Elaine had expected many possibilities before they had dived into the whirlpool. She had expected to get drenched and find something spectacular underwater. Her imagination dripped with the prospects of adventure. Suffice to say, reality had seemed to have different plans as what displayed itself in full force was far from all logical follow-throughs and expectations. The unbearable sensation of falling into a black hole. The reality of her next moment of conscious being in a space so foreign to reality, it begged an infinite amount of questions. That being said, she did feel mildly grateful that she hadn't stripped down to her swimsuit before she had entered this space.

But it hardly seemed like the world around her wanted to give her time to consider those questions in the slightest. Rather, her numerous questions were only washed out by further questions as she heard the figure in glasses speak further and further.

Liminal Layer.

Universe's Back-up Plan.

Origin Point.

Responsible for the destruction of all universes.

Such lofty concepts and metaphysical nonsense was ultimately meaningless. She could only watch as the bottom of her sandals became translucent, further cementing the fantastical nature of the world she along with Violet (and many others) had been dragged into.

And yet, there was something about the tone of the man who was being projected to them that pissed her off. Elaine squeezed at her arm as they remained crossed, but only for a short second. Taking a quick, deep breath, she grounded her mind before she could find herself flying off the handle at how cavalier the scientist was treating them.

That's it? We do your little task and we get the vaunted honor of living? That's what all this roundabout nonsense was for?

Of course, things didn't get any better as the scientist('s visage) vanished from existence and left behind a swarm of Porygon, a dome, and a riddle. Whoever was guiding this course of events definitely had a sick sense of humor if they were using a dome.

Luckily...

"The riddle's more sensible this time." With a Pokeball in hand, she pointed to the riddle and rested a hand on her hip. Anger changed to exuberance as she spoke out the answer. "You are data~"

In the next instant, and one single motion, she tossed up the Pokeball in her hand to release Ginga. Now pointing her hand upward, she sang a single command out to the Metagross that was released. "Now, Ginga, divert it with Psychic!"

Divert the incoming beams with a stronger force and push out. A simple enough tactic.

---

TL;DR:

• Elaine gets pissed at the scientist
• Elaine proclaims data with gusto
• Elaine attempts to use Ginga's Psychic to divert the incoming beams from her and Violet Fairbanks
• Good thing she passed on swimsuits for now.

dJ0jlwUR

“Right, right, we should not dally. It seems like everyone else is probably just going to follow down that rabbit-pool anyway, so this won’t be much of a gate-keeping event. Probably best not to be the last.”

That was all she needed to hear as the hand she had offered was taken in equally delicate matter. Admittedly, this was a bit of a show for Elaine but she was always a fan of theatrics. A decade of time had never taken that away from her. She could not be more grateful for the young woman who had reciprocated her actions.

Her smile didn't fade as a towering jellyfish Pokemon appeared by their side, likely at Violet's beckoning.

“It’s probably best if we ride together. That pool might also serve to split people up or such. With Whirlpool, we should be able to dive safely.”

Well, would you look at that. In the end, using whirlpool was a correct choice after all.

That being said, Violet was right. It was better to keep with someone familiar. There was no way of telling if groups would be split apart and shuffled. 

After a few moments of thought, she realized she could have taken the opportunity to strip down to the swimsuit she had underneath her clothes and drop the extraneous stuff in her waterproof messenger's bag, but it was probably best to leave that for later. The world was moving without them and they would be the last ones down if they did leave things as they were.

"Onwards to the Northern Whirlpool, then."

It was all down to Violet to give the command to allow the two of them to head down to the depths. To another mystery left unsolved until today.

---

TL;DR:

• 'Bluff' Success~♫ Means of sea travel get~♪
• Onwards to the Northern Whirlpool with Violet Fairbanks
• No stripping and swimsuits. Yet.

"It has been. Too long, if you ask me."

Though she had clearly not been trying to bear any malice, Elaine could feel just a tinge of disappointment from those words. After all, at the end of their speed date, Violet had given her a card with her own number--something which she had clearly yet to use. She had always been one to enter the foreground for a splash of color before fading back into the background, but it was definitely rude of her to leave someone like that hanging.

Well, there was no need to get depressed about it here or to try making excuses. She just had to remember to use that number at one point. Though, the priority of that to do list item went up the ranks quite a bit.

"Too long indeed." She simply smiled in response. "That being said, it's only natural that so many colorful figures show up. Especially when matters concern a certain somebody."

