"ARCHER!!!" Everyone bellowed.

________________________________________________________________

“Hurry up, Drok! Lay him down on the bed…careful and stop hitting his head!”

“Yeah, yeah…Ericka, I know what I’m doing, okay? I’ve studied basic aid in the school, you know?”

“You’ve studied at the Pokemon Training School, and no way does Archer looks like a Pokemon, you know?”

“Yeah, right. Maybe he’s just an evolved Mr. Mime in disguise.”

“Ha ha ha…funny, very funny, Drok.”

“Yeah, I know Ericka. That’s why I’m so cool.”

Archer could feel that he was being carried by someone, maybe Drok, as he heard the conversation while he closed his eyes, pretending to be unconscious. Feeling dizzy from the journey due to something that keeps hitting his head, and also from the bumpy ride on Dodrio’s back, hearing its mighty cluck, “Dodrio!” from time to time, he somehow relented that he did that stupid act. As he waited for them to lay him down on the bed, he thought of possible answers that he could tell them so as to cover his alien identity. I think I’ll just have to say that I’ve forgotten my address, family, friends and everything except my name and age, and start everything anew and see where it goes. Pokemon, hmmm, interesting. I’m not really familiar with Pokemon but somehow I’ve played the game, read some mangas and watched animes back on my high school years. I wonder if they’re the same with this world. I’ve been busy since I’ve turned 17 last year, and now, I guess I’ll have to -

“Nurse Joy! Is he okay?”

“Hmmm, I don’t know, but he looks pale. Let me give him some shots so that he’d fill much better as we wait on Dr. Mario to do further check-ups on him.”

Shots? Dang it, I hate shots. I hate injections. What do I do? What do I do?

Archer was now lying on a soft cushion, maybe a bed, and felt that someone held his shoulder, and realized that his sleeve was being raised, and a cool substance was applied with a cottony thing on his upper limb. Feeling scared, he abruptly sat on the bed, and shouted, “Noooo!”

Everyone was watching him silently, others shock, some surprise, while the rest of the people gaped at him. After a few minutes of silence, Ericka coughed a few times before asking, “Archer, are you fine? Why are you screaming?”

Everyone’s eyes were still focused on Archer, and he could feel that his face was warm, maybe due to embarrassment, and looked down on the bed, evading their penetrating stares. What should I say, dang it. Well, here it goes.

“Sorry, I just dreamt about that Grimers and Muk that I’ve encountered earlier inside the Pokemon Mansion. I, I thought they’ve caught up on me, gobbling me up whole.”

Ericka softened her gaze, somehow pity and concern evident on her expression. “Don’t worry, you’ll be fine. Those blobs will not reach you here, okay?” Holding my shoulder, she firmed her grasp on me and said, “You’ll be alright, let Nurse Joy gives you meds so you’ll be up and running in no time.”

“Yes, Mr. Archer. My name’s Nurse Joy, and it’s my job being the head nurse here in the Pokemon Center of Cinnabar Branch to heal and assist anyone who’s sick and helpless.” Nurse Joy carried a tray with a big, injection and set it on the table. “Lucky for you, we’re not busy as of the moment so everyone is available to help you.”

Archer saw the pink-haired woman near him, dressed in skimpy white outfit like a maid that you see in an anime. Well, she’s beautiful, I think it is 34C huh? She exactly looked like Nurse Joy from the anime, except that this more looks…real in the flesh. Nurse Joy once again touched his upper arm and slowly pointed the injection on his shoulder.

“No, no, no. I’m well already, Nurse Joy. No need to inject me with some shot boosters.”

“But why not? You need this to regain your strength; it’s very effective and it works pronto.”

“No…you see…uhm. Okay, I’m scared of needles.”

“What?”

“I’m aichmophobic, you know? And do not ask me why, I just do,” Archer replied with a small voice, staring at Nurse Joy timidly. “Please do try to understand.”

Nurse Joy smiled at Archer as she slowly returned the injection on the tray, saying “I understand, Mr. Archer”. Putting her hands akimbo, she turned her head and looked at the reception desk and called, “Chacha, you’ve got work to do, my friend.”

“CHANSEY!”

The pink egg-like Pokemon, about 3 feet tall, was walking carefully towards the bed where Archer was as it held its egg perched on its front pocket. With its beady eyes and an adorable smile, it approached Nurse Joy, its short tail wagging like a dog. “Chansey?”

Nurse Joy patted its head. “Can you please use Soft-Boiled on our patient, right now? His name’s Archer and he needs our medical attention.”

“Chansey, chansey.”

Chacha approached Archer at a slow pace, and with a sway of its hands, it shouted, “Chansey!” as the egg on its front shined brightly. Soon enough, the light covered him, making him feel relaxed and refreshed, his tired body being renewed with strength and vigor.

“Chansey! Chansey, chansey!” Chacha clapped her hands as she walked towards Nurse Joy. “Chansey, chansey.”

Now grinning, Nurse Joy shifted her gaze from Chacha to Archer, her hands still on her hips. "Chacha said you'll be alright now. There's some traces of poison that Chacha noticed while healing you with her skill, but do not worry, it's just minimal that it would not affect you at all. All it takes is just a few wink and you'll be a new man. Chacha, you may now go back to the Healing Area."

"Chansey!" Chacha replied, turning around as it walked towards the reception area.

