A couple of weeks have passed since the incidents involving the two pokemon and the Self-Pokemerger.
During this time, they got to meet a few people.
Actually, that may be a bit of a stretch, they met before to an extent but didn't know what jobs they held until now.
The group of 5 and the engineering department got introduced to three men in lab coats.
Unsurprisingly, one of them was Sherbert's father.
"Guys, I want you to meet some scientists currently working around here for the time being!"
The first one stepped forward.
"Some of you may recognize me as Sherbert's dad. For those who don't, just call me Clemont."
He motioned towards the other two.
"That's Max, and that's Sophocles."
They both stepped forward.
"Let's see... the three of us each work on something a bit different. I work on the inventing and some of the programming."
"I help out with the rest of the programming!" Sophocles added proudly.
"And I do analyzation and data gathering." Max also added.
Sam then got a bit confused.
"Wait a minute, aren't each of you usually based out in your own regions? Why are you all here in Kanto?"
"You see, we were called upon to come here to do some research concerning the incidents involving Biosouls and Self-Pokemergers. This sort of trend popping up over the years, especially now is rather odd." Max explained.
"That's why we came here. Plus, we do have some knowledge about these two mysterious phenomenons." Sophocles added.
These three scientists have been reserching Biosouls and self-pokemerging for a really long time.
In fact, they even helped in the development of the original P-Scans.
Of course, it was also them that developed Sherbert's particular type of insulin.
This was something that they did know, but there's also the fact that they do keep a secret in terms of how they got the information, especially for Biosouls.
Unknown to everyone, Zappa was sent by the Leader at this time and he managed to see them in front of one of the centers.
His attention then focused to the scientists.
"Hm, could I use one of them?"
He then also noticed what appeared to be three other Biosouls behind them.
"Why are they there? I'm supposed to use the technique on one of them, not them! They're not gonna help Chat!"
One night, he managed to sneak into the lab that they were using.
Zappa noticed that the three scientists were doing their own thing.
"If I want to use the Imprisonment technique on someone here, then it would be best if I chose someone who won't notice me right away, and someone who I could be a better match with in terms of looks..."
The Imprisonment technique is something that most Biosouls know how to use.
If they use it on someone, all they have to do is pass through them.
It paralyzes the victim for a few seconds before carrying on with their lives, hence the name 'imprisonment'.
What the Biosoul gets out of this is they replicate the physical appearance of the victim and they can choose the look from what point in life the Biosoul likes best.
Other than getting new looks, the new form aid in allowing the Biosoul to become more powerful.
Scanning the area, he noticed the three Biosouls working with Max.
"Wait, he's working with those Biosouls. I wonder if they're part of that group?"
When he was sure he wouldn't get noticed, he used the technique on one of them successfully and escaped.
What he didn't catch was that on the desk of the scientist he replicated, there was a photo of him, his wife, son, and in particular his daughter.
In the digital world, a small Biosoul was sitting on a chair.
"I want big brother..." she said wearily.
The next day, Sherbert checked his blood sugar before rushing over to the lab.
He bursts through the door.
"What happened this time? Dad wasn't answering mom's calls."
"It seems like while we were working on something, a Biosoul may have crossed paths with your father, and well-" Max started before getting interrupted.
"We may have also been stuck here the whole night." Sophocles added while Clemont just nodded drowsily.
"Alright, I'll tell mom that, but please for the love of Arceus don't do something really stupid."
With that thought, he left to go meet up with Layton.
What he also missed was that very photo on his father's desk.
Later on, the two were walking in the nearby forest to try and find something for their puzzle training.
"You did remember to keep your insulin in a safe spot this time, right?" Layton asked as they were walking.
"Yes dad." Sherbert complained.
"Hey if I was actually your dad I would have had you put on something weird to make you remember."
Realizing that this was true, he automatically shuts up.
As time passed, they began to look around their surroundings since they had a feeling that they may not be alone.
Zappa, now in his new form, hid himself on top of the trees in the leaves.
"My choice for a form could have been better. While I have a chance, why don't I keep an eye on those two."
Over the next few days, he was watching, paying attention to their battle styles.
"The time to strike is soon."
One day, the trio got sent out on a mission concerning a Self-Pokemerger.
"You know, while these missions remained constant, the amount concerning Biosouls has begun to rise." Sam noted.
The other two gave a nod of understanding as they searched for the culprit.
Only the three pokemon heard off-putting rustling in the trees above them and moved before he struck.
The three backed up and try to make out who was in the dirt cloud they made.
"Who's there?!" Layton shouted as the three pulled out their P-Scans.
"Hehe, just a Biosoul trying to do his job."
When the cloud cleared, they took another step back in surprise.
"W-why does a Biosoul look like a younger version of my dad?!" Sherbert managed to stammer.
He then remembered how the scientists told him that his dad may have been attacked by something to a degree a while back.
"...Did you attack him?"
Barely leaving enough time for anyone to answer, he entered his pokemerged form and had his right hand to his shoulder.
"This is bad." Sam whispered.
"Who sent you?!" Layton shouted before the Biosoul knocked Sherbert away.
"That's none of your concern. If you make this elimination easy for me, then maybe he can help me!"
Knowing that they can't talk to him, the other two got into their own pokemerged forms to fight.
(Sam's suit had light purple highlights with giant gloves that had pads of each of the fingertips)
Something that the three did begin to think about was what exactly the Biosoul meant by 'he can help me'.
In order to begin to try and talk some sense into him, they needed to know more information, even if it was just his name.
Layton dodged an incoming shock attack.
"What's your name?" he asked as he readied his blade.
"...Zappa." he blindly responded.
Sam then tried to restrain him by using one of her psychic abilities.
They then began to gain information little by little, until...
They froze when they began to hear rustling by a nearby bush.
The culprit popped out at a lightning speed.
They were extremely close to striking a serious blow to Zappa when Layton shoved him out of the way.
While he was in a daze, Layton and Sam went to take care of the culprit while Sherbert kept an eye on him.
"B-but why?" he asked, still in a daze.
"You see, the job of a Pokemon Tamer is to be able to solve various problems, we help out other people and pokemon. What isn't mentioned as much is that it can apply to Biosouls as well, and it seems like you really need it. Now, if you can let me restrain you so we can take you to our center safely."
Changing back, he summoned a glowing disk of light to restrain him.
"What's that?" Zappa asked when he changed back to his normal form.
"You see, we're also Pokemon Rangers. Tamers is just a subgroup, but like any other ranger, we also need to have some for of a stylus, or simply a capturing device that isn't a pokeball."
The two then looked up to see that Layton and Sam wore down the culprit to the point of changing them back.
"Looks like we should start heading back, the culprit's been reverted and I think a small interrogation is in order for this Biosoul." Sam told them before they began to head back.
It was around this point when Zappa began to look around, as if he was able to sense something.
A Zeraora appeared to be spying on them for a bit before zooming away.