POKEMON
Chapter Six:
The Surge
Now that his experience with the St. Anne was over, it was time for Danny to get down to business. He heard the Vermillion City gym leader Lieutenant Surge was really tough, and specialized in electric Pokémon. But this was why he had captured a Diglett earlier. However, Danny got another idea…
Soon, Danny was talking with Professor Oak on some sort of PC video phone device at the Pokémon Center, but it also had a compartment of some sort you could load a Pokéball into.
"So do you think it's possible if I can exchange two of my Pokémon?" Danny was finishing.
"Of course," Oak said. "Who would you like to send over, and who do you want me to send to you?"
"How about my Mankey for Geodude, and my Butterfree for Diglett?" Danny asked.
"A fine choice, particularly if you are going to battle Lt. Surge," Professor Oak said. "Give me a minute." He walked off-screen for a while, then arrived with a Pokéball. "OK," he instructed, "place each Pokéball in the compartment, one at a time."
Danny did so. "You're going to like Professor Oak's lab, guys," he said to the Pokéballs.
And so the exchange was made. Danny got his Geodude and Diglett.
"Oh by the way," Professor Oak added. "Your younger brother Billy started HIS training journey about a week after you left. He might be arriving in Vermillion City some time soon."
"That's good," Danny said. "What Pokémon did he start with?"
"A Squirtle," Oak answered.
"Hmm," Danny said. "That's the one initial starter I don't have yet," he said to himself. Then he said to Oak, "Well, if I don't see him yet but he contacts you, tell him I wish him the best of luck!"
"Will do, Danny," Oak said. "Bye for now!"
"See ya!" Danny said, hanging up the PC phone.
…
The sky was beginning to cloud up. Danny could see some rather dark storm clouds off in the distance. However, he knew this wouldn't be that much trouble, as there was plenty of shelter around. But in order to get to the Vermillion Gym, a small bush was blocking its path. "This might be a good opportunity to try out that new Cut technique," Danny said, pulling out the hidden machine HM01.
Danny decided to let Ivysaur learn the Cut technique, and in no time the bush was cut down, and Danny found himself about to enter the Vermillion Gym.
"Ready, Pikachu?" Danny asked.
"Pikachu!" Danny's Pikachu hopped with joy.
They entered. Some kind of bouncer greeted them. "Yo! Champ in making! Lt. Surge has a nickname. People refer to him as the Lightning American! He's an expert on electric Pokémon! Birds and water Pokémon are at risk. Beware of paralysis too! Lt. Surge is very cautious. You'll have to break a code to get to him!"
Danny noticed what was going on. The doors to Lt. Surge's main battlefield were locked, and there were a series of trash cans all around, and a few other trainers. Danny quickly picked up that there was probably some kind of secret switch in the cans.
A sailor stopped Danny. "This is no place for kids!" He sent out his two Magnemite, but Danny's Geodude was able to take them down.
"Wow! Surprised me!" the sailor said. "Lt. Surge set up double locks. Here's a hint! When you open the first lock, the second lock is right next to it!"
Danny took that advice. He managed to find one lock in a trash can, but he was a bit nervous trying to locate the second. However, he got lucky, and the doors opened. Danny was in! By now, it was beginning to rain outside, with thunder softly rumbling.
"Ten-hut!" Lt. Surge greeted Danny as he entered the battlefield. "Welcome to Vermillion Gym! Will you look at that? A pint-sized challenger! With a little baby Pokémon!" He directly eyed Danny's nervous-looking Pikachu and laughed. "You've got big and brassy nerves to take me on with your puny power! A Pokémon battle is WAR! I'll show you, civillian! I'll shock you into surrender!" He got out a Pokéball and threw it onto the field. "Go Pokéball!"
The ball opened, and out popped a large orange mouse-like Pokémon. "Raichu!" it said.
"Whoa… a Raichu!" Danny said. "That's the evolved form of Pikachu. I hope my Diglett can beat it. GO, DIGLETT!" He sent out his Diglett.
Lt. Surge laughed. "A puny little Diglett?! This will be easy!" A bolt of lightning streaked outside, followed by a crack of thunder. "Perfect! I love me a good thunderstorm. Charges me up!"
A referee of some sort came out, speaking into a microphone. "The Pokémon battle will now begin! Only one Pokémon at a time may be used. The gym leader, Lt. Surge, has chosen Raichu. The challenger, Danny, has chosen Diglett. No time limit. Let the battle begin!" A bell clanged.
"Diglett, dig!" Danny ordered. On command, the Diglett burrowed itself underground.
"Raichu," Lt. Surge commanded, "Mega punch!"
