This world is inhabited by creatures that we call pokemon. People and pokemon live together by supporting each other, but now the scourge threatens the safety of the entire region. Kohaku has become a dangerous place, where children stay at home and only brave souls go adventuring.
Welcome to KOHAKU. Come for the nightmares. Stay for the tea and crumpets.
The season is SUMMER. It is easy for survivors to forage for food from the land, as there are entire abandoned farms ready for harvest. On the downside, you can smell the corpses.
swarms
GRAND OPENING !
Welcome to KOHAKU REGION's grand opening! If you're interested in joining, come check out our grand opening giveaway!
Being a researcher was probably easier before. You know, when rabid, neurodegenerate pokemon weren't roaming the wild, waiting for fresh meat to wander by. Honestly, odds would have been high that Vincent would stay away, minding his own business. Logic dictated that meddling with this virus was a bad idea. But then again, if people like Vincent didn't try to help, who would?
With that in mind, he made his way towards Professor Cypress' lab. They had never formally met at the Pax Institute of Research, but he had glanced towards him at a handful of occasions. He wasn't the one Vincent had expected to play a major part in the Eos programme, that's for sure. He had always given off the impression that he was the type of guy to, well... not challenge his luck. In fact, he was the type to hide under a table when a fly flew in the window. But maybe he had changed. People changed, obviously, evident in Vincent's recent decision.
Opening the door, the lab proved to be top notch, with equipment on par with the institute itself. However, it was somewhat messy - which was understandable, seeing as one small man was in charge of the whole place. Without further ado, Vincent gave the professor a shout; "Is the Professor here?"
Post by cold volume on Jun 27, 2013 14:22:55 GMT -5
Professor Cypress hadn't changed at all. He was still that scruffy, bug-eyed man, full of worry and quaking nerves. Even his premature white hair hadn't gotten any whiter.
An Alakazam nodded in response to the question, and not a moment later, he bustled inside the room Vincent had found himself, apologizing profusely for a flask bubbling on a hot plate, and with embarrassment, lowered the fume hood. "I-I've been expecting you, Borg, certainly, but there was a problem with the most recent incubation that had to be taken care of. Dreadfully sorry, my good fellow. Are you ready to begin?" He patted the red head on the shoulder, handing him the documentation Eos had received regarding his identity. A snapshot and profile of his experience with pokemon and research were attached, as well as the personal statement he had submit. It was all there ... "Might I say, you look familiar?" muttered Cyprus. Something about the shape of the glasses.
The Alakazam, and impressive pokemon, nodded and in came the professor. As Cypress explained himself and all, Vincent couldn't help but wonder if the Alakazam wouldn't have been a better fit than the professor for this job. After all, it boasted an impressive 5000 IQ-points. He waved the idea away, though, seeing as an IQ of 5000 was much higher than even himself, and Vincent Borg was obviously brighter than a mere pokemon.
"In fact, there is a chance you recognize me" Vincent answered, a bit flattered of being recognized by a researcher well beyond his PhD. "I was an intern at the institute before, well... the incident" he continued with a sort of forced softness. After all, he didn't know how Cypress felt about the whole thing. Maybe he was traumatized, after all.
With the documents in hand, Vincent felt close to the start of his journey. It was of course a matter of work and professionalism, but it was still going to be a bold affair. "If I'm not mistaken, you have a fine selection of vaccinated pokemon. If you don't mind, I'm very curious. May I see it?" Vincent Borg said adequately, with a spark in his eyes. He was excited now, to say the very least.
Post by cold volume on Jun 27, 2013 15:04:15 GMT -5
Lake Pax was a guilt he prefered to evade. His stomach began to hurt he remember he face, the hair, the voice, distantly muttering a scientific procedure. Borg's sudden interest in the specimens Cypress had in tow was much welcome, and he anxiously and clumsily displayed the collection. "Y-yes, good to see you again. V-very good. N-noooow of course, they are right here..."
An array of pokeball were present before the researcher in the velvet-lined compartment of a steel briefcase. Each pokeball had little tags and stickers noting their type and species. Another tag proved them vaccinated against the Hades Virus. "Do feel free to r-release them and introduce yourself. One will accompany you in your studies."
The array of pokeballs stood before Vincent, and his mind went to work. Ten potential choices - every one with a unique set of powers, strengths, weaknesses, utilities. It was a difficult task, the choosing. He did not even touch a pokeball as he processed the information. But as Vincent's thought-process evolved, he had to include more factors; evolution, attributes, abilities, rarity. It was all becoming too much. There were simply too many options.
So the ever logical Vincent Borg would have to do something he so rarely did. His head pounding from all the work, he looked at the spherical capsules in a whole new light. He would have to make a decision based on his gut. He ceased to see ten different variables in a complex equation, and saw simply ten different balls. His gut guided his hand, picked one up and released a pokemon. It was the Poliwag.
Vincent crouched before the small thing, it's big round eyes meeting his. "I ask you, little fellow, if you would want to join me in researching the world outside this little ball of yours" he said to the Poliwag. It bent it's knees in a movement that approximated a nod. "I assure you, though..." Vincent continued with a serious look on his face. "...it won't be easy. This is not a job you should take lightly" he finished. The Poliwag nodded again, this time with a frown mimicking that of Vincent.
Vincent grabbed the pokemon between his hands, making sure it's damp skin didn't slip away, and set it on his shoulder. "This one will be my partner" he declared to the professor, the Poliwag smiling.
Post by cold volume on Jun 27, 2013 16:02:21 GMT -5
The inexperienced Poliwag seemed content on the researcher's shoulder. "E-excellent! We are almost done, then. I have for you a Pokedex too," said the Professor hurriedly. He seemed to be in a rush as he patted himself. Shooting a quick glance at the Alakazam, Cypress finally dug his hand into one of his inner-lining pockets and pulled out a small, lightweight tablet computer.
"This device will assist you with your duties. Mr. Borg, I appreciate your work for Eos, with fixing the results of that catastrophe," he muttered softly, his eyes guiltily flashing to the ground behind his thick wire-rims. "You have a long journey to Bacchus! I've heard Sa'di is prodding that old coot Nenia to leave her tunnel and kick the Scourge out of the Park. But things aren't so easy up there. Could be months, if there isn't a push, to clean the town. Please hurry," the Professor managed, leading Borg to the laboratory exit with a breathless queasiness. "Take care of the Tadpole!" He waved, and then, he shut the door anxiously behind him.
"Great, thank you professor!" Vincent said when he got the Pokedex. It was elegantly designed - Vincent still remembered the time when these devices didn't even have a color screen. While being led to the door, Vincent realized that Cypress was right. He needed to hurry, to help them against the Scourge. But at the same time, why should he rush? After all, the journey was part of the goal. He glanced up towards the Poliwag, and his views were strengthened.
"Good bye and take care!" Vincent said before the doors closed behind him. He looked up at his new partner. A drop of water was running down his shoulder, having dribbled from its damp skin. "I think I'll call you Triton - as in the messenger of the sea" Vincent said, to the pokemon's consent. And so it appeared, that Vincent Borg and his proclaimed assistant Triton started a research project that also happened to be an adventure.
