Scene 31: The Evolution Pokémon

Kari Arc

Although they looked and felt like real-official Team Rocket Members in their black uniforms, their first few months were spent doing Grunt work. They made deliveries to other members in the field, relayed messages from base to base, and spent several sleepless nights on guard duty. Al had even caught his first Pokémon during a journey to the northern desert.

On their return trip, they came across an injured Aron. Al was quick to patch it up, then he put out some Pokémon food, and said his goodbyes. It wasn't until they reached headquarters did Al realize that the little Aron had followed them all the way back. There was no reason to battle the little guy, Aron came willingly to Al's team.

One morning, while Kari and Al made breakfast in their small home, Giovanni offered a very peculiar request. He asked Kari whether it would be alright for him to take Eevee in for a physical.

"A physical? Eevee's never needed one before." He scratched his chin, "Yes, well, after a few years and multiple battles, it's always good for a Pokémon to get checked out by a professional." Kari was a bit nervous, she and Eevee had never been separated before, "Well, I can take him to Nurse Joy. You don't have to bother." Giovanni shook off her comment, "Oh, no. Eevee is a special Pokémon, so he deserves the utmost care. He needs to be checked out by one of our own."

He could tell that Kari was still hesitant, "There's no need to worry. Eevee will be safely inside headquarters. You'll only be a few floors apart, in fact." After a moment, Kari figured that her father knew what was best, so she agreed. After all, it would only be for a few hours. At least, that's what she told herself to make herself feel better.

Kari said goodbye to Eevee and her father on the 10th floor. This was where most of the main labs were located. Kari and Al continued to the battle floor located on the 23rd level. Today they would be overseeing student testing inside the Battle Simulator while Lt. Surge had the day off. Kari watched fondly as the students tested their skills.

This was where it all began for her, if it wasn't for that day she happened upon the Battle Simulator she wouldn't have been inducted into the academy and she wouldn't have made the friends that she now had. As the students passed them in the monitor room, many of them had to do a double-take. They were all older teenagers or adults and were firstly surprised to see a couple of children running their training. But after getting a better look they recognized them: "That's Al, he's supposed to be a Team Rocket genius!"

"And that little girl? She's The Boss' daughter! Kari's her name. She ranked top of her class and still holds the record for the Battle Simulator." Kari couldn't help but smile proudly. After months of Training, Kari and Eevee had broken their previous record. And each time they tackled the simulator, they got better. Their new record was 107. And after 6months, they still couldn't beat it. No one could.

Kari had a sudden idea. She looked up a name in the simulator database. That girl from the blue group, Alice. Kari wasn't at all surprised at her score. Alice was holding strong at the 3rd highest spot with a score of 99.

The lunch bell rang and the students all left for the cafeteria. Kari was about to follow them for the stairs, but last minute she turned for the elevator. Al noticed and went to catch up with her. All this thinking about the past made her start to miss Eevee. It had only been 6hours, but Kari wanted to check on him.

Kari and Al rode the elevator to the 10th floor. It was deserted. Kari wondered if all the scientists had gone to lunch as well. Since neither one of them knew which lab Giovanni had taken Eevee, they decided to check them all. Although Al protested, Kari completely disregarded the signs posted on the doors: Off- Limits. Top Clearance Only.

"I'm 'the boss' daughter', remember?" She made air quotes, "If that doesn't give me top clearance, I don't know what will." After a few minutes, Kari and Al pushed open the sliding door for the final lab. It was completely dark. But a strange sound caught their attention. They could barely see. The door slammed shut behind them, locking them in.

"Uh-oh." Kari gulped. Al was rummaging though his bag, "I knew we should have thought this plan out." Kari felt her way to the edge of the room. She couldn't tell what that sound was, but it made her feel sad. It seemed almost familiar, but why did it make her feel like this..? A light went up. Al had found his emergency flashlight. But when Kari could finally see what was making the strange sound, she felt sick.

All around them were Pokémon in cages. They looked depressed. Some seemed worn out, sick, and even extra thin as if they had been starved. There were cages lining the whole wall. That was the sound Kari had heard- the sad whimpering of these Pokémon. Kari went to one that contained a small Sandshrew. It was lying at the bottom of its cage- completely unmotivated to move or do anything. Kari was on the verge of tears as she looked it.

"W-what is this..?" Al's voice was quiet as he responded to her, "This must be where they do Pokémon Experiments." Kari turned to look at Al, "Experiments? What do you mean?" He didn't take his eyes off her as he spoke, "I remember reading it in a file. Team Rocket is well known for experimenting on various types of Pokémon in order to learn and enhance their own battling Pokémon. Although no one really knows what they're doing to them." Al knew about this..? Kari gave him an angry look.

"You knew about the experiments?" She grabbed his collar. Al held his ground, "I didn't know for sure, but I suspected." He looked down at her with intense eyes. "And you're not dumb, Kari… You must have, as well."

