From: Roland Le Good <roland@minuet.demon.co.uk> Subject: [PW!] Caleb, part three Date: Wednesday, December 08, 1999 10:08 AM Part 3: Partnership of convinience. Who said two heads are better than one? Well...they were wrong. Caleb and Ilanna had teamed up and were fighting to get a Nidoking and a bounty of £2000. They were still arguing about the best tactic to use. " I say we trap it in a pit and stun it with gas, that way it will be asleep so we can get it," " NonononnonoNO! We will distract it and then one of us an trap it from behind," Ilanna was convinced her idea would work. " My plan's a tried and tested method, it works," Caleb protested. " So's mine!" Ilanna was angry. " Ok, look, we'll try your idea, but if it doesn't work..." Can I actually trust her? Thought Caleb. He had trusted others and they had nearly killed him, now he didn't trust anyone. Especially Ilanna. Ilanna was a better tracker than he had first thought. " I saw it first atop that cliffside you found me on, only It was further along, on the rocks," " So? You're suggesting we search there?" " Well we don't know where else to search do we?" They set off towards the cliff. Ilanna had a certain air of authority about her. She could get things done. She was also very attractive which helped her manipulate people. The fact she carried a sword also intimidated people too. Soon they were at the cliff. Caleb saw the Nidokings cave and was already heading towards it. " WAIT! That's your trouble you never have a plan. Here's mine. You go in and get the Nidoking then you run out and I will drop a net, it will be trapped and you can shoot it. Ok?" " I...uhh....hmph, ok...." Caleb was dumbfounded, what the hell was that? It wasn't a plan. He entered the cave, gun ready, just in case. Sure enough the Nidoking was there. It saw Caleb but it didn't move. It gave him a look as though it was giving a sigh. What? It's almost as if it knows it will die. Caleb thought about it. " Ok Nidopunk, let's dance! Come on! Here I am! Come and kill me! You know? I don't care! To me you're just a cheque on legs!" The Nidoking didn't move. *BLAM* Caleb hestitated then fired. It hit the Nidoking in the chest. It's eyes flashed with a fury which Caleb had never seen before. His eyes widened. "yyyyaaaAAAAAAA!!!!" Caleb ran out of the cave, the Nidoking hot on his tail. Ilanna dropped the net and it landed on the Nidoking. The creature stopped, struggling to get out. " GO ON! KILL IT!" Ilanna yelled. Caleb span around and looked at his prey. They stared at each other for some time before Caleb marched over to it. He couldn't do it, he tried but it's eyes made him nearly cry. " I can't," He mumbled. The Nidoking reared up and swung at Caleb. He stumbled backwards and got whipped by it's tail. The thing head butted him towards, then over the cliff. He grabbed onto the edge and struggled for his life. The Nidoking turned and went for Ilanna. It swung, but she parried. It wrapped it's tail around her. She struggled and kicked but it was no use. She managed to unhook a Pokeball... Ninetales. "NINETALES! EMBER NOW!" The fire burned the Nidokings feet, it hopped about as it's feet were set ablaze. Ilanna swung at the creature, hitting it square in the chest. It stumbled backwards as Ninetales blasted it with Fire. It charged Ninetales, who jumped to one side. Ilanna stepped in and knocked the Nidoking back with her sword. It tried to parry but it was too slow. Soon it was exhausted and collapsed on the floor. Ilanna raised her sword...but stopped when Ninetales nudged her foot. She lowered her sword and caught the monster. " ILANNA?! WHAT'S GOING ON?" Dammit! Caleb thought. She had gone! She betrayed him! WHY? Why did I listen to her. He tried to reach Cubone's Pokeball but he slipped and fell down slightly. *gulp* It's a long way down, thought Caleb. I should never have trusted her...he closed his eyes and prepared for the inevitable. He opened his eyes and was staring at Ilanna. She extended a hand and helped him up. What? " I thought you betrayed me and left," " No, You can trust me Caleb, I'm not so bad," They smiled. Caleb was beggining to like her. " Well, this is it. It was nicemeeting you, I suppose," Ilanna said. " Yeah, I guess. See you around, maybe we'll meet again some day," " Maybe..." They went their sperate ways. Caleb thought about Ilanna as he left, perhaps she did care after all. Now to claim my bounty...HEY! " HEY! You've got the Nidoking!" He yelled but it was too late, Ilanna was gone. He chuckled to himself and headed for Saffron city...