2024-04-26: One Foot Forward

• Log: One Foot Forward
• Cast: Heal Berry, Xiumei Klein, Sable Aomori, Timu Guado, Dirk Swordsman, Xantia, Chartreuse Spinosa, Nina Chiyome, Citan Uzuki, Hannah Curie, Elaine, Chase
• Where: Silph Co. Headquarters
• Date: April 26, 2024
• Summary: Solaris made off with game-changing technologies when they hit Silph Co.'s headquarters. Under pressure from the Nedian government, and eager to save face, the corporation holds a discreet briefing about the stolen items. What does this mean for Energy Nede, and the future of Pokemon training?

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<Pose Tracker> Heal Berry has posed.

    It's been about a week since the break-in at Silph Co. headquarters. The news cycle has moved on to other things. The company issued a fluffy nothing of a press report, condemning the senseless violence and thanking the Trainers who defended its employees and property. Tellingly, there's been no word about what, exactly, was stolen.

    Equally telling is the company's other response. Silph contacted trainers involved in the incident--and trustworthy others--individually, and through secure means. The messages took a variety of forms, but each included both a thank-you and an invitation to listen to "a matter of pressing importance". The meeting will be held at company headquarters in Saffron City. Lunch will be served. Dietary accommodations will be available.

    It's Friday afternoon. The sky is blue and bright, dappled with fluffy white clouds. Flowers bloom in the planters outside the skyscraper's main entrance. Everything has been painstakingly repaired, and the only outward sign of the break-in is the increased security--heavier corporate Trainers with more experienced Pokemon--and a sign stating that public tours are suspended until further notice. The broad revolving door sits in front of a security checkpoint, where two guards check IDs against known Team Rocket accomplices. More guards escort guests to the main conference room, just upstairs.

    As promised, a full lunch spread sits in the upper lobby, taking up most of three white-draped tables. The centerpiece is Saffron-style paella--three big pans of it, full of fragrant golden rice and fresh, tender peas. Two are stacked high with seafood: Clauncher claws, chunks of juicy Cloyster, flaked Veluza meat. The third is vegetarian, featuring red peppers, spicy chilis, and chunks of roast artichoke. A bowl of rich, spicy gazpacho sits nearby, chock-full of tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, and other vegetables.

    For those seeking something a bit more practical, there are bowls of garden salad with crisp mixed greens, and an entire build-your-own-sandwich station with fresh veggies, cheeses, meats, breads, and more! Pitchers of ice water (both plain and fruit-essenced), lemonade, canned soda, coffee, and tea are available at the drink station. The plates, bowls, and glasses are all sturdy, stylish, and biodegradable.

    As if this feast weren't enough, there's also Pokemon food. A separate table holds trays of colorful Pokeblocks, stacked into character designs by the catering staff. There's a Pikachu, a Nacli, and a Fuecoco, all in edible food-pixel form. A gorgeous spread of freshly-picked berries sits around the edible sculptures, a veritable rainbow of Pokemon-friendly produce. Variety containers of Poke Puffs ('Baked this morning!' proclaims the sign) fill things out a bit.

    (Little signs next to the meat dishes indicate that all meat served is responsibly lab-grown, with the exception of the Sustainable Seas(tm) Veluza. Veluza shed their flesh regularly during battle, and are no worse the wear for it; it regenerates within minutes afterwards.)

    The conference room is no less impressive. It's not the fancy one--that one's on the top floor, near the President's office, with the skylight--but it's big, with abundant natural lighting. The windows on the far walls offer a view of the streetscape outside (they're one-way glass, and heavily-warded, to boot). The biggest thing in the room is, of course, the conference table. It's broad and accommodating, with a warm-hued wooden surface and induction-charging Symbols for personal electronics. The chairs are stainless (and stainproof!) white, and exquisitely comfortable. There's seating and lounging space for Pokemon, too--several stacks of cushions, organized by size. An Onix couldn't fit comfortably in here, but lots of others can, and it's not like Silph's employees don't have Pokemon of their own.

    And speaking of Pokemon at Silph Co....Aside from the guards and a few catering assistants, the main Silph presence is... a Lapras. She rests near the head of the conference table, the very picture of serenity despite the fact that there's no water here. Her shell is broad and sturdy. Her flukes comfortably bear her weight on land. She greets each newcomer, Pokemon or person, with gentle, welcoming song. Behind her, on the projection wall, is a message:

Dear Guests,

Please make yourselves comfortable. Our speaker will arrive at the scheduled hour.

<Pose Tracker> Xiumei Klein has posed.

Xiumei Klein has been to no small number of these. She wasn't at the break-in, but she was at Cinnabar Island; she heard about this one, and she came to look into it, as a Trainer and as a member of ARMS.

She has, of course, come prepared: a notepad with lined paper and spiral binding (something she has quite enjoyed access to, while being on Energy Nede), a pencil, and a readiness to take notes.

She is looking over the lunch, hungrily; she has a small salad, next to some of the Saffron-style paella, and a Pokepuff.

And, of course, a glass of iced tea.

She is waiting, patiently, for everything to begin.

<Pose Tracker> Sable Aomori has posed.

Sable Aomori has been keeping an ear out for news about Silph. She's still wondering what was stolen, and still concerned over this 'Solaris' that seems to be getting involved. But she's had a lot else to do, too; she'd say it didn't stop her from enjoying a chance to show her friends her ancestral home, but as it happens, Team Rocket interfered with that...

She didn't have to keep an ear out to get a message, though. A thank-you and an invitation...

She had been to Silph in the first place to ask about certain technology, so hearing more about it is ideal. She walks up on the afternoon of, and shows her ID at the checkpoint. Her Prinplup Ulpi walks proudly at her side as she does--she's concerned about a repeat of the incidents she's seen... and she likes walking with him.

He does not show ID.

Soon enough Sable has delicious seafood paella, some coffee, and a number of berries for Ulpi.

But she has an electronic tablet with her, and a stylus, for taking notes of her own. Ulpi stands guard rather than setting down ona cushion, but Sable does sit down.

"Hello," she tells Xiumei as she sits down near her. "I'm Sable. It's nice to meet you."

<Pose Tracker> Timu Guado has posed.

    Timu was there at the break-in. In spite of having been on the side of defending Silph Co., Biggs and Wedge have been high-profile enough as troublemakers that she gets misidentified as having been with them. Energy Nede has never really had much cause to exclude others before, on a cultural basis, so the guard on duty proves overzealous. It's his first time having had to screen anyone, because what transpired last week was terrifying and brazen and he feels the weight on his shoulders to ensure it doesn't happen again. (Even when presented the invitation, he was afraid it might have been a forgery.)
 
     Someone upstairs does recognize Timu Guado is not the same as those two, and a few minutes later she seems a bit sullen and rattled coming into the upper lobby. Her Fuecoco friend walks with her, keeping close and looking way more interested in the food on display than Timu herself does in the moment.
 
     Timu has notekeeping materials on hand, and a larger personal phone designed to better handle her hands' dimensions with some of the strongest available scratch protection - even when keeping them trimmed and neat, Guado nails adapted to be sharp. She approaches Sable and Xiumei, out of greater familiarity for Sable more than anything.
 
     "Hello," she says, taking her seat while Fuecoco considers foodstuffs, meaning within the next minute Timu will have to get up and help see to her little friend stuff his face to satisfaction anyway.

<Pose Tracker> Dirk Swordsman has posed.

 
Dirk is here. He doesn't look very happy.

To be fair to the guy, he doesn't exactly radiate 'I'm a happy boy' energy on a regular basis. He wears pretty bright colors, sure, and at the moment he has replaced the hoodie with a short-sleeved lapelled shirt which is a bright crimson and has the airs of 'this is my Nice Shirt, which I probably store on the PC'.

His crew is with him. Well, mostly. Charcadet is not in evidence.

Chespin isn't either. Strangely enough, however, a Quilladin is - Quilladin stands taller now, but those who watch Pokemon closely can still see the same kind of happy-go-lucky expression. Also, it's the same ironwood stick he's carrying. Behind Quilladin are Farfetch'd and Oshawott, and Honedge, it seems, is out today too. Farfetch'd looks dire. Oshawott is concerned. Honedge is... a sword; and behind them, Cufant continues to have the amiable good cheer of a Pokemon made out of metal (sorta) and capable of stampeding.

Good cheer is somewhat restored at the presence of food. There is some arrangement required, but:

            CHOW DOWN!!

Everyone gets something. Oshawott has a claw and a Cloyster chunk in both of her paws; Farfetch'd has a mug of gazpacho; Quilladin has put vegetable items on his stick. It is unclear if Honedge ate something. Cufant just helps herself to a bowl of garden salad, which she puts on top of her head and periodically trunks through. Dirk, having the Hominid-type Pokemon power of Thumbs, gets a bowl of Pokepuffs for dessert. He got a mixed-cold-cuts-and-cheese sandwich with a side of the paella and a canned coffee.

The Dirk Swordsman school wanders towards the seating. Dirk, Quilladin, and Oshawott get into chairs. He is the row right behind Xiumei and Sable, to whom he says: "Sup," before putting the sandwich in his mouth.

<Pose Tracker> Xantia has posed.

Xantia's had a fun week, following the incident at Silph Co. HQ. Her little display of Sudden Excessive And Frankly Disturbing Force was caught on camera, and played back to her, allowing her to see with her own eyes what happened at the end of the battle with the forces of Solaris - the part that's a big blank in her memory. These instances are getting more and more frequent, to the point that now she's worried this is the way she originally lost her memories entirely, and it could be happening all over again.

And that's putting aside the disturbing way she tends to act when this happens. As if she's an entirely different person, a person she doesn't think she would like to be... but may well be the person that she used to be. And there may be little she can do about where things are headed.

She also had to sit through questioning by local law enforcement, who were understandibly concerned about her taking things as far as she did. Thankfully this happened indoors and there weren't too many witnesses, but it was impressed upon her that the last thing anybody needs is distrust of Visitors being amplified even more than what Solaris's actions have already caused. As part of her sincere apology, she found herself promising that it wouldn't happen again. A promise that may be beyond her ability to keep.

At least she was let off with that warning. It's not as if her actions have ever been against Nede's interests, after all. But who knows how much of reassurance that will be to those who saw her that day...

Evidently, it wasn't held against her by Silph Co.'s representatives. Xantia was a little bit surprised to be thanked and invited today, and wavered on whether or not she would go, worried about how the other trainers present might react to her. But in the end... she is very curious what Solaris managed to get away with. Follow-ups to Solaris's activity are important.

Not to mention, free lunch, also not unimportant. Naturally that's where she headed immediately upon arrival, she won't be seating herself until the presentation is set to begin. Nothing like some good food to forget your worries for a bit. To see Xantia now, happily moving from dish to dish to try every single one of them, it sure is night and day compared to how she was in that fight. Her Pawmi, meanwhile, is off doing the exact same as her training for the Pokemon food table. This appears to be one area in which the two are on the exact same wavelength.

<Pose Tracker> Chartreuse Spinosa has posed.

Chartreuse had done some digging around after the fact, talking with some of Silph Co.'s staff aided by one of the visitors, Luna. (She doesn't realise yet that there was a third, spectral party involved in those talks.) As for what she learned... well, she's keeping it under her metaphorical hat(her literal hat has nothing underneath it except for her hair), for now. They'd asked her politely not to let it leak, she won't, unless they give her a reason to.

