[RP] Body and Soul

[Dog of Hellsing]

The Discussion thread is here (http://www.pokemonelite2000.com/forum/showthread.php?p=1721026#post1721026).

***

Plot: You wake to a room that is lit by a dim light, which seems to have trouble deciding whether it wants to stay on or not as it strobes maniacally. You’re supported, on something long and stiff: you’re halfway between standing and lying. You realize after a moment that you’re not falling because there are leather straps holding you snugly against whatever it is you’re lying/standing against. And then you notice something else that’s just as strange: the scratchy pants and shirt that you’re clad in. You scowl a little: why would you be wearing clothes? You look down and see something that makes your mind go blank. You are not only wearing clothes, something else here is terribly wrong, because you are…

Human.

You shake your head, unable to think straight. This can’t be right; it has to be some strange dream. You look around the room, but there is nothing that you can see to either side or in front of you except empty space. You struggle against your binds, and after a moment you get free. It would seem the person who strapped you down didn’t do it very well: this leads you to wonder if you may have friends in this place. It’s hard to tell, as you have no memories of yourself or how you came to be here. All you know is that you SHOULD be a Pokemon.

You land on awkward human feet after freeing yourself and stumble, tripping yourself and falling to your knees. When they hit the cold tile floor, pains shoots up your legs and makes you gasp. You take a moment, the loss or perhaps the gaining of limbs making you feel odd and off-balance. Then, cautiously, you push yourself to your new feet. It takes a moment to get used to standing as a human, but when you’ve got your bearings you turn to look at the rear of the room.

The only other thing in this room besides the gurney you were on (you can see it now, and it makes you shudder though you don’t know why) is a table about two yards behind the table-like bed. One that table is a single item: a PokeBall. Normally, you feel anxious and wary of them; you’ve seen Pokemon get captured in them before. But for some strange reason, this one calls out to you. Without knowing why, you walk over to the table and pick up the red-and-white orb. The moment you do, it begins to wiggle, then suddenly snaps open. You give a startled cry, a strange, harsh, human noise, and drop the Ball as a brilliant white flare emanates from it. Seconds later the light fades and a Pokemon is revealed standing before you.

It takes you a long moment to make the connection, but when you do you give another cry. The thought that this is some strange dream is strengthened by what you see. You shake your head, trying to force yourself to wake up, but it doesn’t happen. After a moment, you look back to the Pokemon staring emotionlessly at you. There’s no doubt about it: those markings, those eyes, the subtle things only you would notice…The Pokemon before you is YOU.

“How…how can this be…” you ask weakly, your voice coarse. The fact that you speak human words is a physical shock and you let out a tiny gasp. Your body watches you, then speaks in a dead voice. When it talks, its words are in the language of Pokemon, not humans.

“We must leave. It is the only way.”

“I don’t understand…” you weakly protest, and your body goes to pick up the PokeBall. It holds it out to you, and you hesitantly take it.

“You are me and I am you. We are one and the same, a whole divided into parts. We were separated by heartless humans. I hold our memories, our powers. Only by finding what tore us apart can we become whole once more. Come, it is time to leave.” Your body then starts to walk, and soon you’re following yourself. You exit the room, your mind whirling. How did this happen? Why does only your Pokemon self have your memories? As if reading your mind, your body begins talking again. “It is hard to explain, but essentially you are the spirit and I am the vessel. I feel nothing, no mental or physical emotions or sensations. If I am injured, you will feel the pain. If I am sad, you will feel it, not I. But being the spirit, you feel your own emotions and sensations. You were somehow giving physical form, separate from me. If I die, so do you, and vice versa. I hold our powers, but there are things you can do as well. I hold our memories, but I can only share them with you through words. There is no way for me to transfer them to you. You will have to remember on your own. I do not know why, but that’s how it is. I can speak with you and only you, because we share a mutual connection. We are one, even though we are separate. No other will be able to speak with me, nor can I talk with any other.”

You walk in silence, not saying anything in response. It’s all too much to take in. However, you soon have something else to think about. As you walk down a long hallway, you sense that there are others like you here. You decide to find them before you leave here: maybe together you will find out what has happened to you, and how, and why. And maybe you will discover how to undo what was done and return to being a normal Pokemon.

But there are dangers. You weren’t allowed to simply free yourself and wander the place where you and the others were kept. You’re being watched, though you don’t know it. And it’s all one big experiment…

***

\Aisha =Spirit= ; Espeon =Body=/

I stood in the dimly-lit hallway, staring into the darkness that quickly swallowed it only about two yards away. The building was silent and still, as if I were the only one here. Of course I knew that wasn't true. I could feel them, the others like me. I just had to find them. Then we needed to get out of here. I couldn't quit explain it, but I KNEW we had to leave here and soon.

"Espy, do you know where the others are, exactly, and how many there are?" I asked my body, which was a strange and unnerving thing. I'd stopped thinking of her as an "it" a few moments after getting off that gurny. She was me, after all, and I wanted to show myself some respect.

My body, standing a few paces before me, turned her head to look over her shoulder at me. The white gem on her forehead pulsed a little as she used the psychic ability she had to scan the building. After a moment she said, in that flat voice, "There are several, but I can poinpoint neither their number nor location. I cannot tell why this is. I do know there is at least one relatively nearby. A few corridors away, at most."

"Okay, lead the way, if you would," I said, waving a hand. I then scowled as Espy turned and started walking, staring at my hand as I slowly followed after her. I'd seen people do it before when they wanted someone to show them the way to something, but what an odd motion to make. This made another train of thought come clanging to mind.

Why was it I could remember everything except my past, how I got here, and what was done to me? Espy had said she holds our memories, but apparently she didn't hold all of them. It didn't make sense, and the more I tried to solve this puzzle the harder it got to think. I was already getting a headache anyways, so I let the matter drop after a few and focused on following Epsy as we navigated the dark halls.

Geh. Humans have the weakest senses! I knew my body was having no trouble finding her way in this almost complete darkness, but I was having a hard time making out her shadowy form. If it weren't for the light radiating from the jewel on her forehead I probably wouldn't be able to see her at all. I shook my head, sighing. Yet another con of being human. I couldn't use any of the powers Espy said we had, like Psychic or Morning Sun. Strange. I couldn't even remember what Type I was or what moves I knew. Ah well, I told myself I wasn't gonna think about that memory thing right now.

We walked in silence, and I hoped that soon we'd find the first of the others like us. It had to happen soon...

[Cogi276]

Cogi was fumbling with the door to his room. "Gahhhh! Stupid body! If only I knew how to use these hands better!" Cogi shouted at nobody in specific. The Torchic looked at him "Don't be so mad ...... We will work though this!" He said. Then Cogi finally got the door open and chuckled "That's easy for you too say ......" Cogi walked out into the hallway. He looked up and down the hall. "Hello? Anybody here?" He shouted into the empty hall. Cogi waited for amoment then said "I guess not"

[Shen]

Shadow

"How...how do they do it?!" I exclaimed, trying once more to keep my balance as I walked on my human legs; being used to being a quadruped, this was proving to be a challenge. "They don't even have tails to give them more balance!" I lost my balance and fell forward, hitting the ground roughly. "Ow..."

My body looked back at me over his shoulder, with that cold, dead look he had before. "Hurry up, there isn't much time. We have to find-"

"Yeah yeah, I heard you the first time..." I sighed as I got back onto my wobbly feet. I placed my hands against the wall and continued walking forward.

My body, undisturbed by my interruption, nodded before facing forward and walking as well.

Silence was kept in the dim hallway. Being used to seeing perfectly in the darkness, I was disturbed by the low vision my human body had. I only kept from stumbling about by keeping my hand on the wall. After fifteen more minutes, I was finally able to walk just fine, unsupported by my hand on the wall (however, I kept it there to guide myself through the darkness). and that fact alone brightened my spirits.

"So, where are those others I can sense?" I asked, hoping he could divulge an answer.

However, he merely shook his head. "I know and sense as much as you do in that subject, Shadow."

It felt wierd for my body to call me that, even though it was my name, but it was also our name. "You know, what should I call you? I mean, us calling each other 'Shadow' is gonna get wierd and confusing..."

He shrugged and continued on his path through the hallway. "Oh, why don't you just call me 'Kyosan.' If I remember correctly, you liked that name as much as your own."

It was my turn to shrug. "Hey, you're the one with the memories, not I." However, I noted that when he spoke the name, it stirred some sense of happiness in my mind. I realy did like that name. I smiled. "Sure, why not? Thanks, Kyosan." I said, testing out the name for him.

He nodded. "Yes, that name will work fine for now."

I grinned, and saw something out of the corner of my eye. At that moment, I felt my hand pass an edge of the wall, into what felt like another hall. Taking a look down the perpendicular corridor, I noticed what I saw from the corner of my eye: a soft light, hardly visible but getting stronger...and closer.

"I wonder what that is..." I said quietly. Thoughts came to me of humans looking for an escapee, and I began to fret. I was about to keep walking when Kyosan spoke suddenly.

"Wait. I think that's another one of the experimented pokemon..."

[Draconic_Espeon]

Ashitaka, Shinx Body

"I smell something," my body said suddenly. I couldn't help but jump. There wasn't anything else to listen to in these dark hallways, and suddenly hearing a voice was somewhat unnerving.

