-=-=-=-=-

Daggers of the Mind
by TG
(With generous assistance from R. A. Stott)

(Part Nine of Fate's Game)


"A what.. a mind what?"

-=-=-=-=-

"SAM Systems, stand by... Denivan Base 214 on Stand-by Status... Ready for security check..."

Gasglow placed his hand on a pad that protruded from the wall beside the door. A light scanned it, then a beam scanned the owner of the hand.

"Scan acknowledges Lieutenant Commander Ian Gasglow, Serial Number 278NW1001, United Nations Starship Forrestal - F2-662, Engineer..."

Gasglow closed his eyes, thankful the computer hadn't continued to say just what his full title was. What the Team Blue personnel would have thought if it had said Scanner Maintenance Crew Engineer... He shuddered at the possible jokes.

"Computer, as of this date, per order of Strom, commander, fleet flagship Forrestal, I take command of this base, and its sister base at 35.35 degrees."

"Base command acknowledges at zed-point one eight hours GMT, command of Denivan Base 214P and 214A transferred to Lt. Commander Gasglow - as of 0072.147. Travel train to Mid-Pacific Base awaits at station 1. Travel train to Mid-Atlantic Base awaits at station 2. Per orders received by trans-dimensional data relay from S.A.M. core unit 1, bases will henceforth be titled Team Blue Pacific, or TBP, and Team Blue Atlantic, or TBA. Base commander will be provided listings for sub bases throughout the world upon request. This is S.A.M. Systems, welcome..."

-=-=-=-=-

"Well, this is rather interesting."

Gasglow studied the display read-out.

"Did it just not like me?"

Cassidy smirked. "It knew trouble when it saw you."

Van tapped the small force-field, which shimmered each time.

"Well I'll be..."

Cassidy looked over Gasglow's shoulder. "You'll be what?"

Gasglow pointed at the read-out. "It's been programmed to scan DNA, and somebody entered Giovanni's DNA as a hostile life-form."

Van looked around the force-field that was being generated. "Awfully small for a Brig."

Gasglow tapped a few buttons and the display chirped at him. The small force-field dropped. "There, I keyed in your brain waves, and it seemed a little happier."

Van sighed in relief as the small force-field shimmered away. "That was the longest five minutes of my life. I hope we don't have to repeat this?"

Gasglow glanced at the console. "I don't think so, Van. Sorry about that, I didn't realize the security system was set up to scan for hostile DNA."

-=-=-=-=-

Cassidy yawned as she walked up to the large door. She glanced at it, but didn't see any buttons or a handle. She pulled out a small knob that almost looked like a Pokéball and set it in a small impression on the door. After hearing a small noise, she twisted it and started to pull, sliding the huge door open. "This place really has a thing for strange doors."

Van was standing in the doorway. "Uh, what're you doing here?"

Cassidy got an annoyed look. "You called me, remember?"

Van glanced around outside and then escorted the female Rocket inside. He quickly closed the door and handed her the Pokéball-looking knob. "Be careful about leaving that door open for too long, okay?"

Cassidy looked around the room. It looked to be your standard laboratory, with tables and shelves lined with various gadgets and glassware. Multiple, large pieces of equipment were also arrayed around the room. "Okay Dr. Frankenstein, whatever you say. So why did you wake me up at seven in the morning?" She looked down at the piece of paper thrust into her hand.

"That's an authorization from Giovanni for a test sample. I need you to go to Slice and Splice 2. You know where that is, right?"

Cassidy thought for a moment. "You mean Genetics Research Lab 2?"

Van nodded. "That's it, on Sub-level 4 at Silph. Go there and hand this letter to the Lab Supervisor on duty. He'll try to bully you into calling up to Giovanni, but don't let him. He'll then escort you to the Storage Bays. You're to pull the sample in Storage Bay 2, Rack 7, Sample #6. Repeat it to me."

Cassidy yawned again. "Yeah, yeah.. Bay 2, Rack 6, Sample 7-"

"Dammit, get it right!"

Cassidy blinked at the agitated look on Van's face. "I was just kidding, Van. You don't need to bite my head off."

The lead scientist sighed and turned around, walking over to a table. "I'm sorry, Cassidy. I have alot of things on my mind lately."

