Disclaimer: Pokemon: not mine. Seleca, Thomas and others: mine. Austin Powers: Sadly, not mine either.
Primary Colors
Chapter Three
By: Sforzie
Fortunately for James' humility, the rest of the first half of the flight was brief and went without major incident. Meowth sat sleepily with his headphones on, Growly stared out at the clouds, and Jessie and James argued while plotting.
As the plane began its descent into the connecting airport, the Captain's voice came over the intercom.
"Attention passengers, we'll be landing shortly. We now request that you turn off all electronic equipment. Thank you."
James and Jessie obligingly turned off their electronic notepad, and slipped it out of sight. The stewardesses came up and down the isles. It was Tracy who tapped Meowth on his little tan shoulder.
"Excuse me, Meowth," she said sweetly. "You need to turn off your headphones."
Meowth blinked sleepily at her. "Oh, sorry." He turned off the headset and yawned. Tracy nodded and continued on her way.
In the cockpit, the Captain turned to his Co-Pilot.
"Finally, he said.
The Co-Pilot looked up from the controls. "What?"
"That noise finally stopped."
"What noise?" she asked.
"I'm not sure," the Captain said. "But it sounded like the people in the control tower at the airport were singing 'Lucky, Lucky'..."
Their plane landed safely, with no further musical interruptions. There was a brief layover were several people got on and off the plane. Meowth and Growly moved to the seats in front of Jessie and James, and another couple sat in their previous seats.
"Eeew, dog hair," the man said. The woman laughed and swatted his arm. Jessie and James switched seats.
The plane took off again. Several minutes passed in quiet, until the "Please Fasten Seatbelts" sign turned off. Then Jessie and James turned to the couple next to them.
"Sending in the birds was a good idea," Jessie said.
"Yeah, we figured, if we can't get there, might as well send in help," Seleca grinned.
"They were pooped by the time they got back to us," Thomas said.
"I'm surprised they managed to fly as fast as the plane," James said.
"Well, they had a head start," Seleca said. "But they did just get back right before we went into the airport."
"You'll get your Pidgeot yet," Jessie grinned. Seleca nodded absently.
"Never been in first class before," Thomas said.
"I hope we get free food," James said.
"Me too, I'm starving," Seleca said.
"So what were you guys doing on the coast?" Jessie wondered.
"Looking for a Dratini," Seleca sighed. James perked up.
"Find one?"
"Nah," she said and shook her head. "It was just one of the Boss's whims. He doesn't expect us back for a week."
"Excellent," James murmured. He fell silent as a stewardess went past. Jessie looked at Seleca keenly.
"So, what do you know about the Boss's Pokemon?" she asked. Seleca looked thoughtful.
"Well, not much," she said. "We didn't have much time to look at the data registers. But it's easy to say, whatever you have won't be enough."
"I was afraid of that," Jessie said. "What about the Persian?"
"Ha! The Persian!" Meowth laughed from the seat in front of her. Jessie gave the seat a good kick.
"It should be easily dealt with," Thomas said. Jessie nodded thoughtfully, and then turned to look at James.
"We have to find something else to work with," she said. He nodded in agreement.
"What do we have so far?" James said.
"Arbok, Lickitung, Meowth, Growly, Weezing, and Victreebel," Jessie said. James sighed.
"I don't see why I have to fight," Meowth said, turning around in his seat.
"You might not have to," Jessie said.
"Why's dat?"
"You might not be any good at it," Jessie said sourly, and propped her chin up on her hand. Meowth growled, grumbled, and turned back around.
"What about some of ours?" Seleca suggested.
"What do you have?" James asked.
"A Pidgey and a Sandslash," Thomas said.
"Pidgeotto and Chansey," Seleca said.
All four sighed collectively.
"This is going to be harder than we'd planned," Jessie mumbled.
"What Pokemon do you know for a fact that he'll use?" James asked. Seleca tapped her fingers together thoughtfully.
"It's never a sure thing," she said. "But his most common ones are a Nidoqueen and a Nidoking. Sometimes a Rhydon too."
"And what will he use if he wants to win at any cost?" James continued. Seleca frowned.
"He has a Moltres, a Gyarados, and a Scyther," Thomas said. James shuddered for a moment at the mention of the Gyarados.
"The Gyarados and Scyther both know Hyper Beam," Seleca said. "He's likely to use them."
Jessie and James both nodded.
"I'm not fighting against any giant birds," Meowth said.
"Shut up Meowth," James sighed.
"He also has a high level Raichu and an Onix that he likes to use in tough spots," Thomas added after a moment.
