2024-03-30: Locus
- Log: Locus
- Cast: Loren Voss, Sable Aomori, Rena Lanford, Dirk Swordsman, Chase, Elaine, Ida Everstead-Rey, Xantia, Nina Chiyome, Damian Tamaoka, Gwen Whitlock
- Where: Armlock City - Armorer's Way
- Date: March 30, 2024
- Summary: With enough information collected, Solaris makes its first move. Months after the rift appeared between Filgaia and Energy Nede, operatives launch the first assault on a Nedian manufactory. Their target? The elementary technology used in Nedian lives... especially Pokeballs. But they're not likely to make the attempt entirely unhindered.
<Pose Tracker> Loren Voss has posed.
Energy Nede has, by and large, been able to acclimate to a degree towards the ways of their 'visitors'. Nedians are not foolish, after all, and some have even experienced the world(s) on the other side of the rift for themselves. Visitors may casually take to violence and other criminal acts that would leave a Nedian aghast. That all being said, though--
"Just hand it all over. It'll make this easier."
--They had probably not counted on any of the visitors stealing from them, let alone so brazenly. The theft of Pokemon is nothing new, but that's a threat known to come from within their own ranks. The forceful theft of their technology, on the other hand, may be a new development in the clash of cultures.
Armlock is known for being the one place in Energy Nede where weapons and armor are still created, but this isn't the only thing that the city creates: more than a few manufactories for basic technology (most notably, standard Pokeballs among similar tools and devices) are situated within the city walls.
It had been surprisingly easy for Loren's and the team he'd been assigned to walk right in the front door, deploy the Pokemon they'd collected, and start making demands.
If they'd just wanted the equipment, it would have been possible for them, with time and resources management, to collect the funds and requisition it. But as far as their R&D's been concerned, this isn't normal technology: it's got something to do with high-level Symbology, which is, traditionally, not an area of focus for Solaris' research. There'd been a scramble among the research silos. Possibly they'd even dragged his father into it -- not that his father would have been able to say anything if he had.
No, to get to the bottom of this, they have to get their hands on the knowledge that underlies the creation of such technology. They need data, and lots of it -- and the machines that can decode it, since it's not as if Solarian and Nedian computer hardware is even remotely compatible with each other.
They had to go to the source for this. Which means... what is basically an armed robbery of a manufacturing site.
They've already pressed past the main lobby, having defeated the security guard's Pokemon, and now face off against the site overseer in what appears to be the main office (it's certainly big enough for it). The overseer's eyes are wide in shock, and slowly they reach for a panel atop their desk. It's probably a panic button or alarm, or something, he figures.
"Don't try it," Loren sighs.
"Duns," says his Dunsparce grimly, and that's the statement of the moment, Loren thinks. ...Great, are they going to have to deal with this one in another Pokemon battle first?
DC: Ida Everstead-Rey switches forms to Ida of the Method! DC: Ida Everstead-Rey switches forms to Naturalist Ida and the Battling Menagerie!
<Pose Tracker> Sable Aomori has posed.
Sable Aomori remembers her mother's stories about the Armlock Gym, but that Gym is long-closed now. Armlock itself is a curiosity in many ways... Sable can't help but look at the weapons in their shops with a mix of emotions. She knows that her friend Nina is going to be using some of them, soon. To fight with her own hands...
But Sable still intends to fight by leading her Pokemon. She wasn't expecting to need to today, but that will be a surprise for the next few moments. Instead, Sable was planning to visit the Pokeball factory... Except--
"Hello?" Sable wonders, a dark-haired girl in a black, fur-lined jacket stepping into the factory, past the foyer. "Is anyone here...?"
She has a number of Pokeballs at her belt. She is... here. She is--
Meddling.
Then she sees through the windows of the main office. "!"
"Hey..."
Behind the door is suddenly a very tall young woman of about sixteen or so, opening it to look upon Loren. "Mr. Voss," she says.
"...What are you doing?"
And beside Sable, as she asks this question of Loren, is a small, disapproving blue penguin.
<Pose Tracker> Rena Lanford has posed.
It wasn't so long ago that Dias and her agreed Armlock would be the place to go to understand Nedian Weaponcraft. It is - a rare art, due to the culture of Nede. Warfare is supposed to be unthinkable.
Thus...
"Hey so I'm a Symbologist. And I'm looking for a new weapon. Would you happen to have anything like this?"
Rena abruptly just puts some oversized metallic knuckles down on the counter. The man knit his brow in confusion, "What kind of weapon even is this? Do you just - punch with it?"
"Exactly!"
"Who even does that!?"
Rena looks at him for a few long moments, then points at herself, "Me?"
"But you said you were a symbologist?"
"Yes?"
"That's crazy!"
"How is that crazy!?"
"What self-respecting symbologist just punches people?"
"THIS ONE!"
Shorty just watched back and forth for a long while in confusion his neck slightly turning to whoever was speaking at the time.
In the end - Rena leaves the lobby thoroughly frustrated, though she did eventually finally place a commission for a specialized order, which required her to leave her weapons behind so they could design something better.
"Okay Shorty - maybe we go check out their gym and-"
Rena Lanford looks up, and around at the huge number of security guards who are defeated, and the standoff. Her eyes float over to Loren with the Dunsparce.
And just what is she gonna do in this situation, where she just left her weapon behind?
"Sic 'em boy."
The Ashound is suddenly off like a streak, moving in an arcing quick movement to try and slam into the Dunsparce, "Wait you're that-!"
Rena calls out, despite never having seen him before! Rena yanks out a copy of something from her bag, displaying it- "-Drunk guy!"
-it's one terribly drawn wanted poster by Althena's Guard of Loren Voss, in goofy caricature style with flushed cheeks and floaty bubbles, wanted for public intoxication.
Yet somehow she recognized him immediately from it, which is likely very frustrating!
"If you're stealing from these people for booze money - I'll stop you!"
GS: Rena Lanford has attacked Loren Voss with Quick Attack! GS: Rena Lanford has gained 1 Combo! GS: Rena Lanford has completed her action. GS: Rena Lanford has canceled their attack on Loren Voss. GS: Rena Lanford has attacked Loren Voss with Quick Attack! GS: Rena Lanford has gained 1 Combo! GS: Rena Lanford has completed her action. GS: CRITICAL! Loren Voss mostly guards Rena Lanford's Quick Attack for 96 hit points! GS: Riposte applied to Rena Lanford!
<Pose Tracker> Dirk Swordsman has posed.
After the Daihaku festival, Dirk Swordsman felt the need to resume his training. Perhaps he had come to the festival after failure to capture an Oshawott and had to - well - get back to the grind. There's a hotspot northeast of Armlock City, but the attempts so far have been...
Otterly unsuccessful.
After a day of making swampland recon, Dirk and his squad had been loitering in the Pokemon Center eating an early dinner. The mood is kind of low, probably because of the events of the festival, which have made even Charcadet slightly droopy.
One of the local officers gets a radio transmission. Dirk doesn't speak up, although Farfetch'd looks up from his bowl of peas to listen in. Some kind of report. Inconclusive: a technician fleeing, reporting something garbled.
There's a location remarked.
Dirk glances at Farfetch'd.
The two of them nod at each other. (Chespin, wanting to be included, also nods.)
SOON
Farfetch'd stands on a ledge and points his (slightly browned, even now) leek at the sign that says GUESTS - CHECK IN WITH SECURITY.
Chespin and Charcadet nod.
"Cufant," says Cufant, who is also coming inside because Cufant is APPROXIMATELY the size of a human.
"Yeah," Dirk says. "That ain't good."
RIGHT NOW
Stomping footsteps are trudging down the hallway. They are picking up the pace.
"yo hold up"
Faster, faster.
"i said hold up! smdh!"
Faster faster faster faster faster THOOM
A Cufant charges in through the doorway, trumpeting in aggression and immediately smashing forwards and into a desk!! The desk is approximately between Cufant and Loren/Dunsparce; the desk, struck by a half-galloping 200-pound mass of living copper elephlesh, cracks somewhat and topples backwards. This slows Cufant enough to trumpet in aggression!!
Dirk shows up immediately after. "YO ROCKETS GET ON THE GROUND RIGHT NOW!!" he shouts, largely occuluded by the rearing Cufant. ("Hi," he says to Sable. Chespin says "Ches!" to Rena.)
GS: Dirk Swordsman has attacked Loren Voss with Cufant - Bulldoze! GS: Dirk Swordsman has gained 1 Combo! GS: Dirk Swordsman has completed his action.
<Pose Tracker> Chase has posed.
"Piii Pikachu pi Chachu~"
Pikachu happily waddles through the lobby, suspiciously without Chase, chewing on a round mochi treat between her cheerful singing. Her tail waggles back and forth as she makes her way along before she nonchalantly hops up onto the overseer's desk. She waves in greeting with her entire stubby arm. "Pika!" She spots Loren and repeats the exact shame before before offering him her half chewed on mochi ball.
She pauses. She looks between the overseer and Loren, then to Dunsparce, and the gears in her little Pikachu head turn as she continues nibbling her treat.
She drops it, still looking at Loren.
In another blink, Pikachu pulls out
A GUN
Chase sprints past the fallen guards and dives for his Pokemon, grabbing hold of the firearm just before Pikachu starts fanning the hammer so that all the bullets shoot straight up into the ceiling. ... And splatters it with paint balls.
He heaves a sight of relief in realizing this, still red in the face from breathlessness and embarrassment alike. Then he looks to Loren and blinks.
Wait.
GS: Chase has attacked Loren Voss with :3?! GS: Chase has gained 1 Combo! GS: Chase has completed his action.
<Pose Tracker> Elaine has posed.
Not even a second behind Chase is a fluffy brown Eevee chirping in panick till Chase has Pikachu in his arms. Veevee looks visibly relieved as she sits down beside Chase before turning her head to look up at Loren also in confusion.
A few seconds behind this trio comes Elaine barging in focusing on Chase and Pikachu, a look of relief on her face as she sees how the situtation is till it falls flat as she realizes what the state of the office here is. "Umm... Are we interrupting something?" Elaine asks in a polite voice tilting her head slightly to the side as she stares a bit wide eyed around the room only just beginning to catch up on everything she saw on the way in.
Without warning, one of Elaine's pokeballs bounces off her strap releasing in a red beam one angry screeching Mankey that hurls itself across the room at the target of everyone else's hostility fiercely throwing swiping claws at Loren's Dunsparce. "Kukyu! Stop that!" Elaine shouts, a split second to late.
GS: Elaine has attacked Loren Voss with Fury Swipe! GS: Elaine has completed her action. GS: CRITICAL! Loren Voss critically fails to guard Dirk Swordsman's Cufant - Bulldoze for 132 hit points! GS: Cripple applied to Loren Voss! GS: CRITICAL! Loren Voss mostly evades Chase's :3? for 0 hit points! GS: Reaction switch bonus! Loren Voss gains 1 additional Combo! GS: FP up! Reaction bonus!
<Pose Tracker> Ida Everstead-Rey has posed.
Ida is in Nede on business. Eleanor is busy in Adlehyde, talking with Cecilia about some very delicate political matters--but somebody needs to tell the leaders of Energy Nede that there's a war erupting in Ignas. So far, she's managed to get in touch with an assistant to the secretary of the Chief of Police of the Greater Kanto Region, who is also on business. She's in Armlock. And Ida was on her way to meet her when she saw a technician running out of a manufactory, cradling a cellphone in one hand and a Pokeball in the other. Something about Team Rocket...?
Thankfully, she's not alone! With Gwen by her side, Ida makes her way through the office. As Cufant goes thundering past, she presses herself against the wall, eyes widening. She recognizes this one, though, largely by virtue of Dirk, chasing after. She follows. And at the end of the trail...
Ida skids to a halt, hand instinctively going for where Devil's Due would rest, if she had it on her person. A last-second correction moves it to a Pokeball on her belt, instead. "You!" she growls, trying to lock eyes with Loren--only for absolute mayhem to erupt. "Drop it!" Ida shouts, even though Phwee is not her Pokemon and Chase probably(??) has it handled. Phwee fans the hammer, no small feat given her tiny, precious pawsies, and--
Splat.
Is that... paint? Ida stares for a moment.
She shakes her head. "He's not a Rocket!" Ida says to Dirk--and by extension, the others--her voice an accusatory snarl. "Whatever your masters want here, you're not welcome!" she says, turning to Loren.
GS: Ida Everstead-Rey has attacked Loren Voss with Ida used THREATEN! GS: Ida Everstead-Rey enters a Counter stance! GS: Ida Everstead-Rey has gained 2 Combo! GS: Ida Everstead-Rey has completed her action.
<Pose Tracker> Xantia has posed.
Armlock is an interesting city. While still distinctly Nedian, it feels a bit more Filgaian than most, in Xantia's estimation. She may be here mostly for Pokemon training purposes, but it was still a worthwhile trip, just to see a different side than all the other places she visited were presenting.
...Wait, no, that's not right. She's here mostly to keep an eye out for Wise Men activity. She'd been focusing on her Pokemon so much that it almost slipped her mind, but that was the original reason for traveling out this way, determining the likelihood of an attack happening there. That much was kind of a doomed venture though, she hasn't been able to discern enough of a pattern to guess at what they might be after.
And yet... the signs of a disturbance draw her to one particular establishment. Did she somehow manage to time her visit just right?! She spends zero seconds considering her actions before bursting through the doors, without much of a guess of what she might be running into. It doesn't matter, she can improvise.
Or so she thought, freezing two steps into the building. She immediately recognizes who these people are with, and it matches none of her expectations. She takes a deep breath, actively fighting her own impulses and forcing herself to stay calm. But she will make her dismay known verbally.
"Really, Solaris? Here? You're making a move here?"
Typically, Xantia would be charging right in for a savage beatdown. However... the incident with Michael of the Wise Men lingers in her mind, where she lost control and ended up contributing to the collateral damage in a way. And besides, she hasn't been training her Pokemon for nothing. Following Nede's ways of fighting as much as possible while in Nede had been her intention.
