The Misdreavus Menace

Chapter Seven — Doctor Proctor

Early next morning, at a house in Pewter City, a phone call woke up a sleepy young couple.

"You get it," said a tired female voice.

"I was up later than you," came the reply from her drowsy male companion.

She forced one eyelid open and eyed the clock. "Oh well, I've got to get up for duty soon anyway."

The nicely proportioned body of Officer Jenny made its way out of bed to the videophone in the adjacent living room. She made sure that the camera was switched off before she answered.

"Hello?" she said.

"Hello, Jenny? It's Dan here."

A baby started crying in an adjoining bedroom.

"I'm sorry, did I wake up Clint?"

"Can't be helped," replied Jenny. "Hold on a sec... Brock, can you check the baby?"

After a moment's hesitation, Brock replied. "All right. Who's on the phone?"

"It's Dan Brown." She turned back to the face on the phone. "What's up, Dan?"

"Something happened to Matthew and his friend Travis."

Jenny gasped. "They're not hurt are they? Does Flint know?"

"Yeah," said Dan, "He's been at the hospital all night. Don't worry, there's no physical injury, but it's really strange. They sneaked out again last night and went into Diglett's Cave. My kids were with them but they stayed outside. Some kind of dare. My kids heard them scream and John came running back all the way to get me."

Just then a bleary-eyed Brock walked in cradling a six month-old baby.

"And then?" asked Jenny.

"We found them unconscious in the cave. As I said, they don't seem hurt, but they haven't come to."

"Did you report it?"

"Oh sure, a policeman's already interviewed me and both my boys."

"OK", said Jenny, "thanks for letting us know. I'll get in to work straight away. I'll give my cousin in Vermilion a call too."

"Hi Dan," inserted Brock.

"Oh, hi Brock. I'm sorry. Did I wake you guys up?"

"Don't worry about it. You know, Dad's been worried about Travis getting Matt into trouble."

"Tell me," asked Dan. "Have you heard anything peculiar about Diglett's Cave recently? There wasn't a Pokémon in sight in there."

"No, not really."

"Anyway," finished Dan, "I better get back to the hospital. Flint's been up all night worrying. I'll see if I can give him a break."

Two hours later, Brock walked in to the hospital to see his young brother Matthew and his friend Travis lying in bed. Jenny was there, talking to Dan and Flint, and Travis's mother was sitting along side her son's bed, asleep.

"Hi guys," he announced, "any change?"

"Brock, nice to see you again," replied Dan.

"Hi Honey," said Jenny. "Where's Clint?"

"Suzie's looking after him. He's just had a bottle. She sent me here to take over so Dad can go home and get some sleep."

Flint turned to face his oldest son, but remained silent. His face was full of weariness and concern.

"Off you go, Flint," said Dan. "Brock and I'll call you if there's any change."

"Come on," added Jenny. "I'll take you home. I've finished all I can do here."

"By the way, Jen," asked Brock, "have you turned anything up?"

"Well my cousin at Vermilion says there's been reports of large numbers of Diglett at that end of the tunnel, but nothing more."

The father and daugher-in-law waved goodbye to Brock and Dan and left. Flint briefly turned back to see Travis's mother, but she was still asleep.

Shortly afterward, a nurse came to check on the patients. She checked Matthew's pulse, blood pressure and temperature, and then moved on to Travis. As she examined him, the boy stirred. His mother instantly woke up and looked at him hopefully. The boy opened his eyes. Brock looked from a few feet away, and shuddered at the glazed eyes and expressionless face.

"Trav, sweetheart," said his mother.

The boy turned towards her for a moment, but his expression did not change.

"I'll call the doctor," said the nurse after finishing her examination.

Several minutes later, the doctor arrived. He examined the boy, who hardly responded or moved.

"He appears to be in some kind of shock," the doctor finally said. "There's no apparent physical injury, but I suspect psychological trauma. Does anyone know what happened in the cave?"

Dan Brown stepped closer. "I found both of them unconscious. There was no sign of anything that may have happened, but my sons heard them scream."

"How long will he be like this?" asked his mother.

"It is difficult to say. He looks very badly affected, so it could be days, possibly even weeks. In the mean time, all we can do is make him as comfortable as possible."

