[Game thread] Skull Ruins Pokerole

[Iron]

You return to the hallway, where your two guards immediately begin pestering you about what you found.

[Lord Windos]

Spoiler

(...)

Furthermore she gently nudges Ventus, if he's conscious and well again, and whispers to him with concern in her voice: "Veheeeeeen, I asked you to take some pictures of these caged Nucleon, did I? Can you, uhm, prepare then to be sent to Dagny and/or the League themselves then, please? You see, these creatures, they....need help, and it's obviously shady stuff the Scims were doing there."

(...)

[Insert Nathan's Messaging Scene Here]

....

Dagny (or I) doesn't care who sends her evidence, and as a very prideful woman herself she understands how it might get competitive. She pretty much sends the same response to Shiva/Ventus as she sent to Nathan - she's willing to meet with anyone.

(...)

You return to the hallway, where your two guards immediately begin pestering you about what you found.

In takes about half a minute after the fae lass rests the eccentric researcher's head and her + her beloved Pokemon efforts, but indeed they managed to rouse Ventus as he stirred, letting out a soft but distinctly pained groan as he brings a hand to his forehead, leaning up slightly as he did so.

"Oh....oh my. Why do I feel like I've woken up after a post goal binge and getting blitzed by a Bisharp? Urrrrgh......"

His eyes flutter open as he said this, and for a split second his irises appeared bright red, before he blinked and they were his usually pretty emerald green colour. After waking up, it only took him a few seconds to realize what happened, at which point his face distorted into a scowl of immense distaste until he looked up at his dearest and immediately calmed, gracing her with a small but sweet smile and reaching up to touch her cheek with his other hand.

"Well now....it appears you've graced me with your divine aid, my most precious and darling angel. Though I am most unworthy as I am of it, I thank you for it none the less with all my heart."

The tweed wearing man let out an affectionate chuckle as he lovingly stroked her face and indulge in her comforting embrace for just a single, wondrous moment, before with a *Sigh* he sat himself up and shook his head, clearing the last of.....ITS influence from his head before getting back up to his feet.

"I'll have to spare you the full extent of my gratitude for this and a multitude of other reasons, regretfully. A badly compromised League Lab is hardly a place for romance, especially after everything we've witnessed. And that Eye.....what an intensely unwelcome and most diabolical power it is has. If this is what you and our friends are up against......I dread to imagine how much more unsavory it can be. Tsk.....as always, disaster and calamity find a way to creep into our lives. Had those vile wizards left well enough alone in their abhorrent practices, or refrained from conducting them period, I imagine own lives and many others would have been blissfully simpler......"

Once he's recovered and everyone has explored the Elemental Rooms/pillaged them for all their worth, he'd noticed/figure out Nathan got a message out to Dagney about events and how , and he was.....less than pleased with their decision. Even more so when they didn't allow him access (in one manner or another) to their Dedenne to make his own prompt report alongside his ASAP, to the point of being visibily upset through his default and almost errie smiling expression. Sending a report on events ahead without first cooberating with him on what its contents would be, or at least telling him and waiting for him/Shiva to make their own after reading theirs so they could sent them alongside his with all the necessary adjustments, was rather rude and domineering of the boy, to say the least. He'd probably would'be had words with them on this were it not for the current situation and the fact he more or less knew they'd blow him off or force him to concede to his whims through sheer bloody stubborn self centerness and (if things got passionate) brute force. Much as he was fond and admiring of Nathan (perhaps overly so), it was stuff like this that reminded him of how frustrated and at odds  he really was with Cheshire's newest hero.

So as much as he would've liked to berate the boy, he swallowed his heated words/feelings and moved past it, continuing on with the rest of the group through/out the lab. He'll have time enough to give his own report of events to Dagny in person, and afterwards run any necessary damage control and enact emergency plans from the fallout of their investigations of Garliburg. Without[i] them mucking things up for him or others, hopefully - Nate may have recently dabbled in the more [i]illicit and complicated business matters as of late, but he was hardly an expert on it compared to him.

Of course he still send those picture of the Caged Nucleons to his boss/partner ASAP - his beloved requested he do so, and who was he to deny such a simple and well meaning request from her?

