For those who were tired of seeing Jellic the hero of every chapter,
this chapter is all Ashley. ^_^ I'd like to hear what you think about
it.
Jellic�s Hateful Quest
Chapter 17: Vexing Vesper Invites Violence, Aggravating Ashley Attracts
Animosity
�Well, Jellic, I�m afraid this is where we part ways once again,�
said Arthur as he and the others stood in the middle of the road that
ran between Obsidian City and Carbon Canyon Town. Lobia threw her arms
around Jellic�s waist in a big hug. Jellic lifted her up and returned
the embrace.
�You take care of Arthur, OK?� he whispered in her ear. Lobia
giggled.
�I�ll miss you, Jellic,� she said through the curtain of tears.
�It�s not as if I�m leaving forever,� he answered. �As soon as I�ve
dealt with Karddor Labs, I�ll be heading back to Heliotrope City. I�ll
be sure to pay you a visit.� Lobia nodded.
�Both of you, be careful,� admonished Arthur. �Droll Vordekar is one
of the most evil men I�ve ever met, and evil men were my job before I
became the leader of the Fire Flower Gym.�
�We will,� answered Ashley. �Watch your back when you get to
Heliotrope. The Pokemon League will have it in for you, and you�re
living right next door to their headquarters.�
Arthur grabbed a Pokeball from his belt with a flourish. �The
Pokemon League will have its hands full trying to deal with me. And I
doubt they�ll want the exposure they�d get from attacking a Gym Leader
openly.� He fingered his Solar Badge. �My status should be all the
protection I�ll need in this world.�
�To the Enforcers, that protection will mean little,� replied
Jellic. �You�ll need to keep your eyes open at all times.�
�While we enter the den of thieves, you are entering the lion�s
den,� said Arthur. �Be sure to take your own advice to heart.� He
firmly grabbed Jellic�s hand and shook it. Jellic set Lobia on the
ground and set off on the road to Obsidian with Ashley following closely
behind. Lobia stood waving goodbye to Jellic and Ashley until they were
out of sight.
�We�re a long way from the city,� said Ashley. �We might be able to
catch some Pokemon before we get there. There will probably be some
Pokemon that we�ve never seen south of the Desert.�
�Sounds like a pleasant diversion,� said Jellic.
�Maybe you�ll finally fill up your Pokebelt � and keep it filled
this time.�
Jellic shrugged. �I just haven�t found the right Pokemon yet.
Besides, it�s been handy having an empty position in my belt. If I hadn�
t had a place to keep the Ekans in the Swamp of Sickness, you�d have
been swallowed by the Mire.�
Ashley gulped involuntarily. �Yeah, that was a close call. But if we
�re going to take on Karddor Labs, you�re going to need as much
firepower as you can get. You�ll need a sixth Pokemon.�
Jellic peered into the trees that lined the road ahead. �I think I
might have found one.� He aimed his Pokedex at the trees.
�Maple, a common tree in the northern areas near Obsidian City and
the Sulfur Springs ��
�Tell me about the Pokemon!� snapped Jellic while Ashley stifled a
giggle.
�Mankey, a monkey Pokemon. Mankey is one of the most intelligent
species of Pokemon and is one of the few species known to be capable of
human speech with proper training. Mankey is also a tribal Pokemon,
known to associate in close groups with other members of its species.�
�I could use a Mankey in my party,� said Ashley. �I don�t have a
Fighting type Pokemon yet.�
�I already have Machop.� Jellic scratched his chin. �Why don�t you
catch the Mankey?�
Ashley grabbed a Pokeball from her belt. �I think I will. Pidgeotto,
go!� The huge bird took to the air as soon as its Pokeball had hit the
ground. �Blow it out of the tree with Gust!� The Pidgeotto beat its huge
wings, creating a gale force wind that shook the branches of the Mankey�
s tree and knocked the primate to the ground. �Now pound it with Wing
Attack!� The Mankey was on its feet in an instant, Leering at its
adversary, but the Pidgeotto was unimpressed and furiously smacked the
Mankey with its enormous wings. The Mankey bared its claws and Scratched
back, then raised its paw and swung at the Pidgeotto with a Karate Chop.
�That�s definitely a Fighting type,� said Jellic.
�I know. My Pidgeotto has the advantage. Pidgeotto, beat it to the
punch with a Quick Attack!� The Pidgeotto flew up and dove at the
Mankey, darting below its swinging arms to pound it in its exposed
chest. The Mankey shook its fist at the Pidgeotto as the bird swung
around for its next attack, then ran for the tree. �Don�t let it get
away, Pidgeotto!� shouted Ashley. The Pidgeotto flew into the foliage,
perching on the lowest branch. The Mankey stopped halfway up the tree,
then dropped to the ground and grabbed a rock to throw at the Pidgeotto.
