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Paxton nearly kept walking, footsteps hesitating before coming to a full stop. He'd just finished a small sync meeting and had been heading back to his department to send out a couple of reminder emails. He hadn't heard that voice in a while. Cold professionalism had been the only thing left between the pair in the few interactions they'd had, with Paxton avoiding seeing him altogether if he could manage it. his tight schedules had become even tighter, not bothering to seek out Gunner and instead limit their exposure to each other [break][break]

Safe to say, he didn't expect him to call out to him like that. Not that it was hard to find him. Paxton had usual routes he took from between HBIC and the League HQ. His calendar was easy to follow with most that needed him having access to seeing it. [break][break]

"Graves." he greeted, retreating into himself as he waited for the taller agent to catch up. The request to talk is nearly ignored, with Paxton's eyes moving to the conference room and then back down the hall to the safety of his office. But he was curious. And frankly, he simply missed talking to his friend. This had been the first time they'd tried to reach out. He didn't have it in him to snub him. "Of course." [break][break]

He untucked the folders he'd secured under his arm and moved for the conference room, setting his papers down before pulling out the usual notebook and pen. A habit he couldn't kick if he tried. "What's your concern?" he asked.

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Little by little, pieces of information are uncovered and distributed. Like once upon a dream, faction lines blur and humans come together to work towards a common goal. Their ceasefire is unspoken, and tentative until they either survive or all die. Strange things happen over the course of days, and despite their attempts, the exchange of miniscule clues and changes helps maintain hope. Paxton focuses on his work, checking in with his colleagues when he can and shoring up strength for what is iminent. Tension is building. Something is going to happen and they all must prepare for it. [break][break]

A strange voice infects his subconscious. He hears it in the calm spots. The packed ride down to the feeding pit, the silence during a meals. At first he thinks it's hallucinations or one of the other prisoners but eventually the message is clear. The tera crystals once used to show them other wards now shine brightly with stored energy. His body is tense, agitated energy pooling in his gut as they begin the day's routine again. [break][break]

A cooling sensation floods through his system, clears his mind, and eases some of the tension in his shoulders. The path forward will become clear soon enough. They just have to be willing to take it. He exchanges a silent look with PETRA MONROE , seeing if she felt that change too. He looks for those in his ward: Greyson Connors , Elise Calcifet , Noel Parker , and even Remiel Calcifet to see if anything is different with them. WILLPOWER seems to ripple through all of them. Invisible, but leaving behind the slightest of change in stance, in demeanor. To the wardens perhaps it's just a new day and a new brave face. He hopes anyway. As he moves forward, the toxic chain around him moves as well, adjusting to his steps rather than simply trying to choke him out. He doesn't have long to wonder why as the chains become a strange extension of himself. Every beat of his heart is another weird link falling right into place. Ownership over the chain is handed to him, somehow. Who knows how long it'll last. [break][break]

A riot sparks. "We outnumber them!" he shouts as the action begins and the humans begin trying to overthrow their captors. As Okidogi and the megalopolans begin their attempts to subdue everyone, the chains previously holding him captive morph and move according to his desires: PROTECTION. The only way he knew how. He doesn't even realize it's happening until two chains arc above him like a scorpion's tail, and two below anchor him to the ground. Sharpened ends aim at Okidogi's chain, its head, its knees- before firing off soundlessly with a pulse of unrestrained power. The recoil threatened to throw him back were it not for the chains underneath steadying him. [break][break]


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"Of course it'd come back to this." he snorted, eyes forward as he pressed his back to a wall. The shots don't take out Okidogi. There's too many variables happening right now. But it's pressure he intended to keep. "Get on the platforms, I'll help cover!" he yelled, aiming to help his colleagues maneuver the guards and their warden away from the elevator platform and allow them access to the hells below. [break][break]

Adrenaline surges through his body, numbing and tampering out the various bruises and breaks in him. The stray surge of WILLPOWER allows him to concentrate, and focus. He sees shadows somehow come to life under Cillian Quinn 's control, and snake around guards that Paxton is more than willing to shoot. Unfortunately, if they aren't with them, they are against them, despite the conversations inside the dream world. But they can't hesitate right now. [break][break]

Bright light spreads from Elise's own ability as she helps her cell mate onto the platform. He looks to his own cellmate, PETRA MONROE , and gives her a nod. "Go!" There's no room for argument before he turns back to the task at hand and fires another chain link, severing a guard's own chain. Moving through the lower floors and scrambling towards the feeding pit he tries to find the others he's met in his dreams. [break][break]

Chaos follows the prisoners and he tries to seek out annalise henderson and PENELOPE LIVY . He finds the council woman near illeana reyes and moves to follow. Paxton picks off a couple of blinded guards, thanks to the work of another bald prisoner ( BARNABY FINCH ). "Keep going I've got h-" he shouted at the professor before noting something strange in the ripples around her. "Wait!" he shouted, feeling his stomach twist before grabbing PENELOPE LIVY 's wrist and yanking her back. His own chain flies backwards, attempting to put distance between him and Illie as her own ability explodes outwards, melting and corroding the guards that had suddenly swarmed her.


