Chapter Text
No-one saw it coming. Not the boss. Not now. Not like this. It seemed absolutely ludicrous that such a healthy, influential figure such as Giovanni could suddenly drop down dead from a stroke of all things. Contrary to popular belief, aside from the occasional cigar and glass of sherry, he was not a big drinker or smoker. He ate well and took regular exercise. It just didn't make sense and if the average person didn't know better it could even be deemed as unfair!
It was Domino that had discovered his body. She had gone along to his study for her usual debrief early in the morning and found him slumped in his favourite red leather chair. Her desperate screams for help had sounded across head-quarters. Shrill and panicked. Wendy and Dr Zagar had been first on the scene and had found Domino had flung the boss on the floor and was hysterically trying to perform CPR. As Wendy pulled her off and attempted to comfort her, Dr Zagar had checked for a pulse. But it was no use. Giovanni was dead and had been for several hours...
The next 24 hours felt like a eerie fog across headquarters. After the doctor was summoned, an intermittent alarm had sounded indicating to Rockets to assemble in the courtyard. There was a low level hum of whispers and speculation as to what could be so important this early in the morning. This was soon followed by a wave of disbelief and grief when a stony-faced Domino had to break the news as the 2nd in command. Pagers were sent out to agents already in the field including Jessie, James and Meowth ordering them to return asap. Meanwhile the sudden surge in activity had caused the Kanto region's media to be tipped off. Soon enough the news was on every t.v and newspaper across the globe with reporters camping out as close to headquarters as possible hoping to catch a glimpse of the bewildered and grieving Rockets.
Next came the swing of the axe. As per the boss's will, Team Rocket was disbanded. Instantly grief and disbelief turned into fear. Warrants started being issued for arrests and many agents and grunts decided to go on the run. But they of course had no-where to go, for the vast majority, Team Rocket was all they had ever known. A life outside of such an organisation was already beginning to prove more than they could handle...
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"So back to our top story this morning and we will be bringing you the latest on the death of criminal gangster Giovanni and the subsequent disbandment of the criminal organisation Team Rocket. Now Steve, it's an interesting turn of events isn't it because we're hearing from Viridian City Police Department that not all Team Rocket members will be facing charges?"
"No that's right Samantha! So at a press conference that took place late yesterday evening. Chief officer Jenny revealed a list of names of Rocket agents that would not be facing any further charges for a number of reasons. So the names we have confirmed so far are:
- 26 year old Jessica Matthews and 26 year old James Morgan. Now interestingly with this pair, they never actually succeeded in their missions to steal Pokemon so as the department quite rightly pointed out, no crime has been committed. We understand from local sources that the pair had been stalking a young trainer with a Pikachu for several years but this trainer does not wish to press charges. It's also been confirmed that the pair travel with a talking Meowth who is not owned by either agent but is rather an agent in his own right! Of course for those of you not aware, Morgan is the son of local billionaire Thomas Morgan and his wife Joanna so you could speculate as to whether Morgan's slate has been co completely wiped clean with a few 50 dollar bills if you catch my drift!
- 21 year old Mondo Williams. This young man had been in more the administrative side of the organisation and as we understand had been connected mostly with aforementioned Jessica and James. Again, no crime committed.
- Finally, 25 year old Cassandra Sampson and 27 year old Butch Reynolds. These 2 are actually on first name terms with the team here at VCPD and as such, have already served all of their sentences. Besides which, some of Reynold's charges had to be dropped as the legal paperwork was found to contain the wrong name. Unofficial sources have hinted that this was a regular problem for Reynolds...
"Yeah no shit sherlock!" growled Butch as he jabbed the t.v remote towards the screen and the picture went blank.
"What are you muttering at?" Cassidy asked her partner as she joined him at his side. Butch shook his head.
"Eh nothing Cass. Just y'know watching the news, hoping to catch some gossip we haven't heard yet".
"Anything significant?" Cassidy asked.
"Well...only that me, you, Mondo, Messy and Lames are now free to walk! No further charges" Butch smirked.
Cassidy's eyes softened a little and she bowed her head. "Wow...I guess this is really over now..." she said.
"Yeh...end of an era all right..." Butch admitted. He leant forward and ha e Cassidy's arm a rub. "Cheer up doll, I bought a paper earlier you can maybe have a scan of the jobs page once I'm finished with it".
Cassidy snorted. "As if Hooch! I wouldn't do any of those lame-ass jobs!"
Butch frowned at his partner. "So...Cass what ARE you planning to do then?"
