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Post by Blahsadfeguie on Dec 22, 2014 23:31:16 GMT -5
((This is a story bit from a tabletop campaign I'm running. I decided to post it here so that we can RP without having to worry about getting everyone into the same session. Please don't post unless you're SFM, Wombat, or Diamond! Or me, but that's a given.))
"Hello! Wake up, you sleepyheads! We got places to go!"
Evaline bounced around the room in true quasi-Buneary fashion, excitedly shaking each trainer in turn. The rising sun had only barely begun to shine through the Pokemon Center window, and already the Buneary morph was overflowing with energy. Did that girl even sleep...?
Everyone begrudgingly rolled out of their beds and prepared themselves for the trip beyond the weather barrier. To think it had only been 2 weeks since Jennifer, Mike, Alora, and Tyro came to the region... time went by so fast there, it seems, with nary a moment of rest. Not that Evaline was helping with that. Unfortunately, everyone knew that stopping to rest could doom their kidnapped friends to death, or perhaps a fate worse still. With any luck, this Professor Blake Onyx would have all the answers they had been waiting for.
While everyone gathered their belongings and Pokemon, Evaline continued to circle everyone, skipping ceaselessly. The moment everyone was standing, she practically ushered them into a conga line of groggy, yet vengeful trainers heading out of the sliding glass door.
Evaline lead the gang to the dock, where a small black submarine was situated. It was a tight fit, but everyone managed to barely squeeze inside. Evaline sat in the pilot seat, operating the controls with the unfitting professionalism of a veteran Navy Seel.
"How long is this trip, exactly?" Bob Sladfigy grumpily questioned from behind a vigilant Abra.
"Shouldn't take more than a couple hours!" the girl gleefully explained. "Ooh, a school of Tentacool!"
Two and a half long hours later, the submarine surfaced. "We're here, we're here!" shouted Evaline, excited to see her beloved guardian again.
"Finally, we can get some space," Bob loudly complained for the umpteenth time that trip. Just about everyone else shared the same relief.
The submarine parked at a sturdy metal dock, at which a noisy barrage of falling objects assaulted the ears of everyone in the submarine. Evaline pulled out a stack of reinforced, nylon umbrellas. "You're going to need these," she shouted over the noise. "But I only have three, so some of you are gonna have to smoosh together!"
Bob slammed his head against the back of the seat. "I'd rather take my chances with the weather..." he lamented.
"I'd rather he take his chances with the ocean..." muttered Clarence, low enough that it was lost in the sounds of the storm.
Climbing out of the submarine in that weather was no less of a feat than getting in to begin with. The passengers quickly learned that it was a hailstorm, raining down chunks of ice the size of ping-pong balls. Everyone, Bob included, gladly crowded under the umbrellas.
No sooner had they done so, however, than the group suddenly found themselves stared down by 14 angry eyes. Four Magnezone and a Clawitzer were standing guard in front of a small metal building. Electricity arced menacingly between the magnets of the Magnezone, and the Clawitzer seemed to be sporting some sort of flashy, metallic coat, making its launching claw look more like a beefed-up space rifle.
A voice cackled from a speaker on the building. "Hahahaha! It's finally happened!" It sounded like a man in his 30's or 40's, but he spoke like a small child in an unattended candy store. "You Hammer goons have finally found me! But we'll see who has the last laugh when you're trying on a brand-spanking new wardrobe of lightning and lasers! Hahahahaha!!!"
Evaline bounded up to the front of the group. The distinct lack of worry on her face was distinctly worrying in and of itself. "Heh, no, Blake!" she cried at the building. "It's only me! I brought some friends! They're nice people!"
"Wh-what? Eva?" the voice responded, taken aback. "How many times have I told you never to give out our personal information?"
"They're good guys, really!" the girl continued, still unconcerned. "They saved me from Hammer, and they're trying to rescue some friends that were kidnapped! We can help them, Blake!"
The speaker was silent. The Magnezone exchanged glances. The metal Clawitzer kept its claw trained on Bob.
"Fine," the Professor resolved. "Sentry, stand down and let them through. You can enter." There was a collective sigh of relief among the group of trainers. "But try anything, and you'll be reduced to a pile of genetic sludge in an instant!"
"Clawww..." grumbled the weaponized Water-type as it side-stepped out of the way. The Magnezone backed off, each one covering a corner of the building. The metal doors slid open, revealing a brightly-lit elevator.
Evaline practically lunged at the elevator, ducking under the hail. "Come on, this way!" she invited. The others followed her, quite eager to get out of the storm.
The doors closed. The elevator began its slow descent. Only a few moments later, the elevator stopped.
Bob scratched his head. "This guy's not very far under--WAAAH!"
