Unaware that Dorian had also set out on the rescue mission, Gavin answers the call for help on the back of his silver Corviknight. They circle high above the Abomasnow's lair, which Gavin identifies by the snow that blooms around it, unnatural in the Hoennian climate.

The Rocket tenses as they spy another, expecting league interference, but Dorian cuts a familiar figure against the skies.

Corviknight lands, its talons leaving deep impressons in the snow, and Gavin tosses an Alcremie into the field. She bathes frosted entrance to the lair in mystical fire, melting ice and snow and offering a clear path to proceed.

"Didn't realize anyone else got the call." It's his only greeting to the Rocket admin as he takes the first few steps inside.

[break]

dorian westcliff

What an interesting name.

Gavin doesn't comment on it aloud, offering a curt nod to show he understood the adapting situation. With the entryway cleared, the underboss swaps his sensitive Alcremie for a vicious Sandslash, instead. The creature of ice-and-steel was well-adapted to the frigid conditions of the lair, burrowing into the earth and following the Houndoom through the vibrations of its paws.

"If they're dead, I don't intend to stick around for retrieval." They're two of Rocket's best assets, not men to be risked on corpse recovery. "But if they're alive, I'm not leaving without them."

Some in Rocket saw their agents as disposable, but Gavin's rough exterior hid a softer heart.

"Do you know what we're dealing with?"

[break]

dorian westcliff

"Our Wolfe, really?" He's sure Emma Wolfe would have hated being a damsel in distress. He makes a point to ask her about the encounter, later. "Fortunate you both made it out."

Gavin's eyes narrow as dorian westcliff suggests a trap. He's not familiar enough with Abomasnow to recognize the tell-tale signs of a nest, but he trusts his fellow Rocket enough to take him at his word. As Sandslash bounds ahead, burrowing in and out of the cold earth, Gavin's fingers wrap around another capsule, just in case.

"You know anyone that might've set it?"

Better than you do, Gavin thinks, but keeps such thoughts of Emma Wolfe to himself. He knew how she felt about dorian westcliff and he knew why.

Dorian himself brings up one of those reasons as they advance into the lair, the other Rocket's voice echoing. When they spot the bodies, Gavin halts in his tracks. Blood, eyes closed — the underboss assumes them dead until one draws a shuddering breath. The ground shudders as if in response, and an Abomasnow comes charging from the gloom.

Houndoom takes care of it, but—

BANG!

—a gunshot cracks through the cavern in the beat of calm after Abomasnow crumbles. Gavin leaps for cover behind the bulky Pokemon's motionless frame, heart rate picking up with the action. Another shot rings out as the man with the gun attempts to hit Dorian in the chaos.

"Friend of yours?" Gavin drawls, sarcastic, as he peeks and fires. The bullet misses as the vengeful ex-Rocket dives behind cover of his own. A chunk of snow and ice rains down from the wall where the projectile had hit. "Sandslash, hail."

A terrible, frigid gale sweeps through the space as the shadow Pokemon heeds the command.