Everyone needs someone to care about them…
…don’t they?
Those words continued to repeat themselves in Meowth’s head as he wandered back towards the Intermediate sleeping quarters. It was not only the meaning that haunted the Pokemon so, it was also the expression upon Gloria’s face as she had uttered them. The longing that he could sense deep within her.
“Everyone needs someone… he murmured to himself, reaching up a paw toward the handle of his own room. Then he paused in mid-action. Something about the atmosphere had almost rooted him to the spot.
“Jessie…” came James’ voice in broken tones from behind the door. “I can’t go on like this any more.”
There was a moment of silence. Meowth pulled gently on the handle, slid the door open just enough to be able to take a view within the room and continued to listen intently, a worried look in his eyes. James slumped on the edge of the bed, brushing at the lock of hair that dangled across his face as he so often did when he was particularly distressed. Jessie stood a short distance from him, somewhat confused.
“I just can’t…” the man echoed miserably.
“What do you mean, James?” Jessie exclaimed
“I ran away from home to escape an enforced lifestyle” came the reply. “Not enter another one. Can’t you see? We’re slaves here!”
The man rested his head in his hands and began to sob. His companion glanced at him uncomfortably as he did so, uncertain of how to react.
“James…”
“I want to go! I want to get out of here!”
“You know full well we can’t do that. We signed into a binding contract."
“Screw the contract! I can’t stand this circumstance any longer! Either it goes...or I do.”
Meowth craned his neck slightly, his deep concern for his companion’s sorrow temporarily overthrown by surprise upon Jessie’s reaction. The corners of the woman’s eyes had creased everso slightly; like those of one suffering great pain but desperate to hide it.
“James, please…” she whispered. “Don’t say that”
“Why not?” the man snapped, lifting his head for all to see the frustrated, tear-streaked expression on it. “It's not like I've managed to make any difference! The world would be a better place with me out of it!”
Jessie’s terrified visage calmed at this point. She walked slowly toward James as he rested his head back in his hands and sat down beside him with utmost care. Then, to Meowth’s utter astonishment, she did something he hadn’t ever seen her do before; in one swift movement Jessie had placed her arm across James’ shoulders, leaned over and kissed him gently on the cheek.
“James…” she murmured.
“…the world would be an empty and pointless place without you in it.”
The man raised his eyes to meet Jessie’s; the expression noticeably placid once more. He took Jessie’s hand tightly in his own, causing her face to become flushed with redness.
“Thank you, Jess,” he remarked. “Thank you so much. And I’m sorry for what I said; I don’t know how I could be so selfish as to wish to leave you by yourself in this temperamental world of ours.”
“It’s ok, James,” Jessie smiled comfortingly, letting her partner release his grip and bringing her free arm up to wrap the man in a warm hug. “I know how emotion can drive one’s mind sometimes. Don’t feel bad about it.”
And with that she leant her head upon James’ shoulder and let out a peaceful sigh. It was clear to see just how long Jessie had been waiting to let her feelings go like this, and just as clear upon James’ face as to how long he had been waiting for her to do so. Silence descended, interrupted only by the occasional happy outlets of breath. But not all was as it should have been. Outside the door Meowth stood, biting on his paw to stop himself from crying out in despair.
There was something distinct about Jessie and James’ gentle embrace, those loving glances exchanged between each other that made the Pokémon feel cold…
…alone…
…unwanted.
As he slipped back into the corridor Meowth could feel a deep longing for companionship rising up within him. This concept wasn’t unfamiliar; the Pokemon had yearned for someone to share his feelings with, ever since he remembered being alone. Seeing Jessie and James’ affectionate interaction only served as a reminder of just how much that longing haunted him, even now.
“It’s no good…” he muttered under his breath, staring at the floor ahead as he shuffled moodily into another walkway. “I gotta face da facts. I’m just a thoid wheel ta dem now…all I do is get in da way.”
“Damn right you get in the way!” a snappy voice echoed from in front of him. Meowth looked up just a moment too late and was promptly knocked aside as an irritated member of secretarial staff wheeling a trolley laden with paperwork barged past with utmost rudeness. “You should stay in your Pokéball like all the rest of them, you talking freak!”
That exclamation hurt more than it ever had done before. Meowth struggled to his feet and took a miserable glance out of the windows at the sky beyond. Wandering across the corridor, the Pokemon placed his paws upon the glass and released a heavy sigh.
“Yeah…” he remarked in broken tones. “Dat’s all you humans see me as. A freak. When all I wanted was a little acceptance…to be seen for who I am.
