Experiment: 3g4

Codename: Moinvar

Notes: MOdulus INVARiable. Power-resistant metal. For use in recombinant cells. Derived from the recombinant byproducts, the shell of a Shelgon, and common steel. A similar alloy is widely used in Pokémon gyms.

=·=·=·=·=

The soldier refused to take off his, or her, helmet. This was probably more out of fear than anything else, since he, or she, seemed to be non-hostile. At least, they had unequipped all their weaponry and given it up to the Deltas. There was nothing overly dangerous, anyway, since Trike had stripped them of all metal. It was probably a good thing that Ferrus had remaining in the cavern. Drasil had had to pry him down from the ceiling.

A few of the rocks on the floor had dug down into the ground, where they were now permanently imbedded. Trike told them that these were natural lodestones, and that they were repulsed by his magnetic blast being of the same polarity.

That was the other thing. Trike had been a lot more talkative, and a whole lot smarter. Almost as if he'd gone from a child to a young teenager in the blink of an eye. Mirage assured him that this was, indeed, what had happened, but Atticus himself wasn't so sure. He'd never evolved… had never heard of this thing called evolution, actually. Some healthy skepticism was always advantageous.

"…no, see, electromagnetism doesn't work that way," Trike was saying to his captive audience. Hecate, Galatea, and Ferrus were listening intently. "I can't move things left or right. Maybe when I'm evolved, I can warp the magnetic field lines into a helical shape… but for now it's a simple push-pull reaction."

Ash came jogging into the cave. "Hey, uh… what were you planning to do with that guy?" He pointed to the soldier, who played cards silently with Arden and Valentine. "Because whatever it is, you should probably do it soon."

Atticus shrugged. "I don't know. What's the rush?"

"Well… the bad guys know your location now. I still haven't been able to place a name on them. They don't act like any of the major crime syndicates around here. Anyway… Some of my friends in Pewter City are willing to offer refuge for you. Your enemies won't know you're there. But if that guy comes along…"

"Or girl."

"Whatever. Same result no matter what their gender is."

"I see your point," Atticus nodded. "Hey! Group meeting!"

Most of the recombinants gathered around them almost immediately; Glint and Smorgas were slow to arrive. When the soldier realized that Arden and Valentine had gotten up and left, they stood up and followed, having nothing better to do.

"Okay," Atticus said, pointing to them. "The jig is up. We need to know where you stand. Are you with us? Or against us."

The soldier made a noncommittal motion and Atticus growled at them. "Take off the mask. Now."

With all the recombinants glaring at the trooper, they reluctantly raised their arms to their helmet and pulled it off, revealing shoulder-length brown hair, long lashes, and sensuous pink lips. Atticus nudged Ash with an elbow. They waited expectantly, but she didn't say anything. She just glared back at them.

"Well?"

After a long pause, the woman sighed. "Thank you. For healing me."

"You're welcome. Now answer the question."

"Is there really a choice?"

Nina growled at her. "Atticus, this is insane! We need to finish her off while we still have the chance!"

"No." Atticus cocked his head at the woman. "If you want to leave, I won't stop you."

"But-"

"End of story."

The soldier gave him a thoughtful look. "The recombinants are monsters. You were designed as weapons. But… you healed me. You say you'll allow me to leave. This is irreconcilable with the way the world is supposed to be. I… I must go."

Atticus nodded to her morosely as she got to her feet and started walking out of the cave. She was almost gone when Valentine spoke up.

"Wait. Please."

The woman halted at the entrance. "Why?"

Valentine blushed. "We aren't monsters. It doesn't matter what they say."

"Valentine, if she wants to leave-"

"Ezra."

Atticus cut off abruptly as the woman walked back toward them, a despondent smile on her face.

"My name is Ezra," she said. "Ezra Snowden. And maybe you're right. I don't think you are the monsters they say you are. It will be interesting to see how things turn out."

Atticus's eyes were getting wet, though he was smiling. It would have been extraordinarily bad if she had decided to leave and report their whereabouts to the professors… or whoever was in charge.

Ash apparently had similar feelings, if the deep sigh of relief was anything to go off. "Glad you're not an enemy," the young man said.

"Pika pika."

"Right. Atticus? Mind if I take charge?"

Atticus motioned for him to proceed.

"Alrighty! Everyone up and out! We're going to hide out in Pewter City until things settle down. My friends there are going to let us use their house. Hopefully this will last a while."

