I thought, snapping awake instantly. I crept away from
the warm body that lay against me. I sat against the wall.
I repeated the thought out loud. It woke Sheba up. She pulled herself into a sitting position and rubbed the sleep out of her eyes. She looked around like she always did when she woke up. Her eyes stopped on me. We glared at each other for a few moments, but then I couldn't look at her anymore. I turned my back to her and pulled my ears to the sides of my head. Something told me I should go back to her or at least say something constructive but. what? Some un-worldly power had taken over my mind and body and made me do something I was completely against. Some foreign evil power that must have something to do with Giovanni. Or was this evil? What I had done would create a new life. Surely Giovanni would take the child from us and shape it to his ways. No. I'd screwed up so now I have to keep it from getting worse. The only way is to escape. or. I could destroy the child. I shook my head. No, it is part of me. I cannot destroy a part of myself.
I turned to find that she was not too far away from me.
She furrowed her brow at me. I've been trying to find a way to do that since day one. The only way we'd ever be able to is to devise a plan with Mark. He will help us. I've been trying to tell you that, but you would never take the chance.
She seemed as if she was going to cry.
That evil power began to stir inside me again and I pulled her close. She seemed to be comforted by being so close to me. Maybe it wasn't so evil.
I I didn't know what to say after that. I struggled for words. I
She put her hand over my mouth and gazed into my eyes. She took her hand away and rested her head on my chest plate.
I absently rested my chin on her head and breathed in her scent. How lovely it was. It made me feel all light and floaty. It felt good in the middle of all these disastrous things.
I asked sounding very offended. I don't know why, after all it was just a name.
I was silent for some time. I wish I knew. This is so strange to me. I . never felt this way before.
Her eyelashes fluttered.
Love now that was a word I had always tried to avoid. I didn't want to accept the fact that there would never ever be any love in this world for me, but. I thought it impossible for another Mewtwo to come about. I was so sure I'd destroyed everything in that dark place far away. I must have been wrong. Why am I wrong so often?
Sheba blinked at me waiting for my reply.
I swallowed.
She tilted her head.
I
She looked away.
I thought.
She got up and went back to her corner. I She said gazing at the mirror/window. She glared at me harshly. I felt rage beginning to burn within me, but I forced it back and turned away from her. Why was I getting angry about this anyway? Did I truly love her?
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
"Mark, this is Greg and she is Electra. We were friends when I was collecting badges."
"What about them?" I said taking the pictures from her.
"Their psychics stupid!" She gave me a hard whack over the noggin.
"OW!" I rubbed the bump on my head. "Okay I knew that. So, when are they coming?"
Sabrina sighed. "I don't have a clue where they are, but I know their psychics. The only others I know of."
"Do either of your parents have psychic powers?"
"Hm, I never thought of that. Would make sense if one of them did. I haven't seen them for so long. I don't think either of them did. I know! I call them. Why don't you see how Vynan and Mikial are doing?"
"Good idea! You tell me as soon as you find out if they can help, right?"
"Right."
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
-Hello?-
"Hi! This is Sabrina, dad!"
-Sabrina? Darcy! Sabrina's on the phone!-
"It's been quite a while, hasn't it? Really sorry."
-It doesn't matter. I'm so glad to hear from you. We just heard what happened over there. Silph's taken over again by the rockets?-
"Mm hmm, that's what I was calling about."
-Oh no! You're not in trouble are you?-
"No"
-Oh good, you had me worried.-
"Dad, I need to know. are you or mom a psychic?"
...
"Please dad, tell me. A friend of mine and myself and possibly a couple others are devising a plan to rescue some extremely rare pokemon from Team Rocket. We may need your help. and if."
-I am a psychic, Sabrina. Ever since you. well you know what happened.-
"Yes, it's been hard to forget. anyway, will you help us?"
.. Yes. we'll be over ASAP.-
"Thank you daddy."
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
"May I help you, sir?" The clerk asked looking over the rim of her glasses in a very unfriendly manner.
"Uh yes. I'm looking for Vynan and Mikial-
"Last name?" She asked cutting my off.
"Um. I. I don't know their last name."
She sighed and rolled eyes, muttering something about "kids these days".
"Humph, you're lucky. There are only one Vynan and Mikial. Third floor both in room 349."
"Okay. thanks." I walked away in the direction a nearby sign directed me to the stairs.
Room 349? Why does that sound familiar?
I found the stairs and went up all six flights to the third floor. I walked up and down the hall four times before I found room 349. Oddly, it was the only room out of order. Knocking on the door before I entered, I came inside to find Vynan sitting in a chair next to Mikial's bed. He looked up when I entered.
"How's he doing?" I asked standing beside him.
"Pretty good. They say we'll be outta here in about four more days. I'm actually surprised it'll take that long. Kial's been wrecked a heck of a lot worse than this before and it only took him two weeks to recover."
"Vynan, you've only been here two days."
