Episode 143: Friend or Faux?
It's a calm and peaceful day. A flock of Apprentichick fly by. A Chipmunch carrying a berry scurries from one tree to the next. But then the peace is broken. "Looks like Team Rocket's blasting off again!" Team Rocket falls from the sky, startling the Apprentichick away in the process. They land on the ground with a thud.
Without getting up off the ground, Jessie shouts in frustration, "No fair!" She quickly continues, "No fair! No fair! No fair! No fair!" She pounds a fist into the dirt.
James groans. "We were so close. So close!"
Meowth questions, "Where did we go wrong? We chose a defenseless target. For once, the twerps were nowhere in sight. We had that Pokémon theft in the bag."
Jessie complains, "But then the twerps did as the twerps do and decided to get all chummy with our target. Why is it that the twerps can never mind their own business?"
James ponders, "It's as if they're attracted to befriending the helpless and defenseless. Those who would have no chance at stopping us without them." He sighs.
Meowth gets up and walks away.
Jessie asks, "Where are you going?"
Meowth looks back. "Now that our balloon is fried for the twentieth time this month, we'll have to walk to the next town. Might as well get started now."
Jessie and James groan at the thought, but they begrudgingly get up and follow.
Looks like our villains aren't having the best day. Or is this what every day is like for them? Either way, one is forced to wonder if this is the time they'll learn their lesson.
Team Rocket has made it by foot to the town. They now look both beat up and exhausted. Jessie asks, "Okay, we made it to the town. What's next?"
Meowth shrugs. "Honestly, I'm just hoping something presents itself, because I'm out of ideas."
James points ahead. "Does that qualify?" He points at a Team Planetary facility in the distance.
Jessie comments, "Interesting. We all know that there's one thing to be found where Team Copycat lurks."
Meowth suggests, "An utter lack of originality?"
"Well, that too, but I meant valuable technology up for the grabs."
James nods. "My thoughts exactly. The Boss would love us if we sent him Team Copycat proprietary technology."
Meowth agrees, "That might even put us on his good side for a day."
Jessie says hopefully, "Maybe two!"
Meowth scopes out the surroundings and something catches his eyes. "Wait a second…" He stares at two people dressed in concealing trench coats. "Those are Rocket standard issue disguises."
James looks closer. "You're right. It looks like there's more than one set of copycats here today. It's Bot and Cassidy!"
Butch, in his trench coat disguise, has suddenly appeared in front of James. "Bot? Do you think I'm a robot!? The name's Butch!"
Cassidy walks up behind him and sneers. "Jessie."
Jessie returns the sneer. "Cassidy."
"What are you three losers doing here?"
"Funny. I was about to ask you the same." The two stare intensely at each other.
Butch breaks their staring contest by explaining, "Team Planetary has a rare Pokémon known as Artifract in that facility, which Giovanni has assigned us to steal. So how about you losers who can't even remember a simple name get out of the way and let us do our job."
Meowth laughs. "Is that so? The Boss must have not realized that we were in the area, or he obviously would have assigned that mission to us. So how about you go on your way and let the experts handle this."
Cassidy cackles at the thought. "As if."
Jessie declares, "We are The Boss' favorite. That is a known fact. Now step aside and let us do our job."
James adds, "There's no way The Boss could ever prefer someone with a name like Bauticah."
Butch stares dumbfounded at James. "Bau…ti…cah…? Now you're just making up stuff on the spot!"
"Am I? Am I really, Beautachio?"
Butch's face turns red with anger. "That's it! I've had it!" He pulls out a Pokéball. "It's time to get rid of you losers!"
Cassidy is quick to pull out a Pokéball of her own. They throw them to send out Aggron and Charizard.
Jessie and James laugh together. Jessies says, "We can handle anything you can throw at us." They pull out their Pokéballs.
Team Rocket crash lands in a dumpster. Jessie announces, "I take it back. We couldn't handle that."
James sighs. "Fitting that we should land in a dumpster. It's as if it's where we belong…"
Jessie agrees, "If we couldn't even beat lame-o's like Bonch and Cassidy, what does that make us?"
Wobbuffet answers, "Wobbuffet!"
This just depresses Jessie further.
James relents, "I guess we'll just have to let Mr. Bxyzptlk and Cassidy steal this Pokémon and get all the glory." He ponders. "What if we got him to say his name backwards…? Would that get rid of them…? Kltp…" He quickly gives up on the thought.
