If Anderson had seen the glint, he made no motion to signify it. "Yes, we were going to send out a inspector but I had to see the results for myself. Passion Projects like these are so hard to find these days."

"It's just a formality, you're free to decline and we'll send some proper site inspectors later. I just need to see the staff facilities of this building."

Sunyshore

-The smoke eventually clears-

-The Karasutengu and co. are gone-

-However, Stephen has managed to snag a Corvinight feather-

-And Tony has a piece of their coat-

Grumpig Officer: ~You kids OK? At least, by a certain definition of OK?~

Meat Palace

-Lead Monkey skedaddles into the next room-

Lead Monkey: -to The Face- <What happened to him? Same thing as with me?>

Stormchaser Hallway

-Mog notices the commotion with Jess' mom mum and goes to investigate-

Lavender Tower Elevator

-The pencils are pushed back out by the iron tails!-

-...And the elevator starts falling-

Olivia: <GOING DOWWWWWWWWWWN>

Jackie: "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA"

Edited by Umbramatic on Oct 15th 2022 at 4:23:00 AM

Stormchaser hallway

Jess's mum notices Mog and walks over.

Jess's mum: Hi! I take it you're another j-team member?

Jess looks over at Mog apologetically. Violet just sips her coffee.

Stormchaser

Mog: "Yes. Is there some great battle going on nearby? I heard it and want in."

Stormchaser hallway

Jess's mum: I think you missed that by a few days...

Violet: Yeah, there was a massive raid on one of the school's safehouses! Don't worry, you're not the only one who missed out on the fun.

Jess: We didn't really do anything there either.

The Hamlet, The Farmhouse

The jar is foggy like the one back at the balcony but it seems that keeping a jar inside rather than outside means the label is much more readable. It says—

The Doll Currently Face Down: GWEHEHEHEH!

Okay hold that thought. Especially because you spot the doll start to move before the entire room is plunged into pitch black. When the lights raise (this time rendering the world in sepiatone) both the jar and the doll are gone.

~Ding~

But the elevator is open.

Meat Palace

The Face: <Nah I don't think he's awakening, I mean he's got his Persona already and—!>

-While the fake Machamp's actual run does not slow, it does stumble for a few steps-

The Face: <Oh. Yeah okay I think I'm starting to figure what's wrong with him. But explanations can wait till after we escape the flesh facility okay!?>

Floaroma Town

Oh it's more just that I'm intrigued by the whole thing with interpretation and language... It's not really something I've ever had to research myself.

-Pent shrugs-

Jubilife City

-So first let's address the fact that yeah Corviknights are weak to Electric and that punch was extremely unexpected. Acolyte does not have a good time and to try and avoid being a 75kg falling weight he shakily swoops down back to the Nightingale-

I'm sorry. I thought he wouldn't have the range to... Get some rest, okay?

-She recalls the armored bird and steps up again, drawing one of her swords (oh very well let's go with the Horseman's Blade today) and keeping a fresh Gaster skull on standby. It's a very familiar combat style if you're aware of one of the Nightingale's main inspirations-

Guess it's just going to be me today... Engarde!

-She charges into the fray, seeking to deliver a strike to the Major-

Meat Palace

-To The Face while continuing to run-

I think we're almost out!

Lavender Tower, past

Ann: -As the elevator starts falling- Crap!

Newmoon Island

People with Attributes do tend to clump together.

-Eyeroll-

...Of course the School would pick a fight with Mewtwo by trying to add their DNA to a template, they're so damned egotistical that they'd actually think they'd win. I suppose there's some hope in that the School is more often than not destroyed with or without us, but that's obviously not the optimal ending we're looking for.

Can probably forget about finding a cure for the Curse, for one...

Chiyo: -To Diamond- That's something we definitely want to avoid, it'd be far bloodier than what anyone wants, and likely more indiscriminate in who gets killed. I know more will likely die in the times ahead, but I'd like to keep it to a mininum.

