Stormchaser

-Actually, speaking of loved ones...-

-If Mason decided to come to the meeting, Isbrand would have offered him her seat and just stand by a wall.-

-Regardless, Shaun noticeably tenses and sits up at mention of the School, despite Jessica putting a hand on his.-

-If Shaun knows about Mason's encounter with Bren the Scorcher, he doesn't mention it. Not his story to tell.-

-He does, however, shoot a look at Kamui.-

Shaun: "Calm yourself. Rushing in blindly is just going to hurt us."

-And then he turns to Silas, his expression softening.-

Shaun: "Never a dull moment with you...But none of us have recently encountered the School. We've-"

-Gestures at himself, Jess, Isbrand, and Kai-

Shaun: "We've been trying to stay...away, for a time. Like I've mentioned."

-Isbrand taps away at a projected keyboard.-

Elizabeth: "Is she..."

-Elizabeth clears her throat and speaks again, louder.-

Elizabeth: "Is Megan...still...?"

Wyndon Stadium, Ian VS Daisuke

Daisuke: Orbito! Saiminjutsu!

Me: Oshawittle, watch out!

-Oshawittle stands his guard as Orbito glares at Oshawittle... menacingly! The spots on Orbito's shell light up and shine a soothing greenish-blue with white concentric circles pulsing towards the center of each spot.-

Wyndon Stadium Stands

-Evelyn covers her eyes when Orbito's spots light up.-

Hatty: <Good call, Evelyn.>

Hammerlocke Banquet

Me: Seeya, Mr. Braker.

Evelyn: See you around.

Hasslemon

Stormchaser, J-Team Meeting

-So, Ian and Evelyn arrived at the meeting room offscreen and before it started so they wouldn't miss a thing.-

Me: Yikes... So this "School" is a big threat, huh?

Evelyn: And Molybdenum... Her powers must be incredibly strong if she can enthrall a J-Teamer.

-Hatty then notices Cuddles is there and asked a question.-

Hatty: <Enthralling is the process of capturing one's attention. However, I do believe the context is more along the lines of being hypnotized/mind controlled.>

Stormchaser

Cuddles: <Oh~! Okay!> (and then it hits him) <Wait, mind control?!>

Wyndon Stands

(Elton immediately uses his ears to shield Kim's eyes, then closes his own.)

Elton: <Come on, Oshawittle! Look away!>

Circhester

Strummer: <Awww, you're pre'y cute!>

Cuddles: <Thanks! Want a hug?>

Strummer: <Not now. I got a battle to win!>

Kim: "Alright, Strummer! Hit him with a Boomburst!"

Strummer: <Will do!>

(He strums the bumps on his chest and releases a massive sound wave that knocks Cuddles backwards.)

Cuddles: <Owowowowowow...>

(Cuddles lands on the floor, but manages to eventually pick himself back up.)

Cuddles: <I'm okay...>

Braker: "Good! Use Swift!"

Kim: (realizing) "Oh no."

Cuddles: (jumps up into the air and releases a bunch of stars from his pedipalps) <Yay, stars~>

(The stars promptly hit Strummer and knock him slightly backwards.)

(For the most part, however, Strummer is still standing. He chuckles.)

Strummer: <Oi! Nice move there!> (he smirks) <But I fink it's over for you!>

Kim: "Indeed. I'm sorry, Cuddles." (She pauses, then:) "Hit him with another Boomburst to finish him off!"

(And Strummer promptly launches off another Boomburst, that knocks Cuddles backwards into the sky.)

Cuddles: <W-whoa...!>

Braker: "Cuddles!"

(Cuddles, frantically, tries to fight back against the wind— but fails— and eventually gains another face that says he is about to vomit. As he falls down to the ground, he manages to make one final stand, vomiting out projectiles of green acid chunks that hit Strummer.)

Strummer: (impressed) <Clever!>

Cuddles: <Thank yooooouuuuuu...!>

(Seconds later, he slams down against the floor, and lies there on the ground with swirls in his eyes— and a cookie.)

Cuddles: (weakly) <That was fun... here's a cookie...>

Kim: "Awwww..."

Strummer: <A cookie?> (He goes to pick it up.) <Aw, thanks!>

Cuddles: (weakly) <You're welcome...>

Hammerlocke Banquet

Braker: "Thank you."

(And with that, he, Walter and Cuddles exit the banquet, followed by Kim soon afterwards.)

THE HASSLEMON INTERWEBS

CB: I know, righ7?!

ET: It's Fortunate That He Is With Us Now. Without Braker, His Life Would Not Be Good.

PJ: YoU SaId It, ChArOn!

ET: By The Way, I Must Inquire Something. Have You... Noticed My Speech Pattern At All?

MC: whO aRe yOu asking chaROn

ET: The Newcomers That Have Joined Us Today.

