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As gunfire sounded all around her, Lexi instinctually flinched, the sounds, especially from Tavish’s gun, flooding her ears until their echoes faded. If she wasn’t so worried about the Jeep flipping, she would have covered her ears with her hands. As it was, it was mostly over before the action would have done her any good. Over, however, was signaled by a second of freefall, just long enough to make her let out a surprised squeal and wonder which way it had ended. She couldn’t tell if the jeep was falling or flipping, and if it was falling, she had no way of knowing how far she would fall until she landed. She hung on to the wheel with a death grip through the fall and as the truck bounced and settled onto the pit’s floor, luckily only a few yards lower than where they had started. “Oh.”

Blinking, she attempted to shake off the unexpected movement and then looked around. Despite the short fall, the sand-rat’s hole was quite spacious, and, with the Jeep still sounding operational after the drop, she began to entertain ideas of driving out of the pit. She scanned the walls of the hole, looking for the shallowest grade. As she looked, her eyes found the unconscious sandslash that had dug the ground out from under her. Despite the fact it had been trying to kill her (she didn’t know it had still wanted her captured), it was easy to sympathize with now that it was just lying still, soaked and shot, on the floor of the hole, and her shoulders sagged for a second before she put her mind back to escaping the ditch.

Eventually she found a promising path, and backed the Jeep as far away from it as possible. It was going to take some momentum to get free and clear, but hopefully they would be able to, and hopefully wouldn't go nose over tail on the way…last thing she wanted to do was flip the vehicle after the sandslash was nice enough to leave it right side up. And no, she was not going to run over the sandslash. Beyond any emotional reasons, it would make a very spiny speed bump, and would inevitably make it harder to make it to the surface. Putting the truck into low-gear drive, she threw it at the hill-like side of the pit as fast as she could, ready to fight like mad with the gas pedal if she needed to to keep the truck upright or on the surface.

"Practically a god" was quite a statement. The battle had raged on around Sequoyah and several times he had thought to flee the scene, but was just too entranced in curiosity. Something within him wanted to know more about this man, but something entirely different warned him that knowing more would be dangerous...and he didn't want to get involved in any dangerous affairs.
Boy, is what he's about to step into going to suck for him.
But he didn't know anything, really. He had been told to meet up with this group...and the circumstances of his meeting told him following them into what he was called for was going to be one of the most dangerous things he'll ever do, but he still salvaged hope that if he simply blended into the background, not too much would be asked of him and he could go on about his life without further expectations.
Which is why Sequoyah responded to Terrian with something he was probably going to regret later.
"I arrived right before the curtains fell and my participation was negligible. I ask simply that my favor from you be given to the...man? Possibly aging man?...the personnel with the ninetails."
He would ask for a name, but he wanted to procrastinate the agonizing procedure of introductions for as long as humanly possible.

Ramsden picked up on the tone in Ian’s voice. A name and a small hint of depression. It was the same way he referred to his own lost daughter in the moments she came up. He’d inquire about who Heather was later, now was not the time.

“Well, I’m uncomfortable with you two riding on an onix that just killed its owner, but because of the smashed bike we really don’t have much of an option do we? Here, take this.” He handed Juno his USP. “Now the gun I gave you when I taught you was an M9. This is a different make, and a more powerful round. This is .45 caliber, you shot a 9 millimeter. This has a more powerful kick, so you need to put more pressure on the top of your hand when you shoot it to keep it balanced and on target. It’s more accurate though, and the bullet has a lot more force, so it will put someone on their back wherever you shoot them. Just remember, always aim center mass.” Ramsden turned to Tobi. “You watch yourself kid. You’re not gonna get a childhood it seems, you need to be a grown a** man, and today. We’re gonna have to learn you how to fight and shoot better when we get to Glenville. I can teach you the basics, but you’ll need to practice with Juno. She needs to learn fighting as well. I’m gonna teach you as much as I can while I’m there with you guys, but demonstrating is gonna be difficult with my leg right now.”

He was leaning on Ian with an arm around him. “I’d give you Erin or Blitz, but they’re both out of commission sadly. If I knew where Joshuah was, this wouldn’t be an issue, but he’s… long gone. Now uhh, if someone could grab my shotgun… it’s right over there by the sidecar, I can see the barrel poking out from behind the bottom of it right there.” He pointed to where it was. “I’d like to have that riding on Gary.” He looked around scanning the area for anything else out of the ordinary, but caught sight of nothing. “I’d say we’re safe for now, but karma and luck can only get us so far. Hopefully there’s some miracle drug at the center in Glenville that can heal my leg faster. Maybe there’s a chancey. I’ve heard those eggs are like magic healing. But I ramble, we should go as soon as we have all the supplies gathered.” Ramsden finished his little announcement and sighed. “Well, a spill of bad luck I guess, but moving on."

