Jason Creight awoke in his room at Professor Oak's research lab in
Pallet Town.
He'd been living here for about four months now. He had no home of his own, and he'd not been especially inclined to build one, lush though his bank account was. He lived a modest life... no designer clothes or expensive dinners at snooty restaurants... he was just himself.
And he liked himself that way.
He glanced around the room. He hadn't built a home, perhaps, but he had moved his things to larger quarters that had been available upon his return to Pallet after the Atlantis League championship. The room was spacious, allowing for a small amount of furniture and a couple of single beds.
In the other bed, across the room, lay Kelly. She was lying on her side, and she was wide awake, quietly watching Jason. A small smile came to her face. "Hey. Have a good sleep?"
"Can't remember my dreams," Jason responded, "so I can only assume so."
Jason's eyes shifted away from Kelly and darted around the room again. On the bedside table sat his tech effects: Pokedex, PokeGear, laptop, a night lamp. His desk was buried in disheveled papers, thrown down in no particular order. His dresser had several books on it, all of which he'd already read.
A display case hung from the wall opposite the foot of his bed. On that display case were the trophies that Jason had won from the championships he'd been in, from Indigo to Johto to the Atlantis League. Hanging behind and above the trophies was a large piece of cardboard covered in black velvet, bearing all the badges that Jason had earned in his travels... 21 badges in total. The entire display was sealed behind plexiglass.
*21... I've only got one more year to go.* Jason had celebrated his 20th birthday the month before; no longer was he a teenager. He could now be called a full-fledged adult. An adult Pokemon master, to boot.
Jason looked over at his dresser again. Inside the bottom drawer, below his carefully placed piles of clothes, were some extremely special items he'd acquired from his training days. The items included one-of-a- kind sunglasses, a dragon fang, a martial arts black belt, and two Focus Bands.
He'd come across the sunglasses and black belt by trainers who no longer needed them... or so they'd claimed. He'd bought the Focus Bands off a martial arts master who was selling them near the Indigo Plateau. He'd acquired the dragon fang during a challenge from Clair, the final Johto League gym leader; she'd let him keep it.
His eyes came to rest on his wheelchair, positioned next to his bed.
That wheelchair had supported him for more than 6 years, now. He remained dependent on it, day after day, despite the difficulties and stereotypes.
His mind drifted through his memories, and, not for the first time, found Dr. Kendrick, the doctor from Saffron City General Hospital, who had offered him the chance to walk again.
That offer had been made almost two years ago.
Jason knew it was still open.
And yet, every time he thought about the offer, he thought about Creight, his now nonexistent future self.
And every time he thought about Creight, he thought about the possibility of losing Kelly.
For Jason, that prospect was too great to bear.
He didn't want to lose her. Perhaps not because he loved her, but because he cared for her. Deeply.
And he didn't want to see her leave. Not after the two of them had gone thorugh so much.
Rationally, Jason knew that this prospect was much less possible, since that had been a one-time occurrence, and his brother had retreated, presumably to the Orange Islands. Jason knew that the Islands had to have been what Daniel was referring to in his note.
*We'll settle this on home turf.*
*Home for him, maybe. Not for me.*
Jason had no intention of going back to the Orange Islands. He knew that Kelly wanted him to go, to resolve his issues with his past. Perhaps even find the capacity to forgive his brother.
But Jason knew better. Knew that if he were to ever come across Daniel again, the consequences would be disastrous.
He'd vowed to himself long ago to never go back.
To this day, he'd kept that vow.
And he would keep it for as long as possible. *Preferably eternity.*
Kelly continued to watch him, her smile growing wider. "We'd best get up if we're going to get to work on time."
"I'm feeling decidedly lazy today," Jason responded, throwing his left arm over his eyes and slumping back.
He heard the rustling of Kelly's sheets and knew that she was getting out of bed. A couple of quiet footsteps echoed in the room, their origins getting nearer to him. Kelly lifted his arm off his eyes by the wrist, smiled down at him, leaned forward, and kissed him softly. When she pulled away, she said, "There's your incentive."
Jason's eyebrows worked up and down. "Hard to argue with that."
He pushed himself out of bed, grabbed the clothes he'd laid out the night before, and got into his wheelchair. It was a routine now, though getting into the chair from a bed, as opposed to getting into it from the ground, was much easier. That was the way he'd had it on the Atlantis League ships, as well as a good portion of his remaining tour through the Johto League afterwards. Now, after dealing with it for almost a full year, he was getting used to it.
Little things like that seemed so much more pronounced to Jason nowadays.
After all, he didn't battle anymore.
***
Jason and Kelly met Professor Oak in the dining room, where Oak was happily munching on pancakes, eggs, and sausage. Jason couldn't help but think, *Thank God the cook is in, or else we'd have nothing but tofu...*
"Ah! Come right in," Oak said, smiling at the arrival of the two former Pokemon trainers. "The cook has some wonderful breakfast for us today!"
"Good to know," said Kelly. "I'd start to wonder if he gave us average breakfast."
"Yes, well, with his paycheck, one should hope that he makes good meals," Oak responded lightly.
"You seem rather chipper today, Professor. Something up?" Jason asked.
"Well, Jason, we're going to be having company tomorrow, around noon," the professor answered. "Company that you might recognize. He'll be at the complex for a day or two."
"Who?" Kelly asked, beating Jason to the punch.
"None other than your good friend, Adam Sands," Oak replied cheerfully. "I imagine you've been waiting for him to visit for a while, haven't you?"
Jason and Kelly were both pleasantly surprised. Jason answered, "Yeah, we have. I just bought his book the other day. Heard it's hit the Kanto and Johto bestseller lists already."
"And it's become one of the most controversial books in recent history," Kelly added. "He writes really well. I like his poetry, but it's so dismal... his book is really well-written."
"I'm aware of that Kelly," Oak responded. "I actually... heh heh, I bought a copy myself just this morning, over at the Pokemon Store."
He held up a hardbound book for them to see, and indeed it was the book in question.
*Sticks and Stones: Our Lives As Disabled Trainers*
*by Adam Sands*
Kelly glanced over at Jason, smiling at Oak's confession. "You recall the Indigo League match with that biased guy... Travis Johnson?"
A look of recognition passed over Jason's face. Not to mention a cloud. "Yeah."
"I wonder what he thought when he first saw that book on the stands."
At this, Jason's face split in a sadistic grin. "I wonder."
Kelly turned back to Oak. "And while I'm wondering, I wonder why Adam didn't try to get here sooner."
Adam had not been heard from since even before his book had gone to publishers. His calls and e-mails had become less frequent, though Jaosn and Kelly had figured that par for the course as far as writing went. Even after Jason had won the Johto League, beaten the Elite Four, and become a Pokemon master, Adam had not kept up his end of the bargain he'd made when they'd last seen each other... to make the time to visit.
"Ah..." Oak's expression became giddy, but also closed, in a peculiar way. "He has a good reason, but I'd prefer that he tell you."
