Forum Thread

He coughed violently, doubling over.

"Holy fxck..."

He continued coughing.

---

Araceli groans a little, she hated the noises of sick people. Coughing, sneezing, snorting, the whole thing. "Yeah, it feels like hell. It's your first time here, after all, it's like having a syringe in you for the first time in years." She said, moving a little so she could do the same maneuver but from the feet up to his mouth now instead. "Well, if there a poison, toxin or venom inside you, even gaseous, this should liquify it and clear it out. Then exit out of, hopefully, your mouth." She mentioned, her gaze becoming more concentrated. "Zaria, hold him down if you think he's about to convulse. Magnus, just hold on a bit longer."

Roserade smiles and puts a petal on Stunfisk, petting him as well as he could. It felt like... an oversized flower caressing him.

---

"Huh. Disappointing. It would have been much more interesting if this was simply a hallucination." Sho sighed, walking further in to crouch in front of the legendary. "Such a drug would have perhaps proved useful against troublesome subjects and an interesting data point. I have no use for such a research topic. Would you like to take this one or should I find some use for it?" He reached out to take the legendary into his arms, gently bopping its nose almost affectionately before holding it by its head and shoving it towards Emika. Sure, having an omnipotent wish granting legendary was fun and all but he much rather make his miracles through hard work. Jirachi would live a listless life full of catering to another's whims another cog in the grand machine and living an existence so similar to Sho's own. Fitting, he supposed, for a creature that had chosen him as its representitive.

---

There was a long silence between Sampo and Koraidon.

Sampo picked up the pokeballs, and then the Cherish Ball. "Classical!" he cheered, and looked at Koraidon. It nodded its head at him, and Sampo captured it. "Ahhh, this is so satisfying~"

He noticed there was something tagged... Starter Pokémon!? It looks very interesting to him.

A voice echoed in the crater.
"NO! DON'T YOU DARE! STOP IT! GIRANTINA! STOP!"
a dress(or whatever my pfp is wearing) apeared seemingly out of thin air. A loud groan was heard. "WHYYYYYYYYYYY" echoed as long red hair (but still no head) apeared above the clothes. More complaints were heard as the rest of some random girl spawned in.

*sigh* "Ugh, are you the idi0t$ called the lEdGeNdArY sAvIoRs" the girl said in a mocking tone. "I'm Evangaline. I'm here to 'help' you." she said, making air quotes. She then looked around. "WHAT THE FUUUUUUUUUUU" she yelled. She took a step forward. "WHY DOES IT LOOK LIKE THAT!? I mean I knew it would be weird, but not this weird! Why are all the platforms connected!?!?!" She jumped. "Why am I falling back to this platform? GIRANTINA! I CANT WALK LIKE THIS!" She yelled to seemingly no one.

Then, a large rumbling was heard. Girantina itself had apeared in front of them. It looked at the girl, then at the Saviors, Then disapeared.

The girl looked confused for a minute, then understood. "OHHHH! Your platforms are just invisible!" she said happily. She jumped again, but this time, just hovered in mid air. Then she began walking. Vertically. Upwards. Seemingly on an invisible wall. After a few minutes, she calmed down, and went back to the ground.

"Okay. Let me restart. I'm Aven, and I'm from The Distortion. I'm here to" *ahem* it seemed like she felt disgusted at the next words, "Help you."

---

Zaria focused on assisting Araceli, following her instructions carefully. She held Magnus down gently but firmly, ready to support him if he needed it. Her mind was racing, trying to predict the chemical process that Araceli was performing and how it would help Magnus. She couldn't bear to see him in pain, and her concern for him grew with each cough. Zaria tried to stay composed, but her worry for Magnus was evident in her eyes and her determined expression.

~~~

Rai stayed close to Stunfisk, keeping a watchful eye on him while Araceli worked on Magnus. She knew her Pokémon well and could sense when he needed comfort. Rai let the Roserade gently stroke Stunfisk's back, offering silent reassurance to her companion. Despite her guilt and concern for Magnus, she knew she needed to focus on taking care of Stunfisk and being available to assist Araceli if necessary. Rai kept herself ready to act at a moment's notice, her attention split between her friend and her Pokémon.

Stunfisk was... well, he had new friend. He was oblivious to the chaos surrounding him. His mistress was using his emotional well-being as a crutch for her own, as usual. And Roserade provided food, comfort, and adoration. Only a superior being recieved all their needs fulfilled immediately.

Which meant he must be god.

This was all the confirmation Stunfisk needed... he was already a legend in his own mind, cheeky little bugger. His head swelled a little bigger, ego increasing.

