Pokémar Episode V, A Clone's Destiny

Origins

With Mewtwo's flight we're back home in short order. We land in the backyard and dismount. 

"So this is that other guy's home?" Fuji asks. 

"Jackson's home, yes. We should be safe here. I'll talk to him about letting you use a computer to read what's on that drive." I knock on the door. "Jackson! We're back!" 

A brief moment later and the door opens. Jackson looks at Fuji for a second before looking back at me. "You seem to have been busy."

"This is Mrs. Fuji. The doctor's wife. He's been missing for some time it seems."

"Did you find anything worth getting? Because after what happened you're going to have to lay low for a while." It takes me a moment to register how he already knows what happened.

"...It's on the news, isn't it?"

"Yup."

"Crap... Well, I guess we've moved up on the target list."

"Yeah. But, back to the question, what did you find?"

"Fuji got a flash drive from Yosuke before he vanished. It could have something. She should get the first look at it. It's her husband after all."

"Alright. Our computer is this way, Mrs. Fuji." Jackson leads her down the hall. She hesitates for a moment before following. She's still on edge. Can't blame her. Her life has just been upended. That'd make anyone cautious.

"Alex, Thunder, do you have a moment to talk? Privately?" Mewtwo asks. We both nod and head down into the basement..

"Is something wrong, Mewtwo?" Thunder asks.

"I need someone to console with. During our escape I experienced something... disturbing."

"Go on."

"When I dispatched the Flygon I saw things. I saw their hate towards me. I felt it as if it were my own. And when I dug deeper to understand..." They stop for a moment as if struggling to get the words out. "All I found was pain. Pain that I inflicted. I never even knew that such levels of pain were even possible. This is why you do not kill, correct?" I nod. 

"It would seem that I am what you swore to fight against." They continue. "Perhaps it would be best if we parted."

"I disagree. The fact that you realize it now means you can change."

"In spite of everything I have done?"

"Look forward, not back. The past can't be changed. Only the future."

"Well, except-" Thunder starts.

"Shush." I say. "Fine, in the vast majority of cases it can't be undone. Either way, if you want to distance yourself from all that, you can. It's up to you."

"...Then I shall try. From this moment forward, I shall not take another life. I want to thank you for your faith in me."

I smile. "You want to change. I want to make sure you get that chance." 

The basement door opens and Fuji walks down to us. Her face is red and puffed up from crying. Must've been an emotional message.

"You okay?" I ask. She nods silently.

"I... I need some time. You should go up and look yourself." She replies in a soft, quiet voice. She heads back upstairs without a word. 

"Is she going to be okay?" Thunder asks.

"I hope so. Come on. Let's take a look at that drive." I get up and head upstairs to the guest room where the computer sits waiting. I sit down in front of it. Thunder hops up onto my shoulder and Mewtwo watches from behind. On the screen there are a number of folders and a single video file called "watch first." Seeing no reason not to I do.

The image of a man appears on screen, one with long black hair and goatee. Remorse and fear dance in his eyes and he takes a breath before speaking. 

"Hello Talia." He says. I translate aloud in Pokespeak for the others. "I... I'm about to do something. Something drastic. I'm sorry for not telling you in person but... there are eyes on me everywhere. If they suspected that you knew you'd be in danger. I can't lose you too. But you still deserve an explanation. So... here it is.

"About a week ago I learned something I wasn't supposed to. Devon hasn't been honest with me. The 'progress' they showed me was a lie meant to keep me working. My research wasn't being used to bring her back. They instead collaborated with Team Rocket on something called Project Mewtwo. Apparently Rocket found some portal to another realm or something and have been taking Mew from it. And from their genetic material they're making living weapons. Pokemon who are unquestioningly obedient and without remorse or emotion. 

"My research is being used to make a slave species. I can't let that stand. ...Talia, I'm about to do something drastic. You know I have to. Inside this drive are files. Experiment records, a financial paper trail, anything I could find that would be hard evidence against Devon. Bring this to the authorities. Make sure that this crime against life itself doesn't go unpunished. As for me... I plan on releasing the prototype pokemon. It deserves to be free. I'm certain your sister can train them.

"But in the event I don't survive... well if I survive you wouldn't be watching this... I am truly sorry, but I must set this right. I cannot let my work be used to create killer pokemon. I love you Talia. And Arceus permitting we'll see each other again." Yosuke reaches towards the camera and the video ends, leaving us in silence.

"That... was a lot." I say.

"Killer pokemon..." Mewtwo mutters plaintively. 

"Come on, Mewtwo, let's not go down that road again-"

"I was made to cause suffering. I am truly sorry Alex. But it seems your faith in me is misplaced. It would indeed be better for all involved if I left. I wish you well."

"Wait, where-" Before I can finish my sentence, they've left the room. "Mewtwo! Wait!" We chase him as he exits through the back door and takes flight. 

"You don't have to do this! We can help you!" Thunder yells. Our efforts are sadly in vain. Mewtwo flies off to who knows where. I try one last thing, the psychic link. 

Please, Mewtwo, don't leave. You're not a killer. You can choose your life's path. Just because you were made in a lab doesn't mean you can't grow. Their only response to my pleas is to sever the connection. Mewtwo is gone.

"I can't believe they'd just up and leave like that..." Thunder sighs.

"Vowing to abstain from murder then learning they were designed to murder not moments later. They're probably not in a great headspace right now."

"Will they come back?"

"Honestly, I don't know. I really hope so..."