"I suppose it's something to do with those undoubted millions he's raking in from the book, right? New house, new car..." Jason joked.
"As I said, I'd prefer he tell you," Oak repeated, his smile growing. "I think he would, too. I *will* tell you, though, that it's really good news."
"I sure hope so," said Jason. "I look forward to hearing it."
Oak sat back and laced his fingers in his lap. "In the meantime, Jason, there's a job opportunity that's opening up in a little while."
"What is it?" Jason asked, as his plate of pancakes and sausage was set before him. Whenever Oak said something along those lines, he usually meant that there was more than one candidate for the job in question.
"Well, before I tell you, I have to know something, and I hope you don't view it as too direct or rude."
Jason shrugged. "Don't worry about it. Shoot."
"Do you plan to take up Dr. Kendrick on his offer anytime soon?"
Jason's eyebrow rose. "Why do you ask?"
"Because this little assignment could take a while, and it's rather strenuous. In fact, I'd thought that Kelly might do this originally, but then chose to take you into consideration. It's not so hazardous that a wheelchair can't be used, it's just that... it might go faster if there's someone who can use their legs on this job."
Jason paused for a moment. "I suppose the third option would be to stay here and work with you while Kelly, or someone else, goes out on this job."
Oak nodded. "Probably the most financially safe option for you, Jason, but I know you like to take risks once in a while."
Jason blew his breath out his nose. "I've given the matter consideration, Professor. But I still don't know if that's what I want to do."
"Jason, it's been almost two years since he offered."
"I know that." Jason sighed again. "What's the job?"
"I want to send someone to Silver Cave, out near Tohjo Falls, and collect data on the Pokemon he or she finds there. Which kinds, skill level... risky, and that person would have to take a strong Pokemon team with them."
Jason shook his head. "Silver Cave's too rocky for my chair, Sam. And the marshes outlying it aren't all that forgiving, either. You'd be better off sending someone else."
Oak nodded. "That's what I figured. That leaves you with two options... Dr. Kendrick's surgery, or working with me."
Jason winced. "Ouch. I don't know which one would be more painful."
"Jason, I really think you should make a decision on this."
A slight crease developed between Jason's eyebrows, a sign that he wasn't exactly thrilled by Oak's declaration. "And if I should decide that I don't want to do it now? Is that a crime, Sam?"
Oak sighed. "No, Jason, it's not a crime. But I think it's an injustice. You have the chance to walk again, handed to you on a silver platter, and you're not taking it. Why?"
The crease in Jason's brow deepened. "We'll talk about it later. Right now, I want to eat my breakfast and just get on with work."
Oak waved his hand. "Fine, fine. But don't put off the decision too long."
***
Late that evening, Jason and Kelly got off work and returned to their room. As they shuffled their lab coats off, Kelly hesitantly asked, "So... do you want to talk about this morning?"
Jason scoffed. "What's to talk about?"
"You seemed sort of harsh with the professor."
"He was pushing me in a direction I didn't want to go."
Kelly frowned as she sat down on her bed. "What, you don't even want to consider having the surgery?"
"Not right now, I don't."
"Why?"
Jason sighed. "Are you sure you want to hear this?"
"Tell me, Jason."
"Fine." Jason wheeled over to Kelly, pushed out of his wheelchair, and put himself in an upright position next to her. He then folded his hands in his anorexic lap and looked down at them. "Every time I even think about it, I think about Creight. I think about what could have happened if he hadn't come, what would have happened if I hadn't come. And it scares me to death."
Kelly put her arm around his shoulders. He looked up at her, saw the concern for him in her eyes.
He opened his mouth again, but no words came out. He found his voice after a moment, however. "I don't want any chance of something like that happening. Ever. I could have lost you. And I could have lost Professor Oak, and I could have lost so many others here who've helped my life mean something. I know that it's not likely to happen now... in fact, I know it's almost impossible now, because Daniel's not going to come back here. Not when he thinks I've always got a rude surprise waiting for him. But still... this little voice in my head is telling me not to do it. It seems like... if I do it, I'll become Creight."
Kelly shook her head. "That can't happen just because of a surgery to help you, Jason. You'd still be the same caring, lovable, determined man you are. I know you would."
"It still doesn't change the fact that the surgery scares me." He stared into her eyes. "I haven't stood on my own two feet for six years, Kelly. For six years, I've been sitting in that chair, proving to one and all that even in my condition, I can still train Pokemon with the best of them. I gave people something to believe in, just by being in that chair. Now I'm a Pokemon master, and I don't train because I've got nothing left to prove.
"I put my heart and soul into my training because it was all I had. Then I discovered that I could do so much more, and that training wasn't what I wanted to do for my entire life... so I stopped after becoming a Pokemon master. With that part of my life gone, there's only one part of me left... and it's that chair." His eyes became distant. "Could you understand that, Kelly?"
Kelly shook her head. "I don't know."
She inched closer to him, and slowly, they embraced each other in a tight, reassuring hug.
She spoke softly into his ear. "But what I do understand is that no matter what you do with your life, I'll still love you. And I hope you understand that, too."
They pulled slightly out of the hug, just enough to face each other.
Both leaned slowly in at the same time, and they kissed passionately.
They shared that kiss for a long time.
***
Jason, Kelly, and Professor Oak were waiting for Adam in front of the lab complex the next day. Sure enough, close to 12 noon, Jason spotted a pinprick of darkness in the bright, pale sunlight of winter. All three of them wore heavy clothing and coats to combat the cold of the season, but the cold didn't dampen their spirits as they looked up to where Jason pointed.
Indeed, it was their old friend, Adam Sands, who possessed prosthetic substitutes for his missing legs, had survived the Atlantis League alongside Jason, had confessed a crush on Kelly, and had rescued a friend of his own from the tyranny of the league's oppressive rules. He was mounted on his Pidgeot, as he had been when Jason had last seen him, and he was wearing his dark overcoat. And a smile.
His Pidgeot touched down a few moments later, just yards away from where Jason, Kelly, and Professor Oak waited. They approached him enthusiastically; Jason offered his hand, which Adam took immediately and firmly.
"Great to see you again, Adam," Jason said, grinning.
"You, too, Jason," Adam replied, returning the expression.
Adam looked over at Kelly, who was also smiling, and decided to show that he was no longer embarrassed by the incident during the Atlantis League tour; he approached her with arms wide open, and she embraced him in a friendly hug.
"Wow, it feels like such a long time, doesn't it?" she asked.
"It does indeed," he answered.
Then Adam saw Professor Oak, and his grin turned more boyish than it had been before. "Wow. Professor Oak himself. It's an honor to meet you, sir." He offered his hand.
Oak took it eagerly. "The pleasure's all mine, Adam. I've read your book. It's an amazing piece of literature... definitely an eye-opener to everyone, I think."
Adam chuckled, and his grin became still younger. "Thanks. That means a lot to me, Professor, coming from you."
Oak smiled. "Don't worry, Adam, I'm not here to look down on you, and I doubt that's what you came here for, either. You want to spend some time with your friends, right?"