"Just yesterday he was so full of life," said his mother. "Mind you bragging about what he's been up to, but I'd be willing to put up with all that and more just to have him well again."

"There is a specialist visiting today," continued the doctor, "a Dr Proctor, who uses revolutionary new techniques involving Pokémon to treat patients. He might be able to help. It's up to you to decide, Mrs White."

"Hmm... are there any risks?" asked Brock.

"You will have an opportunity to discuss that with Dr Proctor. It depends on what course of treatment he recommends. I am suggesting it because he is visiting here today... and because conventional medicine has nothing else to offer."

An hour or so later, the hospital nurse led Travis in a wheelchair into an observation room, where Dr Proctor and Nurse Joy had already set up. The hospital nurse stepped outside to an observation window and stood next to the boy's mother, Brock and Dan.

Inside the room, they could see the doctor open a briefcase. It was full of Poké balls, neatly arranged and clearly labelled. The observers could hear what was being said through a speaker.

"Nurse Joy, we'll start with Drowzee."

"Yes, Doctor," replied Joy.

She picked Drowzee's Poké ball and released the Pokémon into the room. It appeared in a flash of red light, uttering its familiar drawn out "Drooowzeeee".

"Drowzee," began the doctor, "we need to hypnotize the patient."

Drowzee stepped in front of the boy, lifted up its left hand, and started swaying from side to side. It stared into the boy's eyes, saying "Drow...zee..., drow...zee."

Travis's expression did not change.

"Travis," said the doctor, "nod if you can hear me."

Travis slowly nodded once.

"Can you speak? Shake your head if you can't."

Travis opened his mouth. All that came forth was a hoarse whisper. He shook his head and tried again.

"No, it's OK," said the doctor, "just relax. Remember back to last night. You were with some boys at Diglett's Cave. Do you remember?"

Travis raised his head as if to nod, but then started breathing heavily and became agitated.

"Drowzee, increase hypnotic power," ordered the doctor.

Drowzee started swaying again, uttering its name slowly. Travis soon calmed down.

"Travis," asked Dr Proctor again, "do you remember being in Diglett's Cave?"

Travis slowly nodded, uncertainly at first, then firmly the second time.

"You were found unconscious. Do you remember what happened to you?"

Travis opened his eyes and mouth wide, but his face remained expressionless. It was an uncanny sight, as if he wanted to appear frightened, but could not establish a reason why.

"Drowzee, maximum hypnotic power."

The Pokémon obeyed, concentrating all its efforts on helping the boy.

"Did someone hurt you?" continued the doctor.

Travis bobbed his head gently, as if a timid child half his age would do.

"Was it a person who hurt you?"

Travis shook his head.

"Was it a Pokémon?"

Travis shook his head again.

"Do you remember what it was?"

Travis looked blank.

"Drow...zee...," said the Drowzee with a strain.

"Doctor," said Nurse Joy, "I'm not sure how much longer Drowzee can maintain full hypnotic power."

"That's all right," replied Dr Proctor. "Drowzee, reduce power gradually."

"Shall we try Hypno?" suggested the nurse.

"No, I think he's already under the effects of hypnosis. We need to get past the hypnotic barrier. We'll start with Abra."

Outside, Mrs White was looking very worried.

"Do you think this will work?" she asked the hospital nurse standing next to her.

"We'll have to wait and see," she replied. "I'm sure your son is in good hands."

"Yes, but he's all I've got. Ever since his father died, he's been getting himself into so much trouble."

"I've met Dr Proctor once before," added Brock. "He's very good. I wouldn't worry too much."

The group noticed that treatment with Abra had begun and diverted their attention back to the window.

"Abra," said Dr Proctor, "establish telepathic contact."

"Abra," it hissed softly. Though the Pokémon seemed to be sitting idly with its eyes closed, they could see Travis's agitation.

"Abra!" hissed Abra violently, standing up.

Travis simultaneously shot up out of the wheel chair, horror in his face.

"Abra, stop! Nurse Joy, Bellsprout, quickly."

Joy immediately released a Bellsprout from its Poké ball.

"Bellsprout," commanded Dr Proctor urgently, "sleep powder, one tenth dose, on the patient please."

