From: Jose L. Solano (jsolano199@aol.comlink) Subject: [PW!] When Last We Met Newsgroups: alt.games.nintendo.pokemon Date: 2000/04/02 Pokewars: Trent Retwin, Fourth Season "When Last We Met" Jose L. Solano "Just perfect," Trent said. "Tenchi was just lucky." Trent sat on a chair on deck, Ashura sitting on the deck itself. Under Ashura's suggestion, Trent had temporarily traded his black outfit for a more casual style- a black shirt, loose jeans, and sneakers. The same outfit he had worn during his days as a trainer. He donned shades, although they did little to cover the scar on his face- his most recognizable feature. "But you were right, Ashura. This is relaxing. It's just too bad I can't do this every day." Ashura finished eating the last remnants of a Pikachu that once belonged to a young trainer. "<Wow, this tastes even better when its cooked!>" "You could always go for seconds," Trent told his loyal partner. "There's a girl over there with a..." Ashura was a step ahead of him. By the time Trent had finished speaking, Ashura had already plucked the trained Raichu from the crowd before its trainer could tell. Sneaking under Trent's reclined chair, Ashura proceeded to butcher the rodent and handed it to Trent. "Waiter," Trent called. "Cook this meat for my Sandslash. Well-done." "Sir, was this meat purchased on board this ship?" "Does it matter?" "It is prohibit-" "Do you enjoy breathing?" Trent smirked as the waiter nervously took the raw meat and ran off. Ashura waited calmly for his meal. Trent took a look at his sword to see a few dents and chips. "This is a pretty cheap sword. I won't be able to kill Dreadite with this." Trent sheathed the sword and placed it on the floor. The waiter returned with the cooked Raichu steak on a spotless white platter. Ashura ate the meat in a matter of seconds. He tossed the platter overboard and licked the blood off his claws. "Sir," the waiter said. "What do you want?" "I just want to inform you that threatening members of the-" Before he could finish his sentence, Ashura thrust his right claw straight through the waiter's torso. Injured and confused, the waiter staggered around before finally hitting the guard rail and falling overboard. "Ashura, you just can't even keep your claws clean, can you?" A woman passed by, wearing a cloak that matched her violet eyes. She seemed familiar. Perhaps and escaped target? "Is that you, Trent?" she asked, glancing at him. "What? Me?" Trent looked around nervously. Revealing his name would incriminate him. "I'm not Trent..." "Yes, you are, I know you!" Ashura began to growl at the stranger. "I'm telling you, I'm not Trent." "Don't you remember me? I went to school with you and Lance!" "What did I just- Hotaru?" Trent stared in disbelief. He never thought he'd see her again. "Yes it is me," she replied. "Please let go of my neck." "Oh... sorry." Trent let go of her neck and returned to his seated position. "Thanks anyway... what are you doing here?" "A.... uh.... business trip." Trent looked around nervously. He hoped the ship security wouldn't recognize him. Taking the time to talk to Hotaru would give them more than enough time to find him. "Uh uh." "Then what are YOU doing here?" "Ahehe just passing by, thatīs all. Who is your friend?" "Who, Ashura?" Trent looked over at his quilled companion. "Yes, Ashura... wait I rember him! It was back in school... Wow he sure looks uh... great..." Ashura looked up and growled at Hotaru. "Whoa... it must be a really good body." "He's saved my skin more than a few times." Trent motioned for Ashura to calm down. "Oh," Hotaru smiled. "I guess you still get in a lot of trouble as usual." "More than you think. I'd rather not get into it. Let's just say the prison system is weak. Enough about me. What have you been up to?" "Well lots of things actually," Hotaru replied. "Like what?" Trent took a sip of his Dr. Pepper. Hotaru looked off to the side, as if making sure nobody saw her. "Looking for people. Just some uh family nothing too important." "Really? So have you heard from Lance lately?" "Aiaiai uh no..." Hotaru seemed a bit nervous. "I havenīt seen him." "Really? I defeated him in battle about a year ago. Crushed his ego. You should have seen his face when Ashura single-handedly beat his Dragonite." "Really? I would have liked to see that," Hotaru said with a grin. "Yeah, to beat Lance... something I havenīt manged to do yet." Hotaru shrugged. "I haven't seen him since then. He may have improved his tactics." "Hmm maybe, anyway what about Katherine? I havenīt heard from her either." "Katherine..." Trent looked away with a hint of depression on his usually emotionless face. "Katherine died a few months ago." "WHAT? How? Who?" "I'd rather not get into details. It's hard enough as it is just thinking about her..." "I am sorry I didnīt know... honestly Trent, what have you been doing after beating Lance?" "Do you REALLY want to know?" Trent raised his shades and glared at her with his blood red eyes. "Hmm... actually maybe itīs not a good idea..." "I thought so. Either way, I'd have to kill you if I told you... Did I just say that?!" Trent got up, slightly startled. Hotaru justed laughed, albeit dryly. "Thatīs very nice, but I've been cheating death for some time now." Trent sat back up. Hotaru's last statement caught his attention. "Someone marked you for death?" "No, not if he doesnīt find out I'm still alive if that makes sense... why would you like to know?" "Uh... no reason." "When was the last time we met? I forget." "School, a few years ago. Amazing how much can change in a few years." "Yeah," Hotaru sighed. "It's very easy to lose everythign in a foolish act." "In one year I lost my identity, my freedom, my girl, my son, even my life..." Trent suddenly realized that he was rambling his true thoughts. "Uh... I read that in a book..." Hotaru looked at him in confusion. "You did not read that in a book." "What makes you think that?" "Call it intuition. What can I say? We women have very sensitive minds you know." "Both figuratively and literally..." One of Trent's old targets was taken out with a slash to the head. Her brain fell out and almost disintegrated as soon as it hit the ground. "I guess," Hotaru said, shaking her head. "Well I ainīt any much better than you." "What, are you an assassin, too?" Ashura smacked Trent with the broad end of his claw. "No not yet..." "Sand slash!" Ashura yelled, pointing a talon to his left. The ship's security had finally found them. Trent immediately sat up and looked over at the incoming security guards. "Shit!" Hotaru yelled. "I hate this!" "I have to get going," Trent said. "I'll see you later." Before he could leave, Hotaru grabbed his arm. "Oh, no sir, I am going with you!" "What? But you'll-" "Trent Retwin, you're under arrest!" said one of the security officers. There were six of them, all pointing their pistols at Trent. "Rapidash go! Fire Spin!" Hotaru's Rapidash appeared out of nowhere and attacked the security officers. "Hey, we are on the same boat now." "Figuratively, and literally." "Now where do we run to?" "The cargo hold." "Okay, go first. Rapidash use Fire Blast!" Rapidash began to fry the security officers. "No, I insist you go first." "Just go!" "Fine." Trent ran into the galley, followed by Ashura. After a quick Stomp, Hotaru recalled Rapidash and followed him. TBC