The elevator suddenly accelerated in a direction Bob certainly hadn't been expecting - horizontally backward. The transport's speed built up quickly, only to take a brisk halt several seconds later. The only sound that could be heard was the shaking, wide-eyed Newton's very canine-like whine.
"Yay!" cheered Evaline, ever ignorant of the qualms that every other passenger likely had at that point.
The elevator doors opened, revealing a man who looked like a near perfect match to the voice over the speakers. His black hair was so messy as to give the impression that he had rolled out of bed seconds prior, and his lab coat was stained with so many different-colored materials it was impossible to tell what color it had originally been. Hunched over, he examined the trainers from behind spectacles thick enough to completely obscure his eyes. One of the lenses had an unsightly crack running down the length.
"Blake!" the Buneary morph cried as she jumped over a bemused Seraphina and tackled Professor Onyx, who laughed in a way that belittled his sanity.
"Eva!" he replied, grinning madly. "Glad to see you still haven't been eaten alive yet! Haha!"
"I'm so cute, I dunno how they resist!" Eva continued as Onyx set her aside, patting her head affectionately. "So these are the people I was telling you about!"
Onyx leaned in closer, holding his glasses at a strange angle and looking each person up and down thoroughly, one at a time. He stopped for a particularly long time on Alora.
"Ah," he finally said. "No shortage of misfits here, it seems."
"Look who's talking," Bob muttered.
Onyx's ears perked up visibly. "Wazzat?" he asked. "Is someone not paying attention? I am, in fact, talking. Hello! My name is Professor... uh, what was it again?" He looked at Evaline for guidance.
"Blake Onyx, silly!" she answered without skipping a beat.
"Of course!" Onyx raised his finger into the air as though making some amazing discovery. "Haha! I haven't talked to a human in so long, I forget my own name..." He turned around as he was talking, strolling down the hall. Then he stopped, looking upwards. He turned again. "You're still here? Go make me a sandwich! No, wait. Go make yourselves a sandwich!" He turned once more, and yet again, staring at his guests in what appeared to be genuine disbelief. "You're still here?"
"Don't mind him," Eva whispered to the group. "He's got so much on his mind all the time. He'll work it out eventually..."
"Aha!" Onyx suddenly ran up to Newton, stopping just inches from his face. The Poochyena morph leaned back instinctively. "You're wanting to know how this all works, aren't you?" He then pointed at Alora. "And you too!" And then at Sera. "Maybe not you. Wow, so many faces... I don't know how you can keep track of them all! Haha! Oh yeah, follow me. I don't know why, but I think you should follow me." He turned around, this time not looking back.
Evaline hopped after him. "Just start asking questions, he'll answer them in a way that hopefully makes sense," she happily explained.
"Who? I don't have any questions," Onyx refuted, looking back at the girl, but catching sight of the trainers again in the process. "Oh yeah. You again. Come along now, science waits for no man!"
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Post by Wombat on Dec 23, 2014 16:19:56 GMT -5
Alora wondered how many more times she'd think this journey had hit rock-bottom only to bore still deeper. Surely, it could only get better from here? After Tyro and three of her Pokemon were kidnapped, they'd gone on to investigate only to encounter Hammer again and apparently narrowly avoid capture -- Alora wasn't too clear on the details, having been unconscious and half-drowned for much of the battle, but it sounded like Jennifer had really saved their bacon.
'You'd think after all that, we could get a decent rest,' the Flygon 'morph lamented silently as a way too cheerful ten-year-old Buneary girl forced them all out of the blissful realm of sleep. What followed could only be described as utter agony, spending several hours in a cramped submarine with Bob Sladfigy. She had met him literally days ago and had already developed a seething hatred of the man. Worse, when they were finally freed of the cramped confines, the group found themselves in the middle of a hailstorm, and even with the umbrella blocking the ice itself, Alora was shivering quite badly by the time they reached the elevator. It just had to be hail, didn't it?
One very... interesting... elevator ride later, Alora found herself being closely scrutinized by their incredibly eccentric host, and while she wanted to object she simply didn't have the energy to care at present. Silently willing Bob to never talk again and for this day to be over, she jumped as Onyx was suddenly once more nearby, in Newton's face and uncomfortably close to her.
"I, um... What?" she stammered out, too dazed to actually respond to the professor's flurry of words.
Evaline's words only served to make the situation seem even more hopeless. And here Alora was hoping they'd actually get some leads on this thing. She wondered whether this kooky guy could actually answer their questions. Still, might as well ask.
"Um, Professor? We heard about something called Chaos Energy, I think it was. Can you tell us anything about that?"
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Post by Blahsadfeguie on Dec 23, 2014 17:28:56 GMT -5
"Chaos Energy? I'm not sure I know what that is," claimed Onyx.
"I think she means Chaos Radiation," Evaline corrected.
