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"I just need to find a PC. The Oak brothers live here, right? Maybe I can convince them; I briefly worked with them and used their pokemon data for Porygon's development. A sterile environment would be nice, too, so that nothing gunks up the hardware...I could use an anti-static band..."
He looked at a map of the city posted on a billboard and pinpointed the area he thought the Oaks would be in. He needed to be sure they were around, of course. He didn't want to walk up to their building and wait around like a fool if they weren't there.
He picked up a pay-phone next to sign. They'd revised it so you didn't have to pay, though, so "phone kiosk" would probably be the best way to describe it.
He looked up the Oaks in the directory and dialed the number.

((Finally! Happy post-Saturday in a few minutes.))

At his name, Terrian suddenly started, and looked at Elian as though she had just slapped him. Even thought it was a projected image, his ears turned bright red under his hat and he looked down sheepishly, letting Elian speak her piece.

So she wanted to talk in person. That was understandable, and even preferable. He had been overeager. She was stressed, she had been put near death, likely seen its grinning face, and clearly managed to get knocked out by her circumstances. A few things clicked for Terrian, and he stopped listening, instead choosing to get "closer" to Elian, inspecting her, any trace of apology vanishing.

As he looked, his face began to first brighten with anticipation, and the longer he mumbled to himself, the more creased and aged his features became. His pretense of youth failed, and by the time he looked her in the eyes again, Elian was looking at a man well into his forties who, despite appearances, had seen at least his fair share of frustration and disappointment, if not far more.

"There's a problem, Elian," he said. Slowly, his face regained its customary boyishness, but his eyes didn't change. It seemed as though the crows' feet around them were nearly permanent. "It may not be a problem, but..." He bared his teeth in something the flickered from delighted mischief to feral rage and vanished again, as swift as a thought - rather appropriately. "It's a problem.

"The dark ether you were exposed to - nether, more properly - appears to have taken residence in your mind." He continued staring at her, and spoke as though she had no reason to interrupt. "While very cool, it's also very dangerous, for all of the uses you may or may not have for humanity. I... well, I'll put it simply. Aislin can talk to you because you have been infused with generous quantities of ether. Psychic, because Aislin is psychic. It... seems to have made your brain more pliable; more able to accept ether infusions. And now, after being so long exposed to the source of dark ether, you have nether, which is a rather chaotic sort of power, residing in your mind.

"What that boils down to is that you have two warring elements fighting for control in you. As you know, psychic ether is unable to affect nether except in rare cases, most of which are theoretical. So if you wake up-" he didn't balk at the word 'if' - "you will experience a great deal of unpleasantness. This has never happened before, so I can say no more than that, at present. Knowing that, I am well prepared to remove you from this compound - you and your kadabra friend, if you so choose - unless you would prefer to test your luck here, and perhaps discover more about Beati." He winced, and Elian could feel why - a ponderous mass of what felt like negative energy suddenly made itself absent.

Beginning to sweat and shimmer, he said, "Make your decision quickly. I believe I am wanted dead, and my location is... unsafe. I can take you to a place some miles outside this compound - close to Glenville, but not within it." He smirked nervously. "I'm powerful, but I'm not God."

The word "yet" seemed to drift through the air after his statement.

---

The Howards smiled warmly at Alexis, appreciating her concern for her family and her own knowledge of the situation. They waited for Alex to swiftly, but unblinkingly deny that there was any plan she knew of to attack Woodmount. Apparently, the focus had been more to destroy the Howards and their equipment than Lexi. She said, "We just... do what we're told. Beati tells us it will prepare us for the Journey, and I don't... I don't know..." She drifted off, awkwardly thanked the Howards, and made her way to Alexis's bike, standing uncomfortably next to it and watching Gerard wander off.

Billie did her best to answer Lexi's questions. "Dear, there are some things it's not our place to say. You can trust Dr. Oak, though - I'm sure you can. As for the Exterminant... We didn't know they were coming. We'd've been dead if not for Alex - Dr. Terrian, I mean. We know about as much as you do, there." She shrugged helplessly.

---

With decidedly dead eyes, Talia drew a curved, ugly sword from her belt and whipped it at the oncoming motorcycle. The bike split in half, but one half still rammed into her own and sent her tumbling off it. She rolled without changing her expression and charged Ulysses, sword held low and to one side, as if she really knew what she was doing with it. A dark, dead presence could almost be felt coming from her, and in the shadow that ran ahead of her, a pair of eyes could briefly be seen, along with a pair of pointed ears and the flash of polished claws. Something had clearly possessed her.

---

The Light stiffened briefly, but let her face relax into a smile. "Of course, dear. Let us see if your friend Mr. McCulloch has managed to already cause problems."

Once outside, Juno witnessed the hundreds who were crowding towards the tunnels. "Hmm," Jñan smiled, "well, I think he's safe. The people of the Haven would never kill another human being. Save for one. They will chain him, and bring him to me. If I am not here," she hinted, "the trial will be held off, rather than demanded. And you know my decision already. Shall we be off?" The Indian woman gestured towards the hole that would require them to pass by Oak's shrine.

