>"I won't let you get away with this!  I've been looking for Articuno 
>all my life!"
>
>"Really?" Eric asked with a wicked grin, "I just started a month ago,
>and I beat you to it.  That must be SO frustrating."
>
>"I'll take that Articuno from you by force!" the young trainer yelled,
>"Charmeleon!  Go!"  He hurled his pokéball and out popped his
>Charmeleon.
>
>"Machoke!  I chose you!"  Eric said flinging his pokéball out.  The
>Machoke towered over the Charmeleon.
>
>"Charmeleon, use your ember attack!"  The Charmeleon spun its tail,
>flinging a shower of sparks at the Machoke.  The Machoke raised his
>hands to block the embers and charged forward, knocking the Charmeleon
>down.
>
>"Use your scratch!"  The Charmeleon charged forward, swinging with 
>it's sharp claws.  The Machoke leapt over it delivering a quick kick 
>to its back, causing it to stumble forward into the wall.
>
>"That's it!" the young trainer yelled, "I didn't want to have to do
>this, but you leave me no choice!  Charmeleon!  Rage, now!"  The
>Charmeleon's eyes started to glow red, and it charged forward.  
>Machoke easily dodged the blow, kicking it in the side.  They 
>continued to fight, the Charmeleon getting madder and madder, as the 
>Machoke dodged every attack and countered them with his own.
>
>"Char!" the Charmeleon roared in anger.
>
>"All right, Machoke.  Take it out!"  Eric called out.  Machoke leapt
>forward, picking the Charmeleon up by its neck.  The fire Pokémon
>struggled, but it could not escape the Machoke's iron grip.
>
>"Machoke, use your Energy Choke.  Take the energy of his rage for
>yourself."  Machoke looked at Eric, then turned back to the helpless
>Charmeleon.  Red tendrils energy started to flow from the Charmeleon 
>and down Machoke's arms, slipping into the slits on his arms.  The
>Charmeleon's struggling weakened, until soon it lay unconscious in
>Machoke's hold.
>
>"Get rid of him and let's go."  Machoke hurled the fainted Pokémon 
>into its trainer.  "Sorry 'bout this," Eric said to the twelve year 
>old boy, "Don't think I'm a cruel man, because I'm not.  You just 
>happened to get in my way, which is a very bad place to be.  And in 
>all honesty, I DID get here first."  He tossed up the icy blue 
>pokéball and tucked it onto his belt.  "Come on, Machoke.  Mission 
>accomplished."  Eric and Machoke turned and left.
>
>*****
>
>"So, you have returned," the dark man said, stroking Lynx's head, "I'm
>assuming you were successful."
>
>"Have I ever failed you, father?" Eric said, tossing up the pokéball.
>
>"No, which is why I am choosing you for this next assignment.  I want
>you to run a campaign in Nerima, Japan.  I have taken the liberty of
>setting up a gym for you to run.  I hope to see some promising 
>results, Eric."
>
>"Of course, father."
>
>"It may be of some interest to you, that there is an Umbrella Inc.
>factory nearby.  They may be able to.... help you, with your project."
>
>"Excellent," Eric smiled.
>
>"You will be partnered with Emiri.  She's young, but she shows a lot 
>of potential.  She'll meet you on the plane."
>
>"I shall not fail you, father."