Fourth.

[azumods]

ENCOUNTER. Perhaps it's a good thing that the people of Floaroma Town seem to be exhibiting curiosity, because that's how you end up getting the tip. It isn't much, in the end - a question of where you're going from one of the ladies in the flower shop, followed by a brief look exchanged between them and a soft shrug. There's a mention of the Valley Windworks just across the way, a short walk from here, and something inside that will shave a week's time off of the journey south. Something that should put you right in the heart of Jubilife City, should you be able to gain access to it. It's likely clear that whatever would be blocking your access to such a thing likely isn't going to be pleasant; it doesn't take them long to tell you that Team Galactic has owned the Windworks for a while now, but at the same time it's only ever staffed with low-tier employees on the chain of command - the Commanders themselves haven't cared about it since they took over, and the grunts... Well, for one reason or another, they haven't been changing with the rest of the world. It likely seems obvious, when put that way - the people of the town haven't lied to you in the entire time you've been here (they aren't many things, but at the very least they are honest), and if they're correct about this, that's a week's less travel that will need to be done. Over a distance this large, every day counts; as such, you might as well check out the Windworks for whatever it will bring you. As it turns out, the townspeople were right about several things - the Valley Windworks is only a short walk away, surrounded by tall electricity-generating windmills that are turning away at a good clip in the windstreams traveling through the valley; upon entering it, it seems fair to say that it really is generally only staffed by grunts. In light of the changes the world has undergone, their appearance may be a bit jarring, a reminder of what the entire place used to look like - they're completely dead-eyed and listless, lacking any sort of individual initiative, and while they look up as you enter and their eyes track you as you move, they don't seem inclined to do much about you as a whole. Unfortunately, the ladies in the flower shop seem to have been mistaken about something - it seems that one of the Commanders, at least, seems to care very much about this place, given that she's waiting for you in the lobby. As with the others before her, she looks distinctive from the others in both her style of dress and the fact that she's still emotionally intact; she's small in stature, the heels on her boots doing nothing to help that fact, and she's incredibly slight in comparison to Jupiter. She also seems displeased about being here; the smile she offers in greeting is sharp, and it's not a pleasant look. More along the lines of baring teeth. "It's pretty rude of you guys to barge in here like you own the place. Not like I was expecting much from you people, anyway. I'm Commander Mars, and it's about time we met."

Comments

[azumods]

Yeah, I've got no doubts that my Pokémon could handle all of you. That's what's confusing me. Jupiter's strong too, and she certainly wouldn't go down without a fight. So how did you guys manage to defeat her?

[ventulus]

We just talked things out, and even if we didn't agree on things, no one got hurt or anything. The last time we saw her was at Snowpoint City, and actually, she said she hadn't seen Saturn in a while either.

[ Which was concerning in its own way, he thinks. ]

But, really, that's about the last time we've seen her, so we don't really know what's going on with either of them.

[azumods]

Yeah, Saturn's been missing for awhile. I figured Jupiter would go talk to you all and figure out what happened and then... nothing. I have no idea what you could've done, but there's no way it's just a coincidence that they both disappeared after talking to you guys!

[ventulus]

It just happened like that, though! We didn't even do anything to them.

Look, I don't know why you've got the idea that we would even lie about this, it doesn't make any sense. But stating over and over that 'wow it's not just a coincidence' doesn't mean we're responsible and it isn't going to make us somehow know what happened.

Maybe we can figure out something together if we talk about this a little more, though.

[discutio]

Ventus is right. You're more likely to get results if you speak to us rather than hit your head against a brick wall repeatedly.

[azumods]

Ugh, fine, I'll play along for a little while. What do you think happened to them?

[voluptugust]

I understand this world is looking a bit bleak these days, but is there anyone else that would possess enough will to do such a thing? I can't speak from my own experiences, but I do believe everyone when they say they had nothing to do with it. They seem more the type to break in and get spooked by ghosts.

[azumods]

[...]

The point is that they went to talk to this specific group of people and then vanished. There's no way that's a coincidence.