Chapter 38

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=100 BGCOLOR="#CCCCFF" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="14800640egdysm.jpg"> <div> <A HREF="mim27.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter 27"><U>Chapter 27</U></A>   |   <A HREF="mim28.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter 28"><U>Chapter 28</U></A>   |   <A HREF="mim29.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter 29"><U>Chapter 29</U></A>   |   <A HREF="mim30.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter 30"><U>Chapter 30</U></A>   |   <A HREF="mim31.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter 31"><U>Chapter 31</U></A>   |   <A HREF="mim32.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter 32"><U>Chapter 32</U></A>   |   <A HREF="mim33.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter 33"><U>Chapter 33</U></A>   |   <A HREF="mim34.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter 34"><U>Chapter 34</U></A>   |   <A HREF="mim35.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter 35"><U>Chapter 35</U></A>   |   <A HREF="mim36.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter 36"><U>Chapter 36</U></A>   |   <A HREF="mim37.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter 37"><U>Chapter 37</U></A>   |   <B>Chapter 38</B>   |   <A HREF="mim39.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter 39"><U>Chapter 39</U></A>   |   <A HREF="mim40.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter 40"><U>Chapter 40</U></A></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=200 BGCOLOR="#000066" TEXT="#F7F7FF"> <div> <A HREF="http://members.fortunecity.com/zethraltier/" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://members.fortunecity.com/zethralti"><U><B>Home</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="http://members.fortunecity.com/zethraltier/oldnews.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://members.fortunecity.com/zethralti"><U><B>Old News</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="http://members.fortunecity.com/zethraltier/zrfic/" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://members.fortunecity.com/zethralti"><U><B>My Fanfics</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="http://members.fortunecity.com/zethraltier/zrart/" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://members.fortunecity.com/zethralti"><U><B>My Fanart</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="http://members.fortunecity.com/zethraltier/a-j/" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://members.fortunecity.com/zethralti"><U><B>Authors A-J</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="http://members.fortunecity.com/zethraltier/k-z/" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://members.fortunecity.com/zethralti"><U><B>Authors K-Z</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="http://members.fortunecity.com/zethraltier/art/" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://members.fortunecity.com/zethralti"><U><B>Fanart List</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="http://members.fortunecity.com/zethraltier/ffsubmit.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://members.fortunecity.com/zethralti"><U><B>Submit a Fanfic</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="http://members.fortunecity.com/zethraltier/fanart_submit.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://members.fortunecity.com/zethralti"><U><B>Submit Fanart</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="http://pub46.ezboard.com/beeveesmb" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://pub46.ezboard.com/beeveesmb"><U><B>Message Board</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="http://members.fortunecity.com/zethraltier/links.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://members.fortunecity.com/zethralti"><U><B>Links</B></U></A></div> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" height=380 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <I>Chapter 38</I></div> <div> <B>A Master in the Making: Chapter 38: Down to the Wire</B></div> <bR> <div>     Richard Callegh stared at the number 38 that was in the center of his laptop's screen.  It signified the number of matches that he and his Porygon 2 had come up with, when collecting all the data they knew about the mysterious saboteur of the Obsidian League Games.  "Too many..." Richard murmured.  "Still too many."</div> <bR> <div>     A window popped up in the corner of his screen, "We need more data."</div> <bR> <div>     Richard glanced over at the pink-and-blue pokémon beside him, "Yeah, I know.  