From:    Roberto Perez-Vila
Date:    2/5/99
Subject: [PW!] A Meeting with Professor Oak!

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>A kid walked up to them.  "You want to know about the two kinds of
caterpillar
>pokémon?"

>"NOOOO!!!" Robert screamed, and resumed running with Rilli and
Electabuzz in
>tow.  The boy looked after the cloud of dust left behind by the
trainers,
>shrugged, and walked away.

>Nendil (Sorry Rob ^-^;;)

Robert's running speeds up the groups small journey from Viridian City
to Pallet Town... Some Rattatas and Pidgey were knocked over as Robert
plowed through the tall grasses, hopping over small cliffs. About
halfway through, Robert jumps down another legde before pausing to catch
his breath. Electabuzz doesn't seem tired out, but Rilli sure is. She
looks over at Robert and scolds him while panting "C'mon Robert... I
don't like worms too much either... but was that necessary?! I mean, we
could've tripped when jumping over those ledges..."

Robert shakes his head, "Those ledges?! No way! Not with me in the
lead!"

A ten year old looking for new Pokemon walks over to them and says "See
those ledges along the road?"

Robert nods, "Yeah, you'd have to be blind or braindead not to see..."

The kid interrupts Robert, "It's a bit scary, but you can jump from
them."

Robert grits his teeth, "Didn't you just see me jump from them?! It's
not scary at all, if you think thats scary then..."

The kid apparently doesn't care about what Robert is trying to say and
he rambles on, "You can get back to PALLET TOWN quicket that way."

Robert's eye strats twitching and he turns to Mithril-rama, "Is it just
me or as we get closer and closer to Pallet Town, the people get more
and more ignorant... culminating at the core of all ignorance: the
so-called Professor Oak!!!"

Mithril-rama makes a funny look at Robert, "But Robert, Professor Oak is
a very respected man. After all, he did come up with the Pokedex with
the help of only a few aides! Why do you hate him so much?"

Robert looks off into the southern horizon and sees a dome-shaped
laboratory in the distance, most likely belonging to Professor Oak. "It
was that morning in the Vermilion City Pokemon Center..."

* Flashback *

Robert, Quethiril, and Mithril-rama are chatting in the Vermilion City
Pokemon Center the morning that the giant creature attacked the the
beautiful port city. Many people and Chanseys are walking around,
healing injured people.

Robert goes on and on about the Pokemon that he has, Haunter and Cubone.
The two ladies look at each other, wondering when this kid is going to
stop talking and give them a chance to reply.

Robert looks down, noticing his third occupied Pokeball. "Oh yeah! And I
also caught a Farfetch'd yesterday! Whatever THAT is... It looks like a
Duck. It's really funny looking and can barely fly...But I'm guessing
he'll evolve into some majestic bird someday!"

Quethiril reaches into her robes, drawing out a small, red object.
"This is the most recent version of the Pokedex which Professor Oak has
been trying to complete for the last few years. Let's see..." she
punches a few buttons. "Farfetch'd, a duck Pokemon.  It uses the stick
in its beak as a sword and pecks at enemies.  No evolutions known."

Quethiril smiles apologetically at Robert.  "Sorry about that. Perhaps
you'll be able to evolve your Farfetch'd and discover a new species of
Pokemon."

Robert looks down at the Pokeball on his belt which contains Farfetch'd.
"Of course it has to evolve! Nothing that stupid looking could stay that
small and puny forever! I bet it's just that people have given up on it
before it evolves upon hearing this...so-called 'Professor' Oak's
analysis!"

* End of Flashback *

Robert concludes his explanation, "Well, that pretty much sums it up."

Mithril-rama stares at him for a moment in disbelief, then shakes her
head, "That's IT? Robert, you really should be more forgiving... I mean,
you haven't even met the man yet!"

