From: SaberTeamR <saberteamr@aol.computer> Subject: [PW!] Just when things start to go forward... Date: Saturday, May 15, 1999 3:50 PM [PW!] Just when things start to go forward... *OR* [PW!] Back to Pallet! (i feel like the old Rocky and Bullwinkle announcer! ^_^;;;) *Viridian City* As Saber steped outside the Pokemon Center, he suddenly remembered he had forgotten his sunglasses in his bag. "Ahhh crap" he said, as he stumbled back into the shadows made by the overhang. After a few minutes, he found his glasses, and put them on. "Much, MUCH better. Now at least I can see." Saber eyes were very sensitive to light, and he can't stand being outside without his shades on. His condition hadn't affected him as a Rocket, as he had usually done his job as night. He waited only a minute longer before stepping into the sunlight and walking down the drive of the Center. He had no sooner walked 10 feet before he heard a beeping noise coming from the vicinity of his belt. Realizing it must be his new Pokedex, he tried unhooking it from its clip. After several unsuccessful attempts, he finally got it off. As he unhooked it, it automatically shifted into its normal size. The top clasp moved, and it flipped open. Mark's voice could be heard. "Saber? Are you there? It's taking you awhile to respond. I sure hope nothing went wrong with the antenna." Mark said, a worried tone in his voice. Saber spoke into the little microphone. "No, Mark, I'm here. I had a little problem unhooking the 'Dex from my belt, but it's fine." "Whew. I was afraid something had happened to the machinery. Something happened here in Pallet before. I was working on a new Poke ball when it happened. It felt like an earthquake. The lights dimmed and stuff fell from all my shelves. Luckily I wasn't near any of my supply cabinets, because all the stuff fell out." "An earthquake? Near Pallet? That's impossible." "I know. I tried getting in Oak's lab before, to see if he knew anything, but his aide's told me he was busy tending with someone. I thought this was odd, because Oak always invites me in. I told his aides that, but they told me it was an emergency and he couldn't be reached at this time. They seemed really distracted, so I left. From what I heard, Ash Ketchum's memorial collapsed due to Diglett or something. The quake caused damage all over. It really is a mess here..." Mark trailed off, as if sweeping his gaze around his workplace. Saber knew Mark usually kept a tidy room. "Do you want me to stop by, help you clean up? Pallet's only a short walk from Viridian. And maybe I can help you get into Oak's place." Saber offered. "You wouldn't mind postponing your journey?" asked Mark. "After all the help you gave me, it's the least I can do." "You don't know how much this means to me." "I'll be there as soon as I can." "Allright, see you soon!" Saber could hear the click as the connection was closed. He compacted the 'Dex and rehooked it to his belt. He sighed. He hated to go backwards, but Mark was the closest family he had, and had given him so much help when he needed it most. "Ok, to Pallet it is!" Saber said to himself. ----------- So far, the trip to Pallet had been rather uneventful. Saber had gone more than 3/4 of the way without seeing a single Pokemon close enough to battle. He had been planning on capturing at least one Pokemon. He hadn't 'captured' a new Pokemon in 2 years. Back at home, he had managed to nab a few Pidgeys in his backyard, but he had let them go right after he got them. While doing jobs for Team Rocket, he had stolen the Pokemon, not captured them. Idly, he wondered if he had gotten rusty. "I wish I would at least see SOME kind of Pokemon to capture." he thought to himself. As if in response to his thoughts, a Pidgey flew by overhead and landed in the grass a short distance to the left. "A Pidgey?" He didn't need the Pokedex for simple things like this. "Well, something's better than nothing. Pidgey, you'll soon be mine!" He took the second Poke Ball from his belt, expanded it to full size, and threw it. "Koffee, GO!" The ball landed, spun around and popped open as Saber's Koffing emerged. "KOFFING!!!" Koffee glanced around, saw the Pidgey, looked back at Saber, and realized what his master wanted. He floated quickly over to wear the Pidgey was. "Koffee, smog attack!" "KOFFING!" Koffee exclaimed, as he expelled gas at the Pidgey. The Pidgey, suprised, started flapping its wings, kicking up sand and blowing the smog away. "Ah, that didn't work! Koffee, use your tackle attack, then hit it with Sludge!" The Koffing obeyed, zipping around the Pidgey, which had now started flying. Koffee hit the Pidgey full-force, then tried shooting it w/ sludge. The sand-attack lowered Koffee's accuracy, but after a few tries he connected. The Pidgey, its wings stuck to its body, could not fly and fell to the ground. Saber reached behind him and found an empty Poke ball. "Poke Ball, GO!" He threw it at the Pidgey. It hit