The Warmhearted Researcher

[ladyalchesy]

The Researcher watched from the balcony alongside various other scientists and varying Pokemon assistants as a lone Zorua climbed to the top of the Cliff dome with astounding speed. There were several scares, which quickly passed, and tension was in the air. Several of the researchers, however unprofessional it may seem, had made bets as to the conditions to the outcome of this Zorua’s various tasks. Some had lost money already, others won it; however, this was the main event. Even this researcher had bet on her own subjects to complete their task of reaching a high point before the winds truly picked up. Thus, she immediately cheered along with several others as the strange duo triumphantly reached the top and stood proud, the wind generators just beginning their acceleration period. She knew they could do it! Her elation was short lived, however, as the Zorua looked straight at her before losing its balance and tumbling off the top of the mountain and out of sight. The collective gasp revealed that no one had expected the fall, but this researcher somehow felt certain the strange pair of Zorua and Honedge would be okay. Therefore, she simply turned her attention to her clipboard and jotted down a few notes of how expedient the ascent had been and how well the pair had worked together to climb so high.
As she wrote, a fellow researcher walked up. “Um, Miss Alcherii?” she looked up. The man was a rather generic stereotype of a researcher, pale, magnified glasses and a balding head. Miss Kiara Alcherii, the female researcher, turned to look at him.
“Yes? What is it?” Kiara felt the concern coming from him, and her head swam. Why must this happen now?
“Well, a- aren’t you worried he might have perished out there? Our test results are null and void if he does…” Kiara shook her head, looking at the man through her glass pane glasses.
“No; but if it would put you at ease, I will call him back to the main garden for pickup and examination.” Kiara pulled out a radio transceiver. The researcher nodded and gave the go-ahead, and she hit the call button.” There, he will be on his way shortly. The Transceiver gives a code green; he’s in perfect condition.” Now all they could do is wait…

[ladyalchesy]

The Researchers all waited anxiously for the Zorua to return along with the data collected in his ID tag. The signal steadily grew stronger and more insistent until he appeared in the Garden Dome main entrance from the Cliff Dome. “Thank the heavens, he’s unhurt,” Kiara sighed, relieved to know her intuition was correct. “See? There was nothing to be worried about. Next time, why don’t you trust me?” She could appear cross when she wanted to be, and now she certainly was annoyed at the lack of trust she had just been displayed. “If I appear to be worried, then you can go ahead and worry, but otherwise, leave my subjects’ welfare to me, got it?”
The other researcher looked sheepish and nodded. “Y-yes ma’am.” Kiara had been in this since even before the change in hands for leadership. She did not agree with all the changes going on, and least of all she disliked the fact that so many researchers thought that they had superiority over her despite her seniority to most of them simply because she was a Trainer first and a Researcher second… not to mention being a woman in a class of men. Satisfied with this respectful response, she turned her attention to the Pokemon being brought up to the balconies to be examined. The Zorua, Gryph, was still highly energetic, and showed no sign of damage from his fall or any events that may have happened while he was away from the watchful eyes of his dedicated entourage of researchers. However, he did appear sad, as if something had happened… No, Kiara got an inkling of a thought. Not something; someone… she walked up to the Zorua, who still showed no outward signs of the emotional turmoil behind his eyes. He looked up at her, and she smiled.
“Well, hello, there! How are my two favorite subjects doing after their tasks? …see anything interesting up there, or meet anyone…?”

[griffvulkit]

Running through the hallways to the Garden Dome, Gryph felt highly conflicted. His mind was in a fog. What kind of researcher was capable of rendering a Pokemon incapable of free travel? It just didn't seem to feel right... the Honedge on his back was sending him messages of agreement as well, but also it posed a better question: what kind of research justified making Pokemon dependent upon one another for their very lives? The Zorua shook its head in an attempt to clear his mind. He would be best suited to focus on those questions later. looking back at Marasune, the illusionary fox gave his partner a nervous smirk. "Guess we'll just have to ask our human at some point, huh? When we can properly communicate to her, that is..."

