There Be Cryptids Here

He hadn't stopped hovering over him as he'd busied himself with trying to make sense of those tests on the blue crystal, interrupting him on occasion to break the tension or ask about what his opinions on those tests were. While he'd been checking on him every so often ever since he'd first started transforming this was... much more frequent than it had been. Xerneas... Had he... caused him to remember something? He did mention that another had done what Augustine had... Oh no...

"You're overthinking again. Stop it."

A soft noise of surprise left him as the other man lightly hit him with the papers and he sheepishly apologized as he rubbed at his head, clearing his throat as a rumble soon followed. While he wasn't as put off by it as he had been it still caught him off guard when he made such sounds. Though he'd have to get used to it. As embarrassing as it could be it was still part of him now.

"What was going through that head of yours anyway? Still worried about him?"

He would gently pet Quiver who had fallen asleep on his lap by that point and shake his head, adjusting his glasses as he tried to think of how best to approach it. Corbeau would try to avoid talking about it for long after all. He always did whenever he'd tried to ask before. He did that with things that made him uncomfortable. He'd noticed that. How couldn't he? It wasn't that different to how he'd been avoiding his own pain. So he didn't want to make him relive that if he didn't want to.

"I... I didn't... upset you earlier did I? By talking about..."

The way he sighed and then hunched over clasping his hands made regret crawl through him but he was quickly pulled out of that when he threw him a smirk. A much softer one than the one he had when he teased him. His words were still heavy with what was unsaid between them but there was an understanding there as well. Something only the two of them could.

"Of course you didn't. I was the one who asked. But... It was inevitable it would come up."

A slow nod was his response at first as he gathered the resolve to keep going. Of course this would happen. The thing both of them couldn't seem to avoid even if they both wanted to. Corbeau seemed to have a better handle on it than he'd had, at least from how much he'd managed to tell with how more closed off he was than himself, but with how much more complicated things were becoming it was getting easier to see how it was affecting him.

"I... I don't know how to feel about it. None of this makes sense. There has to be something I'm missing. He can't be doing this without a reason. I... I just... I want to understand."

Keeping the frustration and distress from his words was difficult and he saw the other tense out of the corner of his eye, a look on his face he couldn't quite make out being there too, but before he could react he had already put a hand on his shoulder again. Why did he have to keep letting his emotions get the better of him? Why couldn't he keep it together as well as his other self could? Why... was he giving him that look?

"Then we'll just have to ask him when we catch him won't we? I'll let you have the first hit of course. What?"

A laugh left him at the tone of those words and he lightly scolded him for even suggesting that. Even if he was going to have to stop him he wasn't going to let him interrogate him like that afterwards. That only seemed to amuse Corbeau though and he pointed out the nature of the work they did at that version of his workplace before reassuring him he wouldn't be too rough with him when they caught him, a chuckle surprisingly leaving the other man as he threatened him with having his Ariados wrap him up if he attempted anything more.

While he was clearly trying to lighten the mood and likely brush past this like he'd known he would it was still enough to ease him. It was rare he could be like this around anyone else. Even his own Philippe had gotten mostly reassurances from him whenever he'd tried to comfort him and check on him. There was just... something there that made him willing to be honest with him. While it was probably due to them essentially being the same person he could tell it was more than that.

"Uh... Sorry to interrupt but there's been some trouble in front of Wild Zone 19."

Both of them stood at the same time as soon as Philippe came into the room, gazing over at each other and nodding before Corbeau asked to be filled in as they all filed into the elevator. What exactly awaited them over there he wasn't sure but this time he was sticking close to both of them. No more running ahead. If they were going to handle this they needed to do so together.

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"Are you sure they told you the right place?"

It had been quiet when they arrived. Much too quiet. He could tell something had come through that area as there were faint scorch marks in the grass but where it had gone and what it had been doing he wasn't sure of. So he made sure to keep alert as Philippe and Corbeau talked not far from him, glancing around where he'd crouched to get a better look warily.

