[PKMN] SPACE CASE!

[skinstealer]

LAST TIME...on SPACE CASE!

The lovely man who welcomed our heroes to the gym was also its first fighter- but from here on out, who knows what they're up against?

The second challenge feels even more worrying than the first....find out who awaits in this episode: of Space Case!

EPISODE 6: PEWTER GYM (PT. 3)

---

You are now Frond, and you have just had a very bad time.

Stretch keeps looking back at you-
shit, you're worrying it.

Part of you wants to take comfort in it, but you mostly just feel guilty as you walk down the next hall. You'd done your best at reassuring it that there'd be nothing to fret over, but...





Something had to give eventually, you guess.




Filigree pokes your shoulder.

FILIGREE: Hey...

 

Their voice is quiet, clearly trying to be covert.

FILIGREE: ....you okay?

 

Oh, no.
Now more of them are worried.

FILIGREE: You took a bit-



 

noooooooooooooooooooo

FROND: Never better!
FROND: Just got to see a great battle, too!
FROND: Gets you pumped up too, right?
FILIGREE: Sure, but-

 

They try to read your face, but you've had this down for some time.





The bellsprout is unable to find much of anything, and you feel the stress leave your body as they sigh.

FILIGREE: Nevermind.
FILIGREE: Just-
FILIGREE: Tell people if you need anything, okay?
FROND: Trust me-
FROND: I got this!








 

It takes way less time to get to the next challenge than the hallway of repeating doors, Stretch's brow furrowing as it comes to a stop.

STRETCH: ...ah.
MINERVA: Well-
MINERVA: I mean-
MINERVA: These are mining tunnels!

 

The carpet cut off right before what appears to be a roller coaster setup- or, maybe one of those smaller theme park rides- on repurposed minecart tracks.

EERIE: Is that-
EERIE: Y'know, safe?
FILIGREE: They do have to pass inspection...
STRETCH: Doesn't stop things like pyrotechnics accidents.

 

It touches the coaster gently with its foot, face blank.
It's thinking, concentrating- something you recognize all too well.

STRETCH: Three carts.
STRETCH: There's not enough space for two of our larger party members to squeeze into one cart, so we'll have to split up.

 

Minerva looks visibly disappointed, Eerie rolling her eyes.

EERIE: I'll take the solo cart.
EERIE: None of y'all want to be up in there with my plates.
STRETCH: ....right.
STRETCH: Fairly obvious from-
FROND: Whoo!

 

You immediately skip over to Stretch's side, giving it a big smile.

It returns a blank stare.

FROND: Just like old times, right?
STRETCH: I-
MINERVA: That means you and I are together, Filigree!

 

Filigree looks less nervous this time, giving Minerva a little smile.

FILIGREE: Hopefully less throwing each other around this time.
MINERVA: Please! It's a little coaster ride.
MINERVA: Surely it'll be fine.
EERIE: Don't jinx it.



 

Stretch looks decidedly nervous as it opens the cart door for you.

STRETCH: ....
STRETCH: Are you
STRETCH: sure
STRETCH: You want to be with me...?
FROND: Course!
FROND: Why not, man?
STRETCH: Y.
STRETCH: You know.
STRETCH: On account of the whole-
FROND: Nah, dude.
FROND: No issue with that.
FROND: All hands inside the ride-

 

You raise your hands up, placing them onto the front bar.

FROND: And away from you.
FROND: Emergencies only.
FROND: Wouldn't want you to freak before the big match.




 

Its lip twitches upwards for a split second, another subtle thing only you pick up on.




It's the closest you're going to get.

STRETCH: ....thank you.
FROND: Anything for you, man!

 

It helps you boost your seat before buckling its seat belt- a standardized cushion lift provided. You get a little thrill out of it, juuust a pinch.

FROND: Check it-
FROND: Same height level!



 

Another lip twitch.

STRETCH: It's the typical procedure.
FROND: Yup- safety first!

 

You go to get your own belt on, noticing something in front of you.

FROND: Dude, look-
FROND: Some kind of panel!

 

Stretch narrows its eyes, looking down at the controls in front of you


Six small, circular lights- five of them lit red.
A simple ball-top lever, with three arrows- left, forward, and right.
A switch labeled "START".

FROND: Huh.
EERIE: Yo, what're these lights?

 

You look over your shoulder, the rest of your party examining identical panels.

STRETCH: ...doesn't make sense.


 

Filigree gets a better look at your own cart.

FILIGREE: Shouldn't you just have them?
FILIGREE: You're in the front cart.
EERIE: Yeah, how the fuck am I supposed to see which way to go?
MINERVA: ....Maybe we should let Stretch drive and see what happens.
STRETCH: Nn.
STRETCH: Sure.
FROND: ...no option to slow down or stop, though.
EERIE: You worried we can't take on a kiddie ride?

