Marril
12/12/2004, 06:34 PM
Again with the new chapters. You'd think I was posting these things weekly or something! Anyhow, the plot's still getting there, and stuff's happening, and all sorts of stuff like that. Um, stuff. Yeah, I use that word a lot, stuff. Stuff stuff stuff. :p
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“How nice,” Kenneth thought as he walked away from Mikhail, who looked like he was about ready to hit Stein across the face. “My plan is working perfectly.”
It was a hit or miss thing, really, forcing the conversation with Archie to go along the lines that would make Mikhail identify him but not drawing any attention to Kenneth. Kenneth was proud that he’d accomplished this, and he’d made himself look furious for it too.
Yuusuke followed Kenneth. “Are you sure you’re really angry?”
Kenneth didn’t answer. He continued to look surly as he walked in the direction that was away from Mikhail.
“You led the conversation,” Yuusuke said, continuing to follow Kenneth.
Oh what the heck, Kenneth decided. “Yeah, I did.”
“Why?”
“Two reasons. First is that we can’t have Team Aqua recognising our inherent superiority over them, so I had to engineer a fight that would make us seem like mere mortals,” Kenneth thought his plan sounded a lot less impressive when he was telling it to another human being. “The second reason is really two. It’ll do Mikhail and Stein some good to work out their tension, and the fight will make Team Aqua assume we might fall in on each other at any time.”
“What if they really do snap?” Yuusuke asked.
“Then they fight via old-fashioned fisticuffs,” Kenneth shrugged. “It won’t escalate to the point where anyone’s life is in danger, we’re all too professional for that. Besides, it’ll release tension.”
Yuusuke didn’t say much else as he followed Kenneth around. Eventually, Kenneth and Yuusuke arrived at the quarters-style area that Team Aqua had graciously—hah—lent Team Rocket for the duration of their stay.
“Don’t let anyone else know this,” Kenneth said darkly to Yuusuke as he opened the door.
“So we’re here,” David said for no apparent reason as Gilgamesh, Sam’s Dragonite, arrived at the Indigo Plateau. The actual Pokémon League building was built right into the mountainside, and didn’t look all that impressive.
Sam recalled Gilgamesh and read the invitation again. “This thing says I just go in and hand this to the receptionist.”
“So let’s go,” David said. He started for the door, but stopped. A wild Graveler rolled down the mountainside and at David. David sighed and his eyes glowed blue. The Graveler was lifted into the air, where it soared up and over the mountainside.
“Remind me to never roll down a mountain at you,” Sam blinked before heading to the door.
David chuckled. Sam, saying something even remotely funny—well, as in funny humorous? That was a new one. He followed her.
The inside of the building was massive. At the front was a Pokémon center desk with a Nurse Joy behind it. Behind that were several large sets of doors, leading to—Sam guessed—the League itself. Aside was a clear glass door leading to an enormous store where she could see rows and rows of items from vitamins to pokéballs of all varieties to potions and dolls.
“Can I help you two?” Nurse Joy asked.
“Who do I give this to?” Sam asked. She handed the invitation to Nurse Joy, who looked it over.
“I’ll take care of this,” Nurse Joy said. She stepped around the counter, indicating for a Chansey to wait there in her place, and nodded to Sam. Joy walked to one of the doors on the far end and unlocked it. “Take the first left and go into room 16.”
Sam nodded and walked through the doorway. Joy gave her back the papers as she walked by. David tried to follow but Joy stopped him.
“I’m sorry, but only official League candidates are allowed past this point,” Nurse Joy explained.
“I see,” David scratched his head. He shrugged and wandered into the mart.
Sam took the first left in the hallway and got to a standard office door with a 16 on it. She knocked and heard a muffled “come in.” Opening the door, Sam saw, sitting behind a desk, Will, the former Elite Four member and highly skilled psychic trainer.
“League invite?” Will asked, standing up.
Sam nodded. “Yeah.”
She handed the papers to Will, who read them over quickly. He put the papers into a folder on his desk.
“Good, you’ve actually arrived on time,” Will commented. “We’re missing about ten or so invited trainers.”
Sam didn’t know what to say to that, so she remained silent.
“Do you know what the tests involve?” Will asked. His height and age made his professional but not unfriendly tone seem demeaning in a way.
Sam shook her head.
“First there’s a written test,” Will explained. “It’s similar to how Pokémon Tech runs their entrance exams. It will consist of several short-answer and essay questions on a broad range of Pokémon subjects and everything related. Afterwards is the battle testing. It’s not run elimination-style like the League itself is. The tests consist of four random pairings run Swiss style, with the top sixteen trainers battling in a one-on-one single-elimination style tournament.”
“I see,” Sam said. It was easier than she’d imagined.
