Wow folks... I'm so sorry I haven't updated this story in so long. I'm not going to clutter the top of this page with a long author's note, but please check out the one I'm leaving at the bottom.
Agh! I forgot how nerve-wracking it is to hit the 'Publish new Chapter' button!
Now please enjoy chapter eight of 'Amazing Grace'. I hope I did my story justice. :)
-=Amazing Grace=-
Jeremy glanced at the chain link steel gateway that lay before him. It wasn't very tall, nor did it look very imposing; at most, it worked as a deterrent for would-be trespassers. On either side of the gate were concrete walls nearly as tall as him that ran parallel with the entrance. Topping the concrete walls were a series of thick steel rails whose metallic sheen shone in the afternoon sun. The fence, concrete and steel combined, was several times his height and curved over upon itself at the top to further deter anybody thinking of climbing it. Behind the fence appeared to be a lush forest filled with tall trees and thick shrubbery; it was vastly different from the well trimmed lawn on their side of the divider.
Still, it was merely a fence. An impressive fence, but a fence regardless.
"This is it?"
Jasmine turned to look at the boy as the gate's hefty, solitary security guard approached her car. His girth shifted from side to side as he made the short trek from the small guard house located on the right side of the gateway to the girl's vehicle. Nodding her head in response to Jeremy's question, Jasmine replied, "Yep, this is it; well, it's one of the entrances at least. The actual facilities are further inside. You can't see them from here." The girl began to roll down the driver side powered window as her hand fished through her denim jean's pockets in an obvious attempt to find something. After several moments, Jasmine let out a quiet, "Aha…!" before producing a plastic ID card of sorts, at least that's what Jeremy assumed it was. The girl readied the plastic card as she waited for the gatekeeper to reach her vehicle.
"Hello, Jasmine. Get the medicine the doc' wanted?" the guard asked as he approached the car. The man wore a rigid navy blue uniform that looked a size too small; his head was topped with a standard police cap and chest adorned with a polished, golden badge. His belt had many items one would associate with a police officer such as a pair of handcuffs, a flashlight, and even a black leather holster that looked to contain a handgun of sorts. Whether it was a real firearm or merely a tazer like device the boy couldn't tell, but Jeremy wasn't all too eager to discover which it was; being on the receiving end of any weapon wasn't a particularly pleasant thought.
The guard came to a halt as he neared the open driver side window of the pale blue car and glanced inside at its driver. Holding out the plastic card for the man to examine, Jasmine hummed a 'mhm' before stating, "Yeah, I picked up the medicine. I also ran into an intern Professor Oak sent our way, Jeremy Benper; I gave him a ride from downtown." The guard bent over and glanced into the car. Jeremy smiled awkwardly and mustered a weak wave in an attempt to greet the officer. It seemed like a silly gesture, but what else was one to do in such a situation?
"Ah, Jeremy Benper is it? Professor Cypress said an intern would be arriving today," he noted, his deep voice rumbling as he spoke. "I suppose you can count yourself lucky that you ran into Jasmine; that saves you a lot of time here at the gate." The guard let out a hearty laugh as he shifted his eyes to the vehicle's back seat. Jeremy could see him trying to figure out just what sat in the back seat; it was obvious he'd never seen a Gardevoir before; Grace's species wasn't native to the region after all. "Ah… and who's in the back?"
Jasmine looked in her rear view mirror and let out a quiet squeak of surprise. "Oh! I'm so sorry! That's Grace, she's Jeremy's Pokémon," the girl explained. The girl's cheeks reddened as her eyes locked with the Gardevoir in the rear of her car, her embarrassment obvious. "Sorry Grace, you've been so quiet back there I forgot I had two guests instead of one."
"It's alright, I understand," Grace smiled gently while waving her hand back and forth in a carefree gesture.
Jeremy was quick to relay his friend's words, stating, "Grace says it's okay. She's been pretty quiet; in fact, she hasn't even said anything to me lately." The boy chuckled.
The guard didn't know what to say. As far as he was concerned, most of the Pokémon researchers who worked at the facility were crazy; perhaps it was their eccentric attitudes and overzealous natures. After seeing all the different researchers, students, and rangers come through, what made a kid who could understand Pokémon so strange? Maybe it was all a ruse to mess with his head, but he didn't care. The guard let out another hearty laugh at the thought before standing tall and turning to face the small building he had emerged from just moments ago. "Just give me a second to open the gate; I'm sure Cypress wants to get that medicine and meet his newest coffee runner."
Jeremy watched as the man walked towards the small enclosed building that was positioned on the right side of the gate. He disappeared as he walked through the door moments before the chain link gate began to slide open along a small rail that ran the length of the ground. The rattling gate was quite loud as it slowly crept along the rail until a gap large enough for the car existed, allowing them passage into the compound. Jasmine slowly accelerated forward, driving over the small, yellow speed bump in front of the gate. Jeremy felt as the car's suspension worked to lessen the jolt of driving over the asphalt hump, rocking it back and forth in the process. The teen could hear the rattling gate begin to close behind them as they drew further away from the entrance.
Turning to Jasmine, the teen couldn't help but asked, "So, the guard knew I was coming? Are there not many visitors here?" It struck Jeremy as strange that the sanctuary appeared to have relatively tight security; he had to wonder if they had problems with security in the past. Now seemed like an ideal time to receive answers to many of his question.
Jasmine shook her head, her eyes never leaving the winding road in front of her. "No, there aren't. Most people aren't allowed in because of the nature of the Pokémon here; trainers with a Class III license or higher are able to visit, but they have to make an appointment first or wait at the gate for an escort."
Jeremy had no idea the sanctuary would be so tightly protected; he thought it'd be more akin to a Pokémon center with a big yard, not a secured facility with guarded gates. He couldn't help but ask, "Why all of the security? I thought anybody could come and visit if they'd like."
Jasmine once again shook her head, but seemed to understand where he was coming from. "It's not quite that simple; this place isn't just a glorified Pokécenter or even a zoo, it's something else entirely. A lot of the Pokémon here aren't ready for human contact or even contact with other Pokémon; some of them are poached or endangered while others were mistreated or abandoned." Catching her breath, the girl continued by saying, "The security is for the sake of those Pokémon and people alike, otherwise somebody might get hurt."
