Session 104

The "clinic" is rough and ready, a crude but functional version of a pokemon center. Wood and leaves replace stone and glass, there is no healing machine but there are several restorative potions brewing off to the side where a pokemart might normally be, and several pokemon (along with a few people) are lying around with bullet holes. A few pokemon carefully pour the potions over these wounds, restoring shot-out flesh and apparently internal organs. None of the patients here are minutes from dying, but judging by the number of heavily-scarred individuals being checked out and leaving, said triage has already occurred and the most critical injuries already taken care of.
A pink gengar with a nurse's cap oversees all of this. As you enter, she staggers, her form wavering momentarily and her cap falling through her body. Several assistants pester her in obviously practiced chorus. She relents and nods, firming herself up and picking her cap back up then standing back, leaning against an out-of-the-way wall to take a break - though from her expression it clearly pains her to stand by while there is doctoring to be done.
The area outside the clinic…the party has been to Fort Blaston and is familiar with the "military camp" feel. This place may be more makeshift and far more recent, but it has the same tone, the same feel of constant readiness and security, the same preparation to deal with imminent attack even if one might not come for a while.
Sam Spade heads over to the Gengar.
Sam Spade: "Don't worry, there's help here now."
Max Thorn: "All right. Let me just…" Max finds a clear space that's out of the way, and sits cross-legged, hands on knees, as he closes his eyes. Within seconds, he's limned in green fire. It swells up, briefly, then leaps, scattering as it moves, to all of the injured bodies simultaneously. The wounds glow greenly, then vanish along with the green flame.
The gengar does not look at Sam. "I know, but I should be…" She winces, forcibly closing that thought off.
Linnea readies a pokeball, sending out Miator, who looks around at all the wounded before bringing a hand up to her mouth. "(Heavens' sakes…)"
The assistant pokemon back off as the green fire spreads. For a moment they look ready to stop it, before seeing its effects on the wounds.
Sam Spade: "It's okay. Max…well, let's just say his hair color comes from Shaymin and leave it at that?"
Max Thorn sits a few more seconds before climbing back to his feet, a little unsteadily.
Linnea: "You look like you could use some rest. I bet Miator can switch in for a bit while you recuperate."
Most of the activity in the room stops cold, looking at Max.
Linnea: "…Ah."
Esa puts on a grin. "Hey everyone! Found some more help!"
The room bursts out in applause.
Sam Spade looks at the gengar for a second. "Are you from around here?"
Mia looks just a little jealous.
The gengar nods. "Born and raised in the city. And…died."
Sam Spade: "Huh. Not a whole lot of pokemon in Amoda put in the effort to learn to speak human."
Linnea: "Interesting…"
Gengar: "Yeah…I just never forgot. Lucky that I kept it together when I was…" She winces. "…but I won't - I can't let anyone die that doesn't have to."
Max Thorn: "I think you'll find the healing applied to everyone in the building, not just those in this room."
Sands: "Saaaand sand."
Sam Spade: "Ah. That would…huh."
Gengar: "I know, I know, there's more to it than that, and I don't have time to care whi-" Her form shudders again, her cap again dropping. She sighs, literally pulling herself back together.
Sam Spade: "…What's got you going intangible so much? Is there anything I can help with?"
Esa: "This complex is not that big. All the wounded are here."
Linnea: "Seriously, get some sleep."
Sam Spade hesitates for a second.
Esa: "If you can keep her from working herself to…whatever is beyond death, that would help."
Max Thorn: "Please, rest. We'll handle any further injuries while you do."
The gengar shoots Esa a look.
Sam Spade: "If it's exhaustion, we're here for now, and we're helping. So get some rest, Joy."
Linnea: "(You could put her in a pokeball.)" "I am NOT putting her in a pokeball."
Esme: "It'll be fine, trust us."
Gengar Joy: "Well…I don't know how you did it, but I am out of patients right now, so maybZZZ…" She collapses where she stands, eyes shut, already snoring lightly.
Linnea: "Good."
Sam Spade lightly touches where Gengar Joy's skin would be - if it's tangible, she gets a blanket and pillow and tucks her in.
Gengar Joy is indeed tangible just now.
Mia sets herself up wherever the counter-equivalent is, placing a spare nurse's cap upon her head and saluting.