"What?" I asked in reply, once I'd been assured it was only... Myself talking. I raised my own nose to the air, but couldn't smell a thing. It was maddening, this human body. All thier senses sucked compared to my own, though I had to admit that those opposable thumbs were handy. No pun intended. Still, if it wasn't for their brains and stuff, it'd be us Pokemon with control of the world. It was kinda maddening, actually.

"People," my body replied, his voice flat and lacking emotion. "Two of them. One Pokemon, one human."

"Alright," I replied, grinning. I knew there had to be others here! It was more a hunch than anything, or a gut feeling, but I'd been right. "Let's go meet 'em!" I started walking faster, my excitement building.

"No, wait, we don't-" My body began, but still too late. I started running, my strange flippy shoe things smacking my feet as I went faster. At least, until I suddenly realized it was harder to run than it was to walk on two legs. Needless to say, my face soon became aquainted with the stone floor. As I looked up, I realized that I must have run all the way to whoever my body smelled, since I found myself looking at both human and furry lavender feet.

[Comexback]

~ Nakkura the Zangoose ~

Confusion!

How long had it been since I had awoken? It couldn’t have been more than a few hours, but there was no way to judge time without the sun or moon making their patrol through the sky. Everything around me was lit dimly, with a few bare light bulbs blinking on the ceilings while utter darkness swamped the odd corridors I passed blindly through. Given the sharp eyes of my species, I could’ve sought out a path without hesitance, but at this point I was like a foreigner thrown into a bustling city.

But not without a guide.

From admiring my own reflection—a VERY handsome reflection, I might add—as a Pokémon, I recognized the creature ahead of me immediately. He’d said little other than explaining what he knew was going on. Other than that, I’d been left buzzing with questions. That was rare; normally confidence glowed within me and just allowed me to not care about anything. I was without my powers now. All of my strength and good looks had been left in my body.

<Don’t stare at me like that.>

The voice made me start in surprise, but I could see the golden eyes turning on me, oddly luminous in the shadows. I tried to wipe the jealous expression off of my face. It was all too easy to think like a Pokémon. Where most would see a simple animal padding before me, I saw myself, with subtle litheness and speed hidden within the Zangoose. What was I like now? I hadn’t just stared at human beings—at least, not to my knowledge—so I wouldn’t know what other people considered was “good looking.”

<You have more than looks to worry about, Nakkura.>

I stuck my tongue out in reply, shooting back, “Well, you have no emotions or worries, Zangoose. So shut up.” It felt odd referring to him as the species name, but using my own name didn’t seem appropriate. He WAS just a Zangoose who happened to have my memories and my former looks. I wasn’t about to say he was me. While I loved my appearance, I knew that it was the soul that made a person. I glared at my body—just a Zangoose, just a Zangoose—and was somewhat disappointed when he only stared back levelly, not showing a flicker of anger. Still, somehow I felt even more frustration and bit back a few curses I felt like spitting at the empty air.

<Wait a minute.>

I nearly bumped into his bulky, furry white frame. His muzzle twitched and his eyes narrowed subtly, just enough to show he’d picked something up. His suspicion flooded through my body, with just a hint of home. When I took in a deep breath I couldn’t smell ANYTHING. I sighed, knowing I was as helpless as a kit now. I’d have to rely on the stupid Zangoose for everything—senses, physical combat. “What is it?” I hissed, glancing past his shoulder into darkness. Maybe, if I listened hard enough, I could pick up the faint murmur of resounding voices…

<Others.>

I liked to think that the hope bursting in my heart was his. I gave my head a quick shake and bared my teeth, a natural gesture that he acknowledged with a flick of his ear. I was about to snap at him to be more specific, but a faint coolness tickled my skin. I envied my old thick fur and glowered jealously at my body once more before turning my head. A door was open. He’d reared onto his hind legs and was sniffing carefully; I gave his shoulder a shove that knocked him off balance and broke out into a run toward where the wind was coming from. As I approached the source, I saw an unnaturally—or, rather, naturally—bright light. It was day, somewhere out there, just past a few more corridors.

“Who gives a damn about others? We can get out NOW!”

[Dog of Hellsing]

OOC: XD Nakkie wants to get out, but we'll catch up eventually...mwuahahah he can't eescape us forever! *Evil cackle.*

***

\Aisha =Spirit= ; Espeon =Body=/

IC: "We are near several," Espy said suddenly as we walked. The jewel on her forehead was glaring brightly now, though I couldn't figure out why. Anyways, I could sense that we were indeed closer to others like us. I could feel it in my gut. It was as strange a sensation as waving with my hand: it was as if I were used to something else happening to me when I was anticipating something. This brought back questions of why I remembered things that didn't relate directly to me. It was maddening, so I decided to ask my body.

"Espy...why is it I remember nothing about myself or how I got here, but I remember everything else? I mean...the only thing I remember about myself is that I was...am...should be?...whatever...a Pokemon, an Espeon. How is it I remember that, but nothing else about me, not my old name, not even the attacks I can use?"

"I do not know why the memories work like that. As for your old name, it is not important at the moment. You are a seperate being from me and thus a new name for you is needed, especially since you are human now," she answered, and I sighed, letting the matter drop. Maybe we could look for something while we were here, some sort of clue as to why all this was happening. Of course, the building was huge, and it would probably take ages to search all the rooms. We didn't have that kind of time.

We walked in silence for a few moments when I heard a voice, in the distance, saying, "Hello? Anybody here?" It didn't sound too far away, but I wasn't about to go running to it. For all I knew, it was a trap or some random person who came in to explore and then got lost. I looked at Espy, who had paused and tilted her head to one side. An ear twitched, her tail flicked, and then she turned to face back in the direction we'd just come. I turned as well and then let out a startled yelp when a figure came crashing to the ground at my feet.

In an instant Espy was at my side, and I thought at first she meant to attack the person. I opened my mouth to tell her to wait, but then I noticed, in the glowing light of Espy's gem, that a Shinx wasn't very far behind the person. I the noticed the funny feeling in my stomach had gotten stronger. This must be another like us! I looked back down at the person and saw a young man. He looked like a child, being that he was short and frail-looking like one.

"He is fine," Espy said suddenly as she backed from the boy. "I believe he is stunned. He should rise soon." She then turned, and I had to squint to see the boy better. I couldn't make out much, since he was lying on his face, but he had spiky black hair and a bit of a tain. His pants were extremely baggy: was that why he'd fallen? Wait, no, they only came down to his knees. Maybe it was those strange shoes he was wearing? His shirt was black, like his hair, but not so messy. I knelt beside him and sighed a little.

"Hey, you okay?" I asked, patting his back gently to get his attention. "You didn't hurt yourself or anything?" Not that I didn't trust what Espy had said, but it seemed only polite to ask aloud if the other was fine or not. However, before he could answer, Espy spoke once again.

"Another is near." She glanced back at me, and I scowled a little. I didn't want to leave the Shinx and his soul here, and we also had to find out who it was that had called out earlier. But if there was another like us was nearby, it'd be a better idea to find them before they got too far away or something.

"Can you go get them and lead them here?" I asked. Espy nodded once but didn't head off right away. Instead she nodded back at the Shinx, then at his spirit lying on the ground.

"I cannot talk to another body or spirit. I can only speak to you, and if others are around they will hear my words, but if they speak to me I will ignore them, as I cannot answer. The bond between us allows me only to speak with you, the spirit. Other souls are bound in the same way: they can speak with no other than their body. However, I am certain the body of this other will know to follow me if I give a signal." With that being said, she turned and darted off, and soon the light from her jewel was reduced to a dim glow in the distance. I sighed once more, hating this poor human vision, and shifted back to look down at the prone form of the Shinx spirit lying before me. I could barely make out a lumpy, shadowy figure I knew was there.

"So, what's your name? I'm Aisha."

[Draconic_Espeon]

"He is fine," a cold voice said from above. I managed to move my head up slightly more, enough to see that the furry purple paws belonged to an Espeon. "I believe he is stunned. He should rise soon." Not entirely true- I wasn't exactly stunned, it was more that seeing a Pokemon with a human scared me. I guess I'd never wanted to be captured. I was about to push myself up when the human, a female and older than me, knelt down beside me.

"Hey, you okay?" She said, patting my back as she did. It was surprising how similar her voice sounded to that of the Espeon. The only real difference was the fact that she had more feeling in her voice. I could actually hear her concern. I, or maybe my body, was slightly surprised by this, though I couldn't really explain why. "You didn't hurt yourself or anything?" She went on. I was about to reply when the Espeon began to speak again.

"Another is near."

"Can you go get them and lead them here?" The girl, who I was guessing was the Espeon's soul by this time, asked it in return. The Espeon didn't reply, but then, I couldn't see her real well, so she might have just nodded. Tired of seeing things from the floor level, I pushed myself up. I positioned my legs in front of me, and was a little surprised when they went into a crossed position. I didn't say anything, and the Espeon went on.

"I cannot talk to another body or spirit. I can only speak to you, and if others are around they will hear my words, but if they speak to me I will ignore them, as I cannot answer. The bond between us allows me only to speak with you, the spirit. Other souls are bound in the same way: they can speak with no other than their body. However, I am certain the body of this other will know to follow me if I give a signal." Well, that's an interesting development. I shot a questioning look at my own body, silently wondering why he hadn't told me, and he just shrugged. The Espeon ran off, her glowing gem leading the way. Shinx acted as though he wanted to go with her, then stopped and looked at me. I nodded, and he raced off as well.

