Chapter #3: Half an hour later, the pair settled into a secluded booth at a local pizza parlor. As he looked on, Alan felt certain that Alice was his best bet for making sure the most critical phase of his plan happened without a hitch. After all, she was closer to the specimen than anyone else was. He waited to bring the subject up, however, until they’d already ordered. They sat across from one another in a small booth, Alice tried to enjoy herself as the waiter brought out a large pepperoni pizza and breadsticks. “They beat her good today, didn’t they?” Alan remarked suddenly. He said it as a statement, not a question, but Alice nodded anyway before picking at a gooey slice of pizza. “Yeah, it was pretty bad.” she replied. Alan leaned back in his seat as the young woman sat toying with her napkin. Seizing the opportunity, he took a moment to look her over. With her long blonde hair, and brown eyes, Alan vaguely wondered what made a pretty girl like her go into science as a career. “She talks to you, doesn’t she?” he suddenly asked. Alice looked up startled. “I look in sometimes, and see you having conversations.” He paused a moment, giving her a chance to think things over. “You’re probably the only person in the whole lab she actually likes.” “I wouldn’t say 'like'.” Alice replied. Alan suddenly leaned forward. “It’s a shame, though,” he started carefully, making sure to meet her eyes “...that Cipher thinks it can use a creature like that. I say something should be done about it.” Alice stared at him. “Like what?” she asked. The pair began to converse in more detail on the subject. *************** Later that night, Alice's mind was racing as she lay awake in bed. “It’s up to you.” Alan had said. “You can help save her. Even the smallest gesture could be significant...” She went in later the next day, so she wouldn’t have to sit and wait as long. When they finally ushered the pokémon into her enclosure after training, Alice picked up the first aid kit and headed for the door. She hesitated a moment before stepping inside, and waited for the door to shut before speaking. “Hey, there Aerith.” The pokémon, which was curled into a ball again, raised her head. “Aerith?” “Yeah... Aerith... it’s going to be your name now. A special name, just between us, okay?” The pokémon seemed to mull it over for a moment before speaking. “Two.” she finally whispered. “Pardon?” “You forgot the two. I’m a two, remember?” Alice hesitated a moment, then nodded. “Very well, Aerithtwo. We’ll do it your way. Now why don’t you uncurl a bit, and I’ll clean those cuts up.” *************** Aerithtwo seemed to make some progress after receiving her name. At least, she was no longer angry or willful towards Alice. She actually started to warm up to the human a bit. She no longer seemed so wary of the assistant, and at times actually seemed interested in what she had to say. Although she'd never called Alice by name. She wasn’t that comfortable with her yet. But the pokémon now made eye contact when spoken to. It was a welcome change from the sullen, distant attitude the creature had displayed in the beginning, anyway. A week after the naming, as Alice came to think of it, she left work to find Alan once again waiting for her. He nodded to her and asked what she felt like eating, and they went out again. It startled her a bit when he offered her his arm as they walked down the street, but she understood the purpose behind it. After all, if anyone saw them, they’d just assume it was a young couple on a date. The pair walked to town chatting about this and that, not actually bringing up the pokémon until they’d settled into a secluded booth at a local Chinese restaurant and started eating. "She’s still not training well, is she?" “She’s not training at all. She still refuses to listen.” Alice replied “You need to work on that.” Alan said as he took a sip of his soda. “She’ll never be able to function if she can’t use her abilities.” he continued. “And how exactly should I go about doing that?” Alice asked. “Just issue the challenge. Make her wonder what she’s capable of, Just don’t be too direct. If you’re too direct, we’re all potently screwed.” Alan replied with a smirk. Alice rolled her eyes at him. Honestly, the man made it sound so easy. Apparently, to him it was. “That's easy for you to say, you’re not stuck cleaning her up every day.” she retorted. Alan chuckled at her over his wonton. With a sigh, Alice took a bite of her sweet and sour pork. Something had been bothering her for a while now, and she couldn’t help it anymore. She had to ask. “Alan... why do they do that to her? If she’s really so powerful, won’t it make her want to use her power to hurt them?” “That’s the million dollar question, isn’t it?” Alan replied. “Alice, have you ever been to the