"Being dual-typed doesn't make a Pokémon invincible. Sometimes it can create or even compound weaknesses without offering much of a benefit. With triple types, on the other hand, we would be able to create combinations that negated any such weaknesses. This, truly, would shake the world on its foundations."

-Doctor Harrison

Settling in

"Here are your lodgings, doctor," Frank said, opening the door to a large suite. "Your office is behind the doors on the right, washrooms on the left. Dinner will be brought up to your room at a time of your own choosing. Unless, of course, you wish to eat in the downstairs dining room."

Lindsey curiously glanced into the suite. A double four-poster bed stood beside several bookcases, all in the same, antique style she had seen in the rest of the house. There were large windows with draping curtains which, thankfully, were open, letting daylight stream in.

"Should you need my assistance with something, you may call me with this."

Frank handed her a walkie-talkie. She had been expecting a silver bell.

"It's a big place," Frank explained when he saw her look at it with bemusement. "We all use them."

"Who else besides us, if I might ask?" Apparently, the house was not as empty as she'd first assumed.

"There is Patricia, the housemaid, you'll usually find her in the kitchens. And Oliver, our technician and gardener who is currently down in the basement maintaining the swimming pool filters."

'swimming pool?'

"Then there is the master of the house and lastly, Ash… although I have not given him a walkie-talkie. I wasn't sure if he should have one..."

Lindsey could tell from the way his smile seemed to ebb slightly that he was concerned with Ash's condition in a way she wished his father had been. He genuinely cared.

"I will go check up on him soon." She reassured, trying to project some confidence in her voice to put the old man's mind at ease. "Can I please have the code to the Wi-Fi network so I can check his medical records?"

"Ah." Frank began, looking a bit uncomfortable. "A recent storm blew out some wires so we currently haven't got any service. I expect it will be fixed soon though."

"Oh."

"I'd like to assure you that this is not a regular occurrence at the estate. We strive to keep the mansion and all of its functions in perfect working condition. We can't, however, control the weather…"

Lindsey put up a hand. "It's alright, Frank, I understand. But I will need those files one way or another if I want to treat Ash properly."

Frank inclined his head in gratitude. "Thank you for understanding, doctor. I'll make sure they'll get to you. Is there anything else you might need in the meantime?"

"Ah!" She exclaimed, how could she have forgotten? "I brought a Pokémon."

"A Pokémon?" A slight frown crept across frank's face. "I didn't know you were a trainer?"

"Well, I… wouldn't call myself a trainer in the exact sense of the word," Lindsey explained, a little taken aback at the reaction. Everyone has Pokémon, why is It such a surprise she does too? "I have raised an Espeon to help me with patients. It is specialized in using its psychic abilities to make my patients feel more at ease. With great success, I might add. However, …" Some of the confidence left her voice. "I don't know if Ash will respond well to it."

Frank nodded solemnly, he too remembered the way Ash had reacted to the Houndoom.

"Please do keep a close eye on your Pokémon, doctor. We don't want anything to happen to it."

What a strange thing to say.

"Are there other Pokémon here?" She asked.

"Yes, the master owns several but since they are large and… rather destructive they are not let out inside the mansion. The one exception is his Persian but you won't see it often.

"Because it is skittish?"

"Because it is lazy," Frank said, without a hint of irony. Then he went on, "Patricia has a Gothitelle which usually helps her with the household. You've already seen my Houndoom which guard the premises. Their names are Hotdog and Chocolate- don't laugh, my grandchildren named them. And Oliver owns a Nuzleaf which usually stays in the garden. That's it, I think. If we're not counting the many critters in the forest around us, of course."

"Quite a crowd" Lindsey said, with a small smile. Though she hadn't forgotten how her mentioning she had a Pokémon had displeased him.

"The bigger, the better" He agreed sincerely.

When Lindsey finally closed the door behind her, the first thing she did was open her luggage, which had already been brought up to her room by Frank (bless him), and retrieved Espeon's Pokéball. The poor thing hadn't had a chance to stretch its legs all day. When she released it, it looked serenely up at her and cooed, then it inspected its new surroundings.

"This will be our new home for a while," Lindsey said softly, turning to unpack her possessions. "Hope you don't mind. I know we've been hopping from one new place to the next for a while now."

Espeon cooed again in an assuring sort of way as it quietly explored the suite, sniffing all the strange new objects.

Once Lindsey was done putting everything in its proper place, which took only a short amount of time, she went to her new office. Just like her employer had promised, all the necessary equipment she would have expected in a regular doctor's office was there, all immaculately clean. Even so, she double-checked all the medication, the expiration dates, and if all tools were still properly sterile. With only a single patient in her care, she was determined to treat him well. Once satisfied with the condition of her office, she packed up a few items in a medical bag and walked towards the door, where Espeon waited for her. It stood up, evidently ready to join her per usual.

"You can't come with me, Espeon. At least not yet."

Espeon's eyes went wide as sapphires. It was never denied going with her to work. It felt as responsible for Lindsey's patients as she did.

"I know, I know. But you can't help right now. Please wait here."

She closed the door behind her, leaving Espeon with its tail flicking back and forth in annoyance.

It was time to do her job.