He looked genuinely surprised. "Naw. are you sure?"
"I'm positive."
"Hmmmm. where have I been? So. you and Sabrina are still gonna try to take out the rockets, eh?"
I nodded.
"And we're gonna help them if it kills us, right Vyn?"
Vynan jumped. "Uh. yeah. Don't scare me like that!"
Mikial recoiled. "Sorry man didn't mean ta. Ya'll right? That was one heck of a howl you let out back there."
"Oh, you mean this?" Vynan pulled back his wavy hair to reveal a long streak of stitches down the right side of his face.
Mikial stared at it for a while. "Gee, just missed your eye. That's gonna be a gnarly scar."
Vynan chuckled. "Right. how's your hip?"
Mikial shifted around. "Still hurts a lot, scared to move it much. Doc says I'm gonna have a little limp. Can you imagine that? That's gonna totally ruin my image."
"Hey, at least you can still walk." Vynan said standing up. He leaned forward a little so he didn't hit his head on the ceiling. "Do you mind if I leave for a while? I think Mark here wants to talk to me."
"Nah, go ahead. You know I ain't three anymore."
Vynan and I went out into the hall.
"He's not all that bad when he's not around women." Vynan said closing the door. "Did you want to talk to me?"
"I was just checking on you guys."
"Oh, well, I really need an excuse to get out of here for a bit. To tell the truth, I hate hospitals. When I was a kid, everyone would always make fun of me because I was so short and scrawny and had purple eyes. My powers were out of control then. they'd call me a freak. it's funny. Mikial used to be taller than me, and he hated me. Most of the time he would join the other kids when they beat me up."
"Bad enough you had to go to the hospital?" We started down the hallway.
"Yeah. The kids at school would bring in stuff to torture me with. Like a rope or something. yeah, they used to tie a rope to a stick then tie a rock to the other end."
"And they'd beat you with that? The teachers let them?"
He sighed. "Yeah, the teachers hated me just as much."
"Wow. that's brutal."
We walked until we came to a coffee shop.
"So how did you and Mikial get back together?"
"When I was 10 I ran away. I became a pokemon trainer and started collecting badges. It took me five years to get all the badges. I was on my way to Indigo Plateau when I was robbed of my badges. By then, I was pretty tall and not in too bad of shape. So I decided to go back home and see if anyone recognized me. I found my house and knocked on the door. Kial answered. He didn't have a clue who I was. So I told him and he let me inside. Mom and dad were really happy to see me, but Kial. man was he frightened. He thought for sure I was gonna get my revenge. Neither of us ever said anything about it until one night. He was out with his friends, well, he thought they were his friends. They turned on him, tried to kill him. But, I came to his rescue. After that, he was too afraid to be away from me. He apologized and we started another pokemon journey together. We've become pretty good friends, been though a lot together now."
"Hmmm. I don't think I'd be able to do that. I would have gotten revenge on everyone that was so evil to me."
"Yeah, Mikial still doesn't understand why I didn't, but I'm just not that kind of guy. I only use my abilities against those who hurt others. And, especially those who abuse pokemon."
"I guess I found the right guy to help Sabrina and I huh?"
He chuckled. "Yeah."
"So, how strong are you? Those are some killer muscles."
He played with his goatee. "Ya know, I've never actually tried to find my limits. Guess I never wanted to."
"Why not?"
"Because I don't want anybody else to know. It's a Superman thing, I guess. If I'm strong enough to toss elephants around and people find out everyone is going to be after me, see what I'm getting at?"
"Yeah."
He leaned in closer. "Plus, I've already got people curious about me. I'll bet everybody in here has stared at me for at least five minutes."
I laughed.
A waitress finally approached us and timidly asked for our order. When she went away to get our drinks we laughed.
"Alright everybody, you can go back to you're lives now!" Vynan said. He didn't quite yell since his voice was too demanding to miss.
"Sometimes it gets kind of annoying, but it is kinda fun to freak out people."
We snickered.
"But, you know what I like about you?"
"What?"
"You weren't at all intimidated by me. I thought it was a little weird at first, but I'm glad I don't scare everyone."
The waitress came back with our drinks. Vynan saluted her.
"Thank you ma'am." I said.
She smiled awkwardly and scurried away to wait on other people. Vynan tried to contain himself.
I took a sip and tried not to laugh myself. Vynan did the same.
"So, what's up with our 'project'?"
"Sabrina's trying to get more of us to help."
"Us?"
"You know."
"Oh! Yes, I knew that. So how many of us are there now?"
"I don't know yet. She said she'd tell me when she got a hold of her parents."
"They're both.?"
"She said she didn't know."
"Well, one of them's gotta be. Whoa! What time is it?"
I checked my watch. "3:49"
"I better get back to the hospital before Mikial has a major wig out. Sorry to cut you short." He downed the rest of his drink and tossed the cup on his way out.
The waitress moseyed over. "Here's your bill."
