LT. Surge
"The identity of the young man battling side by side with Lance Delohov has remained a mystery for the past week since the incident occurred. However, thanks to an anonymous source within the VMCPD, his identity has finally been confirmed as Jethro Brown, shown in the above photo.
"Brown is a Class A Pokémon trainer who once worked for the famous Professor Oak. Described as a 'prodigious trainer' by his old coworkers, Brown has two league badges and owns a Gyarados just two months after getting his first Pokémon from the famous Pokémon professor. He has already rubbed elbows with some very high profile trainers in this region, including current champion Delahov, and former champion Bill Brooke.
"However, there is speculation on whether he is simply just a talented young trainer or whether he is gaining such momentum so early in his career because of ties with Team Rocket. Although there is no actual proof that he is a member of the Organization, Brown has been tied to at least two incidents involving Team Rocket and a separate event involving the deaths of two innocent Pokémon trainers during a simple Bug Catching Contest.
"One bug catcher described Brown as a ruthless trainer, who killed two of his contest entrees in battle and tore the wing off another, just for sport!
"'Personally, I think any trainer that would allow his opponent's Pokémon to die in a routine Pokémon Battle should be behind bars,' say's Pokémon Shelter manager, Kyle Shrewster, 'but there is no law against it, because accidents happen. But with so much death surrounding this kid, at what point does someone step in and say enough?'
"Are the deaths following Brown just a tragic coincidence? Or is there something darker, more sinister about this supposed 'prodigy' happening? Could he be the cause behind the attacks on Mt. Moon and the SS Anne?"
"Ok, Jet, that's enough!" said Amy, "Why the hell would they print that bullshit?"
Jet dropped the paper down on the table and looked up at Amy and Gary, "What if they're right?" he said in a cracked voice. "What if somehow, I inadvertently caused these deaths?"
They were going over this morning's headlines that appeared in the Kanto Inquirer. All three were in Jet's room at the Vermillion Pokémon Center. Brian had stayed in Fuchsia City to catch some strong Pokémon in the Safari Zone. Jet was lost. He could barely remember what happened on the ship, but the cops and the newspapers were now looking at him as a suspect. His parents had demanded that he come home, even going so far as to threaten coming to Vermillion to get him their selves. He had only just got out of the hospital the previous day.
"How could you even say that, Jet?" Gary asked incredulously, "You stayed on the ship to fight while everyone escaped! If anything, you probably prevented a few deaths!"
"But all of this shit keeps following me," Jet said, "and I did let those Pokémon die! I just got so caught up with winning, and now cops are questioning me in my hospital bed-"
"Jet, stop it!" Amy said over his voice, "That's enough! Don't let what these people say about you make you doubt yourself! Bad things have happened around you, it's true! But that doesn't make it your fault! Are you just going to keep sulking, or are you going to pick yourself up?"
Jet looked at Amy, "You're right. It's just- too much, you know?"
"Yeah," said Gary, "That's why we're going home for a while. Maybe you should do the same."
Jet shook his head, "Nah, I can't go home now. Not after everything I've seen. Everything I've done. I won't be happy unless I'm out there, doing my thing. Amy, you're right. I can't let these people get to me! I'm not part of Team Rocket, why should I feel guilty?" Why do I feel guilty? He asked himself. Jet knew he had to go training again, soon. His Pokémon are the only ones that could keep his mind off of all of this craziness.
"This whole thing has been crazy," Amy said, "I thought I was going to die, like nine times that night. If it wasn't for Gary, I probably would've."
Gary shook his head, "We should have never got on that ship in the first place."
"But," Amy said, "There is no way we could've known what was going to happen!"
"Whatever, I'm just glad it's over," said Gary, "You're lucky not to remember any of it, Jet."
Jet ran his fingers through his head and said, "Yeah, right. Lucky. I've got nothing but luck, and all of it bad."
The next day, Amy and Gary left town. Gary had replaced Jet's check that he won from him on the SS Anne, and Jet had sent Brian his stuff in the mail. The money Jet got from Gary was enough to cover his rent at the Pokémon Center, but he was still relatively broke from buying his bike. Jet decided that he would head to the local Gym to make some money. His last couple of Gym Battles resulted in high pay days due to the odds of winning, and Jet could really use the money.
So the next day, Jet got dressed, grabbed his bike, and headed for the local Gym in hopes of making enough cash to head back to Cerulean for a while. He was still weak from the attack on SS Anne, but not so weak that he couldn't ride his motor bike. He felt a slight rush as he rode through the city, in search of battle. This was what he lived for. On the battle field, he was in his element. He needed this. Anything to distract him from his thoughts.
