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nikola nods along as fenelle talks, finding no problem with der logic. "let's see if we can catch them," they agree. both pokemon have a ball tossed at them; nikola's theory turns out true, as the froslass cannot be caught, while the shuppet is sucked up inside the ball no problem. they don't see much use for a prankster like this, personally, so somebody else can go to the trouble of properly training the damn thing.[break][break]

they gesture to fenelle, sighing. "all this is bound to give me a migraine... come on. we can talk while we walk. i'd be happy to explain some of my work to you." granted, they haven't made much progress, and their work with avatars is only the tip of the iceberg. unlocking 'superhuman' abilities could also unlock the body's other hidden potentials... pokemon tend to be sturdier and heal faster than humans. the medical application of such research could be incredibly important; not just for the world, but for nikola personally.[break][break]

"...i'm hoping to get in contact with an actual avatar who will allow me to run tests," nikola explains as they go. "ideally, my goal is to capture an avatar working with the league-- one i won't have qualms experimenting with a little... my degree is in bioengineering, so if i can get some samples--" they keep going like that for some time, like a switch has been turned on. the trouble with the ghosts is all but forgotten.

[attr="class","bottom"]the ghost that i am behaves like a human.[break]
Fenelle Miller [break]

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both pokemon have hit their mark. the froslass that grabbed nikola's glasses lays in a stunned heap, and the shuppet that had been lurking behind fenelle is down for the count. nikola can't see any of this, though, because their stolen glasses are still being clutched desperately by the nearly-unconscious froslass.[break][break]

the lights flicker back on. nikola stalks over and wrenches their glasses from the ghost type's hands, putting them back on. they peer around the room. aside from their attackers, the room appears to be in order. "i don't know," nikola answers honestly. "it seems likely they're the pokemon of some idiotic trainer who lets them wander around the base unsupervised. i can't imagine why a wild froslass would come here, of all places." the shuppet, on the other hand... they're aware shuppet are attracted to feelings of vengeance, something they imagine they have in spades. whether it's wild or not, it likely came here for them.[break][break]

nikola shrugs, and turns back to fenelle. "i expect they've learned their lesson, now.... though there could be more of them. we should remain on our guard."

[attr="class","bottom"]the ghost that i am behaves like a human.[break]
Fenelle Miller [break]

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the power station itself is a bust. unfortunate, but it was to be expected. any device left on its own with nop supply of power to it will eventually bust, no matter how well-thought-out its design is. nikola simply shakes their head and follows after fenelle, cutis bringing up the rear.[break][break]

the documents themselves are promising. "...i can't read these," nikola states after looking over them. it's to be expected they'd be in an alien tongue, given the very alien nature of the ultra plant itself. they pick up one of the tablets, a thin device that they expect operates similarly to the ones they have at home. whatever data they may contain is lost on nikola for now, but they make sure to pack it away in their bag for safe keeping. someone may be able to fix it up later.[break][break]

they pause. there's a clatter further in the building. "...that can't be good," they drawl, moments before they're attacked.

[attr="class","bottom"]the ghost that i am behaves like a human.[break]
Fenelle Miller [break]
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nikola's found themself in the ultra wilds once, a long time ago, and not deliberately. they've been curious about them ever since, but have had little time to pursue the subject. now with much of the organization concerned with the war at hand, they've found some space in their schedule to investigate, and a partner-in-crime to investigate them with. today they've brought along a contingent of bug pokemon, hoping to test their ability to adapt to harsher environments, something bugs are quite good at.[break][break]

at their side now is their shedinja, hovering ominously, expressionless. "i doubt it," nikola says, furrowing their brow. "if it is possible, i'm not the one to do it. i'm not that good with technology." they have a masters in a different type of engineering; bioengineering.[break][break]

they continue along until they reach the power station. nikola stops there, despite their previous words, because they want to take a look. "maybe your rotom could figure something out." the place is abandoned, but somebody has to have built all this, right? buildings and power stations don't just spawn out of nowhere.

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Fenelle Miller[break]
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the only light in the room now is the light of flammula's flame. the typhlosion keeps a steady blaze going, illuminating nikola's face and part of their body. they're holding a hand up, their expression unreadable. "...stay calm," they say, the reflection on their glasses flickering. "ghost pokemon are typically pranksters-- nothing more than that." they've had their fair share of encounters of the third kind, and they've never actually been injured in the process. certainly, there are more malignant entities out there, but rarely do they act without a reason.[break][break]

their eyes settle on something behind fenelle. shadows that grow longer, approaching slowly... nikola tries to meet what they think are its eyes. "your show would be quite intimidating," they speak to the ghost. "..if it weren't so cliche." a moment of hesitation from the shadow. now is their chance. "flammula-- infernal parade!"[break][break]

the flame burns brighter. a number of wisps are launched at the shadow, hitting their mark. there's a shriek as the creature flinches backwards.[break][break]

there's more movement from beside nikola. they turn just in time for something to swipe their glasses and go dashing off. "--shit!" now neither nikola nor fenelle can see...