"Yes, indeed," Adam responded. He turned back to Jason and Kelly. "Are there any guest quarters not being used?"
"Yeah, near our room," Kelly answered. She headed for the complex and beckoned Jason and Adam to follow. "Come on!"
Jason glanced up at Adam. "I like the haircut. Looks good on you."
Adam scoffed. "Thanks." He'd taken a liking to having his blond hair buzzed; it kept any hair out of his eyes for a good long time, and he stayed cool during the summer. Shame that it was winter.
To emphasize the point, a cold breeze flared up and whistled about them, flapping the tails of Adam's closed overcoat and biting at their faces. They made for the complex.
"We'd been wondering what was keeping you," Jason remarked, as they made their way through the dorm halls. "I'd sort of been hoping you could have made it here sooner."
"I would have been," Adam said, "but I was... delayed."
At this, he put his left hand in his pocket and kept it there, though the complex was quite warm.
"Any particular reason?" Jason ventured.
"Yeah, but I think I'd prefer to say it at the dinner table," Adam responded. "Somehow, it'd feel more... I dunno, homely. Appropriate."
Jason shrugged. "All right, but this'd better be a good story."
"Trust me."
Kelly was already in the room when Jason and Adam got to it. She smiled a welcoming smile. "Here's your room, sir. Hope you enjoy your stay."
"So do I," Adam responded. "Do I owe you a tip for bringing me here?"
"Just an explanation for why you're so late in getting here," she answered.
"Believe me, I'll tell you. Dinner tonight. It'll be best there."
"I hope so."
Adam pulled his backpack off and set it on the bed, then did the same with his overcoat. Underneath, he wore an indigo dress shirt and dark jeans. Kelly appraised the clothes. "Been living well since you published your book haven't you?"
"Well enough," Adam responded. He grinned. "Someday I hope to be as rich as Jason."
Jason scoffed. "I wouldn't doubt if you already are. That book is making a lot of money, from what I hear."
"So far, it's doing well," Adam said. "I'm glad that I'm getting money from it at all; I was afraid that people wouldn't be interested in it."
"Well," said Kelly, "it's not as if there are any other books on the subject."
"True enough." Adam seated himself on the bed. "So, what's been happening with you guys since we last saw each other? You obviously completed Johto, you defeated the Elite Four and Lance..."
"Yeah. It was a tough road, too," said Jason. "It was made easier by the experience I gained from fighting the Atlantis League, but it was still pretty difficult. After I beat Lance, we came back here and we've been working for Professor Oak ever since."
"Doing what kinds of things?"
"Research. Right now we're trying to find out what moves can transfer to incompatible Pokemon when they're bred."
"Sounds interesting."
"Actually, it's boring, for the most part. I think we'll have to train the Pokemon we're breeding to find out, and even then, it could take some time."
Adam shrugged. "Well, as I understand it, research takes a lot of time, for the most part. So you'll just have to be patient."
Jason nodded. "Yeah." He looked over at Kelly. "Speaking of which, I think we'd best get back to work."
"Good idea."
Adam mock-saluted them. "See you guys at dinner, then."
Jason wheeled out of the room and made his way back up the hall. Kelly left the room as well, pausing to say, "This had better be a *really* good story."
"It will be. Don't worry." Adam smiled conspiratorially. "It will be."
***
Jason and Kelly got off work just in time for the evening meal, and it was Professor Oak who went to tell Adam that it was just about to be served. When the two of them entered the dining room, they saw that Jason and Kelly had already made themselves comfortable there.
"Come on, Adam, let's hear it," said Kelly.
"Oh, no you don't," Oak scolded. "No discussion before we eat."
They feasted on several different kinds of pasta, including spaghetti, ravioli, lasagna, even tortellini. All had meat sauce served over them; all were excellent.
As they waited for dessert, which turned out to be a selection of pies, Jason said, "Okay, Adam, you've stalled enough. What delayed you for so long?"
Adam leaned forward and laid his folded hands on the table. "Well, it has something to do with one of my fingers. Or, more specifically, what's on it."
In unison, Kelly and Jason inspected Adam's interlaced fingers, until they reached the seventh one down, his left ring finger. Around the first joint was a simple gold ring.
And in unison, Kelly and Jason's eyebrows rose and stopped somewhere around the ceiling. Jason was the first to speak. "You're married?!"
"Engaged," Adam corrected. He smiled. "We won't be married for a while. But we've been making arrangements for it. We figured it'd be best if we got everything done way in advance. It won't be big and fancy, but it'll be ours."
"Wow," Kelly breathed. "I didn't even realize you were left-handed until now, and you're announcing you're going to be married?"
A look of amusement passed over Adam's face. "If you didn't know I was left-handed before, what gave it away just now?"
"The way you folded your hands, left thumb on top instead of right. It doesn't exactly feel natural to right-handed people. I didn't know before 'cause I've never actually paid attention when you were throwing a capture ball."
Adam grinned in amazement. "That would have been your most obvious clue, Kelly."
Jason got back to the subject at hand. "What's the date?"
"September 16th."
"Just rolls off the tongue, doesn't it?"
Adam snorted. "I suppose so. Hadn't thought of it before."
"I suppose the lucky girl is Amanda, right?"
"Sure is. What's weird about it is that I didn't even need to propose. It just sort of... happened." Adam splayed his hands out for emphasis. "I don't know what set it off, but Amanda abruptly came on to me, and... we just decided to get married. Just like that." His smile returned. "But hey, right now, I wouldn't have it any other way."
"Well, we're happy for you," said Kelly. She smiled awkwardly. "I suppose this means you find her more attractive, right?"
"Don't answer that! Trick question!" Jason called out.
Adam's grin spread and he shook his head as he chuckled. "You've already got a boyfriend to think about, Kelly."
"Touché," she responded. She looked over at Jason hopefully.
Jason turned to Adam and muttered, "Damn."
"Well, there's my excuse. Between publishing and planning for marriage, I've sort of had my hands tied," Adam said.
"Is it scary, thinking about getting married?" Kelly asked.
"I'll be honest," Adam responded, "once we decided we were actually going to do it, and I started thinking about it, it was. Scared me to death. But now I'm only somewhat terrified." He smiled. "At least my fiancée is in the same boat... I talked about it with her, and we ended up relieving some of the other's troubles."
"And she let you come here by yourself?" Kelly teased. "Very tolerant woman."
"She has her moments," Adam admitted.
At that moment, their orders of pie came, and they dug in.
***
Jason was sleeping peacefully in his room when his PokeGear began to ring. He awoke, grumbled, then reached over to the bedside table and answered the Gear. "Yeah?"
"Jason, it's me."
"What do you want, Sam? It's late."
"I know. But there's someone here who insists on talking to you."
"Right now?"
"I'm afraid so. And you're going to like it even less when you see who it is. I'm sorry, but he's here to talk to you, so I can't tell him to leave. You'll have to."
"Tell whoever it is that you've got my blasted authority to tell him to leave! I'm tired."