...It does mean, though, that she's a little annoyed at Silph Co.'s press report full of nothing but hot air. Still, she does respond to the invitation...

...and obviously, she isn't going to turn down food when it's freely given. She takes her seat at the conference table with her meal and a glass of lemonade. Two of her loyal Pokemon are in attendance, as well, seated on cushions either side of her. Sentret carefully nibbles his way through a Pokepuff, while Farfetch'd has a Sitrus Berry in wing... though he's too focused on the people around them to eat.

"Looks like you all got the memo, too." Chartreuse notes with a smile to everyone. She's dressed a bit nicer than usual - she left her trademark coat and bags at the coat check, and is currently wearing a nice, dark green blouse and a long black skirt.

<Pose Tracker> Nina Chiyome has posed.

Nina didn't arrive with Sable for once, she'd been back home up until the last minute. Arriving by rail and explaining why she's running late. She's got a slightly grim look to her face, but she doesn't talk about it right away.
 
 Spotting the food laid out, she resists the urge to dive on it and instead reaches up to nudge Mavs who's dozing on her shoulders. "Up up, get some food. We'll trade out as we go."
 
 She seems unsure about why she was invited. There's hints of 'Are we going to be pinned for this' in her mind.
 
 Still, she shows up wearing a loose dark colored hoodie and shorts and flashes her ID to get in.
 
 Too late to back out now.
 
 She does have her bags on her this time though.
 
 Still, spotting the familiar faces, she waves to Timu, somehow surprised the alien trainer had been found! Then realizing she probably just has a phone now.
 
 The others are waved to, but she doesn't speak as she takes a seat near Sable and pulls out her notebook.

<Pose Tracker> Citan Uzuki has posed.

    Citan had not been present for the attack, either -- he hadn't even been in Energy Nede at the time. But the news had spread, and so had the particulars, and if anyone is well-connected enough to be generally considered as at least highly knowledgable among the general Filgaian Drifter community (your mileage may vary on 'trustworthy'), it's Citan Uzuki.

    Besides, Xantia had been present, and that more or less had settled the matter. Though, he suspects he's about to hear it on the subject of 'free lunches'.
    He hadn't forgotten that, and he's ready to believe Xantia never will.

    But he's here, and that means that Ise is here, too. His own selections are varied but fairly light (salad, vegetarian paella, water) while Ise is... apparently determined to chow down on a stack of Pokeblocks piled higher than he is. Does he have eyes bigger than his stomach? ...Do Mimikyu have stomachs? Or teeth, for that matter??

    Citan's attention at the moment is far from his food. His gaze lingers on Xantia, something like concern vaguely coloring his expression.

<Pose Tracker> Hannah Curie has posed.

Hannah wasn't at Silph Co to stop Solaris' activities a week ago, but she had fought against them the week prior, at the Pokemon Mansion. And, of course, she was a member of ARMS, and Eleanor had been making overtures of offering ARMS' assistance to Energy Nede with various matters. Solaris' activities certainly fell under matters they would take an interest in.

Hannah lets out a low whistle as she enters, nodding her head to the company Lapras. "Howdy. Much obliged." She's got medium length curly pink hair, and bright green eyes. She's swapped out her normal Trainer outfit for something a bit nicer for the occasion--she is representing ARMS, after all: A long green dress with a cropped jacket on top, and just a little bit of effort put into brushing out her hair. (She's still wearing her normal boots, though, as well as her crest graph pouch and satchel. Can't ditch function entirely...)

Zephyr is, of course, with her, perched on her shoulder, feathers freshly-preened. He chirps happily when he sees the buffet and takes wing to rush right over to it. Hannah chuckles and follows him over. There is a considerable amount of time spent sourcing food for herself (sandwiches and lemonade), Zephyr (seafood), and Agapi, Eimi, and Cassandra (berries and pokeblocs.)

She spends some time getting her pokemon set up comfortably with cushions and food, then takes a seat next to Xiumei with a still-considerable array of food for herself and Zephyr. (Zephyr is eating with her, because of course he is.)

She has a lot of food for herself, but... being a Crest Sorceress is hard work, you know?

"Well, they certainly spared no expense," comments Hannah to Xiumei as she gets her own (more lowtech, without a spiral binding) notebook out to place it along her plate. "Think I can count on one hand the number of times I've gotten an invite like this."

She leans over and smiles to Sable, "Howdy Sable. Hope you're holdin' up okay." Between Solaris' activities and Team Rocket's... it's certainly been a tumultuous time.

She looks to Timu with sympathy. "Are you alright, hun? They ain't given you too much hassle at the security desk, are they?"

<Pose Tracker> Elaine has posed.

    Arriving a touch late is one young teen trainer with an Eevee riding on top of her head as if there was no better place to be. Elaine stops inside the room with a blink at how many were present, before moving to the side looking for somewhere to sit a bit out of the way. Veevee on the other hand jumps down and races for the table of Pokemon food. The Fresh Berries crave to be eaten by an Eevee, it must be so. Elaine smiles watching her Pokemon run off even as she takes a seat, fiddling with her pokedex in the process. Anyone that manages to sneak up on her and look over her shoulder will see she has both her phone out which has a picture of a very very old document up while her Pokedex has an entry a particular steel type some would know now as Melmetal.

<Pose Tracker> Chase has posed.

Chase is here and Chase is... in poor spirits. He rubs at a sunken eye with the back of his hand, oblivious to or ignoring the lunch spread and greeting only the Lapras with a nod before he collapses down on one of the cushions probably intended for Pokemon instead of people. Pikachu hops off of his shoulder, scampering about the sandwich table to gather up ingredients. She is but a Pikachu, picking things based on color and impulse. Strawberry. More strawberry. Some Poke Blocks. Each slice of cheese a different cheese.

Sometimes she admires the cheese in the light, tail wriggling rapidly.

She waddles her abomination of sandwich to Chase, offering it out. "Chachu. Chaaachu!" Chase blinks up at her from rummaging through his bag, then takes it, patting her head. She beams at him broadly as he takes a bite, then resumes riding on his shoulder.

Despite the strange ingredients, Chase seems fine with eating it. Maybe love really is the most important ingredient?

<Pose Tracker> Heal Berry has posed.

    Ida arrives at the very tail end of the Drifter entourage. She might've had stern words with the guard who gave Timu trouble on the way in. She balances a complicated and precarious arrangement of plates in one hand: berries and Pokeblocks, and atop that, a plate with her own meal. Ida has assembled a sub sandwich for herself, with roast vat-Tauros (close to beef, a little gamier), sharp cheddar, lettuce, and horseradish mayo.

    Catastrophe Sal flutters along behind her, carrying a second plate of Pokeblocks--and behind her, Aurora and Marigold. She takes a seat, sets everything down, and retrieves cushions for her Pokemon. The brief tap of a button summons Erasmus from his Pokeball. Now that the gang's all here and seated, it's time to tuck in.

    After about ten minutes--at 12:30 local time, the scheduled hour--the speaker arrives.

    She doesn't look much better off than Chase. She walks in with a hurried gait, her shoulders slightly slouched, and her hands in the pockets of her white lab coat. Her red blouse and khakis are clean and pressed, but the rest of her is rumpled from stress. Her long blue hair rests in a messy bun. Visible streaks of makeup line the hollows of her eyes in an overzealous attempt to color up the dark blotches of sleeplessness.

    The Lapras scoots over to her side, rests her head against the researcher's chest, and sings a tune of comfort. The researcher smiles, and strokes the Lapras's cheek.

    One of the researcher's pockets rustles. Some sort of mouse-like Pokemon peeks out, whiskers rustling in curiosity. "Dedenne!" he says, offering a cheerful wave. With Pikachu-like grace, he scampers up his person's arm and rests on her shoulder, offering a second solidarity nuzzle.

    The researcher's smile widens. She sweeps a hand through the projector control, and with a cheerful corporate-presenation chime, it switches over to the Silph Co. logo. The researcher clears her throat, and addresses the room.

    "Good afternoon. I hope everyone's, ah, getting settled in. I'm Dr. Harriet Chujo, Assistant Director of Research and Development for Silph's Novel Products Division. Thank you all for coming. I really, really wish this were under better circumstances."

    "De..." says the Pokemon on Dr. Chujo's shoulder, offering her a pat.

    "This is Denny," she says, perking up a bit more, "and this is Lapras. Lapras is something of a fixture here at HQ. She personally escorted Team Rocket from the building the other day, via the window."

    Lapras croons, and cranes her head into profile--it's a little playful, and a little coy.

    "Yeah. It could've been a lot worse, but it doesn't mean it's not bad. The short version is that Team Rocket and the Solaris visitors made off with experimental devices from the Novel Projects labs, and an unidentified third party broke into our servers and stole a defective Pokemon. My main concern is the former." Denny hops off of his person's shoulder, lands with a soft squeak of effort, and scampers over towards Pikachu. Electric rodent solidarity?

    "In case you're wondering why you didn't hear anything... up until last night, everything was protected by an ironclad NDA." She reaches up to tuck hair behind her ear, her eyes narrowing slightly. "That's a 'non-disclosure agreement', for those of you who aren't familiar. A legal agreement to keep company secrets secret." Beside her, the company Lapras lets out a soft, musical noise that might be a sigh. Dr. Chujo meets its gaze with a weary smile. "Of course, now that the Meowth is out of the bag, the President consulted with both our legal teams and the affected teams in R&D. When faced with the possibility of our discoveries being..." Harriet sucks in a breath, bracing. "...weaponized... by criminals and other malicious elements, he decided to lift the veil of secrecy. And that's why you're here. Any questions for me so far?"

<Pose Tracker> Timu Guado has posed.

    "I'm..." Timu starts to respond to Hannah as she looks over her shoulder. "I could be better-- I should go get food," she dismisses herself to go grab something for Fuecoco (and, eventually, herself). She does quietly appreciate how Ida stands up for her, though she's been left with a lot to think about as of late.
 
     She passes Nina a wave as she goes to the foodstuffs - Fuecoco notices the pokeblock arrangements that look like everyone other than himself, but he decides to stop guessing so he can have his (a little bit more than his, let's be real) share of Pokeblocks while Timu ends up taking her selection from equal parts green stuffs and a bit of Veluza. She returns back to the gathering around the time Denny and Lapras are both introduced, a bit sheepish and a bit hurried.
 
     "What makes a Pokemon defective...?" Timu asks herself, barely audible but otherwise keeping to herself as the concept of a 'NDA' is explained.

<Pose Tracker> Xiumei Klein has posed.

"Oh, hello!" Xiumei tells Sable, smiling. "I'm Xiumei Klein. I'm from Filgaia. Nice to meet you, too."

She lifts a hand, waving at Timu as she approaches -- and Dirk, too. He draws a bit of a longer look. (She is wondering if his last name really is Swordsman.)

She looks at Chartreuse, when she speaks up, then she nods. "Yes," she says. "After recent events... well, I wanted to come and see for myself from the experts."

She looks sideways at Hannah, then -- and she smiles at her, before she nods once. "Mm-hm," she agrees. "They clearly wanted to make an impression. Not that I have any complaint, of course..."

She looks at Elaine -- smiling a bit at the Eevee -- and then she looks at Chase. And blinks, both at how he looks tired -- maybe worse -- and at how his Pikachu is...

...feeding him? It is a little cute.

