Kindness and Cruelty Chapter 6


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It’s been two weeks since we’ve arrived at this farm house. In those two weeks I have learned almost anything I wanted to know and quite a few things I didn’t want to know about humans.

Emily and Brian have a favorite pastime, they both love to either read or watch television. I often find myself with my chin resting on the back of the couch and watching the various programs that they both seem to enjoy. Sometimes Emily will go for walks and I’ll follow, but they mostly stay inside and watch the television. They do at times disagree on what kind of programs to watch. Right now, Brian has control and is watching music videos.

<< Who are they? >> I watch three young males humming an odd tune on the TV and bouncing around like hyperactive Mr.Mimes.

“They’re a band called Hanson, they’re all brothers I guess.” Brian answers me distractedly, like he usually does when he’s watching the TV.

<< I have never seen uglier humans.. and they annoy me. >> I frown at the image of the little children play various instruments. Thankfully the video is soon over and another starts. << Who’s that? >>

“ Her? That’s Britney Spears, she’s one of the hottest singers in the world right now. I think she’s a little hottie.” He grins as he watches the female jiggle around in a skimpy outfit, singing about how oops she did it again. What she did I have no idea.

I shake my head and sigh. << She looks like she could use a good meal.. maybe a few vitamins and some nutrients. Did her parents ever feed her? She seems kind of sickly looking, a bit malnourished. >>

Brian just chuckles and gives Emily, who is reading on the couch next to him a nudge. “Looks like Mewtwo doesn’t appreciate a good artist when he sees one.”

Without even looking up, she responds. “No actually I think he’s got the right idea. He’s not stupid, he knows your taste in music and women suck.” Emily shrieks as she gets a face full of pillow.

I chuckle to myself at their banter and move away from the couch and the television. Moving over to a bookshelf I look at the various titles and find one on various pokemon physiology. I may as well learn something about pokemon while I’m here. I already know about the cloning process and what other thing I’ve managed to pick up from the scientists minds, but I suppose I could always learn more. That and I like to read.

Suddenly Willy’s voice makes everyone jump, even me. “I think ye better turn the tellie to the news Em’ly” He stands in the doorway, looking a bit nervous as he wrings his hat in his hands. “There’s something ye should be see’in.” He glances over in my direction, then without another word he exits the house.

Emily and Brian look at each other, both look a little pale and worried. I can faintly sense their disquiet. Brian fumbles for the remote and turns to the news channel. Normally I find this channel interesting, tonight though it would be something totally different.

“---labs has been rumored to be missing one of their genetic experiments.” Some man in a suit was speaking to us. “ It is rumored that two of the labs scientists have taken the experiment and have gone into hiding, their motives people are speculating are for either ransom or to sell it to another country for a type of war machine. We tried to contact the head scientist a man named Dr. Krandle, but he was unable to be reached for comment. It was said that two doctors named Emily Stranton, who holds a Phd in pokemon therapy and physiology and Brian D’Angelo, who holds a PA in pokemon psychology, have taken a genetic clone of a long extinct pokemon and taken it into hiding. Susan has more on the story with a live feed from the Cinnabar Island labs. Susan?”

A smiling female with dark black hair and a dark complexion grins vacantly on the television. My eyes are riveted to the screen as she begins speaking. “Thank you Steve, I am here with Dr.Usher ; Dr, is there any truth to this rumor? It seems a little farfetched to believe that there is a super powerful pokemon running around with a couple of scientists. If this pokemon does exist does it pose a threat to anyone and should the public be made aware of this?”

” Well, Usher looks about twelve shades of pissed off..” Brian starts to speak up, but Emily silences him with a shhhh.

Usher coughs and looks very nervous, like he was caught walking off with top secret files. He smiles cheesily and responds. “No, there is absolutely no super powered pokemon running amok in the city like some bad Godzilla film miss. I can assure the public that this is just merely a rumor that was started by a rival laboratory to try and bring down our company’s name. You think that our facility would lack in security for a couple of scientists to walk off with lab experiments? No, I’m not sorry to say that our scientists are the most trusted and experienced group ever to be under Dr.Krandles and mine employ. The two scientists that have supposedly have gone missing are on a business trip of the utmost top secrecy. Not even their families know where they’re at. Being in the business of genetics, you would have to understand that these sort of things require some amount of secrecy.” He nods and smiles as if this is the simplest thing in the world

Susan on the other hand looks totally unconvinced. “What about rumors that the Viridian City gym leader, Giovanni is funding some of these projects? That he is also very curious about the whereabouts of this supposed missing super pokemon? He’s been reported to have been seen in this very parking lot at odd hours of the night.” She’s like a predator swooping in for the finish, and Usher is the prey.

