002; [VOICE | ACTION, caverns expedition rewards]

[antiseptic]

[From all the laughing going on behind him, one may guess that Jade is at a party. Unfortunately, that isn't the case.]

For those unaware, we've come across some strange stones while searching for the mine and delivered them to the labs for analysis. It's been a hectic week, so we haven't received the results until now, but it seems like we've found quite a large variety of evolution stones. If you're in need of one, I'd suggest you hurry to the labs, before the greedier members of our expedition snatch all of them.

[Honestly, he'd rather keep them for himself (and maybe the Rangers), but his superiors insisted on distributing them. Something about a token of gratitude.]

[And now, a public voice post to everyone, which may be somewhat hard to decipher as the laughing in the background grows steadily louder.]

Does anyone have any experience with persuading unwanted Pokemon to leave your homes? Normally, I'd simply dispose of- [Ah. That could be construed in a negative light.] - that is, dispose of them if necessary, although generally I prefer to drive them out. But it seems Duskull has taken quite a liking to his new friends and I'd rather not harm them.

[There's a loud crash behind him. Jade sighs.] Although I'm beginning to reconsider.

Action:

[Late evening finds Jade heading down to the newly-discovered Mausoleum, Sandshrew trotting along beside him and Duskull swooping around cheerfully over his head. He tries to avoid anyone exploring down there, mostly because he guesses most people wouldn't approve of what he's doing. Which would be trying to pry open the vaults and take a peek at the coffins.]

[He has reasons for doing so. Honest.]

Comments

[Private]

[outtahere]

[Banzu planned ahead and held a few back for himself when he collected them (A total of five, though that tag doesn't make as much sense as it should because I didn't realize that they were different colors, but I'm not going to retcon that now that I know they're more valuable than I thought so he won't end up with a complete set.), but he'll still stop by to pick one up so he looks like everyone else.]

Right, those. Forgot about 'em with the quakes and looking at the machines they brought back. Didn't know they'd finished their analysis.

Any word on the sample I chipped off that big boulder? I never got a chance to look at it once the quakes started, but I left it with the other samples when I got back.

[He kept one of the two samples for himself, too, so he has a bit of a vested interest in if they're actually worth anything.]

[Private]

[antiseptic]

Ah yes, I've been meaning to speak with you about that. I'll forward the results to you. [Mostly because he doesn't feel like explaining verbally.] It's quite mysterious, but it doesn't seem like there's much use for it at the present.

[Text]
The sample produces a magnetic field, one that is quite strong for such a small piece. Its structural composition is a bit different than a lodestone's, but the two are comparable. In darkness, it is faintly luminescent and it scores high on the mineral hardness scale. Some Rock and Steel-type Pokemon working at the labs were attracted to the sample, describing it as mesmerizing.

[Private]

[outtahere]

Huh. Yeah, interesting but kinda useless, unless you wanna keep some kinds of Pokémon distracted for a while. Still, those evolution stones are a good find. Wonder if that cave collapsed in the earthquakes.

[His sample may be ending up on his workbench as a magnetic screw holder. The power to reshape the bodies of Pokémon being used to keep screws from rolling away.]

Voice

[choseneutrality]

So they were evolution stones...

I've never had to deal with a situation like that. But if you still need someone to speak to Duskull, I could do it.

Voice

[antiseptic]

Ah, perhaps I should clarify: Duskull is my Pokemon. I've spoken with him, and he's quite insistent on having his new friend stay. But, I'd still appreciate your assistance in persuading the intruder to leave.

[More crashing noises. Jade sighs again, thinking of how much time it'd take to get his paperwork all back in order.]

Could you speak with it over the Warp Band? Or do you have to be physically present?

Voice

[choseneutrality]

Oh.

Speaking over the Warp Band should be fine.

[highliber]

Don't ghosts traditionally not like light? Maybe you could use a mirror to herd out.

This is one of those ghost types floating around, yes?

[antiseptic]

A mirror...? I suppose I could try it, although the ghost types I know only go invisible when there's light around instead of leaving completely.

