Chapter Eight

Reset

The walls of the hideout were beginning to settle down. The alarms that had circulated throughout ended suddenly, giving those inside the signal that all had been taken care of now.

Jessie, James and Meowth were the only ones who remained calm, not joining the abrupt hysteria that just occurred. The three of them stood in silence, having been listening to the alarms and watching agents here and there beeline in different directions.

Their faces remained impassive and through unspoken words, they all knew what this all meant. The boy had gotten himself into trouble. The pact was now null and void. There was nothing left for them to do for him. He had to fend for himself.

As they kept quiet, the murmurs and excited chatter of an intruder and his Pikachu only confirmed their suspicion.

The first thing that Ash registered when he woke up was that it was dark. Next he was confused as to where he was. Those thoughts were wiped away as the dreadful realization of his predicament seized his mind like a tsunami. His disorientation now all gone and in its place was panic, and he found himself trembling in fury and fear.

He got himself upright in a hurry, forgetting about the injury to his shoulder before the taut and agonizing pain caught up with him. Ash halted his movements, clutching at his shoulder with his hand and biting lip as he waited for the pain to go numb again. How long had he been out?

He recalls being dragged away, separated from Misty and Pikachu. He was eventually brought to an unknown wing within the hideout and thrown into the holding cell that he was in now. The last thing he remembers though, was trying to fight his way out before a Team Rocket trainer violently smacked his face and then everything went black. Ash could still feel the sting on his left eye, knowing that there would be a bruise.

Moving slowly so not to aggravate his shoulder, Ash reached to his waist for his Pokébelt only to find it completely gone. His hand that reached for the missing belt formed a fist.

He didn't have a clue as to how he was going to get out of this cell. And if so, Ash didn't know the layout of the building, he'd run into trouble again. Without the aid of his Pokémon, the boy was at a dreadful loss. His luck had run out—fast but time may still be on his side, he thought with painful hope.

Still, as he tried to force some hope into his mind, Ash worried terribly for Pikachu and his Pokémon, before drifting to Misty. A nagging thought in the back of his skull reminded him that it was Misty who was responsible for this. She cried out intruder, sent a Pokémon to attack him and eventually set him and his team as Team Rocket's prisoners.

No, his mind rebelled. "It's not her fault," Ash murmured. Team Rocket was the one who did this to her. They enslaved her within her own mind. "It won't happen again, I promise," Ash told himself, ignoring the growing pessimism boiling in his gut.

Barely a second later, Ash heard a noise coming from the room. Muffled at first, likely from behind the room's walls, Ash heard what were footsteps and a heavy door opening. It was still too dark to see anything. Ash maneuvered his neck to get a visual and caught shadows accompanied with the same footsteps approaching before it was momentarily drowned out by the sound of the door closing.

Ash involuntarily stiffened, waiting with bated breath as to who was approaching.

A moment later, the footsteps grew close before stopping before his cell, revealing Butch and Cassidy.

Ash bared his teeth. "You again…"

"My thought exactly," Butch said, his expression smug.

"Where's Pikachu?" Ash snarled from within his cell.

Butch and Cassidy were unfazed, eyeing Ash with a blend of arrogance and boredom.

"Is that what you think why we're here?" Cassidy asked, a smirk on her lips.

Ash said nothing, but his brown eyes were ablaze with contempt.

"You've got some nerve, kid," Butch spoke up after a moment of intense silence. "Infiltrating a top secret hideout. Are you even aware what Team Rocket does to intruders?" His teeth bared in a malevolent grin.

Again Ash kept quiet, but his baleful stare did not wither under Team Rocket's watch.

Butch got closer, inching towards the bars and crouched to Ash's level on the floor; it was his way of patronizing and taunting Ash, placing the boy in the position of a frightened Pokémon. "Well…I'm sure you'll find out. Wouldn't want to ruin the surprise."

"I'll find a way out," Ash hissed in response and was met with snickering.

Butch had risen from his crouched position, returning to his spot at Cassidy's side. The two chortled at Ash's proclamation given that he was caged while Ash's face flushed with rage.