"Doesn't work that way here. I'm not going to break the rules I set down for the sake of convenience, and he knew that when he walked in. It'll take you no more than five minutes."
Jason sighed. "Fine. I'll be right there."
***
Jason rolled down the hallway in his pajamas and lab coat. Even his wheelchair sounded tired... the right wheel kept squeaking every revolution. He made his way to the lobby, presumably where Professor Oak and the unwelcome guest were waiting.
Jason ground his teeth when he saw who it was.
It was none other than Giovanni.
It appeared that Oak and Giovanni were exchanging some rather harsh words with each other. Jason didn't much care what they were saying, however; the man was obviously here to antagonize him, and he was doing it at the perfect time to achieve maximum effect.
Giovanni noticed Jason's entry, and the scowl on his face turned to a rather insincere grin. "Ah, here he is now."
"What do you want?" Jason asked, moving his chair to Oak's side.
"To the point. I like that. I understand you are no longer training your Pokemon, now that you are oficially a Pokemon master."
Jason frowned. "That's right. What's it to you?"
"Considering the business your family was in, I became interested in finding out if you might be willing to part with your Pokemon, since they are no longer needed... for a price, of course."
Jason scoffed. "Forget it. My Pokemon aren't for sale. You ought to have known that; it would have saved you the trip from Viridian."
"Nonsense. I was passing through the area on my way back to Viridian." Giovanni's grin did not fade. "I will confess to some surprise, Mr. Creight. After all, you had quite a considerable lifestyle made for yourself when your family was in Pokemon sales."
"And look what it got them. A destroyed marina and a cutoff from business. Most notably from you," Jason pointed out. It pained him to discuss this, especially with his enemy... all he wanted to do was reach out, grab Giovanni by his neck, and throttle him.
"You, fortunately, have managed to survive your family's downfall. I thought perhaps you and I might be able to reach a business agreement."
"You'll get no business with me. I don't have any with you. And you don't have any here."
Giovanni's smile did fade, this time. He looked at Oak. "If you would excuse us for a moment..."
Oak stood his ground and stared directly into Giovanni's eyes. "This is my property. I'm not going anywhere."
Giovanni snorted. "Very well. But I must speak with Mr. Creight in private."
"Then step outside."
For a befuddled moment, Jason thought that Oak was challenging Giovanni to a battle, though he knew that couldn't possibly be the case. He knew that Oak had been an extremely talented and well-read Pokemon trainer in his younger days... but he didn't battle now, and everyone knew it.
But no. Oak was only telling Giovanni that privacy wouldn't be gained inside the lab. Giovanni glowered, but then glanced down at Jason and asked, "Will you indulge me in a moment of private conversation outside, please?"
Jason sighed. He didn't want to associate with this sadist for a moment longer, but the man hadn't made any threatening moves yet, and he doubted he would as long as Oak was in view. Jason looked up at Oak.
"I'll be at the door if you need me," Oak reassured him.
Jason felt better. He made for the door, and Giovanni paced along behind him.
There was a slight breeze outside, and it was rather cold... cold enough that Jason felt uncomfortable to be in just his pajamas and a lab coat. It made him feel vulnerable; if he could break so easily to the elements, surely Giovanni could do it, too.
Jason's resilience grew at this thought. No way that Giovanni would get him.
They stopped a few meters away from the door. Giovanni looked down at Jason, and his face became more intense than it had been inside. "I'm a businessman, Mr. Creight. I know how to play my cards right."
"Then you should've become an expert at poker, instead."
"I am, at that. And here's a hand you can't beat. Either you give me the Pokemon, or I release everything I have on your criminal activities in the Orange Islands."
"You've got nothing," Jason retorted coldly.
Giovanni chuckled and reached into the inside pocket of his sport coat. He pulled out an envelope and handed it to Jason. "Here's what I've got."
Jason inspected the contents of the envelope.
It had everything... police reports, pictures of Gyarados using its Hyper Beam, an article detailing the police's search for Jason, Jason reported dead, then considered a prime suspect in the case...
Jason looked back up at Giovanni, gaping.
Giovanni's sadistic grin grew wider. "Tell you what. I'll give you a little time to think about it. If you don't give me the Pokemon, I may end up finding a way to get them anyway. And then I'll release the information to the local police."
"Why hold on to it for this long?" Jason asked.
"I didn't know what to believe... that you were dead, or that you were roaming freely in Kanto. I sat back and watched, and sure enough, you were here. So I waited, and I saw that you were becoming a formidable trainer. Even crippled. I knew that if you could still train, even with that dismal chair, that you had to be a strong trainer. Your Pokemon suddenly gained value for me, and I saw my opportunity. I am a patient man."
"Not patient enough. You had to come interrupt my sleep."
Giovanni chuckled. "Only a small part of my revenge. You only have two options. Either one will break you, which was my plan from the beginning. And if I do both, it'll be even worse for you."
"That sounded like a threat."
"I don't threaten. I make promises."
"Broken promises. Get ready for another one."
Giovanni glared at Jason. "You'll regret this."
"Not as much as you will."
Jason turned his chair and began to wheel back to the complex. Giovanni began to follow.
Oak stepped out of the complex and moved to intercept Giovanni before he could do anything more. He stepped between the departing Jason and his pursuer.
"In case you hadn't noticed, he doesn't seem to want to talk to you anymore," Oak remarked.
"He hasn't heard all I have to say," Giovanni replied, trying to step around Oak.
Oak moved back into Giovanni's way each time. "No one cares about what else you have to say. That's what makes you a blowhard."
"Careful, Professor," Giovanni uttered softly, "or Mr. Creight won't be the only one to regret this meeting."
"Too late. You're already regretting it."
Giovanni ignored the comment. "I have more power than you think, Oak."
"And just by making that statement, you're underestimating mine," Oak replied, standing his ground.
"What power could you have?" Giovanni laughed. "You're washed up, old man, you and your dysfunctional lab."
"If my lab and I are washed up, it means we're a lot cleaner than you are."
Giovanni's smile disappeared, but before he could respond to this insult, Oak continued. "In the meantime, Jason's made it quite clear he wants you to leave him alone. Therefore, he's given me authority to tell you to get off my ground."
Giovanni edged closer, until he was almost nose-to-nose with Oak. "And if I don't?"
"Then I'm sure the media would take great pleasure in seeing you in Officer Jenny's jail."
Neither one budged.
A moment later, Giovanni backed down. "Very well. But remember this little conversation, Professor. I *am* more powerful than you think. Certainly more so than when I was like those hopeless excuses for trainers you keep generating."
"You were as despicable then as you are now," Oak replied. "You'll never learn."
Giovanni snorted. "We'll see."
He left the grounds and headed for the Pokemon Center.
***
Jason had not heard any of Oak's ensuing argument with Giovanni. All he wanted to do was get back to sleep.
But Giovanni's words, and his information, had him rattled to the bone. And being cold didn't help.
He climbed into bed, trying to forget what had just happened.
But he couldn't.
