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Chapter 16: Meeting

(Flashback, Several Years Ago)

"No, please. I'm begging you, please stop it. It hurts, please don't… Aaaaaah!" Cried the little girl who was being experimented on, despite them hearing her crying the men in white clothing continued to experiment on her. "Ow. Please stop doing this. Ow. Eeveeeeee!" cried the same girl now a few years older who begged in pain before resorting to Eevee cries to no avail. "You can cry and hope as much as you want, No one is coming for you. You'll make a great asset to Team Rocket someday. Ha ha. Ha ha. Ahahahahaha!" Said a vile scientist.

(Flashback Ends)

(The scene then shifts to a few years later.)

(Flashback, Five Years Ago)

"Hello. Can you come out? I promise I won't hurt you." Said a familiar voice.

(Flashback Ends)

(The scene then shifts again, this time to two years later.)

(Flashback, Three Years Ago)

"Serena Yvonne, my beloved sweetheart. Will you marry me?" Asked Ash. Serena was shocked at Ash's request, but had happy tears in her eyes. "Yes, Ash-kun! Yes! To the moon and back! Eon!" Exclaimed Serena with joy.

(Flashback Ends)

(Present Day, Inside an Airplane)

"Hello? World to Sweetheart." Said Ash, who was slowly waving his hand in front of his wife's face, trying to get her attention. "Eon. Sorry, Ash-kun. I was thinking about the events of the past few years." Said Serena. "I see. It hasn't been usual for you to be this silent in a long time. So I got a bit worried." Serena then pouts. "Oh, forgive me for making you worry." Ash then turns to Serena. "Don't apologize. A lot must be on your mind."

(Mateus then comes in, looking at two as he does so.)

"I just got off the phone with Commissioner Blake. We'll be heading to Alola in a few hours. Where Zager is being held is a prison island east of Akala Island, near the edge of the region's waters to be exact." Explained Mateus. "To see Zager after a long time. I get a cold feeling thinking about it. Eon." Said Serena. "Sweetheart, are you sure you're comfortable with this?" Asked Ash. Serena then places two of her feelers on Ash's hands. "Ash-kun, to be honest with you, I'm not. But, I feel as if I have to do this." Mateus then looks at Serena. "Let me know if you change your mind. I don't want you to endure something that you are not okay with." "Thank you, Detective. Eon."

(Several Hours Later, Akala Island, Alola)

While boarding a boat for east of Akala Island, Mateus looks at Serena. "I know Zager is powerless now, but why do I have the feeling that I will regret this." Thought Mateus to himself.

(Several More Hours later, Inside a Prison, Alola)

Mateus, Ash, and Serena were following a security guard as they made their way around the prison. Serena felt a feeling of discomfort while looking at the dull and bleak nature of the building. "I was surprised when I got the call from Commissioner Blake. It's not every day we get a visit, especially from those with a reputation" Said the Security Guard. "I figured. Last time I was here, I informed Alva of the modification of his sentence." Said Mateus. "Now you're back here with the Alolan Champion and his wife." "Alva was here? Eon?" Asked Serena. The guard then turns his attention to Serena. "Yes. For a brief time. His cell was on the third floor above where we are now. Which is where most prisoners are held." "Then, where's Zager?" The group then approaches an elevator. "On our way down."

(The group then heads down through a long elevator ride, eventually reaching a floor in the bottom.)

"Here we are. Welcome to the Maximum Security Ward, where we hold the most vile and vindictive of prisoners." Said The Security Guard, showing the ward to Mateus, Ash, and Serena. "It… it reminds me of the lab. Eon." Said Serena in a stiff tone. "I figured. I'm sorry to hear about what you had to go through." The group then exit the elevator. "Here, the prisoners inside their cells have no chance of escaping. Everything here is designed to be impenetrable. A few years ago, I escorted Alva to Zager's cell." "Why?" Asked Ash. "He wanted to confront him. And Alva ripped Zager a big one." "Alva must have told Zager what he had in his mind then and there, Right." The security guard then turns to Serena. "Exactly. I feel as if I'm going through Déjà Vu." "Do you think anyone in here would have any idea about what's going on in the outside world?" Asked Mateus. "Not everyone. But Zager might. He requests a newspaper once every few weeks." "I see." "Well, we're here. Behind this door is Zager's cell. I'll be here should you want or need to get out." Mateus then looks at the Security Guard. "Thank You."

