[PKMN] SPACE CASE!

[skinstealer]

LAST TIME...on SPACE CASE!
Today's the day the party leaves for the Mt. Moon travel routes...with Rappel as their guide, surely they'll have an easy trek!

...but where's that strange feeling in the air coming from...?

Find out now- on SPACE CASE!
EPISODE 17: Intern on Duty

---

You are now Sweetpea.



And boy.

Have you been busy.

...and it's not even the good kind, either!

Nooo, you get back from all of that stupid checkpoint work and what do they have you do?

MORE errands!


Ohhh get me this, get me that, the extraterrestrial department wants to see the readings you got from your last trip out- newsflash, no aliens today!

EVERYONE knows the peak season for signals doesn't even start for a MONTH!

Even though you're an intern, it feels like you're the only one doing your damn job around here.
None of the others do their work, and you're good at what you do, so all it goes right to you to make sure everyone on a higher rung can get their work done.

And guess what- there's a LOT of higher rungs!

You're going to pop a vein at this point.

Absolutely ridiculous.

You signed up for evolutionary stone studies, not this!



YOU ARE NOT HERE TO CARRY FILE FOLDERS ABOUT TIDAL CYCLES!


YOU DID NOT VOLUNTEER FOR TAKING PHONE CALLS!!


YOU ARE NOT MEANT TO CARRY COFFEE!!!


RIDICULOUS.



And that one-
that one, one jerk Rachel-
she asked you to do the checkpoints in the first place, only to tell you that YOU fumbled a reading!

Wow, Rachel, thanks a bunch-
maybe you should have asked someone with longer fingers to manipulate delicate equipment!

Noo,
no,
instead of working on safety measures,
let's just send the Big Girl out to handle it!

Ideal punching bag!
Takes a reeeal good hit!
And who cares about evolutionary stones anyway!
Not like it's one of the most important, practical fields in this entire campus!







You should poison her latte.
No, no, that'd be evil.
No latte poisoning.




....



You should sprinkle cheri flakes into her latte.
Like, three of them. 
That'd show her.



...as much as you complain, you did commit the biggest hubris of all yesterday.

You took a day off.


Orion was always going on about how you need to take more time for yourself, and while it sounds great on paper, you can't stand it.


Not only does it take time away from stone work-

and god, you were on such a roll before you had to come up here-

but these people start rubbing their hands together as soon as they see you rumbling around.


Ooooh, Sweetpea's in town and my interns are whining about pushing carts-

let's get that venusaur up and at 'em!


Even with a nice dip in the springs, any relief it may have brought you was immediately counteracted with your work email lighting up with what felt like five MILLION requests.


....



Your chest hurts.



You've been away from the Asterisms and your work together for TOO LONG-



And you cannot stand it anymore.


Screw the rest of the unread emails.
You can have Ursa write some kind of bullshit excuse.

She hates it just as much when you're pulled away this long- your biggest vindication coming in the form of her ranting about the lack of respect involved.




Your biggest allies in the world.



You cannot WAIT to get back.



Or, at least, you'd say as much if

the


damn

TRAM

WASN'T OUT

SWEETPEA: You have to be kidding me...

 

The butterfree at the tram station shrugs, leaning onto the counter.

BUTTERFREE: Sorry Sweets-

 

god you hate being called that

BUTTERFREE: Some kind of tech issue since last night.
SWEETPEA: But-!
SWEETPEA: How am I supposed to get back?!

 

He shrugs again, giving you a tired stare.

BUTTERFREE: Beats me.
BUTTERFREE: Would love for them to fix it, though.
BUTTERFREE: keep getting the same damn questions
SWEETPEA: Surely there's-
BUTTERFREE: Look, why don't you take it easy?
BUTTERFREE: Got a perfect excuse for a day off.
SWEETPEA: nooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
BUTTERFREE: ...or do whatever, not my problem.
BUTTERFREE: Now scoot outta line, you're holding people up.



 

You stomp over to the side, the sulking setting in immediately.




Of all the times-



Why couldn't this have happened while you were on the other side?!




You could have been stuck over there without ANYONE able to tell you to come to Pewter!




.....




You make a soft, dejected croak as you pull out your phone.




It takes the usual amount of rings for your nav to get through, each subsequent beep making you more and more antsy.

Your boss pops onto the video feed- or, at least, one of them.