"So," I heard the girl say from behind me, "what's your name? I'm Aisha." I climbed to my feet and turned to look at her properly. She seemed kinda pale, but then, I'd only really gotten a good look at my own skin. For all I knew, I might be the weird one. Her hair was brightly colored, a dark purplish red. I couldn't recall ever seeing human hair that color, but then, I don't remember much of anything anymore.

"I'm Ashitaka," I replied, realizing not only how much shorter I was than her, but also how much younger I sounded. "But, you can just call me Ashi. It's easier, you know? Sometimes I even mess up saying the whole thing, like I'll say Akitasha or something..." I let myself trail off. I hadn't meant to ramble, but I guess it happens when you're kinda nervous. Of course, I was excited, too. Finally, someone else to talk to besides myself!

"Anyway, um, are you or have you ever been a Pokemon?"

[Neo Pikachu]

Diego the Pikachu

I sat there, back to the wall, my knees bent, and my feet on the white linoleum tiled floor, with a single window covered by a metal grate bringing in a faint amount of sunlight. Meanwhile, the rest of the room was blank with white walls. Besides me was a metal table, and a metallic bed. I just sat there, looking at my human hands… bewildered. And besides me… the now empty Pokéball. My eyes were burning with tears…

This is a horrible dream, but it feels too real. What have I done to deserve this…?

But that was not all. I saw a lone and disheartened Pikachu, looking up at the window to see the sky, but so much of it was blocked by steel grating and metallic bars that he saw more metal than of the outside. But somehow… that Pikachu was me. He was who I was supposed to be… who I wanted to be. But now… I was human, and I didn’t know why.

<The hour is getting late, Diego. I know this bothers you… but we need to leave.>

He spoke to me, but I still felt butchered inside. All I wanted was to live a normal life. Why did this have to happen now? Why to me? What did I ever do?

<Please… the sooner we move, the sooner we will find the answers as to how this all happened.>

“I… can’t move.” I told him, feeling like I was crumbling inside, “I can barely walk. I… I don’t even know if this is really reversible or not…!”

He looked toward the floor, his long ears drooping down, and his eyelids coming down in sadness. He clenched his hands together, anxiously… nervously. The light barely shone on his face and body, but I could tell… he was feeling the same as I was…

<I know… I’m afraid of that too…> He spoke, trembling a bit, <Let’s… try not to think about that. Come… we need to move and get out of here. There might be a chance…>

“How did this happen?” I asked myself, wondering what this really all was, “It was like I was in a dream and I don’t remember it! I can’t remember anything now!”

<I hold some of the memories we have.> The Pikachu told me, <I am the body, and you are the soul. Since you are the essence of me, you are really Diego. Instead, call me Joukko.>

Still, I didn’t feel like moving from that spot, I was too scared and I didn’t want to think what could be out there. It was quiet, and I was afraid that whoever did this to us wasn’t done. This was madness, who could ever think of doing this to an innocent Pokémon!?

<Get up… please.> Joukko pleaded with me, <If we don’t move now, we may never be together again.>

I slowly put my human hand down on the floor, and pushed myself up to my feet. I felt so tall now, towering over everything, and looking down upon so much of what was around me. But still, I hated the feeling of being boxed in this tiny room like this. I slowly and carefully shuffled my way to the door, which had a circular glass window in the upper portion of it that I could now see through. Between the glass was another metal grate. I looked between the metallic intertwined cords to see a hallway, with yet another similar looking door behind the glass.

Where… where were we…?

[Dog of Hellsing]

\Aisha =Spirit=/

"I'm Ashitaka," the young boy said as he stood. He stood shorter than me and sounded much younger. "But, you can just call me Ashi. It's easier, you know? Sometimes I even mess up saying the whole thing, like I'll say Akitasha or something..."

I chuckled a little at that, then fell silent. Ashi's body had run off after Espy, to find the other who was nearby. I glanced over my shoulder in the direction they'd gone, then looked back at the Shinx's spirit. I was about to ask him what I should call his body and tell him mine's name when suddenly he asked, "Anyway, um, are you or have you ever been a Pokemon?"

"Yes," I said, smiling a little. "That Espeon was my body. I call her Espy, you know, not very original or anything, but she's me, you know? I wanted to show myself respect and not call her 'it' all the time. Ah, what should I call your body?"

***

\Espeon =Spirit=/

I ran, my paws making no sound on the cold hard floor beneath me. However, I hadn't gone far when I sensed the presence of another following me. I slowed, then looked back to see a small, feminine-looking Shinx behind me. It was the other's body. I let him catch up, then turned and continued on.

I felt no emotion as we searched for the next. I didn't know why this was, but I knew that the other bodies would feel no emotion without their souls either. Except for one. After being seperated from my spirit I had heard the humans talking about one of the subjects, a Pikachu, who still showed emotion even after being split from his spirit. They had seemed displeased with that one. I'd heard them saying something about wanting to terminate him because he was useless, but the others had overruled that. So he was allowed to live. I wondered if he was the one we were going to now...

[Gaby]

--Sakura, Spirit/Kirlia, Body--

I couldn't believe it. None of me could believe it. Of course, I am somewhat of a skeptic girl... err... pokemon. Nevertheless, my currently shaking hand moved a small amount of my sky blue hair out of my frowning face. I leaned down to be at eye level with my old body of a Kirlia who stood on it's... her feet. I glanced at the long, dark corridor infront of me, which sort of send a chill up my spine. After a few seconds, I glanced back at my body... Kirl. Yeah. Kirl. I glanced at Kirl with a curious face, slowly opening my mouth to speak. Which, in truth, was kind of hard for the first few words..

"Uhm... is there... anyone else nearby...?"

Although I did feel alone here with Kirl, a part of me kept telling me there were more people here. More people like me. I slowly glanced down at Kirl's leg, starring at the scar for a few seconds before glancing back up.

Kirl slowly closed her eyes, stretching her arms out and putting her hands infront of her. A sudden pulse went through my body, and I felt like it went through the entire building. Or wherever we were. After a few seconds, Kirl opened her eyes again, keeping them half-closed with an emotionless look.

"...Yes... there are a few... I cannot pin-point their exact location... nor how many... however..."

My curious look changed to a relieved look. Maybe they knew what was happening, or how we got this way. Something in my gut, however, told me they didn't. I stood up and turned to look at the dark corridor, which once again sent a chill through my spine. I took a few deep breaths, almost without knowing, and started to calm down.

Kirl took a few steps forward and stopped a small distance infront of me, turning her head around, her eyes still half-closed and emotionless. She once again turned around, taking more steps forward.

"Come on... I wont... wait all day..."

I blinked twice, unconsciously, I had moved my hand to my mouth. After a few seconds of standing there and watching Kirl walk off into the dark, I started to run towards her, my face changing from relieved, to confused. With my usual frown, of course. What was really confusing me, though, was this intense heat I was feeling on my left arm. It was almost unbearable, but I could stand it. But, as far as gut feelings went, this one was almost at the top.

"...Stupid gut feelings..."

OOC: See? Told ya I'd post, TT! I don't go back on my promises! (Usually >> <<;)

[SuperBoy]

Marowak--Body, Terra--Spirit

Was it over? Was my life over? The obstacles and achievements that I went through. Was all of that a complete waste? Am I in Heaven? Or Hell? I don't know. My eyes opened. I looked around the heated white room that I was imprisoned in. There were only two windows. One on the North wall and the other on the East wall. It was completely awkward though. The windows were completely open, yet absolutely no breeze came in. As I slowly moved my eyes toward the center of the room, I saw a table. The table had nothing on it, except for a glass vase with a set of black roses in it. They were alive, yet there was no sign of water in the vase. Then suddenly I heard a voice.

"Looks deadly doesn't it? Black roses instead of red ones. That's a bad omen. It symbolizes death. Can you move Terra?"

I looked at the being. It was a pokemon. The pokemon was small, but looked tough. The being seemed really smart. It shared characteristics with me. That's because it was me. I did as I said. I was having doubts about myself. I shut my eyes. I was ready for the worst. I slowly moved my fingers, then soon my hand. I opened my eyes. I was okay. I slowly stood up. At least I knew that I was able to control my hands, eyes, and legs. I slowly moved towards the pokemon. I kneeled down and put my hands on the pokemon's mask. The pokemon then spoke to me once again.

"We have to leave and find the others. They'll find us. Come on Terra. We have to go. Just call me Raine. I am you and you are me. You're the soul and I'm the body. We have to work as one."

The little pokemon made sense. We needed to get out of here. But what did he mean by "others"? Were there more subjects like us? Also when he said "they'll find us", what was that supposed to mean? Are there people after us? If so, we needed to get out of this room quickly. I walked over to the door and opened it. A long white hallway was seen by me and Raine. I tried to walk out and all of a sudden I crashed and fell. There was some sort of invisible wall blocking the doorway. Same with the windows. Raine and I looked at each other. We both nodded. We had to think of the trick that was set up here and fast. We began observing the room.

[Neo Pikachu]

Diego, BF1 Hallway

The view beyond that glass was limited. I didn’t understand these human places, I was far more used to nature. There was no way around the door, but after giving it one firm push, it slowly swung open. Slowly and carefully, I looked out into the hallway, and saw more and more doors all along the walls. Meanwhile, looking above, I saw all kinds of pipes, tubes, and wires.