The Deltas started moving toward the exit, gathering up what little possessions they owned. "Somehow, I get the feeling it won't," Glint said.

"Don't jinx it."

They stole through the forest like shadows in the night. Ezra moved just as well as the recombinants, though their combat trainings were of radically different strains, and Ash moved decently for someone who had never undergone specialized instruction.

Of course, those of them that could fly did, bypassing the need for acrobatic proficiency entirely. Hecate glided beside Atticus gracefully and quietly, buzzing softly. Trike, on the other hand, was a complete showoff, doing aerial loops and aileron rolls as he went. The trip took most of the rest of the day. When they arrived, Flint was there waiting for them, along with a man who looked around Ash's age. He had short black hair and tan skin and wore a content smile. There was a strong resemblance between him and the older human. The younger man was wearing an orange shirt beneath a snot-green jumper. The two of them both walked around with closed eyes. How they got anywhere without crashing into stuff was anyone's guess.

"Brock!" Ash exclaimed, a broad grin on his face. "You're here!"

"I can always make time for you, Ash," the man chuckled. "I'll never forget our adventures together. Come on, then. Let's get your refugee friends away from prying eyes."

Brock and Flint led them to a stone mansion in the heart of the city with big, bright red double doors out front. As they approached, a bunch of little kids burst out of the house and ran up to them excitedly. One of them dipped a strange plastic stick into a small receptacle before holding it up to her lips and blowing bubbles at them. Glint blew bubbles back, the opalescent orbs emerging from the gaps in his shell.

"Hey, cool!" a little boy said, grabbing Mirage's arm by the flat and holding it up to the light. "I've seen these on TV! You can cut a can with it and still slice a tomato!" Mirage held a hand to her mouth as she giggled.

A toddler with his thumb in his mouth walked right up to Atticus and looked him in the eyes. "You haff weird eyes," the kid mumbled before walking away. Atticus blinked and shook his head. What was he even supposed to say to that?

"Are we going to be staying here?" Valentine asked with awe.

"Not quite," Flint said. "There isn't enough room for all of you. We built a lean-to out back, which has room for all of you, even Drasil."

"You built it… overnight?"

"Yup. That's the power of Pokémon for you. 'Course, you'll want to be careful." Brock pantomimed a house collapsing with his hands. Atticus was expecting shoddy workmanship, but surprisingly, the facsimile looked like a normal house. White-washed walls, a plain wooden door, and a slate roof. Not much compared to the other houses, but way better than their past accommodations. Everything was subjective.

Lazy grey clouds drifted across the sky as they talked. The temperature dropped a few degrees over the next minute. Mirage and Valentine started shivering, so Atticus shepherded them inside as Brock showed Drasil where his custom-made entrance was.

"Dinner's at six!" Flint called after them. "I expect you to be on time!"

His stomach growled. Images of paste and burnt meat crossed his mind; the thought didn't occur to him that Flint's dinner might be different than their usual fare. Ash and Pikachu followed the Deltas in.

"See you at dinner!"

=·=·=·=·=

Glint and Arden were in the room they'd designated as theirs. It was furnished with two big, soft rectangles, a timber block with sliding drawers near the entry, and an upright metal pole with a bulb at the end which produced light when Arden fiddled with the switch. Ash had called it a lamp.

"Here, let me hang a lampshade on it for you," he'd said before he left.

Now, they were just talking, like two old friends. Glint had heaved himself on top of one of the rectangles and was resting there. Arden was pacing around the room restlessly.

"Ever wonder how we know the words we know?"

"No," Arden said. "We only know the words the professors know; their meanings derived from circumstantial evidence." As he leaned against the far wall, there was a loud crunch, and the partition collapsed, taking Arden with it.

"Oh, look. You've broken the fourth wall. Fantastic."

=·=·=·=·=

Mirage glided through town with a small smile. The feeling of safety, temporary as it may have been, was liberating. Even the critical gazes she received from the residents of Pewter City couldn't kill the good mood she was in. This must've been what it felt like every day for the free humans and Pokémon.

