GamerFiction
patreon
Pokemon: Way of Life Chapter 4
🕑 Added 2022-09-24 22:17:06 +0000 UTCDisclaimer: I don't own Pokemon. It belongs to Nintendo and Gamefreak.
Adrian Potts entered his office and closed and locked it behind him.
He had just come from his patient's room and confirmed something he had feared. The boy had been asleep again due to his body's condition. It had made it easier to run the test and have his Haunter confirm the result. Now it was time to pay the devil's due.
Adrian had been surprised by the Pokemon egg clutched in the boy’s arms but assumed that his parents had got it for him.
He took a phone out of his pocket and stood at the window, looking out at the view of the town. The hospital was located near the centre of town so that it could get to any location in a relatively short time. His window faced the south, where the Pallet Town docks could be observed; the constant hustle and bustle always soothed him. Adrian needed that sorely now.
The phone was untraceable, and it served a single purpose. He never imagined that he would have to use it, and now he was cursing himself for getting involved in the organisation. He entered the number into the phone and waited.
“What is it?” The voice on the other was a woman, soft but commanding.
“This is Black reporting on a situation with test subject 54.”
“One moment. Let me bring up my records.”
The clack of a keyboard could be heard on the phone.
“Lucas Walker. Suffered a major trauma to the head after a wild Tauros rampaged in the suburbs. A long-term coma patient with little hope of recovery. Administered the M-47 serum one year ago. Is this correct?”
“Yes,” Adrian answered.
“You were told only to contact me if something significant happened. So?”
“The patient is awake.”
Adrian could almost feel the woman's predatory gaze sharpen. “What is his condition?”
“He cannot remember much, and his body is in poor condition. He will need a lot of therapy.”
“Is that all?” The woman sounded disappointed.
“Besides those issues, he is completely fine. No other signs of brain damage and,” Adrian took a breath, “he has awakened his energy.”
The woman inhaled sharply. “What kind?”
“Both.”
There was a moment of silence. “Are you sure? Remember, it will not just be your head if you're wrong.”
“Haunter was in the room when I tested him; he has confirmed my result. So far, he has never been wrong. It is still weak, but I expect he is only in the first stage. Probably, a good thing, too, considering his body condition.”
“I need to consult the leader. For now, I need you to monitor him. Make sure that no one does any further tests. If it were discovered, then there would be hell to pay. Wait for further contact.”
“I understand,” Adrian hung up and sat down heavily in his chair. He put his face in his hands and contemplated what can of worms he had just opened.
“Forgive me, kid. But I already sold my soul for a bargain price. I hope you can get through this unscathed.”
Adrian looked at the photo on his desk, which held his beautiful daughter, who was now at university. If she ever discovered how low he had fallen, it would destroy him.
0(((())))0
Lucas came back to awareness, lying on the floor of the tower. It took him a few seconds to recall the traumatic experience he had just witnessed. He shuddered as he recalled those final moments. No wonder he was a huge mess if he had repressed a memory like that.
To echo the words of his callous grandmother, he wished it had stayed buried. It was not something he could take back, and it would probably haunt him for a while. He wondered how he had survived, for his grandmother seemed unconcerned with killing her grandson. Her disregard for human life convinced him that she was pure evil.
The only comfort was that his mother returned for him, which brought him some comfort. Maybe his mother hadn't been the best, but she had been trying. What would his life have been like if she had never entrusted him to her mother? Just what was the huge score that she had mentioned?
Despite the traumatic event, he felt a little distant from it, as if something was protecting his mind from the harsher effects. It had truly felt like he was going insane in that hole. Was that something his younger self experienced? Now that he thought about it, events after his mother disappeared were very blurry and vague, like he had been in a fugue state for a long time afterwards.
Lucas sat up and realised he had received several notifications. He browsed through them and whistled.
=====
By unlocking a traumatic memory and facing it head-on, a small barrier has broken in your mind, releasing some of your potential!
Intelligence + 3
Charisma + 2
You have unlocked the Perception Attribute!
You have gained the Perk: Skill Master!
=====
Perception: How the player perceives the world. Increases all senses, so he better interprets the information the player receives and reacts accordingly. Boosts the effectiveness of all skills that use the senses.
=====
Observation has awakened a new aspect.