Onyx lit up. "Ah, yes! Chaos Radiation, or CR for short, is a sort of residual energy lingering from the very creation of the universe itself. As such, it has a habit of making the DNA of all life-forms especially malleable." The professor lead everyone into a room full of various Pokemon in glass boxes. Most of them were clearly abnormal in some way - a Rattata with multiple red stripes, a Pikachu with an unnatural amount of muscle mass, a white Bidoof that breathed a fine mist, and so on. "As you can see, it has a wide variety of different effects that increase in intensity as a human or Pokemon is exposed to increased dosage. I believe some of you are familiar with the more extreme effects." He looked back at Newton and Alora as he said this. "Whoa, when did you get here?!"
"And it works the other way, too!" Evaline added. "Humans can become Pokemorphs, but so can Pokemon! Did you know I used to be an actual Buneary?" She giggled.
"I did know that, in fact," Onyx answered.
"I know you know," said Evaline.
"Well, I didn't know you knew I knew," Onyx replied. "Now, where was I...? Oh, yes! One of you was making me a sandwich."
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Post by Diamond on Dec 24, 2014 23:31:01 GMT -5
The trip to Professor Onyx's lab had been nothing short of uncomfortable. Cramming everyone into a submarine would have been fine, had it not been for the tension caused by Bob. If he found a way to, dare Jennifer consider the unfavorable thought, continue traveling with them she was sure Alora would kill him and maybe with help from the rest of the group. Yet after their more recent encounters with Team Hammer it was starting to seem as though they would need a small army to rescue Tyro as well as Alora's Pokemon. Jennifer sighed quietly as she stepped out into the hailstorm. She had barely managed to squeak through the last battle with them; she still had bruises from Sledge's attacks.
Getting into the Professor's lab was almost worse. Never mind the awful weather, the super-powered Pokemon they were greeted with were just plain threatening. The group had limited experience with fully evolved Pokemon. It didn't take long for Jennifer to come to the conclusion that there was no way her team was ready to take on five fully evolved Pokemon, even with everyone's help. Thankfully it wouldn't come to that. The powerful Pokemon seemed to belong to Professor Onyx and Evaline had no trouble getting them to stand down and getting everyone into the lab.
When they all were finally able to see the professor Jennifer couldn't help but keep her eyes on the ground, looking up only once in awhile in an attempt to acknowledge the events going on around her. She was always shy around new people, and still somewhat shy around the people she already knew. The professor seemed nice enough so his strange behavior didn't really annoy her, though it looked like he would be yet another difficult person to deal with. From here it seemed best to let other people ask the questions and then try to decode whatever answers the professor threw at them.
The explanation about chaos radiation came in surprisingly clear language from the professor and visual aide was even provided. Jennifer was startled by the abnormalities of the Pokemon and opened her mouth to say something but the only thing that came out was a small "...eek." None of the Pokemon's differences seemed harmful or painful, except for maybe the Bidoof's but it still hadn't been clearly established if Pokemon, or humans, could go back to normal after being affected like this. Sure there were the pills that Evaline was selling, but their risks couldn't quite be gauged either. Her eyes fluttered to Evaline when she heard about the girl's previous life. Becoming a Pokemorph really seemed to work out for her. In some cases chaos radiation must offer great benefits to human and Pokemon alike, but by now she could see that what happened when exposed to it was usually random. At least affects could be controlled by length of exposure.
Jennifer thought about her Pokemon and frowned a bit. She wasn't sure how she would feel if any of them went through drastic changes due to radiation. Would they be able to just roll with it? Only time would tell. She waited patiently for someone to ask their next question.
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Post by Blahsadfeguie on Dec 25, 2014 1:20:29 GMT -5
"Oh, I'll just go make you the sandwich, Blake," Evaline surrendered, as though this happened every day. "You guys sit tight. Try not to spook him too many times!" Seeing Jennifer so withdrawn bothered her, so she bounced up to Jennifer's eye level, lingering for an oddly long time, and patted her on the head before she landed and skipped off. Blake, meanwhile, had preoccupied himself with studying the Bidoof. The beaver Pokemon looked up at the professor and yawned lazily.
There was an uncomfortable silence as it seemed Onyx had forgotten about his guests yet again. This time, it was Seraphina's turn to speak up by not speaking up at all. "Pardon me, Professor," the Abra projected, "But Jennifer, and most likely everyone else, would like to know in what ways these effects can be reversed."
Onyx surprisingly did not flinch, despite hearing her sudden voice in his head. He chuckled. "Of course, thank you for reminding me, conscious," he responded. "A life-form's DNA is never written in permanent ink. It can be erased and re-written as many times as Giratina wants! Just as with the creation of the universe, a state of chaos will slowly drift towards one of order. With enough exposure to the radiation, a creature will eventually find itself with its optimal genetic structure - which is unique to every individual, and may or may not be the way it was born! Haha!" He held up a handful of colorful, familiar pills. "Of course, these candy-colored concoctions can speed up the process. I've found that some of them harness specific aspects of chaos in some beneficial way, like overhealing you, restoring your burned out abilities, leveling you up... but these also increase your CR level as a side effect. The hueless ones manipulate CR itself, on the other hand, but they can cause as many mutations as they cure. There's one extremely rare, colorless variety that eradicates chaos and returns the body to order without incident, but they certainly don't grow on trees!"
