2024-02-11: Synchronicity - Aftermath

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========================<* Pewter City - Rock Road *>=========================

The Rock Road cuts through the heart of Pewter City, a city on the northmost sector of the Emerald Cape province. The shopping district caters heavily to travellers between Viridian Forest and Mt. Moon; many of the shops and stalls feature hiking and tramping supplies, and there are no small number of guided tours offering rides to Pewter's unique environs. Away from the commerce, the residents of Pewter City live in beautiful townhouses along the side of the mountains, each at least three stories high; cable cars provide views of the mountains, and walks for all levels of fitness are dotted around the city's wards. Pewter City is also a geologist's dream, housing the famed Princebridge University and Pewter Museum of Science. 

BGM: Pokemon: Let's Go, Eevee & Pikachu! - Pewter City - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yGrGjO5F6ZM

<Pose Tracker> Ida Everstead-Rey has posed.

        The mood inside Pewter City's Pokemon Center is... tense, to say the least. The initial influx of hurt Pokemon has come and gone, but this is the second time the city's been attacked. Team Rocket's goal was vastly different from Michael's, but they still left the Psynard Research Facility a smoking wreck. There is no shortage of opinions on the local news, but--thankfully--that's not what's the lounge TV at the moment.

        Instead: The Gardening Channel.

        Ida sits on a couch, watching as the host of Berry Delicious shows off a bush playing host to no less than five different Berry strains thanks to the miracle of grafting! Oran, Pecha, Chesto, Pinap, and Belue all on the same plant! A chipper-looking Gossifleur skitters playfully around the host's ankles as she holds up a tasty-looking Pinap.

        Catastrophe Sal lets out a soft, whiny trill from her seat on the couch beside Ida. On Ida's other side, Aurora and Marigold have curled up into their ususal Eevee ball together.

<Pose Tracker> Chase has posed.

After getting his Pokemon treated, Chase was left with a distressing realization: he was also tired from nearly being in the way of a Dynamaxed Hyper Beam. He flops back against one of the lounge couches, sunken eyed from exhaustion and looking like it takes every effort for him to keep looking at his phone. One earbud is in, and the other is in Pikachu's ear as she dutifully sticks bandages to his various scrapes and cuts... and some extra ones because they're colorful and she's enjoying herself.

This one has her face on it! Right onto Chase's cheek it goes.

Nidoran is in Chase's lap, and Ponyta is behind him, head hooked over Chase's other shoulder. Occasionally, Nidoran paws at Chase's phone with a claw, or Ponyta nudges his snout, or Pikachu gives an alert, "Pika!" and points to something. Chase pauses each time, and then his thumb moves faster as he takes notes.

Despite his fixation on his phone, Chase uses his free hand to occasionally feed Ponyta a raw jalapeno slice from a travel tin. For every one Ponyta gets, Chase eats one himself. He's eating food appropriate for people! Give praise!...? Absently, Nidoran and Pikachu also gets offers. This makes Nidoran attempt to Squirtle his head back into his own body to avoid it, while Pikachu gently and deftly presses on Chase's wrist to re-offer the unwanted snack back to her trainer.

The deep furrow of his brow suggests Chase isn't getting what he wants out of whatever studies he's conducting this way, and the squint of Nidoran and Ponyta seems to agree.

Pikachu hops down, gleefully distributed bright yellow Pikachu-marking bandages to anyone who will let her stick on one. Sal receives the first offering for her powerful cocoon.

<Pose Tracker> Violet Salazar has posed.

Violet is browsing Pokemon Center, looking for treats for her Pokemon. They certainly deserved some after the battle two days ago, especially Steve and Bubba! Both of them had needed potions -- Steve for burns and Bubba for deep, raking claw-wounds. The Nickit had more than lived up to their name! Violet had tended as many of the wounded Pokemon as she could, and between her splints and bandages and her Medipak -- and the other, better healers! -- had gotten them back on their feet, for the most part. How did Team Rocket get so strong, especially their leader? And what were they going to do with the cloned Psynard they'd taken? Whatever it was, it was certain to be diabolical...

She spies Ida on the couch with Sal and her Eevees, and approaches, interrupting her concentration. "Miss Everstead-Rey! How are you -- and your Pokemon?" she asks with genuine concern. She notices Chase -- and his Pikachu! -- but doesn't know him. He's about the same age as her oldest grandson Connor, though. 

<Pose Tracker> Timu Guado has posed.

        Timu had to have some time to rest after she bravely attempted to stand against Michael in Pewter City, and then again after she broke off into a sprint for a hurt Pokemon. Some time later... she hears that Pewter has another major event, and so...
 
        A teenaged Guado heads inside the Center at a measured, more careful pace, with a round crocodile-shaped friend not too far behind her.
 
        "...Everyone?" Timu asks, in broad terms, among those familiar and not. She sounds, and looks, terrified by what she saw of how the Research Facility looked on the outside. "Was it... was it one of the Ten Wise Men, again?"
 
        The detail on who was responsible hadn't yet reached her, surprisingly. "Is everyone..." 

<Pose Tracker> Damian Tamaoka has posed.

Damian was, thankfully, for the safety of his new Psynymph, nowhere near the Psynard research facility that day and is completely and utterly not complicit in that heinous attack.

Mypsy will stay out of the hands of Team Rocket a while longer, surely.

... He still feels really bad about it by proxy, though. And was quite alarmed when Joy returned from the mission injured, though Peace was apparently successful in her mission to retrieve data about Psynards.

(Marty and Jane are celebrating a successful mission but we won't be focusing on them.)

Damian hadn't quite meant to travel through Pewter again so soon, but a mishap with a stop he had made had necessitated a detour, which meant picking up more supplies, and since he was in town anyway, he might as well stop by the Pokemon Center to give his team a checkup, and so the young boy is stepping into the Pokemon Center carrying Purri in his arms. She's looking a little scratched up, but not too bad. Damian heads to the counter and hands over one Purri, 3 pokeballs, and an Egg to be checked.

Nurse Joy smiles happily as she takes them all in to register them, though the third pokeball makes her pause. There is an intense few moments of very quiet discussions between the two as Damian pulls out his phone to show off a few different things, and finally Nurse Joy seems satisfied and finishes checking them in.

Damian sighs in relief and then turns, blinking as he sees his friend. "O-oh, hey, Timu..." He's looking about as tired and down as he ever is.

And she's asking about the lab attack. "O-oh, no, I don't... I don't think so..." Not the Ten Wise Men. But he can't bring himself to offer up the real answer." 

