, frustrated.

Shane deepened his frown but said nothing.

More hours passed; the sun moves across the sky. Amber, Thea and Meowth all changed their positions, fidgeting, counting dry grass blades, anything to pass the time. Shane sat rooted, never losing his focus. But the rocks that were Jessie and James stayed perfectly still and unchanged.

Cara Liss and Foster appeared.

"Hm still rocks …" Foster murmured concerned as he drew closer to the scene. He had that sinking feeling in his chest.

"Ok let's see if there's been a miracle!" Cara Liss chimed as she pulled out her bag of instruments.

Cara Liss and Foster examined the two human fossils. Foster sighed and shook his head sadly. There had been no change.

Shane, Meowth, Thea and Amber all slumped.

"But the prophecy said shiny … we used a shiny stone." Amber cried out. Struggling to come to terms with the fact that the big breakthrough was looking like just a big bust.

"Well, see, about that." Cara put her hand to the back of her head. A sheepish expression crossed her face.

"Oh no, here goes …" Foster sighed, he knew what was coming.

"I may have, sort of, made it up." Cara Liss confessed.

"You what?!" The group chorused together. "You can't be serious?!" Shane growled. "I knew this all seemed too good to be true…" Foster grumbled and pinched the bridge of his nose.

Oh Shane Thea's eyes welled up as she looked at her boyfriend. He was clearly crushed.

"Cara Liss! Honestly. You've gone too far this time. You're playing with people's hearts!" Foster scolded his colleague.

"Well, it's also sort of true! The prophecy does indeed exist, it's just written in an ancient language that we could only partially transcribe. So, using my natural flare for language, I filled in the blanks and juzzed up the dramatic rhyme."

"On a dialect you can't even read?" Foster folded his arms crossly.

Cara Liss put a hand to the back of her head and sweat dropped.

"So we're still just rocks? As before?" James questioned sadly.

"WHY YOU GOOD FOR NOTHING, NO STYLE, SCRUFFY LOOKING NERD! OF ALL THE NERVE KEEPING A DIVINE BEAUTY LIKE MYSELF AS A ROCK, HIDDEN FROM THE WORLD, AWAY FROM MY BOY! WHY WHEN I GET OUT OF THIS I'LL! I'LL!"

"Jessie, Jessie dear, please clam down! You'll rant yourself to a pebble!"

"WELL I'LL RANT HER TO DUST!"

Cara Liss held up her hands and backed away slowly from the abusive fossils.

"I'll never get them back!" Shane cried out and stormed away from the group, placing his forearm across his eyes to shield his forming tears from view.

Amber reached her hand out in a vain attempt to halt to the boy. "Shane wait! We're so close, you can't give up now! Maybe we just need another stone, or a different combination, or"

"Shut up! What would you know Amber?!" The boy spun around and snapped at the younger teenager, who's eyes widened in surprise. Shane continued his venomous spat, his eyes fierce. "You don't know anything about anything! You grew up with a silver spoon in your mouth! You've lived nothing but a sheltered life. Soft and spoiled, what with your perfect parents and perfect family, who've done nothing but be there for you your whole life and dote on your every whim! You haven't got a clue about the real world! What it's really like! To be alone!"

Amber shook her head. "That's not true."

"Amber you're nothing but a pampered little Daddy's girl! So just keep your mouth shut about things you don't understand!"

Ambers eyes saddened; she had no reply.

"Shane …" Thea looked at her boyfriend shocked. She'd rarely seem him so bitterly angry. It wasn't him.

Shane's eyes softened slightly looking at Thea's face. He shook his head. "Forget this. I'm outta here!" With that Shane stormed off.

"Shaney! Shaney! James where's our boy going?" "I don't know Jessie …" "He can't leave us! Shane come back!"

"I'll go afta him." Meowth stated to the group and bounded after his human.

Thea looked to the ground sadly. What can I do?

Shane ran and ran, getting as much distance from the camp as possible before slumping down to be alone with his grief.

I was so sure this time … it was supposed to work … It had to work … Mom … Dad …

*** Flashback ***

7-year-old Shane sat by the door of the apartment. He'd been playing video games for hours. He'd eaten all the ice cream, popcorn and candy he could stomach and even watched some late night tv he wasn't supposed to. But his parents and Meowth still hadn't returned. It had gotten late. Very late. Too late.

