The four Pokemon of the apartment came together again slightly before dinner. Two had burdens to share, one was curious, and the last was cautious of exposing his charge to so much excitement at once. So...who wants to go first?

At Sam's startled expression, Vincent pointed a hand at the Scyther. Oh don't even try. I of all people should know when you have something you want to say. We only spent years together in a lab.

Sam weakly chuckled at that and rubbed the back of his head with one claw. "Eheh. Point." The bug sighed and looked to the floor. "Turns out, Bit's guess was right. Some sort of 'family' was going to help the Monte Colto with the damages...right up until they heard that the slot machines were damaged. Then they pulled their support."

That...is troubling. Luke pulled a bit at the collar of his sweater and frowned. Did they say what 'family' they were looking to?

Sam shook his head, and Bit sighed. "Such information would have hel-hel-helped, but we can make do without it."

Yes...though I will pass a message on...to Abby and the others. Luke motioned at Bit with one hand then. I believe you had something to share as well?

Bit sighed at that before straightening his form. "In the course of my re-re-repairs, I came across something of value. A memory dump of everything on the main-main-mainframe. I have been wor-wor-working on it in the background, attempting to gain a com-com-comprehensive list of everything the doctor did. However, I was sur-sur-surprised by a piece of data that was ol-ol-older than Vincent."

At that, the other three Pokemon stiffened before Vincent asked a question. A piece of data older than me?

"In-in-indeed. To be more precise, it appears to be an au-au-audio log, the first of many. I am prepared to play them back for you, if you wish to he-he-hear it."

Silence reigned for a minute before the Abra stiffly nodded at the Porygon-Z. Bit nodded back and his form changed. His eyes, which had been a series of black circles superimposed over a yellow one, shifted. Now they resembled black PLAY arrows. The blue band of his body thinned until it was barely visible, and as a familiar, yet oddly emotional, voice emanated from Bit's form, the line moved to mimic the audio waves of what the voice was saying.

"Begin. Rupert Nurem audio log, dated August third, 5001..."

Lucy sat with her legs crossed and grumbled at her instructor. The male had told her to begin meditating, yet once she sat still for longer than a minute, a sharp pain from somewhere on her body as he attacked would snap her out of her tranquility. "What do you actually want me to do?" she groused.

Surprisingly, she got an answer she could understand. "I want you to try and get in touch with the Aura. It is something all Lucario can do. Once you can, you will be able to dodge my attacks."

"And how am I supposed to do that if you keep attacking me, or don't even tell me how?" Lucy questioned the other Lucario as she made herself comfortable again.

This time, the male blinked twice before shaking his head. "Right, I forgot...okay, think of it like seeing without eyes, hearing without ears. It's a form of energy that all living beings give off and permeates the world itself, and Lucario can pick it up, thanks to these." Here, the male lifted one of the organs on the back of his head for a second before letting it fall. "So close your eyes and listen."

Lucy sighed as she finally resumed her meditative pose, but closed her eyes again and tried to do as her mentor suggested. Surprisingly, she felt a tingle at the back of her skull, and did her very best to not lose that sensation. An image swam into focus in her mind, one that resembled the nearby area. The colors of the world were muted, but she could see her mentor clear as day. It was like he was a bright light in this washed-out world.

Suddenly, she saw his image rushing towards her, one paw pulled back in preparation for a strike against her. Without really thinking about it, she moved to the side slightly, causing his attack to miss. The shock of actually dodging his attack snapped Lucy out of her new mental state as she opened her eyes, only to be greeted with a punch to the stomach.

"What was that?" Lucy groaned out as she rubbed where her latest reminder stung.

"That was you getting in touch with the Aura. At least, for the first part. It'll come easier now, and you should be able to dodge attacks. The time will come when you'll learn how to manipulate it and not drop your connection out of shock, like you did for the second bit."

Lucy sighed, but smiled. This wasn't as hard as she thought.

"Of course, such training is typically long and intensive, sometimes taking years before a Lucario is ready..."

Or maybe it was.

"Everyone knows of the Mewtwo event, when man tried its hand at playing Arceus. What I propose is simpler and similar to what they did there.

There exists a divide between Man and 'mon. Pokemon have vast powers and access to moves of frighting capacity. What is it about them that allows this? Their bodies, their minds? Or is it in their very genetic code?

I propose a series of tests involving the manipulation of a human's genetic structure, in an attempt to give a human not only the genetic code of a Pokemon, but access to its powers as well. Think of it. A human firefighter putting out a fire with water that he can conjure himself. A human farmer who can grow far more crops than would normally be possible because of his access to Growth. A human psychic who can read the minds of criminals to determine who was guilty or innocent.

Of course, the government sees the military applications of my idea and supports them heartily. Whereas I...there's another reason I'm interested in it.

