chapt 36
Jason Creight awoke on his Fearow's back. The sun shone bright in his eyes, making him squint into it.
He pushed himself up and yawned. *That was a good nap.* He checked his PokeGear, which said it was now 5:00 in the evening. Fearow had been flying for a few hours now, and it was making good time; they were passing one island after another in the chain of the Orange Islands, making their way toward the absurdly named Kumquat Island.
*The fourth and final gym leader. I can't wait.*
He sighed, and his thoughts drifted, once again, to the encrypted information on the computer disks he'd been given.
*Might as well not waste time.* He pulled out the second and third disks he'd received. He hadn't uploaded their contents onto his Pokedex yet. He had done so only with the first.
He inserted the second disk into the Pokedex and opened its contents. Like the first's contents, this one had sections of the characters of code. When all of them were merged, then he would have a code that only one person had the cipher to.
After the second disk's encrypted data was uploaded, the two files, carrying the same name, automatically merged together. Jason found this a nice touch. Now he had half of each character of code staring him in the face, rather than a fourth of it.
*Add another fourth...* He inserted the third disk and uploaded it, as well. The files merged again, and now he was looking at a jumble of characters that seemed to have no meaning at all.
*Of course,* he thought, *that was the point.*
He sighed again and flopped back across Fearow. Fearow did not protest this; it stayed focused on the task at hand.
*Soon enough, we'll get there. And we'll get Kelly back.*
Jason scoffed and shook his head. *Unbelievable. Kelly is probably the only person I've ever known to love me... and show it not only through words, but through action. Sacrificing convenience for compromise... I know in my heart, she really does love me.*
*And in the meantime, what of myself? Do I love her back? I also sacrficice convenience for compromise when it comes to Kelly... look at what I'm doing now. There's nothing I enjoy more than her company. She lifts my spirits when I'm down, and helps me through problems... I think...*
*I think I do love her.*
Jason shook his head again. *But I can't keep obsessing over it. I'm here to save her. No matter the cost.*
***
The jewel of Espeon's forehead was the only light on the entire floor, it seemed, besides the overhead light of the elevator.
Amanda pulled out Magneton's capture ball and released the electric Pokemon, which promptly floated to Jolteon's side. The two of them began to glow blue, casting a pale light on their immediate surroundings.
The walls were made of brick, and pipes snaked around everywhere. Some of them dripped, making for a somewhat damp tile floor, as well as a moldy smell. The place only seemed to have one wall at first; the walls to the left and right, as well as the far one, were out of sight, even by the light of the blue glow emitted by the electric Pokemon. It was supported by several steel pillars.
"Phew," said Amanda, waving her hand in front of her face. "You'd think with the resources Giovanni has..."
"I know, I know, I don't like it either," said Adam, drawing his shirt up over his nose. "But on the other hand, we're this much closer to finding Oak."
"What makes you so sure he's down here?"
"Jason said he was in the basement. This is as far down as the elevator will go... this is most likely the basement, then. Besides, the B1 button was a pretty good indication to me."
Amanda shrugged. "For all you know, they've got even deeper levels."
"And why would they not mark those levels on that elevator?"
"There might be another hidden elevator around here. I'd bet Giovanni has stuff around here that he doesn't want his grunts to know about."
"You watched too many sci-fi movies on that ship," Adam muttered. "But if you want, I guess we'll look for another elevator."
Amanda nodded in satisfaction.
*If this is what we're going to be like *before* we're married...* Adam scoffed to himself as they moved through the cavernous basement, Jolteon and Magneton guiding the way.
In a few moments, they found the far wall. There was one door, and it had a key card lock.
Adam looked at Amanda. "You want to do it, or shall I?"
"You got the alarms. My turn." Amanda turned to Magneton. "Magneton, disable that lock and get us inside."
"Magneton." It floated forward and zapped the lock with a small Thunderbolt. An acrid odor drifted from the key card slot, adding to the stench that already lingered in the expansive area.
The door inched open.
"Let's go," said Adam, pushing the door open and moving through.
What they found beyond the door surprised them.
Beyond the door was a long hallway, and it was sparkling clean. The floor, instead of several tiles, seemed to be one long slab of plexiglass atop active fluorescent light arrays. The walls seemed to be made of mirrors, and the ceiling was another surface of plexiglass with fluorescent lights behind it.
