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Though Legion was able to free Nomi's feet from the STICKY GLOB, they weren't able to do it fast enough for her to avoid getting crushed by the collapsing cavern ceiling. The young scientist stared up at her doom, crimson eyes widening with fear, frantically trying to think of a way to escape - realizing there wasn't one, she accepted her fate. Crouching down with hands over her head, Legion hiding beneath her, she squeezed her eyes shut and waited for the crushing impact of the falling rocks. In the end, she felt oddly calm.[break][break]
Seconds passed. No pain. No crushing rocks. She cracked an eye open.[break][break]
A shimmering barrier had been erected, its protective force surrounding Nomi and Legion. Rocks were falling, but they weren't hitting her. What? She looked around, confused, then locked eyes with ollie morales. His Venasaur had Mega-Evolved at the last second and saved her - despite the fact that she'd been fighting him mere moments earlier. She blinked, then nodded respectfully at the League operative and his Pokémon. Whoever he was, she was now in his debt.[break][break]
They needed to get out of here, abandon the fight. She returned Legion and released Shade. The Marshadow's orange eyes glowed ember-hot in the shadowy environment of the Ultra Deep Sea. "Get us out," she commanded. A sudden dark energy coalesced around her, the PHANTOM FORCE teleporting her out of danger and away from the battle. She reappeared on top of the cliff she and Oscar had originally stood upon, watching the League men below. She let out a relieved breath; that had been a close one[break][break]
Suddenly, the hair on her arms stood up, Nomi's entire body buzzing as a massive electric current filled the entire canyon. She gasped, watching as Remiel Calcifet summoned the great black dragon, the legendary Zekrom. Zekrom grants him the ability to summon electricity, channel it through a human body, Nomi thought eagerly. Could she replicate such power with enough Electric Tera energy? She tried to take in every detail of the avatar's body as the lightning crackled around him, drinking in the sight with curious eyes.[break][break]
Then she remembered oscar clayton was down there. They really did need to leave, regroup and recover before trying again to find Seal Stones. Hopefully he'd be able to make it out and join her on the cliff.

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Isaac's trust meant more to Nomi than he would ever know.[break][break]
Unable to suppress her excitement, keen eyes shining eagerly, Nomi began flipping a few switches on her machine. It hummed to life with a whirring sound. Nomi gathered up the wires that protruded from the sides of the device, scurrying around the cart to where Isaac sat.[break][break]
"I'm going to attach these to you, okay? Let me know if anything feels uncomfortable." She smiled encouragingly.[break][break]
At the end of each wire, there was a suction cup that had been designed specifically to stick to human skin. She attached two to Isaac's forehead, just above each eye (or, well, where one eye should be and where one watched her expectantly). Two more just under each ear, right where his hairline met his neck. Two more on his chest, one right above the heart. And finally, one on each wrist.[break][break]
Nomi surveyed her work. Then she touched her hand to a dial just below the basket where the Tera crystal had been attached to the device.[break][break]
"I'm going to start the experiment," she explained to Isaac, voice taking on a careful...almost gentle tone. "As the Tera energy flows into your body, it might...hurt." It pained her to have to say it. She didn't want to hurt him. But...well. Sometimes there was no avoiding hardship in the face of discovery.[break][break]
He'd consented. That's what mattered.[break][break]
"If at any moment you want to stop, we can stop."[break][break]
Isaac is strong. One of the bravest people I know.[break][break]
With the firm resolve of a scientist who's life's work was on the line, she turned the dial. The Normal Tera Shard began to glow a bright white. The machine began to whine louder at it channeled the Tera energy into Isaac's body.[break][break]
Please work.

