And yes, I am updating some more. Still old new stuff.  Yes, I am the laziest updater in the world. Forgive me. _-_  -SV 10-09-02

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Crimson Red ; Part II of the Point of Endurance Trilogy

By Silver Vaporeon

Chapter 6- Ryan

Soon the harbor disappeared behind them with James' fears of the two pursuers.  James sighed, took his damp hair out of its ponytail, and slumped down into one of the two seats in the designated sitting area. Jessie looked outside behind them, hissing with agitation.  She had wanted to fight that time but she knew in her heart that James was right in abandoning a battle.  Though her tension had gone away long ago, there was still a lagging feeling in her heart that she finally noticed.  She had regarded it as a lonely feeling back when she was captured by the Labs but she had James now.  Why was her heart feeling like it had a lead weight in it?

 The boat slowed down and soon was just riding on the waves.  The man came inside the cabin and shook hands with James.

Jessie looked him over again.  He was at least in his mid-fifties and he had long dark blue hair tied in a tail-tail as well as a blue mustache.  He sat down into the other seat and smiled as he offered some coffee to James.  As the two humans talked, Jessie finally remembered where she saw this man.  It was the surfer dude with the blue-eyed Pikachu!  That would mean…

"Pika."

Jessie nearly jumped with fright.  She whirled around and came face to face with the aged Pikachu, Puka- or rather Ryan, one of the former top Rockets and first experimental success in metamorphosis. 

You…You're Ryan!

Who? What?, Puka/Ryan was startled.  As a pokèmon, he heard Jessie's normal voice talking to him.  He recognized her voice and started to build up electric power.

Jessie shook her head violently. Wait! I am not here to harm anything or anyone! You don't have to pretend; they got me too.  Are you Ryan or not?

Puka/Ryan stopped charging up and relaxed.  He sighed and nodded. Yes, I was Ryan. Are they still experimenting on Rockets?

Yes

I was afraid of that. I managed to escape but two others; their names were Boris and Natasha didn't make it.

I know, I've met them down at the labs.  They're still alive and well.  How did you get out here?

James and the surfer, Victor(from the Seafoam Islands) stopped talking for a moment and watched the two blue-eyed pokèmon talking.  Victor looked at Jessie and smiled. 

"I wonder what they're talking about but I do know you two probably have a very special connection," Victor said.

"Hmm…" James looked out the port window and then did a double take.  "It's you!" He recognized Victor as well, although he had never seen him at the Seafoam Islands when he had stolen Puka(Ryan) and Pikachu.  It was from an old family portrait that was stored in a closet in his old home.  "You're the man in my family portrait! I was only like two or three years old and you had a Pikachu with you!" 

"Really…family portrait…" Victor leaned back and thought a while.  "Would you be by any chance my brother's son? Jameson Eric-Kojiro Rochester?"

James cringed at hearing his full name aloud. "Yes, that would be me-and it is just plain James," he said.  "How come I never saw you again after that portrait? I mean…I don't remember it but you never visited."

Victor looked off out the porthole. "I am a surfer by nature and hated the life of the affluent people.  Sure, you've got your money, but when you're THAT rich…you've got way too many obligations.  Your father basically hated me after I announced that I was going to devote my life to surfing and we never had any communication with each other after your third birthday.  Seems to me that they didn't like the way I coughed.  'Not proper,' they said and made me get out."

"Sounds like me," James laughed softly.

"Hmm…so what have you been doing since then?" Victor asked.  James did not want to mention Team Rocket at the moment so he started to invent a story about his life during the last nineteen or so years.

…I had escaped during a storm and was swept out to sea.  A piece of driftwood floated my way so I hopped aboard and basically surfed on the huge waves.  I believe it was the time of the Humungadunga when I had escaped because I was pounded by tidal waves from every direction.  You wouldn't believe how exhausted and hungry I was.  Several days later, I found myself drifting to land-the Seafoam Islands. 

A young man was sitting forlorn-that's Victor who's sitting over there- on the beach and I cried out to him.  He saw me and I surfed a bit closer before jumping into his arms, exhausted and falling asleep.  I found myself in his beach house and lived with him since.  He feeds me and talks to me like a normal lonely human being and I helped boost his confidence in surfing.  I guess the kid grew onto me and so I stayed; safe from Rockets for life and surfing every wave that came our way.

But does he know that you're really Ryan, sempai?  Jessie asked, taking to regarding him as an upperclassman.

Nah.  He's gotten good at understanding me but that's when I talk slow and in simple phrases.  A simple 'Pika pika' or a 'Chu'; that's as far as we needed to go since he's still thinking of me as a normal Pikachu- a rare one but still just a pokèmon. Ryan explained.

Well, that guy there is my partner James and he knows about me.  You'd think he would understand me? Jessie asked, eager to know.

Well…they do say that a pokèmon and human will understand each other when they maintain a certain bond.  Knowing that Team Rocket partners are trained to know their other's every possible move and thought, I'd say he might if he tried hard enough to listen.  You're the one who captured me a year or two ago, weren't you? The ones with the Gyarados submarine?

Err…yes. I am afraid so, sempai.  If I had known, I would have not caught you and regarded you as a higher-ranking official.   Jessie then remembered something.  If we are basically human dittos, indirect victims of the springs of Jusenkyo, isn't it possible to turn back with hot water?  She had asked this question before but she had hoped the answer would be different.  Ryan shook his head sadly. 

I know you probably haven't had a hot bath because you are of the fire type but I'll show you anyways. Ryan walked to the bathroom onboard. 

"Jessie?" James asked.  Jessie barked in reply and followed Ryan.  "You ok with Jessie running around?"  Victor shook his head. "Its fine."

Ryan walked inside the small bathroom and pointed to the small shower in the corner.  Pulling on a special cord, which reached down to his height, he sent a stream of hot water running from the showerhead.  Jessie dodged to the side instinctively but Ryan, being a member of the electric type was unfazed by the water.  He turned it off after a few seconds and walked to where Jessie could see.  He was still a Pikachu.  Shaking himself dry again, he walked back out with Jessie to the front of the boat.

So you see that the result is permanent as far that we know.  So, I'd say get used to the fact that you are a pokèmon.  Now, I have neglected to ask; how were you chosen and what are you doing all the way out here with your partner?

Jessie explained everything from the moment of her capture to their last encounter with Terri and Clark.  She also added that they were venturing out to find a cure- that they believe existed.

You're a pretty adventurous girl looking for trouble aren't you? Ryan sighed.  Jessie told him most thought the same and that they were right.

"Well, James, I'll give you my room for tonight, you being my nephew and all. Puka and me will sleep up on top deck.  Bathroom is on your left; hot shower and everything.  Good night," Victor said before calling for Ryan (calling him 'Puka' of course) who bounded to his side. 

Night, Jessie

Good night, sempai