Robert squints his eyes towards the horizon and says softly, "Yeah, but
I'm meeting him now. Let's go!" Robert grabs Mithril-rama's hand and she
pulls it away, saying "I can walk, thank you!" Robert nods and explains,
"I'm sorry... I usually get carried away when I'm excited..." Electabuzz
shrugs and follows Robert and Mithril-rama close behind as they enter
Pallet Town. Robert is completely oblivious as to what is in the the
Town... He fixes his eyes on Professor Oak's Lab from the moment they
walk into town to the moment they reach the door. Robert knocks on the
door.

A lady answers the door and smiles at the two trainers. "Hello there!"

Robert points his finger at her, "Professor Oak, I presume!!! Hey, wait
a minute, Rilli, you said she was a man..."

The lady laughs and shakes her head. She goes on to explain, "I study
Pokemon as Professor Oak's aide. Professor Oak is the authority on
Pokemon! Many Pokemon trainers hold him in high regard!"

Robert points to himself with his thumb, "THIS trainer doesn't hold him
in high regard, and I have TWO badges." Robert smiles proudly and
Mithril-rama places her hand on her forehead and shakes her head,
embarrased by Robert's behavior.

The aide lets them in and goes back into her room for further studies.
Robert looks around the Laboratory, "Hmm, all these books... This guy
sure is pompous! I bet he hasn't read ANY of these books. If he had,
he'd know that Farfetch'd evolves! Where is the senile old fellow,
anyhow, taking his brain medicine?!"

Professor Oak pops out from behind a bookshelf. He is wearing a lab
coat. "Did someone say my name? Who's there?!"

Robert leans over to Rilli and whispers, "See? He shouldn't have an
aide... He should have a HEARING aid!" Rilli just responds by sighing
and whispering "Robert, behave!"

Professor Oak walks up to the two Pokemon Trainers and smiles, "Hello!
Did you two come here to begin your Pokemon Journey? What are your
names?"

Mithril-rama bows, "My name is Mithril-rama, Professor Oak... It is both
an honor and a pleasure to meet you!"

Robert stares at Oak in the eyes and says, "The name's Robert, and I
didn't come here to begin my Pokemon Journey. I've already begun my
Journey! I'm just here to pick up your Pokedex. My friend here thinks it
might help me. I sure hope it can... but I doubt it, what with all the
INNACURATE information!"

Professor Oak scratches his head and thinks for a moment, "Innacurate?
No one has ever said my Pokedex is inaccurate. My granson, Gary, helped
me complete my Pokedex when he went on his Pokemon Journey. Just about
all the information there has been checked, re-checked, and checked
again!"

Robert's eyes turn to slits as he focuses on Oak. "It says Farfetch'd
doesn't evolve..."

Professor Oak recalls a mental image of Farfetch'd and all of that
particular Pokemon's statistics. "No, that's accurate. He doesn't
evolve. He's indexed as Pokemon number 83 and Pokemon number 84 is
Doduo, which is a different kind of Flying Pokemon altogether. I've
categorized them in such a way that if a Pokemon evolves, it's next
evolutionary stage is placed next to the form that it evolves from...
and Farfetch'd does not evolve."

Robert feels like strangling the Professor, but restrains himself. "Oh
yeah?! I'll show you! I'll train Farfetch'd so much that he will evolve,
knocking your whole 'index' over by one, making Doduo number 85! I hope
this will not inconvinience you, Professor..." Robert stares at Oak who
chuckles. Robert frowns and murmers "Why I ought to..."

Professor Oak doesn't seem to be bothered by Robert's quest. "Okay, you
do that, but if you find that he doesn't evolve, don't be dissapointed.
So, you're here to get a Pokedex? Well, I happen to have one handy in
the next room. Follow me." Robert, Mithril-rama, and Electabuzz follow
Professor Oak into a back room, noticing some scorched walls.

Mithril-rama politely asks Professor Oak, "Why are some of the walls
scorched? I heard that you sometimes had problems cooking, but this is
ridiculous!"

