Orion arrives in the city of Petalburg with an Espeon in tow, flashing an awkward and apologetic smile to a stranger who nearly bumps into him on his way into the Pokemon Center. He steps out of the way to let them pass, feeling his cheeks flush with residual embarrassment. He's getting better at handling social situations, but it's the little things that still find a way to trip him up.

Once inside, the councilman steps clear of the doors and scans the interior, worrying at his bottom lip.

Is that her?

"Excuse me?" Should Selena glance over, she'd notice Orion lift his hand in acknowledgement before dropping it back to his side, then second-guessing himself and offering it out. "Are you Selena Desmarais?"

He'd not been given a description, but most others in the Pokemon Center had looked to be busy with using the various services or deep in conversation. The young woman whom Orion had approached had merely been gazing out the window, almost as if expecting something. Someone?

Should she shake his hand, she'd find his grip gentle.

"Orion Lykos. I'm with the Rangers. I got a call saying there was some trouble with the Beheeyem again?" It wasn't the first time, as a ranger, he was hearing about these livestock abductions. It was, however, the first time someone had contacted him specifically. He supposed his knowledge of psychic-types was becoming more well-known. "Have you encountered the Pokemon personally?"

She's aware of who he is, and Orion's never sure whether to be relieved or daunted by the knowledge that his face is a recognizable one. It strips the discomfort out of making introductions, but it adds new layers to worry about: how much did they know? What was expected of him?

Selena seems friendly and eager, at least, taking his hand in both of her own.

She introduces herself as a journalist, which causes an instant spike in his anxiety. He's had about enough of the press after the New Years incident. There were always questions: Why had Dahlia fused with the beast? What had happened to Mateo? What were the creatures attacking Slateport? What are your thoughts, Councilman Lykos?

It was enough to give anyone a headache.

Still, she comes across as eager to help this Marcel fellow, so he offers her the benefit of the doubt.

"I wouldn't say they were common," he amends, scratching at his jaw. "More like the incidents are weird enough to attract attention, so you hear about them when you otherwise wouldn't." Livestock were preyed upon by wild Mightyena from time to time, or the newly introduced Thievul, but that didn't make headlines quite so much as an alien creature abducting cattle. "Though it's rumoured they can mess with your memory, so who knows? Could be happening every night and we don't know about it..."

He trails off, then realises something. "Ah. Bit morbid, isn't it? Sorry."

Psychic-types fascinate him: he can't help but to be intrigued by the rumours, whatever their validity.

"I've never actually seen one in person, just done my research. Apparently they communicate with the little lights on their fingers, so maybe don't look at them if you can help it. Just in case."

He follows her out of the Center and toward Marcel's shack, his Espeon keeping pace in silence.

"Hm?"

Orion, having been deep in thought as he allowed Selena to take the lead toward the ranch, is pulled from his thought process by her question. Had he looked unwell? Tired, perhaps? He was tired more often than not, lately. It would hardly be a surprise. She mentions the darkness, and the councilman chuckles softly.

"Oh, I'm fine," he assures her. "I work nights pretty often. Or, I guess I should say I'm out at night pretty often."

He didn't exactly have a set schedule for his job, merely accepting whatever missions were important, close by, or in this case, simply interested him on a personal level. Darkness was like an old friend by now, and his eyes adjusted well to its embrace.

Selena insists on a plan, and it seems she has something in mind, so Orion is content to listen.

"Ah, an Umbreon. Excellent choice." Orion's Espeon, Delphi, flicks her forked tail at the dark-furred creature. Selena scratches plans in the dirt, and the ranger watches. "You're looking to catch the Beheeyem, you said?" Well, obviously they wanted to catch it, but... "Like, with a pokeball?"

It seemed there was a bit of a misunderstanding between them. Orion shakes his head, already thinking of how to rephrase.

