Chapter 30 - Wheel and Deal

The next morning brought chirping tailows and cawing wingulls in the clear skies of spring. Our pals from the ranch are all loaded up. Naomi has an open cab jeep arranged for us.

As the girls climb in I notice Jane has a pretty sour look. But before I can ask I see her aunt shake her head, she mouths, 'Wait."

I hop in the driver seat, Tesla insists on snuggling into my ŀȧp chirping happily for the extra attention today. Pokemon on average are supposed to be smart as a human toddler, this is definitely a spoiled girl.

Lucy hops in the back across from Naomi, Jane gets shotgun. The North road out of town is paved to my surprise.

Jane let's her Sandile sit in her ŀȧp and rides with its head over the window. Naomi's Flabebe rides in her hair, taking in the breeze. Speed limit is 25, we still pass folks walking.

On that note, "Naomi, how exactly are we getting to Alola by the way?"

She hops in her seat a bit, "The Zekrom, it's our helicopter, plane hybrid. I've never gotten to ride it before but my father told me it's his favorite thing he ever had built."

An Osprey?! Ya, thats dope, "Okay, now I'm excited too. We gonna have room on board for me to bring Doc Cutter?"

"If you like, I'm sure she'll love it. Are you planning on proposing with that eevee?"

Jane see's my look and rolls her eyes, "It's popular to present a pokemon as an engagement gift."

Ah, "Well...huh, uh oh?"

Lucy laughs, "First you're hearing of that eh, how long have you been seeing this gal?"

"A month and some change, we really hit it off but getting married so fast sounds...extreme?"

Jane side eyes me, "Pidove."

I take it that means chicken, "What about you miss grumpy, what got you all wrapped cozy in teen angst today?"

Lucy, "Ah, Kurt,"

"It's fine," Jane apparently wants to release some steam, "Someone paid my dad's bail. A week ago, just after I left for Littleroot Town. I suppose he just didn't feel like telling us. Which I guess means he still doesn't care."

Well that would ruin a morning, "You're 16 Jane, you've got your own life."

She sighs while picking some shedding from her sand croc, "Yup, coming up on 17. So Naomi mentioned you want to make some better plans?"

The road comes up onto a dike that looks to stretch for miles, "Ya so let's talk this Mauville Mosh first since that's where we are headed."

Naomi leans forward, "The Mosh is the best thing to happen for the league in years!"

I look back at Lucy, she laughs, "Who would have thought loud music and a battle royal would quintuple viewership and triple overall league income."

You're joking, "Battle Royal?!"

Noami lays it out, "Shawn and Kirk each send in pokemon matching the average participant skill level. It's a 30 max pokemon free for all. Once a week, top five pokemon trainers get the badge. Last trainer standing gets a bonus prize."

No wonder it boosted viewership, "I'm guessing Onix is gonna be our ticket to win?"

Jane smirks while Naomi hops again, "Exactly! Your Joltik can help her defend…"

Watts trails off before mȯȧning, "I need to train my pokemon! Either Flabebe here needs to finish evolving in three days or I'm using Clamperl. Mienfoo won't be strong enough for an all out melee yet."

The little sprite holding a flower in her hair is a bit bigger I guess. Maybe six inches now?

Hmm, "Either way there's a chance not all three of us make top 5, so that means we'll have to come back to Mauville later? With stronger pokemon too I guess."

Lucy adds, "That's part of the draw, as the season goes on, the mosh gets stronger average participants. Your plan is fine for being the first month, there's a good chance you will make it if you use the Clamperl."

As land becomes visible I spot a massive lighthouse and office building standing over a small town, "What's that?"

Jane, "The Weather Station and Misty Village, a science facility in the midst of a town of superstitious weirdos."

That might just be what I'm looking for, "Lucy, where do you keep your pokemon?"

Her brow raises, "By a girl a drink first."

The teen tries to swat her aunt behind her seat, "Just answer Aunty."

While laughing and swatting back, "I have a large section of the park at Battle Tower in LaRousse City."

Ah, perks of being part of an organization, "If I say, suddenly decided I want my own fancy lighthouse on the point just south of Rustboro. What's that involve?"

She kicks back in her seat, "A private facility would be nice, but first I believe all land surrounding Rustboro is owned by the Devon Corporation."

Noami lights up, "I'm sure my family lawyers could help, but land is pretty expensive Kurt, I know we're not paying you that much."

Looks like I have some more commissions to take on before that dream becomes reality.

Lucy further rains on my parade, "Also if the land isn't in city limits any construction needs league approval. Not just that it's not harming pokemon but for why you want it to begin with."

Talk about government oversight.

Leaving the sea and small town behind, we drive into more of that west Hoenn hill lands. The humidity isn't awful and taking it slow to keep pace with the tuck ahead makes it a comfortable drive.

Next bit of planning, "What about yourself Miss Watts, not taking over the family business?"

She scowls as she pets the petals of her pokemon, "I guess I wouldn't mind actually. My older cousins have first say but the boys are happy with the mosh. Aunt Vivica has her casino. I'm just in the middle."

So she says but, "You seem to have a large amount of pull for a kid then. I don't want to pressure you but it seems most of your family's employees expect you to as well. What do you want?"

Now the frown turns around, "Everyone is always really helpful… I want a grand garden pokemon reserve!"

