Drawn from his melancholy by rustling in the trees, Gavin turns just in time to dodge a SEED BOMB fired in his direction.

DARK SPIKES scatter from the black crystal blooms of his Roserade's flowers, piercing the pads of the Simisage's feet as it leaps down from its tree. Howling in pain as it finds itself BADLY POISONED, it's defenseless against the subsequent VENOSHOCK that brings it down.

It had been a defense unprompted by his command, yet he finds appreciation enough to offer a nod.

"Thanks."

SKIP

He's more alert when an Accelgor launches itself from the treeline, whistling sharp to get the Roserade's attention. Though not fast enough to dodge the TOXIC venom launched by the Bug-type, the corrupted Pokémon doesn't flinch as poison slides harmlessly off her leaves.

DARK SPIKES poison the Accelgor, but Gavin clicks his tongue to offer a different command than what the Pokémon had used last. She turns to him, the black rose crown on her head drinking in the light, then whips around to bathe the offending bug in a stream of MYSTICAL FIRE.

SKIP

Gavin's phone chimes softly with a tone that means one thing: Rocket business. Immediately, the underboss reaches for the pokeball belonging to his Claydol, then the Roserade's capsule to recall her.

He hesitates as he watches her grapple with a Heracross. We need that one, I think. Sure enough, it's on his checklist.

"Try not to kill it," he instructs drily, as flames bathe the hardy bug's shell with an orange glow. It falls victim to the POISON like the others, though Gavin is sure to throw a pokeball before the heart stops beating.

Then, with this business complete, he'd get back to work.

CATCH + CLOSE!