Vol. I, Part 2: Chapter 14

  Rosa sat cross-legged on the floor of the glass-walled enclosure, the harsh fluorescent lights above humming in time with the machinery. Beside her, Blitzle lay still, its sides heaving with heavy, labored breaths.

  “The voltage is still struggling to stabilize,” Cheren noted, tapping his pen against his clipboard. The oscilloscope screen displayed a jagged blue line rising and falling erratically, unable to find a steady rhythm.

  “Check its heart rate, Rosa,” Gabby directed.

  Rosa fumbled with her stethoscope. The thick, rubber safety gloves made her fingers clumsy. Finally, she managed to press the bell to Blitzle’s chest.

  “Still over sixty beats per minute,” she calculated quickly. Blitzle stared aimlessly at the floor, its eyes glassy and lethargic.

  Rosa pulled the stethoscope from her ears and winced as she moved her injured shoulder.

  “That cut looks pretty bad,” Gabby remarked, her eyes catching the flinch. “You should go wash it and get a bandage over it.”

  “I will,” Rosa replied, her voice tight. “But not until I know Blitzle is okay.” She looked down at the Pokémon, guilt gnawing at her stomach.

  Gabby sighed, “Blitzle will be fine. It just needs time to recover. We should head out and give it some space to rest without us hovering.”

  Cheren nodded in agreement. Bianca began unhooking the leads from Blitzle's body, coiling the wires, while the rest of the team made their way to the door.

  “C'mon, Rosa, let's get you patched up,” Bianca said gently.

  Rosa didn’t move. “I'd like to stay a little longer.”

  Juniper and Ms. Gabby stopped at the doorway, exchanging a brief, unreadable look.

  “Alright then,” Juniper conceded. “But don't stay too long. Recovery requires rest.”

  “I know.”

  The door slid shut. Bianca gave one last sorrowful wave through the glass before following the others.

  Rosa was alone. The only sounds were the low drone of the air filtration system and Blitzle’s ragged breathing.

  I made a promise to you. You will get better.

  The thought spiraled. She remembered her promise to Nate that she would check on Elekid. The memory of the Electric-type overpowering her weighed heavy on her chest. The shame of that failure compounded with the sight of the suffering Blitzle. She felt solely responsible for this pain.

  Her vision blurred as tears pricked her eyes. She sniffled, wiping her nose with the back of the rubber glove.

  Why can't I do anything right?

  The pain in her shoulder was numb compared to the hollow sting in her chest. Maybe she wasn't meant to be a Trainer. Her escape from Striaton, from the crushing expectations of her parents, felt like it was crumbling all over again.

  She looked at the stethoscope lying on the floor. A cold, metal tool. That’s how her parents saw them, people or Pokémon, they were puzzles of biology to be solved. She remembered her mother talking over a sick Lillipup to a nurse, reciting vitals from a chart without ever looking the Pokémon in the eye.

  Rosa looked at Blitzle. It wasn't a puzzle. It wasn't a data point on Cheren's clipboard. It was a scared, hurt creature that she had promised to protect.

  Her thoughts drifted to Ms. Gabby. The woman was rigid, precise, and calculated. But inside the tank with Castform, the data tablet was set aside. She didn’t check its molecular stability or check vitals. She held it, played with it, loved and cherished it. She wasn’t a scientist in that tank. She was Castform’s partner.

  To love and cherish Pokémon. That’s the difference. My parents treat the illness. A Trainer treats the Pokémon.

  Without thinking, Rosa grabbed the cuff of her left glove. She pulled it off with a snap, then the right. She tossed the heavy rubber aside.

  She reached out and pressed her bare hand gently against Blitzle’s flank.

  She flinched, instinctively wanting to pull back as a stinging shock danced across her palm. But she forced her hand to stay. Beneath the prickly voltage, she felt the solid, rhythmic warmth of a living being.

  She began humming. She didn't know the song, just a soft, improvised lullaby. She found a rhythm and stuck to it, the melody vibrating in her chest, repeating over and over, again and again.

  Blitzle's heavy breathing hitched, then smoothed into soft puffs of air. The tension left its muscles. It slowly closed its eyes, lulled into a trance. Rosa ran her hand down its chest to feel its heart, ignoring the sparks that jumped to her fingertips.

  Forty beats.

  She continued to hum, her bare fingers slipping through Blitzle's mane with ease. She laughed quietly to herself, the image of Nate pulling off his helmet to face Elekid flashing in her mind.

  I get it now. Maybe I can learn something from you, Nate.

  Rosa left Blitzle sleeping peacefully. She slipped out the door, keying the lock with the electronic pad. She made her way to Bianca and Cheren who were by the Tynamo tank, replacing the soaked wool.

  “Hey,” Bianca said as Rosa approached.

  “Is Blitzle alright?” Cheren asked, looking up from a bucket of water.

  Rosa nodded, feeling a strange lightness in her chest. “Yup. Blitzle is fine. It's sleeping now.”

  “Good.” Cheren went back to the Tynamo.

