Forum Thread

Azure turned to the rude new-comer, shocked by her words. Lux growled and she could tell that she wasn't happy about her behaviour either. With a final stare, she decided to ignore it and to actually say hello to her Pokémon.

"Hello, Lux." Azure acknowledged her starter Pokémon warmly, slightly adjusting her jewellery. Lux smiled and bowed but Azure held up her hand which stopped her just before she had finished. "Don't bow, I hate it when there are higher or lower classes. Just be yourself, I'm just a.. human.. after all." But she wasn't and that was thanks to the lightning in the sky and the pigment in her hair. Lux's expression turned serious and nodded, raising her body up.

"The Pokéball. Blue, can you put me back in the Pokéball? I find it comforting but.. I'm not sure if Zeraora likes it." She didn't move but then carefully looked up at Azure. She wished that Zeraora had told her that he would rather stay outside of it. Azure preferred them to be out of their Pokéballs and was against the general concept of being trapped..

The electric-type Pokémon walked over to her and lay down in front of where Azure had sat. Holding out the Pokéball, she pushed it against Lux's head. "See you in a while, Lux." Her Pokémon smiled and became a black mist that entered the Pokéball. She took out her Cherish Ball and let Zeraora's mist form into his Pokémon body. He stretched grinning, whilst Azure stood. "I didn't know that you didn't like being in the Pokéball."

The Pokémon cocked his head, "I don't mind it and I think that every other Pokémon thinks the same. Though don't think that you're trapping me. Blue, you have a soul which runs with the wind and you have a heart stronger than lightning and wouldn't want to hurt anyone. But I want you to realise something: there may be danger ahead, but you're free and I promise that you won't be trapped again." Azure opened her mouth and quickly shut it. She had no words for what Zeraora had said so instead she formed a half-hearted smile, not fully believing that what he had said about her was true.

---

The Whisperer had no response from Elli so she sighed quietly and spoke, "I'm sorry if you would rather be alone and if I'm invading that." She turned and continued through the corridors, not sure where she planned to go. Maybe she could speak with the mistre-. Abi stopped, noticing a girl in the hall. She heard her say her name, Evangaline, and that she was here to help which confused her.

Who sent her? She seemed new, stating a lot about herself, when most scientists would barely speak their own name. She assumed that Evangaline didn't see her. Why would she? Abi was tall and athletic but there wasn't much of her. She had dark skin and hair so it sometimes made her look as if she was her own shadow. If Evangaline approached her, than she would talk to her, as best as she could. And then she wanted to speak with another scientist about what Evangaline meant by the 'Legendary Saviours'. Hopefully the mistress. But only scientists of high status and ones that were close to her got to speak with her. Still, she kept the option open in her mind.

She had been receiving strange readings in the past couple hours but this was many more and larger than she had seen in a long time and now there was talk of 'Legendary Saviours?' If anything, the scientists were the saviours and they didn't even take much credit. And here some people were, thinking that they were some special heroes. She had made the decision about her thoughts of the 'Saviours' and it seemed that Evangaline had too, calling them stupid.

Abi called back her Pokémon and studied the girl from afar, still frustrated with what she thought.

---

Sampo tilted his head to look at the mysterious girl, but she was long gone. "Huh... this is so weird." He continued looking at the Pokéball tagged "Starter Pokémon". "Hmmmm, this should be cool~" Sampo let the Pokémon in the Pokeball come out. It appeared to be a sleek blue lizard-like Pokémon.

"Hi Sampo, my name is Inteleon, ready to help you" Inteleon held out his hand to Sampo, wanting to shake his hand.

"Hmmmmmmm... Inteleon, is that right?" Sampo asked and pet the Pokémon. He nodded and the blue lizard Pokémon held out a shiny blue bracelet made of sapphires and gave it to him. "Keep this and protect this, this is important"

"Why..? I'm curious, actually."

Inteleon was silent, but he winked at Sampo.

Aven then noticed a Jirachi, that looked like it was being tortured. Experimented on. The Savior's jirachi's wouldn't fight that much. And they wouldn't experiment on the pokemon they would experiment on the jewels, if they were experimenting. Her fake smile faded. She looked to the Jirachi. She twitched her eye in the slightest; an "are you okay?" in the pokemon 'language'. The jirachi responded with a "help".

