Chapter 19 Porygon

A helicopter landed next to the startled travellers. "Er, excuse me, but our son is missing in the area. Do any of you know where he might happen to be?"

Ash snapped his fingers. Of course, this thing. "No, but I can help you look. What does he look like?"

Tommy's father handed over a picture from a stack. "He fell out of our helicopter when we were passing over here. If you can help, we'd be very grateful!"

"Pidgeot?"

"On my way." The large bird Pokémon shot into the air and began flying in a spiral pattern.

The mother gasped. "Oh, you have a Pigdeot? They're lovely Pokémon, I bet you're a great trainer."

Ash rubbed the back of hs neck modestly. "Well, I like to think so, but then I suppose everyone does."

"Oh, don't be so modest, young man."

A few seconds later, Pidgeot shot back overhead. "Found the Kangaskhan herd."

"Thanks, Pidgeot. Think you two can follow us in the helicopter? I recommend you stay back a bit, she says he's with a herd of Kangaskhan and I don't want to spook them. If I go with my Riolu and Pikachu on my shoulders I hope to project a much less threatening image."

The two parents readily agreed.

Ash stepped forward, hands held out to the sides. "Riolu? If they don't understand what I say, please translate."

"You got it."

Pikachu sniffed. "Why not me?"

"Mainly that Riolu are especially known for being trustworthy and I really want to make sure this goes off properly. If you want, you can interpret what they say to me." Ash turned his attention to the Kangaskhan.

"Kangaskhan, there is a boy among you who is not one of your kind. I have the boy's parents with me and they want to meet him again."

Riolu paused, then saw that the Kangaskhan understood from their expressions. The herd fell to debating among themselves.

After a moment, the herd matriarch stepped forth and spoke.

Ash glanced to Pikachu. "They say that's fine, but no Poké balls closer than you are."

Ash stepped back from the herd and walked to the landed helicopter. "The herd agrees that you can get close, but if you have any Pokéballs they have to be left back here. I assume that if you have any actual Pokémon with you, it's fine to bring them so long as they're out of their 'balls."

Tommy's father shook Ash's hand. "Thanks, young man, you've been a great help."

Ash laughed nervously. "Don't thank me yet…"

Tommy's mother sniffed. "This is terrible… he doesn't remember us!"

Ash rolled his eyes. Here we go again… "I think I can help with that, too. If he's just forgotten then its' likely amnesia, and I can treat that."

"Really? How?"

"Oh, just something I picked up…" Specifically, an Aura technique designed to improve recall in oneself or others. A basic of the very memory transference system I'm using. But don't tell them that.

Can't believe that last time we just hit him and hoped that would work. Damn misconceptions about amnesia…

Ash knelt next to the young boy, and pulsed his Aura on the other's forehead.

Tommy blinked. "Mum… dad?"

A tearful reunion followed. Towards the end, the father made an announcement. "We've decided to conduct some deep-cover research into the lives of wild Pokémon."

Tommy frowned. "What?"

"In short, we're going to live with the Kangaskhan for a few years."

Ash grinned. Looked like everything had worked out fine. "I'm sure Professor Oak would love to know what you learn."

"You know him?"

"I certainly do, he gave me a Pokédex when I set off on my journey."

"Well, thank you again for all the help. Let me know if you need anything… er, well, anything that can be supplied from the middle of a reservation with no contact with civilization, anyway."

The friends considered. "Just skip the Dratini lake thing entirely?"

Ash shook his head. "I want to catch my Tauros again, at least the one that became the herd leader. Don't know if I'll know the others well enough to restore…"

"At least we can not go to the lake, then. Being threatened at gunpoint is not fun."

"What do you want?" Kaiser growled.

"Ten Safari balls, please!" Ash replied brightly. "Oh, is aerial capture allowed? Only I have this Charizard, see…"

"Hm." Kaiser muttered to himself. "Fine, but Safari balls only! I am authorized to use lethal force!"

Brock raised his hand. "Point of order. Why?"

"Because we're far enough out that the police can't reach me in time, and I need to be able to protect the Pokémon!"

"Fair enough, though you might want to tone down the threats of extreme violence slightly."

"Sure, sure, fine. Damn kids. Wouldn't have had this back in the days when I was in the imperial army…"

Misty looked startled. "How old is he?"

