PSIonic Gladiators part 11

"Faster Than Fast,"

Ninten enters the trios little hobble and he looks around surprised. Fresh plush carpet, with a larger overall space. Also a much homey feel to it now with the walls now painted blue covered with fluffy looking clouds, for whatever reason. A newly added door also exists now, next to their armory. Which Ness has open and is inside peering into it. Upon seeing the two enter Ness quickly moves over toward them.

"Is he okay?" Ness questions as his eyes fall on Lucas who has his head buried in Ninten's shoulder.

"He'll be fine," Ninten responds moving toward the beds. He gently deposits Lucas onto his bed. "All those PSI attacks took a lot of strain on him. He passed out before we made it to the door."

"Past out huh," Ness questions moving over to look over Lucas. He looks to the boys arms to wince. His hands were clearly singed a bit, something he had never noticed. Also thin scars litter his hand and arm on both appendages. "I've never seen PSI cause damage like this to a user…"

"Well, the amount of PSI he is able to release must put a lot of strain on his body. I don't think he's physically strong to take the strain of prolonged use of his powers, or it could be too intense for any normal human body to handle. Either way, it takes a toll on him."

"Might explain how he has such control and precision with his powers. Can't afford to be reckless," Ness turns his attention to Ninten. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'll live," Ninten says rolling his shoulders. He looks over to the new door of their 'apartment'. "So what's this new room?"

"A closet," Ness responds.

"Really?" Ninten questions walking over to open the door. He scans it to frown. "It's just a bunch of copies of stuff we normally wear."

"We just need functional, not fashionable. Not a good thing to be wearing the same pair of socks for weeks on end anyway."

"You can say that again…" Ninten mutters glancing at Ness' discarded shoes.

"So Ninten, what was all that about back there?" Ness asks.

"All what about?"

"You know, that whole mother hen routine you had been doing. You've been hovering over him since we woke up. Then you want him hanging back from the fight, and then you go absolutely nuts when he got hurt."

"I just…" Ninten sighs before looking over at the bedridden Lucas. "I wanted to let him know he can rely on me too. He doesn't have to be this lone wolf, to try and be the problem solver, the fighter, the tactician, or especially the hero! He can rely on me to be there…" Ninten lets out a dejected sigh. "But lotta good that sentiment goes when he ended up having to help me anyway…"

"Well, trying to out Lucas, well, Lucas. Wasn't going to work either. I mean, you basically just tried to do what he normally does," Ness explains with folded arms. Ninten blinks surprised at the accuracy of the statement. Ninten looks at Ness surprised but Ness doesn't pay the look much mind. "We don't have to be the hero of this story. We just have to survive to the end of it. And only way we can do that is if we rely on each other."

"But Lucas doesn't want to do that…"

"I know, and you just wanted to protect him. I get it, you wanted to show him he can rely on you. That when it comes down to it, you'll be there to protect him if need be."

"Yeah…guess you figured me out…"

"Not really, I mean I had the same thought about him myself. I mean…I made him cry…I really hate that I did that. That I hurt him that way. That I brought him to tears without even trying, and I don't like what that implies. Makes me feel like a monster. I wanted to show him that if I could help it, I wouldn't ever let him cry again!"

"Wow…" Ninten remarks amazed at Ninten's conviction.

"But that's not realistic. And he doesn't know me and I don't know him. I don't know you and you don't know me. We're just strangers right now…" Ness then gains a face of resolution. "But that doesn't mean I don't trust you guys, that I can't show you compassion. You've each proven to me that I don't have to wonder who has my back while I'm out there. So, the most I can do right now is put you guys at ease too. I trust you won't let me die out there, and I'll do the same. We'll figure out a way to escape together."

Ninten smirks as he looks at Ness, "Well, your optimism is definitely infectious. Yeah, I'll keep that in mind."

"Good," Ness says turning back around to walk towards Lucas to check up on the blonde.

