[PKMN] SPACE CASE!

[skinstealer]

LAST TIME...on SPACE CASE!
The Stars' brand new guide to the mountain had sidequests for the team- though these feel a lot more like sightseeing than actual work...

Rappel seems to be fond of these barely-disguised self care sessions- with her insisting on another day of rest, what could lay ahead? Find out now: on SPACE CASE!

EPISODE 16: A Nice Long Rest

---

 

STRETCH: ...should be the next left.

 

You're supporting Minerva on one side, Eerie on the other. She's able to walk properly, but after a few days of having to be tugged around, it's clear that she's not as steady as she- or anyone else- would like her to be.

EERIE: Can't say I've ever done this before...
MINERVA: Neither have I, but-
MINERVA: It sounds lovely...

 

The rhyhorn huffs, pointedly slumping as the three of you arrive at your destination-




-changing rooms for the Lunar Institute hot springs.

Rappel had insisted on it, pulling three passes out of her pocket like another one of her card tricks.

RAPPEL: It's exactly what Minerva needs right now.
RAPPEL: Trust me!
RAPPEL: The water hits different when star-kissed.

 

She proceeded to make an exaggerated kiss gesture towards the sky, Minnie giggling like crazy.

MINERVA: ....so nice of Rappel to do all this...

 

.....at least she's making another friend.









You do not like being naked on a normal day.

Even with Minerva, it's- a whole situation- though you guess that's not particularly strange considering how short of a time it's been.

Sure, you had seen people in their tight battling gear, but-

You would struggle to cut the tension between you and Eerie with a knife, the two of you in towels as Minerva dangles her feet in the water.

MINERVA: Oh, it is lovely-

 

Eerie holds her towel up against her chest, posture stiff. You're about as well composed with it over your waist, feeling extra self conscious over the markings on your chest being visible- elliptical rings instead of the standard electabuzz stripes.




The two of you shuffle, the seemingly oblivious golbat making herself at home.

EERIE: ...looks like she's doing just fine.
STRETCH: Nn.
EERIE: ....
STRETCH: ....
EERIE: If you tell anyone in the team-
STRETCH: Trust me I am not talking about this with anyone ever

 

Even so, helping Minerva get properly situated takes the edge off, both of you taking your own spots to the side as Minnie starts her soak. The second you both sink into the water, you realize why she'd been able to relax so quickly-

EERIE: Hhhholy shit that feels nice.

 

You make a sound not unlike a warbly purr as you feel yourself untense, worries melting away.

STRETCH: Rappel...was not. Kidding.
STRETCH: wow.
EERIE: You think she can get us full time memberships?
STRETCH: For how much we're paying her, 'm shocked she's doing any of this at all...
EERIE: Definitely some kinda weirdo...
EERIE: .....
EERIE: .......I like her, though.

 

She nods at the golbat having the relaxation of her life.

EERIE: Seems to know her shit with Minnie.
STRETCH: ...I.
STRETCH: Think I like her too.
STRETCH: ...weirdly practical person.
EERIE: Not freaked out by her, like-
EERIE: Whole....card...thing?

 

You would have panicked in any other situation, but all you can do is shrug as the water gives you a nice, steamy hug.

STRETCH: ...not for now.
EERIE: For now?
STRETCH: Just met her.
STRETCH: Can go anywhere from here.
EERIE: ...
EERIE: Really aren't much of an optimist, huh?
STRETCH: Nope.
EERIE: ....me neither.
STRETCH: ...Hard to be after the past week.

 

You both fall silent again.

EERIE: ...y'know I didn't mean for-
STRETCH: I know.
STRETCH: ....
STRETCH: i know.
STRETCH: You're-




 

You remember Frond's wet cheeks.

STRETCH: Not.
STRETCH: The only person screwing things up.
EERIE: ....yeah, but-
EERIE: You two, like, made up, or whatever.

 

She doesn't sound fully convinced.

EERIE: I dunno what you guys' deal is-
EERIE: .....
EERIE: ....didn't you miss him?

 

Your chest clenches.

EERIE: I just keep- comin' back to it.
EERIE: Ten years is a long time, man.
STRETCH: .....
STRETCH: i
STRETCH: I figured-


 

the vague feeling of him clutching you


the smell of rot as he told you to count




feeling him choke on his own vomit as he gripped you with newly-formed arms





suffering




for you.

STRETCH: .....
STRETCH: that he wouldn't want to see me again.
STRETCH: after everything.






 

She stares at you for a few agonizing moments.

