Primary Colors
Chapter Four
By: Sforzie
To make sure that the Pokemon that would be defending him in the biggest battle of his life were feeling good and ready to fight, James took all his borrowed Pokemon to a Pokemon Spa. Marlequette and Jaymes took Meowth to the movies, and Seleca and Thomas were still off running around town.
"Give them the works," James told the attendant at the counter. She smiled and nodded. They'd had the foresight to change back out of their Team Rocket uniforms upon leaving the gym.
So soon all six Pokemon were enjoying being pampered and 're-energized'. Poliwrath had been given a massage and was now sitting in a small hot-tub, enjoying the warm water. Pidgeotto was getting its feathers carefully combed, and its claws sharpened. Chansey and Arbok were also enjoying massages. Jolteon had its spiky fur brushed, and was now dozing on a bed charged with a mild electrical current. Sandslash's long nails were being cleaned, and an attendant also was buffing and cleaning each of the spikes on Sandslash's back.
"They look like they're having a good time," Jessie said. She leaned on a railing, watching it take two attendants to give Arbok a massage.
"I hope so," James said. He glanced at her. "Aren't you?"
"Oh, a ball," she sighed. James frowned.
"What's wrong?"
Jessie seemed to think about his question for a minute. "James, what if this doesn't work?" she said. "We might get killed."
"I know," he said softly. "But it will work, I promise you." James smiled, and leaned closer to whisper to her. "After all, I am using your Arbok."
Jessie smiled, looking at him. "I want to believe you."
"You can," he said. She gave him an intent look.
"Prove it to me."
"...Okay..." James said slowly. He leaned again, closing the short distance between them, and kissed Jessie.
"Chansey! Chansey!" the egg Pokemon called from its table.
"Oh, shut up!" Jessie yelled at it, pulling her face away from James'. Both were blushing slightly.
"Get a room," one of the attendants said. "This is a Pokemon Spa, not a human breeding center." The attendant looked at the others, and they laughed. Jessie and James continued to blush, looking a little confused.
"Sorry," James croaked.
"Breeding center?" Jessie bristled as James dragged her down the hall.
"Come on, let's go find Seleca and Thomas," James said.
"But what about our Pokemon?" Jessie protested.
"Let them have some fun!" James said with a laugh.
"Alright," she conceded after being dragged through the doors.
Somewhere between the gym and their apartment building, but a few blocks west, they found Seleca. She was sitting at a little café, her nose stuck in a book. Thomas was nowhere in sight, but Growly sat underneath the table.
"Where's Thomas?" Jessie asked as they took the seats across from Seleca. She didn't look up from her book.
"With his girlfriend," she said, turning the page.
"Girlfriend?"
"I didn't know he had a girlfriend," James said. Seleca nodded, but then put a finger to her lips.
"It's supposed to be a secret," she said softly.
"Does she know about his... line of work?" Jessie asked.
Seleca shook her head. "She thinks that he's a spy. I've met her, she's a real airhead."
"As long as she isn't dangerous," James said. Seleca laughed shortly, finally looking up from the book.
"Ha! She's about as dangerous as a Pidgey with its wings clipped."
"That's good," Jessie said. She waved the waiter over. "You paying?"
"What, do I look like I'm French?" Seleca looked at her over her sunglasses. "Yeah, I guess so."
"Does this place have an all-you-can-eat buffet? I'm starving!" James said.
"Mm, yes," the waiter said drowsily.
"Then we'll take two," James said. "And a bottle of tonic."
Seleca gave him a funny look. "Tonic?"
"I have a nervous stomach," James whined.
"That would explain your appetite," Jessie said. James smirked. He got up and went inside to the buffet. Seleca marked her page, leaving her sunglasses perched on her nose.
"What you reading?" Jessie asked.
"'An American Guide to Pokemon Training'," Seleca said. "Quite interesting. The Americans have some unusual ideas about raising Pokemon."
"So I've heard," Jessie said.