Ninten throws a glance over his shoulder to watch Ness, before facing forward to look into their armory. He admits that Ness had a point. One person trying to carry all the weight was not going to work. It had to be shared, but he was still going to be a bit protective of Lucas. Especially because of the nightmares that plagued the blonde. Ninten hadn't told the other hat wearing boy but a small bit of his telepathy retained its strength, despite him being unable to augment his strength. And he managed to focus this skill enough to take away some of Lucas' pain to allow him to sleep. However, he could only take away the emotions like an empath. Not the thoughts. Ninten couldn't see the dreams but he could feel the emotions they brought, and to him it didn't seem fair. As in it didn't seem fair for Lucas to be tortured with such feelings while also trying to be a genuinely nice person. Maybe, like he himself said, he wanted to be Lucas' hero. But it seemed like this time he wasn't strong enough, but he will be next time. He promised himself to be the one who could help Lucas see himself as a person. Not a monster, a weapon, or as some… thing. But a person, with real feelings, but it would be an uphill battle considering Lucas' perspective on his self-worth. Luckily, Ninten had the strength to endure such battles.

Ness had placed the back of his hand on Lucas' forehead. Ness seemed experienced with overseeing another person. Seemed like his abilities weren't completely cut off either, "Well seems like Lucas will be out for a bit. I thought he was the first one to go to sleep."

"He was," Ninten answers.

"Well from what I can tell, he seems completely exhausted. Maybe even on his last legs."

"What?" Ninten questioned thoroughly confused. He was pretty sure he had taken off a great amount of stress from Lucas' mind to help him sleep. "Maybe, he doesn't normally get a chance to get actual rest…"

"Well he has it now, will you make sure he rests?"

"Absolutely, but don't you want me to try and sync up?"

"Can you do that with the collar on?"

"Well not all three of us, but maybe us two. It gets easier after I've done it before. Like the first time is like prying open an old safe. Difficult, but when you get used to opening it, it gets a bit easier."

"Got it, I say do it only when necessary. Don't want our colorful friend thinking he needs to make adjustments to our collars," Ness says walking towards the armory to begin to assemble his armor and weapons for his own battle. Seems like Ness was getting a bit anxious for his own battle despite MC stating that his battle would be the closing battle. But it also points out to the fact that Ness was watching Ninten and Lucas the entire time without even considering armor for himself. Ninten takes place at Lucas' side as Ness goes through the armory to see what items he could use. He managed to find a retractable shield that forms into a circle fashion upon the press of a button. But while the shield isn't released it appeared like a regular gauntlet with an irregular large circular design on the top of the wrist. Ness actually liked the shield so much he claimed it for any future battle. Ninten rolls his eyes at the proclamation. However, he didn't do anything to counter Ness' claim of the shield. Ness even put it on immediately as before any of his other armor. He moves over to the window to see the match currently going on. After wincing at something one of the fighters did he moves away to join Ninten in his overlooking of Lucas' condition.

"You seem pretty worried about him?" Ness questions.

"No…well…maybe just a little. I … just don't like how MC sees him. He's a good kid!"

"Yeah, I get that. Not like he asked for this or to be put in this insane fight club. That doesn't mean he should want to be here."

"Is it weird to want to protect him?" Ninten questions dropping on his bed.

"A little," Ness admitted. "Do you-?"

"No, I do not. If I did, I think my girlfriend back home would be a bit bummed out."

Ness chuckles, "I see. Well I guess him being…well so brittle…no that's not the right word. I mean, I guess we're good guys, we're heroes. It's normal to want to protect the people in front of us, right?"

"Yeah, that's a good point. I don't want to see someone hurt if I can help it. But, Lucas…doesn't mind getting himself hurt to protect others. I can't get on board with that, and it doesn't have to be like that. Sacrificing yourself and protecting someone isn't the same thing."

"You're right."

"So what should we do?" Ninten asks looking at Ness. Ness glances at Ninten before looking at Lucas. He reaches out a hand again with placing the back of hand on Lucas' head again to check and make sure he wasn't sick.

"Make sure he doesn't destroy himself. And be there when he does fall, best I can think of as a response."

"Alright," Ninten says with a nod. "I'm going to see if I can fix something to eat. I'm positive Lucas didn't actually have anything to eat. So I'll make sure he eats while you are out fighting. Try not to die by the way."

"Why don't you have a soft spot for me like you do with Lucas?!"

"I don't need to look after you the same way. You're damaged in a different way," Ninten responds as he moves toward the kitchenette.

"It's no fun if we aren't all just a little messed up!" Ness exclaims as he plops down on his bed.