Is there anything we've forgotten to add in?"</div> <bR> <div>     The Porygon chirped, and the box on the computer screen displayed a new message, "I have taken all the data you have given me into account."</div> <bR> <div>     "Okay...  Well, show me the list of names, I guess." At Richard's request, a third window opened on the screen, displaying the thirty-eight trainers that the search had matched.  "Well, there's a couple trainers here that I'm sure didn't do this."</div> <bR> <div>     "It would be a mistake to assume that they are not responsible without adequate proof," the Porygon told him through the computer interface.  "Even if you have no doubt that they are innocent."</div> <bR> <div>     Richard rolled his eyes, "I know, I know...  I'm just saying that I'm sure they didn't do it, that's all.  I'll leave them on the list until we find proof, though."  Richard scrolled back up through the names again, then stopped and pointed to one.  "You can take that one off.  That was the kid that got hit by the truck the other day.  He was in the hospital during the more recent attacks." A moment later, the name was removed.</div> <bR> <div>     "Well," he said.  "Only thirty-six more names to get rid of..."</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div>     By the time Zeth found them, they had managed to clear five more names, reducing the list to thirty-two.  Zeth just watched Richard for a few moments before the other trainer realized he was there and turned to greet him.  "Zeth!  Sorry, I didn't hear you come in!"  Then Richard realized that Zeth was soaked.  "Hey, what happened to you?  Opponent's pokémon get confused and splash you down instead of your pokémon?"</div> <bR> <div>     Zeth shook his head, "Oh, no, not at all.  The match went well, actually.  I got hit with a Water Gun attack on my way here.  I'm assuming it was the mystery attacker, though I can't rule out practical jokes.  It's not exactly the worst thing I've had happen to me."  Zeth grinned, "Blaze offered to dry me off, but I declined."</div> <bR> <div>     "Smart move," Richard chuckled.  "Did you see what hit you?"</div> <bR> <div>     "Yeah, a lot of water, that's what hit me."  Then Zeth shook his head, "No, I didn't see what kind of pokémon it was.  At least I got off better then most people that got attacked, right?"</div> <bR> <div>     "I guess so," Richard said, turning back to his laptop.  "It's too bad you didn't get a chance to find out anything, though.  I've got a list with over thirty people on it here, and I can't get it any smaller without more information."</div> <bR> <div>     "Oh?" Zeth leaned over, glancing at the screen, "All these trainers match up so far, huh?"</div> <bR> <div>     "Yep.  I just got rid of a few trainers that don't have a bird pokémon big enough to have those feathers I found.  I'm running out of ideas to eliminate suspects."</div> <bR> <div>     Zeth scanned the list, "You know he has two pokémon with Pin Missile, right?  Those two trainers the other day were attacked from two directions at once."</div> <bR> <div>     "I already put that in, actually," Richard mentioned.  "But all these trainers have a second Jolteon, or a Beedrill or Qwilfish or Smeargle or whatever.  There's also a couple people with Dittos, which makes it tougher."</div> <bR> <div>     Zeth pointed at one particular name, "Should I be upset that I'm a potential terrorist according to this?"</div> <bR> <div>     Richard made a face, "Nah, just be happy that Porygon and I are being thorough."</div> <bR> <div>     "Whatever..."  Zeth stepped away, "Well, I'm going to go check on the <I>Skylark</I> and make sure no one's been messing with it.  Maybe the sun will dry me off some."</div> <bR> <div>     "You'll have to take me for a ride in that airship sometime," Richard told him.  "It looks like it would be fun."</div> <bR> <div>     "Sure!" Zeth agreed.  "We could do it after your match, if you want."</div> <bR> <div>     "That'd be great!"</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div>     Janice Patton stood in the red trainer box, waiting for Richard to send out his first pokémon.  She was feeling confidant about this match.  She expected it to be over quickly.</div> <bR> <div>     Now Richard was sending out a Sandshrew.  Janice watched the little mouse pokémon for a moment before choosing her own pokémon.  "Jynx, I choose you!"  This one would be simple, she was sure of it!  "Use your Ice Punch!"</div> <bR> <div>     "Sandshrew, Earthquake!" Richard called out a moment later.