circus?” he asked suddenly. “What?" Alice asked confused. “The circus. Have you ever been to one?” “Once when I was a little girl, why?” “Do you remember the Donphan?” Alice wasn’t sure where he was going with this, so she just nodded; twirling some chow mien around her chopsticks. Alan meanwhile, began explaining about how young Phanpy were trained for the circus. Alan took another drink before continuing his lecture. Alice meanwhile, shook her head, wondering what he was getting at. After a few more minutes of listening, she held her hand up, silencing him. “Why are you telling me all this?” she asked. “Well, that’s how Mitsuki operates. Only she doesn’t use a little green cord. She uses a whip. If you teach a pokémon to obey the whip early on, teach it that you can hurt it, then it’ll obey you out of fear.” he answered, smiling grimly. “Or so she sees it. Mitsuki thinks it’s more important to break a pokémon rather than to work with it as an equal.” Alice nodded. “”And that’s where you come in.” Alan said after a pause. Alice raised an eyebrow. “You’re the anti-Mitsuki. It’s your job to make sure that Aerithtwo doesn't break.” *************** As it turned out, training several days later was the worst yet. Aerithtwo had not only refused to train, but she'd lashed out at one of Mitsuki’s assistants. The tail blow hadn’t broken the man’s back as Alice had first thought, but it had cracked several of his ribs. Alice set up the first aid kit and started to examine the bloody gash over the pokémon’s nose. “You know, there are more effective ways you could’ve handled yourself in there.” “Don’t care. This felt better.” The pokémon was actually sitting up for a change. She had her eyes crossed to watch what the scientist was doing to her nose, her tail twitching irritably as Alice dabbed at the cut with hydrogen peroxide. “That burns.” the pokémon whined. “It burns because it’s cleaning the wound.” Alice explained. The young woman fell silent, as she contemplated something, and didn’t look up from what she was doing. “Aerith, don’t you ever wonder why they’re pushing you so hard?” she asked suddenly. “Because they’re jerks!” Alice merely shrugged. “Perhaps. Or maybe they see you as being more than you are now.” And edgy silence was her only response. “You know, I'm sure you could be really powerful if you tried.” “What for?” “Well...” Alice began, actually having to give it some thought. She’d had something planned to say, but it seemed to have suddenly left her. “I know I’m getting kind of curious as to what you can do myself.” she answered. She then sponged some more peroxide onto the wound, and Aerithtwo winced a little. “Did you know that some pokémon can actually heal their own wounds with psychic power?” “Really?” The pokémon uncrossed her eyes to look directly at Alice, slightly interested now. “How?” “Well, I don’t know for sure. It’s a technique called Recover, and it probably takes a lot more power than you have now.” Alice replied. “You’d have to work hard and train seriously if you ever hoped to learn it.” she continued. Aerithtwo started to look disinterested again, so Alice went out on a limb. “Think of how nice it would be if we didn’t have to go through this every day. Besides, I hate the smell of peroxide.” The woman nodded her head, satisfied. “Okay, now let’s see the shoulder.” she declared. “Aww... do you have to?” Aerith protested. “'Fraid so, kiddo. Come on let's go.” Alice responded with a smirk. With a groan, the pokémon complied. *************** Even if seeing what her own skills were didn’t appeal to Aerithtwo, the idea of not relying on the human for care did, as Alice was pleased to report when she and Alan sat in a dimly-lit bar a few days later. The pokémon had started responding to the training, intent on learning such a useful technique as Recover. “To be honest, I feel a little sad to think she’s that eager to get rid of me.” Alice admitted, Alan chucked at her. “Don't be. When it comes to preparing Aerithtwo for the outside world, every step counts.” he replied. Alan suddenly leaned forward. “I need to know something.” he said. Alice looked up at him. “When the time comes I need to know if I can trust you.” he went on. “Does this have something to do with Aerith?” she asked. Alan nodded solemnly. “What do you need me to do?” “Well, for the time being, I need you to continue to look after her as you usually do.” Alan replied. Alice nodded. “After I finish tying up some loose ends, I'll need your help in getting her out.” he continued. Silence fell between them briefly before Alice spoke up. “How will I know when it's time?” “Keep an eye on the contents of your mail box.” he replied. “I'll send you a memo through the mail.” Alice nodded again. “If it will help Aerith, count me in!” she declared. Alan nodded at her.