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I'm cold. I'm really, really cold. Why am I here? Why did I run away? Was it really that bad? I'm hungry. I wanna go home. But I can't.
James awoke to find a bright light in his face. A number of scary men stood over him, completely encased in shadow. One of them leaned close to James' face, studying him. James couldn't see his face - shadows fell over him in the most conveniently concealing of ways. After a moment, he looked across James and spoke in a low voice to another man.
"What's his potential?"
"High. He's above a level ten."
"As high as the other one?"
"The girl? Actually, they're about equal."
The shadow figure nodded slowly.
"Cap him as well. If they find him out, THEY will tamper with him. Put him someplace where we can get him later. Currently, he's too young to be of any use."
"Yes, sir."
"Tag him as well. I'll have the men track the parentage. Who knows what else they might produce." The shadow man began to walk away. "Clean this out, too."
The other man, a doctor, nodded. James struggled against his bonds as the doctor came closer to him with a wicked looking siring full of a yellowish-golden liquid. The doctor shook his head sadly and slowly inserted the needle into James' arm.
"No offence, son." Darkness was quickly falling around James and the doctor's voice drifted into his mind like something out of a dream.
"You won't remember any of this in the morning..."
He closed the door and flipped on the light. Turning on the cold water, he washed his face vigorously, trying to clean away the weirdness that he felt. That dream - he'd been having it every night for almost three months. It started after the St. Anne fiasco, when he and Jessie nearly drowned and burned to death. James shook his head and leaned heavily on the sink. He wasn't sleeping well and he couldn't focus. The dreams had only intensified when he had been injured a few weeks back. Why was this happening?
"James?"
James looked up to see Jessie standing sleepily in the door of the bathroom, her robe clutched around her. She rubbed her eyes a few times and walked towards him. Her face was full of concern.
"I'm sorry," said James, hugging her as soon as she was in range. "I didn't mean to wake you."
Jessie shook her head and pulled out of the hug, staring at James full in the face. She studied him carefully, her eyes seeming to bore into his very soul. She touched her fingertips under James' left eye, tracing his cheek bone up to his temple.
"What's wrong?" she whispered.
James backed up and looked away. "It's nothing, really." He gazed at the floor with renewed interest. What would Jessie think if he told her he was afraid of a bad dream? Jessie rested her hand on James' chin and forced him to make eye contact.
"Tell me."
"It's just," James pulled back and sat on the edge of the tub. "I just keep having these weird dreams. It's silly." He tried to muster a smile, but it was hopelessly ineffective. But once he started talking about it, he didn't want to stop. Jessie sat next to him on the edge of the tub and took his hand in her own.
"It's so strange. I'm in a sterile room tied to a table and there are all these people around. They're talking about something - I don't understand any of it. Then, this other guy, a doctor I think, stabs me in the arm with a needle. Then, everything goes dark. For some reason, I wake up terrified." James laughed weakly. "Dumb, I know."
"It's not dumb or silly," reprimanded Jessie, softly. "Dreams mean something, James. Maybe it's something you're afraid of in real life, changed slightly when you sleep. Didn't you tell me our dreams are windows to our souls?"
James gazed at Jessie. He never thought she actually listened to him when he was philosophizing. He had been explaining the dream concept to her sometime last week. He smiled and put his arm around her shoulder. For some reason, holding her close made him feel a lot better.
"You're right, Jess," agreed James. His expression hardened and he clutched his hand into a fist. "But it's so frustrating! I have never felt scared like this before. And it's not even something tangible!"
Jessie said nothing, only grasped James' hand and dragged him to his feet. Walking back into the bedroom, she pulled him down to the bed with her and wrapped her arms around his chest. She rested her head under his chin and closed her eyes.
"Goodnight, James. Trust me. With me here, you don't have to be afraid. We look out for each other," whispered Jess.
And, although he couldn't explain it, James wasn't afraid. And the dream didn't return that night.
Turning, James was surprised to see Meowth. He almost dropped the plate of eggs he had prepared. Resting them safely on the table, he went over and shook the cat slowly, waking him up.
"Oy, Meowth! When did you get back?"
"Almost three hours ago," replied the cat, yawning theatrically, "which almost equals the amount of sleep Meowth got last night."