As he explained that portion, he lead the group into another room encircled by loads of different machines and boxes overflowing with seven different colors of Apricorn. In the center was a display case containing a curious sight: an Apricorn that was completely transparent, giving it a glassy texture. "Well, okay," he admitted, "it probably DID grow on a tree at one point, but those trees are long gone now. Unfortunately, this Apricorn is seedless, and planting another tree is out of the question... so I'm keeping it here in case I ever figure out how to replicate it, or need it in an emergency..." Newton stared hungrily at the clear Apricorn as the Professor trailed off.
The silence was once again broken by a loud cry of "SANDWICHES~!" Evaline hopped into the room carrying a tray that held 10 whole sandwiches. Each one had a different filling, as though she made every single one of them with its recipient in mind. "Sera told me what kind of sandwiches you all liked, heehee! You'll know which one's yours, so dig in!"
"You just had to give away the secret," Sera added with the slightest of smiles.
"You really can read my mind!" Blake said in awe, staring at his masterfully-prepared triple-decker sloppy joe/potato salad/amalgamation of condiments. "Fantastic, thank you Eva!" He scooped it up and took a massive bite, somehow managing to stain exactly nothing with the mess contained within.
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Post by Wombat on Dec 28, 2014 13:06:18 GMT -5
Well, this would probably explain the weird happenings in that cave a while back, at least. Alora examined the various odd Pokemon with a mix of curiosity and concern, before snapping back to the conversation as Evaline spoke up.
"Wait... Pokemon can become Pokemorphs, too?" she blurted in surprise. Well, it did make sense, she supposed. She idly wondered whether Pokemon could become mixed with other Pokemon as she followed Onyx into another room. His answer to Sera's question brought another question of her own to mind. "Oh, um, I didn't exactly become a Pokemorph through... conventional means?" She paused as she contemplated the idea that there was a 'conventional means' to becoming half Pokemon. "I was, er, the subject of an... experiment... that Team Rocket was conducting back in Johto. Could I still be turned back to normal by CR?" She fervently hoped the answer was yes.
Her thoughts were interrupted as Evaline reappeared with a plate heaping with sandwiches. Woah. Alora grinned at Seraphina before snatching up a Basculin salad and Pecha berry sandwich. "Woah, thanks!" Before digging in, she spotted Newton out the corner of her eye. He was eying the clear Apricorn with a hungry look, clearly deeply coveting the possibility of returning to normal. Hoping to distract him, she tried calling him over. "C'mon, Newton! Sandwiches! I dunno about you, but I'm starving."
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Post by Diamond on Dec 28, 2014 14:15:46 GMT -5
"U-uh, um, h-hi Evaline...?" Jennifer struggled to say before the Bunary girl hopped away. In the back of her mind she knew there was something pitiful about being so shy that a ten year old felt bad for you, but she tried to ignore that feeling so she could focus on the current scene. That chaos radiation manipulated DNA was a surprise but the biggest piece of information from that, she felt at least, was that heavy exposure would transform someone to their ideal state of being. "I wonder..." Jennifer didn't finish her quiet sentence, but she wondered what her genetically perfect self would be like. It probably wasn't worth finding out, but she did like the idea that it could be the way she is now.
What she didn't like, however, was the thought that Team Hammer was surely trying to find perfect forms for many of it's members, humans and Pokemon. It was obvious that they were headed in that direction. The fully evolved Pokemon that they battled always seemed to be supplied with pills, along with the admins.
When they entered the next room the boxes of colorful apricorns caught Jennifer's attention right away. So the pills Evaline was selling were made partially, if not completely, from apricorns and at one time there was such a thing as clear apricorns. "I um...I think we've seen a clear pill before, haven't we...?" She asked no one in particular. The first ranger they met had picked up a clear pill randomly in an alley, which was the same kind of place that they met Evaline in. Jennifer thought the pill was kind of empty, almost definitely devoid of it's power, but now it was clear that wasn't the case. This time she tried to speak up "Um...we have seen a clear pill. Once. But how is that possible when clear apricorn trees don't grow anymore? Could Team Hammer...have a secret supply...?" She asked.
Jennifer thanked Evaline and took her Tauros and mozzarella sandwich. Before eating she also noticed Newton and hoped that Alora would succeed in distracting him.
