The New Normal – 13-10 – Interlude – Team Galactic
(Mars POV)
Mars walked up to their leader, who was standing as tall and as unyielding as he always was. Despite the many setbacks that they had suffered and the arrests of many of their faithful, it heartened her to see that her boss was still as driven as ever. His heart never wavered, even amidst all those sacrifices, and remained laser-focused in pursuit of their goal.
They needed to rely on his strength more than ever in times like these, especially since her heart mourned for all the believers that they had lost in order to capture the Lake Guardians. She knew that such a sacrifice was necessary, but she that didn't make the decision any easier.
At least they got rid of that annoyance, Proton. She admitted that the man had fought competently for their cause, but it was obvious for everyone to see that he was never a true believer. His lack of faith could only have led to this downfall, and Mars did not feel an inch of regret as she left him behind while she escaped with the Lake Guardian.
She discarded any thought of that uncivilised brute as she felt Cyrus turn his exquisite attention towards her.
"Boss, the scientists have made great strides with the Lake Guardians. Ahead of schedule." She informed him, "A prototype for the Red Chain is currently being finalised."
Despite her optimistic words, they both knew that time was quickly running out. They couldn't stay hidden from the authorities forever, and only a few scientists remained amidst the scraps that they had left. With so little time available to them, they were forced to scramble and piece together a makeshift model of their theorised Red Chain instead of a fully completed model that they hoped for. And with all prototypes, she was worried that it wouldn't be able to control the Legendaries as they first theorised it might.
Worse, if the authorities ever caught wind of this location, they were never going to be able to extract the Lake Guardians away in time to continue their work. Not only that, but they were also pretty much out of secret bases to hide in. This facility was the last high-tech facility with the necessary equipment required to forge the Red Chain.
The authorities had been annoyingly competent at digging them out.
As if reading her mind, Cyrus comforted her, "If you're concerned about relying on a prototype, do not be. Our cause is true and just, and the scientists working for us have all devoted themselves fully to our grand cause. Trust in their work, for they understand the gravity of what they are working on."
"Do not forget that Arceus' light blesses our path, for we are doing their work in their stead. Correcting the world in their place." He continued with a calm smile, lightly placing his hand on her shoulder, "Hold to your faith, for we are nearing the end of our journey. Your struggles and your unwavering loyalty will be duly rewarded. As it has already been promised. Once you are relaxing in the utopia that you helped to forge, you will think of these trying times as nothing more than a fond memory. A memoir to the struggles that you endured to forge paradise."
She bowed deeply, his words helping to lift the weight off of her shoulders, "My thanks, Cyrus. Is there anything else you need from us?"
"Only that you continue to work hard." He smiled gently, like he always did, "Please give the scientists my best. We might be on a tight schedule, but I have faith they will be able to accomplish this task. Righteousness will motivate them."
She nodded, and he turned away from her, "Now, if you'd excuse me, I have to speak to Saturn. Please call him in."
She went and did so, her heart already lightening from her talks with Cyrus. Yes, she told herself. They were on the right path.
True paradise awaited them all.
(Proton POV)
He never expected to have ended up like this. He had always seen himself as someone who was above the common rabble of criminals, above their stupidity that always led them to be put behind bars. He knew that he had the street smarts and cunning to slip away from the authorities, as he had done time and time again. He knew that he had the skills to avoid arrest.
But of course, the moment he had saddled himself with those fanatical idiots, he had doomed himself to the fate of the other stupid grunts.
Their idiocy led him down this path.
Prison was horrible. There was absolutely nothing to do. He didn't know how long it had been since they threw him in here, but every moment passed by in agonising boredom. His fingers were starting to twitch erratically as he slowly lost his mind from the endless monotony.
He knew this wasn't the norm. From the stories that he had heard from fellow criminals who had been released out of jail, he knew that this level of restriction wasn't usual. But the Sinnoh Police practically never allowed him out of his cell, no matter how much he tried to persuade or goad them.
There was no privacy, no anything. Just eternal confinement.
The only time he had even managed to hold a conversation were with those same idiotic grunts that got him into this mess in the first place, and that was while they were still being held for processing. What was worse was that those grunts seemed to think that being arrested was somehow an 'honour', as if they had 'sacrificed' themselves for a great cause.
"Our leader will reward us for our devotion!" One of those fanatics practically yelled at him when he had asked, "Our salvation will come! Believe in it, Proton!"
Like he'd believe that. No, Cyrus had simply used them as disposable pawns and thrown them away, and they were too blind to see it.
Well, he wouldn't let himself be thrown away just like that. Once the opportunity arose and he managed to break out of this cage, he'd show Cyrus why it was such a bad idea to betray him and turn his former boss into the corpse he already was.
Despite these thoughts, he knew the worst was yet to come. He knew that the Sinnoh League would be coming around to perform their psychic interrogations as they looked to extract everything from his mind. He knew the risks involved if you tried to fight against it, not that he would.
Now that he was in jail, he would happily sell out Cyrus and his secrets. His mind would be an open door for them. He wasn't going to risk brain damage for a fool like Cyrus.
And so, when it came for the day of his psychic interrogation, he managed to remain calm. He didn't fight it when they roughly strapped him in onto a metal table, nor when they locked down his limbs with metallic clamps.
The process was likely going to be painful, but if he didn't resist, then it shouldn't be so bad.
However, as the psychic interrogation began, and he felt the sudden wave of psychic pressure slam into him, he was starting to doubt his initial expectations about how painful the process would be. He felt his mind being twisted and squished as he felt his every thought being ripped out from his mind. The pain was so intense that he let out a loud scream, but that only seemed to make the pressure worse.
He tried to shut his eyes, but they refused to close as they were forcefully held open. He tried to look away, but his eyes refused to obey as his pained screams echoed throughout the soundproofed chamber.
He shouted himself hoarse as he pleaded for help, he pleaded for them to stop, he pleaded for mercy, but his cries all fell on deaf ears as the psychic energy suddenly intensified, and all he was met with was darkness.
A.N. And that's the end of Proton. At the end of the day, he was nothing more than a disposable pawn, the same one that he mocks the other grunts for being. But in his arrogance, he was too blind to notice that until it was far too late. He overrated himself and was punished by it. Furthermore, as a nominal leader of one of the operations to capture the Lake Guardians, the Sinnoh League aren't going to be merciful when it came to the psychic interrogation. They were very thorough.
In a roundabout way, even as the writer I'm a little sad to see Proton go. He's an awful person, but writing his POV allowed me to provide a unique perspective on Team Galactic rather than the fanaticism that you would expect from someone like Mars. But with the big battle coming, his POV is no longer necessary, so I felt this was a good way to end off his character. Hope you enjoyed!#
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