...Why'd it have to be Solaris, though? Even if they're employing Pokemon of their own... that impulse to violently take them down is powerful indeed. It's kind of a relief that others are coming in to show their displeasure with the situation with their Pokemon. Makes it easier for her to follow suit. A Pokeball goes flying.
"Go, Pawmi!"
The electric Pokemon that looks kind of like a little bear but is in fact a large mouse appears on top of a counter, and immediately looks around in distress. So many people, what are they all doing, is there danger?? Xantia's voice brings Pawmi to attention.
"Pawmi! Give the nice people a hug!"
Pawmi's face lights up. Nice people! With a cheerful "Miii!", the Pokemon leaps at the closest Solarian, attempting to latch onto them. If successful, they get a friendly nuzzle... the electic sacs on the Pokemon's cheek guaranteeing a pretty nasty shock in the process.
...What, Pokemon battles are supposed to be between Pokemon? Well, sure, but this isn't one of those yet, Pawmi's just being nice!
Meanwhile, Xantia crosses her arms, not approaching further, but directing her ire towards Loren by means of a verbal taunt. "Resorting to petty thievery from yet another world? How glorious Solaris has fallen."
<Pose Tracker> Nina Chiyome has posed.
Nina's got reasons for being here! Mostly in that she's found herself not wanting to have the materials she's been gathering crafted here. Somewhere in her head she's decided one of the other worlds would be better suited for the forging she wants done. She can't put her finger on why. In the meantime though, a wooden weapon is.. a detriment to her goals.
The tools she has aren't up to the task. And she needs to train more, both herself and her pokemon. Step one is swapping out wood and rope.
She hasn't told anyone she was doing this. She's also still Nina at heart and that means she's still a bit goofy and it's hard to stay brooding on something too long.
Besides, she's covered in a mishmash of colors from her fingers and up her arms. There's a smudge or two under her cheek. It wasn't done locally, she's not too worried. She's also wearing her usual outfit and looks like she tried to get that paint gone, but eh, what can you do?
She'd been picking through a few options, playing with tonfa and nunchaku for a moment. She.. didn't hit herself with the latter, but she cautiously puts them away. Especially as the Sneasel riding her shoulder made a rather distressed sound as soon as she even attempted it.
She just misses Sable slipping to the side as she puts the tonfa back and continues down.
"You can hide them better" She pipes up, half listening to the guy ask why a caster would want to just punch things. "Makes them a good backup option if all else." It's distracted. She's looking at claws now, fist adjacent! The sneasel is making a few approving noises. She's clearly thinking they're appropriate. This gets a poke from Nina, "Maybe I'll learn a few tricks from you later."
There's a lot of familiar faces kicking around though and she idly pulls gloves from her pockets and slides them on, covering up the paint on her hands at least. These people might call her out unlike most passerby!
There's a brief scowl, how'd she miss that? Lost in her own little world. Maybe she should start at the ground up. Focus and direct herself.
Which is why she jerks her head and is half-way to pointing with her sneasel leaping off in a pretty flip and sprinting-... "Paint?" She mutters, looking up. Then she slowly looks for the source of those paintball guns..
DC: Xantia switches forms to Crush Girl Xantia Wants To Battle!!
GS: Xantia has attacked Loren Voss with Nuzzle! GS: Xantia has gained 3 Combo! GS: Xantia has completed her action. GS: Loren Voss mostly guards Elaine's Fury Swipe for 41 hit points! GS: Reaction switch bonus! Loren Voss gains 1 additional Combo!
<Pose Tracker> Damian Tamaoka has posed.
Damian was... not in a good place, at the moment. He'd gone to help Team Rocket steal a pokemon--and a beloved pokemon, at that. He'd unavoidably been identified, and not just identified, identified by people he considered friends. They'd been hurt, shocked, disappointed, angry... and Damian couldn't blame them one bit. He wasn't feeling too great himself.
And they'd still failed, too. He should be happy about that, that an innocent pokemon wasn't stolen through his efforts... but that also meant he'd failed in his mission.
All of Damian's pokemon had had a lot of grooming after that night. Both as Damian tended to their wounds,a nd as a form of therapy for Damian himself.
But today he had a simpler task, and one that wasn't immediately problematic--one that, for all Damian knew, could be completely innocent. (Hurrah for plausible deniability!) He'd been sent to Armlock to pick up a special order of pokeballs for Anne, something that could very plausibly be part of her behavioral research and that was the thin hope Damian was clinging to in order to put his mind at ease.
He'd actually been here for a while, sitting around with Purri in his lap playing games on his phone as he waited for the package to be put together. He'd checked in with security--he had a visotor's badge on a lanyard and everything.
And then they'd gotten up to go get a snack out of a vending machine, mulling over choices when--
Loren and his forces had walked right into the office, like nobody had tried to stop them. Purri's ear perked up, and she let out a quiet meow to alert Damian, who had looked--and then turned pale, pressing himself against a wall for cover.
They don't look like they should be here...
He hates the thought of fighting, but... this is good fighting, right? They don't look like Nedians, they're attacking his planet, it's... it's okay to fight these guys, and then... he can be helping. Right? Attacking a Visitor misbehaving--who even has a pokemon out--is a good action and free of any moral quandries or dubious implications. Right? Right.
(Also he really doesn't want to let Anne down a second time, even if he's telling himself the special pokeball isn't for nefarious Team Rocket purposes.)
He takes a deep breath, and charges into the main office room, "L-leave them alone!"
--Right as Dirk, Chase, Elaine, and Nina are making their entry. (And Sable, and Ida, and Xantia, but they weren't there, to see him with that uniform on.) His eyes go wide and he freezes, hoping that in silence he won't be noticed. (You just shouted a thing, though...)
But he's not wearing the black Team Rocket uniform with the red R on it today--he's in his usual purple hoodie, brown shorts, and black sneakers. Meanwhile, Purri jumps down from Damian's shoulder and lets out a ferocious hissing noise right at Loren and Dunsparce.
GS: Damian Tamaoka has attacked Loren Voss with Growl! GS: Damian Tamaoka has gained 1 Combo! GS: Damian Tamaoka has completed his action.
<Pose Tracker> Gwen Whitlock has posed.
Ida is here on business. Naturally, it being a business trip, the best option is to have a Gwen along. Though that isn't just entirely a joke-- being a courier, there's been many sides she's been witness to. Plus, it felt like Voltie needed some time to frolic around the fields of his homeland.
.... He mostly just stayed on Gwen's head, content to sort though her curls, giving the Cufant a polite show of threat with his mandibles as it goes running past. Yes, the cufant was scared away by his display. Completely.
Running in after Ida and scanning around, Gwen balks openly as she notices Loren there.
On one hand, Loren went out of his way to warn Gwen of Leah's possible interest in any trace of the Stranger's ether, by using Azoth, no less. On the other hand, she had to watch Azoth go, as the Fiends' mission in Ruid ended.
And on the other other hand, she probably should at least act like she and Loren are enemies, because, technically.... they are, right now. Plus, native Nedians like Chase (and Rena, technically) are here, and she'd like to ensure this Solaris business doesn't ruin their day.
Gwen siddles over to Ida to try to pass a whisper. "That's the guy who tried t'warn me." Which is not a vote in Loren's vote exactly, as that sets him up with many other crimes, including, well, he was the same person who kidnapped Azoth, on top of many other deeds.
But it bears repeating, just to ground Ida.
Then, Gwen considers Rena's poster, because, how can you not? "Holy cow, y'got nabbed for that? Sheesh, that don't look a thing like you, either! That's clear defamination, right there." She can't quite help herself, after all.
GS: Gwen Whitlock has completed her action. GS: Loren Voss mostly evades Ida Everstead-Rey's Ida used THREATEN for 0 hit points! GS: Reaction switch bonus! Loren Voss gains 1 additional Combo! GS: FP up! Reaction bonus! GS: CRITICAL! Loren Voss critically fails to evade Xantia's Nuzzle for 120 hit points! GS: Misery adds Shieldbreak! GS: Shieldbreak applied to Loren Voss! GS: Hyper and Mighty applied to Xantia! GS: Loren Voss mostly guards Damian Tamaoka's Growl for 0 hit points! GS: Reaction switch bonus! Loren Voss gains 1 additional Combo! GS: Weaken applied to Loren Voss!
<Pose Tracker> Loren Voss has posed.
'Mr. Voss', Sable says. ...Wait, wasn't she the one who...
Loren looks at her for what feels like a long moment. "...It's complicated," he settles for, taking the coward's way out of this.
AND THEN, THINGS HAPPEN
AS THEY DO
THOOM
Loren, in a combination of instinct, training, and pure luck, leans sharply backwards, a shimmering wall of force surrounding himself and Dunsparce. One of the Solarian agents with him, though, are not as lucky: they're on the other side of the desk as a Cufant slams into it and sends it toppling backwards. They're out like a light: stars and tweeting birds might as well be circling their heads.
The overseer, also spared a terrible fate if simply by chance alone, turns their head towards their apparent saviors. "...Did the Jennies send you?" And without even needing to press the security alert button, at that!
But it's not like the other agent that had come with Loren for this purpose fares much better. Even as they reach for their own Pokeball -- how many Solarians have Pokemon partners now, exactly -- in comes Xantia's Pawmi, and aww, how cute, it wants to Nuzzle! Which would be sweet in any other circumstance, but in this one just ends with the agent screaming bloody murder before collapsing to spasm and twitch on the floor. Again, it's just Loren's luck that he was further away from the hole in the office wall than the other guy.
"..."
Well, that all happened. Loren stares at those here gathered for a long, long moment. His gaze turns pointedly down at his extremely stunned and definitely out of commission squadmates (getting bulldozed by a desk that a Cufant slammed into or shocked by Pawmi tends to do that to you) before returning to the interruption of the moment. No wonder Command keeps sending him to do these sorts of things alone. He huffs out an extremely aggrieved sigh.
"...Why are you people even here?" he asks, spreading his arms out to his sides as if to underscore the terrible extent that this has personally inconvenienced him. Why does it always end up like this?
For an instant, he debates whether he should even try to correct Dirk's assumption, just staring up at the young man (who he has also, uh, received aid from before; awkward). In the end he doesn't, and perhaps this is just as well, because Ida does it for him.
"Say whatever you want," he tells her. "You're the one dragging this out. They're soon joined by Rena, who is quick to act.
Dunsparce, for her part, prepares herself for the incoming attack, curling up into a defensive stance before Rena's Ashound's rapid strike connects across her shell!
But Rena appears to have recognized him from somewhere and immediately, Loren has squared up, defensive. He doesn't think he remembers her! Where--
She pulls out a wanted poster. From Lunar. When he got arrested there the first time. His name's not even on it. She still recognized him.
Loren looks like a man who has just died inside. "--That doesn't even look like me!" he belts out, going so far as to lean forward. "And where did you even get that?! It's been years since-- I mean, that's not-- just shut up!" he settles for as even Gwen interjects, closing his eyes tightly and letting his arms hang at his side.
A chirp from the overseer's desk (not the one that slammed into a couple of Solarian agents, it was a different desk) prompts him to turn his head. One of their Pokemon? But that's as far as the thought gets before PIKACHU PULLS A GUN and this simple act makes Loren backpeddle in a hurry even as Chase intervenes into their immediate vicinity and a series of shots go off against the ceiling. ...Paint?
"Why," Loren asks, if to the universe at large.
Elaine's Mankey throws itself free of its Pokeball just about, lashing out in a series of blows for Loren's trusty Dunsparce. "Spa--!" she cries out, her tail twitching madly.
Loren narrows his eyes. "Tch." There's a lot of them in here, and there's only one of him. He's given to understand that battle etiquette typically forbids more than one at a time, but--
"Go!"
His hands move swiftly: he fields his remaining Pokemon one after the other. A rather impish-appearing Alolan Graveller, a somewhat sad-seeming Zubat, and Clefairy who just seems happy to be here. Four. He has four -- but will it be enough against the lot of them? Well, it's not like he's planning to lose after going this far.
Leave them alone, Damian calls out, and Loren fires back with a snippy, "I'm not hurting them." He's just applying a little leverage-- which, well. Damian is opting to apply right back with a ferocious hiss in Dunsparce's direction. "...Sparce," Dunsparce remarks, sounding a little bit uncertain about this. "...It'll be alright," Loren says, though the frown he's gained might suggest otherwise.
Xantia's remark seems to have struck home, though. "--Shut up! It's not theft, it's--" he starts then stops. "Graveller, use Thunder Punch!"
Graveller does not use Thunder Punch. Graveller curls itself up and, gaining speed, rolls forth as a terrible crushing boulder again and again and again!
Loren meanwhile makes a face. "Fine," he says at last. Fine, he'll go with that! "Zubat, get them with Supersonic! And, uh..."
"Duns," says Dunsparce, who is already on it, lobbing a series of surprisingly muddy projectiles at Rena's Ashound and Dirk's Cufant.
"...Right. Clefairy, you too!"
"Fa~" sings Clefairy as he goes directly for fisticuffs and aims to sock one for Damian's Purri directly! It's at this moment that Zubat, lingering towards the back as if uncertain, finally lets loose with a scream that could shatter glass. It's unfortunate that Elain's Mankey and Nina's Sneasel are close enough to that particular point of origin.
