Chapter 3: A Crucial First Impression

"LAWRENCE! Are you out of your fucking mind?!" Screamed a gruff male voice that was full of anger. This was back at the mysterious hidden facility where Hatterene had escaped. The man named Lawrence was the head scientist that commanded his fellow assistants and guards to track the anthropomorphic Silent Pokémon down. That voice was of the owner of the building and the entire operation. Lawrence faced him via a video chat upon his laptop at his office desk and was mentally ashamed, but his face showed confidence as the Caucasian head honcho continued on screen: "I pay you all the most generous paychecks in the history of Galar and this is my repayment?!"

"It wasn't entirely my fault, Mr. Statigan." Lawrence reassured with an apologetic tone. "Besides, your experiment upon that hatterene was a success for ten years before she finally realized that she could use that increased power to escape. I don't know what finally made her decide to make that getaway, but I can assure you that we will get her back and she'll be my slave."

"That's what I was expecting to see at this point. You better get her back!"

"We're trying, sir… but…"

"But?! BUT?! There shouldn't be a 'but'!"

"I know, but I need to tell you this: Ever since we've lost visual, we haven't been able to track her down with our most highly advanced devices. It's like she's completely masked her presence. Now, at this rate, I would say 'I told you so', but you get the picture."

"Grrrr! I can't believe this! Looks like you'll have to use your own eyes to track her. Technology isn't all flashy and trendy nowadays. Use your own instincts for once and stop relying on these machines! The next time I call you, I want to see her under your control. Do you hear me?!"

"Yes, sir." After that conversation was done, Lawrence closed down the video chat and his laptop before he sighed with aggravation while leaning back in his rolling recliner. "Damn, I'm screwed. Mr. Statigan is right about how our technology is impressive and all, but it's not entirely useful in certain situations. I guess I'll have to call a meeting with all of my staff and guards to discuss the perfect game plan for this. It'll be a unanimous decision once I get my point across. Heh, heh, heh, heh. She won't be free for too long."

The next morning, at approximately 7:45 AM back in Hammerlocke…

Karthaniel had slowly opened his one brown eye and one blue eye at last after the longest good night's sleep of his life so far. He was already surprised to see that he was back in his bedroom, but when he sat up, revealing that he's been shirtless as the comforter slid off of him, he was even more shocked to see the pokémorphed Hatterene sitting with elegance in a chair right at the foot of his bed. She didn't have her famous hat on this time. It was properly hung on a hat rack that was standing on the right side of his bedroom door. The mentally disabled genius had to take a moment to see who he was looking at while she kept her heavenly smile of honor and respect for the man.

"Glad to see you're finally awake, Karthaniel." She started sweetly in her sultry voice of an angel. "Don't be too flabbergasted to see me. I am your savior after all."

"You are?" Karthaniel asked with bewilderment. "But, you're a hatterene; a psychic and fairy type. Those are the two types that my parents appreciate the most."

"And I see that steel is your primary type. Despite that factor, I still saved you last night from that demon that tried to kill you. I even scared him away for you as you slept to buy time for recovery. Apparently, it turned out that he's gone for the night and for now as well. You have nothing to fear now."

"…huh." The genius sat back with disbelief. "For once, I'm actually flummoxed by all of this. I appreciate your assistance, but why did you save me and how did you get like this?"

"I only saved you because your mental state is much too severe for most doctors to treat and because you're much too young to die. You've only just started your life. I wouldn't want you to end it just as quickly. I sense true compassion within your being and that's what lead me here. I was a prisoner at a facility hidden away from the grid."

"For how long?"

"Ten years and three months. I'm a special hatterene with extraordinary powers far beyond many others like me. I even have Magic Bounce as my ability."

"A very rare pokémon indeed." Karthaniel finally stood up, now showing that he was dressed in nothing but his baggy brown pajama pants and white socks. Hatterene stood up from her seat by the time he approached her. "Well, with all that being said, it's safe to say that it's truly an honor to meet you. What moniker shall I call you by?"

