From: Maria Rocket <mobius101@aol.compactpika> Subject: [PW!] Beyond Pandora Date: Monday, January 31, 2000 7:06 PM >> No! Never again! She wouldn't lose anyone ever again! She would go first >> before she lost anyone ever again. Her heart was racing, and she pulled >Mimic >> onto her, breathless. And she didn't give a damn what anyone thought. >> >> It would be days until they left the hotel room. >> >> TBC? >> >> (Cheap device, but at least now they're all in the same time frame. ^^;; ) > >[Hmm... > ><pokes device> > >Maybe something a little more expensive. > ><pulls out ImagniationCard, hacked for no credit limit> > >"Fantasy. It's where you want to be." ^_^;] (Heh, I think I had mine cut up anyway, which is pretty bad. ^^;;) > >"Meowww..." Slasher was worried. It has been days since he last saw >his mistress. Not that he was hungry or needy - meowths were known for >being able to find cash in the oddest of places; those smart enough to >buy their own meals almost never starved. Indeed, a couple centuries >ago, some of the smarter feral meowths had managed to parley their >finances into one of the first industrial corporations, giving rise to >the term "fat cats". Slasher had managed to pay for their extended stay >on his own when the management came to collect. > >But he was a little lonely. Sitting near the coffin-sized tank that >Mimic had become made him feel as if he were part of a whole, but when >he woke up and walked around, he needed only go a few steps away before >part of his heart vanished, leaving a hole. Going back near the tank >filled him with, if not joy, at least contentment, as he now experienced >for only the fifteenth time today. > >#He wishes to be one.# > >Slasher's ear swivelled in vain. > >#Of one mind, and one body.# > >Maria?!? > >#Like us. But the body can not join in; it has its own needs, and >filling them takes the mind away.# > >What was going on here? It sounded like Maria and Mimic were talking >right next to him. > >#We are here, my meowth. Open your mind and let your body relax.# > >Meowths were notoriously good at letting their bodies relax. Limp in a >heartbeat, Slasher let his curious mind drift... > >#Now we are all here.# > >#All three.# > >#Meow?# > >#... -_-;# > >#This would seem to be how Slasher thinks, Mimic. Are you that >suprised?# > >#Mimic used to thinking in one language at time.# > >#Meow? Meow meowth?# > >A flash of vision - darkness. A flash of sound - silence. A flash of >touch - warm, comforting numbness. A flash of taste and smell - nothing >but what the senses had become used to. #Sensory deprivation.# > >#Meow?# > >#When Mimic grew tired of physical love, he suggested this as a more >intimate merging. I am inside him.# > >#MEOW?!?# > >#No, he's not digesting me...are you?# > >#Mimic no digest Maria. Just...place in suspension fluid, designed >support body no can support self. Maria's case, body can support, but >no need support; leave Maria's mind free, be with Mimic. Maria in >Mimic, but Maria breathe Mimic fluid, so Mimic in Maria too.# > >A brief vision of curiosity, as to some cables leading from the tank to >the nearest electrical outlet and the bathroom's sink. > >#Yes; use power and water keep life support running.# > >#We could stay like this forever.# > >#But probably should not. Hotel no last forever. Besides, Maria >muscles start atrophy if no used for week, even with suspension fluid. >Mimic no learn tank with muscle stimulators; make note be one next time >visit hospital, in case Maria want try again for week plus.# > >#Couldn't we stay just a bit longer?# > >#Bit longer. But not day longer.# > >#Meowth.# In her mind's eye, Maria glanced to the side. A flicker, and it was gone again. She recognized what it was immediately. #Mimic, why do you keep hiding?# #Mimic not hide. Mimic is here with you.# #I've seen you before. You opened yourself up to me then... Why are you afraid now?# #Mimic not afraid... Mimic confused.