And now, our first break in-between episodes, as we focus the chapter on a few other characters that will be very predominant for this story. And believe me, you're about to be in for some interesting times... before I start, though, a slight warning, there will be SOME questionable behavior from a couple characters that'll raise some eyebrows that I would not approve of. I don't approve of this behavior, and I never will. However, while I don't approve of said behavior, and doesn't represent today's society, I'm going to show this questionable behavior as is, because denying it would be the same as pretending it doesn't exist. Also, in the Pokemon anime, there were a couple episodes where a few people acted creepy towards Misty, so... take it with a grain of salt.
It was a late night in the Viridian Gym, everything had closed down for the night, and Giovanni had recently finished his last battle. He had to admit, there were some rather smart people to get the Earth Badge, but it was nothing his Pokemon couldn't handle. And even though his secret weapon wasn't quite ready yet, he knew it would only be a matter of time before he used it to not only wipe the floor with Trainers, but steal their Pokemon right from under their noses...
Giovanni paused as he wondered if maybe his secret weapon was powerful enough to wipe memories... it was a possibility, maybe he could ask him in the morning... nothing to get all worked up about. Still, he knew that he had a long day of work tomorrow...
But as he sat down at his desk and played out today in his head, his eyes worked its way towards the picture of the flying girl that he had taken earlier today. He looked at it in curiosity as he paused to himself. He did have a little bit of regret that he wasn't able to find this flying girl on the way back from collecting his weapon, but there just seemed something peculiar about her. He knew he saw her fly... and using that strange move on those Spearow. It was like he...
It was then he noticed someone else in the picture... a little off to the left, and a bit cropped, but he could see it. He examined the picture closely, before his eyes widened, noting a familiar cheek mark on the person's face. He paused, before giving a small smile to himself. "Sooooo..."
Before he could say anything else, a knock on the door interrupted his train of thought. He sighed as he looked up to see the door opening and someone stepping inside. A blue haired man wearing a white shirt with a black patch with a red R on the left side over a black T-shirt, white pants with a black belt and white shoes came in.
Giovanni paused as he frowned, "Archer. What brings you in this late?"
"Giovanni, sir, I know I'm supposed to be at my post, but one of our groups have just arrived back." The blue haired man, known as Archer, explained as he gave a sigh. "It's Jessie, James and Meowth, sir."
Giovanni couldn't help but shut his eyes as he gave a sigh. "Let me guess, they bungled up ANOTHER simple job... I told them to get Pokemon from the center when they're ASLEEP."
"Yes, it would seem they bungled up a simple plan once more, from what Jessie tells us..." Archer groaned. "Sir, if I may ask, why don't you just shoot them dead? They're clearly not fit for our organization..."
Giovanni paused as he crossed his arms. "Simple. Because I gave my word to Miyamoto that Jessie be safe. And I don't back down from my word. You know that. As for James and Meowth, it's true they're a little incompetent separately, but they have their uses. If I ever find a reason to have no use for them, then they'll be... out of the picture, if you know what I mean."
"Well, that Meowth really wanted to talk to you, said he has something for you to see." Archer said.
Giovanni frowned as he crossed his legs. "Tell that desperate cat and the bunglers that unless there's a rare Pokemon about, I'm not interested."
"He says there's a flying red-haired girl involved." Archer said.
Giovanni, who was about to turn his chair around, froze at the spot upon hearing those words as he slowly turned to his first-in-command.
Giovanni had quickly reconsidered his thoughts as he had Archer tell Jessie, James and Meowth to meet him in his office to talk about what they saw. And after a few minutes of set-up with a television screen, Giovanni, Jessie, James and Meowth were sitting down on chairs watching the security footage from the Pokemon Center regarding what happened.
"Okay, watch this, see what happens here." Meowth said as he used the remote to show important points in the video as he pointed towards himself and Ekans trying to grab for Clefairy. "Here we are, trying to get this Clefairy, see? But then... that Pikachu with the girl hits Ekans with a Thundershock! Now, here I am trying to get the Clefairy... oh, oh, here's the girl's eyes glowing that unnatural green, see?"
Jessie and James looked in awe as they could only watch Starfire on the screen flying up and firing up a glowing green orb of energy. James shuddered, "Sheesh, that would explain a bit... but what is that girl?"
"I've never seen a human do something like that before... could she be a Pokemon?" Jessie asked.
