Chapter 20
Calling of Home
"You know, Mr. Anderson, that you were sent here in place of Professor Oak?" Prof. Birch inquired of Drew.
"Yes," Drew replied, "but I am not quite sure why."
"Well, you know, in his old age it is hard to get around…he felt it would be best if you came here instead."
"I understand…but why did you bring me out to your lab to talk about this?" Drew asked.
Birch sighed. "I suppose you'll find out sooner or later…Samuel has come down with a sickness, as I am sure you have already been informed."
"He was sick when I left."
"Yes, well…it has gotten worse."
"How worse?" Drew asked, alarmed. "Do they know what it is?"
"He has leukemia, and he is dying," Birch broke the news. Drew sat there in shock and disbelief.
"How-how long?" Drew struggled to say, fighting back tears. "…does he have…?"
"We don't know. A matter of months, no more."
Drew sighed. "I'm going to see him."
"That's funny…because his assistant e-mailed me about you."
"What did he say?"
"He requested that you come immediately."
Drew nodded. "All right. Thanks. I'll be back soon, I think."
Drew left the lab and headed back home. He immediately started packing his things together, gathering his Pokémon, and a week's worth of clothes.
Carly walked in the room. "What are you doing?" she asked.
"I'm going to have to leave for Pallet immediately," Drew responded.
"Why? I thought that we were going to go to Pacifidlog for a weekend getaway…" said Carly, disappointed.
Drew let out a heavy breath. "Professor Oak is sick. I have to go see him," he said, gloomily.
"I understand why you are going, but lately…you've been caught-up in Pokémon so much I haven't seen you."
"I've been busy."
"I realize this. But you have hardly been home at all."
"Look, Professor Birch needs my help. I'm here for Professor Oak, and I need to complete my job."
"And I am here, Drew, because I love you. But I don't want to be second to this. It's consumed your life!"
"I don't have a choice, Carly! Now I'll be back as soon as I can, but for now, I'm going to have to go to Pallet. Goodbye, and I love you." He kissed her on the cheek, and then left.
"You could have invited me…" Carly whimpered.
* * *
Drew flew back home to Pallet Town on Lugia and Ho-oh (alternating so that neither of them would get too tired). As soon as he landed, he headed right to Prof. Oak's lab, since Oak lived in the back of it. He was greeted by Oak's assistant.
"The Professor has been expecting you," said the assistant. "This way." He led Drew to the back of the lab, and through a door which opened up to Oak's quarters. He was sitting in a bed with an IV connected to his arm. Oak didn't look too well, and far older than Drew remembered him. Though, it occurred to Drew, he hasn't seen the Professor in a very long while.
"Professor Oak…?" Drew said cautiously.
"Ah…yes, Drew. I expected you to come…please, sit down," said Oak, weakly. Drew followed his elder's instructions. "So, how is Hoenn?"
"Well…it's a lot different from Kanto and Johto."
"Tell me more," Oak coughed.
"They have Pokémon I've never seen before. I suppose it's because Hoenn is so remote from the rest of us…oh, Andrew and Julia are on a Pokémon journey of their own, finally."
"Really?" Oak paused to cough again. His immune system was getting weaker every day, if not minute. "How are they doing?"
"Well, I haven't heard from Andrew in a while, but I got a letter from Julia saying she won a contest." Oak looked at Drew with a bit of confusion across his face. "You see, they have these contests over in Hoenn where, instead of battling, your Pokémon tries to impress the judges with Beauty and such. It gives everyone an equal chance of becoming Pokémon Masters."
"In their own way, huh?"
Drew nodded. "Yeah."
"Well, how far are they in their quest?"
"Last I heard, they were heading for their Sixth Gym Badge."
Julia walked into the Fortree Gym and headed straight for Winona.
"Are you ready?" Winona asked. She put strands of purple hair behind her ear.
Julia breathed deeply. She didn't really feel ready, but there was no turning back. "Yes," she replied. "But only a three-on-three."
" All right. Then we'll begin. I'll choose Fearow first! Go!" Winona threw out a Pokéball, unveiling her magnificent Flying-time Pokémon.
"Clamperl, go!"
"In that case…Fearow, Drill Peck!" Fearow reared back its beak and then tried to bore a hole in the shell of Clamperl.
"Clamperl, Icy Wind!" Julia commanded. Clamperl opened its shell just wide enough for snow and ice to flow out and engulf Winona's Pokémon.
"Fearow, don't let that slow you down! Use Wing Attack!" Fearow whacked Clamperl across the room with her wing. Clamperl was a little shaken up, but remained in the battle.
"Great job, Clamperl! Never give up!" Julia reassured. "Now attack Fearow with Ice Beam!" A ray of ice struck Fearow, doing severe damage.
"Enough playing around. Fearow, finish Clamperl off with Aerial Ace!" Fearow attacked Clamperl at full-speed, slicing the small, blue, Water Pokémon. Clamperl, being a relatively weak Pokémon anyway, was knocked out.
"Hmm…Swellow, go! I'll fight Flying-with-Flying!"
"This should be…interesting," Winona responded.
* * *
"So," Oak continued, "how is your wife, uh…Carly, isn't it?"
"Well…I dunno. She's upset at me," Drew answered.
"Why?"
"Because I've been dedicating too much time to studying and training Pokémon."
"Ah. That is quite a predicament, isn't it?"
"I don't think she realizes that this is my life."
"Isn't she a part of your life?"
Drew pondered on that thought for a moment. "You're right."
"At this age, I'd hope I am," Oak laughed.
Drew smiled. He was glad to be near his old professor again. Although, he still is my professor, isn't he? Drew thought. "Has my being in Hoenn helped your research?"
"Yes. I have been adding more and more data to the Pokédex every day. Or, rather, my assistants have. I really haven't been able to work lately." Drew nodded.
"Have you ever…regretted anything?" Drew asked Sam Oak.
"I look at it this way, Drew: are you happy where you are now?"
"I suppose," Drew said after some thought.
"Then don't regret anything. Why would you want to change your past at all if you are fine where you are?"
"Maybe there could be a better life for me. Us. I mean, Carly, and the kids…I'm wondering if going to Hoenn was in everyone's best interests."
"There could also be a worse life for all of you. Everything happens for a reason, Drew. Somehow, moving to Hoenn will fit in with the big scheme of things. It'll all work out in the end, you watch."
Drew cracked a smile and nodded again. "Well, I suppose you're right. I mean, things have always seemed to fall in place in the past."
"There you go."
"I think I need a vacation."
"We all need one."
"Well, I need a break from everything right now. I may be happy where I am in life, but at the moment I'm concerned about my marriage. It may be falling apart. I don't know."
"All you can do is be you. Just work things out like you always have." Drew nodded. "And why don't you invite her here?"
Drew sighed. "I could."
"You should." Drew sat there in thought. Before he could open his mouth again, Oak spoke. "The phone is around the corner to the right."
"Thanks." Drew got up, and called his house in Littleroot.