[attr="class","gideon-words"]
The light at the end of the tunnel beckoned the professor onward, despite the debilitating injuries he’d sustained within this godforsaken cave. It looked like sweet release to him; a way out of the depths of hell.[break][break]

Perhaps he was too eager to leave. He was a scholar, after all, not a fighter. Not a tactician. He didn’t see THEO BECKETT staked out on the cliffside. Didn’t even think to look.[break][break]

Gideon’s SLOWKING propped him up, walking beside him as a means of support. Both were vulnerable to attack.

[attr="class","gideon-notes"]

[break]
• postdormitum: clash[break][break]

TOTAL: 60 MP[break]
+ 50 MP for participation in a PD battle/mission[break]
+ 10 MP per IC post in a PD battle/mission[break]

[attr="class","gideon-words"]


It was such a relief to see a familiar face in this alien realm. [break][break]

GIDEON GRAVES had been caught here, stuck in a skirmish between LEAGUE and ROCKET, doing his best to avoid confrontation with enemy forces. It was by sheer luck that his ranger friend had found him within the Ultra Deep Sea.[break][break]

“Ollie, you should be the one telling me what to look for.” Gideon’s tone was all good-humored exasperation. His friend always seemed to find a way to tease out the silver lining in even the worst situations. “Haven’t you fought Rockets before?”[break][break]

Scribe, the professor’s ROTOM, hovered sporadically around his shoulders. It had exited it’s usual tablet for a more… battle-ready form.

[attr="class","gideon-notes"]

[break]
• postdormitum: interdream[break][break]

TOTAL: 60 MP[break]
+ 50 MP for participation in a PD battle/mission[break]
+ 10 MP per IC post in a PD battle/mission[break]

[attr="class","gideon-words"]



What the hell was happening?? All of a sudden the cave had started swarming with paramilitary personnel, some obviously LEAGUE and others…[break][break]

“... Rocket?” Gideon practically croaked out. This was the first somewhat normal looking guy he’d come across, yet he was accusing him of being a part of a terrorist organization.[break][break]

Wait, hold on. Was he actually that normal? Now that Gideon was looking, the man’s face was kind of familiar. Wasn’t he one of the Elite Four? Or a Gym Leader? What was his name…[break][break]

Chad Valdez or something like that?[break][break]

“No, uh. I’m a scientist. Gideon Graves,” He introduced himself, his tone unsure and apprehensive. “What… is happening right now?”

[attr="class","gideon-notes"]

[break]
• postdormitum: comms[break][break]

TOTAL: 60 MP[break]
+ 50 MP for participation in a PD battle/mission[break]
+ 10 MP per IC post in a PD battle/mission[break]

[attr="class","gideon-words"]
When Professor Graves turned to acknowledge the approaching figure, he did so with a face bruised and bloodied nearly beyond recognition. His field clothes were stained with splotches of deep red. His breathing was ragged - from cracked ribs? A punctured lung?[break][break]

This would be the first time Naomi Sato saw him in such a state. Both physically, and mentally.[break][break]

“Get away!” He bellowed, his voice cracking under the strain of an aching chest.[break][break]

He’d escaped parker jones and ventured deeper into the Ultra Deep Sea while trying to flee, but was now lost and looking for a way to exit this alien realm. He wasn’t here to fight, but he would if it meant his survival.[break][break]

From his coat Gideon retrieved his TYRANITAR’s capsule and lobbed it between him and the opposing ROCKET. [break][break]

“Dark Pulse!”

