[attr="class","monty"]Of course it all sounds crazy. But, crazy seemed to be Montgomery's middle name. Or danger. Either way, he was roped into Dewford now, and the sheriff trusted him despite having speculations of his past.

That was enough to give him some trust to not turn around and stab him in the back.

"It does. But I'm with ya, boss. Lead the way. I'll follow ya."

He hoped the last bit of alcohol he drank would give him the nerves of steel he'd needed to face something like that rather than inhibit him, as the two police officers left the bar.

[attr="class","montytag"]Michael Navidson | recruitment: act i

[attr="class","monty"]"Radio to dispatch, we've just received call on suspicious activity in Mossdeep. Two female individuals spotted near a YAMASK swarm, potentially poaching. Respond ASAP."

"Deputy James, over. I'm on my way."

---

He made his way to Mossdeep, which was technically outside his deputy jurisdiction. However, Montgomery had an obligation to Hoenn as a member of the police force to respond to any suspicious activity. His car drove up with no lights or sirens, to make a surprise appearance.

As dispatch had announced, two females were there, and there were a few GALARIAN YAMASKS around. Perhaps the others had been caught already. Still, investigation had to be done.

"Evenin', ladies. Might I ask ya what yer doing in this area?"

[attr="class","montytag"]ameena abadi & Leilani Kalawai'a

[attr="class","monty"]A file is pulled from thin air — Michael Navidson's poncho. Montgomery takes it over, looking across a few pages in quick glances since he didn't have much time to focus and read while he was discussing things with the sheriff. However, a few points did stand out.

The weak points. The glass skin. But it wasn't glass.

"This thing don't make no sense. How can ya have skin like glass but not shatter into pieces?" he muttered to no one in particular.

"So, the gist is you're dead or ya wish you were. Got it. Sounds fucked up. And these things — I guess their toxins, really — are all around Dewford is what yer getting at?" Montgomery looked over at him, lighting one of his cigarettes as he waved down the barkeep for an ashtray.

"What have y'all been doin' so far as protection? Or is there any that ya can do?"

[attr="class","montytag"]Michael Navidson | enlistment: act i

[attr="class","monty"]Montgomery gave him a small nod, a bit of dust and grass falling from his hair as he continued to dust it from his hat. This time, this one time, he would admit that he appreciated Jethro.

Maybe the old man wasn't bad after all.

Thunder echoed in the distance again. "Hop in my car. I'll drive us to the house."

He opened his door, indicating for him to do the same. It was a slow roll to the house, specks of rain beginning to drip down onto the windshield of his vehicle by the time he pulled up the gravel driveway.

"Thanks. I'll clean it out, promise."

[attr="class","montytag"]Jethro Haig | sanctuary safeguarding

[attr="class","monty"]There was suddenly an attack at Gwen and the basket, though she was covering the eggs. Well, thank ARCEUS for that, because he couldn't imagine the disappointment the farmer waiting on them would have if he heard the eggs were cracked or taken.

Then came her safety...

"Get outta here, ya fucker!"

He threw commanded his SKARMORY to attack the bird, iron claws flexing as he attacked with a DRILL PECK.

[attr="class","montytag"]Gwendolyn Conway | eggs in one basket

[attr="class","monty"]Montgomery shook his head, the shit eating smirk plastered to his lips. He was unable to do anything but smile. His expression was pure shock, and he loved it.

"At ease, soldier. I ain't here to start trouble. I'm a cop, after all. Wouldn't want to arrest ya for aggravated assault." He flashed the cuffs at his hip for proof.

Then again, he may or may not believe that he made such a drastic change. "Unimportant. So, yer comin' or what?"

[attr="class","montytag"]Thomas Benoit | a deadly job

[attr="class","monty"]Montgomery met Michael Navidson's gaze with one of his own, refusing to back down from this sudden stare down. If he knew any better, like in any of the classic wild west movies, they'd have to have a show down outside. Guns pulled. Aimed. Fire.

However, Navy broke first, bursting into a fit of laughter and smiles. He furrowed his brow, regarding him with a look of confusion. No, this guy wasn't crazy.

He was definitely a psychopath.

"I wonder if ya got some screw loose in there somewhere," Montgomery muttered to himself, sipping on his stiff drink. Though he thought about it for a moment before heaving a heavy sigh, as if he was putting a heavy burden on his shoulders. "I suppose I'll help ya out in yer precious Dewford."

"Jellyfish." That word stuck out. He flicked his eyes back toward the sheriff. "Jellyfish?" Montgomery echoed.

Ah. So that's what this was about. NIHILGEO.

"Sounds familiar. But give me the information anyway, so I'm caught up."

[attr="class","montytag"]Michael Navidson | enlistment: act i

[attr="class","monty"]Aside from his injured pride, maybe a scrape or two, and a few aching muscles, Montgomery would say he was fine. He shook his head, swiping off some of the oozing blood from a cut on his cheek.

"I think I'm alright. Took me by surprise..."

There was dirt and grass in his hair, and his hat was bent. He clicked his teeth, taking it off his head and fiddling with the brim.

"Whatcha can do for me is give me a hair brush or somethin'. Maybe let me get this shit outta my hair before I head back to the station and report my findins to them."

Maybe he'd have to take his hat to a shop to get fixed.

