APPRAISAL

AN ASSESSMENT OF VALUE AGAINST LIABILITIES

PRIORITIES SHIFT. That excuse, silent, is all the defense he needs against her chastisement. These words go unsaid on purpose as his mouth coaxes a more steady rate of breathing. Focusing on the air that passes, chest rising with every inflation, help distract him from his lingering ailments.

"All of mine tend to be." The Ultra Beast absorbs his attention with her guidance. She spotlights it before pairing it with her own. "Good to see you putting it to use though."

Watching the connection between it and her Nidorina, they very specimen that she had dangled as bait for him, mystifies him. But his impression is less than amazed. He accepts it as with all things—a faux understanding and accompanying nod.

"Perhaps. But my sample size is too small to make any claims."

Her confirmation is something he already knows. Science is true, a discovery of the unknown, but proper science is slow and methodological. The Pokemon's evolution has already been discovered shortly after the war. He refrains from dashing her achievement by switching subjects.

"They can control each other, their own species, to a degree. The longer they remain here the more individualized they become but those raised together exhibit bug type behaviors."

anya fowl

APPRAISAL

AN ASSESSMENT OF VALUE AGAINST LIABILITIES

“NO NEED.”

Fernando is quick to dash her hopes on the notion that too much power—unchecked power derived from another world, is much too risky. On the off chance they become reliant on this and Ultra Space comes back, the consequences would be drastic. World-ending, possibly.

But, more importantly, why rely on something foreign when the solution lies within his heartbeat.

Fernando points his finger toward the Nidorina, expelling a translucent fog from the invisible pores of his skin. When haze pools around the Pokemon, whatever influence the Poipole has is overridden. In fact, its aggressive behavior from before returns, directed at the very Pokemon it once obeyed.

“Good enough,” he answers after a brief pause. “Knowing our world still has its own solutions kill the pain.”

He sneers.

“I prefer it that way—in-house.”

anya fowl

APPRAISAL

AN ASSESSMENT OF VALUE AGAINST LIABILITIES

THE WAY SHE RUNS THE NERVES ALONG HIS JAW COOLS HIS GAZE. It kills the malice in his air, rendering it stillborn. Control is returned to the Ultra Beast despite its absence. Fernando flickers his tongue over his teeth at the display, feeling the sharp of his canines press into flesh.

“Then not much will have changed. I am already the antagonist of my own hubris.”

He looks to her, leaning in.

“But we must advance. We are not prepared. Humanity is not ready.”

anya fowl

APPRAISAL

AN ASSESSMENT OF VALUE AGAINST LIABILITIES

PHYSICAL ATTRACTION FUELS HIS ACTIONS. As long as she sates his appetite for affection so too will she control the puppet strings of his body. Her words echo against the pucker of his lower lip. It almost drowns out her wisdom.

“That is not enough.”

His good hand finds solace in her lap. He wants to feel her between his fingers. But he tames his desires under the wraps of a more important message.

Their goal must be one no matter how far their methods diverge. He won’t allow anything otherwise.

“They can do better. We can make them better.”

His wish still exists. As long as the putrid flesh of his own body remains with Jirachi’s Wish Tag, so too does hope.

“Humanity can evolve.”

anya fowl