Interdream mist; something that Makoto felt some degree of unease over. It was strange, how just a seemingly simple fog could bring out the innermost thoughts of others - both conscious and subconscious. How it could make them manifest, both for better and for absolute worse. Though they were quick to put on their own mask to avoid getting themself lost in the madness that was inherent to the mist...

... They weren't sure how much it would ultimately help.

But as Howard's voice called to them, they'd glance to their companion. "We're okay," Makoto spoke - 'we' also indicating a certain Hisuian Zorua, who was hidden in their shadow. As always, Kuro was a faithful companion - providing illusions where necessary - even if it was too shy to show itself to Howard.

But just as Makoto nodded in agreement with Howard, the bellow of a beast - a Great Tusk - quickly shattered the peace. They were just able to dive out of the way of its headlong charge - going into a roll - and in response, sent out Tsukiko.

Which, the Alolan Ninetales would immediately get to work. Between Snow Warning and Snow Cloak, Tsukiko quickly disappeared amidst her own snowstorm - but her presence would likely be felt, as with an eerie howl, the air above them would light up in an Aurora Veil that made the snowflakes sparkle.

And as Makoto got up to their feet, they'd pose a question to Howard. "Are we gonna fight it, or try to lose it?" Given that they were more-or-less in an active warzone, they weren't wholly keen on wasting their time and precious energy on fights that they could avoid. But, that being said...

... Taking down - or even catching - a Paradox pokemon could also be the perfect opportunity for more data, for Amor Rose.

Paradox Mon spawn, this probably counts as an Assist too.

Right. He had to get used to Makoto's antics. His colleague was good at disguising themselves, and it reflected in their choice in party. They were excellent at disappearing and popping up again, alongside their Zorua. Howard could relate with the little fellow. He wanted to hide from himself when he looked in the mirror, too.

"Hm." Howard pondered Makoto's question as he peered at the Great Tusk. An ugly beast, that. Shred had a Great Tusk, and it had helped out a lot in Ultra Plant, but he remembered the beast as being slow, dimwitted, and droll. Fast once it got going, admittedly, but easier to stop while it was still.

"Yeah, we can take it." Howard nodded to Makoto as he threw out Shirley. The Aerodactyl hissed at the Great Tusk! This old relic was cramping her style! He meant was that Makoto could take the beast, but he didn't want to seem too craven. He struggled to fight a Ledyba, let alone a Paradox Pokémon. Suddenly, several Scream Tails emerged from the mist, and screamed at Makoto and Howard.

"We can't take it. Run!" Howard turned around, only to realize they were surrounded by Scream Tails, all hissing. Howard licked his lips, then threw out Atlas. The Shiny Golurk towered over the battlefield, before grabbing a Scream Tail until it popped.

"We can take 'em." Howard sighed. Amor did like his samples. Hopefully Atlas didn't crush them all.

---

Makoto Kurumi
POINTS:
+50 (mission start)
+20 (posts)
+10 (paradox spawn)

Makoto couldn't help but blanche at the sight of not only the swarm of Scream Tails that made themselves known, but also the sight of one of them popping in Atlas' fist. They stiffened, staring at the blood and guts that dripped from the Golurk's fist...

... And they're suddenly pretty sure that they're going to be sick.

It's a good thing then, that the bellow of the Great Tusk snaps Makoto from their little trance. They glance over just in time to see the beast preparing for another charge - and they are quick to call out a move. "Springtide Storm!"

At their call, the winds began to howl at Tsukiko's beck and call; frosted pink petals dancing amongst the snowstorm as a whirlwind sent the elephantine beast tumbling. The winds would also toss around a few of the Scream Tails - their shrieks and hisses filling the air as they're flung every which way!

But, another pokemon of Makoto's was quick to act. As a Scream Tail attempted to lunge at them, Kuro would rise from their shadow - a snarl rising from the little Zorua. Ghostly flames of Bitter Malice rose up, leaving the fairy-psychic-type frostbitten as it scurried away from the vengeful attack.

howard slayte

Howard wanted to vomit too, but he had waded through an unfortunate number of corpses in order to reach this point. Frankly, he was desensitized to violence by now. He didn't like that. In fact, he hated it.

