Book Two: Vengeance, Chapter One-
The sun's rays peaked over the horizon, first lighting the tall building before Rei. Three nights ago, this part of the Silph Corporation was targeted by the Rockets, and she wanted to know why. Waiting until the commotion of the warehouse fire died down, she made her reappearance and moved out, though quite uncertain to how she would be able to infiltrate such a organization. It would not be as easy as it was with the Rockets, just slipping in dressed as one, but she has came to far to give up now. Taking in a deep breathe, she stepped through the doors.
The lobby was nearly completely bare. Aside from some artificial plants and a man behind a desk, there was not that much. Rei slowly progressed to the elevators, her steps echoing loudly throughout the chamber, as the security guard and some portly woman disputed. They seemed to be disagreeing on her clearance, but that did not matter to Rei since she only saw an opportune diversion. She was only a few steps away from the lift when the security stopped her. Unable to think of anything better, she turned and smiled.
"Hi," Rei cheerfully cried out, bowing deeply. "Is something the matter?" she tried to nonchalantly say, even though panic ringed in her voice. The man stood up and approached her. A bit of disbelief hung on his brow. She closed her eyes and slightly cringed, unaware of what would happen to her, but nothing did. The only thing she heard was a ding and doors sliding open. Uncovering her eyes, the watchman stood by the elevator with his key card in a panel and a queer look about him.
"Have a nice day, ma'am," he awkwardly stated. Slightly confused, Rei kept up her charm as she sidestepped into the lift. She waved bye while the doors shut, making eye contact with him, but this was one sided. As they shut, the woman there before her put up a fuss, complaining as to why she could not just pass like that girl just did. When it finally did close, she nearly collapsed from stress, her heart racing and her breathes rapid. In truth, Rei thought getting inside would be a lot more difficult and had no clue as what to do now. Figuring not to waste the effort, she clicked the button for the top floor, for the higher something is, the more important it had to be.
The doors parted to a hallway of white. Walls, floor, ceiling, doors, all were blinding. A scant few people walked about the brilliant network, all decked out in white lab coats with ID cards. Despite sticking out like a sore thumb and turning quite a number of heads, no one seemed to question her presence. From quick glances and observations, most all the important doors seemed to be protected by locks that the cards could open. She wandered safely though the halls until some careless guy ran into the bulge of onlookers that had developed in her wake. Not risking her obscurity, she dipped into a short alley, which seemed only to have a janitor's closet. Access and concealment were two things she needed, and there was only one way she could get them.
A large man's attention was diverted by a whistle. Finding a young girl looking straight at him seductively beckoning him into the dark room was just something impossible to resist. Bringing a fast finish to his charge of lechery, Rei dropped to the floor and slid both of her feet at his shins. As his body flew over hers, she snatched the tail of his lab coat. The man crashed into the closet as his coat slipped off his body perfectly. Donning the oversized coat over her normal one, she locked the room the man lied in. Since it was out of the way, no one would be able to hear him when he came to, and it would not be opened, hopefully, for sometime.
Blending in better with her surroundings, Rei fathomed which rooms to explore. The floor was apparently designated for higher research and studies, for each room was labeled with what it contained, ranging from "perfection of monster containment" to "advanced technique modifications." Any number of them could have been interests to the Rockets, but one caught her focus: "residual monster spirit reoccurrence analysis." However, it was not just this that surprised her but the scientist's name enlisted to that room, Serenity. Rei needed answers and prayed that they may be answered soon as she passed her stolen card through the slot. The heavy steel door noisily slid open as shouts of protest came from within.
"What's wrong with you, ignoramus," the familiar voice sounded out. A woman in a lab coat with goggles, heavy gloves, and white hair came into view among vast amounts of large machinery and lab equipment. "Can't you see the red light is on?" She tore off her goggles. "Do you know how dangerous wha- Oh." Her voice changed to pleasantry. "I didn't know it was you, sweetheart. Please, come in." Rei crossed the doorway from the light-filled hallway to the dank and dark room. A loud clunk startled her as the doors shut and the lock replaced. "Just try not to touch anything that looks dangerous, dear," she told Rei smiling, fitting the eyewear back around her head. "And don't worry," she winked, "I won't tell anyone to what I owe this pleasure."
"Frankly, I'm surprised you're here," Rei admitted. "I was certain that you were-"
"Dead?" she scoffed in return. Snickering, Serenity replied, "Oh my no, darling. A good few of us wised up in time to hightail it out of there." She fiddled with the controls in front of her. "Why?" she asked, "did you miss me?"