Seeing there was nothing left to do, Terrian opted for as dramatic exit as he had had entrance. "Well... that's that, then." He clenched his fist and grinned, bringing down a bolt of lightning whose concussive thunder blast sent the rain splattering harder against those nearest. When the blinding light had vanished, nothing remained of him but a scorch mark.

(( *holds all four shoulder buttons* up down left right right left down up "GOD MODE INITIATED" No complaining; we gave you plenty of warning about this.))

Lexi successfully coaxed the Jeep up out of the hole with a little etheric help from Hume. Searching the bodies of the fallen, they would only find a two-way radio that had been smashed beyond most hope of repair, a hunting knife on each man, and no identification. Close inspection of their faces would reveal that one cheek on each had been smeared carelessly over with thick makeup, covering the sword-like tattoos seen on those who had attacked Woodmount originally. Their Jeep held a dozen pieces of graphite that were in the midst of being whittled and chipped into the shape of long claws and four crude, oddly-shaped brass knuckles. Other than that, a box of shotgun shells, and two Tuppeware containers full of warm ravioli, it was empty. The sandslashes were not dead, but were close to it, excepting any coups de grace.

The group made their greetings and headed off for Glenville, finding no other obstructions along their way. It turned out the Jeep had just enough gas to get them inside Glenville and to the labs; it had apparently been rationed precisely. The Protectors in Glenville gave little more than cursory inspections with Mikhail's influence and a swift relay of communications brought them a terse, but polite, request to join the Oaks in the Glenville University labs, once they had had some food at the nearest cafeteria, if desired. The whole trip had taken no more than a few hours, so it was nearing lunchtime as they arrived.

As they were ushered in, a calm, smiling Olive Brown met the party. Her black and silver hair was swept back like a thundercloud, but her wrinkled, mocha features were kind as she greeted them all in turn, starting with Dirk and ending with Tsuki. She spoke in a low, rich, alto voice, and shook hands with them firmly, managing to project a commanding aura even from her short stature.

"Hello, all of you, and welcome. I am Olivia Brown, and if you don't know, I am the Minister of Governance here. I'm glad you made it safely; the Oaks have been very concerned for that safety, enough so to start a much... louder debate, I think, than I had anticipated, with our Minister of Defense, Jacob Thatcher. I thought I might intercept you in case any of them decided to sweep you away, and offer you some hospitality; it's not often a few children need an improvised escort to come save the world, is it? I'd love to have lunch with whomever will join me for it - Mikhail, you are also invited. Thank you for driving out on such short notice." They would be led to a small dining area off by the side of a main cafeteria, with round tables to sit at and wooden, padded chairs. It wasn't luxury, but it was privacy with at least some attention to detail.

---

Benji remained quietly asleep during the whole ride, his ledian perched by his side in the truck and rearranging his limbs if a bump in the road happened to put them in an awkward position. It was a dextrous creature, though it seemed to have trouble even shifting its master around, especially if a curve in the road made that particularly difficult.

---

After some hasty, rain-hurried conversation, the group that had coalesced fighting Terrian dispersed. Grace, they realized, had quietly walked off in the rain with his pokémon, and quick inspection during the downpour did no good in finding him. As with the original plan, Maddy took Aaron to meet up with Paul, Ulysses and Stetson moved on towards Glenville, and Sequoyah followed whomever he wished.

---

Ulysses' party reached Glenville first, having had a car at their disposal for the whole of the journey, and after an inspection and a few lines of communication back and forth to Jacob Thatcher (which were notably clearer and more friendly than any encounters with authority in Cliffshire), they were escorted inside amidst a number of questions about the sudden storm, whether the magnes had hurt them, and whether they wanted anything to eat; it was shortly before lunchtime, after all.

Skye Oak popped up, seemingly out of nowhere, as they were moved along, with Charlesworth perched inquisitively on his shoulder. He moved awkwardly to the front of the group (who had, after driving a few blocks, been assured they would have the vehicle returned, with gas in it, when they needed it), and the two Protectors beside them that were leading the way offered him a smile and a friendly greeting.