Follow them. Maybe they lead to something important.

No one else was around, and after holding the door so Joukko could pass through, I let go, and the door just closed again. Meanwhile, it was so quiet, I was afraid someone or something was watching me here. I really didn’t want to run into anyone else right now. I was too afraid of what just happened. I really didn’t want to die in this cold and lonely place…

<Where are you going?> Joukko asked me, looking up to me as I slowly shuffled along.

“I’m… I thought I’d try following these wires on the ceiling.” I told him, still not sure where I was really heading to, “Maybe they lead to something… like… maybe what did this to me…”

The only thing I could hear was a distant hum of machines. As I passed every door, there were strange markings on them, and words. Somehow… I managed to understand what they meant. I could… read…

Ansi A-14
TERMINATED
Date of termination 8/19/07

Termination? What were they doing here, and why? How was I involved with all this?

Still, I followed the wires overhead. It felt distinctly like it was getting colder, and I saw many doors with square windows on them, leading to rooms that were totally pitch black inside. Regardless, I continued following the wires on the ceiling, and eventually, they all lead to one operation room. Meanwhile, I checked behind me, and Joukko still followed me, close behind. I swallowed hard, approached the double doors, and slowly pushed them open.

The lighting inside was very dim, but most of the lighting came from the glow of several computer screens, still on and operational. Meanwhile, besides lots of computer hardware and equipment all over the walls and floor on metal racks was another smaller room, with two windows, and what looked like an operating table. Lots of medical equipment was around the table, and I saw something that got to me. Blood… lots of it… all over the operating table, which was slowly dripping into a drain that was in the ground.

I hope this isn’t permanent. I hope… I hope… I hope…

I turned to one computer screen, and there was all kinds of scientific words and terminology that I just didn’t understand, even though I could read it and I knew what each individual word meant.

One of the books that were next to some of the computers was just laying there, opened with a pen inside. Somehow, after looking at it, I could tell the writing was done by a human hand. I looked at the journal, and then turned to the first page.

MEDICAL LOG G-11e
NAME OF PERSONNEL: Dr. Nadine Francis
DATE: 7/20/07

We recovered the sapient from the Ilex Forest in Johto, specifically LOC 27-01. Like usual, the initial reaction was shock, followed by submission. The name of the sapient was IGA-10, of the Pokémon species Rattata. Once back at the facility, we injected it with Dydanaphine CR-14, in reference to compliance code A11-14. With the amnesia in place, we managed to clear out IGA-10’s memory, preparing it for preliminary Deo-Seperation.

IGA-10 was then categorized into the test group B once ten hours were passed. Once the sapient had its mind cleared, we then identified the essence with the mind in full hibernation. Once the TANCON procedure was executed, the subject’s soul was then extracted from the body of IGA-10. Through the TANCON J-12 processed, we materialized the essence of the subject into a humanoid.

I kept reading on, turning through the pages to see how this progressed. I didn’t know what or who IGA-10 was, but this sounded definitely familiar.

MEDICAL LOG G-11f
NAME OF PERSONNEL: Dr. Nadine Francis
DATE: 7/28/07

After over a week of testing, IGA-10 still hasn’t obtained consciousness, but the vital signs are operational. Meanwhile, the TANCON reports were positive. But, neither the soul nor the body of IGA-10 has been responsive. With the T-Date in three days, the chances of IGA-10’s termination are probable to likely.

DNA notes are in AO-10, on Disk three. Nothing out of the ordinary.

I turned the next page, and there were more notes…

MEDICAL LOG G-11g
NAME OF PERSONNEL: Dr. Nadine Francis
DATE: 8/4/07

IGA-10 has failed to provide any substantial evidence of consciousness, still in its coma state. With this noted, we have active TANCON’s termination sequence.

IGA-10 has been noted in the casualty list. Signing off.


The notebook simply left my hand, fluttered to the linoleum floor, face down. My hand…

My hand was twitching too hard…

[Shen]

OOC: I guess I'll title my post like a few others are now...

IC: Shadow +Spirit+ / Kyosan -Body-

"Another one?" Iasked, halted in half-step.

Kyosan nodded. "Yes...that light is the body of another pokemon spirit, much like myself. I believe there are two bodies down that way. Our best bet is to go with them."

I nodded. "Alright then." I then cupped my hands around my mouth to amplify my voice. However...

"I wouldn't if I were you." Kyosan stated in his cold, dead voice.

I looked at him and asked, "Well, why not then?"

"If you remember what I told you about a half hour ago, I said that I can speak with you and only you, because we share a mutual connection. We are one, even though we are separate. No other will be able to speak with me, nor can I talk with any other.” My body looked back at me. "They will hear my words, but I cannot respond to them nor acknowledge them even speaking. It is the same with all bodies of pokemon spirits, Shadow."

I sighed. "Oh, great..." I looked back up to the light, getting ever closer. "Well, I think we should go to it. Maybe the body is coming to us because it wants us to follow, or something."

Kyosan nodded before facing down the corridor as well. "Seems like the most logical choice to me."

Together, Kyosan and I walked toward the light to meet it halway.

OOC: This post is way too short for my own good...xP

[Neo Pikachu]

Diego ~ Spirit | Joukko ~ Body

BF1 Medical Examination Room

The final resting place of IGA-10. No one even considered he might have liked having a real name… before they killed him. But why? How had I been able to survive, and not him? How was I still living in this nightmare?

<You seem upset, Diego.> Joukko told me, looking at me with despair, <What happened?>

“I… I… read… this.” I spoke to him, having a lot of trouble speaking, “There… was… there was another one… like me. Only now… he’s… he’s dead.”

<Dead…?> Joukko asked me, looking at me with question, <But why? Why did he die?>

“I… don’t know…”

They used him. Look at the words, they used him. Do the math, he was like you and you got lucky that you’re still alive. There is something wrong here. This is no longer about you and Joukko trying to become one, something needs to be done about this too.

I snapped to attention, and again, I felt very cold. It… it always feels cold when someone dies. Especially…

…when it could have been you.

I wished this dream would just stop. Let me wake up where I was supposed to be. Anywhere… anywhere but here. Something dark and twisted was here and it was making me dizzy just trying to question the morality and empathy of humans. I read this… and I really didn’t want to be like them. I didn’t want to be just like all the others. I wanted… what I really wanted was to just be a Pikachu again.

I don’t belong here…

“They’re… they’re somewhere here.” I told Joukko, who was looking depressed as well, “We need to find them. Get them to change us back! Somehow. It must be possible. It has to be. This is so wrong…”

<Diego, you need to focus and relax.> Joukko told me, on the verge of breaking down himself, <Please, for both of us. You just can’t give in…>

I knew I couldn’t do it myself. I looked at all these screens and data displays, but I just had no idea what happened with all this. I… I couldn’t do this by myself. I… I had to convince whoever did this to change me back. But… I didn’t want to fight them. How… could… how could this be done?

Research… that’s what this all was. A… collection of notes for some higher purpose. A goal… a mission of some sort of humans. What where they really trying to discover here? I didn’t want to fight them, but maybe… I could try and trick them into giving me what I wanted… without the violence. Yes, that had to be it. They were collecting notes, so… maybe I could trick them into changing me back so they could get notes on what happens if the soul and the body were separated, but then merged back together again. Yes, maybe they would want that. And once they were done… maybe I could find a way to escape.

Maybe…

[Dog of Hellsing]

\Espeon =Body=/

Soon I sensed that we were very close to the other. Within minutes, I saw them walking towards us. I slowed my pace and stopped when I was about fifteen steps away from them. The body was an Umbreon, and his spirit a young man dressed oddly with short spiky hair. I said nothing: I couldn't. Instead I gazed into the body's eyes and moved my head back, indicating the way I'd come. Then I turned and walked forward a few steps before looking over my shoulder and nodding for them to follow. I gave the Shinx a passing glance as I passed him.

Either the Umbreon and his spirit would take the hint and follow us, or they would simply watch us walk away. Whatever they decided to do, they needed to do it soon. Aisha and myself had to leave this place, find what split us into seperate beings, find who did it, and have them return us to our natural state...

***

OOC: So short lol. And Neo, your poor chars...hurry and get them with the group so they don't completely flip out XD.

[Shen]

Shadow +Spirit+ / Kyosan -Body-

The light drew near quickly, and within a minute I saw that the light had been coming from the gem on and Espeon's head. her eyes held the same cold, dispassionate gaze that Kyosan's had; I therefore determined that it was the body of another pokemon spirit. Next to the Espeon was a Shinx, also with that dead look in his eyes.

The Espeon, unable to speak to me at all, looked into my eyes (I shuddered, bit kept it from being visible...I still wasn't used to that look in one's eyes...) and then looked back the way she came. I took this to mean she wanted us to follow. She then turned and left, giving the Shinx a passing glance.

Kyosan and I looked at one another before running off after her. Hopefully, she would be leading us to help. Maybe even her spirit; then we could travel as a group to find out what the hell was going on, and find a way to get us back to normal. I felt it was better to travel as a group. It would help to have some support in a dark, foreboding place such as this...

OOC: Ack, another short post...Oh, and...777 post OMG xD!