"No, you don't understand. I thought you were a Rocket," responded Rei, not hearing the last statement. "Why are you working for the Silph Corporation?" Just then, she came under a revelation. "You're a infiltrator, aren't you?"
"Yes," Serenity slyly put, "and no. Do you honestly think that I'm just some spy for the Rockets?" She explained, "You see, sometime ago, the heads of Silph wanted to place one of their men in Rocket to monitor their activities regarding themselves, but, when I got into the Rocket Gang, they wanted someone to go into Silph. Silph thinks I'm spying on the Rockets, who think I'm spying Silph, and am only posing as a spy for the other group. So it's not really spying. I just work for them both and will side with whoever wins in the end." She looked up with a devilish smirk. She was proud of her work. Rei could only stare blankly, not know what to say. The woman checked herself. "Oh, look at me gabbing on end. I don't seem to stop, do I?"
"It's alright," responded Rei. "I enjoy hearing you talk." The scientist hid her blushing face behind one of the many devices. She needed to keep pumping Serenity for information, and this was the easiest way. "So," Rei casually continued, "why was this place targeted, anywise? Mad at one of you're co-workers?" she teased. It got a chuckle.
"No," denied Serenity, "though some days I'd think otherwise. Seriously, it was just a standard supply raid. That, and I wanted to get more clearance for my research. Most of the dolts here think it's just some big joke. The fools have no idea what goes on in here." Rei approached her work station and saw a small orb being tinkered with.
"What is it that you actually research here?"
"Spirit reoccurrence," simply stated Serenity. "What I'm about so say may sound strange to you, but, keep in mind, it is all very true. One of the most basic yet least known thing about these monsters is their spirit, their chi, their essence, if you will. Many people would think you're speaking some myth or child's tale, but this essence is a very real thing. Every time a Pokeball is used, this principle is exercised. The mechanism extracts this anima as the body is turned to energy each time one is returned and releases it, reshaping the body, each time it is withdrawn. Of course, soul removal and transformation of flesh are unstable processes, mind you, and irregularities often occur. My department studies what happens when these functions do go disarrayed." Rei paid an attentive ear, and Serenity was more than glad to supply.
"Anytime a monster dies, or a grave malfunction in some device befalls it, its essence is freed. However, without proper containment, it quickly deteriorates, and, much like molecules, pieces will join and separate with others. And, on rare occasions, these pieces find themselves a suitable 'host.' The Golem is a prime example of this activity as well as the earliest, even though we did not that back then. When young, this species is nothing more than rock and mud, inanimate matter controlled by long past life force. But, as I said before, accidents can happen at anytime. Accidents, such as those that turn this mound of dirt and mineral into flesh. It is brought on by the reshaping of its structure. If exposed to certain unusual procedures while its body is stored in an energy form, it will become flesh and blood. A handful of others also undergo these changes, but none are as drastic or marvelous as that one.
"Now keep in mind that no one knew that this was spirit reoccurrence back then," she continued, "for it was just assumed that was the nature of that particular monster. The theory of the essence was not even thought of until the invention of the Pokeball. Needless to say, primitive archetypes had a great deal of errors, and many monsters had their spirits severed from their bodies and were permanently trapped in the devices. However, since some models were more radical in design, they would assimilate with the new body and become a 'life' of their own, even being capable of replicating more like themselves. As fascinating as this was, as the procedure was tested over and over, some of the specimen came to this artificial life even before it had absorbed any essence. This is when the concept of a wandering spirit came into play, and thus the start of the most skeptical branch of research. This also initiated the plans for far more synthetic monsters. Unfortunate for Silph, a large number of them escaped into the wild when one of them blew up their containment unit. At least, that's how the tale goes. It was before my time."
"Wow." Rei could not think of anything better to say. "That's very... wow."
"Oh, I'm sorry," said Serenity, placing her hand on Rei's, "did I bore you?"
"What? No, not at all," assured Rei. "It's just a lot to think about. So, what is it that you do in all of this? It seemed to me that this is all pretty much solved."
"My intent," she replied, "is to find out why this happens."
"But, you already said why," Rei questioned puzzled. "It's from fragments of those essences."
"That only can work," explained Serenity. "It doesn't happen all the time. Something causes it to transpire, something we don't yet know about. I feel that is... no, forget it." Serenity tried to get away, but Rei urged her on. "Fine then, but don't think I'm crazy for telling you." She sighed deeply. "Do you believe in vindication from beyond the grave? ..."
