"Optimal output at 71.58 percent… Still not good enough, but it will do," the bespectacled man with platinum blonde hair and flashy blue coloured bang combed and gelled upwards in a unique fashion that curves upwards around his head from the left to the right mumbled to himself as he continues to run simulations of his latest assigned project. The Plasma Frigate is truly a weapon decades ahead of its time and while it did offer some insights in his goal to discover the true way to draw out the strength of pokemon, ultimately, it wasn't of critical use to his plans.
The scientist leaned back in the chair he was sitting on, his brilliant mind computing calculations at a rapid speed before aborting them entirely. Whatever, 71.58 percent is good enough for whatever plans Team Plasma wanted to pull off. No need for him to fret over this issue for any longer when this is already sufficient to get the job done.
He stood up and left the lab assigned for his personal use. The P2 laboratory is a very important secret laboratory to Team Plasma and it was where most of Team Plasma's secret experiments and projects were carried out. It's located at an unmarked spot in the region somewhere northwest of Nuvema Town on Route 17 where telecommunication signals are nearly non-existent. It's a small island surrounded by the sea and the P2 laboratory is the only sole building on the island hidden under the cover of the large trees dotting this place, with the main body of the building hidden underground out of sight. It's impossible to spot this building from above.
Most of Team Plasma's most important projects were already completed but the value of this place remained. Colress liked the privacy of this place enough to use this lab as the main location where he carries out his research as a contracted hire that Team Plasma commissioned his expertise for. Their relationship with each other is purely a contractual one. They provide him the money and materials needed for his research, he creates items that the organisation wanted him to invent. That is all there is to it.
If he had the option to choose he would prefer being involved in the Ascended Project, the project where artificial Ability Holders are created through implanting organs of a natural Ability Holder into a normal human. Of course, there is much more to the science behind it and he is oversimplifying the work that goes behind the scenes to make such a feat possible, but it truly is a pity that Team Plasma do not trust him enough to let him in on this project.
But at least they pay him good money and provide him a lab equipped with cutting edge technology that is hard pressed to find in other parts of the world, which was what kept it going for him and why he stuck around Team Plasma for as long as he did.
The grunts which he passed along the way acknowledged his presence with respectful nods which he politely returned in kind. He wanted to take a walk to allow his overtaxed mind to unwind and perhaps see what Team Plasma had been up to in the period in which he had holed himself up in his lab. A quick asking around got him the answers he needed. It seemed that the P2 laboratory was taking on quite a few interesting projects while he was busy with calibrating the massive chunk of data needed to allow the Kyurem Cannon to be operationally functional. The Genesect Project certainly caught his immediate interest. There was also the ongoing Ascended Project but he had been explicitly barred from poking his nose in it and he's not foolish enough to brazenly do so right under Team Plasma's nose. He doesn't like Ghetsis much but he also doesn't want to earn his ire just yet.
So a trip to Dudley's lab it is, the place where the Genesect Project is supposedly carried out.
"What are you doing here?"
As expected, Dudley was not happy to see him hanging around in his lab. Not that Colress minded what Dudley thought of him either way, that man had never viewed him highly and it is the same sentiment Colress had of Dudley as well.
"What else could it be? It's not everyday that I get to see a mythical pokemon being revived," Colress smoothly replied and observed the ancient predator that was currently in the process of being created. There were five copies being revived as far as he could see, housed in special tanks filled with unknown green liquid with wires attached to their bodies. From the looks of it their revival is nearing completion, it would most likely be completed within the next 48 hours or so.
Assuming that nothing else went wrong until the pokemon's complete revival, of course.
"I remembered N had this project cancelled?" Colress questioned, recalling that the naive young man had ordered the cancellation of this project because he felt that Pokémon, who he thought to be perfect beings, would lose their beauty if modified by science.
"Who cares what that fool thinks? He's not the one calling the shots here, Ghetsis is the one we answer to," Dudley scoffed in obvious disdain, still buried neck deep in work with his assistants busy scurrying around from place to place to assist him in this near impossible project that Ghetsis tasked them to complete one way or another. N is a puppet leader that Ghetsis controlled behind the scenes, Colress is aware of that, but Dudley's response was certainly a reminder about this particular tidbit of information.
"Need help?"
