Disclaimer: I don't own Pokemon

Here's chapter 2 guys! Thanks for the reviews. I hope you continue to enjoy this fic.

Subject 02

In the large, brightly lit room, filled with an assortment of machines and supplies most of us had very little need for nowadays was the pikachu's owner, lying flat on his stomach in the center of the floor; head turned to the side with his arms curled out in front of him. He was lying quite still.

"PIKA PIKA!"

I just scoffed and shook my head. They hadn't bothered to lay him down in a bed or lock him behind bars. No. They had simply dropped him on the spot as if he wasn't worth the time for proper disposal measures. It didn't matter as far as they were concerned, because the boy was clearly dead.

I smiled softly as I looked down at the cage I held. It was all for effect of course. O'Karr believed the pikachu should have one last open moment with him, before they were parted forever. That's why he was allowing this. Oddly enough, I had always thought he placed more concern on pokemon than he did on people, which was why he hadn't bothered to have his scientists at least place the boy on a stretcher out of some form of respect. What was there to respect about that boy now? After what he'd gone through, he could no longer be called a human, though from what I could see from where I was standing, he looked human enough. I knew better of course.

"PIKA!"

"Pika is right if it means dead," I tell him. "Your owner is dead pikachu. That's what's become of him, or should I say, one thing that's become of him."

"Pi…pi..ka…"

His words came out in a quiet shaky whisper that unnerved me for a split second.

"Your owner was strong, from what I knew of him, but not strong enough to survive the metamorphosis. What that metamorphosis was…well, it doesn't matter to you. The only reason I brought you here, was to say goodbye."

I made sure the cage was pointed properly in the direction of the prone figure. O'Karr had instructed me to make sure the pokemon understood, but I didn't think it would do much good. Pokemon couldn't possibly understand things like death and loss, so why bother? They were just animals; animals that would most likely realize something was missing for a few days, then quickly move on, forgetting about what they'd lost. So of course, I felt like I was wasting my time. Was this truly about to turn into a new task of mine? Running foolish errands for pokemon? I was beginning to think so. I sighed.

"Pika! Pikachu! PIKACHUUUUUU!"

The little creature was revving up, shaking the cage so badly with his little tantrum that I had to hold onto it with the other hand.

"Calm yourself!" I ordered harshly. "Calm yourself now, or I will not let this continue."

He came to a stop and gave a soft, "Pika". I took a few deep breaths before kneeling down and setting the cage down slowly. Then I reached for the locking mechanism, which required a code, and undid the latch at the front. The barred door popped open and the pikachu hurried out, racing across the floor towards the boy. I watched him run and come to a stop before his head. He appeared utterly confused. Big surprise. Maybe he thought the kid was sleeping.

He jumped up and ran around to his side. Then in a near human motion, he placed his paws on the boy's side and proceeded to shake him gently. Soft "Pikas" were coming from him. He tried shaking him for several minutes in this spot, before returning to his head, deciding to try there. I straightened my glasses and continued to stare, fascinated against my better judgement.

"Interesting." I got to my feet and wandered over. I didn't take my eyes off that animal who was clearly absorbed in his dead owner. His furry face was now resting in his hair, and I had the crazy thought that that pikachu might be sobbing.

The clicks of my shoes against the marble floor didn't disturb him, but when I got too close, about three feet, he wheeled around. Instantly he was in an attack stance facing me, his cheeks sparking. I stopped instantly. This is exactly why I didn't want to do this. The last thing I wanted was any exposure to this particular pokemon. Didn't O'Karr care?

Well, I cared, at least enough to protect myself. I tightened my lab coat around my electric proof vest.

"What?" I asked it coolly. "You're mad? Of course, you probably are. You considered him a friend, didn't you. Well, it doesn't matter. In a few days, you won't even remember this human." I could see the electricity starting to bristle on the edge of his fur, but there was something else there as well. Tears, streaming down from his eyes. It threw me for a minute. A pokemon crying? It was absurd. I shook my head and continued. "He'll be dumped in the ground, and you'll be…"

My words were lost, and so was the electricity that was about to strike me, at the sound of a moan.

"Pika?" The pikachu curiously looked around. The boy was stirring.

"No," I whispered. "You're dead…you're supposed to be dead."

The pikachu hurried over to him as he started moving. I just stared, dumbfounded and annoyed. Why didn't my team properly check that he was truly expired? Was it an innocent miscalculation? The boy groaned now as he began to pull his arms toward himself and at least raise himself up a bit on his elbows.