"We'd need a Water and Ground Pokemon against them," James said.
"Sandslash is a Ground type," Thomas said. James nodded.
"Jessie, what about our supporters?"
"Our supporters?" she looked up doubtfully.
"Yeah, you know," he said, wiggling his fingers to emphasize his point.
"Oh, you mean the people that will back us up if we're successful, and lead in our destruction if we fail," Jessie said.
"Yeah, them," James nodded.
"I suppose some of them might have a useful Pokemon or two," she said, scratching her chin.
"What Pokemon did Haley and Davis have?" Seleca asked. Jessie and James shot her a measured look, but knew she meant no harm in bringing up the deceased team member.
"Haley had a Poliwrath, I think," Jessie said. "I'm not sure what else."
"Once when they were in Stone Town they came across a pair of evolution stones," James said, half to himself. "Haley took a Water stone and used it to get her Poliwrath, but I'm not sure whether Davis used a Thunder or a Fire stone."
"What did he use it on?" Thomas asked.
"An Eevee."
"So he has either a Flareon or a Jolteon?"
"Yeah, I think so," James said.
"I think we need to pay Davis a visit," Jessie said. James never replied because he suddenly stuck his head up above the level of the seats. He sniffed loudly.
"First class food!" James squeaked excitedly.
So their Poke-discussion ended for the time being.
The plane landed safely in the Fuchsia City airport. The quartet opted to walk the two miles back to their apartment. As they walked, Jessie started giving Seleca and Thomas funny looks. So were the few people that they passed.
"Whaaaat?" Seleca shouted.
"Oh, nothing," Jessie shook her head. "I just noticed what you're wearing."
Seleca and Thomas were both wearing gray high-collared suit jackets. Thomas had equally gray slacks, and Seleca had a gray miniskirt. Thomas had grey socks and white loafers, while Seleca had on white boots that crept up just past her knees. Both laughed at the look from Jessie.
"Oh, we went and saw the new Austin Powers movie last night," Seleca explained.
"Got a little too into it, didn't you?" Jessie asked. They nodded enthusiastically.
"Who are you supposed to be?" James asked.
"I'm Dr. Evil," Thomas grinned, putting his pinkie finger up to his lips. "Except with hair."
"And I'm Mini Me," Seleca said.
"What, did you borrow his costume too?" Jessie asked. Seleca snickered and then stuck her tongue out at Jessie.
"It's hard to look so good when you are so bad," Seleca said.
"It also takes several cans of hair spray," Meowth spoke for the first time since their departure from the airport. Jessie knocked him over.
A few blocks from the apartment building was the unofficial Team Rocket Pokemon gym. There was no leader at this gym, rather the center was more of a training grounds for Team Rocket members and their Pokemon.
"Lets do some practicing," Jessie suggested to James.
"Good idea," he said.
"Can we come too?" Seleca said hopefully.
"Of course," Jessie said. "We have to use your Pokemon."
"So who's going to be doing the fighting?" Thomas said.
James blinked. "What do you mean?"
"Well, both of you can't fight him."
"True," Jessie said. She looked at James. He shrugged.
"I'll do it," he said.
They approached the front gates. To their surprise, Davis was standing guard there.
"I'm sorry folks, you can't come in without the proper uniform on," Davis said. He was in his white uniform.
"Still no partner?" Jessie said.
"No, because of Suzette," he said. She was the new solo agent in the White Squad. "Not that I want one." He paused. "Now, no uniform, no entrance."
"Fine, give us a second."
They all ducked behind the corner, leaving Meowth and Growly sitting with Davis. They returned a minute later, Jessie and James in their black and white; Seleca and Thomas in their gray and blue.
"That's better," Davis grinned. "You can go ahead."
"Picky picky," Jessie mouthed.
"Are there any other White members in today?" James asked, straggling behind after the others went in.
"A few," Davis said. He looked at James keenly. "Why, still trying to work out the kinks in your newest plan?"
"Big plans, Davis, big plans," James corrected.
"Still need Pokemon?" Davis asked. James nodded. "Why not use some of ours--mine?" He still continued to include Haley in his speech.
"Like what?"
"My Jolteon," Davis said, pulling a pokeball from under his jacket. "Or maybe Haley's Poliwrath."
"Where's the Poliwrath?" James asked.
"Jaymes has it," Davis said slowly. "She's inside. Tell her I said you could use it."
"Alright," James said, taking the pokeball from Davis. "Thanks."
