Hours(?) later
Rowan's eyes slowly fluttered open to the sound of scared voice echoing all around him. The last thing he remembered was a sleep spore being thrown into the van, sending everyone into a deep slumber.
He rubbed his eyes and blinked as his vision focused on the metal ceiling which hung about two feet above his head.
Rowan frowned and rolled over onto his stomach to get a better look at his new surroundings. Pain erupted within his back as he turned, causing him to gasp loudly. What did those men do to him? He touched his back, but felt nothing out of the ordinary.
A loud scream from what could have been in another room brought his attention towards something in front of him. Bars. He was in a cage. A small animal cage.
He grabbed the thin, wiry bars and shook the cage door roughly, but all he managed to do was make a ruckus.
More screams could be heard from the other room. They sounded like a mix of both masculine and feminine voices. What were those men doing? Better question was what would they do to Marcy and him later?
"Where is Marcy? They're not doing anything to her, are they? Where is everyone else?" Rowan wondered as he tried to get a better look outside of his cage. "Marcy? Guys, are you here? Guys?"
"Rowan! Oh, man, it's so good to hear you! It's Flynn." Flynn said with relief from the cage beside him. "How long have you been awake?"
"I just woke up. What about you? Who else is with us?"
"Uh, I don't know. I don't know where Sora is, but Elen is…I think below me. I thought I heard her mumbling a couple times. Jo is below you…I think. I haven't heard where Aaron and Marcy are."
"Those men placed all of the children in these cages, while the adults are…in the other room." It was Jo. "I haven't heard from Aaron, and I'm scared that he is in the other room."
Rowan looked down at the bottom of his cage to see four fingers gripping at the bottom of his cage. Jo could only fit four of her fingers through both her cage and Rowan's cage. Oddly enough this seemed to give Rowan some relief.
He crawled towards the door of his cage to grasp her fingers, but wound up cringing as the pain in his back shot up his spine. "Does anyone else's back hurt?"
"No. I feel cramped and a little sore, but nothing in my back. They didn't give us a whole lot of room to move around in." Flynn replied. "Jo?"
"Just cramped." Jo muttered.
Another scream rang out throughout the lab and into the caged area. Jo's fingers instantly retracted from the bottom of Rowan's cage as she slid to the back of her cage cringing with fright. Rowan and Flynn, on the other hand, were both frozen with fear.
A loud knock on the cinderblock wall drew the children's attention towards the grunt, Alex. There was a large smirk on his face as he and two scientists approached the cages. "Alright, kiddos, who wants to go first?"
All of the children grew dead silent. None of them wanted to join in on the screams and cries of the adults in the other room.
"Eenie, meenie, miny, moe!" Alex pointed to the cage above Rowan. "My new, little friend. Come here, little girl. It's your turn."
"Little girl?" Rowan's eyes widened. "MARCY!"
The two scientists approached the cages and opened Marcy's cage. The little girl was still unconscious as they lifted her out and proceeded to carry her into the other room.
"No! Marcy!" Rowan screamed. "Take me! Take me instead!"
They grunt glanced at Rowan and smirked. "You want to take her place in going first?"
"Don't you dare hurt my sister! Do whatever you were planning on doing to her to me. Just leave her alone!" Rowan hissed as he pulled at the bars of his cage. There was no fear or regret in his voice as he entered into Big Brother mode. He had already lost his mother to these men. There was no way he was going to let them take Marcy from him.
"Rowan…" Jo murmured warningly.
"Alright, boy. You may go first." The grunt took Marcy from the scientists, and watched as the two white-coated men opened Rowan's cage and pulled him out.
He grimaced as the pain reawakened in his back, but it slowly subsided as they carried him into the next room, which turned out to be a large laboratory. Rowan scanned the room for the adults, but much to his…relief? all he saw were drawn curtains with scientists walking in and out from behind them in scrubs.
"Place the boy on table G1." One of the scrubs ordered as he gestured towards an open medical table.
