How fortunate that Melody Miro has built her gym outside the city limits.

It makes for a quick and quiet setup. Gavin signals to THEO BECKETT — Ready?

If things were to go according to plan, Rowan Wrynn would slip inside under false pretenses and promise to lead the gym leader to safety. Instead, he'd lead Melody directly into their trap.

Gavin's Claydol casts a shimmering IMPRISON. He's flanked by a pair of SOUNDPROOF Bastiodon that BLOCK the escape route.

[attr="class","beck"]it's a simple mission; so simple that they barely have to get involved at all.

today, beckett plays the role of observer, but also moderator should things escalate. he's hoping they won't.

looking to Cillian Quinn, he returns the sign — ready.

[attr="class","noodles"]Cillian Quinn + Rowan Wrynn + Remiel Calcifet + Melody Miro

A lighting stiletto crackles in solitude afar...

Garbed in black gear and a rain poncho, the masked admin looms at the edge of a white cliff overlooking the gym's entrance. Specks of drizzling rain dot the surface of his kitsune mask with miniscule taps as he stares below. A Decidueye emerges beside him to do the same.

It was only recently that he'd paid a social visit to Melody Miro . This had occurred, of course, in the context of his 'other life' as the Galarian ambassador and the pink-haired belle's friend. It was enough to warrant a haze of melancholy that remained hidden behind the neutral expression of his mask, however.

She'd invited him to come see her gym, after all. But even he hadn't imagined these circumstances would come so soon...

---

Cillian Quinn + Rowan Wrynn + THEO BECKETT + Melody Miro

Melody Miro, and possibly Rowan Wrynn, would sprint directly into their trap.

Miasma spreads like morning fog across the ground, camouflaging those within it. They would see the silhouettes of Pokemon within the spectral mist, shapes that seem to move with unnatural speed.

"Melody Miro. Cooperate, and you won't be harmed. If you try to fight..."

A TERRIFYING roar echoes through the fog.

Tyranitar frightens the target with a scary face to lower its SPEED and ATTACK. Affected targets will FLINCH and CANNOT BE RETURNED. This move can only affect a target once unless it returns to the field.

From the sky, crystals begin to fall, a DARK SANDSTREAM that prickles against the skin.

Tyranitar summons a sandstorm of dark crystal shards when it enters battle. Other weather conditions can be present but this weather condition cannot be eliminated or replaced as long as Tyranitar is on the field. Tyranitar's DARK-TYPE attacks cannot be resisted during DARK SANDSTREAM.

"You're outnumbered and outmatched."

Unfortunately for Melody, they've done their research.

A hyper voice cascades against a pair of SOUNDPROOF Bastiodon among Gavin's vanguard. From the crawling black mists leaps a Zarude that looks to THROAT CHOP any Pokemon the gym leader sends against them before retreating with its U-TURN.

Gavin's sharp whistle cuts through the air.

SHADOWS spring from the sea to HOLD Rowan Wrynn in place. The eerie eye of Gavin's Dhelmise bobs above the water. His Corviknight swoops overhead, shedding its feathers with AERIAL AUTOTOMIZE and hurling them like daggers to strike the ground near Rowan.

They hadn't planned this; Gavin'll express any needed apologies later.

"Don't make me ask again."

Thankfully, it seems their intel hadn't lied about Melody Miro's altruism.

With her own Pokemon recalled, Gavin whistles his own to stand down. The Dhelmise maintains its hold on Rowan Wrynn, tightening against his struggle.

"We'll let him go when we've got you secured." Did she think they were fools, to let him go here and now? "He's a civilian. Useless to us."

There are darker implications to those words. Disposable.