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"Illie, they're gonna need you up front!" he shouted, awkward smile despite the terrifying after effects of her powers. He looked to Penelope, ready to assist. "I've got your back. Whatever you need." [break][break]

---

TOXIC CHAIN ABILITY: TRIPOD
The toxic chains that previously were attached to his neck, wrists, and ankles move and slide to a bundle around his waist. The chains seem to form a strange knot at the base of Paxton's spine before extending outwards. The ends of the chain are sharp, powerful points that can be pointed at a target before the last links are shot with incredible precision. Due to the power of the projectile, two other tendrils flow downward, stabbing into the ground for leverage. Once the last, sharpened chain link is fired, the next link warps and sharpens to take its place, ready to fire once more. Firing works best stationary, losing significant range and power when down while moving and unsecured. Additionally, the lower chains may be used to assist in mobility, striking or grabbing past gaps.



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"Alright." He said. Joules takes position across from the Ranger pair, glowing bright yellow. A small aoe on the sand joins them as Joules sets up ELECTRIC TERRAIN while Paxton gives the Magnezone a pat on the metal. Unlike most days, he's neither dressed in slacks and button ups, or thick leathers and body armor. For the desert heat, he dons the fading white cast of sunscreen on his skin, a t-shirt, and joggers. His walking shoes and socks carefully set next to his belongings on top of a folded up blankets they'd yet to set up. [break][break]

Annalise had asked to spar, and the gym hadn't had enough space. An official pitch was also out of the question on such short notice, but it'd been worth the try. The desert was their next best bet, with more than enough open space for aerial battle between the two of them. Also, he knew it best, spending enough time out here on his own regardless. Additionally, the sand would make for great resistance training.[break][break]

Joules finishes setting up and Paxton moves to the side stretching his arms above his head until he felt something pop. "Remember how to tap out." is the only warning he gives before he takes off on the sand, sprinting straight at his companion. [break][break]

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Fernando's instincts would prove correct. Paxton meets his eyes as well already releasing a pokemon as a few menaces stomped through the darkness. Purple and orange lights blink and glitter against the exposed wall of tera crystal as the beginnings of a horde of clashing Iron Moths and Iron Jugulis smash each other against the walls of the cavern. The metal dual types chasing each other as the others attempt to flee. [break][break]

A group of battered Iron Jugulis screech, their magenta gazes pointed at the two explorers. As the one taking point fires off a barrage of AIR CUTTER, Paxton's partner sets up a quick PROTECT shield. It begins to crack almost immediately. "Looks like a territory dispute. We should move out of their way for now." he said quickly, hand on another pokeball should the councilman decide to hold their ground.

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The upheaval and aftermath of PRIMEVAL had lit the fire under Hoenn's ass. Annalise pushing for training was one of the few positives. Everything else was…well rough. The Champion MIA, the one held responsible still in his position. There'd been some change in MATIAS SILPH ’ mental state but no telling if it could slip at any time. Especially with the only person able to stabilize him missing. [break][break]


Annalise is a small break from those thoughts. She’d checked in on him soon after the events at Mt. Chimney and asked for a sparring session. He’d already been planning an outing to the desert after he left the hospital, so he simply brought her along with him. Standing in the shadow of a mesa, Joules beeped excitedly, having done a small lap around the immediate vicinity before settling back next to their trainer. No danger at the moment. [break][break]


“We should be good here to set up for our break later.” he said, leaning his belongings against the rock wall. “One v one right?” he added as Joules floated, magnets spinning eagerly while Paxton set aside some potions for the aftermath of their bout.

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Seeing his comrades improved his mood, rather than dampened it. Terrible circumstances not withstanding, they had a way to communicate thhroughout all this. And through that they could exchange ifnormation. The megalopolans were the same it seemed, able to communicate through the dreamm, though long having given up escaping. He fears for the day he became like them. For now, Paxton keeps his options open. He's a rat in a maze, and he will find the Big Cheese. [break][break]

When they're all ushered out for morning again, they're all subjected to the strange humiliation. Paxton felt his body yanked forward and his mouth opening against his control. He shook, trying to fight the urge, trying to retake power over himself but couldn't. Panic set in as he watched the easily silly display of strength from his fellow ward mates. At some point, Paxton does what he does best and lets the cheers and even his own voice fade to static. The steady chant of it all beginning not become white noise, eyes blanking out. Until the chain strangles him for his mind's own attempts to escape and he's brought back to the horrible reality that he can do nothing but repeat and laugh. [break][break]

He zones in on the strange orange boulder, but can't really quite place where it'd come from. Had something like that been anywhere in Hoenn? Maybe the desert? He can't recall. The humiliation ends and they are allowed to work. Out of curiosity, and finding it the only stimulating thing near him, Paxton makes for the ORANGE BOULDER trying to figure out anything about it. He wasn't an expert at geology, but maybe he could figure out what the orange thing was made of. After all, they were possibly underground or nearby Area Zero with all these tera crystals about. Maybe he'd remember something form his excursions. [break][break]