"And how do you plan on escaping?" Cassidy asked, with a cocked brow. "You have no Pokémon on you and are locked away. If you even want an ounce of mercy, you'd better start begging."

"Even that won't get you out of here," Butch added.

"You only have yourself to blame, you know," Cassidy went on. "You and that redhead must share the same brain to get bold with Team Rocket."

Adrenaline and vengeance spiked Ash's chest. He sprung to his feet swiftly and launched himself at the bars. "WHAT DID YOU DO TO HER?!" he shouted, gripping the bars so tight, it only agonized his shoulder, but he didn't care. He swore if he was an Ursaring right now, he'd break out of here and make them pay; a thought so feral, it was foreign to Ash.

Unmoved, there was a spark in Cassidy's eyes, however. "Oh and I guess you could blame her too. You know as to why you're here, locked away."

"She's the one who sold you down the river, kid," Butch continued for Cassidy with a smirk. "She found you, attacked you and had you and your Pokémon taken away—"

"I'm not stupid!" Ash cut him off, angrily.

"Had me fooled," Butch said.

"Misty wouldn't do any of this knowingly," Ash continued to argue.

"Not even to you?" Cassidy asked.

"Whatever you say, it's not going to convince me," Ash retorted. "She's my friend and a good person, who'd never, ever work for scum like Team Rocket!"

"Then explain why she is working for us scum?" Butch asked his boredom returning.

"Because you brainwashed her! Don't play stupider than you already are!"

"Coming from some brat behind bars, without any Pokémon or hope!" Cassidy snapped back.

These words seemed to have silenced Ash. His hands were still wrapped around the bars.

"Pathetic," Cassidy said after a moment, her eyes filled with disdain. "I guess we'll leave you to "cool off". Would reconsider your attitude, as it won't help you." She turned a heel. "Enjoy seething down here, alone."

Cassidy began to walk away with Butch following suit. However he looked over his shoulder briefly, addressing Ash one final time," We'll say hi to Misty and Pikachu for you." And within seconds the two disappeared from sight, the sound of a door shutting telling Ash that he was alone more than ever.

The adrenaline still pumped through his body but he felt his fingers go lax on the bars. A new wave of desperation was looming along with a sense of hopelessness.

After a long moment, Ash's composure crumbled. His hands on the bars remained as he slid them down, carrying his whole body with him, his knees touching the cold tile floor, in defeat.

The phone rang, slicing through his thoughts suddenly. Giovanni picked up the call on his desk just as he was in the middle of reviewing document after document on anything and everything mega evolution.

"What is it?" he barked.

"Sir, the intruder has been found and is currently being contained in the basement unit holding cell."

"Very well, is there anyone else?"

"It does not appear so, sir," replied the voice on the other side. "He did have a Pikachu out, though, which was also taken away, along with his Pokébelt."

Giovanni pinched the bridge of his nose. He did not have time for this. His focus was swallowed by this project. However a breach of any sort was never safe. Situations like these had to be handled with care…or torture, whichever he deemed appropriate. Secrecy was vital to Team Rocket.

"Was there anything else on this intruder?" Giovanni asked with thinly veiled patience.

"He had his Pokédex on him, which was confiscated as well."

"Bring his Pokébelt and Pokédex to me," Giovanni ordered. "I'm going to get as much information on this imbecile before I deal with them."

"Right away, sir."

In the meantime, Giovanni's attention returned to the papers on his desk. He was going to figure out how to trigger the evolution, even if meant manipulating the process.

Misty wasn't sure what was happening to her. After the incident with that boy, his words left an impression on her mind.

"You've been brainwashed!

"Misty, you need to get out of here!"

Biting her lip, Misty felt her chest tighten with worry. The boy urged her to leave, had entered the facility to…help her escape? Her trust felt like it was slipping; yet she latched on. He's got to be lying, she thought.

The sense of uncertainty had been present ever since her "accident", and if she thought it couldn't get worse, she was gravely mistaken. She didn't know whom she could turn to. Dr. Reiko kept insisting that her memories although lost would return, never really giving her an exact answer.

The only other people she was on speaking terms with were Butch and Cassidy. The other grunts barely spoke to her unless it had something to with Team Rocket business. She wasn't even sure if she had ever been this lonely.