That seemed to make sense. Jeremy hadn't truly considered what Jasmine said until just now. So, the Pokémon in the sanctuary were 'damaged goods', in a matter of speaking? Jeremy could only shudder at the thought of what a Pokémon who had been abused or mistreated could do to a human. Even the smallest and seemingly docile Pokémon could seriously maim a human if it truly desired; he merely had to look at the scar that adorned his left forearm to be reminded of such a thing. Thankfully, most Pokémon were domesticated, and wild Pokémon were dealt with by trainers or Pokémon rangers when they posed a threat to civilization.
Still that begged the question, "So, who is allowed in?" It was a legitimate question, and one that demanded an answer. Jasmine was quick to respond, happy to explain the rules of the land, in a manner of speaking.
"Well, generally speaking only staff members and Pokémon Rangers are allowed to enter the premises. Sometimes family or close friends can wait inside, but they're limited to the parking lot or lobby of the main building. Students and faculty of the University of Goldenrod are also allowed, but they have to be involved with one of their Pokémon Research programs," Jasmine explained. Jeremy let out an understanding, 'Ah,' before the girl continued. "Like I said before, trainers with a Class III license or higher are free to enter as well, but they have to be accompanied by a staff member. They can adopt rehabilitated Pokémon that have been deemed okay by the Pokémon League Association."
"So trainers adopt Pokémon for battling purposes? I'd think that most of them wouldn't want to ever battle again if they were mistreated by their previous trainers," Jeremy noted aloud. Jasmine could only shrug her shoulders and let out a sigh of understanding.
"It's strange, but some Pokémon seem bred for battle; it's in their blood. Don't get me wrong though, most of the Pokémon that pass through here are usually released back into the wild far away from civilization or put into use in a more docile environment, like as an aid to the elderly or family pet," Jasmine told the boy. "Our goal is simply to put Pokémon where they belong; for some it's back in the wild, yet for others it's in a loving home. Only a small percentage wants to be on the battlefield with a trainer."
"I see…" Jeremy trailed off as he digested the girl's words. That seemed like a noble goal; why force a Pokémon into a life it doesn't want to be in? Like Jasmine had stated, some Pokémon craved the glory of battle with their trainers while others simply wanted to exist happily in the world. He only needed to glance in the car's passenger side mirror to see an example of the latter. Grace sat contently in the back of the car, observing her surroundings like a small child; the further into the sanctuary they drove, the thicker the brush and forest became.
No expenses had been spared by the sanctuary's primary financial contributor, the University of Goldenrod. The mega-college had decided to fund the proposal set forth by Professor Oak for a variety of reasons, one of which was its multiple Pokémon research programs. Students from Johto and beyond siphoned to the city in hopes of being accepted by the school. Its requirements were stringent, but that only meant that the most determined and well qualified people were accepted. In truth, Jeremy wanted nothing more than to enroll in one of the University's many programs, but had decided to forgo filling out an application for the semester. Classes were already in progress, and he wanted to put all of his effort towards his internship, at least for the time being. Until he got a firm grasp of his responsibilities, the teen didn't want to stretch himself too thin.
Jeremy pushed thoughts of higher education to the back of his mind as he looked at his surroundings. Despite Goldenrod, the metropolis of the west, being a mere half hour away, there were no signs of civilization within the confines of the sanctuary save for the winding, paved road Jasmine drove on and the short fences that lined either side of the street. Once they had passed through the gate, it was like they entered another world entirely.
After several minutes, the car rounded a sharp corner, giving way to a large opening in the forest that surrounded them. The sight that lay in front of the trio made Jeremy gasp in wonder.
An enormous field of grass now lay before them; several Pokémon could be seen wandering the field, interacting with one another. Even being at such a distance, Jeremy could make out the fiery manes of several Ponyta grazing in the long, lush grass. Bright splashes of purple and orange were dotted across the grasslands as autumn flowers blossomed and filled the air with their aromas. Further back, the boy could make out the shimmering deep blue waters of a lake. It was hard to tell at such a distance, but it seemed as though it was fed by a large waterway that snaked into the lush forest that encircled the opening. Jeremy had to wonder if the lake and waterway were artificial, or if they were natural features.
A flock of Butterfree fluttered through the air above the field of flowers, pollinating the plants as they basked in the warm, afternoon sun. If Jeremy recalled correctly, the Bug-type Pokémon was late in its mating season and in the middle of its yearly migration. Every autumn they'd flock from the cooling northern regions to the warmer south to breed. The Hoenn region always experienced an increase in tourism as people traveled from around the continent to witness the large influx of the colorful Pokémon. Luckily, he never had the need to travel to the island region of the south to witness the migration. The Butterfree always flew right through Twinsport during their bi-yearly migration.
"Wow, it's beautiful…!"
Jeremy turned around in his seat to find Grace staring out towards the scenery in front of them, her eyes large with wonder. What lay before them was magnificent, possibly even more so than the National Park. Jasmine noticed Jeremy's motion and looked in her rear view mirror to catch a glance at Grace. She giggled upon seeing the smiling Gardevoir and asked, "What does Grace think, Jeremy?"
"She's… well, she's impressed to say the least," Jeremy noted, his gaze never shifting from the Pokémon who sat behind him. Grace's eyes never faltered as they took in the wondrous view in front of her. It was like being back in Twinsport- no, it was completely different. Twinsport may have been more in touch with nature than Goldenrod, but it was still a town at heart. People still went to work, business sprouted up from the ground, and the waters off the coast of the town were filled with ships bringing cargo from the Hoenn region. What lay in front of her now was entirely different; it was… it was wonderful.
"Hehe, that's good!" Jasmine smiled in delight. She seemed genuinely happy that the Gardevoir was admiring the beauty of the sanctuary; Grace needed only to feel the warm surge of emotions that flowed from the girl to ascertain this. Looking in her rear view mirror, the girl glanced at Grace as she offered, "I'll give you guys a full tour once you get settled in if you'd like."
Grace eagerly nodded her head in agreement; that was an idea she liked very much. "Thank you! That'd be great…!"
Jeremy suppressed a chuckle at Grace's enthusiastic response. He had to wonder if Jasmine knew just how excited Grace seemed. "I think she's going to hold you to that, Jasmine."