But Raichu missed and instead landed near Danny. Just then, Diglett popped back up from the ground with a high velocity, sending Raichu crashing to the ground. Raichu appeared to have weakened from the impact, but still capable of battling. The lights then began flashing on and off in the gym.
"What's happening?" Danny asked.
"It must be the high winds outside," Surge said. "No matter. Once this storm ends, I'll power the gym myself! But until then… Raichu! Thunderbolt!"
"Raiiiii…CHUUUUU!" the electric mouse shrieked, sending a lethal electric charge toward Diglett. At the same time, lightning flashed outside, apparently triggered from Raichu's Thunderbolt attack. However, Diglett was unfazed.
"Huh?" Lt. Surge asked as the lights flickered more.
"Electric moves are ineffective against ground Pokémon!" Danny said. "I came prepared! Now Diglett, dig again!"
Diglett buried itself into the ground again. After a few flickers, the electricity went out throughout the gym.
"Raichu," Lt. Surge said, "Don't let the power failure stop you! Mega kick on the ground!"
But Raichu still couldn't hit Diglett this way. Sure enough, Diglett popped up again and managed to knock out Raichu with its force!
"UNBELIEVABLE!" Lt. Surge said as more thunder crashed outside.
"We have a winner!" The referee said, as Danny and his Pikachu laughed triumphantly.
"Whoa! You're the real deal, kid!" Lt. Surge said, shaking Danny's hand. "Fine, then. Take this Thunderbadge!" He handed it to Danny.
"Thanks, Lt. Surge!" Danny said, as he recalled Diglett back to its Pokéball.
"The Thunderbadge cranks up your Pokémon's speed! It also lets your Pokémon use Fly any time, kid! You'll learn about that a little later, though. You're special, kid! Take this!" He handed Danny a technical machine. "That's TM24. It contains Thunderbolt! Teach it to an electric Pokémon! But your Pikachu will probably learn it on its own, so save it for another electric Pokémon you'll obtain later!"
"Thanks!" Danny said, as he and Pikachu left the gym.
"Whew, that match was electric!" the bouncer said.
…
The storm had ended outside, but the whole city was without power. It was starting to get dark outside. At the Pokémon Center, they had no lights or air conditioning through the building, but the healing machines, PCs and telephones still worked. Danny was able to heal up his team. Then he deposited his Geodude and Diglett to Professor Oak's laboratory, and decided to withdraw his Clefairy.
"Come on guys," Danny said to his Pokémon. "Let's trek through Diglett's Cave and see if Pewter City has power." They left the center.
"Didn't you hear?" the old man Danny talked with earlier said. "The St. Anne sunk out at sea during the storm! Luckily it seems everyone got off safely as of now."
"Whew," Danny said. "Good thing I wasn't on the ship after all!"
Danny came across a female police officer. Like the one he met in Cerulean City, this one was also named Jenny. She noticed Danny holding his Thunderbadge as he and Pikachu walked along. "Oh, you have the Thunderbadge?!" she said. "You must be a good trainer! I just caught a Squirtle that was always getting into mischief. Would you take good care of it?"
"Would I?" Danny said. "Of course!"
"OK. Please treat squirtle right!" Jenny said, handing the Pokéball to Danny.
…
A little while later, before approaching Diglett's Cave, Danny decided to check out his new Pokémon. "Squirtle!" it said as it emerged from the Pokéball.
Danny laughed. "Now I have a Squirtle, just like my brother!" He got out his Pokédex…
"Squirtle," Dexter explained. "A tiny turtle Pokémon. It shoots water at prey while in the water. It withdraws into its shell when in danger."
"Nice!" Danny said.
…
So Danny and his Pokémon trekked through Diglett's Cave, and eventually wound up at the other side. At a small cottage, a boy poked through a window. "Hey! Are you a Pokémon trainer?" he called.
"Yeah?" Danny said, running up to the cottage.
"Come on in!" the boy said, and Danny entered. He held up a Pokéball and said, "I'm looking for a Clefairy! Wanna trade one for my Mr. Mime?"
Danny gasped softly. "Hmm…" he thought. He went to a bit of trouble to catch the Clefairy back at Mount Moon. But he knew Mr. Mime was even rarer. It sounded like a worthy trade. But first he asked, "Uh, are you sure you want to give up your Mr. Mime?"
"I don't mind," the boy said. "My family already has quite a few of them. We raise them! But I want to be a trainer like you, and I want more than just Mr. Mime!"
"Well, if that's how it goes… OK!" Danny smiled.
"OK," the boy said, as he whipped the cover off a trading machine.
"What is THAT?" Danny asked.