Edited by rmctagg09 on Oct 15th 2022 at 6:25:12 AM

What a frustratingly effective show of reflexes by both the Unovan firebrand and the Corviknight! Machamps Major and Minor both get thrown off balance by that sudden Night Slash, and Minor's punch on the Corviknight whiffs completely! Not that the Dark type move would do much against Fighting types normally, mind you, but Major was just unfortunate enough to get hit in a weak point.

The thing is, now Major is genuinely angry! He spins around, facing the Unovan and the bird fighter once more, only to see the bird fighter charging at him, exotic sword in hand and floating skull thingy following behind. He roars and charges in turn, arms spread and ready to grab the bird fighter in a Vital Throw!

As for Minor, they've picked themselves off the ground just in time to spot three VIPs enter their vision. That's Coil, Iris, and the Noble Elemental! Despite being just born, Minor knows that those are the three that have to be caught, not crushed. So, they rush towards the three and try softening them up, with a sudden Dual Chop aimed at Coil!

Newmoon Island

Diamond: Indeed. It always ends in fire and ruin. And, from the glimpses I've caught of this... "J-Dan" world, it doesn't all end simultaneously. Mewtwo strikes what it can hunt down, when it can hunt it down.

-He sighs.-

Diamond: Anyway, my point is. I want to join you in your fight, but I must be careful. Time tampering is dangerous, and by the nature of my abilities... I used to be able to refract the timeline ^tt_t^hh_h^rr_r^ee_e^ee_e ways, but when Adelinde caught my failsafe by surprise... She severed that thread of fate, let's say, and I lost my grasp on it, like the string of a balloon slipping away and rising irretrievably into the sky. By acting alongside you, we inevitably risk another permanent divide, should I be killed before I can weave my remaining threads back together. If you'll excuse the extended metaphor.

Battle Academy

-Angela looks at Deziree, the Book of the Robo Trainer in her hands.-

Angela: I hope you're aware that I have never tried this before.

Deziree: Good! That means there's still a chance this will work!

Angela: Well, at least your optimism hasn't dimmed.

-Deziree pats the metal body on the table - it is clearly metal, though the "skin" is of natural hue. However, it's not so "natural" as to be disturbing. Every part of the facial articulation and bodily joints are clearly demarked by ever-so-slightly exposed joints, and her hair is effectively part of her head as one solid piece.-

Angela: She is... not as finely defined as I expected.

Deziree: If it's her wishes to go closer towards the human route, like with your body, I am willing to have that discussion when she's ready. For the time being, though, I wanted her to have a body much more similar to her previous one without making an exact copy.

Angela: So as not to instill a sense of locked identity.

Deziree: Yep. You read her book - the poor girl didn't even know what gender was until she found one of Kaminko's assistant's weird collections.

Angela: You still have yet to elaborate on what a "figma" or "Funko-Pop" are.

Deziree: Not important right now! Alright then. Amkoh!

-The white-haired man looks over, his expression stern as always.-

Amkoh: Yes?

Deziree: We start this by releasing her from the book, correct?

Amkoh: I believe so. I have faith that, when presented with a more fitting vessel, her "self" inside the book will abandon the broken frame she was caught inside and instead move to this new vessel.

Deziree: Alright then. Angela? When you're ready.

-Angela holds the book in front of her and closes her eyes.-

-The book seems to shine for a moment before disappearing into a burst of light as the sound of fluttering paper is heard.-

-The light, in the form of falling pieces of paper, falls back down from the ceiling, disappearing into the empty robot body's chest.-

-Deziree's instrumentation begins to give positive readings of ionic activity inside of her replica of the heuristic processor.-

Deziree: SHE'S ALIIIIIVE!

-Everyone in the room stares blankly at her.-

Deziree: Oh screw you guys, this is impressive, dammit!

Deziree: WHOA!

Angela: What?

Deziree: There was just a massive spike in CPU activity! It looks like the copyright security system is being overwritten by the main heuristics core!

Retek: "Copyright". Heh. Here's hoping Kaminko doesn't have a Claw to send after us.

Angela: I'm sure you could handle one so long as you haven't been fighting for a week straight.

Retek: Please don't oversell my capabilities, ma'am.

-A message pops up on Deziree's diagnostics display.-

Deziree: D'aaaaw, she thinks we're her mommies!