Jason Creight worried on.
To Be Continued
He'd been living here for about four months now. He had no home of his own, and he'd not been especially inclined to build one, lush though his bank account was. He lived a modest life... no designer clothes or expensive dinners at snooty restaurants... he was just himself.
And he liked himself that way.
He glanced around the room. He hadn't built a home, perhaps, but he had moved his things to larger quarters that had been available upon his return to Pallet after the Atlantis League championship. The room was spacious, allowing for a small amount of furniture and a couple of single beds.
In the other bed, across the room, lay Kelly. She was lying on her side, and she was wide awake, quietly watching Jason. A small smile came to her face. "Hey. Have a good sleep?"
"Can't remember my dreams," Jason responded, "so I can only assume so."
Jason's eyes shifted away from Kelly and darted around the room again. On the bedside table sat his tech effects: Pokedex, PokeGear, laptop, a night lamp. His desk was buried in disheveled papers, thrown down in no particular order. His dresser had several books on it, all of which he'd already read.
A display case hung from the wall opposite the foot of his bed. On that display case were the trophies that Jason had won from the championships he'd been in, from Indigo to Johto to the Atlantis League. Hanging behind and above the trophies was a large piece of cardboard covered in black velvet, bearing all the badges that Jason had earned in his travels... 21 badges in total. The entire display was sealed behind plexiglass.
*21... I've only got one more year to go.* Jason had celebrated his 20th birthday the month before; no longer was he a teenager. He could now be called a full-fledged adult. An adult Pokemon master, to boot.
Jason looked over at his dresser again. Inside the bottom drawer, below his carefully placed piles of clothes, were some extremely special items he'd acquired from his training days. The items included one-of-a- kind sunglasses, a dragon fang, a martial arts black belt, and two Focus Bands.
He'd come across the sunglasses and black belt by trainers who no longer needed them... or so they'd claimed. He'd bought the Focus Bands off a martial arts master who was selling them near the Indigo Plateau. He'd acquired the dragon fang during a challenge from Clair, the final Johto League gym leader; she'd let him keep it.
His eyes came to rest on his wheelchair, positioned next to his bed.
That wheelchair had supported him for more than 6 years, now. He remained dependent on it, day after day, despite the difficulties and stereotypes.
His mind drifted through his memories, and, not for the first time, found Dr. Kendrick, the doctor from Saffron City General Hospital, who had offered him the chance to walk again.
That offer had been made almost two years ago.
Jason knew it was still open.
And yet, every time he thought about the offer, he thought about Creight, his now nonexistent future self.
And every time he thought about Creight, he thought about the possibility of losing Kelly.
For Jason, that prospect was too great to bear.
He didn't want to lose her. Perhaps not because he loved her, but because he cared for her. Deeply.
And he didn't want to see her leave. Not after the two of them had gone thorugh so much.
Rationally, Jason knew that this prospect was much less possible, since that had been a one-time occurrence, and his brother had retreated, presumably to the Orange Islands. Jason knew that the Islands had to have been what Daniel was referring to in his note.
*We'll settle this on home turf.*
*Home for him, maybe. Not for me.*
Jason had no intention of going back to the Orange Islands. He knew that Kelly wanted him to go, to resolve his issues with his past. Perhaps even find the capacity to forgive his brother.
But Jason knew better. Knew that if he were to ever come across Daniel again, the consequences would be disastrous.
He'd vowed to himself long ago to never go back.
To this day, he'd kept that vow.
And he would keep it for as long as possible. *Preferably eternity.*
Kelly continued to watch him, her smile growing wider. "We'd best get up if we're going to get to work on time."
"I'm feeling decidedly lazy today," Jason responded, throwing his left arm over his eyes and slumping back.
He heard the rustling of Kelly's sheets and knew that she was getting out of bed. A couple of quiet footsteps echoed in the room, their origins getting nearer to him. Kelly lifted his arm off his eyes by the wrist, smiled down at him, leaned forward, and kissed him softly. When she pulled away, she said, "There's your incentive."
Jason's eyebrows worked up and down. "Hard to argue with that."
He pushed himself out of bed, grabbed the clothes he'd laid out the night before, and got into his wheelchair. It was a routine now, though getting into the chair from a bed, as opposed to getting into it from the ground, was much easier. That was the way he'd had it on the Atlantis League ships, as well as a good portion of his remaining tour through the Johto League afterwards. Now, after dealing with it for almost a full year, he was getting used to it.
Little things like that seemed so much more pronounced to Jason nowadays.
After all, he didn't battle anymore.
***
Jason and Kelly met Professor Oak in the dining room, where Oak was happily munching on pancakes, eggs, and sausage. Jason couldn't help but think, *Thank God the cook is in, or else we'd have nothing but tofu...*
"Ah! Come right in," Oak said, smiling at the arrival of the two former Pokemon trainers. "The cook has some wonderful breakfast for us today!"
"Good to know," said Kelly. "I'd start to wonder if he gave us average breakfast."
"Yes, well, with his paycheck, one should hope that he makes good meals," Oak responded lightly.
"You seem rather chipper today, Professor. Something up?" Jason asked.
"Well, Jason, we're going to be having company tomorrow, around noon," the professor answered. "Company that you might recognize. He'll be at the complex for a day or two."
"Who?" Kelly asked, beating Jason to the punch.
"None other than your good friend, Adam Sands," Oak replied cheerfully. "I imagine you've been waiting for him to visit for a while, haven't you?"
Jason and Kelly were both pleasantly surprised. Jason answered, "Yeah, we have. I just bought his book the other day. Heard it's hit the Kanto and Johto bestseller lists already."
"And it's become one of the most controversial books in recent history," Kelly added. "He writes really well. I like his poetry, but it's so dismal... his book is really well-written."
"I'm aware of that Kelly," Oak responded. "I actually... heh heh, I bought a copy myself just this morning, over at the Pokemon Store."
He held up a hardbound book for them to see, and indeed it was the book in question.
*Sticks and Stones: Our Lives As Disabled Trainers*
*by Adam Sands*
Kelly glanced over at Jason, smiling at Oak's confession. "You recall the Indigo League match with that biased guy... Travis Johnson?"
A look of recognition passed over Jason's face. Not to mention a cloud. "Yeah."
"I wonder what he thought when he first saw that book on the stands."
At this, Jason's face split in a sadistic grin. "I wonder."
Kelly turned back to Oak. "And while I'm wondering, I wonder why Adam didn't try to get here sooner."
Adam had not been heard from since even before his book had gone to publishers. His calls and e-mails had become less frequent, though Jaosn and Kelly had figured that par for the course as far as writing went. Even after Jason had won the Johto League, beaten the Elite Four, and become a Pokemon master, Adam had not kept up his end of the bargain he'd made when they'd last seen each other... to make the time to visit.
"Ah..." Oak's expression became giddy, but also closed, in a peculiar way. "He has a good reason, but I'd prefer that he tell you."
"I suppose it's something to do with those undoubted millions he's raking in from the book, right? New house, new car..." Jason joked.
