Flynn didn't recognize any of the men who stood guard. It was a tall hulking figure who approached him, he stood as broad and heavy as a barrel. "Stop there," he barked, his voice loud and hoarse. "What buisness have you here?"
"I need to see Giovanni," Flynn stated simply. This statement was met with raucous laughter from the group.
"So you thought you would just walk up and ask?" the huge man replied.
It was Flynn's turn to smile at this. "Actually, I didn't ask."
The man raised his thick brows at this, taking a step forwards. "Per'aps you should of," he said. Hunching his massive shoulders menacingly.
"Enough," cut in a voice from the crowd. Someone Flynn hadn't seen amongst the group. "Mark, stand down," the man ordered the giant. He approached Flynn cautiously. "Have you a name stranger?" his voice a low growl.
"Come on Jaiden," Flynn replied. "You don't recognize me?"
The man paused, studying the unkempt figure. He was masked by long scraggy hair and a rough beard. Dressed lightly in rough brown trousers, and a grey t-shirt. Then he glanced up, noticing Flynn's unmistakable teal eyes. "Well I'll be damned," he cursed with a grin. "You are still alive."
A mid-morning sun scattered the clouds. Below lay Pallet Town, a pleasant and humble village, but one that had changed somewhat in the last few years. More homes had begun to crop up, as well as the introduction of a Trainer academy that sat at the highest point of the village, mere minutes from the lab of Professor Oak. A man famous, and renowned world-wide for his extensive knowledge and research concerning Pok mon. He was recognized as a master at his craft, someone at the forefront of Pok mon discovery, but also a man of simple tastes. Despite numerous offers and opportunities he refused to move away from the quiet and scenic Pallet Town, preferring the quiet country air to the hustle and liveliness of a bigger city. Today was now viewed as more of a tradition than anything, but something that nearly every budding trainer went through; Choosing a starter Pok mon. So as the Professor worked ardently away preparing everything, the soon to be Pok mon trainers found themselves working just as hard.
"Eurgh!" came a voice from beneath the covers. Lance shielded his eyes, trying to block the harsh light that flooded the room as his mum pulled open the curtains. "Mum," he complained. "There's another hour yet."
"You can't just crawl out of bed and walk to the lab." His mum replied.
"No" said Lance, rubbing his eyes. "I could crawl out of bed and then get a lift though." He laughed at his mum's face. "Come on, you know I'm kidding!"
"Listen," she said seriously. "You know how your dad gets on days like these."
Lance groaned in disgust. "Not the proud father routine."
"Please," she begged. "Hear him out, for my sake. He's been going on for days about this."
Lance grimaced. "That's gotta be worth something."
"Like..?" Began his mum.
"Like a lift to the lab."
"Lance! It's a five, ten minute walk at most." his mum replied.
"Yeah I suppose, besides it'll give you time to stay here and listen to dad rehearse his speech again." Lance said with a laugh.
"OK." his mum conceded with a smile. "You got me."
"Great," mumbled Lance. He rolled over, burying himself amongst his covers. "Shut those curtains on the way out, too."
The car pulled up, Lance leant over giving his mum a kiss on the cheek, "thanks." he said.
His mum looked over, Lance was usually not the type to get nervous but this was a huge day for any budding trainer. "You OK honey?" she asked.
"Yeah, I think I'm ready." he replied.
She smiled. "Well good luck."
"Thanks mum." Lance stepped out the car, he held the door a second. "Oh there is one last thing."
"Anything," replied his mum.
"What time are you picking me up?" he asked with a hearty laugh. He barely had enough time to slam the door before she drove off.
"Hey Lance," someone called. He glanced over, spotting Luke. His sandy blonde hair flying like a banner as he ran towards him.
"How are you this morning?" Lance asked, gripping his friend's hand.
Luke feigned a yawn. "A little sleepy, and you?"
Lance sighed, "yeah." He stared at the Lab that stood beckoning in the distance. "I guess this is it."
"Yep," replied Luke. "Same lab that's been there since we were born."
"You know what I mean, this is where things change. Nothings gonna be the same after we leave there."
"Jeez," said Luke, grinning. He ruffled his friend's short, raven black hair. "I never knew you were the sentimental type."
Lance couldn't help but laugh. "I'm not, just the clever type."
"Oh man." said Luke, rolling his eyes. "Where have you been hiding that all this time."
Lance ignored the question. "So, have you decided which Pok mon you're gonna choose then?"