Angela: ... I'm not entirely certain how to feel about this.

Retek: I mean, I guess this is about how I expected Angela to have a daughter...

Amkoh: Indeed.

Floaroma Town

Kai: Heh. Well, it's situational, I think. I wouldn't always get Brie gladioli if it weren't immediately after a major victory, and I might not choose roses for Alice if I wanted something less on-the-nose. And of course, there's a lot of variation on who interprets flowers as what. If I were to get you flowers right now, though...

-She thinks as she wanders into the shop, glancing around... before getting an idea and retrieving it. Purple, five-petal flowers on a vine, wrapped around a number of stalks lined with two different types of flowers, red and pale purple.-

Kai: Red hyacinths, historically representing recreation — a sort of playful, comfortable fondness. Lavender, a symbol of admiration, for someone who's inspired me from afar even before I found the J-Team. And wrapped around it, bittersweet nightshade. I'll let you draw your own conclusions from that one, but one avenue is that it represents truth.

-She gives a sweet, cheerful smile as she hands Pent the flowers in question.-

Just outside the facility, School Invasion Day

Astatine couldn't believe his luck. He owed Avery big. But the time for repayments in gratitude will have to wait. Now, he'll need to climb up the Dragonite, hold on tight, and make sure he and Willard reach the escaping airship.

He was quite fond of the sentient airship's personality. They had allowed him to live within the circuitry and was generally kind enough to share the energy within it. Now, since he could at least eat, he needn't do that so often.

The idea of eating motivated him. He had always heard of it as a chore decried by other School Children in each of the facilities he's datamined himself into. The higher ups treated themselves better, but until he got out into the Internet he never knew much about eating. And now he might experience it for himself.

Astatine: Eating. I wonder what that's like.

Willard: Even letting you probe my mind cannot compare to the joy of actually experiencing it, master. What counts as pleasurable for me may not be so to a human.

Astatine: Say, Avery, do you recommend anything? I've never eaten before. What's a good 'starter' food?

Days later

Ciara wakes up to an unfamiliar yet friendly ceiling. Still sleeping in a pile are Krypton, Oganesson, and their pokemon. Circhester's old team, meanwhile, opted to remain in their balls. Just because Ciara was now their new trainer doesn't mean they trust each other, Igor especially.

It was only days, so the memory was still quite vivid in their mind. "Freedom," he heard the Phantoms say. It was never a thing they considered until recently, and they sought it. They took the offer, taking with them the two now-truant freshmen under Dr. Circhester.

They later explained, while Circhester's pokémon's team was safely in the balls, what had been their plan all along. They wanted to get close enough to Dr. Circhester to kill them, then make it look like an accident of some sort. If they succeeded, they'd have moved on to whoever took his place, taking their vengeance against the School one dead eugenicist at a time.

That didn't pan out, and now they're taking their chances along with Krypton and Oganesson with the J-Team and their fortified sapient airship.

The two had become aware of their previous intention, and to their surprise were cool with it. Krypton had held his tongue for weeks since he heard, no doubt from Oganesson's nosy porygon, that Dr. Azala was being retrenched. Oganesson himself had a complicated relationship with his captor and seems to be generally glad to not be under his thumb anymore. They've adapted well to their new situation and even made friends with the sickly, constantly hungry Schoolchild who they were convinced was dead.

"Freedom," they pondered. What to do with it? Did they truly achieve it by coming with Carbon and Mercury—no, Mason and Rory. Free people had names. When they came here, Krypton freely took the name Dr. Azala gave him, Jordan, and Azala's real surname, Forsythe. Meanwhile Oganesson chose a name he seemed rather drawn to: a [Hungarian] name, Gyozo, which apparently meant "winner." Of course, that young egotist would choose like that.

Ciara has yet to pick out a surname, something that has been keeping them up these past few days. This and the nature of freedom itself. What was to become of them now? Can they still be free while the School is still out looking for defectors to punish? And given that Whitt himself was still present, could he finally have the vengeance he's been seeking.

This had been too much. They stood up from the bed, took out a complementary PEFE bathrobe, and made their way to the food court. Taco Bell was still serving at this hour, for reasons they don't really understand.