"Hey!" he said, washing his hands in front of him before offering it to Ulysses. "I overheard you guys made it here and thought I'd come out - Rufus is very tense right now and tends to make a poor impression. Heh, I guess you know that, Doct- Ulysses. I'm Skye, er, Dr. Oak," he suddenly said, realizing he'd only actually greeted Ulysses, who had met him before. Offering his hand again, he started walking towards the lab, assuming they would follow, then realized they may have been going a different direction, paused midstep, and seemed to be waiting for some hint as to which direction to take. "Uh, thanks for, coming, on such short notice. We... yeah, I haven't slept at all since we got some letter from... from Mom. Beatrice. Dr. Oak, uh, Senior," he corrected a few times, for the younger audience. He trailed off, then, a person clearly created for public interviews, but with no talents in personal conversation, and waited for someone else to pick up talking for a bit.

---

The onix under Juno and Toby responded to significant swaying, and, exhausted and never one possessed of much wit (it was a living pile of rocks, after all), set a decent pace. Because of the forest extending from Woodmount's direction, they would not see Paul's Hilux, and it was likely their path skirting Grove would take them well out of range of noticing him or Maddy as she pulled out of the now-dispersing storm, though Ian might see her on a high flight, in the Eltpatch.

Depending on the timing, Paul in his Hilux might have caught up to them after the meeting and joined them. Sight of the dragonite made their entrance to Glenville relatively easy, and as with the others, they were brought inside and offered food and time to gather themselves if they wished before being urged to report to the Oaks.

((Y'all get a meeting, too, but I need to know at what times you plan on arriving, so please quickly talk amongst y'selves and figure that out, please; in a few days, I'll make the decision myself if it hasn't been made; this next phase finally lets the young'ns be poképotent, so please help us to make that happen quickly!))

---

"Has anyone reported in at all?"

"No, Reverend."

The thin, frail old man, seated behind a simple, wooden desk, put a crooked finger to his lips and pondered, then nodded slowly. "We will try again, then. Wait for word on their next movements, then send another wave. Oh, and from now on, if you see Alex Terrian, kill him immediately. He's too unstable to be of use."

The woman answering blinked once, then swallowed. "With all due respect, Reverend..."

"He won't kill you, or any of our forces. Just. Shoot him. A lot."

"Yes, your Holiness. I understand. Your Holiness?"

"Yes, Bishop?"

"Should we exercise greater discretion in the next wave? I question the wisdom of allowing our marks to be seen."

"You question the wisdom of displaying your faith? Besides, questions are for the Inquisitors, Bishop."

"I only meant..."

"Your caution is not without warrant, though. Advise the next wave to hide their markings, if they are too cowardly to fully embrace the truth of the Dream."

A pained noise preceded the next words. "Please, Holiness, it is not lack of faith, but-"

"Go. Your weakness makes me ill. Out, out." The noctowl perched beside the Reverend, silent and apparently interested only in the wall behind the Bishop, suddenly flicked its gaze towards the woman.

She flinched, then hardened her gaze and nodded deeply, nearly bowing. "As you decree, Holiness."

"As the Dreamer dreams. For the good of all souls, Bishop."

"For the good of all souls."

((Any and all modifications to this and detailings of things like "hasty conversations" or meetings, please gray out, to indicate they happened in the past. That way, we can maintain chronology somewhat better, instead of using lots of different and potentially confusing tenses.))

Things were getting more and more tense for Sequoyah once people had started talking. The ride to Glenville had given them just enough time to exchange pleasantries and Sequoyah had memorized enough about their mannerisms and voice differences to tell them apart for now. Not much else had been explained to him, however, so he was still mostly in the dark. He shuffled his deck of cards nervously, clearly worse at conversation and socialization than the man before them. Sequoyah wondered briefly, for probably the twelfth time since his entrance, if now would be a good time to perform a trick. Once again, he decided against it. Clearly the old man had some history with the folks, so Sequoyah silently decided to stick close to Ulysses until he was instructed otherwise.
When Ulysses inevitably took notice of this, the young native grinned sheepishly and extended his deck of cards. "Magic trick?"

It was all Schraeder could do to keep from throwing up his hands in annoyance. They had come all this way, through bandit raiders and Dr. Terrian's unbelievable raichu, only to find that their contact was some hyped-up little man with no control over his own linguistic patterns, let alone the situation that was afflicting them all. Just great.