�Mankey! Mankey!� it shouted, heaving the rock into the tree. The
projectile hit the Pidgeotto directly in the face. The Pidgeotto shook
its head and cawed loudly, then began to glow.
�It�s evolving into Pidgeot!� Ashley shouted gleefully. When the
glow faded, the bird had grown to half again its previous size, and its
beak and wings were even larger with respect to its massive body. Ashley
consulted her Pokedex.
�Maple, a common tree in �� She banged the Pokedex with the palm of
her hand. �Pidgeot, the most evolved form of Pidgey. When Pidgeotto
evolves into Pidgeot, the pectoral muscles which control its wings
become ten times as powerful to lift its increased weight. Its beak also
hardens, enabling the Pidgeot to crack open nuts and break tree bark.
This allows the Pidgeot to vary its diet, which consists of bugs and
berries until its second evolution.�
Ashley scratched her chin. �That gives me an idea. Pidgeot, peck the
tree trunk!�
�Peck the tree trunk?� Jellic watched the Pidgeot apply its sharp
beak to the tree, gouging huge holes in the trunk. The maple sap oozed
out through the holes and ran down the trunk, coating the tree with a
layer of sticky resin. �Ah...�
�Pidgeot, fly away!� The Pidgeot took off from the tree just in time
to avoid the Mankey�s next thrown rock. The Mankey quickly scaled the
tree, chattering as it went until it found itself stuck in the sticky
sap. �Now finish it with a Wing Attack!� The Pidgeot hovered near the
tree and beat the Mankey with its huge wings. The helpless Mankey could
only hang on to the tree as its strength faded, and Ashley�s Pokeball
held the Mankey with little resistance. �I caught it!� she shouted
triumphantly as the ball vanished, delivering the Mankey to the Pokemon
Computer system.
�I wonder where the rest of its tribe is,� Jellic wondered aloud.
�Maybe this one didn�t have a tribe. It must have been lonely.�
�Well, now it will have plenty of company with the rest of your
Pokemon.�
�More than it would have in YOUR belt.� Jellic simply shrugged his
shoulders and pressed on toward Obsidian City. Ashley quickly followed.
�Sorry. I shouldn�t have said that. If you don�t want to catch a sixth
Pokemon, that�s your business. I used to know a few trainers who never
carried more than five Pokemon. Of course, they were all huge egotists
and wanted to prove that they didn�t need six Pokemon...�
Jellic shrugged again. �I suppose I am a bit egotistical. It comes
with the job. Being a modest interdimensional hero is a lot tougher than
you�d expect.�
�I think you�ve done an admirable job,� replied Ashley with a smile.
�Except for the modesty part.�
�I always do an admirable job,� said Jellic. Ashley reached up to
grab Jellic�s head and pulled his head down to her level to give him a
kiss. They stared deeply into each other�s eyes for several minutes,
neither one able to look away. Finally, Jellic turned back to the road
and resumed the journey, with Ashley�s arms wrapped tightly around his
waist.
Pokemon of all shapes and sizes appeared all around them as they
walked, but neither Jellic nor Ashley paid them any attention. All
thoughts of Karddor Labs, the Enforcers, and even Pokemon vanished as
they enjoyed the friendship that would be torn apart as soon as Jellic
completed his quest. The border of Obsidian City passed in an eyeblink
that lasted an eternity, and Jellic had to fight with his own senses to
realize that they were standing in front of the Obsidian Pokemon Center.
�Ashley, we�re here,� he said, carefully tugging at Ashley�s arms to
disengage her from his waist, but she obstinately held on.
�Just a few more minutes,� she insisted. �It feels good to hold you
like this.� She looked up into his eyes. �When you have to leave this
dimension, can you take me with you?�
�It�s dangerous enough for you to accompany me in this dimension. In
other dimensions, the danger is greater. The longer you stay with me,
the greater the chance that something will happen to you. I�d never be
able to live with myself.� Jellic sighed. �Even if it were possible to
take you with me, I�d still prefer you to be in this dimension, where I
know you�ll be safe.�
�But I know I�ll be safe if I�m with you!� she cried through the
tears that were forming in her eyes. �You�ll protect me, won�t you?�
Before Jellic could answer, a sea of faces swam before his vision.
He saw Perilina, Nell, Mellicitia, Bridgette, Coline, and many other
women who had died because he had failed to protect them. Suddenly,
Ashley�s face appeared among them, startling Jellic out of the reverie.