[Neo Pikachu]

OOC: Ha ha, well, we’ll see how this works out.

Diego ~ Spirit | Joukko ~ Body

BF1 Medical Examination Room

I felt awful that I couldn’t have been there. To save IGA-10’s life… or maybe even to stop him from being subjected to this whole torture to begin with. I looked at the blood and I couldn’t even see any trace of a body. I shuddered to think they simply disposed of it like medical waste… not even once reflecting that they had taken a life meaninglessly.

I… I needed to stick to the original plan. Get myself together again, this was by far too much and too unnatural. Souls… souls were never meant to be separated from their body, unless after death. If something happened to Joukko, what would happen to me? Would I be trapped here as a ghost? Forever? Oh god, no…

But… the last thing I wanted to do was threaten one of the researchers. This journal spoke of something called TANCON, which definitely sounded like one of the things they used to do this to me. Only now, where IGA-10 and likely many others had died, I had survived. Maybe… maybe there were others like me, still alive.

Maybe some of them don’t even know what happened yet…

“I thought of a way that might fix this situation…” I told Joukko, hoping it could work, “I… figured out that what they’re doing here is research. They’re researching the whole process of doing what was done to us… separating the souls of Pokémon from their bodies, resulting in a human soul and a Pokémon body in remainder.”

<That’s what they’re doing?> Joukko asked, looking baffled, <But I don’t understand. How would research like this help humanity?>

“I don’t know…” I told him, unable to figure that out myself, “But maybe… I can convince a researcher to change us back. Trick them into thinking it would be a good idea to see what the results of reuniting the two of us together would bring, and maybe they’ll think it would be good to add it to research.”

But still, even if we did manage to find someone and we successfully pulled it off, there was something left undone. This kind of scientific practice… needed to stop. The problem was, my memory was cleared out, I didn’t remember very much at all of how I got here in the first place. Joukko knew, however, but there was little he could do until we were back together. I couldn’t think straight, but if the two of us were reunited, I would be able to comprehend what was around me better. The big problem was, if there were others, we needed to all be changed back, before we could even think of destroying the technology that did this.

<We can try it.> Joukko told me, looking up at me hopefully, <It’s a good idea. In fact… maybe its really the only chance we have…>

Maybe it was. But, I had to watch Joukko like a hawk now. If anything happened to him, I would be doomed, and there would be no hope.

I knew those researchers were around somewhere. They could not be far at all…

[Draconic_Espeon]

(Just so you guys know, I'm leaving for the weekend. I won't be on much tonight, or at all tomorrow, but I'll probably be on Sunday night. So, I'm giving people the right to bunny Ashi a bit, so long as you don't make him kill himself or something. I'll catch up Sunday.)

Ashitaka~Soul/Shinx~Body

Ashi
"Anyway, um, are you or have you ever been a Pokemon?"

"Yes," Aisha replied, the beginnings of a smile showing on her face. "That Espeon was my body. I call her Espy, you know, not very original or anything, but she's me, you know? I wanted to show myself respect and not call her 'it' all the time. Ah, what should I call your body?" I stopped for a moment, considering the question. I hadn't really thought about it, to be truthful. He was just 'my body'.

"I don't know," I said sheepishly. "I haven't really talked with him about it. I'll ask him when he gets back." I turned, glancing back to where Espy and my body had disappeared to, but even the Espeon's shining gem had been swallowed up by the darkness. It was kinda disconcerting, suddenly not having him with me. With a jolt, I realized that if something happened to him, it would probably happen to me, too. I supressed a shiver and turned back to Aisha, smiling.

"Anyway, do you have any idea what this is all about? I mean, we were Pokemon... But now we're not. Kinda confusing, ya know?" I paused. I hoped that Aisha and Espy knew something, 'cause I sure as heck didn't. What I wouldn't give for everything to go back to normal! ... Too bad I can't remember what normal was.

Shinx
It wasn't long before we found the Umbreon soul and body. The Espeon's senses were much stronger than my own, especially in the area of sensing others, so I followed her lead. I'd always been more of a follower, in any case. There wasn't much point in changing my ways now.

She began to turn back, and I followed, only glancing at them briefly. I couldn't help but feel uninterested in them. If it wasn't for Ashitaka, I probably wouldn't have given the two a second glance. Perhaps it was another part of being an emotionless body- you cared little for others besides your own soul. I didn't like it, but there wasn't much in me that really cared. The small part that did also wanted to join back with Ashitaka, to be one again, rather than as I was now.

The others followed her and I. It wouldn't be long before we were reunited.

[Dog of Hellsing]

\Espeon =Body=/

The Umbreon and his spirit followed, as did the Shinx body. It wasn't long before we returned to mine and the Shinx's spirit. I nodded at Aisha, who looked relieved that I was back. I hadn't thought of how nervous she might be with my leaving her behind: if something happened to me, or to her, we could have been in danger. Especially since she was basically unable to defend herself at the moment.

"One of the others is drawing nearer us," I said after a moment, as suddenly one of the fainter presences started getting stronger. "Should we go and join them, or leave?"

***

\Aisha =Spirit=/

"I don't know," Ashi replied to my question about what I should call his body. "I haven't really talked with him about it. I'll ask him when he gets back." He then glanced in the direction our bodies had gone, and a sudden look of anxiety came over him. After a moment, he turned back to me and smiled a little, though the nervousness was still in his eyes. I realized he was tense about the fact that his body was so far away: Espy had said earlier that if one of us dies so does the other. Suddenly, I too was feeling apprehensive and hoping Espy and the Shinx's body returned soon.

"Anyway, do you have any idea what this is all about? I mean, we were Pokemon... But now we're not. Kinda confusing, ya know?" Ashi inquired, and I gave a little shrug as I waited for our bodies to return with the other.

"I honestly don't know. I wish I did, because I have all these questions and no way of getting any answers...all I really know is that whatever did this to us-splitting us from our bodies, I mean- is what's needed to literally put us together again. At least, that's what Espy said earlier."

I then noticed that the gloom around was us lifting a little. It took me a moment to realize this was because light was getting closer to us, and moments later I felt elation and relief flood through me as Espy's form stepped from the darkness, as well as that as Ashi's body and other figures I couldn't make out well. As she got closer, the shadows fled before the light of her glowing jewel, and seconds later I saw that the other figures were a young man and an Umbreon. I smiled at them and nodded once. Before I could ask for names or makes introductions, though, Espy spoke.

"One of the others is drawing nearer us," she said, a twitch going through her lean body. Wait...I scowled, never before realizing that I looked quite like that. It was as if I were twenty or so pounds underweight. Apparently no one else had noticed. Either that or they were just too polite to mention it. I shook my head faintly as Espy finished with, "Should we go and join them, or leave?"

"I'd say we find everyone here, all the others like us, before we leave here. Somehow I get the feeling that we need to stay together. It might make it easier for us to find out what was done to us and everything. Also, I hate the thought of any like us being left to wander alone with no idea of what to do or who to trust, stuck like this forever..." And indeed I did hate that idea. I knew that we couldn't leave anyone here, not any who were like us at least. We had to find the others first.

[SuperBoy]

Raine--Body, Terra--Spirit

I kept on looking around the warm white room in search of a way out. I just didn't understand it. An invisible force in front of the door and windows. Then how did we get in here in the first place? I couldn't take it. I was going to go crazy.

"Terra, are you feeling alright? You look very frustrated. Calm down. We can get through this together."

Raine was right. I really needed to slow down and keep cool. As my frustration went down, the presence in the room lowered also. Wait! Lowered also....presence....got it! I finally figured out the trick with the invisible forces. It was so simple. I looked at Raine and signaled for him to follow. As we approached the door, I prepared myself for the experiment that I was about to test. I slowly put my hand through the invisible force. Raine and I slowly walked out. My theory was tight.

"Terra. How did you know how to get thought the door? I mean it had a force on the outside the first time you tried. You ran at it with so much anger and--"

Raine had figured out the trick.

"I get it now. Anger. We needed to remain calm the whole time in order to open the door. Whoever set this up is smart. This is dangerous and I sense others around here Terra. Come on. Let's find them."

Raine was correct. As I walked down the long white hallway. It was getting colder after every step I took. This was definitely weird enough. There we doors on the on both walls in the hallway. Suddenly, something told me to halt. I swiftly turned around faced a regular door. The door read "TANCON". I felt weird about this door. Was this an acronym for something? This was definitely something sinister. I had to find the others. Raine and I proceeded.

[Neo Pikachu]

Diego ~ Spirit | Joukko ~ Body

BF1 Medical Examination Room

I had spent a long time looking over the computer screens, but I still didn’t know what was really going on. Still, I doubted this was TANCON or anything else that could help our situation.

I just sighed, feeling so downhearted. I just wanted to be a Pikachu again. I didn’t understand all these strange machines and technology, and honestly, I didn’t want to. If fact, through seeing all this, it made the human world seem even less attractive.

After looking back to Joukko, I figured this place needed to be left behind… and now.

BF1 Hallway

Nothing had changed out here since the time I entered the room. It was so quiet though, it was disturbing. Sooner or later, someone was going to find me, and then what would happen after that? Was there really a way out of this? I didn’t know which way to go now, but moving ahead… was really the only way. Standing by idly wouldn’t change anything, but taking action… might help…

Meanwhile, I was getting colder, still carefully shuffling down the hallways with all of their dark doorways. Some of those doors, I tried to open, but it just didn’t work, the door wouldn’t even budge. I didn’t even understand this. However, when I came to one hallway intersection, I saw someone… another human in a white lab coat walking down the hallway. When I noticed him, he saw me, stopped for a moment, and then began to move faster.

