Movement drew Lex’s gaze to her left. The figure of a young girl emerged to greet her rather dully. There was a sense of judgement in her glare. Was this her partner? She was so . . . young. Lex’s lips pursed when memories of a past life came to the forefront of her mind. When she met Killian she was probably about this girl’s age. It wasn’t long after that she was sneaking around Johto, stealing information and secrets for him. So, who was she to judge this girl before her? Her gaze softened, recognizing she was probably not all that different at that age.

“Well, don’t sound so excited,” her voice dripped with sarcasm. It wasn’t like Lex wanted to be here either, but she wasn’t going to take it out of the girl. They were assigned this mission, she could complain to admin. Besides, this was far below her. Lex's talents were better suited elsewhere. Maybe it was a convenience thing. She lived not too far so they didn’t have to arrange transportation. Maybe she just needed to move out of Slateport and she’d stop getting these bullshit jobs.

“Let’s make this quick, shall we?” she stepped through the door and into the dark, muggy warehouse, preceded by the two Duskull. Lex extracted the flashlight she had tucked in her back pocket and clicked it on. The beam was foggy in the building’s dust. All was quiet except for a few deep groans of the building’s semi-stable skeleton.

Lex clicked her tongue against the back of her teeth while she followed the light’s beams over dusty boxes, Spinarak webs, and broken furniture, “Real fixer-upper,” she mused, mostly to herself. She understood the necessity for the mission. Despite the lack of grandeur, acquiring real estate and property to expand operations was necessary to the underlying objective of the Team. More buildings, more money, more opportunities.

@fay
Paranormal Activity Mission

@fay was a child of few words apparently. All Lex received was a half-hearted huh and the obvious, resentful glare of a girl going through puberty. Was she anything like this at that age? If she was, she was completely at a loss for what Killian saw in her, but it made it easy to see why her mother chose to ignore her.

Regardless, self-reflection wasn’t the mission. And Lex wasn’t a babysitter. They wouldn’t send someone on a mission they didn’t think could fulfill the objective. Lex had to trust the process, and accept this girl was worthy of being here.

That veil of trust in Fay’s competence was quickly torn down with her scream and dramatic fall into the boxes.The flashlight’s beam centered on her. Behind it, Lex grit her teeth, “Pull yourself together,” she hissed, moving the beam towards the shadow of the Haunter that scared the girl.

This would all be much easier with lights, “Umbra, lights,” it was a newer trick they were working on. The verbal command was accompanied by a hand signal. Lex’s fingers twisted and flicked as if turning on a light switch and the Duskull disappeared.

The remaining Duskull watched the shadows hungrily, creeping forward as if on a hunt. The Zororak had an insatiable urge to prey upon the ghost-type. The tantalizing thoughts stimulated by NASTY PLOT fueled the Zororak’s prey-drive. A dark energy (NIGHT DAZE) is flung into the shadows, flushing out a now angry and bitter Haunter

@fay
Paranormal Activity Mission

Lex grinned as the warehouse lights flickered to life. To be honest though, it didn’t help much. The lights were old and not taken care of. Several snapped before popping out into darkness. They were left in an eerie yellow shade of dull light, stretching the shadows around them even further. The Duskull reappeared beside Lex, “Very good, Umbra,” the pokemon was rewarded with another treat.

The Duskull that was engaged in hunting the Haunter was stalking the shadows the Haunter fled. Just as he caught the ghost’s scent, a dark fist materialized and struck Nova (SHADOW PUNCH), knocking her off to the side. The Illusion of a Duskull faded and is replaced by that off a pissed of Zororak. The fox curled her lips, baring her sharp teeth as a low, steady growl rumbled from her throat.

Upon seeing the dark-type (now two of them, yikes!) the Haunter hesitated and instead flew off to the second level, calling for reinforcements. Lex followed the Haunter’s path, pursing her lips in annoyance. If this was a true nest they were in for a hell of a night, “C’mon,” she growled, heading for the stairs that lead up to the second floor, “The only way we’re gonna take out a nest is to take out the alpha,” Lex paused at the stairs, looking back at @fay with a hint of concern, “Or stay if you think you’ll be a liability,” against her better judgement, she’d give the girl a second chance to redeem herself from the box incident earlier.

