[attr="class","hth"]

The arrival of the boss spelled trouble.[break][break]

The other Rocket members clear from the deck upon his arrival, moving into the hull of the ship as if they were preparing to out-wait a storm; Silas emerged with the doom and gloom, but there had been no lightning or thunder. Not yet. That would come with the final assessment, when all of the damage was calculated and each flaw could be seen in agonizing detail.[break][break]

Desmond does not flee from the storm; he welcomed it with a drink. “I'm sure they would have amazed me,” with their profound stupidity. His tone makes this implication clear. The beer he passed was retrieved before Silas delivered his kick, sparing the drink from being shaken.[break][break]

Only one of the targets was apprehended. One out of three. Those numbers were not acceptable. “Reports are still coming in,” and with every success came a new failure. “Waiting for a status update on the power plant,” but they could see from the ship that the city was engulfed with darkness.[break][break]

“Once the city is operational, I'd say this would be a resounding success.” Even with the failures. This was the jewel of Hoenn, and it had been snatched into the hands of Rocket on their first attempt. That was commendable.[break][break]
tags SILAS BLACKWELL

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He received the same notification; his hands hesitated before he fetched the phone from his pocket, sensing that something was amiss as they both read what had been sent.[break][break]

It was worse than Desmond imagined.[break][break]

Not even the Head Scientist could comprehend what he had read, because it seemed too outlandish to be possible. “They...” His voice trailed, eyes retracing the same message, the same sentence, to reaffirm the status report. They. Broke. The. Power. Plant. They what–[break][break]

The sound of shattering glass reaffirmed his own frustrations. The words once the city is operational ring in Desmond's mind, because it had been the one thing that could have made the victory over Slateport a resounding success. If the city could be claimed and restored to working order, they would have all the resources. They would have the major ports. They would have League HQ under their thumb to rile through and seek all the information that they could ever need.[break][break]

But now, it is lifeless and vulnerable. It would set them days behind schedule. Silas' rage was far more vocalized, but he related with a silent intensity that made his jaw clench until he heard his teeth click.[break][break]

“There was an off switch. A. Bright. Red. Off. Switch.” His nostrils flare. He's familiar with the layout of the facility, because he had been the one to retrieve the blueprints. How could that be so hard? How could that be so impossible to see?[break][break]

These explanations are interrupted when Silas turned to him. Now, the scientist was in proximity to the wrath and he knew to still his tongue. [break][break]

These stupid fucks just ruined his reputation. They had managed to screw up so immensely that it jumped beyond their stations, striking him from the lofty heights in the ranks. “I'll remedy this,” and sensed that the next words would be you fucking better.[break][break]
tags SILAS BLACKWELL

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If he were a fool, he would have risen to the challenge.[break][break]

Desmond Kelley stared at the accusing finger; the time bomb that was directed to his chest. A pause. A beat. The scientist could hear his heart thump, processing the venom that was spat against him. It was not the first time his name had been tarnished, but that had been done by a different Blackwell. An older Blackwell. One that had possessed no respect in his eyes.[break][break]

“You do know me,” and he eased his shoulders, letting the shorter man hold him by the reigns. “You know what I want.”[break][break]

His eyes shift, back to the city where the wisps of smoke could be seen rising into the late night sky; burning, smoldering. “He couldn't give that to me. Not in our wildest dreams would we have seen this.” The countless failures kept such visions from being realized. The inadequacy had stifled him as much as it had stifled the storm that was clutched to him. [break][break]

He stared down the bridge of his nose, down to the self-made heir, knowing that the history between them was not so easily buried. “We were both...pent up, wouldn't you say?” It justified their actions. It justified the dishonesty that was now being used against him.[break][break]

Because Rocket could not be lead by any other person. It had to be Silas. It had to be someone that would let the violence win, no matter the cost.[break][break]

“I'll always be here,” not because he was a lap dog; not because someone was holding a gun to his head; “I'll always make it right,” but because he was a cruel man. [break][break]

“I owe that to you.”[break][break]
tags SILAS BLACKWELL

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“Yes sir,” the response was moderated. He was in control. He was always in control.[break][break]

It was only when Desmond Kelley was alone that the fury burned to the surface. A waitress had walked by with a metal tray, stacked with champagne flutes that were assembled in an eye-catching shape. A destructive tenancy forced his hand, making him strike it upward and cause a cacophony of breaking glass—sparkling wine fizzling, dripping down the side of the ship as it flowed overboard.[break][break]

She was quick to flee. He was quick to fetch the phone from his pocket, lips curling to show the white of his teeth as he hammered out a text message.[break][break]

Someone would have to send out a boat to retrieve him. He would have to inspect the damages at the Power Plant with his own eyes.[break][break]

Someone would regret this.[break][break]
tags SILAS BLACKWELL