"Find anything? I swear if we went out here for nothing..."

It wasn't hard to hear nor see how upset the other was with how he was tapping his foot and his veins in his forehead were visibly standing out. Honestly it concerned him how angry he tended to get and while he understood how stressful this all must be he was going to have to ensure he got some rest after this. They all deserved it honestly. Having to handle not only all the Rogue Pokemon in the city itself but also ones appearing from the portal, looking into his matter, and having a Pokemon causing all this to begin with? It was a miracle any of them was managing at all.

Although... Did he know about that Pokemon? They had gotten far enough to determine it was only one causing all this. So did Augustine know about it and was using that to his advantage? Xerneas... They didn't even know what he did know by that point... He'd gotten glimpses at best and that one instance earlier but other than that he hadn't a clue what the man had to use against them. They were just blindly trying to catch up to him while he did Xerneas knows what and-

"Huh...? We need to move."

A loud beeping from his phone along with a far too familiar sensation snapped him back to attention and he felt his heart skip a beat as he saw what exactly he was being informed of. A distortion. There was a distortion forming around them. They needed to move. They needed to move now. Quiver had clearly sensed it as well with how he was hissing and curling protectively around his neck and he wasted no time getting to his feet and calling over to them.

So when he opened his eyes and saw only swirling blue above him he simply sighed and sat up, frowning as he took in the cavern? he was in. It had to be another section of Hyperspace. How couldn't it be? He'd heard and seen the data on how dangerously thin the barrier between both had been becoming. So ending up in another part of it made some sense. Even if he... didn't... Wait... On the wall... There was a shadow.

"Where am I? Who are you? I... I don't know why I ended up here but..."

The rest of his words caught in his throat as the silhouette came further into view. It was hard to make out the features with how much of the blue was swirling around it but it radiated power. A power that was impossible to ignore. A power that commanded attention and silence. And yet... It felt... so familiar. He'd seen this before. Felt this before. It was... It was the same feeling that had fought off the other attempting to control him.

Who... Who were they? Why had they jumped in to help him like that? How had they done that? What was this energy? It didn't look too dissimilar from the concentrated Mega Energy he'd been handling but... There was... something more to it. Some other part that wasn't present in the deep red of its opposite. Could... Could this be... a new form of it? Or was it simply rare and undiscovered? The desire to understand was gnawing on him as they slowly moved towards him, his heart catching in his chest as they stopped right in front of him and spoke.

"I... called you here. I needed to... give you... this. He is... I am... going to act soon. So... I will give you... my aid. Consider it... my apology..."

There it was again. That strange wording. The slow and strained way of speaking he'd heard earlier. What did they mean that they were going to act soon? What... What were they apologizing for? Did he... Did he know this person? It... He couldn't fully make out their voice even here but he... He knew them. He just did somehow. And it deeply frustrated him that he couldn't place who they were. What on earth was going on?

"I don't... have much time... Beau. I am still... too weak. But please... mon cher... take this. You'll know... what to do."

As the crystal was placed into his hands and they drifted back he felt himself reaching out after them. Only one person ever called him that. But... It... That was impossible. It couldn't be-

"Gah! Oh... Uh... Hello Lupine."

The sudden appearance of the Scolipede mere inches from his face made him gasp but he quickly recovered and let out a breath as she chirped and gently bumped her head against his. That... That had to have been just a dream this time. It felt like whenever he'd shown up around Lebanne and the others but... He didn't want to believe it. It couldn't be true. It didn't make sense! Why was he-No... There... There had to be something he was missing. Some explanation for why they felt like... like him.

Hyperspace itself was still hard to understand, himself being proof of that much, so whatever oddity had caused what seemed like the same person to both be helping and hurting him was likely a product of that. But... Why was that the case? And what could this possibly mean for whatever he was up to? Xerneas... This was still so much to handle.

