Chapter Four - Histrionism
“Gentlemen of the Board”, Sèbastian Cyprès stated with as much humility as he could muster.
“I bring you a truly amazing discovery. One that not only perfectly fits in my field of Pokémon Parasitology, but also serves at the focal point for my doctoral thesis.”
Sitting before Sèbastian were three people. The first was Edano Kōno, An agent of the Kantonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The second was the Head Pokémon Professor of the Kanto Region, Samuel Oak. The third was Senri Matsuta, A representative of the National Pokémon League.
“I give you… Orion and Torok.” Sèbastian proclaimed. With a flourish, he pressed the button on a Pokéball and summoned Torok and Orion. The pair appeared on the table before the would-be judges. There were muffled gasps of suprize from each of them, which made Sèbastian’s smile wider. “I have named them for Orion, the fabled hunter, and Torok, the mighty bull that he slew.” Cyprès explained.
“After the constellations?” Edano asked, “Do you mean, Orion and Taurus?” Sèbastian’s smile returned to its previous state. “Ah, Taurus is the… Kantionian name for the mythic bull! I was using the Kalosian pronunciation, Torok” Cyprès hastily explained. He was sure to stress his accent on the last word.
“What we have here, gentlemen, is Pokémon #27 Kakuna, parasitically bound to Pokémon #83 Charmander. (Central Kalos Pokédex of course). The Kakuna is feeding off the life force of his Charmander host. I would even postulate that the Kakuna is influencing the Charmander to move to more advantages locations, such as remaining in the sunlight or moving inside during rain.”
Professor Oak snapped his fingers and made a few silly noises, instantly gaining Torok’s attention. With a friendly smile he got Torok to turn around so he could take a closer look at Orion. “This Kakuna is dormant.” He said in a sing-song voice. He pulled out a pair of calipers. Oak touched the calipers to Torok’s nose and belly, while making more childish noises, eliciting a giggle from the lizard. After Torok was used to the presence of the calipers, Professor Oak used them to measure Orion’s width. “At the size that he is, I would estimate that he will evolve in a few weeks, provided his evolution is not forced by a stressful situation. As for this Charmander… He looks to be about four years old at most. Have you measured his tail temperature?”
“Of course professor.” Cypres stated, fishing around in his notes. “I have them right here. This morning he was at… 842 °C”
“Well above Turpentine’s ignition point. And well above what it should be for a Charmander of his age. He will likely evolve in a month or so, if not sooner. He should be entering adolescence and begin to sexually mature any day now.” Professor Oak commented.
“What moves does he know?” Asked Senri. “Scratch, Growl, Ember, and Smokescreen.” Cyprès responds. “Would you like him to demonstrate?” but Senri shook his head. “He is still a class B Pokémon. What license do you have?” Cyprès hesitated. “A standard Kalos Science Permit, Class B or lower. I also have a student visa, which let me bring my team over from Kalos. I have been spending my time studying at the Cerulean City Aquarium.”
“I am more interested in this Charmander.” Professor Oak stated. “Which region of Kalos did you find him in?” This made Cyprès sigh. “I caught him here. In Mount Moon.” He said reluctantly. This caused all three of the men before him to speak. Senri was first. “That means he is still national property.” He said. “You won’t be able to take him across regional borders.” Edano stated. “When…” Professor Oak asked, cutting all other chatter. “When does your student visa expire?” Sèbastian sighed, defeated. “Two months.” He said. Professor Oak nodded. “These research notes you have taken are excellent. Your conclusions are just premature. This is an unprecedented example of symbiosis that you have found, but I do not agree with your conclusion that it is parasitic. It would have to be voluntary. It takes hours for a Weedle to affix itself to a tree and form its cocoon. The Charmander would have to remain motionless for close to six or seven hours for this to happen. I think it was deliberate, consensual, and even premeditated.”
Sèbastian’s mood worsened as Professor Oak continued. “I can’t grant your petition for professorship. Not with your thesis in this state. I want you to study these two until they evolve. Given their health that should be within a month or so. Come back to us then with your conclusions on the matter. Weather their relationship is parasitic or not, If your conclusions are supported by your research, I will gladly grant you the title of Pokémon Professor.”
Senri spoke next. “When that Charmander evolves, he will go from a Class B to a Class A destructive Pokémon. While you may carry Pokémon outside your class restriction due to fair faith and credit laws between Kanto and Kalos, you will not be licensed to raise a Charmeleon.”
