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Chase the Dream

Lucidity, Part 3

A southerly breeze drifted across the dawn-drenched valley of Cianwood, buoyed by the cool ocean, and swirling over the great cliffs and rocky slopes of the coastline. Waves roared and swelled with anticipation, hurling themselves against the immense bulk of the SS Anne. The great cruise liner laboriously rose with each one, before inexorably falling back down again, straining the dock lines with every roll. A salty tang hung in the air, the kind that invigorated the senses and instilled a nervous excitement for the voyage to come. At least, for most people, anyway.

Takehiko was a man that appreciated finer living. In that way, the SS Anne was definitely a place for him; between the varnished faux-wooden decking, the gleaming white hull, and the lazily swaying gangway, there was little he could dislike. The luxury of the ship oozed from every elegantly curved bulkhead, where even the rivets looked artisanal.

Unfortunately, Takehiko had one significant problem with the great cruise liner which was rather hard to get past. As his head spun once more from the ship's lurching under his feet, it all reconfirmed one fact; the sea would never be for him.

He stumbled along, gloved hand on the brushed metal railing as he went, steadying himself as thousands of tons swayed beneath him. He really wished he was admiring this beauty from afar; perhaps on one of those nice, safe-looking crags overlooking the whole of the Cianwood docks. Surely, he could apply for that position, right? A quick call to his superior would be all that was needed. Someone needed to be on shore, anyway. After all, if these fugitives they were searching for were to approach the boat, you could easily head them off on land first, right? Even if they were dangerous enough to warrant armed patrols.

It was a nice thought, and he tried to focus on that instead of his stomach. He hobbled past one of the many (currently) closed restaurants that littered the main deck, attempting to take in every single detail of the storefronts – after all, it wasn't moving, unlike the rest of the world.

He paused, and narrowed his eyes. To one side of the restaurant, near the cream-coloured grating that covered it, were two slim figures in dock-worker uniforms. He watched them fiddling with one of the locks; one of them turned to the other, muttering something in a hushed, hurried tone.

Takehiko hesitated for only a second. He let go of the railing, striding over to them with a sudden rush of duty. Automatically, he found himself wrenching his pokéball from his belt.

“Don't move!" He ordered, holding the pokéball level in front of him. He peered over the smooth red surface at the pair, watching for any sudden movement as they froze.

One of them glanced back at him. “What…?" she said.

“Both of you, let go of the lock, and stand up."

“We work here, for Mister-"

“Likely. Stand up. Now. And put your hands on your head."

In his peripheral vision, Takehiko noticed a flash of fellow navy blue-clad security officers on the shore near the gangway, with a similarly-uniformed Pokémon at their heels. He waved to them, and let out an inward sigh of relief as they started towards him.

“Listen…" said one of the women, standing up now and looking back at him out of the corner of her eye. “We work here. Hiroshi told us to come check out the store-"

“I don't know any 'Hiroshi'."

“Do you even work on this ship?" said the other woman, her voice carrying a hint of accusation. “You're Dock Security, so why would you know him?" She began to turn around.

Takehiko stepped closer, his finger grazing the button on his pokéball. “Hey – I have a service-trained Salamence in here. I wouldn't do anything if I were you."

The two other security officers and the Pokémon arrived behind him with.

“There. Five of us, two of you. Do you have any Pokémon on you?"

“No, we're just shop assistants!" said the first woman again in a more shrill voice. “We have passes! You can call our supervisor!"

“Look," said the other one, “at least let us turn around to show you."

Takehiko raised an eyebrow, then motioned with his free hand. One of the new security officers went over to them. “Alright," he said, “but if you're who I think you are, your tricks won't work here."

“Who the hell would we be?" the second woman said, turning around. The security officer took the passes dangling from their necks, and started to check them.

Takehiko didn't respond, instead eying the two of them. Behind him, the Pokémon the other officers had brought was letting out a low, warning growl.

Eventually, the new security officer dropped the passes and backed away. “They're telling the truth, sir."

“You sure?"

“Passes look alright to me, sir," she said.

Giving a sigh, Takehiko let his arm drop, and slid the pokéball back into his belt slowly. He tried not to meet their gaze. “Alright. Sorry for the inconvenience."

“Thank you, sir…" said the first woman, but the second one took her arm and pulled her away before the venom in her words became more than just a tone.

With the workers gone, Takehiko sighed again. Then, he turned to the other officers. “I'm really glad you two showed up," he said, tapping the pokéball at his belt. “Or I'd have to be trying to ward them off with the family Rattata."

“Scary," said one of the officers with a smirk. “Their ankles wouldn't survive the gnawing."

“Worse than that. They'd be cuddled into oblivion." Takehiko smiled. “Glad it wasn't them, though."

“The fugitives, right?" the officer said, folding her arms. “We never got the full details. Just rumours. You know the full story?"

Takehiko frowned. “Full story? You could probably have found it out from the news alone. Two women attacked and then escaped from the police last night. There was a big boat chase over in Goldenrod harbour. Quite a spectacle, I've been told."

“Really?" The officer cocked her head, watching him with interest.

“Indeed. It's thought they're connected to the whole Parfum heist from a couple of weeks back. Remember that?"

She shrugged. “I'm familiar with it."

“Mmmm. Well, they're dangerous, that's for sure. Anyone who can escape from five police boats is not someone to be trifled with."

“Five?" said the other officer suddenly.

Takehiko frowned, and nodded. “Yes, I was told it was five. Why?"

“Oh, I thought I heard there were more" the first officer said again.

Takehiko shrugged. “It's what I've been told." He glanced away, and accidently caught a glimpse of the gently undulating land. Suddenly, he felt a little more faint.

“You okay, sir?" the officer said again, taking a step closer. The other took a step towards her.

“Yeah, I'll be alright, just-“

“Hey, we can cover for you if you want. If you don't mind staying on land for a while."

“Hmmm? You sure? …well, alright then, officers, if you insist. Shall I take your Mightyena?"

The officer seemed to go a little tense – but she quickly gave a laugh. “Sorry. Family Pokémon as well, but this one was bred for the service. Don't go anywhere without him."

“I understand. And, thank you for the offer."

“It's alright!" said the officer, already moving off along the deck, the other one hurrying behind her. “I won't tell if you won't!"

Takehiko nodded in agreement, and pulled himself onto the gangway. He caught a momentary glimpse of the ocean several stories below, and when he tried to look anywhere else, found himself focusing on the concrete docks lurching towards and away from him.

Yes, he thought, as he dragged himself towards safety. A nice cushy post on land, where the ground isn't trying to make you fall over. That'll do.

And anyway, the ship would be fine. Those fugitives wouldn't stand a chance - not with that Mightyena those two officers had.

* * *

The sun was sliding down the sky now, the salty air was warm, and Reese's feet slammed onto the deck as she flew past the crowd. Her breath came in rags, and she had to jump to the side to avoid a gaggle of rich shoppers, but she left their disbelieving (and probably snooty) gazes to stare at her retreating back.

“Ruffian!" came a cry from somewhere in her dust. She stifled a laugh as she ducked around the sign for a shop – if only whatever old bint had said that knew how rich she was.

And with any luck, and enough speed, she'd still be rich.

She vaulted over a small fence that denoted the edge of the shopping area, dropping half a deck onto a spacious... boulevard? Large deck space? She didn't know these hoity-toity cruise-ship names. She didn't even have time to think of them; she was pumping her arms again, racing down the length of the ship.

The rushing wind caught her unkempt hair, already frizzy with salt after only a few hours of cruising. To her left towered the great behemoth of the ship's many decks, full of bars, eateries, cinemas and all manner of opulent luxuries. To her right was the opposite; beyond the elegant handrails, the distant, rolling waves caught the afternoon sun, stretching to an impossibly flat horizon.

And in front of her was another crowd of people, milling around in a big commotion beneath neon signs – some theatre, event? Not that it mattered, at least not as much as how they took up the entire walkway from side to side. Getting through that would take minutes – minutes she didn't have.

The left didn't hold anything, unless she was willing to try diving through kitchens and stockrooms, which most likely just held dead ends. So, her only other option…

Reese turned on a heel, ran towards the railing, and grabbed it firmly. She swung herself over it, her feet catching the railings on the other side, and scampered down it as quick as she could.

Somewhere far below, the gentle waters of the ocean were interrupted by the crashing white surf of the ship, tumbling and rolling with a dull roar. She paid it no mind, instead taking a breath and swinging herself down onto the deck below. She landed in a crouch, narrowly missing twisting an ankle - and then jumped to her feet, kicking off the ground, and continued to race towards the bow.

She was on some kind of balcony, the deck barely a few paces wide, with a long series of doors and windows along the far bulkhead. Where did it come out? She'd hoped it'd be part of the observation deck she'd kept seeing signs for, but peering through the windows, most of which were covered in blinds, showed that all these seemed to lead to opulent rooms. Damn – first class?

She glanced backwards – no sign of pursuit, but that was just a momentary relief; it wouldn't last long.

She looked forwards again – and groaned. Just up ahead, the balcony ended abruptly, with not even a door to try and shove through. She hadn't spotted any way back up, unless she was willing to take another minute scrambling up the side of the ship. Was there a way down? She leaned over the side rail as the end came up; not that it looked like, nothing but the hull steadily curving away, and then the foaming waters…

There! After the balcony ended, there was a section of bulkhead with a few porthole-like windows, but beyond that the deck started again - that was the observation deck, separated from this first-class balcony with a modest, riff-raff-preventing gap of several metres. She'd jumped down too early!

Dammit. What could she do now?

She saw it as she was running the last few paces; a thin, white rope swayed against the azure sky. It trailed up the side of the ship, and just beyond the deck above her, the colours of Kanto flapped in the wind. A flagpole! Almost exactly between the two balconies – and what's more, it even looked loose…

If she could jump at just the right moment, she could grab the rope, and swing herself back onto the ship before she fell...

No time to think of another plan. With the end of the balcony coming up, she waited for just the right moment, planted her feet, and-

-stopped herself from jumping in an instant. The left-over momentum, however, had other ideas, and she stumbled in her sudden hesitation, the bar at the end of the balcony jamming suddenly into her stomach. She coughed in surprise, doubling over to stare at the waves below.

What was she thinking!? As if she could hold on securely enough! And that's if the rope was even loose enough. She'd be slipping from it before she could stop herself, and then those propellers would make mincemeat of her. Stupid, st-

Something crashed into her back, and she doubled over again. For a moment, her feet left the floor, and her heart leapt as the crashing waves grew larger in her vision – but she managed to right herself a second later.

Then again, maybe the propellers would be preferable to that gloating, canine smirk pressed against her cheek.

