Chapter Text
Aliana Fletcher walked with careful steps to the containment unit. A tray of supposed food perched precariously in her hands. It was pitch-dark down here. There were no lights on and the unit was situated too far below ground for windows to be of any use. It was surprising air could get down here, let alone light.
Aliana took a few calming breaths and banished the thoughts of the cramped conditions and lack of air from her mind, quelling her fears as best she could.
The boss had given her an important task. Or so he'd claimed anyway. One of his Pokémon was refusing food. It was strong in spirit and body but even the most stubborn creature will succumb to starvation at some point and Giovanni was getting desperate. The Pokémon was far too valuable to be allowed to die. As such, Giovanni had decided to try to end this petty battle of wills and try to get his captive to eat; even if it meant sending a lowly Intermediate to do the job for him. According to her files, Aliana was good with Pokémon and had experience in healing them and that was enough for Giovanni to be convinced that he should give the chore to her. Perhaps a different face and a kinder approach would convince the obstinate creature to eat.
Aliana hadn't been looking forward to this job one bit. She'd seen the way Giovanni treated disobedient Pokémon, and it sickened her. She could only imagine the state this one might be in. However, if she didn't do this then the creature would likely die to no purpose and Aliana didn't want that on her conscience. None of the other Rocket members seemed willing to go near the creature, so it was down to her.
She turned one last corner into a short corridor that actually had some light (although only from some paltry overhead bulbs which did little to dispel the gloom), and stopped in front of two armed guards, holding the tray of food a little higher by way of explanation. She really didn't feel like talking even though she recognised the identical duo on guard duty.
Hiro and Kenji: they were twins whom she knew vaguely through her good friend Rhys. They were known troublemakers but pleasant enough.
The pair nodded politely, though not without their signature Gengar-like grins and stepped aside to allow the woman entrance, opening the reinforced double doors for her with a card-key.
"Be careful in there little Ali, he bites y'know." Hiro couldn't help a passing remark.
"We don't even like guarding him." Kenji, as always, followed his brother's lead and supplied his own comment.
"I'll be fine, I'll yell if there are any problems." Aliana passed them without another word.
She startled slightly as the doors swished shut behind her plunging her into further darkness and blinked as her vision tried to adapt to the inky depths that surrounded her to no avail. If she made it across the room without tripping and spilling the food now it would be a miracle.
She couldn't understand the heightened security around this particular Pokémon. The rest of the Pokémon Giovanni had recently captured at Mt. Quena just had the normal safety procedures put in place. From what she'd seen so far, this one was guarded like an atomic bomb.
As she walked, small fluorescent lights lit at her feet to guide her way, and then dimmed behind her. Finally, as she reached what felt like the other side of the room, a few soft lights lit on the wall.
Aliana blinked again in reflex of the sudden change in light levels, as did the creature imprisoned in here that she could now see clearly for the first time.
Aliana heard herself gasp in shock at the sight before her. He was in a much worse condition than the others. Her eyes flitted briefly over arms that were stretched out on either side of his body and chained to the wall, the manacles having caused his wrists to become chafed and badly bruised. Her gaze moved swiftly to a head that hung limply against his chest, the poor creature clearly too weakened to lift it properly, she also noted fur that was bloodstained from various old wounds, and ribs that shouldn't be visible were clearly so.
The Pokémon was a strange mix of feline and humanoid, Aliana observed. He was very tall; when standing straight he would be at least six feet in height. He had angular, cat-like eyes and facial features, lithe arms and torso, and strong, muscular looking legs and tail (or at least she imagined they usually would have been, if he were not in such an emaciated state). His short fur seemed to be a very pale lilac, though darker in hue on the tail and stomach. This was certainly not a Pokémon Aliana had ever encountered or even heard of. Giovanni had mentioned that the Pokémon captured during the Mt. Quena operation were all genetically modified clones. This one must be as well, which might explain the creature’s unusual appearance.
She tried to tear her eyes away. Other animals, especially felines (which this creature seemed to be, at least in part), disliked if you looked at them too intently.
"You've been through the wars haven't you…" She murmured quietly. It was a statement not a question, there wouldn’t be an answer forthcoming.
A foolish statement perhaps, it was obvious that 'been through the wars' was a blatant underestimation and probably an insulting one at that given the creature’s plight, but she really didn't know what else to say. It felt too awkward to just stay in silence.
The manacles at the Pokémon’s wrists opened with a soft click. They’d clearly been put on timers for the purpose of feeding. The creature fell to the ground with a thud and didn't bother to right himself immediately, choosing instead to glare at the human from his position on the chilly concrete.
Aliana crouched awkwardly beside the Pokémon and placed the tray down on the floor.
"You should eat." She tried to keep the waver out of her voice but failed. Giovanni truly was a monster.
