These caves were dangerous. Breaching the island had proven that. Heatrans and more lurked within the bowels of the island. To call it an 'island' anymore was an understatement. It was breaking apart under the weight of the siege between League and Team Rocket. It wouldn't last much longer. It couldn't.

It was too fresh a discovery to remain pure for long.

Howard Slayte, archaeologist, doctor, poor person, and tired, trudged through the caves like a man walking towards his final exam. How many people had he fought? Several? A Gym Leader or three was in there, and Howard had lost count. His Pokémon were weary, and he was tired. Breaching the island had taken much preparation, and Howard was tired when the battle began.

Boy, was he tired now. He wanted to hide under a rock and sleep.

At least this helmet comes with night vision. Exiting through a side cave, Howard turns, silently swears, and immediately retreats around the corner. Dammit. Was that person from Team Rocket? Who were they? Blast, he had never been good with recognizing people, and the cave made it hard. Maybe it was best to simply go the other way. If he slipped off now, he could pretend this never happened.

That was a perfectly logical idea. Howard would follow it. He slowly walked away, before stumbling on a rock. Don't make a sound don't make a sound don't make a sound.... He thought desperately. Clatter. The sound echoed through the cave.

Dammit.

---

Genevieve Cromwell
- Masked and in uniform.
- Clumsy idiot
- No Pokemon out
- Why can't this guy get the jump on Ms. FGO faceclaim is he STUPID
Points:
+50 (mission start)
+10 (post)

Clatter. Another rock falls down as Howard backed up, quietly cursing as he staggered backwards. This was why he left skirmishes for the people with nerves of steel. He could barely order a coffee without breaking into tears. Genevieve's voice was relatively kind, but that meant little in Team Rocket. Some people sounded like they chewed nails, some sounded kind. Most were pretty terrible people, all things considered.

Backing up, Howard suddenly felt a presence akin to a meat locker. Either the cave had a draft, his suit's climate control wasn't working, or...

Something was behind him. Howard turned to see the Duskull staring him in the face.

"EEEEK!" Howard shrieked, before promptly running away from the Duskull, back towards the corner Genevieve was beginning to approach. When you saw a ghost, you ran, even if that meant running into a potential threat. Howard rounded the corner, not looking, until...

Donk. Howard ran into Genevieve, before falling backwards with a thud. "Huhwuzzat?"

---

Genevieve Cromwell
Notes:
Backs away from noise, turns to see Duskull, shits his pants
Runs back towards Genny and runs into her
Clatter.
Points:
+50 (mission start)
+20 (posts)

Man, the Ranger Corps were recruiting younger by the day. A 4'11 senior ranger? What, did they recruit her out of preschool?

Not that Team Rocket was much better. Didn't they have a shortstack who waved a sword running around somewhere? Howard was just so used to fighting people who towered over both him and the battlefield that Genevieve surprised him. Maybe if he put her on the top shelf and ran away, she'd let him escape?

No, unlikely. Senior rangers were extremely capable. Howard wondered what her story was, to be down in these caves. These were all relatively rational thoughts, which betrayed Howard's exterior.

"I'm sorry, miss. Don't hurt me...!" Howard wanted oh so desperately to accept a kind hand and gentle word, but this island had become too much of a danger to allow that to happen. There were reasonable Rockets, cruel Leagues, and everything in between.

Pushing Genevieve's hand away, Howard scooted away on his back. With a flash of light, a Volcarona appeared behind him, glittering scales causing light to fill the cave. As the light appeared, Howard's attire came into view. A full mask and helmet, a black jumpsuit with a red R.

Rocket.

In a less desperate situation, Howard would've noticed her red eyes and prior weeping. They could've discussed their losses under the banner of peace, before leaving and promising to never meet each other again. That would've been ideal. A perfect interaction for a perfect world.

"I'm sorry. You're a ranger. You have a service to arrest me. I'm sorry. I'm..."

Unfortunately, this was war, as Genny would realize as the Volcarona erupted into flames.

---

Genevieve Cromwell
Notes:
Howard's Rocket affiliations revealed
Too scared to notice Genevieve's vulnerability
Volcarona using Fiery Dance
Clatter.
Points:
+50 (mission start)
+30 (posts)

Howard didn't blink as the Lycanroc marched past him to deal with Apolle. He didn't even stop to consider the type matchup between the two Pokemon. Apolle would put up an admirable fight, but the fire-type Volcarona would lose. Nonetheless, as soon as Genevieve's proclamation rang out, Howard knew that his only option was to fight. No matter what, he would escape.