I looked at the paper; 349 P.
I handed over the money and got up. I went into the bathroom and teleported to Sabrina's living room. Two older people were sitting on the couch.
"Why, hello! You must be Mark. Sabrina was telling us about you." Said the man. Sabrina came into the room.
"Mark! Oh, I'm sorry! I knew there was something I needed to do! Anyway, these are my parents."
"Hi." I said.
Sabrina started giggling. Her father chuckled.
"What's so funny?" Her mother asked.
Her father leaned over and whispered in her ear.
She smiled. "Well, he is."
I glared at Sabrina.
I "Okay, mom, dad, there are two other people so far that are willing to help us. Do you know of anyone else?"
Her parents looked at each other and had one of those silent conversations that all parents are capable of having.
"What about those two friends of yours? What were their names again?" Her mom asked.
"Greg and Electra? I thought of them, but I don't know where they are."
"Then we'll find them." Said her dad. "We're psychics and so are they, so they shouldn't be too hard to find."
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
"Kial? Are you okay?" Vynan asked as he opened the door.
"Good, you're back. I wanna get out of here today. I can't stand this place any longer. It reminds me way too much of when we were kids."
Vynan went to the edge of his brother's bed and stroked his hair.
"That's why you left, isn't it? You don't like it here."
Vynan sighed. "Yeah."
"So can we leave? Please? We can go to Sabrina's house, right? She's got a big house, maybe she'll let us stay."
Vynan looked out the window into the hall. "Do you know where you're clothes are?"
Mikial smiled. "In that bag over there." He said pointing to a yellow plastic bag in the corner. "We have to hurry, the nurse should be coming any time now to check on me."
Vynan grabbed the bag and helped his brother sit up. He untied the smock and helped pull it off. Mikial pulled his shirt out of the bag.
"Sweet, they washed them." He put his shirt on. Next he pulled out his pants. "Hmmm, how am I gonna do this." He began to levitate over the bed. The pants flew to him and put themselves on. "Nobody saw that, did they?" Mikial asked his brother who was keeping watch at the window.
"I don't think so. Are you ready?"
"Yeah."
Mikial floated over to his brother and together they teleported to Sabrina's living room.
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
I backed away when some sparkles appeared in a blob next to me, indicating that someone was going to materialize there. The four of us watched as Mikial and Vynan appeared.
"What are you two doing here? You're supposed to be in the hospital!" Sabrina scolded.
Mikial leaned on his brother for support. "We couldn't stand being there any longer. We were hoping we could just stay here."
Sabrina sighed and looked at me.
"What? I didn't say they could come here."
Sabrina's mother got up and made her way over to the two men. "Who are you guys?"
"I'm Mikial, and this is Vynan. We're friends of Mark and Sabrina."
Sabrina's mom turned to us. "You're house is big enough, just let them stay. Looks like they've had it rough. Didn't like the hospital, eh?"
"Fine. Follow me."
Vynan looked down at Mikial. Mikial shook his head and flew after Sabrina. Sabrina's parents watched the two leave.
"Anyway, we're Sabrina's parents" Said Sabrina's dad. "Are you related to the other one?"
"Yeah, he's my little brother." Vynan said. He looked around for a place to sit so he didn't have to cock his head.
"You can sit there." I pointed to the armchair next to the couch. Sabrina came back.
"So about Team Rocket."
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
Mewtwo groaned. Sheba's ears perked but she didn't look up.
I
The door opened. Both Mewtwos quickly turned their attention to the door. Sycamore stood in the doorway. "Sheba, come with me."
Sheba started to get up but Mewtwo stood in her way and pushed her back down.
Sheba looked at him and tears began to wheal in her eyes.
Sycamore's eyes twitched. "Just a test to see if she is pregnant."
Mewtwo squinted at him, and then slid out of Sheba's way.
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
I yawned. "We've been at this for hours and still not a single good idea."
Sabrina picked her head up off the table. "What time is it?"
"It's quarter to twelve." Said Sabrina's dad.
"Vynan's been gone for a while, I'm gonna go see what's up." I went up the stairs to the room now dedicated to Mikial. I quietly opened the door and peeked inside. Vynan was holding Mikial, who was crying softly on Vynan's shoulder. Vynan nudged Mikial's cheek and whispered in his ear.
I thought, shutting the door. I tiptoed back down the stairs.
"What's the matter Mark? You look like you saw a ghost." Sabrina said.
"Sabrina. You're mom and I need to get back home. besides I don't really think we're much help to you anyway. We're getting old and." Her father practically jumped out of his chair.
"You don't need to explain daddy. I didn't really want to drag you into this anyway. I doubt we're actually going to pull this off."
Her parents left.
"What was that? Do they think we need to talk about something personal or something?"
"I don't know, but they definitely didn't want to be here. what made you look so pale?"
"Mikial and Vynan. Vynan was holding Mikial, and. Vynan like nudged him and whispered in his ear. ACK!"
