Oreburgh City.
For a mining town it was surprisingly clean. Still, not much in the way of scenery unless you like looking at rocks, gravel, sand, shale, and other such sundry. It short, it was a bit monochromatic.
Just off the side of Mt. Coronet, lurking in its rain shadow, the city nevertheless gleamed in glass coated high rises, while the mines lurked on the outskirts. It made sense that Steel types liked them, but Carita could never fathom why humans did to, even the caves on the mountain seemed cozier to her.
They also presented a problem, because unlike Lake Verity, with it's one point of contact with the outside world, Oreburgh was, well, a city. Perched on the lip of one of the great glass goliaths, she could see dozens, no, hundreds of buildings, each containing who knew how many humans. Searching them all was flagrantly impossible, not to mention stupid, but then again there was only so much she could do being smart either.
It had been the work of a moment to swoop into a police station, hand off the missing poster, and have them wire it to all the other stations in the city. It was objectively all she could could really do here, shaking down random passersby wasn't going to get her anything other than laid. Sure, she could go check out some landmarks: the gym, the mines, the museum, but something had been gnawing at the back her mind.
If Hailey had been a Pokemon, she'd definitely have been a Dark type. A lot of people would have pointed to her dingy appearance, gloomy demeanour, or biting tongue, but that was all surface level not to mention one note. It was rare, but the way she would subtly light up when Carita would bring her a new book, or some treat from outside the hospital…
Anyway, girl was devious, and it made sense why. She had little to do but think all day. Be it sending new nurses on a runaround, lifting things from peoples pockets, or spinning complicated tales to get out of exams when she didn't feel like it. The challenges of her condition wasn't the only reason why a lot of nurses were rotated through her room, she could be exhausting. Another reason why Hailey was her responsibility, and hers alone.
And it made her head turn. There had been misdirection in the mix from the start.
Yes, the book and the pamphlet were likely false trails, that had been a possibility from the beginning, but they couldn't just be ignored. Any potential lead had to be at least glanced at in order to fulfil due diligence. Still, it was the two other clues that were presently rolling around in her mind.
First, the vending machine. The security footage had showed her sitting in front of it for almost 10 minutes, punching buttons and stuffing junk food and bottles into her bags. Why?
Sure, get some snacks for the road, but why spend all your cash right away? It wasn't likely she’d be able to get more money on the road either, perhaps a dropped coin might be found here or there, but would she really have the guts to try and pick peoples pockets out in the real world? She most did it here while someone was busy fussing over her bed or food, not quite as easy when you had to roll up on someone and slip your hand in casually.
So, wherever she was going, whatever she was planning, she wasn't expecting to be able to resupply on the way. Hailey was expecting to have to carry all the food and water she'd need from the start. Could just be nerves, such a massive change in her surroundings, maybe she was too nervous to go into a store or restaurant. It wasn't like had any experience with that.
Popping a chocolate coated Chesto berry in her mouth, Carita rocked back on her heels, heedless of the hundred meter drop right below her.
It was rather sad wasn’t it? Perhaps if the girl agreed to behave herself when she was finally caught, Carita could bring her to some patio seating restaurant for a new experience. It would kind of be stepping over the bounds of appropriate behaviour as her doctor, but it also wasn't like she did much else with her salary, besides letting it pile up. She worked for the challenge, for the impact, not the rewards.
Then there was the other piece of evidence, of (likely) true evidence.
The box.
Disposable camera, probably lifted from the gift shop when one of the volunteers that ran the place wasn't watching. 27 shots. Of the few things she took from the hospital it was the one that stuck out most. Food, water, a blanket, none of those suggested any place in particular, the camera though…
Well, you don't go to the trouble of pinching a camera unless you planned to use it, and with limited shots you wouldn't waste them on just anything that crossed your path. You'd be looking for a sight that made you stop and stare.
So, if you ignored the false trails, her little run away was seemingly trying to get somewhere scenic, beautiful. She didn't expect to be able to resupply, so if that wasn't an issue of nerves, then it was somewhere remote. And, she couldn't prove the next thought without shaking it out of Hailey, but she felt it in her gut. She was avoiding her Doctor. Why else would she time this for one of her vacations?
That girl would have a hard time blending into a crowd, especially from above, and she could never, never outrun her. So, hide it was. Someplace remote, scenic, with a lot of aerial cover to be covered by.
Well, that suggested some possibilities.
With the flip and snap of the last berry in the bag, she launched off the roof.
The hunt was back on.
The really aggravating thing was that it really was more efficient. While Gem might have been a real shrimp, and not even a physical type, she was still a Pokémon and that meant that pushing a whole person, uphill, was basically nothing for her. At least she was acting like it was, and that made Hailey want to needle her to see the truth so bad.
Objectively the smart thing to do was let this sucker push her all afternoon so she could get to her destination before dark. But sitting around passively was galling, and her mouth was the only part of her that fully worked right.
"So, you're travelling to meet your partner? Kinda weird, usually it's us going out to drag you lot out of the woods." She kept her tone casual, but the bait was there, bobbing in the water.
"Oh, and I suppose you're such an expert on Bonding? Must be why I had to beat off a whole group of jealous Mon to push your sorry butt."
"And here momma taught me that there was nothing a lazy Pokémon like more than a little beating off. Guess I should have skipped straight to the rope tricks."
The peal of laughter that followed almost made her jump in her seat. It was… loud. A bit scratchy, a bit melodious, with snickering mixed in, all right behind her head. "Oh my Arceus, did you just try to quote Jenny-Mae from Old Solceon Road at me? No wonder you're in this chair, you're clearly an old woman!"