�I�ve failed before, Ashley. Other people have depended on me for
protection, and I�ve lost as many of them as I saved. So far, I�ve
managed to keep you alive, but if anything happened to you, I don�t
think I could go on.�
�I thought you were a great hero...�
�Being a hero doesn�t make me perfect. There are some things that
even I can�t do. Being a hero means being able to overcome those
weaknesses. And I overcame my weakness as a bodyguard by not forming
attachments � until now.� Ashley quickly stepped away from him, ashamed.
�You�re right,� she said quickly. �We�d better get our Pokemon
healed and get on with our mission. I mean, YOUR mission.� She
immediately entered the building and got in line. Jellic followed,
trying to find a way to patch things up, but Ashley refused to look at
him. Jellic turned his back to her and found himself staring at a
Karddor Labs poster advertising tours of the facility. As his disgusted
eyes left the poster, they were drawn back to the list of names at the
bottom.
�Current manager, Droll Vordekar. First time I�ve ever seen that
name in print,� remarked Jellic. Suddenly, his blood froze. �Oh my
god...� He stared for several minutes, unable to believe what he had
seen. A tap on his shoulder brought him to his senses.
�Jellic, what�s going on?� asked Ashley.
�Get me a piece of paper and a pencil, quickly!� he snapped. Ashley
almost fell over from the force of his command, but obediently returned
with the requested implements. Jellic wrote down a pair of names on the
sheet and handed it to Ashley. �What does this mean to you?� he asked.
Ashley stared at the words on the sheet:
DROLL VORDEKAR
ORVELL KARDDOR
�I don�t get it. What is it supposed to mean?� she asked.
�They�re anagrams! If you rearrange the letters of one, you get the
other!�
Ashley nodded, then shrugged. �So? It could be just a coincidence.�
Jellic shook his head. �No. I�ve seen a picture of Karddor, and I
thought I recognized it, but now I know why. Orvell Karddor and Droll
Vordekar are the same person. Somehow, the same man posed as a
respectable scientist, opened a Pokemon lab, and then pretended to die
and was succeeded by his evil alter ego.�
�That doesn�t make any sense at all.�
Jellic shrugged, then joined the line to get his Pokemon healed.
�Whether or not it makes sense, it�s true. I have to figure out why. I
have a feeling that I�m missing an important connection here.�
�Well, according to the poster, there are guided tours of the
facility. Maybe you�ll find a clue inside the building. As long as we�re
with a group of people, Vordekar can�t do anything to us, right?�
�I wouldn�t count too heavily on that,� said Jellic, �but a tour of
Karddor Labs is definitely in order. We need answers to a lot of
questions, and that�s where we�ll find them.�
The nurse handed Jellic his Pokebelt full of rejuvenated Pokemon.
�Would you like me to book you both for a tour, then? We can make the
reservations from this Pokemon Center for you.�
�Please do,� said Jellic, giving the nurse a fake name. Once the
reservations were made, Jellic strapped on his Pokebelt, and he and
Ashley left the Center. �Our reservations are for tomorrow morning, and
it�s late afternoon now. What should we do in the meantime?�
�We could head to the Gym and you could try to win another Badge.�
�Why don�t you try to win this one?� asked Jellic. �You�ve always
been there to cheer me on, but you haven�t tried for any of the Badges
yourself.�
�I guess I�ve been cheering for you so much that I forgot that I�m a
Pokemon trainer too.� Ashley blushed. �Besides, once you�re gone I�ll
need something to do. I�ll go for the Badges then.�
�Fair enough,� said Jellic. �Let�s check out the Gym then.�
It was only a short trip from the Pokemon Center to the Gym, since
Obsidian City was far smaller than the sprawling metropolis of
Heliotrope. Jellic entered the building and flourished his badges,
preparing to meet the Gym Leader in a battle. However, the Gym Leader
stared right past him.
�Ashley, is that you?� asked the young girl with the fist-shaped
badge pinned to her shirt.
�Vesper,� spat Ashley. �How did you get to be a Gym Leader?�
�I started on my Pokemon journey as soon as I was old enough to
register. I caught the biggest and best Pokemon and earned all eight
badges within five years. Once I had all eight badges, I convinced Iknyo
of the Obsidian Gym to retire and assumed ownership of this Gym. So tell
me, small fry, how�s your journey going?�
Ashley grabbed a Pokeball from her belt. �I�m here to challenge you
for the Power Badge!�
Jellic�s eyes darted from one girl to the other. �What�s going on
here?�
�Vesper used to live in Sage City when we were both young. She
always loved to beat me in Pokemon battles just to show how great she
was. But now I�m going to make up for all of it.�
Vesper laughed. �You may think you�re tough now, but that�s because
you�ve forgotten how great I am! I�ll admit, it�s been a long time since
I last destroyed you, but that�s no excuse. No one forgets Vesper
Allamantine!� She stood up and leaped into the air, performing a
backflip and landing behind the white line at the far end of the Gym.