(Mateus, Ash, and Serena enter Zager's Cell. Where, behind a titanium cell, they see a prisoner wearing a series of restraints to prevent him from escaping.)

"I wonder what brought you here." Said The Prisoner in a cold tone. "It's not certainly a 'friendly' visit. I'm going to get straight to the point, Zager. Recently, various people from all over the world have…" Explained Mateus before being cut off. "Wound up missing from their homes. I'm aware of that. I read the papers every few weeks." Said Zager. "As of now 150 people are missing." Zager then smirks. "It's gone up to that amount. I'm impressed." Mateus then shudders briefly. "I know that Team Rocket has done nothing in this plot. But we compared these cases with one in the past, and the similarities are jarring." "And so, you came to me." "We're hoping that your seized hard drive can give some insight as to where these people are. Lots of lives could possibly on the line." Zager then closes his eyes before placing his head down. "Why should I help you? All I see is what should have been my success, and the two fools that had a hand in my failure." Makes then looks at Zager in anger. "Are you fucking serious?! You're just going to lament over you being brought to justice and not show a shred of emotion over what's going on right now?!" Zager then coldly looks at Mateus. "When we worked on 700, we saw potential, and we made sure for her to be able to achieve it. It angers you. To see so much potential, all of it, squandered." Zager's words then strike a chord in Ash, who then angrily charges Zager's Cell. "Listen here, you! I won't tolerate anyone talking about my wife like that! You're lucky this cell is separating us or else I'd be striking you down myself." Yelled an angered Ash before he felt one of Serena's feelers on his shoulder. "Ash-kun, can you and Detective Cobalt step aside for a bit? I'd like to talk to Zager myself. Eon." Asked Serena. Ash was shocked at his wife's request, but nonetheless understood her wishes.

(Mateus and Ash then take a few steps back.)

"I see that you have become a shell of your former potential." Said a begrudged Zager to Serena. "I finally see you in true fashion. A man with an ego so large that all he can do was loathe when powerless. I remember the times when I had my eyes forcibly locked on to you against my will. I still recall the vile smile you made. I was a little girl who felt scared and powerless, and you took advantage of that to manipulate, dehumanize, and worst of all, hurt me. I felt so much pain all those years, and I did not see a single shred of remorse from you. You would always grin every time I screamed in pain from all the Eevee DNA dosages and the hybridization process procedure. I still recall it all, even though I wish to forget everything. You abused your position as ringleader of the XYZ Project for 'progress' because you had feelings of success and power. While I was experimented on against my will, becoming half-human and half-Pokémon, you made feel as if I wasn't either. You never referred to me by name, gender, or even species. Instead, I was always referred as 'XYZ-700', the pronunciation of which, still sends shivers down my spine. Eon." Explained Serena. Zager then scoffs at Serena. "What does that have to do with anything?" Serena then takes a deep breath. "Because now, the tides have changed. I am no longer that same scared and powerless girl you tried to make a puppet for Team Rocket! I've grown so much in many different ways, and it's thanks to people like Detective Cobalt and my husband, Ash! When Ash and Mateus rescued me from that lab, the drop of a mere hat, or any sudden noise, was enough to scare me. I knew nothing of the world I was in, but Professors Kukui and Burnet helped me learn many things. I had no social skills, nor did I have any reason to trust anybody, but Ash's friends helped me with their kindness and understanding. I have been able to overcome many of the fears and obstacles placed on me though your inhumane experiments. What I went through with you and Team Rocket, I would never wish for anyone to endure. And if I have a way to stop it, you best be damn assured that I'll do everything in my power to stop it. Just so you know, it's best you give us that password, because we're not leaving here without it." Ash then walks up to Serena. "Sweetheart." Mateus then walks past the couple, looking straight at Zager. "She's right you know. We'll be here as long as possible. The longer you hold out, the longer we stay." Said Mateus.