“Alright, alright, fine!" she said, pushing herself away from the edge before the combined weight of both her and Howling Gale took them both over it. “You win!"

“GrrOOwl!"

“Yeah, yeah, I remember. Best dark-type treats that I can find on the ship."

“Rrrrrwl…"

“Don't be a sore winner! You know what the prices are like here?"

Howling Gale dropped from her shoulders, landing on the deck with a thud. She tussled his hair playfully, grinning to herself as she turned away, back down the balcony. She took a few steps, then stopped as she felt the metal very slightly move beneath her.

She turned, and gasped; Howling Gale had climbed up onto the railing, and was now perched precariously with all four paws, his tail twitching and legs shimmying from side to side as he tried to maintain his balance. Despite that, his head and chest seemed perfectly still. The sea air caught his ears and the edges of his black fur, tossing them in the eddies of the wind and making them quiver and dance. As she took a step back towards him, she noticed the faint smile across his muzzle, and his eyes fixed on the far horizon.

“Howling! Get down from there!" Reese demanded, her hands moving to his sides protectively, holding him just gently enough that she would be able to catch him if he fell. Howling Gale, however, bade her no notice, and instead just stared wistfully at the horizon.

“Come on, you're gonna fall!"

“Miiiii…?"

Reese felt a little bashful. It was unnerving sometimes how much he managed to inject meaning into otherwise simple sounds. “Alright, I suppose you're doing nothing I wouldn't do."

“Yena."

“Yeah, yeah…"

Reese sighed, letting her hand brush through his fur. They stared together out at a distant horizon. After a few strokes, he leaned back against her.

It didn't fail to make excitement bubble within her.

A while later, after finally finding a way off the balcony much further back (Howling Gale had found some convenient stairs from the deck above, albeit past a now half-open security door), Reese and Howling Gale made their way back through the ship at a more leisurely pace. As they wandered along, fingers trailing through thick black fur, they found themselves enjoying the scenery.

The SS Anne was a picture of luxury – but unlike other ships, such as the Royal Unova, the Anne was not a pure cruise liner, sometimes working as a posh ferry, like on this particular trip. A healthy supply of cargo could also be carried below decks, and to support this, there was a fair bit of infrastructure towards the stern that was not meant for the passenger.

This, of course, did not deter them.

Having slipped past a healthy number of 'Crew Only' signs, and staying behind a cooling unit just long enough for a couple of errant sailors to turn away, Reese and Howling Gale slipped beneath a tarpaulin and into a lifeboat.

Or Reese did, at least – but since, when clambering over the side of a boat, two legs work far better than four, Howling Gale ended up tumbling in through the small opening and landing in her lap with a grunt of annoyance.

“Hah! Aww, you poor thing!" Reese cooed at him, moving a paw to stroke his muzzle, then pulling it away before she lost a finger from a retaliatory snap of sharp teeth. “Well next time, perhaps you can show how strong and powerful you are. Right, Sammi?"

From the other end of the boat, Sammi looked up. “Huh? What?". She'd been idly fidgeting with a wad of notes; it was one of the ones from the Goldenrod Game Corner. Random, untrackable, clean. Theirs.

“Nevermind" Reese replied, patting her lover's chest and giving him a few gentle rubs. “How's Dactyl?"

“Fine! He's feeling a lot better now. I think he's outside." Sammi said, leaning forwards. A beam of sunlight was slipping between the tarpaulin, hitting her face. The frown she wore cast dark shadows across her cheek.. “So, are you gonna tell me now?"

Reese paused, watching her. “I also found a place for us to eat tonight. Rose of Mount Silver Restaurant. Takes cash, of course. Got plenty of dishes I'll know you'll like."

“Please?"

Reese smirked. “I will. With dinner. Hence the restaurant talk."

Sammi slumped backwards, her bottom lip sticking out. Sammi could pout for her country, and she was doing so now.

But hey, who could blame her? The calamity that had been Goldenrod had only been the previous night. After leaving the Whirl Islands, getting to Cianwood before dawn had been easy enough. They'd had to move fast though – after scuttling their boat in a nearby cove, where its half-sunken wreck hopefully wouldn't be found for a few days at least, they'd half clambered, half-swam their way along to the beaches of Cianwood itself. It was a short walk to the docks from there, even with a quick stop at the Mart to pick up a healing potion for Dactyl. Poor thing seemed a lot better after that.

The docks themselves had presented another problem; local security had been alerted to their flight from Goldenrod (not that Sammi enjoyed Reese's pride in that fact), and were practically swarming. Nothing, however, that a quick stop at the local costume shop and a bit of quick thinking couldn't fix.

What's more, the risk had certainly been worth it. The presence of the SS Anne was almost a gift from the divine: a fast cruise liner where security would be at a minimum to avoid raising a fuss among the passengers, on a non-stop, overnight voyage to Vermillion City in Kanto. Fugitives they may be, but pursuing suspects across international borders was always tricky legally. Even if the police knew where they were now, by the time the paperwork had gone through? They could be anywhere.

And Reese, by now, had decided on where that 'anywhere' would be. She'd said she'd tell Sammi all about it at dinner, something which her friend seemed to be having a hard time with.

Hm – perhaps that was another problem she was having. She never quite enjoyed surprises, did dear Sammi. She tended to have an unsettling habit of cyberstalking her own friends if she ever suspected they were in trouble (or not telling her, well, pretty much anything). With a personality like that, Sammi had been a hell of a rock during the Parfum Heist.

And then there was what the security guard had said when they'd first boarded the ship. Five police boats? More than that had chased them last night. Sure, it could be a mistake, but something about it didn't sit right with Reese. Sammi was probably the same.

Ah well. It'll all be better soon, Reese thought with a smile. Just stick it out a little longer, my old friend. There's a light at the end of this tunnel.

Howling Gale shifted in her lap. Reese looked down to see those big, grinning eyes staring into hers. She chuckled, and leaned forwards, pressing her lips against the end of his muzzle.

He did the same, opening his mouth to lap across her lips. His tongue was rough and wet, and his teeth kept grazing at her skin as he pressed back against her, and he seemed to be content to either lap across her face or between her lips, with enough variation to make it wholly unpredictable. For a moment, they fumbled through their differences in kissing, trying to find a comfortable midground between their cultures. All it ended in, though, was laughter and saliva dripping everywhere, mostly while Howling Gale still licked at the roof of her mouth.

“Okay, okay… enough, enough…" Reese mumbled between laps, pushing him away. He growled playfully, rolling onto his side, head still resting on her chest.

Sammi watched them, her face lined with worry.

Reese felt a pang of embarrassment, but she grinned before her cheeks could redden. “Shall we head to the next lifeboat then, leave you in peace?"

Sammi grunted an acknowledgement, and went back to fidgeting with the money.

Reese sighed. Sleep was probably a good idea. Then again, they'd both grabbed a couple of hours just after settling in – and anyway, how could one sleep at a time like this! Police behind them, a new country ahead… and with a lover in her arms.

“Well," said Reese, patting Howling Gale's firm chest again, “I'll see you at the restaurant at nine, then? After the crowd's died down?"

“Alright." Sammi said, turning onto her side, as if getting comfortable. Her chest rose and fell quickly.

Reese remained watching for a few moments more, before a now-familiar wet warmth pressed against one bare leg. She cocked an eyebrow down at the madly smirking dog half-stretched across her.

Hmm… yes.

Time for some privacy.

* * *

The setting sun was casting a beautiful warm light across the thin horizon, an indulgent orange that slowly faded into the greens and blues of the night sky. From their table in the Rose of Mount Silver Restaurant, the vast ceiling-to-floor windows yawned beside them; and yet, the view was on neither of their minds.

Sammi was staring at Reese, her eyes wide with expectation, her mouth thin with a touch of fear. She was playing with her napkin in her hands, and it almost looked ready to rip in two. Reese smiled at her, hoping to reassure her, as the waiter poured a burgundy wine into their glasses.

“You okay there?" Reese asked, raising an eyebrow as the waiter walked away.

“Are you gonna tell me now?" Sammi said quickly. “C'mon, you said dinner, and now it's dinner. Please?"

Reese leaned back in her chair. The red-velvet restaurant around them was still fairly busy, with a number of tables occupied with a variety of people. The noise was at a pleasant level of hubbub, and soft music over the top accentuated the clink of cutlery on plates.

“Alright." Reese said. “You wanna know what I think we should do with the money?"

Sammi's eyes widened further.

Reese leaned in, spreading her hands. “Imagine this…

“You're walking down a street. It's early evening, perhaps like it is now, and the crowds are milling around you, shouting, indulging. There's the taste of beer and vodka in the air, and to either side, neon buildings soar into the sky. You wonder – which one do I go into? Do you-"

“Can I just go home?"

“No."

Sammi the Introvert shifted uncomfortably in her chair. “Aw, alright…"

“Okay," said Reese, “imagine you're someone who enjoys clubbing and nightlife. This street is incredible, it's invigorating, and you're excited to see what's in the next bar. So you head towards it, with its dark windows and alluring signs. Oh my, whatever's going on inside here is going to be intriguing, you just know it…

“So you pass through the front doors, the bouncers giving you a couple of knowing smiles. You head up some steps, and in front of you, the room opens out. Lasers, smoke machines, pounding music, flashing spotlights. It's a strip club, it seems, and already you can see a variety of dancers of either gender, winding their way around the poles that stretch towards the darkened ceiling, but…"

Reese smiled, taking up her glass of wine, letting its dry aroma play around her nose. “What's that? You frown, tilting your head. That dancer, she's very slim, and the way her dress moves, it doesn't look quite right. Then it clicks in your mind – it's not a normal dancer. It's a Gardevoir. You blink in surprise – well, Gardevoir isn't unheard of as a model, sure, but then… isn't that guy over on the next pole a Lopunny? And isn't that one a… Lucario?

“You're shocked, taken aback, but you don't move – what's going on here? It's strange titillation for a nightclub. But hey, it's all just for the eyes, you suppose – nothing wrong, just a little odd perhaps. And so you stay, intrigued, perhaps order a drink or two."

Reese smiled, enjoying the scene in her own mind. She'd reclined back in the chair, swirling the wine around in her other hand.

“But that's how they get you - and now, your inhibitions are lowered. Your intrigue has developed into a rabid curiosity. You turn to the bartender, you ask what it's all about, and the smile he gives you is broad indeed. Do you really want to know? Well, of course you do, who wouldn't? So, he calls over a friend, their t-shirt black and unmarked, and they lead you away…"

Reese had her head down now, grinning madly. Sammi was hanging on her every word, mouth half-open, her expression unreadable.

