Mobian Victini - Origins p21

Robotnik tapped his fingers on the arm of his throne-like chair as he read the massive lines of text proffered by his cowardly nephew. "Hmm… interesting…"

"Oh yes, indeed, sir," Snively agreed, facing the large monitor of the main computer screen. "This information is quite unique, found only in the human settlements, Robotnik."

Robotnik heaved his massive weight out of the chair, and walked closer for a better view of the smaller print.

That scrawny pestilence of a blue hedgehog had stolen the prize specimen and left the lab in a state of disarray. It had taken weeks for the robotized Mobians and Swatbots to clear out the rubble and repair the severe damage dealt to the equipment. In the shockwave following his departure, the hedgehog had also destroyed all of the upgraded Buzz Bombers that had been given souped-up jet engines for the sole purpose of remaining on that infuriating rodent's tail. He still had the plans, but it would take weeks more to gather the resources to rebuild the fleet of flying robots, and he didn't particularly feel like manufacturing a hundred more customized engines.

Robotnik longed for revenge, but he was no fool. Blindly charging ahead was the hedgehog's specialty, not his. He preferred to plan out his schemes down to the finer details to lower the margin of error. And right now, he was just angry enough for his diabolical brain to function at optimal levels.

Rule number one of strategic combat: In order to take down one's opponent, one must know their opponent. Robotnik needed information on the creature, and had dispatched Snively to gather research as soon as the computer was online.

The information had come from an unlikely source, and its breadth was astonishing. It was fascinating.

Snively discovered that the human population on Mobius was already aware of the existence of these strange creatures called "Pokémon". The title includes a vast number of species that borders on the hundreds, each one more unique than the last and capable of producing its own brand of energy. Combat appears to be their specialty, for their powers are focused primarily on wielding this energy in the form of an attack or a defense against an opponent of similar power.

They are extra dimensional. The discovery of Pokémon on Earth was a complete accident, when experimental dimensional-jump technology had malfunctioned and, in a massive power surge, dragged their entire race through the rip. The humans made peace with them, and eventually found a way to send them back through the wormhole to their dimension. Through the technology on their home planet, Earth, the humans kept contact with them for a brief period before shutting it down. It had become popular among children to simulate interaction with these creatures through electronic gameplay, and train their virtual companions to become stronger.

Snively had also taken the liberty of pooling side research on the little cream-colored pest. It was of the species Victini, an exceedingly rare breed of Pokémon that is said to be the physical embodiment of victory. It is fabled that success is guaranteed to anyone in possession of such a creature. Their natural elements are Fire and Psychic; Robotnik remembered the fire well enough from the near destruction of his swatbot patrol, but the Psychic abilities were new information. He suspected telekinesis to be among them – that alone was a powerful ability to be feared, for who can defend against an attack they cannot even see, much less grasp and counter?

Robotnik grew even more intrigued – with one of those beasts under his control, the Freedom Fighters would soon cease to be. A species that valuable would also be a priceless resource for lab experiments. The possibilities for genetic mutation were endless.

Blast that annoying hedgehog for escaping with it.

But for all the extent of the humans' knowledge, no one on Mobius or Earth has ever laid eyes on one since the return through the rip, nor managed to actually make contact with one of these beings. The humans, in agreement with the Pokémon race, had severed all physical connections with their dimension to prevent anyone from breaching that boundary again and misusing the power that is far too dangerous in the wrong hands.

Robotnik fingered his mustache. For one to suddenly show up unannounced is unprecedented. There had to be some kind of explanation.

The rip may have been closed, but that did not mean it was stabilized. Is it possible that a leak exists? This was improbable – the humans would have taken great care to eliminate any chance of a breach occurring without the necessary technology.

Perhaps the original wormhole technology was not destroyed after all? To say government conspiracies do not exist would be a lie. If so, it would be kept under lock and key in the deepest, darkest dungeons available to mankind, never to see the light of day again.

That is, until someone turns the tables. All it would take is a simple virus and a hacking program to get the information he needed.

He must have this device for his own.

In the meantime, however, he had to do something about the new Freedom Fighter. Robotnik grinned wickedly.