On the TV, a reporter from Jubilife is standing in front of the Goldenrod Radio Tower, saying: "Here in Goldenrod news of the protests has spread and rumors are circulating that a large demonstration will be held here in this very street. In other news, the Grand Pok athlon Cup begins in two weeks, and-" I change the channel to the Poke Flute Music Channel and begin to relax in my chair.
Suddenly, the phone rings and, startled, I tear the phone from the receiver. "Hello?" I ask.
"Carter," starts a robotic voice on the other end of the line, "please report to your workstation as soon as possible. Thank you." There's a small click! and the line goes dead.
Sighing, I put the phone down and, rising from the couch, head out the door.
Springer is already there when I get back into work, along with a prototype assistant I helped develop, called the WORKER v1. WORKER turns to me and, not offering a greeting, points to the Pok Blender. "The President has requested that you blend these two items." It indicates two Pok Balls on the worktable, then leaves.
Glancing at me, Springer chuckles and says, "Well, at least it's operational."
I shrug and put the two Pok Balls into the Blender. "Why would they need us to operate this thing? It's pretty simple."
"Who knows? Maybe they're just lazy." Sighing, I flip the switch and listen as the blending process begins with violent shuddering, whirring, exhaust-same as before-and eventually hear the tone that signals the end of the procedure. I open the Blender and inside remains only a single Pok Ball remains.
What was the point of that?
"Oh yeah," Springer says, "he said there was a Porygon in each of those Pok Balls." I look at the product more seriously now, and say, "Well then."
I drop it on the floor and with a bright white light a Pok mon I've never seen before is released. It looks similar to a Porygon but its angles are much smaller and it looks more like a giant insect buzzing angrily around the workstation.
Before we know it we're in the President's office face-to-face with the man in charge of the most important company in the world.
"You two," he says, "need a raise."
Later I finally get home, house totally drenched in night, and lie down on my bed, trying vainly to fall asleep, knowing it's impossible because of all of the excitement I'm feeling and the adrenaline course through my veins.
The next morning, having gotten a bit of sleep, I get up and, stretching, get ready to go back to work. Before I leave I look around the tiny house, wondering if I'll keep it once I start to spend my new salary. Chuckling happily, I head to work.
The protesters are there again today, holding signs high and screaming as loudly as they can. When I approach, they turn to me, like everyday, and I expect the usual torrent of insults and accusations. Instead, they just stare at me angrily. Bemused, I continue into the Silph Co. building.
When the elevator gets to my floor, WORKER is there to shove me back in and push the button for the floor just above. "What's this about?" I ask. It remains silent.
When we exit, Springer, in a suit, is waiting for us. Once I step outside the doors close and WORKER disappears. "What's this about?" I repeat. Springer shrugs. "He said I was reassigned to management. I don't really care. Better pay, less work, and less credit. The Blender was all your idea anyway." I cock my head to the side. "Is that what-" "No. It's just I don't really want the attention."
Silence for a few moments.
"So why are we here?"
I begin to walk around the room and behind a stack of boxes I find a table with a Pok Ball on top of it. In front of the Pok Ball is a card that says: Uploaded.
I glance at Springer, who mirrors my expression. I throw the Pok Ball to the ground and in the same light as before the Pok mon the blender created appears again. It snuggles up to me happily. Springer starts to laugh.
Suddenly, the Pok mon flies upward and shoots a beam of light at the table. In the haze, an image of the President appears, chuckling, saying, "Carter, this is an interesting Pok mon you created. Feel free to name it want you want. When you're done, come to my office."
I look at the Pok mon. Holograms, huh?
Then grin widely.