[attr="class","gideon-words"]



As the assault continued, aerial acrobatics ensued. Morpho weaved, dipped, bobbed, dove, spun — whatever it took to evade all of the AIR SLASHES coming their way without throwing their rider off their back. They probably would have succeeded, in fact, if it wasn't for GIDEON GRAVES's bulk.[break][break]

The professor was too much of a hindrance, slowed their flight to the perfect debilitating degree. An AIR SLASH hit the transformed DITTO's left wing, causing it to roar in pain.[break][break]

The pair abruptly descended, back into the thick smoke.[break][break]

Had they made it far enough to escape their pursuer?

[attr="class","gideon-notes"]

[break]
• postdormitum: clash[break]
• DITTO transformed into CHARIZARD[break][break]

TOTAL: 500 MP[break]
+ 50 MP for participation in a PD battle/mission[break]
+ 10 MP per IC post in a PD battle/mission[break]
+ 10 MP per IC post in a PD battle/mission[break]
+ 10 MP per IC post in a PD battle/mission[break]
+ 10 MP per IC post in a PD battle/mission[break]
+ 10 MP per IC post in a PD battle/mission[break]
+ 100 MP for completing a PD mission[break]
+ 300 MP for "losing" a PD mission[break]

[attr="class","gideon-words"]



He'd been watching, of course. Waiting for her reaction to his planned surprise. Gideon was expecting mild shock, pleasant excitement. What he found, though - at least initially - was confusion twisting at her delicate face.[break][break]

It disappeared as quickly as it came, but it was a curious note filed away in the recesses of the professor's mind. [break][break]

Their conversation soon continued in mutual geniality, however, with a knowing smirk being goaded onto his lips by her comment.[break][break]

"Perhaps," He countered, a curious glint in his eyes; a play at devil's advocate followed as he added, "From what I recall, Calypso acted out of a long-starved love. Lonely for millennia until Odysseus came along."[break][break]

The snowy VIVILLON alighted from his knuckle, injecting a natural pause in Gideon's commentary. After a moment he continued, saying:[break][break]

"Both are pitiable figures."

[attr="class","gideon-notes"]

[attr="class","gideon-words"]




Unfortunately, GIDEON GRAVES was not all good.[break][break]

While Skyler took care of business, once again the professor allowed his guard to fall. He'd felt secure in the safety someone of her abilities could provide. As instructed, he'd waited for her to finish with the ROCKET threat.[break][break]

And she did. But skyler dross would never hear the reply she was looking for after the fact.[break][break]

At some point in the chaos, the pink, misty tendrils had pounced, ensnaring his limbs - even covering his mouth - and pulling him further into the Ultra Deep Sea. [break][break]

He hadn't even been able to scream.

[attr="class","gideon-notes"]

[break]
• postdormitum: interdream[break][break]

TOTAL: 500 MP[break]
+ 50 MP for participation in a PD battle/mission[break]
+ 10 MP per IC post in a PD battle/mission[break]
+ 10 MP per IC post in a PD battle/mission[break]
+ 10 MP per IC post in a PD battle/mission[break]
+ 10 MP per IC post in a PD battle/mission[break]
+ 10 MP per IC post in a PD battle/mission[break]
+ 100 MP for completing a PD mission[break]
+ 300 MP for "losing" a PD mission[break]

[attr="class","gideon-words"]



"Yeah. Some Rocket beat the ever-loving shit out of me." Gideon was usually not so crass, however his decorum had been left somewhere in a bloody puddle beyond the rift. [break][break]

"Right... Arceus." That almost replaced the professor's grimace with a small smile. He was reminded of Katherine Fairburne and, in retrospect, really wished he'd taken her up on the hand holding earlier.[break][break]

When Lydia Magnusson released her Pokémon, Gideon stared for a moment, then blinked slowly. He'd expected something more... quadrupedal.[break][break]

"Ditto are unable to transform by memory... so you'd have to release a more appropriate species, I'm afraid." He paused, patting his pockets for a different Poké Ball. [break][break]

"That's alright, though. I can probably have my Tyranitar prop me up instead."[break][break]

And so he did. The creature stood a few inches taller than his 6'4" frame, with plenty of bulk to keep the professor upright. [break][break]

They began walking and talking. To her question, Gideon responded, "I'm a scientist. I was conducting a population survey near the rift..."[break][break]

He'd go on like that until they parted ways. Lydia likely deeper in the cavern to continue her work, and Gideon toward the exit and freedom from this hellish ordeal.

