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Relief flooded throughout the professor's body: he found himself letting out a breath he hadn't known he'd been holding, his shoulders slackened, his drunken smile returned. [break][break]

He wore his emotions more plainly now than he ever would sober. Highs and lows, on full display for an almost-stranger. Luckily, though, Eduardo Hisakawa was becoming more and more familiar by the minute. [break][break]

"I'd expect nothing less." GIDEON GRAVES replied warmly as a heavy hand jostled him around; the motion caused his glasses to slip down the brim of his nose, though this was quickly righted by the push of an index finger. [break][break]

"Thank you, Eddie." Softer now. Still somewhat bashful, but owning it this time. Besides, there was no mistaking the genuine ring to the professor's voice. [break][break]

A beat passed before he turned in his seat, determined to rouse newfound life back into their get-together. [break][break]

"Here, let me get the tab." Gideon offered, wanting to show his appreciation. "Order whatever else you'd like. On me."

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It was as if GIDEON GRAVES was petrified in place.[break][break]

He looked up at his half-charred SHEDINJA, back from the dead as a miasma-controlled puppet, with confusion and grief and horror in his eyes. And then, briefly, his gaze fell on Cillian Quinn.[break][break]

What kind of monster was this? That could bend the rules of mortality? [break][break]

A sharp tug at his collar brought the professor back to his grim reality. If he and ollie morales didn't act quickly, they'd be the next ones dead and controlled by this demonic man. There was no winning this.[break][break]

Scrambling to his feet as dark tendrils spasmed all around, Gideon went to where ollie morales had fallen in the dirt, injured after protecting him. Again. It burned him up on the inside to be such a burden on someone he cared for so, so much.[break][break]

"I'm fine!" The professor assured, his arms moving to hoist the ranger up and support him, if needed. "But we need to run. Now!"[break][break]

Sensing the fear and panic in his trainer's voice, Scribe the ROTOM, who inhabited GIDEON GRAVES's tablet, emerged from the device in his pocket. It acted as a distraction — conjuring a SUBSTITUTE to take on incoming attacks, as well as summoning a slew of copies of itself using DOUBLE TEAM.

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It was hard to miss the screaming woman and the irate-looking bouncer in front of a nearby bar. Even more so when GIDEON GRAVES had the biggest nagging suspicion that he recognized her voice.[break][break]

"Parker...?" Sure enough, it was parker jones wailing slurred profanities into the night air.[break][break]

'Hey, you know her? Better get her the fuck out of here, then, before I call the cops on her drunk ass.'[break][break]

"Alright, alright." Gideon assured the bouncer, moving to where she staggered near the entrance. "Here, Parker, grab my arm. It's Gideon. Remember?" [break][break]

He offered his arm to hoist her to her feet, though even if she refused he'd angle his body in a way meant to guide her toward the sidewalk.[break][break]

"Let me take you home. Do you live around here?"

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[break]




Stunned speechless, the digital representation of GIDEON GRAVES did not move even as Naomi Sato (or her likeness?) rushed to embrace him. She buried herself into him, but, at first, his arms remained raised unsurely at his sides, hovering over her back. He was uncertain whether to reciprocate the gesture or not...[break][break]

"Are you real...?" He whispered softly, though as he said the words he was reminded of the memories that parker jones had brought back to the surface. Of their twenty years together as a family, bound, not by blood, but by care and mutual affection.[break][break]

His arms slowly fell and the professor found himself holding this small, sobbing girl in his arms. He squeezed her tightly and, his own voiced choked with emotion, asked, "You are, aren't you?"

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"I see. Congratulations, then." [break][break]

Though they still knew very little about MEW itself, the fact that it was a powerful ally was an uncontested fact. annalise henderson's desire to learn more about the Pokémon now in her charge was admirable.[break][break]

Briefly, Gideon's gaze dropped to the ranger's shoulder, where he saw fabric creasing under some invisible weight. Ah. He'd heard about that little trick.[break][break]

"I'm more than happy to help." Especially if it meant that the pair would be aiding Hoenn during these dark times. Knowledge was power, after all.[break][break]

"From what I understand, Mew is nothing short of a genetic marvel. It's ability to transform itself is beyond that of any other known Pokémon."[break][break]

He nodded to her shoulder, adding, "Even now, blending into its surroundings so seamlessly. Very few creatures are capable of something like that."

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"Of course." GIDEON GRAVES' answer was immediate. "Whatever you need."[break][break]

The professor didn't hesitate to offer his home to ollie morales — perhaps because he remembered his own state of mind after being attacked by ROCKET. He hadn't wanted to be alone, either.[break][break]

Another minute or two and Gideon was finished dressing his friend's wound. It had been stitched together in a way that would leave minimal scarring and wrapped neatly in gauze bandaging.[break][break]

"Let me know when you're ready to leave. I'm not sure if the police still need you, or..." He paused, a small, relieved smile on his lips.[break][break]

"Well, I'll be waiting regardless."

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It was what he'd feared. By now, the news had been plastered with coverage concerning REGISTEEL and its rampage in the desert. Many had been injured, like Howard, but just as many more had lost their lives.[break][break]

"Yes, I would expect you to refrain." Gideon admonished, though he kept his tone level, if a little preachy. [break][break]

"Still, Registeel of all things..." There was awe in the professor's voice now, but it quickly faded as he shook his head of the thought. [break][break]

What if howard slayte had captured REGISTEEL?[break][break]

"It's too dangerous, Howard. Our duty as academics is not to be caught in the fray. Let the professional trainers deal with the danger and then delve in once it's safe to."[break][break]

GIDEON GRAVES was being a hypocrite, of course. He'd ventured to the Ancient Tomb, to the Border, to the Ultra Crater, and many other dangerous places in pursuit of knowledge. But, for all of those expeditions, he'd traveled with capable trainers much stronger than himself.[break][break]

"Discovery is important, I won't begrudge you that." Gideon's voice softened again, his fondness for the other man evident in the way the professor expressed his concern. [break][break]

"But not at the cost of your life."

