CHAPTER 37: DIRE DISCOVERIES

In the days that followed Neva tried to be as subtle as she could with her questions. However, she found that all she truly received as an answer was a warning look and some very vague statements. Mewtwo it seemed, desired only to skirt the subject, for reasons she couldn't begin to ponder. This not only made her grow dearly frustrated, but even more curious. True, she'd kept her own secrets from him…the fact that she'd murdered pokémon under orders. Plus, the fact that she happened to feel attracted to him in many more ways than one. But he seemed to be hiding far more than she. And considering that they were possibly the only members of their kind, she couldn't see the justification in this.

Soon she realized though that despite how her questions seemed to be wearing him down, Mewtwo was not going to talk. In well-concealed anger, she decided it best to leave it alone for a while. Surely, Mewtwo would speak about his past, once he felt comfortable with it? Surely, whatever he had to hide couldn't be so terrible?

At the same time as her struggles though, she also began to find the pull to go out and see the world growing stronger. The only thing that seemed to hold her back was Mewtwo himself. Whether because she was growing more and more attached to him, or simply because he didn't seem to like the idea of her departing, Neva wasn't certain. She didn't want to leave him though, case and point. The idea sometimes made her ache, and more often than not, she would be kept awake by the feeling that she was being pulled apart.

In her free time though, she made a list of things she'd wanted to see. The aurora and the Ruins of Alph, were two spectacles among a few. The first was a definite draw. And as time went on, reasons to remain in the city were growing short. She knew well, how to defend herself. Even though she'd had a momentary lapse when concerning bullets, her skills had only improved through practice and sparring with her companion. Where she'd previously been low in level, she was quickly rising to the point of being Mewtwo's rival, something that unnerved him sometimes.

And if psychical force wasn't enough, she had her physical strength to rely on…like Mewtwo, she visited the gym on the first floor a number of times per week.

It was going to one such visit that Neva stopped by the second story door, gazing at it in question. While she had promised Mewtwo that she wouldn't go into the room inside, she was certain that his secrets lay beyond that door. She felt the tug of curiosity begin to grow, almost feeling a magnetic pull. Mewtwo was gone, on surveillance. He'd be gone for another few hours yet…maybe just a peek wouldn't hurt anything. He'd never know…

Completely disregarding the phrase, 'curiosity killed the cat', her hand slowly reached for the doorknob, twisting it open. It was unlocked… She stepped inside the dark room, seeing vague outlines of various sorts all around her. Her light flipped on the switch beside the doorframe, closing the door behind her at the same time. Her eyes widened, as she looked around a room as vast as the gym right below. Wall to wall were bookcases full of their namesakes, the walls on each side nearly completely covered. It was…a library. Mewtwo was hiding from her a room of books. But why? She saw no connections to him, the documents of various sorts. Some of the paperbacks were fiction, as were a number of others. This just seemed to be a collection of certain works by certain authors, none of them seeming to be related.

As she made her way to the back of the room though, she finally found something that might make this room a bane to her, when concerning how Mewtwo thought. A large, supercomputer, somewhat alike to what Mewtwo had upstairs. She sat down in the large, cushioned chair in front of the screen, looking for the controls. There seemed to be none…

Suddenly, as she wished inwardly that the computer would turn on, it did so. In her immediate confusion, she managed to grasp the concept. The machine was controlled by thoughts…something far easier than a mouse and keyboard for the large fingers that Mewtwo, and herself, had. A monotonous, feminine voice distinctly asked then for a password. Neva paused. She had no idea what Mewtwo would use…perhaps a name? Surely not his own…that would be far too simple. And Lila's couldn't be it…he would certainly not want a reminder of her like that. She tried her name then, only to see it incorrect. Trying her full name, she again did not receive access. Well, why would Mewtwo use her name? That seemed unlike him in ways…sentimental.

But what else could it be, but a name? She knew of nothing else that would interest Mewtwo to such an extent that he would use it as a password. Moonwalker then, perhaps? Wasn't that what he was also called? As she somewhat expected, since Mewtwo didn't seem conceited, she was again denied. She wondered, almost bored, if the computer locked after a certain number of tries. She wouldn't put it past Mewtwo. Out loud, she wondered what Morgan would do.

