LT. SURGE
We made our way to one of the battlefloors. They were small, only a couple of yards wide but that’s all we needed. Ours had a dirt and gravel terrain while some others in the Battle Hall featured, ice, hot coals, grass, and water.
“Ya ready Surge?”
“I dunno, Dubois. There’s a lot of people here. You sure you want to be embarrassed in front of all of them?”
“**** off dogface. Three on three, okay?” he said with his stupid grin as he pulled enlarged a pokeball and hurled onto the battle floor. The ball burst open and a dancing ray of light emerged from it, taking the form of a giant crustacean.
“Remember Pinchy? He’s grown up.”
The Kingler snapped his massive claws.
“Koshkoshkoshkosh!”
“This one’s yours Mac!” I say as I toss my pokeball onto the floor. Out of it emerges a Magnemite, slowly drifting up into the air. It growls its metallic, monotone growl as sparks shoot out from the “magnets” at its sides.
“Pinchy, give ‘em a mud shot right in the eye!”
The giant grab spit up some water onto the dirt floor. With its smaller claw, it flung mud at Mac. The Magnemite yawed to the left, avoiding the oncoming glob.
“Metal sound!”
Mac emitted a loud, peculiar metallic frequency. It was an irritating sound—both to humans and pokemon alike, though it bothered pokemon a
lot more. Some other trainers heard it and looked over to me and Dubois. I suddenly began hearing murmurs all over the room.
Is that Lt. Surge? What was that? That’s Surge! Soon, all of the spectators in Battle Hall began to crowd around Dubois and I. I wasn’t really hoping for an audience.
Mac’s attack had left the Kingler dazed and disoriented. It’s defenses were down—it’s ripe for electrocutin’.
“Pinchy, you snap out of it and give that fridge magnet a vice grip!”
With surprising speed, the crustacean scuttled over to Mac and opened up its giant claw. Mac tried to float out of the way but it couldn't move fast enough to escape Kingler’s grasp. The giant claw clamped down on Mac. With each passing second it tightened its grip. Stupid move.
“Thundershock!” I scream.
Mac lets loose a blast of electricity. The Kingler lights up as 1000 volts runs throughout its body. It quickly releases Mac and staggers backward, struggling to maintain its balance. It’s done.
“Alright Mac, finish it off with another thundersh—“
“Dig!”
The Kingler uses its last bit of strength to furiously dig a tunnel into the ground with its claws. By the time Mac shoots off another blast of electricity, the crab as disappeared into the ground.
“Watch for it Mac.”
The Magnemtie tilts itself downward and closely surveys the ground. It floats around the battle floor, carefully watching. Suddenly, the Kingler erupts from the ground, sending dirt and gravel in every direction. Mac is hit by the barrage of soil and then by the Kingler’s massive claws. Mac crashes to the ground with a thud.
“Mother ****er!” I shout as I call back the fallen pokemon back into its ball.
“Hahaha! Your gettin’ soft, G.I. Joe.”
“Shut the hell up. Cook me up some crab cakes, Sarge!”
I toss another pokeball onto the battle floor. Sarge, my Electabuzz, emerges. It growls and pounds its chest.
“Low kick, then thunder punch!”
“Dig, Pinchy!”
The Kingler attempts to dig itself another escape route but Sarge runs up to it before it can get its legs in. It sweeps the Kingler’s legs from under it with a low kick. The Kingler falls to the ground, its heavy claws weighing it down and keeping it from lifting itself back up. Sarge’s fist begins to glow and becomes enshrouded in sparks. A burst of electricity shoots off as the Electabuzz’s fist smashes into the Kingler’s head. The crab goes limp and Sarge roars victoriously. It looks back at me and pounds its chest again. I give it a nod and Sarge turns back around to face its fallen enemy. Dubois calls back his oversized crab and tosses another ball onto the floor.
“That’s the Surge I remember. Let’s see how you fair against Bulkhead.”
From the mall emerged a bulky Machoke, flexing its mighty muscles. Its stupid grin and physique matched those of his trainer.
“Sarge, quick attack!”
“Bulkhead, vital throw!”
With great agility, Electabuzz runs towards Machoke, jumping from side to side and eventually tackling the behemoth head-on. As Machoke was struck, however, it grabbed a hold of Sarge’s head. He clenched onto Sarge’s head and began to spin round and round and then hurled the yellow beast across the battle floor. Sarge hit the ground and slid a few yards. But he was quickly back on his feet, shaking the dirt off his fur and pounding his chest again.
“’At a boy, Sarge.”
“Bulkhead, Submission!”
“You keep your distance, Sarge!”
The Machoke dove towards Sarge. The Electabuzz nimbly dodged the brute’s attack. But Bulkhead quickly spun around and grabbed Sarge by the tail. Sarge was much faster but the Machoke had reach. Bulkhead yanked his tail, pulling Sarge to the ground. Bulkhead then drove his knee into Sarge’s back while pulling back and wrenching his arms. Sarge howled him pain, struggling to break free of Bulkhead’s grasp.
“Thundershock!”
Electabuzz roared and let loose a surge of electricity. Bulkhead grunted, trying to its best to endure. He tightened his grip and pressed his knee down harder, causing Sarge to put an end to his electrical onslaught and scream in anguish.
“Alright, that’s enough. Return.”
Sarge furiously shook his head and unleashed another surge of electricity. Bulkhead roared, once again trying to withstand the electric blast but it proved to be too much. He let go of Sarge and fell on his back, twitching.
“Nice comeback, Sarge! Return.”
Sarge’s fist began to crackle and glow once more as he prepared a Thunder Punch.
Dubois quickly withdrew Bulkhead as Sarge’s fist came crashing down into the dirt.
“You need to get that damned thing under control, Surge!”
“Return, Sarge!” I screamed.
Sarge lowered his head shamefully and obeyed.
“Geez. I’d expect better from a Gym Leader.”
“
He gets…excited some times. Just feels the need to prove himself.”
“Now who does that remind me of?”
“Alright, cut the ****. You said three on three right? I’m assuming you’ve saved the best for last.”
“Sure did,” he said, enlarging his final pokeball.
“Just like I know you did.”
“Draw.”
We simultaneously toss our pokeballs onto the battlefloor...
