Marril
11/29/2004, 05:19 PM
45 is, like, some sort of number that's, like, a multiple of five or something. It's also got, like, special stuff when applied to SS, or something. Yes, I'm trying to sound, like, out of it and stuff. And stuff. Ah, this ain't workin', just go read the gash-durned chapterlike.
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“I don’t believe it,” Alex almost dropped the phone. Since he was on an actual videophone instead of a cell phone, he couldn’t really hide the surprise on his face from Sam.
“Way to go, Sam,” Tschel said.
“How is it you’re only fifteen and you’re a Pokémon Master and a contender to be in the next Elite Four?” Alex asked, incredulous.
“Probably because she’s so smart,” David pointed out. “Heck, Team Rocket had her doing genetic engineering that their best scientists couldn’t figure out. And she was doing it easily.”
Sam punched David lightly. “Shut up about that, will you?”
“Because you don’t want to be reminded you worked for them?” Asked Marril. “Or because you’re embarrassed to be so smart?”
Sam didn’t say anything.
“Well, if you can at least put this on speakerphone like we have it over here,” David offered, “We can talk better. Hearing your voices muffled because Alex there has the receiver up isn’t very fun.”
“Oh,” Alex said. “Right.”
He put it on speakerphone and hung the receiver up.
“So,” Alex asked. “Any reason for this call besides telling me you’re in the Elite Four tournament?”
“Hey, it’s major,” Sam said. “It’s huge!”
“Aw, you’re just embarrassed because your little sister keeps showing you up,” Marril put in.
“She’s got a point,” Sam laughed.
“I have to admit,” Tschel agreed, “It sure comes off that way.”
“Hate you all,” Alex pouted.
“Oh come on,” Tschel hugged Alex.
“He’s good at that,” David arced an eyebrow.
“Good at what?” Sam asked.
“Fishing,” David said simply. He meant fishing for compliments and hugs, though Sam obviously didn’t make the connection.
“Anyway,” Sam coughed. “Wish me luck on this.”
“Good luck,” Alex said. “Goddish knows you’re going to need it.”
Sam stuck her tongue out at Alex before hanging up. Alex laughed then hung up on his end too.
“Sure she’s got an IQ that’s over like 200,” Marril tried to find something nice to say. “But at least, um, your hair’s better?”
“Oh thanks,” Alex groaned. “That sure makes up for it.”
Tschel chuckled and hugged Alex, fingering a lock of his hair. “You’re a lot prettier. And for that matter, sweeter.”
Alex smiled and returned the hug.
“Thanks,” Alex said.
“Grah,” Marril spun on her heel and left the room. Alex and Tschel laughed.
On Sam’s end, David just shook his head.
“What?” Sam asked.
“I just think it’s really messed up that your brother is prettier than you,” David admitted.
“Well, he got the looks, but I managed to get the intelligence,” Sam recovered quickly.
“Everyone ready?” Mikhail asked on the airfield, getting ready to board the large Rocket helicopter.
“Ready as I’ll ever be,” Kenneth said with mock indignation.
“Stein’s men are already boarded,” Yuusuke pointed out. “We should stop standing around and get going.”
“Fine, fine,” Kenneth held his hands up, palms facing outward.
Kenneth’s group headed to the helicopter and boarded it. Kenneth sat down beside Stein, and Mikhail was the unfortunate person who had to sit beside Adair. Kenneth’s first thought was that the large, dark, physically imposing man would probably knock him out if he had to sit beside him. Sure, they were all adults, and there wouldn’t be a fight no matter what, but… Kenneth sure had worse odds against Adair than Mikhail would.
“So,” Kenneth asked, not feeling especially good but wanting to put on his usual face, “You sure we can’t go find Groudon for Team Aqua instead? That would be funny.”
“No,” Stein groaned. “Then they’d probably try to kill us, and we’d have to defend ourselves. There would be a fight.”
“We’d easily win,” Ukyo pointed out.
“It wouldn’t be any fun,” Stein glanced at Kenneth.
“Sure it would,” Kenneth argued. “True, it would destroy the balance of power and would create more work than the Mewtwo fiasco, but the initial act would be fun.”
“We haven’t even taken off yet,” Hanai noted.
“This is going to be a long, long ride,” Stein rubbed his temples.
“And how!” Kenneth grinned.
Adair exhaled loudly, his arms crossed. He kept his breathing heavily controlled.
“Hmm,” Kenneth said quietly. “Think if I keep it up he’ll knock me out.”
“That’s the general gist of it,” Adair said darkly.
“You’d protect me, right Mikhail?” Kenneth said in a pleading voice.
“Sure,” Mikhail said. He paused a second before adding, “But against him? I wouldn’t have a chance, so no.”
