Chapter 14

"Regrouping in Tehran"

In the streets of Tehran, the Team Rocket Agents that had been over in West Germany were making their way from Mehrabad Airport back to Team Rocket's Middle Eastern headquarters. All morning, they had been monitoring the news reports of the Pan Am 103 bombing over Scotland.

"Well, that takes care of Will Randall and that bitch fiancee of his," sneered Stewart. "Maybe now I can get my position back at the publishing firm."

"So what if you do get it back," cautioned another man, with greasy straight black hair. "Not unless if the government tracks you down first."

"Philly, they won't track us down," said an agent speaking in a southern accent with brown hair and a brown beard. "Not as long as we have protection from the authorities."

The agents nodded in agreement, but another had his suspicions.

"If we have sustained protection, Richard," remarked the oldest man in the group. "Remember that they will find out the truth eventually and our involvement in killing everyone else on board. If our leader is captured then she will put all the blame on us to save her skin."

"Sean Ferguson, you're a dummy, you know that?" Philly said. "I mean, you saw your target board the plane in Frankfurt, as long as we ensured that our targets were on that flight, that's all that matters."

"Easy for you to say, you're only doing this for an extra paycheck."

The rest of the group stared jealousy over at Philly, who merely chuckled to himself.

"$50,000."

Suddenly, the car came to a screeching halt and caused the men to become startled.

"Justin, what's wrong with you?" cried Stewart.

"Sorry, an idiot cut in front of us."

"Either that or it's jetlag," said Richard.

Shaking off the encounter, the car arrived at one of Team Rocket's many Headquarters, which was the former United States Embassy in Tehran, it's symbol still defaced after the revolution that caused it to be abandoned.

"Now don't forget guys," warned Stewart. "That the plane didn't blow over the ocean, but there are some things we couldn't control, right? So, let's play it cool."

Getting out of the car, the six agents proceeded into the building and down the hall towards their leader's office. At that moment, Giovanni was walking down the opposite way and saw them.

"Ahh, here are our spies from West Germany," he said. "Have a safe flight?"

"You might say that," said Philly. "Our targets are dead, even if everything didn't go according to plan, right?"

"How's your mama?" asked Richard in a sarcastic tone, much to Giovanni's annoyance.

"For your information, she isn't happy with what happened," he replied, sharply. "If I were you, I would just be thankful you are not at risk of being captured by your countrymen and branded as traitors."

This made Richard not be so jokey as they walked past Giovanni.

"One more thing, Agent Ross," he said to Philly, causing the grease haired agent to look at Giovanni. "That $50,000 you wanted for partaking in this mission? You might want to save that to cover court costs."

But Philly ignored Giovanni and followed his fellow agents into Madame Boss' office, the former seat of the United States Ambassador to Iran.

"I trust you are familiar with the news that our mission has not been fully successful," she said to her group of agents, her back turned to them. "I've actually had to reprimand our executive board for the failure."

"Well, you can rest assured that we targeted those whom you told us to target," said Stewart. "And also get rid of those whom we had personal connections with, such as the guy that stole my job position."

"Yes, but my loyal soldiers," replied Madame Boss. "You do understand that everything you have ever worked for in our organization is at risk now that one of our targets is blown up over Scotland and our second target was never reached in Athens."

"So, what do you expect us to do, if you don't mind my asking?" asked Justin.

"I want you to prepare yourselves to defend this base with your lives," she ordered them. "Because one of our targets blew over Scotland, your involvement is more than likely to be uncovered."

Madame Boss then turned to face her six agents almost with a worried look on her face.

"My son would much rather have us surrender to your country and admit our responsibility, but he's a fool," she sighed. "I refuse to have my six top agents be subjected to embarrassment and humiliation."

"None of us have any desire to return to the United States," said Sean. "Unless it's for a suicide mission."

"Agent Ferguson, you are absolutely correct on that remark," cautioned Madame Boss. "It is because of you six that at least one of our targets was reached. For two years, you maintained our cell in West Germany and ensured that the agents we selected to infiltrate Pan Am at Frankfurt carried out their mission."

"By disguising as Pan Am security staff, of course," said Philly.

"Correct, Agent Ross. But, through no fault of your own, you must prepare for any interference to this base of operations. The Americans will come to arrest you since they are the ones who had been spying on you while in West Germany."

Madame Boss then rose to her feet as an agent came forward and beckoned her to come with him.

"Rocket One is ready to depart," said the agent.

"Remember, to never be taken alive, my sons," cautioned Madame Boss, turning back to face the six agents. "The glory of Team Rocket in the Middle East rests in your hands."

Saluting their leader, the six agents assumed command of the Tehran base of operations for Team Rocket and as Madame Boss walked past her son, Giovanni scowled at his mother.

"You liar, I never said that," he cried. "You just don't want to face the truth, don't you?"

But Madame Boss said nothing and all Giovanni could do was scowl in disbelief that his mother wouldn't accept his suggestion to carry more than just airline bombings and hijackings.

His time would soon come, but not now…