"Go away- No, wait, actually, I might really need your assistance," Dudley released a frustrated noise from his throat and reflexively ran his hand through his balding head, a tic that Colress associated with Dudley whenever the balding scientist was feeling stressed about something.
"Is the world ending? Are you actually allowing me on your project?"
"Look, this piece of work here," Dudley gestured to the five genesects in their individual tanks behind him, "is atrociously complicated. Remember how nobody was able to piece out their complete DNA sequence until Juniper did the impossible? Even you were stumped by their weird biological makeup."
"But it was completed eventually, and Team Plasma also acquired the complete DNA sequence. All that's left is to go through the revival process," Colress pointed out, still not understanding what had made Dudley so stressed when all the work was basically already completed for him even before he took over the Genesect Project. Colress was aware that Team Plasma had hired a very skilled thief to steal the fruits of the Unova League's labour for this Genesect Project and in fact, he has a sneaking suspicion of just which thief Team Plasma had engaged the services of.
"I know, but the boss wanted us to quote-unquote, create the most powerful pokemon ever. To keep things simple, he wants me to modify genesect using the power of science and put it among the ranks of legends," Dudley deadpanned.
"Hmm, quite the tall order."
"That's exactly what I told Ghetsis!" Dudley shrieked, on the verge of tearing out whatever little hair is left on his head. "And then he will tell me, but Team Rocket created Mewtwo, if they can do it why can't you? Emboar's balls, this is why I hate working with ignorant people with no understanding of science. Who does he think we are, huh? Yeah I know Team Rocket succeeded with their Mewtwo Project but they had motherfucking Fuji and Blaine to lay down the groundwork for them! Fuji and Blaine! And even then it took Giovanni another two decades to carry on where the project was left off to actually succeed with the Mewtwo Project!"
"Interesting," Colress' interest was truly piqued after hearing what Dudley revealed to him. He's well aware of the limit of Dudley's capabilities. This is far beyond what his colleague can accomplish alone. Forget Dudley, even he cannot claim to be able to complete the task that Ghetsis assigned Dudley to do, much less on such a short time limit. Fuji and Blaine are truly geniuses among geniuses within their circle and very few in the world could surpass them.
And the few that he knows could assist Dudley in this task probably won't help him for various reasons.
"So what do you plan to do? Tall order or not, you have to complete this somehow. Ghetsis is not a patient man nor is he forgiving."
"That's why I said you can help. As a matter of fact, I'm already enlisting external help."
"Who?"
Dudley gestured to a direction with a jerk of his chin. Colress' eyes went momentarily wide when he saw just who Dudley enlisted the help of. The woman with long dark blue hair and pale skin is a genius that even he acknowledges, possessing the intellect rivalling the likes of Fuji and Blaine. She is a noble person and all her inventions reflect that, a trait that he can never possess as a fellow scientist and inventor. She had not been active in their circle for a very long time due to a tragedy that befell her home so he's very surprised to see her here.
In fact, why would a person with such a strong sense of right and wrong be willing to assist Dudley in this research?
"That's Marianne Kahale. How on earth did you…"
There are very few people in this world that Colress wholeheartedly acknowledges and looks up to, but Marianne Kahale is one of those few people. Her knowledge spans over a diverse array of fields, almost as if there's nothing that she did not dabble in when it comes to science. Her works are brilliant, especially her work on Foldable Space Technology and the cloaking device she invented to hide Fallers from Ultra Beasts. It would even be an understatement to say that he's a huge fan of her works. The examples he listed out were just two out of many and he's not ashamed to admit that she is his idol and he, her fanboy.
"How else? I had the grunts kidnapped her over. Held her son hostage."
However high Colress' respect for his colleague had risen when he found that he enlisted the help of his idol, it plummeted just as hard the moment the truth was out. Of course he did that, what else was he expecting out of this foolish man?
Colress kept his displeasure carefully concealed. He's excited at the prospect of finally being able to meet his idol in the flesh, face to face, especially about the possibility of working together on the same project and experiencing firsthand how brilliant her mind can be. However, he does not like how his idol was forced to work on this project in such a manner, and this displeasure outweighs even the prospect of him finally being able to work alongside her.
Hmm, perhaps he could…? Will it be possible?
Dudley was probably feeling proud of his "accomplishments", for he soon started to brag about it.
