Tagg's office

Channah: Uh-huh. I remember... I wanted to stick around to talk more with you then, but I figured you had plans for the night -

-2019 happens-

Channah: -looks back up at him- Welp. Happy New Year's, I guess.

There is no disdain in nature, there is no humiliation.

Asimov Party

Colton silently waved Lissa away.

No longer obligated to continue the conversation, he approached the karaoke machine and queued up a song.

[Insert Unoriginal Stinger Here]

Striation Pokemon Center

-the ball having dropped, and all people who needed to be smooched thoroughly smooched, Joe and Munn stand by each other's side, near-empty flutes of sparkling cider in hand-

Joe: Mind if I say something kind of ridiculous?

-Munn smiles at Joe-

Munn: My favorite thing about you's that you don't usually ask.

-Joe returns the smile, but continues-

Joe: I've always been nervous about New Year's Eve. It never feels happy to me.

Munn: Hmmm?

-takes the frilly lampshade off his head-

Munn: It feels pretty happy to me.

Joe: Yeah, in the moment, sometimes. But...

-sighs the sigh he usually gives when he's trying to say something with words and failing-

Joe: It's like this.

-Munn flinches as he hear's Joe's goldspeech, and feels the peculiar, aimless dread of seeing the old year die, that of seeing the new year stretch before you like an endless blank expanse-

Munn: ...oh.

Joe: Yeah...

-he raises his glass-

Joe: Well, here goes nothing.

-he finishes off his glass and, stepping on his tiptoes, kisses Munn on the cheek-

Joe: Happy New Year, baby.

-from a corner of the room, a gentleman in his mid-thirties with white hair and a forlorn expression walks towards them-

Another green world.

PEFE HQ, Tagg's Office

-Looking down-

Happy New Year, little bird.

-Seems to be moving for a hug but isn't sure if the receiving party is receptive-

Eating a Vanilluxe will give you frostbite.

Stormchaser, 11:59:24

A can of root beer landed in the trash can on the opposite side of the room from the one who threw it. Warner, Mae, Caliburn, Minerva and Xatu were all out, just staring at the clock. Waiting.

Sunny and Roy had elected to have their own little thing in the infinite recesses of Colton's backpack.

Colton met up with the year's newcomers on his bed and sat beside Minerva and Mae. Staring.

"I think we had a pretty good year," Colton started, to which everyone agreed. "I'm hoping such a year can be more or less repeated, in terms of how good it was. But not the August wedding. Never again."

The agreement was even louder.

11 seconds.

The year was coming to a close.

10.

The only way out was through.

9.

Yeah you get the idea.

1.

The new year began in total silence before everyone collapsed into an exhausted pile on Colton's bed, unconscious.

Sunny and Roy materialized outside the backpack, both of their faces looking like they screwed up big but couldn't say why.

Then they noticed that New Year’s had only just passed and felt a little more comfortable. Clean slate, yadda ya.

Roy, however, couldn't dissuade his doubts.

They both went back into the infinite backpack and just stared at the egg they found, needing to contemplate what to do with it.

[Insert Unoriginal Stinger Here]

Tagg's office

Channah: -hugs, mouthing something against his shoulder before pulling her head back to flash him a helpless grin- You and that stupid nickname.

There is no disdain in nature, there is no humiliation.

Striation Center Party

Joe: Munn...um.

-swallows-

Joe: There's something I wanna ask y-

-he's interrupted by a quick tap on the shoulder, which he reacts to with uncharacteristic irritation-

Joe: Can it wait?

-the gentleman shakes his head-

Thirtyjoe: No. We've waited long enough.

Joe: Huh? What, the training th-

-a glitchy Vivillon, who had up to now been fluttering about on her own, goes stock still in the air, only flapping her wings, and stares at Joe-

Tinpthed: <mmmmmmmmmmmmm>

-one beat of the wings, two, and in a burst of what looks like chalk dust, both boy and butterfly have disappeared-

Thirtyjoe: Sorry to ruin the moment.

-Munn looks...well, he looks like someone who just saw his boyfriend and his butterfly vanish in a puff of chalk dust-

Another green world.

PEFE HQ (TS), Outside Lex's Module.

Cicci and Bimbo are now locked off from repeating attacks or using non offensive moves.

Cicci: <Aww noooooo....> -Pats Bimbo- <I think your singing is good and original Bimbo!>

Bimbo: -Wincing- <Merda!>

Cicci perks up and does a little dance at seeing Brie, Zebub and Halcyon go down though.