The two men obeyed and placed the young boy down onto the cold table.
Rowan wanted to struggle against them, but for Marcy's sake, he remained still as he was strapped down to the table. One of the scientists produced a pair of medical scissors and cut his shirt open, exposing the young boy's torso.
"What are you doing?" Rowan asked with a choke.
Neither one of the men replied. Instead, one of the men took an alcohol soaked pad and wiped down his chest, causing Rowan to shiver. They then took a couple heart monitoring wires and flattened them out onto Rowan's chest before sticking two more wires onto the side of his head.
A heartbeat monitor suddenly sprung to life as the machine slowly registered both his heartbeat and brainwaves. The scientists examined the monitor as it bleeped in time to Rowan's rapid heartbeat.
"You seem a little anxious there, kid." The grunt, Alex, snickered as he set Marcy's limp body down on a medical table a few feet away from where Rowan lay.
The monitor beeped louder and faster as Rowan watched two more scrub wearing scientists strap Marcy down onto the table. "No, Marcy! You—You, bastard! Let her go!"
The grunt made a 'tch' sound with his tongue almost scolding the boy for his language. "You shouldn't be using such nasty words in front of little girls, young man. Time for a time out." He grabbed the pale curtain that hung in between the two tables and drew it open so it was blocking Marcy from Rowan's view.
"Marcy! OW!" Rowan cried. He looked down at his arm to see that the scientists had injected an IV into his arm. He blinked as his gaze sluggishly moved up to meet their emotionless stares. "W-What's inthat? Whatdidyou-?"
His vision went dark before he could finish his question.
Elsewhere
"It's not a waste of money. Trust me!" A young, well-dressed man huffed as he sat across from Madam Boss. A Persian sat beside him and listened quietly as it's master conversed with the Boss Lady.
"So says you! It's not your money you're squandering." Madam Boss hissed. "Remember, Brat Boy, this Team is not yours just yet, nor is the money. In fact, there is still plenty of time for me to give everything to your brother."
"Ha! That coward is already looking at different regions to flee to. I'm willing to fight in the war, unlike him…I just need a perfect weapon."
"A perfect weapon? How much more of my money are you going to drain from my account before you're satisfied?"
"Mother, are you really worried that I would leave you and this Team with nothing? I have been making my own wealth."
"How so?" Madam Boss asked skeptically. "You're not gambling again, are you? So help me, Brat Boy, I will hand this Team over to your brother without giving so much as a second thought to the decision."
Her son let a snicker escape him. "No. No gambling, mother. Though, I will admit you are close. I am running a casino."
Her expression softened slightly. "Huh. So now instead of losing all of your money and mine, like a fool, you will be taking all the other fools' money." The woman let a prideful grin curl at the edges of her lips. "Clever. Very clever, my son. I guess you still know how to make your mother proud."
"For you, mother, I aim to please."
Madam Boss leaned forward in her chair and rested her elbows on her desk. "Hmph. Since when did you start acting like such a mature young man? I swear it was only a year ago that you were throwing my money away on such useless luxuries and designs. What ever happened to that prodigal boy?"
"In a way, he is still here, though he is learning to adapt to this changing world thanks to the war. I just need more time for my men to find and create my weapon."
"And this weapon you want…how will it be used? What will become of it after the war?" Madam Boss's tone was growing serious again. "You must remember to think of all possible outcomes. If you are only using it for the war, then you are wasting money. For all you know, Brat Boy, your hired men could have it completed by the time the war ends."
"Then I will give it a new purpose. One that will benefit both the Team and me."
"How?" Madam Boss pressed harshly.
"Mother, that can be decided later."
"Oh, it can? How much longer until your 'special weapon' is completed? What if it turns on you? What if someone steals it from you and uses it against you and Team Rocker? Have you thought about that?"
"My men haven't even…um…"
"Haven't even what? Continue your thought."
"…I rather not."
