Pardon, I have a meta question: Despite not being a Bug type, both forms of Slugma are slugs, I.e. insects. Would they fall under the aegis and manipulation of QA?
Excellent question. I honestly haven't thought about it. I would say no, but only because they're not biological, they're more elemental in the shape of slugs. QA can't find any brain to connect to. Shellos a sort of sea slug would fall under the aegis of Taylor's power. It would be the same for Krabby. Drapion as a Dark-type would be immune.
 
Vote Closed. Winner: 200 Sneasel (Dark/Ice)

Our second pokemon for the quest. Really happy about that. I'll add it to the character sheet shortly.
 
Quick question: What do you prefer? A medium chapter today (around 1.6K words) or a longer one tomorrow (more than 2k)?
I initially want to have the chapter out today but I know I won't be able to hit all the points I want before going to bed, in less than four hours. But it's already beyond the 1K mark so I could give you what I already have if you want.
Let me know quickly, please.
 
We can wait a day for you so no worries. Best to habe the chapter out when you feel it is ready.
 
Quick question: What do you prefer? A medium chapter today (around 1.6K words) or a longer one tomorrow (more than 2k)?
I initially want to have the chapter out today but I know I won't be able to hit all the points I want before going to bed, in less than four hours. But it's already beyond the 1K mark so I could give you what I already have if you want.
Let me know quickly, please.
Longer. Make it right.
 
Chapter 107: Meeting with PR and Wards
[X] Creature

Creature Roll: (310 points)
Category Roll D50=5 Pokemon, Entry Roll D472=113
200 Sneasel, 200 Teddiursa, 200 Slugma
Category Roll D50=12 Xenoblade Chronicles, Entry Roll D165=131
200 Kustal Sovereign, 300 Sentry Sovereign, 300 Familion Sovereign
Sub vote result: Sneasel
Banked 110 Points

As promised, here's the chapter.
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Looking at the hour I saw that it was already half-past eleven, that meeting took longer than I thought. I tried to think about what I should do next. My next patrol wasn't before this evening.

I remembered the test I want to run concerning the Eldritch Theme and that I would need Clockblocker's assistance.

After a quick call to Sergeant Blair, I learned that he wouldn't be there until early afternoon. He was at Arcadia.

I felt stupid when he said that. Of course, it was Monday morning, where else a teenager would be. I had briefly forgotten that he was a Ward, not a Protectorate member.

Shaking my head, I tried to think of anything else I needed to do and was reminded that I need to visit the PR department. I need to talk to them about my Themes, my Wyverian transformation, and mainly that favor that Vista asked me. I planned to go in the afternoon but going now shouldn't pose any problem.

It only took a few minutes for me to reach the PR offices. Entering, I nodded in greeting to the secretaries. The two women were busy talking on their headsets. They waved in my direction but continued their discussions. I tried to ignore their words, it was none of my business. But I did catch the mention of a contract with a toy manufacturer and I heard bits and pieces of negotiation concerning a TV appearance for Dauntless.

Focussing on my goal I walked toward the door leading to Mister Ware's office. After knocking and hearing an enter, I opened the door.

"Ha, Compendium, excellent. It's good to see you. I wasn't expecting you before this afternoon."

"I had some time and decided to come sooner. It's not a problem I hope?"

"Of course not. I can always make time for the Protectorate's newest rising star." Receiving such a compliment was a little embarrassing and I did my best to not react. "Anyway, what can I do for you?"

"I have a few questions concerning my Changer powers and a favor to ask. But before that do you want the toy prototype? That way Olky won't have to deliver them and you can make suggestions? But I can only give you two, I created a plushy earlier to calm a crying baby."

He lit up at that. "That's perfect. I received a lot of suggestions for this power. We have contracts with a number of toy factories of course but being able to just give them a prototype cut the development time by a considerable margin. And adding the mention that you use your power to participate in the toy creation will be a fantastic boost to sales. The children love that."

He focused on his computer. "Let me just check what I received." He appeared to search for a moment. "There it is. Let's see. We have plushies already, we have action figures and dolls. Hum, can you make educational toys?"

I focused on my power, trying to see what my options were. "I can do a puzzle. Perhaps featuring, no wait, could I." I paused in the middle of my sentence, an idea just came to me. I poked the Menagerie to see if it would cooperate and I got a positive response.

Mister Ware was looking at me quizzically. "Sorry, I got an idea. As I said I could do a puzzle featuring a group shot of a number of my partners. The most friendly-looking ones of course."

The man looks pensive at that before smiling. "Yes, that could work. A puzzle isn't exactly educational in the strictest sense but it should work well."

It took a little bit to clear some room on a side table, thankfully the puzzle was summoned already completed, it would have been a pain otherwise. Soon we were both contemplating a puzzle featuring a number of my partners having fun in a park. Featuring prominently were Aylamon, Thorne, Clank, and Buoy, but Rainbow, Red, White, Baby Rex, and Mane were included too. I also add a few less prominent or more recent partners like Malcolm and a Miniature Musical Bruce.

