Pohe Vahoc
Phoenix Battalion
Bleu Plaza, Lumiose City, Kalos
Affected RPers: @Morzone, a bit? You're investigating so... (And sorry for the long post >.>)

Having been able to get the code to run and deeming the alpha stage to be safe enough to test, Pohe got up and walked over to where three clothes were draped over objects that were up to chest height, with the third being slightly bigger. Pulling off the tarps of the two smaller ones, feline shapes were revealed beneath, chassis black against the grey of the floor. A stiff, segmented mane flowed back from its head, panels running down the center to gather light. Currently, the robotic Pyroar did not have any power source, and while their intended one was still being developed, she could make do with what she had. Grabbing a crystal, she released an oval shaped steel ship, which hovered effortlessly beside her. Three eyes focused on her as it rotated its magnets, carefully observing the situation.

“Faraday, I need you to use a weak Thundershock. Don’t overload them, all right?” She waved a finger. “I need to see if this will work or not to begin with, so that’ll be a bit hard to do if you blow them up.” Giving a slight tilt to indicate acknowledgement, she stepped back as sparks began to fly off the Magnezone. They launched at the two machines, impacting and penetrating into the main circuitry through whatever cracks it could find. After a few seconds, the eyes of the machines glowed orange as they gained enough power to turn on, but that was all they could do without any programming. They were merely empty, powered puppets without an objective.

Pulling out two discs – they were still rather common, considering they were used to evolve the Porygon family on a regular basis – she slid them underneath the mane, in the back of the head. Both of them took it without an issue before their lights dimmed as they loaded and restarted. Within moments it was complete, and Pohe stepped back, crossing her arms behind her. Clearing her throat, she was pleased when both machines turned their heads to watch her.

“Do you know who I am?” she asked. Having based their program off of Porygon, they were capable of adapting and thinking, although they were constrained to the same limits of the original program for safety’s sake.

The first one spoke, voice automated and mechanical. {Pohe Vahoc.}

Then the second chimed in. {Creator of this unit’s program, FireCat.}

She nodded, a genuine smile gracing her lips. Faraday looked slightly concerned about it, considering her normal personality. “Good, good. Check your coding – any possible issues?” She took out a piece of paper, nodding as they ran various tests and scenarios. Quite a few bugs cropped up that she wrote down the locations for them, pleased that they were functioning at all. When they finished, the machines reported they were low on power. Frowning, she told them to shut down while she repaired the flaws in the programming, throwing a tarp back on after that was accomplished.

<…What use are they if they can’t power themselves?> Faraday asked, watching Pohe furiously get back to work on the coding. <That seems like a poor design choice.>

“It is a poor design choice, which I don’t make. Simply put, they weren’t designed to be this useless.” Without looking, she gestured back at the machine. “Almost got the power source figured out, just waiting on the right materials to finish it. In the meantime, getting this done.”

Faraday observed her a bit longer when her phone suddenly went off. Cursing at being interrupted, Pohe answered. “What, Chihuahua? You said it’d be a while and I’m very busy!”

An obviously altered voice laughed on the other end. “My, what a cute pet name.” She didn’t know how to retort. Something about this seemed entirely off, and that was even considering she often worked with those on the black market. “I am not offended. Rather, I am placing an order.” Her small portal activated, and she watched nervously as a purple disc came through. It was not what came through that unnerved her, no, but rather the fact the portal had worked without her giving permission on her end. They had effectively hacked her device remotely.

Picking the disc up, she observed its smooth surface, narrowing her eyes. “Paying before you even get an acceptance from me? You’re rather cocky for someone who is hiding their own voice.”

“It seems to have gotten your attention, has it not?” She couldn’t argue that point. “I want you to build more of your timers. They are difficult to alter, incredibly accurate, and resilient to everyday stress. Rather perfect for my needs, and they don’t require magic to run, making them undetectable under normal circumstances.”

“…What are you, making counterfeit watches? Because I thought the point of ‘counterfeit’ was making a cheaper, worse product, not one that’s better.”

The voice laughed, and it truly unnerved her, striking her down to the core. It was unnatural with the alterations, but beneath that laid a snake. It was sinister but cunning, whispering hidden intent that even she wasn’t willing to take part in. “Your attitude is delicious. Do we have a deal?”

She took a deep breath, and shaking her head – even though he couldn’t possibly see it – she answered carefully. “No. I’m sorry but this payment seems rather dubious, and I’ve dealt with a lot of odd people. I’m rather busy with my own projects and other repairs at the moment, so it’d take me a while to get to it anyway. You’re better off finding someone else.”

“Ah, but you see, you’ve already built one for me prior. Or rather, one of my companions. Your work was so exemplary I desired to get you to build more as well. There is no one else. As for that payment,” he stated simply and with only the smallest hint of slyness, “try giving it to your Porygon 2. It will be most delighted.”

Pohe glanced at Faraday, who was staring back with equally wide eyes. “Ah, yes. Sometimes I forget I’ve mentioned my Pokemon to others,” she lied as she tapped a finger on the desk. “I’m sorry, though. I’m flattered you want me to make you more, but I can’t. I’m too busy.”

“Ah, so you will deny my request then?”

“Yes.”

“Hmm. Let me see if I can convince you otherwise.” The portal lit up once more, and from it, a small box came through. Opening it carefully, her eyes widened as she stared at the precious ores she needed. It was exactly what she required for her experiment! But only Chihuhua knew she needed it, no one else. Could he have guessed it? No. No one was that lucky.

“How did you know I needed this?” Pohe was trying her hardest to keep her unease hidden.

The voice laughed. “Let’s just say a little rat told me, yes? Or rather, a Chihuahua?”

Her amber eyes widened. “…What did you do to him?”

“He required a bit of convincing, my dear. He won’t be talking to you anytime soon.” The voice dropped lower and became quieter, as if he was leaning closer to the phone. “Now, do we have a deal? Just a few timers… Say, ten?”

Pohe was shaking with rage, her voice quivering, but she glared at the phone anyway. “I said no, and considering what you did to him, I’m really not keen on working with someone like you. I live life on the edge and all that, I guess, but I’m not that stupid!”

It laughed, and kept laughing for a minute or two. “How adorable that you think you have a choice, Outcast. Or should I say, Pohe Vahoc? You live in the basement of ‘Beemin’ Good Parts’, do you not?” She stared, flabbergasted. “I know all about you. If you want to stay safe, to keep those you care about safe, then I suggest you build those timers.”

She was afraid to ask, but she had no choice. “And if I don’t?”

The voice went silent, which was far more unnerving than its constant laughter. “You heard about what happened to the Greymane Building, right?” She nodded, giving a quiet acknowledgement. “That was your timer on that bomb. So I shall reiterate that if you wish to keep yourself and everyone else you love safe, you will build those timers for me. Do we have a deal?”

She clenched her hands into fists, staring bitterly at the machine. She was biting back tears, frustrated at her inability to do anything and horrified at her involvement in all of those deaths. How was she to know it was going to be used for a bomb? “…F-fine. I’ll make them.”

“Wonderful! I shall be in touch. Good luck, my dear!” It clicked off, leaving her in silence save for the low hum of Faraday’s levitation and the cacophony of her own thoughts.

What have I done?