Out of the ball pops out the little blue turtle. The Squirtle looks at me with quite a bit of confidence and starts hopping from one leg to the other. I take a moment and sigh, giving the trainer a good, long look. They don’t look particularly old. Far too young to really have to deal with this condition.

“Look, kid. If you know what’s good for your trainer you’re going to just turn around right now and walk away.”

“I’m not a kid, and my master’s going to become the greatest there ever was. Just you wait!” The Squirtle flexes his arm, probably in an attempt to strike a pose.

“Look, kiddo,” I reiterate, “I’m feeling generous right now. I will not engage on you unless you attack me. Take the opportunity to know your place and step aside and let me pass.”

I tense up nonetheless. I’ve known people like his trainer. So full of ego that they don’t really understand their own vulnerabilities. But mostly I’m reluctant to fight not so much because I don’t think I could win. Maria’s here to provide backup, after all. But because it could leave me vulnerable. Assuming of course that she isn’t trying to get me caught.

Part 1
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