Observation Range: 5.36 metres [Perception Modifier].
=====
[Skill Master] (Passive) [MAX] (---) [Cost:0]
Description: Learn skills by performing specific actions. The effort required to learn a skill is determined by the difficulty of the skill and the knowledge the player has of the subject. The number of skills that can be learned is limited to the player’s {Intelligence Attribute}.
Skills Left: 6/6
=====
Well, he certainly got rewarded for the hardship that he faced. It was a good lesson to keep in mind. It takes hard work to get what you earn, and even having a cheat ‘Gamer System’ does not mean you get everything handed on a silver plate.
{Perception} was undoubtedly a pleasant surprise. It meant that he would get an all-around boost in survivability if he could better sense danger. But there was also general quality of life changes like being able to taste and enjoy food more. One question, though, did it increase his pain sensitivity? That would be a serious downer.
{Skill Master} was an interesting perk. It gave him the benefit of being able to learn skills through actions, but it put a limit on how many he could learn. It meant that he would have to think carefully about the skills he wanted to be efficient. Although, he could keep raising his {Intelligence} to insane levels. There were also alternatives to getting skills, such as the Shop.
Lucas decides to check his Status to see the changes.
=====
Lucas Walker
Age: 14
Title: Arceus’s Blessing
Level: 1 [0/100%]
Aura: 50/50
Physique: 2
Dexterity: 3
Intelligence: 6
Perception: 8
Charisma: 11
AP: 0
Perks
????:
????: Stage One
Friendly Narrator
Skill Master
Detriments
Feebleness
Ghosts of the Past
Poke dollars: 0
=====
He had gained an extra perk besides the {Skill Master}, which was shrouded in mystery.
“Stage One”, Lucas muttered. What the hell did that mean? Why was it suddenly revealing information now? Was this the result of witnessing the memories? He touched the screen to bring up further details.
=====
????: Stage One: The first stage in awakening; does not give any specific benefits at the moment.
=====
New Quest Received!
Awakened 01
Stage One
Description: The unknown perk doesn't give any visible benefits but may change over time. What is this power? Does the player dare wait to find out before it's too late? Find information on the perk.
Time Limit: Three Months
Rewards: ??????
Failure: ??????
=====
It sounded a bit ominous. Lucas shrugged and stood. He would think about the problem later. For now, he wanted to get out of here. He had more than enough for one day; besides, at his current level, he didn't know how long he could keep on winning. He will wait until he finishes his physiotherapy and gains some knowledge and skills.
He walked to the terminal and accessed the Shop, and laid his greedy eyes on {Meditation}. He knew technically he could now learn the skill by performing actions, but he had set a goal and worked hard for this skill. Besides, he didn't know how long it would take to learn it, and he wanted to get the benefits straight away to level other skills.
=====
[You have learned Meditation.]
[Meditation] (Active) Lv.1 [0/100%] [Cost: --]
Description: The practice of emptying your mind and trying to obtain focus and relaxation. Distracted thoughts and outside stimuli may pull the player from Meditation, but higher levels make it easier to stay focused. Aura regenerates faster while in this state.
Aura Regeneration + 1% per minute
Failure Chance + 90%
=====
After getting the skill, Lucas didn't waste any more time in the tower.
‘{Mind Walker}’
Lucas opened his eyes and looked around the room. The time on the clock revealed that it was almost evening. He still felt the reassuring weight of the egg in his arms and he decided to inspect it once more.
‘{Observe}’
=====
Pokemon: ???? Age: 0 Type: ???? Potential: C
Description: A Pokemon Egg. It still looks like it has some time to hatch.
Affection: 10 Favourite Foods:?
=====
A curious mind brushed against his own. Lucas gasped as he looked at the egg and waited for it to happen again. However, it seemed to have satisfied its curiosity and went silent. Lucas rubbed the egg in fondness and secured it to his side.
The familiar weakness of his body and annoying attachments was not a welcome one. Maybe he could use his Mindscape to get some sleep without any discomfort?
He would love to get the tube out of his throat. Lucas was also sick of lying on his back. Then he noticed that the call button had been conveniently placed next to his right hand. He pushed the button and waited.
Amy came in a minute later, looking cheerful. “Hi, Lucas. How are you feeling?”