MC: ah

Room 101

Ma'at: I'm afraid you misunderstand, Salem. What Kitbash shows disdain for aren't same-gender relationships with males. Such backwards trifles as homophobia have no place in our organization, especially with one as organized as Sphinx's operations. Society's sins have no place in our line of work. That said, MLM is an acronym that describes a mode of business that resembles Sphinx's recruitment incentive strategy. It stands for multilevel marketing.

Ma'at shows a display for the recruitment brochures of BerryBestLife, Best Berry's fatuous multi level marketing scheme. The words "Multi Level Marketing" are displayed below.

Ma'at: It's an oddly legal criminal enterprise that's beneath us. We're smugglers, poachers, and arms dealers. We're a respectable criminal enterprise. That said, our system does not always mesh well with everyone. If that is the working relationship you prefer, Kitbash, far be it for us to impose. I'll send your working proposals with Sphinx and we can work out a rental rate. Keep in touch.

She resumes showing the maps and directions for the datamining heist.

Textspace

Just outside the Stormchaser

A young man is flying two elderly men on a Corvinight Taxi to the Stormchaser. They land just outside it.

Cabbie Lou: This airship, aye? Unless there's like other airships in this town.

Reynard: Nope, you got the right one.

Cabbie Lou: You need any help, doc?

Reynard: Naw, I'm good.

Cabbie Lou: How about you, Professor?

Professor Yew: Nothing more needs to be done, young man. Just take our bags to the airship. Apparently, they have a concierge to help us. Don't worry about entry. We've contacted people. What's your name again?

Cabbie Lou: Macraul. Louis Macraul.

Reynard: Any relation to those—

Cabbie Lou: Yes. I'd rather not talk about it.

Reynard: I'm really sorry.

Professor Yew: We'll give you a glowing review. You've been very helpful.

Lou: Much obliged, professor.

A fidgety Reynard gives Lou a generous tip while the professor grabs his crutches and starts walking out of the cab. Lou hauls some of the freight and brings them toward an awaiting concierge and his pinsir. The concierge, Beck, guides them inside.

Beck: Right this way. We've been expecting you. And just in time. They're holding a meeting.

Professor: What for? Will we be able to see the good doctor today?

Beck: Can't discuss this outside, I'm afraid. But you're welcome to attend. Doc Albright! Yeah, you're with the J-Team. You definitely would want to sit in.

Professor Yew: Don't worry. Something tells me that I really should attend the meeting. Doctor Albright, you're with the J-Team?

Reynard: It's a long story. And boy howdy were the kids not happy when they found out.

Professor Yew: I'd love to hear that story some day, but apparently not now.

Reynard: Indeedy. Something isn't right for the team to get back into the groove like this. I wasn't there for the big fights, but they didn't do anything for about a year afterward. At first I thought they just needed a break but hoo boy they took a while before they gathered again.

They approach the gathering room. Anyone familiar with Reynard will likely recognize this same happy 88 year old man. The Professor, meanwhile, isn't nearly as subtle.

Professor Yew: What's this I hear about the School?

Edited by MasterJayAM on Jun 25th 2021 at 2:19:21 AM

Distant Pool

Obscuric smoke rises off of the tail, carrying with it wisps of.. being? It seems to be shrinking as time passes.

It'll.. have to be quick, then.

The medium is certainly strange, but not impossible to work with. Still holding the mote, Daydre mentally goes through the steps involved in making a painting.

Start with the sketch, block out the colors (playing it by ear a little on the palette choice, there's no time for adjustments here), detail, detail, detail. No time for a background, is there? Wait, that probably should've come first.

But no going back now.

Daydre infuses the mote with her intent, with the image of Vee she's just created, as much as she can. The belt shudders some more, tail releasing more and more obscura.

I'm going to make you a better version of this later, but you have to be alive for me to give it to you okay? That's the payment I want.

And then Daydre releases it.

EMPEROR, who'd been staying quiet out of consideration, perks up a bit.

EMPEROR: <Well, I don't use this move often because of how vulnerable it leaves me but if it's to help that Vaporeon->

He braces himself against the ground, the water in a given area around him coalescing into an orb, from which a high pressure jet of water beams in the direction of the sword. Despite his best efforts, the force of the move still moves him backwards into the mud a little.

You know that one machine that uses water to cut things open?

Stormchaser, Meeting

Daydre has been looking down at her hands this whole time. She fidgets with them a little before saying anything. Her expression is neutral, but to Tagg's Aura Sense it's clear she's still quite upset.

"... Right, I'd been wondering about a couple things she said back then."

Wyndon Stadium, Ian VS Daisuke

-Oshawittle and Orbito stare each other down, but the light from Orbito's spots shimmers in Oshawittle's eyes, causing him to falter a bit. The pulsing concentric circles reflect in Oshawittle's eyes for a few seconds until Oshawittle blinks and stands almost at attention.-

Me: Oh no!

Daisuke: Now, Orbito! Use Bug Buzz! Oshawittle won't be able to attack while he's in his frozen trance!