As it happened to turn out, Ash had in fact used no fewer than three separate Tauros on his occasional attempts to make use of the herd. Apparently they really were more or less completely interchangeable. Those three agreed to return to Oak's Lab, along with another two who liked the sound of open spaces.

Oak didn't quite break down crying on hearing he had to take care of five large bull Tauros, but he was close. Though he abruptly shut up when Dexter mentioned it had been thirty last time.

"What now, again?"

Dexter hummed. This is the bit where you get completely lost. As I recall, you went north across cycling bridge, then the eastern edge of Viridian, then I have a chance to get my upgrade, then-

"Wait, wait. Upgrade?" Ash frowned.

Remember that thing where you were digitized to solve a virus attack? Well, I'm a Porygon. He makes Porygon in that lab. See the connection?

Pikachu scratched his head. "I don't remember that at all."

Must be the epileptic attacks, it was a very risky environment and frankly I can see why you'd have problems with your memory. Biological systems are so… prone to failure, I suppose.

"We're the ones that regenerate." Brock joked. "But I assume the problem you refer to was Team Rocket?"

Yes. Hopefully seeing a 'natural' Porygon in me will make the Doctor in the lab inclined to help, as while a Rocket attack would be very bad, at least it would mean he'd want to help us.

"Yeah, fair enough. But you were saying we got lost? That continue?"

Yes. After the lab, you were in a bit of a daze for a day or so and got hopelessly lost. Then you met Santa – yes, you got so lost that Christmas arrived, and compounded your problems by heading to the North Pole of all places – then that thing with the magic show and a carnival where Ash got hypnotized. Next, Mossgreen which is actually south of here and I have no clue what you were all thinking the map looked like by then, and eventually you found a desert.

Brock sighed. "Only we could get lost in a desert on the Kanto Plain. Oh, well. Onwards, I suppose. We'll just travel direct and use the wasted time for training."

"Hi! Any restrictions about going over the bridge on a Pokémon? By flying?"

Officer Jenny shook her head. "It's fine. Oh, I think the local Pokémon centre has an errand that needs run. It'd be nice of you to stop by there and see what it is, if you're heading over the bridge."

"Sure, always happy to help."

"You want us to carry some Full Restores across the bridge." Ash sighed. "Any reason why it's not waiting for a normal shipment?"

The Nurse Joy looked worried. "The supplies over there are running dangerously low, and of course it's the best thing to use for a critically injured Pokémon. Expensive, but pretty well justified."

"Yeah, fine. It just feels a little… unglamorous, is all."

"Fascinating! You say this Porygon of yours developed natively on that handheld?"

Dexter flinched away from the good Doctor slightly. Watch it, I have a name you know.

"Oh, er, sorry. Well, is this a unique event?"

Nope. Another of my cohort of Pokédex has undergone sentience development recently, and I think a third is close behind. We're still a bit weak in the real world, though, as there's no dedicated projector on my hardware. Any chance you could help with that?

"Hmm…" The doctor rubbed his glasses. "I do have some early prototypes of the Transfer System, the ones that I was going to use before Lanette straightened out the kinks in long range teleportation for me. Brilliant girl, simply amazing. My plan would have worked… except that the Pokémon would have to be in a sensory deprivation tank to teleoperate the facsimile."

Everyone looked at him.

"What? Early stages in technology are always problematic. Er, hang on, I have one here." Rummaging through boxes of computer junk, he pulled out a small triangular object. "There's a few more of these, but they're all custom and look different. Do tell those other people you know with Porygon of their own to stop by."

Interesting design. Is that gold?

"Only in colour, I'm afraid. Merely an example to persuade investors that technology doesn't have to be complex and intimidating. Unfortunately, there's no multithreading support yet."

So I only get one solid form object at a time?

"Essentially, yes. Give me a while and I might be able to get you that. It sounds like an interesting project."

Ash, meanwhile, was puzzling over the enormous digitizer. "Ever considered telling anyone about this? It could be the basis for a lovely story, you know."

The doctor laughed. "What, young trainers travelling into the digital world to fight off viruses?"

"Yeah, it sounds like it could catch on."

Doctor Akihabara chuckled again. "Hee… but actually, I see your point. It might even be a useful public service. Care to try it out?"

Ash shook his head. "No way, enough strange stuff happens to me already, find someone else!"