Sabrina made a grossed out face. "You think they're. gay?"
"I don't know but that's what it looked like."
Sabrina made her way to the stairs. I caught her before she went up them.
"No, Sabrina. Let them tell us. That would be pretty embarrassing if you just walked in on them. If they wanted us to know they'd tell us, right?"
"Alright, but they better not be screwing around in my house."
We sat down at the kitchen table.
"I really don't see any possible way we could do this. You're the only one who can actually get into Team Rocket. I don't even know where the head quarters are."
"Maybe you're right. Maybe this is impossible. But, it has to be done or else my father will control the world." I sighed. "Get some sleep now. If you don't mind, I'd like to go home for the night and check on the Twos."
"You're going to leave me with the lovers upstairs? I don't think so!"
"Come on Sabrina just one night. You can take care of yourself, right?"
"Hello! I was raped! Do you think I want to stay here alone with two perverted men I hardly know?"
I stared at her. "Y-you really trust me that much? You trust Giovanni's son?"
"Well now that you put it that way. no, I still trust you. If you were Gio's son you wouldn't be doing this, would you?"
I sighed heavily.
"Alright! Fine! Go! See if I care!" She crossed her arms and looked away.
"Thank you, Sabrina!" I got up and kissed her. I sensed her watching me as I left.
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
"Are you sure of it? You know this happened? You're not just trying to get brownie points or force me to discipline my son?"
"Absolutely positive, sir. I also believe that the two men who attacked Silph the other day are involved with him. It is reported that he came and took them away before we could deal with them correctly."
"Alright. You are dismissed."
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
I
I hope you can figure something out soon. otherwise it might be even more difficult.
She was silent for a little while.
She was silent again.
"Ah, Mark, it's been quite a while."
I whirled around to see my father standing in the doorway.
"Uh. hi dad."
He came in and stood in front of the window. He watched the Mewtwos inside through the darkness.
"Such lovely creatures, aren't they?"
"Yes, they are."
"Wouldn't you just love to be able to manipulate them? Make them do whatever you wish?"
"That would be nice, but not in the way I'm sure you mean."
"Why not?"
"Because it's not right."
"Of course it is right. Their sole purpose is to serve me. They have no right to defy me. I created them, therefore I can do whatever I want with them."
"I don't understand, Mark. Why do you reject the power I try to give you? Why not use your wonderful mind to help me instead of plotting against me?"
"This is wrong, pokemon weren't put here to be slaughter and forced to do our dirty work."
"Mark, pokemon were put her to serve man what other reason would they have? Without us, they are nothing but objects that fill space. We are only using them to our full advantage. Other people are just too heartfelt and weak- minded to use pokemon as they were intended to be used."
"No. I won't let you."
"This is you're destiny, Mark. It's all boiling within you. You're holding it back. Set it free. The outside world hates you. It hates all of us. That is why we stick together, because we are not accepted. Out there, there are rules. Here, there are none. Let you're true self out, here it will be accepted."
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
"Vyn, all of this has got me thinking." Mikial said, recovering from his long session of crying. "Why are you so compassionate to me after all I did to you when we were kids?"
Vynan handed him another tissue. "Because you're my little brother. I knew you didn't really mean all that stuff you said and did, though there were times I though you did mean it. But, I knew deep inside that you weren't so heartless. You were just scared of what might happen if you stood up for me."
Mikial blew his nose and took a deep breath in attempt to suppress his hiccups. "I might have been dead if you hadn't of come when you did. blocking that bullet. Why didn't it hurt you?"
"I don't know. I thought for sure I was dead."
Mikial thought for a minute. "You claim all you can do with your powers is move stuff and teleport, but I think there's more to you. Maybe it's something to do with your eyes?"
"You mean eye."
"Eye? What do you mean?"
Vynan looked away. "You don't remember."
"Oh." Tears started to fall from Mikial's eyes again. "Brandon. and the lighter. I SHOULD HAVE STOPPED HIM!"
"Ki, there's nothing you can do about it now. Please, just stop crying."
Mikial took long shaky breaths and calmed down. "Where did you get the fake one? It's so realistic, it's scary."
"I made it."
"You made that?"
"Yeah."
"Wow. too bad you can't see out of it."
"Actually, I can."
"What? But. how?"
"He didn't burn the retina, so all I needed was a substitute for the other parts."
"Geeze. I knew you were smart. but that's ingenious."
Vynan tried to stifle a yawn. "Maybe we should get to bed."
"Yeah, that sounds like a good idea. um. you wouldn't mind staying here, would you?"
"Uh. maybe we shouldn't. I'll bet the others are already wondering what the heck we've been doing in here for so long."
Mikial giggled. "Yeah, you're right. Good night, then."
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
"I was hoping that you would live with the fact that you were a rocket. but, sadly, you just had to go plotting a way to screw me." Giovanni took a gun from his pocket. "I'm so sorry it has to end this way."