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SFM
Lost Soul
Vodka and bear hides
Posts: 4
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Post by SFM on Jan 3, 2015 0:36:33 GMT -5
Mike Storme yawned and cracked his back for maybe the 10th time that day. What a day. Being in that smelly, cramped submarine was an experience he was having a hard time getting out of his mind. Not to mention it'd only been a few hours since he was awoke rudely by a weird little girl. If he had a dollar for every time that happened...
He'd be dead broke.
The rest of the day went by and Mike was dragged around like a rag-doll, going through some weird elevators and corridors, it was all very vague and dream-like to him.
Mike realized his mind was wandering.
Shit, pay attention, you jerk... the professor is talking about something that sounds REALLY important! Bah, Chaos radiation? Is that important?! Sounds like some weird pseudo-science that this weird pseudo-scientist cooked up. This whole situation, Mike thinks, is just extremely...
Weird.
Then again, a lot of crazy things have been happening. Plus, it would make sense that Hammer would want to harness this craziness for their own twisted purpose. Mike tried his best to stay awake and focused, but his head kept somehow flailing around in an ongoing attempt to stop himself from dozing off. Oh jeez, he hopes no one notices. Hm. There sure are a lot of strange Pokemon here too. Kinda disconcerting. Between dreams of violence and Hammer fighting, he'd find himself slipping into weird fantasies of being trapped in a mad-scientist's lab. Just a... test subject, enclosed in a glass case like those poor others, never to know the warmth of the sun...
Whoa, okay mind, get back on track here, he thinks, blinking hard and shaking his head. He's missing so much important, useful sandwiches-
Sandwiches?! Is this another hunger-induced delusion?! No, in fact that strange little girl is bringing out a plate of delicious sandwiches right now! Oh god. Is that a Reuben? Hell yes.
Mike hungrily takes a bite of his Reuben on rye, watching absent-mindedly as the room's attention shifts to Newton and Alora.
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Post by Blahsadfeguie on Jan 3, 2015 3:52:35 GMT -5
Bob greedily snatched up a sandwich loaded to the crust with multiple kinds of peanut butter and jelly. He held it up to his face and lifted his sunglasses as though counting the layers. "Wow, it's exactly as I envisioned it..." he gasped.
Everyone was momentarily distracted as they retrieved their perfect sandwiches and chewed on them happily.
Clarence, on the other hand, was focused on the tray. "Ten sandwiches..." he muttered to himself. He then did a quick head count of all the people in the room. "There's only nine of us," the boy observed. "Who's the tenth sa--"
"Spear!"
The loud cry of a bird interrupted Clarence. A Spearow emerged from an adjacent room, swooping down onto the tray which the unflinching Evaline still held firm, and snatched a sandwich stuffed with assorted berries in its beak. It promptly perched atop one of the taller machines, cradling the sandwich in its wings and biting into it in a very un-bird-like fashion.
"Mm, there you are, Nicole!" Onyx greeted the bird between huge mouthfuls. He had found himself a seat on top of the case containing the clear Apricorn. "I was just telling these vagabonds about Chaos Radiation. I don't recall where they came from, but they haven't broken anything yet. That I've seen, anyway! Haha!"
The Spearow, apparently named Nicole, cocked her head quizzically at the Professor's statement. Her gaze then shifted to the rather large crowd of visitors and nearly dropped her sandwich with an astonished squawk. She hadn't noticed them until Onyx pointed them out.
Evaline giggled. "Don't worry, Nicky, they're not Hammer or anything!" she reassured the bird Pokemon, who narrowed her eyes at the group and continued eating warily. "Nicky was Blake's first assistant," the bunny girl explained. "She went all the way from human to Pokemon in record time!"
Before Newton could object aloud to the possibility of transforming completely into a Poochyena, Onyx spoke up again. "They're doing these experiments in Johto now?" he asked. "Without using CR? Hmm, that is troubling." He glanced thoughtfully upward at the hexagonal pattern of fluorescent lights. "Is the world slowly shifting to a state of chaos? Is the natural order of the universe for it to revert back to its original form? Is order itself a temporary state of anti-chaos, with chaos being true perfection and imperfection at the same time?"
He went silent, staring motionlessly at the lights. Evaline casually snapped her fingers in front of his face, causing him to jump. "Oh right, yes, you want to know if CR can still reverse your Flygon morphism." He looked back at Alora. "Well, there isn't much that can stop chaos from working its science. I'm sure y-- oh, hang on." He reached into his pocket and produced a small device that looked - and sounded - somewhat like a Geiger counter. He pointed it at Alora, scanning up and down her body. The device reacted noisily. "Yes, my CR counter is giving me a reading typical of a Pokemorph. I'm sure with the expected dosage, CR will modify your genetic structure just like any other 'morph." He put away the CR counter. "Of course, I've noticed that exposing natural CR to a Pokemorph will, more often than not, accelerate the morphic process, resulting in... well, Nicole." He indicated the Spearow, who simply nodded solemnly. "The best way to completely reverse mutations is to use pills and controlled exposure, and even then the procedure can be... finicky. Unless you have--"
This brought his train of thought to the clear pills, and when he remembered what Jennifer had said minutes ago, he allowed himself to finally register the fact in his brain. "You've seen a clear pill before?" he repeated. "I can't say I remember ever releasing them to the public... Oh, but I might have accidentally mixed them in with one shipment... That would explain their sudden disappearance." The silence returned to him, this time for no more than a few moments. He shrugged. "Eh. No big deal."
