Priscilla's Office

Priscilla: Yes. Stormchaser malfunction caused a town-wide blackout. Apparently one of the occupants touched something, something went wrong, and now the people at the TV Idioms Website are mad because they lost an entire day's worth of data. They keep their servers there. Weird.

Edited by MasterJayAM on Jul 10th 2020 at 5:50:48 PM

Hulbury

Me: That might explain that feeling of Déjà Vu I felt earlier...

Priscilla's Office

Priscilla: Anyway, you know how to contact me. Stay safe.

Hulbury

Me: I'll try, Ms. Priscilla.

Wild Area

Cassandra darts away from the Stealth Rocks, a black and white afterimage with Night Slash striking the Gigalith.

"If nothing else, it's not as bad as mangling [Wimbledon Tennismatch]'s name."

-"The night slash hits but isn't very effective."-

Zee: Stone edge please Mark Zuckerberg.

Mark Zuckerberg: <ALL OF MY HATE!>

-"Rush stomps the ground and jagged rocks shoot towards Cassandra."-

Delta Dropship

-Kitbash collapses against one of the walls of the ship and lets out a strained whoop-

Kitbash: Mission completo! So who are we handing this box of god juice off to?

-He checks his watch and then looks around-

Kitbash: Also. Also I can see why you're top three my dude. That one man stand was just... Extreme.

??? City

-The battle begins in earnest as the grand crystal in the center of the city glows with a soft green light. Crystal arrows streak across the sky, soldiers pour out from concealed barracks in the wall and bursts of peculiar energy blaze forth, turning into flames and shields and just spears of light-

-The Pokemon attacking the city are a wide assortment of species with no clear indication of any kind of consistent species or ecological niche being represented: Predator species with unnatural size or alternate typing are charging right alongside that which would often be considered prey, Grass types swarm flora over the battlefield without regard for any scorching from nearby Fire types and further up the back is a Diglett the size of a small geographic feature popping out of the ground occasionally as it tries to approach the walls of the city-

-The attacking Pokemon seem to really pay no mind to the Rookidee trying to fight them, only striking back when attacked directly. None of them are communicating with each other, not even in the language of Pokemon and yet they are coordinated in their desire to destroy the city-

??? Cavern

-Coppercoat A stops propping up Lukka and immediately draws a steel sword-

Coppercoat A: A Bonder! I knew it, she's a Bonder and Lukka's probably turned into one too! You saw how that cat looked at him.

Coppercoat B: Hey! He's still our commander and the girl hasn't shown us any harm, let's just get to Drannith and clear this all up with—

Coppercoat A: I'm sorry are you sympathizing with these... Yaknow they're probably all Bonders and are lying to us.

Uh... I'd like to point out that there isn't ten whole Pokemon here. It'd be obvious if there were and if our friend here should probably shut up and not try and disprove me if she wants to survive this journey.

Coppercoat B: Also there's three of them and two of us even if there isn't ten whole Pokemon somehow hiding in this tunnel. We're outnumbered, plain and simple.

Coppercoat A: Gah. Alright. But if any of them try anything I am not going to just stand by...

-He puts the sword back within easy reach and goes back to helping to carry the unconscious Coppercoat-

Coppercoat B: Alright. We should be able to get to Drannith before the night's through. It's going to be a long walk but we can't afford to camp out here.

Delta Dropship

-Marion psychically airlifts Salem and herself into the dropship.-

Salem: I think that went well...

??? City

(Ready to fight the Pokemon, Ozzy flies up to the giant Diglett and proceeds to furiously use Peck on him multiple times.)

Ozzy: (with indignation) <You... blithering... fool! You're destoying the lives of millions of innocents! Shame on you! Shame on all of you!>

??? Caverns

Kim: (grateful) "Thank you. Though, might I ask... what exactly is a 'Bonder'? I assume it's someone who owns a Pokemon?"

(then, with a smirk)

Kim: "Also, _Bond_er. Heh."

Edited by OPALGARNET16 on Jul 10th 2020 at 9:30:02 AM

Shadow Rout

Isbrand: "..."

