Chapter 05: Meeting Prof. Oak
As I approached the lab, the entrance buzzed with a chaotic energy - mix of excitement and raw anticipation. A small crowd, a mix of kids my age and proud-looking parents, gathered, their excited chatter rising above the general hubbub. A Charmander's tail flame flickered brightly as its new trainer bounced on his heels, while nearby, a Bulbasaur nestled contentedly in the arms of a girl with pigtails. The air even carried a faint, grassy scent, mingling with sweet aroma of celebratory berry juice someone had spilled. Trainers, beaming proudly held their starter Pokémon, Pokéballs gleaming in the morning sun, ready to embark on their journeys. Their laughter and excited shouts surged through the air, amplifying the flutter of nerves and a deeper, truer excitement in my stomach.
The prospect of receiving my first Pokémon—officially, this time—filled me with an exhilarating thrill. I imagined myself standing confidently at the entrance of the first Gym, my Pokémon by my side, ready to take on any challenge. The thought ignited a fire within me, a dream finally within reach.
Yet, beneath the surface excitement, there lingered a flicker of apprehension—an shadow of fear of crossing paths with Team Rocket, or any other nefarious organizations threatening Trainers.
Navigating through the bustling crowd was a minor ordeal. I carefully maneuvered my way, occasionally bumping shoulders, stepping on toes, and muttering hasty apologies. Each step, however clumsy, brought me closer to the lab's entrance, closer to where my real journey was about to begin.
Finally, after a bit of a struggle, I reached the doorstep. With a deep breath, I rang the bell.
Click. The door swung inward, revealing a middle-aged man with a kind face, silver hair neatly framing his features. He wore a light lilac polo shirt beneath a crisp, pristine lab coat, complemented by sensible beige trousers. He greeted me with a warm smile, though a faint furrow remained etched on his brow, a subtle hint of some underlying concern. "Hey kid, you here for your first Pokémon?"
Ding
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[Skill Level Up]
1. Observe (Passive) ~ Lv. 1 -> Lv. 2
* Lv. 1 - Basic Information:
* For Pokémon: Provides name, species, and level.
* For Humans: Displays name, age, and profession.
* Lv. 2 - Status Effects:
* For Pokémon: Can identify current status effects (e.g., poisoned). Can also identify gender.
* For Humans: Indicates emotional state (e.g., nervous, confident) and any current physical conditions (e.g., injured).
* Identifies potentially important findings/objects, guided by an 'unknown entity'.
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Ding
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[Name]: Samuel Oak
[Age]: 74
[Profession]: Pokémon Professor
[Emotional State]: Warm and Welcoming, Slightly Concerned
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Woah, nice. [Observe] levelled up, and the options offered are excellent. The ability to determine a Pokémon's gender before catching it would be genuinely invaluable, especially for future breeding plans, should I ever get that far. And if these quests really do flow this naturally with everyday events, experience points could be surprisingly easy to accumulate. The system, despite its strangeness, was rapidly proving to be a significant asset.
"Yes, sir!" I replied with what I hoped was convincing enthusiasm, my voice echoing the genuine excitement bubbling up inside me.
"Well, what are you waiting for? Come on in," he invited, gesturing me inside and then leading me down a hallway. Floor-to-ceiling bookshelves lined the walls, crammed with leather-bound volumes and stacks of papers that threatened to topple at any moment. The sheer volume of research hinted at countless mysteries contained within these lab walls, mysteries that sparked a renewed surge of curiosity in me.
In the main living room, a young man lounged with an air of barely-contained impatience. His light skin and sharp brown eyes contrasted with his perpetually unruly brown hair, sticking up at odd angles. Clad in a long, oversized purple t-shirt and dark grey pants that seemed almost too dark, he wore a silver yin-yang necklace that swung back and forth with his fidgeting, catching the light. His face, framed by those perpetually messy locks, bore a distinctly disgruntled expression.
Ding
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[Name]: Gary Oak
[Age]: 15
[Profession]: Beginner Trainer
[Emotional State]: Frustrated and Annoyed
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Upon seeing us enter, he turned towards Professor Oak, his voice laced with a heavy dose of teenage impatience. "Hey, Gramps, seriously, when are you finally going to let me leave? I already got everything I needed from you hours ago." He tapped his foot impatiently, glancing pointedly at an unseen watch on his wrist.