Jet soon arrived at the Vermillion City Pokémon Gym. It was stationed next to the pier and looked more like an old warehouse than anything. Parking his bike, Jet entered the Gym to make an appointment.
As soon as he walked in, he was in the main battle area. It spanned nearly the entire size of the building and had multiple Pokémon Battles going on at once. There was no reception desk, just an open battle field. Jet walked up to one of the crowds that were gathered around a Pokémon battle and asked over the cheers, "Does anyone know where I sign up for-"
"Ask him." One of the people in the crowd said nonchalantly, pointing at a tall guy with a buzz cut and a whistle who was walking around the room yelling at the trainers. "You call that a Mega Punch? Why are you even here? Get that sad little Tyrogue off my floor until he can battle with the big boys!"
Jet walked up to the man with slight apprehension. The man stood at six-two, was heavily muscled, wore combat boots and dog tags, and yelled at the trainers battling as though he was a drill sergeant. "Umm, excuse me- sir?"
The drill sergeant looked at Jet and asked, "Who are you? You with this Gym?"
"No, I'm here to make an appointment to challenge the Gym Leader."
The man looked at surprised at first, but then burst out laughing. "You want to challenge me? How old are you, six? Come back in a few years, junior. I don't battle amateurs."
The gym leader turned his back on Jet and went to yell at some more trainers. Jet stood silent at first, Junior? Did this asshole really just call me Junior? You'd think I was fourteen again! I'm eighteen years old! Who the fuck does this asshole think he is?
Jet ran up behind the Gym Leader and said, "Hey! I'm not an amateur! I have two badges, that's got to count for something!"
The man turned around and looked at Jet. He smirked and said, "You got badges kid? Let's see them!"
Jet went in his bag and pulled out his badge case. The Gym Leader rolled his eyes and said, "I should have figured. One badge that has a Gym under new management, and the other that's ran by four little girls. Those two badges ain't impressing me, kid."
Jet stood in shock for a moment, "Wha- you?"
"Yes, little man?"
"You can't not accept my challenge! That's against the rules! Battle me! And we'll see how much of an amateur I am!"
Apparently there were people watching because there was a big, "Ohhh!" and "Look's like he wants to get his ass kicked, Lieutenant!" and "Fry that kid, LT!"
The Lieutenant smirked again and said, "You want to challenge me so bad, fine! I, Lt George Surgio, accept your challenge!"
"We're going now?" Jet was surprised, usually he'd have to wait before a Gym battle. The Lieutenant grinned and asked, "Is that a problem, kiddo?"
"Not at all!" said Jet almost defiantly.
"Get him, Lt Surge!"
"Kick his ass!"
Lt Surge gestured for the room to be quiet and told Jet, "Go through the weight room over there on your left. At the end is a door that has Admin. Office written on it. Fill out the paperwork there, and meet me back here for a one on one battle, roger?"
"Uhh, yeah," Jet said, "Roger."
"All right then," Lt Surge said to the room at large, "The rest of you ladies clear the drill floor! We got ourselves an official Gym challenge!"
The trainers all laughed and began to clear the middle of the floor. Jet went into the weight room to look for the administration office. He felt a little nervous because he didn't really have a chance to prepare for this battle like his other Gym matches. Not to mention that this fight was a one-on-one. Jet finally found the office he was looking for and knocked on the door.
"Come in."
He walked in to a small, dingy office with nothing but a desk, phone, computer, and file cabinet. The lady sitting at the desk, who looked to be about in her thirties, smiled and said, "Hi, you here to join the Gym?"
"Umm, no. I'm here to sign up for a Gym Challenge."
"Ohh," said the lady, "Then you will be battling my husband, George. He's pretty good, you sure you want to sign up?"
Jet said, "Why the hell does everyone assume I can't battle just because of my age?"
"I didn't mean it like that sweetie," said Mrs. Surgio, "I mean usually when trainers come in here to get a badge, they come out with severely injured Pokémon. This Gym is no cake walk, and my husband hasn't had to hand out a badge in well over a year. The last person to win a badge here had already fought in the regional's. This is no place for locals."
Sounds tough! But I can't back out now! Everyone saw me challenge Surge! "I'll sign up anyway, ma'am. I'm not one to run away from a tough battle."
And so, Jet had to fill out the necessary paperwork for the Gym Battle. It was a five hundred dollar challenge fee, plus at least a thousand dollar bet. Jet was now down to his last few hundred dollars, so he really needed a win here. After getting a voucher for his Gym Challenge, Jet headed to drill floor where Lt Surge was already waiting for him. Next to his leg, was a Raichu, poised for battle.
