OOC: This isn't in the discussion thread, so I'll post it here. The colour of the gel is determined by your Pokemon's typing, so Grass types have green gel, Fire types orange etc. If you haven't done so already read the discussion thread. PM me if you need any details, clarifcation or what-not. Ta
***
“Now, now, hold still. We wouldn’t want you hurt, would we?” The man chuckled to himself. The speech was little more than self indulgence – some months ago he might have been sincere, but time changed all things. He touched a few dials, strengthening his patient’s restraints. The procedure had been performed scores of times since the project started; he and his team had discovered that no matter how relaxed the patient, Fear’s grip was not something easily shaken. The tank itself was a marvel; from the outside the good doctor could watch every spasm and change in his patient, whilst those within were rendered otherwise blind. The breathing mask lowered itself from the tank’s lid and the low melody of his work began. It was a sound that Dr. Lomas knew well: muffled screams. The design of the tank meant no sound could escape – so that those working in the laboratory mightn’t be distracted – but that did also have the unfortunate consequence that no sound could be heard behind the glass. “No second thoughts, cold feet?” The boy inside the tank was straining to free himself, tears pouring down his face. “You did make a promise, after all.” Dr. Lomas chuckled again. The child had given his life away, for the freedom of another. So romantic. A pity, then, that the world was devoid of such notions. The gel solution – the very thing that made the procedure possible and Dr. Lomas’ crowning achievement – poured in, quickly filling the tank. The gel this time was clear, only the vaguest hints of colour touching the surface. As cynical and jaded as he had become in his old age, Dr. Lomas wished for this to work. Ms. Humbert’s money, though welcome, was immaterial to him; he cared only for the advancements his laboratory could make. Every week of experiments and observations revealed new and wondrous discoveries. It was almost like being a child again. This would be the most amazing yet! To join data with the physical form! “Ah Ryan, I hope you realise just how helpful you’re being to the human race. It’s like you were made for this moment!”
The elation became almost too much, and Dr. Lomas was forced to sit.
“Elaina! Elaina!” A young woman came swiftly over, calm despite the old man’s excitement. She wiped his brow, where the sweat was staining his silver hair grey. “You must get Dolores. This is wonderful! She must see this!”
“Of course, Doctor. And what shall I tell her?” Elaina, though fresh from medical school and newly arrived to Kanto from Hoenn, was unmoved by her employer’s whims. Even the enormity of what they were doing seemed something beyond her.
“Tell her... tell her...” The gel solution had set; there was no motion in the tank. Only the constant beeping of the machine suggested there was life within. “Tell her this will be a success. Tell her we have a Porygon.”
***
Theo arrived in Sable City three weeks after his brother’s disappearance. Having passed through Goldernrod, he found it odd to call such a small place a ‘city’. Theo shook his head, ignoring the buildings around him. He could not afford to be distracted. His first stop would be the Pokemon Centre.
“Oh, didn’t the police tell you-?”
“They did,” Theo was not usually rude, but he felt he needed to deal with this as quickly as possible. He would not cry in public. “But... they’re wrong, I just know it.”
“I’m sorry Theo,” Nurse Joy was a woman almost too nice for her own good. It seemed all the trainers and their families relied on her and, despite the pressure, she bore it with a smile. “I just don’t know what to say. Of course you and your family can access Ryan’s Pokemon, but I just can’t help anymore than that.”
He felt so ashamed and betrayed. Theo had journeyed to Kanto to find his brother, but the people here knew no more than he did. Shoving his hands in his pockets he mumbled out a ‘thank you’ and turned away, eyes on the floor. He would not cry.
“Theo,” Nurse Joy stepped out from behind her desk and laid a hand on his shoulder. “If you need somewhere to stay, you can always come here.”
Theo was at a loss for words. He threw his arms about Nurse Joy’s waist and hugged her tightly.
“Thank you. I promise I’ll be back.” And I’ll bring my brother.
Ryan had last been seen heading out of Sable City, in the opposite direction to Pewter. Pulling his collected notes from his backpack, Theo set off to retrace his brother’s footsteps. He quickly wished he had worn a different t-shirt that day, as the sun was hot and still high in the sky. His hoodie flapped at the back of his legs, an annoying fleeced flag at half mast.
