Welcome to Gaia! ::

.::Stark & Rem & Geisha & Will & Argonne::.

Stark nodded at Gabriel's affirmation, then smiled in return. "We're all set on this end. So, I guess we're clear, yes?" he said, looking around at his team, and getting a nod from each of them in turn- although slightly sulkier from Will. Stark nodded to himself, and turned back to Gabriel.

"We're all set. Let's go find this cult, shall we?" And with that, he turned around, leading the team out of the hall and toward their destination.

==~==

.::Mystic Portal, Outskirts...

Stark looked down from the team's perch on the ledge, surveying the area of the Mystic Portal. The air around the location churned violently, causing all sorts of distortions, like light being bent at the bottom of a lake, or a river. It made it hard to gauge the dimensions of the structure within the distortion, or even if there was a structure within at all, making planning... difficult. He turned back to the rest of the team, eyeing each of them in turn.

Rem and Will seemed fine, but the other two seemed... uneasy, to say the least.

Geisha shivered, though it wasn't cold at all. "It's so... strange. There's a feeling of wrongness down there. It's... pervasive."

"The thought patterns within the distortion are all dangerously stripped- damaged. Down to basic thought functions or worse. They're little more than animals in there." Argonne nodded to himself, then played a nervous note on his flute. Stark pondered this. His typing made him immune to the storm of Psychic energy here- an advantage both he and Gabriel shared. But Geisha and Argonne, by their very natures, were more in tune to the energies present. Stark turned to Gabriel, and walked over.

"So, about this kid- we need some more information about him. What species is he, for starters, and how old would you say he is?"

.::Stark & Rem & Geisha & Will & Argonne::.

Stark nodded at Gabriel's description. Even without the physical traits, it would be easy for Rem to find the kid with Mind Reader- even lost as he was, unconsciously he would still know who he was. It would just take a little digging, perhaps. Stark nodded as Gabriel moved forward down the hill, and Stark turned back to the rest of the team.

"Alright, we're moving out, Team. The target is a Meditite named Jeremy- he should be wearing a number of red bands- he's apparently emulating a superhero. So, Rem, keep scanning for someone by that name, and the rest of you, keep your eyes peeled. Let's move out." And with that, he turned and started to follow Gabriel. It would be better for the psychically immune to take point for this mission.

The rest of the team followed, all anxious for the mission ahead- though Will was anxious for a different reason.

"Can't wait to kick some cultist a**," he exulted. Rem shook his head.

"Our first priority is to get the child, then free the cultists from whatever force is keeping them restrained here. We can't just go whacking people left and right- they're not in their right minds. This needs to be delicate."

Will rolled his eyes. "Delicate, my a**. There's a bunch of crazies down there, and they're not gonna be happy about us crashing their party. It's not a choice, it's an inevitability- why shouldn't I enjoy it at the same time?"

Rem sighed, but otherwise didn't argue. "Fine, but try not to kill unless it's absolutely necessary."

"Are you coming?" shouted Stark, a way down the path. The rest of the team jumped, then started following again, Will whistling happily as he went, much to Rem's chagrin.

It's who he is, I guess. Can't control that. But still- they're still people, even if they're broken. And that should be respected...

==~==

.::Within the Mystic Portal...

Stark opened his eyes as he walked through the churning barrier around the area, and took in the unusual sights. From the outside, it seemed like a simple aerial distortion. Within the "dome," it was utter chaos- large pieces of stone and rock floated high above them, the wind churned and blew in unexpected directions, and the skies seemed to change color at dramatic speeds, like some demonic kaleidoscope. Stark scanned the horizon, looking at the structure before them.

Most of the original structures, whatever they had been, were little more than rubble now. Some still stood- walls and columns of ornately carved stone, hinting at the grandeur that had once resided here. Mixed with the warped environment, however, now it just looked like some surreal version of hell. Stark looked over at Gabriel, then walked over.

"I don't like this. There's no one here. I mean, there's not even really evidence of anyone being here recently." He looked around at the buildings, trying to find some source of life. He heard a gasp behind him as another of his team made it through the barrier.

"What in blue blazes...? said Will in a choked voice. A few seconds later, there were other gasps and mutters as the rest of the team followed suit. Stark glanced back at them, then back at Gabriel.

"Makes you glad we're immune to this kind of thing, eh?" he said with an ironic grin.

.::Stark & Rem & Geisha & Will & Argonne::.

Stark looked about the interior of the structure, trying to avoid floating bits of stone and tile. The place looked just as dead as it did on the outside. He sniffed the air, but he met with no success- the air was dense, wrong. Whatever this force around them was, it was pervasive enough to annul even his senses. He sighed, then scanned the ground, looking for anything out of the ordinary.

Someone has to be here- they can't have vanished into thin air, especially not so many as were seen coming here. He scanned the interior of the main hall, trying to find some form of life. Something's off here... I just can't place... what it is...