"I prefer that you only call me Hatterene. It suits me." The two shook hands with respect. "Pleasure to be your sixth and final pokémon for your team."

"Ah, that saved my master balls from being used. You must've done that last night as well."

"After I frightened that demon, you slept so peacefully. You needed it."

"Thank you so much, Hatterene. I appreciate it. How about we discuss more over a hearty breakfast?"

"That would be very lovely, yes. Lead the way, young Davis." After that was said, Karthaniel and Hatterene made their way downstairs towards the kitchen, having his other five pokémon teammates wake themselves up from their pokéballs along the way.

Meanwhile, at a private meeting within the very top of the Battle Tower in Wyndon…

"…and that's pretty much how it happened." Raihan concluded as he just finished telling the story of what happened with Karthaniel last night. The other leaders were surrounded in a meeting circle in their own chairs without a table, having Leon sitting in the very center. "Apparently, this man's got the pokémon knowledge at his genius level, but at his current mental state, he's turning dangerous. I was already concerned about it after it was all over."

"And you say it's only because he doesn't know what happened to his parents after the cruise ship accident. Am I right?" Kabu asked. Raihan nodded twice. "Hmmm… I have heard about it on the news lately. It was dreadful storm that capsized the massive ship. The only end result information we got was that 'the entire crew didn't make it'. I can understand why Karthaniel's mind is in an endless spiral right now. There's no telling if that phrase means that it's only the crew of sailors or them plus his parents."

"Ya see?! It makes sense! I've already given him quite the team, too. It's most likely that the hatterene that saved him will be the sixth and final member of his team. She looked a little too elegant and serene."

"You said she's 90 percent human, right?" Bea asked in wonder. Again, Raihan nodded. "Was she a shiny hatterene, too?"

"No. She was in the regular colors, but it's like her powers are off the charts and that's what made her look like that. I tried asking her what happened to her, but she told me that it was trivial to us humans. She said that like she despises us."

"Can't say I blame her." Nessa agreed. "The hatterene is called the Silent Pokémon in the PokéDex after all."

"She sure wasn't so silent after that save. To make her point really clear, she said that Karthaniel's mental disability is much stronger than what Sonia diagnosed him with, which was PTSD. No doctor can help him. Only Hatterene."

"She said that as well?!" Opal exclaimed in her sweet elderly voice.

"With no remorse."

"Blasphemy! Such a rude tone in that statement!"

"But, she made an excellent point, everyone." Melony admitted with no regrets, shocking all of the others, especially her own son, Gordie. "I've seen many other adult pokémon trainers with PTSD and they never suffered a case like what Karthaniel just went through last night. There was one thing in common with those victims, including young Davis: He has at least one electric-type pokémon in his party, even though Karthaniel doesn't use it for shock therapy."

"So, what are you saying, Mom?!" Gordie asked as he lifted his signature sunglasses.

"Gordie-dear, I'm saying that this young man should heed this hatterene's words and actually avoid seeing a professional doctor about his mental state. Only Raihan has seen her so far, so as soon as we all get a chance to battle young Davis, we'll see how special this 90 percent human Silent Pokémon really is. Opal, you're the most familiar with her. You're in charge of splicing for information."

"That's not a problem, dear." Opal agreed. "How about it, Leon? Is that a surefire plan for all of us leaders as a whole?"

"After all that discussion, I'd have to say yes." Leon replied. "Meeting him will be an honor, but seeing him suffer won't be at the top of my list. Let's all make sure that he's sane enough to even throw out a pokéball at the start of a battle. I'll be sure to tell Hop about him and Piers, you warn your sister, Marnie, as well. Is that understood?"

"Yes, sir!" All of the leaders replied together.

Back at Karthaniel's house…

"I see." The young trainer concluded as Hatterene had just explained everything that happened while he was in a trance last night. They were all enjoying a steak and gravy curry. "And you were the only one, other than me, that could see the demon."