She settled on her bed, leaning against the wall, shutting her eyes. She was exhausted, tired and stressed and lonely. She doubted anyone really noticed her distress, since she kept it wrapped away.

Keeping her eyes closed, Misty thought about how desperately she just wanted to sleep. Sleep and wake up to remember everything again.

Minutes ticked by and Misty still found herself awake. She still kept her eyes closed, clamped tightly as though forcing her mind to rest. Instead as more minutes ticked away, her thoughts drifted to the face of the boy.

His image was clear in her head from jet-black hair to his dark brown eyes. Instead of trying to refocus on something else, Misty allowed her mind to remain on this boy. His face was defiant and desperate in her head just as it was not too long ago in the lower wing of the hideout.

Then came his voice, husky yet boyish, imploring her, warning her. Suddenly she was stricken with concern for him. This stranger that broke into HQ was likely locked away with his Pokémon confiscated. She wondered if he felt just as alone as she felt now.

The pang of guilt confused her. She told herself not to feel that way; after all it was her who was responsible for him getting caught. The more confused she got, the more exhausted she became. Once again she tried to focus on falling asleep.

She heaved a sigh and not a moment later Misty's eyelids flew open, her fingers pressed to her lips startled by the word that she uttered accidentally.

"Ash."

Time didn't seem to exist down in his cellar. Either that or it didn't seem to move at all. It remained dim, cold and lonely as before.

Ash was sat against a wall in the corner of his cell. There was no furniture inside, forcing him to remain on the icy floor.

His stomach gnawed with vicious hunger, making him a little dizzy. And while the pain in his shoulder diminished some, Ash could barely lift his arm enough without feeling a sharp spike of pain.

So he was huddled on the floor in the corner with his arms wrapped around his knees staving off the cold that swept him. And despite all this his face still burned with indignation.

Ash was never good when it came to patience. It wasn't natural for him to wait. He was a boy who ran on spontaneity and recklessness. It didn't matter what the consequences were.

Once Butch and Cassidy left him alone to seethe on his own, Ash inspected every part of this holding cell and through the dimness tried to find a way out. He had no luck, though. There was no window, the bars were locked and it looked like the only way out of the room was through the doors that led to this room. He wanted to shout and throw a fit, demanding to be released and to get his friends back.

But instead he kept quiet amidst his panic and fury; pacing the cell before crumpling down into the corner he's in now.

I can't give up, he preached inwardly.

He must've fallen asleep though he's unsure for how long, for when he woke, Ash realized he was no longer alone. Instantly his eyes widened from their bleary state and the hairs on the back of his neck stood on end.

From where he sat, beyond the bars Ash noticed a pair of shadows. His first thought was that Butch and Cassidy had returned. He didn't move, deciding to be cautious for once.

The silence fed the tension in the room as Ash made no attempt to speak.

"Would you like us to come back later?"

Ash took a sharp inhale; bewildered at discovering that Jessie and James were the shadows.

"You could always go back to your catnap, but hate to break to ya, but time is of an essence here," Meowth who had spoke earlier quipped.

Ash had barely noticed the third silhouette and he carefully crawled closer to get a look at their visages and sure enough the Team Rocket Trio was standing before him.

When Team Rocket was met with silence, Jessie spoke up. "Well, make your choice, twerp, did you want to stay here after all?"

"Wha—what?" Ash's voice croaked.

"Clock's ticking, boy," James added impatiently and Ash noticed that he was holding something over his shoulder.

"What're you three doing here?" Ash couldn't help but ask, overwhelmed with confusion.

"Having a chat," Jessie deadpanned. "We've come to collect you."

Ash's heart spiked with fear for a second. Was he about to be subjected to torture as Butch and Cassidy had implied earlier?

"We don't have all night," Jessie went on seriously. "This may be your last chance of helping your friend."

The urgency in Jessie's voice did not miss Ash yet he remained bewildered. "I…I don't understand," he murmured. "The rules—conditions. I broke the last one."

Jessie, James and Meowth all nodded slowly, silently agreeing with Ash.

"So why are you still trying to help me?"

Jessie leaned forward, her eyes locked onto Ash's. "The plan failed too soon."

