[attr="class","adrianend"]

[attr="class","icon"]

"Couldn't it be a matter of simple type advantage?" Rock smashes ice, it wasn't a novel concept—though Howard must've felt there was something more to it, or he wouldn't appear as troubled by the matter.[break][break]

That didn't seem to satisfy either of them, so he mulled it over some more. But nothing really made sense. Could it be perhaps that time had ravaged one more than the other? Without knowing the fundamentals which they were created and operated under, he could do no more than ponder over theories, unproveable as they were. Next question.[break][break]

"It had tried to before, but it seemed to use my fragment as the epicenter." As far as he knew, that fragment had been special; so he wondered how another might've taken its place, or fulfilled its purpose. "...Could another have been found? But how could it look without..."[break][break]

However vexing the matter of whether this is Regirock reassembled, or another instance of foreign pokemon invading their world, Adrian suddenly finds himself in a series of critical thought—[break][break]

Without a physical body, Regirock couldn't have searched—It hits Adrian all at once. He throws Howard a quizzical stare, wondering if his musings held any merit—or if they were just ramblings.[break][break]

"So this Regirock is searching for an even larger fragment than one it already has?"[break][break]

It's almost a statement and not a question, but Adrian remains uncertain in the face of academic scrutiny. Perhaps Howard will offer a rebuttal, or at least refuse any of his scholarly affirmation. But when he considers the massive crystal formations dotting the chasm, the emergence of tera crystals and dynamax shards... It seems like the Giant Chasm is precisely where Regirock would want to be.[break][break]

Just the same as the League, or Team Rocket; it sought a power to manifest its own idyllic destiny.[break][break]

"What are the fragments made out of?"[break][break]

Adrian might have already known, but he couldn't help wondering what a bit of research had turned up.

[break]

[attr="class","adrianstare"]

[attr="class","icon"]

He can't disagree—but he doesn't want to believe it. He's enjoyed the fascimile of peace Rocket has maintained here, even if only afforded for the League's inaction. Coalossal continues to pack down the earth with smack down, while Copperajah digs up loose soil and replaces it with rock and stone. While they work, Adrian observes many pokemon showing their strengths, though Cilian's remain striking. Perhaps that is why they're keen to his staring. "Well, not entirely..."[break][break]

Adrian averts his eyes to his wrist as he holds it in the opposing hand, gently massaging the joint.[break][break]

Klefki had nearly taken his hand at the wrist when it defected. They were unruly and unwieldy, and yet—[break][break]

Returning his gaze to match Cilian's, he answers:[break][break]

"They've a great power to be desired."[break][break]

While Adrian may not align himself with Rocket's ambitions, they were not ignorant to one of the golden rules of history: Might makes right.[break][break]

"...Yveltal loathed them, however."[break][break]

And so he relied on them sparingly, if at all.[break][break]

Adrian recalls how he could see them differently—for what they were—but he is blind to that now. And although their characteristics and demeanor made them distinguishable, he still felt that twinge in his eyes everytime he tried to envisualize an aura.[break][break]

Maybe it always would—a parting gift for him.[break][break]

[break]

[attr="class","adrianend"]

[attr="class","icon"]

Adrian offers a solemn nod, though he's as yet undeterred. Much and more has happened since the Desert Ruins sank. He has to believe he's become more competent since then.[break][break]

It is strange that Howard believes in himself so little, considering the power he wields. But as he ponders it more, the pair of them trekking across dirt and stone, he considers their dilemma for a moment...[break][break]

"...Have the Regis ever battled before?"[break][break]

He's not even confident they've encountered one another before, but it seems unlikely they would do battle with one another. Especially if Howard's theories on them held true. Machine minds...[break][break]

They would be inextricably bound then, he figured.[break][break]

Adrian considers for himself the size and stature of Regirock. In spite of its weaknesses, it would prove a daunting foe to any pokemon; there is only one to whom he entrusts the task: His rock, his strength...[break][break]

"We'll be alright." Adrian did share their doubts, but of their safety he was assured... mostly.

[break]

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[attr="class","adriansimple"]

[attr="class","icon"]

Adrian took pause.[break][break]

"We're swimming beneath it, you say?"[break][break]

The notion unsettled him. Adrian recalls his history with diving—it felt like several lifetimes ago. He and another (Kyle Lopez), diving to free some Luvdisc holed up in an underwater cave. There had almost been an accident—but his pokemon kept him safe, naturally. But that did nothing to stymie his fears.[break][break]

"...Alright then." He couldn't exactly object.[break][break]

He would fish out a pokeball from his pack, hoping to make use of Greninja as he had before. The pokemon raised its arms in a whole body stretch as it unleashed in a spark of crimson, with what might've been a yawn—muffled by the tongue wrapped around its neck—before looking to Adrian for instruction.[break][break]

"I need you to keep an eye on me down here, 'kay?" Greninja seemed amicable enough to the task, taking to the water quickly, careful to avoid the anchor as it plunked into the water and the chains tore through the water with a violent sloshing.[break][break]

Adrian clambered out of his shirt and jeans, hoping to reduce the drag. Tucking his things neatly away in the same pack as everything else, he felt a chill as the sea breeze washed over his bared skin.[break][break]

"I don't suppose you keep a spare wetsuit?"[break][break]

His arms wrapped around himself at the biceps—he had not acclimated to the temperature yet.