"She'd want you to use it," Davis said softly, almost out of James' hearing. He nodded, and went inside.
There were several members of Team Rocket already on the battling fields as James went in. His companions had already made it to a center field. The shouts of the trainers battling there echoed in the high-ceilinged room.
"Dodrio, Drill Peck now!" a tall girl said. Appropriately, her long red hair (the same shade as Jessie's, oddly enough) was done in three long braids that nearly hit the ground.
"Ponyta, Stomp it!" another girl called. Her short black hair was done up to look like a Vulpix's bangs.
"Dooooodrio!" the bird launched itself at the horse Pokemon. Each head took a turn making a jab. The Ponyta whinnied and stomped on the Dodrio's feet. The bird squawked and jumped back several feet.
"Who's winning?" James asked as he leaned next to Jessie on a railing. She didn't take her eyes off the action.
"It looks like Marlequette has the upper hand," Jessie said, pointing vaguely to the girl with the Vulpix hair.
"Aw, Ponyta!" Marlequette was shouting. Jaymes' Dodrio had pulled a Tri Attack on the horse, and sent it stumbling.
"Dodrio, finish it with a Fury Attack!" Jaymes shouted. The bird did so, and the Ponyta fell to the ground, knocked out.
"Or not," Jessie sighed.
"Ponyta, return!" Marlequette shouted. She pulled out another pokeball. "Go, Vulpix!"
"Vuuul!" Vulpix leapt from its ball, already spitting fire at its opponent. Dodrio didn't have a chance to get away.
"Vulpix, Roar!"
"VVVULLLLLLLPIX!" the tiny red Pokemon roared loudly. Each of Dodrio's heads chirped in fright, and bolted back for the pokeball.
"No, no, no!" Jaymes stomped her foot in bitter defeat. Marlequette hooted happily.
"I guess you were right, Jessie," James said as the two trainers came over to where the others were standing.
"Good match, Marl," Jaymes sighed.
"Of course it was," her partner grinned. "But you probably would've won if you'd used the Poliwrath last instead of first."
"True." Both picked up towels and wiped off their faces. As they approached Jaymes laughed and took the lead.
"Hi James!" she called.
"Hi Jaymes!" he called back.
"Hi James!"
"Hi Jaymes!"
"Hi James!"
"Hi Jaymes!"
"Will you two STOP that!" Jessie laughed and swatted James over his head with a fan.
"Owww, alright!"
Marlequette and Jaymes pulled their white Team Rocket sweatshirts over their heads. Jaymes let out a shriek as she tried to stand up but found Meowth tangled in her hair.
"Meowth! Let go of my hair!" she yelled.
"I love your hair!" Meowth said, holding onto the braids tightly. "You have a new braid every time we see you!"
"That is not true!" Jaymes said, and flung Meowth from her hair. He landed with a yelp in the middle of the next ring over, where a match between a Marowak and an Exeggutor. Meowth screamed and ran from the ring as the Marowak tried to charge him.
"Dat was not nice!" Meowth said as he sat in a huff at Jessie's feet. Jaymes stuck her tongue out in response.
As a group, Jessie and James, Seleca and Thomas, and Marlequette and Jaymes (with all their Pokemon) took a table at the little cafe that was at the far end of the gym.
"So, how goes things?" Marlequette asked as she inspected her carefully arranged hair in a mirror.
"They go, slowly," James said.
"How've they went so far?"
"Good, I think," James said thoughtfully. "We're almost ready to make the final move. We're gonna need the Poliwrath though."
"Sure thing," Jaymes said, and tossed James a pokeball. He set it down carefully on the table.
"And how's our newest terror team doing?" Marlequette asked, looking at Thomas and Seleca.
"Good," Seleca said, "Although were still really in the evaluation period."
"Seleca snores," Thomas said. She gave him a good swat over the head.
"I do not! You know darn well that it was Chansey snoring."
"Riiiight."
Poliwrath's pokeball rolled off of the table and activated. The Pokemon stood between Jessie and James' chairs.
"Poli-Poliwrath?" it said, looking up imploringly at Jessie. She looked down and sighed.
"No, Poliwrath, I'm sorry," she murmured softly, the others at the table not hearing her.
"Liiiii," Poliwrath sighed and sat down on the floor.
"I want to hear what happened with your parents," Jaymes was saying.
"It seems like everyone does," James said. "They hate me, or at least they hate their image of me. Not much else."
"Ah, the evil parents-evil son syndrome," Marlequette said knowingly. They laughed.
"I'm surprised they didn't try to kill you," Jaymes said.
