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Professor Albrecht,[break][break]
Thank you very much for the kind words, and the unexpected gift. Your contribution to our family is most appreciated. I suppose it should not surprise me to hear that some of the Unown currently aiding other Rockets might wish to part with them in favor of joining with me. I do apologize, for I can tell that you cared for your Unown, which I deeply respect. Should you ever feel like visiting your former friend, please pay me a visit. I would also be more than happy to aid you in your own research regarding the Unown - or any other topic, really.[break][break]
Let's get coffee sometime![break][break]
Yours,[break]
Naomi Sato, Head Scientist, The Visionary
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Just some broken bones?[break][break]
Nomi's frown deepened, as did the crease in her brow. She took a sip of coffee, as if to emphasize Nenet's point about her own visible exhaustion.[break][break]
"You were there, too," Nomi realized. It wasn't a question. "The island off Dewford with the mysterious energy." DYNAMAX, they now knew. The same power they'd had access to in the dream of Galar - an experience that was becoming more and more real every day.[break][break]
Nomi eyed Nenet with a curious expression. The other woman was a scientist, but was she really a Ranger, too? And did she know that her boyfriend was with Rocket? Zev was decent at keeping up civilian appearances, but surely a degree of intimacy would lead to at least some of his secrets coming to light. After all, Nenet was a smart woman, and Zev was not necessarily a subtle man.[break][break]
"How did you get injured?"
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Shred was quick to follow orders, which Nomi appreciated. The fierce-looking Dragapult he released, however, was taking far too long to fire its first volley of shots. No time! Nomi thought, heart racing.[break][break]
The Head Scientist grit her teeth and blinked frantically as the sea spray stung her eyes. The Kyogre was gaining on them, and as it opened its giant maw, the vivid blue light she'd seen earlier began to glow brighter and brighter.[break][break]
"The Origin Pulse!" She shouted, slipping across the deck in an effort to grab onto Shred's arm. The leviathan's signature move would destroy their ship, of this she was certain - and though she was loath to leave in case the DRK Triad actually did appear, it would be far worse to be torn apart by Kyogre's wrath. The creature was far more powerful - and far angrier - than Nomi had anticipated.[break][break]
There was only one thing she could do. There was no time to warn Shred, but he would adapt: he was a Beast, wasn't he? Made of stronger stuff than the average man.[break][break]
Or so she hoped.[break][break]
"Kallistatus!" She called out to the shiny Unown-K. "Get us out of here!"[break][break]
With a flash, the Unown yanked Nomi, Shred, and the Dragapult through space-time and into an infinite starry expanse. Galaxies wheeled around them, Unown dancing amidst the glittering multi-colored lights. Everything was serenely peaceful, the raging sea replaced by an unending ethereal silence.[break][break]
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"Welcome to the Unown Dimension!" She announced pleasantly, brushing herself off and standing up straight. "We should be safe here for a time."
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Jayden trembled against her, his breathing coming far too fast for comfort. Concern for his wellbeing spiked, and she turned to Valerian with demanding eyes.[break][break]
The Sylveon nudged Jayden with his nose, then targeted the man with a wave of soothing PSYCHIC energy. At the same time, Nomi ran a gentle hand down Jayden's back in what she hoped was a calming gesture. She did not have much of a practice bedside manner, but her heart ached to see Jayden so distressed - it was her care for him that drove her to do what felt right in that moment.[break][break]
"One breath at a time, Jayden. In. Out. In. Out."[break][break]
She tried to show him, pressing in close so he could feel her own chest rise and fall.[break][break]
"You're going to be okay. Everything will be okay. I'm here."
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She immediately opened the file and began skimming its contents. She was greeted with rows of data charts, energy readings, and notations. Temp had certainly been thorough with his research thus far.[break][break]
"Are you referring to Primal Intoxication?"[break][break]
Nomi's crimson eyes flicked up from the file, mind still half-focused on its contents. He'd mentioned Infinity Energy, but Primal Energy was the culprit behind most Avatar bonds, though there were precious few details regarding the nature of the disease. Some died prematurely from an intense and unexpected surge of primal energy through the body, leading to immediate liver failure.[break][break]
Another topic Nomi was loath to bring up with parker jones. Guilt gnawed at her stomach, and she tried not to think about the grief Parker would feel should Nomi succumb to such a fate.[break][break]
What choice did I have?[break][break]
But the Unown had given her a choice, and she'd accepted, for the very same reason she now worried about Parker.[break][break]
Nomi snapped the file shut.
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Of course she had kept it safe. It was an artifact of mysterious origin that had been entrusted to her by declan walsh. But she could understand Amor's concern. Times were chaotic and their last interaction had been fraught with tension.[break][break]
Nomi pulled out the VIOLET BOOK from a drawer and set it delicately onto her desk. She slid it forward so Amor could see that it was, indeed, still in tact.[break][break]
"I have begun to study its contents, but I have not made much progress yet. I was hoping we could work on it together."[break][break]
She eyed him. Something about his body language was hesitant - apprehensive, even. Kallistatus shimmered into view, drifting over to her shoulder, and she wondered if perhaps Amor was intimidated by her recent Avatarship. He had never been the sort to back down from such things, but...[break][break]
"Amor, I don't hate you," Nomi declared bluntly. No point beating around the bush. "I'm sorry I was short with you at the meeting. It was misdirected stress and frustration." She paused. "Perhaps it was the same for you."
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Proof. Nomi had already begun to believe that what they had experienced at the Ancient Tomb had been real. Twenty years, she thought, humbled. Her conversation with priam conrad had been similarly eye-opening.[break][break]
A complex look came over Admin Bee's face as he contemplated the topic, sapphire eyes staring down at a particular section of the book with something akin to wistful recognition. Did he find happiness there too? She wondered, remembering her own memories of a wedding, strawberry cake, and the home they'd shared - she and Parker. It occurred to her that she did not know all that much about his personal life: who he was when he wasn't fulfilling the duties of a Rocket Admin.[break][break]
"We could certainly see if they are able to read it," Nomi considered, though her tone lacked enthusiasm. It wasn't a bad suggestion, but she doubted they were connected. She tapped her fingers against the work table, half in irritation and half in thought.[break][break]
The book snapped shut, and Nomi's crimson gaze followed Admin Bee's fingers as they caressed the cover.[break][break]
"It must be," she concluded. "A powerful one, would be my guess. It seems there are still quite a few legendary Pokemon out in the universe that we have yet to discover. The ruinous beasts, for example, were originally foreigners to our world. Where they originate from, I do not know." Her mouth turned down in a frown. "I wonder if this Pokemon has as cryptic and sinister an agenda."[break][break]
Her eyes flicked back to Admin Bee. Rocket had two of them as "allies", but they both knew such allegiances were fickle at best. And what of the fourth? Only three were accounted for.
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