Gavin laughs; unlike his cutting, mocking laughter in their previous interactions, it's a bright and genuine sound.

"Don't worry, our agents won't show up in those Kanto-style uniforms shouting their allegiance to the skies. Most Rockets aren't easily identifiable as such. I fooled the League for years, didn't I?"

Sometimes he misses the freedom of being Patrick Cavalli... but to stand openly at Lugia's side, to utilize her blessing without the pressure of remaining hidden, that was a different kind of freedom.

I owe you.

Dangerous words, spoken to a dangerous man. Gavin's eyes gleam.

"Well, if you no longer plan to fight us, then I'm sure I can arrange for your release from these... unfortunate circumstances." He gestures vaguely at the cell, the chains. "After that, you could do as you like... but I'd be remiss if I didn't add that Rocket would welcome you." It was perhaps telling of his rank that he could offer such an opportunity. "Your occasional assistance, if not full allegiance. I know our methods don't appeal to everyone."

His smile is as sharp as a knife.

Balder Schwartz

Gavin tilts his head, considering for a moment.

No. If I lie to him, he'll only find out later.

"Rocket won't hesitate to take the lives of those who put our cause in greatest danger. Defectors, or League agents who refuse to stand aside. Just as the League would not hesitate to kill one of our own, should the opportunity arise." Whether or not that was true, Gavin seems to believe his own words. "And inhumane methods are sometimes required for the greatest strides in science. You'd be hard-pressed to name many affluent companies who don't have a history of testing their products on Pokémon."

He folds his arms, leaning against the wall.

"But civilians who stay out of the fighting? We've got no intentions of harming them. Hoenn is not Kanto. I am not Silas — nor is my boss. We want to conquer Hoenn, not raze it to the ground. Sootopolis was meant to be a peaceful takeover, before the League decided otherwise."

His lip curls around the thought, disgust plain.

"But think of this as a contract. You define your limits, and we'll work around them if we can."

Not an opportunity extended to most, but an avatar?

Balder Schwartz

"We are not the bloodthirsty monsters we once were." We, he says, in acknowledgement of his crimes in Kanto. In Hoenn, too, before Silas fell. "Nothing is done without reason."

There's a curious glimmer in his amber gaze as Balder elaborates.

"And which names are those?"

His first thought is of Abiatti; they'd known each other, hadn't they? Balder had taken over the gym when she'd ascended to the Council, if his memory served him. He did his best to keep track of the movements within League ranks.

Gavin chuckles again. "You're an avatar, Schwartz; we don't have too many of those, as it happens. It does afford a certain... celebrity status." And for Gavin, human experimentation, but he thinks he might be able to exempt Balder from such tests as a condition of his cooperation. Gavin's own cooperation was expected. Demanded. "Know this: I am second in command. I have a lot of pull within our ranks, but my word is not absolute. I'll need to hammer out the fine details with the boss... and I think he might agree to meet with you himself, if you wished." He shrugs his shoulders. "Though that's no guarantee."

He tried not to make promises he couldn't keep.

Balder Schwartz

Gavin nods at mention of Abiatti; that had been expected.

FERNANDO SILPH and MATIAS SILPH, however, come as more of a surprise.

"Well." He laughs, a dry sound under threat of catching flame. "You'll hear no argument from me, there. I assume you're speaking of our Eris Halla? Less a comrade, more an unfortunate child swept up in the... grizzly elements of Rocket's past." He sighs. "I'd sooner have no children in Rocket at all, but it's not often so easy once they're already here."

The deep frown set into his expression seems to afford a genuine opinion.

"That aside, Matias is responsible for the death of Chu-e Choi, who was not only my colleague but one of my closest friends." His voice tightens around the words, part anger and part sorrow. "And Silph?" They might've shared a surname but there's little question which one he indicates with the sudden, intense vitriol. He spits. "Yes. I want him dead."

Nostrils flare as he draws a deep breath, closing his eyes as if to wrestle back his anger. Unbeknownst to Gavin, miasma has begun to swirl around him, but it fades into mere wisps as he reins in his rage. After a moment, he inclines his head.

"Yes. Declan Walsh. I'll speak to him on your behalf, and see what can be arranged."

Balder Schwartz

Anger flashes like lightning through Gavin's eyes, though not directed at Balder. His lip curls.

"He wasn't acting," Gavin spits. "He did adopt her. Chu-e would have done anything for Eris, and just because he's Rocket that motherfucker thinks it's OK to kidnap her."

There's a subtle tremble to his hands as rage mounts, threatening to boil over. Gavin drags a hand through his blond hair, exhaling as he once again struggles to bring it back under control. It had been so much easier before he'd become an avatar, as if her corruption was slowly wearing away the walls he'd built around his emotions in Kanto.

He cants his head at the mention of Ultra Space.

"You want to go back?" He looks surprised, and explains, "We know of your trip to Ultra Space; you can thank Fairburne for that." As well as Remiel Calcifet, but he doesn't want to out the ambassador. "Unfortunately, attempts to find new ways into Ultra Space have proved futile after the invasion. I don't know what happened, but..." He shakes his head. "You may want to convene with our Head Scientist, Lulu Flint. She's got a passion for that sort of thing. But, if I may ask... why?"

Balder Schwartz

Gavin cants his head. "Fascinating."

It's the first he's personally heard of an avatar with powers but no legendary to back them. Though along with his curiosity, there's a hint of empathy as well. I can't imagine what I'd do if I lost Lugia.

No. He does know what he'd do. He'd burn the whole region down if it meant getting her back.

"I understand," he says, after a pause. "I... did see a Solgaleo, I think. The Blackout of Slateport?" Most in Hoenn had heard of the event itself, even if they had no clue what had truly happened. Balder was there, as it happened, but Gavin had no idea. "It's nigh impossible to properly explain what went on in that wormhole, and it was rather dark, but I could have sworn... It looked different to yours, though. Perhaps an evolution? Unfortunately, I don't know what became of it."

There had been a Moltres, as well, one that had undergone a strange fusion with Lugia's shadows.

"But the thing inside the wormhole was defeated." Until it came back, and took my friend. "So it may still be alive, if it is your... 'Leo'?" He looks intrigued. "Did it ask you to call it that?"

Lugia had never asked him to call her anything, but all legends were different.

Balder Schwartz

"You were?" Surprised, and then, "Wait, as in Kyle Lopez?"

How the hell did the Champion get a hold of a Solgaleo?

Gavin instinctively tenses as Balder draws closer, though he seems to notice and makes a conscious effort to relax. Years in Rocket have made him jumpy and overcautious at the best of times. His brow knits at the question.

"I'm afraid I don't know," he lies. Balder may be on their side, now, but Gavin has done his best to conceal the truths of Chu-e Choi's condition from everyone who the man himself hadn't made aware. "But I do know its name. Necrozma."

He spits the name with bitter hatred.

"Lugia speaks," Gavin offers. "Ordinarily only to me."

Yveltal did, as well. He's not so sure about others.

"Against Necrozma," Gavin ventures after a pause. "Were any of your Pokémon... corrupted?" There's a gleam in his amber gaze. "Shadow Pokémon are a particular interest of mine. I'm sure that's not surprising."

Balder Schwartz