PART FIVE – ENDGAME



“Masterson.” Michael said incredulously as Meowth struggled to catch his breath. “How did she ever get away from The Resort, anyway?”

Meowth had arrived at Headquarters after 20 minutes of running his lungs out, and had breathlessly pounded on Michael and Constance’s door to tell them of the situation. Michael had been hardly able to believe it, but he knew he couldn’t deny it. “I dunno.” Meowth replied. “But she ain’t gonna hesitate to off your mom and dad if you ain’t back in time or if she sees a weapon or Constance.”

Michael scowled. “Damn it! This is insane!” He hung his head. “How can I save them?” he asked desperately, posing the question to nobody in particular.

“Let me go with you.” Constance said firmly. “2 against 1 will give you an edge.”

“No, Constance. Masterson’s a Red. “I can’t fool her that you’re not there if you are.” Michael paused. “and I can’t put my parents at risk like that.”

“Besides, it ain’t 1 against 1. It’s 1 against 2.” Meowth said.

Michael looked up. “What? You mean she has a partner?” he asked.

Meowth nodded. “Yeah. Another Red Rocket. With short blonde spiky hair, a goatee, and a knife bigger den Rambo's!”

Michael and Constance exchanged knowing looks. “Severin.” Michael growled. “It’s worse than I thought.”

“Whaddaya mean?” asked Meowth.

“Never mind.” Michael said quickly. He looked at his watch. “Oh, God, I’m due there in 15 minutes.”

“You can make it in five if you really haul ass in the Jeep.” Constance offered.

“Right.” Michael replied. “Meowth, go down to the motor pool. My Jeep’s in space 65. I’ll be down in a minute.” With that, Michael tossed Meowth the keys and the cat-like Pokemon ran out the dormitory door. Michael disappeared into the closet and reappeared in his short-sleeved red uniform five minutes later.

Once again, Constance looked at her partner with concern. “Michael, let me come. We’re partners. Whatever happens, we face it all together!” she pleaded.

“No, Constance.” Michael said. “I’m sorry- but this is something I have to do alone.” Without another word, the son of Jessie and James hugged his partner tightly and kissed her, and ran off out the door.

Constance sat down on the bed they shared, brushed a strand of hair from her face, and said a silent prayer for the safety of her partner.

Michael’s Jeep bounced down the road as Meowth held on tightly and Jessie and James’ cottage came into view. Even from a distance, Michael could tell the lights were on, and he could see Severin’s figure in the window.

He pulled the Jeep into place and motioned for Meowth to get out, telling the Pokemon to tell Annie he was here. Michael then climbed out of the Jeep and walked to the front path, where he stood waiting outside the door.

He didn’t have long to wait. “Michael Morgan?” Annie called in a sharp tone.

“I’m here.” Michael called back evenly.

“Then come in… or are you just a coward?” Annie replied.

“No.” Michael said. “First I want proof that my parents are still alive.” He demanded.

“They are.” Annie said dully.

“Forgive me for not taking the word of an insane old Red.” Michael said, knowing full well that he was flirting with disaster. “But I want real proof, not just what you claim.”

In the cottage, Annie scoffed. “Inherited Mommy’s spirit, did you? All right, then, here’s your proof!” She looked at Severin and made a motion with her hand.

Severin reached forward and yanked the tape off James’ mouth. James yelped from the sting.

“Dad?” Michael called.

“Michael! Get away! Run!” James yelled desperately.

“Is Mom all right?” Michael asked.

“She’s fine! Get out of here!” James called back. At that moment, Severin yanked Jessie’s tape away and she screamed as well.

“Michael, Run! Run and don’t look back!” Jessie commanded.

Michael stepped into the doorway. “No. I’m not leaving you.”

Annie smiled darkly as Severin replaced the tape over Jessie and James’ mouths. “Smart boy.” Annie said as she fixed her hard stare on Michael. This was a meeting to be savored, an encounter that she would remember always.

Michael hardly shared her enthusiasm. Instead, he glared at Severin. “Severin, what do you think you’re doing?” he growled.