</div> <bR> <div>     The mouse pokémon slammed its claws into the ground, and a crack ran from the spot it had hit up to Janice's Jynx, where the ground suddenly erupted, throwing the psychic back in an explosion of dirt and dust. The Jynx jumped back up and rushed towards the Sandshrew, swinging at him with both hands.  The Sandshrew ducked one blow, then was smacked in the side by the Jynx's other hand.  Ice formed along the ground-type's dusty skin, and it squeaked in pain.</div> <bR> <div>     "Slash!" Richard shouted to his pokémon.  "While you have the chance!"</div> <bR> <div>     "Back up, Jynx," Janice ordered.  But the Sandshrew, although injured by the Ice Punch attack, was still fast enough to rake his claws across the Jynx before she could dodge out of the way.  The humanshape pokémon screeched something, an otherworldly sound that made Janice's flesh crawl.  "Darn it, not Perish Song," she muttered to herself.  "Use Water Gun, Jynx!"</div> <bR> <div>     The Jynx held her hands out in front of her and used her psychic powers to whip up a watery blast.  Janice didn't know how it was possible, nor did she care.  As long as it worked, it was fine by her.</div> <bR> <div>     The Sandshrew dodged away, yelping in panic.  That was good, Janice thought.  Let it wear itself out.  Then Jynx would finish it off.  Unless the Perish Song kicked in and knocked them both out.  Janice realized that she would have to hurry up and finish off the Sandshrew quickly.  As the Sandshrew disappeared into the ground at a command from Richard, Janice called out to her Jynx, "Use Psychic when it comes back up!"</div> <bR> <div>     A moment later, the Sandshrew blasted out of the ground below the Jynx, knocking the psychic pokémon into the air.  The ground mouse met her on the way back down with a Slash attack and her Jynx retreated instead of using the intended attack.  Janice started to repeat her previous instructions, but at that moment, both pokémon fell.  The Perish Song had done its work.</div> <bR> <div>     "Return, Jynx," Janice was annoyed.  Her Jynx should have easily beaten that Sandshrew with her ice powers, but that badly timed Perish Song had thrown them off.</div> <bR> <div>     Richard sent out his Xatu next, Janice throwing down her own pokéball before the pokéball even opened.  "Onix, this one's yours!"</div> <bR> <div>     Her giant rock snake growled as the Xatu flew around him.  "Use Take Down," she ordered.</div> <bR> <div>     At that, the Xatu flew higher, making the attack impossible.  "Never mind that," Janice amended.  "Use Screech instead." She held her ears as Onix emitted an irritating high-pitched tone.  She didn't see any real reaction from the Xatu, but she expected that it was bothered by it.  A sound like that just made a pokémon (or human) tense up.  She'd only seen one pokémon ever be unaffected by the sound, and that was because it had been deaf.</div> <bR> <div>     Janice did notice that Richard was wincing at the sound.  At least she was bugging him!  But he was still clearheaded enough to give out new orders.  "Xatu, Psychic attack!"</div> <bR> <div>     "Mimic, Onix!"  Although the psychic bird used its powers to throw Onix to the edge of the field, where he landed with a huge crash, her rock snake was able to copy the attack and pull the bird down to him with his temporary psychic ability.  Then he grabbed the bird in his coils and squeezed it.  "That's it!" Janice encouraged the rock-type.  "Headbutt it a couple times too!"</div> <bR> <div>     The Onix twisted around and brought his head down on the trapped bird, knocking it out with the first strike.  Janice leaned against the rail of the trainer box, grinning.  "Yes!  Okay, Onix, you can let it go now."</div> <bR> <div>     Her pokémon did so, letting Richard recall his beaten bird.  He pulled a third pokéball from his belt and tossed it onto the field.  "Nice, but your Onix doesn't stand a chance against Riptide!"  Richard's Wartortle took one look at the rock snake and shot a stream of water out at it, forcing it to back away or get splashed.</div> <bR> <div>     "You think?" Janice pointed at the turtle pokémon, "Slam it, Onix!"</div> <bR> <div>     The rock snake rumbled towards Richard's Wartortle, but it wasn't even close before Riptide pummeled it with a Blizzard attack.  Roaring in pain and anger, the Onix swung his tail at the turtle.  Riptide dodged the blow and jumped on the Onix's tail.  Before the snake could react, the Wartortle ran up its back and jumped onto its head, spraying water across it the whole time.  The Onix shook its head as Riptide leaped away, finishing his attack with a blast of water aimed right between the snake's eyes.</div> <bR> <div>     That was too much for the Onix.  