A cavalcade of riddles set the bait and the figure whose visage had shown up on the most recent riddle was the pull. Something aberrant was afoot and it was clear she was not the only one who was aware of it yet still drawn to the light much like a Mothim towards a streetlamp.

Violet had alluded that the mass of numbers would probably be enough to solve it, akin to the Infinite Mankey Theorem.

"Yeah, this is probably just a gatekeeper event. Well, whatever is behind those whirlpools, we'll manage." Elaine turned back to Violet while maintaining her smile.

"I’m glad to have you around either way, Elaine.”

"Glad to hear that, Violet. It'll be nice to work with you, too."

It was in the moment where meetings had begin and greetings had been exchanged that the two who had made the (surprisingly smart) decision to question the ocean let out a clamor about what they heard back--the cry of a Nosepass.

"A nosedive into it is needed to pass safely. Nosedive...pass..." Elaine found herself slapping her hand onto half of her face. "How did I miss something so simple so brazenly staring me in the face?"

If that was the case, then the answer to the question of which whirlpool was pretty much deadset. The hand she had covered half of her face with had fallen off as she pointed in the direction of one of the whirlpools. The needle of a compass and the nose of a Nosepass pointed the same direction always. "North."

It wasn't even seconds after she had said that a plethora of people ran in the same direction that she had pointed. In other words, with the name of a single species being uttered, a vast number of people had come to the same conclusion. Shouts were made about the northern whirlpool as she saw another prominent figure jumping straight in. That being said...

Wait a minute. I don't have a compass and pointed in whatever direction instinct took me to. Are you saying that wild guess in direction was right?

That being said, that left the issue of 'discarding your skelp'. The others had interpreted as forgoing the use of Steel, but if that was the case...

My only means of travel over the water is Ginga.

She breathed a deep sigh before looking back to Violet from the ocean she had pointed towards. She held a hand out to Violet as if beckoning a princess. "Shall we go, then? The northern whirlpool awaits."

---

TL;DR:

• Elaine comes to a realization about the riddle and feels like an idiot
• Elaine realizes she has no way of getting to the Northern Whirlpool
• Elaine reaches out to Violet Fairbanks as she hopes to receive help a dire pinch without asking. Will Wondrous☆Detective Elaine succeed in her bluff?
• Elaine is still cute and dressed for summer. Pls no bully.

A decent crowd had already amassed by the time Elaine had arrived at the correct site. She had already expected that she would hardly be anywhere close to alone in this endeavor, but even so, it was a bit of a shock to see a few familiar faces gathering around the sandy shoreline.

There was the one young lady she met at that event in Lilycove. There was the boy she met back on Mt Pyre. And going beyond people she had met, there was even a member of the Elite 4 gallivanting about here.

All of it surrounding a riddle, a new one in what seemed to be a decent series of them that she may have never even seen the start of.

Elaine Highland, herself, had traipsed upon the sand of the shoreline just like everyone else. Her usual blazer, no fluttering in the breeze, was tied around her waist leaving behind a white button down shirt with short sleeves and a ribbon. Her usual stark white pleated skirt remained a part of her outfit while her feet were adorned with a pair of white lace-up sandals. Her messenger bag lay on her shoulder, rocking back and forth against her hip as she took each step.

She had already taken a look at the newest addition to the long set of riddles and kept it at focus in her thoughts as she had closer to where the waves were crashing against the shore.

A helical piece of metal, a squall, an open-handed slap, or a brisk walk. Riddles don't necessarily have to rigidly adhere to grammatical conventions. It could be used as a verb in that case. All things considered, that last word isn't the only odd part of the riddle. She had already heard plenty of people mentioning the multiple definitions of the word. But the bit right before it still stuck out to her. The implications are to head towards the whirlpool, but what does it mean about asking for help?

Elaine crossed her arms and looked out once again to the distance to see the swirls of water.

Seize...peace through absolute power...and absolute fear.

For a moment, her eyes widened as she heard those words repeat once, twice, thrice. Her mouth twisted into a wry smile.

"Now, that's a cruel Rorschach Test there. Never thought that was possible from just the sounds of the ocean." After muttering, she quickly slapped her face twice and looked away, back to the crowd of people. Anything to stamp down what she had just heard. As she did, she heard one of the other people, someone who didn't even sound half her age taking the plunge by yelling at and asking the sea directly for help. "Kids really do have some pretty flexible minds, huh."