"Not only that, I managed to get the guys to kidnap- ahem, I mean, invite Shannon Juniper over! You know, the one who pieced out the entire genesect DNA sequence? Hah, let me tell you…"
Colress habitually tuned out Dudley's braggings and walked over to where Marianne was. She was focused on her work but looked up to see who was approaching her when she sensed his approaching presence.
"This may not be the best circumstance to meet, but I'm Colress, a fan of your works. It's a pleasure to meet you, Ms Kahale."
Her lips were pressed in a thin line, her disgust for him plain to see but that's fine. That's because she associates him as a Plasma but that would soon change.
"May I assist you in your work?"
"I don't have the choice to refuse, do I?" Her reply was frosty and the look in her eyes was scathing. Colress remained unbothered, the joy of finally being able to work alongside the person who he had always looked up to within their circle outshone everything else. They eventually worked late into the night until everyone else had retired and it was when Colress finally had the chance to talk to his idol in private.
"I heard you were invited into this project without consent."
"Your point being?" Mary was obviously trying to restrain herself from outright punching him in the face, probably in fear of him enacting retribution on her son which Team Plasma had also kidnapped but separated from her to be used as a hostage. She wouldn't willingly embark on this Genesect Project otherwise.
"M-Mary…" The woman with brown hair styled in a bob cut whispered worriedly, urging Marianne to calm down. The unspoken reminder that her son is still in the hands of Team Plasma went unsaid.
How interesting.
"I think you are misunderstanding something, Ms Kahale. One, I am genuinely a fan of your works. I would go so far as to say that I see you as an idol to emulate. Two, I am just a contracted hire that Team Plasma hired to complete their projects. Technically speaking, I am not a Plasma. My relationship with them is purely business."
From the looks of it he had gotten their attention and so, Colress continued.
"Three, I can help you make your escape. Yes, with your son along for the ride, of course. Don't worry, no strings attached. All I ask for in return is that you keep my existence a secret to yourself once you are out of here."
He could see the conflicted emotions she must be experiencing from her eyes, but she eventually responded.
"... Why?"
"Because it irks me how the person who I looked up to and viewed as the pinnacle of scientific brilliance is being forced to work on a project against her will. Call it a whim if you will, but that's how I truly feel."
He stood up and dusted his coat. He had stayed here for long enough and he supposed that Marianne would need some time alone to mull over his offer.
"Well, I'm afraid I must get going. I will see you tomorrow, Ms Kahale, and I will be waiting for your answer."
Colress exited the lab and made his way out. It has been a very interesting day and he wasn't disappointed. Marianne's brilliance truly was as every bit the rumours made her out to be. If only he possessed even just half of her ingenuity, he might have already reached his goal to decipher the true way to draw out the strength of pokemon.
He was brought out of his musings when something in his coat pocket vibrated. He retreated to a corner, briefly checking that nobody was around, before taking out a black and gold card that signified his position and membership to one of the most secretive organisations in the world. On one side of the card is the printed image of an opened eye, on the other side is the image of a man hanged upside down and tied to a wooden pillar.
He is The Hanged Man of Tarot, one of his many identities that he used to navigate through the underworld and this card is proof of that. The card is vibrating and faintly heating up, a phenomenon that would not happen under usual circumstances with the exception of one.
This only happens when two or more cards are within vicinity of each other. Another Card is here, here on this island and probably already in the P2 laboratory itself. Colress had been working with the Plasmas for a few years and never had this happened before until tonight. Just which Card is it? And why is he or she here?
The edge of his lips curled into a grin. How interesting.
His card acts as a marker to determine just where his other fellow Card currently is at. The closer the two cards are, the greater the vibration and the heat emitted and it would only end when both Cards are within five metres of each other. He turned and navigated through the twists and turns of this underground hideout, his card buzzing with greater intensity as he headed nearer and nearer towards the upper levels. He eventually reached the canteen where the members stationed here have their meals and he quickly observed his surroundings, trying to pick out his fellow Card among the crowd of Plasma members currently crowding this place for a quick supper.
There was no luck in trying to identify who that fellow Card might be using his eyes alone so he allowed his Card to do that job for him. He knew he was heading in the right direction when his own card was vibrating at an even greater frequency and it's also obvious that the other Card is also on the move, probably aware that he is on the hunt and is taking steps to avoid him. This game of cat and mouse is getting more and more intriguing as the seconds ticked by.