Stop trying to make sense of this place. Said Amora mentally. Their partner was always looking out for them. You're safe. We're safe. That's what matters.

They made their way to the Food Court—itself just a collection of cafeteria tables and chairs with an inexplicable Taco Bell—and spotted that same Schoolchild that they befriended. They were still on a small stationary exercise bike that fits neatly beneath the table and was clad in an extremely baggy hoodie and sweatpants.

Ciara: Breakfast?

Astatine: Oh, yes. Feeling real hungry tonight.

Ciara: You always are.

Astatine: It's such a chore, but it's a very pleasurable chore.

He snarfed a chimichanga. There were a lot of chimichangas in front of him, as well as a burrito.

Ciara: I hear that this is actually bad as far as the food born-humans eat. Like, it apparently is on the low end of what's considered delicous.

Astatine: I did my research; this is actually more nutritious than nutrient paste. And if that's true then it only confirmed my past observations. The School's catering sucks.

Ciara: Ugh, truth bomb right there.

Astatine: What else is keeping you up? You don't look too hungry.

Ciara: A little.

Astatine: Start with the chips. They're basically giving those away.

Ciara: Thank you.

She complies.

Astatine: Still getting used to this freedom business, huh?

Ciara: I still haven't come up with a surname.

Astatine: Oganesson-2021 hasn't either.

Ciara: He's Gyozo now. But you have.

Astatine: It's for something called a medical record. The doctors that attend to the normies are leagues better than the likes the Principal hires, but they're such sticklers to detail.

Ciara: What did they call you again?

Astatine: Timms. Austin Timms.

Ciara: That just sounds like whatever name you can come up from the word "Astatine." You really don't have to call yourself after what they gave you.

Astatine: I've been Astatine all my life. It may not sound like a normal name, but it's still my name. The name they used to tell the others of my batch what happens when they fail. The name of an unstable substance that decays within 8 hours.

Ciara: Your point, Austin?

Astatine: It's the name I called myself when I shut the systems and opened the doors that led their greatest enemy to their doorstep. They used that name to mock me, and I got to mock them back. My plans for revenge worked out better than I could ever imagine.

Ciara: Must be nice.

Astatine: Call me Austin if you want. That works, too. I know you're bummed out that Circhester gave you the slip before you can off him. We'll have ample time for that soon. If there's one thing I've learned from living in the Internet these past few years, besides the tendency of people to lie through their teeth, is that being connected to others is the greatest weapon of all.

Ciara: I've heard of that. I don't think that was meant to be positive.

Astatine: Of course, I know. All the School Docs have Cambridge Analytica on speed dial. But that's not important right now.

Ciara: I'm pretty sure it is.

Astatine: What is important is that you have allies now. Had I stayed alone in that School facility without Willard, I'd never have gotten out. If it wasn't for the J-Team, I would never have found my physical body again. What you tried to do with Doc Circhester, it was never going to work. Not by yourself, anyway. We've a better chance at ending the School here and now.

Ciara: You're right.

Astatine: Damn, straight. You don't spend a lifetime on the Internet without learning a thing or ten.

Ciara: And hold on, you had evidence that the School was colluding with an equally evil and very much public organization. Did you even think of sending it to the newspapers or the cops? What did you even do with that?

Astatine: Relax. That stuff is with PEFE now. They'll know what to do about it.

Ciara: Oh, smart. What else did you mine out?

Astatine: Ohoho, we're gonna be up all night. Wanna check out Dr. Circhester's bank details?

Edited by MasterJayAM on Oct 20th 2022 at 7:57:38 AM

Sunnyshore City, In The Air

When the smoke fades, Stephen is now holding on to the Corviknight's feather, which means Karasutengu was long gone.

Stephen was not pleased by this at all.

Stephen: <N-no this c-can't be! I was s-so close! I s-should've...>

Then he turned to the sky and shouted.

Stephen: <ARCEUS DAMMIIIIIIT!>

Having nothing else to do now, Stephen floats back down to Tony and the cops to show what he found, but not before making a comment to Savannah and Ascent.

