Chapter 7

Matthew sat quietly on the cool metal surface of his Metagross, Hugo. The massive Pokemon barely noticed the additional weight of the trainer on top of him, perfectly content to simply sit there in the warmth of the rising sun. Two days had passed since Matthew and his team had arrived at the Indigo Plateau, and he had begun to see why Cynthia had argued with him not to take the position as Champion. The past two days had been filled with nothing but fighting, sadness and stress. When the news broke of Tobias, the Champions had been sent into a tailspin as the more vocal began to demand action. Lance, always the headstrong Champion had demanded an all out military strike, he didn't care where they hit just that they show force. Matthew loved his sister but she too had added additional noise to the fighting when she picked a fight with the Director of the International Police, Anabel regarding former case files. Cynthia had taken the fact that Mewtwo was involved to argue that terrorists had to be connected to Team Rocket in some way and that the International Police should bring in every former Rocket grunt for interrogation.

In the midst of the fighting two Champions had excused themselves from the proceedings. Iris, the Unova Champion, had left late the evening before as her region prepared funeral rites for Drayden. The older Dragon trainer had been a hero in his home region and the people of Unova had taken the news of his death hard. A large public funeral was scheduled to be held at the end of the week and plans had already begun on setting aside a massive space of land for the Drayden Dragon Sanctuary. Iris had taken Drayden's Haxorus with her so that it would be present for the funeral, afterwards the Pokemon would be sent to the Village of Dragons where Drayden was born. Matthew had helped Iris explain to Haxorus her plan and while the dragon still suffered after everything that happened it did seem to brighten up at the idea of helping to raise Axew for young trainers to partner with.

Besides Iris, Diantha had been absent from most of the discussions and meetings. She had chosen to stay at the Indigo Plateau, not at least because Matthew had threatened to throw a fit if she left. However, since Cynthia's press conference, Diantha and the Kalos League had been under a media war regarding the upcoming Kalos Conference. Questions regarding safety of attendees, debates over canceling or delaying the conference, and critiques of Diantha's absence during the final weeks of planning had clogged every news station in almost every region. Diantha had spent the past two days in conference with her Elite Four, Kalos Police, International Police, and Pokemon World League officials on how to proceed with the event. With just over 2 weeks until the opening ceremony, Diantha was expected to make a decision after Drayden's funeral, which gave her roughly 48 hours left.

Thankfully, with all the Champions planning on attending the funeral, the others had been caught up in various tasks to sustain another day of debating. Matthew had chosen to take the opportunity to do some research and spend time with his Pokemon. Despite earlier rumors the plateau itself was still strong so he had no concerns wandering off into the nearby forest area just north of Victory Road. There he had found a nearly perfect clearing with a small waterfall to spend the day by. Espeon and Alakazam had moved to their prefered activity which was relaxing in the sun though the two stayed close in case Matthew had need of them. His Starmie had eagerly dove into the small lake to greet the Pokemon residents and was now jumping and playing around with some Wooper and Quagsire. On the other side of the river from where Matthew sat with his Metagross, his Gallade and Claydol were locked in some heated battle training, a favorite pastime of theirs. Despite everything going on, despite how exhausted he was, or how his sadness seemed to hang off him like ivy on a building, seeing his Pokemon like this gave him peace and made him smile.

"Sir, I have pulled up the files you had asked for." Matthew's personal Rotom assistant spoke through the holocaster he happily lived in.

"Then let us see what we can find out about our friend, Mewtwo."

"Records regarding the Pokemon Mewtwo are limited and there are some contradictory reports. The Pokedex has labeled it the Genetic Pokemon and it does match the description provided by Haxorus."

"What of its origin? Or the so called armor?"

"Mewtwo was indeed created by scientists hired by Giovanni, former gym leader of the Viridian City Gym and known leader of the criminal organization, Team Rocket. While details of the experiment are well-guarded it appears that the Pokemon was created using altered DNA fragments from the legendary Pokemon, Mew. The scientists worked to create a Pokemon who was physically stronger than its ancestor giving it the increased ability to battle. However, the scientists failed to take the proper precautions and Mewtwo escaped. The reports of his escape list that all the staff working on the project, were in fact killed by the Pokemon."

