A gathering of the minds (for chiron_survivor

[youmeandpokemon]

Professor Madrone is deep in the Nexus Wilds this afternoon, tending to the different Pokemon who sleep and live the dark forest. Ekans slink from the trees, while a pack of Nuzleaf guard the forest from intruders. Madrone is checking up on a Shifty, who suffered a small injury after a surprise tussle with a fire Pokemon, treating the grass Pokemon with an assortment of potions and healing supplies. Ironically, Gengar has decided to accompany him, feeling a kindred bond with other Pokemon of the night.

"You should be back to your normal strength now. Don't hesitate to send Nuzleaf to my home if you need any addition assistance."

"Shift..." The Pokemon seems grateful at the assistance, bowing politely to Madrone, before jumping up into the treetops. Gengar continues playing with the Seedot and Nuzleaf, until Madrone feels his PINpoint buzz in his pocket. Removing it, he reads Adia's frantic message about meeting with Marie, and the weight of the world can be felt on his shoulders. He's been monitoring different places since Adia went back in via to repair the past, which was corrupted by a god of chaos. Madrone never likes the idea, let alone that it meant Jeff would come back to life. Yes, it saved hundreds of other lives, but that man didn't deserve a second chance.

Gengar gives the Professor a confused look, then pokes him on the shoulder. What's up doc?

"We must go back to the lab. Adia is visiting." Gengar doesn't seem displeased by this idea, grabbing a hold of Madrone's shirt, allowing them to be PINpointed directly inside the lab. There, Madrone waits for Adia, fully prepared to break the news of his research to her...

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[chiron_survivor]

"Professor...!" But it's too late, the older man is already gone. She sighs and slumps against the back of her chair in defeat. This isn't the first time she's had this sort of conversation -- about Caspar, usually, or Cylons in general. She just didn't expect pushback from Madrone, of all people.

Obviously something she said triggered an old wound. But what? Why was the destruction of that lab especially traumatic?

She gives the two pokémon a small smile when they come over, but it's tinged with concern. How much of that conversation did Gengar overhear? She gets her answer when he beckons her to Madrone's open desk. "It's very impolite to snoop," she informs the ghost in a hushed voice. Then again, if she can figure out what's truly bothering Madrone, she can make a better case for Jeff's reformation without upsetting him further...

"Keep an eye out for the Professor and you can have two cookies." She'll wait for Gengar to float to his post before having a proper look in the drawer.

[youmeandpokemon]

Gengar would normally barter a bit harder, but seeing Adia needing answers quickly, he gives her a quick salute, then flies over to the window, standing watch. Inside the drawer is the source of Madrone's grief and anger...

There's a photo of Madrone, wearing a Hawaiian shirt, standing next to a smaller woman who's in a sundress. They both look very happy together, in a tight sideways hug. Flipping the picture over reveals a date and name: Jenna and William. Summer of 2016. Next to the photo is a box, which contains a silver sterling wedding band, presumably Madrone's. The final piece of the puzzle is a small card for a memorial service, kept hidden behind the photo. It's for Professor Madrone's wife. Her face look up at Adia with hope and courage, and based on the date from the picture, she died only a few days apart.

[chiron_survivor]

She looks at the photo first. It reminds her of photos she has of her and Caspar, the way they always have an arm around one another. They look so happy together... The box is next, peeking into it just enough for her to spot the ring. Is the mystery woman his wife? How come he never mentioned that he was married?

The answer is on the other side of the photo. She lets out a soft gasp as her curiosity turns to dread. Madrone is a widower. A recent one, it appears, as he looks no younger in the picture.

She stares at Jenna's image on the memorial card. She had a vague feeling that the Professor has suffered some sort of loss. How tragic to lose his wife. Is that why he was so adamant about Jeff not getting a second chance? Because --

Oh. Oh, no. She has a sudden, terrible idea of how his wife might have died, and why he's so particularly unforgiving of Jeff, even with the timeline reset.

With a heavy heart, she shuts the drawer, then walks over to the table and picks up the box of cookies. She offers them to Gengar. "Did you know?" she asks him. "Did you look in the drawer, too?"

[youmeandpokemon]

Gengar shakes his head no, but he points to Madrone's picture, then the desk chair, implying that the Professor has been spending some time mulling over his wife. With a set of shadowy claws, he reaches for the box of cookies. Gengar looks to the window next, then points at Adia, implying that she should go after him.

[chiron_survivor]

She looks back towards the Professor's desk as well. The damage brought upon the revelry must have stirred up some terrible memories. "I wish I'd known before I came over here," she says with a sigh. "I wouldn't have bothered him with my own problems."

So it's a surprise that the ghost thinks she should go after Madrone. She bites her lip and looks out the window. "Are you sure? I don't want to make him more upset."

Then again, leaving him alone with his brooding thoughts seems like a bad idea, too. Hasn't he already been alone for too long?

She hands over the box to Gengar, then gently ruffles the pokémon's spiky fur on the top of his head. "Thanks, friend," she says with a warm smile, before exiting the lab and following the same lakeside trail that the Professor took a few minutes earlier.

