[jaunt]

[leftbehindagain]

I've been trying to do a little digging on this Nevermore character, now that I'm not stuck at the tournament tables. After far too much wrangling with the stupid newspaper archive thing at the library, I have the official story, which would have people believe he died last year in a big fight at his castle. Someone named Amanda and someone named Katie were involved, so those might be good people to try to find for more information. Piyo - that's Kanji's Pogemon buddy - says Nevermore used to be a big name in Pogemon leadership before his first disappearance, but lost that position after some kind of falling-out with the others.

As for his most likely human connection, Malik-san's overlay appears to have gotten involved in the Slammer organisation after that big fight, on the grounds that all these teenagers could use an adult liaison. It also looks like he has a wife or possibly sister named Melissa, who was badly injured in a Pogemon incident just before the big fight went down. I'd bet good money that's our Melissa, but I don't know her well enough to try following up on that front.

In any case... someone might want to make sure Jules-san actually vets the 'responsible adult' before deciding he's the only competent person here. We also really need to figure out how much of this alliance is good intentions and how much is 'I know he means harm and I don't care.'

And if the two of you who faced him have any thoughts on how we're supposed to fight this guy, we're definitely going to need them.

Comments

[forcechanic]

Amanda was resonating pretty strongly with Questing Sense so there's definitely something there.

I'll see what I can do about Jules.

[Now she finds herself faced with subtle diplomacy and what even is her life?]

[leftbehindagain]

Good luck, and thank you.

[forcechanic]

I'm not sure how much he'll listen to an intern but maybe I can find a way to make him think it was his idea.

[professorwolf]

I may attempt to track down Melissa, I know her fairly well. I work with Malik, or rather, Lethid does. We're actually fairly good friends with one of his pogemon, the cat-like one.

Gale's infiltration is uncomfortable with Malik but he can't articulate to me why. I'll try to ask him again.

[leftbehindagain]

I can't even say he's wrong that an adult liaison would be a good thing to have around for something like this, but... the question is why.

And how hard of a time we might have convincing him this is a bad alliance.

[professorwolf]

I don't suppose Jules could be convinced to actually talk to me? I mean, I am technically an adult. Even if I am not actually human.

[returnofme]

I'll also talk to Jules. Hopefully being an adult will help there too.

[leftbehindagain]

It certainly can't hurt.

[imperialbadasshiddensnark]

At least convince him to not bring in the local army...yet.

[ninjayeehaw]

First 'f all, I can hit up Katie an' break the news. We're sorta mutual fans 'f each other cos a' the tournament; maybe she's got some tips fer us when we go fer the Nevermore rematch. She's also an infiltration, name a' Dakki normally.

Second 'f all - don't use hurricanes. [Said in a dead serious tone. He means it. Shit doesn't work.]

[leftbehindagain]

...Do I want to know why you used a typhoon on him?

[cloudpotter]

[The network is still difficult for him to deal with, and Yakumo's input may seem a bit more like a laundry list of notes rather than actual discussion.]

The biggest problem will be finding an attack that will penetrate. In the time we had, we couldn't find something that could pierce him. His projectile ammunition is sharp, and whoever takes his focus has to have an adequate shield. Grounding him will take care of his speed, and whoever encounters him first should make it priority to disable his wings. ...Try to avoid the lightning. He'll use it for dramatics as much as he'll use it to attack.

[A few more moments, and then:]

He may appear next in blue armor. Kinji can provide a reference. If he wears it, dislodge the blue shuriken from the sword he'll have to be carrying. I doubt he has the ability to hold the transformation without it.

...

...If that happens, try to... not leave the shuriken behind. It could be dangerous.

[ninjayeehaw]

[And here is the boyfriend teammate with free-to-grab memories of a blue-spandexed young man and matching shuriken]

Nevermore seems t'be made a' stone, must be a Mineral Pogemon. Hittin' him with lightnin' didn't do jack, an' he ain't scared a' straight-up physical contact either, so we'll probably wanna get someone with a damn strong Vegetable Pogemon or similar powers t'lead the offensive.