Meowth notices something in the distance. "What if we could steal the Pokémon…without doing any of the work…?"
Jessie looks at Meowth like he's crazy. "How's that possible?"
Meowth grins devilishly. "Remember how we observed that twerps will make friends with and help any rando they meet?"
James nods but is uncertain of his meaning. "Yes…?"
"Guess who just became the new characters of the week." He rubs his paws together as he watches Ash, Brock, and Brenda happen by.
Ash asks in annoyance, "Why does there have to be a Team Planetary building in every city? Can't there be at least one place in this region that can see the obvious."
Brock reminds him, "To the people of Tenno, it's obvious that Team Planetary is on their side. You can't blame them for falling for the propaganda that is so thoroughly ingrained."
Ash groans. "I know… I'd just like to meet someone for once who doesn't worship the villains."
Brenda points out, "Brayden doesn't. Neither does Brandon."
Ash shakes his head. "Not enough."
Someone nearby whispers, "There they are. Cue the waterworks."
Then someone starts sobbing loudly.
Ash looks around as he tries to find the source of the crying. He spots a group of three sitting on a bench ahead of them. It's Team Rocket disguised in casual clothes. James wears a white t-shirt with a red vest over it, as well as a matching red hat with a Pokéball emblem. Jessie wears black pants, a blue blouse, and a blue cap. Meowth wears an orange t-shirt with tan shorts. Jessie is spouting obvious fake tears into her hands. She sneaks a peek through her fingers to make sure Ash, Brock, and Brenda are approaching, then returns to crying.
Ash asks, "What's wrong?"
Jessie makes a fake moan, then responds, "It's that horrible Team Copy—I mean Team Planetary. They stole my precious Pokémon from me."
Ash gasps. "That's horrible."
Brock asks, "What kind of Pokémon is it?"
"It was a…" Jessie freezes up. She glances back to James and whispers, "Line?"
James steps in quickly and answers for her, "It was an Artifract."
Jessie moans again. "Oh, my poor, poor, dear, sweet, precious heart attack!"
Meowth asserts in a whisper, "Artifract."
Jessie corrects, "Artifract!"
Ash clenches a fist and declares, "I've had enough with Team Planetary thinking they can get away with whatever they want. We need to put a stop to this right now and get that stolen Pokémon back."
Jessie pretends to dry her eyes. "You would do that for us?"
Ash nods. "I would, and I will."
Brock advises, "Ash, you might be thinking too rashly. What are we supposed to do?"
"We'll come up with a plan."
Jessie whispers to James and Meowth, "A flawless example of acting. I'll be getting a Bossy for that for sure."
Brenda asks, "What was that?"
Jessie straightens up quickly and flicks her hand. "Oh, nothing."
Ash looks back at them and says, "By the way, I'm Ash from Pallet Town, and this is my buddy Pikachu." As he says his typical introduction line, Meowth predicts each word he's about to say by speaking them under his breath. "What's your guys' names?"
Jessie freezes up. "Oh. Um. Names. I'm…Jessi…Yeah…J-E-S-S-I. Jessi."
James scowls at her, but when Ash looks to him for a name, he freezes up too. "Oh, me…? I'm…Ja…Jaims… That's spelt J-A-I-M-S."
Brock stares at them suspiciously. "Jessi and Jaims? That sounds awfully familiar."
Meowth laughs it off. "You know, they get that a lot."
Brenda tilts her head in confusion. "That their names sound familiar? How is that common?"
Meowth shrugs. "Beats me. But it's almost like they stink at coming up with names." He gives Jessie and James an intense stare of disapproval. "Not that they came up with their own names or anything. That would be preposterous."
Ash points out, "I didn't catch your name."
Meowth immediately freezes up. "Oh. Um…" Coming up with the first thing he can, he blurts out, "Butch!"
Somewhere else, Butch suddenly looks around. "Huh?"
Cassidy asks, "What's up?"
"I'm not sure why, but I get the feeling that someone just got my name right."
"Why would that be notable, Vutch?"
Butch sighs. "Never mind…"
Back with Ash, he says, "Nice to meet you, Jessi, Jaims, and Butch. I hope we can help you."
Jessie, James, and Meowth grin at each other. James responds, "So do we."
