Author's Notes:
Last chapter I meant to put in a conversation between Brian and Jet in which Brian explains the conversation he had with Amy while Jet was finding the ultra-ball.
I kind of screwed the pooch on that one and forgot all about it. What happened was Amy apologized and said that she liked Brian and hoped they could maintain their friendship. Nothing special, just wanted to throw that out there.
And in case you're wondering, the story doesn't take place exclusively in Pallet Town. The first eight or so chapters of the story just explain how Jethro came into Pokémon training and why he left on his journey.
One thing to note is that Pokémon will be a lot more dangerous in this story than in the anime and the games. Also, Jet will be a much better trainer than Ash was. I'm not saying he will win every battle, but after a while he definitely becomes a force to be reckoned with.
And there won't be a set Pokémon lineup, Jet will be catching a lot of Pokémon and rotating accordingly. He isn't going to train every Pokémon he catches, but he will have handful of useful ones under his belt.
Oh yeah, and Team Rocket is going to be a lot more dangerous and a lot less thematic. They won't appear that often, but they will be a background presence. In case you're wondering, the story will very loosely follow the plot of the games.
I probably should have explained all of this in the beginning, but I guess it must've just slipped my mind. Anyways…
The Three Eggs
At the age of seventeen, Jethro had finally decided what he wanted to be when he grew up. After taking an extensive amount of courses for his Class A license, (he has had his Class B for quite some time now), and working at the research center for almost three years, he decided that he wanted to be a Pokémon Veterinarian.
He had wanted to be a doctor when he was younger; but after spending so much time training and raising Pokémon, Jet figured he had found his true calling. The best part was he would get his Class A by the end of the summer; just before he turned eighteen.
To do so, he would have to get high scores on all of his tests, something Jet never seemed to find particularly difficult. Jet looked down at his essay question.
Describe, briefly, how Pokémon storage works. Include both capsule storage and digital storage in your answer.
Jet smiled at the question and began to write:
Pokémon capsule storage is a term used to refer to the containment of a given Pokémon species within a Pokémon storage capsule device, (or pokeball, for short). Once captured, a Pokémon can be homed to only one Pokeball for the remainder of its life. Exceptions to this rule occur when the pokeball in question is destroyed; a rare occurrence.
Similarly, once a pokeball is occupied by a specific Pokémon, it can no longer be used on another, (no exceptions). Every pokeball can be occupied by only one Pokémon at a time.
Pokeballs vary in type, but they all have the same basic principles when it comes to storage. They can hold any species of Pokémon, (No matter how large). Once the Pokémon is captured within a pokeball, it can only be released by external means. Vice versa, the captured Pokémon can always be recalled back into its ball, as long as it is within proper distance of the storage device.
When the Pokeball is enlarged, a Pokémon can be captured, summoned, or recalled by its trainer. Also, while the Pokémon is actually in the pokeball, it will have awareness, (albeit very limited), of its surroundings on the outside.
When the pokeball is reduced, then the Pokémon inside will be in a hibernated state of suspended animation. It will not have to eat, sleep, relieve itself, nor will it even have any thoughts other than dreams. It is hypothesized that a Pokémon could potentially live forever if in this state undisturbed.
When it comes to digital storage, the Pokémon is sent to a storage center in its catatonic state. It remains at the storage center until withdrawn from said center by the trainer via computer, (hence the name digital storage.)
After finishing his essay question, Jet set his pencil down. As far as he was told, this was the last portion of his test on Pokémon population control and storage. Jet rubbed his eyes, tired from the day's proceedings. He was glad that this Saturday he would have the day off. It was the first real day off he has had in a while.
When Jet was dismissed by the examiners, he walked to the bus stop with Amy and Brian.
"What did you think of the test? Was it easy?" Brian, who had gotten his Class A about a month ago, had an annoying habit of going over Jet's exams with him.
"Yeah, I guess."
Brian persisted, "They were always easy for me, I especially enjoyed the battle simulators."
Amy clucked her tongue, "Leave Jet alone, will you? He still has another three months of testing before he gets his Class A."
Jet smiled. Amy was getting hers next week; as soon as her paperwork went through, but Jet appreciated her chastising Brian all the same.
Jet woke up two days later to his phone ringing. He picked it up and mumbled sleepily, "Hello?"
Amy's voice came over the other end. "Hey Jet. Grandpa wants you to come in today, says he has an important job for you."
Jet groaned, "S'my day off, Amy! Does he know that?"
Amy laughed, "Well, duh? He says you'll get overtime."
Jet groaned again, "I'll be there within the hour."
"Ok, see you then, sweetie!"
Jet hung up the phone and rolled over. He supposed this was probably what he gets for wanting a day off. He got up and went to the bathroom to wash up.
