From: Adrian Tymes <wingcat@soca.com> Subject: Re: [PW!] Battle in Viridian Park Date: Sunday, May 23, 1999 8:27 PM Mobius101 wrote: > Seth felt Aerie walk up behind him, wrapping her arms around his waist. "You > don't have to prove yourself you know. Besides, he won't be our problem for > quite a few years yet." > > Seth blinked, and looked back at her. "What are you talking about?" > > "You mean you didn't recognize him?" Aerie laughed. > > "Aerie.....you know I don't like to think unless it's absolutely necessary," He > said with grin. "I don't get you." > > "Seth....that was Matt." Seth blinked once, sighed, and seemed to collapse on himself in Aerie's arms. "Seth?" "Boy do I feel rotten." "What's wrong?" Slowly, Seth resumed eye contact with Aerie. "I remember his parents telling me about his first loss. How some bully with a Ditto and a Persian mauled his Squirtle, before I was born. He was in tears for a whole week." "Seth...forget about him. The Matt you knew doesn't exist now, and won't for a long time." Aerie hugged him closer. "Focus on the moment; try to plan the future, but don't let what might or might not happen take priority over what you can see is happening right now. No plan survives contact..." She cut off, and frowned. Seth noticed her tense up. "Aerie?" "I hate this." She rested her head on Seth's shoulder. "I keep getting...I don't know, 'flashes' of advice and thoughts. I can't disobey them...it almost seems wrong to even try." She massaged her temples. "Thanks a *lot*, Dad." "Doppler did this?" "It's a bit fuzzy, but yeah, I thikn he's responsible." She looked him in the eyes. "Seth...if this...*programming* forces me to try to kill you or Slasher, promise me you won't let me suceed, even if it means killing me. If I knew I'd killed you...when I regained control of myself, I'd commit suicide." "What about Mimic?" Seth thought he was joking, but Aerie took the question seriously. She peered at the only time-natiive in their group, as if trying to peer into his soul. "I don't want to kill him...right now. But I could live with myself if I did." Mimic peered back, then temporarily shifted into Aerie, duplicating her actions of a moment ago. "Thanks a *lot*, Dad." Aerie giggled. "You really don't get along with him, do you?" 'Aerie' shrugged. "Mimic no be surprised if Doppler try kill Mimic. Brother done enough hateful things already...kill me would just be more of same. Not that Doppler probably ever come close to sucess. Mimic no blame Aerie for thoughts from Doppler...although Mimic think Aerie need get thoughts under control." "Agreed. But how?" "Many might help, but not many can trust to keep cause secret, if need know. If no can cure, and word gets out that Aerie has Doppler thoughts, rumor will make like Aerie is Doppler number two...and not in sense that Aerie *is* Doppler number two." Aerie grimaced at that, but kept listening. "No good make world think Aerie need be contained or destroyed, like Doppler. So, secret necessary. Mimic spend moment at Oak's looking through project list; he no can help. Too bad - Oak Mimic's first choice. Silph Co. might be able help and keep secret, if pay enough money. But no have that much money. Next on list...maybe try Sabrina. But Mimic no know Sabrina that well. Aerie, Seth, or Slasher know Sabrina well enough to judge trust? And...if trustworthy in future, is trustworthy *now*, minus twenty years experiences?" TBC?