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

[gekkaju]

[Atsushi grits his teeth, feeling a hot wash of shame suddenly overwhelm him.]

I trust them more than I trust the people who are doing everything they can to destroy this world, the people, and all the Pokemon living in it.

[azumods]

Oh please, like you could even pretend to understand Master Cyrus' goals?

[gekkaju]

I never said I did understand. I don't understand much about a lot of what's going on here.

[At...least he's being honest??]

From my perspective though, what's being done here isn't right. The way the people in Floaroma town have been...

[...]

I don't know why you're looking for some sort of fight here, like you want to hear them admit that they did something terrible to the other commanders so you can...destroy them, I guess? Why are you even trying to get an explanation out of them when you're certain you think you know what happened already?

[He's legit surprised she hasn't just launched a full assault with her massive group here and wiped them all out already since she seems to think it'd be justified.]

I know people don't just disappear. But it's not fair to insinuate these guys did something just because they contacted them last, especially when it's clear that they wouldn't even have the means to do so. Don't you have a little more faith in your partners than that...?

[azumods]

They aren't my partners...

[But something about that gets her to stop cold and wipes the smile off her face. Her hands tighten into fists at her sides.]

Listen, I don't care what you people think you're trying to do here. I just want to know what happened. I was even willing to let you leave peacefully! But you're trying my patience!