She passed the museum. That's what Flint had called the biggest building when she'd asked about going into town; he'd shown her a map, not that she'd needed it. Mirage had always had an instinct for finding her way back home, if her six-by-eight solid steel cell could be considered 'home.' Several of the humans nudged each other as she went by, pointing to her arm-blades. "Unnatural," she heard one say. "But if Brock vouches for them…"

There was a strong wind blowing. Mirage shivered despite her hoodie. She didn't know why she was so sensitive to the cold. Frail skin, perhaps. The dress probably didn't help, but she was reluctant to take it off. For much of her life, it had been the only thing grounding her to reality – if it was cultural, that meant there was an entire culture full of people like her. Hope in white velvet.

"Hey, Mirage, wait up!"

Mirage rounded a corner and paused. Atticus came jogging up to her.

"Oh. It's you. Hi, Atticus."

She felt a pang as his wide grin disappeared. She hadn't meant to sound cold. Atticus had just caught her by surprise. Mirage sat down on a rock as Atticus stuck his hands in his pockets.

"I'm sorry, Atticus. I really am happy to see you. You just caught me by surprise."

"That's alright, then," he muttered, pacing in circles. "You know… I wish you wouldn't call me 'Atticus.'"

Mirage blinked. "But that's your name."

"Yeah. But… you make it sound so formal. It'd be nice if… I don't know… you called me something else."

"You want, what, another codename? That only I would use."

Atticus nodded.

"Okay. How about… Icky," she smiled, rising to her feet.

"Icky." His face fell ever so slightly. "Is that what you think of me?"

"Not remotely! It's, like, an ironic name," she replied. Under her breath, so that he couldn't hear, she muttered, "It sounded better in my head."

A coy grin crept across his face, as did a tinge of red. He'd been pretending to be oblivious about his attractions to cover up his self-doubt, but her words were slowly dispelling his insecurity. "Oh? How ironic are we talking?"

Mirage turned to face him, her back facing a brick wall. "Pretty ironic," she laughed, raising her arms in a playful shrug.

"Hmm." His confidence sufficiently boosted, Atticus made a decision. "Ironic enough for me to do… this?" Atticus asked, taking Mirage's hands in his own and gently pressing her against the wall.

"Uh. Yeah." Mirage's breath caught in her throat as he leaned in. She could almost feel his electricity flowing through her veins. The girl's viridescent spike poked into his chest, and he could feel her machine-gun pulse beneath his touch. There was a pale scar across his cheek she hadn't noticed before.

Her lips were as soft as satin, her breath hot in his mouth. His thumbs pressed into the palms of her hands as he tightened his grip, and her fingers closed around them. She breathed in his musk, one of campfire smoke, sweat and blood.

He was gentle, mindful of her blades, her delicate form, everything. This was a side to him she'd wanted to see again since the day they escaped. His hands slid down to her waist, and she wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him closer. Trembling with anticipation, Mirage opened her mouth to permit him entry and–

"Whoa! What's going on here?"

They flew apart, whirling around to see who had intruded upon their moment, who had violated their sanctuary. Standing at the corner were four human teenagers, as old as them or perhaps older.

"Nothing!" Atticus yelped. "It isn't what it looks like!"

"Smooth, Icky. Real smooth," Mirage muttered, arms crossed over her chest. She'd never felt more wounded.

A tall, scrawny kid with thick eyebrows who was clearly the leader – sneered distastefully. "Were you just kissing a Pokémon?"

"No!"

"That's disgusting!" one of them retched. Atticus's face turned bright red as the humans began laughing at him, pointing at him, mocking him.

"You sick freak!"

"Poképhile!"

His head bowed with shame as the humans continued their verbal assault. A black cloud formed around the boy. Mirage could actually feel the humiliation coming off him in waves, his aura a monochromatic abyss of self-loathing. She tried to take his hand, but he pulled away.

"No," he muttered. "No, no. I'm not that. I'm not different. I'm just like you!" He reached out for the human boys, tears in his eyes, but they took off, laughing over their shoulders.

"Icky…" What was wrong with him? He'd never acted like this before. "It's okay. They're gone now."

Atticus shook his head rapidly. "No, it's not! I'm not a monster!" He bolted away from her, leaving behind a miasma of negativity.

"But…" she whispered. "I thought we had something. Something real… Are you really so afraid of what other people will think?"

=·=·=·=·=

Experiment: 4g5

Codename: GFG

Notes: The grounding field generator's field test was an unqualified success. Unfortunately, Law was unable to retrieve the prototype, which puts a damper on the Board of Director's enthusiasm for the project. Despite their reluctance, we will begin production of Mk II shortly, which will prove to be a crucial defense against the recombinants' abilities.