"Okay, so it's Bay 2, Rack 7, Sample #6."

Van nodded. "Right, that's the one you'll get." He pulled a piece of equipment off the table that looked almost like a thermos you carried your coffee into work with. He turned around and handed it to the female Rocket.

Cassidy smirked as she turned it over in her hands. "Gee, Dad, thanks... now I've got the juice for my lunch covered..."

Van smiled wearily. "This is the sample containment bottle, it'll hold the sample. Just don't drop it, as the sample is very old."

"So what's the big deal?"

Van glanced at her. "What?"

Cassidy waved the letter and the containment bottle. "Why am I fetching this sample?"

"I want to get it away from Giovanni. He might try to clone something."

She glanced around the lab. "And that something might be..."

"Some people that could help him. Don't worry about who right now, okay?"

Cassidy found herself being quickly escorted out of the laboratory. "Why all the rush?"

Van looked at her. "It's of vital importance that this get done immediately. Please don't tell Gasglow I'm doing this, he's got enough problems to worry about right now. Okay?" When Cassidy nodded to him, he slid the door shut.

Cassidy looked at the shut door. "Good morning to you too."

-=-=-=-=-

"What the hell!?"

Cassidy folded her arms. "You got a problem with that order?"

The gray-bearded man read over the letter several times. "But.. but that sample, why does he want it?"

Cassidy put on her best poker face. "Look, are you questioning Giovanni? Do you really want me to call him up at this time in the morning and tell him one of his idiot Lab Supervisors-"

"Alright, alright!" the scientist grumbled. "I'll get your damned sample, geesh." He walked over to a row of large cylinders. After putting on a pair of gloves, he glanced over at Cassidy. "Got the sample containment bottle?"

Cassidy walked over and opened the containment bottle, holding it out to the man.

The scientist pushed a green button, which went to red. A smaller cylinder rose out of the storage unit, displaying rows and rows of small, plastic containers. He quickly counted down the rows and over to a numbered hole, then slide the container out. He carefully put it inside one of the small holes in the containment bottle, then closed the storage device. "That's a hot one for sure, you better not contaminate it!"

Cassidy feigned understanding. "Yeah, that's why I'm doing it, and not a lackey..."

The scientist snorted. "Just remember to get that sample to a cold storage unit immediately after you're done with it. I don't want Giovanni coming down on me for this!"

Cassidy screwed the lid onto the bottle, nodding to the scientist. "Whatever, you did your job. If anything happens from here, I'll have to take the rap." She realized that she was, once again, placing her life in jeopardy for Team Blue. "I hate this."

The supervisor shrugged as he escorted her to the door. "Hey, that's why you get paid the big bucks, right?"

Cassidy faked a smile before disappearing out the door.

-=-=-=-=-

Cassidy twisted the Pokéball-knob (as she liked to call it), and pulled the door open.

"Wow, that was fast!"

Cassidy felt the bottle snatched from her hands. "Yeah, well, I guess that supervisor was more of a push-over than you thought."

"Close the door and come with me." Van turned around and started walking into the lab.

Cassidy slammed the door shut before following him. She looked at the other equipment that had appeared. "So what's so important?"

"I want to check you for microbes and anything else... There's no telling what's wandering around in that place." He pointed to a long table with a console and a strange bar next to it. "Just hop up onto there and I'll do a micro-cellular scan."

The female Rocket slowly slid onto the table, laying down uneasily. "Uh, just don't come at me with any needles, okay?"

Van nodded and walked around to the other side of the table. He pushed several buttons and the strange bar slid out so that it covered a section of Cassidy & the table. "Now just relax, you'll feel a tingling sensation."

Cassidy took slow, even breaths as the bar slowly moved up and down her body. The bar then retracted back. "Well?"

Van nodded. "You're in good health, nothing's wandering around in there. You can get up now."

Cassidy got up, then grabbed her stomach. "Oh man.. I shouldn't have done that."

Van walked around, wearing a concerned expression. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing, I just feel a little queasy. I probably should've eaten breakfast." She slowly got off the table.

"The micro-cellular scan can make you feel a little sick. Take it easy for the rest of the day." Van escorted her to the door. "Just remember, don't tell Gasglow about this little jaunt, okay?"

