"So you don't think he remembers anything?" Charon frowned, regarding the sleeping blue-haired man on the couch with what appeared to be an expression of disappointment.
Of course all the old man would care about was whether he got his promised retirement fund or not. Still, it did vaguely annoy her that Cyrus might be dying and all Charon could think about was himself.
"Cyrus could well be dying from what the Distortion World did to him, now isn't the time to be whining about your paycheck. I mean, at least pretend to care!" Okay, maybe Mars was more bothered than just "vaguely".
"We had a bargain. I highly doubt Cyrus would remotely consider your word to mean anything, but I expect better from you." Charon shook his head, smiling a tiny bit.
"I'm not about to just run off with Cyrus, if that's what you're implying. I'll have you know I actually do keep my word. It's just that I wish you would be more, well... considerate about the man's condition. That's all."
"All right, all right. We can talk about this later. Though I would take care to make sure that Cyrus doesn't just slip off into the night as soon as he's capable of it. Wouldn't put that past him, heh heh."
Would Cyrus actually do that? Even after all that Mars had done for him? But then again, the man did appear to have lost his memory. With that in mind, there was no telling what he would attempt in regards to escaping. Furthermore, if he had also forgotten that he was a wanted criminal, surely the man would be caught and arrested in minutes!
"I suppose putting extra security on the apartment door might be a wise investment. At least a key needed to get out. I should also have my Pokémon watch him when I'm not around." Mars's Pokémon... right on her belt like they should be.
Except they weren't. Panicking, Mars glared at Charon.
"Where are my Pokémon, Charon?" The red-haired woman glared over at the scientist, her eyes narrowing.
"Oh, those. Well, I figured that if I was going to get my payment, it wouldn't hurt to collect some more collateral. As insurance, if you will."
"That wasn't part of the agreement, damn it! Give me my Pokémon back. Now." The young woman's frustration only grew as the old man smiled at her.
"Now that Cyrus is back, I had no way of guaranteeing that you wouldn't just attack me with one of your Pokémon and go back on your word. If you want them back, you'll have to give me my retirement money. It's as simple as that."
Mars stood there fuming, trying not to do anything rash. She had to keep her cool, otherwise she would risk not only her Pokémon, but possibly even Cyrus as well. After all, it seemed that Charon knew more about dealing with side-effects from the Distortion World than she did.
"Fine. You just better give them back when we get your money... wait. If Cyrus has lost his memory, then how am I supposed to get you your money?" To Mars's surprise, Charon didn't actually look concerned this time around.
"Oh, that's on your hands, not mine. You know, Cyrus didn't just keep everything he did in his head. I specifically remember him storing information on Galactic's database. It should still be there, unless Saturn decided to purge the data. Actually, I'm not sure if Saturn could even access the data, let alone purge it. It required a handprint signature from Cyrus himself."
Well, that was important information.
"Why couldn't you tell me this sooner?" The red-haired woman was honestly offended that Cyrus had told Charon this information and not her. Unless Charon was lying...
"I thought you knew," the old scientist answered, shrugging.
"I'm not sure if I believe you. Why exactly would Cyrus entrust you with this fact but not me?"
"I don't know, as I just said, I thought you would have known. Although he didn't tell me directly, per say, rather I saw him accessing the database on a few occasions, and assumed what it was. Cyrus didn't trust anybody, even you."
Yes, he did. He had trusted Mars enough to keep her by his side much of the time, including on Spear Pillar, when he was about to accomplish his life's dream. Maybe there was some other reason why he had kept the database a secret?
"So, how do you expect me to access this database and figure out where Cyrus has stored his extra money so that I can wire it to you? I'm hardly welcome at Galactic Headquarters. Even if Saturn found it in his heart to let me in and not tell the police, there are others there who would not hesitate to file a criminal report. Plus there's the fact that I would need to take Cyrus in order to access the information, and I doubt many people there would be too happy to see him back."
"You're clever enough, I'm sure you'll find a way. If all else fails, you could always saw off his hand and bring that to headquarters." The old man shrugged matter-of-factly.
"Charon, that's disgusting. You're not funny, you know." What kind of sick person would make that suggestion, even jokingly?