# Maria reached out with her spirit and collected his essense more firmly to herself. She was not experienced in that sort of thing, but she had spent much time in dreams. And she was surprised that the stuff of dreams worked on the same level as the state she and Mimic existed in now. Without a word, she gave him all the love she had. She pulled him deeper and deeper inside herself until he was everywhere. She collected everything that identified itself as 'Mimic' and embraced it. Then she 'stood back' a bit and took a good look. Who stood before her now, she had not seen since that night on the SS Anne so many years ago. So many years ago? More like months...but it felt like years. She had fallen deeply in love with him from the first contact, and she finally understood why. Mimic as he was really was inside was indescribable. Which was, of course, because on that side of people, there is no physical form. Nothing but what is and what is not. And Mimic was possibly the most beautiful thing she'd ever seen. Maria looked into and became one with him that night, and had been a part of something she had wanted all her life. Something meaningful. #Mimic no intend to go *that* far... Mimic no sure what come over Mimic.# #I know. But I'm glad you did.# Somewhere, Maria was vaguely aware of something silky and warm flowing gently over her body...but that seemed too far away at the moment, and she quickly dismissed it. Then he was there with her again, and she let her mind drift away. *** Sometime later... There was a frosty chill in the air. This in itself was not at all unusual in Celadon during the winter. But there was a strange black cloud that had begun swirling around in the sky. Unlike other clouds in the sky, it had an eerie reddish glow. Sometimes it was high, sometimes it was low. And when it was low, it became even colder. Even looking through a window in the 30th floor hotel lounge, Maria could feel it. She pulled her dark trenchcoat tighter around herself and turned away from the window. If it was that psycho Mew, she did not want to deal with him tonight. She had tucked all her pokemon into their pokeballs in her coat for safekeeping. Her eyes flickered over towards the other end of the room, where Mimic was idly tapping at the keys of a piano. His foot was tapping to a tune he couldn't quite seem to play. She bit her lip. Something was going to happen. And that thought chilled her more than the bizarre weather. Despite all the irritated looks people were giving Mimic's key tapping, Maria stole her way to him unnoticed. Not literally, for once. She slid her arms around his neck and lay her head on his shoulder. "It'll all be over soon," she whispered. "That what Mimic afraid of." "Me too..." Though she wasn't really sure how Mimic meant it. She sat close beside him and lightly ran her fingertips across the piano keys. "Maria play?" Smiling, she shook her head and dropped her hands to her lap. "One of the foster family's I stayed with when I was little tried to teach me, but I wasn't very responsive. I was really numb back then...I had no real family...none I really wanted to know anyway. And I had no real direction or purpose. I didn't care about anything." Mimic looked over at her. "Maria find purpose?" "Yes...I did." She felt lightheaded suddenly. "But...whatever it was, just felt hollow. Like everything else I've ever known. A makeshift purpose to keep myself from falling apart. If there was ever anything else, I never found out what it was." "Mimic think Maria trying to say something?" Maria blinked. "Yes...but I can't figure out what." Mimic sweatdropped with a smile. "Well...Mimic suppose that life." Maria reached out to idly caress his hand. "Yeah...so when it all comes down to it, I just never learned. But they were rich enough to afford a Charmander for me, and to send me away to Pokemon Tech. I guess they thought they were giving some poor society-trodden girl a better future..." she grimaced. "I was probably better off where I was to begin with." Mimic watched her hand move softly over his own. "Mimic no know where begin with. Maybe sent from space by superior Ditto race to destroy earth, and only Doppler have enough sense to carry out mission after Oak subject to multiple exposure of television radiation." There was a brief silence. Maria turned and eyed him with bewilderment. Mimic looked at her, with his usual serious expression. Maria stared back. Mimic inclined his head slightly. Maria shook her head as Mimic finally cracked a grin. "Mimic, you're a little *too* good at what you do," she giggled. *** "Sian." Slasher padded on ahead of Seth and Aerie as they entered the large Celadon hotel. Seth was clutching a ruby box in his hand, loosening and re-gripping it constantly. He glanced down at it while Aerie started the elevator up. For a few seconds, there was only the sound of the elevator motor. Aerie looked over at Seth. "Relax. You're making me nervous." "I wish I could. But it's just occurred to me that we have no idea how to use this thing. And I kinda doubt Mimic knows either." "Don't be so sure. Mimic knows a lot