It took nearly an hour of walking (and getting lost once or twice), but Theo found the first country road out of the city. It ran at an angle away from the main dual-carriageway and possessed a serviceable, safe, footpath on the side. Ryan had followed this before taking a winding country lane and then simply disappearing.
A cold sweat formed on Theo’s back. The road stretched on into forever; there were no signs of any off-shoots ahead. Had he made a mistake? Was this the wrong road? Was he even going the right way?
“What?” Theo stopped his dismal march and squinted: a half mile in front of him he could just make out a small sign. Hope surged in him anew. Though he could only just see a rough outline, it was enough. It was the same sign the police had shown his mother. Ryan had been this way! The city dwindled ever more behind him and the sun dipped to the west.
The lane was little more than cracked mud, but it was certainly the right one. Theo felt strangely at peace as he took his first step. There was no special marker, no flowers and no balloons. The only thing that brought him to a stop was gut feeling. The road was no longer visible, hidden by the many twists and turns of the lane. The mud here was wet still, blocking the way. Ryan most definitely would have had trouble with it.
The rumble of a car engine snapped Theo back to reality. A Pokemon Ranger’s jeep was crawling up the lane behind him. It stopped a few metres away, idling.
“You alright, kid?” The woman was young, with a smile as bright as the sun. Her accent was like the ones he had heard on T.V. She was a Ranger from Hoenn, Theo figured. Her golden brown skin and dark hair certainly helped the image.
“Yeah, kind of. I’m looking for my brother. He came this way a few weeks back.”
“You need a lift to the station? It’s out in the sticks a bit, but most everyone comes by that way.”
“Really?! Wow, thanks!” The day was looking up! “I’m Theo Ross, my brother’s name is Ryan, have you heard of him?” A Shiftry sat in the back of the jeep, absolutely silent and still. Theo waved at it, just to make sure it was still breathing. A single leaf shot over his head and behind the hedgerow.
“Watch out for Baton, he doesn’t like being disturbed. So Theo,” The woman sat down and buckled herself in, making sure Theo did the same. “My name’s Elaina, and yes, that name rings a bell.”
***
“Now, now, hold still. We wouldn’t want you hurt, would we?” The man chuckled to himself. The speech was little more than self indulgence – some months ago he might have been sincere, but time changed all things. He touched a few dials, strengthening his patient’s restraints. The procedure had been performed scores of times since the project started; he and his team had discovered that no matter how relaxed the patient, Fear’s grip was not something easily shaken. The tank itself was a marvel; from the outside the good doctor could watch every spasm and change in his patient, whilst those within were rendered otherwise blind. The breathing mask lowered itself from the tank’s lid and the low melody of his work began. It was a sound that Dr. Lomas knew well: muffled screams. The design of the tank meant no sound could escape – so that those working in the laboratory mightn’t be distracted – but that did also have the unfortunate consequence that no sound could be heard behind the glass. “No second thoughts, cold feet?” The boy inside the tank was straining to free himself, tears pouring down his face. “You did make a promise, after all.” Dr. Lomas chuckled again. The child had given his life away, for the freedom of another. So romantic. A pity, then, that the world was devoid of such notions. The gel solution – the very thing that made the procedure possible and Dr. Lomas’ crowning achievement – poured in, quickly filling the tank. The gel this time was clear, only the vaguest hints of colour touching the surface. As cynical and jaded as he had become in his old age, Dr. Lomas wished for this to work. Ms. Humbert’s money, though welcome, was immaterial to him; he cared only for the advancements his laboratory could make. Every week of experiments and observations revealed new and wondrous discoveries. It was almost like being a child again. This would be the most amazing yet! To join data with the physical form! “Ah Ryan, I hope you realise just how helpful you’re being to the human race. It’s like you were made for this moment!”
The elation became almost too much, and Dr. Lomas was forced to sit.
“Elaina! Elaina!” A young woman came swiftly over, calm despite the old man’s excitement. She wiped his brow, where the sweat was staining his silver hair grey. “You must get Dolores. This is wonderful! She must see this!”