"Of course it was funny! So was that look on your face when I mentioned it. Anyway, it looks like you'll have to drag Cyrus over to Galactic's headquarters and sneak him in. If all the database requires is a hand signature, you should be able to get the information you need and download it onto a drive. If there's a password needed to go along with it, we're going to be out of luck. Unless Cyrus somehow is able to access that memory, but not only would that take a near-miracle, he would also have to trust you enough to believe you're trying to help him. Oh, and then there would be that small problem of him needing to be actually conscious to remember and type in a password."
"So then we'll just need to hope that all it takes is a handprint." Mars sighed. This was getting awfully complicated. But then again, it had been that way all along, hadn't it?
"So," continued the red-haired woman. "I'll think on that. In the meantime, you need to help me take care of Cyrus. I gave him some painkillers while he was awake, but I'd rather we get him on an intravenous drip as well, since he was obviously in a lot of agony. I dressed his external injuries, but it seems that the Distortion World did some internal damage as well."
"That would make sense. The physics in that place are enough to confuse any living system, and Cyrus wasn't exactly in peak health to begin with if I had to guess. At any rate, I'm ready to start treating Cyrus when you are, the supplies we need should be in that box, which it looks like you've already sorted through."
The day passed, and shortly before sunset, the blue-haired man once again regained consciousness. He seemed less alert this time, probably due to the drugs in his system. However, Mars wondered if this might end up being a plus, as it might result in the man being less defensive and more laid back.
"Urgh… you." Cyrus's eyes fixed on Mars, who was now sitting in front of the couch that the man was lying on. It seemed that Cyrus had at least recognized Mars from the day before, even if he hadn't addressed her by name. This was at least a start, right?
The red-haired woman decided to let her former leader get situated before asking any questions. She watched as he noticed the IV attached to his arm, then turned his gaze back to Mars. He seemed to be trying to pull off his usual glare, though for some reason it seemed slightly less harsh. The young former commander figured that it likely had something to do with him being high on the medication he was now getting.
"What is this?" Cyrus asked in what seemed to be an attempt at a demanding voice, which somehow fell slightly flat. Mars smiled and prepared to answer, but it was Charon that spoke up first.
"It's a phone charger we stuck in you, figured you could use a charge. What does it look like to you? You do know what IVs are, do you not?"
Mars didn't think that Charon's sarcastic answer was going to help anything, but she didn't vocalize this. All she would likely get was more sarcasm.
"I know what an IV is, and I can assume well enough that it's for pain, what I was asking for is the name of the drug you are giving me." Cyrus turned his focus to the old scientist for a few moments, but then snapped it back to Mars.
"That glare won't work on me, young man. You might as well turn it back to your lady friend here, she's the only one in this room that you're going to be able to intimidate. At any rate, it's morphine. Mars insisted that you were in a whole lot of pain." Charon shrugged.
The blue-haired man's gaze upon Mars grew more intense, but the young woman was in no frame of mind to back down, especially after what Charon had just said. She had done what was needed to help her former leader, and she was going to keep helping him, whether he appreciated it or not. He could thank her later.
"That should be a lot better than before. If there's anything else you need, I'm willing to get it." Cyrus didn't answer back, but Mars knew that he had heard her.
"I know now may not seem like the right time for this, but I have some questions for you, Cyrus. You see, Mars and I made a deal. I helped her retrieve you out of the Distortion World, and I expect something in return. Sure, you could always ignore the deal, but keep in mind that I'm the one administering your drugs. You wouldn't want me to accidentally give you a fatal dose. Or I might simply forget to give you medication all together, leaving you with the pain you had before. You just never know..."
The much younger man obviously didn't like what he was hearing, but nevertheless looked up at Charon with what was clearly defeat.
"What do you want?" the blue-haired man asked coldly.
"I want the same thing I wanted when I first took my old job from you- to retire somewhere quiet and luxurious for my last few years. However, I'm a little short on funds right now. That's where you come in. I know for a fact that you stored large amounts of money in different accounts, and all I require is a measly twenty million poké. I'd guess you've got billions of poké in those accounts, a mere twenty million is nothing to you, surely."
"Twenty million? You told me ten!" Mars wasn't exactly surprised that Charon was changing the numbers, but it was still infuriating. Still, the old vulture did have Cyrus by the throat, and by effect Mars, too.
"I figured 10 million wouldn't be enough. It's not like it's too much of an inconvenience, the only hard part will be getting into Cyrus's accounts in the first place."
It was then that Mars noticed the look of slight confusion on Cyrus's face. Of course! He hadn't even remembered her, how likely was it that he had any idea as to what the old man was talking about?