Newton twitched. "No big deal?!" he finally voiced. "Those pills are miracles of nature and science, and you can't bring yourself to care about them falling into the wrong hands?!"
"There's nothing we can do about them now, they're long gone," Onyx retaliated. "No sense crying over spilled radioactive waste." Newton wanted to fire right back at that statement, but he was having trouble finding the words. "Look. I can tell you're quite eager to return to a fully human form. It's not impossible without clear pills, it's just difficult. If you stay here for a couple of weeks, and muster up the patience, we can give you the safest treatment possible."
"I-I don't think we have a couple of weeks," Newton replied. "Tyro and Tiffany are still at the mercy of Hammer..."
Onyx rubbed his chin. "Who?" he asked. Evaline whispered something into his ear. "Oh!" he exclaimed. "Well, to be fair, they're probably already goners," he continued bluntly.
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Post by Diamond on Jan 12, 2015 15:39:04 GMT -5
Jennifer frowned slightly at the Professor's response to her question. She wouldn't exactly call it "no big deal" but he did have a point. There was nothing they could do about the lost clear pills now. In the back of her mind she wished that the ranger who had found that one clear pill had given it to them, but at the time they didn't know what the pills were and were reluctant to mess with them. There was a chance that they wouldn't have taken the pill if offered.
"U-um..." Jennifer mumbled to herself a little bit, trying to gather her thoughts. Alora and Newton could, probably, become human again! This was great news, but the amount of time and difficulty it would take for them to achieve their human forms again was not. She wanted them to be able to take this opportunity, but she knew as much as everyone else that they didn't have a couple of weeks. With so many people in their group it was easy to think that they would be able to take on Team Hammer with one or maybe even two less people. But last time six people almost wasn't enough to take down three Team Hammer members, granted one of them was a team admin. Maybe Alora and Newton could receive treatment after they had rescued their friends, but it was more probable that they would have to wait until Team Hammer had been dealt with for good.
Onxy's opinion on their captured comrades didn't do much to lift Jennifer's spirits. "We cannot give up." She said firmly before looking at the ground and then back up at Onyx. "U-um...is there any reason why you would...say that though? D-do you have a lot of experience with Team Hammer...?" She knew that Onxy was in hiding from Hammer, but she had no idea how long he's been doing this or how many fights he might have gotten in. If his supercharged, modified Pokemon were any indicator she could say he's had to deal with them often, but then again he is a rather eccentric scientist.
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Post by Wombat on Jan 12, 2015 15:58:55 GMT -5
Alora ate mostly in silence and let the conversation continue until she was addressed again. A Fearow -- apparently formerly human -- swooped in and Jennifer mentioned the clear pill they'd encountered early on, making Alora wish they'd been somewhat less passive about it.
She snapped back to the conversation when she realized Onyx was musing about Team Rocket's experiments with some concern. "Well, I mean, I... really have no idea what they were using. I just know what the outcome was," she clarified, though the professor simply continued to ramble until Evaline distracted him. Having ceased to be surprised by this man's shenanigans, the Flygon 'morph simply waited as Onyx waved a device at her and came to the conclusion she'd been hoping to hear. Still, no time for that just now, it was something to keep in mind.
Alora was just about to add to Newton's outburst regarding the clear pills when Onyx nonchalantly dismissed the idea of rescuing their friends. Oh, enough of this man already. "What do you think you're saying?" she shouted. "There is no way we can give up on them! As long as there's any hope at all, we have to keep working to find them! And if you won't help then I guess we'll just be on our damn way."
She knew the outburst was childish and not in the least bit constructive, but she didn't care. The longer they spent doing this or that and not rushing to find Hammer, the more likely it became that Onyx was right about their friends.
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Post by Blahsadfeguie on Jan 12, 2015 23:43:44 GMT -5
Onyx tapped his chin oddly patiently as Jennifer, and especially Alora, protested to his remark. "I suppose we could try to track them down," he responded, "but then you wouldn't be able to complete your transformation to full Pokemon. Unless you spent a lot of time in CR-heavy environments, which, considering this is Hammer we're talking about, you very well could."
"Uh, sir?" Newton interrupted. "We want to become human, not Pokemon... I don't want to imagine what it would be like to be a Poochyena..."