Montgomery looked back to Jethro Haig, an awkward silence falling for a moment. "I'm really not bad no more, Jethro. Anything between us, that's in Unova."

[attr="class","montytag"]Jethro Haig | sanctuary safeguarding

[attr="class","monty"]He gasped for air, his lungs screaming. They felt like they would never inflate again, with each heaving gasp he drew as the TANGROWTH drug him away. One arm reached down, to try and unclip a Poke ball from his belt. His fingers fumbled, not quite reaching the hook-

A hand grasped his forearm. He grimaced, clenching his teeth as he was pulled in two directions. Montgomery reached for Jethro Haig, holding onto him for dear life.

The pressure of the Pokemon holding him released only when the SNORLAX'S attack knocked it off guard. The vines retreated, drawing back into its body and allowing his lower half to relax. He grunted, taking a moment to stand up beside Jethro before throwing out a Pokemon of his own.

His SKARMORY took the field with Buffy, attacking the pile of vines from above with the force of a BRAVE BIRD. Surely with double the power, the would be able to severe the TANGROWTH'S ability to use its limbs or force it back.

"Thanks."

[attr="class","montytag"]Jethro Haig | sanctuary safeguarding

[attr="class","monty"]"I dunno."

It was a blunt answer, maybe one she didn't want to hear. But it was the truth of the matter. He held a hand out, a silent indication for her to stay back.

"Hold the eggs..."

Montgomery approached the grass slowly, not wanting to start an attack unknowingly. However, when he entered the long grass, he found that it was a small RATATA, which squealed at him and took off.

"Surely it's not just that," he muttered.

[attr="class","montytag"]Gwendolyn Conway | eggs in one basket

[attr="class","monty"]Montgomery didn't see or hear anything that seemed to want to rouse trouble around them. He was starting to think coming down here was a waste of time. It was a dingy old hut, after all. ARCEUS knew how long that thing had been sitting around rotting.

"Well, I guess if ya wanted to, we could always dig this thing up and get it outta here. I don't see it doin' shit around here. Unless ya wanna keep it for some reason."

Rustle. Rustle.

The sound was almost inaudible from the rumbling thunder ahead. But he heard it. His head swung toward the grass line nearby, not spotting anything particular. When he thought it was his imagination and turned his head back to Jethro, two blue vines shot out and wrapped around his ankles.

"What in tarna-"

Yank!

Montgomery was pulled into the grass, the air knocked from his lungs as he disappeared.

[attr="class","montytag"]Jethro Haig | sanctuary safeguarding

[attr="class","monty"]Montgomery couldn't tell if Michael Navidson was ballsy... or a psychopath. Right now, he was leaning toward the former, hoping that he was right to trust his sheriff's judgement. However, there were alarm bells ringing in his head, causing him to wonder if his cover hadn't been good.

Or, maybe it had been too good.

"How do you reckon that, Navy?" he asked, giving him a sidelong glance as he sipped from his glass again. "I don't think I've given any reason for ya to think I'm a cop hater."

Murphy should've been erased. He knew that ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ was. He wondered if Sheriff Navy had connections to Rocket intel.

"I understand. But how are your townspeople gonna react when ya announce a rookie is takin' a deputy spot? Are ya gonna tell them what ya told me? 'I think he hates cops, but he's strong!'"

He couldn't help but bark a laugh, taking the offered cigar and inhaling a puff of smoke. It left his mouth and his nostrils as he handed it back, leaning in closer and dropping his voice to a low murmur for only Navy to hear.

"And what if I hurt your little town, Sheriff? What will ya do then?"

[attr="class","montytag"]Michael Navidson | enlistment: act i

[attr="class","monty"]He slouched over the tiny coffee table, a storm raging outside his apartment. The dull, yellow light was the only thing that gave him the ability to see the papers in his hands aside from the occasional bolts of lightning outside. The sea beside the port town of Driftveil City threw threatening waves against the beach.

The CLAYDOL levitated beside him, whirring in warning.

"I fuckin' know. Just give me a minute, okay?" His voice was sharp and annoyed, though his annoyance wasn't directed at his Pokemon's concern for him. It was that feeling of anxiety, nervousness building like the waves outside in his stomach and threatening to overcome him.

He didn't have much time left. It was now or never.

With scissors in hand, he began to cut through the paper. His name was chopped out. It wasn't like he'd been going by it anyway. Next, his mother. Then father. All important, traceable information was erased one paper at a time. He held the names, the numbers, everything in his hands.

"■ ■ ■ ■ ■," "■ ■ ■ ■," and "■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■" stood out to him. He sighed, stacking them into a pile onto the table.

"They're dead, anyway. So am I, I s'pose," the man muttered, taking a canister of fuel and dumping it over the table. He stepped away from it, taking out a box of matches.

Swipe. Swipe. Swipe. Fire. "Let's see how long they'll take to find out we've left. Let's go, Claydol."

He flicked the match onto the fuel. The paper went into flames, as did the table. He didn't stay around long enough to see his apartment burn, escaping into the night with his Pokemon as his side. It was time to go.

Fixing a cowboy hat on his head, Montgomery boarded the boat waiting for him. "Time to go to Hoenn."

[attr="class","montytag"]Montgomery James