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POSTED ON Aug 8, 2024 5:19:17 GMT

The Desert Resort was, by all intents and purposes, hell.

The sun was too hot, the sands too endless, the wildlife too inhospitable to do much more than allow people to eek out a short existence in sanded dunes and ancient tombs, before turning to Nimbasa or Castelia or crossing the large bay to Driftveil. Three different routes to return to civilization, yet few ran through here.

Good. Less people meant that Howard Slayte could avoid loan sharks. How they hounded him.

"We got into the tomb, easy-peasy. Not a super hard breach." The young man said, his new cowboy hat askey on his head. He sat in a small pavillion, hardly more than sticks and cloth. It flapped in the wind and the small radio next to the grad student buzzed with static. "You don't really need me anymore, right?"

Howard chuckled nervously. Several meters away was a pit that descended into an underground tomb.

"Right, Monty? There'll be Yamask in there. Spooky stuff. I'm here to get you into the tomb, not to rob it."

Montgomery James

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POSTED ON Aug 9, 2024 22:30:31 GMT

[attr="class","monty"]"Yer stayin', bud."

It was a short and simple reply to the poor grad student, as Montgomery approached the pit that waited in front of him. He kicked away a few stray rocks, holding the hat on his head as he took a quick glance down.

Too dark to really see without going in and searching. They had to keep going.

"Besides, isn't this yer field of expertise or somethin'? You'll know how to get us in and out, and you'll know what the high value things are. It's a win-win." Montgomery turned, looking at the younger man and giving him a sly grin.

"And, if ya come... I'll consider uppin' yer pay. How 'bout it?"

[attr="class","montytag"]howard slayte | past - unova

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POSTED ON Aug 9, 2024 22:53:39 GMT

He had to stay?

Shit. This sucked. Not that the desert was much better. It was too hot in the day and too cold at night, so traveling was difficult. Still, it wasn't like he had much to do until his paycheck from this job came in.

"Guh... Fine." Howard sighed and rose, straightening his hat. "You're gonna have to protect me, though. I don't battle. Utility only, Monty."

They weren't even remotely 'friends', but if his choices were getting shot and calling the gunslinger 'Montgomery', Howard was eating lead every time.

Howard picked up a heavy flashlight and peered down into the tomb. He turned to Monty and stared at him, before deflating under the gangster's gaze.

"Come on, let's hustle. Don't want the rangers to find us." Howard sighed and descended. "What Pokémon did you bring?"

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POSTED ON Aug 10, 2024 2:39:16 GMT

[attr="class","monty"]Montgomery chuckled, reaching for a flashlight strapped to his side. "I hope yer somewhat equipped for a fight, kid. If somethin' happens to me? Well... you'll be on ya own."

It wasn't a threat, exactly. But, he had suggested when he requested Howard's assistance that he'd bring a few Pokemon with him.

He slid down the hole, dirt clinging to his black outfit like it was velcro. He didn't bother to dust himself as he reached the bottom with the grad student. Clicking on his light, he released one of his Pokemon.

The GOLETT'S yellow eyes glowed in the dark, providing light ahead of them. "Keep an eye for any threats, 'kay?" he ordered it.

Turning his head back to Howard, he raised his eyebrow. "What, ya don't believe I'm capable of takin' care of us down here?" Montgomery asked, tilting his head slightly to the side to challenge his answer.

[attr="class","montytag"]howard slayte | past - unova

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POSTED ON Aug 10, 2024 8:48:56 GMT

A small squeak escaped the archaeologist's mouth, and he instinctively trembled.

"If there's something down here that beats you, I'm fucked either way." There were things that hid in tombs that were stronger than what most expected. Sands shifted and revealed ancient Cofagrigus that could bring down entire excavation teams alone. Claydol could rouse as well, and who knew what else. "If that happens, I'm out of here."

With a click, a Baltoy emerged from Howard's Pokeball. It spun around in the air, floating by his side as the light cut through the darkness.

"You're good, but ruins are unpredictable." Howard shuddered and brushed his eyepatch. "It's experience talking, not doubt in your abilities."

Still, he doubted.

At the bottom of the staircase, sand turned into carved sandstone. The archaeologist had cleverly deduced the tomb's entrance and had carved their stairway towards it during the lengthy expedition. It had been a full job, yet Monty expected more than the admin had planned to offer.

"I'll break the seal. Prepare to get fucked by damned spirits." He knelt down with his Baltoy and worked on the tomb's door.

