Maverick has been a pokemon trainer for a couple months now, making him quite familiar with the basics. Today brings him to a town surrounded on all sides by forest. There are roads, sure, but the town is still somewhat secluded and has more the feeling of a very large outpost. Or a very very small town. As such, it's earned the quaint name of "Outpost Town".

  Considering the vast majority of Pokemon trainers seem to be small children exempt from school, Joe must be a terrible trainer for reaching that ancient age of 19 (no pressure when you're the only student in several classes during senior year) with just an unevolved Pidgey as his only <airquotes>owned</airquotes> Pokemon.

  Still, that's more than enough to be able to keep roads grass free and to put up disclaimer signs absolving Outpost Town of any responsibility for tall grass related injuries.  Joe's on his way back in when Maverick shows up.  "Oh, hey.  Welcome to Outpost town and stuff."

Maverick looks and sees a teen/adult. He nods. This kid wears black and has a rattata on his shoulder who seems to have its fur dyed black with runic patches where his fur wasn't dyed, making it look like he has purple runes on black fur. But the kid didn't go so far as to dye his own hair black. "I could use a place to rest..."

  Joe would have just dyed black runes because 'less effort', but then that's just him.  He nods, "Well, we got a Pokemon centre like most everywhere else to crash, and a few Inn rooms for people that enjoy the cash value of privacy."

  Perched on outpost town's edge, Superbird chirps, "Pidgey pidge gey."  Translation: You look like you spend your nights smoking cigarettes in graveyards.

Maverick replies to Joe, "Thanks." He's surprised there's an inn, small as this place is, but he ain't arguing. He heads for the Pokecenter first, though. May as well heal up his rattata.

Speaking of, the rattata looks at the pidgey. "Rat tat." Translation: Thanks.

  Well, not everyone who passed through every town is a Pokemon trainer.  Plus more options to take people's money?  Totally on that idea (David Darkthorne isn't all stupid plans).

  Superbird figured the rat to be the kind to take that as a compliment, they nod.  Joe meanwhile shrugs, "Would be silly of me not to mention the place.  Just passing through like everyone else I assume?"

Maverick says, "Sort of. I may be here a few days. I'm here because I heard there was trouble in the nearby canyon. Rumor has it, people's pokemon disappear whenever they go there. I was planning on leaving Rune here in town while I investigate."

  "Well, its nice you're concerned about them and all.  But going into a cave alone where pokemon at the very least capable of headbutting rocks in half go missing sounds the opposite of safe for you."

  "Pidgey pidge."  Translation: Caves are lame.

http://www.halolz.com/2012/03/09/every-time/

Maverick says, "Someone's gotta look into it. And if pokemon keep going missing, but not humans, then it makes sense for me to go look."

 Stupid conscience, making Joe do stupid things.  "Well you can't just go alone either.  I guess I could come with you or something if you're dead set on it."

"Pidgey." Translation: Don't forget your miner's helmet.

Maverick looks up at Joe. A small smile crosses his face. "Thanks. So until then, mind giving me a nickle tour?"

Rune looks back at Pidgey again. <<You do realize they don't understand you, right? Or you just saying that stuff for personal amusement or my benefit?>>

  "Don't mind, so might as well."  Maybe there was some karmic benefit for delaying small defenseless (Hah!) children going into dark caves?  Joe commences with the showing off tiny town.

"Pidge" Translation: Well let's see, be completely silent just because he doesn't speak bird, or talk anyways.  Obvious choice.

It's amazing what you can cram into pokemon speak

Maverick nods and follows Joe. "Thanks again."

Rune says, <<There is that. Is that human yours?>> he nudges his head at Joe.

  Joe commences the showing!  Oh look, diner.  Oh look, general store (now with 20% more camping hear than usual towns).  Oh look, Dad's Inn.  Oh look, people's houses we will not be rummaging through for spare pokeballs and heal sprays.  Oh look, Pokecentre.  Etc.  "As well as sporting goods offering a selection of Wood and metal basebal bats, if you liked that sort of thing."  So, do wood bats cound for plant weakness and metal bats count for metal?

