From: Akynirew <efejpenn@mindspring.com> Subject: [PW!] Decisions, decisions Date: Tuesday, August 17, 1999 3:00 PM Decisions, Decisions Phannon finally could feel his head again, and immediately wished he couldn’ t. The pain was back, instead of the nothingness of numbness. He slowly checked on the rest of his body. It was all there, it had to be because it *all* hurt. He groaned and wished it wouldn’t hurt any more, when he realized he wasn’t alone. He sensed another presence, even with his eyes closed. He tried to sit up, but his body refused. Grunting he reached out with his mind. It didn’t take him long to find that _something_ was there, it took a while for him to focus and figure out that it was his jolteon, watching over him. He tried to open his eyes again, but like the rest of his body they refused. He tried to talk but could only manage a ragged gasp. He thought back and could remember nothing of what happened to him. If he could he would have shook his head. He kept wondering until it hit him. The battle with Sabrina, he linked with Generator, and something just went wrong. He couldn’t remember what had happened after that, until he remembered feeling nauseous and passing out. He tried to move again and eventually had to admit he wasn’t going anywhere for a while. _What happened? Why don’t I remember?_ He kept repeating the question until he drifted into an uneasy sleep. He woke up with the same concerns. He needed to find out what happened. His first thought was to link to Generator and search his memory for the events in question. He then remembered the link was what caused the problem and shuddered. He needed to talk to someone. He tried to get up, but realized he still couldn’t. With a sigh he reached out with his mind again, this time he was looking for Sabrina, the only person who was there when it happened. She was further away then he expected, which made him realize he must be in the Saffron hospital. He tried sifting through her memories of what happened, her natural defenses kept him out, until she detected his fumbling attempt, which is part of what he wanted, then she let him look. Once he found what he was looking for he replayed the even through her eyes. The first time through he was awed by Generator’s stamina. The second time through, he realized what happened. He had somehow absorbed the damage done to his pokémon. The shock from that realization caused him to sever the link, the psychic recoil shook both him and Sabrina. His jaw worked, but no sound came out, he sat there, staring at the ceiling, his eyes unblinking. He didn’t even realize he could move again as he dropped into the world of sleep. When he awoke this time, he was no longer alone. He noticed the presence of someone besides his pokémon as soon as he woke up, they were blocking their identity, so it was obviously one of the psychics from the gym. He attempted passing the block, but his mind was too cloudy. He tried to turn his head towards the person and to his surprise it worked. His eyes snapped open and he realized he had regained control of his body. He sat bolt upright, and immediately wished he didn’t as he the pain flooded his body again. He gave himself a quick visual check, and found he didn’t have any scars. _At least I don’t look as bad as I feel._ He shrugged, noticing for the first time the guards on the sides of his hospital bed where up. _Great, they don’t think I can stay in a bed._ He spotted his clothes on a chair and climbed over the bed guards to get them when he remembered the other person in the room. He looked back towards them and wasn’t surprised when it was Sabrina. “I see you’re up. You where out for a while.” Even though the words weren’t spoke loud they made Phannon’s still sensitive ears rang. His hands shot up to hold his aching head. _I guess you’re not completely healed._ Sabrina’s voice said into Phannon’s head. He tried to reply, but he couldn’t focus his thoughts enough. He finally made it to his clothes and he started to dress under his hospital gown. _You were out for a week._ Phannon’s head swung around and he dropped his jeans. “A *week*!?” He croaked, which was all his damaged voice could manage. He sagged into the chair. Sabrina simply nodded. He sat in the chair until he remembered what he had been doing and continued dressing. “So do you know what happened?” He asked. Sabrina shook her head. “I’m not sure, but whatever it was centered on the link between you and your pokémon.” She smiled, reaching into her pocket. “And you will have to find out what it is.” Phannon opened his mouth to say something when he noticed a small object floated from her hand towards him. When it was close enough he grabbed it out of the air and looked at it. He smiled, “It’s a Marsh Badge!” Another nod. “You earned it.” Sabrina got up to leave, floating towards the door. “Oh.” She stopped and turned