"Pika! Pikachu!" cried his frantic pet.

He hadn't seemed to notice him just yet as his eyes were still closed. But slowly he opened them as he absentmindedly rubbed at the back of his neck. When his eyes fell on his pet, he seemed confused. The pikachu gazed back at him, worriedly.

"Pikachu?" he questioned slowly.

"Pika!" The little yellow thing raised its paws in the air, pleased to see that his master was alright. But was he truly?

"Where…where are we?" he asked as he gazed around the room with half-lidded eyes. I decided to make my presence known as I moved closer.

"Well well," I stated as I stopped a few feet in front of him, "he lives."

His pikachu readied to attack me again, and gave an angry "Pika".

"Who are you?"

"A man who thought he was introducing that pikachu of yours to a dead owner. Clearly, that isn't so."

"What are you…talking about?" I waited until I could see him becoming more aware, then I smiled.

"My name is Roger Kaiser, Doctor Kaiser that is. And if you're having trouble remembering, you've been a part of my team's research."

His eyes widened slightly. Did he truly forget what he had gone through? I'd read the reports.

"Huh? Research."

"Yes. Our goal in harnessing the powers of a pokemon within a human. You were part of our team's metamorphosis project. Don't tell me you've forgotten."

As he furrowed his brow in trying to remember, I studied him intently. He still looked normal. Like any typical eleven year old. And here I was expecting to see some monstrosity. Upon inquiring about him, I'd been told that he'd gone through serious changes. Then again, I had also been told that the experiments were proceeding well, only to hear a few days later that the boy had not survived these so-called successful experiments. Now a part of me was wishing I had made a stronger argument on working with the group who put him through the project. But once I had handed them the products they would need, I was all but shunned. It was understandable. I needed to focus on capturing electrical power next.

"No," the boy muttered. I could tell it was dawning on him now.

"I'm afraid so kid."

"Pika!" the pikachu growled.

"No, you're…ahh."

"Pika!"

His pet had turned his attention to the boy who gasped upon trying to pull himself up fully. He had to stop himself as he grabbed his chest and took deep breaths. I observed him closely. He was shaking a little, and sweating across his brow.

"I wouldn't suggest straining yourself Ash. Push yourself too hard, and you might actually die," I warned. He glowered at me, then he turned to his little partner.

"Pikachu, are you alright?" He dared to sit up now, slowly.

"Pi, Pika," it said with a nod.

"I'm afraid I haven't been able to make much of a breakthrough with your little pet here, but that should change."

"He's not my pet, he's my best friend! And you're not laying a hand on him!" His defensive cry ended with him gasping and wincing in pain. All he could do was hold a hand over his heart and slow his breathing, while I stood there watching and chatting with him, when I should have been alerting the others. But I couldn't help my curiosity of this boy I'd only really seen once.

I had caught a glimpse of him in the mist of the project when I had approached my team about the reports that O'Karr was expecting. I'd seen him in the room, bound to a vertical metal table raised up high. An assortment of wires and tubes were inserted into almost every part of his exposed skin. A dark mask was placed over his face, possibly to keep air pumping into his body. Surrounding him, making their angry cries heard in enormous cages were a range of pokemon of a particular type. They too had wires and tubes inserted in their bodies, connecting to the contraption I had invented for the purpose of transferring their power to a human being. I had tried not to give that scene too much notice. My eyes had dropped down to the group of scientists milling about on the floor, going through the process of making the whole thing a success.

My particular team handed me the papers that were due, and before I left, I gave one last look at the boy bound on that table up above. It was strange. It was almost god-like; him raised up there as if he was on a crucifix, with his head drooped down toward them. They'd done that to him. Did he know? Had he been aware, somehow?

"Much has been done to you, so take it easy." He wasn't listening. He was now trying to get to his feet.

"Take it easy! After what you've done!...I" he cried. He couldn't quite make it up, and crumpled back to the floor. He seemed to be sweating much more profusely now. And was he trembling just a bit?

"Pikachu!" The little pokemon hurried to his side. Surely the pokemon sensed he needed to rest.

"You'll leave me no choice but to alert my team if you don't settle down." This was a bad situation. I silently cursed O'Karr for placing me in it. But I had trusted him.

"You leave me no choice as well," he announced stubbornly. "Pikachu! Use thunderbolt!"