"How can she be? She looks human!" James said.
"James, that girl flew, she has unnatural green eyes, and she can fire energy orbs! I'm beginning to think she ain't human!" Meowth said as he gave a glare at James, before turning towards the video. "Okay, now here's where it gets tricky... this girl talks with Pokemon like it's normal, see?"
Giovanni did watch indeed, mostly studying the girl in interest as he looked at her. It was indeed the same girl he spotted in Route One today... but seeing her more up close... something in his mind started to whir as he gave a small smirk to himself.
"Hmmm..." Giovanni paused before turning to the three. "And you say she was with a boy, right?"
"Yeah, yeah, the little twerp with the stupid hat, that stupid vest and shirt, his stupid cheek marks, his stupid cocky expression..." Jessie growled angrily.
"He certainly was a bit of a problem, but he's also an idiot, from the look of things." James said as he paused. "Although that Pikachu of his looked more powerful than expected... something tells me that Pikachu isn't ordinary..."
"But the main focus is that girl!" Meowth said as he pointed to the Starfire on the screen. "She referred to herself as a Tamara-knee-on. That ain't some type of new Pokemon, is it?"
"If it is, she is certainly a very, VERY rare specimen..." Giovanni paused as he looked over towards Starfire and examined what she was currently wearing and her body. Some dark thoughts started to stir in his head, before pausing. "So, this girl, she's currently travelling with this boy?"
"Last we checked... we got blasted into the sky before anything else..." James said.
"We were lucky we managed to save that security tape." Meowth explained as he pointed towards the screen.
Giovanni paused as he looked over at the screen, before giving a small chuckle to himself. "I have to admit, you three, you usually bungle up a lot of simple assignments, never giving me anything useful, only stealing common Pokemon..."
All three of them winced.
"Tonight, though... you three gave me some VERY valuable information... information that Team Rocket could very well use..." Giovanni smirked, causing the three to look up in surprise.
"Really, boss?" James asked in surprise.
"So, we actually did good?!" Jessie asked, her eyes lit up in surprise.
"Oh, very good, very, very good indeed." Giovanni chuckled as Meowth turned off the video, looking just as amazed with Giovanni's praise. "A girl that has powers like a Pokemon... I'm not sure whether she's human or Pokemon, but if she is the only one of her kind that has been spotted... she could very well be a legendary... a Pokemon that looks human-esque... not counting Jynx, it's a very interesting thing to look at... we'd have to do some research on this..."
Jessie, James and Meowth grinned as they looked at each other and smiled as Jessie said, "Say no more, boss! We'll follow those twerps and their Pokemon everywhere, and when we catch them-"
"Hold on, you three." Giovanni said as he raised his hands to stop Jessie from talking. "The way I see it, that girl IS Team Rocket's priority number one... but I can't have you three out on the field again."
"Wh-what?!" James asked in confusion.
"But we found the girl!" Jessie protested.
"True, you have. However, if she is as powerful as the footage showed, I can't let you three go off and face her... we have no idea how truly dangerous this girl really is." Giovanni explained as he crossed his arms. "I wouldn't want my VALUABLE members get destroyed out there."
Jessie, James and Meowth looked at their boss with speechless expressions as Giovanni chuckled. "Why, yes, I do believe you are very valuable, so valuable, in fact, I think you three earned a new job."
"New jobs? R-really?" Jessie asked as her eyes started to shine.
"I never thought we'd hear our beloved boss say it... we must be dreaming!" James said in awe as he gave a happy expression.
"What's our new job, boss?" Meowth asked.
Giovanni paused slightly as he started to think about a few things, including the girl with Pokemon powers. It slowly got him to think... "You will still be tasked with capturing other people's Pokemon, BUT in addition, I need you three to capture their trainers as well."
All three of them blinked in confusion as Meowth asked, "Wait, what do you mean, trainers?"
"Don't worry, I don't want you to just kidnap any trainers... no, I have a plan in the making, and I need some certain 'trainers' for this plan to work... something for an experiment..." Giovanni said.
"Say no more, boss! If you want us to grab someone, we'll do it!" Meowth saluted.
"Oh yes, yes, it'll be no problem at all!" James smiled.
"Perfect. First of all, I'm assigning you three to go to Cerulean City... I want you to attack the Gym, get their Pokemon... and get the Gym Leaders running the gym." Giovanni said as he gave a dark smirk. "Let's just say, I'll need them all."
