A look of pure malice.

But you can't wear a mask anymore. You're tired of hiding your face, your true self.

And this is what spills out, something that looks like a mockery of how a person would act. It's as authentic as can be, which means it's completely foreign to you, completely outside of your control. Something like a puppet with a few cut strings.

A lie would be far more convincing.

But you aren't worried about that now. You cast worry aside. There's bigger things to worry about.

"I make a point of not turning my back on things that can kill me, sorry."

Yeah, that's more like it. Channel all the bravado in your heart. Counteract all the poison running through your veins. Melt the ice with a fire burning in your breast, feed it with all your pent up anger. Perhaps the antidote you've been looking for this whole time.

Hah.

You take a few steps forward, looking at the pokemon with the shape of a bike. It's a lizard you've never encountered before. Practical, though. You can see why he's brought it here. Can probably carry a lot. And it fits his whole exaggerated biker dude thing.

"You're sure you secured it right?"

Just a barb.

You know better, running in the underground overseas. Cargo's something you're so familiar with it's not even funny. This time, though, it's not illicit goods, evading the cops. Running in the dark even if you can't see five feet ahead of you.

You're on the right side now, keeping things from those very same people.

At least, that's what the clients say. It's easy to buy into their propaganda. After all, you both hate the same people, so why not?

But the real reason you're here...

"Don't wanna lose any. That shit comes straight out of your paycheck if you do. Just so y'know."

Just saying. It's on his bike, it's his loss.

Luckily, the stuff you've been entrusted with is a whole hell of a lot lighter. The Rotom humming in your pockets isn't any heavier for it. You'd be carrying that thing around anyway, so it's just as well.

They want info, too secure to send over an encrypted line.

So, they'll get it.

---

CARGO
+10 MR

[attr="class","text"]
You could never really be sure of what was in the mind’s of another, and the same could be said for what you thought of someone’s speech. You felt a pang of annoyance streak through your mind before you crushed the thought. The idea was strange, to think of paychecks in this place, you wonder whether she’s right in the mind, but you discard such a thought just as quick. Everyone had different reasons to be here, and you couldn’t expect everyone else to share your own wishes.
[break][break]
As you double checked the cargo, fastened as tight as possible without hurting the Cyclizar, you nod. ”As tight and well fastened as could be.” You state with confidence, though there was a small bite to the words. You couldn’t help but note the hypocrisy of your own actions, in showing kindness one moment, and then snap in the next. It was similar to your younger self, and so you squashed that too, crushing such thoughts into a pulp within your mental grip as you reset yourself.
[break][break]
With a nod, you stepped into the cave; giving a nod of luck to the professionals that were guarding this entrance, so that you could at least feel some comfort in not having to watch your back, merely your front. ”What’s a kid need big pay for anyway? Got rent to pay?”
[break][break]
It seemed even with your own hypocrisy noted by yourself, you still dipped your toes back into that sea of an emotion you hated, not just in others, but in yourself as well. Your own history, background, it told you that things were never so clear cut, even as you had to survive on your own merits at a similar age.
[break][break]
But even still, you did not apologize as the cave swallowed you up, and so you turned on the light on the head of your Cyclizar, Bubby. Even if you were allowing your own darkness to fester, that didn’t mean you were comfortable being surrounded in it.

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You can tell by his voice.

He's holding back. There's something deep inside, and he's afraid to let it out.

The reasons don't really matter. Whether it's a show of male chauvinism, protecting her cause she's a young woman. Whether it's fear of falling into old bad habits, a rebel with an edge that's grown dull, beaten down and trained well enough to fit into society. It all doesn't matter.

But even so. That alone, that slight waver. It puts a smile on your face.

"I've got lots of debts," you admit freely, unashamed. "But none of 'em are monetary. Let's just say I've got a certain lifestyle I've grown accustomed to, an pretty expensive one. Leave it at that."

You don't think he'd believe you if you said it. But even so, better to keep it close to your chest. You never know with people. One second you trust them the slightest bit, the next they're out to destroy your life and everything dear to you cause you said one wrong thing. It's better they hate you but in a manageable amount, where they know nothing about you. Nothing of the sins you've committed.

"Pretty convenient," You marvel at the lizard with a light on its head. "If only it could see in the dark."

You're used to operating in stealth. It's weird to have this glaring light. It'll attract insects, like a moth to flame.

And you suppose you're the flame.

"Sumire, you're up."

You call her name and she's already on the ground, lifting her massive girth and curling around you. Hood like a shield, body like armor as she wraps around your waist and your shoulders. She rests her head on yours, hissing contently.