Usher coughs and shakes his head. “Giovanni is a respected member of the pokemon community. He holds a high standing in the battle field and also is one of our consultants on the different types of pokemon. His knowledge in how pokemon battle and use various attacks help us find genetic errors in some types of pokemon. Take Psyduck for example; you’d think it was just a stupid duck with low intelligence and no use in a battle. Not true, Giovannis helped us find ways to trigger Psyducks powerful attacks and help other trainers who use psychic pokemon better understand their psyducks better. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ve had a very long day and would like to go home now. Thank you for your concern and time, but I promise that there is no maniacal pokemon trying to take over the world. Thank you.”

Susan tries to ask more questions, but Usher quickly gets in his car (a new red convertible I may add) and drives away. Poor vacant eyed Susan watches Usher drive off and then turns back to the screen. “Well, I guess that answers that Steve, back to you.”

The television switches back to Steve and he starts on the upcoming pokemon league battles; talking about some children and where they stand in the league games. Emily flicks off the TV and we all sit there in the silence for a while. Finally she speaks up.

”Well.. Someone had to have leaked that information to the media. But who? Usher, Krandle and Giovanni all must be furious. Especially Giovanni. He’s not going to like the fact that his name has been dragged on national TV being tied to genetic experiments. No one I know at the lab would be stupid enough to leak that kind of information and I certainly know none of us would either.” She plays with a strand of hair as he speaks.

<< Emily... if the news knows about this, then do you not think that Giovanni and the rest are looking for us? >> I move over by her side and look down at her face. << What will happen if we are caught? >>

Brian snorts. “C’mon guys. We knew this was going to happen, stop acting like it was a huge surprise. I mean think about it. Whoever leaked the information had to know something was up. But I guess that doesn’t matter now, it’s over. We just have to worry about Gio sending his goon squad Team Rocket after us.” He lifts his glass of soda and drinks it down; he may act like he’s not worried, but I can tell that he’s seriously thinking this over. I wish I could read his mind.

“ Huh, Team Rocket is the least of our worries. I’ve seen some of the members and I’d worry more about a kitchen knife attacking me before ever being afraid of Team Rocket.” Emily rubs her temples and looks as if she is in pain. “ We knew what we were getting into when we did this. We can’t call Giovanni now.. not now since Usher and the news are implicating him in this. Giovannis going to have his hands full with the media and trying to smooth things over. Arg.. where did this go wrong?!” She finally looks up at me to answer my question.

”You can bet that Giovannis got all sorts of people looking for us. Probably from the day we were discovered missing. He’s sunk millions of dollars into this project and he’s going to make sure that he gets what he pays for. That’s why I’m hoping that if we do manage to get ahold of him, that he’ll listen to us when we tell him what kind of treatment you were getting in the labs and why we did what we did. I know he’ll be upset to find that Usher and Krandle were using you as a punching bag, and lets not forget the fact that they didn’t feed you as required.”

Brian yawns and stretches as he stands up. “We have one itty bitty, teensie weensie problem.” Both of us look at him expectantly. “We don’t have any physical evidence on what was done to Mewtwo, all the videos are at the lab, which is most likely heavily guarded. That’s even if Usher or Krandle haven’t erased them. It’s basically our word against his. Even with Mewtwos testimony who’s going to believe him? Most people view pokemon as stupid animals. But anyway, I am going for an evening stroll and then a shower. Then I’ll probably make some granola mix and head to bed.” Brian scoops up something off the table as he makes his way out. Emily and I just look at each other and shrug.

"Sometimes I wonder about him.." Emilys eyes turn towards the door that Brian just walked out of. "I'm sure he's missing his family and girlfriend. Poor guy, I shouldn't have asked him to help me."

I yawn, suddenly feeling very sleepy. I had been feeling sleepy since after Brian had fed me dinner. Macaroni and cheese. << I think I'll sleep now Emily.. I feel tired. >>

Emily nods and goes back to her book as I lie down on my mat. Soon I'm fast asleep, and I dream.