<Pose Tracker> Josephine Lovelace has posed.

        Josie has, as they say, 'seen some shit' in her time as a drifter.

        She still has to say that seeing an enormous cat shooting lasers is a first.

        Josie, fortunately, had been rather out of harm's way, having been largely engaged with one of the Rockets guarding the door (Joy) rather than in the lab proper. Not that this had stopped her from sticking her nose in it, though. For one thing, that swordsman had rushed right in, and for another, energy cannon or no energy cannon, well...

        But it had been the intervention of someone else entirely that had stopped the situation from escalating more than it already had (and it already had been fairly significant). With nothing else left but cleanup, Josie had done a sweep of the grounds. Unfortunately, Team Rocket appeared to have gotten the memo and had vacated the area. Fortunately, it hadn't entirely been in vain.

        She'd stuck around. For one thing, her curiosity was piqued. For another thing, it was free food and shelter in Energy Nede, which for the near-constantly-broke Josie, is a huge checkmark in favor of just packing up and moving to Energy Nede permanently. That is, if it weren't for a few things she ought to get done (and Energy Nede frowning on the use of ARMs on the casual).

        But for now? Sure, yeah. She's not missing out on anything important if she hangs tight for a few days. It's also helped her acclimate further to the region, which has been further fortuitous for the same reason as the Team Rocket-hunting had been two days prior, the evidence of which can be seen gathered about where the sharpshooter squats: Ikaros the Pidove. A Fletchling. And a Bombirdier. It's almost as if Josie is holding some strange bird-oriented business meeting the way the lot of them are gathered about before her.

        Penelope, a perfectly normal pigeon, is perched atop Josie's head. Is this... how it is to be CEO...?

        Chase's Pikachu approaches and promptly interrupts proceedings by granting Ikaros a bandage. Ikaros responds by tilting his head 90 degrees. "Pi?"

        "Hey, thanks. You're a right good one," she drawls, reaching out to scratch/poke Pikachu with a single finger.

        But she lifts her head. "All good over here, kiddo," she informs Timu, waving her left hand languidly in the air. Ikaros's injuries had been pretty minor (and more than overshadowed by his pride in Definitely Winning). Others had it worse, though. 

<Pose Tracker> Ida Everstead-Rey has posed.

        For the most part, Ida has been content to let Chase decompress on his own time. Whatever he's doing with his phone, it seems engrossing, and he's clearly recovering from injuries of his own. Sal greeted Pikachu with a genuine but downcast 'Pod!', and Aurora snuck in to try and give Nidoran a nuzzle when she thought no one was watching. Other than that, they've been off on their own little worlds.

        Then the visitors start fo filter in. "We're all right," Ida says, with a nod. Nothing too bad, between all of them--some scrapes and bruises, a grazing injury that clipped a chunk out of Aurora's tail fur, and significant damage to Sal and Aurora's dignity.

        "Pod," says Sal, and she leans against Pikachu, snuggling for a moment before Phwee goes to tend to the others.

        "Thank you, Pikachu," says Ida. A pause, as a few others make their entrances. "Timu. Damian. We're all right here." A pause; Ida cocks her head to the side, wondering if Timu just hadn't seen the news, or read the paper. (Is she still getting used to those?) "It was Team Rocket. They were after data on Psynard care, and... potentially, one of the engineered Psynards, as well." Ida looks down at the floor, lips pursing as if she'd bitten into a lemon.

        "Evoi," says Marigold, the smaller of Ida's two Eevees. She seems to sense his distress, hops off the couch, and trots up to him. She rubs against his ankles, trilling comfortingly.

        "What about you?" Ida asks Chase, finally broaching the subject. She still doesn't know his name.

<Pose Tracker> Chase has posed.

Nidoran may have tried to hide at the first brush with a nuzzle before timidly accepting Eevee contact.

Pikachu snugs Sal, then giggles happily with Josephine's payment of attention. A perfect transaction! She happily waddles up to Timu and offers her a bandage. "Piii Pikachu!" she greets, which does very little to explain anything about what happened or why Timu would need minor first aid.

Regardless of its acceptance, she makes her way back to Chase and pokes his phone's power button. Chase blinks several times as the battle recording he's studying turns into a black screen. Coming out of his haze, he looks up at Pikachu, then places his hand on her head. She nuzzles up into his palm happily before pointing to the others. "Pi."

Chase rubs his eye, and once he gets his focus, looks at Timu several more moments than would be strictly considered polite -- this is something of a habit of Chase's, generally. He remembers her from the fight with Michael... the one with healing magic, despite being a Visitor. And with a dedication to Pokemon, despite that same truth.

...There's a lot of people here. There's a lot of Pokemon, too, so... Chase takes a deep breath.

Ida helpfully explains the situation, but Ida also directly acknowledges him. Chase freezes, eyes blank, but slowly regains movement. He looks back down at his phone to fiddle with it again. He frowns at it. His mouth becomes a disgruntled line.

It's a bit before he manages something satisfying, and he pulls his earbuds out to have more range in holding his phone forward.

<he called them tools>

The Psynards. Pokemon in general. Other people. This is not an answer to Ida's question on the surface, but it is in spirit: Chase is not okay because there is a man who said this thing.

(He looks roughed up, but rest will take care of it. If he'd actually rest.)

<Pose Tracker> Timu Guado has posed.

        "Damian!" Timu calls, maybe a little more than she needs to, but she's a young woman going through a lot of events that - even for experienced drifters like Josie over there - are A Lot(tm) to unpack. Fuecoco ambles forward, looking up to DAmian and waving a friendly little wave, before walking further in and taking stock of just how everyone's... well.
 
        "Oh... they could do that much harm too?" She asks. Ida's read of her difficulty in adjusting to how information flows throughout Energy Nede is probably not wrong. She brings her hands over her chest as Ida elaborates further on what they were doing. "...Are the little Psynards we brought in all right?"
 
        Timu was there in the Cave of Crimson Crystals that day. She helped bring one to Pewter City for further observation and checking up, but parted ways with them there... as far as she knows. Sometimes Pokemon can be stubborn about who they want to be with.
 
        She nods at Josie's declaration that she's all good over there, seeing how Violet's getting on, and that quiet young man with that eye-catching Pikachu...
 
        "Fue..." Fuecoco murmurs as he sees how everyone seems to be getting on. Timu, catching him about to wander out of her field of vision, follows him slowly further in to situate herself with the rest.
 
        She has three total Pokeballs at her belt, now.
 