Ash, Brock, Brenda, Jessie, James, and Meowth observe the Planetary facility from a safe distance. Brock comments, "Artifract is a digital Pokémon. I'd be willing to bet if Team Planetary took it, it was for use in conjunction with their mainframe. That would typically be in the basement level."
Ash surmises, "So we're going to need a way to sneak into the basement. Hmm…"
While they try to make a plan, James' eyes are fixated on Pikachu. Meowth elbows his side. He asserts in a whisper, "Come on, James, we've got to stay on target. Today, that's not Pikachu."
James sighs. "I know. But it's right there. Ripe for the plucking.":
Meowth reminds him, "If we blow our cover, then we can kiss any chance of stealing that Artifract before Bonch and Cassidy goodbye."
James nods. "Of course."
Brenda leans in and asks, "You guys good with the plan?"
Jessie, James, and Meowth all ask in confusion, "The plan…?"
Ash nods. "Yeah, the one we just came up with to get into the building."
James slowly nods. "Um…yeah… The plan… We're good…"
Jessie comments, "But there's…just one part I need clarification on…"
Ash nods. "What?"
"The entire thing."
Who's That Pokémon!?
Bulky pincers account for one third of this Pokémon's body weight. A single swing of one of these pincers will crush a boulder completely.
Team Rocket walks nervously towards the front entrance of the Planetary facility. Jessie shakes her head in disapproval. "The twerps are on to us. They have to be. Why else would they send us in as the distraction? They're hoping Team Copycat will take us out for them."
James adds, "It's worse than that. I bet they want that Artifract for themselves. I smell a double-cross." He pauses to ponder. "We were already double-crossing them, so would it be a triple-cross…?" He pauses. "Or would that be a double-double-cross? A quadruple-cross?"
Meowth states, "It doesn't matter how many crosses we're dealing with. We're committed to this plan."
Jessie groans. "For better or for worse."
They enter the public lobby of the facility. A receptionist behind a desk greets with a smile, "Hello! And welcome to the Team Planetary Auxiliary Facility. How can I help you?"
Meowth casually strolls up to the desk. "You see, we were wondering something." He looks to James, roping him into asking the question.
Put on the spot, James hesitates. "Oh. Um. Right. We were wondering if…your refrigerator was running."
The receptionist gives him a befuddled look. "You mean the one in our break room? It's running. Why?"
James cracks up in sudden laughter. "Then you better go catch it!" He slaps his knee as he continues to crack up.
Jessie, Meowth, and the receptionist just give him a blank stare. Finally, the receptionist points out, "You do know you're supposed to make that joke over a phone call, right?"
James says through his laughter, "And miss seeing the look on your face!? Ha!"
Meowth questions, "The look of utter confusion and ridicule?"
"No! The look of being had!"
Jessie speaks up, "Can someone explain to me how a refrigerator could even be running in the first place? For one thing, they don't have legs." She pauses. "Last time I checked at least…" She struggles to remember if she'd ever seen a refrigerator with legs.
Meowth groans.
The receptionist, clearly tiring of their antics, asserts, "If you're just here to waste my time, you should be going."
Jessie sits down on the ground, crosses her legs and arms, and declares stubbornly, "Make us."
James and Meowth join in her protest.
The receptionist groans. "Some days I really hate my job…" She presses a button beneath her desk.
Within seconds a large group of Planetary Grunts have surrounded Team Rocket. They have their Pokéballs drawn. One demands, "Are you making issues?"
James sticks his tongue out antagonistically.
"All right! Enough of this!" He throws his Pokéball, sending out an Elgyem. The other grunts follow and send out other space Pokémon. "Take them to the holding cell while we sort things out."
Jessie's eyes widen. "Maybe we didn't think this through fully…"
Meowth shrugs. "Well, the twerps wanted a distraction. They've got a distraction." He looks around. "I just wish it didn't mean we had to put up with this…"
The leader orders, "Elgyem, use-"
He's cut off by Ash ordering, "Pikachu, Thunderbolt!"
"Pikaaaaaa chuuuuuu!"
By sheer force of habit, Team Rocket all flinch at sound of Pikachu, but when Pikachu's electricity strikes Elgyem instead, they realize their mistake and breathe a sigh of relief. James says with surprise, "The twerps! They came to help us!"
Brock commands, "Guardgoyle, use Dragon Claw!" Guardgoyle leaps down on a Solrock and slashes with its claws.
Next to it, Kappaqueous throws an Aqua Bomb at a Lunatone.
