Primary Colors
By: Sforzie
Chapter One
It was nearly noon at Team Rocket Headquarters. Jessie, James,
and the furry Meowth were in the lounge outside of the Boss's
office, waiting patiently to be called in.
"Awww, come on already!"
Somewhat patiently, at least.
James banged a fist against the Plexiglas front of the vending machine. Jessie cracked an eye open from where she was sprawled on one of the hard plastic couches.
"Stop that already, James," she muttered. "I'm trying to take a nap."
"You took a nap earlier," James whined. "Just after you woke up and ate breakfast! I'm hungry!"
"Banging on the vending machine isn't going to help," Meowth purred from where he sat at Jessie's feet, paging through a months-old issue of "World Domination Weekly".
"The machine took the last of my change," James said.
"Then you'll have to wait until we finish our meeting with the Boss," Jessie said, closing her eyes again.
James looked thoughtful. "Do you think he'd give me some change?"
"Yeah... a change to your job status," Meowth said. James sighed and sat in the chair next to the couch. He crossed his arms, looking sourly around the room.
Several minutes passed, and then James' stomach growled. He blushed faintly and looked down at Jessie, who had now sat up and was inching down the couch.
Any retort from either side was quieted by the opening of a door at the far side of the room. Light spilled through the doorway into the badly lit waiting room. All three members of the squad sat up straight. Another member of Team Rocket, wearing the customary black uniform, entered the waiting room. He tugged the black cap further down over his eyes and motioned to the door.
"The Boss is waiting for you," he said and slipped out the exit. Jessie, James, and Meowth stood and crept towards the Boss's office.
"Hurry up, I don't have all day," his voice came from the shadows as they took their spots in front of his desk. The Persian looked up from where it lounged on a pile of papers and purred loudly.
"Sorry Boss," Meowth said quietly. Jessie and James were silent.
"Now, I've been watching your progress lately," the Boss said, sounding vaguely displeased.
"Yes, sir."
"I've decided to change your assignment for the time being, after the latest incident that occurred with Butch and Cassidy."
There was a tense pause.
"I'm going to have you two train one of our new recruits," the Boss said evenly. Jessie and James blinked and looked at each other.
"Train..."
"....a new recruit?"
"Yes. I'm thinking that by teaching the recruit the values and rules of Team Rocket... perhaps you'll remember them yourselves."
Jessie was chewing on her lip.
"For how long, sir?" Meowth asked.
"Until I see that the recruit is properly trained," the Boss said. "Then I'll find a partner for them to work with. But... if you do not succeed in this current mission..."
"We're off the Team," Jessie said sullenly. The Boss chuckled.
"At least you remember something from your training." They bristled.
"Yes... sir. We do," Jessie said.
"When will we meet the recruit?" James asked.
"Soon enough." The Persian let out a yawn. "You're dismissed. I'll be checking up on you shortly."
They nodded and exited the Boss's office. James' stomach growled again as they passed through the waiting room.
"I'm hungry," James muttered as they passed down the hall to the main exit. The secretary at the front desk eyed them.
"You two leavin'?" she asked. Jessie and James nodded. A Charmander was wagging its tail as it banged away at the keyboard to a computer. The secretary carefully pushed it aside. After entered a few codes a red light on a box that rested on the desk turned green. The secretary opened it with a key a pulled out two small handguns.
"This weapons check is ridiculous," James sighed, taking his gun. Jessie followed the motion and slid it into the holster that was hidden underneath her shirt.
"Well, you know the Boss," Veronica, the secretary, sighed. "He doesn't trust in the Pokmon anyone steals for him. He's even more paranoid of his own men." She shook her head. Veronica pulled a large mallet from the box, followed by a black frying pan. Both were handed to Jessie, who hid them appropriately. Then came out a black leather bag, which she handed to James. He undid the clasps on it and fished through its contents.
"Hey, where's my 'Pikachu Blue' eyeshadow?" he whined. Jessie shrugged.
"I borrowed it," she said.
"Aw, Jessie this my undercover make up!" James said, "You're not supposed to be using it!"
"Quit whining, I'll put it back," Jessie snapped. "I don't know why you carry that thing around anyway."
"You never know when we might need it!"