"What are you doing with that pokemon?" She said, approaching the Jirachi. "And that's not even the Savior Jirachi, the Savior one is with the Ledgends... You're not with the Ledgandary Saviors, are you? Are you even in the same universe? DO you even know about the saviors? Or the Jewels of the Gods? Or even the Prophecy?" These people were dangerous. She sprinted and grabbed the Jirachi and ran to the ceiling, hanging upside down. With a few words of assurance to the Jirachi, she turned back to the researchers. "Tell me ALL the information you have, who you are, what universe I'm even in, and I'll fill you in about the Saviors. And trust me, it's stuff you really need to know." The Jirachi calmed down in her hands.

---

Quentin listened to Sho's response with a bemused expression, seemingly unperturbed by the Alchemist's clinical indifference. "Ah, but isn't it precisely the questioning and introspection that makes us more than mere tools?" he replied, his tone light and conversational. "Cogito, ergo sum indeed. We are beings of thought, of curiosity, of ambition. And while you may believe that you've murdered the person you were before, isn't it possible that the essence of who you are still lingers within you, shaping the choices you make and the path you tread?"

He watched as Sho gently stimulated Jirachi, seemingly lost in thought for a moment before speaking again. "As for wishes, it's true that sometimes desires can be burdensome, but they can also be the driving force behind greatness," Quentin remarked. "Even a tool can have desires, dreams, and aspirations. And perhaps it's precisely those desires that can lead you to discoveries and achievements beyond what you might imagine."

---

”Then that wouldn’t be me who controls these actions, but someone else. Studies regarding trainers whose memories have been stolen by Uxie have shown that attempting to remind them of such past lives have only ended in extreme distress and psychological trauma as if the subject refuses to associate themselves with their past. While none have deemed it significant enough to follow up on the subjects and determine if their daily patterns matched those of their past, I would not be presumptuous to assume that they have formed new habits and mannerisms. After all, it is memories that create a person.” Sho rattled off, citing one of the numerous papers that he had red during his border while he waited for the drugs to turn its course. He knew his theories well enough, the stacks of old and new reports that had been kept in their databases all consumed by idle hands.

“What use does a tool then have if it suddenly gains a dream, a desire? Are tools in its very nature not things for others to use for their own gain? In all of the papers and accounts I have seen, not once have they said that Jirachi has fulfilled any wishes of its own. Although it has free will, albeit very poor judgement of character, it is still a slave to others whims. Perhaps that is why it seems drawn to me, finding comfort with a fellow tool.” Sho smiled ruefully at that as Jirachi squirmed in his grasp, apparently dissatisfied with the ministrations he was giving and instead demanded he adapts. Greedy little thing. “But what would I know, I’m not the smartest scientist here who has won multiple awards and has a wealth of practical experience.”

---

Roserade thought a little again, he cannot sense his... "superiority" really, but he enjoys company. The Bouquet Pokémon walks away and returns with a little fruit basket full of berries. But this time, after he gave half the basket to his friend, he offers the basket to Raiden to take something.

-----

"Don't worry, Miss, the cameras in the facility moved at the same pace as before." The voice on the phone said, young, male, slightly dampened. Probably a runny nose. "So many action movies hack the cameras themselves for access and then someone notices because they move differently or stare. You actually just have to-" The voice was cut off.

"I don't mean to be a bother." De Caelo said, moving her hand despite nobody else being in the office. "But you can save your explanations... I am not deep enough into programming to understand you." She lied, she couldn't hack really but could understand him. His voice was just too grating to listen to. She watches the live camera feeds of the Lab, smirking at the room with Jirachi. Well, seems like the two like deep philosophical conversations. Even with Jirachi, she cannot help but feel sorry for the Wish Pokémon to be stuck between Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung. Something catches her eye though.
"Can it be that you don't have access to all rooms?"

"No, the basement. It probably runs on another server." This piqued her interest somewhat. "Alright. Remember to save all this footage." An acknowledging "mhm" came through the phone...

---

"Ah, but you see, Hoshirube Sho, being controlled by memories of your past self wouldn't necessarily mean you're no longer you," Quentin replied, his eyes gleaming with curiosity. John Locke argues to reject the notion of a soul or self as an innate, unchanging substance. Instead, he proposed that personal identity arises from the continuity of consciousness and the connection of experiences over time. In fact, memories, dreams, and desires are what make us complex beings, constantly evolving and adapting. Memories may shape our actions, but it's still you who experiences and reacts to those memories, whether consciously or unconsciously. And who's to say that your past self and your current self cannot coexist in some way, influencing each other in subtle yet meaningful ways?"