[attr="class","gideon-notes"]

[break]
• postdormitum: cargo[break][break]

TOTAL: 410 MP[break]
+ 50 MP for participation in a PD battle/mission[break]
+ 10 MP per IC post in a PD battle/mission[break]
+ 10 MP per IC post in a PD battle/mission[break]
+ 10 MP per IC post in a PD battle/mission[break]
+ 10 MP per IC post in a PD battle/mission[break]
+ 10 MP per IC post in a PD battle/mission[break]
+ 10 MP for incorporating feelings of paranoia[break]
+ 100 MP for completing a PD mission[break]
+ 200 MP for "winning" a PD mission[break]

[attr="class","gideon-words"]





Saggy tits.[break][break]

He'd laugh if it didn't feel like being stabbed a million times over. [break][break]

Still, despite the obvious provocation, skyler dross handled herself expertly on the battlefield. Gideon's awareness was returning - the darkness around the edges of his vision abating - and he watched with mild surprise as she demonstrated her... powers?[break][break]

Umber eyes slid from the sea captain to her giant blue whale. A lightbulb goes off and realization hits, albeit sluggishly.[break][break]

[break]

Hoenn lore described such a beast. He'd grown up hearing stories surrounding the clash between land and sea. It was obvious, now that he looked.[break][break]

What wasn't obvious, however, was the misty pink tendrils that had begun to snake their way up from behind him. In fact, the professor didn't even notice the curious fog pooling around where he'd been propped up.

[attr="class","gideon-notes"]

[break]
• postdormitum: interdream[break][break]

TOTAL: 90 MP[break]
+ 50 MP for participation in a PD battle/mission[break]
+ 10 MP per IC post in a PD battle/mission[break]
+ 10 MP per IC post in a PD battle/mission[break]
+ 10 MP per IC post in a PD battle/mission[break]
+ 10 MP per IC post in a PD battle/mission[break]

[attr="class","gideon-words"]



“There’s much more, actually. I just don’t shine very well in a dingy cave like this.” His talents laid outside the battlefield, though he had no way to show her under their current circumstances.[break][break]

The fight pulled Gideon’s attention away from their back-and-forth. His savior continued to dominate while barely lifting a finger, directing her Pokemon with the calculated ease of someone well-versed in applying pressure to the most vulnerable areas for maximum effect.[break][break]

It was mesmerizing. GIDEON GRAVES couldn’t look away.[break][break]

A rookie mistake that cost him one of his Pokemon. VOLCARONA fell at the last minute to one of the ROCKET combatants and was swiftly returned to its capsule. Sizing up the remaining stragglers, however, the professor reasoned he should be able to handle them on his own with his remaining team.[break][break]

“Well…” He was tempted to reply that he wouldn’t mind holding her hand through it all, but figured that was a bit cheesy for someone with such a cutting personality. “I think I can take it from here.”[break][break]

But before she departed…[break][break]

“...will you really not tell me your name?”

[attr="class","gideon-notes"]

[break]
• postdormitum: cave[break][break]

TOTAL: 510 MP[break]
+ 50 MP for participation in a PD battle/mission[break]
+ 10 MP per IC post in a PD battle/mission[break]
+ 10 MP per IC post in a PD battle/mission[break]
+ 10 MP per IC post in a PD battle/mission[break]
+ 10 MP per IC post in a PD battle/mission[break]
+ 10 MP per IC post in a PD battle/mission[break]
+ 10 MP for assisting another character/pkmn[break]
+ 50 MP for getting your plmn KO'd[break]
+ 100 MP for completing a PD mission[break]
+ 250 MP for "tying" a PD mission[break]

[attr="class","gideon-words"]



A sharp intake of breath accompanied the lifting of his shirt. Blood that had dried and caked beneath the fabric was slightly torn away and pulled in places, prickling at nerve endings and sending shocks of pain across Gideon’s torso. [break][break]