Ruffling his hair, Archer tried moving his arms and legs, finding out that indeed, his strength was back. "Thank you, Nurse Joy. Thank Chacha for me." Smiling like a kid, he grabbed the apple that was set on the table beside him, and began eating. "Well, let me introduce myself properly, Nurse Joy. I'm Archer Sullivan, and currently I can't remember where I'm from. Even my address, my family, friends...everything, it's like a big, blank space inside my mind, well, except my name, err, and age, I guess...that's the only thing I can remember."

"Hmmm, only name and age," Archer heard Shiela repeating what he said earlier, while Ericka, Drok, Jax and Eric were tinkering with the booth that looked like computers at the right side of the Reception desk. Nurse Joy touch his head, saying "You don't have any bump on your head. Weren't you hit by a blunt weapon or something?"

Is Shiela a ghost or something? I didn’t noticed she was just right here until she talked.

"I can't remember. All I know is that I found myself waking up inside the long hallway filled with cobwebs and shits." Archer was done eating the apple, and started for round two of satisfying his hunger. "As soon as I've reached the exit, that's where the Grimers and Muk suddenly appeared, wanting me to become a puddle of shit just like them. And -"

"And you've escaped them without using any Pokemon beside you?" Shiela interrupted, curiosity was evident on her expression. "Lucky for you, I guess."

"Yup, a big hurray for me," Archer seconded cheerfully as he continued munching the rest of the fruits, watery juice staining his chin. Wiping it away, he continued eating. "Anyway, I really don't know what to do after I'm healed. Can you give me any suggestions as to what I should do? I have no one I know here, well, as far as I can remember."

"That's a big problem, considering everyone needs to be registered to enjoy our amenities here in Cinnabar Island, or anywhere in Kanto in particular," Nurse Joy explained. "Don’t worry, everything’s paid, bill’s on them.”

“I guess I have to thank them properly.”

“Yes, you should. Well, I've got to assume that your Pokemon was stolen or released, since you don't have any with you right now, right?"

"Right, Ma'am," Archer lied with a straight face.

Nurse Joy touched her chin, as if thinking deeply, and said, "And it's dangerous for you to not have any Pokemon, especially if you intend to explore the island or move anywhere in Kanto." Walking back and forth, she mumbled grumpily, her brows in a furrow, and suddenly, looked at Archer, happily shouting, "Eureka!" Everyone turned around, looking at the flustered lady, while she was saying, "don't mind me, everyone. Don't mind me."

"Huh, you found what?" Archer asked. "Nurse Joy, you really has found some ideas?"

Recovering from the earlier scene, Nurse Joy clapped her hands as she dance happily. "Yes, yes. Let me go and fetch someone. Tootles." She scurried towards the room at the left side of the reception area, and a few minutes later, a 5-feet tall man with a bulky figure was now together with her, walking side by side towards Archer. With a smile brimming with confidence, she introduced the guy. "This is Shane Erickson. I believe that he can help you with your current predicament. Shane, this is Archer Sullivan. And, I’ll leave both of you here while I’ll go back at the Reception to do my duties. Bye.”

“Sure, Nurse Joy.” Archer looked at the well-built guy with a strange look on his face. "Hi, Mr. Shane Erickson."

"Hi, Archer...just Shane will do."

"Okay, Shane. Uh, you know that - "

"Yeah, I know, Nurse Joy told me everything," Shane cut him off abruptly. "All I can say is that I can give you a ride so we can reach Pallet Town and help you know your identity at the National Statistics Office. They have their scanner there, and if you're previously registered, whether here in Kanto, Johto, Sinnoh, Unova, or Alola, it is impossible for them not to have any records on you, unless..."

"Unless what?" Archer asked, feeling uneasy.

"Unless you're not of this world, of which it is impossible. And, of course, if you’re a heretic."

Archer laughed nervously. "What if my parents failed to register me?"

"Impossible. It's universally implemented as a law that every parents would be obligated to register their child upon reaching the age of five. Well, as far as I’m concerned, every child I know was duly registered."

"And, what's the benefit of being registered?"

"First, to enjoy free tuition at the Pokemon Training School. Second, to freely use the amenities throughout the different regions such as the Pokemon Center, PC Booth, and Trading Link. Third, the professors assigned on each city would help the child in acquiring their starter Pokemon. Fourth, freebies such as Pokedex, running shoes, town maps and bikes. Fifth, having privileges to challenge the Pokemon Gyms and participate in the Pokemon League. Sixth, the only way to leave Kanto region lawfully and safely is being registered with the system." Shane stopped explaining, as if considering something in his thoughts, and smiled as he continued, "Lastly, free pokeballs for your first journey, and the most important of them all, you can't have any pokeballs if you're not registered. At all or you'll be chased by the police, being a heretic and all. In short, no pokeball, no legal Pokemon for you. Clear enough?"

"Clear as day," Archer fiddled with his thumbs, looking at Shane and Nurse Joy with a helpless expression. Contemplating, he was now at a lost as to how he should resolve his problem, considering that he was sure the supposed scanner back at Pallet Town would have a zero record on him. Scratching his head, he stared at Shane with a hopeful look on his face. "What if I'm not registered, could I still do it myself, even though I'm nearing 18?"

Shane glared at him, his arms folded on his chest. For about four or five minutes, all they did was stare at each other until Archer felt that it was somewhat awkward for 2 grown men to do that for a long time. Smiling sheepishly, he was about to close his eyes and lie down when he heard Shane saying, "Yes, you can, but only one person can help you. He's the head professor of the Pokemon Research Institute here in Kanto region, and luckily, he's currently in Pallet Town."

"May I know his name?"

"Professor Samuel Oak."