The Spotlight only aided in Thomas' surprise attack. As the Rocket's Pokemon suddenly started tearing each other apart, Thomas, and his own, joined the fray.

With a baton extended, Thomas met the Rockets head on, striking them down with decisive strikes, while dodging and deflecting their own weapons. The League forces accompanying him joined in, taking advantage of the sudden infighting caused by the use of Spotlight.

Soon, the battle would quickly turn in favor of the League forces.

The only question was who was responsible for the use of Spotlight?

---

tags: Eris Halla
notes: +10 (Post)

Thomas listened to what the sheriff had to say, and realized that he had a point. Though in all honesty, he was worried less about the masks they'd encounter on the battlefield, but about the masks that went unaccounted for.

Most specifically, the mask of the man he had encountered twice. Both as Wraith, during the battle of Littleroot, and as himself in the Ultra Sea. Though he didn't know it, the mask he was thinking about was that of jayden cross.

"Good point.", Thomas replied to the man. Thomas would flash a hip flask to the man, before quickly putting it away. It was clear that he hadn't opened it, yet. No, he was saving that for the aftermath of the battle.

"Here's to hoping I drink this in celebration of a victory, rather than in lamentation of another defeat.", Thomas told Michael with a dry chuckle.

---

tags: Michael Navidson
notes: +10 (Post)

As Thomas sped towards a boat, a Starmie would greet them. Thomas watched as it charged up a Thunder Wave, attempting to stun the Sharpedo. "Left!", Thomas called out, prompting the Sharpedo to Aqua Jet to the left, dodging the Thunder Wave before it came.

While it didn't paralyze the Sharpedo, it did manage to get the Dark-type's attention, thus buying the boat some time.

From below, the Seaking would see this. Breaking formation, the horned goldfish would attempt to jab the Starmie from below with a Megahorn.

---

tags: Naomi Sato
notes: +10 (Post)

The man on the back of the Genesect was a hard thing to miss, especially when one was looking for aerial threats. The Roaring Moon, and its followers, would fly towards the man on the metallic creature. As it closed in, the Roaring Moon would call in a Sunny Day, clearing the skies of clouds, in order to bring unfettered sunlight down upon the battlefield. Protosynthesis activated, causing the primordial Salamence's muscles to swell.

The Emolga, excited at the prospect of some action, flew ahead of the pack, using Agility to boost his already impressive movement speed up to much greater levels.

---

tags: Tempest Quinn
notes: +10 (Post)

As Thomas examines the bodies, he immediately realizes something is amiss. In stark contrast to the grisly remains discovered earlier, the bodies they examine show no signs of physical trauma. The slight blue tint is also a dead giveaway, as Thomas hurriedly backs away.

By then, it's already too late.

Kazimir Wynter , DESIREE BLOOMS , Elise Calcifet , luka chêne , Aubre McKenna-Settentrione , all of them are overwhelmed and dragged away by the bodies. Thomas, like ryker hayes , managed to back away in time, striking at the nearest Megalopolan in the process. More would attempt to converge onto him, only for Thomas' training to kick in, allowing him to repel the aliens with throws and well-placed strikes.

"Mordred! Change target! Attack the bodies!", Thomas yells to his Ceruledge in sheer desperation.

Thomas can only watch in horror as his friends are dragged off, and he's too slow to save them. The only comfort is that Vanilla Kingsley is spared the same grisly fate.

"Fuck!", Thomas shouts, fist clenched.

Thomas was right. The Megalopolans were responsible for this. And they just walked into its trap.

"Vanilla, I'm so glad you're alright.", he told the younger trainer. "If you need a moment to collect yourself, I won't hold it against you.", he continued.

Interestingly, rather than attack the group, the strange Ursaluna instead ran off into the swamp, as if it was more terrified than angry. Aubre McKenna-Settentrione was right about the Ursaluna, for sure.

Thomas would turn to the remaining members of the group. "Anyone who's got access to Heal Pulse, use it on the bear to calm it!", Thomas attempted to rally them, before making his way deeper into the swamp to deal with the Ursaluna.

Thomas, remembering a jar of Honey he had on him, produced it from his bag. He would approach the Ursaluna, cracking it open, and holding it out to the bear, as a peace offering.

"I don't know if you can understand me. But for what little it's worth, I'm sorry we attacked you. Think of this as a small peace offering.", he called out to the Ursaluna.

oDIdaMl3

---

tags: @tags
notes: The lack of trauma, and blue tint, alerts Thomas
Thomas manages to fend off the bodies
Thomas watches in horror as his friends are grabbed, desperately calling to Ceruledge to change targets
Thomas rallies the remaining party with Heal Pulse access to use it on the Ursaluna to calm it
Thomas offers the Ursaluna a jar of honey he had on him, as well as an apology for the attack
1 Salac Used

The findings that Elise and Alba presented came with more disturbing implications. Allegedly human bones with the marrow sucked out of them. Deleted photos, one of which being the corpses of two of their missing persons.

