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[I'm not the owner of this thread; Selene is, and I sincerely hope everyone is still interested in continuing this RP. I'd really like for it to, and I hope this post will get things going again.]

Kyrene stiffled a yawn as she carefully loaded the extracted Regigigas sample onto a slide, dabbed it in a solution, and placed it under the microscope. After a quick adjustment of the lenses, she peered through the eyepiece. At first, there was hardly any difference between what she was seeing and what she'd analyzed from a healthy specimen in her textbooks. Squinting, she rubbed at her eyes and gazed back in.

The cells were all flowing at a normal pace, like amoebas, they drifted soundly through the solution like any other she'd seen. Kyrene sighed and laid back in her chair, but when she did, she accidentally disturbed the slide resting on the stage of the microscope. For a few moments, Kyrene watched before finally straightening the slide again and peering in.

The cells were all hyperactive. Like a peaceful antfarm that had been plowed over, the cells were now all moving at alarming speeds. Judging from how fast they were going, the energy they must be generating was what must be giving the infected Pokémon such an advantageous power boost. And it appears to have been induced by a disturbance of some sort; a slight action, like being provoked or commanded to attack, that causes the Pokémon to snap, loose all reasonability, and respond with heightened aggression and violence.

"Interesting," she said under her breath. Looking up from the slide, she now found herself in need of another sample; preferrably more from the Pokémon she'd been traveling with that claimed to be immune. She's need to collect samples from the uncommon Pokémon, but it would also be useful to get some from the legendaries as well -- and she dared not take those without any of their consents.

"Brook," she finally said to the Houndour, "I need you to call all the Pokémon here in this room. I think I might have this Pokérus figured out, but I need to run a few more tests."

[need someone who controls a legendary to post]

Kyrene sat back in her chair and looked at all the other Pokémon gathered in the room. "I think I got a lead concerning the virus, but I'm going to need to run a lot more tests to find out how it works -- and more more importantly, how to derive a serum, if that's even possible. From what I was able to gather so far, the Pokérus serves as some kind of power booster by magnifying the effects of high level stress and anger, induced by even the most smallest of actions. Like a command, or provocation.

If Pokémon can be immune to it, they must have some sort of higher-level control over their minds and emotions, which is why it's my conjecture that most all other Psychic-types are naturally immune. In the case of Latios, however..." she trailed off, looking off to the side before returning to them. "It's all theory and hypothesis. I've just used up the last of the Regigas sample to get an idea of how the virus works, but I need more to work with... which I why I need to ask all of you for samples of your own. Namely the legendaries. If I can find out what genetic trait causes the immunity, i might be able to replicate it and derive a serum."

After a few hours of undisturbed rest, Thomas had finally stirred within the large pool of water beneath the makeshift waterfall. It must have been the sense of security within the water, and the calming rumbling of the constant dumping of water within the pool that allowed him to slumber for so long. Then again he was very tired after all that had happened to far. His position shifted on the bottom of the pool before his mouth opened to a gaping yawn. Next, he outstretched his wings which suddenly touched both ends of the pool. Thomas found this to be very peculiar, because when he first entered the pool he knew he was incapable of touching the oppotiste ends simply because he wasn't large enough. At first he pondered over the situation, but he quickly shrugged it off before he decided to wonder around the gym and see what had been going on while he was sleeping.

It wasn't until his head broke the surface of the water that he sensed something was different. Before he had taken refuged beneath the waterfall, Thomas recalled having to dive a few feet in order to reach the bottm, and then swiming back up a few feet to reach the surface. Why, all of a sudden, was he able to surface by standing? 'Something's not right here...' The legendary commented to himself, clearly concerned. However, his thoughts were inturrupted by Brooke's howl that echoed harshly throughout the gym. Thomas figured he would look into his concerns after whatever was going on now, since anything concerning the rest of the Pokemon and Kyrene was more important.

The Lugia slid out of the pool of water with ease and casually walked towards the direction everyone else was heading towards. It took him a few seconds to register that he had a much better view of the gym now than before. Something was definitely wrong, but Thomas couldn't quite put his finger on what it was. For all he knew, it was just his mind playing tricks on him after sleeping so soudly, but in truth this legendary had grown to his full size. It was about time too. He brushed the clustering thoughts within his mind aside before he noticed that another Pokemon, one that hadn't traveled with them before, was also inside the gym. He knew for a fact that he wasn't one of Gardenia's Pokemon, for she was more into grass-types, so it was common for him to grow suspicious of the stranger. As he watched intently from behind, still walking slowly towards the stairway, he wasn't paying clear-enough attention to where he was going and rammed his head into the edge of the platform on the second floor. A broken grunt vibrated within his throat as he glared at the object in his way before he extended his neck to see over the platform and into the room in which everyone had gathered into.