"Well I suppose so…" Ninten responds off-handedly as he looks through the cabinets. He frowns not seeing too much. Mostly random snacks, things he honestly didn't recognize so he didn't know what to give Lucas. He looks in the fridge next to see an assortment of juices…and alcohol for some reason. It seems MC didn't understand what it was that humans enjoyed. Well, that's not exactly true, but none of them drink. Ninten's eyes the bottle noting that it had been opened and only a small portion missing. Ninten sighs taking the bottle out, vodka from what he can tell.

"Whoa, we have liquor!?" Ness exclaims in surprised.

"Nope," Ninten states unscrewing the cap and pouring the contents down the sink drain. "No we do not."

"I mean we could've used that for medical stuff…" Ness points out.

"Well if that's the case we won't need the whole bottle," Ninten remarks as he sits the mostly empty bottle of vodka back in the fridge. "Oh, I think I can make a hero sandwhich."

"That sounds great, could you make me one too."

"Well, I'm mostly making this for Lucas, but I guess."

"Full on friendship!" Ness exclaims throwing his hands up.

"I hate you."

At this the two ease into casual conversation ignoring the blood sports currently happening outside the walls of their cell. It was a bit unsettling how used to the sounds of violence they were getting. However, if they allowed it to continue bothering them they wouldn't be able to focus on the things that really mattered in their current situation. When MC announced the end of the match after a loud crash Ness gulps down his juice as his stuffs the rest of his sandwich into his face as he rushes over to the set of armor he pulled out. He removes his short sleeved zip-up hoodie placing on his breast plate and his gauntlets. His armored shoes and a short sword. He slips his hat off allowing his hair free.

"Wow, that's some serious hat hair," Ninten remarks. "Are you going out there with no headgear?"

"That's just more stuff that'll get in the way. Besides, this shield here may be the only defense I need," Ness responds as he pushes his arm out for the shield to quickly open up in a circular fashion. A large round shield that easily covered Ness's torso. It was a pretty big shield all things considered. Ness collapses the shield again.

"Good point, and with it being able to open and close like that you can carry it around easier. Bringing up shouldn't be a problem either. So I guess you do have a pretty good defense there. Still, try and be careful."

"You got it," Ness responds with a thumbs up. The light of the cage flickers off for a guard-bot to stand outside of it. Ness took that as his queue to step up. He approaches the doorway existing at the same time his collar was deactivated. The head rush and rejuvenated strength his feels when it turns off is something he may never get used to. His powers being pushed down then for it all to come rushing back to him always felt overwhelming. He notices his PSI crackling around his body, red strings of ionic energy dancing around his body. The same thing usually happens with Ninten and Lucas when the collars shut off.

"Now gags, and gardanoids, slig, and slaggates. The final bout of this cycle's matches! Introducing, this time unlike our horde battle we just had. This will be a strict one on one fight. No gimmicks, no tricks, and no twists. Simply two opponents beating the ever living snarlak out of each other!" MC doing his job of being the master of ceremony as he gets the crowd hyped up. Ness takes notice of some of the same things Lucas had. Seeing that there was indeed a large gap between the haves and have-nots. It was unsettling, but his sympathy was hard to find since they were gleefully cheering to see a match that may end in his death. It was all simple entertainment to them. But how did a system like this work exactly. Ness removes those thoughts from his mind as soon as the lift makes it to the ground floor. Ness's eyes widened a bit surprised to see the battlefield still covered in carnage from the last fight. Bodies of insectoid like creatures impaled in the ground. It was like a massacre, seeing as the only victims were these giant blue insectoid creatures. Their corpses being the height and width of all three PSI boys standing side by side and on each other's shoulders.

"We really need to get the heck out of here…" Ness mutters to himself.

"Allow me to reintroduce one of our new human friends. The boy whose very spirit transcended time, and a fighter that can fight with the best of them. And stand his ground in any type of battle conditions. Our little PSI warrior, Ness the human!"

The crowd hollers in overwhelming positivity at Ness's introduction. Ness wasn't that into it, but he at least played on with the part. As he raises a hand to wave to the crowd.