"Eh?" Onyx leaned in uncomfortably close to Newton. "You mean you've never had that urge? To experience life from a different angle, to become something you've never been before?"
"Welp, there he goes again," sighed Evaline, rolling her eyes with a slight smile as though reacting to a child whose naivety was annoying, yet charming. "If you need me, I'll be in the courtyard." She hopped out of the room. Nicole was close behind her.
"Do you know why I began studying the inner workings of chaos?" Onyx continued, oblivious to the departure of his assistants. "I'll give you a hint: It's because of the sheer possibilities that the stuff gives you access to, new doors and windows that were bolted shut come flying open and invite you over with plates full of warm, delicious sandwiches!" He took another bite out of his sandwich as he paced the room. At this point, it seemed like he was preaching to nobody but himself. "They used to say that you have to play with the cards you're dealt, but chaos is the ace up your sleeve that allows you to turn the tables! Have a problem? Rub it out and rewrite it all over again! Maybe multiple times! You see, I want to share my knowledge, my gift, with the world. I want to help people reach their full potential and happiness, and to experience all the fun and majesty this world has to offer."
He stuffed the last of his sandwich into his mouth, then clamped his hands together nervously. "But there are people who want to abuse this gift. People like Team Hammer, who have a problem with the very world itself. They want to use chaos to gather divine amounts of power, and to recreate the universe in their own image. No, humanity isn't ready to shape chaos just yet. That's why I have to stay in hiding. I can't risk letting my findings, thus this beautiful world and all of its beautiful inhabitants, fall into the hands of evil..." He lingered on that note for a while, staring longingly at a picture on the wall. In it was a young version of himself and Professor Quartz, wearing graduation caps and gowns and standing in front of a university. "But if there's a way I can still help with what little I already know, then by Giratina I'm going to do it!"
He turned around, bearing a level of focus never before seen from the man. At least not in the short time that his guests had known him, anyway. "If you want to track down Team Hammer and shatter their foundations from under them, then you have my undying support! I can't leave this place, as they'll be all over me like Houndour, but I can gear you up as best as I can and send you on your way with redoubled confidence. Now then... what do you think you'll need? Name it, and I'll find out how to make it happen!"
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Post by Wombat on Jan 12, 2015 23:52:46 GMT -5
Onyx's patience surprised Alora, and she was honestly glad that he took her outburst so in stride. "Um, same as Newton. Though I've always wanted the wings part of the Flygon, if I'm gonna be stuck like this anyway..." she mused.
When the two assistants left the room Alora thought all hope of sanity had been lost, and indeed the first part of the professor's speech sounded like the ramblings of a mad scientist. But as he spoke, there was a passion in his words and the Flygon 'morph couldn't help but be drawn in. The edge of madness belied a brilliant mind, and while she felt bad about doubting him and shouting at him, she was glad he had decided to help.
"Thank you so much, Professor! I think mostly what we need is a way to hold up against their overwhelming strength." She paused to think for a moment. "You know, all of them seem to be armed. Maybe if we could get more effective weapons too, that could help."
Almost to herself, she added, "Man, if only I had my whole team again, that would be even better..."
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Post by Blahsadfeguie on Jan 26, 2015 23:27:59 GMT -5
"I see," Onyx responded to Alora's request. "If you ask me, becoming a Pokemorph, perhaps even a complete Pokemon, is a huge advantage. As far as I can tell, you retain your personality and knowledge, and have the added bonus of being able to use Pokemon types and moves. Commanding your own Pokemon as one yourself is a different story, though, haha! I haven't tested that extensively yet. Anyway, if any of you want, I could give you or even your Pokemon a concentrated dosage of CR to hopefully help you reach your full potential. Keep in mind there might be side-effects of course!"
Bob rubbed his chin thoughtfully, seriously considering the offer.
"I want to stay a human," Newton answered decisively. "Would it be at all possible to get rid of my... morphism? Without taking weeks, anyway?"
Onyx frowned. Whether this was because of how improbable the notion was, or because of Newton's lack of enthusiasm for being a Pokemon, it was impossible to tell. "It's very unlikely, but there's a chance that using a few black and white pills in addition to carefully-monitored exposure to ambient radiation might revert your morphism. However, it would almost certainly cause a number of other effects."
"I would not take the risk," Sera advised. "By the time the treatment is over, you could be even worse off."
Newton shuffled his feet nervously. "I'll just... stay the way I am. For now."
"Right then," the Professor continued, "On the subject of equipment... I can't say I have any weapons, but I do have some inventions that may assist you. First off, and this is essential if you're going to travel through chaos-infested environments..." He pulled out the device he used earlier to scan Alora and handed it to her. "This is a CR counter," he explained. "Point it at any object or person within 1 meter and it will give you a reading on a scale from 1-20. This reading is the target's CR level. A Pokemorph will generally register about 3 points higher on the scale than the environmental average - it's a bug I couldn't quite figure out how to fix. You can also scan the environment by pointing at nobody in particular.