-Orbito looks back and nods. The ladybug-like shell opens as the glow from the seven spots on the shell intensifies. Orbito's wings vibrate at a high speed as he makes a shrill, irritating noise, unleashing green sound waves in all directions. Oshawittle gets hit by these sound waves and snaps out of his trance, immediately covering his ears as the attack inflicts damage.-

Wyndon Stadium Stands

-Evelyn and Hatty cover their ears as the Bug Buzz is unleashed.-

Evelyn: MY EARS!

Hatty: <And it's hurting ME even more than it hurts Oshawittle!>

Circhester, Kim/Braker Battle

-Yuki watches as Cuddles gives Strummer a cookie and feels as the scene warms her heart. She then makes the call.-

Yuki: <Cuddles is unable to battle! Strummer wins!>

[Imperial] Hotel

Salem: Oh. That makes a lot more sense. My apologies for being a dumbass.

Hasslemon

Edited by AnimeboyIanpower on Jun 23rd 2021 at 5:46:42 AM

Textspace

-It takes several hours for Brie's message to get opened and read, but once it is, the response is quick-

J-Meeting — Now

-Kai is in fact there!-

-They're looking better than they were a month ago, though the bandages are gone and the scars (at least from the neck up) are visible.-

-They may be with Alice, they may be with Brie, they may very well be with both.-

-Mason is here, with Shaun as per the aforementioned offer. Despite Tagg's offer for the School's ranks to volunteer themselves, he's remaining uncomfortably quiet.-

-Alone individually are Scarlette and Echo, as well.-

Edited by BittersweetNSour on Jun 23rd 2021 at 6:37:37 AM

Saffron Briefing

-Kitbash rolled his eyes (well, not that it was visible behind the helmet he was wearing)-

Kitbash: Alright, keep Salem away from anything that needs a technician's touch, got it. What's the entrance plan?

Lee House, Subwhere

-The presence amid the blackbirds seems to gain a little in clarity, the space between the feathers forming the existence of the entity. It flits about, almost circling around Colton accompanied by a Krow that has gained something like visual identity before stopping and answering-

Nocturnal: To traipse so carelessly through the Evergloam, knowing not its lord... Regardless. I am Ur-dra, eldest and most powerful. I am of the void before all things. I am the fall of the dice and the finger on the scale. I am each flutter of black wings. I am the shadows. But, the name humans call me is Nocturnal. If I know you, then you already know of my faithful.

Lee House, Forest

See I don't know and that's the terrifying part. That and the fact that A Normal Mouse is just letting people wander around here!

J-Team Meeting

-Pent gives a curt nod at Silas' remark and shrugs-

I haven't been in Galar for the past year and change, but there has been no obvious School activity that has come to my attention in Angela.

-He says, like an absolute liar-

Unfortunately, the two people I know with the most experience with the School have also been missing for more than a year...

Edited by Pentigan on Jun 23rd 2021 at 9:00:47 PM

Wyndon Stadium

(Elton covers his ears, and Kim immediately puts on her headphones to block out the noise.)

Elton: <COME ON, OSHAWITTLE! YOU CAN DO IT!>

Circhester

Kim: (smiles) "Great work, Strummer."

Strummer: <Thanks!> (he bites into his cookie) <'Oly crap, this is bloody good!> (He turns to face Kim.) <You want some?>

Kim: "Sure." (She takes the cookie and bites into it.) "...oh my word this is amazing."

Strummer: <I know, right?>

(The two of them eat the cookie together, while Braker returns Cuddles to his PokeBall.)

Braker: "Excellent work, Cuddles. You deserve a long rest."

(He returns Cuddles' PokeBall— and takes out what is undoubtedly Walter's.)

Braker: "Well done, Kimberly Bond. You've brought me down to my last Pokemon... and it's one that's far more powerful than you think. Prepare yourself."

Kim: (realizing which Pokemon he's sending out) "Bring it on."

(Strummer, meanwhile, finishes Cuddles' cookie and turns to face Braker with a grin on his face. Braker, meanwhile, smirks.)

Braker: "Well said!" (he throws the ball) "Walter, you're on the air!"

(The ball opens, and Walter appears in front of Strummer.)

Walter: <Hello there.>

Strummer: <'Ello!>

Walter: <I assume you're eager to defeat me.>

Strummer: <You bet!>

Walter: <...you DO realize that I'm a Psychic-type, correct?>

Strummer: <Yeah, but you're a Wobbuffet.>

Walter: <It would be unwise to underestimate me.>

Strummer: <Oh, no, it's fine.>

Walter: <Very well, then. You may begin.>

Kim: "Alright, then! Strummer, let's go! Use Nuzzle!"

(Strummer nods, jumps forward, and promptly nuzzles Walter, paralyzing him.)

Walter: <Hm. Impressive. You paralyzed me. That is a very interesting strategy, to say the least. Alas... it's a physical move.>

(Strummer's eyes widen, and Walter suddenly glows in a red energy, before running forward and striking Strummer for double damage.)

