What the Hec, Tec?! [Event]

(Energy: 22 - 0 (entry cost negated by current mini-event) = 22)

Trot, trot, trot...

"Why the hell do I have to do this? It is not like I told him to go or anything. I only said I wanted that TM, not for him to go find it. Does he not comprehend basic language? And even if he does not, how am I expected to know when you people do not tell me? I just got here, and..."

The sounds of a fuming Girafarig going on and on provided the grasslands of Everspring Vale with an only slightly less monotonous soundscape than his running hooves squashing innocent, light-deprived grass patches did. His questions were, however, mostly genuine. Truthfully, Damien knew very little about the other members of the organization he had joined so very recently- and that ignorance had only landed him a glorified babysitting job so far. Did they put all their newest recruits through this every time someone ran off? Of course they'd have deserters if it was like that.

"You are still following, are you not, Pyralis?"

Ah, but at least it was easy to get lackeys for the mission. He did not bother turning around to look at the Vulpix he had brought. Her kind would respond when spoken to, were he right about the scout's nature. So it was not necessary, and left him more time to look for their lost block bird thing. Truly handy.

Their newest member was certainly unique, wasn't he? Oh, wait. Damien wasn't the newest member any more. Still, her point stood, the Girafarig was rather bold compared to the pokemon she was used to. It was an odd change of pace, and Robin wasn't quite sure how she felt about it. Regardless, she had agreed that it wasn't entirely fair to send Damien out on his own to retrieve Tec, and somehow managed to get herself dragged into this mess as well.

She hadn't been aware of the little Porygon's... nature, she had only met Tec in passing before he suddenly vanished into the Vale. "Right here, Damien." She chirped in response before falling silent, humoring the Girafarig's ramblings. Truth be told, she had toned most of his rant out. Hopefully he wasn't expecting a very in-depth answer.

"Tec is rather new himself. We... didn't know he would react like this." She offered apologetically. The... bird? Was he a bird? Robin couldn't quite tell. He was harmless, if a bit on the eccentric side. This time, his eccentricities had led him to a mystery dungeon. Normally this would be fine, except that this dungeon had a rampaging titan in it. With any luck, they'd be able to catch up to their missing scout before he got into any actual trouble. ... Robin had to admit, she was a little worried about Tec. "He's only trying to help, I promise."

Her voice was a rather soft as she spoke, idly scratching at the ground before she snapped back to attention, trotting after Damien. She'd probably only get herself in trouble, trying to convince Damien not to be angry at Tec - but at least the Porygon didn't quite seem to grasp the concept of 'anger', anyways. Was that a silver lining?

Robin's Energy: 25
Tec's Energy: 19

An aggravated sigh escaped Damien like steam from the bubbling geysers around them."He can help by taking a grammar lesson. We have books for that, do we not?" he bit back, accompanied by an actual bite motion performed by his tail, thankfully only directed at the air. Once they caught that creature he would teach him the true imperative form himself, he had decided. How could one even go on making mixups like these?

"I feel like this is the sort of thing you should try to check for when you get applicants for your organization. Basic ability to interact and comprehend what you are told, then behave logically. Perhaps I should have a word with the Mothim, actually." By now, he was mostly talking to himself, seemingly making mental notes for later. He figured spotting Tec would be fairly easy once they got close; most of the Vale was not bright pink and blue, after all. Such obnoxiously saturated shades would be visible even with the dark skies muting colours the way it did. His eyes would pick up on that so long he kept them on the trees and bushes. Perhaps he would call a couple times later, too. If Tec would react to his own name being spoken, of course.

The only reason he held back was the increasing density of vegetation as they moved farther into the Vale. The real issue with the darkness and trees was not finding Tec. While he doubted it could hide their target and the ginormous behemoth hanging out in the dungeon somewhere, it could surely hide other pokémon capable of slowing them down and making Damien's day even more irritating. And though they were not named Tec, he suspected some would gladly come over if you called that.

Robin flinched back as the Girafarig's tail took a chomp out of the air. It wasn't aimed in her direction, but she was grateful she hadn't been standing any closer. Those teeth looked sharp. Ah, Damien was still talking. He didn't seem especially happy, either. Robin shifted awkwardly. She didn't want to insult the Porygon, but Damien was rather intimidating. Was she supposed to answer? He quite liked the sound of his own voice, from what she'd gathered so far.