"We're on lookout this time. You're the sharpshooter, so hit anything that moves. And I mean everything."

Your words are heeded as law. There's no fear in that snake, just pure devotion. A dedication that eclipses all else. She's loyal to you to the death, but even so.

You can't forget that if you say the wrong thing, if you let your guard down for one moment, if you move ever so slightly the wrong way... one squeeze, and your life's over.

You climb onto the back of the lizard, following his master's lead. The weight's gotta be a whole lot, carrying cargo, two people, and a pokemon. But it seems like it evolved to carry stuff on its back. It'll be fine, right?

---

CARGO
+20 MR

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You couldn’t help to fight down the waves of pride that rolled through you. Your Cyclizar was a thing that you were proud of, had taken time to raise, had spent almost every waking moment with. ”He can, somewhat. It’s just us who can’t.” You state with a plain tone, your voice was even if the smirk on you face only got wider, it was natural; calm, easy. Yet, the darkness made it far more difficult to see such a thing.
[break][break]
Still, as much pride you had held in its training, it began to let out a low growl once the weight on its back only began to rise. You felt it first, a rumble that spread throughout him, before he stopped on the spot, only to let out a low roar. ”We’re getting off.” You said as he bucked. It might have been trained, but calling him tame was a mistake, you would never do such a thing.
[break][break]
Being a trainer had taught you a couple of things, one of them was dragon types were never easy to raise, regardless of which it was.
[break][break]
You would walk, being the very first to step off his back, and waiting for the other two who had joined you to do the same. You were sure that this wouldn’t be the hardest of missions, but the very moment such a thought crossed your mind, you felt the cave floor; the sound that accompanied the movement of a large thing, or even more worryingly, a great many things.
[break][break]
You went for your pokeball, a weight that rested in your hand before you opened it up, allowing the Remoraid that came from it to rest upon your palm. ”Eyes up.” Your only call.
[break][break]
”Can’t beat your debts if you end up croaking.”[

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You bite the inside of your cheek.

How anticlimactic.

"Oh yeah? That's it? That was fast."

This is the sort of loyalty you get from following a rebel, you think at first. A pokemon's obedience reflects on its trainer, and you appraise this man's character immediately. But then again, this gigantic snake was won over by a criminal, wasn't she? A thief, an assailant, a racketeer.

Even if you had turned over a new leaf, maybe who pokemon decide to follow doesn't mean as much as you thought.

A click of your tongue, and you summon the strength to carry Sumire on your own two feet. She weighs just as much as you and half again. It's a burden, it'll slow you down tremendously. But you're not putting her back in the ball now that she's out and ready. She'd bite your hand if she didn't get to fight now that you promised her that.

And there's no antivenom out here in the middle of nowhere.

"Geeeez, what've you been eating?"

You ask her, but you know already. You're the one who feeds her. It's better off that she can't answer that herself, in the presence of someone you're not entirely sure of.

Nevertheless. You can't help but silently curse this guy for changing his mind, making you carry her yourself. It's lucky it's so dark in here, cause you wouldn't be able to hide your glances of hatred if you tried.

"Nevermind. Stay on guard. Follow my lead."

You listen in the dark. You don't have her senses, but you can feel her tense around you.

It's coming.

"Go, shoot it down!"

You whisper it in a hushed voice, but she's already responded to whatever's moving. Acidic spit shot at a distance with pinpoint accuracy, like a sniper shot. The protocol's always been to shoot first and ask questions later.

Friend or foe, the opening salvo should take them unaware.

---

CARGO
+30 MR

[attr="class","text"]
You could see the sound, the response, and everything else around you for a moment as the attack struck, it sparked and got louder, then it stopped. Whatever came out of that place was strong, it’s shape illuminated for a moment as it was stuck, the glowing of its stomach, and the way it had fallen down. It wasn’t particularly large, but each step showed just how heavy it was, three more came tumbling out as the light in their belly stood there, a little more intense.
[break][break]
You couldn’t really believe it, a strange sight in this place; a Bellibolt, let alone multiple of them in this cave. There was nothing for it, but there they were, standing in this place. You knew that your Cyclizar would not be of any particular use carrying all of these packs, and in combat; even if it was your best choice in this time.
[break][break]
”Scyther, Honedge. You’re up.” You threw the pokeball up in the air, to even the odds somewhat. Scyther hadn’t waited a moment to charge in, going for the one that had been covered in acid. You watched her dance her dance in the air, before she came down onto the earth, using a double hit; each one hitting harder than it should’ve, her blade poised.
[break][break]
Yet your eyes were fixed only onto their stomach, which grew even brighter, your Honedge moved with a tap to the back of its handle, sinking into its own shadow, and reforming from the shadow behind that pokemon, a three pronged attack.
[break][break]
”I don’t like that glow very much.” You noted, it was only three left, the odds were on your side, but there was a danger in that. Complacency was a thing you had done your best to temper, to break down, and yet, you lived a life filled with it. You couldn’t move beyond it, as best as you tried to pretend to be a different person, it failed you.