There is a wave at Ida, too. And then Xiumei's attention is entirely on the speaker -- and she notices the way she looks stressed, which she can also empathize with.

Xiumei, being a clerk, knows what an NDA is.

"Do... we have a good idea of what was stolen, then?" she asks, after Timu.

<Pose Tracker> Sable Aomori has posed.

Sable smiles at Xiumei. She seems really nice! "Thank you."

Sable notices that Timu seems out of sorts, but can't identify why. She's just not that good at reading her expressions yet. She smiles anyway when she approaches. "Hello, Timu."

"Hi," she tells Dirk too, and nods to his Pokemon seriously. Xantia she watches for a few moments; she was kind of scary back at the battle, but now she's... eating a lot? "You're not scary today," Sable says to Xantia without much emotion. It's just sort of how she is.

Like Chartreuse, she is dressed up a little more nicely; a black knee-length dress, boots, and her usual jacket (which is at the coat check.) "I did," she answers, and waves to Nina too.

And Citan! He's watching Xantia too...

"I'm okay," she answers. "I didn't have my Pokemon stolen."

She waves to Elaine, too!

Sable has time to eat, while she waves at Ida too. And when the woman stepss out...

Sable listens intently to Dr. Chujo. She is thoughtful, until the NDA, and then she nods.

"That would be normal for research like this," Sable explains for anyone who might not know. She smiles at Lapras and Dedenne, but then, "So does that mean that your discoveries are things that can be used as weapons?" Sable asks, with a slight frown.

"I thought those projects were mostly in Armlock..."

Timu's question is good, too. She nods to both her and Xiumei's.

<Pose Tracker> Dirk Swordsman has posed.

 
Dirk looks around as others come in. Oshawott seems to be focused on stuffing her face and so is Quilladin. Cufant is mostly looking towards the front. So it's Farfetch'd who sees Chase (along with Dirk), and the duck snort-quacks at the sight of that sandwich.

Then the Assistant R&D Director comes out. Dirk does some mental figuring. He straightens up after doing the figuring. His frown becomes clear, rather than just Resting Dirk Face. It's an attentive kind of frown.

(Farfetch'd and Quilladin nod at Lapras and Denny. Oshawott is too busy eating. Cufant has food on her head, so she doesn't nod.)

"Yo," Dirk says, throwing up one hand on ingrained reflex. "First up, is Solaris those guys with the -- I don't know, the Hyperbeam Symbology? Second of all," His head jerks towards Timu, "what she said. And -- dang, you guys on the ball," Dirk says to Xiumei, which seems to be boosting his mood. After this he stops throwing out questions in favor of eating the sandwich.

<Pose Tracker> Nina Chiyome has posed.

Nina's first thought is a joke. She clamps down on it. Hard. Even if she does still find it funny. She's learning!
 
 As for the clothing, where everyone else has kind of dressed up, she manages to look vaguely embarrassed and murmurs, "I didn't want to try and wear a kimono on the train." indicating what her formalwear actually consists of. She hasn't been spotted in it before lately after all.
 
 The truth is, it never crossed her mind!
 
 Mavs has started sifting through the pokeblocks. Collecting more than a few. She knows the score though as she's picking out a few shared favorites.
 
 Nina does ask curiously after the defective pokemon thing though, "Are you sure the two things aren't connected? The Solar System grunts are a bit strange." She waves her hand for emphasis at the word strange. She's talking the two she herself encountered admittedly "Is it possible they're going to try and exploit the defect? Is it like-" She hesitates. Thinking. Then shakes her head. She's got nothing. "Maybe like a security gap though. Something that could leverage into something else?" She's close enough to a thief to think like one at least!
 
 She does clamp up though, glancing over at Sable's question. That's a good point too. A different angle, but similar mindset maybe?
 
 She does offer a pleasant wave to Xiumei too. "I think I've heard the name" she murmmurs. Clearly names aren't her strongest point. Or they get filed funny in her memory at least.
 
 Mavs finally makes her way over with an armful of snacks. Plops down next to Nina and reaches up to poke each pokeball. Letting all of Nina's pokemon out before she can do so herself. Though it does get awkward with Poppy now sitting on a sneasel. They scramble out of the way and start to pick through the food as a group.
 
 Nina mutters, "H-hey you guys, keep it down and not here." Poking at them. It's good natured though.
 
 She does remember the lapras though and smiles at the croon.

<Pose Tracker> Elaine has posed.

    Elaine looks up shortly before Dr. Chujo appears looking around. Just enough to spot some people that glance or wav eat her and she's able to nod back to at least Sable. Veevee comes back if... multiple berries. Most of them stashed in her fluffy mane. How did she get them in there? Noone knows. How does she get them out? With a fierce, firm shake.

    Elaine smiles and shakes her head at Veevee. She spots Chase soon after, a look of concern but Pikachu is looking after him so she thinks he'll be fine for the moment, since the presentation begins before she can go to.

    Listening to Dr. Chujo, Elaine nods lightly as Veevee eats at her feet. She frowns slightly at the mention of an NDA, as well as how things could've been worse. But unlike the others she doesn't have comments to make, nodding along slightly listening to the other questions posed as she seems to think about things while listening.

<Pose Tracker> Hannah Curie has posed.

Zephyr is tearing into a Clauncher claw, picking readily at the meat. Why is he, a Filgaian-born avian with no connection to Energy Nede readily dining on (imitation) pokemon meat? Red-tailed hawks are opportunistic predators, that's why, and Zephyr never misses an opportunity to try a new kind of meat.

But still, Zephyr turns his head to take notice of Chase's arrival, and notes his condition... He chirps, softly, and Hannah looks up, frowning. "Feel free, if you wanna check on him. I c'n handle notetaking."

After Chase had abruptly taken off the night before, Zephyr had, naturally, taken off after the distraught boy, making sure he didn't get lost. Hannah had been along a bit after, using her empathic link with Zephyr to find both him and Chase, and the two of them had makde sure Chase had gotten to a save place for the night.

Zephyr takes off of Hannah's shoulder and flaps over to land in front of chase, giving him an inquisitive chirp and a tilt of his head.

Hannah gives Ida a quick wave when she enters, and she has one for Nina, too, whom she missed earlier.

Lapras escorted Team Rocket out through the window. And she's seen Team Rocket blown up before, too. "They sure make 'em tough in Energy Nede, huh...?"

She listens seriously, frowning in concern as she makes notes. And when questions are asked for, she raises her hand. "Pardon, can you back up a sec? You said a pokemon was stolen from your servers? You don't mean... information 'bout a pokemon or data about it or somethin' like that?"

Hannah winces at Timu's response. The experienec is clearly rattling her. "Let's you'n me talk later, okay hun? An' if Ida puttin' in word weren't enough I'll give 'em a piece of my mind, too."

To Xiumei she nods. "An' they're succeedin'."

<Pose Tracker> Xantia has posed.

Xantia's keeping a low profile - well, in as far as that's possible while gorging on every food in sight. She certainly wasn't about to try and open any conversations that may force her into explaining herself, yet again. Of course, when Sable addresses her... well, she can't just not say anything to that.

"Ah, um. That wasn't... what I'm usually like." She's having a hard time maintaining eye contact, but for whatever it's worth, she does sound genuinely apologetic when she adds, "I'm sorry for getting scary, back there. It's no excuse, but... it's because I have a history with those people, the Solarians." This doesn't even begin to explain all the elements that were at play there, but she hopes it's understandable enough to get away with, without having to explain everything in detail. No need to drag these kids into her problems.

Meanwhile, someone else whom she knows quite well has arrived. She caught that look, but even so...

"Doc! Hi! I didn't know you were around!" Even if her mood had been a little gloomy before food happened, that's not stopping a sincerely cheerful greeting, that's just her default. Nor does she put any effort into hiding the look of worry that creeps into her expression when she asks, "I guess... you heard about what happened?" The unspoken concern being how much he heard about what happened, in relation to her own part in the events. As much as she'd like to claim that she can explain, she really can't.

But this is not the time to have that sort of conversation, anyway. The press conference is about to start, heralded by the speaker's arrival. As soon as she notices that, she signals Mii with a quick whistle, startling the Pawmi just in time to prevent her from touching Ise with the curious paw she'd been slowly extending in the Mimikyu's direction. Instead, she darts off across the table, deftly avoiding bumping into anything to join Xantia by hopping on her shoulder. This helps to make smiling easier again, as Xantia suggests to Citan, "Let's take a seat, shall we?"

Even after she does so, she continues munching on the sandwich she got to go. Mii is more interested in begging (and receiving) a bite from that as well rather than participate the electric rodent solidarity on display, she's not quite that outgoing.

Xantia pays well enough attention to the presentation though, not a word slips by her. No questions from her, especially when others are already asking what she'd like to know about. Which includes Timu's question. 'Defective' seems like pretty darn rude phrasing to use in regards to living creatures. She's fine waiting for the part that most concerns her, however.

<Pose Tracker> Chartreuse Spinosa has posed.

Chartreuse can't help but smile just a little at everyone and their Pokemon present. She nod back to Xiumei.

"I don't blame you. It's always concerning when something like this happens... Especially when they've shown a consistent agenda." She replies.

...And then, the speaker arrives - a rather exhausted looking scientist. Chartreuse offers her a polite smile of greeting - but Farfetch'd, meanwhile, watches her like a hawk.

Despite being more of a duck.

Sentret looks up from his Pokepuffs only briefly, but he knows that this is more Chartreuse's field of interest than his.

Dedenne... and Lapras, too. Their show of comforting the researcher gets a small, fond laugh out of Chartreuse.

She gets serious, though, when it's time to get down to business.

She knows what an NDA is, of course - her field has them, too. She keeps quiet on the subject of what was stolen, and as for the 'defective Pokemon'... well, everyone's already brought that up.

"How have the staff been recovering?" Chartreuse asks.

<Pose Tracker> Citan Uzuki has posed.

    Xantia soon notices his arrival, and guesses why he's here.

    He nods. "Yes, I did. Are you well...?" Concern flashes across his face, but he turns his head, distracted by the arrival of the Silph researcher. "...But perhaps, we can discuss this at another time. It would seem that our host has arrived," he murmurs, glancing over at Dr. Chujo as she introduces herself and gets down to business. Perhaps it's just as well that she did, for as Mii began to reach out to prod at Ise (chewing sounds are coming from under... his 'pelt') a series of black tendrils had begun to snake out from under the dingy cloth as if in preparation for a scuffle... or play fight. It probably would have been disruptive at the table!

    He furrows his brow. An NDA. He's not familiar with the exact turn of phrase, but he can quickly guess what it means. Everyone has their secrets, even in a world like this one.

    He would have attended just because of Xantia's involvement, but...

    "Yes," he agrees, glancing over at Xiumei. "I believe that will be the key to understanding what they have planned. ...I had thought that, perhaps, it had been the presence of the Ten Wise Men that had prevented Solaris from interfering in the affairs of Energy Nede, but it seems I was sorely mistaken," Citan remarks, shaking his head. His attention focuses on Dr. Chujo. "I am to gather this is not the first facility they have targetted. Is that correct?"

<Pose Tracker> Chase has posed.

With actual nutrition to work off of, Chase takes this belated moment to see everyone who's gathered. Timu is here, and Sable. They look tired, too. Elaine's also here, researching the ancient Pokemon they had to contend with, which is more productive than he managed. He frowns, looking into his bitten sandwich. All day on Ponyta, and he couldn't find Milotic. The nature of Pokemon means Chase, even as a rider, tired far before Ponyta ever did. (Perhaps riding bareback adds further strain, but a saddle would never occur to Chase.)