Cassidy nodded. "Consider it forgotten." She watched the door slam shut. She glanced down the corridor for a few minutes, waiting for her insides to settle.

"What was that about?"

Cassidy nearly jumped. She spun around to find Gasglow standing behind her. "What do you mean?"

"Well, I overheard a bit of your conversation. What are you supposed to consider forgotten?" Gasglow clasped his hands behind his back, watching Cassidy's reaction.

She began to walk away, waving her hand. "It's nothing, he just asked me to run an errand for him." She noticed Gasglow was walking with her.

"So that's why your blood pressure, pulse, and body temp are above normal?"

Cassidy glanced down at him. "Actually, I'm just a little sick from not eating this morning and the stress. It's no big deal."

Gasglow nodded, glancing at the floor as they walked along. "You're not going to tell me, are you?"

"Don't worry about it, you've got other stuff to go crazy over."

The leader of Team Blue nodded again. "You know... it's very upsetting when my two best agents start hiding stuff from me. I'll give you two a week or so to think it over before I get really nervous."

Cassidy stopped. "And what does that mean? I thought you didn't run things using fear and intimidation?"

Gasglow stopped and glanced back at her. "I don't. I expect to be given the same level of trust I give my agents. Right now you two are showing a lack of trust in me."

"We're just trying to make your life easier."

Gasglow nodded, his hands still clasped behind him. "I believe you. That's why I'm giving you some time to work out whatever is going on."

Cassidy clenched her fists. "Why aren't you back there chewing him out? He's the one-"

"I gave this exact same speech to him yesterday when he shut all the security down to that section. He accepted it with alot more grace and dignity."

Cassidy stomped over and stood directly in front of Gasglow. "I didn't ask to be brought into this little squabble! Why didn't you warn me or-"

"I'm not your father, Cassidy. You're an adult, you know about consequences of one's actions. You disobeyed my direct order not to rattle Giovanni's cage, and you put yourself at risk to do it." He glanced around. "Cassidy, I'm not chewing you out. You'll know when I'm doing it, believe me. I'm simply spreading a little friendly advice, from one teammate to another."

Cassidy felt surprised by all of this. "How did you know?"

"I make it my business to know what happens inside Team Rocket. I can find out exactly what you took, but I won't. I'm extending you two the trust you deserve. I'm willing to wait for you two to do the same, but don't take too long, okay?"

Cassidy nodded and turned around. She stopped when Gasglow grabbed her arm.

"I expect you to show him the same courtesy of trust."

She looked down at him. "But-"

"You give him the same speech, and if he doesn't come clean soon, come to me. Okay?"

Cassidy nodded.

"Now go eat something. That's an order." He smiled when she stuck her tongue out at him. He watched her walk off.

-=-=-=-=-

Cassidy walked over to the door uneasily. It had been over a week, and every visit she had made to Van had been brief. Each one consisted of a polite greeting and a quick request that she schedule a visit. This time she was certain he'd be either asleep or out. She carefully locked the Pokéball-knob into place and twisted it, slowly sliding the door open. She glanced in, but Van wasn't waiting at the door. This was a good sign.

As she slowly slid the door closed, she looked down the corridor and into the room. It had grown to twice it's original size, and a great deal more equipment was scattered about. What had her most fascinated was a darkened section furthest from the corridor. She walked through the room, oblivious to all the beeping monitors and other things. "So this is what you've been working on, eh?" She looked for a switch, and saw a small one on the wall. Pushing it, she stumbled back as the lighting flashed to life.

Slowly her eyes adjusted to the light. "What the hell..." She examined it, feeling both shocked and angry. Suddenly the world went dark.

-=-=-=-=-

"Cassidy?"

She looked up into Gasglow's eyes. "What... happened?"

"Van said you fainted while waiting outside his lab. Are you okay?"

Cassidy started to sit up, but suddenly the world started to spin and she laid back. "Uhh.. what the heck hit me?"

Gasglow furrowed his brow. "What do you mean?"

"I.. I was... blinded. Then everything.. I can't remember."

Gasglow moved back. "Have you been feeling well lately?"

Cassidy grimaced. "Well..."