Travis, seeming to understand, tried to move away, but Bellsprout's flexible body reached easily and drugged the boy. Travis stopped moving, and was easily led back to his seat.

"Abra, report."

Immediately, Abra transmitted to Dr Proctor and Nurse Joy the image it had received from Travis's mind. They both winced at the sense of horror conveyed to them. They could also sense some sort of pain that they could not identify.

"Doctor," said Nurse Joy, "I don't think Abra is up to this. Whatever happened to this boy was very frightening. I wouldn't recommend anything less than Alakazam."

A few moments later, Alakazam replaced Abra in the room.

"Bellsprout," asked the doctor, "minimum dose of sleep powder if the patient gets up again, but try and keep him conscious."

"Bell," responded the sinuous vine.

"Alakazam, establish a telepathic link between me and the patient. But tread carefully please."

"Kazam!" pronounced the psychic critter as it raised its spoons and stared into Travis's eyes.

Dr Proctor began again to sense the feelings of fear he had felt moments ago. He was not receiving any visual communication, however.

"All right, Alakazam," he said, "try very carefully to draw out an image of what hurt him."

"Alakazam!" came the faithful reply. Its spoons seemed to emanate a barely visible bluish glow. The expression in its eyes became more intense.

Travis begain to cringe in pain.

"I can't understand it," said the doctor.

"What is it?" asked the nurse.

"Hold on," he replied. Then to Travis, he said, "Travis, we're not trying to hurt you. But something else did, and you have to let us find out what is was. Please let Alakazam search your mind. Do you understand?"

Travis jerked his head away from the doctor.

Turning to Joy, he said, "It seems he's objecting to having his mind read. I wonder why?" Turning back to Travis, he asked, "Travis, can you remember what hurt you?"

Travis turned back warily and shook his head.

"Do you want to remember, or do you want to stay like this?"

Travis looked into the doctor's eyes, but the boy's face was still blank.

"Nurse," said the doctor, "I believe he's been hypnotized into forgetting what happened to him. The same hypnosis may also have prevented his ability to speak. I am of the opinion that we need to psychically bypass the hypnotic barrier and break it from the inside."

"I see," she replied.

"However, something painful is preventing Alakazam from searching his mind."

"May I try," asked the nurse.

Dr Proctor looked thoughtful, then gave a consenting nod.

Joy crouched down next to Alakazam in front of Travis and looked at him sweetly.

"Travis, think about Matthew, your friend. He's sick like you. Don't you want to help him? If we find out how to help you, we can help him get better too."

Travis looked up at the nurse, his blank expression quivering.

"And what about your mom, and Matthew's dad? Can you be brave for them?"

After a moment, Travis looked at his mother watching him anxiously through the window. He gave a weak nod.

"All right," continued Nurse Joy, "we'll ask Alakazam to search your mind to find out what happened to you. It'll show the pictures in your mind to me and to Dr Proctor. We know that something hurts, but you must be brave. Is that OK?"

Travis breathed in, then nodded.

"OK, now think back to last night. Alakazam will help you remember."

Travis forced himself to think back. He struggled within himself to come to grips with his memories. As he fought the pain, he found it yielding before him. Recollections returned. The dare, entering the cave, the darkness, the rubble, the hard stone walls. Alakazam faithfully transmitted these images to the doctor and his nurse. They sensed Travis remembering voices, advancing deeper into the cave, being confronted with something—horrible, ghostly creatures. Travis's glazed expression dissipated only to be replaced by one of fear, all the more intense because the boy had never feared anything before in his life. Then he remembered the monsters threaten him, hypnotize him, hurt him, inflict great mental agony.

Travis screamed.

At that, his mother raced into the room, ignoring the nurse's belated attempt to restrain her. She pushed her way past Dr Proctor, ran to her child and embraced him in her arms with all the love a mother could express. Travis tried to control his emotions, pretending vainly to be brave, but his feelings overcame him. He grasped his mother tightly and burst into tears.

The hospital nurse entered the now crowded room and was about to approach Mrs White, but the doctor raised his hand. He stepped closer to her and said, "We can treat Matthew soon. Can you please make sure he's ready?"

In case you're wondering, Dr Proctor appeared in the comical episode entitled A Chansey Operation.