I repeated the thought out loud. It woke Sheba up. She pulled herself into a sitting position and rubbed the sleep out of her eyes. She looked around like she always did when she woke up. Her eyes stopped on me. We glared at each other for a few moments, but then I couldn't look at her anymore. I turned my back to her and pulled my ears to the sides of my head. Something told me I should go back to her or at least say something constructive but. what? Some un-worldly power had taken over my mind and body and made me do something I was completely against. Some foreign evil power that must have something to do with Giovanni. Or was this evil? What I had done would create a new life. Surely Giovanni would take the child from us and shape it to his ways. No. I'd screwed up so now I have to keep it from getting worse. The only way is to escape. or. I could destroy the child. I shook my head. No, it is part of me. I cannot destroy a part of myself.
I turned to find that she was not too far away from me.
She furrowed her brow at me. I've been trying to find a way to do that since day one. The only way we'd ever be able to is to devise a plan with Mark. He will help us. I've been trying to tell you that, but you would never take the chance.
She seemed as if she was going to cry.
That evil power began to stir inside me again and I pulled her close. She seemed to be comforted by being so close to me. Maybe it wasn't so evil.
I I didn't know what to say after that. I struggled for words. I
She put her hand over my mouth and gazed into my eyes. She took her hand away and rested her head on my chest plate.
I absently rested my chin on her head and breathed in her scent. How lovely it was. It made me feel all light and floaty. It felt good in the middle of all these disastrous things.
I asked sounding very offended. I don't know why, after all it was just a name.
I was silent for some time. I wish I knew. This is so strange to me. I . never felt this way before.
Her eyelashes fluttered.
Love now that was a word I had always tried to avoid. I didn't want to accept the fact that there would never ever be any love in this world for me, but. I thought it impossible for another Mewtwo to come about. I was so sure I'd destroyed everything in that dark place far away. I must have been wrong. Why am I wrong so often?
Sheba blinked at me waiting for my reply.
I swallowed.
She tilted her head.
I
She looked away.
I thought.
She got up and went back to her corner. I She said gazing at the mirror/window. She glared at me harshly. I felt rage beginning to burn within me, but I forced it back and turned away from her. Why was I getting angry about this anyway? Did I truly love her?
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
"Mark, this is Greg and she is Electra. We were friends when I was collecting badges."
"What about them?" I said taking the pictures from her.
"Their psychics stupid!" She gave me a hard whack over the noggin.
"OW!" I rubbed the bump on my head. "Okay I knew that. So, when are they coming?"
Sabrina sighed. "I don't have a clue where they are, but I know their psychics. The only others I know of."
"Do either of your parents have psychic powers?"
"Hm, I never thought of that. Would make sense if one of them did. I haven't seen them for so long. I don't think either of them did. I know! I call them. Why don't you see how Vynan and Mikial are doing?"
"Good idea! You tell me as soon as you find out if they can help, right?"
"Right."
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
-Hello?-
"Hi! This is Sabrina, dad!"
-Sabrina? Darcy! Sabrina's on the phone!-
"It's been quite a while, hasn't it? Really sorry."
-It doesn't matter. I'm so glad to hear from you. We just heard what happened over there. Silph's taken over again by the rockets?-
"Mm hmm, that's what I was calling about."
-Oh no! You're not in trouble are you?-
"No"
-Oh good, you had me worried.-
"Dad, I need to know. are you or mom a psychic?"
...
"Please dad, tell me. A friend of mine and myself and possibly a couple others are devising a plan to rescue some extremely rare pokemon from Team Rocket. We may need your help. and if."
-I am a psychic, Sabrina. Ever since you. well you know what happened.-
"Yes, it's been hard to forget. anyway, will you help us?"
.. Yes. we'll be over ASAP.-
"Thank you daddy."
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
"May I help you, sir?" The clerk asked looking over the rim of her glasses in a very unfriendly manner.
"Uh yes. I'm looking for Vynan and Mikial-
"Last name?" She asked cutting my off.
"Um. I. I don't know their last name."
She sighed and rolled eyes, muttering something about "kids these days".
"Humph, you're lucky. There are only one Vynan and Mikial. Third floor both in room 349."
"Okay. thanks." I walked away in the direction a nearby sign directed me to the stairs.
Room 349? Why does that sound familiar?
I found the stairs and went up all six flights to the third floor. I walked up and down the hall four times before I found room 349. Oddly, it was the only room out of order. Knocking on the door before I entered, I came inside to find Vynan sitting in a chair next to Mikial's bed. He looked up when I entered.
"How's he doing?" I asked standing beside him.
"Pretty good. They say we'll be outta here in about four more days. I'm actually surprised it'll take that long. Kial's been wrecked a heck of a lot worse than this before and it only took him two weeks to recover."
"Vynan, you've only been here two days."
He looked genuinely surprised. "Naw. are you sure?"