"Cassidy, don't fool around. Tell me what's wrong."

Cassidy would shrug, but she felt too weak. "I.. It must be a real bad time of the month, catch my drift?"

"That lasts for a week? Cassidy... you, uh, and Van..." Gasglow's face turned a shade darker.

Cassidy started to laugh, but it turned into a groan. "He wishes... He said the scan might upset my insides, I guess they must really-"

"What scan?"

Cassidy sighed. There goes the cat. "A micro-cellular scan... felt real strange, tingling..."

"Tingling? Like an itch you can't scratch?"

Cassidy nodded slowly. "Yeah, just like that. You ever had one of those?"

Gasglow looked confused. "Yes, I have. Where was this tingling centered?"

"My stomach, around there." She slowly got up, but her head still hurt. "Is there any aspirin around here?"

"You've already been administered something. Cassidy, you need to tell me what it is you got for Van."

Cassidy slid to the side of the bed. She watched as the floor churned, and she felt a hand grab her before she fell off the bed. "Can.. can this wait until after I empty my stomach all over you?"

"You don't have anything there. You already did that number, sorry."

Cassidy looked down at Gasglow with a small smile. "That's good, I'm sorry about all the trouble..."

"Cassidy, this can't wait.. I need to know about what you got."

She spied the concern on his face and slowly nodded. "Okay.. I got a sample out of Genetics Research Lab 2..."

Gasglow thought about that for a moment. "Cassidy, I don't suppose you remember the exact place the sample came from?"

Cassidy closed her eyes, wracking her brain. "Uh.. It was Bay 2... uh.. Rack 7..."

"Sample #6?"

Cassidy opened her eyes. "How did you know?"

Gasglow sighed. "Can you stand?"

She slowly slid off the table, but suddenly found herself leaning onto Gasglow. After a few moments, she got her knees to straighten out. "I haven't felt this sick since I was a little girl."

He nodded slowly. "You said you were blinded. Did you make it into Van's lab?"

Cassidy shook her head. "I don't know.. maybe. It's all foggy."

"He used a neuralizer on you, which zaps your short-term memory. That's how everybody forgot about the celestial attack on you. If used properly, it's unnoticeable. It looks like he panicked and didn't attune it to your brain waves."

Cassidy wanted to get angry, but she felt too sick. "That's why I feel like this?"

Gasglow nodded. "It wasn't a nice thing to do, but obviously you came in unannounced."

She suddenly felt confused. "I didn't want him throwing me..." She stopped, suddenly overcome.

Gasglow felt the girl slump down to her knees, shuddering. He held her tight as several sobs wracked her. "Shhh.. don't try to fight it. Just let it roll by."

Cassidy held onto the small man for dear life. "What.." Flashes of sight and sound exploded in her mind, each time sending her reeling. Things she didn't remember doing, images she didn't remember seeing.. it all felt like it was bouncing around inside her skull, threatening to blow a hole in her head.

Gasglow stood there for several minutes. Finally the girl had stopped shaking. He slowly pulled back, leaning down to look into her eyes. "Cassidy?" He saw a look of shattered innocence. He wasn't ready for that, since he had never equated that quality with the fiery-tempered Rocket.

She slowly looked up at him. "We.. uh.."

Gasglow helped her to her feet. "Yes, we is the important word. But I think you should stay here."

Cassidy shook her head. "No.. I need to come with you."

He looked at her, then nodded.

-=-=-=-=-

Cassidy looked at the door anxiously. She jumped when Gasglow put a hand on her arm.

"You don't have to do this."

She shook her head. "He broke my trust too."

Gasglow put the small knob in its slot and twisted. As he pulled the door open, he heard shuffling. He looked at Van standing in the doorway. "Hello, Van."

Van looked at the two of them. "Hi, what can I help you with?"

Gasglow walked past him through the corridor. He glanced around the room. "Oh, I was just curious what kind of monster Dr. Frankenstein was cooking up."

Van glanced at Cassidy, but she kept her eyes averted. He walked into the room, standing behind Gasglow. "Uh, what do you mean?"

Gasglow turned around, looking Van directly in the eyes. "We had a discussion about trust, do you remember that?"