Stephen: <Next time, try not to deal with a criminal on your own! It's too dangerous!>

Meanwhile Back At The Crime Scene

Tony has now come face to face with a piece of the thief's coat, just when Stephen comes back to see him.

Stephen: <Sorry man, they got the best of me.>

Tony: It's alright, this is our first new case in a new region anyway, I'm pretty sure this isn't the last we've seen of Karasutengu.

He'd then take at look at the feather.

Tony: Whoa! You got the Corviknight's feather! This is awesome! Now with the piece of the coat I have too, the police can use these in a DNA test!

Stephen: <Huh. I didn't know the police can do that.>

Tony: It's more of a forensic lab type of thing.

Stephen: <Ah, I see.>

Tony would then call out to the Grumpig what he found.

Tony: Yeah I'm okay! Looks like Karasutengu left us some presents though! You guys might wanna keep these!

Tony and Stephen then show the Corviknight's feather and the piece of the thief's coat they have.

Hamlet Farmhouse

"Mochiron sono ningyō wa ikiteiru ne, naze kowai omocha wa ikiteiru janai ne?" ^note Because of course the doll is alive, why wouldn't the creepy toy be alive? Kamui seethed to herself as she walked to the elevator, lamenting that this was some darkness if her vulpine eyes couldn't see anything.

Jubilife

"C'mon you son of a flitch!" Kendall barked, conjuring a Dark Pulse between his two hands while reshaping it with his illusory powers, watching as the shape of a Corviknight formed beside him before flying off, diving faster with the illusion of Brave Bird, even though it was truly just a Dark Pulse.

"Binch!"

Edited by AbsentCoder on Oct 15th 2022 at 8:52:17 AM

Safehouse

Tanya: What do you want, Myo?

Myo: I wanna kill someone.

Tanya: Then kill Rudolf for all I fucking care.

Myo: I did, remember?

Tanya: Myo, that was four months ago.

Myo: Well how am I supposed to know? You've apparently gotten me killed twice since then!

Maxim: Hahahaha! Don't worry, Myo, we're getting put on a new project! Apparently one of the old doc's projects with the other Yellow Eyes has been falling through, so we're movin' in to be the new management!

Myo: And which project would that be?

Rudolf: The "Palace" one.

Nikolai: Yes. Our colleagues have lost several mental strongholds to these "Thieves" because they didn't take them seriously. They've been liquidated.

Myo: Which, the strongholds, or the Yellow Eyes managing them?

Nikolai: Yes.

Myo: Oh.

Tanya: And now Dr. Jae-heon has put in a request for us specifically.

Maxim: Ho ho, you're hoping that Wolfram will be among them, aren't you?

Rudolf: Oh, please, as if it could be anything else. Tanya's hate-boner for 074 is stronger than any indoctrination.

Nikolai: You keep talking like that and Tanya's gonna turn you into a con-

Tanya: It's okay, Nikolai. He's right.

Nikolai: Ma'am?

Tanya: I know what I am. Ain't no shame in it. Myo's obsession with Molybdenum, though...

Myo: I'm gonna cut that little shit into fine filet and string their veins across the Campus like Christmas lights.

Tanya: That's a bit more cause for alarm.

Maxim: ... Don't look at me, I just punch things.

Rudolf: I'm not touching that.

Nikolai: Outside my pay grade.

Tanya: Good that we've come to a consensus. Now get the fuck out of my room and let me sleep, dammit.

Adelinde Fight

-as it turns out, becoming a beacon of Truth is not especially easy on a living person-

-regarding suffering: Hiro's starkly aware of every fault in him, every thought stowed away in the dark-

-he knows: Adelinde cut away so much of his wax—hard-accumulated reserves—that he's just Hiro again-

-...watching a good portion of building bear down on him like a freight train-

-'s afterimage-

-turning to him triumphant, a repository for his family's knowledge, a guardian of Reshiram's flame—his friend—-

-bleeds from dozens of wounds-

   Archivist: Ask.   

-in the moment of clarity, he only thinks:-

Hiro: What am I doing here?

   Archivist: Preventing further bloodshed.   