Soon enough it's meal time, and soon enough he falls asleep again. Truly, the only rest they received even if it was uncomfortable. He felt his sense of self being chipped away at. His mind and body acclimating to the horrors and becoming pliant as they recoiled form any kind of suffering. They needed to escape. There's still work to be done. So he made his rounds, moving quickly to try to find as many people as he could, exchanging what he knew and trying to write it all down. In the dream, he still has a pocketbook of detaisl and conversations they have. Hoepfully, he'd remember it all in the waking world. [break][break]

He finds PENELOPE LIVY at some point, trying to pick a spot to meet up and exchange information. Or, well mostly, he just wants to check up on her. He'd seen her briefly in the feeding bowl, and now in the dream. He wasn't sure how well she was doing, but he was willing to offer comfort, if any at all. He hadn't seen ollie morales or Gunner Graves , and he was starting to think they'd been spared the sentence. [break][break]

Next he moves close to the tower to look over Azelf. Like the reports form Dawn of the Darkest Day, the blue pixie was still injured, the red jewel jagged and uneven from what he could see. He tries to get closer to see if he can wake it up. He wonders, offhand, if it's presence was a reason why it was so hard for the Megalopolans to keep some control of themselves. If it wasn't just the torture the wardens inflicted, but perhaps a combination of the strange mochi and the Azelf's domain of will power somehow. Why else would they want it, if not for that? [break][break]

At one point during the weekly visits to Azelf, he's met with priam conrad . They seem a little eccentric, but overall alright in these conditions. [break][break]

"You're...mark is pulsing and it's pulsed before around...?"[break][break]

"All kinds of weird things. Giant Celesteela, seal stone in Ultra Deep Sea-" [break][break]

"And it's suddenly pulsing again...right now?" [break][break]

He'd never really heard of something like that, but everything's possible in Hoenn at this point. It doesn't cross his mind that Priam is lying. What would be the point. He can even look at it. Diligently, he takes his notes. As he does he explains what he thinks is happeing to them to Priam, along with some detiasl from the Weakling ward. [break][break]

"I think we're deep undergroudn inside Area Zero. If they need this many bodies to mine tera crystals, their mining operation can't be to ofar off. And if that's the case, your mark might be pulsing against Regirock's dynergy signature. Maybe it's getting closer. Monitor it. I'll try to find you later on." he said offering a thumbs up as he closed the notebook, and gave the mark one last glance. [break][break]

When he wakes form these sessions he casts glances at PETRA MONROE , to see how she was faring with her injuries. [break][break]



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The creature makes it out of the bushes with ease. Paxton and his partner share a look as they curl up, dirtied, around the fire. "Streenstrup I think-" but the Octopus is moving, blasting the stranger with water and dousing off most of whatever had it had rolled in. His Octillery looked ready to wring out the stranger but Paxton raised a hand to let her settle down. [break][break]

"Hey, you ok?" He asked, squinting as the flicker of flames and the lack of mud gave them a better picture of what they were dealing with. A kid? Definitely young but...how much? "You lost, kid?" he asked before beginning to rifle through his belongings for a spare towel or blanket. So much for relaxation away from civilization. It seemed like humanity had managed to find him regardless of his desire to be alone.

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Paxton is relived when they're all herded away, but he does turn when he hears the chains move and the gorging of mochi begin. He wonders if after too long they'll all become like that. He spies his cellmate, PETRA MONROE , and moves to help her back up and out. Despite the shivering, he pushes through it as they all shamble back to their cells in new clothes. The slight peach scent is nice but surreal in this situation. He eats what he's served, having no other choice when it came to conserving his strength. "You c an have the cot." he said, gentle words muffle by the mask as he helped lead the injured back to the small bed. [break][break]

"I'm pretty good at taking naps on the toilet." he added as he stood up. He waits for Petra to be sure to do her business and he does the same before sighing and attempting to find a comfortable spot on the floor. [break][break]

His sleep comes slowly but it thankfully comes. He awakens in the neon city, on a bench. The open skies and neon lights are a jarring change, but at least he's not masked nor chained. He stands, finds himself rather lucid in this dream, and begins to explore. It's not long before he finds the city's population. Megalopolans walk unchained but also don't attack. He finds Joules, and feels immense relief. He doesn't know the state of his partner or the rest of his team, but seeing Joules even like this is some positive of the dream. [break][break]

When he finds annalise henderson , and illeana reyes meeting with Greyson Connors and THEO BECKETT , he feels the gravity of the dream sort of change. After gathering what he could he begins to find others wandering about trying to spread the information of his ward and pulling at details from the other wards. He seeks out PENELOPE LIVY , having chanced a glance at her in the feeding bowl. She was worse for wear then, hopefully this place doesn't fully break her.

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"Got it. I'll keep that in mind." Paxton said, nodding at the pair before glancing over at THEO BECKETT. He gives pause, eyes narrowing and hackles rising. Greyson moves to confront the Underboss, but Annalise steps forward. [break][break]

His eyes immediately narrow at Annalise before movement catches his eye. "Thank you for your intel. I need to check in on PENELOPE LIVY, if I can find her." He turns away to go find the Councilwoman. "I'm not here to fight Rocket. Just gather intel." But he doesn't care if anybody listens, already moving away quickly.

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