In the special episodes, it was Blaine who served as the main person in charge of the Mewtwo Project, and he ultimately betrayed Team Rocket and took Mewtwo away.
However, in the theatrical movie, the Origins anime, and the games, the one responsible for the Mewtwo Project was Dr. Fuji.
Clearly, this world had diverged a bit—Blaine and Fuji were jointly involved in researching Mewtwo.
But compared to Fuji, who took away all the research data on Mewtwo, Blaine was not considered a key figure.
"If you're willing to obediently tell me where Dr. Fuji is, I guarantee that Team Rocket will never bother you again," said Lucas, hands in his pockets, the corners of his lips holding a faint smile. His slightly leaning posture gave off a strange, inexplicable air of menace.
"I don't know where Fuji is," Blaine replied after a brief silence, his tone low and steady.
At the same time, his hand hidden beneath the counter had already grasped a Poké Ball, ready to act at any moment.
"Oh~ I didn't expect you to still be this loyal and righteous at your age, Gym Leader Blaine," Lucas raised an eyebrow, not the least bit surprised. If Blaine were that easy to break, he wouldn't be Blaine.
"Dr. Fuji used to be a scholar at the Pokémon Mansion on Cinnabar Island, and he was a close friend of yours. The two of you even shared similar interests and jointly established the Cinnabar Research Institute."
"But later, for some mysterious and undisclosed reason, Dr. Fuji left Cinnabar Island and eventually founded a sanctuary in Lavender Town to shelter injured and abandoned young Pokémon."
"I'd say you should even thank Team Rocket for reuniting the two of you and letting you work together again, shouldn't you? Team Rocket didn't treat you badly, and now you both choose to betray us?"
"Fuji even took all the Mewtwo research data with him. You two are quite something, huh?"
Lucas's lips curled into a mocking smirk as he tilted his head and stared at Blaine. These details had been provided to him by Matori, complete with a thorough account of Blaine and Fuji's past.
"Hmph! That all sounds so noble, but in the end, you're just using us to create a weapon of war!" At those words, Blaine's face twisted in rage—yes, he was furious.
"You never once intended to create a new lifeform. All you cared about was your selfish desire to create a living weapon. You don't deserve Mewtwo!"
Back when Team Rocket approached him, they pitched it as a genetic cloning experiment based on Mew's DNA. But Blaine, fully aware of their nature, refused.
Later, it was Fuji who personally persuaded him. Out of a researcher's curiosity and his old friend's plea, Blaine reluctantly agreed.
Because he understood—he understood why Fuji wanted to participate in such a forbidden experiment.
But when the Mewtwo Project neared completion, both Blaine and Fuji finally woke up to the truth.
They were wrong. Once Mewtwo was born, Team Rocket forcefully took over and began injecting massive amounts of combative and negative war knowledge into Mewtwo while it was still in an embryonic state.
Team Rocket's true nature had been laid bare. They never cared how far ahead genetic cloning could advance human progress; all they wanted was a living weapon loyal only to Team Rocket!
Awakened to this, Blaine and Fuji could do nothing to stop it. All they could do was escape New Island and refuse to be complicit any longer.
"How noble of you, Blaine. But weren't you the one who made all of this possible in the first place? If not for your hard work, how could Mewtwo have been born at all?"
Lucas's mocking smile deepened. No matter how one framed it, Blaine couldn't escape responsibility.
He was one of Mewtwo Project's chief scientist. Without him, Mewtwo wouldn't exist.
"…" Blaine's face went pale in an instant. Yes, no matter how deep his regret, it was already too late.
He had made an unforgivable mistake.
As the creator of Mewtwo, Blaine knew very well—once Mewtwo reached maturity, it would possess terrifying power.
And that power was now in Team Rocket's hands.
"There's no turning back for you. Do you think the League would forgive you if they learned the truth?"
"Be smart. Just tell me where Fuji is, and you'll become Team Rocket's chief scientist."
Lucas extended a hand toward Blaine, grinning as he made his offer.
Blaine's capabilities were beyond question—not only was he a brilliant researcher, but also a Fire-type Elite Four-level trainer.
However...
"Has Team Rocket run out of people? They're sending a brat like you to deal with an old man like me? I've already made one unforgivable mistake. I won't make a second!"
Blaine's gaze turned solemn. Having lived this long, he no longer feared death, much less being pressured into betraying his friend.
"Boy from the Blackthorn clan, you're still young. Let me set you straight."
His expression sharpened as he threw out a Poké Ball—he was ready to take down this arrogant youth.
"Arcanine, Flamethrower!"
A mighty and majestic Arcanine leapt forth, heat building rapidly in its mouth.
"What a stubborn old man," Lucas chuckled. Did Blaine really think he was an easy target?
"Psychic."
A flash of white light—Gardevoir gracefully appeared in front of Lucas, her eyes glowing with a rich blue aura of psychic energy.
The Flamethrower froze mid-air, suspended by psychic force. Arcanine, too, was immobilized mid-leap, unable to move.
"Wha…?" Blaine froze completely.
How could this be?
That was his ace Arcanine—yet it had been so easily neutralized by a single Psychic move. What kind of monster was this Gardevoir?
"Voir~"
Gardevoir let out a soft chime, moving her arm slightly.
The suspended Flamethrower reversed direction.
