Chapter Two: Base Camp Delta


The next morning came with the sound of a knocking on Jessie’s door. Jessie sat up groggily, and looked down at James, who was sleeping with a smile on his face. The knocking came again, and she called out in a grumpy voice, "What?"

"It’s Meowth." came the voice from the hallway. "Listen, I can’t find James. His bed doesn’t even look like it’s been slept in, and I’ve been all over headquarters." Jessie sighed, annoyed. She slipped out of bed, forgetting she was naked. Quickly grabbing a pink robe from a chair and tossing it on, she opened her door a crack. "He’s in here, dimwit." she said in a hushed voice. "Now just go do whatever it is cats do, and don’t tell anyone where we are."

Meowth shot her an angry look. "Sheesh, I get all worried and the dum dum is in there. Fine. I’ll see you later?"

"Probably." Jessie hissed. She closed the door and looked over at the bed. James was still asleep. She smiled as she walked back to the bed, tossing the robe off as she did. She looked at the clock. 8:00 AM. Just four hours until the transport would be here to take James away. As the thought hit her, Jessie felt a tear run down her cheek. She slipped back under the covers, and James awoke slightly.

"Jessie? What time is it?" he asked sleepily.

"Shh. It’s still early. It’s only 8:00. Just please... hold me." Jessie said, trying to keep her voice from cracking with emotion.

James smiled, and wrapped his arms around Jessie. Suddenly, Jessie felt a wetness on her shoulder. She looked over, and realized James was crying. "James?"

"I’ll be all right, Jessie... I just know how much I’ll miss holding you like this."

Jessie let the tears come. "I will too, James. I will, too." she said, sobbing. "I’ll visit you every chance I can. I promise."

James smiled to himself. He knew what Jessie was saying was true, and that she would visit him whenever she got the chance. He took a deep breath, and let it out slowly. "I love you, Jessica." he said in a whisper as he started to drift back into a light sleep.

"I know. And I love you." Jessie replied, falling into a light sleep as well.

Two hours later, Jessie’s alarm clock went off, and abruptly awoke Jessie and James, who both sat up with a jolt. When they saw that it was 10:00, they hurriedly got dressed, Jessie in white and James in his red uniform. There were only two short hours left.

They hurried down to the headquarters cafeteria to get something to eat. Meowth was in the cafeteria waiting for them. He chuckled as they walked in. "Well, it’s about time you two got up. And what were you two up to?"

Jessie glared at him. "One word to anyone, Meowth, and I’ll find out just how many ways there really are to skin a cat." she hissed.

Meowth looked at Jessie casually. "Oh, calm down, Jess. I’ve got better things to do than spread rumors about you two. Besides, what would the fun be in that? James is going."

James looked down sadly. Meowth instantly regretted what he had said. Jessie took a deep breath. Forcing herself to keep from shaking, she simply looked at James and Meowth and said quickly, "Coffee?"

"Yeah." Meowth and James said in unison. Jessie turned away, and walked to the counter to order the three cups of coffee for herself, James, and Meowth. Meowth looked up at James. "Hey, James... I’m sorry about that... you know, I- I’m gonna miss you too."

James smiled at Meowth. "Really?" he said, touched but not sure if he should believe Meowth.

"Well, yeah." Meowth replied. I mean, who else am I gonna give fury swipes to?" he asked with a grin.

James laughed and playfully smacked Meowth upside the head. "Dimwit." he said simply.

Meowth looked back up and smiled. "Moron." he replied.

James knew Meowth really would miss him in his own way. He looked up at Jessie. There were three people ahead of her in line, and her back was to James and Meowth. James lowered his voice to a whisper. "Meowth, what’s happening to Jessie? She’s not getting another new partner, is she?" James still remembered Billy, his replacement when he and Jessie had been split up, with pure venom. Billy had been a horrid pig whom Jessie had managed to "accidentally" knock out of the balloon on their maiden voyage.

Meowth shook his head. "Nah, I don’t think so. The boss hasn’t said anything, so I guess Jess and I are just gonna keep chasing Pikachu and Team Twerp."

James sighed with relief. At least he knew Billy wouldn’t be back. "Well, that’s good news, Meowth. Listen,. I want you to do me a favor."