"Brat Boy."
"…"
"Giovanni, you had better answer me."
"They haven't started building it yet."
Madam Boss stared at her son in silence before pinching the bridge of her nose in annoyance. "So what the Hell are they doing now? What are you paying them to do exactly?"
"They are heading out on an expedition to South America-"
"Why?! What is in South America that is so important to them that they couldn't find here in Kanto?" Madam Boss growled. "You are wasting money!"
"Everything has been thought out prudently, mother. Please be patient. And remember, it's not your money I'm using anymore."
"I know that! I'd just hate to get a call one day from you saying that you have driven Team Rocket into bankruptcy due to your careless spending. Running a casino can only hold you for so long. What if that business goes bankrupt? What will you do then? Do you have a backup plan?" Madam Boss asked as she tried to calm herself down.
"I have stocks."
"Alright. Anything else?"
"I have a handful of technicians, constructors, and contractors working on an amusement park that will be opening soon to the public."
The office was dead silent as Madam Boss took in her son's words. Her expression grew menacing as she glowered at her son. "An amusement park? My God, Giovanni! Have they started building your little fun park, or are they all off on an expedition to Australia?"
"People are upset by this war. They will be looking for a place to have fun and forget their worries, and what better place to go to and spend money than an amusement park? Plus, it will last even after the war. Same goes for the casino." Giovanni explained to his infuriated mother.
Madam Boss glared at her son for a moment before finally exhaling a breath of frustration. "Fine, but explain to me why the Hell you have your hired men going to South America. What are they looking for that can help build you your weapon?"
Before Giovanni could respond a knock at the door drew their attention towards the purple haired grunt, Miyamoto. "Boss, you have a call."
"From who, Miyamoto?"
Miyamoto glanced at Giovanni before looking back at the red-suited woman. "They're calling from Lavender Town. They want to make plans on a potential visitation day."
"Lavender Town? What's going on over there?" The young Giovanni asked.
"A Pokemon auction." Madam Boss muttered as she stood from her chair.
"Selling Pokemon to the public or private owners?"
"Maybe both. I have some private buyers lined up and waiting for the auction dates." Madam Boss replied in a cool and even tone. "I'll be visiting Lavender Town to decide on how many will be displayed and sold at a time."
"Interesting, but I don't think anyone would want to buy any old Rattata or Pikachu. You may be left with unsellable Pokemon, and I know how much you love Pokemon, mother…unless you have something better?"
Giovanni's Persian seemed to snicker at the snide remark. Everyone in the Team knew how much Madam Boss despised Pokemon, but if collecting and using them earned her some sort of profit, she would capture hundreds.
"I always have something better!" Madam Boss snapped angrily, causing both her son and his Persian to jump. "Are you trying to underestimate me?"
"No, sorry, mother." Giovanni replied quickly as the older woman strode past his chair and towards the open doorway. "Hope the auction goes well."
"And good luck with creating your perfect weapon. I'll want to hear more about it later." She quickly turned back to her son with a calm smile. "How we talk more over lunch this weekend? I would also like to discuss plans for your future promotion to Boss of Team Rocket."
Back in the labs/cages- ? Hours later
Rowan slowly woke up in his cage again. This time though, everything seemed to hurt. His back felt broken, his stomach ached, his head hurt and his chest burned. He attempted to drag himself to the door of his cage, but his body felt too sore to move. "J-Jo? F-Cough-Ow…Flynn? Elen? M-Marcy?" His voice was hoarse as he spoke.
There was no response from any of his friends.
"G-Guys, please…say something." Rowan begged as he willed himself to reach through the wiring of his cage. One hand was touching the top of Jo's cage, while the other was holding onto the bottom of Marcy's cage. "G-Guys?"
Tiny fingers touched his. Marcy was awake now. "R-Ro…Ro, it…hurts."
Rowan shut his eyes out of anger. Those scientists had hurt Marcy too…but what exactly did they do to them? "I'm sorry, Marcy."
