Once more Xenon finds herself traversing the forgotten ruins of the Ultra Desert, a task she considers very much beneath her but is forced to do regardless by higher ups she can't yet beat up. This time at least she's had the foresight to bring a more tightly sealed water bottle, as well as an emergency Cacturne she could drain some water from in the worst case scenario. This time she even brought a conversation partner with her in the form of her newly caught Toxel riding around on her shoulder, taking in the sights and learning, always learning.[break][break]
So far she hadn't really found anything of interest, not that she'd know what it even was she was looking for considering her utter disdain and lack of interest in anything historical. But the recorder strapped to her chest was finding some good material at least as she wanders around the broken stone ruins that litter this miserable dimension.[break][break]
Suddenly, a semi-familiar voice catches her attention as she turns to face Frank, her bored demeanor perking up somewhat as she starts walking towards the boring looking man. "Well well, look who decided to come back. I didn't think you'd have it in you after the way you chickened out of here last time~" She purrs as she puts her hands on her hips, the Toxel on her shoulder giving Frank a curious look as it spits at the ground near his feet.
[break][break]

+ Ultra Desert #2[break]
Gerald Kaiser Frank Caffey

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

"Look what else the Meowth dragged in, good to see ya gloomy~" Xenon titters as Gerald and his Kecleon approach, lizard leading with aplomb and attracting the attention of her Toxel as it hops down from her shoulder to sniff the new stranger out. A Wiglett joins the party shortly after and the trio of Pokemon seem to start in on their own conversation, while their owners stand awkwardly around staring at one another.
[break][break]
No, wait, that's mainly Gerald. Xenon is more than strong enough to power through any kind of social awkwardness as she speaks up. "Honestly I don't find any of this shit interesting, it's all a bunch of boring dusty ruins, but I have had good old Promethium sniffing around for something interesting." Speak of the devil and he shall appear, a shadow looms over the group as a tall Cacturne waddles around from the corner of some ruins with a happy grin, patting Xenon on the shoulder gently and pointing to the direction he just came from. "Looks like he just got something too. Care to follow gentleman?"
[break][break]

+ Ultra Desert #2[break]
Gerald Kaiser Frank Caffey

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

Off they go to find whatever interesting little thing that Promethium discovered, walking through the ruins following the living scarecrow as they trudge through the sand. Perhaps it was a lack of care that led to the ground collapsing under her feet and the sand trying to swallow her whole, or just a lack of attention at least as the Pallosand sucks her body up to her knees and starts to drain the life from her and the rest of the trio in a matter of moments.
[break][break]
But unlike Frank, there's no panic present in her body language as she calmly reaches a hand out towards the Cacturne and snaps her fingers, grabbing its attention and throwing it into battle mode as it focuses its enmity on the Pallosand trying to eat her. "While it's distracted, Sucker Punch." Her voice is calm and neutral even as she's pulled down further to her chest, she doesn't struggle or flail about wasting pointless energy, she knows that will only bury her deeper and give her less time to escape this not so certain death.
[break][break]
So while that ghostly sandcastle tries to drain the life from the Wiglett attacking, it fails to notice the shadow sliding under its line of sight, right until a paw filled with dark energy crashes into its center of gravity and unleashes a furious Sucker Punch right into its weak point, prompting a agonized screech as half of its body mass is blown away and it tries to Shore Up and recover from the damage done to it.
[break][break]

+ Ultra Desert #2[break]
Gerald Kaiser Frank Caffey

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

They fight for their lives as they flail about in the sinking sands, even the unflappably cool ultramodernist starts to look a little panicked as she sinks in up to her armpits, reaching out for her Cacturne as it continues to duke it out with the Pallosand who thought it could prey on her in such a underhanded manner. Perhaps that's all that keeps them from death as its attention is drawn away from the trio, leaving them to fall into the depths of the earth further as the shifting grain swallow her up to her neck, her breathing hitches as she starts kicking her legs trying to swim up on instinct.
[break][break]
Deep breath in, then out. The sand covers her mouth, panicked eyes dart left and right to try and find her companions, they've already been drawn under. One last deep breathe in through the nose, just in time as she sinks another inch in, she can feel the abrasive grains scraping at the insides of her nostrils now, trying to choke her out. Close your eyes, it'll all be over soon. She can't help but think it in the back of her mind, an intrusive little thought making itself known over the death throes of a drowning woman, but this is so not an ultramodern way to go out.
[break][break]
Down she falls. Down, down, down, black, blacker, yet blacker still. It's been a minute, no, two minutes? She wasn't counting the seconds properly, she's never tried to see how long she could hold her breath for, it's never been a major concern for her. The world record is something around 18 minutes for a professionally trained woman, 22 minutes for a professionally trained man, she's neither of these, holding her breath for as long as she has is a miracle in and of itself. Her lungs are burning red hot, she needs air so bad right now, but if she opens her mouth she's going to choke to death on sand, nothing but sand, maybe having her life drained by that pokemon would have been an easier way to go-?
[break][break]
Don't finish that thought, your feet are touching air. She forces herself to start thrashing as much as possible to try and speed up her descent, bright lights are flashing behind her eyelids, she's so fucking close Arceus damnit she want TO LIVE!!!
[break][break]
She isn't aware of it in the moment as she passes out, but her body ends up falling straight through the sand packed ceiling and right on top of Frank's where ever he lands, she's not all too heavy all things considered with the prosthetic arm, but she is still a fully grown woman landing on the guy with all the grace of a half dead body falling directly on his torso. It takes maybe a minute for her to regain consciousness, eyes fluttering as she tries to adjust to the darkness, doesn't even have a snappy quip ready as she stares right into the man's eyes from on top of him.
[break][break]

+ Ultra Desert #2[break]
Gerald Kaiser Frank Caffey

[attr="class","pokeclass"]