He had always moved forward with the presumption that he was different from other members of Team Rocket. While others joined the team in order to get their sick kicks or in order to fulfill their cruel goals, Howard had joined for the simple reason that he wanted to live and follow his dream. His dream wasn't evil. It wasn't malicious. He simply wanted to preserve history.

Yet that wasn't the case. Makoto was polite, Temp was kind, Amor was respectful, and Lulu was a scientist who simply wanted to stop the Paradox Pokémon phenomenon. Kouji's biggest crime was drinking from a blender, and Shred was undergoing a midlife crisis.

He had thought himself better, but he wasn't anyone better. He simply coped and hoped for a brighter tomorrow, even as the path lie slick with the blood of monsters and men. He was not evil. He had done nothing wrong. That included the slaughter of abominations. It did not. It did not. Atlas crushed several Scream Tails underfoot, and the automaton soon turned red.

It did not. Howard looked away from his Golurk's slaughter, his lip trembling, as an Iron Bundle lumbered onto the battlefield. Luckily, that seemed to be the last of them. Shirley ran forward and smashed into it with an Iron Head, the machine reeled, but did not fall, and responded with an Icicle Crash. The strike was lessened by the protective veil Makoto had woven, but Howard's heart hurt to see his partner take damage.

"Shirley!" Howard cried.

---

Makoto Kurumi
Points:
+50 (mission start)
+30 (posts)
+10 (paradox spawn)

Perhaps it was something that the two could relate to one another on - that they both joined Rocket to live, to be able to provide for oneself. That neither of them wanted to hurt others - but that was simply where their circumstances led them.

But whilst Howard had a dream and ambition... Makoto was, admittedly, still trying to figure out where their own happiness lay.

Shirley is struck by a super effective Icicle Crash; and though the Aurora Veil helps to protect her, Makoto can't help but wince all the same. "She's okay." They spoke, to try and reassure Howard. Even if the attack did hurt, she wasn't down for the count. Though the notion of cooperation with another wasn't something that came naturally to Makoto quite yet, they could easily see the course of action. "Stay on the offensive."

And glancing to Tsukiko - even if her shape was near-impossible to make out in the snowstorm she had whipped up, Makoto had a decent idea of where she was - they would call "Back her up!" Though the idea of sending out another pokemon - such as Haguru - did occur to them, the battlefield was chaotic enough as it was; and they feared the possibilities of one of their pokemon ending up in the crossfire of Atlas' rampage.

At their call, the Alolan Ninetales was on the move - coming close to engage the Iron Bundle. With playful foxlike laughter, she'd bounce circles around the mechanical Delibird to distract it as she drew in close - motes of light coming off of her in a Confuse Ray! Dazed, the Iron Bundle's head would pop off - bobbing every which way on a spring - as the robot began to stagger about.

But only time would tell how much the confusion would help.

Assist x2?

howard slayte

"She's okay, but..." Howard swallowed. "I don't want her to hurt at all."

His expression was thoughtful, almost remorseful. The contradiction between the Golurk mauling Paradox Pokemon in the distance and the Aerodactyl defending them struck a strange picture with Makoto's masked associate. The light hit his mask in a way that let his face shine through. He was tired from this invasion, and the constant battles proved it. He felt like bending and breaking.

Yet he couldn't. The cold from Tsukiko's snowstorm and veil had assured that. There was an image to uphold. He would not look weak next to his ally. He nodded to Makoto. "Thank you. You're better at this than me." Howard had worked with dig teams before. He was used to cooperation for academic projects.

If he thought about it, this was just an academic project for Amor, right? It was like he was a grad student again! Except instead of fighting for internships, he was fighting for his life.

As the Iron Bundle's head popped off, Shirley lunged forward with a massive chomp and tore the head away from the body. The machine sparked, spat out presents, and was still. Howard gave a cheer and ran towards it. He gave Makoto an approving nod as he ran forward. "We make a good team! Let's get Amor's precious data from that specimen."