But who am I?”
He knew something was amiss from day one. As a kitten he felt himself plagued with puzzlement - continuously searching for answers to questions other Pokemon never considered asking. Meowth’s quest for the truth, for a reason for his existence and some kind of sign as to his identity led him straight to her.
Meowsie. Her presence not only overwhelmed Meowth but with her shallow words she unlocked a part of him that had stayed dormant until that very moment. The part of his humanity. Meowth felt a desire to nurture it as best he could, to make himself into the figure Meowsie wanted so much. And as the months strode onward the Pokemon began to change, discarding his animal movement for that of a biped. Hour after hour was spent strengthening the back legs and increasing the flexibility of one’s vocal chords to allow for a whole new language.
Slowly Meowth had reached out into another society and snatched back what he could. But for what? To be considered a deformity? Meowsie had simply scorned his attempts and torn his affection to shreds right in front of him.
<Stop trying to be something you’re not!> she had remarked coarsely. <You can never be human, and all you’ve done is disgraced yourself trying. All you are now is a freak of a street Meowth!>
The Pokemon retracted a sob upon the revival of this memory, then Gloria's words surfaced for the second time.
“…like you were never meant to be a Pokemon.”
“Well no udda Pokemon would have eva tried ta do what I did” Meowth muttered to himself. “Dey woulda simply dismissed da t’ought as crazy talk. But somet’ing wit’in me…dat part doesn’t t’ink it’s crazy at all. Almost like……like I want ta be human.”
“Really?”
Meowth spluttered in alarm upon hearing the voice of another figure just above his head. Lifting his eyes to meet those of the female figure staring down at him the Pokemon furrowed his brow and put on a rather indignant scowl.
“Hey, don’cha know it’s impolite ta listen in on udda people’s convasations?” he snapped.
“Oh, pardon me” the woman replied in a slightly mocking way. “I couldn’t help but notice a Pokemon talking to itself. Not something you see every day, after all.”
“Yeah, dat’s right” Meowth muttered as he looked back out the window. “Jeer and ridicule jus’ like da rest of ‘em.”
The figure raised her eyebrows and looked at her nails for a moment.
“Why I would never stoop to such a level” she remarked. “I was simply intrigued by what you had to say.”
“Feh” came the half-hearted grunt. Meowth turned his head away before folding his arms indignantly, signifying a sincere wish to be left alone. Nevertheless the woman persisted relentlessly, lowering herself to his level to get a better view of his face.
“You have most intriguing DNA by far” she spoke with utmost coolness. This got the Pokemon’s attention.
“H-how d’ya know dat?” he stammered. The woman chuckled outwardly at his blatant nervousness.
“I happen to be involved in a certain little venture you may have heard of” she explained. “A venture known as Project Rebirth.”
Meowth turned to face the figure, having lost the air of concern and replaced it with a distinct curiosity.
“An what’s so intriguin’ about my DNA den, lady?”
“Simply put, there are things there that aren’t meant to be” the woman told him. “Genetic corruption, if you will. It would certainly explain your longing for a human form, and with the correct adjustments…we could give you exactly what you want.”
Meowth’s dark blue eyes widened.
“Me?” he gasped. “A human bein’?”
The woman nodded, placing her hands behind her back and crossing the fingers of her right hand.
“Yes. It is possible, but only for you. Your genes are like an open book with unfinished sentences. With our technology, we can complete the chapter that is your true identity, Meowth”
“My true identity…” the Pokemon murmured. “My search will be finally ova. I’ll be treated da same as everyone else… I’ll fit in fer sure…”
With a swift turn the figure prepared to leave.
“Take all the time you need to think about it” she said. “I realise this will be a big decision for yo-“
“I’ll do it!”
From beneath the veil of shadow a smirk crept its way across the woman’s face.
“Excellent” she replied.
“Please follow me. Your new life is awaiting you just around the corner”
Listening to the soft thud of the Pokemon’s footsteps accompanying the clatter of her heels the figure rubbed her hands together nastily as she made her way back to the laboratory.
Seems this will be a lot easier than I thought, she remarked mentally. Already I have the specimen I desire, willing to lay his life on the line for the sake of a petty ‘enhancement’. Little does he know our genetic tampering shall bring us so much more than his humanity. Oh yes…
Unlocking the box of Pokemon modification will unleash potential so powerful Team Rocket, and soon I, will be able to grasp back the control we so richly deserve!