“Past the cavorting patrons, past the poles with their unorthodox dancers. You find a door in the back – 'VIPs Only', it says, hidden in the darkness. You walk though, leaving the pounding roar of the nightclub behind you – and, suddenly, you realise that what you were in was just the front, the face…

“The lights are a deep, rich red. The room is filled with curtains, thin walls, nooks and crannies for hiding. Eyes gleam from the shadows, and as you're walked through the room, you can feel those gazes following you. A curtain is lifted, and you walk beneath it, the translucent gossamer soft on your skin…

“And you gasp. You can't help it. Your face burns with a blush, your heart hammers in your chest – there, before you, reclining on a long bed with an alluring, intoxicating grin, a Midnight Lycanroc awaits you. His large claws slide through his fur, and your gaze can't help but travel down, down, until you see-"

“Your meat, madam."

Sammi jumped, dropping her napkin in shock. Leaning over the table, a white-suited waiter with a pencil-thin moustache was placing a dish down in front of her, the steam wafting from the perfectly barbequed delicacy.

“Rare, of course. And yours, madam." The waiter completed, then smiled with expert class. “Enjoy your meals, please."

As he walked away, Sammi stared back at Reese, who was smiling her head off.

“Did you plan that?"

Reese shrugged. “I could see our meals almost ready, behind the counter over there. I admit, I had to embellish the last bit with all the curtains just to get the timing right."

“Is that why you made me get the steak?"

Reese opened her mouth, and then smirked. “Good, wasn't it?"

Sammi sat back in her chair. Her round face was creased with a rather intense frown, and her eyes flicked back and forth as she worked through what had been said.

“There's… a Pokémon…"

“Yes. A Pokémon, you, and complete and utter privacy."

“So… what… what then…?"

“What then?" Reese parroted, eyebrows raising. She sat back, giving a half laugh. “My dear Sammi – anything you want."

“Any…thing?"

Reese lowered her head. “Anything."

Sammi sat back, staring off to the side, her eyes distant. “So… wait… are, are you suggesting-"

“Yep."

“A… brothel? Of…" Sammi's voice lowered to a faint whisper. “…of Pokémon!?"

“More a nightclub, than a brothel. I'm not thinking some big hotel-like establishment with waiters and the like here, just a secretive place catering to indulgences. Like all good nightclubs, though, there are a few places for privacy. Where, for a little extra, you can really meet the dancers… know what I'm saying?"

Sammi blinked. She leaned forwards after a moment, picking up her knife and fork, and moving to cut into the steak – where she suddenly paused. Her cutlery dropped again with a clatter, and she fixed Reese with a look. It was a look that was displaying uncharacteristic harshness – it made Reese lean back from the intensity.

“Is this a joke?"

Reese's brow furrowed. A heat in her chest flared in confused defiance. “…no?"

“Really?"

“Well… yeah. I want to do this."

“Why? Why would you want to do this?"

“I'm… actually surprised you're asking!" Reese gave a half-laugh. “Why wouldn't I want to? For one, it'd be a fantastic place to invest our money. Lots of nightclubs offer sex under the table, but we'd be the first one to cater for those who want Pokémon! The money would roll in, and the customers too!"

“So, it's just a money thing?"

Reese paused, and waved her hand. “No – no, you don't get it. The money would be great, but it's gonna be for the love of the job, hun. There's gotta be loads of people out there like us, who are curious, or interested, or wanting something more… feral out of life, y'know? Those who want to see what it's like to fuck a Pokémon!"

“Zzzzshhhh! Keep it down!" Sammi said, in a hoarse whisper that seemed to draw more attention than anything said before. Reese leaned back, slowly beginning to cut her steak, glancing between her dish and her friend.

Sammi looked far from convinced. In silence, with cheeks burning with a blush, she cut off a piece of her steak. After chewing it for a few seconds and swallowing, “Where are you even going to find the… the… employees?"

Reese shrugged. “Not got that part sorted yet, but there are bound to be places. Wild Pokémon who want a higher standard of living, old day care breeders. I won't force them, if that's what you're worried about. Sammi, I care about Pokémon. Anyway, I thought, what with me and Howling Gale, and you and Dactyl-"

“Don't-! ...Don't bring me and Dactyl into this."

Reese's eyes widened. “Sammi, I… I just thought… it'd be nice to bring this experience to the world-“

“Experience?"

“Yeah."

“Is that what it is?" Sammi's voice had an edge to it now, and her eyes were afire. Reese found herself backing away from the gaze. “An experience? A novelty?"

“Well, no, I mean-"

“This isn't a game, Reese," Sammi said, “This isn't some fun new sport for you to get your adrenaline fix."

“I… I know, Sammi, I-"

Sammi's knife and fork clattered to the plate. “I'm… I'm sorry. I gotta go."

Reese's eyes went wide. “Sammi, wait-"

“I just- …I'm sorry."

Sammi stood up, her chair jolting across the carpet. She marched off through the restaurant, weaving erratically between tables, her short hair dancing in her wake as she half-ran out through the door.

And like that, Reese was alone. She sat, staring at the door, half-hoping she'd come back in. But as the seconds ticked by, realisation and guilt began to set in.

“Is there… anything else I can get you, madam?" came a voice to her side, and she glanced up to see the waiter having reappeared.

“Yeah. Can I get an idea about what the hell just happened?"

* * *

Sammi stormed across the deck. The bright illumination of the SS Anne's main deck faded behind her, and she worked her way through the maze of sodium lights and long shadows of the 'Crew Only' section.

How dare she?! How absolutely dare she?!

She rounded a corner, stepping out beneath a low-power hanging light. Somewhere to her left, in the darkness far below, the ocean crashed against the side of the ship.

“Excuse me!" a voice shouted from behind her. “Passengers aren't meant to be in this part of the ship-"

“I work here!" Sammi shouted back, and disappeared back into between the vast, salt-crusted labyrinth of the ship's superstructure. Sufficiently far ahead, she stopped, and leaned against the shadows of a wall. There she stayed, breathing through clenched teeth, her hands balled into fists and shaking.

A brothel! An Arceus-damn brothel! Really? What did she think was going to happen?!

Sammi forced herself to take in a slow breath, then let it out. She stared ahead, but not really seeing. She tried to focus on something, anything, but her mind was in a full-powered loop, screaming around and around that picture of Reese on the other side of the table, face creased into puzzlement that was just so infuriating....

She shoved off from the wall with a grunt. She rounded another corner, striding across the deck plates as her heart pumped in her ears. The ship had opened out again, and in the shadow of a radar tower, she looked out across a handful of barely-illuminated lifeboats, deserted railings and rusted ladders, the cracking white paint cast yellow by the worklights.

From the darkness above one of the lamps, a dark shape twitched, and fixed her with eyes that caught the errant light. There was a gentle coo of familiarity, and the shape detached itself from the silhouette - a moment later, Dactyl landed on the railing in front of her. He gave a gentle warble of greeting, and then stared at her with a tilted head. He gave a quick, questioning chirp.

Sammi looked back at him with a thin smile. She turned around, running both hands through her hair, fingers pressing against her scalp. She took in another breath, then let it out through her nose. She tried to unclench her teeth, but it felt wrong.

Another coo from Dactyl cut across her rampaging thoughts.

Sammi turned, and looked down at him again. His wings were just off from being folded away, as if he was poised to fly again. His head was tilted and dipped, the sodium lights gleaming across his smooth, orange-black beak. His feathers, preened and smooth, seemed to dance with their dark camouflage pattern. That lovely, comforting, dark-eyed stare watched her.

She exhaled again.

The next moment, she had shoved Dactyl to the floor, fluffed chest grasped in her fingers. Barely half-hidden by an electrical box, and exposed to the ocean, she sat back and pressed her hips against his legs.

“Yes, I know how ironic this is!" Sammi grumbled, “I… I just need this right now! Okay?"

Dactyl twitched his head again, and leaned forwards. Sammi recognised the motion.

“It's… listen, it's just something Reese said, but that's not important. I don't want to talk about it."

Dactyl didn't seem convinced. He waved his wings, the cowlick of feathers on his head waving as he pushed himself up-

-and was forced back down by Sammi's hand.

“Listen," she said, brushing a thumb over his downy chest, “I appreciate the gesture," she continued, sliding her knees to the side, “but I don't think you understand…"

She slid her hips forwards, and arched her back, keeping Dactyl pressed against the ground with both hands. Her crotch, protected by only a pair of panties under her dress, pressed firmly into his.

Dactyl looked down in shock, then up at her.

She glared back, her silhouetted eyes blazing from the shadows, transmitting in a single look what an hour of heart-to-heart conversation could only verge on.

“I need this," she said, simply.

Dactyl hesitated – and then, the yellow-lit edges of his beak twitched upwards in his own slight, avian smile.

It was rushed, animal, almost clumsy at times, but the fuel of her anger seemed limitless. She ground against him far more than she should have, pressing the mound of her crotch into him and sliding up and down that hidden opening in his feathers, while her fingers dug into him and held him in place. Within moments, she could feel the warm, familiar length sliding out across the fabric of her underwear, already wet with her own juices and now rapidly becoming stained with his. She should have stopped grinding there, but she didn't; instead, that forceful, indulgent desire drove her on, forcing Dactyl against the deck over and over again as she rolled and wriggled her hips.

When she did finally slide a hand between them, her fingers gliding along that wet, conical length, Dactyl was already making sharp clicking noises of frustration. Yes, she thought as the tip of Dactyl's shaft slid around the thin lining of her panties, sliding this way and that across her folds. Yes, that's it, let that frustration drive you. Like I'm doing. Let… it…

G-gah! She leaned her head back and gasped as the tip finally found its mark, and sank inside her. There was a cold shudder of completeness, and she took a moment to indulge in it as Dactyl wriggled, the length sliding sporadically deeper and deeper. Slowly, working her hips from side to side around that length, she lifted her body and trembled in the pleasurable tingle that followed…

And then the moment was over, and she slammed her hips down onto him.

Her fingers grasped the downy fur, her eyes glazed over, her toes curled. Again, she lifted her hips, and then slammed them down again, over and over, their thumping vibrating through the bulkheads around them. This was no lovemaking session like the ones they usually preferred; no soft music played in their ears, and they didn't wrap their limbs around each other in a comforting embrace – this was rage incarnate, an outlet for frustration and fury, an aeons-old solution to aeons-old responses.

She slammed her hips back down, and then worked side to side, grinding her wet crotch against him. He was the perfect fit, conical enough to tease and tantalise her to just the right depth – but right now, she was indulging in how he thickened at the base, the softness to the flesh not enough to prevent her from a little bit of stretching. The pain made her grit her teeth, breathing in sharply through her nose, and her mind go crazy with delight!