"I'm positive."
"Hmmmm. where have I been? So. you and Sabrina are still gonna try to take out the rockets, eh?"
I nodded.
"And we're gonna help them if it kills us, right Vyn?"
Vynan jumped. "Uh. yeah. Don't scare me like that!"
Mikial recoiled. "Sorry man didn't mean ta. Ya'll right? That was one heck of a howl you let out back there."
"Oh, you mean this?" Vynan pulled back his wavy hair to reveal a long streak of stitches down the right side of his face.
Mikial stared at it for a while. "Gee, just missed your eye. That's gonna be a gnarly scar."
Vynan chuckled. "Right. how's your hip?"
Mikial shifted around. "Still hurts a lot, scared to move it much. Doc says I'm gonna have a little limp. Can you imagine that? That's gonna totally ruin my image."
"Hey, at least you can still walk." Vynan said standing up. He leaned forward a little so he didn't hit his head on the ceiling. "Do you mind if I leave for a while? I think Mark here wants to talk to me."
"Nah, go ahead. You know I ain't three anymore."
Vynan and I went out into the hall.
"He's not all that bad when he's not around women." Vynan said closing the door. "Did you want to talk to me?"
"I was just checking on you guys."
"Oh, well, I really need an excuse to get out of here for a bit. To tell the truth, I hate hospitals. When I was a kid, everyone would always make fun of me because I was so short and scrawny and had purple eyes. My powers were out of control then. they'd call me a freak. it's funny. Mikial used to be taller than me, and he hated me. Most of the time he would join the other kids when they beat me up."
"Bad enough you had to go to the hospital?" We started down the hallway.
"Yeah. The kids at school would bring in stuff to torture me with. Like a rope or something. yeah, they used to tie a rope to a stick then tie a rock to the other end."
"And they'd beat you with that? The teachers let them?"
He sighed. "Yeah, the teachers hated me just as much."
"Wow. that's brutal."
We walked until we came to a coffee shop.
"So how did you and Mikial get back together?"
"When I was 10 I ran away. I became a pokemon trainer and started collecting badges. It took me five years to get all the badges. I was on my way to Indigo Plateau when I was robbed of my badges. By then, I was pretty tall and not in too bad of shape. So I decided to go back home and see if anyone recognized me. I found my house and knocked on the door. Kial answered. He didn't have a clue who I was. So I told him and he let me inside. Mom and dad were really happy to see me, but Kial. man was he frightened. He thought for sure I was gonna get my revenge. Neither of us ever said anything about it until one night. He was out with his friends, well, he thought they were his friends. They turned on him, tried to kill him. But, I came to his rescue. After that, he was too afraid to be away from me. He apologized and we started another pokemon journey together. We've become pretty good friends, been though a lot together now."
"Hmmm. I don't think I'd be able to do that. I would have gotten revenge on everyone that was so evil to me."
"Yeah, Mikial still doesn't understand why I didn't, but I'm just not that kind of guy. I only use my abilities against those who hurt others. And, especially those who abuse pokemon."
"I guess I found the right guy to help Sabrina and I huh?"
He chuckled. "Yeah."
"So, how strong are you? Those are some killer muscles."
He played with his goatee. "Ya know, I've never actually tried to find my limits. Guess I never wanted to."
"Why not?"
"Because I don't want anybody else to know. It's a Superman thing, I guess. If I'm strong enough to toss elephants around and people find out everyone is going to be after me, see what I'm getting at?"
"Yeah."
He leaned in closer. "Plus, I've already got people curious about me. I'll bet everybody in here has stared at me for at least five minutes."
I laughed.
A waitress finally approached us and timidly asked for our order. When she went away to get our drinks we laughed.
"Alright everybody, you can go back to you're lives now!" Vynan said. He didn't quite yell since his voice was too demanding to miss.
"Sometimes it gets kind of annoying, but it is kinda fun to freak out people."
We snickered.
"But, you know what I like about you?"
"What?"
"You weren't at all intimidated by me. I thought it was a little weird at first, but I'm glad I don't scare everyone."
The waitress came back with our drinks. Vynan saluted her.
"Thank you ma'am." I said.
She smiled awkwardly and scurried away to wait on other people. Vynan tried to contain himself.
I took a sip and tried not to laugh myself. Vynan did the same.
"So, what's up with our 'project'?"
"Sabrina's trying to get more of us to help."
"Us?"
"You know."
"Oh! Yes, I knew that. So how many of us are there now?"
"I don't know yet. She said she'd tell me when she got a hold of her parents."
"They're both.?"
"She said she didn't know."
"Well, one of them's gotta be. Whoa! What time is it?"
I checked my watch. "3:49"
"I better get back to the hospital before Mikial has a major wig out. Sorry to cut you short." He downed the rest of his drink and tossed the cup on his way out.
The waitress moseyed over. "Here's your bill."
I looked at the paper; 349 P.
