"Nah, I didn't arrive much sooner than you did." Dismissing any notion that they were holding them up, Derek affords a simple nod as a gesture for the two of them to head inside. The way was dimly lit, but before it got too dark, the lighting installed by the miners was in sight. A surprise for sure, seeing as the wild denizens probably didn't enjoy the light.

"We're here to quell the pokemon problem they've been having. Apparently there are some ground types that don't like what they're doing." Slipping a hand down to the holsters at his waist, Derek lets loose Jonesy, his Sobble, who quickly takes it's rightful seat on his shoulder.

"Well, I guess that's what they meant by trouble." As they round a corner that descends further, the sources of light have been violently dismantled. Derek clipped a light to his hat to see this, as well as to look around. The sound of something scurrying up ahead could be heard, but it manages to hide it's silhouette behind the corner before they could make out it's color, size or shape properly.

"Real shy for something antagonizing people when their backs were turned. Jonesy, get ready." Pressing forward without much hesitation, the trainer and his pokemon reach the turn with a water gun at the ready. The little Sandshrew, as it happened to be, couldn't run away in time to avoid being hit. Plastered to the wall, it wasn't until after that Derek noticed the other denizens occupying the area. The collective of Sandslash reared on the trainers after looking to see if their kin was alright, preparing their attack now that the battle was underway.

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Victor Wexler | mission 2/5

"Again!" Derek commands to his pokemon, as their efforts were not enough to push back or dissuade the rest of the horde from joining in. With Jonesy providing him some much needed time by spraying the first ones down with WATER GUN, a second pokeball releases another pokemon to act on Derek's behalf.

"Osiris, let loose!" The Decidueye was quick to understand the situation, showing no qualms with barraging the gang of ground types with it's LEAF STORM. All of them are blown back, but only a few seem able to get back up and fight.

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Victor Wexler | 3/5

Clutching what little gear he had to ensure it would not be swept away with the gales that ensued from their HURRICANE, Derek looked between Vic, his Dragonite and the empty space that once held a plethora of cave dwelling pokemon. "Yeah...I think that was all of them." Even if it wasn't, they surely wouldn't be coming back. No. Instead they'd probably tell their friends and family not to fuck around, lest they find out.

"They shouldn't bother anyone for awhile. But just for good measure..." Taking out a phone, Derek snapped pictures of the area to show the absence of hostiles. Though it would've been better to show proof that they were there in the first place, this particular section was crucial to the work that needed done.

"Let's get back above ground now, shall we?" Speaking both to his pokemon as well as Vic, the two feet of his quickly worked themselves to carry him back into daylight. While it was nice and cool down there, the thought of being below the surface any longer didn't suit him. Nothing like the dark and tons of dirt surrounding you to get the paranoia brewing.

"That's a pretty gnarly Dragonite you got there, by the way." Derek hadn't been fortunate enough to catch one to train for himself, but seeing a Kanto native in action was always invigorating.

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Victor Wexler | 4/5

"I hear ya on that." Although they probably had pokemon that could save them from a cave-in, the idea of something like that taking place still made the place feel cramped. A brisk pace brought them up and out of the cave, allowing them to soak in the sun once more. Good riddance.

"I just wish he felt the same." Derek comments in response to the praise offered to Jonesy. "It's hard to get him to want to fight sometimes." The pokemon originally belonged to another, so he didn't blame them for this. But Derek's aspiration of defeating the Hoenn league had some stipulations this time around. Either he did it with Jonesy, or not at all.

Passing words were afforded as Derek quickly realized he'd forgotten about a prior commitment. "Well, see ya around, Vic!" Though rushed and rude, the trainer didn't wish to keep the other party waiting. "And maybe under better circumstances next time!" With the assistance of the avian used earlier, Derek would quickly ascend skyward in hopes that he wouldn't be late.

THREAD EXIT

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Victor Wexler | 5/5