When Jet arrived at the Pokémon lab, Doris said, "He's waiting for you in his office."
Jet nodded, and continued on his way to Professor Oak's office, wondering what was so important as to have Oak tell Doris to expect him.
When Jet entered the office, Oak said, "Close the door."
When Jet did so, Professor Oak gestured toward three Pokémon eggs on a table by the window and said, "Can you identify these eggs?"
Jet was confused. Is this why he sent for me? To give me a test on identifying Pokémon eggs?
Jet looked at the eggs with interest. One was large and green. The middle one was smaller; it was also blue and almost shell shaped. The last one was red. This one Jet recognized immediately.
He pointed at the red one and said, "This is a Charmander egg. Charizard is one of my favorite Pokémon, so that's an easy one. This one," Jet said pointing at the blue one, "belongs to a water Pokémon. Judging by the shape and the hue, I'd say it belongs to a Squirtle.
"The last one is more difficult, but judging by the shape of the spots, the size, and the fact that the other two were both starters native to the Kanto region, I'd say it's a Bulbasaur."
A starter is a name for a Pokémon of grass, water, or fire type that evolved twice. Once usually before level twenty into a three star Pokémon. Then again usually sometime in its thirties into a five star. Researchers agree that these kind of Pokémon were the best type to train when just starting out.
Professor Oak seemed impressed with Jet's observations. "Very good, and you are correct with all three. Have you ever heard of a man named Eugene Adams?"
Jet nodded, "He's a Pokémon breeder, famous for breeding and selling rare Pokémon. People call 'Mr. Pokémon'. Brian was talking about buying a Dratini from him when he raised the money."
Oak smiled, "Yes, he is quite fond of that nick name. He is actually an acquaintance of mine. He is usually the person to go to if you want starter Pokémon, no matter what region.
"I was at his ranch yesterday when I learned that he had these three starter eggs, all of which were laid at the same time. This is an extremely rare occurrence and an excellent opportunity."
Jet started to catch on, "So you want to study their growth? Starters usually hatch at the same rate, so you will be able to do a comparative study on how fast they grow in the same environment, right?"
Oak nodded, "Exactly, but there is more to it. I want to see how they're behaviors compare while being raised under the exact same environment and under the exact same conditions. I also want to make sure while they are growing, their power levels and their stats are syncing at about the same rate, do you understand?"
"Yes, sir," Jet said, "but that's extremely difficult to do, especially if this is a long term experiment."
Oak sighed, "yes it is, which is why this experiment is only going to be for three months, after which time I will auction these Pokémon off. Not that I had to pay for them; Eugene owed me a favor, you see.
"It is just too difficult to make this a yearlong experiment like I would have liked. The way I see it, they should hatch just as summer starts, so I will sell them just as summer ends."
He then turned and faced Jet, "I want you to head the study. You will be in charge of their training, diet, and upbringing. You and only you."
Jet was shocked, "Wha- Why me?"
Oak smiled, "Because I need the same trainer to train all three Pokémon at once for this experiment to work. Because you are the one trainer I have who has an in depth knowledge of Pokémon medicine that doesn't have to treat a dozen other sick Pokémon a day. Because I sincerely believe that you are one of the best Pokémon trainers to walk through these halls."
Jet was speechless, "But Brian and Amy-"
But Oak cut him off, "Both excellent trainer's. They both are very intelligent for their age and are both highly capable. But I have been watching your career closely over the past few years and have witnessed you go from an intelligent boy who seemed to be good at connecting with Pokémon, to a trainer whose knowledge surpassed that of ninety percent of those under my employment.
"You know Pokémon, inside and out. You know their capabilities, their habits, how to bond with them, and most impressively, how to work them until they are at their full potential. The Pokémon you train end up being the most powerful ones in the lab, and that is without using them in serious battles!
"You know how to keep your head when something goes wrong and the situation becomes potentially dangerous. Not to mention your skill when it comes to medicine and dieting rivals that of my professional doctors!"
Jet didn't know what to say. Coming from Professor Oak, that was the biggest compliment anyone has ever given him, including the one time when Amy told him he looked hot.
"Thank you sir," said a humble Jet, "I'll do it."
Oak grinned, "Excellent. Now, I have some conditions. First; no battles. You can let them do mock battles and practice their attacks but that's it. Second; you must constantly keep track of their power and stats to ensure it remains even. Third; no pokeballs. I don't want them contained until they are ready to be sold, understand?"
Jet nodded, and Oak said, "Excellent. Now, I have hired two new Jr. Pokémon Daycare Assistants for the summer. They will be your assistants until the end of the experiment. They have been given strict instructions to do nothing but feed and clean the Pokémon without your supervision."
Oak then went over to his desk, pressed a button on the intercom, and said, "You can let them in now."