Esa: "Thank you. Her determination to heal has been quite an asset. I don't know how she died, only that it happened when we were chased out of the city - and it is not a memory I wish to press her on."
Linnea: "Seems a bit too lively for death, just about."
Max Thorn: "Hopefully it won't have any bearing on our own task here."
Esa: "As a minor favor, if you know how to reunite her with her body I would personally appreciate it. But that may be impossible."
Sam Spade: "How long ago did she die?"
Esa: "Almost two years to the day, now."
Esa: "The day we attempted to throw out the Jaegers."
Sam Spade: "Her body is probably gone, then, though we might be able to find whatever's left."
Esa: "No, it yet roams. Or it did as of our last report."
Sam's jaw drops. After a moment, she closes it.
Esme: "…Roams?"
Sam Spade: "…Okay, that's…interesting."
Esa: "I had been intending to ask you to infiltrate the city. Our agents' report is overdue, and I am worried about them."
Linnea: "What th' fuck?"
Esa: "You can take the opportunity to visit the pokemon center and perhaps see what animates it."
Sam Spade: "We are so down for that you have no idea."
Esa: "So…I do not have to persuade? That is a load off my shoulders, friends, and I thank you."
Sam Spade: "I repeat, now that you have told us that is a thing, you would have a hard time convincing us *not* to."
Esa: "Indeed? I should warn you of what else is…a 'thing'."
Sam Spade: "Please do!"
Esa nods toward Max. "When you are recovered. I wish your full attention for the briefing."
Max Thorn: "Gimme about an hour, I think. And a chair."
A ledian wanders up to Mia, looking her up and down in her spare cap, then hugs weakly.
Esa: "Friends! A chair for our new ally, please."
A venonat soon comes along with a chair, maneuvering it behind Max.
Mia pats them gently, putting a bit of a healing touch into it. It's soothing, if nothing else.
Max Thorn …doesn't *quite* sag in to it. Quite.
All around the pokemon clinic, there are the signs of staff pushed to their limits finally starting to take a break. Some of the staff seem closer to death than the now-recovered patients, who quickly reverse roles and tuck in the more exhausted of the staff.
Esa mutters, "Luck of the legendaries. Hard to forge my sister's trademark." He shakes his head. "Or is this yours as well? If he has such power, the rest of you probably do too."
Sam Spade: "We've…encountered a few of them on our journey."
Esme: "We're popular!"
Max Thorn: "The healing? It's in my power to restore that which was damaged, by Shaymin's grace. I hope to apply it to Dojji, when we've restored Amoda to self-governance."
Esa: "Indee-" He peers at Esme. "Now I remember. I saw you on the slopes of Ice Cove, when that contest was broadcast."
Esme: "…Was everyone watching that?"
Esa: "It was, as you say, popular."
Esme: "…Fair."
Max Thorn: "In fairness, we did frustrate Jaggies in the process. That probably has something to do with it."
Esa grins. "VERY popular around here."
Esa: "While we wait - maybe I can show you around the camp? It is modest, but it is home for now."
Sam Spade: "Please!"
Max Thorn: "I'll just sit here, I think."
Esme: "Tour is good."
Outside the clinic are a number of wooden buildings, each concealed by leaves, though this whole grove seems to be camouflaged.
Esa: "Over there is our smithery - we do not have much metal to work with, but 'little' is not 'none'. That larger shop next to it is for our carpenters and weavers. And over HERE…" He points to an imposing three-story mansion. "…our nursery and primary training facility. As you know, bug pokemon live and grow fast. Many of our members have been born since this war started." He taps his heart and nods respectfully. "And some have died of old age. Already we have had some whose whole lives have known nothing but this war."
Sam Spade: "Tragic."
Esme perks.
Esa: "Yes. As they say, a million is a statistic, but living the future's statistics is not the happiest of lives."
Esme: "What exactly are you doing over there?"
Esme motioned to an unmentioned shack.
Linnea tilts her head up slightly. "Picking up…shard energy readings? Dangerous ones…"
Esa: "There? That is…oh, shard? You know about those?"
Esme grins. "I know a thing or two, some would say."
Esa: "Some of our members are experimenting. They assure me it is perfectly safe…ah, how did they put it?"
Esa: "How…no, where…no, what! Yes, that was it."
Esa: "'What could possibly go wrong?'"
