• Bruce sighed as he looked around his room. A punching bag...oh joy of joys. Bruce was the calmest one there; then again his body didn't really feel that different. He heard a voice...Gunpowder? Yeah, asking about Zero. Bruce tapped his fist on the wall, the rooms far from soundproof.

    "Hey. If it helps, everyone seems to be fine...besides getting used to not being in their old bodies." He said, attempting comfort. Bruce was a loner, preferring battling by himself than worrying about an ally. However, the man was worried about his wife, Bruce could at least understand that.

    "I can't believe Ferrovax did this." Gunpowder said, still angry.

    "Can you blame him, really?" Bruce replied. "I can't condone what he's done, but are you saying you can't understand it at all?"

    "How can you say that, Bruce? Look what he's done. What he caused. We-"

    "Might as well be dead?" Bruce interrupted, "You say that, but really think about it. We might be different, but we're still alive. In a way, it's like we evolved again, be it unnaturally. Personally," he looked at his hand. Five fingers made his hand look...whole; Pen liked to make fists and Bruce always felt awkward. "I like this form better."

    "Better? Bruce, we're abominations. How can we go back to our masters like this? How can we live like this? We're human but...not."

    "Well, I've always known that feeling. Have you seen me, Gunpowder? I was dared to be called a 'humanoid egg group'...humanoid...they called me humanoid when I'm not human...I look like a human but I was always a Pokemon, and treated as such. Besides, did little Ferro have much choice in the matter?"

    "Choice? He always had a choice. We were going to rescue him, Bruce."

    "Rescue him from what, Gunpowder? Living? You and I both know that once we brought him back he would be back to the chopping block, counting the days until the humans put him down, and we would watch with nothing to say. Yes, you see it as him betraying us and in a way it is, but for him, he was betrayed. What else could we do? We're Pokemon, we're not human, and thus we can't have a choice with their rules." Bruce noticed the silence from Gunpowder's side, now he was listening intently.

    "Can you tell me you never wondered what it would be like? Being human? I do every night. Think about it, we get captured and put into fights; but do humans ever fight for us? Imagine, actually living with them, being a human with all the benefits. Even your name, all our names, all humans have names, but what about us? We were given names when we were captured. You were named after tea; a beverage. Before that you were male Nidoran, and I was Sawk, like every other Pokemon in the wild. Musashi? He was a prize in a casino, like a stuffed toy. We were all lucky we got caring masters, and while Pen pushed us it was all because he knew we could be the best, and we were. In the end, when we do wrong, like little Ferro did, we get no trial. No trial, no jury, and while we're considered friends and pseudo family for humans they won't even build a prison building for us. Team Rocket cut off Slowpoke tails, maiming them for profit and they get to be in a cell. CT goes wild and injures a Pokemon in a battle and they decide to kill him. It's not fair and you know it, we all knew it. We did nothing about it, we accepted his fate." Again Bruce only heard the silence of Gunpowder's listening. One thing you could give the old one, he listened.

    "Here's one more thing to think about. You and your wife. You stood on two legs, she on four. An Absol and a Nidoking, but now you're human, both of you are. You're for once the very same type of being. You can experience the kind of romance humans do. You can hold hands, hug and cuddle..." he said.



    In the center lab, Blackstone stared at Porter. Porter was stammering again, Blackstone sighed. Porter was such a green fool, always questioning. Science wasn't about whys and spineless 'morals'. It was about risks, pushing limits to advance knowledge, and damn the consequences.

    "This is wrong doctor, this was all so forced. Of course they're going wild. They were kidnapped. This makes us no better than Team Rocket or any other criminals." Ah Team Rocket, Blackstone thought, those scientists knew what they were doing. "We have to change them back. I said we should only take volunteers, that's why we went to those two, thinking they would volunteer and-"

    Blackstone calmly shut him up with the palm of his hand across his face. "Porter, you are not looking at the big picture. You're a scientist aren't you?" he said, having no emotional inflection in his voice. "You're being far too small minded, too closed up. Think of the advancements, Porter; we made Pokemon into something far greater than they used to be. They're human, and yet still Pokemon, we achieved a new stage in Pokemon evolution. Not only will they change, but they will change into humans, soon they'll be ready to interface with other humans. What if they breed with humans? Think Porter, we could be starting not only a new stage in Pokemon, but the next stage in human evolution. These subjects are the key, we can't think about every child's feelings if we want to break any ground. Now, check on the others while I finish the paperwork."




    Gunpowder listened. It was all he could do. Maybe Bruce was right. He couldn't blame Ferrovax, for what he did. No matter what happened, they didn't have a say, in the matter. He sighed. Bruce was right. What happened at the League...he had every right, to feel betrayed. He listened even more, as Bruce went on.

    Now he felt like a jerk. If only he could speak with CT. That's what everybody seemed to be calling him, now. They must not know his real name. Everything Bruce said. All of it. He made very valid points. It didn't excuse what CT did, but he understood why. And then...Zero. Now that really made him reconsider. Nidoking and Absol were in the same egg group, but that didn't make things any less awkward. He sighed. "Thank you." he said, quietly. "What you said....you're right. That doesn't excuse what he did to us, though. There were plenty of humans willing to fight, for us. I know our master. She was doing what she thought was best, not out of hate or anger."

    "What happens, it isn't fair. Sometimes life can be cruel, but think of how the humans feel. Not all of them are so cold-hearted. When we hurt, they hurt. Some can be abusive, but others fight for us. And I know my master would. She has always fought for me. That's how we met, and I gladly returned the favor. She didn't want to keep CT locked away, in a tiny ball. Human prisons at least allow room, to move. Think about when you're inside a Poke Ball. Now imagine staying inside it, forever. That, to me, is a fate worse than death. She knew that, too. What else was there, to do?" he sighed, leaning against the wall.

