Flipz

IC: Amanda Zarth/Xander Cruize/Sylph The Alamo’s Pokémon Center was unusually empty for a weekend, but then again given the general lack of Pokémon powers battles had not been particularly common. With she and Xander having handed their team members over for healing shortly before, Amanda allowed the Liberty agent to take a seat before beginning her dissertation. “Your assistance in cataloguing my Pokémon’s altered abilities was helpful,” she began, “though there were certain tactical decisions on your part that I must question in light of the scenario.” Xander nodded. “Yeah, same. So, where do we want-- actually, can we just get the video of that so we can go over it play-by-play?” Amanda frowned momentarily but then nodded, pulling up the file her Porygon had copied to her Xtransceiver after returning the surveillance pod. Almost as soon as the video began to play, Xander paused it. “Okay, so, opening move. Zap Cannon is a strong move, but it’s even worse than Thunder and Blizzard in terms of actually landing a hit. You probably should have led with a Lock-on if you were gonna go that route.” Amanda shook her head. “I am aware; however, it was necessary to determine if the evolution phenomenon had in some manner altered its accuracy. Given Zap Cannon is the least accurate of my Magnezone’s moves, it was the best candidate for the experiment.” The other trainer nodded and pressed play again. “Tri-attack was good, and could have made things easier if Astraea had been affected. The Signal Beam call-out was also good; it would have done some extra damage to Sylph. However, with both that and the aftermath, you were taking some risks. Sylph can be pretty quick when we’re at full capacity, and you ran the risk of friendly fire.” Amanda nodded her agreement. “It was a necessary substitution to accommodate the test of Tri-Attack. However, more pressingly, I must express concern for your Staryu’s safety and control. You took no action to prevent it from being crushed, save threatening my Porygon shortly after, and its bounce off of my safety barrier indicates its lack of control after its earlier attack.” “Okay, so, the barrier? I’m not sure what you were going for exactly, but I can assure you Astraea wouldn’t have been that close to you if it weren’t for the barrier.” “A personal safety exercise. My Magnezone and I have dealt with issues of wind redirection when dropping atop an opponent, so I considered telekinesis a similar hazard. Of course, this was rendered moot when the Staryu returned to the region of danger and risked serious injury, which is what prompted the switch to a move rather than a direct action.” “Let me explain that, then. Astraea is amazingly resilient. It-- she, rather, has lost three of her five limbs and was still standing at the end of the fight, and grew them back the next day. Your Magnezone would have definitely caused her injury if it landed on her, but, well. . .” Xander gestured. “You see how that actually ended up. Your barrier proved useful for her to redirect her momentum and continue the attack.” “I see. I will confess, I am less than familiar with the abilities of Pokémon species encountered at sea.” Deciding to alter the course of the conversation, she moved on to the next significant moment. “I still believe some practice in momentum control is necessary, as illustrated by the accident with the crane. While the device was no doubt improperly mounted for such an incident to occur, it was still set off by the ricochet.” “Yep, and that’s definitely something I took note of. I didn’t anticipate Astraea continuing to move up even after I released the psionic hold I had on her.” He hummed. “I want to run some tests with the Flash Cannon and other moves, if you don’t mind. That really shouldn’t have hit like that, and I’m trying to figure out why it did.” “While I would not mind lending assistance, I would caution you to obtain some sort of secondary data points first. Part of my methodology in this battle was to systematically ascertain if the evolution phenomenon had altered my Pokémon’s moves, and if so how. Thus far, Flash Cannon appears to be the only anomaly among them, but while repeated tests will confirm the alteration, they will not provide significant data toward how and why the alteration has occurred. In lieu of finding other Trainers with access to Flash Cannon, I would recommend contacting the pilot of the Steel-type Power Suit to determine when and how a repeat test could be arranged.” While she knew Cruize would not be able to arrange immediate testing with Ms. Arthur, due to her presence in Kalos, she was not about to repeat the mistake she had made with the similar-looking man she had met prior. Xander hummed. “Who was the pilot? I only recognized you because of the . . . Evolution Phenomenon.” “Agent Jamie Arthur of Team Rocket,” Amanda replied. Xander scoffed. “Yeah, no, that’s not gonna happen anytime soon. So, how about we come up with a different test.” He stood, walking back over to the counter where the nurse had set two trays. “We test to see if Flash Cannon acts the same on a different target.” Amanda nodded as she herself reclaimed her Pokémon. “A reasonable test. I will add it to my docket for tomorrow. However, at present, I must append this new data to my reports, and conduct further research on my own individual abilities.” “Alright,” Xander said as he released Sylph, who rolled her neck. “About that, Miss Zarth,” she said. “Yeah, so, we noticed during the battle you and your Magnezone were really pushing your psionic abilities. You said you haven’t had them long?” “What little research I have had time for suggests the potential is present from birth, but I only became aware of them during the One Island mission. The medics diagnosed me with psychic shock afterward, based on my eye color, though that evidence is of limited reliability given its presence throughout my life.” “Psychic . . . shock?” Xander raised an eyebrow. “Okay, and that means what exactly?” “According to the nurse, the condition is brought on by extreme, instinctive overuse of psionic powers--” Xander raised a hand to cut off the no-doubt lengthy explanation. “And this causes eye-color change and the inability to use the power for a time, right?” “And in extreme cases permanent color change and eventual irreversible insanity, yes,” she confirmed. “The nurse suggested I acquire formal training to avoid such an outcome.” “Awesome,” Xander muttered. “Okay, well, hey.” He spread his arms a bit. “I’m not a master by any means, but I could show you some basics, and Sylph can help. She taught me.” Sylph hummed. “One more thing? Your Magnezone’s eyes were the same color. Were you two undergoing Synchronization every time you used your abilities?” Amanda frowned in consideration. “Uncertain. I am unaware of such an ability, but based on the term my subjective experience indicates a possible connection between it and the evolution phenomenon.” Xander and Sylph traded a look, then turned back to Miss Zarth. “Go on.” “While the phenomenon is taking place, my Magnezone and I seem to share a significantly stronger bond than usual, allowing us to understand each other’s intentions with even stronger clarity than usual. In addition, on both occasions where we produced the phenomenon, the transformation was triggered by a unity in purpose connected to our mutual survival. I cannot say without further testing whether imminent peril is a necessity to the process or merely an incidental similarity of scenario, but the inherent connection during the process is distinct enough that I am confident it is a requisite necessity.” Xander nodded solemnly. “I see. That’s good to know, and that’s useful data I can send to Professor Sycamore. So, Miss Zarth, when are you available tomorrow?” Amanda tilted her head, considering the time differences between Kanto, Unova, and Alola. “My duties require me to keep my schedule flexible, but I would anticipate a small window between 4:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. that would be unlikely to conflict with other engagements. Would this be acceptable?” “Sure,” Xander said with a smile. “I will absolutely make it.” “Assuming he gets some rest between now and then,” Sylph interjected. “And assuming there’s not some emergency over in Kalos.” Amanda nodded, mentally filing away Cruize’s connection to Kalos. “Then I will see you at that time,” she promised, typing the appointment into her Xtransceiver before turning and leaving to make her next meeting.

