Contents:
Zeph
Obvious exits:
Way around City <WAC> leads to Pokemon Route 16: Cinnabar Island.
West <W> leads to Cinnabar Island: Goldeen Under Glass Sushi and Fish.
East <E> leads to Cinnabar Island: Cloyster Waves Marina.
<FERRY> leads to Ferry Services.
South <S> leads to Cinnabar Island: Volcanic Way.
North <N> leads to Sparkling Waves - Route 21: Cinnabar Approach.

Everything is pale grey, veiled by mist. It's warm, humid, and still. In the forest, only the nearest tree branches show their full color; more distant trees and branches are colorless and indistinct in the pallid grey fog, looking ghostly and not quite real. While at the coast, the sea is sluggish and grey as fog lays on its surface like a thick wet blanket.

Here she comes. Clad in her police hat, Growlithe walking right by her side, Melissa Barlette of the PokeForce strolls down the docks, eyes behind her glasses keenly aware of the word around her. Her water gun is in her hand, fully pumped up and filled with the proper ammo. The girl glares left. She glances right. And giggles softly. "I... I don't think I can do this," she giggles once more, an embarrassed little blush reddening her cheeks as she brings her free hand up to adjust her glasses. Her Growlithe immediately looks at her, and barks a quick, stern, <Do not give up, master!> She takes three quick steps ahead, her ears keen and alert, her green eyes scrutenizing the mist. <We cannot rest until crime is stopped.> Melissa just giggles once more. Figures she'd be left with the Growlithe who wants to do her job.

And what better place to protect than a dock full of tourists, sailors, and pickpockets -- some maybe even belonging to the villainous Team Rocket? It's a warm, quiet night and the docks. Most people are off at some other part of town, enjoying the beauty of the island's shopping district, clubs, and restaurants. Many large ships wait silently in the harbor, looking ghostly as a veil of mist enshrouds the area. Occassionally, a foghorn of some incoming ship resonates through the air.

Melissa takes a few deep breaths, trying to clear the redness from her face and concentrate on the tournament. It's like an act - a game. Unaware of the Rocket's presence, Melissa strtetches her arms, much to her Growlithe's annoyance. <Master!> she barks worriedly, stepping toward the trainer with worry and concern in her eyes. <We cannot wait around. Our mission is to defend the peace, and this is something we cannot rest from. Let us go!> Melissa grins softly at the fire pup, before gesturing to the ground. "All right, all right, sweetie. I just need to tie my shoelaces, then we'd go nab those nasty Rockets." Still oblivious to the fact that she's being watched, Melissa sets her gun on the ground and proceeds to tie her shoe.

A Meowth kitten starts to chew on the database -- better save, quick! (Saving)

Zeph smiles at the opportunity -- Melissa does not seem to be paying much attention. With a motioning of his arm in the direction of the Growlithe, the Ekans slithers quickly and silently across the pavement. As she approaches the victim, she lashes out and tries to wrap her sinuous body around the canine. "Ekans!" <You're mine!> She hisses. Zeph follows close behind, brandishing the plastic knife and threatening the poor girl from behind her back. "Give up, miss!" He says with a smile, partially hidden by the thickening fog.

Though Melissa is blind as a bat, the Growlithe is very alert, her nose constantly twitching as she stays on the ready. Thus, when Zeph sneaks up behind the girl, the pup is already barking, <Master! Behind you!> Melissa blinks, stops tying her shoe, and peers behind her back, rather foolishly not grabbing for the gun on the ground. The dog growls gently, and quickly takes a step forward - but unfortunately, she's not fast enough. Though the Ekans will probably not completely wrap around the Growlithe, the two pokemon are likely to get all tangled up, and unless the Ekans pulls a slick move, both will probably end up going crashing to the ground. This leaves Melissa helpless - to hold in a giggle. Trying her very best to be serious, the girl furrows her eyebrows behind her glasses, glaring at Zeph. "You're... You're a Rocket." Slowly, gently, and hoping that Zeph won't notice, her arm outstretches to grab the water gun on the ground, praying that the boy doesn't notice her movements through the fog. He likely will.

The Ekans remains partially wrapped around the Growlithe, hissing and spatting at the fire pokemon. "Ekans!" <Just give it up!> She hisses, seeming quite serious about her role like the Growlithe. Zeph fumbles as the girl reaches down toward the water gun, not knowing which action is best to take. "Hey. Stop that! I have a knife, you know!" He threatens some more, taking a step closer so that he is plainly visible even in the fog. "And yes, I'm a Rocket!" The trainer says with a bit of a grin. "And we're going to win!" He adds.

