From: "Rob" <robfrompw@yahoo.com> Subject: [PW!] The S.S. Tidal's Cruise Control Date: Monday, January 12, 2004 3:06 AM As passengers bound for either Dewford Town or Hoenn board the S.S. Tidal in Slateport Harbor, Nurse Marcia stands next to Captain Stern at a podium. The black-haired captain's wearing his usual black-rimmed glasses and white lab coat ensemble, hoping to look like he knows what he's talking about when he is interviewed by the reporter from Mauville's PNN affiliate. The blue-haired nurse is wearing an outfit made for employees of the S.S. Tidal - a short-sleeved navy blue blouse with a name tag on it, a matching skirt, black leggings, and as per Marcia's request, heel-less black shoes. The reporter from Mauville City is wearing a blue outfit similar to Marcia's, but hers is sky blue to match her hair. She's standing a few feet in front of the podium, holding her microphone up to her mouth and staring blankly into the distance with a smile on her face as the cameraman she's working with sets up his camera. Connecting the last wire from the camera to his Magneton, the cameraman hefts his heavy camera onto his shoulder and points it at the reporter. He holds his free hand out, extends the five fingers on that hand, and starts counting down, "5... 4... 3..." "Wait, Ty," the reporter interrupts, combing her blue hair with her free hand, "Is my hair okay? What about my makeup? This is an important broadcast!" "Yes and yes." Ty assures his partner, trying hard not to roll his eyes, "Now let's get this show on the road, Gabby, the anchors are waiting for our live feed." He extends his five fingers outward again and proceeds to count down once more, "5... 4... 3... 2... 1... Rolling!" "Hi! Today I'm visiting Slateport Harbor in Slateport City. We're trying to spot some up-and-coming new..." Gabby stops, realizing that she's reciting the script she usually recites whenever she reports on Pokemon Trainers, "Oh, sorry about that, viewers - force of habit. Today I'm going to speak with Captain Stern, the man who designed the S.S. Tidal and who is about to act as the ship's captain again. The S.S. Tidal has been docked at Slateport Harbor for days due to a tragic incident of food poisoning on the last cruise held on it. Is it really safe to sail on the S.S. Tidal again? Let's find out from the man who led the effort to find out exactly what happened on the last cruise and who has implemented security measures to keep it from happening again!" When Gabby walks over to the podium where Captain Stern is standing, Ty and his Magneton follow her, Ty zooming out his camera so that Gabby, Captain Stern, and Nurse Marcia are all in the shot. Gabby tells the ship-designer, "Captain Stern, first of all, thank you for agreeing to this interview." Captain Stern nods once, "I just want to let everyone in Kanto, Johto, and Hoenn know that it's safe to sail on the S.S. Tidal once again." "First of all, I'm sure many people who have been following this story want to know one thing more than anything else. Who was responsible for the food poisoning? Was it the catering company? The ship's kitchen staff?" "That's a good question, Gabby. The catering company and the kitchen staff were not to blame for this unfortunate incident - they will both continue to provide top-notch services to all who sail on the S.S. Tidal. It turns out that a member of Team Aqua named Jack got past security and poisoned the food. This was recently revealed to me by the honorary captain of the S.S. Tidal, Captain Briney, who found out this information in Dewford Town. After Captain Briney reported his findings to Dewford Town's police force, they found a secret Team Aqua laboratory in Granite Cave. Within the lab, they discovered traces of the liquid that made the people who went on the last cruise sick and their Pokemon angry and confused." "Has this 'Jack' character been caught?" "Unfortunately, he is still at large. If anyone has any additional information about a Team Aqua member by the name of Jack, please call Slateport Police. People interested in sailing on the S.S. Tidal need not worry about Jack or any other member of Team Aqua poisoning the food on any future S.S. Tidal cruises. Measures are being taken to keep both Team Magma and Team Aqua members off the ship. Background checks are being performed by Ticket sellers, luggage is being examined for strange foods or liquids, and signs with the words Magma and Aqua in crossed out circles are being posted in Slateport Harbor." "Are all the people and Pokemon who got sick on the last cruise feeling better?" "Yes they are, Gabby. The people recovered pretty quickly and the Pokemon took a bit longer to heal, but everyone who got sick on the cruise is healthy now. I had a feeling you would ask me a question along those lines, so I have brought a specialist to field that particular question. This lovely woman standing to my right is Nurse Marcia. She used to work in Violet City's Pokemon Center and came to Slateport to help heal the Pokemon who fell ill on the last S.S. Tidal cruise. It's thanks to her quick thinking that the Pokemon who got sick during the last cruise are feeling better now. As you might be able to tell by what she's wearing, she's now working on the S. S. Tidal. Marcia, would you care to say some words?" Gabby extends her microphone to Marcia's mouth. Nurse Marcia shrugs. Not used to being interviewed, she just says what's on her mind, "Healing those Pokemon was just a matter of taking the right approach. Many nurses are just so set in their ways that they can't think outside the box. I look forward to healing and learning about more Pokemon on future cruises." "Eh-heh..." Captain Stern pulls the microphone away from Marcia to clarify, "She means helping them if they faint during battle! I assure you we won't have another case of food poisoning as long as our new safety measures are in effect!" "I see people boarding the S.S. Tidal now." Gabby comments before asking, "Where is the ship headed this afternoon?" "I'm glad you asked, Gabby," Captain Stern looks straight at the camera that Ty is pointing at him, "The S.S. Tidal will be sailing this afternoon to Dewford Town to pick up Captain Briney. We should be arriving in Dewford Town by tomorrow afternoon. After picking up Captain Briney and dropping off anyone who wants to stay in Dewford Town, the S.S. Tidal will sail all the way to Olivine City in Johto to show just how safe the ship is. Since we're trying to encourage people to sail and need to raise funds to make up for lost time, the prices for a luxury cruise from Olivine City to Hoenn's Littleroot Town will be drastically reduced! Anyone who's watching this report in Johto, take note! If you're interested in experiencing a safe, relaxing, luxurious cruise to Hoenn, head on over to Olivine City and buy your tickets today! The S.S. Tidal will be arriving there in just two days if we make good time, three if we encounter harsh weather." "What a shameless plug," Nurse Marcia comments quietly to herself, hoping the microphone didn't pick up the remark. Gabby says, "Well, that's all the time we have. Thank you again, Captain Stern!" She then turns to the camera as Ty zooms in on her and says, "There you have it, folks. It seems like sailing on the S.S. Tidal will be safe in the weeks and months ahead. Reporting live from Slateport Harbor, this is Gabby, PNN News." "Aaaand cut!" Ty says before turning off his heavy camera and sliding it into his camera bag, "That was great, Gabby - now let's do lunch!" Once Ty has packed up his equipment, he leaves Slateport Harbor with Gabby and his Magneton. Captain Stern tells his newest employee, "Thanks for helping me out during the interview." "No problem, boss." Nurse Marcia salutes, "If that's all you need, I'm going into the ship to make sure everything's working in the makeshift Pokemon Center that's been set up next to the medic's room." When Captain Stern nods, Nurse Marcia heads up the plank set aside for crew members to enter the S.S. Tidal. -Marcia