GS: Loren Voss has attacked Loren Voss with Defense Curl! GS: Loren Voss has gained 3 Combo! GS: Loren Voss accepts Loren Voss's Defense Curl for 0 hit points! GS: Shield applied to Loren Voss! GS: Cover applied to Loren Voss! GS: Loren Voss has activated a Boss Action! GS: You have activated the Boss Action Extend! GS: Loren Voss has attacked Rena Lanford with Mud-Slap! GS: Loren Voss has attacked Dirk Swordsman with Mud-Slap! GS: Loren Voss has gained 1 Combo! GS: The Force Action Extend is already active! GS: Loren Voss spends 1 Combo on Interrupt! GS: Loren Voss has attacked Nina Chiyome with Supersonic! GS: Loren Voss has attacked Elaine with Supersonic! GS: Loren Voss has gained 1 Combo! GS: Loren Voss has attacked Damian Tamaoka with Pound! GS: Loren Voss has gained 1 Combo! GS: Loren Voss spends 5 Combo on Headshot and Gatling, loading 3 into Gatling! GS: Loren Voss has attacked Xantia with Rollout! GS: Loren Voss has attacked Chase with Rollout! GS: Loren Voss has attacked Ida Everstead-Rey with Rollout! GS: Loren Voss has attacked Sable Aomori with Rollout! GS: Loren Voss has attacked Gwen Whitlock with Rollout! GS: Loren Voss has completed his action. GS: CRITICAL! Sable Aomori mostly evades Loren Voss's Rollout for 112 hit points! GS: FP up! Reaction bonus! GS: COUNTER! Chase counterattacks Loren Voss with :3! GS: Chase fails to charge Loren Voss's Rollout for 196 hit points! GS: Dirk Swordsman critically fails to evade Loren Voss's Mud-Slap for 52 hit points! GS: Blind applied to Dirk Swordsman! GS: FP up! Power Burst! GS: COUNTER! Rena Lanford counterattacks Loren Voss with Ember! GS: Rena Lanford fails to charge Loren Voss's Mud-Slap for 55 hit points! GS: Blind applied to Rena Lanford! GS: FP up! Power Burst and Reaction bonus! GS: COUNTER! Ida Everstead-Rey counterattacks Loren Voss with Marigold Vibe Check! GS: Ida Everstead-Rey critically fails to charge Loren Voss's Rollout for 236 hit points! GS: Loren Voss mostly guards Chase's :3 for 74 hit points! GS: FP up! Reaction bonus! GS: CRITICAL! Xantia critically fails to evade Loren Voss's Rollout for 243 hit points! GS: COUNTER! Gwen Whitlock counterattacks Loren Voss with Counter Attack! GS: CRITICAL! Gwen Whitlock mostly charges Loren Voss's Rollout for 175 hit points!
<Pose Tracker> Sable Aomori has posed.
Abrubtly, when Cufant charges in, Sable is on the other side of the room. Blink and you'll miss it. Neverthelesss:
"Hi," Sable answers Dirk, with a small smile. The smile disappears when she looks back to Loren. She then blinks twice rapidly when Phwee pulls a gun. "Ah?"
Oh. Paintballs. It seems Chase was at least as surprised...
"I don't think it's Team Rocket," she finally says to Dirk. "You know him too, Miss Ida?" At her authoritative statement that would seem to be the case.
"We're supposed to be welcoming to Visitors, but..." She says it like repeating a mantra--the same way she's said it over and over again since that day.
But apparently Loren Voss is a drunkard, according to Rena, who seems plenty authoritative herself. Sable frowns a little more. "I don't..."
"What's complicated about it?" she finally asks Loren. "It doesn't seem complicated..."
"They didn't," Sable answers the overseer. "I was passing by," Sable volunteers at the quetion. But then Graveler, instead of using Thunder Punch, rolls out against Piplup!! It's... not very effective, but it still surprises Ulpi enough to send him sprawling. "Pip!" he says, squawking in indignity. While he recovers--"Ulpi, over here," she says calmly, and pulls another Pokeball--revealing Artan, the rare Dratini! "Artan," she says, as Dratini begins to float towards Graveler, "Use Twister."
The sinuous young dragon suddenly coils, whirling and whirling in place until a vortex of draconic energy surges towards the Graveler!
"Ulpi," she says. "You're up next."
GS: Sable Aomori has attacked Loren Voss with Twister! GS: Sable Aomori has gained 2 Combo! GS: Sable Aomori's stances have changed to Stoic! GS: Sable Aomori gains 25 THP from her Cautious! GS: Sable Aomori has completed her action. GS: CRITICAL! Loren Voss critically fails to guard Gwen Whitlock's Counter Attack for 195 hit points! GS: Loren Voss mostly guards Rena Lanford's Ember for 57 hit points! GS: Loren Voss mostly guards Ida Everstead-Rey's Marigold Vibe Check for 63 hit points! GS: Elaine marginally guards Loren Voss's Supersonic for 3 hit points! GS: Blind, Drowsy, and Interrupt applied to Elaine! GS: Elaine has lost 2 Combo from Interrupt! GS: CRITICAL! Loren Voss critically fails to guard Sable Aomori's Twister for 136 hit points! GS: Riposte applied to Sable Aomori! GS: Damian Tamaoka critically fails to evade Loren Voss's Pound for 81 hit points! GS: FP up! Power Burst!
<Pose Tracker> Rena Lanford has posed.
"Hey Dirk!" Rena sounds out even as the Chespin tells her - 'Ches!' "-is that a Chespin!?" Rena looks at the Chespin and says, "You are the cutest thing!"
Rena however, unlike most Nedians isn't perturbed by the sight of a Pikachu with a Gun. That seems like a very normal thing for a trainer to teach their Pokemon to do.
When Gwen says it doesn't look a thing like him she is about to refute it - when Loren does the same and she turns the poster back around? "Hmmm? It's very clearly- ... I collect them!?" She tells him in indignation, "I don't see how it's any of your business but I think it's important to understand if the people you come into contact with are career criminals!"
Plus she uses them as art samples for her own art, but as he basically confirms it, "So you admit it! And you're proving the necessity right now!"
Apparently public intoxication is a gateway into Pokemon crimes! You heard it here first folks!
The Dunsparse lobs a muddy projectiles at the Ashound, who yelps, "SHOUUNNNNNNN!" And blindly freaks out as he tries to put his paws up to pull the mud off his eyes, opening his maw and spraying fire at Loren's Dunsparce.
"Shorty! Don't freak out! It's okay! Calm down and mesmerize them with a Tail Whip!"
At Rena's voice, Shorty does- well he's not entirely calm, but he stops trying to scratch the mud off, instead staying in place and, his twin tails suddenly move in arcs where the tips join to form!
A heart!
The tails wave about, the heat swimming off each tail in a heat haze, a mirage of hearts flowing off of them, as it feels like the tail just slows down from the patterns it weaves.
<3<3<3<3<3<3
Apparently it's trying to entrance them to look towards the hypnotic circles its waving about in, leaving them more open to the attacks of others.
"Ash! Ash!" He borks repeatedly as Rena keeps addressing Loren, "It's not too late. Nede has very good resources towards treating habits like yours. If you give up now, I'll put in a good word with the police!"
GS: Nina Chiyome mostly evades Loren Voss's Supersonic for 7 hit points! GS: Blind, Drowsy, and Interrupt applied to Nina Chiyome! GS: Nina Chiyome has lost 2 Combo from Interrupt! GS: Rena Lanford has attacked Loren Voss with Pose A <3 With Tail Whip! GS: Rena Lanford has gained 1 Combo! GS: Rena Lanford gains 5 FP from Gleam! GS: Rena Lanford has completed her action.
<Pose Tracker> Chase has posed.
Chase gives Veevee and Elaine a quick nod. He has secured Pikachu, and the world is safe from pikacrimes -- for now. He'll have to return this gun to its rightful smith later. ...Much later, because it seems there is something afoot...?!
A familiar Cufant barrels into the room and Chase startles back. Dirk is shouting something about Rockets. ...Rockets?!
Chase looks abruptly to Loren. Ida says this man isn't a Rocket. But she does not sound happy that he's here. Xantia gives a noun Chase does not know: Solaris. Oh, she's made a new friend, too... Wait, focus! This Visitor is filled with protests at every turn, which does not clarify matters.
"Pikapi," Pikachu explains, reaching for her gun so she can help Kukyu kick some chu. Chase lifts her up higher above his head as he tries to understand what this whole situation is. Then it gets worse. Chase looks to Damian, shocked, unsure, and there is just too much going on right now until --
A Pokemon battle breaks out in earnest. Chase whistles and Pikachu vaults out of his hands, doing no less than three somersaults in the air before landing elegantly on all fours and delightedly charging into the fray. She cheers and wags her tail while violence breaks out on all fronts, her smile no lessened for being smashed into by a Graveller's Rollout and sent flying, blowing the other Pokemon a worrying kiss as she sails away. She pivots, hitting a wall with all four feet to leap off of it and whips out:
A surfboard. Where does she keep all these objects?!
Her cheeks spark delightedly, but instead of lightning, she conjures water, crashing back down over Graveller's head with the torrent and riding the wave on her board to keep from getting soaked herself.
Chase scrambles back out of the way of the battling proper himself, eyes darting from one person to the next in hope something about this will make sense soon. Nede does not need a third major problem.
GS: Chase has attacked Loren Voss with Splishy Splash! GS: Chase has gained 1 Combo! GS: Chase has completed his action.
<Pose Tracker> Ida Everstead-Rey has posed.
Loren sure looks grievously outnumbered, especially with his two squadmates knocked right out. And the menace in Ida's voice isn't wholly righteous anger--there's something that appeals deeply to her vindictive side about catching a Solarian agent flat-footed. She pulls the Pokeball off her belt, and gives it a little toss-and-catch as she meets Loren's words with a bright, furious glare.
'That's the guy who tried t'warn me.'
Gwen's voice is like a bucket of ice water to the heat of Ida's anger. Loren is a person, even if he's doing Solaris Activities to innocent Nedians. He's even... playing by the local social rules, more or less?
But Ida sees the way Loren's hands move as he prepares--and her eyes widen as he throws the rest of his team onto the field. (Part of her feels ANGRY that a Solarian agent would befriend Pokemon. Four of them? She is truly, irrationally angry.
"Marigo--!" That's all Ida gets out, because Graveller does not, in fact, use Thunder Punch. Graveller slams into her like the rock creature it is, bowling her off her feet. The Pokeball she was about to throw goes flying out of her hand from the impact--it pops open mid-flight, revealing a smallish Eevee wearing a golden scarf.
"Evoi!" Marigold cries, and she immediately headbutts Graveller in retaliation. As she lands in a low stance, tail thrashing behind her, Ida picks herself up and coughs. Graveller knocked the wind out of her. "Quick Attack," Ida says, her voice a little strained. Marigold blurs towards Graveler and throws herself at it in a series of tackles, moving so fast her tiny body becomes a blur!
She still finds the time, in the midst of all that, to pause and wave at Phwee with a tiny Eevee paw.
GS: Ida Everstead-Rey has attacked Loren Voss with Quick Attack! GS: Ida Everstead-Rey has gained 1 Combo! GS: Ida Everstead-Rey has completed her action.
<Pose Tracker> Elaine has posed.
Kukyu takes the Supersonic attack from teh zubat, recoiling backwards a bit. Which is when the Mankey notices that Dunsparce is still standing. Also there are more combatants! If rage had a visible avatar, it would be Mankeys. One can watch it becoming more and more angry by the second until it seems to stop in place.
"Oh no..." Elaine mutters staring at her Pokemon with a bit of concern, a bit of regret, and bit of panic. Kukyu's form begins to glow a bright white hiding its features as it grows in size becoming almost as big if not slightly taller than Elaine. It's wide, Kukyu's legs and arms are thicker. The light fades away revealing the white, fluffy looking ball of rage is still a ball of fluffy rage but now equiped with punching glove like hands and strong legs for kicking with what look like steel bands around its wrists and ankles. A visible vein can be seen bulging over its left eye. "Primeape, the Pig Monkey Pokemon. When Primeape becomes furious, its blood circulation is boosted. In turn, its muscles are made even stronger. However, it also becomes much less intelligent at the same time. Some researchers theorize that Primage remains angry even when inside a pokeball." chimes out Elaine's pokedex from where it hangs by a strap off her pack.
"PRIIIMMMEEEAAAPPPPEEEE!" cries Kukyu as it stomps the ground several times before taking up a fighting position glancing back at Elaine once for instructions.
"Fine. Kukyu use assurance on the Zubat!" Elaine calls out to her now Primeape. Kukyu lets out a cry of "Pri!" as it rush forward in a rage at the Zubat, reaching out with both hands to slap it from two directions. Elaine simply chooses the target closest to Kukyu for him to attack as she rapidly works to get up to speed on what is happening. The man is Voss? He and his associates are wanted for being drunk in public? Then why are they robbing a factory here in Armslock? There's at least 8 people fighting him, 10 including herself and Chase now. And its another mix brawl of people fighting and Pokemon fighting.
"What a mess..." Elaine mumbles as she looks around the room.
GS: Elaine has activated Force Action: Snipe! GS: Elaine has attacked Loren Voss with Assurance! GS: Elaine has gained 1 Combo! GS: Elaine has completed her action.
<Pose Tracker> Xantia has posed.
Imagine someone you just wanted to hug screaming and fainting for no reason that you can determine. Xantia doesn't faint from electric hugs, which was Pawmi's entire frame of reference for what normally happens. The poor Pokemon is left so confused and distressed. Yes, clearly Pawmi is the victim here.
And the bad luck just keeps on mounting, the electric mouse (not that one, the other one) forced to contend with a Graveler, a poor type matchup at the best of times. Had it actually gone through with the Thunder Punch plan, that would have been one thing, but when that big mass of rock goes rolling directly for Pawmi, there is no chance of it ending well. The small Pokemon gets bowled into with enough force to send it flying backwards - though not hitting the ground. Xantia is quick to sprint ahead and catch Pawmi in mid-air, holding the fainted Pokemon close.
"Pawmi... sorry, I shouldn't have sent you out there so poorly prepared..."
The moment of concern passes quickly, in favor of glaring daggers at Loren, who now has her full attention. "...yeah, I get it. You don't steal, you Rightfully Acquire, or whatever nonsense Solaris calls it to make it sound better. Not that I care - it doesn't matter what you want, I'll make sure you don't get it!"
Straightening up, Xantia recalls Pawmi, but before she can go for a second Pokeball, one of them's already opened on its own accord. While no bigger than Pawmi, this Pokemon is ten times more eager, immediately emitting Psychic waves to mentally assault the Graveler while letting out a ferocious battle cry!
"Raaaaaaaalts!"
...Yeah okay it's impossible for such a cute, high-pitched voice to sound at all ferocious. But the amount of effort that was put into trying, you gotta respect that.
Xantia, meanwhile, just shakes her head a little. It's fine, she'll work with what Ralts wants, for now.
GS: Xantia has attacked Loren Voss with Confusion! GS: Xantia has gained 1 Combo! GS: Xantia has completed her action.