After a quick chuckle, she walked back towards one of those familiar faces who she had seen thinking out loud—to Violet Fairbanks .

With a wink, a smile, and a gentle wave, Elaine gently broke into her field of vision before responding to her thoughts. "It probably won't be as simple as your proposal, but I wouldn't be surprised if the correct answer turns out just to be as simple as asking the ocean or jumping into one of the whirlpools with a clear mind. Though, I'm still waiting to see if that kid shouting at the water got something out of it."

She took a moment to break away from talk about the riddle multiple minds seemed to be poring over. "It's been quite a while. I didn't expect to see you here."

---

TL;DR:

• The words of Elaine's twisted vow reach her ears.
• Elaine runs into Violet Fairbanks on the beach and reaches out to say hi
• Elaine ponders over the 'ask for help' portion of the riddle
• Elaine is cute and dressed for summer. Pls no bully.

Before she could come to an answer, however, another entry—a young woman approximately the same age as her—had interrupted her train of thought. Therein lay another problem. Another person entering the scene meant another potential victim. The lack of the old detective authority she used to cordon off areas came back to bite her. Though, it could also be said that such demarcation would be no more than a hindrance should the time come to evacuate.

Still, the extra brainpower of another person couldn’t hurt.

“There’s a decent amount of Absol gathering in the area. Not to mention...”

Elaine looked down at Asteria who was now rubbing her horn against Elaine as if trying to wrap that curved blade around the young woman.

“Asteria’s been acting up ever since we got here...actually, come to think of it, Asteria acted up first before the wild Absol had come around.”

She had muttered for a moment before training her focus back to the newcomer. Taking a hand, she rubbed it across her Absol’s head as she continued to speak.

“I guess you could say I’m trying to forestall a disaster and calm her down,” she said, while keeping her hand on Asteria. “The name’s Elaine. What about you?”

---

Tags: marilee beaufort

CYBERCHASE SIGN-UPS

PLEASE UPLOAD YOUR DATA

CHARACTER: Elaine Highland [break]
PKMN TEAM (3 MAX):

• Ginga (Metagross), Ability: Clear Body, Moveset: Bullet Punch, Meteor Mash, Zen Headbutt, Magnet Rise, Psychic
• Astrape (Luxray), Ability: Intimidate, Moveset: Thunder Fang, Crunch, Electric Terrain, Wild Charge, Roar, Discharge
• Asteria (Absol), Ability: Pressure, Knock Off, Slash, Taunt, Focus Energy, Razor Wind, Magic Coat

WHAT IS THE CORRECT DAY?: "The Horsea (and answer) is Thursday. The Ponyta tends to be Friday, though."

“Asteria...”

Elaine looked down at the quadruped in white fur standing at her side, shivering, before looking out before her. But wasn’t just the Absol at her side.

They were scattered, but she could see the occasional sight of white fur with black faces across the course of the field—a long dirt road she had been traveling in the rain. Fortree City could be seen off in the distance. There was a nearby cliff, a bridge, and a few pick-up trucks of people taking a quick break near a set of trees at the bottom of the cliff, next to the river.

It was hardly a huge distance up, but Elaine could still see the truck and its owners from a distance taking quick shelter.

That meant the question was…

“Where will it come from?”

They were here after all. Even Asteria was shivering from more than just the presence of rain. The likely victims of the disaster was down below. She needed to figure out how to prevent that worst-case scenario from happening.

---

Tags: marilee beaufort
Mission

Even across the main path, it could not be avoided. The sea of black and white, a collective of beings known for being an omen of that which leaves behind numerous corpses in its wake, seemed to undulate as if it were a tsunami. Meanwhile, the young woman, whose presence had always spelled inevitable death for the gathering of people she ended up finding her way to couldn't help but chuckle at the sight.

After all, beings that foreboded disaster were undeniably different from beings that brought disaster around them like a plague.

Yet, she couldn't say she didn't feel some sort of empathy towards them. So, Elaine simply and lazily tossed a Pokeball.

PASSERBY ANALYTICS HQ

ANONYMOUS SURVEY ANSWERS

Answered IC as Elaine Highland

#1 Rumors say that the League is developing suits that match the style of a Pokemon a trainer has bonded with. Which Pokemon would you select as the style for your suit and what would it look like?

That's a weird rumor. Though I guess a Mawile or Metagross themed bodysuit wouldn't look too bad on me. Or...wait, do they just mean regular suit suits?

