"Just a few weeks," Frank admitted. "I've run into Howard a couple of times, but not Remiel." [break][break]

It was true enough. Yuina didn't need to know that Howard had gotten Frank this job in the first place. In fact, during his interview with Human Resources, Frank had said he'd applied after seeing the job posting online. [break][break]

Looking up at the workers moving large, covered objects through the corridor, Frank asked, "So, what's this exhibit about?"

TAGS – Yuina Higashi[break]
NOTES – mission

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"Thanks!" Frank shouted at the Ariados that had appeared to help secure the drilling rig. With the machine in place, he turned to regard the chaotic battle. [break][break]

As the Noivern's DRAGON PULSE smashed into the strange, Entei-like Pokémon, Kathy the Krookodile followed up with a well-placed BRUTAL SWING. [break][break]

For a moment, Frank thought they could win, but then the Gouging Fire unleashed a RAGING FURY. The cavern's interior grew swelteringly hot as flames licked up the walls. [break][break]

"Backup?" For a brief moment, Frank thought to call howard slayte on the phone, but he had no idea where his boss was. For all he knew, Howard was on the other side of the Giant Chasm, unearthing funeral urns. "I don't know!" [break][break]

Then, like a miracle of the darkest night, shadows swathed the entire chamber, dousing the fire. Frank had no idea what was going on, but the Paradox Pokémon was not amused. It roared again, backing up several steps before turning and fleeing down a corridor. [break][break]

The shadows lingered for a long time before slowly melting away. [break][break]

TAGS – @sidney[break]
NOTES – az excursion b: geological survey

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Frank was used to working late—all those crazy nights as a stockbroker in Unova really taught him how to endure—but that usually meant crunching numbers at his desk. He'd never had to go on patrol before, not even in the safety of Team Rocket's submarine. [break][break]

Why did patrols have to happen on the submarine anyway? Who was going to attack from the inside when a bunch of scary, powerful people lived and worked there? [break][break]

It didn't matter. Someone with authority had signed Frank up at the last minute. Since he couldn't argue, he figured the job would help familiarize him with the submarine's layout. [break][break]

"Hey, are you Sailor?" Frank asked as he approached the rendezvous point and saw another grunt already there, waiting. The silver-haired man extended his hand for a shake. [break][break]

"I'm Frank. Apparently, as soon as we finish, we can go home. I don't know about you, but that kind of makes me want to do this as quickly as possible." He glanced down at the Alolan Persian at his side. "You agree, right, Rex?" [break][break]

The large cat meowed apathetically. Frank merely chuckled.

TAGS – Sailor de Laurierwylle[break]
NOTES – mission

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Yuina's excitement was so infectious that Frank couldn't help smiling wider at the news. "Really? That's awesome! So that means we'll be working together for a little bit, or at least in the same museum." [break][break]

Tucking his stack of papers under his arm, he gave an exaggerated bow. [break][break]

"Frank Caffey of the Financial Office, at your service," he said, looking quite proud of himself. He nudged his Psyduck with his foot. "And this is Marco, my assistant." [break][break]

Marco waddled forward, still clutching his head, and uttered a quack in greeting.

TAGS – Yuina Higashi[break]
NOTES – mission

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Sheila could do nothing in that earthquake, so Frank recalled her into a Pokéball and released his Wigglytuff. At the same time, he watched as Leilani fell backward into the breaking earth, saved at the last moment by her Blastoise. [break][break]

"Get us out of here, Brando! Back to the research station!" Frank yelled. [break][break]

The Wigglytuff uttered a squeak as a psychic glow emanated from him. Then, in the blink of an eye, the group TELEPORTED out of sight as the earth beneath them gave way. A moment later, they were back at the research station where they had started. [break][break]

Frank collapsed on the ground, panting heavily from the adrenaline rush. "Hey, you okay?" he asked Leilani. [break][break]

TAGS – Leilani Kalawai'a[break]
NOTES – gc excursion a: explore

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Frank walked at a brisk pace through the corridors of the National Museum of Natural History, rifling through a stack of papers. His Psyduck, Marco, hurried after him. [break][break]

After several weeks at the museum, he was becoming familiar with its layout, so he only glanced up a few times to check where he was going. Otherwise, his violet eyes were quickly scanning numbers, searching for inconsistencies and ensuring there were none. [break][break]

So he did not notice the professional movers carrying large, canvas-covered objects until one shouted, "Hey! Watch where you're going!" [break][break]

Frank's head snapped up just in time. He stumbled backward out of their way. "Sorry! Sorry." [break][break]

Only then did he notice how much hustle and bustle was happening in that particular hallway. Is a new exhibit being set up? he wondered as he looked around. [break][break]

Then he caught sight of a familiar, friendly face. Frank's own broke out into a smile. "Yuina! Hey, what are you doing here?" he called out, striding toward the young woman.

