Since that night, the two felt closer than ever, some of the other Rockets taking notice by how much happier the older man looked.
Even the clones noticed the change, the younger one having an idea from the various books she read, but unlike her sister, kept it to herself. They don't need to be embarrassed being found out of their private activities. There is a reason the term private is used, especially in situations such as these.
But there was one thing bugging the clone as much as it was bugging her sister, waiting for an opportune moment.
It eventually came when they were in their usual spot in the cafeteria, Joel having run over to meet with some Rocket before returning, grinning like a fool.
"Our latest addition?" Sebastian teased when the other sat down, the clones curious at the Pokéball.
"Yup, was told that despite is rarity, it was really weak and most wouldn't bother buying it. While most want a trophy Pokémon, they also want one that can fight if they needed it too. Still cost me quite a bit, but I think he'll be worth it," he explained as he decided to call it out.
From the ball, surprisingly enough a shiny Munna appeared, looking confused, scared even before gentle arms wrapped around its pudgy body.
"There, there now, you're safe with us. No one's going to hurt you," Joel comforted as he petted the Pokémon gently.
"Muun?" it whimpered softly, glancing up at the kind face before focusing on the others sitting around the man.
"What is that?" Beta asked as she looked at the nervous Pokémon.
"This is a Munna, a psychic type native to Unova," Joel answered with a smile.
"Unova? What's that?"
"A region far from here, it has a lot of technological advances we're using today, such as the recent development of reusing TMs much like the HM disks and drives," Sebastian answered with a smile as he watched the older clone listen.
Whether she kept full attention or not to his explanation, it was still fun to teach her something new, knowing in the back of her mind, the information would stick.
"Professor, could I ask you something?" Omega spoke up, almost nervously by the way she shifted in her seat, eyes downcast with worry.
"What is it?" the older man asked, placing a gentle hand on her back to comfort her, worried of what might be bothering the Pokémon.
"Why are we training so hard? We get stronger and stronger, but it doesn't seem to be enough. And there are talks of going after someone, is that why we're training? To hurt someone?"
He should've known this would come up at some point, and it made his heart ache having to tell them. But it seems it's as good a time as any, he just hoped neither will hate him or Joel for not telling them sooner.
"I'm afraid so," he answered bitterly, unable to look either one in the eye, Joel gazing at the floor.
"Is this person bad?" Beta asked, almost hopeful.
"N-no…"
"Then we're bad?"
"No!" Sebastian almost shouted, eyes alarmed. "No, you and Omega are not bad. Not at all, and never will. It's who's controlling you, telling you what to do…"
"Are you bad? You tell us what to do when we train and you're free from working on your researches."
"I've…I've done questionable things…"
"You're not bad, and neither is Joel," Omega spoke up, making their heads turn to her determined face. "You may have done bad things, but you're not bad. I can't explain it, but I just know it, neither of you are bad."
"Omega," the younger man whispered.
"Can't we just leave? I don't wanna be with bad people. I don't want any of us to be with bad people," Beta whimpered, tears forming in her eyes.
"I've thought about it, but Giovanni won't let us go that easily. He would hunt us down, bring us back here, maybe even hurt us…kill us if necessary."
He hated sounding like this, having to tell the clones this, seeing how shook up they both looked, the older one more so. He swore he could hear their hearts breaking into millions of pieces along with his own.
"So we're stuck?" Beta softly cried, tears starting to fall down her sweet face.
Reaching over with a napkin, wiping her face dry, he gave her a saddened look before speaking, "I wish there was a way for us to get out of here, for you two to leave safely. But until then, we need to make due. It's the only way we can survive…"
"Our brother… He isn't on a vacation, is he?" Omega asked, tears threatening to spill, but held together better.
"No, unlike us, luck was on his side and he managed to escape twice. On his second escape, he wiped a lot of memories, so no one remembers him. Those who evaded that were Joel and I, Hun even. Tyson somehow remembered, though it's still mostly fuzzy to him in some parts."
"I wish we could leave," Beta whimpered softly, flopping her head down on the table, now pouting. "So many are mean here. I don't like them. I wanna be able to go outside and play again. I wanna be able to finally play with Uncle Tyson. I want to meet Uncle Hun and Uncle Attila and play with them too."
"I know, sweetheart, I know," Sebastian sighed, feeling guilty for how upset they both looked.
Joel was right, they have to get out of here, and seeing just how upset the girls were, he had to find a way.
He didn't care what happened to him, he just wanted to get them and Joel out of here, and if he's lucky in locating them, get his daughters out of here as well.
Maybe get the others too if he's really lucky?
Tyson is obviously questioning his loyalties since Giovanni shut that tank down, destroying what was left of Amber. And there's Hun, possibly Attila too from the brief time he got to know him. But the pair were still missing, no word about whether they're runaways or on a secret mission.
This place is going to end up being their tomb, damning their souls if they stayed any longer.
But how could they escape?
How could they avoid getting killed, evade agents left and right?
Their best bet would be to find Panthera, knowing she may be the only means of surviving. But how do they locate someone like her?
Even if they did know where she is or who to go to that could lead them to her or bring her to them, they still have no idea how to escape.
An idea suddenly popped into his head, glancing at Joel, seeing a similar glint shining in his eyes as well.