...somethin' else I noticed, actually. Right when we started fightin' Nevermore offed the burgermon that brought us there, and started sprayin' ketchup everywhere. An' when he got Yakki's gear, he shouldn't've been able t'use it at all. I know that fer a fact. But after he knocked out Yakumo... he could. There might be somethin' to that.

[It makes him dread what Nevermore might have picked up from him.]

[truerevelation]

Heh. If you didn't have this covered, I was gonna. Thanks, man.

I've been followin' the news 'n it seems like they're as clueless as the rest of us right now. Just keeping an eye on where the rift thing was and yelling about the burgers. The cops are getting pissed off by the burgers doing a runner before they can catch 'em.

Emperor Mouseface was talking about this whole thing being... order versus chaos, but that also meaning action versus inaction. I guess that we know who the 'chaos' part of this thing is, huh.

[leftbehindagain]

Do nothing, chaos reigns, order may be achieved out of fear but it's far from ideal. Do something and the situation can improve.

[triggerhappytraitor]

I found similar in the Institute's library. Nevermore had advocated for invading and taking over the human world, recruiting other Pogemon to his cause and sending them to the human world after the council decided against it. Dakki's overlay, Katie, and her partner Rappy as well as Amanda and her partner were able to defeat him, but Amanda's partner was killed in the fight.

...And there was a large increase in the buying of ketchup, mustard, and mayonnaise in the Institute's budget. There wasn't any record of who initiated it, but it does confirm that someone in the organization is helping Nevermore attack humans.

[imperialbadasshiddensnark]

And yet, the news seem to discredit this Amanda despite that fact? Most unusual...

Have you brought this information before those running the Institute yet? It could be a good way of figuring out who might be working for this Nevermore and who isn't.

[senpaidol]

I've been keeping an eye on Malik-san. I think I can get him to trust me enough to tell me what he knows.

I can try mind-reading him, too, but I don't think that works on Infiltrators, so I'll just have to do it the old-fashioned way, with skills I learned from an alien space robot.

[leftbehindagain]

If you think you can get some answers, go to it and good luck. Every little bit's going to help.

As for the pending fight... I wonder if I could manage to get Nevermore drunk enough to incapacitate him. It's a line of thought to consider, anyway.

[papacerberus]

[When Lupa speaks up, he sounds somewhat distracted. Given that Raidou's missing by this point...]

What I can offer, concerning Auriel, is this: His affinities in his natural state are Electricity and Ailments, but especially panic and fear. His weakness was Gun. From what others said after their encounter--

[And here his voice goes mildly disapproving. He'd told them to retreat and avoid fighting.]

His affinities remain at least somewhat the same and should be avoided in use against him at all costs. I can't guarantee the weakness will remain either.

The skills I would use to counter him have unfortunately been stripped from us, now that Cerberus is also a Pogemon, so at least we don't have to worry about Auriel using his full component of Mantras against opponents. It will make any necessary battles somewhat less dangerous. He also probably won't devour anyone and gain strength from the encounter.

[Lupa hasn't gotten to the 'taking on defeated enemies' powers' bit of other conversations yet.]

[leftbehindagain]

From the sound of things, he won't have to eat anyone to gain strength from the encounter.

This is going to be tricky, but you've at least given us a place to start. Thank you, Lupa-san.

[icanhearscreams]

I've been trying to tell Jules that bringing in the military is an awful idea, but I doubt he's going to listen to me. Even if he outranks whoever shows up it doesn't mean they'll follow orders all the time.

And if what others are saying about Nevermore absorbing abilities is true... do you think he has a maximum amount of abilities he can store? What would happen if he defeated a Pogemon with no real abilities?

[leftbehindagain]

Hopefully some actual adults will be able to get through to him.

...That I don't know. It's probably a better question for people who actually work with Pogemon on a regular basis.

[comebewe]

There might be more rifts coming.

[leftbehindagain]

Oh?