Jessie tossed her long magenta hair and laughed right in Alex's face. "Dream on, kid! You want a back door into Team Rocket? We worked our asses off to pass the entrance exams. No way we're letting some pretty boy sneak in through connections!"
James paused, studying Alex's face. He saw nothing but bright, genuine excitement — no tricks, no hidden agenda. Just pure fanboy energy.
"Well… it's not completely impossible," James said slowly. Then his grin turned sly as he glanced at Nurse Joy behind the counter. "Tell you what. You help us raid this Pokémon Center and steal all the good ones. Then we'll put in a good word and get you into the official Team Rocket test. Pass that, and welcome aboard!"
"Come on over!" Jessie added, already picturing free labor.
Meowth's eyes narrowed with pure disdain. "Yeah, kid! Hurry up and snag every Poké Ball for us. We've got better things to do than waste time on grunt work."
Alex turned back to Misty and Nurse Joy, giving them a calm, reassuring smile. "Don't worry. Stay here and keep the Pokémon safe. I've got this."
Misty crossed her arms, lips twitching with anticipation. After watching him solo an entire Spearow flock, she was actually looking forward to whatever crazy plan he had.
Nurse Joy's gentle eyes lingered on Alex's tall frame a second longer than necessary — a quiet spark of admiration hidden behind her professional smile.
Alex strolled straight toward the trio like he owned the place. Pikachu stayed behind on all fours, muscles coiled, ready to spring.
Meowth sneered. "What a joke. That stray-dog Pikachu couldn't threaten a Caterpie."
"Alex, right?" James smirked. "Smart move leaving the rodent behind. Common Electric-types like that are worthless anyway."
"You don't need to open any back door…" Alex murmured as he stepped past the floating Koffing and Ekans. He moved right up to Jessie, close enough to catch the faint, expensive perfume she wore. "So… what's next?"
Jessie's red lips curved. "Obviously, you start by—"
Her words cut off in a startled groan as Alex's hand chopped cleanly into the side of her neck. She crumpled like a rag doll.
James's eyes widened. "What the hell are you—?!"
Alex's fist slammed into his stomach before he could finish. James doubled over with a wheeze.
Meowth's fur bristled. "He's ambushing us! Get him, you two!"
Ekans and Koffing lunged.
"Pikachu!" Alex shouted.
A yellow blur exploded forward. Quick Attack slammed into Ekans like a cannonball, sending the snake rocketing backward. It crashed hard into a fire hydrant outside the Center, eyes spinning, out cold.
Water immediately gushed from the broken hydrant, spraying everywhere.
James, still clutching his gut, gasped, "Koffing! Take Down!"
Koffing charged — only to meet a glowing silver tail. Pikachu leaped, spun mid-air, and brought Iron Tail crashing down with a metallic *crack*. The impact launched Koffing straight into Meowth, who had been trying to sneak up from behind.
BANG!
Koffing and Meowth collided in a heap. The ground dented under them. Meowth groaned from the bottom of the small crater, still trying to act tough.
"Kid… you like smiling so much? Just wait till I get my claws on—"
Alex took a casual step backward, still grinning.
Pikachu landed lightly, tail still glowing.
"Pikachu," Alex called, voice steady, "finish them. Thunderbolt!"
Golden lightning erupted from Pikachu's cheeks — a brand-new move fresh from the TMs Professor Oak had given him. The bolt lanced through the air and struck the soaked Team Rocket trio and their Pokémon dead-on.
Zzzzzzzzzzt!
Water + electricity = disaster.
The trio's screams echoed across the plaza as their bodies convulsed violently. Jessie's freshly-awakened form jerked and spasmed like she was riding a bucking bronco. James's hair stood straight up. Meowth's tail puffed out like a bottle brush.
"AAAAAHHHHH!"
Before they blacked out completely, one last synchronized thought burned through all three minds:
*We're coming back for that kid… and we're stealing that Pikachu right in front of him!*
The lightning faded. The fountain kept spraying. Three very crispy, very unconscious Rockets (plus two very unconscious Pokémon) lay sprawled in a puddle.
Alex dusted off his hands, turned to the Pokémon Center doors, and gave Misty and Nurse Joy a casual thumbs-up.
"Threat neutralized. Anyone want to grab some dinner?"
Pikachu hopped onto his shoulder, cheeks still sparking with leftover static, looking extremely pleased with itself.
Misty just stared, mouth open, then burst out laughing. "You are completely insane… and I think I love it."
Inside the Center, Nurse Joy's cheeks were faintly pink as she watched Alex stroll back in like he'd just taken out the trash.
The mission counter in Alex's head dinged softly.
Unconventional defeat? Check.
Pokémon Center protected? Check.
Lasting impression on the Trio?
…They'd be remembering this one for a long, long time.