Shane looked at the door sadly. He grabbed the duvet and pillows from his bed and camped down near the front door, not wanting to miss them when they finally waltzed back in. "Humph. Guess they won't be back till morning." The boy mumbled glumly, before drifting into a reluctant sleep.

Morning broke. Shane awoke, his brunette hair messy and teeth uncleaned from the day before. Groggily he made his way into the kitchen area and prepared himself a bowl of cereal, sprinkling the puffed corn-based product with candies and pouring in chocolate milk. He munched slowly on his super sugary sweet concoction, his chin resting on his other hand whilst eyeing the door. Expecting his family to come barrelling in any moment, awaiting the scolding on his poor eating habits and un-kempt appearance, which he had his perfect rebuttal well-rehearsed in his head. Secretly he couldn't wait for the ensuing conflict as he loved any and all interactions with his parents, even when they were annoying. What could he say? He got a little thrill out of playing up and getting into trouble with them.

But it never happened. His parents never came through the door. They never came back to lecture him. Meowth never came to back to play and sneak food off his plate. No Mommy berating his life choices and threatening with empty punishments whilst desperately combing his hair neatly. No Daddy giving him a playful wink after knowing full well they'd still play together later regardless.

Little Shane's emotions ebbed out of worry, to uncertainty, to anger and back to worry.

Had something happened to them? Were they in trouble? Danger? Had they finally had enough of his bad behaviour and abandoned him? Even Meowth? Didn't they want him? Or their home? Did they have a new home now?

Hours turned into days, days into many days. Shane ran out of food and clean clothes. He was uncertain on everything in his life right now, except one thing. He couldn't stay here any longer.

The 7-year-old pulled out a small rucksack and put in a few items. His last pack of oat cereal bars, a juice box, a plush toy and his small blanket. He pulled on his black hoodie and put on his shoes.

He reached for the doorknob and turned back sadly to view the empty apartment one last time. With that he pulled the hood over his head and stepped out the door.

Mommy. Daddy. Meowth. Where are you?

*** End ***

"Hey kid. I know how ya feelin'. I miss them too." Meowth approached the teenager and sat down next to him.

Shane stayed silent, he looked ahead steeling his eyes trying not to cry.

"I wanna see 'em back more dan anything. You, Jessie and James are da only real family I've eva known. Havin' it broken like dis … well it breaks me too."

"We were always broken Meowth! All I ever remember is being left alone! Always alone! You never wanted me around. This is just another way to get away from me. You all left that night to face Team Rocket in spite of me. You didn't have to go." Tears began fall from the teenager's eyes. "You didn't care that you left me behind. Again."

Meowth looked at his friend. His heart broken at the sight of him before him. "Shaney … no. Ya couldn't be further from tha truth kid. We did it for you. To protect you."

*** Flashback ***

"James, I don't like what's going on at Head Quarters." Jessie confessed to her partner, her face showing concern.

"When do we ever." James remarked absent minded, he was playing computer games – Super Smash Brothers - with his young son, getting in some quality time whilst they were having some down time from their Team Rocket work. Meowth was sat by the boy's side. His ever-faithful friend. The two had become almost inseparable since Shane was born, Meowth finally finding "his human."

An AI Pikachu, blasted Shane's character off the screen and the little boy drooped.

"And dat's why we don't like Pikachu. Trust me I speak from experience. Bein' blasted off by one of those little punks in real life is no fun either." Meowth prompted the boy, who nodded in response.

Jessie looked out the window of their apartment and bit her thumb nail nervously. "I'm serious James! What happened to all those Eevee's brought in? I didn't see a single one after they went into that lab. And now they're after the legendary birds? Something really doesn't sit right with me."

James paused the game – much to Shane's dismay - and looked his wife. If the queen of mean wasn't happy with something, it must be bad, really bad. "Well, what do you want to do?"

"Listen, we have a little inheritance money stashed away still. We don't need Team Rocket anymore. Let's walk away. Go somewhere new, start a new life. A totally fresh start, where Shane can grow up in a normal life. The way things are now can't be good for him, always leaving him here alone, cooped up in this dingey apartment whilst we go off on missions. I want a better life for him than what I had growing up. I don't want Team Rocket to influence his future. We can do that for him at least. Can't we?"

James stood up and walked over to his wife. He held her hands in his. "I'm happy to go Jessie, to live a normal life as a family. But you know Team Rocket won't just let us walk away. We know too much. Not to mention we owe too much, we have a lifetime of debt over our heads. You can't just leave Team Rocket like a normal job. They decide when they're done with you. Not the other way around. We'd live our lives constantly looking over our shoulder. That's no life for Shaney either."