IC: Xander Cruize (Sylph [50%], Astraea [85%])/Amanda Zarth (Magnezone [90%], Porygon [40%]) Xander, for his part, waited patiently for Amanda to refocus on the battle. He had pulled out his Holo Caster and was getting the best video of the Magnezone he could get from this distance. “Sycamore is going to love this close footage.” Sylph winced, trying and failing to rub her back where she’d been struck. “I’m certainly glad somebody’s enjoying this,” she said. “I would hate to think I was suffering for naught.” “Better or worse than Korrina?” Sylph thought about it for a moment before responding. “Worse. The Lucario hit quickly but each hit was very minor damage. This . . . I’ve never been struck so hard by a singular attack in combat.” “It was unexpectedly effective,” Amanda agreed. “I would recommend you conduct further research on the interaction at a later juncture, ideally from a less unorthodox source than my Magnezone.” The duo nodded, and Sylph took a stance as Xander asked, “Are you ready, then?” Amanda nodded her assent, she and her Magnezone resuming their ready stance as her Porygon retreated back into the surveillance pod. “Lock-On,” she ordered verbally, eyes gleaming once more in unison with her Magnezone’s as she reforged the telepathic connection to inform it of its target. Xander rubbed his nose and nodded a bit. “Sylph, that Lock-On is for you, I think. If it hits you with another Flash Cannon we can call this game over.” Astraea’s jewel flashed and Xander grinned. “You got it. Alright then, ladies, let’s do this! Sylph, launch!” Sylph sprang up, and Xander’s power caught her, propelling her towards the Magnezone. Electrical energy crackled loudly as it materialized before the Magnezone’s eye. “Deliberation, Determination, Destination,” Amanda softly murmured--before both Trainer and Pokémon turned in place and vanished. Xander frowned. “Sylph, look--” He was cut off as a burst of electricity shot from the periphery of the field. “Crud,” he muttered as he realized -- too late -- that the real target had been Astraea. The Staryu took the Zap Cannon and was sent sprawling across the field. Xander rushed out onto the field and slid to his knees beside the Staryu. He cradled it lightly, staring in horror at the cracked gem on the water-type’s front. Quickly, he fumbled the ball off of his belt and returned Astraea. “Alright,” he said, standing. His purple eyes blazed as he looked at the Magnezone. “Sylph, let’s get serious.” Sylph landed in front of him, chuckling. “You mean we weren’t already?” Amanda frowned at the injury, but merely made a note rather than commenting aloud. She looked up to see her opponent charging his own psionic powers. The similarities are striking, she observed, before turning her mind to the situation. “Porygon,” she ordered, “remove yourself from battle range. Mr. Cruize, I would recommend you exit the arena boundary as well.” Xander would have argued, but Sylph shot him a look that said she would never speak to him if he did. With a shrug, he teleported back to his starting area. “Alright then. Sylph, jump!” The Gardevoir did as she was told. As she rose, she vanished from the Magnezone’s sight. Despite the disappearance of her Pokémon’s target, Amanda remained unconcerned. “Discharge,” she ordered, both mentally and verbally for her opponent’s benefit, as lightning bolts scattered around the Magnezone in a spherical field of electrical energy. Sylph rose through the electricity, gritting her teeth as she slammed her fist into the underbelly of her opponent. She landed, and was immediately transported back across the field, away from the electric-type. Not even a second had passed. As she landed, she went stiff, unable to move for a moment. Amanda shook her head. While the strategy would succeed, it would be slow, and would provoke unnecessarily desperate counterplay. As soon as the opposing Gardevoir landed, however, Amanda spotted her moment of weakness and capitalized on it. “Lock-On,” she mentally ordered, knowing the targeting would improve her odds no matter which move she chose next. To help push she odds further, she and her Magnezone both switched back to their psionic senses, certain it would aid them in retaining focus on their seemingly teleporting target. The pair’s eyes blazed violet like a pair of burning stars. Xander nodded a bit as he saw the purple glow from across the arena. “Miss Zarth, we should definitely go over some things once we conclude this battle, if you’re available.” “Of course.” The Plasma agent focused intensely, scanning the Gardevoir’s movements for tells of teleportation. The amethyst glow of her Magnezone’s eye was overshadowed once more by the telltale charge of another Zap Cannon, this one being held even longer before launch. Sylph was just straightening when the attack launched. She scowled at the oncoming attack, knowing there was no way for her to avoid it. Xander’s eyes sparked, glowing brighter for a moment. A small screen of purple light appeared in front of Sylph. The attack hit, and for a moment it looked like the barrier would hold. Unfortunately, it didn’t. Xander’s first ever barrier broke, and the electric attack slammed into Sylph at just slightly less than full power. Pokémon and trainer both cried out, clutching at the center of their chest where the Zap Cannon struck. Xander gasped for breath and shook his head as he waved. “Okay! Okay, we’re good! Right, Sylph?” The Gardevoir nodded, coughing a bit. “I cannot compete with that.” Amanda nodded, and to the surprise of all involved the Magnezone returned to normal in a bright flash, tiny wisps of rainbow energy trailing from it as if the transformation had somehow burned off of it. “Porygon, did you obtain footage of that event?” At the surveillance pod’s affirmative beep, Amanda frowned, adding further notes to the file before recalling her Magnezone to its ball. “Sylph, do you think you’re good to stay out until we can get you healed?” “Of course. It didn’t do that much damage.” Sylph winced as another jolt shot through her. “Though, perhaps we could do that sooner rather than later.” “Very well,” Amanda said. “I will notify Team Liberty technicians to repair the faulty crane and then escort you to the healing center.” Amanda typed out a message, sent it, and then gestured with her free hand. “This way, please.”

-==IC: Professor Alderson==- Elaine set down her tray just in time to accept Alex's handshake. Before she could respond, however, Zoe mumbled her greeting and started to wander off. Foreseeing the impending disaster of a sleepy child wandering toward a buffet of hot food, Elaine quickly prepared a second tray for Zoe, doing her best to shepherd the girl back to the table even though it meant sacrificing her planned coffee detour. Best not to set the poor girl to bad habits too early, she reasoned to herself, mistrustfully eyeing the 'WARNING: HOT COFFEE' sign like an enraged Fire-type poised to attack. "It's good to meet you," the Professor replied politely. "Now, just to make sure I've got everyone's names...Colleen?" she asked, pointing to the teenager in question. "Dahlia and Olivia Seaton--cousins?" she guessed. "Speaking of cousins, Alex, good to finally meet you as well--though it'll be fun keeping your name straight from my nephew's," she said with a chuckle. "Jared Winters, Lachina Adaon, Lucia Zyther, and..." Here Elaine frowned slightly. "...Jamie. Sorry, it's just..." She sighed. "That was my pet name for my little brother before..." She shook her head firmly, pushing the painful memories from her mind. "But never mind. Good to meet you as well, Miss Arthur. Am I forgetting anyone?"