"Just hold your horses, Gary. I need to give this Trainer who just arrived his Pokémon and supplies," Professor Oak replied, an undeniably affectionate smile spreading across his face as he turned to address his grandson. "You know I love you, don't you, Gary?"
"Yeah, Gramps… yeah," Gary mumbled, pointedly folding his arms across his chest and averting his gaze with exaggerated teenage drama. A faint flush of red, however, betrayed his thinly veiled embarrassment.
"Hey kiddo, that's my grandson, Gary. He's also heading out today to become a Trainer. I truly hope you both become good rivals, push each other, and motivate each other to grow."
"Gramps!!" Gary protested again, though even his exaggerated annoyance couldn't fully mask the underlying fondness in his tone.
"Hahaha! Oh, the good times," Professor Oak laughed, ushering me further up the stairs, deeper into the lab. I couldn't help but feel a pang of empathy and a dash of jealousy for Gary, a strange resonance with his awkward teenage impatience, recalling my own turbulent moments growing up, and the familial connection that I long for.
As we ascended the staircase, Professor Oak turned his attention to me, asking politely about myself. I shared my name – just 'Alex', for now – and age, then launched into my carefully rehearsed story, admitting with feigned confusion that I couldn't recall anything from before waking up in the forest earlier that morning. "You can even ask the old lady at the store around the corner; she can vouch for me," I added with a practiced casualness, hoping it sounded convincing.
Upon reaching the second floor, I was genuinely struck by the sheer volume of scientific equipment. An impressive array of machines dedicated to Pokémon research lined the walls, humming and whirring with barely-contained energy. Professor Oak guided me towards a particular device dominating the center of the room – a raised platform with three gleaming Poké Balls displayed prominently upon it.
As I followed him, however, my eyes snagged once more on the scattered papers strewn across a nearby desk, partially obscured by a leaning stack of research journals. Still, even from this distance, certain document titles jumped out at me, stark and undeniably intriguing:
"Project Eclipse: Contingency Protocols" (The words were printed in bold, stark letters, underscored with a thick, red line.)
"Red's Last Transmission: Decoded Message" (This title was handwritten, scrawled in what looked like hurried, almost frantic script)
"Authorization: Eyes Only" (Stamped in official-looking lettering, a stark warning)
Ding
—
[Observe (Passive) - Lv. 2]
You've identified a potential clue.
—
Ding
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[New Quest]
Quest Name: Uncover Project Eclipse
Objective: Investigate the "Project Eclipse" document noticed on Professor Oak's desk. Find out more about its nature and purpose.
Reward:
* EXP Gained: +5
* PokéPoints: +10
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My curiosity piqued further, questions swirled in my mind about the ominous-sounding project.
"Alex, let's get started," Professor Oak called, drawing my focus back to the present.
I turned my attention back to him, trying to focus on the task at hand.
"I welcome you again to my Research Lab. I am what everyone calls a Pokémon Professor. I research Pokémon and their various mysterious behaviors, patterns, and growth. Pokémon are fascinating creatures we've coexisted…."
Yet, my thoughts kept drifting back to the document. What was Project Eclipse? And how did Red's last transmission tie into it?
Ding
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[Observe (Passive) - Lv. 2]
Professor Oak
Emotional State: Concerned
—
"..y, Alex, Alex!" Professor Oak's voice jolted me back to reality.
"Sorry, Professor. I spaced out."
"Okay, do you need to rest for some time?"
"No Professor, please continue."
"Now, as I was saying, traditionally, once a year, for a week, children at the age of fifteen who aspire to become Pokémon Trainers can officially register for their Trainer's License. This can be done at any Pokémon Center, or by visiting me, or indeed any recognized Pokémon Professor. Given the recent…regional unification, and the Indigo League Conference now overseeing both Kanto and Johto, the process is thankfully much smoother than it was in… previous decades. The starter Pokémon available to new trainers often varies slightly depending on the specific region and the Professor's research focus. However, here at my lab, I'm pleased to say I can usually offer new Trainers a classic Kanto choice – a Fire-type Charmander, a Grass/Poison-type Bulbasaur, and a Water-type Squirtle," he explained, his tone warm and informative
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[New Quest]
Quest Name: Choose Your Starter Pokémon!
Objective: Select one Pokémon from Professor Oak's offered starters.
Reward:
* EXP Gained: +10
* Poké Balls (x5)
* Potion (x5)
* Access to Pokédex Functionality
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Yet, as he continued, his expression grew serious. "But…"
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Chapter End