[attr="class","nikita"]The detective nods. While there is mutual respect in the gaze he and Anne share, it lacks the fondness apparent in Winter’s sockets. Neither of them seems bothered by this. People existed to use one another and there is no shame in doing so, especially if one was honest about the bargain struck. “She is a welcome addition, certainly.” In battles like this—and assassination attempts—the long-range proficiency often made the difference. The vanishing bullets also made it difficult to track down their source.

“Thank you, your highness.” The man nods just once as he pulls his gun from its holster. After a quick once over, he flips the safety off. “If I had to theorize, they will approach from the southeast.” His tired eyes shift in the indicated direction. This guess proved correct as the Aggron and Tyranitar took center stage. Finding themselves trapped, the creatures reacted with desperation.

Attacks flew around them from all sides. The Intelleon’s next shot punched through one of the Steelix’s main plates, sending it flopping back into its hole. “Stay back.” From a ball at his waist, Nikita pulled out another Pokeball. “End this, Ignatius.” With escape impossible for them, the Glalie that emerged would spell their end with a Sheer Cold. As the attack ended, the exhausted Pokemon almost tumbled to the floor.

The trapped valley turned into a frigid land of death. One held back by the Glalie’s careful manipulation of his element. As the three fell, the man would resume walking toward their destination. “The coast should be clear.” And, for this particular mission, it would be.

[attr="class","nikitatag"]Elise Calcifet