“The final test,” continued Will, surprising Sam, “Is a training test. You will be exposed to a random situation chosen based upon your previous scores, and marked on your responses.”
This guy’s to the point, Sam thought. He hadn’t even said hello before explaining everything Sam would have to know for the testing.
“I have a question,” Sam said.
“Certainly,” Will responded. “Sit down, I’ll answer any questions I can.”
Sam sat down in a rather uncomfortable chair. “Why me?”
“You mean, why a fifteen-year old girl?” Will repeated. “We know you are intelligent, far more so than most Professors, and that you have a trained Dragonite with which you won an Indigo League championship last year. You’ve accomplished more in your five years of training than most trainers do in their first thirty.”
Sam blinked. It really hadn’t seemed like all that much to her. She didn’t believe that she was as smart as most people said she was. Sure, she could think circles around most people, but that wasn’t being smart so much as just being herself. Gilgamesh had been a lucky, chance encounter during her first year of training. At ten, she’d caught a none-too-obedient Dratini, which she’d simply connected with and was now her star Pokémon.
The League championship battle was for all intents and purposes a mistake. The first several rounds had been against relatively weak opponents, and the final bout against Alex was more luck than skill. Vileplume had knocked out his Golduck with a Petal Dance, and in the fatigue and confusion was able to hit his then-Wartortle with a Sleep Powder and had miraculously connected with Solar Beam.
Really, Sam thought, Will’s making a bigger deal of this than he should be.
“Aren’t the Pokémon League and the Neo League huge rivals?” Sam asked.
“Yes,” Will replied, waiting for the follow-up.
“Well, wouldn’t it mean something, you know, politically if I somehow won and became an Elite Four, then my brother, who’s in the Neo League, wins there?”
“I don’t see how,” Will furrowed his brow. “We don’t make distinctions like that. You’re your own person, and your brother is his own person. His actions shouldn’t have any effect on your career.”
Sam tried to think of anything else to ask. She couldn’t think of anything intelligent to ask at the moment, so she settled on something trivial.
“Do you honestly think I have a chance?” Sam asked.
Will smiled. “Everyone asks that question sooner or later. I’ll tell you, your chance of winning is exactly equal to the effort you put into this. But judging from your abilities, you’re got a very good shot at this.”
Tribo stretched in Juliet’s arms as it woke up. Ryan looked at the thing awkwardly.
“Do you have to take that thing everywhere you go?” Ryan asked.
“Yes,” Juliet answered simply. She let Tribo go, and the ghost wandered about, making sure to stay very close to Juliet.
“You’re babying the thing,” Ryan muttered.
“Tribo, go muss his hair,” Juliet said. Tribo was off in a flash. Before Ryan could even raise his arms in self-defence, his hair had been thoroughly tussled and tangled.
“What was that about?”
Juliet smiled. “To let you know that Tribo shouldn’t be taunted.”
Having just come from another battle test, Juliet was overworked and short-tempered. Being cooped up in Beta Site, even to raise Tribo, was starting to grate her and everyone around her. The Elites were able to come and go as they liked, as were Kenneth’s division. The only ones who had to stay were Juliet’s genetics group, the scientists, and a few agents who undoubtedly worked for Roland.
Tribo had met Roland once. Juliet had thought for sure that the ghost would take an instant dislike to the Executive, but had surprised Juliet by not. It was leery of Roland, certainly, but it wasn’t openly distrustful.
“How long until it matures?” Ryan asked impatiently.
“A month or two more,” Juliet said. “It’s growing really quickly, being less than a third of a year old.”
“So you’re babying it,” Ryan said flatly.
“It shouldn’t have to be a fighting machine before its time,” Juliet explained. She procured a Pokémon treat from her pocket and gave it to Tribo, who ate it cautiously. “It’s still a Pokémon, even if it’s artificial. You have Hitmonchan.”
“Which is a fighting machine in its own regard,” Ryan said simply. “And I’ll have you know it’s effective. In less than half a year, it’s helped me in no less than twenty jobs.”
Juliet was put off by the lack of respect that Ryan had for his Pokémon. Pokémon weren’t to be used as fighting machines—a bit of an ironic standpoint from a Rocket, but Juliet wasn’t a criminal at heart, merely by profession—even though they weren’t human. She couldn’t imagine exploiting Tribo.
“Mark my words, that’s going to be your downfall,” Ryan said cryptically as he strolled past Juliet.
Juliet wasn’t intimidated. Even without Tribo, she still had Sneasel and Sableye, either of which could best Ryan’s Hitmonchan easily.
Far away, the cat’s tail twitched. It saw the abomination growing, and saw its weak points falling away.
But the cat was still confident.
