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"confusing. creepy." the commissioner's lithe finger whisks the air to cycle through her words. "a curse that appears to be our only hint to the future."
[break][break]

the prophecies had been decreed by the dragon of truth. even so, each icy divination had also been transliterated by the mischievous tongue of a boundless djinn. dahlia portrays no fatigue. just the busyness of thought.
[break][break]

"spending resources to ascertain the verse's meanings is a high risk venture, but i can't help but worry if we're falling into the trap of self-fulfilling prophecies."

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preparation is a ceaseless necessity. as certain as the seas clawing against the hoennian shores, rocket's foul creeping must be fended against like a disease.[break][break]

however, josh's relief over finding his calling is a cleansing grace.[break][break]

"disabling a power spot is possible, but is difficult and takes time." the commissioner says. "why do you ask?"

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"oh, just busy, busy, busy." the commissioner casts away melody's concerns with a flourish of her hand. "too many meetings... and too many funerals."[break][break]

she reaches behind melody to close the door.[break][break]

"but we do what we must." she tucks a blonde curl behind her ear before taking her seat. a soft hand gestures to the chair across from her. "take a seat, melody. you must be flitting about the region so much."

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"no, it didn't slip through the cracks." the commissioner takes a seat and crosses her legs. she pats the cushion of her chair before she graces josh with her full attention. "we've just had to reprioritize because of the war. apologies for the delay, but i'm sure you understand."[break][break]

her stoutland slumbers nearby. its heavy mop of fur seemingly transforms the dog into a fringe trim cushion that rolls around ever so often.[break][break]

"you've already been working as a war courier, haven't you? you're finding it agreeable then?"

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"our top champion!" [break][break]

a jubilant greeting flies out of the doors like confetti. her stoutland lazily sniffs at melody's knees before heaving its hefty furs around the corner of a chair.[break][break]

"i've heard you've been accomplishing great things. kyle would be so proud."

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"i'm happy to hear that. with your help, we can change hoenn's fate. i know it."[break][break]

the commissioner's smile mirrors paxton's. though paxton has harbored much, endured much, she hopes the summons does not come as a further burden. she can see the experience thrust upon his face: the service of a country over service of one's self.[break][break]

"you were saying something, paxton? i may have cut you off."

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Remiel Calcifet notes the last two lines and how their inscriptions seem freshly carved. furthermore, should the plate exude any kind of energy, it is not visible nor is it felt within the chamber. [break][break]

for now, it seems to rest dormant. one thing is for certain however. a plate of this make and of this style has never been seen before.[break][break]

"good eyes. even better ideas." the commissioner says. she closes the briefcase and slides it across the table to Eva Morales and Remiel Calcifet. "see what you can discover. the existence of this artifact is confidential. not to be known by the public."[break][break]

as the meeting comes to a close, the commissioner asserts her duty.[break][break]

"i promise to all of you. i promise to all of the hoennian people that i will serve you with all of my authority, all of my authenticity, and all of me. know this and know it well. we have a hard fight ahead of us, but we can and will come out victorious." [break][break]

she reiterates that same promise to the new initiates too.

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sheathed in blacks of mourning, the commissioner comes to grieve derek's death. outside, she is quick to move. as she sifts past the black bramble of paparazzi cameras, the rotten bouquets of their flashes dare to pass the black brim of her hat to light her frown.[break][break]

she greets those inside. there is little formality enforced in the way of hierarchy. now and here, in this consecrated sanctuary of solemnity, derek rests above all.[break][break]

DEREK HOFFMAN has made the ultimate sacrifice.[break][break]

she prays there will be no more.

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the commissioner takes in all of paxton's formal musings. his intel constructed and dictated by the utmost professionalism and rigidity of duty. however, it is his passion that excites her. his eagerness to help is an ever-giving second, third, fourth wind.[break][break]

by the end, dahlia can not help but feel inspired.[break][break]

"that is exactly why i wanted the aqua initiative in the first place." a lie in part. a truth in another. "to protect those who are suddenly bestowed the insurmountable weight of the unknown. people do not need to shoulder these burdensome blessings alone. no. and the people deserve to be safe from those who misuse them."[break][break]

she places her hand on paxton's shoulder.[break][break]

"i am truly appreciative of everything that you do... ah... i am going to be expanding the aqua initiative soon. would you like to be a part of it?"

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"thank you, deputy paxton." so many names, so many influences beyond the pokemon pale. each anecdote is noted, dog-eared by a nod and quiet hum. "ensuring the vulnerable are protected is our utmost priority. rocket nor the drk triad must never get their hands on yuina or hideo."[break][break]

of the primal energies, of draconid blood, the commissioner is throttled with more questions. science takes time, but medicine stretches it. as the understanding of these new phenomena struggles to leave infancy, will discoveries arrive too late?[break][break]

"i still worry about avatarship as a whole." dahlia says. "everything we're experiencing in this era... has never been so interwoven or interlocked. these combinations of phenomena are brand new, like we're a primordial soup being boiled."

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hasty. dahlia wants to tell penelope how hasty she is, how desperate and hungry a beast she is that her pursuant limbs are in danger of collapsing beneath her.[break][break]

but her wish to rush is soon explained by a confession that had once been rooted deep below the earth. the commissioner listens.[break][break]

then asks:[break][break]

"how do you know if that vision is true?" she takes a calculated pause. "was ting-lu hostile to you?"