"Well, Pikachu? Want to leave and stay behind with the wild Pokémon this time? I only want what's-OW!"

Pikachu jumped up and down on Ash's head. "How many times? Stop teasing me about that!"

"You want to get back to the North Pole?"

Yes. And preferably soon.

"Right. What's your normal transport arrangements?"

Normally we use the services of a Lapras, but I don't think I can get back to the coast in time.

"Maybe we can help!"

Ash squinted through the snow at the unexpected voice. "James?"

"Right in one. We were wondering how you were riding out the snowstorm, and it turns out… you're sort of not." James turned back the way he'd come. "We found a castle going cheap online, Growlie's keeping it at a lovely warmth. Want to come in? Abra, mind handling this wayward Jynx?"

Alright. Both Psychic types vanished.

"Now that's taken care of, why not come along? It can't be pleasant to just stay out here."

"You have a point." Pikachu muttered, clearing snow from his ears. "Why the hell is it snowing this hard in Kanto?"

Ash shrugged. "Moltres having a snit? Our climate is sort of at the whims of some very powerful beings."

"We'll have a word when we reach Shamouti."

Bink

Jynx looked around. Where are we?

Not the North Pole. I don't have nearly the strength to get you that far, this is the coast. Any idea where from here?

The Ice type looked at the nearby mountains. I think a bit further south, out into the bay proper-

Bink

Wow, that was fast.

Abra shrugged. Faster I get things done, faster I get to sleep. And I see a Lapras down there.

Thank you, then. You're a great help.

"Welcome! This is an evolution party, so come on in!"

Ash frowned. "I never understood the idea… why evolve a Pokémon at a party instead of after carefully thinking it over?"

"Oh, lighten up, kid!" Sparky called. "Hey, that Pikachu of yours is one of those that uses a Thunder Stone, right? I think we have one of those spare."

Pikachu shook his head. "Been there, done that, got the cheeks."

Ash translated. "Something weird happened with one in the Vermillion Gym a few months ago. If you look at his cheeks, you can see that his voltage reservoirs are more developed than other Pikachu. He sort of half-evolved."

"Fascinating."

Brock, meanwhile, was talking to Mikey. "Actually, there are four other types of Eevee evolution currently discovered. So if your brothers have access to more Eevee like this little guy here, then you could have two each and end up with the complete set."

Observe. Umbreon, Espeon, Leafeon and Glaceon. Dexter materialized a hard-light hologram from his projector.

Mikey watched as the hologram of one Eeveelution shattered into another. "Wow… Eevee really is the most adaptable Pokémon there is…"

Essentially. Others can claim the title, but Eevee is the most commonly cited holder.

Pyro pointed. "What's that Pokémon? I don't think I've ever seen it before."

Dexter formed into his normal body. I am a Porygon, thanks for asking nicely.

Ash snapped his fingers. "Hey, why don't you try out your new body against these guys? I don't think we ever got round to seeing what the projector can do…"

Apart from making it so I can project from it instead of the device? I suppose you're right, we never did get round to it. Well, I'm game.

Rainer grinned. "Sounds great! Just the way to keep up with the spirit of the party!"

Ash retrieved the Pokédex itself from Dexter's body, leaving only the projector inside. "The doc said the projector's armoured, so if your projection fails it should be fine."

But you can't say the same of my base unit. Good thinking.

Downloading. Swapping information into active memory. Analyzing.

Pyro pointed. "We're first! Flareon, attack!"

The firey Pokémon dashed forward in a coat of fire, before launching out a Fire Blast at Dexter. The Porygon didn't dodge in time – or, indeed, at all – and was engulfed.

Ash grinned. "Oh, yeah, forgot about that ability…"

The flames died down, revealing Dexter to be completely unharmed, and red where he should be pink.

Trace complete. Flash fire copied.

"Damnit, that's not fair!"

It's a perfectly legitimate ability.

Movement patterns analyzed. Charging.

Energy built, and the Porygon abandoned his normal shape for a hexagonal flower of triangular 'petals', surrounding the now visible golden projector.

Pyro chuckled nervously. "Hey, now, what's this in aid of?"

Tri Attack.

A thin beam of energy fired from three of the petals and the core, meeting at the startled Flareon. There was a flash of light, and then Flareon was flying backwards surrounded by crackling electricity.