Adam and Amanda cautiously moved forward, as did their Pokemon.
***
Kumquat Island was steadily growing in size on the horizon, a fact that Jason was gratified to see. Fearow was making excellent time, moving even faster than Charizard had at the peak of its ability. Of course, it made sense when one stopped to consider that lizards were not normally known for flying... even Charizard had to bow to the true Flying types.
Jason was trying to read Adam's book to pass the time, and he found that Adam had met with some very interesting people along his travels:
"As I was passing through Lavender Town, I met up with a girl named Melissa Zander, who was missing her right hand and forearm due to cancer that had originated in her hand and had begun to spread up her arm. She had a prosthetic, and always wore long-sleeved shirts because of her fear of being ridiculed. She always threw her capture balls, wrote, and operated equipment with just her left hand, and usually kept her right 'hand' in her pocket. She was afraid that answering my questions would lead me to ridicule her, as she feared, but I revealed my disability and informed her she had nothing to be afraid of. When I asked her what her inspiration for being a trainer was, she told me that her inspiration, despite her missing limb, was meeting a trainer by the name of Sam Curtis. When I asked her to clarify this, she suggested I go meet her myself.
"I met the fourteen-year-old Sam while in Saffron City, and I found him to be an extraordinary person. I firmly believe anyone would. Because of a genetic mutation, he was born without eyes, thus he has never seen the world and never will. However, not only was he born with blindness, he was also born with psychic potential that manifested itself in a unique way. His ability allows him to 'see,' almost as someone with operating eyes could... however, his psychic sight allows him to experience much more than the range of 'normal' sight. His psychic sight allows him a full 360 degree perspective, and he uses all of it to his advantage... he literally does not miss a thing. He is only able to detect 'shades of gray', as his doctors refer to it... he can detect light and dark, and every intensity in between.
"I asked Sam what his motivation had been to become a Pokemon trainer, in spite of his blindness. He told me his inspiration had been two people: Gym Leader Sabrina of Saffron City, one of the most powerful psychics in Kanto, and Jason Creight, the very first disabled Pokemon trainer to compete in the Indigo League championships. He also informed me that he doesn't mind his visual blindness, since with his power, he can see more than most trainers can."
*And the revolution continues,* Jason thought, grinning.
He looked out over the horizon. Kumquat Island was only a few minutes away now, at the most. He glanced back down at his book.
"One has to admire the tenacity of such people. From crutches to canes to wheelchairs, they all choose to be Pokemon trainers because they're following their own dreams. They don't care so much about the expectations of their peers; they do what they do because they want to. It's not because they're trying to make a statement, or trying to start a revolution in the ranks of Pokemon trainers worldwide... there's no ulterior motive for these people. They aren't looking to take over the world... they're just looking to do what they want.
"We, as disabled trainers, have not exactly found it to be an easy road to follow. We are patronized, insulted, and looked over because we have physical limits that immediately render us 'incapable.' Consider this: if it came to choosing someone to help you in training your Pokemon, which would you choose? Would you choose the completely mobile, utterly stupid person who couldn't count to ten unless he was barefoot? Or would you choose the one sitting in the wheelchair, completely competent and sure of himself, knowledgeable and friendly, willing to help you out?
"Unless you are a complete bigot, you would choose the latter. You would choose him because he knows the things you need to know. He can teach you the things you need to be taught. Just because he sits in a wheelchair doesn't mean his training isn't as effective as anyone else's. In the cases of such wheelchair-bound trainers as Jason Creight and Christie Merrimack, it would be an extremely stupid mistake to judge them by their disabled status."
Fearow squawked, a signal that it was about to descend upon Kumquat Island. Jason put the book away and held tight as they came in for a landing.
They touched down lightly on a dock on the outskirts of the city. Jason took his wheelchair off Fearow, then followed suit and climbed into the chair. "You deserve a rest, Fearow. Return."
Jason's wheels bumped across the dock's planks as he made his way toward the city.
*Time to find the next gym leader.*
*And with her, the last piece of the code.*
Jason scoffed to himself, recalling the strange competition methods Danny and Sissy had used to battle him with. Then there had been Rudy, a traditionalist in battle... now there was Luana, who had an interesting amalgam of traditional battle and "new age" battle.
And he knew precisely what Pokemon he wanted to use for his effort.
He already had them on his belt.
