As promised, Jellic's quest becomes far more complicated in this
chapter! And just when you thought things were going his way... C&C
would really hit the spot, you know? Send some my way, please!
Jellic�s Hateful Quest
Chapter 9: For Every Enforcer, There is an Equal but Opposing Jellic...
The nurse from the Pokemon center stopped by Verdon Hummter�s house
that evening to drop off the egg-shaped Pokemon called Chansey. The
Chansey sat by Ashley�s side while she slept and used its healing powers
to help her recover between sprays from the bottle of Paralyze Heal.
Meanwhile, none of the others felt much like sleeping. Instead, they sat
around Verdon�s coffee table drinking tea and talking. �Why would anyone
turn a Pokemon�s powers against an innocent girl like this?� asked the
nurse. �Especially one that�s so dangerous.�
�It was Droll Vordekar, head of Karddor Labs,� explained Jellic. He
watched the nurse�s eyes grow wide, and then continued. �We caught two
of his Pokemon a few days ago, and he�s willing to do anything to get
them back, even kill us.�
�I don�t like that man,� said the nurse, shivering. �He came into my
Pokemon center a few months ago with a dying Muk. I couldn�t save it. It
had been blasted with Psychic waves beyond the point of exhaustion. Even
that was suspicious. Wild Pokemon never attack an unconscious Pokemon,
and trainers won�t let their Pokemon attack an opponent�s Pokemon after
it faints. But Mr. Vordekar�s Muk had been attacked repeatedly by a
Psychic Pokemon long after it fainted. That�s why I couldn�t save it.
�But Mr. Vordekar wasn�t sad about the loss of his Pokemon. He
seemed more furious. And he directed that anger at me. He called out an
Alakazam and ordered it to attack me. I truly feared for my life.
Fortunately, the Alakazam refused, or else I probably wouldn�t be
sitting here now. Mr. Vordekar got so angry at the Alakazam that he
forgot about me and ordered it to go outside.� Her quaking hands picked
up the teacup sitting in front of her, rattling it against the saucer.
�I don�t like to think about what happened to that poor creature
afterwards, but I found an empty Pokeball behind the Pokemon Center that
evening that had had a Pokemon in it before � � Unable to finish her
sentence, she tried to drink from the teacup, but her hands were shaking
so badly by this time that she spilled the tea on herself, and Verdon
had to take the cup from her and put it back on the table. The nurse
covered her face with her hands, but the tears leaked between her
fingers and ran down her cheeks.
�The man is a monster,� said Jellic. �Even though I�m not a big fan
of Pokemon, I don�t like to see anyone hurting them like that. And
attacking an innocent woman is wrong no matter what. I don�t care if it
kills me, I will see Droll Vordekar brought to justice.�
Verdon leaned forward. �The question is, how did you manage to
capture two of his Pokemon? A trainer�s Pokemon are linked to their
Pokeballs, and it�s impossible to capture a Pokemon that already has a
trainer.�
�They seemed pretty wild when we first found them,� answered Jellic.
�Maybe they escaped. It doesn�t seem like Vordekar treats his Pokemon
very well, and he apparently can�t control all of them. Is it possible
for a Pokemon to voluntarily sever the link to its Pokeball?�
�I�ve never seen it happen before,� replied Verdon. �But most
Pokemon are loyal to their masters. Maybe Vordekar is such an evil man
that the Pokemon couldn�t bring themselves to serve him.�
Jellic nodded. �Then he took measures to ensure that the rest of his
Pokemon would remain loyal to him before he sent them against us. It�s
beginning to make sense now. But what does he hope to accomplish with
all of this? He�s not making any friends this way, and as you said, it
would take an army of his powerful Pokemon to conquer even a small city.
What possible goal could he have?�
�He�s got more power than you think,� said the nurse, trying to hold
back the tears. �I�ve heard rumors that the new machines and new
evolution stones, and even the supplements, are just small parts of a
much bigger project. Karddor Labs is trying to create something more
powerful than any Pokemon ever seen before.�
�If what I�ve seen is any indication, they�re succeeding,� said
Jellic.
Verdon nodded thoughtfully and decided to change the subject. �Nurse
Brenda, how was Lobia doing when you left the center?�
�She�s fully recovered. She�s just sleeping now. When she wakes up,
she�ll be completely back to normal. I left her in the care of the
Chanseys so that I could come over here and check on Ashley.� She looked
up toward the sofa where Ashley slept. �She�ll be fine too. A little
stiff for a few days, but otherwise able to walk normally. She�ll just
need to keep a supply of Paralyze Heal handy for when the stiffness gets
painful.�
�Thank you for bringing the Chansey, Nurse Brenda,� said Jellic.