"Beta, Omega, I know it's sudden, but care to help with an experiment?" he asked, glancing at the younger twin, hoping she'll get it.
And with that hope, a light shined, eagerly nodding, her sister unsure what was going on before the two chattered in their native tongue.
Lighting up, she sat straighter; tail beginning to wag much like an excited Herdier earning itself a treat.
If what he has in mind ends up working, then they might be on the road to leaving this place finally.
Returning to their room, Joel grabbed the box carrying the key stones and blanks, sitting on the bed alongside his lover.
The Munna had been returned for its safety, seeing it was rather timid, not wanting to scare it by accident.
"What are those?" Omega asked when the box was opened, revealing the stones.
"You remember what Joel and I had been working on?"
"Mega Evolution?"
"Correct, these two stones are known as key stones. We just found them not that long ago. As for these, we've had them for quite a while, before you were born. They're known as blanks, having unstable energy, no focus on what a Pokémon could Mega Evolve into. At least not until it makes contact with a Pokémon to change them if they're lucky enough."
"You want us to touch those stones then?"
"In a sense, yes, but it isn't that easy. It would have to be done while performing attacks," Joel spoke up.
"But you don't want others to know though, right?"
"That's correct," Sebastian answered as the two clones took a stone. "I'm not sure exactly how we can work it without Giovanni or anyone finding out."
"Couldn't we use weaker forms of our attacks? We've been practicing a lot," Beta suggested, making both men do a double take looking at her.
While she wasn't dumb, it was rare for her to come out with something like that, let alone something that actually could work.
"It could very well work…" he whispered as he stared at the stones. "We'll try it, but before we do, we need to make proper holsters for you two as well as ourselves."
"How come?"
"It'd be easier for you to fight until you can Mega Evolve without having to worry about dropping it," Joel explained.
To make it easier, he pulled out various photos of other Pokémon capable of Mega Evolution, showing the before and after.
"I think I get it…" Omega muttered as she studied the photos.
"But it would have to be subtle, to avoid being caught."
"Like hiding in plain sight?"
"Exactly," Sebastian smiled.
From there, the four worked out various ideas on how the key stones could be worn, knowing they would have to be somewhat visible, yet easy to hide. Afterwards, they would work on the girls, silently hoping this experiment works.
As they worked, they waited for opportunities to train the girls in secret with the blank stones to activate them.
However, no such luck came, leaving them growing somewhat desperate, but held together, reminding themselves what was at stake.
Between that, Sebastian continued to do his research on Panthera with more vigor, making various notes.
One set would go to Giovanni as per usual, the other being for himself in hopes of finding out where the woman may be or how to contact her.
"Any luck?" Joel asked, setting a cup of coffee next to the other, leaning over the notes. "Damn, how much is there on this woman? I feel like I'm reading a history book."
"A lot apparently, but I think I have an idea how to get to her," Sebastian sighed as he stored his secret research away.
"Really?"
"Yes, but it isn't going to be easy," he sighed, taking a sip of the bitter drink, staring at his reflection. "She started her Pokémon journey in Pallet Town, receiving her first Pokémon, a blind Pichu, from Professor Samuel Oak."
"You think he might know?"
"I can't guarantee it, but fact she keeps going to new regions; she may have very likely talked with each region's professor or any with much influence. If Oak doesn't know her location or know a way to call her, then one of the others might."
"I get it, but how do we even get to him? Not like we can just take a drive over to his lab, not with Giovanni hovering us."
"No, we would have to find a way to escape and be on the run, maybe even fake our deaths and loop around to reach him. But being there are more demons appearing and who knows what else, that might make it harder."
"That's true, more so if we still can't get the girls to use the stones."
"They have gotten stronger, but Giovanni is stronger and who knows what else is here or may come if we tried to run now. I don't even know if having them Mega Evolve is even possible, let alone make them strong enough."
"Even if they aren't strong enough, it might pose enough of a distraction to give us time to escape. I still have Kadabra, I can have him teleport us to safety. Thing is…"
"What?"
"I know it's tough to think about, but we may have to think about actually capturing Beta and Omega in Pokéballs."
"Are you insane?"
"Listen to me, Shi and think about it. Whatever we do, it's going to be absolute chaos, I'm sure of it. I'm confident Kadabra could very well get us out of here with a Teleport, but not if we're separated. If the two of us and whoever we can get to come with us are together, any Pokémon we have out fighting can be recalled."
"But to put them in Pokéballs though…"
"I know, love, but it doesn't have to be permanent. Once we're safe, confident we've escaped, we can release them and if necessary, destroy the balls."
"You're right, they are Pokémon, it would be logical. They aren't human, no matter how much they act it, how we may treat them."
"I know," Joel comforted, hugging the other. "I'll try to get a couple of empty balls, you have a trainer card?"
"I do, I haven't used it in a long time though. Up until they were born, I never raised a Pokémon personally. I only got the card, re-registering when I can for research purposes, in case I had to catch a Pokémon for some reason."
"I think this counts as a good reason."
"It does," he smiled, leaning over to kiss the younger man before returning to his notes once again.
To me at least, it feels a bit short, but I didn't want to drag it on for to long.
But yes, seems a plan is starting to form, now to see if it actually takes fruition or not...
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