Investigating an underwater cavern for a supposed sea monster was not typically the sort of work Zev saw himself doing, but after extracting related information from one of Elisabeth Fiorelli's victims, he'd found himself caught up in Rocket's greater plans. Intrigued by his briefing and expecting to get paid for the unusual task, he eventually agreed to go. He arrived at the docks of Sea Mauville in the blink of a teleport and approached the boat where his partner for the mission waited.

Zev gripped the proffered hand in a firm shake. "Likewise," he said with a friendly smile that matched Bee's, not meaning either one. The fact that Bee ranked higher than Zev in Rocket's hierarchy mattered little to the hitman. He'd see for himself whether the other man would earn his respect.

"I've dived before, but not often," Zev replied as he stripped down to a pair of fitted bicycle shorts and slipped into his wetsuit. "It's been a couple of years."

As he finished zipping up, he paced around the boat, taking stock of all the gathered equipment and noting the Pokémon waiting in the water. One thing was certain: one could count on Team Rocket to have prepared everything beforehand.

Zev paused as he gazed down at the Pokémon. Only his Pyukumuku could help them once they were underwater, and he doubted the little sea cucumber could do much against a monstrous leviathan. He'd have to rely on the Pokémon Bee provided for the mission.

BARNABY FINCH

NOTES
+ Event: Occupied Ocean

'Arrogant' was the word Bee was looking for.

Zev rarely found himself with a need to scuba dive for his work, so after the mission briefing, he did a quick refresher with a diving expert within Rocket — the same klaus anchoret, but Zev didn't know that. He had to trust that his athleticism and instincts would make up for whatever practice he lacked. Not that he should have any difficulty with the mission, or so his arrogance made him believe.

Upon arrival at their destination, Zev listened in silence as Bee spoke. Zev made eye contact with the indicated Walrein, nodded at the Pokémon in a gesture of acceptance, and proceeded with the final preparations for the dive. All geared up and ready to go, he followed Bee into the water in an echo of the other man's actions.

The Walrein immediately sidled up beside Zev, keeping a small distance between them in case the man needed its assistance, but careful not to get in his way. As Zev swam downward behind Bee, the Walrein kept pace with ease.

Down, down, down they descended, encased in the eerie, muffled silence of the ocean. Fish Pokémon swam past them, small ones darting in schools, large ones gliding languidly through the water. Lights from the harnesses mounted on Bee's Pokémon illuminated the way and eventually fell upon a massive rocky outcropping. A craggy opening, like a toothed maw, waited for them just within the lights' reach. Zev gestured to get Bee's attention and point toward it, but the other man had likely already noticed.

BARNABY FINCH

NOTES
+ Event: Occupied Ocean

In his nine years as a hitman, Zev had been paralyzed, poisoned, burned, and all manner of other conditions thanks to his targets' Pokémon. Such early situations had prompted him to finally assemble his own team to distract enemy Pokémon while he eliminated their masters.

But never in Zev's career or life had he ever experienced this. This total immobility at the bottom of the ocean, surrounded by almost complete darkness, a telepathic voice seemingly crushing his very mind with its oppressive presence.

Zev was not normally a man who knew fear. But fear was the only word to describe the ice-cold, knife-like feeling that seized him in that moment. It was utterly alien, a sensation he'd never experienced before.

And it filled him with intense revulsion and rage.

The psychic power released its hold on Zev and Bee. They swam as fast as they could toward the mouth of the cave, Zev gripping the Walrein's harness with a hand. It was probably what saved his life, down there in the silent depths. When the tentacle wrapped around Zev's waist to stop him, the Walrein jerked too. The Pokémon immediately cried out, alerting the others, including Bee.

Zev writhed in the tentacle, one hand digging into the slippery skin. He wished he had a knife. Why hadn't he brought a knife?

Zev wanted to scream. With fear? With fury? Maybe both.

BARNABY FINCH

NOTES
+ Event: Occupied Ocean

Zev saw Bee stop at the Walrein's cry and turn around to see the commotion. A second passed as the other man decided on his next action, and during that second, white hot fear pierced Zev's chest like a knife. But then Bee swam toward him with his Dewgong and the fear fled, replaced with a wave of relief and renewed determination.

Once he was free from the tentacle, Zev clutched the Walrein's harness with both hands, letting the Pokémon drag him toward the mouth of the cavern at top speed. Bee and his other two Water-types swam alongside them, keeping pace.

Finally, the rock walls surrounding the fleeing group gave way to open water. They would make it out alive!

As Walrein surged through the entrance, Zev dared to glance back.

BARNABY FINCH

NOTES
+ Event: Occupied Ocean

Now Zev found himself faced with the same exact choice as Bee moments before. He could keep swimming for the surface, with or without Bee's Pokémon; he was a strong swimmer and was certain he could drive their boat back to the safety of the docks. Or he could help Bee, in the same way the other man had saved him from certain doom.

Normally, Zev was not the kind of person to care for the lives of others. But a debt was a debt. He urgently tugged on Walrein's harness and pointed at Bee. The Pokémon cried out once more upon seeing its master frozen stiff and raced back, Zev in tow.

Snaking one arm around Bee's torso, he could feel just how stiff the other man's muscles were, as if he were a corpse in rigor mortis. Could Bee even breathe?

There was no time to find out. Zev hooked his other arm through Walrein's harness, determined not to lose his grip as the Pokémon shot out of the cavern's mouth and swam upward with powerful strokes. The Starmie and Dewgong followed at Bee's side to make sure no further harm came to him.

After what felt like an eternity, the five of them surfaced.

BARNABY FINCH

NOTES
+ Event: Occupied Ocean