He entered the city limits. There was quite a bit of foot traffic today, and Jason, despite the wheelchair, seemed to fit right in; people paid little attention to him as they bustled around, completing their mediocre tasks.
He came upon a curbside kiosk belonging to a hot dog vendor. "Excuse me."
The vendor grinned down at Jason. "Hey, there. What can I do you for?"
"Well, I'll admit to being a little hungry. I'll take one hot dog with ketchup."
"Sure. Just a moment." The vendor moved quickly, producing Jason's hot dog in a matter of about five seconds. "Ten credits."
Jason paid him. As he handed over the credits, he asked, "Do you know where the Pokemon gym here is? I used to know, but I'm a bit turned around."
"Sure. Just take this street on up three blocks, then turn right and it'll be about a block ahead. It looks like a regular hotel, but one of its upper floors is completely sealed; no windows. You'll catch it."
"Thanks." Jason moved to an out-of-the-way spot on the sidewalk and consumed his hot dog. Moments later, he was on his way to the gym. He soon found what he was looking for. The vendor had been right... there was a twenty foot space between the third floor's windows and the next ones up... whatever floor they were on.
"You're still being watched."
Jason was startled by the voice; his head jerked up. Travis Johnson stood to his left, wearing his closed trenchcoat and now, a wide-brim tan hat to match.
Jason snorted. "What's with the getup?"
"Just keeping a low profile."
"You're not gonna manage it here. It's eighty-five degrees outside. People're gonna be staring at you left and right."
"I've avoided being seen by you, haven't I?"
"Yes, and I wish it'd stayed that way. I'm busy. Go bug someone else."
"Got no one else to bug. I'm being paid to watch you."
Jason sighed. "How'm I doing?"
"You're doing well. You've exceeded Daniel's expectations already. I think you did it when you challenged and defeated two gym trainers in one day."
"It's still the same day. Get ready to make it three."
"You've got five days left."
"It's plenty of time." Jason continued forward; Travis walked alongside.
"Sure it is. It's just that Daniel wasn't expecting you to do this so quickly. Personally, I'll bet you're tired."
"Very much so. But I'm not gonna let itchy eyes stop me from doing what I have to do. These gym leaders are weaker than I expected."
"You fought and defeated the Elite Four and Lance. Of course they're going to look weak in comparison."
"Then why did Daniel want me to fight them?"
"Because he didn't know that your Pokemon were this powerful. He was expecting you to foul up and do every match twice."
"He doesn't know I'm a Pokemon master?"
"He doesn't even know you battled the Johto and Atlantis Leagues. Much less the Elite Four and Lance."
Jason glared at Johnson. "And how would you know about such things?"
"I have my sources. They're reliable."
"In that case, not that I want you to, but why haven't you said anything to him about it?"
Johnson shrugged. "I'm enjoying the challenge of keeping up with you. I'm also enjoying being a spectator to all this. It's not every day you get to see such a blood feud."
"I would have preferred the feud never happened in the first place. Then I wouldn't be on this insane tour."
"But it was Daniel who forced your hand with that Devastator TM nine years ago, wasn't it?"
Jason stopped in his tracks. "What're you talking about?"
"Stop trying to make me think otherwise. I know what happened that made you leave your family... what destroyed their marina... and, most importantly, I know about Devastator."
"That better be all you know."
"I know enough."
Jason glanced back at Johnson, his eyes filled with cold fury.
Johnson wasn't fazed by the look. "You don't have to worry, Jason. Your secret is safe with me. I've held your status as a Pokemon master a secret from your brother, haven't I?"
Jason didn't break the stare.
Johnson sighed. "I'm not going to blackmail you, Jason. That's not my purpose here. I'm only going to antagonize you at intervals... when you get to your brother, I'll already be out of the picture."
"You've got that right."
Johnson recognized the threat... and grinned. "I look forward to that moment, whenever it is."
"You'll be eating those words when it comes."
"I'm sure. But meantime, you've got a badge and a disk to earn."
Jason turned back to the sidewalk and kept moving, deciding that talking to Johnson was a waste of time.
*I've got a job to do.*
***
The hallway seemed to stretch into infinity. Adam, Amanda, and their Pokemon were moving more quickly through it now, satisfied that there was no threat nearby. All they had to worry about were the Rockets that had been behind them on the upper floor, and the Pokemon were covering their backs in that respect.
