From: Tech Weaver, Back By Popular Demand! (theover-powerer@webtv.net) Subject: [PW] [Poke-X-Mon] Genesis Newsgroups: alt.games.nintendo.pokemon Date: 2000/06/19 A raft drifts along with the stream's current. A Meowth lies beside a lone figure that reclines upon the raft. The figure chews listlessly on the end of a shaft of wheat while a string tied to his toe dangles in the water. As he lays there, he reflects upon the events of the past week. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Chang Xuong took a defensive pose as the mutant charged at him. He ducked a deadly talon swipe and grabbed the mutant's shirt with both hands. Chang feel back, pulling the mutant back with him. Thrusting his feet into its midsection, he flipped the mutant behind him. The mutant landed on its feet with cat-like agility, almost synchronized with Chang leaping to his own feet. It swung a clawed foot at Chang, who easily caught it. He threw it to the side, spinning the mutant around. Chang thrust a fist into the mutant's back. The mutant's dense exoskeleton prevented Chang from doing major damage. It was not unlike punching a wall. He pulled his hand back in pain a shook it. Sensing weakness, the mutant lunged at Chang. Chang grabbed a chiton-plated arm and wrenched it behind the mutant's back. To his complete surprise, the arm came off and he was met with a strong back kick. He stumbled back and was introduced to a flying kick. His back to the wall, he was unable to avoid the mutant's claws streaming toward's his neck. They stopped just a hair's width away from his jugular vien. "Touche," claimed the mutant. "Well done, Chet-san," Chang said in his wisened tone. "It appears, however, that you have disarmed yourself to attain victory." Chance the Meowth retrieved the hastily removed arm and presented it to Chet. "Mrrrrowth," said Chance. Chet stepped back and bowed to Chang Xuong, his sensei. "'Tis only a flesh wound," remarked Chet. Sensei Xuong bowed back. "You have learned much," said Sensei Xuong. "but you still have much to learn. You were and excellent student. It is a shame you must leave now on your journey." He handed Chet a Poke Ball. "Here, this is for you." Chet took the ball and opened it. In a flash of light, a Spearow appeared. "Thank you, Sensei," said Chet, bowing. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ "Are you quite done yet?" asked an educated voice. Chet lifted his hat up a bit. Professor Oak was standing on the nearby shore. Chet started to say something when he felt a tug on the string. It was a hard tug, and Chet realized that ordinary fish weren't the only things living in Professor Oak's pond. He scrambled for the line, but it got away and took his toe with it. "AH! Ga-!" exclaimed Chet. "This wouldn't be so bad if I weren't using my pinky-toe as bait." A disturbed look crept across Professor Oak's face. "Are you okay?" he asked. "Yeah, they'll grow back," Chet explained as he put his shoes and socks back on. "They always do." "Fascinating," said Professor Oak. His scientific curiousity kicked in. "How long does it take for them to grow back?" "Practically overnight," answered Chet. "Unless we're talkin' entire limbs. They take about a week per. Found that out the hard way." Professor Oak helped Chet back onto land. "So you have the abilities of regeneration, self-amputation, and an exoskeleton. Am I missing anything?" "I think that's about it, but you never know." "Fascinating. Maybe I should look into studying mutants as well." "You could, but the ords don't take too kindly to mutant lovers on Vertigo Island." "The ords?" "Ordinary humans. They still have the run of the island." "Ah." The two of them walked back to the lab. It was quite possibly the most high-tech room Chet had ever seen. He figured the whole thing was just for show. The graduation of Pallet's students into full-fledged trainers gathered quite a crowd, and Chet doubted that is room was ever used for anything other than the graduation ceremony. The transparent dome on the metallic pedestal in the center of the room split open and three Poke Balls rose from three holes in it. Impressive, but it was nothing that anyone couldn't do for less than a few hundred dollars. Yeah, this was probably just for show. "I apologize for the sci-fi theatrics," said Professor Oak, "but it is customary to choose a Pokemon when you recieve your Pokedex." "Yeah, and I know which one I want, too," said Chet. "I'm just not sure what to name it." "Name it?" asked Professor Oak. "Well," began Chet, "I already have a Meowth named Chance and a Spearow named Doom, so I thought I'd name this one to have something to do with decisions. I tried to think of a name related to choices and such, but I couldn't think of anything that sounded good." "Maybe seeing it will help you decide on a name," Prof. Oak suggested. "Maybe," said Chet, picking up a Poke Ball. "Squirtle, go!" The Squirtle appeared in a flash of light. "Oh my," remarked Oak. "Yeah, I think I have a good name for it now," said Chet. Chance the Meowth hopped onto the pedestal to get a closer look at his new pal. A piece of string dangled from the Squirtle's mouth. Chance pulled the string out and found that a clawed toe was tied to one end. "I don't know how he keeps getting out," said Professor Oak. "It's even more of a mystery of why he keeps going back in." "I think I'll name him Hanibal," said Chet. "Hanibal the Canibal." "You're going to name him that?" asked Professor Oak. "Nah," replied Chet. "I think Flak is a better name. It sounds cool and I think it refers to a bullet proof vest. You know, a flak jacket." "That sounds like an excellent name, then." ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Chet flexed his toes before putting his socks back on. "Y'know Chance," Chet said, "You don't realize the importance of a toe until you lose 'em." Chet tied his shoes and stood up. He and Chance continued on their path. Chet adjusted his gloves. Chance flipped a coin. "We're almost to Virdian City," said Chet. "Remember, no one's supposed to know that I'm a mutant." To be continued...