Seventy-Eighth Launch

[infinitejustice]

[Video]

...It's about time I disclosed the results of my investigation.

Professor Elm's laboratory holds nothing of interest -- at least, that I was looking for in particular. All of their devises and projects have to do with Pokémon.

The only place of any interest is "Mom's" house...if only for the fact that it's impossible to enter it. The doors and windows are locked, and the chimney releases gusts of wind to keep people from entering that way. Whoever constructed it made for certain that no one could re-enter once they left.

...I did catch a glimpse of "Mom" herself, though, late at night. She was just...standing there. Expressionless face, just staring at her oven. She didn't move or respond to any noises. She remained that way until sunrise.

[Video; filtered to Pokémon Guardian Corps and Shinn]

I'm done dismantling those bombs. I've discovered a few things, and the most interesting part ins't the materials or level of technology used, it's the amount of experience that shows in each bomb's construction.

Most of the bombs I found were very clearly made by someone who knew what he was doing...and then some. The construction and mechanics were so complex that I'd almost call them needlessly complex. Whoever made them is either genius beyond even my level, or a complete nutcase.

However, there were a few other bombs that were far simpler and more, well. Crude. Judging by how those were made, I'd say whomever made them was experienced with the effects of explosions, but not the fine details of an explosive device. So I'd say we're dealing with two people who specialize in...well, not necessarily explosives, but definitely explosions.

[Video; Filtered to Squad 5, Lacus, Shinn, Maria, and Yayoi]

I'm leaving Goldenrod City. I have business to take care of in Kanto, so I'll be taking the train to Saffron City as soon as I can. Be careful, all right?

[Action; Goldenrod City]

[Athrun's hanging out at the house. He's waiting for Miki to return.]

[[OoC: New Bark Town info approved by mods. Bomb info approved by Dal.]]

Comments

action; placeholder cause i need to sleep xD

[honeygatherer]

[ Miki doesn't travel too much in Goldenrod City. There's really not a whole lot to do save for what looks to be the setup for a festival, so she spent most of the morning visiting shops. Don't worry, she's not carrying any bags for once. ]

Hello--!! [ With an enthusiastic wave, she bounces up towards him. ] Did Miki's eggies hatch yet?

[ Because that's totally Athrun's responsibility now. ]

[infinitejustice]

Oh, there you -- uh.

[Caught off guard...]

Er...no. I mean, I don't know, I haven't been watching them.

[honeygatherer]

That's not very responsible of you, Athrun-kun. [ Nor is it for her to leave them alone, but who's counting? ] If you were looking for Miki, then you should have called Miki's PokeGear!

[Video]

[babel_hacker]

Eerie. Only further proofs that "Mom" is not human. If she's human, probably someone severely brainwashed.

[Video]

[infinitejustice]

I'm certain she isn't human. I think she's an android of some sort.

[Video]

[babel_hacker]

A close examination of her would be better and useful. But that means actually getting inside and getting her. The anti-trespassing defences you mentioned would get in the way.

[video - private]

[sculpted]

How complex were the bombs, Mr Zala?

[[Because this doesn't sound very good!]]

[video - private]

[infinitejustice]

That depended on the maker. One maker made bombs that were very straightforward. Simple, but effective -- if left to detonate. I had no trouble whatsoever dismantling them.

The other, though...the other bombs were highly complex. Whoever made them is a master at electronics design. Dismantling them ended up being more tricky than I expected.

[ video; piggyback filtered ]

[uuing]

[ She doesn't really get what the first part is about - Maria listens, but even so she hardly understands it, so instead she blinks and finds a part that's filtered to her too. ]

... Uu-.. Athrun is leaving? [ There's something slightly pouty in her voice. ]

[ video; piggyback filtered ]

[infinitejustice]

Don't worry, it's only for a little while. I should be back relatively soon.

not here. || THIRD TIME'S THE CHARM

[licentious]

[ Yeah. Lust joined this group. Why? Because she wants more people to backstab. Sort of. It's a long story that basically involves her wanting to synthesize as much information as humanly possible. But, she needs Team Rocket's success with this. There's no plan for a counter attack, nor is there a plan for spying. If it's just a basic foil, then there's no point to it.

She can almost instantly deduce the description given by Athrun and definitely hides any impulse to chuckle. Kimblee was certainly skilled with explosives - that's why he was enlisted in Ishval. He can massacre people like no one can. But, was he skilled with explosives? Most likely not without alchemy. It's this piece of information that has her hinged on the true culprit, but, she won't state it now. She could be wrong after all. But, until then, she just has one thought: Kimblee, shine on you crazy mofo. ]

[Audio; PGC Filter]

[soggypastry]

[Two people who know how to fashion explosives in a world that shouldn't have that kind of thing...who are they dealing with?]

Were you able to tell what would have caused the explosions if those bombs had gone off like the others? It might help us track down where Team Rocket is hiding out now.

[Audio; PGC Filter]

[infinitejustice]

Unfortunately, I think it'll take more than that. Some explosives, like gunpowder and nitroglycerin, have materials that can be found in just about any pharmacy or chem lab.

[video]

[enjoymyatelier]

[...now, this was interesting. He hadn't actually thought of going back to investigate, although it should have occurred to him. Everything seemed to indicate that going forward was the solution, though, so...]

...Is that really the case, then? I thought that woman seemed bizarre, but I wasn't aware of how bad it really was.

[video]

[infinitejustice]

I'm afraid so. I think it's a safe bet that she's an artificial construct of some sort...but of what kind, I have to admit that I have no idea.

Video

[meatysoviet]

[Doctor Elm's lab is full of experiments... On Pokémon.

That sounds like a good thing to steal if you ask him, but he'll keep that to himself.]

... That does not sound like that successful an investigation.

You are sure Elm's experiments [whoever that is] are safe for monsters involved?

Video

[infinitejustice]

No, I'm afraid it wasn't.

Oh, don't worry. Prof. Elm and his assistants were very happy to talk about their projects. They're all safe.

[voice]

[justicereigns]

Well... that's disturbing. Not that it wasn't already.

[voice]

[infinitejustice]

No kidding. It feels like the more we know about "Mom," the more unsettling she gets.

[video]

[jumyouboshi]

A human with her freedom taken away, or a tool.

[How unfortunate. He never did like humans having their free will taken away from them, which was probably what irked him about some of the NPCs too.]

[video]

[infinitejustice]

My guess is the latter. Unfortunately, a guess is all it is.

[video - private]

[ex_aeroga402]

So there's more than one person making things like that...

[video - private]

[infinitejustice]

I'm afraid so. I wouldn't be surprised if Team Rocket has an entire team of personnel dedicated to making explosives and other, similarly dangerous devices.

video; private

[thewhite_symphony]

I see ... so you are leaving again?

I will be fine fine here in Goldenrod. Don't worry. I don't take unnecessary risks anymore.

But you should be careful too, okay? If you don't mind my asking ... what business is this?

video; private

[infinitejustice]

For now. I want to start collecting gym badges from the Kanto region. It's better than sitting here and doing nothing.

...Additionally, I'm suspicious. I don't expect Team Rocket to contain themselves to Johto. They haven't done anything in Kanto yet, and that concerns me.