AN: Thanks so much for the reviews and favs, guys! And a special thank you to ShadowJolteon and Mind Where Odd Thoughts Drift. I really appreciate the reviews! :D (to answer your question, Mind Where Odd Thoughts Drift, chapter one IS meant to be sort of a prologue, just setting up the story. The scientist actually isn't the main character, but in a chapter or two you'll find out who really is... DUN DUN DUNNNN *shot*)

Well, enjoy! ^^

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My survival instincts kicked in, and I ducked just in time. Suddenly there was light exploding around me, electricity crackling around his bared fangs, which had been elongated and sharpened by our genetics head. Thanks a lot, Dr. Adams.

I rolled to one side, grabbing frantically at the Pokéball on my belt with sweaty fingers. "B-310-12, stand by for battle!"

I watched as my Manectric materialized in front of me, almost dizzy with relief. Twelve, as I called him for short, was strong, and he'd had his share of training fights with our Captain of the Guard.

The Luxray halted for a moment, seemingly uncertain at the presence of another Pokémech. Then he let out a series of low "uff" noises, paired with the occasional growl. My Manectric stood rigid on the spot, then let out a low, mournful sound I'd never heard from him before. The howl resonated eerily through the building, and I felt panic welling. Was Twelve switching sides?

As the howl rose to a terrifying crescendo, I picked up static on my walkie-talkie. "Rus- I mean Dr. Thornhill! Dr. Thornhill, are you there?" I recognized the voice immediately as one of my young assistants, Erika Lutz.

"Erika! What's going on?"

"The Pokémech have lost it! They've been attacking scientists left and right!

I backed away slightly from my own impending demise. "Yes, I'd gathered that. What I meant was, do you know why?"

"No idea! I was on guard at the ProtoChamber, and when I came out it was chaos!"

I thought for a moment, glancing uneasily at Twelve and Captain and wondering how much time I would have. "And the prototypes weren't disturbed?"

"Of course not, they're in suspended animation. Doctor Thornhill... what are you thinking about?"

I remembered the Installation yesterday, and how I hadn't sent Twelve out of his Pokéball since. "I think it may be the new emotive drive. The Pokémech have finally realized that they have the upper hand. And they're doing something about it."

"Well, they certainly look angry..." she replied uncertainly.

"The prototypes don't have that. Erika, how far are you from the Chamber now?

"Too far. I wouldn't be able to make it past these Pokémech..."

"Alright. I can-" I was cut off by a huge bolt from Twelve. Luckily, he was aiming only for the walkie-talkie, and when I dropped it out of surprise, his target-seek function went into action, and I was safe. For the moment.

I knew I couldn't outrun Captain and Twelve, but I was out of options. As I sprinted down the hall, I mulled over what I'd learned. If the emotive function was what caused this, Pokémech around the world would be revolting. It would be a full-scale rebellion. The humans who had stood so long as king of the castle would now be destroyed by their own creations. The irony was sickening.

But that wasn't the end of it. If Pokémech -- well, all except our prototypes -- could no longer be controlled by humans, the only ones who could defeat them would be the true Pokémon. The creatures we had pushed to the fringes of the hospitable world, and then beyond. The creatures we had replaced. The creatures we had slaughtered.

And now, they were our only hope.

I was slowing down, my pathetic human vision too weak for the dim lighting, and my pathetic human body too slow for a pair of Pokémech on the hunt. But I could see the door to the Chamber just ahead. If I could reach it in time...

The very air exploded behind me, propelling me forward in a blaze of white light. Every part of my body surged with pain from the attack, but the launch it gave me was just enough to reach the door. I was fortunate that it was one of the few still operational - or at least I assumed it was, from what Erika had told me.

The stainless steel parted and I burst inside, locking the door with my ID and collapsing as it closed behind me, leaving Luxray and Manectric on the outside.

I lay trembling a while, listening to the barks and roars outside the chamber, then forced myself to get up and walk it off. I wove between the strange cylinders where the prototypes slept. I'd been told that this section of the Lab had once been home to a Pokémon, created by humans, who invented an entire other species of his own through incredibly advanced cloning techniques. He disappeared many years ago, but some claim to have seen his superior race. Of course, that was just a silly tale told to frighten the rookie interns. Although no one had ever explained to me where the cylinders really came from...

I shook myself. I was already jumpy, and irrational thinking would help no one. Instead of looking at the containment units, I focused on what was in them.

I saw years of progress marching by as I walked through the dimly lit ProtoChamber, from Chris to F-197-01, to Pokémech far more advanced than either of them. I knew Erika and the others expected me to send out these Pokémech for backup, but against my better judgement, a new plan was forming.

I approached the main computer and swiped my ID card, watching as it lit up. "Confirm identification. Doctor Russel Thornhill?"

"Identification confirmed." I waited as it analyzed my voice, then glowed green with approval.

"Your request, Doctor Thornhill?"

"Release Pokémech R-059-14. Release Pokémech R-128-05. Release Pokémech R-233-32." Arcanine, Tauros and Donphan. All powerful, dependable Pokémon whose structural makeup we had altered only minimally. Ideal for the situation at hand.

"Requested Pokémech have been programmed to remain in suspended animation indefinitely, Doctor."

I had no choice but manual override.

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AN: Again, just wanted to say I don't own Pokemon. If I did, the supreme overlord would not be a goat.