It's Zephyr's appearance that snaps Chase out of it. He smiles at the hawk, giving a small nod. His own silent way of saying he's okay. Or will be, perhaps. He doesn't look his best. He offers Zephyr a bite of his strange sandwich. Then, when Dirk's Farfetch'd has a reaction to the sandwich, Chase turns it that way as if this were a matter of sandwich jealousy.

...It is a mystery to Chase why anyone might not want a taste. More for him, at least?

He looks up, listening as Dr. Chujo reports on the situation and frowns thoughtfully. Chase finally stands up and joins the table to listen easier. Or, at least, maybe show he's trying to listen while his peers handle the question asking a bit better.

Pikachu greets Denny with a bright, "Piii Pikachu!" to introduce herself, then touches her tail to Denny's whiskers with a short, gentle zap -- both in communication of hello, and to give the Dedenne a quick recharge. Pikachu can generate their own electricity by eating. Which she is also doing! Mmm strawberry.

But her ears also perch and twitch with Dr. Chujo's explanations. She crawls halfway up Chase, whole strawberry in her mouth, while she shoves a paw in his bag and searches. Chase has no reaction to this, as if it were a normal and common occurrence.

<Pose Tracker> Heal Berry has posed.

    Ida returns Sable's wave, then Hannah's. She flashes Xiumei a weary but earnest smile. The Seer is still worn out after yesterday, especially since she had to act as auxiliary emotional support for a young Trainer who lost his newest friend to Team Rocket. She still hasn't explained Asgard's new part-time job to anyone else.

    Dr. Chujo's ears twitch. "A literal Pokemon," she says, to Hannah. She turns to Timu, lips settling into a frown. "Are you familiar with Porygon, miss?" she asks. Probably not, if she's a Visitor, so Harriet continues. "They're electronic Pokemon, designed and programmed by Silph. We've had two successful Porygon iterations, and were working on the third, but... the lead developer made some questionable decisions. Poor things started acting real weird, so Artificial Pokemon R&D deemed it 'defective'."

     Harriet blinks as Mavs lets the rest of Nina's menagerie out, but that's mostly because of Poppy's sudden entrance. Typhlosion are big and distinctive! "If the thieves were after Pokemon, that whole server was full of functional Porygon, including Porygon-2." Harriet presses fingers to her temple, and rubs it. "The sysadmins are still going through the logs, but it looks like the thief was some sort of automated system using non-Nedian data architecture. We don't know enough about the 'Solaris' people to know if it was something they did." She meets Nina's eyes. She can feel a headache forming as Nina puts forth the possibility of another data breach, this one somehow Porygon-based. "I'm sure IT Security's looking into it."

    Dr. Chujo glances between Dirk and Xantia. Her brow knits into a tight little line. "That's them, yes. The man who-- who--"

    Dr. Chujo grew up on Energy Nede. The concept of someone taking drugs, and then exploding into sorcerous violence is something right out of a movie. It's terrifying. It's ridiculous. And it happened here, in the building where she works, and the only reason she wasn't there is because she went home early that evening to go on a date with her partner." Everything we know about this 'Solaris' is on those security tapes. You saw it." Frustration seeps into her voice.

    Chartreuse asks about the staff. Dr. Chujo's stormy expression grows a little less so. "No one was seriously hurt," she says. "Nedian or Pokemon. We have the quick response to thank for that."

    "De-dedenne!" Denny chirps, wiggling in appreciation as Pikachu tops off his tank. His antenna-like whiskers flick and spark in greeting! And as Pikachu returns to Chase's bag, Denny scampers after. "...Dedenne?" What's she doing?

    "Correct," says Dr. Chujo, as she glances after Denny. "This is their third theft. And it's clear that they were narrowing down their targets."

    It's Sable's question that really has Harriet on edge, though. "No, Miss Aomori," she says, a little defensive, a little reflexive. "But you saw what that--that man did to himself. What kind of person does that?"

    Lapras brushes her head against Harriet's shoulder. Her focus returns. "Right. Right. This is personal for me. The first thing they stole is--something my team's been working on since before it was my team. We study interactions between Pokemon and exotic particles, with an eye towards identifying new avenues for evolution. Like how Eevees evolve when exposed to concentrated elemental force." Dr. Chujo gestures at Veevee, who is both conveniently nearby and an Eevee.

    "Ten years ago, my predecessor--my mentor, Doctor Yamamoto--isolated a promising new form of particle. It doesn't make Pokemon evolve, per se, but what it does is just as impressive. I wish I could show you here, but... due to its nature, that would be, ah, greatly impractical." Harriet laughs at the words, at a joke that she hasn't yet finished. "In short, it causes them to grow to tremendous size, increasing their power, durability, and resilience across the board. Before you ask, the process is completely safe, and has no long-term effects. We call it... Dynamax. We were in the final stages of getting League approval for a limited-market device when this happened. R&D managed to put all the necessary parts into something you could wear on your wrist--we'd trademarked 'Dynamax Band' for the name, and Marketing was putting promotions together..."

<Pose Tracker> Chase has posed.

Chase's Pikachu plucks something out of Chase's bag and scampering up beside Harriet. She holds up an item high in her paws:

A white band, striped pinkred on one side, and blue on the other.

"Pika pi!" she explains(?), as if she were a part of this presentation.

<Pose Tracker> Xiumei Klein has posed.

"It's important to take notes!" Xiumei tells Dirk, as she jots a few more down into her spiral notepad. Then, she smiles once at Sable.

She waves back at Nina, too; her own Eevee, a solemn-looking one named Liu Bei, hops up onto the table next to her -- and looks right at the presentation, very seriously.

She looks at Hannah, then she nods. "Quite," she says. "Though... I admit I'm reminded of meetings my family's company held. Though, not quite as stuffy. That would take some doing."

Then she looks at Chartreuse and nods. "Yes," she agrees. "I imagine... there's a common thread with everywhere they've attacked. If we can learn more, we can be better prepared for it."

Then she looks at Citan. She considers, before shaking her head. "I think it's a reasonable assumption, but... there's more going on than we expected."

Her brow furrows at the mention of trouble with the Porygon, and she takes notes on her pad. The talk of Dynamax, though, makes her raise her eyebrows -- and she looks up.

"That's amazing," she says. She hesitates a moment. "But... this device--ah. Is this what they stole? Or the plans for them?"

Then, she looks at Chase -- at the band, held up by his Pikachu -- and she blinks. "Wait..."

<Pose Tracker> Timu Guado has posed.

    Fuecoco has food and that is about as much as his ambition extends to, though in-between stuffing his face with the available foodstuffs in reach, he looks up to some of the other partner Pokemon out with a little wave, even ambling off a bit to go look at Poppy and bask in the warmth of the older, stronger Quilava.
 
     Hannah gives the offer about talking, and Timu nods a few times after she swallows the next bite of Veluza she's having. Weirdly enough, it has a similar taste to some of the fish that used to be commonly eaten at home. No matter how much she tries to distance herself from it, bits and pieces of Spira seem to keep creeping back into her life through coincidental likeness.
 
     More grown-up matters about whether the Ten Wise Men's presence would have dissuaded outside intrusion and other bad actors eludes Timu's understanding in the moment, as Dr. Chujo speaks about 'a literal Pokemon' being stolen. She shakes her head about the familiarity with Porygon.
 
     'Electronic' stuff she's only starting to grasp, but... Pokemon, in comparison...
 
     "If I were called 'defective' or 'wrong,'" Timu responds, "I don't feel like I'd stay around if I had to... if Pokemon choose their friends and who becomes Trainers... I don't feel like they were 'stolen' if they saw some place they could go to feel like they were loved and cared for."
 
     She has no idea what circumstances would lead up to it. Fuecoco ambles back to Timu's side when he catches the emotional air of disagreement about the idea of being defective. She reaches down to pick him up after putting her plate aside.
 
     She doesn't have any commentary about the concept of 'Dynamax,' though she might be a little more unsettled if she were to chew on it some more. Some of the Pokemon friends she has and knows are rambunctious even at their best behavior, sometimes. The idea of being able to make them temporarily larger at scale feels weird and dangerous.

<Pose Tracker> Sable Aomori has posed.

"I see," Sable answers Xantia. "It must be a difficult history. It's okay. You still helped us. It's normal for different people to be strange to each other sometimes. That's what Mom says."

Then she looks at Hannah. "Even our clothing on Nede is often Symbologically reinforced for safety."

Then she turns her head to Dirk, "...I don't know what that means. But Solaris is the man who did the scary magic, and his allies. I knew him... I tried to welcome him to Energy Nede like we're supposed to. But I didn't know what kind of person he was."

Porygon... Sable nods thoughtfully about that. But it sounds like... "So they only took that one..." She looks to Timu, and nods. "...I think it's not very nice, to say it that way. I hope you're right. That whoever took it is going to care for it."

But Solaris. Sable looks down gain.

But she was there for some of solaris's other thefts. And when Harriet gets defensive, Sable blinks slowly at her. "Not a very nice person," she says. "But I think it's important to them. They just... think differently thn we do."

But the explntion comes. And Sable listens to it. "Dynamax..."

She watches Chase approach. He's got a band! Well, no; Phwee has the bad.

"That would be useful," Sable says. "Some of the Visitors have big war machines," she explains. "So if they brought those here..."

"I see why you're worried they'd weaponize it. That could be dangerous."

A pause. "Thank you, Phwee."

Then she considers Xiumei. "They attacked a Pokeball factory," Sable explains, while Ulpi moves to stand beside Timu and Fuecoco, still proud, but offering silent support.

<Pose Tracker> Nina Chiyome has posed.

Nina's aware of the effect she has on people, even when she's helping sometimes. She looks the researcher right back in the eyes. "Put a bounty out maybe. Get the people good at breaking in to break in intentionally?" she adds in a slight undertone, "Not that I'd be able to claim it, but.." Is it surprising Nina hangs out with shady people sometimes?
 
 Nina's pointedly ignoring that Poppy has taken a snack and is now lounged across her lap like the pokemon is still lap sized.
 
 She does have an answer for the question asked to Sable, but she doesn't want to jump in. She's being surprisingly well behaved. Aside from Poppy being lazy, the rest of her pokemon are too. Quietly sitting there snacking and listening.
 
 She has a lot of small pokemon at least!
 
 She does slowly raise a hand though. "Is it just the bracelet or is there more to it? Like.. do I need to pair my phone to it?" She still doesn't have a pokedex. She's been distracted!

<Pose Tracker> Elaine has posed.

    Elaine listens quietly to what Dr. Chujo says, and as her explaination begins to hit on particles and changing the size of Pokemon a startled look cross her face as she further listens to what is appearently called Dynamax. And the Phwee has the band? Elaine blinks, but shakes her head slightly to clear it.

    "Um... Is this Dynamax related to one of the phenomenon Prof. Oak has been recently talking about how some Pokemon dramatically change appearance as they get... Oh, dramatically taller..." the last word slipping out after a pause Elaine starts to realize getting tall would be a side effect of growing to a tremendous size, not just being above usual height for a species.

<Pose Tracker> Dirk Swordsman has posed.

 
Dirk looks at Dr. Chujo as she mentions Porygon, the electronic Pokemon.