~~~

Meanwhile, on the other side of the complex...

Quentin stepped out of his lab, the heavy door clicking shut behind him. He adjusted his glasses, peering down the corridor. He had finished the treatment on the Mew DNA, allowing it to sit for its perscribed six hours to duplicate itself. As he had turned to go, he had been surprised to find he was alone. It was odd not to find Zaria at her usual place, working on her research. She was such a quiet presence that her absence was easily overlooked, but still. He knew her well enough to expect her dedication. "Where could she be now?" he mumbled to himself. Probably getting into some sort of trouble. Zaria tried to claim she was innocent, bu her analytical mind got her into stranger situations than she cared to admit.

Curiosity got the best of him, and he decided to check some of her usual spots, (the food court, the greenhouse, the basement talking with that electricity girl), hoping to stumble upon her. As he walked down the tangled corridors of the complex, the distant sound of voices caught his attention. Quentin's ears perked up; it sounded like an intriguing discussion. His fellow scientist, Sho's distinct voice was unmistakable, and second-in-command, "The Ears," aka Emika's calm demeanor provided a perfect contrast. Q quickened his pace, following the echoing sounds until he reached the partially open door of Sho's lab. Peering inside, he could see the duo engaged in a conversation about something highly interesting. It was hard for him to resist the urge to join in, but he hesitated at the door, debating whether to barge in or not.

Who was he kidding.

Quentin's entrance was nothing short of dramatic, with his lab coat fluttering behind him like a cape. He took a confident stride into the room, surveying the scene with a raised eyebrow. "Well, well, well," he said, his voice dripping with intrigue. "What do we have here?"

He glanced at Sho, acknowledging him with a nod. "Ah, Sho. Always finding yourself in the midst of interesting experiments," Quentin remarked, a hint of amusement in his tone. He didn't hate Sho, he just found him to be cut from a very familiar mold of scheming scientist. Always embroiled in some dramatic plot, the younglings like Sho were walking headaches. Until he proved his individuality and usefulness, Quentin reserved the right of an eighty-whatever-year-old man to ignore him. But now, Sho was getting interesting. "A Jirachi, I see. Fascinating creature. It seems you're quite... disinterested in it, though. Unfortunate for you."

As Emika held the Jirachi, Quentin extended his hand towards her. "I'll gladly take it off your hands," he said, a confident smile on his face. "As a... fellow researcher, I'm more than intrigued by the potential applications of a legendary like Jirachi. Besides, having a wish-granting Pokémon could prove beneficial in some of my... future projects. What do you say?"

---

Bump-bump... Bump-bump... Bump-bump... Error tilted her head at the arrival of another. They were not one of the Saviors, mainly because of how she said such title mockingly. Her logic banks seemed to stumble as the girl suddenly jumped and hovered in mid air, only to WALK along an unseen wall. Luckily her data banks filled her in about the mysterious Distortion World. She was quite intrigued now.


Jet turned from the Pokemon, who she had learned was a Geodude, to watch the odd newcomer. Walking along an invisible wall definitely confused her, but she brushed it off. After all, she was an alien sentient gem...


Emika raised an eyebrow as another scientist entered "The Heart"'s office. It was Quentin, "The Alchemist". She frowned when he boldly offered to take the Legendary Jirachi from her. If anything, she should be reporting this to their Superior, aka "The Eyes". Alongside the knowledge of energy spikes in Paldea, this would likely give them the answers they need... Emika smirked cooly. "As much as I'd like to stay and bicker about who gets to have this little Legend." She started, stroking the Jirachi's star shaped head absently, almost motherly. "There are two key factors you seem to have forgotten, "Alchemist". First off, this is a major breach to security. Our defense system wasn't able to even detect this entry, let alone prevent it. This may be detrimental to our main project. And secondly," she flicked her eyes to a specific corner of the office. "There is a certain someone who has higher authority than us, and most likely will be wanting to study this Legend their-self~." Her Shiny Mimikyu growled in an almost sad manner.