Before meeting the guards and at some point when he had privacy during exploring the Elemental Rooms, though, Ventus would do two things, away from the eyes of the rest of the group: teach Lucifer Nuclear Wind, and storing away the rest of the Nuclear TMs (along with the used copy of Nuclear Wind) by putting them in several acid-proof containers he has on him and feeding them to Aspis. After thinking it over, the potential applications of having his fallen angel having Nuclear capabilities was too great of a temptation for him despite the risks. As for his method of 'concealing' the Nuclear TMs, he had taught his slithering sister how to store and regurgitate Item awhile back, and between the storage medium he used and the slow digestive processes of snakes like her he could get the TMs back to Dagny/wherever in a much safer and less scrutinized location. 

Finally, when the group is confronted by the guards, Ventus elects to let Shiva and Nathan handle them, preferring to take a lesser stance in all matters involving the Cheshire government's 'finest' . If they asked to search him, he'd let them do so, as he's confidant he's well hidden anything incriminating or of dubious legality on his person well before this point.[/i][/i]

[Dragonstrike]

Nathan has no reason to not cooperate with the military and answer their questions truthfully and briefly.  Nathan isn't the one bending the law.  That's Dagny's job.

"Lots of abused pokemon that are scared and trapped in cages far too small for them.  A mutant magmortar that's been removed from the premises for safety.  A really disturbing eye symbol that was making a Girafarig extra restless for some reason until I ran the symbol through with the Sword."

"The real doozy was the damaged nuclear reactor and over a dozen illegal Nucleon in a locked, irradiated room.  Dagny wants us to bring one of them to her as evidence, but the rest need to be handled by the League.  They're scared and shouldn't be dangerous if they aren't threatened.  Some of them look like they need medical attention."

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

@Dragonstrike, can you please remove the following words from your report?

Dagny wants us to bring one of them to her as evidence,

I don't want these guards nor the military know about that in particular right away, I'm not so fond of you spoiling this towards them and at worst getting Shiva in trouble due to that.

[Iron]

Well, the military does want to search you to make sure you haven't removed any contraband, so you'll have to deal with that problem sooner or later. Naturally they know contraband can be stored in Pokeballs, so they'd be checking those as well.

Unfortunately they don't know about Apsispockets.


Other than that, they seem very relieved that the violently-dangerous parts of the problem was dealt with, and that the League is sending some Shieldmaidens, who are well known for their ability to resist radiation. (You can meet the Maidens on the way out if you have anything to say to 'em).

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

Well, the military does want to search you to make sure you haven't removed any contraband, so you'll have to deal with that problem sooner or later. Naturally they know contraband can be stored in Pokeballs, so they'd be checking those as well.(...)

Very well, if the military guards wants to search them and their Pokeballs, Shiva lets them do so - or to be more specific, she lets them do so with reluctance as she just does not enjoy being touched by them, regardless whether she has anything to hide or not. She's glad when this search is over! Unfortunately there's no mini-scene of her pulling out the papers proving that her smol Nucleon is League-requested evidence like an ace out of her sleeve and wave it at these guards since Nathan already told them beforehand. Not fun, but oh well.

Oh and yes Shiva DOES wish to see and meet those Shieldmaidens indeed! For one she's just curious about them, for second she carefully tells them "Uhm, please be... gentle with the two severly injured Nucleon (Skelenuke and the one with only two eyes), alright? \(>_<; ) They kinda need medical treatment as fast as possible." There's obvious worry and concern for their life in Shiva's expression.  Furthermore, how exactly do these Shieldmaidens resist radiation? Do they come in hazmat suits? Are they on iodine pills? If this ability of them is 'well know', Shiva likely has heard about that during traveling, it's been interesting her since then.