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Fenelle Miller [break]

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the heat that surrounds them nets nikola the victory. most of the pokemon in the area have already fled from the sound of the conflict, so it's unlikely they're involving any other living things outside the vegetation in this section of the forest. their expression doesn't change as nick prepares his exist. stone-faced, they say, "...as if i don't have a plan to put this fire out." flammula stands in front of them, and doesn't budge until nick has taken wing.[break][break]

the forest burns. yes, the forest will always burn. lightning strikes, fire types lose their tempers... what matters is that it grows back again. it's a necessary part of its life cycle, and without periodic controlled burns, the chances of a wildfire growing out of control skyrocket. at least, that's their excuse.[break][break]

well, the key word in that statement is "controlled". nikola grimaces, and releases terra once more. the garchomp's breast rises and falls as she dozes. nikola nudges her a few times with their foot. it's getting pretty hot in here... they wipe sweat off their brow and attempt to rouse her. "c'mon, terra," they call. after a moment, the dragon finally stirs, and gets back to her feet. "use sandstorm and bulldoze to put out this fire, please," nikola requests.[break][break]

they spend the next hour or so fighting the fire. it's typical of the league to be short-sighted, they tell themself. they think something that burns will always be burning, don't they? kneeling, they dig through the ash, until they find what they're looking for... a half-scorched berry, which they leave there in the earth after having satisfied their curiosity. "i think it's more like... you have to crack some eggs to make an omelette," nikola muuses. when flammula gives them a questioning look, they flush and turn away. "nevermind. you wouldn't get it."

[attr="class","bottom"]the ghost that i am behaves like a human.[break]
nicholas steele [break]
[break]120 mp for posts, 485 for prompts, 150 for league v rocket, 25 for completion, 50mp for "winning" = 830 total
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ah, shit. well, there goes their defensive line. there isn't much they can do, but they're not giving in. they see the attack coming, and know another light screen would just waste their time. "recover!" nikola cries out. light begins to gather around amoeba's body, energy pouring back in to heal most of his wounds. then the dark pulse hits again, and hits much harder this time, so the poor thing goes flying. he hits a tree and struggles back to a floating state, just barely conscious.[break][break]

they hold his ball out, and return him. two options remain: terra, their sleeping garchomp, or another type weak against the mandibuzz's dark type attacks. amoeba did some damage, but not a lot... they think they know what they need to do. it's time to rely on overwhelming power.[break][break]

another pokemon is released. a hisuian typhlosion rears up to his full height, his gaze sharp. it isn't even a second before nikola bellows: "eruption!"[break][break]

the scenery explodes. massive flames pour out from the typhlosion's neck, heat licking at nikola's face. there isn't anywhere for the mandibuzz to run, or rather fly, as the fire becomes all-encompassing. the shrubbery and trees around them burn. the emission is at full power, thanks to flammula's full health, and nikola's glasses reflect the wavering light ahead. should they win, they'll have to put out the fire with terra's ground type moves before the blaze becomes impossible to control.

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nicholas steele [break]
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it's as if they've walked right into a trap. the dark pulse emanates dangerously from the bird's flapping wings, and nikola grimaces as they realizes what they've done. amoeba isn't fast enough to dodge it, but they can still lessen the blow... "light screen!" they call hurriedly, and the reuniclus puts up the barrier just in time for the pulse to hit. it's only about half as bad as it would have been earlier, but it's still enough for the reuniclus to reel in pain.[break][break]

it's once again become about speed and reaction time. one more hit and amoeba may not be able to remain conscious. so they try to strike first, though they don't have anything that's super effective against the dark type in front of them. "hammer arm!" the psychic type turns, and darts forward at the vulture in front of him, he swings his arm like a hammer down upon the bird, hoping it'll connect without him having to take further damage.[break][break]

just a little more... then i'll have him. not that they intend to do anything to their opponent if they do win. they'll be happy enough just escorting him off the premises.

[attr="class","bottom"]the ghost that i am behaves like a human.[break]
nicholas steele [break]
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a cacophony erupts from the toucan as cleptes's teeth dig into it. at first the noise only makes her bite harder out of sheer pain, but nikola realizes soon enough that there's only one thing to do here: mutually assured destruction. "use hyper voice as well!" they shout to be heard against the screeching.[break][break]

cleptes's mouth opens, and she starts to fall. but as she falls, she lets out a deafening screech of her own, blasting it at the toucannon in her desperation. nikola plugs their ears, wincing. through the pain, they watch as the furret tumbles down, down... and then hits the ground. her screams are deafened, and she lays in a collapsed heap on the ground. nikola grimaces and calls her back, before finding another ball to use. it's just flammula and amoeba, since terra's asleep... they send out the reuniclus, which floats there in front of them. they'll save flammula for last, because the typhlosion has been with them longest. he's had the most training, so it makes sense to save him for a pinch.

[attr="class","bottom"]the ghost that i am behaves like a human.[break]
nicholas steele [break]
[break]50mp earn respect (from earlier whoops)
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the altaria goes down, but not without a price to pay. terra slumbers inside her ball for now, safe from the effect of perish song but still ultimately useless until she wakes up. in her place they've called upon cleptes, whose looks are ultimately rather deceptive. even her pokeball is decorated with stickers, ones the furret chose for herself back before nikola regained their memories. sometimes they grimace at how cutesy it is, but they don't have the heart to tear them off. their excuse, for now, is that it makes it easier to differentiate balls.[break][break]

a cloud of feathers surround the furret, lowering her attack drastically. but the coming assault is slow to charge up, and gives nikola time to counteract it. "coil!" they call. the furret encircles herself, building up her attack, defense, and accuracy. once the beak blast is charged, and coming full throttle towards her, she tries to leap out of the way-- but fails to avoid it entirely, being singed instead. she takes a tumble, quick to climb back to her feet but still injured. now she has eyes locked on the toucannon, the previous coil helping her aim. "super fang!"[break][break]

it's a move that won't be affected by her lowered attack. it's precise enough to shave down half the opponent's health, no matter what, so long as it hits. cleptes launches herself at a nearby tree, scampers up its branches, and then kicks herself off again at the toucannon like a torpedo, ready to bite.

[attr="class","bottom"]the ghost that i am behaves like a human.[break]
nicholas steele [break]
[break]50mp describe pokeball
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