-==IC: Professor Alderson==- "'Elaine'?" the Professor asked with raised eyebrow, her tone pointedly reminding her niece she was still nearly four times the girl's age. Still, in deference to Olivia's polite inquiry, the older woman moved off to fill up a plate. IC: Amanda Zarth/Xander Cruize/Sylph “The climate control systems are quite excessively tuned,” Amanda agreed, “but my experience on One Island indicates that the colloquialisms regarding ‘the heat of battle’ do have a basis in literal fact, and this more than counters the somewhat overdone cooling settings.” Xander blinked, taking a second to process what had just been said, then chuckled. “I, uh, meant that they seem to be pretty snazzy.” He studied the woman for a second and smiled. “You were there, weren’t you? I think I recognize you from the leaked footage.” Sylph cleared her throat. “That, uh . . . that the only place you recognize her from?” “What? Um, I think so, yeah? We haven’t met before, have we?” Xander was bad with names, sure, but he was pretty sure he would have remembered this woman’s face. Amanda tilted her head, narrowing her eyes as she studied the Kalosian. “Unless you are the man who accosted me earlier this morning, we have not. Your voice, speech patterns, and apparent age do not appear to corroborate that theory, however.” “I’m not, no,” Xander said, shaking his head. “I’m Xander Cruize, though.” He held out a hand to shake and tried to ignore Sylph gawking at them. The Gardevoir’s mouth was slightly open, and she was staring in confusion. “Are you joking with me?” she asked. “You really don’t see it?” Amanda frowned, glancing up and down the hall as she attempted to discern the target of the Gardevoir’s focus. Xander sighed. “No, Sylph, I really don’t see it. Stop dancing around it, please?” “You two--” Sylph cut herself off with a strangled groan. “Forget it. If neither of you sees it, then my pointing it out won’t help. I’ll be over here, observing the other gizmos.” So saying, she wandered over to a pale pink suit towards the other end of the display. “Amanda Zarth,” Amanda belatedly replied, shaking Xander’s hand and resuming their conversation as if it had never been interrupted. “Knight of Team Plasma and current liaison to Team Liberty. Were you in need of assistance?” “No, was just striking up conversation.” Xander smiled. “Plasma? So, do you know Evan Tierra and Jenny . . . ah . . . Evan Tierra and his girlfriend?” Amanda nodded automatically. “My superiors. I am currently liaison while they are… indisposed.” “Cool, nice to meet you. If I remember, you were one of the people whose Pokémon got power back, right?” Sylph whipped her head around. “Wait, what?” Almost as quickly as teleportation, the Gardevoir was back by Xander’s side. “You didn’t tell me that happened!” The declaration gave Amanda pause. “The news has spread more quickly than I had anticipated. Yes, you are correct.” After ascertaining that the hallway had sufficient clearance for the Pokémon, Amanda opened her briefcase and extracted her Magnezone’s Pokéball, placing the Plasma-branded capsule back in the case after releasing its occupant. “From our limited available data, it appears that my Magnezone regained its supernatural abilities after experiencing some kind of unknown temporary evolution phenomenon.” Sylph clutched at Xander’s arm, and the Kalosian trainer’s smile widened. “Miss Zarth, would you do me a huge favor and let me and Sylph--” “Sylph and I. You’re the one who taught me to speak, set a good example.” “Can we have a battle with your Magnezone?” Amanda cocked her head curiously. “You are unconcerned with the potential imbalance due to your lack of powers?” “Not at all!” The psychic trainer put an arm around Sylph’s shoulders. “For one thing, we love a challenge!” “I also wish to enhance my abilities without powers, seeing as I’ve been next to useless since the events on Two Island.” “And, lastly, I would love to get some close up footage of the Magnezone evolving again to send it to my old teacher in Kalos.” At the last point, Amanda put a fist to her mouth in consideration. “Please hold that thought,” she requested, walking away to one of the technicians who, after a moment’s bewilderment, disappeared through one of the exhibits doors and returned a minute later with an extremely dented magenta pod. The technician followed confusedly behind the Knight as she turned on her heel and returned to Xander and Sylph. “It would be to our mutual benefit to acquire this footage. Therefore, my Porygon will participate in this battle by way of this surveillance drone.” Without waiting for a response, Amanda released the Pokémon in question, who immediately downloaded itself to the device and caused it to hover next to its Trainer (to the technician’s obvious relief). “That . . . sounds even better than what I had planned.” Xander flashed a thumbs up, grinning widely. “Hey, for added fun, let’s make it a double battle. See how your super Magnezone works with its teammates and against multiple opponents.” “Your stipulation is acceptable. I will arrange for access to a suitable battle facility.” Extracting her Xtransceiver from her briefcase, the Plasma agent tapped out a message, a short chime indicating a reply a few moments later. “This way,” she said, leading the way without a second look back.

IC: Adam Zynthic/Amanda Zarth Adam Zynthic was displeased. While he had finally received visitor clearance for the base, it had taken long enough that the One Island mission's participants had already arrived and dispersed long before he could gain access to them--most notably... ----- Amanda Zarth was displeased. While she had finally received the majority of the surviving participants' mission reports, it had taken long enough that a few had left the base before she could gain access to them--most notably... ----- 'Amanda Zarth'. The name echoed in Adam's mind. Unfortunate enough that he hadn't recognized it, but to make matters worse he didn't dare make too deep an inquiry--with as flimsy as his excuse for access was, he couldn't risk leaving a paper trail. What he had discovered, however, was that 'Amanda Zarth' had been in Unova, of all places, an ocean away from his own exile. While part of him recognized the fortune of their separation shielding them from investigation, that nothing in their paperwork had drawn unwanted scrutiny, the truth was he'd failed her, and his failure to ensure her safety had cost her everything. It spoke poorly of his planning skills--but then, his own egress had not been planned, and his escape from hostile territory had, shamefully, not included her at the time. While he wished he knew what had happened afterward, his decision for discretion over information was merely proper prudence at play. Still, it made his job more difficult, and he could hardly afford the distraction from his main mission; after all, it wasn't like he was going to just run into-- ----- 'Jamie Arthur'. The name echoed in Amanda's mind. Unfortunate enough that she had lost track of mission participants thanks to her enforced rest period, but to make matters worse one of the missing operatives in question was Executive Arthur's own sister--and now, she had discovered, Jamie Arthur was now a continent away in Kalos, of all places. While the Plasma agent recognized the tactical wisdom of sending such a demonstrably skilled agent to aid in the investigation of Team Flare resurgence, the paperwork had not been filed properly, and the failure to ensure a proper report was delivered before redeployment spoke poorly of Team Rocket's organizational skills--though it could be argued that, due to her deployment to a territory that had previously been hostile towards her mere months earlier, Jamie Arthur's decision to retain her information until outside said territory was merely proper prudence at play. Still, it made her job more difficult, and she could hardly afford it on top of the many distractions from her main mission; it was, after all, unlikely she would simply run into-- ----- Adam blinked as he suddenly realized he was staring at the ceiling. "I apologize," he said automatically, "I seem to have had my mind on..." The man trailed off as he realized who he was staring at. "...you," he finished, voice soft with wonder. Amanda cocked her head from the floor, unable to shake the strange apprehension that had overtaken her. "...I beg your pardon?" "It's you," he murmured again. When this failed to produce a favorable reaction, he forced himself back into discipline, dusting himself off as he stood before offering a hand up to his counterpart. "I'm sorry, Alana," he repeated, "it seems I've allowed my search for you to override my own awareness. I won't let it happen again." Amanda frowned at Adam, retaking her feet without the man's offered assistance. "That is not my name," she said warily. Adam blanched. "Amanda," he corrected, cursing himself quietly under his breath. "Apologies. I of all people ought to respect a dead name, given..." A thought occurred to the man. "You...do...recognize me, yes?" Amanda's frown only deepened, and she found her Magnezone's ball clutched tightly in her hand. It took her some time to come up with an answer. "...No." Adam's breath left him, like he'd been punched in the chest. "Then she truly is dead," he murmured to himself before shaking his head. "No matter. It remains that I recognize you, and that means there is information you desperately need--information that really ought not to be shared in a public space. If you would come with me, I can--" The Plasma agent held up a hand. "The only information I currently require is the contact details of Miss Jamie Arthur. If you cannot provide them to me, then our present business is concluded." Amanda didn't know what to make of her instincts, but they were currently screaming at her to go, to get away--anywhere but where this strange, intrusive man was. It was far more than she could process, so for the moment she would heed them and work out the reason why afterward. The man in question seemed startled by the response. "Jamie Arthur? You know her?" "We served on the One Island mission together," she responded automatically, too distracted to really register what she was saying. "I need to take her mission report, but this has been hampered by her current vacation to Kalos." "...Kalos." Adam went stiff and cold. "I...see." Fighting down his rising panic, he forced himself to ask his next question. "Do you know where Dahlia Seaton--?" "--is also in Kalos, according to the report from Evan..." Belatedly, Amanda became aware of her uncharacteristic babbling and silenced herself. The damage, however, had been done. "...Tierra," Adam finished. The man forced a smile, but not a hint of it reached his eyes. "Thank you, Al--Amanda. You've been...far more helpful than even I had hoped." The man's mind whirled as he considered the ramifications of what had been said. "I...my duty takes me elsewhere, but I really do need to tell you--" "Stop." Amanda forced herself to breathe. "My duty also takes me elsewhere. We do not have a reason to further interact. If you must deliver this information, please leave a recorded message with Communications." Amanda doubted the solution would satisfy the stranger, and she certainly doubted she'd like whatever he had to tell her, but she would do her due diligence--after she had properly investigated both him and his intentions. Adam sighed. "Very well. I...I really suppose there is no better option." He crossed his arms and nodded an acknowledgement to her. "Good day to you, Amanda Zarth." The Plasma agent crossed her own arms and forced herself to deliver the courteous counterpoint. "...Good day to you, Mr...." Adam paused. "...Adam. Adam Zynthic." Like two magnets of like polarity, the pair quickly parted, only breathing again once the other was out of sight.