"You just like cross dressing," Jessie said, waving to Veronica as she stalked out of the main entrance.
"It's a useful skill!" James called as he chased after Jessie. Meowth sighed and followed.
"Let's get lunch," James said, a few minutes later. The trio was walking down the sidewalk. Cars honked as Meowth hopped in and out of the path of traffic. He had on his headphones and was singing along with a tape.
"You are my sunshine, my only sunshine," Meowth caterwauled loudly and off key, "You make me happy, when skies are greeeeeey..."
A car honked loudly and Meowth leapt gracefully back onto the sidewalk.
"Meowth, what are you listening to?" Jessie said, ignoring James' hungry pleas.
"It's a therapy tape," the Pokemon purred.
"I won't ask," she said.
"I'm hungry."
"I know, I know!" Jessie smacked James on the back of the head. "How about Qwerty's?"
"Yeah!" James clapped his hands together in delight. "I want a Qwerty burger!"
"And curly fries!" Meowth added.
"And a chocolate shake!" Jessie added, getting into the act.
James gave an evil grin. "That reminds me, how are the cramps?"
Jessie's reply nearly sent James into the line of traffic. James picked himself up off the concrete as Jessie was brushing dust off of her mallet.
"They're fine," she growled, following Meowth as he trounced down the sidewalk in the direction of the fast food district.
Reaching Qwerty's, Jessie and James put on their sunglasses. The people in the area were used to seeing members of Team Rocket in town, because everyone knew that the Headquarters were hidden somewhere nearby. Still, they didn't want to risk being picked out from the crowd. There weren't that many white-wearers left anyway.
They got into line. Well, Jessie and James did. Meowth, having put his headphones back on, was singing to his therapy tapes again. A Chansey handing out napkins at the condiment stand didn't help with the racket as it 'Chansey'ed along with Meowth's singing.
"There was a trainer, had a Chansey, and Lucky was its name-o. L-U-C-K-Y, L-U-C-K-Y, L-U-C-K-Y and Lucky was its name-o!"
"Chansey! Chan Chan Chan Chan Chansey!"
"There was a trainer, had a Chansey, and Lucky was its name-o. L-U-C-K-(clap), L-U-C-K-(clap), L-U-C-K-(clap) and Lucky was its name-o!"
"Chan Chan Chan Chansey!" the Chansey shrieked along, clapping in time with Meowth. Napkins flew all over. The manager standing behind the counter didn't look amused, although the girl taking orders was suppressing a giggle.
"Meowth!" James ducked out of line to quiet the Pokemon. Jessie hid her face with a hand and sighed. The line crept forward. The Chansey was contained, and it picked up the scattered napkins, still humming the nefarious tune.
"If you're happy and you know it, Poke ball!" Meowth sang to himself, still in a strangle hold by James. "If you're happy and you know it, Poke ball! If you're happy and you know it, then your fights will surely show it, if you're happy and you know it, Poke ball!"
"I regret ever giving Meowth the money for that 'A Singing Pokemon is a Happy Pokemon' therapy course," James said, sighing with relief as the tape ended and Meowth put the headphones away.
"Meowth, go save us a table," Jessie said.
"Right-o," Meowth hummed as he wove through the line.
Finally, it was their turn. The order taker didn't look as amused as she had before, probably due to the reprimand she had gotten from the manager. She had blonde hair, and was tugging her hat further down over her eyes.
"I didn't know Meowth's could sing," the order taker said. Her nametag read "Rose"
"Well, that one can," Jessie said evenly. Meowth was standing on a table, doing a little dance. At least he wasn't singing.
"It's hyper too," Rose said. "He yours?"
"Sort of," James said. "He's assigned to us."
"I see." Rose noticed the glare from the manager. "Ahem. Will this be for here or to go?"
"Here."
"What'll it be?"
Jessie counted off on fingers as she ordered. "One large fry, two large curly fries, three Qwerty burgers, three sodas, an order of Qwerty chicken bits... and a large chocolate shake."
Rose finished ringing the order. She looked at James, and said with totally sincerity: "And for you?"
"Oh, no, that was our whole order!" James said in surprise, his eyes wide.
"Alright..." Rose said slowly. She repeated the order. "That'll be 45 pokecoins."