Melissa furrows her eyebrows at Zeph a little more, her head cocking slightly. "Have I..?" She trails off into nothing, reminded herself that she can't ask if she's met this boy before - she has to act like a pokeforcer! "Okay," Melissa whispers softly, wondering how she's getting out of this. "Look, um." Slowly, her hands raise to show that she's not carrying a weapon, and she very, very, very slowly raises into a standing position. Hey, it's a worth a shot. "You... um, crime is -not-, um, not the answer. You should... um... drop the robber act. Um, join the PokeForce!" Certainly not one of the better convincing techniques, but Melissa's at a loss of ideas. Her Growlithe, in the meantime, is having the fight of her life. "Grrrrrrrr!" she emits loudly, her eyes burning with rage. The Growlithe struggles, rolls, crawls, and shakes to try and tear herself off of the Ekans, but she doesn't make any attempts to Bite or otherwise hurt the Ekans, lest she end up accidentally attacking herself.

"Well, I don't really like to be on the unethical, bad side. After all, this team represents the same real life team that tried to steal my precious friend, Oceanus. Oceanus is my Lapras, by the way." Zeph states, lowering his knife somewhat and taking a gulp. "Continue. I'm interested in what you have to say." The trainer says. The Ekans seems to be slowly loosening her grip. "Ekans!" <Stop it!> She hisses fiercely, getting all bruised up from the canine's struggling.

Everything is pale grey, veiled by mist. It's warm, humid, and still.

Melissa just sort of peers at Zeph, bringing one of her arms up to scratch the back of her neck. "Oh..." She glances at the gun on the ground, then at the 'rocket' in the mist. "Well, um, you get a gun." She nods slowly, and gestures to the water toy on the ground. "And... and... um, a Growlithe, too. See?" Melissa rotates her body and extends a hand to her... scratched up and struggling Growlithe. "I... eek!" In horror, she peers at Zeph, panicked and clenching her fists. "Your Ekans is hurting her!" ... Though it looks more like the Growlithe is hurting the Ekans. The Growlithe, perhaps seeing a window of opportunity or just out of desperation to get the snake off her, rears her head back and attempts to Bite the Ekans. Should she miss, it's going to hurt a -lot-.

"Oh, they're bost hurting each other! Ekans! Let go! You're going to get hurt. Return, now!" Zeph states as he extends his arm and recalls the purple pokemon back to her pokeball. He then shifts his attention to Melissa and nods to her. "I don't care much about the gun. I just don't do a good job of being a Rocket. I think I'd have more fun being an officer than a thief." The trainer states, proceeding to untie his dark mask. "Besides, I know that one of my friends happens to be on your side. I think it will be more fun if we can all win together." He adds with an amiable smile.

The teenage girl turns her head back to Zeph and grins softly, nodding to the boy. "Well, that... that wasn't too bad," she says quietly, turning back to her Growlithe - who gives a quick, loud yelp of pain. Melissa simply peers at the puppy, her jaw dropped, her arms falling. "She just bit herself in the side," the girl practically gasps, absolutely surprised. She ducks down to care for the Growlithe's wound, all the while wondering what kind of crazy pokemon would do something like that. "Are... are you okay, honey?" she asks softly, her back turned to Zeph. The Growlithe is also not focused on the boy - her head is down, her eyes are closed, and she is whimpering softly, <I have failed you, master. I was unable to break free of the Ekans's binding attack. I...> A tiny little tear appears in the puppy's right eye, and the dog's next words are much more quiet and broken. <I am sorry...>

Zeph watches the Growlithe in shock, not knowing quite what to do. "I'm sorry. She may not have seen where she was biting because of the fog or maybe the Ekans did it before I recalled her." He tries to explain, approaching the whimpering canine, then looking at Melissa. "I recommend that we take her to the PokeCenter right now. I'm going to head on with you to get my stuff exchanged." The trainer says, getting back up and looking in the direction of the PokeCenter.

Melissa gives her Growlithe some soothing little pats and gentle whispers to make the pup feel better, and the Growlithe responds with loving little licks and quiet growls of appreciation. A few moments later, Melissa pulls out her specially marked pokeball, but the Growlithe shakes her head, woofing something about being able to make it back on her own. Melissa nods, gives Zeph a grin, and stands up, brushing one hand through her hair. "I'm really glad..." And the girl blushes a little here, giving a little half-snicker. "That you didn't stab me when you had the chance." Not every day you hear a quote like that. Nodding to the Growlithe and bending down to give her one last pat, the girl begins the march to the Pokemon Center, a new teammate by her side.