Pokemon: Next Generation

Chapter 44: Seeing Double

Chapter 44: Seeing Double

"You were the one in the suit?" I asked. "But... you tried to kill me."

"As a scientist and businessman, it's a standard to continue until achievement is accomplished. So don't think that failure is going to prevent me from trying again. Otherwise I wouldn't have made so much progress," he said, going over to a metal table that held his red armor, or what seemed left of it.

"Why do you want me dead?"

He strove over to Metagross, stroking one of his arms. "I want you out of the picture. And death seems to be the best option."

His tone sounded more like he was deciding what show to watch on TV. My heart hammered. "What's wrong with you?"

"Nothing," he said simply. "I'm a man who wants to make an empire. And I can't make an empire without an heir."

"Is that all Daniel is to you?" I asked in horror. "Someone to take over?"

"Someone to continue my legacy. Someone to ensure that our name will be stretched over the entire world until the end, yes. That was always his purpose."

"You run Silph Co, not a tyrannical country," I spat. "How dare you treat your son that way!"

"Your values of child bearing and mine aren't all that different. It's just how we define success that is."

"Love," my voice shook. "Love is the only thing that matters. Not power. Not money. Not fame. All that really matters is love. Of our Pokemon and friends."

"That's nice and sentimental, but not how the world works." He shook his head.

"Why do you blame me for Daniel not wanting to take over the company?" I asked, dumbfounded.

"If it weren't for his mother taking him to see that infernal water freak show, he would never have met you. And he would have never gotten interested in Pokemon. He would have never sided with you with what is most important in life," he seethed.

I remembered the day Daniel and I met easily. My mother had been performing in one of her water shows at the Cerulean Gym. I'd found out then that he wasn't allowed contact with Pokemon and couldn't believe anyone could have such a low opinion about the best friends a human could have. "Then why did you try to kill me in the past if the catalyst was just meeting him?"

"I wanted him to see that I was right all this time. Pain really does help a person bury themselves in their work," he mused.

"You're a monster. He was always right about you," I whispered. "You're so much worse than I imagined."

"And you don't even get it," I continued. "You're the one who pushed him away. If you would have made the company fun and not all about money, he would have loved coming up with ideas to help Trainers. It wasn't me. And if I died, you wouldn't change Daniel. He'd still be the same person. Because he doesn't give up on people. And he doesn't give up on what he believes in."

"I'm still willing to try it my way." Zachary snapped his fingers.

Metagross aimed a Hammer Arm at me.

"No!" someone roared, knocking me over.

"Stop interfering!" I heard Zachary scream.

My body had tumbled to the right, onto the floor. I felt arms gripped by hands and looked up to see Daniel.

"How did you get here?" I asked, dazed.

He pulled me up and didn't answer as he glared at his father. "I'm so done with this. You know what's going to happen now, dad?"