[youmeandpokemon]

Yes. Yes, you should go Adia and not because he wants all these glorious cookies, but because Gengar knows that Adia can help, just like she did in the cavern with him. Except there's no Pokepuffs to eat...The ghost smiles at the pettings, then floats away with the cookie box, intending on sharing it with the other Ghost and Dark Pokemon in the area. And maybe taking an extra one for himself.

The pathway is full of life, different Pokemon can be heard chirping in the distance. Adia should recognize the path, since it's the one that leads to the Magikarp lake. Sitting at the edge of the water is Professor Madrone, looking out at the different Water Pokemon swimming in the lake and waterfall basin. He has a painful expression on his face, causing him to not ever notice Adia standing there.

[chiron_survivor]

Adia remembers the path easily. Had she walked it only a few months ago? Even during the end of winter, it was full of life. The summer is no different. She makes her way to the edge of the water to stand by Madrone's side. The pain on his face is obvious, and she looks away after a moment's glance, not wanting to intrude on his private thoughts just yet. Instead, she takes a seat on the grassy ground, her gaze on a family of Duckletts that are paddling their way across the lake.

"There are no lakes on Atlantis," she says quietly, finally breaking the silence. "There's a river and a few fresh water springs, but nothing like this." She pauses, then adds, "But I've seen plenty of destruction. In the Nexus, in space... and in the Twelve Colonies, which I used to call home. All brought about because of hate and revenge."

[youmeandpokemon]

Madrone has his eyes of a group of Magikarp, who're attempting to swim around the lake bed. Something about seeing them struggle, yet stay persistent is fascinating and that's enough to distract him from getting mad at Adia's arrival. Honestly, he has no reason to be upset with her, but the situations they seem to find themselves in.

"Sometimes I wonder if people can only destroy the world around them, instead of respecting it. Or learning to work together." He sighs, idly playing with a rock in his hand. "The Nexus is full of potential and chaos alike...Jeff stole that journal and it ended up having the coordinates to someplace powerful. The answer was always staring me in the face, yet he found it first."

[chiron_survivor]

She listens silently, her soft gaze turning towards the Professor instead of the lake. No wonder he had asked Caspar for the coordinates. It must have been doubly frustrating to know that Jeff succeeded where he had failed -- and had been given a second chance on top of that.

"I would have asked Arceus on your behalf," she says sincerely. "But I didn't know. I... I don't think that was an option, anyway."

What would she have given, when she thought Caspar gone forever, to bring him back? To bring her parents back, or anyone else she lost during the War?

It wasn't the place. Or the time.

"I'm so sorry." She brushes the corners of her eyes. "For what it's worth, I've always thought of you as respecting the world more than most. I wouldn't be as confident with pokémon as I am today without your help."

[youmeandpokemon]

"Don't worry about that. I'm rather upset that my wife's research was taken without warning, but the fact that she was so close to discovering Legendary Pokemon is what hurts. We met in college years ago, bonding over our love for Pokemon and research. She was dedicated and passionate, always inspiring me to keep working on even the darkest of days."

Madrone places the rock back down on the soft soil, his anger slightly subsiding. "You shouldn't think about what could've been changed, Adia. Having experienced everything, you and Caspar should settle down and put this behind you as best as possible. As for the rest of us, we'll manage somehow."

[chiron_survivor]

"She sounds like a remarkable woman." His story reminds her of her parents -- they met in college, too, and her mother's passion and outgoing nature was what helped her father keep pursuing his dreams. She's quietly impressed that the Professor has managed to carry on without her. "How did you meet in college? Did you share a class? Was it a party?"

A pause, and then she adds softly, "If you don't want to talk about her, that's okay, too. But I'm always willing listen."

There's a loud splash on the lake. Her gaze is drawn to it automatically, but it's only a Magikarp leaping out of the water and bellyflopping back into it. The sight puts a small smile on her face. "Don't worry about me, Professor. I'll be fine. I have Caspar to look out for me." And, she supposes, the power of the Moon. "But let me know if you hear any more news, okay?"

[youmeandpokemon]

"Colleges in the Pokemon world are harder to get into, since the standards for becoming a Professor are much harsher than you might think. We shared a few classes together, but also studied together as well. She was always researching Legendary Pokemon, while I preferred to understand Pokemon habitats." He smiles, watching the silly Magikarp jump up and down out of the water. A school of Wooper are now at the edge of the pond, happily smiling between themselves.

"Of course. To both of your statements, Adia." It seems like whatever barrier Madrone had up is slowly being torn down. "Do you understand now why I can't forgive either of them? Because human ignorance killed my wife and no justice has come of it yet. Marie and Jeff can get away with hurting people without punishment, which makes them no better than Lusamine."

[chiron_survivor]

It's easy to imagine a younger, studious Madrone spending time with Jenna in a library or on a college quad. "You must have made quite the team," she says, smiling softly

His question causes her smile to fade, out of respect for his loss, and as a sign that she takes his words seriously. "I understand." She doesn't agree with it, but she understands. If Caspar had died a second time, maybe she wouldn't have been so forgiving, either. "But I hope you understand why I do forgive them..."

