As the glare of his Solarbeam faded from view, Babayaga realized that he had left himself wide open. He furrowed his beak at such a rookie mistake, bracing for what was sure to be a painful blow. Yet as the mammoth titan of steel attacked, another Decidueye would appear to block protect the bewildered Babayaga. As the titan recoiled, Babayaga would lean over to look his savoir in the eyes. He gave a rare nod of thanks and respect, regretting that he shall not be able to return the favor should it come down to it.

Babayaga flew to make distance between himself and the brawl. If his next attack was to land, he would need plenty of space to maneuver. Once he was far enough, he turned sharply and began flying back toward the titan. An Ominous Wind supported his wings, helping him build up speed for his risky follow up.

Oscar meanwhile was prancing to-and-fro, trying not to get smashed by stray attacks and deflected beams. If he had known it was going to be so dangerous being on the sidelines, he would have brought a bunker or something. He thought that damn Claydol had been a challenge, this damn fight was one thousand times worse. Oscar eventually dove behind a nearby cactus, poking his head out as he spotted Babayaga flying overhead. Oscar cried out to it, "Baba, go for eyes! Do you hear me? The eyes!"

J1S_GLDT
+10 Shift
+10 from Riddle

The riddle answer is CLAYDOL

Ominous Wind: BOOST//STRIKE

Using the BOOST effect

BOOST: Moves that increase offensive stats add a +20 modifier to the user’s next move in the following round.

REDEEMING

welcome to the poké mart!

1X Kasib Berry (Feeding to Decidueye)
1X Level Tutor (Teaching Decidueye Synthesis)

TOTAL

do come again!

## PD

Oscar watched the entire process with childlike wonder, nearly giggling at every colorful flash and burst of energy. The tera crystals were an especially fascinating spectacle, as they performed their function exactly as Oscar had hoped they would when he fantasized about utilizing them back in Area Zero. To see a hypothesis be fulfilled was a remarkable pleasure without equal.

As the dream was extracted, Oscar would turn to Lulu with glittering enthusiasm. "What's next? How do we see into the dream?"

Lulu Flint

Stripping down the machine? Oscar had not considered that. His vision required this portable model to have all of the capabilities of its larger counterpart, but perhaps trying to fit everything into a small package was holding him back. Oscar enjoyed Wright's own vision for the future, he had been thinking a lot about exploring the possible uses of Infinity Energy outside of powering machinery. Perhaps Wright could assist him later.

For now though, they should stick to the task at hand. Oscar rubbed his chin as he gave the concept of downsizing some thought. "Ideally, the extractor would pull just enough energy to put a pokemon to sleep. That way it can continue to siphon energy as the pokemon 'recharges' its lost supply. If we downgrade the power of the extractor to that minimum level, we could leave out at least half of the circuitry."

Oscar smiled as he shot Wright a look of genuine respect. "Smart thinking, wish I thought of it first." Oscar walked over to his operational model and bent toward the base of the capsule. He popped open a panel and began rooting through the inner mechanisms. "What else would be superfluous within a smaller model?"

Yuan Wright

It listened, interesting. Prime tilted its head as it tried to think of what exactly to do with this information. This Genesect seemed to be completely subservient to its programming, so could Prime exploit that to reveal its deeper personality? If it could, did Prime have the right to do so? There were many perks to engaging with broader thinking, but it came with many drawbacks as well. Prime itself had been grappling with a great deal mentally as of late, perhaps ignorance was bliss.

Even so, prodding at the edges to test the limits of this discovery could not hurt. Prime looked down as it thought of a new command before locking eyes with its counterpart.

"PRIMARY COMMAND: STATE DESIGNATED COMMANDERS."

Cillian Quinn

Right to the artery today. Oscar's eyes glanced toward the light that indicated whether or not Zapdos was sitting upon its perch. It was currently on. Oscar took a deep breath through his nose, readjusting his posture as he attained some semblance of confidence. Theo could not get to the Perch without Oscar, so Oscar held all the cards regarding what Theo desired. Speaking of...