The brown haired girl smiled and nodded in the direction of her rear-view mirror, her gentle brown eyes meeting Grace's cherry red ones. "Fair enough; I'm glad you like it, Grace." The car grew quiet as Jasmine continued to drive deeper into the sanctuary. Jeremy and Grace continued to observe the scenery around them; the further they drove into the sanctuary, the more Pokémon they saw. The boy observed a lone Pidgeot flying high in the sky watching over a flock of Pidgeys feasting on berries and bugs that littered the ground while a pair of Hypnos slept against the trunk of a fallen tree. After several minutes, they rounded yet another sharp corner, giving way to yet another incredible sight: the heart of the facility.
Jeremy's mouth opened in awe as he struggled to speak the words that formed on the edge of his tongue. "That's…!" Structures, gargantuan in size, lay before him. Enormous domes of concrete, steel, and glass that shimmered in the afternoon sun rose from the earth, their foundations rooted deeply into the earth. Jeremy heard a laugh of amusement come from his left, but his eyes never left the scene in front of him.
"Welcome to the heart of the Goldenrod Pokémon Research facility, the seven biodomes and research center.," Jasmine beamed as they approached the titan-sized buildings in front of them. It took several moments before Jeremy could think of a response; finally, he managed to utter a question.
"Biodomes…?"
Well, perhaps it was more of a word than a question.
Jasmine nodded, happy to explain to him. "Yep, biodomes. Those large domes allow us to hold Pokémon year round who require certain climates. Each biodome has a specific climate inside, ranging from arctic mountains to scorching hot deserts."
"It's incredible!" Grace gawked as she leaned forward in her seat in an effort to get a better view of the complex. The Gardevoir wanted to say more; she wanted to ask questions, but what to ask? She'd never seen anything like what lay before her, and neither had Jeremy.
"This is… this is amazing!" Jeremy exclaimed as he stared at the complex in front of him. Everything went beyond his expectations. What was he expecting anyways? A Pokecenter with a large yard? A research lab like Oak's? Truthfully, he'd forgotten; all the boy knew was that whatever pre-conceived notions he had about what the Sanctuary would be like had been shattered moments ago when he first gazed upon the monolithic facilities in front of him.
"It really is, isn't it?" Jasmine noted in reference to her passenger's previous statement. "You almost forget that you're inside the biodomes when you're working in them," the girl chuckled with a merry smile.
"I could imagine," Jeremy said as he began to regain his composure. Questions began to push their way to the front of his mind as the shock of seeing the structures began to fade away. "So, how big are they exactly? The biodomes that is."
Jasmine cocked her head off to the side in a thinking gesture as she began to ponder the question. "Hmm… Well, while they're not nearly as tall as skyscrapers, each dome is actually about as large as several Indigo League stadiums, that's including the battlefield and seating of course." Several Indigo League stadiums? The Indigo Leage stadiums housed upwards of 80,000 people! The concept of a structure larger than that, an enclosed structure with controlled environments, was truly baffling.
"That's huge!" Jeremy gaped.
"It is. The reason why they're so big is because Professor Oak wanted to simulate the Pokémon's natural environment. Each dome literally has a self-contained eco-system," Jasmine explained. "As long as you don't look up to see the glass windows, you'd never guess you were inside."
"I can't wait to see!" Grace exclaimed, her vibrant cherry red eyes still wide with wonder. "Oh, I want to go inside one! When do you think we'll be able to?"
Jeremy couldn't help but let out a chuckle at Grace's eagerness. Acting as a translator of sorts, the boy turned to his newest friend and asked, "So, when can we go inside one? Grace can't wait, haha!" The Gardevoir shot her friend an annoyed look and batted her lashes in a gesture that could be interpreted as, 'Really'. Oh, she couldn't wait to see it? Jeremy was equally excited!
Jasmine smiled at the question and pointed towards the front of her car. Jeremy followed her finger and saw it was pointing at a large, garage door of sorts embedded in the side of one of the biodomes. "Right now."
As they neared the facility, the door began to open; Jeremy looked around and noted a guard house similar to the one at the main gate constructed not far from the garage opening; entry into the structures must have been monitored closely. Jasmine slowed her vehicle and entered the cavity in the side of the structure. To Jeremy's surprise and disappointment though, they still weren't inside of the dome itself, at least not the self-contained ecosystem that Jasmine had described just moments before. Cold, grey concrete walls surrounded them as Jasmine maneuvered her car into a parking spot inside of the garage; the words 'BIODOME 04 PARKING COMPLEX C' were painted on the wall in large, white letters.
With a turn of a key, Jasmine killed her car's engine and reached to open her door. Jeremy and Grace followed in-suit and moved to exit the vehicle. The teen looked up and saw multiple florescent lights hanging from the ceiling, their high-pitched whines and buzzing filling the confined space of the garage with an annoying sound. Several other vehicles were parked inside the garage, all of which he guessed belonged to employees working within the dome.
Jasmine walked around to the front of her car and signaled for Jeremy and Grace to follow with a wave of her hand. "Professor Cypress is waiting for this medicine inside of this dome. You can follow me so I can introduce you," she said while patting her purse, the location where she stored the medicine.
"Right, here we come," Jeremy said aloud as he shut his car door. The trio walked the short distance from Jasmine's car to a small, metallic door opposite the main garage door. Walking up several steps, Jasmine opened the door and walked through the opening. It led them through a narrow corridor filled with closed doorways, windows peering into darkened offices, and bright, florescent lighting. The brick walls were painted bright orange and covered by a variety of white, stenciled lettering. Every so often, a bulletin board could be seen hanging from the wall with a variety of paperwork pinned to the cork material by colorful tacks.
After several minutes of walking through the labyrinth of cool, overly-lit hallways, Jasmine stopped in front of a set of large, double-wide doors. The girl placed her hand on what appeared to be a biometric scanner next to the door and waited several moments until an audible 'beep' was heard. A small, dim red light that was positioned on the adjacent wall suddenly went dim only for a similar green light located beneath the red one to illuminate a moment later. Looking over her shoulder towards Jeremy and Grace, the shy girl smiled sheepishly as she spoke, saying, "I hope you don't mind hot weather."
Jeremy was about to respond when another series of beeps sounded, these sounding more akin to a klaxon or warning siren. Before he could say anything, the doorway they had walked through moments before sealed off as a large, steel door descended from the ceiling and locked in place with several, audible 'clinks!'. In an instant, Grace, Jeremy, and Jasmine were sealed within the confines of the small room; it almost felt like an airlock, that is assuming any of them had actually ever been in an airlock. Before claustrophobia could set in, however, the twins doors in front of them began to slide open. It was then Jeremy felt it.