Either way, she can now return to the shore/beach to do some wailord-watching, can she? She'll run into Terra there. But before that she'll gently ask Ventus/@Lord Windos: "So, eh, what will you do now? Go to see Dagny right away? Or stay a little longer here on Garlicburg? I myself, uh... I don't want nor wish to stay here on the island for much longer, gonna travel a bit eastwards on my own again. Exploring some places and h-hopefully making it to win in the Gym's I haven't visited yet!~"
(Also, you haven't come back towards me yet whether Ven is or is not fine to let me have one of his found and illegal Half Life TMs for Nucleon - I'll leave this decision completely up to you, and only wish to accept this TM if Ventus is really and definitely okay with it)

[Iron]

The Shieldmaidens demonstrate their special radiation resistance, which is in addition to tight-fitting hazmat suits. The source is their Steel types, of course! In fact, watching closely, you think they are drawing upon the strength of their Pokemon in a way that is vaguely similar to how Cosh could gain the hit points of his Steelix, or Heart draws on a Pokemon's move.


Upon returning to the beach, you find that the vibrations have not wholly ceased despite the defeat of the Magmortar and the shutting down of much of the machinery. In fact, the whole beach is shaking like an earthquake. Sand is suddenly pouring down like rain into fissures, and the island is shifting up and down beneath you. As it moves, as it rocks back and forth, you find yourself lifted higher and higher above the ocean. Cries from the military personnel reveal that you aren't the only ones experiencing this phenomenon. Looking down, all you see is normal beach. But looking out over the waves, the truth is revealed... reflected in the glassy sea. You see the reflection of beady green eyes on looong stalks, and looong spidery legs the color of palm stems. Seashells are splashing into the water, and water and sand is running down into the sea as well with a raucous noise. A huge claw covered in skin like a coconut's makes an appearance to snap up a handful of disturbed Corsola and pull them underneath the island.

The entire beach, the entire diameter of Garlicburg, is now lifted three or four stories above the rocky crags that held it. All the secrets of the military base are revealed to the salty air for the first time. People are screaming and running about, a few up on the beach with you but most below in the iron catacombs. You're riding on the back of the world's largest Cocancer!

[Dragonstrike]

(This reminds me of the Torterra scene in the Detective Pikachu movie.)

Nathan had his suspicions ever since Primal Kingdra had told them the island was more than it seems, but even he wasn't entirely prepared for this to become a possible problem right this second!

"...you have got to be kidding me.  This is going to cause all sorts of havoc if everyone doesn't calm down..."

Battling Cocancer is hardly a safe option with so many people on and in Cocancer's shell, so Nathan takes the initiative and finds the nearest military personnel or shieldmaiden that looks like they're in charge!  Resolving this issue is going to take more than a small group of trainers!  "We're going to need to tell everyone to stay calm and not act rashly!  I don't think Cocancer is agitated yet, but that could change if someone does something that makes it angry!"

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

Larger even than a Wailord?????


Shiva's incredibly TERRIFIED when this nature phenomena happens and tightly clings to Whimsicott, Ventus (or Terra, depending on who's there), and the Ancient Shield for protection and comfort. But when she realizes that this wasn't a scary end-of-the-world-event nor the doing of The Eye, she rather quickly calms down again. And chuckles to herself even among the screaming people on the beach, finding this quite amusing! "Look, Whimsi!~ Such a huuuuuuge Pokemon, and we're riding it! Let's be friendly as it doesn't pose a threat yet, shall we?~" And so she gently pets the nearest palm tree being revealed to be a body part of this curious Tandormon as if to say hi. "Hello, big and mighty Cocancer! You're... not gonna do anything to us, or will you? Are you angry for people having made a home on your nice sandy back?"

Oh, and: This top-secret Nuclear-powered submarine of the military/now of the Scimitars, is THAT one revealed as well now?

[Lord Windos]

Spoiler

Oh and yes Shiva DOES wish to see and meet those Shieldmaidens indeed! For one she's just curious about them, for second she carefully tells them "Uhm, please be... gentle with the two severly injured Nucleon (Skelenuke and the one with only two eyes), alright? \(>_<; ) They kinda need medical treatment as fast as possible." There's obvious worry and concern for their life in Shiva's expression.  Furthermore, how exactly do these Shieldmaidens resist radiation? Do they come in hazmat suits? Are they on iodine pills? If this ability of them is 'well know', Shiva likely has heard about that during traveling, it's been interesting her since then.



