"Hey! You there! Who are you? What are you doing back here?"
A voice, sharp but carrying the weight of age, called out from across the grassy expanse. Xiu stood up from the rock platform, turning towards the sound.
An old man emerged from behind a small storage shed near the edge of the woods, pushing a loaded handcart piled high with sacks of Pokémon food. He strode purposefully towards Xiu and his companions.
Seeing the man approach, Xiu felt a jolt of recognition so strong it momentarily left him dazed. Strong build, thick grey eyebrows framing keen eyes, short grey hair combed neatly to one side. Dressed in a simple purple shirt, comfortable trousers, and sturdy brown leather shoes. And over it all, the iconic white lab coat with a blue pen peeking from the breast pocket.
It was him. Professor Samuel Oak— almost identical, yet younger, to his appearance in the anime, rendered in three-dimensional reality. The transition felt jarring, surreal.
During the brief moments Xiu stood there, stunned into silence, the old man reached them. He looked Xiu up and down curiously, his gaze sharp despite his age. "Well now," he said, his voice gruff but not unfriendly, "which young fellow has wandered back here? Playing hooky from town?"
Xiu wasn't the only one affected by the arrival. His Pokémon reacted instantly, far more strongly than they usually did to strangers. Abra, sensing Xiu's internal turmoil perhaps, opened its eyes fully, its gaze fixed intently on the old man. Scyther, abandoning its meal, immediately shifted into a low defensive stance, damaged scythes held ready, emitting a low warning click. Even Happiny, usually oblivious, stopped eating and stared curiously at the newcomer.
Professor Oak's attention, however, was immediately captured by the Pokémon, not by Xiu's lack of response. He surveyed the group, talking more to himself than to Xiu, his eyes lighting up with academic interest.
"Well, well! A Happiny! Haven't seen one of those outside a Joy facility in years. Quite rare!" His gaze shifted to Scyther. "Hmm, this Scyther… proportions seem slightly underdeveloped, stance is… interesting. Still young, but carrying old injuries?" Then his eyes landed on Abra. "And this Abra… something's definitely not right here. The psychic signature… it feels… unstable?"
Xiu listened silently to Oak's rapid-fire assessments, impressed and slightly unnerved by his ability to glean so much from a simple glance. He finally found his voice, recovering from the initial shock.
Meeting Professor Oak, the Professor Oak… it felt momentous. But Bao Ba's warnings, his own cautious nature… he needed to tread carefully. Saying less, revealing less, felt safer until he understood Oak's temperament.
Not everyone is as approachable as Director Bao Ba seemed, despite his gruffness. The Professor Oak of games and anime, the kindly grandfather figure, might just be a simplified portrayal— assuming amiability based on that image could be a mistake.
Indeed, as Xiu studied the man before him, beneath the familiar appearance, he sensed something else – a subtle pressure, an undercurrent of immense knowledge and perhaps… power? It was different from Bao Ba's pragmatic authority.
'Dangerous,' a primal instinct whispered in Xiu's mind. He trusted that feeling more than outward appearances.
Just as Xiu decided on a cautious, reserved approach, Oak finally turned his full attention back to him, his sharp eyes scanning Xiu from head to toe. "But the strangest one here," Oak declared bluntly, gesturing towards Xiu himself, "is you, young man. Exposed to that level of psychic instability," he nodded towards Abra, "and still alive and kicking? Remarkable resilience."
Xiu's carefully neutral expression faltered. He frowned. Not because Oak had noticed his exposure – he'd expected that, given Abra's condition. But the way he said it… casual, analytical, almost dismissive of the potential danger to Xiu himself… it confirmed Xiu's earlier unease. This isn't the warm, fuzzy Professor Oak from the cartoons.
But just as quickly as the frown appeared, Xiu smoothed his features again. He understood— a man of Oak's stature, constantly hounded by aspiring trainers, researchers seeking patronage, crackpots with wild theories… perhaps a degree of bluntness, a show of intellectual dominance, was a necessary defense mechanism.
It fit. The seemingly amiable public persona might just be that – a persona. This felt… more real. More appropriate for a figure of his legendary status.