"Yes." Hatterene replied casually. "He was the most ominous looking demon I've ever seen. Not even a grimmsnarl comes close to its appearance. It was black and red with piercing blood red eyes that could've placed me in a mindless trance as well, but thanks to what happened to me at that hidden facility, I'm completely immune to everything… well, except pain, of course. I'm not entirely invincible."

"Glad you admitted that, Hatterene. You're not ashamed of it at all, I'm guessing."

"Correct. Now, you're probably wonder how I got like this. I'm sure you've seen some wild hatterene before your arrival to this city."

"I caught quick glimpses during my corviknight flight here, yes. You look much more serene and graceful than those regulars."

"And you shall be curious no longer. None of your humans know about this, but there's a top secret facility hidden very well. So much so that it's officially off the grid, like I said before. Only a handful of humans work there and one of their primary functions is to keep their occupations as confidential as possible. Ten years ago, I was like all of the other wild hatterene that you've seen until one mysterious human Asian male confronted me without a pokémon to face me. Since I sensed his true intentions after realizing that factor, I tried with all my might to fight him off with my moves: Dazzling Gleam, Psychic, Mystical Fire, and Dark Pulse. It was all to no avail and he used a master ball upon me, completely disabling my ability to escape. For the first fifteen minutes, I had no idea where I was or what was happening. Then, I arrived. The first face I saw other than that Asian… was the proprietor of the hidden building…"

(Flashback, ten years ago…)

"She was a tough one, but I managed to catch her regardless, sir." The same Asian man replied towards Lawrence, who just approached the now tied up Hatterene. She was strapped down to the same kind of bed used for lethal injection executions in jail and didn't have her signature hat on. "I scanned her ability as well: She's got Magic Bounce."

"Excellent." Lawrence replied with an evil smirk on his Caucasian face as he eerily walked towards her. She looked at him with extreme repugnance in her black eyes. "You're quite the rare specimen, my dear. Don't even try to escape. Where you're at is completely hidden away from all of Galar, although we're in the region regardless. You've literally have nowhere to run."

"That may be so, but you will pay for what you all do here." Hatterene replied through telepathy. "You've enslaved more pokémon here than in any other existing region, mostly for personal gain. That will not happen with me. I swear it!"

"Humph! Such a waste of words from your mind, Hatterene. You may know what we do here, but that doesn't make you safe. I've been given strict orders to enslave you pokémon so we can rally against Leon and his misfits of leaders. You will do as I say!"

"Over my dead body!" Hatterene finally tried to struggle herself free, but it turned out that the belts were infused with a deadly combination of all of her weaknesses: steel, poison, and ghost. They shocked her with over 5,000 volts of power and she emitted her famous screech at the very top of her lungs in extreme pain for a full sixty seconds before it was all calm again. Lawrence kept a confident smile that reeked of antagonism the entire time. "…ugh… you clever human… you came prepared."

"And for a good reason. Now, you're soon to be the newest member of my rebellion and my slave. I'll need some pleasure every once in a while, if you catch my drift."

"You're a sick man!"

"And you're quite the rude Silent Pokémon. Tavii, begin the infusion experiment."

"Yes, sir!" The Asian man replied as he and Lawrence headed to a control room behind Hatterene and began the transformation, which made her scream once more. Within the full five minutes, she drastically transformed into a near human woman while still keeping her normal hatterene self. Her hair had actually become long periwinkle and pink gradient colored hair that stopped at just above her knees, a purple elegant dress formed around her nude light pink and white body, and despite having slender arms with elegant five fingered human hands, she was absent of feet on her at the ends of her beautiful smooth legs. This already disappointed the already horny leader as he spoke:

"Damn! I was hoping for her to be naked already, but it'll do. She looks very beautiful." He walked out of the room after it was silent once more. Hatterene opened her still black with white pupil eyes and the belts came off with her now 80 percent enhanced psychic powers. She stood at a height of 6 feet and 7 inches tall, which was just two inches taller than Lawrence. "What?! You're taller than me, even without your hat?!"

"It would appear so." Hatterene replied verbally this time. "That should make me a dominant against you."