Boom!
A deafening explosion rocked the room as the fiery blast narrowly missed Blaine, slamming into the wall behind him.
Arcanine, still held aloft, was then slammed violently to the ground by overwhelming force, groaning in pain.
This guy… is definitely not an ordinary person!
Staring at his incapacitated Arcanine, Blaine looked at Lucas in shock.
He was no ordinary Team Rocket member!
"Perhaps you don't know who I am yet? Allow me to introduce myself. I am Lucas Blackthorn, Team Rocket's strongest executive."
Lucas offered a gentlemanly bow with a mild smile, looking at the pale Blaine.
"I'll give you one day to consider. I only want Fuji's location. If you don't tell me… well, I hear the volcano on Cinnabar Island hasn't erupted in a long time, has it?"
Blaine's pupils shrank—he instantly understood what Lucas was implying.
"How many people on Cinnabar Island do you think would survive a sudden eruption?"
Lucas's smile turned devilish and eerie. Though his words were light, they sent a chill down Blaine's spine.
"No! You can't do that!"
Blaine panicked. The volcano on Cinnabar was massive, but its past eruptions were never large-scale.
If Lucas truly triggered a catastrophic eruption, the entire island would be wiped out!
"Do you even understand the scale of what you're threatening? Such a monstrous crime—you'll be punished by the heavens!"
Blaine trembled with rage. His aged voice quivered—was there no conscience left in this man?
"Sorry, but the choice isn't mine. You have one day."
Lucas chuckled lightly, as if he were simply deciding what to have for dinner, utterly devoid of guilt.
"Don't doubt me—I always keep my word. Obey me, and I'm just a man here to enjoy the hot springs. Refuse… well."
He paused mid-sentence, flashed Blaine a warm smile, then walked off with Marnie into the hotel.
Watching their backs disappear, Blaine felt a wave of helplessness wash over him. His legs gave out, and he collapsed into a chair.
He didn't doubt Lucas for a second. Team Rocket—was there anything they wouldn't do?
That suffocating malice around Lucas made him shiver.
A trainer that powerful could absolutely trigger a volcanic eruption.
And yet, it was precisely because of this that he was torn inside.
Fuji was his dearest friend. How could he betray him?
But if he didn't tell this man where Fuji was… what would become of Cinnabar Island?
"…Fuji…"
Blaine closed his eyes in exhaustion, unsure of what to do. He was just… so tired.
----------------------------
Meanwhile, in their hotel room...
"Lucas, you were totally a villain back there."
Marnie gave Lucas a strange look. Seeing the way Blaine had been shaken, even she felt guilty.
"Villain?" Lucas raised an eyebrow, amused.
"Yeah, like… one of those special supervillains from movies—the really bad kind."
Marnie bit her finger and scrunched up her face, unsure how to explain it. But it really was just like something from a movie: using the threat of environmental disaster to get what you want? Total villain behavior.
She had always known Lucas wasn't a good guy, but this was the first time she'd seen his dark side so clearly.
Then again… he was a member of Team Rocket.
"So, do you hate villains like that?" Lucas leaned in close, lips curled into a teasing grin—so close that Marnie could feel his breath.
"Don't get so close!" Her face flushed red as she shoved him back.
"I don't hate it, really. I was prepared for this."
After pushing him away, Marnie rolled her eyes. She wasn't a bad person by nature, but she knew her place.
She was now a member of Team Rocket too. She didn't even know Blaine—why should she create trouble for Lucas out of pity?
"But what if he really doesn't tell you where Dr. Fuji is?"
She put her bag down and asked curiously.
"He'll tell me. Blaine's a kind-hearted man. He won't risk the entire island. He can't."
Lucas sat down and lit a cigarette, smiling confidently.
Yes, he was certain Blaine wouldn't refuse—or even lie.
Because Blaine couldn't take that gamble.
This concerned all of Cinnabar Island. Though it would be painful, Blaine would do what had to be done.
And he wouldn't alert the island police either—Lucas had already shown overwhelming strength.
Even Blaine's ace Pokémon was defeated so easily. What chance did a few officers have?
"You're so evil. Blaine probably hates your guts right now."
"What if he really doesn't cave? Will you really cause a volcanic eruption?"
Marnie's gaze flickered, still seeking clarity.
"If even that doesn't work, why would I go through with it? It's just a bluff."
Lucas shook his head. While he would use any means to achieve his goals, he wouldn't follow through on a failed threat. He was ruthless—but not inhuman.
"So, you were just scaring him…" Marnie's eye twitched. So sneaky.
Still, she was relieved. A volcanic eruption would destroy everything.
"Well, not exactly. If he really refuses, I'll have Gardevoir use Hypnosis."
Lucas looked out the window. Yes, that would be the last resort.
He didn't dislike Blaine—but the human brain is too complex. After hypnosis, there was no guarantee Blaine's mind would recover.
Besides, what if Blaine truly didn't know Fuji's whereabouts?
That's why he had given Blaine a day—time to reflect, and maybe… contact Fuji.
"Enough of that. Let's pack up and go explore Cinnabar Island."
Lucas set his thoughts aside and smiled at Marnie. The business was done—time to relax.
Meanwhile, Blaine returned home and hesitated. Then he dialed a number.
"…Hello? Fuji?"
(End of Chapter)