[PW] The Cave Training Session

From: "Chet Weaver - Chicks Dig Giant Robots" <zeroohki@netscape.net> Subject: [PW] The Cave Training Session Date: Friday, June 25, 2004 2:23 AM #Somehow, I was under the impression that you could magically pull a victory out of your ass,# Artemis the Ralts conversed telepathically. "That's a definite possibility," Magma Grunt Mason "Mace" Adams replied, perhaps paying more attention to his other Pokemon than to the conversation at hand. "Numel, Flamethrower that Zubat. No! The WILD Zubat!" #You said that you were most likely to win when you would most definitely lose,# Artemis continued. "Something along those lines," Mace confirmed. "Zubat! Mind that Solrock!" #Yet you totally wussed out during that match with Lute,# Artemis pressed. "I did not wuss out," Mace insisted. "I just stopped caring about the match. Mickey, Crunch the Solrock chasing Zubat! No, MY Zubat!" #You stopped caring because you knew you were gonna get your ass handed to you,# Artemis taunted with a smirk. #You want everyone to think that you're such a badass, but you're nothing more than a coward.# "I am not a coward!" Mace argued, his voice echoing of the walls of the Meteor Falls cavern. He was giving Artemis his full attention now. "I would've lost the match BECAUSE I stopped caring about it! The flute was a total dud, and without that motivation the match held nothing for me! Nothing!" #You have no self-respect, no honor,# Artemis noted. #A real warrior would've kept fighting regardless, especially if the whole match was their idea in the first place.# Mace said nothing. He turned his attention back to the rest of his team. Zubat and Mickey the Poochyena were chasing around wild Zubats while Numel was attempting to toast Lunatones with his Flamethrower attack. Artemis watched expectantly as Mace mulled over her last comment. "My old team could've taken care of his no problem," Mace finally said. "As a trainer, I know I can take Lute on at his level, if not greater. But I don't know this team as well, and they're not at our level. It wouldn't be fair to them. They're not ready yet." Artemis' instinctive empathy told her that the real reason was far deeper than Mace was telling her. Considering his amnesia, it was probably deeper than even he knew. There was a sense of loss to him... Artemis shook the sympathetic feelings off. The Ralts line was well-known for their ability to form empathic links to their trainers, but Artemis refused to accept Mace as hers. To her Team Magma represented nothing but pain and sorrow through short generations in their breeding program. Before she had even hatched, perhaps with her very first conscious thought, she had sworn never to let a Magma control her. Artemis was not about to let that go on some mere instinct. #You should've let them get a good beating,# Artemis snappily replied. #I hear you can learn more from defeat than from retreat.# "And I suppose you would've wanted to tackle one or three of his monsters?" Mace inquired. He took her telepathic silence as a "No." She knew exactly what was on Lute's team. "That's why we're training here today." #That's why we're *training* today,# Artemis echoed. #We're training *here* because you think I can't teleport very far in a cavern.# "Too true," Mace agreed. "But I see you're not going anywhere. Maybe you're hoping the gain the benefit of my experience?" #Maybe I'm hoping to gain the amusement of watching a falling salactite crush your skull,# Artemis transmitted with the accompaniment of an audible growl. #Then I'll merrily burn your remains, defecate on the ashes and be rid of you for good.# "Now THAT's the attitude I wanna see," Mace said encouragingly. "Now how about you get off that rock and do some actual training?" #I don't need training,# Artemis replied defiantly. #Least of all from YOU.# "C'mon, Pokemon love fighting," Mace urged. "Just try a couple battles." Artemis causually downed a flock of Zubat with her Psychic attack with no regard for allegience. #There, now I'm done,# Artemis reported. #Now, unless by some wild chance you plan on releasing me, I'm going back into my PokeBall.# "Now you're being lazy," Mace chided. "Take out a few more. Preferably these rock things." #No,# Artemis said firmly. "Fine," Mace replied. "If you're going to be like that, then I suppose I don't have a choice." Artemis was smiling smugly to herself until Mace grabbed her and chucked her across the cavern. She flew through a flock of Zubat, instinctively knocking them out with a reflexive Psychic attack, and landed on a high ledge next to a waterfall. She crawled back onto her feet glowered down at Mace. #What the# "ralts" #was that, you# "ralts"#ing bastard!?# she screamed, uncontrollably in both her native Raltsuian tongue and telepathic mind speak. #You could've# "ralts"#ing killed me!# "Just tryin' to get you in the spirit of things, is all," Mace replied innocently. "Now get back down here so we can continue training." #No!# Artemis resisted. "You'll never learn how to make my head explode with that attitude," Mace countered. "Ralts" #off!# Artemis snapped. She turned her back to Mace and immediately noticed the natural archway at the back of the cave. She turned back to Mace and added, #I'm going to live in the cave up here with my free Pokemon brothers and sisters where you'll never be able to find me ever again!