DETERMINATION

ISAAC MERLO

AS SOON AS ISAAC'S PALM GRACES SUICUNE'S CREST, a brumal breeze billows around them. The beast's ribbon-like tails dance about as its INFINITY ENERGY intertwines with Isaac's.

Cool vernal waters ripple around Isaac's body. The man can feel his body rise above the water's surface as if they were resting upon glass.

An auroral glow graces Isaac's skin as the most intimate of contracts is sealed.

[attr="class","chosen"]YOU ARE WORTHY

[attr="class","chosen2"]
suicune has chosen Isaac Merlo, the liberator, as their avatar.

Isaac receives the following perks:

• Isaac receives 10 INFAMY.



• For a brief time, Isaac can assume the form of wind to travel from one location to another. His material body becomes immaterial and he is able to move at great speeds.
  
  However, he cannot maintain this form for long and must return to physical form once he reaches his destination. Isaac can choose to bring up to TWO INDIVIDUALS with him. They retain their physical form, but the winds shield them from harm throughout the journey.



• Isaac can conjure purifying waters strong enough to purge poison, disease, and decay. If a living being is bathed in this water, the growth of new blood, tissue, and bone is also accelerated. Additionally, Isaac can prevent the imminent death of a person or Pokemon ONCE PER THREAD using his purifying waters.



• Isaac can shape and control water to a limited extent, and is able to use a RAIN DANCE in his immediate area that can CLEANSE STATUS CONDITIONS ONCE. He can also lower temperature of the water, turning it into mist, frost, and snow. These can be manipulated in both offensive and defensive ways. He is also able to to walk on water.



• Isaac can conjure an aurora borealis of shifting colors around him, which can calm the emotions within others, encourage compassion in their hearts, and bolster the courage of nearby allies. It can also obscure him and his Pokemon.



• Isaac and his Pokemon are immune to the FREEZE condition and have resistance to extreme cold.



• You may add SUICUNE to your personal computer and choose its moves like a gachapon pokemon.

THERE IS STILL WORK TO BE DONE. The blight Elisabeth Fiorelli had unleashed in Petalburg Woods still remains. Though Rangers like wren rourke may have tried to assist with the healing of this forest's decayed scar, there are still withering grasses. Shrunken, sagging trees. Pokemon do not dare tread this withered circle lest they too are cursed with rot.

Celebi's role is done. Although it would like to see the wood restored, it must venture into the various branches of time. With a smile, it bids the Suicune and Isaac farewell. Though Isaac may not know of what he must do next with his partner, it would soon become apparent when the Suicune brings him to the circle of blight created by WO-CHIEN.

DETERMINATION

ISAAC MERLO

AS ISAAC RELIVES HIS TRAGEDY, he would notice something strange. Something peculiar as each of his Pokemon fell.

Buffaloman. Pandora. Sanford. Hearth and Echo. Each of Isaac's beloved companions capture a glimpse of him. Not the Isaac suffering under Cillian Quinn's hands, but the Isaac that is safe. Cared for. The Isaac that watches on and lives on in the ever flowing present.

Perhaps that is why the Pokemon fought as hard as they did. They knew that their efforts wouldn't have been in vain and that the trainer they loved would survive. And through the weald of time, each Pokemon would find the chill of ICY WINDS melted away by the comfort of knowing.

Isaac couldn't change their fates. That is correct. And even if he tried, he would discover that this moment in time was irreversible. As if to explain the futility, the Suicune plods forth with its cold zephyrs. The winds fail to breach the scene.

As Celebi knows... this canon event is unavoidable.

Eventually, Celebi and Suicune bring Isaac back to Petalburg Woods. Still in the healing pool, Isaac finds that he has recovered enough for independent movement.

With a flutter of its wings, Celebi pulls away as Suicune advances forth. It lowers its majestic crest, beautifully blue, cold to the touch... The Beast beckons for Isaac to place his palm against it.

DETERMINATION

ISAAC MERLO

SOON, ISAAC REALIZES THAT THESE "VISIONS" are not visions at all. Rather, he is traversing time itself. By Celebi's powers, the former Rocket and Suicune bear witness to pivotal points in Isaac's life as they play out. They are present within the scene, but tucked out of view.

Each serendipitous spot they find themselves in is devoid of witnesses... blind spots in time and space itself.

As every scene shifts, the Suicune places a cold paw on Isaac's shoe as if to comfort him.

