Zygarde Cells were like low-level slime monsters from another world. They had little awareness of their own and simply acted on instinct.
When they encountered a hostile environment, they would react to the stress and relay it to the core. Once the core decided the situation threatened the Pokémon ecosystem, out came the Gundam.
The Zygarde Cells bounced around the Backyard before slipping into cracks in the soil, disappearing to who knew where.
The cells themselves did not resist outsiders taking them away-or perhaps they simply lacked the ability to resist.
That hardly mattered, though. Zygarde Cells could actually use this ability to cross-check one another's findings.
One cell's perceptions might be faulty, but cross-checking always yielded a definite answer.
"By the way, where did you find that cell?"
"Rio. (On the mountain you drove around that day. There was a cave up there, and I found it at the entrance.)"
Beside the newly cultivated scallion patch in the Backyard, Xin Mu was loosening the soil in a rather novel way while chatting with Lucario about what had just happened.
Xin Mu's tool was neither a hoe nor a shovel, but the miniature excavator.
The little metal excavator trundled between the ridges like a craftsman wandering into a land of giants. It wasn't remotely efficient, but it certainly was fun.
When all you were planting was a tiny patch, this thing was pretty useful.
"Luca."
"You want a turn? Remember not to dig too deep. This excavator's got a pretty strong grip."
After handing the remote to Lucario, Xin Mu headed back into the house, where he saw Squirtle gesturing at something.
"What are you trying to do?"
"Squirtle. (I propose a home renovation. Build a waterway from here to the Hot Spring so I can swim straight over.)"
Squirtle