All in all, it was a very wholesome scene. Mister Ware was really enthused about it and thanked me profusely for it.

Next, we turned our attention toward a toy that would be really educational. We settled on a wooden board in the shape of Olky containing colorful blocks with letters on them. Not the most original toy but good enough for our purpose.

I briefly entertained the notion of presenting the non-anomalous version of Miss J's CD to him. I could summon it through Material Extraction, it was the original program designed by the creator of Miss J before she gained sentience. It could teach children numbers, letters, and colors using a few simple interactive games. But I decided to hold off on that. I still hadn't received any return to my proposition to have her teach some select personals or parahumans. It was better to keep anything related to her under wraps.

Once that business was concluded I explained to mister Ware that I gained a few more Changer powers recently, namely my theme, Solar's Plasma Body, and my still unused Wyverian transformation. I demonstrated each one in turn, including the way they could be combined which took a while.

It was also the first time I used the Eldritch theme on myself, and perhaps the last time, at least without any other effect to compensate. On me, the effect was extremely subtle but nonetheless horrifying. At first glance, nothing appeared to change but it didn't take long for any observer to notice shapes moving under my skin and clothes, or worse behind my eyes. Those shapes varied a lot but it was possible to clearly discern claw tips, glowing tentacles, suckers, or fanged mouths. All seemingly trying to get out. I was thankful for the fact that it was only a visual effect and I couldn't feel things moving under my skin.

With an unspoken agreement, we both decided that this one wouldn't be used on me in public unless the situation absolutely required it. We switched subjects quickly after that.

He advised me on how to present each transformation when doing PR events, which public would be more receptive to each one. For example, the Insect theme could be popular with edgy teenagers. Concerning the Wyverian transformation, he was more dubious. The four-finger hands, digitigrade legs, and elven ears gave me a fantasy or alien look that wasn't too offputting, just strange but not specifically useful for PR purposes. He just said that it could help disguise my identity in a pinch without resorting to more extreme change.

Having reached the end of the subject it was time to talk about Vista's favor.

"Thank you for your advice that will be very useful. As I said earlier I also had a favor to ask, but it's not for me, it's for Vista."

"Vista?"

"Yes. Saturday, Sergent Blair, who's in charge of the Wards at the moment. Asked for my help in organizing a miniature tournament between the Wards and my partners. It was a fun training exercise for everyone. I promised the winner that I would use my Tinker power to build them an item of their choice as long as it was within my capabilities. Vista won and she asked me for a Tinkertech police baton."

I saw him wince at that but I continued. "I was obviously surprised by such a simple request. And I asked her why she didn't have one already. With her power to compress space, any melee weapon became a ranged weapon, it seems like an obvious solution to her lack of direct offensive option. Her response was that the PR department forbids her from having one."

I trailed off at that point waiting for a response.

He spoke up slowly. "Yes, that's a country-wide policy. No Ward is allowed to have a visible weapon as part of their cape persona unless it's a requirement for their power to work. You have to understand that we must avoid at all cost projecting the idea of raising child soldiers that would be devastating for our image."

I mostly understood that it meant sending underequipped children to fight ruthless villains.

While I was aware that in cities that were not Brockton Bay, Wards rarely if ever encountered serious villains. However, that leaves them underprepared and untrained if they do encounter one. And even the average thug with a gun could get lucky.

Wait a moment, what was his wording exactly? "You said a visible weapon? What if it wasn't visible?"

He seemed intrigued by the idea. "What do you have in mind?"

I quickly explained the idea to him and he smiled. "Yes, that could work. I'll need to contact my superior Glenn Chambers in New York just to be sure but it has a good chance to be approved. I'll send you an email as soon as I get confirmation."

Satisfied with that I thanked him for his help and shook hands with him. I turned away already thinking about my option for Vista's weapon. This went beyond just giving her a reward, now it was personal, I would give her the best weapon I could. If only to show the image department that it was better to have well-equipped children looking like soldiers than pretty but dead ones.

Shaking those thoughts away I look at my phone, yes it was time for lunch.

During lunch, a new weight settled in my soul. While eating I idly "looked" at my new partner. A female Sneasel, a pokemon like Buoy. But with a very different typing, Dark and Ice. And a much more aggressive fighting style. It was an interesting addition, of particular interest was the fact that her Dark-type would make her immune to Psychic moves. The Menagerie helpfully informed me that it would render her immune to Master power, direct telekinesis, and similar powers. Her utilities against a certain sinister angel couldn't be denied even if I wasn't looking forward to testing it.

I would really need to set aside some time to train all my partners that can grow, it would be a real boost to my strength in the field.