I handed over the money and got up. I went into the bathroom and teleported to Sabrina's living room. Two older people were sitting on the couch.
"Why, hello! You must be Mark. Sabrina was telling us about you." Said the man. Sabrina came into the room.
"Mark! Oh, I'm sorry! I knew there was something I needed to do! Anyway, these are my parents."
"Hi." I said.
Sabrina started giggling. Her father chuckled.
"What's so funny?" Her mother asked.
Her father leaned over and whispered in her ear.
She smiled. "Well, he is."
I glared at Sabrina.
I "Okay, mom, dad, there are two other people so far that are willing to help us. Do you know of anyone else?"
Her parents looked at each other and had one of those silent conversations that all parents are capable of having.
"What about those two friends of yours? What were their names again?" Her mom asked.
"Greg and Electra? I thought of them, but I don't know where they are."
"Then we'll find them." Said her dad. "We're psychics and so are they, so they shouldn't be too hard to find."
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"Kial? Are you okay?" Vynan asked as he opened the door.
"Good, you're back. I wanna get out of here today. I can't stand this place any longer. It reminds me way too much of when we were kids."
Vynan went to the edge of his brother's bed and stroked his hair.
"That's why you left, isn't it? You don't like it here."
Vynan sighed. "Yeah."
"So can we leave? Please? We can go to Sabrina's house, right? She's got a big house, maybe she'll let us stay."
Vynan looked out the window into the hall. "Do you know where you're clothes are?"
Mikial smiled. "In that bag over there." He said pointing to a yellow plastic bag in the corner. "We have to hurry, the nurse should be coming any time now to check on me."
Vynan grabbed the bag and helped his brother sit up. He untied the smock and helped pull it off. Mikial pulled his shirt out of the bag.
"Sweet, they washed them." He put his shirt on. Next he pulled out his pants. "Hmmm, how am I gonna do this." He began to levitate over the bed. The pants flew to him and put themselves on. "Nobody saw that, did they?" Mikial asked his brother who was keeping watch at the window.
"I don't think so. Are you ready?"
"Yeah."
Mikial floated over to his brother and together they teleported to Sabrina's living room.
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I backed away when some sparkles appeared in a blob next to me, indicating that someone was going to materialize there. The four of us watched as Mikial and Vynan appeared.
"What are you two doing here? You're supposed to be in the hospital!" Sabrina scolded.
Mikial leaned on his brother for support. "We couldn't stand being there any longer. We were hoping we could just stay here."
Sabrina sighed and looked at me.
"What? I didn't say they could come here."
Sabrina's mother got up and made her way over to the two men. "Who are you guys?"
"I'm Mikial, and this is Vynan. We're friends of Mark and Sabrina."
Sabrina's mom turned to us. "You're house is big enough, just let them stay. Looks like they've had it rough. Didn't like the hospital, eh?"
"Fine. Follow me."
Vynan looked down at Mikial. Mikial shook his head and flew after Sabrina. Sabrina's parents watched the two leave.
"Anyway, we're Sabrina's parents" Said Sabrina's dad. "Are you related to the other one?"
"Yeah, he's my little brother." Vynan said. He looked around for a place to sit so he didn't have to cock his head.
"You can sit there." I pointed to the armchair next to the couch. Sabrina came back.
"So about Team Rocket."
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Mewtwo groaned. Sheba's ears perked but she didn't look up.
I
The door opened. Both Mewtwos quickly turned their attention to the door. Sycamore stood in the doorway. "Sheba, come with me."
Sheba started to get up but Mewtwo stood in her way and pushed her back down.
Sheba looked at him and tears began to wheal in her eyes.
Sycamore's eyes twitched. "Just a test to see if she is pregnant."
Mewtwo squinted at him, and then slid out of Sheba's way.
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I yawned. "We've been at this for hours and still not a single good idea."
Sabrina picked her head up off the table. "What time is it?"
"It's quarter to twelve." Said Sabrina's dad.
"Vynan's been gone for a while, I'm gonna go see what's up." I went up the stairs to the room now dedicated to Mikial. I quietly opened the door and peeked inside. Vynan was holding Mikial, who was crying softly on Vynan's shoulder. Vynan nudged Mikial's cheek and whispered in his ear.
I thought, shutting the door. I tiptoed back down the stairs.
"What's the matter Mark? You look like you saw a ghost." Sabrina said.
"Sabrina. You're mom and I need to get back home. besides I don't really think we're much help to you anyway. We're getting old and." Her father practically jumped out of his chair.
"You don't need to explain daddy. I didn't really want to drag you into this anyway. I doubt we're actually going to pull this off."
Her parents left.
"What was that? Do they think we need to talk about something personal or something?"
"I don't know, but they definitely didn't want to be here. what made you look so pale?"
"Mikial and Vynan. Vynan was holding Mikial, and. Vynan like nudged him and whispered in his ear. ACK!"
