[attr="class","matias"]speaking of unwated company — matias decides it time to make his presence known. he stands, parting from what little remains of the crowd, and faces the hostages. the pokemon surrounding them do little to intimidate him.

"did you get what you came here for?"

summary //
- matias addresses the people holding the hostages

[attr="class","noodles"]Violet Fairbanks Alexei Ivanov Miles Sharp Serena Malcolm Vivienne Savatier Andrew Fisher

The problem at hand falls like a ton of rocks literally collapsing against the mix of wood and cement shaking the entirety of the guild. The fall is so great many of the bugs scattering the room would flee momentarily the rhyperior's display having served to shake natures, intruders. Before Miles can catch who exactly summoned the creature it's enveloped in red and gone without a trace. Serena Malcolm handles the situation well on her side the woman's tactics continuing to keep the various researchers stunned and for the most part silent while the rockets handle their business. Dependability was hard to come by and he'd make sure to give his thanks later.

In the silence that followed the rhyperior another would appear. To have made it this far under the circumstances spoke much of the stranger's power. The Carracosta would take a step forward ready to deal with the newcomer only for Miles to extend his arm in a means that meant to stay her hand for the moment. The Analyst responds genuinely to his question brushing a hand past his ear and through his tied bun, a means of discretely activating the comms for all Rockets in the building.

There was no point in lying. If the rocket was to say 'they had' and didn't leave immediately the bluff would fall apart.

"Not quite, but in about four minutes we'll have accomplished our objective." He begins eyes focused on the then-unknown Matias.

"I'd like to propose a parley. You seem wise enough to understand that the structural integrity of this floor is compromised. If we were to fight you and I may survive, but you'd be sacrificing the hostages here and everyone below." He's spoken truths to the man thus far, and his comrades just below.

"That's without mentioning the issue of the bug pokemon that threaten everyone's safety." Another aspect of the situation and one Miles couldn't actively control. If the bugs were left unchecked and decided to strike this deeply in the tower regardless of whatever deal that managed to be brokered the guild would fall.

"So how about we strike a deal. The terms are plain. You and I defend against the bugs while we finish our business. In exchange, My associate will begin escorting the hostages to the stairwell."

"What say you, stranger? The parley depended entirely on the stranger's values. What drove Matias and how much would he be willing to give. In truth, he doesn't have a contingency. He could get the data regardless but protecting the lives of everyone not including those below, was too hard a sell especially with active opposition.

tl;dr
- Miles doesn't catch violet escaping
- Miles confronts MATIAS SILPH
- Miles activates the comms channel discretely announcing to all rockets and Matias that:
A: The third floor could collapse if fighting continues
B: There about 4 minutes away from securing the data
C: A plan to possibly coordinate with Matias to free the hostages and escape

[attr="class","matias"]the structural integrity of the guild is failing, that much has been clear even before miles points it out. their options are limited. so what comes next is only natural.

"fine. all the hostages are to be escorted out of the building while we take care of the bugs."

even without waiting for confirmation, matias recalls his gengar only to call it back out again, saving it from the terrible fate of PERISH SONG. it floats up and begins its HYPNOSIS on a group of bugs.

"what's your name, stranger?"

summary //
- matias agrees to miles' plan
- all the hostages are to be escorted out now
- gengar starts work on some bugs on 3rd

[attr="class","noodles"]Violet Fairbanks Alexei Ivanov Miles Sharp Serena Malcolm Vivienne Savatier Andrew Fisher

As Razorback reached his master, he would abruptly drop the old man amongst the other hostages. The metallic hunter was prepared to turn right around and engage the dragon that had stalked him, but luck wasn't on his side. Razorback heard it loud and clear, a chilling dirge that sent shivers down his polished spine. If his master didn't intervene, the Perish Song would take him. 

Razorback landed by Vivienne, tugging at her dress with urgency. Vivienne looked down, unaware of the Perish Song's effect. She had been too busy wondering what to have for dinner once this was all done, probably sea food. She was craving a chowder of some kind. Looking into the pleading eyes of her skarmory, Vivienne squinted with concern. Razorback never looked so distressed, so something serious must be bothering him. Fear wasn't in his emotion pool, so--

Vivi withdrew the skarmory without a word, replacing him with an equally vicious (though grounded) companion. Vivi's Furfru, Fifi, was a furry ball of pure evil and malice. You can tell because her fur was fashioned into a sunhat to match her cruel mistress. Vivi gave Fifi several long pets before looking to the Salamence. She spoke not a word, daring the dragon to do something. At least she had its attention, better it stay down here than travel to the third floor.

Temptress did not hear the Perish Song, her Disarming Voice had muted the fell cry to her graceful ears. Yet as her screeching finished, she found that the population of the floor had shifted. The blastoise had disappeared, and with a cast of characters she no longer cared about her temperament would cool. Temptress slithered behind a lawn furniture set, waiting for a new victim to torment. 

tl;dr
Vivienne withdrew Razorback and sent out Furfru. Currently staring at the salamence, waiting for it to try and strike.
Temptress ended her Disarming Voice and hid behind some lawn furniture. 

