The handshake is quick, but firm and he nodded at her before replying, "Anytime Commissioner." He can't exactly say no to this high ranking of a League officer. Even if someone else had recommended him for this in the first place. "Roger that, ma'am." he said wit ha soft snort, as he adjusted the strap of his rifle before following along the blonde. [break][break]

"Fair. Paperwork can grow mind numbing." Not that he'd gotten a chance to do much of that lately. Having been swamped carting around journalists like BARNABY FINCH and PENELOPE LIVY . Not to mention all the assistance he'd done with local rangers like boruta maher . The crystal blooms had made his schedule ten time's busier than normal. "MMm...I think they're pretty odd. They grow faster than any weed I've seen. Part of it I think is because of who they attract pokemon. Then the seeds get on them and...they spread even more." he gestured at the waves and the floating flowers. "If that were to happening a lake or a bay, especially with run off carrying all sorts of other chemical into the water, it could choke out local wildlife with an algae bloom." he added wit ha small frown. [break][break]

The growing through the seawater bit was definitely not something he couldn't have predicted, considering how hearty the flowers were but its still alarming form a conversation perspective. "I've heard rumors the blooms coincided with the overgrowth of the Tree in Sootopolis." he added with a shrug as he followed Dahlia, keeping pace with her and giving an occasional scan for any charging pokemon that may have been attracted by the scent.

[break][break]

+ dahlia goode | mission prompt: crystals in bloom [break][break]


[break]

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

He let out a small snort, taken back by the question but quick to answer nevertheless. "'Course, Commissioner. They're just invasive." he said with a small shrug. "Perhaps they're seasonal blooms, and this is just their peak which is why they're everywhere. Though, as I've been told, the think tank hasn't had enough time to deduce anything for sure."
[break][break]

Beaufort squawked, flapping his wings at his trainer as if asking permission for something and Paxton sighed before giving the bird a nod. "Just don't get coated in the pollen. I don't want to find seeds germinating in your feathers or anythin' weird." he warned as the Corviknight fluttered down to move closer to the patches, finding it hard to resist the smell. "Commissioner, do you think the flowers smell good? Like better than normal? No matte how on my team it is every type of pokekmon seemed to be easily lured by these things."


[break][break]

+ dahlia goode | mission prompt: crystals in bloom [break][break]


[break]

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

Paxton frowned for a moment, mulling it over before nodding as the woman continued to explain her thoughts. "It'd make sense." he murmured, not wanting to stop her train of thought and looking over at the Corviknight pranced bear the patch and pecked at it occasionally. [break][break]

"I'm unfamilair wiht biological-" The beam is silent, but he still felt the speed it traveled and the momentum it carried. His words were cut short as he watched the flower in Dahlia's hands disappear like the artwork back in the museum that night with luka chêne . "Commissioner!" he screamed rushing to her position before quickly dragging her behind cover. His pokemon shrieks taking off into the air only to be swapped out by another flying type. A colorful Sigilyph took Beaufort's place, and began to harness its own energy as Paxton shouted another command. "Tailwind! Find the other sniper!" One flap, two flaps before a powerful gust of wind seemed to follow at Coriolis' back, before they gained a burst of speed. Paxton, meanwhile busied himself with the rifle he'd been lent to him. [break][break]

There's a bit of cursing here and there, as he pulled out a few bullets and quickly loaded them into the open rifle. Coriolis glided over the surrounding area ready to screech at the sight of the pair responsible for this. "Pin 'em down!" he called out pulling the sling off and switching form safe to fire. He was almost done setting up he just needed a direction now, without getting shot in the head.


