Enter Vigilante Z!

["Z"]

T'was a brilliant afternoon in Featherwing City, with the sun nearly to twilight and the moon poised to light up the coming night sky. It really was what Alex had heard. A huge, bustling city thriving on commerce and its people. All the various townsfolk seemed happy and high spirited. It was as though there was no sign of "The Darkness" anywhere in the city, which was godsend. Yes, everybody looked happy. All except one...

Alex stood on what appeared to be a simple walk path leading to a simple house. This is a lab? Well, even saints can live in huts. He adjusts his shades and walks down to the door. He creates a fist and knocks firmly on the door, and waits while crossing his arms. Waiting patiently, he is anxious to meet the famous Prof. Hawthorne.

[| odysseus]

PROF. HAWTHORNE

Let’s face it; tea could only drive someone to work so late into the night. Even the professor had to rest now then in order to maintain her impeccable beauty every day. She was currently behind her desk, organizing the profile of every Pokémon she had in her care. There was nothing else Professor Hawthorne could stay focused long enough to do. Good thing her laboratory had no heavy machinery or she would have lost an arm by now. A steaming cup was positioned at her right hand, still quite fill, much to Daffodil the Raichu’s shock, who was standing at the side of the desk. She enjoyed staying up with the Professor—it was more natural for her being a mouse Pokémon—so she took advantage of the opportunity to bond with her companion. However there was no conversation transpiring between the two, much to Daffodil’s disappointment. Instead, Maria mumbled, “Oh no, he left a while ago. I’ll miss him. And she’ll have to stay a bit long until she learns that no one else wants to see her bodily functions.”

Her office door then suddenly opened to an assistant on the night-shift, saying, “Professor Hawthorne?” The professor blinked her eyes several times to confirm it was still real life before replying, “Yes?” With a shaky voice he continued, “Um, right, there’s someone at the door.” Absolutely silent, the Professor rose from her desk and made her way to the front door, primping at her hair and rubbing her teeth with a finger before swinging it open. “Wow. You’re out quite late, young man! Please, come in from the cold.” Stepping aside to allow his entrance, she considered that perhaps he wasn’t feeling any sort of cool air through all that clothing. “Would you care for some tea?” Her previous tea settling like thick chocolate in her stomach didn’t even keep her from flinching at such an invitation.

["Z"]

Alexander wandered into the lab before answering, and took his time examining the immediate area. He counted how many employees there were, all the equipment, nothing would escape his hidden glare. After taking a mental note of everything around him, be turned to the professor with a smile.

"Some tea would be nice, madam."

He could use some tea, some energy. He maintained a life in daylight and in night life. But such a life could put him on edge, so maintaining a sense of civility would do wonders. He could tell Hawthorne was struggling to stay awake. Whatever stimulants she spikes her tea with, it was wearing off.

[| odysseus]

PROF. HAWTHORNE

“Splendid.” The professor perked at her new guest’s interest in tea. The occasional tea lover always made her cheery, even when she was dead tired. She gestured the oddly dressed man inside and strode to her desk with a sudden wakefulness. “Please, take a seat! I’m Professor Hawthorne and I will be giving you your starter Pokémon. May I ask what you go by?” The professor made small conversation as a sort of stalling method while she rifled through her desk. Every time she managed to lose that damn list of hers. Later there would have to be a particular drawer built specifically for the purpose of containing the booklet. During Maria’s frantic search Daffodil entered the room, tea in tow. The intelligent mouse Pokémon knew to prepare a new kettle when she heard knocking by now.

After preparing Professor Hawthorne’s table with the kettle and two cups for either human, she filled both and placed a bag of tea neatly beside them. “Thank you, Daffodil,” Hawthorne sang, half acknowledging her Pokémon and half stressing over the amount of time she was wasting. However, just as she was readying to explain each and every starter orally, the Booklet was carried in by Lilac. With a wistful smile the psychic type handed the professor her parcel and exited with no clarification as to where she found it. The professor sighed with relief before handing the patient man the booklet and dipping the tea bag into her steaming cup of tea. “Look through that booklet in order to find the right starter for you. Choes wisely!” She would have to inquire and thank her Gardevoir another time.

["Z"]

He walked to a chair and made himself comfortable. This woman was already excited at the idea of sharing a drink with a perfect stranger. Was she really that into tea? She had asked his name and he waited a moment. What was in a name anyways? Was his real name really that important? There could be trouble if somebody tried tracking him. So he immediately made an alias.

"You can call me Z."

He placed the conglomerate of tea spices into the cup an let it sift. Tea always needed preparation but the wait was always worth it. Such is the benefit of having patience. Suddenly he was given a booklet, a sort of catalog of Pokemon she had in supply. But there was one that caught his eye. The image of Zorua reflects off of his shades. He simply turns the catalog facing the professor and points to Zorua.

"This one."

[| odysseus]

PROF. HAWTHORNE

Completely lost in her tea, Professor Hawthorne had almost missed the young man’s name he gave it so quickly. She did not intend to sound incredulous when she said, “Z? Like…the letter of the alphabet? My. How original.” The professor smiled—albeit feeling a bit bewildered—and took another sip of her steaming cup. Of course he hadn’t been given that name at birth; perhaps he wanted to start anew in Nexivus. Not the one to jump to conclusions or judge others, as Lilac her Gardevoir had a knack of doing; she decided to let it his past be. What better way to have a fresh start than to change your name…even to a single letter? Much to her surprise, Z picked his companion rather quickly. Zorua had just recently come into care, so she did not know much about them or their behavior. As much as she disliked giving away a Pokémon she knew little about, it’s what the man had asked for.