  Superbird Nods.  <<"That he is.  Any Human that breaks a lawnmower over a scyther's head before they can tear my wings off is worth watching.">>

Maverick says, "Wouldn't hurt me to get a bat..." as he proceeds to purchase a wood bat.

Rune says, <Well since Maverick is getting ready to go on a dangerous mission and it seems so is your human, care to join me in protecting them without them knowing?>

 Edward Bartholomew Smashings approves.

 "Not unless you're a baseball or other unfortunate thing."  This Summer! Xtreme Voltorb Pool Volleyball!  Don't miss that serve! Or EVERYONE SUFFERS!

  <<That sounds like effort.  But at the very least I can point and laugh if only something annoying happens to him.>>

Maverick goes to the Inn and gets himself a room. "Well I'll be going in the morning. Maybe not first thing, but I won't be waiting till 11am or anything."

  Joe nods, "I suppose one would hope to get out into the sunlight after spending time in a cave, yeah."  Unrelated, there is a sign on the counter stating 'Five bucks and we leave a box of mint chocolates on your pillow instead of just one'

Maverick looks at the sign. "...tempting." he looks at Joe. "Are they good chocolate mints?"

  "What kind of horrible person would I be if I sold candy I wouldn't touch with a ten foot super rod?  It would mean I would have to buy extra candy if I wanted any for myself, duh." More sparkling logic from David.

  "Box of individual wrapped candy instead of one piece is good, yes.  Pay no attention to the madman behind the counter except when paying the bill."

Maverick says, "...OK?" and pays the 5 bucks. It's been a while and he'd like the mints to last him a bit.

  You got, Box Of Andes (or whatever the brand would be in Pokemon) Mints!

  How exciting!

Moving along! The next day, Maverick sets out for the Forested Canyon, waiting for Joe to come with when he's ready. It doesn't take much to get there. Just a short hike from town. But once there, of course, now comes the part where Maverick wants to figure out how pokemon are disappearing.

  Joe's wearing a Miner's Helmet.  Because why would you ever waste a legitimate reason to wear a Miner's Helmet?

  "Okay, so what you've heard is that Pokemon disappear after going in there.  Where did you hear this, and why do you think pokemon keep going in there anyway?  Normally they seem smart enough to stay out of the spots that suck for them."

  Dirt path? Pfft, I'm out of here!

"Because mostly, it's been pokemon trainers who go through here that report their pokemon missing afterwords. Nothing special happens just... next time they use their pokeball, nothing comes out. I heard it from a trainer or two on my way west, which wasn't very far off the direction to this place."

  "Huh.  Well I guess that's consistent enough for it not to just be one idiot throwing already empty balls."  No comment on how nobody ever apparently went in with pokemon already out.

  Helmet flashlight is go!

It is daylight still. And is a canyon. No caves just yet. But so what? Helmet flashlights are fun! Besides... it's inevitable the RP would lead to a cave of some kind anyway, right? The duo comes across a cave and both can feel... tipsy. Like their equilibrium is thrown off.

  Joe is probably introducing any nearby snooping psychic types to some colorful language at this point.  "Yeah, this is going to be one of those days isn't it.  you okay?"

Maverick flops against a wall. "I... think so..." he keeps a hand on a wall so he has some stability. Woowoowoo sound effects are coming from deeper inside.

  It's all fun and games until their is silly hand waving and pink woowoowoos.  "I can't help but feel some desired venting of aggressions will be sidelined by a sob story I have to go along with lest I look like a complete jerk."

  Joe's not psychic.  He's just jaded.  The latter has a larger percentage of ending up wrong.  Regardless, Joe starts heading in first since the whole point of being here is mildly less danger to Maverick.

Inside a hollowed-out room is a large machine making the woowoowoo sounds. There are tall pillars with electricity climbing them that seem to be generators of some kind. There are also about 4 scientists, who each have some kind of headset on.

  Hmm, okay.  So end results of BATSMASH may not be completely out of the question after all.

  "So...  What do you think the odds of poking through all their notes while they are busy listening to headsets are?"

Maverick is getting queasy. "....I'm... good at sneaking..."

If Rune and Pidgey are not far behind, they are feeling the same effects.

  Joe eyes Maverick.  "While I find myself believing that, I don't think barfing is very sneaking.  We're probably better off stealing their headphones and hoping they have weak stomachs on second thought."

