[Laite] Step One: Knocking on Pine's Door

[Instant Loser]

A young man was sitting in the shade under a tree about a hundred feet away from the Professor's lab. He'd been there for quite awhile, not moving, just staring out across the rolling hills. The man checked his watch. He'd been sitting there for two hours.

'Oh.' He thought to himself, realizing just how long he had been resting under the tree. Not that he was nervous to get his first Pokemon, or procrastinating, he just happened to get preoccupied by staring at the beauty of the world around him, the world he would soon get a chance to explore. The wind rustled the grass and trees gently and the clear, pale blue sky was stretched infinitely across the horizon. It was hard not to appreciate what a wonderful world he lived in.

The young man stood up and brushed himself off before he threw on his satchel and proceeded down the road to the lab. It was a rather nice building for being way out here in the expanse of hills and fields. Before he knocked, he reached into his pocket and pulled out his wallet, checking to confirm he had his identification card. The small card had his name, Laite Nizuma, printed on it, along with a few other bits of important information. Having everything he needed, he raised his hand and knocked on the door.

[Et Cetera]

Immediately following the knocking, the door eerily swung open. Inside, the lab was dark; the only source of light was the buttons and switches on numerous computer-like devices lining one of the wall. The main desk, where Professor Pine is usually perched, was empty. Papers were strewn across the surface of the desk, and several had fallen to the floor. Pine, it seemed, was nowhere to be found.

Moments later, from outside, a well-aged voice addressed the intruder, "Hey! What are you doing in there?" From down the path, a short, stocky man with a gray comb-over began jogging towards the lab. "You can't just go in there; especially when the door is locked. Goodness." He shook his head and, in a few seconds, realized the alleged intruder was actually a new trainer.

"I really have to remember to pull the door shut all the way..." After a brief chuckle, he extended his arm, "I am Professor Pine, purveyor of Pokemon. I wasn't anticipating a visitor at this time; I had only stepped out to find some decent lunch."

[Instant Loser]

Laite smiled and nodded a bit awkwardly at the professor, not knowing exactly what to do or say. He just decided to reach his arm out and shake the professors hand. "I apologize if I surprised you. I'm Laite Nizuma. I believe I was supposed to receive my first Pokemon today." Laite checked his watch again. He knew the time, but he did it anyway. "Am I early?" There was no way he was early. He couldn't have been. He had checked his calendar religiously the few days leading up to his leaving the house. Nizuma was sure that it was today at this precise time when they were to meet.

[Et Cetera]

After a long, firm handshake, Pine coughed and cleared his throat again. "Late, early, what's the difference anyhow?" He stepped aside and pointed one of his arms towards the large, open area filled with lab tables, desks, computers, and file cabinets. "Please, please. Do come in. You've a very important decision to make, don't you, m'boy?" Clearing his throat yet again, likely just to change the subject this time, Professor Pine walked towards a door on the far side of the room. "Now, what are you looking for? You name it, we probably have it."

[Instant Loser]

Laite stepped inside the lab and looked around. It was untidy inside: loose papers on various tables and on the floor, a few half finished cups of coffee, and open books. But Laite was pretty sure that this man knew exactly where everything was. There was a method to this madness.

Laite thought about the man's question for awhile. He was so excited to get his first Pokemon, he hadn't given any thought to which kind he wanted. "Um, well. I suppose I'd like a friendly one. Maybe a lightning type... Or a grass type. Or..." he decided to cut himself off there, because he would likely name off every type. He didn't mind the type, really. As long as long as he and the Pokemon would get along well.

[Et Cetera]

Professor Pine nodded with each new quality Laite listed. His face contorted, as if thinking strained even his muscles. "This is usually the time where I'd slip into the back room and confidently walk out with a couple of Pokemon for you to choose from. This... isn't really helping. It seems as though you stopped in the middle of your list." The old man chuckled, but his old age transformed the laughter into a few coughs.

After clearing his throat, an action that seems to occur regularly with Pine, he looked towards the ceiling. "I have an idea," he stared, as if concentrating, "how about I go to the back, grab a Pokeball at random, and give it to you? If you don't want it or come up with something else, I'll go find another Pokemon. How does that sound?" Just before completing the question, Professor Pine's gaze turned back towards Laite.

[Instant Loser]

Laite nodded at the man's suggestion. 'Ah, a we'll leave it to chance.' "Yes, that'd be fine. Sorry if I'm messing up your routine or making things difficult." Laite was quite nervous at the thought of getting a Pokemon. He would be traveling the world with this Pokemon for awhile. What if they didn't get along...?

Laite pushed the thought aside as he waited patiently for the Professor to retrieve a random Pokeball.

[Et Cetera]

"Excellent! And don't worry--- I don't know which is which, anyway. " With that, Professor Pine turned rapidly towards the door, took three long strides, and stepped inside. Though the door was closed tightly, the sound of a person rummaging randomly through what sounded like a pile [yes, a pile] spread throughout the large atrium. After no more than twenty seconds, the Professor returned with a single Pokeball in his hand. "Don't worry, m'boy. They say chance leaves room for fate to play its course." With that, he tossed the red and white ball into the air, and it clicked open. Light rushed out of the orb and began forming into a solid object---

-----Congratulations! Laite has obtained a Shinx!-----

Name: ? ? ?
Gender: Male
Species: Shinx
Level: 8
Attacks:
-Tackle
-Leer

-----Congratulations, Laite has obtained a Starter Pack!-----
2500 ND
1 Pokeball
1 Potion
3 Berries