-------------------

Of course this might just be some jerk pretending to be Gary whenever someone asks, “Prove it, I’ll say a word, you tell me the first thing that pops in your head.”

His brow arches, “Seriously? How would someone I’ve just met randomly, for the first time, even judge my answer?”

“Try me.”

“Fine,” He laughs while crossing his arms. “Fire away.”

In order of occurrence, “Blue.”

He seems surprised and then groans, “Alright, so no joke, my sister, my neighbor, and I used to play pokemon rangers as a kid. I was the Blue Ranger.”

“Your dark past is safe with me,” I laugh, “This stanger you just met.”

His hand covers his face.

But I’m not done, “that was the soft hit, next up, Giovanni.”

The joking mood disappears like snow in a microwave, “Thrice cursed dead Bastard, and good riddance.”

“Mewtwo?”

Rolling his eyes, “Fine, I know who you are, and that you saw Ash in Alola. Which means you know exactly where Mewtwo is.”

Naomi walks up, “Kurt what's going… P-Professesor Oak! Owie!”

Gary smiles, “Hello Miss Wattson, did you just bite your tongue?”

The poor girl is turning a shade of red as she punches me in the waist, “Kurt you weren't being rude were you?!”

“Yes,” I chuckle as her eyes go wide, “I’m positive I was being pretty darn rude. But,” I look at Gary, “With that out of the way I’d like to hear more about what you mentioned before.”

He waves it off, “No, I won’t hold a bit of skepticism against you. I certainly wouldn’t want an impersonator anywhere near young Naomi either.” Pointing back to my console displaying a selection of steel moves, “Let's pull up a few more here, I heard you’ve successfully taught a few of your pokemon the basics of Z-moves? Moves that combine the hard earned strengths of a pokemon and an explosive outpouring of natural energy.”

I nod and watch as he puts a picture of Galvantula in the corner then creates a large list. Iron defense, Spiky Shield, Baneful Bunker, Pin Missile, Magnet bomb, Discharge, Steelsurge, Shell Smash, Automotize, Wild Charge, Giga Impact, Meteor Mash, Crush Claw, Iron head, Thunder fang.

Next he shows a clip of an Alolan Golem exploding in a bomb of plasmafied rocks before charging like a comet of lighting into a stunned Mega Tyranitar. The video title reads ‘Olivia vs Ethan Gold, Crown cup semi finals, Golem’s Gigavolt Havoc!’

Gary explains, “At the core of it, Z-Moves are the ultimate culmination of a pokemon’s training, each incarnation will be unique to the individual pokemon. From the file I have on your Galvantula from Guzma, this is certainly a route you could take.”

Pulling a bit of biology knowledge about spiders, “This setup seems pretty damn self destructive. I know it's doable, but I’m sure the recovery period won’t be short.”

He nods, “This golem wasn’t able to participate in the final, which may have cost that match. But would it have even passed the semi without using the move? I’ve met this particular Golem, he’s happy as can be looking after its flock of Geodudes these days. No long term damage.”

More and more often I hear of Champion level trainers leaving their pokemon to protect areas in the wild. I guess that’s part of the big deal and peace between humans and pokemon.

Naomi taps something on her tablet, “Alright, I ordered all those TMs. Can we take you to a late lunch, Professor Oak?”

My brain malfunctions noticing the cash total on that order, “Naomi… I would have picked those up eventually.”

She rolls her eyes, “Kurt, when it comes to this, just shut up and accept it, I need you at your strongest remember? Call it a business expense, who do you think owns the lease on this store anyway? All of what we just spent will be back in my family’s account come end of month. Really we paid with a rent discount for the month.”

Oh. She’s absolutely right.

Gary chuckles, “Sure, I could eat. I actually did have some business with Kurt here anyway.”

Okay, what? “Me?”

Naomi leads the way back to our cart, “Professor Oak is the World Pokemon League Director of Variance Research.”

He points to the replay of Electra’s battle on the front marquee, “That means I’m final say on projects like that Electric type Gyarados, and your Steel type Sandslash. I also get informed whenever someone registers a catch like your Joltik with a Steel sub-typing.”

“That was over a month ago.” I point out as I start us off towards the food court.

Naomi flips on the nav display and quickly keys in the top level restaurant, which I know she hates, “I’m sure Professor Oak must see dozens of those cases each year, especially at the start of the season.”

Gary grins, “I’m sure my little mountain of paperwork pales compared to your inbox Miss Teen Idol.”

While the princess blushes I’m curious, “So that’s why you found me, to get a better look at my Tesla? Also what's the wildest pokemon you’ve met this year?”

“Yup, I wanted to get a better scan than your phone’s camera offers now that your pokemon has evolved. As a family friend of the Wattsons I felt like visiting myself.” tapping his chin, “As for the most impressive pokemon to have a file on my desk this year… Well on the approved projects side, the Unova Lab has successfully revived the Dark type variant once found in Samurott.”

Well that certainly sounds impressive, “And pokemon caught in the wild this year?”

He seems about to avoid the question but caves at Naomi's adoring attention, “Well, I have a report from Galar about an Ice type Cramorant…” Naomi is doing the batting eyelashes thing, “Fine, You’ll like this. I have a file of rumors about Goldeen near the abandoned Cinnabar Island using Fire type moves to escape fishermen. We have a team leaving next week to investigate.”

Fiery koi fish off an abandoned volcano island, “That does sound pretty cool.”

Naomi taps up something on her tablet, “Get me a pair for the Mauville Aquarium!”