Lupine seemed to be picking up on his confusion and stress because she was soon nuzzling him and making him flush from the instinct to return the affection, clearing his throat as he patted her and pushed it down. As much as he was trying not to be so afraid of what he was it was hard not to be embarrassed with some of it. Especially with the noise that escaped his throat as she rested her head against his again. Curse these instincts...

"I was wondering where she'd gone. Having fun you two?"

He immediately turned away at those words and did his best to hide how red he'd gotten as Corbeau chuckled and called her over. It was hard not to hear the smirk he was likely being thrown with that tone as well. Why he liked to tease him that much he still wasn't entirely sure but since he was there he had to have been asleep long enough for some sort of news.

So he pulled himself together and got to his feet, gently patting Quiver as he scrambled up him to rest on his shoulder. He could feel the small weight that hadn't been there before in his jacket pocket as he did too. So it hadn't been a dream. That had been... No... He could ponder over the meaning of that later. For now he had to let him know it had happened at all and see what he had to tell him too.

From the slight irritation he could see on his face it had to have been recent and he listened as he mumbled about some issue with some other trainers and that he didn't have the time to handle that with how things were progressing with the rifts. What sort of trouble they had given him he wasn't entirely sure but he did his best not to interrupt and let him calm down before showing him the strange crystal he'd received. That only seemed to make him frown more though and he reached over to inspect it only to recoil suddenly as it sparked.

What... What on earth!? None of the other ones had done that! What exactly had he been given? Why was it not reacting like that when he touched it? Why only when Corbeau...? There was more to this wasn't there? Why else would it be reacting like that? The other seemed just as baffled by it and how he was holding it like that too. So it didn't surprise him when he called Philippe in and asked him to try taking it, his amber eyes narrowing as it shocked him too.

"You say you thought you knew them? Do you know why they would give you that?"

It was hard to keep the grimace from his face at the questions but he pushed through it nonetheless. Even if he was terrified to admit the answer... He had to. No more avoiding it. If they were going to stop him then they had to know. So he did his best to relay the events more clearly along with the impossibilities of who it had likely been even with the looks of concern and shock on their faces as he did. What exactly he was trying to do he wasn't sure but the sooner they found him the better.

"Philippe? Get someone in here to take a look at that. I doubt he would just hand Beau here something without there being some sort of catch. If you notice anything do be sure to let us know, alright? I won't have you dying on me."

There was the usual sarcastic and dry tone to his words but he could feel how worried he was under that. It wasn't hard to tell with how much time he'd spent around him. He was quick to let him know he'd speak up of course and only once that smirk came to his face again did he relax. They weren't getting caught off guard this time. They were going to be careful about this. They had to be with how much more brazen he was being with them. He wasn't going to let his anger best him like that again.

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"Are you sure?"

It hadn't taken the researcher long to get there and even if they hadn't been able to touch the crystal they had still been able to analyze it. From what they managed to gather it was indeed formed from Mega Energy, a different and far less potent kind than the blood red ones they'd been looking into, but one that held a slightly different kind of power. He'd confirmed it himself when he'd looked at the results and it only puzzled him more.

How could something be that close to another and yet be completely the opposite at the same time? It made no sense. There had to be some element to it that they hadn't detected yet. The same one that caused everyone else to get shocked if they touched it and not effect him in the least. There must be. Why else had he been given it?

Although... Now that they did have it perhaps that could help? That swirling blue that had been around him and had obscured him... could that be the same kind of power? Was it there to hide the much more potent one? No... He'd felt it. It had negated it so thoroughly. Even now he could visibly see the one on his pin getting sapped of power. So then why? Why had he given him this? What did he want? What did it mean?

Oh Xerneas this was so much... He hadn't even realized he'd sunken into a chair and been rubbing at his temple until Corbeau sat next to him and placed a hand on his shoulder. It wasn't hard to see the strain that the findings were putting on him as well but he was clearly trying to divert his attention from that with the remarks he made.