"So how goes the plotting?" Seleca asked, sipping the pinkish liquid in her glass. Jessie poured herself a glass of tonic.
"It goes well," she said, after taking a careful sip. "Marlequette said that after they get out of the movies, she's going to see if a White Squadron meeting can be called tomorrow afternoon."
"Getting nervous?"
"Yes," Jessie admitted bluntly. She fidgeted, moving her hands uncertainly. "This could be our undoing."
From behind the sunglasses Seleca was studying Jessie. "He kissed you, didn't he?"
The question caught Jessie off guard. "What?!"
"You heard me," Seleca said. Jessie bit her lip, and then smiled crookedly.
"Yes, he did," she said. Jessie ran her thumb along the edge of the glass. "He promised me that this is going to work."
"So then why are you still nervous?"
Jessie laughed lightly. "Because... because I know James. And I know that with Pokemon, nothing is a certain matter."
"What about catching a Caterpie with a Master Ball?"
Jessie rolled her eyes. "You know what I mean."
"Mm," Seleca agreed. She was quiet and sipping her drink when James returned with two heavily filled plates.
"Get anything for me?" Jessie asked jokingly.
"Oh, yeah, one of these is yours," James said, setting down the plates."
"God, you're a pig," Seleca said into her drink.
"Did you leave anything on the buffet?" Jessie wondered.
"There was this funny looking green stuff," James said, sitting down. "I left that."
"I'm sure the manager is thrilled," Jessie said. James grinned broadly, finding a fork.
"Probably not."
Several hours later, Jessie and James had returned to their apartment. It was growing dark outside. They sat at the kitchen table, the lights low as they studied a few fighting charts. Seleca was sprawled out on the floor in the living room, staying there because Thomas had not yet returned.
"I just wish I knew what Pokemon Giovanni was going to use," James said.
"I'd rather know whether or not he's going to agree to even fight with you," Jessie said. James looked at her from across the table.
"He will," James said. "He can't resist a challenge. Especially when it would mean getting rid of us."
"True," she agreed quietly. After sighing deeply, Jessie lay her head down on the table. "Tell me a bedtime story, James."
"But its not even seven thirty," James said in mild protest.
"I know," Jessie said into the table. "But I'm tired."
James looked at her, wanting to run his fingers through her hair. "Alright." He took a breath. "Once upon a time, there was a beautiful princess."
"Mm, I think I like this story already," Jessie murmured.
"Yes. Her name was Princess Musashi. There was one thing that Musashi wanted more than anything else in the world. The Princess wanted to be in control of her life. She wanted to be free from the people that were always telling her what to do. And one day Princess Musashi met a Prince. His name was Kojiro. Prince Kojiro was under the same type of control that Musashi was. But he was the one person in the whole world who could set them both free."
James paused, waiting for a response from Jessie. None came, so he continued. "There was one thing standing between the Princess and Prince's happiness, and that was a terrible man named Vinnie. He controlled them both. Now, Prince Kojiro loved Princess Musashi a great deal, and he swore that he would do whatever it took to set her free from her binds. So one day Kojiro decided that he would fight Vinnie to the death. And if he won, they would be free. But if they lost... they might lose their lives. Either way, he realized that they would be free. So Kojiro challenged Vinnie. The battle was long and hard, but in the end..." James stopped and looked at Jessie again. Her breathing was deep and even. He realized that she'd fallen asleep.
With a slight smile James collected Jessie into his arms, and placed her on one of the sleeping bags. James returned to the table, sitting and looking thoughtful.
The apartment door opened after a long time, and James jerked in his seat. He looked over, and saw the Meowth had entered the apartment. The cat moved quietly.
"Where's Jessie?" Meowth asked, sitting on the floor next to the table.
"Asleep."
"Why's Seleca here?"
"Felt safer here while Thomas is out," James said. He folded his hands on the table. "How was the movie?"
"Good," Meowth said, hopping up into his seat. He sat cat-like, so that his eyes barely reached the edge of the table.
"What'd you do after?"