�Once Ashley recovers, we�ll be able to cross the Swamp of Sickness.�
The nurse nearly fainted from shock. Verdon caught her and fanned
her with his napkin. �You can�t go into the Swamp!� she said as she
revived from the faint.
Jellic quickly explained his situation to the nurse. �We�ve already
made it safely through the Forest of Mist. Besides, this time I have
Mewthree, and I�ve heard that Psychic Pokemon are powerful against
Poison types. How could the Swamp be any more dangerous than the
Forest?�
�Not all of the hazards of the Swamp are Pokemon,� said the nurse.
�Just like the cold fog in the Forest of Mist, the Swamp has natural
dangers. The air is so contaminated that you could get all sorts of
horrible diseases. The ground is so saturated with water that it�s all
mud and quicksand. Then, of course, there�s always the possibility that
you could get lost and never find your way out of the Swamp.�
�I know it�s a big risk, but I have to do it. Every day that Droll
Vordekar lives is another day that he�s terrorizing innocent people and
Pokemon. It�s my sworn duty to seek out evil and destroy it. Now that I
finally have a quest, I cannot rest until it�s completed.�
�And what will you do then?� asked Verdon.
Jellic shrugged. �Well, I�ll move on to the next dimension that�s in
the grip of an evil force and destroy that. My life is just like that.
One fight after another.�
Verdon shook his head. �That�s not what I meant.� He gestured with
his thumb at Ashley. �That girl truly loves you, Jellic. I know of no
one, not even the bravest man in this land, who would voluntarily enter
the Forest of Mist even in the company of a hundred powerful trainers.
Yet she followed you in of her own volition and plans to follow you into
the Swamp. She risks her life to be with you. What deeper love could
there possibly be?�
Jellic hung his head in shame. �I can�t let her do that. But I
promised that I wouldn�t leave her behind, and it would be cruel to
break that promise.�
Verdon nodded. �If you tried to leave without her, she would
probably try to follow you and put herself in even greater risk. Her
legs aren�t properly healed yet, and she�ll need your help to make it
through. But what I was referring to is when you finally defeat Vordekar
and have to leave this dimension.�
The tumblers finally clicked into place in Jellic�s mind. �You mean,
what will happen to Ashley when I have to leave? I hadn�t really thought
about it...� His voice trailed off as he turned to look at her. The
Chansey�s healing powers created a soft glow around her body, making her
look, in Jellic�s eyes, like an angel whose wings were folded behind her
back, out of sight. He smiled without even realizing it. �I think I do
love her. That�s the problem. I�ve done so well in the past to avoid
romantic entanglements because they just get messy when I have to leave.
But I�ve been so dependent on Ashley these past few days, and I just can
�t imagine a day without her. Besides which...� He trailed off again.
�You two really do make a cute couple,� said Nurse Brenda
encouragingly. �Do you really have to leave? I mean, we could sure use a
hero here. You could stay as long as you wanted.�
�No, it�s my sacred duty. Once I destroy Vordekar and save this
dimension, I�ll be forced to leave. The spell will drag me into the next
dimension and I�ll be gone for good.�
�Well,� mused Nurse Brenda, �they can�t fault you for trying and
failing, can they?� Jellic looked at her inquisitively. �What would
happen if Vordekar was just a little too powerful for you, and you never
could defeat him. You�d naturally have to stay in this dimension until
you did. Then you and Ashley could be together forever!�
Jellic shook his head emphatically. �No. There are thousands of
other dimensions that need my help. I can�t give up my sacred duty just
to fulfill my own romantic fantasy. Besides which, I have a feeling that
this relationship may end up harming her. Already, she�s nearly frozen
to death and been turned to stone because she was with me. Now she�s
going to follow me through a dangerous swamp and then the Desert of
Death. And she�ll probably want to be there with me when I face
Vordekar. It�s not like I�ve never worked with a fighting party before,
but they were usually grown men, and any females were either barbarian
warriors or powerful sorceresses.�
�Remember the ways of Pokemon,� said Verdon. �In a Pokemon battle,
age, gender, physical handicap, height, and even strength mean little.
