>>55400615 (You)

>>55400615 (You)
	Night, thunder, and rain rolled into the harbor of Driftveil City. Waves smacked against white brick. High walls protected the elevated dockyard. The tide almost swallowed the shallows of the lower docks. Runoff poured from the drainage pipes above and drenched the golden-haired hired hand in grimy water. A dim yellow glow from Wheaton the Volbeat illuminated their position next to the churning sea. Silas shook the Pokenav in an attempt to keep it from flooding. Thank goodness it was waterproof. The days it was left in the sun on the open sea dulled the coloring of the tempered glass. He flicked it open hoping the message would read differently this time.
	BAIT AND SWITCH. ALLOW YOURSELF TO BE CAPTURED. GIVE SIGNAL. WE COME IN. 50% OF CUT YOURS.
	Cowards. It was a terrible plan. Sure Team Aqua had Silas execute the successful strategy before. But that was for a department store freighter with minimal security. This was the Heriot family they were dealing with. Silas wouldn’t be treated with the same kindness of simple batons and Poochyena the department store mall cops showed him. He had read some of the messages this Alex kid sent to these ex-Plasma grunts. This was serious shit. Waiting even seconds for Aqua backup could result in Silas being subjected to some kind of weird torture. What’s more is it ticked Silas off that Aqua ignored his questions about just what they were after at the bottom of this oil rig. If he had the proper help up front it would be an easy job. Who the hell expects to hit an oil rig? Maybe he should just hang it up and desert.
	A wave broke on the black chop and a head of gray stone cut into Volbeat’s light. A hulking body of blue scale and gray shell pulled itself up onto the dock. A heavy clack of a beak and a low hiss focused in on Silas and Wheaton. The Carracosta’s nictitating membrane rolled back to reveal the whites of its eyes.
	Silas’s heart pounded in his chest. He put his hands up in an odd stance. One that Silas hoped resembled some kind of martial art ready to catch a rocky claw. “Wheaton, Signal Bea..”
	A dark haired figure peered out from behind the shell of the Pokemon and splashed onto the brick. The guy was about Silas’s age dressed in a sweatshirt that was completely soaked. A mega stone necklace hung over an orange Halloween t-shirt. Through inquisitive eyes he cocked his head at Silas’s stiff pose. Brushing wet hair out of his face, the trainer unzipped his bag to reveal a good number of Pokeballs and berries. He collected a handful of the berries and offered them to the Carracosta.
	Silas exhaled and loosened his shoulders. A strong trainer could do him some good if he played his cards right. Silas started up his sham and projected through the rain, “Are you crazy? Who the heck would brave the ocean at this time of night? Hey, you’re a trainer aren’t you? League official? Are you new to Unova? Let me see your trainer card.”
	….
	Now here was a proper prospect for the job. Silas handed back the trainer card. “Impressive. Very nice. Very experienced. Ayumu, pleasure to meet you. I’m Silas. You’re just the person that can calm the storms that threaten Unova.” Silas set his teeth. The uptight and psychotic tone of his own voice in this character kind of annoyed him. “I came down to the docks to think tonight. Maybe get a better view of that unsightly steel behemoth on the horizon. The Heriot offshore oil rig is drilling into the ocean floor not far from here. I’ve gotten word that new money has gone to the heads of the Heriot family. They’re newer to the industry and they’re skimping on safety regulations that will threaten the local ecosystem. I want to shut them down, but I need a little muscle to scare off their guards and workers. What do you say? Would you help the local Unovans? I can also offer some money in advance. One-hundred thousand Pokedollars.”
	….
	Silas laughed behind the front of a smile. “Responsibility? Yes, yes, of course you can remain the anonymous hero if you wish. I’ll take any of the blame or consequence the League wants to enforce. And I get it too. You want to be free to continue your travels. It’ll be worth it too take a dive myself to see Unova safe.” He didn’t quite care for stooping this low into the lie. But if it meant avoiding being strung up by the Alex Heriot himself it was worth it. It just hurt Silas all the more as he found himself respecting Ayumu’s honest lifestyle. A carefree spirit traveling with his Pokemon. Ayumu was a genuine kind of guy. That was the way to live.
	“Here.” Silas pushed a stack of damp Pokedollars into Ayumu’s hands. “Some earnest money.”
	 ….
	The flicker of Wheaton’s tail petered out and the bug landed on Silas’s backpack. “What do you say we get out of this storm and talk over some drinks? I know a great local taproom.”
	….