Chapter 21
The breeze ruffled Mateusz's red tinged brown hair as the sun reached the end of its arch through the daytime sky and began to set, making the sky appear to be set alight with red and orange flame. Joasia sat beside him at the top of the crater wall, admiring the view of the lush scenery within the crater of Mount Quena. Forests stretched for kilometres until they reached the crater wall on the other side, streams dissecting the forest from every angle as they came from the lake.
Looking outwards from the crater, one could see a desert in the distance and a large plain before that. Many waterfalls, fed by the streams fell from the sides of the mountain with their pure water. The sides of the mountain themselves were a brown hue and rose sharply from the surrounding plain. To the south, they could see a large forest with a few hills.
"It really is very beautiful here, and so tranquil too, not a town or city in sight," Joasia said as they both took in the sight.
"Yeah, even better than the top of the mountain we were staying on," Mateusz agreed with decisiveness.
Both of them sighed with a feeling of contentment as the gazed out upon this magnificent scenery.
"You know, I was quite concerned for you whilst you were away at that Team Rocket base Mateusz, I really feared for your safety," Joasia told Mateusz in a gentle tone as she locked her eyes with his.
"You didn't need to fear for my safety, somehow, I just knew I would make it back in one piece," Mateusz returned.
Joasia gripped Mateusz's hand in hers.
"I care about you Mateusz; you've been a really good friend to me, I-I-kinda…" Joasia stuttered as she blushed a vivid red and looked down at the ground.
"What are you trying to say, you kinda what?" Mateusz asked as he tilted her head back up to face him.
"Well, I kind of um, you know, like you," she said quietly as the shade of red on her cheeks went a darker red.
Mateusz was quite taken aback and blushed heavily, stuttering awkwardly and trying to think of something to say back.
"Well-I-um," Mateusz continued to stutter, blinking rapidly, "I don't know what to say, Joasia,"
"It's okay if you don't like me back, I know it's a bit sudden and all…" Joasia said to him.
"No, it's just, well, I wasn't exactly expecting this. I mean, I can't say I don't like you. I just don't know what to say…" Mateusz said as he scratched the back of his head awkwardly and blushed harder.
"Don't say anything then," Joasia said as she embraced him tightly.
Mateusz found himself hugging back and they could feel each other's heartbeats. The moment seemed to last forever. Voices could be heard coming up the slope of the mountain. Then a couple of pokémon appeared. It was Ubui and Lifyra talking as they came. Joasia and Mateusz quickly released each other and pretended that nothing had happened, but they couldn't hide the red tinge to their faces.
"Why are you guys blushing?" Lifyra asked with a look of suspicion on her face.
"Um, er, no reason, I must just be a little sunburnt, heh heh," Mateusz replied as he scratched the back of his head awkwardly.
"Uh, yeah, me too I think," Joasia agreed.
"Right, sure thing then," Lifyra said, looking them both in the eyes.
"Mewtwo wants to talk to you Mateusz, something about some information you may be interested in," Ubui joined in the conversation and informed Mateusz.
"Oh, really? I'll go find him now then, bye guys, bye Joasia," Mateusz said as he began to walk down the mountainside.
"Hey Ubui, do you think you could accompany Mateusz to where Mewtwo is, so that he doesn't have to look around a lot?" Lifyra asked Ubui politely.
"Yeah, sure thing." Ubui said as he turned and ran after Mateusz.
As soon as they were out of earshot Lifyra turned to face Joasia and began to talk.
"So then, what really happened? I find it hard to believe you both got sunburnt in late autumn," Lifyra asked with a tone of suspicion.
"Well, I kind of told him that I like him," Joasia replied excitedly.
"Oh really?! That's awesome, you actually told him! What did he say?" Lifyra asked in excitement.
"He seemed quite shocked at first, and then I hugged him and he seemed to get used to the idea," Joasia replied with a smirk on her face.
"You hugged him straight out?! Geez, were you trying to freak him out or something?!" Lifyra asked, half yelling with all the excitement.
"He was fine, just a little confused at first," Joasia explained.
"Well, I guess that's okay then, at least he didn't freak out and run away," Lifyra said back as she calmed down.
"Yeah…" Joasia sighed as she sat down on a rock and observed the view set before her…
"You say you have something to tell me Mewtwo?" Mateusz asked as he approached the place where Mewtwo stood on the island in the middle of the lake.
"Yes, do you remember that you said you were interested in information about that creature that was spoken of in the documents we found in that bunker?" Mewtwo asked.
"Yes, I do remember that and am still very interested," Mateusz confirmed.
