No time to worry about whatever delusions they were suffering. He had to protect his brother!
The first thing he did upon entry was to close the door. It wouldn't help in the long run, but it would give him two extra seconds or so to prepare...
He ran over to his brother and turned around, only to come to a realization: He couldn't think of any moves! ...Wait, moves? What am I talking about?
Well, he couldn't just stand around and let his mind wander. Mark had a short sword somewhere in here...
The short katana had been a gift from their parents around six months ago. Mark had wanted to learn swordplay, and their parents had bought it for his eighth birthday, on the condition that Evan supervised him, and made sure he didn't hurt himself. Evan had practiced some rudimentary lessons when Mark wasn't using it, and had a reasonable level of skill with it.
There! Poking out from behind his closet door. He stepped over, and drew the sword from its overly-large sheath. The blade had a special covering over the blade that stopped it from being able to cut anything easily. It could be removed easily enough, however. He did so, and stood at a ready position.
The door flew open, and in came the guard that had apparently been seeing things, followed by backup. The first guard didn't hesitate and pulled out a tranquilizer gun, pointing it at Evan. Time seemed to slow down as the guard fired, and Evan ducked as the dart flew over his head, embedding itself in the wall behind him.
Evan didn't hesitate-he saw his chance and used the sword to knock the gun out of the man's hand, being careful not to hurt the guard.
It was then that the lead guard noticed Mark, still asleep in his bed. He pointed back at one of the others, then waved his finger forwards, and the second guard entered the room, attempting to bypass Evan.
Evan didn't like that, and he dropped his sword, ran at the guard, and tackled him, holding on with both of his arms. "DON'T! HURT! MY! BROTHER!" he shouted, each word accompanied by a punch. After that, he put both his hands on the guard's back for a brief moment's rest. Then, he felt a sudden prick in his back and his hands glowed for a moment, a loud ZAP! echoing through the room, paired with a loud, pained yell from the man he was atop.
Evan stared at his hands in amazement, giving the guards the opportunity they had been looking for-a tranquilizer dart was fired into his back. He couldn't fight it, and was flooded with worry for Mark until he blacked out.
His head hurt like hell.
He wasn't aware of much else, only that his head was throbbing. He had been trying to... do something. He was having trouble remembering what. Something to do with Mark...
Mark!
In spite of his headache, he opened his eyes, and hopped to his feet- and then immediately tottered backwards as his foot caught on something. He steadied himself, and realized that he didn't know exactly where he was. It looked like a hospital, but it didn't seem large enough. In addition, the beds didn't seem like typical hospital fare- more for comfort than anything else.
He held his head in his hands. He had failed his little brother. Mark could be anywhere now. What were the odds of...
Did they put something on his head? It felt like his hands were touching rabbit ears, or some such silly headgear. Whatever it was, it was silly to just leave it there, so he tried to pull them off.
"Gah! Son of a...!"
Were they glued there? That didn't feel like glue...
Nervously, he began to poke them. There was definitely some tactile feedback...
With a mounting panic, he began to search for a mirror. There had to be some sort of reflective surface somewhere here...
Aha! It looked like someone had left behind some unattended dental tools. ...What sort of hospital was this? Seriously, who leaves random dental tools just lying around? Nevertheless, he picked the small mirror up, and looked at his reflection.
"No..."
The Jolteon Mutate in the mirror mimicked the movement of his lips. For the first time, he actually bothered to take a good hard look at his hands. Yellow fur completely coated them. And... yes, apparently his hands were tougher in the spots you'd see pads on a cat or dog.
He began to try and remember what had happened. He had been tranked, yes, but what about before that? Wait... Hadn't he been tazed, too? Why hadn't that brought him down?
Then it clicked. Jolteon, the Lightning Pokémon, was a pure Electric-type with the ability Volt Absorb.
Volt Absorb... Healing by electricity... It makes sense! After all, the way a taser works is by overloading its target's nervous system with electricity, locking up his/her body. But instead of being harmed, I must have been mutated enough that I had my ability, and it kicked in and only powered me up! He was excited that he had figured it out, but his grin fell quickly.
Mutated... Acceptance flooded into him. I've mutated... I'm not going home, am I...? He fell to his hands and knees, head hung low, and started to cry. Not only that, but I've already pretty much blown my only chance at getting out... No doubt they only think of me as a monster now...
