He's out again. Another day, another escort mission. This time he's more familiar with the person he's working with. The Head Scientist he'd had a serendipitous run in during a thunderstorm. She's not as airheaded now as she was then. Instead, the woman is solely focused on her goal- whatever it was. This sudden research venture? Either way, it didn't seem to be that big of an experiment as she was alone, but she needed company. Especially the more dangerous it got for league personnel. Meteor frenzy and all that. [break][break]

Not like he hadn't looked death in the eye once already. They had enough avatars and legendaries at their disposal. Not to mention he was sure that fuck Cillian Quinn was doing his own research to stop the meteor. Maybe on D-Day the League and Rocket would come up with a temporary truce just so they could all come out of this alive. [break][break]

But that's far out his paygrade to be even thinking about. His job is to focus on Ille and keep watch for the assassins that he's already squared up against twice now. His Sigilyph is on the prowl, floating aimlessly overhead and keeping watch. The only good thing about this barrier business is that there isn't much cover for any type of attack. At least they'd see it coming, hopefully. "I'm right here." Paxton spoke up, looking over at his companion. "Did you need something?"

[break][break]

+ illeana reyes FERNANDO SILPH [break][break]


[break]

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

[attr="class","illeana"]

[attr="class","illeana b"]

[attr="class","illeana i"]her cheeks bleed pink, embarrassment heating her skin.

"no, i--"

she stops, stills, and her head snaps toward a feeling.

several meters away from them lies... a creature. it looks foreign, unlike anything she's ever seen. and yet, something about it seems familiar.

"do you see that?" she whispers, tone more cautious than curious.

the creature throws itself into the barrier again and again. with each smack, her frown deepens.

it finds no success.

and part of her feels empathy, a tug of the heart. it's acting like a caged animal, frenzied in its attempts to be freed. somehow... she relates to the concept enough to raise her voice, to call attention when it could spell disaster.

"the barrier won't allow anyone to leave." not even this creature with its odd aura and familiar ears. a soft sigh escapes and she's stepping toward the edge of their boat, glancing once at paxton as she passes. he's a steady partner and a great shot but... can he protect them both if this goes south?

she speaks with a soft touch, with a concerned nature. it could either help or make things worse, it's hard to say in the moment. she plays to her strengths, to what she knows as if it's the only way for her to do something.

"you could hurt yourself if you continue."

paxton concordas FERNANDO SILPH

He does see it. It's foreign, strange. Never seen anything like it before. It strikes at the barrier with overwhelming power and perhaps desperation. He is on his feet, rifle moving into his hands. His hands begin taking their usual place on the weapon, teal eyes locked on the alien creature. "Yeah, I do." he said simply as he stepped towards Illie protectively, shielding her with himself much like dahlia goode against the assassins. Though, he saw no tell tale sign of the Unown users. [break][break]

Unlike Illie, he does not have the luxury of sympathizing with such a powerful creature. He tensed, barely glancing at the scientist as she spoke to it. He lets out a soft whistle, and here's a series of beeps in return. Acknowledgment. Joules is hovering closer to the boat, ready to drop down and intercept should they needed to run. Though...somehow he doubted a thing that could over that quickly wouldn't be able to catch up with them. [break][break]

Paxton chambered a bullet, barrel raised but not yet pointed at the creature. "May I suggest caution...and maybe filming this thing?" he said, voice low, and eyes still on the prize.

[break][break]

+ illeana reyes FERNANDO SILPH [break][break]


[break]

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

[attr="class","illeana"]

[attr="class","illeana b"]

[attr="class","illeana i"]she's so focused on the creature...

she doesn't quite notice paxton's movements yet. not the glance, not even the whistle. even joules' beeps sound like fuzzy white noise in the background.

and for a moment, she simply stares.

it stops flinging itself into the barrier. hope rises as if she's connecting to the creature, as if it understands her... as if it listens.

the disappointment soon floods in when it begins to fire at the barrier. at least it's not using its body?

her eyes dart toward paxton, then, with a statement ready on her tongue.

it quickly dies out in her mouth at the sight of a gun.