---

"Oh! I didn't expect you to be here," Edward exclaimed as he came upon Richard and Abe approaching the university entrance. He stood in front of them, unkempt brown hair and wrinkled lab coat somewhat different from the customary image of a well-kept entity of the laboratories. Holding out a placating hand, he said, "I need you to leave. You are attracting a force this city cannot deal with at present. You have to get out of the city; we can provide a working car. Get as far away as you can. Please. I don't like to ask this of you, but I have to."

Grim nodded rather grimly behind him. Richard shrugged. "Well, we won't be here long - this guy just needs-"

"You may have misheard. I need you to leave, now." It was good Edward had gone to take care of this. He was by far the stronger personality. His face was set in stone. "I will inform the east border guards of your intentions and needs."

"No, son, you'll give us a God-damned computer and heal our pokémon, is what you'll do." His hand went suggestively to the pistol on his hip, without breaking with Ed's glare. "That's what we need to save a pretty young woman bein' held by the Exterminant. And trust me, I know the Exterminant," he said with a glint in his eye.

"...I know that young woman. Come with me." Ed turned, his coat sweeping behind him, and went into the building, pointing for Abe's benefit: "Computer labs with public access down two halls. Jarhead, you come with me." He led Richard to Sigmund. "Sig, this man says he knows something about Elian." He folded his arms and looked expectantly at Richard, while Charlesworth began to shiver in fear. "Explain," he said when Richard didn't immediately begin.

Gerard glanced back to see that the two women were not following. They were likely confused, and Gerard couldn't blame them. He realized grudgingly that he had been rather distant and blunt with them, and they didn't deserve it. Truthfully, the young man was trying (almost successfully) to deal with the incredible amount of stress that he was under by shutting out everything that wasn't necessary so that he could focus on thinking out a solution.

His family had been in extremely grave danger, and he had had no choice but to flee and carry on his mission. That wasn't what bothered him; rather, he was uncomfortable that they were not proceeding with all possible haste to get back to Glenville. Because beyond his family, everyone that Gerard had ever met was either in very high danger of dying, or already dead. This mission that he was on was supposed to help provide the solution. However, there was the slight problem that: one, Gerard might die on the mission. They had come very close a few times, and only his practiced iron will (trained by dealing with his sister) combined with his desire to protect, at the very least, the people that were with him, had kept him together. Secondly, there might not be anything to return to, provided that he made it back to Glenville.

Gerard sighed and slowed. While it was absolutely imperative to him that they hurry back to help Glenville, he acknowledged that the women with him had a particular type of priority that came from their need, most obvious because they were right in front of him. Plus, Gerard was astute enough to recognize that he would need all the help possible.

"Hey!" he called back with a smile - a genuine one, full of encouragement and excitement for their future. "Are you guys coming? Alex, just take Thatcher's bike; I'm sure the Howards can take care of him until I can come out here and pick him up."

Abe nodded thankfully and proceeded to the labs.
He found it empty. He was alone.
Finally.
He let out Porygon2, and it chirped happily. "Brebre?"
"Nice going on the red ring shtick. Thank God that kadabra was out of commission, otherwise we'd have never gotten away with it."
He sat down at one of the PCs and logged in. "Hurry up and Cyberspace before someone comes in."
"Brebre!"
Porygon2's voice came out as Microsoft Sam and Abe couldn't help but smirk. It was the little things that let him keep going.
He plugged Porygon2 into the PC via USB, and it promptly cyberized itself.
"You know what we're checking for, right? The anom-"
The door to the room opened and Abe's heart stopped for several beats.
Then it sped back up when he heard a familiar voice in his head.
I've already checked, mah boi. It's not here.
Abe spun with a grin he hadn't worn in years. "The King!"
The Slowking smiled back at him. Abe, mah boi. It has been a while.
"Oh my God! You're alive! I can't believe it! What are you doing here?"
The King waved his small hand, which held a silver scepter with a large, fake ruby on the top, around the computer room. After the lab accident, I came here. I figured the Oaks could use some help, and I was right. How is our little project, mah boi?
Abe unjacked Porygon2 and it returned to its original form. "Brebre!"
The King walked up to it and inspected it closely. Amazing. It is in nearly perfect condition. I am glad to see it so. I put too much work into it.
Abe grinned and patted Porygon2's head. "What about the lab data? Do you have it with you?"
The King nodded. Yes, yes, mah boi. Come with me.
As The King lead Abe to his office, Abe glanced sideways at him. "Have you been happy here?"
The King sighed. As I can be I suppose. Though, it never gets as good as the years I spent working with you, mah boi. I missed you dearly.
Abe smiled. "Same here. Uhm...I know it's sudden, but once I get outta here...you wanna come with? We could really use your help."

((Hi, Cinders! Apologies for the absence; Christmas happened! I will post some time, but there is no way to know for sure when that will be. Once the holiday fervor settles down a bit, I'll have the motivation and the time, but for now - CHRISTMAS!!! Hope it was merry, and happy New Year when it comes!))