Dirk knows OF Porygon, but he says; "Huh." His lips purse. Perhaps he's silently judging. But then there's other talk - datajacking. So they have computers, too. (Dirk was unsure.)

(Farfetch'd raises a wing: "Farr," he tells Chase, with tones of 'thanks but no thanks,' before putting his bill back into the gazpacho soup to scoop some up and invert his head to swallow. It's kind of gruesome, to be honest, but that's more the tomato in action.)

And then there's more information. Dirk frowns bigger yet at 'nobody was seriously hurt' but he just folds his arms rather than hollering, looking significantly more surly for the next sentence or two, although his attention comes back up when the topic of embiggening Pokemon comes up.

Cufant blinks her big round eyes. Dirk looks at Cufant. Cufant looks at Dirk.

Dirk looks forwards as Chase's Pikachu raises aloft a powerful band indeed. "... dogg you just had one all along?" he asks Chase, looking at him askance. (Honedge, for mysterious reasons, floats down the aisle of chairs and seems to be going back to the buffet table.)

"Anyway, visitor got it," he says, aiming a finger-gun (.22 caliber) at Timu. "But I guess kinda wonder like, how did they know? Team Rocket working with 'em now?" With the individuals who, based on how he looks over at Sable and nods grimly, are now on Dirk Swordsman's Threat-Down in a prominent position.

<Pose Tracker> Hannah Curie has posed.

Zephyr chirps again, happily, as he gets a nod from Chase. He looks at the sandwich, curiously, and tilts his head. A questioning chirp follows.

From her seat, Hannah says, seemingly without even looking, "Go ahead, if you wanna."

The hawk chirps again and leans in to take a bite out of a piece of that sandwich, snagging a piece of Pokeblock and working at it with his beak for a bit.

Zephyr looks to Denny and chirps in friendly greeting (it doesn't sound like any part of 'Zephyr' or 'Red-tailed hawk' or even 'Buteo jamaicensis'), then takes his claimed piece of pokeblock and flies back to his spot on the table next to Hannah.

A literal pokemon. An artificial pokemon, to boot. "You all made a pokemon...?" Hannah frowns in thought at that. She was still a bit unnerved by Nede's level of technological sophistication, and creating a new being whole cloth is...

... there are some major implications there, aren't there?

But also... "Feels a bit high'n mighty callin' somethin' you made defective 'just 'cause it ain't turned out how you were wantin'... You made a livin' bein', an' they kinda tend to develop how they want to."

An automated system using non-Nedian data architecture... Two possibilities spring to mind, assuming it was with either Team Rocket or Solaris. She glances to Ida and Xantia. "I'm thinkin' of two constructs that might have that capability... an' we didn't see Asgard usin' a Porygon, I'm pretty sure. So... Azoth? 'less there was a third actor there that day..."

Hannah looks to Sable as she asks that question. "Just 'cause somethin' wasn't designed to be a weapon, don't mean it can't be made one, hun." She's gentle in how she says that, but firm. It's an unfortunate but still true statement. "'Specially in the hands of the likes of Solaris, they could turn somethin' meant to help into somethin' meant to hurt."

She writes down the word Dynamax, when introduced, then looks curiously when Chase's Pikachu delivers something to the presenter. "Wait, that ain't it, is it?"

She nods to Xiumei. "Yeah, I suppose you'n the others'd be used to all this kinda thing. Ain't exactly been a lot of board room meetin's in my past, yannow?" she says this with a mostly good-natured chuckle at herself.

She smiles gently to Timu as she accepts the offer to talk, and nods back in reply.

Sable explains that even their clothing is reinforced with Symbology, which could explain Team Rocket's supposed durability. Hannah nods to the young trainer. "Feel like I should've expected that, given how much Symbology goes around here... Thanks."

<Pose Tracker> Chartreuse Spinosa has posed.

"That's right. They were looking for something. Whether they knew what they were looking for or at least believed they'd find something useful, their strikes, at least, were targeted." Chartreuse agrees with a nod toward Xiumei.

Chartreuse continues listening intently and carefully, then. There's a lot to take in - as well as the mention of the development of Pokemon.

...She can sympathise with Dr. Chujo's fears, though. She feels the same way. It was terrifying. She's still terrified. So, she offers Dr. Chujo a sympathetic smile.

"That's good, I'm glad. I was concerned." She says. The conversation continues - and then, there's the first item. Chartreuse had heard a little bit about this already, but still more information gets filled in.

"It's remarkable... But it's concerning, knowing they were after that kind of power." She comments. A band...

Chartreuse's eyes stray toward Chase's Pikachu as she displays a certain object.

<Pose Tracker> Dirk Swordsman has posed.

 
"Oh, right," Dirk says to Xiumei and her notebook. "Yeah. Yeah, that's a good idea." He doesn't need that stuff because he engraves it in his soul, presumably. (Or: Dirk happily has not done any notebook use since he ditched school to go on a Pokemon Journey.)

<Pose Tracker> Xantia has posed.

It's telling that Xantia doesn't immediately answer Citan's simple question, and then responds to it with, "I'm alright now." That implies so many things left unsaid. But she's not keen on talking about it in a public space, so it's just as well that the conversation is cut short there. Also for Mii, because she did not notice those black tendrils of Ise's and didn't realize she may have been innocently inviting a nightmare.

As for Sable... even now, Xantia is frequently surprised by the attitudes displayed by the people of Energy Nede. It kind of makes her sad to consider that the people of Filgaia are, by comparison, generally not nearly as understanding of other people's circumstances. And that she's come to expect a poor reaction to being Different because of it. Sable may have no idea just how much of a relief it is for her to hear that it doesn't have to be like that. "I... appreciate that," is all the response she can muster.

This being the case, she feels a bit more free to weigh in on the matter of Solaris, when that comes up shortly after. "Solaris would say that they're fully within their rights to take whatever they want, because they're superior and best suited to handle such advanced technology. That's just the way they think. You can't reason with them, because they're completely unreasonable. They're Filgaia's worst enemies." More than a little biased, but that's how she sees it. Should work well enough to drive home the level of bad news they are. No point in trying to be understanding with those people.

As the question regarding the 'defective' Pokemon is answered, Xantia's eyes widen in sudden realization. Some sort of automated system, stealing data for Solaris? That's enough to make her mind go to the obvious place for it to go. Why didn't she think of that before? Solaris has Azoth back, why wouldn't they send him along on these incursions? Was that whole frontal assault a ruse to begin with?

When Hannah voices the possibility, she readily agrees, "I think that's probably what happened. Especially since Azoth often accompanies Loren." Pause. "That's the needles guy." He gets so many interesting nicknames, doesn't he.

A tiny smile appears though, when Timu speaks up. It's nice to consider the possibility of that Pokemon just choosing to go with someone who could appreciate them, the way they tend to do. Not hard for her to see that happening, if Azoth was indeed involved.

She avoids meeting Dr. Chujo's gaze, when those eyes turn in her direction. She knows what she did. She wouldn't disagree that it was excessive. If, of course, all Solaris's fault in the end. They started it.

She can't help but groan, though, when Dynamax is explained. "Ugh, that is so a thing that they'd want to steal and use as a weapon. How'd they even find out about it, if it was all secret like that?"

<Pose Tracker> Citan Uzuki has posed.

    She's alright now.

    "I see," he responds quietly, and the way he creases his brow says everything. But it will have to wait. It wouldn't do for them to overhear this and damage Xantia's ability to move among their society... any more than the event already would have.

    An... electronic Pokemon. "I... see," Citan says slowly, as she explains about how they were created, and how the stolen one was of a third iteration that had experienced... irregularities, one might say. "So they are lifeforms born from electrical signals..." It's not exactly a concept he is unfamiliar with, after all--

    In a certain sense, Emeralda is not dissimilar. But the discussion reminds him also of the way in which Solaris had 'discarded' Emeralda after her purpose had been spent...

    It would seem that he's not the only one, to hear Timu say it. He glances her way, but in this, he makes no comment. An automated system was the thief, was it...? Considering what Hannah and Xantia have just guessed, he thinks it highly likely it is just so.

    "Yes, I agree," he tells Xiumei, looking back her way. It had been a reasonable assumption, but...

    He frowns again pensively as Dr. Chujo goes on. What she has said just now... all that they know regarding Solaris is within those tapes? He settles back in his seat, his own silence maintaining until that crucial tipping point arrives that forces his decision on the subject. He glances at Hannah and Timu, at Xantia and Xiumei as if to quietly ask for their assistance in this endeavor. "If you do not mind me asking, doctor," he says to Dr. Chujo, "what do you know of the political situations within Filgaia? Or Lunar, for that matter?"

<Pose Tracker> Heal Berry has posed.

    Denny presses his little forepaws to his cheeks, and rubs them. Sparks shoot down his antennae. "Dedenne!" he chirps. He turns to Dr. Chujo...

    Who stares down at Pikachu. She knows who should have one of those, and who shouldn't. Chase is not one of those people. "How...?" she says, already jumping to conclusions under the influence of stress. Did he take it from a tester? Did the Pikachu make off with it? How--

    Lapras croons out a few bars, soft and melodic. Harriet turns to her. "Wait. You were the one who...?"

    Lapras's voice rises in melodic, full-throated song. Dr. Chujo looks between Lapras, then Chase, and heaves a sigh.

    "Okay, you're right, you didn't sign anything. Still, giving this out without permission, even if you know they're going to..." She rubs her temples again. "Okay. Meowth's out of the bag." Deep breath. "This is what Team Rocket stole," says Dr. Chujo. "I haven't even gotten into the third theft." So what did Solaris make off with, then?

    Harriet's expression turns... a shade more sympathetic, as people speak up in defense of poor Porygon-Z. "I don't have the authority to change things over in Artificial Pokemon," she says. "But I don't want any Pokemon to get hurt." Is this a diplomatic way of acknowledging their feelings, tacitly agreeing with them, and changing the subject all at once? Maybe. Her eyes linger on Timu for a moment, as if she could communicate this more articulately.

    "...Azoth could use another friend," Ida murmurs, glancing at Hannah.

    "Dedenne," says Denny. He nuzzles his person's ankle. Dr. Chujo reaches down and scoops him up, snuggling him to her chest. (The moment Denny's got line of sight on Phwee again, he flashes her a little thumbs-up.) "Where was I? Oh. Right. 'Needles guy' and his friends made off with something completely different. We had another team studying a different avenue for induced Evolution using... you're familiar with Evolution Stones, right?" A glance at Xiumei, then at Elaine, then at Ida.

    "Evoi!" says Marigold, cheerfully.

    "Imagine something like that, except instead of causing a permanent Evolution--like Raichu, or Flareon, or Starmie--it's temporary, and vastly increases the Pokemon's power. And you need to have a close bond to your Pokemon to do it. They call it Mega Evolution." Dr. Chujo pauses a beat. "The other team made a mockup of a field-use device that uses this, replacing the power source used in a Dynamax Band with a socket for the Mega Stone, which is your evolutionary catalyst. They were still trying to quantify how stressful it was on the Pokemon, but they seemed to get best results from Pokemon with close bonds to their Trainers."

    Dr. Chujo meets Citan's eyes, now, visibly exhausted. "We know Dynamax is safe. We're reasonably sure Mega Evolution is safe in the long term, with the caveat it can cause short-term strain. What I want to know is--what do these Solaris people even want?"

<Pose Tracker> Chase has posed.