Two kids, both fourteen by the look of them, filed into the office. "This is Chris, and this is Gina. They will be your assistants. This is Jethro; He will be your supervisor."
They nodded hello and Professor Oak spent the rest of the meeting giving them instructions on how he wanted the birth to go, and the preparations that were involved. Jet would graduate in a few days, so he would be able to spend about eighteen hours a day with the new Pokémon. He was about to make a lot of overtime.
Over the next couple of weeks Jet's job was simply to monitor the activity of the eggs via ultrasound and take notes on their behavior. Brian and Amy did not envy this job, and Jet couldn't blame them. It was the dullest thing he ever did at the Research center.
Sometimes he would have his assistants take notes while he went online and did his trainer's courses. Other times Brian and Amy would visit during their breaks with food. They would hang out and play cards during these occasions.
During the day of their expected hatching there was a lot of movement inside the egg; as planned.
"Chris, inform Professor Oak that the hatch should begin in an hour and a half." Chris nodded and hurried off. "Gina, go down to the medical wing and see Dr. Lowry, tell him give you that kit that I requested yesterday."
Gina said, "No problem," and she was off as well.
Jet then put on a lab coat and some gloves, and then began mixing a vitamin formula for the Pokémon to drink when they hatched. He used a blender to mix the vitamins with pecha berries to give it a sweet flavor.
He also went into a little fridge where he prepared the Pokémon's meals. For Bulbasaur, he prepared a salad of berries and leaves that were used to promote bone growth. For Squirtle, Jet had cut strips of raw sea bass. And for Charmander, raw steak chunks that were cut into bitable cubes.
Jet had done a ton of research on Charmander, Bulbasaur, and Squirtle online during his egg monitoring sessions. He paid extra close attention to their diets, as well as their growth patterns and behavioral habits. Jet had already put plans in motion to raise their EV's as high as possible while they were young so that when they got older, they would be very well rounded starters.
Professor Oak said he wanted them to be at level five by the end of the summer. Normally this is a piece of cake; but Jet wasn't allowed to battle them or use level growing medicines such as rare candies. This made Jet's task all but impossible. They could do all the strength training they wanted to raise their stats, but the only way to raise their overall power level was to battle. And trying to level up a baby Pokémon with mock battles was like trying to scrub hardwood floors clean with a tooth brush. It was going to be a long summer.
Both Chris and Gina returned. Chris informed Jet that Oak would be there later to watch the hatching. Gina had brought a box with the items he requested. Jet pulled from the box a bunch of empty syringes as well as small bottles of the medicines and vitamins he needed.
"Ok," said Jet, "Grab your lab coats and gloves. After that start preparing the hot towels like we talked about. While they did their task, Jet took one of the syringes and put a very small dose of epinephrine in it.
"What's that needle for?" Chris asked.
"It's to speed up the hatching process."
And with that, he injected the needle into the Bulbasaur egg. He repeated this process with the two other eggs as well. The Bulbasaur egg suddenly cracked.
"Here it comes, get those towels ready!"
As Gina brought over a towel the Bulbasaur hatched. Its eyes were closed tight and it was covered in embryonic fluid. Jet picked it up and handed it to Gina.
"Here clean him off and start feeding him. The salad first and then the bottle."
When Gina wiped Bulbasaur off, she looked down at his face and said, "Aww!"
The Squirtle hatched next and Chris cleaned and fed it. When the Charmander hatched Jet did the same. The Charmander was different. Strangely enough instead of being orange like most of his kind, Charmander was a deep shade of red, like a Charmeleon.
They fed the Pokémon, wrapped them in their warm towels, and then gave them the bottles of formula. Professor Oak came in the room with Brian, Amy, and a host of other people who came to witness the hatching.
"Oh my God," exclaimed Amy, "They are sooooo cute! Can I hold one?"
Jet handed over the Charmander, "I have to give them all their shots anyway."
When Jet gave Bulbasaur his shots, it gave a cute little growl but continued drinking its formula. Squirtle was a lot harder, as he kept withdrawing into his shell between shots. Charmander however, simply looked up at Jet with big, gorgeous eyes.
"This little guy is a champ!" Amy said, handing Charmander back to Jet.
One of the other trainers asked, "Why is it so red?"
Jet shrugged, "Genetic anomaly. They're rare, but not unheard of."
After the Pokémon were finished with the bottles Jet and his assistants rocked the Pokémon to sleep. Charmander grabbed Jet's lab coat with a small, but surprisingly firm grip.
Amy gave another little "aww!" as the Pokémon were placed on little carts with small cushions prepared for them to sleep on. Brian walked up from behind Jet and clapped him on the shoulder, whispering in his ear, "This is the most adorable thing I've seen since the last time Amy wire a bikini."