Severin merely smiled complacently. “Helping a friend, Mikey. Helping a friend.” He said simply. If only Michael knew that Severin's best friend always had been himself…

Annie called Michael’s attention back to herself by stating, “Michael, Michael, Michael. You look like a combination of both your parents. Now tell me, how could the child-“ Annie’s nose wrinkled in disgust at this point- “-of these two morons possibly be a Red Rocket?”

Michael looked at Annie, unimpressed. The hardened, battle-ready state of mind he had perfected at Base Camp Delta was serving him flawlessly now. “Agent Masterson,” Michael said quite matter-of-factly, “What happened between you and my father happened years ago. Give it up.”

Annie’s face tightened. “I’m sure your father’s told you all about me, Michael.” She said flatly.

Michael watched Annie closely. “He has.”

Annie waved her gun in the air, placing a silent, deadly emphasis on each word she uttered. “Then you should know that when I begin something, I never quit… even if it takes years.”

“You can’t win, Masterson. There is no way. Especially with him as a partner.” Michael said, motioning at Severin.

Annie smirked at Michael. “Oh, but I already have won, my boy. I have!” With that, Annie took aim at Michael’s chest and fired. The next moment seemed to move in slow motion as Annie’s gun fired three deadly, booming shots that hit Michael square in the chest and knocked him off his feet to the ground.

A moment of silence.

Then, the scream. A scream of utter sorrow and despair emanated from Jessie from under the duct tape, covering her mouth, as she lifted her head to the ceiling and silently begged for the whole night to end right there. Unable to face her loss, Jessie’s head slumped down, all traces of fight and life rapidly draining from her face.

James stared at the still form of his son, unable to scream or speak, as tears streamed down his face. He was empty inside, his body a mere shell as he watched his only son die before his eyes. Oh, dear God, he thought. It’s over. One solitary thought burned in the back of his mind: Run, Kat. Run where Annie will never find you. I love you always. Oh, God, run. Run and never stop.

Meowth stood by the foot of James’ chair in stunned silence as memories flooded back to him... memories of a young boy named Mikey who had played with him for hours on end years before. In his mind, Meowth could hear the young boy’s sweet, innocent laugh once more…

Meanwhile, Annie was savoring her triumph. Michael was dead, and Jessie, James, and Meowth were all more broken than she could have ever dreamed in all her years of captivity. She had taken away their very lifeblood, their essence. An evil smile spread across her face as she stared, fascinated, at their pathetic, sobbing forms.

Suddenly, Annie was aware of another sound, the sound of giddy laughter. It was Severin.

Annie looked at her partner. “What?” she asked.

Severin returned an evil smile. “He’s dead. Michael Morgan is really dead!” he said through his crazed laughter.

Annie raised an eyebrow. “That was the point.” She said, confused by Severin’s manner.

Severin smiled darkly. “Yes. It was indeed.” Before Annie could even think, Severin’s knife was out of its holster and slashing her hand. Annie screamed in pain and dropped her gun. She looked at Severin in total shock and surprise as he drew his fist back and punched her, knocking her off her feet to the ground. Annie lunged for her gun, but Severin stomped on the weapon and kicked it out of her reach.

“What are you doing?!” Annie screamed in desperation.

Severin glared at her now, and Annie saw for the first time the pure, soulless evil in the Red’s eyes. “Do you really believe I ever cared about you or your stupid little feud with Morgan? You are nothing but a slave, Masterson! You were born to serve me!”

Annie stared at Severin from the floor, furious and yet too stunned to move. “What!” She spat.

Severin’s eyes narrowed to slits as he brought his knife closer to her face. “Do you know what you’ve done, Annie? Who you’ve killed?” he growled.

Annie began to sweat horribly as she stared at the tip of Severin’s knife. “Mi- Michael?”

“Yes. Michael Morgan. A Red Rocket. A rather successful Red. A Red Rocket so successful, in fact, that he shattered the record of perfect missions once held by one Annie Masterson-“ Annie’s stomach turned at the revelation of this fact. “-and in doing so, he became the most respected Red on Team Rocket!”

