"Sabrina, you all did exceptionally well. You executed the task I set perfectly," Giovanni said, a satisfied smile appearing in the holographic projection.
"Currently, Elite Four Agatha has accepted the League's request and is heading to Lavender Town to suppress the Ghost-types. With such a massive swarm, it will take her at least a month or two to settle things. Re-sealing the Spirit Rift will consume even more of her time."
Giovanni's chuckle was low and calculating. "Lt. Surge has also just returned to Headquarters. Once you arrive, you can all celebrate. I shall await your triumphant return."
The projection flickered and died.
Giovanni clearly has high-level moles within the League, Feng Che marveled. To know the exact moment Agatha was deployed... Rocket's intelligence network is terrifying.
The Kanto League Headquarters
An elderly man with snow-white hair stared at a screen, his eyes bloodshot with rage. This was Charles Goodshow, the President of the Pokémon League (though in some circles, the power behind him, Damarane, held the true reins).
"Team Rocket has gone too far!" he roared, slamming his fists onto the mahogany desk. "Opening a Spirit Rift in a civilian town? This is a public declaration of war! We must strike back, and we must do it now!"
The room was filled with the League's top brass. Bruno, Lorelei, and Lance had all been summoned back from their respective missions.
"Lance," Goodshow said, his voice dropping to a serious, low tone. "We've heard rumors that Rocket is developing a new type of biological weapon. You must infiltrate their perimeter and gather intelligence. We need to know what we're up against."
"Bruno, Lorelei, head to the Sevii Islands immediately. I have intel that Rocket is targeting the Legendary Birds. They are the foundation of Kanto's balance; we cannot let them fall into Giovanni's hands!"
Team Rocket Headquarters
Feng Che followed Sabrina, Lt. Surge, and Koga into Giovanni's office. It was a massive, 200-square-meter space filled with rare artifacts—Feng Che even spotted several Master Balls casually displayed in a glass case.
"Welcome back," Giovanni said, stroking his Persian. "The League is preparing a counter-strike. Sabrina, Koga, Surge—return to your cities and hold your gyms. We cannot let Saffron, Fuchsia, or Vermilion slip from our grasp."
He laughed. "I hear Bruno and Lorelei are heading to the Sevii Islands. Let them chase ghosts; the Birds were moved weeks ago."
Giovanni turned to Sabrina. "Keep a tight leash on Silph Co. That company provides a third of our funding. Don't let the board of directors out of your sight."
"They won't," Sabrina replied coldly. "My psychic geis is holding, but I will monitor them closely."
"Koga, how is the neurotoxin research? To control the Birds, we need a gas that can suppress the willpower of a god."
"We are in the clinical trial phase, Leader," Koga replied confidently. "The results are promising."
"Good. Dismissed. Feng Che, stay. I have a new assignment for you."
Giovanni stood up, straightening his black suit, and led Feng Che toward a high-security laboratory wing. "Your task is to protect Dr. Fuji. The previous elite guard was reassigned to the front lines. You will serve as his shadow until the replacement arrives."
"Understood," Feng Che replied.
The Secret Laboratory
They entered a gargantuan lab filled with glowing green vats. In the center, a small, purple-white creature floated in a large incubator, its tail twitching as it observed the world with curious, wide eyes.
In nearby vats, fossils of ancient insects were being revitalized, their cells pulsing with artificial life. Thousands of purple embryos floated in smaller tubes.
Dr. Fuji was hunched over a console, frantically recording data.
"Leader Giovanni," Fuji said, pausing his work.
"I've brought you a new guard. You remember Feng Che," Giovanni said. "He will ensure your safety. Fuji, your work is the priority above all else."
Once Giovanni left, the lab fell into a rhythmic hum of machinery. Feng Che looked at the infant Mewtwo. It looked so fragile, its eyes following him with an intelligence far beyond its age.
"Are you human?"
A tiny, shy voice echoed in Feng Che's mind. He realized Mewtwo was speaking to him via telepathy.
"I am a human with psychic abilities," Feng Che replied mentally. "What is your name?"
"I don't have a name. I am only 013," the infant replied, shaking its head sadly.
"My name is Feng Che. Since you don't have one, would you like me to give you a name?"
"Yes... but it must be a cool, handsome name," the infant said with an innocent eagerness.
"Your name is Mewtwo. It means 'to surpass Mew.' You were born from Mew's cells, but you are a unique individual. One of a kind."
"Mewtwo... I like that. My heart tells me that is who I am," the voice said, full of joy. "But I don't like the other humans. Their minds are messy and full of greed. I sense something pure and mysterious in you. You are different."
"Mewtwo, listen to me," Feng Che cautioned. "Do not show them how smart you are. Hide your wisdom until you are strong enough. If they realize you have a will of your own, they might wipe your memory and turn you into a tool."
"I understand... thank you, friend. I must sleep now. My cells are still unstable, and the telepathy is exhausting."
As Mewtwo drifted off, the lab suddenly erupted into chaos.
"Doctor! Embryo 38 has stopped developing!" an assistant cried.
Fuji rushed over. "Data shows no anomalies... another failure. It's converting into a Ditto." He sighed, looking at the purple mass. "Dispose of it. Why do they all turn into Ditto once they reach this stage?"
Fuji didn't realize that Mewtwo was a "Singularity"—a god-tier creature that the laws of nature wouldn't allow to be duplicated. Every failed attempt at cloning Mew resulted in a Ditto, which only inherited the "Transform" aspect of the original cell.
Suddenly, infant Mewtwo's vat began to bubble violently. The creature inside spasmed, clutching its throat in agony.
[Infant Mewtwo: I... I can't breathe! It hurts!]
"Doctor! Number 13 is having a seizure!"
Fuji's face went pale. "Data is normal! Why is this happening?!"
"It's the nutrient solution," Feng Che interjected, stepping forward. "You recently altered the formula to include more psychic-growth stimulants. They are reacting poorly with the base solution. You need to revert to the previous formula immediately."
"Feng Che, you don't understand!" a bald assistant named Natsukawa shouted. "This solution was crafted by a Master Pharmacist! If we change it now, 013's genes might collapse from nutritional shock! We can't take that risk!"
Fuji hesitated, caught between the screaming alarms and the conflicting advice.
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