around. “I have something for you at the gym, come by when you’re finished here.” With that, she left. Phannon tossed the hospital gown onto the bed and put on his T-shirt from the pile. He slung his pokébelt on his waist, so one side sagged almost to his knee, while the other side rested on his waist, in its pant loops. Grabbing his backpack he slipped the badge into it, next to his Rainbow badge. When he did he noticed the box with the pokéchips in it. Taking out the Saffron box he left his room, signaling Generator to follow him. . At first he walked slowly towards the elevator, thinking about what happened in the gym. When he got off the elevator he had a purpose in his stride and almost made it out the door when the receptionist flagged him down. “Are you Phannon Farome?” He nodded and started walking to the desk. “Here’s the bill for your stay.” She passed him a slip of paper. He looked at it and his eyes leapt from their sockets. “WHAT HAPPENED!? I WAS ONLY HERE FOR A WEEK!!” “We had to run tests to make sure you were okay.” The receptionist shrugged. “How will you be paying for this?” His mouth worked soundlessly as he tried to think of where he’d get the funds for this. He took out his wallet and fumbled through the billfold. He cursed under his breath. “Not enough.” His continued fumbling found his insurance card. “Here.” He passed it to the receptionist, grinning, some of his usual poise returning. “It’s my parents policy.” Once that mess was worked out, he made his way to the gym. Once inside he reached out, looking for Sabrina. Once he found her he headed for her. She was in a room filled with pokéballs. There were four pokémon out of their balls standing on the floor. Sabrina was looking them over as Phannon walked in. “So what’s up?” “Choose one.” She straightened. “All trainees get a pokémon to start.” “But I’ve already started.” He gestured to his vulpix and jolteon. “You want one that will challenge your psychic abilities, without the risks. Since you will not be here” She stared directly at Generator with her usual icy glare. Phannon thought for a moment, and conceded. He looked at the four pokémon for the first time, a Mr. Mime, Abra, Jynx, and Drowzee. He stared at them for a while before making a decision. “Most people take abra, so no. I don’t want a Jynx. So it’s between Mr. Mime and Drowzee.” He continued thinking. “Wait! Doesn’t Drowzee evolve into Hypno?” Sabrina nodded. “So Drowzee it is! I’ll call him ‘Playa’.” He touched the pokémon’s mind and informed it of his decision, being well trained, it accepted. “Is that all?” He asked, returning the pokémon to its pokéball and attaching that to his belt. Sabrina nodded. He reached into his backpack and got the Saffron box. “This is for the gym. I’m supposed to deliver it.” With another nod she accepted the proffered box, noting the blatant delivery price on the top. “I guess you’ll want your money.” Phannon nodded. “So what’s the next part of my training?” He asked, pocketing the money. “Your training’s complete. You must travel on your own now.” He blinked. “What about the problem?” “You have to figure it out.” She shrugged. “Great.” He grumbled, starting towards the door. TBC -- Through all the hype a new sig emerges - v. 4.79.64b World famous oxymoron: Microsoft works, 'nuff said Dilbert(The best satire of all time): "Remeber, money is _no_ object... Unless you're planning on spending it." - Pointy Haired Boss - Y2K ep "Can he live a normal life?" - Mom "No ma'am, he's doomed to be an engineer." - Garbage man "NOOOOOO!!!!!!" - Mom - Knack ep "I-I-It's so small... I can't find it!!" - Dilbert - Lena ep. "DANCE FOR YOUR DIPLOMAT!! DANCE!!!!" - Dogbert - Elbownian ep. "That's because you look like the illigetimate child of Bill Gates and the Pillsbury dough boy." - Dogbert - Bob Bastard ep. "What qualifications do you have to fly on the space shuttle?" - Dilbert "None, but strangely enough, that doesn't disqualify me." - Dogbert - Bob Bastard ep. "My word is... 'it'." - Dilbert "What is an 'it' I don't understand this 'it'." - Dogbert "You challenge 'it'? give me the dictionary." ... "It's not in here!! Who makes this dictionary?" - Dilbert "I think that's the one your company makes." - Mom "That would explain it." - Dilbert "Explain 'it'! What is this 'it'?!" - Dogbert - First ep. Fraiser: "The monkey did it!!" - Fraiser "...It has a spa, and a wine cellar. Perfect for three guys roughing it in the wilderness." - Niles James(not from pokémon), quoting random stuff *shrug*: "I'm not afraid of any thing!" "Fear MEEE!!" "Who are you?" "I'm MEEEE!" "MMEEEEE TOOO!!!" "Gotta goto work, work all day, collecting underpants, YEAAaA!" South Park: "Hey, hey everybody, have you seen my balls? They're big and salty and brrrooooowwwn." - Must I? You should know =P Well, I will, Chef "Oh my GOD! THEY KILLED KENNY!" "You BASTARDS!" - I won't AIM: Akynirew