Snippet #2119039

((I apologize for my absence. ;u; I love you all. May this roleplay never die.))

The Professor
Oak sat behind his desk and ran his fingers through his balding hair. "Nice to see you, Jae." He waited for the boy to take a seat. Then he slowly began to talk.

"It's been almost eight months since the Noise."

Silence in response. In the audience, Griff's eyes widened. Few people kept track of the time anymore; watches and cell phones had stopped long ago. Their battery supply had been one of the first to go. He wouldn't have ever guessed it was that long.

"I know that everyone is getting as anxious as I am. Why haven't we received any aid? Where's the League, the Gym Leaders? We haven't even had any refugees. What's become of Johto, Hoenn, Sinnoh, Unova?" Oak bent his head, privately mourning his grandson. "And we've all lost someone we love, or even worse, are left in the dark as to what has happened to them..." His forehead creased with worry.

"Do any of you know--" The professor rattled off five names. All Trainers. Griff's hands clenched the sides of his cushion. "Perhaps you've already heard the news, as it's traveled fast. But today, they were all killed... young Griff there found their bodies guarded by an enormous Arbok." Griff looked away.

The professor turned and pulled down a huge regional map of Kanto, then spun around to look at the six Trainers again. "Anyone want to tell me where Arboks are found in the wild? That's right," he said, not waiting for an answer, his words growing more feverish as he grabbed a Sharpie, "not here!" He scribbled a circle around Pallet Town and the surrounding areas and routes. "My fear is that the more vicious Pokemon who live to the north, east, and west have expended all their food sources and are migrating south to try and find more. In other words, I'm afraid that all the other cities..." He looked at the Trainers, exhaustion suddenly spreading over his face. "...are gone."

There was quiet. Oak placed the Sharpie on his desk and gave them all an intense stare. "Everyone knows that six is the most powerful combination of Pokemon to have in a team. You can have an amazing type variety there. You can take down almost anyone you meet." He eyes scanned over the Trainers. Griff, Melody, Nero, Jae, Lorraine, Mic. "You six are here because... well, because I'd like to ask a favor of you." He took a deep breath. Oh boy, how would they react? "Will the six of you accompany me north to try and discover if any city other than Kanto is still alive?"

The moment was powerful and shocking until the professor started mumbling to himself, abashed, "I mean, I know it's practically a suicide mission, and practically nobody has come back even from trying to get to Viridian, and with the more powerful Pokemon showing up every day it's sure to be really tough, and you'll have to leave Pallet, but..." His voice got quieter and quieter until it faded out, and he looked at them hopefully and nervously.