[center][img]https://fontmeme.com/permalink/220808/ad97e8ab1fde2e20c156f26c09f67c94.png[/img][/center]
[center][color=E38AAE][b]MENTIONS:[/b][/color] [color=FFE6E8]Iris [[@Serei2477]], Bianca [[@Majoras End]], Mika [[@Solace]], Astrid [[@LuckyBlackCat]], Sebastien [[@King Cosmos]][/color][/center]
[color=FFE6E8]Everyone in Hestia’s vicinity appeared to be fine, thank Arceus. Yet, with the end of the battle came questions. What were those Pokemon? What did they want with Postwick? Did they want to kidnap Iris next? There were too many people asking questions that Hestia couldn’t answer. She turned her face to the ground as her fingers curled tighter around Lazuli’s Pokeball. What a mess this whole thing was. And they couldn’t even grab someone to bring in for questioning; the terrorists were sure quick to flee. If they wanted to take away Iris, they wouldn’t have given up so easily. They knew exactly what they were doing. That was the scary part. 

[color=E38AAE][b]”I don’t know,”[/b][/color] she referred to everyone’s question in a solemn, singular statement. [color=E38AAE][b]”What I’m sure of is that we need to get word to the Chairman, ASAP. He needs to know about what happened.”[/b][/color]

Thankfully, Mika was already on that. Hestia swept her gaze over their number, blinking at Iris. She was grateful she was fine, but she couldn’t help but feel concerned for her coworker. If the strange individuals came back for her while they were away, would she be able to fend them off by herself? She almost flinched when Bianca approached her, but instantly became eased by her gentleness. 

[color=E38AAE][b]”Yeah, we should go,”[/b][/color] Hestia nodded. Before she went on her way, she turned to the rest of them. [color=E38AAE][b]”Keep your wits about you and call me if they come back.”[/b][/color][/color]

[hr]
[color=FFE6E8][center][h3][i][b]That evening…[/b][/i][/h3][/center][/color]
[center][color=E38AAE][b]MENTIONS:[/b][/color] [color=FFE6E8]Everyone[/color][/center]
[color=FFE6E8]Cane called every single gym leader to Wyndon that very day, explicitly stating that Hyacinth wasn’t taking any “if”s, “and”s, or “but”s from anyone. The conference room felt very cramped, and she was sure that two or three other gym leaders had brushed past her in nervous attempts to grab a proper chair, lest they had to stand while listening to the Chairman’s speech. For once, he was there before everyone else. His face was flushed, though his lips were a straight line and there was a strange light to his eye that Hestia didn’t recognize. When everyone was present, he took his place at the head of the overly crowded table and began the meeting. 

[b]”I have several announcements to make. As you know, there were attacks on two important government buildings today– the lab in Wyndon and the gym in Postwick. At the moment, we have no idea who these culprits are or what their intentions are, but we have settled that the attack on Postwick was nothing more than a distraction to prevent any other gym leaders from helping out at the laboratory.”[/b] Hyacinth’s voice was gruff, almost as if he was tired of speaking. [b]”Thankfully, there were no fatalities in either of the attacks, though several civilians and police officers had to be hospitalized. These individuals are expected to make full recoveries.[/b]

[b]”While we don’t have any significant information on these terrorists, Gym Leader Fiona does have something to say about one of her encounters with the leader of the attack at the laboratory,”[/b] Hyacinth nodded at Fiona. 

[b][COLOR=#31EAFE]"Right, so, uh..."[/COLOR][/b] Fiona sighed, scratching the back of her head awkwardly. [b][COLOR=#31EAFE]"Disclaimer, this ain't exactly a [i]good[/i] explanation. Ain't like I know th' cocksuck's name or anything. But long story short, back when I was in Orre, I wound up battlin' that cunt inna tournament. Wanker had th' most fucked up Salamence I'd ever seen an' he was mistreatin' it something fierce. So since Orre was a lawless shitehole at th' time, I might've gotten him drunk after th' tourney an' stolen his Salamence off of him. An' aye, that's Felon."[/COLOR][/b] She held up the Ultra Ball containing her Salamence at that for a moment before continuing on.

