Chapter 5: Denial
The sound of the alarms blaring, echoed in his head. Lights flashed, scientists were yelling, and the room was cold. The door to his cell opened and closed, as some sort of glitch fried the system.
The noises made his head pound, but he had to get up. He had to get out of here, and back to Maggie. He pushed himself to his feet, wobbling at first. Something was different.
As the door opened, he slid through before it closed again. He grabbed the coat off a passing human, hoping it would be enough to keep him warm.
"Hey, you can't leave!" the man whirled around. Ahti ignored him. "I said, you can't leave." He repeated, setting a hand on Ahti's shoulder. "I know things are confusing, and this really isn't the best time to explain, but trust me. You don't want to cause any more trouble, than what's already happened."
Ahti grunted, and shrugged away.
"Please, let me help. I can take you back to your room, and once things have settled down, I'll explain everything."
"Where is Ferrovax?" Ahti whispered.
"Who?" Porter asked.
"Ferrovax. The Hydreigon. I know it was you, who took him." Ahti answered.
"Oh, CT? He's perfectly fine! Now, come along. Let's get you settled in." Porter smiled, escorting the former Nidoking back to his room.
About the time they arrived, the alarms had subsided.
"What was that?" Ahti asked.
"Laila." Porter winced. "She was with another Pokemon, when the transformations started. A Gardevoir. Somehow, they ended up fusing. The system didn't know what to do, since fusion had never even been attempted before, and it went on the fritz. Seems like everything is stable, now."
"Is she..?"
"She's fine." Porter assured him. "She's something completely new, but fine. Now then, introductions. I'm Stephen Porter." He smiled warmly, at Ahti.
Ahti didn't respond.
"That's alright." Porter coughed. "I know your name is Ahti. Anyway, you seem to be taking the transformation rather well. How are you feeling?"
"What transformation?" Ahti blinked.
"You haven't noticed…? Erm…well, I suppose disorientation is normal." Porter ran his fingers through his hair. "You're in a state of shock right now, so I'll try to make this as easy as possible. Your Hydreigon friend was the first successful experiment, in which we were able to transform a Pokemon into a human. He was able to convince your trainer to release you to us, and, well, here we are."
"Maggie didn't…we weren't supposed to… Ferrovax did this?" Ahti stammered.
"Well, CT brought you here. Dr. Blackstone is the man behind all of this." Porter replied.
"I want to speak with Ferrovax… CT." Ahti corrected himself. These people apparently knew the dragon, by another name. "And I want to see my friends."
"I'm afraid we can't let you. Not yet. You still haven't even realized you're human…you're not stable enough to interact with the others. Give it a couple days…once we evaluate you and your friends and find you're all okay, we'll let you speak with each other." Porter said, as he left the room.
Ahti tugged the jacket around him, and looked around. The room was dull. All white, just a bed and dresser in it.
"If it helps," a voice rang. "Everybody seems to be fine."
Ahti perked up, and looked for the source of the voice.
"It's telepathy, ya' dip." She said. "It's me, Laila. I'm in th'next room. Couldn't help but eavesdrop on ya'. Don't worry, I can sense everybody else in dis wing. All of 'em, fine. Scared, but fine."
"Ferrovax did this." Ahti whispered.
"Can ya' blame 'im? Not exactly th'most genius plan, but I get where he's comin' from. The one who saved his life, was gonna kill 'im. His dearest friends an' mentors were gonna let it happen. He's gotta right to be pissed, ya' know."
"That does not condone what he did." Ahti replied, out loud. This telepathy thing was weird.
"You could say th'same, for us." Laila responded. "Sure, he gotta lil' out of hand…a lot out of hand…guy's gotta temper, hurt some 'Mons…but did he really deserve death?"
"Of course not. Nobody deserves death." Ahti said. "But it was not our decision to make. However, when one makes a mistake, they must own up to it. What he doesn't understand, is that we all made mistakes. He, for being out of control. Maggie, for allowing him in the league. And I…for not seeing what would happen, sooner."
"Maggie did not deserve to be punished, like this." Ahti sighed. "The guilt she felt over what happened, was enough. Now…she's lost us. We've lost her. Nothing will ever be the same, and that alone, was Ferrovax's fault."
"True. But he was scared. He had learned th'ones he loved were gonna let 'im die. He had his entire form completely changed. He wasn't exactly thinkin' rationally."
"And that excuses him?" Ahti snapped.
"No. But don't blame 'im for his mistakes. He will learn th'consequences, soon enough. Besides, ya' ever stop t'think maybe we're better off, like dis? Bein' human…it ain't so bad. If ya' really are thinkin' about Maggie, think about dis: you can talk to 'er. Th'two of ya can sit down and enjoy a nice cuppa tea, and actually talk about your past battles."