The ship rocked from side to side beneath them, and somewhere below another wave hit the hull, but they were losing themselves in each other. Dactyl twitched his legs, talons pressing into her thighs, keeping them apart enough to allow her to get as deep as she could – and she almost pulled him against her with each bounce, twitching and jerking with the torrent of sensations coursing through her.

It was a product of anger and bottled feelings, her rear bouncing up and down on his avian shaft, his wide-open beak gleaming with his saliva, while she twisted and gritted her teeth and stared into the starry sky. Again and again, she pounded her hips against his, and again and again that shaft stretched her vagina just the right amount, while the slick, wet tip delved deep into her and sent sparks of pleasure cascading through her limbs. It was incredible – it was just what she needed.

She ran her hands around his chest, slipping them under his wings, feeling how his feathers tickled and brushed along them. His talons twitched and grasped, digging into her thighs as the pleasure built; she stared down at him suddenly, and he stared back, human eyes on avian. He looked so different, lying down there, a Pokémon and a lover. It looked suddenly so wrong. It felt so right.

He came fairly quickly – it must have only been a few minutes since she'd thrown him to the ground before his body convulsed beneath her, his eyes glazing over, and his shaft twitching and jumping in that gloriously familiar way. The wet spray splattered over them both from the imperfect seal, dripping between them and staining feathers and clothing alike.

And Sammi continued, bouncing up and down, perhaps even harder than before. Dactyl's expression changed from bemused pleasure, the wide-eyed shock, to pained discomfort, as his over-sensitive member was still grasped, squeezed and used. Sammi could hear him giving a low, growl-like squawk – but she was almost there… almost there! He was a tough bird, he could… fucking… take… it! Almost…!

Yes! There it is! There… it… iiiiis!

Fireworks firing behind her eyes, Sammi slammed her hips back down one more time, grinding her folds over his slit and the base of his shaft, feeling that downy fur massage her clit and tease her folds. She held that position, quivering, before her arms gave away. A tension shed from her shoulders like she was shrugging off a heavy coat, she fell forwards over Dactyl, absently slipping an arm behind his head to hold him close to her.

Bliss surrounded them with tiny sparks, as if the very air was electrified.

“S-sorry…" she muttered breathlessly into Dactyl's ear. “I know that wasn't usual, but… I needed that…"

Dactyl gave a low warble, and nudged her chin with his beak. She pushed herself back up just enough to look into his eyes, and she smiled at how his cheeks were pulled back into Dactyl's own impression of a human grin.

“I love you, you know?"

Dactyl warbled again, and gave a quick preen just below her jawline. Sammi twitched at the tickling pecking, stifling her laughter.

When her eyes opened, she stared, and the smile faded from her face. She could see out across the waves from here, but her gaze was turned inwards, self-reflection suddenly coming to the forefront of her post-sex mind. The realisation settled in awkwardly, and behind it, the guilt.

Oh…

* * *

Reese sat, her chin resting in one hand, utterly still. Sitting on a stool in front of a high counter at a quiet, open-air bar at the ship's stern, she stared out across the ship's wake.

Night reigned across the heavens. The horizon, once a clear boundary between the dark sea and the pale sky, was now distinguishable only as the place where the thousands of twinkling, shining stars suddenly stopped. The bar where she sat was fairly well lit, but this far from the counter, Reese was sitting in a dull gloom, like a reminder of what light had once been.

In front of her, her phone's lay on the counter, the messages it was displaying seemingly half-forgotten. Her face was lit by the screen, expressionless at first glance, but slight contours and her glazed-over eyes betrayed the torrent of her thoughts.

She heard Sammi walk in, her stoic refusal to wear anything but flat-heeled shoes giving her stride a certain identifiable rhythm and tone. Despite it usually being prime time for a bar, there were few others present, most patrons seemingly not caring for this sort of scene – stuffy pensioners and upper-class businessmen probably more frequented the cocktail lounges two decks down. Those that were here were mostly closer to the bar itself, where the warmth of an overhang protected against the cool air of the night.

Sammi, predictably, walked right towards Reese, and after a moment's hesitation took a seat beside her.

For a moment, there was silence, broken only by Sammi's sigh.

Reese swallowed, her gaze dropping. “Listen, Sammi…"

“No, I should apologise."

“But I-"

“No, please, I… I wanna say something."

Reese glanced over at her friend, and felt a sudden pang of intense sympathy. Every line and contour of Sammi's face exuded worry and sadness. Reese had no choice but to let her.

There was silence again for a moment longer. Sammi stared out at the ocean with Reese. She breathed erratically, as if several times she was going to start a sentence and decided not to at the last moment.

Eventually she splayed her hands out in front of her. “When I… when I was younger, as you know, I wasn't much for… well, socialising. I studied in school with what I called friends, but what most people would call acquaintances. When I went home, I either read books or just browsed the internet. My parents were always trying to get me to go outside, go down to the village square, play with the neighbourhood kids, but… it wasn't happening. I never really… had a social life.

“And because of that, well… I've told you I've never had a boyfriend or girlfriend before, and aside from Dactyl, that's the truth. To be honest, back then, I sorta just… assumed it would never happen. And I'm not saying that to garner sympathy or anything, because at the time, I didn't think it was all that bad. I just figured I'd one day get a nice tech job, an apartment, and that's my life. But that's the thing." She sighed, frowned, dithered for a moment, and then finally restarted. “…I've told you how I met Dactyl, right?"

Reese waved her head from side to side. “You got him so you could go out into the world, right? A bit of protection?"

“Yeah, partially. These days, I wonder how much it was just my mother trying to get me to have any sort of companionship," Sammi said with a grim smile.

Reese shrugged. “I mean…"

“Yeah, I know. Worked a little too well, right?" She took a shaky breath in. “But, well…"

She took in another breath, staring down at her fingers. Reese watched her silently, giving her time.

“When I… finally realised my feelings towards Dactyl, and he felt the same way…" She paused. Her face screwed up with thought. “When… well, when we finally… when we-"

“I know what you're saying." Reese cut in, raising a hand. Sammi sighed with mild relief.

“Yeah, well… it was like… I finally realised what I had been missing all these years. Finally, here, right next to me, was someone I cared about. I loved him deeply and he loved me. All of a sudden, my life was no longer just a vague shape of solitude and computer screens. It was a life with someone else, a much fuller life.

“To me, the fact that he was a…" she paused, and then started again in a lower voice. “…a Pokémon, well… it didn't really matter to me. In fact, to goody-two-shoes me, to always-says-her-prayers-to-Arceus, always-gets-an-A me, the idea that not only I could have a boyfriend, a partner, but he was this exotic person that I'd not even considered as a possibility? It… it was like something out a fantasy book! It was special. It was incredible."

“And you think," Reese said, watching her, “that I'm just butting in here, and forcing myself into your special, personal world?"

Sammi paused, several emotions running across her face. “I… well… I'm going to say yes, but I want to explain more. Because… I am annoyed, and it's sorta about that."

She took in a breath, glancing almost fearfully over at Reese as she prepared herself.

“It's special, yes. And I do even… like the taboo, the secret nature of it… but at the same time… when I take him to Sunday dinner with my parents, it's as my pet. I can't put his name down on forms. I can't tell people that I have someone that I love."

Sammi's eyes flicked back and forth. Damn, thought Reese, I didn't realise…

“I go on a few threads here and there online, follow a few people," Sammi continued, “and every now and again I see some… half-convincing argument against liking Pokémon and wanting a relationship with them. And they mean well, they feel they're justified, but… it's always so wrapped up in bile and hatred. Friends, colleagues, they say such… awful things, and I don't think I can stand up for myself. I'm reminded that this is not a relationship I'm meant to be in. And it hurts, Reese."

She bit her lip. Starlight shone in her tears.

“It really, really hurts."

There was a pause. Reese remained silent, merely watching.

Sammi sniffed, and closed her eyes for a moment. “So… when you go out to the woods, and you have some strange gangbang with a pack of Mightyena, and then all of a sudden you want to start opening up a brothel about it all… it makes me feel like, like you're rushing into this without the pain I've had to go through. You're having fun, enjoying it, without realising how much I've wanted to do that for so long. I want to be as free as you, Reese." There was a small pause. “I … I don't want to feel so hated."

Reese stared at the counter. She was scratching at the varnished surface absently, a lump in her throat as tumultuous emotions swirled around her chest. “…I-"

“But that's not what I want to tell you," Sammi interjected quickly, and suddenly she was looking at Reese with a wide-eyed, imploring gaze. “Because Reese, you're my best friend. And you're that because I love being around you. You drive me to do things I never would have considered. You've given me a friendship and a life I never would have had. Even without… everything that's gone on, you're an amazing part of my life and an incredible person, and I can't thank you enough. Your drive, your desire, your reckless, fuck-it attitude is what makes you you."

She leant forwards, putting a hand on Reese's knee. “When I realised my feelings towards Dactyl, it was like my life had opened up. I was living in a new world, where doors were open, the air smelt fresher, and sunlight felt a little warmer on my skin. Before, I was in a grey, dreary dream, and then suddenly, I was lucid. And I know that those same feelings must be happening to you. And it's incredible, and fantastic, and I don't want to squash those feelings. That's the last thing that I want to do." She stared at Reese, her eyes wide. “I'm sorry."

Reese looked away for a moment, and sighed. Then, she leaned in, giving Sammi a sudden, firm hug.

“Thank you," Reese said, smiling in the hug. Sammi wrapped her arms tightly around her in response. They pulled back, and Reese kept smiling. “I know that a lot of this is just adrenaline, and novelty, and spur-of-the-moment flights of fancy. But what I feel with Howling Gale, I've never felt before."

“I know!" Sammi said, smiling back suddenly. “Like you're in some strange parallel reality, right?"

“Or suddenly in a rebooted movie, where everything is shinier and the possibilities are suddenly greater?"

Sammi nodded exuberantly.

Reese pushed a lock of hair behind her ear. “We've both been through a lot recently, you and me. Parfum, the flight, Goldenrod, getting on this ship… we both knew we were going to be committing a crime, but we never betted on becoming international fugitives like this. And we certainly didn't think we'd be having this conversation. And, while I have that fuck-it attitude, I know you don't, so… I guess I feel like I've dragged you into a world that I can only just deal with, and I feel guilty about it, because I know that you can't."

She sighed. “And yeah, I suppose it was insensitive to just launch into that whole nightclub-speech. I never thought what it would be like to be in a relationship, and the trials and tribulations that would bring with it. I never meant to be insulting, but I didn't think. Sorry."