Lucas smiled. “Not bad. So am I free to leave yet?”
“Not quite,” Amy smirked. “Oh yeah, where do you get the egg? I noticed it earlier.”
“My parents,” Lucas said. “They thought it might motivate me to get better.”
“One hell of a motivation, kid. Can I get you anything?”
“Can I get a boost?”
Amy raised the bed so he could sit up, and Lucas sighed in relief. He rotated his neck to try and get the sharp pain to subside.
Amy noticed his grimace. “Do you need some pain relief?
Lucas shook his head. “What I would like is a nice steak.”
“You cannot eat steak, but I may be able to get you some soup and ice cream. I will have to take out the tube. I have consulted Dr Potts, and he said it would be fine.” Amy shook her head in disbelief.
“Is it that incredible that I woke up after such a long time?”
“That's not the only incredible thing,” Amy said. “You slept in a coma for three years without assistance from a breathing apparatus. When you woke up, you were already talking fine. Do you know how incredible that is? Of course, you did have some outside assistance.”
“What do you mean?”
“You have some incredible parents, kid,” Amy smiled. “They hired an Aura Healer to try and keep you from suffering the usual ailments of long-term coma patients. They are very rare and thus extremely expensive. They must have spent a small fortune to get their help.”
“An Aura Healer?”
“They are an Aura user who specialises in healing arts. They spent nearly two years keeping you as healthy as they could. They only stopped because they said that to keep going would potentially kill you. Aura Healing is very effective, but it relies on using the patient's own body's resources to work.”
Lucas mulled that over in his mind. It seemed {Aura} had a more varied use in this world. Did humans learn to manipulate energy like Pokemon to such a degree? Maybe out of necessity? Nothing pushes a species to evolve when they are fighting for survival
He had sure hit the jackpot when it came to parents, something he dared not throw away. It was unfortunate that it was all in vain because their son had died, not that he would ever admit that. As far as they were aware, he was their son. The only thing he could do to thank them was be the best damn son a parent could ever want.
Something occurred to him. “Wait, can't Pokemon heal as well? Why don't people use them?”
Amy looked at her watch. “I need to get that tube out and get you some food before my shift ends, but I can grab a book from the library to help explain it better. I can even hook you up with a book holder to help you read yourself.”
Lucas nodded. “That would be amazing, thank you.”
0(((())))0
Aura: Order and Chaos
Aura is a broader but often misused term for two different energy sources; Chaos and Order, which exist in all living things.
Chaos is commonly known as Red Energy, which exists in all Pokemon. A manifestation of this energy is usually seen when encountering high-level pokemon.
Red Energy is incredibly corrosive and violent. Pokemon are not only able to unleash incredible abilities but can temper their bodies with their exceptional resistance. However, Red Energy can negatively affect the mind, making them violent and unpredictable.
It is not incorrect to say that Pokemon appear cursed, for what is power without the sense to control it? The stronger the Pokemon, the more they lose their sanity and descend into savagery.
Order is better known as Blue Energy since, on rare occasions where it has manifested, it was seen to be blue. It exists in all humans.
Blue Energy is the opposite of Red, gentle and nourishing. Only a tiny percentage of humans may harness Blue Energy to do incredible feats. It is not as strong as Red Energy, but it has no adverse side effects on the mind. However, it has one major drawback that will ensure that humans never gain ascendancy. It has has been proven that it decreases the fertility rates in all humans, keeping the population from growing further. No research so far has come close to a definitive answer as to why this is the case.
The First Order users are known to be The Aura Guardians, who still exist today. Together with scientists, they devised a method for humans to bond with Pokemon by utilising Blue Energy and technology. It allows Pokemon to use Red Energy without the corrupting influence.
If only every Pokemon could be captured by trainers and share a bond, but the Pokemon population exceeds the humans by a fair margin, and resources are finite. Not to mention that the older and stronger a wild Pokemon becomes, the less likely that they would be able to bond with people.
Legendaries are, of course, the exception to the rule and do not suffer from any side effects. Scientists have long wanted to study them, but they remain elusive.
……..
Lucas hummed. The world just kept on getting more interesting. It had taken a simple concept of Aura from canon and had expanded upon it to make it more prevalent and nuanced. There were serious implications from what he had read.
