Astrid Kain
Task Force, Unaffected
Sinnoh FBI Building (Meeting Room), Jubilife City

The head of regional security was looking at her like she’d grown a third eye. Astrid Kain might have wondered if she indeed had, but thus far, no one but Ripple survivors had mutated, and she hadn't been near a Ripple phenomena yet. Instead, she’d likely earned the look the moment she dared open her mouth to interrupt Hearthome City’s mayor. Despite the city’s reputation for diverse inhabitants, the man that had been elected to run it reminded the task force head of a Muk--a large pile of toxic sludge.

“I’m sorry, sir, I must have misheard you,” she started flatly. She wasn't sorry, nor was she certain she had misheard. “But did you just suggest that we begin taking basic human rights away from Affectees?” Directly across the table from her, the third eye look intensified, and her boss added raised brows to the mix. The mayors of Sunnyshore and Eternia turned their attention to her, and Veilstone’s mayor was shaking her head. The mayor of Celestic Town looked a bit worried, and the others seemed not to know what to think. Astrid refused to take her eyes off of Hearthome’s mayor, however.

The man had once been a contest hall legend, but those days were long past. They had, however, left behind a stubborn, competitive man whose sense of beauty was more than a little limited. A Muk, he was a Muk, Astrid’s mind chimed smugly--his hair was thinning, his waist had already expanded, and he looked as though he was roasting within the meeting room. At least turning up the heat would make him cook faster. With the elegance of one eternally used to getting his way, the mayor waved a hand, as though dismissing the question.

“Actually, Miss Kain, you did not. That is exactly what I propose.” She had never been tempted to commit an act of violence against a government official, but Stanley Heron was making her reconsider.

“That, Mayor Heron, is absolutely unacceptable,” Mayor Janet Cresswell of Canalave spat before Astrid had time to open her mouth.

“I agree with Mayor Cresswell. Unacceptable.” Astrid spared a glance over at Sunyshore’s Mayor Frederick Spar, who now appeared livid.

“But these Affectees, surely you all understand the danger they pose, we need to find some way to keep them in check,” Rhonda Weiler of Celestic practically whined.

“They are victims of this crisis as much as anyone else in the region,” Astrid finally said, stepping back into the conversation. “They are also valuable allies, and right now, a large number of them want to help. We’ve requested part of the emergency funds go towards outfitting the police with a wide range of Pokemon and equipment to help them deal with and apprehend those Affectees that would use their mutations for the wrong reasons. Eliminating their rights is the fastest way humanly possible to serve Team Galactic the upper hand on a silver platter. No one would volunteer, then.”

The newly appointed Mayor of Veilstone seemed to be inspecting the table as he murmured, “There are a Number of Affectees working as part of the restoration effort. It hardly seems ethical or fair to punish them for all their help, especially after what they have been through.”

“I can't imagine that their families would be pleased, either.” These meetings were pointless, ridiculous, and often insulting. People feared what they didn't understand, and that extended to those who had undergone mutations from the various rift incidents around the region. While it made far more sense to try and convince the people of Sinnoh to band together against the threat to the region, it was hard to convince even those among the Sinnoh government to cooperate. Sure, some of the survivors were dangerous, but so were some people Pokemon. In the long run, was it really important to focus on that? The Ripple Affectees were still people, and at the very least, the people of sinnoh could do well to remember that and treat them as such, otherwise the potential that a number of the Affectees would go over to helping Team Galactic would likely rise, and they didn’t need that.

In fact, they really didn’t need that.

“And what about the unaffected families? Is their safety--” Mayor Heron began to protest, however he never finished the thought.

“Enough.” Astrid’s attention snapped over to the head of regional security as Gordon Swift slammed a fist down on the table, drawing the group's attention. “The Affectees as of this moment are performing more good than bad. Reduction of their rights is currently an unacceptable action. Move on.” In Astrid’s lap, her Meowstic shifted, and let out a purr of approval, which the woman quickly disguised by scratching the catlike Pokemon’s ears.

<Have I ever mentioned that I like him?> The woman fought to keep herself from cracking a smile at her most trusted partner.

<On multiple occasions, actually. I think part of that is that he actually speaks to you like you’re there, and doesn’t immediately dumb things down for you,> Astrid’s mind whispered back over the mental channel the Pokemon had opened up between them so that they could speak.

"Mayor Rich,” Swift finally said, breaking the awkward silence that had followed his interruption by turning his attention towards the mayor of Veilstone, “you mentioned the restoration effort earlier. How are things progressing?” Astrid perked up at this, turning her attention outwards, towards the man sitting two seats away from her.

“They’re coming along. Having Affectees willing to help has sped things along fairly well--the heavy lifters are a true gift in disguise. We’re still getting reports of some individuals raiding homes and closed businesses, but more and more it’s reflecting poorly on the non-Affectee population as opposed to the Affectees.” Astrid watched as a Persian-ate-the-Starly grin spread across Swift’s face, and the man settled back in his office chair.

