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When most people hear the words laboratory assistant , they usually think of just helping out with experiments and research. Of gathering equipment, taking notes, maybe providing their personal input if qualified enough.
But that’s not how it is when working with Professor Samuel Oak.
That’s not to say the man was a slave driver or an unfair boss. Tracey would defend the man until his face would turn blue to ensure there would be no misunderstandings if he told someone that working with Professor Oak came with more than just standing by and taking notes.
***
The first time Tracey had put his first aid knowledge to the test had been when the professor had filmed a brief lecture about a Pokémon. Especially since treatments that usually helped Pokémon did not always necessarily work on humans.
He had been shocked to see that the professor’s enthusiasm could cause him to forget about a Pokémon’s personal needs regarding space, but of course, he couldn’t say anything about it. The man was his boss. Who was he to lecture the famed expert about being safe around Pokémon?
So, he silently brought out the first aid kit and tended to the wounds afflicted. Then, when the lecture had finished being recorded, he was tasked to help with editing the video, including making sure all segments of it were presentable. First was the title card with jingle, then the music that backed up the footage from that day, but then came when he was up to where the professor had been injured due to carelessness. “I was told to leave all the footage intact, but is it really okay to show him being hurt like that…?” he mumbled. He quickly reviewed some of the past lecture videos and saw all of them kept the injuries. He also saw that reviews from viewers actually praised such being left in as they either amused the very young children like comedic slapstick, or they were a good example of how to not approach a Pokémon.
Suddenly, it all made sense. The professor did know what he was doing. It wasn’t just the same blind enthusiasm he would see Ash display that sometimes got him in trouble with Pokémon. It was literally a part of the lecture. A perfect example of what you should not do. A self-sacrifice to his safety for the sake of education.
So, Tracey left in the scene and then finally edited in the Pokémon Senryuu to close off the lecture. A very short style of poetry that the professor was a master of, summing up one of the better aspects of a Pokémon to make it stand out.
Once everything had been complete, he went to go check on the professor and make sure the recovery process was going well.
And when that became a daily occurrence, he soon came to just take it all in stride.
***
There were tasks that involved caretaking. Not just the Pokémon, though that was a big one. He wasn’t qualified to give more than basic Trainer level first aid should the need arise. But, his observation skills did come in handy in noticing if a Pokémon was feeling unwell and needed the professor, who was also a qualified doctor, to give them a check over and advanced treatment if necessary.
And the best way to get to know every Pokémon was of course to interact with them. Which he did through feeding the Pokémon. With so many out there, it was a big task. But, Tracey had always been good with time management and was able to easily get all of the Pokémon fed in the right timespan so breakfast and lunch or lunch and dinner never overlapped. He also knew about the fruits, berries and flowers that grew naturally in each of the habitats in the grounds that Pokémon could help themselves to should they want a between meal snack.
More and more Pokémon filled the grounds everyday. Sometimes, it was because trainers had sent their Pokémon there, unable to carry more than six with them. Sometimes, they were wild Pokémon taking a bit of a pit stop during migration or seeking a safe place, which was of course welcomed and encouraged. They were not left out of the feeding schedule, they deserved some good food full of nutrients too. So, Tracey would hum to himself as he filled some extra bowls, going over the notes of which Pokémon would be found in which habitat.
He soon gained a helper. When Ash’s Bayleef had to stay for the first time, the poor girl had been very shocked and alarmed she was nowhere near her trainer. He had heard she had been very close to Ash to the point that it was an equivalent of a crush on him. But he had been a bit thrown, metaphorically and literally, to find just how serious her devotion to him had been.
After applying basic first aid to himself and the professor for bruising and a few scratches here and there, he decided to see if there was any possible ways to help her calm down. That’s when Bulbasaur hurried to their aid and was able to help her calm down. “Thanks, Bulbasaur…” He carefully approached Bayleef. “Hey there, it’s okay, you’re safe here. You just miss Ash, don’t you? My name’s Tracey, Ash and I are friends.”
Bayleef looked to Bulbasaur for confirmation, and Bulbasaur nodded. From what Tracey could gather, Bulbasaur was explaining briefly to Bayleef that Tracey and Ash once traveled together and that Tracey helped take care of other Pokémon that were part of Ash’s growing team, so she could trust him.
Bayleef briefly relaxed. “Hey, I have an idea. Bayleef, how about you come meet the other Pokémon that Ash caught? I’m sure he’d be happy to know that you’re getting along with them. It’s almost dinner time and I was preparing to feed them.” He saw her nod, smiling a little, which had him smile in return.
It had definitely helped her calm down, getting to know Ash’s other Pokémon. While she had shown a little jealousy here and there towards some of the Pokémon if they were to sound too buddy-buddy , having someone to relate to made her stay a little easier.
So, Tracey was surprised to see her standing by the food cart the next morning, her vines on the handle. “Bayleef, are you saying you want to help me out this morning?”
“Bay, bay!” she smiled and nodded.
“Thanks, I’d appreciate that a lot.” He would of course deal with the bowls, but Bayleef was a strong girl and she was able to move the cart with ease. Even when it wound up getting a wheel stuck in a hole a Diglett had left behind, she calmly lifted the cart with her vines, all without spilling any of the food from the bowls.
