she had been made privy to the plans surrounded rocket's submarine, but back then it had been schematics - nothing more than 'something we'll get to eventually.' she expects to feel apprehension as she descends the craft's interior; even her liepard is spooked. but rather, she feels an eerie sort of calm befall her. 

"yes, it is," she says with a sideways, almost curious glance at him. the need for a welcome is unnecessary. their relationship has a line in the sand and they don't need to cross it with pleasantries. 

other than the case of FERNANDO SILPH, she does not mix her business with pleasure. 

her cold gaze regards the dusty machine with something lacking of a woman's whose life's work sits before her, forgotten and unused. she rubs the side of it and then shrugs out of her coat, finding the nearest hook. 

"are you scientifically inclined yourself, merlino?" she asks as her liepard curls up in a corner. 

Cillian Quinn

☉

"curious indeed," she says as she ties her hair up as best she can. a few red locks escape her short ponytail and curl against her cheeks. the materials she requires all lay before her, compounds and tools alike all procured at her demand. she'd given amounts, all ending in 0's and 5's. no sense giving away all of her tricks. 

and with her, only her coat, of which hangs on a hook. no notes or recordings. nothing of the like. 

when gavin finishes washing his hands, she takes her turn. warm water runs down her arms, through her fingers, and she pats them dry before donning gloves of her own. 

at his question, she smiles. so most of our corruption had taken. 

"evolution," she says simply. "my predecessor (@desmond) asked me to look into the artificial creature - what was it? ah, type:null - because of my publications. and of course, as most things do, my work diverged - more hands were needed to study the ultra beasts." in fact, the serum comes from the beasts themselves. she withdraws a vial from her back pocket; it glints purple. 

extracted from FERNANDO SILPH's poipole.

she stretches her gloved palms across the sterile countertop, head tilted, looking at gavin. 

"you've brought a test subject, i presume?"

Cillian Quinn

☉

she shrugs her shoulders. the assignment was given in the early stages of blackwell's fall. people came and went while rocket struggled to keep some modicum of organization among its ranks. she still has case files and studies from her time working with the creature, but the thing itself has long since been shuffled around. she has no idea where it's gone. 

her shrug is answer enough to his question. she'd promised him this work, this job. knowledge is a powerful thing; the more breadcrumbs she leaves for him, the less likely he is to turn on her by the time they're finished.

"useless?" she repeats with a scoff. she flicks the vial in hand; the shimmering purple liquid glints. 

she eyes the kabutops. the creatures are known for their aggressive dispositions. and for the deadly sickles it has for arms. she would have preferred something less pointy. still, it doesn't matter. they won't be trying anything on it anytime soon. 

"you're familiar with mega evolution," she says dryly. she hands a syringe and collection tube to gavin. the pokemon would probably respond better to its blood being drawn by its trainer. 

"and the devolution that comes after it; we embrace reversal. we work backwards. unless, of course, you have an ultra beast fresh from space at your disposal."

Cillian Quinn

☉