-==IC:Professor Alderson==- "I have my field kit," she reassured Alex as she shuffled over to the group. "It's...well-used, but I've lived out of it before, and it's more than enough to get to Geosenge." She had, in fact, nearly broken into her rations that morning out of habit, before remembering that this sort of hotel would provide such commodities as breakfast. Truth be told, she was completely overwhelmed by the whole experience, but the knowledge of the impending investigation kept her thoroughly anchored to the reality of the situation. Dragging her attention back to the present, she looked over the motley crew with whom her niece had become entangled. "Speaking of which, I'm Elaine Alderson, Geosenge Town's Pokémon Professor. I was actually headed back to my lab there anyway, so I appreciate the company--especially getting to spend some time with my favorite niece." She reached down and affectionately ruffled Emily's hair. "I don't think I've gotten any of the rest of your names, other than Colleen here?"

-==IC: Professor Elaine Alderson==- The Pokémon Professor followed the group in, more than a little surprised by the influx of new additions. They all look so young, she marveled, wondering just how long it had been since she last felt such youth. The teenagers' exuberance made something in her ache, a void in her spirit where once thoughts of her beloved son had nestled. And now these children--no, she reminded herself, these government agents are going to dig into the tortured past, exhume the tattered remnants of a once-happy life shattered by-- Elaine cut herself off, briefly shaking her head. That would be the drinks talking, she firmly reminded herself, unhappy that the alcohol seemed to be reinforcing her torment rather than alleviating it. Still, she watched over Emily with some concern, worried despite the girl's carefree dismissal that her new friends' investigation would only serve to tear their family apart. Not that our family hasn't earned it, she thought, but I still wish I could spare her the pain of it. Not for the first time she cursed her brother's memory, cursed the man he had become at the end. "Emily," she said from her place hovering near the edge of the gathering, "you said you...had a room for us?" She could hardly believe it, both with the hotel's reputation of exclusivity and the sheer expense even when rooms were available. Just who is my niece associating with?