"It's on its perch currently, no doubt enjoying a hefty meal of electricity. Might I ask what you seek from it?"

THEO BECKETT

Of course there was a bigger fish. There was always a fucking bigger fish. Oscar thought the titans from before were a pain, but this new one was actually insane. It looked like the twisted Steel relative of regice, born from the nightmares of every pokemon Oscar had melted down for scrap. Oscar grimaced, feeling more than a little reluctant to take on such a horrific giant after what he had already been through.

Yet all he had to do was look to Babayaga for reassurance. The decidueye was undeterred by this new threat, looking on as the titan began its attack. The owl looked to Oscar, nodding to confirm its lack of fear. It shall do what it always does: fight to its fullest. Oscar gulped back his own anxiety, nodding confidently back toward his winged warrior.

Babayaga flapped its majestic wings and took to the sky, a gust of wind carrying it toward its newest foe. Unlike the times before, Baba would jump right into the fight with as much fire power as it could muster (Solar Beam).

vFBOenoY
+10 Shift

Answer is: STEEL

Solar Beam BLAST

Using Blast effect.

BLAST: Moves that require charging, recharging, or act as one-hit knockout moves will receive a +20 modifier if the roll is an even number after modifiers.

REDEEMING

welcome to the poké mart!

1X TM/TR (to teach Decidueye Solar Beam)

TOTAL

do come again!

## PD

A KEY HAS BEEN FOUND

The final key, to be exact. As Oscar caught this, he would quickly announce it over the PA system. "The final key has been found! Escape is imminent!"

Prime marched through the third floor threshold, just in time to spot Zev and Hitoshi heading toward the nearby elevator. It did not immediately pursue though, instead simply watching as the two entered the lift. Prime casually approached the elevator doors, shoving its claws into them to pry the pair open. As it ripped the doors aside, Prime could see the cables shifting as the lift approached the first floor. It waited there, until it heard the sound of a soft 'ding' far below. Then it stepped off.

As Zev and Hitoshi walked away from the elevator, the lift itself would suddenly be crushed by something heavy. Dust and smoke would pour out of the elevator shaft, obscuring the body of whatever fell. Then Prime's red eyes would pierce through the smoke, announcing its arrival as it stomped out of the ruined shaft. As Prime's full form was revealed, it would stop short and stretch its limbs. The pair had evaded it this entire time, but now they had nowhere left to go. If they wanted to escape, they would have to now contend with Prime directly.

The speakers in Prime's head crackled as a song began to play. Oscar leaned forward as he heard the familiar tune's intro, a grin crawling upon his face. "Now this--is what I call entertainment." As the song reached its first lyrics, Prime would sprint toward its prey.

Sun is shinin' in the sky

There ain't a cloud in sight...

HwmtB8AF

Hitoshi Inoue Zev Harcourt

THE FINAL BATTLE

While you are close to victory, Prime will not allow you to escape peacefully. Every post, as you attempt to use the four keys, you must make a 'dodge roll' to avoid Genesect's attacks. Failing to dodge the attack will cause you to 1) Lose a life and 2) Cause the key to not fully enter the lock. Thus, to properly secure the key you must not get hit by Genesect's attack. You may only attempt to insert a key once per post; if you insert the final key and pass the dodge roll of that post you will automatically win.

To pass the dodge roll, you must roll higher than whatever Genesect rolls. Good luck and don't die.

Oscar has replayed this moment in his head many times, mostly before bed during times of great difficulty. Would he have been better off if he did not bother to capture Velmos? Impossible to tell, though Oscar often fantasized what it would have been like if he had not gotten a promotion within Rocket. His debt would have never been paid off, and his fortune would not have been reclaimed. His life would have been so much simpler.

Hindsight's 20/20 though. Oscar made the decisions he made, and likely he would have made the same choices a thousand times over if given the chance. He had to keep reminding himself that what he was witnessing was a mirage, an echo of the past shared between him and priam conrad. Right, this was when the two of them solidified their friendship. Would they have still become friends if Oscar had opted to not involve himself with capturing Velmos?