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I'm in an arena. There are children facing me.. five children.. with small pokemon, inferior pokemon.. I have my own pokemon by my side.. I speak to them, telling them they and their pokemon are inferior.. worthless.. a child runs at me and I laugh.. throwing him into the air with my telekinesis..

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I wake with a start and sit up. I look around the dark living room and rub my eyes. What kind of dream was that? Why would I even dream such a thing? None of the faces in my dreams looked familiar. I haven't even been around many children.

I stand up and shake off the feeling of unease. I look out the big window and watch the night sky. It's cloudy and the wind stirs the grass and the leaves on the branches. It's hot outside being summer, and I hope that it rains. I can hear Brian snoring quite loudly upstairs and I wonder if he ever wakes up with headaches. Turning my head I look over towards the feild and frown. Someone is out there, I can see them standing in the field, trying to use the darkness as cover. I strain my mental powers trying to see who it is and what they are doing there; but Brian has thus far refused to lower my collar, and everytime I try to argue the point, he gets Emily to agree with him. Saying that it is too dangerous for us to lower it. I wonder if I should wake up Emily, and alert her.Then I realize, it could be Willy. He often comes and checks on the house at odd hours.But still... it doesn't feel right. Why would Willy just stand there? Wait, whoever it is is leaving across the field and towards the lake.

I watch until they are gone from my sight and then sit back down on my sleeping mat, looking at the mess of blankets. I grab one and lie back down covering up, I lie there and think for quite some time. I shiver a little as I fall back asleep.

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It's been several days since I've seen that stranger in the field. I told Emily, Willy, and Brian about it. Emily and Willy showed some concern, but Brian seemed like it occured all the time, telling me that perhaps it was someone seeking a place to sleep, and changed their mind. Even when Itold him that they went towards the lake, he seemed unconcerned. I just finally gave up. Apparently their concerns were on what to do with me next. Sometimes I felt like a slab of meat that was being debated on whether to be sent to market or not.

It's late after noon, Emily, Brian and I are out for a walk in the little forest that is on the property. It feels good to be outside and watching other living things live normal lives. I stopped behind Emily and Brian as they walked towards a little spot they picinic at. I sat for a few moments and watched a family of rattata's run around and act normal. I watched, and thought what it would be like to have others around me, like me. Living in a forest somewhere; living, talking, enjoying our lives.. not knowing what it was like to be tested on, hurt, or even what a human looked like.

"MEWTWO!" A shout breaks me from my day dream. I see Emily standing a few feet away with a concerned look on her face. "Hey, something wrong or do you just normally space out like that?"

I look to see that she's scared off the rattatas and I find myself getting angry over that.

<< You scared them off!! >> I actually yelled at her. For a moment I couldn't believe it, but it felt good. To yell back. << Why did you have to scare them off dammit?! >>

Emily stands there her mouth slightly open and a look of surprise on her face. " Mewtwo, I was just trying to get your attention. You were so zoned out, I didn't mean to scare the rattatas off... I.. " She shakes her head and looks back to where Brian stands. "Look, it's lunch time. Let's go eat.. and don't you EVER yell at me like that again.. understand? "

<< I'm not hungry. >> I look in the direction of the farmhouse. << Maybe I'll go back home, I don't feel like being out here. >>

She throws up her arms and rolls her eyes. "Fine! I don't care, go back. But Brian and I are going to eat lunch. Maybe we need some time apart." With that she turns and heads back towards Brian, who immediately asks her what the trouble was.

I on the other hand walk back to the farmhouse, thinking about what just happened. Why had I gotten so angry? Especially at Emily? Maybe she was right, we do need time away from eachother, these past few weeks have been hard and long. Not to mention tense. I know none of us have slept well, between watching the news reports and getting information from Brians supposed sources from the lab, things don't look good.

According to Brians "sources", Giovanni is preparing a manhunt. Using his resources to track us down. Some rumors have said that we are to be killed on sight, while other rumors claim that we are to be captured and then Giovanni will destory us himself. That is the trouble with rumors, you never know what to believe.

I make it to the back of the farmhouse, before I realize anything is wrong. Again I blame the gods be damned collar.

Before I can react, I'm hit from the side with a tazer shot, I hit the ground writhing as I hear men and women shouting commands to eachother. Before I know it I"m being pumped full of sedatives. I fight, I fight hard. I turn to see... no, no.. this can't be happening.. why..?