Before Cassidy could answer, her phone rang and she saw Mondo's caller I.D flash up on the screen.
"Alright hunny?" She greeted, choosing to ignore the slight grimace on Butch's face at the cutesy pet name.
"Hey Cass...uh I take it you saw the news?!" Mondo asked.
"Yep sure did...great for us eh?" Cassidy replied. "Had had enough bad news!"
"Yeah...it's a relief I guess...hey listen so I was going to meet Jessie and James for coffee in a bit just to discuss where we all go from here. Is it worth you and Butch joining us?"
"Hmm!!! Yeah we could do...text me the details?" Cassidy said
"Yup will do! Speak later!" Mondo replied.
Cassidy hung up and turned back to Butch who was standing beside his partner with his arms folded impatiently.
"So what good would that do?!" He frowned. "If Team Rocket has disbanded then technically we're not even colleagues anymore..."
"True...but still I'm nosey! I can't wait to find out what on earth Jessie-Jess is planning to do. I mean she could always go back to nursing school and actually finish her studies" Cassidy sneered.
"So you were just about to tell me what your plans were?" Butch interrupted. Cassidy shook her head.
"Well you know Biffer...bit of this...bit of that...I'll figure it out!" With that she grabbed her bag and headed for the door.
"I've got a meeting now anyhow... y'know... to discuss arrangements for the funeral. Think Dom wants it done as soon as possible before the police swoop in..."
Butch nodded. "Yeah makes sense. I'll catch you later".
After Cassidy left he couldn't help but feel slightly suspicious at her blase attitude to all of this. Butch certainly had no clue what he was going to do now. Team Rocket was all they had known for so long. The thought of re-integrating back onto the right side of the law was a daunting task that, truth be told, Butch wasn't sure he was entirely ready for...
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Later that afternoon, Butch and Cass made their way to The Woodland Cafe on the outskirts of Viridian City near the forest to meet the others. As they walked inside, Butch couldn't help but notice the suspicious glares from the locals. A few trainers pulled their Pokemon closer towards them and 1 man even got up and left!
"Do you think it'll always be like this?" He muttered to Cassidy who seemed to be taking it in her stride.
"Nah they'll get over it eventually. Provided we stay on our best behaviour!" She winked. She spotted Mondo sat towards the back and waved. Butch followed her over to the table and sat down with the younger man.
"Hey guys! Jessie and James will be a few minutes... you both ok?"
"Yeah not too bad... just been a mental couple of days eh?" admitted Cassidy.
Mondo nodded. "Yeah I still can't believe it really. Poor Domino is completely in bits... she cried into my shoulder all night. I'm kind of tired if I'm honest!"
Butch snorted. "Heh, sounds like someone's found himself a little girlfriend!" Mondo went bright red.
"No! I mean... we're not... I wouldn't... not at the moment...gah!!!"
"Buffy stop teasing him!" Cassidy warned. "At least let's get the funeral over with first!"
"Speaking of which - what's happening with that?" asked Butch.
"I'll explain once the other 2 numbskulls are here" Cassidy began. "Oh perfect timing!" she added as Jessie and James finally arrived and joined them at the table. James had a look of thunder on his face which was very out of character for him, and Jessie... well her eyes looked kind of red... had she been crying?
"Afternoon guys" Butch said. "All ok?"
"Had a domestic??!" Cassidy sneered but Jessie immediately interjected her rival.
"So the funeral!" She snapped with such venom that even Cassidy was taken back. "You were just about to explain?"
Still a little shocked, Cassidy quickly composed herself. "Uh yes..." she said.
"So the funeral is Saturday at 11am at the Chapel. We've agreed with law enforcements that we can have the ceremony and cremation in private before they come in and secure headquarters. Most wanted Rockets have already done a bunk but I think the police are banking on many returning to pay their respects. They want headquarters vacated by noon on Sunday. Don't know what the hell they are expecting to find there, it was all residential and admin! Dr Zagar and Dr Namba are one step ahead of them in securing any evidence of missions etc."
"So who from our side has actually been speaking to the Police?" Jessie asked.
"Dom." Cassidy replied. "They came through on an encrypted phone line saying someone had tipped them off that the boss had died. God knows who, could have been anyone. Anyway she confirmed and it's all gone from there really..."
The 5 of them sat in silence for a couple of minutes processing everything that they had just heard. Mondo glanced at Jessie who had angled her chair away from James and was sat there with her arms folded. He caught Cassidy's eye who indicated towards Jessie. She had clearly noticed the tension between them too!