The creature turned away. It was only now that Aliana noticed the flash of metal at the creature’s neck. A collar of some sort, it had done similar injuries to his neck as the manacles had his wrists. Anger was a warm hum in her veins at the sight of this and she had to take a calming breath to prevent herself from acting rashly.
Not to be put off and unwilling to give up and leave the Pokémon to suffer alone, Aliana moved herself and the tray so they were facing the stubborn animal once more.
"You'll starve to death if you don't eat something soon."
Another glare and a turn of the head was the only response.
Aliana frowned; she'd never had a Pokémon refuse to eat for her before.
"Well if you don't want it I'll just give it to someone else. There's many Pokémon around here who'd be happy to eat this."
You lie, girl. Her inner voice argued. No creature in their right mind would try to digest this slop!
There was a derisive snort from the creature before her and then…
~Giovanni is using another lackey? Violence proved futile so now he tries the 'nice' approach, how pitiful.~
Aliana nearly screamed.
"W-who- was, wait… that was you?"
~Astute observation.~
The voice was both inside her head and echoing around the room as well: Deep and rich, distinctly masculine, and well spoken. Telepathic projection, she realised with a small thrill. He was a psychic type then, and must be very powerful to be able to achieve such a clear means of communication that humans could understand. Psychic types had always intrigued her most and she’d cut her eyeteeth on researching them in her childhood.
He's the strangest thing I've ever seen, or heard. Damn sarcastic for being half-dead too.
Aliana collected her thoughts and nodded at the tray of food before asking, "Are you going to eat?"
~No.~
"What's the point in starving yourself? If it comes down to it he'll just put you on a drip or have someone force feed you. He won’t just let you kill yourself this way."
She knew this to be true. She'd overheard the boss discussing the matter with Domino shortly after asking her to try and feed his 'prized possession'.
~I can but try.~
Aliana frowned again.
"There's stubborn and then there's just plain stupid. Judging by those ribs I'd say you crossed that line about three weeks ago. Now eat, before you cause yourself more trouble."
~He has trained you well. I cannot even detect the devious intent behind your words.~
"That's because there isn't any." There was a bite of impatience to her voice now.
~Then why do you bring me a tray of food that is laced with sedatives?~
"What!?"
~You claim you don't know? Surely you jest. Even Rocket operatives can't be that naïve.~
Aliana glared hard at the plate of food before them, as if by merely looking at it she could make it shatter or disappear.
Without another word she jumped to her feet and stalked out of the room taking the abhorrent food with her. As she passed the twins she gave them a pointed look.
"Not a word to anyone, okay?"
The pair exchanged glances but nodded their agreement.
She was back a few minutes later with a tray of cafeteria food. Better in appearance and smell than the questionable mess on the plate before, and not loaded with drugs.
He'd better eat this, I used my cafeteria coupon.
Aliana plopped down cross-legged on the floor in front of the Pokémon and nudged the tray of fresh food towards him.
His gaze was wary, and more than a little angry. He did not attempt to reach for the food.
“Eat. Please. I promise this stuff isn’t drugged. Look.” To prove her point Aliana snagged a small wedge of roasted potato from the plate and popped it in her own mouth, chewed, and swallowed. “I won’t lie, it’s not the best meal, but it’s better than that gruel spiked with sedatives, and has to be better than not eating anything at all.”
~Why should I acquiesce to the whims of one who works for that despicable human?~
Aliana looked suspiciously about her as if someone might be listening and then, to the Pokémon’s astonishment, projected her reply back to him with her mind rather than with spoken words so that only he could hear it. ~Because this human wishes she did not work for him and would rather a Pokémon did not suffer and die if she can help it.~
~You are also psychic?~ His voice was quieter now, and only in her own head. For which Aliana was grateful. If there were microphones or cameras in the room, she did not want the likes of Giovanni knowing about her abilities.
Aliana’s lips quirked as she replied just a little cheekily, ~Astute observation.~
The Pokémon still looked at her with wary distrust, but there was curiosity and mild interest in his gaze now too. ~How do I know that your claim is not just a lie to make me lower my guard and be tricked into compliance?~
~You can read my mind if you want and you’ll see that I’m telling you the truth.~
It was a bold offer, nonchalantly given. Most would not willingly let such a powerful psychic as he inside their minds unchecked. Aliana had busied herself in taking out a notebook and pen from her pocket and was doodling aimlessly so as not to draw the attention of anyone who might be watching to the fact that she was just sitting there quietly before the captive Pokémon and apparently saying nothing.
He had pushed himself up onto his haunches now and was staring fixedly at the human woman before him. ~This collar dampens my psychic abilities, but I believe I may still be able to do that.~
Most creatures could not tell if a psychic was reading their mind, other psychics however could always sense the presence in their heads. Aliana schooled her features into a relaxed expression and pretended to be engrossed in scribbling industriously in her book as she felt the tell-tale tickle and strange fuzzy sensation that built behind her eyes as the Pokémon’s mind met her own and he began rifling around her thoughts for the information he required.
