Part One
Misty stood at the edge of the clearing, a bundle in her arms. She could see Jesse and James standing across from her, their heads together in whispered conversation. She began to walk towards them, clearing her throat as she approached. They looked up.
"You did come!" Jesse looked surprised.
"Look, I had to, when I got your note." Misty looked sad but determined. "Ash will never forgive me for this but Ash is wrong. Anyway, here..."
She handed them a sleeping Pikachu.
James took it. "Did you tranquilize him or something?"
"No, he's just sleepy. You don't think I'd have brought him against his own will?
James shrugged.
Jesse said, "We could never have handled him then, James, you know better. Look... thanks, Misty."
Misty stayed where she was, as if she didn't want to leave. "If you're lying to me, you and your Boss will never handle him anyway."
Jesse gave Misty a nasty look and shook her head.
James spoke up. "Look, to be perfectly honest, the Boss could care less about Pikachu."
Misty looked relieved. "Fair enough. I'm going to get going, I'll be staying in Celadon City now. I guess I've burned my bridges."
She walked away, and Jesse and James were left staring at each other.
"As a matter of fact, the Boss probably won't be too thrilled at this whole business," said Jesse.
"Look, we're just doing a little independent job here. The boss would be pretty mad if we just left Meowth in Professor Oak's lab to get dissected or whatever's going on there!" said James.
"No, but he'd probably want in on the results if we told him. I never thought Professor Oak was the type..." Jesse murmured.
"Well, he won't give back Meowth, and we need to do something."
"Since when are you so brave, James?"
"Since I got this, I guess." James grinned, and put the sleeping Pikachu on his head. "Look, I am the world's greatest Pokemon master!"
Jesse laughed, then looked serious. "Well, we'll see what happens. If Pikachu can't help us break into that lab, nothing can."