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Nomi's eyes snapped open.[break][break]
She gasped, sitting up with a jolt. Frantically, she brought her hands to her face, feeling for her mask. The black fabric was still firmly in place, everything she had done to hide her identity holding strong. She breathed a deep sigh of relief. Professor Graves had not attempted to unmask her. She did not have to worry about the fallout of someone from her civilian life finding out she was a member of Team Rocket.[break][break]
But where was Professor Graves? Nomi glanced around, body sore from lying inert for several long minutes on the rocky seafloor. Beside her, Shade was waking up, as well, bright orange eyes blinking sleepily. And above both of them, the Unown-K floated silently, the singular sentinel that had watched over them while they'd slept. Nomi felt a surge of gratitude for the little symbol Pokemon; when given the chance, it had not fled to its own dimension or abandoned her. She had thoroughly earned its trust, it seemed.[break][break]
Droplets of blood were all that remained of GIDEON GRAVES. The museum curator and his Slowking were gone. As she got shakily to her feet, dream mist twirling around her ankles, Nomi wondered if he would survive his trip to the Ultra Deep Sea, find his way to the surface - back to Hoenn.[break][break]
He was a good man, who did not deserve to die alone in a strange, unearthly realm. Unfortunately, his fate was no longer in her hands. And she had more work to do. She would find those Seal Stones, no matter who stood in her way.

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Unfortunately, the PROTECT that had been put up around Zev and his Infernape did not actually do anything to safeguard its tiny owners. The Terrakion's SACRED SWORD came crashing down, its legendary force far too great for the little Maushold to withstand. With a series of painful squeaks, they fainted, forcing Nomi to return them to their Pokeball with another grunt of frustration.[break][break]
"This isn't working," Nomi shouted to Zev. "We need to get out of here and regroup!"[break][break]
She didn't wait around to hear his answer, instead bolting away from the wall of stone they had been attempting to clear and scrambling back towards the mouth of the cave. She was confident a Beast as experienced at Zev would be able to get himself out of his current predicament.[break][break]
The terrain wasn't exactly easy to traverse, but miraculously, Nomi managed to find her way to the outside. Panting, hands on her knees, she glared at the cave with narrowed crimson eyes. Damn, she thought. They'd have to find another way into the Ultra Deep Sea. Hopefully it wouldn't be too late to beat the League to whatever Seal Stones laid hidden within.

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Though Lulu had turned to leave, Nomi lingered, staring at the seafloor where the mist was fading away. The paradox was nowhere to be seen, and Nomi felt a twinge of disappointment at its absence. I'm going to figure out what they really are, she resolved. A part of her simply wanted to be on equal footing with Holo, who's otome route had suggested the DRK Triad member was already well-acquainted with the otherworldly creatures of the Interdream Zone.[break][break]
Val nudged her leg. As if shaking herself from a dream, Nomi absently pet his head in acknowledgement, then followed after Lulu.

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Parker tensed, looked away. Nomi froze, sensing the other woman's sudden discomfort. Did I say the wrong thing? Silence fell over them. Fool, she chastised herself, the memory of the mocking dream-mist-Parker-voice asserting just how unattracted she was to someone like Nomi echoing loudly in her mind. She doesn't care about you or your stupid science.[break][break]
Her science wasn't stupid, but never had Nomi felt more ashamed of her passion than in that moment. She'd trade all the brains in the world for Parker to actually look at her like she was worth a damn.[break][break]
Nomi cleared her throat, feeling unbearably awkward. She scooted away, giving Parker space, a cold rush of air filling the gap between them. "Brunch sounds nice," she murmured softly, making a small joke out of Parker's comment about which meal-time it must be, masking her embarrassment behind an innocuously pleasant smile.[break][break]
Nomi stood, gathered up her bag. Digital map in hand, she held out a hand to help Parker up. She glanced at Amulius, assuming he would assist. Val yawned, loath to leave what could have been a good napping opportunity; reluctantly, he stretched and got to his feet.[break][break]
"I'll get you to the portal," Nomi assured. You, not us. When they reached it, Nomi would part ways with Parker, despite the temptation to find food on the outside. She still had work to do and...Parker probably didn't want to hang out with her longer than she had to, anyway.