A human who could use Heal Pulse or Recover, or even be effected as much as a Pokemon is by those moves. No more need for doctors for any save the worst or rarest of cases. No more need to drag the wounded to a temple and pray that the local Legendary will take notice of your case. And you could even help those cases too delicate to move. The applications of that would be staggering. Especially to mother.

Arceus...

Mom was in an accident not long ago, and though the doctors did everything to repair her body, her mind slipped into a coma. Swelling in the brain, they say. I...I want to save...no, I have to save her. This project is one of my only avenues left, I could never afford treatment for her otherwise. I merely hope to garner enough interest that I can save her. End log."

In a perfectly legitimate export/import business in Las Pegasus known as PegasusAir, one unicorn mare was at her desk doing paperwork. That is one rule of businesses, especially legitimate ones: paperwork must be done. The corollary to that rule was, of course: paperwork left to its own devices will slowly start to multiply until all available space between the in-tray and ceiling are occupied.

A set of three knocks from the executive's door caused her to raise her head and look at the pegasus mare on the other side. "Yes Quick? What is it?"

Quick Note, the secretary, looked at the clipboard and cleared her throat. She really only wanted to say this once...no, that was a lie, she didn't want to say it at all, especially to her boss, but she knew that not saying it would bring wrath and ruin down on her head when her boss found out anyways. "Um...three casinos that we were using to launder our money have been hit lately. And in two of them, the slot machines were damaged."

The mare behind the desk paused at that, concern flitting across her features at lightning speed. "Has anypony been investigating the machines?"

"Noooo..." Quick drew out, which prompted a sigh of relief from the head of the company, before the secretary continued. "But one of those new creatures...Pokemon, they're called? Yeah, one of them is probably on to the slot machines. And some of our informants say that particular one has been seen walking in and out of the guard house."

The boss mare cursed under her breath. "Is there any way to beat them? We can't have random creatures poking around our casinos and going to the guard."

"Well..." Quick pulled out another sheet of paper and scanned it. "It was involved in the brawl in the Crown Jewel and beaten easily, so we could run down the list of gambits until one sticks..."

The unicorn mare hummed a moment and nodded. "Go ahead. Get this thing either under our hoof, or out of the picture."

They didn't call her Business Mind for no reason, after all...

"Begin. Rupert Nurem audio log, dated February fifth, 5002.

I received a large amount of support for my project. I even had so many willing test subjects that I had to pick and choose who to use. I tried to pick only those that were hardy in either, but preferably both, body and mind.

My thoughts, however, drift to a hospital bed, of my mother still occupying it. It has been six months and in that time, mother has barely shown any signs of life. The courts are whispering about beginning the process to declare her legally brain-dead.

Jeanne has given birth to a boy, who we've named Vincent. He has my eyes, but his mother's hair. And when I hold him, one thought fills my head.

If the process works...I could try it on him. And if it works on him, then it could work on mother.

I realize, of course, that it's highly unethical to do it on any infants at all, much less my own son, but...

...but to save her, I would do anything. End log."

Lucy blinked at the revelation presented to her. "Wait. You mean you weren't always a Lucario, or even a Riolu?"

Maylene nodded. "I was one of the humans brought here and transformed. To be honest, while I am annoyed, I'm coping. I'm learning more about what it means to be strong now that I can understand Lucario. Plus it could be worse. I could have ended up with more legs, or less."

The male nodded. "It helps that we found each other soon after waking and that I was her partner for most of her life. We managed to convince each other that we were who we said we were relatively quickly, and Arceus' message helped clear up a lot of our questions."

Lucy blinked and smirked. "And...before that?"

Maylene flinched a bit, but replied. "We eventually found our way here, which was a blessing. The ponies feed us in exchange for our work at the quarry, and Lucario trains me."

"Trained," the male cut in. "And now I train you. Though I do hope you're listening in to the lessons I give her as well, Maylene. Even if our regimen has been interrupted, it doesn't mean you can't learn from someone else's lesson."

Maylene sighed before smiling and nodding. "It actually has helped, you know. After all, I didn't know anything about being a Lucario either, and your lessons weren't sinking in. Seeing it as you would teach another Lucario rather than your partner slash sister helps me quite a deal."

"True," the male nodded. "And you're learning what power is."

The other female sighed. "But you're barely teaching me anything."

"I'm having that problem as well," Lucy pitched in.

"Because power does not mean having strength," the male responded while closing his eyes. "It means having strength and knowing when not to use it."

The other two Lucario blinked at the sentiment.

"Begin. Rupert Nurem audio log, dated March tenth, 5002.

