Professor Samuel Birch had reviewed hundreds of trainer reports over his twenty-three years running the Littleroot Laboratory. Rookie trainers were predictable in their patterns: overconfidence followed by humbling defeats, emotional bonds forming with starter Pokémon, gradual skill development measured in weeks and months.
Jason Cahill's first badge report landed in his inbox two weeks after departure.
Two weeks.
Birch set down his coffee—gone cold again, he really needed to stop getting distracted—and opened the attachment, scanning through Jason's typed summary of the Rustboro Gym battle. The writing was clear, methodical, describing Ralts's brave showing despite her inexperience, Sprigatito's determination through paralysis, the tactical decision to let Ralts participate despite the mismatch.
"Ralts needed to believe she could fight, even in a bad matchup. The experience was more valuable than an easy win would have been."
Birch sat back in his chair, drumming his fingers on the desk.
That kind of thinking didn't come from a trainer with two weeks of experience. That came from someone who understood Pokémon psychology on a deeper level—who prioritized long-term growth over short-term victories.
And yet, Jason had arrived in Hoenn with complete amnesia, claiming no memory of any life before waking in the forest near Littleroot.
Birch pulled up Jason's file, reviewing the notes he'd been compiling since their first meeting.
Initial Observations:
- Found conscious but disoriented in forest near Route 101
- Claimed complete amnesia of personal history
- Medical scans showed no physical trauma
- No missing persons reports matching description
- Possessed unusual personal items (pokegear-like device with music library, over-ear headphones)
- Demonstrated immediate competence in Pokémon care despite claiming no experience
- Bonded with rescued Sprigatito within hours (accelerated timeline)
Follow-up Observations:
- Notice/alert sent to Rangers, Police, and Aether regarding crash and Sprigatito.
- Other missing pokemon recovered. Driver still missing.
- Sprigatito allowed to stay with Jason as it provides an excellent study opportunity and already present bonding.
- Captured Ralts on Route 102 through trust-building approach (textbook methodology for Psychic-types)
- Established daily care routines matching species-specific needs
- Training methodology shows strategic planning beyond rookie level
- First gym badge acquired in two weeks (top 15% of all new trainers)
- Battle record: 2-0-1 (wins against trainer in Petalburg, Roxanne; draw in practice match)
Birch opened another window—his correspondence with Ranger Candidate Hana Miyamoto from a bit ago, who'd been traveling with Jason since Route 101.
"He's competent in the field," Hana had written in her last update. "Good instincts, careful with his Pokémon, doesn't take unnecessary risks. But there are gaps. He asked me basic questions about Pokémon Center protocols, seemed surprised by how substations work. And then five minutes later he'd explain something about Grass-type care that I'd never heard before—specific grooming techniques, dietary supplements, things that take years to learn."
The contradictions were piling up. Jason had needed explanations about trainer registration, about gym scaling systems, about things any Hoenn native would know from childhood. But he'd demonstrated advanced knowledge of Pokémon psychology, formed bonds with his team at a rate that typically took months, and beaten a gym leader with tactics that showed genuine strategic depth.
Either he's the fastest learner I've ever seen, Birch thought, or he knew more than he should have from the start.
A notification chimed—a message from Roxanne, the Rustboro Gym Leader:
Prof. Birch—
Met your sponsored trainer Jason Cahill today. Interesting case. Strong fundamentals, creative tactics, but odd gaps in basic knowledge. Asked my staff about badge benefits like he'd never heard of them. Yet his Ralts showed remarkable trust after only days of bonding—that kind of connection usually takes weeks to develop.
Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.
The way he let his Ralts participate despite her inexperience caught my attention. That's not rookie thinking. That's the approach of someone who understands Pokémon development on a deeper level.
Worth watching.
—Roxanne
P.S. - I've noted his file for Steven's attention. With the current Team Aqua situation, we're keeping closer tabs on unusual trainers. Not because I suspect anything—just protocol.
Birch typed back: He claims complete amnesia. Medical tests inconclusive. I'm monitoring the situation. Please keep me updated if anything else unusual comes up.
