Meanwhile, back at the lab...Meanwhile after capturing the Zigzagoon for Professor Birch, Taylor went to her Secret Base on [redacted]. Logging into her computer, she opened up Fennekin, her preferred web browser, to check for updates. And it seemed like the Pokerus variant was beginning to spread to other regions. Isolated cases in Fiore and Oblivia were showing up, along with others appearing in Ransei and the Orange Archipelago. Quickly, she grabbed links to these reports with pictures and sent them off in an email to Birch. This whole thing was about to get colorful. Or not colorful at all. Either way, it would be interesting.
*Birch sat, looking over his e-mail.*
"Taylor found more. Reports coming in from Fiore, Oblivia, Ransei, and the Orange Islands! This is more widespread than we thought, and it's moving fast!"
*On the other side of the lab, Hemlock stood and made his way to Birch.*
"How is it being spread? We've determined through the Zigzagoon pack, that transmission was done through biting. But, what about the other Pokemon? Have we been able to determine a timeline? An origin?"
*Birch shook his head.*
"The condition is viral, so it could also be airborne. It's possible that when other Trainers find these Pokemon, that they become unwitting carriers and transmit the disease to different regions. Now, I've done tests on the specimens that Taylor had brought us, but I've yet to determine a duration, as the Pokemon are different ages and due to the degree of the leucism; were infected different times. Our Shiny Zigzagoon is still in early stages of the disease, and I've been able to study the death of the pigment cells. That Zigzagoon is our timeline."
*Hemlock nodded slowly. He looked to Mulberry, who was mulling over Prof. Hypno's vacant work station. Since the news, Mulberry had been despondent and mopey, and much of his work had fallen by the wayside as he tried to fill in for their ill assistant. Hemlock snorted and walked up to the young man.*
"Get over it. We have work to do. We've found other regions exhibiting these leucistic Pokemon and we've got the Patient Zero of the Zigzagoon pack...
and you're sitting here moping over a Hypno?!"
*Mulberry straightened, spun around, and socked Hemlock right in the face.*
*Birch stood and rushed between the two.* "Whoa! Whoa! Cool it! What's going on here?!"
*Mulberry glared at Hemlock and turned away. He headed for the door, stopping at the cloakroom to get his coat.* "I'm going downstairs to the break room. Buzz me when you need me."
*Hemlock rubbed his jaw.* "Oh, you're real mature. You won't even finish the fight you started."
"Lay off it!" *Mulberry snapped.* "Look, it's either I walk out, or I knock you on your arrogant ass again! Your choice!"
*Birch held a hand up.* "Mulberry, take a break. You've been stressed out all week. Go get something to drink and clear your head. And Hemlock," *He turned to face Hemlock* "Hypno was a valuable asset to our team. Cut him some slack."