�It�s four on four. Choose your first sacrifice.�
�With pleasure,� said Ashley. �Pidgeot, I choose you!�
�Then I�ll use Hitmonchan!� shouted Vesper, releasing a Pokemon that
was all but hidden behind a pair of massive fists. It danced about on
its long legs like a boxer, waiting for instructions from its trainer.
�Hitmonchan, Thunder Punch!�
�Pidgeot, Quick Attack!� commanded Ashley. Pidgeot swooped, slamming
into Hitmonchan before the Fighting type Pokemon could bring its fists
to bear. However, the bird�s momentum threw the Hitmonchan backwards,
leaving Pidgeot right in the path of the electrified fist. Pidgeot�s
feathers frizzed from the electricity, hampering its flight. �Give it a
Wing Attack, Pidgeot!� shouted Ashley. Pidgeot furiously pounded the
Hitmonchan with its wings, using what little mobility it still had to
its advantage.
Vesper bit her lip nervously. �Hitmonchan, use your Agility to avoid
it!� The Hitmonchan easily ducked and dodged the Pidgeot�s attack, which
was already inaccurate due to the effects of the Thunder Punch.
�Pidgeot, Swift!� commanded Ashley. Pidgeot cawed loudly and fired a
flurry of the familiar star-shaped projectiles at the Hitmonchan, which
leaped away before they could hit it. The stars� flight path curved in
midair to follow their target, knocking the Hitmonchan out of the air.
It landed headfirst on the hard floor of the gym, fainting instantly.
Vesper recalled it.
�All right, try this on for size! Machamp, go!� Jellic recognized
the most evolved form of Machop and instantly lamented the fact that his
own Machop could not evolve. This fighter had four huge arms and stood
nearly twice Jellic�s own height. The Pidgeot flapped its wings
frantically, but the Machamp loomed over it and swung a huge fist down,
pounding the bird senseless.
�Pidgeot return!� shouted Ashley. �Go Weepinbell!�
�Machamp, Leer it down!�
�Weepinbell, use Acid!� The Weepinbell spat a huge glob of acid at
the Machamp, covering it from head to toe. The Machamp ignored the pain
and stared at the Weepinbell, forcing the plant to cower. �Fight back,
Weepinbell! Wrap it!� The Weepinbell wrapped its vines around the
Machamp and squeezed. The Machamp strained against its bonds and quickly
broke free with a loud grunt of exertion.
�Fighting moves won�t work, so pound it with a Karate Chop!� Jellic
recalled the fight between his Machop and Verdon Hummter�s Vileplume. He
�d beaten it only through Machop�s Secret Machine technique, Bitter End.
He was fairly certain that Vesper�s Machamp didn�t know the move, but it
was certainly stronger than his Machop.
�Sleep Powder!� shouted Ashley as the Machamp�s massive hand landed
a solid blow on Weepinbell. A cloud of dark powder rose up from the
plant, putting the Machamp to sleep instantly. �Now Wrap it again!� The
sleeping Machamp could do nothing as the Weepinbell grasped it firmly in
its long tendrils and squeezed. As the vines tightened, Vesper began to
shout in a frantic attempt to awaken her Machamp. However, as the
fighter began to stir, Weepinbell lifted it and smashed its head into
the ground, returning it to the land of Nod.
�That looks like a new move,� said Jellic.
�Weepinbell just learned Slam,� explained Ashley. �Now it�s ready to
evolve, but I can�t evolve it during the fight, so I�ll have to wait
until afterwards.� Meanwhile, Vesper had recalled her Machamp and sent
out a round Pokemon with long legs and huge feet. �It�s a Hitmonlee. My
Weepinbell should have no problem beating it.�
�Want to bet?� asked Vesper. �Hitmonlee, Mega Kick!�
�Weepinbell, Razor Leaf!� The Hitmonlee crouched, ready to pounce,
as Weepinbell executed its attack. Just as the leaves began to cut into
its hard skin, the Hitmonlee launched itself at the plant, ignoring the
sharp projectiles. Its foot slammed into the Weepinbell and sent it
flying into the wall. Ashley recalled it and sent out her Gengar.