Linnea: "Ugh."
Esme: "A lot, actually."
Linnea: "Please don't say that."
Esme: "In fact, if Lin felt it too, probably happening right now."
Esme hustles over there.
Esa: "Huh? Why, what COULD possibly…"
Sam Spade runs after.
A group of pokemon hurry out of the shack. Within are six shards, one of each color, wired together and bouncing around. The wire is glowing white.
Linnea: "EVERYONE BRACE FOR IMPACT!"
Sam Spade dives to the ground.
Linnea leaps behind something (hopefully) solid.
Esme holds out her hand, putting up a [Reflect] barrier!
The shards and wire detonate! The force of the explosion rolls up against Esme's barrier - the only thing between the blast and most of the camp - and bounces back, away into the jungle.
The shack, however, is a smoking crater, leaving Esme standing unharmed on its lip.
Sam Spade looks up.
Sam Spade: "Melo…"
Max Thorn stops sagging as soon as he hears the detonation. "Shaymin's boundless grace!"
Sam Spade: "…Hey, Esa. What are the chances that the Jaggies will see that?"
Esa: "High."
Esa: "We can conceal the base. But if you wish to infiltrate them, this may be a priceless opportunity."
Max Thorn stands, mostly recovered by now, and heads out of the makeshift center at a run.
Esa: "How well can you pretend to be wandering mad scientists?"
Max Thorn: "*Please* tell me nobody was hurt."
Esme: "Well, that could have been worse."
Sam Spade: "We have Esme, so pretty easily."
Linnea: "… So, what the fuck?"
Esa looks to the pokemon shardworkers. "Get the camo up! The Jaegers will soon be here; they must not see the camp!" The workers salute and scurry off.
Esme shouts after them. "-And don't do that again!"
Sam Spade: "And now you have a solid lesson in 'what can possibly go wrong!'"
Max Thorn eyes the crater. "… If no one was hurt, I'm not going to ask."
Esa: "Hmm…but that could be right, if we could make it happen in the city."
Max Thorn: "ABSOLUTELY NOT."
Esa: "Less strain on our pineco."
Sam Spade: "And if you don't care about civilian casualties, I suppose?"
Esa: "What is this…'civilian'? They wish us dead."
Sam Spade: "Everyone in the city wants you dead?"
Sam Spade: "…Everyone?"
Max Thorn: "… Gee, if you're killing people indiscriminately, of *course* everyone in the city wants you dead."
Esa: "That is what our agents have lead us to believe. If you wish to disprove the notion, consider that another agenda item for infiltration."
Sam Spade blinks
Esme: "We'll… work something out. In any case, distraction is most definitely a go."
Max Thorn pinches the bridge of his nose.
Sam Spade: "…While we're at it, can you tell me about your agents? So we can find out what happened to them?"
Esa: "I admit, it would be simpler if we only had to target the Jaeger leaders, and that was my initial plan."
[OOC] Sam Spade: If you need me to roll Charm…
[OOC] WC GM: No need just yet.
Esa: "A Vespiquen and her combees. They pose as honey makers who prefer city life to the jungle."
Esa: "They stand out, but I think the Jaegers do not yet suspect them."
Esa: "They say if I ever sent in someone to find them, just look for the high life. I do not know what that means."
Sam Spade: "Huh. Alright, sounds like a plan."
Esa: "If it helps, for whatever reason, they have settled on sending me messages by paper airplane."
Sam Spade: "Makes sense."
Sam Spade: "We'll need to get our bearings once we get to town, of course…"
WC GM: <Esa> "Indeed. Good luck, my friends. The Jaegers should almost be here, so I should depart. If you have any last questions, make them quick."
Sam Spade: "No, no questions."
The camp has by now been disguised as a large earthen mound. A few pokemon can be seen crawling around, suggesting this is just a giant hive.
Sam Spade: "Max, Esme, Linnea?"
Linnea: "Yeah?"
Sam Spade: "Any questions?"
The beat of helicopter blades chops in the distance, quickly getting closer.
Linnea: "Not really, I'll just figure it out as I go along."
Max Thorn: "As usual, I will have them too late to be asking."
Esme: "What Lin said."
Sam Spade: "Alright, then. Oh, wait."