By the end of breakfast, Tracey gave her a pat. “Thanks, this went a lot smoother with your help.”
Bayleef smiled at the praise. She liked Tracey, he was like Ash. Not the same but similar.
Still, Ash was absolutely her Number One, as everyone was reminded of when she overheard him talking, burst into the lab, knocked the professor aside and looked at the screen, begging to be able to get back to Ash’s side. Of course, she was immediately transferred back to her trainer.
Tracey knew the help would be temporary, so he didn’t get too comfortable in having her assistance. But, who knows? If there ever came a time she returned, maybe she might want to help him out again with caring for the Pokémon, since she liked doing that.
***
Cleaning was a given. All research assistants knew that a clean work environment and clean equipment were necessary for safe and comfortable workplaces. So, Tracey would finish feeding Pokémon then pack up the haphazard piles of notes into something less likely to topple over from the smallest bump against the desk, or he would be moving the books around, being sure to put them in their proper places. Sometimes, he would be tasked with cataloging the archives not usually kept out on the main shelves.
One day when doing that, he had seen a sketchbook fall open to a page of a Pikachu sleeping against…was that a Celebi…? And there was something about that Pikachu. Something familiar. He got a closer look and realised it looked like…no, there’s no way, how could Ash’s Pikachu be in a sketchbook that was clearly from over forty years ago? He decided it was better to just shrug it off and shelve it instead of thinking too deeply about it. After all, the world was a mysterious place. He found some books that might benefit being on the main shelves and went to ask the professor if he should bring those ones out since apparently he had been looking for them recently, and was told to just leave them on the professor’s desk.
He would have to mop the floors several times a day, mainly because of the toxic slime trail that Ash’s Muk sometimes left behind on the floor. Good thing carpet wasn’t used much except in the main living area.
Sometimes, that task would take a little longer than usual. It depended on who Muk felt like following around that day and tackling with affectionate, and smothering, hugs. The first time it had happened to him, he had been surprised. He knew Muk was affectionate; every time he saw that sludge pile, he loved hugging someone. Usually Professor Oak was the one being smothered by some Toxic Love that was a lot sweeter and less toxic than it actually sounded. But, Muk was a Poison type, so the term still fit in its own way.
Still, to be knocked over from behind, slimy arms wrapped around him and then being smothered…well, he had certainly needed a shower after that one, but he was interested to note that a usually foul-smelling Poison type could actually control his scent, and it wasn’t actually that hard to breathe even when trapped underneath…could it be that Muk had been thinning out some areas of his body mass to ensure he didn’t accidentally cause asphyxiation?
***
Tracey had quickly learned he was a lot more adept with a tool box than he had assumed he was. With so many Pokémon living there, sometimes structural damages could occur by accident. So, he often found himself fixing fences around the grounds.
A busted pipe? He had thought to call a plumber, but it was an urgent job, so he quickly looked up a guide and fixed it himself. The job actually went well so even minor plumbing repairs were added to the growing list of tasks he had to do. That was no problem though, he loved helping out in every way he could.
***
He did still work directly with the professor, helping with experiments and taking notes and even helping with gathering samples and such for research purposes. Just as he used to do when he was out on the fields more as a Pokémon Watcher. In fact, it was his history of that which had him know exactly how to take notes correctly, observe the situation, gather the correct samples and the correct quantity of them.
But, it was more than that too. He woke up before the professor most mornings, depending on the sort of day they had ahead, and would prepare breakfast, setting it out as the professor awoke and entered the living area, only to immediately make a beeline for his computer and do more research.
Tracey soon found himself actually scolding his boss about skipping breakfast. Thankfully, the professor just sheepishly apologised for getting caught up in research. Well, not that Tracey didn’t understand. He used to be be as single-minded as that too when it came to observing Pokémon over several days. Maybe that was why he had become so adamant in making sure the professor took better care of himself. And why he had asked Ash’s mother for some extra cooking lessons in order to ensure they could both eat more than just the basics. After all, he did know the importance of a nutritious diet and the benefits one would reap from them.
As an assistant, he was also the one most on top of the schedule. So he was always gathering what was needed, such as notes and books and checklists and clipboards containing necessary information sheets and managing their time with reminders of things and helping the professor pack when he had to go somewhere for a few days…both his research materials, and his more personal luggage.
Tracey would be running back and forth throughout the lab, whether working with the Pokémon, gathering things quickly and efficiently for the professor or hurrying to open the door should guests arrive. He couldn’t think of many times in his life he would be zipping from point A to point B to point D and then circle round to point C.
It did mean getting in a good night’s sleep, his body loving the rest. And some busier days but calmer evenings would come with soaking in the bath to soothe sore muscles.
But, Tracey had never really been one to enjoy sitting still if work needed to be done anyway, so he had no problems with that either.
***
When most people hear the words laboratory assistant , they usually think of just helping out with experiments and research. Of gathering equipment, taking notes, maybe providing their personal input if qualified enough.
But that’s not how it is when working with Professor Samuel Oak.
And Tracey wouldn’t have it any other way.