Let alone the embers of suspicion burning in the subconscious of his mind, what appears to be blatant betrayal takes places right before his eyes. Struck by a confuse ray mid pursuit, Derek points back with his hand to redirect the Starmie's attention. The psychic type seems to recognize the problem as well, promptly using a multi-purposed hydro pump. This both pushed the stranger and their Froslass away while propelling the Starmie towards Derek, hitting him and then sending them both even faster towards the Kecleon.

It was reckless, and definitely inefficient. But still, it seemed pretty effective by the end of it. They appeared to have ran into the pokemon, falling over one another and making a pile on the ground. Machamp came running past and didn't stop, instead face-checking the wall.

Funnily enough, they were right by the exit. The cave wall was more shallow, and the pokemon in all it's muscular fitness managed to punch a hole straight through in the shape of it's body. Struggling with the Kecleon under him, Derek eventually won the tug-of-war and quickly picked himself up to make a run for the exit.

Well, the exit Randal, his Machamp, had made for them.

When they got outside it was easy to tell the pokemon hurt himself quite a bit doing that stunt, as he was rolling around on the ground rubbing his head, which appeared to be bruising already. Maybe worse.

Maintaining a sprint, the badge case was tucked away in the first pocket he managed to open in order to quickly whip out two pokeballs. Retrieving both his Machamp and Starmie, the gym leader then showed a third pokeball. This one released a Garchomp that quickly got them out of there before Gerald could raise another hand against them.

Derek hated to think he just ran away from a fight as a gym leader, but he wasn't trying to get caught up in something so petty as common theft right now. His worries were focused on more pressing matters, so this retreat was mostly inconsequential. At least until someone found out about it, which he really hoped wouldn't happen.

END OF THREAD

Gerald Kaiser

☉

At the very least, it seemed from here on would be smooth sailing for the two of them. Derek nods at the mention of dark type moves, taking a mental note of how fitting that seemed for him given Adrian's general aesthetic. "Makes sense."

When the Mauville Hills come into sight, Derek is a little torn between picking up the pace and maintaining the steady pace they've held for some time now. Oh well, at least the finish line was in sight.

"I'll probably go looking into some matters revolving around the incidents we were apart of some time ago. Never really been one for thorough research, but this case is the exception." And it would be pretty obvious for Adrian to see why.

Eventually finding themselves within the city, they draw closer to the destination. Someone even seems to be outside waiting for them, escorting them where they could safely unburden themselves of the payload. After receiving their wage, Derek says his farewell to Adrian before returning outside where the Salamence was waiting to fly him back to Petalburg.

END OF THREAD

Adrian Malcolm

☉

Derek can only nod at their words to show that it's welcome. And in a few moments it becomes just a little more apparent that Adrian doesn't battle recklessly. Using mud thanks to the Mudsdale, his Magnezone can electrocute the Sneasel indiscriminately. Which made clearing them out so much easier, so much so that Derek didn't even have to participate.

"You got a Magnezone too, huh?" Though he wasn't too accustomed to seeing them in Johto, the Magnemite line was always a welcome sight. Well, that went for just about every steel type pokemon. "What types of pokemon do you specialize in anyway?" With nothing left to do but continue pressing on, Derek figured he might as well continue to strike up conversation that sated his curiosity surrounding Adrian.

Adrian Malcolm

☉

"Yeah, it is." Derek didn't think he'd ever be in that kind of situation, but he was, and so he was quick to find a way out of it.

"Also, it's a different badge than I had last time." Derek admits, knowing his gym routine from before was quite different from the one he had now. And he was the sole gym leader this time as well, rather than it being a joint effort. "Just don't expect me to go easy on ya, alright?" Even if he wasn't supposed to go all out and make sure his opponent lost, Derek loathed the eye of pulling punches.

By now the movement up ahead had caught the attention of Derek's pokemon. Racing back towards them, it swooped down when one of the Sneasel jumped out to try and rob one of them of their eggs. But thanks to the Salamence, they were caught in it's maw and carried away quite a ways before being dropped into the treetops. Nothing fatal would occur, but it'd certainly scare the pokemon enough to deter it from coming back. The rest were Adrian's problem...

Adrian Malcolm

☉

"Yeah, maybe." Derek hasn't been as optimistic lately, and he doubts that the hatchery, with how busy it's been, will be able to do much to compensate them except for the usual. Either way, these were live cargo, so Derek was sure to be extra careful regardless of whether he felt it would be worth it or not.

The next thing that leaves Adrian's mouth comes as a bit of a surprise. "You haven't heard? I'm a gym leader now. I quit the rangers as soon as Katherine made some remark about how Lars hasn't been whipping us into their desired shape." It was a bunch of crap.

"I didn't want to be under anyone's thumb. Like you said, the League, and moreover the people who represent the league... They're not all that great as people." Some of them didn't exactly inspire trust or faith. Hell, they didn't inspire much of anything.

Except maybe all the anti-league rhetoric. "My gym's at Petalburg, just like years before. If you're into badges and that sort of thing, keep it in mind."

Adrian Malcolm

☉

Observing one of the mothers with it's offspring, Derek couldn't get over just how much the Stufful looked like some kind of plushie. They almost didn't seem like they were alive as long as they stood still. But, wow, that was not the case.

One of the other trainers combating the horde messed up, and the entirety of them became animated. Even the Stufful joined in on it, where and how they could. At least that meant one more trainer out of the way.

Releasing his Machamp, Derek uses the opportunity to get in a surprise attack. The pokemon's rock blast pelts many of them across the face. Dazed by the sudden blow, he has just enough time to throw a pokeball and see if it catches something before making a run for it. Because Arceus knows what was going to happen next...

ZeegrgtZ

BEWEAR SWARM

☉

"Oh?" Derek is quick to accept and get the address, flying atop the back of his Salamence to reach the destination in a timely manner. He wasn't far to begin with, making it a rather quick trip. But the mission Adrian had in mind was anything but quick.

"You gotta be kidding me." After being told that they'd have to deliver them by foot, Derek can't help but feel like it's a poor use of his time. Rather, it would use more of his time than it should. Well, whatever...

"I guess my Salamence will fly ahead. Y'know, to scout for wild pokemon." He turns to the dragon, who seems willing to comply. "Oh, and maybe try to scare them off if you can?" It was worth a try, but even the smallest pokemon often displayed the kind of attitude it took to stand up to a dragon. And what's more, there was no telling if Rocket or some other form of thieves, poachers or the like would attempt to rob them.

Adrian Malcolm

☉