She trails off as a thought strikes her. "Professor... did Caspar ever tell you about how he and I met?"

[youmeandpokemon]

"We did. Both of us graduated at the highest honors for our class. By this point, we were already dating, so a few years later, we ended up marrying." Madrone waves to the Wooper squad, who waddle over with their derpy faces and tails dragging against the mud and ground. They act almost like the Solosis, being overly chipper and wanting attention from the humans.

"There's no point in me fighting it...The Nexus will only believe the timeline that's currently present, not what happened in the past." He rests his hand on top of a Wooper's head, petting a slightly-sticky Pokemon calmly. "He didn't tell me, actually."

[chiron_survivor]

It isn't the most romantic story she's ever heard, but a marriage doesn't have to be filled with bells and whistles to be a loving one. Her gentle smile returns, especially when the Wooper amble over. She waves to them, too. Funny how so many pokémon, even wild ones, crave human attention.

She looks a little relieved when he comes to his timeline conclusion. It's more of a loophole in terms of not openly harassing Jeff and Marie, but it's something. She'll likely use the same argument when she discusses this with Caspar. "Arceus said that those of a strong mind would retain their memories of the former timeline," she reminds him. That's kind of a compliment, isn't it?

"I'm surprised that it hasn't come up..." She hesitates a moment, unsure of how much to reveal. This isn't her story to share alone anymore. "Caspar and I met on board a spaceship -- a research vessel called the Chiron. About a week after I started my research there, I was having trouble with a lab procedure and I asked him for help. We became friends very quickly after that, and after about three months, he finally worked up the nerve to ask me out."

Her smile turns bittersweet as she continues. "A week later war broke out in the Twelve Colonies, and we were unfortunately on opposite sides of it. Our people had oppressed his people -- we had treated them like slaves, like... like they didn't have emotions, or conscious thought. So in retaliation, his people committed genocide against ours. And so it went on for over three years, a vicious back and forth of fighting and bloodshed, until finally, we found our new home on Atlantis and forged real peace between our peoples."

She pauses again, taking a shaky breath and meeting Madrone's gaze. "If... I wasn't willing to forgive. If so many of both our people weren't willing to forgive, we'd still be at war." She shrugs. "But that's just me. I wouldn't ask someone to make the same decisions that I have. I just want you to understand where I'm coming from, too."\

[youmeandpokemon]

"I guess we'll have to see how those who retained their memories handle seeing Jeff in the Nexus. Some may not be as understanding as we have been..." Madrone likes the shift off Jeff and his life, even if Adia's history is littered with war and violence. He listens intently and even some of the Wooper stay close to their side of the pond, instead of playing with the other Pokemon.

"The difference between two people and war is vast. Not being able to understand each other often leads to conflict. I highly doubt I could let go of my feelings towards one woman and her company, especially since the study of Ultra Space has yet to stop. However, the fact that your society could change for the better gives me hope about humanity." He looks down at a Wooper, who tilts his oval-shaped head back at the two people.

"I want people and Pokemon to live freely and peacefully."

[chiron_survivor]

It's clear that hadn't occurred to her, and she spends a few seconds thinking about how others might react:

Caspar is already on her mind. She's already mentally preparing what to tell him, preferably while he has Anastasia in his lap so he can't get too rankled about it. Harley will probably be willing to give Jeff another chance. Katsuya will be a much harder sell, although he never met Jeff personally. And Joshua...

Her expression crumbles slightly. It'd be too much to hope for that Josh has forgotten his time spent with Jeff. He wouldn't still be out there in the Nexus somewhere, unfindable. Oh, Josh...

She shakes her head, coming back to herself and the conversation. The fact that she has restored some of Madrone's hope brings a shy smile to her face, one that she shares with the Wooper. "Humans and Cylons," she adds quietly. "Caspar and his people are Cylons. If we can get along, I don't see why people and pokémon can't."

[youmeandpokemon]

"I hope so. I've noticed different team members are slinking around the Nexus, specifically the once defunct Team Rocket and Team Skull. If they're impostors in the Nexus, I'd feel better about it, but I don't like the idea of those teams causing troubling." Madrone knows that, for now, he can try to stop those groups from causing problems. Once day, he'll avenge Jenna and stop the Ultra Wormhole project...

For now, the skies are getting a little darker, which isn't bothering the Water Pokemon, but there's clearly some sort of small storm rolling in. Hmmm. Madrone stands, offering Adia his hand.

"I suspect a flock of Pelipper are on the way. We should probably head back to the lab, since their Drizzle ability will leave us in a downpour if we stay here."

[chiron_survivor]

"Team Skull... they're the ones with the skull beanies?" She'd never say a harsh word about anyone, but her nose does wrinkle a little when both gangs are mentioned. Louis has complained about them loitering in the alley behind his store on occasion, but they don't do anything more than that. Not lately, anyway.

When Madrone offers his hand, Adia gratefully accepts, glad that their difficult conversation has some to an end, at least for now. She laughs a little at the mention of the Pelipper. How a seagull evolves into a pelican is still a mystery to her, but she has a fondness for them all the same. "Yes, I'd rather not get rained on, thank you. Let's head back."