"It's our personal trading machine," he said. This way, the Pokémon legally becomes yours. Lots of people trade Pokémon. It's a great way to try and catch them all!"
"If you say so," Danny said. He put the Clefairy's Pokéball on his end, and the boy put his Pokéball on the other.
"Well, here goes!" he said. He pushed a button, and in a few seconds, the balls were sucked into the machine, the screen showed two sprites of Clefairy and Mr. Mime passing each other, and then the balls came back out.
"Hey, thanks!" the boy said. "His nickname is Miles, so call him that."
"Any time," Danny said. He left the cottage, and tossed his Pokéball forward. "Go, Pokéball!" he said, and sure enough, out popped a Mr. Mime.
"Mr. Mime," the humanoid clownlike Pokémon said.
Danny got out his Pokédex again. "Mr. Mime. The barrier Pokémon. It always practices its pantomime act. It makes enemies believe something exists that really doesn't. Because it is so rare, information about this Pokémon is limited."
"Wow," Danny said. "This sure is cool! Another addition to the collection!"
…
Danny stopped at another building that also still had electricity, and came across a scientist of some sort. "Hi! Remember me?" the scientist said. "I'm Professor Oak's aide! If you caught ten kinds of Pokémon, I'm supposed to give you an HM05. So, Danny, have you caught ten kinds of Pokémon?"
"See for yourself," Danny said, handing his Pokédex to the aide.
"Hmm…" he said, checking it. "Great! You have caught 18 different kinds of Pokémon. Congratulations! Here you go!" He handed Danny a hidden machine, similar to the Cut one, but with "HM05" marked on it. "The hidden move Flash lights even the darkest dungeons."
"Just like Brock said!" Danny grinned.
…
After that, Danny caught a bus to Pewter City. He decided to try out his new Cut ability some more. One place that caught Danny's interest was the Pewter Museum of Science. There was a back way of some sort blocked off by a small bush, so Danny cut that down, and entered the door.
The Pewter Museum of Science still had power. There was a laboratory of some sorts with scientists working around. As Danny approached what appeared to be a shiny piece of amber, the clerk from the entrance stopped him.
"You can't sneak in the back way!" He seemed serious at first, but then he put his hand to his forehead. "Oh, whatever! Do you know what amber is?"
"Yeah," Danny said, "it's fossilized tree sap of some sort."
"There's a lab somewhere trying to resurrect ancient Pokémon from amber!" the clerk said.
"Hey, kid!" a scientist near the amber called to Danny.
"What is it?" Danny asked, walking toward the scientist.
Holding up the clear gold amber, the scientist said a bit nervously, "Ssh! I think this chunk of amber contains Pokémon DNA! It would be great if Pokémon could be resurrected from it! But my colleagues just ignore me! So I have a favor to ask! Take this to a Pokémon lab and get it examined!"
"I can do that," Danny said, as he received the amber from the scientist.
…
Danny rode the bus back to Vermillion City, and then trekked back to Cerulean City. The sun was starting to go down. Danny figured his next stop should be Lavender Town, but there was a sign near Diglett's Cave: "NOTICE! Route 12 may be blocked off by a sleeping Pokémon. Detour through Rock Tunnel to Lavender Town. – Vermillion Police." So after stopping at the Pokémon Center once again to swap his Mr. Mime for his Abra and to deposit some items he didn't need anymore, Danny headed back to Cerulean City so he could get to Rock Tunnel this way.
However, Cerulean City also had no electricity from the storm. While he was there, Danny went and exchanged his bike voucher for a bicycle, and later ran into his younger brother, Billy!
"Billy, what are you doing here?" Danny asked.
"I just beat the three Cerulean Sisters and got my Cascade Badge," Danny explained. "My Pikachu was a big help… wait, YOU got a Pikachu too?"
"Yes," Danny said. "Didn't Professor Oak tell you? He told me you got a Squirtle. I got one as well!" Danny tossed one of his Pokéballs open and his Squirtle came out.
"Squirtle Squirt!" Danny's Squirtle said.
"Well then, come on out fellas!" Billy said, sending out HIS Squirtle and Pikachu.
"Where'd you get your Pikachu?" Danny asked.
"Viridian Forest," Billy explained. "I caught 12 different kinds of Pokémon so far. Now I'm on my way to Vermillion City."
"Let me tell you," Danny warned, "Vermillion City also has no power because of that storm."
"Yeah, I was in the Pokémon Center here when it happened," Billy said. "Luckily the Cerulean sisters were able to still battle even without power. Well, hopefully it will come back on once I'm in Vermillion City!"
"I hope so, too." Danny said. Then they both parted ways and were off once again to their respective destinations.
TO BE CONTINUED