"I told…It's…my fault. M-My fault, Ro…Ro." Marcy sniffled. "Now you're hurt…and mommy-"
"This is not your fault, Marcy! Cough! This will never-Cough-never be your fault! Ow…" Rowan growled as he rubbed his neck.
"D-Does anyone feel…numb?" It was Jo. Her voice sounded sluggish, but hoarse as well.
"No…Marcy and I are hurting."
"M-M-My back! I-It itches! It's itchy!" Elen whimpered. She could be heard rolling around in her cage as she tried to claw at her back. "M-Make it stop!"
"Is Flynn there?" Sora asked from somewhere beside Rowan. He must have been on the other side of Flynn.
"He should be-Cough-in between us, Sora." Rowan responded.
"Where is Aaron?" Jo asked.
"Where i-is Abbey and—ugh!—my mom?"
"Where is our mom?" Sora asked.
Rowan could sense their fear and hopelessness as the voices and cries of the other captured children filled his ears. He too was quickly falling prey to the shared terror of the children.
"Is everyone…here?"
"Aaron!" Everyone cried. Just hearing his voice seemed to give the kids some comfort in their bleak predicament. He sounded like he was next to Jo.
"Aaron, how are you feeling?" Jo asked.
"…I'm…I've felt better. I can't feel my arms or legs at all, but I guess it could be worse…" The older boy muttered. "Does anyone remember what those men did to us? I'm speaking to everyone here."
"No."
"No."
"No."
"They put us under rather quickly."
"What are they doing now?"
Aaron was silent as he and the others listened to the scientists. Rowan hadn't noticed the silence in the lab until the men started moving about in the other room. They must have been returning either from break or their homes. Did their families know that they were holding adults and children against their will and conducting tests on them? Did they even have families?
"Is…How is everyone feeling?" Aaron finally asked.
"Hurting."
"Numb."
"Itchy."
"Cold."
"Hot."
"Thirsty."
"Hungry."
Rowan couldn't help, but agree with the last two statements. He didn't know how long he and the others had been out, but he was definitely parched and famished. "Are they going to starve us?"
"Ro…Ro,…I'm thirsty." Marcy said softly.
Rowan gave his sister's hand a squeeze. "I'll get their attention."
"Are you sure you want to do that?" Sora asked.
Rowan ignored his friend and grabbed the bars of his cage. "HEY!" He screamed as he rattled his cage door. Pain ran throughout his arms and ripped up his throat, but he willed himself to overlook it as he continued to call for the men. "I know you can hear us! We're thirsty and hungry in here! HEY!"
About a minute passed before one of the scientists walked into the room. "What are you prattling on about?"
"We're all thirsty." Aaron growled.
"And hungry!" Another kid added.
The man huffed. "So? What do I look like to you? A waiter? Your butler? You'll get food and water when we give it to you."
"When will that be?" Rowan hissed as he pulled himself up against his door.
"When we decide to give it to you."
"Are you trying to kill us? I thought you needed us all alive!" Aaron spit.
"Whether you live or die is no concern to us. You think you all are the first we have been testing? Think again, children." The man shook his head and approached a few of the cages. He stared at something beside the cages before stopping in front of Rowan's. "You were first. It looks like you've had long enough to recover. Let's go."
Rowan stiffened as the man unlocked his cage and grabbed him by the arm. "Let me go!"
The man disregarded his cries as he yanked Rowan out of his cage and carried him into the lab. The young boy could hear the cries of his friends and sister as they screamed at the scientist to release Rowan.
The man didn't pay them any mind as he strapped the struggling Rowan down onto the medical table. "Subject Fire Red is ready for it's continuation of reconstruction."
"It? I'm not an it! I'm a he! A boy!" Rowan growled bitterly as he fought against the Velcro straps. His struggles were in vain for the straps held him firmly in place. The scientists didn't want him going anywhere.
