Pokémon Scarlet and Violet: Infrared

Chapter Fifty-Two: Say Chansey!

Song: "The Call" - Regina Spektor

Three days later

Beep, beep, beep. What was that? It sounded like a heart monitor.

Arven stifled a yawn and felt a sense of familiarity. Either that or he died and was now in the Afterlife.

He opened his eyes. Where was he? Where were AI Sada, Suicune, and his father? Was this... Naranja? It looked like Naranja's nurse's office. There was a woman who looked eerily similar to Nurse Miriam making beds and straightening them. She even honed her lavender hair, styled with space buns up top, and green eyes.

Arven begged that the Miriam look-alike was not an AI. He had enough AI for one Treasure Hunt.

Miriam finally noticed him. "Ah!" she screamed, dropping her arm-load of bedsheets. "He lives!" She didn't bother to pick up her load and hustled toward Arven. "You're finally awake!"

"Stay back," Arven begged, holding up his hand. He pressed his back on the bed frame. He didn't want to take any chances if the Miriam look-alike was an AI.

"Oh, dearie," Miriam sweetly spoke, "I'm not an AI. You don't have to be scared." She rolled up the sleeve of her white nurse coat, revealing a Rotom Watch on her wrist. Miriam brought it to her lips. "Director Clavell? Arven's awake."

Director Clavell, too? What were he and Miriam doing in the future?

A few minutes passed, and Arven still hadn't figured out the mystery. He searched the small room, peered out the window to the sunny day, and poked his IV.

Eventually, someone knocked on the door of the nurse's office. It opened, and Director Clavell walked in, decked out in his scarlet uniform and neatly ironed pants. "Sorry about the intrusion," he said, placing his hands behind his back.

"Oh, you didn't intrude." Behind her palm, Miriam chuckled. "I believe Arven thinks he's still time traveling."

Arven was, wasn't he? Wasn't he supposed to go to the future to help AI Sada? And what about—?

"Where are my friends?" he blurted out.

"Don't worry, Arven." Clavell stopped at the edge of his bed and tickled his toes under the covers. "They're safe. They're in class now but said they'd visit you afterward. Penny hasn't left your side for three days."

Wait, three days?

"Celebi and Suicune returned you guys to Area Zero before Turo placed AI Sada in hypersleep," Clavell continued. "Oh, but I'm hardly the person to talk to about this." Slightly embarrassed, he backed away. "Sit tight, Arven, while I grab your friend from the future."

Friend? Did Clavell mean Celebi or...?

Kenji stepped into the room. He carried a leather bag over his shoulder and tightly grasped its straps.

Iron Bundle waddled in after him. The Future Pokémon seemed to smile at Arven.

"Thank you, Director," Kenji said to Clavell. "I'll make this quick because I need to return to the future."

"You're fine, Mr. Kenji," Clavell tittered, winking at Miriam. "Come along, Miriam. Let's leave them alone."

Miriam nodded and waved at Kenji and Arven. "Don't have too much fun without me." She and Clavell exited the room and shut the door behind them.

Kenji removed his bag and tossed it on the empty bed beside Arven's. "Hey, kid. How are you feeling?"

"I-I'm confused," was Arven's answer. He jumped slightly when Iron Bundle hopped onto his bedsheet.