Colress was eventually led to a dark and deserted corridor a fair distance away from the canteen where the crowd is at. At the end of the corridor is a right turn and Colress did not silence his footsteps as he forged ahead, his steps sounded deafening in the silence permeating this unpopulated section of the P2 laboratory. He came to a stop a few metres away from reaching that turn when his card suddenly ceased vibrating.
It was like the world had hit the pause button for a few seconds. Silence fell, nothing moved, until a swift black blur lunged itself at him from around the corner.
The screeching of metal gears was the only indication that Colress had succeeded in defending himself by releasing his klingklang. He had one hand on its pokeball the entire time since one can never be too careful in the underworld. A spiritomb was the aggressor and fired a Shadow Ball at his klingklang, who easily blocked that attack and retaliated with a Charge Beam.
"Had I ever unknowingly offended you in one way or another?" Colress yelled out over the din but silence was the only response. A huge cone of flames hit klingklang a split second later, which had Colress a little stunned from how that attack came from practically nowhere and he's sure that spiritomb is not capable of learning Flamethrower.
Thankfully, this section of the P2 laboratory is deserted enough such that nobody will be coming over unless the din creates an explosion or something of similar magnitude. It is also just spacious enough for him to release a second pokemon, a metagross, who erected a Light Screen to block off the fiery cone of flames from incinerating them all.
Colress quickly ran through his mind on the list of people that he might or might not have offended within Tarot. He made it a point to be on everyone's good books in that organisation but he could be mistaken. The High Priestess never liked him much, he's aware of that, but she's a Fire Specialist and most certainly does not possess a spiritomb.
"Are you in the mood to talk now?" He called out from where he was hiding behind his metagross. Goodness gracious, he's so thankful that he has a metagross to deal with all that firepower. He would have been toast otherwise.
Silence permeated the air for a few seconds before a figure walked out from the corner. It is a man around the same age as he is, give or take a few years. He's dressed in a grunt uniform but there's no way a Card would be just an ordinary rank and file grunt. Colress' guess is that this Card had infiltrated the place as a Team Plasma grunt, which might explain his previously aggressive behaviour. He must have believed that his cover was blown.
"Pretty sure that I hadn't met you before," Colress remarked and plucked out his own Tarot card from his coat pocket, showing his fellow Card the Tarot symbol before flipping the card over to show the printed image representing his assigned title as a gesture of goodwill.
"The Hanged Man, pleasure to meet you."
The other Card stared at the card in his hand, the look on his face unreadable but ultimately chose to reciprocate in kind. He took out his own card and showed him the unique image corresponding to his title.
"Magician."
"So you are the new member, what a surprise," Colress was mildly surprised at the revelation. "What are you doing here?"
"How did you find me? Through the card?" Magician answered Colress' question with his own. Does Magician not know of the unique properties of their assigned cards? That's fine, he's feeling generous today.
"Our cards allow us to identify each other within a certain set radius. You should have already experienced it, the vibration and the warmth being suddenly emitted. It will only cease once the holders exited that radius or are within five metres of each other. That's how I found you."
"I see."
"Are you infiltrating this place?"
"What are you going to do if that's the case? Stop me?"
"Stop you? What for? Things will be so boring otherwise," Colress shook his index finger in a no-no gesture. "On the contrary I might even choose to help depending on how interesting things might turn out to be."
"Aren't you a Plasma?"
"I'm just a contractual hire. They pay me money, I work what they want me to work on. Our relationship is purely business," Colress explained. "I'm also not dumb enough to offend somebody who's good enough to be nominated as a Card. Why make enemies when you can be friends? You can never have enough friends."
He pushed his glasses up a little and finally introduced himself properly.
"Name's Colress. How do I address you?"
"Call me Jacob."
Name: Jayce Dandolos
Age: 23
Pokemon Team:
1. Ninetales, female
2. Exeggutor, male
3. Weavile, male
4. Honchkrow, female
5. Umbreon, male
6. Hydreigon, male
7. Drapion, female
8. Zoroark, male
9. Bisharp, male
10. Shiftry, male
11. Porygon-Z, (Nosy), genderless
12. Greninja, male
13. Spiritomb, male
14. Pikachu, (Grumpy), male
Name: Colress Nikolai
Pokemon Team:
1. Metagross
2. Magnezone
3. Klingklang