"Humph! It should, I'll admit it. But, that won't happen. Regardless of this height difference, you will become my slave and do everything I command." At that last word, the Silent Pokémon summoned her famous hat back to her head and the three-fingered claw upon it automatically gave him the finger with her face looking pretty sinister for a pokémon who's usually at peace. Lawrence never felt intimidated by that. "Keep being stubborn, Hatterene. I'll shred that hat to a million pieces, if you use it like that again."

"This hat is a separate living entity that's under my manipulation whenever it is upon my head. You cannot destroy it."

"She tells the truth there, sir." Tavii reluctantly agreed as soon as he approached his boss. "Every hatterene's hat can't be destroyed."

"Ugh! Fine, but still… I'll find so way to separate you from that confounded contraption." Lawrence threatened with a pistol aimed at her nose less face. She never cowered. "Now, unless you want to die right now, I suggest you stop being as stubborn as a mudbray and obey me."

"…(sigh)…very well." Hatterene reluctantly agreed, making the madman lower his gun. "If you insist, but you shall not use me for your sexual needs. At least refrain from that. I may have lived in the wild for all my life, but I do know that you humans are inventive. I hear you can do something called 'masturbation'. Try that sometime instead of using me."

"…what did you do to her?!" Lawrence turned towards his assistant with fury after taking in the smart remark for five seconds. "This experiment was just supposed to make her a mindless slave to me!"

"It did the exact opposite, sir. You did warn Mr. Statigan that it would happen and it appears that you were right." Tavii replied. "We've made her smarter and stronger with this experiment. You can't change a psychic type's powers."

"I can't believe this! YOU WILL SATISFY ME, REGARDLESS OF THOSE WORDS! I swear it!"

"We'll see." Hatterene retorted once more before she was handcuffed from behind by two more assistants. "For now, try to do your worst to me and see what I do."

"Challenge accepted, Hatterene."

(End flashback)

"…" Karthaniel was speechless after that entire story from the anthropomorphic Silent Pokémon sitting before him. The other pokémon within the kitchen couldn't believe it either with their wide eyes of astonishment. Hatterene made a small smile of expectance with the silence she was hearing and waited patiently for a response from somebody. Finally, after a seemingly slow three minutes, the mentally disabled genius shook the shock out of him before he spoke: "Wow… this facility you speak of did more than just enslave you. They're a top secret rebellious group against Leon and all of the other leaders throughout Galar?"

"Yes." Hatterene replied with no shame. "It's so confidential that this group doesn't even have a name, but rest assured: After what I just explained, they won't be needing one."

"That was suffice to say there. So, what happens with us all now?"

"Keeping a sharp eye out for a member of the hidden group will be a very difficult task. So, just keep your focus on working your way up to defeating Leon. With your team of magnezone, corviknight, duraludon, dragapult, rillaboom, and myself, we'll become as unstoppable as you promised towards your parents."

"Can you tell me if they're still alive?" Karthaniel asked that with a trembling voice that was full of anxiety. Hatterene saw this and didn't waste a moment turning the black within her eyes into that light blue as she used Psychic to control his sanity. "I… I must know…"

"I understand, but despite the enhanced powers that I have, I cannot answer your question. At your mental state, it'll be impossible to constantly ask me of their fate. Your hallucinations will control you, if you're not careful."

"…(sigh)" He buried his face within his hands with extreme trepidation and began to softly weep as his symptoms were really showing before the solemn Silent Pokémon. She couldn't help but just watch him with full observation. The male Rillaboom approached her with just as much concern as he spoke to her in a handsome male British accented voice:

"Will he be alright to start his official journey?"

"Despite these unpredictable emotional meltdowns he'll be having that's beyond his control as well as mine, he'll be alright." Hatterene replied with candor. "I was correct when I said that no doctor can cure him of this, but with all of us pokémon here by his side, we'll assist him in every way we know now. Failing him is absolutely NOT an option. Is that understood?"

"On behalf of the others: yes, ma'am."

To be continued…