Either way, she can now return to the shore/beach to do some wailord-watching, can she? She'll run into Terra there. But before that she'll gently ask Ventus/@Lord Windos: "So, eh, what will you do now? Go to see Dagny right away? Or stay a little longer here on Garlicburg? I myself, uh... I don't want nor wish to stay here on the island for much longer, gonna travel a bit eastwards on my own again. Exploring some places and h-hopefully making it to win in the Gym's I haven't visited yet!~"
(Also, you haven't come back towards me yet whether Ven is or is not fine to let me have one of his found and illegal Half Life TMs for Nucleon - I'll leave this decision completely up to you, and only wish to accept this TM if Ventus is really and definitely okay with it)

*Flashback....Since Garliburg turning out to be a TITAN CONCANCER (I knew it, the moment Iron pointed out how strange the island seemed to Terra in the relaxation scene with him!) sorta would ruin all this happening after it occurred*

To begin abruptly, Ventus wouldn't have the slightest interest in meeting with the Shieldmaidens, but he'd still stick around to see them since Shiva was so interested in them, giving them polite enough smiles and acknowledging nods but making zero efforts otherwise in socializing with them. He would be curious about their Radiation Resistance, but he'd leave it to either them or his beloved to explain/be explained the details of. The less he had to say or interaction with government officials, the better.

Terra, on the other hand, would be very much interested in seeing and mingling the Shieldmaidens himself, particular if his friend Brazen is among the number sent to resolve the Kenneled Nucleon Situation. Whether or not he'd know about said situation before he'd spot/hear about them coming is another matter entirely, but I imagine they'd inform him about it briefly if his friends don't/haven't already given him the details by the time they're done being searched and fully exit the lab. After a nice and long relaxing at the debatably safe beach  (Not like anything short of a full powered Explosion could seriously threaten their lives at this point - the wonders of UBER VITALITY!) with his blood brother and partner, he's finally recuporated and destressed enough to get back into action! Still grumpy about being middle aged now (for the time being), but he can deal with that!

Later on, when his magnificent and darling angel raised her question, the eccentric researcher frowned mildly yet somewhat reproachfully at her.

"....You know very well my vacation here isn't quite over, my dear. As much as I have enjoyed spending precioius time with you dear across Garliburg- for everyone second is priceless when shared with a sweet treasure like you - I have yet to have my fill of this tropical local. Much is left to explore, unique Pokemon to study, and I've hardly spent any of my respite with our other friends - and no, our investigation of that lab doesn't count - so I can't very leave until I've fully indulged the rest of my desires. I wish you'd stay with us and enjoy yourself too, but.....*Sighs* I understand if you need to go. You're a free, whimsical spirit, for better and worse, and I shan't keep you close with me, no matter how much I never again want to let you go. ....That, and perhaps some more distance between us might be for the best - I've yet to.....fully come to grips with the changes you and everyone else, despite my best efforts."

The hidden message of this dialogue: He's remaining because Nathan has yet to find and secure the Genesect Fossil, he's not too please that his girlfriend has either forgotten about that or doesn't care enough to continue helping out, but he's ultimately fine with it for a number of reasons. Shiva should more or less get the underlying gist of it, given her Super Empathy and her sheer familarity with her orange haired lover.

Before she'd leave, though, he'd leaned in close to her and whisper in her ear this: "When I have finished my sojourn here, though, I have a.....gift that matches your radiance for you later, among several others. Meet me at the hotel we had our first date. I'll call you when I'm ready. Okay, my dearest?"

He'd then lean back for a bit....right before giving her a brief but loving kiss on the lips, giving her a light but somehow fiesty smile , waiting and watching for her to leave (if she does) and then rejoining the rest of the group. If she elects to stay after all, though....well, he's certainly going to express his joy with that decision, oh ho ho ho!

(Yeah, Ventus can't hand off Half Life to her right away, due to it being in Apsis' stomach right now and he doesn't want to chance the gov goons discovering her regurgitating them for him [and to a lesser extent revealing this to Shiva - a man like him likes to keep his secrets, just in case], so Shiva will have to wait until later to get it. I don't think that will be too much of a problem for you or her, though.....)

*Flashback End*