 

You manage a big, glowing smile.

FROND: Nah!
FROND: I just don't wanna miss any cool pit stops.




 

Turning back to the console fills you with nerves.

Okay.



Ooookay.

Alrighty.

Just
just let Stretch drive


You can trust it.


You've always believed in it-






You catch it staring at you.

STRETCH: ......
FROND: I'm good!

 

Its brow furrows.

It's not buying it.
That was the only problem with knowing each other so long.


Even with all the time passed...






It could still read you like a book.

FROND: Seriously, man.
FROND: Let's do it!
STRETCH: Then.

 

It flicks the start switch without looking at the panel.

STRETCH: You're helping me drive.

 

Oh, shit.

You manage a real smile at that, not even of your own accord.





You always loved when it got strict with you.





Your cart makes a loud beep, startling the team members behind you.

STRETCH: ....no go.
FROND: Try flipping your start switches!

 

The carts give affirmative beeps, a loudspeaker crackling on.

????: Welcome to the Pewter City Dark Ride.
????: Do your best.
FILIGREE: Do our-

 

The carts lurch to a start, rolling forward.





It's slow at first-



And then the music kicks in.





Tinny melodies, off-key and distorted.

EERIE: Eugh.

 

Minerva makes a displeased hiss.

MINERVA: I- ow....

 

You spy it first.



Doors open in front of you, revealing three more paths.


The left door, marked with bright colors and balloons.
The center, marked with music notes and confetti.
The right, marked with sunshine and clouds.

FROND: All look pretty good to me.
EERIE: What-
EERIE: I can't see-

 

You look back and see the issue- Even with the booster seat, only Minerva can see from the second cart....





....and Eerie couldn't see period due to the huge bat in the way.

EERIE: Your fat fucking a-
MINERVA: I-I would change seats if I could!
STRETCH: shit.
FROND: W-well-
FROND: We can just-
FROND: You can count on us to drive!
MINERVA: The left door seems nice...
EERIE: What left door?!
STRETCH: ....may as well....

 

It pushes the lever to the left.

Nothing but a confirmation beep.

STRETCH: fuck's sake.
FROND: Gonna need y'all to lock in on left!

 

Two beeps, and the left door opens.

The cart starts rolling.




The music continues, shifting into something...else.





Eerie is the first to scream, making you and Stretch slam against your seatbelts as you jump.

EERIE: WHAT THE FUCK
FILIGREE: Wh-
FILIGREE: What is it-?!
EERIE: THERE WAS A SCARY FUCKING FACE
MINERVA: But I didn't see-
EERIE: I'M TELLING YOU THERE-

 

Filigree shrieks next.

FILIGREE: F
FILIGREE: Fire! I saw-
STRETCH: There's nothing there-

 

A large flash pops off to Stretch's side, the electabuzz panicking and scrabbling away. Despite its request for no touching, it's trying to grab you for support-




You support its weight, holding it steady as it catches its breath.



Heaven.

Beautiful, incredible heavenly world where you are here with Stretch and-






Oh, god, you are so fucking nauseous.






Another flash pops behind your head, just outside of your peripherals.
It doesn't phase you at all, sticking with Stretch until it snaps out of it.

FROND: You okay, dude?


 

It realizes you're holding it-




-jerking away with an ashamed look on its face.

STRETCH: I-
FROND: S'alright, man.

 

You wipe some excess drool off your lip.

FROND: Focus on me.
EERIE: WHATEVER YOU TWO ARE DOING UP THERE
EERIE: CAN IT WAIT UNTIL FUCKING GHOULS STOP POPPING UP AT ME
 

The entire track lights up, Stretch squeezing its eyes shut.

FROND: I'll drive, okay-?
FROND: I'll drive!

 

It nods, gripping its knees.




Right.


Okay.


You know-

You know that look.



Okay.




The cart picks up speed, more flashes-




Eerie's right, they're lit up faces. In fact, the whole tunnel seems be focused entirely on these lights-




But judging from the shrieks behind you, they're going off at different intervals



and in ways distinctly set up that none of you see each other's go off.







....now what the fuck does that mean?






Shit.
Stretch would have figured this out.
Think.
Think think think.


Another pops, but you squint through it-

FROND: We got more doors coming up!
MINERVA: W-what are they?!
FROND: I- I'm trying to make it out-
EERIE: FUCK THIS-

 

A beep comes from her cart.

FILIGREE: WHAT WAY DID YOU-?
FROND: Doesn't matter!
FROND: We won't know what's ahead until we see it!
FROND: I'm hitting left again!
EERIE: LEFT IS CLEARLY THE BULLSHIT DOOR

 
 

Door's coming up fast now.