EERIE: You know that's stupid as hell, right?
STRETCH: Hrk-!
EERIE: Like-
EERIE: That's bullshit.
EERIE: You think somebody who didn't wanna see you again would jump at the first possible chance to go on a fucking cross country trip?
EERIE: With fucking League battling?
STRETCH: I-
STRETCH: It's-
STRETCH: Ten years, it's-
STRETCH: We didn't, even-
STRETCH: We don't really know each other now, we haven't talked-!
EERIE: Why not now?
EERIE: You clearly got stuff in common still.
EERIE: You're stuck in this stupid mess, you got...chemistry, or whatever-
EERIE: I think you're bein' a fucking asshole about it!
EERIE: ....

 

She snorts tiredly.

EERIE: ....but Frond really wants to be your friend again.
EERIE: Think you do too.





 

it's okay, just count to ten-

STRETCH: ....why, though?
STRETCH: It-
STRETCH: You're new to both of us-
EERIE: Yeah, and ever since he started getting his ass kicked, you've been in a goddamn mood and so has he.
EERIE: You're both worried as shit about each other-
EERIE: You follow each other around-
EERIE: And god, after that whole thing with the magneton-

 

You immediately flush, praying it comes off more as the heat from the springs than-

EERIE: You've been seriously off, dude.
STRETCH: ....
EERIE: ..........
STRETCH: ........I-




 

You open and close your mouth.




She just watches, waiting for your explanation





that never comes.

EERIE: ....hff.
EERIE: S'alright.
EERIE: Just-
EERIE: ....think about it.
STRETCH: ....yeah.
EERIE: Also-

 

She points downward, panic flooding you as you see the water rippling around you in a perfect circle.

STRETCH: HRK
EERIE: You got a terrible poker face.
STRETCH: THAT'S-
EERIE: Relax.
EERIE: Not talking to anyone 'bout anything here, right?

 

She snickers, looking back at Minerva.

EERIE: Made a deal.
STRETCH: R
STRETCH: right.
STRETCH: y. yeah.

 

You turn to look back at the golbat as well-

EERIE: Damn.
EERIE: She is like, melted.
STRETCH: .....

 

Your lip twitches, the golbat kicked back without an ounce of tension in her body.

STRETCH: It's...good.
STRETCH: ....to see her safe.
EERIE: Yeah.
EERIE: ....you gonna get to disciplining me over it?
STRETCH: Eh-?
STRETCH: ...oh.
STRETCH: Right.
EERIE: Mhm.
STRETCH: No, I.
STRETCH: I think. You've had enough.
STRETCH: ....on the suffering front.
EERIE: Man, aren't you generous.

 

She sighs, clearly more relieved than cocky.

EERIE: Wouldn't've blamed you, though.
STRETCH: ...all I was going to-
STRETCH: I was just going to ask for info.
STRETCH: On. Osteo.
EERIE: ...seriously?
EERIE: Dude, you made it sound like I was gonna have to go to some kinda dungeon.
EERIE: And like, after Pewter, I've had enough of that.
STRETCH: Tch.
EERIE: That a laugh?
STRETCH: No.
EERIE: Close enough for me.
EERIE: You got a scary face when you're serious, like-
EERIE: Just askin' me for intel is normal!
EERIE: Like, I fucking hate it, but-
EERIE: ....you were right, I can't hide shit like this.
EERIE: And- I don't want anybody else to get hurt.
EERIE: Learned my fucking lesson plenty.
EERIE: ...

 

Her face grows somber, still looking at Minnie.

EERIE: She could've died.
EERIE: Frond and Filigree too.
EERIE: I- never would've run my mouth if I knew things were that bad with the gang.
EERIE: It's like, I figured, eh, we might get some guys swinging a club around every so often, I can take that shit.
EERIE: Even like, the kabutops- back in the gang, it was still learning how that damn cannon worked.
EERIE: .....I
EERIE: think something really bad is happening, Stretch.
EERIE: .....and I shouldn't've gotten y'all involved.
STRETCH: ....
STRETCH: Well.
STRETCH: Knock the pity party off.

 

She blinks, stunned.

STRETCH: We're in this together.
STRETCH: Or. Something.
STRETCH: And-
STRETCH: I get it.

 

You stare at the gentle, even ripples coming off your body.

STRETCH: If I got the chance to-
STRETCH: Get revenge.
STRETCH: Or whatever.
STRETCH: ...I would.

 

She snort-laughs.

