Chapter 23
"Loyalty"
It took a while. I still couldn't understand the Persian, but the boss finally decided that I was well enough to get rid of the bandages.
"…How do you feel?"
"Fine…I guess…"
He raised an eyebrow. "You guess?"
"Well…Yeah. I feel fine. Happy?"
"…I suppose so."
"…Huh!?"
He shrugged. "That doesn't matter…Now, as you know, I'm not releasing you quite yet…"
"And you still haven't told me why."
"Actually, I have. The reason is…I can't trust you. As far as I can tell, the minute you step out of this room, you'll just start making plans to run off again. I can't have that, now can I?"
Well…he can't, but I don't really mind…Next time, I'll make sure I keep my supplies with me.
"…Can I?" he repeated.
"……No."
"Good. I knew you would see things my way…Ash, I have prepared a very special treat for you…It's because you are such a very special person…" He sneered.
He thinks I'm special? Is this some kind of joke?
He reached inside his jacket and pulled out a small…tube? I stared at it, trying to figure out what he was up to.
"Ash…I asked you to prove your loyalty to Team Rocket before, and for a brief moment, I thought you had. You have fooled me once, Ashura, but it will not happen again."
Ashura!? Why did he call me Ashura? No one has ever called me Ashura…for a long, long time…No one else even knows about that…except for Mom and me…
He had a dangerous glint in his eye, and I figured it was better not to ask…about that at least…
"…Wh…What…are you going…to do?" I asked nervously.
He laughed softly. "I thought you would never ask…"
He leaned forward. I saw Persian's eyes widen suddenly, and I knew the boss was up to no good. He held out the "tube", and as it got closer, I could see what it really was.
"Hey…what's that?" I asked, trying to delay or distract him.
"You mean you've never been to the doctor?" he asked quietly, "This, my boy, is similar to a shot. It'll only hurt for a moment, and when it's over…hehhehheh…you'll be a new person…"
Whatisthatthingwhatisthatthingwhatisthatthing!!?
He was getting too close. I tried to push him away, but he just pushed back.
"It's no use struggling, Ash! This is your own fault that I have to do this to you!"
"What are trying to do, anyway!?"
"…Make sure that you never disobey me again…"
He slipped his arm out of my hand and plunged the needle into my neck. I let go of him immediately. The pain was incredible. I found it hard to breathe. The room became foggy. I saw his shadow, in front of me…I couldn't see it, but I knew how he was looking at me…sneering…He defeated me again…
His shape blurred into the background. I felt something cold on my cheek, but I couldn't focus on it. I couldn't focus on anything…The whole world was slipping away from me…
Come back! I begged, but it was no use. It had easily managed to escape.
* * *
Reprogramming complete.
I wasn't awake. I knew that much. But it still seemed strange that I was asleep and conscious of it.
…What reprogramming?
Your reprogramming.
Huh? I can't be programmed…Who are you, anyway?
I am not a me. I am an it…Your own, personal, computer virus.
…Why do I want one of those?
It doesn't matter if you want one or not. You had one, and now we are reproducing inside of you.
…What's that mean?
……It's probably best for you not to know.
…Oh.
From now on, you will have no personal thoughts, emotions, or motives. That will all be provided for you.
…How?
Don't question how…
…Um………Okay…?
Don't question me. I will provide you only with the undeniable truth. With this knowledge, you will prosper and grow powerful…
…You're kidding.
Do not question me.
……Fine. I won't question you. Happy?
…Exceedingly.
* * *
"Perrrrrrsian?
I blinked my eyes open. That had been the strangest dream I had ever-
"Ah! Uhhh…" I gasped suddenly.
I felt like someone had clubbed me over the head. I had a huge, pounding headache…and I mean it when I say pounding. I could practically hear the blood pumping through my brain, pushing the nerve endings up against the wall of my skull, trying to either break my head open or kill my brain.
I clutched my head and groaned in agony. I had been better off when I had been bitten by that Raticate. At least I didn't have to feel the pain that it had caused me…
"Peerrrrrsian…" Persian meowed softly.
I guess it knew that I wasn't enjoying myself, and it wanted to comfort me. It rubbed its head against mine, and when I didn't like that, it started licking my face.
"Enhh…Hey……Hey, stop that…Owch…You're tongue is sharp, you stupid cat…" I mumbled.
I let go with one hand to try to push it away, but it kept on licking.
"Stop it, Persian…"
It licked my eye and I couldn't help but laugh.
"Stop…" I said again.
It moved down my cheek and started licking my ear.
"Wh-why are you doing this?" I asked, laughing more and more, "That doesn't feel good, you know!"
"Pe-rrrrr…" it rumbled softly, then started rubbing against me again.
"Aah…Quit it…"
The Persian lay down across my chest and continued to both rub and lick me until I completely forgot about my headache and was laughing steadily and quietly.
"You're a silly cat, you know that?"
"Peerrrrr…" it replied.
"How much do you weigh? I'm having trouble breathing, here," I said jokingly.
"Perrsian." It rubbed its head against mine.
"……Thanks…"
"Siian…" it meowed.
I smiled. It was nice to know that there was someone in Team Rocket who cared about me.