One hour and a half later, I had eaten, did some paperwork, and checked on Clank. He was currently working with Sparker trying to miniaturize them to make bullets. So far the results weren't great but I left him to it. If it works it could be really useful for the troopers.

It was time to go see Clockblocker. When I entered their common room I found Vista, Browbeat, Kid Win, and my target. They appeared surprised to see me. I greeted them all with a brief hello but my attention was focused on the time-stopping teenager.

A little abruptly I strode toward him, I couldn't help it. I was impatient to do my test. "Clockblocker, I need your help."

He appeared startled by my abruptness. "Um, Yeah, sure. What can I do for you?"

"I need you to use your power on one of my partners. Please don't be alarmed by its appearance, he's harmless."

I summoned Eldritch Greenies on the table, while normally he was pretty cute this time he clearly was not. Even if it was hard to really pinpoint why. Was it the eyes that seemed to be too big for its head? The tail moving as if it could grab you? Or perhaps the shadow that didn't follow its movement? All three?

All four Wards observing the scene look warily at my innocent squirrel-frog. Clockblocker in particular didn't seem enthused at the prospect of touching him.

I gestured for him to proceed. Reluctantly he briefly pokes greenie with the tip of its finger. With no obvious results, Greenie continues to look around curiously.

Clockblocker frowned and tried a few more times to no more effect. I smiled. This was an excellent sign.

All the Wards appear confused. It was Vista that voiced her curiosity. "So, you have a partner that is immune to Clock's power?"

I shake my head. "No, it's a transformative effect that I can apply to any of my partners or even to myself. And it granted some sort of immunity to time-based powers."

They were all suitably impressed at that. What followed was a flurry of more tests.

The results were very interesting. First, no matter what he tried, Clock couldn't affect any of my partners as long as they were under the Eldritch theme. In addition, if I gave the theme to a partner already frozen in time it freed them.

On the other hand, the theme did not allow my partners to move frozen objects. So that part was a bust and it didn't bode well for accomplishing what I hoped. We tried with Olky and asked him to teleport with a frozen object, but he reappeared without it. As a side note, Olky with the Eldritch theme turned out surprisingly mundane, mostly his finger turning into tentacles and its eyes becoming empty voids. Still unsettling but less than some others.

Out of option, we even tried to have Olky engulf in his mouth a time-frozen cookie and teleport again. But no, even being completely surrounded didn't help.

I'm pretty sure that Vista spotted my disappointed reaction when I realized that and she may even have understood why. Wisely she didn't comment.

"Well thank you, Clock. I was hoping for a good combo with your power, sadly it doesn't work. At least we know that if you freeze my partners to have an indestructible wall, I can unfreeze them, no need to wait. So there's that."

"That's already pretty cool. I'll definitely keep it in mind for when we work together."

"I still have work to do so I need to go. It was nice seeing you again guys." I noded to Vista. "and gal." I paused before exiting the room and turned back. "I think Aylamon would appreciate spending some time with you. Can I leave her with you?"

Vista gave me an enthusiastic yes and I chuckled. With a thought, my little sister appeared in the room, facing an empty wall.

"Aylamon is here! Where are the bad guys?"

"No bad guys at the moment. I call you just so you can have fun with the Wards."

She turned around and spotted her best friend. With a scream of joy, they were soon hugging. Observing the scene I had an idea. Another one of my partners could use some socialization.

I grabbed Spy from my wrist and gestured toward Aylamon. "Here take Spy with you, you're going to need him."

She accepted the Den-Den Mushi with some confusion but nonetheless placed him around her wrist. I didn't let her ask questions and summoned a kitten on the couch.

"May I present you, Lucy. Say hello Lucy." She complied with a soft meow.

Immediately Vista and Browbeat were crowding around her. "You're so cute." Vista had stars in her eyes. Browbeat didn't say anything but was clearly tempted to pet the kitten.

Kid Win eyed the kitten warily. "What's the catch? She can breathe fire? She can emit lasers from her eyes? It can't be a normal kitten."

Hearing that the others took a step back from her.

"Don't worry she's harmless. But you have good instincts Kid. She's a very special girl. Nothing sinister, however. She's as smart as a human, smarter than some even. And she can talk using radio waves. That's why I gave Spy to Aylamon. So she could communicate. Please say something again Lucy."

This time it was Spy that spoke up with a young woman's voice. "Nice to meet you all."

The greetings that followed were much more enthusiastic after that.

"Have fun." I turned around leaving behind a group of happy teenagers.

As I exited I tried to think about what I could do now, I still had a lot of time before my patrol.

[] Visit Velocity
[] Talk with Assault and Battery
[] Zap still needs to apologize to Buoy, time to call both.

Wordcount: 2692
Excess word: 167
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I"m not really satisfied with the end of the Ward scenes but I couldn't find a good way to go about it.

Lots of points at once this time.

For the roll, 470 points.

[] Creature

[] Power

Voting will be closed Thursday at 3 PM GMT
 
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