Jessie blinked, and looked at James. "You get to pay."
"It's your turn!" he whined in protest. Jessie tapped her foot carefully.
"You're paying," she declared. James sighed in defeat and paid.
They got their food and sat at the table. Meowth had claimed his side of the table, forcing Jessie and James to sit next to each other.
Several minutes passed in quiet as Team Rocket devoured its lunch. The only break was when the Chansey came by offering napkins. Jessie was halfway through her shake when James tapped her on the arm.
"Hmmm? What?"
"That girl's staring at us," James whispered. Jessie looked to where James was vaguely pointing with a curly fry. Indeed, Rose was studying them as she served the last customers of the lunch rush.
"Odd," Jessie said slowly. "I wonder what she wants."
"Maybe she's a spy for the people that Haley and Davis pulled that job on last week," Meowth said, looking carefully over his shoulder.
"She couldn't be," Jessie said, "Haley and Davis made it out clear. Those people probably don't even know what happened yet."
"True..." Meowth turned back, returning his attention to his curly fries. Another minute or two passed, and then Rose came from around the counter. She wiped off tables, being followed by the Chansey.
"Chansey, Chansey!" it said in a sing-song voice.
"Silly," Rose muttered as she wiped the table across from the trio's.
"Excuse me, miss?" Jessie called. Rose turned slowly, balling the cleaning rag between her hands.
"Yes?"
"We were just wondering if there was something wrong."
Rose fidgeted. "Um, no... Why would anything be wrong?"
"You were staring at us," James piped in.
Rose's expression changed suddenly. She looked over her shoulder and noted that the manager had gone. Rose slid into the seat next to Meowth and rested her hands on the table. Meowth guarded his curly fries with a worried expression.
"I've been waiting for you," Rose said simply. Jessie and James blinked.
"Huh?"
"My name's Seleca," she said. "What are yours?"
"Jessie."
"James."
"Meowth."
"But your nametag says 'Rose'," James said.
"This isn't my uniform," Seleca said. The others shifted in their seats. James lifted his sunglasses up some to peer at her.
"To," he said, sounding vaguely doubtful.
Seleca blinked. "To?"
"To," repeated Jessie. Seleca leaned back in the seat and pressed her hands together.
"Prepare yourselves for a brand new planet
This is the future just as we've planned it:
To steal more Pokemon by the hour
To unite the world beneath our power
We'll organize the world's demise
To watch the Rocket empire rise
Team Rocket will rule the world with flair
Challenge us? You wouldn't dare."
There was a moment of silence. Seleca looked at them intently. Jessie and James exchanged a glance. Then they smiled.
"So you're the recruit," Jessie said as they pulled their sunglasses off.
"And you're my trainers," Seleca smiled in return.
"Jessie and James, at your service," Jessie said.
"Good, lets ditch this place," Seleca said. She tossed the rag aside.
"Waaaait! I haven't finished my fries!" Meowth exclaimed.
They were continuing down the street, heading away from Headquarters. The Chansey from Qwerty's was tagging along--it was Seleca's Pokmon. Meowth and Chansey were singing the Lucky song in the background. James pushed his sunglasses down on his nose.
"So you don't work at Qwerty's?"
"No," Seleca shook her head. "The Boss just bribed the manager to let me be there until you guys showed up."
"Mmhmm." The sunglasses went back up. The group approached a tall apartment building that was hidden away among the downtown buildings.
Near the entrance they passed a man in shabby clothes that was sitting next to a sad looking Raticate. He shook a cup at Seleca.
"Coin for the homeless? Spare some change please?"
Seleca looked at him wearily. "Umm..."
James sighed. "Don't worry, Butch, they'll let you back into the building eventually."
"There goes the penthouse," Butch rasped. Jessie cringed and looked down at him with her hands on her hips.
"So where's Cassidy?"
"They still haven't released her," he sighed. Butch looked at Seleca. "Who's she?"
"Our new assignment," Jessie said. At that they went to the side entrance of the apartment building. These apartments were where many of the higher members of Team Rocket were housed in secret. Jessie pushed a button labeled '10C' on the switchboard next to the door. There was a pause, and then a helium-influenced-sounding voice came through the speaker.
"Yeah?"
