Flipz

IC: Amanda Zarth Amanda inclined her head to indicate gratitude. "For now I only have one inquiry directly related to the impending operation, but in light of not disrupting said operation I considered it prudent to address the matter privately." She flipped through a few files on her C-Gear, clutching her pendant gently as she reopened the file with her notes on the presentation. "If you will forgive my bluntness--what was the original intended target of operations involving the Power Suit program?" She stared impassively into the Executive's eyes, obviously searching for signs of deception in his reply.

IC: Amanda Zarth Amanda looked around the room. There were still too many others present, but she needed Executive Arthur's time in privacy. Waiting for the other agents' convenience was simply not an option. The Plasma functionary stepped forward to engage with the Liberty official. She noted Executive Arthur speaking to another well-dressed man, and she nodded respectfully to both men. "I apologize for the interruption, Executive and..." She scanned the other individual, noticing the Executive emblem pinned to a cloth band at the shoulder. "Executives," she corrected, "but I am afraid I must infringe upon your time sooner rather than later. Would it be possible to converse somewhere more private?"

~Jupiter's July~ Part 5 Route 206 Gatehouse, July 28 Jupiter had had a long day. Not that it had been a particularly arduous one--aside from dealing with an obnoxiously forgetful Hiker who'd insisted on a battle from the Cycling Road but then completely forgotten her by the time she'd gotten to him beneath the biking bridge. Still, once she'd seen him into the care of his worried grandchildren, it had been smooth (if smelly) sailing to seek some Stunky in the wild grass below the well-known biking path. Still, such a search took time, and she'd spent the whole day out in the wild among many Pokémon with a Stench like no other. Truth be told, she'd been a bit nervous about the whole ordeal--not the actual capturing, considering she was something of an expert on the line given her own signature Skuntank, but the timing was unfortunate. Between distractions and delays, she'd been hard-pressed to get the Gym even halfway presentable, and even still she wasn't completely satisfied. But more important than the building were the people who'd inhabit it, and she wanted to make a point of providing new partners to her soon-to-be protégés, so at the last minute she'd made the effort to finish her quest. There was just one problem...none of them wanted to go with her. Jupiter let out a harsh sigh of frustration as yet another Skunk Pokémon broke free of the ball, fled, and--most frustratingly--looked back in hesitation before ducking out of sight. She went to retrieve the capsule--damaged, as she'd expected, but there was no sense in leaving the device behind to litter the environment--before sinking back against a tree. The Gym Leader knew she was missing something. It was more than a question of strength, more than a fear of leaving their lives in the wild; somehow, something in her intentions was being either miscommunicated to or outright rejected by the Pokémon, and for the life of her she wasn't getting it. She turned to her Skuntank, who shrugged. She'd thought it a show of both good faith and expertise--and it seemingly had improved the Stunky population's inclination toward her--but still, something at the end would inevitably drive them away. "What am I doing wrong, Skuntank? Why is this so difficult?" She still remembered meeting the Pokémon...her first Pokémon, or at least the first she'd captured herself. Back then, their relationship had been easy--both of them wanting the same things out of life, both willing to go after them the same way. Perfectly in sync--that's what everyone had told her. The duo had been so powerful, during the height of old Galactic, that every grunt on the team was tripping over themselves to catch a Stunky of their own, just like she was now-- A movement in the underbrush alerted both Trainer and Pokémon of another's presence, and both straightened in readiness for battle. "Who's there?" It was not a Pokémon. "Hi there!" It was a woman, one who looked to be in her mid to late 30's. She was dressed in what appeared to be light brown boots, slightly worn blue denim pants, and a dignified green top. Her hair was long and black, her eyes a beautiful blue, and a very relaxed looking face. "My name is Maya. Who are you that I have come across?" The newcomer laughed, smiling at Jupiter. "...Jupiter, Gym Leader of Eterna City." Jupiter evaluated the woman briefly, noting the ease with which she occupied her environment. Someday, she promised herself, someday I'll be that relaxed. But it is not today. And then: Wait...what does a Gym Leader say in this situation? Inwardly she cursed herself for her own flat-footedness, but she tried to project a suitable air of authority, her natural element as a former Galactic Commander. "So...What brings you out to the wild so late this evening?" ...okay so maybe she was a little out of her element. Ah well. Maya cocked her head, as if she were sizing up Jupiter, and then reoriented her view. "So you are our new Gym Leader?" the woman said, projecting her relaxed nature even more. "I'm glad to see our Gym leader is trying to get used to her new home. As for me......." As she spoke, a Sceptile followed from behind Maya, and looked at Jupiter curiously. "I'm taking a stroll out with my Pokémon, to deal with my restlessness. How about you, Gym Leader?" Restlessness? To Jupiter, it seemed impossible for the woman to be any less restless, though she granted that she herself was a poor standard toward which to compare. "The Gym will be reopening soon," she stalled, "and the new Trainers I'm taking in will need new Pokémon to train. I'd hoped to catch a few Stunky tonight, but..." She gestured to the stillness surrounding them. "I can tell you right now, you aren't going to be catching any Stunky." The gardener said in a helpful tone. "If I may, Pokémon are drawn to people......who they know could be their master." She nudged towards her Sceptile, who gave her a happy nudge. "I think you should take your trainers out, and have them enjoy capturing their partners." She then winked. "I could help if you are uncertain, Gym Leader." Jupiter frowned. "I appreciate the advice, ma'am, but unfortunately there's no alternative. My Trainers won't arrive until the end of the month, and they'll need these Pokémon to meet the League requirements before the Gym opens." A pause. A decision. A breath exhaled. "Well...truth be told, they don't strictly need these Pokémon. I already have several Budew waiting for them back at the Gym, but I had hoped to offer them a choice...let them pick their own ideal partners, at least within our limited time frame. It's worked quite well for many of my subordinates in the past..." Something in her caught at the thought of her old team, a brief waver betraying itself in her voice. Why? My strategy is sound, regardless of its source. So why is it so difficult for me to follow through? ...because it's them. Because for all your logic it feels too much like the old days. Like exactly the memories you'd rather forget. "Then again, perhaps you're on to something. Perhaps it would be wiser to dispense with the habits of Galactic." Yet for as much as she wished the words to be true, some part of her would not feel the truth behind them. Arceus. Please tell me I'm not turning into Zynthic... "So that's how I remember you!" Maya said, snapping her fingers. "You were a part of Team Galactic. The people who, according to Professor Rowan, attempted to change the world." The woman looked at Jupiter, and then just shrugged and shook her head. "What I suggested, would also allow you to bond with your gym trainers. I was sort of a helper for Gardenia, so I know just a bit." "'Change the world,'" Jupiter muttered bitterly. And for all the change we worked for, what's left is... The Gym Leader wrenched her thoughts away from her memories of the disaster at Nova. It happened. It's over. Move on. The mantra did little to quell her racing thoughts, but at least it gave her something concrete for her mind to grasp. Her heart pounded in her chest, pulse skyrocketing as the constant thump rang in her ears. The irrational part of her mind wondered incredulously how Maya couldn't hear it, while the rational side struggled to maintain the facade of confident expertise yet serene humility required of a Gym Leader. "I'm...glad to meet a second Trainer from my predecessor's legacy. If you know anything about making the best of an...unfortunate coincidence of timing, ma'am, I'm all ears." "Well, first off, if you are dead-set on getting Pokémon for your gym trainers....." Maya started, noting Jupiter's struggle. "Try relaxing a little. Pokémon can sense how tense people can be, and know that they can be terrifying while tense." The gardener gestured to her Sceptile, who looked a little more on guard. "My Odolwa can tell that you are not exactly at ease." She said, sounding calm as she did so. "Mind telling why, if possible?" Jupiter struggled with her feelings. "If...if I'm being honest..." What are you doing? Why would you reveal so much to a total stranger? "...well...it's not really..." She's trying to help you, why would you turn her down? "...I guess it started with..." You are a Gym Leader, Jupiter, show some spine! "...it's just...my Team..." Memories washed over her. A raw recruit, recently chosen as one of Cyrus' lieutenants, joy and fear mingling within her. "You three will be the face of Team Galactic. Do not fail us." A prized Commander, smarting from her first real defeat. "Losing to some child... Being careless cost me too much." Condemning her fellow Commander's weakness. "...Mars. You really are weak. Pitifully so. You make me embarrassed to be a Commander like you." Losing to Lucian, her only friend after leaving Galactic. "I am the toughest of the Elite Four. But I know you have more in you than that." The loss of the Orbs, and all the other setbacks after rejoining her old Team. "Team Galactic's not the same without Master Cyrus around. Is this really what we're left to?" And at the last...Nova. "Obviously, I was wrong about you," Envy said to Mars, her voice under-layered by another, much deeper one. "If you will not use your potential, then I will take it FOR MYSELF!" "No!" Jupiter wrenched herself back to the present, though it seemed no time had passed. Slowly, she forced herself to breathe again, then unclench her fists. Blood oozed from her palms, though nothing a simple bandage would not fix overnight. Something fuzzy brushed her leg, and only a supreme act of will suppressed her reflex to lash out. Looking down, Jupiter saw her beloved Skuntank nuzzling her leg, the creature providing what comfort she could. As awareness returned, she looked to Maya Tierra with haunted eyes, feeling smaller than she ever had. "Do you...do you know what happened? To Nova?" Maya frowned and spoke. "Only what I know from the news, honestly." "...Good." Jupiter closed her eyes. Skuntank still leaned against her, the Pokémon lending much-needed support to her Trainer. "Stunky...they were popular with Team Galactic. They were everywhere around base, every grunt and their brother seemed to have one. And I think..." She opened her eyes, staring past Maya at some private vision. "...I try not to think of them. The people. Their faces. All destroyed. All..." She couldn't--wouldn't--share what she'd seen in that room. She'd told the Teams of Envy's dark power, that she'd killed them all--and that was it. The precise details were a secret she'd take to her grave. Even if it meant reliving them whenever her treacherous mind chose to call up those memories on a passing whim. She sat down, leaning her head back against a small tree. Her pulse still pounded in her ears, but at least she'd regained enough presence of mind to recognize the need to complete her sentences. "Like you said, we tried to change the world. But in the end, our only legacy is pain and destruction. And no matter how hard I try, I just...can't...escape it." Maya sighed. "It's not easy, I know." The Gardener spoke kindly. "You want to escape the shadow of the past, but yet it still haunts you. If you're going to let it do that, however, you've lost." Maya gave Jupiter a hard look. "You should use what you have learned from the past, and use it to propel yourself further. That's the best thing you could do!" As she spoke, Maya struck a pose, her right hand pointing skyward. Jupiter nodded. She knew she should smirk or grin or...something at Maya's antics, but something wouldn't let her. She felt...well, frankly she couldn't tell. Not happy, but not...that. Whatever "that" had been. Or maybe still was, just not as much. She shook her head, not in disagreement, but rather in a futile attempt at clearing it. It didn't help. "Well, then, if I'm moving forward, I'd better get back to it. Thank you, Ma'am...Maya. I appreciate the advice." The Gym Leader stood to leave, but another thought spilled out of her before she could think better of it. "If you don't mind me asking...Galactic. Setting aside what...happened...are you glad we're--they're...gone? Is Eterna?" Maya broke her pose, giving Jupiter another look. "Really, as far as I am concerned, I don't care." The trainer spoke. "As long as whomever remains isn't out to cause us more trouble, I'm fine." Jupiter chewed her lip a moment. "...okay. Come, Skuntank." The two retreated into the brush of the wilds, and soon vanished from sight. Maya, satisfied with what she had said and done, continued her walk with her Sceptile, whistling cheerfully as she did so.