We pull up to the restaurant, Gary laughs, “You know what, sure. I’ll keep you posted.”

As we’re shown to a table overlooking the mall floors below, Gary adds some context, “You see Kurt, only once a decade or so a new region might join the league. It’s becoming far more rare that folks hear about new pokemon being discovered. So instead we have dozens of research teams digging into the genetic past or exploring lost locations with rare features. New typings bring more diversity to the league which means more viewers,”

I finish, “Which means more income and influence.”

Naomi and Gary catch up on each other's professional ongoings. It’s easy to see Naomi has a bit of a teen crush going on but Gary comes across like any doting uncle might. Just as we’re finishing up salads and I’m thinking of asking for more dark secrets, Jane calls.

Her voice is agitated, or annoyed maybe, “So, we could use you guys up here. Citro got in an argument with those jerks on the Mt. Pyre team and now they want a big group battle.”

“Alright, just send Naomi your location, we’ll be up in a minute.” Hanging up, I look to Naomi and Gary, “Guess we’ll be switching to take out. Jane and Citro found some angsty trouble makers that need some pegs knocked down.”

Naomi nods while receiving a text from Jane, “We overheard, what’s with that Mt. Pyre team and interrupting meals?”

I chuckle, “Care to join us Gary?”

“Of course,” He waves over a waiter, “I still need to scan your pokemon after all.”

“We’ll see,” shit, Shak isn’t here, “Maybe you're right about my Golbat Naomi. Although on second thought, I can’t use him midday anyway.”

It takes about ten minutes to reach where Jane and Citro told us they had a problem. A secluded corner of the park shaded by nearby large solar panels. It seems ten minutes was too long.

Citro and Jane are facing off against two trainers a piece. Jane’s Krokorok, Aerodactyl, and Marowak are holding their own against a Hariyama, Medicham and a Lunatone. While Citro’s opponents are using a Banette, Dusclops, and a familiar Growlithe that's gotten much bigger. Citro’s young Rillaboom is looking pretty rough but there’s a Manectric giving it’s all to follow his calls.

In the boy’s arms is a deflated and shivering Rotom sending off tiny sparks like tears. With the classic setup, a part of me feels like the show writers must be running out of material.

Jane shouts, “About time Kurt! Crooky taunt again!”

Just as the Lunatone was about to switch matchups and attack the Manectric it gets slapped by a drive-by tail whipping.

I reach for Tesla’s ball but notice a few bystanders recording everything, “Unhelpful jerks, fine. Blue, you’re up. Forest curse.”

My quirky druid ghost appears and instantly every weed, vine, stray blade of grass or leaf begins to swarm the two Fighting type pokemon.

Our redhead is quick on the uptake, “Marowak use Flamewheel!”

Now the two pokemon are on fire and running around in a panic while more plant material continues to feed the flames.

The loud mouth member of the Pyre Whips yells out, “Piss off old bastard! Hannya, Flamethrower that stump!”

His Growlith turns towards Blue, flames spilling from her jaws.

Behind me I hear Gary, “Water Pulse.”

Soft thuds rapidly echo out like muffled machine gun fire, tennis ball sized water pellets pepper all of the Wisp’s pokemon relentlessly. Every shot almost perfectly pelts the opponents in the face until all of them are passed out on the ground or running for cover. Even the stray flames on the field get doused.

I glance back expecting to see a behemoth of a blue tortoise but instead it’s albino white and yellow, and only about four feet tall. Probably a younger Blastoise.

One of the boys grabs his Dusclops out from behind a tree and points our way, “Shadow Ball, Now!”

As the ghost obediently starts it’s shadowy Kamehameha, Gary sighs, “Solar Beam.”

Uh, that's not a water move.

A blast of white light scorches across the field, popping the shadow ball and flash burning Dusclops and its trainer’s hand holding it. The boy collapses to his knees on the ground clutching his right hand.

The Wisp girl with the fighters shouts, “Arceus man, chill!”

“Vex!” The other girl of their team runs over and returns the Dusclops to its ball. “Get the first aid kit!”

Dude with the Growlith is just glaring at us.

“Vex!” failing to get a response she turns to the other girl, “Cora, help me out please.”

While three of his teammates are tending to themselves and their pokemon, ‘Vex’ spits on the grass, “Couldn’t mind your own business, old loser?”

Jane returns her pokemon and pokes my side, nervously whispering, “Um, is that who I think it is?”

“Young man,” Gary points to some of the burns in the grass and surrounding trees, “You better have a good reason for starting a trainer battle 4v2, within city limits, and outside of a designated field.”

Citro is kneeling beside the Manectric giving it pats, the Rotom still cradled in his arm, “I believe they blabbed about having us out numbered where Jane can’t use Onix.”

Right, Marble is too heavy to bring out on the top floor of the mall outside of the reinforced battle fields.

Naomi practically growls, “You’ll be fined for the park damages and banned from the mall for the rest of the season.”

Vex laughs, “Even you can’t do that Princess.”

Gary rolls his eyes and takes out an ID badge, “But I can, as a league official, you are hereby fined 10,000 Poke and restricted from challenging the Mauville Gym for three months.”

While his teammates glare at him, the boy pales.

“Holy Arceus, it’s really Gary Oak!” Jane squeals, suddenly in pro league fan girl mode again. “Is it true you’ve caught three legendaries?! How big is your Kingler now? Oh! Jackie in juvi had this sketchbook of you and Champion N, is he your,”

““Jane!””

------------