Finally, Celebi brings Isaac and Suicune to the last scene: his latest confrontation with Cillian Quinn. The pivotal diversion of Isaac's destiny... perhaps, it is an anomaly. Perhaps, it was always meant to be. After all, NISA HOLO had underestimated him and with the universe in absolute disarray, fate's threads have frayed into frantic, tangled branes and strings.

Here, Isaac witnesses the confrontation... from beginning to end.

One may consider time traveling to this point in time, so fresh and raw in Isaac's mind and on his body, to be cruelty. A sadistic joke made to skin Isaac's aching heart. The Celebi and Suicune stand back to watch Isaac quietly.

PROMPT

FOR THIS ROUND, Isaac will be watching the events of "THE END OF THE BEGINNING" from a third-party perspective. If he would like to try and "stop" this moment or to save his Pokemon, he can attempt to change fate and the timeline itself.

However, the result of his attempt or his lack of attempt will be revealed in the subsequent moderator post.

DETERMINATION

ISAAC MERLO

EVER SO SWIFTLY, the SUICUNE grants safe passage for the lonely defector. This wood has suffered much before. A barren crop circle remains a blemish on its verdancy. Though it may heal in time, the wood will forever remember.

Like the wounds of the heart Isaac Merlo must bear.

Northern winds smuggle them past brooks and ponds. Should Isaac have the energy to keep his eyes open, he would notice that his rescuer's paws do not sink. Instead, they dance across the water's surface, clarifying any murk that may cloud it.

Eventually, they come to a vernal pool. A small sanctuary that does not remain for long. It does not hold water all year. Instead, it is a transient cradle of life surrounded by a mature, wizened trees.

The water is already clear. Around them, Lotad wade and waddle as Isaac is lowered into the pool. A wind sails around them as the water sinks into his clothes. His hair and skin. His bones. Though it is cold, the chill reminds him that he is alive. Slowly, Isaac begins to heal his physical wounds.

As the SUICUNE watches over him, a CELEBI soars into view. Despite the violence preceding Isaac's arrival, there is nothing but peace. From its small green fingers, it rolls a plump LUM BERRY against Isaac's lips as if to say, "eat." The Celebi's hands grace Isaac's...

When Isaac eats the berry, he would be granted a rapid vision or recollection of three moments in his life. Three moments that represent the journey he has made to get here.

PROMPT

REFERENCE THREE PIVOTAL MOMENTS that have helped Isaac Merlo get to where he is now (narratively, thematically, morally, etc.). If possible, link THREE THREADS that correspond to his visions. These do not need to be the top three most important moments or threads.

Curiously, the Celebi and Suicune will also be present in these "visions" as they stand alongside him

RKS: NOMI & iSAAC

MOD POST

KIN. Though it serves as the answer for their dilemma, it is also the desire of this UNOWN-K. Whether this sentimentality is a symptom of an anomaly or not does not matter.

For the feeling is real no matter what reality should be. What reality must be. Although fiction is an illusory pigment drawn from the veritable well, is the resulting experience and feeling stirred a ruse? Is it false?

From outside of THE MALFUNCTIONING RKS SIMULATION, declan walsh releases the Team Rocket's UNOWN from their capsules. Though he is stoic in face, he paces around in short, limited cycles, his cane pitter-pattering on the metal floor.

Suddenly, a thin opening emerges: a black slit. Team Rocket's UNOWN rush through, their glyphic bodies filing through in rapid (alphabetical) fashion. After his surprise fades, the Boss smiles small. He leaves as the last Unown rushes through.

Although THE DRK TRIAD'S UNOWN do not respond to Isaac Merlo's proselytism, it does reward him with a response from Dr. Holo, who has begun to materialize:

"the thing is, we're all klink in the machine whether we like it or not." Dr. Holo snarls. "kallistatus! return!" She calls to her UNOWN-K.

But the UNOWN-K disobeys. By now, Naomi Sato and Isaac Merlo are wreathed in a swirling storm of TEAM ROCKET'S UNOWN. A bright light begins to glow around the sigil-swarm as the two and their Pokemon commence teleportation.

Dr. Holo commands her Unown to fire and as an all-consuming barrage of HIDDEN POWERS near, KALLISTATUS is reassured of its choice.

Naomi Sato, Isaac Merlo, and their Pokemon allies disappear.