He was silent for a few minutes before Aliana felt him retreat from her mind and he spoke quietly to her once more. ~You speak the truth. You did not even realise that you were joining Team Rocket when you accepted your job in Pokémon research here.~
~It’s fine, you can say it. I’m an idiot.~ Aliana allowed herself a small self-depreciating smile. ~I really should have looked into the company more and noticed the red flags. You’d be surprised how many others here are in a similar predicament. We’re not all heartless criminals you know.~
There was that fuzzy sensation in her head again and Aliana pushed the images of her friends to the forefront of her mind for the Pokémon to see.
The Pokémon hummed in quiet contemplation, his expression a little less mistrustful now and Aliana felt confident enough to question him in turn. ~Who are you? I’ve never met a Pokémon like you before.~
~I am Mewtwo. I am a genetically modified clone of the legendary Pokémon, Mew.~ Rather than wait for the woman to ask further inevitable questions, Mewtwo reached out with his mind once more and offered the human all the information of himself, his creation, his past, and he and his friends’ unfortunate capture at Mt. Quena.
It seemed to be a lot for the human to take in at once and she jolted a little, clearly uncomfortable, blinking back tears as she processed everything Mewtwo had shown her. She had to pause in her feigned writing in her notebook and squeeze her eyes shut momentarily, rubbing her temples before collecting herself with a slightly shaky inhale. ~I am so sorry…~
~It was not your doing. I have learnt that not all hu-~ He trailed off abruptly and swayed alarmingly where he sat.
“Whoa there.” Aliana reached out, managing to steady the Pokémon so that he did not collapse fully.
~Using my powers in this condition was probably not the wisest decision. It has weakened me.~ There was a wry and rueful note of humour to Mewtwo’s tone as he spoke privately mind to mind with her once again.
~No kidding…~
“You really need to eat,” Aliana stated simply aloud this time, making sure Mewtwo was stable enough to sit unaided before placing the tray of food on his lap. “Please.”
Mewtwo closed his eyes briefly as if steeling himself and then reluctantly picked up the spoon that was on the tray with slightly awkward digits and began to eat the meal he had been brought.
“Don’t eat too much too fast. It won’t be pleasant if your stomach rebels and you bring it all back up again.” Aliana cautioned, wrinkling her nose at the thought.
Mewtwo inclined his head in a short nod and picked at the food a little slower.
Aliana tried to keep her expression neutral in case they were being watched but felt both sorrow and anger warring within her, and very quickly reached a decision.
~I’m going to get you out of here.~ The tone in the voice she projected to Mewtwo was firm and resolute.
Mewtwo said nothing, and the only hint she had that he had even heard her was in how he paused mid-chew, letting his eyes flick to hers momentarily.
~My friends will help, I’m sure. I’m not going to leave you and the other Pokémon clones to suffer like this, I promise.~
Mewtwo continued to eat haltingly, but his eventual reply sounded resigned ~Do not make a promise you may not be able to keep.~
There was little Aliana could say to that to reassure Mewtwo. He was right of course, Aliana could not promise something so uncertain. Already she could foresee problems that would arise in trying to break a highly valued and powerful Pokémon out of a Team Rocket base, and to try to release Mewtwo’s friends as well was probably just asking for trouble, but Aliana was determined if nothing else.
They sat in silence for a while longer as Mewtwo ate what he could manage of the meal he had been offered and then, once he could manage no more, Aliana collected the tray and made her way over to the doors on the other side of the room.
Mewtwo, with grim resignation, forced himself to his feet and walked the short distance to the back wall, where the manacles quickly caught his wrists and bound him there once more.
Aliana tried not to let her distaste for this treatment show and knocked on the doors three times so Hiro and Kenji would open them again. She caught Mewtwo’s gaze before they did and sent a final thought his way. ~I will come back tomorrow with more food and some healing items if I can manage it. I’m going to help you all if it’s the last thing I do, I swear it.~
Aliana left the containment unit without speaking to the twins; she didn’t trust herself not to give away her thoughts or emotions if she did. She took the tray back to the cafeteria before returning to her quarters that she shared with her best friend, Lucinda. The other woman was already fast asleep and so Aliana did her best to prepare for bed without waking her. She would try to tell her friend some of what had transpired tomorrow.
Aliana lay back in bed, staring at the ceiling, watching the play of moonlight cast strange shadows about the room; replaying the evening’s events in her head and trying to come up with a strategy in which she could rescue the hapless Pokémon Giovanni had captured. It was a long time before Aliana managed to fall sleep.