Meowth grinned. "We went to Qwerty's and harassed the cashier."
"Did Marlequette call headquarters?"
"Let me get to that part," Meowth stretched his neck and peered along the length of the table. "So we harassed the cashier, and she was about ready to pitch a fit because she couldn't do anything about us."
"Wait, Meowth, does this have anything to do with you calling headquarters?"
"Actually, it does," Meowth said. "Because Desmonde was the cashier."
"Oh, really?" James arched a brow at the mention of a member of the White Squadron. "Was she supposed to be undercover?"
"Yeah," Meowth said. "They gotta find a new place to stick people. Anyway, Desmonde and her partner were working the desk shift today. She said that there's an opening in the Boss's schedule from 4 to 6 tomorrow afternoon."
"That's... plenty of time," James murmured.
"And so we asked her to put us in at 5pm," Meowth said. James nodded. "She said that she'd stop by the office tonight to pencil it in and send out the call to all the White Squad members. She'll call later tonight to let you know how it turns out."
"Alright," James said. "But, uh, Meowth?"
"What?"
"You went to Qwerty's and didn't bring back anything for me?"
Desmonde's call came near midnight, waking up James. He found it difficult to go back to sleep after that, and was still awake at nine the next morning when Jessie rolled out of bed. Seleca had disappeared downstairs sometime during the night.
"What you doing up?" Jessie asked with a yawn.
"Nothing," James replied, his face on the table.
"Well, at least that what it looks like," she said, sitting down next to him. "Been too busy thinking to sleep?"
"Something like that," James sighed, sitting up.
Six pokeballs sat on the table in front of James. He let each of them out.
"Meowth! I smell food!" Meowth woke up a few minutes later while Jessie and James were making breakfast for themselves and the Pokemon.
"With good reason," James said, setting a plate in front of the demanding cat.
"Chansey! Chansey!" the big pink Pokemon went running by.
"You guys ready to fight this afternoon?" James said.
"Chansey!" Chansey said, stealing Meowth's plate.
"Hey, dat's mine!" Meowth chased after Chansey.
"Hey, knock it off you guys!" Jessie shouted.
"I don't see why Seleca and Thomas couldn't watch their Pokemon until tonight," Meowth said, snatching his food back from Chansey.
"The fastest way to a Pokemon's heart is through its stomach," James said matter-of-factly.
"I thought that was men," Jessie said, giving food to Weezing and Growly. She turned to Victreebell. "Open the hatch!"
"Victree!" Victreebell opened his mouth and let Jessie dump the food in. It munched happily.
"Tongue," Jessie said. Lickitung slurped its plate clean. Turning to the next Pokemon, Jessie sighed. "No, Arbok, Pidgeotto is not your breakfast!"
"Chaarr," the snake whined. Pidgeotto kicked it in the head. "Bok!" Arbok hissed at Pidgeotto until Jessie fed them both.
"I didn't think feeding eleven Pokemon could be such a pain," James said. Jessie shrugged.
"Is there going to be anything left for us to eat?"
"Don't know," James sighed, spooning out some food for Chansey, Jolteon, Poliwrath, and Sandslash.
"This place is a zoo!" Jessie sighed, weaving around Pokemon.
"Then I get to be the lion!" Meowth said loudly. "Roar!"
"Chan-see!" Chansey double-slapped Meowth.
"OW!"
"Hey, save it for later!" James said. Chansey stuck its tongue out at James.
"Maybe we should see what Seleca and Thomas are having for breakfast."
"You rang?" a voice came from the door. Seleca and Thomas were there, the latter looking sleepy. Thomas was holding a bowl. There was a loud shift in the room as their Pokemon came rushing over. Chansey, Sandslash, and Pidgeotto all crowded around their owners' feet.
"Chansey's being a brat this morning," Jessie said, taking the bowl from Thomas.
"Oh, that's probably because she hasn't had her vitamin yet," Seleca said.