"We barely just got our foot inside and you go ahead and get caught," Meowth chimed.

Ash felt his ears heat up. And before he could explain, though it was futile, Jessie spoke up again, eyes rolling, "Misty caught you and that's why you're here. It was meant to work the other way around."

Ash swallowed and his shoulders slumped. "She still didn't remember me."

"If you keep sulking she'll never remember you," Jessie said. "Is that what you want, because if so, you just wasted our precious time." She spoke in her usual scathing tone, but her eyes were a bit softer, though Ash did not notice. "Get up."

Ash got to his feet slowly as he held onto his injured shoulder with one hand. "You're really going to help me? Still?"

"It's a do-over," Jessie said simply. "The plan is in reset, don't mess it up this time."

Normally Ash would be extremely weary of these three, but had promised to put his trust in them when he sought out their help earlier. And as James approached the bars, pulling out a small key from his pocket, Ash's determination was renewed. He wasn't going to mess up this time. This time for sure.

Instantly the cellar door was pulled away by James allowing Ash an exit.

"This isn't going to be easy, kid," Jessie whispered as Ash stepped out. She had already begun making her way towards the doors with James and Meowth on their tails. "After what happened, it's going to be much harder," she added harshly. "Surveillance likely has your face saved, so we are going to have to stick together."

"What about Pikachu?" Ash couldn't help but ask. "And my Pokémon?"

"One thing at a time," Jessie said quickly. "We need to get you out of here without anyone seeing. Then we'll take you to Pikachu."

"You know where it is?"

Jessie nodded without looking at Ash. "We would've gotten to you sooner but we had to wait for the frenzy to die down."

The group hesitated by the doors. Jessie pressed her ear against them, listening carefully for any noise. "Okay," she whispered. "Let's go."

She and James pushed the doors open, gingerly. The light of the corridor was dim but not nearly as dark as Ash's cell. As they set forth down the hall, Ash keeping pace with the trio and averting their eyes said, "Thanks."

Jessie, James and Meowth all shared looks with each other and Ash could've sworn he saw the slightest hint of a smile on all their faces.

"You're still up. Are you scheduled to patrol tonight?"

Misty shook her head tiredly in response to Butch's question. She had left her dorm in favor for a walk around HQ. It wasn't like she was capable of getting any sleep these days. When she had reached the same hall where the agents often briefed before a mission, she ran into Butch and Cassidy.

"Some night so far, huh?" Butch went on trying to make light conversation.

Misty's brow raised in agreement, though she didn't seem to want to elaborate on the topic any further. "What're you doing?"

"Patrolling HQ," Cassidy said.

"Mmm," came Misty's response, indicating that she wasn't really listening.

"You should get some rest," Cassidy said bluntly. "Don't take it personal, Misty, but you look haggard."

"Heh, yeah," Butch chuckled awkwardly. "No offense."

Misty shrugged, unperturbed by their honesty.

"Everything…okay?" drawled Cassidy, looking at Misty oddly.

This seemed to have caught Misty's attention. She pursed her lips, unsure of what to say. She wanted to talk to someone, anyone who might help her understand what she was going through. She doubted anyone here had experienced amnesia like she is right now but Butch and Cassidy were the only ones other than Dr. Reiko whom she had some conversations with lately.

"My amnesia," she began, softly. "I'm not sure if it's improving or getting worse."

Butch shuffled a little discreetly, uncomfortable. While Cassidy looked unaffected. Instead the older redhead asked, "Oh, how so?"

Cassidy had to be careful. She didn't want to say anything that could trigger Misty's true memories to return. But she also couldn't act like she knew something that Misty didn't. So instead she and Butch stood and listened.

"Well I've been having dreams since the accident," Misty explained, her voice sounding uncertain when she said "accident".

Butch and Cassidy glanced really briefly at each other and their lack of response, prompted Misty to keep going.

"All the same," Misty mused referring to her dreams.

"Uhmm," Butch stammered, scratching at the back of his neck. "Maybe you should see Dr. Reiko again. Have her check you out?"

"I guess," Misty said though her voice told them that she found that attempt pointless.