Annie looked from Severin to Michael to Severin once more in disbelief. “Why, even Master Class Red Agent Domino defaulted to the judgment of Michael Morgan on some occasions!” Severin continued. “He was the best, and was Giovanni’s right hand… almost the heir of the entire Team Rocket Empire!” Severin paused, looked at Michael quickly, and scratched his head with a sigh. “But…” he said, the tone of his voice becoming quieter, “…he had a weakness. A weakness that would always leave him vulnerable if the right plan of attack were ever initiated. That weakness was his own family.” Now Severin’s voice rose to a fevered, crazed pitch once again as he was unable to contain his snide laughter. “And like a true Red Rocket, I found the perfect way to seize upon that weakness… and exploit it!

Severin continued to giggle insanely as he continued to speak. “You see, crazy old Annie Masterson- a known psychotic with a pure hatred for Michael’s father- got wind of Michael and his success. And something in her snapped more horribly than ever before. She devised a plan, escaped from The Resort, and savagely murdered Michael and his family as a means of revenge. You getting all this, Annie, dear?” Severin asked tauntingly.

Annie glared at Severin from her position on the floor, knowing that if she moved Severin wouldn’t hesitate to kill her. “Anyway, Michael and his family are tragically dead, and crazy Masterson is reveling in her triumph like a true psycho… when she’s caught! She’s brought before Giovanni as the murderer of his right hand, his most trusted rocket, his best agent. Giovanni, in his extreme gratitude, rewards that brave Red who faced down the psychopath and captured her, and that Red Rocket becomes the most powerful man on the Team!”

Annie felt burning tears streaming down her face as she realized exactly how blind she had been to Severin’s true motives and ways. He was no better than the slime at The Resort, twisting and controlling innocents for their own means. Suddenly, Annie realized a loose end still existed… “What about Pike, Severin? The release papers? Giovanni will know it was you who freed me!” she said boldly.

Severin smiled. “What, you mean these?” he asked, pulling a bunch of folded up papers stained with Pike’s blood from his pocket. Annie stared at them in disbelief. “I got these back while Pike was running around his office screaming like a baby. I must thank you for stabbing him, though. It saved me the trouble of creating a diversion. Oh, I wouldn’t count on Pike saying anything. That fool never reports anything unless he can prove it. Pike would rather admit you escaped somehow than admit to giving you an unauthorized release! Besides, the day I supposedly picked you up from The Resort? Ha! I was on vacation at the Golduck Nugget in Neon Town! The hotel’s computers can confirm that- thanks my help.”

Annie looked at the ground. Once again, she had been betrayed, humiliated, and defeated… not by Jessie, James, or even Michael, but by Severin… the one she had actually called friend, the one she had called… lover. Now his cold voice taunted her again… “The only thing I can't decide…” Annie looked up at Severin again.

“..is whether to kill you now or let Giovanni do it. Of course, I suppose he could always just send you back to The Resort under maximum security… with orders of daily electroshock `therapy'…” Severin smiled cruelly at Annie as her mind flashed back to the terrors of the Resort and what the doctors there would do to her if they had been told by Giovanni there was no need for her to survive… Horrified, Annie realized that she couldn’t fight them off forever.

She hung her head and sobbed as Severin held his knife teasingly at her throat. “Decisions, decisions…” he said casually, as if picking out soup or salad with his dinner.

The hammer on the .45 clicked back. “Drop it, Salyavin.” A female voice commanded. Severin turned his head and saw Constance standing there, her gun trained on him. He turned away from Annie to face her. One more obstacle, Severin thought. He raised his knife, ready to slash Constance out of existence….

Strangely, Severin never even heard the shot that ripped through his hand and sent his knife flying. Jessie, James, Meowth, and Annie all stared in disbelief as Severin clutched his bloody hand and screamed in pain and fear as Michael shakily stood up from the floor, holding Annie’s gun tightly in his hand.

Constance sighed, her gun still trained on Severin. “You all right?” she asked Michael as the others in the room stared at him in disbelief. His Red uniform had three holes with singed edges in the chest, but he was unharmed.

“I think I bruised a rib.” Michael said, rubbing his side. “They don’t make these things like they used to.” Michael smiled at his partner. “But didn’t I tell you to stay put?”

Constance returned the smile. “I thought you could use some help. So sue me.”

Annie rose to her feet very shakily. “I- I killed you…” she started to say.

“Bullet-proof vest, Agent Masterson. Would a Red Rocket really come into this situation with anything less?”