"Chan! Chan!" Chansey hopped up and down at Seleca's feet. She took a small bottle from her pocket and opened it. Seleca gave Chansey a small brown capsule, which the Pokemon stuffed happily into its mouth.
"That wasn't a vitamin, it was candy!" Jessie said to Seleca. She shrugged.
"Chansey doesn't know that."
"Explains why it's so hyper," Meowth sighed.
"She's just excited because she gets to fight the big mean Team Rocket man's Pokemon today," Seleca said in a babying voice as she patted Chansey and Pidgeotto on their heads.
"Geoohh," Pidgeotto said in agreement. Chansey squealed and hopped up and down again.
"No, you don't need more vitamins, Chansey," Seleca said, putting the bottle away.
Later that day the group was reassembled at Team Rocket Headquarters. The Boss was still in a meeting, but over in the battling arena that was adjacent to the main building, a large number of Team Rocket agents was building.
"Everyone could come, except for Pika and Rachael," Desmonde told Jessie and James. "They're still over in Florida."
"They always did get the better assignments," Jessie sighed.
"They've also been on the team since before the invention of the pokeball," Desmonde's partner said from where he was hiding from Thomas' Sandslash. Nearby Meowth and Chansey were fighting over something. It looked like Chansey was winning the argument.
"How much longer?" James said, holding Jessie's wrist and nervously looking at her watch.
"About ten minutes," Jessie said. "Calm down."
"I'm calm, I'm calm," he assured her.
"Then quit cutting off the circulation in my arm!" Jessie said, pulling her hand loose. James blushed.
"Sorry."
"Well, we're going to be down on the front row, east side," Desmonde said. "Down by Marlequette and Jaymes."
"Is Davis down there?" Jessie asked. Desmonde nodded.
"Yes. I was surprised at how many regulars showed up."
"They don't get to see spectacles like this very often," James said.
"Yeah, I guess not. We're going down now. Break a leg."
"Hopefully not mine," James said as Desmonde and her partner departed. He peered out at the arena.
The fighting field was surrounded by a ring of bleachers that extended up ten to fifteen rows. At that moment the seating was nearly half filled. James swallowed. Jessie put a reassuring hand on his arm.
"Come on, time to go down," she whispered. James nodded. He picked up the six pokeballs, and called back the Pokemon he was using.
"Meowth, go sit with the others," James called as they started down the stairway that led to the main floor of the arena. They heard a moan of reply.
The ten minutes passed quickly, and soon the clock at ground zero clicked over to five o'clock. James stood near the wall. Jessie and Seleca stood behind a piece of glass that was tinted to let them look out but not to let anyone see in. Thomas was up with the others in the bleachers. Jessie tapped her foot nervously.
"Well, where is he? Giovanni is never late for an appointment," Jessie said.
It was five-oh-six when the door at the opposite end of the field opened, and Giovanni stepped out. The crowd up in the bleachers fell silent. James stepped out to meet the Boss in the middle of the field. James already had a line of sweat forming at his hairline, but Giovanni looked completely calm.
"So, you wish to challenge me?" Giovanni said cooly. He had his hands in his pockets.
"Yes, I do."
"And what are your terms?"
"I want to challenge you for control of Team Rocket," James said. Giovanni sniffed a laugh.
"Say it louder so your 'audience' can hear," he said. James swallowed.
"I challenge you, Giovanni," James said loudly. "To a six on six Pokemon battle. If I win, you relinquish all of your power over Team Rocket, and give it to me." The crowd in the bleachers stirred for a moment.
"Fair enough," Giovanni smirked. "And, if you lose..." He looked thoughtful. "If you lose, you die."
The audience was silent. Jessie pressed her hand against the glass, watching.
"And so does your partner," Giovanni added after a moment. He smirked. "But to be fair, I'll let you chose your executioner."
"Sounds good to me," James agreed after a long pause.
"Good," Giovanni said. "You have your Pokemon chosen?"
"Yes?"