@fay
Paranormal Activity Mission

Haunter Attacks Nova and flees back to the nest!

Lex didn’t verbally respond, only nodded when @fay told her to lead the way. And so she did. The Zororak silently scouted ahead with a few quick steps forward to increase her distance from the main group. She peeked in rooms and moved on when nothing caught her eye. They found themselves in a dust, dark hallway with flickering yellow lights. The closed doors lining the hallways had scratched plaques that use to spell the name of the person who worked in each office. Instead, the names were violently scratched out with deep, dark claw marks. The hallways itself was lined with gashes in the plaster walls and wallpaper hanging loosely from being peeled off at random intervals.

A set of double doors at the end of the hallways shuddered, drawing their attention. Nova growled deeply, a white light flashing over her dark body as she prepared to be light on her feet with AGILITY. Lex narrowed her eyes as dark red blood began to spell across the two doors GET OUT.

She would happily get out and get back to Killian once all this was over, “Nova,” she pointed forward. The agility-boosted Zorroak rushed forward, slamming against the door to throw the doors open. At the same time, the office doors of the hallway slammed open, the haunter form earlier materializing to rush the Nickit and the Duskull, “Take care of these pests,” Lex growled, mostly to Umbra her own Duskull. She ran forward to join Nova in the other room.

The Zororak stood at it’s full height, lips curled and teeth bared at the Gengar that stood in the center with a nasty smile on it’s face. Lex grinned, they had found their alpha.

@fay
Paranormal Activity Mission

They find a Gengar, the assumed alpha of the nest!

Nova growled, looking over at the Nikit and its trainer with an annoyed expression. Was this little twerp really moving in on my fight?! The Zororak was a territorial and hostile creature. It wanted the Gengar to itself, but the stern look from Lex told her to behave. In fact, the Nikit getting blasted with a Shadow Ball only made the dark-type smile.

Nova didn’t stay still for long. As the Gengar launched the Shadow Ball, she launched herself forward, sweeping a claw up from her side and across her body in one, powerful motion. A dark energy materialized in front of the Gengar at the same time, following the Zororak’s movement. The NIGHT SLASH uppercut the Gengar, causing the ghost to lift off the ground and spin wildly through the air.

The critical hit left the ghost vulnerable to another attack. Lex held Nova, much to the Zororak’s frustration. Her amber eyes flicked over expectantly to @fay and her Nikit. Her brow rose a touch, Show me what you got.

@fay
Paranormal Activity Mission

Tag, you’re it.

Nova’s strike on the Gengar was the perfect opportunity for the Nikit to strike. Fay and her pokemon did not disappoint and landed a finishing blow on the ghost. The Gengar crashed down to the floor, skidding back towards the other end of the room. Lex and her pokemon watched eagerly, ready if the pokemon rose to strike again. Their opponent struggled to rise, letting out a blood curling screech to call it’s hive back to it as it faded away from this plane. Obviously, this warehouse was under the protection of humans and he was unwelcome here.

Silence settled in, but Lex wasn’t convinced. The Duskull from earlier reappeared near her shoulder, obviously tired and worn from her fight against the other ghost types that once lined the halls outside of the room. Umbra’s appearance gave her resolve that it was over.

“Hm, I think that’s it,” she sighed, taking a look around the now baren room. Amber eye fell on fay when she thanked her. A small smile twitched at the edge of her lips, “You did good,” she complimented while reaching over to scratch the Zororak’s ears, “You too, Nova. One more sweep and then we’ll get the fuck outta here,” she shooed the Zororak on its way to follow then returned the tired Duskull to its pokeball.

@fay
Paranormal Activity Mission

Fin? Nice work bby Rocket Fay <3 Feel free to bug Lex any time. She can be your Rocket big sis ^_^