<Do you… do you think he can do it?> Joukko asked me.

“Maybe.” I told him, being hopefully, “I don’t know, but maybe we can learn something from him.”

I simply waited. The blonde haired man then approached me, looking at me with almost a smile. Something… I could tell something didn’t seem right with him. He looked at me, bent down, and then looked at Joukko, right in the eyes.

“Hello there.” The scientist smiled, “I don’t know who you are, but if you don’t leave immediately…”

“I… don’t know who I am!” I shouted at him, really wanting answers, “Where am I?”

He stopped for a moment and then looked me over. After that, he simply smiled yet again, and then stood up straight.

“Oh.” He replied with delighted surprise, “Oh, I know who you are now. Very intriguing. I’m Doctor Gregory Hans. And I believe you… happen to be VAN-27.”

“No, you’re wrong!” I exclaimed, “I have a name, its Diego!”

He looked surprised, but then he simply snickered to himself and just cast that fact away.

“So that’s what your kind calls you.” He replied, taking a short glace at Joukko, “Funny, and I thought you would be ending up just like all the others.”

“I know what you’re doing.” I told him, not sure whether to be angry or not at the moment, “You… you changed me from a Pikachu into this. But… what happens when you change us back?”

“We’re not looking into that.” Doctor Hans told me, “This is far more interesting. I always thought Pokémon were generally stupid and useless creatures, but ah, I see I was wrong. Maybe… maybe you and I can make a deal, hmm?”

But, for some reasons… I still couldn’t trust him…

[Dog of Hellsing]

\Aisha =Spirit= ; Espeon =Body=/

Before any of the others could respond, Espy suddenly looked at me, her words louder than before. She may not have been able to show emotion, but raising her voice gave her words the same sense of urgency as some who could actually feel it and express it through their voice and body.

"The one has been approached by a human. There is no time to debate or think it over. We must act now. It could be our last chance to find the other, if this human means them harm."

I nodded once and Espy started off as I turned to face the others, my own voice full of the apprehension Espy couldn't show.

"I'm going with Espy," I told them. "You guys can wait here or go ahead without us, but I can't just turn my back on someone who's in the same boat we're in, and who might really need our help right now." Without waiting for any of them to answer, I whirled and hurried after Espy's receding form, soon catching up. She gave me a second-long glance, then turned her attention back to where she was running.

It didn't take long until we rounded a corner, probably the hundredth one I'd turned within the past ten minutes, and saw three forms less than three yards away. One was a human dressed in some weird white coat. He had blonde hair and I instantly didn't like something about him. Espy spoke, her voice quiet again.

"He is not to be trusted. The human is up to no good. We must stop whatever it is he is trying to do."

I nodded, my attention going to the other two figures. One was a young man, and I didn't pay too much mind to what he looked like. There would be time for that later, at least I hoped. The last was a Pikachu, looking nervous. I scowled a little at that, giving Espy a look.

"I thought bodies couldn't feel emotion?"

"That must be the Pikachu I heard of," Espy intoned lifelessly. I didn't respond, but instead stepped forward. "What should we do?"

"They know we're here, they can hear us and probably noticed the light from your forehead jewel a while ago. It's no use hiding or trying to run or get the advantage of surprise." I then turned my attention to the human, trying to sound less afraid than I really was. I might be human as a spirit, but I had the instinctual fear of humans we wild Pokemon possess. I wanted to run from him. "You! What's been done to us?! What are you doing to the Pikachu and his body?!"

[Draconic_Espeon]

Ashitaka~Soul/Shinx~Body

Ashi

I was glad to be back together with my body. It was almost like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders. I smiled down at him, and although he didn't react, I could feel his happiness as well.

"One of the others is drawing nearer us," Espy said suddenly, causing me to jump. I smiled sheepishly, but I couldn't help feel on edge in a place like this. Who knew who was watching us? "Should we go and join them, or leave?"

"I'd say we find everyone here, all the others like us, before we leave here," Aisha replied. "Somehow I get the feeling that we need to stay together. It might make it easier for us to find out what was done to us and everything. Also, I hate the thought of any like us being left to wander alone with no idea of what to do or who to trust, stuck like this forever..." She trailed off, and I couldn't help but imagine it myself. Even with my body, it would have been a kind of living hell. alone with no one to talk to, but with eyes all around you... I shivered. It was bad enough now, even with others there like me. I was glad I'd found Aisha so soon after waking up.

There was a pause, before Espy spoke again.

"The one has been approached by a human. There is no time to debate or think it over. We must act now. It could be our last chance to find the other, if this human means them harm."

"I'm going with Espy," Aisha told us firmly.. "You guys can wait here or go ahead without us, but I can't just turn my back on someone who's in the same boat we're in, and who might really need our help right now."

"Yeah," I replied "I'm-" but I stopped when I realized that the two were already running. Less than a second later, my body was following them. I was quick to follow.

Aisha and Espy rounded a corner, as did my body and me. I stopped just in time to keep from barreling into them, and quickly backed around the corner once more. I just got a glimpse of three forms, two big ones and a small one.

"He is not to be trusted," I heard Espy say stoically. "The human is up to no good. We must stop whatever it is he is trying to do." The two were quiet for a few seconds, until Aisha spoke.

"I thought bodies couldn't feel emotion?" I blinked. What did she mean by that? Curiosity getting the better of me, I peeked around the corner. The smaller form, a Pikachu, seemed just as nervous as the man it stood next to. Could it really be his body? I vaguely heard Espy speak, but I wasn't listening. Questions were whirling through my head, all of them about that Pikachu.

"You! What's been done to us?! What are you doing to the Pikachu and his body?!" Aisha yelled unexpectedly. I fell backwards, thankfully back behind the corner, right on top of my body. Now that's an interesting feeling- falling, and falling on yourself at the same time.

"Ow, ow," I moaned quietly as I quickly rolled off of my body. Then, I listened, waiting for the human's reply to Aisha's yell.

[Neo Pikachu]

Diego ~ Spirit | Joukko ~ Body
BF1 Hallway

A deal. I wasn’t too sure about this, but then again, this is what I came for. Either he reversed it, or… nothing would happen. If I was going to have any hope of going back to the way I used to be, I needed to trust one human here.

However, before I had the chance to respond, I turned to see another human with an Espeon near her. I didn’t know what she was doing here, but I tried to hide the fact I wasn’t really a human. For all I knew, she could be a human trainer that would never believe my story.

“You!” She shouted angrily, “What's been done to us?! What are you doing to the Pikachu and his body?!”

What? How did she already know what happened? I looked at her strangely, and then… I almost felt embarrassed. Meanwhile, another girl and her Shinx had followed close behind the other. I really didn’t want to be seen like this.

“This?” Gregory Hans told them, “My, you ladies should learn a lot more manners. For your information, all of you are undergoing a thorough examination. I can tell, none of you even know about the security cameras, the wire tapping, or anything.”

“But… what is it all for?” I asked him, feeling like I was in shambles, “Why… why did this really need to be done?”

“Ha, you’d be surprised at the research.” Hans told me with a smile, “We call this soul walking, a kind of out of body experience, but what we did manage to uncover was that the soul is capable of many things that the body isn’t. Of course, we used Pokémon instead of humans, since no human would volunteer themselves for the experiment.”

But what made him think Pokémon would have been okay with something like this? Still, I looked back to the other two girls, and their Espeon and Shinx. Were they in fact just like me? Pokémon that were thrown into this kind of situation?

“You see, you haven’t realized it yet, but souls are free of many bounds by the physical world.” Hans continued, “We needed to explore this further, because one day… there may be a critical advantage to humanity for having this option available. We’ll discover it in time, when we have found a practical use.”

“Well, I’m sorry, but we didn’t want to volunteer for this either.” I told him honestly, “Please, change us back.”

“I’m afraid its not that simple.” Hans told me with a stare, “Look at you. Your soul is now a fully functional human, thanks to the TANCON process and research. Now, its far easier to examine Pokémon and their reactions to situations if their souls are brought forward as humans capable of communications. Essentially, we're killing two Pidgeys with one rock. These two experiments are complimenting each other very nicely.”

But why wasn’t he listening? I didn’t want to be a part of his research, I just wanted to be back to becoming a normal Pikachu. I just looked to Joukko, and he looked down and shook his head.

<It’s no use.> He replied, looking disappointed, <We can’t change back if they don’t want us to.>

Sadly, I just didn’t know anything about TANCON to be able to be able to use it to change ourselves back. That’s why… we needed these humans. Still, I needed to know something.

“Well, Gregory Hans…” I spoke to him, looking into his eyes, “I think we would really like to be Pokémon again. How long do you plan on keeping us like this?”

“Oh, maybe thirty to forty years.” He smiled, looking off in thought, “At least, but considering the recent accumulation of research during the past few hours, I’d say it’s highly likely to increase.”

But that was so long! I couldn’t imagine myself spending even just a whole week this way, I just couldn’t! I just winced at the thought of it, it was far too long to be bearable.

