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((My browser knows it, so it remembers my login details for me))

((Waiting on you, dude. You're about to talk to Ghetsis, remember? Hiba just left, so it's your turn))

((Damn formalities))

Ghetsis eyed Sasha carefully. He was a sage, Aura was an open book to him. Seeing through the Zorua's disguise was an effortless task. Still, he wouldn't say anything now. He shifted his attention to Kenta.

"Hello, young man. Do you have something that you wish to ask?"

He seemed a little nervous. Ghetsis didn't have time to waste sitting around waiting for nervous people to hurry up. He coughed lightly, eye tracing the queue behind Kenta. If the boy looked, he'd see all the people waiting for him.

"I am here to put your mind at ease. What are your concerns?"

"Yes, and I let them go when I realised the error of my ways. My old pokémon are free now. And happy," Ghetsis said. "Is there anything else?"

((I'm digging out of an avalanche of work to be posting this))

"Pokémon are, at their most basic nature, wild animals. As I explained to the young man before you, their supposed happiness is dependant on an instinctual desire to obey those in positions of dominance."

Ghetsis looked Kenta over again. The boy seemed familiar. Was he the one from the reports...? "Pokémon obey humans because, whether they realise it or not, they have recognised that human as being stronger than them in some way. Most often this is the result of battle, where a pokémon is beaten into submission. A frightful act, you must agree.

"But then, like you say, there are circumstances where a pokémon takes after a human without violence entering the equation. This is merely instinct. Pokémon in this situation are those who have been separated from their pack or clan, ones who require a master as they are incapable of self-reliance. Think of it as a child yearning for its mother's teat. Still, a human can never properly replace a pokémon, just as a pokémon can never really fulfil the duties of a human family."

Ghetsis shook his head. "Even the rare pokémon whose intellect is comparable to a human's will follow this trend. It is a part of what they are. Humans subjugating pokémon such to extreme lengths is a recent occurance; the practice may be centuries old but both pokémon and humans are so much older. Team Plasma wishes to restore balance, to return to the natural order without mankind enforcing its will on pokémon."

((Also? Time skip soon. Let's end this son of a b***h day.))

((Well, I think I'll timeskip Luka to the next morning. biggrin ))

Luka awoke face down on his bed. His head ached quite a lot and he honestly didn't remember much of last night. Apart from that vision whatever it was. And that weird kid who may or may not, but probably did, attack the Liberty Garden. And Hiba. And Ghetsis' speech. He actually remembered quite a lot now that he thought about it. Why did he think he couldn't remember much? It must have been the ciders. Luka couldn't take his drink. Clearly. He had a hangover and he had only had two or three ciders last night, and he had thrown up, and his head hurt a lot.

Thankfully, despite the aching head, his mind still seemed to be functioning properly. At least.... he had definitely managed to make it back to his hotel room. He knew that much. His Xtranceiver told him so. Well, he was alone and he'd clearly been able to put his pajamas on. He was fine. Now, for a cup of tea to wake him up and then he could get on with heading up to Nimbasa City and the next gym challenge. He wouldn't let Team Plasma get in his way. He had something to prove to himself. Even if he couldn't quite remember what that something was.

((Time to inject this RP with a bit of life! It's been quit for a wee bit too long now. biggrin So.... Posting time for me. Mwahahahahaha!))

Luka was still in his hotel room, but, before heading out he decided to do a bit of research into some of the mythology of Unova. He knew the basics, that there once was one Pokémon which split into two almighty Pokémon which were like the guardian deities of Unova. He also remembered some of the story of the Hero of Unova, but, he wanted to make sure he knew as much as he could. For some reason, he thought it might be useful. He plugged in his Poképod and started listening to a song which he didn't understand because it was in a foreign language but he did think it was about saying goodbye to someone. It was a lovely song and it made little yellow spheres dance around the room in Luka's vision. It just made him feel happy and it let him focus on the task at hand. He whipped out his laptop and started doing the research.

Kai and Tayla were sat in the chairs near the bed chatting.

[So.... What did you make of that Ghetsis guy's speech? It seemed like a load of rubbish to me, but, I dunno. Luka seemed to take it very seriously.]

Tayla nodded, before uncrossing and recrossing her legs. [I think that Ghetsis is either very intelligent and is worming his way to something that nobody expects, is actually right and I would be rather upset if that were the case, or he's an ignorant a*****e who is biting back at a world that ignored him. He's certainly smart and eloquent. That much was clear from last night, but, he's impossible to read.] She looked across at Luka who was sat cross-legged on the bed with the laptop and an increasing number of sheets of paper about him with notes scribbled on them. [I think that's what Luka is thinking too. He desperately wants to understand what is happening, but, he can't figure it out. I know I've only been with him for a few days, but, he really hates not knowing what is going on. The panic in his eyes in Pinwheel Forest... That is why Luka is trying his hardest to uncover the mysteries of Plasma. He just can't let it go.]

Kai nodded. [I know what you mean. I hope everything turns out all right in the end. I just couldn't bear to see Plasma win in the end. Luka has been my friend for seven years and he looked after me and protected me all this time. Only now have I gathered to strength to fight and to pay him back for everything he has done for me. I'm sure there are many Pokémon who hate their masters, or many that make themselves believe that they love their trainers, but, I know the emotions in my heart and they are telling me that Luka is my friend, not my master.]

Tayla stood up and batted some dust off her dress. [I think I know what you mean, Kai. Although, I don't have the same bond that you do with him... I trust him. He tried to sacrifice himself for us. He wanted us to leave him to die so we could live. After that, I will trust him with my life. He deserves it, after all.]

She sat back down again and hummed a little of that tune Luka had reminded her of, Toberu mono.

Nearby, Misa and Squirt were talking about the ocean. Misa was grinning, which is rather creepy considering all of those teeth. [So, it just goes on and on and on?]

Squirt nodded and lifted himself partially off the floor to spread his flippers out wide. [It's gigantic. But you know the best thing? The seaside. It's like awesome.]

Misa grinned even wider. [Really? Why?]

[Well.......] and with that, Squirt burst into a rendition of 'I do like to be beside the seaside' which caused Misa to giggle with glee (Another rather creepy sight with all of those teeth) and made Kai and Tayla smile partially because Squirt was not to best singer in the world. They were glad that Luka couldn't hear him. His eardrums might have died.

When Squirt had finished, Misa's eyes were sparkling. [That was amazing! I want to go to the seaside! Where is the nearest beach?] She started to head towards the door but Squirt stopped her.

[I think the nearest beach is Undella Town which is like a ridiculous way away.]

[Then how do you know about it?] Misa said whilst pouting.

[Because that's where Dad and Luka's Dad and Mum took us on holiday one year. Maybe we'll see it at some point on this journey, but, it definitely won't be for a long time...]

[Well that sucks. I want to go to the beach.]

Tayla laughed. [Think of it as a treat for when we have proven how good we are. That way, you'll have the drive to push onwards to victory. Or fate could lead us to a beach. Stranger things have happened.]

Misa grinned again. [This. Is. Going. To. Be. AMAZING! I totally heart you guys, you're like the bestest friends ever!]

This made it pretty clear to everyone that Misa was an incredibly girly Sandile. This journey was certainly going to be very interesting with her tagging along. Hopefully she wouldn't start talking about Justin Bibarel the singing Bibarel sensation that had swept the world. That might kill them. Then again, at least she was never going to mention Remoraid Black.