Oak's expression showed clear disappointment at the transactional nature of the selection, but he maintained his professional demeanor. I retrieved the prepared Pokéball from the storage case and approached Lawrence.
"Place your thumb on the sensor," I instructed, holding out the ball. "It will register your biometric signature as the primary trainer."
Lawrence did so without hesitation. The Pokéball's center button glowed briefly, then chimed to indicate successful registration.
"Thank you." He pocketed the ball without releasing Porygon, without introducing himself to his new partner, without any acknowledgment that he'd just received a living being rather than a collectible item.
He returned to his seat and immediately began cataloging the capture in his tablet. "Specimen acquired. Date: Current. Location: Pallet Town, Kanto. Rarity classification: Extreme. Estimated collection value..."
I heard Lyra whisper to Cheryl, "Is he seriously calculating how much it's worth? That's awful."
Cheryl nodded, looking troubled. "I hope he treats it well."
"Hunter J," Oak called, his voice carefully neutral. "Your selection."
The woman with silver hair and yellow eyes stood and approached the habitats without a word. Her visor was already active, scanning each Pokémon systematically.
But I'd seen where her attention had been focused throughout Oak's speech.
She stopped in front of the Dratini habitat and stood there silently for exactly thirty seconds, her visor running what looked like a comprehensive analysis.
The Dragon-type coiled in its water feature, blue scales shimmering, completely unaware it was being evaluated like merchandise.
"Power level: Significant," Hunter J said, her tone utterly flat. "Evolutionary line: Dragonair, Dragonite. Final form flight-capable, combat-effective. Value assessment: Exceptional."
Oak's jaw tightened. "Young lady, I asked you here to form a partnership, not to—"
"I'll take this one." She extended her hand for the Pokéball, cutting him off mid-sentence.
The tension in the room ratcheted up several notches. Oak stared at her for a long moment, clearly considering whether to refuse the selection.
But ultimately, he couldn't deny a registered trainer their choice without cause.
I brought her the Pokéball, and she completed the registration process with mechanical precision.
The moment it chimed, she activated the ball. Dratini materialized in a flash of red light, confused and disoriented by the sudden change in environment.
"Tini?" The Dragon-type looked around the laboratory, seeking something familiar.
Hunter J immediately recalled it without a word of greeting. "Adequate. Specimen secured."
She returned to her seat, and I saw Ash's expression darken with anger. Even from across the room, I could tell he wanted to say something, to object to how she'd treated Dratini. But he held his tongue, probably aware that picking a fight with someone like Hunter J on day one was a bad strategy.
'She's going to be a problem,' I thought, watching her return to her emotionless documentation. 'That Dratini is going to be used as a tool for capturing other Pokémon. And when it's no longer useful to her, she'll probably sell it to the highest bidder.'
Gible pressed against my leg, sensing my anger. 'That woman has no spirit. No connection to anything living. She is empty.'
'I know. But there's nothing I can do about it. Not yet.'
"Damian," Oak called, his voice carrying clear disappointment now. "Your turn."
The flashy trainer stood and swaggered toward the habitats, making a show of examining each one as if he were the expert and Oak the student.
He spent extra time in front of the Elekid habitat, watching the Electric-type spark and punch the air enthusiastically.
"Yeah, this one's got flash," Damian announced loudly. "People will see me coming with this bad boy sparking off electricity. That's how you make an impression."
Oak closed his eyes briefly, as if praying for patience. "The Elekid is energetic and requires significant training to control its electrical output. Are you prepared for that responsibility?"
"Please. I've been studying Pokémon battles my whole life. I know what I'm doing." Damian turned to me, snapping his fingers imperiously. "Pokéball. Let's go."
I handed it over, trying to keep my expression neutral. He registered carelessly, barely paying attention to the process, and immediately released Elekid.
The Electric-type appeared in a burst of sparks, looking around excitedly. "Elekid! Kiiid!"
"Yeah, yeah, you're strong. I know." Damian examined his new partner like one might examine a new phone. "We're going to win a lot of battles. Make me look good. Don't screw it up."
"Ele..." The enthusiasm in Elekid's voice faded slightly, picking up on his trainer's dismissive tone.
Damian either didn't notice or didn't care. He left Elekid out and returned to his seat, already bragging to no one in particular about how he'd "obviously picked the strongest one."
I exchanged glances with Oak.
This was going to be a disaster. Damian had the same energy as those trainers who treated their Pokémon as status symbols, who cared more about winning than about the creatures under their care.
'Just like with Charmander in the anime,' I thought. 'He's going to push that Elekid too hard, demand too much, and eventually abandon it when it doesn't live up to his impossible standards.'
"Silver," Oak said quietly.
The red-haired trainer stood silently and approached the habitats.
Unlike Lawrence and Hunter J, he actually took time to scrutinize each Pokémon. His silver eyes moved from one to another, assessing them with clear intelligence despite his cold demeanor.
He stopped in front of the Murkrow habitat.
The Dark-type perched on its highest point met his gaze without flinching. Sharp eyes studied the human with obvious calculation, and I saw something like recognition pass between them.
Silver spoke for the first time since entering the laboratory. "You look strong. Don't disappoint me."
"Krow." The response was clipped, almost dismissive, but the Murkrow's stance showed interest.
Silver extended his hand for the Pokéball. I provided it, and he completed the registration process.
When Murkrow materialized outside the habitat, it immediately flew to his shoulder and perched there, talons gripping his jacket.
The two regarded each other for a moment, and something passed between them.
Not warmth, exactly. But acknowledgment.
"We'll get stronger," Silver said quietly. "Both of us."
"Murkrow."