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Fourth.
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." |
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But this? At least here he can give some information.]
U-um...Jupiter and I, we'd agreed that at some point we were going to battle...with everything that we both had, so...
[His voice squeaks even when he tries to assert himself, but something about his next statement is filled with determination.]
I...I don't think she'd vanish before that kind of thing would happen. She wouldn't break that kind of promise, I think...
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[She looks confused by that more than anything, but it actually gets her to settle a little.]
I can't see her leaving something like that. I don't know why she'd have an interest in you, but if she promised to battle you, then...
[Hmm. She looks like she's considering it, at least.]
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[Sena scratches the back of his head and looks like he wants to apologize. Excessively.]
...it was kinda in the heat of the moment, but I think we saw eye to eye on some things. Or at least we could understand. That, um...we can't pursue dreams without stepping on other people's ambitions too. So it was supposed to be that kind of challenge, my goals against hers.
[He looks kinda scared when he says his next bit.]
I mean, that upcoming battle, it feels like I've agreed to something really scary...like...really scary...extremely scary...
[yes, we get it.]
...but, um, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't looking forward to it, a little. So, I really don't think Jupiter would have disappeared without finishing things between us. Really!
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Your goals against hers... Yeah, I can see that. Sounds like it'd be at least mildly interesting to watch.
But she's gone now, and I have no idea what happened to her. So I don't know if you'll get that battle.
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[Sena actually looks kinda worried at that. He really doesn't think Jupiter's gone for good, but at the same time it's hard not to fret about somebody you know just vanishing, even if they are an enemy.]
Was there really nothing after she talked with us? L-like, no clue where she would have gone?
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[She trails off there before abruptly shaking her head.]
I need to know what happened to them.
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[That's said a little wistfully. Sounds like somebody misses his own team back home.]
If someone's missing, it just doesn't feel right...
[Sena hesitates. Should he really ask this? But...]
Is...there anything we can do...?
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[But she's glancing off to the side instead of staring at Sena and her expression's tight.]
I want to know what happened to them. And if you really didn't do anything to them, then...
[She doesn't seem to know how to finish that.]
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He's not entirely sure what the answer is, but he likes to think he knows what it would be.]
I'm sorry that...we don't have the answer you wanted...but I don't know what else to say. We can only, um...keep going forward and find the truth ourselves, I think...
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