"Good, so do I," Giovanni smirked again. "Of course, I must assume that you had to borrow them, since you couldn't steal a Pokemon to save your life." At this Giovanni chuckled and turned his back to James and started to his end of the field. James clenched his hands in fists, but forced himself to his own side of the arena.
"I've been waiting for some time to get rid of you two," Giovanni said as they faced each other. James said nothing, just stood there like a statue. "Shall I go first?"
James nodded. Giovanni shrugged lightly.
"Alright... let's see." He pulled a pokeball out and threw it. "Go, Gyarados!"
James was stuttering before he even threw his first pokeball. "Go, Jolteon!"
"What's wrong with him?" Seleca wondered, watching James.
"Ever since we had a little problem out at sea, James has been terrified of Gyarados," Jessie said.
Gyarados roared down at the small electric fox.
"Gyarados, Leer!"
Gyarados roared again, looming over Jolteon. Its eyes glowed as it leered down at the yellow Pokemon. It became so frightened that its hairs stood on end.
"Jolteon, Pin Missile!"
"Jolt!" Jolteon blinked hard, shooting its hairs at the much larger Pokemon. They didn't do much damage. Gyarados winced for a moment, dropping its leer attack.
"Hyper beam now, Gyarados!"
Gyarados coiled itself up tightly and began to glow.
"Jolteon, Agility!"
The giant water snake opened its ugly toothed mouth. Jolteon jumped to the side, but the beam's reach was too broad, and knocked Jolteon flat.
"Joolt.." Jolteon whimpered, singed and momentarily unable to get up. James curled his hands into fists.
"Get up Jolteon!" he cried. In the audience Davis looked worried.
"Come on, Jolteon!" he called from up in the bleachers.
Gyarados growled, inspecting its opponent. Jolteon, after a moment, looked up.
"Jolteeeon," it growled, and pushed itself to its feet.
"Yeah!"
"Gyarados, Hydro pump! Finish it off!" Giovanni shouted. With a brief nod the Pokemon spat a stream of water at Jolteon. It howled, but managed to stay on its feet.
"Jolteon, Thunder!" James called as Gyarados shot out another stream of high pressured water.
"Jolt-eee-ON!" the electric fox sparked as it was drenched again. Lightning shot in through the arena windows, and shot down. It struck Jolteon heavily, knocking it down. But it also knocked Gyarados across the room. It whimpered, severely hurt.
"Jolteon, Quick attack!"
"Jolt! Jolt!" Jolteon leapt to its feet, catching its breath and running for the downed Gyarados. The water snake tried to get back up, but Jolteon jumped on its head and knocked it back down. Gyarados' eyes spun. Giovanni made a sound of disbelief.
"Gyarados, return!" he said, and threw his next pokeball. "Go, Rhydon!"
Jolteon looked dazed as the tall stony Pokemon materialized in front of him.
"Rhydon, Take down!"
"Dooohnn!" Rhydon charged Jolteon, who didn't have a chance to move. Jolteon went flying as it was tackled by Rhydon. It hit the railing that surrounded the fighting field. Jolteon was out before it hit the ground.
"Jolteon, return. Go, Arbok!"
"Chaaarbokah!"
"Go Arbok!" Jessie shouted from behind the glass.
"Arbok, acid!"
"Char!" Arbok spat a glob of acid at Rhydon.
"Rhhhy!" Rhydon cried angrily and clawed the acid from its eyes.
"Rhydon, tail whip!"
The attack was non-effective, Rhydon's long tail wrapping around Arbok's long body and giving it a hard shove.
"Chaarrrr!"
"Arbok, wrap attack!"
"Bokkah!" Arbok coiled itself tightly around Rhydon, shrieking in pain as its big purple body struck against the spikes on Rhydon's back. Rhydon roared as Arbok squeezed the energy out of it.
After several minutes of struggle, Rhydon managed to toss Arbok aside. The snake reared up and hissed loudly.
"Stomp now, Rhydon!"
"Rhydonnnn!" came its thundering roar. It charged again, and stomped Arbok flat.
