Ingram listened to Leon without turning away from the horizon. This man, Crux, was performing some sort of ritual. Ingram didn't understand what exactly he was attempting to do, but assumed it was of no danger to himself. Crux would soon be engulfed of the mass just as the rest of the city. For now Ingram would treat him as an enemy of his enemy, and therefore a friend. Leon's Machamp spoke shortly after Leon himself had finished.
"If we are driven to defense of the stockpile my guns will prove significantly more useful than in the sandstorm."
Obviously, Ingram pondered to himself. Before the Machamp could finish its very last word, Crux interrupted and stole Ingram's gaze for a moment.
"Hassim Ingram. Prepare your defense with haste...though we are not allies, I shall strike a truce with you. If you can promise me your band of ragtag trainers will not strike against me, I swear by the sands I will not slit your throats while you sleep. They fear Sutekh, I can get you time. Do we have an accord?"
"Dear God.." Even Ingram could not withhold a slight gasp at the creature only partially visible before him. He'd heard tell early in his Pokemon career in Karud of the sand devil that lived in the desert just north of the forest that Earstwrest had bordered. He had never seen the beast, though, nor had he even considered its existence. The name Sutekh was one of three beasts that roamed the whistling sea, or so the tale told. Perhaps Crux also possessed the other two in tow, a trump card to play against the mass. Ingram dared not prod the thought or ask Crux, as it was rightly not his business. He snapped to and focused once more upon Crux and his offer.
Ingram nodded. "Yes, I will abide that on the pain of death. We will use whatever time you can give us graciously." Ingram respected Crux for what he'd done today, but he wasn't completely sure just how far this temporary trust might extend. He decided to play it strictly by ear for the moment. Ingram turned his head to Leon just then to discuss what he'd suggested.
"We do not have nearly the numbers or coordination to utilize your dynamic screen as you say." Ingram figured this point was obvious, but at least it was polite to respond to it. "We also have no real underground facility or useful staging point from which to fall back on. The best we have is the basement level of the Pokemon center. It will house a large amount of people - but not all - and has only one access point that can be blocked. If the roof is torn off, however, we will be sitting ducks."
Ingram mused over the rest of the city. Everything else was just above-ground buildings. There was the department store, and it was the tallest building and had an underground level, but likely the first to fall in the storm. The Pokemarts across the city were no better off, nor were the houses. The abandoned warehouses were large, but with flimsy walling and no underground components.. The Pokemon center wasn't even big enough for all of the remaining civilians, let alone the trainers. Getting everyone together in hiding was necessary, but where could they go?
"I know this city as well as any could at this point, and can think of no location where we could get everyone. The department store does have an underground level, but if the building were to collapse... It might be our best bet, though." Ingram was deep in thought, but at the same time needed to get back to the Pokemon Center to let everyone know of what had transpired. "Come, Leon, we will discuss this further on the way back to the Pokemon Center. Crux, is there anything else you need before I go prepare what trainers we have?"
A cruel smirk played across the features of the creature, now floating in front of dozens of others of his type toward the volcano.