IC: Amanda Zarth Amanda noted the Executive's attending to his other duties and nodded to herself. As expected. She looked back to the data pad the technician had handed her, currently linked to her C-Gear so she could download the documents to the more convenient device. As she looked around, she noted a number of operatives placing their Pokéballs into some pop-out compartment of the device. She furrowed her brow. Hmm...no doubt linked to the Type Affinity Potential mentioned by Executive Arthur. The Plasma functionary considered the useful possibilities of such a performance metric in agent analysis. She doubted she could reverse-engineer the algorithm in the time she had before the mission, but perhaps with enough points of reference another Plasma agent could construct a passable facsimile for use in her Team's own agent assessment programs. Of course, the most important data point would be the one for which we have the most external data...myself. So thinking, Amanda withdrew the Plasma-emblazoned Poké Balls containing the three members of her Pokémon team and slotted them into the Liberty-provided device. Several seconds of scanning later, the device provided her results. Type Affinity Potential: Psychic - 2.00 Normal - 1.83 --INVALID OPTION-- Electric - 1.66 --INVALID OPTION-- Steel - 1.16 Bug - 0.16 Fire - 0.16Interesting... Before she could analyze her results further, a chime indicated her C-Gear had completed its download. Disconnecting the two devices, she retrieved her Pokémon and stored the data pad away before returning her attention to Executive Arthur. Auxiliary projects could wait; for now, she had a duty to perform, and she was not about to let inattention keep her from it.

IC: Adam Zynthic (Eterna Forest, July 2017) Adam Zynthic was sleeping. Was being the key word. Adam Zynthic was also in a bad mood. Was was not a key word there. Camouflaged beneath a blanket of fallen leaves and the berry bush on Wiggy's back, the ex-Ranger drew upon his training of maintaining a silent stillness, even as a group of noisy children approached his napping spot outside the Old Chateau. Go away, go away, go away... Wiggy, while perfectly happy to stay still, was not so much interested in the "silent" part. Without rising from his position as Adam's impovised pillow, the Grotle let forth a low, echoing growl of warning, before closing his eyes to blend into the undergrowth once more.

IC: Amanda Zarth Apparently satisfied, Amanda tapped a significant volume of information into her C-Gear. "Thank you, Executive..." ...Arthur. There was that name again. She glanced around for the Heroine of Time, but the woman wasn't immediately within sight. "Perhaps, if there is a moment before the mission, we may converse further, but for the most part my initial concerns have been sufficiently addressed." She clutched her pendant a moment, then reverted to a pose of polite rest, awaiting the group's dismissal so she could either speak to the Executive privately or else return her superiors to inform them of the situation.

IC: Amanda Zarth Amanda typed rapidly away at her C-Gear, annotating a voice recording in real-time and frequently uploading the results to a cloud-storage folder. She mentally reprimanded herself for letting the Heroine of Time divert her attention as much as it had--as it was, audio and text-notation would have to make do in lieu of recorded video. As Goldhawk surrendered the floor to questions, Amanda cocked her head slightly in consideration. One: the Bishops requested an official Team Plasma presence at this mission briefing. Two: the presence intended was that of Knight Tierra, Knight Hakuda, or the two of them in conjunction. Three: the official duties of Knight Tierra and Knight Hakuda are to represent the interests of Team Plasma in the coordination of activities involving John Ford and now the entities on Two Island. Four: Knight Tierra has assigned me to take his place in this meeting. Conclusion... "I must inquire as to the original purpose of this technology, General. It seems unusual for such a tactical asset to simply appear in the midst of a crisis, precisely when most needed. It is..." What was the phrase Rook Kingsley used? "...I believe the expression is 'too good to be true'." Amanda watched Goldhawk's reaction dispassionately, clutching her pendant for a moment before dropping her hand back to her C-Gear. She kept her focus on the Team Liberty general, ignoring any attention she might have drawn; after all, the only thing that mattered--despite what her own disobedient mind might be telling her about a certain Heroine--was his answer, particularly why exactly in a time of claimed peace the team had continued development of a rather clear war technology...and what Team Liberty's original intentions were in using them.

IC: Amanda Zarth At the woman's words, the world slowed to a crawl. As if Jamie were the only other person in the room, Amanda found her attention zeroed in on the Heroine of Time. Her eyes shimmered as she stared intently at the young woman. The annoying sensation from before, the ticking instinct, was back once again... With supreme effort, the Plasma functionary wrenched her attention to the present, at least partially. With hesitation, she opened a new file on her C-Gear. A personal file. One of just two she'd started that day. One of a mere handful she'd ever started. I hope this does not mark the beginning of a trend. Pushing her distraction to the back of her mind, Amanda began one of the tasks she did best: taking notes. One way or another I will see this anomaly solved... I swear it.

IC: Amanda Zarth As the cluster of Rocket trainers entered the command center, Amanda quietly followed. Interesting. It seems my Plasma credentials are no longer required for entry. She noted the operational detail down in a file on her C-Gear, before waiting patiently near the back of the room, listening for names to put to the volunteers' faces.

IC: Amelia Zann (+Sina [sneasel]/+Harvey [Larvitar])/Alex Zyther (+Didi [Dedenne]/+Raleigh [Ralts]) (July 31st) A moment after Alex made it through the door, it snapped shut behind him. "Finally. Took ya long enough." Alex looked around the empty Pokémon Center, only noticing Amelia at the control panel when he'd turned completely around. The Trainer glared at the spy. "Crutches," he snarked back, gesturing with one of the mentioned devices, "in case you hadn't noticed." Amelia snorted. "You seem nimble enough on 'em." She glared at Raleigh with disdain. "I see you brought the troublemaker after all." "Dr. Canard said he saved our lives. He called the doctors to come help us when we were unconscious in the woods." Amelia's eyes narrowed. "Wouldn't have been there in the first place if it wasn't for him--" Unbidden, the memories of the Celadon hospital collapse came to mind. "...You know what, fine. Call it even. But if Van isn't 100% okay by the time I see him..." Alex stared at the woman's Larvitar, who was apparently fine. "Uh...that's not him?" Amelia shot her human companion a withering gaze. "Does he look like a Carvanha to you?" "Wh--how was I supposed to know??" Amelia rolled her eyes. "Forget it, kid." The spy scratched her forehead absently. "All right, so, down two Pokémon and way too many eyes between here and Shalour...best bet's probably by sea, but my Water-type's the one that's down. I don't s'pose...?" She considered the Trainer's Pokémon--a diminutive yellow mouse something-or-other, and the odd-colored Ralts that had gotten her into this whole mess. "...nah, never mind." "You know we'd probably be a lot more helpful to you if you told us exactly what's going on." A sigh. "Fine. An old friend of mine's coming in to see me, needs someplace to let the trail cool off. Like we do, honestly, but there's safety in numbers and hopefully she's not missing half her team." "...yeah, I know the feeling. It's so weird not to have Blissie or Sylph with me..." Do I look like I care? the spy managed not to say. "Anyway, unless your little friend there--" "Raleigh." "...the heck kinda name is that?" She shook her head. "Never mind. Unless...'Raw-lee'...can teleport us to Shalour City..." After a moment of expectant hesitation, Raleigh shook his head in apology. "...then we're gonna have to hoof it on our own. And since Lumiose is explicitly *not* an option, we're gonna have to get a boat." "That's no problem! I've got plenty of money, I can..." Alex went for his bag, only to remember it wasn't with him. "...probably battle someone for a rental?" Amelia snorted. "Hey, I can, okay? As soon as I got to Aunt Stacy's, I was going to challenge the Gyms of Kanto!" Amelia took another look at Alex's Pokémon. "Uh-huh." "I was!" Alex's jaw abruptly snapped shut as he realized how he sounded. I don't know what it is about her that sets me off, but sheesh... "Look kid, unless that little yellow rat's got enough charge to hot-wire an ignition--" "De nenene!" the Dedenne in question objected noisily. "We are not stealing--" The exclamation dropped off suddenly as something over Amelia's shoulder caught Alex's eye. "...aren't we?" Amelia frowned. "Hello? Kid?" No response. "...Alex?" Unhearing, Alex made his way past the woman to the television screen, still playing the news on mute. He couldn't see the controls, but it seemed the woman's Sneasel had anticipated the need and had found the appropriate button at the nurse's station. "--mourn as the search for survivors of the hospital collapse continues. Emergency services on the scene inform me that the odds of finding survivors this long after the disaster were already down to single-digits, but with the outage it's become near-impossible to recover remains, let alone a chance-defying straggler. With the clearing efforts ground to a near halt, the authorities are officially declaring any unrecovered occupants deceased, and will now begin the process of notifying the next-of-kin. We're told that the names of those not found will be added to the city-wide registry within the week, and those with family still missing in or near Celadon are urged to contact the hotline again at that time." "Aunt Stacy..." Alex's eyes were wide as the camera surveyed the destruction, two weeks' work having been done but the city still largely in a state of ruin and disrepair. Another name jumped to mind. "...Lucia!" Amelia pursed her lips. As much as she wanted to keep moving, she didn't begrudge the kid his concern for his loved ones. "It was bad, not gonna lie, kid. But I reckon as long as your family was strong enough to be battle Rocket, they're just fine," she lied comfortingly. If anything, Amelia's reassurance--or more specifically, the mention of Team Rocket--only worried him more. He stared at her, then back the screen. "...Lucia...?" "We now return to our top story. It's been nearly four hours since the event that some are dubbing 'the flash felt 'round the world', heralding the mass disappearance of Pokémon powers. We've reached out to local Pokémon Professor Augustine Sycamore for comment regarding the phenomenon, but have yet to receive a reply; meanwhile, reports continue to come in of Pokémon power failures from around the globe, with the majority coming from the Kanto region and its neighboring territories. As of yet there has been no word from official Team Rocket leadership, but we've recently received a tip from an anonymous source that the incident may have originated from the Sevii Islands, home of Team Rocket's best-known opposing organization Team Liberty. Although the conflict between the two teams was halted under cease-fire back in January, the destruction of Celadon and a number of other incidents has increased international concern that a renewal of the decade-long war may be at hand. At present, however, Team Liberty leadership could not be reached for comment." Bang bang bang! "Ms. Zann? Hello? I've just been made aware of some serious concerns and--" THWONG "--the door...won't...open...? Ms. Zann? Ms. Zann??" "C'mon, kid," Amelia murmured, taking the shell-shocked Alex by the shoulder and guiding him along with her. "Let's get out of here."

