The flash of Gunner's HBIC identification card and badge was all it took for him to gain access to freya morningstar's hotel room. Despite her busy schedule, the councilwoman had been missing for twenty-four hours, sparking concerns among her staff. Security footage indicated that her room was her last known location. [break][break]

"Thanks, Rika. We'll take it from here," Gunner told the hotel employee who had led the way to the room. [break][break]

"Okay! Don't hesitate to let us know if there's anything else we can do, sir." [break][break]

When she was gone, Gunner surveyed the room, his hands on his hips. "Nothing looks out of place," he said to his co-investigator. "It just looks lived-in."

TAGS – wolfgang volkov[break]
NOTES – mission

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In the days after the incident at Mt. Chimney, Gunner found himself atop that great peak, staring down into the collapsed caldera. He had already checked in on his parents at Fallarbor, relieved to find them unharmed. The town itself had suffered some damages, but nothing had prepared him for the sight that greeted him upon cresting the volcanic peak. [break][break]

"What tremendous power could have caused this?" he wondered aloud, though he knew the answer. [break][break]

Groudon in its Primal form. The disastrous consequences of Avatarship having gone out of hand. [break][break]

Beside Gunner, his Carracosta rumbled a warning. Though many wild Pokémon had fled during the catastrophe, some remained—especially the ones with affinity to fire and ash.

TAGS – none[break]
NOTES – solo wild with incense (ground)

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Bruin the Salamence touched down in the center of the first League base he'd spotted from the air. Gunner slid off the dragon's back, then immediately reached up to help PENELOPE LIVY down. He grasped her firmly, trying to ground her in the strength of his arms. [break][break]

Her Charizard landed beside them moments later. [break][break]

"Someone get a medic!" Gunner yelled at the startled personnel scattered around the camp. Two individuals surged into motion, rushing toward a tent with the familiar medic's symbol printed along the side. [break][break]

The agent adjusted his hold on Penelope, encouraging her to wrap her arm around his shoulders while he folded his own arm around her waist. "Hold on, Miss Livy. We're safe now. Someone's going to take a look at you to make sure you're okay." [break][break]

He started making his way to the tent, supporting her the whole way.

TAGS – PENELOPE LIVY[break]
NOTES – social | takes place after burned in blue

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A tremendous gust of air slammed into Gunner and his Salamence, sending them tumbling through the air. The man had to let go of his rifle to avoid falling off his dragon; the machine disappeared into the chaos of magma and fire below. [break][break]

"Miss Livy!" Gunner shouted once Bruin had righted himself. He scanned the area below frantically, seeking the familiar shape of his boss amidst the flames. Finally, he spotted her. "Bruin, there! Go!" [break][break]

The Salamence dove. As he swooped past Penelope, Gunner reached out in case she needed a hand. He'd pull her onto Bruin's back with him if needed. Then, with a great flap of his wings, the Dragon-type wheeled around and flew back to the nearest League campsite.

TAGS – Naomi Sato parker jones PENELOPE LIVY[break]
NOTES – mission

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"Smart thinking," Gunner said as he watched the Swampert's EARTHQUAKE bring several Muk and Grimer to the surface. "Ophelia, Tom, give them a hand." [break][break]

His Pokémon obliged. The Steelix DUG into the toxic sands, mowing down the wild Poison-types. Meanwhile, the Baltoy swatted at stray Grimer and Muk with MUD SLAP. Soon, their efforts saw all of the offenders corralled into an unconscious pile. [break][break]

Turning to Beau, Gunner asked, "Do you need help getting these to Ranger Headquarters for relocation?"

TAGS – Beau Fontaine[break]
NOTES – mission

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With his two Pokémon leading the way, Gunner forged a path toward the center of the sludgy, swampy mess. On the way, he noted fewer Poison-types than he expected to see—a disconcerting fact, considering how much poison had accumulated along the beach. [break][break]

"Fontaine!" he called out when he saw Beau's tall figure alongside his own Pokémon. The Ranger and his team were putting up quite the good fight, it seemed. [break][break]

Gunner waited until the distance between them grew smaller before saying, "There's way too much poison for the number of wild Pokémon out here. Something's not right." [break][break]

He glanced around, frowning, hands on his hips.

