The lobby that morning was, surprisingly, not too crowded; there were only a couple of people in the waiting room, ready for challenges against Gym Trainers. While Josh was working his Gym today, it was one of the days of the week he was not taking challenges. There was a lot more to running a Gym than simply taking challenges, after all!

As Lucas approached ANDREW WEISS, one of Josh's receptionists, the young man responded, "Need to see some ID, please." Provided Lucas would comply, it would be easy for him to find the application. "Yes, I do see your name on the list. Take the first left, then the first right, then you'll see an elevator. Take that to the third floor. The Leader's office will be straight ahead."

Provided Lucas followed the directions, he would find Josh's office, with decor similar to the main lobby. On a large, wooden desk rest a computer monitor, a keyboard, a bottle of water, and a 12-inch Raikou plush toy with the most vicious-looking yet adorable face. "Great to see you, Lucas!" Josh greeted him. Saber, his Manectric, smiled at him from the corner behind him, the Pokémon wearing a saddle in the likeness of Raikou's thundercloud. "So I understand you're interested in a position at Mauville Racing Grounds. May I ask which openings you are most interested in?"

"No problem," the Gym Leader answered, rubbing his hand over the Raikou plush's black crown. "Have a seat! I wanted to let you know that you should be proud you've made it this far in the selection process. Your experience working with Nimbasa Stadium is what caught my eye." Saber sat down next to Lucas, giving him a good perspective on just how big the ride Manectric, the Gym Leader's ace Pokémon, was. He was big enough to seat two people on that thundercloud if need be! It was a good thing each floor of the Mauville Gym had more than the standard eight-foot ceiling. "Gym Leader Devlin or Elite Ranger Devlin, but you can call me Josh," he introduced himself, putting emphasis on the last phrase. A formal introduction, for sure, but he didn't expect, or desire, the formality to be reciprocated.

"Don't sweat it! Pokémon racing was, only a decade ago, considered to be an exotic and dangerous sport. Safety has improved so much that, with the right precautions, even brand new trainers with the right Pokémon can enjoy battles of speed. That's what the Mauville Racing Grounds are dedicated toward. We'll teach you all you need to know about racing during the new hire process if you're selected."

The Gym Leader tapped at his keyboard for a bit, utilizing the vast resources his position let him access. "I pulled up your profile with the Hoenn League, and I noticed you do not possess a single Hoenn Gym Badge. Do you possess any Badges from other regions?" he read the question from his computer. "I want to be transparent: a lack of Hoenn League Badges will not disqualify you from consideration. I do need to ask you, though: Why do you want this position, and why should I hire you?"

Josh hummed as he continued clicking away, pulling up a copy of Lucas' application. Everything he was saying was consistent with what was on his paperwork. While his retinue of athletic experience was impressive, not having any Gym badges from any region at all was quite the mark against the young man. While it didn't automatically disqualify him, Lucas did need to have an impressive amount of relevant experience elsewhere.

Next, Josh looked up Lucas' public records with Nimbasa Stadium. The young man's athletic prowess with Pokémon was comparable to a trainer with several Badges, merely focused on a different field than combat. "I like your willingness to branch out. Being athletic is a prerequisite for working here. What most trainers don't realize is how fit you have to be to ride a very fast-moving Pokémon. It's tough not just on the Pokémon, but the rider, too."

Josh noted Lucas' willingness to improve, as well. It seemed like the young man had a good work ethic. Leaving compensation out of the interview was a sign that he was applying for work he would enjoy doing, and that was another quality the Gym Leader was looking for. "Excellent. Next, can you describe an experience you've had in the last two years that would make you a good fit for these positions? It can be anything you feel would help you in your new position, were I to hire you." After all, a lack of Badges wasn't indicative of a lack of battle experience.

Strength and stamina were very important for high speed travel, something Josh was quick to recognize. "That goes a long way here," the Gym Leader replied. "There are so many people with the misconception that riding a Pokémon everywhere instead of walking gets you out of shape. That couldn't be farther from the truth. It can get physically intense. The faster you go, the more strength you need to be able to command your Pokémon." He paused to let his words sink in. "Your teaching experience is also valuable, as this will let us bring in larger classes and improve the Gym Trainers we have, as well. As you can imagine, we get a lot of applicants and can only accept the best trainers and racers. While prior riding and racing experience are preferred, they're not essential to success here."

If Lucas was good at reading body language, he could see Josh growing more and more relaxed as the interview went on. "However, I do have a few more questions of you, including a very important one." The black-haired young man took a deep breath. "As a Gym Trainer, you will be expected to take battles from members seeking to prepare for challenges, as well as take official Gym Challenges. You will also be expected to be part of the field for Racing Challenges. What Pokémon do you have that you feel would be a good fit as a Gym Trainer at Mauville Racing Grounds?" He gestured toward the saddled Manectric nearby as an example.

The frown did not go unnoticed, and was mirrored when Lucas mentioned his complete lack of Pokémon that could carry him across the land, sea, or sky. It was quintessential to being a trainer at one of the most renowned Gyms in Hoenn. While nervous at first, he had filled John Sullivan 's shoes nicely, the racing challenge having a reputation for being one of the biggest tests of true teamwork between Pokémon and trainer.

"...You are absolutely right that not possessing a Pokémon that can bear your weight on the course is a detractor," Josh replies with a noticeable drop in tone. "And your honesty is appreciated. We do have accommodations, though; while you still lack tenure, you will be permitted to use my Pokémon for any challenges you are assigned to. I have dozens of them, as I am sure you have seen if you look out the window behind me." A Luxray, two Pyroar, an Arcanine, a Sawsbuck, a Liepard... there was no shortage of Pokémon that wore saddles and were trained enough to adapt to anyone that held their reins.

The vow that Lucas made did not go unheard, either. "What kinds of Pokémon made for racing would you be looking to catch?" was the Leader's next question.