IC: Amelia Zann/Alex Zyther (July 31st) "...I see." Nurse Joy sighed into the phone. "I'm sorry to hear that. I'll go inform the Pokémon." The healer hung up, gripping the receiver a little too tightly as she did so. This was always the worst part of her duties--but that didn't make the job any less necessary. Holding back her tears, Nurse Joy headed into the back hallways of the Pokémon Center, heading to the storage room with quite possibly the worst news her four charges would ever hear. --------------- The Pokémon Center, like the hospital hallways before it, was empty. While not unusual for Laverre City--the hospital was close by, and the city's populace was both small and rather...traditional in its preferences for medical treatment--it still struck Dr. Canard as odd. Something is not right here, the medical examiner mused, and I'm not sure I want to find out what. Even the desk was unoccupied, the only sign of life in the place a television softly reporting the news--some breaking story in Kanto, from the looks of it. Those poor people. Didn't they suffer enough from that debacle in Celadon? What more must those poor unfortunate souls be forced to endure? The doctor's concentration was broken when Amelia Zann cleared her throat. "Well, Doc?" Dr. Canard started--he'd almost forgotten his gun-toting ex-patient. Well, ex-prospective patient. Posthumously. This mess is certainly going to make for an...unusual report to say the least. "Ah, yes, my apologies." He looked around, but saw no sign of the Nurse Joy who was supposed to be at the desk. "It appears that Nurse Joy has stepped out, but I'm sure she'll be--" Amelia shot the doctor a death glare. "I'm not in the mood for waiting. Where are my Pokémon?" "In the back," Alex supplied. "Last door on the left, unless Laverre has one of the big centers, then you have to make a right down the side hallway." Alex shrugged, an impressive feat for a young man supporting himself on a pair of crutches. "Until a few months ago, Kalos was everything I've ever known. And with my...condition...I've been in places like this just about as often as a hospital." Amelia nodded distractedly. "Sure, sure." She looked to Canard expectantly. "Doc?" Dr. Canard sighed. "All right, all right, fine." The medical examiner held up his name badge to the scanner and typed in his override. "You know we just want to help you, right? There's no need for you to force the issue like this." "Forgive me if I'm not exactly trusting of your sort of 'help,'" Amelia muttered cryptically. She stepped toward the doors as they opened, but to her surprise Alex was the first one through. With a shrug she gestured toward the doctor. "After you, I guess." Following the grumbling doctor through, Amelia sealed the doors behind the trio before following Alex's lead down the hall. --------------- Nurse Joy took a deep breath as she knelt before the four Pokémon, steeling herself for what she was about to say. "Hello. The last time we spoke, I explained that your Trainers would be here for you soon, but I'm afraid I have some unfortunate news." You've done this before Joy, you can't hesitate now. "I'm afraid your Trainers are--" The healer jolted upright at the sound of the door squeaking open behind her. The Dedenne before her squealed joyously. "Dinene!" "Didi!" a blonde-haired young man cried, dropping his crutches and falling to his knees so he could open his arms for the Electric-and-Fairy-type to leap into. "I was so worried when I woke up without you!" Nurse Joy froze at the sight of the boy, who was followed into the room by an unfamiliar redheaded woman and one of the doctors from the hospital--she couldn't recall which one. "Doctor...?" she queried. "I...I just got a call from the hospital telling me that these Trainers..." Dr. Canard sighed. "Yes, I'm well aware. There was a...a mix-up, of sorts." He glanced nervously at Amelia, not wanting to risk her ire. "It's really a long story." Amelia, for her part, glared down at Sina and Harvey with a mix of consternation and relief. "Sina. Harvey. Glad to see you both in one piece. Enjoy your vacation without me?" As Sina rolled her eyes and Harvey chewed his claws nervously, Amelia's gaze passed to the last Pokémon in the group--and suddenly her hand dropped to her belt, her voice icy with hate. "You." The Ralts drooped his head sadly, making no move to defend himself. He'd expected this, especially after Amelia's Pokémon had explained exactly what he'd done. Both doctors looked back and forth confusedly between Amelia and the blue-capped Ralts who had prompted her rage. Canard--realizing what Amelia surely must have been going for--spoke up in his most soothing tone. "Ms. Zann, it's all right. I'm not sure what's wrong, but I assure you that that Ralts--" "Darn near killed my Van! If it werern't for that little ******, I wouldn't be here in the first place! Not here, not Celadon...I swear to Arceus, I oughta--" To the utter shock of everyone in the room, it was Alex who brought the confrontation to a halt, the young man forcing himself to his feet and standing between the Ralts and the rage-filled woman, arms protectively outstretched. "No." Didi wailed, the diminutive creature futilely copying the gesture as she stood between Amelia and her Trainer, whiskers vibrating with effort. "No? Kid, I don't think you understand--" "I understand well enough. I'm sorry about what happened to your Pokémon, it sounds like it was really bad. But we're all here now, so there's no need to be a bully." This broke through Amelia's rage, at least enough to prompt an upraised eyebrow. "A bully? That's what you're going with?" "I don't like bullies," Alex mumbled, intimidated but unwilling to back down. Even though he knew he was safe, knew the madwoman needed him alive and well, every instinct in him was screaming to get out of her way. He pointedly--if with difficulty--ignored them. Amelia snorted, planting her hand on her hip instead of going for her hidden weapon. "You got guts, kid, I'll give you that." She glared at the Ralts. "That little **** owes me, big time." She fished a Premiere Ball out of her pack and tossed it to Alex, who fumbled it in surprise. "But if you want to stand up for him that bad, he's your problem now." Summoning Sina and Harvey to her with a jerk of her head, she yanked her belt of Pokéballs out of the stunned Nurse Joy's hands and spun on her heel, marching out the door without a second look back. "Five minutes," she warned from the hallway, and was gone. Alex's knees wobbled--well, all of him was shaking, really, the knees were just the most evident--and a second later he was back on the floor. "I...I can't believe...I did that.." he muttered, mostly to Didi, trailing off as the Dedenne squeaked quietly at him. A tap on the shoulder broke his concentration. To Alex's surprise, the Ralts was holding the dropped Premiere Ball out to him. "Oh, uhh...thank...thank you," he mumbled, embarassed by the stares he was still getting from the two doctors in the room. The Ralts simply stared at him, briefly fiddling with the red bowtie-like protrustion on his chest before clasping both hands behind his back like a proper gentleman. "I'm sorry, did you...er, I'm sorry, I don't even...know your name..." "Raleigh," Nurse Joy supplied, finally getting over her stupor. "That's what he called himself when he brought us to you in the woods." "When he...what?" "Ah yes," Dr. Canard interjected, having overcome his own shock as well. "That wild Ralts was the one who alerted emergency services to your and Ms. Zann's presence two weeks ago. He hardly left your side afterward, until the nurses insisted he come here to be treated for his own injuries." "If I'm not wrong, young man, I think...I think he wants to go with you." Alex looked to Raleigh, who nodded solemnly. "Are...are you sure?" Another nod. "Well...all right then, I guess." Tapping the button on the front of the Pokéball, Alex held it out toward Raleigh, who was immediately drawn into it. With barely a wobble, the device clicked, signifying a successful capture. "Welcome to the team, Raleigh." The simple statement prompted a frown from the young man. "That reminds me...where are Sylph and Blissie?" The two doctors looked to each other, mystified. "I beg your pardon?" "My Eevee and Blissey? They were both with me back in Celadon City..." Dr. Canard paled. "Is...is that so?" he murmured, sounding faint. Nurse Joy, who seemed only slighly less surprised by the revelation, folded her hands in consideration. "We did find two used but empty balls on the woman's belt. Perhaps they were theirs?" Alex shook his head. "No, they weren't the right kind...oh, I know!" Alex clicked the Premiere Ball again to send out Raleigh. "Hey, uh...Raleigh...when you found us, did you see an Eevee or a Blissey?" Slowly, almost regretfully, Raleigh shook his head. He looked away, seeming if anything even more guilt-ridden than he had before. "That's okay, Raleigh. Thanks anyway." He smiled gently at the Timid Psychic-type. "Hey, think you could grab my crutches for me?" The Ralts bowed and retrieved the requested item, earning another smile from Alex. "Thanks, Raleigh. Come on, let's go check on gun-lady before she gets mad...well, more mad anyway." 'Gun-lady?' Nurse Joy mouthed at Canard as Alex and his two Pokémon left. The medical examiner shook his head. "It's a long story, I'm afraid." He furrowed his brow. "Celadon...another piece of the puzzle it seems. Such an odd pair...and how did they get from there all the way to Kalos?" "Well, Raleigh did know Teleport...though why a Kalosian Ralts would be all the way in Kanto is a mystery all on its own." "Yes, he did seem a bit...unusual, to say the least." Dr. Canard's frown grew deeper. "Rather quiet for a Psychic-type, actually, now I think of it." Nurse Joy's eyes widened. "You...haven't seen the news?" "I'm afraid I've been a bit busy since my scheduled autopsies suddenly sat up and walked off the morgue slabs." The medical examiner observed Nurse Joy's expression with mounting alarm. "Why do I get the sudden impression that's not the strangest thing you've heard today?" "Doctor..." Nurse Joy fidgeted nervously. "I think there's something you--and your patients--really need to know."

OOC: Jam time with Alku! IC: Amanda Zarth/Evan Tierra It was several seconds after the encounter of Heroes ended before Amanda became aware of her surroundings once more. Knight Tierra was already halfway down the hallway, apparently unaware that anything was amiss. ...was anything amiss? And if so, what was it? Amanda clenched her fist, only to meet the unexpected resistance of a Pokéball within--she had seemingly stopped just short of summoning the Magnezone within. Upon further inspection, her pose seemed to indicate one of readiness--wide stance, loose knees, C-Gear tucked in close and shielded by arm and body with the other hand holding the Pokéball outstretched in preparation to begin battle, the briefcase in which it had been contained dropped unceremoniously at her side. What the inspection did not reveal was the source of the stimulus that had provoked the reaction. A familiar tune began to chime from the device's Xtransceiver, drawing the attention of both Plasma agents. Shaken from her stunned stupor, Amanda automatically reached over to silence the alert. "What was that all about?" Evan asked, curious as to why Amanda would react the way she did, noting the colour of her eyes was that of an intense purple. "A little surprise from our Leaders?" Amanda checked the alert summary dutifully, scanning the transcript of the voice message. "A...perhaps," she responded distractedly. The blazing amethyst flame within her eyes died down to their usual embers as they reached the bottom of the screen. "Rook Kingsley has informed us that the Bishops wish the presence of at least one of the Team Plasma liaisons at the Liberty mission briefing." Something ticked away at her, something important, but elusive. The Plasma agent was thoroughly unprepared for such an indistinct input, and she struggled to properly categorize it. She became dimly aware of the scrutiny of her superior, and concluded that her internal indecision had exceeded operational margins, meaning he needed to be informed. "Additionally, I seem to be under the effect of a distraction of unknown source." She paused, comparing the situation to previous scenarios. "It is proving abnormally difficult to isolate." The Plasma Knight furrowed his brow, raising his left arm up to his chin. "They request one of the liaisons, correct?" he spoke, considering his plans. "I need to meet up with my points of contact, so I'll put the trust of the Bishops to good use." He then focused on Amanda. "You mind going in my and Jenny's place?" Amanda blinked once, but then retrieved her briefcase and nodded. "I will resolve my mental distraction and attend to the matter immediately." Snapping off a salute to her superior, she spun on her heel and began marching toward the room listed in the briefing announcement. It was two hallways and an elevator before Amanda could put a name to the feeling plaguing her. Instinct, she concluded. But why would that woman provoke such an instinct within me? Particularly given my distinct lack of predilection for such intangible matters? Shelving the issue--she had a name for it, after all, and that seemed to be enough to satisfy whatever part of her brain that had distracted her in the first place--she opened a new file on her C-Gear and stood patiently outside the door to Command.

