Reed Richards, the last of his family without a Pokémon, approached the lottery tablet with a thoughtful expression. Franklin and Valeria watched, giggling softly.
"Alright, everyone," Reed announced, adjusting his glasses. "Let's see what the probabilistic algorithms yield for my selection."
He pressed the button with a confident flourish. The screen, instead of its usual smooth animation, flickered wildly. Colors glitched, lines distorted, and then, with a final ZAP, a strange, blocky, duck-like creature appeared. It was all sharp angles and polygons, like something rendered in an early computer program. It seemed to stare back at Reed with an equally confused digital eye.
"Huh," Reed mused, leaning closer to the screen. "That's... unexpected."
"What is that?" Johnny asked, peering over Reed's shoulder, a hint of genuine curiosity in his voice for once. "Looks like something out of a really old video game."
"It appears to be a digital construct," Reed murmured, his mind already racing. He knew the lottery system was designed to display biological Pokémon, even if only as a silhouette. This polygonal entity, however, was clearly not organic. It suggested either an extremely sophisticated hologram, an advanced artificial intelligence, or, most intriguingly, a profound glitch in the system's core software, perhaps even a novel form of digital life that somehow manifested through the lottery's interface. "The probability of a non-biological entity manifesting via a bio-signature recognition system is astronomically low."
"It's staring at you, Dad," Valeria pointed out, a slight smirk playing on her lips.
"Indeed it is," Reed replied, still absorbed in the anomaly. "Its visual display parameters indicate a direct gaze, suggesting a rudimentary form of optical tracking, or perhaps a programmed response to external observation."
Orion leaned in, his brow furrowed with concern. "Porygon? What are you doing in the system?"
Latias closed her eyes, a faint psychic aura shimmering around her. She listened intently to the Pokémon's rapid, digital chatter, a language of pure data. She then turned to Orion, her voice soft and telepathic.
"Orion," she communicated, "Porygon says it has analyzed Reed's intellect and technological affinity. It wants to go with him."
Orion's expression shifted from surprise to genuine amusement. He turned to Reed. "It seems this Pokémon has chosen you, Reed. It is not an AI, but a living, digital Pokémon."
"A living digital Pokémon?" Reed repeated, his scientific curiosity practically crackling in the air around him. "That's... quite the anomaly."
"Indeed," Orion replied with a knowing smile. "It certainly makes for a unique partner, wouldn't you say?"
"Come out of the screen, Porygon," Orion commanded gently.
The blocky image on the tablet shimmered, then dissolved into a swirling stream of bright blue data. It poured from the screen, coalescing on the counter with a soft whirr. The Fantastic Four, along with Valeria and Franklin, gasped in unison as the digital entity solidified. It was angular and geometric, a perfect three-dimensional model brought to vibrant life.
"Whoa!" Franklin exclaimed, his eyes wide.
"It looks like a duck made of building blocks," Johnny observed, completely fascinated.
"Porygon can digitize itself to enter any network, any system," Orion explained, watching Reed's reaction. "It navigates cyberspace as easily as you or I walk through a park."
Reed, his initial skepticism completely vanished, slowly reached out a hand. Porygon emitted a cheerful digital chirp, then nudged his outstretched finger. A genuine connection sparked between the man of science and the Pokémon of pure code.
"Will you accept this unique partner, Reed?" Orion asked, his voice warm.
Reed understood the implications immediately. A Pokémon that could traverse the digital world, a being of living data, opened up scientific applications that were truly staggering. He felt a profound, almost electric, connection to this creature that had sought him out. It felt like destiny.
"You're going to take Porygon, Reed?" Johnny asked, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Hope you've got good firewalls, 'cause this thing looks like it could hack a toaster just by thinking about it."
"Porygon represents an unprecedented opportunity for interdimensional data analysis and cybernetic research, Johnny," Reed explained, already sounding like he was planning a new experiment. "Its ability to traverse digital networks will be invaluable."
Orion smiled, sensing the growing enthusiasm. "Excellent choice, Reed. Latias, if you please, the final tally."
Latias, ever efficient, pulled out a sleek tablet. Her fingers danced across the screen, a soft hum filling the air as she calculated. "Orion," she communicated telepathically, "the total comes to four million, nine hundred and seventy thousand dollars, precisely. This includes Chimchar, Honedge, Rhyhorn, and Porygon."