FROND: KIND OF IN A HURRY

 

As you get closer, you realize-




It's the same symbols, but scrambled.

FROND: WE SHOULD REALLY PICK-

 

Another cart beeps, cussing under your breath as you slap it left.





....




The cart goes right, a buzzer going off in each console.

.....and you go right back into the balloon hallway.

Right back with the scary faces.

EERIE: WHY

 

Stretch snaps out of it enough to look up, barely comprehending what's going on.


Shit.

It never did good with bright lights, especially not after what happened.

FROND: H-hey-

 

You don't have a lot of time if this is the same length of track.
A few, short minutes at best.

FROND: Stretch-

 

It looks up at you, eyes watery.

FROND: Close your eyes and count to ten, okay?
FROND: Over and over, until I tell you to stop.
STRETCH: What if-

 

It takes a deep breath, nodding.

STRETCH: O. Okay.
STRETCH: Okay.

 

The electabuzz screws its eyes shut, antennae pressed all the way back.



A lot less heavenly now-


A brief moment of surprise is one thing. That could be cute. Date reaching for you during a scary movie type situation.


But now, now this is business.

FROND: Hey!

 

Filigree's answer is cut off by Minerva shrieking.

FROND: HEY!

 

The party quiets, down to stressed whimpers.

FROND: Lights like this don't bother me!
FROND: Everybody close their eyes, and hit the lever I tell you to!
EERIE: You're crazy-
FROND: I'm the only one who can see ahead!
FILIGREE: W-we should listen-
MINERVA: Seconded!
EERIE: UGH

 

No more protests, your eyes directly focused on the track ahead.

FROND: Everybody got 'em shut tight?
EERIE: JUST TELL US WHEN

 

Closer.
Closer.



Balloon on the left again. Avoiding the fuck out of that.

FROND: Center door, music notes!

 

All three beeps lock in, door swinging wide with time to spare.

An affirmative sound comes out of each console.

FROND: Okay!
FROND: We just need to synchroni-


 

A rattling sounds to your right, and it's your turn to scramble to Stretch's side. Its focus breaks, fumbling at the sudden contact-



-only to get equally startled.

FROND: F-
FROND: Okay, sound is maybe harder for me!
EERIE: Does that means you can't fucking drive?!
FROND: AGH-



 

You love loud music.

You blast the stuff constantly. Get your stereo going and jam out.

It got you in the zone.







Sudden loud sounds are absolutely not the same.

FROND: NNOOOOPE
FROND: I-
FROND: I CAN HEAR, BUT-
FROND: Someone else- FUCKING hell
FROND: Is gonna have to make the big calls!
EERIE: Oh, yeah, easy for you to say!
EERIE: I CAN'T SEE.
MINERVA: I-I can!

 

You sneak a glance back, Minerva outright on the verge of pulling her ears down flat against her head.

MINERVA: BUT IT REALLY HURTS-
FROND: shit
FILIGREE: I-I'm managing-
FILIGREE: Minnie, you point for me and Eerie, I'll call out for Frond and handle our own cart!

 

She nods, focused straight ahead.

You turn back to Stretch, the electabuzz entirely hunkered down.

It takes a light tap to get it to notice you, trembling along with it.

FROND: H-hey man-
FROND: Can I-
FROND: B-block out the sound-?


 

It takes a moment to register before it nods, letting you shove your head against its side.



The thrumming of its body blocks it out,

just like before. Like familiar music in a crowded space.

Something you know, letting you just focus on waiting for the signal.




Close your eyes and count to ten.





Over and over.




It's not so bad when it's just counting to ten.





You feel yourself hack up the thick spit pooling in your mouth, the world spinning less obvious when you let yourself stay glued to him.



One.



Wait for Filigree's voice.



Two.



All that matters is Stretch's pulse and Filigree's signal.



Three.



Everything else can get blocked out.



Four.



Just like before.



Five-

FILIGREE: Minnie says right door!




 

And over just like that.

You push that lever with all you've got.

All three lock in.



Two out of the five lights turn green.

EERIE: Three more to go, right?!
FILIGREE: Looks like it!
FROND: J-just-
FROND: Have to be synchronized!

 

The cartoony sun beckons you in as the door opens.





You're not sure what you expected, honestly.


The heat hits first.
Not enough to burn, but enough to be uncomfortable.


Nothing like the nice fireplace from earlier...

But plenty to make you feel wilty.



The cute weather icons on the side of the tunnel feel mocking, some sort of weather forecast theme.

But-

FROND: S-stretch-
FROND: You can- open your eyes-

 

It snaps them open, taking in the new tunnel.

FROND: S-sounds and lights are gone-
FROND: N. Need you to drive.

 

Between the nausea wracking your body- Stretch looking horrified as it realizes what had happened- and the heat, you have to look downright terrible.