Heat.
The two doors quickly slid fully open, revealing a landscape completely alien in form. Gone were the trees and fields the trio had seen while driving through the complex minutes before. Gone were the confined spaces of the cool hallways a mere body length behind them. Instead, a stony expanse of desert stretched before the trio. Shades of red and orange dominated the landscape and were accented by the brilliant blue sky that existed beyond the panes of glass that the domed ceiling was composed of.
"…!"
And the heat! It was unlike anything Jeremy or Grace had felt before. Living so close to the sea while growing up, Jeremy had grown accustomed to feeling the sticky, moist air of Twinsport during the hot summer days. What he felt wash over him now was more akin to standing inside of an oven. "So this is what they mean when they say 'dry heat'…" Jeremy thought as he felt his body begin to grow flush at the sudden change in temperature. It was definitely different than what he was used to; whether it wasbetter or worse, he had yet to decide.
"Welcome to biodome four, the desert biodome," Jasmine smiled as she watched her two companions gaze out in awe of the landscape that lay before them. "Follow me, it'd be bad if you wandered off. Every year, hundreds of people die by wandering off into the desert, hehe!" she giggled, humored by her joke. Jeremy nodded in response, hoping she was referring to the real desert and not the artificial one in front of them. It was an interesting notion that one could possibly get lost inside the facility, but not a realistic one.
Jasmine hadn't been joking when she said you'd forget where you were if it weren't for the glass ceiling. The desert that lay before Jeremy… it seemed anything but artificial. Desert plants and cacti grew on either side of the makeshift gravel pathway that the trio walked on. Large, red boulders dotted the landscape, appearing as though they had been tossed around by an enraged Kangaskhan. In the distance, Jeremy could make out a large, smooth cliff that jutted out of the ground, creating a plateau of sorts.
A plateau! Inside a building!
At the very center of the dome rose a large, artificial mountain. Occasional patches of green could be seen against the red rock, proof that life existed within the scorched, artificial environment. How did it get so hot? It almost seemed as if the glass windows were magnifying the sunlight. Was that it? It would make sense; magnifying sunlight would certainly make for a cheap and effective heating solution.
Without warning, a Sandshrew ran out in front of Jeremy. The boy jumped in surprise and glanced down at mouse Pokémon, letting out a quiet yelp. The creature seemed unfazed by the boy's presence and continued to scurry across the dry, desert floor in search of either food or water. To his left, Jeremy heard the giggles of an obviously amused Jasmine. Looking over, the teen watched as she held a petite hand over her mouth in an effort to conceal her laughter.
"What's wrong, Jeremy? Haven't you ever seen a Sandshrew before?" the girl laughed.
Jeremy's mouth hung open for several seconds before he shook his head and regained his composure. "Eh…? Ah, of course I have. I was just… surprised is all," he explained while sheepishly scratching the back of his head. After a few moments, the boy's curious demeanor returned as he noted, "In the wild, Pokémon generally avoid humans unless we're impeding on their territory or something along those lines; are the Pokémon here more accustomed to humans? I mean… that guy didn't seem too bothered by me."
Jasmine nodded her head in understanding; now she understood why Jeremy seemed so surprise. "Ah, I see what you mean. Actually, you're right about Pokémon avoiding humans; for the most part, you're not going to be seeing a lot of Pokémon in the biodomes. You have to consider why they're here in the first place…" the girl trailed off momentarily. "A few Pokémon, like that Sandshrew, actually enjoy being around us, though. Those are the Pokémon who'll likely be put into families as pets."
"Oh… I see now," Jeremy said.
"I wonder if you'll be working inside one of the biodomes?" Grace, who had been remaining unusually quiet up until that point, pondered aloud. Jeremy looked at his friend and shrugged his shoulders in response. Working inside of one of the massive environments certainly was an enticing idea, although he had to question if he'd be okay working in the desert biodome all day. Even now, the boy could feel as the heat sapped at his strength; working in such an extreme environment would undoubtedly put workers through much physical strain. Perhaps they had more… temperate habitats?
"I suppose I'll find out soon," Jeremy smiled as he looked at his friend. Jasmine's face furrowed in confusion for the briefest of moments before her gaze shifted to the Gardevoir that accompanied them. It was easy to forget the physic Pokémon was around when one couldn't hear her.
"Ah, did Grace say something?" Jasmine asked. The Pokémon in question nodded her head, letting out a series of cries unintelligible to human ears. "Ah, I see. I-uh… Sorry I couldn't hear you, Grace." Jasmine said voice full of remorse. She seemed sad, upset even, that she couldn't communicate with the Pokémon next to her. Perhaps it was her kind nature which resulted in these feelings? Most people were impartial when they couldn't communicate with the Pokémon; after all, the concept of being able to communicate so thoroughly with anything other than a human remained a foreign concept to most of the world.
Grace easily picked up on such feelings; her very nature as a Gardevoir wouldn't allow otherwise. The Pokémon waved her hand in a carefree manner, dismissing any blame, be it real or not. "Don't feel bad! It's okay."
Jeremy nodded his head and relayed the message, a smile upon his face. "Don't worry about it, Jasmine. There's nothing to be sorry about; Grace understands." The brown haired girl glanced between Jeremy and the Gardevoir by his side before releasing a quiet sigh and nodding in agreement. He was right; what could she possibly do? Maybe she could take up Jeremy's advice and spend more time with the Pokémon? If they were going to be working together, she'd love to get to know them both. Maybe the two girls could even form a close enough bond for telepathy? That was certainly an enticing idea.
"I suppose so… Well, how about we get this medicine to Dr. Cypress?" Jasmine suggested with a smile as she patted her purse. Grace nodded in agreement. It didn't take long before the trio found themselves in front of a large holding pen. It was constructed of large, steel tubing that seemed durable enough to handle all but the most powerful of Pokémon. Inside, several workers dressed in khaki pants and white lab-coats huddled around a Donphan that lay still on the hot, cracked soil. Its breathing was labored as it struggled to fill its lungs with the hot, life sustaining air. This Pokémon must have been the one in need of medication.
"Ah, Jasmine! There you are!"