Ahti listened. It was all he could do. Maybe Laila was right. Ferrovax made mistakes, but was it really all his fault? Ahti was most certainly disoriented from the transformation...who's to say Ferrovax didn't get his brain scrambled, as well?
"No." Ahti spoke up. "I have made excuses for him, from the start. The league was the final straw. There is no excuse, for what he did there. And there is no excuse for what he did, to us. I understand why he did it, but it does not excuse his actions."
"However, you are right. This may not be as bad as it seems. Maybe we can all get through this. Maybe we cannot. It isn't fair, but neither is life. I don't think I can face Maggie, not yet, but you are right. There is no need to wallow in self-pity, without weighing the benefits."
"But," he continued. "You cannot have acceptance, without first going through anger. I am hurt. We all are. I know you are trying to stay positive, but sometimes it is healthier to hurt, than to keep it all bottled inside, festering."
Blackstone watched, on the surveillance monitor. He couldn't hear Laila's telepathic conversation, but Ahti's was quite clear.
"Hm." He said, tapping a finger on his chin.
"Dr. Blackstone?" Porter stepped in. "The Nidoking wanted to speak with CT. Can we-"
"I'm aware." Blackstone interrupted, still watching.
"He also said Maggie didn't willingly give them up." Porter added. "You kidnapped them, didn't you?"
"So did you." Blackstone replied.
"I…that…CT was going to be put down!" Porter stammered. "We saved his life! There was no need, to steal the rest of Maggie's Pokemon! This is wrong, and you know it. We're no better than Team Rocket, or Skull! That makes us criminals, not scientists!"
Blackstone held a hand in front of Porter's face, calmly signaling for him to shut up.
"Science requires sacrifice. The sacrifice Miss Myers has made, albeit unknowingly, will be worth it. We are not only creating the next step in evolution, but changing the very world as we know it. It doesn't end with just these experiments. Soon, regular Pokemon battles will be a thing of the past. We can't worry about one child's feelings, if we want to continue making progress."
Porter sighed. He didn't sign up for this. They were only supposed to test a couple of volunteer Pokemon, not steal some kid's entire team. There was no use arguing with Blackstone, though.
"So, are we going to let them talk?" he broke the silence.
"Yes. It will be an interesting social experiment." Blackstone waved him off. "I believe he's in the Gliscor's room."
Porter made his way down the hall, trying not to look at the Pokemon-now-humans. There were many more, than just Maggie's…some were wild, some belonged to other trainers. He hated being a part of this, knowing now that these Pokemon were not volunteers. One of the Pokemon he passed by, was just a child. A Stufful they had apparently stolen, from a young trainer. The hybrid girl couldn't be more than two or three. He winced, and looked away.
He approached Lasciel's cell, where Dr. Blackstone said CT had been. "Um, CT?" he coughed. "Ahti wants to speak with you."
"Why?" CT grumbled.
"Not sure, but he insists. You know you're ah, not supposed to be in the other rooms…"
"Stuff it." CT growled, as he sat up and grabbed his pants. Lasciel made a soft mumble, and rolled over.
"I don't want to talk to him." CT said, quieter, so as not to wake her.
"I think it would be a good idea." Porter said, as they both walked out. "The two of you obviously have issues, you need to work out."
"We do not need to work anything out. They betrayed me. I got my revenge. There is nothing more to discuss." CT said.
"Please. Ten minutes." Porter insisted. "You'd be surprised what can happen, in ten minutes."
"Very well." CT said. "Ten minutes. No longer."
Ahti sat on his bed, still having his mental conversation with Laila. They were interrupted, as the intercom buzzed.
"Traitor." A deep voice growled. "You were going to have me murdered, and now you think we can simply talk things out?"
"I am sorry you feel you were betrayed." Ahti sighed. "The champion's Bouffalant died, from his injuries. Legally, Maggie had no choice in the matter. She didn't want to do it. None of us wanted it. But the way you fought, there was no other option."
"I wasn't fighting, for her." CT growled.
"She fought for you." Ahti replied. "We all did."
"The only one who ever fought for me, was Lasciel." CT said. "None of you ever did anything, for me. You say you fought, but look where it ended. You just sat there as your 'master' stuck me inside a ball, leaving me to rot, until I was put down. Lasciel was the only one who did a damned thing, to stop it."
Ahti winced. "It is true. I could have done more, to save you. That is a guilt that will lay on my conscious, forever. But why take the others? Why couldn't you have just had your revenge, on me? I am the only one who wronged you. Zero, Aidan, Laila…they did nothing."
"Exactly." CT said. "They did nothing. None of you did. Especially Maggie. She was the one who decided it was okay, to kill me. This isn't just about making you suffer, this is about making her suffer. Time's almost up, Ahti. If you have anything left to say to me, I suggest you do so, now."
Ahti sat quiet, for a few moments. "I'm sorry." He said, quietly.
And that was that. The two didn't speak a word to each other, afterward. Ahti could only imagine CT had ignored him and walked off.