As Sho questioned the purpose of a tool with desires, Quentin tilted his head thoughtfully. He was unsure whether the Heart's continued referral to himself as a tool was accurate, but he would argue the point nonetheless. "A tool, in its most basic sense, is indeed created to serve a purpose for others," he mused. "But doesn't the concept of transcendence fascinate you? To imagine that a tool, with free will and desires, could rise above its original purpose and become something more? For a hammer creates a plow, and both are tools in their own right. Perhaps it's not about fulfilling one's own wishes, but rather discovering one's own identity, one's own purpose beyond what was initially designed for it. For even a lowly hammer can have feelings and sentiments... the question is whether the hammer can and will communicate them."

He couldn't help but bask in Sho's praise - however ambiguous - his eyes shining with pride. "And, I appreciate the compliment, Heart," Q said. "And my mind is indeed practical and award-worthy. But let us not forget that you, too, have a brilliant mind and a unique perspective on the world. Your work with chemicals and experiments has yielded remarkable results, and I have no doubt that you will continue to make valuable contributions to our endeavors. Should you doubt that fact still, start a project for yourself, and yourself alone. I would be delighted to see what emerges from that cranium of yours."

~~~

Stunfisk, feeling quite smug and important as always, eyed the fruit basket with a sense of self-satisfaction. In his mind, it was only natural for Roserade to offer him such a delightful assortment of berries; after all, he was the most magnificent and deserving creature in the room. He eagerly snatched the basket from Roserade's grasp with a little electric zing of excitement, clearly pleased with himself.

Rai, still feeling guilty and nervous about her friendship with Zaria, tentatively took a handful of berries from the basket that Roserade offered. She tried to smile gratefully at the Bouquet Pokémon, but her expression betrayed her inner turmoil. She felt like she was walking on thin ice with Zaria, uncertain of how to mend the rift that had formed between them. As she ate the berries, she couldn't help but wonder if she would ever be able to regain Zaria's trust and friendship again.

---

How arrogant, quoting Locke of all scholars. But then again it was just so much like what he had heard from the other scientists, a man who would fight on his views of science until the other party folded. "But what way is there to prove that I and my previous self are still one and the same as we live in so-called perfect harmony? As far as I'm concerned, the lab created and formed my memories and thus it would not be unreasonable to state that they own everything but my physical body. Would that then lead to both aspects of my present and past being under our company's management even if technically only one of us falls under their debt?" Sho's face soured at the thought of ever finding out who the person he was before, he was quite fine with his current allotment in life. That person already had their time to live, it was Sho's life now, no one else's and he certainly wasn't enthused about the idea of someone backseating his decision to never make his own.

"Besides, we're talking now aren't we? You're seeing what I can offer already and if you must analyze my worth through more scientific means then you have my own research to parse through. I know my worth as someone who contributes enough to the team to still be employed instead of terminated, transcending beyond that would spell my own removal from my role as the obedient pawn easily manipulated to do other's dirty work. Much as you are comfortable with your place as a senior researcher, rightfully earned through years of dedicated work and natural dispositions, so too am I." He only huffed a laugh when Jirachi whined and fussed for attention. If he had to guess, Sho would suppose that this was what working with a child must be like, always a slave to the whims of a being you willingly shackled yourself to. But in Sho's case, it was more of an unwilling acquisition more than anything as he made a mental reminder to go grab a pokeball later to pass on to The Ears for their bosses' use

---

"Ah, but Locke's arguments are like a fine wine, they age well and remain relevant even in our modern age of science," Quentin retorted with a twinkle in his eye. "But you raise an interesting point. The nature of memory and identity is indeed a philosophical quagmire. As a scientist, I find myself often intrigued by such philosophical questions, but alas, they are not always easily resolved through empirical means. I do believe as someone who does not remember freedom, you do not know to crave it. Until you experience everything there is to experience in the world, you cannot know what you are missing out upon. And usually it is general practice to eliminate the impossible and improbable alternatives the quandary of life, but you are ignoring too many probable alternatives for the comfort of familiarity. You're like a small rabbit in a pen, fed carrots every day. His life is comfortable and he thinks he has found paradise. But that changes the day he finds the open fields full of possibilities... Other rabbits like him, new and plentiful food, an open expanse to enjoy... And to supplement your obvious disdain for Locke, I'll quote Plato instead. The Allegory of the Cave tells a similar story, a man who finds his way to the surface of the world, free from the shadows and shackles that bind him. After many long years of only seeing shadow puppets on the wall of his cave, he is blinded the first time he sees the sun. But as his eyes adjust, he sees that it is good. Naturally, he returns to his fellow prisoners to tell them the good news, and enlighten them to the outside world. When he comes back inside, he finds it dark, for his eyes have now adjusted to the sun. His fellows believe the entire surface is useless, just because the man can no longer see the shadows in their reality as well as they can. Those that remain in the cave, like yourself, can never be convinced of the usefulness of the surface. I suppose you can never understand the magnitude in which you are missing out upon. I was once shackled in a cage of shadows much like you are now. I come to you with a tale of the sun. You are so much more than a tool, even if you cannot yet understand. Be careful you do not become like one of these prisoners, Hoshirube Sho."