The magmar there beams, his glasses smudged all over- you TOLD him to wipe them more, he's going to fall down the stairs or something-

ASTERISM: Hi Sweet-!
SWEETPEA: Doc! I-
SWEETPEA: There's!
SWEETPEA: It's a disaster up here!
ASTERISM: Whoa, whoa, calm down-
SWEETPEA: The tram's out!
SWEETPEA: I can't- how am I supposed to get to work?

 

Another voice comes through, offscreen.

????: Orion, are xey panicking over there?

 

Dr. Orion Asterism rubs the back of his head, fiddling with the smoke wisps there.

ORION: Unfortunately so, dear-
ORION: Breathe for a moment, okay?
SWEETPEA: B-but-!
ORION: In....

 

God, he always does this.

You take an exaggerated inhale, making eye contact with the magmar onscreen.

ORION: And ouuuut!
ORION: See?
SWEETPEA: The tram!!!
ORION: ....Ursa, my tactics fail me once again.

 

You can practically hear his wife eye roll.

URSA: Your tactics are better suited for a therapist's office than a laboratory, honey.
URSA: And I have my hands full-
URSA: You said the tram's not working?

 

You nod furiously.

ORION: Seems to be, dear!
URSA: Irritating...and rare.
URSA: I'll send an inquiry to upper management and see if I can grease some wheels.
SWEETPEA: But-
SWEETPEA: How am I supposed to get to work?!
ORION: You've got tasks up at Pewter Campus, don't you?
SWEETPEA: Y-yes, but-

 

You look around and shuffle to a quieter part of the landing, whispering into the nav.

SWEETPEA: it's all boring and i hate it here and i had to spend all the time on route 3 and i got JUMPED like THREE TIMES AND
ORION: Jumped?!
ORION: Oh, you poor dear-
URSA: Did you remember what I taught you?

 

You hesitate, and nod.

ORION: Xey did, yes.
URSA: And did you end up getting hurt.

 

You shake your head.

ORION: Nosirree.
URSA: Good.
URSA: I told you.
SWEETPEA: b-but-
URSA: Look, I really have to get back to it-
URSA: not easy yelling across the room anyway
URSA: But believe in yourself, hon.
ORION: Besides, the campus is safe!
ORION: No harm in getting a little deskwork in-
SWEETPEA: but i hate deskwork-
ORION: ....or, I cooould give you a vacation-
SWEETPEA: I hate vacation MORE!
SWEETPEA: Please, sir-
SWEETPEA: I already feel terrible taking a day off, and having to run around the route-
SWEETPEA: I just want to come back and do my job with you two!

 

He sighs, leaning back in his chair.

ORION: Only person in this campus who actually wants to show up to look at rocks all day...
SWEETPEA: Yeah, outside of you.
ORION: True! Very true.
ORION: ....

 

He thinks, moving one hand to fiddle with a pen instead.

ORION: Hmm.

 

The clicks from it are audible- too familiar to bother you.

ORION: I suppose the travel routes would work.
ORION: Just-
ORION: Get a guide, do it right...
ORION: And be careful!

 

You harumph.

SWEETPEA: I thought you said the campus was safe.
ORION: The cave is no campus, my dear!
ORION: And while I agree with Ursa regarding your capabilities...
ORION: No amount of battle skills can keep you from a bad fall.
SWEETPEA: ...okayyyy
SWEETPEA: I guess I'll find somebody.
SWEETPEA: But I'm making you pay for the cost!
ORION: ...may I suggest vending machine snacks as reimbursement-
SWEETPEA: ONLY if they have my favorite sandwiches.
ORION: Done deal!
ORION: ....

 

He smiles again, wide and warm.

ORION: We're both proud of you.
SWEETPEA: ....saying that now just feels like an omen, doc.
ORION: I say it every time!
SWEETPEA: Mmmgh.
ORION: And I mean it too.
ORION: Come home safe, dear.



 

He hangs up.



You stare at your nav's contact list-



Just him and Ursa.




You can make this work.











Well.
The issue with making it work is how.

As much as you do love a good sandwich, you know that the Asterisms aren't exactly rolling in cash.

Getting someone who upcharges would be no good at all, but the idea of getting a cheap guide who's too hands off sounds just as terrible.

After all, you do NOT want to do any more fighting.




....even if Ursa believes in you.




You pace.




You pace for a solid ten minutes.



And then thirty.

You're absolutely attracting attention but people can deal, they're already staring at you anyway for being the biggest thing in the room.