<Pose Tracker> Nina Chiyome has posed.
Nina had been off in her own little world, though a familiar voice gets her attention shouting about Rockets followed by, you know, an actual Rocket. She works her fingers, now gloved and her face darkens as she makes her way towards it. She's going to.. what? She's not sure.
That gets thrown out a window though since there's something crazier happening at this very moment. That might explain why her Sneasel had bolted a different direction!
The sneasel in question, (Mavs!) has her claws to her ears at the screeching and doesn't look particularly happy with the zubat fluttering up above.
The sneasel spins, trying to get away and stumbles around for a moment. "Careful Mavs" she calls out, throwing a ball out to support the Sneasel, her froslass appearing with a low, distant sounding cry. Glaring at the zubat right away. "Evil Eye" she calls out while turning to look to the others. Her other hand already snaking to her belt to throw Poppy's pokeball towards Sable, starting with, "I've got your back Sable!" sounding cheery. Then in a split second she glares at Damian. Speaking of Evil Eyes.
She doesn't know about the Solarian thing too well yet, but she recognizes Ida and frowns. Too many people she wants to help, not enough hands. She finally throws Mawile out, trying to cover a few people at once with the closest thing she has to a brick wall to help. Particularly as the Graveler tried to do something. The Mawile at least.. tries to catch up to help. BB and Eddy are dropped at her feet. Reactive in a way!
Sje
<Pose Tracker> Dirk Swordsman has posed.
"He's not?" Dirk answers Ida.
Loren seems nonplussed.
"Because YOU'RE here, butthead!!" Dirk answers Loren, taking the measure of putting a hand on his sword hilt. To Ida, he half-demands, "So what is this guy's deal!? He's --"
Summoning Pokemon! "Ah, hecc," Dirk says as the crowded room combined with the splashing of mud onto Cufant - directly into her EYES - makes her trumpet in dismay! Cufant's confused and can't act! (One round only.)
Fortunately, Dirk was not rolling alone.
In all of the confusion, Chespin makes his move. Several seeds pop out from his shoulders on a low parabolic trajectory aimed towards Dunsparce's long, long body. (LONG, LOOOONG DUN) Each seed sprouds swiftly, aiming to dig into the other Pokemon and drain precious energy. Chespin, after this, grasps his stick with both hands. "Chespin," he says, with low intensity.
(Dirk has not spotted Damian yet.)
GS: Dirk Swordsman has attacked Loren Voss with Chespin - Leech Seed! GS: Dirk Swordsman has completed his action. GS: Loren Voss fails to evade Rena Lanford's Pose A <3 With Tail Whip for 0 hit points! GS: Reaction switch bonus! Loren Voss gains 1 additional Combo! GS: Infect! Debuff durations extended!! GS: Loren Voss's Break Ward may block the effect! GS: Slow applied to Loren Voss! GS: Break blocked!
<Pose Tracker> Nina Chiyome has posed.
Nina had been off in her own little world, though a familiar voice gets her attention shouting about Rockets followed by, you know, an actual Rocket. She works her fingers, now gloved and her face darkens as she makes her way towards it. She's going to.. what? She's not sure.
That gets thrown out a window though since there's something crazier happening at this very moment. That might explain why her Sneasel had bolted a different direction!
The sneasel in question, (Mavs!) has her claws to her ears at the screeching and doesn't look particularly happy with the zubat fluttering up above.
The sneasel spins, trying to get away and stumbles around for a moment. "Careful Mavs" she calls out, throwing a ball out to support the Sneasel, her froslass appearing with a low, distant sounding cry. Glaring at the zubat right away. "Evil Eye" she calls out while turning to look to the others. Her other hand already snaking to her belt to throw Poppy's pokeball towards Sable, starting with, "I've got your back Sable!" sounding cheery. Then in a split second she glares at Damian. Speaking of Evil Eyes.
She doesn't know about the Solarian thing too well yet, but she recognizes Ida and frowns. Too many people she wants to help, not enough hands. She finally throws Mawile out, trying to cover a few people at once with the closest thing she has to a brick wall to help. Particularly as the Graveler tried to do something. The Mawile at least.. tries to catch up to help. BB and Eddy are dropped at her feet. Reactive in a way!
She's splitting her focus between the others, Dirk she knows can handle himself and she considers having Mavs support him in a dirty fighting sort of way.
There's so many new faces and.. somewhat familiar faces and it's clear she wants to try and cover them all! There's that lack of focus again..
GS: Nina Chiyome has attacked Loren Voss with Evil Eye! GS: Nina Chiyome has gained 2 Combo! GS: Nina Chiyome has completed her action.
<Pose Tracker> Gwen Whitlock has posed.
As Voltie notices Dunsparce, he raises his mandibles in greeting, in what is likely a respectful exchange from one warrior of equal standing to another. 'You who I may be battling soon, I greet you as my brother of the battlefield. If today is our day to duel, may it be a glorious dance!'
What it comes out as is: "Joltik!"
Lan is correct in that Loren is very, very fun to tease when the mood is right. Gwen chuckles. "Look, they haven't even bothered doin' one of me, n' I'm openly rollin' 'round with their biggest enemies!"
There is likely one of Gwen, where some poor printmaker was tasked with making someone with Gwen's description into a threatening visage. Perhaps a vicious brute, with spots all over her face like a giraffe, and some idea of 'curly hair' that likely ended up looking more relaxed and well-kept than Gwen's tight short curls. They probably spelled her name Gwyn, as is the proper spelling of the name on Lunar. A person of mystery and strength, a foreigner from another land, summoned by the Lord of Calamity to do her bidding.
Assuming this is the case, Gwen likely would've walked past it, not realizing it was even her.
Seeing Ida's rage abate, the courier quietly warns, with a sobering frown, "He won't hold back in combat when it's an order. No matter how bad his day gets, he knows what happens to people who don't. That's what makes him dangerous."
And here's case #1!
Gwen tries to stop the Graveller from completely rolling over the others using her own body, but ends up being a ramp for the pokemon instead, likely disrupting poor Graveller's trek.
Voltie, having been knocked off Gwen's head in the scuffle, calls out at her as she gets back up with a groan, then turns to face the battle. "... Mn... ow..... Voltie? Y'sure you're okay with this?"
Voltie turns back around and raises his mandibles, which is somehow a different signal than the one he gave Cufant and Dunsparce, as well as one Gwen seems to understand. "Okay, I'll respect that, but c'mon back if you get overwhelmed, 'kay?"
"Joltik!" he says, almost impatient.
Gwen rubs her head. "Oh, yeah, uh, do somethin' electric? One of those dealies. Your choice?" "Joltik!" "Fine, fine, uh, the thing that knocked me over?" Gwen sighs, shaking her head. "Look, I just have trouble willingly askin' an animal to injure another animal, okay? You know that ain't my deal." "Joltiiik." "Okay, we got that out of the way. Let's do it, then." "Joltik!!"
The tiny Joltik fiercely leaps into battle, throwing an electric web towards Graveller!
<Pose Tracker> Damian Tamaoka has posed.
Loren asks a very simple question: what is everyone doing here?
Damian has a very simple answer to that. He holds up his visitor's pass. "I-I have a p-aaapass..." No, Damian, that's not...
But Loren claims not to be hurting anyone, but Damian looks a bit dubious at that. "Th-then why d-did you all barge in here..."
Purri is warm and sweet and gentle with Damian... but she is also terrifically, ferociously, protective of Damian, and her ferocity gets through to Loren's Dunsparce. She is pleased with that--but she's also distracted, at a critical moment, looking back to check on Damian, realizing the terribly awkward position he's charged into--and Clefairy takes advantage of that momentary lapse in attention. She's socked, sent skidding across the office floor with a tumble, though she quickly rights herself again to get back into her battle position.
Damian's still a bit frozen in abject terror--Dirk was shouting about Rockets--and then Damian had to barge in right in the middle and this was supposed to be so simple.
But he catches Chase looking at him and flinches, looking... anguished, really. Nina spots him, too, and he looks away. This is definitely not the time for explanations. "I-I-" he starts to say.
What could he possibly say that would make this better?
"... I-I'm here to h-help," he finishes, quietly.
"P-Purri, come back..."
Purri turns and jumps up to Damian's shoulder, giving her trainer's cheek a nuzzle as he reaches for a different pokeball.
And out comes Rishi, a cute little teddy bear with a pink bow... who takes one look at Clefairy and frowns--somehow, she communicates a frown, even though her eyes are almost always closed.
"R-Rishi, r-rolling kick!"
"Whelp!" Rishi launches herself forward, and then she starts to spin in midair. Her legs lengthen and extend as she rotates, aiming to get multiple kicks in on Clefairy before she's done.
GS: Damian Tamaoka has attacked Loren Voss with Rolling Kick! GS: Damian Tamaoka has gained 1 Combo! GS: Damian Tamaoka has completed his action. GS: Gwen Whitlock has attacked Loren Voss with Electroweb! GS: Gwen Whitlock has completed her action. GS: CRITICAL! Loren Voss mostly guards Chase's Splishy Splash for 70 hit points! GS: Reaction switch bonus! Loren Voss gains 1 additional Combo! GS: Healthy! For entering Condition Green, Chase receives 100 temporary hit points. GS: Chase enters CONDITION GREEN!! GS: Loren Voss critically fails to evade Ida Everstead-Rey's Quick Attack for 141 hit points! GS: Reaction switch bonus! Loren Voss gains 1 additional Combo! GS: Riposte applied to Ida Everstead-Rey! GS: Interrupt! Attack weakened! GS: CRITICAL! Loren Voss critically fails to evade Elaine's Assurance for 130 hit points! GS: Loren Voss mostly evades Xantia's Confusion for 47 hit points! GS: Misery adds Blind! GS: Blind blocked! GS: FP up! Reaction bonus! GS: Loren Voss mostly guards Dirk Swordsman's Chespin - Leech Seed for 49 hit points! GS: Reaction switch bonus! Loren Voss gains 1 additional Combo! GS: FP up! Reaction bonus! GS: Dirk Swordsman drains Loren Voss! Dirk Swordsman gains 27 temporary hit points! GS: Loren Voss mostly evades Gwen Whitlock's Electroweb for 12 hit points! GS: Reaction switch bonus! Loren Voss gains 1 additional Combo! GS: Slow applied to Loren Voss! GS: Jam blocked! GS: Loren Voss mostly guards Damian Tamaoka's Rolling Kick for 27 hit points! GS: Reaction switch bonus! Loren Voss gains 1 additional Combo! GS: Delay and Disrupt applied to Loren Voss! GS: Interrupt! Attack weakened! GS: Loren Voss marginally evades Nina Chiyome's Evil Eye for 115 hit points! GS: Reaction switch bonus! Loren Voss gains 1 additional Combo! GS: Delay blocked!
<Pose Tracker> Loren Voss has posed.
"Do you greet everyone like that?" he snipes at Dirk, moments before things start to really pop off.
"Because I don't think you'd share," he tells Damian unkindly, though it is true: given the choice, Energy Nede certainly wouldn't share critical technology with... Solaris.
And speaking of their motives, technically speaking, it's not the least bit complicated at all! But Loren's response is to just project a particularly prickly sort of silence at Sable, so she may well just have to trust her instincts here. Xantia, who has called him out on this more directly, gets a sharper, "Just you try!" in response.
"Dunsparce," says Dunsparce in response to Joltik. In the language of Pokemon, this is somewhat akin to, 'So that is your intent. Very well. I accept your challenge." Dunsparce hasn't so much moved an inch, let alone opened its eyes.
Perhaps it should have, considering what happens next is that it gets leech seeded. Twitching unhappily, Dunsparce bounds away to find a more advantageous position as its life energy is slowly drained.
Loren has heard and read about Dragon Pokemon by now, of course. And he's seen images of Dratini, so he's got a fairly good idea of what's about to go down as Artan unleashes a vortex of whirling energy. "Evasive maneuvers!" he calls out to Graveller, which... in hindsight was a mistake. There was already one hole in the wall (from the Cufant). Now there's another.
Towards the back corner of the room and inching slowly towards said Cufant-shaped hole, the overseer makes a despairing face. How much is fixing is the office going to take...?
Flame strikes the Dunsparce in retaliation, who does her level best to endure the fire across her steeled shell, but this is but an afterthought considering that Rena keeps on going. She collects them. The wanted posters. Loren looks at Rena as if she's somehow gained two heads and asks, quite seriously, "But why?" Is he the one with a screw loose? Is there some universe where this makes sense and he's just not in it? And more to the point-- "I'm not a career-- I don't know what you think I'm doing!" She's definitely got him flustered, because it's patently obvious what he's up to. And to make matters worse, Shorty's attempts to distract his Pokemon are definitely having an effect, because they seem nothing less than stunned. And this is bad because Chase's Pikachu has just pulled out a surfboard (!?!) and sailed across the room on a rising tide of water to crash into Graveller, which, after getting slammed into by Marigold (Eevees are tough, too) and getting befuddled by Shorty's cute tails, is currently not crashing into things itself. Thank goodness.
"Graveller, Defense Curl!" Loren shouts, and this is too late to stop the tiny Marigold (comparatively) from landing a hit that matters, but might just keep it from getting pummeled by too many other attacks--
Graveller does not use Defense Curl, though.
Graveller, advancing on Chase's Pikachu and Ida's Marigold, uses Thunder Punch.
Loren drags a hand down his face slowly. Pikachu isn't even the right type for that to work out well--!
Congratulations, Zubat! Your persistance has helped MANKEY evolve into PRIMAPE! "Zu," chirps the Zubat inquisitively once the transformation is complete. Loren, for his part, just side-eyes the Primape, as if he were concerned about the direction this is heading. This turns out to be a legitimate one to have, for the Kukyu the Primape's attack connects in spite of the speedy Zubat's attempt to escape, and the smaller Pokemon is sent hurtling into a filing cabinet. "Zubat--!"
"Uba--!" cries out the Zubat, taking wing again out of sheer defiance. Loren's Zubat shudders as if something stuck it and for a moment it might even seem that the hex that rides it will drag it down again. But something within it seems to resonate with that power and a dark, shadowy force erupts at random angles across the room in retaliation.