With an unsure grin, Maria exited the office singing, “One moment, please!” Towards the back of her home the professor set to locating the newest Pokémon. Zorua weren’t the only new species to grace her laboratory. Being the awfully unorganized woman that she was, most of the Poké Balls were on the floor in boxes or on shelves which they did not belong. Thank heavens Lavender didn’t travel back here often or she’d throw a fit and go into a coma at the sight of the mess. Taking much longer than per usual to locate her desired Pokemon, she finally snatched up the first and only Zorua Poké Ball she discovered and sprinted back, tripping several instances due to her fatigue. Once again before Z, she straightened her lab coat and daintily handed him the red and white sphere with a trembling hand. “Here you are, Z. I wish you and your new Zorua the best of luck on your journey! I’ll be rooting for you.”

You've received a Zorua!

Male/Female.
Level: Five.
Scratch | Leer | Pursuit | (Egg Move)

["Z"]

"I'm not ready to leave just yet..."

He takes the pokeball and examines it, the subtle red sheen reflecting a distorted image of Z and the area around him. He then stands and aims the pokeball at the ground. It opens and, in the familiar red flash of light, there stood Zorua. T'was a small black fox with red tips in her hair. She looked around in an oblivious fashion, adorably wandering around. Stone, however, wasn't phased by her cute disposition.

"Miss Hawthorne, if I may... The world of Pokemon has taken a turn for the worse, has it not? Tainted Pokemon roam the lands, that much is obvious. But how long do you think this will last?"

This is the point when he uses his wit to absorb as much as he can, and maybe even get more from this visit than expected...

[KITTYWHISKERS]

NEXIVUS LABORATORIES

"I'm not ready to leave yet... Miss Hawthorne, if I may... The world of Pokemon has taken a turn for the worse, has it not? Tainted Pokemon roam the lands, that much is obvious. But how long do you think this will last?"

Hawthorne placed a finger to her lips as she thought. "Ah, yes. It has rather taken a turn for the worse, hasn't it?" She looked down, a dark expression on her face. "We are living through dark times. It won't last forever, I should hope, we've made our way through dark times before. I know several scientists who are working intensely to find out more about this disease." She exchanged an unreadable look with Lilac, who had hovered in and was studying the duo with a warning look. Hawthorne could tell that she felt the visitor had outstayed his welcome, but Maria was too polite to ask the boy to leave, no matter how much she wanted to curl up and sleep.

She barely stifled a yawn and returned to sipping her tea, her mind slowly becoming numb with tiredness. "I can see you're interested in the Darkness, my dear. A word of warning though... It's much more dangerous than it appears, and runs deeper than we'd dare to think." She sighed, suddenly looking much old and more tired than she had for a long time. Lilac cleared her throat, eyes narrowing at the Professor.

{ It is late, Maria. Perhaps you should consider... } Her telepathic voice rang out, her gaze drifting towards the male, hoping he would get the hint to leave.

Maria yawned again, "Perhaps..." She murmured sleepily, looking towards the male, "Did you have any more questions?" Her gaze fell on the bag of items on the floor and she gasped, bending forwards to pick it up and pass it to the boy. "Don't forget those!" She smiled, unaware that there was a pokeball within the bag that wasn't empty.

[/size]

["Z"]

He removes his shades and exposes his grey eyes, giving the professor a stern look, the look of somebody who had lost something dear to him. He lost his mother to the evil Pokemon that roam the land now, and his dark gaze shows a desire to get back.

"I beg your pardon, but I don't need a lecture on the dangers of tainted Pokemon. I do have one more query, however.

He takes the first sip of his tea, rich with flavor from letting the bag sift. This next question may unnerved her, but such a topic was necessary. Zorua came to Alex's side and sat patiently after getting a feel for her surroundings. Z then called her back into her ball, placing the ball into his coat.

"What if there is no cure? What then, would you be prepared to do about the Darkness?"

He takes his bag and waits for he answer to his rather grim question.

[KITTYWHISKERS]

NEXIVUS LABORATORIES

"I beg your pardon, but I don't need a lecture on the dangers of tainted Pokemon. I do have one more query, however." murmured the man and removing his glasses. He looked at Hawthorne with a steely glare and Hawthorne immediately felt uneasy, like she'd said too much.

"What if there is no cure? What then, would you be prepared to do about the Darkness?"

Hawthorne gaped at the man, her hand clutching at her chest. "I-I don't know what you mean." She squeaked, her voice quiet. "I'm very confident that a cure could be found." She whispered, giving scared looks towards Lilac. There was something strange about this man, something dangerous. She had an uneasy feeling that he was willing to take matters into his own hands.

Lilac had obviously sensed something too before she glided forwards hurriedly, frowning.

{ Sir, please, I think it's time for you to leave. } She spoke sternly, opening the door with her telekinesis. Her tone didn't need the threatening hands that glowed a delicate purple to show she was serious.

[/size]

["Z"]

Taking the hint from the psychic bouncer, Z headed towards the door after sipping the last of his tea. He was about to leave, but stopped just short of the door. He put the silver shades back on and made one last statement.

"There is a difference between confidence and false hope. This might not even be a disease. It could be more of a disorder... There is only one way to get rid of a disorder."

With that, he slung the bag over his shoulder and stepped out of the door, while giving what may now be an impossible request.

"Have a good evening, Miss Hawthorne."

[Vigilante Z has left the building.~]