And… Chapter 4!
Disclaimer: Pokemon belongs to Nintendo and Shogakukan Comics. This non-profit, non-copyright infringing fanfiction belongs to me under international copyright laws and taking it is plagiarism. Thank you. *Phantomness bows*
Notes: <> for telepathy, ** for thoughts, italics
if a pokemon talks
Chapter 4
There was something about Ash, too, that spoke of their being more beneath the surface than was right in his face, and Gary almost wondered if he were attracted to a boy, before a resounding no echoed through his mind it was just a kind of jumpiness, almost…
But why? Ash was no one special, just another high school dropout in cram school, and so what if he had a persocom? Most people in this day and age did.
Still, something had to be wrong….
He was taking Misty to see Lance again. This time, it fared no better. She still broke every computer in the entire building, and Gary left, downhearted. Maybe it was time to go online and ask around, so he did, took a few pictures of Misty, uploaded them, and posted on every persocom list he could find, hoping for an answer.
He was soon to find out.
“So, Growlithe, what do you have to report?” Lance asked, resting his hand against the screen of his computer. It was a tiny two-inch by two inch silver square in his hand, but that was all that was necessary.
A metallic voice with a touch of a bark in it replied. “I am transmitting the information now, Master.” There was a flash and Lance watched as an image began to rotate, holographic imaging above his hands.
“Very interesting….”
“Is it not, Master? Do not worry. I will not betray our cause.”
“I chose you for your loyalty, Growlithe. I will not doubt you. Is that all?”
“For now. The sender is blocked. Should I investigate?”
“No, you have little power in that matter. I shall send others. Good work.”
The computer in his hands glowed warmly at the praise, and than the communications ended.
Gary stared at the picture of a naked Misty with ports coming out of her back, lying in a tube of some sort, filled with creamy pink water? “No way…”
What… what was that?
Now that he took a closer look though, the liquid resembled more… gel. A sealant or coolant perhaps…
Why was he so concerned? She was just a machine. Even so…
“I can’t be falling in love with a robot, a computer! That’s ridiculous1” Gary proclaimed, but his voice sounded wrong to his own ears.
Wait a minute. Maybe it wasn’t Misty! After all, persocoms were purchased in bulk and there could always be many copies of the same one…
On her arm was the letter ‘M’ written in cursive. Misty had no such marking.
Heaving a sigh of relief, Gary deleted the email and turned off his laptop. It had stopped raining, and the sun was out.
“Let’s go out for a walk, Misty.”
“A walk?”
“Yes, a walk. Look it up in the dictionary.”
Gary had given Misty a dictionary that he hardly used for homework so she could learn about the world. It worked better than television, in any case…
Misty nodded and got up.
They went to the park, where they saw Ash and his persocom both eating ice creams. Gary waved hi and noticed that Ash’s persocom was now wearing a red kimono with black moons on it. Cute.
Normally, she wore a formal white kimono patterned with flames.
Gary yawned. Ice cream sounded like a good idea. He had some money left over from buying textbooks…
He bought vanilla for Misty and a double scoop dark chocolate for himself, and found a park bench to sit on. Misty was surprised at the ice cream, but she seemed to like it. This strange new world for her was… home.
“Gary?”
“What is it, Misty?” Two weeks ago, he had taught Misty his name, and she had learned it. Finally!
Now if only he could teach her to cook…
A persocom was supposed to be useful. Suzie cooked and cleaned for Brock, and Charlotte did the same for Ash, but Misty was useless. Pretty enough at a distance, but up close, there was nothing he loved.
So why did he feel a connection?
It wasn’t fair…
He was stuck with a defective persocom!
“He’s losing interest in her.”
“Of course. Even a pretty face has limits if it just eats cash and does not pay you back, wouldn’t you agree?”
Ash smirked as lightning flickered on his fingertips. “Of course. I wonder though, why is she the robot? Usually it’s you.”
“I got tired of being a doll.”
“Ah…”
“Besides, it’d take a long spin of fate’s wheel for you to be… you know, and we both know...”
“Hai.”
“You know,” Charlotte spoke up, smoothing down her kimono. “Why don’t you suggest Gary take Misty to the beach?”
“That might work…”
“If that does not trigger memories, nothing will, but will you be all right?”
“I’ll just stay out of the water.”
“All right.”
“Beach? Oh yeah, let’s go.” Brock said excitedly. “I didn’t know your family had a beach house, Ash!”
“It’s my cousin’s, but she’s letting my family borrow it for a week, but mom is too busy with work, so she told me to invite some friends.”
“Sounds fun, and I am sure we could all use a vacation after all that homework and cramming. At least we have a three-week break. Let’s go for it.” Gary nodded.
And so the next day, they were all packed and ready to hit some surf and sun.
End Chapter
Completed 12/18/05
Manipulative people yay! And I feel kind of sorry for Misty now