Van nodded. "I promise, I'm almost ready to tell you..." He looked back at Cassidy, but she quickly walked around him to stand behind Gasglow.

Gasglow looked at Cassidy as she walked past him. He saw another look in her eyes he didn't like: fear. He returned his attention to Van. "I was willing to give you time, Van. What I won't tolerate is you putting your teammates in danger, and that includes attacking them."

Van took a step back. "What do you mean? I told you, I found Cassidy lying outside the door."

"Which is a lie!"

Van looked at Cassidy, but just as quickly as she had spoken, she became perfectly silent.

Gasglow felt her draw closer behind him. "You didn't set the neuralizer before you used it, Van. And you made one other mistake."

Van blinked. "What.. what do you mean?"

"Computer, drop cloaking shield, authorization oh-oh-five-six-nine-two-two-seven-alpha-three."

Suddenly the entire room shimmered and was replaced with a room twice as large.

Van looked at Gasglow incredulously. "But.. but how!?"

"I got some upgrades while I was gone. Computer, full lights now."

The back of the room lit up. Huge machinery took up the majority of the space, as well as a glass tube. The tube was filled with greenish fluid, and something floated inside, obscured. Numerous tubes, wires, and other machinery ran from the top and bottom of the tube.

Cassidy stared at it. "I.. I saw this..."

Van ran around the two Rockets and stood in front of the equipment. "I can explain all of this!"

Gasglow looked at the equipment, folding his arms in the process. "I'm not looking for explanations about the sample. I'm not even that upset about the equipment, or cloning in general. What upsets me is what you've done to Cassidy."

Van spread out his hands. "I'm sorry, but she might have started asking questions that I couldn't answer right now. I didn't mean to mess up the neuralizer."

Gasglow nodded for a moment. "You're just not sorry you violated her, right?"

Cassidy looked back at Gasglow. "W-what?"

"He used a transmat to get a tissue sample. That scan was his aligning the transmat unit and the tingling was when it energized."

Cassidy looked back at Van, then at Gasglow. "What's a transmat?"

"It's a teleportation device. Before when you talked about the scan, that didn't mean much. But when you threw in the sample, my suspicions were aroused."

Cassidy looked at Van. "So you were really drawing some blood?"

Van looked down.

Gasglow took hold of Cassidy's hand and drew her attention back to him. "Cassidy, he removed one of your eggs. Am I right, Van?"

Cassidy looked at Van.

Van nodded very slowly.

"Then.. then that thing...?"

Gasglow held onto her hand to keep her from moving towards Van. "That thing is history is what it is."

Cassidy looked at Van. "Why?"

Van continued to stare down at the floor. "I'm sorry..." He drew a small hand-held device and pointed it at both Rockets. "I'm really sorry."

Gasglow let go of Cassidy's hand and took a defensive position in front of her. "So that's it?" He took a few steps towards Van.

"I.. I'll use this. It'll knock even you out."

Gasglow walked straight up to Van, looking up the weapon's sights at him. "I suppose you'll find a way to make me forget this whole thing, right?"

Van looked down at Gasglow. "I.. I guess."

"Guess again!" Cassidy kicked his hand, knocking the weapon away. She quickly punched the scientist, sending him to the ground.

Gasglow looked at Cassidy. "You didn't need to punch him." He calmly walked over and picked up the small device, crushing it into pieces of plastic and circuitry.

Van looked up at Cassidy, wiping away the blood from his mouth.

"Down, Cassidy. It isn't his fault." The leader of Team Blue walked over to the large array of equipment. "Now, where is the abort on this thing..."

Van slowly got up, taking a step back from Cassidy. He turned around in alarm at the word 'abort'. "You can't! Please!?" He walked up and stood next to Gasglow. "Don't do it!"

Gasglow glanced up at Van. "Cassidy, please restrain him."

Cassidy walked behind Van and grabbed him. "With pleasure."

"You can't interfere!"

Suddenly both Rockets were hurtled across the room.

Cassidy shook her head. "What was that?"

Gasglow rose and dusted himself off. "I think we just met the bad..." His voice trailed off.

Cassidy stood up, watching him. She noticed his reaction and glanced back.

Van stood, both arms stretched out at his sides. His eyes were glowing blue. His voice sounded strange, higher-pitched. "I can't let you interfere."

