The news reporter grinned excitedly into the camera with her microphone in hand, it shook with the anticipation flowing throughout her body. The annual OI Trainer Program lottery had become a big spectacle to the point where families would put down everything to watch it together. The amount of people with their names on the list for selection numbered in the hundreds of thousands, a lucky twenty were to be selected to receive a helping hand in starting their pokemon journey.
"We've had a week of build up! We've caught up with former winners who have gone on to do great things! But now...we are only FIVE minutes away from this years draw!" The excitement in the reporters voice was shared by everyone watching, whether they knew someone with their name in the draw or not.
"Who will be lucky enough to be selected this year? Stick with us until after this short break to find out!"The reporter faded from the screen as the obligatory commercials ran advertising everything from biscuits to life insurance. With the number of people tuned in the cost to run an advert would have been extortionate, the viewing numbers triple any of the standard programming. Somewhere the station owner would be rubbing his hands together as he counted the extra zeroes.
"Welcome back folks! It's now time for use to go to the stage and get this years draw underway! Good luck to everyone!" The reporters reappearance was shortlived as she was replaced with a view of the stage. On it was the familiar face of Professor Arianna Oak. She was the current lead professor and owner of the Oak Institute and the primary reason for the OI Trainer Program existing. As the camera zoomed in on her she smiled and began to speak.
"Once again it's time for us to help a group of twenty people realise their dream of exploring this wonderful region in the search for pokemon. We have done this for quite a number of years now and it never fails to grab the publics attention...the support they show the Institute and these new trainers really gives me hope for this world of ours." There was a round of applause from the audience in attendance. Arianna raising her hands gesturing for quiet.
"Thank you. I just want to say that the work the previous trainers have done is beyond measure. There are the obvious well reported instances of them stepping up to help out people and pokemon alike, but each and every trainer who has left here has done something to make this world a better place. I have full confidence that this years group will do the same." The applause rang out once again, this time Arianna leant forward towards the microphone in front of her.
"So without further ado, let's get this started!" The cheers became rapturous as the draw began, people within the crowd overcome with excitement. The crowd was made up of people whose names were in the draw, taking the chance that they would be lucky enough to have their name called. For those at home watching on TV, the screen showed the screen of the randomiser. The hundreds of thousands of profiles rotated in and out for a few seconds before finally coming to stop on the first person. A picture of a young teen, his hair fiery red and eyes a deep brown, was on the screen next to the name Gregory Handscombe. There were claps from within the arena as the profile appeared in front of them, each person hoping that it would be their name next.
The draw carried on much the same way for the following ten minutes until it was completely finished. The generator made way on the screen for the finalised list of those lucky enough to be selected for this years OI Trainer Program.
Gregory Handscombe, Victor Willows, Harry Thompson, Tim Smith, Samantha Riley, Rebecca Pierce, Lewis Morgan, Bobby Neil, Lance Goodthrust, Karl Symonds, Alan Stevens, Magnus Barry, Aubrey Longfellow, Corbin Sullivan, Malie Makana, Mark Longfield, Hannah Carey, Vivienne Nexane, Eddy Kaufman and then last on the list was Damian Grant. A mixture of all genders and races made up the list, all twenty people to soon become pokemon trainers. The excited reporter returned to the screens one more, her face lit up even more that it was previously.
"Well that's it for this years lottery folks! Stay tuned for The P Team! If you have a problem, if no one else can help, and if you can find them....maybe you can hire The P-Team! Goodnight!" With that the broadcast ended and the draw was complete for another year. Behind the scenes the Institutes team was hard are work informing those lucky enough to be selected. A draft letter was created and sent out with the next steps.
With the letter sent out, the twenty people lucky enough to be selected for the program made their way to the Institute ready to start their adventures. Coming together from all over the world for all different reasons, these people were starting something bigger than any of them could have ever imagined.
