Ch.1: A Blast to the Past…Well, sorta…

The large, domed laboratory gleamed with the light of the radiant summer sun that streamed in from the outside, causing the metallic machinery that it contained to shine. Pidgey and Taillow sang, Bellossom and Sunflora danced, and the lab on the small, jungle island was buzzing with excitement.

"This is the day!" the famous Pokémon professor, Samuel Oak exclaimed once more, as he adjusted his reading glasses and reviewed his notes for the umpteenth time, "The day that will make history! You alright, Gary?" he asked, as he turned to face his equally famous grandson, Gary Oak.

Gary sighed.

"You've asked me about a hundred times today, and my answer has been the same: fine. Never better. I'm completely ready to make history. I do wish that you would stop buzzing around like a nervous Beedrill. I don't want you to hurt your leg."

"Yeah, too much news for the media to take in in one day!" added Beth, the tall, blond haired assistant of the Oaks', her brown eyes gleaming with amusement, "It's enough for them to have a field day with the first cloned Pokémon egg, but to add another two page story on how the great Professor Samuel Oak couldn't enjoy his success, along with his lovely assistant and grandson, because of a clumsy fall would be too much!"

"I sure hope you're not referring to me as the 'lovely assistant'!" said Tracey Sketchit, as he set down a box of small, recording devices.

"Or me!" came the muffled, British voice of the young researcher, Bill, from under a large computer screen box.

Gary laughed, as Beth scowled, replying, "Don't be jealous boys, they'll add you both in the news too, under 'obituaries': 'Death by lab accident'."

"Or: 'Death by crazy blond'", said Tracey.

"Or: 'Suicidal assistants driven to insanity by mad blond'", added Bill.
Gary, Bill, and Tracey burst into laughter, as Beth's cheeks grew red, making the freckles on her face stand out. She was about to give a retort, when the older professor stepped in.

"Alright, enough. With the way you all are acting, I may consider suicide myself….We are almost ready, so wasting time like this is not an option! Back to work! Bill, are you almost done fixing the kinks in the recording screen?"

"Almost there…just a few more wires….and….done! That should do it, sir!" said Bill, as he slid himself backwards on his back on the floor and stood, wiping the dust from his black khakis and purple button-up shirt, "Give it a try now," he said, as he began wiping the dust out of his brown hair and pale, but friendly, face.

As Gary started to turn on the large machine, the older Oak watched as he lowered himself slowly in the chair at the desk beside it, placing his cane nearby. Due to old age, years of chasing Pokémon (and the occasional child), and a nasty run-in with an angry Rhyhorn a few years back, a cane was now required for the old man to walk, particularly for his right leg, which he considered his 'bad leg'. The screen flickered on, with cries of relief from the lab's occupants.

"Now, this show is about to begin!" cried the beaming Samuel Oak, as he began typing complicated formulas onto the screen.

"Gary, get the energy projectors into position! Beth, begin checking those vital signs from the Areodactyl egg and give the information to Bill. Bill, you document and calculate how much energy is needed in this process, as agreed on. Tracey, begin recording the process, don't miss any details! Gah! Why am I telling you all this? You all know what to do, do it!"

Beth couldn't help but chuckle at the flustered old professor, as she began looking at a series of charts on smaller screens from the center of the large, wide domed lab at the base of what they hoped would be a success. A mass collection of small computer screens circled around the base of a large, transparent, glass dome. Inside the dome, elevated by steel, robotic arms, was a greenish egg with brown markings. It was the egg of the ancient Pokémon, Aerodactyl.

Since Gary and his team years back had found a way to revive a fossil to its original state, the challenge now was to try to revive a fossilized egg and watch it develop, hatch, and grow. To be able to study Pokémon from infancy would be a researchers' dream come true. The idea of projects like these was to be able to revive the ancient world of Pokémon. Now, after many failed attempts, today could be a day written in history books!

Once everything was in order, the researchers now stood at lever at the base of the egg, under the elevated energy projectors that were poised for position. These 'energy projectors' were big, gun like objects that would direct the desired energy to revive the egg. Everyone was silent.

"Well", said the older Oak, stepping forward with the help of his cane, looking into the faces of Gary, Tracey, Bill, and Beth, "All I can say is, that no matter if this is succeeds or fails, I'm proud of each and every one of you. You all stepped forward on a blindfolded mission, none of us really knowing what we were doing or how we were going to do it. But, we did it. You all have my appreciations for your time and efforts."

He turned, smiling at his grandson, who now hovered over him in height.

"I'm especially proud of you, Gary", he said, placing a firm, but gentle hand on his shoulder, looking into his dark eyes that mirrored his own, "You dared to dream, and you most certainly dream big. That alone, I am proud of. But also, you go for your dreams, which the Pokémon world is grateful for. Now", he said, lowering his hand and staring into the eyes of the eager researchers, "Let's make history!"

After a small round of applause, Tracey, Beth, and Bill (with his laptop) all gathered behind a steel wall with a shatter proof window. Due to the high energy use of the project, they took extra precaution in safety. Only the two Professors remained at the lever.

Samuel Oak smirked up at his grandson, his eyes alight.

"Go for it," he said. With that, he left Gary at the lever that would begin the process of reviving the egg.

Once his grandfather was safely out of potential harm's way, Gary placed his hand on the ball of the lever and yanked it down. Lights began to flash and sounds of machinery coming to life echoed in Gary's ears, as he fled towards the safety of the shatter-proof wall, his white lab coat flapping behind him. He entered into the safety zone brushing his spiky, brown bangs out of his eyes and turned towards to window to watch the spectacle along with the others.

