Chapter Five: The Rescue

The balloon made its way to the camp in good time, taking only about an hour before Weezing indicated that they were getting closer. Jessie and Meowth looked out over the edge, and were amazed by the large camp that was sprawled out before them. To the far east end of the camp, Jessie saw a large number of Red Rockets doing calisthenics under Seth’s direction. "Is James in that area, Weezing?" Jessie asked, looking over the Red Rockets and searching for James.

"Weez. Weezing." Came the reply.

"He says that James is on the other side, away from the other Red Rockets." Meowth translated. Jessie nodded, and directed the balloon away from the group before they could be too noticeable.

"Whereabouts is he, Weezing?" Meowth asked as Weezing studied the camp, trying to remember which building he had flown away from when he had left.

"Weezing! Weezing!" he said suddenly.

"He says it’s that big building down there." Meowth said, pointing to the gym where James was being held. Jessie looked at the building, and thanked heaven it had a flat roof. Carefully, she guided the balloon down towards the roof, trying her best to land quietly.

The basket touched down with hardly a sound, and the three occupants breathed a sigh of relief. Jessie looked up at Weezing and smiled. "Weezing, you’ve done a great job. Go ahead and rest up here… you deserve it."

"Weezing." The Pokemon replied, hovering down to the floor of the basket and relaxing for the first time in three days.

"What about me?" Meowth asked.

"Come on." Jessie replied. "We’re going to check that skylight and see what’s going on." The two carefully climbed out of the basket, and padded quietly to the skylight. Jessie cautiously peered down through the window, and saw James below, tied with this arms spread out on an upright rack. He looked exhausted and defeated… hardly the James she had come to know and love over the years. "What are they doing to him?" she hissed to Meowth. Meowth just shrugged.

Through the open window that Weezing had escaped through, they could hear the voice of Annie as she walked toward James. As Annie came into view, Jessie remembered the last time she had seen her; the time when she and James had been split up and he had been given Annie as a new partner. She hadn’t liked her any more then than she did now. Over in a corner, Jessie saw another figure she despised: Jessebelle. Silently, Jessie reminded herself to be calm as she tried to listen to what was being said.

"Rest period is over." Annie announced coldly. She smiled now as she walked to James with her hand behind her back. He had held up longer than she had expected, but she knew it wouldn’t be long before he cracked. Then he would quit, and belong to Jessebelle. Oh, just the thought of the misery James would be in was enough to make Annie smile from ear to ear. Of course, there was also the other possibility… that he would quit by suicide… the possibility that really pleased Annie. Her thoughts returned to the "training" at hand as she approached him.

Jessebelle leaned against the wall in a corner, watching everything with interest. She knew that soon her beloved James would see how terrible this life was, and come back to her. And then… she would take him in her arms and they would begin their legacy together. She smiled as her head filled with thoughts of a traditional wealthy southern life with James… the children they would have, the connections they would make, and the wealth they would build…. Ah, bliss. Annie’s voice brought Jessebelle back to the present as she addressed James.

"Now then, a Red Rocket must give an image of hardness, of strength. I wonder if you know what this is?" she said as she produced a red rose from behind her back.

Despite his exhaustion and despair, James’ face brightened at the sight of his favorite flower. It felt like it had been forever since he had held one…. "Of course. It’s a rose." He replied. On the roof, Jessie cringed. James’ voice was hoarse, submissive, and defeated. He had been pushed so far… he couldn’t go much farther. A tear began to form in the corner of her eye as she continued to watch, barely able to move.

Annie twirled the rose gingerly in her fingers. "You like roses, don’t you?" she asked pleasantly.

"Yes." James replied.

"And why do you like them?" Annie continued.

"They’re beautiful, they’re delicate, they remind me of… of someone special." James replied with a weak smile.

Jessie’s heart fluttered. She knew James was talking about her.

Annie turned her back on the immobile James. "Oh, isn’t that sweet?" she said to Jessebelle. She suddenly spun around to face James again. "Beautiful? Delicate?" she snarled. "You fool! This is why you are weak!" she screamed as she swung the rose at James’ face. The rose connected with his cheek, and James realized the thorns were still on the stem. Streaks of red-hot pain slashed across his face as the thorns raked across his cheek, leaving painful scratches in their wake.

Jessie gasped on the roof, filled with intense hate for Annie.

"A rose is a beautiful flower, but it can also be a good weapon! That is the reason to like a rose!" Annie yelled. "Now, why do you like roses?" she asked again.

Tears formed in James’ eyes. He had lasted this long…. Why back down now? "Because they’re beautiful and they remind me of someone special!" he repeated defiantly. This was one point he’d never give Annie the satisfaction of beating him down on.

"Weak! You are weak!" Annie yelled as she swiped the rose across James’ other cheek. James winced as the thorns scratched him again. "You are weak. You are stupid. You are too sentimental. That is why you fail!" she bellowed. Suddenly, Jessebelle stepped forward and placed her hand on Annie’s shoulder.

"Don’t you think you’re being a bit too hard, Annie, dear?" she asked.

Annie turned to her with a snarling face. "Quiet! I don’t know why I ever included you in this plan. You’re just as foolish as he is!"

Jessebelle got an insulted look on her face. "I will not be talked to like that…." She began.

"Shut up!" Annie yelled, shoving Jessebelle back. Jessebelle stumbled backwards, and tripped over a box. Annie turned back to James. She raised the rose threateningly. "Now then, James, why do you like roses?" she said mockingly, daring James to give the wrong answer again.

Jessie looked up. "Meowth, get a-" she began. But Meowth was way ahead of her. He handed her the smoke bomb without a moment’s hesitation. Jessie immediately pulled the pin and tossed the bomb into the gym. There was a dull, muted explosion, and the gym began to fill with white smoke.

"What the hell…." Annie began.

Jessie jumped through the open window, knowing the gym mats would break her fall. As she fell to the floor, she said the familiar words once again, "To protect the world from devastation…."

James’ eyes stung from the smoke, but he knew immediately who was there, and he knew that he had never felt better than he did at that moment. In a weak voice came his reply. "To unite all peoples within our nation."

"To denounce the evils of truth and love..." Jessie said, shocked at the irony of those words in this situation.

"To extend our reach to the stars above." James added, smiling.

"Jessie!"

"James!"

"Team Rocket, blast off at the speed of light!" Jessie said strongly as the smoke began to clear.

"Surrender now or prepare to fight!" James said, his spirit slowly restoring itself.

On the roof, Meowth sighed. This scene was all too familiar. He jumped through the window and prayed that the old adage was true: cats always land on their feet. "Meowth! That’s right!" he chimed in as he landed.