First, Pokemon seemed similar to how demons were depicted in fiction. They had a source of power that made them much stronger, but in return, it eroded their minds. Going out on a journey to capture Pokemon and compete in competitions was not just a lark in this world. There were severe consequences where you could be seriously hurt or even killed. Pokemon were far stronger than humans and far more willing to attack.
Secondly, there were a lot more Pokemon, so humans had to pull together to defend themselves. Did that mean there were fewer towns and cities, but they were far larger to accommodate more people? Were there fortified defences? It sounded a bit like a light apocalypse, while people managed to survive easily enough, but they were far from the dominant species.
Finally, the technology they were mentioning? Were they referring to Pokeballs? What was a bond? Lucas flipped the pages over and searched for any mention of bonds.
Bonds - The synchronisation of two opposing energies
It has been theorised that both Red Energy (Chaos) and Blue Energy (Order) were one and the same, aptly called Balance (Aura). But somewhere in the past, something happened to tear these two energies apart. They are not meant to be separate, which has led to the current state of the world. The first discovery of Bonds was what led to this idea.
The Bond is simply a means of sharing a mental link, through which a person passively uses Blue Energy to eliminate the impact of mental degradation in Pokemon. This does not require the person to be able to manipulate Blue Energy.
In return, humans receive a small amount of Red Energy in return which raises their overall physical condition. However, this is not a true merging of energies, and it can be broken if enough discord exists between humans and Pokemon. Some believe that a proper merging of energies in a human or pokemon could theoretically be possible.
The earlier the Bond is formed, the easier it is to gain the Pokemon's Affection and develop a strong link. A captured Pokemon would take more time to reverse mental degradation, depending on their age and level, but it is possible.
………
Lucas put the book down and mulled over the information he had received. It took him a few moments, but something struck him as odd. He looked at his {Status}. His resource to use skills was called {Aura}, but that was technically incorrect. Shouldn't it be named Blue Energy? Would the system make such a mistake?
=====
The player has unlocked the secret of one of his perks.
???? > Balance Lv.1
Balance (Aura) Lv. 1: The perfect harmonisation between two opposing energies. Doubles {Aura} gained when the player increases his level. This skill cannot be levelled conventionally and must fulfil specific conditions.
=====
The Quest (Awakened: Stage One) has been updated.
Description: The unknown perk doesn't give any visible benefits but may change over time. What is this power? Does the player dare wait to find out before it's too late? Find information on the perk.
The mysterious perk may be related to the {Balance} perk. Finding further information on this may lead you in the right direction.
=====
Lucas was beginning to think he was a part of some grand conspiracy. Something was going on here beyond the ‘Gamer System’. He had an inkling that he may have Aura as the result of something else other than the ‘System’. Not to mention the ominous tone of the quest itself. What did ‘Awakened’ actually mean?
Lucas shook his head. He was becoming paranoid. There were still three months to complete the quest, and it wasn't like he could do much while trapped in his bed.
He decided it was time to start practising his new skill. But first, he may as well drain his {Aura}. He looked around the room; there were still more than enough items to train his {Observation}.
Lucas stopped when he was close to empty. He then folded his arms loosely in his lap and closed his eyes.
‘{Meditation}’
Instantly, he felt a serenity overcome him, and his thoughts slowed down, and he seemed to drift in the aether. There were no worries, no pain but endless bliss. Then…
He was sitting in a grave, dirt pouring out of his eyes, choking on the dirt filling his lungs, screaming silently as his mother turned around and beckoned him, her arm grabbing onto his hair and pulling….
Lucas broke out of {Meditation} as he gasped, looking around him quickly before groaning. That had not been very nice. It was easy to get into a meditative state, but with his recent trauma, it was so easy to become distracted. He looked at the skill description and understood what the failure rate meant. This was going to take a while.
0(((())))0
The next day.
=====
[Meditation] (Active) Lv.2 [54/100%] [Cost: --]
Description: The practice of clearing your mind and achieving focus and equilibrium. Distracting thoughts and outside stimuli may pull the player from Meditation, but higher levels make it easier to stay focused. Aura regenerates faster while in this state.