---------------------------------------------------
That's it for this week, folks. Next chapter goes up when it goes up. Until then, remember that things stop being weak when they grow up. This also would apply to certain Pika-rats. *cough*
---------------------------------------------------
“How nice,” Kenneth thought as he walked away from Mikhail, who looked like he was about ready to hit Stein across the face. “My plan is working perfectly.”
It was a hit or miss thing, really, forcing the conversation with Archie to go along the lines that would make Mikhail identify him but not drawing any attention to Kenneth. Kenneth was proud that he’d accomplished this, and he’d made himself look furious for it too.
Yuusuke followed Kenneth. “Are you sure you’re really angry?”
Kenneth didn’t answer. He continued to look surly as he walked in the direction that was away from Mikhail.
“You led the conversation,” Yuusuke said, continuing to follow Kenneth.
Oh what the heck, Kenneth decided. “Yeah, I did.”
“Why?”
“Two reasons. First is that we can’t have Team Aqua recognising our inherent superiority over them, so I had to engineer a fight that would make us seem like mere mortals,” Kenneth thought his plan sounded a lot less impressive when he was telling it to another human being. “The second reason is really two. It’ll do Mikhail and Stein some good to work out their tension, and the fight will make Team Aqua assume we might fall in on each other at any time.”
“What if they really do snap?” Yuusuke asked.
“Then they fight via old-fashioned fisticuffs,” Kenneth shrugged. “It won’t escalate to the point where anyone’s life is in danger, we’re all too professional for that. Besides, it’ll release tension.”
Yuusuke didn’t say much else as he followed Kenneth around. Eventually, Kenneth and Yuusuke arrived at the quarters-style area that Team Aqua had graciously—hah—lent Team Rocket for the duration of their stay.
“Don’t let anyone else know this,” Kenneth said darkly to Yuusuke as he opened the door.
“So we’re here,” David said for no apparent reason as Gilgamesh, Sam’s Dragonite, arrived at the Indigo Plateau. The actual Pokémon League building was built right into the mountainside, and didn’t look all that impressive.
Sam recalled Gilgamesh and read the invitation again. “This thing says I just go in and hand this to the receptionist.”
“So let’s go,” David said. He started for the door, but stopped. A wild Graveler rolled down the mountainside and at David. David sighed and his eyes glowed blue. The Graveler was lifted into the air, where it soared up and over the mountainside.
“Remind me to never roll down a mountain at you,” Sam blinked before heading to the door.
David chuckled. Sam, saying something even remotely funny—well, as in funny humorous? That was a new one. He followed her.
The inside of the building was massive. At the front was a Pokémon center desk with a Nurse Joy behind it. Behind that were several large sets of doors, leading to—Sam guessed—the League itself. Aside was a clear glass door leading to an enormous store where she could see rows and rows of items from vitamins to pokéballs of all varieties to potions and dolls.
“Can I help you two?” Nurse Joy asked.
“Who do I give this to?” Sam asked. She handed the invitation to Nurse Joy, who looked it over.
“I’ll take care of this,” Nurse Joy said. She stepped around the counter, indicating for a Chansey to wait there in her place, and nodded to Sam. Joy walked to one of the doors on the far end and unlocked it. “Take the first left and go into room 16.”
Sam nodded and walked through the doorway. Joy gave her back the papers as she walked by. David tried to follow but Joy stopped him.
“I’m sorry, but only official League candidates are allowed past this point,” Nurse Joy explained.
“I see,” David scratched his head. He shrugged and wandered into the mart.
Sam took the first left in the hallway and got to a standard office door with a 16 on it. She knocked and heard a muffled “come in.” Opening the door, Sam saw, sitting behind a desk, Will, the former Elite Four member and highly skilled psychic trainer.
“League invite?” Will asked, standing up.
Sam nodded. “Yeah.”
She handed the papers to Will, who read them over quickly. He put the papers into a folder on his desk.
“Good, you’ve actually arrived on time,” Will commented. “We’re missing about ten or so invited trainers.”
Sam didn’t know what to say to that, so she remained silent.
“Do you know what the tests involve?” Will asked. His height and age made his professional but not unfriendly tone seem demeaning in a way.
Sam shook her head.
“First there’s a written test,” Will explained. “It’s similar to how Pokémon Tech runs their entrance exams. It will consist of several short-answer and essay questions on a broad range of Pokémon subjects and everything related. Afterwards is the battle testing. It’s not run elimination-style like the League itself is. The tests consist of four random pairings run Swiss style, with the top sixteen trainers battling in a one-on-one single-elimination style tournament.”
“I see,” Sam said. It was easier than she’d imagined.
“The final test,” continued Will, surprising Sam, “Is a training test. You will be exposed to a random situation chosen based upon your previous scores, and marked on your responses.”