He was soaked all over and confused from the water in his eyes.  He sunk to the ground and Janice recalled him.</div> <bR> <div>     "Not bad, but I'm just warming up!" Janice taunted.  "Go Sneasel!"</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div>     Richard had seen Janice's Sneasel before in earlier matches.  It was fast and powerful, and he expected it would be tough to beat.  "Riptide, use your..." Richard stopped short as the Sneasel suddenly fell over.  He blinked in surprise and watched it for a moment.  It didn't get up.  "Hey, what gives?"</div> <bR> <div>     Janice looked puzzled as well.  "Hey, Sneasel, you okay?"  Her pokémon didn't respond, and she leaned over the rail to get a better look.  "What's wrong with you?"</div> <bR> <div>     The referee walked onto the field and only had to take a quick glance at the downed pokémon to see what was wrong.  "Your pokémon appears to be sick," he called to Janice.  "It is unable to battle."</div> <bR> <div>     "Don't count it as a loss," Richard requested.  "It didn't battle at all."</div> <bR> <div>     The referee nodded, "Very well."  He walked off the field again and glanced at Janice, "You still have two pokémon remaining."</div> <bR> <div>     Janice recalled her pokémon, looking a little annoyed.  Richard couldn't blame her.  That kind of bad luck could easily break a match.  "All right then... I choose Sunflora!"</div> <bR> <div>     This time the pokéball opened to reveal an obviously unconscious sunflower pokémon.  Janice tried to rouse it be calling out to it, without success.  "What is going on here?!" she exclaimed frantically.  "Hold on a second!"  She returned the Sunflora to its pokéball and took the last two balls from her belt, releasing the two pokémon at the edge of the field, beside her trainer box.</div> <bR> <div>     One of her two pokémon, an Alakazam, was able to stand, but looked unsteady.  The other, a Dodrio, sagged against the trainer box the moment it was out of its pokéball.  "I don't believe this!" Janice shouted in outrage.  "They were all fine fifteen minutes ago!"</div> <bR> <div>     "The red trainer is unable to continue the match," the referee declared.  Janice glared at him, but there was nothing else he could do.  She had no more pokémon to use.</div> <bR> <div>     Richard opened his mouth, but couldn't find words.  He had expected this match to be one of the biggest, toughest battles he had ever fought, but instead, he had won because Janice had to forfeit.  It seemed suspicious to him, and with all the weird things that had already been happening, he was forced to believe it was more then mere coincidence.</div> <bR> <div>     He rushed down the steps of the trainer box and started across the field toward Janice.  "Come on," he said, when he was close enough to talk to her without having to shout.  "Let's get your pokémon to the center and find out what happened."</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div>     "Poisonpowder again," Joy told them, upon inspection of Janice's pokémon.  "Do you have any idea how they were exposed to it?"</div> <bR> <div>     Janice scowled, "I don't know...  No, wait, I gave them all a snack before the match.  Someone must have poisoned the treats." She took a bag of pokémon treats from her backpack and handed it to Joy.</div> <bR> <div>     The nurse opened it up and dumped it out on the examination table.  Mixed among the crumbs at the bottom was a glistening powder.  "Well, that's it."</div> <bR> <div>     "My first two pokémon were unaffected because I had transferred them over from Opal City just before the match," Janice noted.  "I better call up the nurse at the Opal City center and see if the pokémon I switched are okay.  If you'll excuse me..."</div> <bR> <div>     "Of course," Richard said, as Janice left the room.  He was quiet for a long moment, then shook his head in frustration, "This is driving me crazy, Nurse.  What's going to happen next?"</div> <bR> <div>     Joy shook her head, "I wish I could answer that.  I still don't know why anyone would want to do all of this.  It's scaring a lot of people."</div> <bR> <div>     "I know," Richard agreed.  "I've noticed that we've had less spectators watching the games.  The stadium seemed half-empty today."</div> <bR> <div>     The nurse sighed, "I hope that they find out who did all of this soon." She handed Richard his pokéballs, "Here, your pokémon should be fine with a little rest.  I have to get back to work now."</div> <bR> <div>     She started to turn away, but Richard spoke to her again, "Nurse... Did you ever find anything out about that feather I gave you?"