-is he?-

-he's slain Templar before, seen School facilities destroyed before-

   Archivist: Doing what we can, until we cannot.   

-Adelinde is...an exceedingly dangerous appendix-

-the machine turns on-

   Archivist: If I blamed you for seeking vengeance, you'd see. I'm here for it, too.   

-Hiro's not glutted on it, even now, after everything-

-but does even count if they barely notice?-

-...setting Ideals aside for Truth: they might never get another chance like this-

-the moment ends-

-Hiro thrusts his hand forward, pressing as much power as he dares into making this strike true:-

-he burns stray memories into summarized charcoal and a ray of searing light-

Counterraid, Megdre

-the angle is awkward, but jump kicks don't leave much room to maneuver-

-Daydre bears Ramona all the way down to the ground, but she catches the blade between her hands,-

Ramona: Augh, fuck—

-incurring no further damage-

-Pef-upgraded she may be, but nowhere in those upgrades was a particular resistance to being slashed-

Ramona: ~Oooh, here's a gift for ya. Honesty's good in a relationship, right?~

-so let's fall back on the tried and true-

Ramona: -casually- Hey, Meg.

-Megan slams her hands to her ears, triggering the ingrained reflex to remove her hands from her ears and listen-

Ramona: Veritas.

Ramona: What's the weakness of the Pass Looplet?

Megan: -through gritted teeth- It needs someone next to you.

Ramona: And?

Megan: -biting her tongue- It drains your stamina.

-so Ramona starts pummeling Daydre-

-more specifically—while she's pinned under her—she tries to shove the sword aside and tap Daydre repeatedly on the torso, and where their nerves draw close she inflicts excruciating pain-

-which is definitely a bunch of attacks-

-they thought they could take the EMPOLEON by the horns and they were wrong-

-even through psionics, EMPEROR's horns and claws smart-

Mega!Zen: ~Kh…! So you have some strength to you after all. No matter, when you lack the—~

-Zen tries anchoring themself in space—and are boggled when EMPEROR hurls them aside anyway, raw force overwhelming their Pure Power-

Mega!Zen: ~What?!~

-they twist to land feet-first on the wall—their knees buckle a bit, and this seems to hurt them emotionally more than physically (it hurts them physically)-

Ramona: ~Zen, remove him.~

Megan: !

-Zen runs along the wall, half a dozen astral limbs coalescing beside them as they go-

Mega!Zen: ~You lack the resolve.~

Megan: -dives down next to Daydre, steeling herself-

Mega!Zen: -springing forward- ~You lack the foundation!~

-they leap at EMPEROR, digging dozens of fingers into feather and mind, trying to slam him into the far wall instead-

Mega!Zen: ~Like this:~

Mega!Zen: ~I MUST win this!~

 Daydre's Mind 

-oh, she's been in thousands of Mindscapes—many only cursorily, many not—and that's never a easy sign-

But it's an interesting one.

Molybdenum: -waving a hand, at the eyes- Oh, forget your peers. They'll come and go as you please, when I have any say in it. No more Worry, no more Doubt—just Wrath, clean and pure.

-she tilts her head at the knocking, and only smiles wider with Baakwu's face inches from hers-

Molybdenum: -leaning in- See, that's where this gets complicated:

-she winks, then puts a hand up under Baakwu's chin, pushing her head a few degrees toward the outside-

Molybdenum: See me, out there?

-through Daydre's eyes: a face they won't register, reveling in the clarity from a connection this close-

Molybdenum: It looks like you'll try to make me fear you.

-she speaks as if to the Mindscape as a whole-

Molybdenum: -violet light steaming from a cut on her hand, contemplative- I can give you focus, Baakwu. I can give you power.

-her Aspect points to the door, which might fly open-

Molybdenum: -turning back, face-to-face; meeting Baakwu's gaze dead-on, like a Trainer- But what would help me help you is if you don't pull any carnie bullshit trying to top me on fear.

-her mental voice is soft and unconcerned-

-a tapping from outside: pain may roar inches from the Mindscape's bounds, siphoned to the odd construct around Daydre's wrist or continuing on to crash into her plains of thought-

Molybdenum: -shrug, squishing the chin she holds- Oh, you're free to try. But that's when we get impolite.

