Frontier Town The Wanderin' Zera

[Ambyssin]

"Ein cooperated with me recently," Nova said. "He revealed that weird sneasler running for mayor was Cipher.

"But would we need to take precautions?" Nova looked at the ceiling. "Would these other places drive up our shadows passively like the Quarry? Is there anything or anyone who can resist it?"

 

[Namohysip]

"Well, some plain focusing on ourselves has worked well enough to keep it down," Mhynt said, "but you're right, we definitely would still have to deal with that. But that might be more... atmospheric than anything. We could ask Powehi... or..."

Mhynt hesitated, looking... begrudging.

"...Dayle..."

 

[Ambyssin]

Nova blinked once. Twice. He awkwardly leaned over to scratch an ear with a hind leg.

"I'm sorry. Dayle? Like the town crazy?"

 

[Namohysip]

Mhynt grumbled something and then said, "During my surveying and intel gathering... Dayle mentioned something that I don't know how to translate or make out. But he was 'jumped' by Alexander--it was definitely Alexander, as a Zweilous at the time. He tried to corrupt Dayle. And Dayle resisted, and... punched him in the face. Faces. Dayle seems fine.

"I don't know what to think of that but I'm trying not to."

 

[Ambyssin]

"Well, I'm fluent in crazy from being shadowed back home," Nova said. "I guess I can try to get the truth out of him."

 

[Butterfree]

Dave rubbed the bridge of his muzzle. "Hang on, Dayle? He literally resisted mind-control? The tinhat conspiracy theorist literally resists literal mind-control? Good God." At least Nova was offering to be the one to deal with him. Dave didn't know how many brain cells he would have left if he tried.

 

[Namohysip]

"Yes. I know. The one that was talking about Psychic Wars and mind control is... actually competent at resisting it. I don't know what I expected." The Grovyle looked like she needed a drink.

 

[Ambyssin]

"I'll... try to tend to him," Nova said, looking both like he needed a drink and knew it wouldn't do him any good. "But what else should we think of doing?"

He lay his head back on the table, gaze drifting toward the bar. "I'd ask if there are other folks we should get involved, but I'm not sure it's even a good idea to ask. Feel like they'd be more susceptible to Alexander than us." Nova glanced at the oversized fire chicken tending to things with Gerome.

 

[Namohysip]

"I agree. It should only be us who deal with Alexander directly," Mhynt said. "However, I do think they could be useful in the fringes. Assaults on his territories and then fleeing when he makes a move there. It will distract him. So, in that regard... well. Some of the Saints we're allied with are already very adept at causing trouble, aren't they? Perhaps we can convince some of them."

 

[Tetra]

Koa had planned on not coming to the meeting, and just asking someone to fill him in later. After everything with the comb, he wasn't in the mood to be around anyone. Or to hear about how apparently Alex was now strong enough to be a real threat, about how Powehi had been wrong, about how they'd have to fight him. Of course

But the alternative was slinking around Frontier Town and doing nothing. He'd slipped in late, after they'd begun discussing plans, and picked a spot a bit closer to the edge of the group so he could at least listen. Owen... Maybe one of the others could get something from him... Dayle being able to resist Alex wasn't something he expected. The thought that weird Machoke he only knew of in passing being able to resist was... annoying.

"If we're trying to gather intel I might be able to get Ein to talk," he mused. Not that he was eager about the idea of talking to the Manectric again. But he out of everyone would know more about Alex and how he operated. And he had beaten Ein back at the Quarry. He scanned the room, then eventually his gaze settled on Dave and he caught the Mightyena's eye. "A pair of us could go maybe... Dave?" Dave knew something about science, right? Maybe he could help.

 

[Namohysip]

Mhynt nodded thoughtfully. "That would be a useful lead. He's already softened a little, hasn't he?" she noted, but then eyed Koa. Something about his temperament...

"Are you okay?" she asked, more like an added thought. The way Koa spoke seemed different than she remembered.

 

[Butterfree]

Dave looked up at Koa's suggestion. He remembered Koa frozen at the quarry, staring at the Manectric. "...Yeah. Sure, kid."

 

[Ambyssin]

Assaults on his territories and then fleeing when he makes a move there. It will distract him.

"Wait, wait, wait." Nova picked his head up. "Territories? I thought he'd left the Quarry for this Rift place up north? What d'ya mean he's got territories?"

 

[Tetra]

"Are you okay?"

Never better he thought sarcastically. Not Mhynt's fault, she meant well, and a part of him couldn't help but appreciate her. Instead he gave a slight smile and nodded. "I'm doing fine." Which wasn't a complete lie at least. And at least Dave would be with him. Besides, he'd beaten Ein.

The territories was new to him. He'd only gotten the gist of the idea of how strong Powehi had become. "If he's that strong... we might need a lot of help. Maybe Brisa will be willing to lend a hand too," he said. If she and Starr hadfought the Cyclone, then she was stronger than any of them... "...And maybe the Cylone himself," he muttered in a lower voice. It was a stretch, but Mhynt had a point. And if he cared that much about strength and nature perhaps he'd be willing to help.

 

[Namohysip]

"Territories," Mhynt said. "Alexander does not leave things completely bare. The Quarry is one such territory, and I know his behavior from here. It sounds like this Rift of his is going to be his target--perhaps always was his target--up until now. But he also wants to expand that influence until he's untouchable. We are seeing the rise of Forlas' Void Kingdom's infancy. But maybe unlike what happened in Kilo, we can stop its establishment before it starts... but for that to work, we'd need help from those of Forlas, too. We're just not numerous enough to handle all of that alone."

 

[Ambyssin]

"Help, huh?" Nova frowned. "Who else can we really ask to help with this? Locals haven't faced something like this before."

 

[Shiny Phantump]

“Could try to tap Luz, see what she knows.” Gladion shrugged. “If there’s someone who might have info on fighting shadow bullshit it’d be her.”

 

[Namohysip]

"Luz has been... unwilling to step in on affairs we deal with," Mhynt says with a hint of bitterness to her tone. "But maybe when it comes down to someone usurping Dark Matter, she'll finally find it pertinent to step in. Who knows? It might be worth asking. She even visited this bar a few times..."

 

[Ambyssin]

Nova sighed. "Well, it'd help if we knew where his territories are. It might be easier to sell this if these are places people have... some degree of attachment to."

 

[Namohysip]

"Hmm." Mhynt closed her eyes, then turned her thoughts skyward. "Betel may have information. I'll ask."

Betel, can you hear us? We have a question. Can you sense if there are any disruptions in nearby Dungeons that Alexander might tamper with? We're trying to determine targets for disrupting his plans. Get back to us.

She wasn't sure how long that would take. "...So, we have some of our Cipher captives, some Saints to ask for favors... Dayle... and locking down territories. We also have Powehi who may provide even more information once he arrives, however he plans to do that. It seems like we have a lot of venues, but not a lot of time. Does anyone have any other ideas? Otherwise, we can consider this meeting dismissed. We'll meet again in a few days once we have something to present."