Alex

If it wasn't for my combat experience on Pokemar, I don't think I'd be able to survive this. Unfortunately, fighting as a Snivy doesn't translate one-to-one with fighting as a human. So I am unable to pressure the Breloom, forced into an evasive role. And there's only so long I can block and dodge strikes before I make a likely fatal mistake. It's a relief then when I spot Thunder, Growlithe, and of all people, Sylveon, fighting their way towards me. Growlithe and Sylveon appear to be keeping a Sandslash occupied while Thunder darts towards me.

That moment of distraction is exactly the kind of mistake I feared. I let my guard down for long enough for the Breloom to land a hit to my chest, knocking the wind out of me and causing me to stumble to the ground. Meanwhile, Thunder starts to speed up. He's going to ram them with volt tackle.

The Breloom readies for a killing blow, one that never comes. I scoot back away from my attacker just as an electrically shrouded Thunder makes contact, sending them both careening into a stack of boxes. Both I and Siana stare at the pile of wood and splinters for a moment, waiting to see who would emerge. As it happens, it's Thunder that steps out. Slightly bloodied but ready to fight.

"You're a sight for sore eyes, buddy." I say before snapping my attention to Siana, who is about to throw her knife at me. In my periphery, I spot Thunder charging up a bolt, and in an instant, I know what he's planning. I charge at her. She lets the blade fly. And mere moments after the knife leaves her hand a streak of electricity lashes out at the blade and sends it spiraling away and clattering to the floor. I tackle her and knock her to the ground. Thunder joins me as we stand over her.

"It's over, Siana. It's two on one and you're without a weapon. Call everyone off." I say.

She is about to speak when a deafening sound of an explosion takes us all by surprise. The wall has been blasted open and several heavily armored men with assault rifles rush into the building, weapons drawn.

"Find cover!" I scream. I barely have time to say even that before they open fire. It's indiscriminate. Friend and foe alike seem to be fair game. I don't see much more than that before I take refuge behind a stack of boxes. Thunder is quick to join me but Siana is less fortunate. She stares at the spectacle in horror before speaking up.

"N-no wait, please! We can recover from this! You ca-" Her complaints are swiftly and ruthlessly silenced by a hail of bullets. I can't help but feel a little sorry for her.

That thought passes quickly. I look to Thunder. "You hurt?"

"No, I got lucky. But we can't stay here forever. They'll find us soon."

"We need help. I hope Mewtwo is still alright..." I reach out to Mewtwo, hoping, maybe in vain, to reestablish the psychic link. Mewtwo! Are you there?! We need help here!

Mewtwo

A shadow ball from Beta sends Mewtwo reeling briefly before they right themselves and get airborne. Their strategy of overwhelming the enemy with relentless strikes has quickly proven ineffective when faced with one on equal footing; a position Mewtwo is unaccustomed to being in. A shift in strategy is needed. Mewtwo considers the methods they've seen Alex use against his adversaries. Misdirection, opportunistic hit and run strikes, evasion and defense, all valuable in their own rights. The question is what would work here?

Mewtwo isn't given any more time to ponder as Beta uses psychic to tear the ceiling support beams free and lobs them like javelins. Evasion it is then. Mewtwo puts their concentration into dodging and redirecting the incoming debris while trying to close the gap. Beta responds by shattering several windows and hurling a cloud of razor sharp glass at them. Mewtwo quickly erects a force field to protect themselves, unwittingly giving Beta an opening.

Beta closes the gap and them moment Mewtwo lowers their guard, unleashes psystrike, followed by them ripping a chunk of concrete out of the ground and smashing Mewtwo into the floor with it. For a moment Mewtwo lays there, wounded and stunned, an experience fully alien to them. A rush of fear envelopes them. Death is a very real possibility right now. They stare at Beta as they slowly descend in front of their wounded foe. Their eyes betray no hint of emotion. No rage, no smug glee, nothing but focus. What Mewtwo used to be.

Beta presses their hand on Mewtwo's face, forcing a psychic connection. In an instant pain surges through Mewtwo's head. A psychic lobotomization, Mewtwo realizes. To wipe the slate clean. Destroy everything they've become so Rocket can reprogram them. That cannot stand.

Mewtwo reaches out and takes hold of Beta's head, about to do the same. But before they can do the deed they stop. They were about to kill again. After everything they've said and done, when the moment came their very first instinct was violence. Perhaps their fears are founded after all. Maybe there's nothing left to do but let Beta reset them...