"Stetson Schraeder," he said briskly, affirming Ulysses' introduction. "I take it I'm here for some kind of great purpose or something, from the way that things have been going today. I hope you have some answers for me."

As stressful as the fight had been, Lexi had to admit that launching the Jeep over the rim of the hole into the air was kind of fun, and a small smirk crossed her face to let the rest of the world know it. It only lasted a small portion of a second though, since she was back on the surface, and that hadn’t been the safest of places earlier. She looked around to see how things had changed, but it turned out she didn’t have to worry. The stranger had taken care of the loose ends, and things were as dead above as they were below.

When it didn’t seem like the battle’s latecomer would be causing her any trouble, she stepped tentatively out of the vehicle to get a better look at the aftermath while she let the chaos in her mind and the shaking in her body fade away. When some of the others decided to get interested in what the attackers were packing she stood back enough that she didn’t have to look too much at the tenderized bodies, but watched what they were finding. Her scavenger background took over for a second as she grabbed the bits and pieces of the radio, though when the sandslashes’ pokeballs came up, she had a different use in mind, and she recalled the pokémon. Maybe when they got to Glenville she could get someone to heal them. The tattoos were also pointed out and finally explained to her, which made her want to get the heck out of there. The idea that someone wanted to capture her creeped her out more than a little, and the marks were a sign that it was more than just a few thugs.

The Jeep was also searched, and more stuff was found there. She might have gone for the ravioli (she loved pasta after all) if her stomach wasn’t still doing backflips from adrenaline. The graphite weapons were a little more interesting. She knew graphite was good for lubrication and batteries, but weapons? The claws might make interesting pencils, but it was beyond her why someone would make any sort of fighting tool out of something as brittle as that form of carbon…

After the searches and some introductions, they were off to Glenville. Now that they were once again not in mortal danger, the ride actually started slipping back towards enjoyable, though it was hard for her to calm down now that she knew there was more than a few people after her. Her eyes were constantly scanning the path ahead of the Jeep for more ‘interruptions.’

When they finally got to Glenville and aimed toward food, a strange woman approached them. Lexi gave her a blatantly curious look. Who the heck would be walking up to them here…they were outsiders, not locals. In her experience, that meant you were barely better than an openly attacking raider. They were here on the Oak’s orders, which meant they probably wouldn’t be actively harassed, but she didn’t expect someone just walking up. Then again, this woman gave off an aura of power despite only being an inch or so taller than Lexi. Hopefully this didn’t mean they had managed to get in trouble in less than ten minutes. Her driving in town hadn’t been that bad.

Luckily trouble wasn’t in the offering. As soon as Lexi heard the woman’s name, she knew who it was she was talking to. All of the Glenville leaders’ names ended up on the net sooner or later. That didn’t mean she knew anything about the darker-skinned woman though. When Ms. Brown mentioned the oddity of needing to find escorts for a group of children who were going to save the world, Lexi couldn’t help breaking the sense of seriousness they had all acquired to give her an amused look. “No kidding…” She wished she knew what they were expecting her to do…especially since they wanted her to save the world when in the past half hour she had basically proven beyond a doubt she couldn’t save herself. The chance to find out what was going on made Olivia’s offer sound like a good idea. Lexi shrugged. “I don’t mind, local company for lunch sounds good.”

That natu had had the nerve to slap him across the face.

Well, that was that. Schraeder locked eyes with Charlesworth, his gaze burning with the fires of scorn and dislike, and did not look away even as the others continued to talk. When Charlesworth turned back once to look at him, Schraeder met his gaze with enough heat to counter the coolness that the natu put forth.

His rapture was broken when Grimstrip flew through his chest, leaving a cold feeling for a second that caused a full-body shiver. By the time he had regained his composure, Schraeder was no longer in a position to stare down the bird anymore. Ah well, on to more important things.

Mew? That was an interesting twist. So the cause of the Cataclysm was apparently about to cause yet another world-ending disaster. This led to a series of questions almost immediately that were not answered by the time the Oaks stopped talking, so Schraeder piped up, "I'm with Dr. Shonevsky. I would appreciate it if you started by answering what is needed from us, and I would also like to know why it is apparently necessary for me to be involved in this. Furthermore, why should we trust your mother's words? No offense, as I've read many of her works and been highly impressed, but this is quite a claim and I have yet to see any evidence to it."

He was deeply glad that they were finally getting answers, and for the support that Ulysses had shown throughout. And at the back of his mind, he was excited to receive a pokemon...