"The Gym Leaders of Cerulean City?" Jessie asked in curiosity, before smirking. "You know what, that sounds simple enough."
"We're on it!" Meowth said.
"Oh, and you three, PLEASE... at least try to be subtle." Giovanni said.
"Okay, boss... but what about that girl with the Pokemon powers?" Meowth asked.
"Don't you worry. I'll be forming something for that, and if she does come across your path again, you're welcome to try capturing her, but if she is as powerful as you say... then just focus on the mission I assigned you for the time being." Giovanni explained, before smirking. "Believe me, you'll have your time soon enough..."
Jessie, James and Meowth looked at each other, before turning towards their boss as they nodded, before James coughed. "Uh, one more thing... our balloon sprung a..."
"Yes, yes, just bring it to our repair shop." Giovanni sighed.
"Thank you, boss." James nodded swiftly.
"Now, all three of you... dismissed." Giovanni said as the three of them started to scramble. "Report back to me once you have completed your jobs!"
The three heard their boss just as they walked out the door, leaving Giovanni all alone once more. He paused slightly as he pulled out the picture taken of the girl, before picking up the remote and pushing play on the TV, then pausing it at the girl's bent down posture. Giovanni paused as he lifted up the picture to the TV screen and compared the two, before giving a smirk.
"There's no mistake... this is the same girl..." Giovanni whispered to himself before his eyes turned to the half-cropped boy. "And she's travelling with HIM? This is fascinating..."
Giovanni sat down as he gave a light chuckle, uncrossing his legs. "Yes, very fascinating, indeed..."
He looked over towards the Starfire on screen as he gave a slight pause, before licking his lips. "A very beautiful specimen, indeed..."
ZIIIIIIIIP.
Giovanni chuckled as he examined her. "I must have her... in any way possible..."
Meanwhile, over at the police station, Nurse Joy was sitting down at her desk, talking to the videophone and catching up with her sister about the Pokemon in Pewter City getting in the Pokemon Center safely, before hanging up, and giving a slight yawn.
"Long night, huh?"
The pink haired girl looked up as she noted her blue haired friend, Officer Jenny, who had just arrived with the Pikachu and a couple of Chansey, a little dazed, but otherwise, all right. Joy warily smiled to see her assistant Pokemon being safe before turning to Jenny. "You're telling me. I'm still not sure how those members of Team Rocket managed to get themselves blown to the sky like that..."
"Guess that kid's Pikachu was stronger than we thought." Jenny suggested.
"Yeah, Ash's Pikachu..." Joy paused, before giving a sigh.
Both of them fell silent for a couple minutes, with the Pikachu and Chansey laying down to the side to rest. After a moment, Jenny gave a cough. "I'm sorry your building is out of commission."
"We can always call the Machoke construction workers to build a new center. It's not the end of the world, people will just have to rely on the Poke Mart for a while." Joy sighed.
"R-right..." Jenny said as she lifted her hat and put it down. "I guess an officer's work is never done... just got to file the report and..."
"Hey, Jenny?"
Jenny stopped as she turned to her pink-haired friend in curiosity.
"What was kissing the boy who saved you like?" Joy asked as she turned with a coy expression.
Jenny's eyes widened in shock as she frowned, "That was a heat of the moment! I'm not-"
"It's okay, I know you're not... and you know I'm not, either. It was just two girls giving their appreciation to a handsome young hero." Joy said.
Jenny paused silently as she sat down. After giving a sigh, she blushed a bit. "I certainly did like giving him that surprise, for sure... I know it was only a peck on the cheek, but..." She gave a chuckle. "You know, it's funny, if he had turned his head slightly, I might have taken his lips."
"Well... when Ash saved me from the smoke and got me out, I realized that he wasn't just an irresponsible person... I mean, he is, but he's an irresponsible person with a good heart... he may be a young man, but my heart sort of raced a bit faster when he saved me from the smoke and the sludge..." Joy laughed. "On the other hand, I don't think he would have pecked your mouth... I think he would pecked mine..."
Jenny looked over at Joy in surprise, before frowning. "Ha ha, no, don't be ridiculous. His eyes were mostly on me."
"But he was the one who saved my life first!" Joy frowned. "Why, I'll bet if any Joy had the chance, they would just give Ash a VERY GOOD appreciation kiss just for helping one of us!"