Sammi smiled. “Thank you. That means a lot."

Reese nodded. “Yeah." She waved a hand. “It's alright. We can scrap the nightclub idea. It was just-“

“No." Sammi said firmly, the suddenness of it making Reese start. “Hell no, in fact."

Reese frowned. Her eyebrow raised, and the corner of her mouth tugged with a smile. “You… you think it's a good idea?"

Sammi leaned forward conspiratorially, smiling broadly. “This… it's been such an amazing thing for both of us. Eye-opening. Incredible. I say, let's do it. Let's take it to as many people as we can. Let's show them exactly how wonderful it is when Pokémon are more than just battlers or service creatures or pets!" She almost cackled. “And let's make a nice bit of money while we're doing it!"

Reese grinned back. “Great! Oh, Sammi, I so hoped you'd say that…" She turned, delving into a bag by her feet. “Hey! Remember when I met you in the lifeboat earlier, and I said I needed to go have some privacy with Howling Gale?"

Sammi frowned, a reproachful look on her face. “Yes…?"

“Well, I took that time to draw up a few concepts…"

She pulled a few rolls of paper and pencils out of her bag, spilling them onto the counter. She unravelled them, holding down the edges with her arms, revealing several fevered sketches and floorplans almost filling the paper.

Sammi stared at them wide-eyed. “Oh! I… I thought you were just going back there to, um, y'know…"

“Oh, I did all this while he was fucking me from behind." Reese said, licking her lips.

“Reese!" Sammi whined.

Reese laughed. “Why else do you think it's so shaky?"

Sammi gave her a shove, and then leaned in. “So, what's that…?"

“Main catwalk. I figured there'd have to be a way for dancers to get back from the poles, you know? And around here is where the patrons will be." She traced across the sketches with a finger. “A respectable distance, of course, to give the illusion that they're not meant to be perving all of the dancers, but curiosity will get the better of them I'm sure."

Sammi stared at the sketches. “You've put a lot of thought into this…"

“Hey. Gotta indulge those feelings, right? About the only thing I haven't got is a name for the place."

“Why not?" Sammi said, airily.

“Well, I thought you might like to name it."

Sammi looked up. “…me?"

Reese smirked. “Well, I didn't want to hog it all to myself. I want this to be a project for both of us."

Sammi sat back, and stared out at the ocean again. Wind caught at stray hairs, tossing them across her cheeks.

“You don't have to choose now, of course." Reese said. “It can wait."

Sammi shook her head, smiling softly. “No… I got one." She turned, smiling warmly at Reese. “The one thing that got us into this. Our drive. What we can guarantee our patrons. Lucidity."

Reese paused, head on her side. Slowly, she nodded. “Okay. I can see that. Lucidity. Sounds good to me."

Sammi, however, was already looking at the drawings again. “Where's this going to be?"

“Oh, there are a few places I've looked at which seem good, where the economy is shifting. Prices are cheap, potential is high, night scenes are evolving. Rustboro, for example."

“Hmmm…" Sammi mused, staring at the plans again. “Huh… where's the bar?"

Reese leaned over. “Here, I was thinking. Or here. It's gotta be at the focal point of the room, and within reach of the door to the back."

“Well, if that's the case, what about – hang on. Give me a pencil?"

“Sure, here."

“If we put the bar here, then maybe raise it up, we'll be able to be full view of all the dancers and the back wall, but we'll still have a path to the front door. Maximum space for moving around."

“Yeah… yeah, that could work. What about the storeroom, though?"

“I don't know. Could go here. Or here… hm. When does this place we're in close?"

“4am."

“Want to get some drinks?"

* * *

The night was serene, and the sea gentle and calm. From a distance, the SS Anne was the only feature on the great black expanse, a candle of warmth in the darkened window of the world.

Just over the horizon…

The helicopter's blades pounded the cloudless air with a repetitive, violent thrumming. Red and green running lights gleamed, harsh pinpricks against the starry sky.

In the cockpit, there was a blip from an instrument. A locator screen glared into life with a single dot.

A moment later, the helicopter's running lights blinked out.

The black shape flew on, visible only in the stars that it silhouetted.

* * *

They staggered out of the doorway and onto the main deck, arms linked shoulders pressed together in mutual support. The world lurched around them, but the pre-dawn sea was calm; they meandered left, then right, then just managed to straighten up before almost tripping over each other's feet. Their laughter filled the air.

“Sammi, listen," Reese slurred around a lollipop pulled from her last cocktail, “if we had a balcony, we could watch what was going on in the club below…" she leaned further into Sammi, trying to keep her friend steady. “Gaaaze at them all, and the dancers, and everything…"

“Reese, Reese," Sammi said loudly, “if we had, if we had a balcony, you'd get…" she coughed, “you'd get fucked on it, I know you!"

Sammi had gone quiet for the last part of the sentence, which might have worked had the 'fucked' part not been emphasised to the point of shouting.

“Of course I would!" Reese said, throwing up a hand, before stumbling. Her knees bent awkwardly, and she had to take a moment to stagger back to her feet, pulling on Sammi's shoulders. She swirled the lollipop around in her mouth. “Wouldn't you?"

“Reese!" Sammi yelped, slapping her. “No! Don't joke about that! Dactyl doesn't… we don't do that!"

“But the fuuuuun, Sammi! Fucking just outta sight?"

“And what if they catch you?"

Reese smirked, angling them towards the 'Crew Only' section of the ship. “I'd like to see them try."

“Excuse me…"

Reese blinked several times. She staring at Sammi, who was doing the same, for a few seconds before they realised it wasn't either of them that had spoken.

They let go of each other, and Reese stumbled to the side as she turned around.

Half cast in shadow by one of the deck lights, a youngish gentleman in a pale, crumpled shirt smiled at her, one eyebrow raised. He was alone on the otherwise deserted deck.

“Mmm…?" Reese managed, looking him up and down briefly. He didn't look like a ship worker.

“If I may - what's your name?" he said, his scraggly beard accentuating his smile.

Reese hesitated. “Anne." She said, fishing for the first name that came to mind.

“Anne – lovely! And it's too sad for a lovely girl like you, Anne, to be out so late without some companionship."

“Hey, she has meee!" Sammi whined, swaying from side to side just behind them.

Reese, however, waved her away. She smiled back at him, fingering the stem of the lollipop in her mouth. “It's okay. He means companionship. Right, tall, dark, stranger?"

The man smiled, spreading his hands. “If you would like to have one last nightcap with me?"

“Riiight." Reese said, her smile turning impish. “You want to take me out for another drink, on you, and then maybe I can fix how cold and lonely your cabin is. Am I right…?" She cast her eyes down and up his body slowly, her long eyelashes batting as she did.

The man leaned in slowly, his shoulders shifting backwards. “I could make your night a lot warmer than this, if you want."

Reese paused, raising an eyebrow. She took a couple of slow steps towards him, until she was staring up into his shadowed eyes.

She brought up a hand, and savouring every motion, she grasped the stem of the lollipop and slowly drew it from her mouth. The cherry-red orb popped as it slipped from her lips, saliva speckling her chin. She dragged her tongue across it for a single, long lick.

“Sorry…" she said, twirling the lollipop in her fingers. “I only really like it doggy style…"

The man paused, but his head tilted towards her with sudden confidence. “Oh, I think I can do that…"

“No," Reese said, her eyes alive. “You can't."

In the silence, she slid the bright red lollipop back into her mouth, her lips pursed and bulging around it. She batted her eyelids at him.

Then she grinned, and backed up towards Sammi.

“Sorry - try another girl" she said, as she pulled Sammi with her, leaving him standing bemused and confused on the deck as they slipped away into the Crew Only section.

Once they were out of sight, Sammi huffed. “Reese, that was mean!"

“Aw, c'mon, I was just playing!"

“What did you mean, anyway? Only into… y'know?"

Reese grinned, almost prancing along. “Well, yeah…"

“So, you're not into humans anymore? Only got it for Mightyena or something?"

“I, well, I dunno about that. I mean, I'm not gonna lie, Howling Gale's dick is ten times better than any guy I've slept with. Hey, did you know he has this thing at the base that inflates when he fucks you?"

“It's called the knot, it's meant for-"

“Oooh, so you've looked them up too, right? You've been curious, haven't you…"

Sammi gasped, flustered, her plump face flushing red. “I- Reese, you're missing the point! Are you… like, exclusive now?"

Reese watched her feet as they stumbled across a few uneven deck plates. “Um…"

Sammi watched her while she thought.

“Uh… I… don't know?"

“Well," Sammi said, reaching out to steady Reese. “Are you and Howling Gale in a relationship? Or are you just fucking?"

Reese's brow furrowed with the effort of thinking. “I didn't… really consider that we could be in a relationship, I guess… I like the fucking, though."

“Yeah, I know you do…" Sammi said, deadpan. “And would you be okay about it if he fucked someone else?"

“I – hm. I dunno?" Reese said, frowning. “I… guess so? I mean, as long as we're together? But maybe it'd be nice if it's only me…"

Sammi rolled her eyes dramatically. “Reese, you need to talk with him about it, then!"

“Sammi, come oooon… why do you always get so… analytical when you're drunk?" Reese muttered, staring at her friend. It was quite incredible how alcohol seemed to affect Sammi. The flustered nervousness and dreamy lack of coordination she had seemed to disappear in quite the opposite way that it worked for most people. Now, she stared at Reese with a fervour seldom seen outside of most Regigigas preachers.

“It's important to me, Reese! And you're important to me. And Dactyl's important to me. You need to have a talk with Howling Gale about your relationship."

Reese frowned again. It wasn't even fair! She was struggling to maintain her thoughts! “I mean… how do I do that? We can only really understand the basics, like… like when-"

“I can imagine what you understand!" Sammi said quickly. “But… I mean, Dactyl and I managed it. He even started it."

“Wuh?"

“Yeah! …He's a real gentleman, Reese. Had his wings folded when I got home one day, and a nice few berries he'd picked. He'd managed to set it up all nicely, and we talked all evening!"

“How?"

“Mostly yes-no. And his expression. And searching for words online. Have you seen the scratches on my keyboard?"

Reese stared at the ground. “Hmmm… I guess… I could try…." She sighed slowly, and then smiled. “Tomorrow."

“Aw, Reese! Tonight!"

“Tonight? When I'm like this!?" Reese smirked, pulling Sammi around a corner. “Sammi, there's only one thing my mouth's gonna be doing tonight."

“Reese!"

“Tomorrow, Sammi, I promise! Tomorrow morning."

They stumbled out into the open area. Their two lifeboats sat before them, illuminated in the yellow sodium lighting.

