Irresistible Ego

Chapter 3

Chapter 3

They sounded like mating Primeape's.

Ash and Brock had far more stamina than Gary had originally estimated. As soon as one man fell silent, the other gained a second-wind and started up again.

Wild, rabid mating Primeape's.

Gary Oak had once published a case study centered upon a feral Primeape. This particular Primeape could emit the most powerful Screech attack ever recorded in Pokemon history. The creature could actually fracture its opponent's skull with sound. Even the skull of an Onix could not withstand the ear-shredding scream. As Gary lay with wide-bloodshot eyes and pillows stuffed against both ears, he could not help but reflect upon this Primeape subject. Gary could not help but compare his current scenario to the fate of those unfortunate Pokemon who happened to be within the Primeape's ear-shot. Gary wondered how long he himself could endure the incessant moans before his own skull began to splinter?

It was now 7:00 AM and Gary was either going to commit manslaughter or he needed to surrender. After briefly calculating the pros and cons to both plans, he decided against life-imprisonment and instead left his room. The dining hall was open 24/7, and Gary's growling tummy convinced him that now was good time for breakfast. He knew for a fact that Ash and Cindy Lou had a 9:00 AM honeymoon flight to the Orange Islands, and that the hotels check-out was not until 1:00PM. Therefore, after Ash left, Gary could saunter back to his room and crash for a few hours before catching a train to Viridian City.

Gary did not bother changing out of his smiling Electrode-pajamas. It took every ounce of energy and coordination he could assemble to simply drag his body across the dining hall and to the bar. Perhaps it was sleep-depravation infecting his imagination, but Gary pictured himself as a Muk Pokmeon –- slithering with painstaking effort to lug his heavy body one centimeter at a time.

Once seated at the bar, Gary ordered a large bowl of cold cereal and a glass of orange juice. He opted against coffee as he was looking forward to plummeting into 'Slumber Land' soon.

While waiting for his food order, Gary covered his face with his hands. The dining hall was well-lit and his eyes had not quite adjusted. He probably looked like a depressed, drunken, homeless Muk bum with snazzy Electrode P.J.'s sitting here . . . and . . . the fact that he had even just made such a bizarre inner comparison made Gary feel all the more lousy. Ash and Brock may not have cracked his skull, but his sanity was shattered.

"Excuse me? Professor Oak?" A hesitant female voice accompanied a tap upon his shoulder.

Gary straightened up, turning to discover a well-rested Misty Waterflower behind him. His weary eyes were instantly rejuvenated! Misty had traded her sexy red party dress for faded jeans and an adorable Squirtle t-shirt. Her tangerine-tendrils were pulled into a long Ponyta-tail, and a few loose wisps framed her eyes.

Gary cleared his throat, attempting to loosen the strange hitch that had caught there. He suddenly wondered if he had caught some kind of flu? His heartbeat was most certainly expediting, and he could actually hear his pulse thudding behind his ears. Adding to his peculiar list of symptoms were fevered cheeks and a sensation of Butterfree's in the belly. But if he were ill, then why was he currently smiling so broadly that his face hurt?

"G-good morning." Oh Crappers! Did he just . . . stutter? Gary coughed and tried again: "Ah-em, good morning, Misty."

"You too, Professor Oak." She smiled politely.

"Hey, you finally got my name right, 'Oak' not 'Oakie'."

Misty's cheeks flushed fervently. "Um, yeah, sorry about that." She fumbled with her shirt sleeve even though Gary could see nothing wrong with it. He stood and pulled out the stool beside him, gesturing for her to have a seat. Misty accepted.