He bounded out into the Garden Dome at last, squinting a little at the change in light. the air felt fresh and cool here, and the sounds of various Pokemon, experiments, volunteers and inhabitants alike, filled the air. Stepping into a glade, the Zorua sat and waited for the humans to come pick him up. When they finally did, he simply put on a normal smirk and yipped at them. No way was he going to show them he was troubled by anything! A short ride up the elevator to the balconies above the garden, and there she was, beautiful by human standards, and even some Pokemon would have to admit her appearance was rather pleasant. There was something different about her, too... as if she were a little more than human, something put her apart from the other researchers.

She wasn't fooled for a second; the Zorua could tell as soon as she asked her questions. What a tease she could be sometimes! the humans called her... Misalcherii, wan't it? It wasn't often humans shared names; there seemed to be so many more different humans than Pokemon, though they claimed it to be the other way around... Gryph simply called her Kiara, because that's what she asked him to when practicing his illusionary skills and human speech. Anyhow, Kiara KNEW, so he decided why bother hiding it; he lowered his eyes in a manner as if to say 'you've caught me' and whined a little. He was good at giving off the impression he wanted, and so he knew she would get the message. He wanted to be relatively alone before he 'said' anything about it. Hopefully she would understand, but of course first they would want the data from his bandanna around his neck... So he would behave for now and do as they asked before anything else...

[ladyalchesy]

The Zorua seemed embarrassed by the questions. He probably would want to be left alone on the subject; his expression seemed to say as much. Deciding he might only want to talk with her and her alone, she let the subject drop and brought him to the inspection table for assessment. Taking his chip from the ID tag on his scarf, she ran through the standard procedure and found absolutely nothing wrong with him at all. The synchronization between the fox and his symbiotic ally remained steady throughout the experiment and increasing sharply for a short time just after the fall, indicating a moment when the fox used the Honedge’s blade. A sharp overtake of the Honedge’s brainwaves meant that it had taken control for a short time, but this passed too quickly to be a hostile takeover. It would appear that both symbiotes were in sync the entire time…. She looked around quietly and saw no one paying attention. Passing the data to another researcher and returning the chip to the tag, she asked the Zorua quietly, “Now, would you like to tell me something in private? Best say it quickly!” She had been teaching the Zorua a way to speak to humans and other pokemon silently through a series of hand signals, now was a good time to test whether he remembered it. “Use signals, please!”

[griffvulkit]

Oh, dear, the signals! this researcher was a nice lady and all, but those signals were so boring! However, they did allow Pokémon to be understandable by humans without any potentially painful technology, so Griff had put up with learning them until now. struggling to remember, and having to be reminded by the blade on his back more than once what a word was, he stuttered through the signs as he 'spoke'... 'well, there is a pokemon I recently met... she has been.... altered..... by .... humans, like you. she cannot go wherever she wants to, because of these... changes... Why would this be allowed?' the tricky fox looked up at the human researcher. He wanted her to see the extent to which this bothered him.

[ladyalchesy]

this was so? the female researcher thought about it. these kinds of experiments were not uncommon, but they often were frowned upon and shortly ended and, if possible, remedied for the subject. responding in kind to the Zorua's stuttered symbols, she signaled him back smoothly and slowly so he understood. 'well, there is a chance no way to fix it is possible, and the best to do is let it do as it can. I see this bothers you; I may ask about it.' she finished this with a small reassuring smile. every subject was her favorite, but there were some she held truly dear. best she let them know how she would never let them to come to harm if she knew about it.

[griffvulkit]

The Zorua watched and understood. well, then. so she knew nothing until now and did not have a decent answer, but at least she would try something. however, this would still be a bother to the illusionary fox. 'i don't think i'll be able to rest until i know completely. perhaps i will ask around about stuff like this as well. there are all sorts of different 'mons out there, they might know something!' he signed back. 'thank you!' he gave a happy mewl to punctuate his statement.