[attr="class","box3"]



Tension is felt even by the spectral dragon, its narrow eyes searching the ship’s halls for any potential threats. Within its hollow horns, the Dreepy hide, refusing to even peek out despite their usual curiosity. In understanding, a gloved hand pets the Dragapult’s neck, and softly, it trills, its Illumina pattern pulsating.

[break][break]

“I will keep you safe… and Xanthos can get us out of here if needed.” Mars whispers in response to BARNABY FINCH, yet the unease he feels at merely having to rely on his Pokémon for something like this is something he knows he can’t hide from his lover. On their own as they are, his hand finds that of the admin, his grip tightening just as they approach the boiler room…

[break][break]

It’s warm. Humid. Even more than before. Even more than in any other place they’ve seen in this realm that seems to exist underwater. The walls here are appear to be alive too, but this is somehow not even the most disconcerting part of it all.

[break][break]

It’s the eggs.

[break][break]

Hundreds if not thousands. Gelatinous and attached to the floor, walls, machinery, and even ceiling. There’s other living formations too, what Mars can only assume are young Nihilego in various stages of development: planula, polyps, and perhaps even strobila (if Nihilego are anything like Frillish and other Cnidaria, that is). They’re calm, dormant, and incapable of attacking, but just in case, Mars steps forward before Barnaby.

[break][break]

Reaching for his earpiece, he uses their comms to call to Cillian Quinn and @micah:

[break][break]

“Gavin. We found their breeding ground. There's hundreds of eggs. I’ll start working on collecting samples while we wait for you two.” By samples he mostly means eggs, since the collection of other matter can likely be left to Ceri Glynn’s assistant. Once the transmission is over, he looks at Barnaby, letting go then. “Watch my back. I’ll try to make this quick.”

[break][break]

The underboss gets to work, ever one for efficiency. He kneels by the nearest clutch, but it soon becomes clear that just pulling an egg away without damaging it will be challenging. The eggs are firmly stuck together, and the blade he carries with him only ends up sticking to the viscous fluid around them. At moments like these Mars wishes he could use his abilities to create another.

[break][break]

Without another blade and wary of using Pokémon moves on the fragile eggs, he resorts to the DEEP SEA SCALE they had brought with them, finding it to be surprisingly effective. The cuts are precise, almost surgical in nature, however, when an egg is carefully remove and put in the incubator being carried by his Dragapult, some of the liquid that had held it appears to evaporate into strange fumes.

[break][break]

“Don’t breath that in.” He warns Barnaby.

[break][break]
Thankfully, they have respirators, but perhaps those of a Sygna Suit are much more effective than Rocket’s standard gear for Ultra Space exploration.
[break][break]

---

TLDR;
[break]+ Mars and Barnaby reach boiler room full of what he assumes are Nihilego eggs
[break]+ Tells Gavin and Micah about it over comms
[break]+ Decides to take one as sample and puts it in incubator brought by Dragapult
[break]+ Fumes are released by clutch when egg is removed, warns Barnaby not to breath it in
[break]
[break]PROMPTS;
[break]🗺️ The deep sea scale must be used in a pivotal way to cut through particular material (organic or inorganic). this can be used offensively, defensively, to rescue someone, to access an area, etc.
[break]🗺️ SPECIAL HUNT: MARTÍN DEL MAR and GAVIN MERLINO will be able to encounter and catch a NIHILEGO or POIPOLE (one or the other); they may reflavor this to a stolen egg that will hatch on their own terms.