Magna City Shining Congress – Commission for Directed Evolution

[canisaries]

While crossing the walkway system, the Wayfarers came across a lone 'mon with his arms folded over the railing, watching the activity below.

"Exciting, isn't it?" asked Weavile Mercury, hardly turning his head. "Do you guys know what's happening today? I can't imagine anyone's filled you in, honestly kinda weird you're even here. Hi there, Cherry."

Andre narrowed his eyes briefly. Another one of those strange mon that had triggered his aura sense. Were they all involved with this secret operation? Had they perhaps experimented on these particular mon's auras (in the Forlasan sense) in some way that caused Andre to get these sensations near them? Well, he really couldn't just up and ask. But he could listen in on the weavile's aura like he'd done before, see if anything had changed since last time...

 

[Butterfree]

"Mind your step around here – it's easy to put a foot wrong, end up somewhere you don't want to. I'm between duties, so I guess I can take you wherever you're going. Which was... where, exactly?"

It was hard to tell if Mercury was trying to trip them up, or if this was just his usual personality. He was offering to be helpful, after a fashion, and it'd be weird not to ask what they were here for...

"Well, you tell me. First time down here." Dave gave a shrug, looking around the facilities. "We gather the Covenant is pretty interested in Radiance, and we can use it. Cherry over there had plenty to say about how much we could help the Natural Philosophy department with the Radiance research you've got going on. So, well, where do you want us?"

 

[Chibi Pika]

"Anyway, it's need-to-know, but I can tell you it's a busy day. And that half the Commission is on a field trip. You might've known that part already, I guess."

Mercury grinned humourlessly, and tipped his head towards the complex over the edge of the rail.

"Mind your step around here – it's easy to put a foot wrong, end up somewhere you don't want to. I'm between duties, so I guess I can take you wherever you're going. Which was... where, exactly?"

Jade didn't bother to hide her staring. The place was far bigger than she'd been imagining, and it would have been just as impressive even if they really were here just to help out with the Radiance project. No reason not to give a genuine reaction.

At Mercury's comment though, she put a paw to her chin, brow furrowed like she had to think back on something. "Matthias did mention that he'd be heading out on an expedition soon—I'm guessing that's the field trip?" She didn't have to guess, she knew, but asking questions with a wide-eyed and naive expression would probably help.

[Hey Bellatrix, did that guard mention something about a 'Herman'? If he's one of the scientists here, you could try dragging him into your 'research' maybe.]

 

[Jackie Cat]

Well, he really couldn't just up and ask. But he could listen in on the weavile's aura like he'd done before, see if anything had changed since last time...

The same odd sensation... There was power, and— What was that...? Emotional pain, even despair? The very same as before. Sensing it immediately subsequent to an encounter with that Lucario, the similarity felt even stronger. Whatever Mercury had been through, it was the same as Iridium.

"Well, you tell me. First time down here." Dave gave a shrug, looking around the facilities. "We gather the Covenant is pretty interested in Radiance, and we can use it. Cherry over there had plenty to say about how much we could help the Natural Philosophy department with the Radiance research you've got going on. So, well, where do you want us?"

"Matthias did mention that he'd be heading out on an expedition soon—I'm guessing that's the field trip?"

Mercury looked to Cherry for an answer, only to find her engaged in feverish discussion with another researcher who'd recognised her and wanted to catch up. He shrugged, and gave his own reply.

"Figures you'd have rubbed shoulders with Matthias, I guess. What with being summoned heroes and all – whatever the hell that even means. Yeah, he's out there right now, playing fixer. We'll see if his intel proves valid soon enough."

Laura sheepishly half-raised a paw. "So, uh, what's the expedition for? Something to do with Radiance?"

Mercury grinned coolly. "Sure. He's fetching something important – him and half the damn Commission. Anyway—"

He glanced over his shoulder and gestured to a particular office space, one that incorporated some kind of device – towers comprised of copper coils, hooked up to dungeon orbs...? – and housed a sleepless-looking Gardevoir.

"Herman over there is the guy you want, probably... He's one of the Radiance obsessives, maybe he can spare the time to do whatever tests Cherry's so excited about. Just, uh. Don't go wondering off, will you? This place isn't a damn playground."

He beckoned casually with a couple claws on one paw, and lead the way.

