S.P.E.C.T.R.A.

Summer vaguely remembered the name, and the event. But, she was also way too drunk to remember anything else about it, other than barging into the administration room and calling Killian Decker "Killian Dicker." Something she'd be haunted by the rest of her damn life.

However, when she was asked to participate in this simulation with some nobody, she agreed, since she did recall that this was apart of Remiel Calcifet's event. She found it would be worth her time, in some way, to help him. Even if he was not directly involved.

So, when she stepped into the pod, she allowed herself to relax. Water filled around her, submerging her body, and it felt almost like she was lulled into a deep sleep.

---

Until Summer opened her eyes, standing beside a tall man with stark blonde hair. She had to tilt her head to meet his gaze before taking in the rest of her surroundings.

"I guess. Though I'd almost argue I've experienced crazier..."

The weight of her Pokeballs reminded her that this would be a fight without her team. So, before moving on, she'd click through the menu, observing what tools she may have to fight against these Pokemon.

Cade Atreides

☉

Crazier?

Cade had certainly experienced his fair share of crazier as well. Though he couldn't fathom what kind of crazy the illustrious Summer Atreides could have gotten herself into. Surely she wasn't out there, fighting interdimensional monsters and ancient legends with the rest of them? In his experience, those who had the money to stay out of such dangerous games typically did.

Regardless, the one-eyed blonde's gaze follows her with interest as she steps forward to interact with the floating menu. Her vivid blue hair was enough to seize his attention from the start, but now he's given the chance to gauge her from a different angle. Slim, well defined shoulders. A generous bust that dipped into a slender waist... only to reemerge as a set of hips far too perfect to be real.

The way she sways when she walks is enough to mesmerize him for a moment. At least until the overseer speaks to them again, like the voice of God in the sky.

"The mechanics of this game are simple. You will each be allowed to select one Pokémon who will serve as your SPIRIT-LINK. Your Spirit-Link will grant you powers and abilities that will work in conjunction with your CHARACTER CLASS. You will be allowed to select your character class after selecting your Spirit-Link."

Cade snaps out of it, abashedly clearing his throat and recomposing himself. Then he steps forward to approach his own interface— though not before casting another glance at Summer, wondering if she hadn't been allowed to customize her appearance prior to entering the simulation. She had it in good with Remiel Calcifet , anyway, right?

Perusing the menu with swift taps of his fingers, in the meantime, he is quick to select a MID-DAY FORME LYCANROC, choosing its move-set and ability prior to entering the character class menu. With the dozens of character classes and combinations offered, however, he spends slightly more time here. Eventually he settles on being a SWORDSMAN, having had some experience with the blade in his homeland.

Looking over to peek at Summer's selections, Cade nods. "My set is primarily focused on offense," He informs her, his Spanish accent laced throughout. "A healer or defensive class would compliment that nicely. Though you're free to select otherwise. We can adapt."

The voice in the sky comes to life again as it continues. "As I've certain you've both realized, the simulation will require that you fight on your own, as opposed to using a team of Pokémon to fight for you. Once you've finished selecting and customizing your weapon of choice, please ready up and prepare yourself for the challenge ahead."

The one-eyed blonde taps that 'ready' button instantly when he's done, and the menu disappears after. Out of habit more than anything, he begins to stretch his arms as he waits. Though it does serve to make him notice a prick of physical sensation in the simulation. How curious.

"I'm ready."

MISSION + Summer Atreides

☉

Typically, Summer knew well enough when eyes were on her, looking and examining her from all angles. However, in this new environment, her attention was captured, stolen away as she engulfed herself in the controls at hand.

"Fascinating..."

The clothes she wore in the simulation were different from what she'd wear on a typical day. Tighter, for sure, but not inhibiting her movement. Athletic is the style, shorter shorts coming to the tops of her thighs and a shirt to match. She looked nothing like she did in Hoenn, aside from her figure.

Not that it was what occupied her attention, but it surely seemed to catch Cade's.

Looking through the list of Pokemon, Summer selected ABSOL. Perhaps it would be useful in spotting any danger ahead of them and be used as a warning sign. Scrolling through character classes, her train of thought was interrupted by her partner. A displeased look crossed her face as she turned, meeting his eye with her own fiery ones.

"Me? A healer?"

Summer could laugh at the sheer thought. With a small scoff, she tapped on the screen, selecting ASSASSIN. Her line of work was familiar with guns, knives, and luring a target. What would be the difference here?

With the final instructions at hand, Summer also pressed the ready button, turning her body to face Cade.

"Hope you can hold your own. I'm not going to hold your hand," she said with a smile to conceal the venom.

Cade Atreides

☉

Needless to say, Summer's fiery gaze surprises Cade. Hands raised and palms faced forward defensively, he amusedly smiles and nods in understanding, watching as she taps upon the marker for the ASSASSIN class. "I suppose our enemy will be needing a healer far more desperately than we, then..."

He does stop to wonder what kind of experience the woman has with virtual games or combat. Her sudden disposition naturally made him think twice. If she wasn't just some prissy (albeit stunningly fine) investor for Team Rocket then... what was she, really?

She adds to these thoughts with her next statement, and Cade soaks in that dangerous smile with a confident smirk of his own as their bodies begin to dissolve into a cloud of pixels and data.

"Not even if I ask nicely?"

| | |

A horrible hellish churning fills the ancient temple's jungle-infested interior. Pieces of the stone ceiling break apart and rain down from the sky as a result. In a large arena-like chamber dotted with pools of murky water, entangled vines, and fallen statues of robed priests and armored gods, a giant GUZZLORD lifts a fallen tree trunk with one of its clawed mouths and sends it shooting towards the pair.