"Subduing test subject Fire Red…now." One of the scrub wearing scientists announced as he injected a needle into the base of Rowan's neck.
The boy let out a hiss as the sharp needle dug deep into his skin and muscle, but his body instantly began to relax and grow numb. The men didn't want him squirming around, while they…worked on him.
They pulled off his pre-cut shirt to expose his torso once again. Rowan looked down at his chest and just about felt his heart stop. There was a reason why his chest hurt so badly, and it made his stomach churn just by looking at it.
On his chest, in the shape of a Y, were stitches.
The men had cut him open and then sown him back up.
"Wha…wha…nononononono! This is not happening! This is not happening!" Rowan gasped. He wanted to touch the stitches to see if they were real, but the straps and drug kept him still.
"Cut the stitches." One of the scientists said to his colleagues.
"Cut?" Rowan whimpered.
Another scrub-wearing scientist picked up a scalpel and dragged it over the thin threads. One by one, the threads holding Rowan's chest shut were sliced through.
Rowan's breathing hastened as the man placed the scalpel down and took hold of the loose edges of the young boy's skin. "Proceed to open?"
"Proceed."
Rowan watched in horror as the skin of his torso was pulled away, revealing his internal organs. He could see his heart pounding rapidly within his chest. "This. Is. A nightmare."
"Organs are still looking good. Heart rate; fast. Lunges; still strong. Intestines; fully recovered from cutting weeks ago. Bladder; looks healthy. The body has accepted the changes done to it about six weeks ago."
Rowan wanted to scream. What were they talking about? Accepted what?! What changes? Why did they cut him open?! Did they really 'cut' his intestines? And had he really been out of it six whole weeks?
"Stitches to the scalp and throat appear to be almost completely healed. Scars only remain, though we will need to return to the skull in the end for reforming."
"…What?" Rowan looked at the scientist speaking with terror in his eyes.
"Test subject seems distressed. Permission to put Fire Red under while we continue? We could begin with skeletal reconstruction."
"S-Skeletal…reconstruction?!" Rowan cried.
No wonder they heard the adults screaming. These men were showing the 'mercy' to the children by numbing them and putting them under while they sliced into them.
"Injecting hormonal chemicals into test subject to advance both internal and external changes." One of the scientists announced as he took another needle and injected it into his heart.
Rowan's mouth slowly fell open as he watched the red fluid drain into his heart. He could feel the pressure of the needle in his heart, but there was no pain. At least not yet. He would feel it later once he woke back up in his cage. "Please…stop."
"Begin measuring out the bones before we begin reshaping it's skeletal system. Subject's structure must be perfect and even."
"Starting on the legs and working upward. We'll check the spine last to see if the nerves have recovered." A female scientist stated as she placed the blade of a scalpel on the side of Rowan's left thigh. He felt her placing pressure on his exposed flesh as the small knife sliced through his thigh all the way down to his ankle. She carefully ran the blade down his leg a second time as it cut deep into the muscle and struck bone.
"!" Rowan gasped as he felt the blade touch his femur. It was a horrifying experience, and yet he still felt no pain. He continued, for some reason, to watch in horror as the woman took what looked to be a pair of scissors with teeth (Retractors) and used it to hold the skin of his leg open.
"Hand me the tape measure and Gigli Saw, Greg." The woman said as she expanded the opening in the petrified boy's leg.
"I'll measure for you." Greg said as he proceeded to take the length of Rowan's femur, tibia, fibula, and foot. "We can definitely cut away more than half of the femur. Smooth out the Patella and make each one smaller. Then shorten and thin out the fibula and tibia. The bones in the feet will need to be completely reshaped."
"Bones in the arms?"
"We'll get to those later. Do not rush through the procedure. This test subject looks promising so far."
Rowan felt like he was going to be sick. "…mmmhhhuuuggghh…"
"Someone put the subject under. I want silence while we work on this one."
"Understood. Proceeding to put subject under once more."
