A high-ranking League official had tasked Mauville's Gym Leader with something he wasn't exactly thrilled to do: an interrogation of Eris Halla . Why couldn't they have Law Enforcement do that? He was a Ranger, not a police officer. Perhaps the League looked at his Gym battle with Callan Young and figured the short temper he had put on display there would be useful in scaring her into giving up the information they were looking for.

It didn't feel right.

He couldn't say no, though. A Hoennian Gym Leader's duties extended well beyond that of testing trainers for a Badge. It involved assisting their city's mayor with management. It involved being a paragon of the city's defenses. For Josh in particular, it had even involved being an astronaut. While his role in the Meteno operation was important, it was one he was never given the choice to back out of. And this was no different. He would just have to do his best.

Turning a corner past his Gym on the northwest side of town, Josh caught sight of a short female whose physical description closely resembled that of the suspect he was to be trailing. He pulled back harshly on Blitz's reins as the shiny Luxray looked ready to pounce. "Not yet, Blitz," Josh chided his electric mount. "Keep tailing her. Quietly."

While Josh would have preferred to be led to the girl's base of operations, it seems he'd been had. Perhaps it was experience with her own shiny Luxray that easily let her detect the feline and rider. Either way, the Elite Ranger and Gym Leader were now in plain sight, the electric-type's menacing stare likely only escalating matters more. "Guess there's no hiding any longer," he thought, about to call out to the young lady. At least they weren't in a terribly busy part of town, so not too many people would have to witness it if things escalated.

"Good day!" Josh waved from the back of his Luxray, dressed in a solid blue Ranger uniform. "Elite Ranger Devlin and Gym Leader Devlin. You can call me Josh, though," he introduced himself, also sending out Saber, his Manectric. "I've been sent by Mauville Ranger HQ to ask you a few questions about recent events, specifically the Meteno operation. Can I get some of your time there, please? Saber here would be more than happy to give you a lift there if need be."

Josh never thought for a moment that this hunt would go smoothly. He subtly flicked Blitz's reins, the shiny Luxray now on edge. "This isn't a road you wanna go down, kid," the rash Elite Ranger spoke down to her, both physically and tactfully. "It won't take too much of your time. You're not in trouble. We just have a few questions about the roles of a few people on the League's Most Wanted List regarding Meteno, and we believe you have some connections to them."

By now, it was clear that the young female was hiding something. Rosmontis, Mauville's Minor League Gym Leader, sounded a lot like this girl, yet subtly different. Though there were striking similarities between the two, Josh simply didn't make the connection. After all, there were too many similar girls in Hoenn. On top of that, she was a Gym Leader approved by then-Director kyle lopez . The League trusted her. Josh trusted her. "If it's immunity you're looking for, I will do everything in my power to broker a deal. We just need you to answer some questions," he reiterated.

Blitz let out a snarl that caused his rider to flinch from how unexpectedly strong the vibration was. This Luxray was fired up. Big time. Josh's eyes were filled with a metaphorical fire. Saber crouched and slinked forward, looking like he was going to pounce at any moment. Yes, Cian would have more information, but it was his intent to perform a cross-examination by asking the Rustboro Gym Leader questions after talking to her.

Josh shook his head as sparks flew from his mount's paws. "You're starting to test my patience, kid," his professional facial expression turning into a scowl. "You want to resolve this peacefully, this is your last chance. Otherwise, I can't guarantee your safety. And trust me, you don't want to be on the bad side of this city's Gym Leader." Both the electric-types' red gazes were piercing ones, trying to intimidate her into backing down. Josh had his doubts it would work, but he had to try!

Josh tried to reassure Eris he indeed was a figure of authority, showing the young lady her Ranger badge and armband, the former of which had his first and last name on it. "You are from Mauville, aren't you? Have you any idea the time and work it takes to build the track record to be called an Elite Ranger?" Eris was right; though he was technically on a Law Enforcement mission, as his credentials were being presented, arresting individuals was something a Ranger didn't do, with a few specific exceptions, such as arresting poachers.

The PRESSURE from the lady washed over him like that horrific day when he sat astride the Iceborne Mirage, Articuno. The very presence of the bird had been vomit-inducing. This presence wasn't nearly as bad, but with the number of legendary Pokémon he had been in the saddle of, perhaps it was just getting used to it. Either way, it gave him pause. Perhaps he needed to take less drastic measures before going all-out to bring her in by force.

He wanted to bring the lady to Ranger HQ for a reason: they had recording equipment there, so all of her words would be on tape. Any evidence he collected here would never hold up in a court of law without a recording. He could record the conversation using his phone, but that would be too obvious. It was clear by now that she wasn't coming willingly. As much as it pained him to do so, he had to give the order. For the League.

"...Saber, THUNDER WAVE."

Josh didn't expect the young girl to cooperate with the League's investigation to begin with. He was expecting her to fight back, but instead she chose to flee. And flee fast she did; that shiny Luxray could ever put on some speed. The other shiny Luxray at the scene, though, was no slouch in that department, either. "After them, Blitz! Hyah!" the Gym Leader cried, stomping on the metaphorical gas pedal by digging his heels sharply into the electric lion's black fur. It was a nonverbal signal to dash at full speed, and one Josh didn't use lightly.

Once the Luxray and Manectric were up to speed, Josh let go of the reins long enough to speed-dial Mauville Law Enforcement dispatch, forwarding the call to his comms unit. "Dispatch, it's Elite Ranger Devlin! I am in high speed pursuit of the target. Headed southbound on Oneida Road passing 61st Street. Requesting immediate backup and radar tracking, over."

The girl's Luxray was swift. Really swift. It was clear from the beginning that while Josh's Luxray had more speed, Eris' was more agile, weaving around honking traffic and able to take turns much more tightly than the Gym Leader did. He wanted to end the chase with a Z-Move here and now, but without a long, cleared-out road to follow, it would be far too dangerous. She was slowly gaining distance from the Gym Leader. He needed to lure her onto a highway, and fast!

Blitz was a fast Luxray, perhaps one of the fastest in Hoenn; it was a sign that he was a pride leader when he was wild. While not a Former Alpha, as that would be uncomfortably large for him to sit on, he was big, and being big had its disadvantages, too. "Blitz, after her! Use your QUICK ATTACK!" His racing experience would allow the two to rapidly close the gap as the black-and-yellow cat put on a burst of speed that would have made most queasy. Surely, his quarry wouldn't have been able to keep up with a Luxray trained almost exclusively in going fast?

It turned out that while Mauville was Josh's home turf, it was Eris Halla 's, too. She took a sharp swerve into the Forest of Secrets, her own home turf she, as Rosmontis Luna, had to have known extremely well. Josh grunted loudly from Blitz slamming hard on the brakes, sparks flying from his claws as he, too, whipped around the corner. "Dispatch, Elite Ranger Devlin. She took a turn into the Forest of Secrets. Form the best perimeter you can, but it's vast. Try to keep radar contact with me."

Once he got into the forest, it was one rough ride. As it turned out, the larger Luxray had to slow down a lot to weave around the roots and branches that would get in the larger rider's way. The chase would be Reiner's agility advantage versus Josh's speed advantage. Who would win?