"So Mondo, any idea what's next for you?" Asked Butch.
Mondo nodded. "Yeah shortly after the news broke I was contacted by Brock Harrison. I think you all know him, especially you 2!" He directed at Jessie and James who both nodded.
"Yeah we know him... did he ever find a girlfriend in the end?" Jessie asked.
"Don't think so. Not yet" Mondo laughed. "Anyhow I used to go to school with him. Not best friends but friendly enough! He's back running the Pewter gym and has offered me work there and a place to stay until I figure things out. I know he's good friends with that Ash guy. The one who isn't pressing harassment charges against you lot!"
He went to laugh again but noticed that Jessie and James looked more miserable and closed off than ever. James wasn't even looking in the direction of the others and had barely said a word since they had arrived.
"Ok I'll bite...what's going on with you 2 then?" Cassidy asked Jessie and James. They both looked up her in surprise.
"Why do you care?" Jessie muttered. Even though technically they were no longer rivals she didn't trust Cassidy. Not one bit. Thankfully Butch came to the rescue.
"What Cassidy meant to ask is - do you guys have any plans now?" He asked.
"Ask him!" Jessie snapped, jabbing a finger towards James. "He's got it all figured out, wedding bells the lot!!!"
"Eh???" the other 3 all exclaimed in unison. James finally turned to face them properly and outstretched his arms with clasped hands.
"Ok so basically my parents have contacted me to offer me 1 last chance to go home, marry Jessibelle and claim my inheritance" he explained.
"Yeah but get this - he's actually contemplating it!" Jessie interrupted. "After everything...he's thinking of going through with it! So that's goodbye to any partnership of ours..."
Butch, Cassidy and Mondo all looked at James in puzzlement.
"Dude, seriously?!" Mondo asked.
"See I haven't even be able to explain because she won't let me!" James said bitterly. "Jessie if you had actually shut up for 5 minutes for once in your life, I was planning to scram with the cash just before the marriage and use it to fund mine and Jessie's business".
"Huh? Business? What business??" Jessie asked him. James turned to look at her in the eye, the first time since they had been there.
"The catering business Jess! You know? The one thing we've always seemed to ace? Every festival, every event we've done it. We'd have a real shot, I know it! Not just us of course, Meowth too. If he wants to that is."
Jessie sat stunned into silence. It all made sense now. How she ever could have thought that James would willingly abandon her in favour of marrying Jessibelle, she felt foolish. But she also felt a twinge of excitement. Her and James, business partners in catering! It had a nice ring to it.
Her relief and reassurance didn't last long as Cassidy couldn't resist opening her mouth once more.
"Sounds like James has made all the plans for you!" She chimed. "You'd be pretty stuck without him eh Jessie-Jess?!"
"Well I'm hoping, obviously this won't be straight away, that we could eventually get comfortable enough to send Jessie back to nursing school and complete her studies" James added. Jessie gasped and reached for his hands.
"Really?" She whispered.
"Absolutely" said James. "I know it's always been one of your regrets Jess. Well that stops now." He leaned forward and the 2 friends shared an embrace.
"Well it's alright for some!" Snapped Cassidy in a jealous rage. "Nice to know when all is said and done money still talks!" Jessie glared across at her.
"So what are YOUR plans then Cass? You're offering all this big talk but we haven't heard what you're up to yet?!"
Cassidy swallowed. "Well...I..."
"Well she hasn't even told me yet!!" Butch piped up. "Come on Cass, spill!"
"Well I just need to finalise a few things..." Cassidy mumbled. She had never felt so backed into a corner in her life. She had suddenly lost all confidence.
"You don't have any idea do you?" Quipped Jessie. "Oh how the mighty have fallen!!!"
"Jess leave it..." Mondo said uneasily. "Not everyone will have firm plans just yet..." But Jessie suddenly felt powerful.
"No I won't leave it! She's been looking down her snotty little nose at me for years and yet when it really matters she's just as god damn clueless as the rest of us! You make me sick Cassidy!" Jessie spat.
Cassidy sprang to her feet, almost knocking her drink over.
"I don't have to listen to this!" She hissed. "Butch let's go!"
She stormed off out of the cafe much to the bemusement of 2 other trainers who were sat nearby. Butch glanced hesitantly at the others.
"I uh... guess we'll see you Saturday" he mumbled before tearing off after his partner. Jessie, James and Mondo finished their drinks in uneasy silence. Thankfully they didn't hear the remark one of the trainers made to his friend.
"Heh if they're already arguing amongst themselves, they've got no chance!"