[b][COLOR=#31EAFE]"At th' time, Felon was, an' I'm fairly fuckin' sure that Alakazam an' Steelix were all Shadow Pokemon. If ya don't know what that is, imagine some dipshite scientist decides tae turn a regular Pokemon into a killin' machine through chemicals or science or whatever. They ain't got no compunction about fatalities wit' other Pokemon or humans, an' they take any order they're given unless they go berserk. More importantly fer fightin' em, they all got special moves an' whatnot that just outright bleedin' ignore type advantage. Alla these 'Shadow Moves' are super-effective, no matter what they hit. Ya can rehabilitate them into regular Pokemon again, like I did wit' Felon, but it takes time an' some magic fuckin' rock in one of th' only nice places in Orre. I think. Dunno, heard somethin' about a machine round th' time I was leavin'. That all said, ya can't exactly tell if a Pokemon's Shadow or not without context clues or if they bust out one o' those moves."[/COLOR][/b] Fiona rapped her knuckles against the table for a few moments, as if trying to remember more.

[b][COLOR=#31EAFE]"Think that's everything I got, really. So if these cunts're using more o' those, that's a problem. Happy now, boss?"[/COLOR][/b]

[b]”Thank you for your explanation.”[/b] Hyacinth nodded again, then turned to the rest of the gym leaders, looking even more tired than before. [b]”If we are dealing with these so-called “Shadow Pokemon” on top of the hybrid beasts that were reported to be seen at Postwick, we will have to consult with experts in Pokemon biology. I would like to let you know that we are in frequent contact with Professor Hawthorn, who is also in the process of contacting experts in Orre. She is also likely to reach out to any one of you in order to garner further information– I expect you to help her if she requests any sort of aid, whether it be with research, odd jobs, or whatever else.[/b]

[b]”That leads to my third announcement… which is, at this point, difficult to make,”[/b] Hyacinth persisted after a long pause. [b]”Holly Holbrok has gone missing as well. She appears to have been abducted in a manner similar to what happened with Ryker– in whose case, there have not been any recent updates on his own disappearance. Regarding Holly, her home was found in shambles and her Pokemon were taken along with her.”[/b]

Hestia broke out into a sweat. Another one of them taken? Which one of them was next? Nordrin? Fiona? Bianca?

[b]”... and though things are becoming more difficult to deal with regarding the Gym Challenge, I’ve decided to have Sawyer take her place for the time being. He is no means a permanent replacement and will be expected to step down as soon as Holly returns to her post.”[/b]

She grit her teeth, bristling. [color=E38AAE][b]”Sir, is this [i]really[/i]--”[/b][/color]

[b]”As of now, I have no intention of canceling the Gym Challenge. But if things become too dangerous for both its competitors and my gym leaders, I will have no other choice than to do so,”[/b] Hyacinth told them as he swept his gaze over the room. It was almost as if he had ignored her completely. [b]”Until then, I expect you to all focus on your duties as gym leaders and maintain morale. Do not cater to the press or paparazzi. I know that they have been harassing most of you, but if they persistently intrude on your boundaries, then you are more than allowed to [i]gently[/i] use your Pokemon to get them to leave you alone. If that doesn’t work, you may call the police, which will lead to their arrests. At this point, they are more than aware that they should not be hounding after gym leaders for information.[/b]

[b]”Above everything else, I demand that you remain [i]safe[/i] in this situation and maintain consistent contact with your fellow gym leaders. If you wish, you may board with one another in order to keep an eye on your comrades. I do not mind what else you do in order to keep each other safe, as long as it is in compliance with my requests. We cannot manage to lose yet another of your members.”[/b]

When Hyacinth finished his announcements, he clasped his hands behind his back and nodded at them once again. [b]”That is all for now. If you need anything, please contact Cane, Professor Hawthorne, or myself.”[/b]

The Chairman left without letting anyone respond to his statements, and that was that.[/color]