Spring Cleaning: the beast wakes;

[legendarybeasts]

Who: Suicune (legendarybeasts), Rocket operatives and bystanders in the area
Where: Route 7
When: May 8th, 8:30PM
Summary: Rockets capture Suicune.
Rating: PG-13
Log:

[It runs. The wind carries it, fog is its mantle, and the ground weeps dew at its passing. It has known only endless sleep for so long, and now, it has awakened to the scream of the grass and the clouds, knowing in its heart that the world's Order is not being kept. The Old One sleeps too, too deep, not watching, and then they all fell after it.

But then it heard whispers, up in its cold mountain hideaway where pure crystal water flows in trickling, shimmering rivulets. The water whispered to it, wake up wake up, I am hurt, and it did. Its brothers sleep still, their consciousness tickling at the back of its mind like a reassurance. It does not know what awaits, only that it must run, and seek, and destroy.]

Comments

[cobraaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa]

I only know what I’ve been told, and I haven’t received any additional information.

[The lack of concrete information is definitely bugging him, but he has an idea why.]

The incident I referred to. From last year? We were given almost no information that time either. If I had to guess, I would ssssuggest that due to how rare these occurrences are, it’s difficult to gather any sort of advance intel. Perhaps that will change after we obtain this one.

[cobraaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa]

It's very ssssimple. Don't fail. I've seen a number of punishments handed out over the years, and it's best to avoid any of them.

[Though from what he remembers, they got a weekend off for failing to catch Lugia. Which he doesn't remember any of. At all.

But he's also seen a variety of less pleasant rewards ranging from menial labor to imprisonment in the base.]

[shakespearealien]

And you want to fight.

[He nods simply, acknowledging that.]

So once the door is left open, you are more eager to fly out of your cage than I thought you would be. Very well.

[There is a metaphor here; it involves birds. In any case, the neutral expression from just a moment before just turned into a friendly smile.]

Your strength inspires me, Caroline. And I would leave you now, but as I said, I feel it is best for your attention to be diverted elsewhere for the remainder of this trip.

[neurotoxined]

[...well, you'd be surprised as to what else flies out of open cages if you give them the chance. Morons, for example.

...the reference might be a bit obscure for you, Gorthan, but oh well.]

And what do you plan on doing about it?

[cobraaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa]

They’re all here? All of the Executives?

[It’s hard for him to contain his surprise. All of the high ranking officers on one helicopter. What if it were to blow up? Lack of permanent death or not, putting all of the leaders in one easily destroyable ship is just mindboggling.

Oh right. Executive Petrel asked a question, didn’t he?]

Truth be told, yessss, I am, Executive.

[Hopefully he got the right rank.]

If I may ssspeak freely, I rather enjoy these combat missions. They remind me of home!

[Plus, it’s a break from the soul crushing boredom that is marked on the map as Diglett’s Cave.]

[meatysoviet]

[He has to admit Gorthan- he's a tad jealous.

Not only are you hitting the thing you're actually doing damage. He's not really getting anywhere with this.

What he'd do for a gun right now- Guns would make this whole thing so much easier. He does have an idea though, though he's not all that confident since his Onix is already out of action. He's hoping the other man can help out, just a little.]

Gorthan, I have monster I want to use, but only has two attacks right now--

[Read as 'I hatched this just in time for this battle lol']

Do you think your monsters could catch creature's attention enough so I can get close? Do not think I will get more than few hits in, but any little helps it seems in this instance.

[Because what the fuck is this thing made of, diamonds?]

[determinator]

[Suicune's roar sends chills down Archer's spine. He's usually fearless; he faced down a damn array back home - an array that wiped out his troops - without any fear. Why the hell is he intimidated now?]

[He doesn't realize that both Alekhine and Lucena have returned to his side - Lucena's claws are digging into his shoulders - she's terrified - and he isn't aware of it. He's lost in his own little world now. As far as he's concerned this thing has killed Kimblee. He couldn't survive a fall from that height. He couldn't.]

[And then the Blizzard attack starts. Archer shivers instinctively and once again moves to defend himself. He's aware that his Pokémon are attacking Suicune; there's no way they can get back in time to protect him--]

[Two Protect attacks are thrown up at the same time to block the incoming ice. Archer can't help but sigh in relief. He could have died. There's no reason to let his guard down - his Pokémon reacted better than he did. ...No, that's not possible. They don't disobey his orders. There's no reason for them to--]

[Steam rises from a little further off and Archer finally realizes that Alekhine has been trying to talk to him this entire time. The Alakazam can't seem to get his thoughts focused enough to communicate what the hell just happened, but one thing stands out: Kimblee.]

[He's alive? Archer isn't sure what to do with the feeling of relief. It's better not to get distracted; he has to focus.]

Crobat! Protect Kimblee!

[He returns Porygon-Z - that Blizzard attack knocked it out and he doesn't have time to heal it. That leaves the Raichu, whom he calls back. Alekhine is better suited to fight this thing. He heals the Raichu and keeps it nearby; he's not going to risk getting himself killed now. That wouldn't be very beneficial would it?]

[determinator]

[FINALLY SOMEONE WHO UNDERSTANDS! Thank you, Gorthan. People really need to appreciate his beauty~]

We both have five.

[Archer would mention the change in battle music but... Well, it would be more fun to experience that first-hand, wouldn't it?]

Of course, Gorthan. This sounds fun.

[determinator]

[Archer's smirk widens at that. Aww, it's cute how you think Pokémon are similar to actual soldiers! ...Just ignore the fact that they actually are.]

