Navy mistakes the Garchomp for one of Vortigern’s brood at first. Having earned the companionship of the father, his sons and daughters have learned to stay well away from the town. Once or twice, a son has grown bold. Shuwen has sent him flying back into the cave. This one’s trained. Trained different from his style, too. Navy has a hard time accepting these beasts can be stealthy. [break][break]
“Listen, buddy.” Navy pats on him the shoulder again. If he has any discomforting ideas about being this close to Garchomp, the detective refuses to let them show. Instead, he slips into a comfortable role. Being the good cop is always fun.[break][break]
“You think I’d let this dragon here hurt you? I got a whole cave full of guys just like him outside of town. You just answer our questions and we’ll get you all nice and cozy in a jail cell.” There’d be time for official questions later, filmed stuff to be submitted as evidence in a court of law. There’s none of that here. Here, Navy is all that stands between Deputy Merlo’s Garchomp and him.[break][break]
“Tell us where we can find your supplier. Them two guys who handed you the box, who they work for? They your guys, or reps of the supplier? Where could we go if we wanted a, ah, look at the goods for ourself?”



[break][break]

+ Isaac Merlo

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

It always comes back to the rifts. Foolish humans delve too deep into matters far beyond them. They use the innards of a god as a place to hide and store their ill-gotten gains. If the man is from the rift, so be it. Navy has dealt with their kind before.[break][break]
“There’s dozens of rifts that lead into different parts of the Ultra Deep.” Navy’s attention goes to Isaac. Their friend is ignored for now, forgotten about while there are more pressing matters at hand.[break][break]
“Reading the after-action report from the battle…that’s part of why both sides couldn’t block the other from going in. Hell, some of them are random. Fell through some fighting Rocket’s big guns.” What a terrifying day that had been. Scrambling through the dark like a rat on the mend, trying to find safety somewhere, anywhere. Tumbling through the dark. Finally washing up on shore the next day with an Urshifu guarding his body.[break][break]
It wasn’t an experience he was eager to repeat unless it’s on his own terms. Navy pulls out a pokeball. Tossing it out, Voyager barks. He’s a big, friendly, affectionate Arcanine. He nuzzles against the grifter and takes in his scent.[break][break]
“The egg, boy. Sniff the egg. There’s a scent on there you gotta sniff. Not Phione’s. A human one. Afterwards, we’re goin’ hunting.” It’s his turn to look to Isaac, giving him a querying look.[break][break]
“Yeah? Wonder what color the ultra beast he had was: white or purple.” He pats their new friend on the shoulder as he asks the question, hoping he’ll take the hint and answer.


[break][break]

+ Isaac Merlo

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

“Arceus…when will people learn?” Oh, he’s satisfied alright. Satisfied with how stupid this grifter and his whole operation are. If it’s not one thing, it’s another. Leaving the perp in his capable vigilante’s hands, Navy steps off to make a phone call. A few words are exchanged. The terse phone call ends with Navy nodding for a man who can’t even see him and hanging up.[break][break]
“Alright, Isaac. Got a deputy coming to take our buddy in here.” Navy wears a garchomp’s smile when he turns to the man. “Just holding you for questioning, you understand. You’ll be let go in a day or two. Probably.”[break][break]
His expression is much graver when he turns to Isaac. There’s a different quality to his eyes, an assessing one. It’s one thing to hang out with a man, another thing entirely to ask someone to dive into the deep dark blue alongside you. There be devils in the guide of white angels. There be evil.[break][break]
“You’ve got some badges to your name, yeah? Looks like I need your help. I wanna hit those guys while they’re hot. Don’t know what pisses me off more, the thought of it being Rocket or indie criminals in there. Either way…can’t do it alone. You in?”

[break][break]

+ Isaac Merlo

[attr="class","pokeclass"]