It�s brains and strategy that win Pokemon battles. Ashley is an
excellent trainer to have been able to survive the Forest of Mist, and
your experience in the ways of survival in other dimensions will help
you protect her from the natural hazards that lie ahead. In these
dangerous times, she�s probably safer traveling through the Swamp of
Sickness with you than lying in her own bed alone.�
�That�s right,� echoed Nurse Brenda. �Those Pokemon League Enforcers
are everywhere with their powerful Psychic Pokemon. There�s nothing out
there that can beat those Psychic types. I agree that laws are important
in any society, but that type of law I can do without.�
Verdon thoughtfully sipped from his teacup. �Brenda, I�m sure you�re
rather busy at the Pokemon Center. I�d better let you get back to your
sick Pokemon.�
Nurse Brenda nodded. �Thank you for the tea. Just send the Chansey
back in the morning.� She stood up, bowed a slight goodbye, and left.
Verdon also stood up. �You might want to get some sleep tonight if
you�re heading into the Swamp tomorrow. You can use Lobia�s bed tonight
if you�d like.� Jellic thanked him, and they shook hands before parting
ways. Jellic waited until Verdon had entered his room before brushing
Ashley�s hair from her forehead and giving her a light goodnight kiss.
The Chansey smiled at him as he straightened up and retired for the
night.
Jellic awoke to a rough buffeting. He was being shaken awake.
�Quickly, get Ashley and sneak out the back door! Pokemon League
Enforcers are raiding!� He quickly buckled on his Pokebelt and climbed
out of the bed, following Verdon into the living room.
�What happens in a Pokemon League raid?� asked Jellic.
�It�s horrible,� answered Verdon. �This is a side of our dimension
that you haven�t seen, and probably shouldn�t. If you leave now, you may
escape notice long enough to make it into the Swamp. They�d be crazy to
follow you there.�
�What will happen to you?� asked Jellic as he tapped Ashley on the
shoulder to wake her.
�It won�t be pretty. You see, we�re a rebel village. We�ve been
holding out against the League Enforcers for months now, but we aren�t
going to last much longer. It�s just a superiority struggle. The League
wants to find any excuse to use our village as a base of operations to
invade the southern cities. If you haven�t seen them yet, it�s because
they haven�t gotten south of Maroon yet. But the battles are fierce and
Nurse Brenda has to call in extra help from other cities to heal the
injured Pokemon afterwards.�
�If there�s a battle, we can�t just run away from it. I�ll stay and
help you fight.�
�Battle?� asked Ashley.
�Don�t worry,� said Jellic. �It�s going to be dangerous out there
for a while. Just stay here and rest up. Once we�ve turned back the
League Enforcers, I�ll come back to get you.�
Ashley leaped off of the couch, much to the dismay of the Chansey.
�No way! If there�s a battle going on, I�m coming with you!� She tried
to walk to the door, but her legs stiffened and she tripped and fell.
The Chansey quickly began to spray her with Paralyze Heal.
�I�m sorry, Ashley, but it�s too dangerous to go out in your
condition. I promise to come back for you. OK?� Ashley nodded and
climbed back onto the couch. Jellic and Verdon stepped outside and
joined the large crowd in the main street of Maroon Town. Just beyond
the border of the town, a group of men wearing business suits and
shoulder belts full of Pokemon were approaching rapidly. The crowd
around Jellic grew tense as the leader of the Enforcers stepped forward.
�People of Maroon Town, we grow weary of this endless battle. You
must realize that the glory of the Pokemon League will spread across our
entire land regardless of your feelings in the matter. Standing in our
way will only get you run down. Once again, we offer you a peaceful
surrender.�
Verdon, at the front of the group, stood nearly face to face with
the leader. �We�ll never give in!�
�What exactly do you want from these people?� asked Jellic, stepping
to the front of the group.
�We want the uninhibited use of this area as we see fit. We want to
have provisions of food and shelter available in this town at all times,
in the event of an emergency. We want access to the healing facilities
at the Pokemon center. In short, we want control of this town.�
�That isn�t fair,� protested Jellic. �You can�t just barge into
these people�s homes and take what they�ve worked so hard to provide for
their families.�
�Well, in times like these, we let our Pokemon decide who is truly
in the right,� said the leader, grabbing a Pokeball from his belt and
throwing it into the middle of the group. The other Enforcers began to
release their Pokeballs left and right. Hundreds of Psychic Pokemon
emerged from the balls and began to emit waves of Psychic power. The
townspeople took immediate action, releasing their Pokemon and turning
them against the Psychic Pokemon.
