Kai: Nah. Either we killed it, or it killed us. So we killed it. Or, well, Ramphyros did.

-They sigh.-

Kai: Apparently Brie strained herself for a day and a half fighting it before me and my team learned there was something happening. So she's way less in "relatively good health". As is Skyfire, who might never fly again. It's a wonder they're even alive.

Snowpoint Hospital

-Alice is silent for a few seconds before closing her eyes and letting out a long sigh.-

Alice: ...Ah.

-She sits down next to Kai.-

Alice: Did it never cross her mind to run, or call for help? I'm glad to know that she's alive, but if her condition is as serious as you say, then...

-She trails off, seemingly at a loss for words for once.-

Kai: She didn't want anyone else to get hurt. She kept apologizing for me getting involved, and for me getting my foot broken. I already had the "that was an awful decision" rant this morning, please don't go criticizing her further about it. I don't think she can really take much more.

Snowpoint Hospital

Alice: I wasn't planning to. It's merely that...

-She hesitates for a moment, considering her words.-

Alice: ...Wanting to prevent harm to others is noble, but taking all that harm onto yourself will simply destroy you. That doesn't help anyone. Your sacrifice will only cause them further harm. We have to know how much we can endure before we start taking on these burdens.

-She turns to face Kai.-

Alice: I know you are more than capable of taking care of yourself, but you don't have to fight your battles alone. You take so much onto yourself that sometimes I worry you could collapse beneath the weight at any moment.

Kai: ...

-Suddenly they can't meet Alice's gaze.-

Kai: Yeah. That's about what I told her.

-It's clear they know Alice wasn't talking about Brie.-

Streets of Castelia City, last November

When we last left Dr. Albright, he had just finished having his travel papers reviewed by the consulate. In the intervening hours, he somehow ended up in a street corner between Castelia's Little Fiore and Little Alto Mare—and getting caught in an argument between two Bodega owners.

Fiorean shopkeeper: Vaffanculo.

Alto Marean shopkeeper: Vaffanculo right back at you, you piece of shit.

Reynard: Well that escalated quickly.

Alto Marean shopkeeper: Eh, we do this once a day. Those Fioreans need to be reminded that Alto Mare has and always will be the better merchant republic.

Reynard: I've... forgotten how vicious these old regional rivalries used to get.

Alto Marean shopkeeper: Oh, it gets worse.

Fiorean shopkeeper: Kalos called. It wants their vassal back!

Reynard: I'll go now. Adio!

Alto Marean shopkeeper: Come again! We have discounts every Tuesday! Also, you might want to avoid that street corner—oh he's gone.

Fiorean shopkeeper: You guys are a bunch of dunces.

Before the Alto Marean shopkeeper could come up with a snippy remark to throw back at his Fiorean neighbor, however, he quickly noticed that his rival had fearfully paused.

Castelia City Police Department

Officer Jenny: Sarge, we've received a distress call from two convenience stores in the corner between Little Fiore and Little Alto Mare.

Jeff: Did those two store owners start a riot again?

Officer Jenny: For once, no. The caller said that the assailants took their pokémon and little else.

Jeff, while grabbing his coat: Now where have I seen that before? Plasma remnants. Good grief how I wish I could just hit Ghetsis right in the kisser.

Edited by MasterJayAM on Dec 2nd 2018 at 8:04:57 PM

Snowpoint Hospital

Alice: Good.

-She puts her arm around Kai.-

Alice: In case it wasn't clear, you made all the right decisions given the situation you found yourself in. You most likely saved Brie's life. Nobody can fault you for that. As much of a burden as it can be, that selflessness is still one of the things I admire most about you.

Edited by Herbert40k on Dec 1st 2018 at 1:31:14 PM

-Kai sighs quietly, leaning their head on Alice's shoulder-

Kai: I... was really scared. The whole time. I don't think I could have handled losing her. I don't know what I'd have done. It probably wouldn't have been pretty.

Snowpoint Hospital

Alice: Courage is not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it.

-She pulls Kai closer into a tight embrace.-

Alice: I know you're still shaken, but it's over now. Brie is alive and safe. She has you looking out for her, and as long as she has that, she'll be fine. You don't have to worry about what could have been. The important thing is that you're both still here.

Kai: ...Yeah.

