Lionel took the Jaw Fossil with both hands; the instant his fingertips brushed its surface he felt a faint tremor. Cradling it tightly, he looked up, eyes shining with anticipation.
"Thank you, Mr. Steven."
"You're welcome."
Steven closed the glass display case and turned toward the exit of the storeroom.
"Follow me. The Revival Lab's on the second floor of Devon Corporation. We'll have that ancient Pokémon awakened in peak condition."
Leaving the storeroom, they rode the lift to the second floor. When the doors opened a cool, clean breath of air greeted them.
They walked down a long corridor.
Both walls were lined with photos and data on fossil research: reconstructions of prehistoric habitats, excavation-site logs, and more.
Steven led the way, explaining with obvious pride in his company.
"The entire floor is designated a special research zone. Besides the fossil-revival project we run several other R&D lines."
"Machines that let people talk to Pokémon, devices that peek into their dreams... none fully finished, of course—they're still in development."
Lionel listened attentively, his gaze flicking to the placards they passed.
Almost no staff were in sight; only an occasional researcher hurried across a junction, each in identical white lab coats and ID badges.
Whenever they spotted Steven they paused to nod respectfully, then hurried on, the whole floor humming with brisk focus.
Rounding a corner, they reached a heavier metal door. On its panel scrolled the warning: "Fossil Revival Area—Unauthorized Personnel Prohibited."
Steven pressed his palm to the reader; the screen flashed a string of code, beeped, and the door slid open.
Beyond lay a bright anteroom. In the center, under a glass dome, stood a complete Aerodactyl skeleton.
Its wings spanned nearly three metres, every curve recreating the soaring silhouette of the prehistoric sky ruler—an imposing sight even in replica form.
They crossed the anteroom and entered the core revival laboratory.
A vast lab opened before them, ceiling studded with countless shadowless lamps that turned the space into daylight.
Rows of precision instruments lined the room; some hummed softly, others streamed complex data across their monitors.
Several white-clad researchers worked at their stations, focused and methodical, filling the lab with a solemn, professional hush.
When the elderly head researcher—thinning hair, thick spectacles—saw Steven, he hurried over and greeted him respectfully.
"Young Master Steven, you've arrived."
"Mm."
Steven nodded toward the Jaw Fossil in Lionel's hands.
"This is Lionel. That fossil is my latest find. Use our top-tier revival protocol and get it revived as soon as possible."
The senior researcher's gaze settled on the fossil; adjusting his glasses, he flashed a look of surprise.
"A completely new fossil?"
"Exactly," Steven said. "So treat it with extra care—no room for error."
"Rest assured, Young Master. We'll give it everything we've got."
With that he extended his hand. "Mr. Lionel, please hand me the fossil and we'll begin preparations at once."
Lionel carefully passed the Jaw Fossol to the researcher.
The old man examined it a moment, then turned to his assistants.
"Fire up Revival Pod Three. Prep gene-sequence analysis and the cell-culture medium—follow the unknown-fossil protocol."
"Young Master, over the past three years we've made real breakthroughs in Pokémon gene extraction and cell multiplication."
While placing the fossil on the scanner he explained to Steven and Lionel,
"Previously, rebuilding an unknown genome took ages; now our new tech can pull a complete DNA strand within two hours. Add cell multiplication and in half a day the ancient Pokémon will see daylight again."
"Incredible."
Lionel couldn't help but marvel.
He'd seen early revival footage—projects taking weeks or months. To finish in half a day showed how far science had leapt.
Steven clapped his shoulder. "The process will take several hours—perfect time for a tour. Let me show you more of Devon's work."
Lionel readily agreed, hugging the inflatable tank holding his Feebas tighter as he followed Steven out.
Steven led him to the Poké Ball R&D gallery.
Unlike the sterile labs, here was a showroom of ingenuity: transparent cases displaying various Poké Balls, screens looping their mechanics and test footage.
Steven stopped first at a case labeled "Nest Ball" and pressed a button.
The Nest Ball in the case opened, revealing not the usual minimalist interior but a miniature cave—
rock walls pocked with hollows, sandy floor, and a few smooth stones in the corner, just like a wild burrow.
"It's designed for Aron, Rhydon, Diglett—Pokémon that prefer cave life. Besides boosting capture odds, it recreates a familiar habitat."
"The cozier the Pokémon feels, the safer it senses. That comfort quickly eases wariness, so the Pokémon's readier to bond and obey its Trainer."
He then guided Lionel to the next case: the Net Ball.
This ball's deep-green shell bore fine web-like patterns.
"Developed specifically for Bug-types. The screen here shows how it works."
He tapped the panel; footage replayed:
A Wurmple on a twig. The Net Ball soars; before the bug can react a soft, web-like mesh bursts out, a gentle trap of cloud-like fibres wrapping it up—
"Not real spider silk—bio-fiber that mimics it," Steven explained.
"On release it emits pheromones bugs can't resist. The mesh stretches with their struggles, tightening just enough to calm without harm."
In the clip the Wurmple struggles, slows, then relaxes.
The Net Ball retracts the mesh and snaps shut; the captured Wurmple shows no further resistance—a smooth, effortless capture.
Steven continued enthusiastically, introducing more Balls, and Lionel listened, fascinated.
He'd thought Poké Balls were just tools for catching and carrying Pokémon; now he saw the depth of thought Devon put into them, blending practicality with empathy between Pokémon and Trainer.
No wonder, within a few short years, Devon had broken Silph's monopoly and risen to the top of the Poké Ball industry. As their tour wound on, Steven's communicator chimed with a message from the Revival Lab:
"Young Master Steven, the fossil's awakening protocol is ready. Final activation can begin at any time."
"Looks like the tour ends here," Steven said with a smile, pocketing the device. "Your new partner can't wait to meet you."
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