[attr="class","gideon-notes"]

[break]
• postdormitum: clash[break][break]

TOTAL: 60 MP[break]
+ 50 MP for participation in a PD battle/mission[break]
+ 10 MP per IC post in a PD battle/mission[break]

[attr="class","gideon-words"]



Pain sparked up his wrists, igniting the nerve endings up the length of his arms.[break][break]

Gideon dug his heels into the rocky earth, trying to prevent the TANGROWTH from dragging him in, but the visceral feeling of his muscles being pulled beyond their reach was both sickening and terrifying. His legs shook, threatening surrender.[break][break]

But then – a rescue! Some sort of odd, insect-reminiscent Pokémon came to his aid, engaging the ROCKET and their TANGROWTH in battle. He nearly stumbled back from the sudden release, but caught himself before falling flat on his ass.[break][break]

[break]

The professor had no doubt that there were vine-shaped bruises beneath his sleeves. He rubbed at his arms, slaking the uncomfortable sensation, while looking up to where his savior emerged from the rift.[break][break]

Was that…? It was hard to tell in the gloom, but the woman’s face looked vaguely familiar to him.[break][break]

“Yes… thank you.” There wasn’t much time to continue their conversation beyond that. [break][break]

The surrounding grunts tensed upon seeing his rescuer and her Pokémon enter the fight, releasing more of their own Pokémon to contend with her. Gideon figured he ought to join the fight too, despite his distinct lack of battle prowess.[break][break]

“Flame Charge!” He instructed the VOLCARONA that emerged from its Poke Ball, gesturing for it to attack the opposing TANGROWTH.

[attr="class","gideon-notes"]

[break]
• postdormitum: cave[break][break]

TOTAL: 80 MP[break]
+ 50 MP for participation in a PD battle/mission[break]
+ 10 MP per IC post in a PD battle/mission[break]
+ 10 MP per IC post in a PD battle/mission[break]
+ 10 MP for assisting another character/pkmn[break]

[attr="class","gideon-words"]



The ROCKETs laughed. Laughed. It was a sound that would have made his blood boil if it wasn’t already running cold.[break][break]

Meanwhile, their Pokémon continued to inch closer, teeth bared and claws at the ready. Gideon weighed his options, wondering if it was worth the risk to try and release his own Pokémon or if he could still negotiate his safety.[break][break]

Luckily, the decision was made for him. Appearing out of nowhere, the professor was suddenly pulled away by an all-too familiar man while the grunts and their Pokémon were caught in an INFESTATION.[break][break]

“Ha! No kidding!” Arceus, he’d never been so relieved to see the happy-go-lucky face of angelo vestri. [break][break]

Gideon wanted to ask, what the hell are you doing here? [break][break]

But, time and place. Plus he really was ready to get out of this godforsaken cave. [break][break]

“Lead the way, flyboy.”

[attr="class","gideon-notes"]

[break]
• postdormitum: cave[break][break]

TOTAL: 70 MP[break]
+ 50 MP for participation in a PD battle/mission[break]
+ 10 MP per IC post in a PD battle/mission[break]
+ 10 MP per IC post in a PD battle/mission[break]

[attr="class","gideon-words"]



Not again. [break][break]

The click of heels on stone goaded goosebumps onto his bruised skin. Gideon was more cognizant now than when he’d first endured his beating, but the adrenaline had faded. He was on edge, in pain. [break][break]

Scared for his life.[break][break]

When a woman emerged from the gloom, he recognized that she was different from the one before. The other ROCKET hadn’t minced words and simply attacked on sight; this one… seemed more calculating. Venomous. [break][break]

The scrap of cloth was yanked from his mouth, blessing him with unrestricted airflow. Immediately, she demanded things from him. Information, for now.[break][break]

“I…” How did she know he was a civilian? Was it that obvious? “I’m a scientist. I was here… doing field work when the fighting started.”

[attr="class","gideon-notes"]

[break]
• postdormitum: cargo[break][break]

TOTAL: 70 MP[break]
+ 50 MP for participation in a PD battle/mission[break]
+ 10 MP per IC post in a PD battle/mission[break]
+ 10 MP per IC post in a PD battle/mission[break]

[attr="class","gideon-words"]



It had been painful at first. Blood vessels broken, tissues swelling, ribs cracked. [break][break]

But now Gideon could only feel a pervasive numbness. [break][break]

He knew it was the adrenaline staving off the agony; an evolutionary boon allowing him time to fight or flee. His brain wasn’t really cooperating, though. There was a ringing in his ears and his eyesight was compromised - the left eye nearly swollen shut, figures blurred and fuzzy. Was that another person? A Pokémon?[break][break]

[break]

A desperate order. A familiar ring of flames. But when Gideon tried to look up from where he was slumped in the otherworldly muck, there was no recognition there.[break][break]

"Haah..." He groaned, trying to articulate speech but failing.