==~==

Argonne had played a few notes on his flute when he sensed that Gabriel had spoken to him. He turned to the Weavile, and nodded.

"Certainly... just a moment." Argonne crossed his arms and closed his eyes, a dim red aura surrounding him as he reached out across the temple. The churning psychic aura made it difficult, but all it took was discerning conscious thoughts from random energies. His right arm started to move of its own accord, holding his flute like a dowsing rod. He started to move frictionlessly on the floor, giving some absurd image of a compass, with his arm stretched out as it was. After a few moments of gliding, he stopped suddenly, his arm pointed into the west hall of the building. He opened his eyes, and looked.

"There is a large concentration of minds in that direction. We should find the men we are looking for there." He nodded, then set off in that direction, without waiting to see if anyone was following.

.::Stark & Rem & Geisha & Will & Argonne::.

"I'm telling you, that rock moved. I saw it."

"They're all moving, Geisha- they float."

"You know that's not what I meant. I meant it's moving weird, even for here."

Stark was about to retort when a call came from deeper within the temple. He and Geisha turned toward the voice, then back to each other. Stark looked in the direction of the voice. "I, uh... I think he--"

"I'll go check it out, Mr. Dravin." She set off in Gabriel's direction, floating straight through the wall. Stark watched with some envy, then looked at the so-called "weird" rock as it took to the air, bouncing off of his forehead gently. He humphed. Weird things... what else is new?

==~==

"Are you-- ah, Mr. Gabriel! Here you are." Geisha floated over, leaving behind a very disturbed Argonne, whom she had floated through after phasing through the wall he had been leaning against. She floated over, oblivious to Argonne's predicament.

"So, you needed me... to..." She followed the Weavile's gaze, landing on a... somewhat disturbing sight.

"Is that... blood? Is... this what you needed me to look at?" She looked at the spot in question- a number of tiles were covered in a large brownish-red stain, as though someone had been slaughtered and left to lay there.

"Not only that, but look there," cut in Argonne, pointing with his flute at a tile at the corner of the stain. "Do you this tile here? Perfectly clean. But, being where it is..." Geisha nodded, catching on. The tile in question was clean, making an odd corner-shaped dent in the bloodstain. Geisha tilted her head. That was worth looking into. She looked between Argonne and Gabriel, and nodded.

"Let me take a look." She floated over the tile, and floated down. But instead of meeting more earth on her way down, she emerged unexpectedly into open air- a stairway, of all things. Geisha dipped through the rest of the way and went tangible, trying to push the tile up, but without any luck. It was sealed up tight. She groaned in exasperation, then floated up through the tile.

"You were right about there being something off here- there's a stairway down here. But the tile is sealed shut. I can't open it." She floated upward a way, then looked down at the two of them and shrugged. "Any ideas?"

.::Stark & Rem & Geisha & Will & Argonne::.

Geisha nodded, and dove under the tile once again. There had to be something here, it was true- no one wanted to be trapped underground- no one. She looked about, trying to find anything out of the ordinary. There had to be something, right? Oh, was it-- no, not there. Not there, either. There didn't seem to be anything particularly off about this stairway. Besides being a stairway, anyway. Geisha though for a moment, then leaned against the wall. Her back hit something that felt slightly awkward, which amost immediately set into the wall with an almost inaudible click.

There was the sound of machinery in the walls, and the tile above her flipped open as though on a hinge, setting down with the barest of sounds. Geisha looked back at the brick she had tripped- it was easier to see the slight discoloration of it now- and then back up at Gabriel and Argonne's waiting faces. She smiled.

"You order an entrance, sir?" she asked Gabriel playfully.

==~==

Stark was looking about with Rem when he felt a sudden intrusion.

Door's open, Geisha found it. East hall, main hub at the end. With that, Argonne's mind withdrew, and Stark shook his head, then called back to Will and Rem.

"Alright guys, Geisha found the entrance- let's move out." He turned about, heading in the direction Argonne had impressed on him. Time to get some answers about this place...

.::Stark & Rem & Geisha & Will & Argonne::.

After a few mintues, there came the sound of footsteps descending the stairs. After a few moments, Stark reached the bottom, squinting against the darkness. He scanned the area slightly, then rolled his eyes.

Eh, Boros--?

SHAZAM, came the response, and Stark's vision devolved into useless static. Stark grit his teeth. So I can see, please?

Fine. Do it the boring way. After a moment, the picture cleared into what seemed like a black-and-white photo negative. It was unusual, but at the very least Stark could see. He picked out Gabriel's shape amongst the darkness, and walked over to the Weavile.

"Not much for lights, these people," he commented dryly. A moment or two after that, another set of footsteps could be heard coming down the stairs, followed by a buzzing noise. Moments later, Argonne and Rem emerged at the bottom of the stairs. Argonne growled at the darkness, and, a moment later, lit up fiery red like a torch. Rem buzzed by him to wait next to Stark. Soon after, Geisha floated down to join the group. And then came the wait.