<Win,> Prim observed, purring as Astrid scratched her ears again.

<One battle of an entire war, dear. We still have more on the horizon,> Astrid reminded her mentally, and sat back herself.

These meetings were pointless indeed, and they were just as long as they were pointless. Unfortunately, they were also requirex.

Avery Doe and Kione Sirkut
Task Force, Affectees
Sinnoh FBI Building (Front Lobby), Jubilife City

Kione had fallen asleep. Her glasses rested askew on her face, her head tipped back, though comfortably rested against her shapeshifter friend’s shoulder. Avery, however, was more concerned about the girl’s laptop than anything. The girl had been doing some kind of analysis that required waiting for results when she had passed out, and the laptop she’d convinced Miss Kain to provide funding for, since hers had been melted in the Veilstone incident, still rested in her lap. Any twitch or jerk could have sent it to the floor, though she hadn't moved a millimeter since Avery had first heard the soft purr of static they supposed was Kione’s version of a snore.

“Miss Doe?” Avery started slightly as the cheerful, redheaded government field agent that Astrid has passed their supervision duties off to spoke up. She seemed somewhat busy, and had mostly let the pair sit in the FBI building's lobby and do as they pleased there while she made trips around the building, occasionally checking in on them, making sure her temporary charges didn't need anything. If Avery remembered correctly, she’d introduced herself as agent Renee Straddler.

“Yes...Miss Straddler, right? Is there something you need from either of us?” the voice that left Avery’s lips was soft and feminine, almost childish--and too unfitting for the person they wore today, they decided. That was to say, it didn't fit with the tall, lean semi-goth punk of a woman that was lending her shoulder to the small, pink-haired woman who was out cold next to her. To Renee’s credit, she did not appear startled, as most would have. Instead, she gave Avery the same friendly smile she had given them each time she had stopped to check on them--a smile Avery longed to try on, alongside those kind eyes of hers--they made a note to try shaking hands with her later. It wasn't as though Miss Kain frowned on this, in fact, she always seemed a bit interested in their explorations of appearance, commonly asking if they had found something that felt right, or familiar.

“Yes, or Renee, if you’d like. I’m not really a fan of formality,” The agent said, nodding to herself, “and no, I don't need anything from you, just stopped by to ask if there was anything I could get for you again--water, food, a book, that kind of thing? The meeting is still ongoing, and I have my own assignments to attend to, otherwise I’d offer to take you two out.” At this she frowned for a moment before the smile came back, though it was marred by a degree of dissatisfaction. Avery brushed a few loose strands of raven hair out of their face, and gave her a kind smile of their own.

“If you could move Kione’s laptop, that would be great. I’m worried it will end up on the floor, and can't really move it without waking her up. But other than that, I’m still fine, thank you for asking.” Renee nodded, and easily relocated the computer from the girl's lap to the tile floor. "Thank you."

"There we go! Is that all I can do for you, then?" Renee asked, flashing that lovely smile of hers again, and Avery almost wondered if she was hoping for something more, if she was looking to get out of her duties. Avery hardly blamed her if this was true, though they had a feeling Miss Kain would be displeased if she knew that...or maybe she had given their supervision over to Renee because she knew the woman would want to pay them more attention than her assigned duties.

"For now, yes. I can't speak for Kione, but I don't need anything. Thank you for asking, though. I'd ask if there was anything I could help you with, but..." Avery smiled a little helplessly, and gestured with their free hand to the girl asleep against them. Renee gave a soft laugh, and shook her head.

"No, no, there's nothing you could do anyway--security clearance and all, besides, I can't really assign you anything since you're not officially my charges. Don't worry about it, Miss Doe," she said rapidly, gesturing with her hands to the secretary's desk behind her. "Now if there's anything you need before I come back, please just ask the secretary on duty to page me, and I'll try to come running as quick as I can."

“We'll do that,” Avery replied, settling back further into their chair. “Thank you again, Miss Renee.”

“You're welcome, Miss Doe. I’ll be back to check on you again in a bit, so see you soon,” the field agent replied, and after giving a brief wave, she turned and started off down one of the hallways connected to the lobby, effectively leaving Avery and Kione alone.

Before the questions and depression could begin tugging at their mind, Avery began focusing on the appearances of those traveling through the lobby, looking for traits that might be familiar, that they’d have liked to try for themselves. Legs hidden beneath a baggy, army green pair of men’s cargo pants shifted so that they crossed at the knee, slender-fingered hands played with the fishnet sleeves of their undershirt. Kione mumbled something in a short burst of static, and finally shifted, turning her body towards Avery’s and rubbing her face against a shirt - covered shoulder.

Not alone. They were not alone. Releasing a breath, they leaned more towards the girl that had been their first friend, giving her more of their shoulder to rest her head on.