Chapter 4:
Need for Speed
Sheer exhilaration has been known to melt away grief. This was especially true in Jade's case. Her new assignment would keep her so terribly busy; she wouldn't be able to find time to grieve. So when Jerry showed her the new and improved TurboJet, she felt like a giddy young kid again.
"The new and improved TurboJet," exclaimed Jerry, pulling off a shiny black cover.
He revealed a dark emerald green metallic motorcycle; the kind that requires an arms forward posture. The wheels had more tread than normal, and there were nearly 40 different buttons to operate it.
"We had metallic emerald specially made," Jerry said.
Green was of course Jade's favorite color.
"It's beautiful," began Jade, "but what's so new and improved about it? Besides the personalized color, I mean."
"Hop on."
Jade carefully crawled on and sighed. She had missed the TurboJet so very much.
"Press the blue oval button."
After a few minutes of searching for the correct button, Jade found it, and pressed it. The TurboJet shifted beneath her; dark green metal cool as it brushed against her skin. She watched in amazement as it completed it's transformation.
"It… it doubles as a jet ski?" she stammered.
"Mmmhmm… makes aquatic missions much easier, don't you agree?"
She nodded. "Much easier. Good improvement."
Jerry smiled triumphantly.
"But… my old bike… Cain would always…"
Jerry sighed and pressed a lime green square button; reverting back to bike form.
"We made sure to make the seat on this bike extra long; just so you can have your precious Lucario ride along with you."
He lit a cigar and puffed on it heavily. "Now, Agent Stone. Does it rise to your standards?"
She grinned and hopped back on.
"It's terrific."
She started it up and took off down the test strip. Her coffee-colored hair flowed behind her; exhilaration wearing away at the grief that had built up since her recovery. She floored it, and was happy to know the new TurboJet exceeded the original's top speed. The test strip ended all to soon, and she whipped it around and zoomed back. She killed it and got off again; hair tousled and eyes gleaming like they hadn't since her flight to Mt. Silver.
"That was excellent. I'm sold."
He puffed his cigar in response and threw her a jumble of green and black clothes.
"The suit comes with it. It's not only a bike suit; it's waterproof. For the jet ski part."
She stroked the smooth material, before draping it over her bike; just in time to catch the matching helmet he tossed at her.
"You better wear that fucking helmet, Jade. We don't have much for funding; we might pull the plug next time."
She smiled and threw her arms around him. His dark skin hid his blushing.
"So… can I go now?" Jerry chuckled; relieved she had let go of the embrace and that she was so eager for her mission. He hated feeling awkward almost more than germs.
Oh shit. I still have vomit to clean up!
Jade wasn't a mind reader; so when he grimaced she assumed it was at her.
"Oh okay; I'll wait a little bit. But I'm leaving by tonight!" she insisted.
"I, uh… have something to take care of. Go get your Grovyle and meet me in… my living quarters."
He looked terribly distracted; and he puffed his cigar so hard Jade felt she had to intervene. She jerked it out of his mouth and flung it onto the concrete; stomping out the embers.
"You were supposed to smoke the damn thing, not swallow it." He abruptly turned and strode away.
Jade walked back inside and walked over to one of the staff. But… there was something about the red, frizzy afro-like hair.
"Haden?"
The male in the long white lab coat whirled.
"Jade! How are ya?"
They embraced, and he pushed his glasses back to the bridge of his nose. His freckled face and childish features fooled many; but he was the genius behind all of the technology at LGHQ. Well, technically, he and his twin were.
"Where's Heather?" she asked; not used to seeing him without his identical twin sister.
He shrugged, "She's out running some errands in Blackthorn City."
Jade and him chatted lightly for a few minutes, before they headed over to the huge glass training arena.
"You've got a keeper," Haden explained, nodding at Grovyle. "He doesn't leave that arena. He loves to fight."
Jade smiled. "Where's his Poke Ball?"
Haden smirked.
"Depends. Do you have an extra on hand?" Jade narrowed her eyes.