�This is bad!� shouted Verdon over the din. �They�ve brought twice
as many as last time! They won�t give up on this town!�
�Then I�ll give them something to fight,� said Jellic. �Mewthree,
let�s go! We�ve got a battle to win!� The Mewthree emerged from its
Pokeball and surveyed the scene. It turned to Jellic.
This is a dangerous situation. You must fight using your remaining
Pokemon. I can take care of myself.
�Right!� shouted Jellic, as he threw out another Pokeball.
�Caterpie, you�re next!� The Caterpie emerged from the Pokeball and
launched itself at a nearby Hypno. The Hypno retaliated with its Psychic
waves, but the Caterpie tied it up with a String Shot, immobilizing it.
Apparently, its trainer couldn�t be bothered to recall it, and it simply
remained in the middle of the battle, uselessly. Jellic called out his
Magikarp. �Tackle it into submission,� he ordered, and the Magikarp
began to do so with a vengeance. Jellic turned his attention to another
Pokemon, a strange shelled creature that he didn�t recognize. He ordered
the Caterpie to attack it as a star-shaped projectile flew over his
head. A second glance confirmed that it had not been a projectile, but a
Pokemon. Looking to see where it had flown from, Jellic saw the Mewthree
plowing through the ranks of battle, turning its Telekinesis attack
against any enemy Pokemon it saw. Jellic smiled and sent his Meowth to
finish off the immobilized Slowbro. The cat tore its way into the string
and Scratched at the soft creature within.
While Jellic�s Caterpie tore its way through the ranks of the
Pokemon League Enforcers� Pokemon, the rest of the townspeople were
fighting a losing battle. The Enforcers� strength actually seemed to
increase as more and more of their Pokemon fainted, and Jellic began to
see why. Each Enforcer carried at least a dozen Pokeballs, far more than
the supposed �limit� of six. As the Enforcers� Pokemon fainted, their
attention became more focused on the Pokemon that remained. While the
battle had begun as an all-out frenzy, the power of the remaining
Pokemon was far more directed. Jellic�s own efforts were far too divided
as he struggled to find targets for his Caterpie to string up while his
Magikarp and Meowth finished off the immobile ones. The few Enforcers
who had only one or two Pokemon remaining were directing their Pokemon
to attack strategically, and it wouldn�t be long before they targeted
his Pokemon.
Suddenly, there were two Mewthrees storming through the crowd
turning their Telekinetic powers against the Enforcers� Pokemon. �What�s
going on?� asked Jellic aloud.
�Bravo!� shouted Verdon. �That�s Mistress Jiolana�s Ditto
Transformed into a copy of your Mewthree! Now the tables will turn!�
Indeed, the two Mewthrees together began to decimate the legions of
enemy Pokemon. However, the Enforcers, down to their last fifty Pokemon,
regrouped and attacked the Mewthrees with everything they had. Even
though the Mewthrees had a natural strength against the Psychic type
attacks, they were not immune, and the various dual-type Psychic Pokemon
attacked with Water Gun and Solar Beam. Not even a Mewthree could
withstand the steady barrage of attacks, and Jellic�s Mewthree was
already tired from having used Telekinesis rather constantly for nearly
half an hour.
�We need to reinforce the Mewthrees!� shouted Jellic, sending his
Pokemon to attack the Enforcers while their backs were turned. But the
Enforcers formed a small ring around their dual-type Pokemon, using
their strictly Psychic Pokemon for defense. Jellic�s Meowth and Magikarp
quickly fainted from the concentration of Psychic energy, leaving only
his Caterpie and a handful of the other villagers� Pokemon to try to
break through the enemy lines. Jellic�s Mewthree had already fainted,
and the Ditto-Mewthree�s Telekinesis attack had been disabled by one of
the enemy�s more powerful Psychics.
The battle turned once again, as Jellic�s Caterpie paved the way for
the villagers to attack the ring of Psychic Pokemon. However, the sheer
force of numbers of the Enforcers� remaining Pokemon was overwhelming,
and when the ring was finally breached, the Ditto-Mewthree had had it.