its target, and the Pidgey was sucked inside. The ball wiggled once, twice, then was still. "All right, a Pidgey!" It was the first Pokemon Saber had caught since he was at home. Of course, a single Pidgey was nothing compared to the rare and valuable Pokemon he had handled while in Team Rocket, but he was happy nonetheless. "Koffee, return!" His Koffing was returned to its Poke ball. He walked over and picked up the Poke ball, and called the Pidgey out. It came out, its wings still stuck. "Here, let's get you cleaned up." Saber said, removing a bottle of water and a roll of paper towels from his bag. 15 minutes later, the Pidgey was as clean as it had been. It cooed "Pidgey pidgey." "Let's see now, what am I gonna name you...?" Saber thought hard for a moment. "I know! Your new name is...AlphaPrime! You're the first Pokemon I ever caught in my new life, and your name signifies that." The Pidgey frowned for a moment, contemplating this. It's face then brightened and it sang "Pidgey pidgey pidgey!" Saber could tell it was happy. "Allright then, let's get moving. Mark is expecting me." He returned AlphaPrime to his Poke ball, and attached it to his belt. He resumed his walk towards Pallet. He could see the tops of some of the larger buildings by now. ----------- When he arrived in Pallet, he immediately noticed a large pile of rubble where the memorial to Ash Ketchum once stood. "Holy sh-" His words were cut off by the beeping at his waist. Retrieving the Pokedex, he flipped it open. "Saber, are you there?" EXO's voice filtered through the 'Dex. Saber was startled. "EXO?? Is that you??" Saber was overjoyed. "Yeah, I'm at Mark's house right now. I started towards Pallet when I heard about the memorial, but I couldn't convince Giovanni to let me take a transport, so I had to walk. Hey, where are you right now?" "I just got to Pallet, I'm heading towards Mark's house now. I should be there in 5 or so minutes. We've got some catching up to do!" "You bet old buddy. Aight, EXO out." There is a click as the connection is closed. ----------- When Saber arrived at Mark's house, he was shocked at what he saw. Instead of the run-down he had seen last, in its place was a large 2-story building with the words "Mark911 Tech" near the door. Once inside, he immediately sought out Mark and EXO. They were both in Mark's lab, cleaning up parts and pieces of things Mark had been working on. It turns out Mark had explained some of Saber's stroy to EXO, but left out the key parts, as he felt it would be better for Saber to tell them himself. And that he did. Over the course of an hour, Saber explained to EXO everything Mark had left out, about his expulsion form Team Rocket all the way up to his capturing of the Pidgey. "Well, even though you're not a Rocket anymore, I'm sure I can arrange for you to still get the inside scoop on things." EXO smirked. "EXO, that would mean betraying Team Rocket!" Saber said. "Hey, after what Jessie and James did to you, I pretty much don't see any trust in Team Rocket anymore. I would try to get out, but it's easier said than done. Many died in the attempt to leave. Apparently Giovanni doesn't want his secrets out. And he uses any means neccessary to get what he wants." After a short silence, Saber got up. "It's time we went about trying to get into Oak's lab. From what I hear, it seems the aides were busy with something else. It shouldn't take that much effort to get in. Let's get a move on. Oh, and EXO you might wanna hide that big red "R" on your chest. The problem at the memorial might have been caused by Rockets. We don;t want anyone thinking you were involved." "You're probably right. I'll get my overcoat." ----------- 10 minutes later, 3 figures emerged from Mark911 Tech. Two was dressed entirely in black, the other in Jnco-wear. It was easy to tell who was who. Trying their best to avoid large groups of people, the trio made thier way over to Oak's lab. Their plan was simple: EXO would create a diversion while Saber and Mark snuck inside. EXO went up to one of the aides standing guard and started asking questions about the situation. Really complex questions. While the aide was dumbfounded, Mark and Saber slipped by into the Lab. When they made it inside, Mark spoke up. "Saber, we need to try and find Oak. I believe he's the only person we'll get a clear story out of. It seems to me that no one really knows *exactly* what happened. I think we can trust Oak's word." "I have the same thoughts. We'll meet up with EXO later." Saber said, as he and Mark started their way into the lab. ----------- TBC? (hopefully!) Interaction? please? ^_^;;; I'm planning on writing WG's for Mark and/or EXO, as I plan to develop their characters more. ----------------------- Saber's Sig v1.0 ----------------------- "PK Thunder! DYAAAAAHHH!!" - Ness ***Saber means "to know."*** Team Rocket Headquarters: http://teamr.upnetwork.com Email me here: saber@upnetwork.com -----------------------