And if that plotbunny won’t sing, Papa’s going to buy you a diamond ring…
Phantomness: ^^
Disclaimer: Don’t own pokemon. It belongs to Nintendo and Shogakukan Comics. This non-profit, non-copyright infringing fanfiction belongs to me! Me!
Notes: <> for telepathy, ** for thoughts, italics if a pokemon talks
Chapter 4
The time spiraled on, one week, two, three, four, before Red regained enough confidence to return to Professor Oak actually, that was not precisely correct.
Red had no choice but to return to Oak. He was the leading authority on pokemon after all, and he could not take Lance to any Pokemon Center. Softboiled could only heal so much…
When the scales had began growing in, five days ago, Red had cut them out, quick, precise strokes, and watched in sickening fascination as Lance’s skin and flesh reformed under the use of Softboiled. No scales.
But now, it seemed that they had cut too far and too much. The scars still remained after all, and his healing was no longer doing any good.
There was nothing more that could be done. He was… evolving… strange. He hadn’t thought it would hurt this much.
He didn’t protest, not even when he bit his lips in pain, as Red picked up the knife with a reckless smile and promised him everything would be all right. He trusted Red. No, it wasn’t the damned conditioning.
Trust and obedience are very different things. He could play the slave as well as any other, but this was different.
It hurt…
“Good lord, Red, what have you done to him!” was Oak’s first response when the ‘pokemon’ was brought into the lab. He supposed it made sense; after all, considering the scars covering his body and the layers of scales… it wasn’t a surprise.
“I didn’t do anything! He’s been turning…”
Even now, the scales were spreading. They weren’t a pretty shimmering blue or white or black or red, or even a rich emerald green like a dragon’s should be. They were a sickly rust color, the color of blood.
Maybe it was blood. He wasn’t sure.
Red looked at Lance with an expression full of remorse. “Those… they started growing in about five days ago. We… got rid of them at first, but then it got too strong for us to control…”
“Got rid of them?”
“I…” Red flushed, his mind apparently making another belated return. “I cut them out.”
Oak didn’t know how far up his eyebrows could rise, but they were definitely setting a record today. “You cut them out?”
Red nodded. “Just a little! They were like shavings, so I scraped them off, and he didn’t really bleed much, and since he knows Softboiled he was healed up right after, and…”
His voice trailed off as guilt broke over his head like a crashing wave.
What had he become?
Lance blinked as he turned to look at Red. “Not Master’s fault.”
Oak slapped his forehead. “Fine. We can discuss this later. First things first. Let me take some samples…”
Several blood and tissue samples later, Oak was running analysis when a chilling fact presented itself. Going through the DNA scan again, he blanched.
This was not good…
“Red?”
“What is it, Professor?”
“I think we’ve found a solution, but it will not be an easy one…”
“I’m listening.”
“The reason you were able to capture Lance in a poke ball is because he has a lot of pokemon DNA in his blood. According to this sample, his father was a pokemon and his mother had a pokemon ancestor several generations back. Several, in fact.”
“… What?”
“It’s inevitable that he would… evolve.” Oak sighed heavily. “Capturing him inside a poke ball simply accelerated the process.”
“I see…”
“So really, he’s technically a pokemon. The best thing to do would be to stabilize him and let the process proceed naturally.”
Red looked at Lance, stunned by the despair in the … pokemon’s eyes. “But…”
“No buts. It’s best for all concerned that we do this.” Oak said seriously.
Well, if the Professor thought it was the best way, then… Oak was a knowledgeable researcher.
But the Professor had made mistakes before, with the brainwashing machine…
“What happens if he becomes fully pokemon?”
Oak shrugged. “We could recondition him of course. There would be no need for him to retain any of his humanity.”
“No!” Red cried. That was too cruel…
“Red, he’d no doubt be happier as a pokemon. Why are you getting so worked up? Also, it’s penance for his sins, in a way.”
Red looked at Lance, shaking his head.
He couldn’t do it.
He could not just hand the other boy over to Professor Oak to study… and make him ‘evolve’…
No matter what things Lance had done, this total subservience was not right! Red stood his ground.
“I can’t let you do this, Professor.”
“Well, you hardly have a choice. He’ll evolve anyways.”
Red looked at Lance. The trainer – former trainer shook his head.
“I’m sorry, but I can’t allow you to do this. Lance is technically my pokemon and my responsibility. I’ll take care of him.”
“I’m afraid you have no choice.” Oak said, pressing a lever. “You aren’t leaving this lab.” Steel doors slammed down around them.
Red paled. “What’s wrong with you, Professor?” Had Team Rocket impersonated the man again?
But no, his Silph Scope was not giving any indication of such.
“This presents an unparalleled research opportunity. It’s for the good of all pokemon, Red.” Oak tried to pacify him.
“For the good of all pokemon maybe, but he’s still my pokemon!”
“True, and that is quite a distressing subject. Still, I’m sure things can be arranged.” There was a brief sound and than Red found himself paralyzed. Thunderwave? But where had the attack come from?
He spotted a familiar shape then, hiding. Pika, his Pikachu…
Why have you betrayed me?
End Chapter
Completed 12/2/05
Yippee, a cliffhanger! *Evil laughter*