Cicci: <But we got one set down! Now let's get the others!>

Bimbo: -Chuckling- <Heh... why don't you go first Cicci. Perk us up with a cheer>

Cicci salutes.

Cicci: <I'm on it!>

Crystals and cool air begin forming around Cicci as she starts her cheer dance.

Cicci: <We’re gonna spell fight in a way that’s better
So when I say get on up, you just shout the letter!
Get on up, F!
Get on up, I!
Get on up, G!
Get on up, H!
Get on up, T!>

With the crystals now becoming hail like shards and the cool air turning into frost, Cicci blows all this air and ice all over the corridor.

Cicci: <What’s that spell?
FIGHT!
What do we do?
FIGHT!\\ One more time!
FIGHT, F-I-G-H-T, FIGHT->

In the middle of her attack though, Cicci ends up pinned underneath a piece of debris.

Cicci is incapacitated!

Cicci: <Ow>

Bimbo growls at the crowd in a very angery way, before he is finally knocked out by the debris. The Inspector notices that one of his Pokemon is incapacitated and the other has been knocked out, and begins to grit his teeth.

Inspector Bellucci: Cazzo! Cazzo! Cazzo! This sucks, I don't even really want to nab the kid anyway, I just want to talk to him. Though I don't think this group of leaderless Pokemon are gonna listen to reason.

The Inspector picks up his Energy Sword and begins slashing away at the falling debris, still making minimal progress towards the module.

Scampering can be heard.

The Pokemon present will faint in 2 turns!

PEFE Raid, Access Hall.

No matter what decade or technology you have, a good ol' dick punch never loses it's effectiveness.

I mean, Cytiss does almost No-Sell it, but his knees do bend slightly inwards and the faintest of squeaks can be heard muffled through the vocoder, so the intended effect was there.

It lines up nicely to Ctena ''almost being taken out by the Iron Head.

Ctena: Brrbrbrbrrr

PEFE Raid, the Captain

Mr Bitey's attack doesn't hit the ITPD Captain, but it DOES strike the GUARDIAN Prototype. It seems resilient to the attack, but it begins to spark slightly oddly afterwards.

Before the Captain can react, though, she's sent barrelling into the walls by the Aura Storm, the energy being behind her cushioning the impact of the attack, but still pushes her back.

The Captain: Hyah!

The Captain uses the GUARDIAN Prototype's speed boost option to make up the lost grown and attempt to land an uppercut on Hayon.

Resort Area, in the Now

Levi: Who invited me? uh- -After Lucius speaks- He did. Just then.

Levi gestures to Lucius with his bouquet of Corndogs, before taking a bite out of another.

Levi: Besides, this seems like a partner meetup! And I'm a partner too! So I also deserve to be in on it~ Seems only fair~

Beat

Levi: Happy New Years by the by. On 2018 - what the fuck was that?

Edited by PippingFool on Jan 2nd 2019 at 12:03:20 AM

I'm having to learn to pay the price

PEFE HQ(?)

"... I wish I could drink."

Rowan: <.. Do you really?>

A couple memories flash in Daydre's mind. Gudrunn, Chaos, multiple entities using her to inform the J-team of things, Hyul...

A certain face, disconcertingly similar to her own.

"... Yeah."

Wherever Marco is Now, Most Likely A Windowless Room Or One With Covered Windows

Marco is passed out drunk in a pile of dogs.

At least his year ended pretty well...?

PEFE HQ, Past

Rowan isn't a strategic genius or anything, but generally "hitting the sparking thing that is also probably powering the enemy's attacks" produces some kind of results.

So he shoots a Flamethrower, trying to aim it at the GUARDIAN prototype. He motions for the others to do the same. Mr. Bitey tries an Iron Head, Sylvie uses Magical Leaf, and The Punisher decides hovering over Daydre's body ominously is a good use of his time.

Edited by Daydre on Dec 31st 2018 at 1:24:27 PM

off the shits

Striation Center Party

-Thirtyjoe looks at Munn, sympathetically-

Thirtyjoe: Look, hon, I'm sorry for being sudden. It's just that we've waited too long, and there's been too many setbacks, and-

Munn: Setbacks? Is that what you call depression?

-the tone makes Thirtyjoe flinch, but he responds-

Thirtyjoe: The "depression" is heartbleed. That was the point in me coming back here, to help him along, but he just kept going back to square one every time. Someone had to push him out of the nest!

Munn: And you didn't think to ask me? His boyfriend? The person who ran to corner stores and candy shops and pharmacies and Poke Marts for him when he couldn't get out of bed? The person who held him every night? His boyfriend?

