Beep… Beep… Beep…
Data printed out of the machine keeping Ash alive.
The doctor sighed as he read it. He turned to Iris and Cilan. "Your friend just keeps getting worse. Unless we find a cure soon, he won't survive."
Iris and Cilan looked at each other.
"You've tried everything?" Cilan asked.
The doctor nodded. "It so happens there's been a pattern of trainers in Unova falling to the same illness. Some haven't made it. As of last night, Unova is under Quarantine. No one will be allowed in or out of the region."
"There's only one thing we can do then." Iris decided.
"What's that?" Cilan questioned.
"We're going to find a cure!" Iris told him.
"Half of the doctors and researchers all over the world are out there searching for it. You can look too, but you might not have any luck." The doctor told him.
"It's the only thing we can do to help Ash!" Cilan pointed out. "We have to!"
"Before you go, do you know his mother's phone number? We haven't managed to contact her." The doctor asked.
"To tell the truth, we don't." Iris admitted. "But I think Professor Oak might. Do you know his number?"
The doctor nodded. "Thank you."
Professor Oak's Lab…
Ring! Ring! The telephone rang.
"I'll get it!" Tracey called to Mrs. Ketchum. "It's probably Professor Oak or another professor!" He picked up the phone. "Hello? Professor Oak's lab. How may I help you?"
"This is Doctor Gerald Hans. I was hoping you would know the number of someone I'm trying to reach. Would you happen to know a Mrs. Delia Ketchum? It's very important." The man on the other end asked.
"You don't need her number. She's here with me. Will you hold a moment? I'll go get her." Tracey put the phone on hold and ran to get Mrs. Ketchum. "Mrs. Ketchum, it's for you."
"Really? Why didn't they call me at home?" Mrs. Ketchum asked.
"Didn't know your number. " Tracey replied. "Come on. The guy said it was important."
Mrs. Ketchum picked up the phone. "Hello? This is Delia Ketchum speaking." As she listened, the color drained from her face. "What city are you in? I'm coming there!" She answered frantically. She listened some more. "WHAT DO YOU MEAN UNOVA'S UNDER QUARANTINE? I HAVE TO BE WITH MY SON! NO EXCEPTIONS? WHY YOU…"
Tracey stared as she started cursing at the man on the other end.
She slammed the phone back on its hook. "HE HUNG UP ON ME! HOW DARE HE HANG UP ON ME?" She screamed.
Tracey hid.
She lowered her voice as soon as she noticed. "I'm sorry, Tracey. He just informed me Ash was in the hospital and I can't go see him."
"Why is Unova under Quarantine?" Tracey asked.
"I don't know. I didn't give him the chance to tell me." Mrs. Ketchum admitted.
"I'll bet it's all over the news. A whole region put under quarantine is pretty big." Tracey pointed out.
Mrs. Ketchum snatched the remote and flipped on the television.
"This just in." A reporter announced. "As of last night, the whole Unova region has been put under quarantine. From the information we've managed to gather, this sudden status is due to a mass outbreak of a deadly illness targeting young trainers. If you have visited the Unova region in the past few months, it is asked that you report to a hospital for a checkup immediately."
Tracey glanced at Mrs. Ketchum. "Wait. Isn't Professor Oak in Unova right now?"
Mrs. Ketchum raced to the phone and dialed Professor Juniper's number.
One of Professor Juniper's assistants answered. Apparently, Professor Oak and Professor Juniper were out searching for a cure for the sickness.
"Thank you for the information. Bye." Mrs. Ketchum hung up the phone. "I sure hope they find the cure. Ash is the whole world to me."
"I'm sure the other trainers' parents feel the same about their kids." Tracey said. "I'm going out to feed the pokemon. It's time for their dinner." He left.
Mrs. Ketchum sighed. "Oh, Ash. Please be okay."