Adam began growing impatient. "Espeon, can you detect anyone down here?"
Espeon had been trotting along next to Jolteon and Magneton. It now stopped and sat still for a few moments, its large eyes sliding shut as it searched for minds in close proximity. The jewel in its head glowed bright as it concentrated.
It yelped. It had found someone. It began to trot once again, taking the lead and moving at a faster pace down the hall.
Adam and Amanda, curious, ran to keep up with Espeon.
The corridor turned to the left. Espeon did likewise, and Adam and Amanda realized what had made the hall seem to stretch on for so long... it was the mirrored plating for walls. The plating had made the corridor look twice as long.
They followed Espeon, leaving the electric Pokemon to take up the rear.
As soon as they turned the corner, they stopped dead in their tracks. Amanda gasped, and Adam just stared.
It was, quite simply, a scientist's dream come true. There were three rows of computers, each row extending about ten meters, in one section; in another section, there was sensitive biochemistry equipment; and in yet another section, there were gigantic cylindrical tanks full of some sort of greenish solution. None of the tanks were occupied, though they looked as if they certainly could be; and in a fourth area, there was a massive refrigeration unit. Adam and Amanda could only guess what it contained... but something told them now was not the time to find out.
Dominating the area was a large LCD screen, hanging about three meters high on the far wall. The screen was huge, two meters by four meters, and it was securely anchored to the wall as to avoid damage.
*Only Giovanni would own a screen that big,* Adam thought. *What an egotist... he wants to intimidate everyone with his image.*
There was one person in the entire place. He was sitting at one of the computer terminals, facing away from the group that had just entered, typing in what appeared to be complex formulae. He wore black clothing and had rumpled gray hair.
Adam recognized him, even from the back. He crept forward, hoping that no one would come popping out to meet him.
He carefully laid his hand on the man's shoulder. "Professor?"
The chair whirled around, and Adam jumped back, startled.
It was indeed Professor Oak. He was now dressed in a Rocket uniform, sans the beret and black mask. His lined face wore no expression, and he stared straight ahead, as if they weren't present.
Or as if their presence didn't matter.
After a moment, he turned right back around and began working on the computer again.
Adam stepped forward and put his hand on Oak's shoulder again, this time more firmly. "Professor Oak..."
Without turning around, Oak reacted; an age-worn hand reached up to Adam's wrist and wrapped around it in an impossibly strong grip. Adam's wrist popped loudly; he cried out and wrenched himself away from the professor's grasp.
"Professor, what're you doing?!" Adam demanded, cradling his wrist. No bones had been broken; somehting had simply popped back into place. It had caused more surprise than pain... although the professor's grip had been extremely strong.
Oak turned around again.
Adam's eyes went wide, and Amanda shrieked.
Oak's eyes were glowing yellow.
***
Jason entered through the automatic sliding doors and took a look around. The place looked for all the world like a hotel.
He approached the front desk. The receptionist looked up with a bored expression. "Yes?"
"Sorry, I'm a bit lost," he said. "I've been given to understand that a Pokemon gym is here?"
"Yes, upstairs. But it won't do you much good without the gym leader."
"Is she in?"
"No, but I can contact her. One moment please." The receptionist picked up the phone and tapped out a number, presumably one belonging to the gym leader. She looked up at Jason and held up her index finger for emphasis.
Jason nodded and backed his wheelchair to the side. He hoped Luana was there; otherwise, he'd have to lose another day. He heard the receptionist speaking, nothing distinctive; but if she was talking, that meant there was someone on the other end.
*And it better not be Luana's agent.*
The receptionist hung up and crooked a finger at Jason, indicating that he should approach the desk again. He did so.
"She's not here right now, but she should be here later. Are you a Pokemon trainer?"
"Yes."
She eyes his wheelchair and looked at him skeptically, but didn't say anything. "She'll be in a little later," she repeated. "She may or may not choose to battle. Would you like a room?"
"I don't plan to stay for long."
"If she chooses not to battle tonight..."
"Then I'll check into a room at that time," Jason responded. "But not now."
"Now... later.. not much difference between the two."
Jason turned his wheelchair around upon hearing the new voice. He found himself facing a rotund, brown-haired woman wearing a black blouse and purple skirt, and carrying a red purse.
The woman smiled kindly at Jason. "It all depends on the amount of time that separates them. One moment, it's now... in the next moment or so is later."