Kenneth grumbled.
“I was trying to stay out of this conversation,” Izumi said, her arms crossed and her eyes closed. “However, I feel inclined to say that Adair isn’t really that tough.”
“If you’re referring to that sparring match you insisted upon,” Adair said calmly, “Then I feel inclined to tell you that I—”
“Was going easy on me,” Izumi finished Adair’s sentence. “Yes, I figured. That’s why I restricted myself to using only my right arm and left eye.”
“I was hoping I was imaging that,” Adair said, his ego obviously bruised.
Mikhail blinked.
“How badly…?” Yuusuke wondered.
“Very,” Izumi said plainly. Her voice was neither proud nor modest.
“You lost to one of Kenneth’s gang?” Ukyo asked.
“In all honesty,” Hanai pointed out, “Those bunch are some of the most elite Rockets ever to work for Team Rocket.”
“I move that Vashou and Buson are better than Izumi and Mikhail,” Ukyo said.
“But I am better than them all!” Kenneth exclaimed.
“Silence,” Adair was firm. “This bickering is pointless. Either discuss relevant topics or remain silent.”
Kenneth harrumphed. “You’ve hit my weak point.”
“So it’s really Bruno,” Alex said in awe, watching the exhibition. The overall exhibition was held in an outdoor arena and was mostly a showcase of Bruno’s fighting prowess. The ex-Elite Four member was literally fist fighting various challengers’ Pokémon.
Bruno knocked a Kangaskhan aside with his fist. Holding his hands up to declare the match over, he bowed to the crowd.
“The issue,” Bruno said, “Is that Pokémon are not fundamentally stronger than humans. Indeed, humans can train to the exact same level as Pokémon.”
Marril scoffed. Alex elbowed her in the ribs.
“I take it you do not agree, Orthan?” Bruno asked.
“Oh, I agree,” Marril said, “Just that you’re making it sound simpler than it really is.”
“I do not,” Bruno bowed in respect. “However, I would be honoured to test my strength against a Pokémon enhanced by Team Rocket Orthan technology.”
Marril smirked. Alex knew exactly why; Bruno was powerful, and an elite trainer, but Marril had beaten the legendary Charlie Evans into the ground. By comparison to those unnaturally powerful Pokémon, Bruno didn’t seem much.
“All right, I accept,” Marril said, smugness creeping into her voice.
Marril climbed into the ring and bowed along with Bruno. Bruno nodded, and Marril nodded back.
Marril began cautiously, going in low and under Bruno’s guard. Bruno sidestepped and caught Marril’s ankle, sending her sprawling.
“Damn,” Marril muttered. She was up in an instant, and took a deep breath to calm herself. No, Marril reminded herself, getting mad wasn’t going to help her win.
Bruno nodded, and went on the offensive. He aimed a quick punch at Marril’s face, and she blocked it. A quick blow to her midsection followed, and she again blocked it.
Marril smirked and breathed an Ice Beam at Bruno. He raised his hand and caught the beam, which encased his hand in a block of ice. Grunting from the pain of a frozen extremity, he stepped back.
Pressing her advantage, Marril stepped quickly forwards. Bruno fell back again, so Marril shot a kick at his knee. Bruno took the hit and again fell back. Marril spun around, aiming a knockout blow at Bruno’s face.
Bruno shot into action, grabbing Marril’s foot and spinning her flat onto her back. Bruno’s frozen fist broke the ice against her torso, and he’d pinned her nary half a second later.
Bruno released the pin and held his once-frozen hand to Marril to help her up.
“What was that?” Marril asked, taking Bruno’s hand.
“Allow me to explain,” Bruno said, helping Marril to her feet. She rubbed her stomach in pain from the finishing blow. Bruno turned to the crowd, which was silent, and continued. “This Marril’s main weakness was her confidence. She allowed her opponent’s apparent weakness to fool her into pressing an unnecessary advantage. Her physical prowess was meaningless because she didn’t apply it properly. In this way, a weaker opponent is the victor.”
Marril nodded, clearly embarrassed to have lost to Bruno.
“I think a little public humiliation will do her some good,” Tschel whispered to Alex. Alex laughed.
“Just remember this,” Alex whispered back. “It’ll probably help us tomorrow.”
Bruno finished his speech and Marril jumped down out of the ring and found her way back to Alex and Tschel. She glared at Tschel, slapped him, and then instantly cheered up.
“Public humiliation indeed!” Marril said incredulously. “That let me know exactly what I was doing wrong! I’m better than ever now!”
Alex chuckled.
“How… how…?” Tschel asked.
“Did I hear you?” Marril finished. She pointed to her large, mouselike ears. Tschel gave a short “ah” of comprehension, then muttered.
