"Stand by," Professor Oak cautioned as a blinding white beam engulfed the pokéball. The sphere's vibrant red color melted to an electrified white and the mass began to shrink until it was gone entirely. As quickly as it had disappeared, a new pokéball appeared in its place. Oak picked up the new one and summoned a creature from within it. In a flash of red light, a small green creature materialized at his feet. The Pokémon was a bit chubby and weighed down by a plant that seemed to be attached to its back. "I have Bulbasaur here, Sam" The old man clarified to his monitor.
"Thanks, Professor" A young boy smiled from the computer screen. "Pidgey's here, too" He held up a bird like creature, it tweeted happily.
Oak smiled, "Good luck in your m-"
DING DONG!
Oak's doorbell interrupted him midsentence.
"Oh, who could that be" He mumbled to himself. "Well good luck in your match, Sam" He said to the boy. Sam nodded and the screen flickered to black.
DING DONG!
The doorbell repeated itself as Oak struggled to stand up on his shaky old legs, clutching the desk for support.
DING DONG! DING DONG! DING DONG!
Oak finally reached his front door, his ears ringing. He opened the door, and on his front step stood a young girl.
"HI PROFESSOR!"
The old man blinked, "Oh, Erin," He glanced at his watch, "You're early..." He looked at her questioningly.
Erin had short, scruffy red hair which was partially covered by an old baseball cap. She wore a T-shirt that said "Take a Chansey!" along with a pair of battered jeans and sneakers.
"I just couldn't wait to come to my first day of work, Sir" the thought seemed to make her more excited.
Oak raised his eyebrow, "Alright," he shrugged, "I guess I'll show you around" He turned and motioned for her to follow.
Eyes wide, Erin was given a tour of the professor's lab. They passed countless windows and enclosures; one window looked out onto a prairie where a herd of Tauros were running freely. Oak explained that they belonged to a trainer named Ash Ketchum, who had started his journey at that very lab, and went on to become a Pokémon Champion. They also passed an aquarium that glimmered with countess water pokémon; lumineon glided gracefully around magikarp who were flailing in the open water.
Finally, they came to a door at the end of the hallway, "This is the pokéball storage room," Oak explained, he opened the door, revealing a room the size of ten libraries. In front of them was a plain metal bookshelf filled with pokéballs, next to it was an identical one, and next to that was another; the bookshelves seemed to continue on like this forever. He reached into his pocket and removed the pokéball that contained Sam's Bulbasaur, "Your first job," The dim light made his smile look almost sinister, "Will be to file this one." He held up the pokéball, and Erin took it hesitantly. "Good luck," Oak added, as he closed the door, leaving Erin alone in the endless pokéball chamber.
She squinted at the first shelf, she could barely make out the symbols "A1" which were printed on its side. "At least they're marked", she said optimistically, and started walking.