 

[canisaries]

The same odd sensation... There was power, and— What was that...? Emotional pain, even despair? The very same as before. Sensing it immediately subsequent to an encounter with that Lucario, the similarity felt even stronger. Whatever Mercury had been through, it was the same as Iridium.

The sensation from before grew more distinct, and then it flashed in Andre's mind - the cool touch and indigo flare of emotional suffering. Despair. Sickening in its allure. And had that lucario had it, too? It felt like it. It had just been so long since the last time Andre had felt this... and he didn't want to feel it now. Not in front of everyone. They couldn't find out he was sick in the head. Dave couldn't be proven right.

No, he then thought, pull yourself together. The mission comes first.

He sighed, then broadcast to Betel. This weavile, Mercury, is similar to the lucario we met. He also has a weighty aura. Now, though, I think I can place a sensation of... despair.

He then did his best to remove all trace of negativity from his face and trotted after the weavile.

 

[Inkedust]

"Well you heard the darling fine little organelle," giggled 'Cherry'. She seemed to be doing a great job unsettling the surrounding researchers with her overly touchy demeanour. "I could tell you more if you have any questions," she added as she began following Mercury closely. And by 'tell you more' what Bellatrix meant was to grab all she knew about Sunward off her mental shelf (and what any other Wayfarer stationed there would choose to impart over their communications) and pass it off as new information. She made small talk as they walked and Bellatrix was very swiftly reminded why she despised it so much.

When they arrived, the disguised zoroark burst into Herman's office and declared, very excitedly, "I have test subjects!!!"

 

[Chibi Pika]

There was the screech of metal on concrete as Herman jolted in his chair, throwing an incredulous look toward the doorway. His surprise immediately gave way to exasperation.

"Goddammit Dhillon, you're gonna give me a heart attack one of these days." He put out his cigarette in a nearby ashtray and hastily readjusted the dial he'd been in the middle of turning when Cherry had barged in.

The middle-aged Gardevoir was seated at a large wooden control panel of sorts, lined with copper tubing and covered in dials and meters, with what appeared to be radio equipment nearby. One he was satisfied that the meters all had the correct values, he scribbled something down on a nearby notepad and turned back to face the office intruders, skeptical.

"Alright, what the hell do you want?" His eyes drifted toward the mon she'd brought with her. "The Wayfarers? What are they doing here?"

In spite of his irritation, there was an undeniable flicker of curiosity there. She'd called them test subjects. He couldn't pretend to be totally disinterested in whatever that meant.

 

[Butterfree]

"Hey." Dave waved a paw. "We're here to offer up our bodies in the name of science. Specifically, the Radiance abilities. And maybe, you know, hear about your research on it, if you're willing to share."

 

[Jackie Cat]

Laura followed Bellatrix in, drawing little attention to herself as she took all the notes she could. The route they'd taken and may need to take on their way out. Snippets of conversation from the chatter between 'Dhillon' and her colleague. Now she studied the Gardevoir scientist, looking him over for signs of his personal character. Was he a zealot, or conflicted, or something else...?

...and would he be able to tell that the Medicham in his office wasn't who she appeared to be? Howls, howls, howls—

"We've all, uh, come into contact with Radiance and we've been developing our skill in using it," she said, hoping to draw sufficient attention. Hopefully everyone else would help. (At least she was a Dark-type and couldn't be passively read by the Gardevoir.) "Apparently you've not had much luck with that here...?"

Evidently not, judging by the 'mon's expression.

"Well, we can demonstrate, if that would be helpful," she offered. "Although I was wondering – I'm sure we all are! – what it's for, specifically? In practical terms, I mean."

She cast her eyes over Herman's workstation, looking for answers. It was hardly likely he'd just earnestly declare his involvement in creating a simulacrum of the Forlasan Voice of Life, but maybe she could work away at the topic if she had some kind of excuse...

 

[Jackie Cat]

Mercury sniffed, folding his arms.

"I've got places to be, Herman. If you wouldn't mind giving an impromptu seminar, or letting them be an audience, or whatever, that would be great. Nice meeting you people."

He didn't sound especially sincere, but he was already on his way out. That was that, then...?

 

[Chibi Pika]

Herman did a double-take at Mercury. "Excuse me? A seminar? Today??" The Weavile had already casually made his way out of the room, however.