Thomas turned to Tsubaki.

"So far, we have adhesive poison, bones with the marrow sucked out of them, and now a photo of two corpses. Given the fact that we've had increased Megalopolan sightings in this month alone, and the danger they present, I'm just saying we shouldn't eliminate them as potential suspects.", he'd tell the deputy. "I really hope I'm wrong, though."

Thomas continued on, stepping into the swamp. He internally cursed himself for not bringing along a Pokemon to float or surf on.

Thomas joined the others in examining the bodies. The former Elite Four was looking for signs of electrical trauma, specifically from elecroshock batons. Given his experiences with Megalopolans, it was another sign that they were involved.

As the bear charged, Thomas' Ceruledge charged the bear, Bitter Blades flared and ready to act in Thomas' defense.


sMbBTiwx

---

tags: DESIREE BLOOMS Hyakkaryōran Tsubaki Kazimir Wynter Alba Evovae Elise Calcifet
notes: Thomas examines the new evidence
Thomas responds to Tsubaki
Thomas steps into the swamp to examine the bodies
Ceruledge used Bitter Blade

The Scizor's eyes narrowed in annoyance as his Bullet Punch only managed to graze the Manectric as it hopped back. He had to admit, it was a fast foe. Still, he was determined to end this in a win.

As the Thunder Wave came, the Scizor's reflexes kicked in, leaping to the left to dodge the oncoming blast. The metallic insect barely avoided the Thunder Wave. In retaliation, the Scizor swung his pincers violently, in an attempt to catch the Manectric with a Brutal Swing. Though the swing was 'weak', the technique employed by the insect enhanced its power.

---

tags: Josh Devlin
notes: Scizor dodged Thunder Wave
Scizor used Brutal Swing (Technician boosted)

Thomas punched in her phone number as she read it off to him. Once her information was saved, he'd send her a simple text reading "test."

The notification of her phone confirmed that he punched it in correctly. Just like her, he just labeled her by her first name.

"So far, I haven't really suffered any negative symptoms, and neither has the Tauros. I'll need to check in with the Rangers later, but it doesn't seem to be spread through being stung.", he'd remark.

"You're right.", Thomas admitted, thinking back on all the corrupt officials he dealt with in his prior career.

"Duty calls?", Thomas asked her. "I'll leave you to it, then. It was good to finally see you again.", he'd tell his cousin warmly.

"And for the love of Xerneas, don't be a stranger! Come by and visit us!", he'd playfully chastise her.

---

tags: Lydia Magnusson
notes: tl;dr

"Thank you. Though I was looking for little details, like if the attacker in question left behind any claw or bite marks. And if said markings line up with known specimens.", the Kalosian addressed Tsubaki.

"She's right, things are looking grim for our missing travelers.", he'd agree with the teenager.

With the group assembled, Thomas and Mordred would carefully navigate the area. Using the light of the Zorua's Will-O-Wisps, Thomas would slowly make his way over. That was, until Kazimir called out to him. Thomas made his way over to the vigilante, taking note of the sludge. Rather than stick his boot in it, Thomas instead grabbed a nearby branch, poking the sludge, only to find that the stick got stuck in it. Like the poison was adhesive.

"Shit.", Thomas blurted out. "Whatever you all do, stay out of the sludge!", he'd warn the group.

When he saw Desiree and Tsubaki examining the severed ear, he'd rush over. Despite the grisly sight before him, Thomas stayed composed. The fact that the bud was still playing music, that the MP3 player still had a charge, meant that the attack couldn't have been that long ago.

"Desiree, we found sticky sludge in the area. The hallmark of the Poipole family of Ultra Beasts. If that's the case, then Megalopolans might be involved. Whatever did this could be acting under the influence of Nihilego's Neurotoxins.", he'd tell the pink-haired woman.

Mordred, looming over the group, would Bulk Up in anticipation for a fight.

F9YkyxsU

---

tags: DESIREE BLOOMS Hyakkaryōran Tsubaki Kazimir Wynter
notes: Thomas responds to Tsubaki
Thomas agrees that the missing people might be fucked
Thomas and Ceruledge carefully navigate the area
Thomas tests the sludge with a nearby branch
Thomas warns everyone to stay out of the sludge
Thomas rushes to join Desiree and Tsubaki under the bridge
Thomas elaborates on the Ultra Beast toxins to Desiree
Ceruledge used Bulk Up