-They just sorta sink into Alice's hug, staying quiet for a moment.-

Snowpoint Hospital

-Alice doesn't say anything more, and just holds Kai close.-

-They're like that for a long time before Kai's phone buzzes.-

-Kai blinks, and checks their phone, hoping it's something from Brie.-

-It's not.-

-Their eyes narrow.-

Kai: ...Of course. Guess who's trying to rope me into another "job".

Edited by BittersweetNSour on Dec 1st 2018 at 9:03:20 AM

Snowpoint Hospital

-Alice leans back, raising an eyebrow.-

Alice: Her again? That's certainly unexpected.

-She puts her hand on her chin.-

Alice: Perhaps it might be worth playing along. See what she wants.

-Kai thinks for a moment, starting to type something about "having an associate who can be there"... before erasing the contents and sighing.-

Kai: ...I think I'd rather just make it clear I don't intend to offer help. Betrayal like that fucking hurts to do, even if it's for someone like her. The most I'm willing to do is relay information.

Kai: Regardless, she's attempting to repeat the heist I saved her sorry ass from. Same location, same target.

Edited by BittersweetNSour on Dec 1st 2018 at 9:17:16 AM

Snowpoint Hospital

-Alice nods.-

Alice: I understand. I hope you won't object to me taking the matter into my own hands, then.

-The typing notification appears and disappears several times, before finally another message comes through.-

-Kai stares at their phone...-

-And gives a dejected sigh, briefly showing Alice the conversation before sending one more message.-

-They send, delete the record of the conversation, and block the number, before tossing the phone haphazardly to the foot of the bed.-

Kai: Gods, I feel sick.

Edited by BittersweetNSour on Dec 1st 2018 at 9:41:48 AM

Snowpoint Hospital

-Alice pulls Kai into another tight embrace.-

Alice: You did the right thing. That doesn't make it any easier.

-If there is a response on Kahlia's end, Kai never receives it.-

Isolated alley in Castelia City, November

Reynard is cornered by two rogue grunts resembling those of Team Plasma.

Plasma Grunt 1: Okay old man. Let go of the wishiwashi and whatever pokémon you have on your person.

Reynard: Oh, boy Kipper, what a mess we got ourselves into.

Flopping in a nearby puddle is Kipper, a lone wishiwashi.

Kipper: <Good Arceus in [Heaven] this water is filthy! What kind of hellscape is this place!>

Reynard: Now would be a pretty good time to summon the rest of Blue October, Kipper. Kipper?

Beat.

Reynard: Kipper?

Plasma Grunt 1: Seriously, sir, you're really better off leaving him with us.

Reynard: Oh, that? He's being a baby. He usually lives in this large aquarium with its own filtration system that uses distilled water. Otherwise he gets all complainy.

Kipper: <This reminds me nothing of the Kalosian spring water that I demand be used in my personal tank! Do something, Admiral!>

Reynard: Now if you gentlemen would excuse me, I've to meet someone.

Plasma Grunt A: You're not going anywhere, old man.

Plasma Grunt 1: Yeah, we're on a roll today. First the bodegas, and now this.

Plasma Grunt A: And that goes double for whatever you currently have on your balls.

Reynard: Uh huh, indeed.

Reynard feels the inside of his jacket, hoping to find the one pocket that kept Primo or Giacoma. They were nowhere to be found.

Reynard, fidgety: Funny thing. See, I literally don't have them and Kipper's the only one I've got.

Plasma Grunt A: Meh, that works.

Uncharacteristically deep scary voice: Stop right there, evildoers.

Plasma Grunt A: Evildoers? Who keeps calling us that? Who said that?!

A hooded figure wearing the colors of a shiny ariados stood on top of a fire escape not far from the grunts and Reynard. Reynard could recognize the hoodie, but seemed to remember that his grandson's Halloween costume didn't wear leather pants.

Arachna-Guy, in a deep scary voice: Okay, this is lame.

Reynard: Would it be surprising if I told you I saw someone dress up like that?

Plasma Grunt A: You and every other schmuck in the city.

Arachna-Guy, sarcastic voice: I see you're new here, sir. You have nothing to worry about. Clearing out rogue Team Plasma remnants is just another day at work.

Plasma Grunt 1: Oh, no you don't, Arachna-Guy. We've been having a very productive work week these past few days, and I will not let you to ruin my—

No sooner than he started to give a Motive Rant, Arachna-Guy covered his mouth with what appears to be a sticky polymer.