The Gardevoir threw a glance back at his desk, and the numbers he'd already triple-checked, running a hand down his face. "Well, whatever... it's not like we weren't just sitting on our asses waiting in the meantime." So the remaining Commission members were waiting for something, then?

Herman sighed heavily, fishing a pack of cigarettes out of his lab coat. He was silent as he lit one, considering what Dave and Laura had said.

"Yeah, we've been studying Radiance for a while," he said after a long exhale. "You probably got the rundown from some of the big names upstairs—light that brings humans to Forlas, lets mon evolve, the power of the Saints, divine light of creation, so on and so forth." He rotated his hand in a 'you get the picture' kind of way. "Some people might talk about it like it's this 'mysterious phenomenon' that we're not meant to understand, but that's ridiculous. We've got a real opportunity to help people if we can figure out how to replicate it."

"And you all can just... use it." There was an understated casualness to his voice, a dry irony. The Wayfarers knew by now that the Commission was no doubt the ones responsible for creating Betel and the ARK Unit. After all their time and effort, blood sweat and tears, the Wayfarers had stumbled into it, just like that.

One could almost get the feeling that he'd been waiting for an opportunity like this.

He took another drag from his cigarette. "Well, if Cherry's got her heart set on doing tests today, we could always break this thing out," he said, gesturing to a nearby machine consisting mainly of large copper coils hooked up to various-colored Wonder Orbs. "We haven't used it in a while—haven't had good sources of Radiance to test on, and previous efforts to cultivate it in-house didn't end so well."

To 'cultivate it in-house.' That must have meant...?

---

It was more of a spur of the moment than anything. While Herman had been getting his bearings, distracted by Mercury and Cherry, answering Dave and Laura, Jade had slipped into one of the adjacent open office spaces that wasn't in active use with half the Commission gone. She hoped that with her relatively small frame and lack of presence, the Gardevoir wouldn't had had the chance to take note of her—and therefore wouldn't notice that she'd gone. Time to look around...

 

[Cresselia92]

Despite being in a completely new world, the experience of visiting a laboratory where scientists and other staff blabbed about questionable experiments, novel discoveries and all that scientific mumbo jumbo remained the same. Just replace humans with humans-turned-‘mons and it wasn’t much different from a Rocket research base.

And just like the last time he was dragged into a base to “motivate” him into taking more interest in his family’s shady business, Silver preferred to just… keep quiet and study his surroundings, hoping to stay as much in the background as he could.

This weavile, Mercury, is similar to the lucario we met. He also has a weighty aura. Now, though, I think I can place a sensation of... despair.

‘Despair?’ broadcasted Silver through Betelepathy, holding his natural frown. ‘Huh. Y’all can call me a conspiracy nut, but it kinda sounds like this Covenant of Light has way more shadows that it’s letting on…’

Silver cast a quick glance at Mercury, wondering what was in the Weavile’s mind, and stared back at Herman. In the split moment that the Gardevoir turned to check the parameters of something, he ran after the Weavile. He noticed that Jade had also slipped out of the room, and quickly sent a telepathic message her way, ‘Hey Jade! If you find anything or need some help, just shout or whistle or whatever. I’ll be around here. Um… best of luck.’

With that out of the way, Silver prepared himself for one of the most challenging tasks for an introvert: engaging someone in a small talk!

“Oi Mercury!” he called, trotting after the other feathered mustelid. “Are you still on a break? If so, are you up for a lil’ chitchat?” He flashed a cheeky smirk and buried his claws in the pockets of his jacket. “I’m not really the kinda guy who likes being probed and poked with science-y doodahs, y’see! And this place is… well, fascinating! I’d like to know more about the kinda stuff you do here and whatnot.”

 

[Butterfree]

He took another drag from his cigarette. "Well, if Cherry's got her heart set on doing tests today, we could always break this thing out," he said, gesturing to a nearby machine consisting mainly of large copper coils hooked up to various-colored Wonder Orbs. "We haven't used it in a while—haven't had good sources of Radiance to test on, and previous efforts to cultivate it in-house didn't end so well."

Dave cocked an eyebrow with interest. "Cultivate it in-house, huh? How'd that go? We had to get it directly from one of the 'Saints', ourselves." He extended a paw to Herman. "The name's Dave, by the way. I'm also a scientist back home, working with Professor Greenbough since coming to Forlas. Genetics, if you're familiar."