about psychics." Seth shook his head. "Not this time. I don't even think Sabrina really knew what to do. And she isn't 'picking up', if you catch my meaning." He passed the box to his other hand. "I think she's hiding something." "Seth, don't be paranoid. Sabrina knew what she was talking about. Mimic will know what to do when the time comes." "How can you be so sure?" "...Seth, let's just do this, okay?" "Do what?" Aerie snatched the box away from him. The elevator chimed and the doors slid open. "Stay by me. We've been through worse together, this'll be a snap." "Worse? A *thing* is going to eat reality, and we really have no idea how to stop it. Tell me what we've been though that's worse? I mean on this big a scale?" He followed Aerie and Slasher out into the hall. "Seth, pleeease, don't say anything else." Aerie started to grip the ruby box in her hand. She could feel Mimic's presence behind the twin doors ahead. "Sian." *** Mimic lifted his head and turned it towards the lounge doors. "Seth." "Hmm?" Maria looked up. "Friends here." Maria looked away. Then she turned her eyes up at Mimic sadly. "Mimic..." Mimic blinked and looked down at her. "...Please...kiss me..." He tenderly cupped her cheek in his hand. Her eyes were reaching into his, asking for what he wasn't sure he could give. He inclined his face forward slightly as if to say something... And everything skewed around, like a bad case of tunnel vision. The world appeared to melt and actually disappeared in places. Although it was somewhat painful, Maria managed to turn around to get a good look. People in the room were literally falling to solid pieces on the floor, many with heads or other body parts missing in blocks. Others were simply dissolving away like an image on a shaken etch-a-sketch. It took a minute for any of this to register as reality to Maria. She glanced down at herself as her own vision began to clear up. For some reason, she was still in one piece. Then she felt where Mimic had a firm grip on her arm. #Mimic?# #...MissingNo. Is reaching out from here because friends nearby.# #We need to get out of here!# #If Mimic on own, maybe teleport somehow. No can, however, taking all Mimic got to keep both Mimic and Maria intact...and not sure how long can withstand.# #Mimic, I'm not going to hold you down. Get out of here now!# #...Friends coming to help. Mimic can hold out if Maria can.# And with a resounding rumble, the room imploded. *** Just as Aerie reached for the doorknob, it twisted and dripped into a block on the floor. The rest of the door began to warp and glow. She pulled back and Seth nearly walked into her. She looked back at him and back at the door in shock. "It's here." Inside it sounded like hysterical women gargling with razor blades. Slasher put his tail between his legs and hissed at the door. "Mom and Dad are in there...!" Seth tried to force his way inside, only to be held back by Aerie. He frowned back at her. "Let me go before they're killed!" "Seth, we can't help them if we're dead too... We need to find another way to get in." And they heard the unmistakable sound of metal snapping...and the roar of the floor falling through. Within a moment, they were racing for the stairs. *** Somewhere....Pewter City Gym, to be exact, Brock was on his knees in tears. "Please, I beg of you! Stop eating my gym! Stop eating my gym! Isn't my gourmet Pokechow good enough for you?" "Dit?" Baby Doppler wobbled about and eyed a particularly tasty looking beam. "Ditto! Dit Dit!" In an Ekans-like motion, he stretched and took a large bite out of the beam with a loud snap. Then another...Snap! And another. Snap! And bystanders outside noticed a side of the Gym roof collapse and throw a strange Ditto-shaped nuclear cloud into the air. The sound of a nearly grown man crying his eyes out could be heard sharply. "Dittoooo!" Responded a happy squeal. *** Umm....meanwhile, back at Celadon... "M...Mimic?" Maria picked herself up out of the rubble that had once been the 30th floor lounge...and was now a 29th floor disaster area. She stumbled out of the wreck, ripping her dress on a sharp end in the process. "Mimic, where are you?" "Mmph." Maria blinked and looked down. "Eep!" And quickly jumped off Mimic's back. Finally unhindered, Mimic pushed himself up and brushed debris off the front of his shirt. "Lucky break." He glanced up at the melting chaos flashing up above. "But not safe yet." Maria tugged on his arm. "Then it's probably a good idea to get out of here." Mimic shook his head. "No use. Unless