(Part 2)
~*~*~*~*
“And then Tana started acting all irrational and locked herself in her room!” Brock said, frustrated.
“Didn’t you tell her that we were only transported by the ball into the lab?” Ash asked.
“I did, but I guess they were spooked out more by the Premium Ball than they originally let on. It wasn’t so much that the ball could walk, it was the fact that it transported you guys away right in front of them that did it,” Brock said, “Or perhaps it’s because Jamie was so indifferent that Tana had to go and reason with her about it.”
Ash, May, Max and Brock stretched their legs as they relaxed in the guest room in Latrommi’s lab. It was a long time since they were here, but they all felt pretty comfortable, just as much as they were back in the hotel room. Latrommi was sipping a cup of coffee nearby, he was listening to the conversation while leaning against a wall.
“I don’t blame them, really,” May said, “A Pokeball that can teleport people IS pretty freaky. I think I’d be totally freaked out by that if the ball didn’t already scare me half to death last night.”
“Yeah, that’s something you’d only expect in science fiction, I can’t believe it was real,” Ash said, slouching on the couch.
Latrommi walked next to Ash and took another sip of his coffee.
“So you can comprehend a ray gun that turns people into infants, yet a walking Pokeball that can teleport people is too hard to swallow?” Latrommi asked.
“Heh, good point,” Ash grinned.
“Pikachu, chu pika,” Pikachu nodded, relaxing between Ash and May.
“One thing I still don’t get, Professor, if you don’t mind me asking, is why did the Premium Ball transport us into Tana and Jamie’s room in the first place?” May asked.
The Professor nearly choked on his coffee after hearing the question, he started to turn a deep shade of red.
“Well…uh…you see…” Latrommi stammered.
“The Professor was spying on us the whole time on the beach, May, the button in the center of the Premium Ball was really a camera, he could watch everything we do and record it all,” Ash said, “He must have watched some of our interactions with Tana and Jamie, so he knew we were friends with them. He also said that Team Rocket was in control of the ball at that point, so they probably sent us there because it transported the envelope to the same place a day before.”
May was confused, “Yeah, but…why did Team Rocket transport the money there? What was the point?”
“To get it out of our hands, maybe?” Brock pondered.
“Ahem, if you must know,” Latrommi said, “I…uh…suggested that if they needed a good place to store the money away from you kids, that Tana and Jamie’s room would be ideal, considering you children would never suspect that they would take the money. It was the least likely place to start searching.”
“Why’d you help them?” Max asked.
“I told you, son! They were tickling my feet and I had no choice! I had to tell them a decent hiding place to store the money, or else they would have gone on for another couple of hours!” Latrommi yelled.
“Yeah, too bad that only screwed up my relationship with Tana and Jamie,” Brock sighed, “I hope Tana calls me tomorrow, but I don’t know now after the way Jamie wanted to keep the money for herself rather than returning it to us. I’m starting to think that having two girls is really overrated. One girl to love and devote your life to is plenty. Just making someone happy and settling down with them, that’s all I really want. That’s what couples should strive to be, to make each other happy.”
Ash and May glanced at one another, blushed quietly, and listened to Brock. Pikachu chuckled until Ash and May quickly put their hands over its mouth in unison.
“Hmmmm,” Max pondered, “You say you were watching from the Premium Ball back on your computers here, Professor, was the Premium Ball watching what happened when we were transported to Tana and Jamie’s bedroom?”
The Professor chortled nervously again, he was acting pretty awkward about the question. Nevertheless, he tried to put his thoughts into words in the most non-provocative manner possible.
“I…was tied to a chair that entire time, and I was placed to sit in front of the computer monitors to watch what was happening. The Premium Ball hung from the ceiling, giving me a full view of what was going on in the room. Team Rocket was busy snoozing in my quarters, those low lives, but I…got an eyeful of what Tana and Jamie did together that night…” Latrommi said.
“That was when they found the money under their bed sheets…they were in their lingerie,” May said, blushing.
Max began to drool, “Yeah, I still have the image in my mind too.”
“Max, quiet!” May said, agitated.
“They…had a real celebration once they found $300 in their bedroom. The two girls really went wild that night,” Latrommi said. He turned to Brock, and put his hand on his shoulder. Brock looked up at him, as Latrommi snickered. “I envy you, Brock, those girls sure can bring down the house when they get excited. I got an eyeful of it all, it was the best free show of girl on girl action I had ever seen.”