Miles' eyes shift back toward Serena Malcolm , the Carracosta remains focused on the compliant stranger on the off chance he decides to strike while her trainer's back is turned. Miles nods at the woman "Your compliance is appreciated. We'll hold true to our side." The masked rocket would step forward calling another pokeball forth revealing a metagross who upon being released would promptly begin to levitate to further avoid the floor situation.

" Viper." His introduction is swift. "I'll block off the pathway to the stairwell. If you remove stragglers, my associate will guide them to the stairs. Our colleagues below understand the nature of the situation and won't attack unless otherwise provoked."

Just as he finishes another swarm no longer warded away by the massive rock type would charge. "Reflect." A psychic barrier would form against a pathway, the metagross using its powers to hold off the swarm as best it could. As expected a few of the larger insects quickly manage to push through. Surely it was time for MATIAS SILPH to shine.


- Miles gives Serena the go to start escorting hostages
- Calls Metagross
- Bugs resume attack
- Uses reflect to stop parts of horde
- Gives Matias his codename

[attr="class","matias"]the hostages start being escorted out, protected from the onslaught of bugs. what they steal matters little to matias — given the situation, the safety of everyone trumps whatever information's housed here.

matias takes a quick moment to send a message on his phone to the responders: 'hostages are being escorted out. don't engage.''

some bugs slip through the REFLECT as matias recalls his gengar from across the room. he resummons it directly in front of him just in time for it to cast a SHADOW BALL. spectral energy smacks against the bugs, sending them to the ground.

"i'm not really a fan of codenames, viper. how about a trade?"

he starts approaching.

"matias silph."

summary //
- matias sends a message to league saying the hostages are being escorted out so don't engage them lol
- matias approaches miles

[attr="class","noodles"]Violet Fairbanks Alexei Ivanov Miles Sharp Serena Malcolm Vivienne Savatier Andrew Fisher

The knife once hidden on Viper's person finds itself lodged in the once stranger now Silph's carotid artery. Blood spurts from his neck as he struggles to breathe resulting in a phenomenon not unlike a misty surge (FERNANDO SILPH ). It floats and sinks all at the same time covering Miles in a wet viscous mist, as the soon-to-be lifeless Silph body collapses on the cool bloodied ground. His essence leaks down through the cracks and into the floor below, a precursor of what's to come.

Matias is the first of a line to fall, The man's body convulses in a pool of filth and waste until it can no longer.

Not even a second later hell's floodgates open wide. The execution has rightfully terrified the bystanders, Serena can't control them and the formation fails almost instantaneously. The sheep, in their panic, are caught and killed by the enraged wild pokemon, leaving Miles in a prison of blood and pokemon. Bodies continue to fall like dominoes, one after the other. Malcolm manages to make it further, but in her escape, the floor finally gives in; unable to stand such a morose display. It heaves inward sending her and the few remaining souls who managed to survive thus far to their deaths. Below Vivienne and Andrew are crushed by the amalgamation of bodies and debris. It happens quickly enough that they don't see it coming and so their last seconds are as peaceful as they can be all things considered.

The Guild collapses and nothing is left behind.

The movie plays in his mind's eye lasting only a matter of seconds. Humanity's ability to visualize is as amazing as it is terrifying. It speaks to the limitless potential Miles believes they all share.

His eyes stare at the hand a moment longer before meeting Silph's eyes. Never before has he known such desire, how any man could ignore such want is beyond him, but still he does because his base desire is unimportant in favor of the whole.

He refuses to give Silph what he wants.
He refuses to give himself what he needs.

"My name only after the objectives are complete." He can see the resemblance now, in the shape of their chin and in the sharpness of their gaze.

He's been a fool.

A hydro pump soars past the two, and like clockwork another assortment of bugs collapse. Miles finds himself positioned between Silph and his data.

-------

- Miles has a dream
- Ignores Handshake
- The wheel of fate may be turning

[attr="class","matias"]"and what exactly are your objectives?"

it's mindless talk, chatter meant to distract away from the fact that the distance between them lessens with every passing second.

his mind drifts back to a time not long forgotten. it exists in his subconscious — it influeces, drives, and haunts. memories flicker to faceless humanoids shrouded by dark colors, blood symbols, and he cannot help but see the similarities.

"are you with rocket?"

summary //
- matias continues talking to miles

[attr="class","noodles"]Violet Fairbanks Alexei Ivanov Miles Sharp Serena Malcolm Vivienne Savatier Andrew Fisher

"My objective is to help people." He responds on reflex, keeping his emotions tied back his grip on the leash remains tight, but it can't hold forever. "The information here can, plain and simple" Gelping people was always his primary goal even if it was tougher to to remember in the moment.

"Does it matter?" He gives no edge to his allegiance gaze steadied still on his partner. A scyther charges through the reflect only to be brought low by another torrent of water, between the two. Miles doesn't flinch.

"I was under the impression Silphs stay locked up in Slateport or Lilycove, maybe Evergrande on a particularly good day." He'd only heard of three Silphs in the region. Two women and Fernando himself.

What are the chances your last name is a fluke?"

-------

- Bugs fall
- They continue