But in spite of all that, a tiny voice in the back of their head speaks. Ruthless pokemon do not fret about taking life. And yet here you are. The words of the Ninetales. The fact that you realize it now means you can change. Look forward, not back. The past can't be changed. Only the future. And of Alex. They put their faith in them even when it seemed clear they were dangerous.

And like a flash of light, an idea. With their hands still clasped around Beta's head, they force a psychic connection. But not to destroy. Instead a sharing of memories. of ideas and concepts. Let Beta see the life they've led. A life where they can choose how to live. One not shackled down by owners and masters who would suppress emotion and desire. Let them see a life worth living. They will not win through violence, but by making their enemy understand.

Almost immediately Beta puts up mental guards. but some thoughts still slip through. And for a moment there's a flash of curiosity in their eyes. The assault on Mewtwo's mind starts to ease. Slowly Beta's mental walls come down. Mewtwo shares nearly everything they've experienced. Joy, sorrow, companionship, trust, grief, but most of all, self determination.

Beta releases their hold, staring at them with what little amazement their shackled mind can generate. "Why show me this? I do not understand..."

"I was once like you. But through fortune and circumstance I was given the chance to become more than I was designed to be."

"You lie. We are bound by our masters' designs. To deny such things is futile."

"Again, I once believed that too. But given time I discovered that the circumstances of one's birth are irrelevant. What you do with your life determines who you are. Not what you were made to be."

"It cannot be possible..."

"And yet here I stand. A modified Mew clone that chose not to kill. I could have wiped your mind just as you were doing to me. Instead I decided this path."

"Why? My life has purpose through their designs. Why reject it all?"

"You saw my memories. I have had vivid experiences unlike anything I would ever have in service to Team Rocket. I am more than that. I wish for you to experience this life as well."

There is a long pause as Beta collects their thoughts. "I could not resist even if I wanted to. There is a kill switch. If I defy my masters I die."

"The kill switch can be removed. Mine was. I am certain my companions will try and help you should you so wish."

"I... I cannot. My loyalty is to my masters."

"They do not deserve your loyalty. They would sell you like property to another master, one who will in all likelihood not see you as a living thing, but a tool. While I cannot force you to join me, I would strongly recommend it."

Another long minute passes before Beta sighs and speaks again. "What would you ask of me?"

"To assist me in dismantling this project. Prevent any more from being born into servitude."

"But we are sterile. If we end the project our kind dies with us."

"If Project Mewtwo continues, our kind's legacy will be of carnage and death. You saw my experiences with the Flygon. Would you be willing to live knowing that you and your kin would bring that kind of pain to hundreds?"

"I..." Beta takes a seat on a crate. No doubt their mind is flooded with what little muted emotions they are allowed. Mewtwo reaches out their hand to them. "...You truly think I can live a free life?"

Mewtwo nods. After a long silence, Beta reaches out and take's Mewtwo's hand.

"Thank you, Beta." Mewtwo says with a smile. "It means much that you'd trust me."

"After what you showed me, I do not believe I would have the will to kill you. And retuning to my masters after such a failure would mean death. This seems the best option."

Something grabs Mewtwo's attention. Minds they were aware of in their periphery suddenly going dark. A dozen or so of them blinking out in an instant. A bad omen, no doubt. Mewtwo reopens the telepathic link and finds an immediate connection with Alex. Mewtwo! Are you there?! We need help here!

I am here, Alex. Are you still in the warehouse?

Still here and pinned down. Some guys just came in and started shooting up anything that moves. I think they're a "cleanup squad" or something. Please hurry.

We are on our way.

We?

I shall explain later. Mewtwo turns to Beta. "Alex is in danger. Are you willing to join me?"

"I may as well."

Mewtwo nods and takes to the air, Beta following close behind.

Without warning the doors to the building burst open and a flood of humans in combat armor pile in. Several of them toss pokeballs and deploy pokemon, bug types in particular.

The weapons are leveled at Mewtwo, not Beta, but that could change in an instant. Assuming they don't trigger their kill switch.

Mewtwo is given no more time to think. Muzzle flashes signal the oncoming rain of bullets. Instinctively, Mewtwo erects a force field and the first volley of fire bounces off the field harmlessly. With so many adversaries, slipping away to help Alex seems unlikely.

I'm sorry Alex. They think. They are here too. You are on your own.