[color=orchid]“Major,”[/color] Tristan offered with a nod. Lights flooded the streets from various flashlights and lanterns held by the half dozen Rangers clearing whatever alleys or side streets they passed. Major Harry Burque was a somewhat rounded individual slightly shorter than Tristan himself. Despite this, he was known as a powerful, not simply strong, man who commanded the respect of any subordinate. [color=steelblue]“I’d say it was nice to see you…”[/color] [color=orchid]”Spare me, Major. I need to get in touch with a Watcher...”[/color] [color=steelblue]”Why?”[/color] There was an intensity that was starting to dissipate as the pair focused on the issue at hand. Still, the back-and-forth interruptions were unwelcome. [color=orchid]”A Draco Meteor destroyed the top floor of this office and flew off. Oracle didn’t see them.”[/color] [color=steelblue]”Yeah, let’s have the professionals handle this.”[/color] Picking up his comm, he called for any available Watcher. Tristan sighed, rolled his eyes, and walked off towards the main explosion to see how he could help. Oracle soared above, keeping watch and pointing out individuals running away. Tristan would have Ether, Veritas, and Vertigo Teleport to intercept these individuals, determining if they looked suspicious and detaining them if that happened to be the case. These individuals would be gathered at a secure location determined by the Rangers that had started to set up a base of operations while Tristan continued walking towards the chaos at the center of the city. The rest of his team remained vigilant around their Trainer, but would encounter no one on the way. By the time the pair made it to ground zero the situation seemed under control. Bodies were strewn every which way, Pokemon and people. Blood splattered the ground and screams dissipated into the distance. It was a difficult scene as Ground Pokemon worked to put out the electrical fire while Chancey and Blissy worked to find and save any survivors that they could. Bodies were starting to be covered with white sheets already. Tristan just stood there and watched, not quite sure what to do. For once, his mind was blank - incapable of analyzing the current situation. His Pokemon, however, were not so paralyzed. They worked with the Rangers and their Pokemon to clear and secure the area. Any suspicious individuals detained by Ether, Veritas, or Vertigo were questioned extensively, more than a few by Tristan and Veritas themselves. Despite their best efforts, they were able to learn nothing more than “Jonton was back.” One day at a time; that was all Tristan allowed himself to think about as he, along with hundreds of volunteers, worked to clear the wreckage. Of course, Tristan himself did little by the way of manual labor, choosing instead to have his team perform “heavy lifting” (via telekinesis, of course). What most concerned this particular member of the Elite Four was the fact that they could determine so little from the remains or the survivors. Any efforts to read their minds were thwarted; something that only stirred up more anger and frustration in the slight man. Tristan made a few trips back and forth from Fairfax Hospital during this time. Failing to learn more from the survivors but also doing what he could to gather illicit glances at whatever evidence they might have had on their bodies or overhear any conversations from the Rangers stationed as bodyguards. He might also happen to overhear any who were conducting interrogations. Through these eavesdroppings Tristan only further confirmed that the only information they were able to get was that “Jonton was back”. Tristan himself knew little of this individual. Yet, soon enough, he was reminded that this very likely must have been the illegitimate Fairfax kid. What was he doing back? Is he really responsible for all of this. Is he really [i]that[/i] mad at his family to blow up Mauville and kill innocents? What was the goal here? Or was it just a game for something else? And how the FUCK were these idiots able to protect their minds from Veritas’ telepathy? Too many questions and little, if anything, to go on. A frustrating position to be in, but not one Tristan thought he would be unable to overcome. Indeed, this wouldn’t be the first time he was so utterly in the dark. Whenever he spent time back in Mauville he felt some sense of unease. The Rangers, who were somewhat skeptical, yet not without reason, made Tristan need to tread carefully. It was altogether unusual, after all, that an Internal Affairs Inspector was helping in such a manner. Of course, Tristan was previously an Investigator for the Rangers. While that may have been many years ago, his current position never sat quite right. Sure, he was glad to have routed some corruption within the ranks all those years ago, but that trust he used to have had since been shattered. In discovering what he could, given this, he was somehow approached by a messenger with a note. After reading it, Tristan’s eyebrows involuntarily furrowed