Team Galactic

I think I see Professor Rowan. Walking up the street, my suspicions are confirmed. There's Professor Rowan with Dawn and two other people. I move to greet them, Professor Rowan speaks...

"Ah, Master. Impeccable timing as always. These miscreants are babbling utter nonsense that I just can't stomach. Show them some manners if you will."

I take one look at these strange-looking miscreants. This should be fun. One of the men responds...

"Oh, Professor Pokemon, must you be so difficult? We are approaching you strictly as businessmen. All you must do is provide us with all your research findings. In return, we'll refrain from causing massive damage to your assistant."

I think he means Dawn. That doesn't sound like something a businessman would say. It sounds more like something a gangster would say. Well then, two can play at that game. Get out of town or you'll be wearing cement shoes in hell, capiche? Dawn wants to battle alongside me against the two gangsters. This is new. I agree, of course. I would do it even if I had no reason to dislike these men, and I do. They look odd and uncouth as well as having bullying and arrogant mannerisms.

Dawn leads with Turtwig. I lead with Apsu. Our opponents lead with Zubat and Wurmple. I immediately switch to Sekhmet. Zubat and Turtwig fight each other, neither dealing much damage. Wurmple poisons Turtwigh though. The enemies continue attacking Turtwig. Aw. Sekhmet's leer weakens both of them and Turtwig nearly finishes Wurmple with one tackle. I like it so much, I tell Sekhmet to do it again. Zubat finally attacks her though. Turtwig brings down Wurmple. The poison will soon do the same for him though. I have Sekhmet tackle Zubat. The winged monster ignore her and continues attacking Turtwig, but Turtwig launches a desperate final attack that causes the Zubat to faint.

The moronic thugs are surprised that they lost to children. They run away. I consider having Hanuman light them on fire, but I wouldn't want Dawn to have to see that. Next time, then. As they retreat, Professor Rowan snarls...

"That lot...They call themselves Team Galactic. When pokemon evolve, they seem to release some type of energy...However, I believe that it's a mystic power far beyond our control. But Team Galactic seems to be trying to use that power for something...Anyway, Master, well done! You battle quite capably. The sight of you trainers and your pokemon battling together...I made the right decision in entrusting you with a pokemon!"

Dawn says, "Master did you know? The professor studies the evolution of pokemon too. According to his research, 90% of all pokemon are somehow tied to evolution! I guess that means some pokemon must undergo startling evolutions. So Master...Let's keep working out our pokedex project for the professor! They leave to the south and a heavyset man walks right up to me...

"Oh, that was very good! Nicely done! Truly excellent! Oh, I beg your pardon, I'm from Jubilife TV! I'd like you to have something for letting me see that smashing battle!"

He gives me a...a fashion case? No dude, you have the wrong idea: not gay. Oh, it's for my pokemon? Whatever. It's a gift I guess. He mentions something about visiting the station. I think about it and remember that I would have done so earlier, but some clown was standing in the doorway. The clown is gone now. I enter. There are some people saying mundane things. I ignore them. A reporter in the corner wants to battle be for a story. I accept, of course. She leads with a bird thing called Chatot. I switch from Apsu to Sekhmet. The bird eliminates Sekhmet in one move. Poor thing. I really must start treating her better. But I am somewhat excited. This is looking to be more challenging than previous battles. Still, that bird hurt my baby girl, and she must pay. Go Articuno. Articuno ignores me. I remind myself that this is a work in progress. Chatot sings Articuno to sleep. Articuno wakes back up in time to be hit by a fury attack. Chatot sings Articuno to sleep again. Articuno waks back up, only to begin napping. This is one sleepy bird. Chatot still has done little actual damage though. Mostly, this is just trying on my patience. I take a deep breath and wait for my pokemon to wake up. Articuno turns away, then proceeds to fall asleep again. Should I bring it to a veterinarian or something? Finally, Articuno wakes up and uses ice beam, dominating the Chatot.

I think this reporter was frustrated with how boring our battle was. That's her problem. Apsu seems to be getting stronger, so I am satisfied. I continue exploring the building. A man on the second floor presents me with a Chimchar mask. I thought this was a television station. It seems rather focused on costumes. The third story has a room where records are kept. I can see that I have defeated, in total, 81 pokemon so far. I like this facility. Someone else wants to interview me. He asks me how I feel about television. I feel impelled to honesty, so I tell him that I dislike it. He asks me the same question again. I answer the same way. This time, he seems to get it.

Moving on, I find a seemingly touched gentleman on the top floor. Enough of this. I take the elevator to the first floor, then leave the city and go north. Or rather, I go north and leave the city. Whatever. I find that cave with boulders. Fortunately, I can now smash them thanks to my exploits in Oreburgh City. I instruct Hanuman to do so. The tunnel is rather short and soon I am, well, I have no idea where I am. Perhaps I should consult my map? No time for that: a trainer just challenged me. Hanuman makes quick work of her grass pokemon. A blue-cap asks if I am raising different kinds of pokemon, pointing out that if one only uses one type, other types that the type is weak to will be very difficult to beat. Indeed. We just saw an example of this.

A boy running all over the place with a net sees me and challenges me. He wants my opinion of bug pokemon. I deliver my opinion in the form of fire. That is how all opinions should be delivered. I leave to visit the next town, but two little girls surprise me with their squirrels. Ugh. Hanuman and Sekhmet demolish the squirrels, then it's off to the next town.