Plasma Grunt A, brandishing a crow bar: Oh, you are so going down.

Arachna-Guy: You keep saying that but sometimes I really wonder if you should be saying "is Ghetsis paying me enough for this BS?"

Edited by MasterJayAM on Dec 2nd 2018 at 6:34:19 PM

-Kai just sighs, and leans into Alice.-

-...-

-The pain med drowsiness looks like it's just about to take over.-

Snowpoint Hospital

-Alice lets Kai slump onto her shoulder, and soon the two are fast asleep, still leaning against one another.-

Falconan Mall - Wreckage

Blitz: "Yeah... Sounds like a plan"

-Sigh-

"Admittedly not how I wanted to see how you guys got famous, but sounds like they're not gonna give us a choice right now."

-The Greninja goes to grab a weapon from the locker so they

Stark: -Already holding a pretty sturdy looking pistol- "Um, how do you actually use these anyway?"

Blitz: "Line the sights up, make sure there's nothing you don't want to kill in front or behind your target, pull the trigger. I don't know how their weapon tech works but that's pretty consistent for projectiles."

Alolan Condo

-Pele sighs in relief as she cracks open the beer she managed to snag from an unguarded cooler on the beach. What makes Ludmilla wince is that she pops the cap off with her teeth.-

Pele: That's a ridiculously enjoyable story.

-She takes a swig.-

Pele: Well, I mean, except for your part where, you know, the whole, yeah. That. Pretty much all of that.

Ludmilla: ... You don't talk to people often, do you?

Pele: Hey, this is my first outing in fifty years. I was gonna snooze out the rest of the century until that stupid... fuckin'... you know, the big thing. Big, black, mouthy. Got the sword made of glow-y shit. That guy. Big guy. He woke me up. I think. Even if he wasn't he needed a good purging. Ugly fucker.

Ludmilla: Oh, the Ultra Beast.

Pele: ... The what?

Ludmilla: Um... this is going to take some explaining...

cw: brief discussion of suicidal ideation

Snowpoint Hospital, Brie's room

Ever: —and you're probably not going to die, at least. That's what this report I stole says.

~Oh.~

Ever: You sound almost disappointed.

~...~

Ever: Let's not get down that Nidoran hole, please. We've all fucked up; all we can do is move forwards. Skyfire will live, and I'm sure she wouldn't be happy to know that you drifted off because you felt bad.

~...Not even giving me time to angst a bit, huh?~

Ever: Not about that, no. If you've got other stuff you'd like to angst about, I'm all ears.

~You probably shouldn't be stealing from the hospital.~

Ever: It's a photocopy. Relax.

How are you holding up?

~Not too great.~

Ever: Like, "I think my condition is about to take a sudden plunge" or "My nose is itchy and I can't scratch?"

~First of all, damn you.~

Ever: Get in line.

~Second of all...I don't like feeling stuck. Not having anywhere to move. Any way to move. Reminds me too much of...~

Ever: ...Ah...

~...It's not even just that. It's sort of...a common theme, I guess?~

Ever: Right.

~...Ugh, I think I'm going to cry.~

Ever: You're allowed.

~I can't move to wipe my face.~

Ever: ...Ah. I could see why that might be an issue. I'll get someone's attention.

~Weren't you going to get Every?~

Ever: And you have a problem with me stealing from hospitals?

~...~

Ever: Yeah, I'll get in touch.

Edited by memyselfandI2 on Dec 1st 2018 at 8:32:58 AM

Mobius Base - Concern.mp4

-Kaiiseii takes a moment to comprehend what just happened.-

-A tangle of vines knocked his hand out of Athena's.-

Kaiiseii: "Asshole."

