Pokemon Ranger: Savior

Chapter Three: Escort The Professor!

     Back inside the base, everyone is facing Spenser, awaiting something, as if its protocol to walk in, face him, and wait for something. Not wanting to look the fool, I did the same, and sure enough, Spenser did speak.
      "Your work on the rookie mission was impressive." He states. I wasn't sure who he was speaking to at first, but apparently he's talking to me. "To be honest, I didn't think you would do as well as you did."
      "Neither did I," Lunick snickers next to me. I glare at him before turning back to Spenser. He's now looking at both of us.
      "Lunick, Serena, I want you to patrol Ringtown until a new mission comes up. If anything happens, you let me know immediately. Clear?" I'm a little confused at this. Patrol? Before I even have a chance to ask, Lunick does his cool pose, making me swoon again I might add, before coming to me.
      "A Ranger's job isn't only about doing missions," he explains. "Patrolling the city is just one of the important things we do. Let's hit the city and see what our citizens have to say!" I nod, then follow him out of the base, wondering if I could take advantage of this time alone with him. However, once we're outside, we hear a Pokemon's cry.
      "Did you hear that?" I ask. Lunick looks around, confusion across his face. He stops and faces towards the forest, with what looks like realization in his expression.
      "It's over that way!" He gestures for me to come to where he's standing, and when I do, I see a Taillow angrily chasing after that same Plusle from before! Then, as if out of nowhere, Larry comes up behind the Taillow.
      "Wait, wait up! My darling Taillow! Please calm down! My precious Taillow!" Larry pleads to the Pokemon. I gape at the scene before me. That poor Plusle keeps getting itself into trouble.
      I exclaim, "That Taillow is after that little Plusle!" Lunick grabs my arm. It tingles at his touch. Such soft hands.
              "...And that's Larry's Taillow!" he states. "We've got to save that Plusle!" I nod and we race forward. The two Pokemon race around me in circles before initiating a capture. Suddenly, the Plusle emits bolts of electricity, shocking the Taillow. It becomes paralyzed, so I have an easier time capturing it and calming it down. Then I realized what that Plusle did was help me. Then I hear Lunick, "You did it, Serena!" He was genuinely proud of my actions.
      "Of course I did! You're not the only successful Ranger in town, Big Shot!" I shoot him a glance, sarcasm littered in my gaze. He chuckles at me. Then, Larry steps forward.
      "Well, if it isn't Serena! You captured my darling Taillow again! I owe you a big thanks!" This nice Larry is definitely better than his first impression. I see Lunick take a step torwards Larry.
      "Larry, why was your Taillow chasing that Plusle?" he questions.
      "Well," Larry replies, " when my darling Taillow came back to me, I was beside myself, I was so happy. So, I was happily petting my precious one over and over. I think that little Plusle became jealous of how my darling was getting all my attention. So it started bugging my precious Taillow. My Taillow tried to ignore it for a while, but that Plusle was so persistent, my darling finally became furious."
      Understanding, Lunick says, "I see." Then, turning to Plusle, says, "Plusle...You'd better apologize to this Taillow properly." The Plusle slowly walks up to the Taillow and cries out to it. "Pla plaahh!"
      "That Plusle...maybe its lonesome. That's just the feeling I get anyway." concludes Larry, before he turns to his Taillow. "Darling Taillow, let's forgive that little Plusle and go home, ok?" The Taillow cries out, "Piih hyooh!" They both turn and leave.
      The Plusle then walks up to me and starts jumping up and down. "Plaah plah!" It cries to me. "Maybe this Plusle is lonesome, like Larry said," I state. Seeing this adorable little Pokemon just breaks my heart. I think to myself, I wish there was something I can do.
      Lunick replies, "Yeah. Look how much its taken to you already, Serena. It really wants to be babied." I agree with him. I look into the Plusle's eyes, and suddenly I feel some sort of bond form between us, an emotional connection. As soon as that happens, my Browser registers the Plusle. Then Lunick says, "Hey Rookie, did you maybe know this little guy from before? What's the story?"
      I proceed to explain to him how I first saw the Plusle in Fall City, about the Houndoom, and how it clung to my foot and followed me here to Ringtown. "Wow. I'd say a lot happened in a short time," Lunick states. "Hey, I know! You don't have a Partner Pokemon yet, do you Rookie?" He has that smirking grin and that look in his eyes again. He's always teasing me.
