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It came as no surprise to Zev that part of his responsibilities as a Rocket Beast would include accompanying other members of the crime syndicate's upper echelon on jobs for the organization. That Naomi Sato requested his protection was a little odd, but it ultimately mattered little to him. His relationships with most people in Team Rocket were defined purely by professional need; theirs was no different.[break][break]

As they entered the power plant known as New Mauville, Zev released a Pokémon of his own. In a flash of light, his Runerigus emerged to float beside him.[break][break]

Zev remained silent as Nomi chattered about her goal for the trip into New Mauville, only speaking once she finally addressed him with her questions. "I am. Admin Gallagher recruited me back in the fall, though he hasn't mentioned your project to me yet."[break][break]

The newly minted Head Scientist must be a recent recruit to the initiative, Zev guessed.

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[attr="class","wildtag"]Naomi Sato Zev Harcourt

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[attr="class","wildtag"]Naomi Sato Zev Harcourt

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It made sense that Zev would be working with SPECTRA. The Beasts were Rocket's most capable fighters. It occurred to her that perhaps Isaac Merlo's involvement with the initiative had something to do with Zev. She knew Isaac worked at Zev's bar, but the nature of his relationship with Zev - especially when it came to Rocket - seemed to cross over mere employment into the territory of mentorship.[break][break]
Well, either way. Isaac had offered to help Nomi with her experiments, and for that, she was grateful.[break][break]
Nomi knew that the intricate details of her hypothesis would bore a man like Zev, so she skipped the preamble and jumped straight to the point.[break][break]
"I am attempting to synthetically alter human physiology with the energy of Terastallization. Tera crystals can change Pokémon physiology - typing - and I am curious to see if the same can be done to us."[break][break]
She paused as a wild Manectric crossed their path. Val leapt forward before it could do anything to harm them. Nomi threw a Pokeball; as she'd explained to Zev, electric Pokémon were useful power sources.[break][break]
"Initial experiments on the traitors supplied to me by Cillian Quinn have been promising. In short, I am hoping to create humans with Pokémon-like powers. Avatars without the need for a legendary Pokémon's boon."

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Zev's eyebrows shot into his forehead as Nomi summarized her research. Never had he imagined someone in Team Rocket would pursue human experimentation. He thought most people were too empathetic and emotional for that. Yet the pink-haired woman walking beside him spoke of it so casually that for the first time, he wondered how much Nomi was actually like him.[break][break]

"If Terastallization changes a Pokémon's typing, then you're assuming humans also have typing that can change," Zev commented idly. "Have you figured out if that's true or not?"[break][break]

A Dedenne skittered past, its nervous energy carrying it away faster than Zev's Runerigus could react.

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[attr="class","wildtag"]Naomi Sato Zev Harcourt

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[attr="class","wildtag"]Naomi Sato Zev Harcourt

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"Yes, in a sense," Nomi nodded, pleased with Zev's logical leap. "Humans are all different, even if we don't have obvious external indications of our "typing", like Pokémon do. For example: why do some of us "run cold", while others "run hot"? My hypothesis is that the bond between a Legendary Pokémon and the human it has chosen as its Avatar is just one way to change human physiology, allowing for such grand feats as flight or weather manipulation or teleportation, things we aren't normally capable of. I am curious if we can trigger the same effect, the granting of said powers, without that bond...whether by Tera Shard or some other method."[break][break]
A chubby orange Pokémon, resembling a rodent - or perhaps a small bear?, appeared from behind a pile of scrap metal. Nomi did not immediately recognize it, which intrigued her. A Paldean Pokemon? She threw a Pokeball; she'd want to study this one more later.[break][break]
"In any case, I have started to see some signs of success. I have, at the very least, figured out how to run human Terastallization trials without the risk of death."[break][break]
It was the reason she'd started with traitors...men and women that would have otherwise been executed for their crimes against Rocket. Expendable.

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Zev had to admit, Nomi's hypothesis seemed to make sense. He was by no means a scientifically-minded person; though his grades in high school had been passable, he'd eschewed higher education for a more exciting career path. The things Naomi Sato, Lulu Flint, and especially Neffatari Nzingha researched were above and beyond his comprehension.[break][break]

"How many trials have you done already?" he asked, his curiosity growing.[break][break]

A wild Excadril lumbered past, keeping her distance as she eyed the two humans and their Pokémon with suspicion. Luckily for her, Zev and Nomi turned a corner to walk in the opposite direction.

