Oscar stood up as his sword IV unlatched itself from his arm, his eyes locked onto the center screen. The action had reached a thrilling climax, and he could not help but grin as his fellow Rockets fought valiantly for their rightful victory. Hitoshi had attempted to once more thrust the key into the lock, only for Prime to elbow him in the face. As the key bounced away, Prime would follow it until it landed within the hands of Zev. Having stepped too far away, Prime could only helplessly watch as the devourer inserted the key into the final keyhole.

Prime froze as the key was turned, the striking sound of the door unlocking echoing through the first floor. Prime stopped its song, reverting into a neutral pose as the doors swung open. The duo of Zev Harcourt and Hitoshi Inoue had overcome Oscar's challenge, earning their freedom.

ASSESSMENT SUCCESSFUL!

Oscar cheered, stumbling as his head rushed slightly. He only realized then that he may have given a bit too much blood to Hitoshi's adorable sword. Oh well, at least he hopefully endeared himself to the little guy. Hopefully that opened the door to a more cordial relationship with its master. Oscar rolled down his sleeve before rushing out the door to greet the victors.

"You did it!" He exclaimed, clearly overjoyed by their success. The assessment had not gone entirely to plan, but Oscar was confident that Hitoshi had more than proven his worth. Oscar skipped happily to the glorious hound and thrust a hand forward. "Welcome to SPECTRA! I mean, he passed right? No way he didn't."

Whether Hitoshi accepted the handshake or not, Oscar would remain in a chipper mood. He would clap his hands together once Zev had the time to speak. "I say we go get some pancakes! I could really use some sugar--on me of course." Oscar would escort his companions out of the office, pausing only when he realized that Prime was not following. He would turn to address his cybernetic ace, "Yo Prime, you coming? You usually love watching people eat pancakes."

Prime stood in the lobby, staring forward into the darkness of the first floor. Its master was correct; while normally Prime was intrigued by the eating habits of humans, tonight it would simply not be in the mood. It turned its head so that it could see Oscar, shaking it slightly to indicate its rejection. Oscar furrowed his brow, something was for sure up with Prime. It had acted erratically both before and during the exam, and while this poor reaction to its loss was par for the course it usually managed to bounce back more quickly. Perhaps a mental examination was in order...

But later, for now Oscar would give Prime the space to cool down. "Alright, I'll be back to pick you up in an hour or two. Don't go anywhere." Prime turned away, resuming its stalwart stare as the humans departed. It ruminated on its memories once more, watching with near perfect clarity as a prehistoric creature effortlessly sought out and eliminated foes twice its size. It was true that Prime shared a great similarity to this being, but it was not one and the same. These memories were echoes, etchings upon the cave wall from a bygone age. If Prime thought hard enough, it could see such echoes across many time periods. Prime was none of these beings, and so that begged the question:

What was it?

Oscar gasped as the titan reeled about. The attacks they Landed seemed to have actually had an effect, although they were not lucky enough to be finished with this damned affair. The golem retaliated with full force, unleashing a blast so powerful that Oscar could feel the heat even before it reached him.

He ran to the side, kicking up sand as the blast sailed past him. He could only hope that Babayaga could manage to do the same.

Baba was already preparing for another attack. He swooped upward, attempting to avoid the blast before diving back toward the creature's weak spot. A green streak followed behind him, quickening his pace as he delivered his next blow (Trailblaze).

xETBy566
+10 SHIFT
+10 RIDDLE

tl;dr
--Babayaga is aiming for Registeel's weak spot.
Riddle Guess: LAND

Trailblaze: STRIKE//BOOST

Using the BOOST effect.

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

Oscar watched as Theo suffocated his cigarette against Oscar's desk, inches away from Oscar's courtesy ash tray. It sent a clear message, though even still Oscar wished he had at least tried to aim for the tray.

Oscar walked away from his desk and toward a nearby wardrobe. He opened it to reveal a series of orange insolation suits, neatly lined up on wire hangers. He picked out two of the suits and walked over to press one toward Theo.

"You'll need this. It's not optional." Mostly because if Theo got fried on Oscar's watch Rocket would probably tear him limb from limb. An undesirable outcome to say the least.

