Claude walked up to the lab, a sigh of relief escaping his lips at having finally reached it. The previous day's journey from Gateon Port had started off badly and not gotten any better. 

[i]"Trainer, your presence has been requested at the Pokemon HQ lab in Orre. I, professor Birek have made a discovery that could be amazing news to both Pokemon and their trainers. I ask that when you arrive at the lab you wait for the others who have been invited. Speak of this to no one except the others when they arrive. Have a safe journey."[/i]

The arrival of the message could not have been timed any better. Life at home had become increasingly unbearable and Claude had been contemplating heading out on his own for quite a while. Sure, they said Orre was less forgiving to young trainers than a place like Johto, but it had to be better than being stuck in Gateon Port. 

The same day the message had arrived was also the morning of the biggest argument his parents had had yet. With that, Claude had announced he would be leaving. He took a short time to pack up his things, and a slightly longer time to tell his parents that he was headed out. The long, hot, uncomfortable bus ride had done nothing to improve his mood, though Bliss did her best to help.

But now here he stood before the lab his loyal Aipom at his side. There were certainly worse places for this new chapter of his life to begin. As he approached the lab he saw that a few others had arrived ahead of him. 

He looked around at the three, a boy and girl sitting together. Another girl reading by herself. They really didn't seem to be much. What was that, an honest-to-god dyed Furfrou? In Orre? Where had the professor found these guys. Then again he couldn't say much, he wasn't much of a battler himself. But surely Professor Birek knew of his other successes. [i]"Guess I can't judge just yet,"[/i] he thought. Maybe they'd surprise him. Either way, the girls weren't bad to look at anyway.

He straightened out his shirt a bit and brushed some dust off. First impressions and all that. Striding forward he stood in front of the stairs, facing them. Bliss took this opportunity to scurry up his back and sit on his shoulder.

"How's it goin'? I'm Claude. I'm assuming you all got a message from Birek?"