Ready to Go
16 June 2001
I am lodged in a modest little motel in the village of Hooker's Green northeast of Viridian City. The motel clerk joked about the town's name, but I failed to see the humour in it. Koga himself is not the most communicative nor overly gentlemanly company, but he did obtain this room for me. Of course, he's cheap to boot, he's out in the parking lot sleeping in the Cherokee we rented at the rail station.
He gently tapped me on the shoulder when we arrived at Viridian City, rousing me from a disturbing dream. In the dream I was arguing with a spiteful and unhappy dark-haired girl about five years younger than myself. She was accusing me of "brainwashing" her father and that I had no right to see him just now. I recall feeling a keen sense of loss at her stinging words. I turned away from her and walked out of the room. I had to wipe my eyes with my sleeve after I left the room for lack of a tissue, because she had made me cry. That's when I felt the strong hand on my shoulder and I awoke with a start.
Koga said, "If you handle the rental, I'll go pick up some supplies at an outfitter near the station. I suspect you will handle the bargaining over the vehicle better than I with your special talents."
With that he was off. It was the longest bit of conversation we had for the rest of the afternoon. For all of my access to the thoughts and motivations of others I am not comfortable abroad among other people. Commercial transactions make me nervous, but I couldn't tell Koga that, so I struggled through making the rental arrangements. The rental clerk tried to trick me, but I saw through it easily. I suppose that is why Koga asked me to do the job, but it was a disappointment to see human greed in action again. I'd rather avoid it.
Sometimes I crave the outgoing aggressive personality I saw in the other customer at the rental counter. She was about my age with flaming red hair, green earrings, and piercing blue eyes. She was mercilessly chewing out the other desk clerk about her own rental. She claimed some sort of connection with the Viridian City Pokémon gym and used that information to threaten and wheedle the poor clerk. She made such a scene I was tempted to pry into her thoughts, but I thought better of it; I was having an unpleasant enough time with my own clerk. When she caught me staring at her she glared at me briefly, coloured and became quieter.
Why am I here? Koga and my dreams fascinated me, but he's a shy, taciturn, and stony companion. I'd tresspass on his mind, but I feel that would be rude at best, self-serving and underhanded at worst. I know from the Indigo Plateau meeting that he finds me attractive, then why does he treat me like, well...a colleague or even some fine tool from the hardware store? He's not exactly "Mr. Warmth and Congenialty". Maybe I'm asking too much, or reading too much into my dreams. Besides, I suppose I'm not the most charming and sweet companion myself. Well, I'm too deeply involved in this mission to back out now, my word is my bond.