Ash urges, "Come on guys, there's too many of them! We need to run and come up with a different plan!"
Team Rocket don't need to be told twice. Through the opening Ash, Brock, and Brenda have made, they flee. James shouts, "Time to make like a refrigerator and run!"
It's Scizor!
Everyone has taken refuge in an alleyway. They watch from hiding as the Planetary Grunts run by. Everyone breathes a sigh of relief.
James looks to Ash with surprise. "You came to help us. You actually came to help us."
Ash grins at him. "Of course we did. You're our friends."
This catches James off-guard. "Friends…?"
Brenda laughs as she adds, "Besides, it's kind of our fault you were in that situation. Clearly sending you to attract their attention was the wrong call. Sorry."
James shakes his head. "No, it's okay…friends…"
Brock looks towards the setting sun. "It's getting late, and Team Planetary will likely be on high alert for the rest of the day. We should wait until tomorrow to try again."
Ash nods. "Sorry guys, but I agree."
Meowth responds, "I think we can afford to wait until tomorrow, assuming you're still willing to help us."
Ash smiles broadly. "Of course we're still willing."
Brock suggests, "Would you guys like to join us for dinner? My treat."
Team Rocket practically squeal with joy.
Brenda laughs. "I guess that's a yes."
Ash, Brock, and Brenda sit at a table across from Team Rocket. Brock and Brenda are watching with amazement as Jessie, James, and Meowth plow through plates of food. Brenda teases, "You shouldn't have offered to pay for anything they wanted, Brock. They might even give Ash a run for his money when it comes to eating."
As if not to be outdone, Ash hears this, then shovels food into his mouth.
After finishing a mouthful of food, Jessie says emotionally, "This is the nicest thing anyone has ever done for us."
Brock comments, "Sorry if this is out of line, but you guys seem to be acting a little strange."
Team Rocket freeze mid-swallow.
"What I mean is that you guys don't seem very used to the idea of having friends. If I may be so bold, do you not have any?"
Team Rocket slowly put down their utensils and swallow the food they were eating. They remain silent for a moment. Then James admits, "No. We've never had any friends. It's the three of us against the world…"
Ash slows down on his food too. "I can't imagine living like that. But hey. That's no longer the case. You've got us now. And don't you ever forget it."
Jessie, James, and Meowth look to each other in surprise. They're all caught speechless.
Brock asks, "Where are you guys staying tonight? Do you have a place to sleep?"
Jessie sighs. "We have a bal- A transport parked outside of town. We usually sleep in it."
Brenda shakes her head. "No way. That sounds horrible. You need to stay with us at the Pokémon Center. Sleep in an actual bed. I insist."
For the second time in as many minutes, Team Rocket is left speechless by the show of kindness. They look to be on the verge of tears.
That night, everyone is asleep in one of the local Pokémon Center's rooms. Ash, Brock, and Brenda are sleeping in one triple bunkbed, while Jessie, James, and Meowth are in another. Jessie sleeps on the bottom bunk. She turns her head to look across the room at the bed where Ash and Pikachu sleep soundly.
She gets out of bed and walks quietly over to them. She stares intently at Pikachu. She whispers to herself, "We've never been so close… All I need to do is reach out and grab. We could be out of here before anyone even realizes." She slowly reaches out but stops when she feels a hand on her shoulder. She looks back to see James.
He slowly shakes his head. "Not now, Jessie. Not now."
Jessie objects, "But…"
James shakes his head.
Jessie lowers her arm and sighs. "You're right…" She sits back down on her bed. James sits next to her. The two stare at Pikachu in silence.
The next morning, everyone has reconvened outside the Planetary facility. Ash says, "All right. The frontal assault didn't work. We need a different approach."
Brenda laughs. "If only we had some costumes. We could pull a Team Rocket and sneak in."
Meowth asks, "Pull a Team Rocket?"
Brenda chuckles. "Sorry, they're some bad guys who follow us around. They're always dressing up in costumes to fool us."
Jessie comments, "They sound pretty cool."
Brenda and Brock look to each other, then crack up in laughter. They both say together. "Yeah, no."
Jessie, James, and Meowth cross their arms in resentment.
Ash says, "Hey, maybe sneaking in is the way to go. But we won't be needing any lame costumes."
James objects, "Hey, I say costumes are cool!"
Ignoring him, Ash points ahead. A group of people are being led into the building for what looks to be a tour. He beckons forward. "Come on, let's get in with that tour."
