"Argh! Stop doing that!" yelled the Doctor. He was down in the bowels of the TARDIS' machinery, trying fervently to find some living power cell still left in it, and he had just been shocked by Pikachu again. "I'm having a bad enough time without you zapping me every five seconds!"

He crawled back out of the depths, a look of despair etched on his face. "Nothing. Not even a spark." Pikachu perked up at this. "No, not an electrical spark, the TARDIS doesn't run on electricity, it runs on the energy of my universe. I need power to still be flowing somewhere from my world so I can charge it back up, but without that, I'm stranded." The Doctor pulled the Pokédex out of his pocket. "I suppose I might as well figure out how to get by in this world; if I travel around a while, maybe I can still find a way back." He pointed his sonic screwdriver at the Pokédex. From the blue fisheye lens, a menu shot up. The Doctor hesitantly touched the icon that read, "Pokémon." Another screen of six slots replaced the menu. An image of his Pikachu filled the first slot. Pressing that image brought up a listing of Pikachu's stats and moves. The Doctor closed this menu and went back to the first, then selected "Pokédex."

"Dex, why is the Pokédex blank?" the Doctor asked. "I unlocked the full potential of this device. Even, I suspect, features I wasn't supposed to see. Now why can't I see any Pokémon data?"

"This data is locked," the Pokédex replied simply. "Pokémon data must be gathered in the field."

"What, you mean I don't get to prepare to encounter these wild creatures?"

"Correct."

"Well, that's just unhelpful." The Doctor gestured to Pikachu. The Pokémon was still hesitant about this new trainer, but after seeing the interior of the TARDIS, was more inclined to follow this seemingly powerful man. Pikachu leapt onto the Doctor's shoulder. The Doctor seemed a little surprised, but after looking at the electric Pokémon, he smiled.

"You know, you are magnificent," he said, almost in wonder. "You Pokémon… not like I haven't seen things like that before. But friendly ones, let alone a hundred and fifty species in one region, now that's fascinating. No wonder all the professors here study you."

The Doctor had been striding out of the TARDIS as he said this; therefore, he wasn't looking when he collided headlong with a boy with spiky brown hair and a black shirt.

"Hey, watch it!" the boy snapped. "Do you know who I am?"

"No, should I?" the Doctor said, a bit frazzled.

"I'm Blue, Professor Oak's grandson. And I'm going to become the greatest Pokémon master in history!"

"Oh? And what Pokémon do you have?"

"I was about to show you – after all, you bumped into me, and my new Pokémon is ready to go. I challenge you to a battle!"

"Er… no thanks."

"Sorry, there's no running from a trainer battle. If you're a coward, you'll never make it as a trainer. Go, Squirtle!" Blue threw a Poké Ball, and there was a flash of white light. A turtle-like creature, with light blue skin, appeared and assumed a battle stance.

"Well, have at it, Pikachu," the Doctor said with a shrug. Pikachu jumped off his shoulder and landed in a ready stance of his own.

"Squirtle, use Tackle!" The Doctor frantically fiddled with the Pokédex as Squirtle charged.

"Use Thundershock, Pikachu!" As Squirtle rammed Pikachu, the electric Pokémon's body crackled with electricity. Both Pokémon flew backwards, Pikachu from inertia and Squirtle from the shock. Pikachu got to its feet, but Squirtle stayed down. The Doctor looked appalled at what he'd done.

"I'm so sorry, is that Pokémon all right?" he asked.

"Of course he's all right," snapped Blue. "You just got lucky using that Pikachu; Electric types are just naturally better against Water types. Next time I see you, I'll be ready!" Blue recalled his Squirtle in a flash of red, tossed a handful of money at the Doctor, and raced away on Route 1 just as Professor Oak came out of his lab.

"Doctor, I saw your first battle from the window," he said. "I must say, your compassion and concern for Pokémon is intriguing. I think, with that kind of care, you could become a Pokémon master in time."

"I still don't understand," the Doctor said. "Look, I electrocuted that Squirtle. Its heart should have stopped, but it only fainted."

"Well, of course," said Oak. "Pokémon moves that have been classified and named are all non-lethal. Poison types only use weakening and tranquilizing venom, electric types only use stunning amounts of voltage, and so forth. Over the years, Pokémon's instincts have changed so that they don't attack trainers or kill Pokémon in battle."

"Well… all right. When in Rome, do as the Romans do. Believe me, you slip and mention indoor plumbing once, and then everything goes mad."

"Oh, you'll need a few Poké Balls," Oak interjected, apparently not paying attention. "I forgot that you don't have any of our currency."

"Actually, I think I do." The Doctor held up the money Blue had thrown at him. "Your grandson gave me these. Er… why did he give me these?"

"It's considered common courtesy to give the victor of the battle winnings after the battle." Oak handed the Doctor five Poké Balls. "Is there anything else I've forgotten?"

"Is there any way you could bypass the lock system on this Pokédex? I need to know what types of Pokémon I'll be facing."

"No, no, all my researchers fill their Dexes by themselves. It's that feeling of exploration that makes the Pokédex project so successful."

"All right, then I suppose I'm off. Pikachu… alllons-y." He proffered his shoulder, which Pikachu climbed back on. The Doctor headed north, leaving his TARDIS behind and embarking on a new journey.