Aura Regeneration +1.5% per minute
Failure Chance + 85%
=====
Lucas had practised as long as he could before falling asleep. However, every time he was interrupted by various renditions of the same vision. Inside the grave with his mother. It did not make for a relaxing time. But he did manage to level the skill up. His natural {Aura Regen} combined with {Meditation} meant that he could technically restore his {Aura} to full within thirty-eight minutes. It took well over three hours with him constantly plunging out of {Meditation}. It was something he would have to grind hard to raise.
Lucas continued to level the skill this morning after having breakfast and waiting for his family to show. He was surprised when he learnt his first skill.
=====
You have learned Mental Resistance!
[Mental Resistance] (Passive) Lv.1 [83/100%] [Cost: --]
Description: The mind’s subconscious desire to protect the mind from external attacks. Increases resistance to all mental debilitating status effects, psychological stress and mind-altering substances.
Mental Resistance + 1%
=====
The player has the option of learning the skill instantly or saving it in the skill bank, where the player can choose to learn it at his leisure. The skill bank can be found in the ‘Skills’ menu.
Learn this skill? Y/N
=====
This was because of the constant bombardment of those visions. Lucas chose to learn the skill right away. He was in two minds on how he felt about the skill. While it sounded great, he thought that he would see a lot of use with it in the future.
Lucas was broken out of his thoughts when the door opened. His parents entered again, but this time his mother was holding hands with a little girl. She hid behind her mother's leg and poked her head out to look at him curiously.
It was the same girl in the picture, but it didn't do her justice. Abigail was even more adorable in person. She wore a school uniform, a navy blue pinafore dress with a red bow tie. She had a pink ‘Clefairy’ backpack on her back. It looked like she would be spending time at school later.
“Hello, again,” Sophia said. She nudged her daughter forward. “I have someone who would like to meet you.”
Lucas smiled at the girl. “Hello, Abigail. It's nice to meet you.”
Abigail shuffled towards the bed. She grabbed the side railing and looked up at him. “Mother said that you can't remember anything.”
“That's right. Most of it is gone. It's an absolute travesty that I can't remember my cute little sister.”
Abigail grinned, showing a gap in her teeth.
David carried a box forward and placed it at the end of his bed. “We got you some basic educational books and some movies. It should keep you occupied for a while. We also got you a phone and a laptop so that you can stay in contact.”
“Thanks.” Lucas winked at Abigail. “Looks like you're ahead of me now in school. I may need your help.”
Abigail nodded seriously. “I will help you.”
Sophia came forward and hugged him. “How are you feeling?”
“Okay. Can't wait to get out of here.”
She raised the bed for him and helped him sit up. “Are you allowed to eat anything?”
“Yeah, but only soft foods.”
“Dr Potts is coming soon to speak to us about your recovery,” David said. “You still need to have tests done, but he isn't in a hurry. They seem to think you're relatively healthy, aside from the obvious.”
“Good to hear.”
Abigail held up her arms. “I want to sit on the bed.”
David lifted her onto the end of the bed, and she poked her head into the box.
“Why don't you find something for Lucas to read,” Sophia suggested, stroking Abigail's hair.
“Okay.”
Lucas watched the girl rummage through the box and smiled. He was surprised at how much he liked his sister after meeting her. Even more so than his parents.
Sophia snapped her fingers. “Oh, I almost forgot. We are having a Pokemon incubator arrive later so you can keep your egg safe while you're sleeping. It will keep it warm and in good condition. That and bonding with your pokemon will give it the best chance in raising its potential.”
Lucas looked down at his egg. “What do you mean by its potential?”
“Do you know why eggs are so in demand? It's because the Pokemon inside the egg are still in what is known as the ‘Potential Stage.’ Their potential has not been decided. The higher the potential, then the higher the ceiling that the pokemon can grow.
Do you want to know something even more amazing?”
“What?”
“Pokemon inside their eggs are nothing but a combination of pure energy and consciousness. They don't form their actual bodies until they emerge from the egg. That’s why you can get Pokemon that are born much bigger than others, even though the eggs are generally the same size.”
That was incredible. He needed to get his hands on more eggs. Wouldn't it be more satisfying to raise a Pokemon from the very beginning and make them into the strongest Pokemon?
“So can potential be measured?” Lucas asked.