I see Emily and Brian, standing next to Giovanni; Brian looks a little smug, Emily on the other hand gives her stoney silent look. How? How did they beat me back here?

Giovanni is speaking. "You did the right thing Brian. I'm proud of you. Very proud. You brought the two fugitives back and they never knew. I'm rather impressed with your subterfuge."

Brian smiles and nods to Giovanni, by this time I'm tied up nicely and lying in front of the trio. Brian is speaking. "Well sir, I knew how important this experiment was for you. I also knew that Emily and Mewtwo trusted me implicity and I wanted to make sure that they both were returned to you safely."

Brian, betrayed me?! Betrayed Emily!? How? Why? I wanted to ask these questions. I felt my rage building I felt pressure in my head as the collar tried to keep me from using my psi-powers. I heard a crack! The collar was off! I finally built enough pressure to kill it. I broke the bonds that held me and was on my feet.

<< YOU BETRAYED US!! YOU WORKED FOR GIOVANNI THE WHOLE TIME?! >> I roared in his mind, and watched as all of them, Giovanni, Emily, Brian and the assault team covered their ears as if that would help.

I was using power I never knew I had, I was using abilities I never knew I posessed or even knew how to control. Before I realized what I was doing, people were running, screaming, dying. I was doing it all... and it felt good. I started attacking, using abilites I was only beginning to understand. I literally tore a mans arms off with my mind; I drove a woman insane by making her think she saw her worst nightmare come true before her eyes.

I was angry, I felt betrayed by someone I thought a friend. I looked over at Giovanni, Emily and Brian as I raged on. Brian looked scared as did Emily. Giovanni on the other hand looked amused and rather pleased. That angered me further. Without warning I started to assault Brian. I wathced his eyes widen as I started to telekinetically pull the skin off his body.

<< You, you were a friend.. someone I thought cared. But you were just like the rest.. just like them all!! >> Clenching my fists I jerked with my mind and with that one move, I had successfully skinned Brian D'Angelo with one deft move.

I can hear Emily scream, I know Giovanni says something and steps back as Brian colapses onto the ground. He twitches a few times, eerily silent; and then he lies still. I felt him die, in my mind I felt his thoughts stop. Just like turning off a light, it was gone. He was gone.

During that time, the assault team had been re-grouping. I'm hit from behind by a barrage of tranquilizers and even some bullets. I wasn't prepared for this. I go down quickly hitting the grassy area. I shake my head, trying to clear my thoughts of the fuzziness that insists on plaguing me. I stagger back to my feet and prepare to attack Giovanni next. Powering up, I form a psi-orb, a black ball of pure psychic energy. I raise my arm to throw it... << NO!!! >>

I watch helplessly as Emily is suddenly in the way of the oncoming psy-orb. I see it all in slow motion, she twists to the side, the orb impacts right at her back, I can hear the snap as he spine is broken. I hear her scream suddenly cut off as she falls to the ground, broken.

Giovanni starts to yell commands, he can see that I am weakening, I hear people scrambling to obey as I crawl over to Emilys side. Slowly I lift her head in my arms.

<< Emily.. no.. Emily.. please.. I didn't mean to.. I.. Emily I'm sorry.. >> I'm crying, I feel as if the world has ended and I am the cause. << Emily.. I.. love you.. >>

She opens her eyes and looks up at me, she starts to speak... and suddenly I feel her mind wink out, much in the same ways as Brians. My Emily, Emily Stranton.. the one person in the world who viewed me as a friend, as an equal lay dead in my arms. Because of me, my only friend I would ever have was dead.

The drugs are taking effect. I find my vision fading and my hearing dulling. I look to see Giovanni standing over the both of us. Shaking his head. His voice is the last thing I hear before the blackness consumes me.

" Get him back to the lab, I want his memory erased as best as you can, I want a new team of scientists and I want them now. I want him re-programmed and isolated. I also don't want him to wake up until I'm ready for him. Understand me?"

<< Why... >>

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<< Where am I? What is this place.. this isn't the same as before.. .... those voices coming from outside.. where I must be! >>

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~~~ Fin ~~~

So, what did you think? ^_^ Not bad for a first time.. no? Anyways, this is the end and maybe I'll start another story. This time something different. I'm not sure yet. I need feedback before I do tho, so delve into your little mailbox and give me a few words.. okay?

Please send all comments to: kala_jl524@hotmail.com

Standard Disclaimer: If I owned them I'd be rich, but I'm not.. so there.