"No. I mean, yes, it's a Pokemon," he rubs subconsciously at the back of his neck, "but no, I didn't mean to imply it couldn't be caught. Just... clarifying that's what you meant by 'catch it'."

After all, they could 'catch it' in the act of its abductions and chase it off. He's not sure how he feels about a journalist owning a Pokemon that has potential memory-erasing capabilities, but he keeps such thoughts to himself. The last thing he wanted to do was implant nefarious ideas.

"A pokeball should work." He'd never heard of Beheeyem resisting them. Even the massive Duraludon he'd fought alongside PIERCE WILDE had succumbed to captivity. It was only the so-called 'Ultra Beasts' who seemed immune. "I'm guessing you want it?"

He's got a bit of expertise in psychic-types, and doesn't own a member of the Elgyem line, but Selena seems positively ecstatic at the thought of capturing their troublemaker. His desire to avoid making waves clashes with a ranger's heart: what if the Pokemon didn't want to be caught, by either of them? What if it would be unhappy with a trainer?

"Psychic-types are usually rather intelligent," he says, pointedly shelving his other thoughts for now. "If the trap seems too... obvious, it might not come out. Del levitating the Miltank might seem suspicious."

The rest of the plan seems solid enough, so he focuses on his main issue.

[attr="class","kheader"]

[attr="class","kthread"][attr="class","orion"]

Orion winces sympathetically as the Umbreon has dust kicked into its eyes.[break][break]

He follows Selena into the field more slowly, carefully, not wanting to give the Miltank a fright. Of course, that turns out to be Selena's entire plan — scare the herd, confuse the Beheeyem. Guilt plucks at his heartstrings, but he doesn't protest. If they don't hurt the herd, and they manage to stop the abductions, a little fear would be worth it, right?[break][break]

"I've got another idea—"[break][break]

He cuts himself off as the tell-tale beeping alerts the duo to the approach of their prey, and he's forced to quickly duck behind the bales of hay before it sees them and gets suspicious. The smell of straw mixes with Miltank dung to create a most unpleasant aroma that wrinkles his nose.[break][break]

Orion thinks his addition to the plan is a solid one, and so even without the opportunity to discuss it, he palms a pokeball from his belt. A Haunter shimmers into existence beside them, cackling silently.[break][break]

"Catch it off guard with your Umbreon," Orion says, "and then we'll make sure it doesn't escape. Go, now!"[break][break]

As soon as Selena's plan came to fruition, the Haunter would be on stand-by with a mean look to immobilize its prey in fear.

[break][break][break]

[attr="class","kheader"]

[attr="class","kthread"][attr="class","orion"]

Relieved that Selena is willing to go along with the plan, Orion lies in wait for his Haunter as she and her Umbreon take the spotlight.[break][break]

The taunt from Lucifer draws the Beheeyem's attention immediately, and the councilman finds himself impressed by the way that the dark-type manages to keep that attention — a delicate dance occurs between the two, and though the Umbreon is at a disadvantage with its typing, it defends itself against the assault with admirable skill.[break][break]

"Already on it!"[break][break]

Should Selena look over to where Orion and his Haunter had hidden themselves away, she'd spot only the ranger peering out from behind a bale of hay. Haunter has vanished. It reappears directly behind the Beheeyem, cackling and tapping the alien creature with one of its ghostly 'hands'. When the psychic-type whirls to face its new threat, it finds itself paralyzed with fear under the Haunter's mean look.[break][break]

Satisfied, Orion stands up from his cover. Time to fight![break][break]

"Now, Haunter!"[break][break]

Not wanting to alert the potentially intelligent lifeform to his plan, he'd whispered his commands when they'd still been lying in wait. True to these orders, the Haunter wiggles its ethereal fingers and puts the Beheeyem to sleep with hypnosis, following up with an empowered hex.[break][break]

"It's all yours if you want to try and catch it," Orion calls over to Selena, when he's sure it's still asleep. "We'll cover you if it wakes up and tries to attack."

[break][break][break]