62 - text;;

[islandshore]

Anon Text;

[The feed begins with a series of snapshots. It starts with images of a war-torn battlefield lined with giant crystals, Team Aqua and Magma grunts and hordes of Pokémon and trainers alike.]

This world isn't safe.

[The images shift. New snapshots appear of Primal Kyogre and Primal Groudon, taken from a safe distance above, but distinct in that they are indeed giant, glowing monsters.]

What happened last week is proof of that. You may all be content to enjoy a carefree lifestyle, but if it weren't for divine intervention, life as we know it would have ended with a whimper.

Together, we were able to hold off Team Aqua and Magma's forces, but the battle doesn't end there. If you could make a difference in the protection of this world, would you do it?

[The message ends there. About a half hour later, another text appears on the network, this time from a non-anonymous source.]

Text;

So, I think we all learned something valuable from that mess down at Tohjo: Don't summon giant lizards and whales to start the apocalypse. God doesn't like it.

There's a lot I could say. It was a busy few days, but if you look past all the legendaries, the explosions, and those cornball teams, there are two things that stick out to me: the weird power up some of our Pokémon got and the Pokémon god himself.

[Case in point? Here's an image of a Mega Sharpedo getting punched in the nose by a Mega Charizard X.]

So, what do you guys think that power was? Did any of you get a straight answer from Arceus? And how about that fairy type?

PGC filter:

By the way, looking for a status report from all remaining members. With so many of us gone, we're gonna have to shuffle the squads. That's also why I sent out a recruitment message.

Comments

[anon text/private]

[islandshore]

No, it's smart to ask questions in a situation like this. Better that than to walk in blind.

I can't give an exact estimate, but it's possible their numbers are in the hundreds, if not higher. There are two primary kinds of rockets: the natives and outsiders like us. Most of the natives are low-ranking grunts. They're dangerous, but easily the lesser of two evils. It's the outsiders you want to worry about.

The problem is, they do have anonymity on their side. Two known Rockets include Cobra Commander and a guy called Seth. Cobra is loud, boastful, and prone to random acts of insanity. He's dangerous, but not too bright.

Seth is a wild card. He'll disappear for months on end, then reappear with a bang, and I mean that in a literal sense. Back in February, he declared war, planting bombs around Olivine city with only three days until their detonation. He seems to crave challenges. Like the whole world is his toy box, and we're his entertainment.

There's also the science division to worry about. They're the ones supplying the Rockets with new technology, and I received word from an inside source that one of their scientists has the TM for Explosion. His name is Dr. Kato, and according to that same source, he views destruction as an artform. The more victims, the better the masterpiece.

[anon text/private]

[preybeforemeals]

I'll tell you now that altruism isn't anything that interests me. I don't have any attachment to this world and I don't see any need to form one while I'm here, since I'm just going to be removed from it eventually and I won't remember a thing.

I'm not anyone's shield. I'm someone else's dagger. I can't provide either of those services for you, specifically.

What I can provide is a set of skills that may be very useful to both sides of this little conflict, entirely too much time on my hands, and a willingness to sell those skills to the highest bidder.

[anon text/private]

[islandshore]

[Riku takes several moments to deliberate a response. This guy's honest. Not a would-be hero type like others he knows.

Still, numbers are limited and there's always room for more skills.]

What sort of skills? And what's your price?

I'm up for negotiations.

[anon text/private]

[preybeforemeals]

So you know what I'm selling before we negotiate - I'm very good at finding people who would really prefer I not. At forming networks, at getting information, and at utilizing that information to the highest efficiency. At stopping at nothing to get what I want, once I know what it is I'm after.

Bluntly put, I hunt people.

You can call me Sinclair, by the way. What should I call you?

[anon text/private]

[islandshore]

[Hmm... It's a tempting offer. With Team Rocket so high on anonymity, having someone who can dig up dirt on them would certainly give the Corps an added edge.

For safety's sake, he should probably use an alias, but what to use... Hrm. Probably best to go with something basic.]

If you can find a way to gather intel on the Rockets, then how could I possibly refuse? You drive a hard bargain.

And you can call me Jack.

[anon text/private - my apologies, life happened really hard]

[preybeforemeals]

I have a few contacts already. It will be easier to get you information on the low-leveled individuals than those with higher clearance, obviously; do you have any idea how their internal structure works? What their hierarchy is like?

[anon text/private - no worries! my rp time has been limited, too]

[islandshore]

Only the bare basics. Grunts at the bottom, admins up top. My last contact never went into the specifics, but I do know they have different divisions for specific tasks.