No, she shouldn't be judging one of her colleagues so harshly, she chided herself. The pinprick of guilt was alive and well, but at least the dark clouds gathering over the Vale weren't her fault this time. It would be nice to get back home soon... "Sorry." She offered, unsure as to what else might be safe to say. She hadn't approved Tec herself, so she didn't really have anything to apologize for, but she was the nearest person around to blame.

"I'll work on teaching him to read when we get him back." She assured the Girafarig, clearing her throat. Perhaps she should tell Tec to stay out of Damien's way, for his own sake, as well. ... oh, she'd just spilled that the Porygon didn't know how to read yet, hadn't she. That definitely wasn't going to improve Damien's opinion of the poor bird.

Silence ensued for a few moments after Robin spoke, save for the ever so present ruckus of running. It was first after the duo had cleared a couple more meters of the dungeon's wide grounds that Damien slowly craned his neck around to give Robin a scowl of disbelief.

"... He cannot do that either?" His tone was less coarse now, yet cold scorn audibly lurked just beneath the surface. At this point he figured he should not be surprised, but his disappointment grew nonetheless. "He cannot possibly be of use to Windrose this way, can he? Is he even aware we are to publish written reports?" Sure, Damien himself had joined the organization for reasons that were less than altruistic, but even he had plans to make some use of himself. And even if Tec by some miracle could write but not read, being in an organization that was so fundamentally about written documentation just seemed impractical. How would he learn about their other discoveries? By asking around? The thought made him want to invest in a good lock for his room.

Their surroundings would soon brighten again as the lush green roof above them thinned out and they got closer to what appeared to be a clearing, although the ground near it seemed more cluttered than the rest of the dungeon did, with several fallen branches clearly visible even at a distance. If you happened to be facing forward, that was.

Scypho carried out 10 launched of one Everspring Vale :

, , , , , , , , ,

... was Tec aware that they wrote reports? "I'm... not sure." She admitted meekly, though not without a hint of genuine confusion. She had to think about that one. She didn't want to start disagreeing now. She could sense something sharp and cold under the Girafarig's tone, and she was at least smart enough to keep her head down. She trotted forward, clearing her throat. "I'll make sure he doesn't bother you while he's learning the ropes!" She added hastily. Learning the ropes of the organization, sure, but also, apparently, how to be a pokemon...

Sure enough, it was a simple task to spot the little bird once they arrived in the clearing. He was certainly a unique looking pokemon, Robin mused. All sharp angles and bright colors, oddly stilted movements, the way he hovered off the ground. He looked more like a set of children's block toys than a pokemon. Instantly she felt guilty for the thought, silently sending an apology to the Porygon.

Not that he really would have been offended, from her suspicions. Still, it wasn't his fault that he was a bit... naive.

The Porygon had gotten distracted from his mission by a disc half-buried in the ground, poking it occasionally with his beak. He circled around it, hovering in place as he tilted his head. Was this the TM that Damien had been searching for? He was unsure. He wasn't sure how to tell these discs apart from each other, really.

But in a stroke of good fortune, the Girafarig had conveniently arrived here himself. Tec looked up at him expectantly, beginning in a dull monotone. "Hello. Hello." He did remember to say 'hello'. That was what you said upon encountering a pokemon, and here he had encountered two, so the Porygon said it twice. "Is this the TM you were searching for?"

Robin's rolls:

Venusian carried out 10 launched of one Everspring Vale :

, , , , , , , , ,

Tec's rolls:

Venusian carried out 10 launched of one Everspring Vale :

, , , , , , , , ,

(Energy = Yeah, he's not tanking that. 0)

Damien gave an expecting nod to Robin's vow to keep Tec away. She seemed to be good at reading others, having discerned that he felt that way without being told. That could be both useful and worrisome, but he would think more about that later. For now, finding Tec and getting back to his make-shift room lab as quickly as possible held priority. This was an expansive dungeon, but surely they had covered most of what was easily accessible from the entrance by now? If he was not around here, where could he have-

Aaand there he was. Soon after turning his face back front, Damien spotted the glaring colours he had committed to memory with such fury earlier. He abruptly stopped, his feelings clearly displayed on his long face. The wrecked trees and upturned soil farther into the clearing was paid only a passing thought in favour of what he had on his mind for his fellow scout. "Tec, there you are! You dunce, have you any idea what you have done? I had to come all the way out here because you left. Do you not think I have more important business to attend to? The others would not leave me be because of you, and-" The polygon creature's last question seemed to register with him partway into the rant as his eyes fell on the disc he spoke of. Damien went silent for a second, registering its colouration and numbering as his expression grew more dumb-founded. TM Nature Power, in all its half-buried glory. The exact subject of his future research project. "... How did you find that so easily?"