        "Is it all right if I sit down with you all?" She asks. 

<Pose Tracker> Violet Salazar has posed.

Introductions are politely made as needed, then Ida explains what happened at the research facility to the ones who weren't there: "It was Team Rocket. They were after data on Psynard care, and... potentially, one of the engineered Psynards, as well."

"Team Rocket..." Violet's ears flick in annoyance. "Of course they'd want a Psynard. Easy transportation, maybe even through the Rift...!" Violet actually wanted a Psynard herself, for the same reason, but she'd never stoop to stealing one. She'd been at the Cloning Facility to apply for the permit. She releases her friends from their Pokeballs so they'll have a chance to play at the Center. They are all fond of toys -- and for the chance to stretch! More introductions! "Is it all right if I sit down with you all?" Timu asks. "Of course, Miss Guado!" Violet replies. 

<Pose Tracker> Damian Tamaoka has posed.

The congregation of birds is not too notable a sight, to Damian... there are plenty of trainers who like having a specific theme for their teams, after all!

Penelope, on the other hand, Damian doesn't recognize, and he's trying to sneak a furtive look or two and work out a way to take a picture for the PokeSnap app that isn't immensely weird, rude, creepy, or any of the above.

He pauses, when Ida mentions his name, though, blinking as he turns his attention to her. "O-oh, Miss Everstead-Rey." There is something in his chest that seizes a little when she mentions 'data on Psynard care', and he stops to take a deep breath, eyes closed to try and calm himself down.

He's interrupted in his breathing exercises by the arrival of one Aurora, and he looks down, blinking. "O-oh, Miss Aurora. Hello, there..." He kneels down to pet her gently, whispering quietly, "Th-thanks..." He seems to be relaxing a little.

He seems the movement as Chase presents his phone and squints to read it... and then frowns. He's missing some context.

Maybe it's best he doesn't have it.

Timu inquires of the 'little Psynards.' Damian looks down to keep petting Aurora. "I-I don't know that they'd be there," he comments quietly. "Th-they clone adults. We found Psynymphs. They evolve into Psynards later."

He is wincing internally as he says that, but... he can't help but try to explain, to make it less worse in at least some degree.

He does catch, though, "O-oh, Timu... did you catch a third Pokemon...?" There's a third ball, so surely that must mean...

Easy transport through the rift, Violet says. "Th-there's lots of pokemon that can be used for transportation, though..." he points out. 

<Pose Tracker> Josephine Lovelace has posed.

        Pikachu are pretty cute. She gives them a little fingerwaggle of a wave as they head off on their rounds. Her gaze lifts from her Pokemon as Ida speaks up.

        "Those guys. I kind of followed 'em to Energy Nede, like, if you can believe that, sweetheart," she remarks, settling back on her haunches. "Those lot were out in Salva, right. Practically in my childhood backyard," she adds, with a look in her eyes that almost dares someone to make a case about it. "...After its minerals, seemed like. They ain't limiting their shit to business 'round these parts, that's for sure. Makes me wonder what they're on about."

        With a sigh and a vague wince, Josie settles down onto the floor proper and stretches out her long legs. Her Pokemon scatter about her, making room; Penelope stays put atop her head, her eyes tightly shut.

        "So, spill, is what I'm sayin'. I'm in the dark 'bout all this Team Rocket business still, yeah?" She gestures broadly, rolling her shoulders in a deep shrug. "They still just Pokemon thieves or are they branchin' out to interpretive prospecting as a thing lately?" 

<Pose Tracker> Ida Everstead-Rey has posed.

        Ida swipes a hand in front of the little sensor that controls the lounge TV. She raises it to the top of the detection field and slowly lowers it--the sound dies down to the faintest of whispers. "They're all right," Ida says to Timu, and she shifts in her seat, revealing four Pokeballs on a stylish belt around her leggings. She taps the odd one out--the Nest Ball, the one with a green-and-gold swirl on top instead of the usual red. "This little fellow is doing just fine."

        "Of course," Ida adds, to Violet's approval. There's plenty of seats!

        "Evoi," says Marigold. She leans into Damian's hand, letting him pet her for as long as she needs. Aurora glances at the two of them, but seems to be okay with it.

        "Cloning is... taking the genetic code of a creature, the inherited instructions used to make it, and using that code to make another. It's not terribly popular here." Ida glances sidelong at Violet. "It's more than just air transport. Damian's right--there's plenty of other Pokemon they could use for that. Psynards are incredibly rare, and powerful, and they bond strongly with their Trainers." There has to be a scheme here. Why would they be after the adults and data on how to raise juveniles? Are they trying to set up some sort of in-house repopulation program, but for awful ends?

        Chase raises his phone.

        "Was that... one of Team Rocket's men, who said that?" Grave severity settles into Ida's eyes. "That's a cruel thing to say about any living thing. But it's not unfamiliar, regrettably." She thinks back to Leah, and further back to Seymour and Krelian and Bishop Stone and Alhazred. Then further back, to what her father told her about his father. The Master. The council. Maybe even Rhadamanthus, too, at the end.

        Ida turns to Josie, and shrugs. "Your guess is as good as mine. They might just be opportunists. Filgaia and Lunar are rife with opportunity for them, after all."

<Pose Tracker> Violet Salazar has posed.

Damain points out that there are lots of Pokemon that can be used for transportation. "I don't think they can carry a whole bunch of people, though..." Violet responds. She still has a Visitor's ignorance! "Forgive me if I'm wrong."

Josie brings up the big mess in Salva. Violet had lived through that! She patiently listens while Ida explains cloning -- and the greater ramifications of Team Rocket making the Psynards their targets. Violet nods in understanding. They do seem to be expanding their operations," she comments. "If only we could predict where they'll strike next!" 

<Pose Tracker> Chase has posed.

Using his phone to display text seems to be the best Chase has, and when Damian frowns at it, Chase glances down and frowns, too. Even with time to get his thoughts down, the words aren't always eloquent...

But Ida's able to extrapolate, and Chase nods grimly.

Not unfamiliar, Ida says. Chase grimaces. Pikachu nuzzles him. "Chachu?" Nidoran mimics the behavior. He just pets them while Ponyta nuzzles his cheek.

Chase looks up at Josephine abruptly as she explains she followed Team Rocket here. Initially, the Visitors were here because of the Ten Wise Men... now everything is mixing itself up. He wonders, idly, if Gwen was caught up with this 'Salva' situation, too. Minerals? He should have paid more attention to Filgaia's geology.