</div> <bR> <div>     Joy frowned, "I'm sorry.  That completely slipped my mind...  You're sure it's from one of the mystery attacker's pokémon?"</div> <bR> <div>     "Yes, I'm almost totally certain."</div> <bR> <div>     "Okay, then.  Considering the circumstances, I'll make it a top priority.  I'll check every bird pokémon in the center and see if I can find a match."</div> <bR> <div>     Richard smiled, "Thanks, Nurse.  Call me if you find anything."</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div>     "Hey, Richard, wait up!" Zeth ran toward his friend, slowing down once he reached his side.  "Still up for that airship ride?"</div> <bR> <div>     Richard shook his head and continued to walk down the sidewalk towards the stadium.  "No, not right now.  I'm busy."</div> <bR> <div>     "No?  What, you changed your mind?"</div> <bR> <div>     Richard shrugged, "Sorry, it's not you.  Janice's pokémon were poisoned before her match with me and she had to forfeit.  I'm back to trying to figure out who's doing this, and I don't really have time for anything else."</div> <bR> <div>     Zeth nudged the other trainer, "Hey, I'm sure the police are doing their own investigation.  It's not like you're responsible for finding this guy."</div> <bR> <div>     "But I'm going to try anyway," Richard countered.  "I don't care if they find him before I do.  Good job, I'd say.  But he's eluded them so far, so I'm going to keep on trying to figure this all out." He patted the laptop computer he was carrying under one arm.  "I've been working on clearing people with Dittos.  Now I've managed to clear all but one, and I'm pretty sure he has an alibi.  I'm just confirming it, and then I'll be down to twenty-three names."</div> <bR> <div>     Zeth stared straight ahead for a moment, "Rich...  You know, this might be dangerous for you.  If this guy hears that you're looking for him, he might target you next."</div> <bR> <div>     "I don't care.  I'm still going to try."</div> <bR> <div>     A slight grin came to Zeth's face, "You sound like me...  Well, I hope you find him.  Just do me a favor and don't get in over your head."</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div>     Nurse Joy was working late again, as was common during league events.  But this time she wasn't busy healing pokémon, but sorting through them.  She was determined to find out what kind of feather Richard had given her, if at all possible.  It might just be the key to the whole mystery, and she intended to figure it out.</div> <bR> <div>     She checked pokéball after pokéball, canceling out pokémon after pokémon.  Then, just as she was about ready to take a break and pour herself another cup of coffee, she found a match.  "Yes!" she exclaimed, patting the bird, who appeared to be confused as to why she had just released him from his pokéball.  Joy held the mystery feather up to one of the bird's wing feathers again and nodded.  "Yes, that's it!"</div> <bR> <div>     Then she smiled at the bird and held up his pokéball, "Thank you.  You can go back to your ball now."</div> <bR> <div>     She didn't know if the feather actually belonged to that particular pokémon, but now she at least had a species.  Joy almost called up Richard to tell him what she had found, but realizing how late it was, she decided to wait until morning.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div>     Richard wouldn't have minded such a late call, as he was enthusiastically entering new information into his computer.  There had been another attack, and the victim had seen the assaulting pokémon and had even managed to get out one of his own pokémon and hit it with an attack before it and the shadowy figure with it suddenly teleported away.</div> <bR> <div>     "Okay, Porygon!" Richard said.  "Now how many entries do we have left?"</div> <bR> <div>     The artificial pokémon bobbed in the air, looking pleased, as the list abruptly shortened from twenty-one to four.  "Hah!" Richard shouted, not remembering that most other people in the hotel were sleeping.  He was too excited to care, anyway.  "Now we're getting somewhere!"</div> <bR> <div>     "Indeed," his Porygon 2 said, by way of the computer screen.  "Perhaps by tomorrow morning, there will be sufficient data to complete our investigation."</div> <bR> <div>     Richard laughed, "Are you telling me to go to bed?"</div> <bR> <div>     The Porygon was silent for a moment, then chirped out an answer, "Yes.  I do advise rest.  It would be inadvisable for you to be tired during our match against Zeth Raltier tomorrow morning."