#2 All skilled trainers have a rival! Who's your rival and why?

I used to have one. Though he was more a rival detective than a rival trainer. I wonder how he's been doing recently.

#3 Do you agree with the League's plan to warp the incoming meteoroid into an alternate universe Hoenn? Why or why not?

Realistically, there should be another way. After all, we're basically pushing a major calamity for someone else, potentially less prepared, to deal with. That being said, given how a survey group like yourself are privy to this plan and how you're able to ask it without it being censored, it begs the question of whether it actually is the foremost plan or just a cover to keep the real plan clandestine.

#4 What do you think of Avatars, people who have been bestowed powers by legendary Pokemon? Do you believe it to be a blessing or a curse, or is it something humans should not meddle with?

I think of it like a double-edged sword. It's not easy to direct the whims of anything deific, after all. It's really a matter of how to make sure that sword is held by the right side, so to speak. Of figuring out how to guide those whims properly. Suffice to say that's my complex way to say a whole lot of nothing. Is this really an appropriate survey question though?

#5 Why do you support the League/Team Rocket? If you are a member of one of these formal organizations, what compelled you to join?

A semblance of order is a powerful thing indeed.

#6 Select one of the following events and explain how it affected you. The Slateport Rocket Invasion, the Slateport Night Market Blacephalon Attack, the Ultra Beast Attacks on Mossdeep, The Ultra Beast War, the Sootopolis Takeover.

No comment. Was pretty distant from all those major events. Guess it goes to show even the largest of events has its own pockets they can't reach. Nothing permeates all. Yet.

#7 TERAVOLT, a Hoennian Rock Band comprising of Guitarist CALLAN YOUNG and Lead Vocalist ADRIAN MALCOLM, from Slateport City, have been finding massive success in recent years. Out of their DISCOGRAPHY, which is your favourite song and why?

Never heard of 'em. Wait, was this supposed to be a stealth ad? Just for that, I'm tossing one back out. [REDACTED] will accept any cases. Overworld, underworld, there's no mystery [REDACTED].

#8 Do you believe in free will or fate/destiny? Why? If the latter, do you believe you know what your destiny is?

Who's to say it can't be both? Fate is really only spoken of in retrospect and those who try to speak of it extrapolate the future tend to be far too haughty for their own good. Fate is really the course of events and Free Will is what allows one to take Fate into perspective and allows people to face an uncertain future that will slowly get woven into the next threads of Fate. I wonder how much of hypocrite I come off as.

#9 What is your greatest fear? If faced with said fear, how will you handle it?

To have my wings melt before I reach the sun and to have all the blood I've seen go to waste. If that happens, I'll claw myself back up and try again. What? If you're allowed to ask these weird questions, I'm allowed to give weird, senseless-at-a-glance answers.

#10 What is your love language? How do you express affection and how do you like to receive it? If you are adverse to intimacy, why?

No idea. I guess flowers? Sweets? Really depends on the moment. Call me capricious if you will.

#11 If you could be a Pokemon or have a Pokemon represent who you are, which Pokemon would it be and why?

Absol. What else would you pick to represent someone who is synonymous with an omen of death and disaster?

#12 How do you feel about your own mortality (or immortality)? If you were to die tomorrow, what would you do today?

No further comment. That answer would probably get me killed today.

#13 How do you carry yourself? How vocally expressive are you? How bodily expressive are you? Are there any catchphrases or verbal ticks that you find yourself repeating? Where do you think they come from?

There's a nice balance between aloof and lackadaisical. I just have to tip the balance the right way at the right time. Even simple changes in hand movements can trigger wildly different reactions though I think all of that tends to be something driven more by my atmosphere than by me.

#14 Are you in the process of learning a new skill or researching a curious topic? What are you studying and why?

Yes. That's all I can say.

#15 What do they need and want out of relationships (humans or Pokemon), and how do they go about getting it?

It really depends on the individual. If I had to pick a constant, I guess it would be a chance to be vulnerable. You want someone, man or Pokemon, who can bare their back to you and you can bare your own to. Poetically speaking, of course. And in some cases literally, too. Unfortunately, that's something that just takes time.

SUGGESTION. Do you have a suggestion for a future survey question? Please submit it below.

Maybe don't make the survey questions so off-putting next time? Just a thought.