      "Don't condescend me, Big Shot! And, no, I don't" I retort, smirking right back at him.
      "Not a chance. Then I think this Plusle would be a great Partner for you! I guarantee it!" Lunick responds, chuckling. I look at the Plusle, and it was decided between us. Plusle was now my new Partner! I do my pose while my new Partner does its cry, jumping for joy! We're going to be a great team, I can just feel it. "Let's go back to patrolling," Lunick says suddenly.
      I nod and say, "Ok. Plusle, you're with us now!" We start walking back towards the base to get to the house that's next to it. Apparently, we're going to start patrolling from there, then head through the town northward to end near the entrance to the Lyra Forest. While we're walking, we have some free time in between houses, so of course I strike some conversational questions.
     "So, what made you want to become a Ranger, Big Shot?" I ask, knowing full well the answer.
      "Problably the same reasons as you, Rookie." he replies, that same old look in his eyes. I have a feeling this is the face I'll be seeing the most, his smirk. There's something at the back of my mind though, something I want to ask him next.
      "Figures. Well, where are you from? Have any family here?" The instant I finish, his face changes. There's a look of anger there, replacing the smirk. I feel like I hit a nerve asking that question. Probably a sensitive topic for him, I muse. Under all that coolness and professionalism, that nonchalance and kindness, there's apparently something else that no one knows about, an injured soul.
      He lowers his eyes to the ground. "...No, not really. I'm from Pueltown in Almia. I wanted to come here to be a Ranger for..personal reasons." I just nod, sensing that he doesn't want to talk about it. I make a mental note not to mention it again unless he's ready to confide in me. "How about you?" he then returns the question, probably to change the subject from him. I can understand that.
      "I was a successful Trainer in various regions. I was born in Pallet Town of Kanto, but at a very young age my mother moved us to Sinnoh because she wanted to become a Coordinator. So I grew up pretty much in Sinnoh, and eventually became the Champion there and a successful Coordinator myself!" I explain to him, hoping to impress him with my long list of successes. "Soon after I travelled to Hoenn and became the Champion there too! That place is beautiful, and the Competitions were no match for me there either. Johto was my most recent adventure, and I...did the same thing." I hesitated, not wanting to reveal the true reasons for my taking a break from Training and becoming a Ranger instead. "My next region I wish to conquer is Kalos!" I conclude the story, while also trying to keep his attention away from my hesitation.
      "Wow. So, so far your life has been one big, awesome adventure." he says, surprise in his voice. "But," he states, emphasizing the word, "even though you've done a lot of things elsewhere, you're still a Rookie here." He winks at me then, and I'm relieved to see his face change back to the one I'm used to, the one I'm comfortable with. I smile at him, knowing he's teasing me again. I just shake my head as we enter another house to converse with its residents.
      After patrolling for a little while longer, we decide it's time to head back to the Base. Once inside, Lunick gives a detailed report of our events to Spenser. I jump in every once in a while, adding my own two cents, and together, we conclude our report. After we finish, Spenser explains to me about Partner Pokemon. Next thing I know, I'm outside again, with Lunick. He offered to explain to me how my Plusle can help with captures. His Minun can do the same thing, so that's why he's familiar with it.
      "You see this gauge here? That's for your Partner." he begins, pointing to something on my Styler. The whole time he gives me that soft look instead of his usually snide one. I decide not to make any sarcastic remarks because I don't want to make him stop looking at me like that.
      "Serena? Are you ok?" he asks. Apparently I wandered off in my own head for a second there, my eyes glazed over into a dreamlike state. And apparently, Lunick noticed.
      "Yea, I'm fine. Just got a little dizzy there for a second." I reassure him.
      "Maybe all of today's excitement is taking its toll on you. You should take it easy for a bit." He's being so nice to me, and I can see it in his eyes that he really is concerned for me. I smile at him, and together we go back to the base.
      "Leader, if there's no missions, I could go back on patrol?" He addresses Spenser as soon as we enter. Spenser seems to ponder for a second.
      "Hmm.. No, there's nothing that demands immediate action..Lunick, you can go patrol Lyra Forest on your own."