"As I said, I'd prefer he tell you," Oak repeated, his smile growing. "I think he would, too. I *will* tell you, though, that it's really good news."
"I sure hope so," said Jason. "I look forward to hearing it."
Oak sat back and laced his fingers in his lap. "In the meantime, Jason, there's a job opportunity that's opening up in a little while."
"What is it?" Jason asked, as his plate of pancakes and sausage was set before him. Whenever Oak said something along those lines, he usually meant that there was more than one candidate for the job in question.
"Well, before I tell you, I have to know something, and I hope you don't view it as too direct or rude."
Jason shrugged. "Don't worry about it. Shoot."
"Do you plan to take up Dr. Kendrick on his offer anytime soon?"
Jason's eyebrow rose. "Why do you ask?"
"Because this little assignment could take a while, and it's rather strenuous. In fact, I'd thought that Kelly might do this originally, but then chose to take you into consideration. It's not so hazardous that a wheelchair can't be used, it's just that... it might go faster if there's someone who can use their legs on this job."
Jason paused for a moment. "I suppose the third option would be to stay here and work with you while Kelly, or someone else, goes out on this job."
Oak nodded. "Probably the most financially safe option for you, Jason, but I know you like to take risks once in a while."
Jason blew his breath out his nose. "I've given the matter consideration, Professor. But I still don't know if that's what I want to do."
"Jason, it's been almost two years since he offered."
"I know that." Jason sighed again. "What's the job?"
"I want to send someone to Silver Cave, out near Tohjo Falls, and collect data on the Pokemon he or she finds there. Which kinds, skill level... risky, and that person would have to take a strong Pokemon team with them."
Jason shook his head. "Silver Cave's too rocky for my chair, Sam. And the marshes outlying it aren't all that forgiving, either. You'd be better off sending someone else."
Oak nodded. "That's what I figured. That leaves you with two options... Dr. Kendrick's surgery, or working with me."
Jason winced. "Ouch. I don't know which one would be more painful."
"Jason, I really think you should make a decision on this."
A slight crease developed between Jason's eyebrows, a sign that he wasn't exactly thrilled by Oak's declaration. "And if I should decide that I don't want to do it now? Is that a crime, Sam?"
Oak sighed. "No, Jason, it's not a crime. But I think it's an injustice. You have the chance to walk again, handed to you on a silver platter, and you're not taking it. Why?"
The crease in Jason's brow deepened. "We'll talk about it later. Right now, I want to eat my breakfast and just get on with work."
Oak waved his hand. "Fine, fine. But don't put off the decision too long."
***
Late that evening, Jason and Kelly got off work and returned to their room. As they shuffled their lab coats off, Kelly hesitantly asked, "So... do you want to talk about this morning?"
Jason scoffed. "What's to talk about?"
"You seemed sort of harsh with the professor."
"He was pushing me in a direction I didn't want to go."
Kelly frowned as she sat down on her bed. "What, you don't even want to consider having the surgery?"
"Not right now, I don't."
"Why?"
Jason sighed. "Are you sure you want to hear this?"
"Tell me, Jason."
"Fine." Jason wheeled over to Kelly, pushed out of his wheelchair, and put himself in an upright position next to her. He then folded his hands in his anorexic lap and looked down at them. "Every time I even think about it, I think about Creight. I think about what could have happened if he hadn't come, what would have happened if I hadn't come. And it scares me to death."
Kelly put her arm around his shoulders. He looked up at her, saw the concern for him in her eyes.
He opened his mouth again, but no words came out. He found his voice after a moment, however. "I don't want any chance of something like that happening. Ever. I could have lost you. And I could have lost Professor Oak, and I could have lost so many others here who've helped my life mean something. I know that it's not likely to happen now... in fact, I know it's almost impossible now, because Daniel's not going to come back here. Not when he thinks I've always got a rude surprise waiting for him. But still... this little voice in my head is telling me not to do it. It seems like... if I do it, I'll become Creight."
Kelly shook her head. "That can't happen just because of a surgery to help you, Jason. You'd still be the same caring, lovable, determined man you are. I know you would."
"It still doesn't change the fact that the surgery scares me." He stared into her eyes. "I haven't stood on my own two feet for six years, Kelly. For six years, I've been sitting in that chair, proving to one and all that even in my condition, I can still train Pokemon with the best of them. I gave people something to believe in, just by being in that chair. Now I'm a Pokemon master, and I don't train because I've got nothing left to prove.
"I put my heart and soul into my training because it was all I had. Then I discovered that I could do so much more, and that training wasn't what I wanted to do for my entire life... so I stopped after becoming a Pokemon master. With that part of my life gone, there's only one part of me left... and it's that chair." His eyes became distant. "Could you understand that, Kelly?"
Kelly shook her head. "I don't know."
She inched closer to him, and slowly, they embraced each other in a tight, reassuring hug.
She spoke softly into his ear. "But what I do understand is that no matter what you do with your life, I'll still love you. And I hope you understand that, too."
They pulled slightly out of the hug, just enough to face each other.
Both leaned slowly in at the same time, and they kissed passionately.
They shared that kiss for a long time.
***
Jason, Kelly, and Professor Oak were waiting for Adam in front of the lab complex the next day. Sure enough, close to 12 noon, Jason spotted a pinprick of darkness in the bright, pale sunlight of winter. All three of them wore heavy clothing and coats to combat the cold of the season, but the cold didn't dampen their spirits as they looked up to where Jason pointed.
Indeed, it was their old friend, Adam Sands, who possessed prosthetic substitutes for his missing legs, had survived the Atlantis League alongside Jason, had confessed a crush on Kelly, and had rescued a friend of his own from the tyranny of the league's oppressive rules. He was mounted on his Pidgeot, as he had been when Jason had last seen him, and he was wearing his dark overcoat. And a smile.
His Pidgeot touched down a few moments later, just yards away from where Jason, Kelly, and Professor Oak waited. They approached him enthusiastically; Jason offered his hand, which Adam took immediately and firmly.
"Great to see you again, Adam," Jason said, grinning.
"You, too, Jason," Adam replied, returning the expression.
Adam looked over at Kelly, who was also smiling, and decided to show that he was no longer embarrassed by the incident during the Atlantis League tour; he approached her with arms wide open, and she embraced him in a friendly hug.
"Wow, it feels like such a long time, doesn't it?" she asked.
"It does indeed," he answered.
Then Adam saw Professor Oak, and his grin turned more boyish than it had been before. "Wow. Professor Oak himself. It's an honor to meet you, sir." He offered his hand.
Oak took it eagerly. "The pleasure's all mine, Adam. I've read your book. It's an amazing piece of literature... definitely an eye-opener to everyone, I think."
Adam chuckled, and his grin became still younger. "Thanks. That means a lot to me, Professor, coming from you."
Oak smiled. "Don't worry, Adam, I'm not here to look down on you, and I doubt that's what you came here for, either. You want to spend some time with your friends, right?"