She looked over at the receptionist. "Penny, you shouldn't be so patronizing. Especially to this gentleman... don't you know who this is?"
"No, and I imagine you're going to tell me even if I did," Penny muttered.
The woman frowned. "This is none other than the Pokemon master Jason Creight. You ought to make a point of being a little more courteous to such people."
She turned back to Jason and her smile returned. "Welcome to Kumquat Hotel. My name is Luana."
Jason nodded respectfully. "Pleased to make your acquaintance. But I'm afraid my stay must be brief."
"Looking to rush through the league, are you?"
"You could say that. What I'm really looking for, though, is a disk."
Luana's expression changed. "A disk? As in computer disk?"
"Yes. Were you given one recently?"
"I was..."
"That disk contains information I want. The person who delivered it to you is being rather perverse in his delivery. It's his way of taunting me... I have to battle you for rights to that disk."
Luana's eyebrows arched. "Well. What an unusual arrangement. You have some strange friends. Dare I ask what's on the disk?"
"Just information. It's for a surprise. I'll get the surprise if I can make it through the Orange League."
"And how have you done so far?"
"You're the last gym leader."
"And why the rush?"
"Surprise is only good for another five days."
"Well, then. I suppose you want to battle me ASAP, right?"
"That was the idea."
Luana smiled. "By all means. Let's go to my gym. I've got time for another battle or two." She moved past Jason and gestured him toward the nearest elevator. She glanced at her eeceptionist for one more moment, then looked back at Jason. "You'll have to forgive her. She has a bit of an attitude problem."
"No big deal," said Jason. "I'm used to it."
"Which is an even bigger shame."
"I know. But I deal with it."
"Good for you."
The elevator rose to the fourth floor, and the doors hissed open. Jason's wheels bounced across the threshold.
"Sorry for the short notice," said Jason.
"Nothing to worry about. I wouldn't have through those doors if I hadn't been willing to battle. I was feeling bored anyway."
They passed through a short hallway that seemed to have no doors, save the large ones at the other end. Those creaked open upon their approach.
Jason found himself greeted by a gym two stories tall, strobe arrays illuminating it from every corner.
He mentally shrugged. *Basically a lot like other gyms I've seen. Not much different.*
"I'm a bit... different when it comes to battling," said Luana, moving to the other side of the expansive gym. "And so are my rules. In gym battles here, challengers and I must use two Pokemon simultaneously. This has made it profoundly difficult for many trainers, as some trainers' Pokemon don't want to cooperate with each other... but cooperation is required. If either one of your Pokemon, or either of mine, faints, then the match goes to the one with two still standing. Are you ready?"
"Ready as I'll ever be," Jason responded, removing two capture balls from his belt. He enlarged them, holding one in each hand.
"Then let's go." She pulled two Poke balls out of her purse, enlarged them, and tossed them. "Alakazam! Marowak!"
Her unlikely team of Pokemon entered the arena, ready for action.
Jason grinned. *I had the advantage before I even knew she was going to use those!* He tossed both capture balls upward. "Gyarados! Dragonair!"
The two snake-like Pokemon exited their balls, Dragonair with more drama than Gyarados with its flashy sparkling as the ball opened... but Gyarados made up for the flashiness through experience.
Luana's brow shot upward. "A red Dragonair? I'm impressed." Her brow lowered again and she put on an expression of determination. "But don't think I'll go easy on you. Marowak, Bonemerang on Dragonair!"
"Dragonair, Extremespeed on Marowak! Gyarados, Hydro Pump Marowak!"
The air around Dragonair whistled as it catapulted itself forward, slamming into Marowak and knocking it over. In the process, the Bonemerang missed its intended target.
Water dripped from Gyarados's mouth as it prepared to attack, unwilling to do so until Dragonair was out of the way.
"Alakazam, Psychic on Gyarados!"
As water boiled from Gyarados's mouth, Alakazam used its power to reroute the stream... directly back at Gyarados. Gyarados took the attack in its fullness, yet seemed to gain strength from the hit.
The Bonemerang returned to Marowak's hand.
"Marowak, Bone Club on Dragonair!"
"Gyarados, take the Bone Club hit, then Crunch Marowak!"
