It seemed she was not alone as she approached.

In fact, Jessica appeared to be the one that was late, if anything. She looked over the man that she was joining, speckled in glasses and seemingly friendly.

But she had learned, slowly, that not everyone was who they appeared on the outside. Nevertheless, she took his hand and shook it, offering a genuine smile.

"Jessica. You can call me Jessie, though."

Her Delphox, Finn, came up behind her, staying close to his trainer. Their bond was inseparable, as he was never kept his in Poke ball. He regarded Henry was a quick look up and down before giving a small nod to him, his fingered paw playing with the stick that hid in his fur like a sleeve.

"That's alright. I have several ice-types that can help us traverse the waters should we require them. Are you ready?"

Henry Driscoll

☉

Details? Well, truth be told, Jessie wasn't given many either.

Which would definitely serve this as an interesting adventure for a missing person.

"I wasn't give more than you were, unfortunately. I hardly do work like this, and even when I do, I'm usually with someone higher than my rank."

Or with NIKO MANNER.

Truth be told, they had done a lot of work together as of late, and she had always let him taken the lead. But, she had to learn how these things worked eventually, right?

Hopefully she wouldn't get herself killed.

"I say we look for some clues, something that may suggest foul play or a struggle. If we can't find anything like that, then we begin a deeper search. How does that sound?"

Henry Driscoll

☉

Jessica turned her head toward the sandbar Henry pointed out. It was a great catch. One she hadn't noticed.

Ah, she needed to do better...

"A little water won't hurt us. Besides, I have some help that can make a path."

Releasing her Aurorus, she allowed him to create a thick, icy path for them to cross, since she was sure the water below was cold. And she didn't really come prepared with adequate shoes for trekking water.

The sand revealed a myriad of clues. All pointing toward foul play. Or having to run from danger. A bad feeling formed in the pit of her stomach. She released her Crabominable and Milotic.

"Keep an eye on us. Just in case."

Henry Driscoll

☉

Jessie, on the other hand, waited patiently as Henry's Baltoy uncovered the sand from the duffle bag. She approached, Finn coming behind her, as he opened the bag.

As he removed the contents, she looked over them herself.

None of them served as interest of her besides the phone. She opened it, but it seemed to be dead, drained of its battery from abandonment and no use. That certainly wasn't helpful.

"Perhaps if we get this back to an area on land, we can charge it..."

If they had the right chargers for it.

Putting the phone in her bag, Jessie looked over the map. Tourist. Why would they come out here?

"Perhaps looking for treasure?"

Henry Driscoll

☉

If it wasn't treasure, then Jessie was not sure why this person would come to Hoenn. Of course, her opinion may be a biased one, but...

Hoenn was dangerous. She would have stayed in Kalos, if she had been this individual.

"Allow me. I'll send my Milotic to investigate below before we make any further decision."

Ava, the Milotic, was now off guard duty, giving a small nod of indication to her trainer that she understood her task. A few slithers toward the edge of the water, and she dove in, ever graceful. Jessie waited for her to resurface for any indication of a body below.

The serpentine Pokemon emerged shortly after, coming back to land. A shake of her head confirmed it: no body was found below.

"Alright. Thank you, Ava. Mr. Driscoll, you're a scientist. I say we should split these tasks up between us."

With the phone resting in her bag, Jessie looked back at the man.

"I know I won't be good at researching. You, however, should excel in it, right? I can take the phone and dig around. See what I find. Shall we go to the nearest café and conduct our research together?"

Henry Driscoll

☉

Jessie looked at him with an almost confused question. She clearly did not understand what he meant, that there could be a way to be driven back here. Surely once they gathered their information, they could be on their merry way, right?

However, she watched as he pulled out a power generator and his own laptop. She took the generator from him, digging through her bag to find the phone and a way to charge it.

It lit up green, then orange, signifying that it had begun to charge.

"Well, I suppose you are right. I didn't realize you would have ample supplies on you like this or a connection to be able to research," she said, referring to the way she was able to charge the phone now thanks to his generator.

Jessie decided to send Ava back into the water, to explore a wider breadth than she had previously. With grace, the Milotic disappeared again.

"She will. She just told us a minute ago that she didn't see anything down there. Though I suppose you were too busy digging in your bag to notice."

Henry Driscoll

☉