[attr="class","gideon-notes"]

[break]
• postdormitum: battle[break][break]

TOTAL: 70 MP[break]
+ 50 MP for participation in a PD battle/mission[break]
+ 10 MP per IC post in a PD battle/mission[break]
+ 10 MP per IC post in a PD battle/mission[break]

[attr="class","gideon-words"]



GIDEON GRAVES couldn't tell what was worse: the sharp pain of a fist to his face, or the ache that followed his beating.[break][break]

Or, maybe, the humiliation of being captured by the enemy. And after today, ROCKET was most assuredly an enemy of his now. [break][break]

He sat tucked away within an alcove of Granite Cave, in a space he assumed had been sequestered for ROCKET reinforcements and supplies. Crates of Poké Balls and other provisions were stacked around his makeshift holding area. A TOXAPEX stood guard close by, too, although Gideon didn't quite see the need.[break][break]

The restraints around his hands and feet were enough of a fetter to keep him in place. He could hardly see with his left eye swollen shut, anyway, not to mention the way his ribcage sparked tendrils of pain throughout his body with every movement. [break][break]

"Unf..." Gideon groaned through a scrap of fabric that had been tied around his mouth. [break][break]

He could still taste the metallic sting of blood on his tongue.

[attr="class","gideon-notes"]

[break]
• postdormitum: cargo[break][break]

TOTAL: 60 MP[break]
+ 50 MP for participation in a PD battle/mission[break]
+ 10 MP per IC post in a PD battle/mission[break]

[attr="class","gideon-words"]



He’d reached his breaking point. This godforsaken cave had taken enough from him. [break][break]

Gideon had barely escaped the Ultra Deep Sea with his life, yet was now met with even more ROCKET combatants back on the other side. His face was bloodied and bruised, with a sizable black eye swelling his left socket. Red stained his lips and dried blood caked along his chin and neck. His ribs ached from where they’d been kicked.[break][break]

He’d never been in worse physical shape.[break][break]

Yet there was no stopping now. He wanted to live. And he would fight tooth and nail, take on whoever was in his way, to make that happen. Of course, a ROCKET appeared to test his resolve and block his path out of Granite Cave.[break][break]

“Get the hell out of my way!” He growled, his voice sounding ragged and guttural.[break][break]

“Earthquake!” Gideon ordered his TYRANITAR, attempting to knock the ROCKET operative off balance.

[attr="class","gideon-notes"]

[break]
• postdormitum: clash[break][break]

TOTAL: 60 MP[break]
+ 50 MP for participation in a PD battle/mission[break]
+ 10 MP per IC post in a PD battle/mission[break]

[attr="class","gideon-words"]
This was so beyond his depth.[break][break]

The ravages of battle were everywhere GIDEON GRAVES looked. He’d somehow made it out of Granite Cave and lingered near its entrance, catching his breath, but the horrors within were not as easily shaken. [break][break]

He knew that ROCKETs were likely still in the area. And it was a long way up the beach to Dewford Town. Could he make it alone? Would he die here, too, like…[break][break]

There was a man nearby. Or a corpse, more specifically. He was dressed in LEAGUE tactical gear and slumped against a rock wall close to the cave. From this distance, Gideon could make out some sort of communication device in his ear. [break][break]

Arceus, desperate times called for even more desperate measures. [break][break]

Crouching over the body, Gideon pulled the device from his ear and held it to his own. [break][break]

“H-hello? Are there any League officers nearby? I’m a civilian, pinned near the entrance to Granite Cave.” He took a shaky breath. “I need help getting to safety.”

[attr="class","gideon-notes"]

[break]
• postdormitum: cave[break][break]

TOTAL: 60 MP[break]
+ 50 MP for participation in a PD battle/mission[break]
+ 10 MP per IC post in a PD battle/mission[break]