Robin trotted after Damien, quietly hoping he wouldn't be too harsh on the Porygon. Fortunately, Tec merely tilted his head as he processed all the statements and questions. A dunce was someone who lacked intelligence. Intelligence was hard to define. Tec was incredibly good at some things and hopelessly out of his depth in others - did the things he was good at count less? He filed that down as fact.

Observation: I am a dunce. That was not good. He had only been attempting to follow orders. The Porygon paused as he took in the rest of the message. Do you not think I have more important business to attend to? "No. I do not." Tec answered, obliviously. "Were you not going to arrive in this mystery dungeon regardless?" Why was he complaining about coming here when he had presumably planned to come here anyways? Tec was confused.

And Robin was mortified, her eyes widening as she prepared for the incoming storm. Oh gods, help her, this was going to be a long day. The ground had the faintest vibration underfoot, and Robin shifted her paws nervously, her voice quiet as she tried to interject.

"H-hey, Damien?"

"I am good at finding things. That was how I located this Technical Machine." Tec answered, and if Robin was going to assign an emotion to the robot, it would have been pride.

"Guys, I think we have a problem...?

Tec & Robin: No Energy Squad

Damien's brows only crept farther down as the machine replied. Of course he wouldn't understand a rhetorical question if he couldn't even discern whether he was being commanded or not. The fact that Damien now had a broader scope on just how mechanical and awkward Tec's comprehension skills were didn't help ease the anger, though. It had simply gone from the kind of annoyance one would feel when dealing with an idiot to the kind caused by technology refusing to work properly. Talking to him felt quite like wrestling a stuck door handle, now that he thought about it.

Robin was speaking, he came to notice. However, he only paid half attention in favour of thinking of what to tell Tec, and elected not to answer the Vulpix. He was going to come here in the end, yes. But it wouldn't have been without a proper plan of procedure, equipment and rations. Did the robot really believe his way of searching was to simply waltz in one day and hope to bump into the TM? "I was going to come here, naturally, but not without... Oh, nevermind," he concluded with a sigh. No matter what he said, he had a lingering feeling it was going to be misinterpreted in some way. They would only be stuck here for longer. "At least you located it without falling into any major peril."

He only realized how much of a jinx that was when he caught on to what Robin said the second time she tried for their attention. Without saying anything more, he turned to look at her, then into the clearing, this time noticing the ravaged land for real. With the ground quaking like this and the clearing looking about as sightly as a Feebas, it had to be close. But that was all right. No need to panic. They could just leave, right? Several dungeon locals were frantically scurrying across the field like their lives depended on it, but there was still time... right?

"At least you located it without falling into any major peril." He had done well! The Girafarig had confirmed that he had accomplished his task. The Porygon whirred at the confirmation, seeming almost pleased. He nudged the TM forward, offering it to Damien, paying no heed to the rapidly increasing shaking of the ground.

It took effort for Robin to keep standing, as a thunderous vibration shook the earth. She felt it in her bones, leaving her feeling queasy. "I really think we should start moving!" She protested, Pokemon streaking past her in panic. She narrowly dodged a Skiddo, hopping right into the path of a Bibarel, which unceremoniously bowled the Vulpix over and kept running. Another figure had broke off from the herd, letting Robin lean on her as she forced herself back to her feet.

This stranger was uncomfortably warm to the touch, fire brimming under thick cream-colored fur. A Ninetales. A fire variant, unlike her, Robin registered faintly, managing a weak "T-thank you. as the fellow fox helped her back to her paws. The Ninetales gave her a curt nod, raising his piercing red gaze to look at the small group.