Zephyr does taste the sandwich! Pikachu special: made with love. It tastes like... well, that part of it tastes like a Pokeblock. Chase smiles.

The Porygon discussion has Chase's brow furrowed in concern again. A stolen Pokemon, while they were distracted by the terrifying man and his drug induced abilities... Or is it as Timu says, and perhaps the Pokemon, maybe even unrelated to all of this, found a new companion on its own...? After everything, he can only hope that's the case. It's softening the blow a little to know there was no original trainer involved this time.

But this 'Solaris' sounds... well, awful, in a word. Especially if Xantia is to be believed, and why wouldn't she be? No Visitor has reacted to the organization, or anyone from it, with any warmth. (Xantia may have gotten a little frightening herself, but she did help them doing it. Pokemon can get scary when they get protective, too.)

Pikachu gives Sable an open mouthed smile with the gratitude for blatantly flaunting stolen goods. She is doing a good job! A helpful job! Dirk asks if Chase just... had that.

Chase presses his lips together and gives Dirk a shrug of his shoulders, but the look on his face is tellingly guilty. Slowly, he ventures a smile and a wave at Harriet. Lapras, thankfully, vouches for him and is free from legal trappings.

His Pikachu remains above concern, admiring the Dynamax Band a moment, then holding it up delightedly. "Piiii pika~." She puts it on her arm, wearing it more like a sleeve, and starts doing poses. "PiiiKA! PiiiKA? Pika pika?"

Mercifully, Pikachu cannot make it work.

<Pose Tracker> Xiumei Klein has posed.

"A Pokeball factory... I'd say they want to learn about Nedian technology," Xiumei ventures. Then, she looks to Chartreuse, and nods. "It would fit, then. Hopefully... it's something we can put a stop to."

When Timu speaks up, though, Xiumei looks at her -- and she nods in agreement. It's a sentiment that a few artificial lifeforms on Filgaia, too, would resent. She is certain that Varius and Avile would.

She looks at Hannah, then, and blinks -- before she smiles. "Ah, yes. It... does come up with ARMS and our families, I admit."

The mention of Azoth, though, makes Xiumei frown. She looks downward, for a moment. "...Mm. Yes," she says. "They've... a lot to answer for."

She looks back at Dr. Chujo, then nods -- she knows about Evolution Stones. Her eyes widen, though, at mention of Mega Evolution; her breath catches, for a moment.

"I... I see," she says. "That's very potent. I can see why they're both interested. And... why it could go terribly wrong."

Liu Bei's little arms fold, next to her, and his brow furrows with the great concern of one who carries all under heaven upon his shoulders.

<Pose Tracker> Elaine has posed.

    Elaine continues to listen, nodding when asked about Evolution stones. Given she evolved her Gloom into a Vileplume almost right way, she was very familiar with their uses. More so thanks to Veevee, who absolutely refused to evolved. Then the concept of a temporary evolution is revealed, Mega Evolution. Elaine blinks. Stares. Her mouth partial drops open. The very idea turns a lot of things on their head, never mind the research it introduces.

    Then movement distracts her, and both Veevee and Elaine turn to look at Pikachu. Pikachu who is about to activate a dynamax band. A dynamax band which makes Pokemon grow 'tremendously tall'. Veevee chirps in curiousity, Elaine starts to cry out to stop it but stops short as becomes appearent Pikachu can't activate the band on her own and sighs in relief.

<Pose Tracker> Timu Guado has posed.

    Ulpi standing beside Timu and Fuecoco gets a hard-won smile from the Guado teenager as she lets out a breath, and getting a little more alert as Dirk points a finger to her but relaxing soon after when acknowledging the verbal component of being right.
 
     She is watching as Chase's Pikachu brandishes an object, but otherwise...
 
     Citan passes a glance. Timu only knows some of the surface tensions as regards the wider world(s) outside of the continent of Spira and Rille's helpful run-down of how terrible Kislev is, how Aveh's not better (arguably worse, since Solaris has a horse in that race - albeit not on the same racetrack as those two countries), and the constant state of agitation and outright war the two countries get into.
 
     The eyes of Harriet fall upon her, and Timu meets that gaze for a bit before straying off, like maybe there's a nuance there she doesn't quite want to accept as something to brush under the rug.
 
     But there's nothing to push back on - the so-called 'defective' Pokemon is gone to who knows where, and the only hope there is is that it's happy and no one is going to be in danger for it. (Any more than anyone already is.)
 
     Timu starts poking along at writing down what's been shared so far, as Fuecoco peeks up by (somehow) standing on his tippy-toes which is quite an anatomical feat.
 
     Timu doesn't weigh in about the matters of Dynamax, Mega Evolution, and safety concerns so much as she lowers her dominant hand (her left) to rub the side of Fuecoco's face affectionately.

<Pose Tracker> Sable Aomori has posed.

Xantia seems nice to Sable, now that she's not being terrifying. To be fair, Sable tends to take people at face value in the first plce. She is sincere in wht she says, though.

"Okay," Sable says when Xantia says she appreciates it. She nods, firmmly.

Then Xntia explains Solaris's ways. "They called us -lambs-," Sable explains. "I don't know what that means..."

An automated system. "Team Rocket is using artificial life-forms, too. Like Asgard."

"Mega Evolution... that's much older, isn't it?" Sable confirms with Dr. Chujo. "Mom knows about it. But most people don't. The idea of it becoming something more people can do... If it's Solaris, that's bad."

She considers. She smiles at Phwee, and nods to Dirk, but--

"Kislev and Aveh are at war," she explains. "That means they're sending soldiers to kill each other. And behind that war are other eople who want to keep it going. Like Solaris. Solaris seems to want to rule other countries too."

Ulpi puffs up that much more when Timu smiles at him. He's very proud of his guardianhip. ...And he looks down o Fuecoco. "Prin," he indicates to Fuecoco, encouraging him.

<Pose Tracker> Chartreuse Spinosa has posed.

"...I hope so, too." Chartreuse agrees with a nod, before looking back to the researcher and her Pokemon friends. ...It seems that Lapras was the culprit in this particular instance, of gifting Chase the Dynamax Band - she can't help but chuckle, at that.

"Looks like she's a good judge of character." Chartreuse comments. She can't say she really knows Chase - but everything she's seen so far makes it clear he's a good kid.

Still - Team Rocket stole the Dynamax Bands, and Solaris... Chartreuse frowns as an explanation is given. Mega Evolution - a temporary increases in power, at the cost of short-term strain... It does sound like something that would need a strong bond. The idea of forcing it onto a Pokemon... It's no wonder that wouldn't work well.

As for what they want...

"...I wish I knew." Chartreuse admits. They're a complete unknown to her, and what they said still runs through her mind from time to time. She glances to Sable as she offers an explanation... and frowns. Stoking the fires of war for their own benefit... Sentret sees the difficult expression on her face. He looks down at his current partially-eaten Pokepuff, then up at her, then offers it to her. She can't help but chuckle a little at that, despite the tension she's feeling. She reaches over to give him an appreciative scratch between the ears.

<Pose Tracker> Dirk Swordsman has posed.

 
One of the visitors asks about whether or not they know what the political situation in the other world is. Dirk straightens upwards. He's frowning at the talk about Porygon-Z (though, of course, he knows not the Name). His lips thin.

All of this sucks. Inside of Dirk, he wants to shout and yell and declare war. But there's a THIRD theft. "Jeez," he mutters. But then they reveal something else. A Mega Evolution. Something that produces a vaster -- or more powerful? -- change than Dynamax. Dirk squints, behind his sunglasses.

"So how come you guys are makin' all this stuff?" Dirk asks their hostess, leaning back in his chair and folding his arms.

Quilladin pops up a little, to get a better look as Pikachu makes noise. Fortunately, Pikachu is unable to macronize.

"A real war?" Dirk says. He glances at Honedge. Then back to Sable. "... Over... like... what? So this Solaris place isn't either of them? Is there like a map of Filgaia somewhere?"

<Pose Tracker> Nina Chiyome has posed.

Nina holds a hand up at Xantia's question of how they even knew how to steal it. "People are surprisingly easy to convince to talk." She pauses and adds in a slightly guilty tone, "So I've heard." Shady shady. It's usually just for low key things like not getting caught at least.
 
 She does scratch her cheek. Then glances down and murmurs, "You're heavy now you know." Before trying to scratch at the typhlosion's ears. Her legs are falling asleep. She hasn't shoved the pokemon off yet at least.
 
 She does affrm Sable's comment though. "He's a golem-not-that-golem." Which hadn't been explained to her, but she adds, "I just figure it meant like some of those older anime."
 
 There's a sidelong look, "She does?" asked towards Sable. She might have missed a lesson or three. Or it's newer.
 
 "I think it's the Kirovs at the portal." She nods. That name's still not right. It's hard to tell why nouns don't stick at this point. "We uh, found some other people too. Not just the Solar System guys. She was wearing powered armor-" she adds in an undertone, "And I gave it a new coat of paint." Before continuing, "She had a sister though who apparently was also a problem. So maybe we should find her?" She's talking more to the other trainers and adventurers by that point. This feels like something she should have brought up earlier actually..

<Pose Tracker> Hannah Curie has posed.

Xantia agrees with Hannah's assessment. Azoth often accompanies Loren. "That's what I was thinkin' myself," she says with a nod.

She catches that look from Citan and nods back. Giving more context to things is only going to help matters, she hopes. Or at the vary least, help distinguish the actions of the various players from each other.

It is the thing, and it seems Lapras had a hand (or a flipper?) in that. Hannah studies Lapras curiously. She's used to animal friends kind of having a mind of their own. (Looking at you, Zephyr.) But her attention shifts back to Dr Chujo as she offers an olive branch, of sorts, regarding Porygon-Z.

Hannah's willing to let the matter drop, for now, but... the idea of creating an artificial lifeform from nothing still unsettles her.

A softer, more contemplative look as her gaze swings back to Ida. Azoth could use another friend. "... Yeah, supposin' he could. Hope that Ceruledge 'e made friends with is alright, too..."

She sits up straighter when the next topic is introduced. Mega Evolution. A temporary boost to a pokemon's power that is... probably safe. She frowns at that, raising a hand. "Pardon me if I'm lackin' some imagination, or cultural context, but... You're talkin' about two different ways of makin' pokemon stronger, an' you were gonna market them but they ain't suppose dto be weapons... then what were they gonna be for? Just... to make pokemon battles more excitin' or somethin'?"

Zephyr is definitely enjoying his part of the sandwich made with love. (And alternating between the Pokeblock and Clauncher claw.) Hannah regards him as he eats. "Huh. Seems t' agree with 'im." She's glad Chase is in better spirits, though. (As is Zephyr.)

Hannah looks to Sable, next. Lambs... "It ain't a compliment. It's..." She rubs the back of her neck for a moment as she tries to figure out how to explain. "We got an animal, called a lamb, that's kinda like a Mareep? But no powers. Anyhow. That's what they call those they think are mindless and weak, unable t' defend themselves."

"It's how they justify wantin' to subjugate others," she says, somberly. "'Cause that's what our worlds need, is more people with a 'might makes right' mentality."

She glances over to Dirk. "Real war, hun. Between Kislev and Aveh they're warrin' over recovered technology that'll shift the blanace of power." Hannah flips to a blank page and starts sketching out a map and labeling the various powers. Solaris live in sky cities an' are intent on keepin' the war between Kislev and Aveh goin'. It slows their technological progress an' keeps 'em from becomin' a threat to their technological dominance."