"Well then, I found further information about it in that Team Rocket base I blew up a couple of days ago. It turns out that the researchers failed to find a way to genetically engineer a human with powers, but instead found out how to genetically engineer pokémon DNA. They grew the genetically created pokémon in a cylindrical tank and one day, disguised itself in human form as a defence mechanism. The Team Rocket files had no information about how the creature escaped or what happened afterwards," Mewtwo informed Mateusz, "However, it did specify that the organisation that was creating that creature stole some of my DNA from Team Rocket when I was being created, and then recreated it,"
"Wow, that's pretty peculiar. So that means the escaped experiment could be anyone who looks human," Mateusz theorised whilst stroking the short hair on his chin that had grown recently.
"Yes, and I have been wondering when this being will show its face to the world, a creature with power like that can't remain entirely secret for long, unless it were to wipe its own memory which it has the power to since it has my powers imbedded in its genes, which are very similar to mine mind you," Mewtwo replied as he did an equal amount of theorising.
"Well, we might never find out, but we should wait and see if anything else surfaces. That creature sounds highly dangerous, whatever it is, especially since it can just go wandering around as some human with powers," Mateusz said before turning and walking off.
Something about Mateusz's last comment got Mewtwo thinking, and he didn't like what he thought…
The night air was crisp and clean, refreshing to the face and calming to the mind. Mateusz sat on a rock, contemplating what Joasia had told him earlier. It was very confusing to be told such a thing all of a sudden. On top of that, Mewtwo had told him further information about a dangerous biological weapon that apparently looked human. Mateusz sighed as the wind stirred the various colours of fallen leaves that the autumn had brought to the region.
The half-moon which hung in the sky shone upon Mateusz and illuminated his surroundings with just enough light so that he could see. The sound of a twig snapping broke the silence of the night time air and Mateusz jumped. A white figure with a long, purple tail could just be seen approaching in the dim moonlight.
"What is it that troubles you Mateusz?" Mewtwo asked as he came to the place where Mateusz was and sat beside him.
"Well, I've kind of just been bombarded with information today and I kind of needed to reflect on it all, besides, I can't fall asleep just thinking about it all," Mateusz explained to Mewtwo his reason for being out there.
"Is it the information about that organisation's experiment?" Mewtwo questioned.
"That's part of it, the other part was that earlier on, before you told me that information, Joasia told me she liked me," Mateusz replied whilst looking at the ground.
"Is that so? How peculiar, I would not have expected her to develop feelings for you," Mewtwo said, half looking confused.
"I was rather shocked in all honesty and it still kind of bothers me, I have no idea what I'm supposed to do now. And then there's all that information with that creature that's on the loose, I mean it could be a danger to all of us if it has as much power as we read in that strange bunker," Mateusz further explained.
"You have no need to worry about those things right now, for now, just try and focus on getting trained and in your spare time you can decide what to do about those things. Now go and get some sleep or you'll be too tired for training tomorrow," Mewtwo told Mateusz.
"Yeah, you're probably right, and I think I'm over thinking these things anyway, goodnight," Mateusz responded thoughtfully before walking off.
Mewtwo gave a curt nod in reply and went into a state of thought, clearly troubled by the same things Mateusz was…
"Sir, sir! I've finally managed to create one that survived the cloning process! Only Team Rocket's experiment can rival it? Can I get paid and leave now?" an excited scientist said as he burst into the head of the organisation's office.
"Really? Now that is good news, I congratulate you on your success. But unfortunately you won't live very long to enjoy it," the head whose face was shadowed said with a mocking tone to the now shocked man standing before him.
"W-what do you mean?!" the man stammered as he began to stumble backwards with fear on his face.
"I mean, that now you've successfully created that creature, you can't be allowed to leave with the promised money as you may make another one. We cannot allow that and we have no need for you anymore," the head continued before speaking into the intercom, "Guard No. 15 please report to my office,"
The scientist tried to run but was soon stopped by an approaching guard, presumably, No. 15. The scientist fell over backwards and began to cower.
"Execute this man," the head dryly said to the guard.
"No! Don't do this!" the scientist objected.
The guard raised his weapon and took aim. The man on the ground let out a whimper. It only took one pull of the trigger to end the man's life.
"Get a cleaning team up here to clean up this mess and dispose of the body," the head of the organisation instructed the guard.
"Right away sir," the guard saluted before heading down the corridor and down the stairs.
The head reclined back in his chair, bald head rubbing against the black leather as he did. He breathed a sigh and massaged his temples.
"I need a holiday…" he muttered to himself…
Mateusz awoke from his slumber, feeling somewhat refreshed and happy at where he was. He seemed to have had a strange dream but couldn't remember any of it. These strange dreams had been happening a lot lately, and when he thought about the very small things he could remember, he wondered if he wanted to know the rest of it. Mateusz shuddered at the strangeness of it all, thinking about the dead man he had seen in the dream.
He found he could remember nothing else and continued on with getting up. He walked out of the natural cave he had chosen to sleep in and looked for the others. He found them all, eating a breakfast of large, orange coloured fruit. Mew had the biggest pile in front of him and scoffed the juicy fruit more quickly than anyone else.
"You guys got any for me?" Mateusz asked as he sat down amongst the strange group of beings…