"There's a safe spot to the north! You should meet us there and wait until your path home is clear! Look for the signs." The stranger called, and he, too, was gone, vanishing with an uncanny grace into the undergrowth before she could ask any more questions.

Robin wished that was her, right about now. She felt anything but graceful, managing to flounder after the Ninetales with a backward glance to the others. "Tec, Damien, I really think we should do that!" She wasn't about to make a dash for the exit when Regigigas was right there, able to bring down an arm and crush them.

Tec, registering this as an order, puttered leisurely after Robin, without the haste that he should likely be using.

Robin's energy: 15
(Using a Sitrus Berry to heal +15 energy to Robin, the berry is not consumed due to her Winter Laurel Crown.)
(Using a Lum Berry to heal her burn, which is consumed.)

Tec's Trapper Orb:

Venusian carried out 1 launched of one Trapper Orb Dice :

The project Damien had had in mind for the disc was by no means a major one. Just a small study of the move's variations throughout dungeons and a analysis of potential patterns other than just the connection to the dungeon's biome. It had never and would never be worth this hassle. Were the shakes getting more intense now or was that just his imagination? No, while he focused and employed telekinesis to pocket the TM, he was sure he could feel the magnitude creep up more than just a little. Yet this knock-off of a bird was sounding... happy? It felt like mockery, but Damien was almost completely sure Tec would not be able to grasp such a concept.

The next rumble truly made the realization that this wouldn't be easy wash over Damien. There was no way that came from far away. With the shaking worsening like this, his notions from mere moments ago about being able to swiftly leave were starting to seem ridiculous to him. Yet he remained largely collected (annoyance naturally still pushed at his brows). Legendary attack or no legendary attack, he was Damien Neimad and would make it no matter what. And they even had a destination to build the escape route off of! "Seconded," he added to Robin's statement after they were presented with the option.

The Girafarig easily ran past the Porygon, but looked at him over his shoulder as he passed. He could swear this thing was only out to mess with them... "I suggest you hurry it up, unless you want to go two-dimensional!" was all he said before booking it over to the other runners, ending up side-by-side with a Bouffalant. If you asked him, he would say he did not care for the robot. This was but mercy for a very confused fool, and a means of not angering the other Windrose Scouts further by losing the one he'd been sent to fetch. Would Tec understand what he had just been told, though? Ugh, considering it all was making Damien's head ache, and rephrasing things so often would only sound silly. The comfort of only having himself to tend to seemed more luxurious than any mansion right now...

(Using a Reviver Seed to fully restore Damien's energy. Energy = 22)

Go two-dimensional? That did seem like an interesting idea. Could a Porygon survive that? If one couldn't, surely nothing could. Deep in thought, Tec decided that no, he would rather not 'hurry it up'. Surely there was much to be learned from this strange new pokemon. As the tremors in the ground became more and more intense, the Porygon looked up obliviously, hoping to at least observe such a rare and legendary pokemon. This would be valuable information for the Windrose Scouts, and a good contribution to his primary goal.

"Hello." He greeted the mountainous shape looming over the horizon, cresting a nearby hill to be lit up by the sun and revealed in plain sight. "My name is Tec. Congratulations! You are a new discovery!" There was, disappointingly, no response, and the titan only kept marching forward. Hmm. Was he not close enough to be heard? Or perhaps he communicated in a different way? Tec grabbed a rock off the ground and threw it towards the legendary pokemon, clunking quite harmlessly off it's foot. No, that didn't seem to do anything. How could he get this creature to respond to them?

Robin, for her part, was finally done watching in horror. "Tec," She barked, "Move! As fast as you can!" It was spoken as a command, and Robin had the faintest trace of guilt for that, but she had a duty to protect her junior Scout, and if this is what it took, she didn't have a choice but to step up. Just because he was a bit slow on the uptake didn't mean she was going to let him get turned into a pancake.

Tec obediently puttered past her, but not before scooping up the TM that Damien had been looking for. Robin, too, took off running, calling another "Sorry!" as she scampered after Damien, cheeks flush with secondhand embarrassment. Tec, at least, had no issue keeping up, now that he'd gotten the message, gliding easily above the ground.

Robin's Energy: 15
Tec's Energy: 10
(Items used: 1 Oran Berry on Tec, 1 Geo Pebble on Regigigas.)