Jasper was watching the kid when Ashley replied. The kid didn't seem too intelligent, which was mostly why Jasper wasn't very suspicious of him. But what if the kid told on them? He chewed his lip. "I understand that, Jasper..... I really do. But I feel that we have no choice but to explore the basement." Ashley said softly, pausing.
"I know that going into the basement is risky, but we have to consider what may happen if we don't. By what has happened to Mav and some others, I think it's safe to say that there's some kind of experiment going on in the basement that they don't want us to know about. Another thought that I had is that maybe the extra physical is a way for them to see which hybrids are the most valuable. Maybe they think that keeping so many of us around is a waste of resources or even dangerous." She scanned the room looking for anyone who looked suspicious. Satisfied, she continued, " Plus, the scientists seem to be more cautious around us than they used to. What happens when they consider us too dangerous to keep around? Yes, we could try escape the laboratory without going into the basement, but I hate to leave anyone trapped down there and besides, we need to know what they're up to. Ignorance may be bliss anywhere else but here it can kill."
She took a long drink of water and a bite of apple. "Aiden- the Pikachu hybrid- believes that we can simply storm the basement, blasting at any human that we see, but I can see that we both think that handling it in that way is naive and foolish. The scientists made us this way, didn't they? They should know how to keep us under control..... So if we do indeed go into the basement, we need to be extremely carful. Jasper, will you go with me to talk to Aiden? Perhaps together we can convince him that caution is the better way. I also have something that belongs to him that I need to return." Jasper thought for a moment, thinking best how to phrase his words, but the Flareon hybrid turned to the kid.
"You can come, too, if you want. I'll explain anything you don't understand later." She murmured gently. Jasper smirked. Even Ashley appeared to understand the limits of the kid's intelligence.
"Actually," he said, looking away for a moment. "I 'gree with you, course, we've got to do something, but if this hybrid - Aiden, you said? - is naive and foolish like you say, I don't want him with us. He's like to get us captured, killed or worse if he's an idiot. Maybe we can include him in getting out for good, but for a peek...Naw, small numbers'll probably get us further. You can talk to him if you want, but..." He stood, his tray emptied. "'nyways, I'm going to get to my room. Curfew's soon, and whatnot. Seeya, Ashley...ki-" he started to say, then stopped. "Mav." If he was going to have to trust the kid with his life, then Jasper supposed he should call him by his name. With that, Jasper put his tray away and slunk back to his room.
He stripped to a long t-shirt and his boxers, before flopping onto his bed. His tattoos illuminated the dark room and as always, Jasper felt the deep longing to be under the night sky begin. It was a sad fact, but Jasper - despite being part Umbreon, the 'Moonlight Pokemon' - could not remember ever seeing the moon. He reckoned he'd seen it long ago, when he was human, but the memories were fuzzy and faint...and most of them he didn't even want to remember.
With a deep inner feeling of melancholy, Jasper slowly drifted off to sleep. In the morning, he woke up with a start, his heart pounding wildly inexplainably. Jasper reflected back on last night's conversation as he dressed in his ripped jeans (with a tear in the back for his tail) and a plain black t-shirt. Ashley was right. They had to do something about the basement - and they absolutely had to get out of the lab at all costs. Still, at the same time, he really didn't want to be forced to trust some naive nobody he didn't even know...
Soon, Jasper was finished. The Umbreon hybrid walked almost silently to the cafeteria, getting in line for pancakes. He listened to the loud buzz of the cafeteria, strangely at piece. The big news today was about the glass dome, and -for once- Jasper was just as excited as the rest of them. If it played the sky on the ceiling, maybe he could see the moon! Adrenaline rushed through his veins. He gave a wide smile, taking a particularly large helping of pancakes. There were only a few teeny pancakes left now, but Jasper figured that would be replaced in a few minutes anyway.
"Hey, kid!" A thundering voice from behind him growled at Jasper's back. A growl started in Jasper's throat and he whirled around, eyes flashing in surprise as he took in the 6"5 tall frame and over 300 pounds of the hybrid. Instantly, Jasper knew exactly who this was - Rowen the Tyranitar hybrid. The green-scaled body and ferocious looking face only confirmed it. "Gimme your breakfast and scram, kid!" the hybrid snarled. Perhaps if Jasper was less...stubborn, but as it was, Jasper wasn't going to back away. He put down his tray, assuming a stance, and very much aware of how the majority of the hybrids were watching them.
"No." Jasper held his head high defiantly. "I don't think I will." he snarled, a steady growl emerging from his throat. Rowen's growl, however, was louder and more feral. At seventeen inches taller than the smaller hybrid, he was far bigger and stronger than Jasper, but Jasper hoped he was more...intelligent. (Though, he mused silently, if he was truly smart, then maybe he should scram...But nah, if he did, everyone would dismiss him as a weakling and try to walk all over him...) There was a sharp flash of movement - Jasper was startled Rowen, the big lump he was - could move so fast and he tried - he really tried- to get out of the way - but Jasper was too late.
It was Bruce, a powerful Garchomp hybrid, one of Rowen's thugs. He had hoisted Jasper upsidedown by his tail. Crying out in pain, the Umbreon hybrid tried to curl his body upward and bite the arm that held him, but it was no easy feat and Jasper was unsuccessful. He swung in the air as Bruce and the gang moved away from the immediate cafeteria area, following by a large crowd that watched, cheering with bloodlust.
"You're gonna pay." snarled Rowen, glaring fiercely at Jasper. He tried to keep the fear from his face, but it was hard. Aside from Bruce, Jasper was surrounded by Damon, a Blaziken hybrid a few inches shorter than Rowen, and Sarge, a Salamance hybrid about Rowen's height. All of them were over twelve inches taller than Jasper, and he was plainly terrified, but he wasn't going down without a fight. He put his paws together, a purple swirling ball appearing between them as blows rained down on his body. They were mostly punches, which hurt, but at least Rowen wasn't using any moves yet...Jasper released his Dark Pulse on Bruce and the Garchomp hybrid gave a ferocious howl, dropping Jasper. He twisted in the air, landing on the balls of his feet with a feline-like quality.
He panted, dizzy from being upside-down, his torso was hurting like crazy. Bruce was rubbing his side, and Jasper watched Rowen with a fixed horror as Rowen's claws glowed a bright blue and slashed deep into Jasper's side, ripping his shirt, into his skin - blood was everywhere, it seemed, and Jasper heard himself screaming, through all the pain. His tattoos shining bright and hard, Jasper lashed out with his claws, trying to cut all his foes out of his way. Shuddering, he got to his feet briefly - swaying - and used iron tail on Damon's head, knocking out the Blaziken hybrid who was already bleeding freely on the chest from Jasper's claws. Again, Jasper used Dark Pulse, but his power was dwindling - Jasper was very close to defeat. He used endure as repeatedly after that, but the dragon claws and crunches rained down on him and he passed out. Jasper's tattoos were a plain yellow, not glowing at all, his shirt was torn to shreds, and Jasper was bleeding severely from long gashes across his stomach, abdomen and shoulders.