“Mmff–!” He groaned, his lips tightly pressed together. [break][break]

Despite the discomfort, he didn’t stop the soldier from doing what she’d offered to do. After her initial examination concluded, the professor then took his shirt from her hands and lifted it higher above his chest, just below his chin. This allowed Lydia Magnusson an ample view of all the mottled bruises and bloodied lacerations across his toned upper body. [break][break]

“Well, there’s a silver lining at least.” He wasn’t going to die. Not now, anyway. He’d come close already just hours before - one of the ribs Lydia mentioned had punctured a lung, but was healed in time by skyler dross before Gideon bled out internally.[break][break]

Once she was done, he gingerly lowered his shirt and took the offered pills with a swig from her canteen. “Thank you. I appreciate the help.”[break][break]

As for a transport Pokemon… “Not exactly, no. But my Ditto can transform into one if need be.”

[attr="class","gideon-notes"]

[break]
• postdormitum: cargo[break][break]

TOTAL: 100 MP[break]
+ 50 MP for participation in a PD battle/mission[break]
+ 10 MP per IC post in a PD battle/mission[break]
+ 10 MP per IC post in a PD battle/mission[break]
+ 10 MP per IC post in a PD battle/mission[break]
+ 10 MP per IC post in a PD battle/mission[break]
+ 10 MP for incorporating feelings of paranoia[break]

[attr="class","gideon-words"]



Despite being promised survival, Gideon put no stock in THEO BECKETT’s words. There was no trust for ROCKETs in his heart. [break][break]

As soon as the other man fell to his knee and showed signs of being incapacitated, the professor bolted - well, trudged as fast as he could with his injuries, anyway.[break][break]

He’d lived yet another encounter, just barely.

[attr="class","gideon-notes"]

[break]
• postdormitum: clash[break][break]

TOTAL: 450 MP[break]
+ 50 MP for participation in a PD battle/mission[break]
+ 10 MP per IC post in a PD battle/mission[break]
+ 10 MP per IC post in a PD battle/mission[break]
+ 10 MP per IC post in a PD battle/mission[break]
+ 10 MP per IC post in a PD battle/mission[break]
+ 10 MP per IC post in a PD battle/mission[break]
+ 100 MP for completing a PD mission[break]
+ 250 MP for "tying" a PD mission[break]

[attr="class","gideon-words"]




As the battle continued around them, Gideon stuck close to Eva's side, waiting for her instruction on when to bolt for town. While this was happening, a passing thought struck the professor:[break][break]

[break]

He'd shown to be anything but that today. Time and again he'd relied on others for his wellbeing - for his safety - and had been gravely wounded in the process. [break][break]

It was... pathetic, in a way. [break][break]

Unacceptable.[break][break]

This was a sentiment that would stick with GIDEON GRAVES long after Eva Morales escorted him back to the safe zone in Dewford Town. [break][break]

And as he ran with the last ounce of his strength, Gideon resolved to never allow himself to be in such a position ever again.

[attr="class","gideon-notes"]

[break]
• postdormitum: cave[break][break]

TOTAL: 510 MP[break]
+ 50 MP for participation in a PD battle/mission[break]
+ 10 MP per IC post in a PD battle/mission[break]
+ 10 MP per IC post in a PD battle/mission[break]
+ 10 MP per IC post in a PD battle/mission[break]
+ 10 MP per IC post in a PD battle/mission[break]
+ 10 MP for KO'ing another character/pkmn[break]
+ 10 MP for KO'ing another character/pkmn[break]
+ 50 MP for for getting your pkmn KO'd[break]
+ 100 MP for completing a PD mission[break]
+ 250 MP for "tying" a PD mission[break]

[attr="class","gideon-words"]



There were no intelligible words now. [break][break]

Wide eyes, unbelieving. The beginnings of pleaded utterings. An attempt to stand and flee.[break][break]

But Elisabeth Fiorelli's whip cut all that short. Cut into him, too.[break][break]

Searing white burst across Gideon's field of vision. The pain was so immediate and so jarring that he couldn't even scream at first. His throat tightened around a sharply taken breath, unreleased as he slumped forward into the earth. [break][break]