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Several things happened at once.[break][break]
Electricity crackled and whined as Oscar and Remiel battled nearby. Globs of sludge rained down from above, slamming into Trillium and throwing off his flight pattern. Luckily, the SAFEGUARD prevented him from being poisoned and his Terastallized state boosted his overall resilience. Dazed, but mostly unharmed.[break][break]
Nomi, however, was unable to avoid the STICKY GLOB that was expertly hurled right at her feet.[break][break]
"Oh, gross," she exclaimed as the gooey substance spread across her feet. She tried - and failed - to pull her legs out of it. It seemed she had been successfully trapped, unable to advance on her League opponent. Frustrated, she considered her options. Reluctantly, she pulled out a Pokeball and returned Trillium, loath to give up his SUNNY DAY-powered attacks, but realizing that getting out of her current predicament was critical if she didn't want to get captured by the League.[break][break]
A new Pokeball opened with a flash of light. Legion appeared, all three mice staring up at Nomi with beady, expectant eyes. "Get me out of this!" She pointed at the goo locking her feet to the seafloor. With a cacophony of squeaks, they began to TIDY UP.

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A rare moment of vulnerability from Elisabeth. A sudden connection formed in Nomi's mind as she listened to the other woman speak. So you're addicted to your own destruction? How much of that bizarre speed dating otome route had been real, Nomi still wasn't entirely sure
- but one thing was for certain: her companion seemed to be the sort of woman who did not shy away from that which terrified her.[break][break]
"We have only just begun to study the Interdream Zone and all that it is capable of. One thing we do know: the things that manifest there are very real, and very dangerous." Nomi's tone was practical, even as she pictured the volatile paradox Pokémon she and Lulu Flint had recently fought. An abomination, Lulu had called it.[break][break]
Nomi squinted, trying to pick out the details of the object Elisabeth had pointed out. It had the right color to it, but...they were too far away to know for certain whether it was a Seal Stone. They would need to advance. "I cannot see if it has any markings. We need to get closer."[break][break]
In anticipation of a conflict with the League, Nomi turned to Ginger. "Keep them out," she commanded. The Alolan Raichu hopped forward and pressed her paws to the ground. Her eyes flashed bright gold, and the ground began to crackle with electricity as ELECTRIC TERRAIN was activated.

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Of course the Terrakion - a legendary Pokémon - would be able to snipe each and every rock falling from the ceiling. With precision, it took care of the threat in less than a minute. Damn, she thought, frustrated. At least the ground had stopped trembling. With better footing, she could gain some higher ground and catch up with --[break][break]
Zev Harcourt was covered in some kind of sticky substance, trapped in place, the other League agent rushing at him despite the Beast's clever usage of STEALTH ROCKS. Nomi returned Shade to his pokeball, their initial plan foiled, then released Legion. "Help him," she sighed, pointing at Zev, her patience wearing thin. Their attempt at entering the Ultra Deep Sea wasn't working as they'd intended...perhaps they'd actually underestimated the League's forces.[break][break]
The Maushold scurried across the rocks, nimble enough to move quickly despite the impediments, until it was standing next to Zev's Infernape. With a series of encouraging squeaks, it put up a PROTECT around Nomi's allies.

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The Unown-K was blown backwards by the force of the explosion, blinking out of existence to avoid additional damage, then re-appearing next to Nomi in retreat. Nomi, however, was also knocked forwards onto her knees - close enough to the blast to be affected despite her successful teleport. Shade, luckily, seemed unaffected.[break][break]
Face full of dream mist, Nomi's eyelids began to droop. The YAWN was taking effect. She would drift off to sleep in moments. Lazily, she rolled into a sitting position, back against a nearby rock. As her eyes closed, she sleepily gazed out at GIDEON GRAVES, anxiety settling in the pit of her stomach as she desperately hoped he would remain too spooked to decide to unmask her. Get out of here, Professor, she willed. Please. It's for your own good...[break][break]
Darkness took her. Beside Nomi, Shade floated to the ground, the Marshadow also falling into a deep sleep. The Unown-K stared down at its companions with its single, watchful eye. Steadfast, it stood its ground, the sole remaining protector of Rocket's head scientist as she succumbed to the YAWN, dream mist coalescing ominously around her inert body.

