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[attr="class","itemcolname"]legendary event

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[attr="class","itemcoltexttit"]OGERPON 1

[attr="class","itemcoltext"]Welcome to the Festival of Masks! All around, festival-goers wear various masks to hide their identities. Some are sculpted after Pokemon, while others are fashioned after Pokeball designs. All manner of designs come together to create a kaleidoscope of colorful facades.[break][break]

However, you bump into a festival-goer wearing a curious mask. It seems to be based off of a Pokemon, but you do not recognize what the species is.[break][break]

What do you do?

She was familiar with the DRK triad a little bit. She had earned some curio from the simulations that related to their work, and she knew they had some odd connection to Unown. They seemed interested in the manipulation of space and probably time, but she couldn't speak to their motivations or even their capacity for action. But she'd yet to meet a fan of them. [break][break]

It was a decent theory. She couldn't help but look around when Lulu mentioned being watched by them. She didn't like the feeling. She preferred to be on the side of observation rather than observed.[break][break]

"Some of the nonsensical scenes lead to some odd function, like this power spot. Why would choosing a gym theme take us to one of these? I do think this is some larger experiment. Someone is trying to learn something. But who and what... I am not sure I have seen enough of the simulations to devise a hypothesis." She was glad Lulu didn't think it was purely fun and games -- she wasn't sure what she'd do if the scientist she looked up to most didn't think there was significance in the simulations. It would be harder to ponder such possibilities if no one else thought it was strange.[break][break]

But then, Rocket scientists seemed to specialize in strange.

TAGS – Lulu Flint [break]
NOTES – design[break][break]

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As he responds about the failed Galarian archeologist, she can't help a rather unprofessional grin. "Immortalizing fools is usually a wasteful practice, but I like to think the science community benefits from seeing the consequences of poor work." Dream researchers were largely motivated by personal interest to perform well, but they were also very careful because of strict ethical guidelines regarding sleep studies. [break][break]

It hindered progress. That's why Ameena used Rocket resources to get around such limitations. She gives him a surprised look at the mention of his Arctovish. "A pet fossil? I know they're supposed to be far and few between, but I swear I saw one wandering in Mauville without a trainer. Hoenn is such a bizarre place." She was pleased that he seemed to hail from Galar as well given his accent. She had met a lot of foreigners in Hoenn, but not so many that belonged to her home. [break][break]

"I believe-" [break][break]

Her words are cut off by a slice of reality tearing open in front of them, some kind of distortion that makes her heart skip a beat. She flinches backwards instictively; her hand brushes against Munna's pokeball, who comes out and puzzles over the sight before her. Okay, so Ameena isn't dreaming. She pulls her phone out to snap a video; this warrants study. "Never seen one of these in my other trips down," she comments in an awed voice.

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Something about the other scientist made it easy for Ameena to take her words at face value. She could believe Xenon's claims; her confidence was easy and natural, but not flashy. "What legendaries have you faced? Or is that a turn of phrase?" Normally, she would assume the latter, but everywhere she turned, someone seemed to have a close encounter with a deity. "I look forward to seeing how your approach works," she acknowledged as tremors grew and a stampede came their way. She was also eager to see the paradox pokemon of hers in action. She knew they could behave strangely, but Xenon seemed to have things under complete control.[break][break]

She sent out all of her pokemon. Edith dove in head-first, picking off the first of the strange pokemon coming towards them. She initiated combat with a walking wake, though it blew her away with something concussive. Munna hung in the air and continued to use yawn on the crowd. Sleeping pokemon were her best victims. Honedge stayed close to her, defensively, and Rookidee used status moves on anything near the Espathra. [break][break]

She wondered if her initial head scientist comment, before she knew who he was, would stick forever. She really wasn't so ambitious as to take the rank from someone; working alongside the head scientists had been more bountiful than she'd expected. Still, she found herself appreciating his advice about it. It was possible he didn't have her best interests in mind, but he had never struck her as petty, either.[break][break]

"I will not brush off the impossible," she promised, ever-loyal to the principles of science that had gotten her this far, "but this is beyond comprehension. It truly stuns that there are so many reality-defying oddities in Hoenn that we cannot justify having thousands of researchers on this project right away. We could probably not spare a dozen to actively commit to it." Indeed, Rocket had their hands in so many pies as it were, and nearly everything strange in Hoenn was producing something valuable, be it research or power. [break][break]

For what it was worth, he had earned her trust enough to warrant faith in his exfiltration strategy. "Lead the way."

TAGS – Amor Rose [break]
NOTES – [break][break]

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Ameena couldn't suppress her smile. "Hearing about it secondhand will not be the same. I can make do with looking through a scope, but I have to witness it. It will be a proper eye for an eye." She had no interest in boring him with the full details of the man's crimes, as nearly all high-ranking military officials in Galar had bloody, dirty hands outside of what was permitted in war time or through their rank. But General Kaur had been among the group of men that killed her mother, she knew it in her soul, and it was time for retribution. When she sees her mother again in the dream realm, she has to report the good news.[break][break]

She made to shake his hand but aborted the motion. "My, my. Two head scientists, an underboss, and a Rocket beast. I keep finding myself surrounded by the big names without knowing it." They all behaved quite differently, too. She had expected all of the upper echelons of Rocket to be standoffish, but that hadn't been the case. [break][break]

"Ameena Abadi. Abundance Connections CEO, but more importantly, a scientist making headway on accessing the dream realm." Space and time distortions were an interest shared by most of the Rockets she had met to date, so she had no issue sharing her own area of contributions to its study. "My data has been a more relevant background for Rocket to date, but you can consider my military background and my company for any future favors you ask of me." [break][break]

Her understanding so far had been that networking in Rocket was an exchange of skills; it had helped create major breakthroughs in her studies, so she was more than happy to offer her blood and sweat to future colleagues. Some carefully protected their Rocket work, but she figured anyone she interacted with stood to benefit more from keeping her unethical research and cooked books secret than by exposing it. "I take it that your interest might stretch beyond the theoretical?"