The Fiery Dance fills the area where Volcarona and Lycanroc engage. The heat in the cave is sweltering, but Howard's suit is filled with the best tech, courtesy of Head Scientist Amor Rose . It feels more like a hot car than it does the inside of an oven.

A feeling Howard knew all too well, if he could afford to fix his car's air conditioning.

"Six digits of debt, and they got me at my lowest point." Howard sighed through the helmet's speaker. Combined with the voice modulator, it sounded like a burst of television static. "They own me, Ranger. They will always own me, and the League will never be able to keep me safe."

Howard's head rose, and Genny's reflection appeared in the helmet. Despite the scrambled voice, the tone was clear. This was just another grunt who had been scraped from the gutter to fill Team Rocket's ranks. Even if Howard was much more than that to the organization, his story was one that echoed through the team's lower ranks.

"So I fight for them. It's a tale as old as time, and one that you'll hear until Team Rocket is buried in ash."

---

Brewing: fire-type mention
Genevieve Cromwell
Notes:
Clatter.
He's broke :C
Points:
+50 (mission start)
+40 (posts)

"What the..." Howard stepped back and pointed at her. He looked towards Wander, then towards his Volcarona. A mask of calm settled over him. "Wander would defeat my Volcarona. It'd be as easy as pulling a weed from your garden. You must know this."

She did. He could tell from her expression, and from Wander's.

"In these quarters, you could likely incapacitate me before I throw out an extra Pokémon." Howard cocked his head. "You know this, as well."

She did. He could tell from her expression.

"I could have sensitive information. Something that could change the tide of this battle." The archaeologist clenched a fist and grinded his teeth. "That is something you must consider. Or you've already considered it as well."

She had. He could tell from her expression. Dammit. Dammit dammit dammit.

He was being pitied. He was being let go again/. He was so weak and not even worth the hassle that what would Genevieve arresting this man accomplish? She was obligated to. The oath to the League expected her to do so. Just as his oath to Rocket would force him to strike against her.

But that could be avoided.

"You're making a mistake, Genevieve." The mask blared out. Why was he so opposed to this? Did he want to be caught? No, no. That wasn't it. He wanted an answer. Howard wanted knowledge. He had torn out his eye for knowledge, long ago. Yet he looked at her expression.

"Wait. Perhaps not. You think this is the right decision?"

---

Genevieve Cromwell
Notes:
clatter.
Points:
+50 (mission start)
+50 (posts)

"...I see. You're strong, too." Howard's voice blared out. After a few seconds, he stopped. He reached towards his neck and flicked a switch. "You're stronger than us, at least. I'm sorry for your loss."

His voice was quiet, without the enthusiasm that was typically associated with Howard Slayte. It was practically a different voice from how he usually spoke. That, combined with the reverberation of the mask, made his voice sound different from how he normally spoke. This was how he commended the ranger who was letting him go.

"We do." His gaze lingered on the bruise. A knife in gratitude? How appropriate for Team Rocket. He was surprised that they didn't piss on her Pokémon's grave. "When I joined Team Rocket, I didn't think much about it. I thought that if I only did my job, and stayed away from them, I could separate myself from the whole. I figured that I could be different from them, y'know?"

If he averted his gaze from the truth, and held himself in ignorance, he could remain free of the crimes that were committed in the name of Team Rocket. Yet that alone was a joke. Howard Slayte spent his life searching for truth about the world. About the past. Yet, when it came to him, he preferred ignorance.

"But I'm not. I've hurt people today. First time in my life that I've done it. Doubt I can ever make amends. I can't ever leave." Howard laughed, then reached for Apolle's Pokeball. The Volcarona vanished. In its place was a Phione, nestling in Howard's arms. "I'll likely sit in my bedroom after this, saying it was a one time thing. That I was forced to. If I repeat the lie, I'll believe it."

To continue believing the lie...

"I am sorry about intruding on your vigil. Here."

The Phione glowed with an inner light. After that entire monologue, was he still going to attack her? Instead, a soothing Aqua Ring surrounded the Ranger, and began to soften the pain of her and her Pokémon.

"I will repay your kindness one day. On a different battlefield, maybe. Or on the day Team Rocket collapses in on itself, and I can rejoin society." Howard took several steps backwards, before glancing at the cave exit.

"You won't follow me? Truly?"

---

Genevieve Cromwell
Notes:
Clatter.
Respect for Genny grows
Will repay the favor
A final gift
Points:
+100 (shore complete)
+250 (tie)
+50 (mission start)
+60 (posts)
+25 (legendary)
+10 (assist)
Total: 485