But it is so hard to focus on rocks when the rocks are not sometimes Pokemon.

Everyone is becoming everybody else's problem.

Violet mentions that Pokemon can't be used to carry many people. He blinks, then gets a different device: something red and square. It's his PokeDex. A Psynymph might be small, but Psynards... He stretches his arm out to show the Psynard's entry, which displays the height and weight information, along with a picture of the draconic, almost cybernetic looking creature. It's certainly large enough to carry a party of people.

<Pose Tracker> Timu Guado has posed.

        The closest frame of cultural reference Timu has to the Psynard's importance to Energy Nede is the majestic Shoopuf that the Hypello people of Spira treasure. She watches as Violet lets out her friends, and Fuecoco ambles along up to Violet's Ashound with an inquisitive, friendly 'co-!'
 
        "Thank you," she says at the acceptance as she takes her seat and turns her gaze to Fuecoco.
 
        Ida, at least, also reinforces that they're all right, and she looks relieved as she looks to that Nest Ball. "I'm glad."
 
        She remembers how frightened the little things were. It's like something was trying to call to her to protect them, on some level, like they were precious and familiar even though it was the first time she'd ever seen them.
 
        She seems a little disturbed at the talk of clones and attempt at reassurance by Damian about it, with the way her eyes lid and her head dips, her fingers clenching and unclenching a bit.
 
        'O-oh, Timu... did you catch a third Pokemon...?'
 
        "...I have, yes," Timu said, "she was hurt, and... I could get them to a Center faster than anyone." But she's not letting that one out to meet everyone? It's like there's something slightly uncomfortable here, and yet...
 
        She doesn't want to think about people like Seymour, whom gamed the social weaknesses of the Guado to the end of nearly everyone on Spira (and perhaps beyond). She thinks of Biggs and Wedge, briefly, in Salva, and how they decided to go down the path they did. 

<Pose Tracker> Damian Tamaoka has posed.

Damian about has a heart attack when Josie mentions Salva, and even with the assistance of an adorably fluffy Eevee he still tenses up again, and the petting even stops for a moment. He is still, until he remembers to breathe, and sucks in a few desperate gasps as he tries to calm down.

Suddenly he's not interested in getting a better look at Penelope anymore. Fancy that.

He quickly enough goes back to petting Marigold, though. 'As long as he needs it' will probably be 'until Purri is done being looked over', so... hopefully Marigold likes having a lot of attention. He looks a little relieved to see Ida's got her nest ball still. (He doesn't, but... that's because his pokemon are currently being looked over.)

He glances up to Violet. "Y-you'd be surprised," he says quietly. He wants to mention how Alice's Hydreigon can carry a whole bunch of people but... the less said about Joy right now the better.

He stays pretty quiet about mentioning anything directly Team Rocket related, in fact.

But Ida fills in a tiny little bit of context-- One of the Team Rockets said that, and that saddens him greatly. He knows Team Rocket is stealing pokemon because they need power, but... they're also fighting for a cause, right? Trying to change the parts of Nede that are bad and stagnant?

It'd be a lot easier for him if he actually believed all of that, not that he isn't trying.

He should really go, but... Marigold really is reassuring, and he's kind of stuck waiting for his pokemon, so... he holds out his arms to the Eevee sibling to see if she'll jump into them, and then follows Timu's lead in taking a seat next to her, hopefully setting Marigold on his lap after to keep petting her.

So Timu saved an injured pokemon. "O-oh, well, I'm glad you were able to help them..." He looks down at his lap for a few moments, and then quietly asks, "Timu... are... you okay?" 

<Pose Tracker> Violet Salazar has posed.

"Thank you," Violet murmurs to Chase for showing off the PokeDex entry. She doesn't know how many other Pokemon might be able to carry a party, but the Psynards definitely could. No wonder Team Rocket were after them! ""Y-you'd be surprised," Damian responds to her comment. "I'm sure I would..." she replies. "Over a thousand different Pokemon -- I've barely seen a handful or two of them!" 

<Pose Tracker> Josephine Lovelace has posed.

        "Might be," Josie says at Ida's remark, shrugging broadly once again. "If they are expandin' their reach, I figure we'll expect to see 'em again back home." Her gaze swings fractionally towards Damien, who looks like he's seen a ghost.

        ...The kids around here are being thrust right into the deep end of the lake, aren't they.

        "But that... Psynard thing," she starts to say, as Ida explains what cloning is and how it works. "Heh. Sounds like something he would've tried," she says instead, failing to clarify who the 'he' is. Probably, she's referring to her father. But given her past acquaintances, it could be even Vinsfeld. "Lucky us, eh? So, what, you think they're going to clone that one again? Or..."

        She trails off as Chase displays an image of the thing along with its data.

        "...Or maybe use it as-is. Hm. Wonder what the game's at... Are they collecting minerals 'cause they can't get 'em here? Or is it an oversight thing? Something they don't want the authorities seeing..."

        Josie, as a former (?) criminal has a mind for such things. 

<Pose Tracker> Ida Everstead-Rey has posed.

        Ida leans in to inspect Chase's PokeDex, frowning. So yes, it's definitely suited to that task, but... that can't be it, can it? It can't be that simple. Ida presses a hand to her temple, and lets out a sigh.

        Sal hops closer, and presses herself against Ida's side. The happy Pikachu-face bandaid smiles up at her. As if to double-team her, Aurora willingly settles into her lap. She hardly ever does that!

        Marigold, meanwhile, basks in Damian's attention. She leaps up into his arms, and lets him pet her all he likes--even sitting up to nuzzle his face with her little Eevee nose.

        "I don't know," Ida says, to Josie. There's a brief, awkward pause before she turns to Chase. "I'm sorry," she says, "I don't think I caught your name...?"

<Pose Tracker> Chase has posed.

Chase glances to the Nest Ball curiously. These Visitors are taking to Pokemon far better than Chase expected. He looks to Ponyta like the fire horse will have an explanation. Ponyta eyes Chase skeptically, and Chase sighs like he's being scolded about something. He knows he is: trust and not giving it too easily, for the most part.

Damian suddenly looks like he's having a worse time around people than Chase is, and Chase gives him a long stare. It would help if Chase were better at emoting beyond blank face, but he means it sympathetically. Really. Maybe, like him, Damian's starting out on a journey that will be colored by these new dangers.

Him and Elaine, and those other trainers he met in Celadon... The one with the swords, and the Froslass, and the Piplup. Badges are going to be the least of their concerns if this keeps up.