"Charon, wait. I'm not sure Cyrus even remembers that he ran a company, and he surely doesn't know who you are. After all, as I told you, he didn't even remember me." Cyrus wouldn't remember that annoying old scientist over his most loyal follower, right?
"You know, Mars, there's an easy way to find out. Cyrus! Hmm, let's start out with an easy one. Does the name 'Team Galactic' mean anything to you?"
Cyrus appeared to be trying hard to think about Charon's question. Mars figured that the drugs were surely not helping him in remembering. Finally, the blue-haired man spoke up.
"It... yes. I recall... an organization of sorts? A group with a greater purpose. Its goal... something to do with changing the very fundamentals of thought itself. Many would say it's too difficult a goal, but somehow this organization came close. Human nature broken down into its elements... knowledge, willpower, and emotion. These three elements clash to create what is known as 'spirit'. Spirit... raw, unfinished, incomplete. It must be destroyed… and replaced."
Galactic's former leader was no longer looking at either of the two other people in the room, but rather appeared to be staring off into empty space. It was as if he was staring at something in the room that Charon and Mars couldn't see. Were the drugs giving him hallucinations? Or was he simply lost in thought? Hopefully the latter, as the red-haired woman had no idea how she would deal with Cyrus hallucinating.
"Well, it seems like you're still the same delusional, stubborn fool you always were. So, I'm going to need you to go into your organization's headquarters, and transfer some funds to me. Then you can go about doing whatever you want, presumably involving using more of that money to hire some proper medical staff."
"My organization... the group that I led to near victory, only to be stopped by an interfering abomination. A creature that does not belong to this world. I will not make the same mistakes this time."
Mars was considering cutting Cyrus off to mention the agreement she had made with Giratina, but figured that this wasn't the time or place. He wouldn't make the same mistakes- including trying to change the world in the first place.
Mars had always acted like she agreed with Cyrus's judgement no matter what. Thinking about it now, she realized that she had only been following because she trusted him to make the right choices. Over the years he had been gone, however, she had found herself questioning the beliefs that he had so passionately spoke of.
Was Cyrus's world really something that Mars had wanted? Or had she simply obeyed due to the belief that she owed him? It wasn't Cyrus's vaguely explained dreams that she wanted, it was Cyrus himself.
Now that Giratina had clearly told Mars that any more extreme actions from Cyrus would result in the man's death, it was time to try and convince him to give up and turn the page. It wouldn't be easy, but maybe if she repeated Giratina's threat, he would be more likely to listen.
"Good, it seems that you haven't lost too much of your memory. Now, let's try a slightly harder question. Do you remember me? Who am I?" Charon wasn't going to get an answer to that one, no way.
"He didn't remember who I was, how is he going to remember you of all people?" Mars shook her head.
"Let's give him a chance, Mars."
"You…" Cyrus once again appeared deep in thought. "You were the one I hired as a scientist. You ran the laboratory."
"Excellent!" Charon replied, shooting a gloating expression at Mars, who stared back incredulously. "That should be enough questions for now. Just be ready to head to your old headquarters tomorrow to transfer the money. Just keep in mind that you're now a wanted criminal, and being seen will most likely result in your arrest."
"Come on, Cyrus. You have to remember me from before, too. I worked in your organization for years, and received the highest title you could give me- commander. When you disappeared after your plans failed to Giratina, I alone searched for you. It was I that rescued you from the Distortion World, because of me that you're here now. Everybody else has given up, but I am willing to help in your rehabilitation."
The blue-haired man once again turned his head in Mars's direction, but this time he had the same distant look in his eyes that Mars had just seen after he had answered Charon's question. It was as if the man wasn't quite present in the same room he was now lying in, but rather in a completely different time and location. The red-haired woman found it to be rather disconcerting, but after what Cyrus had been through during the last few years, was it really a surprise that he was acting so strangely?
"Your name... you said was 'Mars'. I... think I do remember you. You worked directly under me. You were there to defend me, and followed my orders without question."
He did remember after all! This was great news. Mars had to restrain herself from laying her hand on top of his and holding on tight. Instead, she gave him a smile.
"See? He did remember you, you just had to give him some time. Now, since it looks like that's settled, I'm going to get ready to go to bed. If there's an emergency, feel free to wake me up. Otherwise, I'm sure the two of you will be fine without me."