-he returns to that last word, as though in disbelief. Thirtyjoe sighs-

Thirtyjoe: I thought you'd be more understanding, Ollie. You were doing the same thing he'll be doing, you know how hard it is. Just because it's diplomacy and not all blood and guts doesn't mean it's not hard, and it doesn't mean it's not dangerous.

Munn: You think I'd be more understanding, of what, of you making Joe, Joe disappear? Of him going off to who the fuck knows where, to do who the fuck knows what, because you won't tell me any-

-he pauses midstream-

Munn: ...Ollie?

-Thirtyjoe has the expression of someone who accidentally let slip that there was a surprise party planned-

Thirtyjoe: ...um. I...

-all airy, distant bravado vanishes, and he sighs-

Thirtyjoe: I'll tell you two things. One, he's gonna come back, and better than ever.

Munn: And two?

-Thirtyjoe smiles, and Munn sees that the sweet, cheery, light-as-air Joe didn't go away-

Thirtyjoe: You won't be the Man with No Name forever.

-he leans forward, sweeping Munn up in his arms, and kisses him, for four long seconds. He breaks off, gives an excitable, toothy little smile, and walks off-

Another green world.

PEFE HQ, past, near Lex

-Brie twitches as the Icy Wind washes over her, and has the presence of mind to recall her mons to spare them further injury-

-not to send out replacements, though-

-it's not like she has the voice to give directions at this point, and her psychic is unconscious-

Sinnoh Resort Area

Ever: Amen. What a year...

(to Mezzo) No need to apologize. Communication's two-way, I probably should have sent a text too.

Hey, Lu, help me up so I can cuddle my girlfriend?

Dunsparce didn't stop being a thing or anything.

Mezzo: Yeah, really.

Do not fear power... fear those who wield it.

PEFE HQ, far past

-After the team weathers the attacks-

Artemia: <Doesn't matter, but we need to keep them from moving.>

-While using Water Pledge-

<Anguis!>

Anguis: -Sends out a column of grass- <Take this!>

-And then the area around Belluci and co, and partially outside to trip up any interlopers, is filled with sticky mud-

The combo created a swamp!

The opposing team's Speed severely fell!

PEFE HQ, tonight

-To Channah, after a forehead kiss-

Well if your mon form ever changes to something not a birdmon...

Edited by rmctagg09 on Dec 31st 2018 at 1:27:31 PM

Eating a Vanilluxe will give you frostbite.

???

-it's the kind of falling that, in a perfect world, would be accompanied by gradually descending strings, but (as is obvious) this is not a perfect world-

-it's not the normal kind of gravity falling, although something about the situation tells Joe that it's supposed to be. Is he dead? No, it wouldn't be this blue if he was dead. Is something slowing him down? There's gotta be something, right?-

-that something is the cloud of chalk dust, which dissipates some five feet before hitting the ground. Joe completes the rest of the fall with a thud-

Joe: What the...?

-he sits up and takes in his surroundings-

-he's on a small island, one that extends just to the edge of vision but stops short of the horizon. There are no settlements, trees, Pokemon, or any other signs of life. Just flowers-in all colors of the rainbow, in all shades, looking like a harp glissando brought into three dimensions-

-he grunts, picks himself up, and walks right. The island is narrower than it is long, and he reaches what would ordinarily be a beach but instead is an abrupt change from ocean to flowers, like a texture change in a video game-

-he cups his hands around his mouth and yells, to the person he knows is listening:-

Joe: YOU ASSHOLE! I WAS GOING TO PROPOSE!

Another green world.

???

-we have a New Year's post? Everyone's busy. Or hospitalized. Or something-

-...-

-okay, which one of those identical twinks are we following this time?-

-...-

-oh-

-oh boy-

---

Burned Tower

-she had her reasons for being in Johto, of course, other than to check in on the family-

Revy: You know, if the legendaries weren't such cowards, this would be a lot easier.

-while the usual towergoers are elsewhere, she's having a look around-

Elysium: <I think attempting to trespass on the domain of the gods is difficult by design more than anything.>

Revy: But it shouldn't be! Is my point.

-she sifts through a handful of ash. Sniffs it. Tastes it briefly-

Elysium: <That may be unwise, you know.>

Revy: How else will we learn?

-on the other side of the room, a Togekiss is practicing-

Baccarat used Metronome!

Metronome became Wood Hammer!