"what are you doing?" she keeps her voice quiet, nothing more than a rushed whisper. is he going to... shoot it?

dread coils slightly in her stomach. it isn't enough to breed nausea but there's still an uncomfortable feeling in her body, right down to the bones.

she looks quickly back to the creature. it doesn't seem to be paying attention to them but for how long?

and without many more options besides all out attack or running away, she tries speaking to the creature again.

"do you know what this barrier is?"

a longshot but... she has to ask.

paxton concordas FERNANDO SILPH

[attr="class","illeana"]

[attr="class","illeana b"]

[attr="class","illeana i"]"you can't."

her eyes are darting between paxton concordas and the creature.

there's no way he can just shoot the thing... it's still a pokemon, isn't it?

and god, she can't shake the feeling that it reminds her of something. or, perhaps, someone.

it's familiar in a way she doesn't quite know.

and that bothers her to no end.

it moves, then, and strikes the barrier once more. this time... there's an odd growth of a limb that leads into the attack.

she should be horrified, disgusted.

but no, she's... fascinated.

"it must've been here already. i've never seen anything like it."

which is more of an annoyance than anything. she doesn't like not knowing, not understanding.

it makes her feel stupid, helpless, even weak.

the creature stills and she stares.

when it turns to them, she tries to fight off a shiver from scrambling down the length of her spine.

in the end, the shiver wins.

"hello?"

she can't shake the feeling that it sees through her, right down to the bones and tissue and beyond.

paxton concordas FERNANDO SILPH

He shivered, cold dripping down his spine as the strange pokemon looked at them. "The hell I can-" he yell-whispered to Illeana as that- that thing looked over at them. In fact, once more, he wished he had radio'd this in, but he didn't want to risk something happening to the scientist while he was at the transceiver. [break][break]

Joules beeped loudly, his far off noise a message for Paxton more so than the creature. Should he attack? The air is tense, but they don't want to provoke it. Multiple eyes dart around, one on the target, one on the boat, the other few looking around at the barrier. Paxton whistled, low and steady. [break][break]

Hold.

[break][break]

as unnerving as the purple thing was, it didn't do him any favors to be reckless or impatient. Especially with something that strong. "I think we should leave, mark our coordinates for the report and all but-" he only had 5 other pokemon, and he had a feeling even all 6 out would only give them seconds to get away. [break][break]

[break][break]

+ illeana reyes FERNANDO SILPH [break][break]


[break]

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

[attr="class","illeana"]

[attr="class","illeana b"]

[attr="class","illeana i"]her eyes narrow.

"if we leave, it might follow or attack us anyway."

she doesn't see many options. she would prefer to not have to fight but...

well, that depends on the foreign creature.

it begins to rock the boat enough for her to feel the beginning of nausea rise in her stomach. she bleeds a soft healing mist to combat the growing anxiety. water sprays onto her face and she's pushing damp bangs away, eyes not quite leaving the purple creature.

that's when she feels it... the voice in her head.

it's soft, barely above a whisper. and yet, it echoes all the same.

did you do this?

she glances toward paxton, an eyebrow raising. can he hear it too?

an answer comes blindly, dragged out of her throat by invisible fingers.

"no, we didn't."

it's genuine. can the creature tell?

"we're not sure what caused this barrier but no one can get in or out of the region."

paxton concordas FERNANDO SILPH

The little shit- Paxton broke eye contact with the creature to look at the swaying water around their boat. Shit. And then it spoke. Like. Like actually spoke. A human language. Not pictures, not feelings. A weird voice pinging directly into his brain. He felt cold, creeped out beyond belief. He looked over at Illeana about to ask if she'd heard it, trying to brace himself as the boat rocked. [break][break]

He's not sure he wants to speak to it like a person, but Illeana filled in for them. "Stop rocking the boat, please." he added as she informed them they hadn't created the barrier. If it could speak maybe it could understand having manners. In turn he lowered the barrel of his rifle, in an effort to seem peaceful.

[break][break]

+ illeana reyes FERNANDO SILPH [break][break]


[break]

[attr="class","pokeclass"]