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[attr="class","angelotag"] Caleb Harcourt Isaac Merlo Zev Harcourt

[attr="class","angelomain"]It’s as the witching hour strikes, that he awakens.

Pulled out of his slumber by a sharp tug deep within his chest, Angelo finds himself aware, and fast.

Within the darkness, the peacefulness of gentle snores and waves licking at the hull are drowned out by the pang of a connection jerked taut. When the alarmed pilot mentally reaches out to inspect it, he receives messages of panic and desperation and fear.

Someone he knew was in pain. Strong enough to overpower his still amateur control over the web of connections he held.

But who? And what had happened?

Peeling himself free from a tangle of sheets and limbs, Angelo feels around to locate his clothes within the messy piles on the bedroom floor. Once dressed, he spares a look of contemplation over his shoulder at the dozing shape of skyler dross, before he opts to silently slip out the door.

Latios and Latias meet him as he steps onto the Sotally Tober deck, then after sliding onto the formers back they take off into the cool night air. Following the fishing line of curiosity and concern reeling him in.

By the time the signature white cliffs of Sootopolis have come into view, Angelo and the Eon duo are cloaked. Invisible to the world. They pierce through the bubble of familiar pressure that surrounds the island city like a needle, stealing themselves without hesitation into the occupied territory.

Within the depths of Rocket’s lair he finds who he’s looking for. Caleb Harcourt. A familiar face he hadn’t seen in a while, and the end of the tether.

With him is another man, unknown to him however recognition flickers through Latias when she sees the blonde. Her surprise one of pleasantry that Angelo connects to days spent with Locke Jamison. He could trust him.

Still, as he encourages his small team down towards the Sootopolis street to sate his curiosity, they remain invisible.

Latios descends low enough for Angelo to slide off his back in the cover of shadow between two homes, his footsteps meeting the stone with a silent, wind-blessed step.

“Caleb. Blondie. Over here.”

His voice comes quietly from behind Caleb Harcourt and Isaac Merlo, his figure tangible in the shade of a signature blue-roofed building by the time they turn. One callused palm raises in a show of peace, given how he'd read the ranger’s previous mental state.

“You two are a long way from the mainland,” stepping forward, his eyes glance between the pair. Filling in the gaps of the story from emotions he had felt and the look of two dishevelled, injured men, out of place in this city. “Need a hand getting out of here?”

► latios and latias are currently invisible.

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[attr="class","angelotag"] Caleb Harcourt Zev Harcourt

[attr="class","angelomain"]“Later,” he repeated, hand clapping against Caleb Harcourt’s shoulder in return. His smile made no hint that he had no real desire to commit to the promise. “Let’s get the hell out of here first before everyone wakes up.”

Behind him, Latios and Latias’s forms shimmer into view. Their ticket to freedom. Only ruby eyes narrow, scrutinising the ranger as if looking straight at his dark secrets.

Finally, the legendary sinks low enough to let Caleb climb onto his back when a small bow is presented. Although whether he was appeased by the respect, understood the sense of urgency or was begrudgingly bullied into it through telepathy with his pilot, was debatable.

Probably all three.

“You can thank me when we get back to the mainland,” he grins towards the blonde, hopping onto Latios in front. “I like whisky. Circhestian.”

Latias floats forward then, honey eyes fixed on Locke Jamison’s friend warmly, welcoming him to climb onto her back.

Only Isaac Merlo is snatched away before he has a chance.

Alarm jolts through the pilot, eyes widening briefly as a chain suddenly snaps around the man. Yanking with the sort of ferocity that he’s surprised didn’t shatter his spine into dust.

“Go! I'm fine! Just, go, damnit!” Then he was gone. Disappeared down into the depths of Sootopolis’s belly, where the shadows - and hope - pooled opaque.

Behind him comes a desperate scream. Immediately, Angelo’s hand snatches back to grip Caleb’s shirt into a fierce bunch. Expression just as iron forged.

“You heard him, Caleb. He said he'll be fine!” His voice barks, unwavering as he lies through his damn teeth. They both know Isaac wouldn’t be. “We don't have time for this!”

Caleb’s plea goes ignored, the eon pokemon already taking off into the starlit sky towards the jagged edge of Hoenn’s famous crater city.

They don't go back. Angelo would not risk himself or the eon duo getting trapped in the belly of the beast, not for him.

Here’s hoping Isaac Merlo could cheat the odds of the draw.

► flying away from sootopolis

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