---

Makoto Kurumi
Points:
+50 (mission start)
+40 (posts)
+10 (paradox spawn)

The admission - the view of the tired man under the mask's visor - gives Makoto a little bit of pause, as their expression shifts into one of sympathy. For few moments, they're quiet - mouth half-open - as they thought and considered their words, before... "... She's like family to you, right?" They question softly, breaking their silence. They often feel the same way about most of their own pokemon - and noone wants to see family get hurt. "... Spoil her a bit, after this."

It's what they do, when they have the money, to show appreciation to their own pokemon. To say thank you, for putting up with the hardships that they've been hit with from time to time. It's their love language, in that sense.

Makoto wasn't sure if they'd say that they're all that great at this - Tsukiko had quickly become a powerhouse in her own right, certainly, but she felt more like an outlier than anything to judge their competence by. But then again, it was enough for them to come out of this alive, wasn't it?

As the Iron Bundle went down, Makoto couldn't help the slightest wince - but they otherwise were right on Howard's tail, as he ran over to check the body. "We could even bring the whole thing back, probably..." They murmured - study it in-house, for as much data as they wanted. All they'd need to do was transport it somewhere safe, to send back to base later, right?

howard slayte

"She's my everything. Howard nodded to Makoto, expression softening. His ever constant companion, who had been with him since he was a teenager, and had lost his eye. Shirley and Celpho were his two oldest Pokémon. Aerodactyl and Anorith, both Pokémon that had waited millions of years to return to his side.

Inspecting the Iron Bundle, Howard couldn't make heads or tails of the mechanisms inside. They were nonsensical. Amor was the engineering expert. Perhaps he could figure out how it worked, and Tempest Quinn could discover if it was even alive while he and Makoto cheered in the background. He was practically useless regarding these advanced contraptions, and he knew little of Makoto.

"Maybe. Don't you think it'll be too heavy?" Howard asked, leaning down to pick up the machine. He lifted it with surprising ease, almost falling over in the process. "It's light..."

This had gone surprisingly well, thanks to Makoto. Without them, he'd have to fight robotic Delibirds alone. Not an exciting prospect. Preparing to walk off, Howard suddenly dropped the machine with a clang! He looked off into the mist, frowning.

There was a figure standing in the mist, seemingly made of it. "Impossible. We're supposed to be safe in the mist with these on... Are you seeing this?" Howard frowned, looking into the mist. The figure solidified into a teenager with an explorer's hat too large for their head. They stared at Howard with two eyes.

"No, no. Nononononono...! Makoto!" Howard took a step back. "It's molding to our personalities!"

---

+50 (mission start)
+50 (posts)
+10 (paradox spawn)

Makoto, safe to say, wouldn't be able to make heads or tails (or perhaps, disembodied head or disemheaded body,) of the Iron Bundle. They could perhaps give a few tips on how to decieve; but they didn't have much in the way of formal education, having run away from home at a relatively young age. Being on the streets before didn't do much to teach them about mechanics, electronics, or science in general either.

But as far as actually carrying it went - and the worries of it being too heavy - Makoto commented "I was ready to let my Klinklang help transport it." Cause while Atlas certainly existed, they were half expecting that the Golurk would've crushed it into scrap metal instead. But as it turned out, it was quite light - rendering it all a moot point...

... At least, until he dropped it with a startling noise. Makoto and Tsukiko both would collectively jump - all eyes on Howard now. "C-careful," They spoke, almost chiding - but not having the actual guts to sound serious about it. "We need to get it back in..." ... In one piece - or more accurately, two pieces.

But noticing the way Howard stared, they'd follow his gaze into the mist - where a small figure stood. "It's not like we had much chance to field-test these, before the island popped up..." They'd respond softly, nodding. At the very least, it wasn't as if they had been immediately thrown into some weird dreamworld.

That wasn't exactly comforting, however, when the figments began to take form - take shape. And accompanying the younger Howard that stood before them, were whispers and murmurs that seemed to surround them, voices without discernable words in gossiping tones - but still deathly familiar to Makoto.