He’s using you, stupid, wake up. You don’t do anything now and its really going to happen. You, stuck in these halls, just for research, likely for the rest of your life. They didn’t take humans, they used Pokémon simply because they feel you’re a lower life form incapable of making rational decisions. You’re going to let that fly?

“You… you can’t do that!!” I shouted at him, grabbing his white lab coat and shaking it fiercely, “No! Never! Here’s some research for you, Mister Gregory Hans! We are just like humans when it comes to feelings, and neither of us would want to be treated this way! So change us back, now!”

I let go, and then Gregory Hans backed off, very surprised and shocked. But truthfully, I didn’t know if this was going to help me go back to the way I was… or just keep me stuck here even longer…

But at this point… I think anything was worth the risk now…

[SuperBoy]

Raine--Body, Terra--Spirit

Raine and I had been listening on the conversation from around the corner. The boy was furious and I understood him well. At least he finally got the picture. Even as pokemon, we need to stand up for ourselves. No question about it. It seemed like the boy was finished talking after and abrupt silence occurred. Now it was my turn. I looked down at Raine and nodded at him.

"You want to communicate with the human with the white coat don't you Terra? If you do, now would be a great time to make an appearance and ask him questions."

Once again Raine was right. Raine and I turned the corner and I walked up to the scientist with a serious expression on my face. The scientist shook himself off and stood up straight. He eyed me and gave a smile.

"What are you smiling for? You think this is funny? I don't. You coward. Going up and doing such a cruel experiment on pokemon and too wimpy to take on your own race. Yeah, that's something to laugh about. I had lots of questions, but it looks like the boy and the pikachu had already asked you them."

Gregory Hans stared me down and began laughing.

"If it isn't RIK-247. Look at you trying to be tough and stand up for yourself. Not really a surprise. When we captured you as a Marowak, you resisted. I had to admit, you were quite tough for a little chump."

Raine looked at him with an angry look. I did the same.

"Resisted huh? Well what do you know? Struggling with a little chump. That makes you tough. I have one question though."

The scientist put his hands in his pockets and looked at me curiously.

"Oh really. What is it?"

I prepared to speak. Raine looked at me and nodded. He walked over to the pikachu and stood next to it.

"Do you even have the heart to desire pokemon?"

The scientist looked at me with a serious look.

"RIK-247, not you."

I eyed the scientist and looked down at the boy.

"Hey Diego. Wasn't he going to make a deal with you? Well ask him. What are the conditions. I'm on your side."

I put my hand out to shake Diego's hand.

[Neo Pikachu]

Diego ~ Spirit | Joukko ~ Body
BF1 Hallway

I was going to have to forgo my plan of tricking Gregory Hans, but in truth, he might have made the situation even worse if I let him do that to me. Either that, or make sure I would never escape.

After I let the scientist go, I saw another boy come from around the corner, with a Marowak standing next to his side. I realized it was another one, just like me. It really made me stop and wonder… how many Pokémon did they use for this twisted experiment? In the meantime, Gregory Hans simply looked toward the boy, and gave him a smile.

"What are you smiling for?” The boy asked him, “You think this is funny? I don't. You coward. Going up and doing such a cruel experiment on Pokémon and too wimpy to take on your own race. Yeah, that's something to laugh about. I had lots of questions, but it looks like the boy and the Pikachu had already asked you them."

“If it isn't RIK-247.” Gregory Hans laughed, “Look at you trying to be tough and stand up for yourself. Not really a surprise. When we captured you as a Marowak, you resisted. I had to admit, you were quite tough for a little chump.”

“Resisted huh?” The boy asked him, “Well what do you know? Struggling with a little chump. That makes you tough. I have one question though.”

“Oh really? What is it?”

It was then that the boy’s Marowak follower then stood next to Joukko. The whole time, I was really hoping this wouldn’t break out into a fight, because that was the last thing we needed. Plus, I didn’t want to say it, but we were really at the mercy of the scientists here if they were the only ones that could operate TANCON. Blackmailing them or fighting them wouldn’t help if we needed to understand each other…

“Do you even have the heart to desire Pokémon?”

“RIK-247, not you.”

It was then that the boy looked at me.

“Hey Diego.” He told me, “Wasn't he going to make a deal with you? Well ask him. What are the conditions. I'm on your side.”

He then offered his hand, but through feeling a little bashful, I just gave it a quick shake and left it at that. But after coming to that agreement, I then looked back to Gregory Hans. I knew his intentions seemed malicious, but deep inside, I knew humans had a heart as well. So, I decided to employ a new strategy.

“Gregory Hans,” I asked him, looking into his eyes, “I’m sure by now you’ve probably seen enough to think this experiment has worth to it, when really it doesn’t. Sooner or later, if you and your team of people are going to introduce these methods to the rest of humanity, the methods are going to be revealed and discovered. Not every human will believe your means justify your now pointless ends of separating souls from their bodies. Especially the ones that have deeper emotions for their own Pokémon.”

“No one else will need to figure out how we do it.” Gregory Hans challenged me, “And all of you… you are in no position to bargain! You will be staying here whether you like it or not!”

Wake up. He’s underestimating all of you.

“You… may live to regret saying that, Gregory Hans.” I told him in a cold voice.

Remember you said you were a human capable of communications. Use it against him. There are others out there that care for the welfare of Pokémon. There must be a way to reach them! You know what these people are doing is wrong!

But from here? How could I do that? I just didn’t understand human technology, I never thought I would need it! But I tried thinking so hard at that moment.

“I’m going to call security.” Gregory Hans threatened us, “I’m going to have all of you thrown back into your rooms like you should be. You are ours to use however we want!”

...I’m going to call security. I’m going to have…

…going to call security. I’m going…

…to call security. I’m…

…call security…

…call…

I then watched feverishly as he plunged his hand into his lab coat, and with burning eyes, I saw his hand clutched onto a black cell phone. Time… then seemed to slow to a crawl, right before my eyes…

* * *

I suddenly had a flashback upon seeing the small black device. The image came back to me at a million miles a second, one I remembered several months ago. I remembered their faces, their eyes. Two trainers, looking over a critically wounded Vulpix and a very badly hurt human girl that had fallen unconscious, both victims of a vicious Ursaring attack.

“They’re hurt bad, Sam. You really shouldn’t move her. Call someone for help.

I stood there watching, just listening to them.

“But I don’t know the number for the hospital!” Sam exclaimed, frantically pulling out his Pokégear, “What should I do!?”

“Sam, just call the main emergency number, 9-1-1.” The other boy tried to tell him quickly, “They will send help!”

It all came rushing back to me…

…main emergency number…

…9-1-1…

…will send help…

I watched as Gregory Hans opened his cell phone up, and with time slowed down, it had the echo of snapping wood. I felt forces of anger and determination I never felt before push me, and I charged right at him, gritting my teeth. With my right hand, I clenched the fingers down, and then formed a fist. Quickly and furiously, I struck the scientist in the face, and in shock, his grip on the cell phone was lost. Then, with my left hand, I quickly grabbed the device, and tore it out of his reach.

“You maggot!” Gregory Hans shouted at me in rage, “What the hell do you think you’re doing!?”

“Joukko… stop him!” I shouted toward the Pikachu behind me while I raced down the hall, “Use a Thunder Wave!”

While Joukko prepared a massive discharge of electric power that violently struck Hans with a paralyzing shock, I looked down the cell phone. Before me was a whole array of numbers with symbols at the bottom. I had seen these things before, and remembered what they were. Quickly but carefully, I pressed the “9” button once, and then the “1” button twice. Remembering how cell phones like this one worked, I held it to my ear, and put the bottom part toward my mouth.

“911, what is your emergency?

“Please, you have to help us.” I pleaded with the operator, “They’re holding us captive in a research facility. They’re… performing experiments on us… please… send help…”

“Do you know the address of where you are?”

I… didn’t. No… what was I supposed to do now!?

“I don’t…!” I said back in a panic, “I have no idea where I am or what they’re going to do to me!”

“You need to stay on the line for as long as possible so we can trace the location. Don’t panic…

…we’re sending someone to help you…

I kept the cell phone opened, but when I looked up, I saw two more scientists came charging down the staircase that was in front of me. Hans just turned to see them, but he was still unable to move.

“They’ve broken out!” He shouted from across the hall, “Stop them!”

I had to stay out of their reach until the emergency operator could trace the location. If it was complete, the police would undoubtedly find this facility’s malicious research, and these scientists wouldn’t have a chance to escape them.

“They’ll find you Hans!” I shouted back at him while I tried to run away from the other researchers,
You, him, everyone! They’ll find you and you’ll never get away with it now!”

But if they caught me, they would find I contacted an emergency number. I had to hang on to his cell phone for as long as possible without being found. It was the only way…

…our last possible hope…

[Shen]

Shadow +Spirit+ / Kyosan -Body-

I knew we had to find others like us and stick together as a group...I did not realize that as soon as we did so that all hell'd break loose on us...

I had followed the girl and her Espeon after the Espeon body said that a human has made contact with another body and soul nearby. Kyosan, a young-looking boy, and his Shinx body were close by as well. We rounded a corner and came upon a hallway that was slightly lit, allowing us to see a human talking to what was obviously another body and soul, this time of a Pikachu. I took a look at that Pikachu's face and, upon seeing that he was nervous, knew that this body was different - he could feel emotion.