-she slams into a wall, leaving cracks that promptly seal up with new growth, and slides to the ground-

Hygieia: <Should a behavior prove detrimental to one or more parties, a refusal to cease is likely grounds for diagnosis of addiction.>

Baccarat: <Stop being so you, Hyg. I can't let a losing streak break my faith.>

Baccarat used Metronome!

Metronome became Splash!

Baccarat: <Rrrr...>

-Revy watches this, frowning-

Elysium: <Do you think Baccarat can earn her luck back?>

Revy: I don't so much as know where it came from in the first place. For all I know it was a blessing we were meant to make use of, and its failure meant we were destined to lose.

Elysium: <How fatalistic of you.>

Revy: I'm not holding out much hope these days. It's been...years. And we're no closer.

Baccarat used Metronome!

Metronome became Gravity!

Baccarat: <...Ow.>

Hygieia: <Rapid vertical shifts can induce altitude sickness. Are you alright?>

Baccarat: <I'm fine!>

-...-

Elysium: <Have you not considered that perhaps, with the new year, you could take the chance to...wipe things away?>

Revy: What?

Elysium: <It is a time of new beginnings, is it not? You could leave your obsession in the past. Move on to something...more productive. Attempt to mend fences with your cousins.>

-Revy stares at him-

Baccarat used Metronome!

Metronome became Ember!

Hygieia: <At least it brought no immediate harm to you?>

Baccarat: (groans) <It's a sta—>

-...-

-yeah, there's a fire-

Hygieia: <I have an extinguisher. Just a mom—>

Baccarat: <I'll deal with this myself.>

Baccarat used Metronome!

Metronome became Thundershock!

-...-

Elysium: <Each member of this team has their own monomania. Baccarat and her luck. Hygieia and her medicine. ...You and your quest. I would say it's what brings us together.>

Revy: And yours?

Elysium: <Your care and protection. I was willing to indulge you in your desire to see your ancestor returned. But I can't help but feel that by now it's proven a hindrance to your own growth as a person. Would it not be better to...>

Baccarat used Metronome!

Metronome became Gust!

-of course, the wind isn't enough to put the fire out, and it grows a little-

Baccarat: <No, no, no! I'm so close!>

Hygieia: <I suggest we leave. Smoke inhalation is as lethal as any fire.>

-...-

Elysium: <Cut your losses?>

Revy: ...

...

...

No.

Elysium: <...>

Revy: You said the New Year is a time of growth? New beginnings? But it's a time for rebirth, too. A time of second chances.

Baccarat used Metronome!

Metronome became Silver Wind!

Baccarat: <Aaaaaaagh!>

Revy: You're right, I can't just keep doing things the same way. I can't rely on legendaries to do things for me.

Elysium: <Precious few alternatives present themself.>

Baccarat used Metronome!

Metronome became Ominous Wind!

Baccarat: <I couldn't have gotten that a few seconds ago?!>

Hygieia: <This is what comes of relying on chance.>

Revy: There has to be something. I could borrow the nerd again; she might have an idea or two up her sleeve. Why I didn't ask her the first time...she's probably all noble now. Whatever happened to the mad scientist?

Elysium: <Changing attitudes, I imagine.>

Baccarat used Metronome!

Metronome became Ancient Power!

Baccarat: <Oh come on!>

Hygieia: (a bit of the lightness falling from her voice) <Baccarat. We need to leave. Even leaving aside the possibility of harm to ourselves, you are wreaking havoc on a national monument.>

-indeed, the fire's grown to a concerning size. The crackling is loud enough that Revy and Elysium are shouting to be heard, even from less than a foot away from each other-

Revy: Or some bullshit with Ever! They're strange enough these days, I imagine they know a guy.

Elysium: <But why would they assist you?>

Revy: Because—

Baccarat used Metronome!

Metronome became Surf!

-the fire goes out-

-Elysium and Hygieia are soaked, but are Grass-type and a Blissey respectively-

-and Revy is flattened by the wave-

Baccarat: <...Well.>

Revy: ...Fuck. You're right.

-she picks herself up, wringing water out of her hair-

Elysium: <...>

Revy: It's hopeless.

-she curls up against Elysium, the Sawsbuck kneeling down to make himself more convenient as a pillow-

Revy: My team's a mess. I'm a mess. We won't accomplish anything. We won't bring him back.

Elysium: <Revy.>

-Revy checks her phone for the time, as it starts to count down-

30...

Revy: It'll be New Year's at home soon. New Year, new me, like you said. No more quests. I'll just be a normal 20-something. Catch some new Pokemon. Challenge a few leagues. Date a boy, date a girl maybe.