"Was he always this confusing around you? I can't imagine what he's trying to get at with this."

A small smile came to his face despite that though and he found himself talking about all of the things he used to do that frustrated not only him but the Professor. Augustine had been... a very theatrical man. If someone didn't know him well it would have been difficult to know when he was being serious. But... There had always been tells. A warm look in his eyes or a gentleness to his words. It was why... He'd never understood what had driven him to such extremes.

"I don't... I don't know what he's planning or why he did this. I just... I can't understand him anymore."

He felt Corbeau stiffen at his words but keep his hand on his shoulder, what felt like a long silence stretching between them before the other man spoke again. It was a brief amount of words but they both pained him to hear and strangely comforted him at the same time. It was exactly what he needed to hear though. To know he wasn't alone in this. That he did have someone who understood.

Xerneas damn it... Why hadn't he realized? Augustine may have been one of the least serious people he'd known but everything with the Ultimate Weapon had taught him that had been a facade. He was clever. He always thought of contingencies to anything he was doing. That meticulous nature had nearly spelled the end of all of them if not for that trainer throwing a wrench into his plans. So he should have known. He should have known he would pull something like this.

Now wasn't the time to focus on that now though. If that Golurk got out of the zone it could destroy the entire block. So with a deep breath he placed a hand over his Keystone and readied himself to draw its attention. He was still feeling the strain from nearly being controlled but he could still handle this. He had to. He couldn't just sit by while the very man he thought he once knew threatened this Lumiose. He was done letting him get away with this.

"Philippe, let Quasartico know one of their zones might be going offline. Get the grunts to keep them here until someone arrives. A Golurk huh? Shouldn't be too hard to handle. If we work together properly that is. I know you're thinking of throwing yourself at it again but I need you to pull back. Let me and Philippe lead this time. You don't need to do everything on your own, yeah?"

The stern but calm tone Corbeau used pulled him from his angered haze and while part of him wanted to insist, wanted to point the blame of the situation on himself like always, he resisted. That was what he wanted wasn't it? For him to rush in and push himself to stop the rampaging Rogue just like always. But... Augustine hadn't accounted for this Corbeau. How could he have? He didn't know... Oh... That was it wasn't it? Why he was so desperately trying to get at him. Because he didn't have any other choice.

And that meant he couldn't possibly plan for either of them. As infuriated as he still was that he was endangering all of these people just knowing that his plans were far less put together than he'd thought quelled it for the moment. If he was going to stop this Rogue he had to work with them. Doing everything on his own had only hurt him so far. He needed to rely on them. They knew this place better than him and were much more capable battlers than himself.

So he turned to him with a nod and glanced over the area, smirking as he noticed that the sand underneath the Rogue was pooling around its feet. It wasn't meant to hold something quite that heavy from how haphazardly they had put the zone together so that would prove it's undoing. Kiko seemed ready to help in any case so once they distracted it...

"I've got an idea. Distract it for me. I know exactly how to stop it from getting loose."

Even if the other looked at him with some skepticism he still sent Lupine at it with a Poison Jab, Philippe's Skarmory drawing its attention from the air as well. Its movements were slow but it wasted no time in trying to shoot down its opponents. All the better as Kiko rushed in without its notice and struck exactly where he wanted her to before it attempted to turn and attack her.

Only for it to get stuck before it could. The move may have missed the Pokemon but it wasn't the target. The now thoroughly doused sand was. It had already sunken deeply into the now thickened sand and a devious smirk came to his face as it struggled to move or pull itself free. Perfect. Now it wasn't going anywhere. Corbeau seemed to have realized what he'd been up to as he saw a smirk come to his face as well and he wasted no time in laying into the Rogue.

It roared and wildly spun to try and drive him off but that just pulled the sand in and it let out a deep whir as it stopped and attempted to get it off only to let out a cry as it was punished by Skarmory. Kiko would ensure the sand stayed wet as well with her Liquidation and help to distract it from getting off a clean attack as well. This... It may not last but... It was working. Even if it did get out it would be weakened and exhausted.