"Yes, indeed," Adam responded. He turned back to Jason and Kelly. "Are there any guest quarters not being used?"
"Yeah, near our room," Kelly answered. She headed for the complex and beckoned Jason and Adam to follow. "Come on!"
Jason glanced up at Adam. "I like the haircut. Looks good on you."
Adam scoffed. "Thanks." He'd taken a liking to having his blond hair buzzed; it kept any hair out of his eyes for a good long time, and he stayed cool during the summer. Shame that it was winter.
To emphasize the point, a cold breeze flared up and whistled about them, flapping the tails of Adam's closed overcoat and biting at their faces. They made for the complex.
"We'd been wondering what was keeping you," Jason remarked, as they made their way through the dorm halls. "I'd sort of been hoping you could have made it here sooner."
"I would have been," Adam said, "but I was... delayed."
At this, he put his left hand in his pocket and kept it there, though the complex was quite warm.
"Any particular reason?" Jason ventured.
"Yeah, but I think I'd prefer to say it at the dinner table," Adam responded. "Somehow, it'd feel more... I dunno, homely. Appropriate."
Jason shrugged. "All right, but this'd better be a good story."
"Trust me."
Kelly was already in the room when Jason and Adam got to it. She smiled a welcoming smile. "Here's your room, sir. Hope you enjoy your stay."
"So do I," Adam responded. "Do I owe you a tip for bringing me here?"
"Just an explanation for why you're so late in getting here," she answered.
"Believe me, I'll tell you. Dinner tonight. It'll be best there."
"I hope so."
Adam pulled his backpack off and set it on the bed, then did the same with his overcoat. Underneath, he wore an indigo dress shirt and dark jeans. Kelly appraised the clothes. "Been living well since you published your book haven't you?"
"Well enough," Adam responded. He grinned. "Someday I hope to be as rich as Jason."
Jason scoffed. "I wouldn't doubt if you already are. That book is making a lot of money, from what I hear."
"So far, it's doing well," Adam said. "I'm glad that I'm getting money from it at all; I was afraid that people wouldn't be interested in it."
"Well," said Kelly, "it's not as if there are any other books on the subject."
"True enough." Adam seated himself on the bed. "So, what's been happening with you guys since we last saw each other? You obviously completed Johto, you defeated the Elite Four and Lance..."
"Yeah. It was a tough road, too," said Jason. "It was made easier by the experience I gained from fighting the Atlantis League, but it was still pretty difficult. After I beat Lance, we came back here and we've been working for Professor Oak ever since."
"Doing what kinds of things?"
"Research. Right now we're trying to find out what moves can transfer to incompatible Pokemon when they're bred."
"Sounds interesting."
"Actually, it's boring, for the most part. I think we'll have to train the Pokemon we're breeding to find out, and even then, it could take some time."
Adam shrugged. "Well, as I understand it, research takes a lot of time, for the most part. So you'll just have to be patient."
Jason nodded. "Yeah." He looked over at Kelly. "Speaking of which, I think we'd best get back to work."
"Good idea."
Adam mock-saluted them. "See you guys at dinner, then."
Jason wheeled out of the room and made his way back up the hall. Kelly left the room as well, pausing to say, "This had better be a *really* good story."
"It will be. Don't worry." Adam smiled conspiratorially. "It will be."
***
Jason and Kelly got off work just in time for the evening meal, and it was Professor Oak who went to tell Adam that it was just about to be served. When the two of them entered the dining room, they saw that Jason and Kelly had already made themselves comfortable there.
"Come on, Adam, let's hear it," said Kelly.
"Oh, no you don't," Oak scolded. "No discussion before we eat."
They feasted on several different kinds of pasta, including spaghetti, ravioli, lasagna, even tortellini. All had meat sauce served over them; all were excellent.
As they waited for dessert, which turned out to be a selection of pies, Jason said, "Okay, Adam, you've stalled enough. What delayed you for so long?"
Adam leaned forward and laid his folded hands on the table. "Well, it has something to do with one of my fingers. Or, more specifically, what's on it."
In unison, Kelly and Jason inspected Adam's interlaced fingers, until they reached the seventh one down, his left ring finger. Around the first joint was a simple gold ring.
And in unison, Kelly and Jason's eyebrows rose and stopped somewhere around the ceiling. Jason was the first to speak. "You're married?!"
"Engaged," Adam corrected. He smiled. "We won't be married for a while. But we've been making arrangements for it. We figured it'd be best if we got everything done way in advance. It won't be big and fancy, but it'll be ours."
"Wow," Kelly breathed. "I didn't even realize you were left-handed until now, and you're announcing you're going to be married?"
A look of amusement passed over Adam's face. "If you didn't know I was left-handed before, what gave it away just now?"
"The way you folded your hands, left thumb on top instead of right. It doesn't exactly feel natural to right-handed people. I didn't know before 'cause I've never actually paid attention when you were throwing a capture ball."
Adam grinned in amazement. "That would have been your most obvious clue, Kelly."
Jason got back to the subject at hand. "What's the date?"
"September 16th."
"Just rolls off the tongue, doesn't it?"
Adam snorted. "I suppose so. Hadn't thought of it before."
"I suppose the lucky girl is Amanda, right?"
"Sure is. What's weird about it is that I didn't even need to propose. It just sort of... happened." Adam splayed his hands out for emphasis. "I don't know what set it off, but Amanda abruptly came on to me, and... we just decided to get married. Just like that." His smile returned. "But hey, right now, I wouldn't have it any other way."
"Well, we're happy for you," said Kelly. She smiled awkwardly. "I suppose this means you find her more attractive, right?"
"Don't answer that! Trick question!" Jason called out.
Adam's grin spread and he shook his head as he chuckled. "You've already got a boyfriend to think about, Kelly."
"Touché," she responded. She looked over at Jason hopefully.
Jason turned to Adam and muttered, "Damn."
"Well, there's my excuse. Between publishing and planning for marriage, I've sort of had my hands tied," Adam said.
"Is it scary, thinking about getting married?" Kelly asked.
"I'll be honest," Adam responded, "once we decided we were actually going to do it, and I started thinking about it, it was. Scared me to death. But now I'm only somewhat terrified." He smiled. "At least my fiancée is in the same boat... I talked about it with her, and we ended up relieving some of the other's troubles."
"And she let you come here by yourself?" Kelly teased. "Very tolerant woman."
"She has her moments," Adam admitted.
At that moment, their orders of pie came, and they dug in.
***
Jason was sleeping peacefully in his room when his PokeGear began to ring. He awoke, grumbled, then reached over to the bedside table and answered the Gear. "Yeah?"
"Jason, it's me."
"What do you want, Sam? It's late."
"I know. But there's someone here who insists on talking to you."
"Right now?"
"I'm afraid so. And you're going to like it even less when you see who it is. I'm sorry, but he's here to talk to you, so I can't tell him to leave. You'll have to."
"Tell whoever it is that you've got my blasted authority to tell him to leave! I'm tired."