20...

Elysium: <Baccarat. Use Metronome, once more.>

Revy: Don't bother. It's done.

Baccarat: <Uh.>

-she looks between the two. Revy isn't even looking her way-

Revy: All dreams gotta die sometime, right?

Elysium: <...>

-he gestures with his head at Revy, then shakes his head at Baccarat, who perks up-

10...

-begins to wag her wings-

9...

Baccarat

8...

used

7...

Metronome!

6...

Elysium: <Revy. Look up.>

5...

Revy: What?

4...

Metronome

3...

became

2...

Revy: What are you—

1...

Sacred Fire!

0!

-a digitized fireworks display pops up on Revy's phone-

-and a very real, and far more impressive one, erupts from Baccarat-

-it sweeps across the floor, the damage Baccarat did repairing itself instantaneously-

-Hygieia, Elysium, and Revy are dry and comfortable, and feel as though they've just had some of the best sleep of their lives-

-and then it's over-

Hygieia: <...>

Elysium: <...>

Baccarat: <...I did it.>

Revy: You did it.

Baccarat: <My luck. It's back.>

Revy: I'm back.

-...-

-Revy's downcast expression morphs into a wicked smile-

Revy: Good thing I made that resolution before 2019, huh? New year, better me.

-she cracks her knuckles-

Elysium: <...>

-he nods-

<All the same, we should make our exit promptly. A Sacred Fire in the erstwhile home of Lugia is unlikely to go unnoticed.>

Revy: Well, of course. We've got work to do.

Elysium: <Work?>

Revy: Told you. I'm done relying on legendaries.

Baccarat?

Baccarat: <Right!>

Baccarat used Metronome!

Metronome became Teleport!

Vwoorp!

-and they're gone, with only footprints in the ashes to mark their passage-

Dunsparce didn't stop being a thing or anything.

Egg: -wiggles-

Celeste: <Oooh.>

Egg: <Jump around jump around jump around now>

Shadow: <It's making some strange noise.>

Leaflet: <Is it about to hatch?>

Egg: <Jump up jump up and get down>

Stella: <When Celeste hatched it wasn't anything like this.>

Egg: <Jump around now>

Marine: -tilts his head-

Egg: <Get down~>

-there's a collective gasp as the Egg launches itself into the air and crashes to the floor, shattering on impact and revealing an Eevee, who immediately hops up-

Everyvee: <Oh!>

Forte: Whoa!

Eevee: <Hi! My name's Blueberry!>

Fireball: <Hi! I'm your dad!>

Marine: <What? No. I'm your dad.>

Electro: <I'm your mom!>

Shadow: <Hold on. I thought you had appointed me to be her dad.>

Leaflet: <Uh, that was just my suggestion.>

Celeste: <I'm your cousin!>

Icicle: <And I'm your grandpa!>

Forte: Uh, guys, maybe you should give her some space.

Do not fear power... fear those who wield it.

Asimov Party

After a moment, Luciana leans back and takes another drink of champagne, staring dramatically off into the distance.

Lush Jungle, Akala Island

Artoria and Mordred are walking.

Mordred: <So. It's going to be a new year.>

Artoria: <Less chaotic than the last, I hope.>

Mordred: <Doubt it. Say ->

Artoria: <No.>

Mordred: <You don't even know what I was going to ask!>

Artoria: <I know it's a bad idea.>

Mordred: <... You could stand to pretend I come up with not-bad ideas.>

Artoria: <I'm not going to lie to myself or to you to stroke your ego.>

Mordred raises a hand to object, before putting it down. She then puts her hands on her hips.

Mordred: <I'll show you, I don't need your approval to have an overinflated ego, I can do that all on my own!>

Artoria gives a moderately disapproving look.

Mordred: <What?>

Artoria: <You know exactly what, Mordred.>

Mordred grins smugly. <Do I?>

Artoria: <Yes.>

The two round a bend in the path and see a Lurantis in combat with an Oranguru.

Oranguru: <Just... give up!>

Lurantis: <I think not. Stand aside, before I make you.>

Oranguru: <Ha, you think you can make me move?>

Lurantis: <Wrong answer. Pick a tapu and pray.>

Oranguru: <And why would I ->

The Oranguru is cut off by being blown off his feet and back into, and through, a tree by a Solar Blade.

Luranits: <Fool.>

A second Solar Blade sends the shakily-standing Oranguru slamming back into the ground, thoroughly unconscious.

