#011 - Truth and Consequences
(Pokémon and related elements ™,©1995-99 Creatures/GAME FREAK/Nintendo.)
Storyline, art by Robert H. Magnusson

Chue gradually came to in the Pokémon Center Revival chamber, pure power channeling throughout his body, suspended just over the floor of the chamber. As his cheeks charged with electric power, he began to blink and stir, and barely saw Marrilyn and the doctor... how many times he'd been in here, he didn't know... Odd, but Lyn looked as if she were deeply concerned about whether he'd make it or not. As long as she knew him, certainly she knew he'd survived much, much worse. Still, even as the doctor let him out of the chamber to get his clothes, his body still ached...

"Thanks, doc, I NEEDED that - I really got HAMMERED back there!" Chue stepped out from the back room, pulling his shirt back on. "Which reminds me - did Charlie Blazer come by here?"

The doctor checked his clipboard. "Uh... no, Chue, he's not on today's records."

Chue rubbed his chin. "That's odd... this is the only Pokémon Center for MILES..."

"Why? What's wrong?..."

"That's what I want to know, Lyn; I get the disturbing feeling Blazer lost that one on PURPOSE..." Unbenownst to anyone at the Center, these words were still being transmitted back to Team Rocket headquarters, where Charlie stood, enraged and heavily guarded, near the boss, busy counting his credits.

"Well, you won your stupid BET - NOW will you let me go?!"

"Of course, Blazer - just remember, if you go to anybody about this..." The boss turned to face the Charmander. "...I will personally have you... shall we say... EXTINGUISHED."

Charlie's expression turned to fear and exasperation as he turned to be led out. "Why... why ME?! Why couldn't you have bet AGAINST Ratboy?!"

"Mr. Blazer, we here at Team Rocket ALWAYS bet on the long shot... it makes this work more PROFITABLE." Just then the phone rang... "Hello?"

Sandy turned down the volume on the transmitter. "It sounds at though your fighter was SUSPICIOUS of the outcome, sir."

"Very well. It's time for us to take him and his girlfriend under our WING."

That evening, the middleweight championship came and went. To Buzz's dismay, they were always overshadowed by the light and heavyweight championships... to his dismay because he had won this year, only about the third year so far. Had he not been helping his hapless opponent off the mat, he would have seen Marrilyn and Chue leave Champ's Gym, although it wouldn't have meant anything to him at the time...

"Quite a show, huh, Chue?"

"Yeah, but... you sure you want to walk home THIS late?"

"I don't see how I have a choice... besides, I'll be okay, with the lightweight champ at my side, Chue Raton!" She leaned against him.

Chue blushed. "Ah, you're just SAYING that - !"

Before anyone knew what had happened, Marrilyn was hit on the head by an object thrown from behind a tree, which immediately dropped to the ground, broke open and absorbed her into an energy field, then snapped shut. Her necklace tumbled to the ground below, knocked loose. "LYN!!"

Chue knelt down to see the Pokéball, which was shaking as Marrilyn struggled. "LYN! I don't know where THAT came from, but FIGHT it!..."

"FORGET it, Chue...!" Chue looked up to see Percy, in full Team Rocket uniform. "YOU!"

"All right, give me the Marril - NOW!"

"FORGET it YOURSELF! You'll have to fight ME for her!!" Chue desperately clicked at the Ultra Ball's button as bolts of electricity flew from his cheeks. Giving up, he put it down and rushed at Percy, who was rushing at HIM with his gloves off to expose his powerful claws. In the confusion, Chue forgot about Lyn's necklace, which he immediately stepped on -

- sending a massive deafening wave of static into the ears of Sandy and the boss on his separate station.

Chue staggered back as Percy slashed his face, and was expecting the worst when Percy stopped, shocked. "NO! The TRANSMITTER! -- oopsch!" Percy clapped his hands over his mouth, glad he had at least remembered to retract his claws.

Chue looked back at the broken pendant and the electronics exposed within. "TRANSMITTER?! Why did Sandy give me... how did YOU know? ...I...she..."

Suddenly it dawned on Chue. "Oh, NO... no, no, no..."