“Aww…" muttered Reese with sudden realisation, “I lost my lollipop…." She stared at the ground, then after a moment, smiled. “Ah, it's fine. I can just-"

She saw Sammi's expression, and just grinned madly instead.

“Sleep well, Sammi." Reese said, putting her hands on her friend's shoulders. “Love you, alright?"

Sammi hugged her tightly. “I love you too. You mean a lot to me, Reese. I just want you to be happy. And I don't want you to get hurt!"

“Only claw marks."

There we go; Sammi was wearing an admonishing frown, but even to Reese's drunken perception, the twitching of the corner of her mouth dragging those lips into a half-smile was unmistakable. Reese beamed back.

“Have a good night, Sammi."

* * *

The roof of the SS Anne was not made for landing on. The helicopter's blades sliced the air a few metres above it, battering the normally unseen white paint with the downdraft.

Three pairs of boots slammed onto the roof in quick succession. In turn, they strode away to a ladder, dimly lit by an aging security light that did nothing to reveal their shadowed faces.

Above them, the helicopter lifted away. The sound of its blades faded, but remained in the background, a foreboding murmur that refused to settle in the mind.

* * *

Howling Gale stirred and lifted his head as something tumbled into the other end of the lifeboat.

For much of the journey so far, he had been enjoying the ocean's solitude. The salty sea air was a pungent spice, and he indulged in the new and exciting scents before him; the ship had been a veritable cornucopia in that regard, and after indulging in a stolen Magikarp steak, he had spent time splaying out along the bow. It reminded him of home; but this time, the distant, golden horizon was more than just temptation. A warm easterly wind whispered through his fur.

Since the sun had dipped and drowsiness had set in, he'd become content in staring out at the world from under the lifeboat's tarpaulin – and except for an odd, creeping feeling of expectation, he had settled to fanciful dreaming of an indulgent future of freedom.

Such wistful dozing had been pushed aside now as he looked at the shape that had fallen inside. It smelt like cheap energy drinks and artificial strawberries, and looked like all elbows and knees.

A pale face emerged, with a glazed expression of mischief beneath scraggly hair.

Then again, perhaps that indulgent future would start sooner than he thought.

His tail wagged.

Between Reese's drunkenness and Howling Gale's sleepiness, neither of them were particularly up for any adept foreplay or choice whispers and growls - but their relationship had hardly been built on such cunning intricacies in the first place. Reese's tongue dragged over his bulging sheath, uncaring of the matted, musty fur, sloppily tracing out the contours and nooks with unrestrained lust. She looked up at him, eyes sparkling in the gloom, and wide-open mouth beaming with a lack of shame.

Howling Gale kicked with his back paws and growled happily, claws raking through those tousled locks of hair as he pressed her onwards. He wriggled his body against the hard wooden seats, tail flicking back and forth, pressing his hips up towards her eager ministrations. Her moans let him know when he found the right spot; balls grinding firmly against her cheek and lips, sheath grinding up across one eye.

Reese didn't pause for a moment. Her tongue lapped across one fuzzy ball, sucking and drawing it into her mouth. Howling Gale grinned all the more, his eyelids fluttering as the twitching, bulging shaft pressed that furred sheath against her. Oh, such a dexterous and human tongue playing with him!

With Reese, sex was so tantalisingly new. The Mightyena girls back at Parfum had never been more than potential breeding partners, brought along by aspiring trainers with enough money. It had been a very clean affair, closely observed, almost formal – the very possibility of something like this, a tongue so eager, had been out of the question. Well, outside of a spot of self-cleaning – and sometimes, admittedly, self-pleasures. Neither of which matched the skill and talent his new mate had…

And that wasn't even mentioning the delight of her species. The soft hair playing over his thighs, the exotic skin beneath his claws - those gleaming eyes, intelligent, lustful…

Reese leant back, head dragging over the tarpaulin of the lifeboat as she yanked her top off, flinging it into some hidden recess. Her pale skin seemed to glow in the low light, and she grinned eagerly at her canine lover.

Howling Gale returned the expression, a ferocious invitation. Red flesh peaked from the sheath, drops of pre twinkling like a cluster of distant stars. Reese spotted it, her gaze pulled towards it as if by fate. She looked like she could engulf it with her stare alone.

A shudder slipped down Howling Gale's spine. He watched her, and their eyes met, human on canine.

He gave a low, contented growl that made his very claws vibrate.

* * *

The boots thumped over the varnished wood. Their dark suits, tight against their bodies, seemed to be deep pits, into which light fell inescapably. On the shoulder of one, the dark outline was broken by the short, green fur of an Electrike, its pointed snout pointed forwards like a dagger.

One of them stopped, half-turning to the side. He lifted his hand to check something.

“Excuse me?"

From a door to one side, a uniformed sailor stared at them. He hesitated, his face betraying his wariness, but no answer came. He took a few steps towards them.

“It's not advised to be on the deck so late at night" he said in a faint Kanto accent, his hands respectfully held behind his back. “Might I-"

One of the figures held up a small card right in front of the sailor's face.

“Oh…" the sailor said simply, his confidence evaporating.

With that, the figures strode on wordlessly.

The sailor stared after them, before thinking better and looking down at his shoes. He'd report the sighting, of course, but he might wait until the morning. If he did so now, he might end up getting involved, and this was one mystery he'd rather stay away from.

The decision made, he turned, and walked back towards the door he'd come from. Yet even so, he still could not shake the picture of them in his mind, and the strange pokéball one held in their hand, its engraved surface shining gold in the lights of the deck.

* * *

The blowjob was sloppy, driven far more by want than it was by any refined technique or practiced skill. There was too little use of the lips, and the tongue slid from side to side, as if his cock was some sweet and tasty treat. She pushed herself up on her elbows, only to half-collapse back to his crotch, burying her nose against the furry base of the sheath, tasting and sucking on those twitching balls, inconsistent and sporadic in all her movements.

But Howling Gale didn't care, and it was clear that Reese felt the same way; she stared at the shaft like it was a long-sought prize, fingers wrapped reverently around the steadily growing base. Howling Gale growled, bucked his hips against her grasp, driving his shaft into her warm, waiting mouth the moment she showed any sign of slowing. He twitched, jerked his head, trying to dislodge some niggling feeling, but he couldn't help but thrust his hips into that delightful mouth.

The sounds of sex surrounded them, wet slurps and pops of flesh on flesh. Howling Gale's tail wagged fervently, tickling Reese's arm as she reached down beneath the hem of her shorts, clearly for her own indulgent pleasure.

Reese's fingers slid between the bulging shaft and the sheath, warm and wet as they delved further and deeper. They revealed more and more of the glistening length as they searching for the tell-tale swelling of the knot.

She wasn't to be disappointed. Each drum beat of Howling Gale's heart made the smooth flesh of the shaft pulse, growing that extra bit longer, that delightful bit wider, and made that knot begin to swell…

With one hand busy between her legs, and the other gripping Howling Gale's rapidly growing knot, Reese pressed her head down onto the shaft with undisguised eagerness. Her lips bulged, eyes closing, and Howling Gale gasped and flexed his toes on all four legs, driving his claws into her scalp, staring through a heady haze of pleasure...

That knot would soon be too big for her mouth, but Howling Gale's momentary concern was quickly dashed from a single glance at Reese. Even though her mouth was deformed beyond expressions by that bulging canine cock, Reese's grin could still be seen in the crease of her eyes. She slid deeper.

* * *

They stopped to check once more, but it seemed fairly clear. They nodded to each other's shrouded faces, and continued on. The Electrike stared into the darkness they walked into.

The shadows flickered over the 'Crew Only' sign as they passed it.

Their boots hammered faster.

* * *

Howling Gale's eyes shot open. His heart rose to his mouth.

Grrrrf! His orgasm was racing towards him, electrifying his nerves – rrrf, no, wait, this was no orgasm. The pressure in his chest, the constricting of his throat, that growing unease crashing through the barriers of his pleasure – it was dread. Strange, otherworldly dread.

Something was wrong. Very wrong.

Rrrrrrf!

He pressed his head up, staring through the monochrome darkness of the lifeboat. Reese's head slid up and down his shaft – and rrrr, what a delightful sight! He hesitated, indulging in that human's uninhibited acts. The pleasure continued to build with each lap of the tongue and suck from the lips, and each fondle of his swelling knot – but grff, he knew he needed to warn her!

Howling Gale growled, kicking his legs, but she just shifted around his paws and drove her head back down. Grrrf! Curse his drowsiness! Curse her eagerness! She had to know!

Fighting losing battles of will and language barrier, Howling Gale curled his paws, his claws scouring the wooden seats beneath him.

* * *

Their shadows separated from the darkness of the claustrophobic superstructure. Together they paused, staring out across the yellow-lit scene.

The lifeboats lay in front of them, bold against the black sea.

The figure at the front indicated with their free hand, and together, they moved in.

* * *

Reese's vision buzzed and sparkled. It was probably a mix of drunkenness and lack of air, but she didn't give it much thought. It was all worth it for the straining of lips around that thick, bulging shaft; for the throbbing pulse of the Mightyena's heartbeat through the veins of the slick, saliva-covered flesh; for the sudden and unstoppable swelling of that knot.

Howling Gale was writhing side to side, claws raking against the lifeboat growling and snarling – oh, what a good boy! She smiled inwardly, indulging in how his body was tensing, hind legs twitching and jerking. She shoved her fingers deeper inside herself; she'd tossed away her shorts and underwear in a fit of salacious indulgence, and now she revelled in the thought of his shaft buried there. And yet she was anticipating – begging – for it to explode right in her mouth, where she could feel every last bit of it!

Which was why the first jet of cum made her roll her eyes back in her head, the salty tang splattering off the roof of her mouth. She shuddered, knees and elbows suddenly weak. Her lips screamed at her as the shaft gave a final bulge, the knot swelling in her fingers to its final, glorious size and shape! And all the while, rope after rope of cum splashed across her tongue, leaking from her lips in long, thick drops.

Savouring every moment, she pushed herself up, dragging her lips along that twitching length. She held it in place, and even as her lips left the tip, she kept it pointed at her face – oh, the warmth, the canine mustiness, how it clung even after it had run down her chin and dripped back onto his balls. How tasty it was on her tongue, and how good it felt as she swallowed it, the thick liquid sliding down her throat…

She beamed, opening her eyes. She expected to see Howling Gale's glazed expression, like he usually wore after a good night, with his tongue lolling happily from his muzzle and his eyes staring off into space.

But instead, his bright eyes bore into hers with a frantic, desperate stare.

“W…?" Reese managed, blinking slowly, uncomprehendingly.

Howling Gale looked down at his side. She followed his gaze.