I braced myself as I heard that "PIIIIKAAACHUUUUU!"

The lightning hit me. It brought me back to the first time I had felt it. But it wasn't as bad with my vest which deflected it to a great degree. I still, however, felt enough to knock me back, gasping. I took a few deep breaths before addressing them.

"I…would've been a fool…if, I hadn't expected that." I straightened myself out and fixed my glasses. "It seems you've trained that animal well."

"You guys…already know…since…you been…wa-tching," he rasped as he shakily tried getting back to his feet. This kid was something. I looked at that pikachu who was all but ready to give me another dose. He was standing right before his owner in a protective stance.

"If you think you're getting pikachu, you're crazy!" he shouted. "And that goes for the rest of my pokemon!"

I turned my attention to the kid. Clearly he thought I was eyeing his pet because I was planning to run off with it. I grinned, wondering how much he'd put up a fight for his pokemon when he learned one of his very own pokemon had been used to alter him. But, that was the question. Other than seeing the sweat pour down his face, and that feverish look he was starting to get, I wondered if he really had been altered. Had the team been lying to me?

"I'm afraid the rest of your pokemon will be staying here. But don't worry. You'll be staying as well, considering you're not dead." I folded my arms, satisfied. "My team will be very pleased."

"Pika!" the little pokemon cried, and I expected it to be the cue that had the kid ordering him to attack me again.

But that's not what happened.

Silence fell, with the kid just glaring at me. I didn't like it. There was something dark about that gaze. Then suddenly, without warning, he jumped up. I was of course, startled. What happened to his weakened body? He was able to just leap up in a flash. He stood for a moment, fists balled at his sides.

"Pika?" The little creature was right to question his sudden action. "Pika!"

Now the boy was charging right at me. I braced myself, but nothing prepared me for the punch he delivered to my cheek which sent me flying back. It wasn't possible. This little boy, who was moments ago gasping in pain, was capable of delivering a powerful punch; one I felt that could potentially be stronger than the strongest man.

I was dazed. I had to blink a few times and become aware that I was now the one crumpled on the floor. And then I saw him, slowly walking towards me. His pikachu was crying out, clearly concerned. Something wasn't right at all. I cringed as I scrambled to my feet and stared into his eyes. I don't know why, but I was suddenly getting the feeling that somehow—there was nothing behind them. What was he planning to do?

Fortunately I didn't get a chance to experience whatever he was planning in that moment, as he stopped his walking and doubled over. He grimaced and began groaning in pain.

"Pikachu!" His little friend darted over to him, and I watched, curiously.

"What'd you…what'd you do…to me?" he rasped as his groaning transformed into pained whimpers. He was sweating more than ever now, and the shaking couldn't be overlooked. I took a step back as he started shaking more violently. Then suddenly, the most incredible thing happened.

As he threw his head back in a pained scream, fire erupted. Flames, actual fire, sprung up from the palms of his hands, the crown of his head, and his chest!

"Oh god!" I cried, stunned. The Pikachu hopped aside, shocked. The fiery red-orange flames traveled up his arms, joining the flames above that were quickly traveling downward to cover the rest of his body. He was completely engulfed, and still howling in pain. But then he stopped crying out and hunched over again, grabbing his middle.

I stared. The flames were not burning away his skin, hair, eyes, or anything on his body, except his clothes. They were quickly turned to ashes, leaving him fully exposed. I had no obligation to grab a fire extinguisher or contact the professionals responsible for this phenomena. I was utterly too entranced.

"Pika! Pikachu!"

I didn't know if his cries alerted the boy or not, but after the pokemon made them, the boy slowly raised himself up, almost calmly. There was silence now, except for the sound of his flames, crackling on his skin. The boy's head slowly turned upwards, his eyes closed. Then without warning, he fell forward onto the floor, as still as he had been when I first entered the room. The fire continued to dance on his body, not bothered by the fact that the boy was either now dead or unconscious. It just absorbed him, without burning him away, crackling upon his body as naturally as it did on a good number of fire pokemon.

"Pika!"

The pikachu dashed over to him, but didn't dare get too close. I, on the other hand, adjusted my glasses as I continued to watch the flaming child.

"Well," I decided, "This changes things."

Well there was chapter two! And you learned what happened to Ash. And I'm sure from the end, you could guess what type of pokemon were in that room with Ash when he was on the table.

Anyways, keep reading and reviewing, and I'll be sure to update!