Oak observed Xiu's rapid shift in expression – the frown, the understanding, the return to calm neutrality – with keen interest.
"Hello," Xiu finally spoke, offering a polite but reserved smile, deciding directness was the best approach now. "My name is Xiu. And I presume," he added, meeting Oak's gaze evenly, "you are the esteemed Professor Oak?" Playing dumb was pointless with someone this perceptive.
"Indeed I am," Oak nodded, returning the smile, a spark of genuine curiosity entering his eyes now.
"I heard," Xiu continued smoothly, "of the Professor's unparalleled expertise in Pokémon research. I came specifically hoping to seek your counsel regarding one of my Pokémon." He paused, then added deliberately, gesturing towards Abra and Scyther, "Though… I must respectfully disagree with your initial assessment of their conditions." He subtly shifted the dynamic, presenting himself not just as a supplicant, but as someone with his own observations, however novice.
"Oh?" Oak chuckled, intrigued. "Not here seeking help, then? Just came to debate with an old man?" He set down the handles of his cart, stepping closer to Xiu, observing him intently again. "Regardless of your Abra's specific anomaly," he stated matter-of-factly, "your own exposure… continuing like this… isn't favorable to you, young man."
Xiu knew his attempt at subtly guiding the conversation towards Abra had failed. Professor Oak saw right through it. 'Alright, direct approach it is.'
"Professor," he asked plainly, abandoning any pretense, "you clearly perceive an issue with both myself and my Abra. What exactly do you see?" He held Oak's gaze, bracing himself. 'Might as well face it head-on.' He suspected Professor Oak, like many famous researchers, was probably weary of constant interruptions, of people with ulterior motives wasting his time. Perhaps blunt honesty was the key.
But Professor Oak's response caught him completely off guard. Instead of launching into a complex scientific explanation or demanding further tests, the Professor just smiled – a genuine, warm smile this time.
"Why don't you come up to the lab?" he offered unexpectedly. "We can discuss it properly over a cup of tea?"
"Huh?" Xiu felt utterly bewildered— all his internal analysis of Oak's personality, his cautious approach, his anticipation of needing to prove himself… thrown completely off kilter by the simple, direct invitation.
"Your Abra presents a fascinating anomaly," Oak continued, his eyes gleaming with scientific fervor now, the earlier guardedness replaced by undisguised curiosity. "Highly unusual psychic signature, likely capable of Telekinesis but lacks the fine control for Teleport… I can't say for certain without proper examination, of course, but it could be a valuable research subject." He added, almost as an afterthought, "Never encountered this specific deviation firsthand before."
Hearing his Abra referred to as a 'research subject' immediately set Xiu on edge again. Director Bao Ba seemed far more reliable now. At least Bao Ba's primary concern seemed to be mitigation and finding help, not just scientific curiosity.
But… this was Professor Oak. The world's leading expert. If anyone could help Abra, it was him. Despite his misgivings about Professor Oak's motives, Xiu knew he had to accept. Finishing his internal debate, completing the mental 'achievement unlocked: spoke with Professor Oak', the next step was deeper engagement. He needed answers.
However, he also needed assurances. Biopsy? Invasive procedures? He wouldn't subject Abra to anything potentially harmful without understanding the process. And selfishly, he was curious to see inside the legendary research institute.
"Thank you, Professor," Xiu accepted politely. "I'd appreciate that."
"Excellent!" Professor Oak beamed. "Not right this second, though. Need to finish feeding the Pokémon in the paddock first." He gestured towards the handcart.
"Do you need any help, Professor?" Xiu asked automatically, out of ingrained politeness.
He expected a refusal. Instead, Professor Oak paused, turned back, and looked at Xiu with that mischievous glint returning to his eyes. "Why yes, actually, that would be splendid! These old bones aren't what they used to be," he declared, making a show of rubbing his shoulder, though he looked perfectly fit.
Xiu immediately realized he'd walked right into that one. 'Fooled again.' He sighed inwardly but offered a polite smile.
"Of course, Professor. Lead the way." He took hold of the heavy handcart, ready to assist with distributing the Pokémon rations throughout the lab's extensive backyard habitat.