stop here, MissingNo just grow until consume all. Mimic must stay." "Mimic!" Seth and Aerie practically burst through the sidedoor, which fell off its hinges a moment later. Slasher sat down upon it. "You're okay!" Seth wanted to hug them both, but forced himself to keep his composure. He adjusted his shades. "We thought you two were goners when we heard..." "Still might be," Mimic cast a frown over his head. "Need seal it up." "Yeah..." Aerie handed Mimic the ruby box. "So...think you can do it?" "Like Mimic have choice?" "Good point..." "Mimic do what?" Aerie sweatdropped. She could feel Seth's 'See??' expression at her back. She looked at the box in Mimic's hand. "Maybe if..." Krakoom. Krakoom. Dadumbum. It was deafening. A pillar of *something* slammed down from the ceiling and though the floor. The impact shattered what was left of the windows and threw those present about the room. A supersonic pinging noise invaded the air. There was no sound, yet it was loud, hardly anything else could be heard. Seth watched as his hair began to float away from his face. His green eyes widened as he felt the unmistakable pull of the MissingNo. It was an irresistible force that pulled at everything around it like a vortex... "Mew!" Giggled the little Pokemon floating just outside the building. "Mewww! The chaos will destroy you all for me! I may never take over the world now, but I'll still watch all of you die first! Meewww!" The black Mew clapped his paws together as the side of the Celadon Hotel appeared to melt and fade away. Although the MissingNo seemed to be pulling objects towards it, it was actually expanding outwards rapidly. It was a storm of confusion, and it was all Slasher could do to keep his claws secure in the wall. Though it was clear that even if they could keep themselves anchored, it would claim them eventually. In a heartbeat, Seth seized Aerie before she could be pulled any further and held her tightly to him by the waist. He stuck them behind a metal beam, though even that was bending towards the black mass. Aerie gripped him tightly, since if either of them let go, they'd slip off on either side of the bar towards infinity. Seth wondered if infinity was really so bad, considering he'd survived his last few encounters with it along with Aerie. Squinting though his hair and the flying debris, he looked the monster in the face and decided he didn't want to chance it this time. On the other side of the floor, Maria was sliding across the floor towards the exposed windows. Her boot met the small nook of the windowframe, and the fear rushed though her system like ice water. She dug her nails into the floor, but it was in so many bits, that she couldn't quite hold on. She flew off the side of the building, too terrified to scream. Mimic, who had fused with the floor, noticed just in time to see her catch the outside ledge at the last moment. "Maria, drop! Drop off!" Struggling to pull herself up further, she looked over at him, hurt and betrayed. She felt like the MissingNo had ripped though her and left nothing but ashes. Mimic's voice was suddenly silent, yet she still heard him though the din better than when he had been yelling just before. #Maria better off jumping... MissingNo will destroy...and Mimic no know what can do. Mimic have box, but no can figure out what do... No can focus it. ...Sorry. Mimic fail.# "Mimic!" Aerie cried over at him. "Open the box while you still can!" Seth did a take at Aerie. "Open the box!? Didn't you hear Sabrina? We can't open the box! There's no telling what it will do!" Aerie looked at Seth. "We can't, but Mimic can. What other choice do we have? Besides, what could possibly be worse than that MissingNo?" "I'm not sure I want to find out..." #But Aerie have point.# Mimic turned from them to the box glittering in his grasp. #Maybe danger...but maybe only to Mimic. Mimic willing to risk...if can stop monster from eating whole world.# "Mimic!" Still struggling, Maria turned towards Mimic with anguished eyes. "Don't open it! Please, don't leave me...!" Mimic snapped the clasp on the box open. TBC? Take it away, Adrian... Do whatcha want, it's anything goes hour. ^^; > >[Unlimited credit is one thing, but the payments on that card are a >bear... ^_^;] ::swats at the bear:: Get in the truck! ::turns to Adrian:: There ya go, one bear! That should pay off that card nicely. ^_^; ~Maria R "Psy yie yie..." --- http://purplestudio.webjump.com --- "R is for Rrrah...Rrrah...Rocket!" - Meowth --- Rocketshipper Forever! --- TEOTWAWKI