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Nomi let out a small sigh of relief as Parker consented to being guided over to the cluster of boulders. With the same care she might use to handle a particularly delicate sample in the lab, she helped Parker take a seat, resting her back against the stone. It wouldn't be very comfortable, but it would be better than standing, at least. Val curled up next to Parker, resting his head in her lap, uncharacteristically affectionate. Nomi raised her eyebrow, surprised at his behavior. Usually, Valerian was prickly with anybody who tried to get too close to Nomi but it seemed Parker had made it onto his very exclusive "preferred humans" list.[break][break]
Nomi glanced at Amulius, but when it didn't seem like the Blaziken was going to sit any time soon, Nomi took a seat on Parker's other side. She dug into her pack, being careful to avoid cutting herself on any sharp Tera crystal edges, then pulled out a small digital tablet. "I have been here several times, actually," Nomi explained. "For research." She didn't need to mention that one of those expeditions had nearly resulted in her untimely death. Parker was already spooked enough by the Ultra Deep Sea.[break][break]
"I helped compile a report on the Seal Stone that was found by Rocket, the one that motivated Walsh to send troops of us down here." She smiled proudly. "I worked hard to become one of Rocket's head scientists. Going on missions like this is expected of me." She paused. "And to be honest, I'm...not all that afraid of it." She blushed a little, wondering if Parker might think her strange moreso than brave.[break][break]
She pulled up the map on her screen. It was imperfect - an amalgamation of various coordinates Rocket had been able to compile based on just a handful of successful expeditions - but if she was reading it right...[break][break]
She scooched closer to Parker in order to show her the map. "I think we're here," she pointed. "Not that far from the Granite Cave portal, actually..." Shoulders touching, the warmth of Parker's body noticeable in the general chill of the environment, Nomi suddenly realized just how close they were. Her blush deepened.

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Nomi was not convinced. Parker winced every time she sucked in a breath, stiffened as Nomi continued to hold her hands, seemed to be standing out of sheer stubborn determination rather than any sort of wellbeing. She'd been limping along in an aimless fashion when Nomi had found her. She looked bone-weary to a degree that anyone less tough would have passed out by now. It had to be more than bruised ribs.[break][break]
"You don't seem fine," Nomi insisted, gentle tone giving way to genuine anxiety. She glanced around, spied a cluster of boulders a few feet away. "Why don't we just rest for a bit by those rocks?" Her eyes were pleading. You don't have to pretend with me, she wanted to say, but instead she suggested: "We can look at my map together, figure something out."[break][break]
Carefully, gingerly - so very, very gingerly - Nomi tugged Parker in the direction of the makeshift oasis - hardly anything comforting given their surroundings, but at least there wasn't dream mist leaking out of it. Val nudged Parker's leg with his nose - affectionately - encouraging her to follow Nomi.[break][break]

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"We will know because I helped compile a report on the Seal Stone discovered by priam conrad," Nomi smiled confidently up at Elisabeth Fiorelli from where she kneeled on the cave floor, examining a small crack in the rock. Thin whisps of dream mist leaked from it like pinkish-purple tears. Nomi let it twirl around her fingers, unconcerned. She knew it could be quite dangerous after her experience with Lulu Flint fighting a real paradox Pokemon, but this amount of mist would not be enough to summon such an abomination. At least, she didn't think so.[break][break]
Either way, it was a clue, and they needed to follow the trail no matter how perilous.[break][break]
"There is a connection between the dream mist and the Seal Stones, we know that much," Nomi continued to explain to her companion. "The stones themselves should be rectangular but with rounded edges...and little blue stones in their centers..." Ginger twitched her tail, anxious. The Alolan Raichu was keeping an eye out while Nomi worked; she seemed to think there might be trouble nearby.[break][break]
Apparently, there was.[break][break]
"A member of the Elite Four?" Nomi considered. "Yes, we will go deeper in. We'll just have to be especially on our guard."

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