Boosted by a wolf-like aura that surrounds his body in a earthy hue of beige, Cade darts off to the right as he evades the missile (ACCELEROCK). His blade, too, seems to crystallize and sharpen as a result of this aura. Using the field of fallen logs and fallen statues in front of him as cover, the one-eyed blonde endeavors to close the gap between himself and the raid boss quickly.

Though a barrage of HYPER BEAMs work to try and impede their progress as they provide destruction wholesale.

"You got anything to put a cork in this thing's big mouth?" Cade yells out over the noisy barrage, forced to hide as a beam shatters a statue to mere rubble nearby. "What even is this? A living trash compactor?"

MISSION + Summer Atreides

☉

It seemed that the program wasted no time in sending Summer and Cade into danger, a strange creature she had never seen before attacking the moment they settled on the ground. She let out an annoyed scoff, shooting to the opposite side as Cade went right.

Whereas he glowed an earthy beige, she was wrapped in dazzling white, a feeling of increased speed and agility from her chosen ABSOL spirit-link. Along with it, she felt a sense of danger, turning in time to see another swirling attack coming her way.

Another roll, and she was beside Cade once again.

"What? You can't come up with something yourself?" Summer teased.

Though she teased, she channeled an energy inside her, the power of the ABSOL link she had. It would take a moment to build and use, but she had a feeling that one she imbued it in her weapon, it could do ample enough damage to perhaps get them somewhere (FUTURE SIGHT).

"Give me cover while I charge this attack. Find me a weak spot."

Cade Atreides

☉

"Nothing I'd care to lose," Cade scoffs, swiftly exiting his cover and creating blurry copies of himself (DOUBLE TEAM) as he continues to try and close the distance. His voice draws the large Guzzlord's attention to him, and it tilts its mouth up to the sky before releasing a sickening GASTRO ACID that rains down from above.

"Tch!"

As swiftly as he attempts to take cover beneath a rocky ledge, however, the area-of-effect attack manages to land on him in a flurry of purple droplets. His blurry copies disappear. A hologram-like notification alerts him to the temporary loss of his ability shortly thereafter. The Guzzlord, in the meantime, marches onward to his position with thunderous stomps.

"Is this enough time, princesa, or do you need more?" Cade calls out, keeping himself hidden behind the ledge but listening closely to the proximity of the raid boss. "Try the nape of its neck!"

But where, exactly, was the nape of its neck? And would its seemingly sentient mouth-claws capture Summer before she had a chance to strike?

MISSION + Summer Atreides

☉

Summer felt a sense of doom, danger, and fear overcome here. It had to be the sense that the ABSOL had, warning her of the oncoming attack.

She was already taking off to the side to take cover as a rain of GASTRO ACID descended on them, creeping from the side when she thought it cleared. And thankfully, it seemed that her partner at least had some sense to be able to distract the GUZZLORD as she ordered.

"Oh, stop being so pushy!" Summer hissed as she darted from her spot, leaping forward with great speed and agility. She unleashed an attack, seeming to go for one side (FACADE), but going for the exact spot that Cade pointed out with the blades in her hands.

With a quick slash, Summer's weapons dug deep into a soft spot, deep and penetrating. But was it enough to bring the beast down?

Cade Atreides

☉

With the power of a Pokémon at their hands, the pair made quick work of the virtual Guzzlord. It was Summer, ultimately, that dealt the killing blow. Which, of course, drew no lack of shock and awe from Cade. Those feelings settled into respect, pooling into the mixture of interest and lust already there until ultimately becoming one thing: want.

Even still, Cade wasn't entirely sure this 'avatar' was actually an accurate representation of her real world self. At least, not until the two emerged from the coffin-like pods that had whisked them away to that S.P.E.C.T.R.A. test. She emerged from it in the skin-tight suit they'd been given to experience near real sensations.

And, undoubtedly, she was just as much woman here as she had been in there.

Swinging his legs over the edge of his pod, he looks at her for a while longer over his shoulder. Though, admittedly, his gaze immediately flits away when he thinks she's caught sight of him staring.

MISSION + Summer Atreides

☉

The light felt almost blinding to her as they opened the door of their containers... was that the appropriate word? She'd have to check with Remy on that. She drew in a breath, exhaling loudly as she stepped out.

"Towel, please," she requested, drying off the water that had submerged them to take them into the simulation.

Her hair dripped, though she tugged it back and up into a bun to keep it from falling down her back. Leaning down to dry her legs, she glanced over at her partner - Cade. Was he staring at her? She couldn't help but chuckle as she finished drying herself, leaving the towel to drop on the floor.

"Mr. Cabrera, was it? Summer Prescott. Nice to officially meet you. I'd like to exchange information should the day come I need to work with you or ask you for your services," she spoke, placing her hands on her hips.

Cade Atreides

☉

The mercenary can't help but sneak another peek after she requests her towel. Though, just as quickly, he masks the action by seizing a towel of his own. It sweeps across battle-scarred muscle in an effort to dry his skin before it tends to the messy bedhead of blonde hair on his head. When he's done, he glances over at her again when she chuckles. This time, however, the one-eyed wolf doesn't look away.

"Pleasure's all mine, Prescott. You really handled yourself in there. I was wrong about you." He remarks, tracing the shape of her hips with his eyes before looking away again with a smile. "You in the market for my services, mm? Look me up. I'm in Rocket's database. All the information you need is there." He responds, letting his own towel slip to the floor as he stands and calmly walks off.

"Call me anytime."

EXIT

MISSION + Summer Atreides

☉