Gyarados and Dragonair slithered through the air and deftly exchanged places as Marowak's Bone Club attack struck. Gyarados barely felt the hit, thanks to its resistance to Ground type Pokemon and attacks. It writhed forward and caught Marowak between its massive jaws, clamping down hard.
"Alakazam, Psybeam on Gyarados!"
"Dragonair, intercept the hit, then Dragonbreath on Alakazam!"
Alakazam crossed its spoons together and hummed. The spoons began to glow with multicolored enegry, and the energy lanced forward...
Dragonair caught the attack at the very last instant, snaking between Alakazam and Gyarados. With its resistance to Psychic type attacks, the damage was significantly less than it would have been on Gyarados.
A stream of blue fire sprayed from Dragonair's mouth, the fire contrasting with its sparkling red body. The fire lashed across Alakazam, forcing it backward with the attack's power.
"Alakazam, Psychic on Gyarados! Marowak, Hyper Beam on Gyarados!"
*Hel-lo,* Jason thought. *Teaming up on one of them, are we? Can't have that.*
And he decided to play his trump card.
He'd actually been looking forward to this moment, though five months ago, he never would have believed it could happen. It had been an attack idea he'd played around with for a while... now was his chance to use it.
"Gyarados and Dragonair, Double Hyper Beam on Marowak!"
As the guinea pigs for Jason's attack, Gyarados and Dragonair had learned the best, most efficient way to execute their attack, and they performed it now. They snaked around and around in midair, shooting around in intricate patterns, moving in opposite directions but in the same formation...
Their final formation was an infinity loop, perfectly executed.
The mesmerizing dance was meant for the two Pokemon to gather their energy to the max, warm themselves up as they made themselves as difficult a target as possible. They drew energy from each other, making their individual Hyper Beam attacks increase in power, thereby doubling an increased attack power.
Even Marowak, Alakazam, and Luana were hypnotized by the actions of their foes.
The ends of Gyarados's and Dragonair's tails curled together, and Dragonair's head stuck out to the right while Gyarados's head jutted to the left.
The ends of their tails glowed with the excess power they had gained.
A point of blinding light appeared at Dragonair's forehead. Another one appeared in the back of Gyarados's throat, visible through its perpetually open mouth.
And two red-orange beams blasted from the intertwined dragon Pokemon.
They slammed simultaneously into Marowak, consuming it in their awesome power. Wave after wave of pure energy washed over the helpless Pokemon.
When the attack finally ended, Marowak was down for the count, its body smoking from the assault.
Gyarados and Dragonair broke apart and floated quietly in midair, knowing they had won.
Luana stood still in shock and amazement. After a moment of stunned silence, she recalled her Pokemon, stammering as she did so. She looked up at Jason. "How... how did they *do* that?"
"With proper training and teamwork," Jason responded. "Just as your Pokemon work excellently together, so do mine."
"So I see." She paused. "This, of course, means you win the match. I will be back presently with your winnings."
"Much obliged," Jason responded.
***
Minutes later, Jason was leaving the hotel, Jade Star Badge pinned to the inside of his vest and computer disk in his pocket.
He released Fearow from its ball. "Let's get going."
The sun had fallen to the horizon. Final shards of evening light shot across the sky, the orange spikes stubbornly refusing to turn purple, as the rest of the sky was. The stars were beginning to come out, and the moon was shining bright. A cool breeze washed over Kumquat Island.
He chuckled once again at the bizarre name, then climbed onto Fearow, secured his wheelchair, and urged his Pokemon into the air. He recalled the stereotypical mantra of the knights of old, and paraphrased it in his mind. *Off to fight Drake and slay the Dragonite.*
Within moments, they were soaring high above the islands and the water. Fearow leveled out, satisfied with its altitude, and Jason laid down across Fearow's expansive back. He stared at the stars.
*Wonder how many there are? How many more to be seen? How many more to be created? How many to go out like lamps?*
Jason stuck his finger into the air, covering one star. He traced the finger to another star, and then another, and another...
He found Kelly, smiling down at him.
His legs began to tingle.
Jason shuddered. He didn't know whether it was phantom limb or not... he could only hope for the best. He rubbed at his legs with both hands.
It almost seemed as if he could feel them.
The tingling remained, intensified.
He shuddered again.
*Maybe the sensations are real... maybe not... I'll know soon enough.*
He decided to try and distract himself.
For the moment...
Jason Creight stargazed on.
To Be Continued