slightly for a fraction of a moment as he considered what this all meant. Even though he had been working for Marilda for years now, he had never met her in person. Much less summoned to her home. Fighting past the surprise and confusion, Tristan realized this would be his best, and probably only, opportunity to try and figure out what Lady Fairfax knew about all this. She, after all, had him veritably chasing his own shadow for months now. He figured a woman of her stature would know something. Or, at least he hoped she might. [color=orchid]”I guess we’re going to Faifax Manor…”[/color] Tristan reached down and, in a moment, the two were transported to their destination. ----- The Fairfax Manor was labeled inaccurately. It was comfortably a castle. The only building in all of Hoenn built from giant blocks of stone collected from Meteor Falls, Mt. Chimney, Granite Cave, Sootopolis, and Ever Grande. The patterns of the stones were organized in a way that appeared purposeful. Sootopolis Limestone was peppered along the corners of the structure. Granite Cave Granite made up the borders of windows and doors. Meteor Falls Slate and Mt. Chimney Sandstone made up the majority of the structure with the more ornate features of the architecture made of Ever Grande Marble. The courtyard between the walls and the gates of the manor were filled with lush gardens full of exotic plants and stately trees. Full-time landscapers paced through these gardens each day to keep it as manicured at all times as possible. The summer had the garden produce large red apples that were brought to the kitchens or sold at the local farmer’s market. Fees could be paid to precious few each year to enter the grounds and pick from the trees personally. Each side of the silver-steel gates stood a large Land Ranger and his partner. An awning just large enough to shield one from the sun was placed into the pillars above each. Tristan approached these Land Rangers with an assuredness that displayed his station. The two individuals were unknown to the middle-aged man, and so sized them up. [color=orchid][i]”Impressive…”[/i][/color] he thought to himself. Ether was not quite so impressed, staying close to Tristan as the pair approached. [color=orchid]”I have a summons from Lady Fairfax,”[/color] he announced, holding out the missive he had received only moments ago. The large man took the parchment from the Elite Four member to feign inspecting it before giving it back. “It has neither her seal nor her signature. You do not have a summons from Lady Fairfax,” he said matter-of-factly. He shifted his posture back to standing stoic and still and looking forward at nothing. There was a moment of frustrated pause as Tristan internally sighed, closing his eyes to hide the fact he rolled them at this brick of a man. [color=orchid]”Can you… can you check with her, please?”[/color] Having never done this before, he was somewhat at a loss as to how to go about it. His mind started to race as he considered what he was supposed to do here. “No,” he said with a short exhale that pushed the word quickly and forcefully from his chest. [color=orchid]”How might I go about scheduling an audience with Lady Fairfax, then?”[/color] His tone was trying, very hard, to be civil and formal. “You,” he said as to stress the point, “do not.” [color=orchid]”Ah, yes. It seems you were confused by semantics.”[/color] There was a slight pause before he rephrased, [color=orchid]”How do I go about [i]requesting[/i] an audience with Lady Fairfax?”[/color] While he was utterly ignorant in this moment, that didn’t mean he was necessarily stupid. This time the Ranger’s eyes snapped toward the diminutive man. “You,” he said in the same manner as before, “do not.” [color=orchid]”Ah… yes, of course. I was thinking of someone else. My apologies, good day,”[/color] he jabbered with a false bow. [color=orchid]”I’ll leave you to it, then.”[/color] With that, the slight man twirled on his heels and practically ran away. [color=orchid][i]”You get a look inside?”[/i][/color] [color=9966CC][i]”Yes…”[/i][/color] [color=orchid][i]”You think it’s a good idea?”[/i][/color] [color=9966CC][i]”No…”[/i][/color] There was a lot left unsaid - speaking this way allowed for emotions and stray thoughts to bleed through leading to, perhaps, a more comprehensive form of communication than simple speech. The two were decidedly confused about the whole thing - why would Marilda summon them to her manor, but not through the proper channel? Was this some sort of stupid joke to make him look, and feel, stupid? Probably. Was this a test to prove to her that he was still, in a way, loyal to her? Probably not. Did she want him to break in or something? He sure hoped not. But, what else could he do at this point? While Ether wasn’t necessarily a stickler for the rules, he didn’t feel confident about slinking their way around a place, likely heavily guarded, that they had never been in before, and had no information about as far as what was inside. As soon as the pair moved to a