STRETCH: R. Right!

 

It takes a moment to squint, turning back.

STRETCH: Roll call!
STRETCH: Who's not dying?!
MINERVA: T- too-
MINERVA: Bright-

 

Filgree makes a distressed gargle.

STRETCH: shit
STRETCH: Eerie, you holding up?!
EERIE: This ain't shit compared to the other ones!
STRETCH: Great.
STRETCH: You're going to have to help the car in front of you!
EERIE: How the hell am I supposed to do that?!
STRETCH: Minerva!

 

The bat makes a pained whine.

STRETCH: When I yell out something to Eerie, she's gonna push on your back in the direction we need to go!
EERIE: I'm what?!
EERIE: Dude, I can't reach!
STRETCH: Fine! Find some way to make it work!
EERIE: ASSHOLE
STRETCH: JUST DO IT!

 

Its teeth are gritted tight, turning towards the front and panicking as soon as it sees the doors coming up fast.

STRETCH: fuck fuck fuck
STRETCH: Frond-

 

All of the doors are bad. Every single one of them.
Each one of them took out somebody-

FROND: P-pick
FROND: The balloon door-
FROND: And close your eyes-

 

It looks back, breathing in deep.

STRETCH: MIDDLE DOOR!
STRETCH: EVERYBODY CLOSE THEIR EYES!

 

You can hear Minerva let out a sharp "OUCH" as the confirmation beeps lock in.



Victory buzzer.



Your turn at the wheel.

The flashes don't bother you any. You're good. You still want to throw up all over the cart, but this is back under control.

FROND: ALRIGHT!
FROND: Three out of five down!
FROND: We just need to get two more!
FROND: I can drive here- after that, we're gonna pick the sound door again!
FROND: Minnie, you good for that?!
MINERVA: I-
MINERVA: I can certainly try!
FROND: After that-
EERIE: Home free, right?!
FROND: EXACTLY!
FROND: Hang on tight-







FROND: RIGHT LEVER!
 

Ding,
ding,
ding-



-and through, ducking and covering to press against Stretch.



Block it out.

Count to ten.


You can feel Stretch counting too.


Its breath grows more steady.

MINERVA: ONLY ONE DOOR!
MINERVA: GO TO THE MIDDLE!


 

You punch that thing forward.




The beeps are simultaneous now, synchronized as you charge through the final door-





Confetti falling all over the carts as you skid to a stop.









You finally get a good look at the party as you pull away, unbuckling your seatbelt.





Everyone looks trashed.

MINERVA: I-
MINERVA: i will never get on a roller coaster again
FILIGREE: D-dark rides-
FILIGREE: Are kind of different-

 

They get out of the cart and faceplant into the floor.

FILIGREE: ohhhh this is good carpet.

 

Stretch untenses as best as it can, realizing how bad its skin has been crackling.

STRETCH: Shit, Frond-
STRETCH: Are you-

 

You are covered in drool and look sick as a dog.

FROND: Never better!
STRETCH: .....
FROND: We got through it!
FROND: That's what matters, right?

 

It sighs, its shoulders dropping.

STRETCH: Unfortunately
STRETCH: While on live TV.
STRETCH: I-
STRETCH: I never-
FROND: Yeah, well-!
FROND: Look at it this way.
FROND: We made it!
FROND: So many teams are gonna see our footage and think-
FROND: "Heh. Those losers-"
STRETCH: frond.
FROND: And try to be all brave-
STRETCH: fucking
FROND: And they'll SUCK at it!

 

It stops protesting.

FROND: Because we knew what to do!
FROND: You think those other-
FROND: Like, remember those jerks in the next class over?
STRETCH: ...Boris-?
FROND: Yeah, that guy! And the big one!
FROND: They'd be too busy worrying about looking all big and strong and whatever to get the challenge done!

 

It thinks it over-





Before wiping its nose and nodding.

STRETCH: Y. You're right.
STRETCH: Thank you.
FROND: Of course!
FROND: I'm full of good ideas-
FROND: You should trust me more!

 

Its lip twitches.




Now it's back to being cute again.





The rest area is the same as the first, water bottles available in a lovely ice bucket.


You have to resist dunking your head right into it-



-but only until everybody's grabbed their drinks.

FROND: ooooh my god.
EERIE: Thought you said you liked fire.

 

You lift your head up to counter her.

FROND: I like contained heat sources.
FROND: Not full sun.

 

Back in you go.

You swear you can hear her chuckle.

FILIGREE: ....
FILIGREE: Two out of three down.
MINERVA: ....I do hope the third isn't worse....
STRETCH: No promises.
STRETCH: It could go either way.

 

And back up.