Meanwhile, Joltie strikes out against Graveller with electrical webbing as Graveller takes a swing at Rena and Ida's Pokemon, and at this display, Dunsparce actually partially cracks an eye. "Duns? Parce," she states simply. She's not mad. She's not even disappointed. But Dunsparce is interested in keeping her word, and so she tunnels with speed under the floorboards. When it erupts, it erupts from under Gwen's Joltik...!
"Clef!!" squeaks out Loren's Clefairy as Damian's Welpwisher lands one kick after another against its tiny arms, raised before it to better protect itself. "Fairy!" it concludes, before it starts to sing. It's a perfectly lovely melody.
It's just also the sort of song that has... particular other properties. Like sleepiness, for one.
"And stop saying I have a drinking problem!" he insists, looking absolutely bewildered at the direction things have gone in.
GS: Loren Voss has attacked Gwen Whitlock with Dig! GS: Loren Voss enters a Counter stance! GS: Loren Voss has gained 3 Combo! GS: Delay expired! GS: Loren Voss has activated a Boss Action! GS: You have activated the Boss Action Extend! GS: Loren Voss has attacked Rena Lanford with Thunder Punch! GS: Loren Voss has attacked Ida Everstead-Rey with Thunder Punch! GS: Loren Voss has gained 1 Combo! GS: That attack doesn't exist. [] GS: Loren Voss has attacked Xantia with Sing! GS: Loren Voss has attacked Chase with Sing! GS: Loren Voss has attacked Sable Aomori with Sing! GS: Loren Voss has attacked Damian Tamaoka with Sing! GS: Loren Voss has gained 1 Combo! GS: Loren Voss has attacked Elaine with Astonish! GS: Loren Voss has attacked Nina Chiyome with Astonish! GS: Loren Voss has attacked Dirk Swordsman with Astonish! GS: Loren Voss has gained 1 Combo! GS: Cover expired! GS: Loren Voss has completed his action. GS: Chase critically fails to evade Loren Voss's Sing for 14 hit points! GS: Reaction switch bonus! Chase gains 1 additional Combo! GS: Drowsy and Hex applied to Chase! GS: Elaine mostly guards Loren Voss's Astonish for 9 hit points! GS: Break and Delay applied to Elaine! GS: FP up! Reaction bonus! GS: Sable Aomori mostly evades Loren Voss's Sing for 7 hit points! GS: Drowsy and Hex applied to Sable Aomori! GS: Rena Lanford mostly guards Loren Voss's Thunder Punch for 47 hit points! GS: Reaction switch bonus! Rena Lanford gains 1 additional Combo! GS: Delay applied to Rena Lanford! GS: FP up! Power Burst! GS: Xantia mostly guards Loren Voss's Sing for 15 hit points! GS: Reaction switch bonus! Xantia gains 1 additional Combo! GS: Drowsy and Hex applied to Xantia! GS: Dirk Swordsman fails to guard Loren Voss's Astonish for 26 hit points! GS: Reaction switch bonus! Dirk Swordsman gains 1 additional Combo! GS: Break and Delay applied to Dirk Swordsman! GS: FP up! Power Burst! GS: Damian Tamaoka mostly charges Loren Voss's Sing for 10 hit points! GS: Reaction switch bonus! Damian Tamaoka gains 1 additional Combo! GS: Drowsy and Hex applied to Damian Tamaoka! GS: FP up! Power Burst! GS: Healthy! For entering Condition Green, Damian Tamaoka receives 100 temporary hit points. GS: Damian Tamaoka enters CONDITION GREEN!! GS: Ida Everstead-Rey mostly evades Loren Voss's Thunder Punch for 38 hit points! GS: Reaction switch bonus! Ida Everstead-Rey gains 1 additional Combo! GS: Delay applied to Ida Everstead-Rey! GS: Gwen Whitlock mostly charges Loren Voss's Dig for 84 hit points! GS: Gwen Whitlock enters CONDITION GREEN!!
<Pose Tracker> Sable Aomori has posed.
Nina is often in her own little world. But she has Sable's back. "And I've got yours," Sable tells her friend in return. She looks at Damian, but doesn't understand the dynamics in play. Instead she watches Xantia with her Pokemon. "...That's the responsibility of a Trainer," Sable says to her. "It's good that you understand that."
A Primeape happens, and Sable tilts her head. "I haven't seen one of those in a while..."
Pwhee is on the move. And Rena--
"Career criminals..."
She pauses. "...Ulpi," she says, as her Dratini starts to drowse along the wall. "Artan's out." Pause. "You're up."
A Clefairy. "...Your Clefairy doesn't seem to dislike you," Sable says to Loren. "That's good. I still don't understand why you're doing this."
"...But I won't lose to you, either."
"Ulpi. Use Bubble Beam on the Graveler."
"Pip!"
Rearing back to inhale, the little penguin Pokemon suddenly lunges forward--and bubbles rocket forth in a stream! It might be super effective!!
GS: Sable Aomori has activated Force Action: Fury Shot! GS: Sable Aomori has attacked Loren Voss with Bubble Beam! GS: Sable Aomori has gained 1 Combo! GS: Sable Aomori gains 22 THP from her Cautious! GS: Sable Aomori gains 5 FP from Gleam! GS: Sable Aomori has completed her action.
<Pose Tracker> Elaine has posed.
Kukyu is not the only thing getting angry. One of Elaine's eyes twitch as she listens through the chaos of the fight to what's going on. Veevee puts a paw on Elaine's thigh as Kukyu bravely tanks the random bursts of darkness off Zubat but falls back under the onslaught with a growl. He starts to charge forward but halts as Elaine says "Kukyu, fall back. Veevee, swap in." as she smiles down at her Eevee and then at her Primeape.
"You never asked, so how would you know we wouldn't? Unless your intent is to abuse our technology from the start. Then of course we wouldn't share it. These are the advances and breakthroughs we've made to save our lives, not help others ruin lives." she states flatly staring at Loren. "Veevee, time to use the ace up our sleeve. Sparkly Swirl!" she calls out to her pokemon.
Veevee cries out "Eevee!" cheerfully as she shakes herself and dances in place. Sparkling pink, purple, and white energy seems to wrap around her in a playful manner before exploding outward to wrap around various Pokemon and People offering them some restoration and energy.
GS: Elaine spends 1 Combo on Inspire! GS: Elaine has attacked Rena Lanford with Sparkly Swirl! GS: Elaine has attacked Chase with Sparkly Swirl! GS: Elaine has attacked Dirk Swordsman with Sparkly Swirl! GS: Elaine has attacked Nina Chiyome with Sparkly Swirl! GS: Elaine has attacked Ida Everstead-Rey with Sparkly Swirl! GS: Elaine has attacked Gwen Whitlock with Sparkly Swirl! GS: Elaine has gained 1 Combo! GS: Delay expired! GS: Interrupt expired! GS: Elaine has completed her action. GS: Rena Lanford accepts Elaine's Sparkly Swirl for 0 hit points! GS: Restore! Blind and Delay removed! GS: Pray adds Burst! GS: Burst applied to Rena Lanford! GS: FP up! Elaine's Reload!! GS: Rena Lanford enters CONDITION GREEN!! GS: Rena Lanford gains 2 Combo from Inspire! GS: Chase used Force Action: Mystic on himself! GS: Hex removed! GS: Chase accepts Elaine's Sparkly Swirl for 0 hit points! GS: Restore! Drowsy removed! GS: Pray adds Lock State! GS: Lock state applied to Chase! GS: FP up! Elaine's Reload!! GS: Chase enters CONDITION GREEN!! GS: Chase gains 2 Combo from Inspire! GS: Elaine heals Dirk Swordsman! He gains 23 temporary hit points! GS: Restore! Blind and Delay removed! GS: Pray adds Regen! GS: Regen applied to Dirk Swordsman! GS: FP up! Elaine's Reload!! GS: Dirk Swordsman gains 2 Combo from Inspire! GS: COUNTER! Loren Voss counterattacks Sable Aomori with Struggle! GS: Loren Voss mostly charges Sable Aomori's Bubble Beam for 96 hit points! GS: Reaction switch bonus! Loren Voss gains 1 additional Combo! GS: Misery adds Entangle! GS: Drowsy and Entangle applied to Loren Voss! GS: Cripple blocked! GS: Charge!! You gain 50 FP! (That's 35 more than usual!) GS: FP up! Reaction bonus! GS: Sable Aomori mostly evades Loren Voss's Struggle for 42 hit points! GS: Nina Chiyome mostly evades Loren Voss's Astonish for 10 hit points! GS: Break and Delay applied to Nina Chiyome! GS: CRITICAL! Nina Chiyome accepts Elaine's Sparkly Swirl for 0 hit points! GS: Restore! Blind and Interrupt removed! GS: Pray adds Lock State! GS: Lock state applied to Nina Chiyome! GS: FP up! Elaine's Reload!! GS: Nina Chiyome gains 2 Combo from Inspire! GS: Ida Everstead-Rey accepts Elaine's Sparkly Swirl for 0 hit points! GS: Restore! Delay removed! GS: Pray adds Quick! GS: Quick applied to Ida Everstead-Rey! GS: FP up! Elaine's Reload!! GS: Ida Everstead-Rey enters CONDITION GREEN!! GS: Ida Everstead-Rey gains 2 Combo from Inspire! GS: Gwen Whitlock accepts Elaine's Sparkly Swirl for 0 hit points! GS: Pray adds Blitz! GS: Blitz applied to Gwen Whitlock! GS: FP up! Elaine's Reload!! GS: Gwen Whitlock gains 2 Combo from Inspire!
<Pose Tracker> Ida Everstead-Rey has posed.
Ida breathes in, and brushes dust off her chest. Dirk asks a very good question, and she glances at him. "He's a soldier," Ida says, "from an empire on Filgaia!" settling back into a fighting stance. True, Solaris doesn't hold territory, per se, but does it need to when it has the kind of reach and influence it has? Is it no less imperialist to maintain a status quo that keeps your people at the top of the heap?
Political philosophy questions for another time. In the present time, there is Thunder Punch.
Perhaps taking a cue from Chase--in that whistling a command is quick and efficient if you know how--Ida lets out a sharp, short whistle: a signal to LOOK OUT. Marigold's ears twitch. She leaps into the air as Graveler's fist comes roaring at her, and then leaps off that fist, mid-punch. "Evoi!" she cries. Some of the static jumps off to her on contact, causing her fur to puff up. The Eevee grimaces in discomfort, but makes her second landing atop Graveler's head before alighting on the floor.
"Evoi!" she shouts.
"Electricity's not going to work as well on that one!" Ida says, to Gwen. "Try diverting Voltie to the--"
Dunsparce. Well, that worked out!
A bright flash of light and cry of primal fury catch Ida's attention. Ida stares at the ascended Kukyu for a moment before shaking her head. Marigold, meanwhile, does a little twirl of her own as Veevee's power soothes her. "Evoi!" Marigold says, waving a paw at her fellow Eevee in thanks.
"Marigold," Ida says. Marigold's ears prick to attention. "Take Down that Graveler! For Pawmi!"
"EVOI!" Marigold is kind of small. She spent her early years being protected by her sister, Aurora. But when push comes to shove, she pins her ears back, puts on the bravest face, and rockets forward so fast she becomes a smudge of tan fur. She might not weigh as much as Graveler, but Marigold's a lot stronger than she looks. This is going to leave a mark on her, too, but hopefully Graveler will be worse off after the impact!
<Pose Tracker> Rena Lanford has posed.
Loren is confused as to what Rena thinks she's doing, and she gives him an irritated recounting of his crimes, "Espionage! Assault! Attempted theft! It seems pretty obvious what you're doing!"
It's not like she's incorrect in that regard, it's just she seems to think his motive is different than the actual one... apparently it's selling Nedian technology to Solaris for Booze Money! That's what she has put together from Elaine and Xantia's invocations!
Shorty is in the middle of his mesmerizing tail move - but he's still mostly blind from the mud! When the Graveller is about to swing his nose twitches, from the smell of Ozone, as suddenly he whips around to meet the Graveller's fist with the side of his tail.
The movement unfortunately still shocks him, as he locks up, before yiping, "SHOUN! SHOUN! SHOUN!" And Rena frowns deeply.
"And you're picking on poor Shorty! Honestly! You're no better than some Team Rocket hooligan!"
Seeing Shorty in such distress, she grips his Pokeball, taking a stance, "Shorty come back!" As the Ashound suddenly vanishes in a haze of light into the ball, Before suddenly tossing another one. "Nibbles! Let's not let things get out of hand this time!"
What could possibly get out of hand?
What emerges is an adorable rotund bunny with large floppy ears, and a tiny face, it's proportions are all wrong in the way a fairy Pokemon's might be. It cheerfully moves towards the Graveller, as if the rock Pokemon were not a concern. "Okay-! Now I want you to just to take it easy this time! Attack with a Hyper Fang!"
At that same moment Elaine uses her trump card as Eevee's sparkly swirl glows over it - as it is inspired by the sudden burst of energy. "Oh! Thank you!"
The cheerful facade abruptly faces, as its face twists into an awful snarl, it's beady eyes bloodshot, as the Jubjubunny's tiny buck teeth suddenly GROW, extending down into vicious sharp teeth.
"JUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!"
It suddenly hops all the more energetically towards it, before pushing down, and launching itself at it- past it.
The bunny in the aftermath happily waves its arms, as suddenly the Gravellers form is criss crossed with numerous slashes in the aftermath of it's leap-by attack.
"Look I don't know why you think that would be convincing when the proof is right here?" As she again points to the poster, "If you're in denial - I think it would be a very courageous step to admit you have a problem to everyone here."
She really does think a drinking problem is the root of his motives!?
GS: Rena Lanford has activated Force Action: Full Clip! GS: Rena Lanford spends 5 Combo on Headshot and Gatling, loading 3 into Gatling! GS: Rena Lanford has attacked Loren Voss with Hyper Fang! GS: Rena Lanford has gained 2 Combo! GS: Rena Lanford gains 5 FP from Gleam! GS: Rena Lanford has completed her action. GS: Ida Everstead-Rey has activated Force Action: Snipe! GS: Formation! Ida Everstead-Rey has attacked Loren Voss with Take Down! GS: Ida Everstead-Rey has gained 1 Combo! GS: Ida Everstead-Rey has completed her action.
