"Feng Che, you're here!" Dr. Fuji exclaid with joy as Feng Che entered the laboratory. "Behold, my resurrected Genesect."
Fuji pointed toward several glass stasis pods. Inside, man-sized insectoid Pokémon floated in translucent fluid, their violet exoskeletons shimring under the lab lights.
"The resurrection was a success, but I have a major headache," Fuji sighed. "Their natural physical constitution is surprisingly fragile after being revived from fossils. They need a suit of tallic armor, or they'll be easily picked off by predators. You're a Master of Pokémon cultivation; I need your advice. I want armor that is incredibly hard, lightweight, and capable of self-repair. Once that's integrated, I'll mount high-tech cannons on them. Only then will Genesect truly descend upon this world!"
Feng Che looked at the sleeping prehistoric hunters. "Dr. Fuji, a question. During the process, were there any... 'failures'?"
"If possible, I'd like to use the biological material from the failed specins to help design the armor. We don't want to accidentally injure the living ones during testing—it would be hard to explain to Leader Giovanni."
"Haha! I knew you'd think of that," Fuji laughed, leading Feng Che to a larger, separate tank containing three more Genesect. "I kept three that had perfect bodies but failed to 'wake up.' Two have stopped breathing entirely. But this one..."
He pointed to a particularly muscular specin. Its thorax was broader than the others, its limbs thick with dormant power. "This one is a mystery. It breathes faintly, but it has zero brain activity. It's essentially a vegetable."
Feng Che, this Genesect is in a state of self-induced suspended animation, wtwo's voice whispered in his mind.
Suspended animation?
It's rare, wtwo explained. Insect Pokémon have multi-segnted neural hubs. This one's primary consciousness has retreated into a deep sleep as a stress response to the resurrection. Its cells are actually multiplying at an accelerated rate. Once its body reaches its growth limit, it will wake up. Or... if the growth exceeds its capacity, it will simply explode.
So, there's a chance I could have a super-powered Genesect? Feng Che's heart skipped a beat.
More than that, wtwo enticed him. Genesect are hive-mind creatures. They follow the strongest. This 'vegetable' has the physical potential to be the 'Brain' of the swarm. If you ta this one, you might eventually control the entire Genesect legion Rocket is building.
Feng Che hesitated. If Giovanni finds out I've made off with wtwo AND his secret insect army... he's going to explode with rage.
Just 'kidnap' it quietly, wtwo teased playfully. I can guarantee he won't find out.
Feng Che's resolve crumbled. A legion of Genesect, properly trained, could challenge even the High Gods. He turned back to Fuji. "I'll need to take these 'failures' back to my lab for material analysis. It's the only way to ensure the armor's compatibility."
"Of course! Take them," Fuji said, already distracted by a pile of ancient fossils in the corner. "I need to focus on mass-resurrection techniques next. Giovanni wants to flood the market with fossil Pokémon to generate capital for our expansion."
The Black and White Shadows
As Feng Che left the lab, Jessica was already waiting by the door, her face tense. "Master Feng Che, Lt. Surge is waiting for you at the airfield. We have to move now."
"What's the status at the Whirl Islands?" Feng Che asked as they hurried through the corridors.
"Grim. The League has deployed an inescapable 'Heaven and Earth Net.' They aren't just sending troops; Damalanchi has dispatched the Black and White Special Investigators."
"The Black and White Shadows?" Feng Che frowned. He knew of them—the elite "Shadow Unit" of the League, used for the dirtiest operations. Black was a specialist in Dark-types, while White was a master of Psychic-types.
Along with 'Dark,' the investigator who attacked Feng Che previously, that ant at least three League-sanctioned Heavenly Kings were on-site. Damalanchi was playing for keeps.
At the airfield, several Team Rocket stealth fighters were prepped. These sleek, black jets were coated in optical camouflage that made them invisible to both radar and the naked eye in mid-air.
"Haha! Feng Che, finally!" Lt. Surge shouted from the cockpit of the lead fighter. "Climb in! We're flying dark and fast. We need to reach the Whirl Islands before the League closes the periter."
Feng Che used Teleport to drop into the co-pilot seat.
"Buckle up, kid!" Surge yelled, hitting the ignition. The jet roared to life, venting plus of white steam as the base's hangar doors slid open. With a violent surge of g-force, they shot into the sky and vanished into the clouds.
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