Jessie giggled. "Hey Haley, did I wake ya?"
"Oh, hell yes, Jessie," Haley slurred.
"You and Davis still celebrating?"
"Naw, just a little hung over," Haley said.
"We quit celebrating yesterday," Davis called from the background. Haley giggled.
"It was a big job," Jessie agreed.
"So what are you guys doing back?"
"We got our new assignment," James said.
"Oh yeah?"
"Yeah, she's really cute too--OW!!" James rubbed the spot where Jessie had smacked him.
"Sounds like Jessie agrees," Haley said wryly. James was holding one of his pokeballs.
"Listen, I'm gonna send up Weezing to get our entrance keys," he said, tossing the ball. Weezing appeared, muttering happily to itself.
"Oh, right," Haley said. "Sorry that I forgot to give'm back the other day. Send the Weezer up."
"Go to Haley and Davis' window, Weezing, and get the keys."
"Weezing!" the Pokemon floated up lazily.
"Some time this week!" Jessie shouted.
"Weezing," it whined and continued. Weezing got the keys from Haley, who was leaning out of her tenth story window. Weezing went to just above the second floor, where it dropped the keys onto Jessie's head.
"OWWW!" Jessie screamed, grabbing at the new lump. "What's the big idea, you stupid Pokemon?!"
"Weezing!" it cried.
"Weezing, return!" James called as Jessie pulled out her mallet. The Pokemon returned to its ball, and James quickly picked up the keys.
The whole scene was watched quietly by Seleca.
"We'll have to get her a key," Jessie noted as they went inside. James made a noise of agreement. They took the elevator to the twelfth floor. Seleca and James ran into Jessie as they stepped off the lift.
"Jessie--why'd you stop?" James whined, rubbing his nose. Jessie started forward slowly. There was a box sitting in front of their door.
"A box," she said needlessly. Meowth bounded up next to it and gave it a careful sniff.
"There's writing on it," he said. "It smells clean." Jessie knelt next to the box and looked at the writing.
"Seleca, Rocket A4312," Jessie read. Seleca nodded.
"My team number," she said, gesturing to the nearly invisible tattoo on her wrist. Jessie laughed softly.
"Don't worry, we all have them."
"I don't," Meowth said coyly.
"Chansey chan!" Chansey echoed. Seleca laughed.
"Well, I guess I'm still getting used to it."
James unlocked the door. Jessie picked up the box, testing its weight.
"This must be your uniform," she said. Seleca followed the others inside. She made a face as she looked around the small apartment.
"You guys... live here?"
"You do too, for now," Jessie said. She set the box down on the kitchen table. James found a knife in a drawer and gave it to Jessie. While she opened the box with Seleca standing watch, James went into the cooking area and fished around in the refrigerator.
Jessie opened the box. Inside were two paper wrapped packages marked 'Uniform' and 'Backup Uniform', and a pair of black boots.
"Size 10," Jessie noted, looking at the boots. Seleca grinned, taking the box's contents from Jessie.
"I've got big feet," she said. "Where can I change?"
"In the bathroom," Jessie said.
Seleca made her way in the direction across the room that Jessie indicated, stepping over an assortment of discarded take-out food boxes and dirty uniforms. She opened the bathroom door, and jumped back with a yelp as a large yellow-green blur moved towards her.
"Victreebel!" James shouted from the kitchen, "you leave Seleca alone!"
"Victree..." the Pokemon said and wiggled over to the window. Seleca sighed and went into the bathroom.
"You people are slobs!" she called from behind the door.
"You'll learn to like it," Jessie grinned. She took a bowl of noodles from James, and looked for a fork. "Dishes are all dirty again?"
"We don't have any more silverwear," James said, stirring something on the stove.
"What?!"
"Jax and Mitchell took them for their party," James said. He squinted. "Kinda lost them." Jessie sighed.
"Oh well. We'll get more." Jessie picked up a clump of noodles with her fingers and attempted to eat.
"I wonder when Cassidy will get out," James said. There was a thump from the bathroom, but they both ignored it, and the line of curses that followed.
"I hope the bitch rots in there for a while," Jessie said. "That asshole Butch only got out because the police found Cassidy to be more at fault." She picked at the noodles. "We just ate lunch, James, why do we need to eat again?"