The trees begin to rustle, and soon two helicopters appear overhead. Cables descend, down which a squad of Jaeger grunts in riot gear descend, about half armed with guns and the other half with flamethrowers, accompanied by varying fire-type pokemon.
Esa is by now nowhere to be seen.
Sam Spade looks at the helicopters.
Sam Spade: "Esme, are you okay with taking the blame for a big shardsplosion?"
The helicopters are jet black, though with the Team Jaeger logo - just a stylized J - on each flank.
Esme clears her throat.
Sam Spade: "Because if not, we can always say I was trying to imitate what you do."
Max Thorn mutters something about needing to get Suijin back at some point…
Esme: "Apologies for the disturbance! Just a misfire while doing some field testing."
One of the Jaegers looks at the party through a visor for a moment.
Sam Spade waves politely
JaegerLieutenant: "Sir! Recognized - field testing? We should get you back to town, sirs. It is dangerous out here."
Esme: "Most appreciated! Come on gu-uhh…fellow researchers!"
Sam Spade: "Well, the Route from Sky City got a little…weird."
Max Thorn: "After you, 'professors'."
JaegerLieutenant: "Sirs! We heard Team Stormcloud has finally been routed. Was that your doing?"
Sam Spade scratches her head.
The lieutenant gestures to the cables, leading back up to the helicopters.
Sam Spade: "I think it was more their own doing, but we helped."
Esme starts climbing on up.
Max Thorn: "…I'd say the damage was largely self-inflicted, yeah."
Sam Spade: "Or maybe we were there to make sure it stuck? And minimize the fallout."
Sam Spade: "Literally, under the circumstances."
Max Thorn: "I dunno, there was quite a bit falling out when we were done. I don't envy the cleanup crews."
Sam Spade: "Yeah, but it could have been worse."
Max Thorn: "True."
JaegerLieutenant: "Sirs! Well, let's get you to safety. Not only is there an active rebellion in this jungle, but there are reports that Tim and his army is on its way. We don't know if they mean to work together or kill each other, but we'd rather not get caught in the crossfire." …suddenly the absence of Tim, Sands, and Haley is very conspicuous.
Sam Spade: "Oh, dear! Where did Tim get an army?"
JaegerLieutenant: "Reportedly, Metro Beach."
Sam Spade: "Huh. I thought the only thing you could get there was novice trainers."
JaegerLieutenant: "So did I. But the reports, from all over Amoda…let's get you back. Boss Ignacia will want to commend you personally if you helped put down Team Stormcloud."
Sam Spade: "Oh, is she here? I thought she was at Headquarters."
Sam Spade follows the Lieutenant.
JaegerLieutenant: "She is, but we've got a direct line to her."
Linnea follows.
Max Thorn follows along as well.
Once the party is up in the helicopters, the vehicles speed off back toward what was clearly inspired by Sky City but at a much lower elevation, merely around the treetops.
Sam Spade: "So can you give us the lay of the land?"
There is more metal, stone, and glass here - not that that is a high bar. The buildings and streets are all elevated, with plank-walk boardwalks between buildings not unlike Shady Narrows.
JaegerLieutenant: "How do you mean, sir?"
[OOC] Max Thorn: brb
Sam Spade: "What's it like here in the city? How much trouble is the rebellion giving you? What's the latest word on Tim, and how are things going elsewhere? Any news of Dojji?"
Most of the buildings are at least two stories, gathering up to mini-skyscrapers toward the center of town. The tallest tower ends in a bulbous top, details hard to see with the helicopters' roofs limiting how high up the party can peer.
JaegerLieutenant: "It's secure and mostly quiet, except when the rebels make trouble. We're holding the city but getting repairs and spare parts is more challenging; most of our supply runs to Foundry Town have been intercepted lately. The latest word on Tim is as I said: he's coming here. Team Jaeger is being displaced in parts of Amoda, and in others…honestly, I think they're going native. We've been on a partial media blackout, so I wouldn't know if something's happened in Dojji."
Sam Spade: "Ah. I was wondering - I know it was raining there when we left, but I don't know if it still is, or if any of the plant life has started to come back."
The lieutenant boggles. "R…raining?!? Sir? In DOJJI?!?"
Sam Spade: "You…hadn't heard?"
JaegerLieutenant: "No sir! You said 'when we left' - was that your doing too?"
Max Thorn: "…That's some media blackout."