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[attr="class","wildtag"]Naomi Sato Zev Harcourt

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[attr="class","wildtag"]Naomi Sato Zev Harcourt

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"Sixteen," Nomi answered casually. Not all of them had died.[break][break]
"The first few were...unsuccessful. After that, I fine-tuned my device with the help of oscar clayton's research. He's quite good with energy transference, as well as mechanical engineering. I have since been able to identify the exact threshold for infusing Tera energy into a human body without risk of death. Whether or not the human body can be augmented remains to be seen."[break][break]
A Magnezone floated into view, catching Nomi's attention. Now there's a useful Pokémon, she thought. Electro-magnetism - along with standard electricity - was one of the necessary inputs for her Tera energy device. She motioned for Val to act. The Sylveon eagerly sent a wave of PSYCHIC energy at the Magnezone. Nomi threw a Pokeball soon after.[break][break]
"Tell me, Zev," she inquired then, tone curious. "Would you allow your own body to be altered for power?"

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"That depends on the power and the price," he replied, not willing to give the woman a direct or truthful answer. Not used to it. "If you could infuse a human with Avatar-like powers and ensure they have full control of those powers, full mental capacity, and so on, I'd consider it."[break][break]

Above all, he was not going to lose his sense of self, his sharpness of mind, or his capabilities. He had worked hard his entire life — harder than anyone else — to become the man he was that day. No promise of power, however sweet, was going to ruin that.[break][break]

They passed a corridor branching off to the side. When Zev glanced down it, he spied a Pincurchin inching along the floor. But he and Nomi were walking quickly, so they soon passed the small Pokémon.

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[attr="class","wildtag"]Naomi Sato Zev Harcourt

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[attr="class","wildtag"]Naomi Sato Zev Harcourt

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Zev's answer did not shock her; he had always struck Nomi as having particularly strong boundaries. It made sense that he would only desire power without a price. After all, there were very few prices a man like him would be willing to pay.[break][break]
"My project aims to do just that: grant avatar-like power without the...added complication of a legendary Pokémon being involved. You would likely prefer the synthetic modification to its more "natural" alternative. I have been studying those within our ranks who do happen to have such bonds, and the continued use of power seems to be highly dependent on the relationship maintained with the Pokémon. Such demi-Gods can take the power away should they grow displeased: nothing is guaranteed. The human in question must serve the Pokémon's goals, whatever those happen to be."[break][break]
It was not a cold, business-like partnership, however. Trust was required. Nomi thought of Lugia, and the way Cillian Quinn seemed to care for her, despite his otherwise hardened heart. Xerneas, too, seemed to have a fondness for bryan delarosa that went beyond the man's usefulness. Nomi knew that if she wanted to ensure Rocket had some sort of control over the Unown, she needed to earn their trust, too.[break][break]
There needed to be some sort of...alignment, between Pokémon and human. An understanding.[break][break]
Nomi halted, looking around the large chamber they had entered. A sleepy-looking Probopass lingered by the entrance, and after a moment's consideration, she threw a Pokeball at it.[break][break]
"I'm guessing there's no legendary Pokémon out there you'd be willing to serve in that way?" She asked, a small knowing smile gracing her lips.[break][break]

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Nomi explained what Zev already suspected: the partnership with a Legendary Pokémon that Avatarship required. He hated the thought of something else stealing away power he had worked hard to obtain, power he deserved.[break][break]

He remembered what that lack of control felt like, the memories of his childhood as sharp as the stinging pain of bruises and cuts he'd received as a boy.[break][break]

"I don't serve anyone," Zev said with particular emphasis, the coldness seeping into his voice. "My Pokémon serve my goals, not the other way around."[break][break]

After a pause, however, he relented on one point:[break][break]

"But if our goals align, then a mutually beneficial partnership is possible." It was what he'd been doing for a decade, after all, and what he did now for Team Rocket. "Maybe it would be possible with Pokémon like Darkrai or Necrozma."[break][break]

Though Zev wasn't familiar with the former, he'd read the reports on the blackout of Slateport City and the Darkest Day. He watched the news coming from Galar. Necrozma's unrelenting cruelty seemed a fitting match for a man like him.

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