"Sorry about this big guy but I'm afraid your time is up! Lupine, Earthquake!"

Kiko would dodge back as the move struck the Golurk only to rush in and strike it with another Liquidation, a roar erupting from it as it wretched itself free and went to strike her. The move had loosened the sand and as it clambered towards her he couldn't help but want to defend her. Only for Lupine to rush in and strike it with another move which sent it stumbling back. Skarmory followed up with its own move and he covered his eyes as it collided with the ground and sent a cloud of dust in its wake.

"Heh, I told you. You don't have to do this alone. We've got your back."

Crack.

What? Both of them froze at the sound and as the sound of cracks forming on glass ripped through the air he barely had time to react before an explosion of blood red energy erupted around them, the walls of the zone flickering several times as silence followed. And he found himself being shielded by a familiar pair of arms along with Corbeau. How had Philippe gotten there so fast? Was... Was he alright?!

"You two okay? That blast... That was worse than the last one. Don't worry. I'm fine. Ducked behind a stall with you two before it hit."

Relief flooded him at the words and that smile on his face before he slowly moved back and got to his feet. Other than the system panicking at the sudden energy surge it looked like the zone itself wasn't too badly damaged. The Pokemon were shaken and the terrain was a mess but nothing that couldn't be sorted. They... They actually... They had stopped him. But... He still didn't know what the purpose was. Why attack this city and it's people? Why force these Pokemon to do his bidding? What was he missing? He... He couldn't understand. Just as he hadn't his whole life. Why? Why was he doing this?

"A pity he's resorting to such a petty trick. It'd be better if he just faced us instead of hiding like a coward. But... That just means we'll have to find him ourselves. Then we'll get some answers out of him, yeah?"

Though... He couldn't help but feel they still didn't have all of the information. It had been bothering him. How sudden the attacks were. Why he would bother exposing them. Sending all those Pokemon after them too. Why? There must be a reason. Augustine was too clever to simply do this randomly. No... He'd always been very meticulous. Revenge couldn't be the entire point of all this. Lebanne had pointed out as much that he would have been far more aggressive otherwise. So why? What could possibly-

"You're doing it again. Mind telling me what's been making you stare at the table for so long hmm?"

A startled noise left him as he was lightly hit on the forehead with some papers, peering over to see an amused but concerned Corbeau. Ever since the doctor had left he hadn't moved from beside him and he could see Philippe hovering around as well. While he couldn't help but feel guilty for worrying them that much he pushed past it and grabbed the notepad he'd been using. If they were going to handle things then he needed to be honest. No more keeping things from them.

'Something about this is bothering me. It feels... wrong. He's being too distant. The Augustine I knew was far more direct. So he has to be planning something. There has to be a reason he's doing this besides revenge. I don't... I don't know what that could be though...'

A grimace would come to the other's face as he read what he'd written and he would call over to Philippe to warn the public about the attacks and to keep the workers there ready in case they needed to stop another Rogue. There wasn't a chance there wouldn't be another at this rate. But why he was sending them when they just kept getting knocked out was baffling. Was he just testing those crystals? If that was the case why do the exact same thing over and over? What purpose was it for?

Quiver could likely feel his stress because he suddenly found him snuggling against his neck, a low rumble leaving him as he pat him with some embarrassment. Even now he was trying to cheer him up. What would he ever do without him? It was honestly a miracle he hadn't been affected by any of the... Wait... It didn't affect Quiver. His eyes widened as he picked him up and looked him over, the Venipede chirping and bumping his head against his forehead.

Of course... It wasn't affecting the Pokemon! Did that mean it only worked on people? Come to think of it... Was... Was that why the recent attacks hadn't done anything to him? He'd felt exhausted certainly but that was due to using the power that was already inside of him. There hadn't been a single change since then. But what... What did this mean? What about the Rogues? Did it only work on Pokemon that could...?