FROND: Either we get a cooldown to have us fighting fit for Cleave-
STRETCH: Or they beat us into the ground.
EERIE: My bet's on the latter!
EERIE: These people really are sadism freaks.
FILIGREE: ....still.
FILIGREE: We went through the first challenge- and the fight matched up.
FILIGREE: They're going for thematics.
EERIE: What, constant ass kicking?
FILIGREE: No.
FILIGREE: Caress talked about...knowing our physical limits.
FILIGREE: And to rely on others when we need it.
MINERVA: .....
MINERVA: Senses.
MINERVA: The last challenge-
MINERVA: It overwhelmed us using our senses!
FILIGREE: ...And we could only get through it working together.
STRETCH: ....
STRETCH: Switching-heavy fight, then.

 

Its tail lashes, getting back into focus mode.

STRETCH: Covering each others' weak spots.
STRETCH: Whoever's in there is likely going to try and break us down individually.
EERIE: Then we just tag team and wail on 'em, right?
STRETCH: Easier said than done.
STRETCH: We figured out the synchronization aspect of the challenge quickly.
STRETCH: Actually pulling it off took effort even when we were willing to work together.
MINERVA: Difficulty working through overload....
MINERVA: That's it!

 

Her mouth opens wide, eyes determined.

MINERVA: We need alternate ways to signal each other!
MINERVA: Just like in the tunnels!
EERIE: ....hmph.
EERIE: Not a bad idea.
EERIE: As long as I don't have to throw a pebble at Minerva again.
MINERVA: I would also very much prefer it not be that!
STRETCH: ...okay.
STRETCH: I-
STRETCH: I had the most issues with light and sound, but temperature was fine.
FROND: Light was cool for me, but temp and sound were no good.
MINERVA: I...couldn't handle any of it, but I could still use my eyes with sound and temperature.
EERIE: ....
EERIE: I hated all of it, but the heat didn't bother me at all.
EERIE: Cold wouldn't either.
FILIGREE: Light and temperature. I'm used to noise.
EERIE: Lucky bastard.
FILIGREE: You live next to a quarry, you adjust.
STRETCH: ....right.
STRETCH: Here's what we'll do.










STRETCH: ...

 

It looks up, squinting at the locked elevator door.

STRETCH: Caress opened the last door by now.
STRETCH: HEY

 

It yells at the ceiling, startling Filigree.

STRETCH: WE'RE READY

 

The loudspeaker crackles to life.




The voice that comes through is filtered, and...




...layered.

????: Unlocking elevator.



 

It clicks back off, the lift opening up.

EERIE: ...not too chatty, huh?
MINERVA: Well!
MINERVA: Maybe they're still, nice, or something!
EERIE: Saying that about the gym that wants to beat our asses for fun isn't exactly comforting.











 

Similar to Caress' arena- it's a ballroom, this one far larger than the first.

The walls are lined with empty frames clearly meant to hold paintings, unlit chandeliers hanging overhead, and the battle mat sculpted into square, glossy tiles.

FROND: Where's-





 

Something moves in the darkness.




The shadow that rises up into a standing position is massive, everyone's eyes widening as a pokemon twice Minerva's size comes into view.


A singular chandelier lights, casting a blue glow on its form.



Pure black, the color only piercing through in bright streaks highlighting its silhouette.



Its features are barely distinguishable- its face masked and coated to the point of looking almost formless outside of two side fins and a facial crest.

STRETCH: ...gyrados-
EERIE: how the fuck can you tell
STRETCH: shhhhh-!





????: .......




 

The latex-coated mon looms over your entire team, its posture hunched and completely still.

????: Our designation is GY-935.
GY-935: You are recognized as official gym challengers.
GY-935: Accessing records on gym progress.

 

It stands there, text characters scrolling on a screen visor- far too high up for you to read.

GY-935: Understood.
GY-935: You have cleared the Fun House challenge and subsequent battle with Caress.
GY-935: Congratulations.

 

Light confetti falls onto your team, making Minerva sneeze.

GY-935: You have also cleared our Dark Ride challenge.
GY-934: Congratulations.

 

Again with the confetti, your turn to swat it away.

GY-935: You may proceed with your next task-
GY-935: A battle with service drone GY-935.
GY-935: Present your initial challenger.


 

It stretches, moving to turn a dial on the side of its neck. The ornate frames on the walls light up-

Not full of paintings, but screens with sound equalizers.

GY-935: We advise you choose carefully.



 

You immediately shuffle everyone into a group huddle.

FROND: So!
FROND: This looks-
FROND: Kiiinda tricky!

 

Eerie swallows.

EERIE: This-
EERIE: It's insane.

 

Filigree shakes their head.

