Chapter 106: A New Subject
"Alright, alright, break time!" Xiu called out, stepping forward as Forretress finally ceased its spinning assault, clamping its shell shut in exhaustion. Scyther, breathing heavily but otherwise unharmed after another session of intense evasion practice, lowered its scythes warily. Xiu offered both Pokémon recovery snacks.
As Forretress began to eat, Xiu made another observation. He placed the high-protein pellets near its closed shell, tapped lightly to get its attention, then deliberately took several steps back, averting his gaze but watching peripherally.
Just as before, the outer shell segments cracked open slightly. Something – a blur of motion too fast to clearly discern, perhaps one of the red inner appendages – darted out, snatched the pellets with lightning speed, and retracted instantly before the shell clamped shut again. The entire process took less than a second.
Xiu had witnessed this quick, furtive eating habit several times now over the past couple of days. It still baffled him. 'Why the secrecy?'
Despite his intense curiosity about Forretress's internal structure and behavior, Xiu resisted the urge to investigate further. He couldn't exactly pry open its shell by force. 'Patience,' he reminded himself. Still, the mystery gnawed at him, like an itch he couldn't scratch.
Just as he was offering Scyther its portion, Professor Oak strolled over from the direction of the institute, observing the scene. "Still at it?" he commented lightly, glancing at the tired Forretress and the alert Scyther. "Any progress? Or just the same stalemate for two days straight?"
Xiu smiled faintly. "Wouldn't the Professor know better than me?" he countered respectfully.
Professor Oak chuckled in response. "Perhaps. But true progress isn't just measured in wins or losses, Xiu. It's about adaptation and progress." He paused, his gaze sharpening slightly as he observed Forretress. "Though, I admit, this one's defensive capabilities are… impressive."
He then turned his attention back to Xiu. "Tell me," he began, his tone shifting subtly, "while interacting with Forretress these past couple of days… have you felt tempted? To probe further? To satisfy your curiosity about its… unusual nature?"
Xiu hesitated, surprised by the direct question. He thought of his earlier impulse to try and lift the shell again. "Well…" he admitted cautiously, "it is a very unique Pokémon. Naturally, I'm curious about its biology, its mechanisms…"
"Ha!" Professor Oak let out a short, sharp laugh, cutting him off. "Be careful, Xiu. Curiosity, unchecked? It can be a dangerous thing in our line of work. Especially when dealing with Pokémon we don't fully understand." His expression turned unexpectedly stern. "Many researchers, many trainers, have met unfortunate ends because they couldn't control their curiosity and pushed too far, interfering what they shouldn't have. Remember that."
"Yes, Professor," Xiu replied quickly, slightly taken aback by the sudden intensity of the warning. Professor Oak's words felt… pointed. He sensed a deeper meaning, perhaps a warning related to his own situation, his potentially dangerous Pokémon. 'Is he warning me about Abra? About Scyther's potential evolution?'
Seeing Xiu's sober acceptance, Professor Oak seemed to relax again, sighing softly. "Ah, forgive an old man's rambling," he said, his tone softening. "It's just… a crucial principle for anyone working closely with Pokémon, especially researchers. Safety first, yes," he acknowledged Xiu's earlier (unspoken) thought from their previous conversation, "but tempering one's own desire – for knowledge, for power, for discovery – that is perhaps the most important discipline of all."
He looked thoughtful again. "Desire… it's a difficult beast to control. Look at history, look at stories," he gestured vaguely. "How many 'villains' started as well-intentioned individuals, corrupted by unchecked ambition, by an insatiable desire for something more?" He shook his head sadly. "Adults chase desires, fall prey to them… and resisting that temptation, knowing when not to cross the line… it's difficult."
Xiu listened silently, sensing the weight of experience behind Professor Oak's words. He didn't know why the Professor felt the need to deliver this particular warning now, but he listened carefully anyway.
"Anyway," Professor Oak suddenly changed the subject again, dismissing the philosophical tangent, "that's not what I actually came out here to discuss."
"Oh? What is it, Professor?" Xiu asked, relieved to move on.
"Scyther's development," Oak stated, gesturing towards the resting insectoid Pokémon. "The analysis of the fragments is complete. The affinity profile is clear. Continuing the 'natural absorption' simulation… frankly, it will take months, perhaps years, to yield significant results. Too slow."