"What of its connection to Giovanni?"

"After Mewtwo's initial escape from the research facility, Giovanni did recapture the Pokemon and equip it with a specialized form of armor. The armor matches a similar design created by Lysander Labs in the Kalos Region. The armor not only boosts the defense of the Pokemon but allows it greater focus over its Psychic ability."

A Pokemon who cannot control its own Psychic ability is either a youngling or weak. This Mewtwo seems like a mistake that should have been erased.

Now, Hugo. Many people would say the same thing about a Pokemon with 4 brains.

Yet, I can control 4 brains and calculate millions of ways to squash those who think I am a mistake.

"Mewtwo's time with Giovanni was short as the Pokemon later used its Psychic ability to control the mind of several Team Rocket staff members into freeing it. Again the Pokemon's escape was marked by the death of several individuals and at least a dozen Pokemon casualties."

Master, even you cannot feel sorry for this monster. If what these reports say is true than Mewtwo is a rampaging Pokemon that needs to be put down. When a Gyarados burns down a village or attacks a boat, the victims do not try and save the Gyarados. Same situation now.

"Rotom, what were you able to find of Mewtwo's more recent movements?"

"Sightings of the Genetic Pokemon have been reported in multiple regions over the past 20 years. Reports claim it to have made its home in remote areas of Kanto, Johto, Kalos, Hoenn, and even Alola. There are also conflicting reports of Mewtwo interacting with Legendary Pokemon including Mew, Darkrai, and the original population of revived Genesect. Some trainers have made entries that state they have battled the Pokemon but as it has yet to be presented to League or Regional officials these sightings are still considered rumor."

"And Giovanni?"

"Giovanni, surname unknown, is a prominent businessman original from Viridian City. Very little information is available about his life as a trainer which leads many to believe that Giovanni is a chosen name not a given one. He served as the Gym Leader of the Viridian City Gym for approximately 10 years where he specialized in Ground-type Pokemon. In 1997, reports of the Viridian City gym being closed due to the Gym Leader not being present began to surface. It is widely believed that it was during this time that Giovanni founded the criminal organization, Team Rocket. Giovanni would later be replaced as Gym Leader in 2000 after the Pokemon League and International Police worked to shut down Team Rocket's activities in the Kanto Region. Although the organization remained active across multiple regions, Giovanni himself was officially declared missing by the International Police in 2011."

"Rotom, any connection to Team Rocket and the Ultra Beasts?"

"None that I can find sir. While Team Rocket was fully operational they invested in multiple projects and scientific ventures. These included everything from interdimensional travel to genetic modification to Pokemon capture techniques. The portfolio is incredibly diverse, I even found investments in small Miltank farms throughout Alola, Johto, and Sinnoh."

"What about Aether Paradise? Any investments into that property or any of the employees who work there?"

"No sir. I have run a full scan of all connections, investments, and known associates. I do have a record of some Team Rocket grunts visiting the Alola Region in 2012, however these individuals have since turned all information over to the police and have been pardoned."

"Pardoned? By whom?

"Jessie or Jessica Marrow and James Sasaki are both former Team Rocket grunts. The pair has traveled through multiple regions accompanied by a Meowth who has learned the ability to speak. In 2012 after the Ultra Beast crisis, the trio turned themselves over to the International Police offering them any and all information on Team Rocket. The information was mostly circumstantial and helped very little but Pokemon World Champion Cynthia argued that their actions showed a general willingness to repay their crimes considering the two trainers could have had their license revoked and all Pokemon associated with them confiscated. Since then the trio has been living permanently in the Kalos region, in Gloire City. Jessie is a regular performer in the region's Pokemon Showcase and a traveling reporter for the major news networks. James and Meowth were hired by Professor Sycamore to help train young trainers and has also worked for the Pokemon World League during their training camps."

"Hmm, perhaps these two may have a lead we can follow-up on? A potential to find Team Rocket perform they can strike again."

"Sir, I think it may be to late for that. A message is currently being broadcasted live on every TV station across the globe. The speaker has been identified as Giovanni."