I apologize for the delay posting this, things got crazy at home as well as having had to somewhat scramble to finish the next chapter.
So without further delay...
Weeks passed as Sebastian continued studying the names of Panthera's kin, trying to decipher the ancient language.
It was something most would have difficulty to understand even the basic alphabet, yet somehow he was learning.
He doubted he's getting everything right, but as things began to piece together, it was starting to get easier. It was now taking less time than waiting for another to translate and give back to go over.
Not that he'd ever tell Giovanni or anyone else about what he's been doing between reading Panthera's files. He's keeping this hidden, only Joel and the clones knowing about it. He didn't need more papers dumped on him or made to move to work translating more documents and papers.
The only drawback to all this though was the more he understood, the closer he was to identifying who Panthera's kin are.
And he wasn't sure what to do if that were to ever happen…
"No…" he whispered loud enough for his lover to hear him, running over when seeing how pale he was becoming.
"What's wrong?"
"I…I think I found one of her children," he answered, unsure whether to rejoice or quake in fear.
Scanning the research, seeing how hard his lover has been working trying to understand a language he didn't even know existed.
He glanced the names over, seeing the older man has been comparing them with names of those living in their world. Thankfully there was some detail of what they looked like to help narrow things down to avoid spotting multiple names.
"Holy… Lance is one of her kids?" Joel nearly shouted, re-reading the information translated and studied over. "If this is real, why hasn't he shown any signs of being this Cateron?"
"He was reincarnated into that family, bearing no memories," Sebastian sighed, rubbing his hand over his face.
"What do you mean?"
"Panthera used a spell to seal everyone's memories off due to an age reversal spell she attempted to use, but lost control over. She likely did it to spare them emotional trauma if there was any chance of them recalling their previous life."
"Why the hell would she do that?"
"Their planet was dying, what else was she supposed to do? What would you and I have done if forced in her position?"
"You're right… Sorry," he apologized, taking a deep breath, "but what should we do though? We can't just tell Giovanni, but not try and make contact with this guy. At some point they'll figure it out…"
"If they don't already know," he sighed, "even if Giovanni himself doesn't know, Darkness may know, but keeping it silent, wanting to find more. She doesn't just want Panthera dead, but her entire family as well."
"That's right… But why would she be so desperate having them all killed though? Especially if they don't even remember?"
"I don't know. I honestly don't know…"
Feeling the other hug him, trying to bring comfort, it helped him calm down a bit, yet his mind was still a raging storm of confusion.
"But if he really is one of her kids, if he has no memory, why didn't she restore it when they've obviously met? Why let him remain unaware?"
"She likely didn't know the full danger she was in, let alone her entire family and any others from their world. She likely didn't need to stress him out, leave him confused, maybe even torn between loyalties between his reincarnated family and real one."
"That makes sense, but she likely would be gearing up to do so if she found out Darkness is here, at least her presence."
"Quite likely, but she would need to plan it and may be searching for any others here as well. She could be using the whole trainer thing as a cover to find them without drawing attention and travel safer than relying on her abilities alone."
"But to think the champion for Kanto and Johto is one of her kids…"
"I'm not that surprised, while I've yet to translate all of these papers, fact she was a queen on their world, he likely held a similar high position. Same with any of her other children, each bearing a unique talent to support not only each other but those they called their friends as well."
Heaving a small sigh, he put what he found aside, unwilling to reveal what he's learned, least not right away.
Being this is Lance, not only champion of the Pokémon League, but part of the G-Men, he was very well known. If he suddenly disappeared, not only would it draw Panthera in, but dozens others as well.
Other champions, gym leaders, officials, members of his clan… If he revealed this information and it happened, it would be a bloodbath. Worse, the man would be completely unaware of why this happened, not knowing why he was kidnapped, at least not the real reason.
After a few days, it began to get pushed to the back of his mind, slowly finding more names that matched to residents of this world.
Some were gym leaders, others various people who've made it on TV participating in contests or leagues, sometimes both.
Then there were others that had criminal records, one of them going missing, the same man who nearly ended the world trying to capture the legendary birds. Being he's gone into hiding or simply vanished for unknown circumstances, there wasn't much he could do even if he did hand it in.
But the other criminal he found…
Sebastian had walked into the cafeteria, aiming to get some coffee, tired eyes glancing at the one person who could very well draw Panthera in like a moth to a flame.
While she loves all her family, he's certain of it, there were some members she would be extra protective over due to their roles and abilities.
Butch was one of them, spotting him sitting with his partner, their Pokémon out to eat than forced into their Pokéballs.