(Strummer is pushed back a bit, but remains standing.)

Strummer: <Oh... don't fink I'll give up that easy!>

(He smirks, and then lets loose yet another Boomburst.)

(The attack hits Walter, knocking him backwards. However, he soon stands back up, his face remaining as stoic as ever, and simply says two words:)

Walter: <Nice try.>

(And this time around, he glows in a pink energy, before running forward and striking Strummer for double damage. This time, the attack throws Strummer backwards.)

Strummer: <NOOOO!>

(Strummer hits the floor, and a cloud of smoke goes up. When it fades, Strummer is lying on his side, with swirls in his eyes.)

Strummer: (weakly) <Oi... ya did good, chap...>

Kim: "Strummer!"

(Braker smirks.)

Hasslemon

ET: ...How In The World Did She Figure That Out?!

CB: 8y coun7ing 7h3 sylla8l3s, duh!

PJ: Do YoU KnOw WhO ShAkEsPeArE Is?

Spikemuth Gym Battle

Marnie: Scrafty, use Ice Punch!

Scrafty hits Vibrava with the supereffective move, bringing her down in an instant. Hoops growls in frustration.

Hoops: Dammit, Vibrava... Drapion, you're up again!

They return Vibrava to her pokeball and bring in Drapion, who slams his claws together in excitement.

Drapion: <You switched me out before. I wanted to continue that battle.>

Hoops: Yeah, well, this one took out Vibrava, so you can have fun getting revenge.

Both pokemon are hurt by the sandstorm that continues to rage. They watch each other, each one waiting for the other to make their move first.

Marnie: Thunderpunch!

Hoops: Pin Missile!

Scrafty runs forward, assailed by a never ending barrage of pins. She blocks some, dodges past others, and tries to take still more head on, and continues to advance on Drapion. She soon gets close.

Hoops: Cross Poison!

Drapion slashes his claws through the air, creating a perfect x shaped wound mark of deadly poison on Scrafty. The Hoodlum pokemon falls to one knee as the poison runs through her body, crippling her.

Marnie: Scrafty.

Drapion: <Yes, this is good. Do you feel that? That is the feeling of your own mortality creeping up on you.>

Scrafty: It's... it's...

Hoops: Finish it with X-Scissor!

Drapion brings his claws up to deliver the final blow.

Scrafty: It's... all fine.

She stands suddenly, the marks of the poison gone from her skin. Hoops remembers its Shed Skin ability all to late.

Hoops: Look out!

Marnie: Drain Punch!

Scrafty's Drain Punch collides with the X-Scissor, pushing both pokemon back. For a moment, the snadstorm hides both of them, but then it clears to reveal that both have fallen unconscious.

Hoops: Dammit!

Anna: He did well. Remember that.

Both trainers return their pokemon to their pokeballs.

Ref: That's a double knockout! Marnie now has only two pokemon left, while that there challenger 'oops 'as three.

Marnie: I have to say, I can definitely see what Bede was concerned about. I can see that your desire for victory has seeped from you into your team, and perhaps vice versa, until you're unbalanced.

Hoops: What's that supposed to mean?

Marnie: I don't have the words to say it. And as much as I'd like to show you the error of your ways, I don't think I'm strong enough. But I'm going to give this battle everything I have to try and make you realise. Come out, Grimmsnarl!

The tall, hairy pokemon appears in front of his trainer. By now the sandstorm has faded, leaving it to just the pokemon.

Hoops: You can do whatever you want, it won't change anything. Bisharp, I choose you!

Galar Mountains

Alyesha chuckled at the reply, giving a dismissive wave.

Alyesha: "It's not like I'm doing anything special because of it."

She paused thoughtly, as if thinking

Alyesha: "Well okay, there was this whole parallel universe bit I kinda got involved in but... that wasn't voluntarily. I just kinda... got wrapped upp in it."

Having said that, Alyesha gave another small wave.

Alyesha: "I mean, I'd be lying if I said it wasn't cool but... being honest the only thing I really remember is the feeling of just wanting back home."

While the two chatted, Krasnaya got back up onto Alyesha's shoulder so she didn't have to walk herself.

Meanwhile, Alyesha seemingly hadn't picked up on the hint, instead chuckling and holding out for a fist-bump

Alyesha: "Two of a kind it seems."

And though she had not intended to, that statement actually was true in more ways than she thought.