-She turns in the mirror.-

-Not wearing her Corviknight outfit, tho. Just a black tanktop and some boyshorts.-

-No, she's viewing her enhancements.-

-Her new leg, sleek and angular. Gunmetal gray.-

-Her arm computer, some of the Hyul tech trimmed down for less bulk. Updated software.-

-A purple scouter over her right eye, projecting a H.U.D.-

-What looks like wireless earbuds but are actually sound amplifiers.-

-A patch on her upper left arm, akin to an insulin injector but containing a chemical cocktail of synthesized adrenaline and liquid aura.-

-Speaking of Aura, Isbrand's entire right arm is encased in a very skeletal metal contraption, pressed tight against the skin. From her shoulders to her fingertips.-

-A prototype of her "hypothetical" full-body exoskeleton. Designed to artificially boost her Obscura to something beyond her parlor tricks of lighting joints and freezing beers.-

-Which, admittedly, are very useful talents for her.-

-Isbrand flexes her right hand. Her arm glows purple then dissipates.-

Isbrand: "Why am I obsessed with swords and energy weapons and all this combat potential?"

Mako: <Well, it certainly has nothing to do with the fact that our home timeline was ravaged by a Glitch.>

Foreseer: <That killed everyone you love besides us ans Kaiiseii.>

   Hellfire   : <And it certainly doesn't have anything to do with your brother's missing eye or your missing leg.>

Eclipse: <Or your vampirism and your fear of accidentally hurting your loved ones.>

   Shade   : <Doesn't stop her from biting her polycule on the neck.>

Isbrand: "Geez, I get it. Palkia's left eye, when did you all become psychologists?"

-She huffs and examines another major project. Isbrand knows hoe to attach prosthetic limbs, but it's a lot easier to work with a leg stump than an optic nerve. And Kaiiseii needs true sight, not a camera.-

-Well, time to get wasted and pray.-

Ardizzone Penthouse, Angela

Luca: "It's...I thought it would be worse. He's not in my dreams, I don't feel bad about what I did."

Benedetta: "Do you regret killing him?"

Luca: "I regret having to kill him."

Benedetta: "Then you are still my sweet little fragolino. Dearest Luca."

Luca: "Dona Ardizzone. Bennie, my older sister."

Benedetta: "I think...perhaps you should rejoin your J-Team for now."

Luca: "I dunno. They-"

-Luca flexes his hand, the faint scar of his pact visible.-

Luca: "You would think they'd reconsider having an actual criminal on their ship."

Benedetta: "You know as well as I do that the J-Team is not an innocent group of pure souls. But they wouldn't let you in if they thought you were a threat to them."

-Luca nods in agreement.-

Luca: "I don't like leaving you here alone. I'm your personal guard. Your second-in-command."

Benedetta: "I can handle myself. Can you do tbe same?"

Dropship

Domino was grinning madly. He held up a curved piece of metal.

"Look what I managed to rip off. A nice trophy for a job well done."

Eyupp. That's a Skarmory wing alright.

"I'll have to get it forged into something sick like a pair of daggers or something."

Cotton collapses in front of his feet.

<Is the Codawhatever safe?>

??? Cavern

Des glared at Kim for a second, gesturing her to zip it.

"Yes. Please show us the way."

He graciously helped the Coppercoats support their unconscious commander.

??? Caverns

Kim: (thinking to herself) ...what in the name of Arceus is going on here?!

Wild Area

<Yeah, I saw this coming.> And then Cassandra is hit and collapses.

Colton returns her, shaking his head before he throws another Pokeball at random.

A Delphox lands, forming a Flamethrower fired towards Rock Howard.

Rock Howard: <My name is not->

-"Rock Howard takes the flamethrower dropping to yello."-

Zee: Stone edge M bison!

-"M bisons eye twitches and she fires another stone edge at her opponent."-

-The sand storm rages.-

Wild Area

Feeling the tremors from the Stone Edge, the Delphox sidesteps and retaliates with a Shadow Ball aimed directly at Valentine's face.

Zee: Now, Protect!

-"Valentine throws up a bright blue shield to help protect herself."-

Zee: Great job Alajondro! Now, use Stone edge Mike!

-"Suddenly, something inside Tom snaps."-

Rush: <THAT IS NOT MY NAME!!!>

-"Suddenly, the rock pokemon starts stomping the ground with seething rage, crying and screaming "My name's Rush, My name's rush"."-

-Rush used stomping tantrum.-

Contact Communications Office, Castelia City

Yes, again it is the building across the street from Geo Soc.

It's also Sharpedo Week. Everyone in the company has decked out the office with images of sharpedo-lines and other chondrichthyid pokémon as well as popplios in dinnerplates.

Yeah, it's a really big deal for them. The Unova Office is expecting a visit from the big man himself.

