Killian couldn't care less about the people lost jogging. The only reason he's here is to investigate the energy being emitted in the area. He reckoned something extraterrestrial was the source. Likely Elgyem or Beheeyem, but Killian couldn't rule out the possibility of it being his tentacled friend.

The admin leaned against the side of his Mudsdale. A sturdy Pokemon perfect for horse-baking riding who'd hopefully speed things along.

"I think if we split up into groups of two, the search should go faster." he exclaimed to the rangers. "You there," a finger pointed to Spencer Hale, "we could check the northern area while the rangers take the south."

Spencer Hale

"No, but you're here, and people are missing."

Honestly, if she said no, it be better for Killian. He wouldn't have to pretend to look for the missing joggers.

He glanced back at the ground-type.

"You're welcome to walk, but it be faster if you rode with."

Spencer Hale

"Great."

Killian mounted the Mudsdale, nostalgia hitting him in waves. The last time he'd rode a horse was when he and Lex met those Spectrier on Mt.Pyre. Man, that felt like ages ago.

He pushed the feeling aside and offered Spencer his hand.

"Let me know when you're secure, and we'll get going."

Spencer Hale

Her hold on his waist is awkward and full of nerves. If he can feel it, then the Mudsdale can, and that's going to slow them down. "Relax," his tone is soft, a stark contrast to the commanding vocals he wielded before.

"And tighten your hold." Killian flashed her a smile over his shoulder and reached for a Poke Ball on his waist.

The Beheeyem inside materialized in a flash. Immediately the lights on its face blinked in response to the energy in the area.

"Interesting..."

If the stars aligned, this could be a sign of Deoxys.

"Stay close to use and help her look for anything strange." he tugged on the Mudsdale's reins. The beast of burden took off in a steady trot.

"Names Ian."

It's a little late to introduce himself but better late than never.

Spencer Hale

"It's a Beheeyem. You could call it an alien, experts say they come from space." It just wasn't the alien he's hunting. That one had tentacles and latched itself to people like a parasite.

Killian forgot that detail sometimes or actively ignored it if you asked Alexandra Briarwood.

A smile returned to his lips at her name, though she couldn't see it. "Spencer." he repeated, dragging it out slightly. "Strong name. I like it." The boring details of its meaning and origin prepared to leave his tongue, but she stopped him with her shout.

Diamond blues dart to where she's pointing and narrow. From the look of it, Beheeyem's caught the signal of something. Its eyes strobe a neon green, and it speeds through a swathe of corn.

"Hold on."

Killian pulled on Mudsdale's reins to steer it in Beheeyem's direction. The horse neighed and began to turn when a vermilion beam soared across the sky. Hardly prepared, the blast slammed into the Beheeyem and blasted it back.

"What?"

The admin's eyes widened, and he went to slow their steed, but Killian's too late. Another beam scorched the air, colliding with the side of Mudsdale's face and sent it tumbling. As they fell, Killian made out the shadow of something large approaching slowly from the cornfield.

Spencer Hale

MISSING

surprise mod post

SPENCER'S CRY IS MUFFLED by the searing scream of the beam. As Killian Decker and his MUDSDALE tumble onto the muddy cornfield, an ominous creature approaches. Masked by thick corn stalks, its grotesque shape advances closer toward the Admin. Its gaze pierces like a ghost-cold ligature before flickering:

----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- -----

The flashing is reminiscent of the patterns witnessed by Killian Decker and Lulu Flint months before. In August. Spencer Hale would be able to witness the horrible alignment of its tentacles as they twist and fidget into corkscrews. They lash out toward Killian Decker, decapitating husks of corn on the way.

TAG
Killian Decker Spencer Hale

He plunged forward off the Musdale and instinctively covered his face with his arms. Turned into a human skipping stone that short-hopped painfully across the ground, Killian grunted. Every hit took the air from his lungs and left him gasping.

His body skid to a stop a short distance away from his horse, coughing. Everything hurt, and something must have broken, but he didn't care or take the time to check. Confirming what attacked them took priority over his condition.

Killian peeled himself from the ground, eyes on the thing approaching from the cornfield. A grotesque figure of something unrecognizable, unknowable - something alien. It crept closer, single-minded in its pursuit of...him?

That can't be - wait? The way it's blinking...

"It's you, isn't it? Deoxys."

The tentacles come like arrows, and that primal urge to survive screamed at him to move. But Killian's stubborn, foolish even, and remained crouched and still. Only because he's confident they won't reach.

Beheeyem, blasted by the creature, recovered in time to position itself in the tentacles path. Using Protect, Beheeyem created a barrier to shield its trainer from the creature's grasp.

"Tell it I mean no harm, that I've been looking for it. That I want to help."

Killian's unsure if it will even work, but he can't let this chance pass him by.

Beheeyem's light flashed per the admin's wish.

Spencer Hale

MISSING

surprise mod post

THE ALIEN CREATURE zips past the breathless Spencer Hale in a meteoric blur of vein blue and red. It leaps from mid-air and spreads its limbs. Flesh gurgles forth from its torso to fill the gaps between leg and arm.

Like an inkfish's mantle cast like a macabre net, the alien strikes and spreads across the Beheyeem's PROTECTIVE BARRIER.

Two almond eyes peer at the Beheyeem. There is no response from the alien— and Spencer Hale would be able to see the PROTECT slowly beginning to fail...

TAG
Killian Decker Spencer Hale