"I'm hungry," he whined. "It's not everyday we actually get food."
"True."
They were licking their fingers clean when Seleca finally emerged from the bathroom. After the Qwerty's uniform, it was truly a great transformation. But there was something different about her uniform.
"It's grey," Jessie said in surprise, looking from Seleca to James.
"You don't like it?" Seleca said nervously.
"Oh, it looks fine," Jessie assured her. "We've just never seen a Team Rocket uniform like that before."
Seleca's uniform was similar to Jessie's in design, but not in color. Her royal blue skirt was several inches longer than Jessie's, ending a few inches below her knees. Her undershirt was the same shade of blue, being just short enough to show a small strip of skin on her belly. The overshirt was a dark shade of grey, and it overlapped both the undershirt and the top of her skirt. The collar was cut low, letting the turtleneck of the undershirt show. The sleeves were short like those on Jessie's shirt. She wore no gloves.
"It isn't like yours," Seleca agreed. She tapped her foot. Her boots were black, ending a few inches below her skirt. Seleca pivoted on one of the long heels.
"Of course it isn't," James said. "We had to earn ours."
"What happened?" Seleca asked. She hopped over a pile of shirts and sat in the chair at the table that was usually occupied by Meowth. As it was, Meowth and Chansey were playing cards near Victreebel across the room.
"What do you mean?" Jessie asked guardedly.
"I wouldn't think that a high ranking member of Team Rocket would be reduced to recruit training without a good reason."
Jessie and James both colored slightly. "Ah, well... it's a long story."
"Consider it part of my training."
Jessie and James looked at each other, and then shrugged. "The White Squadron..."
"Is totally unknown about by most outsiders. They may see the uniform, but not know what it means," James said.
"Most members of Team Rocket have to be on the team for several years before getting on the Squad. We were in for two," Jessie said. "The Boss thought that we had a lot of potential, and moved us up to the White Squadron."
"We were 15 and 16 at the time," James said.
"How old are you now?" Seleca asked.
"19."
"18," Jessie said. "We worked hard, and luck was on our side I suppose. We were among the Boss's favorites for a over a year."
"That's the only reason we haven't been kicked off the team," James said.
"No black uniforms for you two?"
"No one from the White Squadron gets another chance," Jessie said evenly.
"But then there was an accident," James said. "The Boss wanted to dispose of us, but decided not to for some reason."
"We got stuck with Meowth and sanctioned off to steal Pokemon," Jessie said. "No better off than those in a black uniform. We've been trying to steal a certain Pikachu for several months. I think the Boss is getting annoyed with us. Which is why we got you."
"Thanks."
James pressed his fingers together. "Getting a grey uniform must mean that the Boss thinks you have special potential."
"Because it's not black?"
"Right."
Seleca looked thoughtful. "I wonder what special talents he thinks I have." She laughed. "I graduated from high school, I wonder if that counts as one."
"Probably, since not many of us have," Jessie said, looking at her nails.
"I wouldn't say I have any special Pokemon skills; Chansey's my only Pokemon."
"Chansey!" it called from across the room.
"Shut up, it's my turn," Meowth hissed.
Jessie looked at Seleca critically. "Maybe it's your face."
Seleca blinked. "My face?"
"I think you're right, Jessie."
"Yes," she said slowly. "You have a deceptive face. Very unnoticeable and unmemorable."
"Gee, thanks."
"Not in a bad way," Jessie said. "More of in the way that might be useful. I bet you're smart too."
"Fourth in my class," Seleca said.
"See what I mean? With the blonde hair you could probably pass as an idiot."
Seleca colored.
"I mean, if you wanted to," Jessie said, noticing Seleca's hands balling into fists.
"Why would I want to?"
Jessie drummed her fingers on the table. "I'm not sure. There must be something we could do to test your skills..."
They all sat quietly for a few minutes. James chewed on his fingernails for a minute, but had his hand smacked out of his mouth by Jessie. She muttered something about dirty habits. He turned to batting at his loose bang. It was obvious that he wasn't thinking as much as the other two were. Chansey and Seleca leapt up at the same time--the former because it had just beaten Meowth and was running away, and the latter because inspiration had obviously struck.
"I've got it!"
End Chapter One