Fandom A Chance Meeting at Ilex Forest

[JessieSune]

"Well...uh...I dunno."

Mallory looks confused.

"I don't know what this stuff does."

 

[AmethystRoze]

"Do...do you think we should ask her?"

 

[JessieSune]

"Yeah! That's a good idea...but I have to leave her mind first."

Mallory's eyes return to normal.

"What the-- Cass? Danielle? Don't stay here, they're coming for--"

Lights appear over the horizon.

 

[AmethystRoze]

"What? Who's coming?" Danielle asked, starting to get worried.

 

[JessieSune]

"The people who did....this...to me. They're taking me back to....work...on me," she shudders. "You're not safe here. Go!"

 

[AmethystRoze]

"But we can't leave you alone!" She said, though she took a look at Cass, they had to keep him safe too.

 

[JessieSune]

Cassiopeia looks panicked for a second, then grins. "I got it!" A flash of light -- and where there were three distinct Pokemon there are now just three Absol, two smaller than the original.

"What are you doing?" Mallory hisses.

"Don't worry," Cass giggles, "We know what to do."

Humans approach the trio a moment later. Slowly, mechanically, almost as if against her will, Mallory goes to meet them. Cass, a shiny, follows cautiously.

 

[AmethystRoze]

Danielle follows as well. "Cass... this isn't keeping you safe like im supposed to do.."

 

[JessieSune]

"Don't worry -- they don't even see us! As far as the instruments know, there's only one Absol!"

"Hey, girl. Did you get good data for us today? C'mon -- back to the lab."

Mallory struggles and whines, but follows nonetheless. They load her onto a truck, and the other humans, three, in fact, take their seats.

"You're going to follow me? But it's not---" her mouth closes. She can't speak, but shakes her head furiously.

 

[AmethystRoze]

"Then why make us look like this?" She asked, clearly worried about the plan.

 

[JessieSune]

"Because if we don't match her genetic signature they'll notice we're different!"

The machine pulls into a large lab. Chatter is overheard.

"You really think this'll help us find Shelby's murderer?"

"I dunno, but we've invested a lot into this Absol -- Shelby knew more about robotics but didn't take great notes."

 

[AmethystRoze]

"Murder? Someone died... and they're having Mallory investigate for them? But why would that help? They think a pokemon did it?"

 

[JessieSune]

"It would seem so. But she doesn't seem to be a willing investigator...I think they must be doing something to her!"

"What's on today's changes protocol?"

"We're replacing her eyes, actually. R&D developed a set of cameras that look just like the real thing."

"Do you ever feel bad for her?"

"Nah. The protocol we installed keeps her from feeling pain, so it's not like she minds."

Mallory's heart rate visibly increases. "Please...please run..."

 

[AmethystRoze]

Dani shook her head. "We're gonna save you Mallory." She said, now determined.

 

[JessieSune]

"There's nothing you can do," she says. "They've been taking me apart and putting me back together for a month now. I'm already as good as dead...please....save yourselves. I'm not worth both of you becoming their slaved cyborgs!"

Cassiopeia grits his teeth. "They've broken her soul. She's all but given up already. These humans, seeking justice, have been very cruel to an innocent."

The truck stops and Mallory's heart beats even faster.

 

[AmethystRoze]

"you sound so dramatic but.. the poor thing, we have to help her." Dani said, wanting to just take her now.

 

[JessieSune]

"Alright, little girl, time for another upgrade."

Mallory is lifted up into the air and slung over a human's back. She doesn't resist or fight, but her trembling indicates she knows what's coming.

"We can't follow directly...do you see a side entrance? Or some other way in?"

 

[AmethystRoze]

".... maybe that little vent over there? We're both small enough to fit, and they probably aren't guarding them very closely."

 

[JessieSune]

Cass nods and dashes to it. Sure enough, it's an easy fit.

"I wish I better understood what they were doing. It sounds like they're just replacing parts of her bit by bit...but I didn't know you could do that!"

A high pitched wail interrupts the next thought.

"This can't be okay with all humans...how do we stop these?"

 

[AmethystRoze]

"I... I mean, we could just hypnotize them all can't we?" She said, searching for options. "It's our job to protect the pokemon and froest.

 

[JessieSune]

"I could hypnotize all of them, but then you'd have to do the rest -- I wouldn't be able to move."

...

Mallory obediently lies down on the table, her heart pumping. She whimpers but does not stir.

"Don't worry, this won't hurt," says a scientist warmly.

An instrument is lowered to the Absol's head. She squirms a bit as it starts, but remains silent.

 

[AmethystRoze]

"Do it, and we'd have to convince them to leave her alone too, we can do that part later.."

 

[JessieSune]

Cass nods and his eyes begin to glow.

Mallory's other eye tears up as she waits for the machine to finish the first stage -- and then suddenly the humans freeze. The device keeps running, however. In a moment the Absol goes totally blind.

"I've...got them....all...good...luck..."

 

[AmethystRoze]

Danielle goes in, looking for Mallory. "Mallory! We came to get you out." She said, running to her.

 

[JessieSune]

Mallory winces. "Where are you? I can't see. I can't see at all! My eyes, Danielle...why'd they take my eyes?" She begins to cry.