EERIE: Let's show 'em what we got, then.
EERIE: Piss off everybody off who tunes in.
STRETCH: ...yeah.
STRETCH: You got it.
















 

It's dark.








It had been dark for a long time.




You had stopped trying to count an eternity ago- and yet instead of being accustomed to it, you could register it as "dark."





Like looking at the inside of one's eyelids, forever.
Did you have those, once?
Likely not now.




Now.


What a concept.



Now, then, what did those things even mean anymore?

It's not like you ever had a good idea of time passing anyway.

Even these thoughts are scattered and malleable, translated from your best attempt at connecting words and concepts together.






Your thoughts dissolved into a pulp alongside your body,





....but one day, you feel definition.




An edge, something pressing against your container.




Something to you.












Time passes.






You've developed more edges, now.


They're strange, tangled and folded in and across each other.

You try to move them sometimes, a twitch here and there, cramped too tight to actually achieve a gesture or stretch.





A hard surface develops, and the pain begins- your confines crushing you more and more.









It feels like a much longer wait, now.




Are you dead?






Is this where dead people go?






You had heard stories- hadn't you?






People...there were people once-












Light.










Oh





it hurts.








Are you screaming?


Something's- there's a noise coming out of you, and it hurts.
Everything hurts.



The edges escape their confines, spilling and scrambling everywhere.

Surfaces unlike your cage, oh, what is this-





This isn't home.

You don't remember what home is, but this is NOT it.

Home wasn't cold. Home wasn't bright, searing into- oh, you have eyes now.

Eyes?

Eyes.



The thought doesn't match the word you would use in the future (the real Now?), but right in This now, it's an imperfect translation.





There are shadows around you blocking out the light- do you know them?
No, no, they're wrong-


Noises escape your mouth, teeth clacking, all borrowed words from the future for the sake of remembering This Now.

Where are they?

Where are-




They're not like you.



They're not your friends- oh, you had friends, you remember having them even if you can't remember anything and they're not here and-




The figures step back as you make a terrible, wet sound.




You're crying.




One of them makes noises back, but they aren't like anything you've heard.







you want to go back.













You pick up things quickly.



The first few escape attempts are highly unsuccessful, but you learn a bit more with each try.

Your awareness on how to move your body gets better as you learn how to sneak around, open doors- even if you always get caught.



....you start to wonder why they're making it easy for you. This is nothing compared to being compressed for infinity, being dissolved and reformed however many times before they cracked your cage open.



Sometimes, they make strange expressions over it-



-and then you realize that it's happiness.
They're smiling- you knew what smiling was back then, didn't you?





They give you extra delicious food when you manage to break out.

More time wandering around the cold, white tiled facility, less harsh pushes to return to your cell.




...unfortunately for your escape efforts, you are easy to sway, and you find yourself more drawn to the promise of treats and being allowed to poke at new objects than actually getting out the door.








You still miss the people and places at the edges of your memory- how could you not?



But it does become more manageable, more and more time in between crying fits and nightmares spent exploring your new world.










...Something tells you that there isn't a way back, after all.






The people keeping you here aren't cruel- and while it takes some time to parse these expressions as well, you do start getting those down.






They feel terrible for you.




Every time they catch you crying, they get you what you come to understand as a quilt, something to drink, a snack- and they make those noises again.

Tone is one thing that you're getting better at reading, being able to pick up on when someone is happy, sad, angry...but they keep making the same noises in distinct patterns.




You kind of like the noises.
Some of them make you happy when you notice them, and you making a noise back makes them even happier.

More treats for you.
Yum yum yum.


Once they notice your enthusiasm over what you soon learn are "words", they get right to helping you through it. There are so many ways to speak, let alone to listen, write, read- it's overwhelming at first.



....not just for you, but for your caretakers.

They struggle to keep up with your demands, never satisfied with their stumbling pace.

You want to know everything, and each new bit of information gets you curious for more.

The words "slow down" and "not today" are very much embedded into your early vocabulary, shortly after you pick up on the dreaded "more".





You're introduced to others kind of like you- "omastar", they keep saying.

Funny word.

It takes you ages to actually pronounce it.
They seem to grasp this so much easier, and some days you feel frustrated beyond belief.



....others, you poke and prod and ramble at them until they teach you new things, often out of an urge to make you please just go away.




It stings, but your carers tell you that they didn't come from the same world you did.



You want to understand their world.



You want to go outside.













They give you a television instead.


The television.


The TELEVISION!!! 



How many wonderful things you watch on TV!

