"James?" she asked.

The man holding her didn’t speak. She knew it wasn’t James, and her theory was proved when she saw James on the ground, looking up at her in shock. She turned around to face her rescuer. Her breath caught in her throat, "Boss?" she asked in shock.

Giovanni held Jessie firmly, as they were pulled up into the helicopter on the chord which he had come down on. Jessie blinked twice, wondering what was going on. Giovanni didn’t speak until they were in the helicopter. It was a nicer helicopter than the one she and James had flown in when they tried to catch the Butterfree. The driver was in a separate section to where Jessie and Giovanni stood. Giovanni sat down on a bench seat, and motioned for Jessie to sit down beside him. Jessie didn’t move, tightening her grip on the Pokeball. This guy always made her nervous.

"Why?" asked Jessie.

Giovanni sat calmly on the seat, "I wouldn’t turn my back on my employees." He said. His favorite Pokémon, the tawny Persian, sat at his feet, purring as he fondled its fur.

Jessie looked skeptical, "Oh yeah? What about James? why didn’t you save him? he’s still down there."

She glanced out the window, and could faintly see James, below, and behind them, watching the helicopter leave. Around him, Pokémon still battled, although they were getting weaker, and some were beginning to faint. James was knocked over as Starmie plunged into him. then Jessie couldn’t see any more.

"I’ll be frank." Giovanni said, as he gestured to the Pokeball, "Look at what you just did."

Jessie looked down at the ball, "So? I threw a ball, what’s the big deal?"

"I saw you out there." Giovanni said, "You’re obviously not the klutz I thought you were."

"Klutz?!" yelped Jessie, before remembering who she was talking to, "Yes, I’m a klutz." She said, cursing under her breath.

"No, you just proved you’re not." Giovanni said, "And you managed to catch that Ninetails too."

Jessie handed him the ball, "Well of course I did, it’s some sort of miracle ball or something."

"A master ball." Giovanni said, taking the ball, and putting it into a briefcase with some others, "I just had my men steal a whole cargo ship full of them."

Jessie was feeling more and more uneasy. She almost wished James was there, talking to the boss wasn’t quite so bad with him there, "So you’re…happy that I caught a Pokémon?" Jessie asked carefully.

"Yes." Giovanni replied, giving an evil grin, "You did it better than Cassidy could."

Jessie surged with anger, "Cassidy?" she asked, "what’s this got to do with her?"

"It’s got nothing to do with her now." Giovanni said. He produced two champagne glasses and a bottle of champagne. He filled both glasses, and handed one to Jessie, "It has to do with you."

Jessie wouldn’t drink, "What about me?" she asked, getting slightly irritated, but knowing better than to show it.

Giovanni smiled again, "You proved yourself worthy when you caught that Pokémon. I must say, you were the last girl on my list to consider, even if you are, beautiful." He watched for her reaction.

Praise? Jessie thought frantically, from him?! he just called me beautiful! And he’s giving me champagne…

She blushed considerably, and sweat dropped, "umm, thanks."

Giovanni stood up, "But the point is, I want to toast, to my new business partner."

"What?" Jessie asked, alarm bells going off in her head.

Giovanni stepped closer, and Jessie cringed slightly as she felt his arm go around her waist like an Ekans, "You of course."

Jessie dropped the champagne, crystal shattering, and the liquid making a distinct puddle on the expensive carpet in the chopper. She fainted.

---------

Ninetails felt strange, and disoriented. She was comfortable, but trapped. She could barely move. Wretched ball. Who had thrown it? Wait, now she remembered, it was that girl with red hair with an R on her shirt. Ninetails grew angry. She had heard the girl outside the Pokeball, talking to a man. They weren’t talking now. but Ninetails could suddenly feel the girls fear. She wondered why Jessie feared that man. Jessie, that was the girls name. Ninetails felt sorry for her. And thankful. Thinking about it, Jessie had stopped that strange feeling she had gotten, which had made her start howling. Now she was safe and comfortable in a strange Pokeball. She somehow knew that Jessie was her mistress now. she fell asleep in the quiet stillness of the Pokeball, content.

---------

James watched from his place on the ground as the chopper disappeared over the horizon, "Huh? Was that who I thought it was?!"

Jaycee helped him up, her mouth hanging open, "Wasn’t that your boss?"

Before James could answer, he heard a loud yowl. It was Meowth. one of the only Pokémon up and ready to fight. Arbok, Weezing, Likitung, Victreebell, Staryu, Bulbasaur, Squirtle and Geodude were all unconscious. Ash, Misty and Brock had to run off, chased by their remaining insane Pokémon. They ran out into the street, where other people were defending themselves against their own Pokémon, and wild Pokémon too.