Shoot. shoot shoot shoot Shit this is-




A familiar voice cuts through.

FROND: You really think we can see some geodes on the way?
RAPPEL: Of COURSE, my new friend!
RAPPEL: If you look at this trail here-

 

Oh!

OH!
It's the Shooting Stars-



And by the look of it-

SWEETPEA: H-hey!

 

You thud over, having to sidestep a wayward oddish.

SWEETPEA: It- it's you all again!
MINERVA: Oh!

 

The golbat smiles ear to ear- lucidly this time, too.

MINERVA: Sweetpea!
MINERVA: It's wonderful to see you again!

 

The exhausted look on Stretch's face begs to differ, but- at least everyone else seems neutral, if not happy!

G. Good enough!

SWEETPEA: I-I'm glad you remember me...
EERIE: kinda hard to forget
SWEETPEA: You're looking so much better!
MINERVA: All thanks to your help!

 

She's so nice...

STRETCH: ....how's your. Job.
STRETCH: Going.
SWEETPEA: Oh!
SWEETPEA: Um
SWEETPEA: aaaaboooouuuut that....

 

You tap your index claws together.

SWEETPEA: The tram is out.
SWEETPEA: It's ridiculous- this never happens!
SWEETPEA: None of the staff can go between campuses!
EERIE: Sounds like somebody's getting fired.
SWEETPEA: Exactly my thoughts!
SWEETPEA: But...
SWEETPEA: I need to get through the caves.

 

The omastar's face lights up. Stretch's falling in contrast.

RAPPEL: A new party member?
RAPPEL: What say my band of misfits!
STRETCH: I-
MINERVA: Oh, Stretch, could we?
MINERVA: I'd love to get to know xem more...

 

Everyone looks decently awkward about it, especially with the bat and nautilus looking at the rest of the team with big, pleading eyes.

STRETCH: ...alright.
STRETCH: can't believe this keeps happening
SWEETPEA: THANK YOU thank you Thank you
STRETCH: But you're going to pull your weight around.
SWEETPEA: I promise-
STRETCH: Including defending the party.

 

It nods its head towards the sled over its shoulder.

STRETCH: Minnie's still relatively out of commission.
STRETCH: You come with us, you help keep an eye on her with me.
MINERVA: Oh!!
MINERVA: Oh, I'd love that-

 

....

There

shouldn't be any fighting


right?


And- this is a whole team-

SWEETPEA: I'll-
SWEETPEA: I'll do my best!










FILIGREE: ...can't say I was expecting to get a tour.
SWEETPEA: Well!

 

You tap the pouch at your side, grimacing.

SWEETPEA: This is my work bag, not a travel bag.
SWEETPEA: I have one kept on either end just in case, but it's a bit of a walk...
FROND: I don't mind!
FROND: Means we get to see this place from the inside!

 

You flash your pin at a scanner, tapping in the code for visitor access.

SWEETPEA: should do the trick
SWEETPEA: I don't think the Pewter end is quite as interesting, but-
EERIE: Space stuff is all the same as far as I know.
EERIE: ....Uh. Happy to learn, though.

 

You smile-



-and then you notice Stretch's expression.



Its pupils are dilated, energy sparking between its antennae.

SWEETPEA: Excited to see things up close?


 

It snaps out of it, looking embarrassed.

STRETCH: ...a little.
SWEETPEA: No need to be shy!
SWEETPEA: We here at the Institute love to share our knowledge!

 

You get a side glare from a researcher from Aerospace.

SWEETPEA: Mostly.
MINERVA: ...my mind was a bit addled at the time, but-
MINERVA: You said you worked with evolution, yes?
SWEETPEA: Yep!
SWEETPEA: sweet of you to remember...
SWEETPEA: Our current endeavors involve in-depth analysis of moon stones.

 

Stretch's antennae perk back up.

Yes. Yeessssss. Intrigue!

RAPPEL: Quite the field!
RAPPEL: Which angle pulls you in?
SWEETPEA: Well...for our overall focus, we're analyzing radiation output and potential factors for variation.
SWEETPEA: Evolution is never an exact science, despite what people will summarize in basic health education.
SWEETPEA: Start as one form, end in another...
STRETCH: ....not that simple.
SWEETPEA: Yes!

 

You glance over your shoulder-



-ohh, less enthusiastic now.


....hm....

Well....

SWEETPEA: We're....looking for ways to help pinpoint what causes deviation from publicly available forms.