You can hear some of the researchers express concerns- won't this just rot your mind?

You're pretty sure minds can't do that, especially not when you scribble on paper as you watch. 

They're nonsense symbols and markings to everyone else, but they make sense to you.

Even if you can't use their words back at them yet or know how to move your tentacles in the ways they ask of you, your notes do plenty!





The amount of tapes they give you are limited, but you learn to love every one of them- okay, well, not that one they called "golf".


A waste of your time!
Too slow!
Not enough action!





One day, there's another person in your TV room- not a researcher or a doctor or a carer.



The two of you stare at each other, unsure what to make of the other- it was close to what you'd heard called a "kabutops", but not all the way.




There was something different about it.



It likes TV, though.
Likes your symbols too.



It doesn't have any way to draw like you, so you end up stealing couch cushions and helping it figure out how to poke and cut into the fabric.


You realize that this is driving your caregivers up the wall, but who cares?
You have a new friend now, and the two of you LOVE to get up to shenanigans.







It ends up being just what you need to learn further.
Both you, and your new pal.



It's so much easier to get the hang of this with someone who's actually interested in having a real conversation, versus the negative and positive reinforcement based lessons- though, you will never refuse a bribery burger.





You play.



You laugh,
you cry,
you pick up affects and vocabulary from your favorite videotapes-
and why not?


They're incredible!




It takes some serious effort and convincing, but you finally get some of them to pay attention and make sense of your notes, and you learn to write together as well.





The tools "made for your species" aren't too bad once you get the hang of them, though the doctors find both of your methods...creative.




....and then they tell you you can go outside, with some final necessary steps.






They tell you you both can pick a formal name of your own, as well as ways for people to identify you.




You and your friend really have to think this one over.
It's given the same offer, a way to formalize a name for legal identification.

This is something that requires real consideration, considering the nicknames racked up during your time here are much more fluid than an entry in a global database.



You take them up on it, both going through a couple of options.
A name is such an interesting thing, and the two of you end up keeping track of lots of names from your shows, finding patterns, symbolism, meaning.



You just keep coming back to one of the tapes- a caving show, mixing real world footage and lessons along with dramatic narrative segments.

Adventures into the depths, discovering new worlds and biomes.

It takes some time to sift through all of the potential terminology, and even more fascinating is the gender aspect.

So many things to rotate around...






And then one day, the decisions stick.




You are named Rappel, and she is named Plunge.











The world is beautiful, more than you could have imagined.



Some of it even reminds you of the vague remainders of your memory, and the same for Plunge.


It's easy to stick together,
pursue life,
jobs,
learning,
housing together-





Admitting your love for each other is more of a casual statement than a grand event, even more natural than picking up new phrases.






You add a last name on after exchanging vows, your ID proudly listing "Cara" along with licensing for cave exploration.







Plunge stays in Cinnabar, tending to your shared home just down the road from the lab that freed you both.








You travel, sending her pictures, postcards, care packages, every meetup a chance to kiss and embrace and make love-












Two decades pass.





It never stops being exciting.






You are so happy,

and so, so alive.

RAPPEL: So!
RAPPEL: Let's talk turkey!
MINERVA: ....turkey?

 

You gesture to a map spread across a rolling easel, having meticulously prepared it the night before.

RAPPEL: Yes, turkey!
RAPPEL: The main course!
RAPPEL: The MAIN EVENT!
RAPPEL: Your journey- and the path we take!
RAPPEL: I may be your guide, but you all help me chart the course.
RAPPEL: Your goals! Your DESIRES!
RAPPEL: Tell me what you want to achieve, and we will make it happen!
STRETCH: ....
STRETCH: Getting through.
EERIE: Aren't you practical.
RAPPEL: Practicality is an excellent foundation for an adventure!
RAPPEL: You're looking to pass through to Cerulean, yes?
STRETCH: ...mm.
RAPPEL: Minimizing pit stops?
STRETCH: Yes.
RAPPEL: No detours!
STRETCH: Ideally.
RAPPEL: Excellent, excellent...
RAPPEL: And what about the rest?
MINERVA: Well...I know sightseeing should be...minimal-
MINERVA: But I haven't ever been in a cave like this.
RAPPEL: Worry not!
RAPPEL: I can give trivia even as we go at a brisk pace.
RAPPEL: A good cave guide can move and educate all at once!
FROND: I'm a little interested in the wildlife...
FILIGREE: Mineral deposits for me.
RAPPEL: Yes! YES! All doable.
RAPPEL: How about you, Eerie?
EERIE: ....