"Who are you, and what the hell did you do to Van?"

Van turned his attention to Gasglow. "I can't tell you."

Gasglow squinted, then shook his head. He looked around the lab, then ran over to a table and picked up a box-like device. He switched it on, then swore softly to himself.

Cassidy glanced over at him. "What are you doing!?"

Gasglow walked back to her. "Just confirming something." He turned his attention back to Van. "I thought I was picking up chronal radiation, but this device confirms it. You're attacking Van from the future."

Van, or whoever was there, nodded.

"You're interfering with the timeline, whoever you are. It's my job to put a stop to it." He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small device. "Central, this is Gasglow in Lab 4. I need our best psy-"

Van's eyes glowed a deeper blue, and the device exploded in Gasglow's hand.

Gasglow swore softly.

Cassidy looked at Gasglow. "What should we do now?"

"I'm sorry, but I'm going to have to ask the both of you to leave."

Both Rockets slowly spun around and awkwardly started marching towards the door.

"Uh, Gasglow, I thought I was resistant to this stuff?"

Gasglow tried to shake his head. "The intruder's using telekinetic powers to manipulate us. If we had a psychic shield, we'd be fine."

Both Rockets were stopped at the door.

"Van, if you can hear me, fight it!"

Van walked into the corridor. "Van is sleeping, he's very safe at the moment." He, or more exactly his body, reached into a pocket and withdrew the Pokéball-like knob, inserting it and twisting. As soon as the door opened, he was thrown back.

Gasglow and Cassidy fell over the threshold, then looked up. Standing over them was an Alakazam, its twin spoons glowing as a barrier appeared behind them.

Gasglow slowly got to his feet, helping Cassidy up as well. "You're a sight for sore eyes. Can you get that thing out of Van without killing him?"

The Alakazam suddenly was thrown back against the opposite wall, where it lay still.

A noticeable blue aura was floating around Van's body. "That was a very stupid thing to do."

Gasglow looked over at the Alakazam, making sure it was still alive. He turned back to Van. "I'll get a dozen Alakazams here."

Van stepped back and the large metallic door slammed shut.

Cassidy pulled out her Pokéball-knob and put it into the door, but when she twisted it, the door refused to budge. "It's stuck!"

Gasglow waved over four members of Team Blue, all wearing black Team Rocket uniforms. "Get this Alakazam help, and somebody get the psi-shields!" The Rockets nodded and slowly carried the unconscious Pokémon away.

"Uh, what are 'psi-shields'?"

Gasglow turned back to Cassidy. "They're generators capable of blocking psychic attacks. But they're extremely power-hungry. They generate a field very similar to what the alloys this base is made of do naturally. It reflects psychic attacks and prevents even teleportation."

Cassidy glanced at the door. "So how can Van be affected, if this place is made of psychic-proof metal?"

"This psychic is probably projecting backwards in time. As long as they keep up with his movements around the facility, they aren't really going through this stuff to get to him."

She folded her arms, thinking about that. "What stops this psychic from doing the same to us inside the psi-shields?"

"There's no way that psychic is going to be accurate enough to project from inside the shields."

Cassidy continued to stare at the door, a haunted look covering her face. "I don't know..."

"What's wrong, Cassidy?"

She turned back to Gasglow. "I'm just thinking about her..."

-=-=-=-=-

"Sabrina!" Brock tried to grab her, but she lost solidity and slid right through him to the floor of his office. He knelt down next to her, trying to touch her. "Kinza, what's happening!?"

Kinza knelt down, scanning her, then turned a confused look at the President. "This can't be right... she's losing cohesion..."

"Brock.. Brock, are you there!?"

Brock looked up at the door as it opened. "What is it, Joy?"

Joy looked down, a mixture of fear and surprise taking over her face. "Oh dear, what is going on!? First Rose, and now Sabrina..."

Sabrina's form shimmered.

Kinza looked down at his scanner. "Sir, she's going to go out of phase any minute. I don't think the MedBalls will work..."

Brock looked up at Doctor Joy. "What's happened to Rose? Wasn't she just waiting for a ride back to her future?"

Joy nodded, her face ashen as she watched Sabrina's form flicker. "She just collapsed, screaming about something happening too fast."