OOC: Jam again. IC: Tiana Soldati (August 8th, Chroma County Penitentiary, Unova) Tuesday was visiting day. For many of her fellow inmates, that meant time spent seeing their family from beyond the walls of their prison. Men and women clad in their orange jumpsuits dotted the various tables, each sitting with their own combination of civilians--spouses, siblings, children, the odd lawyer here or there. Some were tense, some relieved, some crying and others smiling. Tiana’s expression was impassive. Her grandmother had died just before she had come to reside here. She did not have any blood family left to visit her. Instead, her Tuesdays were spent with her Pokémon, prisoners in their own way for most of the week, trapped and monitored within some distant daycare that she had never seen, whose owners she had never met, and whose quality of treatment for her team she could not verify. The Elgyem across from her, engaged against her in a game of chess; the Misdreavus at her side, nuzzled into her arms; the Snover sitting passively, tentative at her table . . . All three seemed healthy enough, and clearly happy just to be with her, but who was to say that this wasn’t a mask placed upon them through threats or coercion? All the more reason for her to escape. She didn’t need to express this. Wizard already knew. He always knew what she was thinking. It made it difficult for her to get any leeway in their game. Every Tuesday, like clockwork, the Elgyem played and won, taking first a few of her pawns and eventually working his way through her ranks and to her king. He was good. But he was off his game today. Mental distraction didn’t usually work--Wizard was very good at parsing through whatever mental nonsense Tiana threw his way--but today was different. Homecoming’s today. Ought to win. It was hard to read an Elgyem’s expression, but he was clearly confused. He paused in moving a knight, tilting his head at his trainer. Tiana remained focused on the board. Pawn takes knight. Tiana moved her pawn and took the knight he had just moved. Made some friends today. Amelia and Belle. Might like to play. Not that one. She glanced away. Wizard followed her gaze to a Bronzong. It floated next to a guard and his Watchog. Across the way stood another guard with a Watchog, but no Bronzong. The Bronze Bell Pokémon kept its eyes forward, but it was clear from the psychic pressure on the air what it was looking for. Wizard looked back at Tiana and nodded slightly. He moved a pawn. Left something in a closet. Matching outfits. Think they might like it. Tiana moved a pawn. Need it unlocked and brought here next visit. Like a present. Wizard dropped his bishop onto the floor. Tiana nudged Witch, pointing for her to get it. Wizard connected their minds. The Misdreavus handed the piece up, but remained below the table. Ent moved a bit to the side. Witch couldn’t see the Bronzong anymore. She sunk into the floor. Wizard moved a bishop. Got a show in the next hour. Nice walk through a door. Tiana took the bishop with her queen. Would like to see finale today. Guess I’ll look for fireworks. “Checkmate.” Wizard flipped the board. Pieces flew everywhere and scattered throughout the visiting center. A guard blew a whistle and the Elgyem raised his hands, floating away from the table. He was escorted out of the room. From beneath the table, Witch reappeared. She floated up into Tiana’s arms and nuzzled against her chest. Tiana patted her head for a job well done and gave her a kiss. “I’ll see you later, honey,” she said. “You should go back to your brother.” She waved to a guard and Witch and Ent were allowed to follow Wizard out of the room. A pair of guards approached Tiana and began to lead her back to her cell. --------------- As two guards opened Tiana’s cell to put her back in, another four were escorting her new neighbors out into the hall. The three women traded quick looks, and all came to the same conclusion. Belle shifted slightly, putting her foot at an angle, and then hooked it back. The guard to her right sprawled, and Belle used the momentum to spin and duck away from the guard on her left. Tiana’s approach was more direct, whipping her interlocked fists up to bash the guard closest to her. The black plexiglass on his face protected him from any direct damage, but the impact still staggered him. Tiana turned just in time to divert her other guard’s fist away from her neck and toward her shoulder -- painful, but not injurious Amelia had managed to get her cuffs around the throat of one of their captors, and was using her as a human shield against the fourth guard that had been escorting the other-worldly duo. “Blake, keys!” she shouted. Belle was blocking and dodging swings of a nightstick, but she nodded. Gamely, she turned into one of the blows and bodychecked that assailant. As she rammed her elbow into his stomach -- sadly armoured to prevent that weakness -- she reached for the keys on his belt. Her hand latched onto them, but the guard smacked her wrist and backed off, leaving her smarting. Belle grinned, and raised the canister of mace she’d lifted off of him. It wouldn’t hurt him -- the helmet probably had a built in gas mask of some sort -- but as he closed in, she sprayed, coating the faceplate of his helmet. He lashed out blindly, but Belle brought her foot up in a kick that even the most solid of codpieces wouldn’t protect against. The man crumpled, and Belle picked up his keys. A weight landed on her back, and she cursed herself for getting cocky -- the first guard hadn’t been knocked out, just prone. As he put an arm around her throat, she took a deep breath -- he was going for an air choke, not a blood one. Amelia was still holding her human shield -- unconscious now -- but her back was to the wall and the other guard was closing in. Tiana was restrained, and struggling as the guards tried to force her into the cell. A few well-placed kicks managed to slow their progress, but she wouldn’t hold out forever. So much for their noble breakout. Belle slumped. The man on top of her held her for an extra second before letting her drop and going to assist with Amelia. Instantly, Belle rolled over to the guard she’d dropped. In a second, she had the keys in her hand and had her cuffs unlocked. “Pond!” she called, tossing the keys. Amelia, despite having a guard in her arms, caught the keys. With a grin, she lifted her arms and kicked the unconscious guard into the two coming at her. While she unlocked her cuffs, Belle went to assist Tiana. --------------- “Next,” a bored-sounding guard intoned. Alex sighed as he waited for Alma to finish placing her Pokéballs on the tray in front of the metal detector. While he could understand the necessity of such security, it didn’t make waiting to go through it any less tedious--and by the soft beeping noise from the guard’s console, it was about to become even more so. Coralie leaned into Alex’s leg, prompting a soft smile from the Trainer. While he still mistook her for a common Carbink (honestly, she would have words for them all once she regained her telepathic speech), she could commiserate with his feeling lost and lonely, worrying about what lay ahead of them. “Those Pokémon…they belong to a prisoner!” By mutual agreement, Alma had taken temporary custody of Belle’s team while Alex carried Amelia’s. “Yes, yes, they are,” the girl replied. “Miss LaDonna is a friend of ours, and we took her team when she and her cohort were taken into custody.” She nodded back to Alex. “Miss Zann’s Pokémon are being held by Alex.” “But...they belong to a prisoner. You can’t take Pokémon to a prisoner!” The guard seemed distraught by his perceived logical fallacy, earning a smirk from another guard bringing in a tray of Pokéballs from the back. Mister McKinley stepped up and gave his best charming smile. “We’re here to represent the Misses Zann and LaDonna.” He flashed an ID at the badge too quickly for the guard to see. “Seth Gacheru, attorney-at-law.” “But...but you can’t take Pokémon to a prisoner!” “Our clients should already be on their way out,” Tyler objected, “so if you’d kindly stop obstructing justice--” The sly man was interrupted by the blaring of an alarm. Red light bathed the room, and a flash of white caused all Pokémon to be withdrawn back to their balls. All except one. The “Carbink” hadn’t been properly captured, and so was still free. As the guards moved forward to try and escort the group back the way they’d come, Warren moved. Rough hands grabbed each guard by the neck, and he slammed their heads together. As the guards slumped, Alma walked over to the device that had emitted the white light. With a hum, she pulled out her pistol and shot it. “So much for our quiet breakout,” Warren muttered. Coralie made her way over to where one of the guards had dropped three Pokéballs. Quickly, she released the team of Pokémon they had seen on entering the room. “Now what?” Alex asked, utterly out of his element. Warren cracked his knuckles. McKinley just grinned. --------------- Belle, Amelia, and Tiana were backed against a wall, the nightsticks they had picked up the only thing keeping the six guards at bay, and that only temporarily. A shrill, piercing whistle cut through the hall, momentarily pausing the action. Two more guards had arrived, one batting a nightstick against his hand and the other standing with his arms crossed. The source of the whistle was not immediately visible, only becoming obvious when a devilishly-grinning Misdreavus floated down from the shadows, whistle in hand. “ATTENTION, BOYS!” the stick-wielding guard shouted. “WE’LL TAKE IT FROM HERE!” The confused looks directed his way were quickly undercut by the shattering of glass as he cold-clocked a fellow guard with enough force to shatter their visor. A moment later, the second arrival stepped up, moving with the agility of a serpent striking through the grass. He ducked under a punch, grabbing the attacker’s arm and pulling her down with enough force to dislocate her shoulder. With a twist of his feet leading into a mid-air spin that anyone else may have called impossible, he rolled the guard over his shoulder, launching her into another pair and sending them slamming against the gate behind them with a thunderous crash. As the majority of the guards moved to deal with their apparent-traitors, the louder guard skirted along the edge of the field toward Amelia, Belle, and Tiana, all of whom had resumed struggling against their own handlers. Just as Tiana managed to slip out of her attacker’s grasp and down to the floor, Traitor One arrived, slamming what looked like a bottle into the man’s face. The guard fell to the floor, unconscious. Traitor One nodded at Tiana, waving a hand in front of his face and removing a strange sort of mask. Behind it, Tyler McKinley grinned. “Howdy, lad--” he began, stuttering and cutting himself off as another guard screamed in pain behind him. He cleared his throat. “Howdy, ladies. Need a hand?” “Who the frick are you?” Tiana demanded. “Call me Tyler,” the Ford Agent said. He tossed a key to her, allowing her to unlock her chains. “This is Tom.” He jerked a thumb over his shoulder. “We’re friendly.” Belle glanced at Amelia, who shrugged in response. The purple-haired thief turned back to the men. “Awright, if you say so. Lead the way.” “ATTENTION ALL UNITS, ESCAPE IN PROGRESS CELL BLOCK D.” “We ain’t in Cell Block D,” Belle stated confusedly. “Hang on a tick, ain’t that…?” The group rounded the corner to witness a propped-open door panel, behind which sat a grinning Alex with a mic. On the opposite side of the security booth, Alma was staring at a purple-glowing control bank of monitors, nodding as Freq erased the security footage. Upon realizing that company had arrived, Alex jerked his head over with worry, before breaking into a grin and trying to heft an overstuffed duffel bag at their feet. “Room service?” he asked cheekily. Belle snorted, shaking her head. “And here I thought yer kid would be a burden, Pond. No offense, Alex.” She walked over and took the belt Alma offered her. As the albino hugged her, Belle looked at the rest of the group. “What’s our next step?” Tyler walked over and flipped some switches on the main computer. “Now, we get the heck out of here.” As he said it, they heard a commotion. Tyler chuckled, shaking his head as Warren came running around the corner, a horde of guards on his heels. In an instant, McKinley’s Xatu materialized, and quickly teleported the escapees away. --------------- The group materialized in a familiar cavern, lined with crystalline mirrors. “This place? What in blazes are we doin’ back here?” “Amelia…” Alex paused, briefly registering the sheer absurdity of the situation they’d fallen into--literally, as it happened. “This…isn’t our world. The mirrors of Reflection Cave can become portals to other universes. That’s what happened to us.” Belle raised an eyebrow and crossed her arms. “Uh-huh,” she said dubiously. Alma nodded. “I promise, it’s true. We found this information in Mr. Ford’s library.” “Who?” Tiana asked. “Oh, come on--the John Ford,” McKinley said. “Leader of the Signs? You have to have heard of him.” Alex nodded in confirmation. “He’s friends with President Ebner of Unova, that’s how we were able to get in in the first place to free you…though we were supposed to do things legitimately.” Warren crossed his arms. “I’m not apologizing.” Amelia chuckled villainously. “Oh, I like you.” Alex shook his head ruefully before addressing McKinley instead. “Well, anyway, please convey our thanks to Mr. Ford. I’m sorry we can’t tell him in person.” “I will,” Tiana promised, “after all, I’ve got thanks to convey as well.” “You ain’t coming with us?” Belle asked. Tiana shook her head. “No. As appealing as a fresh start sounds . . . I don’t know. Leaving doesn’t sit right with me. Not until I’ve got things figured out.” Amelia nodded in understanding. “All right. Best of luck to ya.” “Take care of yourself, ya hear?” Belle added. “Same to you.” “All right, everyone,” Alex announced in a deliberately overly-dramatic tone, “let’s go! Adventure awaits!” With Coralie and the rest of his team in tow, Alex led the charge further into the cave, with a bemused Belle, Amelia, and Alma taking up the rear. As the others watched, the darkness swallowed them, and they were gone. McKinley smirked. “Oh, that lot is trouble,” he chuckled to himself. In response to Warren’s raised eyebrow, McKinley rolled his eyes. “C’mon, big guy, let’s go home.” --------------- Dark Horse Manor, Kalos Back at Ford’s manor, the leader of the Signs was studying his notes with a troubled countenance. Ford couldn’t tell for certain why his other self would resort to such a drastic measure, but if the man was anything like him he must have had a very good reason. An unfamiliar woman entered the workshop behind him, flanked by his two faithful agents. “Mr. Ford?” she inquired. “I’m glad you're here," Ford replied. “It seems the time for complacency is over,” he informed the three. “Preparations must be made, safeguards established. We will need all the help we can manage.” He finally focused directly on the woman McKinley and Warren had brought back with him. “I take it you helped my agents in their mission?” The woman nodded, seemingly at a loss for words. “Thank you. In assisting them, you may have well saved the world.” Thomas and Tyler exchanged a mystified glance. “What?” Ford kept his attention on the woman. “What is your name?” “Tiana Soldati.” “Well, Miss Soldati, you've helped us save the world once already. How would you like to keep going?” Tiana gave Ford a quizzical glance. “Uh...sure...?” “Well, then . . . Welcome to the Signs, Quincy Adams.”