<Pose Tracker> Damian Tamaoka has posed.
"S-s-so you're j-just going to--" 'steal it' is the end of that accusation, but Damian is suddenly, painfully, and acutely aware of just how much of a hypocrisy that would be coming from him, considering the circumstances.
He doesn't have any moral high ground, in this argument, does he?
Clefairy begins to sing, and Rishi takes her cue to try and charge forward, to strike while Clefairy is busy--but her running starts to slow down as she grows more drowsy, and she eventually falls over flat on her stomach. She's making cute little snoring noises as she does so.
Damian reaches back in his backpack, and Purri is already helping pull out... a flute! It's not a Pokeflute, just a plain, normal, simple one. He brings it up to his mouth and plays a short, peppy melody, and something in the last note resonates, hangs in the air with a short burst of intensity...
And Rishi startles awake, drawing all four arms and legs underneath her, bending them, then springing backwards in a flip to land in a fighting-ready stance. "Whelp! Whelpwisher!" Damian heaves a sigh of relief.
Damian can't quite bring himself to look at Sable--or any of them.
But Elaine and Veevee show off their trump card, and before Damian can really stop to think about it, he does the most natural thing in the world to him. "Rishi! W-wish!"
"Whelp!" cries the little teddy bear pokemon. She brings her paws together and bows her head. A little shimmering ball of energy appears in front of her, and she reaches out to grab it, then flings it upwards into the air.
It bursts into a shower of sparkles and falls over everyone in the room--except for Loren and his pokemon. Even the Overseer, trying to make her escape, gets an extra little boost to see her through.
GS: Damian Tamaoka has attacked Elaine with Wish! GS: Damian Tamaoka has attacked Sable Aomori with Wish! GS: Damian Tamaoka has attacked Gwen Whitlock with Wish! GS: Damian Tamaoka has attacked Damian Tamaoka with Wish! GS: Damian Tamaoka has attacked Nina Chiyome with Wish! GS: Damian Tamaoka has attacked Dirk Swordsman with Wish! GS: Damian Tamaoka has attacked Xantia with Wish! GS: Damian Tamaoka has attacked Ida Everstead-Rey with Wish! GS: Damian Tamaoka has attacked Chase with Wish! GS: Damian Tamaoka has attacked Rena Lanford with Wish! GS: Damian Tamaoka has gained 1 Combo! GS: Damian Tamaoka gains 5 FP from Sufferer! GS: Damian Tamaoka has completed his action. GS: Damian Tamaoka heals Damian Tamaoka! He gains 97 temporary hit points! GS: Restore! Hex removed! GS: CRITICAL! Damian Tamaoka heals Sable Aomori! She gains 108 temporary hit points! GS: Restore! Hex removed! GS: Hyper added to Chase! GS: Chase has activated Force Action: Boost! GS: Damian Tamaoka heals Chase! He gains 92 temporary hit points! GS: Chase enters CONDITION GREEN!! GS: Damian Tamaoka heals Dirk Swordsman! He gains 89 temporary hit points! GS: Restore! Break removed! GS: Damian Tamaoka heals Xantia! She gains 88 temporary hit points! GS: Restore! Hex removed! GS: Damian Tamaoka heals Rena Lanford! She gains 89 temporary hit points! GS: Damian Tamaoka heals Ida Everstead-Rey! She gains 93 temporary hit points! GS: Damian Tamaoka heals Gwen Whitlock! She gains 97 temporary hit points! GS: Damian Tamaoka heals Elaine! She gains 93 temporary hit points! GS: Restore! Blind, Break, and Drowsy removed!
<Pose Tracker> Dirk Swordsman has posed.
"Only if they're buttheads, butthead!" Dirk counters Loren. VICTORY TO THE TEENAGER (no)
Dirk might be sitting pretty here, in the chaos, but the problem WITH the chaos is that it is in fact chaos. Dunsparce woodles away as Chespin swells up with stolen power, the precious [nutrients] causing his abilities to wax as well as his confidence.
"He's a what? You guys really have soldiers?!" he says to Ida. He says 'soldier' in a vaguely theoretical way; something he knows of but doesn't know.
(Dirk still hasn't seen Damian. But Chase has... and Charcadet looks at Chase, at the Pikachu Armed Armor Edition, and then, with a small gasp, at Damian. CHARCADET sees you, Damian, but it seems he is hesitant to unleash the flame in here.)
Veevee dances. Light erupts. Chespin, though daunted by both the chaos and the other things throwing around the room - Pikachu surfing! Gravellers! It's a good thing this is a big office -- seems to regain courage in the face of this. When a curiously familiar and sophorific melody begins to play, however, it is Charcadet who acts. A sweeping with his blade:
"Charcadet!!" (Poke-Subtitles: Vacuum Slash!)
Perhaps it is the blessing of the Whelpwisher that adds to Charcadet's efforts, but they are rewarded! Cleansing flame! Well, flame, anyway: it bursts out in a whirl, surging to circle round and round-about the singing Clefairy! Can it sing while burning like a disco inferno!?
(Dirk himself, meanwhile, recalls Cufant, who has managed to get stuck in a corner, which has now been heavily rampaged. "Man, this is some Tera nonsense," Dirk comments to himself.)
GS: Dirk Swordsman spends 1 Combo on Poison! GS: Dirk Swordsman has attacked Loren Voss with Charcadet - Fire Spin! GS: Dirk Swordsman has gained 2 Combo! GS: Dirk Swordsman gains 30 THP from Regen! GS: Dirk Swordsman has completed his action.
<Pose Tracker> Chase has posed.
Chase's Pikachu waves at Marigold as she passes by on her surfboard, spinning slowly as the last of the water washes out.
Meanwhile, whatever Chase is trying to figure out gets put aside as he snaps his attention to Kukyu. His eyes go wide, and he grabs Elaine's arm in urgency, staring to her and then to the Pokemon as Kukyu becomes so angry it evolves. The Pokedex provides the lowdown, and Chase stops, lips pressed together in uncertainty as it reports Kukyu may be even... dimmer than before.
Well. If anyone can handle that, it would be Elaine.
Graveller's Thunder Punch crashes into Pikachu's head. "Pi?" She blinks back at Graveller, the electricity absorbed into her as her red cheeks crackle and spark with increased energy. Her mouth turns into a whole great big smile as she begins to dance before she falls flat onto her round Pikachu face, snoring loudly.
Clefairy's beautiful singing has reached her big, alert ears. Chase dashes into the battle to scoop up his Pikachu, ending up on the other side of it. Nearer Damian. Chase glances to him. He shares a look with Dirk's Charcadet and back again. Even as Damian stammers, Chase watches, waiting. He couldn't interrupt if he wanted to, but he could turn away. He doesn't. ...Damian wants to help. Chase takes a deep breath and he nods.
Pikachu's leg twitches in her sleep.
Chase grabs a ball from his belt and chucks it into battle with a low whistle. Fire and brimstone explode with an otherworldly cry. Ponyta charges into battle at full speed, fire trailing behind. Flames mix with Veevee's sparkling power, and for a brief moment Chase's Ponyta could be mistaken for the Galarian form as it bounces into the air
and crashes down into Loren's Pokemon like a meteor, coming down with a sparkling fire tail hardened into an instrument of kinetic force.
Loren mentions he doesn't have a drinking problem, and Chase frowns thoughtfully, brow furrowed. Stealing tech because it wouldn't be shared. Attacking and taking the way Team Rocket does. He is getting the very wrong idea about a lot of things right now.
As Damian's Pokeflute plays, Pikachu suddenly shoots upright in Chase's arms, all smiles.
"Pika!"
She sticks out her tongue and eats a Wish sparkle.
GS: Chase spends 3 Combo on Gatling, loading 3 into Gatling! GS: Chase enters CONDITION GREEN!! GS: Chase has attacked Loren Voss with Iron Tail! GS: Chase enters CONDITION GREEN!! GS: Chase gains 5 FP from Gleam! GS: Chase has completed his action. GS: CRITICAL! Loren Voss fails to guard Rena Lanford's Hyper Fang for 304 hit points! GS: Reaction switch bonus! Loren Voss gains 1 additional Combo! GS: FP up! Reaction bonus!
<Pose Tracker> Nina Chiyome has posed.
Nina Chiyome side eyes Damian when Sable glances back his way. She looks to her friend and gives the faintest shake of her head. "Later." in that she'll explain it as she knows it at least. The fact that she's got a look that could strip paint when she looks back probably suggests at least a one sided view though.
Watching the mess of a pokemon fight unfurl though at least gets her attention again and she resumes normal behavior. For better or worse.
As for the Solarian problem? "I have no idea what's actually going on at this point" She admits wryly. Slipping into the room proper, trying to get a better view. Maybe even standing on a desk or chair. Because better view...
Rena insisting the guy has a drinking problem while he insists he doesn't and the utter chaos going on and she just turns and considers walking out. It almost looks like she's looking for a camera for a minute. Suddenly glad she'd at least somewhat covered her hands.
Still, it's an actual problem and she can recognize that on some level.
Her froslass jerks away and down, trying to get out of the way of the dark attack. Making a displeased sound and lurking behind the sneasel. It may have stung, but she's also seemingly embarrassed that she was caught so off guard.
"Mavs, Icy Wind, bring the zubat down!" She'd stumbled at first, about to order Korukiri to do it, but she was well. Sulking in a way. "Come'ere, it's fine." She beckons, turning her attention to Sable and Poppy, Poppy arched and fiery, trying to cover a friend.
The sneasel inhales and.. unsurprisingly mimics Nina's preferrd casting style before puffing between her claws. It's hard to tell if she's teasing the ninja, or not but..
Either way, it's a bitter cold icy wind!
She looks to Elaine, then calls out, "Yeah" in agreement with her. It's chaotic, but she can get behind that. It means she has a better idea of what's going on! Especially with Damian piping up again. "Really?"
Rena's Jubjubunny interrupts any other thoughts she might have had. She.. had not seen that before. Not up close anyway. "Huh." That's a distraction. Right up until she shakes her head sharply and tries to keep her head in the game!
GS: Damian Tamaoka heals Nina Chiyome! She gains 71 temporary hit points! GS: Restore! Break, Delay, and Drowsy removed! GS: Nina Chiyome spends 1 Combo on Poison! GS: Nina Chiyome has attacked Loren Voss with Icy Wind! GS: Nina Chiyome has gained 1 Combo! GS: Nina Chiyome has completed her action.
<Pose Tracker> Xantia has posed.
The responsibility of a Trainer. Xantia looks aside to the Nedian who spoke those words, nodding emphatically to Sable. She may be pretty new at this, but that sense of responsibility... she's felt that, in a way that surprised herself. A way that she wasn't sure it was even possible for her to feel.
Meanwhile, Ralts's efforts don't bear nearly enough fruit to even slow Graveler down. For a mental attack to do so little, it must either have an iron will, or... not have much upstairs. It doesn't matter much to Ralts, who just shouts an indignant "Ralts!!" at the lack of decency to go down, or even strike back. Only for it to be caught in the dulcet tones of Clefairy's song, and end up teetering on the edge of consciousness.
Xantia, seeing this, decides to call in reinforcements, because why not, there's clearly no rules to this battle. "It's up to you, Shoo!" In a flash of light, Xantia's Shuppet appears with a cheerful, "Shuppet!" Xantia's intended command ends up stuck in her throat however, because of the suddenness with which Ralts sharply turned in her direction. All signs of being about to fall asleep abruptly gone, fiery eyes - hidden behind its hair - affixed upon Shoo.
It's a look that many end up giving Shoo, the 'That Damn Ghost' look. But Ralts's intense look is for a somewhat different reason. It's not one of anger, not really, it's filled with frustration more than anything else. Frustration at things always ending up this way. Every single time. Every single fight.
Ralts knows that Shoo is by far the stronger between the two of them, always has been. In a direct challenge, Ralts is beaten effortlessly. Against other opponents, nothing ever feels enough, knowing that Shoo would have been capable of better. Not to mention their diametrically opposed opinions on their preferred emotions. It became a bitter rivalry, made all the more bitter by the fact that Shoo doesn't care enough to even acknowledge such a rivalry exists. Even now, Shoo meets that hidden gaze with a look entirely devoid of concern.
"Ralts!", the Pokemon shouts at Xantia and Shoo, with a wave of its arm in a manner that makes it clear: not this time. Shoo looks to Xantia, questioningly. Xantia smiles as she acknowledges Ralts's determination, understanding those feelings, and nodding in approval. A nod which Ralts gratefully returns.
Ralts turns back to face the opposing Pokemon. The Clefairy is singled out this time, the focus of the smaller Pokemon's attention. It brings it tiny arms up to its head, trying to focus its mind. Still having to fight that drowsiness... until Damian's Whelpwisher's power returns the clarity of mind it needs. The horns on Ralts's head begin to glow...
...And then, Ralts's entire body begins to glow. Xantia lets out a gasp and even Shoo looks a little impressed as within the light, her Pokemon's form appears to change, and grow, to about twice its size. And when the light fades, there stands a Pokemon who much resembles a ballerina, the determined gaze in its large red eyes now clearly visible due to the changed, twin ponytail-like hairstyle. Its horns may have changed position, but they remain aglow with a powerful psychic force for one moment longer... before the evolved Pokemon releases it in the form of a large blue beam of energy, along with a battle cry of greater intensity than ever before.
"KIRLIAAAAAA!!"
GS: Xantia spends 5 Combo on Headshot and Gatling, loading 3 into Gatling! GS: Xantia has attacked Loren Voss with Psybeam! GS: Mighty expired! GS: Xantia has completed her action.
<Pose Tracker> Gwen Whitlock has posed.
Elaine's Veevee and Damian's Rishi heal and revitalize Gwen and Voltie. Gwen nods, giving a wide grin and a thumbs up to both of them. "Thanks a bunch!"