IC: Amelia Zann/Alex Zyther (July 31st) "...I'm sorry, the ****??" The younger man raised an eyebrow. "Uhh...language?" Oh you're going to be a joy, aren't you? "I'm sorry, that was probably a bit abrupt. I'm afraid I'm not exactly known for my bedside manner," Dr. Canard joked, the medical examiner's dark humor a fitting match for a man whose primary procedure was the autopsy. "So. Dead then. Alive now. How?" Canard spread his arms wide. "Your guess is as good as mine, I'm afraid, especially now that an autopsy is off the table, in both the literal and the metaphorical sense." Amelia scowled. "Don't quit your day job, Doctor. You mentioned local experts?" "That's right. We're located in Laverre City, home to quite a few experts in Fairy-type lore. Most of it's just mucking about in old myths and legends and superstition, but recently we've been making some exciting progess in using certain Fairy-type moves to stabilize high-risk patients. The experts say it's something along the lines of 'bolstering their life force', but of course as a man of medicine I simply cannot accept the claim that a person's life is sustained simply by some sort of nebulous exotic energy--" "Doctor. The point." "...yes, quite. Regardless, our team happened to come in while you were unconscious, and that's when they proclaimed your life force was linked or some such nonsense. To be frank, it makes little sense, but then again your vitals were in perfect sync, even when you flatlined." "Ah..." Alex began hesitantly, "sorry, but that part still doesn't make sense. I've...I've been a code blue in the past, several times. Didi--er, my Dedenne--was trained for defibrilation for that exact reason." "A medical assistance Pokémon? Our apologies for separating it from you then, we didn't know." "I...uh, thank you. But..." Alex took a few cleansing breaths to calm himself--not too deep, he didn't want to over-stress his lungs, but his heart rate would go up if he stressed himself out, and that would be bad--for both him and the strange, foul-mouthed woman with the gun, apparently. He was still skeptical on that point, honestly. "The thing is, if our...life force as you call it...if that was linked, wouldn't that have killed gun-lady too?" "Amelia. Say it with me, Uh-meel-yuh." "Uh..." Dr. Canard scratched his head. "I...I'm not sure, really. I'm afraid yours is the first case we've seen, Mr....?" "Look, I'm sure all this sciency mumbo-jumbo is interesting to y'all, but I ain't died before and I ain't plannin' on doing it again anytime soon." She raised the gun slightly. "Pokémon Center. Move." Raising his hands resignedly, the doctor led them out into the hallways, which were thankfully empty of passers-by. Patients and physicians alike preferred to avoid the dead, and the denizens of AAMMC were no different. Alex clung helplessly to Canard, until the medical examiner made a noise of exasperation and hastily detoured to a supply closet before Amelia could respond. "I'm sorry, old chap, but I'm afraid these will have to do until we have time to fabricate a custom solution." Dr. Canard passed a pair of low-end generic crutches to Alex. "Do you think you'll be able to walk with those?" Alex smiled sadly. "I've done it before. I'll be fine." A mildly winded Amelia appeared behind the duo. "Doc, I was startin' to like y'all, but you try an' throw me like that again and y'all're gonna get hurt." "Yes, yes, fine, I'm sorry for helping an injured boy achieve some measure of motor independence." Alex snorted, struggling not to let it turn into another coughing fit. Amelia rolled her eyes. The group moved on. After a few corridors, Alex began to brood, frowning at the floor rather than the apparent madwoman behind him. Noting the young man's distress, Canard leaned in close. "I notice you seemed pretty comfortable around here. I take it you're familiar with hospitals, then?" Alex nodded. "As long as I can remember, I've been in and out. After a while, you start to figure stuff out." His face furrowed in concentration, and with the invitation to conversation politely declined, Canard chose not to further comment. --------------- When the trio reached the more populous area of the facility, Amelia's gun vanished; while Canard couldn't spot it on her person, he knew she hadn't lost it, and that it'd be in her hand again at a moment's notice. With a sigh of frustration--would it really kill her to just cooperate a little?--he led the two outside, nodding dismissively at the nurses on duty with a confidence he didn't feel. If I'd known I had such talent for acting within me, I would have never dropped theatre back in college. Pity. They were halfway to the Pokémon Center when Alex stopped in his tracks. "Baselines." "I beg your pardon?" "You said when we came in, we were unconscious, right?" At the doctor's nod, Alex continued. "So you only have vitals for when we were unconscious and when we..." Alex trailed off, but the dead silence betrayed that of which he didn't want to speak. "Anyway, that's our baseline...or, well, as close as you could get. I bet now we're awake, our heartbeats and stuff don't sync up anymore." Canard fixed the young man with an impressed look of appraisal. "You know, my boy, I do think you have something there. When we get back to the hospital--" "No." The doctor turned to Amelia, spluttering. "I beg your pardon?" "No hospital. Don't trust y'all--not even far as I could throw ya. We'll do fine on our own." Alex frowned, then stared as he caught Amelia's wording. "We?" Amelia gave Alex a hard look. "If you think I'm gonna let some kid whose life or death is apparently tied to my own out of my sight for even one second..." Alex's mouth flopped open and closed like a beached fish. Dr. Canard frowned. "While I can understand your reasoning, partly, surely you recognize you're being absurd--" "Absurd? Absurd? Doc, I ain't lettin' ya stick me in a jar and study me 'til I'm dead of old age, an' you and I both know that's exactly what'll happen to me if I go back there. The kid too, and I already said I ain't lettin' him outta my sight anyway." "Oh, come now, be reasonable. How are you going to make him go with you, threaten to shoot the poor lad?" Alex paled, an impressive feat given his existing complexion after nearly a month unconscious in a bed. "Be reasonable, Ms. Zann, and I'm sure we can clear up this misunderstanding--" "I'll do it." Silence. "You'll...I beg your pardon?" "I know it sounds nuts, but listen. Even if I stay, she's going to be out there. You said it yourself, we're...connected. However that works. If she gets herself killed..." Alex trailed off, not liking his own line of thinking. Amelia snorted. "Not likely, kid. But points for concern." Canard frowned. "I don't like it." "'Course ya don't," Amelia snarked, eyebrow raised. "But you'll accept it." "It's...it's pseudoscience. Not even a proper field." "I know, Doctor," Alex admitted, his own conviction not entirely solid, "but...well, life is precious. I...I don't want to risk it." Dr. Canard sighed, passing a hand through his thin gray hair. "That...that is something I can understand, yes." He sighed again. "I want it on the record that this is a terrible idea. But if you're of age--" "I am." "--then you're free to refuse further treatment." The medical examiner shook his head sadly, lips pressed together in a straight, dissatisfied line, but he did not protest further. The journey to the Pokémon Center was completed in silence.

IC: Amanda Zarth Amanda snapped off a Plasma salute to both Jenny and Evan before beginning her report. "Your status as Team Plasma liaisons should grant you unfettered access to the Team Liberty and Team Rocket leadership. However, should they prove recalcitrant toward your delegated authority and require the Bishops' direct intervention, the two of you will need to compile an updated threat assessment for both subjects, to be sent to the Bishops for analysis. Additionally, our Team is presenting an open offer to assume custody of the subjects and their associates should the need arise, though the two of you are advised to consider the difficulties of transferal before advocating for the proposal." The Knight glanced down at her C-Gear, consulting her organizer before continuing in the same mechanical tone. "There is also the matter of the still-incomplete supplemental follow-up data on your report of Operation Fading Strike, Knight Tierra." Rook Kingsley had discouraged pursuing Knight Hakuda's debriefing, of course, but Knight Tierra's incomplete report was still a matter of necessary protocol. "And there was also a large-scale notification sent out regarding an unknown Liberty operation, additional intelligence on which could be of significant use." Only after her report to Knights Tierra and Hakuda were done did she allow herself interaction with the space's other occupants. Closing her C-Gear and stowing it in her briefcase, she withdrew her Team Plasma badge from her pocket and presented it for the others' benefit. "Knight Amanda Zarth of Team Plasma, currently serving as undersecretary to Knights Tierra and Hakuda, current liasons to Teams Liberty and Rocket. Would you, by chance, happen to be Knight Hakuda's and Knight Tierra's points of contact with Team Liberty, or are we still operating on an improvisational basis?"

-==IC: Amanda Zarth==- In the Alamos command center, Amanda was continuing her observations when three things of note occurred. First, a stranger--to her, at least--appeared and made off with one of the technicians rotating off-duty. Second, a message arrived from Knight Tierra, which took a few minutes to process, comply to, and flag for follow-up. Third, a mass message rang throughout the base; while, strictly speaking, as an outsider she should not have had access to that information, Amanda had made a point of knowing what she needed to despite whether or not she should know it. ...that, and the technician named "Isabella" had forgotten to log out of her terminal, a detail Amanda immediately filed away for future consideration should a relevant need arise. A quiet chime alerted Amanda to her need for physical sustenance. While she could return to the ambassadorial suite for room service, her calculations indicated substantially low odds of her superiors being present, and at this point an in-person check-in would be most beneficial to the efficiency of the present operations. While it was not an imminent concern, since the odds of encountering the duo in a public dining environment were much higher than at their lodgings, it was only logical to attend to her biological necessities at the Cafeteria. With that on her mind, Amanda turned on her heel and began her journey. She had almost reached her destination when a new message appeared for her. From: Rook Bishop Kingsley <kingsley.bishop@plasma.un.mil> To: Knight Amanda Zarth <zarth.amanda@plasma.un.mil> Subject: RE:Subject Intelligence and Security Amanda, I've forwarded Knight Tierra's report on to the Bishops as you requested. The Knights' orders grant them blanket authority to act in the short term, but if they need something more substantial than that the Bishops will probably want an updated threat analysis from both Knight Tierra and Knight Hakuda for both subjects before we proceed. I've also been informed that the Bishops have extended an open invitation to relieve Team Liberty of the custody and processing of Ford and his agents, should the security of their containment prove to be at risk. Transport to Unova will prove difficult at best, however, so that should probably be a last-ditch effort if it comes to it--a trump card, should one be needed in negotiations. I'll get back to you as soon as I hear back regarding the first request. Try to get those reports to me as soon as possible. ~Rook Kingsley P.S. -- Amanda, you should probably ask for those reports in person. And maybe record them. I know you're bad with subtext, and with this particular report subtext could be important. P.P.S. -- Don't bring up Knight Hakuda's late after-action report. No time to explain, just...don't. Trust me on this one. ~end message~ The Knight glanced up from the message just in time to see her superiors leaving her intended destination. With only a brief blink indicating any reaction at all, she fell silently in step behind them with what was supposed to be a patiently submissive posture as she awaited acknowledgement from the two Knights. Unfortunately, her stoic demeanor lent itself far better to looming imperiously, as she unintentionally did over the duo, even as she quietly extracted a standard-issue ration bar from her briefcase, the ill-tasting but nutrient-rich "meal" bearing a bright Plasma logo incongruous with its notoriously bland flavor. Amanda nibbled quietly behind the pair, unaware of both their unawareness of her and the odd sight she made behind them.