Another needle was injected into the base of Rowan's neck sending him into a deep slumber once again.
Hours? Days? Later
Pain.
Immense pain everywhere.
Rowan couldn't move let alone speak as he was ripped awake from slumber. He wasn't surprised. The numbing drug that the scientists had given him while he was on the medical table was finally starting to wear off, much to the young boy's grief.
Now, the most he could do was stay motionless and listen for the others as the pain 'subsided'.
Unfortunately, the other cages were unnaturally quiet.
"I-I'm…not the only one…am I?" He thought quietly to himself. "Marcy?"
His eyes moved sluggishly towards the cage doors to see a water tube hanging from the wiry bars of his door. There was fresh water inside! They were finally giving them something to drink!
Rowan's mouth instantly felt dry as he stared at the clear tube. He wanted to drink from it, but his body was paralyzed with pain. "At least…they're giving us…something…"
The sound of heels on the hard floor could be heard approaching the area with the cages. Rowan lazily looked over at the newcomers to see a woman in a red suit standing before the cages. A purple haired, 'R' woman stood beside her as they both examined the cages.
"Are they all to your liking?" It was the scientist who had injected Rowan's heart with a syringe.
"None of them are moving. Why?" The red suited woman asked icily.
"They are all still recovering. Many are near completion. Give us a few more days and we will have some ready for you to sell."
The woman didn't seem pleased with this response. "We are behind schedule. I am losing potential buyers. Need I remind you from our call months ago that you said you would have at least a dozen ready for me. You have none!"
"Forgive us, Madam Boss, but we have been working night and day on them. The procedures were not easy."
The woman glanced down at Jo's cage and cringed in disgust. "What the Hell is that thing?"
The man followed her gaze and shrugged. "A mistake."
"I think it's cute." The purple haired grunt stated. "Is it finished?"
"Thinking of giving your child a gift, Miyamoto?" The woman, Madam Boss, asked humorously. "Do you know what it is yet?"
"It used to be a girl."
Both women glared at the scientist. "I was talking about Miyamoto's child, Adam."
"Forgive me for my rude remark." Adam said bluntly. There was some annoyance hidden in his voice. "Shall we continue this in the lab?"
The suited woman stared at some of the children in their cages. "How much longer until they are all completed?"
"We've been injecting them with hormones and specific chromosomes to allow their own bodies to complete the transformations. The process is working better with the children, but we have managed to stabilize some of the adults. We've put them into long comatose states while they recover. Their skeletal structures and internal organs have been changed to resemble-"
"What about their minds? Can they still understand us? Will they obey?"
"We were going to test that once they are well recovered enough to move. Of course, we'll be taking every precaution with them so they do not escape."
"You had better. It would be a shame to lose such valuable assets due to your foolishness. Make sure it doesn't happen." Madam Boss hissed as she and the purple haired woman left the room.
"Wai-Wa-"Rowan tried to speak, but he choked on his words. The pain shot throughout his whole body once more, causing him to tense up. He wanted to scream, but releasing it would only renew his agony. "What…did they do…to us?"
Sometime later that day
"Good evening, Fire Red. We're going to run one more test on you before we finish for the night." One of the many nameless scientists beamed as he opened Rowan's cage.
Rowan groaned as the man pulled him out of his cage. He didn't want to leave the 'safety and comfort' of his cage. In fact, the man had rudely stopped him from escaping the physical pain of the real world by fleeing to the dream world.
"Have you seen yourself yet? Probably not." The man snickered as he carried the half-asleep Rowan into the lab. "You look completed. All we have to do now is clean you up and make you look presentable."
"Completed…we still don't know what you bastards have done to us. Why does it seem like this guy is so…big?" Rowan moaned.
"You have Fire Red? Good. Bring it over to the Regenerator. See if it will work." One of the scrubs commanded when he noticed the man carrying Rowan into the lab.