James shrieked, and made it as far as the classroom, with Jaycee following him and Meowth too. Meowth lunged for him, knocking him to the ground. Within seconds, James’s jacket was in shreds, and he shielded his face desperately with his arms. Jaycee gasped, and tried to pull the cat from James. Meowth lashed around, and swiped at her, leaving three stinging scratches across her face. James tried to scramble to his feet, as Meowth left Jaycee and stood to face him again, James lay stunned on the ground, his legs not seeming to be working properly. Meowth advanced on him, it’s voice a twisted yowl, "Meow! Yowth! Meowth!"

"Meowth, don’t!" yelled James, as the cat unsheathed it’s claws.

"Meowth, you’re my friend!" pleaded James, "Don’t you remember, we’re more than just team mates!" Meowth’s face softened, and for a brief moment, he returned to normal,

"your friend?" he asked.

Suddenly he shook it off, and slammed into James, tackling him. the small cat sure packed a lot of power. Jaycee continued to try to stop Meowth.

James grabbed the cat around his neck and held him at an arms length from his own throat, "Meowth! stop right now!"

Meowth yowled loudly, and struggled in James’s hands. Jaycee took off her jacket and threw it over the cat. She fastened the jacket around Meowth so that he couldn’t bite or claw anyone. James sat up, wincing at the pain of the scratches across his chest and arms.

"But where’d Jessie go?" he asked sadly.

He stood up. he called his fainted Pokémon back to their Pokeballs. He called Jessie’s two Pokémon into two spare Pokeballs her had. They obeyed him, as he and Jessie practically shared them anyway. and besides, they couldn’t do much else, as they were exhausted. he put the Pokeballs onto his belt, "Well, staying here won’t get her back. I’ve got a good idea as to where she’s gone."

Jaycee looked at Ash, Misty and Brock’s fallen Pokémon, "But, what about their Pokémon?" she looked around the classroom, "And Ash and his friends are still out there being chased by their Pokémon."

James shrugged, "Come of Jaycee, let’s get going."

Meowth had given up struggling in his jacket prison, and was obviously asleep. James picked up the Meowth parcel neatly.

He and Jaycee exited the school, and saw Ash, Misty and Brock battling their Pokémon. The Pokémon were slowly giving up, and now even Pikachu looked ready to collapse.

"What can we do anyway?" James asked, "Their Pokémon will get tired and collapse soon enough."

Jaycee had to agree, and they made their way to the Meowth Balloon. It was still in pretty good condition, and was fine after James patched up the various rips in the balloon.

----------

"They’re too strong!" Brock wailed, jumping out of the way of his powerful Onix’s tail, and colliding with a wild Nidoran.

"Come and get me, Pikachu!" Ash yelled, jumping in front of Onix.

His exhausted Pokémon screamed at the top of its tiny voice, "Pikaaachu!" and sent electricity towards Ash.

Ash dove out of the way, and Onix was knocked out by the electricity. Starmie also fainted, who had been pinning Misty down.

"If we can just keep this up, they’ll all faint, and then we can get them to Nurse Joy for treatment!" Brock cried, dodging his Vulpix’s flame thrower attack.

Ash was about to respond, when a bright light lit up the sky.

"Was that Pikachu?" Misty asked.

Pikachu and all the other Pokémon fighting their masters stopped attacking to look up. Wild Pokémon all stopped attacking, as if calmed by the light. A trainer who had been wrestling his Venusaur was finally released from its grip. Togepi stopped biting Misty with its tiny teeth. All the other Pokémon trainer’s who’s Pokémon had attacked them thankfully gazed up at the sky to see what had grabbed their Pokémon’s attention. Suddenly silver bolts of lightening shot down from the lit up sky and all hit one spot on the ground. The silver light swirled and changed into a human figure. Soon the silver faded, and a girl stood on the spot the lightening had struck. She collapsed from exhaustion.

"Ah!" cried Brock, rushing to aid her. He knelt beside the girl, and pulled her to sit up in his arms, "Can you hear me?" he asked in concern.

The girl’s eyes flickered open. They were green-blue, almost like Misty’s, but a completely different shape. Her hair fell in bangs around her face, and was light brown. A fine fringe fell on her forehead. She seemed shocked to see Brock,

"You?" she asked, sitting up hurriedly, "B-B-B…" she seemed to be hyperventilating, "Oh my God, you’re B…you’re really him, you’re, you’re…"

"I’m Brock." Brock said, "What’s your name?"

the girls swallowed loudly, and her breathing slowed, "Krystal." She said, "My name, is it."

Brock smiled, "Well, its not every day someone as, lovely as you falls from the sky."

Krystal stared at Brock’s face, mesmerized, "Yes, you’re very lovely yourself." She murmured.