The whirring sounds of the machinery now escalated in volume, nearly deafening them all. Lights flickered and flash across the lab, illuminating the lab even more than the sun. Smiles came upon everyone's faces. It was working.

Suddenly, a crash interrupted the sound of the electronic beats. Lights flashed more than ever, making it almost impossible to see anything.

"What happened?!" shouted Beth over the roar of the machinery, that was now sounding at a higher octave and at a much faster tempo.

"I think one of the energy projectors has a loose bolt or something!" shouted Tracey.

"This is terrible! If something isn't done quickly, this place will explode due to the uncontrolled power of the undirected energy!" cried Bill.

"What should we do, Gramps? Gramps? GRANDPA!" screamed Gary in pure terror, as he noticed his grandfather hobbling as fast as his elderly knees and cane would allow, away from the safety zone and towards the energy projector that was now spiraling out of control in its elevated restraint.

"PROFESSOR!" the others yelled in unison, as they realized what was happening.

"Come back!" cried Gary, as he dashed from the safety of the wall and to the aide of his grandfather.

"NO!" yelled the old man, stopping Gary in his tracks, a few feet from the safety zone, dropping his cane and holding up his arms in protest to Gary's action.

"But-", said Gary.

"No 'buts'!" replied Oak, lowering his arms, "Didn't you hear Bill? If something's not done, we're all doomed. I'd rather be the one to get hurt than you or the others."

Before Gary could argue, Oak was already at the main computer typing as fast as he could. The projector suddenly began to spin rapidly, lights flashing in warning.

"RUN!" cried Gary, as he felt the floor of the lab begin to tremble.

The old man looked up in panic, than began to run back, his right arm supporting his right knee, due to losing his cane.

The projector suddenly began shaking, pointing in the direction of the old professor. Like a cannon, it exploded. The blast echoed from the walls of the lab, light engulfed everything, blinding everyone. The last thing Gary saw before having to shield his eyes from the blast was the beam of the explosion hitting the floor a few feet from behind his grandfather, who was thrown against the wall from the impact, then hidden behind a thick cloud of dust and debris.

When Gary was able to open his eyes again, he found himself face-down on the floor, his arms over his eyes, with dust covered all over him.

"Are you okay?" asked a panic stricken Beth, who was also covered in dust.

"Yeah, fine", muttered Gary, as Tracey and Bill helped him to his feet.

"Where's Grandpa?" asked Gary.

"We don't know yet", replied Bill, "The dust is still too thick in some places."

"Hey! I think I see him!" exclaimed Tracey, pointing ahead of him.

All four of them ran towards a moving lump in an area where the dust fog was lessening up. As they moved closer, they heard coughing.

"Are you okay, Professor?" asked Beth, as they circled around the mass of the Professor's clothing moving on the ground. It was still too thick to see much.

"Besides nearly escaping death? I'm just lovely, Beth", came a sarcastic remark.

The researchers exchanged glances.

"That didn't sound like the Professor to me. How about you guys?" whispered Tracey.

They all exchanged agreeing glances.

"Uh….Grandpa?" asked Gary slowly, as he crept upon the mass of moving clothes, in which he realized his grandfather wasn't in, "is that you?"

"Did that blast idle your brains, Gary? Of course it's me! You'd figure that calling someone 'Grandpa' for the last twenty-two years may be a reason to remember that person…Don't just stand there! Help me up! That blast got my clothes tangled around me."

The researchers exchanged more shocked glances. That wasn't Professor Samuel Oak's voice.

"Fine", retorted the voice among the mass of clothes, "I'll help myself."

The researchers watched with gaping mouths as small, children hands slipped through the sleeves of Oak's red, long-sleeved, button-up shirt and white lab coat. Small feet covered in very loose, gray socks came out through the pants leg of Oak's tan khaki pants. Finally, a small child's head poked out through the opening for the head. The child had brown, bobbed hair and looked to be around ten years old. The child picked himself up and looked up at the researchers.

"You all look like you've seen a ghost Pokémon", the child said, placing his hands upon his hips, "What's the matter?"

The group stared at the child, mouth's open wide.

"Professor…"said Tracey slowly, "is that you?"

"I think you all inhaled too much of that dust", stated the child with impatience, "I mean, I know I have dust on me, that doesn't mean I turned into a Rattata or something."

The crew exchanged glances again.

Gary stepped forward

"If you're truly Samuel Oak, what's my middle name?" he asked.

"This is ridiculous!' the young boy shouted in anger, stamping one foot and crossing his arms.

"Just answer the question!" Gary snapped back.

"Don't you dare talk to your grandfather with that tone of voice, Gary Vernon Oak", the boy snapped back, emphasizing Gary's middle name, fury radiating from him, "I don't care if you are an adult and taller than me, I can still bend you over my knee!"

"He's right…"Gary muttered to the group in shock, ignoring the child.

"Of course I'm right! I remember the day your parents announced what your name would be!" the boy replied, glaring, "What's this all about?"

Beth slowly stepped forward, taking a small mirror from her pocket and gave it to the child.

"Look", she said softly.

The boy did, and when he did, his eyes got wide. His mouth dropped and the mirror fell out of his hands, shattering on the floor. He looked at his hands slowly, then up at the group.

"I'm a child", Professor Samuel Oak stated in shock.

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