Meowth looked at James. "What’s that?"

"Watch out for Jess. She’s going to be upset, and I don’t want her to get hurt or careless... Will you just do that for me, Meowth?"

Meowth considered this. Normally, he would have told James to forget it, that he wasn’t Jessie’s keeper, that Jessie could take care of herself... but he knew inside what a good friend James had always been, even if he was an incompetent fool. "Sure, James... I’ll do that."

Jessie returned with three steaming cups of coffee seconds after James quietly whispered his thanks to Meowth. The three of them just sat, drinking their coffee (Five sugars and creams for Meowth, two creams and one sugar for James, and black for Jessie) and silently looking at each other, all thinking about how much they would miss one of the others.

At 11:30, the trio walked down the hall of the general quarters section to retrieve James’ suitcase from his room. Once they were in James’ quarters, James picked up his suitcase and it happened. Jessie broke out in tears. "James, I- I- can’t watch you go.. I know you have to, but I- I- can’t watch you leave." Jessie felt so silly standing there crying, but she couldn’t do anything to stop the tears from coming.

James walked to her and put his arms around her without a word. "Shh, Jessica.... It’ll be all right..."

The sound of James’ voice was comforting, even if his words offered Jessie no reprieve from her emotions. She smiled as she listened to the silky sound of his voice. Silently, she thanked heaven that she had not been placed with a partner whose voice could never be a comfort, like Butch. Jessie looked into his eyes. There were only 20 minutes left. "James, I love you, and I want to see you off, but if I do, I know I’ll never be able to let you go. I’m so sorry... but you have to do this without me."

James face held a lost look. "I wish I’d never gotten this damn promotion." He muttered.

Jessie put a finger to his lips. "No." she said. "Don’t say that. You deserve this promotion and so much more." Despite her depression, Jessie had never meant anything so much.

"But it’s not worth the price." James replied simply.

Jessie smiled as tears of emotion ran down her cheeks. "Don’t talk like that, James... We’ll never be fully apart. Besides, a Red Rocket has a lot more sway with the Boss. You could request to be partnered with me again. And I’ll come visit you as soon as I can. I promise."

James smiled back sadly. 15 minutes were now left. He looked around, unsure of what else to say. "It’s time to go, James." he heard Jessie say.

"Come see me soon, Jess." he said softly.

"I will." Jessie replied. "Call me from the camp as soon as you can."

"I will. I promise." James replied. The two sealed the promise with a lingering, passionate kiss. And with that James picked up his suitcase, walked to the door, and turned back to face Jessie. "I love you. I love you with all my heart and soul." he said.

"And I love you. More than you’ll ever know." Jessie replied softly. James turned away again, a single tear running down his cheek as he hurried down the hall.

A few minutes later, Jessie left James’ room and returned to her own, where she held The picture James had given her, and cried as she looked at his happy, smiling face.

Meowth met James at the front of the building, where a number of agents all dressed in Red uniforms awaited the arrival of the transport. Much to James’ surprise, even the tough gangster cat seemed choked with emotion. "Well, good luck, ya dimwit." Meowth said in his tough voice, but his eyes betrayed how he really felt.

James picked Meowth up suddenly and gave him a hug. "Take care of Jess, OK?" he asked softly.

Meowth, not wanting to appear broken up, struggled in James’ arms. "Yeah, yeah, yeah... I will. Now put me down!" But again, one look into Meowth’s eyes let James know that he would be truly missed. James set Meowth down, and realized that the transport was boarding. He scurried up to the line with his suitcase in hand, took one last look at Meowth and Viridian City HQ, and climbed on board, letting the driver know he was there. The transport pulled away, and Meowth sadly lowered his head and walked back inside to check on how Jessie was holding up.

James settled down into a seat, noticing the strange looks the other agents were giving him. James recognized a few of them, and knew that they had all previously been Black Rockets. They were probably all wondering the same thing he had wondered. Why would a White Rocket (particularly one like James) be promoted to the rank of Red Rocket? However, nobody said anything, so James just settled back into his seat and tried not to think about Jessie and Meowth. It was just too depressing to think about. He stared out the window of the transport as he listened to the other agents excitedly chatter back and forth, and watched the scenery go by. The big buildings of Viridian City gave way to the forest, and that gave way to another city, and once again to forest. James slowly drifted off to sleep out of boredom.