"And his opponent, a famed mercenary known for across the stars. He was even given the mission to assassinate yours truly. But now he fights for me, obtaining prizes beyond compared here in my own arena. The main man himself, Jojo!" Ness snickers at the name. However, the smirk falls as he focuses on the warrior in front of him. The person stood easily seven feet tall. Thick shoulder guards on, gauntlets on both arms with what looked like a rocket on his right and some type of weapon on his left. A helmet covering his face with black hair protruding from the back. Covered in muscle, with glistening grey armor, thick breastplate, and utility belt. With items Ness couldn't recognize but the boy knew weapons when he saw them. The creature's red skin peeks through the sleeves on his shirt and the exposed neck. Seems like MC didn't see the need to give this fighter a collar. The visor blocks Jojo's eyes but Ness could feel the fighter's eyes trained on him. "Now, let's see if the fastest trigger finger in the Celestial System vs the fastest PSI fighter on Earth. Let's see who's faster than fast! Both fighters ready?" Ness flexes ready to move as Jojo's finger drifts to his hip hovering over what looked like some type of gun. If sci-fi movies taught Ness anything, it was probably a laser blaster.

"Good luck Ness," Ninten's voice speaks into Ness' head. Ness only readies himself for the first move

"GO!"

And after the last syllable of MC's proclamation the ringing of a blaster goes off only moments later. Blink and you'd have missed Jojo draw his weapon.

Jojo, usually didn't have matches that lasted long. He'd usually end them within the first moment. Studying his opponent to pick out where a single shot would end his opponent. Sometimes he guesses incorrectly on the anatomy of his opponent. In in those times he has to follow with another shot out a suspected point of weakness. His shots always hit true.

So imagine his and everyone's surprise when his first shot was a miss.

Ness decided that his best bet would be to sidestep the shot. He doubted his shield would've opened up quick enough.

Jojo was surprised, but wouldn't let this odd occurrence throw him off his game. Ness had sidestepped the plasma bullet at the same time as he opened up his shield. The moment of surprise by Jojo had allowed Ness's shield time to open up to block the next bullet. The blast ricochets off the shield. The pressure of the blow was nullified by Ness pushing against the pressure with a flick of his shield. Then Ness bounds to the side avoiding another plasma bullet. Jojo takes the proper aim placing both hands on his weapon now. He began to fire in rapid succession. Ness rushses forward with shield thrusted forward as he shot rang out deflecting off his shield. Jojo holds up his right arm with a small land-to-air missile attached to the wrist guard.

"Ness watch out he's got a rocket on his arm!" Ninten informs. Ness wouldn't have seen the attack with his shield blocking his line of sight.

"PK Rocken!" Ness exclaims shooting a burst of psionic energy at the ground to propel himself into the air. He threw himself up at the same time Jojo fired off his arm rocket. The impact of the blast created a large dust cloud. However, Jojo's sharp eyes noticed Ness was in the air now. He switches the blaster in his hands to point out his right arm with wrist pointed forward. A large cable with a small metal piece attached at the end. It hit Ness shield seeming to attach itself to it. Ness is suddenly jerked forward toward Jojo. "PK Flash!"

Ness points a hand out to unleash a green cloud of energy moving quickly to Jojo's feet. Jojo was startled clearly as he moved to respond, however nothing happened as the energy fizzled out. Jojo refocused attention on Ness as the boy comes closer with his line still attached to his shield. Jojo reaches on his hip to grab a cylinder object for a jagged glowing blade to form at the end. Then he yanks his arm to stab forward to impale Ness. However, Jojo assumed that Ness had curled himself behind the shield. But he was surprised to see that Ness was no longer attached to the shield. Jojo was taken by surprise by a powerful blast of PK Rocken to nail him in the back. He was thrown to the ground but quickly rolls absorbing the impact to slide to his feet. Justas he does Ness is rushing him sword in hand. Jojo uses Ness's stolen shield to block the jab of the sword. He grabs the edge to flick up knocking away Ness's sword. Jojo then gives it a hard throw. Ness leaps over it while using his telekinesis to pull the shield back towards him. He swings his sword down but is caught on Jojo's gauntlet. He raises his blaster to place it against the blade to fire breaking it easily with one shot, and then point it at Ness chest. Ness jerks his hand forward while tilting his head for plasma bullet to sail right past his head. Ness felt the slight sting of it on his ear. It was at this time Ness' shield returns knocking the knife out of Jojo's opposing hand. Even with his sword broken Ness jabs it into Jojo's blaster while he had the wrist Jojo's shooting arm.

The blaster is damaged earning a growl from Jojo. He rips his arm free to pull back to deliver a powerful palm strike into Ness' chest. This easily threw Ness hard to the ground. Ness winces as he places a hand on his chest plate to felt he dent around the metal. Ness winces at the idea of not having the armor. Probably would've broke his ribcage. Ness sits up seeing Jojo looking over his blaster after he removed the broken sword. He seems to assessing if it was usable. However, instead of simply tossing it aside he holsters the firearm.

