บท 141: Just a Laboratory
Meeting Mewtwo?
Big guy, I think you're overestimating me. I'm just lucky enough to know you.
Besides…
If this is the Pokémon Special timeline, then Giovanni likely created Mewtwo with one goal in mind: to help locate his missing son, Silver.
Mewtwo's abilities, especially its capability to track using DNA, should theoretically make it great for finding people.
But right now, Mewtwo clearly lacks control over its power and remains prone to dangerous outbursts.
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[Grain in the Field]: If you can sense its presence, then theoretically, it should be able to sense you too.
[Who Am I]: But it hasn't come to me. Why?
[Grain in the Field]: Maybe... it's not ready to see you yet. But more importantly, why do you want to see it?
Mewtwo froze, uncertainty flashing across its face.
Why?
It didn't know. All it had was an instinctive feeling that this "other" being might hold the answers to its existence.
Johan, however, already seemed to grasp what was on Mewtwo's mind.
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[Grain in the Field]: You want to find the meaning and value of your existence, don't you?
[Who Am I]: …Yes.
[Grain in the Field]: Then let me ask you something simple.
[Grain in the Field]: Two Haunter. One has just been born. The other just helped its trainer win a Pokémon League championship. What is the purpose of each one's existence?
"Haunter..."
Mewtwo softly repeated the name, its psychic aura flickering.
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In the vast, data-rich void of the Rocket base's network, the captured Porygon stiffened as Mewtwo's psychic influence washed over it.
Porygon internally screamed: Oh no, not this again!
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[Who Am I]: Their purpose depends on perspective?
Johan raised an eyebrow at Mewtwo's response.
Oh? It seemed Mewtwo had grown sharper—able to dissect a question's intent rather than simply answer at face value.
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[Grain in the Field]: Exactly. But why does the perspective—or "reference point"—matter?
Mewtwo's silence stretched long this time.
Johan casually put his phone down, went to take a shower, and even supervised Haunter and Vulpix's evening grooming session.
By the time he returned, Mewtwo's reply finally appeared:
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[Who Am I]: Responsibility. Based on the perspective, each Haunter bears a different responsibility.
Johan nodded.
Mewtwo wasn't wrong—but this wasn't the end of the conversation. If anything, this was where things got more complex.
[Grain in the Field]: And where does responsibility come from?
Fearing Mewtwo might take too long or overheat its "brain" trying to figure this out, Johan added his own thoughts before it could respond:
[Grain in the Field]: A book I read once said, "Responsibility begins in dreams." Another author argued, "Responsibility comes from imagination."
[Who Am I]: Dreams? Imagination?
[Grain in the Field]: Let me give you an example. You've "seen" this other being in your subconscious. You believe it's connected to you, so you feel compelled to find it. That urge becomes a responsibility you place on yourself—a responsibility born from your own thoughts.
[Grain in the Field]: So your desire to seek the meaning of your existence is, in itself, part of your existence's meaning.
Wait, what?! Meaning is just… meaning?
Somewhere deep within the Rocket network, Porygon metaphorically collapsed: Nope. I'm out. Don't get paid enough for this.
[Grain in the Field]: All you need to do now is let your imagination run wild—but within limits. Rules and self-discipline are essential.
As Johan hit "send," he noticed Mewtwo's chat avatar dim.
"Did it short-circuit again?" Johan frowned.
Was the idea of self-discipline that hard to process?
Still, he couldn't help but feel a sense of pride. Mewtwo's progress was undeniable—it just needed more time to digest the conversation.
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Rocket Base, Viridian City
The hum of electricity filled the dimly lit laboratory.
"Dammit, the Porygon's frozen again!"
"What happened this time? Dreams? Imagination? Well, at least it's not Gastly."
"Wait, Mewtwo's psychic readings are skyrocketing—again! It's surpassing our projected thresholds!"
The laboratory bustled with controlled chaos, researchers scurrying between stations.
Giovanni, observing through the upper observation window, stood silent with his hands behind his back.
Beside him, Matori chewed thoughtfully on a biscuit before scribbling notes into her tablet.
"Boss, as expected, every time Mewtwo interacts with Johan, its psychic power spikes—and the Porygon crashes," she reported.
Giovanni smirked, his gaze fixed on the armored Mewtwo.
"Do you know the biggest difference between Mewtwo and other Pokémon?"
Matori blinked. "Its overwhelming strength and power?"
Giovanni shook his head slightly.
"No. It thinks more. It has a mind that seeks to understand the very essence of things."
While Mewtwo's interactions with Johan caused disturbances, Giovanni couldn't deny their benefits: each session left Mewtwo stronger and more self-aware.
This was exactly what Giovanni wanted.
Back on the ground floor, a weary researcher muttered, "At this rate, it'll destroy the lab..."
Overhearing this, Matori glanced at Giovanni nervously.
"What about the laboratory itself?" she asked.
Giovanni turned to leave.
"Fix it."
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Johto Region, Lake of Rage
Meanwhile, Lance's day had just begun, as he patrolled the Johto skies on his Dragonite.
A burst of static crackled in his earpiece.
"Zzzzt... Rockets... Zzzzt spotted near Lake of Rage... Zzzzt... massive Red Gyarados... zzzzt need backup..."
Lance's eyes narrowed.
"Dragonite, turn around—we're heading to the Lake of Rage!"
The storm-covered sky roared with lightning and rain as Dragonite descended toward the chaos below.
Amid the waves, a colossal red-scaled Gyarados rampaged, its enraged cries echoing across the water.
"Lance is here!"
The gathered League officers visibly relaxed at the sight of their iconic Champion.
Lance, however, focused solely on the thrashing Gyarados. His usual calm demeanor shifted into a fierce grin.
"Dragonite, Hurricane!"
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Kanaz Pokémon Academy
Saturday morning brought the highly anticipated Top 4 matches for the Instructor Assessment.
Johan, the dark horse of the competition, had drawn an unprecedented amount of attention—not only as a psychologist but also for his unconventional tactics.
The arena was filled with excited chatter, with fans holding signs of support for Johan.
Amid the buzz, Johan couldn't help but notice Tinkatuffk staring at Steven's Skarmory in the distance.
"Chu~~"
Its grip on its hammer tightened as it sized up the metallic bird.
Skarmory swallowed hard.
"Relax," Johan sighed, patting Tinkatuffk's head.
The hammer-wielding Pokémon turned back to him, beaming brightly.
"Chu!"
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Powerstones?
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