About an hour and a half later, the transport came to a jolting stop. James awoke suddenly, and realized that they must be at Base Camp Delta. He looked around, and realized that he had no idea where he was. They must have crossed over a mountain ridge, as they were in a valley surrounded by mountains. James looked over his shoulder and out the back window of the transport. Behind the transport, he recognized the shape of Mount Moon. James was impressed. The camp was very well protected and concealed from the rest of the world. He shook off the thoughts and amazement, deciding that questions would come later, as the transport was unloading. He stood up and marched off the bus, placing his suitcase in a pile with the others and joining the other new Red Rockets in a straight line outside. In the distance, James saw a Red Rocket marching toward the group with extreme confidence and authority.

The figure drew closer, and James saw that the other Rocket was a man a little taller than him, about 23 or 24, with short, slightly mussed light red hair. James knew instantly that this was not someone to cross.

"New Red Rockets!" The man began. "Welcome to Base Camp Delta!" He began to walk along the line of new Rockets as he addressed the new Red Rockets in the manner of a drill sergeant. "My name is Seth, and I am the Chief Trainer of Base Camp Delta. This means that I am the head of the camp, and am your new commander. We don’t hear much from the Boss out here, and therefore, I am your surrogate Giovanni. You are all here because you have been identified as being the best of your class." he stated as he marched down the line. He eyed James in particular on this last point, as if knowing instantly who James was and that he was clearly not in the same class as the other new Red Rockets.

"I won’t lie to you." Seth continued, after a brief hesitation following his look at James. "The training program you are about to enter into is a grueling one. Some of you may not make it, and will be returned to your former position as a Black Rocket. This does not mean that you are not an able agent, merely that you are not up to the demands of being a Red Rocket." Seth paused, and looked up and down the group again. Everyone was standing rigidly, paying close attention to him. "However, we do have a high success rate with our new Red Rockets, and I am certain that each of you will perform to the best of your abilities. That said, let us begin."

An assistant, who had been following Seth closely, passed him a clipboard, and Seth began a check of the new Red Rockets to be sure that all were indeed present. As the names were called, the new Rockets stepped forward.

Finally, James realized that he was the last Rocket left in line. "Agent 253... James, is it?" James stepped forward.

"Yes, sir?" he said nervously.

"You, James, are a special case." Seth said. "You have been promoted to the rank of Red Rocket directly from your former rank of White Rocket." The other agents who had not previously realized this looked at James now with interest. "This kind of a promotion is usually unheard of." Seth continued. "White Rockets typically don’t have the experience necessary to become Red Rockets." James squirmed slightly, feeling a bit isolated and embarrassed.

Seth cleared his throat. "However, as I said, you are a special case. Therefore, you will be trained by a special trainer appointed exclusively to you. You will wait here. Your trainer will be out to meet you momentarily." Seth turned away, and addressed the other agents. "As for the rest of you, follow me. We are going to head to processing. You will then be given time to unpack your belongings in your quarters. Let’s move." Seth’s assistant blew a whistle, and led the new agents away, with Seth following closely behind.

James was left standing alone. He looked around the camp, waiting for his trainer to show up. He couldn’t help but feel a bit uneasy, but he shook it off as nerves. Idly, he wondered about Meowth and Jessie. What were they doing at the moment? He wondered in particular how Jessie was holding up. She had been so sad when he had left.... These thoughts were shaken from his head as a voice cut through the air from behind him.

"Agent 253!" the voice said. James immediately snapped to attention.

"Yes, Ma’am?" came the automatic reply. Ma’am? the trainer was a woman? Not really what James had been expecting, but over the last few days he had become too used to the unusual happening to him to be surprised.

"I will be your trainer during your time here at Base Camp Delta." The voice said.

James suddenly felt very afraid. That voice sounded far too familiar.... He suddenly realized that the footsteps approaching him had stopped.

"Turn around." the voice commanded. James turned around, and was filled with horror immediately as he looked at his trainer.

Before him stood Annie, with an evil smirk on her face.
Revenge Chapter Three: The Special Trainers