James smiled and poured Meowth a steaming cup of coffee. Meowth nodded thankfully and sipped it slowly, grimacing at its taste. He had been gone for almost three weeks. It had been strange not having him around. James was insanely curious as to where he had been, but knew better than to ask questions. If Meowth wanted them to know, Meowth would tell them. James leaned out the kitchen window.
"Weezing! Arbok! Victreebel! Lickitung! Breakfast!"
The four said pokémon clambered into the kitchen and began to eat from the bowls of pokémon food James had prepared. He frowned as Lickitung ate the whole thing in one slurp and began eyeing Weezing's food. That thing had an appetite nothing could appease. He patted it on the head.
"Sorry. I'll feed you again this afternoon. It's not healthy for you to eat only big meals. I'm going to give you eight small ones instead."
The Lickitung sighed and clambered back outside. Arbok soon followed, finding a warm sunny spot on the ground on which to stretch and digest. Weezing floated around aimlessly. Victreebel ran around in the backyard for no reason. James smiled at the pokémon. They may not be the prettiest, the strongest, or the brightest, but you couldn't beat them in terms of character.
"Where's Jess?" asked Meowth, finally waking up enough to notice that she wasn't present.
"Taking a shower."
"And you're not with her?"
James smacked the laughing cat lightly over head with the back of his hand. "Be polite." James walked back over to the stove and began to prepare another plate of eggs.
Jessie walked in, her hair styled per normal. She was dressed in a pair of khakis and a blue, form fitting knit top. She finished fastening a pair of gold hoops to her ears just as she went to pour herself a cup of coffee.
"Good morning, Meowth," she called over her shoulder, her mouth almost salivating at the thought of her morning coffee. Jessie was a hopeless caffeine addict in the morning. Meowth grunted something in reply. Just as she sat down, James placed her breakfast in front of her then took his place across the table.
"Smells good, James," said Jess with a smile. Together, all three of them began to eat.
"So, Meowth, what's on the agenda today?"
The cat looked up at James and yawned again. "We're going on a little trip."
"To where?" asked Jessie. Internally, she was jumping for joy. At least they weren't chasing that pikachu again.
"Cerise City."
James dropped his spoon and looked at Meowth incredibly. Jessie had a similar reaction. They exchanged glances over the sleepy cat's head.
"Cerise City?" asked James. "That's not even in our sector. Isn't that Bonnie and Clyde's part of town?"
"Uh huh."
"Bonnie and Clyde are okay, aren't they?" asked Jessie, concerned. Bonnie was a really good friend of hers.
"Uh huh."
"Then why are we going there?" asked James.
"Dunno."
Jessie scowled. "Meowth, you're not being helpful!" she growled through clenched teeth. "Why should we go to Cerise City if we don't even know what to expect when we get there?"
"Because the Boss told us to."
James sighed. It looked like it was going to be one of those missions.
"I found it Jess!" he exclaimed, waving the book up and down. Jess stopped her attack on the car and walked over to where James was sitting. He cleared his throat and began to read.
"'If the engine light comes on, stop the car and check the engine. Should smoke be coming from the engine, make sure the car is turned off and call your nearest towing company to take it to a mechanic.'" James frowned and Jessie rolled her eyes. "Now that wasn't very helpful, was it?" he lamented.
"No, it wasn't," snapped Jessie. She sighed and rubbed his shoulder. "I know what's wrong with it, but I can't fix it here. I need parts." She looked over the horizon. "We are in the absolute middle of nowhere." They were on a long, lonely road. It winded like a snake through the flat plains. There was no sign of civilization anywhere. Jessie sighed and looked over at Meowth. He was curled up on the ground, asleep. He had slept almost the entire trip so far.
"So, what are we going to do?" asked James.
Silence.
"Uhmmm... walk?"
"No."
Jessie looked James up and down a few times. James swallowed hard and stood up quickly making warding motions with his hands. Jessie only nodded her head and smiled evilly.
"NO! I'm NOT doing that!"
"Pleeeese James?" begged Jessie, making big, cute eyes at her partner, her hands clasped around his leg. "Pretty please? For me?"
James sighed weakly and nodded. Jessie let out a cheer and ran to get her stuff. James walked slowly to the back of the truck.
