The Hybrid Experiment

Chapter 9: One Step Ahead

*Nathan's POV*

When the elevator doors open again, I tentatively step into Team Rocket's HQ. A few of the other Rocket members turn to me when I appear, but, luckily, they all buy my disguise, addressing me by the name of the grunt whose uniform I am currently wearing.

"Hey, we need some more manpower over here. This guy's a feisty one!" Proton calls to me from down one of the hallways. I hear a grunt scream in terror from down the hallway, and a few sounds that remind me of the struggle I had against Jake's father when this all started. I grimace, knowing that, although the alleged attack is probably painful, I hope that the Pokemon would teach the grunt a lesson that he wouldn't forget- just like that Jolteon did to me. Proton stares at me with impatience, and I falter for a second in typical Rocket grunt-level fashion.

"Just one moment- I need to report something to Giovanni. It's about Maxwell," I lie, and he soon leaves me to attend to my fabricated business.

"Well, snap to it! And come back here right when you're done!" He laughs and returns to his "work." I hear the snapping of a whip and the whimpering of a Pokemon. I can't help but feel sorry for whatever Pokemon that's on the receiving end of Proton's wrath.

This will all stop once I get rid of Giovanni! I reassure myself, walking towards to the Boss's office. A few hallways later, I turn my head to see a burly man carrying a screaming Clair, attempting to cover her mouth with his hand.

"Put me down! Why, if Lance was here, he'd..."

"That's enough out of you! Lance isn't here, so just shut up!" The man punches her in the face- giving her an acute nosebleed- and she crumples in his iron-like grip. I watch, silently, while the man carries her to a cell on the wall and tosses her inside. I make a mental note of its location before starting back towards Giovanni's room.

A few more grunts accost me on my way there, but none of them particularly seem to care about my "mission." As soon as I tell them that I am headed to Giovanni's office with a message, they all back away from me, and I can continue walking.

The closer I get to his room, the louder the cacophony of squawks, whips, and other noises become.

How did I never notice how cruel this organization was until I met Voltflare?! Why was I so blind to this side of Team Rocket? Was it because of my duty to find the truth about Pokemon? ... It doesn't matter anymore- I'm a different person than I was when I first joined this brutal corporation. And now... I slowly open the door to Giovanni's room.

It's time! Where are you, Giovanni!

However, to my surprise, when I peek into the room, it is completely empty. Not even the Persian that loves to sit on his chair is there. I stare at the walls of the place, studying the many "Rocket of the month" picture frames that like the black wallpaper. One of them, scarily enough, happens to be Elijah. My stomach churns.

No wonder he left this place- they treated him like royalty for abusing Pokemon... Wait, what's this?!

I turn to look at a large file sitting on Giovanni's desk that had caught my attention. I quickly peruse the contents of the manila folder.

The Hybrid Experiment... This is what caused you so much pain, Jake... And look at all these Pokemon... There must be hundreds like this, each more grotesque than the last. And you were the only one that was saved from a life of enslavement... My research... Enough of this!
I find the page that detailed all the specifications for Jake and rip the entire stapled agenda from the surrounding papers. I just finish folding up the bundle of papers and stuffing them into my shirt when a tall man, dressed in black, appears at the door.