The insight gleaned within this hidden memory seemed to lift an immense weight off of Tristan’s shoulders. He was relieved that the Rangers were likely not involved in any way, save for maybe a few rogue individuals. Sure, there was still the possibility that one of the Zodiacs themselves was a Ranger of some sort, but the way Pisces was remembered seemed to make this possibility less likely.

This greatly improved their odds of preventing whatever it was these Zodiacs were planning. However, how could, or would, the Rangers be used? The warning was clear - as long as the Rangers didn’t get involved, they wouldn’t be targeted. He supposed that was up to Hardy to determine on his own, but he figured the safest course of action would be the Rangers to offer clandestine assistance, but nothing tangible or physical.

This consideration was cut short when nausea threatened to make Tristan vomit while both Espeons guided their respective trainers out of Kline’s memory. Never before had he experienced something like this and it was terrifying. He imagined it must have been what Oracle went through. That thought only made him feel worse.

When they returned to their physical bodies to find Forrest cradling the Grand Watcher, Tristan could only blankly stare as his mind raced. Ether casually sprang into action to offer some Healing Pulses, if only to stabilize her for the medics and nurses to arrive. 

Tristan also posited the ideas that Jonton wasn’t as negatively affected due to his unconsciousness, or possibly because Pisces Gorebyss had improved so much as to not negatively affect the host necessarily, and specifically the person who broke the barrier? He figured anything could be possible at this point. Still, shivers ran up his entire body at the thought of how many minds that Gorebyss would have had to destroy or melt to just be able to accomplish what it had with Kline those few years ago, never mind what it managed to do with Jonton.

Tristan nodded only once at Samantha’s invitation. “We’ll make our way there after I speak with Percival and have dinner with my parents. I need to read them in on all of this.” He was more thinking out loud, but was intensely curious about this Ms. Shade.

And to be able to go back to Lady Fairfax with this knowledge only strengthened the conviction.

Still, it was going to be a long night.

He agreed with Samantha’s position that Jonton was merely a pawn, and confirmed that if their plan had that long of a timetable that could help explain their desire for these Mythical Pokemon. He mentioned to Samantha that both Jonton and Taurus seemed much bigger and stronger than he considered possible, even with the use of performance enhancing drugs. And he figured that their Pokemon must have been similarly experimented on. He refused to believe that their Pokemon became so powerful through conventional means.

He voiced his thought that they might be attempting ways to elongate their lives before resorting to acquiring the Mythical Pokemon themselves. Indeed, if Pisces was the leader, and the rest thought as he did, he found it somewhat contradictory that they would use Mythical Pokemon to reshape and remake the world in such a way.

Samantha’s willingness to use lethal force against these crazies was as unsettling as it was comforting. It made the whole thing more straight forward. It was a rather simple matter to just try and kill them. Needing to subdue and somehow contain them would be inconvenient in itself, never mind in such a way as to prevent their escape when their allies undoubtedly came to break them out.

Still, again, it was the concern of making them martyrs and potentially drawing more to their cause. Indeed, all of them would likely need to be neutralized. Any one left alive would keep their dream possible, and their return likely.

Some time passed as Tristan continued to work on his notes after Samantha had left. Eventually a few knocks rapped on the door and Percival appeared. He looked concerned, but otherwise well. His business-casual attire looked fresh and clean, and in stark contrast to Tristan’s lightly soiled clothes. “Tris?”

“Yeah, have a seat.” Tristan spoke in a comfortable, familiar tone that he hadn’t with anyone else today. It was nice to finally be able to relax, if only a little bit.

Percival obliged, taking a glance at the open black file Tristan had opened on the desk with various pages sprawled about. However, for now he focused on his friend. “You know I have a Gym to run, right?” He was trying to ease the tension.

It didn’t work. “I know I’m sorry. Honestly, I’m worried for Mama P too, but we’ll get to that in a moment.” Percival knew from the speed at which he spoke that this wasn’t the time for that. He remembered that Tristan had been working on this all day and was probably mentally fried. Good thing Ether was here to keep him grounded.

Some might be taken off guard with how he referred to the former Mossdeep Gym Leader, Persephone Gutermuth. Especially after how he seemed to address everyone else, and perhaps more-so due to how he was dressed and typically presented himself.

“You’re alright, though?” Tristan seemed genuinely concerned, and this further indicated to Percival that this wasn’t the time for joking around.

“Tris, I’m fine. I promise.” He paused for a second, waiting for Tristan to look up at him. It took a few moments longer than it should have. When Tristan finally looked up, he seemed to be done looking at his notes for the time being. “I know what’s going on,” he continued. “The Master General read me in. I want to help.”