Ida is also there with some advice. Gwen nods to Ida, and looks back towards Voltie. "Right! Voltie, I know you like Dunsparce, but can you-- oh." Dunsparce has already erupted from underneath Joltik, who is sent flying upwards, and back down.
And Voltie's more than glad to meet Dunsparce at her level.
As his small body comes down, he erupts with an area of electricity on the Dunsparce, aiming to land squarely (and consequentially bonk off of) her head.
Gwen, noticing Xantia's pokemon change, realizes, also, that one of the others has changed too-- was that one of Elaine's? "... Huh, they change?" She looks to Voltie, a touch worried, as well as a little.... curious? She then drops it. "Go, Voltie, go!"
GS: Blitz! Gwen Whitlock has attacked Loren Voss with Discharge! GS: Gwen Whitlock has completed her action. GS: CRITICAL! Loren Voss critically fails to evade Dirk Swordsman's Charcadet - Fire Spin for 219 hit points! GS: Reaction switch bonus! Loren Voss gains 1 additional Combo! GS: Entangle and Poison applied to Loren Voss! GS: Loren Voss perfectly guards Chase's Iron Tail for 33 hit points! GS: Reaction switch bonus! Loren Voss gains 1 additional Combo! GS: Hex and Shieldbreak blocked! GS: FP up! Reaction bonus! GS: Loren Voss critically fails to guard Xantia's Psybeam for 238 hit points! GS: Hyper applied to Xantia! GS: CRITICAL! Loren Voss mostly guards Gwen Whitlock's Discharge for 104 hit points! GS: Jam applied to Loren Voss! GS: Healthy! For entering Condition Green, Loren Voss receives 100 temporary hit points. GS: Loren Voss enters CONDITION GREEN!! GS: Disrupt expired! GS: Loren Voss critically fails to guard Ida Everstead-Rey's Take Down for 251 hit points! GS: Strain! Ida Everstead-Rey takes 106 damage! GS: You cannot act while you still have attacks in queue. GS: CRITICAL! Loren Voss marginally charges Nina Chiyome's Icy Wind for 234 hit points! GS: Reaction switch bonus! Loren Voss gains 1 additional Combo! GS: Poison and Slow applied to Loren Voss! GS: Charge!! You gain 50 FP! (That's 35 more than usual!) GS: FP up! Reaction bonus!
<Pose Tracker> Loren Voss has posed.
"That was rhetorical!" he shouts at Rena. "I didn't want an answer!" Though really, she's not at all wrong.
"Do you think I'm just going to explain that to you?" he sighs at Sable, never minding the fact that there's probably been more than enough statements and hints to fill in those blanks already.
"And? Do you think it just ends when one party refuses to share?" he gripes at Elaine, gesturing sharply with his hands as if agitated about something (and it's probably not the fight).
Dirk gets a look that transmits something along the lines of 'really?' (but does the fact that Loren doesn't attempt to counter it mean that DIRK DEFINITELY WINS??).
So he's just going to steal it. Their technology. Loren doesn't respond to that either, but he presses his lips in a way that suggests a grimace and doesn't look at Damian.
Voltie hasn't forgotten Dunsparce, of course. As Dunsparce rises from below Voltie, Voltie, still mid-air, retaliates with a blast of electricity that sizzles through the air, catapulting Dunsparce to one side of the room.
Graveler is at the heart of a barrage, receiving from Sable's Piplup a powerful blast of bubbles. But what's that--
From seemingly out of nowhere, it's Dunsparce! She surges to the rescue to intercept the beam and struggles to swim up it towards Sable's Ulpi in an apparent attempt to return tit for tat. For all that their power is being used for untoward ends, it would appear that as a team, Loren's Pokemon care about one another and want to protect them--
But there's only so much they can do to cover each other. Dunsparce cannot hold forever and is ultimately blasted straight across the office by the beam of water. And here comes Marigold from another angle. And though she be but little, she is fierce!
"Vellll," Graveler groans, shuffling back under the onslaught, which is soon joined by the third party of Rena's...
Oh god. What is that thing.
Even Graveler looks like she'd rather not be here in the first place! After all, Jubjubunny does have teeth that can stab rock, and soon Graveler has the scratches and cuts to prove it.
"And I don't have a problem," Loren continues to insist, never mind that there are people who would definitively argue that he does, just not the one that Rena thinks he has.
Moving slowly and carefully, and without making any noises that would attract anyone's attention their way (especially Loren's) the site overseer reaches the edge of the hole and slips out into the space beyond it. Less careful and louder running sounds follow; Damian's Welpwisher's power has not failed to speed her on her way.
"Wait--" Loren starts, turning his head sharply in the direction where he'd last been aware of where the overseer had been standing. "...Seriously?" he asks aloud, putting two and two together.
Well, that just means that short of trying to grab some drives or something and hoping he gets lucky, he's gone and blown this operation. Bailing would be the best choice here, but it's not as if he can turn and walk. Especially not if he wants to rescue his fallen squadmates, which he very much does want to do (and it doesn't look like they're going to wake up anytime soon). Frowning in thought, Loren considers his options, and they're not particularly good ones.
"Okay," he starts, "Clefairy, try Stored Power--"
It's technically hard for Clefairy to try much of anything when it's on fire, which it sort of is as Dirk's Charcadet whirls about it at speed with ever-faster burning cuts! "C-Cle..." utters Loren's Clefairy, dizzied from his failed attempts to parry the repeat blows. In this moment as a million shining stars fall from the heavens themselves, one alights on Xantia's Ralts.
Not one but two Pokemon have evolved over the course of this battle. Kirlia stands before Loren's Pokemon now, and though his Clefairy rallies and as if sensing the Kirlia's focus, rushes at it... he is not swift enough. There is a brilliant blue beam, and by the time it fades, Clefairy takes one shaky step forward only to collapse in a heap. "Clefairy! That's enough--" Loren calls out, widening his eyes in shock at Clefairy's defeat. He calls him back without hesitation.
The problems don't end here: a cold and icy wind is brewing courtesy of the Sneasel, provoking even Dunsparce to shiver however the storm's heart might be focused upon the hapless but plucky Zubat. "Baa--t-t," shudders Zubat, pumping his wings furiously to stay warm, but the inevitable happens and exhausted and overcome by the cold, he drops from the air to sprawl limply on the office floor. "Zubat?! Zubat!" Loren calls, quickly returning the knocked-out Zubat to his Pokeball.
The upshot is that when Ponyta descends from the heavens like the fist of an angry god, it hits... just Graveler, who is looking somewhat displeased to be the center of so much attention. Or is that some extremely strange sort of excitement? It's hard to tell, with Graveler.
But Loren sees the situation for what it is: two of his partners are down. He has two comatose squadmates. And Graveler and Dunsparce aren't looking too hot either. If he gets arrested on Nede, he's really going to be up shit creek--
"Graveler, use Rollout," Loren orders, a small hint of desperation in his voice. After all, Rollout had worked out pretty well the one time Graveler used it on her own. Maybe it could work out again!
It has already been established, though, that Graveler has little interest in following Loren's orders. It should also be noted at this time that there is one thing that Loren's Graveler really, really likes to do.
She has started to flicker red. Loren stares at her, uncomrehending at first. "Oh no. No, you're not, you can't--"
>Graveler used SELF-DESTRUCT!
The explosion that follows is near-deafening. A hole has been blown in the side of the side of the manufactory. Ash and dust rains from the ceiling. An extremely banged up and dirt-caked Loren utters, plucking his shattered glasses from his face, "...You know what. Let's call it a draw." Recalling his downed Graveler to join the others he's returned to their Pokeballs, he stoops but to scrape his fellows off the broken floor of what had once been a fairly nice office and then leaps out of the hole.
Some of the debris around the other end of the office moves and from there emerges Dunsparce, not looking all that worse for wear! "Duns," Dunsparce summarizes, as if to say, 'well, what can you do', before she leaps after him, her tiny wings fluttering madly to slow her fall.
GS: Loren Voss has attacked Loren Voss with Self-Destruct! GS: Loren Voss has attacked Gwen Whitlock with Self-Destruct! GS: Loren Voss has attacked Rena Lanford with Self-Destruct! GS: Loren Voss has attacked Ida Everstead-Rey with Self-Destruct! GS: Loren Voss has attacked Elaine with Self-Destruct! GS: Loren Voss has attacked Nina Chiyome with Self-Destruct! GS: Loren Voss has attacked Dirk Swordsman with Self-Destruct! GS: Loren Voss has attacked Xantia with Self-Destruct! GS: Loren Voss has attacked Chase with Self-Destruct! GS: Loren Voss has attacked Sable Aomori with Self-Destruct! GS: Loren Voss has attacked Damian Tamaoka with Self-Destruct! GS: You may only respond to attacks from yourself with +accept. GS: Loren Voss accepts Loren Voss's Self-Destruct for 271 hit points! GS: Rena Lanford critically fails to evade Loren Voss's Self-Destruct for 149 hit points! GS: Reaction switch bonus! Rena Lanford gains 1 additional Combo! GS: FP up! Power Burst! GS: Rena Lanford enters CONDITION GREEN!! GS: Gwen Whitlock mostly charges Loren Voss's Self-Destruct for 111 hit points! GS: FP up! Reaction bonus! GS: Chase has activated Force Action: Accelerate! GS: Chase mostly evades Loren Voss's Self-Destruct for 43 hit points! GS: FP up! Reaction bonus! GS: Chase enters CONDITION GREEN!! GS: Ida Everstead-Rey has activated Force Action: Accelerate! GS: Ida Everstead-Rey mostly evades Loren Voss's Self-Destruct for 44 hit points! GS: Sable Aomori mostly guards Loren Voss's Self-Destruct for 56 hit points! GS: Reaction switch bonus! Sable Aomori gains 1 additional Combo! GS: Xantia critically fails to guard Loren Voss's Self-Destruct for 150 hit points! GS: Elaine has activated Force Action: Guard! GS: Elaine mostly guards Loren Voss's Self-Destruct for 51 hit points! GS: Dirk Swordsman mostly charges Loren Voss's Self-Destruct for 93 hit points! GS: Reaction switch bonus! Dirk Swordsman gains 1 additional Combo! GS: FP up! Power Burst! GS: Dirk Swordsman enters CONDITION GREEN!! GS: Damian Tamaoka has activated Force Action: Guard! GS: Damian Tamaoka fails to guard Loren Voss's Self-Destruct for 119 hit points! GS: Reaction switch bonus! Damian Tamaoka gains 1 additional Combo! GS: FP up! Power Burst!
<Pose Tracker> Ida Everstead-Rey has posed.
"Yes, actual soldiers!" Ida says to Dirk, a little sharpish. "There's a war breaking out behind the portal, right now!"
Marigold bounces off of Graveler's rocky hide, landing on all fours in a crouch. "Evoi..." she says, shaking her head. Her fur is all mussed, and she's a little dizzy from the impact, but there's still plenty of fighting spirit in her eyes as she looks back at her Trainer.
"Good hit, Marigold!" Ida cries, as Graveler reels. "Good job!" But any thoughts she had of Loren treating his Pokemon as tools go right out the window as she hears him cry out and call back his incapacitated Pokemon. "Get them to the Pokemon Center!" she cries. "Or--potions! Healing magic, if you have it!" Why is she offering him advice?!
Perhaps, in the moment, 'Solarian operative' got superceded by 'person, doing something morally wrong, who nevertheless expresses empathy for his comrades and companion animals'.
As Miss Myyah told her a long time ago, the enemy is people, too.
Graveler flickers red. "Call it back!" Ida shouts. "It's going to--" Loren has realized this, too.
BOOM.
Ida throws herself backwards, and Marigold leaps into her arms. She tucks the Eevee against her chest, shielding her with her body. The impact is so immense Ida can feel it in her teeth. She's definitely going to bruise after this.
The heiress coughs as particulate matter rains from the ceiling; Marigold's smaller, cuter coughs underscore hers. The first thing the Eevee does is nuzzle Ida's face, despite her singed fur and lingering wooziness. "I'm okay, girl," Ida says. "Check on the others."
"Evoi," says Marigold. She starts to do the rounds, checking in first with Gwen and Voltie before moving on to the others. (She gives Kukyu and Nibbles a wide berth, though. Something about those two...)
<Pose Tracker> Sable Aomori has posed.
"Yes," Sable answers Loren when he sighs. "But I can already figure out some of it." %rPiplup does well, at least. Others support and revitalize them, including Damian, despite Nina having some kind of reaction to him.
And Xantia looks to her, nodding emphatically. She gets it.
Evolutions...
"...Pokemon often evolve in response to stress," Sable says, "Or out of need to protect their Trainer."
It's just a useful fact, during the battle. But Loren's Pokemon go down, and he continues to show distress about it. "...You care about your Pokemon," she says. "So you're this committed..."
She nods, thoughtfully. "Ulpi--"
Graveler does not use Rollout. "Um."
BOOM. Sable is behind cover, again blink if you'll miss it, having yoinked Piplup back with her. But Ulpi peers out from behind it. "Lup..."
A draw, he says.
"..."
"...Thieves have things they fight for, too..."
It doesn't sound like a happy thought.
<Pose Tracker> Ida Everstead-Rey has posed.
<Pose Tracker> Gwen Whitlock has posed.
One of the advantages of seeing Loren as Gwen does*is that, when Loren looks alarmed, Gwen knows it's not a great time to press the advantage. He seems to care about his Pokemon, after all-- if something is happening, she better take it equally as seriously.
( * There are many severe disadvantages to seeing Loren the way Gwen does. This specific scene does not explore them.)
Seeing Loren's panic, Gwen jumps into action as Ida points out what's about to happen, leaping to Voltie's side, scooping his little body up, and curling her body around him.
Of course, if Gwen really wanted to be protective, she could've used her pokeball, but that would feel, hilariously enough, like cheating. ..... Perhaps it's the same thing that kept Loren from doing the same.
The explosion blows Gwen back a ways, landing her admist the rubble with a hard 'oof!'.
.... not that she could hear it, all she hears is lots and lots of ringing.
