A/N: Mostly fixing grammar mistakes here and there. When I came up with the idea to add a side villain I knew I'd make it so he'd do one nice thing at some point. He does but it costs him his life.
Chapter 27
"Everything is going as scheduled, sir." said a scientist over the phone. "Yes, it was true the subject was dead when he arrived but that little problem was taken care of. Yes, sir. I agree completely. Just because you're dead doesn't mean you're totally useless. That is something Dr. Glenn will find out once he's been cloned again too. Death truly is a doorway into a new life."
"Now don't you forget what I'm paying you for, Ken." said Ash, who was on the other end of the line. "You're creating for me the World's Greatest Super Solider. Mewtwo and Mewthree were created by Team Rocket to be the World's most Powerful pokemon and they are. Zora was created to be the most powerful assassin on Earth and she is. Kaylie and Alex trained to be the strongest fighters in the world. Do you know what all of them have in common?"
"No sir, I don't." said Ken.
"They were all created by us to work for us!" Ash exclaimed. "They need to be reminded that those who defy Team Rocket are marked for death. This Super Solider will cleanse them all from the earth!"
"Sir, you're not serious about killing Kaylie, are you?" Ken asked. "If we can at least detain her and keep her alive until she has her baby, we may be able to revive the TRS project started by Giovanni."
"That's a good idea." Said Ash. "Or I should say, it was. I changed in the formula for it when I injected Ed Ross into her. When Ted died, the TRS formula and Ed Ross died with it."
"I swear to you that this time, nothing will go wrong with the subject's programming." Said Ken "You were smart to choose Jordan McArthur as the test subject. Not only will the reprogramming work but even if it doesn't, he has his beef with Matt Oak. This is a win-win situation with no chance of failure."
"See to it that it stays that way." Ash retorted. "If anything goes wrong I will hold you responsible. That's provided you aren't killed in a mysterious lab explosion."
"I assure you everything will go as planned." Said Ken before hanging up, breathing a sigh of relief. That last part Ash said about dying in a lab explosion had him spooked. The scientists who created Mewtwo and Mewthree were killed in separate mysterious lab explosions. To this day, the only ones who know what became of them were Mewtwo and Mewthree themselves. Ken was determined to make sure nothing like that happened to him. He'd taken the precaution of making all the walls and surfaces in and near Jordan's holding area fireproof. Ken had no intention of dying inside this lab.
He went downstairs to check on The Super Solider they were creating. They'd broken into a maximum-security prison to spring Jessie, James and Jordan specifically for this. Unfortunately, the Kanto forces that were guarding the prison were well-prepared and managed to re-capture Jessie and James. In addition to that Jordan was killed in a shootout. Despite this they managed to bring him back to life when he was brought to the TR Facility in Mahogany Town. After doing that they fitted him with a prototype exoskeleton that would make him invulnerable to any type of pokemon attack. Now they were using him to test out many different kinds of gene therapy techniques. They were working very far ahead of schedule as well. Now they were working on his programming. Since most known traces of his past life were gone they were making a new one. With that they gave him a new name, Saul. There were giving him everything he would need to serve Team Rocket.
Ken checked the progress of Saul's programming. So far he was 75% Evil. All of mankind's worst emotions and worst traits were in him. Even if he were to be released now, he would not hesitate to kill quickly and with deadly accuracy. Saul's Katana had been reinforced so it could cut through anything, even Groudon, Steelix, Aggron, Regi-Steel and Rhydon.
As Ken watched everyone's progress he couldn't help but see the moral evilness of doing this. Not only that, he was enjoying every minute of it. His only regret was knowing Kaylie's unborn baby was going to be killed along with its mother. He wasn't one to question authority but the thing was he secretly had a crush on her. "Oh, why did you have to go against us?" Ken said time himself as he stared at the glass cylinder containing his test subject. "Didn't you see? I had Alex sent away so that maybe you'd notice me a bit more."
"Dr. Baker, look at this." Said one of the lab technicians. This snapped Ken back to reality. Ken looked at what he was showing him. Apparently it was a dream Jordan had before he died. In it Jordan brutally murdered Zora Ketchum. "What should I do with this one?"
"Delete it." He replied curtly. "It will do him no good. Assassins aren't supposed to have personal attachments, remember?" But Ken knew he was lying to the man. He himself was 48 years old. When he was a lab tech some years ago, he'd supervised the development of the TRS Program that made Ash and Zora Ketchum who they were today. Not even Ash knew this. He'd been forced to swear to never tell a soul about his involvement. He considered himself lucky—the lead scientist had his memory erased so he could not tell anyone else. Because of this, Ken decided to take action.
Going over to the Supercomputer for Saul's programming, he made some changes. He set it so that 25% of Saul would be capable of doing "good". He also added a bit of Jordan's memories that had been recovered to Saul's programming. "I'm going to die for this." Ken reminded himself. "I hope hell isn't full because that's where I'm going." He wanted Saul to at least know what his real name was, even if no one else cared. After making the changes he took one more look at the Super Soldier in the stasis chamber. Even though the silent figure wasn't moving, he could see that he was at peace. Too bad he had been considered more than ready to be awakened save the programming.