FILIGREE: Drone stuff-
FILIGREE: I've heard about it.
FILIGREE: Ranges from an aesthetic, a costume, roleplay, or...
FILIGREE: ....
FILIGREE: If it's willing to go all in on battling while suited up like this, it's probably more than just play.
MINERVA: In what way?
FILIGREE: I've heard of some practical uses for setups like this-
STRETCH: ....hivemind management.
STRETCH: Sensory limitation treatments aren't uncommon for that.
STRETCH: Though this is
STRETCH: Novel.
STRETCH: Application wise.
EERIE: For real?
EERIE: How-
FROND: ....like metagross, right?
FILIGREE: Could be, or it could be way more complicated.
FILIGREE: No way of knowing.
FROND: Our strategy holds up then, right?
FROND: Even if it's got...however many brains in there-
FROND: It still doesn't know our signals!
FROND: We can manage this!
MINERVA: As long as it wasn't listening...
STRETCH: Wouldn't be good sporting if it paid attention to tactics talk.
FROND: Then we've got this!

 

You hold your hand out into the center of the huddle.

EERIE: Dude.
FROND: Cmon!
FROND: For morale!

 

You could have swooned as the feeling of Stretch's barrier reverberates against your hand.

STRETCH: He's right.

 

Minerva swoops in next-




-sandwiching Stretch's hand between the two people tolerating the sensation.

MINERVA: I'm in!

 

Eerie goes to join, only to notice Filigree struggling to reach the stack.

EERIE: For the love of-

 

She extends offers a hand, lifting them up.

EERIE: Up you go.
EERIE: ...this counts as my hand too.
EERIE: It's. Yeah.
FROND: Hell yeah!
FROND: 3, 2, 1-

 

The cheer of "Shooting Stars!" is barely coordinated-






but damn, if it doesn't feel good.

FILIGREE: ...our opponent has those equalizers up on the side.
FILIGREE: Stands to reason that sound's involved...
STRETCH: At least for now.
FILIGREE: I should go.
MINERVA: ...are you sure?

 

They nod, convicted.

FILIGREE: Positive.
EERIE: Isn't it kinda...
EERIE: Big?
FILIGREE: I have an idea.
FILIGREE: Follow my lead, okay?
FILIGREE: Minerva, you're going to look for my signal and let someone better tag in if I need it.
MINERVA: ...what if you're too hurt to fight?
MINERVA: You're the only one who can-
FILIGREE: We'll figure it out, yeah?

 

Minerva nods, her nerves clear.



You hold out your featureless hand to Filigree-



The bellsprout bumping it with a rolled up leaf.









You are now Filigree.


You step up onto the field, feeling anxiety build up as you approach the drone.


It's different than the fear you felt with Minerva earlier that day.
You had been terrified of getting hurt, squished, any manner of horrible, painful things-




But a trip to the center would have fixed you up fine. The main thing at stake was you proving yourself to the team, and to get a proper shot at the gym.





This is different.





No, if this thing steps on you, you're probably just going to die.




So, just gotta follow Stretch's advice-




Focus-



Look for proper escape routes-





And you better not get hit.

GY-935: Are you prepared?
FILIGREE: Y-yes!


 

You straighten your posture up. Ever since you were a little seedling, you'd been taught to stand tall, and even the giants of the world would have to respect you.

GY-935: Combat commencing.


 

Loud, pounding music begins to start up, the bars on the walls reacting in turn. It's enough to make the room shake-



-but it's not sharp, not like the dark ride.


An undercurrent, not the challenge itself.





A backing soundtrack.



You start to move carefully, your root-legs matching the rhythm without you noticing. It doesn't change position at all, a gentle head bob and matching toe tap the only motion in its latex silhouette.

GY-935: Let's dance.

 

There's a piercing whir as the drone's wrists light up, glowing neon strips snaking from its hand up to its shoulder.


Something's charging in its palm, the noise getting louder and louder-

FILIGREE: ohfuck



 

You break into a sprint, barely dodging a shrieking, metallic blast. Even with your resistance to sound-based torment, you can tell for sure-








That is a fucking fast moving sensory nuke.




....




and you're the only one who can properly tank sound.

FILIGREE: REALLY?!

 

Two more shots go off, and you're not sticking around to see what happens when they land. Your roots hurt like hell but you have GOT to get some damage on GY, or even better-




The opportunity presents itself.



Its rigid posture means its heel is completely yours for the slamming, squeezing your eyes shut as you pivot and launch yourself fully at the common weak point.



The drone lets out a garbled shriek, like a yelp run through a corruptive filter.


Something rattles above you as it stumbles, barely audible above the pulsing music.



You don't have time.
You don't have time to analyze what the hell that is-



Its tail narrowly misses you as it tries to turn, forcing you to duck and somersault underneath its legs.


Okay. Weak point detected-






But it's not going to let you do that twice.