"You mean I gotta catch the little shit?"
"That would be correct," said Haden; cleaning a smudge off his tiny rectangular glasses.
"My Pokemon'll kill the little guy. What level is he on, anyways?"
He shrugged. "Well, he hasn't evolved yet, so I'd say, oh, I dunno… maybe… mid twenties?"
"Well shit."
Jade decided whom would do the least damage and decided a few well-aimed water attacks wouldn't kill it off. She would use Blade. She had to be careful with Ivy's kid.
"Lemme guess; we're doing it in the glass arena?"
Haden laughed. "You got it! Give him the homefield advantage, ya know."
That's one fast little fucker.
"Blade, quick, Hydro Pump!"
The Kabutops faithfully fired a powerful torrent of water at Grovyle; who was perched in the upper left corner of the giant glass case. But as the water was about to hit him, he launched out of the corner and glided over Blade's head; firing a Bullet Seed before landing in the opposite corner. The Pokemon cringed. It wasn't a particularly strong attack. But this had been going on for about twenty minutes; and it was doubly effective.
Jade was red in the face. Grovyle wasn't only fast; he was smart too. Blade was a better close combatant. (Hence the huge hooked scythes) Grovyle was smart enough to stay out of reach. Second; he used his speed to his advantage to fire a quick Bullet Seed while darting across the case. Third; Blade only knew two attacks that could reach the upper corner; Hydro Pump and Ice Beam. Hydro Pump not only took a lot of energy, it also was a fairly slow attack. Ice Beam was fast enough to get him; but Blade was on such a high level, it would kill the younger Grovyle.
Ice Beam…
Her angry thinking gave birth to an idea.
"Blade, Hydro Pump on the other corners!"
Instead of questioning her command, the Kabutops simply followed orders. The Grovyle, perched in the corner, cocked his head to the side; taking in the situation.
"Good, Blade. Now repeat but with Ice Beam!"
It hit Grovyle right then. His corners were iced up. He was "cornered". (Pardon my terrible pun)
"Blade; blast him out of that corner, now!"
Blade fired a fierce Hydro Pump at the confused Grovyle; hitting him dead on. Although it was powerful; it wasn't super-effective, so it only weakened him. Thinking fast, the Grovyle soared down to the exit, lifted a glass cover box, and pressed a large red button. Cannons appeared from the walls.
"Oh shit."
Tennis balls began pummeling Jade and her Pokemon; though the Grovyle darted around them with complete ease and enjoyment.
"Fuck! Blade, Slash through those damn balls!"
He began slicing the tennis balls; but they just kept coming.
"ARRGHHH! Use Sandstorm!" yelled Jade; terribly frustrated.
The battered Kabutops fired up a Sandstorm in the arena. Jade hid behind him. Being a Rock-type, he seemed to have a bubble around him protecting him from the vicious, raging sand. The Grovyle hissed when he got sand in his eyes. He had visibility problems now; and ran into the wall. Unable to continue, he collapsed on the floor; exhausted.
"Go, Poke Ball!" yelled Jade over the roaring winds.
The Poke Ball magically was missed by the tennis balls, and sucked the Grovyle up. It wiggled once, twice, four times, before letting out a pleasant 'ding' and laying still. Blade calmed the sandstorm and pressed the red button again, and Jade walked over and picked it up; kicking aside tennis balls as she approached it. She kissed it as a long-lived tradition, and then pocketed it. Jade owned a Grovyle.
Yeah yeah, i know- i promised action in this chapter. But with all the heavy stuff going on in the past chapters, i had to lighten the mood a bit. Action coming soon; but Jade has to get pissed off one more time before she can go on her first mission. (: Don't forget to help me name Grovyle by visiting my poll. Remember; Reviews motivate me to update faster (:
Also; one more thing. I'm no good at describing motorcyle. here's a link to take you to a blue version of what the TurboJet looks like in bike form. . Saved me the trouble of going into grueling detail.