</div> <bR> <div>     Richard nodded in amusement, "Yeah, you're right.  We'll get back on this tomorrow." Turning off his laptop, the trainer started getting ready for bed.  "We're close...  I'm certain we'll solve this soon!"</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div>     Richard had already been up for an hour when the phone rang.  Half expecting it to be one of the scheduling changes that had been plaguing them all week he quickly grabbed it and answered, "Hello, Richard Callegh here."</div> <bR> <div>     It turned out that it wasn't anyone from the league at all.  "Richard?  This is Nurse Joy.  I've made a discovery!"</div> <bR> <div>     Richard listened in excitement as Joy told him what she had found.  "Thanks, Nurse!  You may have just helped me figure this all out!"  He tossed the phone down, and rushed to his laptop, turning it on to add in the new data.  Then, realizing he'd left the phone off the hook, he rushed over to hang it up.</div> <bR> <div>     Instead of grabbing the phone again, he ended up whacking his hand on a solid surface that hadn't been there a moment before.  He jerked his hand back with a yelp, staring in confusion at the door that had inexplicably appeared in front of him.</div> <bR> <div>     Or rather, he had appeared in front of it.  He recognized it a second later as the door to his room from the hotel hallway.  "But how did I end up out here?" he muttered to himself, trying to turn the knob.  It didn't work.  Without a card to get in, he was stuck outside.  He reached for a pokéball, only to remember that all his pokémon were on the other side of the door.</div> <bR> <div>     He still wasn't sure what had happened.  One moment he was inside his room, the next he was just outside the door.  "Am I going crazy or..."  He stopped talking as he heard a loud smashing sound from inside his room.  "Hey!" he shouted, pounding on his door.  It was that troublemaker again!  It had to be!  "Hey, let me in there!"</div> <bR> <div>     But whoever was in there wasn't paying him any attention.  Richard smacked the door again, then turned and ran down the hall.  He paused in front of another door and knocked on it.  "Janice!  Janice, I need your help!"</div> <bR> <div>     After an uncomfortably long time, the door creaked open halfway and Janice peered out at him, looking like she had just crawled out of bed.  "What?  Richard?  What do you want?"</div> <bR> <div>     Richard would normally have apologized for waking her up, but he was currently too upset.  "Get your Alakazam, quick!  Someone locked me out of my room, and they're messing around in there!  If we hurry, maybe we can catch him!"</div> <bR> <div>     Janice seemed to perk up a bit at that, "The guy that poisoned my pokémon?  Hold on, I'll be right back!" She hurried back into her room, coming back a moment later with her pokéballs.  The two of them rushed down the hallway, halting in front of Richard's door.  Janice selected a pokéball and threw it to the ground.  "Alakazam, I choose you!  Teleport us into that room!"</div> <bR> <div>     A split second later, the three of them were standing inside Richard's room, but they were already too late.  "No!" Richard exclaimed, running over to the smashed remains of his laptop.  From all appearances, it was unsalvageable.  He picked up a piece of plastic that had cracked away from the casing and then tossed it down in disgust.  "If that jerk thinks this is going to stop me, he's got another thing coming.  Porygon's got that whole thing backed up and --" Richard froze in mid-sentence, a look of horror coming over his face.  "No..."</div> <bR> <div>     He spun around, looking at an empty table.  "No, it can't be..."  He knew it was useless, but he ran to check his backpack anyway.  "He stole my pokémon!" Richard finally shouted, throwing the pack to the floor.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div>     Zeth was at the stadium, waiting impatiently in the trainer's lounge for Richard to show up.  Looking up at the clock again, he grumbled out loud. "Our match is supposed to start any minute now.  Where is he?"</div> <bR> <div>     Kevin had been watching the matches on the lounge's screens, but when Zeth spoke up he turned away.  "Hmm?  You mean Rich?  I'm sure he'll be here.  It's not like he's scared of facing you or anything."</div> <bR> <div>     "I know, but it's not like him to be late.  He's usually --" Zeth grinned as the lounge door opened and Richard came through.  "Hey!  About time you got here!  I was starting to get worried that you were going to be another no-show!"</div> <bR> <div>     "Well don't stop worrying, because I am," Richard growled.  