victory_road | 10th [video network post]

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10th [video network post]

Hey everyone!

[Kazuki is in a familiar place-- his backyard. His expression is slightly dismayed, but mostly cheerful as usual.]

Happy year of the Rat! Or Rattata. Back home, it's just Rat, but I dunno if people from other worlds have the same thing. Does anyone else celebrate the Lunar New Year?

Anyways, back on track, I've got a couple of questions.

First off, I've got a new member in the team! When that broadcast was on tv a couple of days ago, about the new Type: Null program, I thought it was a really good idea. Those Nulls that got returned or lost their owners, they deserve a second chance, right? And there were flyers up at the Pokemon shelter... Anyways, I decided to go for it!

[He turns the camera around to show a Type: Null slowly roaming around the yard. It looks in a certain direction, as though suddenly interested in something. It heads in that direction.]

Its old name was Sergeant, so I decided to call it Sarge. To make things easier for it, you know? Its a Dragon Type, and so far things are going okay enough. I think its still sad about whatever happened to it in the past, so its not really that energetic or affectionate yet. That's okay though. I know these things take time.

There's just one problem...

[Sarge comes back into the shot, nudging a whimpering Yamper with its big, scary helmet to get it to go towards... A group of small Pokemon, including a Vulpix, Oshawott and Scorbunny. Once the Yamper joins them, the Type: Null sits down and stares at them. By the miserable looks on their faces, it seems like they're being rounded up against their will.]

It keeps doing that. It makes all my small Pokemon stay in a little group and doesn't let them go anywhere it can't see them. I keeps having to rescue them, because they obviously don't like it, and I'm not sure how I should try to discipline Sarge yet. I don't want to make him dislike me so early on, but I've gotta make sure my other Pokemon are still comfortable too, right? Does anyone else who's gotten a Null have any pointers?

Oh, and uh, about that race that's coming up-- Is there anyone out there that could make a saddle for a Furret? Thanks in advance!

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That's...odd. I've never seen a Pokemon exhibit that type of behavior before.

[ she squints into the camera. those pokemon sure don't seem happy. ]

I don't have a Null myself, but I can try to help you find the source of the issue. Do you think it's because of what's happened in its past?

The adoption forms did mention that they could have "glitches," so it might be something like that? Like a personality quirk. I don't think other Nulls are like this.

That could very well be your answer, then. It's a strange personality quirk alright, but it definitely counts as one if you ask me.

So if that's just the way he is, I don't think scolding him would really accomplish anything...

I wouldn't know the exact answer to that, but perhaps some experimentation is in order now...

It's tough. I've talked about it with a couple of other people, and I'm thinking the fact that it can't use attacks anymore might have something to do with it. It might be feeling insecure and taking it out on the little ones by trying to protect them however it can.

Well, that's a new and interesting behavior.

[If rather unpleasant for the 'abducted' Pokémon.]

Looks like your Type: Null needs a nice, big group of sheep to herd. In the meantime, make sure to give it treats whenever it allows the others to leave, so it can learn what acts are encouraged in your team.

Herding! That's what he's doing! I wasn't thinking of that, I was more convinced he was holding them hostage for something.

Hey, Cotton! [Kazuki looked over his shoulder, and an Ampharos bobbed into view.] Do you know where a lot of Mareep might be hanging out?

[Cotton quirked his head. Would his herd still be where he left them all that time ago?]

That might count as holding them hosting for compliments and praise, depending on your point of view.

[It just takes a very odd point of view.]

I know there's a bunch of them in Kanto, especially between Violet and Goldenrod... They'Re a staple for those who want to win in Violet, after all.

I don't want it terrorizing wild Pokemon, but it can't attack anymore either, so its not like it can hurt anything. Oh, but that's a problem too. What if the wild Pokemon attack it? Is its hp and defense still good? I don't know...

Giving it a pack full of berries at all times could help with that. SID might have its own... issues, but it still has the instinct to chomp on berries when it's injured. Yours should be the same.

Yeah, it eats berries. I think I'm gonna double check about its stats with Silph though. I feel kinda dumb for not thinking about this before. They made the whole process look really easy...

Of course they did. They desperately need good PR after the fiasco that was the last year. Wouldn't want to impede potential adopters and risk scaring them away.

I am kinda surprised they didn't stop making Nulls altogether. It doesn't seem like it turned out to be a good idea.

Are they still making them? Or are they just finding homes for the existing ones? I can't imagine they get much funding anymore...

You can still sign up for a Null the way everyone used to, so I'm guessing those ones are still being made.

That's... homestly kind of alarming, all things considered. Though they have to be ethical about it these days, with all the people watching their every move.

It is kinda strange that they're still making them to order when they've already admitted they've got so many returns they have to do like they did with Sarge. But that's not Sarge's fault. He still deserves a good trainer, and so do all the other Nulls.

But it'd definitely stop being a problem if they just stopped making them. At least until they can figure out how to make them with less issues, so people don't return them anymore.

