From: Nendil <lucyliu@flash.net> Subject: [PW!] Thugs on Wheels Date: Tuesday, July 27, 1999 3:57 PM "Welcome!" a clerk greeted Robert and Mithril-rama as they walked in the door of the bike rental. "From this point on, only bicycles are allowed on the path. Would you like to make a rental or purchase?" "Rental will be fine," Rilli answered. "How much would it cost?" "We would already have a bike if I hadn't left mine back in Mt. Moon," Robert mused. "Your bike only seats one," Rilli pointed out, "so I'd still have to pay for another one." "I guess..." "At any rate, I'm sure you'll have no trouble with our payment system," the clerk continued. "Each individual bicycle has a rental fee of $15, however if you prefer, the tandem bikes are only $20 each. At the end of the trail, you can return the bikes at our station and get your money back." "Sounds like a good deal to me," Robert shrugged, and turned to Rilli. "So which should we take? It doesn't make a difference in money." "Well... I've always wanted to try riding those two-seater bikes, just once..." the girl giggled. The clerk promptly pushed out the requested vehicle, an elongated bike painted neon orange with lavender stripes. Rilli wrinkled her brow. "Eww, what's with the color?" "It's our way of identifying our bikes," the clerk explained. "Besides, no one would want to steal a bike painted like this." "Can't argue with that," Robert agreed as Rilli paid the fee. They wheeled the bike out the door and came promptly face-to-face with a rather stiffened Haunter, who had been waiting for them outside. "I think someone wants something, Rilli," Robert chuckled. "Oh, is that it?" Rilli raised an eyebrow in fake surprise and dug a pokéball out of her purse. A quick toss to the ground released the female Haunter, who immediately dumped a cream pie onto Robert's Haunter. Rilli shook her head, smiling. "I'll never understand ghosts... Maybe it's better that way. Make sure you don't lose track of us, all right?" The two Haunters nodded together and quickly faded away to their own antics. After a few failed attempts, Robert and Rilli finally managed to balance on the bike. Once there, getting started wasn't nearly quite as bad. The road sloped gently, so it was an easy coast downhill. Since the trail was pleasantly straight, even Rilli who was steering began to divert her attention. The two chatted lightly, not noticing the rustling in the bushes following them. Without warning, another biker darted out on the path before them. Rilli gasped and braked hard, but lost balance and their bike still fell over. "Sorry about that," she called out to the other biker who was likewise on the ground. "Sorry, nothin'," growled the biker, starting to get up. He was dressed in all black leather (which must be awfully hot in this weather, Rilli mused) and sported a bright crimson Mohawk. "You knocked over my ride, and it's gonna take more th'n an apology to fix the scratches!" "What do you want then?" Robert asked with a frown as he helped Rilli up. The punk biker sneered threateningly. "Your money and your pokémon would be a good start," he smirked, "and no funny business!" A tap on his shoulder made him pause. "Not now, Phil," he hissed, brushing at his shoulder. "I'm wrapping up the haul!" But the tapping hand wouldn't give up. "WHAT!" he shouted, turning around. ...To be met with a slobbery--not to mention paralyzing--tongue of Haunter, and then immediately clobbered with a mallet, also of Haunter. The ghostly couple guffawed as the punk biker's eyes spun and he crumpled in a pile to the ground. "Haunter!" Robert tried to hug his loyal pokémon, but his arms passed right through. "Thanks for saving us!" The spirit laughed at that and swung his mallet at Robert, but it phased through his head as well. Rilli shook a finger at her own Haunter. "You know, that wasn't very nice." The female Haunter made a face, stuck out her tongue at her trainer, and dropped a pie onto the unconscious biker's face. Rilli couldn't help but grin at that. "Boy, I'd sure like to see him explain that one when he comes to." Robert picked up the fallen bike and rolled it to Rilli's side. "It's getting late in the afternoon! We better get going, and hope there are no other interruptions on the way." He looked at the two ghosts, now re-styling the punk biker's hair into short braids. "Then again, we probably don't have much to worry about!" Nendil -- The Aquafraternal Fanart Corner http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Island/2733