Just as Mars is about to respond to the researcher’s comment about the reliability of technology, her machine begins to beep as if on cue, which supposedly, according to Hata Hiro’s own words, is supposed to signal the presence of an Unown…
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What they find instead is a Dottler.
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Of course it’s a damn Dottler.
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”Hm. Reliable.”
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An eyebrow is quirked, and that’s all Mars says on that, because while he could add some more witty and perhaps even sarcastic comment, he finds himself pausing when gazing at the sky. For as useless as Hata Hiro’s machine is resulting to be, its beeping seems to have attracted a particular pokémon; one that, while it may look like any other pokémon of its species, Mars could recognize anywhere in the world.
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A Castform.
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The same Castform him and CIAN MAHER had been looking for at this same route for hours upon hours after she disappeared weeks ago. What are the odds?
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She floats straight towards him, and when she bumps against his chest, the faint smile he gives the pokémon has a gentleness Mars so very rarely shows – even if under these circumstances it only lasts a few seconds.
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”Hey, I was wondering where you were.” On a hunch, he reaches for one of his Luxury Balls, pressing it just so slightly against the forehead of the Weather Pokémon.


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Remiel Calcifet[BREAK]
Befriending THE CUTEST CASTFORM ♡

Whatever ‘told you so’ sort of comments are made the moment the Unown appears are all lost to Mars, because as soon as he catches sight of the Symbol Pokémon, there’s a single thing in his mind. He doesn’t need Remiel to tell him to secure the Unown, he’s already on it.
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”Disable it.” The command is not only meant for the Inkay, but also for the Starmie that is quickly summoned out of a Dive Ball. The pokémon shoots out of it as if a periwinkle shuriken, releasing a powerful THUNDER WAVE that effectively PARALYZES the Unown, causing it to fall.
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While it’s down, the Inkay takes advantage of the moment to hit it with a PSYCHO CUT, and a Luxury Ball is expertly thrown seconds after that.
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”Unown J, I believe.” Mars finally says, turning to look at both Remiel and the researcher. ”Good work.”



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Remiel Calcifet[BREAK]
CATCHING UNOWN POOOOOG ♡

Hata glows at the approval of both higher-ups, though the urge to stick her tongue out at Admin Mar is strong. He seemed the far more approachable of the two, anyway. Mister Calcifet had seemed about ready to cast her off a cliff earlier.

Suddenly, in the space between Mars and Remiel, a dark rotund shadow begins to form. SENKETSU the blue Bisharp is the first to notice it, and provides QUICK GUARD against the incoming BOUNCE from a GRUMPIG. Even so, its sheer weight manages to knock the Bisharp off balance, sending it crashing into the ground.

"Hata, take cover." The royal commands as the Grumpig waddles towards a berry bush to devour its contents. The researcher does just so with her device in hand, nearly running into a wild VIGOROTH before she ducks behind a tree. Leaving that one for Martín del Mar to take care of, Remiel urges his Bisharp to get back up as the Grumpig prepares a sickening BELCH.

"NIGHT SLASH, now!"

The ANVIL trained mercenary Pokémon manages to outpace the build-up in the pig's throat, and it strikes the creature right in the stomach before it can properly fire off its bile. Instead, it throws it up on the ground before collapsing backward. In an effort to deter it from getting back up again, Remiel casts an empty luxury ball at it.

---

➼ catching grumpig

🚹 accompanied by NPC Rocket Researcher HATA HIRO

DUO WILD + Martín del Mar

☉

While Admin del Mar may indeed be more approachable than his royal counterpart, the trio is left with little time to relish in their accomplishment before wild pokémon interrupt them just as it had been happening ever since they first stepped upon Route 116.
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Having called his Inkay back in order to give it a chance to rest, Mars clicks his tongue when the Grumpig appears – then stepping aside in order to give Remiel’s Bisharp enough space to do its job.
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But, of course there’s a second one, and when the Vigoroth joins in with a loud UPROAR, the pokémon summoned to deal with it does so in a flash of light. ”Ugh. Shut up already.” Mars sounds annoyed, and recognizing this, his ever-loyal Zeraora waits for no instruction before swiftly closing the distance between him and the monkey.
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FURY SWIPES come the feline’s way, but Fulgora has no issue with avoiding them, ducking under the attack and then hitting the Vigoroth right in its gut with a powerful right hook in the form of a POWER-UP PUNCH. Then, a left hook, even stronger than the last.



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Remiel Calcifet[BREAK]
CATCHING VIGOROTH ♡

"Have you gathered enough data to improve your device back at base?" Remiel asks of Hata. "The wild Pokémon are getting restless here..." Perhaps it had something to do with the presence of the Unown?

"If I can encounter just one... or three, more! I need more data than one wild encounter provides."

"And the Unown we already have? Couldn't you examine those?"

"N-No. I've tried to implement them into my research before. It's not the same. Something... changes when they're caught. Like Rapidash... when they're broken in? Except not really, because this is deeper."

A BARRAGE of coconut-like seeds are fire their way, but Senketsu intercepts with a QUICK GUARD, deflecting them away before they explode. When the Bisharp sees the EXEGGUTOR attempting an escape, it chases its target down and strikes with an AIR SLASH from afar.

The attack tears most of the palm leaves on its head to shreds and it wails, developing the sound into a long groan as it collapses in the bushes. Pulling out a luxury ball from his pack, Remiel casts it, then whistles for Earl Grey to go obtain it once the capture has been secured. 

---

✨ catching exeggutor
🚺 NPC Rocket Researcher HATA HIRO

DUO WILD + Martín del Mar

☉

Even if they may have just encountered an Unown all too recently, Mars’ own experience with searching for them tells him that it’s unlikely that they’ll run into another anytime soon… Much less three, as the researcher seems to wish for.
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Turning towards the prince, the boredom and disbelief in Mars’ expression could almost say it all, but just as he’s about to question the researcher’s words, another wave of pokémon seems to come for the – as relentlessly as all others before.
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This time, it’s a classic cat vs dog, a timeless battle his Zeraora easily wins when punching the wild Stoutland right on its wet nose before it can bite or do anything worse.
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”I think you may have to come back looking for those other Unown some other time. Doubt any more will show up now.”
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Then again, they might just...


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Remiel Calcifet[BREAK]
CATCHING STOUTLAND ♡

Remiel nods in agreement. And, just as he does, a STARAPTOR drops from the sky in a nosedive (BRAVE BIRD). Senketsu is quick to intervene before this attack reaches his master, however. Unleashing an AIR SLASH from long range, he sends the bird crashing at the royal's feet instead. He pulls out an empty ball afterwards.

"Mars is right," He says, tossing this ball at the fallen bird. "If we stay here any longer, we're bound to get swarmed. It's time to leave, Miss Hiro."

---

✨ catching staraptor
🚺 NPC Rocket Researcher HATA HIRO

DUO WILD + Martín del Mar

☉

”At least we got one Unown out of it.”
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But had their discovery been thanks to Hata Hiro and her questionable device? Mars had his doubts, to say the least.
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Still, all those were things he would have to discuss with Remiel at a later date, because right now their priority definitely should be more along the lines of getting out of here unharmed.
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Just as he thinks that, a Linoone jumps out of the bushes, attempting to TACKLE the researcher. Good thing his Zeraora is as fast as it is, and the attack is intercepted by PLASMA FISTS.
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”Alright, let’s get moving.
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Mars sighs, tossing a pokéball towards the now injured Linoone.

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Remiel Calcifet[BREAK]
CATCHING LINOONE ♡