Two hours later, Professor Oak and Tracey were still trying to repair the damage done to their electroencephalograph by Pikachu's vivid recollection of its Vermillion City battle.
"I think that got it, Tracey," Professor Oak said as he handed the screwdriver back to his assistant.
"Got what?" said a familiar female voice.
Professor Oak smiled at the sight of the pretty auburn-haired woman and her Pokémon standing in the doorway. "Oh, Tracey and I were trying to repair the damage that your son's Pokémon did to my equipment. Although it's not entirely his fault -- I did ask them to recall one of their most exciting battles. I just didn't think Pikachu's memories would be so vivid."
"Ash was telling me that you were busy with one of your experiments," Delia replied. "That's why I brought this over." She uncovered the basket that Mimie was carrying to reveal a loaf of homemade bread. "I figured that you'd probably be too busy to eat lunch, so I made you some bread."
Tracey eagerly took the loaf from the basket. "Thanks, Mrs. Ketchum. I'm starving!"
"Starving? Why?"
"The Professor made some oatmeal this morning and it didn't turn out too well," Tracey explained as he tore off a huge chunk of bread and stuffed it in his mouth.
"Oh dear. Well, maybe I should bring over some apple pie later."
"Oh, you don't have to bother with that, Delia," said Professor Oak. "Tracey and I eat well enough, don't we?"
Tracey gave his boss a guilty look, then mouthed the word "no" in Delia's direction.
"Oh, it's no trouble. I did some baking yesterday and I have more than enough left over. Matter of fact, there are probably enough baked goodies to last you for several days."
"Delia, that's more than kind of you, but you don't have to worry about us," Professor Oak assured her, despite the fact that he was fighting Tracey for the loaf of bread.
"Nonsense. I'll bring over some pie this afternoon. And I'll stop by every day to see that the two of you are eating properly."
Tracey mouthed the words "thank you".
"So what's this?" Delia asked as she looked at the partially charred computer.
"It's an electroencephalograph. It measures brain waves," Professor Oak explained to her between bites of bread. "I've been using it to see if people and their Pokémon think alike."
"Sounds interesting," Delia said as Mimie regarded the tangled mass of electrodes curiously.
"Hey Professor, do you think Mrs. Ketchum and Mimie would like to be part of the research study?" Tracey asked as he finished eating.
"What would I have to do?" Delia asked.
"Well, if you'd really like to participate," Professor Oak said as he stuffed the last bit of bread in his mouth. "All I'd have to do is hook you and Mimie up to this machine and let it do the rest."
"Here, Mrs. Ketchum," said Tracey. "Sit down and I'll start putting the electrodes on your head."
Professor Oak snatched the mass of wires out of his assistant's hands. "Tracey, why don't you hook up Mimie? I'll take care of Mrs. Ketchum." Smiling broadly, he sat down next to her and began to carefully paste the electrodes on her forehead. "Now don't worry about a thing. This won't hurt at all."
"Ooh, it tickles!" she giggled as he brushed aside her hair and delicately placed another electrode on her head.
Tracey grinned as he watched his boss fuss over Mrs. Ketchum. He knew that Professor Oak liked her – liked her a lot, as a matter of fact. "Humans sure act goofy sometimes, don't they, Mimie?" Tracey whispered to the Pokémon as he finished attaching the electrodes to its head.
"Mime," the Pokémon agreed with a jealous glance in Professor Oak's direction.
"Now how does that feel?" Professor Oak asked as he placed the last electrode on Delia's head and let his hand linger there for a moment.
"A little strange. A bit tickly."
"Would you be more comfortable if you laid down? I'll get you a pillow," Professor Oak said as he jumped up to find the softest pillow in the house.
"Oh, you don't have to bother with that. I'm fine," Delia assured him with a smile.
"Why don't we start the experiment, Professor?" Tracey asked. He had finished hooking up Mimie to the EEG five minutes ago.
"Oh, you're absolutely right, Tracey." Professor Oak began examining the readout on the computer. "If I may say so, Delia, you have the best-looking brain waves I've ever seen."
Tracey stifled a giggle; he couldn't believe what his boss had just said. He'd have to share that one with Ash and the gang later.
After glaring at Tracey, Professor Oak turned his attention back to his attractive test subject. "All right, Delia, I want you to relax and think of a happy memory that you and Mimie shared."
Delia pondered this for a moment. "I know, Mimie. How about last Thursday, when you and I spent the whole morning harvesting the tomatoes in the garden? We have some of the best-looking tomatoes this year, don't we?"
"Oh, you definitely have nice tomatoes," said Professor Oak with a goofy smile. Realizing what he had just said, his face turned bright red. "Uh, I mean…" Delia giggled as Professor Oak quickly focused on the readout on the screen. "You and Mimie are approaching near-synchrony. The two of you obviously have a strong bond."
"Well, of course we do. Mimie's always so helpful around the house. And he does keep everything neater than Ash."
Tracey giggled again.
"All right, Delia, I want you and Mimie to think of something sad."
"Sad…hmmm. I know, Mimie. Remember when we spent the whole morning cleaning the house, and then Ash and Pikachu ended up tracking mud all over the kitchen?"
"Mime," said the Pokémon, recalling the many hours spent waxing the kitchen floor, only to have it ruined in a matter of minutes by a hyperactive Ash and his equally wild Pokémon.
"Near-perfect synchrony again, Delia. You're my best subject yet," Professor Oak beamed in her direction.
"Wait, Professor, I thought Ash and Pikachu's results were the best…"
Professor Oak slapped a hand over his assistant's mouth. "Never mind that, Tracey. Now, Delia, I want you and Mimie to recall the most exciting battle the two of you had."
"That's easy. Remember the time when that nasty Team Rocket stepped all over my flowers in the garden? You stopped them with Barrier, didn't you, Mimie?"
"Mime-mime," the Pokémon nodded.
"Almost perfect again, Delia," Professor Oak smiled as he made some notes then went over to her side. "Thank you for being so helpful."
"Oh, it was no trouble at all," Delia said as Professor Oak began to carefully remove the electrodes from her forehead. "Actually, I'm rather flattered that you'd include me in one of your experiments."
"Well, if you'd like, I'm sure I can think of other experiments that you can help me out with," Professor Oak grinned.
"Oh, I'm sure you will," Tracey murmured as he removed the electrodes from Mimie's head.
"What was that, Tracey?"
"Uh, nothing, Professor," Tracey said hastily.
"Well, thank you again, Delia," Professor Oak said as he helped her up from her couch. "And thank you for the bread."
"I'll be sure to stop by later with the apple pie," Delia said as she gathered up her basket.
As she and Mimie left, Professor Oak turned to his assistant, who was trying hard not to burst out laughing about how goofy his boss was acting around Mrs. Ketchum.
"Tracey, I believe it's your turn to clean up after the Pokémon, isn't it?" he said as he handed his assistant a shovel. "Muk had a little accident in the living room earlier."
Tracey's smile quickly faded.