"They already got one Shevat actin' as a buffer against 'em, they don't want another one."

She offers the map out to anyone who wants to take a look. There's a few more places labeled. "Adlehyde is caught in' the middle between Kislev an' Aveh, but weren't part of their war 'til it suddenly came to their doorstep."

<Pose Tracker> Xantia has posed.

Xantia nods to Ida's assertion. Azoth needs all the friends. She would never have believed the difference Pokemon companions can make if she hadn't experienced it for herself, but now that she has... it's absolutely a good thing for mentally getting into a better place.

She nods along with Hannah's explanation of lambs, continuing to find it weird that what she can't help but think of as Normal Animals just don't exist here at all. "So yeah, whenever you hear them say that word, -Lamb-, that's what they mean. They're saying you're in need of someone to take care of you. And they're that someone, for the entire planet. That's why it's okay for them to take everything away from you, and only give back what they think you should have. Because they know best, and that's their role, or whatever it is they've been taught to believe. If it sounds crazy, that's because it is."

She only frowns at the notion of people being convinced to talk, she does not like to imagine the ways Solaris exployed to make that happen. Then her eyes widen at the mention of Asgard helping Team Rocket. He was helping Siegfried the last time she saw him. It's getting hard to keep track of which bad guys are working with which.

And the confusion doesn't end there, with the mention of what Solaris actually managed to get away with. "...Wait, so... huh?" Xantia started speaking up before she sorted out her thoughts. She could see many applications for a 'make big' device that Solaris might want to take advantage of, especially trying to repurpose it to make everything big. But this Mega Evolution device... that definitely sounds like a very Pokemon-specific thing. They couldn't just... figure out how to make other things evolve with that. Could they...? There's no way, right? In that case... what do they want? She fails to come up with an answer.

It is at this time that she becomes aware of the poking of her cheek that's been happening for the past fifteen seconds. "Yes, yes, what is it, Mii?" She looks over to see the Pawmi on her shoulder very insistently motioning towards Chase's Pikachu. Or, as Xantia quickly deduces, what she's holding, and then proceeds to wear. "...you want one? I, uh, don't think that's something you can just have. They just said, it's like this super secret thing, you can't just buy that in a store."

Mii looks absolutely devastated at this realization. See? See what comes of keeping secrets? You made a Pawmi sad!

<Pose Tracker> Citan Uzuki has posed.

    So that was the truth of the matter. What Solaris had stolen was a device to strengthen Pokemon. "Undoubtedly... it will be used as a weapon by them," he reflects, bowing his head.

    What do these Solaris people even want?

    Timu is silent, perhaps predictably so given her remove from the conflicts of the twinned worlds that currently affect Energy Nede. The matter of Spiran politics will certainly come up in time (possibly sooner than not given who Biggs and Wedge are working for), but in many regards, her experience with Filgaian strife is the same as any Nedian present.

    Xiumei speculates on what it was they had wished to learn: perhaps Nedian technology.

    Hannah speaks to the matter of the word that Solaris uses for the surface-dwelling people, 'lambs', as well as their overall goals and aims. And so does Xantia, discussing why they use such a word in more detail and talking of the mindset that underlies it.

    Sable, though, answers concretely on the matter of the war between Kislev and Aveh... and who is behind it. He raises an eyebrow as if impressed. "Well now," he remarks. "It seems that you are quite the quick study. ...You are correct. The war that has reached even Energy Nede's doorstep, as it were, is in fact orchestrated by Solaris." He pauses, glancing across the table. "As Miss Curie said, by ensuring instability throughout the world, they maintain the status quo. ...You had asked what it is that Solaris desires," he says, turning his attention back to Dr. Chujo. "It is control."

    "Solaris... will not show up on any map of Filgaia," Citan says at last, when Dirk wonders about the geography of Filgaia. "But certainly, we should be able to supply you with a map." Indeed, it would seem that Hannah is doing exactly that.

<Pose Tracker> Heal Berry has posed.

    "De-de-de-dedenne!" Denny chants, as Pikachu strikes poses.

    Dr. Chujo does not look alarmed, which is noteworthy because she seems to have been running on caffeine and nerves this entire meeting. "That's not going to work," she says. "It's missing the power source. It needs a source of Dynamax Particles to work." The researcher reaches into her pocket, and pulls out an Item Ball of her own. She presses her thumb to the switch, waits for it to collect its biometric data, and opens it once the light turns green.

    Inside... is an irregularly-shaped lump of something. It's covered in geometric knob-like bits, separated by bands of bright red light. Its purplish surface gleams, but it doesn't look like any known metal.

    "This is a Wishing Star," says Dr. Chujo. "A source of Dynamax Particles. People have investigated them before, but this integrates them into a compact, wearable device that anyone can use with minimal training."

    'So how come you guys are makin' all this stuff?'

    That's a very good question, isn't it, Dirk? Silph Co. is a publicly-traded corporation with certain obligations to its shareholders, the biggest of which is making fat stacks. Without constant innovation in the field of Pokemon technology--or at least the perception of it--Silph's investor confidence might start to falter. Pokeballs are easy money. Everyone needs those. But why stop there? If you're a tech company with a reputation for innovation, why stop there?

    Harriet spent half an hour last night, trying to come up with a way to answer this question that wouldn't make her or Silph look bad, and get her in trouble with her bosses. It makes sense. A younger her would definitely ask the same question Dirk did. She has already rejected the copy someone in PR wrote about 'enabling both Trainers and Pokemon to manifest their authentic selves'.

    Hannah unwittingly throws her a lifeline.

    "We were working with the League to gradually introduce these to competitive play. New variables to shake up the field. We never thought anyone would think to weaponize them like this." It still feels like it falls flat. And the more Dr. Chujo hears about the war beyond the portal, the graver her expression becomes. "So Solaris wants to control your world, and they're going to use our technology to help them do it." That's about the worst-case scenario she can imagine, short of another horror on the level of the Ten Wise Men.

    "I spoke with our President earlier," says Harriet. "He agrees that in the interests of responding to these threats, we're accelerating the manufacture of our Dynamax and Mega Evolution technology, and offering it to you."

<Pose Tracker> Chase has posed.

Thankfully for Elaine, Chase has no plans to help Pikachu in this particular ambition at this moment. He pats her on the head as she turns the band around in her paws in inspection. Pikachu puts it back on and points it at Veevee. "Pika!"

That doesn't work either! Nor does it work on Dirk's Quilladin. Dr. Chujo explains why. Pikachu tilts her head at the band. Her eyes sparkle as the Wishing Star comes into sight. Chase immediately stands from his chair to reach over the table, trading Pikachu a piece of cheese for the band. She promptly forgets her previous task in favor of attempting cheese origami.

(She folds the cheese slice into a cheese square. Then she eats it. The ephemeral nature of art...)

Chase nibbles his own piece of cheese as he tries to keep focus through talks of Solaris, artificial life, and war. His face scrunches as Hannah describes what a lamb means to Solaris. Mareeps don't deserve this comparison. ...Neither does anyone else.

Dynamax... Mega Evolution... All new variables to fold into his mind and contemplate. Mega Evolution itself sounds like something his Ponyta would demand if possible. (Alas, Rapidash is not one such known Pokemon.) Unfortunately, it swings back to the idea of war and weapons. Pokemon do battle, but war is...

...it's another thing entirely. Chase knows war through its scars on Nede. He hasn't experienced the wounds being inflicted first hand. Between Solaris, the open paths to Filgaia, and the Ten Wise Men... He gets the feeling he's going to. Or maybe he already has, in its slightest, nascent scratches.

He starts to offer the once 'stolen' band back to Dr. Chujo, until that final line. Chase hesitates, looking back at the band, then up again, pointing to himself. Can he keep it, then...?

<Pose Tracker> Xiumei Klein has posed.

"I'm... not sure why they use the term, but it seems derogatory," Xiumei says, with a sigh. Then, she looks at Dirk -- and shakes her head. "Their main city is supposedly airborne. Out of reach of anything we have."

Then, she looks at the Wishing Star. Her eyes widen a little bit -- then she nods. They wouldn't think to weaponize them...

Xiumei frowns a little. Are they doing this to Nede?

She shakes her head, with a frown. "We'll... try to use them responsibly," she promises Dr. Chujo. But as she looks at them, she hesitates.

And that hesitation doesn't vanish, when she looks at Liu Bei. Instead, it only intensifies.

<Pose Tracker> Chartreuse Spinosa has posed.

Control... Chartreuse's expression darkens, a bit. There really is so much she doesn't know. She's a college student... And yet, it's starting to feel like she never really knew the world.

Had any of them?

Chartreuse looks up, as Dr. Chujo produces something else. A Wishing Star - a source of Dynamax Particles. She regards this with interest.

And, of course... 'why' is a good question. Chartreuse listens for that, too.

To shake up the field, huh... Chartreuse frowns, but she isn't going to judge Harriet for that. Placing it on the shoulders of one researcher to explain it... there are other people she could point fingers at.

Still... she can sympathise. This must be a nightmare - your research being stolen and used to cause harm. It's much less likely in her own field, but she knows it'd be devastating if it happend to her.

As for the offer... She'd be lying if she said she wasn't interested.

"Is there a catch?" Chartreuse asks. ...Just in case.

<Pose Tracker> Sable Aomori has posed.

Why are they making it? Sable tilts her head at Dirk when he asks. "They research things," she explains, as if thta's the only reason anyone would ever need to make something. Her perspective may be a little biased, considering. Dr. Chujo explains at least, but, "...Nede doesn't think about weapons much..."

But a map, "I think there are maps..."

She smiles at Nina and Poppy. "If you let her do that she'll decide it's OK," Sable cautions her friend. "But right. The Kislev army is at the portal... I remember."

Hannah explains some things. Xantia, too. Sable looks between them. She looks a little sad at Pawmi's saadness.

But Sable smiles at Citan's praise. "I paid attention," she says. "It was scary, but I said I wouldn't look away. Next time I'll be more careful, too."

She considers, then. "Control..."

"I don't like Solaris," Sable says. "They're just like the Ten Wise Men."

She sees Xiumei hesitating, frowning, and Sable shakes her head. "...I caught an Onix so I'd be ready, if they brought their war machines here, or if I had to face things like that."

"Our Pokemon want to help us. They want to help us see our dreams... and it's our job to make sure that they can fulfill their own. To do what we can for them. If that means new ways of Training..."

"Then I'll do it."

<Pose Tracker> Timu Guado has posed.

    Timu looks up from her quiet contemplation to the appearance of the Wishing Star. Fuecoco's mouth opens in awe, but in reality it's more he's trying to internally measure whether if a) it is something you eat, and b) if it could go in his mouth, which when one's body seems to be mostly mouth by volume is not a bad way to approach a majority of questions in life. (Timu is not this fortunate to have such a simplistic set of ideas.)
 
     "It's cruel," she says of the Solarian efforts to take Nede's incredible technological advances to just do even more harm. She brings her hands together around her chest while Fuecoco relaxes, and decides he's going to want to have more Pokeblocks (which Timu will have to help with, in a little bit).
 
     There then comes to the crux of this: given the circumstances, the offer to bring these technologies into their very hands, and for a moment Timu considers all four of her friends - starting with the three still currently resting in her Poke Balls.
 