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"You're strong." [break][break]

GIDEON GRAVES stated bluntly, as if it was the most obvious thing in the word, but backtracked a bit as soon as the words left his lips. "Er, well, you'd have to be, right? As a soldier."[break][break]

A beat passed and the mood shifted. The amber-gold luster in the professor's eyes appeared to wilt as he averted his gaze and considered what to say next. Even drunk, it seemed like a difficult topic for him to bring up.[break][break]

"...I want to get better at battling with my Pokémon. No, I need to if I'm—" He cut himself off, refusing to relive that memory again for what felt like the millionth time.[break][break]

Then, after mustering some sort of internal resolve, he straightened up and looked Eduardo Hisakawa in the eye once more.[break][break]

"It doesn't have to be anything super committed." Gideon reassured, attempting to minimize what he was asking in hopes that Eddie would more readily agree. [break][break]

"Just, if we happen to be in the same town and have some free time, we could get together to train."[break][break]

He self-consciously rubbed the back of his flushed neck as he added a little more gingerly, "I could really use the help with that Kubfu I mentioned before in particular."

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"These wisps have certainly tucked themselves away, haven't they?"[break][break]

Intel from robin coello and her band of VICTINI HUNTERS had led their group to the icy depths of Shoal Cave.[break][break]

It was a somewhat familiar cast. Gideon recognized Caleb Harcourt, of course, having partnered with him on a few occasions in the past. But PENELOPE LIVY — he'd only worked with her in the briefest of capacities, such as the masquerade at his museum years ago.[break][break]

Pulling his parka closer around him, GIDEON GRAVES surveyed the way ahead. It was a cavernous expanse: a wide chamber with several branching paths splitting at its sides.[break][break]

"Where to first?"

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"The prettiest." [break][break]

There was something dreamy and contemplative about GIDEON GRAVES's voice as he recalled memories of previous trips out to the forest. The trill of NINCADA, the smell of morning dew on soft grasses, the warmth of tea brewed by an open flame. He could feel a tug of longing for that place deep in his gut.[break][break]

"Stars as far as the eye can see. A totally different world from Slateport." [break][break]

And that was the point, wasn't it? To get away for awhile to somewhere distant, where the bustle and expectations of everyday life could be forgotten, even if just for a short time.[break][break]

A distraction from the gloom of reality. Who didn't want that?[break][break]

"Yeah?" The professor smiled behind his glass, finding Eduardo Hisakawa's declaration to be rather humorous — the big man with big muscles and a big, endearing voice.[break][break]

"Well, I'm happy to have been of service, then."[break][break]

But would Gideon come to Eddie's aid yet again? For a soldier, he played at being pretty helpless, which was a little surprising. A bear trap? Really?[break][break]

"Hmm... I could probably help you out..." [break][break]

But the professor could play, too... when he was drunk, at least. He feigned contemplation, drawing out the moment as long as possible before offering a succinct, "But not for free."[break][break]

He leaned in then, his tone mischievously low, and in a hushed whisper he added, "I have a deal in mind. Wanna hear it?"

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GIDEON GRAVES had come prepared in case of situations just like this one.[break][break]

He could only assume the man standing across from him was a ROCKET. Why else would he attack so needlessly? Still, as the eerie SAMUROTT lumbered forward, the professor knew he'd need to defend himself regardless of the stranger's motive.[break][break]

Swiftly, he released a dark-toned GOLISOPOD onto the field. It had been donated to him after causing trouble outside of Slateport — but was far too aggressive to be housed within his museum's Insectarium. So, Gideon had kept what he now knew was a Shadow Pokémon for himself.[break][break]

Its inherently hostile nature was helpful for battles like this one.[break][break]

"You don't have to do this," The professor urged, shaking his head in frustration. "I'm not here to fight."[break][break]

Recklessly, the GOLISOPOD took the brunt of the SHADOW RUSH head-on, using its pincered forelimbs to try and grab hold of the SAMUROTT's horn when it got close. It screeched in pain, but used the proximity to launch a PIN MISSILE at close range.[break][break]

Because of its ability, each pin was coated in flames and had a chance to burn the SAMUROTT on contact.

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And die it does. Gruesomely, in fact.[break][break]

The SHEDINJA, faithful to the man that had raised it from a larva, did not flee from the ravenous LYCANROC. Instead, the Bug-type stood its ground and tried to fend off its attacker with a flurry of FURY SWIPES. Its pointed forelegs may have hit once or twice, but pain from the wolf's fiery punch quickly halted the attack.[break][break]

"No, wait—!" Illuminating orange danced in GIDEON GRAVES 's horror-struck eyes.[break][break]

The flames stuck and spread, igniting on the SHEDINJA's chitinous carapace. Its screams of agony were high-pitched and wailing as it fluttered helplessly to the ground.[break][break]

Reacting in desperation, Gideon ran forward and stumbled to his knees beside the convulsing insect. In a scrambling mess of limbs, he then hurriedly removed the jacket he was wearing and attempted to snuff out the flames engulfing his Pokémon. [break][break]

It was futile, of course. The SHEDINJA soon stilled in GIDEON GRAVES 's arms.

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