Hard Enough

The platter was rather quickly demolished and everyone broke into small groups to discuss their observations. I could almost see hypotheses and conclusions zipping through the air as people spoke, sometimes by themselves but most of the time there seemed to be another that was acting as Darkrai's advocate. Salvadore for all that he wasn’t contributing looked like he was loving every second of the intellectual back and forth.

Daisy had been caught up with my younger siblings and dragged into the lounge room where I could see them playing with Eevee. Oak himself had remained at the table with his team’s notes. He read through them all with a sharp eye but the smile and his bouncing frame showed that he was in his element.

“Anyone want a drink?” I offered the room at large. The group of debating scientists shook their heads, pausing for a moment only to return to argue over the importance of soil content.

Oak perked up. “If I could have a coffee with some milk and sugar that would be just lovely!”

I had his drink made up alongside a tea for myself quickly. I claimed the seat next to him and settled back. Oak stopped reading through his notes and took a drink. Then he laid his drink back down and sat so that it was very obvious that I had his attention. The smile told me that he knew I had questions and this was an old routine for him.

“Might I help you with something Brock?” He said amicably.

I chuckled, “I guess you get this a lot?” I said gesturing towards myself.

“Everyone seems to think I have answers for them. I’ve lived a good life for the most part. It’s had its ups and downs. Coloured, is the best way I have heard it described. Some good, some bad. I’ve gotten used to it. I rather like to believe I’ve helped the majority of people that talk with me even!” He said with a proud puff of his chest.

Then he rubbed the back of his head. “Or at least I like to think so! Hahaha! So, what did you want to talk about?”

I propped up my chin. “Hmmm if only I could make up my mind about that myself…”

Oak shrugged and gestured to the paperwork. “Oh dear! That usually means you have a lot to ask!” He said with a teasing tone. “Or maybe it’s one big question that needs to be approached delicately? Like trying to get an egg from a fearow’s nest for breakfast?”

“You’ve done that?” I said trying to picture the man that had walked into my gym so calm and confidently with a man that would be silly enough to try stealing from a fearow.

“It was when I was young…ger!” He said making sure to say the last part under his breath, but I still heard it. I wondered for a moment if it hadn’t actually been that long ago.

I chuckled only to jolt as I realised how at ease I was with a man that was known far and wide in Kanto. He was surprisingly affable, but then again he’d been that way in the anime. So perhaps it was how he was. Still, I had a number of questions I wanted to ask him. The question was where to start? My eyes drifted around and paused on Salvadore.

“What do you need to do to become a Pokemon Professor?”

Oak followed my gaze to Salvadore. His expression softened. “Well you need to want to be one first. It’s a highly regarded role, but not a financially highly regarded role. There are certainly ways to make money off it but it depends on your field of interest.” He sipped his coffee.

“There are many years of hard work and rigorous learning that come before anything can progress. It might not seem that way right now,” He gestured towards Cerise pulling a face at Elm as the man decried Bianca’s suggestion on the grotto needing to have a waterfall rather than a pond as it did right now. “—but a lot of this information needs to be set out as precisely as it can be. For that, I’d recommend that any aspiring man, or woman, looks to pursue their high school education and then take a university course. I lectured for a time at Celadon University so I’m rather partial to it myself. “

He rubbed his chin, “Being an intern at a lab would help to keep the goal in sight as well.”

“Would you recommend not going on a journey?”

“I think it is important to have the journey. It becomes a shared experience for so many of us that it shapes us for the rest of our lives.”

I scratched my chin in thought. “Despite less than a third of people actually getting to experience said journey to completion due to the restrictions?”

Oak raised a single finger. “There need to be some standards for trainers. Not all who use pokemon should be allowed to do so lest they train their pokemon and discard them creating problems for everyone with a lack of care and breaking the trust between mankind and pokemon. This would create serious problems for everyone were it the case.”

I waved my hand back and forth. “Ah, I was actually referring to the financial limitations that people face. You need sponsors willing to stable your pokemon for a journey, to have a better shot at going the distance to the conference.”

