Cillian Quinn

for a final time, natalie gives a glance over at the window housing the shadow pokemon. she wonders for a moment, biting the inside of her cheek, but follows in the wake of the underboss. her heels once again stand out in the silence of the hall. like before, she knocks ellis's nameplate down as she passes.

she truly excelled at being petty.

should they make it to the lab with no incident, gavin would find a small team waiting for them. they were professionals, chosen to be nothing more than extra hands when natalie required. they reeked of fear. a single bed stood out from the rest. a hospital gown and large plastic bag in waiting.

"we will need you to remove your personal belongings," she says, walking past the man. at one time this was likely his lab. in a fashion, being an underboss still made that correct. but this was her battlefield. and she rarely relinquished command. "they will run through a series of tests themselves, though returned to you just how they were turned over. do you wish for privacy while you change?"

somehow she knew he would be difficult about this.

excellent.

Cillian Quinn

while gavin changes, natalie prepares the other items. when she returns, she hands gavin a clipboard with a typical medical questionnaire. nothing too advanced. she saves that for their one on one.

"set-up for the lumbar," she orders the aides, who move to do so. eager to not be sharing the same room as the underboss. natalie on the other hand, would like nothing more.

she waits a minute, to allow him to finish, then she grabs a stool and moves to sit a few feet away.

there's a click of the voice recorder.

"are you ready mr. merlino?"

Cillian Quinn

natalie takes the completed form, crossing a leg over one knee. her outfit was made complete by the stark opal white doctor's coat. she speaks into the recording, looking at gavin as she does so.

"gavin merlino. avatar of the legendary pokemon, lugia. beginning report."

natalie places the metal device between them on a sleek metal tray.

"i will now ask you a series of questions or prompts, mr. merlino. answer them as truthfully as you can."

a pause.

she continues.

"please state the nature of your relationship with lugia."

Cillian Quinn

she doesn't stop to write anything, merely picking up from the questions answer.

"your abilities are derived from it's power, correct? would you way you are subservient to lugia? if it ordered you to do something, could it exert it's influence over you to ensure you comply?"

Cillian Quinn

his pause doesn't go unnoticed. but it does go unmentioned.

"and, what if perhaps lugia's course of actions were contrary to rocket's own goals? do you believe that is a possibility?"

Cillian Quinn

natalie smiles, lips pulling back into a grin that shows teeth.

"that's good to hear, mr. merlino." not that she particularly cared. rocket's goals weren't hers. but the illusion of support went a long way.

"please explain, as best you're able, the abilities you've received from your patron."

Cillian Quinn

with eager eyes, she soaks up the sight in front of her, listening keenly. the miasma-like fog that rises from his hands was a truly impressive display.

"let the record go to show gavin merlino is currently producing a fog-like miasma from his palms."

she does indeed reach out to touch it, but realizes it feels no different than the air around her. her eyes widen slightly.

"it's properties resemble that of a ghastly's haze, albeit thicker and more defined. furthermore, there is no notable physical feeling associated with touching it, similar to that of the aforementioned ghost-type pokemon."

she looks back up at the underboss.

"would you say your miasma reacts in similar ways to host-controlling parasites? are the creatures you hold under your control aware of it's actions?"