“PLEASE, PROFESSOR!” Brock shouted, distressed, “We have children sitting right here!”
Ash, May and Max looked at them with puzzled expressions.
“Oh, quite,” Latrommi smiled, moving away from Brock, “Good action though, I even have it recorded.”
“Erm, could you give me a copy of the tape if its not too much trouble?” Brock asked, drooling uncontrollably.
“Sure thing,” the Professor winked.
I wonder if they do it differently with each other while I’m not around. Brock thought, dirty images beginning to surface in his mind.
“You know, I’m starting to think we need a vacation to get away from this vacation,” May said.
“Heh, you feel it too? I know you love to travel, May, and we have spent the last two weeks here on this mainland. If you want, we can actually pack our belongings from our hotel room tomorrow and start traveling again,” Ash said.
“That would be swell, what do you think, Max?” May asked.
“Sure, why not? I’ve had as much of this beach as I can take, and you know how much I hate salt water,” Max laughed.
“HOLD THE PHONE!” Latrommi stomped his feet angrily, “Do you kids deliberately pretend to have short term memory loss or something? You’re supposed to pay me back for my debt, something you kids STILL haven’t done, even after two weeks! You’re not traveling anywhere until you either pay back every last penny or work for me for a week in harsh child labor!”
Ash, May and Max slouched in their seats with naïve expressions. They all really did forget. Pikachu sighed.
“Hm, we lost the race so we can’t give you the prize money as you know,” Brock pondered, “And the only money we have is the gift that Ash gave to Max, the $300 that they retrieved from Team Rocket. Since that’s a no go as well, I guess we’ll just have to work for you for a week?”
“If that’s the case, so be it,” the Professor grunted.
“He never gives us a break, does he?” Ash laughed.
“Eh, we only have to work for him for one week, how bad can it be? After that we can pack are bags and start heading off again!” May said.
“And in that weeks time, I gotta sort out things with Jamie and Tana,” Brock said.
“Don’t get too excited,” Latrommi grunted, “I’m going to work you to the death for all this lost time. If you thought working for me before was hard, you haven’t seen nothing yet.”
The group spent some more time discussing their plans for the next week, until they came to the conclusion that they had no other choice but to finally work off their debt for the Professor. Even though he tried not to show it, Latrommi really did grow fond of the kids since their time together, and found himself conflicted over how hard he’d make them work the following week.
Ash and May went over to the sink to take her bandana off of his arm. Her bandana had bloodstains on it, but it was nothing that wouldn’t come off in a wash. Ash would need to put a few bandages around his arm for the next few days, until the cuts closed up. At the very least, the two made fun of the situation by commenting how they were always getting so beat up during the time they spent on the mainland.
After Brock and Max left the room, Latrommi remained with Ash, Pikachu and May to deliver one closing comment.
“Ahem, I’m sure you two will take good care of one another from now on,” Latrommi said, “You’re lucky to have each other.”
“Uh, thanks!” May said, nodding, “You know, you’re a sweetheart deep down, Professor!”
Latrommi walked toward the door and stood in the doorframe, while turning toward them one more time.
“Yep, you’re a lucky guy, Ash, girls like this don’t come around too often. And from what I’ve seen through the camera of the Premium Ball while she was changing, she has quite the body as well, you’ll enjoy that when you’re older,” Latrommi said, winking as he exited the room.
May was shocked, and started to stutter. “Don’t tell me…he…he…was watching while I was changing into my swimsuit too? You mean he was gawking behind the computer screen all that time as I stood in the room naked?!” she screamed emotionally.
Ash started to whistle casually, and walked with Pikachu out of the room.
“I take it back, the Professor isn’t a sweetheart, he’s a creep! What kind of 100+ something year old man spies on a girl while she’s changing into a swimsuit!?” May asked emotionally.
She shook her head in embarrassment and plopped herself down in her bed. Professor Latrommi was always full of surprises.
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This chapter wrapped up a lot of loose ends from the previous couple of chapters as you can see. The next chapter is going to move fast, as the group will be traveling again.
Minor spoilers below...
The destination is Petalburg City! May and Max will spend some quality time with their parents again. Of course, we'll see if Caroline is able to detect what's going on between Ash and her daughter...especially if Ash sleeps in May's bedroom.
