-Chapter Six-

(Transportation Pod 2)

The pod was consumed by a comfortable silence. Blaine, eyes wide open, sat smiling into space. Violet had been asleep for hours, her eyes fluttering every so often in her sleep. Whitney slept as well, leaning against Gary. Gary was trying to fall asleep, but he was too anxious. He knew when he became a Pokemon Trainer that he would have many wonderful and exciting adventures. But none of his wildest dreams could have conjured up the situation he was in now.
It's things like these that make heroes…
"Gary?"
His closed eyes snapped open and he lifted his head to meet Blaine's stare.
"Sorry, did I wake you?"
"No. I was just resting."
Blaine looked at him over his large sunglasses.
"I wanted to ask you… Earlier, I overheard you and Whitney talking and I heard you mention that you hung out with Team Rocket. I hope I'm not being too forward, but would you mind telling me why a boy like you—a respectable pokémon trainer—got involved in the company of someone like Team Rocket?"
Gary smiled a little. He was used to hearing this question whenever he mentioned them.
"Well, I know Team Rocket has a bad reputation, but my friends—Jessie, James, and Meowth—are really great. I knew them from previous encounters I had with them with Ash. But it wasn't until a year ago that I really got to know them.
"You see, when I was traveling in the Johto area, my umbreon got stolen by a couple of members of Team Rocket named Butch and Cassidy. When I was trying to find them to get him back, I stumbled upon Jessie, James, and Meowth. As it turned out, they were Butch and Cassidy's rivals, and they were going to stop them from stealing pokémon…"
He paused here and blushed embarrassedly.
"Of course, they were only stopping them so they could steal the pokémon for themselves."
"Of course," Blaine remarked.
"Anyways, they told me that they wouldn't take my umbreon if I helped them stop Butch and Cassidy. Due to my earlier run-ins with them, I didn't trust them and decided after they stole the pokémon, I would turn them in to Officer Jenny.
"So as we were trying to find Butch and Cassidy, I got to talking with them…and I learned a lot about them that I never knew. I learned that they weren't as evil and stupid as I had originally thought they were, and I actually grew fond of them. And even though they didn't say it at first, I could tell they liked me too.
"We finally caught Butch and Cassidy and foiled their evil plan. After we sent them off to jail, I got my umbreon back. And to my surprise, they let the other pokémon go as well. They never did explain to me why they did this, but they didn't have to. The fact that they did it was enough for me to see how good they were."
Blaine nodded his head with a thoughtful look in his eyes.
"I see, I see. Sometimes people get mixed in with bad company, but aren't really bad themselves. I underestimated Team Rocket. They actually sound all right."
Gary smiled and glanced at the sleeping Whitney.
"I actually found myself at Whitney's gym not long after that. Like you, Team Rocket had wronged her as well. But since we hit it off right away, it wasn't long until I had to show her Jessie, James, and Meowth's true colors. She was as surprised as I, even though it took her awhile to warm up to them."
Blaine returned Gary's peaceful smile.
"Hmm. Well, one day you'll have to let me get to know them, too."
"Oh, of course!"
Blaine leaned his head back against the wall and looked at his watch.
"We'll be arriving soon."
The return to reality brought back Gary's anxiety. Needing to calm his nerves, he decided to call Team Rocket. He took out his phone and dialed the number for Jessie's cell—he knew she always had it on. But he got no reply. So he called their room phone at Team Rocket HQ. Still no answer. A little concerned, Gary put his phone away. He hoped they would call him eventually. What with this strange battle going on, he felt worried for them. Finally, he closed his eyes and managed to fall asleep, but not for long. In only two hours time, he was going to be awakened by the sharp halt of the pod as they reached Kenya, Africa.

(The Ca' Amadi, suite, Venice, Italy)

Dr. Brown sat at a table, counting out the remaining Euro he had. It had cost 100 of the suite, and he didn't bring all that much, assuming they wouldn't be here long. Meowth sat on the long red couch, admiring the fancy room.
"Dis place is great, Doc! It sure is different from the places we get stuck in when we're on da road after dat pesky Pikachu!"
"I can imagine," Brown commented, putting his Euro back in his wallet. "Say, Meowth. James seemed a little…quiet on the ride here. Do you think anything's wrong?"
"Eh, he's probably just worried about Jessie. You know he hates it when anything bad happens to her. But don't be concerned 'bout it. He'll get over it soon. He always does."
James lay on the large bed in the Venetian style bedroom, his arms crossed over his face. As he thought about earlier that night when Dragonite brought Jessie's limp body to him, he felt tears well up in his emerald eyes. He hated feeling so helpless…all he could do was watch the treacherous waves of the sea and hope that Dragonite would get to her on time. How could he expect to be everything Jessie needed if he couldn't save her life?
Steam swirled slowly around the bathroom as the hot water of the shower fell down on Jessie's naked body. The feeling would not go away. The horrible feeling of their slimy hands clawing at her and gripping her skin just would not go away. She scrubbed mercilessly at herself, trying to rid herself of the experience. She had not understood before…how much this whole thing would affect her and the others. When those creatures touched her before, all she could feel was the fear they would drown her. But now that she was safe, she felt so much more. It was strange and terrifying. All these emotions were inside of her, spreading through her veins, mixing in her blood. Rage, confusion, sorrow, desperation, apprehension, and so many more. She felt herself trembling and wrapped her arms around herself. She closed her eyes as she thought what Dr. Brown had told her when she explained how she felt while James was in the shower.
"The demons evidently have a way of transporting their own feelings and thoughts into the people they touch," he had said. This whole experience is not going to be fun, Jessie. Not in the least. And if you feel terrible now… I'm sorry to tell you, but there is worst to come."
James opened his eyes, hearing the door to the bathroom open and Jessie's light footsteps as she walked out. After a few moments, he felt her sit beside him on the bed and place her hand on his chest. He removed his hands from his face and took her hand in his own. He sat up and looked at her.
"Jessie…are you all right?"
She nodded weakly and shivered.
"I just feel…weird…"
She made a face.
"And icky!"
James smiled and put his arms around her. She smiled back and returned the embrace as they laid down together. She felt her heart beat faster as he undid her light blue robe. She was eager to feel her lover's warm touch and kisses on her skin, hoping they would banish the remaining traces of the demon's hands and emotions. When he kissed her lips, she managed to forget, if only momentarily, the situation at hand and concentrate on his wonderful love.

Outside, the dark storm clouds were still suffocating the sky over Italy. No one was about on the streets, or else they would have seen it. As the rain fell onto the ground it started to break apart into a hole. A cloaked figure in black climbed nimbly from the hole and stood still in the streets. She wandered slowly throughout the city, finally seeking shelter in a shadowed alley. She was Miyamoto—former agent for Team Rocket, Giovanni Ranielli's first and only lover, and Jessie Parker's mother. And she was here to retrieve an ancient relic for Midas Ranielli and to slay anyone who got in her way.

End of Chapter Six.