“Of course, Doctor. And what shall I tell her?” Elaina, though fresh from medical school and newly arrived to Kanto from Hoenn, was unmoved by her employer’s whims. Even the enormity of what they were doing seemed something beyond her.
“Tell her... tell her...” The gel solution had set; there was no motion in the tank. Only the constant beeping of the machine suggested there was life within. “Tell her this will be a success. Tell her we have a Porygon.”
***
Theo arrived in Sable City three weeks after his brother’s disappearance. Having passed through Goldernrod, he found it odd to call such a small place a ‘city’. Theo shook his head, ignoring the buildings around him. He could not afford to be distracted. His first stop would be the Pokemon Centre.
“Oh, didn’t the police tell you-?”
“They did,” Theo was not usually rude, but he felt he needed to deal with this as quickly as possible. He would not cry in public. “But... they’re wrong, I just know it.”
“I’m sorry Theo,” Nurse Joy was a woman almost too nice for her own good. It seemed all the trainers and their families relied on her and, despite the pressure, she bore it with a smile. “I just don’t know what to say. Of course you and your family can access Ryan’s Pokemon, but I just can’t help anymore than that.”
He felt so ashamed and betrayed. Theo had journeyed to Kanto to find his brother, but the people here knew no more than he did. Shoving his hands in his pockets he mumbled out a ‘thank you’ and turned away, eyes on the floor. He would not cry.
“Theo,” Nurse Joy stepped out from behind her desk and laid a hand on his shoulder. “If you need somewhere to stay, you can always come here.”
Theo was at a loss for words. He threw his arms about Nurse Joy’s waist and hugged her tightly.
“Thank you. I promise I’ll be back.” And I’ll bring my brother.
Ryan had last been seen heading out of Sable City, in the opposite direction to Pewter. Pulling his collected notes from his backpack, Theo set off to retrace his brother’s footsteps. He quickly wished he had worn a different t-shirt that day, as the sun was hot and still high in the sky. His hoodie flapped at the back of his legs, an annoying fleeced flag at half mast.
It took nearly an hour of walking (and getting lost once or twice), but Theo found the first country road out of the city. It ran at an angle away from the main dual-carriageway and possessed a serviceable, safe, footpath on the side. Ryan had followed this before taking a winding country lane and then simply disappearing.
A cold sweat formed on Theo’s back. The road stretched on into forever; there were no signs of any off-shoots ahead. Had he made a mistake? Was this the wrong road? Was he even going the right way?
“What?” Theo stopped his dismal march and squinted: a half mile in front of him he could just make out a small sign. Hope surged in him anew. Though he could only just see a rough outline, it was enough. It was the same sign the police had shown his mother. Ryan had been this way! The city dwindled ever more behind him and the sun dipped to the west.
The lane was little more than cracked mud, but it was certainly the right one. Theo felt strangely at peace as he took his first step. There was no special marker, no flowers and no balloons. The only thing that brought him to a stop was gut feeling. The road was no longer visible, hidden by the many twists and turns of the lane. The mud here was wet still, blocking the way. Ryan most definitely would have had trouble with it.
The rumble of a car engine snapped Theo back to reality. A Pokemon Ranger’s jeep was crawling up the lane behind him. It stopped a few metres away, idling.
“You alright, kid?” The woman was young, with a smile as bright as the sun. Her accent was like the ones he had heard on T.V. She was a Ranger from Hoenn, Theo figured. Her golden brown skin and dark hair certainly helped the image.
“Yeah, kind of. I’m looking for my brother. He came this way a few weeks back.”
“You need a lift to the station? It’s out in the sticks a bit, but most everyone comes by that way.”
“Really?! Wow, thanks!” The day was looking up! “I’m Theo Ross, my brother’s name is Ryan, have you heard of him?” A Shiftry sat in the back of the jeep, absolutely silent and still. Theo waved at it, just to make sure it was still breathing. A single leaf shot over his head and behind the hedgerow.
“Watch out for Baton, he doesn’t like being disturbed. So Theo,” The woman sat down and buckled herself in, making sure Theo did the same. “My name’s Elaina, and yes, that name rings a bell.”