~Jupiter's July~ Part 4 Eterna City Gym, July 23 A full week had passed since Lucian's visit. True to the Hoenn foreman's word, his company had delivered--despite the devastation in Sootopolis still diverting most outbound supplies there instead. Less judgement, more jury-rigging, Jupiter reminded herself as she got to work. Arceus knows I'm in no position to do it. She happened to glance into her office, observing the tiny Tentacool swimming merrily through the new tank she'd installed in the back wall--an unplanned addition, and certainly outside her initial budget, but she'd make do. As harsh as she was to her fellow humans, she always made a point of caring well for her Pokémon, and the Water-type was no exception. Seeing the creature gurgling happily to herself brought a smile to her face--followed by a frown as she spotted someone unfamiliar approaching the Gym doors in the security monitor's reflection. The new arrival--a young woman, perhaps around thirteen or fourteen based on her style of dress--approached nervously, hesitating a few moments before knocking on the Gym's glass doors. Unseen by the woman, Jupiter rolled her eyes; If she can knock on the door, she thought, then surely she can see the sign on them. The sign in question, penned with perfect precision despite the haphazard job she'd done taping it to the door in a fit of exasperation, bore a large "CLOSED" inscription, followed by an explanation of the rennovations and a simple concept sketch she'd commissioned of the final product. For all the good it's done in pre-empting people's questions. Despite the notices, and an official statement she'd sent Lucian to put out, she still received reporters' interview requests with infuriating regularity. And, it seemed, challenges--though that particular sort of interruption had finally died down in the past few days, perhaps as the League's statement propagated to more people. This one seems to have missed the memo, though, Jupiter considered as the young woman repeated her earlier gesture. Still, she'd at least had the courtesy to stay outside and knock instead of barging right in, and the Gym Leader's patience for these interruptions had grown over the past three weeks. Jupiter found herself standing up and setting her tools aside, stretching lazily before heading to the front door. The Gym Leader noticed the girl had stopped knocking and was waiting patiently, a sheet of paper clutched behind her back. Jupiter opened the door partway and stuck her head out. "Can I help you?" "Umm...yes, may I speak to Gym Leader Jupiter please?" "Well, considering you just did..." "Oh!" The girl bowed respectfully, before presenting the paper to the Gym Leader. "Miss Jupiter, I respectfully ask that you allow me to train with you! Umm...please?" Jupiter raised an eyebrow. "Train with me?" Well, it is a Gym... "Please!" the young woman begged earnestly. "My sister, Jenna, was a Gym Trainer under Gardenia--I'd like to follow in her footsteps, please!" The earnest girl bowed once again, cheeks flushed with determination. She's persistent, I'll give her that. Decently respectful, too. But still... "I'm sorry. But I'm not taking on apprentices at this time. You may come back again when we've opened officially." Like the sign says. "Oh...I understand." The girl shuffled one foot sadly before tucking it behind the other. "I...really, yes. But if you could please take the letter anyway...?" "...Letter?" "Oh!" The girl blushed, then once again held out the paper she'd forgotten she was still holding. "Here, this is it. My sister wanted me to give it to you personally." The girl sank back into sadness, wilting once she'd handed the missive to the Gym Leader. The older woman nodded dismissively to the girl. "Very well. You may go, for now." The last she felt forced to add--something specific in her demeanor making her want to soften the blow. "Thank you. Umm..." The girl's body language tightened, her spine straightening and her fists clenching...but though it seemed like she wanted to say more, she didn't find the words she needed in time, and she softened once more. "Have a nice day, Miss Jupiter." Jupiter watched her go before turning her attention to the letter. It was handwritten--nice touch, though it loses points on neatness--and from the looks of it, the letter had seen more than its fair share of being passed around. Didn't she say it was from her sister? How many hands could it possibly have passed through to get to me...? The new Leader of Eterna Gym began to read. "Croooooak?" Jupiter's Toxicroak asked from behind her. She, along with the rest of the ex-Galactic Commander's Pokémon, had paused in her work in concern for her Trainer, and now stood gathered just inside the Gym's entrance. "Hmm?" The Poison-type specialist had been so absorbed in the note that she had forgotten she was still standing in the open Gym doors. "Gym Leader Jupiter?" asked a uniformed officer passing by. To the Gym Leader's surprise, the figure seemed indistinct and blurry. "Is everything all right?" she asked. Gym Leader Jupiter wiped her free arm across her face, wiping away the unexpected wetness obscuring her vision. "Yes, I'm fine," she replied, staring into the sunny Sinnoh sky. "Except...it's a terrible day for rain." The confused officer looked above in confusion. "What do you mean? It's not raining?" Fresh water marks marred the bottom of the letter, joining those already dried left by at least half a dozen others. Jupiter just shook her head, in no mood to explain. "It's...never mind. Just...thank you for your concern." "Of course, Gym Leader." The woman had no sooner left the Gym entrance and let the officer go about her business, than she soon rushed right back outside. "Wait...officer?" "Yes?" "Did you see a young girl come from here? About this tall, dark brown ponytail, green skirt and boots?" "Hmm...was she wearing mostly black? With a Budew backpack?" A Budew...? Never mind, not important. "That's the one?" "She was headed towards the Pokémon Center, last I saw." "Thanks," she said, passing the officer as she set off towards the ubiquitous facility. It was only after three blocks that she realized she'd left the doors wide open. Ah, well, she ruminated regretfully, my Pokémon can handle it. Some things are more important than security. --------------- It only took a few minutes for Jupiter to jog to the Pokémon Center, and by the time she got there she'd managed to slow herself to a brisk walk. She started to search the interior, but it didn't take long; she spotted her would-be student sitting at a table, kicking her legs back and forth in the aimless way bored children so often did. By now, Jupiter's more rational mind had caught up to her, and she carefully weighed the pros and cons of her potential decision. Then she caught a glimpse of the girl's face. Those eyes... She'd seen them before--in hazel, green, and every other color of the rainbow, a thousand times on a thousand faces. That unmistakable mix of young and old, of children forced to grow up too soon, mixed with the innocence of those mimicking maturity without truly knowing what exactly they were supposed to be emulating. Not for the first time, Jupiter questioned why exactly they still sent children out into the post-Rocket world so young, but she pushed the thought aside. After all, she admitted to herself, how many of my own troops were just a few years older than her? It was that thought--the lost lives of Nova, too many of them far, far too young--that spurred the ex-Commander forward. "Is this seat taken?" "Huh? Gym Leader Jupiter--!" "Look," she warned without preamble, "I'm going to say this once: I am not Gardenia. I don't like flowers, I don't hug trees, and my Pokémon eat Grass-types for breakfast. Not...literally," she added hastily at the girl's expression of horror. "But you get the idea. I won't tell you 'love will make you and your Pokémon grow stronger' or anything like that. I'm not the sentimental type." She stared down her spectacles at the girl quivering before her. "So...why do you want to train with me?" It was all the girl could do to stop shivering as she stared at Jupiter's unwavering gaze. But contrary to her frail appearance, she managed to answer. "The...people...no, the things that killed my sister..." As she almost had before, when she was about to leave the Gym, Jemma found some secret strength within. "They're out there. Maybe not the same ones, exactly, but other things like them." The girl stared down at the table. "I know I'm not strong enough to fight them. But maybe, if I'm smart--if I'm clever, like you--I can find some other strategy to stop them." Jupiter studied the girl carefully. "Gardenia didn't send you, did she?" Jemma shook her head. "I mean...I did show her. And she did say I should come see you. But..." "...but you'd already decided. And you just needed a push." The girl nodded. "...July 31st. 6 a.m. sharp. Don't be late." After a few seconds of stunned silence, the girl began cheering. Loudly. Jupiter immediately left the Center to return to her Gym...but even she couldn't make it out without a smile slipping onto her face.

IC: Amanda Zarth August 4th, 2017, 7:34 a.m. In the ambassadorial aides' quarters at the Alamo, Amanda awoke. Amanda awoke from a dream. The dream. The same dream she'd had the past three nights. The same dream she'd had back when-- The Plasma functionary shook her head. It did not matter. It could not, there was no reason it should. How could a dream affect the waking world? No, it would not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live. And yet... Amanda allowed herself a moment of sentimentality, wishing her Pokémon could be present to dissect the dream and search for its subconscious meaning--or better yet, to prevent the occurrence in the first place. But, as Knight Tierra had reported, Pokémon powers across the world were non-functional, so it would do little good to extract the creatures from their capsule containment. For a brief moment, something resembling concern passed over her, a sense of something wrong with the sentiment. But the moment passed, and a cursory check of her briefcase-bound Plasma Balls indicated no inclination that the Pokémon themselves wished to be released. While she had the case open, Amanda took the opportunity to extract her C-Gear and boot up the device to check the time. 7:37 a.m. A perfectly reasonable hour of awakening, but in her case functionally unhelpful; her new superiors would not be up for at least half an hour, and given her own skill set there was little she could offer to aid them in their morning preparations. Additionally, with no further administrative tasks requiring her preparation (she had compiled and organized the day's schedule the evening prior) and no articles of interest flagged to her inbox, it appeared that Amanda was now left with an hour or two of free time. Unfortunate. Amanda laid back in bed, recognizing the futility of attempting sleep given the short time before her superior agents would require her services. There would be little practical gain, and every possibility that sleeping now might adversely affect her ability to awaken later at the proper time. Besides, she considered, there is every likelihood that I would simply once again have that-- Unbidden, the sleep-fogged images--more impressions, really, than actual mental pictures--rushed back to her brain, still somewhat fresh in her mind. I see a face before my eyes. I'm falling into darkness... Amanda sighed and sat up. If she was going to waste time psychoanalyzing herself, she might as well record the impressions for analysis when she was in a more objective state of mind. She began tapping away at the C-Gear's keyboard. I somehow feel like I am struggling for life...why? Why must I fight to stay alive? And then the sense of heroes falling... It made no sense. And yet, somehow, this was the part that stuck with her most--the idea of heroes (or, as she reminded herself, high-value fieldable assets) falling in battle to some unknown foe. It was ridiculous to think that a dream could somehow be some kind of prediction, and yet... The agents of this...thing...that Knight Tierra and Knight Hakuda fought in the so-called "egg"...they certainly seemed more than capable of eliminating a great number of high-value units among our allies. Perhaps the subconscious attempting to rationalize the illogical existence of these beings? Amanda's ruminations were cut short by a tone of alert from the C-Gear, an automated notification of anomalous activity from Liberty command. With neither a sigh nor a frown, Amanda abandoned her digital dream journal, slipped out from under the covers, and began to prepare for the day. Whatever had just begun amongst Liberty leadership, sooner or later they would need to alert the Knights as liaisons of Team Plasma. And when that happened, Amanda would be ready to assist.