"Impressive…" Jojo mutters.

"Whoa…you speak English?"

"That collar relates my words into the language you recognize."

"Then how do you know what I'm saying?"

"I have a translator in my helmet. And besides that, that collar you have has you speaking in a tongue I recognize. To you, it feels like you're talking your native language. However, the device vibrates your vocal chords in a way that translate your words in a different language. That's why it feels odd when you speak."

"I see…you're pretty good," Ness says finally picking himself up off the ground.

"As are you. Been a while since I've been in a fight that lasted this long. I felt the need to relay my respect for you."

"Not sure if I want compliments from someone like you…"

"That's fair. However, we all have things that we have to do. The only way you're getting out of this fight is if your dead or I am."

"Why would you willing go along with this!? I mean, you're the first conversation I've had with anyone here!"

"Why don't you ask the kid MC calls Monster. Seems like he'd have a good idea…"

"What?"

A moment later Jojo's gauntlets light up a greenish glow before plasma blades shoots out the top of them. He rushes forward toward Ness. Jojo is quick, but large. He'd have to fight low something that could play a bit into Ness's advantage. He leaps over the first lunge. But Jojo was back on him within moments swinging his arms in quick precise swings. Ness was forced to use his PSI to parry and dodge around each swing. Ness dodges and spins placing his palms against Jojo's stomach. He unleashes a powerful PK Rocekn at beta level. The multi-colored beam that shoots out his hands moving in a zig zag but focusing on one point. Jojo is thrown until he hits the end of the arena. Ness pauses in his attack but arms to still raised waiting to assess how much damage was done. Jojo was upon on him again as he rushes out the dust cloud.

"That armor must be pretty strong…"

"And heavy if he can move like that with it on…" Ness frowns charging another PK Rocken. He unleashes quick succession of alpha level shots. Focused more on wearing down Jojo. However, the mercenary is light on his feet dodging between beams of multi-colored lights as it explodes into the ground. "Any ideas?"

"He's got a good reaction time, but you can still move faster than him. Focus your attack on one spot. Wear him down."

"Good idea," Ness mutters rushing forward. He activates his PSI to begin accelerating as he becomes coated in his crimson colored PSI. Jojo, screeches to halt to reassess the massive increase in speed. Ness rushes him a blur of motion. However, Jojo was not one to simply stand there. He responds in kind swinging his blades at the blur. It was difficult to see if he actually did any damage. But it was clear Ness was doing damage. Ness chose three areas to focus on and began raining down hundreds of blows a piece. Jojo however soon recognized the patter of attacks and quickly raised his hand to block kick, however he didn't have an answer for Ness' PSI attacks. Jojo quickly turns swinging his arm predicting Ness's path. The boy quickly fell backwards under the blade. Falling into a backward somersault as his feet hit the ground. He rushes forward aiming at the crack in Jojo's armor above his stomach. Jojo, predicted this as his hand suddenly shoots out catching Ness's arm in his hold. Then Jojo stabs his other blade forward with the intent to behead Ness. Ness creates a PSI Shield to protect him from the blade. Focusing it around his head to increase its durability despite the small size. Jojo pushes the tip of his plasma blade against Ness' shield. Ness couldn't pull out and he couldn't unleash a PK Rocken with his focus needed on the shield.

"You got this Ness, I know you got this!" Ninten encourages. Ness grits his teeth as his eyes shine a crimson pulling on his power. He diverts the barrier pushing the blade away from his head. It did however stab into Ness' shoulder on his caught arm. Ness grits his teeth fighting through the excoriating pain as of the blade tearing and burning into his skins. He had gathered a powerful amount of PSI in his opposing hand then placed it against the gauntlet to destroy it in one shot. Judging by the pain shout of Jojo, he may've done a good amount of damage to his actual arm too. Ness quickly does the same to the other gauntlet shattering before placing both hands forward.

"Gamma!" he yells unleashing a PK Rocken from his hands. At Gamama level the attack is unleashed from his entire body in a multi-string of energy shots.