TAGS – Yuina Higashi[break]
NOTES – mission

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Frank raised an eyebrow at Leilani. Compared to Unova, the islands of Alola didn't seem like they'd be bigger at all. Hoenn was more comparable to it, perhaps. [break][break]

"What do you mean by 'got you'? Like, you weren't kidnapped and held at gunpoint to join the ranks, were you?" he asked with a laugh. It seemed ridiculous, but maybe that's what happened in other parts of the world. [break][break]

After all, the coup to take over Kanto was always described as brutally violent. [break][break]

Suddenly, the ground trembled and buckled as an earthquake rocked the area. Frank lost his balance and stumbled. Beneath them, cracks began to form and grow wider. [break][break]

"Uh, I think maybe we should get out of here!" he exclaimed. His Obstagoon ran over; the way forward was crumbling rapidly. [break][break]

TAGS – Leilani Kalawai'a[break]
NOTES – gc excursion a: explore

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"What's a Walking Wake?" Frank whispered, compelled by the sudden tension in the air to keep his voice down. But Sidney was already standing and turning to face whatever else was in the chamber. He followed suit. [break][break]

The creature was unlike any he'd ever seen before. [break][break]

Frank had no time to wonder about it, however. The SUPERSONIC from Sidney's Noivern hit the strange Pokémon, instantly confusing it. Flames poured from its mouth in every direction—including theirs. [break][break]

Frank barely even heard Sidney's yells to dodge; he grabbed her by the arm and yanked her with him as he raced away from the INCINERATE. [break][break]

"Fuck! We gotta get out of here!" he yelled, frantic. "Kathy, do something!" [break][break]

The Krookodile bellowed and summoned an EARTHQUAKE. The ground split, the walls trembled, and the drilling rig started leaning to one side. [break][break]

"No! Anything but that!" [break][break]

Frank rushed toward the machine, grabbing its frame to try keeping it upright. [break][break]

TAGS – @sidney[break]
NOTES – az excursion b: geological survey

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"More or less," Frank answered with a chuckle. "I'm an accountant." [break][break]

Which was not the most glamorous of careers compared to his past ones, but Team Rocket's books demanded the sharpest of minds. He actually found managing and organizing it a mentally satisfying challenge. [break][break]

Sidney joined Frank next to the footprints, and he shook his head. "Nope, not at all. It's probably one of the new Paradox Pokémon, right?" He tried to remember all the different ones he'd already seen in photos. [break][break]

As he lifted his head to look around, movement from across the cavern flickered in his peripheral vision. His blood ran cold as adrenaline flooded his veins. Nearby, Kathy the Krookodile started growling. [break][break]

"Uh, Sidney? I think there's something here." [break][break]

TAGS – @sidney[break]
NOTES – az excursion b: geological survey

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"Me neither. I'm not exactly a battling type of guy," Frank agreed. He gestured to his Krookodile. "Kathy here can handle some small fry but I've heard the gossip about the Pokémon that live in these caves." [break][break]

Glancing down one tunnel leading from the rocky chamber, he shuddered at the thought of having to face a Paradox Pokémon. Casually, he meandered closer to the drilling rig, his hands in his pockets. [break][break]

"You'd think, right?" Though Frank peered closer at the machine, he didn't dare touch it. "Maybe some science-y guy will come by and do stuff with whatever data it collects." [break][break]

Then he paused. The hard earth beneath the machine was crumpled in a way he hadn't noticed before. Resting a hand on the rig for balance, he crouched for a closer look. [break][break]

"Hey, Sidney, look. These are tracks of some kind." [break][break]

TAGS – @sidney[break]
NOTES – az excursion b: geological survey

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Frank's apologetic smile transformed into a genial one as he extended his hand for a shake. "Frank Caffey. A pleasure to meet you, Lei." [break][break]

The ravine abruptly stopped their progress forward. Standing at the edge of it, he leaned forward just enough to peer down. The slope was precarious; only fools attempted a crossing on foot. [break][break]

"I'm from Unova. Black City, to be specific. I used to work as a stockbroker there, if you can believe it." Taking a step back from the ledge, he looked over his shoulder at Leilani. "Where are you from?" [break][break]

A sudden cry from below cut through the air, chilling Frank's blood. The small hairs on the back of his neck stood on end. It was a Pokémon's guttural roar, one he'd never heard before. [break][break]

"Going around sounds like a good idea." He turned to his Obstagoon. "Find us a new path, will you, Sheila?" [break][break]

The Dark-type nodded and loped off in a new direction. Frank followed from a short distance. [break][break]

TAGS – Leilani Kalawai'a[break]
NOTES – gc excursion a: explore

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Frank had no idea how the drilling rig worked. It was already set up against one long wall of the underground cavern when he'd arrived. [break][break]

The only instructions he'd been given were to press the big green button on its side panel to start the operation; the drill would turn itself off once it had gathered enough data. Meanwhile, he and his partner were to stand watch and shoo off anything that might interfere. [break][break]

As Frank started the drill, he wondered just how much violence and danger "shooing off" might entail. He wasn't exactly the battling type, yet he couldn't deny the possibility of danger thrilled him. [break][break]

"Do you think we'll actually have to fight off anything crazy?" he asked the girl, who looked both tougher and younger than him. He'd heard about the strange Pokemon that lurked in the chasm but hadn't seen any himself. Not yet, anyway. [break][break]

The obnoxious, loud whirring noise of the drill filled the cavern, making it nearly impossible to hear anything else. [break][break]

TAGS – @sidney[break]
NOTES – az excursion b: geological survey

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