Quentin deflated slightly as Emika pointed out the breach in security and the potential consequences. He knew he had acted impulsively, driven by curiosity and a desire to obtain more knowledge. But they were underestimating what he could have done with this opportunity...

"I see your point," Quentin admitted, his tone becoming more cautious. "You're right about the security breach, and I didn't think about the... higher authority." He glanced at the corner of the office where Emika had directed her gaze, realizing she was referring to "The Eyes." The thought of facing their superior's displeasure was not a warm and fuzzy one.

"And I apologize for my presumptuousness," Quentin continued, his confidence returning as he attempted to smooth over the situation. "I just thought it would be an intriguing subject for study, given its nature. Forgive an old scientist his curiosity. But if it's not meant for us, I won't... interfere further." He gave a slight bow, showing deference to Emika's judgment. She was the number two in the command chain, after all.

---

"I can sense your worry without even looking at you." Araceli suddenly said, still moving her hands. A light trail of liquid started to form, getting more highlighted with every repeated movement of hers. The chem-witch seemed strict right now but she was, somehow, still able to talk. "I heard you two. You seem to have history together. And he's got a right heart." Coincidentally, her hand briefly stopped over his chest when she said it. She taps his chest once and then resumes. "Give him a little time. Paldea, new projects, sudden reunions... it's a lot to take in." Araceli briefly looks up to Zaria, then back down to her "patient". Seems like she knows her stuff. "And don't be harsh on Rai. I know ignorance does not absolve her but... you know?" Her voice turned once again, from strict and professional to soft, appealing to emotion.

----

Roserade did not do anything about the chaos either but more because he knows Araceli during work. Very focused. Didn't want to interrupt. Plus, Stunfisk was his new friend. So, getting a little closer to Rai and emitting a smell of freshly cut roses, he pets the Trap Pokémon and, a little worried about the swelling head, he puts both petals on each side of his head and squeezes it ever so slightly. His mask... or at least what looks like a mask... slightly slips down.

---

"Quentin. What use would a tool have for another?" Sho cocked his head slightly, resisting the urge to rub his arm. Unlike the elder scientist's opinion of him, Sho quite liked the other. He just ignored him most of the time without a single glance at him which suited Sho quite fine. He preferred to be ignored over being scrutinized and put under a microscope despite his duties as a lab subject. Besides, if what the other scientists have said were true, then it would be better to stay out of his interest. "If "Eyes" has a better use for it then I do not object. I will inform "Eagle" and any other security personal of this breach as well." Turning his back to the others as he sat down at his desk to start drafting up that email, he didn't care to see that Jirachi was wiggling furiously in Emika's grasp. A silver sheen glittered across the ledgendary's head as it headbutted "The Ears" in one unexpected Iron Head before skittering away the moment her arms loosened.

Darting around, Jirachi sought shelter in Sho's lap, burying its face into his thick jacket as it attempted to bury itself in the voluminous fabric. It was clear that even if Sho wanted nothing to do with it, Jirachi clearly had favourites.

---

"Gghh!" Emika let out a sound when the Jirachi suddenly headbutted her. Releasing the Legend on instinct to the impact, her blue grey eyes narrowed then widened when the Jirachi scurried over to "The Heart" and curled onto his lap. "Interesting..." she thought. Mimikyu growled when her mistress suddenly stumbled from the impact. But it took became intrigued when the Wish Granter clung to "The Heart", like a hatchling to its memma. Emika finally came to her senses and gave a little giggle. "Upupupup! Seems there's a reason its in your office, Heart." Emika picked up her Shiny Mimikyu and turned to "The Alchemist". "We best be on our way. The security system and "The Eyes" need to be updated."