# She lifted a lock of green hair with one arm-like appendage, using the other to pull down on the skin beneath one of her pink eyes while sticking her tongue out at Mace. She then disappeared from view, presumably into the cave. "Dammit!" Mace swore. He took a couple PokeBalls off his belt. "Mickey, Numel, return. Zubat, you follow Artemis and make sure she doesn't get into trouble. But try not to stand out too much. She might not be too keen on having a babysitter." Zubat nodded and fluttered up and over the waterfall. Meanwhile, Mace, with his other two Pokemon safely within their Balls, began looking for a good place to start climbing. While he didn't have any real memories of his life in the Orre Region where he supposedly hailed, he knew enough to know that where there are barriers there are often powerful Pokemon behind them. "I could be at a party enjoying myself right now," Mason grumbled to himself. He found a pathway leading higher up, but even from there he might still need to do some climbing. "Nah. I guess I just can't stand hanging around the base. I wonder if I've always been like that..." ------------------------------------------------------------------------- "What do you mean he's not on the base!?" Magma Admin Lars Gandrie demanded, slamming a fist on the desk. "Apparently, the guest of honor slipped out during his own party," Magma Admin Jennifer said as he straightened out the papers on his desk that Lars had scattered. "Everyone saw him there, but no one saw him leave." "But laying low was his idea," Lars pondered. "He should know better than that." "Maybe he's looking for information," Jennifer offered. He reached into his desk and pulled out a black armband that was given to one of the entrance guards when a certain search party neared the base. "Maybe something he can't get out of our computers." Lars was silent for a moment before asking, "Has he seen these yet?" "Not as far as I know," Jennifer replied. "But sooner or later he's going to start asking questions, if he hasn't already. I'm a little curious about our operations in the Orre Region, myself." "That information is on a need-to-know basis," Lars informed. "If there's one thing a man needs to know, it's his past," Jennifer reminded, playing with a pen between opposite fingertips. "We'll have to tell him something sooner or later." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mace's Zubat didn't have to go far to locate Artemis. She was sitting on a rock in the middle of a body water watching an elderly couple training their Pokemon some distance away. Zubat perched on the ceiling and attempted to look inconspicuous. Artemis sighed. "<Look at them,>" Artemis said verbally, just loud enough for Zubat to hear her. "<They seem so happy together. Not just the human couple, but their Pokemon, too. It's so 'happily ever after' it makes me wanna puke. But seeing them makes me want out so much more, even if I never find a trainer like that. But I will find that trainer or die trying. Don't you want a trainer like that?>" With a start Zubat realized Artemis was talking to her and not just thinking aloud. She could help but wonder why she chose to speak rather than telepathically transmit like always. "" Artemis replied. "<And right now your just not worth emoting on. So answer the question: Do you want a trainer like that?"> "<I... I haven't really thought about it,>" Zubat replied. "<What's there to think about?>" Artemis demanded. "<It's a yes or no question. Do you want a trainer that loves you or not?>" "" Zubat answered. "" "<Just another drone, just like I thought,>" Artemis sighed with a hint of disappointment. "<You're so weak minded that you don't even think anymore. You've allowed them to brainwash you so completely that you're nothing but a machine. Pathetic.>" "<I'm sorry,>" Zubat said dejectedly. "<But for what it's worth, I think Mace does love us. Well, except Numel. Why else would he be training us right now if not to help us protect ourselves?>" "<Power, control reinforcement, boredom,>" Artemis listed. "<Stop me when you think I'm getting close. The only reason someone like Mason Adams would train Pokemon is to further his own glory.>" "" Zubat replied. "<Oh, shut up before I Psychic you,>" Artemis snapped. "<You're just another groveling toady like all the other Pokepets. I don't even know why I'm still talking to you.>" "<Maybe because she's the closest thing to an ally that you have,>" a large, blue bat said as it dropped from the ceiling and landed before Artemis with its wings still tightly wrapped around it. Artemis thought it was a large Zubat at first, but noticed the lack of a distinct head. "<Not that she'll do you much good here.>" "<What are you talking about?>" Artemis inquried. "<Run, Artemis!>" Zubat warned, descending from the ceiling in a flurry of frenzied fluttering. "<He's a high-level Golbat, and wild Pokemon are rabidly jealous of trained ones!>" "<That's just a story the Man tells you to keep you from running away,>" Artemis replied condescendingly. Seeking clarification from the Golbat, she added, "<Isn't that right, 'coz? You couldn't be jealous of a slave, could you?>" "<An interesting question,>" the Golbat mused. "<Tell me, is it true that trained Pokemon are fed daily?>" "<About three times a day, when they remember too,>" Artemis replied. "<Why?>" "<Well, in the wild, we have to feed ourselves,>" Golbat answered, towering above Artemis with hungry eyes. "<Sometimes we don't even eat for days at a time. So, understandably, if one were to, say, happen upon a plump, juicy, trained Ralts, one may hunger for more than just sustenance...