R̵̖͎͐͐I̸͓͘ΙḒ̵̭͒D̷͈̀͌L̵̹͋̿Ȇ̶͕.I have rivers without Basculin and roads without cars, I have deserts without heat and snowlands without cold, I have mountains without height and canyons without depth. What am I?

That's a simple one. A map.

Things got far more complex than they initially had been. The two beasts were knocked into the ominous barrier and that was all it took for all Hell to break loose. Elaine had initially questioned whether it was such a good idea to ignore what Kaida had suggested rather than trying to use it to their advantage. If they had used multiple support and terrain attacks, they could have probably allowed the two of them to bring each other down and bring the tired victor down themselves.

But it was far too late for speculation and alternatives.

The scope of the fight had drastically shifted to titanic proportions and there was no chance that the damage would be anywhere close to contained if they let things continue. Moreover, their focus was now directed towards the group of rangers.

But that was hardly all. The scent of flesh and blood intensified as Elaine had focused on the gruesome sight of Aerodactyl’s bones jutting out of its body and as internal encroached entirely upon external in a display beyond what any modern artist would have tried to conceive.

It’s the same.

She didn’t have much time to say it out loud, but she could realize that it was exactly the same. Some of the corpses around may have been in decay, but the pattern of the corpses was all identical. By some misfortune, the other Pokemon who were now decaying and returning to the earth had come upon the same gory death while the two beasts had only grown more powerful.

“AVOID GETTING KNOCKED INTO THE BARRIER! CHANCES OF SURVIVAL ARE MINIMAL!”

Yes, if there were only two survivors and both of them were the type of entities to be denoted as ‘beast’, then there was imminent danger in any of their Pokemon falling in there was dangerous. Their resources were limited as is.

“Titania. Stay with me. Ginga! Rise further!”

The Mawile climbed back to her rested itself on her back before the Metagross quickly used Magnet Rise to push itself even further up.

“Now, Titania! Repeat. Ginga! Hold them down!”

Once again, a sweet scent wafted out, throwing the beasts’ attention to that minute distraction for just a second. But, this time, there would be more—a psychic wave that would attempt to hold the beasts down. It was a bit more effective on the poison one—enough to suppress them for a few short instants.

“DON’T LEAVE ME HANGING HERE!” She cried out.

But it was only a matter of time before they broke free. Before this likely would not work again.

---

Tags: Kaida Adachi , Pace Mahmoud , boruta maher , DEREK HOFFMAN , Akila Avaricia

---

TL;DR:

• Elaine recognizes the fact that Aerodactyl's corpse matches the other corpses in the area and realizes they likely have the same mechanism of death
• Mawile uses Sweet Scent again to distract the attention of the gigantic beasts for an instant
• Metagross uses Psychic on the two of them to damage and hold them down for a modicum of time

---

It was too sudden. The group had made their way into an area that they’d never been in before—or at least an area Elaine hadn’t been in before. Moreover, any tools they could use for navigation were going haywire.

She did not know how she was even fast enough to react to what had just happened.

She did not even have time to be smug about the fact that her hypothesis was correct.

“GINGA, RISE!”

With a single command, she ended up placing herself atop the levitating metal body that had been released in an instant. It wasn’t much of an elegant way of escape, but it allowed her to get herself out of immediate danger.

The trail of destruction that was the seeming scrimmage between two beasts showed no signs of grinding to a halt.

“I’m in agreement. Even if they don’t intend to target anything but each other, intent doesn’t belie the actual damage they’ve already done. We need to focus on stopping them or at least breaking this up.”

Of course, that didn’t necessarily mean they had to use violent means to do so, but like with any attempt at restraint, violence could end up being a necessity.

But that didn’t mean…

“Ginga, bring us down but don’t hit the ground just yet. Titania, you’re up.”

From the Pokeball in her hand, the Mawile jumped out and looked towards the collisions ahead.

“No need to go crazy and join the fray, let’s just provide support for now.”

Mawile nodded before allowing a faint, yet pleasant aroma to start wafting around her. Within a few seconds, that sweet scent had wafted throughout the entire area.

---

Tags: Kaida Adachi , Pace Mahmoud , boruta maher , DEREK HOFFMAN , Akila Avaricia

---

TL;DR:

• Elaine was right but doesn't have time to be smug about it, though she will be if she gets out safely
• Metagross uses Magnet Rise to get her out of immediate danger
• Elaine concurs that leaving the beasts to their own devices is too dangerous
• Mawile uses Sweet Scent, which carries through the field

---