Instantly, the computer said "access granted". Neva sat up, blinking in surprise. The password was…her sister's name? She wasn't sure how she felt about that. Did Mewtwo…like Morgan, even after her death? He'd certainly looked at her as though he was interested…the thought still made Neva a bit…irritated to put it lightly. That had been perhaps the one occasion where she'd been jealous of her sister…since it had been apparent Mewtwo's attention was only upon the sapphire feline. If Morgan…if Morgan had survived…she would likely be sharing Mewtwo's bed right now… The thought made her feel sick, not only because the thought of the violet male mating with anyone was unpleasant, but also because for the first time, she felt a bit bitter towards Morgan after she'd perished… She missed her sister terribly…so much that she sometimes cried herself to sleep some nights. To be angry with her, after she'd sacrificed herself for Neva's sake…guilt was too light of word.

However, now that she had the okay to look around of the computer, she gazed at the various files with interest. There were a number of them…'Pre-Birth' (?), 'Post-Awakening', the 'New Island Incident', 'Mt. Quena', 'Kirya and Shaddra' (?)…and a file named 'Neva and Morgan'. The female Mewtwo didn't know which to choose. More than anything she desired to read about what Mewtwo thought of her, and her twin. But how much time did she have, before Mewtwo came back? She reluctantly started at the first file, beginning to read…

In the next couple of hours that passed, Neva learned everything that Mewtwo had tried so dearly to keep from her. Of his being created by humans (whom he, much to Neva's unsettlement, killed in cold blood), Amber and her companions (this nearly brought tears to her eyes), his training under Giovanni (Neva, even in her shock, couldn't help but curse at the man), Mewtwo's attempt to counterstrike humanity and pokémon both…by destroying everything. It took a moment for the latter to sink into Neva's mind. He'd tried to kill everyone…he'd wanted to control the world… It seemed highly unlike the Mewtwo she knew, and cared so much for.

But, this was an autobiography. It had happened…and it was only because of an act from a selfless child that he hadn't succeeded, that he hadn't changed…

Neva desired to hurl right then, but forced herself to continue reading. She read how Mewtwo had created other pokémon clones, to live in the new world he'd formed, the battle that raged afterwards. Then, as his heart had been opened, how he, with Mew, decided to search for a place where he and the others could live in peace, wiping the minds of those who'd witnessed the struggle. Eventually, they'd come to Mt. Quena, where they would later be attacked by the same person who'd ordered Mewtwo's creation. Giovanni had very nearly killed Mewtwo…the only reason he was still alive was because the same children that had helped him before, on New Island, had come to his aid.

Neva recalled then his comment about how the spring water had healed him…another thing that fell into place. Reading on, she learned about how he'd rescued a little girl and her pokémon in the very city he lived in, returning the two home (there was a vague reference to the creature Missingno, but she didn't look into it). It was that occurrence, which changed him into the defender she knew him to be…

She was just about to start on the file about herself and Morgan, when she heard a noise that made her freeze. The second story entrance opening! She quickly logged out of the computer, rising from her seat. Only a few steps away from the spot however, did Mewtwo turn out of the bookshelves and come into view. For a moment he simply stared, Neva frozen to the spot. She was caught… Then, she watched with growing dismay as Mewtwo face contorted with fury.

(What are you doing here?! I believe I told you never to come here!) He shouted, crossing the few steps between them, towering over her.

Neva refused to cower from him, (I don't see why. All you have here is books!) A true statement, but she wondered if she could get away without him knowing her invasion into the files of his past.

Mewtwo eyes flickered to the computer behind her, his eyes coming back to her in a second. He suddenly swept past her, the computer turning on with his command. Whether he didn't need to say the password aloud as she had, or because his voice could be recognized, the regular screen with all the files came on. Neva watched, her palms sweating, as he summoned up a program she hadn't spotted before. One that told when the computer had been last logged on. There, the second to the top of the list, was the time that Neva had "hacked in", the time logged off only about a minute before the next entry. Neva felt as though she couldn't breathe…oh dear god…

For a moment, Mewtwo stood staring at the screen, as though processing the simple fact that Neva had been on his computer for a few hours. From what the program said, she'd logged onto every file…save the one about herself and her sister. Mewtwo didn't know whether to be relieved or not at the latter fact. But still, as it fully sunk in, he bristled, spinning around to face Neva. She had lied...broken her word NOT to go in here! And now-and now she knew…everything!