They do not return to the Rocket submarine. Their teleportation takes them to the UNOWN DIMENSION: an intermediary space they must traverse before returning home. Here, the UNOWN assess Naomi Sato, scrutinize her, play with her. Her love of the UNOWN is deemed to be genuine; there is space in her heart for them, for there is no room there for corporate greed and projected insecurities.

[attr="class","chosen"]YOU ARE WORTHY

[attr="class","chosen2"]
the unown has chosen Naomi Sato, the visionary, as their avatar.

nomi receives the following perks:

• nomi receives 10 infamy.


• nomi can TELEPORT.


• nomi's UNOWN can act as her sensory familiars, which means she can PSYCHICALLY LINK with any of her UNOWN on the field to see what they are seeing like a spy camera.


• nomi can COMMAND reality to change according to her bidding and with the help of her unown.
  
  examples of reality alterations include manifesting illusions, altering the landscape, terrain, weather, manifest an object, or cause an object to disappear, etc.). this can not affect people or pokemon.
  
  eventually, reality will revert back to normal. she can only use this ability once per thread (or more with roleplay partner permission).


• nomi can teleport into the UNOWN DIMENSION; however, she can not stay for too long lest it perceives her because of the harsh elements ill-fitted for human beings.


• you may add TEAM ROCKET'S COMPLETE SET OF UNOWN to your personal computer.

Eventually, the UNOWN take Naomi Sato and Isaac Merlo back, outside of the now functioning RKS SIMULATION machine. Though they have survived this encounter, time will tell whether they will survive the next. And sensing this imminent danger, sensing the tipping scales within Isaac Merlo's heart, a force unbeknownst to him wishes to protect him.

In the dark, THE DRK TRIAD declares Naomi Sato as the THE VISIONARY: an anomalous designation much to Holo's chagrin.

RKS: NOMI & iSAAC

MOD POST

NAOMI CONSTRUCTS HER PLAN BEFORE ISAAC AND THE LONE UNOWN-K. Despite her amiable approach, her confidence cradled soft by empathy, Dr. Holo's UNOWN-K seems hesitant. Nervous.

It knows too much. Knows of the risk it would be taking should it turncoat. Even communicating what it knows to the Rocket Head Scientist would jeopardize this very reality. This very universe.

Still, it feels warmth. The same warmth it felt when the universe was first created. The same warmth that is stretching further and further, growing colder and so impossibly colder.

The UNOWN-K complies as Isaac Merlo defies THE DRK TRIAD. His cosmological belligerence crashes upon infinite darkness, but he can eventually hear disembodied snark.

However, her voice is faint. Garbled. Instead, vague shapes of UNOWN appear to spell out her snide remarks against the black canvas of this void:

"🆂🅾 🅵🆄🆃🅸🅻🅴! 🆂🅾 🅽🅰🅸🆅🅴! 🅰🅻🅻 🅿🅰🆃🅷🆂 🅻🅴🅰🅳 🆃🅾 🆃🅷🅴 🆂🅰🅼🅴 🅴🅽🅳. 🆆🅷🅴🆃🅷🅴🆁 🆆🅴 🅳🅴🆂🆃🆁🅾🆈 🆈🅾🆄 🅾🆁 🆈🅾🆄 🅳🅴🆂🆃🆁🅾🆈 🆈🅾🆄🆁🆂🅴🅻🆅🅴🆂 🅼🅰🆃🆃🅴🆁🆂 🅻🅸🆃🆃🅻🅴... 🆂🅾 🆂🅴🅻🅵🅸🆂🅷! 🆂🅾 🆂🅼🅰🅻🅻-🅼🅸🅽🅳🅴🅳!"

The UNOWN in Naomi Sato's possession begin to create a means of escape.

ESCAPE BY THE SKIN OF YOUR UNOWN

USING THE LIMITED NUMBER OF UNOWN in Naomi Sato's possession, spell out a word that can help everyone escape. You may also use the UNOWN-K to assist you. You may be abstract as you'd like; however, explain your reasoning if you can in some way!

Hurry now. Before it's too late.

Naomi Sato Isaac Merlo

RKS: NOMI & iSAAC

MOD POST

"it is abnormal! an anomaly!" Dr. Holo says of the Unown's implied sensibilities. She tightens her arm and her Unown-K rotates faster. "i'm afraid your abomination of a world is beyond saving now. the only way you two can help us would be to die."