position that was outside the line of sight of the two uptight Rangers Tristan would reach down. As soon as his fingers fell upon the velvet fur of Ether the pair disappeared only to reappear near a pear tree in the gardens, facing the Manor, though able to crouch down to hide behind some weird bush thing. [color=lavender]“That’s enough of that, Sir Aeros. Follow me, please,”[/color] a feminine and strong voice sounded from behind a bush right next to him. Even with Ether’s peerless awareness, Tristan still jumped somewhat at the voice. He was, however, able to avoid making a sound and turning to look upon her without drawing much in the way of attention to himself. Her face was plain. An oval of porcelain bordered by straights of black. She wore a kind of bonnet he’d only seen in fairy tale books as a child. Her dress was strange. Black and white and a confusing mixture of modern and victorian. It was a niche fashion trend that had started a few months back. [color=lavender]“She’ll be disappointed,”[/color] she said as plainly as her face. [color=orchid][i]”Uh… sorry?[/i][/color] He thought to himself, not a clue about what was going on. Certainly not his favorite position to be in; one that he was not quite familiar with. Her gait was shallow and short but rapid. The dull heels of her shoes clicked against the hardwood floors stained a deep mahogany when they passed through the enormous gate that was the front entrance. These contrasted with the sharp clap of Tristan’s custom leather shoes, as well as his longer gait, commissioned by someone close to Marilda herself. More individuals in similarly strange clothing paced with purpose and haste across and down the grand hall. [color=lavender]“This way, please.”[/color] They passed by many pieces of furniture, clearly commissioned for specific purposes that were difficult to immediately identify. Some appeared to have no purpose at all other than to be a strange show of carpentry. The rug they walked down silenced the woman’s heels and the man’s shoes. But the echoes of other hired keepers sounded around them, filling the negative space despite the statues and decorations and paintings and furniture. The last turn brought them to a corridor lined with immense statues of men that all looked remarkably similar to each other. [color=orchid][i]”A bit much, don’t you think?[/i][/color] [color=9966CC][i]”You don’t really surprise me anymore.[/i][/color] Ether spoke of humans in general, of course. The farther they walked, the older the craftsmanship appeared. At their bases of these statues were simply labeled with roman numerals descending as they approached another enormous gateway. It began to open as they passed the one marked “V.” The woman did not slow her pace, expecting the doors to open enough for her to pass through in the time it took to reach them. The gap formed by the doors revealed the image of another diminutive woman perfectly framed by the intricacies of the doors themselves. She stood there with her hand clasped in front of her. The gown she wore was light in both fabric and color. There were so many layers, too illusioned to count properly. Her hair was high this day. It was a light gray with some streaks of brownish red. She stood upon what looked to be some kind of exaggeratedly large step that would be the beginning of stairs. However, it was easily twenty feet wide and stretched back to the other end of the room until it met the wall between two huge wide-paned windows. A large chair made of wood and stone and metal sat at the center with the woman standing regally before it. The chair was ornate. It took more than one lifetime to craft such an impressive piece of furniture. This was her throne in Hoenn. [color=ivory]“I see you failed to destroy the note,”[/color] the woman standing regally before the throne said in a soft yet strong voice that filled the entire space. She clearly spent a lot of time here. [color=ivory]“Disappointing.”[/color] There was an uncomfortable pause. Tristan, for his part, instinctually put his hand over the spot of his lavender jacket where the note was currently. There was a bit of defensive resentment at her assessment of the situation. [color=ivory]“And you failed to make it here promptly. I expected more of the Elite Four.”[/color] To that, Tristan clenched his jaw for a moment, more than a little annoyed at all the presumption directed at him. The whole literal throne thing didn’t really help either. Her tone lacked condescension, but her words did not betray her. [color=ivory]“Regardless, I’m glad you could make it.”[/color] She rested herself upon her throne. Her forearms gingerly rested on the arms of the cathedra and she crossed her legs under her gown that completely changed shape when she did so. It was tailored specifically for this purpose. [color=ivory]“I’ve brought you here because I have fewer subjects that I can trust.”[/color] [color=orchid][i]”Seriously… [/i]subjects[i]?”