Hypnovember 2024

02: Science


The Croconaw walked down the corridor, giving the doors a curious glance as he walked by them. According to the girl down at the reception desk, the person he was here to see had an office somewhere down here. Fortunately for him, there were names on the doors to help him determine the correct door to knock.

“How about this one…?” He thought out loud to himself, eyes scanning the nameplate on the door. “Hmm…. Dr Yvonna Alumina? I knew his name was a weird one, but I am pretty sure that’s a girl’s name.”

The big-jawed gator continued onward, reaching into his vest pocket to take out a note. A name was scribbled upon the tiny, crumpled piece of paper - it read “Dr. Geldwin Carcolh”. A weird name for sure; certainly, one that was hard to remember off the top of your head. He kept on walking, eyes shifting from double-checking the name to glancing at the names on the doors. Eventually, his persistence paid off.

“Ah, here it is!” Croconaw commented, stopping by the door, his eyes instantly being drawn to the nameplate, “Dr. Geldwin..Ca-Carcolh! This guy needs to put his office closer! He must not be that popular here or something…”

After stuffing the note back into his vest, Croconaw took a deep breath before giving the door a knock. He waited for a few seconds until he started to tap his foot impatiently. The aquatic Pokemon raised his hand to deliver an additional knock, but it suddenly opened before he had the chance to. A Goodra now stood in the doorway; they were wearing a lab coat, as well as a welcoming smile. In his hand he held a pipe, which had traces of a greenish goop covering the bottom.

“Ah, I assume you must be Dillian Mandible?” The Goodra inquired, stepping to one side. “Please. Come in. I’ve been expecting you.”

“Right. Sure,” Dillian replied, stepping inside the room. He decided not to express his annoyance with trying to find his room, choosing to hide it behind a forced smile. “You’re Dr. Geldwin, yeah?”

The Goodra gave a nod. “That is correct. Please take a seat over there, Mr. Mandible,” he politely requested, pointing over at his desk.

Dillian gave a visual examination of the room while walking over to sit down. He was expecting it to be a small, personal laboratory, but it looked more like a university professor's office. A large bookcase, probably full of complicated science books, was at the back. Next to it was an open window, letting in a gentle breeze. Dillian sat at the table next to the desk as instructed.

Geldwin sat at his desk, putting his pipe in the ashtray. “I want to thank you so much for submitting yourself to further my research, Mr..” he started to say, pausing when he noticed the Croconaw was holding out his paw to him. “I…prefer not to shake your hand. I understand it is customary, but certain circumstances prevent my participation. I do apologize.”

“Oh, it’s all good,” Dillian sat, retracting his hand. “Just popped into my mind as something you must do, you know? Sooo, are we going to do it here or do you have some lab?” he went on to ask, placing his hands behind his head as he slouched in his seat.

“That won’t be necessary. All that I require is right here,” Dr Carcolh answered, opening the top drawer to remove a syringe resting upon top of a stack of paper. “Before I begin, do you know the reasoning behind why I sought out any participants to serve my scientific research?”

Dillian couldn’t help but roll his eyes at the Goodra’s vocabulary. He had come for selfish reasons, though he wouldn’t dare reveal it to anyone, especially Geldwin. In a vain attempt to bolster his appeal to the fairer sex, Dillan had donated both blood and money in the past. He thought the girls would fall head over heels for charitable and caring men. He stared silently at Geldwin, who was calmly puffing on his pipe while he waited for a response. A Pokemon like him would never understand, nor approve of the motives of someone like Dillian. That was the conclusion that was going through the Croconaw’s head. Holding back the urge to utter a sarcastic remark, Dillian put on a tiny smile.

“Well, you see, I am sure it’s super important and all, buuut you probably have a super busy sched-” The Big-Jaw Pokemon started to say.

“You see, I am fascinated by unique talents certain Pokemon possess!” Geldwin replied, completely ignoring his guest’s refusal to listen. “I ask myself, how do these Pokemon acquire these traits that separate them from the rest of us? Is it something they are born with, or do they learn it through maturing, or perhaps via intense training? As a scientist, this greatly intrigues me and it is an injustice to leave it just to speculation.”