The subjects have taken to the treatments, and so far there are no signs of rejection among them. Without my wife's knowledge, I've begun exposing Vincent to the same treatment. If someone related to me by blood in one direction can withstand such treatment, then someone related the other way can also withstand it, or so I hope. End log."

"Begin. Rupert Nurem audio log, dated April ninth, 5002.

Vincent is still doing fine, so I've administered the same treatment to mother. It should take, and if it bonds with her, then it should be possible for Pokemon moves to be as potent on her as they are on other Pokemon. It should be possible to heal her with a few moves from...what? This...this can't be right..."

A trio of ponies, one pegasus mare, one unicorn stallion, and one earth pony mare, made their way to the Guard office and walked up to the front desk. One of them was all smiles, which fooled nopony present, especially as his companions bore no expression at all. The three of them were known as the Troublesome Trio. Usually, whenever something happened that interfered with PegasusAir's or some other corporation's operations, legal or otherwise, these three would show up and ask to see the 'offender', imaginary or not.

The pegasus was known as Frigid, and she was known for two things. The first was her ability to deal with cold fronts and snow with no more difficulty than a normal pegasus would express at bucking clouds out of the sky. The second was for the way she failed to react to anything emotionally. Her coat was white while her straight mane and tail were sky-blue. Her mark was of a blue snowflake.

The earth pony was known as Level Head, and she had an unusual set of talents as well. She never dropped anything she carried, ever. Even when all logic and magic dictated that she should have dropped at least a dozen parcels in the course of her work, she retained the only perfect record on file. She also looked at every situation logically, though she had been reported to react emotionally in a few situations, which also seemed to effect her odd balancing power. Her coat was grey while her mane and tail were black. Her mark was of a perfectly level line on top of a triangle.

The unicorn of the bunch, he was the scary one. His sunflower-yellow mane and tail, along with his peachblossom pink coat would normally seem more at home on a mare, but anyone who knew him knew better than to point it out. Ever. He was simply known as Tolerance, and his talent lay in finding out what another pony was comfortable with and easing them into situations they normally wouldn't be found in. He'd been laughed at as a colt for his color scheme, and...well, he'd rapidly learned the dark side of his talent by persuading his bullies to experience more pain than they'd ever felt before quite rapidly. His mark was of one pony talking to another, a rather unassuming one. But that only hid the danger he represented.

All three were known throughout the town as 'enforcers for hire', but only PegasusAir could afford them with any regularity. The mare behind the desk quailed at the sight of Tolerance, even though he was all smiles.

"Hello," he said, his voice as smooth as silk. "I hear that this is the place to go to for some information about Pokemon working with the guard. Specifically, about stopping it."

"Be...begin. Rupert Nurem audio log, dated April tenth, 5002.

The test subjects are dead. Rejection finally set in in all of them, across the spectrum. The divide between human and Pokemon is too wide to be bridged without direct intervention from a Legendary. What...what fate have I condemned my mother and son to?

...I should make arrangements. End log."

"Begin. Rupert Nurem audio log, dated August fifteenth, 5002.

It's...strange, really. By now, I would expect to see some signs of rejection in Vincent, and other than crying a little more than he did before I gave him the treatment, he appears to be doing fine. Jeanne has noticed I'm not as active with him as I used to be, and she's been asking questions. I've been dodging them for now, but I can't do it forever. End log."

"Begin. Rupert Nurem audio log, dated September twentieth, 5002.

By all logic, Vincent should be dead. His body should have rejected the treatment and self-destructed in an attempt to get the foreign DNA out of its system. And yet he lives on, hale and hearty.

Meanwhile, mother is degrading. The doctors and nurses don't see it, but I do. In another month, she will be dead, and if Vincent isn't by then...

...He is the key. It's him, him specifically. Something about him allows him to bridge the gap between humanity and Pokemon. I have to know!

...Arrangements must be made, different ones this time. If I can devise a cure from my son, I can still save her! End log."

"...Begin...Rupert Nurem...audio log...dated October thirty-first, 5002.

...I just got the call. Mother is dead.

Meanwhile, my studies on my son's blood and tissue have failed to provide me with an answer. I have failed in my quest to replicate the results, but the samples I have sent to my investors have kept them interested. True, thirty-six subjects have died, but I have provided proof, evidence, that one yet lives. I just don't know how yet.

Jeanne will be distraught, but I believe it is time Vincent and I disappeared.

...No, not Vincent. This will be easier if I start calling him what he is. Subject thirty-seven. End log."

Author's Notes:

I think, until now, I haven't appreciated the difference between writing Doctor Nurem, a veritable caricature of a character, and writing Rupert Nurem, an actual character.

Thadius used Siphon! The levels of Disturbing have shifted, decreasing around Rupert Nurem, and increasing around Tolerance!

(He will love and tolerate you, and you will thank him for it by the time he is done.)