Professor Ash starts to look at the Foongus up manish's sleeve, then blinks as it is covered back up and replaced with... another Foongus. "Yes, I can see the first one was born in captivity," she says, making a quick note on the shape of the wild Foongus's cap and gills. She examines the mushroom Pokemon thoroughly and gives a great sigh. "I'm relieved to see some native Unova Pokemon remain. Of course, I would expect poison-types to be particularly resilient to corruption."

She flips to a new page on her clipboard. "Thank you for your effort. I'll make sure some research funds are transferred your way. Keep up the good work, manish."

When Kath Ulu enters the lab and completes her childish display, Professor Ash sets down the books she'd been carrying with a loud slam. She's given only enough time to confirm the Drilbur exists before they're off again, apparently only entering the lab to fulfil game prerequisites. Ash doesn't exactly appreciate the dehumanizing treatment, but she is a practical woman.

"Another Unova Pokemon," she muses, eyes fixed on something on the ground. She squats down next to where the Drilbur had briefly appeared, examining the smudge of dirt left behind. Based on the color and general makeup, it corresponds to soil samples taken from the Surge Steppes.

"...I suppose that's something."

manish and Kath Ulu have been transferred 25 BYTES!
The wild pokemon lists have been updated.

It does not escape Professor Ash's attention that all three Pokemon Sarah Lee presents are steel-types, but she chooses not to make such an obvious comment. "Duraludon is a powerful Pokemon," she agrees after scanning the two Pokeballs. She swipes through a readout on their stats, pulling up a hologram of the chunky metal dragon. She closes out a moment later, pulling up a rotating Klink model instead. "And unlike Klink, certainly not native to this region— at least historically. A fluke, or a true migration, I wonder?"

More data was needed.

Sarah Lee has been transferred 50 BYTES!

orioncayge is a pleasant surprise, and Ash looks up with her brows raised as he offers her the Pokeball and field notes. "You wrote a journal?" she asks, incredulous and (in no small measure) pleased. She holds out a hand. "I'll take it here. It must be significant, if you've made the effort to jot it down."

She reads silently, nodding when she sees mention of local Klink, and stops to re-read the passage about steel spires and magnetism again. She looks up to meet the Bandana Guy's eyes. "This is very insightful," she says. "And certainly explains the prevalence of steel Pokemon I've had reported. Do be careful out there— instances of strong magnetism have been proven to have negative effects on the human body. Nausea and dizziness are the most common."

The Professor gives Orion an approving look. "I look forward to your next report," she says. She gives you a small spray bottle of bug repellant as well. "Hopefully this will help keep further Yanma at bay. They can be aggressive during breeding season."

orioncayge has been transferred 25 BYTES!

Furrlicity Purrfection's haul from the Birchwild Grove seems to interest the Professor very much. She notes down two more Unova Pokemon on her ongoing list as well as the Paras. "Paras are generally cave-dwellers," she comments, glancing up at Furrlicity. "Their presence in the Grove may indicate hidden caves or underground activity. Then again, perhaps they've simply found a new ecological niche."

She gives you a nod when you state your intent to go back. "I'd appreciate that," she says. "I suspect many strange and wonderful things we have yet to discover."

Of course, the opposite is also implied.

Furrlicity Purrfection has been transferred 75 BYTES!
The wild pokemon lists have been updated.

"Hey, prof." To be entirely honest, she could have made do with not coming back to the lab, since tracing back one’s steps is undoubtedly a waste of time, and Tuesday hates wasting time. But! It could be argued that the whole point of deep dive VR is the interactivity and escapism, and for those things to be possible, it’s necessary for the game to be eternally adapting.

What would happen if she returns to the professor’s laboratory, telling her about her “so-called” adventures?

Time to find out!

"So, I was just in Birchwild Grove and I accidentally stepped on this thing when going in the tall grass, check it out." Out from a pokéball comes a Petilil, and the moment it does, it looks at its surroundings. Realising that its at a strange and unfamiliar place, the Bulb Pokémon shivers, all before loudly BAWLING.

Tuesday rolls her eyes, but at least the Petilil doesn’t seem to be scared of her... considering the way it clings to her leg, at least – peeking at Professor Ash from behind it.

TUESDAY SHOWS PROFESSOR ASH A PETILIL CAUGHT IN BIRCHWILD GROVE

When she steps into the lab, water drips off her clothes and onto the probably-perfectly polished tiled floor. She had come here straight from the Misty Timberland, and after her encounter with a particularly aggressive avian pokémon, best believe she’s still soaked.

The pokémon in question, a blue duck that apparently had been given the ever so original species name of Ducklett, is in her arms; wiggling, struggling, and attempting to open its wings to break free. It even tries to bite her more than once, but despite her realistic pain threshold setting, Tuesday does no more than coldly stare ahead.

”This thing is a menace.” She declares, not even sounding annoyed. A factual statement and nothing else. ”Found it in the timberland. It took three of us to bring it down. Three.”

No, she doesn’t sound impressed, but she figured she should make Professor Ash aware of the pokémon she encounters while exploring Route 2.

She’ll have her revenge, just you wait.

Perhaps after logging off Mars will have duck à l'Orange for dinner.

TUESDAY SHOWS PROFESSOR ASH A DUCKLETT CAUGHT IN THE MISTY TIMBERLAND