    "While true, this could be an improvement...how can we face our masters? What will we do, with our lives? Will we stay here, forever? Will we jump right into human society? How will they view us? What about CT? He's dangerous, Bruce. Think about what more he's capable of. What you said...he truly believes he's doing the right thing. That is the most dangerous kind of villain. And he's free to roam wherever he pleases. Think about the chaos he could cause. He's already hurt people. He's killed. What's stopping him, from doing it again?

    "You may see it as an improvement, but it isn't natural. This isn't us." he exhaled, deeply, and rubbed his hand across his forehead. "I can't live like this."



    Porter sighed. Breed with humans? Next stage of human evolution? He didn't sign up, for any of this. They were only supposed to test a couple of Pokemon, not steal them and force them to change. He turned back, to face Blackstone; "Oh, the Nidoking wanted to talk with you. Something about CT."

    "What about him?"

    "I'm not sure."

    "Let the two of them talk, then. I'm sure they can work things out." Blackstone waved him off, and went back to his paperwork.


    Blackstone remained silent. The Nidoking was demanding to talk to CT, hm? Was there going to be a fight? Ever since that Scyther was about to attack he was curious how the Pokemon battles would work. Also, their interactions could be...interesting. He turned on the cameras for the Nidoking's area.

    Bruce sighed.

    "I know, Gunpowder. The kid's a loose cannon. That's why he needs someone to keep him in line. That's why I'm gonna stay. I know my master will miss me, miss all of us. I don't know how we can return to anything, but the best thing for me to do is look forward." he said.

    "If he goes mad, I'm one of the only people here who can take him down."

    Clementine finally woke up, a mere infant with a bushy Furret tail. She looked around a room that made her...comfortable? It felt strange though, she had a nagging feeling something very important was missing..some..one? She started calling out with her voice, feelings of loneliness overwhelming her.


    "That's why I need to talk to him. And to Blackstone. He's still in a state where he can be reasoned with. He can be stopped, before he goes off."

    Blackstone watched and listened. If the Nidoking wanted to talk with CT, let him. If a battle started, that simply meant he could learn more about what they're capable of. He flicked on the camera, for CT's room. He wasn't in it. Sure, he had more freedom than the others, but he still had limits.

    "Porter." Porter's headset clicked. "The Hydreigon is not in his room. Find him." Blackstone stated. "Sure thing, Boss." Porter sighed. It's not like the underground lab was gigantic, or anything. Surely there wasn't a labyrinth of hallways to explore. Might as well start, here. He trudged through the hallway, checking the cameras on the other Pokemons' rooms.


    "We tried reasoning with the kid before, Gunpowder, and look where we are now." Bruce sighed.
    "But hey it's your time, use it as you wish. I think I'll bide some time showin them it was a bad idea to give me a stupid punching bag." he stood up and walked to the punching bag and hit it with a powerful karate chop attack, the bag bursting in two.

    "Hey...maybe I could make a living among humans as the next Chuck Norris or somethin."

    Clem crawled around the room, forcing her voice to make more noise, her eyes barely open as she became desperate for company.


    Porter checked the monitors, on each room. The Lucario was still sleeping. As was a Garchomp, Nincada, and Audino. That Garchomp was huge. Best stay out of his way, when he wakes up.

    Then he passed by little Clementine's room. She was awake. Porter stopped his search. It could wait. The door to the room slid open, and he knelt beside Clem. "Hey." he said, smiling at her. "Hey, there. Finally decide to wake up, did we?"


    Clementine felt someone's body heat, heard a voice. She let out a mewling sound and crawled towards it, snuggling close to the warmth of someone else. She felt safer now, no longer alone.

    Musashi woke up as well, growling. They dared put him in some bug happy environment? Like that would settle things!? He was still angry. CT, that traitor! He started shouting out of the door.

    "Let me out you bastards!! I'll kill him! I'll take you all down you monsters! Change me back! Let me go back to my master! All of us!!" he shouted. Even Clementine. What did they do to her? She looked like a mere infant last he saw her, he had to help her.

    Blackstone saw Porter on the monitor.

    "Porter, our friend seems to be in the other room, I'm detecting two heartbeats in the neighboring room, go fetch him while you're tending to the Furret." he said into his ear piece.


    Porter sighed. "Yes, sir." He scooped up little Clem. He couldn't leave her. She was just a child. "Come on, now. You'll come with me." He carried her out the door, and into the hallway. He clicked on the outside monitor, for the Gliscor's room. Sure enough, CT was there.

    Porter coughed, and knocked on the door, waking him up. "Hey, uh...CT...Dr. Blackstone told me to get you. That Nidoking wants to speak with you." CT grumbled something impolite, and stumbled out of bed. "Why?"

    "Not sure. You know, you're, ah...not allowed to be in the other rooms."

    "Bite me." CT snarled, grabbing his shirt, and heading toward the door. Lash mumbled something, still apparently asleep. He didn't want to wake her. He slipped out of her room, as quietly as possible. "I don't want to talk to him." he growled, heading down the hallway.

    "He insists. And so does Dr. Blackstone." Porter said, following the ex-dragon. "I'm not talking with him. They betrayed me. They all did. There's nothing to say." CT said, continuing toward his own room.

    "Maybe that's what he wants to talk about. I don't know. I'm not asking for you to sit down and have a cup of tea, with him. Just to see what he wants."

    CT paused, and sighed heavily. "Very well. Ten minutes. No longer."

    Porter nodded. "I'll let him know."