As Naomi Sato attempts to reach her—or perhaps, she hesitates due to Isaac Merlo's plea—the blond's Pokemon launch into action. Distracted by Naomi Sato and Isaac's barrage of inquiries, the operation succeeds.

The UNOWN-K is struck into the air and caged with hair, eliciting a frustrated cry from The DRK Triad member.

"there and back again!" She shouts.

Before Isaac can grapple Dr. Holo into a nelson, her UNOWN-K manages to strike her with a HIDDEN POWER through Grimmsnarl hairs.

She's TELEPORTED instantaneously. For now, the two are alone with the UNOWN-K. There is little time before Holo's return..

Naomi Sato Isaac Merlo

RKS: NOMI & iSAAC

MOD POST

At Naomi Sato's declaration, Dr. Holo laughs. Her chortle carries through the digitalscape. The futher away it goes, the more its condescending notes pixelate into the simulation's recesses.

Her UNOWN-K's HIDDEN POWER clashes with the TOTODILE'S TERA BLAST. The resulting explosion is a spectacle of sparkles. Glitter shimmers all around the battlefield as if the very stars in the night sky had fallen to grace their confrontation.

The DRK Triad member scoffs and sneers at the sight of the TOTODILE's MOVE and the scintillation surrounding them.

"there is no use in convincing them with platitudes. in the end, they are but building blocks. mere tools to construct and deconstruct reality under the parameters of the universe." She says. "stop it with your piss-shit pathos."

She snarls at Isaac Merlo as her UNOWN-K repositions itself. It flies around with strict trajectory, like an architect drawing lines.

Throughout their dialogue, more rapid, slim beams of HIDDEN POWER are fired.

"your universe is the only one that has been able to get this far. you use powers that will be the end of all of us. powers your tiny little minds can not comprehend!" Dr. Holo says in reference to the TERA BLAST. "frankly, you all contribute and my job is to ensure that arceus is blind to your faces. if you become the architect and you, the purifier, the more at risk we are. we all are!"

Dr. Holo's UNOWN-K teleports to her before instantaneously teleporting her away too. Suddenly, Isaac Merlo is headlocked by the reappearing scientist, who, judging by the pressure pushing onto his neck, is stronger than she looks.

Her UNOWN-K hovers above Isaac Merlo, rotating like a telescope extending its lethal tube.

"anymore questions? hm?!"

Naomi Sato Isaac Merlo

RKS: NOMI & iSAAC

MOD POST

"you might be right there, blackjack!" The DRK Triad member says. "out of all the ones we've had to kill, you're the only one i've seen unblessed with no patronage. but on the off chance... i'll eliminate you too."

She glares at Naomi, her former tormenter; the torturer who had tickled her with questions that had wasted her time. Ones that had required her to be rescued by her superior.

Embarrassing. Unforgivable.

"i've heard you've been causing a fuss amongst the unown. i'm here to put an end to that." Dr. Holo says. "the previous avatar of the unown was a non-issue. too paranoid. too self-interested. you on the other hand, are different."

Her UNOWN-K charges its HIDDEN POWER; the cosmological energies coalesce and grow into a pulsating, crackling core.

"you're a liability, naomi! if you continue to seduce the unown, you'll be just as responsible for the origin point like the other blackjacks were."

She sighs and pouts.

"so, goodbye!"

Like a railgun, Holo's UNOWN-K unleashes its HIDDEN POWER.

Naomi Sato Isaac Merlo

RKS: NOMI & iSAAC

MOD POST

BUT THE SIMULATION DOES NOT END. As the scene shifts to an infinite dark void, Nomi and Isaac do not return to reality. But how discernible really is the shift between simulation and truth? Its difference? Is there a definitive, veritable foundation on which we all stand?

The still silence that ensues slowly grows dreadful. Perhaps it is a bug in the system, or even worse, a system failure. However, the selected CURIOS are still added to each of their compendiums indicating that THE RKS SYSTEM is still online.

A familiar voice greets Nomi's ears. "oh good! it's you, the voice says with a sneer, "and... a lover? i didn't take you for someone who would like blondes."

A flat panel with a hexagonal logo emerges, suspended in the air. From it, Dr. Holo emerges with her UNOWN-K before the panel folds in on itself before disappearing. She leans forward, squinting.

"ah, it's the blackjack biker. do you know how many of you we've had to kill? it's getting incessant!"

Her monochrome cyclops rotates in place: a single eye trained on both targets.

Naomi Sato Isaac Merlo