Stark looked about, returning his vision to normal given Argonne's light source. He frowned in consternation.

"Has anyone seen--?"

This half-statement was punctuated by a series of several short sharp thuds, each in turn punctuated by phrases such as, "Sonofabitch," "Mother of mercy," and what could only be deciphered as "Judas on a unicycle," before Will hit the bottom step, crumpling to the ground with a groan. Stark ran over to help him up, then looked about. The space they were in was enormous- it was hard to believe the ceiling supported itself under the weight of the temple above. He helped Will to his feet, then looked about.

"Okay. We're down here. Any ideas on where to start now?"

.::Stark & Rem & Geisha & Will & Argonne::.

Stark looked over to where Gabriel had indicated, then walked over to get a better view. He noted the blood spatter at his feet, then looked up near the edge of the light radius- another sat just at the edge. Now they were getting somewhere. He nodded at Gabriel's commentary.

"Or someone carried him down here," he said. "There's not a lot of blood down here- so either he was treated or... he bled out. This could've been a funeral procession." He shook his head. "Regardless, we should follow it- it'll lead us to the cultists, whoever's blood it is." He signaled to Argonne to follow, then started to move slowly forward as the light slowly crept toward the edge of the path of blood.

The rest of the team began to follow, with Will in the rear, still limping from his spill off the stairs. He glanced at what exactly they were following, then bore a puzzled expression. He looked up at the group ahead of him, then back to the blood, then back up.

"Wait a minute," he said, stopping suddenly. The rest of the team turned around, looking at Will. Stark sighed.

"What now? You need a five-minute break or something?"

"Maybe, but not now. I was just wondering- whover was bleeding like this is related to the cult in some way, right?"

"Hence why we're following it," said Stark, waiting for Will to get to the point. Will rolled his eyes.

"Well, yeah, I get that, but why? Do we really just want to follow the conveniently placed trail of blood and risk running headlong into a bunch of cultists who don't want us crashing their party?" Stark blinked at this, then shook his head.

"While that is a good point, it's irrelevant- the body has already been cleared, so there's no need for us to worry about encountering any cultists until we get to their base."

Will nodded, looking unconvinced. "Unless they come down to, oh, I don't know... CLEAN UP THE OBVIOUS BLOODSTAIN?" Stark pondered this for about two seconds before his danger sense was tripped- a split-second before he heard a shout and a crashing sound right above Gabriel. Without thinking, he tackled Gabriel out of the way, just before a large chunk of rock crashed down on the spot where he once was. There were more angry shouts at this, and a purplish glow deeper into the darkness as someone sent some sort of psychic attack toward the two.

The attack breezed by the both of them, but eventually reached Argonne, blasting him off his feet. He soared for a few seconds before impacting with the ground with an audible thud. His makeshift light went out almost immediately. Stark growled at the sudden darkness, but otherwise stayed silent. There was another booming sound, and a shout of surprise from Rem and Geisha. Stark blinked, and his vision changed again, outlining the attackers in white where they sat deeper in the darkness.

"This way!" shouted Stark, belching out a Flamethrower attack, illuminating three as-of-yet unidentified Pokemon further into the hall, and scorching one of them, by the sounds of the screaming. "Direct your attacks this way!" He launched another Flamethrower, trying to find something to ignite and give them a light source.

.::Stark & Rem & Geisha & Will & Argonne::.

Stark watched as Gabriel punched one of the attackers, sending him stumbling away. Stark glanced in the dying light between Gabriel and the attacker, making sure the Weavile was far enough away. Then, taking a deep breath, he launched a Flamethrower in the direction he had seen the enemy go sprawling. He hit the jackpot, so to speak, as the Pokemon was enveloped in flames, stumbling around pathetically for a second or two before collapsing.

Stark smiled grimly. In the light of the burning corpse he could clearly see the other three attackers- an Alakazam, a Gardevoir, and a Hypno- stumbling back in shock at the death of their comrade. Stark grinned, sending a Psycho Cut scything toward the Alakazam, causing him to leap out of the way. Stark leapt over the pyre of the other attacker toward where the Alakazam dodged, slamming a Night Slash across his face, raking three deep gouges. As he sat screaming, clutching his face, a volley of Shadow Balls came from behind, blasting the Alakazam off his feet.

Stark looked to his right, spotting Gabriel's sword lying not far from the burning corpse. With a shout of "Here!", he kicked the sword toward Gabriel, then launched a few Psycho Cuts at the other two Pokemon, his efforts illuminated by a flash of lightning from Will. The Gardevoir put up a Protect shield, much to Stark's chagrin.

"Take out its shield!" he shouted, though he neddn't have bothered. Rem and Geisha were already on it. with Geisha hammering the shield with Shadow Balls, and Rem conjuring and launching luminescent boulders with Ancientpower. Stark grinned at the Gardevoir's fear-filled face, and started advancing slowly toward the duo, waiting for his chance to strike.