Max Thorn: "Yes."
Sam Spade: "Yeah, Ig-err, Ignacia asked us to."
Sam Spade: "And we did!"
Esme: "We also saved the tea."
Sam Spade: "Yes."
The lieutenant is holding back tears. "S…sirs…this is wonderful news! Especially the tea! I thought that was lost and gone forever!"
Sam Spade: "It was a close thing! The raidertanks were pounding on the door of the hab, but we managed to get in before they did, and get the cargo out."
JaegerLieutenant: "Pilot! Radio ahead and tell HQ we've got Ignacia's heroes inbound. She'll want to speak with them right away!"
JaegerPilot: "Yes sir! Touching down in two minutes! Prepare for landing."
Sam Spade: "Even seeds."
Sam Spade closes her eyes, and tries to figure out how to phrase this….ah!
Sam Spade: "Hey, how well defended are you against air attacks? Say, those poke-planes that Stormderp had?"
Sam Spade: "I mean Stormcloud."
Linnea: "Ignacia's heroes, huh? Neat."
JaegerLieutenant: "We've…fended them off so far. With Team Stormcloud out of the way, are there other aerial attacks to worry about?"
Sam Spade: "I don't think so - though it's not impossible."
Sam Spade: "But nothing that could be used to, hypothetically, shoot down a helicopter?"
JaegerLieutenant: "Don't worry, sir, our defenses know us, they won't shoot at us."
Sam Spade: "No matter how mad Iggy is?"
Sam Spade: "Just hypothetically speaking."
JaegerLieutenant: "Now if there was another transport helicopter, say a Team Stormcloud blimp, that wouldn't get through."
The helicopters settle onto a rooftop helipad, and the party is ushered out. The pilot calls, "Downstairs to the lobby - they're setting up the holoconference at the front desk."
Sam Spade: "Oh, this will be fun."
JaegerPilot: "Ignacia's also requesting identification of her 'heroes'. I told them you'd be down there soon."
Linnea: "Mmh."
Sam Spade: "Oh, she'll recognize us!"
There is the sound of muffled blasts from downstairs.
Sam Spade: "And now I'm concerned."
Sam Spade taps one of her pokeballs, and Noiseless emerges.
And then, from downstairs, Ignacia's voice. "…taking them so long? I'm in the middle of a 'dialogue' with Moth here!"
Sam Spade: "Okay, less concerned. …Differently concerned."
Esme: "Oh boy."
Linnea sends out Lulim, who churrs cautiously.
[OOC] Sam Spade: How close are we to there?
Downstairs is a familiar pokemon center lobby - apparently built out. The healing machine is absent; instead, a Nurse Joy with what looks like a permanent manic grin on her face tinkers with a holoprojector while a few armed Jaegers look on. In hologram, Ignacia stands in a large charred room, its contents incinerated beyond recognition. Behin
WC GM: d her, a squad of pokemon holds up a shield - part psychic, part material - against blasts coming from outside the holo-imager's range.
Max Thorn sighs. "Fiery as always."
[OOC] WC GM: Was typing it up.
[OOC] WC GM: You're just outside the room - and thus, just outside her field of view.
Sam Spade bursts into the room.
Sam Spade: "HEY, IGGY! We just got back from Gaela, and *man* that was wild! Would you believe someone put Ho-oh into a pokeball and left it there? He's *really* mad."
Linnea 's hand strays to her knife, but doesn't draw just yet. Sam is better at this… small talk??? Maybe???
Ignacia: "What." She turns to look at Sam, surprise plainly etched on her face.
Sam Spade waves cheerfully.
Max Thorn: "You heard her."
Sam Spade: "Huh - with Lugia and Ho-oh pounding at Headquarters from the outside, and Moth pounding on your shields - sounds like you're having a fun time, huh?"
Ignacia: "YOU! I…" She frowns, catching herself.
Linnea: "Hn-!"
JaegerLieutenant: "Sir! They say they helped take out Team Stormcloud just now?"
Ignacia: "Did they…?"
Max Thorn: "We did. I even caught their ringleader."
Sam Spade: "Well, Stormcloud did most of the damage to themselves. Something about there not being enough pichu to go around…?"
Ignacia: "Where is Tim?"
Sam Spade: "I'm not sure, we split up a while back. Apparently he has an 'army' now?"