Zeth realized that his friend was definitely upset about something, and before he could ask why, Richard was already telling him.  "I'm out of the games.  My pokémon were all stolen!  That scum teleported me out of my room and took them.  And he trashed my laptop as well!"</div> <bR> <div>     Zeth's jaw dropped, "That's awful!  You don't have a backup team or something, do you?  Maybe I can have our match moved back to later today..."</div> <bR> <div>     "Don't bother," his friend growled.  "I've already forfeited the match.  Even if I did have a backup team, which I don't, I wouldn't want to waste my time with a battle while that thief is running loose with my pokémon!  I gotta find some way to get them back!"</div> <bR> <div>     "Well, uh..." Zeth found himself nearly lost for words.  "Do you have any idea who the guy is, now?"</div> <bR> <div>     "No!" Richard snapped, then amended, "Well, yes, sort of.  I had four people left on my list last night.  If he stole my pokémon and trashed my computer to stop me from finding out who he was, then the odds are that I was on the right track and he's one of those four people."</div> <bR> <div>     He fell silent, looking deep in thought.  Then a smile came to his face.  "You know what?  I just thought of something!  Maybe if I call up the trainer profiles on one of the stadium computers, I can figure out who it is, even without my laptop and Porygon 2!  Nurse Joy called me this morning and told me what kind of bird those feathers in Alyssa's room were from, but I never got a chance to add that information into the mix.  Maybe it'll be enough!"</div> <bR> <div>     Feeling a surge of hope, Richard dashed to the nearest computer and started looking up the first of the four trainers that had been on his list.  Zeth and Kevin followed him over and stared over his shoulder.  "If there's any way we can help..." Zeth said.</div> <bR> <div>     "Hold on a second..." Richard murmured, searching for the profile he was looking for.</div> <bR> <div>     Zeth leaned closer, then backed up as his vidphone rang.  "Excuse me," he said, taking it from his pocket.  "I'll just be a second."</div> <bR> <div>     Richard didn't say anything, continuing to wade through a muddle of useless information, trying to find what he wanted.  His Porygon would have already been finished, but he almost never accessed the profiles by himself, so he was in unfamiliar territory.</div> <bR> <div>     "That was Destiny," Zeth said, putting the phone back in his pocket.  "She says I gotta get to the pokémon center as soon as I can.  I told her there wasn't going to be a match, but if you need me to stay here and help you..."</div> <bR> <div>     "Go on, get out of here," Richard told him.  "I'll give you a call when we find something."</div> <bR> <div>     Zeth nodded, "Thanks.  See you later, then.  And good luck!"</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div>     After Zeth left, Richard continued to search through the files, still not finding what he was looking for.  "Where is it?" he finally muttered.</div> <bR> <div>     "What exactly are you looking for?" Kevin asked him, watching him browse through page after page of stats and victory/loss records.</div> <bR> <div>     "I'm looking for a list of all the pokémon that each trainer owns," Richard pressed a button, and the screen listed the current team of the first trainer.  "It's only giving me the ones they have right now, though."</div> <bR> <div>     "Ah, I see your problem.  You're in the trainer profiles.  You need to go to the pokémon information database.  Here, I'll show you."</div> <bR> <div>     With Kevin's help, Richard found himself exactly where he needed to be.  "Hey, thanks," he said, quickly looking up each of the four trainer's pokémon.  A quick scan of each trainer's list of pokémon quickly shortened Richard's list of suspects down to one.  One that, over the past few days, Richard had kept expecting to disappear every time he found new information.</div> <bR> <div>     "Oh, my..."</div> <bR> <div>     Kevin shook his head.  "I'd have never expected that."</div> <bR> <div>     Richard shook his head in shock.  "But it matches...  A Jolteon and Growlithe, like the ones that attacked those trainers...  He has a Cloyster that can teleport, and his Ivysaur knows Poisonpowder.  And he's the only one of the four with a Fearow." Richard felt horrible.  It seemed impossible, but it fit perfectly.  He just couldn't believe he'd been fooled like that.  "Zeth Raltier, how could you?"</div> <bR> <div> <B>To be continued...</B></div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>