Dillian blinked in bewilderment, taken aback by the Goodra’s statement. “Uh, huh? So-”

“Your participation is very commendable, Mr. Mandible! It is due to your gracious, unselfish and charitable nature that I may come to the answer I seek,” Dr. Geldwin went on to say, standing up. He walked around his desk, holding out the syringe. “This won’t hurt. If you feel anything odd after the injection, please inform me straight away.”

“W-wait a second! You aren’t going to just take my blood?” Dillian asked, beginning to grow anxious at the sight of the medical needle.

“On the contrary, Mr. Mandible, I shall be injecting blood INTO you,” The Goodra answered, his friendly demeanour no longer present on his darkening complexion. He reached out with his other hand to grab Dillian’s arm. “The blood is from a Malamar, whose hypnosis powers surpass any other Pokemon with similar abilities.”

“What are you even talking about? Let go of me, you crazy nerd!” Dillian protested. He tried to pull away, baring his fangs warningly at Geldwin as a method of intimidation. “I am warning you! You-”

Geldwin stuck the syringe into the water gator’s arm, cutting him off mid-sentence. He took no time in injecting the Malamar blood into Dillian’s system. The Goodra scientist gave him a calm smile before taking out the syringe and walking back around to sit at his desk. Dillian was shivering, not from shock but from a sudden feeling coming over him. He was unable to move. All he could do was stare at the spot where he was jabbed. There was a slimy green goo left where Geldwin grabbed him but that was the least of his worries at this point.

“I do apologize for my hasty behavior, Mr Mandible. It was most unbecoming of a man of my stature,” Geldwin stated, his tone having hints of sincerity. He puffed more of his pipe, exhaling smoke soon after. “There are times where common sense and courteousness are clouded by my ambitions and passion to expand our knowledge. How are you feeling, by the way? You’ve gone silent.”

The Croconaw did not reply, making a look of concern dawn on Dr. Carcolh face. He rose from his chair once more, eyes glued to his motionless and speechless patient. Slowly, the Goodra approached him, his facial expression remaining the same it was moments ago. Dillian’s eyes were pure white, and his mouth was hanging ajar, giving that ‘no one is home’” look.

“How…intriguing,” Geldwin commented, his eyes being instantly drawn to Dillian’s emotionless face. “The subject seems to be under a deep hypnotic trance. The effects of the blood had a quicker response than I first anticipated,” remarked, smiling and thinking of the possibilities of this. “However, I wonder if this is the conclusion of frail resistance or is it something else entirely?”

“M…Must…o-obey….” Dillian mumbled, barely audible enough to catch the attention of the Goodra scientist.

“I beg your pardon? Did you say something, Mr. Mandible?” Geldwin inquired, leaning in closer to the hypnotized Croconaw.

“Must…obey….” Dillian said for the second time, his voice clearer, yet still scarcely above a whisper.

“Must obey? Must obey whom? Are you feeling an uncontrollable urge to follow my every order? Or is it someone else you are mindlessly pledging allegiance towards?” Geldwin asked, throwing question after question at him without hesitation, his eyes sparkling. “Is it someone you have encountered before in your life?”

“I…obey Master Deviosis….” was the response Dillian gave, sounding just as monotone.

“Deviosis? Ah, I do believe that is the name of the Malamar I took the blood from. If my hunch is correct - his hypnotic powers are so great that even his blood is enough to convert others to be his pawns! How groundbreaking!” The Goodra exclaimed, rushing over to his desk to snatch a notepad. “I must document this post haste! Why, even my hypnotic abilities pale in comparison to Deviosis!”

“You called Dr. Carcolh?” a new voice asked.

Geldwin glanced up from his slime-covered notepad to look at the doorway. A Malamar was standing there, wearing a lab coat similar to his. There was a greenish glow in his eyes and what looked like Goodra goo was running down the side of his face. Even though he appeared to be smiling, there was something off about it. Like he never knew the actual reason for his happy demeanor.

“Oh, I didn’t notice you there, Deviosis. Please, come in; I require another dose of your blood if you don’t mind,” Geldwin requested, taking a seat to continue jolting down his findings.

“Yes, Dr. Carcolh, it would be my pleasure to assist you once more,” Deviosis the Malamar said in response.


The end









I am waaay behind, but at least I broke my record! There will be more to come after this....hopefully. owo;


I don't own Pokemon