He glanced up as he heard a knock at the window, cringing and growling as he recognized the guard he'd attacked.
The one that had been sent in to take Mark.
"Where's my brother," he growled, too angry to notice that his voice had changed a bit.
"So, those sandstorms you seem to generate randomly appear to be harmless. Overall, your mental and physical exams have come up positive. Do you have anything to say, Mark?"
Mark shrugged. "I just want to know where my brother is. You said that he was here, right?"
"You'll be able to see him if he passes his exams."
"What if he doesn't?"
The Mutate examiner shook his head. "If he fails either one, we will hold him here until we can figure out exactly how dangerous he is."
Mark nodded. "In that case, he'll be fine. Maybe he'll just end up with sand clouds like me."
The examiner cleared his throat. "Ah. Yes. Maybe."
Silence for a few moments, and then a knock came from a nearby door. The examiner seemed surprised, and rose to look through a small peephole. He sighed, and opened the door to reveal a young man in his mid-twenties.
"This isn't the time."
"This kid and his brother mutated within minutes of each other. We might be able to figure something out here."
"A pattern in the mutations?" the examiner asked. He wasn't always kept up-to-date about the science behind them. It was only his job to examine them.
"Yes. If we can figure out a genetic reason for the mutations, then we might be able to predict when and where Mutates will appear. I just want to ask him few questions."
Now Mark was curious. "Can I ask you some too?"
"That depends on the question. I'll do my best to answer, but even we don't know a lot about you guys. Do you want to go first, or should I?"
He suddenly felt uncomfortable, glancing between the scientist and examiner. "Uhh..."
"Would you prefer if we went somewhere else for this?"
Mark nodded.
"Alright. Follow me."
The two of them left the room, taking a few rights, a left, and then into a different room. This one looked like an office.
The scientist pulled up a chair for Mark, and he sat down behind the desk. Mark sat in the chair pulled out for him.
"What's your name?" Mark asked, breaking the silence.
"You can call me Tom. Based on what I've got here, your name is Mark, right?"
Mark nodded. "Yep!"
"How about this: I'll ask a question, and you answer it, then you can ask me a question, okay? Or would you like to start?"
"You can go first."
"Hmm... Did you notice anything unusual before transforming? Any unusual feelings, or mood swings?"
"I felt... Really hyper for some reason."
Tom jotted down some notes, and nodded. "It isn't uncommon for that to happen. Hyperactivity is something that's popped up once or twice. So, your question, then?"
"Have there been any other cases of siblings?" Mark asked.
"...So far, I do not think so. There may have been in other countries, but they don't tell us that."
"So there-" Mark began, before realizing it was no longer his turn.
Tom smiled. "We can break the order, if you feel it's necessary."
Mark smiled and shook his head politely.
"All right, then. Do you have any cousins, or other similar relatives? If so, have any of them mutated to your knowledge?"
Mark shook his head. As far as he knew, nobody else was related to him like that.
Tom scribbled something down on a notebook, and nodded. "Right. Your next question, then?"
"If Evan doesn't pass his exam... What exactly happens?"
Tom sighed. "He'd stay here. I don't know for how long. They're saying they'll eventually let him go." He sighed again. "But... The system isn't exactly fair. I know it's a lot to dump on you"-Mark whimpered as though to prove his point-"but it wouldn't help at this point to be dishonest. Now, I have a few more questions for you." Mark nodded. "You and your brother both ended up as Mutates from the same evolutionary line."
"Correct."
"Something like that doesn't seem to be a coincidence. And that friend of yours-Derry? Daniel-?"
"Daryl," Mark interrupted.
"Sorry about that. Daryl- he ended up a Sandshrew, and based on the fact that he was hanging around your house that night, geography has little to no influence o-"
"He didn't mutate there. We-Evan found him near the bus stop across the street from his school. And Evan and I are brothers, so I believe that's why he and I are the same line." Then Mark realized something, and quickly added, "Sorry for interrupting."
"No, that actually helps. I'm trying to figure out if the mutations are genetically influenced. Thinking like that actually adds to any theories I currently have. Did Daryl ever say when or where he mutated or anything about the experience? He wouldn't talk to me."
"He's been quiet towards me, too. Evan would probably know."
"Hmm... Do you need to know anything else?"
"What's happening to Evan right now...?"
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