He sent the message and leaned back, staring at the ceiling.
The phone was the thing that bothered him most.
He'd only seen it briefly, that first night in Littleroot when Jason had been too exhausted to guard his reactions. A rectangular device with a glass screen, clearly some kind of personal electronics, but with no recognizable manufacturer marks or design language. Jason had shown him the music application—"Spotify," he'd called it—and played a song to demonstrate.
The music had been... strange. Not bad, but unfamiliar in ways Birch couldn't articulate. The production style, the instrumentation, the vocal techniques—none of it matched any regional music he knew. And he'd traveled extensively in his younger years, visited every major region, attended conferences worldwide.
He'd never heard anything like what came out of that device.
Where did that phone come from? Where did that music come from?
Jason had been cagey about it, deflecting questions with vague references to "before the amnesia" and "personal items." Birch hadn't pushed—the young man had clearly been through something traumatic, and pressing too hard risked damaging the trust they'd built.
But the questions lingered.
His Pokégear buzzed again. Hana's latest update:
Professor—
Quick note before we leave Rustboro tomorrow. Jason's doing well, very conscientious with his team. The gym battle was impressive—he really does have a gift for connecting with his Pokémon.
One thing I wanted to mention: he has this device that plays music. He uses it for training, for calming his Pokémon, for personal moments. The songs are completely unfamiliar to me—artists I've never heard of, styles I can't place. I asked him about it once, and he got this look... sad, almost. Said the music was "from home." Then changed the subject.
I don't think he's dangerous. But I do think he's hiding something. Something that hurts him to think about.
Will update after Dewford.
—Hana
Birch saved the message to Jason's file and added a new note:
Week 2 Follow-up: Subject possesses personal device containing unfamiliar music library. No regional match found for artists or styles. Subject references device as connection to "home" but avoids detailed discussion. Possible connection to amnesia/pre-arrival circumstances. Emotional response suggests genuine attachment rather than deception.
He closed the file and turned to stare out the window. The late afternoon sun painted the sky in shades of orange and gold. Outside, his research Pokémon were settling in for the evening—a Zigzagoon curling up in its favorite spot, a Poochyena yawning widely, several Wurmple climbing toward their preferred sleeping branches.
Simple creatures with simple needs. Predictable. Understandable.
Jason Cahill was neither of those things.
But Birch had been a researcher for over two decades. He knew that the most interesting discoveries often came from the most unexpected places. And he knew that pushing too hard, too fast, could destroy the very thing you were trying to understand.
Patience, he reminded himself. Observation. Let the data accumulate.
Jason was doing everything right. His Pokémon were healthy and happy. His training methods were sound. His gym performance was impressive. The ranger reports were positive. Whatever secrets he was keeping, they weren't preventing him from being an excellent trainer.
And maybe that was what mattered most.
Birch pulled up the gym battle report one more time, reading through the final paragraphs:
"When Ralts went down, I felt her pride through our bond. She wasn't ashamed of losing—she was proud of trying. That's the lesson I wanted her to learn: courage matters more than perfect victories.
Sprigatito fought through paralysis to land the winning blow. I've never been more proud of her. These aren't just my Pokémon—they're my partners. My friends. I'll do whatever it takes to help them grow.
First badge earned. Seven to go.
—Jason"
Birch found himself smiling despite his lingering questions.
"Alright, Jason," he murmured to the empty office. "Keep surprising me. Just... try not to surprise me too much."
He flagged the file for continued monitoring, added a reminder to check in after the Dewford gym, and finally took a sip of his cold coffee.
Outside, the first stars were appearing in the darkening sky. Somewhere in Rustboro, a young trainer with too many contradictions and not enough answers was preparing for the next leg of his journey.
And far to the south, reports were coming in about Team Aqua activity near Rusturf Tunnel.
Birch made a mental note to warn Jason about that in his next message.
Whatever mysteries surrounded the young man, Birch had no intention of letting him walk into danger unprepared.