Artoria blinks for a moment. <Father!>

Mordred does a double take. <Wait, dad?>

The Lurantis turns around. <Ah. Artoria. Mordred. Good to see you again, my daughters. Back for the new year?>

Vermillion City, A relatively low-class bar

In a back room of a bar, a group of three people are having a conversation, everyone in the front of the bar unaware in their new-years revels.

Two of them are men in suits, each with a rocket-shaped lapel pin, and the third is a certain green-eyed lady from the future.

Eris: "And here I was lead to believe you would have useful information. Seeing as that's not the case, I shall be taking my leave."

Definitely Not A Team Rocket Dude A: "We had a deal, Miss."

Eris: "I'm changing the terms of the deal. Or, rather, breaking the contract as you have yet to fulfill your end of it."

Definitely Not A Team Rocket Dude B: "I don't think she's allowed to do that? Is she allowed to do that."

DNATRD A: "I don't think so either. You know who we work for, right?"

Eris: "A crumbling organization that has only a vestige of its former power after a twelve year old got your leader arrested?"

DNATRD B: "Uh, well..."

Eris stands, starting to speak, before the two stand up almost immediately after, reaching into their coats for something

Eris rolls her eyes, glancing at the table. She picks up the two men's beer bottles, tossing them into the air before jumping and kicking them into their respective faces, staggering both. She lands on the table, reaching out and grabbing one by the collar with her mechanical arm, slamming him face first into the table before bringing her knee down on the back of his head. She tosses out Lifthrasir as the other man fumbles for a pokeball, eventually managing to send out a Kommo-o.

He clears his eyes just in time to be blinded again by a dazzling gleam, whereupon he receives a boot to the chin and hits his head against the wall, going out like a light.

The Kommo-o looks around.

Kommo-o: <Don't hurt him, I'll let you leave.>

Lifthrasir: <As if you could. Besides, he started it.>

Eris: "Lif, we're going. Hopefully the next lead has more information."

The clock chimes midnight, and Eris looks behind her.

Eris: "Happy New Year. Spend this one better."

And she walks out.

All are significantly abnormal in a normal world... All are significantly normal in an abnormal world.

PEFE HQ, Access Corridor - Past

-Lillianna takes advantage of Cytiss's momentary distraction to pick up Tsumugari and takes another swing at his helmet, while Future!Bishop showers Ctena with Bullet Punches.-

Lillianna: Leave. Now.

Sinnoh Resort Area

-Lucius sighs and helps Ever up before turning to Levi.-

Lucius: Don't ask me. 2018 was... not my finest hour. Oh, and before I forget?

-He grabs Levi by the shirt and pulls him in for a kiss before stealing one of his corndogs.-

Lucius: Happy new year, babe~

Trans rights are human rights. JK Rowling preaches hate. If you sit at a table with five bigots and say nothing, there are now six bigots.

-Skye, Diane, and Alyssa have returned to their module. The missing wall has been... filled, at least, and any uprooted wiring has been fixed, but it's still pretty clearly a patchwork job.-

Diane: ...Hmm.

Skye: It's better than nothing, at least.

Alyssa: Still kinda... attention-grabby.

Skye: Yeah, that's what I was thinking. On one hand, I'm sure with some work, we can make it blend in... but also, I'm kinda wondering if moving a bit deeper into the facility might be an option?

-Diane puts her hand to her chin in thought.-

Diane: PEFE modules are on tracks, so I think it's theoretically possible. I dunno, I'll ask Tagg about it.

Alyssa: Just try not to let it get so deep that we're crossing into the old Pokefutures stuff.

Skye: I mean, I'm sure they wouldn't mind the help cleaning up the deeper levels.

Diane: Yeah. We'll figure it out.

-A few quiet sends pass. Skye checks her phone, and her eyes go wide.-

Skye: ...Fuck, I forgot, it's New Years! Alyssa, you're closest, catch me.

Alyssa: What—

-Alyssa squeaks as Skye actually jumps and clings to Alyssa at a high enough level to kiss her. Alyssa staggers back, holding onto Skye, and backs into a wall for support so she doesn't just fall over.-

-It's quite the spectacle. Diane stifles a snort-laugh.-

Skye: By the gods, you're so tall.

Alyssa: aaaaaaaaaaa—

Cylus turned over and formed the repulsor buster again, this time modifying the design for rapid fire and began to fire at The Captain, "KEEP AWAY FROM MY LUCARIO!" He shouted with a grimace.

Hayon took to using Extreme Speed to avoid the attack.