Sam Spade: "That's kind of…"
Sam Spade tilts her head as if looking for the right word.
Sam Spade: "…embarrassing, I think?"
Esme: "I like it!"
JaegerLieutenant: "Sir! Can they help you deal with Moth before the legendaries break in and tear apart headquarters looking for him?"
Max Thorn barely manages to stifle a snort.
Sam Spade: "So…how are things there? Apparently the Lugia and Ho-oh are there looking for a mewtwo and not for the person who stuffed Ho-oh into an experimental, low-quality, pain-inducing pokeball…and then left him on a cave floor?"
Ignacia: "No, no, this is something I must deal with myself. Go take her to my second; she'll know what to-" There is a strong blast, and the hologram cuts out. Seconds later, the sound of thunder rings from northeast - from where the transmission would have been coming from.
Linnea: "Welp."
Sam Spade smiles cheerfully.
Sam Spade: "And just who would Ignacia's second be?"
JaegerLieutenant: "Sir! Boss of this city, sir! We'll take you to her, but she's probably in the middle of a party. Ah…how well can you dance?"
Max Thorn: "I'm afraid I have two left feet."
Linnea: "Oh, almost divinely well."
Linnea smirks.
Sam Spade: "Linnea's the best."
Esme: "Quite!"
The lieutenant looks to Max. "I advise you to fake it, sir. So long as you look like you're having a good time, that will be your armor."
Linnea: "Armor… hoo boy…"
Sam Spade: "Interesting."
Linnea: "Is Ignacia's second also temperamental?"
JaegerLieutenant: "And you!" He points to Nurse Joy. "Keep tracking Ignacia. If we can find a way to get artillery through the shield…"
Nurse Joy salutes. "Ro!" And continues fussing with the gear.
JaegerLieutenant: "Her second is…" He shudders. "…social. That's the best word for it."
Sam Spade: "Excuse me, Miss Rotom?"
Nurse Joy tilts her head, facing Sam. "Tom?"
Sam Spade: "….Crap, I forgot my question. Sorry about that!"
[OOC] Sam Spade: Well, I mean, or the rotom *answered* the question, but that's beside the point.
Nurse Joy shrugs and gets back to work.
Max Thorn: "… Interesting." He squints at the Joy.
Sam Spade: "I didn't know that was possible."
Max Thorn rolled up 6d6: 20 (1 5 4 3 3 4) (Pokemon Ed, for the usual reason.)
The lieutenant leads the way out into the street. "She's an odd one. Doesn't speak much, only says 'ro' and 'tom'."
Sam Spade: "Imagine that."
JaegerLieutenant: "She's friendly, though. But that smile…"
Max Thorn: "…Tell me, was a Professor Petri here at some point in the past two years?"
JaegerLieutenant: "Hmm? Petri…Petri…yyyes, I think there was a Petri who helped us set up our processing plant and defenses."
JaegerLieutenant: "I haven't seen her in a while, though."
JaegerLieutenant: "I don't think she is in this city at this time, sir."
Max Thorn: "No, I *know* she isn't."
JaegerLieutenant: "I think she was last here a bit over two years ago."
JaegerLieutenant: "Not long before a major attack of the rebels'. I know she survived. I didn't see her leave personally, but I figured she went somewhere safer."
Max Thorn: "That sounds about right." He mutters something too low for the lieutenant to her, but Sam, Esme, and Lin do: "Of *course* she was involved."
JaegerLieutenant: "Are you worried for her safety, sir?"
Sam Spade: "Ha!"
Max Thorn: "Not in the least."
Max Thorn: "She's in good hands."
Sam Spade: "Ah, no, she's fine. She came back with us from Gaela."
The lieutenant leads the party along a broad walkway leading to the 20ish story building with the bulbous top. It looks to be a somewhat posh establishment. Rock music, possibly a techno beat, can be heard from above.
The lieutenant nods to the doorman and hands over his rifle. "Sirs. No obvious major weapons inside. Hotel policy."
Esme: "Do you see any obvious major weapons on me?"
The lieutenant smirks. "Sir! If you are a scientist like you claim, your most powerful weapon is concealed inside your noggin. Their policy does not cover concealed weapons."
Esme: "Hah! Good."
Max Thorn: "I have nothing to declare."