Edited by Sergey_Smirnov on Jun 23rd 2021 at 1:00:07 PM

Wild Area — Resurrection Ritual

-Ho-oh nods in an appropriately sage manner toward Hiro, watching the flames gather in his palms.-

Ho-oh: <It's... easier, for mortals to assist when the subject has a body. To focus the flames toward the vitals. I think your focus is best put toward her, Truthbringer.>

-He waves a wing in Megan's direction, to convey the message regardless of whether the Monese is understood or not.-

-As Daydre draws Vee's form, a painting of a body come to life, Ho-oh tilts his head curiously.-

Ho-oh: <Oh... now that is intriguing. I think this is going to turn out quite nicely for everyone.>

-The circle of Sacred Fire closes around the sword, gradually rising into a column — much brighter and more intense than the flames encircling Megan, which almost seem gentle in comparison.-

-Specifically around the sword, the flames start to close in, narrower and narrower, actually burning when the rest thus far have not. Gradually, through the occasional gaps in the flames, the metal of the sword turns red-hot, then blackens, crackling loudly.-

-And then the flames subside, a plume of Sacred Ash slowly drifting down, before a gust of wind catches it — blowing it in the direction of Daydre's art project, as well as toward Megan's body,where it clumps together in the ambient mist and sinks into the forms of both.-

-The embers glow.-

Stormchaser Meeting

Upon hearing Neon's remark, Sunny and Xatu both turned to look at each other, both of them knowing what he was talking about.

The conditions they were raised in, terrible as they were, were the default.

The School, Somewhere in Captivity

"Gesundheit," Casey said.

Chaos sneezed.

Stormchaser Meeting

Kamui paused and let her hair sink back down at Shaun's words. "Right... just, that's someone's mind and... if they're not..." she trailed off. "I, just have feelings."

"That's rich."

"Shut up, I was young and it's still harmless what I do!" She barked.

Lee House Void

"Don't tell me," he paused, raising his hands. "Nightingale? The Aurabolt? I mean, the aesthetic, y'know? Kinda brings you to mind."

Lee House Forest

<Well, there could be nothing nefarious going on,> Katsuragi offered. "How did you describe it earlier, Kamui? A "model home"?"

"Yes. People do tend to let others traipse about them," Kamui agreed. "This could be something similar, though... there does tend to be a reason."

<Don't anger the agent, lest they never work with you again,> Katsuragi considered. <Or... something.>

Edited by AbsentCoder on Jun 23rd 2021 at 5:11:49 AM

Wild Area, past

-Getting an inkling of who Hiro actually is-

So you are.

-Watching Daydre paint-

I'm getting reminded of Sol right now.

Stormchaser Meeting, yesterday

-Listening to everyone's responses thus far-

That so, huh?

Mason feels like he's hiding something, but I'll leave it for now.

-To Neon-

We're making sure that's never happening, they'll have to step over our bodies first.

-To Pent-

If we're thinking of the same two folks, it is a shame they're not here, since they're the ones who informed me of their existence in the first place back when we were in Alola. In fact I was told not to bother telling anyone until they fully played their hand because the School seems to be that deep in the halls of power.

-Suddenly Professor Yew-

You must be the Professor Priscilla told me to expect.

His Aura... I'm sensing a familiarity with the subject that goes a little deeper than just some kid.

-To the others, again affixing the area with a full pulse of my Aura Sense-

Professor Yew here has a story to tell, as I've been told you're currently harboring at least one Schoolchild.

Edited by rmctagg09 on Jun 23rd 2021 at 8:18:31 AM

Stormchaser

Isbrand: "Do tell, Professor."

Stormchaser

Professor Yew nods at Tagg. He was quite recognizable by now. Somehow he can sense that he knows exactly why.

Professor Yew: Yes. They are living in my family's well-protected compound. For the past 30 years, my colleagues and I have tried to provide a safe haven for schoolchildren, but they were our first successful recovery. However, their facilities proved rather difficult to track. I have been made aware of PEFE's own successes at harbouring truant schoolchildren. I can provide a haven for some of them but need greater clout to recover them all.

Reynard: Oh, you mean the kid your niece was taking care of?

Also, he was surrounded by the J-Team. This seemed to bolster his confidence and allay some of his worries... even though they don't quite look the part of world-saving heroes.

Reynard: Does Doc Richard know why you're here?

Professor Yew: Some things don't need words.

Reynard: Oh right. Aura powers. Like from the 70s.

Professor Yew: Yes. What I could declassify. I apologise, Reynard. It seems that I haven't been completely honest with you since we started traveling here. I'll explain. To everyone here.

He clears his throat.

Professor Yew: I've already been introduced, but to perhaps I should give a little background of myself. I'm Professor James Patrick Yew, a longtime scholar of the aura spectrum and am of the spectrum myself. I have studied aspects of the aura spectrum since the 1970s. Some of my declassified work with the government... was not as declassified as was officially claimed.

He moves forward a bit with his crutches. Beck arrives and gives him a chair and he sits down.

Professor Yew: I've noticed that you've come here to discuss matters regarding an organisation called the School. The short version is that back in the day, I worked with a government division that was partnered with the School, though the true nature of their research into the genetic connection with the Aura Spectrum wasn't apparent to me until much later. Sadly, some of my research and even perhaps fragments of my own DNA were used in the production of school children. My attempts to stop them to put it charitably, failed. Like, miserably.