Once they were suited up, Oscar would wait for Theo in the elevator. He had his keycard at the ready, swiping it against the elevator buttons whenever the underboss got on. The elevator would shake before ascending up toward The Perch. Wishing to fight back the awkward silence, Oscar reached out for some form of comfort.

"Any last minute sage advice?"

THEO BECKETT

Hitoshi went for the third lock, but Genesect blocked the key's entry with its claw. It then kicked Hitoshi roughly in the stomach, pushing the weird dog-man away from the door.

Hitoshi lost one life.

Its kick over extended its reach however, and Zev would manage to get his key into one of the locks. Only one lock remained.

Genesect jabbed toward Zev to get him away from the door, before taking his position back in front of the lock. It only had one last chance to prevent their escape, and it fully intended to make the most of it.

vCKLaIrq

Zev Harcourt 3/3 Lives
Hitoshi Inoue 2/3 Lives

3/4 keys inserted

Oscar furrowed his brows as Kepler hesitated, looking over to his companion with restrained concern. His fellow scientist seemed nervous, though Oscar chalked it up to nerves concerning their espionage mission. Truth be told Oscar was not exactly the picture of confidence currently, but his experience in the field helped him at least be able to mask it.

Oscar would not reprimand Kepler though, instead lightly nudging him with his elbow while leaning over to whisper. "Hey, you're going to do great. Just act like you belong and follow my lead."

The two blended in well enough with their employee disguises, they just needed to sell it by acting casual. If they were too nervous, someone might start to suspect them. Oscar waited patiently, shooting Kepler a thumbs up as he looked back toward the door.

kepler brueshaber

With the buckets handled, Oscar was not quite sure what to do next. That was why he sought out help after all, these sorts of messes were not exactly his forte. sylvie faust seemed far more experienced--obviously, since this was her profession. If she wanted to wait until her grimer absorbed everything it could, then he was content to wait with her.

He needed to pick up one of these bad boys, it would make his life so much easier. It was like a living roomba, but for body parts.

Oscar folded his arms as he watched the little guy work, answering a-matter-of-factly to Sylvie's inquiry. "I actually already know it will. You can find the arm currently attached to Shred. No complaints from him yet, though I think I owe him a follow up examination soon. If you ever run into him you can take a look for yourself."

Oscar looked up at Sylvie, his expression bizarrely serious. "That arm is bad ass though. Like for real, I almost fuckin' chopped off my arm so I could have it. Fuck I'll never make something that metal again--no pun intended."

What little confidence Oscar had managed to maintain crumbled under the weight of Theo's glare. It was a look of intense conviction, disillusionment, and worst of all--disappointment. Oscar barely knew Theo, yet he felt the same in this moment as he did during the last conversation he had with his father. Like a failure.

He knew he should have worked from home today.

Oscar looked back toward the perch light, still lit with a now more ominous glow. Oscar did not know what he feared more, the wrath of Rocket or the confirmed indiffernce of Zapdos.

Confirmed indiffernce...there was nothing confirmed. Oscar had been avoiding Zapdos because he did not want to be rejected--yet he had no reason to fear such a possibility. Oscar had provided Zapdos with evey comfort he could afford, and unlimited supply of Infinity Energy to feast upon. Surely that meant something to it.

Oscar's face steeled as he dared to meet Theo's gaze once more. "I will, but on one condition. Let me be the one to appeal to it. If this is my failure then let me be the one to fix it." Oscar straightened up as his own conviction returned to him. "Please, let me make this right."

THEO BECKETT

Oscar's loose awareness of the dream faded as he looked upon his friend. Priam had always tried to hide his anxiety, but this time he could barely veil it behind a smile. Oscar melted at the man's tenacious attempt to remain confident, and he could not help but smile softly as well.

He grasped Priam by the shoulders, jostling lightly as he locked into eye contact. "Hey, it's like you always say: Everything's gonna fall into place. We did our part, it's out of our hands now. Let's enjoy the victory while it lasts."