Quentin leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms, and observed Sho with a knowing smile. "Misguided as it may be, your dedication to your role is commendable. And I must admit, I'm rather impressed by your eloquence and conviction in defending your stance on identity and worth. Yet until you attempt to see it my way, your point is hollow. Perhaps there's more to you than meets the eye, Heart. A hidden philosopher within a scientist's coat, for one."

---

Bump-bump... Bump-bump... Bump-bump... Error smiled at her starter Pokemon. She had been able to identify it as Eevee, the Evolution Pokemon. It held the possibility of eight potential evolutions, making it incredibly diverse... Not that that mattered much to Error. She was...happy? Yes, happy, with her new friend.

Jet smirked a bit as her starter, a Geodude, the Rock Pokemon bounced about happily. It was quite the energetic creature. She glanced around, taking in how everyone else was doing with their Legendary and starter.

With "The Alchemist" currently chatting with "The Heart", Emika took her leave. Someone had to be yelled at in the security department and she needed to file an official report for "The Eyes". "The Eyes"... An involuntary shiver went through Emika at the thought of the head honcho of the Lab. She still remembered her first contact with "The Eyes" and the big project of Mewfour like it was yesterday, though it was countless years ago...


A Jirachi... Here in the Lab... A sneer slowly turned into a smirk... Watching the security feed... Seems there was something special about "The Heart"...
Better keep a close eye...

The Roserade could not really... relate to Rai right now, he hadn't experienced those complex emotions and inner turmoil before. But he does know the face of a pretender, though mostly that was Araceli pretending to be fine when splashing herself with acid. He eyes Stunfisk and then, after putting down the basket so the two of them could reach, simply sat down and released a scent again. The soft and refined smell of lavender.

----

De Caelo kept watching the security footage. She turned the volume down though, the ethical complications of Quentin were about as entertaining as listening to that "hacker" explain about servers. Well, at least the Alchemist had a better voice. Her observations were interrupted by the annoying voice again.

"Ma'am, we are done for! We have been detected!" He started to sound even more grating now, with De Caelo just holding her temples. She'd let him ramble on for a little longer. Then, she interrupts.

"My dear." She said, threateningly calm. "I have covered my tracks well enough." Before he could agree, she could hear the sound in the background. It was similar to a sword being sheathed. A smile forms on her face: She waited for that sound to come up. "Good day." She hangs up on that, staring at two empty Pokéballs in front of her.

---

Great, now Plato. Though Sho will admit that he does have more fondness towards Plato that Locke, there was just more to appreciate about the fundamental classics. “And you seem quite convinced that I am more that I have something more to offer. Pray tell, Alchemist, if I were to hypothetically become one of the free, what would you gain from such altruism? Another lab experiment perhaps, an amusing theory to test and ascertain the true nature of humans? You must understand that from my point of view, I’m getting an awful lot if I were to ever choose such a path while you’re left with nothing but empty words and wasted time. While I’m not appreciative of such sentiments, it is an interesting thought experiment and a chance to hone my own lacking verbal debate prowess, I can’t quite understand where you come from.”

Spreading his arms out with a shrug, Sho discreetly glanced around to see that Emika had slipped away at some point during their conversation, as silent as she always is. A shame but as long as her Pokémon continued to roam the halls and allowed him to lavish them with pets and affection that he didn’t care quite as much. “In any case, what if being a hollow vessel is the true freedom? Becoming a conduit for other’s thoughts and personality to invade and fill your essence before they leave, taking a little part of it to build your own ideals and views is the basic building blocks of all like. As children we are molded. by our parents and as students we learn from our forbearers to forge new paths. My role is simply as a catalyst for such changes, a tool for others to use as they please and discard when unneeded. In return, I absorb their research as my own, I learn from their failures and grow from their success. As a tool I have become the amalgamation of every test that has been run on me. Becoming a scientist, what a pipe dream that would be.”

---

At some point, Magnus had gotten up and attempted to leave, picking his guitar case up along the way.

Maybe it was his height, but the jaded doctor seemed strangely stealthy for a man regularly carrying an 8 kilo hardshell case around.

He fiddled with the doorkob, attempting to leave.

"Well, Zaria, Rai, this has been fun! But I'm going to go back to my office, finish my work, then not talk to anyone for another two weeks."

---

"Well, my dear Heart, if you were to embrace the path of freedom and self-discovery, what indeed would I gain from such an altruistic act? I must admit, my interest goes beyond just scientific curiosity; it's personal. I have a vested interest in your well-being for... reasons. Reasons I cannot, will not reveal to you. But beyond that, it's about understanding and pushing the boundaries of human potential. When one transcends their original purpose, they become a beacon of inspiration for others. Your journey, if you were to embark on it, could pave the way for others to challenge their own preconceived roles and limitations. You have the potential to be so much more. A scientist, a philosopher, or anything you dare to dream. Sometimes, all it takes is a leap of faith, a willingness to embrace uncertainty, and a refusal to be confined by the expectations of others."