Jeremy turned to face the direction of the voice; he immediately spotted a middle-aged man jogging towards them. His face was wet in sticky sweat and head covered by a baseball cap. A long, white coat covered his body and trailed behind him as he approached.
"Professor Cypress, I've got the medicine," Jasmine called out as she reached into her purse and pulled out small, plastic case. Several moments later, the older man came to a halt in front of the trio. He seemed exhausted, yet despite his obvious fatigue, the man appeared as cheerful as a certain Ralts in a candy store.
"Ah, splendid! I know this Donphan will certainly appreciate it," he let out a carefree laugh. Reaching out, the professor grabbed the plastic case Jasmine presented and snapped open the clamps that held it shut. Opening it revealed several vials of medicine along with a large -if not intimidating- syringe. "Yes, yes… this is perfect! Thank you Jasmine, I can always count on you when I need a job done," the man complimented. It was only moments later that he seemed to become aware of the two people standing next to Jasmine. Turning his gaze toward the two unknown people, the professor tilted his head off to the side in a peculiar manner while asking, "Ah, and who might you two be? I don't recall your face, and I wasn't aware that we had a Gardevoir under our care either, least of all inside the desert biodome."
Jeremy smiled awkwardly and held out his hand in a friendly gesture. "Hello, Professor Cypress; my name is Jeremy Benper. I'm the intern that Professor Oak sent your way; I'm scheduled to arrive today?" It only took but a moment for the name to click in the professor's head.
"Ah, Jeremy Benper! It's a pleasure to meet you; Samuel has told me all about you," the man said while reaching out to shake Jeremy's extended hand. Samuel? It took a moment for Jeremy to realize he was talking about Professor Oak; the two professors must have been good friends if he referred to such a revered man on a first name basis, or at least that's what the boy assumed. Cypress's gaze shifted to the Pokémon standing next to the teen in front of him as he assumed, "And she must be your Gardevoir, Grace is it? Samuel said she would be tagging along with you for the duration of his internship, right?"
Grace nodded her head, making her understanding of the question clear.
"Splendid! Well, it's certainly a pleasure to meet you two. I hate to cut our first meeting short, but if you'll excuse me for a bit, I need to administer this medicine. Please, wait here; I'll only be a second," the professor insisted as he turned to walk towards the ill Pokémon. Jeremy watched as the man began to ready the Donphan for medication, fascinated by the procedure and the man. If there was one thing Jeremy picked up about the professor almost immediately, it was that he seemed utterly and completely approachable. The teen breathed an internal sigh of relief; despite what he had been told, Jeremy had an inkling fear that perhaps Cypress would be… a less than pleasant mentor. Words couldn't describe how happy he was to discover his fears were unfounded.
"Professor Cypress seems nice," Grace stated, startling Jeremy. The teen had been so engrossed in his thoughts, he'd been surprised by Grace's voice. Coming out of his trance, the boy looked over at his friend and nodded in agreement.
"Ah, yeah, he does, Grace," Jeremy acknowledged. Jasmine turned to look at Jeremy, curiosity painted over her features. Unlike before, however, it didn't appear as though she was curious or surprised by his ability to hear Grace; it was clear she knew a conversation was transpiring in front of her. Jeremy had to guess the girl would like to know what Grace had said, but her shy demeanor prevented her from actually asking. Not wanting to be rude, Jeremy clarified, saying, "Grace was just saying that Professor Cypress seems like a nice man. Have you been working with him long?"
Jasmine nodded her head, eager to answer. "Yes, he was actually one of the people who convinced me to volunteer here instead of battling. Well… that's only kind of truthful. I didn't know him before I decided to stop being a professional trainer, at least not personally."
Well that was an interesting tidbit of knowledge to know. He had convinced her to leave the life of a professional trainer behind? Being a professional Pokémon trainer was one of the most sought after careers on the planet. The prestige of being a successful trainer was coveted by all who battled. They were celebrities, treated in the highest regard by society. Why would Jasmine have given that up? What could Cypress have done to convince her to leave that life behind? Curious, Jeremy asked, "Really? How'd he do that?"
Jasmine smiled as she turned her gaze towards the man who was so tenderly caring for the disease stricken Pokémon in front of them. "I… it's quite a tale. Remember how I said I felt a calling?" Jeremy nodded his head, easily recalling the conversation he'd had with Jasmine not long ago. "A few years ago, I found an Aron on the side of the road; she was sick… really sick. You see, steel-type Pokémon aren't susceptible to a lot of the illnesses that affect other types. When they are sick though… it's awful. The Aron I found was ill with a genetic defect called Rust Blood."
"Rust Blood…?" Jeremy asked. He had never heard of such a defect; perhaps it was rare? Then again, he wasn't in any way experienced on the subject matter; that would explain why he'd never heard of it.
"Yes, Rust Blood. It kills slowly and painfully. The steel within the Pokémon's body begins to oxidize with the oxygen carried in the blood; usually, an enzyme produced by glands in the body prevents oxidation, but with Rust Blood, the glands malfunction and don't produce the proper enzymes. The rust acts like a poison and slowly eats away at the body until it devours it… It's… it's just awful," Jasmine said, her eyes beginning to mist over as thoughts of such a horrible disease filtered into her mind. Grace began to shift uncomfortably. The powerful despair of Jasmine washed over her like a veil of darkness, constricting her body in grief. Grace's breathing became heavier, although only Jeremy noticed. Having such a heightened sense of emotion truly seemed to be a curse at times.
"I was in Olivine City when Professor Cypress happened to be walking into the Olivine City Pokecenter. He noticed me and Aron. The professor… well, he instantly recognized what was wrong and urged me to come here to Goldenrod to try to treat it. He said they were working on synthesizing the enzyme responsible for Rust Blood and he wanted to help me," Jasmine let out a sigh. "When we got here, Aron was in severe pain; most of her bones had rusted away by that point. Cypress… he tried everything to save her, but in the end, he couldn't. The disease had progressed too far for the experimental enzymes to be effective."
Grace could feel as her chest tightened in pain, her shard aching in grief. She was experiencing the tale on a level far beyond what any human could comprehend. She could hear the words; she could feel the pain and sadness flow from Jasmine. It was as though Grace was living through the ordeal. The emotions were overwhelming her; how could Jasmine remain so calm with such strong pain? How could such a friendly person withhold so much sadness?
"I… I'm so sorry," Jeremy uttered his condolences, he himself feeling Jasmine's emotions flow from Grace's body like a relay.