This... This was crucial. If it were the people themselves that Augustine was after then they had to find him. This had to stop. He couldn't let him force what had happened to him on anyone else. Which meant they would need to search Hyperspace. How exactly he was supposed to get to the others when he'd only been getting there in his sleep he wasn't sure but there had to be a way. They could help. Gwynn had already been looking so maybe they could meet up with her? Yes... That sounded good. They-

"You've got that look on your face again. Not gonna let us in on it?"

He turned to see Corbeau smirking at him and sheepishly put Quiver down on his lap, detailing what he'd come to realize and how urgent it was to find a way into Hyperspace. While he was worried about it being temporary with how unstable the other ones had shown to be they had to try. Then at least they could all pool their findings and figure out where he was hiding. He did still owe her those donuts as well...

"Philippe? Get our boys to run a scan. We need to find him as soon as possible. If he thinks he's going to attack Lumiose like that then he's in for a rude awakening."

Oh... Oh Xerneas. The menacing edge to those words made his blood run cold and he silently pulled up his data to lend them as much as he could for them to reference. What exactly was going to happen if they did find him he wasn't sure but... Perhaps he should keep an eye on them just in case. As much as he loathed what he was doing violence wouldn't solve this. No... That would be stooping to his level. There had to be better ways of dealing with him.

It wouldn't take long for the scan to finish regardless and as the three of them looked it over he felt his heart skip a beat. Naturally there were still traces of the previous fights with those Rogues but there was now another around one of the Wild Zones on the east side of the city. What could he possibly be doing over there? Was... Was he about to...? They had to go. They had to get there before he roped another person or Pokemon into whatever scheme he had. If they could stop him then maybe...

He was moving before he realized and he heard Corbeau yell back to some of his workers before he went after him, Philippe not too far behind him. As much as he was going to get scolded for rushing in like that time was of the essence. If he could prevent anyone else from going through what he had he was going to take the chance. They had already dealt with the issue so much that he knew he could depend on them to cover for him in case something happened.

That didn't stop the feeling of dread pooling in his stomach as he ran at a wall and kicked off of it to gain some height, launching himself back and forth between it and a tree nearby until he could roll up onto the roof. The sooner he got there the better and even if things were much further apart and different from the Lumiose he knew that wouldn't stop him. He just had to follow the buildings and he should be able to make it.

So he kept going until the area on the scan came into view and he could see out over the Wild Zone, the large 8 on the gate along with the small amount of Pokemon in there catching him off guard. Why here? The one he'd known was far bigger than this one and with there not being many people around due to what had happened earlier it made no sense. What was he doing? Did he not realize it wasn't that large? What-Wait...

His breath hitched as he spotted him. A lone figure of red standing near one of the stalls in the zone. He didn't appear to have noticed him there so with a shaky breath he pushed himself forward, letting his phone catch him before he snuck up towards the gate. No running away this time. He would face this. He would stop him. He had to stop him. This couldn't keep happening.

"Beau!"

He froze as his name was called and the figure turned towards him before vanishing in an instant, the air shifting around him as a distortion formed in his wake. No... He'd been so close! If he'd just been faster...! A low growl left him as he watched it rapidly grow in size and called out Kiko. So he'd already had a Pokemon prepared for them. Of course he had... How couldn't he have? Why hadn't he thought of that?

Wait... He sat up as the events in Hyperspace came roaring back and felt around for his glasses. He had to find Corbeau and Phillipe! If Augustine was getting more powerful then they needed to use his current inexperience against him. Maybe they could use those crystals or find whoever had been trying to warn him all this time? Of course! He had to mention that too! There was-

"Oh... Hello there. Are you... Corbeau's?"