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POSTED ON Aug 11, 2024 1:24:36 GMT

[attr="class","monty"]Montgomery regarded him with a look of odium, his lip contorting into a scowl. He waved his hand at the GOLETT, a silent indicator to stay put, as he took a few slow strides closer to Howard.

"Listen, Slayte. You've got a good head on ya. Ya seem smart enough. Clearly, you've gotten us this far. But yer attitude could use a lotta work." The six foot five giant peered down his nose at the man whose head barely made it to his neck.

"If it comes to fightin' for life or death, yer gonna fight. You have no choice. You knew that this wasn't going to be a quick and easy job when ya took it. So, stop actin' like a fuckin' wuss and grow a pair. Comprende?" Once he finished his jabbing spiel, his scowl turned back into a cocky grin.

"Now, let's go find some shit we can sell! The work ain't gonna do itself!" he said with a loud clap of his hands.

As they descended the staircase, Montgomery ran his fingers across the sandstone walls. It reminded him of hidden RUNERIGUS, with snakes painted across the surface of their stone bodies. Surely they were near their jackpot.

"Remember, Howy, positive attitude."

Beside his GOLETT, he released a second Pokemon: his KROOKADILE. He snapped at the air angrily, ready to attack should any YAMASK that Howard was so worried about were ready to attack.

[attr="class","montytag"]howard slayte | past - unova

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POSTED ON Aug 11, 2024 7:12:31 GMT

Montgomery was a gangster, and the archaeologist often found himself disassociating with the gunslinger as he continued to work at the seal.

Did his attitude suck? Yeah, but he had a good reason for it. He had been forced to leave Hoenn behind to dodge loan sharks and his fiancée and the success of all of his classmates. As Galar's Crown Prince won acclaim and fame, Howard was scurrying around in the sand with an active criminal.

Why was this fucker giving him a prep talk?

"Thanks, maybe you're right." His Baltoy clicked at the tomb as another mechanism twisted within. If anything, I'm happy I'm here. Seeing ancient tombs, unearthing hidden secrets... this is me."

Even if he was selling the past to rich bidders and gangsters. The thought made his stomach churn, which was enhanced by the tomb's opening.

"What th-"

As the tomb cracked open, a hand made of darkness reached forward and grabbed Howard by the throat. With a gurgling rasp, he was dragged into the darkness. Another hand erupted and tried at Montgomery, though the snapping of his Krookodile prevented it from gaining purchase.

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POSTED ON Aug 11, 2024 22:13:30 GMT

[attr="class","monty"]This guy was really weird. But, if his insults were going to change his attitude even a little bit, Montgomery found that he didn't care much about it. So, he turned his gaze forward to their target.

"Let's see what we got here."

With a nice bounty to bring in from down here, Rocket would give him more amnesty for his family. Now, he just had to make sure he, himself, got out of there in one piece. howard slayte?

Well... if the kid died, it wouldn't be his fault, would it?

The tomb opened, and immediately, a ghastly arm darted forward. "Motherfucker," he muttered beneath his breath, protected from the attack by his KROOKODILE. "GOLETT, go in there! I'm behind ya!"

He darted inside, dodging another few grasping limbs by sliding across the floor. Behind him, his KROOKODILE charged forward, attacking in the darkness. A FOUL PLAY erupted, attacking the nearest COFAGRIGUS. On the ground, the small GOLETT located Howard being dragged away.

"Get him!" The tiny, robotic creature vanished, appearing out of thin air. PHANTOM FORCE struck Howard's attacker with vigor.

[attr="class","montytag"]howard slayte | past - unova

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POSTED ON Aug 12, 2024 8:05:01 GMT

The hands enveloped the archaeologist in an umbral blanket, almost swallowing the future admin up into the darkness.

"MMMMPH! MMPHMERY!" Howard screeched through muffled cries, his eyes were wide with fear as tears began to flow. His Baltoy swung to intercept, using a Rapid Spin, though the attack passed through the phantom hands like they were nothing.

Instead, Monty's Phantom Force produced a resounding clang as it struck a sarcophagus in the corner of the room. The hands retreated with a shrill screech and turned to face this more dangerous threat. The act allowed Howard to escape and start crawling towards the gangster.

"I'm gonna die I'm gonna die I'm gonna dieeeeeeeeeeee...!" Howard shuddered as he scrambled behind Monty.

The coffin rose up on several hands, a malicious face brimming through with unfettered malice.