You're back at its front, trying to get a handle on the situation.


The drone's body twitches, characters scrambled on its screen.


Even with its difficulty moving, it reaches with a shaky hand-




-turning the dial on its neck.





The floor tiles around GY-935 start lighting up in a ring pattern.


The sound whirs down, fading back into the background.




The light gets brighter.



You back up, waving your leaves in an up and down motion as you feel your eyes starting to burn.




Please, let her remember the signal.

FILIGREE: APRICOT!
FILIGREE: T-TAGGING IN FROND!

 

You start hauling ass, jumping out of the arena and tagging Frond's hand as Minerva slings him into the ring. The gloom, taking advantage of the shifting settings, takes your place.






You are now Frond, and it's your turn to party.









Sound outta the way, no problem!
Besides, Filigree looks like it got the drone all messed up- GY's all glitched out, the lights on the ground flickering.





Firing some swift stars at it is smooth sailing.




More tiles light up, uneven flashing patterns. It doesn't stop you any- you've got way more health to chip down!





No problem at all.
Flashing?
No big deal!

You've been at arcades with more spectacle going on than this-






You land on one of the solo lit tiles.

GY-935: Got you.




 

It turns its neck dial.


One of the pulsing rings hones in on you, a colored tile beginning to spin around your position.




Your eyes widen.

FROND: WRONG CALL



 

The temperature's rising- and fast.

FROND: THAT'S NOT JUST LIGHTS


 

Shit. Shit.

Fuck.




FUCK

You were too cocky.

And now you're trapped without a plan-






The red tile ignites, swirling around you. Any attempt to escape would be stupid and futile, especially with how bad your skin's heating up.

FROND: shitshitshit-!


 

You're not taking all that much damage- not at first.





But with each spin, it's getting worse. You're feeling pretty crispy, and you're only going to take so much...



Spores burst out of the flower on your head, instantly burned by the flames-







A rank smell filling the ballroom.

GY-935: An interesting effort.



 

The tiles speed up.

GY-935: We dislike noxious smells.
GY-935: But-
GY-935: Our suit filters what we cannot withstand.
GY-935: It is a nice try.


 

Your head is swimming, falling to your knees.



Through the ring of fire, you see something strobing.



Pulses, trying to match the openings in the ring.



One left. One right.
Two crackles-
bursts of energy between antennae.




A small smile crosses your face.

FROND: PARASOL!
FROND: I tag in Stretch-!


 

A familiar pink figure blasts through the flame at maximum speed, grabbing you and scooping you up.

FROND: hiiiii
FROND: Y-you remembered-
STRETCH: Brace yourself.



 

You grin, trying not to puke as the room sways from its touch.

FROND: Go for it.




 

It rears back-



-tossing you like a football out of the ring.




You land directly into Minerva's chest, the golbat making a loud "WHOOF" before you bounce back into her wings.

FROND: ouufghggh
MINERVA: oh my god


 

In your bleary vision, you can barely make out Stretch in the ring of flames.
Blue energy crackles across its body, posture hunched.
There it is. There's your hero.
Such a-

FILIGREE: IT HAS TO GET OUT OF THERE!


 

The dial turns.


The drone's arms are lighting back up, whirring piercing everyone's ears.

FROND: Str-!

 

It can't take loud, sudden sounds.
It can't handle it, and-
It threw itself in there for you-!




The fire burns out, tiles receding.



Stretch's eyes widen.



The first blast hits, and then the second. The electabuzz tanks it, barely blown back even when the third hits-



But you can tell.

Low damage or not, it's at its limit.


Completely overstimulated, only able to sway and watch as it turns the dial once more.



None of your team's yelling reaches it.


The tiles light up.

EERIE: Fuck this.
EERIE: Minnie, is throwing shit allowed?
MINERVA: U-um!
FROND: Only...only if it's healing items, I think-
EERIE: Good enough!

 

She scrambles for one of the team's potions. ripping the lid off and slamming it back.

EERIE: HEY STRETCH
 

She baseball pitches it directly into the back of its head.



It staggers, looking back as the ring approaches.

EERIE: TAG ME IN

 

Stretch nods-



-giving a shaky thumbs up.

STRETCH: T. Tractor.
EERIE: NOW we're talking!


 

You are now Eerie.



You've only been at this for a few days, and here you are having to bail out your "team" "captain"'s ass out. Usually this would annoy the fuck out of you-




-but you have some shit to say.



You dash at the glowing ring, grabbing Stretch by the arm, spinning, and sending him flying back towards the rest of the team. Filigree has to scramble to not get hit by the incoming electabuzz, Stretch uselessly bouncing off of the wall.

EERIE: IT'LL BE FINE!
STRETCH: hhfghgh

 

You turn to the drone.