Magnus stopped coughing aafter a few moments. He tried to brush Zaria's hands off.

"Getoffa me..."

He muttered quietly, staring up at the sky.

"Thanks for that, but please don't tpuch me without my permission, got it?"

---

Quentin couldn't help but chuckle at Jirachi's unexpected display of affection for Sho. "Well, it seems Jirachi has terrible taste in character," he quipped, shooting a wry glance at the legendary Pokémon nestled in Sho's lap. "Clearly, it knows a brilliant mind when it sees one." He wondered to himself what Sho would wish for. He knew what he would.

He turned his attention back to Sho, pretending to be offended by his dismissal. "Oh, come now, Sho. You wound me with your indifference," Quentin said with mock dramatics. "I only want to engage in... stimulating conversations with fellow intellectuals. Is that such a crime?" Q smirked, knowing that his incessant curiosity and desire to annoy others could be seen as a nuisance. But Quentin couldn't resist the opportunity to tease and prod, especially when it came to someone like Sho, who preferred to keep to himself. Besides, it wasn't as if the youngling had sought him out. Quentin was well-aware (and rather proud) of his cultured (and bat-shxt crazy) reputation around the complex.

"As for 'The Eyes,' I'm sure they'll be thrilled with our find," Quentin added, finally acknowledging Emika's presence with a half-hearted nod. "But I'll leave the formalities of reporting to you, my dear Emika. You and your staff of the ridiculous enforcers... the eagle, the electrocutioner, that Magnus kid... I trust you'll handle it with the utmost diligence and efficiency, no?"

~~~

Zaria felt a mix of relief and concern as she heard Araceli's words. She understood that Magnus needed time to process everything that had happened, and she hoped that he would eventually come around. "You're right, Ara. I just... I worry. About a lot of things," Zaria replied, her voice softening. She was grateful for Araceli's reassurance and understanding.

Turning her attention back to Magnus, Zaria decided to take a more analytical approach. "Magnus, now that you have a clearer head, is there anyone or anything that seems suspicious to you? Anyone who might have a reason to target you or mess with you?" she asked, hoping to gather more information that could help them figure out who was behind all of this.

~~~

Rai tried to make herself as small and unnoticeable as possible, feeling a mix of relief and guilt. She was relieved that Magnus seemed to be feeling better, but she couldn't shake the guilt of knowing that she had inadvertently caused him distress. She focused on taking care of Stunfisk, trying to distract herself from the situation and hoping that they would all move on from her mistake.

Stunfisk preened in the light of all the attention, absorbing all the affection he was recieving. Smug little idiot.

---

"Other than myself and you? Not really. I might be going crazy and just forgot some of my actions. And you... well, I'm a loose end, right? A threat to your whole thing going on down here."

Magnus paused.

"Not that I blame you, of course. I'm just saying the most logical answers."

---

As Zaria listened to Magnus's worries and suspicions, her mind was already in analytical overdrive, seeking ways to defend him and uncover the truth. Before launching into her defenses, she took a deep breath, a newfound determination settling within her. "I don't care who in this room hears the story of my past anymore. It's not a secret I want to hide behind. Rai, I would have eventually trusted you with that part of me on my own terms. Your actions have unfortunately shown me that you didn't trust me enough for that. Regardless, Magnus, I'm here to stand by you, to defend you, and to prove your innocence, no matter what it takes."

"First, I can understand why you might have reservations and be suspicious of my actions, given my past association with Team Plasma. I saw it as an opportunity to further my scientific pursuits and have access to resources that could advance my research. The freedom they offered allowed me to explore areas of study that were otherwise restricted in conventional research institutions. Additionally, I was genuinely intrigued by Team Plasma's ideology from a philosophical standpoint. Their emphasis on liberation and the ethical considerations surrounding Pokémon-human relationships intrigued me deeply."

"However, as I became more involved with Team Plasma's activities, I started to question the ethics behind some of their actions, particularly under Ghetsis's leadership. He treated me as his protege, his scientific hope. I did his bidding because his lines of questioning fascinated me, but even I began to find the line of where 'too far' really was. N's and the Champion's defeat of Team Plasma was, in hindsight, a positive outcome for me. At the very least, it was excellent timing. It allowed me to distance myself from their harmful practices and refocus my efforts on unbiased scientific exploration."