A hurt Pokemon is mentioned and Chase stands up so fast Nidoran almost falls out of his lap, instead taking to latching to his hip. This happens enough that it's second nature to the Pokemon. Chase walks over to Timu as he rummages in his own bag before procuring a large, blue berry. The Pokemon is already healed, Chase...! ...But perhaps he means it as an offering anyway. Something to share with a new, scared Pokemon. (Or something for a new, scared trainer to share with an unfamiliar Pokemon.)

He turns his attention back to Josephine and Ida as they continue to muse on Team Rocket's nature, and gets his phone again. The more he types words on it, the deeper he frowns. Words are getting deleted and rewritten more than they're getting written. Finally, he flips it back around for them to see. Anyone else here could easily read it if they wanted.

<he said it was about progress>
<that he is loyal to Nede>
<and had a plan to stop the 10>

These all may be entirely different statements, unrelated to one another. Even Chase isn't sure, as the one who was there and heard it from Giovanni's mouth.

<but progress built on making tools of pkmn>
<means a world where pkmn are tools>

... Ida asks for his name. Chase blinks blankly. One can very nearly almost see the realization turning the gears in his head. He forgot. Again. Behind him, Pikachu gives an exasperated, "Chachuuu."

Chase winces. He presents his Trainer ID, with his name for Ida to see.

<Pose Tracker> Timu Guado has posed.

        'Timu... are... you okay?'
 
        Fuecoco looks up from where he's been playing with another, ambling back towards her and looking up inquisitively. She's not sure who the 'he' that might have tried something is but she can tell based on Josie's emphasis that her skin ought to be crawling. (that or it's Penelope, somewhere)
 
        She looks to that Nest Ball on Ida's person one last time, before Chase breaks away to walk up to her and give her an offering of a large, blue berry. She snaps out of it with the younger boy's sudden introduction.
 
        "Oh! Thank you," she says as she takes the blue berry in hand. "...If you stand back, I'll... I'll let you all meet her." Timu takes in a breath. "...You'll want to stand back a little, she takes up a lot of space, about... five meters."
 
        Fuecoco nods and helpfully stands along over where people can be for clearance, as Timu lets out the one whom dwells within her third Pokeball.
 
        A whale-like figure - somewhere between a whale and a shark - comes free of the confines. The PokeDex would identify her as a Hestrol, the Visitation Pokemon that sometimes comes up to the surface to briefly visit fishermen and their ilk before swinning right back down.
 
        There's faint scars to her right side - the one facing everyone - suggestive of attempted aggressive means perhaps foreign to Energy Nede. Timu's eyes stay closed as she hears Hestrol's call, like whale song, as she floats in the air above the ground (somehow, almost every non-Magikarp fish-like Pokemon does this).
 
        Anyone who's been to Spira knows what she resembles, in abstract (and at far smaller scale).
 
        It takes her a moment to stand up and approach her from the front, holding out the berry that Chase offered to Timu moments earlier.
 
        "This is Hestrol," she says, though her enthusiasm is more measured than enthusiastic compared to Fuecoco and Moteray. Hestrol takes the berry delicately - somehow - and sings a soft note of gratitude and happiness, but she too seems a bit timid. 

<Pose Tracker> Damian Tamaoka has posed.

They sure are, Josie. They sure are. In way more ways than one, in some cases.

Damian might be most familiar with a Purrloin, but he's keen to study up on pokemon (and let's face it, Eevees are really popular AND he has a friend who's obsessed with them), so he's reasonably knowledgeable about how to pet an Eevee just right. There's even a small smile that breaks through his stressed wallowing when Marigold deigns to give him a nuzzle. "Miss Everstead-Rey takes really good care of you, huh...?" he murmurs quietly.

Chase just staring at him startles Damian when he looks up from Marigold's ministrations, and he quickly looks back down again a moment later. But then, as he thinks about it some more, he looks back up again, and looks to the way Chase typed out on his phone instead of talking out loud.

He knows a couple of someone elses who sometimes have trouble emoting...

He does read the new words, but... quickly looks down, looking pained. Probably just the thought of someone mentioning pokemon being tools.

But the topic of names come up, and he looks at the trainer ID. "H-hi, Chase," he offers quietly. "I'm... I'm Damian. Are... you on PokeLive?" There might be some difficulty with text, still, given the intense amount of writing and rewriting, but... he's trying to reach out, at least.

But Timu shows off her latest catch. He fumbles for his phone to make an ID with PokeSnap (assuming a Pokedex doesn't beat him to it, of course.) But still, when he sees those scars, he sucks in a breath.

"You poor thing..." he utters softly. (He hasn't been to Spira, he doesn't know what this resembles.) "Hi, Hestrol," he says. "I'm glad you were able to help her, Timu." 


<Pose Tracker> Violet Salazar has posed.

"That seems plausible," Violet says to Josie about Team Rocket's quest for minerals. "I'm sure they want to keep their supply chain a secret." There was no hiding where they got the Psynard, though. Their mysterious leader had tossed a special Pokeball at it and scooped it right up -- after the unexpected battle with the Drifters nearly destroyed the cloning facility. No way to conceal that! And it was all over the news to boot. Violet had been seeing the coverage for the past two days. She silently gestures for Ida to show her Chase's Trainer ID. "Ah, Chaaaaase...it's a pleasure." It's a good thing she's wearing her glasses! She obligingly stands back as Timu releases Hestrol and feeds her the blue berry. "I've never seen one of those before," she mutters. "She's cute!" 

<Pose Tracker> Josephine Lovelace has posed.

        "Damn! That's a big one!" Josie remarks as she takes in the sight of the Hestrol, released now from the Pokeball. As if the Psynard's length wasn't enough...

        It's in this moment that Josie, who had vaguely taken notice of Chase prior ('quiet kid', she'd decided, and coming from a wizardly village, had opted to leave well enough alone) notices at last the screen that he's using. A few things click into place for her.

        Among other things:

        "'He' bein' the one with the giant kitty-cat?" Josie says, craning her neck to read what's on the screen. "And he's got a 'plan', does he?"

        She settles back to glance up at the ceiling a moment. Then, a bitter smile on her lips, she shakes her head. "I know the type. Claims they've got the answer and all, yeah? But he ain't shared the plan, has he?" She swipes her left hand through the air horizontally, as sweeping plates off an invisible table. "Forget his plan, I say."

        Perhaps especially if it means a world where living things become tools for others to use.

