Subject: Re: [PW] [WC] Corpses Don't Sink Date: 16 Dec 2002 15:13:42 -0800 From: wingcat@pacbell.net (Adrian Tymes) Organization: http://groups.google.com/ Newsgroups: alt.games.nintendo.pokemon "Clayton" <redneckdadd@yahoo.com> wrote in message news:<y_dL9.1630$pS6.301599@news20.bellglobal.com>... > A while later, Bob and Raffy were in the forested area looking for Aerie. > Odds were that she wasn't there, but this was as good a place as any to > try. Both were looking high and low for any sign of a disturbance or a > half-Ditto causing a ruckus. > > Luck was with the pair as they spotted Aerie's sprawled out body on > the forest's floor. From what the two of them could tell, Aerie had > exhausted herself fighting the Unown's control. However their luck > soon changed as 5 shiny Unown appeared and hovered around Aerie, > apparently having a Collective meeting. > > Feeling the wrongness and the danger, both Bob and Raffy ducked > behind trees and concentrated. The forest was so eerily calm, the only > sounds that could be heard to them were in incoherent mumblings of > Aerie as her unconscious state turned into sleep. They did get flashes of psychic impressions, as the collective's concerns echoed in all nearby minds. It seemed to mainly be a debate of utility versus convenience: Aerie could be of much use, especially in the intended endgame, but she was getting harder to control. Hiding the fact that they were in control had been their trump card; now that she knew their intent and methods, it would be extremely difficult to prevent Aerie from acting on that knowledge. Assuming they could find her again. ...? But she was right there-!!! Bob raced through the forest, Raffy close behind, Aerie slung over his shoulder like a sack of potatos. Fortunately, Aerie was light enough that a single vine had been able to snatch her literally from under their noses, assuming unown had noses. He dared not look back, trying not to even think about his pursuers lest they track him down by his thoughts. It did not take long to return to civilization, and the safety of the pokemon center. Bob debated whether to wake Aerie or let her sleep and recover her strength, ultimately deciding on the latter just as the aroma of Nurse Joy preparing dinner for the center's many guests drifted in. Aerie's eyes snapped open and she was halfway to the door before she stopped and looked around. "Umm, Bob? When did you remodel?" --- "So, remember anything more yet?" Bob queried as Aerie started in on her third plate of a mixture of pokechow and human food that Bob was quite certain only a hybrid could love. "Mmm...*snarf, smack, gulp*...I think I got most of it." Abruptly switching from vacuum cleaner wannabe to grace, she wiped a few bits of food from her face before continuing. "I definitely remember coming here now, and the last two rounds. I...think I entered the tournament as a defense. I could feel something pushing me to hunt for the unown, but I'm my *own* master, just like mommy and daddy." "For a defense, you've done quite well. Top eight already." Aerie giggled. "Yeah, well, I kinda cheated a bit on the first one - don't tell anybody - and the second was really just Squirtle and Goldeen using what I taught them. Okay, maybe most pokemon don't ever think to team up like that, but once the battle started I didn't have to tell them what to do. They'll be able to take care of themselves once this is over." "So, if you win, any plans for the prize money?" "You know, I never really thought about it. I mean, I don't have any use for money. That's how daddy's side of my family is: go wherever, living on the road, taking what we need from what is freely offered. I'm still surprised he settled down. And if we ever really need cash, there's ways." "I wouldn't be so sure. I mean, that lifestyle can be rough. What do you do if you run out of medicines? Or food?" Aerie smirked. "Live on sunlight, duh! What do you think I've been doing for the past day and a half while I've been hiding? Not to mention the trip over here. But it's nowhere near as tasty as real food." With that, she slipped briefly back into the type of food eradicator most parents will claim their children have been at one point or another, not even having to transform to clean her plate. Bob examined one of his leaves as Aerie worked. He still thought of himself as mostly human. Though he had taken sunlight and soil as meals before, he had not thought about subsisting entirely on such. Something about that lifestyle seemed to be missing... "But you're only half ditto. That can't sustain your human half, can it?" Aerie gave it only a moment's thought. "Maybe. I mean, if I really need, I can just eat my own softboiled eggs or something." Bob tried to wrap his mind around that, and winced at the resulting mental image. "Well, at least you're safe. We should call your parents and-" "Uh-uh." "What do you mean, 'uh-uh'?" "Not until I've got those unown back." "WHAT?!?!? I just saved you from them!" "I know, and thanks. But who do you think sent me out to catch 'em all?" "..." Bob blinked. He would never believe it of most parents, but this was Minax and Doppler she was talking about, if she was telling the truth. From the stories he had heard about them, they might just be that crazy. But still... "I still think you should call 'em. They're your parents, Aerie. Parents worry about their children if they don't hear from them in a while." "Alright, alright, fine. But don't say anything about the unown, okay? Let me handle that, if it comes up." "As you wish." --- "Violet City Pokemon Center, how may I direct your - oh, hi, Aerie! Your parents just went out looking for you yesterday morning! I thought it'd take them at least a week to find you." Aerie blinked. "They're looking for me? Do you have any way to contact them?" "No, sorry. Marcia doesn't have a cell phone and, well, you know Dee. Still, I could take a message and send it to all the pokemon centers in Johto, in case they check in." "Could you? Just tell them I'm alright. I'm in the Whirl Cup tournament right now. I'm not sure where I'll go after this, but probably through Olivine City to Ecruteak." "Okay, just a moment...Whirl Cup tournament...Olivine, Ecruteak. Got it! Anything else?" "Yeah. Did they say why they suddenly went out looking for me?" "Something about unown control. I didn't catch most of-Aerie? What is it?" Aerie was pale and slightly trembling. "That...that was them?" "What?" "T-tell them..." Aerie held her breath, willing her trembling to halt. "Tell them that they are in danger! The unown they thought were controlling me would much rather control Dee. And Marcia, if they can. They wanna use Dee's power to take over the world, make everyone their slaves, Dee and Marcia first. And they're not the only shiny unown that can take people over. If mommy and daddy find any, do *not* let them into their minds!" Joy shrugged, not believing Aerie's warning for a second. "Okay, I'll put that in the message. I hope they find you soon! Bye, now." Aerie stared at the phone for a short while after Joy hung up. "No. For their sake, I hope they don't find me, until this is over." "There, there." Bob patted Aerie on the shoulder. "This is Doppler and Minax we're talking about. If anyone can take care of themselves, it's those two." Aerie looked up at Bob, wide-eyed, a tear rolling down her cheek. "I don't wanna be an orphan," she whimpered. --- Late that night, the newly hostless collective wandered moonlit streets, searching for suitable puppets. Mind after mind was rejected - too weak of body, too strong of will...one candidate was an exemplar of both, and the two presences nearby threatened mayhem if any further unown dared violate the other. ..."further"? The collective probed deeper, seeing if any more of their bretheren were nearby, when a long tentacle shot out from the darkness and wrapped around Dee. #GET OVER HERE!# The collective mutely followed Dee as it was pulled back into the shadows. Sounds of a scuffle echoed for a few moments, then ended just as quickly as they began. A pair of shining eyes glowed briefly, then Aerie walked into the moonlight, a cruel smile on her face. Meanwhile, Bob rolled over on his bed, laying his arm on top of where Aerie had cuddled against him when they went to sleep, and hit nothing but sheets. His eyes blinked open, confirming what his skin did not feel. #Such language,# Raffy chided. #But it takes skill to curse that long without a single four letter word.# TBC?