Annie blinked, her mind restoring itself to normal. With a loud scream, she suddenly lunged at Michael and wrenched her gun from his grip.

Constance trained her gun on Annie as Annie pressed her gun to Michael’s head, holding his arm tightly. “A vest won’t save his head, sweetie. Lose your gun! Now!” she ordered. Jessie and James screamed in exhaustion and fear as Constance, seeing no other option, obeyed and threw her gun across the room. Annie watched it fly, then shoved Michael away from her toward the wall. He stumbled forward, and turned around in time to see Annie run to Severin and spin him around to face her. Annie snarled as she pressed her gun barrel hard into Severin’s stomach. “This is for every lie.” She said in a growl as she pulled the trigger, ripping Severin’s insides out with a bullet.

Severin screamed savagely as he stumbled backward, clutching his wound and looking at Annie with pleading eyes. “Annie… baby… darling…” he begged. Annie scowled at him as she pulled the trigger once more, burying a bullet right between his eyes. Severin fell back on the floor, a dead, bloody mess. Everyone in the cottage stared at the corpse as the silver Death’s Head on Severin’s knife holster glinted in the light. Not a soul in the small dwelling saw the single tear that ran from each of Annie’s eyes as she looked at the body. Perhaps it really was true… nobody cared or loved anymore… they only lived and died. Love was non-existent… or imagined.

Annie looked around the room, and realized everyone was watching her for her next move. She pointed her gun at each person as she studied them one by one. Jessie and James, both taped down, immobilized and silent as they watched her, pleading for their life and the life of their son... Constance and Michael standing side by side, waiting for an opening or an attack, whichever came first... Meowth, standing at Jessie and James’ side like a true friend would… and then some part of Annie’s mind, some part that she had locked away many years ago because of its own weak nature, made a decision for her.

Annie sighed and pointed her gun at Constance. "You. Get the tape of James' mouth." She said quietly. Constance did, and then stood behind James' chair.

Annie turned to look at her enemy, and holstered her gun. "You have a hell of a son, James." She said simply.

"I know." James replied. "Annie, please…" he began.

"Shh, shh, shh." Annie replied. "You know, James, I've hated you for years. I still do somewhere. But maybe-" Annie turned to glance at Severin's corpse- "Maybe I don't know who my real enemies are."

James looked at her from his chair in silence. "Don't let our paths cross again." Annie said softly. "Or I can't say what will happen." On that note, Annie turned and walked away, out the door and into the darkness of the forest. Michael and Constance cut Jessie and James loose, and then ran out the door after Annie. She was gone.

Michael and Constance stayed through the night, comforting Jessie, James, and Meowth, and trying to convince Jessie that it was all over and that everything was all right. Jessie ignored them and held her baby as close as she could for hours.

When the sun had risen, all of them piled into Michael and Constance's Jeeps and drove off toward Headquarters to face another day and try to explain Severin's absence…

Meanwhile, Annie walked on through the woods, exhausted and replaying the previous night's events in her mind. Suddenly, she smelled food cooking and heard voices. "Are the eggs almost done, Kyle?" a female voice asked.

"Just about ready, Kat." a male voice replied.

Annie's stomach growled. Perhaps this was a chance to take care of that… She stepped into the clearing and saw a young man with wild, messy hair, and a young woman who seemed oddly familiar. Annie approached the makeshift campsite without saying a word.

Kat looked up and saw Annie's Red uniform and gun and was instantly terrified. "Team Rocket!" she screamed. "No! The Boss said I was free! I won't go back! I wont!"

Kyle was already grabbing their packs, the camp stove and food forgotten. "You won't have to, Kat. Let's go!" The two took off running away as Annie stood there, bewildered. What a strange couple, she thought to herself as she sat down and reached for the frying pan Kyle had abandoned. Without a word, Annie pulled the pan from the camp stove and hungrily devoured Kyle's eggs.

THE END

"It is the dawning of the day, night time's panic swept away,
When the clouds which seemed so dark are exchanged for morning's lark.
When the stars which burned so bright are exchanged for morning's light,
In the dawning of the day, night time's panic swept away."

"Something Magic" By Gary Brooker & Keith Reid Copyright 1977