(Zager then places his head down.)

"If it means I'll never have to see the likes of you again I'll give you the password, under one condition." Said Zager. "What condition?" Asked Mateus. "You and the champion stay back while I gave it to 700." Mateus then tenses at Zager's condition for a brief second. "We'll discuss this."

(Mateus, Ash, and Serena then take a few steps back.)

"He's not serious, is he? Just who does he think he is for making such a condition?" Whispered Ash angrily. "I don't like it either, but if this is our only shot, it's best we take it." Whispered Mateus. "But Mateus, what if he tries to trick us, or do something to Serena?" "Ash, the latter is unlikely to happen, but if he tries to do the former, he'll get what's coming to him." Serena then places a feeler on Ash's shoulder. "Ash-kun, I'll do it. I don't like it, but there's too much at stake for us to reject his condition. Eon." Ash then hugs Serena. "You truly have grown so much since that day Sweetheart."

(Serena then walks up to Zager's cell.)

"I'll accept your condition, but you better be sure to give us the correct password. Eon." Said Serena with a cold stare. "Agreed. Here's how we'll do this. I'll say a number from zero to twenty six, with zero being an underscore, while one to twenty six being A through Z. You have to guess the correct letter or symbol with each number I say. Just note that the first letter of each word is capitalized." "Alright." "Oh, and if you guess wrong three times, you all best be prepared to leave empty handed. Are you ready?" "Yes. I'm ready. Eon." "Sixteen." "P." "Eighteen." "R. Eon." "One." "A." "Nine." I. Eon." "Nineteen." "S." "Five." "E. Eon." "Zero." "Underscore." "Seven." "G. Eon." "Nine." "I." "Fifteen." "O. Eon." "Twenty Two." "V." "One." "A. Eon." "Fourteen." "N." "Fourteen." "N. Eon." "Nine." "I." "Zero." "Underscore. Eon." "One." "A." "Twelve." "L. Eon." "Twelve." "L." "Zero." "Underscore. Eon" "Eight." "H." "One." "A. Eon." "Nine." "I." "Twelve." "L. Eon." "Zero." "Underscore." "Twenty." "T. Eon." "Five." "E." "One." "A. Eon." "Thirteen." "M." "Zero." "Underscore. Eon." "Eighteen." "R." "Fifteen." "O. Eon." "Three." "C." "Eleven." "K. Eon." "Five." E." "Twenty." "T. Eon." "That's it. You didn't even one wrong 700. I'm impressed." "Praise Giovanni All Hail Team Rocket, separated by underscores." Said Mateus.

(Ash then walks up to his wife. Giving her a hug.)

"You got what you came for. I hope you're happy." Said Zager sarcastically. "Now that we got the password, there's no need to look at the likes of you any longer." Said Ash. Ash was about to turn to leave. "Wait. There's one last thing I want to say. Eon." Said Serena. "Okay, Serena." Serena then turns to Zager. You were the ringleader of all the pain and trauma I endured as a child. Over the past five years, some of the people who took part in my experimentation reflected on their past vile actions and expressed regret, and I found it in me to forgive them. I hope that you use the remainder of your sentence to reflect and think about what you did to me. Because until that happens, I don't see any reason to forgive you, and even then, there is no guarantee." Serena then turns around and begins to walk away with Ash and Mateus.

*End of Chapter 16*


I just realized today is March, 10th. Happy Mar10 Day, everyone!

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