Makoto tensed. "We've... W-we've got what we came for." They whispered with a hint of urgency - switching Tsukiko out for their Klinklang, Haguru. "Can Shirley carry you? We're leaving." Their troubles were their business. They weren't for Howard to worry about.

They didn't want to face it all again.

howard slayte

"I'll carry myself. My past doesn't need to be carried by anyone but me. She already lived through it. I'm not putting her through it again." Howard grunted as he tried to pick up the frame of the Iron Bundle again. When he tried to, though, it was like it weighed a million pounds. He looked at his hands.

Damn, they were shaking. Was... he scared? Of course he was, he was always terrified. Yet this was a different type of fear all together. This wasn't something he could throw a Pokemon at or run away from. It was forever.

Nobody could outrun their past.

A lot of Team Rocket members learned this, and it was the cause of many defections, and many recruitments. Some people realized that since Team Rocket couldn't let them bury their past, it was best to leave. Some realized that it was because such a thing was impossible that joining Team Rocket was the only option.

Howard was both, and so much more. Blast, his missing eye burned again. That memory had to stay buried. It was a fossil with little value to recovery. Sometimes you simply had to cut your losses and move on.

"Get your Klinklang to grab it! I... I can't!" Howard said as he whistled for Shirley. The Aerodactyl returned, growling and prowling around Howard protectively, seemingly ignoring Makoto. "I will throttle Amor for this oversight!"

---

Makoto Kurumi
Points:
+50 (start)
+60 (posts)
+10 (paradox spawn)

The sudden shift in Howard's demeanor seemed to take Makoto that slightest bit off guard - and for the briefest moment, they wanted to speak up in defense of Amor. It wasn't as though this was something that they had gotten the proper time to test before the island emerged, after all. But, urged on by the awareness of the figmented whispers in the mist around them - which were growing louder and more coherent by the second - they were quick to move.

Whereas fear made everything heavier for Howard, Makoto's own feelings made things lighter, but not in the good way. They felt as though they had to move - to leave - to run, and leave everything behind. This was a heist gone wrong, and the only options they had were to escape with the goods, leave emptyhanded, or be caught.

With a heft, they'd place the Iron Bundle's body and head up onto Haguru - and would sit next to it. "Let's move..." They spoke simply - already making to leave the mist, before the apparations decide to get worse.

howard slayte

They ran. Howard didn't know for how long.

All he knew is that if he and Makoto ran, they would eventually be able to put this place behind them. The voices grew louder and more distinguishable as they ran through the mist, before finally lessening as they left it behind. Howard could see the area where the mist evaporated into air. All he and Makoto had to do was reach it. All he had to do was reach out...

He?

Howard turned around, and saw that younger shadow reaching out in the same way. He skidded to a stop, and turned back to stare at it. His younger self continued to reach out.

"I'm... sorry. I can't see you anymore." Howard tapped his helmet, where his missing eye was. Then, he turned away and walked out of the mist. Howard collapsed on the ground outside of the mist, out of breath. The ground shook as Atlas followed them out, still stained red.

"Atlas..." Howard's eye flitted to Makoto. "I'm very sorry. Thanks for having your Klinklang grab the machine. Are you well?"

---

Makoto Kurumi
Points:
+50 (start)
+60 (posts)
+10 (paradox spawn)

Much like Howard, Makoto simply focused on moving. On leaving. Out of the mist, where they wouldn't have to worry about their own thoughts coming out to haunt them.

The voices grew distinct - their familiar tones, mocking and gossiping and laughing, chasing after their heels. They did their best to ignore it - to not pay the words any mind, to simply regard them as the garbled messes that had come out before.

But as Howard exited the mists, Makoto was right behind him. And for them alone, a single question rung out crystal-clear.

"Do you Really think your mother would be proud of what you are now?"

They had no answer for it.

But what they did have an answer for was Howard, as he glanced in their direction. "I... Yeah," They took a second to respond - glancing back to Haguru, who still had the pieces. Hopefully, Amor would be able to make something of the remains - being that it was just in two pieces, maybe he'd even be able to fix it if he so wished.

Though, eager to turn the subject away from themself, they'd glance to Howard. "How about you - are... Are you okay?" They asked.

howard slayte