He points to Neon. He can recognize a schoolchild by their aura signature.

Professor: What this child says is true. I can only confirm his fears at this point, and add that they've done much worse in the past. The school is not an entity you can fight alone. I can only confirm what the good doctor has said. Their tentacles are everywhere in the shadows. They've a lot of clout in the governments of the Free World, even if they're not as cavalier as the likes of Flare or that corporation whose stock I'm glad to have parted with. They must be fought as one would fight an organization in the shadows. I came here to ask for help. And not just to stop the School, though I doubt it's even possible at all, but to recover and keep safe as many schoolchildren as we can.

Edited by MasterJayAM on Jun 28th 2021 at 11:04:41 PM

Silas picked up his helmet and looked at it, before looking to Yew, "I got contacted by a Railroad type organization in Orre. They've asked me for some help recovering... well something they haven't specified what, out in the Badlands. I'll give you there contact if you like, they'd probably welcome some allies."

Roxy pondered, "Just... how old is the School anyways? How insidious a threat are we dealing with here?"

Stormchaser Meeting

Professor Yew: Mrs. Grant, we're talking of a conspiracy that throws back what we know of DNA. During my time working for them in Unova, they've already been partnered with the government since before the Second World War. After rummaging through their records, my partners and I found out that they've been operating for much longer.

Reynard: How long are we talkin' bout?

Professor Yew: Forget the story of what we've known of the discovery of genetics. The School's had been dabbling in altering DNA long before those two arsehats took credit for that woman's research or even before the monk started dabbling with his pea plants. We've reason to believe that they've been experimenting for at least since electricity has been around. That's more than a century before that wooloo or anything to do with Devon's defictionalisation of Crichton's book. I wouldn't be surprised if it was much older than that, even if that's stretching the realm of plausibility.

Reynard: Oh, like a nebulous evil organization that makes...

Professor Yew: Genetically modified clones. Do explain the details later, Mr. Grant. I'd love to work with you, and I'm sure my family will as well.

Edited by MasterJayAM on Jun 28th 2021 at 11:05:49 PM

Stormchaser

(Kim and Braker look at each other and nod.)

Kim: "Of course. We'd be very happy to help."

Braker: (continuing to write down notes) "Indeed. In fact..." (He takes out a PokeBall.) "I have a Pokemon who'd absolutely be willing to help." (He throws it.) "Serkis, you're on the air!"

(In a flash, the noble, Gollum-sounding Greninja appears in front of Yew, Kim, and the rest of the J-Team. He promptly looks around the room.)

Serkis: <This... is this the J-Team...?>

Braker: "Yes. It is."

Serkis: <Yessssss... yeeeeessss...!!>

(He promptly bows towards Yew.)

Serkis: <Greetings... my name is Serkis. I heard from my PokeBall that you needed help in rescuing Schoolkids, and needless to say, I would be absolutely honored to help.>

{REDACTED}, Unsafe House

Ramona: ~...I'd like that.~

-with the carefully-crafted delicacy of someone who doesn't understand any of what's going on (invited to watch for a kid's sake), she sits on a threadbare bean bag chair beside Neodymium, and tries to osmose the plot from the minds around her-

-y'know, how most people watch their shows-

Wild Area, Distant Pool

Hiro: -his turn to eye Tagg strangely-

-and turns as Ho-Oh bids, to focus the both of their flames on what is essentially Megan-

-and Daydre…-

(-it's said that someone isn't fully dead until the echoes of what they've made in the world have faded away-)

-this price...is accepted-

(-the clocks wound down, planted fruit harvested and pastries made and eaten, love and those they loved finally forgotten-)

(-holding this, hastily as she's working—it's difficult to think of any better medium than those echoes, filling the negative space around where a person would be-)

-loved, chimes the spark, safe-

-and as she paints, every element of the field, it seems, is available to her—to the song of the spark, the pillars crumble—the clouds descend, blue shards resonate, dens glow—to make themselves available as pigments on her canvas-

-it's the Last Resort—no expense spared-

(-Vee's hand put this here in the world, and by Daydre's the world puts her back-)

(-what's left of Vee takes to the brush criminally well-)

 Dáinsleif, Singing Core - Curséd Song 

(-Pippy says something hindsight-wry to his son, and no one can hear it-)

-but…-

-the so-called "secret" of Megan's Water Pledge is kinda goofy, kinda simple-

-meaning to logic how the strangest combination of any of the Pledge moves functions, she struck upon a form of the move that settled her mind-

-it centers on one simple fact:-

-water is the combustion product of hydrogen-

-this, how a Water move could be empowered—no, fueled, by a terrible blaze; thus, how Megan's own invocation of "Origin Pulse" from the Blue Orb could produce from the bedrock-soaked battlefield a wave of explosive flame-

-that battlefield bends to EMPEROR's will, eroding cursed metal: crossing out rune and shattering filigree, setting frigid iron to ringing—-