  Rosa watched them for a moment. They were efficient, quiet, and focused on the task.

  “I want to go see Elekid,” she blurted out.

  Cheren paused. “Elekid? Mr. Orens has Elekid covered. There's no need.”

  “I know, but… I just want to make sure it's okay.” She couldn't explain to them that she had promised Nate, though admittedly, the interaction with him was strange. It felt juvenile to say it out loud, but it felt like a promise she needed to keep to herself.

  “Rosa, we don't know if Elekid will attack again,” Bianca stated, wiping her hands on a towel. “Besides, we have the rest of these Pokémon to watch over.”

  “Mr. Orens said this morning he had no issue with Elekid,” Rosa argued gently. “I won't be long. Just a few minutes.”

  Bianca and Cheren shared an apprehensive look.

  “Ms. Gabby will be doing voltage checks with Mr. Orens soon. If you must see Elekid, you should ask her,” Cheren suggested.

  “I'll be quick,” Rosa promised.

  Cheren waved a hand. “Don't worry about us, take all the time you need. Bianca and I can handle this.”

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

  “Thank you, Cheren.”

  Rosa turned and darted out of the Observation Room, pushing through the heavy double doors of the Rehabilitation Center to the outside. The midday sun hit her face, warm and bright. A breeze rolled through the pastures carrying the scent of cut grass and drying earth.

  I hope you're doing okay on your mission, Hilda.

  Part of her wished she was out there on the Deerling hunt, running through the woods instead of changing bandages, but she knew her place was here.

  She jogged across the field toward Juniper's main lab, hoping to catch Ms. Gabby in her office. The lobby was silent, the high ceilings amplifying the distant hum of electronics. She made her way down the corridor. Ms. Gabby's door was shut which usually meant she was out.

  Rosa sighed, ready to turn back, when raised voices from the office stopped her in her tracks.

  Is that Juniper? They sound… angry.

  She hesitated, but she couldn’t help herself.

  Hilda would.

  Quietly, she pressed her back against the wall next to the door, straining to hear. The heavy wood muffled the words, but the tone was sharp.

  “We… investigate… piece of evidence… cannot point… single event.”

  “You're… sending children… dangerous environment! Look at… Pokémon… to risk… a human?”

  Rosa held her breath.

  Dangerous environment?

  “What… Gabby? Could… definitively prove… not man-made?”

  “No… natural anomalies… be the culprit.”

  “...we'll never know… see for ourselves.”

  “...reckless, Aurea… same recklessness… nearly killed Castform! ..for what? ...name of science?”

  “...not discussing… anymore. The team… final.”

  Footsteps approached the door from the inside.

  Oh, sh—

  Rosa bolted back down the hallway, her heart hammering. She plunged into a recessed alcove with a water fountain just as the door clicked open. She peeked around the corner, catching a glimpse of Professor Juniper’s white lab coat disappearing in the opposite direction.

  Oh my god.

  She slumped against the wall, processing the fragments. Evidence. Dangerous environment. Recklessness nearly killed Castform.

  She felt a sting of guilt for eavesdropping, but the excitement from it was stronger.

  What the hell were they arguing about?

  She took a deep breath, smoothing her skirt and fixing her hair. She had to act normal. She stepped back into the main hall. The door to Ms. Gabby's office was open now. Rosa approached, gave a quick knock on the frame, and poked her head in.

  “Ms. Gabby?” she asked earnestly, masking the tremor in her voice.

  “Yes?” Gabby didn’t look up. Her eyes were glued to her monitor, one hand on her mouse, the other propping up her chin.

  Rosa stepped inside. “Cheren said you were going to be doing voltage checks on Elekid.”

  “I am.”

  “I was wondering if you could take me with you,” Rosa said. “So I can get the experience,” she added quickly.

  Ms. Gabby finally turned her gaze from the monitor to Rosa. Her expression was unreadable, her eyes tired.

  “Your shoulder is still bleeding,” she stated flatly.

  Rosa looked down. She had forgotten the pain entirely. A small spot of red stained her sleeve.

  “Oh. Right,” Rosa said, face heating up.

  Ms. Gabby opened a desk drawer, the slide of metal on metal breaking the tension. She pulled out antiseptic wipes and a package of bandages.

  “Come here. Roll up your sleeve,” she said, her voice shifting to a much softer and gentler tone.

  Rosa complied, reaching over to pull her sleeve past her shoulder blade. The cool, wet wipe grazed her shoulder, stinging sharply.

  “We'll meet Mr. Orens in Observation Room 1D,” Gabby said, applying the bandage. “We'll grab a few Oran Berries along the way.”

  “Thank you.”

  Observation Room 1D was tucked away in the back of the Rehabilitation Center, far from the gleaming chrome of the main labs. It was a rustic space, lit by dusty sunbeams streaming through high windows. The only piece of technology was a lonely computer in the corner, unplugged.

  In the center stood a wooden fence enclosure, flimsy enough that a determined Tackle could shatter it.