The sight of a Scolipede right in front of his face came into view once he found his glasses and he sheepishly greeted it only to let out a gasp as it gently bonked its head against his and nuzzled him, a flush coming to his cheeks as it caused him to chirp. Why did he have to have these instincts? He could feel the urge to lean into it there again and he could feel a purr of all things trying to claw out of his throat. Which is why he cleared it and tried his best to contain himself as he looked around for the other version of himself.

He was back in his office again but there didn't seem to be anyone about. Maybe they had gone to discuss something or were resting themselves? He did recall laying down on the couch earlier with how exhausted he'd been... Had his Pokemon come to get him then or was it simply there to make sure he was doing alright? Transforming out of nowhere had gotten him scolded so it made sense that could be the case.

Though as it happily followed after him he couldn't help but wonder if it had confused him with Corbeau. They were the same person essentially so perhaps he smelled similar? Or was this one just this friendly with everyone? He couldn't quite tell but the way Quiver was peering out of his jacket at it did make a chuckle leave him. Maybe it was another of him?

"Lupine!"

The shout of disapproval that left his other version as he rounded a corner to see them likely on their way back to his office made a smile come to his face, the Scolipede shaking her head before snuggling him one last time. So she had wandered in there by herself... The huff that left Corbeau as she went back over to him and proceeded to rest her head on his shoulder made it clear she did this often and it was hard not to laugh at how needy she was being with him. It was just like when Quiver wanted his attention.

"Sorry if she woke you. She's not supposed to bother people like that. But maybe... you smelled like another Scolipede to her? Wouldn't surprise me if you do."

Oh... That... He hadn't considered that. It would explain why she seemed so affectionate and why she was still looking at him like he'd seen Quiver doing to her. He'd have to correct this. He couldn't have her hovering over him like that when- Was... Was Corbeau... laughing?! A small noise had caught his attention and he could see he had a hand over his mouth as he turned away from him. What... This was serious!

"Hehe... Stop it! Stop making that face! What did you two get comfortable or something?"

He was quick to correct him at those words but his embarrassment only seemed to amuse him more, his frantic attempts to explain himself just making the other stifle more laughter. Why was this so funny? He hadn't done that... He'd just... Oh Xerneas... His instincts were going to be the death of him... Why did he have to be saddled with them?

"Oh come on! You know I wasn't being serious! If she likes you then that's alright by me. Heh, just means she trusts you. Isn't that right?"

A smirk had worked its way onto Corbeau's face as he gently nudged him with his elbow, Lupine trilling as she nuzzled into his hand and he scratched her head. He... He knew he hadn't been but... He couldn't help but awkwardly nod and run a hand through his hair. It still felt so strange wanting to essentially be pet and shown affection like a Pokemon. Every little noise he made caught him off guard. It was a part of himself that confused him. And still scared him too.

"Judging by that noise I'm guessing you still don't like it? I can understand why you wouldn't... But you don't need to worry about it. It's not like you can help it yeah? I don't mind it all that much either. Heh, it's actually pretty amusing when you do it."

A sigh left him at those words and he let out another rumble before clearing his throat. It was unconscious so he couldn't control when it happened for the most part. That didn't make it any easier on him but knowing that Corbeau wasn't bothered did help. Even if he was going to be much more mindful of what he was doing around Lupine now.

"We should move this to the office Boss. We still need to let him know what happened this morning. I'm guessing you have some stuff to tell us too?"

What?! What had happened? Had he already started to-

"Gah! Window... Open it... now!"

Dread. A blazing seething force of dread at the base of his chest. Something was there. Something was trying to force something out of him. He could feel it. Feel a burning spark being pulled at and stoked. It was getting harder to hold back as the seconds ticked and he just managed to lean out of the window Phillipe had opened before it exploded out of him, a thick red smoke leaving his mouth as he coughed and struggled for air. Why now?! What was this? He'd coughed it up before but never this much! Who... Who was doing this? Was it...?!

"Phillipe get the doctor in here now! We need to... What... is that?"