-Isbrand stands in front of him and glares at...well...-

-It's hard to comprehend, and it hurts to look at. One second its some strange, morphing Vantablack orb, the next it's floating chunks of data, then horrible Lovecraftian beasts, and so on.-

-Eventually it settles on the form a black...something, like a hybrid of Missingo, a spider, and Hermaeus Mora...familiar, yet unplacable. As if it looks like something else but this is what your mind tells you it looks like.-

H͎̘̺̒͑͛͑ͣ͆̚͟͝e̓̏ͣ҉͔̮͈̲̫̫ͅͅh͕̘͖̞̯̔̉̑̓̍ͪ̌e͙̬̳ͧͬ́͆ͮͤ͂́̀h̢̝̠̳̜̣͎̥̿ͣ̌̄̎̀ͅe͚̦̭͕̬͕ͣ͊ͪ̂̔͐͌ͅͅh̩̼̣̿è͎̖͇͊̃͑͟h̴̘̤̫̫͚̙͐̆̒ͯͫͧͤ͝.̨͉̭̣̠͎̟͕͉ͯ̉ͪ̉̂̓͒̐͠͝.̥͓̤̘̣̗̭ͧͫ̿.̵̟͕̒͑ͥ̍ͮͮͨͬ̐͡ͅͅ

-It roars, a sound like every Pokémon cry being played backwards and forwads at the same time with max reverb.-

Edited by SwiftSeraph on Dec 1st 2018 at 11:40:11 AM

Snowpoint Hospital

-PEFE!Every is here now-

Brie: ...

-not that she really has any other options, but it's the principle of the thing-

PEFE!Every: Evening, Brie. Congratulations on dealing with Zemmalise.

~Not going to chew me out?~

PEFE!Every: I don't have any reason to do that. You accomplished what you intended to and are not dead.

~Oddly refreshing.~

PEFE!Every: I try. Now, obviously, I could have you up and walking in a few minutes, but the doctors might be annoyed, and I need to determine the extent of the nervous damage first, to make sure you aren't healing wrong.

~I really don't like the words you're using.~

PEFE!Every: You must understand that I am not a doctor. I am probably smarter than one, but I am not actually qualified to make a medical analysis beyond what common sense can glean me. Fortunately, my common sense covers a wider scope than the average.

~Wouldn't it not really be— nevermind.~

PEFE!Every: Mhmm...

-...-

~...Are you doing okay? Uh, after Carna?~

-PEFE!Every fixes Brie with a hard stare, before turning away to examine the machines around her-

PEFE!Every: Cytosol, take notes?

Cytosol: <Yep.> (to Halcyon) <Mind if I borrow that pen?>

~Go right ahead.~

-PEFE!Every mutters to herself as she looks at the readouts, matching them to the charts. Cytosol takes notes behind her-

~...~

PEFE!Every: That's somewhat distracting.

~You're being kind of unsettling right now.~

PEFE!Every: Do you want me to figure this out or— oh. Oh.

-her face lights up with a huge grin-

Fascinating!

(in an excited tone of thought, if such is possible) ~What? Is it good?~

-...-

-PEFE!Every's face falls-

PEFE!Every: No. It's not. It's just...fascinating.

Ordinarily, when injured, your body would begin regeneration procedures immediately. That's how my Ditto serum works; give or take a small essay.

~I kind of know this bit.~

PEFE!Every: Excellent, I can skip ahead. Your metabolic processes, save for the most necessary, have stopped. Essentially, you are functionally dead, your vital systems have just yet to realize it. Well, sort of. Not really. Practically speaking, it's more—

~Please don't.~

PEFE!Every: ...The work the doctors are doing currently is less to heal your injuries— that seems to be a lower priority here— and more to ensure that the infrastructure your body uses to heal injuries in the first place is functional at all. The Heal Pulses are a very basic means of Aura transfusion which they are using to, very literally, restart you. And in the meantime, they are doing their best to make sure you don't actually die.

~...It's the same for Skyfire?~

PEFE!Every: To a lesser extent, I think. She underwent less strain; she has greater reserves with which to manage it, being a Pokemon. The issues she faces have more to do with the nature of her injuries, and should be resolved soon one way or the other.

~I really don't like how you said that.~

PEFE!Every: There's little I can do about that.

Unfortunately, I don't think Ditto serum will be a viable option, at least until your metabolism is reactivated.

~You've got no good news at all, do you?~

PEFE!Every: Your prognosis appears to be fairly good. All the same, do try and hold on. It's more up in the air than I'd like.

~...I wish you'd used a different word for it.~

PEFE!Every: Oh. I...would have thought you might appreciate the attempt at levity. To indicate that I am not unduly worried about your capacity to survive.

~It's just...never mind.~

PEFE!Every: Don't die. I'd need to bring you back, and I'm sure nobody wants me experimenting with that particular frontier.

~...Thanks. It's always good to get your perspective.~

Edited by memyselfandI2 on Dec 1st 2018 at 10:20:46 AM