"When you say you're not sure if you're memory improved…" Cassidy started to say, rethinking how ask her. "In what way do you think it's gotten better?"

"Well," Misty intoned. "You know that boy?"

Butch and Cassidy stiffened, eyes widening a little.

"The one that was caught tonight, the one from the lighthouse," Misty urged them to recall the boy. "He keeps saying that I know him."

Butch licked his lips. "But you don't know him," he stated it as though it were a fact rather than a question.

Misty shook her head and shrugged. "I don't know if I know him. But he seems to know me, which…makes me wonder."

"Go on," Cassidy urged.

"Nothing, just if I knew him before."

"He—" Cassidy was going to say.

"He seems so insistent that we knew each other," Misty interrupted. "It's bizarre. I can't trust my mind right now so it's hard to know what to believe."

This was a red flag. Both Butch and Cassidy sensed that this was not a good sign. Misty's mind was in limbo at the moment. She was beginning to sound unsure especially when it came to Ash, his presence having a strong impact on her mind, likely triggering her true memories.

"Butch is right," Cassidy said hurriedly. "You should probably confide in Dr. Reiko, she'll know what's going on."

Misty's brows knitted together in contemplation, but yielded to Cassidy's suggestion. "Yeah…"

"You know where to find her," Cassidy added and shot Butch a look. "We better get back to our patrol." She and Butch turned a heel. "Have a good night."

The two left Misty alone who watched the duo disappear down the corridor before turning in the other direction.

As Butch and Cassidy were far away enough and alone, they started to talk amongst themselves.

"Is she beginning to remember him?" Butch asked while he and Cassidy continued to pace quickly.

"Possibly," Cassidy responded. "That stupid brat left an impression on her."

"What'd you think would happen? Do you think she'll talk to Reiko about it?"

"Maybe."

"Should we tell Giovanni?" Butch asked, growing weary as they walked swiftly across another hall.

Cassidy stopped suddenly considering his words. "We think we should?"

Butch shrugged, flustered and hesitant. "I—I don't know. Th—there might be a chance she's gaining her memories back?"

"I don't know how amnesia works," Cassidy retorted.

"Me neither."

"Problem is if her memories are returning, my money's that she'll head down to the cellar and find the brat."

"Is that such a bad idea? They're both troublesome and we're much better off without keeping them hostage—"

"Not if they run off to the authorities and out Team Rocket!" Cassidy reasoned, annoyed.

"O—okay, then," Butch relented with his hands up before him in defense. "Maybe if she does go to Reiko, the doc will do something about it."

"We could hope so or…do what you suggested and tell the boss."

"After tonight, I don't think he'll be up for dealing with her again."

"But if we don't, he could hold us responsible if she suddenly remembers and rebels against us."

"Yeah," Butch sighed.

"We're just going to let him know that's it."

The two set off again this time in the path of their boss's office. Their hearts thrummed with fear but they knew they had to inform Giovanni about Misty.

They had reached the outside of Giovanni's office in no time and normally they did need an invitation to see him but they had their own agenda.

Butch knocked delicately, as though hoping that would do anything to appease Giovanni. Nonetheless the man's voice barked from inside for them to enter.

Butch and Cassidy entered quietly, shutting the doors behind them. Giovanni was hovering over his desk, hands flattened against the mahogany desk. His dark eyes looked up to glare at the two. "Butch, Cassidy," his gruff voice said in greeting, though it was anything but welcoming. "Why are you two here?"

Butch and Cassidy exchanged looks, the former clearing his throat. "We have an update on our newest recruit."

Giovanni quirked a brow in confusion until Cassidy clarified, "It's about Misty. Her memories might be coming back."

And the realization on Giovanni's face then was evidence through his scowl. "Go on."

Thankfully the hideout seemed to have emptied within the last few hours of the night. Normally there would be a few agents out on patrols within the facility but it looked like they were all elsewhere.

Jessie, James, Meowth and Ash were extremely cautious to not grab anyone's attention they past. They couldn't even afford to have any of their presence known. If they saw someone, they hung back against a wall, waiting for them to leave.

For the most part though, the coast remained clear.