"That's why we're going to break into the Viridian Gym base, tonight! We're going to wipe our details and faces from the records and then disappear. Just the three of us."

"Three?" Meowth looked over sadly.

"Four" Jessie corrected herself.

James paused and thought about the plan. Oh heck, what choice did they have? "Ok Jessie. I'm in. Let's do this."

"Me too!" Meowth chimed in.

Jessie walked over to her young son and knelt down to his level. "Shaney, you stay here and play your games. Mummy, Daddy and Meowth have to go take care of something important OK."

"But Mom!"

"No buts this time buddy." James knelt down too and ruffled the boy's brown hair. "We'll be back before you know it, Pal."

Shane looked down sadly. He was always getting left behind.

"This will be the last time, Shaney. After tonight our lives will all change for the better." Jessie kissed her son's head and got up to leave.

"We love you son." James smiled down as he also got up and walked out.

"Yeah. Whatever." Shane brushed them off and continued to play his game. Used to this life of entertaining himself during the long lone nights.

Meowth took one last sad look at Shane and left with his two friends. "I'll make it up to ya kid."

"Hump. Sure." The 7-year-old sarcastically replied.

Jessie turned and looked over her shoulder at her sad boy. "After tonight you'll never be left alone again. I promise."

"Is that the twerp?!" Jessie looked at the surveillance footage in the server room of Team Rocket Head Quarters.

The duo had broken in easily enough and wiped their data from the servers. They were now home free, but had discovered the unsettling truth of Team Rockets latest evil schemes. Schemes they had played a part in themselves. Jessie, James and Meowth felt sick to their stomachs. Team Rocket was splicing and combining pokémon to create powerful mutant-like hybrid pokémon with hideous inhumane results. And now they had the three legendary kanto birds Moltres, Articuno n Zapdos in their possession. Things looked bad. Putting up CCTV footage to scope out all the goings on, the trio spotted a familiar face sneaking into the base along with Gary Oak and Leaf.

"Wow it is da twerp! Heh, he sure is a lot bigger dese days huh!" Meowth peered at the screen and identified Ash.

Ash had grown up a lot since they had finally stopped trailing him, giving up on their years long obsession of obtaining the famous Pikachu for the evil organisation. As Ash was now a Pokémon Master, Kanto League Champion, and current world #1, there really was no point in antagonising the guy, and the less Pokémon League attention drawn to Team Rocket, the better.

"This is great!" James exclaimed and banged his fist into the open palm of his other hand.

"How so?" Jessie raised an eyebrow. Seeing their old adversary, the head of the pokémon league no less, wasn't really top of her "great" list.

"Because if anyone can thwart an evil scheme, you know that kid will! Mew knows he's stopped enough of ours. And heck he's not even a kid anymore. Adult Ash has got this!"

"Looks like there headed for trouble." Meowth pointed out the hoard of Rocket Grunts nearby to the trio of Ash, Gary and Leaf.

"We have to warn them!" James squeaked out, alarmed. "If they get caught it could be all over."

"No, James, we have to leave! We came here to do what we had to do. And we've done it. So let's amscray." Jessie stomped her foot.

"Jessie. If those guys get caught, then there won't be a place we can be safe from Team Rocket. We'll have done all this for nothing. Besides I don't know about you, but I feel the need to atone for the part I played in this atrocity. Jessie. I'm helping them out, with or without you." James stood firm. It was one of the rare occasions he stood up to his wife.

"Alright James, fine have it your way. But we're only going in to aid them safe passage, that's it. We're not getting any more involved, we can't afford to. We have to leave and get out of here with our little boy. I'm not budging on that. I'll leave without you if I have to."

James nodded in agreement. He put his hand out and Jessie put her atop, Meowth jumped up placing a paw above her hand, the three sealing the pact they had made.

Jessie, James and Meowth had lead "Team Twerp" to the gym floor safely. Feeling accomplished in their goals the trio made their exit from the Viridian City Gym a.k.a secret Team Rocket base.

As they swiped their key card and stepped through the powered doors to freedom, two figures dressed in black Team Rocket uniforms stepped out and blocked their path. "And what do you losers think you're doing?"

The three gasped in horror at being found out. "Oh no … it's"

"A shrieking whine! A blast from the past!"