And yes. There are quite a few of them. I hope you haven't run into any trouble so far.

[highliber]

Do they? I admit I don't know a lot about spirits. My interests have always been in the more physical world.

There's one haunting my personal project. Charles keeps chasing it off when he can, but it just comes back.

Action

[thatwasnotmyintent]

[Hello there, fellow senior officer. You aren't up to any mischief whatsoever, right? Riiiiight. Erwin will just clear his throat to make his presence known, before you do anything you might...regret.]

Action

[antiseptic]

[Ohhh snap. Jade stiffens at the sudden cough behind him, but relaxes just as quickly. He turns around to face Erwin, slow and deliberate, adjusting his glasses to cover up his momentary lapse in control.]

Ah, hello, Erwin. I wasn't aware that you had such an affinity for dark and morbid places.

Action

[thatwasnotmyintent]

[Is that a bemused smile? Possibly. Possibly-definitely. It passes quickly, though, replaced with the most cordial of expressions.]

I don't, generally. But it's important to maintain a working knowledge of all new developments within the city, even if our profession requires us to work outside it.

Voice

[liveforher]

You want them to leave? But they sound so happy.

Voice

[antiseptic]

[Since it's Teresa, he doesn't bother masking the irritation in his tone.]

Unfortunately, yes, since their happiness comes at the expense of my own. But I'd be happy to direct them to your place instead.

Voice

[liveforher]

That's quite alright, I already have a squatter.

[And since it's Jade, she'll actually try to be helpful]

I could try a Perish Song to make them faint, but it might make you and Duskull faint too if you're near.

[bravenewmods]

[As Jade is messing with the vaults, a Drifloon comes floating by. It stops and comes closer, looking curiously at what he's doing.]

[antiseptic]

[A balloon...? Well, there are stranger Pokemon around, he supposes. He smiles friendlily at his fellow Ghost-type, but doesn't pause in his attempts to pry open the vault.]

This is quite a fascinating place.

[voice]

[reborn_love]

I heard about the stones, sir. Thank you for the offer. They're... interesting, I think. I've grabbed one.

[She pauses.]

I hope people won't take all of them, though.

[voice]

[antiseptic]

There should be just enough for anybody, so I doubt there'll be any left. It's a pity.

[private]

[stahlflugel]

What kind of weird stones?

[private]

[antiseptic]

They had a strange glow about them, so we bought them back to the Union for analysis. As it turns out, they're evolution stones.

[He smiles, not that Eren can see it since they're on voice.] Why don't you head over to the labs? Perhaps one of these can help you evolve.

[Is Jade trying to treat Eren like a human Skarmony guinea pig? Who knows.]

[private;]

[myfedorarocks]

I wonder if there's a connection between the stones and the machines.

Not that I'm complaining, they'll come in handy but it does seem a little strange we would find such a big supply all in one place, doesn't it?

[private;]

[antiseptic]

[That gets Jade's attention quickly.]

It's possible, although from what we've seen, the stones are quite far away from the machines. Speaking of which, do the engineers have any plans to investigate the machines?

[He's quite curious about them and the possibility that they would be useful to the Union. And perhaps there would be a clue about their makers contained inside them...]

[private video to sora]

[antiseptic]

[Good afternoon Sora, on this fine day you will be receiving one (1) video transmission from Jade Curtiss, looking rather terrifying business-like in his full Ranger regalia and seated in his officious office.]

Greetings, Sora. My name is Jade Curtiss, I'm part of the Rangers. I'd appreciate it if I could have a moment of your time.

[private video to jade]

[heartstorage]

[Sora was not expecting this. He's never seen Jade in person, but he recognizes the name. A senior member of the Survey Corps, that was high in rank and pretty well known as far as Rangers went for being, well, scary as hell.]

[Crap.]

[There's a moment delay before he answers, as he at least tries to make his hair look less messy and straightens out his clothes. Also a little bit of flailing because he wasn't expecting this!]

[But okay, finally he takes a deep breath and answers]

Uh, of course! What can I help you with, sir?