Ever since they returned from that failed mission regarding Mew, having failed to acquire the egg from what he's heard, they seemed different…
They weren't as cocky and sure of themselves, the man especially. They were kinder to their Pokémon, obvious by how more affectionate said Pokémon were to their respective trainers.
To think someone like him was not only one of Panthera's kittens, but if he read the translated documents correctly, he was supposed to be the heir to the Caterian throne.
His role in the family is greatest, meaning Panthera would very likely do almost anything to keep him alive. Planet or no planet, they're still royalty; still have those from their world to lead now that memories needed to be restored.
He can't let Darkness have him, use him as bait or a possible weapon against Panthera; he needs to get Butch out of here. But how?
How willing are they to leave?
To abandon everything they've worked for in Team Rocket?
And where could they go without being followed?
The professor nearly leapt out of his skin when something grabbed his arm, turning to see Omega, having come to find him.
"Professor? Is something wrong?" she asked, concern echoing off her words.
"I'm not sure," he admitted, feeling somewhat comfortable talking about these things around her as he would Joel.
"Is it because of them?"
Seeing her subtly gesture to the pair he was watching, he gave her a nod as they sat somewhat far to avoid eyes as they quietly talked.
"If I may ask, why?"
"See that man? I've come to learn he's very special, precious even to Panthera, but I'm not sure what to do. I can't tell him, he likely won't believe me. And even if he did, what could he do? He can't simply leave and I don't know if he even wants to. While he likely had a good heart in his old life, doesn't mean he still has it."
"But he does," she stated, making him eye her unsurely. "He does have a good heart. Why else would he have that baby Mew with him?"
"What? What Mew?" he asked, trying to keep his voice low as he glanced at the Pokémon, trying to spot what she claimed was the legend.
"She's not out, but I can smell her on him."
"How long has he had this Mew?"
"Since he came back in that cast."
"So he and Cassidy did find the egg, but lied about it," he gasped in his thoughts, realizing he might have hope.
Even with this knowledge, how could he approach them without drawing attention to any of them?
Spotting Cassidy's Sableye, an idea already began to churn in his head, praying it won't backfire as he rose, forgoing coffee. What he has planned was more than enough to not only wake him up, but focus his mind too.
He heard Omega following close behind, the pair reaching the two Rockets just as they looked up.
"Professor?" Butch questioned, appearing nervous, but retained a cool disposition, but his eyes gave his emotions away.
"I'd like to talk with you two privately," he stated, trying to keep a neutral tone, feeling as if eyes were on him than those his attention was on. "Follow me, please."
The two glanced at one another before returning their Pokémon, throwing whatever they didn't eat away as they left together.
"Professor Sebastian is it? Why do you want to speak with us?" Cassidy asked nervously, showing her voice as much as her eyes.
"You'll know shortly, I simply didn't want someone listening and butting in," he half lied as they trekked back to his room.
It was the only place he felt was safe, almost a sanctuary with who occupies it aside himself. But he had to be careful with it, one wrong move and it could be destroyed, ruining everything they've been working on.
Arriving, he opened the door, gesturing them to walk inside, noting the confused looks on Joel and Beta's faces.
The former was reading while the other batted a ball around she found in a box, which was quite amusing for someone as big as her acting like a newborn still.
"Shi… Professor Sebastian, what's going on?" Joel asked, almost cursing himself for speaking his lover's name freely.
Shutting the door, he gave a small sigh, "Joel, that Munna you got, does it know Safeguard or a similar move?"
Realizing what he meant, he nodded as he called out the Pokémon, having it perform the move, making it so nothing they said could be listened in.
Relaxing, the older man gave the confused Rockets a smile as he gestured a couple of chairs as he sat down next to his lover.
"I need you two hear me out, no questions, just hear me out," he started before either could start questioning.
Both glanced at one another, obviously unsure, but slowly nodded.
"You two need to find a way to leave Team Rocket immediately," the professor stated, making the others stare in shock of his boldness. "And it isn't just the Mew you have hiding with you."
"Wh-what Mew?"
"Omega and Beta are clones from a Mew; they have similar scents and Omega happened to pick yours up. I didn't know until now when she mentioned it, thus leading us here among other issues that have come up."
"Mention? You mean you can understand what they say?"
"Telepathically," he smiled, the clones appearing very proud, albeit still confused, the older twin especially. "But that is something else and compared to what I've found, not important."
"Why do you want us to leave?" Butch asked, feeling his heart starting to hammer in his chest as he unconsciously gripped his pants.
"It's more you have to leave. Cassidy could stay, but being you two are partners and likely close, Giovanni may hurt her to find you if not lure you back."
He could see the colors on their faces drain, still unsure, but not liking where it was going, the younger man especially.
"Why though?"
"You've heard of Caitlin Panthera?"