He smoothly slid one of his arms across Priam's shoulders, dragging him along further away from the doctors and Velmos. "Let's get some breakfast or somethin', I'm fuckin' starving."

priam conrad

Oscar's left eye twitched as he struggled to process Theo's request--or was it an order? It seemed like one, but it was a nearly impossible task. Zapdos was a being beyond extortion, it would likely balk at such an ultimatum. It held the power, how could Oscar ask anything of it?

Oscar would not keep his skepticism to himself, "Demand? You should know as well as anyone that a legendary pokemon does not entertain demands. How can you place such a thing upon me? An-and why the sudden urgency? We've never been in a rush before!"

Oscar found himself struggling to hide his heavy breathing, his anxiety creeping through him like a gradual frost.

THEO BECKETT

Babayaga's ominous wind barely glanced the enemy, but that was alright. It was more or less a distraction, its main point was to bring swiftness to Baba's flight. The great bird flew upward, rising high above the battle as he prepared for the true strike.

Oscar looked over as a voice rose above the rushing sand. It was Hitoshi Inoue , who seemed to have noticed something about the titan. Oscar scanned the creature, his eyes bulging as he clocked the apparent weakness in its shoulder. Oscar slapped his hand over his mouth, pulling it away as he looked back at Hitoshi with a large grin. As Hitoshi suggested a duo effort woth his kartana, Oscar would enthusiastically nod.

"Nice work, hound-dog! We might not be enough though!"

Oscar looked around desperately, his eyes settling upon the nearest trainer to him (Yuina Higashi ). "HEY YOU! BROWN HAIR, YEAH YOU! LOOK AT ITS SHOULDER!" Oscar gave this poor stranger a moment to locate the weakness before continuing. "I NEED YOU TO FIRE AT THAT SPOT EXACTLY WHEN MY DECIDUEYE STRIKES! CAN YOU DO THAT!?" She better, because there would not be much time to decide otherwise.

Having reached the peak of his accesent, Baba briefly froze into a freefall. He closed his eyes, allowing the sound of the roaring winds to override all others. This next strike must be his greatest yet, his master was counting on him. As he dropped into a nosedive, the owls eyes would shoot open. As he torpedoed downward, his master's voice would catch his attention. He dared to glance Oscar's way.

Oscar was slamming his hand into his shoulder and shouting over the wind, "THE SHOULDER BABA, THERE'S A WEAK POINT!" Baba's eyes looked to the incoming titan, his keen eyes resting upon the weakness in its armor. That would be his target then. As he straightened up like an arrow, the familiar glow of tera energy would suddenly surround his body once again. Oscar had his tera orb pointed outward, his voice traveling across the air:

"RIDE! RIDE TO RUINation YOU BEAUTIFUL BASTARD!" Baba smiled, swinging his wings as he approached the weak spot (Leaf Blade). Below him Hitoshi's Kartana swirled into place, as well as the well timed projectiles of an unfamiliar Venusaur. All three attacks would be delivered at the same place at the same time.

sLnEf_|A
+10 SHIFT
+20 BOOST
+10 GIMMICK
+10 RIDDLE

Riddle guess: RUINation

Tl;dr
Oscar is attempting a team attack with a stranger Yuina Higashi .

Leaf Blade SNIPE//STRIKE
Using the SNIPE effect

SNIPE: Moves with high critical-hit ratios can add +50 to their roll if they achieve 100 or more after modifiers.
Using one salac chance.

It's stopped rainin', everybody's in their play

And don't you know, it's a beautiful new day. Hey-ey.

As the duo locked in their first two keys, they would deftly duck under Prime's first strikes. Its razor sharp claws would drag against the lock, leaving a clear mark as it swung around to face its targets. Prime would not wildly attack from here though, there was no need. It stood between them and the lock, so all it had to do was wait.

Any time the two would try to approach, Prime would release a quick jab or a high kick to fend them off. Perhaps it would get lucky and one of these strikes would actually hit.

Mr. Blue Sky, please tell us why

You had to hide away for so long (so long)

Where did we go wrong?

WXGq5DFf

You know the drill. Hitoshi Inoue Zev Harcourt

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