"Grandpa, it's okay to leave it to you. Is your lab security all right?" Gary asked over the video call.

Professor Oak chuckled, sipping from his mug of tea. "The security here at Professor Oak's Laboratory has always been a bit of a challenge, yes—but even if Team Rocket came knocking, we could handle it. Don't you worry!"

Gary frowned slightly. He knew how valuable this Eevee was to Team Rocket. If they truly wanted it back, they wouldn't hesitate to target Oak's laboratory. Team Rocket had never dared harm Professor Oak, but they were reckless enough to attempt another theft.

"You underestimate your grandpa too much," Oak said with a grin. "Don't forget, my Dragonite is very strong. We can defend ourselves."

Gary relaxed a little. "All right. Once Eevee's healed, I'll teleport it to you, Grandpa. Please examine it carefully. Maybe you can find a new way for my Eevee to evolve based on this one."

Gary's own Eevee couldn't evolve—no matter how much they trained, studied, or experimented. It could learn moves unique to its evolved forms, yet remain the same. It was a strange condition that had always troubled him.

Oak nodded thoughtfully. "Very interesting. Perhaps this other Eevee's condition will give us some clues. The Rockets' technology—whatever they used—might even open new insight into Pokémon evolution itself."

Gary's eyes brightened. "That's what I was thinking. Maybe the electronic device Team Rocket implanted is somehow altering Eevee's DNA."

"Don't worry, Gary," Oak assured him. "I'll contact Professor Blaine when the time comes. Between the two of us, we'll figure out this mystery."

Gary nodded. "That would be perfect, Grandpa. With Blaine working alongside you, we'll solve this faster than ever."

After their conversation ended, Gary stepped outside the Pokémon Center. He spotted Timmy sitting quietly on a bench.

"Timmy, I've called your parents—they'll be here soon," Gary said kindly.

"Yeah…" Timmy murmured, twiddling his thumbs. His face was pale. He looked nervous, almost guilty.

Gary studied him with concern. "You're worried about telling them you took money from home, aren't you?"

Timmy nodded slightly.

"Don't worry," Gary assured him. "I'll help explain everything. You did it for Eevee, and that's something they'll understand. Speaking of which, how's your foot? Does it still hurt?"

Timmy managed a small smile. "It's okay. I can stand now, but it still hurts when I walk."

"That's good," Gary said. "At least it's not broken. Next time anything like this happens, though, go straight to the police, all right?"

"I will," Timmy promised.

After a few moments of silence, Timmy looked up, his voice trembling with curiosity. "Brother Gary… what are you going to do with Eevee?"

Gary smiled faintly. "I've already told my grandfather I'll leave Eevee in his care. Once Eevee's completely healed and safe, I'll bring it back to you."

"Your grandfather?" Timmy blinked. "Who's your grandfather?"

"You might know him," Gary said, amused. "He's a very famous Pokémon researcher—Professor Oak."

Timmy gasped. "Professor Oak? The one who appears on TV every day talking about Pokémon!?"

Gary chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. "That's the one. He's a little more famous than I'd like."

"That's amazing!" Timmy exclaimed, his earlier worry fading into wonder. "If Professor Oak is taking care of Eevee, I don't have to worry anymore."

Gary smiled warmly. "Exactly."

The two waited quietly as Nurse Joy finished healing Eevee. It took nearly twenty minutes, but finally Eevee was resting peacefully in one of the recovery rooms.

Gary glanced at the dozing Pokémon. "We can't delay the research. Eevee, wake up, buddy," he said softly.

"Vee…"

Eevee stirred. Gary gestured for his second Eevee—the one accompanying him—to help.

"Eevee, use Water Pulse—lightly," Gary instructed.

"Vee-vee!"

A slight sphere of water hovered from Eevee's tail and sprinkled over the sleeping Eevee's face.

The injured Eevee twitched its ears, blinking awake in confusion. "Vee-ee…?"

When it saw Timmy and Gary nearby, it tensed for a moment, then relaxed.

Its thoughts raced: I was fighting Team Rocket… then everything went dark. How am I here? Where are Cassidy and Butch?

"Eevee, you're awake," Gary said gently.

Timmy ran up eagerly and hugged it. "Eevee! Gary saved us! You fainted after defeating those bad guys."

"Vee…"

Eevee blinked wide-eyed, then faced Gary, its expression both grateful and exhausted.

"I know, Eevee," Gary said softly. "Team Rocket experimented on you. You must feel terrible pain whenever you evolve, right?"

"Vee…" Eevee nodded rapidly, trembling slightly.

It remembered vividly—the bright, painful flashes as it was forced to evolve, again and again. Team Rocket had treated it like a living experiment. They never cared about its suffering—only about triggering its transformations artificially. Every new evolution came with unbearable agony.

Gary clenched his fists. "You poor thing…"

"Vee…" Eevee whimpered and rubbed its paw over its face.

Gary's voice softened. "My grandfather, Professor Oak, is a Pokémon expert. He'll help ease that pain and remove the device they implanted. Once you're fully healed, I promise we'll send you back to Timmy. Do you agree?"

Eevee hesitated. It glanced up at Timmy, who was already tearing up, and gave a small nod. "Vee!"

Timmy wiped his eyes. "Go with Brother Gary, Eevee. Professor Oak will make you better. Then we'll see each other again!"

"Vee…"

Eevee gave a faint smile and nodded once more, determination glinting in its eyes.

To comfort Timmy further, Gary activated the transmitter on the table and opened a live video call with Professor Oak.

Seconds later, Oak's familiar face filled the screen. "Ah, there's Eevee—and this must be Timmy!"

Timmy gasped. "It's really Professor Oak!"

Oak chuckled warmly. "Nice to meet you, young man. Eevee is in good hands. I'll keep you updated about its recovery. If you ever want to check in, Nurse Joy here can set up a video connection to my lab anytime."

Timmy nodded eagerly, reassured at last. Gary even gave him the contact number for the laboratory.

"Come on, Timmy," Gary said, holding out a red and white Poké Ball. "You should officially capture Eevee now."

Timmy froze. His eyes widened in disbelief. "M-me? Capture Eevee?"

"Of course," Gary said with a grin. "Eevee belongs to you now. You should be the one to make it official."

Timmy looked down at the Poké Ball, pale and trembling. "O-okay…"

He knelt beside Eevee. "Eevee… would you like to be my Pokémon?"

Eevee's ears perked up. It stared at Timmy for a second, then nodded firmly. "Vee!"

Gary smiled approvingly.

Timmy took a deep breath. "Okay then… take this, Poké Ball!"

He gently tapped Eevee's forehead with the Poké Ball's button.

The device opened, drawing in Eevee in a flash of red light. The Poké Ball wobbled briefly before clicking shut, the red light fading.

"Beep!"

Gary's eyes softened. "You did it, Timmy."

Timmy blinked. "R-really?" Then his face broke into a bright, innocent grin. "Haha! I captured Eevee!"

"Vee-ee!" came a muffled, cheerful cry from within the Poké Ball, as if confirming it proudly.

Later, they transferred Eevee's Poké Ball directly to Professor Oak's laboratory through the Pokémon Center's transporter.

On the other end, Professor Oak received it carefully. "Timmy, rest easy," he said with a smile. "I'll take great care of Eevee. Once it's completely healed, I'll send it straight back to you."

Timmy nodded earnestly. "Yes! I believe in Grandpa Oak!"