[attr="class","pilots rocketchar"]

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[attr="class","adrianend"]

[attr="class","icon"]

"Patrolling?" Adrian is not sure he gets their meaning. Had he meant Regirock intended to surveil the landscape, to guard it... or perhaps simply to explore? To him, the aimless tracks could just be that—aimless—as the entity failed to guide itself through an alien environment.[break][break]

In order to better gauge that, he would need to understand how a Regi perceived the world around it—and that simply wasn't fathomable.
And so he relied on Howard's intuition—for what it was worth.[break][break]

"How did it get here, anyways?" Adrian does not overly familiarize himself with Rocket reports—preferring not to arouse suspicion—so he is ignorant to the events that followed the landmass appearing just beyond the island of Dewford. He remembers pitching in during their effort to plunder the ephemeral island, but made a retreat in short order after Copperajah was heavily wounded.[break][break]

But now he had nothing but time to burn, and an emphatic storyteller to regale him with starry-eyed recollections... It might prove rather interesting.

[break]

[attr="class","adrianstare"]

[attr="class","icon"]

Adrian lies restless in his bunk. His mind races with thoughts of Rowan—they haven't shared one another in what seemed an eternity—months had elapsed, all in loneliness. But he could remember vividly his favored companion, tracing back over memories fondest to while away the midnight hours...[break][break]

...the gentle contours of their face...[break][break]

...the way their eyes caught the light...[break][break]

...how their dulcet tones felt against his ear...[break][break]

...the rosy hue of his dimpled cheeks...[break][break]

He holds himself tenderly, wishing for the other's return, consoling himself how he can in their absence. But it substitutes their affection poorly.[break][break]

Rolling over with a shuffle of linens, Adrian plucks his phone from a nightstand, flicking through the interface before punching in his moment's thoughts:[break][break]

> miss you...

The cellphone drops against his chest, and he stares into the darkness of an empty room. Where are you?

[break]

[attr="class","adrianstare"]

[attr="class","icon"]

Adrian eyes their pokemon jealously—he is no stranger to the shadow phenomenon—though he himself boasts far fewer of their number or caliber. Perhaps he should train them; bittersweet memories of Iconoclast at his side make the idea tempting. For the moment he took to be awestruck, Adrian falls behind in their work. Get a move on.[break][break]

Releasing all of his pokemon, Adrian seems keen on instructing COPPERAJAH and COALOSSAL—using their myriad powers to concoct a robust wall of earth, stone and tar. They DIG up the earth and harness ANCIENT POWER to raise the seabed. STEALTH ROCKS are nestled into the sediment, meshed togethered with globs of TAR SHOT.[break][break]

As they begin to form something of a perimeter line, Adrian unleashes STONJOURNER in triplicate. With HEAVY SLAMS they nestled into their appointed positions, lending their very bodies to the fortifications, creating an extensive POWER SPOT to rally around. If only I had more of them to spare.[break][break]

ROCK SLIDES into place and is SMACKED DOWN to keep the modifications compact. As he watches over his pokemon, he considers other modifications—but his efforts here should be enough. Or so he hoped.[break][break]

"...Do you really think they'll try to retake Sootopolis?" Adrian seems to sound worried, though it's for his own reasons. It had been some time since fate had brought him and Rowan back into the others' lives. If it would happen again, he did not wish for it to be under such dire circumstances.

[break]

[attr="class","adriansimple"]

[attr="class","icon"]

Their orders were to clear out any abandoned (or even occupied) secret bases along route 126, in the lead up to 'war' that was poised to overtake Hoenn's streets. Previously, Adrian and Cillian Quinn had fortified certain embankments surrounding Sootopolis. Now they would root out any foreign factions in the surrounding waters.[break][break]

A job made easier for Tempest's specialties.[break][break]

"Is that it up there?" Adrian would not pretend to distinguish between a mound of rocks and what could be a cove. From his spot on the rocking deck of Tempest's fishing boat, it was all the same.[break][break]

Adrian tried to keep to their business at hand, and would've otherwise came off as aloof and perhaps even brooding. But the smell of seaspray and the gentle rocking of the open waters kindled a call to adventure long lost... He might enjoy himself yet.