6 ♪

[celebrity_commentator]

[Video -- During the end of the Tournament Finale]

[The video footage is grainier and shakier than normal, as the person holding the Warp Band up is apparently trying to stay out of sight and hissing "quiet" to someone nearby.]

[What the image actually shows is an unobstructed view into one of Team Evolution's tents, wherein TeVo member Sakina constrained with huge, powerful metal bindings, eyes glowing red. The other missing representative, Crystal Verdine, and two orderly-like Team Evolution grunts can be seen injecting the struggling woman with some kind of liquid - a few moments later, she slumps over, looking half-asleep. Rise's whispered voice comes over the video shortly thereafter.]

I...we went to go find the missing Team Evolution guys during the final match. That's them.

Guys, that woman is Enlightened and stupidly powerful. There's something else, too, but I can't quite tell what. I don't know what's going on, but--

[Suddenly, at Dr. Verdine's orders, Sakina is released and unceremoniously slumps in place. A few other scarcely audible orders and the visible Team Evolution members begin to scramble to pack up the equipment and the tent it's in, getting ready to move. Possibly the whole camp. A few moments later, Sakina starts moving again, sluggishly.]

Oh crap, we need to get out of here.

[Rise's feed cuts off as she gets ready to run back to Union with her reluctant companions in tow. It may be a few minutes before she can respond to anyone but Asemu and Jinxie.]

Comments

[celebrity_commentator]

[Rise looks troubled at the question, but this could be useful information.]

Well, you know how Analyst abilities work, right? We can see types and weaknesses and stuff?

Well, for one thing, she had no weaknesses, at all. Even with her types, she should have had one, but even that wouldn't have been super effective. For another...

[She sighs.]

It's hard to explain, but Analysts can see sort of a general sense of how powerful someone is, human or Pokémon. Like, if I look in the mirror, I'm about a twelve since I started seriously training Pokémon. This lady was at least a fifty.

[antiseptic]

[He absorbs the information quickly. Bad enough that Team Evolution already possesses the secret to unlocking fourth evolutions, but to have such a powerful Enlightened under their control...]

Her abilities can't be natural. [Or could they? By the looks of it, the Union doesn't know nearly enough about Enlightened.] This may be a stretch, but... Do your abilities allow you to discern how she became so powerful?

[celebrity_commentator]

[She shakes her head.]

No, not really. I just get a sense of what they're like now.

The weirdest part is that I didn't think they even knew what Enlightened were, but this lady clearly was one.

[antiseptic]

[A questioning look enters his eyes.]

You don't believe that they were lying about their lack of knowledge?

[celebrity_commentator]

Maybe they were, or maybe they call it something different. Something wasn't quite right about the woman I analyzed anyway...

sorry for the late!

[antiseptic]

Are you referring to her lack of weaknesses? Or is this something else?

[celebrity_commentator]

There was that, but...also something else. Something I could feel but not describe, I guess? I'm new at this whole Enlightened thing.

[antiseptic]

[That's much less useful than he was hoping for.]

Can you attempt to?

[celebrity_commentator]

[She shakes her head.]

Sorry....it's like...there's something really not normal, but it's so not normal I don't have a word for it.

I'm sorry I can't be more helpful...

[antiseptic]

[It's a pity, but oh well. Rise had given him plenty of information already.]

I hope you won't mind letting me know if you manage to figure it out.

[celebrity_commentator]

As long as you do the same if you do...