From: Marco262, I _am_ the WooMaster (res0eymx@verizon.net) Subject: [PW!] The Great Escape Newsgroups: alt.games.nintendo.pokemon Date: 2001-08-16 12:51:49 PST Amber Foxwing wrote: > Finally the chain holding her cage to the ceiling started to weaken. She > paid no heed to Nyura's frightened screaming. > > ~The cage! It's too far up! Amber will hurt herself!~ > > Amber was in a blind rage and the cage crashed to the floor, slamming > her head into the bars, and rendering her unconscious and bleeding. Jason put his hands on his knees and straightened up shakily. His stomach convulsed involuntarily, forcing him to bend down again and stare at the now full space between his cage and the wall. His eyelids were heavy and he struggled to stay awake. The muscles in in throat twitched like the ones in his stomach and he spit out some more foul-tasting acid. The smell began to make him sick again, so he pushed weakly against the bars of the cage, falling backwards. "Oooh, my head," Jason could hear Amber waking up. A low rattling told him she was getting up off the side of her cage. Fortunately, the Rockets had left this place alone for the past few days. The foul stench of stomach acid and the sight of a knocked out mutant-girl in a cage on the floor were enough to deter anyone who wanted to disturb them. He got shakily to his feet and staggered over to the bars of his cage. His collapsed chest and sunken stomach gave him just enough room to squeeze through the bars. He tried to step down to the ground slowly, but caught his foot on one of the bars and fell 10 feet to the ground into a pile of empty paint cans. Cans flew everywhere, crashing against the walls and cages. The whole Rocket staff MUST have heard that, he thought. This is it. They're going to come in and kill us. They're going to find me lying here, and they're going to shoot me. And Amber, and all the pokémon. But they didn't come, and Jason eventually forced himself to stand, ignoring the shooting pain in his back and his stomach. Blood seeped from his mouth where his teeth had cut into his cheek when he hit the floor. He held his hands out, trying to find something to grab onto to keep the world in focus. He wiped away the crust from his eyes and walked forward a few steps. He could see Amber yelling something at him. Amber, oh yeah. He needed to free her. He focused on the keys still hanging on the wall next to where Amber's cage was. Slowly, he put on foot in front of the other. The world swayed under him like he was walking on an angry ocean, and he was afraid he'd trip at any time, but he finally made it. With shaking hands, he took the key in his hands and fell on top of Amber's cage. "Jason! You did it! Now unlock the cage!" It felt so good to lie down. He could just go to sleep, and finally be at peace. "What are you doing? Unlock the cage!" He just needed to relax and close his eyes, then he could be happy. "No! Don't fall asleep! Jason!!" So tired, oh so tired. *SLASH* Jason jerked his head up, wide awake. Blood dripped from the fresh wound on his cheek. Amber gripped the bars above her in her circular cage, the right claws wet with new blood. Jason's blood. "Sorry Jason," she said, "But I had to do that." Jason began to nod, but it made his head hurt. "I understand." His mind was clear for the moment, but he could feel it beginning to cloud again, and his original fatigue was returning. He was just able to find the necessary key and open Amber's cage when he collapsed again. She leapt out of her cage, and was immediately shaking Jason. "Jason, are you okay? Speak to me!" He waved her off weakly. "I'm fine, but I won't be able to walk under my own power. I'm weak, and I think I got a concussion from that fall." Amber nodded. Quickly, she took the keys from him, and unlocked Rivet's cage. The fire lizard jumped out and ran over to Jason checking him. He looked up at Amber. <My man's not too hot, right now. What's the plan, lady?> Amber began unlocking the cages for all the other pokémon. "You're gonna have to carry Jason. I doubt we could sneak out in such a heavily-guarded facility. Looks like fighting our way out is the only choice." Rivet picked Jason up in his arms, adjusting him so he could still attack an enemy if he needed to. TBC... (OOC: I think you'll enjoy this setup.)