“That depends on what you want to get from the journey,” Oak rebutted gently. “Some people just want a year off and to travel around. For those, it is the experience, but for the serious trainers there are still people rising up to be serious contenders with just six pokemon. Some people are more than able to enjoy themselves with the six pokemon holding limit the League enforces without stable rights.”

I bobbed my head from side to side before speaking. “It does limit their chances at more frequent wins however, and limits their possible experiences. People that make it to the Conference with only six pokemon are not as prolific as people with stabling rights. More pokemon usually means more chances at experiencing different battling styles or moves, leading to better performances.”

Oak watched me. “Hmmm is that your take on the issue of more pokemon versus less?”

“I acknowledge that a good trainer can make less pokemon work very well for them, as they are able to focus their efforts.” I raised a finger, “However! More makes things easier as you have a wider choice of pokemon to pick from. Having more pokemon affects their ability to fight in more matches as well as their win ratio which impacts their cash reserves. This has a direct impact on how they get around, where they go, what they purchase for their pokemon and more. You can see how the issue compounds itself from there.”

I wave my hand about, “The new pokenet registry system they're implementing might make the difference even more stark.” Oak nodded to show he was listening.

I tapped the table. “Pokemon trainers will be able to know what pokemon their opponents have ahead of time at tournaments, or if they’re regularly using the pokenet. Previously trainers went into such matches mostly blind, but now they will be able to scout out opposition teams much easier. Again, quantity creates a difference. If you have to prepare against just six pokemon compared to a fully stabled trainer of twenty-six, who is going to have an easier time of it?”

“That’s discounting the fact that some trainers are better than others,” he said. I got the impression he was more making an argument for the sake of it rather than believing his words.

“I’m not discounting that, I’m just saying that it becomes easier. You can win and the most dedicated or skilled or richest trainers will rise to the top but the middling trainers? They’ll fall off in place of trainers with deeper pockets or sponsors footing the bill.”

Oak drummed the table. “That could potentially have some concerning ramifications…” He assessed me with a shrewd look. “How would you address this issue?”

“How I’m currently combating it, is by using an equity equals fairness approach for sponsorships.”

“Ho?” He said leaning forward.

“I offer sponsorships to young trainers for two years and allow them access to training with me, either in person or over a transceiver. Previously I have done this for two young trainers but starting this next circuit I will be offering it to four such trainers at once. I have the means to give back and invest in them. This on the scale of Kanto as a whole, however, only addresses a small percentage of the people that want to be trainers. It gives some people a chance, though. Now to qualify for this sponsorship you need to be assessed first with a means test, where people that have well-paying parents, those willing to support them that is,” I said as an aside. Oak’s gaze sharpened at my words but I barrelled on. “Those children don’t qualify for the sponsorship. Whereas those children with no parents are given chances to work with pokemon for a week and demonstrate their skills. This allows people that seriously want to become pokemon trainers more opportunities.” I waved a hand. “It’s not a perfect solution.”

“Is there ever a perfect solution?” Oak said, taking a long drink of his coffee, his eyes vacant as he spoke, “I’m not unaware of what you speak of you know? When I was champion I was very aware of the division between the rich trainers and the poor. In my time the issue was more centred around pokeball purchase.”

At my interested look he raised a pokeball from his belt. “Pokeballs were limited in number and were more apricorn balls, lanterns,” He laughed once, “I’ve even seen a staff used to transport pokemon in!” I blinked as I recalled the Rota movie. “But the issue back then was that only people with the closest of friendships with pokemon could have companions. This limited the strength of pokemon they could have unless they had access to the pokeballs of the time. This led to lots of issues, as transporting weakened pokemon was much tougher when they couldn’t be returned.” Oak looked down as he rolled the pokeball around in his hand.

“Things… things were rougher back then.”

I didn’t say anything and let him sit as he worked through his memories. Had he lost a pokemon that way? Unable to take it to a caregiver? The noise of the debate washed over me. I glanced over to find that they’d found a whiteboard and were writing things, crossing them out and creating diagrams that I couldn’t decipher. Or maybe that was just Joshua’s handwriting?