Johnny winced, his bravado fading for a moment. "Whoa, that's a lot of zeroes, even for us."
Reed, however, simply nodded, his gaze unwavering. He pulled out the family credit card, a solid platinum rectangle, and handed it to Orion without a second thought. The pursuit of knowledge, after all, was priceless.
Orion accepted the card, a faint chime sounding as the transaction went through. "Congratulations, Fantastic Four. Your Pokémon journey officially begins now."
He then presented each of them with a gleaming Premier Ball.
"Just press the button, and your new partner will be safely stored inside," Orion instructed, his voice warm. "It's a marvel of Pokémon technology, I assure you."
Johnny, with a flourish, pressed the button on his Premier Ball. CLICK! A red light pulsed, and Chimchar vanished in a soft shimmer.
"Alright, Chimchar, time to get famous!" Johnny declared, already envisioning epic selfies.
Ben, with a gruff smile, pressed his. CLICK! Rhyhorn, back in the Sanctuary, was drawn into the sphere. "Looks like you and me are gonna smash some stuff, pal," Ben rumbled, a newfound sense of camaraderie in his tone.
Sue, with a gentle touch, pressed her Premier Ball. CLICK! Honedge, its crimson eye momentarily closing, disappeared into the device. "We'll protect each other, little one," she whispered softly.
Finally, Reed, his eyes shining with scientific wonder, pressed his Premier Ball. CLICK! Porygon dematerialized into a stream of data, safely nestled within the ball. The Fantastic Four, now with their new partners, truly felt like a complete family.
"Now that you've got your partners, you'll need the right gear to train them," Orion said, gesturing to the shelves of Poké Balls and rows of colorful Poké Blocks. "A Pokédex for each of you would be invaluable, of course, and you can't forget the proper nutrition."
Reed, already pulling out his Pokédex, nodded enthusiastically. "An excellent suggestion, Orion. Data acquisition is paramount for understanding these remarkable creatures."
"We'll take four of your top-of-the-line Pokédex models, please," Sue added, a slight smile playing on her lips. "And enough Poké Blocks and Moomoo Milk to last us... well, a while."
Johnny grinned. "Gotta keep my Chimchar fueled up for maximum fiery awesomeness, right, buddy?"
"And Rhyhorn needs his strength for clobberin' time," Ben rumbled, giving his Poke Ball a gentle pat.
Orion happily processed the extensive order, his eyes twinkling. He then turned to Reed.
"Speaking of data acquisition, Reed," Orion said, "I trust you haven't forgotten the primary purpose of your visit?"
Reed's eyes lit up. "Not at all. The Berry seeds! I'm eager to analyze their properties and assess the optimal planting conditions for this world transformation you spoke of."
Orion produced a small, sturdy crate filled with an assortment of vibrant, glowing Berries. Each one hummed with a subtle energy.
"Here you go," Orion said. "A sample box, fresh from the Sanctuary. I trust your Baxter Building labs will put them to good use."
Reed carefully accepted the crate, handling it as if it contained fragile cosmic artifacts. "Thank you, Orion. This is precisely what we need."
"We truly appreciate your hospitality and these... unique partners," Sue said, a genuine warmth in her voice.
"We'll be in touch once our research is complete," Reed promised, already mentally running simulations. "We'll devise a comprehensive planting strategy."
"See ya around, Orion!" Johnny called out, already heading for the door. "Chimchar and I have some serious training to do!"
The Fantastic Four, now armed with their new Pokémon, their Pokédexes, and a crate of mystical Berries, exited Pokémon Home. They carried their supplies, and their newly acquired Poké Balls, a testament to the strange and wonderful day they had experienced.
Inside, Orion watched them go, a satisfied smile gracing his lips. Latias stood beside him, her golden eyes following the Fantastic Four's retreating figures. He could feel their auras, now subtly intertwined with the energies of their Pokémon partners, a harmonious blend of human ingenuity and elemental power.
"The world truly is changing, Latias," Orion mused aloud, a quiet sense of accomplishment settling over him. "The Fantastic Four, as trainers, is a significant step forward."
Latias nodded, "They will be powerful allies, Orion. And their curiosity will drive many discoveries."
Orion looked out the window, a gentle smile playing on his lips. The mission to plant the Berries, to usher in a new era of Pokémon on this world, had officially begun. Powerful new alliances had been forged, and the future, though uncertain, now shimmered with boundless possibility.
***
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