~~~

"Wait, Magnus, hold on just a moment," Zaria said, her voice calm and composed. "I think we should have a conversation. It's clear there's some tension between us, and I believe it's best to address it now rather than let it linger. I apologize for my actions earlier, but I also think there might have been a misunderstanding. Can we talk about it, please?" Her eyes locked onto Magnus, her gaze determined to keep him from leaving. He was still moving towards the door.

She did have one ace in the hole.

"Rai, stop him."

~~~

Meanwhile, Rai's mind was in a whirl. She was still feeling guilty about breaking Zaria's trust, and now she was being asked to stop Magnus from leaving. She took a deep breath, reminding herself that she needed to be supportive of Zaria. That was what mattered right now. That was all that mattered. She decided to approach Magnus from the side, acting as if she had some urgent work-related question.

"We can do this the easy way, or the hard way," she said, reverting back into the comfortable role of hired muscle.

Rai positioned herself between Magnus and the door, subtly blocking his path. She hoped he wouldn't notice her intent and would stay long enough for Zaria to talk to him. She glanced back at Zaria, hoping her friend would make use of this opportunity to bridge the gap between them.

---

"..."

Magnus looked back at Zaria, then at Rai.

"...what does the hard way entail...?"

he muttered quietly.

"I think I could take it..."

---

"It involves me beating you to a pulp, and you not standing a chance, because I have beaten more powerful battlers than you," Rai said sweetly. Her job was to save all the souls of the scientists in this lab, and do all the jobs they didn't want to, or couldn't. She had given many a trespasser the same treatment in her time.

"Don't beat him to a pulp!" Zaria hissed.

"You say one thing, and you actually think something else." Rai said. "Fine. It involves me restraining you by any means possible, and preparing you for questioning."

---

"...Oh, so basically what the Castelia police did."

Magnus rolled his eyes.

"...Fine. If I'll be questioned anyway, might as well just sit down on my own."

He set his guitar case down, sitting back down.

---

"C-Can I remind you in which lab you are in?!" Araceli mentioned, still with tools in hand. She does her best to help Magnus, gives Raiden a little sanctuary to call her home and helps Zaria despite her and her fathers differences and she doesn't even get a say? Not on this floor! Well, it sounds a lot more reasonable...

in reality, Araceli was just pouting and holding her weird equipment in hand with a tight grip. "We either do this diplomatically or I'll hit you all with a truth serum!" She bluffed... did she?

---

"Truth serum? Do it." Rai said with a laugh. I have nothing to lose. Put it in two out of four glasses, and I'll drink to that." She hauled Magnus into a chair.

"Now do I need to... restrain you, or will you cooperate?" She deadpanned.

"Rai!" Zaria looked at her aghast.

The 'Rai' in question rolled her eyes. "Sacrifices need to be made for information, Mademoiselle Burns. Would you like me to show kindness, or get your answers?"

---

"Oh, oh!" Araceli sounds both annoyed and excited. It was a weird combination. "I always wanted an opportunity to use these!" She runs to her cabinet and starts taking out a few things, some were ordinary chemicals with labels even saying what they were, others looked like she raided the local ruins.

---