Edano picked up after Senri, “Especially given that the Charmander species line is endangered in Kanto. How that pokemon was even found in Kanto is beyond me. The closest location of wild Charmander is Charicific Valley Natural Reserve in the Johto region. As soon as your visa expires, we will have to insist that you turn him over to Professor Oak for protection.
For a time, there was nothing. Then Sèbastian spoke. “Can you possible extend my visa, so that I can continue my research in the event that they do no evolve? Or possible give me a class A license, so that I can continue to work with Torok?” H asks, close to the point of begging. Professor Oak thinks. “You are more than qualified to work as one of my Dexters. A PokéDex comes with the right to move PokéDex between regions, and the ability to train PokéDex up to Class S, with approval from the issuing professor. I am more than willing to offer that position to you.
Cyprès stays silent, thinking this over. “I… am sorry professor. I am not a Dexter. Exploration is not now nor has ever been my forte. I belong in a lab, where my experiments can be controlled.” He looks up at the three men before him with sudden conviction. “Torok and Orion will be evolved in one month. I will be back with a full report on their growth and development as symbiotic partners. I will earn my professorship, and with that the right to own any Pokémon of any class from any region.
With a look of certainty that his face had never made before, Sèbastian took out his Pokéball. “Revenir!” he proclaimed, as if it were a benediction. Torok and Orion turned into light, and were taken into the Pokéball. Without another word, Cyprès turned around and walked out of the Pallet Town Pokémon Research Institute.
“Noctua” He summoned. The Noivern appeared and bowed. “Je t’aime”
“Take me back to Cerulean City...” He demanded.
Without a word, Sèbastian Cyprès departed Pallet Town.
* * *
“SORTIR!” Sèbastian commanded as soon as he was back in his lab. One Pokéball opened and soon Torok stood before him. “Je t’aime” The Charmander says. in unison. Sèbastian punched Torok right in his belly, knocking him off the table and onto the floor. A rubber soled lab boot slams down onto Torok’s tail, pinning him in place. Torok screams. “You Ruined Everything!” Sèbastian Bellowed. “You had one job! All you had to do was say the word Kakuna! We practiced this! You ruined my chance!” The pressure on Torok’s tail increases, causing him to thrash and scream louder.
“You are going to evolve into Charmeleon. You are going to walk back to Pallet Town and tell Oak to give me that Professor’s badge. But first… But first you are going to apologize for embarrassing me…” Sèbastian says. “I legally changed my name to Cyprès for this!” He roars. “I threw away my life to become a professor! I threw away my life for you! And THIS is how you repay me!” Sèbastian moved his foot from Torok’s tail and walked to the end of the room. He pulled a wooden walking cane from its spot by the door, and slowly walked back to the lab. Torok was trembling in terror. He couldn’t move. He couldn’t speak. He hid his tail. Sèbastian, eyes wild with fury, raised the cane over his head.
There was a loud crack. Light shown from Torok’s back, from Orion. A large seam had formed in the from of Orion’s cocoon. Smoothly, swiftly, Orion emerged from his former shell. His wings changed from transparency to opacity in seconds. There was a buzzing sound as they flapped for the first time. Orion, the beerill, hovered over Torok, his stinger poised to strike. “You too Orion?” says Cyprès in disbelief. Without further hesitation, Cyprès swings the bat, knocking Orion out of the air. An idea strikes Sèbastian. He pulls a Pokéball from his belt. “Orion, Revenir.” He says with a sadistic glee. Orion flys forward, his stinger is inches from Sèbastian’s face when it turns into light, and disappears into the ball. “You are going to spend the next month in there.” Cyprès says to the ball. “After I show you off to Oak then I am going to put you back in that ball and let you rot… His rage quickly melts away in favor of savage glee. “And as for you…” He says, turning back to Torok. “You are going to work hard till you evolve. You will not eat or sleep until you are a Charmeleon… But first… Let’s remind you who you belong to.” He raises the cane again, and brings it down on Torok. Once… Twice… Thr- He stops. Torok’s eyes have begun to glow. They glow bright purple. The Charmander is on his feat, panting heavily with effort and fury. His tail flame burns bright and hot. The flame itself has swelled to nearly twice its size. Electricity crackles across the flame, and down his tail. The flames turn purple.
“No...” Sèbastian says. “That… That is dragon’s fire. Dragon Rage… How… Charmanders can’t learn Dragon Rage. Only Charmeleons...”
Torok let loose a stream of fire, electricity, and hatred. Pure, unbridled, hatred. He lost himself in the rage that had been burning inside him since the day he found the butterfly. He burned and burned and burned.