Oak sat up and shook himself lightly. “I tried to address that issue during my time as a champion of course. To combat this I implemented a subsidy while investing League funds in research into technology for developing the ease with which pokemon can be captured. At the time this seemed a contentious issue and I had many sleepless nights over it, but it ultimately created what we enjoy today. The use and ownership of pokemon has grown explosively in our society and we’re better off for it.” This time he looked at the pokeball in his hands with a smile.

He tucked the pokeball away. “Today the issue is one of finding the right answer.” He twirled his hand about the air.

“The pokenet is advancing our understanding and capabilities wonderfully. There is work occurring right now of creating digital storage for pokemon. If the ethics of such a system can be proven then it may solve the issue of stabling rights.”

“Digital storage?” I said, sounding it out like I had never heard of such an idea. Bill had been the one to set that up hadn’t he? Was he currently working on that?

“Yes, with the possibility of transferring pokemon through pokenet there is work being put into holding them long term in the pokenet. This is being highly investigated first. We want the solution to be something better for us, and the pokemon in question.”

I nodded my head. There were ethical concerns for that type of storage. Would it result in damaging relationships? Or would some pokemon end up lost due to glitches, or even because of people forgetting about them or other incidents? What about people working against the system or seeking to compromise it? Digital security had been a large concern in my old world, and it wasn’t something a lot of people would understand the necessity of right now due to the relative novelty of the pokenet. It was a way forward, but would new issues, potentially more damaging ones, not also arise with this solution? The security of such a system would always be at risk with any crippling of it resulting in dire effects. An entire region could be crippled by destroying the network. Those were just the drawbacks I could think of in the past few seconds.

Perhaps I was being more negative than I should be however? I rubbed my chin before shrugging. It wouldn't be for me to worry about. Possibly weigh in on if someone shoved a microphone in my face, yes… I made a mental note to do some more research soon.

Eevee darted into the kitchen and ran up to me. She slumped into my lap and puffed a little.

“What’s wrong little girl? Need a break from the kids?” I said, rubbing her head gently.

Oak glanced at her. “She’s a healthy-looking pokemon.” He held out his hand for her to sniff before he reached further and rubbed her head.

“Eeev,” she said as she purred into the touch.

Oak withdrew his hand only to pause at her collar. He turned it over. “Is that everstone?”

I nodded. “I think it’s best if Eevee stays an Eevee for now. Maybe one day in the future we’ll evolve her, if she wants, but for now? I think a smaller fluffier pokemon is for the best.” She nuzzled into me before Yolanda approached and claimed her. I grinned at Oak. “Who knows, maybe I’ll find an evolution for her as a rock type Eevee?”

He beamed. “Well if you manage to do that then be sure to call me! Eevee evolutions, or ‘Eeveolutions’ as the young kids say, are extremely fascinating! Much work remains to be done in understanding them, as is the case for all pokemon!”

I merely nodded. A comfortable quiet settled between us both, that I eventually broke, “The dealing with social issues… was that what it was like for you?” At his inquisitive look I elaborated. “As Champion?”

“Heh, in those days my position was very, very different from that which Lance finds himself saddled with. I had to create much of the infrastructure, so it was like I was working constantly. It was bitter work, and not something I could enjoy all the time, which is why I dropped the title eventually.” He eyed me and smiled.

“You know that question was what I was expecting you to ask first.” He glanced at Salvadore. “Rather telling…” he mused to himself.

I laughed. “Sorry for being predictable?”

“Everyone’s curious, it’s a good thing, even if the question is perhaps one that I hear often when I come out of my lab.” He crossed his arms but didn’t say anything else. Oak was more than happy to finish his coffee before he spoke once again.

“Honestly, it was work that I hated, but that needed to be done.”

“Hated?” I asked, surprised.

“I always found myself straddling a line. Working with many, many… oh so many difficult personalities,” he said as his eyes gained a haunted look. “The strongest pokemon trainer does not mean that they are the wisest, I have come to discover. Often, strength of personality can carry you far. Still, I had my reasons for not falling on the route I was walking so I managed to do what I needed to before retiring.”