"Of course, she's not only the multi-regional champion, but one of the few people to take on Team Rocket singlehandedly."
"And do you know why? Or more precise, how she can do it?"
"Are you saying she isn't human?"
"That's correct."
"What does this have to do with me?"
"I've been given the task of finding her, using my paternal instincts to try and think like her and locate who her children may be. But there's more to it, these children have no recollection of her or who they really are other than name."
Before either could ask more, he took the chance getting up, pulling out what he could find, showing them, saving one part for later.
"So she lived on another world, but it destroyed itself, forcing her to use some spell to save hundreds, including family and close friends?" Butch muttered as he read the papers, his hands shaking. "But what does it have to do with me?"
"Believe it or not, you're part of that family to," Sebastian stated as he handed his most recent findings, letting the much younger man read them over.
Coppery eyes grew wide, the papers dropping as his hands shook, torn between laughing at the absurdity and screaming.
But screaming for what reason though?
Fear? Confusion? Anger? Sorrow? Guilt?
"It can't be true; there could be another guy with the same name that looks like me, right? That can happen, right?"
"Yes, it can, but…" Sebastian whispered, seeing how upset the other looked, starting to regret bringing them in. "But from what I've found, there's no other that looks like you. Same names, but they don't look like you."
Cassidy placed a hand gently on the other's shoulder, seeing how torn her friend looked since the mission with Mew.
"Butch, whether it's true or not, this just gives us more reasons to leave. They could use you as bait, possibly kill you because of the relation, regardless if you were loyal or not."
"Where could we go though?" he muttered, burying his face into his hands, looking like he was ready to be sick, not that anyone could blame him.
"I've read more on Panthera and she is associated with the G-Men. If you two can somehow get to the Pokémon League or bring someone from there associated with them, they may be able to contact her somehow."
"We thought the same thing, but there are a lot of guards who work at the Pokémon League who work for Team Rocket. It'd be almost impossible to sneak in without having them find out we aren't meant to be there."
"But Professor Oak might be able to bring someone like Lance in," Butch spoke up nervously.
He remembered the name in the papers, realizing they may be brothers from another life, technically still brothers.
The whole idea was ridiculous, yet how could he really argue without doing some DNA test and that's impossible without having Panthera's DNA.
There's a chance his could match or have enough similarities with Lance, but who knows, they were born in two completely separate families. That part of their bloodline could be thinned if it even exists still.
If it exists at all…
Mentally shaking his head, he looked up, seeing how distraught his partner looked, how sad the scientists looked, the older one especially.
It was clear he was torn about telling him, but the fact he's got the baby Mew, kept it hidden from Giovanni, it was as if he felt it'd be safe to do so.
Hesitantly, he pulled out the hidden ball, glancing at it, the baby Pokémon likely slumbering inside.
Not taking his eyes off the ball, he decided to ask, needed to ask, "Why? Why are you telling me? Not taking this to Giovanni or some other higher up?"
"I could ask the same thing regarding Mew, but I think we both know the answer to that one."
"Giovanni's basically lost it. He isn't the same man who hired us, who gave us our missions. I don't know if what happened in Unova did it or something else, but we can't stay here."
Gripping the ball, he squeezed his eyes shut, realizing what they were talking about, if it was found out, they could all end up dead.
"How do we escape though?" Cassidy asked, partially to draw their attention away from whatever they were thinking about and focus on something important.
"I haven't figured it out, but I have some plans, but it'll take time, at least for us. For you two, the best I could think of would be to try and find some excuse to attack the lab or maybe even a gym and get help that way."
"I've heard they put up a new museum in Pewter City, finally tearing down the old one to be up to code. Maybe we could try to sneak in and steal some fossils, but get caught along the way," Butch half joked, knowing such a plan would hold to many flaws.
While they've made mistakes in the past, something like this, and in a town like Pewter City, not even the bumbling trio could screw up. The location and job itself was too damn easy, suited more for newbies than people like them.
"I'm sure you'll think of something if not we might, which we could have Omega or Beta inform you telepathically."
"What about you two though? Aren't you going to escape?"
"We do, but…"
"But what?"
"I can't leave," Sebastian sighed, feeling fingers intertwining with his. "Giovanni is using my daughters as leverage to keep me here. Even if I did escape, he'd likely punish them to get back at me."
"Tell us how old they are and their names? Maybe we could find them and let you know how they're doing? Unless they're scientists, the two of us are likely to run into them or hear more than you would."
Surprised at the offer, the man gave a soft smile, "Thank you."
Now things are getting interesting, not only is the professor and Joel plotting on escaping, but have two others joining them. But will they succeed or fail?
Please read and review