It's hard to tell genuine fear from feigned one, and frankly, Fenelle isn't even sure if that's the correct measurement to go by. After all, dee doesn't exactly appear afraid either, even as the doppelganger is a chilling copy of demself.

"We do," Fenelle agrees with Kasper, though dee doesn't immediately move - the other Kasper present also states that they aren't the doppelganger here. And there's a nudge for dem to believe them more over the one that spoke up first. But like Kasper themself, dee isn't exactly sure on anything, as dee doesn't really know the other grunt too well. Well, no better time than the present, maybe ...

Except that there's also flashes of light as the Rotom successfully turns the dimly lit warehouse into a brightly lit one, before quickly zapping back to Fenelle. Dee shakes der head and blinks the afterimages away, and barely sees-

There's two unaffected by the sudden brightness of the light, though they work quick to correct that.

Still, it seems these doppelgangers might also have another tendency ... being too bright themselves, a smile worn that grows broader and broader. "Well, maybe I am fake ... so no use in pretending anymore, my companion," Not-Fenelle turns towards Kasper (the real one), its expression almost softening.

"But it's not like you ever felt really human either, Xuyu."

A nickname of ages past. Frankly one dee didn't want to hear ever again. Something snaps as dee almost lunges for the throat of der doppelganger demself, before thinking better and calling for der Grimmsnarl. Who, admittedly, seems rather confused. Still, there's a target towards he has been sent - even if, that's not really his trainer, is it? He hesitates.

kasper thaler

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Fenelle nods in agreement - though dee has read up on the topic since der last visits to the Wilds, it's still a foreign tongue, but ... pictures are universal. "I think these are depictions of Xurkitree," dee suggests, though ... nothing else. "And almost only Xurkitree."

Does that mean that there's no "ordinary" pokémon here? It's been something dee has read about, but it's nice being able to confirm it with data that they've picked themselves. Dee still squints at the notes in hopes of figuring out more, as dee flips the page to another note. A Stakataka.

Just in time to notice Nikola's words and der Rotom's sudden alarm.

"?" dee ponders, though it doesn't take long for the threat to become actually visible. A giant leg brings down the wall farthest away from them and the exit, revealing the stormy skies above and, more importantly, the spitting image of the drawing dee holds in der hands.

"!!!"

Dee briefly grabs Nikola as they flee, though lets go quickly after dee is sure that the other follows.

NIKOLA SAMSA
18 recover notes from disintegrated megalopolan remains that suggest no other pokemon apart from ultra beasts resided here.
12 flee from stakatakas that have been set up as security at various points in the world.

It's a brief moment, but it's enough of a moment to count. To be a cause.

Fenelle only sees the sparks of a Meteor Mash before dee could comprehend what's going on - and only as the dust settles, der Metagross' expression unfathomable as ever, as der own, does it become clear. A Metang has appeared.

And perhaps, just like that time, memories have stirred.

Dee truly doesn't know what it's been up to before dem, does dee?

skipping metang

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Fenelle seems to brim with pride at Lulu's praise, though dee quickly tries to tone it down a nudge so it's not as obvious. Dee still gives the impression of an eager student, however, something dee couldn't hide no matter how much dee tries. Der attention then is focused on the battery itself, however, and dee would move to assist Lulu wherever possible as they do plug in the battery.

"It's quite interesting how their society evolved compared to ours ... I wonder if we're also looking at the same timespan, if they've developed intelligence at the same rate as we did." As the human race largely did, at least. But the human is, as Fenelle has come to accept and use, a social animal.

Der eyes seem to widen slightly as the prisms come into view. "I have to think of beam splitters first and foremost, putting light's property more towards a wave than a particle. I'm not sure how wrong this angle is, but it could be quite interesting as waves have a harder time being ... stored like the way chemical energy is."

Frankly, dee is quite excited about this, though dee also has no idea if that's going into a completely different direction than reality.

"The question would be if the prisms itself are medium or matter, I think ... directing or the energy itself. Either way, their properties require more studies ... do we have similiar research ..."

Lulu Flint

As they've finally arrived in front of the building they were supposed to do a quick scan of, Metagross notices something - an analytic Magneton. Fenelle hasn't noticed the pokémon yet, but it regards the intruder with a look.

This ... doesn't seem like something Fenelle would need or want to catch, right?

A wave of psychic energy has knocked it out already as Fenelle notices that Metagross is distracted. Regarding the Magneton with an unfathomable expression, dee merely nods once then and gestures for the psychic steel to follow as dee moves further into the abandoned power station.

skipping magneton

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Fenelle nods in confirmation at the confirmation, preparing to see how much dee and Morgrem could carry. Given that the Morgrem isn't fully evolved yet, it's definitely less than if it could just string crystals like beads along his hair. Still, the little guy is determined to prove its worth, and Fenelle is similiar - even as the crystals turn out to be sharper than dee anticipated.

As long as dee is careful, there's no blood drawn.