-==IC: Professor Alderson==- Elaine startled, nearly dropping the glass she'd chosen to drain while her niece wasn't looking. "Investigate? Why...?" The Pokémon Professor paused, wheels turning in her head. "This friend of yours--she's with the government, isn't she?" She brooded pensively for a few moments. "All right. I'll take you with me back to Geosenge. They can inspect my lab again, get it over with." She shot Emily a concerned look. "You do realize you're going to be investigated too, right? You're his daughter. It's probably why they approached you in the first place." -==IC: Lionel Zyther==- "Hotel Richissme," Lionel interjected with a frown, carrying a discreet but still high-quality duffel bag as he approached from across the street. "Why, what's happened?"

-==IC: Professor Elaine Alderson==- Elaine went cold. “Team Flare…” There were many things she could say about Team Flare, none of which were suitable for mixed company, let alone a cafe where parents and children came regularly. Despite her restraint, however, the venom in her voice was just as vicious as the profanity she prevented herself from proffering. Heads turned. Ears perked. Orange eyes watched sharply, before turning away. The professor took a long, deep breath to calm herself. “Listen, and listen well,” she said, tone brooking no interruption. “Team Flare, no matter what people may say, is no trifling matter. People say ‘but they failed at everything they tried.’ Doesn’t matter. ‘But the Champions beat their takeover of the Poké Ball factory as mere children.’ Doesn’t matter. ‘But they blew themselves to kingdom come and won’t ever return.’ Doesn’t matter, and worse, they’re wrong.” “Team Flare took my brother, my ex-husband…even the very memory of my late son, spirits rest his poor soul. But those people didn’t start with Lysandre, and they won’t end with him. The spirit of those monsters was alive and well in Ezekiel’s heart long before anyone had the idea of ‘Team Flare’, back when I was young and foolish and couldn’t recognize it for what it is. It’s poison, of the very darkest sort, and it destroys everything it touches for the mere sake of it, for sheer hate. The important thing to remember about Team Flare isn’t who they were, or what they did. It’s that they’re still alive now, not in name, but in spirit, and if we’re not careful, they can spring up in our very own hearts.” Elaine blinked and stumbled, not registering how or when she’d gotten to her feet. Her arms trembled as she shakily sat back down, feeling every bit her age and well more besides. “I think,” she said, with trepidation, “that I’d like to go visit Augustine now. Perhaps he’d be willing to put an old colleague up for the night.”

-==IC: Doctor==- The man's fierce-looking eyebrows knitted together. "I'm afraid my patient is not available, and won't be for some time. Can't tell you any more than that." He paused. "I suppose...I could take a message, for if he regains--er, rather, if he becomes available. I cannot do more than that, I'm afraid."

-==Jam: Olivia and Meyer==- Olivia noticed that the others were still not around, then went up to the receptionist. She chatted for a bit as she tried her best to set up an appointment. Thankfully, there was an opening for a consultation at the end of the week. Relieved, she walked back outside with a nervous smile before the others could return. The Rocket mulled over Meyer's offer in her head - could she leave Bree with him for that long? Olivia bit her lip again, as she slowly approached the truck. “Olivia!” the man greeted. “Decided to let Bree train up then?” "I'm not really sure…" The woman said slowly, as she still seemed conflicted. "I like the idea, but… Bree hasn't really gone without me since I got her, so I'm not sure if it'd work to leave her with someone I just met…" Olivia wasn't sure how to exactly phrase it, since she did want Bree to be able to learn things. She just wondered if it would work out well. Meyer nodded. “It’s hard, watching your kids grow up and go out into the world. But at some point they have to do it.” Seeing Olivia wasn’t quite convinced, he added, “Rest assured, if I can raise a Gym Leader and an Ace Trainer, I can handle your little spitfire for a week.” Olivia looked surprised at that mention, then thought for a moment. She looked down at her chirping Torchic. "Bree? What do ya say? Wanna spend a week with Meyer?" Bree looked up in surprise, then looked between the kind man and her own trainer thoughtfully, as if it were a decision that would be ever present for all eternity. A moment passed, then she nodded with a happy chirp. Meyer grinned at the Chick Pokémon. “Glad to hear it. Hop on in,” he said, holding open the pickup’s door. While the tiny Fire-type embarked, Meyer wrote a quick note on a scrap of paper and passed it to Bree’s Trainer. “Here,” he said, “my address, home number, and Holo Caster code. I’m not the best with the latter, though, so try to save it for emergencies, okay?” "Alright." Olivia still looked a little nervous as she took the note, but gave a smile. "Thanks for the help too. I hope she doesn't give ya too much trouble." “After some of Bonnie’s partners…believe me, she won’t,” Meyer promised with a chuckle. “She’s in good hands. And in the meantime, feel free to call and check in whenever you’d like. Take care.” Olivia chuckled at that as she watched Meyer get into the truck. "Alright, will do." The woman watched as the truck began to drive off. She hoped that it was a good decision, but… if this worked, then maybe it could help a lot of other things out too.