The machine Herman pointed to didn't give much away about its nature or purpose. "What's this contraption do?"

 

[Jackie Cat]

“Oi Mercury!” he called, trotting after the other feathered mustelid. “Are you still on a break? If so, are you up for a lil’ chitchat?” He flashed a cheeky smirk and buried his claws in the pockets of his jacket. “I’m not really the kinda guy who likes being probed and poked with science-y doodahs, y’see! And this place is… well, fascinating! I’d like to know more about the kinda stuff you do here and whatnot.”

Mercury curled his lip and chuckled in mild exasperation at Silver.

"Are you serious? You came here to do Radiance testing, then all of a sudden, you don't wanna? You've got some nerve."

When Silver didn't immediately stop tailing him, the Weavile rounded on him with a forced grin.

"I'm not here to give you a fun tour; I've got important shit to do. Get lost, or I'll put you in lockup to cool your heels."

'Lockup'? Whether Mercury was actually serious or just talking tough, if the Commission had a lockup... then that had to be where they were keeping at least one of the missing heroes the Wayfarers were looking for, right?

 

[canisaries]

"I'm Andre," Andre introduced himself to Herman when he found a good spot for it. "...Not a scientist, but an artist. But, well, familiar with Radiance, and that should be enough, right?"

"Well, if Cherry's got her heart set on doing tests today, we could always break this thing out," he said, gesturing to a nearby machine consisting mainly of large copper coils hooked up to various-colored Wonder Orbs. "We haven't used it in a while—haven't had good sources of Radiance to test on, and previous efforts to cultivate it in-house didn't end so well."

Andre eyed the machine with apprehension. Whatever it did, it wouldn't be painful for the test subjects, would it?

 

[Jackie Cat]

Jade had slipped into one of the adjacent open office spaces that wasn't in active use with half the Commission gone. She hoped that with her relatively small frame and lack of presence, the Gardevoir wouldn't had had the chance to take note of her—and therefore wouldn't notice that she'd gone. Time to look around...

Plenty of offices, labs, workshops... plenty un-staffed right now. Of course, a lot of what Jade could rummage through was incomprehensible scientific notes, often scrawled in illegible handwriting, or was of no apparent importance whatsoever. So it goes...

...but what was this...?

One of the labs she searched through seemed to be where artificial, cybernetic pokémon components were manufactured. It looked to be an incredibly challenging task with the resources and technology available on Forlas – no doubt some faller had arrived as a species that could do fine-detail artisanal machining of rare metals – but judging by discarded prototype parts and a sheaf of poorly-filed blueprints, this was where the artificial pieces of Sage had been made. Presumably the biological body had been grown elsewhere...

What was more, some of the designs and spare parts looked vaguely like pieces of other artifical pokémon, not all of which were species Jade was sure to recognise – the metal shell and voltaic panels of an Iron Moth among them – but she'd certainly identify the set of distinctive boxy plastics, more computer-part than limb, heaped in one corner...

A set of keys – dropped unceremoniously in a great hurry – lay on the main desk. A tag hung on the keyring read [ Cmnd Ctr. ]

 

[Cresselia92]

"Are you serious? You came here to do Radiance testing, then all of a sudden, you don't wanna? You've got some nerve."

When Silver didn't immediately stop tailing him, the Weavile rounded on him with a forced grin.

"I'm not here to give you a fun tour; I've got important shit to do. Get lost, or I'll put you in lockup to cool your heels."

Oh yeah?! Well, screw you, too, asshole! Y’know I could pulverize you with a single punch, right?!

“Tch! For once that I ask things nicely…” grumbled Silver, letting some of his restrained ire seep into his voice and scowl, and he waved his paw dismissively. “Pah! Whatever! Have it your way, then! I’ll go back to the others!” He walked a few steps away, then turned his head and sent one last glare. “And you oughta follow your own damn advice! For being an Ice-type, you lose your cool far too quickly!”

Silver grumbled many stray insults and curses through his gritted teeth, stomping his feet like a petulant teenager on detainment… but then he slowed down, his ear twitched and swiveled back, and he darted around a corner to gather his thoughts.

A lockup! Could Betel or Jesse or Starr be held captive there? Also, that Weavile mentioned provisions, which meant that he took care of food and other supplies for the members of the Covenant… and, most likely, their ‘guests.’ What if he was so pissed because…?

