The plates in the Soldier's metal arm ripple through a calibration loop. "Most of us consider it a partnership, yes. I don't know about benefit. But some of them really like it. And they do get stronger, and stronger pokemon make stronger children, with more abilities. So. Maybe." He pushes up from the tree, so they're talking at the same level now, standing. "I don't like it much. But my pokemon think I'm a little weird that way."

"Absol," Grace says, but she sounds fond.