Ash, Brock, Brenda, and Team Rocket have joined with the tour group and are now led through the halls of the Planetary facility. The tour guide comments, "And through this door, Team Planetary conducts experiments on combing Pokémon with technology, such as computers."
Brock whispers, "This is it. That sounds like our room. They must be keeping Artifract in there."
Brenda asks, "How do we get through the locked door?"
Meowth grins. "Everyone, look away. I'll handle this."
Ash asks, "Why do we have to look away?"
"Just trust me."
Ash, Brock, and Brenda shrug. They turn away to allow Meowth to work. With all eyes averted, Meowth extends his claws and uses them to cut away the casing around the electronic lock. With access to the internals, he slices a couple of the wires and reconnects them. He replaces the casing, and the door slides open.
"We're in."
They look around to make sure no one sees them, and they slip into the next room. There they find a variety of Pokémon and technology. On one side of the room a Rotom flies around various appliances. On the other, a Porygon, Porygon2, and Porygon-Z rest atop a computer server. Across the room from them inside of a containment pod is another Pokémon. The Pokémon looks like a two-dimensional image made from squares of a various colors, as if it were a 16-bit sprite from a video game, specifically an enemy monster from such a game. However, it's seemingly random color and shape distortions make it look more like a glitchy mess than a polished sprite.
Ash is quick to pull out his Pokédex. "Artifract, the Virus Pokémon and a Light and Ghost Combo-Type. A living computer program. It was originally designed as an antivirus, but its coding was compromised. Now it inflicts damage to any computer it interfaces with. Evolves from Pixle Bugged Form at level 34."
Jessie exclaims, "We did it! We found art impact!"
James corrects, "Artifract."
Jessie repeats, "Artifract!"
Suddenly, the wall explodes, filling the room with smoke. Ash shouts, "Was that Team Rocket!?"
The smoke clears to reveal Butch and Cassidy standing in the hole in the wall. Cassidy announces, "Prepare for trouble!"
Butch continues, "And make it double!"
They both declare, "Here's our mission, so you better listen!"
"To infect the world with devastation!"
"To blight all people in every nation!"
"To denounce the goodness of truth and love!"
"To extend our wrath to the stars above!"
"Cassidy!"
"And Butch, of course!"
"We're Team Rocket, circling Earth all day and night!"
"Surrender to us now or you will surely lose the fight!"
"Rat, Raticate!"
Ash stares at them with some confusion. "Oh, that's not the Team Rocket I was expecting…" He shrugs, then demands, "What are you two doing here?"
Cassidy laughs. "We're here for that Artifract."
Butch threatens, "So you twerps better get out of our way."
James steps forward and shouts, "Kltpzyxb! Kltpzyxb! Kltpzyxb!"
Butch is very confused. "Kltp…zyxb…? Huh?"
James snaps his fingers. "Shoot, it didn't work."
Brenda asserts, "We won't let you take Jessi, Jaims, and Butch's Artifract!"
Butch, still in confusion from before, asks, "Huh? My Artifract?"
Brenda shakes her head. "I said Butch, not Lunch!"
Butch groans but decides not to bother making the correction. "The one time they say my name right, and it's not even referring to me…"
Cassidy declares, "If you twerps are going to stand in the way of us getting that Artifract, then we'll just force you out of the way!" She throws a Pokéball. "Go, Charizard!"
Butch also throws a Pokéball, "You too, Aggron!"
Jessie and James freeze up. James laments, "Not those two! We'll never beat them!"
Ash steps up next to James and asserts, "Maybe not on your own, but you've got us. Let's go, Pikachu!" Pikachu leaps off his shoulders and stares down Aggron.
Brenda steps up as well and throws a Pokéball. "We'll help too, Kappaqueous!"
Jessie asks in bewilderment, "Even when staring down such powerful Pokémon, you're still going to stand by us?"
Ash nods. "That's what friends do. No matter what."
Jessie and James look to each other, then nod with newfound determination. They throw their Pokéballs to send out Repiv and Haking.
Brock strokes his chin. "Jessi and Jaims using Repiv and Haking… Why does that sound familiar…?"
Ash orders, "Pikachu, use Iron Tail on Aggron!"
James adds, "Haking, support it with Sludge Bomb!"