"This place looks empty," Meowth told the group after peering around a corner. They were back on the main floor of the hideout, though it was still a portion that Ash had yet to explore.

It was quiet all around save for their footsteps. Ash couldn't help but feel uneasy about the silence, as he normally was when it got too quiet. Nor did it feel anymore comforting to be led around by his enemies.

"Each way we turn looks the same as the other," Ash noted in a murmur. Though it was more to himself, Meowth heard.

"Takes about one full walkthrough of the place before ya know it inside and out," the cat said. "'Course might be easier for Pokémon than humans, since we got a better sense of direction."

"Maybe, but this place is like one maze," Ash continued to muse behind the group.

"We haven't reached any dead-ends yet, have we?" James asked, though didn't care for a response.

True, the layout of the facility looked the same at least to Ash. Once he and Team Rocket left the lower wing, it was hard to tell if they were even getting anywhere. Each hall and path seemed to be linear, yet unchanging.

"Hope Pikachu's doing okay," Ash said suddenly. He'd been worried for his friend when they were separated.

"Lucky for you, we happen to know where Pikachu is," James said as they all turned right in new wing. "No one here either. Let's keep moving."

They walked swiftly past several doors, all of which required codes to get inside. Team Rocket paid the ones they past no mind, instead carrying on with more speed.

Once they had reached the final door at the end of the hall, Jessie and James stopped. "Here it is," Jessie told Ash in a hushed tone.

"How'd you know?" Ash asked.

James turned partially to look at Ash, an impish smirk on his face. "We're not tricking you, if that's what you're thinking. Thought you trusted us by now."

"Would you?" Ash retorted to which James turned fully to face Ash displaying his smirk completely.

"Good answer," he mused. "We'll go in first. Jess, do you remember the code?"

Jessie addressed James with a gaze but then looked past her shoulder at Ash with suspicious eyes.

Ash understood. So he turned around, allowing them privacy to input the correct numbers onto the electronic lock. With his back turned, he heard the sound of buttons being pressed and a light noise before hearing the door open.

Ash turned and entered right after Jessie and James. In this room, the lights were also kept dim, but not as dim as his cell was.

It was small, not as cramped as the basement unit his cellar was in, but Ash expected a much larger room. And after James secured the door behind them, he switched on a few extra lights and the room brightened.

With the newfound light, Ash looked to get a visual and instantly his heart leapt in his chest. He saw Pikachu confined in a decent sized cage and next to it was a belt, which looked to be his Pokébelt.

"Pikapi!" Pikachu crooned at the sight of Ash.

The boy ran from where he stood right to the cage. "Pikachu!" he rejoiced. "How were you holding up, buddy?"

"Pikachu," was the rodent's response.

"I'll get you out—" Ash started to say, turning towards Team Rocket but Meowth was already by him, with his claws drawn.

"Step aside, twerp," he told Ash and at first the boy looked like he was being cornered.

But before he could protest, Meowth used his nails and dug at the lock that held Pikachu in the cage. In a matter of seconds, Meowth got Pikachu free, who leapt into Ash's arms. "Cha!" it cried out in joy.

"Miss you, Pikachu, glad you're okay," Ash told his friend.

"It's a good thing your Pokémon was still here," James noted. "Normally they would have been hauled off elsewhere, with the other Pokémon here."

"Here," Jessie said, snatching the belt on thrusting it towards Ash hastily. "We can't linger here. We got to move."

Ash and Pikachu both gave a resolute nod. "Right."

And now it was time to find Misty again. Hopefully this time, Ash thought that he'd be able to help her.

"Are you sure this is what you want to do?" Dr. Reiko asked Giovanni, nervously.

He had summoned the medic to his office once he dismissed Butch and Cassidy. He sought her out after being informed about the possibility of Misty's relapse.

Still angered about not succeeding in Mega Evolving Gyarados and the latest intrusion into his hideout, Giovanni had lost all patience for anymore nonsense.

Where Misty was concerned, he was determined to stamp out this issue before resuming his work on Mega Evolution.

"I am certain, doctor," he said, roughly. "I've gone too far down this road to just change my mind."

Dr. Reiko grimaced at his words. "Very—very well. It's just…"

"Hm?" Giovanni asked.

