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[attr="class","body"] the rocket admin accompanies priam conrad into the mist, feeling the prickle of discomfort that he'd learned to associate with the ultra deep sea. he glances towards the other, when he mentions the league.

[break][break] "in that case, we should quicken our pace."

[break][break] even then, however, jayden does not adjust too much yet. intel tells him that their forces have the league pushed back far enough that - at least for now - he can be content in that they will have enough time to reach their location. and who else to take them there but the boy wonder himself?

[break][break] he finishes rearranging his bandages from his last battle, before standing up with a fierce nod.

[break][break] "yeah," he agrees. "lead the way."

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priam conrad

[break] + INTERDREAM [1/2]

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[attr="class","body"] jayden had been at the star soiree, but he'd been knocked out by Roman Maher's blade. the memory of his body getting cold, blood pooling into the grass... in some ways, it was a grace given to him that he didn't match the horrors of the other at the soiree.

[break][break] "what did it show you?"

[break][break] he walks alongside priam, pausing as he considers his words.

[break][break] on the subject of nightmares, he avoids the topic.

[break][break] "we'll be fine," he says firmly. "if it gets bad, we can retreat with astlik." the dragapult soars above them, peering through the pink smog.

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priam conrad

[break] + INTERDREAM [1/2]

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[attr="class","body"] "that doesn't sound terrible."

[break][break] in fact, in comparison to jayden's own dreams, it seemed rather picturesque. it reminded jayden of his own childhood. although terrible things could have been happening in the cross estate, there was one thing that jayden could rely on and it was the plate of warm food at the end of a very long table. dinner was served, and father was sure to always make it home, no matter the occasion.

[break][break] "unown align with rocket now," he told priam, reminding him of the discussion that had happened in one of the last meetings. while there was much unmapped when it came to the symbol pokemon, he believed in Cillian Quinn's words. "you never know what could happen."

[break][break] as he said so, however, there was the sound of something echoing through the smoke. the allure of eery laughter filtering through the pink smog.

[break][break] jayden stills.

[break][break] "did you hear that?"

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priam conrad

[break] + INTERDREAM [1/2]

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[attr="class","body"] should they still go?

[break][break] the answer is immediate.

[break][break] "of course we should."

[break][break] just as he'd told fern delaney on that cloudy mountaintop, there was no future in which he would not listen to rocket. in which he would not obey his top command.

[break][break] and that included even his deepest fears.

[break][break] a shadow manifests into physical form a handful of feet from them, and immediately, a chill runs down jayden's spine.

[break][break] "priam. don't move."

[break][break] was that declan walsh?

[break][break]

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priam conrad

[break] + INTERDREAM [1/2]

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[attr="class","body"] when he blinks, the image is gone. almost like it was never there in the first place.

[break][break] uncertainty settles like a well in the middle of jayden's stomach, churning.

[break][break] "i.. don't know." it's rare that the admin doesn't want to know, especially in the middle of a mission, but he's left at a cause before he jolts to the side, because suddenly the shadowy impression of their boss is appearing in front of them, expression perfectly neutral.

[break][break] an arm flashes out instinctively, in front of priam.

[break][break] 'cross, conrad. what are you doing here?' his voice rings with disappointment, which tears a hollow hole in jayden's stomach. 'the league is catching up to us. why haven't you found the stones yet?'

[break][break] his expression twists, bearing down on jayden.

[break][break] 'have i not taught you better?'

[break][break] it's then that the visage ripples, and instead of their renown leader, it's the expression of SILAS BLACKWELL. then THEO BECKETT. then NIKOLAI CROSS. he stood in the pink-infused space, a sharp contrast to the environment in his bloodstained suit and piercing scarlet gaze.

[break][break] 'what are you waiting for?' he says, turning to priam conrad, handing the boy a scalpel. 'kill him.'

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priam conrad

[break] + INTERDREAM [1/2]

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[attr="class","body"] 'kill him.'

[break][break] memories flood jayden at the words. suddenly he's no longer in the interdream space with priam conrad; he's in his family home in galar. in their home in kanto. in their family's training room.

[break][break] brother pit against brother. his father telling aleks to kill him.

[break][break] and jayden hopeless to stop it.

[break][break] the knife lunges for him, and that's when the admin snaps out of it. his body is quick to deflect, leaping backwards.

[break][break] "what are you doing?" he says, not to the apparition, but to priam conrad. "don't listen to it."

[break][break] to him.

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priam conrad

[break] + INTERDREAM [1/2]

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[attr="class","body"] he does. more than anyone, jayden knows what its like to not have a choice - especially now as he watches his friend rock against the floor.

[break][break] his throat tightens at the sight of it, as the memories squeeze against him.

[break][break] 'kill him.

[break][break] years spent against folding to dmitri's rule, to do whatever he wanted, no matter the cost. years being tortured by the memory of it. but it was priam's smile that made him falter.

[break][break] "no," jayden said, voice firm. he forces himself through the pink smog, which ensnares his arms, lashing against his armor. "no rocket gets left behind, priam."

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priam conrad

[break] + INTERDREAM [1/2]

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