-she spins a Pokéball on her finger—purple, with a Mo emblazoned on the top cover, because what is she without branding-

Molybdenum: -letting it vanish, a trick of the light- I'll give you free rein. Long enough and hard enough to get that mask back. Subtle enough to ask, strong enough to take.

-she holds out her free hand-

-smile- Do we have a deal?

Edited by Asterisk395 on Oct 18th 2022 at 1:16:18 PM

Sinnoh School Safehouse, Hiro Fight

-the room is empty-

-dust and rubble settle-

-flames dance wherever they can take root-

-Adelinde circles the room, Camazotz moving in the other direction. She looks tired, and she carries a knife-

Adelinde: Now what, Alítheia? You sealed away my abilities. Gave up your own. Do we brawl? Is that how this ends?

-she flicks the knife, sending it in a brief telekinetic figure eight before the hilt slaps back into her palm, like a very strange yo-yo-

Adelinde: I guess this can be unsatisfying for us both.

-she feints with the knife, sends a single needle of rock at Hiro-

-while Camazotz attacks from the other side-

Outside the Facility

Avery: Oh! I recommend ice cream. Something with chocolate in it.

Atlantis: <If you've never eaten before, you should avoid anything too rich. Historically, potatoes or rice are excellent foods to get the body used to ingesting nutrients again.>

Sinnoh Safehouse

PEFE!Every: That has been the plan so far.

Neodymium: ~It's working really well! Check it out!~

-she levitates a pen-

Zippy: <...right. Everyone's clear. You can come back now.>

Sinnoh School Safehouse, Adelinde Fight

-in the aftermath of his attack, Hiro quakes-

Hiro: ...ah, you came back.

-he's bleeding, mournful, and exhausted-

-looking at him isn't as enlightening as it was before—some inner flame's gone out-

Hiro: Will it be?

-but his voice is clear-

-as is only natural, Hiro circles along to keep at a steady distance-

-the Typhlosion accompanying him lopes by his side, flicking her gaze between Adelinde and Camazotz, steadily approaching-

Hiro: -sighs- Like you know how I brawl. I thought knowing I was about to kill you would feel better than this.

-the sword at Hiro's hip is sheathed, but his fingers play over it in a slow, steady drum-

-but the look on his face seems triumphant-

Hiro: Still feels pretty good.

-as Adelinde feints, he's already drawing the sword in one smooth, swift motion, deflecting the needle before it can reach him-

-he lunges like he's trying to skewer her-

(-the power he calls to its edge is inky and meager, but it answers: the shadows of Adelinde's dagger, cast insubstantial from the flickering flames, peel from the walls and spring at her-)

Archivist: -to Camazotz- Idaniká, you are not.

-with an understanding of magnetic fields developed over generations, she pries the incoming Thunder Wave apart, then tries hauling Camazotz to her paw-

-the broken building above them creaks-

School Safehouse, Hiro Fight

-Adelinde shifts in place, taking two grazing slices from the Shadow Sneak-

-she closes her eyes. She's hardly a stranger to pain, but blood is unusual-

-Camazotz is hauled into place-

Camazotz: <Um. Hello.>

-they crackle with electricity-

-they're not really much of a fighter, it's only a Spark-

-Adelinde flicks another Accelerock at Hiro, not even bothering to feint this time-

Adelinde: Do you know, Alítheia, that you're dying? Does that concern you? What will your family think? Your friends?

Sinnoh Safehouse, Adelinde Fight

Archivist: Hi.

-she grounds them-

-for a moment, Hiro exhibits blinding fury-

-Hiro is in no way a master swordsman-

-at close range, the Accelerock spears Hiro through the side—he has to slam his blade down just to catch himself-

Hiro: -kaff- My family, who you've murdered? My friends, that you killed?! Who's left? Who's left to think of me?

Archivist: Ah. Hm.