Jasmine shook her head and let out a peaceful sigh, much to the confusion of the two people in front of her. "Don't be… it had to happen. When Aron died in my arms, Professor Cypress cried. He cried over a Pokémon he had just met… and I admired that. You see, he loves Pokémon more than any other person I know. It was seeing him cry over Aron that opened my eyes -my ears- to the calling I mentioned before. All the prestige and money in the world can't buy how I feel when I help a Pokémon. It was because of Aron's death that I'm here now, and I thank her for that."
"That's… that's something else," Jeremy said, unsure how to describe how he felt about such a story. Sad for Aron? Happy for Jasmine's revelation? One word, one emotion, couldn't seem to properly describe it.
The girl in question could only nod and smile weakly as she remembered the painful past. "It truly is, but, like I said before, I'm happy because of it. If I had never found that Aron, I'd have never become who I am today. In the end, I'm glad things happened the way they did." Jasmine's gaze shifted to the man responsible for her transformation. He was smiling, cheerfully talking to the Donphan in need of help as he administered a much need dose of both medicine and love. "I truly am blessed."
"You're… a wonderful person, Jasmine," Grace smiled softly as the girl's serenity filled the atmosphere. Never before had Grace encountered such a strange person; her emotions had fluxed -violently- over the past several moments, yet she was able to return to such a calm mood. Her mood felt good, like a balm on a severe wound.
"Grace thinks highly of you, Jasmine. I think we're going to get along well," Jeremy spoke, happy to relay such news. Jasmine could only smile and nod in return, hoping he was correct. Seconds later, a jovial voice filled the air.
"Whew! I'm glad that's over, haha!"
Grace, Jeremy, and Jasmine all turned their eyes towards the source of the voice. Professor Cypress was walking towards them, a jolly smile upon his face. He stopped in front of the trio and spoke up once more. "So you three, how about we get out of this dreadful heat and back into the air conditioning?" The man removed the red and white cap that adorned his head, revealing his matted down, raven colored hair. He began fanning his face with the cap in an effort to cool down. "Goodness how I hate this heat! I'd much rather be tending to our friends in the arctic biodome," he laughed.
Jasmine let out a small laugh at the man's carefree attitude and nodded, eager to get out of the heat as well. Still, she was a bit curious about the Donphan that lay behind them. "Is the Donphan going to be okay?" she asked. Cypress nodded his head and gave a thumbs-up to his protégée.
"He's going to be fine; I've administered the first treatment. In about a half hour, he'll be breathing normally. We'll have to give him his second and third dose tomorrow and the next day. I'll make sure to let the crew know what needs to be done," the professor explained. "As long as we're faithful with the treatment, that guy will be ready to go in a few weeks."
"That's great!" Jasmine exclaimed happily.
"It is, isn't it? Now let's get going; I wasn't joking when I said I can't stand this dry heat."
The four people made their way back to the large doorway from which they entered. The professor scanned his palm, prompting the doors to open. Once inside, they were sealed within the 'airlock' and awaited the large, steel door to retract within the ceiling. Several loud 'clicks' reverberated through the air as the internal door locks unhinged themselves to allow the massive steel door to open. After several moments, Jeremy felt a rush of cool air wash over his skin as the door began to ascend into the ceiling and the air temperature rushed to reach equilibrium.
"Ah, the wonders if climate control," the professor sighed as he too felt the cool air rush over his skin. "To be honest, Jeremy, I totally forgot that you were coming in today; things have been very busy here recently. I think I mentioned your name to the gate guard yesterday though… He shouldn't have given you any trouble I hope." Jeremy let out a small laugh and shrugged his shoulders, indifferent.
"Is that so? Well, I hope we're not interrupting anything," the boy said. Cypress shook his head, dismissing the notion.
"Not at all! I could use some time inside of my office; the desert biosphere never seems to treat me all that well, especially with the troublesome Gible that runs amok," the Professor sighed. Jeremy raised an eyebrow, curious what Professor Cypress meant by his words. Were there some out of control Pokémon roaming free inside the biodomes?
"A Gible?" the boy asked. If he recalled correctly, a Gible was a sort of landshark native to the Sinnoh region. They had large jaws, but were relatively small and not particularly fast. How much trouble could one cause?
"Yes, that infernal shark. He causes nothing but trouble for our work crews. He'll steal food and equipment from right under our noses and cache them away somewhere for us to find them, the equipment at least; any food that disappears is fair game as far as he's concerned. I can't be angry at him though; it's just his way of playing," the professor sighed. Grace couldn't help but stifle a giggle, knowing how playful younger Pokémon could be. After all, she wasn't that old.
After several minutes of weaving through narrow corridors, the four people emerged onto an enclosed bridge. A series of glass panels lined the walls and ceiling of the bridge, allowing for a fantastic view of the surrounding area. Jeremy could now clearly see how the domes were arranged. The boy observed similar bridges spanned between each dome. The seven domes were arranged in a circular pattern, similar to the petals of a flower. In the center of the circle was a large, round building.
Unlike the biodomes, the center building lacked the large domed, glass roof. Each dome had a single bridge connected to the center building. It seemed as though one could travel through the entire facility while remaining indoors; Jeremy could imagine how important that was when the snow began to fall. Trudging through heavy snowfall was never a pleasant thing unless you were headed towards a ski slope or sled riding hill.
"When was the last time I went sledriding?" Jeremy thought to himself. Gah! He needed to focus! Too often Jeremy found his mind wandering from one obscure subject to another. Right now he needed to be focused, not thinking about sled riding!
Grace couldn't help but grin as she sensed Jeremy's internal struggle to stay focused; it was a feeling she had felt many times when he had accumulated several days worth of homework during his high school years. The feeling brought back some wonderful memories, at least for Grace.
It didn't take long before the four people were sitting in the office of Professor Cypress. It was a spacious area with a window that overlooked several of the gargantuan biodomes that encircled the center building. The walls of the professor's office were lined with a myriad of diplomas and certificates, each one stating a specific accomplishment. Several display cases lined the wall containing a variety of items ranging from ornamental Pokeballs to photographs and trophies. The office made abundantly clear that the man it belonged to was well accomplished.
