Disclaimer: I don't own Pokemon. Really.

Into the Shadows

Chapter 7- Plans

Ashley was calmly sitting on a table in Ein's laboratory. Ein was standing next to her, wiping her arm with an alcohol swab. Ashley flinched slightly as she felt a small prick in her arm, with the pain passing a few short seconds later as Ein removed the needle.

"Okay. I'm just going to place you under observation for a few hours. Please, follow me." Ein said flatly, motioning for Ashley to follow him. Ashley followed Ein hesitantly. Ein led Ashley to a room with several beds in it, two of them were occupied already. Ein pointed out one of the beds and motioned for Ashley to lay down in it. She did so, and Ein walked out of the room, closing the door behind him. One of the people on the beds stirred.

"Hello?" Ashley tentatively said.

The person on the bed stood up. "Hey." She said, with slight resentment in her voice. After observing Ashley for a few moments, she continued, "So, you're one of the clones, aren't you?"

"Um... That's what I have been told. I'm not entirely sure what to believe, though..." Ashley said nervously.

"Oh. I see. Ashley, right?" The woman said, not waiting for an answer. She continued, "I'm Rui. We'll be seeing each other a lot, Ashley." Rui paused, observing Ashley for a moment, while Ashley was too shocked to say anything. Rui noticed a black aura surrounding Ashley. "Wow. Ein improved the serum, didn't he? It's already taken effect. Even faster than Wes..." Rui mused out loud.

Ashley was at a loss for words.

"Don't worry. You'll get used to the effects. Just learn to control your emotions. We don't want you going on a rampage and damaging things!" Rui smiled. Ashley still remained silent. In attempt to break the silence, Rui began again, "That man over there is Wes." Rui said, pointing out the bandaged man on one of the beds. "He's gone through the same stuff that you and I have." More silence. "I suppose Eldes is going to come here?" There was a silence again. "Hey! Ashley!" Rui called, getting Ashley's attention. "I asked you a question!" She said, growing slightly angry.

"Oh... um... yes..." Ashley said quietly.

"So, Eldes will be here?" Rui asked., calming down.

"Yes..." Ashley said timidly.

Wes began do stir. "What's going on?" He groaned.

"We have a new Shadow with us. Soon to be two." Rui said cheerfully.

"I see..." Wes said dryly.

Then, Eldes walked into the room, escorted by Ein. "I'll come back for you in a few hours." Ein said dryly. Eldes nodded and walked over to Ashley.

"So... I take it Ein injected you, too?" Eldes asked. Rui noticed a small black aura surrounding the man, similar to the one surrounding Ashley.

Ashley nodded.

"Are you Eldes?" Rui asked cheerfully.

"Uh, yes... How would you know?"

"You and Ashley are clones that Ein created. I just helped a little." Rui said, maintaining her cheerful tone.

"So, Ardos let you in on that, too..." Eldes muttered to himself.

"What reasons do I have to lie to you, Eldes?"

"I'm a low- ranking member. Obviously there are some secrets that Cipher does not want me to know. Like how the hell they got me to join." Eldes said, slightly angry.

"And I'm not lying to you. I can take you to the surveillance archives if you don't believe me."

"What will old videos do to help?"

"Well, it happens that we have footage of the original Ashley and Eldes." Rui said calmly.

"And how are you going to prove that they're not us?"

"We have footage of their deaths." Rui stated, maintaining her calm state.

"I see." Eldes flatly said.

"Shall we?" Rui motioned for the two clones to follow her.

-You love my lady lumps.-

Rui, Eldes and Ashley stood facing a wall of monitors, which were displaying the footage of the original Ashley's death. Ashley winced at the sight of herself being tossed around carelessly by Andrea's psychic abilities.

"Is that..." Ashley began to say.

"Andrea." Rui finished Ashley's sentence.

Ashley nodded, her eyes focused on the gruesome scene before her. After several minutes of the painful footage, Ashley turned to Rui. "H-how long does this go on?" She asked, her eyes beginning to water.

"Around five hours." Rui replied.

"Why?"

"She helped Eldes escape." Rui said calmly, turning to Eldes.

"Escape? From what?" Eldes asked.

"Here, actually." Rui stated, matter-of-factly, before turning back to the screen, smirking slightly as Andrea delivered a particularly harsh blow to Ashley.

"...I've seen enough..." Ashley timidly said.

"So, do you believe me now?" Rui asked.

"I don't see any reason why she wouldn't." Andrea said, walking into the room.

