Chapter 021

"So here we are in front of the Pokemon Center" said Alex.

Joseph, visibly nervous said, "I thought we were supposed to do it in the evening, with Jack and Lily. And we don't even have a storage device."

"That was the plan, but now we have the best excuse don't we? You can check up on your Crobat and see it off as it transfers to Oak Corall. I found a storage device next to the computer in our study room and confirmed it's working. Keep Nurse Joy distracted with idle conversation. She is hella lonely and will definitely continue the conversation. She doesn't usually go towards the computer room. If any staff or someone else who know us is about to enter the room give me a signal. If it is trainers planning to use the computer ignore them. I'll act like I belong there and hope for the best. In about an hour or so I will be done. Then we can go back and ace the PIT. Did I miss anything?" questioned Alex.

"No! It's just...I mean I feel....." stuttered Joseph.

"Oh come on dude! You just ran into the middle of a flock of frigging Zubat led by a Crobat without an ounce of fear, based on a 'feeling' and now you are nervous about us stealing some computer time from a public computer terminal?" exclaimed Alex.

"Huh! Your right. Let's do this" said Joseph taking a deep breath.

"Excellent. Now come on let's get this over with" said Alex, taking the lead into the Pokemon Center.

Joseph followed closely behind him.

"Good afternoon Nurse Joy! Good afternoon Chansey!" greeted Alex as soon as he entered and saw the pink-haired woman and the round pink Pokemon.

"Good afternoon! You had quite the adventure today eh!" greeted Nurse Joy.

"It was nothing Nurse Joy. We miscalculated a few things and choose the wrong vantage point. We are lucky to be unscathed. We came by because we wanted to check on Joseph's Crobat" said Alex.

"Ah! Joseph's Crobat eh? I guess you could call it that. The guy from International Police said to transfer it to Oak Corall as soon as it is healed. He said you have an arrangement to collect it when you are capable enough, right Joseph?" asked Nurse Joy.

"Yes ma'am. I just wondered if we could check on it. That's why we came" replied Joseph.

Nurse Joy beckoned us to follow her behind the counter and into a back room. There among many complex-looking machines, was a machine with green culture fluid and a sky blue Pokeball floating in it.

"I'm afraid this is all you can see," said Nurse Joy. "We can't control the Crobat if the lock on the Pokeball is removed and the Crobat gets out. Hence we will have to transfer it still locked in its Pokeball to Oak Corall. There, there are plenty of Pokemon strong enough to subdue it, and thus it will be released."

"How is its condition?" asked Joseph.

"I scanned it with the machines. It doesn't seem to be worse for the wear except appearing a little sleepy. I couldn't run more complex detection as it is inside the Pokeball" said Nurse Joy. "Don't worry, Pokemon have strong natural recovery. And Oak Corall has some of Kanto's best breeders, doctors and resources. Crobat will be fine upon reaching there" assured Nurse Joy.

Joseph went close to the machine with the culture tank and pressed his face against the transparent glass. He looked directly at the Pokeball and said, "Bye Crobat. I will come get you when I become strong and worthy to be your trainer"

It might have been an illusion but Alex could have sworn that the Pokeball shook a little after Joseph's declaration, as if corresponding to him.

They then walked out of the room and came back to the lobby. Alex gave Joseph a knowing look, upon which Joseph gulped and nodded.

"I am worried about Crobat!" he said in a loud and exaggerated voice. Alex wanted to smack him for making it seem so obvious and forced.

Thankfully, Nurse Joy did not seem to have noticed.

"Don't worry! Crobat will be fine. The culture fluid will provide nutrients to Crobat and heal surface wounds. It did not take too many deadly attacks as I hear. The attacks from the two Flying Types barely scratched it. The Solar Beam inflicted reduced damage as Crobat is a Flying and Poison type. The Psychic type attacks did some damage, but coupled with Pokemon's strong recovery ability, I don't think it's anything serious. Crobat should be fine. You know, once I treated a Crobat that had taken far worse hits than this one and....." Nurse Joy started talking to Joseph.

Alex muttered something about the restroom in a barely audible voice and slipped out towards the side. He then walked into the computer room.