Of course. Pokémon are fascinating. To be honest, an army of Pokémon would have been far more useful than the soldiers I commanded back home.

[At least a Pokémon could have used Protect and not died in an array!]

[shakespearealien]

[He nods.]

Of course.

[He has Gallade perform a Double Team, while Ampharos uses Light Screen. The Double Team results in the real Gallade approaching Suicune from a completely different side than the one he started out in, from which he prepares to hit it with Close Combat. If that is enough of a distraction to get Suicune to turn in that other direction, then hopefully Ivan will be able to attack it.

Meanwhile, the Light Screen acts as a failsafe, protecting both Ivan and Gorthan's party and - with any luck - the trainers themselves, should things go awry.]

[shakespearealien]

Angering you seems to be the most effective option so far. But for obvious reasons, it is something I should abstain from overdoing.

So, instead, how would you like to tell me a story? Any story will work.

[neurotoxined]

[...wat.]

I'm not really one for stories. Never have been.

[Well, that's not entirely true; she used to tell Chell quite a few stories.

However, she doubts that Gorthan really wants to hear that he's fat, a horrible person, and no one likes him. Somehow she doesn't think that's quite the story he's looking for.]

[shakespearealien]

But surely there is something interesting you can tell me. Again, this would be for your own sake.

[Even that could work? He's not really looking for anything. He just wants her to not inwardly freak out.]

[neurotoxined]

[...staring...so much staring.]

How is it for my own sake if it's optional and I'm not interested?

[That's a genuine question, actually, not anything overly snide.]

[shakespearealien]

I am saying you should be interested, since it is for your own sake.

[... And even this seems to be working, but he won't comment on that.]

Or would you rather I leave you alone with your not-so-well concealed fear of heights?

[And that question of his is also genuine.]

[neurotoxined]

I've had a lot of experiences with heights. And falling from them. They weren't good experiences.

[...wow, thank you, Captain Obvious, I'm sure no one else in that helicopter ever would have guessed they were bad if you hadn't said so.]

[these_balls]

[Only because Petrel has some sort of sense of humor. Of course, he's pretty sure his fellow officials are a little overly-angry with... well, everything, but everything's also on the up and up! He's smiling quite brightly when he greets him.]

Fine night indeed! Doing good work out there?

[shakespearealien]

[Falling...

He closes his eyes for a moment with a sudden air of gravity.]

I understand. I can say something similar, actually. But perhaps that story would bore you, if you were to hear it.

[When his eyes open again, they will seek GLaDOS', in search of a mutual understanding.]

And yet, the very fact that we are here to tell those stories... does it not mean that we should treasure those experiences? For it is proof of our ability to overcome those situations, and as such, we no longer have to fear them.

[neurotoxined]

[She smiles then, though the expression is incredibly sardonic.]

You're going on about my ability to overcome, yet you just finished telling me how you think I need to be protected.

I've fought many battles before. Falling was just a really inconvenient thing that I don't want to experience again.

[shakespearealien]

Those two things... do not exclude each other. I admire your logic, Caroline. But even if - or precisely because - I am a scientist, I have to admit that perhaps the foundations of the universe lay on shifting paradoxes, impossible to ever fully grasp.

[A pause, as he considers whether to tell her or not, and decides he can.]

I had to jump off my ship as it burned and crash-landed on a desert.

[these_balls]

[Proton's expression shifts lightly when Ivan's posture straightens, not unhappily so. He looks mildly satisfied, if somewhat curious by the other man's unknown accent. At the comment, he nods.]

I wish I had more to tell, Agent. [From his tone, it's pretty clear he's genuine. It frustrates him, too.] We know it uses water, ice and flying-type attacks, and its psionic ability is reaching into psychic-type levels. It has a kind of--[how do you describe Pressure?]--field of influence around it that pokemon are sensitive to. The temperature around it tends to be several degrees lower than the surrounding area.

[He pauses, checking his notes.] That's all I have to give, I'm afraid. We'll just have to go in, hit as hard as we can, and see what works.

[neurotoxined]

[She tilts her head, as though she's not entirely sure why he's telling her this, but her tone is casual when she replies.]

...shoved down a mineshaft, myself. Among other things.

PROTON

[shakespearealien]

[Ah, that is his boss, all right. Working for Proton is... well. While no Evronian from the Science Castes is ever happy to work under someone from the Military Castes, Gorthan considers himself pretty much an exception to that (unless that someone is either particularly unintelligent, or Zotnam; but that last thing is more of a personal matter). He finds that his place in Team Rocket is pretty much analogous to that typical Evronian situation, and he won't complain. ... Of course, on Evron, he's usually the one in charge, period. But even in those cases, he has to report to the Imperial Council, which is mostly Military.

That said, being an Evronian comes with a good deal of formality when it comes with dealing with superiors. In Gorthan's case, said previously mentioned superiors usually have an extra head that serves the sole purpose of making angry faces and killing anyone the individual in question may not be satisfied with. So, again, formality? Lots of it.

Proton may be busy (and until not too long ago, so was Gorthan, staring out the window). But surely it is a little hard not to notice a strongly muscled Grunt on the ground before you, performing a flawless knight-like bow.

... Also, pretend that the mun has a bowing icon for Gorthan, based on the relevant panel here.]

I humbly request an audience with you, sir.

[shakespearealien]

[He blinks, shocked.]

I am sorry... who did that to you? And for what reason?

[neurotoxined]

[She doesn't seem bothered by it at all, actually, just kind of offering a dismissive handwave at those questions.]

One of my coworkers. He thought he could run the facility better than I could.

He was wrong, of course.