It has its head tilted at you.

GY-935: You carry their weapon.
EERIE: Yeah, and WHAT OF IT?


 

You unsheathe your club, tossing it between your hands as the ring starts spinning.

EERIE: I'm workin' with what I've got!
EERIE: Do I look like I'm with those creeps?!

 

You point a claw back to the exhausted pile of pokemon behind you.

EERIE: These people couldn't kick over a sandcastle without feeling like shit about it, let alone kill a gym leader!
EERIE: Why would I choose to ride with them if I was with Team Osteo?!
FILIGREE: : ..that's....unnecessary....
GY-935: You have a point.
GY-935: But we are not so trusting.

 

The ignition clicks.

EERIE: Sounds like a you problem!

 

You're not as fast as you want to be.


But it's enough when the opponent's standing still.




You've been beat up since the first fight- let alone having your pride bent out of shape.
The dark ride challenge didn't help.
You feel like dogshit-



But you kept your damn eyes peeled, even through the nightmare 935 had been dishing out.



Filigree had the most success in actually hurting it- Frond had managed to get some swift stars in, but that didn't stagger it like a bellsprout hitting its ankles.



And something had jostled in the dark.



A manic grin crosses your face as you skid around its leg, the ring chasing you in an attempt to snag you back in.



The glow lights the area above-




Bingo.



It's not just standing there because of overconfidence, or some kind of obsession with posture- maybe a lil' bit of both, but more than that.



The drone is hooked up to the wall, massive wires attached to its hips, trailing down onto the floor, and obscured by the dark.

EERIE: I got YOU, motherfucker!


 

You jump and swing your club hard enough for one of the wires to detach, a proper glitchy roar bursting out of the drone.






Any irritation or pain the sound causes is completely overcome by how good you feel right now.








Another.



GY clutches at its head, staggering.

EERIE: Get the fuck down.

 

Another.



It crashes to the ground, completely detached. You can hear it breathing heavily inside the suit, numbers and letters all over its screen.

EERIE: Who's looking down on who now?!
EERIE: Next time-


 

You pull the club back.

EERIE: Get your facts STRAIGHT!
EERIE: I don't roll with ANYBODY-


 

The club slams into the side of its face, sending it completely crumpled to the floor.

EERIE: THAT I DON'T WANT TO!
 

The victory buzzer blares.





It's over.

FILIGREE: H-holy shit-
FILIGREE: We did it!
MINERVA: GO EERIE!!

 

You turn back to see the golbat jumping and clapping, Frond managing to hop onto the ring and reach his hand up for a high five.

FROND: You were so awesome!!
EERIE: Eh-
EERIE: S'nothin.
EERIE: Had to make up for that shitshow from earlier.



 

There's a slight cough, a deeply guilty looking electabuzz floating over and rubbing the back of its head.

STRETCH: ...
STRETCH: I owe you one.
EERIE: Don't start with that shit, I don't do debts.
EERIE: ....

 

A small smile creeps in.

EERIE: But I'll take a free burger if you never make me pick you up again.
STRETCH: ....deal.






 

You are now Frond again.



...Stretch seems busy with Eerie. Good.


You know better than to overcrowd it, or to come on too strong.


It usually hated that kind of thing...though you have half a mind to ask Minerva for tips on the whole forwardness-in-a-way-it-likes thing. She has some serious strats going on.


You step over to the drone on the ground, watching it groan and stir.

FROND: ...you good?


 

It nods, moving into a far more casual sitting position.

GY-935: ...it is difficult for us to find challengers....
GY-935: Let alone ones that can fight.
FROND: ....you gonna be okay without, uh-

 

You vaguely gesture to the pile of wires Eerie smacked around.

GY-935: They are durable and meant to be removed.
GY-935: It is just hard for us to return to such a small form-
EERIE: small my ass
GY-935: -after being allowed to exist as such a large, open space.
GY-935: It is like...
GY-935: Being crammed into a tiny car after stretching one's legs.
FROND: Sounds terrible.
GY-935: Mmm....
GY-935: Correct.
GY-935: No matter how maddening-
GY-935: We still have a life to live outside of this ballroom.
GY-935: Even wearing this suit is considered unacceptable if we want to coexist with the surface-
GY-935: The aid provided to us outweighed by its obscenity.
FROND: ....
GY-935: For even this moment-
GY-935: We are allowed to exist as ourselves.
GY-935: We thank you.
FROND: If you can't express yourself in the arena...


 

You grin.

FROND: What's even the point of fighting in the first place?
 

---

Sensorily overloaded and shaken, the team must press forward to the third challenge! What lies ahead...and what other things are Frond hiding...?

 

No suggestions this time, folks- this is a FIVE PARTER! 

Find out next time...on SPACE CASE!