Jojo was overwhelmed as he went flying back. Ness winces placing a hand on his profusely bleeding shoulder. The blood loss was getting worse by the second. Ness wished he could catarize the wound, but he didn't have PK Fire. However, his attention is grabbed when Jojo limps out the smoke his armor broken and barely held together. A read face with a purple eye partly shown through the broken helmet. Jojo's blood leaking out blue colored with strange protrusions on his forearms that was covered by his gauntlets. Ness curses before muttering a quick PK Lifeup, hopeful that healing spell lessened the blood lost. Ness rushes forward at the same time Jojo did. The two clashed in hand to hand combat. Blocking and punching in swift fast motions. Ness was right, Jojo was absolutely faster without the armor. Ness held his own with parries and striking at now exposed portion of Jojo's body. Ness struck with a kick that was caught by the ankle. Jojo turn sharply slamming Ness into the ground. Then places both hands on Ness's foot to hyper extend it making Ness scream out in pain. Jojo drops the foot with it stuck at an awkward angle. Ness cries in pain as he stunned by the pain and unable to move.

"You relied too much on your mobility…" Jojo says with a puff of air seemingly trying to catch his breath. "Damn…been a while since I've experienced such an intense battle. Truly, this is unfortunate that this is where your story ends," Jojo walks over to reach down to wrap his hand around Ness's throat. Then he picks up Ness from the ground. "You may die not in the dirt. That is the last honor I can give you."

Then Jojo begins squeezing Ness gasps as tries to inhale with his mouth wide open. Trying to claim much needed breath. The crowd cheers and jeers at the potential death about to happen before them.

"Ness…hold on I'm going to try something…" Ness gasps as if trying to respond. "Charge up an attack, but be ready."

Ness looks forward glaring at Jojo. "This is the only way it could end."

Ness's eyes flicker to the side trying to think of way out of this. Suddenly, his eyes land on Jojo's lost knife. Ninten realized what Ness was looking at as well. It was still active as well. Ness uses his telekinesis to yank to his toward his hand. His concentration was shot though. So Ninten focuses his own to tries to assist Ness with his limited powers. Ness snatches then completely cuts off Jojo's hand with the plasma blade. Jojo screams in anguish as he clutches his stub. Ness hits the ground landing on his front. He quickly turns with a hand pointed out.

"PK Rocken!" He quickly fired off a strong burst hoping it would put Jojo down. He fired a powerful focused beam that nailed Jojo in his exposed stomach. The attack broke through the otherside of Jojo's stomach. Jojo was flung into the air before he crashes to the ground. Ness gasps as he tries to force as much air into his lungs as he could. He ended up coughing but still greedily took in air. Once he caught his breath a bit he looks over to Jojo who lay on the ground motionless. His own blue blood pooling underneath him.

"And it's over! Incredible, what a blink and you'll miss it type battle! This was easily one of the quickest battles we've ever had! Give it up for our winner, the PSI Warrior Ness!"

The crowd cheers despite Ness hating everything single creature that found such joy in all this. He tries pushes himself up when suddenly a hand is on his back. "Don't worry it's just me," came Ninten's voice. This time in wasn't in his head. His eyes turn to see Ninten relieved and smirking face. "Since your fight was the last MC is using most of the bots to clean up and get the crowd out. MC let me come get you. Hold on let me get your leg, uh, this is gonna suck…"

"Do it…" Ness muttered clenching his teeth prepared. Ninten was quick as he reset Ness leg earning a fierce cry of pain.

"I got ya buddy," Ninten reassures as sends low waves of PSI Healing to help with the pain. Ninten works Ness onto his back hooking his arms behind his legs then began carrying Ness toward the lift. Ness is quiet for a bit with Ninten not saying anything either the entire walk. Once they get on the lift Ninten feels Ness relax a bit.

"Did…did Lucas wake up…?"

"Nah, not yet. I mean MC wasn't kidding, that fight did come and go pretty quick. Super intense though, geez you're amazing dude."

"Told ya not to worry…" Ness smirks as he rests his head on Ninten's shoulder.

"Guess you were right. I was gonna try and enter that Jojo guy's head to see if I could flick a few things in his head. But I couldn't do it with my limited strength…sorry…"

"Thought that counts…" Ness responds tiredly.

"Is that a pun?" Ninten questions. He felt Ness shrug. "Well I'll let you rest. But I've got some good news. I couldn't do anything to the guy's mind, but I did find out some interesting info from his head. We may have a plan in the making."