TO: Josh Devlin (josh.devlin@hoennleague.gov)
CC: Eva Morales (eva.morales@hoennleague.gov)
MISSION: "Running on Fumes"
PROTOCOL: Dispersal
DANGER: ★★★☆☆

A large pack of Varoom and Revavroom are racing through Rustboro's main thoroughfares. Their reckless travel has made it dangerous for the city's pedestrians and motorists of all kinds. Their extremely high speeds have made it difficult for local Rangers to corral them and relocate them outside the city. As such, the city has requested the help of Mauville Gym Leader Josh Devlin and Head Scientist Eva Morales , two trainers known for their prowess with grest speed. Your mission is to relocate the Varoom and Revavroom away from the city.

Your objectives are as follows:

A) Relocate the Varoom and Revavroom away from Rustboro's streets using a nonlethal method of your choosing.
B) Clear the city of smog left by the Varoom and Revavroom.
C) Minimize civilian casualties.

Unacceptable levels of Pokémon or civilian casualties will result in a mission failure. Nonlethal force against the Varoom and Revavroom is authorized, though methods of least violence are preferred for relocating the unwanted Pokémon.

Per your restitution with the League, this is the seventh of ten assignments you will complete without compensation.

Good luck! We're all counting on you.

"Not just for me, Eva," Josh started to joke back, "but for you, too. After all, you're the one that routinely gets to ride the very fastest Pokémon in the world! Rayquaza is... something else." Josh doubted the emerald serpent had the precision needed to fly through such tight, enclosed spaces at speed. Their Dragon Ascent did take them well into the stratosphere, higher than even airplanes flew! "I'll never forget the day we flew together. But that's enough daydreaming."

While Josh wasn't overly familiar with the Paldean species, he knew of its speed. Revavroom could be a Pokémon mount with some highly specialized gear, but if his Flygon was any indication, the rattling and vibrating engine would take some serious adjusting to get used to being on. There was also the issue of the Pokémon's exhaust. It was just too many hoops to jump through for a ride Pokémon. Plus, he preferred to be able to feel the strides of running Pokémon he was on.

"Well, we're not clearing the smog until we bag all these Pokémon. I have four Pyroar that we may be able to box them in with and catch them." As if on cue, he sent all four of them out. "Aslan, Simba, Kovu, and Nala. You might be familiar with Aslan, but the others I don't think you've met." He quickly took a seat in the Shiny Pyroar's saddle. Nala approached Eva and started sniffing near her. "You're more than welcome to use one of them if you want. Anyway, with four of them, it should be easy enough to double team, trap, and catch them. At least in theory. As for the smog, once we've caught them, I have a Flygon that can blow the smog away." Blowing the smog away would have been a perfect task for Rayquaza, but he felt even voicing the suggestion would be an insult. Truth be told, he just wanted an excuse for another flight on the legendary's back... without the Dragon Ascent part.

Unfortunately, steel-types were not known for being particularly fast. Being resistant to poison was only part of the equation; they also had to be fast enough to catch the roaring Revavroom in the first place. "Hmm, might be better to try to blow some of it away now," the Gym Leader suggested. "I could use Verte, my Flygon, first. He's not fast enough to Bulldoze them on his own, but blowing away enough of the smog for the pride to run wild seems worth a try to me."

Provided Eva thought it was a good idea, Josh would release his Flygon above the streets, the dragon's wings sounding not too much different from the poison-types' revving engines. The BUG BUZZ that came from Verte's wings was not intended to attack, but to whip up sandstorm-like winds that would disperse the smog up, if not out. With their quarry still roaming Rustboro chaotically, it would be a temporary measure at best.

"Let's go!" With that, the four lions scattered, Aslan leading the Pyroar brigade. The poison-types could easily keep up, their wheels screeching against the pavement from rapidly reversing course to evade the lions. Josh wasn't going to let that slide. There was only one person in Hoenn that was faster than the Mauville Gym Leader was, and he was working with her. "DOUBLE TEAM, Aslan!" he commanded, pulsing his knees into the feline's sides. An image trail formed behind mount and rider as they surged toward the Revavroom at dangerous speeds. Kovu was looking to cut the wild off from the other side, which would leave the poison-type vulnerable to a gout of FLAMETHROWER right in the exhaust. Into a Poké Ball it went. Inevitably, some of these unruly Pokémon would need to be taken to a Pokémon Center before being released into the wild.

Eva Morales ' approach was relentless and destructive. Effective, but Josh did not envy the job that construction crews would have repairing all the roads, nor did he envy the many in Rustboro that would have their commutes upset. As fast as the multi-cylinder Pokémon were, they could only maintain their top speed on smooth terrain. Josh's Pyroar were creatures of the wild, their rippling muscles propelling them through the most uneven terrain just as quickly as the city streets they were running on now.

Aslan charged from one side, and Nala from another, the two Pyroar keeping as close to the center of the street as possible to react to any sharp turns the steel-type made. As the chase continued, Josh pondered catching one. Not one of the ones they were requested to chase away, but the species in general. They were extremely fast, but they had multiple problems. Their bodies were not a good shape to carry a human. Their exhaust would also be uncomfortably close to a human's face, as well. Ultimately, he loved his feel for more traditional ride Pokémon too much -- being able to feel the gallop of the mount beneath him and truly ride as one was much more important than raw speed.

With a loud screech, one of the Revavroom pulled a sharp about face and slipped past Aslan. "Eva, one's headed your way!" Josh cried. His other two Pyroar had cornered another one of the Pokémon, rendering it unconscious with their fire-type attacks. There were still several more to be caught, and even at the lower concentrations of smoke thanks to Verte's work, it would still take a toll on the Gym Leader's lions if this went on too long.

Eva's Pokémon were so well-coordinated in gathering the poison-types toward Josh's pride for the finishing blow. Were she not busy with being arguably Hoenn's top researcher, she could have easily been a contender to become a Champion. She had a power beyond that of a Champion, which was on full display. The strong winds blew the more lithe Nala and Kovu off their feet in addition to blowing the steel-types on their sides. They spun their wheels desperately in an attempt to right themselves, but not before the stout Simba and Aslan belched rapids of FLAMETHROWER toward them.

Those were the last two. No more were the poison Pokémon a threat to Rustboro.

Josh could feel Aslan's heart thumping beneath him; running amongst the toxic fumes was exhausting for his entire pride. "Great job, everyone. You deserve a rest. Return." He recalled all four of his Pyroar into their Balls, a little wobbly himself after landing once his mount disappeared from underneath him. "That wind... it takes a lot to blow even a Pyroar off its feet. What was that?" he asked Eva.

Even Josh's thighs were starting to thump as though he had just completed a long race. It may as well have been a race, what with some of the sharp turns those Revavroom had made to evade capture. He walked alongside Eva Morales slowly, his breath a little heavy. "From the serpent..." Josh mused. "Even now, so long after the fact..." He wondered what it would be like to be in the Head Professor's position, fighting alongside the fastest Pokémon in the world. If she barely had a grasp on her powers, even after so long, would they ever truly be controllable?

Josh flinched, not expecting such a hard pat from the Peacemaker. "Nothing Hoenn's king and queen of speed can't handle, am I right?" he half-teased. It was true, though; there was no one faster in the sky than Eva and Rayquaza, and there was no one faster on land than Josh and Raikiri. With their duty complete, Josh let Eva lead the way back to HQ to claim their paycheck.