From: "William Rendfeld" <warendfeld@aol.com> Subject: [PW!] Aqua Antics Date: Thursday, June 10, 2004 8:36 AM Aqua Antics #I feel terrible. I should be locked away.# #What's wrong?# #Me, that's what's wrong. All I've done since I was released is cause trouble.# #How exactly?# #I was nearly captured by some of my fellow Shiny Unown, who nearly ended up hurting an innocent girl. I was captured by a woman who went on a crime spree thanks to my abilities. I was taken by that Ditto, and caused him and you and everyone else so much grief.# #You couldn't help any of that. You haven't caused anyone pain, misery or sorrow all on your own; all you've done is something you can't help but do. You increase other people's abilities and talents; you can't help that.# #But all that does is cause trouble.# #Did it cause trouble for the girl?# #Um...no, no it didn't. She seemed so much stronger after that encounter; she broke up Dee's mini-collective with ease. It's like something helped her to find inner strength.# #That something may have been you.# #...You really think so?# #Anything's possible. Look at me. Look at you, for that matter.# A mental chuckle issued forth. #Guess you got a point.# A mental sigh followed. #Still, I have caused my share of trouble.# #You can't help that, now can you? Besides, you have helped people; you've helped me.# #Really?# #Really.# #...Thank you.# Alexandria Masters opened her eyes at last, looking towards the I-shaped Shiny Unown hovering near her with a smile as it opened its eye. "You're welcome." Eye seemed to smile with its eye, or at least give off a pleasant aura. "Okay, enough touchy feely stuff," Nori said, snapping Alex and Eye out of their reverie. "Now just how far is this Abandoned Ship, anyway?" "Shouldn't be that far off," Alex assured her traveling companion. For the past few hours since their departure from Dewford Town, Alex and her small fraction of the Search Party for Smasher had been heading towards the famous Abandoned Ship between Dewford and Slateport City. The group had been doing everything they could to maintain some sanity during the trip, however, as it was long and boring. "I don't even see why we're heading there," Nori said as she slumped onto the deck. "For all we know, Sabrina lied to us." "It's not her style," Alex argued. "Sabrina wants us there, otherwise she wouldn't have told us about this." Stretching a bit, she added, "Besides, I'm a little curious about this myself, and I figure it's worth a look around." Nori shrugged. "Not like we have anything better to do." Just within Nori's visual range, Big Time the Larvitar sat and watched as the boat jetted over the water, his thoughts mixed. He was worried about Smasher, and that worry only intensified his feelings. "You okay, little one?" a familiar voice asked. Big Time looked to one side to find ShadowWarrior the Murkrow standing beside him, a concerned look in his eyes. The Larvitar sighed, "<I guess.>" "Thinking about your friend, huh?" ShadowWarrior asked. Big Time looked at the bird in surprise as ShadowWarrior explained, "I figured it out on my own, don't worry. I'm the only one who knows." Big Time blinked, then replied, "<Yeah.>" "Well, buck up, I've got good news for you," ShadowWarrior announced. "Alex's sister found Smasher's helmet up near Fallarbor Town, and where he landed. Based on everything we've seen, he managed to get up and walk away." "<He did?>" Big Time asked in surprise. "Yep," the Murkrow replied. "He's alive." Big Time smiled slightly, then said, "<Thanks.>" "Hey, no problem," ShadowWarrior assured the younger Pokémon. At the other end of the boat, Carol silently manned the controls, aided greatly by an operations manual. Ben and Mawile mostly kept to themselves in the same area, while Jeff silently looked towards the horizon, hoping to catch a glimpse of their destination. The largest member of their party cleared his throat. "Just for the sake of argument, why would Aqua be holding Bob?" Rubix the Blastoise asked. Nori shrugged. "Maybe they want to get rid of him." "Or eliminate the threat he poses," Alex suggested. "That doesn't necessarily mean killing him." "What makes you think they wouldn't?" Nori asked. "In all of the operations involving Team Aqua, either confirmed or unconfirmed, only one man has ever been seriously harmed," Alex recounted. "Aqua's operations mostly involve stealth and subterfuge, and killing someone is like a boy crying 'Mightyena'; it raises attention, attention that they don't want. Besides, there are other methods to deal with a potential threat, if one's creative enough." "Creative?" Nori asked. "Chances are good that with enough information, a psychic could purge that Magma-induced personality," Alex guessed. "But it'd take a lot of power from the psychic, not to mention a lot of skill. I doubt I could pull it off." "<A safe assessment, given your current level of training,>" Surtur the Combusken noted. After a couple seconds of silence, Rubix asked, "How do you know so much about that?" "Remember me mentioning one person that Aqua's seriously harmed?" Alex asked. "That one person was my father. An Aqua murdered him about three and a half years ago." Already knowing the thought flashing in Rubix's mind, Alex assured her associates, "Don't worry, I'm not interested in blood lust or anything. Getting Bob out of there if he's in danger is the greater priority right now." "<And discovering the particulars around Mimic,>" Surtur noted. "<He's most likely with Bob at this moment.>" "One can hope," Alex replied. Rubix, meanwhile, was far from assured; while the general consensus was that Alex wasn't crazy, whether she was dangerous or not remained a matter of debate. As the small boat approached the Abandoned Ship, things remained uncertain. TBC? [NS: Okay, I figure the base has got to have an underwater entrance. Anyone want to explore that notion?] William Rendfeld Creator of Echowarrior and Alex Masters 178,000 Excellent Author Points 1 'I knew odd pokefacts that confused a bread crumb' point. 20 Y2Tech Points