OOC: bunnying Jared with permission. -==IC: Doctor==- The receptionist quickly ushered the group into the consultation room, where a number of chairs sat in front of a desk with a computer on it. “He’ll be in shortly,” she promised them, before closing the door behind them. True to her word, it was only a few short minutes before an older gray-haired man entered the consultation room--though strangely, he seemed to be wearing sunglasses and pantomiming playing an electric guitar. “Bill, Bill,” he exclaimed, “you have to see what I just--” Upon suddenly registering the room's occupants, he hastily removed the strange-looking shades. “There are people in here,” he observed. “Bill, why are there people in here?” The receptionist was long gone, however. Jared, for his part, seemed singularly unimpressed by the doctor's quirky demeanor. “You’re the doctor in charge?” “Yes, that's me, the Doctor in charge. How can I help you?” “Well--” “That was a rhetorical question, of course, I can't actually help you. I already have a patient. Who I can't talk about. Because some legal something-or-other, Bill, why can't I talk about patients again?” In the silence after the doctor's apparent lapse in memory, only Jamie's whimpering could be heard. It drew his attention, which in turn drew his eyebrows into a frown. “Do I...know you?” He asked curiously, studying both her and Lucia with surprising scrutiny. After a moment, however, he shook his head. “Never mind that. That girl looks like she's in pain, have you considered taking her to a doctor?” Jared looked ready to strangle someone. “I don't understand how you're in charge.” “Basically it's the eyebrows.” The doctor snapped his fingers. “Confidentiality! Right, that's the one! Yes, can't talk about patients thanks to confidentiality.” He opened his mouth as if to continue, but stopped, seeming to lose his train of thought entirely. “Remind me why you’re here again?”

-==Jam: Olivia and Meyer==- "Training?" Olivia repeated with a curious tone in her voice. "How do ya do that with no powers?" Meyer smiled indulgently at Olivia’s apparent confusion. “Let me tell you a little secret. Pokémon moves aren’t all about flashy powers and giant blasts of energy. They have physical components too, moves that benefit from technique and training just as much as a Black Belt throwing a punch. For Blaziken and me, losing his powers has been a blessing in disguise; for all the time and effort we put into our kicks, it’ll pay off in spades once he’s back to his full glory. It’s just like training with weighted clothes, really, just...harsher.” "Huh, that makes sense… and ya train often with just normal moves?" Olivia seemed curious about that, thinking about how Jhen seemed to be rather close to evolving. “Every day of my life,” Meyer confirmed. A moment later, his Blaziken gave him a gentle shove. “Well,” he amended, “when I didn’t get too busy and forget.” Olivia chuckled at that. "I know that feeling. I thought I'd try my hand at stuff like that, but my team just seemed so unenthused. Like it was just a game because of the power being out. Then we had to travel here and it's not looking like there'll be any chance to work on things…" She let out a sigh, unsure how she would be able to make that work. Meyer nodded sympathetically. “Habits are definitely harder to form when you’re out on the road.” The older man stopped walking for a few moments, considering. “Tell you what. If you’re going to be in Kalos for a while, maybe I can help, introduce little Bree there to a few starting techniques. She seems to have a talent at getting underfoot--Blaziken and I can help hone that into something she can do on purpose.” He offered Olivia a winning smile. “Interested?” Olivia hesitated slightly and bit her lip as she considered the offer. "How would that work?" The man shrugged. “I’d take her home with me, tutor her for a few days, and next time you’re passing through Lumiose you can pick her up again. From there she should know enough for you to keep training her yourself.” Olivia hesitated again at the clarification. "Can I think about that for a moment? I have something I need to do quickly." The man nodded, checking a watch on his wrist. “Of course. Tell you what, Blaziken and I have about an hour to kill before we head home. We’ll wait outside in the truck until then. Sound fair?” The redhead nodded, then quickly headed inside to talk to the hospital's receptionist.

-==IC: Meyer==- “We’ve been together a long time, that’s for sure. Him and I go back even before my kids were born. We’ve trained together every day since I was six years old--that was before the accident in ‘96 and the new laws, of course--and we’re still training together even today.”

-==IC: Meyer==- "Huh? Oh!" The burly man stopped looking to see where the tiny troublemaking Torchic had gone and finally registered that her Trainer had retrieved her. "Thank you, miss, I'd appreciate that." The man stepped aside, making a space for Olivia to help support the appliance alongside him as the Blaziken slowly lowered it from the back of the truck. Together, the three managed to get the machine safely to the ground without further interference, the Blaziken leaping to the ground with a dolly to help roll it into its place in the hospital. "Thanks again, my coordination isn't what it used to be. My name's Meyer, by the way, and this is Blaziken. You've got an adorable little spitfire there, what's her name?"

-==IC: Elaine Alderson==- Ten years ago… Elaine had plenty of memories of that time. None that were pleasant. None she hadn’t tried to forget. Certainly none suiting a pleasant conversation in a pleasant Lumiose cafe. The professor covered by smiling indulgently at the girl. “Ten years ago, hmm? Let’s see, I think I can still remember that far back,” she joked. A frown furrowed her brow. “Ah! You must be looking into the Champions! Looking to take them off their throne, I imagine? Well, I don’t remember much about them--Augustine mentored their set, you see--but I do remember that Serena started with a Fire-type. Fennekin, I think? Yes, that’s right, because the Calem boy had the Grass-type, Chespin, when he came through the fossil lab, and he’d mentioned that all their other friends had started with the Pokémon native to Kanto. My colleagues revived a fossil for each of them, before they headed off on their way…” The woman trailed off. “Please forgive my rambling, I’m not even sure how useful my half-forgotten dozen-year-old recollections would be to you by now. Why, when I ran into them back then they had barely six Pokémon between them, and now they’re Champions! It’s hard to believe looking back.” She smiled. “They can’t have been much older than you are now, at the time. Just goes to show how much young folks can achieve with Pokémon at their side.”

