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Galarian Ponyta. Immediately, the subject brings to mind memories of childhood, not all of them fond. Mother's spirited Rapidash had nearly killed him when it had kicked him in the chest, the quick intervention of its HEAL PULSE the only saving grace. He'd hated the creature ever since, hated how Mother loved it more than she'd ever loved her children.

This creature deserves none of that resentment, and Gavin does his best to focus instead on the brilliant patterns that adorn her fur.

"I've reviewed what you sent me." Re-opening the laptop, the headline glares before he switches to a different program and allows his laptop to interface with a screen along the laboratory's wall. The aforementioned chart registers there after a second's delay. "Have you had the opportunity to compare its readings to many of its species?" There's a Rotomi in one corner of the room, and Gavin glances at it as he speaks. "I'm afraid I have no Ponyta of my own, but I can send you results on my Rapidash when this one evolves." The underboss fiddles with a pen, seemingly for something to do with his hands. "Bog standard, he is."

Pulling on his gloves after washing his hands, Gavin gestures to the equipment. "If you could hold her still..."

Some of these tests could get invasive; he doesn't want another kick to the chest.

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"I'll keep an eye out in my work," Gavin promises idly. "If I acquire a Ponyta, you'll be the first to know."

As underboss, he takes seriously the task of ensuring their stock of Pokémon to utilize for situations like this is large and varied. Most of the Pokemon he encountered were donated to such a cause, with a select few favourites being withheld for his own collection. Those, too, would be offered up for testing in the interest of progress — though perhaps nothing so risky as what they'd subject an unattached subject to.

Ceri holds the subject still as Gavin performs the required tests, drawing samples specifically meant for testing of the Pokerus-Y strain.

"Is there any impact of the parent's gender on transmission, or is it equal opportunity?"

He sets the samples aside, stripping off his gloves to input commands into the laptop.

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After a few commands have been punched into the laptop, Gavin pulls a phone out of his pocket and clicks his tongue. The sound seems to wake up the ROTOM inhabiting the device, for a soft bzzt precedes the ghost's exiting of the device.

"Rotom. Perform rapid antigen test on sample from subject I-5."

Quick as it had left the phone, the Rotom zips into a machine they used for their tests, its TELEKINESIS levitating the correct test tube into the slot. Evidently, this isn't the first time they've done this.

As his Pokémon works, Gavin's full attention fixes on Ceri Glynn. Though he has read every report, Rocket keeps him too busy to retain minute details and the refresher is both needed and appreciated by the underboss.

"I've a LIGHT OF RUIN specimen of my own. An Eevee. Perhaps it would be pertinent to test it for signs of the virus. It also possesses a move that I'd never heard of before: FREEZY FROST."

Enamorus.

Something haunts in his gaze as he's transported with a single name back to the top of the Fleur Tea Atelier. He nods.

"I was. One of my own received such a blessing, in fact." Is it mischief in his smirk? "Perhaps you'd be interested in meeting her, after we're done here." Though she may not approve of any tests...

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"I believe so," Gavin affirms. "I've two with access to the move, though once has since evolved into a Glaceon. Fitting, no?" His smile is brief. "Another can use GLITZY GLOW. Still an Eevee."

Ceri Glynn's theory about the infinity energy is a logical one. The Tree of Life had been a veritable hotspot for infinity energy in the region, and its roots had spread far and wide. "I believe the first instances of the virus occurred after our exploration into the Tree."

The machine beeps as the test concludes.

R.A.T POKERUS-Y: POSITIVE

"I believe Walsh has entrusted the Floette's care to another." It would be too much work for the Rocket boss to mind the thing himself, Gavin supposed. "I could ask, next I speak with him. Delarosa is also an option, if he's amenable."

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"It certainly speeds their production," Gavin says, chuckling as he washes his hands. "I remember the crop of hatcheries and daycares that opened in the wake of its influx. Many of them must be struggling, now."

Rather than sympathy, there's a gleam of hunger in his gaze. A struggling business was an opportunity for Rocket to sweep in and take over, or else take them down if they were unwilling to submit to the syndicate's demands.

His attention shifts at the sound of his name. "Mm?"

Galar. He'd all but forgotten about it. Out of sight, out of mind, the news article replaced on his laptop screen by test results and analytics. Thoughts return now in a slow tide, head tilting as he considers.

"There is nothing left for me in Galar." That said it all, didn't it? His family, his home, they were all in Hoenn now. The ones that mattered. There's a few beats of pause before he ventures, "Though I hope you're faring well, yourself."

He likes Ceri Glynn, and that hope is genuine.

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