 

She shrugs.

EERIE: I'll go with the flow.
RAPPEL: No trouble!

 

You turn, looking over the various paths before grabbing a piece of chalk, tracing it along.

FILIGREE: ...you don't use a nav?
RAPPEL: I do!
RAPPEL: But a digital copy is only as useful as your battery life.
RAPPEL: I'll be making backups before we set out, one for each of you- as well sending nav data!
RAPPEL: Landmarks- marked.
RAPPEL: Paths- labeled!
RAPPEL: The travel routes have things like bells, lights, and other integrated safety measures to help lost adventurers...
RAPPEL: Those will also be marked!
FILIGREE: ....wow.
STRETCH: You're thorough.
RAPPEL: I must!
RAPPEL: I have yet to have a cave tour go badly!
FROND: Like...ever?

 

You nod.

It was true, actually.
Not because you were immediately skilled- that'd be ridiculous.
You're no illustrious hero.

 

No, it was through what got you to this point in the first place.

Practice.

RAPPEL: Been in the business for twenty years!
RAPPEL: You start with small gigs, you get your climbing ropes-
RAPPEL: And eventually, you get to this point!
RAPPEL: Now, I've had close calls-
RAPPEL: But you learn from them!
RAPPEL: And for you all, this should be a fairly straightforward path.

 

Minerva breathes a sigh of relief.

MINERVA: I'm glad...

 

You look around, taking your bunch of explorers in.



Minerva is a fast friend, and boy, are you thrilled about it.
She's just lovely, and you're looking forward to spending more time chatting and going over procedures.


....interesting, though.
An Eclipse, here?
You're certain if she's gotten this far, there's not a lot of chance for her to be recognized....and you're not going to scare her by bringing it up.
Some pasts are best left behind, and you never trust families focused on bloodline.
Her getting away from that is likely a good thing.



Eerie...ex-Osteo, for sure.
No one needed to tell you- no, you recognized the scrapes in the armor around her joints even before you saw her packing away the club.
That terrible wire practice they do....keeping your tentacle on those pulses was almost a part time gig to your full time one!
Still, you get a lot of people affected by them.

An increasing amount, even.
With each one, you learn a new horror.

It disturbs you.

Why someone would torture another mon like that is beyond you- but you've had your share of feeling trapped and desperate.

Just...lucky that your captors were relatively kind.



Frond, now there's a great guy.
Reliable, charming, caring for his peers-

But that nasty tendency to overextend, even in the brief observations you've had of him...

...something to keep an eye on.

Even if it's as simple as him reaching for something on a shelf for Filigree- the shelf too high, his hand not dexterous enough- it indicates opportunity for DISASTER if you don't watch for it.

....he seems quite close to that Stretch fellow, even if it's difficult to tell if it's requited.
They'd known each other a long time...




Best to watch for that too.


Stretch itself is a live wire, and...it doesn't seem to notice it, yet.
That or it's dead set on ignoring it- not good at all.

Solid chance of it being volatile and impulsive when like this....stress levels would have to be kept down.
Not knowing what someone with that much of a flat affect would benefit from is a bit tricky, though.

Going to be a hard read.




....and then, Filigree.




Ohhh this one troubles you.

The bellsprout is sick.
No doubt about that.
It tries to hide it, but you've got a strong eye for this kind of thing.

Trick of the trade, necessary for your line of work to keep someone from falling into a spike hole.

You even tried to inquire about it earlier, but got brushed off.
Monitoring them would probably be your #1 priority, even compared to Stretch in a state.
Electabuzz overclocking is one thing- and not a small one- but you're unfamiliar with whatever's going on with that plant.


...it can't be anything good.

Still...

Quite the crew!
A lot of different backgrounds, stylings, species...



....and you weren't kidding about that card.

Stretch, the leader-

It- and its team!- are on a similar path to your own. How, you're unsure.


....but this will be quite the adventure to find out!
 

---

Minerva's been properly soaked, and Rappel's history begins to unravel- and just for you, the audience! Time will tell how much she'll share with her new comrades...

But I have to ask, suggestors...what do you think the reason Rappel and Stretch were brought together could be? Perhaps something could be divined from this very forum thread...

Find out next time...on SPACE CASE!


(hi author's note i have been writing all of the winning suggestions now and incorporating them into overall update plans since the project is being written/played through way ahead of when you see it. because this shit is long. your suggestions Will come to haunt you later.)