"R-Rrr…"
"Trying to speak? Good. That's very good. Please, continue to work your vocal cords." The man grinned as he laid Rowan down onto a strange machine. He hit a few buttons on the machine and waited as it began humming loudly.
Rowan blinked lazily and stared at the scientist. Something didn't seem quite right. "Since when has my torso been…yellow? Are the stitches gone?...I think I'm losing my mind…"
The machine hummed louder and, much to Rowan's surprise, seemed to return his strength to him. The pain that ran through his body also seemed to fade away as the machine—for a lack of better words—healed him.
"I guess these guys can at least do one good thing." Rowan groaned as he gradually propped himself up on his elbow. The lab appeared larger than the last time he was in it…and oddly enough, all of the scientists appeared taller.
Rowan blinked and shook his head. Something didn't feel right.
He looked again at the lab and found the scrub wearing men to be working on Pokemon now. Had they always been working on Pokemon along with humans or were they new? "Those poor creatures have no clue what's in store for them."
"Here. Eat and drink this." The man said as he shoved a Mago Berry in his mouth.
Rowan didn't hesitate to devour the entire berry. He was starving and the berry was tasted sweeter with each bite. The man then set a cup with a straw down in front of Rowan, who after finishing the berry, bit down on the straw and drained the cup of soda.
"Ahh…so good." Rowan sighed as the man took the empty cup away from him. "I hope they're giving Marcy and the others something to eat as well. Are they feeding the Pokemon too?"
He glanced at a Voltorb, which was resting on a table not too far away from him. It was staring at him with exhausted, but also eerily familiar eyes. "You poor creature." It wheezed (…even though it didn't have a mouth). "Don't be fooled by their 'kind' gestures. They are only using you. I'm sorry."
Rowan flinched. The Pokemon spoke! It was talking to him! Could everyone understand it? Was it's ability to speak the human language the reason why the grunts had brought it to this place? And why was it apologizing to him?
Many questions like these flooded the boy's mind, including one that seemed to unnerve him the most. "Why do you sound so familiar?"
The Voltorb blinked as a look of what only could be described as astonishment crossed it's facial features. "You're…You're talking like a human. How?"
"What do you mean how? I am a human. You're the talking Pokemon."
The Voltorb frowned. "No, I'm not. You've got it all wrong, buddy. I'm the one who is human. You're the talking Pokemon."
"What?" Rowan gawked. This was becoming something very similar to a strange and twisted dream…or better yet, his game. "No. Dude, eh,… I don't know what these guys have done to you, but you're definitely a Voltorb. No doubt about it."
The Pokemon grew very silent. "…What? What did you just say I was?"
"A…Voltorb." Rowan replied slowly. "This is definitely starting to feel like my game."
A look of panic washed over the Pokemon. "I-I'm…human. I'm a human being! I am NOT a Voltorb! I'm human!" It was now rocking on it's table angrily.
"Test subject Electric Shell is starting to become distressed. Permission to subdue it?" The scientist who had carried Rowan in asked his colleagues as he prepared a syringe.
"You've got to relax, man…er, mon?" Rowan stated firmly as he slowly tried backing away from the Pokemon. He had been taught in school about the dangers of a Voltorb's self-destruct ability. "Don't freak out or else you might-"
"I'M HUMAN! I'm a human boy! My name is Aaron and I'm human!"
Rowan's heart plummeted into his stomach. There was no way that the Pokemon before him was his friend Aaron. There was no physical way that…the men couldn't have…it wasn't possible!
Unfortunately, the evidence was rocking back and forth before him. The men had successfully turned Aaron, and possibly everyone else into a Pokemon. "Aaron?"
The Pokemon slowly met his gaze.
Rowan pointed to himself and felt something sharp, almost like a claw, on his chest. He didn't dare look down at it. He didn't want to see what he had become…not just yet. "I-It's me. Rowan."
Voltorb's—no, Aaron's eyes widened. "Rowan?! You're…You're a Charmander!"