On the seat he was lying on, his scratches crisscrossed the wood. In the low light, it was hard to make anything out. But after a moment, she could make out the scruffy circle - and then the line scoured through its centre – and then the smaller circle right in the middle…

“A… pokéball…?"

Howling Gale stared at her again.

Even across the boundary of an entire species, it was incredible how much terror could be conveyed with a simple look.

Reese heard a noise outside the lifeboat.

She looked up.

* * *

The main figure stepped down the ladder, placing his feet just before the edge of the lifeboat's hull. He reached down with his free hand and grasped the sheet with his fingers. Taking a moment to solidify his grip, he wrenched it upwards.

He straightened up, not breaking his gaze. The two other figures, as well as the Electrike, peered around him.

Inside, the sleeping, chubby woman was curled into a crescent shape, half-wrapped around the gently snoring, stirring Staravia.

“Confirmed," the figure on his left said, glancing at a dim screen on her arm. “It's the other one. The bird matches too."

“It's waking up." said the other figure.

“Alright, Plan B it is," said the centre figure. “Rather wouldn't deal with the Hound anyway. Find the pokéball, bag the girl, then let's go. Quickly."

“Alright. Electrike?"

* * *

Reese had pushed herself back against the far end of the lifeboat while Howling Gale rolled onto his paws. His shaft wobbled between his legs in what must have been a very uncomfortable way, but his eyes remained fixed on the sheet above them, teeth bared; from his jaws trailed wisps of smoke, blacker than the shadows that draped across them.

His ears twitched. There were sounds of a scuffle outside. Reese froze, the drunkenness draining into cold, sudden sobriety by adrenaline.

There was a muttered conversation. Then, a sudden crackle, like static electricity. Reese jolted at the noise.

Before she could act, there was a tell-tale zzzap of a pokéball, followed by a muffled yell.

“Sammi!"

Reese pushed herself up, shoving against the tarpaulin, scrabbling to find the exit.

“Sammi!"

Her fingers clawed at the thick, unyielding material. She could hear the struggle continuing, just on the other side. Her heart was a drumbeat in her ears, and here she was, trapped behind the barrier, her frantic flailing all but useless-

There was a rush of fur in front of her, and she was thrown back as a snarl cut through her ears. She caught a sudden glimpse of Howling Gale's jaws clamped on the tarpaulin, before he wrenched backwards. In a flash of black aura, the tarpaulin tore apart above her.

Reese swallowed, gasping for breath in the sudden rush of cold air, and immediately jumped through the rip and up the steps.

The tarpaulin of Sammi's lifeboat had been pulled aside. The boat itself was empty.

Reese cast her gaze around, and just managed to spot the three figures running into the ship's superstructure – and the large bundle slung across on their shoulders.

“Oh Arceus…" Reese said quietly, blood running cold in her veins. “Sammi! Sammi!"

She was running before she knew what she was doing. The uneven deck plates dug into her bare feet, and the cold night air would have chilled her naked skin had adrenaline not been forcing all extraneous sensations from her mind. She leapt towards the shadows, feeling the rhythmic pounding of Howling Gale at her heels.

A door slammed ahead. She barrelled down between the bulkheads, riveted hull segments and the thick scaffolding of folded cranes passing like a blur past her. A moment later, she found the offending door; unlocked, ajar, with white light pouring from the inside.

She hesitated. Her mind was a maelstrom of fear and despair – what was going on? Who were those people? What were they doing with Sammi?

But for an instant, one thought in particular rose through her mind. Was she really going to do this? She could get caught by the crew, she could get caught by whoever those people were… was she ready for that?

For Sammi? Of course she was.

She shoved the door open. With Howling Gale's reassuring pants and growls just behind her, Reese pounded down the corridors of the ship. This was certainly a Crew Only section – stark, unfeeling colours, with exposed rivets around every doorway and light. Each time she turned a corner, she almost crashed into the claustrophobic walls.

But each time, she managed to just glimpse a foot, or a leg, just disappearing down some other turn further up.

“No!" She shouted, pounding down another corridor. She held onto a thick doorframe as she swung herself around the next corner.

There they were! All three of them! And Sammi wrapped in a bundle over one of their shoulders, kicking and squirming!

“STOP!" Reese said, pounding after them. She stared at them, pure tunnel vision.

A growl behind her echoed with an unearthly aura.

She looked back at Howling Gale, seeing black wisps trailing from his mouth – but when she turned back ahead, one of the figures was heaving closed one of the doors.

“Now! Damn it, NOW!"

Howling Gale barked, and darkness lanced down the corridor. It exploded against the last sliver of opening - before there was a slam of metal on metal as the door shut.

There was a sudden, resounding thunk of a lock.

Howling Gale snarled, leaping past her, and skidding to a halt in front of the door. His teeth were bared, eyes flicking back and forth across the bulkhead, part of the metal seam sizzling and half-melted.

“No! NO!" Reese shouted, stopping by the door. She yanked at the handle in vain, then began to frantically slide her hands over the seam, the rivets, anything that could help.

Howling Gale barked again. She spun around.

He was standing a few metres back, half-turned back towards her, in front of a branching corridor.

Breath coming in rags, Reese nodded and began to run.

* * *

The man slid the lock into place, half-collapsed on the floor. His leg burned; his shin, which had previously been covered by his tightly-hemmed pants, was now exposed beyond tattered, smoking cloth.

He swore, then looked around frantically. The Luxury Ball he'd picked up had rolled a few feet away. He lunged for it, grasping the quivering, hot metal in his fingers, before shoving himself unsteadily to his feet. He ran after his colleagues, staggering in a half-limp.

“You okay?" The one carrying the fugitive woman asked, once her friend was close enough again.

“Blasted thing almost got my leg!" he griped, glancing down again. A cloudy bruise was already blossoming on the skin.

“Listen, you got attacked by a Hound and you're here to complain about it." She almost had to shout over the muffled struggling from the fugitive. “From what I've heard, that's a win."

“Can't we use the pokéball?"

“Sure! You want to be the one to get close enough to do so?" said a voice from further down the corridor.

“Elec!" the Electrike said. It sounded like agreement.

Before the man at the back could respond, the Luxury Ball in his grasp exploded; there was a metallic crash, and red light flared around the corridor. A moment later, a Staravia was between the three of them, black eyes filled with anger.

There was a maelstrom of feathers and claws. White trails sliced through the air. There was a scream of pain. Someone threw a punch; it landed on the bulkhead with a painful thung. The man with the Luxury ball managed to get a better grip, and the flare of the recall bolt briefly flashed around them, only to splash uselessly against the ceiling.

“Electrike!" Shouted one of them. “Get it!"

“'Trike 'trike!"

Lightning began to crackle off the nearby walls, the air suddenly beginning to buzz. Hairs raised on arms-

But then, the Staravia was gone. A handful of brown and white feathers littered the floor, and a distant flapping from the next doorway grew fainter and fainter.

“Small mercies." Growled the man holding the Luxury Ball, now wide open, its bottom swinging lazily.

“Says you!" the man at the front said, clutching his bleeding arm. “Quickly. Before it comes back."

Together, they moved to the next doorway, and began climbing upwards…

* * *

Reese leapt around the corner, shouldered her way through a door-

And almost fell right over the railing of the balcony on the other side. She stopped just in time, the cold metal bar digging into her hips. Howling Gale's claws screeched against the balcony's metal floor as he forced himself to a sudden stop.

The door swung shut behind them. Reese stared out at the black ocean; it was a void, a darkness beside this blazing beacon of the cruise ship.

Outside! A balcony right on the edge of the ship. This was good. Those people couldn't stay on the ship, so they must have some way off it, right? She frantically searched over the edge, but she couldn't see a boat here. None to stern, either, or to the bow – wait…

There. On the edge of hearing. Howling Gale's ears had pricked – he must have heard it too. A slight rhythm, thumping over and over again, like…

A helicopter. And it was further towards the bow.

“Gale!" she shouted, already sprinting. Not that it mattered - he was at her feet already, loping alongside her. Together, they raced down the balcony, a razor's edge between the warm lights from the ship's doors and windows, and the abyss of the ocean.

While her eyes were fixed forwards, Reese was staring at the image of her friend being dragged away by shadowed ghouls. Sammi's plump, innocent face was contorted in tear-jerking fear; the image felt real, so much that Reese swore she could touch it, could hear the cries…

She was so involved that she didn't see the wall in front of her until she almost hit it. She slid to a stop again, and after a heartbeat, a shock of realisation came back to her.

This was the same balcony she had been on earlier, in the daylight. The lighting was all different, but the railings were the same. The rooms had the ornate feel that she had identified as first class. The dead end was the same, impassible metal. She leant out, craning her neck around the edge of the ship; over there, metres away, the far balcony was illuminated in its own pale cyan light - and below her, the blackness of the sea.

Howling Gale stopped with her, looking up at her.

Reese looked down at him, then across at the far balcony.

The thrumming of the helicopter pounded in her ears.

If she went back the way she came, she'd lose at least a minute, maybe two as she searched for another way out. They could get away in that time! She couldn't take that risk! Who knew how far behind she was already?

But what was the alternative?

Reese panted heavily, her bare chest rising and falling.

Slowly, she walked backwards. She didn't stop until she was a good few paces from the edge of the balcony.

“Step aside," she said. Howling Gale hesitated, then complied. He watched her confidently.

She began to run.

For a few steps, her feet pounded the metal. Then, she tensed her legs, and leapt – the ball of one foot landed on the railing, her leg tensing, and she flung herself out, away from the ship, into empty space.

For a moment, she hung in the air, the cold sea breeze swirling over her form. Then, her searching fingers found their target; the rope she'd spotted before, dangling from the flag somewhere in the darkness above her. She made to grab it, fingers wrapping around the plastic threads-

-running uselessly through her grip...

Her heart lurched.

The end of the rope slipped from her fingers.

Realisation hit her like a sledgehammer. She wasn't going to make it. Without the rope, she couldn't swing herself around back to the ship, and there was nothing now between her and the swirling waters below. In almost slow-motion, she watched the glowing balconies slip away…

And then talons wrapped around her arm.

Her body jolted with the sudden acceleration. She caught a glimpse of flapping wings, flying feathers, and a harsh screech caught her ears. The light of the far balcony crept back into her vision-

The ship's bulkhead slammed into her chest. She grunted as the wind was knocked out of her – but she had just enough wherewithal to grab at the railings and haul herself up.

Moments later, she was on her back on the cold metal floor. She opened her eyes, her vision blurry from exertion.

Dactyl stared down at her, those avian eyes inspecting her face.