The medic removed her glasses to clean the glass, as well as avoid eye contact with the man. "I fear that it will in fact damage her mind. She might have trouble keeping memories."

"Her welfare is not my concern here, Dr. Reiko," Giovanni spat. "If we leave her alone, who's to say she won't turn against us?"

"She's just one girl, sir," Reiko reasoned with Giovanni. "Even if she did return to herself, there's no way she'd be able to fight back not against an entire organization of grunts."

"I appreciate your insight, doctor, but I am respectfully declining your suggestions." His eyes darkened and Dr. Reiko nodded. "I merely require that you assist me in ensuring her status among Team Rocket once we're finished," Giovanni added.

The man had three Pokéballs on his desk, two of which were not his but the one that was would be put to use real soon.

There was a gentle knock on the doors, and Giovanni cleared his throat, ordering the visitor to enter.

Misty walked in, looking as tired as ever and still clad in her uniform. "Sir," she said curtly.

"Misty," Giovanni flouted. "Thank you for visiting. Still having trouble sleeping, yes?"

Misty nodded.

"Yes, Dr. Reiko here has kept me updated on your progress." Giovanni leaned forward, looking straight into Misty's eyes. "Tell me, do you feel any sort of improvement with your memories?"

Misty's eyes did not wilt under Giovanni's scrutinizing gaze. She kept her chin up and spoke, "I'm not so sure."

"And why's that?" Giovanni tried not to bark at her, but his temper was thinning once more.

Misty took a moment to answer, thinking on how to explain, a part of her felt like she should think carefully as to how to respond.

"Let me just ask," Giovanni said before Misty could provide an answer. "Simple question: who are you?"

Misty's eyes widened. She felt like she was being tested, but didn't know based on what. "I work for Team Rocket," she replied, thinking that this was a safe answer.

"Yes," Giovanni said. "What else?"

It was déjà vu. This same sort of conversation that Misty shared with Giovanni the morning she awoke in the infirmary, when he asked her about herself. Back then she was still hesitant and not certain but it was still easier to believe what she had said then versus now.

"Not much beyond that," Misty murmured the truth.

"Must be frustrating, huh?" Giovanni asked, feigning concern. "I have yet to tell you good work earlier."

At first Misty cocked a brow confused before Giovanni continued. "With the intruder. Do you know him?"

Her breath caught in her throat while her heart thrummed fast in her chest. The sheer bluntness in Giovanni's question sent a spike of worry in her.

"I…I…" Misty stuttered, feeling a little scared but then her eyes narrowed and she looked at Giovanni again. "I was hoping to find out."

"Oh?" Giovanni intoned, curious. "Does he know you?"

Misty shrugged. "I don't know. Maybe. And if he does, maybe…I knew him before…"

Giovanni's eyes flashed. So it was true then, what Butch and Cassidy warned him about. They had told him that the intruder had some connections with Misty before and that he's a friend of hers.

"Should I know him?" Misty boldly asked and Dr. Reiko looked at Giovanni, waiting for his response with worry.

Giovanni picked up his Pokéball, his face devoid of any sort of false concern for Misty. "I think you know him," he says suddenly. "It's possible that you both know each other. How? I don't know myself, nor care, but…" Giovanni dropped the Pokéball, allowing Hypno to emerge before Misty. "It won't matter anyways."

Misty backed away a little, her heart beating even more. Suddenly she was struck with the blurry images of her dreams, and felt she knew what was going to happen next. She shot a look at Dr. Reiko for help but the medic merely looked away.

"I think it's time we reset your memories—again," Giovanni said darkly. "Hypnosis."

Hypno's pendulum began to sway and with each swing, a psychic wave hurled itself at Misty. She tried to shut her eyes, but it was too late, as she couldn't look away from the pendulum.

"Hypnoooooo…" Hypno purred.

The psychic waves were too strong. Misty's head cried out with agony and she found herself collapsing onto the ground as her vision blurred and faded. She was too tired, too exhausted from lack of sleep and energy to fight back.

The hypnosis continued its work, violating Misty's mind with phantom hands before Misty's mind drew a blank and blacked out.

TO BE CONTINUED…