"It's important to note," he rambled on, starting to pace the floor, "that a being's CR level will gradually shift up or down to match that of the environment, by roughly one point every hour. However! If your adrenaline level is high, such as when you're in battle, it will shift exponentially faster. I've seen it change by 1 point in as little as 6 seconds! Coincidentally, every time your CR level shifts by a full point, there's a chance for a mutation to occur." He stopped, returning to Alora. "Needless to say, you'll want to keep a close eye on you and your Pokemon's CR level if you venture too far north. While in a Pokeball, Pokemon are unaffected by CR, so you'll want to return them before their level gets too high. Furthermo--"
"I'll do it," Bob suddenly spoke, interrupting Onyx.
"Of course you will," the Professor said. "It's important to avoid the risk of uncontrolled mutation on your Pokemon whenever possible. Anywa--"
"No, I mean," Bob interrupted again, somewhat impatiently. "I'll do the chaos thing. Me and Franz." He popped open one of his Pokeballs, sending out his Buizel. Franz looked around the room curiously, oblivious to his trainer's intentions.
Onyx stared with interest at the Buizel, as though he had never seen one before. "Oh. Very well then." He pointed to a door on the eastern wall. "This is the way to the chaos testing chambers. Anyone else who wants to try it, please come with me."
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Post by Diamond on Mar 3, 2015 20:37:49 GMT -5
Jennifer listened carefully to Professor Onyx's speech about chaos and followed his gaze when his eyes rested on his graduation picture. She frowned slightly and looked down. If not for their kidnapped friends they would have no business trying to take on Team Hammer. They certainly didn't before. Yet the more she explored the Shattered League the more it seemed that taking down Team Hammer was exactly what they had to do, and not just for those that had been kidnapped. She looked back up at Onyx as he asked them what they would need for their journey north. It was good to know that he wasn't actually a mad scientist, despite the way he acted.
When Alora mentioned weapons Jennifer's mind flashed back to the sledgehammer she had taken from Sledge. It was sure to come in handy in their future encounters. Maybe she would even be able to knock people back like Sledge could. But she would probably not use the weapon unless she had to. The people on Team Hammer were prepared for combat seeing as they usually sported weapons of their own, but she still cringed a little at the thought of hitting someone with a sledgehammer, much less a Pokemon. The blows wouldn't kill but the knockback could, as Sledge nearly demonstrated with Alora and Bob.
With everything they already knew about CR Professor Onyx's offer to use it in order to enhance their potential seemed like a silly risk, but it did have it's allure. Briefly Jennifer considered it but in the end she knew she wasn't willing to see any of her Pokemon have to potentially suffer terrible side effects for it. 'They'll reach their full potential in time...' She thought though a little voice in the back of her head reminded her that they may also do so by accident once they reach an environment with a high CR level.
A small gasp escaped her lips when Bob volunteered himself and Franz for the concentrated CR dosage. She then blushed and looked around the room hoping no one noticed her surprised reaction. This was Bob after all, there was no reason to be surprised. "B-bob, wait..." She stuttered after regaining her usual stone-like composure. "...Um...don't you...don't you think that's too risky? T-those side effects might be really...bad. Aren't you um...worried about Franz...?" her brain grasped at ways to try and convince Bob to rethink but that was a task she was quickly learning to be difficult.
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Post by Wombat on Mar 3, 2015 20:58:41 GMT -5
Alora examined the device she'd been handed, interested despite her severe disappointment at the lack of weaponry. Her mind had been racing ever since the Professor had first mentioned the possibility of trying a dose of CR right now. While she agreed with Newton, and would frankly prefer to go back to normal, she was beginning to feel an edge of desperation. The longer they spent training and preparing and messing around, the less likely their friends would be okay when they found them. And, the more trouble Team Hammer could be causing. Anything that could potentially give them an edge would be good to have.
The 'morph was still agonizing when Bob eagerly volunteered both himself and his Buizel. Alora looked at him in shock, then at Professor Onyx. Her mind slowly started crawling toward a conclusion, and she looked down at her feet as she composed her thoughts and steeled herself. "I... I think I would like to do it too," she said, somewhat more shakily than she'd have liked. "Except, is there any chance to... moderate the dosage? Make it less likely that I go all the way? I just want to be stronger, but I don't... really want to be a Pokemon..." She trailed off, still having trouble believing she was saying this. Onyx had indicated a door, and Alora swallowed hard as she stared at it. This was stupid. This was so, so stupid. And yet, a sort of morbid curiosity joined her drive for justice, reaffirming her decision. With a glance at the others that was meant to be reassuring but looked more ill, she began to follow the Professor and Bob toward the door.
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