I opened my mouth before closing it. Asking what reasons he had felt rather a step too far. I was considering asking about Agatha and what he knew about her when he gave me a sly look. “It was the same reason you have to be strong, young man.” He clapped my shoulder before rising and clapping his hands. “Right!”

The debate stopped instantly with even Elm turning to Oak expectantly. “We still have a lot of work to do and I think an hour is more than enough to let the pokemon settle. We will come in quietly and then work through some of these potential issues we’ve highlighted.” He jabbed his finger at a few written on the board and pointed at his aides.

Joshua and Bianca watched them go before turning back to Oak. Then they must have remembered that they should be looking to Elm. The man coughed in surprise. “Sorry! Old habits from my time at Celadon university! You know what to do!” He pointed to two other issues.

Bianca approached me while Joshua gestured for Salvadore to follow him back out to the grotto.

“Gym Leader Brock, might I look over some of your pokemon’s health records? For today I’d like access to Aero… that is to say, Don, Shin, and Shelly. As fully evolved pokemon… as we understand it, they have the best chance of breeding. I’m going to be setting them up with a ditto if that’s alright with you?”

“I… If a better option presents itself can we go with that?” I said alluding to the hopeful future of Crowley and his resurrection machine. Bianca merely nodded and I relaxed, happy that I wouldn’t be weakening Don’s progeny if I couldn’t avoid it. “Also… I don’t have to be present for that, do I?” I said, feeling memories stir while my stomach roiled.

She laughed into her hand then brushed a loose lock of hair. “Certainly not! I understand it can be rather disturbing how some pokemon are able to—” I held up a hand.

“I’m good. I very much do not need a picture drawn.”

Bianca giggled. “Very well. Those health records?”

I nodded and waved at her to follow me to the office. On the way past I checked in with my family to find them all sitting around Daisy as she read a book about a magical Abra learning at a school.

She even had Forrest and his group of friends sitting around listening.

Now there was something I wanted to research. How was she doing that? We collected the papers, and Bianca tsked at the lack of certain information but was pleased that I had their activity levels, trips to nurse Joy, diet, and even weights recorded for the last few years since I took over as gym leader.

When we returned to the grotto, Elm and Oak had their heads together pouring over the stack of notes while Salvadore assisted Stepehn in measuring Don’s wingspan, claws and even teeth. When Don was directed to bite down on a machine he did so gleefully.

Stephen whistled. “He’s got a bite that ‘s almost equal to a bull Sharpedo!”

Don notably tried harder at that comment.

A buzz on my wrist had me looking down to see that my transceiver was being called. I raised a hand to the professors. “Excuse me for a second.”

They nodded, distracted, and continued to mutter to each other. When I answered the call I got a lot of static so I quickly hurried outside.

“Can you hear me now?”

“Brock! Brock! I heard you’ve got Professor Oak and Elm there!” Shouted the voice of Crowley, the director of the Pewter Museum. His bedraggled appearance came through as he stared through the transceiver's raised screen.

I rolled my eyes at him openly. “Hello Crowley, and yes, they have come around. We’ve worked out someone to look over the breeding programme from Professor Elm’s lab.”

“I’d like to remind you of our arrangement with the ancient types!” shouted Crowley.

I nodded. “I haven’t forgotten.” I tilted my head. “How…” I shut my eyes. “The reporters?”

Crowley nodded and brandished the transceiver at his assistant. “She heard from a friend who heard it from them! Brock! Should I come down there?”

“I don’t think there’s a need for that unless the machine for resurrecting pokemon is finished.”

“Ninety seven percent complete?” he said while looking shifty.

“Best to present a completed product. When the time comes I’ll put in a word with them and we’ll get it all on the up and up.”

He beamed at me. “Expect results within the week!” He then hung up on me before I could tell him to settle down. I wasn’t that rushed for another Aerodactyl after all.

I was leaning on my game knowledge, but I did have faith that Crowley would have results. He might have had them far, far later in the future but I wasn’t expecting or needing a payoff any time soon. Supporting him really only costs me another pokemon trainer wage for the gym each month.

“Brock!” Called Yolanda as she dragged Daisy towards me. I raised an eyebrow, dropping the arm with my transceiver down. “Brock!” She called out again as she stormed up to me.

