From: "Rob" <robfrompw@yahoo.com> Subject: [PW!] Saffron City Hospitality Date: Tuesday, July 27, 2004 4:32 AM "Hey, aren't ya one a' them there Kanto Gym Leaders?" This question draws Robert's attention to the person who issued it - an old man with a heavy Fuchsia City accent standing outside Saffron City's Gym. While he's on his way to Saffron Hospital to visit Andrew O'Reilly, a young acquaintance of his who fell into a coma months ago, Robert stops in his tracks and tells the old man, "Why, yes I am! I'm Robert, the Leader of Lavender Town's Diversity Gym. Do you need something?" "Well, y'see, I just came alls th' way up here frum Fuchsia as part a' mah Pokeyman Journey, an' I was hopin' ta earn a Marsh Badge, but Sabrina ain't here." Robert is surprised by this information since Sabrina wasn't in the city the last time he visited it either. The fact that Sabrina hasn't returned from her trip to Hoenn is even more surprising to him than the fact that such an old man is on a Pokemon Journey, so he asks, "She STILL hasn't come back from her vacation?" "No siree, Rob! So's I wuz wund'rin' if I could try ta earn yer Badge since she ain't here." "I suppose I could battle you, but I feel I should let you know that the Diversity Gym isn't an OFFICIAL Kanto Gym. If you earned an Oasis Badge from me, it wouldn't really count for any Pokemon League tournaments or towards facing the Elite Four. Neither set. It wouldn't even help your Pokemon use any moves outside of battle, as a matter of fact, or improve any of their abilities." After letting the old man know all this, Robert asks, "So, do you still want to battle me?" The old man appears disappointed as he responds, "Uhh... since ya puts it like that, I'll pass on th' battle. But can ya find out whut Sabrina's up to over thar in Hoenn country? I tried askin' one a' them there psychic folk in the Gym an' he didn't wanna tell me. I reckon he'll tell ya, since yer a Gym Leader." "I'll see what I can find out." While Robert's somewhat reluctant to enter the Saffron City Gym due to traumatic experiences from his past, he figures that he should be fine doing so since Sabrina isn't within its walls right now. The moment he steps into the Gym, he's confronted by a familiar thin spiky-haired man. Robert had encountered this particular psychic on the various trips he made to the Saffron City Gym back when he was vying for a Marsh Badge, and although that was many years ago, certain memories of his experiences within this building are still fresh in his mind - including his encounters with this man. "Hello there. I want to know..." "What Sabrina's doing in Hoenn," the psychic finishes, as fond of prying into people's thoughts as he was when Robert met him years ago, "Why should I tell you?" "Well, I'm -" "The Diversity Gym Leader. So you feel you should be informed about what your fellow Kanto Gym Leader is up to." "Why do you -" "Ask if I already know the answer? I consider the formality of actually asking the question a common courtesy." "It's not -" "Polite to interrupt people when they're trying to talk, I know. But I get impatient with how slow speech is compared to thought." "That's -" "Obvious, yes." "Anyway, are you -" "Yes, I'll tell you what she's up to. She's recently taken interest in the life of a special teenage girl from Hoenn, so she's been following her around, using her vast psychic abilities to give her and her companions helpful hints on their journey through the island. She hasn't told me when she'll be returning." "But she has -" "Gym Leader duties to attend to here. Yes, that's true, but when you're as powerful as Sabrina, no one can tell you what to do." "Not even -" "Nope, not even him." "But he's -" "Gotten better lately since he's increased his focus by not behaving as omnipotently as he used to. That may be so, but he still can't manipulate Sabrina as if she were a puppet." "I -" "See." "Okay, now -" "I'm just being annoying? I see your point. Well, you got the information you wanted. You are free to leave at any time." "Bye -" "Bye!" Robert rushes out of the Saffron City Gym, eager to get away from the annoying psychic who loves reading his mind. Once outside, he tells the old man waiting for him, "I found out that Sabrina's decided to extend her vacation to follow around some girl in Hoenn. I'm not sure when she'll be back, so I recommend earning some other Kanto League Badges first. Besides, she's a very difficult Gym Leader to beat - you could use the experience." After the old man thanks him for finding out this information for him, Robert hurries to Saffron City's Hospital, not wanting anyone else to stop him on the way there. When he finally arrives in the Hospital, Robert heads straight for Andrew O'Reilly's room, knowing exactly where it is due to past visits. As he turns the knob of the door to Andrew's room, Robert hopes that when he swings the door open, he'll find Andrew sitting up in his bed instead of lying flat on it as he's been for such a long time. When he opens the door, however, Robert sees that the young man with long brown hair is still unconscious in his bed. Robert takes a seat in a blue armchair beside the bed and says, "Hi, Andrew, it's me, Robert." No response. Robert has always found it awkward to speak to people who don't respond, whether they be dead or simply unable to communicate. He clears his throat, "Hrrm." The moment he makes that noise, he notices that Andrew's left eye suddenly twitches. "Andrew, are you trying to tell me something?" -Robert