Delta stretched as he stood in the Battle Subway, abandoned of course, amazing what a few phone calls and a threat could do as well as cleverly placing some evidence. The black masks though, he looked over them and sighed, some enemy teams had no creativity these days.

Delta looked over to Zatara who was setting up the recording equipment, "We got the signal?"

~The guy flies about in a airship, we just have to isolate the airship signals that are the most unusual and sure. We're good.~

Delta let out a low laugh, Rodan was standing guard, awaiting anyone who dared come close, something that Delta couldn't afford to let happen right now.

Mazinger marched over and gave a thumbs up, Delta nodded, "Hit it."

Silas sat in the cockpit of his ship as it slowly drifted towards Unova, he was still pondering over what Ri- Roxy had suggested, he had finally begun to put together a stealth suit for her, based after a popular movie out. He'd need to talk to Tommy sometime ab-

The bridge console bleeped and Silas looked up, a message, he clicked it on.

On the screen appeared a familiar digital helmet, "This message goes out to everyone who's after the Hunter's guild, but the Jackal especially. Hello again, you may be wondering what I've been up to, not much, the requests stopped pouring in after a few of your interpol friends got most of my fellows arrested, though this has worked out for me as it gave me less competition... but enough about me. How are you?"

Silas frowned as he leaned forward, Delta was taunting him.

"I saw the security footage from one of your raids, I see some things have changed since our last meeting. So here's what's going on."

The camera swung and showed a large bomb in the switching station of the Unova battle subway, "Come see me in the Battle Subway, Bring your team or your friends, but you got 4 hours to get here. Or else I set this off, sure it's fine now but will it always be, someone might get testy and want to investigate..."

Silas grumbled, Roxy's new suit would have to wait. He punched in the coordinates and headed back, "Roxy you're on Overwatch, keep me appraised, we got a job to do!"

Silas entered with his team, Oliver looked about nervously, <Is this normal? Does he usually do this?>

Silas clenched his fist as he entered through a side entrance, "No... this is different."

Oliver just became even more worried, <I'm not even up to my badass final evolution! Are we ready for this?>

Hacks sighed as he adjusted the mask and goggles, ~We have to be, Delta's trouble...~

The rest of the team nodded, Oliver just sighed as he adjusted his mask, <This won't end well.>

As if on cue a wall busted open with a large Golurk tackling Snakeye and Tae, <YOU CAN SAY THAT AGAIN! PREPARE TO BE SMITED BY MY GIANT FISTS OF GLORY!>

Silas almost jumped and then heard, <We got this partner! Head on in!>

The remaining party charged in, Silas being gradually separated from his team, A Tyranitar and a Venusaur took on Amber, a Feraligator and a Noivern took Hacks, Oliver following him.

Silas had to press on, Roxy kept Overwatch going, "I'll update you if any of them get hurt, stop that bomb!"

Silas entered the center, hands gripped on his laser rifle, Delta had to be here... he had to be here somewhere. His mask's AR system bleeped, he looked forward, there it was, the bomb... Silas sprinted over and began to inspect the- hunk... of... junk...

What?

"Funny isn't it? A fake threat to get a fake hero."

Silas whipped around and saw Delta, standing there, knife in hands, "Hey kid... You came, good for you. There was never any bomb, do you know how much trouble one would be?"

Delta laughed, "Now... let's see how you do."

Delta charged forward and Silas opened fire, only for Delta to weave out of the way of the laser fire, Silas pondered how that was even possible, the laser rifle fired beams of light didn't it?

The kick to his chest told him to focus up, he whipped out his laser pistol and the magnum and began firing concussive and stunning blasts, only for Delta to uppercut him, "Mediocre, no form."

Silas had enough and swung his metal fist down, striking the concrete and cracking it, Delta of course dodged, "Oh that's better... you know how to throw a robot punch..."

Delta let out a laugh, "So much for that Winter Soldier... try and catch me."

Delta ran down one of the tunnels, Silas, angered, chased after him, and began to catch up.

Tunnel 8 had been undergoing maintenance recently and had been shut down, perfect for Delta, and judging by the stomping sound behind him, the Jackal was catching up, fast. Oh that was perfect, it was about time that the Jackal had started to show some promise, Delta was almost bored to death.

Of course Delta hadn't gotten to where he was by being reckless or stupid, and this exercise was a test of character, see how far the Jackal was and nothing more. He had no intention of being caught and just because he had been dodging the attacks didn't mean his opponent was still younger and physically stronger, add in the advanced technology and current speed, meant he was likely going to catch him.