OOC: Jam with Merc! IC: Amelia Zann/Belle LaDonna/Alex Zyther July 31st The first thing Amelia Zann noticed was that she woke up. Alive. ...wait, what?! The second thing she noticed was that she was not falling. The sheer impossibility of that fact finally shook her enough to notice that her PokéNav was ringing. ...you know what, after all the other weird **** happening today, I'll allow it. It took her a few rings to locate the device, sealed in a plastic bag on a nearby table with her clothes-- Oh. ****baskets. Rolling off the cold metal slab on which she'd been laid (another mystery she didn't have time to solve), she quickly ducked beside it in the shadows, answering the call and lowering the volume in a single smooth motion born of practice. "Yeah?" she muttered as quietly as she could, hoping her voice wouldn't travel. “Pond? It’s Blake. I need a place to hide out for a bit, where are you staying?” "Uh..." It was a good question. Where in Tartarus AM I? "The hospital, I think?" she answered, stalling for time as she scanned the room. Her eyes alighted upon the first aid kit mounted next to the door, bearing an unfamiliar logo. "Alain Alderson Memorial Medical Center." A few moments tapping the name into her PokéNav allowed her to follow up. "It's in Kalos. Laverre City." "Laverre?! Are you serious?" This was followed by a short string of expletives from the collector. "Alright then, I can be there in like a week, if that's alright." Amelia heard Belle exchange words with someone else over the sound of wind rushing past her receiver, before she addressed Amelia again. "Is it okay if I bring someone along?" Amelia actually chuckled at that one. "Would you believe me if I said I don't know?" The sound of violent coughing nearby drew her attention. Amelia swore just as violently. "It's fine, but this town's already too hot for a meet." Amelia racked her brain for a safe hideout in the unfamiliar region, before smacking said brain with the palm of her hand and using the PokéNav for its original intended function of navigation. "Let's see...never actually been to Kalos before...how's Shalour sound? 'Net says it's a quiet town, is it?" "I didn't visit Shalour while I was there, so I couldn't say. Let's go ahead and call that our rendezvous, then we'll figure out where to go from there." Another exchange with the second person, the only words Amelia picked up being "fire" and "cops." A pause. "Do you not have a place to stay in Kalos, then?" Amelia winced visibly, thankful her friend couldn't see it through the PokéNav. "One," she admitted, "but he's a bit of a last resort. Not the best pick for laying low, 'specially since he's a big-shot in Lumiose. I'd rather take my chances on the west side, especially since it seems pretty sparse out there. My contact does a lot of traveling around anyway, so if we're lucky we might even bump into him along the way." The coughing began again, and Amelia repeated her earlier invective. "Listen, I need to go, I'll give you a call if anything changes between now and Shalour, 'kay? Otherwise I'll see you there." "Yeah, alright. See you soon, Pond." "Later, Blake." Amelia shut off the PokéNav and returned her full attention to her surroundings. As tempting as it was to go for her clothes, she could stand staying naked a few more minutes if it kept her alive. Besides, there was something more important in the bag, and as long as she had it-- *SLAM* The door to the room slammed open, and a gray-haired doctor rushed through, eyes and mouth wide open in disbelief. "What on earth--?" It was then that Amelia chose to rise from hiding, wielding the other object she'd reclaimed from her belongings: the comfortingly cold metal of a handgun. "Hands where I can see them. Away from the Pokéballs, genius." The stammering man hesitantly complied, though he seemed to be paralyzed more by shock than by fear. Amelia allowed herself a brief moment to scan his name tag--Dr. Canard she noted--before settling her steely gaze back upon his eyes. "Why do you have me here?" With the stammering Dr. Canard's answer not immedately forthcoming, Amelia briefly scanned the room. A second steel slab, a sink at the head and a harsh light hanging directly above, lay between the door and the slab she'd been on; atop it lay an unfamiliar young man, similarly unclothed, bearing dashed lines in a Y-shape across his chest and stomach. A rolling tray full of surgical tools stood next to him, along with another table bearing a bag which most likely contained his posessions just like the one containing hers. "You..." Dr. Canard finally managed, "you're asking why you're in the morgue?" The morgue--? The young man on the slab resumed coughing, breaking Amelia's concentration. The terrified medical examiner glanced down at what he'd clearly expected to be a mere body in horror. Amelia decided the man wasn't a threat. For now. "Help him," she ordered, one hand keeping the gun loosely trained on the good doctor while the other rummaged around amongst her belongings for her Poké Balls. They weren't there. "My Pokémon." "At the Pokémon Center." The coughing from the second slab subsided as the medical examiner managed to help the young man sit up, though it seemed it would be at least some time before he could remain so on his own. "We fortunately haven't managed to send word out of your passing, Ms...?" Amelia considered naming an alias--she had a few--but they'd seen her PokéNav, and likely her Trainer ID as well, and her name would have showed up anyway when the Center scanned the Pokéballs containing her team. Half my team, she reminded herself, the last moments before unconsciousness had struck returning slowly to her. "Zann. Amelia Zann." "Dr. Robert Canard, M.E." Amelia noted the man used the Kalosian pronunciation of 'ro-BEAR', rather than the more common Unovan variant. "Glad to finally put a name to our most mysterious Jane Doe." "You didn't check--?" "We weren't sure they were yours," Dr. Canard interrupted, almost casually oblivious to Amelia's gun now that he was busy with a patient. "We didn't want to assume." Amelia's eyes narrowed. The doctor certainly seemed benign, but she was inclined to remain suspicious. Still, if she needed to get away quickly, she knew she'd be better off not drawing unnecessary attention. Setting her gun on the slab--carefully keeping it out of reach of physician and patient alike--she proceeded to dress herself, or at least as best she could in the shredded rags that had made it out of Celadon. She kept her eyes on the two men, wary of any sudden moves. "And why exactly am I your most mysterious patient?" "I...I would rather not say, until John Doe here--" "Alex," the young man spoke up, his voice weak but present. "My name is Alex." "I see." Dr. Canard helped the young man to his feet, noting that Alex clutched his arm desperately to try and support himself. "I'm Dr. Canard. Can you stand?" "...no." Amelia finally placed the young man's face. "You were in Celadon. The kid in the hospital." Alex turned his sapphire blue gaze on Amelia, the look surprisingly intense for such a frail subject. "I'm not a kid." Amelia chuckled. "'Course you're not, kid." She felt the urge to ruffle the kid's hair, but her hands were too busy reclaiming her PokéNav and her gun now that she was decent. "You were saying, Doc?" The medical examiner frowned, but made no attempt to object, now reminded of the weapon the woman now wielded. What an odd duck, Amelia thought to herself, keeping the weapon lowered but still in position to quickly raise and fire if need be. "Well...to be frank, it was odd enough finding two unconscious people and their Pokémon in the middle of the woods. But when we got you in..." The doctor sighed. "Ms. Zann, is the gun really necessary?" The spy considered. "I just woke up naked in a morgue, sans Pokémon, an ocean away from the last place I remember. What do you think?" "Touché," Canard admitted. "Very well then. Once we got you inside and prepared for treatment, we found something unusual." The man gestured to a nonexistent heart monitor before realizing there was none there. He shook his head in self-amusement. "Your vitals. Pulse, blood pressure, even to a certain extent brain activity, they were all synchronized. Perfectly synchronized, to the tenth of a millisecond. We checked." The medical examiner adjusted his glasses thoughtfully. "I've never seen anything like it. No one has. We even brought in some of the local experts in non-traditional medicine, and all they could tell us was some mystical mumbo-jumbo about 'as long as one lives, the other survives'." The Kalosian doctor scratched his thin gray hair. "That much certainly seemed true an hour ago." "What happened an hour ago?" "You, ah..." Canard looked awkwardly at Amelia. "Well...you died." IC: ??? July 31st Location unknown The scientist tapped his steepled fingers against one another, not out of nervousness, but rather impatience. The subject's skills were impressive, true, but only time would tell if they were truly sufficient...and time was the one thing not on his side. The man cursed his partner mentally, or more precisely the impatience that drove him. I need more time, old friend, he mused, considering the inconclusive results they'd gotten regarding the subject's most important power. His partner in this project--or more precisely, his superior and benefactor--had argued that deployment in the field would serve them both as the most efficient means of testing the subject's efficacy while also furthering his actual goals. The scientist disagreed. Ten years, he thought. Ten years since my haste nearly lost us everything. And more than half as long before I even realized it. It had come at a cost, a most terrible cost, but his most recent failure, and the time since, had finally taught him of the fatal flaws of recklessness. This was his last chance--their last chance. He could not afford to fail again. His partner could, of course. The scientist's was but one of his scheming superior's projects, his plans-within-plans stretched out to cover every eventuality. But it seemed that he and he alone perceived his master's true strategy, plotting his moves at the speed of improvisation using multipurpose pawns. Where his enemies might see a perfectly-plotted path, in truth the man merely made superior use of more adaptable assets...the most recent of whom had just completed the veritable gauntlet the scientist's team had set out for him in the arena below. The scientist reached for his pen, ready to record his notes on the subject's performance. While the mirrored observation booth was not the most ideal vantage point from which the trial had been witnessed--that rank fell to the recording devices embedded in the space, unhindered by the vices of the fallible human eye--it was still important to gather data from every possible perspective, the better to root out possible errors in the results. It seemed, however, that his observations of this test were to go unrecorded. "Progress, Dr. Alderson?" The scientist turned in his chair, acknowledging his employer with a nod. "It is too early to draw conclusions about the most important abilities, but at least in the field of physical performance we can continue to report top-tier results." The other man nodded, gazing down upon the test area to observe the subject. "Beautiful." And then: "Accelerate the testing." "My friend, have we not already had--" The man had only to lay a single eye upon Dr. Alderson for the scientist to realize his mistake. "Do not mistake me, Ezekiel. This is not a request." Dr. Alderson swallowed. It was not often that a man could intimidate him, but his old friend and current employer was one of the few who could. "It will be done." Alderson's assurance went unacknowledged. "There have been developments. Our plans must be reassessed. Including your own." With his fury burnt to embers, he suddenly affixed his compatriot with a much warmer, more charismatic gaze. "Don't wory, my old friend. I will make sure our chief scientist devotes his full resources to assisting your project. If the boy's mission is successful, then he may prove the key to everything we hope to achieve. And that is worth any price." The man left the room, leaving Ezekiel Alderson to consider his words. Any price... The scientist looked down through the booth's window once more, to see his benefactor approaching the subject upon which all his hopes were about to lie. We'll see.

Posting for approval (warning, mild spoilers for like, one post after next): Species: Ralts Nickname: Raleigh Gender: Male Trainer: Alex Zyther (initially Amelia Zann) Appearance: As a Pokémon that has presented himself to Amelia Zann, Raleigh is Shiny; in addition, however, the red spike on his chest from his later evolutions seems to have manifested early, though instead of a spike it is mostly flattened and bears a resemblance to a bow tie. Personality: Proud and poised, Raleigh is every bit the distinguished gentleman any Kalosian noble could ask for--but sadly as a male Ralts, most Kalosian nobles seemed to seek more physically proficient partners and planned to procure a future Gallade, and even the residents of Hoenn preferred power over poise. Raleigh longs for a Trainer who will appreciate him for his own strengths, on his own terms. Ability: Trace Specialty: Raleigh is a skilled singer (at least in the language of Pokémon), and this shows in the strength and speed of his sound-based moves. However, as a gentleman, Raleigh refuses to use physical attacks, and as a result he is unable to use them (though Psyshock is theoretically fine). Known Moves: Teleport, Magical Leaf, Heal Pulse, Synchronoise (egg move), Skill Swap (egg move), Disarming Voice Experience: 2 (this was the wild Ralts that fought Qrow and injured Van in the flashbacks in this post and this post)

IC: Amanda Zarth Amanda dutifully typed in the information, saving and closing the document and the holo-window once the Plasma Knight finished. She looked up from the C-Gear to find a flaming scowl scorching her...one that soon tinged with sadness. "I can see why you were selected as a liaison, Knight Tierra. You clearly possess significantly more ability in the realm of interpersonal communication." Amanda looked back down to her C-Gear, reopening the communication program but this time not the holo-window. "I can arrange to have the two of your belongings moved to the ambassadorial quarters immediately, or we can handle the move tomorrow, at your discretion." Her tone did not change, nor did her gaze skip or her typing stop, but: "It is good that you seem to comprehend the emotional proclivities of those around us. It seems likely that in high-stress circumstances such as this one, such knowledge will significantly improve the smoothness of cooperation with our allies, thus substantially reducing the statistical likelihood and degree of loss of life and equipment in future joint operations." Somehow, those last two sentences seemed the closest to emotional the woman had been the whole encounter, even if it seemed closer to envy than to sadness or fear. Regardless, the moment seemed to have passed. "If you require any assistance, I will do what I can from here until the medical observation period is complete. Barring further complications, I should be released from the infirmary at approximately four o'clock tomorrow afternoon. After that point, I should be fully at your and Knight Hakuda's disposal." She paused, considering. "If Knight Hakuda is unready to be debriefed at this time, please inform her that we can handle her portion of the interview in a few days. The same holds true for taking up the duties proscribed by your new orders, though please keep in mind that it would be most beneficial if at least one of you begins meeting with the other teams' leadership sooner rather than later, for the reasons we just discussed. As I said, I will assist you as best I can, so please do not hesitate to ask my assistance. Otherwise, I will see you tomorrow, Knight Tierra. If you encounter Knight Hakuda before I do, please extend my regards." Though Amanda awaited any final requests from her new superior, it was clear that she considered the meeting concluded.

