After the fight, Robin decided to tie up the unconscious Byleth using his own sword.
Looking at him, she had bad memories of her experience with Grima. I can't leave him like this... I need to find a way to lift this curse that's on him. Besides, I can't risk another fight while we're out here on the open.
The problem is... how am I going to carry him? she pondered, while Squirtle looked at her quizzingly.
After contemplating it for some time and growing increasingly worried that he might wake up and attack them again, she decided that she couldn't stand around any longer. Sometimes the simple answer is the only answer. I hope he can forgive me afterwards.
Putting away her belongings (and lamenting that she wouldn't be able to rest), she grabbed the unconscious man by his feet and began walking, with Squirtle trailing behind her.
After travelling for an hour, they reached an exit to the swamplands and they saw a strange building in the distance. As they approached it, they saw that it seemed abandoned, as it looked worn and dirty, and the greenery around was overgrown.
Upon reaching it, the duo had reached their limit, both physically and emotionally. They were hungry and had no energy to move another step. They collapsed on the metallic floor of the entrance.
When Robin regained her senses, she felt that something was off. The surface she was lying felt different to that on which she'd lost consciousness on. It was softer. When she opened her eyes, she saw that she was in another part of the building, probably much deeper inside. She saw strange machines all around her, following some unknown purpose. When she tried to get up, she felt something stopping her. She was tied down to the bed she was on. Feeling anxious, she tried to break free, but with no success.
Hearing the noise, a creature peeked its face from around the corner. It was around a humanoid the size of a normal adult. However the similarities ended there. Its body was covered in feathers, and instead of a human face it had one of a bird's. Its hands were similar to that of a bird's talon, but shaped like human fingers.
It looked at her and spoke in a strange dialect that she couldn't understand. Seeing her silence and (probably) understanding her look of confusion, it stopped and tapped something in his neck. "Do you understand me now?" came a metallic voice.
"Yes" she answered, warily. She was unsure about how much she could trust this creature. She knew she shouldn't consider them an enemy, given that she was the one to arrive uninvited and collapse in their home. Perhaps a bit of diplomacy will help make an ally of this creature.
The creature continued talking, in a slow and methodical manner. "Very well. May I ask why you have come to my laboratory and home?"
"Of course. But first, may I ask how my two companions are?" responded Robin calmly.
The creature looked at her with a serious expression, waging whether or not give her such information.
"The small blue creature awoke, but I gave him a sedative to keep him asleep. Your other ally got violent and tried to set himself free, and since he refused to give me any answers, I gave him a sedative as well." he said, a few moments later.
If I can trust this creature's words, then they should be safe and unharmed. He hasn't done anything to me, so they should apply to them as well. If I am to gain his trust, then I must be honest about my situation and my intentions. concluded Robin. She proceeded to narrate all of the events that led to her current situation, from Galeem's attack, to her journey, to her fight with Byleth, and lastly, her arrival at the laboratory.
The old bird creature gazed at her, as if to gauge if she was telling the truth or not. After a moment, he pressed a few buttons on a nearby monitor and her bindings were released as a result. "It seems as if I have misjudged your intentions. Follow me, I will take you to your companions."
Getting up, the tactician followed the creature out of the room. Pangs of hunger struck her, but she decided not to mention it to her current company.
While they were walking, he spoke again. "I forgot to introduce myself. My name is Tu-Quo, which in your tongue would translate to 'Curious Mind'. I am a Chozo scientist that decided to make a home in this world to study its lifeforms."
"Well met, Tu-Quo. As I mentioned before, my name is Robin and I am a travelling tactician. I was invited here by the masters of this world." responded Robin in a very formal tone.
Soon, they entered another room, similar to the one that was used to hold her. Inside was her partner Squirtle, tied up in a table also similar to her own and sleeping peacefully.
"If you desire, I can wake him up" offered Tu-Quo.
"Please do." responded a worried Robin.
Walking over to one of the cabinets in the room, he took out a vial filled with a mysterious liquid and a syringe. Using the latter to take out some of the liquid, he proceeded to inject it into the Pokemon's arm. Moments later, he opened his eyes and looked around. "Squirt, squirt!"
Spotting the tactician, Squirtle looked happy. "Squirt!" he exclaimed. However, when he saw the Chozo, his expression soured and looked at him with mistrust. Robin took note of that.
I wonder what that reaction's about. Did he do anything to Squirtle? It's too early to tell. It might just be that he didn't like to find himself alone and tied up, contemplated Robin.
In the meantime, Tu-Quo just looked at Squirtle, almost as if he was studying him. Moments later, he walked to a nearby monitor and typed in some commands, releasing the Pokemon.
Seeing that the shackles were released, Squirtle jumped down from the table and joined Robin's side.
Kneeling to match his height, Robin could see that he was showing a lot more energy than before, thanks to his impromptu nap. However, she could also tell that he was just as hungry as she was. I'll need to get us some food soon. We won't be able to do much with our stomachs as empty as they are.
Behind them, the Chozo cleared his throat. "You must be quite hungry. I have some food I can give you." he offered. "Unless, that is, if you wish to visit your other companion first."
Robin shook her head. "I'd rather have him stay as is right now. I need him restrained until I can find a way to liberate him from whatever's controlling him."
"Very well. Follow me and I'll give you and your companion something to eat." responded Tu-Quo, heading out the room. Robin and Squirtle followed him.
