| Spoiler warning! This article contains plot details about events that occur later in the game. |
Description
The Pokémon Speech Translator (PST) is a device developed by Professor Lily Cypress that allows for humans to communicate with Pokemon. It is obtainable by completing an optional sidequest in Rochfale Town. It is currently only a prototype and does not function perfectly all of the time. When the player has it, it allows them to translate what Pokemon are saying. Translated Pokemon speech is conveyed using brackets <like this>.
The PST is a very novel and valuable technology, and many people will do unscrupulous things to get their hands on it. There are 2 optional sidequests that revolve around it. Completing both is the only method to obtain Garlikid.
PST Sidequest: Part 1
The first part of the sidequest is accessible from the first time the Player reaches Rochfale Town. The player enters the lab area to find Professor Cypress, Professor Bamb'o, and the Lab Scientists in a frenzy. Apparently, someone had broken into the lab the night before and stolen all of the lab's Pokemon. However, the valuable prototype Pokemon Speech Translator was left untouched, which has left the scientists baffled.
An Owten that had been stolen by the Pokemon Thief escapes, and tells them (via the PST) that the thief has escaped to Route 6. Having no one else to turn to since their Pokemon were stolen, Professors Cypress and Bamb'o ask the player for help taking down the thief. The player heads into Route 06 and encounters another Owten blocking the entrance to the cave where the thief is hiding out in. This one refuses to move and instead attacks the player. After capturing or defeating it, the player heads into the cave. In the cave the player discovers that the thief is in fact not a human but a Pokemon known as Garlikid, who thinks of himself as the destined liberator of all Pokemonkind. Thinking that the player has come to re-enslave the freed Pokemon, he challenges the player to a battle using the Pokemon that were "rescued" from the lab.
Hero Garlikid
Pokemon: Feleng, Modrille, Baaschaf
After winning the battle, the Pokemon break free. Garlikid, confused, makes a hasty retreat, but not before vowing he will return. Upon exiting the cave, the player encounters Cypress and Bamb'o, who congratulate them on rescuing the Pokemon, who were merely riled up before but are now safely back home at the lab. They explain that Garlikid had never seen humans before and didn't understand why Pokemon would willingly stay in captivity like that. The professors decide that as a reward for the player's help, they can keep the prototype Pokemon Speech Translator.
PST Sidequest: Part 2
The second step of this sidequest takes place much later in the player's journey, in Silverport Town. There is another lab there, Larkspur Laboratories. The player enters and encounters Professor Larkspur, a rather proud and boastful scientist. The sidequest is activated by using the PST to speak to the Owten at the back of the lab. Owten cries that the scientists are mistreating it and asks the player to rescue it. The lab scientists and Larkspur notice that the player has a device that allows them to communicate with Pokemon, and Larkspur offers the player a large sum of money in exchange for the prototype. When the player refuses, Larkspur kicks them out of the lab.
When the player attempts to exit Silverport Town to the east, they are ambushed by a group of masked thugs and knocked out cold. When they wake up, they discover they are in a grimy cell. Larkspur approaches the player and explains that they have taken their Pokemon, Bag, Pokedex and the PST. Larkspur Laboratories was in serious financial difficulties, but by copying and selling the PST technology, they will be able to get rich. Larkspur says that if the player behaves themselves, they may even get some of their Pokemon back, although he's considering keeping them as specimens for the lab. He then leaves the player trapped in the cell.
After sleeping on the bed, the player wakes up to find a tray of food delivered and a note underneath the bread from an anonymous scientist who feels sympathy for the player. The note tells them to break down the cracked wall behind their bed and a key code: 092. When the player does as the note instructs, they find themselves in another room full of cells and a computer console on the wall. Garlikid is in one of the cells, and gestures for the player to free him. By entering the code 092 into the computer, the player gets access to various options: REPORTS, ARCHIVES, and DOOR RELEASE. Reading the reports and archives is optional, but recommended as they contain details pertaining to the plot. Choosing DOOR RELEASE frees Garlikid, who indicates he wants to go with the player and joins their team.
The players heads back into their cell, and Garlikid goes up to the bars and pries them apart, allowing them to exit into the lab. Several scientists try to stop the player, but Garlikid makes quick work of them. Finally the player reaches a room where they are able to reclaim their Bag, Pokédex and Poké Balls. Upon exiting the lab, the player is confronted by Larkspur, who is furious that they managed to escape and vows to crush them without mercy.
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After beating him, Larkspur curses the player and vows to flee the region, hoping to find work with Team Rocket. Finally able to communicate with the player thanks to the PST, Garlikid thanks them for their help and decides it was wrong about them the first time, that they are a good human and that it wants to join them to continue to fight for justice. The player then receives Garlikid (lvl 50).
After the sidequest, Larkspur Lab is closed based on allegations of misconduct by order of the Tandor Pokémon Rangers.