-a pure note rings from the blade as it snaps in half—Pippy, in something approaching his characteristic speed and craftsmon's precision, dives through fire to silence the rest—taking a burning tumble on the earth after-

-the moves in conjunction form a rainbow divine, blanketing the battlefield in vivid warmth-

-Legendary heat condensed by its reaction products coalesces around the blade—-

-which goes to rust-

-when iron combusts, it goes to rust-

-in Arc's pillar it is thrown to the ground, denounced and forsaken-

-the sword is snapped, and disappears to a place beyond seeing…-

-its dust drifts as Ho-Oh wills-

-the image of Vee's taken full shape—like a hole in the world in the shape of a Vaporeon, now, long and small as she ever was-

-detailed to the micron with how sensitive the power is, but colorless, lifeless—a three-dimensional layer of shade-

-ours, sighs the spark, and...vanishes, a long month of ceaseless effort expended-

-three bodies silent and still…-

-and the Ash hits-

-color blooms into the image, every hue of the endless rainbow—settling finally into Vee, whole and entire-

-Vee's eye snaps open—has taken on Daydre's colors; her fins flutter, darkened to match Daydre's power—the ends of her limbs red-tipped like a Zorua's, her frill patterned as an Arbok's would be-

-Megan startles awake, clutching at her heart—reaching out——

-Pippy staggers over, still smoldering, to grab her hand—Vee races to her side, biting down-

-Megan sighs in re-enforced homeostatic equilibrium, slipping into something very much like slumber-

(-Eric illusions up a hat specifically to throw on the ground-)

-...Vee grins sheepishly up at her friend, who opens his beak to retort—-

Pippy: -gasp-

- —and breaks down, in the penguin equivalent of heartbroken tears-

Pippy: -shuddering- <Don't—don't leave—don't leave me—!>

Vee, revyved: -in the recesses of his mind- <<Shh, sh, P. I ain't goin' anywhere.>>

(-Megan stirs, grabbing hold of her as well as him-)

Pippy: -sobbing- <Don't go where I can't follow!>

(-thank you, whispers the last vestige of something taught instead to create-)

Stormchaser, Megan's Doorway

Logan: ...everyone's worried about you, you know.

Megan: I know. I don't care. Go away.

Logan: This is totally what you sound like when you don't care, yup.

-sigh- ...you know, I really wanted to attend. It's the first J-meeting in...years, pretty much.

Megan: So go!

Logan: -heartfelt- I'd rather spend time with you.

-very deliberately pulling out and loudly unwrapping their lunch- We haven't hung out much lately. I wanna catch up.

Megan: ...

-...there, the sound of someone trying not to sound like they're sitting on the other side of a door and hugging their knees to their chest-

-...after a lengthy wait, she speaks-

Megan: ...do you know what my next step was, Logan?

Logan: -therapist-neutral- I don't think you ever told me.

Megan: I remember. I don't think I can forget.

-profoundly bitter- After I beat everyone, I was...going to use the storm. I was going to knock this ship out of the sky and claim the survivors as salvage.

Logan: -taking a bite- Sounds reasonable.

Megan: I can't face them, Logan. I can't, and if there's anything that month taught me, it's that you of all people cannot make me.

Logan: -taking another bite- Wasn't something you regretted, when everything was falling apart—our whole year away, not being able to let them know you were alive? That you were alright, more or less, and everything's still ticking along?

Megan: …

-...-

Megan: -small- How...how are your parents?

Logan: -prim- I call them every day.

Megan: -smaller- ...every day?

Logan: -painfully sincere- Every day.

Stormchaser, J-Meeting

-Hiro frowns, and listens to the professor speak-

-he's very good at listening-

-...considers shooting an apologetic glance at Mason, before deciding the odds are good he's done enough shooting at him, and there's time to suss out all the little details besides-

J-Team Meeting

Kamui and Colt nod listening to the professor. Some number of thoughts race across Xatu's and Sunny's minds in unison, the psychic-types holding a conversation about their old masters.

They were the one thing I was never able to get a read on.

Ah, we were young, don't beat yourself up.

But I still can't. I'm trying right now, focusing on them, but...

Huh. You think they may have intended for that?

I wouldn't be surprised.

Meanwhile, Kamui spoke aloud.

"So, we take them into custody? As refugees or prisoners?"

"I guess it would depend on how much they're willing to accept help. There's a Neon-Molybdenum spectrum, and I pray we have more on the former's side."

School Dorm

"And gesundheit to you, too."

Bismuth bit her tongue to suppress the sneeze out of spite.