      "Roger!" Lunick exclaims, doing his pose! Then, turning to me, he says, "I'll see you later, Rookie." He winks at me then, and I giggle out loud. He walks out, but the doors don't close automatically as an old man walks in right after him. He is wearing a white lab coat, walking with a cane, and has long, white hair. He speaks with a sort of accent, like a man of very high intelligence.
      "Oh, confound it all! I became disoriented in that wretched Lyra Forest again! Oh, but that's beside the point. Spenser, long time, no see! I trust that you've been well?" the man says the instant he steps inside. He notices me and his attention is instantly averted. "Oh, who might this be? That unfamiliar youngster is the rookie Ranger you've been telling me about?"
      "It's good to see you again, Professor Hastings," Spenser replies to the man. "As you've guessed, she's our new rookie hope, Serena." The professor then introduces himself to me, and I myself. Then Spenser gets close to him, and with a hushed voice, says, "Incidentally, Professor. I wanted to speak to you about the new Styler you left with us recently. I think you called it the Super Styler?" The man nods. "Well, it sure lives up to its name. It really is quite outstanding. But, it also worries me, too. If one were to ever fall into the hands of criminals..." he trails off, and I just watch as he glances around nervously.
      "You worry needlessly. The Super Styler's existence is known only to the Ranger Leaders of the four Ranger Bases. Oops, I was rather loud, wasn't I?" he looks around. "But, no matter, that Super Styler is merely a prototype. Incidentally, Spenser. This is strictly between us, but I had a flash of inspiration. I have an idea that will power up the Super Styler. I couldn't wait to share this idea with you, so I took the long journey all the way from Fall City on foot. So, the brilliant idea I have..." Suddenly, Spenser cuts him off.
      "Uh, yes, just, uh, hold on a second. Serena, can you go upstairs and check on my Fearow? That'd be now." he orders me. I nod, and, understanding that he needs privacy, rush over to the elevator.
      Once I'm upstairs, I see a couple of Rangers sitting at a table, conversing and socializing. I ignore them and walk straight to the other side of the room, passing a Dragonite and a man with a clipboard. He didn't even notice me as I walked by. I saw the Fearow, and the Ranger tending it said it was resting up from carrying both me and Spenser. Then I walked back towards the elevator, and the clipboard man glanced up and saw me. He explained that the Dragonite can take you to any other Base in no time, but I'm still a rookie so I don't have permission to do so yet. Then I go back to the elevator, all the while wondering what the topic of Spenser's discussion with the Professor is.
      On the way down in the elevator, I started to feel a little nauseated. I thought that maybe it was the motion of the elevator, since it disappeared after I stepped off. I decided to just shrug it off, and I continued towards Spenser and the Professor to report that the Fearow was fine and resting. Next thing I know, Spenser is giving me a new mission. I started to feel the nausea again, and I couldn't exactly focus much on what Spenser was saying. I was able to glean that I was to escort the good Professor back to Fall City. I just pretended I caught every word and set off, the Professor trailing behind me with surprising speed for his apparent age.
     "Now, don't you treat me like a decrepit old man," the Professor says the second we step into the Lyra Forest. He doesn't want me to be concerned for him. I smile and nod to him, and again we're off. We didn't get far, however, not even a step, as a Bellsprout suddenly pops out in front of us from the bushes. I was startled, but this will be an easy capture.
      "No big deal, this will be good practice," I tell the Professor. However, he puts his hand on mine before I can even draw a Capture Line.
      "After you conveniently capture this Bellsprout, I have something to explain to you. Spenser's wishes," he tells me. I shrug and then proceed to capture the little Pokemon. Once done, the Professor goes on to explain how to use Poke Assists.
      "This is very useful," I muse out loud. The Professor nodded, and we make our way through the forest, clearing some bundled hay that obstructed our passage. We move on towards a giant tree. A sign there says that its the very middle of the forest. Further along, I was able to encounter and capture a Combusken, a somewhat stronger Pokemon than I've taken on so far. He has a much stronger Field Move, and I was able to use it to clear a fallen log in our way. We proceeded towards a tunnel, and Professor Hastings said it was called Krokka Tunnel. Seems a tad scary but I'm too excited to start exploring this new region not to worry. Exploring new places is one of my favorite things to do.
      The good Professor and I walk into the tunnel and we continue on.