Brock knew he was blushing, "Umm, er, thanks." He said, "You can come with us, to the Pokémon Center, and tell me more about yourself."

Brock helped Krystal up, "Thank you Brock." She said dreamily.

Misty and Ash popped up on either side of her, "I’m Ash!" Ash explained.

"And I’m Misty." Misty added.

Krystal seemed to be ignoring them, still transfixed to Brock, "Listen," she said as they walked, and Ash, Misty and Brock returned their Pokémon to their Pokeballs, "I’m looking for someone."

"Yeah, but why did you come out of the sky?" Ash asked, "Are you a Pokémon?"

Brock glared at him, "Don’t be dumb!" he cried, "She’s a-a-um…"

Krystal sighed, "I’m not from around here." She explained.

"see?" Brock said, "There’s your explanation."

"Maybe she’s from Minnesota." Ash said, shrugging.

--------

Jessie woke up. she felt dizzy. She squeezed her eyes shut, and tried to figure out what was going on. Business partners? She wondered, was that a dream? Maybe the Ninetails was a dream too! And Jaycee! She sat up quickly, and her face fell. She wasn’t at the camp site. She was in a nicely furnished room. She had been sleeping on a nicely made bed. Everything looked expensive, and Jessie looked around in wonder. She realized where she was when she saw a mounted picture on the wall of a red R. she groaned, and lay back down on the satin sheets. This place must have belonged to the boss. She suddenly sat up again, and found she wasn’t wearing her uniform now. she was dressed in a black dress. It was some sort of designer label. Jessie touched the fabric of the dress. It was slinky and felt good on her skin. Her attention was brought to the two large doors that led into the room. Giovanni stood in the doorway. Jessie got up hurriedly,

"Umm, boss, how nice to see you." She said in reflex.

Giovanni approached her, his Persian at his heels, "Jessie, you’re awake. You slept for over an hour."

"Well, I’m okay now." Jessie said, she looked down at the dress, "Umm, why am I wearing this?"

"I thought it would be more suitable." Giovanni explained, "I have reservations for us at a restaurant I own."

Jessie wondered who had dressed her, but thought better of asking, "Why me?" she asked, "What do you want with me?"

Giovanni held up his hand, "We shall discuss that in more detail tonight. I’ll send for you when you are needed." He disappeared back out through the doors. His Persian turned and hissed at Jessie, then followed him out. This Persian was just like any other, fickle and mean. It only stuck with Giovanni because it sensed his power. It was by no means loyal. Jessie sighed heavily and sat down. Why me? She wondered. She walked over to a desk in the corner of the large room. She shrugged. If they had put her in this room, she should be allowed to use the computer. The screen saver was on. Little red R’s flying across a black back ground. She moved the mouse and the desktop appeared. Hmm, no screensaver password. Maybe she could play Solitaire. She searched the pull up menu for accessories and games. There was nothing. She snarled, and went down to documents. "Hmm, ‘Classified Document for authorized personnel only’." She read aloud. She shrugged again, and clicked on it. The document came up. there was a picture of some girl from the team. Jessie thought she looked vaguely familiar. Maybe she had seen her at the training camp when they were younger. Jessie read aloud,

"Name: Serena,

Partner: Darien

Test score: 8/10,

Reliability: 75%,

Success rate: 10:1,

Final test: failed." Jessie wondered what the final test was. She scrolled down. There were pictures of most of the girls who had joined team Rocket around the time she had or earlier. She reached Cassidy’s file. She snarled, and read it,

"Name: Cassidy,

Partner: Butch,

Test Score: 9/10,

Reliability: 95%,

Success Rate: 2:1,

Final Test: failed." Jessie smirked, that wimp Cassidy was such a loser. Her own file followed it. She read it with interest,

"Name: Jessie,

Partner: James

Test Score: disqualified." She stopped, disqualified?! But I cheated so well on that test! She kept reading,

"Reliability: 2%,

Success rate: -,

Final Test: in progress."

Jessie was thoughtful for a moment, and decided that the only thing that must have counted must have been the final test score, as, although she hated to admit it, she had done terribly on everything else, but had not yet received a score on the final test. She closed the document, after fiddling around with everyone’s test scores to make herself look a whole lot better, then closed the document. Just as she did so, the doors opened.

"I wouldn’t expect any less of you." Giovanni said with a smirk, "You passed the very last test it seems."

"What test?" Jessie asked, confused, "I didn’t touch the computer, I was just watching the screensaver."

"And a fluent liar too." Giovanni said in approval.

Jessie got to her feet, "Why are you testing all the women on the team? What’s it for?"

Giovanni gestured for Jessie to follow him, "come, we’ll discuss it at dinner."

Jessie decided to go along with him. for now at least.