...looks like I'm behind on some profiles as well, oops? Profile for the Halloween Contest Prize Diancie (pre-approved by Pears in PM): Species: Diancie Nickname: Coralie Gender: Female Trainer: Alex Zyther Appearance: As an immature juvenile, she currently appears to be an unusually tall Carbink with pink crystals and red eyes, and a single small ponytail-like crystal just starting to emerge from the back of her head. Personality: Just as shy and Naive as Alex, Diancie was first drawn to the Trainer by their similarities. Despite this, however, she possesses a hidden steel to her core, as despite her physical insecurity she is willing to leave her own kingdom to try and carry on its legacy. Ability: Clear Body Specialty: Due to her juvenile state, Diancie's attacks are all weak and unpolished and fail to make full use of her inner strength; however, despite this there is clear power to her potential, and she will likely benefit greatly by learning from her current struggles. Known Moves: Moonblast (imperfect), Diamond Storm (feeble), Stealth Rock, Trick Room, Light Screen, Reflect and a Mega proposal courtesy of me and Blade: Proposed Pokémon: Luxray Appearance: Link: https://zerudez.deviantart.com/art/Mega-Luxray-463732726 (permission granted to 'Poochythegenius' in the comments) Focus: Through Mega Evolution, Luxray transforms from a slow but hard-hitting Pokémon with lackluster defenses to a solid and swift sweeper with devastating potential thanks to Strong Jaw and a massive increase on top of its already solid Attack. Type: Electric/Dark Mega Ability: Strong Jaw Stat Distribution: Stat reads base (Mega) [increase] -ATK: 120 (160) [+40] -SPA: 95 (95) [+0] -DEF: 79 (90) [+11] -SPD: 79 (90) [+11] -SPE: 70 (108) [+38]

-==IC: Professor Elaine Alderson==- “Ahh, ‘Professor’ Sycamore,” Professor Alderson said with some amusement. “I remember back when he was just ‘Augustine’, before either of us were ‘Professor’ anything.” The Pokémon Professor smiled wistfully, momentarily lost in memory. “I do miss those days. I wonder what he’s up to now? Tell me, if you’ll indulge my curiosity, why were you in to see the dear Professor? You seem a bit seasoned to be getting your first Pokémon, after all.”

-==IC: Lionel Zyther==- “No, the main lab was too badly damaged, structurally unsound, so the government just sealed it up and hoped it would all hold together as long as no one went inside. Genius decision, really, it’s worked out so well.” The man’s sarcasm was palpable. “No, I own several of their side labs and warehouses. When the dust settled, it turned out that Team Flare had quietly bought up what seemed like half of Geosenge under various false names and shell companies. No one really knew what to do with them, so they got auctioned off with the rest of Lysandre’s assets--which, of course, is where I came in. Not many people were willing to buy property associated with Flare, so I managed to make the best deal of my life snatching it up. The property values are still terrible--something all of Geosenge has suffered from, whether formerly Flare or not--but the technology…well.” The tech baron smirked in smug satisfaction. “Like I said. Lysandre was a madman, but also a genius. If he hadn’t been so focused on eugenics and genocide and ruling the world by force, he could have had it worshipping at his feet. I don’t intend to repeat those mistakes.” Lionel looked at his Holo Caster. “It’s getting late. If you have preparations to make, I suggest making them; otherwise it’d be prudent to get some rest before we leave in the morning.” -==IC: Professor Elaine Alderson==- “Oh no you don’t,” the Professor scolded, with the tone of someone having the same argument for the hundredth time. “That's your money for your future, sweetheart, so you don't end up a struggling old lady like me.” The woman shook her head sadly. “I made a lot of foolish choices back when I was your age, and I’m paying for them now. You just keep up your performances and your costuming, keep making a good solid life for yourself, and I’ll happily keep cheering for you from the sidelines.”

-==IC: Professor Elaine Alderson==- Elaine sighed heavily. “What else? Another funding tour. Not that it’s helped much, but at least there’s a little more interest now.” The professor contemplated her drink for a moment, but decided it would set a poor example. “So, Colleen,” she asked her niece’s fan, “you wouldn’t happen to be one of dear Augustine’s assistants, would you? It would be nice to have an excuse to see him before I have to leave.”

-==IC: Professor Elaine Alderson==- The professor looked up from her drink at the sound of the familiar voice. “Emily!” Elaine exclaimed, “What a surprise! I had no idea you were in town--I didn’t miss a performance, did I?” Her azure gaze drifted briefly to the girl who’d followed her niece to her table. “Who’s your friend, dear?”

-==IC: Lionel Zyther==- Lionel considered the girl's offer. On the one hand, it was Flare; no child, even teenagers on the cusp of adulthood, deserved to bear witness to the horrors of Team Flare. On the other hand, his more cynical side considered, maybe their innocence will distance them from the full ramifications of Flare's plans. The businessman was torn. The girl's point was sensible, but could he really justify getting involved in their affairs? Would it be better to share with them what he already knew, or insist that Rocket send more experienced agents who could handle Flare's atrocities? In his indecision, the choice was made for him. With his daughter's announcement, his duty as both citizen and father were clear. "Then you have my aid as well. I'll call my labs in Geosenge immediately, have them prepare the sealed wings for study. Once I've picked up the catalogue from my castle, my team and I will be able to walk you through what we've uncovered so far." Lionel gave Lucia a small smile, able to keep his warring pride and concern off of his face but not quite out of his eyes, before returning his attention to the girl who'd approached him. "Well, if we're going to be working together, then I suppose introductions are in order." The man held out a hand, all business. "Lionel Zyther, CEO of the Zyther Technology Conglomerate. And you would be?"

-==IC: Lionel Zyther==- The silver-haired boy stormed off before Lionel could properly respond, but to the group’s credit one of the girls approached in his place. "What do ya know about Flare, sir?" she asked him. “Quite a bit,” he replied plainly. “The skeletons Lysandre left in his closets were…impressive, to say the least. The man was a genius--a madman, yes, but genius nonetheless. Of course, that’s no surprise given how long he kept his secrets, but I find that the common Kalosian tends to forget the man’s brilliance when remembering his monstrosity. It’s very…unwise. The man had contingencies for his contingencies, and I’ve spent the better part of the past decade unraveling his plots from the companies he left behind. It’s not something dor the eyes of…” Lionel paused, studying the three carefully. The boy had the bearing of a brooding vigilante, perhaps a mercenary. Unstable, mercurial. Unreliable. The girl who’d stayed with him was a shrinking violet--the slightest pressure, she’d fold, she’d break. Unsafe. But the other girl, the one speaking with him now? She had steel, and the discipline to wield it. Like Lucia. Of the three, she was the one he’d peg as a Rocket. Lionel looked the girl dead in the eyes. “Listen. I get Rocket’s interest, its concern. And I applaud their vigilance. But it’s apparent that they underestimate Flare, if they’re sending children to poke around its remnants. There are things in my warehouses that would scar you forever. Blueprints, documents, plans…Team Flare was evil, in a way your government fails to comprehend. They advocated eugenics and genocide, and they were prepared to act on those plans once they’d gained the power to do so; I have a list of every Kalosian child born before 2006 with even the slightest birth defect, and notebooks detailing their homes, their family trees, and their parents’ daily schedules at the time, and that’s one of the lighter discoveries I’ve made. If they hadn’t blown up their lab in Geosenge ten years ago, not just Kalos but the entire world would be a very different place. Team Rocket thinks they’re dealing with itself, but they’re wrong. Team Flare is something far, far worse. So I hope you’ll understand my reluctance to send a group of three teenagers to poke a metaphorical landmine unsupervised.”

-==IC: Lionel Zyther==- Lionel appraised Jared before answering. “I do, in fact. Though I have to question why a group of teenagers is investigating a dangerous criminal organization whose primary goal was genocide. Not exactly your standard after-school pastime, is it?”