Chapter Six
The Chair



Eventually, after some unknown length of time, Jace became conscious. He sorely wished he hadn't. His head hurt, his knuckles, hurt, and, frankly, consciousness had too many responsibilities to deal with. Jace strained hopelessly against thick cords that bound him into a wooden chair.

"He's awake," a voice mumbled.

"Take off the sack," another feminine voice commanded.

"Yes, ma'am."

A rough hand plucked the dirty, chafing sack from Jace's head. Jace blearily opened his eyes and swiveled them around the hazy room. A single light bulb hung from the ceiling over Jace and dimly illuminated the room. It was empty except for a bound Jace in a chair, two shadowy guards, and the one-and-only Gym Leader Sabrina of Saffron City.

"Oh," Jace mumbled, averting his gaze from Sabrina's. It felt like her pupils were boring into his conscious. Not for the last time, Jace wished he had stayed unconscious.

"Leave us," Sabrina ordered to the guards, who silently left through the only door in the room. There wasn't even a window.

"So, how are you today?" Jace grinned a cheesy grin.

"Shut up," Sabrina said coldly, "You'll answer when spoken to. You will speak the truth. If you break either rule, I will have Alakazam incapacitate your mind. You'll fall into a painful, two-hour coma. When you awake, we'll go through this process again. And again. And again. And again. Until you get it right. Do I make myself clear?" Jace sensed a slight movement behind him, which he could assume to be the said Alakazam.

"Uhhhhhhhhhh," Jace groaned, still lethargic, "sure, why not?"

"Well, then," Sabrina said, "We'll start from the start. What's your name?"

Jace's eyes fluttered from left to right. "Can we skip that question and come back to it later?"

Sabrina gave a sadistic grin, "Of course we can."

Jace suddenly realized that was a bad idea and immediately blacked out... again.
********************
Jace's mind slowly shifted back into gear a good two hours later. He lazily shook his head and looked up. Sabrina had pulled up a chair and sat patiently for Jace to recover. A jolt of pain shot through his head. Alakazam sure knew how to give a good coma, that was for sure.

"What's your name?"

"Hey, Sabrina, let's talk about something else. How about the weather? What's the weather like outside, huh?"

"Do you enjoy playing games?" Sabrina said darkly, "Or do you just enjoy feeling pain?"

"I'd enjoy it very much if you just let me go," Jace shot back, "Please?"

"Why would I do that?" Sabrina smirked, "You're part of Team Rocket."

"Hey- well- what!?" Jace blithered.

"You're part of Team Rocket," Sabrina repeated calmly, "Prove me wrong."

"Prove you wrong!?" Jace snarled, "Unbind me and I'll sock you in your big, fat psychic face then, sure, I'll prove you wrong! Where' s my uniform? My badge? My hat? My horribly boring selection of Team Rocket-approved Pokemon? No doubt you saw them. Did you see a Zubat among them? Or maybe a Raticate? I thought not!"

Sabrina, ever so slightly, smiled in amusement, "Very touching, but I can't help but notice that you're avoiding the real question. If you insist on claiming that you are indeed not part of Team Rocket, why so secretive?"

Jace fell into deep thought for several moments and simply stared back at Sabrina. This was madness, almost as mad as the Shadow... the Shadow! Jace needed to get out of this prison, nurse Gliscor back to full health, and hunt down that wretched Rocket! Any worthwhile sacrifice was worth any worthwhile gain, in Jace's opinion.

"My name is Jace!" he spat distastefully, ashamed of himself, "I hate Team Rocket my very soul! I'm a normal person by day, a ninja vigilante by night. You have to let me go!"

Sabrina was taken aback by Jace's willingness to share such important information so freely such be granted freedom, "You're no ordinary trainer, are you?"

"Please," Jace pleaded, "Let me go. Let me and my Pokemon go."

"Speaking of your Pokemon," Sabrina said, "they are healed back to full health. Your Gliscor will make a full recovery within the week, and I must say, your Pokemon are prime specimens."

"That's Team Rocket spit, Sabrina," Jace scowled, "Prime specimens? I've heard Rocket scientists say things like that."

"Well, get ready to hear more from Team Rocket," Sabrina announced, getting up and walking toward the door, "You're free."