Gary walked towards the edge of Pallet town. It was a tiny town by anyone's standards and only on the map because Professor Oak lived there. Gary hated the Oak family. At least, he hated Victor. Victor was the kid prodigy of the family, and was loved by everyone in town. There was one thing he hated more than Victor Oak. It was Pokemon.
Pokemon were the creatures that had enabled the war to start. When an inventor from Johto had created the "Poke ball", suddenly the malevolent beings had gone from dangers of the night to tools of warfare. They had killed his father. And he hated them. The only problem now was trying to leave town without getting attacked by them, which is why he was leaving in broad daylight. The monsters were most active by night. He walked to the edge of town and stood under a tree, looked at the tall grass to find the best route to avoid them. Having decided his course, he started walking—only to be rudely interrupted by the Professor himself.
"Where exactly do you think you're going?"
Gary stared sullenly at him. As if some old man with memory problems would understand...
"You're Gary, right?"
Gary nodded, surprised that senility hadn't stolen that too.
"You shouldn't go into the grass without a Pokemon. Come with me."
Gary watched the Professor walk away. He stood still, and turned away to leave.
"Come on now, young man. I've grown senile, but not that much."
Gary allowed himself to be led to Professor Oak's lab; even though he was convinced the idea of having his own Pokemon was monstrous. In the lab, Victor stood, nonchalantly bouncing a tennis ball off one of the machines.
"Victor! Stop bouncing that ball off of my transcriber!" shouted the Professor, taking Gary by surprise. He'd avoided the old Professor for years, convinced that he was just like the rest of the Oak family. Now he was not so sure, but either way he was warming up to the old man.
Victor shrugged, and put it into his pocket. Then he scowled at the sight of Gary, making Gary tighten up his shoulders and lift his chin. However, he forced himself to relax. I got invited here because he picked me. Not from my bloodline. That has to protect me from Victor.
No such luck. "Well, what do you know, it's Gary. How's your Mom, Gary? Has she turned off the TV yet?"
Gary flushed red, and bit back a retort. The Professor smacked Victor in the back of the head, again surprising Gary and furthermore, surprising Victor.
"Watch it, Gramps! Just because you're old doesn't mean I won't clock you!" snarled Victor, rubbing his head where he'd been hit. The Professor ignored him, and turned to Gary.
"I do apologize for that. I also know you wish to leave. Regardless of your circumstances, I'm afraid I cannot allow you to do so without any form of protection. I would like to give you a Pokemon. However, they are not cheap, and these are not rare ones. I'll have to make you work for me in return, understand?"
Gary couldn't believe it. The Professor was giving him such an opportunity? No one would dare say a word against his underage freedom if the Professor gave him it. Even if it means being saddled with Pokemon... Gary nodded, and stepped forward to stand next to Victor.