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lance moves through the crowd like a sharpedo cutting through the currents. the docks have been less busy than usual out of fear of pirate attacks and today is no different. the bareness of it is stark and odd but hopefully only temporary; it's why he's here.[break][break]

a familiar voice stops him in his tracks. "what are you doing here?" is his immediate retort but he hadn't intended on making it sound so aggressive. he attempts to lessen it with a smile while reaching a hand out for the hemp rope tethered to a boat. he starts unwinding it from the piling as he replies.[break][break]

"heard pirates were causing problems so i came to help."[break][break]

her charizard does not go unnoticed. he sees the harness attached to it and he assumes she plans on using it soon. or maybe that was how she arrived in the first place. either way, he ignores it and climbs on to the small boat.

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"I'm working."[break][break]

Her own response is sharp because his was, her eyes narrowed as she regards him. Her stiffness melts only slightly as a result of his smile, and she turns back to secure the harness on her Charizard.[break][break]

She had had no intention of using the small boat, having far more faith in her Pokemon's abilities than her own ability to drive a boat. As such, she makes a point to climb onto Wadjet's back and settle back, regarding Lance with something akin to suspicion and concern.[break][break]

"Alright then."[break][break]

Stormy is mildly relieved to have a partner for this mission. The last time she had tussled with pirates she had worn bruises around her neck and a fear of the water - worse than her usual discomfort.[break][break]

"But there's definitely not enough room for both of us on that thing, so I'll fly ahead."

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the engine of the boat purrs to life and it rumbles softly by design. he had chosen it for this particular reason. he barely sees stormy climbing on to her charizard but when he does, he stops moving for a second to look at her.[break][break]

"they'll see you coming."[break][break]

the information he received was that they were no ordinary pirates. he was explicitly warned to approach with caution because they were experienced. trained. which means they'll be ready for them.[break][break]

lance gestures out at the waters beyond them. "the fog keeps the boat hidden. we'll park close to the cove and sneak in." he taps his foot against an oxygen tank on the floor, revealing diving equipment. "there's an entrance we can use." stepping over hemp rope, he approaches the boat's wheel and shifts the gears, ready.[break][break]

"you coming?"

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Wadjet is preparing to fly, muscles bunching, body tense. But Lance calls out to Stormy and the woman hesitates, shifting her gaze from her Charizard to the open sea.[break][break]

'They'll see you coming.'[break][break]

She pauses to think, mulling over the risks. She had always been bold and fearless - but this time her breath catches in her throat. Her hands grip the leather straps, knuckles turning white as she weighs her options.[break][break]

But the sight of the boat and the way it bobs against the wooden boards makes her nauseous.[break][break]

And yet, she finds herself relenting, listening his reason - whether he was right or not. Some part of her wondered if they really would see her coming against the dark sky and the thick fog. Wadjet's black scales would be in their element and the fog would protect them, surely.[break][break]

Stormy follows Lance's foot tapping to the diving gear and she feels that cold prickle of dread.[break][break]

Thank god skyler dross had taught her how to swim - properly, anyway. [break][break]

"Fine."[break][break]

She slides down from Wadjet's back, warranting a confused and disappointed groan from the Pokemon. She returns the Charizard and approaches Lance, hesitating for only a moment as she steps over the edge to board it alongside him.

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honestly--she would have been fine with her approach. the dark scales of the charizard would have blended them into the night sky. but allowing her her approach would have disrupted his. it is a risk he cannot afford to take.[break][break]

"are you afraid of water?"[break][break]

lance only asks because he had noticed the slight hesitation in her step. pushing the accelerator forward, the boat starts moving. the travel is uneventful as they use the cover of the fog to make their approach. eventually, the outline of the cove comes into sight, and lance switches the engine off. the boat drifts closer.[break][break]

"we'll need to dive for a bit to access the entrance. after that it's just a straight shot up and we'll be in the belly of the beast."[break][break]

as he explains, lance is moving around the boat with nimble steps to gather his equipment. he secures the tank over his back and reaches down to double-check the knife around his ankle. a gun rests behind his waist. he moves to help her.[break][break]


"let me help."

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Her hand wanders, searching for something to hold onto. She grips whatever she finds with intensity as the boat lurches forward. It may have been a smooth take-off but she appears uncomfortable and out of her element. Perhaps even afraid.[break][break]

"No."[break][break]

But she is, especially as the sun goes down and visibility gets worse. [break][break]

But their trip goes on in silence and Stormy is focused on the water as it churns beneath them, holding on as the sea sprays her face. One might have found it soothing but she could only linger on the cold claws of dread that act as a vice in her stomach.[break][break]

They slow down as they reach their destination, and she approaches the man as he begins to explain their strategy. She nods in affirmation, mulling over the details in her head.[break][break]

"Thanks."[break][break]

She allows him to help get her set up and geared up. Her eyes are fixed on the dark water, and she releases her Kingdra to act as a guide. It would stay out of side, careful not to breach the surface. It was the small comforts.

