Chapter 9: The Incident at Oak's Lab.
– Prof. Oak's Lab. –
[2:26 PM]
<Prof. Oak's POV>
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The warm sunlight danced across Ash's enthusiastic face as he waved goodbye. 'Bye Prof. Oak!! Bye, Mom!! Bye, Everyone!! Thanks for coming to see me off!' His voice echoed through the quiet Pallet Town streets as he left while dragging a reluctant Pikachu tied by a clothesline, accompanied by the chirping of Pokémon and the rustling of leaves.
I sighed, hoping they would be fine.
Soon after, the crowd dispersed, and Delia Ketchum, Ash's mother, stood beside me.
"They'll be just fine," she said with a smile.
"If you say so. I had bet a million PokéDollars with Gary that by the time Ash reaches Viridian City, he will have caught more Pokémon than him."
"Oh my!" said a surprised Delia.
"I was hesitant to give him Pikachu since he's always been shy and tends to shock anyone who gets too close. With Ash's easygoing nature, though, I'm sure they'll bond quickly. But judging by how things are going, they might take longer than expected to reach Viridian City."
Delia's smile began to fade. Her eyes clouded over, and her voice took on a melancholic tone. 'He is his father's son after all,' she said.
"Speaking of which, have you heard any news on Red's whereabouts?"
The question cast a shadow over her expression; her happy demeanor shifted to one of sorrow.
"Oh, sorry about that, Delia. My bad," I said, feeling the weight of my words.
"No, Professor, it's alright. As for any news about Red... Other than the message he left five years ago, nothing else has come up."
A moment of heavy silence hung between us. I wanted to change the subject, but the gravity of the situation lingered.
"Aha! So, Delia, would you like some tea?" I offered, trying to lighten the mood.
"Oh, Professor, thanks for the offer, but I have some chores to do back at home, and Mr. Mime's all alone. See you later." She left after giving a nod and a gentle smile.
"Later then."
I watched Delia's expression, seeing the faint lines of worry etched on her face, the weight of solo parenting bearing down on her. My heart went out to her; she'd been shouldering this burden for five long years.
My expression faltered, and I glanced away, the weight of my question settling heavy on my shoulders; the pain it brought Delia was palpable. My own concerns, however, refused to be silenced. I made a mental note to review my research on Red's disappearance, searching for any overlooked clues.
He had been missing for five years during a joint mission with the Pokémon League in the Johto region. The last report indicated he was seen at the base of Mt. Silver, and his final radio message was chilling: 'Don't come looking for me.' It was strange coming from him, and now, despite extensive searches, he's nowhere to be found.
I watched her leave, a mixture of concern and sadness weighing on my heart.
sigh Be safe, kid. Don't make your mom worry too much.
As I returned to the research room, I remembered my promise to Alex about contacting Nurse Joy regarding his sponsorship.
I entered the living room and accessed the video phone, dialing the Viridian City Pokémon Center.
Ring-Ring
Ring-Ring
"Hello, this is the Viridian City Pokémon Center. This is Nurse Joy speaking. How may I help you?"
"Hello, Ms. Joy, this is Prof. Oak speaking from Pallet Town."
"Oh, Professor! How do you do?"
"I'm doing just fine, Ms. Joy. Just finished giving out the Starters to the new Trainers starting their journeys today."
"Okay! I'll keep an eye out and make sure they have healed their Pokémon and are well-rested before they depart for Pewter City."
"Thank you, Ms. Joy. That's very kind of you. Among them is a boy named Alex. By the way, he chose a Pidgey as his starter."
"Eh? Were you out of Royal Starters to give out, Professor? You could have just dialed me. I would have sent a set myself."
"mumble Well, even though I was out of any more Royal starters... mumble I couldn't have given him any since he is 16 years old."
"You could have offered him a Pokémon from the Regular Set. And if I remember correctly, Pidgey isn't a candidate among them. Usually, the Regular Starters include a Nidoran ♀️/♂️, Abra, and Machop, doesn't it?"
"Yes, it does. But Alex was a rather unusual case. He has amnesia."
"Amnesia?"
"Yes, and he only remembers his name and age. I couldn't find any positive matches in the Region directory."
"So it's a case of unknown identity. Hmm... But still, you could have offered him the Regular set. But why didn't you?"
"Ehh hehehe nervous chuckle"
Nurse Joy's eyes narrowed. 'Out of Regular starters too, Professor?' Her tone hinted at skepticism.
"Yeah... Yes, I am," I answered dejectedly.
"I'm concerned about Alex's unique situation, Nurse Joy. As an amnesia case with unknown identity, will your sponsorship still apply?"
"Professor Oak, I'm willing to help, but I must admit, this is unconventional. What makes you think Alex is worthy of sponsorship?"
"Ah, a valid question, Nurse Joy. Alex's circumstances are indeed unusual. However, I believe his determination and natural talent with Pokémon warrant our support. During our brief time together, I've observed an uncommon affinity between him and his Pidgey. His ability to connect with Pokémon, despite his amnesia, suggests a deep-seated potential."
"Furthermore, I've reviewed his battle strategies, and they demonstrate a level of instinctual understanding that's rare in novice trainers. I firmly believe that with guidance and resources, Alex can make significant contributions to the Pokémon community.
"Your sponsorship would not only aid his journey but also provide valuable insight into his past. Perhaps, through his travels, we'll uncover clues about his identity and the circumstances surrounding his amnesia."
"I understand your perspective, Professor. However, I'll need to discuss this with Officer Jenny and consider the implications of sponsoring a trainer with unknown identity. Can you assure me that Alex is aware of the risks and challenges associated with this journey?"
I nodded thoughtfully. "I've explained the risks and challenges to Alex, and he's eager to proceed. His determination is admirable, and I believe he'll make the most of this opportunity."
Nurse Joy's expression softened. "Very well, Professor. I'll arrange for sponsorship and notify Officer Jenny. We'll work together to uncover Alex's past and ensure his safety."
"Thank you, Nurse Joy," I said, relieved. "Your support means a great deal to Alex and me."
"Okay." She nodded and continued, "Out of curiosity, may I ask what Pokémon, excluding Pidgey, you offered him to choose from?"
"Ehh... a Rattata and a Poliwag."
"..."
"..."
"..."
"..."
"That's it. Since I am going to sponsor him anyway, I might as well give him a new starter to choose from from the Regular set."
"But..."
"No 'buts,' Professor. Was there anything else?"
"No, Ms. Joy. That is all."
"Then, good day to you, Professor."
"Good day to you too, Nurse Joy."
click
Ha~ah... sigh. She sure is headstrong as usual.
Hmm... Alex. That kid sure is lucky.
Even though he might just be a simple case of amnesia and there might be nothing that seems to be out of order at first glance, my gut tells me there is something much bigger at play here.
I retreated to my cluttered research room, surrounded by stacks of dusty Pokémon journals and fading photographs of past expeditions. My mind wandered to the PokéDex, safely stored – or so I thought.
A chill ran down my spine as I opened the cabinet, finding only empty space where the PokéDex should have been. Someone had breached my lab's security. The question was, who?
***
- Research Room, Prof. Oak's Lab -
[A few minutes before Ash's farewell]
< [Thief]'s POV >
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"Jiggly, we got the PokéDex. Now let's go find Silver before 'he' catches up!!"
"Jiggly Jig!!"
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End of Chapter 9