Magnolia's stomach twisted as her suspicions were confirmed. Colress was, indeed, talking to himself—to another Colress. And this new Colress had a hard, cruel edge to his tone.
"Ow, my head," Zossie said, sitting up. "Dulse, you okay?" She reached over and shook her partner's shoulder.
He moaned and stirred, rolling over and pulling up his goggles to rub his face. "Zossie…?" he groaned. "What happened…?"
"It worked, that's what happened!" the other Colress said with a laugh. "My dimensional shunter device worked!"
"I've made one of those, too," Colress said.
"I know," said the other Colress. "It's in my lab right now. I've been having a wonderful time disassembling it. Although it seems yours is intended to return people to their home dimensions, while mine instead pulls people from Ultra Wormholes as they travel—fascinating!"
The color drained from Colress's face, and Magnolia stepped toward the door with a frown. "Where are our Pokemon?" she asked.
"Also in the lab," Colress said. "The two big ones would have been quite a problem to subdue, but thankfully it seems the shunting weakened them enough that we were able to contain them. Having them in my possession should assist greatly in my dimensional research!"
"What about the others?" Magnolia asked.
The other Colress rubbed his chin. "I would love to run some tests on them, seeing as they're from another dimension," he said. "Unfortunately, that oaf Ghetsis will probably want them for himself. Hopefully he won't find out about the big ones. He's already got enough powerful Pokemon as it is."
Colress stiffened. "Ghetsis succeeded in his plans to rule your world, didn't he," he said.
"Naturally," the other Colress said. "Now then. I expect my questions answered to my satisfaction. You don't have a choice in the matter."
"We'll see about that," Magnolia grumbled under her breath, standing her ground.
"Just what are you planning?" Zossie asked.
"Well, no harm in telling you, I suppose," the other Colress said as he reached to unlock the door. "I'm planning on expanding my research. Ghetsis wants me to unlock the secrets of the Ultra Wormholes and learn to control them so that he can send Team Plasma out to conquer every dimension. I'll let that pompous windbag do whatever he wants so long as he funds my research. What I'm after is knowledge, pure and simple."
"Then you're missing the point!" Colress said. "You're supposed to use that knowledge to help people and Pokemon! You've got it all backwards!"
The other Colress shot him a cold glare. "You're the one who has it backwards," he said. "It's sad to see that in another world, I've grown so soft and weak. I won't let any inhibitions stop me from discovering truth!"
He opened the door, and Magnolia ran to tackle him. But he wasn't alone. The Beheeyem beside him raised its arms, and the lights on its hands flashed. Magnolia rose into the air, levitated by psychic power, and the others did as well.
The other Colress laughed. "I'm not stupid," he said. "All right, other me, it's time to pick your brain. Unless you want to see something happen to your useless friends, here." Colress struggled in the air, but Beheeyem's telekinesis had a firm hold on him.
"Hold up," Magnolia said.
"What is it?" the other Colress asked, narrowing his eyes.
"Don't you want to see how our Pokemon fare in a battle against yours?" Magnolia asked. "I bet you've never battled against Pokemon from another dimension before."
The other Colress took a breath. "Well—that can wait," he said. "My research always comes first."
"But this is such a great research opportunity," Magnolia said. "You know that a trainer's strength lies in their Pokemon. You say you're after truth, right? Wouldn't you like to see how a trainer battles who believes in kindness and compassion?" She grinned. "Afraid I'll be stronger than you?"
For a long moment, the other Colress looked at her, seeming to be mentally weighing his options. Magnolia just hoped that her offer would be as irresistible to him as to his dimensional counterpart.
Finally, he said, "A battle to decide who's right? Ah yes, that's the way it was always done in the old days. Many of Ghetsis's grunts still use that tactic to resolve their petty arguments." Glancing aside, he pushed up his glasses. "And my research has shown that Pokemon seem to display their truest strength when their Trainers are fighting for something they believe in…" He looked back to Magnolia. "Fine. I accept your challenge."
Magnolia grinned. "Gonna need my Pokemon back, ace," she said.
"Don't call me that," the other Colress said. He turned and walked back down the hall, and his Beheeyem followed, keeping the four dimensional travelers in its psychic tow.
"I don't like being called that either," Colress said as they floated along the hallway. "So I suppose that's one thing the two of us have in common."
"I'm glad you're not also a sociopath," Zossie said. "Magnolia, are you sure you can take him on?"
"I can sure try," Magnolia said. "Anyone have any other ideas?" When they did not reply, she said, "Well, start thinking of backup plans just in case. Although I'm sure gonna try my best to make sure there's not a 'just in case'."