(Commandeering Wily and Ahrzayl for some single-post plot progression...)
Back in an undisclosed location...
Giovanni sat back in his chair, looking over the assembled techs and agents. He was seated at the far end of the conference table, the other personnel on each side, and a video screen secured to the wall at the opposite end. The screen was divided into four quadrants, each with a field agent checking in on a secured connection, locations posted in the corner of each section. The Saffron City agent was obviously dealing with atmospheric interference, as the video quality was choppy and poor, with occasional breaks. Domino had already introduced the assembled members, mainly for the benefit of the newest inductees to the project; Agent Ahrzayl and Dr. Wily II.
"--carried out your orders," the Saffron City agent, Stetson continued, "though we ran into some trouble with securing entry to the woman's apartment. I did manage to get one--*ksht*--one of my Pokemon in there, though. Got some information, but not much. All I could get were a few documents, but my Sableye's camera got lots of pictures before he had to get out of there. Christ, that chick can draw, lemme tell you..."
"When will you be able to transfer the data to us?" Domino interrupted. "The woman's art ability isn't relevant."
"It is when you see what she draws! Y'know your Pokemon clone? It's been living there!"
Giovanni flattened his lips into a thin line. So, Mewtwo had been living right under his damn nose this entire time?
"Just send the data as soon as possible," Domino nodded.
"Yes ma'am--*ksht*--connection's not too stable, so I'll get on it when the weather clears," Stetson's image flickered into static for a moment before returning to its choppy framerate.
Another member, Dr. Yeung leaned forward, resting his arms on the table. "So, Giovanni... what are your plans for Mewtwo? We can't just keep drugging it, just because it won't listen. You won't get its best performance that way. We need to control it, not sedate it."
"I know that!" Giovanni snapped. "Right now, that beast would sooner bite my face off than listen to me. What have you got for me?"
"Well, Jonas is getting 019 right now, he'll be back shortly," Yeung leaned back in his chair. "You should be pleased with the results."
Domino looked to Giovanni. "The Gamma Project was a step up from AC-065-Σ. You know how it's not mobile?"
At the mention of the Alakazam, Wily spoke up. "Indeed. While the brain-jacking was a success, we couldn't make it portable. It required far too much equipment to remain viable."
Giovanni nodded, picturing that pitiful creature, wired to machines and fed through tubes. The Alakazam's limbs had atrophied severely, and it was no longer capable of supporting its own weight. "It's useless for battle if it can't be moved."
"Until now," Yeung smirked as the door to the room opened, another scientist, Jonas, entering, a Ratata under one arm. The Ratata had a metal skullcap of wires and probes, connected to a backpack. It sniffed the air when it was placed on the floor, the occupants turning to look at the creature.
Jonas nodded, opening his laptop and sitting it onto the table. He sat down before it and booted up a program. "You'll find this interesting. We mapped 019's brain, and thanks to AC-065-Σ, the placement of the probes wasn't as difficult. Now, check this out," he hooked the computer up to a video feed, displaying his screen to the room, "you'll like this." He tapped a few directional buttons. Immediately, the Ratata moved in those directions. Jonas then tapped a "reward" button. "See? We have probes implanted in the pleasure centers, so we reward it by stimulating those areas of the brain."
Giovanni's eyes widened at the display. "How do you control it like that?"
"The probes stimulate parts of the brain corresponding with nerve bundles on 019's face," Yeung explained, "For example, if we want it to turn to its right, we'd stimulate those nerves. 019 would feel a tingling sensation on that side of its face and naturally turn right. We immediately reward it by stimulating the pleasure center." He sat back in his chair. "019 has done wonderfully in maze exercises, and we were able to navigate it through a tunnel, blind."
As Wily listened to the discussion, he could not help but notice a cold feeling in the pit of his stomach. He looked to Ahrzayl, who seemed similarly unnerved, though more from unfamiliarity than nagging concern. Obviously, she was not aware of this level of Team Rocket activities. A field agent thrust into a classified position.
Domino smiled in satisfaction as Jonas gave another demonstration. "So you see, we have this creature under our complete control. All it took was a little bit of... creative surgery."
"And the microprocessors have gotten smaller, so we can augment other Pokemon similarly, with less equipment," Yeung nodded. He looked to Wily. "You've missed quite a bit since you left, Wily. We've made some incredible advances."
Giovanni looked from the Ratata, to Domino, then to Yeung. "What else can you control with this? I don't need Pokemon that just run mazes!"
"Oh, we can do more than that," Yeung nodded, "that was just a demonstration. We've had success in battle with 019. And with our prior research with mapping AC-065-Σ's brain, we can target the precise areas for stimulation, while removing any resistance."
Domino nodded and looked to Giovanni. "You wouldn't need to control Mewtwo with drugs."
A chill crawled up Wily's spine, enveloping his head like a hood. He was right. They wanted to do this exact procedure to Mewtwo and strip him of any free will.
Yeung fixed Wily in his gaze. "We're glad you're back, Wily. You know more about AC-065-Σ than anyone. We'd love for you to head Project Upsilon." He smiled.
Domino nodded to Wily. "You're able to handle Mewtwo, as well."
Wily swallowed.
"As I said when you came back," Giovanni sneered, "you will be compensated. So, I trust that you will do this for me."
Wily dropped his gaze to the table in silence.