Again. He could feel it. Something else was fighting against the one trying to control him. Where there was a fiery rage with one this was a much more familiar cold yet calming force. The same one from those visions. Who... Who were they? How did they know this was happening? Had they felt it somehow? Why help him like this? Wait... was that... blue he could see creeping into the smoke?

It was overtaking it and he let out a gasp as his ability to breathe came rushing back, sinking to the floor as he watched it leave him with wide eyes and slowly ease the hold on him. What... How was this possible? What was this? It still felt like the same Mega Energy that they'd come across but far less volatile. It felt... peaceful. Warm. Completely the opposite of what he'd felt from the concentrated crystal. How could that be? If they had the same concentration then shouldn't they be...?

Find... me...

As both forces left he heard it. That voice from Hyperspace calling out to him again. Was there so much energy in the air that they could...? A shuddering breath left him before he coughed up the last of the smoke, Phillipe helping him sit up and work through it as Corbeau called down the hall for a doctor again. What one could possibly do now was beyond him but with how much his chest ached it couldn't hurt.

"What the hell was that? Mind filling us in on who that was? Or did you not think to tell us?"

What...? Did... Did they both...!? He wheezed as he struggled to get the words out to explain to him and ended up shaking his head frantically instead, motioning for a pen and paper as Quiver curled around his neck protectively. If speaking wasn't an option then- What was Phillipe doing!?

A surprised trill left him as he was lifted and swiftly carried down the hall, gazing up at him in bewilderment as the man kept a careful hold on him and supported his back once he set him back down. They had gotten to know and understand each other better but the fact he was being this caring towards him was still shocking to see. Had... Had it truly looked that bad? It certainly felt like it had been...

"Here. Now tell us what's going on yeah?"

He took the notepad and pen with an apologetic smile before writing down as much as he could about what had happened in Hyperspace and what he'd seen when they were handling the Rogue. With how draining that had been he hadn't been able to tell them until now and the looks of genuine concern and horror on their faces once he held the pad up only made it clear why he should have sooner.

"...How long have you had these "visions" for? What exactly did the man you saw look like too? We might be able to track him down."

A nervous rumble left him as he adjusted his tie and turned toward Phillipe, jotting down some of what he suspected before holding it up again. While he knew that finding him was crucial he had a sneaking suspicion he was still in Hyperspace somewhere. The fact that he'd been able to attempt controlling him like that whilst being nowhere near him was proof of that much.

'Since I got hurt defending those kids. I couldn't hear them before now though. It was always just dread. I don't know who they are. I don't think Augustine is here either. He's probably hiding in Hyperspace. Gwynn says she saw him. I think... he just did that to me too. It felt... wrong. Like something was trying to make my body act against me. I think that other person helped too. It felt like them.'

It was hard not to flinch at the fury in their expressions as they read what he had written nor the cold icy tone in Corbeau's voice as he asked Phillipe to bring in the data they had. Although... He soon found himself just as angered as the other filled him in on what they had been meaning to tell him. Apparently some citizens around the city had suddenly coughed up the very same smoke that he had and the Syndicate had taken action to prevent panic from spreading.

He was inflicting the same curse he had on these people now. People who had nothing to do with him. Why? Why was he doing this? How had he done this? Had they been exposed? Was it... people who had ended up lost in Hyperspace? That had to be it. He was probably pulling them there and then... What was this all for? Why force such a terrible change on them when they had done nothing to deserve it? He hadn't changed. He hadn't changed at all! He was still...

"Beau. Breathe. We'll find him. We'll drag him right out of Hyperspace and make sure he can't do this anymore. I swear it."

Suddenly Corbeau was much closer than he had been and he made sure to turn away from him as he took a deep breath, more smoke leaving him as he calmed himself. Why did this have to happen? Why now? He'd been moving past that terrible day. Why did he have to go right back to...? No... He would stop it. He wouldn't let him do this again. He'd made a mistake turning him into whatever he was now. They would stop him.