The greenhouse was even more impressive in person. Reed had been expecting something grand, but nothing like this, all towering glass windows and multiple-chambered rooms, filled with the most beautifully exotic plant life he’d ever seen—but then again, he supposed that Juniper had always been something of a savant back in university when it came to botany. Reed adjusted the straps of his backpack with a shine of boyish excitement in his eyes. How many years had it been since he’d gotten to work with an old colleague? “Wooooaaah!” Reed’s wide-eyed wonder flatlined into a furrowed brow as the tiny voice beside him shattered the silence. He glanced down at the small Chimereon at his side, and forced himself to put on a smile. “It’s cool, isn’t it?” he said, shifting his weight on his paws. “Now, remember—you either play outside, and stick close to the greenhouse, or you come inside with me. And—” He held up a finger as the smaller, froggy-clothed Chimereon inhaled to answer. The

"Aaand another brilliant goal scored by Gregory of the Team Ocean Blue. He is just unstoppable tonight, isn't he folks?" news announcer Wolfgang's voice rang out smooth and eternally mildly-impressed over the intercom, somehow managing to rise above the noise of the crowd. "Is there no one on Team Coral Pink's side who can stand a chance?" "The game's not even halfway over, Wolf!" Emett chided back, his microphone buzzing with a few electronic chirps from the little robot on his shoulder, Blu. "Watch closely--I think Pink Team can come back swinging!" On paper, Lockstep was a part of the Ocean Blue team, but his team loyalty only went as far as showing up to the event. Normally, competition tempted him more than any amount of frisk-worthy valuables--that is, until actual valuables were concerned. The trophy that would be awarded to the most valuable player after this round of matches was a pretty shoddy-looking thing, covered in fake gold paint and engraved by some