“Yes Yolanda?” I asked, curious as to what could inspire this reaction.

“You should hire Daisy as your receptionist!” She said bouncing on the spot.

I raised an eyebrow at this and glanced at Daisy, who shook her head with a smile. I looked back to Yolanda who beamed at me expectantly. “Hmmm, well for that to happen she first has to want to take the position. You shouldn’t go around offering people jobs like that.”

Yolanda tilted her head. “Why not?”

I chuckled. Most of the time Yolanda was easily the most mature of my siblings but in times like this where she didn’t have much experience, I got to see her acting as a kid.

“Well, receptionist work isn’t the most glamorous of roles. Telling someone you want them to work in that position could be taken as an insult.”

“I didn’t mean it that way!” Yolanda said, whipping around and rapidly shaking her head no at Daisy who merely laughed.

“It’s fine, I knew you didn’t mean anything by it.” She then smiled at me. “Some people wouldn’t be insulted you know?”

I nodded. “I know, but it’s a niche headhunting sort of question. While you’re great with handling pokemon and little kids, that doesn’t mean you’d make a good receptionist.” Somehow I doubted that. She put a hand to her chin and continued to smile.

“Oh? I almost want the job now? Is that your game?”

I snorted and shook my head at her. “Not at all. I’m interested in how you tamed my family so easily, but no. No games.” I tilted my head. “Were you thinking of applying for the receptionist position seriously? The application cut off is tomorrow if so.”

She shook her head. “No, I think I will keep my work as an intern for my grandfather for now. I enjoy it.” She glanced into the cave system behind me. “Speaking of, we should probably return, no?”

I nodded and joined her in walking back in, Yolanda trudged along. “Aww, you’d have been great to have around here all the time.”

“If your brother wanted me to come around I’m sure he could find a way,” she said while wiggling her eyebrows at me.

I shook my head. “Sorry, I’ve got enough on my plate, pass.”

Daisy’s eyes narrowed. “Hmmm, is that so?” She said with an undertone that I couldn’t quite place. It did send goosebumps up my spine though, and for a second I thought something much larger was watching me.

I paused when I realised Bertha was sitting in the tunnel doing just that. “Oh! Hey girl, want to come with me? There are some people that will love to get a look at you.”

Bertha stood and rumbled her assent. Daisy stared at the giant drill pokemon. “Oh my, the television really didn’t do her justice.”

I grinned. When I led her into the grotto Shin greeted her loudly. The researchers all stopped what they were doing and gaped at her. Don was up on his ledge, but I could see his annoyance as Bertha lumbered in. He sniffed and stuck up his nose, curling into a bundle to ignore us.

I knew he’d be back down soon. His pride wouldn’t let someone else be the centre of attention in his territory. I’d have to move things out of here if the professors wanted to look Bertha over.

Elm squealed a little in joy. “Oh! That’s right I forgot you had her! Oh! And also your Geodude line that has an electric typing! We need to see them as well!”

Bianca perked up at that. I sighed.

It was starting to look like I was going to have trouble having this group out of here by tomorrow now. Still, a small price to pay for having someone highly specialised in pokemon breeding looking over my rare pokemon.

Crowley might be a long-term payout, but Bianca and my ancient pokemon? By the end of the next circuit, I might just have another few Kabuto, Omantye and Aerodactyl hanging around the gym.

“Show me show me!” Elm said running up to me like a child that couldn’t wait. I laughed and turned to Yolanda.

“I think we better make up the spare beds in the gym for tonight, unless everyone is happy to transit in again?”

Elm’s team all looked very pleased by this announcement.

Daisy smirked. “I think I wouldn’t mind—” Professor Oak leaned over and put a hand on her mouth.

“We’ll transit in. I own an Alakazam who can do so. Although Stephen might like to examine his future quarters?”

Stephen nodded absentmindedly as he read through a handful of notes, before stopping and peering up at us in confusion. “Sorry, what was that?”

I chuckled and clapped him on the shoulder. “Come on, let’s find you a spare room and some sheets for tonight.” I led Bianca, Joshua, Elm and Stephen to the rooms we kept.