our home is the wind, we're gods of the morning

[Malik's learned a few things about being a proper Rocket in Johto. One, the region's inhabitants are well-intended souls - useful for leading them on. Two, he alone can't possibly execute the maneuvers necessary for his revenge.

Malik Ishtar, aspiring Pokémon "trainer", needs to make some friends. And he knows just the place he wants to do it.

Taking advantage of Yuugi and Bakura's journey, Malik spends his weekly Rocket allowance on a shiny red bicycle (plus a bit of last week's on a Moltres phoenix decal). He then gathers supplies and heads for Violet City, to witness the aftermath firsthand. The music changes when he rides the bike, which intrigues him (and gives rise to a theory) - but he doesn't have time to ponder metaphysics.

Travel, he finds, sounds much better on paper.

Malik pedals into Violet tired, cold, hungry, and disgruntled: he'd picked up a new Pokémon, but it doesn't seem interested in cooperating just yet. In fact, it's actually prancing ahead, so all Malik sees of it is



Nonetheless, he switches on his Gear and broadcasts.]

Ah, good morning, everybody. I have a favor to ask.

I've just come into Violet, to check up on things - late, I know, I'm sorry, I hope everyone's all right - but since I got teleported away from this area before, I don't know my way around. Could someone spare an afternoon, or an hour or two? I shouldn't need much.

Thanks. I'd be happy to help anyone out while I'm here in return!

Here's where I am.

[He pans the camera around his surroundings and lets it scan across his new Pokémon, too. Maybe someone knows what these can do; he's heard he'd had one on his last stay. So far, however, he's not impressed.]