Luke did laugh at that. It was something of an inside joke between the two. On the first day of term Professor Harold had gone around the class, asking each student which of the three starters they would choose. He then gave a lecture about how often that would change between now and then. Every month afterwards he would start the day by going around and asking the students which Pok mon they would choose that day, making a tally that he would occasionally show off to show how much they had changed there minds. However for Lance and Luke the answer never did change, at times it sparked the teacher's interest. At other times he just thought the two were being stubborn. But the second they had glimpsed the three starters they had both instantaneously decided. It was a similarity between the two which had started their friendship. "Funny, that seems like a lifetime ago."
"Now who's being sentimental," Lance pointed out. He glanced down at his watch. "Well, 8:58. You ready man?"
"As ready as I'll ever be." The two boys began the short walk over to the lab.
"This way," Jaiden instructed. Leading Flynn down a long corridor, taking a turn towards an elevator. "You know, I've got to warn you. Things have changed, the boss might not be as pleased to see you as you expect."
"Don't worry, I've prepared for the worst."
"I would too. He had you declared dead months ago, not many people crawl back from an artic exhibition three years later." He hit a button on the elevator labelled 3B. The screen flashed; INSERT KEY, he swiped a key card and it whirred into action. "What happened out there?" Jaiden asked.
Flynn sighed. "It's a long story, one I should probably best save for when everyone's listening."
Jaiden nodded appreciatively. "As you wish."
"Anyway," asked Flynn. "What's happened here? Those lackeys outside, Key-card's for lifts, security never used to be this tight."
"Times never used to be this tight." Jaiden replied. "We've taken some real blows lately, as you'll soon find out." The elevator stopped then. The doors opening to another corridor, this one had only one room in view, stood at the end of the corridor. "There's a meeting in ten minutes. The boss will want to see you alone beforehand I imagine."
"Understandably."
"Flynn?"
"Yes?"
"Be careful. For your own damn sake."
Sorry about the lateness of this chapter ., I've had computer issues, sickness, and god knows what else during the past few weeks but enough excuses, enjoy!
The two boys stood inside the lab. They had been admitted by a kindly looking assistant, who had left through a door at the back as soon as she had let them in. They were now resigned to standing silently, glancing around the room anxiously as they waited. Numerous high-tech looking machines were scattered around the place, some sat atop desks, others reaching almost shoulder height. The room looked meticulously organized, but also had a few odd touches: Pot plants dotted across desks and window-sills, wooden bookcases here and there. These gave the lab a feeling of professionalism but also homeliness, somewhere where people could work, but in a relaxed enviornment. Something which neither of the boys appreciated as they tottered about nervously.
Finally, after what seemed an age a door at the end of the room opened again and the assistant walked through, followed by what the boys recognised from book's at the school as Professor Oak. He was tall, slightly stocky. Alike to Mr Jenkins in that while he looked quite intimidating, he also had a glint of kindness in his eyes. "So, Luke and Lance is it?" he asked.
The boys glanced at each other, "Yes," replied Lance. "But how did you know."
He smiled. "The school keeps me posted on all the students who will be receiving Pok mon this year." Luke gulped slightly, the Professor laughed aloud at this, a warm hearty sound. "Don't worry lad, I shan't be punishing either of you, although word did reach my ears of 'end of term' prank. I was curious though, as to how you managed to lure a Zubat into a desk."
Luke grinned back at the professor, "With great difficulty." All four of them laughed loudly at that, a long tension-relieving one. The boys feeling their nervousness ebb away.
"Well," said the Professor after regaining his compusure. "We all know why you're here. It's been tradition for many years, for new trainers to come to receive a starter Pok mon. But more than just tradition, you see a Pok mon professor chooses the three Pok mon that he believes will be most suited to a new trainer." At that he pointed to a machine, behind him. Hitting a series of buttons on it, three Pok balls materialized in a flash of red in the centre. "For me they have and always will be; Charmander, Bulbasaur, and Squirtle." He paused a second, turning back towards the boys. "But it's your choice as to which one you take with you."
The two boys looked at each other, Luke speaking first. "I choose Squirtle."
The Professor nodded at this, motioning to Lance. "And you?"
"Charmander."
Professor Oak clapped his hands together in satisfaction. "Very well." he turned back to the machine, picking up the two respective balls and placing them on a table infront of the boys. "As well of these, here are an additional five Pok balls." he said, passing the boys a belt with the balls attatched to it. "I also give you a Pok dex each, for you to record and check information on Pok mon. As well as being a useful tool for you, it also helps me as all data is transferred back to my computer." He gave the machine next to him a hearty slap.
"Thank you," both boys replied. Almost in synch.
The Professor nodded back at them. "My number is recorded in the Pok dex and you can contact me directly from any Pok mon center, should you have any queries. So all that there now is for me to wish you goodbye, and good luck."