Chapter Five: The Truth


Misty led the way down to the Pokemon area where Pikachu was being held. The lab was closed for the day, and Evans had already gone home. Misty turned on the light switch and led the way into the lab, walking toward the habitat that had been created for Pikachu. "It's right up here." Misty said. She had been telling them all about the habitat that had been built for Pikachu. Ash agreed that it sounded great.... almost too good to be true. Misty and the others looked into the empty habitat. "I don't understand... He should be right here..." she said.

Ash suddenly looked up, and started walking towards a hallway. "Ash, where are you going?" Misty called.

"Just follow me... I feel something...." Ash said as he walked. Misty and Brock followed him, wondering what force could be driving him. When Ash reached the other end of the hallway, He realized what had been driving him... It was Pikachu. He was sitting in a glass chamber, his head and ears drooped, barely able to keep his eyes open. Ash gasped. "Pikachu!" he cried, running to the machine. Misty's mouth dropped, and tears streamed from her eyes.

"Oh, no.... what have I done? What have I let happen?" Misty cried.

"What is that machine?" Brock asked.

"I don't know." Misty sobbed.

Ash looked at a monitor in the machine, and saw what looked like an out line of Pikachu with beams and little lightning bolts running through it. He didn't know what the machine was doing, but he could tell it wasn't good. "Oh, Pikachu..... We've got to get him out, Misty!"

Misty ran forward, tears still streaming from her eyes. "Of course.... I'm so sorry, Ash.... I had no idea..."

"I know." Ash replied, studying the machine for a release of some kind. Suddenly, he spotted the "Seal/Insulate" switch and flipped it down. The machine hummed slightly, and Pikachu's chamber opened. The tired Pokemon fell out to the floor in a heap. Ash picked him up and held him in his arms. "Oh, Pikachu.... are you going to be OK?"

Pikachu looked up at Ash and smiled weakly. "Chuuu....." he said quietly. Ash hugged Pikachu close and cried a tear of joy. Pikachu seemed to be doing better with every second.

Misty leaned down and looked at Pikachu. "Oh, Pikachu, I'm so sorry... I never meant for you to be hurt." Weakly, Pikachu smiled at her.

"We've got to get out of here." Misty said. "Oh, I can't believe I believed everything Giovanni told me..."

"Come on", said Brock. He started to lead the way out.

"Hold it!" said a familiar voice from the other side of the hallway.

"Oh, no...." Misty whispered.

"I knew you couldn't be trusted, you naughty little girl...." came Jessie's voice.

As they moved down the hall, Jessie and James recited their motto with more venom in their voices than ever.

"To protect the world from devastation..."

"To unite all peoples within our nation....."

"To denounce the evils of truth and love....."

"To extend our reach to the stars above....."

"Jessie!"

"James!"

"Team Rocket- blast off at the speed of light!

"Surrender now or prepare to fight!"

"Meowth! That's right!" Meowth snarled.

They came into full view now. "Helping prisoners escape... showing them the lab... all unforgivable." Jessie smirked.

"And when we catch you and bring you up to the boss, we'll be promoted for sure!" said James excitedly.

"And I'll be top cat around here.... not that stinkin' Persian!" Meowth grinned.

Ash grabbed for a Pokeball. "Not this time, Team Rocket...." he began, when he suddenly realized his Pokeballs were gone! They had been thrown in his back pack and he didn't have time to go digging for them now!

Misty's mouth dropped open. Quickly, she reached into her own back pack, which she had grabbed when they had left the cell, and blindly grabbed two Pokeballs. She could only pray they were the right ones. "Pokeballs, go!" she cried as she threw them. Sure enough, Starmie and Staryu appeared before her.

"Two Pokemon at once?" James said, dumbfounded. "But that's not fair!"

"Team Rocket agents don't play fair, remember?" Misty snapped. Before Jessie and James could react, She yelled out, "Starmie, Staryu, water gun attack now!" Starmie and Staryu both shot a powerful stream of water at Jessie and James, causing them to be lifted off their feet and hurled back down the hallway.

"Looks like Team Rocket is being washed away again!" they cried in unison as they flew down the hallway, finally hitting the wall and being knocked unconscious. Misty, Starmie, and Staryu turned to face Meowth. "Want a drink, kitty?" she grinned.

"Aaaaaahhhh! I hate water!" Meowth wailed as he ran away down the hall.

Smiling, Misty recalled her Pokemon.

"Nice work, Misty." Ash said as they continued walking.

"Pikachu." said Pikachu, recovering and doing much better.

"Thanks." Misty replied. They reached the elevator and climbed in. Misty hit the button marked "Gym" and the elevator started up the shaft. "When we get out, it'll just be a straight shot out of the gym." she said. "You know, I'll be glad to go, but I'm going to miss having a daddy.... even if he was a bad one."

Ash patted her on the back. "Well, Misty, at least you've still got us, right?"

Misty smiled at her friends. "Yeah. Yeah, I do" She hugged Brock and Ash tightly as the elevator came to a stop and the doors opened. The gym was dark and deserted. They ran through the large open arena and came to the foyer.

Ahead of them, the door was wide open. Not a thing was blocking their escape..... except for the large silhouette of Giovanni in the doorway.

Loyalties Chapter Six: The Final Word