"Hey, there's usually shit on in the middle of the day! Gotta do something other than stare at the paint, and what excuse to you have Miss Knew It Instantly?" The sad thing was, most of her Bonding knowledge really did come from the soaps, and if Gem figured out it wasn't just a bad joke, she'd be in trouble. It wasn't her fault she had no life experience!
Still, the laughter turned into a bit of a stammer, followed by a forced cough. "W-well, I didn't exactly get the premium channels in the places I usually hung out, and only so much comes in on the bunny ears…"
"Oh you pipe it directly into your brain? That explains why you're such a sap."
'You’re lucky I'm just too good a Mon to give you some physical discipline for that, you know exactly what I mean."
"I dunno, doubt I'd feel anything, looked like you had tiny hands after all." Hailey was flying dangerously close to the sun with that one, but what was the risk really? Nothing was going to happen, could ever happen, and annoying Gem helped pass the time. Her muttering about how she wouldn't even need one finger was deeply funny as they rolled up the valley, past bushes and boulders, all while others walked higher up on the escarpment.
Still, maybe it was best to pull it back a bit, she didn't know how conductive this chair was after all.
"So say I believe that you are going to meet your "partner", who are they? Why aren’t you with them already?"
The murderous muttering from behind abruptly ceased, replaced by the controlled and practised voice that Gem clearly so loved to put on.
"Oh, they aren't just any person, not just any trainer either. Why, you could really learn a thing or two from them. Maybe they'll give you some tips before we jet off." Yep, the smug was back, and rolling off in waves. Honestly, it made her want to laugh.
"Well, well, a trainer is it? La de da. Surprising, thought you'd be more the type to desperately jump some virgin the second she stepped out of town."
Behind her Gem scoffed, literally scoffed, and she called her an old lady! "Please, a newbie? I'd break you, oh sorry, I mean them, in half. No, I knew from the moment I spawned that I needed someone experienced, powerful, to handle all this." The crack of flesh echoed through the valley. Had she just… spanked herself? No, Hailey wouldn't look back, wouldn't give her the satisfaction.
"And when were you spawned then, yesterday? Starting to think this is one of those 'Girlfriend in Galar' stories."
The sudden stop nearly dislodged her from her seat, by the time she pulled her head back up, rubbing the sudden whiplash, the Minun had already stomped in front of her, leaning so close she could feel the electric types breath.
"I shouldn't be surprised that you have no manners, but for your information her name is Vijaya Zavalam and she's from Paldea, not Galar. An electric ace actually, so she actually knows how to treat a Mon." Her voice was stern, but there was something behind it, and in her eyes. What was it? Still, things had clearly been pushed a bit far, how to defuse?
"Paldea, isn't that… really far away?" Ok, acting stupid probably wasn't the best strategy, but maybe it would work.
Gem rolled her eyes, leaning back. "Yes, very good, it is far away. Now can you figure out what that means? Here's a hint, it means she's super good! I know for a fact she got several badges back home, so she must have left to find new electric types that couldn't be found there."
"Must… have? Haven't you talked to her?" Ok, foot in mouth time again, but it really did make her wonder.
Gem's cheeks puffed out like a Bidoof at that. "Of course I have." She crackled, even stomping one of her small paws, "A-nd it just makes sense ok? Fits all the facts. Only the best can handle a girl like her, just took me a while to clear out my den. Not polite to leave it a mess for the next Mon." She finished with a toss of her hair, the drama was strong with this one.
At this point all Hailey could do was put up her hands in mock surrender, she didn't want to be trapped here like back at the rest stop. "Ok ok, very special lady, sure she'll be thrilled to see you. No reason to waste time pushing me around then when you could get going?"
She'd been given an out, the only sensible thing was to take it, but Gem paused, one finger half raised, before falling back into her damned smirk. Spinning on her heel she started marching back North. This should have been a good thing, another social encounter successfully navigated. Only, marching was actually the wrong word…
Sashaying fit better, swaying perhaps. Well, one part was swaying. The Minun might not have actually had much in the way of hips, but she could certainly throw them around when she wanted to. About ten paces out she stopped, cocked her head over her shoulder, staring back, then spun again. Arceus, now she was strutting back at Hailey. What was her game?
Apparently, it was suddenly flopping right over her lap. Legs dangling over the left arm rest, head over the right. If Hailey could feel anything south of the belt it would have probably hurt more than just knocking the breathe out of her. Couldn't have been comfortable for Gem either, but the smirk never left her face.
"Well, since I know Vijaya will wait for me, I guess I'm in no hurry then. And since I did all that work pushing you this far, without any thanks I might add, I figure you can return the favour now. I'm sure a big, experienced girl like you can manage just fine while I take a nap."
Was this what actual journeys were like? Belligerent tension with random passerbys? Hailey had to laugh. It wasn't a powerful, thing, almost a wheeze, but it kept bubbling up. She'd just wanted to take some pictures of some flowers! How many girls would be drooling over a little blue brat grinding on their lap, but it was happening to her instead and the Minun didn't even know how funny it was!
Well, hands dropping back to the wheels, basket swaying precariously from one of the handles, she started pushing.
She made it about a dozen meters with the added weight before the dry heaves started, accompanied by a growing painful sensation of pins and needles in her normally numb legs. To her credit, Gem immediately dropped her smirk to jump off, asking with increasingly frequency what was wrong as she coughed.
Wasn't long before they were moving again, Gem once again pushing. Now there was no chance Hailey would be rid of her before they met this Vijaya, but things could be worse, She had time to eat now for one.
Plus, a dozen meters or more, with that kind of weight? A new record for her, better than anything they'd done in physical therapy. For the first few at least she'd really shown Gem what she could do.
It made her laugh again.