"You are right to be suspicious of me. You saw me do a lot of things during our work that would undoubtedly leave a sour taste in your mouth. I know you did and still do doubt my character. That's justified... but I have never wished ill will towards you."

"I can also understand your concerns about being a potential saboteur, but I can assure you that it's highly unlikely. You mentioned having only one knife, and Rai can vouch for that. I've known you for a while, and you've never struck me as the type to engage in such activities. To my knowledge, you don't deal with hallucinogens in your lab. Your namecard is literally on your lab door... it isn't exactly hard for someone to find you. Moreover, you often obtain food and sometimes eat in public places, making it easy for someone to slip something into your food or drink unnoticed. It's most probable that someone else has been targeting you, and we need to figure out who and why."

"Does anyone here know who is dealing with chemical hallucinogens? Is there anyone in any lab in this complex with an expertise, or even basic know-how, in this area of study?"

~~~

Rai listened to Zaria's passionate defense of herself and Magnus, feeling a deep sense of guilt gnawing at her conscience. She hung her head, miserable. Rai couldn't deny that she had let her curiosity get the better of her, and it had led to unintended consequences.

But then...

She snapped back up, familiar Electrocutioner swagger back. She recalled a rumor she had heard from one of the other guards. Rai was helpful again. Her grey eyes flashed with suspiciom. "Sho. Some scientist or test subject, slightly older than you guys. I heard a rumor that he was... dealing? I'm not sure if she meant he was working with hallucinogens, being administered them, or actually selling them? Whatever the case, he's supposedly working on something big."

---

"If you want a discussion, then talk with Zaria. As a tool, I could hardly engage in an adequately stimulating battle of words." Sho dryly replied, printing out another series of papers as the old printer beside the door spat out its contents. General reports of Sho's own observations of what had happened just now along with the data he had on his own physical health were bundled in the reports. Data points such as his resting heart rate, brain activity, time elapsed, and other numbers crunched into a nauseatingly complex mess of ink and figures. Really, all it showed was that in terms of Sho's physical health was perfectly fine. Though his heart rate did seem a little off but if a little abnormality for the sake of science was the price of the sake of advancing their own goals. "I'll capture the Jirachi and hand the ball over later for "The Eyes" to look over, I don't want it. At the very least if it gets loose, you'll know where it is." With a sigh, Sho gently poked Jirachi again.

He didn't get it, why would it choose him of all people. Again, as Quentin pointed out, there were much better options rather than him. Alchemist was smart, Ears was resourceful, he was just another empty vessel filled up with science and drugs. Wishes? That was a laughable dream.

---

Quentin chuckled softly at Sho's response. "Ah, but sometimes it's the empty vessels that can hold the most potential, my dear Heart," he said, taking a seat uninvited and making himself comfortable. "And as for talking with Zaria, well, it's like talking to a cynical textbook, isn't it? Rational, logical, and precise to the point of exhaustion. But you must admit, it's a refreshing change from the usual emotional ramblings we encounter in this place."

He glanced over at Jirachi, who seemed to be seeking refuge in Sho's lap, and raised an amused eyebrow. "Seems like you've made an impression on our little visitor. I wonder what sort of wish it would grant you if you dared to make one," Quentin mused, the corners of his lips turning up into a sly smile. "Perhaps it sees something in you that you haven't quite grasped yet."

---

Araceli stops her treatment after a while, collecting Magnus' excretions and putting them into a separate pot. "I told her to touch you. It's difficult to treat you, when you squirm around. No offense." She puts her equipment back and looks over to him occasionally. "Before you answer her query, how are you feeling?"

Roserade still did not mind Stunfisk's ego. He just enjoyed having a friend and, after some thinking, takes out one of her own petals for him. He didn't know what their diet is... so maybe he likes plants!

---

The computers in the labs briefly lag, the lights in Araceli's lab flicker a little and the cameras twitch... some outsider gained access to the lab systems. The scary thing isn't that they tried. It's that they succeeded.