"Spinning like a gyro-ball and moving fast!"

"To the moon!"

"And beyond!"

"What a blast!"

"Administering justice at lightning speed!"

"Bashing the bad guys should we feel the need!"

"Though here's the news flash from across the wire."

"The true Team Rocket is now on fire."

"Cassidy!" Cassidy stood tall and confident, hand on hip.

"And it's Butch!" Butch mirrored her pose.

"Teaching the losers, a thing or two."

"The true Team Rocket!"

The duo chorused together. "Us and not you!"

"Cassidy!" Jessie growled. "And Batch!" James exclaimed.

"IT'S BUTCH YOU IDIOT! You've known me for decades and never once gotten my name right!" The teal haired man stomped angrily in frustration.

"So, what do you three idiots think you're doing hijacking into the main computer and helping the pokémon league champion navigate through the base? Honestly, I'd love to know." Cassidy folded her arms across her chest.

"We were … errr … um, setting em' up with new member accounts?" Meowth nervously bumbled out a lame unbelievable excuse.

"Save your excuses for Giovanni. I think you'll find his charity towards you three failures has finally run thin. Don't expect any mercy this time just because of your mother Jessie. That ship has sailed with you setting it on fire."

"Cassidy. Please don't do this. Let us go. You'll never see or hear from us again. We won't speak of anything to anyone. We'll leave the organisation and be gone from Team Rocket forever, like we never existed. You'll win. I swear." Jessie gave an honest plea in a last-ditch attempt to reason with her old rival.

Cassidy took in Jessie pleading with her. Slightly caught off guard at the stuck-up woman seemingly finally surrendering her pride to her. She pondered the words for seconds before lifting her lips into a cruel smirk. "As tempting as the thought of never seeing you again sounds Jessie, I just simply can't afford to take you at your … ahem … less than reliable word. If Giovanni found out we'd let traitors of Team Rocket go? Well, what would that make us? I'm not soft like you Jessie, I won't take such a risk."

Butch threw magnetic ring cuffs at the trio which locked around their waists, pinning their arms to their sides in the process.

"Hey whatta ya doin?!" Meowth screeched out, hating the confinement.

Butch grabbed the captured "Team Rocket" by their collars and began to drag them away. "The Boss will decide exactly what to do with you three bumbling clowns. You've been a thorn in our side for years now! I personally can't wait to see you get yours. It's been a long time coming."

"Your mother's legacy won't protect you anymore, Jessie. That ship has so far sailed, it's sunk." Cassidy sneered.

"Grrrr get your hands off me! And get your hands off my wife!" James attempted to resist but it was fruitless.

"Yeah an' me too!" Meowth wiggled, desperately trying to get his claws free for a fury swipe attack.

"Please Cassidy! Don't do this! Please, we'll leave town, we'll be gone for good, I swear on my life! I SWEAR ON OUR SON'S LIFE!" Jessie wailed as she was dragged around a corner and out of sight from Cassidy, who raised an eyebrow at the new information.

"Well, well Jessie and James have a son? That's useful to know."

*** End ***

"I'm sorry we broke our promise that night …" Meowth looked down sadly. "But we did it only with your best interest at heart. Things were gonna change afta that night, an' they did, but not da way we wanted 'em too." Meowth placed his paw on the boy's hand. "Shaney they loves you. I loves you. We neva wanned to leave ya, I promise you. We spent those years cooped up in a shell wondering, hoping and prayin' ya was OK. When you rocked up here all growns up. It was one of da best days of my life, right up there with you bein born."

Shane wiped his eyes. "But why didn't you come back for me Meowth? They revived you years ago."

"I wanted to Shaney, I really did, not a day went by that I didn't think about it. But I didn't know where ta look. Until you came along a few months ago, I didn't even know Team Rocket had reformed. By the time I came back around ya was long gone from that dingey ol' flat we left ya in. So I stayed here, waiting and waiting for the day my family would be whole again. We're close Shaney, real close I can feel it."

The teenager sniffed. "You really can?"

"Um hum. Ya know I hate ta say it but dat little red headed twerp back there was right."

"Right about what?"

"Dis ain't no time ta give up."

Author Note - If you don't know what's going on please read my original story "Electric Tales." If the whole thing isn't your style just start from chapter 21 ;-)

Just one more chapter to go on this short side story. I hope it's helped flesh out some back story!