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Weeks.. months.. maybe even years? He didn't really know anymore, and had lost track of time to what felt like a millennia ago. All while floating in a sea of nothingness, surrounded by black with only a single widow to the outside world. That is what if felt like while drifting day in and day out within in the confines of his own mind. He felt like he was watching his life go by from his single view inside a dark tunnel. He couldn't reach it, no matter how hard he tried, no matter the efforts to free himself. There was nothing he could do to fight back against his captors, nor so much as speak in the way he wanted to.

His own voice was like a dull thrum in his ears, sounding as if he were underwater. Monotone and flat, completely devoid of life and personality. He could see, hear, and knew everything that was going on, even feel. But it was like his consciousness was shrouded in a deep and impenetrable fog.

Many times he had cried out, screamed, wept, even begged for someone to hear him. To reach through that fog and prove that he was still human and not the robot his body had become. A few times, in particular circumstances, he had managed to break through if only partly, especially after the malfunction in the implant. However, he had been quickly beaten back into submission and bound by the invisible chains of the chip once again.

He had lost the fight, and was losing everything he had. His will was ebbing. His desire to fight and remain strong, waning, but he couldn't quite allow himself to let go. He was still Lance, still the champion of the Indigo Plateau, and the leader of the Dragon Clan. He had to remind himself of this constantly, lest he forget who he was, and what he stood for. But time was wearing on him, and the temptation to just give up was even mounting. He was tired, lost, and hope was fading. It was a slow torture. One that even he had difficulty fighting. He didn't want to fight anymore, he just wanted to sleep. Eventually he did just that, by tuning out what was going on and allowing his inner self to go into a comatose state, floating endlessly. His body running on autopilot. What point was there to do anything but? He'd tried everything else.

However, one day, one of many, he was suddenly jolted awake. He was in the laboratory again, that much he knew, although he had no inkling as to why. The chip in his head had been the cause of his sudden jolt into wakefulness, responding to something.

Just like that he felt the fog beginning to lift, although not completely. His chains were loosened and the window seemed closer than ever. A little light returned to his golden eyes as Lance blinked once, a conscious motion he had made, instead of an automatic one. Not only that, but he actually.. felt something. He felt content, a feeling he'd not experienced in some time, and Lance clung to it, wishing it to never leave. He looked around, and spotted a familiar face. Dry lips pulling back in a soft smile.

"Hello, Faleen."

What he was feeling right now? He blinked once at turned his gaze to the ceiling, as if thinking about it for a moment. What did he feel exactly? And how could he put that into words? He started ruling out things he was not feeling. He wasn't angry or sad, nor in any sort of pain. He also wasn't exceedingly happy or joyful. More like somewhere in the middle, and a bit drowsy.

"I feel... fine. Like I just woke up from a long nap," he told her truthfully.

Lance then turned his gaze back towards her, and he gave her another sleepy smile. "You don't look fine, though. Been working too hard again?"

He didn't really notice the Charizard nearby that looked like it was about ready to pounce. Or if he did, he made no show of it. Lance's focus was mostly on the familiar face that he remembered being a friend once.

Lance laughed a little, although it lacked the merry tone that it had once upon a time. When things hadn't become so complicated.

"Why not? Were we not friends?" That was probably proof enough that his memory was still intact, although her question drew a thoughtful look.

"I'm not really sure. I remember things, but I can't really tell you what order they were in."

"Well... bits and pieces really. I remember being in the cell, several times. I remember being outside the building. I remember sitting here, and being at the outpost. But most of all I remember you. Although really, I'm not sure these things actually happened or if I was just dreaming it."

Lance looked around, finally turning his eyes on the Charizard before he tried to sit up. His eyes lit up a bit, not realizing the hostile look on the Pokemon's face. "Oh hey, a dragon."

"Oh yeah?" Lance asked, as if he thought Faleen was trying to start a conversation. "Well its a good thing he is. He looks like a good Pokemon." He had an eye for such things, after all.

Then man looked thoughtful again as he started dredging up some of his foggy memories. Right, he had a Pokemon like that. "He reminds of Azrael. I remember when you tried to help me train him. He was always so difficult."

Seems that Faleen would get elaboration on his memories about her whether she liked it or not.

The chip was indeed playing a part. Lance seemed to be in a consistently optimistic and happy mood. He could have been in the pits of Hell and he would probably still be smiling.

"Hm? No not at all," Lance replied, sounding a little bit confused at Faleen's bitter words. "Even if Azrael didn't need the training, it wasn't a waste of time. At least not to me. I enjoyed spending the time with you. It reminded me what it was like to be just a trainer again, and I got to see your growth as a trainer also. It was very rewarding."

Faleen's hum drew paused and Lance tilted his head slightly, watching the woman in silence for a few moments until she announced that everything was good.

"Oh are we done now? What's going on anyway?" The man turning to look back at the other scientists before looking back to Faleen.