He was able to distinguish what Kyrene was explaining to everyone, and nodded his head in response. That would be the best thing to do, but wouldn't she need more samples of an infected Pokemon too? Thomas looked through the glass ceiling, knowing that somewhere in the city that Dark Latios was still laying in wait. His expression suddenly turned to one of anger, just thinking about that creature casued his stomach to churn. He decided he would go in search for the Dark legendary after Kyrene got a sample from him. And, so, he waited patiently outside the room, his mind still troubled.

He had been resting for hours on the top of the tallest building in the city. Mello had made a full recovery in a short amount of time, however, he was still recovering from that encounter he had with that Latias. Why did he feel a connection with her? He's never seen her before! Or...so he thought. The very thought of it angered him more and more, and in a matter of seconds he began to lose control of himself. He roared as his body began to throb in angry waves of energy, and soon he took flight. His subconcious had no control on which direction he would go or how far, or even where he would wind up. His eyes were glazed by glowing red, which indicated he was being posessed with the virus he was plagued with.

Ironically, he was heading towards the gym in which all the victims of the attack he had provoked back at the Pokemon Center had taken refuge in. When he was about half way to his destination, he unleashed a screech that echoed throughout the city, causing civilians to cringe and cover their ears in attempt to lessen the effects it had on their hearing. He was coming, and there was nothing Mello could do to turn back now.

"Any DNA sample would work just fine," Kyrene said. She turned her head and stifled to show her surprise at how much bigger it seemed. "I have everything recorded from Regigigas, but legendaries naturally are more potent. Since they generate a lot more power than more common Pokémon -- no offense to any of you -- it'd be easier to distinguish any direct influence the Pokérus has on them. But at this point, I'm not all that picky about what I get. Thank you, everyone, for you help."

Many awkward moments later, Kyrene had samples from all the Pokémon present in small vials, including the Latias, Lugia, and Riolu, which she made sure to label accordingly. "I can't guarantee any answers," she said, the vials in hand. "I hope you all can understand the things I'm doing normally takes years and years of research... and I'm not even the best in my field for that matter. I'll do the best I can, but just don't expect --"

Just then, her sentence was cut off when a deafening roar resounded from outside the gym. Everyone heard it, and a sudden chill ran down Kyrene's spine when she heard it, almost making her drop the vials. Her bones seemed to rattle to the sound. Not long after it died did Gardenia suddenly come bursting through the door, her usual happy and controlled countenance replaced with one of fear and dread. "L...Latios," she panted, leaning against the doorway. "Outside! It's... it's not like anything I've ever seen before!! Something's wrong with it!!"

"No!" exclaimed Kyrene. "How could they have found us so quickly!! I... I can't be fighting like this. I have... I need to run these tests!"

"What does it want, Kyrene?"

"I don't know. It wants us... to make sure we don't find out anything that might lead to a cure."

"If they're so worried," Gardenia said softly. "It must mean that a cure is possible. And you have to find it!"

"But --"

"Don't worry," Gardenia said, reaching behind her and expanding a Pokéball in her hand. "You do what you can. The rest of these Pokémon and I will hold them off you as long as we can." Then, without waiting to hear her reply, she gestured at all the other Pokémon in the room. "Come on, you guys!! Looks like the gym will be open today after all!!"

And indeed it was. Because right after Gardenia's statement, the glass roof of her gym suddenly shattered, showering large shards down to the ground below. The air was suddenly filled with the low droning sound of insect-like wingbeats. A cloud of dust poured into the gym, and when it had cleared, Kyrene's infected Flygon emerged and looked down at the others with a poisonous glare.

"This... can't be," Kyrene muttered, but Gardenia yelled for everyone's attention.

"We have to keep them away from Kyrene," she said. "Kyrene, concentrate! Everyone else, prepare for battle!"

Gardenia shook her head at Miki. "If Kyrene really believes this virus can multiply an infected Pokémon's power, I believe we're going to need as much help as we can get -- immune or not. Those of you who are would have a better chance holding off the Latios. Leave the Flygon to me."

She threw her Pokéball up in the air and in a flash of white light, a large and powerful Torterra appeared in front of them. The Torterra and dark Flygon locked eyes in a silent challenge neither was bent on backing down from.

Gardenia looked at the others. "No time to argue. I'll lead the Flygon off to the battlefield in the center of the gym. Those of you who are up to it, get the Latios. And be careful!!" With nothing more to say, she leapt over the railing with her Torterra right behind her. Flygon let out a high-pitched shriek before diving down after her, following hot on her trail.




Meanwhile, high overhead, Razza felt his interest start to peak again as he watching with great interest, the events unfolding below.