Superbird's thoughts on this situation.  <<I told you caves were lame.>>

Maverick doesn't nod. That would throw him off balance. "Yes. They probably don't expect company. Let's do it."

He immediately gets to walking from one cover to another, heading closer to the scientists.

  Joe lesser sneak sneaks towards what looks like the second most sissy Scientist (therefore only second most likely to secretly be some kind of martial arts expert) intend on headphones yoinkage.  Batsmash is still up in the air, it depends on where between 'eek!' and 'Intruders! DESTROY THEM' a reaction there is.

More thoughts from Superbird: I am going to peck off the eyebrows or equivalent of those responsible for my personal inconvenience.

Maverick yoinks the headphones off one, immediately putting said phones on himself. When Joe does the same, the reaction is "Hey! AH! Intruders! Sound the alarm!"

Rune says, <<You mean the having to come here in the first place part? Or the can't fly or you'll crash part?>>

  "You're violating several public health and saftey codes sir, I'm going to have to ask you to fill out several forms and pay multiple fines.  Unless you can pass off responsibility to a more well paid superior, then you're in the clear personally."

  Ah, the insane rambling claims approach.  It occasionally works, but odds are violence will be the answer as usual.

  Superbird's outlook on life: <<Well I'm not pecking off your eyebrows, so it's clearly not the first one then is it.>>

The scientist Joe is talking to says, "You're trespassing! Get off the premises now or be removed by force!" Out comes the taser.

Maverick, meanwhile, may have the headset of the scientist he attacked, but that one doesn't have qualms with punting children. So Maverick gets punted.

  Joe see's your tasers, and raises you a CanOMace™ Brand Can Of Mace.  You don't need to actually land a hit to work with chemical sprays after all.

  He'd go for a swift kick to the dangly bits, but he doubts he has time for that luxury just now if he's dealing with people whose first reaction to children is field goals.

Mace will down a guy so fast he can't really react anyway. The guy is on the ground, freeing Joe up to help Maverick, who is also on the ground, curled around his own stomach. The other two scientists have run off and hit the alarm button.

  Joe rushes over to Maverick to help them up, also pressing CanOMace! into their hands.  He's got functional upper body strength by comparison so being stuck with just a bat is less of a snag for Joe.  "Right, you run or something while I go all ignorant pitchfork mob on something important looking."

  Meanwhile, Superbird is annoyed! ...Nothing new there, <<Oh great, more things to give you a headache.  Chaaarge!>>  fast walking pidgeys aren't really that imposing.

Maverick is feeling stupid for not hitting this guy in the knees with the bat before taking the headset. But he honestly thought the sudden loss of balance would do it. Still, he readily accepts the mace and gets to macing the other scientists while Joe bats them. Rune charges in, tackling one of the scientists and looks woozy. With all the scientists taken out, though, even the two pokemon could wear the headsets.

Maverick looks over. "....looks like our friends didn't take "no" for an answer." this makes Maverick smile.

  <<time to make good on ridiculous threats!>> Oh look,  Superbird is attempting to peck the eyebrows off one of the fallen scientists.

  Joe seems to be mostly ignoring that.  "Well, you know.  Just look at the example we're setting for them after all."  Friendship seems to be about extreme carnage.  Go figure.  "Now to actually see if we can figure out what the hell this is all for aside from making people feel lame."

Maverick follows Joe, though it's clear the boy is cringing and wincing occasionally from boot-to-the-gut pain. With some quick looks at the computers, because it's a cartoon and all, Joe is able to tell this is a machine built on the same principals as the pokemon database. So it's able to teleport pokemon like the storage unit at any pokecenter. Slight alteration, though, this one teleports the pokemon straight from anyone's ball to it's own storage balls.

The odd radiation that causes people without headsets to lose inner-ear function? Not readily apparent.

  Hacking the trade interface?  That will totally get your account banned.

  "Well, one less reason to have them in balls unless they can't physically fit someplace."  Hey now, using a Gyrados inside a small cave of single room house TOTALLY works in the games.  Joe looks for an off switch or array of power cables or something, but his optimism is a bit hazy in that regard.