Hardly expecting to be approached after her harsh words, Elian raised a curious eyebrow as Terrian moved closer. The man had gone from blushing red to some form of curious as he studied her. Elian didn't like the look she was receiving, but she could hardly protest and let the man do as he wished. Only when he moved back again did Elian take a breath, finding herself a bit irritated at how quickly the man seemed to go from apologetic to... To something else. Terrian even seemed to brighten! Was she not taken seriously? Elian opened her mouth to give him another string of harsh words, but silenced as she watched Terrian age right in front of her. Elian blinked and rubbed at her eyes, even if they didn't exactly work, they seemed to function fine in the strange realm she found herself in. The man who always seemed rather young, rather full of life and vigor, now appeared as weathered and tired as Andrej tended to be at times. What did this mean? Perhaps it had something to do with the state of mind Elian floated in, perhaps Terrian wasn't even in front of her at that moment and she was clearly delirious from passing out.

It was almost a relief when Terrian spoke again, the man's erratic mumblings and mutterings worrying Elian quite a bit. Even if none of this was real, Elian would treat it as such, as it all felt so real anyway. It was unfortunate, that Elian's reassurance would only last for half a second as the words that left Terrian's lips were hardly anything to be reassured about. As Terrian's appearance slowly faded back to normal, Elian watched the man carefully, noticing that not all details of the older Terrian faded.

"Problem?" Elian spoke as if she were irritated, but the woman was now more afraid if anything. Terrian was perhaps the only man who could get her out of the Exterminant facility, and if she was really talking to him at that moment, then a "problem" could mean her death. Elian sighed a bit as Terrian addressed the problem to not really be a problem, the man's riddles and vague behavior shining once again. It was all rather irritating.

Terrian then started to go on a long explanation, one that Elian couldn't find time to interrupt. Even if she tried, the man simply continued to talk. Elian didn't completely understand the science between herself and Aislin, so the explanation of nether now sitting in her brain meant little; yet Elian seemed to get the picture. The now frightened and confused woman waited for Terrian to explain more as he admitted that she might not ever wake up. This, alone, was enough to send Elian over the edge, but it was even more upsetting that Terrian had no solution or even knowledge about her predicament.

"I... What do you mean if I-" Elian started to yell, only to silence as a heavy and dark weight suddenly fell over her. It was chilling, and Elian felt herself shiver at the strange sensation. Only when she looked back to Terrian did she see that the feeling had been shared, and Terrian's sudden anxiety put Elian's desire to tear the man apart on hold. She had a choice now, to stay at the compound or leave. Although Elian knew it was important to gather information, she hoped that Solomon would be able to help. If anything, Elian knew that if Terrian was indeed wanted dead, and the man did manage to get himself killed, her life would be over. It was only a guess as to how quickly Beati would start his procedures on her, and Solomon probably didn't have much time to live after his assistance with her exploration. With the way things were, Elian knew that she and Aislin could no longer stay there without someone dying.

"We need to get out of here, Aislin, myself, and Solomon." Elian finally answered once things were set in her mind. It was time to go.

"And if I don't wake up Terrian, I'll... I'll do something nasty! I'm already going to smack you, so make sure you don't make that worse by killing me!" Elian threatened, the small woman trying to appear as fierce as possible despite her current situation.

~

Richard knew that his presence was less than needed, but he didn't seem to be in any hurry as he slowly followed the good doctor inside. The man seemed rather uncaring about the situation, even if it was now suddenly a priority to save some woman the crazy people called the Exterminant saw as their prophet. The thought nearly made him smile wider, but the man simply held his smirk and continued to follow at his own pace. The thought of some helpless person being kidnapped by a pack of crazy people was almost amusing, almost, but once again the man was only there to do his service and maybe get some food out of the deal.

Once arrived to the party, Richard glanced between the twins, then looked to the shivering pokemon. The man raised an eyebrow at the curious thing, his smirk still plastered on his face that was about as telling as a rock. The man nearly opened his mouth to say something smart, but he silenced as Edward suddenly demanded and explanation out of him. Slowly turning to look at Edward, as if the demand had barely reached his ears, Richard raised his eyebrows and moved a hand to rub his chin. It was almost as if he were considering whether or not to answer. The older gentleman shifted lightly in his stance, chewing on his bottom lip until he collected exactly what he wanted to say. With a readied stare, the man looked up, his expression hardly breaching past what it was a moment ago, even as the situation became more dire every moment time was wasted.

“You know, for a smart guy you’re pretty dumb…” Richard spoke flatly, speaking as if he were repeating a fact, rather than insulting a man.

“I said I want my damn pokemon healed. I figure the faster that’s done; the faster we can get to work on savin’ your lab rat.” The man’s tone continued to be rather flat and uncaring, even as he spoke rather bluntly. Richard knew about the girl's ability and the interest around it, hell, if news traveled better in a shattered world then he figured the entire world would have known about it, but it wasn't a well kept secret that a blind woman could suddenly see after a head injury that was supposed to be terminal. Then again, even if such news was hard to come by, Richard was a man of resources and curiosity, such a "miracle of life" wouldn't go past him before he sniffed it out of its hole.

(I'm positively sweating in my suit with excitement)

((I just peed a little in excitement.))