"Like the safari zone?"

Jane shakes her head, "That place is just a couple muddy hills and a bunch of weeds."

Noami holds her little flower pokemon between the seats, "A real botanical masterpiece, with fairy and grass types from all around the world."

I can see it, "Sounds expensive, but I bet you'll figure out."

In the distance a massive structure catches the morning light. It's probably one of the largest glass structures I've seen in any life. Like you'd imagine a space colony on another planet.

Once we get close enough that it fills my vision, we turn off the road. Heading around towards the west side of the enclosed city.

Guess we're almost there, "What about you Jane?"

Lucy perks up, Jane just shrugs, "Not going to prison."

Oh come on, "Great, you're officially my ȧssistant till your Aunt says otherwise."

Said Aunt raises a brow, "And just what is it you plan on doing Kurt?"

I point towards the ranch fence in the distance, "Bounty hunting. I've already got commissions from Greater Mauville Holdings, the Hoenn Pokemon Lab, and the Oceanographic Institute. Next stop, the largest breeder family in Hoenn. I wouldn't mind if you put in a word for me with the rangers either Miss Pike."

That gets another laugh from her, "I can do that, sounds good. Wanna be a Ranger Jane? Tag along with Kurt a couple years and you'll negate your juvi record. Would be your own hard work."

A fire lights in Jane, I can feel it. Her hands tighten into fists while she just quietly nods.

The truck pulls off the loop and heads towards a three story ranch house. In the fields I can see a Manectric guarding a dozen electrikes running about. On the other side a pair of Zangoose are eating fruit under a tree while watching a Skitty try to climb it.

We stop out front of the main building and some workers meet the truck to start unloading. Isaac hops down and waves for us to follow him in.

For a farmhouse, it's a very modern lobby. Polished terracotta floors, open rafters, large light fixtures made of some kind of antlers. Plush couches surround a large tree stump coffee table easily seven feet diameter.

A green haired woman that could pass for Isaac's twin leans on a counter with an LCD flatscreen on the wall behind it. The screen showing various live cams of pokemon on the ranch.

She just frowns as Isaac approaches, "So Lydia, got that Eevee I called about?"

And there goes a stapler, "What in the name of Tauros tėstɨċŀės were you doing on that boat that let Pirates board in mid day?!"

He rubs his neck, "It was stormy, and you the radar on the Swanna was out when we left Unova."

"So No one saw them pull alongside and mount charges to blow the bay door? Or could it be you were all playing games again instead of having someone on watch? Especially during a storm."

Yikes, I clear my throat and step up to the counter, "Easy on the tėstɨċŀės mam, the cussing and your brothers. I'm Kurt by the way,"

"You single?" She cuts me off. "I'm a widow and he's useless. How ya feel about running a ranch, heard you can handle a scrap just fine."

Riiight, "No, spoken for. Ranch work that dangerous?"

"You just fought off pirates didn't you? Last week we had a trainee get caught under a Tropius. Rest my Tyson," she looks at a big trophy on the wall, "some ȧss stole a bunch of Flygon's eggs, she went into a right fit. Passed from guilt shortly after he did."

Name sounds familiar, how to move on, "Not keen on runnin the place," for some reason my voice picked up a slight drawl, "but I do plan to offer services for hunting down special orders and the like."

Isaac pops back, "That'd be great! No one ever bothers to ask."

Lydia's glare shuts him up, "We might have some work. How much are you asking?"

I'm no fool, and I came with a pro today, "Got any jobs west of here?"

She pulls up a ŀȧptop behind the counter. After a moment the screen behind her changes. Three pokemon split the screen, Deerling, Sawblu, and Bagon.

The Deerling takes up the screen, "Most of our herd got sick last year and unfortunately didn't have the strength for winter. We need at least two more male Sawsbucks to get back to capacity by next year. They've been spotted west of Verdanturf Town."

Next slide is Swablu, "You can find these north of Rustboro outside of Meteor Falls. We only need one male but before the month is up."

Last the Bagon, "You can find these guys there as well, either in the cave or on the cliffs nearby. This order is for a female, asap."

Slide show over, she walks around and leans on the counter, hands in her overalls, "What ya think?"

Looking to the team, "We should be able to pick these up without going terribly out of our way. Lucy, what would you charge for dragon hunting?"

She leans back on the couch and mulls it over, "50k for the Bagon, 40k for the Swablu and 25k per Sawsbuck, those will actually take the longest to find."

Jane's eyes go wide but Noami agrees, "Finding the Sawsbucks will certainly be more time consuming. They have a wide range and two males are unlikely to be found together. Yet the market demand for dragons is always higher. Not to mention those are commissions instead of filling stock. I imagine even at the price Lady Pike stated the ranch will turn a healthy profit."

Jeez and this kid isn't sure she's being groomed for business.

I turn back to stone face Lydia and the sweating Isaac, "I'll do all three for 110k total."

Not flinching, she counters, "95."

She's not used to having to haggle down, but I try not to smirk, "100k, 25k upfront for supplies. I understand I don't have much reputation to my name except beating the piss out of some pirates yesterday."

Her reply gets caught in her throat, "20k upfront with a signed contract."

I knew punching people in the face would take me places in this world, from day one, "Deal."