When they boarded the ship a week later, it was three in the morning and pitch black.
Morice was waiting out front for Breccia, who left her apartment with Nibs perched on her left shoulder.
"Bringing the ankle biter?" Morice asked.
"Who's gonna watch him? We don't have a Pokecenter on the island." Tightening the strap on her backpack, Breccia took a minute to adjust the duct tape holding it together.
The ship, a repurposed fishing vessel, had seen its better days. Taking to the worn deck, Morice and Breccia distanced themselves from the others. As promised, Riker was also on board but was occupied speaking to Tess.
The trip to Birtan City would be a couple hours by boat and then two by land. To say Breccia dreaded being cramped in the back of the rover with ten others would be putting it nicely.
"We should stop by and see Nessa when we get in to town."
Breccia contemplated Morice's offer. "You sure they'll let us in to see her? We aren't family."
"I'll crawl in the window if I have to. I don't give a crap." He motioned towards Nibs. "Uh...I think he's gnawing on you..."
"Hmmm?" Breccia took notice of her Pokemon nibbling on her earlobe. "Oh that? It's fine. He's teething. Their baby fangs usually fall out a couple weeks after hatching. He lost his first one last night." She plucked the bat from her shoulder. "Could you do me a favor? I'm trying to get him acclimated to other Pokemon. Do you think you could send Pecks out to play with him?"
Morice sighed, reaching into his pocket for his Pokeball. "Fine, but if he bites her, I'm kicking him off the boat."
Once free, Pecks took time to preen her feathers and shake the sleep from her eyes.
Setting Nibbles on the deck, Breccia watched with hope as the Pokemon approached one another. Pecks sniffed her companion before tapping him with her beak.
Nibs was none to happy to be away from his trainer and snapped at the Spearow with his one fang.
"Hey." Breccia crouched down to his level. "That isn't how we treat friends." Retrieving a berry from her bag, she gave it to Pecks. "Here, lets have the two of you share." Pecks, obviously, wasn't fond of sharing with someone who just tried to maul her. She gave a head shake and backed away. "I have a poffin in my bag. It's yours if you cooperate."
Not above bribery, Pecks took the berry when offered, holding it in her beak. Nibs approached, cautious. He glanced to his trainer and waited until she egged him on, before leaning in and sinking his one tiny fang in. From there, both were content and Nibs appeared happy with the Spearow nearby.
"Simple as that." Morice commented. "You actually have a poffin in your bag?"
"Yeah, why?"
"She doesn't like false bribes." Pecks landed on his shoulder as he spoke, nuzzling her head into the side of his face.
"Isn't that cute?" Breccia cooed.
"Please." Morice returned the affection by scratching under Peck's chin. "She's just happy for the free food."
Breccia did as she promised, retrieving the slightly smashed poffin from the front pocket of her backpack. "I'm the one with the food, where's my hug?"
"Buy me a beer and I'll give you one myself."
Leaning on the rail as the ferry set out on the open sea, Breccia let Nibs and Pecks play a little bit more before putting him in his ball. Normally she'd let him crawl up her back to perch on her shoulder, but she feared him falling into the waters. "I won't hear the end of it when I let him out." With Morice wandering off to speak with someone else, Breccia sighed and glanced down at the waves.
Despite the frigid temperatures, the sea appeared inviting. Crystal clear and calming. Breccia could see a group of Cloysters beneath the surface and a Lapras surfing a ways off.
Mesmerized by the occasional Mantine jumping into the air, Remoraid attached to its fin, she found herself wishing she could do the same. There was a tantalizing freedom to the Wingulls floating on the breeze and it was enough to make her wish she was along side them.
Feeling a tap on her shoulder, she turned and greeted Neil and Tess, both of which stood on either side of her.
"Morice leave you high and dry?" Neil asked. His question was answered with a scoff.
"He has other people to badger. I'm not the only one you know."
Tess chuckled. "You think so with how glued the two of you have been."
"I'm pretty sure he sticks around because I buy him booze." Though she wouldn't admit it out loud, Breccia was a bit chilled without Morice standing near by. (She'd chalk it up to his body heat shielding her from the unforgiving weather).
"So, your first time in the big city?" Tess asked. "Are you excited?"
"I use to live in Saffron, I'm sure the capital isn't much better." Breccia stopped when she felt the Pokeball jostle around in her pocket. It would seem Nibs was trying his damndest to get out. "Besides, we're on a job, it's probably not wise to hit up the town."
"You sound like Riker." Neil messaged his fingers through his firebrand hair, removing his glasses to rub his eyes. "Now if only he'd approve my transfer so I can get off this forsaken rock."
"You know that won't happen." Tess said. "We barely have enough scientists as is, without Caleb we're-"
"Don't start." Neil snapped. "I shouldn't have to spend the next leg of my career taking orders from Lars' ego." After a huff of breath, he stomped away to another part of the ship.
"Well then..." Tess bit her bottom lip. "That was my bad."
"If it helps." Breccia tried to defuse the situation. "I don't like taking orders from Lars either."
Tess shook her head. "It isn't about Lars, no matter how much Neil claims. He's still sore about what happened to Caleb." She cleared her throat. "They were...close."
"...oh."
"Yeah." Tess couldn't help but feel sorry for the words she said. She never meant to upset Neil more than he already was. "I was the only one who knew. They wanted to keep things professional with the lab...I better go check on him to make sure he's holding it together."
By the time they touched land, dawn was peeking over the horizon in a splash of pinks and purples. Tess appeared to have succeeded in her attempts to cheer Neil because he was acting normal (if not a little quiet).
It was close to noon when the group made it to their destination.
Taking a back road into town, Breccia was the last to pile out of the van. Standing alongside Morice, they made their way to the closest motel.
Birtan City was much larger than Saffron. MUCH larger. Hearing Tess gush about the big city made Breccia think she was overreacting. Clearly she wasn't.
Rife with tall, soaring skyscrapers and several shops ranging from clothing stores to small pubs, the city was massive.
Breccia was impressed that such a small, insignificant region had an impressive city within. (Let alone an impressive capital.)
"A lot of children running around..." Breccia whispered, dodging the crowds with Morice on her tail.
"Remember the whole 'League setting up gyms' thing?" Morice said this as the group strolled past a gym in the process of being built. The framework was set, but due to the constant poor weather, it was a slow, lethargic process. "I'm pretty sure most of these pipsqueaks are locals getting ready for the League challenge."
Breccia moved aside as two children rushed past. "Who lets a bunch of kids run around unsupervised?"
Morice shrugged. "DCS only cares if you beat 'em."
When they made it to the Motel, a dumpy place built at the end of an abandoned ally way, Riker funneled them in through the back exit.
Once inside, they trailed a stairwell to the second story. They piled into the first door on the left and, upon entering, Riker turned the 'do not disturb.' sign.
The room was as worn down and musty as the rest of the building. The rug was faded with crusty, molded patches. The bathroom had the worst of it with the sink stained in, what appeared to be, blood. The toilet was decorated in crusted fecal matter and the tiles were cracked.
The bedspread was made of a rough, straw like material that was scratchy to the touch and the curtains were about the same. The TV was a busted junkyard set and any other furniture appeared just as unwashed and dingy.
Breccia could feel a rash coming on the moment she stepped in.
"Now that we're all here." Riker did a quick roll call before speaking. "We'll congregate in this room at the end of the day. We aren't going out to the tundra until tomorrow, so feel free to break away for the time being." He added. "Be back before dark, and stay out of trouble." Breccia couldn't help but notice his subtle glance to her and Morice as he said it.
"We better head out now." Morice tugged on her shirt sleeve. "Before we get a lecture."