"Doesn't work that way here. I'm not going to break the rules I set down for the sake of convenience, and he knew that when he walked in. It'll take you no more than five minutes."
Jason sighed. "Fine. I'll be right there."
***
Jason rolled down the hallway in his pajamas and lab coat. Even his wheelchair sounded tired... the right wheel kept squeaking every revolution. He made his way to the lobby, presumably where Professor Oak and the unwelcome guest were waiting.
Jason ground his teeth when he saw who it was.
It was none other than Giovanni.
It appeared that Oak and Giovanni were exchanging some rather harsh words with each other. Jason didn't much care what they were saying, however; the man was obviously here to antagonize him, and he was doing it at the perfect time to achieve maximum effect.
Giovanni noticed Jason's entry, and the scowl on his face turned to a rather insincere grin. "Ah, here he is now."
"What do you want?" Jason asked, moving his chair to Oak's side.
"To the point. I like that. I understand you are no longer training your Pokemon, now that you are oficially a Pokemon master."
Jason frowned. "That's right. What's it to you?"
"Considering the business your family was in, I became interested in finding out if you might be willing to part with your Pokemon, since they are no longer needed... for a price, of course."
Jason scoffed. "Forget it. My Pokemon aren't for sale. You ought to have known that; it would have saved you the trip from Viridian."
"Nonsense. I was passing through the area on my way back to Viridian." Giovanni's grin did not fade. "I will confess to some surprise, Mr. Creight. After all, you had quite a considerable lifestyle made for yourself when your family was in Pokemon sales."
"And look what it got them. A destroyed marina and a cutoff from business. Most notably from you," Jason pointed out. It pained him to discuss this, especially with his enemy... all he wanted to do was reach out, grab Giovanni by his neck, and throttle him.
"You, fortunately, have managed to survive your family's downfall. I thought perhaps you and I might be able to reach a business agreement."
"You'll get no business with me. I don't have any with you. And you don't have any here."
Giovanni's smile did fade, this time. He looked at Oak. "If you would excuse us for a moment..."
Oak stood his ground and stared directly into Giovanni's eyes. "This is my property. I'm not going anywhere."
Giovanni snorted. "Very well. But I must speak with Mr. Creight in private."
"Then step outside."
For a befuddled moment, Jason thought that Oak was challenging Giovanni to a battle, though he knew that couldn't possibly be the case. He knew that Oak had been an extremely talented and well-read Pokemon trainer in his younger days... but he didn't battle now, and everyone knew it.
But no. Oak was only telling Giovanni that privacy wouldn't be gained inside the lab. Giovanni glowered, but then glanced down at Jason and asked, "Will you indulge me in a moment of private conversation outside, please?"
Jason sighed. He didn't want to associate with this sadist for a moment longer, but the man hadn't made any threatening moves yet, and he doubted he would as long as Oak was in view. Jason looked up at Oak.
"I'll be at the door if you need me," Oak reassured him.
Jason felt better. He made for the door, and Giovanni paced along behind him.
There was a slight breeze outside, and it was rather cold... cold enough that Jason felt uncomfortable to be in just his pajamas and a lab coat. It made him feel vulnerable; if he could break so easily to the elements, surely Giovanni could do it, too.
Jason's resilience grew at this thought. No way that Giovanni would get him.
They stopped a few meters away from the door. Giovanni looked down at Jason, and his face became more intense than it had been inside. "I'm a businessman, Mr. Creight. I know how to play my cards right."
"Then you should've become an expert at poker, instead."
"I am, at that. And here's a hand you can't beat. Either you give me the Pokemon, or I release everything I have on your criminal activities in the Orange Islands."
"You've got nothing," Jason retorted coldly.
Giovanni chuckled and reached into the inside pocket of his sport coat. He pulled out an envelope and handed it to Jason. "Here's what I've got."
Jason inspected the contents of the envelope.
It had everything... police reports, pictures of Gyarados using its Hyper Beam, an article detailing the police's search for Jason, Jason reported dead, then considered a prime suspect in the case...
Jason looked back up at Giovanni, gaping.
Giovanni's sadistic grin grew wider. "Tell you what. I'll give you a little time to think about it. If you don't give me the Pokemon, I may end up finding a way to get them anyway. And then I'll release the information to the local police."
"Why hold on to it for this long?" Jason asked.
"I didn't know what to believe... that you were dead, or that you were roaming freely in Kanto. I sat back and watched, and sure enough, you were here. So I waited, and I saw that you were becoming a formidable trainer. Even crippled. I knew that if you could still train, even with that dismal chair, that you had to be a strong trainer. Your Pokemon suddenly gained value for me, and I saw my opportunity. I am a patient man."
"Not patient enough. You had to come interrupt my sleep."
Giovanni chuckled. "Only a small part of my revenge. You only have two options. Either one will break you, which was my plan from the beginning. And if I do both, it'll be even worse for you."
"That sounded like a threat."
"I don't threaten. I make promises."
"Broken promises. Get ready for another one."
Giovanni glared at Jason. "You'll regret this."
"Not as much as you will."
Jason turned his chair and began to wheel back to the complex. Giovanni began to follow.
Oak stepped out of the complex and moved to intercept Giovanni before he could do anything more. He stepped between the departing Jason and his pursuer.
"In case you hadn't noticed, he doesn't seem to want to talk to you anymore," Oak remarked.
"He hasn't heard all I have to say," Giovanni replied, trying to step around Oak.
Oak moved back into Giovanni's way each time. "No one cares about what else you have to say. That's what makes you a blowhard."
"Careful, Professor," Giovanni uttered softly, "or Mr. Creight won't be the only one to regret this meeting."
"Too late. You're already regretting it."
Giovanni ignored the comment. "I have more power than you think, Oak."
"And just by making that statement, you're underestimating mine," Oak replied, standing his ground.
"What power could you have?" Giovanni laughed. "You're washed up, old man, you and your dysfunctional lab."
"If my lab and I are washed up, it means we're a lot cleaner than you are."
Giovanni's smile disappeared, but before he could respond to this insult, Oak continued. "In the meantime, Jason's made it quite clear he wants you to leave him alone. Therefore, he's given me authority to tell you to get off my ground."
Giovanni edged closer, until he was almost nose-to-nose with Oak. "And if I don't?"
"Then I'm sure the media would take great pleasure in seeing you in Officer Jenny's jail."
Neither one budged.
A moment later, Giovanni backed down. "Very well. But remember this little conversation, Professor. I *am* more powerful than you think. Certainly more so than when I was like those hopeless excuses for trainers you keep generating."
"You were as despicable then as you are now," Oak replied. "You'll never learn."
Giovanni snorted. "We'll see."
He left the grounds and headed for the Pokemon Center.
***
Jason had not heard any of Oak's ensuing argument with Giovanni. All he wanted to do was get back to sleep.
But Giovanni's words, and his information, had him rattled to the bone. And being cold didn't help.
He climbed into bed, trying to forget what had just happened.
But he couldn't.
Jason Creight worried on.
To Be Continued