I'd say they should explain every potential side effect clearly and vet people to ensure they can deal with those, but that wouldn't stop anyone from changing their mind, would it. Or worse, from not returning them and just... neglecting them, instead.

Mm. Most people in this world wouldn't do something like that, but there are always bad apples. I don't want to think about what Team Rocket would do if they got their hands on some Nulls.

Can you put him in his pokeball? Not all the time, just part of the time until you've got this problem handled? That would give your other pokemon a break.

If worse comes to worse, I can definitely do that. But I wonder if there a way I can redirect him somehow. Get him to... Use his powers for good?

I don't think he's exactly acting maliciously right now. He seems more like a sheepdog protecting a flock.

He hasn't been at your house for very long, has he? Maybe he still needs to understand that the area around your house is safe. I imagine from his point of view it's all unknown and possibly dangerous terrain.

[Sure it is a backyard, but it could be a backyard of DEATH.]

That makes a lot of sense! As far as it's concerned, this is all new territory... Hmm...

My strong Pokemon make sure the area is safe for everyone else. Maybe I should try to get it to be friends with them. Even if it can't use any attacks-- Oh, wow, that might be a problem too! What if it had attacks before and doesn't anymore? It might be scared!

It probably did have some attacks. Most of these pokemon were adopted by trainers to battle them right? Initially, at least. So from its perspective, it is suddenly in a new unknown area, with creatures it feels might be in danger and it doesn't have access to any ways to defend itself.

You've totally got a point. I think it's for the best if they're able to get homes this way, but losing their attacks is probably still tough to deal with.

But... This might actually be a good sign? He's worried about the little Pokemon more than himself. That means he has a caring nature.

[Armin won't argue with that, but he just wonders how far Silph will take it. It's not like they are showing any signs of stopping the production of more Nulls, despite (at least in Armin's eyes) any real progress on making them any less glitchy. It just makes him wonder how many more Nulls will have to be produced and eventually, perhaps, have their attacks terminated like that until Silph is satisfied.]

He doesn't look like a bad pokemon. Just a little over-protective. Have you introduced him to any of your large pokemon yet? Maybe he'll bond more easily with a pokemon that doesn't make him feel like he has to protect it.

It's a good idea. Luna and Boomer are the most protective, maybe it should go out on a patrol with them. Then it might be able to relax.

You could try explaining the situation to your small pokemon as well. I know it isn't ideal for them, but maybe if they understand what is going on, they can help too. They might be okay with staying a little closer to home until your new pokemon-- ah, Sarge was its name, right? is more settled in.

Yep, Sarge. And sure. Most of my little guys don't go far anyways. And really, they're all stronger than him, so if he gets too rough they can warn him off with an attack. I doubt it'll get to that point tho'.

[Riku watches the feed with a puzzled look. That's... odd. And he's not sure what to make of it.

And here he was just gonna ask about the whole year of the rat thing.]

So, what exactly does it do with the Pokemon? Does it just sit there and watch? Does it attack them? It could be trying to protect them, but if that's the case, it definitely seems like it's coming across the wrong way.

[Agh, what a mess.]

If you don't have any Psychic types, I could grab one of mine to try and talk to it. Or my Weavile- but once you get him to start talking, he'll never shut up.

[Talking Pokemon? Cool on paper. Exhausting in practice.]

No, it doesn't attack-- Well, to be fair, it can't attack. I'm not a trainer, so I don't have any badges, and that means I can't take care of a regular Null. This one is from that new project they're doing at Silph. They did something to it to take away it's attacks and make it level 1 forever.

I guess I didn't think about how that might mess a Pokemon up. I just wanted to help out. There are a lot of homeless Nulls, according to Silph...

Oh, huh. How 'bout that?

[A Pokemon that doesn't attack... That's a concept that's just so baffling outside of maybe Magikarps. Weird.]

Hmm... I wonder if it's something worth talking to a Joy about. They're more about healing, but you'd think they'd have at least some skill with counseling.

Usually I talk to somebody at Mr. Fuji's orphanage when I need help with Pokemon rehabilitation. My place here is just south of Lavender Town, so I'm there a lot.

Oh, huh. I actually haven't spent a lot of time down there. Probably why it didn't cross my mind.

[He titters. In hindsight, it's kind of a no brainer.]

Seems like a pretty relaxing place to live overall, though.

Usually, yeah! Sometimes some Ghost Types act up in the area, but Mr. Fuji and some of the other natives know how to deal with them.

But I'm here for the recording studios. There's a lot of them thanks to the Radio Tower here. And I always have work because of them!

Heh. What's that like, anyway? Never been super involved with music or radio.

[It seems daunting on paper? But Riku's never been the best with that kinda publicity.]

It's a lot of fun! It's like they say-- work isn't really work when you're passionate about it. I get to express myself and make other people happy at the same time. I couldn't ask for more than that.

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10th [video network post]

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I lost a ton of notifs, so I'm sorry I didn't get to this sooner Dx

It's okay! :3

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