Delta set off some gas bombs and took a route he had set up into the rafters, the Jackal charged through unaffected, seems that mask did more than just hide his identity and show glowly blue eyes. The Jackal looked about in confusion, Delta took advantage and tossed a knife right at the left arm, and watched in amusement as it struck, causing the Jackal to flinch.

Silas grunted in pain as he felt the knife dig in, wasn't this arm made of titanium, how did it hurt him? It didn't matter as he felt a kick to his back and down he went, Delta getting low and bringing a knife under his throat, "Nice job... but not good enough."

Silas grunted at Delta, "The neck is armored, are you sure the knife would cut through it?"

Delta shrugged and dug the other knife out, "Doesn't matter, this was a test, and you failed."

Silas turned pale, what did he just say?

"You caused me some trouble, that last raid when you burned my servers, oh you knocked out a lot of my infrastructure that day."

Silas laughed a bit, "Looks like I got you angry then."

Delta gave it some thought, "No, no you really didn't."

"...what?"

Delta shrugged, "See kid the thing is, I don't get angry, I don't take things personal, hell revenge seems fun but is way more trouble than it's worth. You knocked out some of my systems, you're gonna keep knocking them out I get that, but I'm not worried, I got backups, I may suffer a day or two but until you can face me head on in a unfair matchup, enh..."

Silas let his head fall to the floor, he'd been played... "Now the funniest thing is, your team isn't even large enough to trouble me right now. I took you out of your element knowing it'd cause you trouble, I had my team face off against yours knowing you'd lose your advantage, but I kept my trump card."

Zatara appeared in a flash of confetti and smoke, smiling and tipping his tophat, Delta let out a chuckle, "See Zatara coulda just used psychic on you and restrained you at any moment, it wouldn't have been very fun or amusing, but it'd work and that's what matters. It's also how I dodged your attacks, don't get me wrong I like what you're doing, it's fun to see someone cause trouble, shakes things up. And you're just to do so, so grit your teeth and work on it... Oh and Bucky. Next time maybe bring a Cap, your solo runs are great but always end horribly when you're on your own."

Delta nodded to Zatara, "take us out of here."

With a snap they vanished, Silas got up and limped back to the Gear Station, seeing his team there, and a freshly evolved Oliver, "Hey... we lost."

Snakeye sighed, <Well don't that just beat all...>

Oliver stood proud, <Hey look on the bright side! I'm a cool dartrix now, and we can always try again!>

Hacks marched over and held his arm, ~How badly did we lose?~

"He played us all to test us, he got what he wanted."

Hacks nodded, ~We'll just have to get better.~

Roxy spoke up, "Sorry I wasn't much help."

Silas sighed, "No you and Bishop did your jobs... also Bishop seriously you did nothing while you were on my person?"

Bishop popped out of the pDroid, "I'm a Porygon meant to run machinery, my stats for actual fighting are awful!"

Edited by EchoingSilence on Jan 1st 2019 at 5:16:24 AM

Tagg's Office, PEFE HQ

-Gets an odd box from one of the PEFE's delivery people-

...This seems kinda suspicious, like it's got a really funky return address, and peering into it with Aura Sense gives me something I don't recognize.

Eating a Vanilluxe will give you frostbite.

Tagg's office, now

Channah: -I guess has been hanging out in the office today- Uh, like on a scale of zero to George Clinton, how funky is it?

There is no disdain in nature, there is no humiliation.

PEFE HQ, Tagg's Office

-To Channah, carefully opening the outermost packaging in an attempt to avoid inadvertently activating its contents-

Like I bet dollars to donuts this is probably some sort of fake address or something.

-A card then comes out-

-The innermost portion then opens of its own accord to reveal what appears to be an unstable personal interdimensional portal device, which starts sparking upon exposure to the air-

Fuck.

-In the middle of summoning a barrier in an attempt to block the explosion-

Channah, get behind me no-

-Said device activates and the living contents of the room disappear in the flash of an Ultra Wormhole which soon closes, save for a certain mon who happened to be just sticking his head in-

Nudi: <Oh no, I gotta tell someone about this!>

-The Gastrodon then heads off-

Edited by rmctagg09 on Jun 1st 2019 at 7:58:27 AM

Eating a Vanilluxe will give you frostbite.

Ivan: "Shit."

-Ivan sighs and pulls out a key. He opens the front door of the house and enters.-

Tagg's office

Channah: -examines the contents along with Tagg- That name sounds familiar. -suddenly, the Ultra Wormhole happens and she barely has time to widen her eyes before they both disappear- ...!

There is no disdain in nature, there is no humiliation.