     Moteray, who has something of a childlike free-flying manner. Hestrol, who had been wronged by other Visitors and is still trying to come out of her shell. Hooligre, who got left behind by his own kind and is left to find his place as a friend to the first person who showed him warmth.
 
     Then there's Fuecoco, right there, her loyal and bold friend whom served as her first true window to a world of cooperation. Such decisions to engage in these new powers as something more than just expressing themselves in Pokemon Battles, but a means to fight and protect against something greater, something more.
 
     Timu stands up to follow Fuecoco after she intuits his 'yes, hungry, and know what I want' body language, helping him to the buffet table with the Pokeblocks that are still there. She comes down to his level with a kneel with a small plate of the stuff as he happily enjoys it... but stops, and tilts his head, as if asking what's wrong.
 
     Where some of the others speak of being sure to use them responsibly, or asking questions, she decides to give the Fuecoco a hug. Spira just came out of a thousand-year cycle of ceaseless, senseless sacrifice and death. It's not as dire a set of consequences (only the 'short-term strain' mentioned with Mega Evolution), but...
 
     It hits a little harder than it should. She walks back with Fuecoco a very short time later - curiously short, given the span of conversation and events, but animation errors are like that.
 
     "All right," Timu says, softly, eyes still closed, one of her arms to her side as Fuecoco touches a dangling finger. She can't bring it into logical words like Sable can. Just saying 'yes,' in some form, feels weighty enough.

<Pose Tracker> Dirk Swordsman has posed.

 
Dirk and Honedge turn their attention towards Hannah as she begins speaking on the matter of war. Dirk narrows his eyes (you can tell from his forehead). "... That's so... complicated," he says, finally. "... So they want those guys to stay lower technology?"

Something occurs to Dirk. He glances at Honedge. Perhaps the ghostly sword has some sort of soul-vibe with him because there's a pause of meditative consideration, then they mutter to themselves, "nah" ("honn") as if rejecting a scheme.

Citan speaks up. "Huh? Why? -- Oh, right, it's in the sky, duh," Dirk says, settling back and remembering to eat the last of his sandwich. Dr. Chujo then produces... A source of Dynamax Particles. a [Wishing Star]. "Where's it from?"

After this, Dirk is quiet for a minute or two.

Then:

"We're a part of this now, whatever's goin' on... I don't know nothing about Kislev and Aveuh but these Solaris freaks have shown up and been rude, on purpose. They hurt my student," and with that Dirk looks up, "and I'm not gonna stand there and let them hurt anyone else if I can help it."

He rubs his chin with his thumb.

"... I guess that's not the best way to say it ever, but, yeah, lemme see these bracelets. Maybe I can figure something out." Then, to his assembled Pokemon, he says, "Guess what, guys, we got an enemy now."

Quilladin and Cufant cheer! Oshawott, somewhat more conditionally, does too! Farfetch'd looks incredulously at Honedge. Honedge continues to not have facial expressions.

<Pose Tracker> Elaine has posed.

    Eliane nods lightly as she watches and listens, petting Veevee who has moved to her lap at some point. There are still at least seven berries sticking out of her mane, and another in her mouth. Through the topic of war and fighting outside of Pokemon battles comes up puts a complex expression on her face showing the teen is still grappling with those issues, she does nod on hearing that the products were still going to be produced now they were taken. "Um... I wonder if Professor Oak ordered some? He always seems to know whats in development..." she comments idly, mostly to herself as she wonders how to procure the band and wishing stone herself, as well as the mega evolution device.

<Pose Tracker> Xantia has posed.

There is an explanation for how the Dynamaxing works, but Xantia certainly can't see why it works the way it does. Something tells her there's no point in asking. Even if they were free to say more, she doubts it would make any more sense to her with additional details. Best to just think of it all as 'it's magic' and call it a day.

She's just as ready to believe the stated reasons for their development. Even though she does have to say, "You go pretty far just for the sake of variety around here, huh?" And now that's everybody's problem.

Although, perhaps, also the solution to the problem, by the sound of things. When Dr. Chujo states Silph's intention to make the technology freely available, she brightens considerably. Not for her sake, of course, but for...

"Did you hear that, Mii? She's saying you can have one later!" Perhaps not so much directly, but much like with her trainer, it's best if you phrase things in the most simple, easiest to understand way you can. And just like that, a sad Pawmi has been cheered up, brightly calling, "Mii Mii!"

...Did Mii fully realize the implications of what she was asking for, or did she just like the cool band thingy? The world may never know.

Regardless, Xantia is quick to promise, "I'll use and do whatever I can to help put a stop to whatever Solaris is planning. The Wise Men, too. I have no intention of letting them keep getting away with all this." She makes a fist and offers a smile she hopes to be reassuring to go along with her declaration. "You can count on me! We're all in this together, right?"

But will she be able to not get scary about it anymore along the way? We can hope.

<Pose Tracker> Nina Chiyome has posed.

Nina listens to all of this, giving the presenter something of a flat look as she tries to insist it was just for pokemon leagues. She's getting a bit too cynical and drops it though. Might just be grouchiness from recent mistakes.
 
 She does sit up when they note they'll be receiving the freebies though. She taps her foot against the ground a few times before adding to the questions, "How are you tracking them?" Like it's being used for beta testing. Or other information. It's.. also a better way to ask if she's going to have to jam a tracker!
 
 As for Poppy she leans over and says jokingly, "You try to move her." She is right though, but for now she'll just deal with it later.
 
 She does watch Citan's explanation though. She's also keeping notes! The names are wrong there too. Don't worry about it for now. It'll get fixed or at least she'll know who she herself actually means.

<Pose Tracker> Hannah Curie has posed.

Hannah nods her gratitude to both Xantia and Citan for providing extra context and clarification to her own explanation. She quite probably hasn't dealt with them directly as much as some others, but... she's been studying up, and it's good to know that she still got the broad strokes correct.

She looks at the Wishing Star with interest, and is quickly flipping back to her notes to resume notetaking. She produces a rather detailed skwtch of it quite quickly, in fact.

Pokemon battling as a sport is still a bit weird to her. She's at least getting used to the idea of pokemon wanting to defend their trainers. Zephyr does no less for her, after all. But even so...

'That's about the size of it, Doc," admits Hannah. "They ain't above stealin' outright or destroyin' whatever it is they can't get their hands on, so's nobody else can have it."

Hannah blinks. "Wait, really?" She glances to her fellow ARMS members, and to Citan and Xantia for their thoughts. Chartreuse beats her to the punch, and Hannah nods in agreement. "Not that I wanna look a gift ho--" She pauses, and makes a face. "Oh, forget it," she mutters. Then, out loud she says, "Not that I wanna seem ungrateful, but..." She wants to believe a giant corporation would do something altrustic but... well... fat stacks.

She might not know the phrase but capitalism is capitalism.

She catches that wince and offers an apologetic smile to Chase. "Sorry, hun. Ain't nothin' against your pokemon, it's jus' the easiest shorthand I got for describin' things. Tell ya what, I'll just start takin' pictures of things n' I can show them instead."

Hannah nods to Dirk. "Sad to say, but war ain't clean, or neat, or simple." She's trying to be gentle for the sensibilities of the Nedians in the room--especially the younger ones--but she, herself seems fairly used to it. "But you got the gist of it. Technology ain't as plentiful on Filgaia an' Lunar as it is here. A little bit of it c'n go a long way. So if Solaris can keep the best bits for themselves... they get their control."

Sable has a lovely sentiment about Pokemon, and Hannah smiles a little. Cassandra rises from where she'd been lounging and nuzzles up under Hannah's arm. She looks down and pets her Absol's head gently. "You sayin' you're willin' to try?" she murmurs gently.

"Ab." Cassandra nods.

Hannah nods back, with a small smile. "Well, alright then. I know I c'n count on you an' Agapi an' Eimi."

Zephyr chirps at her, and Hannah laughs softly. "And a course I could never forget you, Zephyr. You're in this, too."

<Pose Tracker> Citan Uzuki has posed.

    That's a very good question, isn't it -- what was the intent of things like Mega Evolution and Dynamax? Until recently, Energy Nede was a world without very many overt problems. If it weren't clear that this had a long developmental tail behind it, it would have been rational to assume that it was some sort of response to the Ten Wise Men, but that wasn't it. In a sense the latter is a means of tapping a process that naturally occurs from time to time, so perhaps control of it was an element, but...

    Citan, whatever he thinks of Dr. Chujo's answer, keeps his own counsel. It wouldn't do for him to remark otherwise, anyway-- it isn't as if there is a nation standing in either world that can claim it has clean hands. Indeed, it may well be that no nation ever could.

    "That is good," Citan answers Sable, suggesting in the way that he furrows his brow that he has realized how she got that knowledge. "Yes-- well, it is good to be careful," he says, as if privately envisioning all the ways a little trek into an active warzone could have gone poorly. "...There is a similarity," he says, on Solaris. "Yet..."

    At least one of them, he knows, could be defeated.

    "Well," he says in the end, "if they plan to use that power, then perhaps it is only proper to respond in kind." He glances over at Ise.

    Ise 'looks' back at him, which is to say, his 'head' tilts Citan's way. Black tendrils whip out from under Ise's 'pelt' and snag the last Pokeblock, dragging it in slowly. Citan pauses for a moment.

    "...But I believe I shall stick to 'my own methods', as they were," Citan says in the end. Is it because he prefers Gears...?
    Or is it because a 30-foot Mimikyu is definitely not a vision worth bringing into reality?

<Pose Tracker> Heal Berry has posed.

    Ida looks down at her Pokemon, considering Dr. Chujo's offer. She's got the Dust Dragoon, which has served her reliably for years, now. The thought of sending Sal or Marigold or Aurora up against a Gear makes her stomach twist. The second option is a bit more palatable to her, but even that...

    "Butterfree," says Sal, resting a hand atop Ida's. For once, she's not champing at the bit to try something new. She's caught on to her Trainer's unease.

    "We'll make this decision together," Ida says. Marigold nuzzles her ankle. Aurora utters a solemn 'Evoi.'

    As for the Wishing Star...

    "Denne!" says Denny. He hops from Dr. Chujo's shoulder, landing on the table between Pikachu and the power source. (It's still safe in hand, but it might not be if Phwee gets too curious. Sorry, Phwee, Denny's person needs you to not become a giant. Silph is still negotiating with the insurance company after last week's fiasco.)

    The response overall seems positive, if a little hesitant in some quarters. Dr. Chujo nods, acknowledging the weight of this decision. "We won't be tracking them," she says, to Nina. Good news, Nina, you won't have to jailbreak it! Probably. "Which makes it all the more important that you use them responsibly."

    Dr. Chujo looks at Ise. Denny finally works up the courage to approach him, too, offering a little wave of electroc rodent solidarity. "De--" he says.

    The last pokeblock disappears into the darkness beneath Ise's costume. Little sparks zip down Denny's whiskers as he shoots bolt upright.

    "A decision I can respect," says Harriet to Citan. "Now. Does anyone have any final questions before we get you hooked up? We put together a training video..."

<Pose Tracker> Chartreuse Spinosa has posed.

Chartreuse considers everything presented. No tracking - just trusting them to use them responsibility. Well... everything seems fine enough.

"Then... we'll take it." Chartreuse says with a nod, and then considers. Final questions...? Actually, she can think of one.

"Does it have to be a band?" She asks.

She could see herself sporting a Mega Hat Pin...