Sabrina slowly reached a hand up, waving Brock closer.

The President of the Stratus League was powerless once again. He knelt down, feeling panicked. "Sabrina.. tell us what to do! What's happening!?"

Her voice was just a whisper. "History's... daggers..." Her image shimmered for a moment, and then she disappeared.

Kinza looked up from his scanner. "We lost her..."

That itch was back, and he didn't like it one bit.

-=-=-=-=-

Ash grinned. "Really, I just.. popped it right there."

Sabrina giggled. "And what did she say?"

He blushed, looking out at the sky over Pallet. "Well, she said yes..."

"That's... great..."

Ash nodded. He had to admit to himself, he didn't think he had the guts. "We haven't set a date or anything, we're both a little young. But it's a commitment thing, you know? Sabrina?" Ash turned around. "Sabrina!"

The young gym leader was lying on the ground, unconscious.

-=-=-=-=-

"How do you know?"

Cassidy shrugged. "I just.. do. I can't explain it."

A member of Team Blue walked up carrying two large contraptions. "Sir, here are the psi-shields."

Gasglow nodded and handed one to Cassidy. "Here-"

Suddenly the door cracked open.

Gasglow pointed down the corridor and the Rocket who had returned with the psi-shields walked away. Gasglow gestured to Cassidy and both Rockets strapped the devices to their backs. A blue-tinted field appeared around both of them.

Cassidy walked up to the door and slowly pulled it open.

"Have you decided to surrender?" Gasglow looked into the room. He dashed in, Cassidy hot on his heels.

Van was lying on the ground, unconscious.

Gasglow switched off his psi-shield before turning the scientist over. He sighed when he saw the boy's vital signs were stable. "Cassidy, help me... Cassidy!?" He looked over and found Cassidy crouched down.

In front of her was a small child, a little girl who looked no older than eight. She was wrapped in a blanket, but she was still soaked from head to toe in oily liquid. Her hair was long, platinum-blond, and she was shivering.

Gasglow looked up at the tube, which was empty. He turned to Cassidy in alarm. "Cassidy, that's the clone!"

Cassidy held up a hand, her voice low. "You'll scare her. It's alright, nobody's going to hurt you. Do you have a name?"

The little girl looked at her, fear and confusion evident in her sky-blue eyes.

Cassidy pointed to herself. "I'm Cassidy. Who are you?" She pointed to the little girl.

The little girl looked at Cassidy, then down at her hand. She grabbed it, and suddenly Cassidy doubled over. The little girl's eyes flashed a darker shade of blue.

"Cassidy!!"

The female Rocket put up her hand, taking several deep, ragged breaths. "She.. just shocked me. Sh-She's reading me.. I.. Slow down.. please?"

The little girl nodded, then released Cassidy's hand.

Gasglow looked down at Van, then back at Cassidy. "Cassidy, talk to me.. what happened?"

"I don't know how to explain it.. It was like having every thought I ever had flash through my head at the same time."

Gasglow gently picked up Van. "Let's go."

Cassidy looked back at Gasglow. "We can't leave her!"

He started to walk towards the door. "We can and we are. She's caused enough trouble. In fact, we still don't-"

"I'm not leaving without her."

Gasglow sighed and turned around. He saw that Cassidy was carrying the little girl. "Cassidy, do you realize how big a risk this is!?"

Cassidy looked down at the child in her arms, then back at Gasglow. "I'm not leaving her. She's scared, and she doesn't know what's going on. She isn't a threat. You talked to me about trust, well now I'm asking you to trust me."

Gasglow turned and started to walk away. "Okay, I trust you." As he walked out of the lab, one thought occurred to him: 'I hate surprises!'

-=-=-=-=-

End of "Daggers of the Mind"

Based on the original work...
_The Lugia Chronicles_ by R. A. Stott & Anni Ruecroft

Characters from Pokémon anime (C) 2000 Nintendo of America, Inc. & GameFreak, Ltd.
Characters & situations from _The Lugia Chronicles_ (C) 2000 Denivan Media Services, Inc. - Used with permission.
Situations from "End of the Road" and "Return Journey" (C) 2000 Anni Ruecroft - Used with permission.