“It is not an exact science,” David responded, “but we have developed a rudimentary system to measure them. Potential is split into seven tiers, from ‘F’ to ‘S’. Of course, plenty of Pokemon don't have an extra evolution form. Pokemon with less potential usually have a lower ceiling in their growth, and these Pokemon usually end as people's companions or helpers.”
“What about ‘S’ Tier?”
“They are known as semi-legendaries. There are less than a dozen trainers that are known to own them in Kanto.”
“Do you own any Pokemon?” David asked eagerly.
“That didn't take long,” Sophia laughed.
David looked at the door. “Okay, I'll show you but only for a moment. You're not supposed to release Pokemon in the hospital.”
He reached into his pocket and retrieved a shrunken pokeball. He clicked the button and then pointed the pokeball at the floor. The familiar red surge appeared for a second before forming into a Pokemon.
“Machop,” the tiny little humanoid struck a pose.
“Awesome,” Lucas said.
‘{Observe}’
=====
Pokemon: Machop Age: 3 months Type: Fighting
Description: Loves to build its muscles. It trains in all styles of martial arts to become even stronger.
Moves:
Leer: (Physical/Normal) [Power:--] [Costs: 3]
Low Kick: (Physical/Fighting) [Power: 30] [Cost:6]
Focus Energy: (Physical/Normal) [Power:15] [Cost: 5]
Bullet Punch: (Physical/Steel) [Power: 40] [Cost: 7]
=====
It was the first time he had seen a Pokemon with four {Moves}. Was that an {Egg Move}? From memory, it didn't seem like something that Machop would learn.
Machop was about only a foot tall but was already developing some incredible muscles. Lucas figured it was still a baby at three months old. Compared to its anime version, its blue-grey skin looked darker and rougher, like tree bark. On top of his head were three brown ridges, and its face was flat with a pair of red eyes, round and inquisitive.
“This Pokemon is called a Machop, a fighting type Pokemon. His name is Byron,” David said. “Byron, this is my son Lucas. I told you about him before, do you remember?”
“Ma, Ma,” Byron nodded. He waved at Lucas.
Lucas waved back. David returned him to his pokeball.
“How many do you have?” Lucas asked eagerly.
“Seven, including Byron. I only got him a few months ago. The rest of my team is too big to bring out.”
“So, were you a Pokemon trainer?”
“That's right. Left home when I turned fifteen and competed for a few years.”
“Wait, fifteen?”
“You cannot start your journey before your fifteenth birthday,” Sophie said. “You also need to complete a course, Trainer 101. It covers most of the basics that a normal trainer needs to know. Raising Pokemon, battling, cooking, survival, physical education, ethics and a few others.”
“Is that all?” Lucas asked weakly.
David chuckled. “You need to finish your secondary education. You can choose to do extra classes to finish early, or you can do it normally and start your Trainer career later.”
Lucas groaned. “I’m so far behind.”
“It's going to take some work,” Sophie said sympathetically. “But you don't have to rush. No one says you have to start at fifteen.”
“But it's Pokemon,” Lucas whined.
“Now there’s the boy I raised,” Sophie smirked.
“There is another thing you should be aware of,” David said seriously. “Pokemon Trainer gets heavy discounts on all their services while they are a trainer, but in return, you have to serve the country in one of the military or civilian services for a mandatory three years before your thirtieth birthday.”
There were already so many changes from canon. Lucas expected it, but still, he had to shake his head at some of the more extreme changes. “Wow. Does that include the Pokemon Rangers?”
“It does; in fact, I met your mother in the Rangers.”
“Oh yeah, you're a trainer, too,” Lucas said to his mother. “You must have some awesome Pokemon as well.”
Sophia nodded.
“Here you go,” Abigail handed him a book.
“Thanks, Abby,” Lucas said, glancing at the title. Eggcellent Care.
Lucas patted his bed in invitation. “Why don't we read it together? You can hold the egg for me if you like.”
Amy grabbed the egg and scrambled under his arm, snuggling at his side.
“She's not hurting you, is she?” Sophia asked.
“She’s fine.”
“How about we go get some coffee?” David asked his wife.
Sophia nodded. “We will be back soon.”
Lucas barely noticed them leaving, already reading out loud to Abigail.
The morning continued in leisure until Dr Potts arrived.