Data was being transferred, servers were being slowed down. Cameras turn to whoever was moving/looking alive. The Ears, the Heart, the Alchemist... anyone who was moving or seemed to move was being looked at. Hell, some cameras even turned on their infrared vision to detect people. There were only two locations where the hack failed:

The Eyes were, seemingly, spared by the intrusion. No matter what cameras were on, they were either not functioning or did not have the angular freedom to capture them...
and Araceli's lab, due to a lack of cameras. The only electrical systems underground were lighting fixtures and the ventilation panel. There wasn't even a computer downstairs, as Araceli preferred paper... or the walls.

---

Aven looked around the crater. "So, basically I'm here on behalf of Girantina. I heard that there are researchers too, and thats more of my forte." The girl touched her necklace and began dissapearing the same way she apeared.
___________

Soon, in the lab, a faint screaming echoed. Then, a necklace popped into the air, followed by a (dress? Kimono? I'm sorry i dont know TwT), and then the rest of her. She looked around, taking in every detail. She was analyzing the lab, and everyone in there. But she wasn't gonna let them know that. "Hi!" she yelled obnoxiously. These people were obviously very smart, and she intedned to match that. Eventually. If they see me as lighthearted and friendly, they might trust me more. "I'm Evangaline, Girantina's dau- representitive. I'm not a (stupid) Ledgendary Savior or whatever, but I'm here to help! I'd like to know your names, and what you're doing in terms of research right now." She said with a friendly smile. This was quite torturous for her. Smiling was quite litterally painfull for her. She wasn't used to it.

---

Seeing as the elder wouldn't be letting up anytime soon, Sho sighed and spun around to face the senior scientist directly just as the lag happened, slipping under his notice. "Very well, I'll humour you though I can't guarantee that you'll leave this satisfied." Taking Jirachi into his hands and pulling it away from its safety of fabric and darkness, he observed the pokemon with clinical indifference. According to all records, this was a regular, run of the mill, Jirachi though saying that may be slightly blasphemous seeing as there was only one. "I highly doubt that it would see something in me that even I wouldn't know. After all, isn't it the nature of all living creatures to be beings of thought? Cogito, ergo sum, is that not correct? I think, therefore I am. Whoever I am if the thought doesn't cross my mind doesn't exist. Whoever I was beforehand is dead and here stands Hoshirube Sho who murdered them with cold indifference."

He shrugged, gently stimulating the Jirachi's stomach right over the slit that held its third eye. Could it perhaps be coaxed into opening before its time was appropriate? Was the wish granting powers truly dwelling in the eye or did it come from the tags as some reports spoke of? Hm, all questions that could wait as other projects took precedence. "As for wishes... what use is a tool with desires of his own? I'm sure you could have more uses for such a frivolous thing than I."

---

Gligar sat down at Setchi's feet and grinned almost mischievously as he held a belt full of pokeballs in his claws. Pleased chitteres left his mouth as Setchi slowly unfroze and reached forward to take the pokeballs from his grip. "What... what are these?" He asked looking over them. They didn't look like medals or any of the power bracers that they had used before but when he looked up at Ting-lu, the large deer only bent down to touch its nose against one of the balls. "They are tools, think of them as small worlds that you can keep us in. For easier transportation." It explained with a docile tone, nosing along his shoulder to calm him down from the earlier fright. "It won't hurt us and is a common tool used among people in this world." Setchi only hummed slowly, trembling hands nearly dropping the belt as he clipped it around the overalls that had seen so much.

"I don't like them... Can I just keep you out of it?" He asked as his voice hid the shaking of his heart. He had been trapped before, stuck in a form that had become his over the long drag of time and Darkness. He never wanted anyone to live through such loneliness again, the pain and fear that came from isolation a sickening rock that sat deep in his stomach. "I think I like it just like this." Leaning backwards, he tentatively rested his weight against Ting-lu's flank almost sinking into the sturdy warmth that it provided.

"Of course. We can stay like this." The legendary agreed almost indulgently.

---