IC: Amanda Zarth Amanda's face remained impassive throughout the dissertation, despite the disturbing content contained within, the Knight instead continuing to add notes to the file and correct errors in the transcription. At last Evan ended his explanation. "Thank you, Knight Tierra. This concludes the main body of the report." Cutting off the voice recording from the C-Gear, she next opened a new text file attached to the report, labeling it 'MISSION DATA: SUPPLEMENTAL' before cloning this display to the holographic window in place of the full report. She paused, uncertain; while protocol dictated prompt follow-up, analysis based on her supervisor's emotional sensitivity training suggested that Operation Fading Strike had taken place in a so-called "high-stress" environment, and that agents' psychological stability might be adversely affected by overlong debriefings--and this one had already well exceeded the half-hour ballpark estimate said supervisor had suggested to her. While the concept made little sense to her, she would defer to the expertise of a Rook. "...Supplemental mission data will be collected later." She minimized the window, clutching her pendant in what seemed to be a gesture of self-comfort in the face of the unfamiliar. She steeled herself before speaking again. "Very good, Knight Tierra. Based on past policy, I predict a strong likelihood the Bishops will be pleased by the vindication of previous conflict-pacification strategies, as well as by the apprehension of the subject, though they will likely request custody if only for the sake of direct intelligence. Regarding the cooperation with Teams Liberty and Rocket...this subject actually forms the basis of our current orders." With the now-blank window still active, she navigated to her messages and opened one marked ORDERS with two attachments. "Rook Bishop Kingsley has forwarded your and Knight Hakuda's orders along with mine, due to the potential of capture in enemy territory during the operation. In the event of you and Knight Hakuda becoming casualties during the operation, I was to serve as the interim liaison between Team Plasma and Teams Liberty and Rocket; now, however, I will be aiding as administrative assistant to the two of you, as you jointly take up the role. While these assignments are listed as temporary through the conclusion of operations against Ford and his associates, given the current circumstances I suspect a significant likelihood that your positions will be extended for the duration of the current crisis, particularly given the current difficulties in acquiring transportation between Unova and Kanto." Amanda frowned, the semi-emotional expression seeming foreign on her face. "I also predict that this may hamper the performance of some of my own duties as aide, given that my Porygon's abilities have likely been affected as well. My apologies. I will attempt to compile a revised analysis of my current capabilities for you and Knight Hakuda as soon as the opportunity presents itself." To distract both herself and her new supervisor, Amanda re-opened the supplemental file and prepared to type. "Before we attend to current duties, however, I suggest we complete the mission analysis. If possible, I would like a complete list of participants, hostiles, and casualties incurred during the operation, including the current readiness status of both you and Knight Hakuda." She racked her brain a moment, knowing there was something she was forgetting. "Ah, yes, we will also need to compile a threat analysis to the Unova region and its citizens, both domestically and those traveling abroad, though if you wish that can wait for a few days until we can arrange strategy meetings with Team Liberty's and Team Rocket's leadership." She stared blankly at Evan, apparently unaffected by the situation as she awaited responses or orders from the new Team Plasma representative.

July 31 IC: Amanda Zarth Eighteen minutes, forty-nine seconds. Prompt, but not hasty. Good. Amanda filed away the information within her mind, adding it to the mental dossier she had been building on the agent since being assigned this mission. "That analysis is correct," she responded, her gaze passing mechanically over the agent in analysis of his physical state. While he clearly had yet to receive medical attention--though that had been easily deduced by his failure to appear in Medical prior to her summons--he also did not appear to have incurred injuries requiring treatment of any significant priority. Though he wore a somewhat informal outfit--Garchomp-scale was certainly not a part of standard Team Plasma mission wear, among several other uniform inconsistencies--the man's bearing nevertheless radiated competence; competence worn down and dulled by exhaustion and perhaps a hint of shell-shock, but clear competence even so. She could see why the man had a reputation as one of Team Plasma's finest, despite his initially-unassuming rank and tenure. Almost subconsciously, Amanda lightly gripped the pendant at her neck, an intricately-marbled gemstone bound in a simple silver spiral of wire and attached to a plain black cord. A moment later, sense returned to her--despite the circumstances, procedure must be maintained. "I apologize for the circumstances. I was involved in a brief medical emergency this afternoon, and it would be inadvisable to not observe the authority of Liberty's chief medical officer." Mechanically, and without waiting for a reply, Amanda lifted the briefcase from beside her bed, setting it on her lap as she rolled the dials to key in the requisite eight-digit combination. She continued speaking to Evan without even a glance at her fellow Knight. "It would be beneficial to complete the debriefing before we move on to current orders, despite the lack of ideal conditions." The lock clicked, and the case opened, revealing a tightly-organized compartment full of electronic devices on one side and padded memory foam on the other with slots for two dozen compacted Poké Balls, all occupied by distinctive black-and-white balls bearing the Team Plasma crest. Only three of them bore signs of having ever been used, the rest as pristine as they day they had been requisitioned from Team Plasma's general supply. With the case open, Amanda signaled the nurse from across the room. "Nurse, the curtains please?" After waiting for the harried nurse to finish drawing the curtains around her and Evan for a modicum of privacy, she withdrew the C-Gear from the briefcase before her, activating the voice recording function and preparing a new text file, which she dutifully cloned to a holographic display window for Tierra's convenience. Once ready, she prepared to take voice transcription. "Mission debrief for Knight Evan Tierra of Operation Fading Strike, Knight Amanda Zarth recording officer." She turned her expectant gaze to Evan. "Knight Tierra, please report current mission status."

IC: Amanda (Alamo Medical Wing) In the Alamo medical wing, a clean-cut woman in formal business attire sat patiently upon her bed, hands folded gently upon the sheets covering her lap. Were anyone to notice her, they might find it odd that, aside from the monitoring wires standard to every patient, she showed absolutely no signs of illness or injury--though this being said, anyone failing to notice her at all could be easily forgiven, given her unnatural stillness and quiet demeanor amidst the chaos that had exploded within the wing upon the return of the Two Island strike teams. After a few more minutes of quiet observation, she was at last able to spot a nurse slightly less busy than the others. Raising a hand to flag the man down, she patiently waited several more minutes for him to notice her, face flushing red as he finally realized how long he'd kept her waiting. "I'm so sorry, ma'am. Is something wrong?" "I need to know if this increase in activity indicates the conclusion of the Two Island mission." The nurse stared confusedly at Amanda before finally comprehending the question. "I, uh...I guess so?" The young man turned his head to follow a black-haired Trainer sporting a sling on his left arm. "I'm pretty sure that guy was part of the group talking about it a few days ago..." "Thank you." Immediately ignoring the nurse (who was left blinking at her in confusion for several seconds before one of the doctors called him in), Amanda retrieved her briefcase from next to the bed, opening it to extract her C-Gear from within. Now that the mission is complete, contacting Knights Tierra and Hakuda will not likely be a dangerous distraction for them. Typing out a succinct summons, she tapped 'send' before returning the C-Gear and briefcase to their previous location and her hands to their previous restful position. And once again, Amanda Zarth began to wait. From: Knight Amanda Zarth <zarth.amanda@plasma.un.mil> To: Knight Evan Tierra <tierra.evan@plasma.un.mil>; Knight Jenny Hakuda <hakuda.jenny@plasma.un.mil> Subject: Meeting Please report to the medical wing at the earliest opportunity for debriefing and coordination of current orders. ~end message~