(Mewtwo-) Neva began to explain.

(How could you do this?! How could you deliberately go and pry into things that aren't of your concern?!) He yelled angrily, each of his words seeming to be blows against Neva's fine form.

In response to this, Neva's own harsh temper flared, (You didn't give me any choice! You wouldn't fill me in on a thing about you, no matter how much I asked! How was I supposed to react?!)

(You could have just let it be…you had no right, no matter how foolishly interested you might have been, to invade my privacy-)

Neva quickly interrupted him, (Excuse me, but do you honestly think it's all right to keep something like your past a secret from me? I've told you everything about myself; you should have returned the fav-)

(Neva, I know you've been keeping something from me! You aren't as skilled as you wish to believe when it comes to hiding something. I am just as much entitled to my secrets as you are!) He shouted back.

(…That may be so. But you didn't have a right, to keep the fact that you were created just as I was, from me. I might have understood you hiding the part about you trying to wipe out pretty much all life on the planet…shame will make you silent. But not that…not how you're a clone. And the rest as well, wasn't something you needed to keep from me. You shouldn't have held that back…) Neva said, far more quietly, her anger still being present however.

Mewtwo as well, stopped shouting, (I didn't know how you'd react-)

Hearing this, Neva's fury suddenly flared to life again, her mind on overdrive, (What, did you think I couldn't take it? Did you think that just because those human stuck a microchip in my brain, that I had to kill countless innocent creatures because of it, that I was unstable? That I'd go crazy, learning that? You're an idiot…) she hissed.

Mewtwo, needing to answer fast, did not have the choice to absorb Neva's nearly final secret, the fact being saved for later, (No, that's not it at all. Neva? Neva, where do you think you're going?)

The rosy feline began to walk away from him, (To go throw myself off a skyscraper.) she told him sarcastically, feeling thoroughly bitter and capable of doing it, even though she wouldn't.

Mewtwo suddenly grabbed her wrist, (Don't you dare hurt yourself! I promised Morgan I wouldn't let any harm come to you!)

This information was too much for Neva to bear, on top of everything else. Finding out everything that'd happened to Mewtwo in the past, whom he'd been, getting into this fight…and now this. Was that why Mewtwo had let her stay with him? So he could keep an eye on her, take care of her? Was he just playing the role as friend, instead actually being some unneeded guardian? All because he had sworn to her sister, that he would? Was that all she was to him?

Some creature that needed his protection? It was the final thing, which seemed to break her.

(So you're just doing all of this…providing me with what I need to keep on living…for her? You're simply keeping your word to the female you happened to find yourself dearly attracted to, even though she's gone…) Neva stated quietly, tears springing to her eyes at that, even though Mewtwo couldn't see because they were tightly shut.

Mewtwo blinked in surprise at these ideals. That-that was not the case! (What? Neva-)

Suddenly Neva opened her eyes, turning on him, and dealt him a stinging slap on the face, the noise of it like a thunderclap.

(Well if that's the case then I won't burden you anymore!) She cried, angry tears filling her eyes.

She hastily ripped herself from Mewtwo, leaving him in shock and confusion.

Mewtwo wasn't certain how long he stood there. He remembered bringing his paw up to his cheek, the burning sensation where Neva had hit him still paining him. By the time he came to his senses and following Neva upstairs though, he was too late to stop her. Checking in her room first, he saw that one of the cloaks she had worn was gone, as were a few various items that could have fit in its pockets. The rest of Neva's things, the jar of various shells and petals, some small glass trinkets, and a blue blanket that reminded her of her sister, among some things, remained. Sensing around the entire building, and then the city, he found he couldn't sense her whereabouts anywhere. He quickly went outside, hoping upon some miracle that he might spot her retreating form in the darkening sky. However, it soon became clear to Mewtwo that Neva…was gone.

(What have I done?) He whispered aloud to himself, barely to be heard above the cold autumn wind…