Butch is quick to counter, "Force them away with Water Pulse!" Aggron attacks with an orb of water. But Pikachu is quick to pivot its attack and changes it target to the Water Pulse, slicing right through it. This allows Haking's Sludge Bomb to hit the intended target.
At the same time, Cassidy orders, "Charizard, burn them with Flamethrower!" The fire breath is targeted at Repiv.
Brenda orders, "Kappaqueous, protect Repiv with Water Gun!" Brenda's Pokémon douses the flames.
Jessie grins with thanks at Brenda. "That leaves us open to use Poison Sting!" Repiv shots poison needles at Charizard, who was too committed to the Flamethrower to be able to dodge or block.
Butch commands, "Aggron, double Mega Punch!" Aggron runs at Pikachu and Haking, with both of its fists glowing.
Ash and James both shout at once, "Dodge!" Pikachu is quick enough to get out of the way, but Haking isn't.
Ash quickly follows up, "Pikachu, Thunderbolt!" As Pikachu leaps away from Aggron, it attacks with electricity.
"Pikaaaaa chuuuuu!"
With Aggron staggering back from the attack and Haking recovering from the last hit, James orders, "Use Tackle, Haking!" Haking rams itself into the stunned Aggron, toppling it over.
But Butch doesn't give up. "Aggron, get that Pikachu with Metal Claw!" Aggron pivots around as it stands back up and smashes Pikachu into the ground with its extended glowing claws.
Cassidy shouts, "Charizard, use Wing Attack!" Charizard flies at Kappaqueous with glowing wings.
Brenda orders, "Get it away with Aqua Bomb!"
Jessie adds, "Poison Sting!"
The two attacks both strike Charizard before it can make it to Kappaqueous, knocking it away.
Cassidy quickly follows up, "Trap it with Fire Spin!" Charizard promptly gets back up and attacks with a whirlwind of flames that surround and entrap Kappaqueous. "Now use Blast Burn on it while its helpless!"
At the same time, Butch orders, "Use Hyper Beam on Pikachu while it's down!"
Ash shouts, "Oh no! Pikachu!"
Brenda cries, "Kappaqueous, no!"
Jessie and James both freeze up. James asks himself, "What do I do…?"
Jessie questions, "Do I help the twerpette…?"
They both recall the events of the past twenty-four hours. They remember Ash, Brock and Brenda selflessly offering to help. How they saved them from the Planetary Grunts. How they fed them and gave them a place to sleep for the night. How Pikachu and Kappaqueous defended Haking and Repiv. They both come to the same conclusion as a look of determination appears on their faces.
James declares, "Haking! Today we protect Pikachu! Use Tackle! The strongest you've got!"
Similarly, Jessie announces, "Repiv, we're the heroes today! Use Acid and give it everything!"
Haking rams itself into Aggron, causing it to miss with its Hyper Beam, while Repiv spits a massive spurt of Acid at Charizard intense orb of flames, causing it to explode into steam.
Ash cheers, "Yeah!"
Brenda adds, "Way to go!"
James shouts, "We're not done yet! Haking, use Smokescreen! Then follow it up with a Tackle barrage!"
Smoke obscures the field around Aggron. Butch shouts with frustration, "Knock it away with Mega Punch!" But without being able to see, Aggron can do nothing. Haking continuously crashes into it from all different angles. Aggron quickly tires from attempting to counterattack.
Jessie commands, "Repiv, Wrap things up!" Repiv lunges at Charizard and wraps its serpentine body around it. "Now strike with Poison Fang!"
Cassidy shouts, "Don't let it bite you! Get it off with Flamethrower!" Charizard attempts to use Flamethrower at Repiv's head, but the snake Pokémon is too fast. It darts its head away and strikes forward to quickly bite down. When Charizard adjusts its aim, Repiv pulls back its head, only to strike again at a different spot.
Jessie and James shout in unison, "Now finish this!" Haking and Repiv both deliver one last attack. It's their strongest yet. Aggron and Charizard are flung into Butch and Cassidy.
Ash steps forward and announces, "Let's get them out of here! Pikachu, Thunderbolt!"
Brenda adds, "Kappaqueous, Aqua Bomb!"
James grins. "I've always wanted to do this. Haking, use Sludge Bomb!"
Jessie also takes joy from this. "Let's turn the tables! Repiv, Poison Sting!"
The four attacks all strike Butch, Cassidy, and their Pokémon at once, sending them flying through their hole in the wall and into the sky. They shout, "We're blasting off again!" before disappearing.