[/i][/color] Ether was similarly disinterested in the designation. [color=ivory]“With the attack on Mauville, Jonton has become quite the thorn in my side. I’d like to see him properly pruned away.”[/color] [color=ivory]“I should have had him euthanized when he arrived,”[/color] she admitted, turning her head up toward the corner behind Tristan. He wasn’t quite sure how to consider the particular and specific way she worded that while she considered this alternate reality with an unsettling level of fondness. Tristan, in kind, was so unsettled, but remained still and stoic as he listened to [i]Her Majesty’s[/i] monologue. [color=ivory]“Nonetheless, you’ve proved the most capable thus far.”[/color] [color=orchid][i]”Oh… hey thanks…[/i][/color] Tristan closed his eyes slowly, internally rolling them. [color=ivory]”Even still, my most useful of subjects has recently gone silent.”[/color] Tristan again shut his eyes for a moment, for some reason surprised at the whiplash she was giving him. Praise then veiled insult… alright, then. [color=ivory]”I’d like you to search for her and all of the information she has and then neutralize her.”[/color] Lady Marilda’s eyes widened slightly as she sliced through Tristan’s form as he couldn’t help but blink rapidly at the… suggestion? Order? He could have sworn the corners of her lips twitched with some kind of excitement. She laughed. It was the most “proper” laugh he had ever heard, whatever that meant. Her chin raised slightly and she brought a lax hand toward her mouth as if to cover the indecency. [color=ivory]“I jest,”[/color] she said with a coy smile. [color=ivory]“Please check to make sure she is not dead. If she is, find out what happened to her and learn everything you can of what she’s learned thus far. I don’t know how her intel leaked about Jonton. Perhaps it was one of his own lackeys that possessed less disciplined lips than others.”[/color] She trailed off some as her mind wandered for a moment. Tristan, for his part, was doing his best to make sure he properly understood her convoluted and twisted manner of getting her point across. [color=ivory]“But she was certainly finding her way toward him. She made sure to gloat about that whenever we’d correspond. But I digress. The point is, she has information and has yet to apprise me.”[/color] She turned her head slowly in the other direction and gazed off for a moment. [color=ivory]“But if she’s decided to turn against me, you are required to make sure she can not.”[/color] [color=orchid]”I… My Lady, I have… many questions...”[/color] His mind was racing as he did his level best to keep up with this mountain of vague, potentially misleading, information. Marilda would cut him off before he could get out any specific questions. [color=ivory]“She simply goes by the title ‘Ms. Shade.’ I’ve never seen her and she’s never revealed her location. She wouldn’t be as effective if she had… “However, I do know she is fond of her Zoroark that she calls Finster. I also know that she does not work alone. She mentioned having connections in Lavaridge and from Olivine in Johto. That is all I can give you to aid in your investigation. I’m sure that’s quite enough.”[/color] Her head turned toward him as slowly as it had turned away. [color=orchid]”I…”[/color] Her eyes once again sliced through Tristan. [color=ivory]“Hoenn is about to see horrible events in the near future should you fail.”[/color] Many long moments passed throughout which Tristan knew better than to try and speak. [color=ivory]“You’re dismissed.”[/color] While most might have been defeated given the information revealed posed more questions than answers, this was a boon to the Investigator. He had names and ideas of personalities. At the very least, he now had some leads to follow and ideas of what strings to pull along the way. It wasn’t going to be easy by any means. This was going to take a while until he got a good break. Still, while he had dozens of questions zipping around his head, he bowed to her and touched Ether to teleport themselves back to an alley he liked to get “lost” in while there. In seemingly the same motion he released Veritas, Aequitas, Vertigo, and Oracle. A silent conversation took place among the group, Ether filling in what details Tristan may have overlooked in the moment. The whole process took not quite a minute before they were back in their pokeballs (save Ether of course). Tristan moved himself out of the alley to stare blankly at the empty street. Usually this street was busy enough, but with the rebuilding, this was still a district that hadn’t been resettled. Setting out, Tristan let Major Harry [i]Bigboy[/i] know that he was going to Lavaridge to look into a lead. He let the Major know to just contact him if he was needed back in Mauville. So as to get the last word in, even before the full word had left his mouth, Tristan touched Ether to teleport to just outside Lavaridge. He’d first let out Veritas, Vertigo, and Oracle, directing them to have a look around and not get into too much trouble, while he and Ether went to the Pokestation to do a bit of eavesdropping.