Edited by AbsentCoder on Jun 23rd 2021 at 7:55:37 AM

Wild Area — Resolution

-The flames die down, and Ho-oh folds his wings.-

Ho-oh: <Ahh, it's been quite some time since I've done that. The circumstances never line up correctly.>

-He gazes over Vee's new form-

Ho-oh: <Especially for a circumstance like yours, young one. Though I think the majority of the credit goes to your artist friend.>

-He leans in.-

Ho-oh: <I hope you make the most of it.>

-He stretches his wings again, glancing at Tagg briefly.-

Ho-oh: <Now, I'd love to stay and catch up with you truly endlessly fascinating folks, but unfortunately I'm an early bird, not a night owl, and it is far too late for me. Please do take care, everyone.>

-And in a column of flame that probably isn't any more attention-grabbing than any of the other dramatic shows of power demonstrated over the last several weeks minutes, Ho-oh vanishes.-

Wild Area, past

-Seeing Vee take on her new revived form-

I take that back, this is definitely like my girlfriend.

-The fallen Blue Orb rolls towards me seemingly of its own accord, before I stop it with the bottom of my foot and pick it up-

Groudon wouldn't be happy if I just lost it like that.

-Acknowledges Ho-oh glance as he leaves-

It has been a while since I've seen him or Lugia, was something 19 years ago...

-It's at that moment I finally get Ever's text-

-Looking at everyone else-

Kai, Megan, and Vee all nearly died. No, scratch that, Megan and Vee basically died and Kai might've joined them if Ho-oh hadn't shown up. If I'd seen the enthrallment from when I fished her up last week, then this probably wouldn't have happened. I... need to go back to the Isle of Armor, I don't belong here, Megan wouldn't want to see me either, she nearly got brutalized like what I did to Ever and Crewe in Orre.

Guys, we're leaving, we're not needed any longer.

Hitodama: <I'm not so sure we should do th-

-More forcefully-

We're leaving.

Hitodama: -Sighing eyeroll- <Very well.>

-And just walks away while everyone else is seemingly distracted under the mask of a SEP Field combined with Ho-oh's dramatics, followed by my mons-

Stormchaser Meeting, yesterday

-To Professor Yew-

We've been doing that already by osmosis, so we might as well start doing it directly.

-Overhearing Kamui-

We can't and won't force the ones who wish to run away to join us, but we will give them an option that isn't just being tested to destruction or getting killed because they displeased their masters in some ways. The ones that directly come after us like Molybdenum, well, we'll figure out the particulars once they're successfully subdued.

-Looking at Echo briefly and thinking to the past-

Wouldn't be the first time we've had our former enemies join us, including those who've directly tried to kill us instead of just being our adversaries.

Edited by rmctagg09 on Jun 23rd 2021 at 11:35:09 AM

Stormchaser, Critical Medbay - About a Month Ago

-at about the same time Kai and Alice had their heart to heart-

Megan: -stirs-

-she's flanked by both her Pokémon, on a bed too small for them all, which is perfect-

-slow to spin up—slow to remember—she gives her surroundings a once-over-

-and stops-

Megan: -blink- Did…

-she tugs at her hospital gown with an IV-stuck (Kyogre-scarred) hand-

Megan: -more baffled than anything- Did someone tattoo my boob while I was out…?

Stormchaser, Megan's Doorway

-Logan finishes their food—when they want to be, they're a pretty fast eater-

-...-

-and just off cue, Megan's door swings wide-

-she's kind of a mess—nightmare eyebags, tangled hair, no glove, an old hoodie and sweatpants-

-but she has a hand on each of her best friends, and that's pretty okay-

Logan: -warmly- There she is.

Megan: Don't do the voice. You're going to make me cry with the voice.

Logan: -beaming, suffused with happy-to-see-her- What voice?

Megan: -tightening her hood over her face- aaaaaaa

Stormchaser Meeting

-Megan attempts to sneak in behind Logan, hoodie up and head down-

-given that they're super sparkly and she's roughly eight inches taller than them, this is perhaps less effective than she'd like-

(-Hiro waves; Megan ignores him-)

(-Hiro contemplates how effective they are as a lie detector (more strictly speaking, a truth detector) in relation to the current discussion-)

Hiro: ...seriously, how often do you people go through this?

-Logan instinctually follows Tagg's gaze to Echo and does not recognize her at All-

J-Meeting

Mason: ...Mm. Unfortunately, the School has a vested interest in silencing those who express any indication of dissent. If, let's say, Molybdenum saw the error of her ways or something, she's so deeply ingrained in the School's network that she'd be liquidated without a second thought. There's a reason they stopped working with Obscura after just a couple years trying, far too many of us slipped through the cracks undetected.

-He gives a small wave to the crowd.-

Mason: Hi, by the way. Mason, formerly the Phantom Class's Carbon, resident product of sticking a long-dead evil wizard's bloodline in a test tube. And unfortunately, they've caught wind that I'm here these days.

-The projection changes, despite not being programmed, to show a still image of Bren the Scorcher, flames alight around him.-

Mason: They've got at least one of their executioners on the hunt now. Bren the Scorcher, a pyrokinetic.

-Mason's gaze hangs on Hiro briefly.-

Mason: Fire's not a trend I'd anticipated being recurring, but I guess that's where we are now.