It was himself, by the look of it. Well, there you were — a Gyarados as handsome as that, who else was it going to look like? Himself, of course.
Nothing to worry about, then.
"Roar, roar—"
The Zorua changed again, and the Slaking, the Aerodactyl and the Blaziken came out of her one after another, done to the life, near enough identical.
They were identical.
A "Vance" came up in front of Vance and turned a circle on the spot.
"That's enough. Change back."
Vance laughed behind his hand. Why did that feel so uncomfortable?
The "Vance" gave a few giggles and changed back.
Anything she had learned she could imitate. Even a human being.
...............
"You did well this time. I'm very pleased with this Pokémon."
In his office, Vance was receiving the "trio", giving their conduct in this affair the warmest approval, and coming to a fresh appreciation of what the three of them could do.
"Thank you for your praise, Branch Chief, sir. The three of us will work harder still."
James said it respectfully, and Jessie and Meowth with him.
This was a good sign. Look at the smile on the Branch Chief's face — that Zorua had been exactly the right gift.
It proved what they could do and it pleased their superior into the bargain. Two birds with one stone.
Would there be a promotion in it?
Their own strength was probably not quite up to it.
Would there be a rise in pay?
The Branch Chief had already given them a grant of funds.
What sort of reward would there be, then?
Meowth rubbed his paws together in anticipation.
This Branch Chief was a very generous man.
"Is there anything you need? Say so, and whatever I can do, I'll see to it."
Vance propped his chin on both hands and looked at the "trio".
"Oh, we couldn't. It's no more than our duty. What could we possibly need? Contributing to Team Rocket is all we aspire to."
James said it ringingly, with a serious face, and beside him Jessie was the same, and they nodded together.
*Meowth, that was beautifully put by James*, Meowth said to himself. What a beautiful way to put it — humans, indeed. He, Meowth, was behind on this; it was something to learn.
Vance smiled. "Really nothing you need?"
"Nothing."
"Very well then. You may go. Carry on aspiring."
Outside, the trio were rather dazed.
Eh? That was not how it was supposed to go, surely.
"James, why didn't you say something? We need the funds, meowth."
Meowth said it loudly.
"But we've got money. We really don't need any."
James said it honestly, and Jessie beside him nodded in agreement.
"We've got money and it isn't enough. I've already spent it on equipment."
Meowth explained. The funds that had come down were nearly all gone; that equipment was expensive.
"Meowth, what have you done? How could you spend all the money?"
Jessie said it indignantly, lifting Meowth up by both hands and demanding an answer.
"I didn't think it would cost that much, meowth, and then I couldn't help myself and I bought it, thinking there'd be a bonus this time."
Meowth gave his reasons feebly, and then added another.
"And it was preparation for our future operations, meowth."
"Then what do we do? My cosmetics, my skirts..."
"My figurines......"
The two of them complained. They had wanted to buy those things, and Meowth had spent all the money.
The trio walked out sighing and groaning. For some time to come they would be living poor.
"You three — these are the supplies allocated by the Branch Chief. Sign for them, please."
As the three of them were walking, a Team Rocket member in logistics uniform came towards them.
"Meowth!! We're rich!!"
Meowth took the list, looked at it and said it at the top of his voice.
Ten million Poké Dollars, several sets of precision machinery, figurines, skirts, combat uniforms, medicines........
A great heap of supplies written out in front of them, a gift to the three of them.
"The Branch Chief really is generous."
James said it in delight.
"We'll do better still, and see that the Branch Chief is even more pleased next time!"
"Yes. Come on, come on."
The three of them were full of drive and full of energy.
"What!! There was no Zorua in what I sent?? There was, I put it in myself. Ha ha, isn't it that you've overlooked it? It's in the inner compartment."
Looking around him, Delaney dropped his voice and spoke to the man at the other end.
For no reason he could see, the man at the other end was saying the Zorua had not reached him. The other item had.
What did that mean? Was he going back on the deal?
Delaney began to be suspicious. Surely he would not do a thing like that?
It was not like him. A man of his standing and reputation would not stoop to it. Unless...
Something seemed to come to Delaney. Could something have gone wrong?
"There is nothing here, I tell you. Only a pile of useless documents. Look into it yourself. My time is valuable and I've none of it to spend on your nonsense."
With that, the call was cut off.
"Beep, beep, beep—"
Delaney listened to the beeping of the disconnected line with a blank face. How could it not be there?
He picked up the telephone to call through again, and then something struck him, and he changed the number.
If something had gone wrong on the logistics side, what would the man in charge there be? Had he betrayed him? Had Wycliffe got his hand into it?
Or somebody else?
"Hello. I want you to look into something for me — any irregularities in the logistics department lately."
Delaney put the call through and set men on it.
Before long the answer was on his desk.
"Team Rocket?? Very good. And a fine man in charge, too, telling me all along that there was nothing the matter."
Delaney's face was dark. Perhaps that was where the trouble lay.
Then he lay back limply in his chair and pinched the bridge of his nose.
Hard as he had spoken, there was nothing he could do to Team Rocket.
That left only the head of the logistics department. If the man had done it himself, all well and good — that he could deal with. If he had not, then working him to death would achieve nothing at all.
"What a headache."
Delaney felt the headache coming on; but when he opened his eyes, everything around him had changed.
"Danger!!"
His training was still in him. Moved suddenly into a new place, anyone would be on his guard.
"Who's there!"
"Mayor Delaney. I think we can go on doing business together."