"Your will may be programmed to serve Team Rocket, but I will give you the decency of knowing your name at least." Said Ken before leaving the room. He went to the barracks to sleep for the night. As the days passed no one noticed the changes Ken made to Saul's programming. That was until Ash made a surprise appearance at the lab. He wanted to personally see how The Super Soldier was progressing. Ken was asleep at the time and had to be awoken. He rushed into the lab, half dressed. Ash was looking over something at the Programming Terminal.
"Had this been an actual emergency you would not have been adequately prepared." Ash remarked without looking up.
"I apologize, sir." Ken said, obviously scared of what he was sure Ash was looking at. "I was not prepared for an unexpected visit."
"This is more than just a visit." Said Ash. "You may even call it an inspection. I have just received word that Ted Toss has passed through National Park and is on his way to Ecruteak City. From there he can either go to Olivine City and Cianwood City. Or he can come here."
"That is a serious problem." Ken replied. "If he finds the lab, who knows what he might do." Ken was hoping to change the subject but knew it wasn't working so far.
"Because of this, I think it's time we gave Saul a test of his powers." Said Ash.
"Are you sure that's wise, sir?" Asked Ken. "Saul's programming isn't complete." Oh, shit. I just gave myself away!
"I think it's progressed far enough." Said Ash after taking another look at Saul's programming. "Or do you want to try to stall for time so you can finish with the changes you've made?" Ken froze with fear. Ash definitely knew about what he'd done!
"The least you can do is at least let Saul know what his old name was." He said.
"That's why it would be preferred he didn't know." Said Ash. "A new life means a new name. Since you believe so much that Saul will forever know about his past, let's see how he does in action!" And with that Ash unlocked Saul's holding chamber.
"No, wait!" exclaimed Ken. He tried to stop Ash but when several dozen guards pointed their weapons in his direction, he stopped. All of the wires and tubes that were running though him fell to the ground. Then Saul started to move!
"He's alive!" Ash exclaimed excitedly. Saul stepped out of the holding cell and into the lab. It was scanning its surroundings. "Hello, Saul." Said Ash. "Do you know who I am?"
"You are the one who created me." Saul replied. "I am yours to command."
"Good, good!" Said Ash. Then he pointed to Ken. "Your first job is to destroy this man. He has betrayed Team Rocket by trying to alter your programming. For that he needs to be punished. Destroy him!" Saul looked at Ken.
"No, don't do it!" Ken exclaimed. "You can't do this! I gave you your name back! Don't you remember that much?"
"Name means nothing on a battlefield." Saul replied coldly.
"That's right." Said Ash. "Now, silence the traitor!" Several guards pointed their weapons at Saul. "Do it or you will die!" The Ninja looked at Ash with a look that was a mix of disgust and amusement.
"I don't think so." Saul replied. He then activated Stealth Camouflage, making himself invisible to the naked eye. The next instant one of the guards was cut in half, right down the middle. The remaining guards tried to shoot at Saul but it's hard to fight what you can't see. Saul slashed the throat of another guard and cut off the head of another. There was only one guard left. He fired wildly into the air, trying to find the target. Saul then made himself visible again. The soldier emptied an entire round at Saul. Not one bullet even scratched Saul's exoskeleton.
At blinding speed, Saul deflected all of the shots with his katana. It didn't even look like he was moving. He methodically and casually walked towards the guard who'd run out of ammo. The guard was exceedingly scared. He pulled out his hunting knife and lunged at Saul. That proved to be futile. Saul grabbed the arm holding the knife and twisted it. He then snapped his arm by bending it at the elbow in the opposite direction. The sickening sound caused Ken to relieve himself on the spot unintentionally. After doing that Saul sliced the guard's chest open.
Saul then turned to face Ash, covered in blood. When he turned Ash was gone. He'd apparently vacated the building. At this, Saul realized that by staying there he would be used by Team Rocket and decided to leave right away. He turned to Ken, the man who'd tried to defend him. "Come with me if you want to live." Saul said to him.
"Uh...sure." Ken replied not sure of what would happen next. Saul the hoisted Ken on his back with his empty hand. Using his armed hand he cut his way out of the Mahogany Town Laboratory. Soon after exiting the lab it exploded in a ball of fire. He then flew off with Ken towards Blackthorn City. Ash, riding his private helicopter was furious.
"That bastard!" He said. He then turned to the helicopter pilot. "You'd better be able to find them before sundown."
"What if I can't?" asked the pilot.
"It will cost you your life for starters." Ash replied, pointing a pistol at his head.
"Fair enough." The pilot replied before increasing throttle. The Rocket helicopter roared over the Ice Cave towards Blackthorn City after the Super Solider.
End Chapter 27.
Yes, Ken also had a part in Ash and Zora's creation. This is mentioned in the original.
There's an obvious reference to a sequence from the Gamecube Metal Gear Solid remake which I was kinda obsessed with at the time I originally wrote this. If you pay real close attention, you should have also spotted another Easter Egg reference to the live action 1990s Street Fighter movie.