Oscar watched his dragapult chomp down on the alien general and spirit him away, scratching his head as he stood beside Priam. "I'm surprised we ended up at his capture first. All of the good bits happened beforehand, do you remember?"

The winning strategy seemed to be a lot like their previous efforts. So be it, if it ain't broke don't fix it. Babayaga dived under the Golurk's sweeping arm, rising with his summoned wind over the construct's head. Oscar once again aimed his Tera Orb at Babayaga, causing his feathers to take on a crystalized hue once again.

Baba's wings flapped closed, before erupting open to unleash a flurry of Razor Leaves. The volley arched through the air, curving the air as they flew toward the golem's neck. Hopefully they strike vital points that will destabilize the mighty warrior.

0|UhaAzT
+10 Shift
+20 Gimmick
+20 Boost

Ominous Wind
Razor Leaf -- Snipe//Strike

Using the SNIPE effect.

SNIPE: moves with a high critical-hit ratio or perfect critical-hit chance can double their total roll if they roll a 90 or above after modifiers.

Raziel Beckett FERNANDO SILPH priam conrad

A KEY HAS BEEN FOUND

Hitoshi was on the right track when he checked the bathroom. He might have almost missed it, but upon opening the toilet tank he would find the key resting within the stagnant water. Oscar nodded and reached for the PA mic. "Alright it looks like three out of four keys have been found! It's coming down to the wire now!"

Meanwhile Zev's efforts also bore fruit. One might think the clutter created from Genesect's rampage would make it harder to find what they needed. However, since most of the containers were blown up, searching on the third floor was now much easier (+20 to rolls). Conversely, hiding would be more difficult (-20 to rolls) due to the lack of hiding places.

As Zev shifted through the wreckage, he would come upon an item displaced from its hiding spot.

Elevator Key Card

Allows access to the elevator. When using the Change Floor action, you can now move to any floor you want. You no longer need to use the stairwells.

The acquisition of this item would be well timed, as Prime's machinations would soon unfold. It had in fact, moved down--though not completely. Prime remained hidden within the stairwell, waiting for its moment to strike. After it witnessed Zev moving to the third floor, it decided to make its move. Prime's cannon charged, gathering energy before erupting into a massive blast (Techno Blast). The ray smashed through the upper stairwells, causing them to loudly rip from their bearings and fall the the ground in a metallic heap. While the fourth and third floor still remain connected by barely intact stairs, it is now impossible to move below the third floor using the stairwell.

With its prey trapped, Prime shifted into its hover form to float up to the third floor's entrance (Magnet Rise). It calmly entered the third floor, searching for its trapped prey.

l8WAwasi


(*)Fourth Floor: Hitoshi Inoue
()Third Floor: Genesect (Searching), Zev Harcourt
(*)Second Floor:
(*)First Floor:

"He's fuckin' what!?"

Oscar's hand tightened around his phone, anxiety gradually causing his body to tense. Thus far it had been a pretty standard day at work, but that quickly changed when his secretary called with some rather surprising news. THEO BECKETT had just entered the power plant, unannounced, and was now on the elevator heading toward Oscar's office.

Truth be told Theo was not the scariest underboss to have visit without prior notice, that honor would probably go to Elisabeth Fiorelli. Still, if Theo was bothering to come to his place of business instead of calling for Oscar to come to the sub--then it was a certainty that shit was about to go down. As his secretary provided an explanation for why she let Theo through, Oscar could only think about all of the horrific ways this surprise meeting could go.

His hand tightened further around the phone, the plastic shell cracking as he eventually pulled it from his ear and slammed it onto the receiver. He had no time to listen to excuses, Theo fucking Becket was about to be in his office within the next ten seconds! Oscar got out of his chair, rounded his desk, and straightened up as he faced the elevator door that opened directly into his office. A drop of sweat rolled down the side of his head as the elevator dinged, announcing the arrival of his superior. Despite his anxiety, Oscar would greet Theo with a smile as the doors opened.

"Mister Becket! To what do I owe this unexpected pleasure?"