It did not take long for a series of Shadow Balls to fall upon the duo, punishment for daring to rob the kings of old.

Montgomery James

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POSTED ON Aug 12, 2024 22:36:34 GMT

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[attr="class","monty"]Great. Now, he had to handle the COFAGRIGUS and Howard's sniveling. Montgomery briefly exchanged a look of disgust to the archeologist, quickly thinking of a way to get rid of the pesky Pokemon and the onslaught of SHADOW BALLS.

"KROOKODILE."

The Pokemon absorbed the attacks, giving his trainer time to pull the pistols from his holsters at his side. Pulling the bullets into the chambers, Montgomery turned around, facing Howard.

Raising his arms, he began to fire into the ground above them. The bullets ate away at the rock, sunlight streaming inside the dark chamber. It would prevent the COFAGRIGUS from trying to move further.

"Get up, Slayte. Stop yer fuckin' whimperin'."

[attr="class","montytag"]howard slayte | past - unova

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POSTED ON Aug 13, 2024 5:26:36 GMT

His eye narrowed in on the guns. Then, they went wide.

"Monty." The archaeologist rasped, trembling as he stared at the gun. Was this it? Was this seriously how it was going to end? "Plea-"

BANG!

The ceiling cracked slightly as the tomb was broke open like an egg. Light filtered down, harsh and hot, the first true light that the tomb had seen in millennia. The Cofagrigus screamed and Howard along with it. It took several seconds before he realized that he hadn't been shot.

"You scared the shit out of me! The fuck's wrong with you!" Howard hissed as the Cofagrigus writhed as it attempted to scurry into a dark corner. Crumble, meanwhile, wrapped the duo in a series of Reflects and Light Screens. "Shoot it! Not the tomb!"

Montgomery James

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POSTED ON Aug 14, 2024 1:18:27 GMT

[attr="class","monty"]Montgomery couldn't help but laugh loudly at Howard as he coward back in fear from the pistols in his hands. What, did he think he was gonna fucking shoot him? As tempting as it sounded, he needed the grad student, and he served better purpose breathing than laying on the dusty ground in a pool of blood.

"What? That thing? It wouldn't take any damage from my bullets. Surely ya know that, smart ass. I'm givin' us time to get around it."

It also gave his Pokmeon a chance to regroup. Since Howard's Pokemon took the privilege of setting up defenses, Montgomery and company would attack. "Kill that thing," he ordered.

KROOKODILE attacked first, snapping his jaws in another FOUL PLAY. Meanwhile, GOLETT stayed behind the defenses to attack with several of its own SHADOW BALLS.

[attr="class","montytag"]howard slayte | past - unova

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POSTED ON Aug 14, 2024 5:28:07 GMT

Howard knew better than to talk back at the man holding the gun. There weren't that many archaeology students willing to bend the law for financial gain, and Howard was valuable. It just sucked that he didn't feel valuable.

The Cofagrigus's coffin door opened with a shrill scream as Montgomery's Pokémon tore into it. The spirit within left the coffin behind and was quickly snapped up by Krookidile. After that, there was only silence in the tomb. Silence and sunlight.

How harsh it was.

"It's gone." Howard poked his head out from behind the gangster. He was intimately familiar with the exorcision of Cofagrigus. It had actually been part of an elective course he had taken a few semesters prior. "Nice work."

Tentatively, he crossed the tomb's space and nudged the coffin with his foot.

"Solid gold." He raised an eyebrow at his colleague. "Not bad. We just paid off the whole operation, Monty. I almost forgive you for despoiling the tomb."

Montgomery James

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POSTED ON Aug 15, 2024 2:55:36 GMT

[attr="class","monty"]Annoyance flared through Montgomery's body as Howard decided that now he could stop hiding. Once the big, scary ghost was gone, all thanks to his hard work and none of the archaeologist's.

Only after he claimed to almost forgive him did the Rocket snap.

"Oh, really? I'm so sorry, yer majesty. Maybe next time, I'll let the COFAGRIGUS swallow ya whole! It'd save me a whole lotta headachin'!" he snapped, grabbing Howard by the front of his shirt and pushing him back against the rocky wall of the tomb.

"Next time, I let ya die. I don't care how valuable you may be. You are a worthless piece of shit to just cower behind me. What'd I tell ya? Fight! Be a fuckin' man! You ain't gonna get no where in this world actin' like this."

He released his shirt, spitting on the sandy ground as he approached the coffin.

"Pathetic."

[attr="class","montytag"]howard slayte | past - unova

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