she knew tools. ”i think you may be wrong about that,” she told theo. for countless reasons. however, jokes aside, they’d already seen the gouging fire in action, and it was more than a nuisance.[break][break]

a blizzard bursting ahead of them caused her to shiver and wrap her arms around herself. her face pinched again at andrea, for both her naming choices and her strange dragon sounds.[break][break]

nonetheless, the dragonite provided winds that turned the winter storm into something truly formidable. it was effective. it even tore panels off the building they’d yet to make it into.[break][break]

”wait, i need to see what’s inside. no, no, no–” a whole wall lifted airborne with a steel whine before spinning into the tornado's wrath. ”fuck.” [break][break]

distracted, she missed the moment the second z-ring was activated. shattered psyche struck. though weaker than it might have been otherwise, it was still the same awful feeling she remembered.[break][break]

the genesect rushed to her aid, steadying her when she stumbled again from the wooziness.[break][break]

when she opened her eyes, she found herself staring into the topsy-turviness of the distortion world. its gaze opened at them, and the battle was momentarily shocked into calm before it shut, and the unown became more aggressive again.[break][break]

”do you think giratina is down here? i’ve had a weird feeling…” lulu asked woozily, her voice softer than usual. she’d had lots of weird feelings in the chasm, actually.[break][break]

1dI5S|i4

[attr="class","ooc"]roll total: 685[break]
excursions into area zero[break]

AZ EXCURSION E: DARK

[break]
Andrea Vaneau THEO BECKETT [break]

Lulu's pleas for the building to remain intact went unheard in the absolute chaos that unfolded. Several Unown fainted, and were promptly returned to their Pokéballs. The rift in reality that briefly appeared served as the perfect distraction to allow the DRK Triad to make their escape.

"This isn't over! Glory to Arceus!" In a remarkable display of speed and athleticism, the black-clad grunts scaled the steep cliffs of Area Zero like ninjas, disappearing from view before the Hoennians could pursue.

"Shoot, they got away!" Andrea cursed family-friendlily. Landing back on the ground, the Sygna Suited girl panted heavily, weariness from overuse of Infinity Energy setting in. "Well, at least we gave 'em a beating they won't forget!" She remarked with a cocky grin.

With timing reminiscent of a Saturday morning cartoon, the steel wall that had been torn off the building dropped behind her with an unceremonious thud, now a crumpled mess.

[player]https://file.garden/ZXZrnWMYuz15frfJ/HOENN%20MUSIC/MYSTERIOUSCRY1.mp3[/player]

Suddenly, a familiar cry echoed from deep within the cavern, causing the flamboyant cosplayer to quickly dart her head around. "'Agias'? That sounded... like Kora!" The girl mused aloud and without context.

THEO BECKETT, Lulu Flint

☉

as she pinched the bridge of her nose to ease a headache, she attempted to piece it together.[break][break]

”it’s from another world, then, maybe – like the tree that stood over sootopolis. or a different place in time?”[break][break]

she was unsure how these things might be one in the same, or if there were also worlds beyond their own in other universes. as a scientist largely concerned with the contents of their own unexplored outer space, she liked to believe so.[break][break]

the drk triad escaped. she looked unamused, arms crossed as the damaged wall dropped out of the air behind andrea.[break][break]

a cry echoed distantly. her brows furrowed at yet another name – but this one she was definitely curious about.[break][break]

”kora?” she asked the dragon girl.[break][break]

301u3Jav

[attr="class","ooc"]roll total: 888[break]
excursions into area zero[break]

AZ EXCURSION E: DARK

[break]
Andrea Vaneau THEO BECKETT [break]

The Rockets seemed confused by the nickname chosen for the Winged King, so naturally Andrea tried to clear the confusion. “Oh, I meant Koraidon. You know, the legendary Pokémon from the RKS Simulation that looks like a red Cyclizar?” She nonchalantly replied as if it was supposed to be common knowledge.

Exhibit A of why she was not allowed to join the AQUA Initiative. The League’s secrets were never safe with her.

⠥⠝ ⠥⠝ ⠥⠝

A series of low-pitched computer noises heralded the arrival of a certain titan.

“Oh hi, Regirock. Long time no see!” Andrea’s jovial greeting went completely ignored by the rock automaton, which lumbered past her, before picking the crumpled piece of metal off the ground and tossing it to the side.

THEO BECKETT, Lulu Flint

☉

”ah, that one.”[break][break]

rocket had not seen it in their own simulations, but she’d heard the name koraidon floating around the labs. it’d been a few months since the league had opened studies for their own rks simulations.[break][break]

her eyes lingered on andrea, finding it unsurprising that she was participating in the league’s research.[break][break]

”you think it’s down here?”[break][break]

just then, the ground shook with the steps of a nearby regirock. her anxiety built, remembering so many other simulations. she was content to observe from afar unless told to do otherwise.[break][break]

”seems like it’s looking for something…” with luck, its attention would stay away.[break][break]

w|g1c0q5

[attr="class","ooc"]roll total: 1015[break]
excursions into area zero[break]

AZ EXCURSION E: DARK

[break]
Andrea Vaneau THEO BECKETT [break]

“It’s gotta be down here, I’m sure of it!” Andrea said resolutely, intent on continuing her search for the scarlet dragon for as long as it took. Any Pokémon capable of making Josh Devlin question his loyalty to Raikou was one worth searching for.

Regirock was seemingly on a search of its own, walking off without so much as a glance at the humans. Not that it had eyes to glance at them in the first place. Unless those dots were its eyes?

“I’m OK!” The dragon maiden confirmed, returning Chomper and Huggles into their respective balls. “Thanks for the help, Mr. Theo. And thank you, Lulu!”

Their first time working together without being forced into it and without being at each other’s throats the whole time… This warranted a celebratory hug, but Andrea remembered that the former head scientist was averse to physical contact.

In light of that, the young PokéManiac offered a cordial fist bump instead. “Next time, we’re gonna get those DRK Triad guys for sure!” She asserted with a toothy grin.

THEO BECKETT, Lulu Flint

☉

impressive?[break][break]

andrea seemed sure too.[break][break]

”that is assuming it even exists in our world,” she noted with a bemused look at theo through her finger, still pinching between her eyes. she hadn’t known him to be the type to get ahead of himself. did he know something she didn’t?[break][break]

at the thanks, she gave a short, ”hm. likewise.” and to theo, ”i have a headache. i’m leaving.”[break][break]

the shattered psyche had caused more than just physical pain, though she wouldn’t mention it. her hands shook as she was rattled by memories and a pounding in her chest.[break][break]

next time, andrea said, like it was destiny that they should run into one another, over and over. maybe it was. she sighed.[break][break]

FI3zhRqW

[attr="class","ooc"]roll total: 1153[break]
excursions into area zero[break]

AZ EXCURSION E: DARK

[break]
Andrea Vaneau THEO BECKETT [break]