"As if!" Jenny laughed a bit. "He may be too young for us, but I bet my fellow Jennys and I would give him BETTER appreciation kisses for what he did today!"
Jenny and Joy found themselves glaring at each other for a moment... before giving a smirk as they both said at the same time, "JOY/JENNY WAR!"
"All right, then. Tell you what. Ash seems to be determined to travel the Kanto region with his Pokemon and his female companion, yes?" Joy asked. "Well, you and I communicate and give the word to our Joys and Jennys respectively that we're on a Joy/Jenny War, and the main subject... is giving appreciation kisses to Ash Ketchum."
"You realize that's asking a LOT." Jenny frowned.
"Maybe so, but whichever of us kisses Ash the most... by the time he goes to the Pokemon League... will win the biggest prize of all!" Joy crossed her arms.
Jenny's eyes widened. "You don't mean..."
"Oh, I mean..." Joy smirked.
"A TWO WEEK PAID VACATION TO ALL JOYS AND JENNYS TO THE TROPICAL ISLANDS OF ALOLA!" Both Nurse Joy and Officer Jenny said at the same time.
"And the loser... will have to do BOTH Officer Jenny AND Nurse Joy jobs." Joy smirked. "You can tell this is already high stakes."
"All right... but how will we know each Joy and Jenny will get the kiss?" Officer Jenny asked.
"Please, all of us have security footage in the Pokemon Center. They'll show them to us, we'll both be judges, AND... if it's valid, and it's with Ash Ketchum, that counts as a point. So... you Jennys will have to get a camera somewhere at all times whenever Ash is in town." Joy smirked. "So, how about it? Fair deal?"
Jenny paused as she noted Joy offering her hand to shake... before giving a smirk as she shook hands. "Deal! I'll go inform the Jennys of other regions what we're up to!"
"Oh, good! Then I'll talk with the Joys and get them through word of mouth!" Joy giggled as Jenny started to run off. Giving a nod, Joy turned back to her computer and redialed the Pewter City Pokemon Center. Quickly, it was picked up.
"Y-yes? What's wrong, sister?" The Pewter City Nurse Joy asked.
"Sis... we're about to start a brand new Joy/Jenny war, and both of us are having a new motive..." Viridian City Nurse Joy crossed her arms as she gave a smirk. "Here's what's happening, and make sure all the other Joys know, even the ones in different towns! We're going to make sure we all get that paid trip to Alola!"
The Pewter City Pokemon nurse gasped as she looked at her sister. "What's the challenge?"
Meanwhile, in the farthest reaches of space, Blackfire was seen flying around in her ship as she was pushing a few buttons, giving a small growl of frustration as she looked down at the monitor.
"Ugh, even after coming to that planet where the Gordanians said my sister was last seen heading towards, there isn't any sign nor hair of her!" Blackfire growled in anger. "Glempork!"
She then slapped the buttons in anger before seemingly activating something from within the ship. Outside Blackfire's ship, a small laser came poking out and blasted what seemed to be a strange looking blue portal. Then, and only then, did Blackfire's monitor begin to beep. The black haired Tamaranean paused as she looked down at the monitor, then at the portal. She curiously looked at it, as she raised an eyebrow. "Interesting... there appears to be an anomoly here... but of what?"
Any questions that Blackfire had would have to wait, for she finally had her sister located. If she could travel through that portal, she might be able to find her. Giving a nod, Blackfire drove her ship right towards the portal, and as it entered, the portal closed up, Blackfire not realizing that she would not be in her own galaxy anymore...
Okay, we're done with this chapter! Boy, a lot of stuff happened, didn't they? For fans of Jessie, James and Meowth, I know that not having them follow Ash is blasphemous, but don't worry, they will still have their roles. But yeah, Giovanni is going to be a MAJOR part of Ash and Starfire's journey now, especially when Starfire is now of interest to him. And yes, what he did before the scene change is EXACTLY what you're thinking... I have a character inspiration in mind moving forward for Giovanni, but I'm not going to say anything on that yet until we get further into the story. As for Nurse Joy and Officer Jenny's 'bet'... don't worry, it's just going to be a set-up for a running gag that goes on in the story, they don't have interest in Ash. And we're getting closer with Blackfire coming into the picture, but nothing yet on how that happens. Next time, Ash and Starfire begin their journey proper! Until next time.