"Nice work!" Ash shouted.

I can hear you. My body is literally in your hand.

"Oh, er, sorry."

Rainer and Sparky exchanged glances, then sent their Pokémon in together.

Ash cried foul. "That's not fair! Two on one!"

Dexter's body flowed back into his base form, and dodged a blast of electricity. I don't mind. Against these Pokémon, a one on one fight is too easy if I use my full ability – specifically, I Trace their absorption ability and then it's easy. That being said: Analysis complete.

Dexter's blue highlights became yellow. Conversion complete.

The Vaporeon lashed out a blast of high pressure water, to little effect. Rainer's jaw dropped. "How damn adaptable IS that Pokémon?"

Ash glanced at the screen. Volt Absorb and Converted: Water were shown on there. "Pretty adaptable, I think is the answer. This may be his first proper fight, but he's got a lot of experience watching battles to work with. And his body is sort of a construct that he can change at will."

Charging. Dexter's form shifted once more, this time into a slim spike pointing towards Vaporeon. Lock On. A pair of laser designators appeared above and below the spike, painting the Water type a pretty red in colour.

Rainer pointed frantically. "Vaporeon, Acid Armour!"

The Eeveelution dissolved into water, surrendering control over his molecules for a moment. To no avail, as an almighty Zap Cannon shocked him despite the quick dodge.

The spike changed straight into a contiguous circle connected to the projector by three slim spokes. Analyzing…

"Endure, Jolteon!" Sparky ordered.

Signal Beam.

Unlike his two cohorts, the Lightning Pokémon was able to last through the massive attack, though barely.

"How the hell is your Porygon so strong?" Pyro asked Ash.

Mainly the result of a lot of abilities based on attack increase. Flash Fire from your Flareon, Download and Analyze to pinpoint defensive weak spots.

At that point, another voice was heard. "Eevee, Trump Card!"

Dexter shifted his form to a bulwark-shape, the tougher side facing the direction of the voice. Light Screen.

With a rumbling boom, Mikey's Eevee smashed the Light Screen and Dexter's materialized body, driving the projector a foot into the ground.

Ash blinked. "What just happened?"

Ow. Okay, that was a move that's more powerful the more tired the user is. Did your Eevee get any sleep at all last night?

Mikey shook his head ruefully. "I was running away from my lunatic brothers with him. They wanted to evolve him by force if necessary."

Brock sighed. "That's really not the principle you should work by, guys."

The three elder brothers hung their heads. Rainer spoke for them. "Sorry, we wanted him to see how much better an evolved Eevee can be. But this sort of proves the opposite…"

They're all better for different things. Now Ash, mind getting my projector out of the crater? It's probably near overheat from channelling that much power and needs a cool-off soon.

"That wasn't normal?" Ash asked, somehow disappointed.

Not yet. I wanted to test the limits of the projector, and I certainly found those.

Misty made a sound of realization. "So the reason Eevee's so good with Normal type attacks is the ability Adaptability?"

Eevee nodded, and Mikey grinned proudly. "Yep! It's a really useful ability, especially with a move like that. And he also knows Last Resort. Moves like that help in a prolonged battle right when the other Pokémon is getting tired."

His three brothers were having a whispered conversation. Occasional snatches of "but a serious trainer with only a Normal-" and "Still say he'll end up with-" could be heard.

Ash rolled his eyes. "Look, each of your other Eeveelutions are based on a stone, right? Well, Mikey's one can be the Everstone."

Brock nodded. "It maintains the theme. Besides, those powerful Normal type moves are something I doubt your Pokémon can match."

Dexter rematerialized himself. That's better. And yes, Trump Card is the most powerful move any Eeveelution learns. That was more powerful than a Hyper Beam, be glad I had a shield up.

"Light Screen worked on it?"

It's a Special, contact move. Don't ask me…

AN: The infamous Porygon episode wasn't shown to any audience outside Japan, thanks to the Epileptic Pokemon Attack that hospitalised children all over Japan. This is why the Porygon evolutions don't show up, despite the fact that it was actually Pikachu who did the deed itself.

Dexter's Projector, meanwhile, is based on Bardiche from Nanoha and his method of shapechanging to attack is inspired by the Electric Soldier Porygon episode and enhanced with the style of Ramiel, from Rebuild of Evangelion.