Machoke

The scene could easily be described as comical, although it was the practical way. Max, a human construction worker, sat on the shoulder of a Machoke, connecting steel structures. With one arm, the Machoke held onto the main bulk of the device powering the riveter. With his other, he secured Max so he wouldn't fall. That Machoke was also standing on the shoulders of a second Machoke, who made jibberish kinds of encouragements to the two above. Once this connection point was secure, they'd be able to move up to the next level safely.

Once he was finished with this column, he flipped his mask up. "Okay guys, let's get down."

While they doing so, the supervisor came in. "Hey Max, I've got a request for you: would you take one of Machoke to your home tomorrow? I've got a busy schedule."

"You're busy over the holiday?" Max asked. When he nodded, he answered, "All right, it shouldn't get in the way. They're pretty well-behaved."

-+-

"MAX!"

Worried, Max shut his tackle box and went outside. "What's wrong, dear?"

His wife was near the driveway, looking worried and angered. "Your co-worker is doing chest presses with the van."

And indeed, the Machoke was lying on her back in the driveway while lifting the van with her arms and feet. It amused Max. "Oh, she'll be fine. The Pokemon workers know not to hurt machinery."

"Still, she shouldn't be doing that."

"Fine. Daisy, please put the van down."

She gave a reluctant grunt, then balanced the van on both of her hands to curl into a sitting position. Careful to not scratch the bottom, she gently tipped the back wheels onto the driveway, then moved it back to rest on all four wheels. The Machoke then came over to them, smiling.

"It's nice that your crew lets the Pokemon off for holidays too," Max's wife said. "But can't they just relax?"

"That is her way of relaxing."

"Still..." she tried to think of something, but couldn't. "I can't see why you guys named her Daisy. I mean, for a cute Grass-type, yes, but not a Machoke."

Daisy laughed, entertained by her confusion.

"Look, why don't I take her out fishing with me?" That way, Max thought, Daisy would be free to use the van as an exercise weight all she wanted. "You're right about one thing: she's not exactly used to domestic settings. The supervisor generally leaves her in the quarry to train."

"Can I come fishing too?" Laura asked. Three months ago, she had been in a terrible car accident. She was currently restricted to a wheelchair and so far, hadn't been interested in going out to do things she used to love.

"If you can get ready quickly," Max replied.

"Thanks Dad!" She turned her wheelchair around and went back to her room to get her things.

"So you'll have a quiet holiday." He kissed his wife. "We'll bring back dinner."

"Chinese takeout?" she teased, making them both (and Daisy) laugh.

-+-

It was a nice day to be outside. The temperature was a little high, but tolerable under the trees. Around the shoreline, frogs, toads, and various amphibious Pokemon croaked and hummed, making a relaxing chorus. There were ticks, fleas, chiggers, and mosquitoes all about, but a Super Repel lantern kept them at bay. Max had to take a spot by the dock, in order to lock Laura's wheelchair down. It probably wasn't a good fishing spot, but the day ahead looked to be a great one.

After an hour of just a single carp, Daisy came over. She waved her right hand to get Max's attention, then tapped her left hand three times. It was a sign asking if he had anything for her to do. Even though Pokemon rights activists insisted on having working Pokemon out of their Pokeballs at least one day a week, so they could have a proper break, the Machokes didn't like having a 'proper break'. Their strength was their pride and they wanted to keep in top condition, no matter what.

Max tried to think of something, but he just wanted to fish. "Um, sorry Daisy, I don't have anything for you to do at the moment."

"Can she take me on a walk around the lake?" Laura asked. "I was thinking of catching a fish Pokemon for my first, but there aren't any biting right now."

"You've still got a few weeks before your tenth birthday," Max reminded her.

"But you'd catch it for me, right?"

"Well that depends; we don't have an aquarium for a fish Pokemon right now."

"I'll look around." She leaned over to look at the locks on the wheels.

"And Daisy could take you around the lake, if you like. Just don't go too fast now."

The Machoke nodded, glad she could help. Then she picked Laura up out of her wheelchair. Max was afraid for a moment that she would stick her on her shoulders, like the Machoke did with the construction workers when they needed some more height. Instead, Daisy let Laura sit near her elbow and put her free hand to secure the girl there. That way, she didn't have to strain her injured back in staying up straight.

"Hey!" Laura called out in surprise. She looked the Machoke in the face.

Max chuckled. "Don't worry, she won't hurt you. I've let them carry me up areas without scaffolding before. They're trained to take a human's safety in consideration."

The girl then smiled, realizing the novelty of riding on a Pokemon. "Okay! I know the paths around here, so we won't get lost."

-+-

They got back home about quarter to six. "At least you brought home dinner," Max's wife teased, taking the Chinese takeout bags from him.

"Oh yeas, we caught some lovely egg rolls," he joked. "But we had a great time. Spent most of our time walking the trails."

"Did you? How did Laura's wheelchair fare?"

"Well..."

"Daisy carried me," Laura said, wheeling herself up the ramp. The Machoke followed behind her. "I thought she'd be a bore because she's a working Pokemon, but she's awesome! She pushed a boulder that was taller than Dad aside like it was made of styrofoam. And this Raticate was bugging us, so she punted it way over to the other side of that big meadow. And she didn't once let me drop or feel unsteady."

She seemed concerned. "Oh... I see."

"It's fine," Max repeated. "I let them carry me while holding onto dangerous equipment. So I knew Laura was safe."

"I want a Machop for my first Pokemon now," the girl said happily.

"A Machop?" her mother asked. "That's not really a girl's Pokemon, is it?"

"Why should that matter?" Max countered. "She likes them, so why not?"

...

Sapphire entry: Machoke undertakes bodybuilding every day even as it helps people with tough, physically demanding labor. On its days off, this Pokemon heads to the fields and mountains to exercise and train.

Written for Labor Day. And to freak some folks out about a female Machoke, hehe.