 

You drop your volume, trying to at least sound a little less overbearing.

SWEETPEA: There's a lot of people who could use the help.

 

It untenses.

STRETCH: ....right.
FROND: Why moon stones specifically, then?
FROND: There's lotsa rocks out there!
SWEETPEA: At first, we did start with more of the basics...
SWEETPEA: But we found that the moon stone carries an incredible amount of power, more than others by a mile!
SWEETPEA: There's reasons why they're controlled substances, and usually sold ground up, powdered, in lotions...
FILIGREE: ....I always just assumed people didn't want to wait for a rock to work.
SWEETPEA: No, modern science allows us to create evolutionary products meant for safer consumer use!

 

The rhyhorn shuffles.

EERIE: ....got a weird question.
SWEETPEA: Fire away!
EERIE: Could, like-
EERIE: People use that kinda info to. Control evos.

 

...ah.

SWEETPEA: ....
SWEETPEA: Yes.
SWEETPEA: That- is something we're particularly tracking.
SWEETPEA: Such information would be...devastating to release.
SWEETPEA: On the one hand, giving people agency over their own bodies- incredible!
SWEETPEA: Everything we stand for!
SWEETPEA: The freedom to make your dreams come true...

 

You remember


the council, staring at you.

SWEETPEA: ...and on the other, the ability for others to use evolution as a weapon.
SWEETPEA: Deeply important research, potentially beneficial to the whole world....
SWEETPEA: ...but it'd be horrific if these studies fell into the wrong hands.
EERIE: ....yeah.
EERIE: Agreed.
STRETCH: ...seconded.
FROND: Thirded.
FILIGREE: No objections.

 

You're half expecting the other two to launch into responses just as quickly- and yet!



Hesitation.
Processing.

MINERVA: I'm....less experienced in the subject-
MINERVA: ....but I've seen what people in power do with this sort of thing.

 

Her eyes flick to her party for just a moment.

MINERVA: Even if only a glimpse.
MINERVA: At the very least, researching it could mean....we could get people help.
MINERVA: Correct?
SWEETPEA: Y-yeah! Yes, exactly.
SWEETPEA: Focusing on keeping the research to parties with established support programs...
SWEETPEA: It won't be perfect, but that's the goal.
RAPPEL: ...and a noble one!
RAPPEL: That's for certain.

 

The omastar rubs where her chin would be, if she had one.

RAPPEL: Trickier to actually pull off.
RAPPEL: I admire your gusto!

 

Well, now you just feel embarrassed-

RAPPEL: We need bravery like this in the world!

 

Her tentacle feels somewhat chilled as she gives you a friendly shoulder punch.

RAPPEL: Just so long as you get back up.
SWEETPEA: O-of course!





 

You sling your travel bag over your shoulder, closing up your locker and waving to the guard on duty.

The party waits outside, not allowed into official staff storage- Stretch fussing over its bellsprout companion in hushed tones.




....and from the look of Filigree poking at the energy coming off of the electabuzz, it was getting fussed over back.

SWEETPEA: ...everything alright?

 

Both of them separate, immediately looking away from each other.

STRETCH: ...Fine.
FILIGREE: Yeah.

 

Rappel seems to be the only other person noticing- Frond, Eerie and Minerva busying themselves with an informational plaque on the wall.

Still, she says nothing.

SWEETPEA: O-oh, sure-

 

....you're an outsider to this.



Whatever it is, it's


private.




probably.








The chatter resumes on your way back out, your heart pounding as you near the checkpoint.






This is really happening.




You've never actually- gone through the mountain.


But-

You need to get back to work!


You need to get back to the Asterisms!!!


And-



You feel your stomach churn, just the slightest bit


thinking about the tram.




it's never done that before.

RAPPEL: Are we ready to embark?

 

A chorus of affirmation- but in many different tones, some clearly more excited to go than others.

RAPPEL: EXCELLENT!

 

She flashes her license, a large metal door opening wide for the party.

RAPPEL: ONWARD-
RAPPEL: TO ADVENTURE!
 

---

No time to delay, the team's on the road once more- with Sweetpea once again in tow! Will xey be able to keep up, or fall prey to xer anxieties?

We can develop xem a little bit now, though! Suggestors, what findings have Sweetpea and the Asterisms come up with most recently? Surely their work on evolutionary stones has turned up some intrigue...

Find out next time...on SPACE CASE!