"My Pokémon will be Raichu, send yours out!"
Jet had only four Pokémon on him to choose from. His Gyarados wouldn't do much good, nor would his Kadabra. His Charmeleon could probably take Raichu on, but his Geodude would be immune to its electric attacks all together. Deciding to go on the defensive, Jet sent out his Geodude.
The editor of the match said, "This is a one on one match between Geodude, and Raichu. The match will continue until either one side gives up, or is unable to battle. Are both trainer's ready?"
Jet nodded; Lt Surge simply laughed and said, "Just start the match! I've got things to do today!" The editor nodded and said, "Begin!"
"Raichu, use Iron Tail!"
"Use Rock Tomb, Boulder!"
Raichu's tail began to emit a metallic glow as it ran at its opponent. Geodude thrust his arms up in an upward gesture, causing rocks to slide upward from the ground in an attempt to trap Raichu. Geodude's attack missed, and he had to roll backwards to avoid Raichu's attack.
"Boulder, try using Magnitude!"
Geodude pounded the ground, sending a seismic shockwave in all directions. Raichu lazily jumped the attack, however, and came down full force with Iron Tail. This time, Geodude was not able to dodge.
The force of the attack smacked Geodude so hard, he shot across the drill floor like a cannon ball. Jet called his Pokémon's name out in shock as it flew out a nearby window. As Jet ran out the door after Geodude, he could hear the editor announce Lt. Surge's victory as the crowd laughed.
Jet looked outside frantically for his Pokémon, "Boulder! Where are you?" He heard a groan come from a nearby dumpster. Lying next to it, was Jet's defeated Geodude. There was a bloody crack on his skull from where the Iron Tail had hit. Or perhaps it was from the large dent that was imprinted on the dumpster, signifying a crash. Jet fell to his knees and went into his bag to grab a potion, "I'm so sorry! I shouldn't have sent you out to battle! I should have known you weren't ready!"
As Jet sprayed Geodude's head with a healing potion, he thought to himself, What the fuck is wrong with me? Why would I send Boulder out knowing he wasn't as trained as Thorn? This wasn't some routine battle, this was a Gym match! I sent him out just because he had a type advantage without paying attention to any other variables! I'm acting like a fucking rookie! I just lost most of my money and seriously injured my Geodude! What the fuck is wrong with me?
Jet recalled his Geodude after wrapping his head in bandages. Behind him, a voice said, "You know what you're doing in terms of medical care." Jet turned around to find himself once again face to face with Lt Surge. "In terms of battle experience, though, you need a lot of work kid!"
Jet stood up and said, "I fucked up. I've been distracted lately and I figured a Gym battle would put me back on track. I guess I overestimated my abilities."
"Pff, you can say that again, kid." Lt Surge smirked and said, "I appreciate that you're actually going out there and challenging Gym's to make a name for yourself, I think all young trainers should do that in order to grow. You need to battle people who are stronger than you. But you're biting off more than you can chew. You get a couple of badges from some second rate Gyms and you think you're hot shit! But you're not kid. You're nowhere close. Watch who you challenge before you get your Pokémon hurt, you hear me?"
Jet felt his insides go numb as a Lt Surge laughed, "Don't give me that look! It may hurt your pride, but you're out of your league around here! Maybe you can sign up with my Gym and I'll teach you a few things. Then, in like six months, you can challenge me again and we'll see if you've improved."
"No." Jet said, his numbness now being replaced by anger, "I'm not joining your fucking Gym! And I'm not waiting six months, either! I want to challenge you again; then we'll see who's laughing!"
Lt Surge laughed harder, "You got some stones, kid! You really want to get humiliated again? Fine! Come back November fourteenth at noon. Bring your strongest Pokémon with you for a full on six on six match. Bring money too, and get ready to lose it. I'll set everything up." He leaned in closer to Jet's face and his smirk faded into a snarl, "I'm going to crush you, you little shit! I'm going to show you your place! Then, when all of your Pokémon are beaten and bloodied, I don't ever want to see your fucking mug in my Gym again! Now get out of here, you fucking snot nosed brat!"
Author's Notes:
Another short chapter. Jet has got some training to so if he wants to stand a chance against Lt Surge. Last time he got his ass kicked like this was against a former League champion. With two weeks to train, will Jet be able to take on the Lightning American? Will he be able to find his rhythm back after all of the attacks by team rocket?
Find out soon!
Jet's Geodude – Lvl 20
Lt Surge's Raichu – Lvl. 43
Don't worry, you'll see everyone's full level's later. Hope you enjoy the next few chapters, cause Jet starts training again!