[break][break]

+ dahlia goode | mission prompt: crystals in bloom [break][break]


[break]

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

Coriolis is on the hunt and Paxton stays hidden with Dahlia, quiet and trying to control his breathing. His eyes flickered to behind them, and he glanced over at the grass type gratefully. "I didn't get eyes on, but...the way the flowers disappeared- It matches something I saw last November. Weird terrorists with Unown that were trying to capture the woman running an art exhibit. They shot at her, and the things they hit just vanished." Paxton explained. [break][break]

They'd had no idea where the objects has disappeared to. He had no idea if they were even going somewhere of it was just an instant vaporization. Was that even possible for Unown? Then again its called Hidden Power right? He had no experience with the alphabetic creatures. [break][break]

His eyes moved down to his weapon, finger outside the trigger well. He began to tuck it into his arm. It'd been a while since he'd fought like this. It wasn't going to be as easy as setting down a position and holding it. Not when the enemy could teleport. Another beam is shot, revealed by the REFLECT panels that glowed to life, cracking slightly from the attack. He whipped his head around, aiming the rifle as he took a steadying breath, held it and pulled back the trigger. [break][break]

A tracer goes flying but it doesn't catch his target before the psychic pokemon disappeared behind cover. He ejected the shell, the next bullet filling into the chamber and ready. Coriolis screeched, stopping towards his left, and Paxton switched gears, as the Sigilpyh shot out AIR SLASH attempting to force the pair to the side. The trainer managed to stay hidden but the Unown with them is tugged a bit by the force. He held his breath, pulling the trigger and listening as another shot rang out. It grazed the Unown before it disappeared once more.

"Commissioner, do you have a way to teleport out of here?" he asked, as he ejected the second casing.


[break][break]

+ dahlia goode | mission prompt: crystals in bloom [break][break]


[break]

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

Throughout all this Paxton slowed his breathing, staying ready to suck it in and take another shot. "No. At most I can get you a ride to Sootopolis but if they Teleport to you, they'll catch up." he explained. His Sigilyph took higher, eyes darting aorund to find their target once more ready to blast them with wind again and hold them down long enough for Paxton to take a shot. [break][break]

"You're the Good Commissioner, ma'am. Why wouldn't they want to target you now?" he asked. From his point of view, their goal in Hoenn had been to cause chaos, stir everything up. "If they take you out, it would put the entire League into a frenzy, and maybe distract from whatever their real goal is." As far as he knew, the curator hadn't been an Avatar. Perhaps a defector? She had also been using an Unown. Paxton and Coriolis are ready this time. [break][break]

The water ripples and a beam violently smashed through one of the panels to Paxton's left, saving them from the shot but chipping away at Bayleef's defense. His pokemon shrieked, unleashing a PSYCHIC attack intent on holding the trainer and their partner there. Paxton doesn't wait to hear the tell tale screams, eyes wide and focused as he held up the rifle and shot once more. This time it flies true, forcing a spurt of blood to erupt from the assassin's thigh. "Next one is your head" he threatened, pointedly ejecting another casing onto the sand and moving to cover up the opening their Unown had left. "Through the eyes, 3 seconds of consciousness, blackout." he relayed as the pair managed to react before disappeared again before Coriolis can grab them. Now, hopefully, the blood would help them find them.

[break][break]

+ dahlia goode | mission prompt: crystals in bloom [break][break]


[break]

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

His Sigilyph screeched, pursuing prey it could not find. They take flight, eyes scanning the immediate area for points of cover and splotches of red on pristine sand and water. They stay on the prowl as Paxton waited, on guard. He's spun so tightly that he barely moved when Dahlia grabbed him.
[break][break]

Paxton would look at her nodding stiffly as his partner moved back in. "It's what I'm here for, ma'am." he said relaxing his shoulders briefly as Coriolis moved back, still hovering defensively over the group but unable to find their attackers. "Mossdeep should be the safest option. I'll call ahead and let someone know we were attacked." He called out Beaufort again, offering Dahlia quick reassurances that it was clear...as far as he knew. They could discuss more back somewhere safe. After they took off and got away. Just in case there was backup incoming. He couldn't take on more than one person at a time.

[break][break]

+ dahlia goode | mission prompt: crystals in bloom [break][break]


[break]

[attr="class","pokeclass"]