"How did you know that we were hungry?" asked Robin quizzingly.
"While you were unconscious, I put you on those tables not only to restrain you in case you were a threat, but also to examine you. See how your vital functions worked and how healthy you were. I could tell from there that you and your companion's stomachs were emptier than they should be." responded the creature.
Robin nodded in understanding. "I see."
"It is also how I was able to tell that you weren't lying about your story. The machines can tell if you're not being truthful. From that I could tell that even if you'd lied, you wouldn't have been very good at it." he added.
Robin looked at him, slightly shocked. Was he... jesting? I can't tell with him…
Soon, they reached a new room, which was pitch-black. Tu-Quo turned on the lights, revealing its contents. It contained a few tables, some storage spaces (that Robin quickly realized were his pantries), and some machines whose function eluded her. It also had windows looking to the outside, that clued Robin to the fact that it was late at night, maybe even past midnight, depending on how long she'd slept.
Walking towards one of the pantries, he pulled a strange block, that after putting it on top of a plate and processing it in one of the machines, revealed something akin to a plate of food. Robin must've made a face, because Tu-Quo answered "Don't worry about it being unhealthy. I understand your biology well. It should be perfectly healthy and nutritious. I can't guarantee that you'll like the taste, though, since it's subjective." He then handed her the dish alongside a pair of utensils.
Grabbing the one that resembled a fork, she dug in. Surprisingly, it didn't taste bad, but it was no delicacy. She shrugged. Living as a travelling strategist alongside Chrom's army meant that she was used to having the feeling of hunger making up for meals of lesser taste.
In the meantime, Tu-Quo took out another smaller block, he did the same process as the first, this time handing the plate to Squirtle. He gladly ate what he gave him after seeing Robin do so. Robin noticed this. It seems that Tu-Quo didn't do anything of note to him after all.
After she finished her meal, Robin felt her strength returning and her mind clearing. With that, she began thinking about how to solve her current problem at hand: Byleth's mind control. I can't keep him tied up forever, and I doubt that Tu-Quo would agree to it. If I could just peer into Byleth's mind and see what's wrong with him from the inside... And for several minutes she sat there, pondering about her problem.
"Is there a problem?" asked the Chozo, noticing her concerned expression.
"Yes. I'm trying to figure out a way to help my other companion, some way to remove the foreign influence that's taken a hold of him" responded the strategist.
The old bird creature made a thoughtful expression. "Maybe I can help with that."
Robin answered with a quizzical and somewhat suspicious look.
"It seems that the mind of your companion is trapped, while some outside influence is controlling his body and using his mind to get a better hold of it. While I don't have any machinery that functions in a way that is useful to you, I can re-purpose one of the existing ones to do that. It'll take some time, though."
"I much appreciate the help." answered Robin, yawning. It was late, and now that she'd gotten her fill of food, she was ready to sleep.
After that, she retired to sleep in one of Tu-Quo's "resting tables" (which Robin soon realized was his fancy way of calling a couch), with Squirtle curled up right beside her. Tu-Quo went his own way, and Robin wondered how a Chozo slept, but decided that it would be rude to ask.
The following two days were spent with Tu-Quo working hard on building the required machinery, while Robin spent them scouting around the area and training alongside Squirtle, forging a tighter bond with the Pokemon.
During the meals, she used the time to speak with Tu-Quo and get to know him and his people. It was then that she learned of the Chozos' connection to Samus. How they'd found her as a little girl, gave her a home, trained her and altered her, which led her to become the woman she was today. While Tu-Quo himself was never the closest to her, he too felt a deep sense of pride as he heard of the exploits of the legendary bounty hunter Samus Aran.
Robin also learned about Ridley. How he decimated Samus's home, killed her parents and traumatized her. They knew especially because the event clearly stuck with her for a long time afterwards ("That monster was both her deepest fear and greatest motivator", Tu-Quo had explained). While he only knew the story second-hand, Tu-Quo had heard of Ridley's demise, which was baffling, since news of the Space Pirate going on a rampage after that reached him not long afterwards, as well as his inclusion on the tournament.
Lastly, they talked about how Tu-Quo's mastery of genetic engineering could be used to give them an edge against future enemies that they might encounter. While Robin herself didn't want to get tampered with (her connection to Grima left a sour taste in her mouth). Squirtle, however, could use some help.
"What do you propose we could do about my small friend?" asked Robin while having Squirtle sitting on her lap.
"I have studied these 'Pokemon' for some time from afar, I have asked the Hands, and having one to study gave me all the information I needed."
"What kind of information?"
"Pokemon can go through a metamorphosis called 'evolution', after which they become a stronger and generally bigger version of themselves. A form that is even more capable of fighting and defending itself."
"Interesting" replied Robin. She already knew that but didn't want to interrupt the old bird. "When does this transformation happen?"
"Whenever the Pokemon's organism deems it necessary. After all, it's a permanent change. I, however, seek to change that."
"What do you mean?" she asked, curious about what the Chozo could've come up with.
"I intend to give your Squirtle the ability to 'evolve' at will, reaching any other transformations whenever he deems fit. This should serve as a great strategic asset in your fight."
Robin didn't have to think about it for very long before accepting. It was an unknown battle that they were fighting, and a good tool was not something that she could decline so readily.