The man walked around to his desk and sat down on a large, cushioned leather chair. Leaning back, the professor let out a large sigh as he combed his hands though his sweaty, raven hair. "I want to apologize again, Jeremy. I'm not really prepared at the moment to orient somebody, so please try to bear with me as I get my Psyducks in a line," the professor stated as he looked at the teen sitting across from him.
Jeremy nodded his head and said, "It's okay; I'm not offended or anything. You seem really busy." Cypress smiled, happy to hear the boy's response.
"Thank you for understanding, Jeremy. Now, let's try to get this sorted out. I believe Samuel said you weren't going to be going to school this fall; am I correct?" the Professor asked. Jeremy nodded his head, confirming what he'd said. Professor Cypress seemed pleased with the confirmation, saying, "Ah, excellent. That makes my job a bit easier; working around a school schedule can be quite taxing at times. Besides, I much prefer interns focus entirely on the job at hand; you'll learn things here that you'll never be able to pick up in a classroom."
"That was kind of my mentality as well; I really wanted to concentrate on my work here," Jeremy said with an adamant nod. He couldn't help but notice as the professor's smile turned into an amused grin. Why was that? Was Jeremy coming off as too serious? Should he calm down?
This wasn't an interview; he already had the internship! Why should he be so nervous?
"Well, like I said before, that's good to hear. Now, do you have any pre-existing skills in regards to Pokémon?" Professor Cypress asked yet another question.
Pre-existing experience? Like what? That question threw Jeremy for a loop. This was an internship, right? This was how he was supposed to get experience!
The boy cautiously opened his mouth, his mind working hard in an effort to answer the seemingly simple question. "Um... I don't have any experience working at a place like this, if that's what you mean, but I have been around Pokémon my entire life. I met Grace when I was only six, and she's been with me ever since," Jeremy motioned to the Gardevoir next to him, prompting her to nod in response. "My family also had a pet Pikachu when I was younger. Well, it was kind of a pet..." Grace couldn't help but grin at the mention of the electric rodent.
The poor thing had wandered into the Benper's yard during Claire and David's third birthday party; it must have smelled the variety of food that John and Rosa had laid out for the partygoers. The chaos that resulted from the Pokémon's unexpected visit was... amusing to say the least, at least it was now that everyone involved was older. At the time of the party, the events that transpired were not in the least bit amusing. After the events of the party, the Pikachu would frequent the Benper's home and enjoy a free meal or two courtesy of Rosa. During the winter and on cold nights, he'd even be allowed to stay inside.
The Pikachu wasn't, however, a 'pet' in the traditional sense of the word. The Benpers didn't own the Pokémon, nor did they confine it to their yard. It came and went as it pleased, but it did display affection toward those who fed and played with it. The relationship the family formed with the rodent was unique to say the least. Jeremy could only guess that his yellow friend would start bedding down on their couch once the snow began to fall in the coming months. Heck, it might invade he or Grace's bed now that they were gone.
"Ah, I see," the Professor said, his voice causing Jeremy's drifting mind to refocus. The man's gaze shifted over to Grace as he seemed to contemplate the teen's words. "Samuel said you and your Gardevoir have a unique history. From my understanding, you saved her as a Ralts and she's been in your care ever since?"
"Yes, that's right," Jeremy confirmed. Grace's face shifted, if only in the slightest, as Professor Cypress began to speak about her. Every time he had mentioned her in their conversation, the professor spoke as though she wasn't there or couldn't understand. Oh, how she cursed the lingual barrier that nature had so cruelly constructed between her species and humanity. She longed to be able to speak her mind, to have a true voice amongst the crowd in a manner of speaking.
"That's wonderful! You see, Jeremy, anybody can learn how to perform surgery or give medical attention to Pokémon. You might not know this, but you possess something that most people in our world, and even workers here, don't possess, something that can't be put into words," the Professor said with joy. "Pokémon are truly mysterious beings; most can read a person's character simply by glancing at them. Because of the work we do, having a loving character is of the utmost importance."
Jeremy watched as the professor rose from his chair and walked over to the large window that overlooked several of the biodomes. "You see, Professor Oak and I each study the relationship between humanity and Pokémon. There is something unseen that exist between all of us, an invisible bond." The man paused as he turned his gaze away from the window and towards Jeremy. "I can tell you believe yourself to be inexperienced, and you probably are. Don't be worried though, Jeremy. You already possess something just as important as field experience, and that's your character. There's a reason why I asked Samuel if he knew anybody who had a deep bond with Pokémon."
Jeremy looked at the professor with a confused expression plastered on his face. After several moment, the teen finally managed to stutter out, "Uh, t-thank you."
"He's right, you know," Grace chimed in. "Of course, I'm biased, hehe!"
Jeremy let out an amused snort as a lopsided grin formed on his face. "Heh, thanks, Grace." The Professor's brow rose in confusion as he glanced between the boy and Pokémon who sat in front of him.
"Excuse me, Jeremy?" the Professor asked.
Ah, of course; Professor Cypress still didn't know about Grace's ability to communicate with Jeremy.
Knowing an explanation was due, the boy wasted no time in explaining the situation. "Ah, I'm sorry, Professor. You see, Grace and I can talk -er, I mean she can use telepathy with me," Jeremy stated casually. The professor's eyes went wide as he heard the word.
"She can use telepathy…? Telepathy between human and Pokémon, while not unheard of, is exceedingly rare! Why… even I have never met a Pokémon capable of such a feat!" The man quickly walked over to Grace and leaned forward. He was close to Grace, very close. Her discomfort of the man's proximity was clear as day to Jeremy and Jasmine, but the older man seemed oblivious to it in light of the recent revelation. "Can you speak to me, Grace? Come on, say something; I've always wanted to talk with a Pokémon!" he cheered on excitedly, awaiting a voice that would never come.
Grace remained silent, both shocked and discomforted by the Professor's eccentric behavior. He didn't have any ill intentions; of that, Grace was certain. Still, that didn't change the fact that he was violating her personal space. A worried expression overcame her features as the Gardevoir turned to face her friend. "Jeremy… help!" she squeaked, panicked by the situation.
"Ah, Professor Cypress!" Jeremy shouted while standing from his seat. "Grace can use telepathy, but only with friends and family. She doesn't know you well enough to communicate." Cypress turned his head to face the boy, his face faulting as he processed the new information.
