Chapter 3

The Capture

Mew watched as Mewtwo drifted slowly toward the other end of the room. After a while, Mew made her way toward the ceiling and hovered there.

Mewtwo told me to leave, but I think that I can find some valuable information f I look quickly enough. I wonder what's on those computer screens down there?

She hesitated for a moment, then dared to take a closer look. No one was around, so she decided to move closer. Mew snuck a look over her shoulder and made sure the coast was clear and hovered right in front of the screen. The screensaver was on, so she wiggled the mouse a little to view what was on the screen. An animation was playing over and over again on the screen.

"Oh my god…" Mew gasped.

Thenwithout warning, everything around Mew turned to flames. The small pink pokemon shielded her eyes as the computer exploded into shards of melted plastic and computer chips. The force of the explosion hurtled her onto the rocky ground.

Should have… left… like Mewtwo… told me… to… do…

As the world swirled and started to fade, in her last moments of consciousness, a large silhouette loomed over Mew's battered body, closer… and closer.

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Mewtwo gaped at the sight inside the room, as he saw three humans held in separate cages inside the room. A buff, muscular man with a bald head, a woman with red hair sporting blond streaks, and a small boy with violet hair. They were shabbily dressed in gray one-piece uniforms with Rocket insignias printed on the front. The cages were dark and cold, with a bowl of something, food maybe, in each.

Mewtwo looked around once more in disbelief, then moved closer to the cages.

Why is Team Rocket holding humans captive? Their own kind! Why? What's going on?

"Who are you?" Mewtwo asked.

The man looked up at Mewtwo and grunted.

"Why are you here?"

The boy scurried over to the corner of his cage and started to whimper, while the woman stood up and watched cautiously. Mewtwo walked over to the cage closest to him, the woman's.

"What's going on? I need you to tell me."

The woman tossed her hair and continued to stare at Mewtwo.

"You can't talk?"

Mewtwo held up his hands. "I'm not going to hurt you. I'll save you from this prison. Can you understand me?"

The woman started to pace her cell, tossing her head and snorting.

These people are acting like, animals… Wait… I hear something.

Mewtwo turned around quickly, and became face-to-face with Giovanni.

"Well, well Mewtwo. We meet again. I'm actually impressed by your little diversion; the destruction you caused will take us months to repair. I knew that someone would investigate at one point or another. I came back in once I knew that the fire was contained. But, what a surprise! Mewtwo! I haven't seen you in a while. I see you've met my test subjects. I find them rather, fascinating. Watching their behavior. Listening to their pathetic attempts to speak our language. It's too bad that you came so early, their human intelligence hasn't been integrated into their brain yet…"

"Giovanni!"

"I hear that you have taken refuge in the Unknown Dungeon. How does it feel, being so, alone?"

"Why do you care, you asshole?"

"Oh my! Watch your mouth, Mewtwo." A sly grin tugged on the corners of his mouth. "I realize that you are one of the most powerful pokemon in the world. I know. The last time we met is proof enough. But, I want something from you. More than just your prowess in battle. I want to harness that very power for my own use. Guards!"

Two Rocket grunts entered the room. One of the guards held up a pokeball and presented it to the Rocket leader. Giovanni took the pokeball and started to twiddle it between his thumb and forefinger. He held it up at eye level.

Giovanni held out his other hand, and the Rocket placed a gun into his open palm. Giovanni held the gun against the pokeball.

"I want you to come with me, or the pokemon inside will cease to exist. I believe you would want to see this pokemon again… or I could just…"

"No. Wait."

"Didn't think so. Then you wouldn't see your little pink friend ever again…"

"No!" Mewtwo lunged at Giovanni.

The Rocket leader cocked the gun and laid his finger on the trigger. Mewtwo halted.

"What are you planning now? What have you done with Mew?"

"Nothing, yet. Come with me. Now."

Mewtwo, having no choice, followed Giovanni and the Rocket guards down the corridor leading to another room. The first thing he noticed was series of clear boxes in different sizes lining the edges of the room. Twinkling lights and whirring noises came from the various machines in the room. Several scientists were monitoring the machines. Giovanni nodded at one of them, and the Rocket in a white lab coat came over.

"Get the machine ready."

The man nodded and walked over to a control pad and pressed a button. A door on the side of a medium-sized box opened.

"Put it in."

Mewtwo watched in horror as a scientist dropped the pokeball into the box. The pokeball opened, and Mew emerged.

Oh no! No! This can't be happening! Mew!

"I have learned from our last encounter, and I believe that this box is sturdy enough to withstand any attack. All psychic powers should be disabled inside. Now Mewtwo, don't worry. Mew will be just fine…"

Giovanni pointed the gun at Mewtwo as the scientists pressed more controls on the panel. A mechanical arm swung toward the small, pink pokemon lying in the box. A red light shone on Mew's unconscious body. Then the machine started whirring and the light grew stronger with every passing moment.

Giovanni spoke. "Now."

Mewtwo's body stiffened.

Waves of red energy shot out from the arm, enveloping Mew's body. She started to twist and turn in pain, her mouth open in a silent scream.

Mewtwo wanted to help, but somehow he was transfixed and couldn't move. Mew lay, helpless before him, and he couldn't even do anything. Suddenly Mew stopped moving.

"Noooooooooooooo! You've killed her-"

Mewtwo grew quiet as his gaze moved toward his companion again. Somehow, she was… changing. Her arms and legs stretched, and her tail shriveled. Her fur disappeared, leaving pale skin behind. Pink hair grew from her skull.

My god. My GOD! What has he done!

Mewtwo collapsed to the floor and crawled over to the box that held Mew. He placed his paws against the smooth, transparent surface. His eyes brimmed with tears as he gazed at the naked human child that lay curled in the center.

To be continued…