"Likewise."

While Matias most likely could've dealt with this alone, having someone along to witness it might make one feel even better about the covert nature of the job.

"Nice to work with ya, even if it's unofficial."

Which really translated to being grateful for their help. It was just too bad this escapade of theirs was to be kept under wraps. But Matias was probably used to it.

For Derek, good publicity would be a nice change after being reinstated as Petalburg's gym leader.

Oh well.

However, due to the nature of the assignment? Derek felt he had to ask. "This is basically a cover-up, isn't it?"

If anything got to the surface and caused damage to Petalburg, the whole truth about what was going on underground would get out, and Hoenn's governing body would be under even more scrutiny from it's citizens...

MATIAS SILPH

☉

"pretty much."[break][break]

matias is more than used to cover-ups and covert operations. a lot of what he did in kanto fell under that category, after all.[break][break]

"i imagine they don't want word getting out as it may lead to panic. i think they should get the word out, though. maybe that way people would get off dahlia goode's ass about sending the meteor to sea hoenn."[break][break]

his opinions are made clear as day.[break][break]

"they will try to kill you, so be prepared."

[attr="class","ooc"]DEREK HOFFMAN[break]
sealing[break]

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-virizion"]

Thankfully Matias wasn't one to dance around the subject.

"Yeah, maybe." Derek remarks about the man's take on how Dahlia should handle the situation. And while he could very well be right, part of Derek feels like there'd still be a bunch of people ready to shit on the League. There might as well have been a waiting line for it already...

Then comes Matias' warning. "I kinda figured that would be the case."

A half-hearted laugh starts, but doesn't finish.

The covert nature of this mission meant they could do the same.

...Didn't it?

Obviously the League preferred alive. For questioning.

However, that was assuming they could manage either. When the two of them finally happened upon their enemies, it seemed to be quite an obstacle. Numerous water pokemon, though rather than give them time to act, Derek hurls a pokeball out over them.

The Zeraora that vacates the pokeball comes out waving around it's Plasma Fists, permanently striking down a shiny Gyarados that rose up to meet the feline midair.

MATIAS SILPH

☉

the league definitely prefers alive. knowing matias, however, they likely won't make it to that point.[break][break]

"huh. this is new. they don't usually come in a swarm."[break][break]

but he supposes they'd change their tactics up after repeated failed attempts. he wonders if word has traveled back to sea hoenn on who's been causing them trouble.[break][break]

he hopes so, because he'd love to see sea matias once again. the slippery bastard.[break][break]

virizion plays support for now as she enacts PROTECT only to dart around the scene, deflecting attacks that come zeraora's way.[break][break]

"look for their trainers."

[attr="class","ooc"]DEREK HOFFMAN[break]
sealing[break]

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-virizion"]

He had heard of it, but seeing it was another matter.
[break]
[break]
Another him.
[break]
[break]
"No way..."
[break]
[break]
Their introduction was short-lived, however, thanks to the efforts of Sea Derek's Inteleon. Though while it may have been quick on the trigger, Zeraora was faster yet. It'd smelled the lizard long ago and could tell it was about to launch a devastating attack.
[break]
[break]
So it prepared it's own.
[break]
[break]
Channeling absurd power, numerous arcs of electricity bolted around, unleashing themselves in a single focal point known as gigavolt havoc. The explosive reaction prevented the shot from reaching Matias, and the current managed to linger in the water, which was now showering over the other pokemon below it's vantage point. Their suffering was great, but they weren't down for the count just yet.
[break]
[break]
"...Jonesy?" Somehow the real Derek was able to marvel at it all. Regardless of being enemies, the fact that, in another reality, his Sobble grew to be this powerful?
[break]
[break]
It made him wonder about how they instilled confidence in the little guy to get him to fight like this. As invaders of another Hoenn, facing another Derek. Part of him worried, though...would their Jonesy be willing to put him in it's sights?

MATIAS SILPH

☉

"?"[break][break]

while matias reacts, cracking open a pokeball, GIGAVOLT HAVOC stops the HYDROSNIPE from reaching him. the explosion pulses before him, buffeting dust and debris.[break][break]

derek's worries will have to be put aside for now.[break][break]

"DEREK—"[break][break]

wisps of energy wrap around the fresh kangaskhan, engulfing it in a MEGA EVOULTION only for its offspring to propel forward to start throwing SHADOW CLAWS at the swarm.[break][break]

"—SNAP OUT OF IT."

[attr="class","ooc"]DEREK HOFFMAN[break]
sealing[break]

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-virizion"][attr="class","pkspr pkmn-kangaskhan form-mega color-shiny"]

"DEREK—"
[break]
[break]
So it was Jonesy after all!?
[break]
[break]
"—SNAP OUT OF IT."
[break]
[break]
Matias is able to snap him out of it, buying the naïve gym leader enough time to reach for another pokeball. "Shit, sorry!" Throwing it out, a Magnezone comes zooming out rather aggressively towards the herd of water types.
[break]
[break]
"Gheleon, Plasma Fists!" Charging up another considerable portion of it's power, the Zeraora releases a surge of electricity that leaves a streak along the ground as it engulfs the water pokemon leading the swarm.
[break]
[break]
"Saber, Tri Attack!" Following the same path that the Zeraora's attack took, the elemental affinity of the Magnezone's attack shifted, making them much more effective as they struck three more pokemon.