".... if whatever you just said was somethin' like 'everybody goes home', sounds good t'me," Gwen wheezes to Loren, looking equally banged up as a confused Voltie peeks from behind her midsection. She gives a thumbs up to Marigold, and then, slumps back into the rubble. ... It's probably for the best, even if a misguided Voltie tries to revive her... by covering her in random splotches of webbing. (It works with wounds, so why not everything?)
<Pose Tracker> Chase has posed.
Another Pokemon is evolving! Chase watches Ralts become a Krilia and smiles. Xantia does know her own Pokemon best, and came to understand them in the end after all.
But the rest of this has become a situation that Chase... still does not understand. There's a war beyond the portal? A real war. And the Visitors seem to know this man as more than a passing stranger. He might have a substance problem, and he cares about his Pokemon. It sounds a little bit like maybe they shouldn't be ganging up on him...?
But it also sounds like whoever his 'masters' are should not have access to this technology...
Before Chase can grapple with the morality of it all, a Graveler begins to flicker red and Ponyta looks abruptly to Chase. Chase looks Ponyta in the eye, fingers at his lips, but silent. He counts mentally. If he gets this wrong, it's Ponyta who will pay the price. Both of them know that. He shots his eyes, he tries to block out everything, breathing in deep and then --
Sharp and loud and short, he whistles, and Ponyta reacts immediately by bouncing into the air just as Graveler detonates itself, only clipped by the blast. Ponyta lands back down in the smoke and debris with an uneasy stumble as a chunk of the ceiling lands on his head, but straightens and shakes out his fiery mane.
Chase steps over to the broken hole in the floor. He rummages in his bag, considering the Pokemon he saw in that battle. From Graveler to Dunsparce to Clefairy to Zubat... He sorts through his Poke Puffs, selecting out the proper ones to set in a lunch container and...
...drops it down the hole. The frosting will probably be a bit squished by the lid on landing. More so if the box flips upside down when it falls.
Then he looks to the other Visitors, hoping there might be some enlightenment at the battle's conclusion. Maybe it'll have to wait for everyone to rest up, first.
<Pose Tracker> Rena Lanford has posed.
"Well you got one anyway! Didn't anyone ever tell you not to ask questions you don't want the answer to?"
The power of Damian's Whelpwisher washes over them, and Rena looks, surprised they have a Whelpwisher too, but in that moment, Loren's Graveler uses-
"Oh."
Now Rena has never seen Self-Destruct before. Not in Pokemon, the idea Pokemon would HAVE such a thing is horrifying to her. But there's just this sense before it happens, this feeling and-
"Nibbles! NIBBLES GET AWAY!"
Rena even lurches forward as if to help that happen when - the Graveller detonates the same moment Nibbles Charges it, shouting, "JUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU-" Which is cut off by the abrupt detonation, bowling over the Jubjubunny, bowling over Rena.
As the dust clears, the Jubjubunny is ass over teakettle against the Wall with Rena nearby, coughing, as she utters.
"Wh-What you're just going- your Graveller!." A little shocked to her core that Pokemon just explode like that! "Don't... don't think this means you don't have problems."
She utters, as she straightens up.
Whereas Nibbles turns over, moving upright, and angry at Loren's flight raises its arms and- "JUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!" As he's abruptly showered in bright light.
What?
Nibbles is evolving...
Within the light, the shape grows, and changes and...
When the light clears, the most important feature of the Rabbit Pokemon besides the fact that it's now much larger, is that it's wearing boxing trunks. His paws are suddenly slammed together with a loud impact, both of them sporting boxing gloves. It's head, now appears more filled with malice at baseline, with walrus like tusks that extend down over it's body, its ears slicked back over his head.
Nibbles has evolved into JABBERWABBIT!
SNICKER SNACK VENGEANCE HAS BEEN SWORN AGAINST LOREN VOSS!
"Nibbles! You look so fierce!" Sable explains why these things happen and, "Oh! That's amazing! Just look at that face!"
As she moves up to him- and Nibbles puts a boxing glove sporting paw around her protectively, leaning down to nuzzle her with his Walrus like face affectionately, his expression momentarily looking less malicious, "Jab. Jab Jab."
Loren may want to sleep with a single eye open whenever he's on Nede.
Or you know, carry a Vorpal Blade and Holy Hand Grenades.
<Pose Tracker> Elaine has posed.
Elaine doesn't response verbally to Loren, she's well aware of what happens. Instead as she stares at him, she motions at the same time to everything around them clearly indicating the fight. The Loren is giving his Pokemon direction and Elaine gets ready to issue counter orders only to falter as Graveler clear does not get ready to roll anywhere.
"Erk, Muddy- No, he doesn't have the damp ability..." Elaine starts to throw out another Pokemon but stops. And then its to late to do anything as Graveler self-destructs.
When the dust clears, Kukyu is infront of Elaine and Veevee shielding them with his body, dropping to a knee afterward as he glares angrily at Loren. Those rage filled eyes never leave him, watching him the entire time till he's out of sight.
"Kukyu! Here, let's use a potion on you." Elaine says, having no intent of persuing the fight. "And if you dare run off I'm sending you to the lab instead." she threatens as she begins to tend to her Primeape.
Even through she does tend to Kukyu, new pokemon! After she's used the potion on Kukyu and Veevee has claimed her spot on his head, she pulls out her Pokedex and uses it to check both Nibbles and Kirlia.
"Jabberwabbits form lairs where they hibernate for months at a time. They are usually awoken by Jubjubunny swarms at the change of season. Their immense weight and strength, in turn, scares off their predators." the Pokedex chimes out for Nibbles.
While for Kirlia, it says "It is said that a Kirlia that is exposed to the positive emotions of its Trainer grows beautiful. This Pokémon controls psychokinetic powers with its highly developed brain."
GS: Nina Chiyome marginally evades Loren Voss's Self-Destruct for 101 hit points!
<Pose Tracker> Rena Lanford has posed.
As Elaine's Pokedex sounds off information, Rena gives Nibbles a look of wonder.
"Oh you hibernate! That means I'll need to look into your new dietary needs to prepare!"
"Jab." The Pokemon stares at the hole where Loren Voss left, thinking of one thing he'd love to dine on.
"Jab Jab." :E
<Pose Tracker> Nina Chiyome has posed.
On some level, Nina DOES feel for the pokemon, particularly the zubat (She does like bats of all stripes!)
However, those thoughts get pushed aside, this guy's a thief and the others are pretty sure he's a problem and, well, she trusts most of them at least.
Kurokiri drifts past Nina, wanting to try and get an angle on the other pokemon, wanting to participate further! Which is why she's in range of the self destruct. Which actually does get Nina to start, briefly worried before that slow twist back towards her reveals.. well. The ghost is fine. Which leans to Nina facepalming from where she'd landed on the ground. Maybe she should have been worried about herself. The froslass does find this amusing and brushes off the 'kimono' before drifting her way, clearly laughing in her own way.
She hops, literally back to her feet.
In order, she checks on her other pokemon. The Mawile looking lightly singed and annoyed and her Sneasel having ducked out of the way. Sort of. She's about halfway across the room at the moment though. She's snapped out of confusion though!
Finally she looks to Sable. "You okay?" She calls out, sounding concerned. She knows her pokemon are fine, she even kinda knows Sable is too, but you gotta ask!
Lamely, after she adds, "The rest of you okay?" Checking the others out, not that she's particularly a medic. She also idly reaches up to rub at her ear, trying to clear the ringing. She frowns. "Even when I'm not the one playing with fireworks even.."
She does finally pick her way over, scooping up the sneasel and returning her to the earlier perch. Then over with the pokemon of her own gathering near Sable since that's clearly where Nina was going.
She.. didn't acknowledge the help. The sneasel waves to Damian at least. Clearly a thanks. Though she then also pulls a face because she's a gremlin.
<Pose Tracker> Xantia has posed.
Ralts is a changed Pokemon in more ways than one: as Kirlia, its psychic power has increased tremendously, and the Pokemon couldn't be more gleeful about it. Especially when Xantia cheers, "Way to go, Ralts! No... Kirlia!" Confidence leads to overconfidence as Kirlia wastes little time in celebrating Clefairy's defeat and proceeds to literally dance right over to the next opponent in sight: Graveler. The feeling of invincibility is such that the alarming, tell-tale sign of a Pokemon about to use a final desperation move goes entirely unheeded.
But Xantia is watching this, also. She can tell this is going to end poorly, even if she were to cry out. She needs to do something, right this second. And so she does, moving like a blur towards Kirlia.
It's entirely unlike her to protect someone at the cost of her own well-being. For the longest time, she'd thought herself entirely incapable of it, frequently wondering why she hadn't shielded somebody even though she'd wanted to. As if there was something holding her back from doing so. But the battle with Michael had already demonstrated that somehow, it's different where it comes to her Pokemon. This time, too--
A massive explosion follows, and when the smoke clears, Xantia is knelt before Kirlia, having interposed herself just in the nick of time. The back of her armor is in bad shape, following that, to say nothing of the awful-looking burns on her unprotected arms and legs. And yet, she manages to force a smile past her grimace. "...You okay?" she asks the shocked Kirlia, who can only nod in the affirmative.
For Loren, it's for the best that Xantia is in too much pain to still pay any attention to him. For the Nedians, it may be surprising to see that Xantia isn't worse off after that, something which the Filgaians are probably not as surprised by. She'll be fine, in spite of how it may look.
Shoo, meanwhile, is just sort of hovering about, seeming entirely unconcerned and just kind of amused by what just occured. Self-destructions are very funny.
<Pose Tracker> Dirk Swordsman has posed.
Dirk may have won this, but unfortunately, as they teach you in fourth grade before giving you the code to unlock your PokeLive accounts:
Winning an argument online doesn't win any League points!
His snapback skills aside, Dirk's focus narrows on Graveller as the fire-wheel strikes home against the Clefairy, Charcadet's fire dimming and then swelling as he makes a telling blow. They're disabled. The Ralt is knocking it out.
What bothers Dirk, on some level, is that this round-eared Visitor is somehow managing this with the group. Dirk has monitored his share of league battles on the phone stream on campouts with only the night around him. This is desperate, but this is high-level performance. Is he getting helped?
Of course, the thing that bothers him more is Graveller being prompted to use Rollout. Chespin raises his weapon defensively; Charcadet does the same. Dirk steps back, his grip on his blade getting stronger. With this kind of a crowd --
It's flickering -
"Pop ya ears!" Dirk cries out, a moment bef
THOOM
His ears ring afterwards, and he staggers for a moment, though the ringing starts fading. By the time he's gotten focus again, Loren has made good his escape, although Chespin hastens forwards to look down the hole.
As the dust settles - quite literally - Dirk turns his head. He's looking at Kirlea. Maybe he sees Kirlea but what Ida is saying is sinking in deeper.
"... Did he get what he was tryin' to get?" Dirk asks, to nobody in particular.
<Pose Tracker> Damian Tamaoka has posed.
Purri might have something to say about Charcodet attacking her trainer, perched on his shoulder as she is--but Charcodet chooses not to take action, while Dirk... continues to not notice, it seems. Damian doesn't deserve that kind of luck. (Or at least, he doesn't feel like he does.)
Damian is... unsure how to feel about Chase. True, he couldn't interrupt, and this really isn't the time for phones, but... he does listen, and seems to accept his offer of help. He offers a little nod back, though he doesn't look at all... relieved.
But his flute could help Phwee, too, and he is a little relieved at that.
But he withers under Nina's stare.
There were two pokemon that evolved today in the middle of the fray. Elaine's Mankey evolved into the far more powerful (and much more menacing) Primeape, but Xantia's Ralts, on the other hand... evolves into Kirlia. He takes a moment to admire it.
Finding a Ralts someday might be nice...
But Loren has some things to say--and some things that he is specifically not saying. So even grown-ups feel that shame, from doing something they know is wrong...
Well now Damian just feels worse, knowing he has something in common with Loren.
But Graveller has been disobeying orders all fight, and Damian is, admittedly, puzzled at that. "Wh-why doesn't your Graveller listen t-to you...?" No, Damian, don't start offering advice to your opponent.
In fact, Graveller does something very much not what Loren wanted--it uses Self-Destruct. Rishi, however, is busy waving at Pikachu who caught one of her wish sparkles on her tongue, and is busy trying to do the same herself.
"R-R-Rish!" Damian spits out. Purri backs him up with a "Purrloin!"
Rishi turns to look, her eyes widening just a bit (only visible for the very briefest of moments before she has to take action), and she turns to face it, charging forward, raising her arms as she starts using Detect to try and nullify the blow.
She spares Damian and Purri any damage, but is flung back herself, landing at Damian's feet. "Wheeeeelllp!"
Damian gasps and scoops her up, cradling her close. "Y-you were very b-b-b-brave, Rishi..." Rishi tries to say something, to get up, but Damian just goes, "Ssssh. Don't move." He places his hand on her, gently, and closes his eyes. Green magic starts to encircle his hand and then infuse into Rishi's body, reducing some of the worst scrapes and burns she picked up from the Self-Destruct. He hums a little as he works, rocking Rishi gently to help keep her calm. The motion seems to come naturally to him.
Sable concludes that even thieves have things they fight for, and Damian looks away at that without comment.
He watches Chase silently as he prepares some pokemon treats and sends them after Loren. Another pang of guilt. Chase made some for him... should he give them back...? No, there's not really any left.
Rena seems shocked. "I-it j-just used S-Self Destruct. I-it fainted b-but it'll be... it'll be okay." He says this like a perfectly normal thing.
And then the third pokemon evolves, and Damian watches in wonder. Amazing... and kind of scary.
Nina asks if people are alright. If Damian gets a hint that she's looking in his direction he'll give a short, silent nod, but not offer any verbal feedback. There is the barest flicker of a strained smile to Nina's Sneasel to acknolwedge his gratitude, but... yeah. Awkward.
Dirk asks if he got what he was after, and Damian winces... and in a very meek voice speaks up. "I-I d-don't think so... Th-the Overseer g-got away..." He hates drawing attention to himself, but he wants to at least put people at ease.
He sighs after saying that. He's going to have to explain all this to Anne and tell her why he couldn't get her package today.