Right below the main offices and occupying the multipurpose hall was a free-admission exhibition featuring ocean life... and a bunch of tacky promotions for Contact Communications Networks' channels and programming, but sharpedo-themed.

Roaming the halls are Galen and Ryan.

Wild Area

The Delphox falters and falls forward, revealing that Millia's been fighting a Zoroark. With the illusion down, Minerva placed a claw on the ground as another Shadow Ball formed to strike behind Holly.

Edited by AbsentCoder on Jul 11th 2020 at 2:10:45 AM

-"The shadow ball explodes in the back of Gabriel's head causing them to faulter."-

-"The tantrum stops but Felicity has a sliver of health left."-

Zee: Alright, we're still in this. Mitch, use-

-"Mitch starts walking away."-

Rush: <I'm done.>

Zee: What the- where are you going?

Rush: <I said my name is Rush but you assholes keep getting it wrong.>

Zee: Oh come on, we were joking.

Rush: <No! Fuck you, I'm going for a walk.>

-"And with that the Gigalith walked away from the battle."-

Wild Area

Minerva and Colton both paused. "... I guess we can say I lost?" He offered.

Zee: Naw it's cool, I got one more guy to use.

-"He pulls out a normal ball and let's his third pokemon out."-

-"It's a Perserker who is twitching all over, has crazed shrunken eyes, and is foaming out the mouth."-

Zee: This is Tom. Say hi Tom.

Tom:    <AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH>   

Zee: Tom says hi.

Wild Area

<Yeah you win!> Minerva returned herself as quick as she could.

"... I'm scared." Colton said simply. "I have such proficiency with my darkness abilities that I've been standing behind you since the start of this sentence..."

Sure enough he vanished into black wisps and there was a tapping of his opponent's shoulder. "And I'm scared."

Zee: Alright! Way to go Tom!

-"Tom promptly screams and bites Zee in the face."-

Zee, unfazed: Aw, I love you too.

??? City Approach

-The Hill Diglett doesn't give a verbal response, vaguely attempting to bop the annoying bird with it's head before retreating underground for it's next bit of approach-

??? Cavern

Coppercoat A: They're traitors who think some mystic connection to a monster is more important than their own kin!

Coppercoat B: Egh, can you cool your head for a moment? If the girl doesn't know what a Bonder is and she's got way more than one bondmate then maybe she's not the same thing as a Bonder? Maybe they've got more chill Pokemon out at Stria-whatever she said she's from. I mean, according to myth Orn had Pokemon allies way before Bonders started happening.

-The first Coppercoat looks a little indignant and just silently helps carry his commander as the group heads through the tunnels-

Well if she's from so far away I'll pick up the explanations. There's a group of notable thinkers in Lavabrink that I'm part of and we study various phenomenon for defense purposes, Bonders are among them.

-Gale clears her throat-

A 'Bonder' is a human who has through a chance encounter gained a strong emotion-based connection with a singular Pokemon. This connection is subconscious in nature, allowing the human and their bonded creature a level of understanding that is... Well it is something more powerful than say, merely knowing their language, it's a sharing of emotions and there are scattered accounts that entire audiovisual thoughts can be shared between a Bonder and their bonded Pokemon. According to recent myth and the few pieces of information from secretive Bonder sages that have leaked through to my group, this connection is facilitated by a mystical force known as the 'eludha'.

Coppercoat B: How... How did you get this information?

You may consider this... Uneasy, but members of the society of thinkers have on several occasions utilized illusion magic to infiltrate Bonder enclaves to gather information. We believe that on occasion, subtlety is the best option for dealing with potential threats.

Coppercoat A: All that subtlety and you just let them be...

Unfortunately I do not have the right kind of magic to infiltrate them, my abilities are more... Ominous.

Hulbury

Me: Now what am I gonna do? Not only did I get to Hulbury alone, but now some people who have been watching the news might see me and think I'm a wanted criminal!

Piku-chan: <Look, Ian... Whatever it is, it can't be THAT bad... Think about it... You've faced a World-ending glitch, you served as a distraction to a killer AI to save a friend, You flirted with Sylvestra Macraul, and she was WAY older than you and...>

Piku-chan and I: <She was already married.

-Piku-chan and Ian laugh about it.-

Piku-chan: <And you came out of it all shining brighter than when you went in. You can stand to be seen out in the open. Besides, it's not like you're one of the big-name J-Teamers, like Pent, Tagg or Umbra, right?>

Me: First off, you're right there, buddy. I'm not as well known as some other J-Teamers. And second off, ouch.