Kari remembered what one of the girls had mentioned all those months ago: ["Maybe her Eevee was one of those experiments!? And that's why it's so strong!"] Al was right. She'd heard rumors about strange things happening within the facilities… And on the news… There was mention of a "secret organization" moving underground and causing problems. But Kari ignored it all. She didn't want to believe any of it.

She let Al go. How could she have done nothing..? A light flashed on in the next room over. Al shoved Kari behind a desk. As they peered over into the next room, they watched as Giovanni and a strange looking scientist stepped up to a table. Kari could barely make out what they were saying.

"So, Dr. Vui, what is your analysis on him?"

"He's certainly a remarkable case, Boss! I've never seen a Pokémon like this before." Kari stood a little higher to get a better look. She gasped when she saw what they were looking at. It was Eevee. Al pulled her down and held on tightly. She was shaking in a mix of anger and fear. How could she have let her father and that man experiment on Eevee!?

Dr. Vui continued with his explanation, "Eevee is known as the Evolution Pokémon. Because of its irregular and unstable genetic makeup, Eevee are able to evolve in a variety of ways. There are still studies being done in other regions trying to determine how many different Evolutions Eevee can have; however, this Eevee is different." Dr. Vui went to grab a box from a nearby cabinet. He opened it to reveal a group of Evolutionary Stones: A Fire-Stone, Thunder-Stone, and Water- Stone. He showed them to Giovanni as he walked back, "This Eevee doesn't evolve like the others."

Dr. Vui touched one of the stones to Eevee's paw. Nothing happened. He did it again with another stone, and again with the last. Giovanni watched with bated breath. How could this be possible?

"Normally, by the simplest contact with an Evolutionary Stone, Eevee will evolve into one of its Evolutions: Jolteon, Vaporeon, or Flareon. But that isn't the case here. It seems impossible to believe, but this Eevee is incapable of Evolution." They both looked at the little Pokémon between them. Giovanni seemed to have hungry eyes. He wanted more information, "How is that possible, Doctor?" Dr. Vui shrugged, "There's no way to tell. But as for my suspicions…" He pulled up a slide. It was Eevee's DNA sample.

"While most Eevee are too imbalanced to withhold much power, this one is different. Quite opposite, actually. Compared to other Eevee DNA, this one is mutated. Perhaps it was something in its environment while growing up, or even a birth defect; nevertheless, this Eevee is unable to evolve. But in exchange, it can hold more power in its body. That's how it can learn a great move like Hyper Beam."

"A rare find, indeed, Mr. Giovanni." Both men were smiling, greedily, "Yes. And in her hands, this Pokémon will be unstoppable." Dr. Vui gave a curious look to Giovanni, "Oh..? You're talking about your daughter, Kari, Sir?"

Kari flinched at the sound of her name. Giovanni clenched his fists, "Yes. She is already a powerful prodigy of a Trainer. And with Eevee by her side, she will be unstoppable. The ultimate Pokémon Master." Kari's eyes widened. The look in his eyes terrified her. Was this really her father..?

A bell rang. Giovanni scooped up Eevee. They were done for the day. He would find Kari and return her the Pokémon. Dr. Vui put his things away, filing away his data, "Make sure you keep an eye on them, Sir. That Eevee is something special." Giovanni didn't have to be told twice on the matter. They turned out the light and left.

Kari and Al sat in the dark silence for several long minutes. Al looked at Kari, concerned. Her voice cracked when she next spoke, "I didn't want to believe it. That Daddy was an awful person, but…" Al could see the tears creeping down her cheeks. Al stood up. He offered his hand, "Come. We must return to the top floors before your father gets suspicious." She nodded. They started walking out, but before she closed the door, Kari took one final look. All these poor Pokémon. If only there was something she could do to help them.

Al led the way to a classroom. Amy and the others were inside. Amy and Georgie were telling Emily and Eric all about their last mission: to assist in the capture of a nearby cave. Amy gave an exasperated sigh, "Oh! If only that kid hadn't shown up like he did! We would have had the rare stone!" Kari was only half listening, but she now understood. Her friends had known all along what they were getting themselves into. They were Training to become villains. And for the top-ranked student in Team Rocket, Kari was sure naive.

An hour later, Giovanni had finally located them. The others had gone silent when the Boss stepped in. Giovanni handed over Eevee. He was a little sleepy, but seemed utterly fine. Eevee was smiling at the sight of Kari. She held him tightly. After seeing the other Pokémon in the cages… she just needed to hold onto him a little longer. They all watched.

"Is everything alright, Kari?" Her father asked. He had hidden his hungry eyes, but Kari couldn't forget. She couldn't look at him, "I'm fine." After a brief and awkward silence, Giovanni left. The others talked on- what a weird situation. None of them knew what was going on between Kari and The Boss. Al watched as Kari stroked Eevee. In that moment, Kari swore that she'd do everything in her power to protect Eevee and as many other Pokémon as she could from her father's greedy hands…