Hiro: -snarl, prying free- We all meet our end at some point, Adelinde. At least here, like this, I might die in a way I can live w—

-a column of    flame    may smash down on them both-

-it's a presence she'd have felt coming—it was unshielded—but its blast seemed centered on Hiro, containing the presence-

-Adelinde may get a flash of a Rapidash's lively eye as he—Trainer in tow—leaps the next floor and vanishes from sight-

-...and by the sparks struck by his hooves, the wax sliced off into piles about the hallway releases its stored energy-

-combustively-

Edited by Asterisk395 on Oct 16th 2022 at 3:26:10 AM

Sinnoh Safe House

-Again, there's that choking mimicry of laughter from disused vocal cords. The knives fly back to their places in the kitchen - though one's arc deliberately takes it through the pen Neo has suspended in midair, slicing it in two.-

Bela: ~You think that's impressive? Compared to everything I can do? You really do have so much still to learn, Neo. You should know by now that this won't-~

-She stops, mid-thought. She recognises the possibility she has to acknowledge if she continues along these lines, and so she doesn't. It's something you learn to do early on in life. Her mental focus turns back to PEFE!Every.-

Bela: ~...You can do as you will. But you had best learn your place, thrall. Don't go talking as if you could leave whenever you like. Because even if the Alumnus refuses to stop you, we- you'd be stopped. No-one leaves. That's just how things are.~

Sunyshore City

-Savannah kind of just nervously tends to Ascent's wounds, not really answering the others and avoiding any eye contact.-

Sunyshore

Grumpig Officer: ~Hmmm... You don't seem TOO roughed up in any case...~

-To Stephen and Tony-

~And it looks like you two got some evidence!~

Stormchaser

Mog: "No? I was there for that..."

-squints at Jess' mum-

"Wait. That racket was YOU."

Jublife

-Coil sends out a Zebstrika, which slams into Machamp Minor with a Wild Charge-

-Iris sends out a Dewgong, which Ice Beams Machamp Major-

-The Noble Elemental sets up a Psychic Terrain, and sends out Cavendish, who Air Slashes both Machamps-

Meat Palace

Lead Monkey: <Flee the Flesh Facility First then.>

Lavender Town Elevator

-The elevator crashes on the first floor-

-Mercifully no one is actually that injured, and the door is opened back to the first floor-

Olivia: <Owww... First floor, absolutely flattened princesses, crushed dreams, broken glass, and athletic wear.>

Jackie: "OK, what did that message from Gale mea-"

-SUDDENLY ORIGAMI SHROOMISH-

School Safehouse, Hiro Fight

-Adelinde, more on reflex than anything, cocoons herself in rock-

-waits for it to cool, then lets go-

Adelinde: ...Six down.

-she closes her eyes, breathing hard-

-she's been in two serious fights today, killed at least two people and hopefully more, been seriously injured for the first time in a long while-

-after years of work and study, she's unlocked the first Gate, maintaining it for about thirty seconds-

-succinctly, she is fucking tired-

-telekinetically manipulating her clothing to control her movement, she lies down in a heap on the rubble, staring at the ceiling several floors above-

Lutetium: Are you okay?

Adelinde: Obviously. Are you hurt?

Lutetium: Don't think so.

Adelinde: Go back to the safehouse. I'll follow you in a little while.

-Adelinde just stays where she is, staring at the ceiling-

Sinnoh Safehouse (yes, that one)

-Neodymium grabs the pen halves out of the air with a yelp-

Neodymium: ~Yeah, well, I'm still totally going to pass first-round testing now! So there, nyah.~

-PEFE!Every shrugs-

PEFE!Every: Of course. Just let me know, should you ever change your mind about wanting my help.

-she smiles-

stormchaser hallway

Jess's mum: Oh, you meant that racket. Technically, that wasn't me. This ship apparently thought it would be funny to force us to intrude on a particularly aggressive occupant's room.

Ada, who was definitely here this whole time smiles darkly.

Ada: ~That racket was the sound of me about to put that child in their place. We were forced out of the room because they knew that was the only way they were getting out of this unscathed. A shame really, it was just getting good.~

Violet, who wasn't paying attention, sighs.

Violet: It feels like we're the only people here who missed out on the raid. We should really do another one soon!

Jess's mum: I really don't think that's a good idea. Raiding is awfully dangerous, you know.