The Enforcers struck back with what few Pokemon they had left, downing
the remainder of the villagers� Pokemon. And when the dust had settled,
Jellic and his Caterpie stood alone before three of the Enforcers�
toughest: a hard-shelled Slowbro, a mean-looking Mewtwo, and a
ten-pointed-star shaped Starmie. None of the four Pokemon were in very
good condition, but Jellic was outnumbered.
The leader of the Enforcers pointed to the large Mewthree, which
Jellic had not yet had a chance to recall. �Is that your Pokemon?� he
asked. Jellic nodded. �This Pokemon is unregistered. I�m afraid we�re
going to have to confiscate it.�
�You can�t have Mewthree!� shouted Jellic.
�Then we�ll take it by force. Attack!� commanded the leader.
�No you don�t!� shouted Ashley, who had stepped into the street
despite Jellic�s warning. �Beedrill, Pin Missile!� The Beedrill blasted
the three Psychic Pokemon with its Pin Missile attack, causing two of
them to faint while the Slowbro hid in its shell.
�Slowbro, Water Gun!� commanded the leader. The Slowbro spat a
stream of water that knocked the Beedrill out of the sky, and then fired
on the Caterpie, knocking it unconscious. �And I have the last Pokemon.
Surrender the Mewthree now, before I�m forced to arrest you.�
�Now, Pikachu!� shouted Lobia from the entrance to the Pokemon
Center. �Thundershock!� The fully revived Pikachu let fly with a massive
Electric attack, crisping the Slowbro into escargot.
�I believe WE have the last Pokemon,� said Jellic. �If you want to
fight now, it�ll be hand-to-hand. And believe me, that sort of combat is
my specialty.� The Enforcer leader sneered, then recalled his fainted
Pokemon.
�You haven�t seen the end of the Enforcers, Maroon Town. Even your
beloved hero won�t save you when we return with twice again the force we
brought today!� With that, he turned his back on Jellic and led his
posse out of Maroon Town. The townspeople cheered at their retreating
backs.
�Jellic!� shouted Ashley. �You really are a hero!�
Verdon clapped Jellic on the shoulder. �I want to thank you and your
friend for being here. Without you, we would definitely have lost this
battle.�
�It was Lobia�s Pikachu that really saved the day,� remarked Jellic.
�I just hope you�ll be able to hold out against their next assault.
There seemed to be a lot more than six Pokemon to each of them.�
�There were far more than that,� said Verdon. �Enforcers carry many
more than six Pokemon. They name themselves after the Pokemon League,
but they�re really outlaws. I don�t know whether or not they actually
work for the League itself, but I hope not. I hate to think of a
government that supports a group like the Enforcers. But believe me, in
the next battle, there will be even more of them, and even your help won
�t turn the battle. Maroon Town will be lost. So I urge you, Jellic, if
you care at all about this town and your duty as a hero � bring about
the end of the Enforcers before this entire land falls under their evil
control!�
Jellic nodded. �I swear to you on the power of my status as a hero,
the Enforcers will never rule this land! But I must hurry. The longer I
delay in my quest, the worse the situation will become.� He took Ashley�
s hand and together they headed toward the Pokemon Center to heal their
Pokemon from the battle. �Why do I get myself into these endless
quests?� Jellic asked himself as the Rejuvenator healed his Pokemon.
�At this rate, I�m never going to get out of this awful, fighting-free
dimension!� He glanced at Ashley, who was selecting her fighting party
from the Pokemon in the PC. �Of course, there are reasons to want to
stay here as long as possible.�
The nurse handed Jellic his refreshed Pokemon just as Ashley
finished with the PC. �Were you saying something, Jellic?� asked Ashley.
�No,� said Jellic. �Let�s get going.� And they left the Pokemon
Center and set off toward Karddor Labs once again. Not long afterward,
the Swamp of Sickness unfolded before them in all its vileness. Jellic
felt Ashley squeeze his hand as they passed the warning signs and
returned the gesture, knowing that it would be a long time before they
stood on safe, solid ground again � if ever.
---------------------------------------------------------------
MOM: I'm getting rid of this TV before the mindless garbage rots your
brain!
JOHNNY: Mindless garbage not rot brain!
(SHAMPOO: Mindless Johnny not got brain to rot!)
"There's a billion places like home. But only one of them's where you
live." - Granny Weatherwax, "Witches Abroad" by Terry Pratchett
JACKIE CHAN: Oh, sorry. I broke your spy camera! (pause) SPY CAMERA?!
My webpage: http://www.rose-hulman.edu/~katinamp