"So… the experiment is off?" Xiu asked, a flicker of hope rising.
"No, no," Oak corrected quickly. "The goal remains the same. But the method needs adjustment. And," he paused, looking directly at Xiu, his expression unreadable, "that requires a different research subject."
"Another subject?" Xiu asked, confused. "What do you mean?"
Professor Oak smiled faintly, a strange, almost predatory glint in his eyes. "I want to study you, Xiu."
"Me?" Xiu stared, utterly bewildered. He thought Oak was talking about finding another Scyther, or perhaps pivoting back to Abra. He wants to study… me? A sudden, terrifying thought flashed through his mind – Those stories about researchers performing unethical experiments… assistants disappearing…
"Professor," Xiu stammered, trying to keep his voice steady, "are… are you joking?"
The dead seriousness in Professor Oak's eyes told him this was absolutely not a joke.
Xiu felt genuine panic rising now. He's going to experiment on ME? Like those poor assistants in horror stories?
"What are you thinking?" Professor Oak asked, noticing Xiu's panicked expression, then seemed to realize the implication. He chuckled dryly. "Relax, boy. I'm not planning on dissecting you." He became serious again. "I want to conduct some non-invasive experimental tests on you. Specifically, monitoring your brain activity, your physiological responses, while you are in close proximity to Abra, while Abra utilizes its psychic powers under controlled conditions. I need to understand the impact of its anomaly on you specifically."
"But Professor," Xiu protested, grasping for excuses, "I need to train Scyther! And Abra needs its control practice! I don't have time…"
"Training?" Oak scoffed mercilessly. "With Scyther, you've mostly been observing its sparring match, occasionally shouting encouragement. Hardly intensive training on your part." He waved a dismissive hand. "And Abra's training requires focus I can provide. Don't worry about them; worry about yourself."
He leaned closer, his voice dropping again, becoming chillingly blunt. "Let me be frank, Xiu. Your clock is ticking. You're about to die."
"Damn it! Professor, you can't just say things like that!" Xiu exclaimed, shocked by the brutal honesty, momentarily forgetting his composure, slipping into the dialect of his past life.
Professor Oak remained unfazed. "Why not? It's the truth. And frankly," he continued mercilessly, "do you think I want to risk prolonged exposure myself? Just being near you, near Abra… it's potentially hazardous even for me."
Professor Oak clarified impatiently. "So I'm genuinely curious how you've lasted this long without exhibiting more severe symptoms. Logically, given the duration and proximity of your exposure to Abra… you would have become a Machamp by now. Or worse."
Xiu finally understood Professor Oak's angle. 'He wants to study my resilience as much as Abra's instability.' He felt like a lab rat again, albeit a potentially useful one.
"Hmm," Oak nodded, confirming the link. "Now, let's head back to the institute. We need to prepare the equipment." He started walking back, clearly considering the matter settled.
Xiu hesitated, feeling deeply uneasy, but followed slowly.
— — —
"No! Professor, why do I need to shave my head?!" Xiu protested, sitting rigidly in the examination chair on the second floor lab, staring in horror at his own reflection – now completely bald – in a nearby mirrored surface.
Professor Oak, calmly arranging various sensor arrays and electrode pads, just chuckled. "It's summer anyway, isn't it? Nice and cool this way. Besides," he added practically, "you're not undergoing chemotherapy, so don't worry."
Xiu sighed, raising a hand to tentatively touch his newly smooth scalp. He had to admit, though… I actually look… surprisingly handsome?
Once the head-shaving was complete, Professor Oak guided Xiu onto the main examination table – not the capsule this time, but a different, more open apparatus surrounded by an array of complex scanning machinery Xiu hadn't seen activated before. Wires and sensors were attached to his head, chest, and limbs.
"Professor," Xiu asked nervously, eyeing the humming machines surrounding him, "are these… reliable? They weren't the ones you used for the initial scan." He felt distinctly like a patient about to undergo some highly experimental, possibly dangerous, procedure.
"Don't worry, don't worry," Oak reassured him cheerfully, adjusting a final sensor. "Different tools for different tasks. These are specifically designed for monitoring real-time neurological and bio-psychic activity. Perfectly safe. And trust me," he grinned, "I am Professor Oak." He activated the machines.
"Now, just relax. Tell me if you feel anything unusual."