Reese gasped with a half-laugh, moving a hand to stroke at his cheek. “Holy…" she muttered at first, then after a few wrong starts, “…you damn bird…"

Dactyl squarked. He was too small to properly ferry people, a fact that had made their initial heist plans significantly harder – but it seemed that even a Staravia of his stature was enough to give just enough of a boost sometimes, at least where it mattered.

And nowhere had it mattered more.

Reese pushed herself up, supporting herself on her arms as she leaned over the railings. She smiled in relief, and looked back at the first-class balcony. It seemed suddenly so much further away-

Her heart tightened suddenly as she saw Howling Gale loping towards her, leaping into the same jump she'd attempted. She put a hand out, eyes wide. “No, don't-"

But her words trailed off as Howling Gale pushed off the railing, jumping out over empty space. Teeth gleamed briefly in the ship's lights, and trailed gleaming white as they bit down on the rope. In a move that was far more graceful than a Mightyena of his size had any right to be, he swung himself around, before sailing right over railing, just missing Reese as he did.

His paws thumped against the deck plates as he landed next to her. His eyes seemed to betray a sense of duty and urgency – and a noticeable amount of smugness, too.

Reese let out a breath. Her heart hammered in her chest. She looked from him, to Dactyl, and then back to the bow of the ship.

“Alright then," she said, pushing herself up. “Let's go."

* * *

The helicopter's curved black surface was almost invisible, yet a crimson edge from one of the SS Anne's warning lights curved across the night sky like a scimitar.

Reese's heart pumped harder.

They'd found a small metal staircase up from the balcony, and she'd taken it three steps at a time. Fortunately, the forward deck was clear; no-one was around so early in the morning. They raced across to the central structure, towering above with gleaming white.

Stairs? Elevators? They wouldn't be fast enough. And anyway, how could they get to the roof…?

Howling Gale saw it first, splitting off from the group with a bark. By the time Reese had caught up with him, he'd skidded to a stop in front of a ladder. It had been pulled down, and rested against the ground, half-obscuring the 'No Entry' sign behind it.

Dark figures were moving near the top.

Reese was on the metal rungs a moment later, heaving herself form one to the next. Howling Gale hung from her back, all four paws wrapped around her shoulders and waist. Dactyl circled ever higher behind them, the wind catching his feathers, eyes turned ever upwards. His squawking was becoming ever more frequent.

The breeze was becoming a wind now, catching at Reese's hair first, and then the combined bulk of her and Howling Gale was swaying side to side. She grasped the metal with knuckles turned white; the first few rungs had been easy, but as the climb continued, the strain was getting more and more.

But she didn't slow. She couldn't. Even as her arms trembled, her teeth gritted, and tears began to stain her eyes in a mix of exertion and fear.

Ever higher, clambering up the side of the ship. The helicopter's rotors grew louder, and the dark shape grew closer by the second.

Four rungs left! She heaved herself up, letting out a growl herself at the effort. Three… two…

One…

She pulled her head over the side. A sudden flash shot past her, cracking like a whip; she dropped herself down just as Howling Gale yelped, ducking behind her. Was that the glare of a pokéball's recall bolt?

Making sure Howling Gale was protected, she pulled herself up again, staggering to her feet and glaring ahead.

The helicopter had moved now, holding steady on the far side of the ship, almost level with the roof. The figures were already at it; one was already on board. Shit!

Reese shrugged her shoulders, and Howling Gale dropped to the ground, racing for a low vent a few metres in front of them.

One of the figures was facing her. As she watched, he started fumbling, before bringing up a Luxury Ball in his hands-

Reese's eyes went wide, just as Dactyl began to fly past her.

She lunged at the Staravia, catching his tail feathers in one hand and dragging him to the ground, rolling up into a ball around him just as the pokéball's recall bolt struck her naked back. Her skin tingled where it hit, and a moment later it had dissipated.

Reese rolled back over, pushing Dactyl towards the vent that Howling Gale was behind. She rounded on the figures.

Apart from that last man, they were all on the helicopter. And there, the bundle still flailing and squirming at their feet, half-illuminated in red light, was Sammi.

Without thinking, Reese raced forwards, feet pounding on the uneven surface.

“Holy shit…" the man said, turning on a heel, fumbling with the pokéballs he was holding. “Electrike!"

Reese glowered and snarled, air whipping past her face.

Twenty-five metres.

A lightning attack speared through the air. Reese leapt to the side, and it exploded on the floor where she'd been a split-second before, singing one of her arms.

Twenty.

The man threw the pokéballs into the helicopter's cabin and leapt after them, catching the arm of one of his friends.

Fifteen metres.

Three horrified faces turned to Reese. “What are you waiting for!?" Shouted one of them to the interior of the helicopter. “Go! GO!"

Ten metres. The downdraft of the blades caught her legs, the engine's whine spiralling up in pitch. Something gleaming rolled out from the helicopter's doors; fingers grabbed at it, but fell just short.

Five. Reese focused at the open door of the helicopter. It was moving, but she was faster; she set her gaze, tensed her muscles, crouched-

Jaws closed around the ankle.

For just a moment, she was airborne, and then she crashed down to the ground. Her chin met the floor, and for an instant she was dazed – but when she opened her eyes, she gazed in shock at the edge of the roof.

Empty space.

She had been about to put her foot there.

The engine raised to a scream, jolting her from the thought of her almost immediate mortality. She stared upwards as the helicopter rose into the night, the door closing, the interior lights disappearing. In time, it became a silhouette against the night sky once again.

And a gentle, quiet calm settled over the roof of the ship.

It was strange. Reese thought that she should be feeling sad, like the weight of despair should drag in her chest, or desperation should be frantically making her conjure up forlorn solutions.

But, for some reason, she felt none of those. She felt nothing at all.

Reese was as empty as that dark shape of the helicopter looked.

She pushed herself slowly to a kneeling position. Howling Gale stood by her, staring after it. After a while, Dactyl staggered out of hiding to join them.

For a few minutes, they just sat there, watching the inky sky where the helicopter had disappeared to.

Then the anger hit.

She didn't remember climbing down the ladder. She barely remembered walking across the deck. She remembered someone approaching her; she had shoved them away. They knew better than to pursue a naked woman with a face like thunder.

She eventually found herself in the crew section again, sitting by a small crane on the very edge of the ship, balanced above the distant surf below. Howling Gale was sat beside her in what little space was left, his fur distantly warm against her leg. Dactyl sat in front of them, his wings half-unfolded and splayed along the floor.

They were hidden behind the crane's small, one-man control cabin. With any luck, they wouldn't be seen here unless someone came to search – something which, at this point, would be inevitable.

But the brig didn't hold much fear for Reese.

Five police boats, that officer had said. There had definitely been more boats than that chasing them.

And the police don't kidnap their suspects. They don't steal pokéballs. They don't make nighttime raids in unmarked helicopters.

Someone else was following them. They had expected the law to come sniffing around to find them, but they hadn't expected… this.

And now Sammi was paying the price.

The anger coursed through her veins, sharp spikes of adrenaline keeping her buoyed on an ocean of wrath.

Barely noticed next to her, Howling Gale grunted, dropping something into her hands. She looked down with a distant air, turning it over, worrying it with her probing fingers. It was the gleaming thing that had fallen from the helicopter in those last few seconds; he must have picked it up before she'd climbed back down. It was a pokéball; its matt gold surface looked almost dull in the ship's orange lights, but around the edge, it had been trimmed in gleaming gold leaf. It was heavy, and hot to the touch. Across the top, the word 'ECHO' was spelt out in engraved serif.

She looked to Howling Gale. He was glancing between her and it meaningfully.

He'd scratched a pokéball into the wood of the lifeboat, and she'd known him long enough to read such a strong expression.

Slowly, she glanced between her Hound lover and the pokéball that bound him.

Reese sighed, and let her hand droop. They'd had Howling Gale's pokéball - which was a clue, a hint at what, or who, they were facing. Dimly, almost academically, she was aware that this should be the starting point - she should be thinking, making plans.

But right now, she didn't want plans. Right now, she wanted nothing more than to punch the wall and cry into the dark ocean below.

***

The cabin was quiet, aside from the muffled roar of the helicopter's rotors. Paralysed, her fingers twitching as waves of prickling needles swam through her limbs, Sammi stared into deep black shadows.

Eventually, she became aware of a man sitting in front of her, staring down at her. A single red emergency light barely illuminated his wide, pale face, slightly chubby, with vaguely Kantonese features. He straightened his tie, regarding her with an ominous, self-assured air.

“Give me a lawyer," Sammi bit at him, fighting through the paralysis.

“Miss Samantha Delacroix," he said simply. It was not a question.

Sammi stared back.

“You won't get a lawyer. But rest assured, you'll be treated with respect."

Sammi flicked her eyes from side to side. Her skin tingled anew, but this time, it was more than just the biting paralysis. That was the sort of line that people said in books. It always ended the same way.

“Samantha, when we land, we'll have a few questions to ask you. You can have time to think about them, of course, but we will be wanting answers. They need not be particularly verbose answers, simple ones will be fine, but we want them all the same."

The man leaned minutely closer. “And just so you know – you will want to talk to us."

She hoped her face did not betray how much her chest tightened. Her hands, handcuffed behind her, began to tremble.

“But first…" he continued, producing a small tablet computer from a bag beside him. He held it out before him. “A reassurance that we know what we're doing."

He pressed a button. The cabin was illuminated suddenly in the light of the tablet's screen. It half-blinded Sammi as it was turned towards her and placed on the floor by her head; she blinked, squinting - and stared.

The tablet showed a blurry photo, taken at night; an infrared filter had made the image appear grey, and a quick shutter speed had caused it to be dull and grainy. It was an ocean, with foaming waves frozen in time, surging in the wake of a speedboat.

Sammi's eyes were drawn to the boat's inhabitants: The two women with expensive dresses; the Staravia, wings outstretched, balancing from a crashing wave; the Mightyena, staggered to one side, hind leg raised…

Very clearly, and very explicitly, tied to one of the women.

“So," the man said, leaning back in his seat. He pointed his steepled fingers towards the photo.

“Let's talk."

***

An hour had passed, each minute stretching painfully. Eventually, the sky began to glow; a burnt orange spread across the far horizon, becoming gilded with cyan and silver. Above the ocean, like battlements on some great castle, the buildings of Kanto's coastline stood like a warning.

Question after question weighed heavily in Reese's mind, but as the dawn scythed across the sky, she knew something for sure.

“We're going to get her back," she said. Her voice was as firm as steel. “We're going to fight."

Together, the three of them lifted their heads to the rising sun.

To Be Concluded in

Lucidity, Part 4:

“Fight for Freedom"