Jessie asks with surprise, "We did that?"
James shouts in joy, "We did that!"
Meowth cheers, "You did that!"
Ash steps closer to them. "That's what happens when you have friends on your side. And now Artifract is yours again."
James is on the verge of tears. "Thank you all, so much. This means so much to us. I can't even tell you."
Brenda grins. "Hey, we're always happy to make a new friend and help out."
Ash looks around to the Pokémon in the room and shouts, "Hey! You're no longer trapped by Team Planetary! Go and be free!"
The Pokémon seem to like this idea. The Porygon float away immediately. The Rotom first enters a refrigerator and transforms into its Frost Form. It hops out of the room.
James cracks up as he realizes, "Hey! Their refrigerator is really running!"
Jessie exclaims, "So that's how they do it without legs!" Everyone laughs together.
Brock asks, "What are you going to do now?"
Meowth smiles. "We're going to get Artifract to where it belongs." Jessie and James both grin at the thought as well.
Ash says, "It's time that we get back on the road, so I guess we'll part ways here. It was great meeting you." He extends a hand.
James takes it and shakes. "You too. I never thought I would be so happy to know a twerp."
The statement confuses Ash. "Huh?"
"I meant to say…um…not that…"
Ash shrugs. "Whatever. Hopefully we'll see you guys around."
Jessie grins. "Oh, don't worry. I'm sure we will."
Ash, Brock, and Brenda exit through the hole in the wall. Once they're out of sight, Team Rocket rips off their disguises and cheers, "We did it!"
James announces, "I'm so proud of us! We actually pulled off a plan successfully!"
Jessie shouts, "And who would have thought it would all be because of those twerps!"
Meowth suggests, "I think we owe them some sort of thank you."
James suggests, "Maybe we'll give them a one-week get-out-of-being-burgled free card."
Jessie shakes her head. "That might be a little much. Maybe a day."
Meowth nods. "Yeah. A day sounds fair."
Though they say this, they all don't seem fully behind it. They pause briefly as they contemplate the events of the past day.
Do my eyes deceive me, or have our villains really gotten a taste of the hero life? Have they built a lasting friendship, or was it all a scam? I like to think at least some of it was real. Perhaps we'll find out, as the journey continues!
Giovanni sits at his desk, stroking his Persian's back. Matori enters the room. "Sir, we just received a delivery from Tenno. It's Artifract."
Giovanni grins. "So Butch and Cassidy came through. Perfect."
Matori sighs. "Well…actually it wasn't them. Somehow, it was Jessie and James."
"How is that possible? We purposefully left them off that mission."
"I don't know, sir."
"Oh well. It doesn't matter. See to it that they are commended for pulling off a mission that Butch and Cassidy clearly failed."
Matori groans. "If I must, sir."
"Yes. And now the last piece of the plan is in place. With Artifract in my possession, combined with the Planetary computer data and our backdoor access into their systems, Team Rocket is ready to launch its attack. Tenno, and all the wonderous technology that comes with it, will soon belong to Team Rocket." He laughs sinisterly. "Team Planetary won't know what hit them."
The receptionist from the Planetary facility is outdoors. Her Pokéssistant rings. She answers it. "Hello?"
James' voice asks, "Is your refrigerator running?" He can't help but snicker as he asks.
The receptionist groans. "Yes. It is." She sounds very annoyed.
"Then you better catch it!" He cracks up in hysterics.
"What do you think I'm doing!?"
A broader look at the scene reveals she's running after the Frost Rotom as it bounces away from her.
To Be Continued…
COMING SOON: Pokémon Cosmic Quest: Planetary Crisis
It's time for the epic, multi-part finale of the Team Planetary arc we've all been waiting for!
Having captured the three Cosmic Guardians all while maintaining their heroic façade, Team Planetary is prepared to enter their endgame. Ash, Brock, and Brenda have been branded as criminals by Team Planetary, Cosmo has learned the truth of his father's mysterious death, Brandon is determined to battle Team Planetary alone, Polaris will do what he thinks it takes to save the world by any means necessary, and Giovanni is planning Team Rocket's power play to establish a foothold in Tenno. Heroes, villains, and even more villains will clash in a climatic battle of cosmic proportions!
For an advanced look at what's to come, check out the Cosmic Quest Official Website (in the "Bonus Content" section) or Youtube channel to see the Planetary Crisis Sprite Trailer!
