[@Renose]

Yes, feel free to move to the character tab, I have nothing to add.

So, for those not starting with a pokemon, the professor more or less gave the applicants a choice of their own starter. They could either request one at random, or request a specific one, that she would have procured for the prospective assistants. So when you guys arrive at the lab, you'll be meeting the selected partner for the first time in Camphors lab.