Sabrina made a grossed out face. "You think they're. gay?"
"I don't know but that's what it looked like."
Sabrina made her way to the stairs. I caught her before she went up them.
"No, Sabrina. Let them tell us. That would be pretty embarrassing if you just walked in on them. If they wanted us to know they'd tell us, right?"
"Alright, but they better not be screwing around in my house."
We sat down at the kitchen table.
"I really don't see any possible way we could do this. You're the only one who can actually get into Team Rocket. I don't even know where the head quarters are."
"Maybe you're right. Maybe this is impossible. But, it has to be done or else my father will control the world." I sighed. "Get some sleep now. If you don't mind, I'd like to go home for the night and check on the Twos."
"You're going to leave me with the lovers upstairs? I don't think so!"
"Come on Sabrina just one night. You can take care of yourself, right?"
"Hello! I was raped! Do you think I want to stay here alone with two perverted men I hardly know?"
I stared at her. "Y-you really trust me that much? You trust Giovanni's son?"
"Well now that you put it that way. no, I still trust you. If you were Gio's son you wouldn't be doing this, would you?"
I sighed heavily.
"Alright! Fine! Go! See if I care!" She crossed her arms and looked away.
"Thank you, Sabrina!" I got up and kissed her. I sensed her watching me as I left.
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"Are you sure of it? You know this happened? You're not just trying to get brownie points or force me to discipline my son?"
"Absolutely positive, sir. I also believe that the two men who attacked Silph the other day are involved with him. It is reported that he came and took them away before we could deal with them correctly."
"Alright. You are dismissed."
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I
I hope you can figure something out soon. otherwise it might be even more difficult.
She was silent for a little while.
She was silent again.
"Ah, Mark, it's been quite a while."
I whirled around to see my father standing in the doorway.
"Uh. hi dad."
He came in and stood in front of the window. He watched the Mewtwos inside through the darkness.
"Such lovely creatures, aren't they?"
"Yes, they are."
"Wouldn't you just love to be able to manipulate them? Make them do whatever you wish?"
"That would be nice, but not in the way I'm sure you mean."
"Why not?"
"Because it's not right."
"Of course it is right. Their sole purpose is to serve me. They have no right to defy me. I created them, therefore I can do whatever I want with them."
"I don't understand, Mark. Why do you reject the power I try to give you? Why not use your wonderful mind to help me instead of plotting against me?"
"This is wrong, pokemon weren't put here to be slaughter and forced to do our dirty work."
"Mark, pokemon were put her to serve man what other reason would they have? Without us, they are nothing but objects that fill space. We are only using them to our full advantage. Other people are just too heartfelt and weak- minded to use pokemon as they were intended to be used."
"No. I won't let you."
"This is you're destiny, Mark. It's all boiling within you. You're holding it back. Set it free. The outside world hates you. It hates all of us. That is why we stick together, because we are not accepted. Out there, there are rules. Here, there are none. Let you're true self out, here it will be accepted."
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"Vyn, all of this has got me thinking." Mikial said, recovering from his long session of crying. "Why are you so compassionate to me after all I did to you when we were kids?"
Vynan handed him another tissue. "Because you're my little brother. I knew you didn't really mean all that stuff you said and did, though there were times I though you did mean it. But, I knew deep inside that you weren't so heartless. You were just scared of what might happen if you stood up for me."
Mikial blew his nose and took a deep breath in attempt to suppress his hiccups. "I might have been dead if you hadn't of come when you did. blocking that bullet. Why didn't it hurt you?"
"I don't know. I thought for sure I was dead."
Mikial thought for a minute. "You claim all you can do with your powers is move stuff and teleport, but I think there's more to you. Maybe it's something to do with your eyes?"
"You mean eye."
"Eye? What do you mean?"
Vynan looked away. "You don't remember."
"Oh." Tears started to fall from Mikial's eyes again. "Brandon. and the lighter. I SHOULD HAVE STOPPED HIM!"
"Ki, there's nothing you can do about it now. Please, just stop crying."
Mikial took long shaky breaths and calmed down. "Where did you get the fake one? It's so realistic, it's scary."
"I made it."
"You made that?"
"Yeah."
"Wow. too bad you can't see out of it."
"Actually, I can."
"What? But. how?"
"He didn't burn the retina, so all I needed was a substitute for the other parts."
"Geeze. I knew you were smart. but that's ingenious."
Vynan tried to stifle a yawn. "Maybe we should get to bed."
"Yeah, that sounds like a good idea. um. you wouldn't mind staying here, would you?"
"Uh. maybe we shouldn't. I'll bet the others are already wondering what the heck we've been doing in here for so long."
Mikial giggled. "Yeah, you're right. Good night, then."
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"I was hoping that you would live with the fact that you were a rocket. but, sadly, you just had to go plotting a way to screw me." Giovanni took a gun from his pocket. "I'm so sorry it has to end this way."