  “He's been doing alright so far,” Mr. Orens reported, leaning against a wooden frame.

  “No violent outbursts?” Ms. Gabby questioned.

  “None. Slept like a Snorlax all night. Poor fellow must've been exhausted.”

  “Good. Rosa, the Oscilloscope.”

  Rosa wheeled the cart to the gate, the wheels rattling on the uneven floor.

  “Just because he hasn't been violent yet, doesn't mean he won't attack. Be cautious,” Gabby warned.

  Rosa nodded, a sudden flutter of nerves in her stomach.

  Mr. Orens unlatched the gate and swung it open. Elekid was sitting on a mat of Mareep wool. At the sight of them, it scrambled up, glaring. It growled, a low, buzzing sound, behind gritted fangs and sparks popped menacingly around its plug-like horns.

  “Elekid, we're here to check on you. Don't be afraid,” Gabby said, reaching for the leads.

  Elekid took a defensive stance, bulky arms jutting out, ready to swing.

  “Ms. Gabby, wait,” Rosa said, stepping in front of the scientist. “Let me.”

  Gabby hesitated, then stepped back.

  Rosa knelt in the straw, bringing herself down to eye level.

  “You might not recognize me, but I was the one who tried to help you last night,” Rosa said softly.

  Elekid didn’t drop its guard. The electricity crackled louder.

  “I'm sorry for scaring you yesterday. I didn't think about what you were feeling. And I certainly learned my lesson,” she added with a small, self-deprecating smile. She brushed her bangs aside, revealing the purpling bruise on her forehead.

  Elekid paused. The sparks faded. It tilted its head, looking from the bruise to Rosa’s eyes.

  “Don't worry about it, Elekid. I'm here to help you, no matter what. And look, I even got another one helping a Blitzle.” She turned her shoulder, showing the fresh white bandage.

  Elekid relaxed. It stepped forward and gently placed a heavy hand on her arm, right over the bandage. It was a gesture of appreciation. Rosa smiled and let Elekid communicate the way it knew how.

  “If you don't mind, Elekid,” Gabby said, stepping forward cautiously, “we would like to use our instruments to check your vitals. It's necessary for your recovery.”

  Elekid shot a sharp glare at Ms. Gabby, then looked back at Rosa.

  “It'll be okay. It won't take long,” Rosa reassured it, covering its hand with her own.

  Elekid stepped back onto its mat and took a seat, allowing Ms. Gabby to place the Oscilloscope leads at the top of its head.

  “Voltage is tracking normally. Elekid, would you mind swirling your arms for me?” Gabby said.

  Elekid obeyed and swung its arms in a circle as fast as it could. Rosa was amazed by Elekid’s energy.

  “Elekid’s charging capabilities are normal. It looks like it will be recovering very quickly.”

  Rosa unhooked the leads. She grabbed a handful of blue Oran berries from the cart. “Here. Thanks for trusting us.”

  Elekid took the berries, munching on them happily.

  “Well, we're done here. You could stay if you like,” Gabby commented, packing up the gear.

  Rosa watched her for a moment. The argument from the hallway echoed in her mind.

  Recklessness.

  “Hey, Ms. Gabby…” Rosa started, the question slipping out before she could stop it. “What happened to Castform?”

  Ms. Gabby froze. Her hands stilled on the wires. The silence in the room stretched thin.

  “Castform went through a lot of stress testing,” she said finally, her voice devoid of inflection. “We tried to force a form change with artificial environments. We pushed it too hard.”

  “But why did Juniper do it?”

  “Because I allowed her.”

  Ms. Gabby looked at Elekid, her expression cracking just slightly. “I thought it would give us crucial data. I was willing to push Castform past its breaking point. It was… reckless.”

  “Castform is your Pokémon, isn't it?”

  “Yes. Since I worked at the Weather Institute.” She finished packing the cart, her movements sharp and mechanical again.

  Rosa softened. “I know you must feel terrible about it. I feel the same way about Blitzle. But when you stepped into Castform's room and showed it love… you made me realize something. There's more to caring for Pokémon than just following procedures. It takes connection and empathy to truly understand how a Pokémon feels.”

  Ms. Gabby stared at the floor for a long moment. “I see,” she whispered. “You're welcome, I suppose.”

  Rosa smiled and turned back to Elekid.

  She may be cold, but she cares.

  They exited the enclosure, leaving Elekid resting on the wool.

  “I'll be keeping an eye on the little guy,” Mr. Orens said, latching the gate. “But I reckon he'll be ready for release within twenty-four hours.”

  “Thank you, Mr. Orens. I'll come back before closing for a final voltage check.”

  Ms. Gabby wheeled the cart toward the main lobby, lost in thought, the rhythmic squeak of the wheels the only sound between them.

  “I'm going to head back to Cheren and Bianca,” Rosa said at the junction to the second floor.

  “Alright,” Gabby replied, not looking back.

  Rosa watched her go, then turned toward the stairs. She felt lighter than she had all day.

  Don't worry, Nate. Elekid is doing just fine.