        Penelope, as if roused by the movement on Josie's part, cracks open one dark eye. Her crest fluffs up slightly, as if bespeaking some agitation on... ...someone's part. (Only one being in this room was the dark empress of pigeonkind on the moon and it's definitely not Josephine.)

        She thumbs towards herself. "But Chase, is it? Nice to meet you, kid. Just call me Josie." 

<Pose Tracker> Ida Everstead-Rey has posed.

        "Evoi," says Marigold. She nestles into Damian's arms, comfortable and at ease.

        Then Timu mentions a hurt Pokemon, and Nidoran is nearly sent for a tumble. "Oh!" Ida cries. She scoots Sal to the side, resting her against the back of the couch. Aurora obligingly hops out of her lap. She hurries to Chase's side, and plucks Nidoran from his waist, cradling the little Pokemon in her arms. She considers offering him back to Chase, but Chase seems to be in thought, and he pulls out that phone again before long.

        This is the first time Ida's been this close to Nidoran. She looks down at those big eyes and enormous ears and precious little buck teeth, and her heart melts. "You're a good friend," she says. "You're such a good friend."

        Also a good friend: Hestrol. Ida's eyes widen as Timu produces her newest Pokemon. She glances at the scars on its side, then at Timu; the gravity of a Spiran adopting a whale Pokemon isn't lost on her. "You did the right thing," Ida says.

        She turns her full attention back to Chase, and his phone. She reads what 'he' said, and she somehow manages a sour look despite holding a precious spiky lizard-rabbit. "Josie's right," Ida says. "Forget his plan. If that's the way he thinks, then you and your Pokemon already have something he doesn't. Right?"

        "Evoi," says Aurora--who is now curled up around Sal's base--with a decisive nod.

<Pose Tracker> Nina Chiyome has posed.

Nina's in her ninja outfit! She had been out in the field doing.. well. Things. Don't worry too much about it. (She still hasn't caught that electric type.) It's baggier pants with slit sides, a pair of shorts, simple flexible sandals and a wrap top. Cozy, flexible. Dull and grey. She CAN dial it back!
 
 No bandana though, well around her face. It's wrapped around her head, keeping hair out of the way.
 
 She starts heading for the counter when she spots a few.. familiar faces and some not-so-much.
 
 She DOES drop her pokeballs off though. Care comes first before she makes her way over to the group, actually quiet and sneaky even! Not that she's got a lot of room to hide. There's a wave and a cheery enough, "Yo!" to everyone. Particularly, a glance goes to Timu and she asks, "Did your new friend make it?" She didn't get a name or anything so.. 

<Pose Tracker> Ida Everstead-Rey has posed.

        Ida tucks Rivii into her arm like a precious football, and then feels through her messenger bag. A moment later, she comes up with her own Trainer ID--distinct from Chase's in that it has marks that identify her as an adult in the eyes of the law. The 'VISITOR' stamp in one corner is wholly new, though; it must've taken Nede's bureaucracy weeks to carve out that niche.

<Pose Tracker> Chase has posed.

Nidoran... is plucked. His ears fan out as he blinks back at her, both eyes and ears looking bigger. He is told that he is... a good friend. A good friend. Nidoran's eyes start to water, and, oh no, Nidoran is starting to cry as he buries his little face into Ida. He wants to be the goodest friend...! His efforts are being noticed!! And then he becomes a comfy football. Would get Megahorned again for this attention.

Josephine gets her questioned confirmed with nods. Her commentary wins another frown. He doesn't disagree, but he doesn't have to enjoy the validation, given the scenario. She, Violet, and Ida seem a little too familiar with the concept of a man like Giovanni. But Gwen and Dias had said similar things about Filgaia...

ID presented, Chase is getting a sudden amount of introductions, looking briefly startled. Pikachu nuzzles against his leg. "Pika!" Chase takes another deep breath and meets everyone with a small nod. Ida's ID gets a small smile.

But Damian asks about PokeLive. It would be convenient, wouldn't it? For a boy that doesn't speak to have some manner of social media and text based communation. Wouldn't that be helpful! Wouldn't that be really useful! Wouldn't that make sense?

That might be why Chase has the good sense to look embarrassed as he very slowly shakes his head and looks down. He fiddles with his phone, and shows Damian the account creation screen with a tilt of his head in question, as if to confirm this is what Damian is talking about before he tries to make his own account. It looks like Chase is trying, too.

And then there's a Hestrol in the room. Chase's eyes light up, nearly glittering as it fills the space. This is not merely because the Pokemon vs people ratio has now dramatically shifted in his favor, but Hestrol are an uncommon sight, even for the fishermen that report on them.

Pikachu raises her paw in the air in greeting. "Piii Pikachu!" But she knows better than to rush into a timid Pokemon's space. Instead she approaches Nina and gives her a bandage with a Pikachu face on it. (Don't worry Nina, everyone else got one.)

When Ida says that Chase and his Pokemon might already have something Giovanni doesn't, he tabs out of social media registration for another bit of text. This one comes faster than the others.

<his pkmn care about him>
<that makes it worse>

Not better.

<Pose Tracker> Timu Guado has posed.

        "Stroooo~" The gentle whale song fills the space in equal parts greeting and inquisitiveness.
 
        "Coooo~" Fuecoco tries to imitate it. He doesn't do a great job. That's okay, Hestrol couldn't imitate Fuecoco very well either. It's never quite clear what common language between Pokemon is, other than that they appear to do so between themselves anyway.
 
        Nina was there for that catch, and she may remember - vividly - how difficult a time Timu had in coming to grips with how severe the situation was and what needed to happen. Here, in this space, she seems to be doing far, far better than some time before.
 
        "She did," Timu says, and Nina can see! Hestrol's right there, she's still alive, and she's still got some marks where she was hurt prior.
 
        "I'm... I'm glad that..." she can't really finish it, as her Hestrol friend sings a lower, more somber little tune. She shakes her head, trying to get her composure. "I'll take good care of her," she says. "All right... Hestrol, let's... let you back inside your ball, okay?" She holds out the ball, and just like that, the large whale-shark creature disappears peacefully in a beam of light, though some tension remains in Timu's body language as she pulls them back in.
 
        "Oh, I'm sorry," Timu snaps to attention, "here, I should..." She reaches inside a pocket, producing... her own Trainer ID, with that same 'VISITOR' stamp.
 
        "I'm Timu Guado," she says to Chase, before folding her hands in front of her and slightly bowing. "I'm pleaased to meet you and your friends."
 