MATIAS SILPH

☉

SHADOW CLAWS rake against multiple sea pokemon, rendering them either unconscious or immobile as the kangaskhan and her offspring continue to tear through the swarm.[break][break]

the chase between inteleon and virizion doesn't last very long. the trail of MAGICAL LEAVES she left behind slowly rises into the air, gathering and collecting before they're sent shooting at the inteleon right as virizion ducks under the ACROBATICS.[break][break]

matias' attention remains on the other derek, wary but never frightful. he glances over at his derek then gestures at the other.[break][break]

"you might want to talk to your seaself."

[attr="class","ooc"]DEREK HOFFMAN[break]
sealing[break]

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-virizion"][attr="class","pkspr pkmn-kangaskhan form-mega color-shiny"]

Regardless of the fact that the tide of this battle continues to shift in their favor, Matias' concern remains geared towards him. He wants Derek to try and talk to himself...
[break]
[break]
"What good is that gonna do?!" They were enemies, so what was there to be discussed? It wasn't like they would just answer his questions...right?
[break]
[break]
He didn't think it would work, but since it was what Matias wanted... "Hey, you! Or me, whatever!" To his surprise, Derek's seagnificant other turned, locking on to his gaze. "You helped Jonesy evolve, so you must be quite the trainer."
[break]
[break]
He couldn't believe he was stroking his own ego.
[break]
[break]
"But you've lost. It's two-on-one. Your pokemon tire." Oh yeah, that sounded much more like himself. "Give it up already before either of you get hu-"
[break]
[break]
He'd only seen it coming because of the stark red glow Sea Derek's eyes exhibited. The naked eye struggled to keep up, and the hands raising to his defense lagged even further behind. The punch to the face didn't even feel like a fist...
[break]
[break]
It felt like he just kissed a moving train.
[break]
[break]
His Zeraora managed to lessen the blow with it's quick guard, but that didn't stop anyone around them from hearing the sound of bone being broken.

MATIAS SILPH

☉

in his defense, matias had warned derek that their sea selves would try to kill them. so the punch shouldn't be all too surprising.[break][break]

still, to hear bone crack is not pleasant in the slightest.[break][break]

his instincts to protect his allies is what causes his anger to flare. it shows in the way he glares, spits, and steps forward.[break][break]

"TCH."[break][break]

kangaskhan stomps into the ground to call forth a SUBZERO SLAMMER. shards of ice erupt as it travels to sea derek and his inteleon.[break][break]

they fall short.[break][break]

matias steps over to derek.[break][break]

"shit. you okay?"

[attr="class","ooc"]DEREK HOFFMAN[break]
sealing[break]

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-virizion"][attr="class","pkspr pkmn-kangaskhan form-mega color-shiny"]

"...Yesth." That was a lie, and the wince he made upon uttering just a single word was enough to tell Matias otherwise. The fact his lower jaw was split, as well as the blood leaking inside his mouth caused Derek's speech to be slurred.
[break]
[break]
And Arceus, did it fucking hurt.
[break]
[break]
He didn't appreciate the taste either.
[break]
[break]
Regardless of all that, it was his emotions that ruled him. Instincts. Inner notions, no, demons telling him he had to get even with this...imposter. Reaching for a pokeball, it's contents revealed a familiar sight for the two Derek's. Randal, the Machamp. The state of it's trainer sent the Machamp into a fit once he motioned towards the other him, suggesting they were to blame.
[break]
[break]
Even with his broken jaw, Derek was still able to mouth an "Attuh boi." to Randal as his form began to change thanks to the energy of their mega stones.
[break]
[break]
But while the Machamp delayed Sea!Derek's retreat with it's rock blast, Matias would come to find that the Derek on the ground was beginning to lose consciousness. He was still losing blood, on top of the significant amount of pain he was in...

MATIAS SILPH

☉

chasing glory.[break][break]

the matias in kanto would've gone for it, maybe, or even the matias that arrived in hoenn a year ago, but not anymore. he bites his tongue, muting whatever toxic comment he was about to make.[break][break]

actually...[break][break]

"FUCK OFF."[break][break]

that's better.[break][break]

biting his tongue, matias turns away before calling out his blissey. having been healed countless times by Eva Morales and others alike, it feels strange to be on the giving end of the HEAL PULSE this time.[break][break]

the HEAL PULSE looks to numb derek's pain enough for matias to pick him up.[break][break]

"stay with me, hotshot."

[attr="class","ooc"]DEREK HOFFMAN[break]
sealing[break]

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-virizion"][attr="class","pkspr pkmn-kangaskhan form-mega color-shiny"][attr="class","pkspr pkmn-blissey"]

The soothing sensation of being healed was a beacon of comfort in the moment, though almost aided in sending Derek into a slumber. But their pokemon were still fighting, so for the moment he could only nod towards his Machamp, which was looking at him worryingly.

Loosing itself upon the other Derek, the Machamp makes contact with a dynamic punch that sends him flying away towards the slip-space portal between their dimensions. Or whatever it was called. Derek wasn't a physicist or even highly educated to begin with.

Though paralyzed, Sea!Derek's Inteleon quickly relieved itself of it's pokeballs constraints and carried them away. The only true sign of damage was the stray scarlet arcs of what appeared to be electricity running along their suit. But they quickly faded from sight, retreating back to the place they came from. Sea Hoenn.

It might've just been the adrenaline and healing, but soaking in some water felt like a really good idea right about now. So now, seeing that their job appeared to be done, Derek couldn't help but let his head hang low for some rest. Whether Matias saw it fit to carry the gym leader himself or relieve himself of the burden and allow the Machamp to carry him back was up to him.

MATIAS SILPH

☉