Part 3 Eterna City Gym, July 16 "--And while reports of casualties are still incoming, preliminary estimates put the death toll in the--" "--thousands of Kanto citizens fill the streets, expressing shock and outrage at the--" "--reconstruction efforts in Sootopolis put on hold a third time as authorities continue to struggle with the difficulties of transporting--" "--supplies will be delayed at least another week, Ma'am," a much tinnier voice sounded from a fourth speaker. "I'm sorry--" "You shouldn't be," Jupiter assured the man on the other end of the line, thumbing the mute button on the television so she could concentrate on her call. "I'm honestly surprised you haven't canceled outright. A lot of the others have." "Begging your pardon, Ma'am, but we're from Hoenn. When we give our word, we mean it, come fires or floods. We may be diverting some supplies to Sootopolis, but we're not going to leave our loyal customers hanging." "That's...admirable," Jupiter forced out, not quite managing to suspend her judgment. Different region, different priorities. Or perhaps not so different. No one had rushed to help her rebuild Nova--though perhaps that had more to do with word of her ire towards the idea spreading even faster than Sinnoh's impulse for goodwill. The people of the region had been remarkably quick to work through the recovery efforts after the incident with the Ancient Darkrai, but perhaps that spoke more to the efficiency of the Rocket Separatists than to any amount of charity on behalf of the Sinnoh citizenry. "Besides, you're Team Galactic. The pencil-pushers still have you listed as a top priority. I reckon every business in Hoenn would jump at the chance for one of your contracts, for the tax breaks alone. We're full up for the moment, but I've got a cousin in Rustboro if you'd like me to--" "Thank you, for the generous offer, but I..." Jupiter trailed off as the newly-installed security monitor indicated someone approaching the Gym. "...I seem to have a visitor. We'll pick this up another time." The Gym Leader hung up quickly before the foreman on the other end could object. She dropped both hands to her desk, and was surprised to find them tightly clenched. With a slow, cleansing breath the former Team Galactic Commander forced herself to unclench them. As she stood up and made for the door of her newly-renovated office, she checked her appearance in the reflection of a rather large assembly of glass and steel propped up against one wall--the very assembly, as it happened, that the delayed parts were destined for. I'd better appreciate the irony if it weren't at my expense, Jupiter thought to herself, noting the streaks of gray in her purple hair. There always seemed to be something else to do, something else to prepare, but little to no time to take care of herself. If she was being honest with herself, however, she preferred it that way. Donning a lab coat that had already become something of a signature style during her near-fortnight tenure as a Gym Leader and grabbing a Pokéball from her desk, she crossed the construction zone and opened the door. "Surprise." "...Lucian. Come in." The Champion of the Sinnoh Elite Four strolled through the half-finished Gym, marveling at its dramatic transformation. "You've certainly opened up the place," the former Psychic-specialist noted, indicating the bare walls and concrete floors where once had stood trees and vines, flowers and grass. "Nature was never really my element, if you recall," Jupiter pointed out. "Yes, you always were drawn to the marvels of technology. I'm surprised you never took to Steel-types, besides the one of course. Speaking of which...?" Jupiter nodded, holding up the Pokéball she'd taken from her office. "Amalthea, come out." The Elite Four member released his own signature Bronzong. "Europa, if you would." The two Bronzong embraced each other warmly, Amalthea's eyes glimmering with gratitude toward the Trainers for the reunion. Lucian smiled warmly at the spectacle, but his gaze grew sad as he looked to the Gym Leader. "I have to ask. Io and Ganymede--?" "Gone." 'With their Trainers,' was the unspoken addition. Io, in a parallel to her Trainer Mars' relationship with Jupiter, had never really gotten along with Amalthea, but they had always put their feud on hold for the sake of Ganymede and Callisto, their respective children, who in turn were the parents of Europa. After Galactic's first failure, and her temporary decision to leave the team, Jupiter had chosen to take Amalthea to visit her grandchild in Ever Grande. Lucian's advice at the time had proven profoundly helpful; hopefully the same would apply now. "I'm...sorry to hear that," the Champion replied, his sorrow sincere, if somewhat distant. "With hindsight comes perspective; I wish now we'd taken more time to visit." Jupiter shrugged, the gesture belying her own pain. "I don't blame you, it happened so..." She trailed off, unable to finish her sentence. Lucian nodded sagely. "Let's speak of something else, shall we?" Jupiter couldn't answer, but cleared her throat while nodding in agreement. "So...I hear you're already bringing in new Trainers." The two Bronzong glanced at Jupiter in alarm as she suddenly choked in surprise. She waved them off a moment later, having regained her breath. "I thought you said we should change the subject," she managed to rasp out. She swallowed heavily. "How do you all keep finding out about my arrangement, anyhow? First Gardenia and now you?" "My newest colleague I can't account for, I'm afraid--perhaps a local connection? As for me..." Lucian inclined his head, glancing over the rims of his lilac-lensed glasses. "I am the new Champion. It's my job to know these things." He pushed the glasses back into place before continuing. "Though it appears I was woefully under-informed. These Trainers are from Nova...?" Jupiter tensed, but Lucian was one of the few people she'd trust with information this sensitive. "...Havoc. They're from Havoc." It didn't take a Psychic-type to sense Lucian's response to the revelation. "...oh." "Yes." Lucian glanced worriedly at the still-muted television playing in Jupiter's office. "I take it you've heard--" "I have." An awkward silence followed. "So..." "Yes?" "How have the preparations been going?" "As of two days ago, they haven't." "...Ah. Yes, I suppose that would..." Lucian cleared his throat. "I don't suppose there's anything I can do to help?" Jupiter shrugged. "If you're staying overnight, you can help me catch some Zubat. I was hoping to give the new Trainers some Poison-types as a sort of welcoming gift, so they have something to use for the Gym. I've gathered a few Pokémon already, but I'm still short." "Hmm." Something in Lucian's expression changed, as if he'd just turned the page of a particularly enlightening book. He spared a glance to his and Jupiter's Bronzong, carrying on in the corner of the barren room. "Would you like to know why I'm so partial to Bronzong?" Jupiter shot Lucian a wary look, well aware of the former Elite Four member's verbal sparring tricks but still unsure of how to counter. "Because of how closely you and Europa have bonded?" she asked with the air of someone explaining the obvious. The Bronzong was, after all, the signature Pokémon on his team, in much the same manner as his predecessor's infamous Garchomp. Lucian, to his credit, did consider the counterattack. "Well--true, I'll give you that. But the reason I was drawn to Europa in the first place." Lucian smiled, his mind's eye fixed on some pleasant memory. "Bronzor and Bronzong--they remind me of home." Jupiter raised an eyebrow. "You...do know there are Bronzor in other regions." "Yes, but they're native to Sinnoh--they were first discovered here, and even the populations in other regions tend to congregate in places most similar to their ancestral home." A gleam overcame the Champion's glasses as his enthusiasm overtook him. "The species represents to me the most compelling aspects of Sinnoh, our history, our flavor, our lore. To me, they are perfect representations of Sinnoh itself--and that's not to be underestimated." The scholar found himself abruptly brought back to reality as Jupiter snapped her fingers in front of his face. "Hey. Ground control to Major Overthink. What does this have to do with me?" With anyone else, the jab might have been taken more personally, but with Jupiter it was merely a sign of their familiarity. Lucian allowed himself a slightly condescending smile; as with his and Jupiter's type specialties, he held the advantage here. "As I was saying, the Bronzor family is a living symbol of Sinnoh. So tell me, what would you consider the Zubat family a living symbol of?" "Precision, dedication, speed, and surprise?" In an unbidden flash, Jupiter's own Crobat flew betwixt them, and judging by the Mean Look she was giving him the Pokémon was not pleased with the man's tone. Point, Jupiter, Lucian mentally noted, swallowing the "annoyance" he'd intended as his answer. "Conceded. But even so, it's not particularly symbolic of Sinnoh." Taking a moment to consider the opinion, Jupiter found herself agreeing. "All right, I'll give you that. So what?" Privately she was starting to see where Lucian was going with this, but having already drawn blood she thought it generous to let Lucian have his win. "I think you've already caught on. Jupiter, this Gym isn't just a Gym, it's an essential part of the Sinnoh Pokémon League. The League and everything involved with it--it's vital to the future of Sinnoh. This is how our region will be revitalized in the wake of the war and all the destruction it's caused. Don't you think this Gym--your own small corner of the League--ought to reflect that heritage?" "Uh-huh." Jupiter allowed herself a grin at the Champion's enthusiasm--a real one, one of the first she'd had in weeks. "I don't suppose you have something in mind?" "I don't," Lucian prodded, "but if I'm not mistaken, you do." Jupiter snorted, uncharacteristically undignified. "And they say you're not a real Psychic." Lucian drew back, hand pressed to his chest in melodramatic injury. "Oh! You wound me." "Not yet," she denied facetiously, "we haven't even started our battle." At Jupiter's word, her Crobat swung back to hover in front of her Trainer, preparing for a friendly fight. Jupiter simply smirked at her eager Crobat companion, turning her gaze upon the Champion in challenge as both Bronzong turned to await their respective Trainers' commands. Lucian tipped his nonexistent hat to the Gym Leader and her Pokémon. "Then I imagine we'll see each other again at the Pokémon League. Until that time, however, I'm afraid I must take my leave. The life of a Champion is sadly short on spare time. Europa?" Taking a moment to give Amalthea one final embrace, Lucian's signature Pokémon returned to its Trainer, and then to its Pokéball. The Champion of Sinnoh took one last look at Jupiter before he opened the door. "Good luck, Gym Leader. Take care." "...Lucian?" "Hmm?" The two exchanged a look, saying far more with one glance than any amount of psychic conversation could have carried. "Thank you." With a nod, Lucian stepped out into the Sinnoh summer.

~Jupiter's July~ Part 2 Eterna Forest, July 12 "Skuntank, return." The beam of red light stretched out from Skuntank's ball, drawing the Skunk Pokémon back inside. Scattered around the now-empty space lay at least a dozen fainted Bug-type Pokémon, none of which would successfully serve her purpose. Weak. Laughably so. So why do I feel...disappointed? The Gym Leader's musings were unexpectedly cut short by the return of the Crobat she had sent to scout ahead. She looked expectantly in the Bat Pokémon's direction. "Another group?" The Crobat shook its head, dipping backwards and slightly to one side to indicate the direction from which it came. Contrary to its indication, Jupiter could see a Beedrill buzz in for a Fell Stinger against an unknown victim--only to be met with a Fire Punch from said opponent. The Poison-type specialist leaned forward to look around a tree blocking her line of sight--and swore sharply, drawing back hurriedly with the hissed imprecation still upon her lips. Gesturing for her Crobat to keep behind her and out of sight, she inched forward to look around the tree, this time kept more behind the cover of its massive trunk. Well...that's him all right. The Gym Leader mentally cursed her own carelessness--she'd assumed the irritating Trainer had finally left town after their most recent disagreement, but it seemed she'd been mistaken. Yet despite her dislike of the irritatingly insistent drifter, she found herself curious. Adam Zynthic...what exactly do you do when you're not pestering Team Galactic? Returning her attention to the battle, she strained to hear the Trainer talking to his Pokémon. "Slack Off!" Adam ordered. In response, the Chimchar abandoned his intended attack, flipping backward to give himself space to lay down away from the Beedrill. Zynthic's Chimchar crossed his arms behind his head...and cheekily raised a pair of toes at the Bug-type in a defiant Taunt. Adam groaned, but the sound was drowned out by the sound of the Beedrill's buzz of Rage. It shot forward, glowing red as it prepared to stab at Charlie. "Charlie--" FWAM! Out of nowhere, the Beedrill found itself flung into the air, a stinging sensation overcoming it. It took both the Beedrill and the Trainer of the Pokémon that had hit it a moment to realize what had happened--an unexpected Thunder Punch the Chimchar had successfully Taunted it into taking right to the face. The Bug- and Poison-type Pokémon carefully observed its opponent--true, its own attack had already risen dramatically, but given the strength of those earlier blows... With a last U-Turn (which, to the Beedrill's clear satisfaction, the Fire-type did not dodge), the Poison Bee Pokémon flew away. Charlie charged after it, another Thunder Punch already prepared, but-- "That's enough, Charlie, let it go." "Pi pi?" The interjection came from a tiny Piplup, which Jupiter noted looked particularly pristine atop the all-too-familiar Grotle that perpetually trundled along in Adam's wake. The Penguin Pokémon appeared peeved, and even Jupiter could tell why. He denied her teammate an obvious--if easy--victory. And I'd wager he's done it to her as well. But to what end? What does he possibly hope to gain? As if answering her unasked question, Adam responded to Pippi. "It's not suited to our purposes." Jupiter felt a chill run down her spine--hadn't she thought the exact same thing countless times over the afternoon? A part of her rebelled at the thought of having anything in common with the lowlife hanger-on who'd kept pestering her to rebuild Team Galactic...but another, more rational part held it in check, more concerned with what she could learn as a result. She tuned back in to the conversation, catching the tail end of a series of chirps expressing the Piplup's disapproval. "Look," the Trainer sighed with the telltale tones of far-overstretched patience--good, maybe now you'll know how it feels--as he sat on a stump next to his Grotle and the Piplup atop it. "Right now, I'm the only one interested in maintaining the legacy of Team Galactic. So if we're expanding our Team, I'd like do do it in a way that honors the traditions of the past." The Trainer looked to his Grotle for support, and it grumbled its agreement. "Which means while we're in this forest, the only Pokémon I'm interested in are Wurmple and its evolutions like Beautifly or--Dustox!!" This last point was punctuated with Adam pointing dramatically at the Pokémon as it swooped through the trees. "After it, Charlie!" As the childish Chimchar charged after the flying foe, Adam added as an afterthought, "...and this time, maybe listen to me for a change?" Jupiter drew herself out of sight as the Trainer and Grotle trundled forward, the latter groaning its doubts about the Chimchar's cooperation. Once she was sure they were gone, Jupiter released the breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding and looked around for her Crobat, which she found tiredly hovering near the ground. "Oh...I'm sorry, old friend," she apologized, reaching for the Pokéball at her belt--but something stopped her. Honoring the traditions of the past...much as I hate to admit it, Zynthic may have a point. "Crobat," she asked, "do you think you have enough strength to lead me back to that nest from earlier?" Furrowing its brow in consideration, the Crobat nodded, setting off immediately along the path by which she had entered the forest. --------------- In a small clearing not far from the Old Chateau, a bouquet of Budew shifted in the sunlight. Though their wounds had already healed through Synthesis, their rejection-wounded pride would remain injured for some time. The saddened silence was broken by the sound of someone stumbling through the underbrush. A few seconds and some stifled swearing later, Eterna City Gym Leader Jupiter stood before them for the second time that day. "I've changed my mind," she announced, sending out Skuntank to stand before her. "Care for a second shot?" With bounding enthusiasm, the Budew prepared for battle.