        She takes in a breath at one point at Josie mentioning about someone claiming to have the answer, and about some great plan worth throwing one's entire being behind. 

<Pose Tracker> Damian Tamaoka has posed.

'Giant kitty-kat'...? Damian frowns a little at that description. What kind of pokemon... The man with the plan... Giovanni?

Does he really just see pokemon as tools? Could Joy really look up to someone like that...?

Damian catches himself trying to piece together what happened and forces himself off of that train of thought before he starts asking questions. Or just... stressing himself out further.

"N-nice to meet you, Miss Josie," he offers, though still isn't quite looking right at her as he says that.

Damian will keep cuddling Marigold as long as he can. It really is helping him stay calm. He hugs her gently, occasionally petting through her fur or scritching at an ear.

He blinks as Nina suddenly appears. "O-oh, hey, N-Nina..." He's got an Eevee in his lap, which is a change from having Purri always around.

He sees the way Chase's pikachu nuzzles against his leg, how it helps Chase take a small breath, and that sight is so achingly familiar to him. That would be him and Purri right now, if Marigold wasn't subbing in for her. But seeing Chase smile at Ida's Trainer ID, Damian fishes his own out to show as well. (Not an adult, not a visitor, naturally.)
 
And that blush... Damian sits up, "O-oh, sorry, i-i's okay," he says, trying to be reassuring. But he nods when he sees the account creation screen. "Y-yeah, that's it! But we could also j-just trade phone numbers, if you wanted, if you don't have an account. I-I just thought, it might be helpful, is all..."
 
That last bit of text is a bit of a gut wrencher, though.

Damian does manage a little smile as Fuecoco tries to imitate Hestrol's whalesong. It's cute. But he observes Hestrol, and also that tension. Maybe he out to ask her about that later, when there's not as many people around. 

<Pose Tracker> Violet Salazar has posed.

<his pkmn care about him>
<that makes it worse>

appears on Chase's screen. "I see," says Violet. "We need to find a way to capture his pokemon first, keep them safe, then defeat him..." That's a tall order. She can appreciate the irony -- the stealer of Pokemon having his own stolen. It wouldn't really be stealing if it's for their own good, right? 

<Pose Tracker> Josephine Lovelace has posed.

        "Nice meeting you to, kid. ...Did you say your name and all and I missed it?" she remarks to Damian, a slight frown twisting her lips.

        Kid seems pretty nervous, she registers distantly. But maybe that's expected after what happened.

        Her commentary earns a frown; Chase doesn't have to provide anything via the screen for her to more or less get the gist of what's on his mind. ...The people of Energy Nede seem to be pretty unused to this sort of thing. Josie, who until fairly recently had been fairly close to the inner circle of Odessa (before she'd had enough of her charade and then subsequently found out that she had very many reasons for murdering her former boss) is perhaps more familiar with them than most.

        She'd never truly been one of the faithful, true -- but she'd played the part of someone who was for years: her sister. And so she's got a pretty good idea about how that would work. How that would appeal to people who hadn't seen the thing for what actually lurked beneath. Given Team Rocket's numbers, this Giovanni's been more than a little successful. And even if he's on to something...

        Josie has her own reasons for not wanting to play ball.

        And likely, more than a few of her fellow Filgaians and Lunarians have been similiarly burned, by the looks of it. Take Timu there -- Josie's gaze tracks her way -- or Ida herself.

        Chase isn't done though.

        "...Even a bad man can love his mama," Josie quips, shaking her head. "Or vice versa." 

<Pose Tracker> Ida Everstead-Rey has posed.

        "Nina," Ida says, offering the other Trainer a smile as she slips in. She returns her ID to her wallet, because she doesn't need it at the moment, and--more importantly--she needs both arms to properly cuddle Nidoran. "You're so shy, aren't you? But you're a good friend to Chase, just like Pikachu, and..." She glances at Ponyta. She doesn't know that one off the top of her head, and fishing out her phone means less cuddling for Nidoran.

        Ida, for the record, put her Pikachu bandage on her cheek. Pikachu solidarity.

        Marigold continues to soak up Damian's attention like a little sponge. She doesn't have Purri's experience, but it seems like he just needs another living being to hold, right now. Ida's sour face returns at Violet's suggestion--pragmatic, yes, but also the sort of thing that's practically begging for disaster. Josie explains Ida's feelings... succinctly.

        "How far up do you think he was?" Ida says. "A local boss? The boss's lieutenant? The boss himself?" Ida missed out on most of that thanks to the layout of the lab, and focusing on Peace.

<Pose Tracker> Nina Chiyome has posed.

Pausing for a moment, Nina glances down at the Pikachu and smiles. "Been looking for one of you." Mostly in teasing. She carefully crouches down and takes the offered bandaid and sticks it right over a recent scratch. She gathers enough of them. Then she offers a finger out to offer the pikachu a little scratch under the chin.
 
 She'll let have to go get hers in a minute, but for now this'll do!
 
 She won't make excuses for missing the whale in the room. She's still picking twigs out of her hair.
 
 She offers a wave to the pokemon though! Though she does check Timu again, "Just as long as you're sure." There's clearly something else there.
 
 She does offer the pikachu one of her bandages in return as she then moves to stand up (Hers have little cyndaquils on them.
 
 She retrieves her pokeballs and glances at the collected group before letting out her little Toxel, Johnny. Sure he's an electric type, but she's worried about him getting hurt too!
 
 Damian's given a cheery enough wave, "Yo. You missed the fun here. Got into a fight with a gaggle of eevees." Which is a gross over simplification of things really.
 
 There's a few people here so she keeps her hand up and adds, "Nina. Three of a kind." No she doesn't explain her terrible joke.
 
 "Wait there was someone bigger there? I should have bounced a pokeball off of the back of his head instead.." She grumps. Though she does smile to Ida, "Hey Ida. Sorry for letting her get away. Should have blocked her escape off." She's not.. that big. Nor are her pokemon. Thought's there though!
 
 She does take a stab, "Local boss maybe. Someone trying to make a name?" She's guessing. Hard guessing. 

<Pose Tracker> Chase has posed.

Pikachu gives a delighted, "Chaaaa~" with Nina's attention, smooshing her own cheeks in little circles. Praise and attention received, she is quickly back to Chase's side.

Nidoran is beside himself with praise. Good friend...! He is also doing his best to keep his quills down, but at least Chase has a berry if something goes wrong. Ponyta, meanwhile, looks at Ida like he would explode her with his brain, if he could. (But he's not a Galar variant, so good luck with that, Fuu.)