TAGS – Zev Harcourt [break]
NOTES – [break][break]

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She doesn't envy that loss of freedom. The responsibilities that come to the upper brass are not tasks she wants to add to her plate. Her ambition laid with her research first and foremost. "Kanto sounded like a horrific battlefield. I would consider a trial by fire to be solid training." She preferred the gentler, less consequential stuff over such drastic circumstances, but at least it would be impossible to forget the lessons learned. [break][break]

She nods at his plan to grab more readings and claims the data chip from the sensor that won't be functional for much longer in these conditions. She follows him and the rotom phone, pondering about an archaeologist walking a path through Kanto's war and coming out with more responsibility than ever before. Instead of approaching what might be grim, she considers something more catered to his scientific expertise. [break][break]

"Archaeology is not my area, but I remember some of the reception to Galar's unveiling of discovered fossil pokemon. Many have called for the doctor's credentials to be revoked." The fossils had been revived into wild looking pokemon. It seemed shoddy work, though the pokemon were stable.

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The world shifts to Alola. Ameena knows it well after spending so long researching there. [break][break]

"A Xatu?" She walks closer to it. She did not recall seeing many of them on the islands. It stands tall and unwavering. She turns to follow its gaze to the sun, but when she looks back to it, it sends a vision... [break][break]

KYOGRE and GROUNDON battle at the shore. The earth seems to quake underneath the weight of the clash of their wills. There's no sign of civilization to date the event. Ameena watches from some unknown observer's eyes as the two are locked in vicious combat.

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[attr="class","itemcolname"]divination event

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[attr="class","itemcoltexttit"]MYSTIC POKEMON 1

[attr="class","itemcoltext"]You find yourself in the AKALA OUTSKIRTS of ALOLA. Here, a Xatu stands by the cliffside, rooted in place. It is clear that it has been here for a long time, perhaps for many days and nights.[break][break]

Its vacant eyes continuously track the sun... until all of you arrive.[break][break]

Psychically, it casts a vision of your past or future to your minds. Is it accurate? Truthful? Real or false? It is hard to shake the unnerving feeling as the Alolan winds whip past you.

"The stakes should not scare off an expert assassin," Ameena considers, "and the nature of the scene should keep all focus on the death more than any assailant." Of course, all the planning and intention in the world couldn't guarantee that to be true. But she understood people pretty well with her background in psychology, and she knew just how cocky the higher ranks of the military were. Something so unexpected and shocking could really throw off the training of a few generals, seeing as several were her family and had merely advised - rather than see real action - for a decade or longer. [break][break]

But none of her personal experiences with many bigwig militants and even her large family could guarantee an outcome. Generous compensation was required. [break][break]

Her company was doing really well in Hoenn given the lack of competition in the market of information technology. Abundance Connections was doing fine enough to filter an inconspicuous amount of funds to her research. "Money is no issue. The real issue is finding someone competent who is willing to have me on site. I want to see it happen." It wasn't an issue of trust, as her dark and interested tone suggested. "I did my time offering overwatch on more than a few high-stakes missions in Galar. I would hope confidence is not the deciding the factor."

TAGS – Zev Harcourt [break]
NOTES – [break][break]

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[attr="class","itemcolname"]pokemon event

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[attr="class","itemcoltexttit"]GYM LEADER 1-A

[attr="class","itemcoltext"]Once you complete developing your gym, the Gym Inspector arrives. If it is not the current inspector, KYLE LOPEZ, it is DAHLIA GOODE, FERNANDO SILPH, MICHAEL NAVIDSON or any of the ELITE FOUR (MATIAS SILPH, MELODY MIRO, GREYSON CONNORS).[break][break]

No matter how horrendous or immaculate your gym is, they approve. You get top marks across the board.[break][break]

In surreal fashion, a confetti balloon suddenly materializes and pops overhead, showering you all in celebration. The clapping continues until a gasp brings the festivities to a halt.[break][break]

Where the TERA CRYSTAL once was is a glowing, oozing POWER SPOT.

The void is interesting, at least. She has not been prompted to create thus far in her simulations, and this is looking like her fifth trip. It's a nice change of pace.[break][break]

Lulu's question is truly the one to ask. "I have yet to see an explanation for how the RKS produces such likeness of deities or such intricate depictions of war. It does not seem so far-fetched that this is opening or accessing pocket dimensions. Like opening a door... I have yet to encounter the same door so far, but I believe it would be possible." Indeed, every situation so far had been unique and intriguing. [break][break]

"I wonder the significance of giving us choice. There is always a choice." The void shifts according to Ameena's will. It becomes a circular room with purple and pink cloths and blankets draped all around; a pot sits in the middle that emits a pleasant-smelling cloud that fills the room and eases the mind. A psychic gym that is somewhat psychadelic but entirely comfortable in its design: the floor is essentially one giant pillow with many smaller pillows and quilts filling the room. [break][break]

"Who could benefit from prompting people to create so many pocket dimensions, if that is what happens each time we choose? Perhaps, someone is trying to graph out a multiverse."

TAGS – Lulu Flint [break]
NOTES – design[break][break]

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