"Andrea!" Rui exclaimed, surprised.

"What are you doing?" Andrea imposed.

"Um..." Rui chuckled nervously. "I... accidentally... let the clone thing... slip?"

"How do you 'accidentally' let that slip?"

"It just... came out?"

"I see... Who told you to tell them?"

"N-no one... It j-just slipped out."

"I find that hard to believe." Andrea said. After a short pause, she continued, "However, it doesn't matter right now. Ein's still using you. But, I'm afraid this is is your last chance. You fuck up one more time, Ein's just going to have to find someone else to experiment on. He's got two perfectly serviceable options right here, too. And don't think Ein can't just make another one of you once you're dead."

"My apologies, Mistress." Rui said, her voice devoid of any sincerity.

"What exactly were you doing here, anyway?" Andrea asked.

"I could ask the same of you." Rui responded resentfully.

Andrea gasped in shock. "You do not question the actions of your superiors!" She exclaimed, punctuating her statement with a burst of psychic energy. The burst pushed Rui back slightly, but caused the girl rather intense pain for such a small blow. "You're lucky I don't kill you. I'll give you two days to redeem yourself as a Cipher member."

Rui glared at Andrea, not saying a word.

"You should be grateful, you bitch." Andrea spat, delivering another blow, this time stronger.

"What are you doing to Rui?" Ashley screamed, tears flowing from her eyes.

"What, you want a taste, too?" Andrea sneered. "I'd be more than happy to oblige."

"Fine. I don't care." Ashley cried. "Give me all you got!"

"You're quite the brave one." Andrea smiled, before giving Ashley a rather intense blow with her abilities.

Ashley fell to the floor, unconscious.

"Oh, that's no fun. I didn't even get to hurt you..." Andrea sulked.

Rui rushed over to Ashley's collapsed body. "What the fuck did you do to her?" She screamed.

"Don't worry. She's fine. She'll wake up in a few minutes."

"What do you mean, 'she's fine'?"

"She's not dead."

"And that qualifies as 'fine'?"

"Her heart is still beating, is it not?"

"She could have serious damage! She-" Rui was cut off by Andrea, knocking her out with a particularly strong psychic blow.

"Eldes, you take the bitch to Ein. Tell him what happened. I'll take Ashley to her room." Andrea commanded.

More out of fear for his life than anything else, Eldes picked up Rui's limp body and hurried out of the room.

Terra sat on Ashley's bed, next to the sleeping girl. A tray was placed on Terra's lap, two mugs of tea placed on it. "Ashley?" she said gently, waking the girl. "I made you some tea. It was my Ashie's favorite."

"Oh, thank you." Ashley said quietly, politely taking one of the cups.

"What happened to you?" Terra asked, concerned.

"I... I don't know. Andrea j-just knocked me out..." Ashley stammered.

"Did you make Andrea angry or something?"

"Possibly..."

Terra smiled. "Okay. Just try to stay on her good side if you can."

"And how do I do that?"

"You can try to avoid her. If you absolutely must be in contact with her, just do what she says. Even then, I can't guarantee anything."

Andrea was sitting at her desk, across from a rather pale middle- aged man. "Maxie." she began warmly, "Pleasure to finally see you in person."

"Likewise." the man replied calmly, "Orre certainly is a truly beautiful region."

"I'm glad you are enjoying your stay." Andrea smiled falsely. "I would like to inform you about Ashley Clorus and Terra Rohare."

"I see. I trust they are doing well?"

"Not exactly."

"What happened?"

"Ashley Clorus was executed for her crimes." Andrea said flatly.

Maxie was shocked. "And... what might those crimes be?" He said, trying to maintain his composure.

"Treason against Cipher and Team Magma."

Maxie flinched. "I'm sorry, but, the punishment for treason amongst Team Magma members is simply imprisonment. I do apologize for any miscommunication that may have occurred among us in regards to this subject."

"Yes, but the punishment for the same crime amongst Cipher members is death. In this case, the more severe sentence takes precedence."

"I see..." Maxie paused. "How is Terra faring?"

"Much better." Andrea said fondly. "She is working in our Intelligence Department as an assistant to Ardos."

"Okay. Is she enjoying the work?"

"I do not know."

"I see..." Maxie said.

"How are our Shadow Pokemon plans coming along?"

"Quite nicely. We plan to eliminate Team Aqua within a few months."

"Perfect." Andrea smirked. "And when should we have control over Hoenn?"

"After Team Aqua is out of the way, probably a few months after that."

Andrea grinned widely.