This guy’s to the point, Sam thought. He hadn’t even said hello before explaining everything Sam would have to know for the testing.
“I have a question,” Sam said.
“Certainly,” Will responded. “Sit down, I’ll answer any questions I can.”
Sam sat down in a rather uncomfortable chair. “Why me?”
“You mean, why a fifteen-year old girl?” Will repeated. “We know you are intelligent, far more so than most Professors, and that you have a trained Dragonite with which you won an Indigo League championship last year. You’ve accomplished more in your five years of training than most trainers do in their first thirty.”
Sam blinked. It really hadn’t seemed like all that much to her. She didn’t believe that she was as smart as most people said she was. Sure, she could think circles around most people, but that wasn’t being smart so much as just being herself. Gilgamesh had been a lucky, chance encounter during her first year of training. At ten, she’d caught a none-too-obedient Dratini, which she’d simply connected with and was now her star Pokémon.
The League championship battle was for all intents and purposes a mistake. The first several rounds had been against relatively weak opponents, and the final bout against Alex was more luck than skill. Vileplume had knocked out his Golduck with a Petal Dance, and in the fatigue and confusion was able to hit his then-Wartortle with a Sleep Powder and had miraculously connected with Solar Beam.
Really, Sam thought, Will’s making a bigger deal of this than he should be.
“Aren’t the Pokémon League and the Neo League huge rivals?” Sam asked.
“Yes,” Will replied, waiting for the follow-up.
“Well, wouldn’t it mean something, you know, politically if I somehow won and became an Elite Four, then my brother, who’s in the Neo League, wins there?”
“I don’t see how,” Will furrowed his brow. “We don’t make distinctions like that. You’re your own person, and your brother is his own person. His actions shouldn’t have any effect on your career.”
Sam tried to think of anything else to ask. She couldn’t think of anything intelligent to ask at the moment, so she settled on something trivial.
“Do you honestly think I have a chance?” Sam asked.
Will smiled. “Everyone asks that question sooner or later. I’ll tell you, your chance of winning is exactly equal to the effort you put into this. But judging from your abilities, you’re got a very good shot at this.”
Tribo stretched in Juliet’s arms as it woke up. Ryan looked at the thing awkwardly.
“Do you have to take that thing everywhere you go?” Ryan asked.
“Yes,” Juliet answered simply. She let Tribo go, and the ghost wandered about, making sure to stay very close to Juliet.
“You’re babying the thing,” Ryan muttered.
“Tribo, go muss his hair,” Juliet said. Tribo was off in a flash. Before Ryan could even raise his arms in self-defence, his hair had been thoroughly tussled and tangled.
“What was that about?”
Juliet smiled. “To let you know that Tribo shouldn’t be taunted.”
Having just come from another battle test, Juliet was overworked and short-tempered. Being cooped up in Beta Site, even to raise Tribo, was starting to grate her and everyone around her. The Elites were able to come and go as they liked, as were Kenneth’s division. The only ones who had to stay were Juliet’s genetics group, the scientists, and a few agents who undoubtedly worked for Roland.
Tribo had met Roland once. Juliet had thought for sure that the ghost would take an instant dislike to the Executive, but had surprised Juliet by not. It was leery of Roland, certainly, but it wasn’t openly distrustful.
“How long until it matures?” Ryan asked impatiently.
“A month or two more,” Juliet said. “It’s growing really quickly, being less than a third of a year old.”
“So you’re babying it,” Ryan said flatly.
“It shouldn’t have to be a fighting machine before its time,” Juliet explained. She procured a Pokémon treat from her pocket and gave it to Tribo, who ate it cautiously. “It’s still a Pokémon, even if it’s artificial. You have Hitmonchan.”
“Which is a fighting machine in its own regard,” Ryan said simply. “And I’ll have you know it’s effective. In less than half a year, it’s helped me in no less than twenty jobs.”
Juliet was put off by the lack of respect that Ryan had for his Pokémon. Pokémon weren’t to be used as fighting machines—a bit of an ironic standpoint from a Rocket, but Juliet wasn’t a criminal at heart, merely by profession—even though they weren’t human. She couldn’t imagine exploiting Tribo.
“Mark my words, that’s going to be your downfall,” Ryan said cryptically as he strolled past Juliet.
Juliet wasn’t intimidated. Even without Tribo, she still had Sneasel and Sableye, either of which could best Ryan’s Hitmonchan easily.
Far away, the cat’s tail twitched. It saw the abomination growing, and saw its weak points falling away.
But the cat was still confident.
---------------------------------------------------
That's it for this week, folks. Next chapter goes up when it goes up. Until then, remember that things stop being weak when they grow up. This also would apply to certain Pika-rats. *cough*