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The venom strikes true.

You can hear the sizzling of flesh, the cry of pain.

And yet, there's something odd about that hit. In the cry of pain seems to be hidden some sort of pleasure, as if that's exactly what it wanted to happen.

She can feel it too. You can tell by the way she reacts, usually so dialed into the pain of her opponent. It throws Sumire off, something that never happens. She's the most reliable partner you have by a mile, and yet, you read that momentary hesitation as a threat.

There's something wrong.

"Go, tear into 'em."

It's a whisper, but even amid the din of the louder trainer, the more flashy pokemon he carries, Sumire can hear it. You're speaking her same language by whispering, the hiss of a snake. She hears that louder than anything.

She crosses the distance in a second, slithering so fast she's a blur to the eyes. Raising to her height, the pattern on her hood is exposed as she readies herself to pounce. It strikes fear into the hearts of all who gaze upon it, an intimidating aura. Before anything can even process that it's not her face, however, she's already lunging forward with fangs bared.

Biting hard, deep. A second strike to finish off the first opponent that the rebel's pokemon softened up with their blades, like a chef preparing a meal.

She should've known better. And yet, it's in her genes to target the weakest opponent in front of her.

An opponent full of brimming energy, enough that it hums with a bright light, disperses it all in a moment. Discharging it all into the snake that has her fangs sunk into it. All her hubris, all the pain she's inflicted being used against her, with the aid of Jett's pokemon... you can hear her scales sizzling in the aftermath.

---

CARGO
+40 MR

[attr="class","text"]
You looked at the sizzle, at the electrocution, and knew that your worries had come to be real, and the pokemon that stood there were without a doubt too confident in their actions. You gritted your teeth at that sight, and reconsidered your current course of action. A look towards your Scyther and Honedge; a click of your fingers. ”Switch.” You had your Honedge take the front, and withdrew your Scyther.
[break][break]
Instead, you went for the pokeball at your hip. ”Ralts, Teleport out for five minutes. Cyclizar Shift gears.” You took action there and then, the electric burst that you saw was worrying. ”I’ll heal your pokemon the moment he’s back.” You said to your ally, a pang of concern ran through you.
[break][break]
But for now, you had no chance but to charge forward as the mechanical noises behind you got louder as your Cyclizar began to accelerate within the spot, the wheels that appeared from its chest and crotch began to turn, and then it finally touched down. Your Honedge took the lead, a sacred sword, a red glow that overtook it as it shot itself forward towards one of the other pokemon.
[break][break]
”Let’s use our strongest attacks, and wipe them out in one go.” Your voice sounded confident even if there wasn’t a lot of reason for you to feel that way. You could see one path out, a tightrope.
[break][break]
You could only see it within your own mind, it was only in your own mind. Sharing a vision, sharing a thought, that was something that you knew was impossible, yet you strived for it always, even in the small moments like this.
[break][break]
”You’ve taken the lead, I’ll make sure to push you, and us towards victory.”

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You curse under your breath, watching Sumire coil and uncoil in pain, retreating from her prey.

The guy next to you says he'll heal her, but the snake pokemon would never allow that.

Regardless, she's not down for the count just yet. She's taken more punishment than this. Nursing burns on her body, she slithers backward, eyeing the group of pokemon carefully, waiting for her instructions.

There's not so many options for one pokemon.

The guy's right, you've gotta unleash something more powerful. But you hesitate as you reach for the capsules on your waist. There's something to be said for going for whatever's strongest, but you know that's bound to bring the whole cave ceiling down on your heads if you really just cut loose and chose pokemon with abandon.

There are some you can trust to have restraint, others you couldn't reign in if you tried. Dragon-types won't hold back like that. The pokemon you've got are all dangerous, but... it's a matter of picking your poison.

"Alright!"

You grasp the ball. You can feel the flame inside, hot to the touch, ready to burn you. It's a familiar feeling. The promise you made to burn everything in that city down to the foundation so long ago, she hasn't forgotten. And neither have you.

Your heart burns with that same passion.

"Sakura, turn 'em to ash!"

A Salazzle emerges in a flash of light, and without even looking at what she's targeting, violet flames erupt from her mouth. They light up their surroundings immediately and the cavern air becomes sweltering, stealing your breath away.

