Part II
Chapter 4
The Proposal
Ho-oh paced nervously on its perch in the Tin tower. Stray feathers littered the floor. It had been more than a day since it had sent Mewtwo and Mew to investigate the Rocket hideout, and Ho-oh was starting to regret sending them.
I hope they're all right. It's been too long without hearing from them. I have to send a search party. Maybe they need help. I can't live with that possibility.
Ho-oh jumped off its perch, and took off. Soaring through the sky, Ho-oh headed toward Kanto, to the hidden meeting place in the wilds.
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Battered and broken, Mewtwo lay dazed in the middle of another clear box. He tried to take a deep breath, but instead managed to cough up more blood.
Why… why do they do this? What purpose is there, in torturing me like this…
He put his paws under his body and shifted to a sitting position.
If only I could escape.
Mewtwo turned his head toward Mew's cell. She was still unconscious, but now dressed in the gray uniform. The other three humans paced their transparent cells.
For what seemed like the hundredth time, Mewtwo focused his psychic power. He raised one hand and tried to break the locking mechanism with his thoughts. Nothing happened.
Useless…
Mewtwo quickly put his hand down as he heard footsteps coming from the corridor. Two scientists walked in, talking to each other. Mewtwo stared at them. He picked up his limp paws and hammered them against the glass with all his strength. Mewtwo winced.
All of that, and all I manage to do is hurt my paws…
One scientist looked at Mewtwo. He smirked at the pokemon.
"Save your energy, you worthless fool! Giovanni might need you later." The man in the lab coat smiled malevolently. He reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a purple-colored vial.
The Rocket strolled over to the control panel and inserted the vial into a slot in the machine. He pressed a button, and the vial started to empty. Moments later, purple smoke started billowing into the first three human's cells.
What the-
The smoke was so thick that nothing was visible for several minutes. When the smoke cleared, all three humans stood up. The woman started to utter incomprehensible grunts. She seemed to struggle against her voice.
"Gyrahh… ugh... whhaaay…"
Mewtwo's eyes widened.
"Whhyyyyaaaaaaahhhh!
The muscular man and the young child also started to babble, but slowly, their speech started to make sense.
"Why am I here? Where are we? Why am I different than before?"
The two Rocket scientists smiled with delight. "Soon, you three will join us and become part of Team Rocket!
What? Is this what he's doing? Turing pokemon into humans to force them to join Team Rocket? Why bother?
One Rocket scientist turned around and faced another machine with a screen on the front. He pressed a series of numbers into the control panel next to the screen. A picture of Giovanni popped up onto the screen.
"Sir, the human integration worked. They will be able to function in normal society in about two hours."
"Very well. Continue with the project as planned. Giovanni out."
The Rocket lifted his hand, turned off the monitor and turned toward Mewtwo.
"Sit tight… Mewtwo. You will soon know all you need to know."
Mewtwo glared at the scientist.
The Rocket simply smiled, and then left. The other scientist joined him.
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Ho-oh stood in the clearing, surrounded by the other legendary pokemon as the meeting came to a close. It nodded at the others, then took off. The other legendaries followed, as they headed toward Johto, towards Silver Cave.
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It had been two days since he tried to infiltrate the Rocket hideout with Mew. And failed. Mewtwo sat motionless in the transparent box, watching, waiting. He looked over toward Mew's box. She had woken up sometime in the night, and she looked forlornly at Mewtwo. Mewtwo watched as Mew sat up inside her cage.
What the hell is going to happen now? How long are we going to stay here like this?
The genetic pokemon turned toward the other "human's" cages. They paced their clear, glass-like cells. Last night, he had tried to communicate with them, and was successful. He now knew that the young boy with the violet hair had been a rattata, the muscular man with a bald head had been a rhyhorn, and the red-haired woman had been a rapidash. It had been difficult communicating though looks and gestures, but somehow he had managed it. Mewtwo turned his gaze toward the woman's cage. She looked up. Mewtwo continued to stare at the former rapidash. Her gaze quickly lowered and she turned away.
Wait, I- never mind.
He quickly turned his eyes toward the entrance as the same two scientists entered once more.
"Good morning everyone, I trust you all slept well?" One scientist said with a deceitful smile.
The group tried to ignore the Rocket.
What now?
Walking toward the control panel, the scientist lifted his index finger and then pushed a button. Out of nowhere, binding ropes lashed out of the walls inside the human's enclosures and tied their arms. The doors to their clear cages swung open.
"You're coming with us."
Oh no.
All the other humans slowly and unwillingly walked out of the cages, including Mew. Mewtwo sat up and placed his paws on the transparent wall.
What about me? Are you just going to leave me here?
The group slowly trailed their way out of the laboratory. Then, after a moment or two, Giovanni strolled inside the room.
"Hello Mewtwo."
The genetic pokemon sat down and stared malevolently at the Rocket leader.
"What do you want?"
"You."
"Why?"
"You will find out soon enough."
"Why? Tell me now Giovanni, or else!"
"Or else what? What do you think you can do?"
Mewtwo's face twisted into a scowl.
"Nothing."
"Correct, Mewtwo. Absolutely correct. But I will tell you one thing: You are about to become very useful to me."
"I'll never help you!"
"So you think."
Mewtwo's eyes narrowed.
"Tell me something Giovanni, why am I still in my pokemon form? Why have you turned Mew into a human? What purpose is there in doing that?"
"Very good, Mewtwo. Excellent question. I have no use for Mew, she does not fit into my specifications. You have so much more potential! I want you to do something for me. Something very important for the future of Team Rocket."
"I don't think so! Remember the first time you tried to do that, Giovanni? Your plans failed! I am more powerful than you can ever hope to handle! You think you can make me obey you, with a whip in one hand, and the other a closed fist? Think again. I won't help your organization, nor will I join it!"
"Most impressive Mewtwo. But, no matter how hard you try, your pathetic attempts to escape will be futile, and you will obey my every command. I see the power you hold inside. Power that I want, power that I need. You will make a fine commander for my new army!"