Silver took many glances around, making sure that Mercury hadn’t disappeared yet and no Covenant staffer was paying attention to him, and he produced a bottle from his bag: hot nightshade tea, one of the few things he could take with him. Silver poured the beverage on his body and watched with a mix of satisfaction and awe as his pelt turned from silvery to dark. That trick wouldn’t last long, but hopefully it would be enough to pass by whoever might recognize him.

Mountain Silver out…

He pulled the hood of his jacket over his head to hide his hair and let his now-red feather slip through a hole.

…Dark Silver in!

With a swift but casual gait, he followed Mercury from a fair distance. The chase was on…

 

[Chibi Pika]

Dave cocked an eyebrow with interest. "Cultivate it in-house, huh? How'd that go? We had to get it directly from one of the 'Saints', ourselves." He extended a paw to Herman. "The name's Dave, by the way. I'm also a scientist back home, working with Professor Greenbough since coming to Forlas. Genetics, if you're familiar."

"I'm Andre," Andre introduced himself to Herman when he found a good spot for it. "...Not a scientist, but an artist. But, well, familiar with Radiance, and that should be enough, right?"

Herman shook Dave's paw, and nodded to Andre. "Herman. Aura engineering. Vaguely recall the name Greenbough, might've run into her at one of the yearly congress meetups. The one cultivating uncanny berries out west, right?"

The machine Herman pointed to didn't give much away about its nature or purpose. "What's this contraption do?"

Despite his tired, overworked visage, Herman couldn't help showing a trace of a smile. He was obviously proud of it. "Basically, we found that if you run a specific charge over certain types of Wonder Orb, it can nullify them without destroying them outright. Nullified orbs could then be exposed to Radiance in the wild—generally requires finding a rare wild alpha who's managed to manifest it—and the orbs hold onto the Radiant aura signature for a brief period. Not long, but it lets us do some exposure testing at least. This here"—he gestured to the machine—"is a way to measure Radiant output frequency. We use it to gather data on how it compares specifically to other elemental energies."

Dave had asked about the in-house efforts... Herman took a long drag with a tired, distant expression. "We tried creating a system that could replicate Radiance here in the Commission. No dice on that one, almost ended in a total meltdown. 'Went nuclear' as the project head would say. He's first gen, says shit like that."

Herman tapped his cigarette on an ashtray, his expression growing a bit more serious. "It's volatile stuff. Before we take any measurements, I'll want to know more about your group's experience with it. How unpredictable is it? What would you say is the degree of control you have over it?"

 

[Jackie Cat]

With a swift but casual gait, he followed Mercury from a fair distance. The chase was on…

Mercury was naturally quick, silent, and alert. He was, therefore, an extremely hard 'mon to safely tail. Nevertheless, Silver managed to follow him until the Weavile came into contact with a stiff-necked Bisharp, who looked to be some kind of guard or dogsbody. Eavedropping, Silver would catch a few snippets about checking on someone, and preventing any surprises. Interesting...

When Silver attempted to resume his pursuit, however, Mercury was gone. The Bisharp, however, collected a keyring, a tin of preserved food with accompanying water bottle, and a wonder orb of some kind.

Bisharp was stoically silent, but it sure seemed like he was the one headed to the 'lockup' Silver was after. Following him, the Sneasel would have a much easier time staying undetected while on his tail, and would soon enough find himself watching as the guard 'mon let himself into a security door in the cave wall at the far end of the Commission basement...

 

[Chibi Pika]

Jade quietly surveyed the array of parts she'd stumbled across in the lab. This was where they'd made Sage. This was where. She'd known all along, of course, that they expected to find something like this here, but seeing it now, in person, made it feel real.

(How had they pulled it off? Did they have human fallers who'd brought that kind of know-how from their own world?)

Her eyes, ever drawn to the glint of metal, locked onto the edge of a key buried under some paperwork. She took it in her paws, some part of her Meowth brain satisfied by this. The tag read Cmnd Ctr. That big, central room that she'd spotted from the catwalk sounded promising. The one separate from all the open office spaces.

Jade turned around, ears flicking in all directions before carefully making her way over. Smoothly, no sudden movements that would draw the eye. The Commission was understaffed today but she couldn't afford to be conspicuous. She reached the closest visible door to the central room and slipped the key into the lock.