I glanced at Kyosan at this fact, but he merely gave me another emotionless look. We looked as one back to the Pikachu, his soul, and the human as the Espeon Spirit begins yelling at him. He said we were being monitered as research projects, or something...and that they'd tested this out on pokemon instead of humans, just because no humans would comply. That got my blood boiling; so, what, did he think we would?! That we pokemon are just playtoys to be altered and messed with at the whim of these humans?!

The Pikachu Spirit voiced my thoughts, in a way...and then yet another spirit came around another corner and talked tough to the human, who, by the white coat, i took to be a scientist. The human also called them by some wierd names that sounded like... no, they were experimant names. I'm not sure why I knew that, but something in my mind recognized that fashion of name...

The new person, with a Marowak following closely (signifying that he, too, was a pokemon spirit) then turned to the Pikachu Spirit and held out a hand in greeting. I caught the Pikachu Spirit's name: Diego.

Then, after some more words from Diego, the human decided now was the time to call security. He brought up a cell phone from his pocket, and Diego had an odd look in his eyes.

It was then that Hell decided to visit us and bust up the moment.

Diego attacked the human, grabbing the phone in the process, and having his body, which I caught that he named Joukko, paralyze the scientist with a Thunder Wave technique. Diego then dialed three numbers and talked to someone on the other side of the phone...whoever it was.

It was then I heard approaching footsteps, from what looked like a staircase. Now was the time to act. I ran forward, past the two girls and their bodies, to help Diego, and Kyosan was right behind me. Diego was backing up from the two approaching humans, who I saw were also scientists.

“They’ll find you Hans!” Diego shouted as he retreated, the cell phone still up to his ear, "You, him, everyone! They’ll find you and you’ll never get away with it now!” Hans...that had to be the first scientist.

By now, the two able-bodied scientists were gaining on him, and one reached out a hand to grab at his shirt. Kyosan was near enough, and leapt at the human's chest, knocking him over. I pulled back a fist and struck at the other, hitting him on the side of his face and sending him sprawling to the ground.

I skidded to a halt before looking to Diego and half-smiled at him. "Hey...sorry to meet under such circumstances..."

OOC: Yes, this length of posts suits me much better ^^...

[Draconic_Espeon]

(Er, Ashi's a guy...)

Ashitaka~Soul/Mono~Body

Ashitaka

As I listened to the scientist, I couldn't help but feel dread creep into me, like a chill up your spin. These people didn't care about us, or our well being, one bit. All they cared about was the advancement of technology, even if it meant ruining the lives of others. Dread was slowly replaced by anger, and I felt my fists clench.

"Hold it, Ashi," I heard my body say, trying to calm me. "Wait. We must pick our moment to move." I nodded silently, though the rage didn't melt away. I wanted to hurt one of them, dammit! Let them see how defenseless we were!

Then, another boy appeared, this one with a Marowak. I didn't doubt that he was one of us- he had to be. The scientist certainly knew him. As they talked, the Pikachu boy seemed to grow more desperate to strike a deal. I couldn't blame them. They were the only ones that could change us back. And here was this scientist, saying we could remain like this for years!

Finally, things started getting somewhere.

“Gregory Hans,” the Pikachu boy, Diego, said, “I’m sure by now you’ve probably seen enough to think this experiment has worth to it, when really it doesn’t. Sooner or later, if you and your team of people are going to introduce these methods to the rest of humanity, the methods are going to be revealed and discovered. Not every human will believe your means justify your now pointless ends of separating souls from their bodies. Especially the ones that have deeper emotions for their own Pokémon.”

“I’m going to call security.” Gregory Hans threatened us, “I’m going to have all of you thrown back into your rooms like you should be. You are ours to use however we want!” I couldn't take it any more. Much to my body's dismay, I stood, and ran to stand next to Aisha.

"I'd like to see you try!" I yelled back, my voice deepening into a growl. I probably wasn't all that intimidating, but man, yelling felt good. The Hans guy seemed about ready to yell back when Diego lunged. He snatched the cellphone right outta that guys hands.

“You maggot!” the scientist shouted, his anger evident. “What the hell do you think you’re doing!?”

Diego called for his body, Joukko, and before anyone could react, Hans was hit with a Thunder Wave. Meanwhile, Diego was dialing something on the phone. He began talking, though I was to far away.

“They’ve broken out!” Hans shouted, still paralyzed, “Stop them!” More scientists came running, and Diego was still doing something. I didn't really understand what was going on, but I knew we had to help!

"C'mon, um..." I faultered, realizing I still hadn't asked my body what his name should be.

"Mono," he said, practically reading my mind. "Call me Mono."

"Okay, then," I said, still grinning, "let's go kick scientist butt!"

The Umbreon kid had already entered the fray, and the two scientists were down. But, as the boy ran to talk to Diego, the first scientist started to climb to his feet. I reacted in the only way I knew how- I attacked.

I leaped at him. Though I was considerably smaller, my weight was enough to knock him back down. I didn't really know how to fight like a human, so I decided to fight like a Shinx. He tried to push me off, but as he did, I grabbed his arm and dug in my claws- er, nails. He yelled angrily, trying to escape my grip. I finally let go and jumped off his back. As he tried to get up, I ran at him, ramming him with my body, like I was using a Tackle. I guess my body wasn't all that strong, since he I only pushed him a few feet. Mono was instantly there, electricity running through his mouth, and bit down hard with a Thunder Fang attack. I looked away for just a second, in time to see that Diego still had the Umbreon kid with him, and both seemed okay.

[Dog of Hellsing]

\Aisha =Spirit= ; Espeon =Body=/

Madness broke out in what seemed like a heartbeat. I had challenged the human, and he had answered, though none of what he'd said had really made much sense. Then another spirit, accompanied by a Marowak body, made an entrance. There were some words traded, and then the scientist got angry.

“I’m going to call security,” Gregory said, his voice dripping with malice. “I’m going to have all of you thrown back into your rooms like you should be. You are ours to use however we want!” That...that was how all humans thought, it seemed. That they had the right to claim ownership to anything or one they wanted. I felt anger growing in me and wondered if it was coming from myself or being filtered to me through Espy.

Before I could do anything, I noticed the Umbreon and his spirit had joined us, as well as Ashi. And seconds after realizing this, the Pikachu spirit, Deigo, made a lunge for Hans. The humn stumbled back as he spat, "You maggot! What the hell do you think you're doing!?" The man had no time to react in any other way, though, as Deigo ordered his body to stun the manwith a Thunder Wave. Then he punched a few numbers and began speaking with someone else, thought I didn't know who. The anxiety of his voice made my skin itch.

It seemed like we would be all right: Hans was helpless on the floor and help would probably be coming soon, thanks to Deigo. Unfortunately, fate wasn't with us, and soon two other scientists cams charging into view. Deigo shouted something at Hans; I wasn't listening, everything being drowned out by rising dread asthe other two humans came towards us. Then I heard the sound of retreating footsteps (odd how human hearing works like that) and turned to see Degio running off with thephone. I was getting ready to call out to him to wait, before he got lost, and that we needed to stick together. The scientists seemed determined to catch him though, and were ignoring us.

It was soon before the three humans were taken care of, and I glanced around nervously as I stepped forward, feeling oddly useless. I looked to Espy and said, "Can you hold the humans with your psychic powers so we don't have to worry about them?" Espy nodded, and the gem on her forehead pulsed even brighter than before. Then, as if drawn together by invisible strings, the three humans were slowly pulled into a group. Ashi's body was hanging off Hans' left arm, electricity crackling around his jaws. The scientist was unable to move to get him off, but he was certainly cursing up a storm.

After that was taken care of I glanced around at the others gathered, wanting to get out of here NOW. "What do you all think we should do?" I glanced at Deigo and added, "Who did you call...?"

[Neo Pikachu]

Diego ~ Spirit | Joukko ~ Body
BF1 Hallway

They were everywhere. What could I do, there were coming from every direction. I had to hold them off, at least until they finished this trace. But… how long would it take them!?

“Who did you call?” Aisha asked me as we tried to get away from the scientists.

“I… I called the police.” I told her, hoping it was the right thing to do, “I… need to keep… this cell phone out of their hands. The they’re trying to trace the location, but if the cell phone is shut off before its done… they won’t be able to do it…!”

Then, I turned back to Joukko. If I was going to have any hope of getting back to normal, I needed him most of all. He had already put Gregory Hans down, but I knew it wouldn’t be enough. I needed him by my side.

“Joukko!” I called out to the Pikachu, “Just get away from them, come back to me!”

He did as he was told, but they still kept on coming. And then, I heard an alarm go off. Every other second, a loud blaring sound was going off, and red, pulsing lights were turning on and off, filling the halls with a blood-red glow.

“Get your asses back here!” One of the scientists shouted.

I just ignored him, and continued dashing down the hall, hoping we wouldn’t run into any more of these maniacs. But I felt so lost in this place…

“Do you have the location yet?” I asked the 9-1-1 operator.

“Not yet, stay on the line. Are you in danger?”

“…Yes.” I told her, feeling very anxious, “They’re coming after us, they might already know. Please, you must hurry.”

“We’re doing the best we can.”

I had no idea how long it would take. It was at that moment that Joukko finally caught up with me, and I held him tightly with my right arm while my left hand held onto the phone.

We’ll be together again soon, Joukko… I promise…