Similiar to Summer, there's one crystal that dee finds that seems to stand out a bit more than the others ... though it's the first time that Fenelle holds a tera shard in der hands that actually holds potential. Carefully putting that away, dee nods as Summer speaks up again.

We've got all we can get from here, too. It's marked as well - and might actually be a really promising spot.

Time to return to HQ and crunch some analyses.

Summer Atreides

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Fenelle grimaces with a faint smile, understanding and fearing that this world might not allow this. "We can try." The appearance of the Walking Wake is reassuring in a way - tells dem that the other is far from helpless, even as this distorted copy of their world mocks them, dips them in terror and fear.

"Only can go further." Dee doesn't like touch, but offers a hand nonetheless to keep them from seperating - as this would be a fate that dee really doesn't want to trigger. "We gotta go, the void's catching up-"

But even then, der legs feel as if they're lead all of a sudden. Pressure weighs against der chest, as the world slows down- speeds up- contradicting sensations trying to win the upper hand.

Diana Cavendish

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Fenelle bows slightly upon entering the room, the nervousity of der act falling off as dee enters the room and closes the door. Der Rotom slips from the wristwatch into the tablet that Fenelle takes out from der bag. Der face fades to the usual neutrality, though there's also an eagerness, perhaps similiar to Ameena's excitement. It's unlikely they'll figure out a solution right away, but it itches dem to finally get started, given that the problem doesn't just go away.

And right to business, too. Fenelle takes a moment to sort der thoughts, before starting to sign. Der Rotom would translate those words from within the tablet, as it also transcribes Ameena's words to text for dem there.

"Battle of Mossdeep ... I think we have a clear trigger there," dee replies, "I've been deployed to my hometown, and I felt ... more attached to my memories of the streets there than I anticipated." It's an embarrassing confession, but they wouldn't get anywhere if dee isn't honest. "I ... used to be linked psychically to Metagross nearly all the time when it's been deployed, so it ... has also experienced this nostalgia. It disoriented me slightly, and Metagross even more."

A piece of steel with a rational mind - a piece of steel with emotions.

ameena abadi

A clear sense of excitement, taken and made manifold. It's a disorienting sensation, even if it is exhiliariting - it also leads to the Metagross being pushed out of Fenelle's mind, as much as the mere human could at least. The Metagross is nothing but attentive, and quickly retreats as well. An awkward moment stretches between them, before the static in the air reminds them.

They've got stuff to do.

using steel incense

REDEEMING from pc
level tutor: hisuian goodra forgets bubble and learns iron head
tm/tr: hisuian goodra forgets absorb and learns protect
tm/tr: rotom forgets thunder shock and learns thunder
level tutor: bronzong forgets psywave and learns gyro ball

TOTAL: 2x level, 2x tm/tr

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Fenelle stays rooted on the spot, focusing on the feelings of doom that seem to vaguely approach and the hastily morsed words from Nikola reach der skin, leaving an electrified feeling on der skin as the screen of the wristwatch simply doesn't want to turn on now.

Dee remains blinded still, even as the room alights, as the Infernal Parade's enough to blind dem in the other direction. There's no telling for dem if the attack has been successful, as dee's made the mistake of looking directly into the flame. Blinking the afterimages away as the flames still burn, dee manages to catch sight of something running away from the other scientist-!

Wordlessly, a Grimmsnarl is thrown out of his ball, being sent on pursuit without a command necessary. Even if the dark fairy is also blind in the darkness that has settled now again, the pink energy of his Spirit Break is enough to aim accurately enough. Hitting the ghost square in the face, the culprit is stopped in its tracks.

"... a Froslass." Fenelle lets out a deep breath, shaking der head. "I didn't think this visit would turn out like that," Fenelle frowns. "Where does that ghost come from?"

NIKOLA SAMSA

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DARK SIDE OF THE MOON SIGN-UP

STRIKE FORCE!

CHARACTER: Fenelle Miller[break]
PKMN TEAM (6 MAX): above (moves to be updated), also bringing: tera orb (grimmsnarl: fairy, steel; h. goodra: ground), mega accessory (grimmsnarlite)[break]
HOW MANY TIMES HAS YOUR CHARACTER BEEN TO THE ULTRA CRATER?: 0

Grimmsnarl isn't actually strong. His strengths lie with deception, not actual physical labour - but here he is, slaving away at the construction sites anyway. His expression is a grimace as always, though it's a deeper frown than usual as he carries crates of debris away, lifted by myriads of hair strands that are way stronger than one might assume at first.

And yet, during his work, his eyes keep wandering towards the big crevasse in the middle of the city. Similiar to his trainer, he has taken an interest in it ... partially to figure out why Fenelle might be so interested in it. He can also feel the pull of becoming stronger from within there - the Tera crystals that can change his typing, allow him to face foes that he would cower in front of ... ... except that he would not, not anymore.

But obedience is a trait more valued than pursuing this curiosity, at least unless he's actually in the company of his trainer, so he turns away and continues working.