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lance narrows his eyes at the appearance of the kingdra. "you can swim, right?" not well, he assumes, and that worries him. doubts start to creep in but he is quick to drown them.[break][break]

the sheer height of the cove looms over them and he finds himself giving it one last glance before returning his focus. he tightens the last bit of equipment which secures the tank on her back. he steps away then, and moves to sit on the edge of the boat. with fins on his feet, lance looks to stormy once again.[break][break]

"don't drift too far away from me."[break][break]

it's the only warning she'll get before lance tips backwards and plunges into the ice cold water. the sudden shift in temperature looks to overwhelm him but the wetsuit does what it's meant to. it regulats his temperature well and he takes a few moments to breathe, waiting for stormy to follow.

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"Of course I can. Just focus on yourself, hotshot."[break][break]

She's biting, but it's with less heat than she might normally have. She'd blame it on the diving suit getup making her claustrophobic.[break][break]

He finishes tightening her equipment and she gasps, possibly being pinched. With a wiggle, she gets herself into position and follows him to the edge of the boat. [break][break]

And then he says something about staying close to him and she's irritated, humiliated by his (correct) assumptions. He falls backward into the dark water and resurfaces, waiting for her. She makes an effort to not hesitate before stepping off the edge. [break][break]

The water is freezing even through her wetsuit and she makes an effort to concentrate on her breathing as she begins swimming after Lance.[break][break]

Her Kingdra remains nearby and alert, swimming just to her side.

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as ironic as it is, stormy is like a magikarp out of water. she's out of her element and that much has been apparent since she hesitated to step foot on the boat. it's for that reason that lance stays close to her, knowing that she needs someone to guide her. she might drown otherwise.[break][break]

the swim is short before they reach the rocky walls of the cove. it feels rough against his hand as he uses it to brace himself. he points down then, and sinks deeper into the ocean. the wall soon comes to an end and he drifts beneath it, sticking close to the wall before coming across a sizable gap in its formation. he squeezes his way through and from there it's a simple swim up to the surface.[break][break]

lance reaches out for stormy long before they come close to the surface. he redirects them to the left to where the ships are docked. he makes sure to remain quiet as they finally surface next to one of them.[break][break]

a campfire burns on the beach. at least a dozen men surround it, drinking and laughing as they celebrate their plunders. some are already passed out on the sand. not that lance minds; it makes their job a little bit easier.[break][break]

reaching up to pull the regulator out of his mouth, he turns to stormy while also pulling the mask off his head.[break][break]

"you good?"

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Like she was told, Stormy stays as close to Lance as she can without being pushed away in the wake of his own swimming. There's a point where he completely disappears under the surface of the water while she's forcing herself to stay calm in her wetsuit. Her fingers find purchase against the rock walls and she hesitates for a moment before diving under to find him.[break][break]

When she does, he's waiting for her, arm outstretched. And, despite her ego and sense of self-importance and need to prove herself, she latches into his hand as tight as she can, pulling herself forward and through to the other side.[break][break]

She doesn't let go even after they've resurfaced next to the ships. The woman takes a moment to survey the surroundings, to locate the glow of a campfire and the dark shapes of several people surrounding it. There's a heavy feeling in her chest as the severity of the situation begins to take effect.[break][break]

Lance's hand pulls away from hers in order to remove his regulator and mask. Her fingers are slow and numb as she does the same, but she steels herself despite the trickle of fear running down her spine.[break][break]

"Just peachy. What's the plan?"

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the plan is simple: "from what i know, most of the shit they stole is kept on the captain's ship. all we have to do is sail the it out."[break][break]

their whispers are easily masked by the obnoxious sounds from the campfire. he gestures to the other ships around them.[break][break]

"we'll need to cut the line to the engines. it's just a small black wire attached to the bottom."[break][break]

conveniently, there's a ladder next to them that'll allow them to board one of the ships. it's not the captain's, but all the boats are docked close enough for them to jump across each one should they wish to.[break][break]

"they should all be at the fire but don't let your guard down. they're dangerous." placing a hand on the ladder, he looks back to her for confirmation.[break][break]

"ready?"

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So the plan is to get in and get out with the ship, without being seen or heard until it's too late. It sounded like a pipe dream, but the look in Lance's eyes was both encouraging and exhilarating.[break][break]

He runs through the rest of their gameplan and she nods along, not entirely well-versed in the schematics of boats and engines and the like, but willing to put her faith in him.[break][break]

She sucks in a breath, glancing past him as he reaches for the ladder. The pirates seem preoccupied, but his warning is well-heeded.[break][break]

"Ready."[break][break]

The moment he starts climbing she's right behind him, doing her best to step lightly and say as little as possible.

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water drips onto the wooden floors of the ship. he's kneeling down if only to remove the oxygen tank from his back; it's vital that they stay quiet and that nothing slows them down. he places it down gently before moving to the other side of the ship to peer over the ledge.[break][break]

they have a clear view of the pirates from here. but if they can see them, then the inverse is also true. "the captain's ship is two ships over. we'll have to jump across," he says, looking over his shoulder. there's no other way around it and that realization fills him with a sense of dread.[break][break]

"can you find the engines? i'll secure the captain's ship and meet you there."

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