Two pokémon emerged from the green smoke. One looked like a purple cloud and floated in the air. The smoke was coming from its body.
"Koffing!" It said in a deep voice.
The other Pokémon slithered acroos the floor. It looked like a purple snake.
"Ekans!" hissed the snakelike Pokémon
The smoke cleared and a teenage boy and girl stepped into the waiting room. They worewore black boots and white uniforms with the letter "R" on their shirts. Between them was a yellow catlike Pokémon.
"Who are they?" Ash asked coughing.
"Allow us to introduce ourselves," said the boy.
"To protect the world from devastation," said the girl.
"To unite all peoples within our nation," said the boy.
"To denounce the evils of truth and love," said the girl
"To extebd our reach to the stars above," said the boy.
"Jessi!" said the girl.
"James!" said the boy.
"Team Rocket - blast off at the speed of light!" said Jessie.
"Surrender now, or prepare to fight!" said James.
"Meowth! That's right," chimed the catlike Pokémon.
Ash looked at Joy and Misty. "What are they talking about?" he asked.
"We're here for the Pokémon!" James demanded.
Ash ran to Pikachu's side. "You're NOT getting Pikachu!" he cried.
Jessie sneered. "We're not interested in your precious electric rat."
"We seek only rare and valuable Pokémon," James said. "Koffing, attack!"
More smoke poured from Koffin'g body as the Pokémon charged toward them. Ash pushed Pikachu's strecther and sped down the nearest hallway, with Mist and Joy at his heels.
"In here!" Joy cried, leading them through a door.
Ash leaned against the door, breathless. Loffing and Ekans had lost their trail. They were safe - for now.
Suddenly, the lights went out.
"They must have cut the power!" Joy cried. "But that's okay. We've got our own 'Pika Power source."
Ash watched as small bolts of electricity crakled in the center of the room. The lights came back up. A group of Pikachu were running in place on a round platform in the center of the room. They were creating the electricity.
With the lights on, Ash saw that the room was filled with Poké Balls. They probably contained sick or injured Pokémon, Ash guessed.
Joy ran to the computer and turned it on. "This is Viridian City Pokémon Center. We have an emergency situation. Transporting Poké Balls."
At Joys command, a mechanical hand began lifting up the balls one bu one and putting them on a conveyor. The belt led to a transportation device. As each ball hit the transport center, it was struck by a beam of light - then disappeared.
Suddenly, Koffing and Ekans crashed through the door, Sending the Poké Balls flying. Team Rocket and Meowth were right behind them.
Misty looked angry. She picked up a Poké Ball. "This is war!"
Ash understood. He picked up a Poké Ball and threw it at Ekans. "Poké Ball go!" he yelled.
The ball opened and Pidgey appeared in a blast of light.
"Ekans!" hissed the snake Pokémon.
Terrified, Pidgey flew back into the ball.
"I'll take car of these clowns," Misty told Ash. "You take care of Pikachu and get out of here."
"Right!" Ash said. He wasn't going to let Pikachu get hurt again. Not this time.
Ash pushed Pikachu down the hallway. Behind him, he could hear Team Rocket laughing. Whatever Misty was doing wasn't working.
The smell of smoke burned his nostrils. Ash looked behind him.
It was Koffing and Ekans. They were closing in fast.
There was no escape!