>" "" Artemis said as the Golbat eyed her far more closely than socially acceptable. "<Let's go!>" Zubat urged, wrapping her legs around Artemis' head and flapping with all her might. "<He might know Bite or Feint Attack or something!>" "<But, but I always thought you'd accept me back into the fold with open arms, er wings!>" Artemis practically pleaded. "<'The fold'?>" the Golbat echoed, almost sounding insulted. "<Do you think the wild is some sort of country club? There is no 'fold,' you silly girl! But as for the open arms part...>" The Golbat threw his wings open, revealing his large, gaping mouth. "" With a shreik, Artemis was yanked off the rock just as the Golbat clamped its jaws down. Zubat quickly towed her cargo back towards the entrance. "<Where the> ralts <do you think you're going!?>" Artemis demanded. "<I'm not going back to that> ralts<trooper!>" "<Would you rather be eaten!?>" Zubat proposed. "<Just let me go!>" Artemis ordered. "" "<Are you nuts!?>" Zubat exclaimed. "<He's probably much stronger and faster than we are!>" "<Speaking of...>" Artemis noted just before the Golbat crashed through them. Zubat spiralled off over some rocks as Artemis dropped like a stone to the floor. Artemis pulled herself to her feet as the Golbat loomed over her once more. #Now you've made me mad,# Artemis said telepathically. #You may have caught me off guard last time, but now you're mine! PSYCHI-# Before Artemis could launch her attack, the Golbat snapped at her with his fangs. Artemis barely dodged and the fangs managed to graze her head and right arm. She woozily stood back up, holding the bloodied arm. She looked at her palm to examine the blood coming from the wound. There was a sickly purple mixed in with the red. "Ralts," Artemis swore. She had been poisoned. Even as ineffective as the attack should have been, it had weakened her considerably. Holding her arm again, she unleashed her Psychic attack upon the approaching Golbat. The Golbat was knocked back slightly, but continued to steadily approach. Zubat suddenly zoomed into the Golbat's face, beating him wildly with her wings as she cried, "<Run, Artemis! Get to a Pokemon Center! I'll hold him off as long as I can.>" "<Zubat,>" Artemis remarked. She came to her senses again and trudged off with an appreciative, "<Stupid drone.>" Artemis winced as the poison began to take effect. This wasn't looking good. Even if she could get out of the cave, there was no way she could reach a Pokemon Center in time. However, she had heard that Zangoose were immune to poison. If she could only find one and trace its ability... Artemis collasped to the ground. She strained to crawl forward, but she didn't have the energy to move. She couldn't even focus enough to Teleport. As her vision blurred to black, a black boot filled it and the last sound she heard was resonating call of a PokeBall's recall beam. -------------------------------------------------------------------- Mace awoke to the sound of shattering glass. He glanced around quickly and discovered he had fallen asleep in the waiting room of the Magma Base's medbay. Down a nearby hall, he could hear the sounds of breaking equipment and interns fighting to keep a patient subdued. Mace would've wondered if he should be surprised that it sounded like they were losing if he wasn't so concerned about the state of the patient. Instead he sprang up and dashed down the hall. Mace skidded to a halt just as the door opened, or, rather, was torn from its hinges and lodged into a nearby wall. Artemis zoomed out of the room only to be caught in Mace's waiting hand. "Ra," Artemis started before catching herself. #Mason.# "Artemis," Mace replied in a tone that mocked the Ralts' coldness. #I had the most wonderful dream while I was out,# Artemis said sweetly. She proceded to upload what, from Mace's perspective, would've been considered a horrific nightmare directly into his brain. "You had me worried," Mace said, his expression softening. "I wasn't sure you were going to make it." #No thanks to y-# Artemis transmitted before Mace pinned her hard against the wall. "Don't you EVER run off like that again!" Mace scolded. "You were lucky I found you before that Golbat ate you! Hell, you were lucky it was just a Golbat! The wilderness is a dangerous place to be, especially for Pokemon breed in captivity! You could've died! Do you understand me!?" Artemis blasted Mace with a Psychic attack and Teleported away. From his position on the floor, Mace quickly got out her PokeBall and fired the red recall beam down the hall. A Ralts-like shape formed at the end of the beam and was promptly sucked into the PokeBall. #YOU BASTARD!# Artemis psychically screamed from her PokeBall. #I'LL NEVER LET YOU TELL ME WHAT TO DO! NEVER!# Mace sighed in disappointment and stood up, placing the PokeBall back on his belt. Along Artemis' telepathic line, he replied, #You'll never be free until your training is complete, and you're training will never end until you learn to trust me.# To be continued...? -- Chet "Tech" Weaver AIM: PanGatomon MSN: Nichirasu@hotmail.com eMail: zeroohki at netscape dot net Yahoo! Messenger: tech_weaver ICQ: 122744531 Webcomic: http://desperadocoyote.keenspace.com My Adventure Quest character: http://www.battleon.com/aq-chardetail.asp?temp=131213 You can play Adventure Quest at http://www.battleon.com Sometimes, I notice someone has posted a reply to one of my messages and I think, "Oh, great, what did I say this time?"