Landing in a ready pose to watch what she set alight burn, she looks about ready to laugh. Venom that pours from her back melts into the rocky cavern floor, leaving scorched marks that glow red in the dark as they swish back and forth, dripping melting venom everywhere.

The group of glowing beasts squeal with pain, the fire too much for them. They haven't been forged in the fires of hell like you have. They can't stand the heat.

And in the midst of that flame, you can hear it. Underneath the dark noise of flickering flames, there's an audible humming.

Like a flickering CRT.

"Sumi, douse 'em!"

The snake opens her maw and a black curtain of fog pours out, filling the air.

Something that causes the electricity surging in their bodies to short out, smothering them and making it as if they hadn't been touched at all. They're choking, stifling their own advancement. Removed from their surroundings, so much they forget they were harmed in the first place.

It hardly affects you, no more dense than the haze that constantly filled the Saffron skies. But even so, for these pokemon in front of you...

"... Hah, Figures. They're all yours, yankii!"

That sneer of derision masks how smug she is, having figured it out.

They power up when they're hit... unless you simply stop them from powering up!

---

Sakura (Salazzle) used Flamethrower!
Sumire (Arbok) used Haze!

CARGO
+50 MR

[attr="class","text"]
You couldn’t quite hold back as you saw the sight in front of you, a powerful mixture of attacks; and that was perfectly fine, a strong enough strike to end all of this, that was the thing you sought, and that was the thing expected of you. You looked forward, and looked forward to it, the movement of your pokemon, the breath of them, and the following movements, everything beat in your head like an instinct.
[break][break]
That was why the choices were straight forward.
[break][break]
”Lucky, use Ice beam.” You spoke to the fish that had taken up residence within your palms, your Remoraid. She released a beam of cold, a rush of ice, that froze the air that it crossed past, and even the cloud of smog that had made it difficult to breath, that which filled up their lungs, and even more. You saw it, but only the cold feeling that lingered on your finger remained in your mind, a numbing feeling, just as you saw the final resolution.
[break][break]
”Cyclizar, Crush them.” The dragon that you called your mount roared loudly, a powerful voice from its lungs just as it charged forward, draconic energy converged at its claws as it slashed the air, the power it had gained from the shifting of gears, the speed of it, all of it was great.
[break][break]
You were taken away once again, like falling in love for the first time, as Bubby took to the air and fell down like the predator he was, his teeth, and claws were poised to rip and tear; softened by the flames, hardened again by the ice, it was something else entirely.
[break][break]
Their skin cracked on contact, one released a discharge, but the right of a dragon was to look down on the lesser elements which danced along his skin, it caused his muscles to spasm, to tense, but it would not cause him any great harm as he slashed at the offender, his claws dug deeply into his skin.
[break][break]
You were taken away by it, but you knew just as well, that it wouldn’t stop until they were dead. He was unlike yourself, you who had changed your path, and Bubby, who you had dragged into the depths of bloodshed, and now forced to remain as a ‘normal’ member of society.
[break][break]
”Hey, oi, Bubby. Take it easy.” But it tore, it ripped, and it bit, it was a beast that was finally allowed off its chains. You couldn’t stop him, but you didn’t really want to, a facination, a love, a this was a part of you which you denied, had come to hate, all because of a single dead woman.

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There's something about seeing an unrestrained beast in action that's always appealed to your darkest side.

The girl you used to be would have reveled in this.

Ferocious power and anger unleashed upon the world, for daring to give birth to such a terrifying beast. You always saw yourself in that. Lost yourself in that despair, at a world that abandoned you. There was nowhere else you could have felt at home than in that raw, passionate act of destruction. You would have unleashed a dragon upon your weakest foes without a second thought, just the see the pitiful look in their eyes before the cave came down on all your heads. And you would have been all the happier for it.

Unfortunately, that girl died long ago.

That girl existed for the sake of nobody, and had no place in anyone's heart. You took that anger out on everyone around you, on the world for having the audacity to place you here. You were the same as a dragon. May have lived the rest of your life that way, too, without a miracle.

But.

You came to love someone. Fell into that sea of desire and drowned.

Soon, that beast was lost, and the impulse to destroy everything became something else. Self-hatred inverted, turned outward and bloomed like a flower. The desire to protect another, to protect their dreams, became a part of you. Too afraid of losing the world that they loved, you might never rage against it again. Capable of acts of hatred you never thought possible before, all for the sake of love, but you would need a reason for it. That became your weakness, your soft spot.

Now, there is only sorrow as you watch a petty man turn a fight into a massacre. This is not something that demands disproportionate response. They have done nothing to engender your hatred.