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That's it for this week, folks. Next chapter goes up when it goes up. Until then, remember that an Orthan doesn't always win. Gym battle next chapter or something, everyone, so g'day until then.
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“I don’t believe it,” Alex almost dropped the phone. Since he was on an actual videophone instead of a cell phone, he couldn’t really hide the surprise on his face from Sam.
“Way to go, Sam,” Tschel said.
“How is it you’re only fifteen and you’re a Pokémon Master and a contender to be in the next Elite Four?” Alex asked, incredulous.
“Probably because she’s so smart,” David pointed out. “Heck, Team Rocket had her doing genetic engineering that their best scientists couldn’t figure out. And she was doing it easily.”
Sam punched David lightly. “Shut up about that, will you?”
“Because you don’t want to be reminded you worked for them?” Asked Marril. “Or because you’re embarrassed to be so smart?”
Sam didn’t say anything.
“Well, if you can at least put this on speakerphone like we have it over here,” David offered, “We can talk better. Hearing your voices muffled because Alex there has the receiver up isn’t very fun.”
“Oh,” Alex said. “Right.”
He put it on speakerphone and hung the receiver up.
“So,” Alex asked. “Any reason for this call besides telling me you’re in the Elite Four tournament?”
“Hey, it’s major,” Sam said. “It’s huge!”
“Aw, you’re just embarrassed because your little sister keeps showing you up,” Marril put in.
“She’s got a point,” Sam laughed.
“I have to admit,” Tschel agreed, “It sure comes off that way.”
“Hate you all,” Alex pouted.
“Oh come on,” Tschel hugged Alex.
“He’s good at that,” David arced an eyebrow.
“Good at what?” Sam asked.
“Fishing,” David said simply. He meant fishing for compliments and hugs, though Sam obviously didn’t make the connection.
“Anyway,” Sam coughed. “Wish me luck on this.”
“Good luck,” Alex said. “Goddish knows you’re going to need it.”
Sam stuck her tongue out at Alex before hanging up. Alex laughed then hung up on his end too.
“Sure she’s got an IQ that’s over like 200,” Marril tried to find something nice to say. “But at least, um, your hair’s better?”
“Oh thanks,” Alex groaned. “That sure makes up for it.”
Tschel chuckled and hugged Alex, fingering a lock of his hair. “You’re a lot prettier. And for that matter, sweeter.”
Alex smiled and returned the hug.
“Thanks,” Alex said.
“Grah,” Marril spun on her heel and left the room. Alex and Tschel laughed.
On Sam’s end, David just shook his head.
“What?” Sam asked.
“I just think it’s really messed up that your brother is prettier than you,” David admitted.
“Well, he got the looks, but I managed to get the intelligence,” Sam recovered quickly.
“Everyone ready?” Mikhail asked on the airfield, getting ready to board the large Rocket helicopter.
“Ready as I’ll ever be,” Kenneth said with mock indignation.
“Stein’s men are already boarded,” Yuusuke pointed out. “We should stop standing around and get going.”
“Fine, fine,” Kenneth held his hands up, palms facing outward.
Kenneth’s group headed to the helicopter and boarded it. Kenneth sat down beside Stein, and Mikhail was the unfortunate person who had to sit beside Adair. Kenneth’s first thought was that the large, dark, physically imposing man would probably knock him out if he had to sit beside him. Sure, they were all adults, and there wouldn’t be a fight no matter what, but… Kenneth sure had worse odds against Adair than Mikhail would.
“So,” Kenneth asked, not feeling especially good but wanting to put on his usual face, “You sure we can’t go find Groudon for Team Aqua instead? That would be funny.”
“No,” Stein groaned. “Then they’d probably try to kill us, and we’d have to defend ourselves. There would be a fight.”
“We’d easily win,” Ukyo pointed out.
“It wouldn’t be any fun,” Stein glanced at Kenneth.
“Sure it would,” Kenneth argued. “True, it would destroy the balance of power and would create more work than the Mewtwo fiasco, but the initial act would be fun.”
“We haven’t even taken off yet,” Hanai noted.
“This is going to be a long, long ride,” Stein rubbed his temples.
“And how!” Kenneth grinned.
Adair exhaled loudly, his arms crossed. He kept his breathing heavily controlled.
“Hmm,” Kenneth said quietly. “Think if I keep it up he’ll knock me out.”
“That’s the general gist of it,” Adair said darkly.
“You’d protect me, right Mikhail?” Kenneth said in a pleading voice.
“Sure,” Mikhail said. He paused a second before adding, “But against him? I wouldn’t have a chance, so no.”
Kenneth grumbled.
“I was trying to stay out of this conversation,” Izumi said, her arms crossed and her eyes closed. “However, I feel inclined to say that Adair isn’t really that tough.”