"They did," Jessie said wryly.
"Tsk, Tsk," Marlequette said. "Oh well, I guess that's what you get for playing mind games with them."
"Not much to play with," Jessie said in a sing-song voice.
"Mmm, speaking of play, do you have your team yet?" Marlequette asked James.
"Sort of," he said. I have at least six Pokemon, I'm just not sure which ones that I'm going to be using."
"Well why don't you battle us and decide which you're going to use? Don't you plan on doing this at the next White Squad meeting?" Jaymes looked at him.
"You just want to win a battle," James laughed.
"Well, couldn't hurt," she grinned.
"Alright, let's do some practicing."
Meowth held a notepad and sat on the sidelines.
"Come on Meowth, you're helping," Jessie called.
"No way, I'm not fight," he called back. "I'll just... keep score."
"Suit yourself," she muttered, turning back to where James was facing Marlequette and Jaymes.
"Is double-teaming fair?" James said doubtfully.
"It's just practice," Jaymes said. She stepped forward and threw a pokeball. "Go Dodrio!"
"Dooodrio!" each of the heads shouted. The bird still looked a little rattled, but ready to fight.
James took a pokeball from his pile. "Go Growly!"
"Growwwwlithe!"
"Dodrio, drill peck!"
"Dod!"
Growly dodged the attack.
"Growly, fire spin!"
"Growl! Growl!" Growly spat a ring of fire at Dodrio, but the bird was too fast. It jumped away and used Tri Attack on the big puppy. Growly hit the ground.
"Growly, return!" James called. "Go, Arbok!"
"Charbokah!" Arbok reared up in front of Dodrio. Jessie watched her Pokemon with interest.
"Arbok, Glare!"
"Chaaaar!" Arbok reared again, flaring its hood as it's eyes glowed. Arbok glared hard, taking on all six of Dodrio's eyes. The Pokemon shrieked in confusion.
"Dodrio, Rage!" Jaymes called. Dodrio just looked at its trainer with wide eyes, unable to move.
"Arbok, wrap attack now!"
"Bokah! Charrrr!" Arbok launched itself at the paralyzed Pokemon, curling its big purple body around Dodrio's long legs and necks. Arbok gave a tight squeeze, and Dodrio fainted.
"Dodrio, return!" Jaymes called. "Your turn, Marl."
"Go, Vulpix!" Marlequette shouted, throwing her pokeball.
"Vul!"
"Flamethrower now, Vulpix!"
"Arbok, Acid!"
Vulpix spat a column of flames from its mouth, aimed at the big snake. Arbok reeled away, nearly leaping up into the air to minimize the amount of fire that scorched its hide. Once Vulpix stopped to catch a breath, Arbok bent back and shot an icky black glob of acid at Vulpix. It coated the fox's pretty pink fur, and the Pokemon shook itself until it fell over in a faint.
"Wow, go Arbok!" Jessie called from the sidelines.
To keep from tiring his Pokemon out, James called back Arbok as Marlequette was calling back Vulpix. Jaymes and James both called out new Pokemon.
And so it went, fighting back and forth, until James thought he knew which ones he was going to use.
It was a little while later.
"Mmmeowth, let's see," Meowth said. They were back at the cafe, minus Seleca and Thomas, who had went to get pizza. "Growly lost, Arbok won, Weezing lost, Jolteon won." Meowth flipped to another page on the pad. "Poliwrath won, and so did Chansey, Pidgeotto, Sandslash, and Lickitung. Victreebell and Pidgey didn't win."
"Hmm," James said, sipping on a green-colored drink that had a little umbrella in it. "Sounds good."
"I was surprised by how good Arbok did," Jessie commented.
"Considering that it usually loses," James said. Jessie swatted him over the head. "Ow, but it's true!"
She swatted him again. "I know that. Why do you think I was surprised?"
"Um, probably for the same reason that you hit me."
"Anyhow, with those Pokemon you should have a pretty well rounded team," Marlequette said.
"Yeah," Meowth agreed. "An Electric, a Poison, a Water, a Flying, a Ground, and a Normal."
"Which one aren't you using?" Jaymes wondered.
"Probably Lickitung," James said. "It keeps slurping me."
"That's because it likes you!" Jessie cackled.
"Or it thinks you're a lollipop," Marlequette said.
"He isn't that sweet," Jessie said. James snorted.
"I'm using your Arbok, you should be happy," he said.
"That's only because your Weezing lost three bouts in a row!"
"When has it won?" Meowth wondered. Jessie and James groaned.
End Chapter Three