"Aaarrrr..." it whined, begging to be called back. Both Jessie and James sighed.
"Arbok return!" James said. His hand rested on his hip while he looked at the Rhydon. "Go, Poliwrath!"
"Wrrath!" Poliwrath stomped its feet as it hit the ground in front of Rhydon.
"Rhydon, Horn drill!"
"Water gun now, Poliwrath!"
Rhydon roared and made its predictable charge. Poliwrath jumped aside, spun on its heels, and gave Rhydon a good squirt. Quickly drenched head to toe, Rhydon fell on its face.
"Poliwrath, give it your Double slap!"
"Poli! Poliwrath!" Poliwrath smacked Rhydon until its eyes spun.
"Rhydon, return! Go Moltres!"
"That wasn't the brightest of moves," Seleca said.
"I don't know," Jessie said. "Poliwrath might not be strong enough to beat Moltres."
As if to prove its point, Moltres dive bombed Poliwrath on Giovanni's command, using its wicked Sky attack. Poliwrath covered its eyes as flames surrounded it.
"Poliwrath, Hydro pump!"
"Peck it, Moltres!" Giovanni shouted. Surprisingly, his hands were back in his pockets. He looked frighteningly calm.
Moltres jabbed its long beak at Poliwrath, and the water Pokemon was unable to get a shot in edgewise. It clearly agitated both Pokemon and trainer.
"Poliwrath!" both James and Poliwrath shouted. Poliwrath jabbed out a fist, and managed to knock Moltres aside. Poliwrath got back to its feet.
"Poliwrath looks pissed," Marlequette said in the stands. Davis was silent, watching his former partner's Pokemon. It looked miserable... like it was upset because it was being so easily beaten.
"Pooolllll...." the sound rumbled from within Poliwrath's spiraled belly-pattern. Moltres flapped its wings.
"Moltres, fire spin!"
"Moltreess!" Moltres easily followed the command, and Poliwrath disappeared within the fiery rings. The sound continued.
"Llliiiii......"
As the flames dispersed, Poliwrath remained standing. Its fists balled in front of its eyes.
Poliwrath was beginning to glow.
"Polllllliiiiii...."
Everything fell silent. Poliwrath's fists flew away from its face.
"WRRRAAAAAAATH!!"
An immense beam of water and energy was launched at Moltres. The sound of Poliwrath's scream reverberated throughout the arena. People in the audience held their ears. The glass in front of Jessie and Seleca rattled. Davis leaned forward with his mouth agape. James just stood, his hands loose at his sides.
Moltres was thrown back hard. The light from its fiery wings was blotted out by the inexplicable force that was coming from Poliwrath.
Finally it stopped, just as powerfully as it had begun. Moltres hit the ground hard, its feathers soaked and its fire diminished. Poliwrath stood, panting softly. It glared harshly at Moltres.
"Get up, Moltres!" Giovanni ordered. Moltres looked up dully at him, unable to shake its head. It was not knocked out, but was refusing to fight again. Poliwrath stepped forward on its stubby legs until it was just inches from Moltres' beak.
"Po-li-wrath," it said. Moltres closed its eyes.
"Unbelievable!" Giovanni muttered. "Return, Moltres!"
Behind the glass panel, Jessie was nervously applauding.
"I wonder what happened," she said. Seleca shrugged. She smoothed her hair. Feeling a tug on her skirt, Seleca glanced down.
"Not now, Chansey," she said. "This is important."
"Chan-seeeeee!"
A pause.
"CHANSEY!" Seleca screamed suddenly, grabbing the pink Pokemon by its little arms. "What the hell are you doing here?!"
"Seeeeey," Chansey whimpered. Jessie turned in surprise.
"You're supposed to be in a pokeball on James' belt!" Jessie hissed, pointing a shaking finger at Chansey.
"If you're not in the ball, then who is?" Seleca wondered. They both turned back to the field.
Giovanni was calling out his next Pokemon.
End Chapter Four