A giant weight seemed to lift off of Tristan’s body. He sighed heavily and slumped deeply in his chair - the first time all day that he wasn’t sitting upright in one. “Thank Arceus…” he breathed. “Though, why did Hardy want you to talk to Kline?”

“Honestly, I’m not sure,” he admitted. “I’m just following orders at this point.”

Tristan considered this for a few moments before it dawned on him. “Well, you can't. She's... incapacitated at the moment. Either way, I have her file here. I’ll compile it with the rest of the intel that I have and we’ll go over it in the morning. You’ll be working with me from now on.” Tristan wasn’t about to have his closest friend report to someone else, after all. Even if it was the Master General. As well-meaning as he might have been, he had only proven himself to be wholly incompetent with this particular debacle. No sense in getting someone as talented and intelligent as Percival stuck in all that.

What perhaps struck Percival most was how professional and matter-of-fact Tristan was being right now. Whenever Tristan was home, he always seemed to just go with the flow - do what everyone else wanted to do. Percival realized in this moment that was because he was so used to giving directions all the time. As a member of the Elite Four and a Senior Inspector of Ranger Internal Affairs, and formerly a Detective Major of the Ranger Detective Corps, over half of his life had been telling other people what to do most of the time.

“What do you think Mac is going to feel about all this? We have to let him know.” Tristan was equal parts concerned and insistent. Of course he was going to let Percy’s cousin know.

“Yeah, I’ll let him know. I’m sure he’ll want to get in on some action. I know he gets bored on the mountain at times. My grandparents aren’t the party people they used to be.” Percy managed something of a chuckle, but Tristan wasn’t able to reciprocate. He was already thinking of next steps.

“And Mama P? I know she can cover in your absence, but I’d hate for her to become a target too. You think she should know what’s going on? I don’t want her to worry unnecessarily…”

“I’ll let her know too.” Percival said, cutting Tristan off. “Don’t worry about Mom. She’ll be fine. I’m sure she’ll do whatever you need.” He again chuckled, knowing that Persephone treated Tristan better than himself, just like Deirdre treated Percival better than her own son.

Still, no real response from Tristan in this. “I hate this… I fucking hate it. Like, seriously… what the actual fuck is going on? Why is this happening? Fucking idiots,” he mumbled, speaking of these Zodiac people.

“Tris, I didn’t see it, but the Master General told me about your encounter with this Taurus. I have to believe there are more of us than there are of them. They can be as powerful as Solgaleo and Lunala, but I don’t believe for a second that they’re smarter than either of us.”

It seemed Tristan was finally on the verge of breaking down. His eyes were red and tears started to drop from an eye. He’d catch himself, though, and inhale sharply, sit up straight, and exhale deeply. “We’ll see. Go see Mama P. We’ll talk in the morning.”

Percival wasn’t sure how he felt about this version of his friend. He’d sit there for a few moments, not used to being commanded by his old friend who had never spoken to him like that before. “Night, Tris. See you in the morning.” His tone was one of defeat, but he’d pause only to watch Tristan starting to pour over the notes again.

Eventually he’d sigh and leave the room to go find a Ranger who could teleport him back home.

Not long after Percival left the office, Ether teleported Tristan back to HQ, right outside of the Master General’s office. Despite the hour, he wasn’t quite surprised that Rich was still in his office, his secretary working late out of a sense of duty and responsibility.

Tristan was allowed entry only to tell Rich that it was likely that the Ranger Corps probably weren’t directly involved, but had probably been infiltrated to some extent at this point. “I can confirm that it’s a rather simple matter for most anyone to get in here and move about freely.” He spoke of Asuna, but wouldn’t reveal the specifics to the Master General.

He’d keep it quick as he wanted to finally visit with his parents. It had been a long day and he was ready to relax, if only for a little bit. As he walked at a brisk pace towards the dormitories where his parents were supposed to be, he called his own secretary to have dinner brought to his parents’ quarters. And something for Ether too, of course. Lucas obliged, of course, and Tristan returned to walking through the building to his destination. The most he had walked since the hike he and Forrest went on this morning.

That felt like a lifetime ago at this point.

[i]“You really need to get some sleep.”[/i] Ether suggested. The two would walk side-by-side in silence as they conversed.

[i]“You know I can’t. I need to meet with Ms. Shade and prep for my meeting with the Three and Percy. Probably going to have to talk to Hardy again too. We have to work quick if we’re going to have any chance.”[/i] Tristan’s mind was still a whirlwind.

[i]“You don’t even really know what they’re doing. What their actual plans are.”[/i] Ether seemed more than a little incredulous about it all.

[i]“All the more reason to keep working.”[/i] Tristan thought in a tone that Ether wasn’t quite used to. It was authoritative and single-minded. In their minds Tristan was always the wishy-washy one. The jokester and follower. Ether figured he was, as he knew, over tired and all of this was getting to him.