Victory Road IC Inbox

[neverstudied]

"Hey, this is Dr. Peter Venkman- I'm probably busy. If you're calling about something stupid done by a Dr. Egon Spengler or a Dr. Ray Stantz, I'm sorry for whatever they did. Leave a message and I'll get back to you as soon as I can."

Comments

[neverstudied]

[Venkman rolls his eyes at Egon's bluntness. He picks up Faraday's containment unit, but before actually handing it to Egon, he places his hand gently on Sigourney's shoulder.]

Hey. Can you look at me real quick?

[It takes her a few seconds, but Sigourney looks up from her game.]

Did your other dad treat you well while you were with him? How'd you like the tests?

[A pause.]

'😮🧠👽👁️‍🗨️👨‍🔬🤗👓❗'

[Venkman nods, as if literally any of that made sense to him.]

Alright, good. You can go back to your game, ok? [She's already hard at work trying to move the rings with her mind through the water before he finishes his sentence. Venkman holds out the containment unit for Egon to take.]

[pkemeter]

[Egon takes the containment unit and tosses it onto the ground to release her.]

Thank you. Now--

[A large shape begins to materialize in the middle of the room,far too large to be a Phantump, glowing brighter and brighter until a deafening creaking roar is heard. The light fades, and a large tree-like creature is left standing where Egon threw the PokéBall. She blinks her eye, inspecting her own claws and new appendages. A few leaves fall onto the ground.

Egon stares at the Trevenant in silence, mouth agape. After a few moments, he turns to stare at Venkman.]

What did you do to her containment unit?!

[Said in a slightly demanding and panicked tone.]

[neverstudied]

[There's a long moment of silence while Venkman just. Stares at the tree in their hotel room in mild shock. Rue and Jodie stir awake, and Rue appears momentarily frightened before seeming to recognize the Pokemon. Sigourney is completely unphased. Rings are more interesting than trees.

Venkman opens his mouth to say something before getting cut off by Egon. He splutters indignantly-]

I- what? You think- I didn't do anything!

[pkemeter]

What do you mean? Clearly, this is not Faraday. You will tell me what happened in this room while I was gone or--

[A mournful noise can be heard from the tree standing in the middle of the room. Her eye seems to droop slightly as her roots shift around like an arachnid shuffling its feet. She folds her hands together, twiddling her claws around. Egon frowns, a bewildered expression on his face as he glances between Venkman and the Trevenant. It's only now that he realizes that the left branch on the Trevenant's head is broken, much like....]

Oh.

[There's an awkward pause.]

I apologize, Faraday, I was-- [He clears his throat, rubbing the back of his neck.] --it's been a long day.

[Faraday lets out a huff, moving away from Egon and towards Venkman. The ground creaks and shakes as she walks. She crouches down slightly, watching Sigourney use the water ring toy.]

[neverstudied]

What do you think happened? Yeah, I left the apartment for half an hour- without you noticing- just so I could find a completely different Pokemon to replace Faraday with, for absolutely no reason. How does that make any goddamn sense?

[Venkman's self-righteous fury dies down quickly once Egon gets the picture, however. He peers up at Faraday curiously when she approaches the couch- he'd try to make room for her, but he's not totally sure how a tree ghost could sit on a couch.

Sigourney continues to not care in the slightest.]

... Egon, did you ever read up how Faraday was supposed to evolve?

[pkemeter]

[Egon doesn't reply to Venkman's first comment. He tentatively reaches into his pocket and pulls out a Rubix Cube, holding it out for Faraday to take. She gratefully accepts it with both claws, tapping at the different colored squares as she begins to scramble the tiles.]

...I believe it may have slipped my mind at some point.

[After scrambling the puzzle, Faraday nods to herself and extends the Rubix Cube towards Sigourney in offering. She makes a deep, guttural noise that causes the floor to shake.]

This is intriguing, though. She seems to have progressed to a stronger form of a possessor--perhaps Class IV, if her PKE levels have grown stronger. She may or may not be able to remember her past life.

[neverstudied]

Ahuh. I didn't look into it, either, but I have heard that some Pokemon evolve by being traded to a different person. Guess she's one of 'em?

[The offering of Cube[tm] finally gets Sigourney's attention. Her handlights blink, and she extends a hand towards the cube, before pausing. After a moment of deliberation, she holds out the water ring toss toy in exchange.]

[pkemeter]

But how could something as simple as the transferal of "ownership" trigger such an extreme change in a Pokémon? I was under the impression that most evolutionary triggers involve something regarding energy or experience, but this--

[He pauses, watching as Faraday gratefully takes the ring toss toy and makes a small noise of contentedness. She begins to press the buttons on the bottom of the toy, watching as the rings float up and down. She then looks at Egon, waving the toy enthusiastically at him.]

...Yes, I see it. It's an interesting toy, is it not? [He inches closer to her, frowning.] Do you remember anything about your past life now?

[Faraday pauses for a moment, her "eyebrow" furrowing as she thinks. After a few moments, she shakes her head slowly, tapping a claw against her face. Egon leans back, a little disappointed.]

I see. Thank you, anyways.

[neverstudied]

[Sigourney happily gets to work on the Rubik's cube, levitating it and spinning the tiles telekinetically.]

I dunno, Spengs. This place is weird. I think there's a Pokemon that evolves when you spin it in a bottle.

[Venkman watches the exchange between Egon and Faraday, frowning.]

Hey, don't worry about it, kid. Past life memories are overrated. If you figure something out, cool. Otherwise don't stress over it.

[pkemeter]

Yes, but at least that involves some sort of energy being utilized--kinetic and potential energy--whereas this is seemingly instantaneous and unassisted.

[He then pauses.]

Maybe not the best idea to say that around the creature that can erase people's memories.

[Faraday thinks over Venkman's words, then nods thoughtfully. She then points a curious claw at Sigourney, making a quiet questioning noise. Memories?]

[neverstudied]

... Good point.

[He winces, glancing over at Sigourney. She briefly looks up at Faraday's question, but she's currently too invested in the Rubik's Cube to give a proper reply.]

Thank God for Rubik's cubes, man.