The cavern shakes with each strike. You feel it in your bones. There is nothing left to do but call your own partners back.

"It's over," you respond finally, resigned. You look onward, not wanting to look him in the eyes.

A pokemon cannot overcome its nature, but a human can. The fact that he allows this to go on for the sake of some sick, twisted thrill is telling.

"Call it back, they're gone. We've won."

It's a protest, but a muted one.

There is no arguing with the worst sort of person. He's just as bad as they are across the ocean, a Rocket in all but name, the same type of creature but with a new coat of paint. You can do nothing about it now without making a new enemy, and you're tired of making nothing but enemies.

Tired of all of this.

---

Arbok and Salazzle returned to Tsubaki!

CARGO
+60 MR

[attr="class","text"]
You couldn’t hide it, the mix of delight and horror; it was something that you were aware of and yet surpressed more than anything else, you didn’t pay attention to the voice that told you to stop them, you couldn’t get yourself to. It was a sight that was beautiful, not because you were delighted in horror, but because you understood.
[break][break]
The relief that you could only feel from being unshackled, no longer stopped by things such as norms, and so you didn’t stop your Cyclizar, Bubby, who had struggled alongside you, had done better than you; had finally been given his chance, and so you didn’t hold him back. Even as every voice in your head told you otherwise, as an external voice told you otherwise, you hid the smile finally, but it was too late.
[break][break]
Instead, Bubby was done, blood dripped from its jaw; its nails, covered his entire form as he looked to you. His eyes fixed into place; scanning the humans, it wasn’t the eyes of one who saw you as allies, but merely as those who could be eaten, its next meal. The eyes of a predator. You didn’t back down however, your Remoraid pointed at him like a gun, he understood; a single shot of the critical strike your Lucky was so fond of was enough to end this dispute, it was calm, chilled.
[break][break]
That was when the high pitched sound of a teleport echoed in your ear, called you back into the present. ”Good work. All of you.” You called them back into their pokeballs, all except for Bubby who rolled up to your side, rubbing against your pant leg like a dog, and rubbing the blood against you.
[break][break]
It might have looked like a cute sight, but you knew better, they were like that. Bubby, Lucky, Bricket, and those you didn’t bring along. They weren’t looking for affection, but to make you remember, the bloodbaths that you called home, and the terrible actions that you took, trained them to take, so that you might do so again, so they might enjoy life again.
[break][break]
But you weren’t interested in such a thing, you never would be again, because it would make her cry. You shook your head as you clasped the bags onto Bubby once more, Cyclizar seemed ready to continue on the road, the road littered with the destroyed corpses of what were your enemies.
[break][break]
”We’re good to go. I hope that didn’t make you want to throw up your food. Stuff like that gets him…Too excited, and stopping him ends up worse for us.” An excuse, you knew it, and you knew that was true for everyone else too.

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A pain in the pit of your stomach.

It is not sickness at what you've seen laid out before you. A massacre, violence for the sake of violence, you have seen that plenty times before.

The violence itself is nothing to you but another battle.

Instead, that pain is a rising tide of venom that seems liable to overflow for another reason entirely. He acts like he cares about your wellbeing, but you don't need his care, not from this man. That he might have spared this concern to everything else around him, you would know it was genuine. He seeks to save face, and nothing more.

"I've seen it plenty times before. Rockets revel in senseless slaughter. And you, you're not much different, are you?"

This man has shown the true colors of his heart. It is rotted and black, the same as yours. And in that realization you seek nothing but to set him to the growing void inside you, reduce him to nothing. An emptiness that longs for nothing but the destruction of the self hates everything that reminds you of itself.

The delusion inside himself is the ugliest thing you've ever seen. Feigning concern for someone while he has sentenced others to death by his own inaction. He does not see humans as equals to human beings, just like a Rocket. But he pretends to. If he would just surrender to that side of himself, at the very least he might be respected and feared as the sorts of beasts who have given up on their humanity, the Rockets. Instead he is nothing but a fake, something inhuman wearing the face of a human being like a mask.

You'll melt it down, til that ugliness is exposed for all to see. You'll tear him down and reveal all there is to this ugly man with a pretty exterior.

"Save the excuses, I don't need 'em. We're here for a reason, aren't we?"

You wonder if it would have been better now, to have let the cave come crumbling down on your all. You might not have realized the true nature of the League that way, til it was too late.

You grasp your stomach and continue walking, with or without him. You cannot avert your gaze from the aftermath of the battle. Take it all it, a reminder of exactly what you hate.

This is the work of the opposition to the Rocket cause, simply another shade of black.

---

CARGO
+70 MR