“If you’re referring to that sparring match you insisted upon,” Adair said calmly, “Then I feel inclined to tell you that I—”
“Was going easy on me,” Izumi finished Adair’s sentence. “Yes, I figured. That’s why I restricted myself to using only my right arm and left eye.”
“I was hoping I was imaging that,” Adair said, his ego obviously bruised.
Mikhail blinked.
“How badly…?” Yuusuke wondered.
“Very,” Izumi said plainly. Her voice was neither proud nor modest.
“You lost to one of Kenneth’s gang?” Ukyo asked.
“In all honesty,” Hanai pointed out, “Those bunch are some of the most elite Rockets ever to work for Team Rocket.”
“I move that Vashou and Buson are better than Izumi and Mikhail,” Ukyo said.
“But I am better than them all!” Kenneth exclaimed.
“Silence,” Adair was firm. “This bickering is pointless. Either discuss relevant topics or remain silent.”
Kenneth harrumphed. “You’ve hit my weak point.”
“So it’s really Bruno,” Alex said in awe, watching the exhibition. The overall exhibition was held in an outdoor arena and was mostly a showcase of Bruno’s fighting prowess. The ex-Elite Four member was literally fist fighting various challengers’ Pokémon.
Bruno knocked a Kangaskhan aside with his fist. Holding his hands up to declare the match over, he bowed to the crowd.
“The issue,” Bruno said, “Is that Pokémon are not fundamentally stronger than humans. Indeed, humans can train to the exact same level as Pokémon.”
Marril scoffed. Alex elbowed her in the ribs.
“I take it you do not agree, Orthan?” Bruno asked.
“Oh, I agree,” Marril said, “Just that you’re making it sound simpler than it really is.”
“I do not,” Bruno bowed in respect. “However, I would be honoured to test my strength against a Pokémon enhanced by Team Rocket Orthan technology.”
Marril smirked. Alex knew exactly why; Bruno was powerful, and an elite trainer, but Marril had beaten the legendary Charlie Evans into the ground. By comparison to those unnaturally powerful Pokémon, Bruno didn’t seem much.
“All right, I accept,” Marril said, smugness creeping into her voice.
Marril climbed into the ring and bowed along with Bruno. Bruno nodded, and Marril nodded back.
Marril began cautiously, going in low and under Bruno’s guard. Bruno sidestepped and caught Marril’s ankle, sending her sprawling.
“Damn,” Marril muttered. She was up in an instant, and took a deep breath to calm herself. No, Marril reminded herself, getting mad wasn’t going to help her win.
Bruno nodded, and went on the offensive. He aimed a quick punch at Marril’s face, and she blocked it. A quick blow to her midsection followed, and she again blocked it.
Marril smirked and breathed an Ice Beam at Bruno. He raised his hand and caught the beam, which encased his hand in a block of ice. Grunting from the pain of a frozen extremity, he stepped back.
Pressing her advantage, Marril stepped quickly forwards. Bruno fell back again, so Marril shot a kick at his knee. Bruno took the hit and again fell back. Marril spun around, aiming a knockout blow at Bruno’s face.
Bruno shot into action, grabbing Marril’s foot and spinning her flat onto her back. Bruno’s frozen fist broke the ice against her torso, and he’d pinned her nary half a second later.
Bruno released the pin and held his once-frozen hand to Marril to help her up.
“What was that?” Marril asked, taking Bruno’s hand.
“Allow me to explain,” Bruno said, helping Marril to her feet. She rubbed her stomach in pain from the finishing blow. Bruno turned to the crowd, which was silent, and continued. “This Marril’s main weakness was her confidence. She allowed her opponent’s apparent weakness to fool her into pressing an unnecessary advantage. Her physical prowess was meaningless because she didn’t apply it properly. In this way, a weaker opponent is the victor.”
Marril nodded, clearly embarrassed to have lost to Bruno.
“I think a little public humiliation will do her some good,” Tschel whispered to Alex. Alex laughed.
“Just remember this,” Alex whispered back. “It’ll probably help us tomorrow.”
Bruno finished his speech and Marril jumped down out of the ring and found her way back to Alex and Tschel. She glared at Tschel, slapped him, and then instantly cheered up.
“Public humiliation indeed!” Marril said incredulously. “That let me know exactly what I was doing wrong! I’m better than ever now!”
Alex chuckled.
“How… how…?” Tschel asked.
“Did I hear you?” Marril finished. She pointed to her large, mouselike ears. Tschel gave a short “ah” of comprehension, then muttered.
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That's it for this week, folks. Next chapter goes up when it goes up. Until then, remember that an Orthan doesn't always win. Gym battle next chapter or something, everyone, so g'day until then.