[RAID] Tricksters in the Dark

[LexThetaSigma]

The beeping caused Rory to stop in his tracks and turn back towards the machine, a hand on Koschei's pokeball as he felt Tambrey's hand slip into his other one. Once he didn't hear the sound of an explosion and saw the lights coming on, lighting the way, he breathed a sigh of relief.

"Fine," Rory answered Xander and nodded to Aulus. "Gotcha, keep an eye out for anything, not just the target."

Jace had been about to return Treestar's salute when he heard the noise and took a protective position in front of the grass type. Once he noticed that it was just the lights coming on, he relaxed but didn't move from the Chikorita's side.  

[TRHQ Harvard]

Harvard considered her team's input for a moment. It was obvious they all had much more experience in dealing with Galactic than she did. "Your concerns are noted, Agent Aulus. From what you know of them, do any of you have any educated guesses on what we should be watching for specifically?" Killer robot mechas? Mind-controled guard Pokemon? Lasers? From what she did know, she didn't think there was much that could surprise her when it came to that nitwit of a childish leader. Harvard would have to be hard pressed before she'd give Deimos a compliment such as calling him a genius.  

[TawnyAngel]

Aulus rubbed his face, chewed his lip and started to pace back and forward as his mind worked. "Traps? I can see traps, easily. Anything weird looking is worth looking at and or not treading on." Watch out for women with a serene expression and an electrical prod. "They... I suppose they wouldn't be expecting us down here like at the museum though so it would be a standard booby trap, not something specifically prepared for us?" He paused in his pacing as he became aware he was doing it and looked over at the others.

"It's big down here," he added, "I wonder if Deimos might have been... he was afraid at the mines we got lost in but things were much tighter there. I wonder if things were made so big just so he could feel comfortable?"  

[Natsuko-neko]

At least no one was hurt then. Xander glanced back at the controls and spotted the start button but left it alone for now and pet Conrad. "Possible, though whether this was done after he was captured or not might effect that. Then again it could be protocols." He said in response to Aulus though he might be rambling a bit.  

[Blood_Goddess]

"All a'the above." Jerome grunted from where he stood, turning his gaze upward.
He was out of his element here, on top of that he was on edge becasue of Galactic's presence having been here.

He just kept his eyes on the walls, the ceiling, listening to anything. and waiting to get moving again.  

[Rocket Agent Tambrey]

"If this was made bigger to... accommodate him..." Tambrey mused, noting the fact despite the idea that it gave her more nerves "then... it would suggest that whatever they were down here for was important enough to warrant being, at least, visited by the highest person in command?" Thus, a real puzzle, and worry, at why on Earth it had been abandoned.
Maybe they'd gotten too greedy and dug too deep, awakening something in the darkness... Like the Mesprit. Was the Mesprit reason enough to... abandon the place? She kind of doubted it; if anything, surely its presence would make their interest stronger, whatever the risk.
Xander's point seemed valid, and she noted it with some hope. "It could be a 'just in case' thing..."

Treestar seemed to notice the protective stance that Jace took, but tried to match it, even giving a fierce 'chee' growl of his own to look tough. Jace could protect him and he'd protect Jace.  

[TRHQ Harvard]

Traps could be very likely. It also depended on how quickly Galactic had left, or if it had been done, well, willingly. Deimos' claustrophobia was a worthy consideration, as well.

"Let's keep moving. We need to track this thing and catch it before morning." Harvard clicked off her flashlight to save the battery and secured it on her belt. Once more, Stanford shuffled to the ground and scurried ahead.  

[Natsuko-neko]

Xander carefully got off the chair and climbed down from the Rhydon, making sure not to hit any button or lever, then helped Conrad down. He tucked his flashlight away and followed after Harvard.  

[Blood_Goddess]

Jerome watched as a few of the team walked by him, eyeing them quietly before turning and joining them, The heavy hoof falls of Boss trudged behind Jerome, the pokemon's massize arms crossed at his chest.

Bro' however, zipped forward, clacking his teeth at Jerome as he passed and fading suddenly out of sight, Jerome knew he went to go peek ahead for anything. to minimize the surprises. Bro' was always good about that back int he day.  

[TawnyAngel]

There was currently nothing about this he liked. He wanted to go home and have a beer and some pizza, possibly followed by some kind of sticky pudding.

Aulus twirled his staff again and nodded stiffly. "Well lets move then. This thing will still be here tomorrow," he waved his hand at the Rhydon-shaped machine, "worth sending a team to retrieve it." Maybe the tech types would pick up some designs ideas, or failing that at least they'd have some spare parts and raw materials available.  

[LexThetaSigma]

Rory shut off his flashlight and slid it back into his pocket. He pulled Jace's ball off of his belt and was about to recall him when he spotted the two pokemon 'protecting' each other. As long as Treestar was out, he'd leave Jace out. Plus who knew what they would encounter as they went further in.

Rory motioned for the lizard to come over to him as he followed the rest of the team.  

[Rocket Agent Tambrey]

Following the trend, away went Tambrey's light source too. She felt secure enough, and considered under the circumstances it was probably better, to let go of Rory's hand now the beeping and everything had passed. Plus they were a lot easier to see. However, she was sticking close, though tried to match her pace to accommodate both Rory and Jerome. A quick bit of thought had caused her to realise, if it came down to ranks, as much as she trusted Aulus and Xander unreservedly, the three of them were most expendable and some 'safety in numbers' kind of quirk and poked at her mentally.
"This feels so eerie..." She muttered, glancing to the lights.

Treestar had his orders to keep close to Tambrey as it was, so no instructions were exchanged as he followed along. He found himself very happy to have Jace out along side him; this super-important mission stuff was much better with a partner. He threw yet another leaf-salute, failing to look soldierly at all.  

[Blood_Goddess]

"********' underground." Jerome replied to Tambery's mention of it being eerie. "Ain't got no ways out yet..."
He gave an involuntary jerk of his shoulder, that she then rolled, though he seemed to be remaining as calm as he usually did.  

[TawnyAngel]

"I don't like it either," Aulus admitted with a glance over to Jerome. "We'll make it though, right? We can survive about bloody anything." The 'we' was a bit exclusive, and he didn't count the mission's boss in it for one. Who was she? Some bint good at getting up the ladder and with a bit of competence to her too so far as he cared to see, Aulus wasn't famed for thinking hard about the subtleties of people unless he cared about them.

He did care about most people here though, and he hoped that somehow... somehow some shiny imaginary Bond of Friendship they shared would carry them through tonight. It might be stupid but he hung onto it all the same, because what else was there to hand onto down here?  

[LexThetaSigma]

Rory heard what the others said and nodded in response. "Caves are the worst; hard to see where you're going and never knowing exactly where you're gonna come out."