From: Shimarisu <shimarisu@my-deja.com> Subject: [PW!] [Attn: Shard, Ncnc123] New beginnings? Date: Friday, January 14, 2000 9:59 AM Murasaki was waiting. It was late afternoon in the cafeteria of the Team Rocket headquarters that she'd suddenly found herself wandering into, and she was busy waiting for nothing or nobody in particular, but for some undefined event that, might alter her life, change it for the better. Waiting was something you did when you had nothing else to do, and even when you didn't know what to expect next, if your life was as empty as Murasaki's it was all you could do. And if you didn't do that you'd just die, and certain persons who might have told you to keep hanging on years and years ago would be seriously let down. Of course, she was not waiting to see if Kiniro or Sneakers would follow her to this place, no, that couldn't be it. That would be crazy of her. Naturally, Murasaki did not know, or care about what Kiniro and Sneakers were doing at that time. She had stormed off in a huff, after the Meowth had killed that poor Pokemon, and offered it to her for food. As far as she was concerned, Sneakers had made three fatal errors. The first error was killing the Gloom. While Murasaki had no issues with Pokemon that lived by feeding on other animals, it was surely wrong for humans - who had the resources to live by other means - to kill and eat creatures which in many cases rivalled them in intelligence. People who made their pokemon battle if they otherwise wouldn't want to were reprehensible. And any person that made a pokemon kill another merely for the sake of their own survival were pitiful creatures who deserved to die. Sneakers had practically turned Murasaki into a murderer. The second error, of course, was actually offering food to Murasaki. Surely Sneakers must have known that she didn't accept anything from others? She didn't give, and she didn't take either, that was the rule. It was the best way of avoiding other people. Or was it? She mentally admonished herself for such an idea. "I am not suffering from any crazy hangups!" thought Murasaki. And then there was the third error. This one really clinched it. Everyone knew that Glooms were poisonous. Of course, Murasaki could not blame the Meowth for wanting to kill her, obviously Pokemon who had developed their own minds would think that humans were so vile that they would put the pitiful souls out of their misery at every given opportunity. Or at least, that's what they would think of the majority of trainers. Kohban had told Murasaki that she was different. That her family had been different. But lately, she had been harbouring doubts. It had been so long, maybe Kohban had been wrong about her? She didn't know. And she didn't blame Sneakers. She didn't know it, if she'd known it she'd have no doubt wanted to die - but Murasaki was commiting the cardinal sin of wallowing in self-hatred. She closed the lid of the Rocket Bento, and idly wondered what had made her accept the food in the first place. She had, of course, accepted it long ago - it was the first meal she'd had after joining Team Rocket, and it was likely all she'd eat for the full duration of her employment in the organisation. After all, she'd decided to become an agent in order to give herself a purpose, and while she was working in Team Rocket, the food provided was earned, not given away. But hang on. Had she actually achieved anything worth credit since the time she'd stumbled into the Celadon HQ, all those months ago? Idly, she dismissed the thought. Who could guess at to what these humans considered worthwhile? She cast the bento box aside, left it there for somebody else to pick up. Maybe she should ask at reception what her next assignment was? But was she supposed to be working with the other two, or by herself? For now, she could only wait. In order to see where her destiny would take her... - TBC? (and yes, I would like Murasaki to meet up with Sneakers again. Sorry I've been away, I went to my parents' for millenium...) - Shimarisu Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/ Before you buy.