Professor Oak laughs at the joke but Robert mumbles something under his
breath. Professor Oak explains, "Well, we had a problem with a Ditto,
but I won't bore you with the scientific details."

Professor Oak walks over to a table and picks up a small rectangular red
object. "Here is a Pokedex for you, free of charge. You can even attatch
it to your belt! It's pretty easy to use, just push this button here
while pointing the Pokedex at a Pokemon you need information on. Also,
push this button here for automated help! Now, I just need to know one
thing... Do you already have a place where you store your Pokemon?"

Robert nods and gives a cold response, "Bill's Lighthouse." Professor
Oak begins typing something into the Pokedex, "Good! Bill is a very good
Pokemon Trainer. Your Pokemon are safe in his hands!" The Professor
finishes entering all the data he needs to enter into the Pokedex and
hands it to Robert.

Robert accepts the gift and murmers, "Yeah. Thanks." as he attaches it
to his belt. "Well then, I've got your Pokedex, I guess I'll just be
going then." Robert turns around and begins walking away, but Professor
Oak calls out to him, "Hey, wait! Wouldn't you like to choose a Pokemon
to help you out on your Journey?"

Robert pauses and turns around, smiling, "Really?! A free Pokemon?!
Yeah, Professor Oak, you're the best!" Robert shakes Professor Oak's
hand wildly and looks around the lab, "Yeah! What kind of Pokemon are
you offering?"

Professor Oak smiles at Robert's sudden change of heart. "Well, since
you've already started your Pokemon Journey, you must already have some
sorts of Pokemon. Do you have a Grass and Poison Pokemon?" Robert nods
and responds, "Yeah, a Gloom." Professor Oak goes on, "How about a Water
Pokemon?" Robert nods, "Yeah, a Slowpoke. He's pretty strong too...
helped me earn my Boulder Badge!" Professor Oak smiles and looks at his
Boulder Badge, "Okay, do you have a Fire Pokemon?" Robert pauses and
shakes his head, "No... I don't have any Fire Pokemon, do I, Rilli?"
Robert looks to Mithril-rama who shakes her head and says, "You don't
have a Fire Pokemon!"

Professor Oak smiles, "Well then, in that case your best bet would
be..." Oak reaches over to a blue platform with an open dome and grabs a
Pokeball. He hands the Pokeball to Robert. "Charmander!"

Robert looks at the Pokeball and smiles, "Wow! A Charman..." The ball
begins turning into electricity and it dissapears into thin air. Robert
stares at the place on his hand where a Pokeball once rested. "Hey!
What's the big idea?! Where's Charmander? Is this some kind of sick
practical joke?!"

Professor Oak laughs and shakes his head. "Actually, my Pokedex is
programmed to only allow you to carry six Pokemon at a time. It helps
trainers get used to League rules. If you are holding six Pokemon and
get a new one, the Pokedex automatically transfers it into Storage.
Usually, people's Pokemon would be sent to my lab, but I programmed your
Pokedex to send them to Bill's Lighthouse. Bill just received your
Charmander! Actually, there is a way to electronically exchange your
Pokemon using my Pokedex. Use the help button to find out how!"

Robert nods, "Well, I guess that all makes sense... Thanks for the
Charmander! Can you help me in any other way?"

Professor Oak nods at Robert. "Well, I've been ignoring your friend
here. Let me chat with her for a while and then remind me to show you my
Pokemon Level Rating machine when I finish. It's something I've been
working on."

Robert nods, "Okay, will do!"

Professor Oak then turns to Mithril-rama and says, "Hmm, you've been
pretty quiet. Do you need a Pokedex too? How about a new Pokemon to help
you out? Even if you don't, I can answer any questions you might have
about Pokemon!" Professor Oak smiles and Robert begins fiddling with his
new Pokedex while the Professor chats with Rilli...

-Robert