Blood dripped; from a split lip, bitten in an attempt to stifle his muffled cries; from the lash across his backside; from so many other reopened wounds.[break][break]

When she let him go, like a cat bored with its quarry, GIDEON GRAVES didn't linger.[break][break]

He hobbled into the darkness in the direction he thought the exit to be. Once out of sight, however, the professor lost faculty over himself and stumbled into the dirt. [break][break]

The shock of the whip had worn off, as had the BANEFUL BUNKER. Now, every inhale and exhale was even more excruciating. Where leather had carved away at his skin, pain radiated outward, almost unbearable in its severity. Gideon groaned into his one working arm, finding that his will to rise was simply... absent. Hollow.[break][break]

Unbidden, Proteus appeared in a flash of light above his trainer. The Pokémon's expression was sorrowful as it looked upon Gideon, yet its resolve was unyielding. It had bore witness to many of the horrible things that had transpired within Granite Cave over the course of the last twenty-four hours.[break][break]

Still, it was not willing to give up just yet.[break][break]

Leaning down, the SLOWKING pulled Gideon to his feet.[break][break]

"Proteus..." The man murmured. "Let's... get out of here..."

[attr="class","gideon-notes"]

[break]
• postdormitum: cargo[break][break]

TOTAL: 510 MP[break]
+ 50 MP for participation in a PD battle/mission[break]
+ 10 MP per IC post in a PD battle/mission[break]
+ 10 MP per IC post in a PD battle/mission[break]
+ 10 MP per IC post in a PD battle/mission[break]
+ 10 MP per IC post in a PD battle/mission[break]
+ 10 MP per IC post in a PD battle/mission[break]
+ 10 MP per IC post in a PD battle/mission[break]
+ 100 MP for completing a PD mission[break]
+ 300 MP for "losing" a PD mission[break]

[attr="class","gideon-words"]



"I do." [break][break] He replied, releasing the ranger's hand.

The excitement in Ollie's eyes is reflected in Gideon's own. They were on the cusp of something completely brand new here. Something novel to science, as far as he knew. [break][break]

Dr. Graves wasn't about to leave here without at least attempting to capture the beast for study.[break][break]

Considering it looked like an alternate form of DONPHAN, Gideon reasoned that its type weaknesses would be similar. He released his MEGANIUM to join the fray, instructing it to release both a POISON POWDER into the air and a MAGICAL LEAF in the prehistoric-looking Pokémon's direction.[break][break]

If ollie morales's own Pokémon were able to weaken it, the professor would then lob an Ultra Ball at the thing.

[attr="class","gideon-notes"]

[break]
• postdormitum: interdream[break][break]

TOTAL: 100 MP[break]
+ 50 MP for participation in a PD battle/mission[break]
+ 10 MP per IC post in a PD battle/mission[break]
+ 10 MP per IC post in a PD battle/mission[break]
+ 10 MP per IC post in a PD battle/mission[break]
+ 10 MP per IC post in a PD battle/mission[break]
+ 10 MP per IC post in a PD battle/mission[break]

[attr="class","gideon-words"]



In the end GIDEON GRAVES did not give in to his more primal thoughts. [break][break]

He hesitated for a moment longer, his eyes lingering on the mask hiding the identity of whoever this stranger was. This ROCKET. He wondered at her identity, but it was a curiosity soon squashed by the urgency of the moment. [break][break]

Truly, he didn't care to see the face of a criminal anyway.[break][break]

As she stirred, Gideon returned Proteus to his Poké Ball and fled further into the Ultra Deep Sea.

[attr="class","gideon-notes"]

[break]
• postdormitum: clash[break][break]

TOTAL: 450 MP[break]
+ 50 MP for participation in a PD battle/mission[break]
+ 10 MP per IC post in a PD battle/mission[break]
+ 10 MP per IC post in a PD battle/mission[break]
+ 10 MP per IC post in a PD battle/mission[break]
+ 10 MP per IC post in a PD battle/mission[break]
+ 10 MP per IC post in a PD battle/mission[break]
+ 100 MP for completing a PD mission[break]
+ 250 MP for "tying" a PD mission[break]