"yup, yup. he's my papa."[break][break]

it's why they've been able to pull a few strings to get some resources allocated to help them defend one of their warehouses. one of the perks, baby.[break][break]

chad, uriah's machamp, patrols the area as well.[break][break]

"and you're...evergrande's captain?"

[attr="class","ooc"]ollie morales[break]
valor: defend[break]

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-machamp color-shiny"]

[attr="class","header"]VALOR: DEFEND

"ooh! papa. so you're like, what, one of his sixteen kids, right?"

[break][break] by now, ollie is aware of who GABRIEL BLACK is and how important he is to the organization. he hopes that gabe hasn't told his son about any embarrassing stories — if he has, well, no harm done.

[break][break] "yep! hopefully here to give rangers a good name. still, i'll be looking for your leadership if we have to hit the deck." ollie winks at the redhead, before looking up just as his togekiss nears close.

[break][break] "looks like coast is clear —" a sudden large sound, at least fifteen feet south, echoes in the distance. "oops. maybe not."

[attr="class","ooc"] URIAH BLACK
[break] BOOM BOOM BAKUDAN

"yup! the oldest one."[break][break]

it should not be surprising that his relationship with his father has not been the most stable through the years. it's improved now by a considerable amount, but he's had to really put in the work and effort to get there.[break][break]

"i gotchu, bro."[break][break]

they remain steady even as the large sound booms. uriah nods at his machamp, sending the fighting-type jogging down to investigate.[break][break]

"chad can handle it. we should keep our eyes open in the meantime."

[attr="class","ooc"]ollie morales[break]
valor: defend[break]

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-machamp color-shiny"]

[attr="class","header"]VALOR: DEFEND

"oh, thanks."

[break][break] he blinks, looking after the machamp that lumbers after the sound in the distance. normally, ollie would be a little bit concerned — but considering the company he keeps, he's sure that URIAH BLACK has it all under check.

[break][break] "tabasco!" he calls. "go help him out."

[break][break] just in case. with a squawk of agreement, the staraptor disappears.

[break][break] turning back to the other, ollie comments. "have there been attacks on your other warehouses?" his mouth pursed. "tensions are high." as much as he would like to pretend that it wasn't.

[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] URIAH BLACK
[break] BOOM BOOM BAKUDAN

"yes, a few. i think it's because of the borders. supplies are difficult to get now."[break][break]

tensions are definitely high. more so now than ever before.[break][break]

in the distance, he hears another crash and a grunt that he knows is from his machamp. a battle commences, it seems.[break][break]

"don't take this the wrong way but i'm surprised they sent the rangers."

[attr="class","ooc"]ollie morales[break]
valor: defend[break]

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-machamp color-shiny"]

[attr="class","header"]VALOR: DEFEND

ollie nods empathetically. "makes sense."

[break][break] the ranger knew little about business, and even less about stocking in times of a shortage, but it only made sense with the barrier up that things would be hard to get from the outside.

[break][break] joining the machamp's grunt is a screech from ollie's staraptor, ringing through the air like gunfire.

[break][break] ollie tilts his head.

[break][break] "huh? oh - " he flashes a grin. "no offense taken. i think everyone's running a bit short these days, so they're taking all the help they can get." he gives the other a thumb's up. "don't underestimate us - i can hold my own in battle, kid."

[attr="class","ooc"] URIAH BLACK
[break] BOOM BOOM BAKUDAN

"nah! i mean, like, i thought you guys mostly handle nature stuff. like, avalanches or earthquakes or whatever."[break][break]

compared to that, warehouse defending seems to be in a whole different ballpark. but then again, it is a pokemon they're up against, so he supposes it makes sense.[break][break]

uriah can do no more than stare at the ranger's thumb.[break][break]

"i don't think we're that far apart..."

[attr="class","ooc"]ollie morales[break]
valor: defend[break]

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-machamp color-shiny"]

[attr="class","header"]VALOR: DEFEND

"oh. yeah - i guess." he presses a thumb into his chin as he considers it. "the skills are pretty transferable, i think. protecting civilians from natural disasters and protecting warehouses from siege are practically the same, isn't it?"

[break][break] or maybe that was just his brazen nature that made it seem that way. ollie always felt like things would work out one way or another.

[break][break] ollie grins right at the other, seemingly unphased by the look he's getting.

[break][break] "well, i'll take that as a compliment then!" he's pretty sure that GABRIEL BLACK's kid must be at least, like, five years younger than him if not more. his head towards the area of where their pokemon are fighting. it seems quiet now. "think they're good?"

[attr="class","ooc"] URIAH BLACK
[break] BOOM BOOM BAKUDAN

"oh yeah. guess you're right."[break][break]

maybe the rangers aren't as bad as everyone says they are. maybe they can even get more funding from akura? who knows.[break][break]

uriah's gaze travels along the path to the corner.[break][break]

"knowing chad? yup. let's go check it out, though. just in case my guy slipped and hit its head or something."[break][break]

he starts walking that way.

[attr="class","ooc"]ollie morales[break]
valor: defend[break]

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-machamp color-shiny"]

[attr="class","header"]VALOR: DEFEND

URIAH BLACK seems satisfied with his answer, and ollie couldn't be happier. there are still some misconceptions about rangers he's sure - at least if his intel from Laurence Anderson is to be believed - but this is definitely a step forward. ollie wonders if he should maybe contact their head ranger to organize more of these types of events.

[break][break] maybe other areas in the league would start to trust rangers more if they worked more closely alongside them.

[break][break] "yeah!" he pipes up. "let's go. this area looks clear anyway."

[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] URIAH BLACK
[break] BOOM BOOM BAKUDAN