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Poor Yuina; the kid seemed scared out of her mind. All the more reason to stay in her corner, Eddie reasoned. They were friends, plain and simple, and friends had each others' backs, [break][break]

“Ah hell, even if you hadn't told me, I'm sure I woulda found myself neck-deep in some other sorta shit. Hoenn's got a funny way of pullin' folks into danger whether they're lookin' for it or not.” [break][break]

But a little levity alone wouldn't be enough to completely reassure Yuina, Eddie was sure, especially with that little bit of anger working its way into her voice. She seemed so sure that she was somehow at fault for some shadowy group of jackasses being shadowy jackasses. It didn't sit right with Eddie, but he realized that he'd probably be stuck in the same sort of headspace if he were in her shoes. Maybe that would be the key to getting through to her, [break][break]

“And besides -” and Eddie stopped to look at Yuina, to really look at her with an expression that was a little stern but spoke plainly of his concern for her, “Whatever these fuckers do to me, or you, or whoever the fuck else they're gunnin' for, that's on them. They're the ones hurtin' people for no good goddamn reason. They're the ones with the fuckin' blood on their hands.” [break][break]

He crossed his arms across his chest, [break][break]

“So don't you dare go beatin' yerself up over what some evil fuckin' bastards get up to.”

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Yuina Higashi [break]

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Yuina's grip on Eddie's arm was tight and desperate. Between that and the pleading frustration in her voice, Eddie knew that the circumstances were as dire as the young woman claimed, [break][break]

“Well, then maybe we oughta do something about 'em.” [break][break]

They were only two people, sure, but if the top brass at the League weren't willing to listen to Yuina, than someone had to, [break][break]

“Even if the rest of the world has their priorities screwed up, it doesn't mean we gotta be screwed up, too. Maybe we could do our own diggin', see what we dredge up. Figure out who these people are and how ta stop 'em.” [break][break]

And hell, that had kinda become a part of Eddie's reason for returning to the RKS anyway, following his run-in with the Curator. Perhaps the whole matter was easier said than done, but Eddie couldn't just stand by while these clowns tried to pick off his friends and destroy the world, [break][break]

“I, uh, don't know how we're gonna do that exactly, but...” [break][break]

Eddie turned to look back over his shoulder at all of the Pokemon frozen around them, [break][break]

“Maybe we could keep checkin' some'a these weird scenarios out, since a couple'a them feature those creeps.” [break][break]

Both real and simulated, as Eddie had recently learned.

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Yuina Higashi [break]

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Eddie's stubborn tension eased when Yuina released his arm. This was good; they had something they could do, something actionable, even if the task of uncovering the DRK Triad's secrets seemed insurmountable. But hey, Alto Mare wasn't built in a day; they just had to keep plugging away at the RKS, and something would surely crop up that would provide some further insight. [break][break]

He suddenly perked up, brightening with recognition, when Yuina recalled what Eddie had said at the beginning of their first scenario, [break][break]

“Oh yeah!” [break][break]

Eddie followed after Yuina and looked up at the tree looming over them, [break][break]

“So,” he began as he started look all around him, “I was doin' a couple'a scenarios – mostly ones featurin' those Triad folks, now that I think about it.” [break][break]

Achilles' reptilian gaze followed Eddie's, until the man spied an old, dilapidated well in some neglected corner of the glade. He strode over, pulling away some tangled, dead vines, and examined a rope half-dangling out of the well's mouth, [break][break]

“And then I get to the end, but the RKS doesn't end like its supposed ta.” [break][break]

Eddie rolled up his sleeves to his elbows before he began to pull the rope up; this poor old tree was just begging for something to drink, [break][break]

“Instead, I meet this weird lady!” [break][break]

With one final pull, Eddie dredged up a bucket full of surprisingly clean water. He grinned at his reflection peering back from the glass-like surface before carrying his new prize over to the tree, [break][break]

“Weird as hell. She kept pullin' these sorta costume changes, but it was less like her clothes were changin', and it was more like she was changin',” he offered as he unceremoniously dumped the water onto the tree's gnarled roots, “She'd kinda flicker in an' out, like a TV with a bad signal, and come back different. Had a couple'a Unown with her that looked just like the ones you got.” [break][break]

He wiped his hands on his pants and made a sweeping gesture to the statue-like Pokemon frozen in kneeling reverence all around the, [break][break]

“And she had a buncha frozen Pokemon in her creepy-ass basement, only they looked a lot more scared than these guys do. But the weirdest part was, she said she quit the DRK Triad! Quit, can ya believe it? The hell do you do ta quit the DRK Triad, just write up yer two-weeks notice and hand it off to the Hexenzirkel lady?”

[attr="class","bottom"]water the tree! [break]
Yuina Higashi [break]

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“Oh yeah, she was one hundred percent real.” [break][break]

But how could he prove it? Eddie paused and considered this task for a moment, until realization struck him, [break][break]

“She even gave me this weird as heck curio!” he exclaimed with a snap of his fingers, “Ain't ever seen nothin' like it; hold on, lemme show ya.” [break][break]

While any NPC could hand off a curio, this one was particularly unique for reasons that would probably become evident in just a moment. Within the confines of the RKS system, he could easily pull up his compendium, and it shimmered to life in a holographic display in a pane right before his eyes. Just a few quick taps, one here, and another there, aaaaand – [break][break]

“There!” [break][break]

With a flourish, Eddie gestured to the Covert Cloak on display, the dark fabric forming a shroud and hood that could easily conceal someone's appearance. If his companion were to look at the holographic display, however, they would find the corresponding entry in Eddie's compendium blank. [break][break]

Tricksy folks, those DRK Triad fellas were.

[attr="class","bottom"]water the tree! [break]
Yuina Higashi [break]

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“You got a point,” Eddie replied with a nod, but the anxiety taking over Yuina didn't seem to reach him, “But, you know what that also means?” [break][break]

Eddie glanced up when he heard the sound of creaking wood, cracking and snapping, as the tree shifted above them. Achilles suddenly scrambled up from where he was lounging, head swiveling back and forth as the petrified Pokemon around them stirred to life. [break][break]

The trainer's eyes widened in delight as one by one the glowing, shining Pokemon woke from their stony slumber. Eddie had heard of Illumina Pokemon only in passing; this was the first time he'd actually seen them in the flesh. [break][break]

A newly awoken Deerling tentatively approached, its verdant summer coat glimmering in the lushest shade of green Eddie thought he'd ever seen. He grinned, at the Pokemon and at Yuina, [break][break]

“If they're here, then we can find 'em. Track 'em down. Kick their asses!” [break][break]

Ever the optimist, Eddie was, but in truth, he didn't know any other way to be.

[attr="class","bottom"]water the tree! [break]
Yuina Higashi [break]