Sam Spade: "The closest thing I have to a weapon is my charm!"
[OOC] Sam Spade: And if you ask the pichu, it's a devastating weapon indeed.
Inside - this is indeed a fancy hotel. The workers all seem a bit overworked, especially the food staff, but the mood down here is calm and the techno music not audible.
Linnea hands over her knife reluctantly.
The doorman nods. "Thank you. You may reclaim it upon exit, miss."
[OOC] Max Thorn: Your backfist is pretty devastating too, though. :P
The lieutenant leads on to an elevator bank. He swipes a keycard before pushing a button, and soon an elevator car arrives.
JaegerLieutenant: "Express service. Otherwise there'd be checkpoints."
Esme: "Ahh, the special treatment."
The elevator car is glass-walled, and looks to go up a similarly transparent shaft with a good overview of the jungle. It has room for several, but only the lieutenant and the party are taking this particular ride.
Sam Spade: "Ah, to see the high life."
Sam Spade: "So, what's the boss's name?"
The lieutenant freezes, then eyes Sam suspiciously. "That's…one way to describe it. Where did you hear that phrase?"
Sam Spade: "I can't remember. A book, maybe?"
Sam Spade: "Why?"
JaegerLieutenant: "Uh huh. So…honestly, you're not scientists, right? You look more like trainers."
JaegerLieutenant: "I can assure you this elevator is not bugged. She doesn't allow it."
Sam Spade: "Well, I mean, Esme is totally a scientist. And a trainer. But the rest of us?"
Sam Spade flips open her pokedex.
Max Thorn takes the time to set his pack down and straighten up, so he looks his part better: a scientist in a goofy-looking suit trying to look well-dressed.
Max Thorn: "Scientists can also be trainers."
JaegerLieutenant: "As I thought. You'll recognize her. Not all in this city is as it seems - but you probably already knew that."
JaegerLieutenant: "And if you are under Ignacia's skin already, you are someone I want to trust."
Sam Spade smiles wolfishly at the Lieutenant.
Sam Spade: "My friend, we have spiked Ignacia's wheels so many times I can't even keep track any more."
JaegerLieutenant: "I mean, does she take us for fools? 'Dialogue' with Moth? Did no one else see that shield?!?"
Sam Spade: "You know who bound Lugia out of Dojji and turned it into a barren wasteland? I'll give you a hint, and it starts with 'I' and ends in…uh… 'gnacia.'"
Sam Spade: "I'm sorry, that flowed a bit better in my head."
JaegerLieutenant: "…I figured. It already was a desert."
Sam Spade: "But her second, the one who runs this town - is she a vespiquen by chance?"
The lieutenant shakes his head. "Not 'a' vespiquen. 'The' vespiquen. Only one in town."
Sam Spade: "Ah."
JaegerLieutenant: "I am not certain if the others are just far out in the jungle or chased out entirely."
Max Thorn: "I'd go with 'occupied elsewhere'."
JaegerLieutenant: "But she treats us all like her hive."
Sam Spade: "You know, it's not impossible that the only reason we were able to see the shield was the rotom in Nurse Joy's body tinkering with the projector."
JaegerLieutenant: "…body, you say."
Max Thorn: "…You didn't guess?"
Sam Spade: "Dude, she *answered* to 'Miss Rotom.'"
JaegerLieutenant: "So that's not-" He shuts up quickly as the elevator stops and the door begins to open.
Sam Spade: "Time to be social, my friends!"
The top floor is a honeycomb hive dance floor, the techno music from before blaring.
[OOC] WC GM: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wuRDY_J_9o4
People and pokemon dancing up a storm - some looking like they might actually be enjoying it, others seemingly there to work. Here and there, private conversations break off. There are several private rooms, most occupied.
Honey flows from the combees toward the center, apparently energized into constant production by the buzz.
Sam Spade: "So, guys, how do we want to play this?"
And literally above it all floats a vespiquen. Getting close enough to her for her to hear the party will be a challenge.
[OOC] WC GM: Since we're close on time, we can cut here and pick up the action start of next session if you want.
[OOC] Linnea: yes please
Max Thorn shrugs, already swaying to the beat. His feet remain quite steady, however, as he steps off the lift.
[OOC] Max Thorn: Works for me.

Unless otherwise stated, the content of this page is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 License