A large, smelly, over-weight trucker bellowed along with the radio as he drove his semi down a lonely strip of highway. He had just dropped off his cargo in the last town some forty miles back. He scratched himself in some inappropriate places and continued to sing. From a cup holder, he picked up a beer and chugged it. Tossing the empty can in the passenger seat, he wiped his nose with the back of his arm and spit out the window. Suddenly, he hit the breaks, a large grin on his face that showed his yellow and missing teeth.
Standing on the side of the road next to a broken down jeep was a lovely woman. She was dressed in a tight, black leather skirt and jacket, a pair of thigh-high boots with spike heels gracing her slender, shapely legs. She smiled seductively as him as his rig slowed to a stop. Climbing out of his cab, he waddled over to the woman, noting with some delight the smoke coming out from under her jeep's hood.
"You stuck, miss?" he asked failing horribly at trying to sound suave.
"Oh, yes!" answered the woman, walking up to him. "Is there anyway I could get a ride from you?"
"You alone, girl?"
The woman nodded. "I was driving to Cerise City when my car just stopped working."
"Well, if you want a ride," answered the trucker, getting very close to the girl, "you're gonna have to earn it." He reached around and grabbed her waist, pulling her close against his body. She squeaked and broke out of his hold, stumbling backwards over to her jeep.
"Ohhh, no. It's okay. I'll just wait for another ride," insisted the girl, making warding motions as the trucker loomed over her again. She looked over his shoulder with a pleading look and cried out when he reached for her again. He pinned her down against the hood of her car, pressing his face close to hers. The girl cringed as his reeking mouth made its way far too close to her own. Suddenly, the man's eyes went wide with shock and pain and he collapsed forward, his head resting on the girl's chest.
"Well, it's about time!" grumbled the young woman in a decidedly male voice. He shoved the now unconscious trucker off of his chest and on to the ground. In front of him stood Jessie, who was holding her gun by the handle.
"Thanks for distracting him while we stole the rig," giggled Jessie. James grumbled again and started to get up, but he was stopped before he got very far. Jessie pushed him back down and began to yank off his, or rather, her, leather jacket. She smiled at him and kissed him deeply.
"What are you doing, Jess?" asked James in surprise, once he was able to get his voice back.
"What does it look like?"
"I know, but..." James looked down at the trucker. Jessie shook her head and kissed him again.
"He'll be out for a few hours. Meowth is asleep in the cab. Besides," she winked at James before continuing, "we have to get you out of my clothes anyway."
James wasn't given another opportunity to protest.
"Jessie, what time is it?"
"Four-Thirty," she replied, keeping her eyes fixed steadily on the road.
"Uh huh," began Meowth. "And approximately how far are we from Cerise City?"
"Ohh, I don't know," answered Jessie, biting her lip. She wouldn't look at Meowth. "I'd say about... seven hours or so..."
"SEVEN HOURS!!" yelled Meowth. James jerked out of his nap and looked around quickly and cringed when he saw Meowth's enraged expression. "WE ARE THREE HOURS BEHIND SCHEDUAL!! HOW DID THAT HAPPEN?"
Jessie and James exchanged guilty looks and focused back on the road. Meowth sighed in defeat and rubbed his temples, muttering something under his breath. James draped his arm over Meowth's shoulders and grinned at him.
"Well, it's still okay. We still have a car, you caught up on your sleep," James paused a moment, trying to figure out how to phrase what he was going to say next. "And Jess and I are happy," he concluded tactfully. Meowth just sighed.
"What did you do with the driver?"
"We left him tied up on the side of the road," stated Jessie, nonchalantly. "Someone will probably be around to pick him up, eventually."
James shuddered involuntarily at the thought of the truck driver. The way he was pushing on him and groping his body - James grimaced to think what would happen if he had really been a weak, untrained girl in that situation. This was one of the only real sore points that he and Jessie had fought over. She insisted that she could take care of herself, but James wouldn't budge on this one point. If one of them had to dress up really sexy and seduce someone, it was going to be him. At least if things got out of hand, James didn't have the right... equipment to be taken advantage of. Besides, it helped him to practice his role-playing skills.
"Well, we better not have any more delays for the rest of this trip," grumbled Meowth, reaching to turn on the radio. Jessie and James nodded their heads in apology and agreement. Outside, the world zipped by.