TAGS – Beau Fontaine[break]
NOTES – mission

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"Gideon, are you up here?" Gunner called out as he climbed the stairs to the second floor of their childhood home. Wooden floorboards creaked beneath his feet. [break][break]

Like his brother, Gunner had arrived to check on their parents following the incident at Mt. Chimney. After surveying the damage to their property, he'd arranged for local services to help remove the debris. Their parents were getting older, after all. [break][break]

Peering into Gideon's old bedroom, Gunner found the elder Graves sitting at the desk inside. Gunner stopped short, lingering in the doorway. [break][break]

"Hey, Dad wants to know what you want for dinner. We're doing takeout since he and Mom are still pretty shaken," he said.

TAGS – GIDEON GRAVES[break]
NOTES – mission

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Soaring in the sky high above the battlefield, Gunner did not hear PENELOPE LIVY. He did not hear her venomous boasting nor see the sneer plastered across her face as she exulted in the victory within her grasp. He did not notice the way her triumph bled away as wrathful envy overtook her, bringing her far across the line of reason and goodness. [break][break]

What he did see from that height was the crystalline city as it manifested before him. Circhester, he realized, recognizing the skyline from photographs and videos. [break][break]

No—not just that. [break][break]

Hazy half-memories emerged from his subconscious as scenes flickered across the faces of crystal, filling Gunner with the strange sense of watching his life unfold on a television screen. Yet that had not been his life, not really. [break][break]

Or had it? Was that GIDEON GRAVES next to the rough-looking woman with the VI on her cheek? Why were they smiling and laughing? [break][break]

The image of a young man appeared, barely out of his boyhood years. Light shining on smooth crystal blurred his face, and yet a strange familiarity filled Gunner at the sight of him. An unusual longing, like missing an old friend. [break][break]

Bruin twisted in the air, jolting his trainer from uncertain thoughts. Gunner breathed air warmed by volcanic fire and looked down at a single orange dot. The Mega Blaziken, carrying a screaming Rocket grunt. [break][break]

Gunner's Salamence descended upon them with all the speed and fatality of a launched missile.

TAGS – Naomi Sato parker jones PENELOPE LIVY[break]
NOTES – mission

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"Hey, Concordas!" [break][break]

Finding Paxton was not a difficult task, not during the work day and not at the headquarters of the HBIC. Gunner knew the path to Paxton's desk by heart and could find his way blindfolded. [break][break]

This time, though, his feet dragged as if leaden weights had been tied to his ankles. A great reluctance made even opening his mouth seem like an impossible task. And at first, he could not look the other man in the eye. [break][break]

Man up, Gunner, he chastised himself, before forcing himself to meet Paxton's gaze. [break][break]

"Can I talk to you for a moment?" He gestured to an empty conference room nearby, indicating a desire for privacy.

TAGS – paxton concordas[break]
NOTES – social, ~1 week post-Primeval

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Navy did not have to speak a name for Gunner to know who was dead. kyle lopez had perished on Mt. Chimney during an operation kept so confidential that not even the agent had known about it. But paxton concordas had been part of it. Though he'd returned alive, there had been no guarantee of his survival. [break][break]

That was the truth of their oath to protect Hoenn. Gunner was prepared to lay down his life for the defense of the region, like Paxton was. [break][break]

Like Kyle had. [break][break]

Their petty squabbles were so, so stupid. [break][break]

"I know." Gunner sighed but nodded. "I know." [break][break]

He downed half of his beer in the next couple of gulps, wishing he had something stronger. Then he glanced sidelong at the man seated next to him. [break][break]

"How are you holding up?"

TAGS – Michael Navidson[break]
NOTES – social

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