Timu and Damian both share their IDs, and Chase looks just a fraction more at ease. These Visitor stamps, too... It seems Nede is serious about welcoming them. And they are taking to Pokemon well. Maybe some of them are practiced at the idea. Maybe Chase wasn't able to tame a Sand Worm, but Josie was able to tame a... not-a-Pidove.

Chase squints at his screen in deep concentration as he gets back to making an account. Finally satisfied with something, he nods, and he supplies the screen to Damian, in all it's brand new, none-customized glory (get used to that now). His handle: zappypursuit

Violet makes a suggestion that makes Chase whip around in alarm. He shakes his head vigorously and holds his arms up in an 'X'. Then he's back at his phone, fingers pressing into the screen with increased force and urgency until he can get his words out.

<pkmn get to choose>
<they choose him>

For better or for worse. Maybe it will change, but for now this must be respected, above all else.

But the question of who 'he' was, and what kind of boss. Chase, if you could remember people have names (including yourself) for three seconds...! Chase musters up his memories and his resolve, and he offers a new screen of text to everyone.

<Giovanni>
<the boss>
<leader of Team Rocket>

<Pose Tracker> Timu Guado has posed.

        With space made, Fuecoco leaps along up into a seat near Timu as she sits down again, letting himself into her hands for some affection. It's a mutually beneficial relationship, and he's having a good time with everyone here even as more complex matters of grown-ups misbehaving and immense dangers seem to go over his head... for the most part.
 
        "No," she says, sharply, to Violet's talk about capturing his Pokemon. "...I wouldn't put anyone through that." She closes her eyes as she holds Fuecoco a little closer, but not so close as to rest her chin on his head (that tuft is cute but not always touch-safe).
 
        'Even a bad man can love his mama,' Josie quips. Something about that hits a little close to home, but she keeps it to herself. She has no frame of reference for who they fought, other than 'they were strong' and something about an enormous Hyper Beam from an enormous cat-like Pokemon.
 
        At some point, she accepts the little bandage with Pikachu's face on it if it's handed out, but doesn't stick it on herself. The burns from her fight with Michael have already been dressed, as it is...
 
        '<Giovanni>' '<the boss>' '<leader of Team Rocket>'
 
        "...He must be terrifying," is her final commentary on the matter. 

<Pose Tracker> Violet Salazar has posed.

Ah. Violet's plan has been officially vetoed by people who know more about Pokemon than her.... "We'll have to try another plan," she says. "Though I'd prefer not to harm his Pokemon, if possible..." It may be impossible. 

<Pose Tracker> Damian Tamaoka has posed.

Stealing Giovanni's pokemon to stop his plans... Damian frowns at that thought. Does stealing pokemon from someone who wants to steal pokemon really make that act okay...?

"O-oh, I'm Damian," he says to Josie. He did say it, but... he's also often a bit softspoken and hesitant in his speech sometimes, so he doesn't really think twice about repeating himself.

Joining a group while not entirely believing in its principles. Haha, who would... who would ever do that... (Gosh it's like kids can make irrational and impulsive decisions sometimes or something.)

Damian was impressed by Giovanni the first (and only) time he met the Team Rocket leader though... He even knew his name! That kind of consideration definitely makes an impression.

Marigold is doing an excellent job! Something warm and cuddly to focus on really was exactly what Damian needed to keep spiraling into stress and worry. Ida names Pikachu and gets stuck on... "Ponyta," he says, softly.

How high up was he? If he's who Damian thinks he was... he bides his tongue, though.

He gives Nina a little wave, and then pales a bit. Missed the fun? "Th-this didn't sound like... fun..." he says, quietly, glancing aside a bit. Then he frowns, and can't help himself from asking, "A gaggle of Eevees...?"

He blinks and makes a very quiet and muted, 'Oh' noise as he realizes what that must mean. And when Nina mentions to Ida about letting her get away...

Maaaaaybe it's time to go.

But first, Chase has an account screen to show him, and he actually lights up at that, momentarily forgetting the stress of his Team Rocket association. "O-oh! Cool! H-hang on." He gives Marigold a gentle pet and then gets his phone out. He opens up PokeLive and a few seconds later, Chase has a friend request from 'Miaw509'.

(His page is pretty custom, though the first thing of note might be that the profile picture is of Damian and a Purrloin--Purri, it will say elsewhere on the page--sharing a selfie photo, with Purri on Damian's shoulder and the two of them rubbing cheeks together.)

He holds his phone screen up to show Chase the pending request. "That's from me," he says.

Though Chase's next set of messages... his breath hitches, and he gives Marigold an extra firm hug for a moment.

And luckily right then his name is called. "Th-thank you, Marigold, b-but I'm going to go check on my Pokemon." He gently sets her down on the floor, and then stands up, shouldering his backpack. "N-nice to see you all, or meet you..."

At the counter Purri leaps from the counter onto his shoulder with an excited purr, and Damian seems to relax significantly. He carefully puts the egg away and picks up his pokeballs--and one of them is, in fact, a Nest Ball, like Ida's, and heads for the exit. 

<Pose Tracker> Ida Everstead-Rey has posed.

        Ida cocks her head as Nina releases one of her Pokemon. Johnny earns a sincere "Awww!" as he manifests.

        Ida hasn't kept a running tally, but she sure feels like she's expressed more visible joy over people's adorble pets in the past month or so than in the rest of her life combined. Perhaps the 'energy' in 'Energy Nede' is cute aggression.

        Ponyta, on the other hand, just seems to feel the regular kind of aggression. Ida makes note of that expression on his face, and turns back to the others. "I'd prefer not to as well," Ida says, "but... they're loyal to him. And I know that... if someone came after me, and my Pokemon felt they could intervene, they would." The considers it a tiny miracle that Sal didn't intervene during the Eluria expedition, but maybe Sal felt Ida had things handled. (And it was cold. It was extremely cold.)

        "Evoi," says Marigold. She looks up at Damian with big, warm eyes, and swishes her tail. As he goes to pick up Purri, she peeks through the door, and waves--not at Damian, but at Purri herself.

        Her Trainer's pretty skittish, but he behaved himself while she was busy. He was very, very brave.

        "The boss," Ida says. She scritches Nidoran behind his horn. "That gives us a name, at least. Thank you, Chase--if he's done any kind of official Training, he might have a paper trail somewhere, something we can track."

        Assuming he hasn't covered his tracks.

        (Giovanni has assuredly covered his tracks. Thoroughly so.)

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