"I-is that so?" he asked while slowly leaning back. Turning to face Grace, the man could now see the distraught expression Grace's face displayed; he sighed, disappointed with the revelation. "I didn't know. Surely you understand why I'd become so excited. Being able to study a Pokémon who's capable of communicating with humans would help forward my research by decades. Would you allow me to study her, by chance, during your stay here? I can already think of some test I'd like to run... I wonder what her neural patterns are like?"
There he went again! For being a 'Professor', Cypress certainly seemed unable to comprehend Grace for what she was. He spoke as though she was a child -or worse off, a wild Pokémon-, unable to comprehend what was being spoken about her.
The Gardevoir's demeanor quickly changed from that of discomfort and shock to one of annoyance and offense. 'Would Jeremy allow him to study her'? The ignorance of such a question infuriated her! That wasn't up for Jeremy to decide, it was her decision alone! Why did this man insist on speaking to her as though she wasn't capable of understanding him? As though she was a mindless, wild Pokémon? Even the most hard-headed citizens of Twinsport at least acknowledged her ability to understand them, to know what they said! "I'm not a lab subject," Grace hissed as her eyes narrowed to slits.
Professor Cypress felt a chill run up his spine as he turned his gaze away from Jeremy and back to the Gardevoir seated in front of him. His face paled as he saw her normally soft, cherry red eyes ablaze with anger. They were sharp and dangerous, her gaze piercing his soul.
"I-I don't think that's going to happen, Professor Cypress," Jeremy said, fear evident in his voice. Clearing his throat the teen attempted to relieve the situation, knowing no good would come of it if it continued down its current path. "Grace isn't too keen on being talked about as a test subject… I mean, she's right here, after all." Cypress could only watch with a hint of fear as the Gardevoir nodded her head menacingly, the fire in her eyes never ceasing to burn.
"Tell him I'm not a lab Rattata. If he wants me to do something, then have him ask me it to my face like any other person." Grace turned her gaze towards her friend and continued, saying, "And tell him that word for word…!"
Jeremy could only do as his friend demanded as he repeated the Gardevoir's previous statement. "Grace says she's not a lab Rattata, and if you want her to do something, then asks her to her face like any other person." Professor Cypress nodded dumbly, knowing he was in no position to make demands. Perhaps he had spoken out of line…? It wouldn't be the first time his eccentric attitude towards Pokémon had gotten the better of him.
"O-of course. I a-apologize, Grace. Forgive me, it's just that I'm not used to Pokémon with such an… intimate understanding of humanity... or our language," the professor apologized. Grace's eyes softened slightly at the apology. It was clear she was still upset by the man's previous behavior, but the apology was a good start to mending their already rocky relationship. Grace nodded and watched as the man walked back behind his desk and sat down, clearly exhausted mentally from his encounter with the physic type. Coughing slightly, Professor Cypress shakily picked up several forms that were lying on his desk before speaking up once more. "Well, Jeremy. In light of this new information, I'm going to have to think about where you, and Grace of course, will fit best into the sanctuary. The two of you have a very special gift, one that has infinite possibilities."
Goodness, had Grace's tirade gotten them on the professor's bad side? Jeremy hoped not. Perhaps the man was just considering how to best utilize Grace's telepathy with Jeremy? The professor was correct; the possibilities were endless. With Grace's help, Jeremy could help diagnose Pokémon's illnesses in record times or even help rehabilitate Pokémon who were abused and neglected.
The ability to communicate directly with the Pokémon of the sanctuary directly... Such a thing seemed like a pipe dream up until mere moments ago in the mind of Professor Cypress. With Jeremy here, though, it was within his grasp.
"Jasmine, could you show Jeremy and Grace to the living quarters. There are several open rooms; all of them are free to use," the professor said, his voice quickly regaining normalcy. Jasmine, who had been silently watching the entire ordeal from her seat, nodded her head. In truth, the entire thing had frightened her, if only slightly. She knew Professor Cypress's peculiar personality would occasionally get him in trouble, but to anger a physic Pokémon such as Grace? He was treading thin ice.
"Okay, Professor Cypress. Is there anything else you need?" Jasmine asked as she rose from her chair. The man shook his head, dismissing her.
"Well, I would appreciate it if you'd go back to the desert biodome and see if they need anymore help with that Donphan after you show Jeremy and Grace to their quarters. You have a special touch with the Pokemon in that environment," Professor Cypress said with a smile. It was incredibly how quickly he had regained his joyful demeanor. Whether it was a façade or not nobody could tell; most people would remain shaken for a much longer period of time after being in the crosshairs of a physic type Pokémon.
Jeremy spoke up, feeling a need to smooth things over. "I-I'd like to thank you again, Professor Cypress. I'm sorry about any misunderstandings." The older man could only laugh at the comment, waving his hand in a dismissive gesture.
"Sorry? Don't be ridiculous! It was I who acted out of line; I truly do apologize, Grace. I tend to act like a fool more often than not; I hope we can work together in the coming months," Cypress said as the corners of his lips tightened into a small smile. Grace could feel the sentence flow from his heart; he was genuinely sorry.
A frown formed on her lips as she realized just how rashly she had acted. Turning towards Jeremy, the Gardevoir said, "Please tell him all is forgiven and… I hope we can work together, too."
Jeremy felt relief wash over him as the professor and Pokémon forgave each other. It was good to hear his friend utter those words. "Grace says it's all good and she hopes for the same."
Cypress let out a hearty laugh and nodded. "Splendid. Now please, go get some rest. Tomorrow, drop by my office around ten o' clock; I'll have figured out where you should be working by then. Have a great day, Jeremy and Grace. Ah, of course, you as well, Jasmine."
With that said, two humans and one Gardevoir walked out of the room. It was time for them to get settled into their new home.
Hello readers! Thanks for reading the most recent chapter of Amazing Grace! I hope you enjoyed it!
I have NOT abandoned this story. You have my word that I'll continue to work on this, even if I can only commit ten-twenty minutes a week to it.
It's at this point that I'd like to thank my reviewers. You have no idea how much your words mean to me; before every writing session, I read over all of my reviews as a form of inspiration. It fills my heart with joy to know that my writings actual bring cheer and joy to readers around the world. In all honesty, I actually bunkered down and pumped out this chapter after receiving several reviews and PM's from people who expressed such thoughts to me.
Have a blessed day my wonderful readers! I hope you've enjoyed the latest addition to my tale! :-)
-Write by Faith-