There's a prickle of — not fear, per se, maybe something closer to wariness at the sound of the burned alias. The tension in his shoulders relaxes only slightly when he glances across the court to sight a familiar face.

The news, the A.Q.U.A initiative, has established them as enemies.

Really, Zac Ramsay should be arresting him right now, if he'd recognized him for who he was. But the gym leader's tone is friendly, rather than threatening.

The Riolu on his shoulder yips excitedly at the mention of volleyball, and how could he deny her? He nods, acquiescent.

"Sure. Three on three?" he guesses.

Metagross and Scizor emerge on his side of the field.

Reflexes honed by Rocket see him snatch the can of cola almost without thinking. It's cold against his grip, pleasant under the oppressive tropical sun.

"I prefer the Cola, actually. Cheers."

A friend of ours. His lip twitches; clearly he understands.

The can of Charja-Cola emits a pleasant hiss when he cracks the tap, tipping his head back as he sips it and waits for the referee to check the status of the netting and get them set up with a Spheal.

"Wouldn't say big, but I like them enough," he says of sports. "Played a lot of tennis and — soccer, growing up."

He disguises his hesitation as a stifled hiccup from carbonation.

"What happened with the Arcanine?" He's curious, canting his head.

Metagross shifts sideways to intercept the soaring Spheal with an ICE PUNCH; it's less to hurt the little guy and more to send him back over to Zac Ramsay's end of the court.

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"Do I?"

Sunlight catches on a sharp smile.

"Central midfield."

Right in the action, right where he always seemed to be.

He offers a theatrical grimace of sympathy as Zac Ramsay shows off the injury. It reminds him of how Lulu Flint's Houndoom had savaged THEO BECKETT's leg.

"Why not go back to it after you recovered?"

Gavin's eyes follow the ball as it soars to their side of the field. It's Scizor who intercepts this time, utilizing its AGILITY to nip in and BULLET PUNCH the Spheal back toward their opponent.

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Vengeance comes swift and cold in the form of a very happy Spheal slamming full-force into Scizor's size. The metal-shelled bug-type chitters in displeasure and then discomfort as frost spreads rapidly from the point of contact.

In but a few seconds, it's frozen solid.

"Damn," Gavin chuckles. "Well, at least you found your passion."

Gavin's passions had been stripped from him by the very organization that he now served so loyally.

The ball is retrieved and tossed to Gavin for the serve. His whistle signals to his Riolu, more than eager to lend her HELPING HAND. He serves and she leaps into the air to headbutt the ball and spike it back over the court.

"You still do a lot of filming now that you've got the gym?"

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Another clean volley is exchanged between their Pokemon, affording Zac Ramsay and Gavin calm for conversation.

"Clever," he says of the Minior cams. "I get what you mean about passions."

There's a hollow pang in his chest as he realises how long it's been since he's truly pursued any scientific endeavours. He'd been attempting to study the dark fragment but Chu-e Choi's obsession with it had made him wary of including anyone else in the project. Results, thus far, were minimal.

Zac asks after his passion, and Gavin's lip twitches.

"Science. Biology, evolution — really love fossils, archaeology."

He still had the reviver in his basement setup, at least, and could pursue that passion in his free time.

The sandstorm that kicks up seems to bother his poor Riolu, who attempts to take shelter beneath Metagross' bulk as it lifts off with MAGNET RISE to headbutt the Spheal back over the net.

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Frost threatens as icicles crash down across the battlefield but Gavin's sturdy Metagross manages to shake off the frost before its limbs are frozen solid. It still results in a point scored for Zac Ramsay.

Gavin loved paleontology and archaeology in equal measure; he smiles wide at the offer.

He can almost forget, for a moment, that they're on different sides.

"Hell yeah, I'd love to."

He serves the ball and Metagross spikes it with a crackling THUNDER PUNCH.

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Metagross was one of Gavin's tried-and-true favourites, a veteran of war, but even he's surprised to find that the metal supercomputer is adept at more than just battling.

"Guess its calculation skills come in handy."

He laughs, both at Zac Ramsay's joke and his own and shakes the other's hand.

An Alolan Ninetales is called out, the snow-furred fox turning up his nose in disdain for the heat before responding to a click of Gavin's tongue with a gently chiming HEAL BELL. Riolu COPYCATS the gesture, unfreezing their chilly athletes.

"If only this whole deal were a volleyball tournament."