�Hitmonlee doesn�t know any moves that can touch a Ghost type!� taunted
Ashley.
Vesper recalled her Hitmonlee and sent out a Pokemon that vaguely
resembled a tiger with lightning bolt stripes. �I always keep one
Pokemon handy that isn�t a Fighting type, just in case!� she answered.
�Electabuzz, Light Screen!�
�That makes the Hypnosis-Dream Eater combo useless, and it�s Gengar�
s best tactic,� said Ashley. �Gengar, use Night Shade!� The entire Gym
grew dark as Ashley�s Gengar drained the life force from its opponent.
As the light returned, Jellic could see that the Electabuzz was
considerably weaker, but it wasn�t quite finished.
�Take it out with a Thundershock!� commanded Vesper. An arc of
electricity from the Electabuzz zapped the Gengar, causing it to wobble
slightly, but the shock wasn�t powerful enough to finish it. The Gengar
retaliated with Night Shade, leaving the Electabuzz lying on the floor,
barely conscious. Vesper growled. �Finish it now!� she shouted. �Use
Thunder!�
�Gengar, hit it with Confuse Ray now!� The beam from the Gengar
struck the Electabuzz as it charged up its massive electric attack,
causing its electricity to fly every which way. Most of the lightning
managed to find its intended target, knocking Gengar out of the fight,
but a few stray sparks struck the Electabuzz itself. Despite its natural
resistance to electricity, the Electabuzz, already weakened by the
repeated Night Shade attacks, fainted from the force of its own attack.
Both trainers recalled their Pokemon.
�It�s down to the last Pokemon now,� Jellic pointed out.
�But I know she�ll use her Hitmonlee, while I have three Pokemon to
choose from. I�ll go with the one I know the best. Blastoise go!�
�Hitmonlee, Jump Kick!� shouted Vesper as the giant turtle
materialized.
�Blastoise, Withdraw!� The Blastoise tucked its head inside its
shell as the Hitmonlee contacted it. The blow knocked the Blastoise onto
its back, but it quickly righted itself with a propulsive jet of water.
�Blast it with Water Gun!� The Blastoise aimed its cannons and slammed
the Hitmonlee with its torrential attack, throwing it to the far side of
the ring.
�Hang in there!� Vesper yelled out. �Go for a Mega Kick!� The
Hitmonlee charged up quickly and powered its way through the blast of
water, overcoming the huge force to reach its opponent. However, the
water slowed the Hitmonlee down enough for Blastoise to dodge the
attack. The Hitmonlee couldn�t stop and kept going, its outstretched
foot now aimed at a different target.
The impact knocked the breath right out of Ashley as the Hitmonlee
continued on its trajectory, taking her for the ride. The force of the
Mega Kick drove her back several inches into the wall, crushing her
between the hard stones and the giant foot. Jellic barely reached the
wall in time to catch Ashley as she collapsed to the ground.
Vesper immediately pushed the other spectators away, clearing a
space for Ashley. She knelt beside Jellic, holding Ashley�s hand. �Is
she all right?�
Jellic nodded. �She�s still breathing. She might have a concussion,
but she�ll live, whatever happens.� He cradled Ashley�s head in his
arms. �I�m sorry I couldn�t protect you, Ashley,� he whispered. �But
this is why you can�t stay with me. I�m only human, just as fallible as
anyone else.�
�She�s pretty tough. She�ll pull through okay.� Vesper pinned a
Power Badge to Ashley�s shirt. �I should have used a Rolling Kick to get
under the Water Gun, but I went for strength rather than strategy. If
she hadn�t been standing right there, it would have been my Hitmonlee
with the concussion. I think she�s become a great trainer over the years
since I last saw her. Could you tell her that for me when she wakes up?�
�I�ll pass the message along,� said Jellic, picking Ashley up.
Vesper recalled the Blastoise to its Pokeball and replaced it in Ashley�
s belt.
�She�s lucky to have a boyfriend like you to take care of her.�
Jellic stiffened, and Vesper could tell that she�d hit a nerve. Jellic
carefully carried Ashley out of the Gym and left for the Pokemon Center
without looking back.
-----------------------------------------------------------
MOM: I'm getting rid of this TV before the mindless garbage rots your
brain!
JOHNNY: Mindless garbage not rot brain!
(SHAMPOO: Mindless Johnny not got brain to rot!)
"There's a billion places like home. But only one of them's where you
live." - Granny Weatherwax, "Witches Abroad" by Terry Pratchett
JACKIE CHAN: Oh, sorry. I broke your spy camera! (pause) SPY CAMERA?!
My webpage: http://www.rose-hulman.edu/~katinamp