[attr="class","header"]RATHER BE THE HUNTER THAN THE PREY

[attr="class","setting"]

He stared impassively down at the tent, with the DRK Triad from their vantage point, his gaze taking in the area around the tent. Though not obvious, he was scanning for any dangers or obstacles that could get in the way of their objective. He had already picked out a few people working under them, or as he liked to call them, grunts.
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Hearing her comment, he simply made an affirmative noise, seeing no point in giving a response. Like her, he simply wanted to get this done and over with. So the quicker they dealt with the problem, the better.
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Another noise of affirmation before he turned away from assessing their surroundings to respond to her final comment. "There doesn't seem to be any posted guards. They're confident in their ability to keep ahold of any data they've attained. Confident that no one will attack them. I've counted a small number of grunts that work under them in the tent. Their confidence borders on arrogance; we can use that to our advantage. I think we should create a distraction and bring them out. Then I'll call their attention to me while you get the research."
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He said all this in an emotionless voice, making it seem like he was reading some script telling him what to say.[break] Alexandra Briarwood
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S0FWWcTr

[attr="class","oocnotes"] + ooc notes

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

The perpetual frown the wore actually twitched up into a little bit of a smile. Her gaze openly studied him, giving little away to her actual impression. So far, she liked him. Tolerated may be a better word. He didn’t try to chit chat, he didn’t try to propose some crazy scheme. Sometimes, the simpliest plan was the best. Hopefully, nothing would get in their way.

“Alright, let’s do this then.”

The ex-beast was sucked into her own shadow, leaving Ryker alone to his own devices. Not everyone appreciated being sirited away against their will.

Lex and the Shadow Gardevoir reappeared on the dark edges of the campground. She was still, silent as a ghost. The only movemnet was the slow roll of a Voltorb. It’s metallic body danced with the lights of the surrounding tera crystal towers.

Before they even knew what hit them, the pokemon EXPLODED in a violent burst, rocking the ground beneath them and roaring off the cavern’s walls. Shouts and chaos ensued, the trap sprung for her partner to take advantage of.

---

ryker hayes

QJkiYNB_
Total: 107

[attr="class","header"]RATHER BE THE HUNTER THAN THE PREY

[attr="class","setting"]

Seemed she agreed with the plan. Good. He wasn't usually the planning type. Or at least not unless it was just himself. But he had to admit his ability to plan had gotten better since joining Team Rocket. Even if they were usually very simple plans.
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As she was whisked away, his attention went back to the tent they had been watching before. He awaited the signal, prepared to jump into action at a moment's notice.
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And there it was. Seeing the explosion followed by the grunts racing out of the tent, he acted.
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Using Ares, his Gallade, he teleported to the edge of camp, well within view for them to notice. Though to make sure they took notice of him, he started to taunt their security measures, working to rile them up enough to keep their attention on him.
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While it wasn't a tactic he used very often, it was effective. And like always, they fell into the trap. It was almost sad how easily such a tactic worked on them. In fact, one was so riled up by the taunts that he was stupid enough to think he could take him on personally and charged at him.
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He easily dodged, tripping the grunt up before turning his attention to the other grunts, goading the rest to attack him.[break] Alexandra Briarwood
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d3vq14Q1

[attr="class","oocnotes"] + ooc notes

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

The remnants of the fainted VOLTORB smoked in the wake of the explosion, spreading a hazy fog over the stony ground around the camp. It was an unexpected perk of the move, giving her even more cover. The ex-beast waited patiently, crouched in a shadow like Pyroar stalking its prey. Her amber gaze shifted over to the assassin. She watched him, judging as she always did. Her head tilted slightly, neither impressed nor disappointed for the time being.

She moved swiftly and silently in the cover of the crystals like a ghost amongst gravestones. The hideous creature that resembled a Gardevoir followed in her wake, half present in their plane and half phased into the phantom realm. Lex caught the shimmer of a barrier erected around the tent itself. The PROTECT prevented her from entering the area, but that wouldn’t stop the Gardevoir, “Kill whatever’s keeping that up,” she ordered.

The Shadow pokemon obeyed, slipping into another PHANTOM FORCE to sneak past the PROTECT and eliminate the source.

---

ryker hayes

8|Uz_qJ9
Total: 146

[attr="class","header"]RATHER BE THE HUNTER THAN THE PREY

[attr="class","setting"]

Trusting that his partner would be able to do her part of the job, he kept his attention focused on the grunts. As the one he had tripped up rejoined the fight, he sidestepped a punch from another one, causing him to stumble as he met no resistance. Finding them was child’s play and he could easily finish them off if he so wanted, but at the moment, in order to buy his partner some time, he was playing with them.
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He wasn’t even bothering with any weapons he had brought with him, just dodging and tripping his opponents up. Ares stood on standby, ready to step in if he needed to, but anyone with working eyes would be able to see that his fighting skills outclassed the grunts. It was clear that the grunts usually attacked in groups in order to intimidate their opponents, but as riled up as they were at him, they were fighting more clumsily than usual.
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As another swung his fist at him, he went on the offensive, moving his head to one side to avoid the punch and grabbing his fist, yanking him even more off balance. Before he could even get over his shock at him changing tactics, he had already stabbed him in the throat with one of the multitude of knives he kept on his person.
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Seeing one of their comrades go down, they briefly hesitated. It was clear they were debating whether or not they could actually take him on. Their own pride got the better of them though, and the battle recommenced.[break] Alexandra Briarwood
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I_4FH|z_

[attr="class","oocnotes"] + trying to stretch the battle out a bit

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

Despite it only being a few moment,s LEx was growing impatient. She tapped another pokeball on her hip to expend the pent up energy. She continued to watch Ryker work in the meantime, finding herself mildly impressed as the battle raged on.

A sudden, sharp shriek echoed out of the tent, abruptly caught off by something. Lex’s attention snapped back to her own task, narrowing her gaze on the shadows that stirred past the billowing fabric. She tensed, ready to spring once the PROTECT fell.

Only a moment later, the barrier glitched out of existence and the ex-beast grinned. She rushed towards the opening, slipping inside and out of Ryker’s view. The inside of the tent was dim. A shattered light scattered broken glass across the floor. Smoldering embers seemed to grow brighter by the second. Embers became flames as a fire snatched up the parchment on the table. She’d have to make this quick.

Lex got to work, shoving whatever she could in the bag slung over her shoulder. Books, papers, data pads, you name it. A woman, pale and distorted by fear laid crumpled in the corner. The Shadow Gardevoir was hunched over her prey, greedily sucking them dry as they lay dying on the floor.

The fire grew brighter, raging across the tent and up the fabric side. She could barely see in the thick black smoke, “Hecate, that’s enough! Come on!”

Reluctantly, the specter rose, long, bony hands reaching to take their trainer and TELEPORT her back outside the tent as it was consumed by fire.

---

ryker hayes

Rj2fDY1j
Total: 250

[attr="class","header"]RATHER BE THE HUNTER THAN THE PREY

[attr="class","setting"]

A piercing shriek from the tent distracted one of his opponents, earning him a cut through one eye as a reminder to pay attention to the battle he was in. The grunt attacked him in anger, actually shoving away a few of his companions to get at him. Having no interest in continuing the fight with someone too enraged to properly think his moves through, he cut him down just in time to see his partner slip inside the tent.
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Good, she was inside. That meant he could stop holding back in order to buy her some time.
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Changing his stance, he gave up all pretense of playing defense and attacked the remaining grunts with a new vigor. Two were taken out immediately, unprepared for his onslaught of attacks, and cut down when they couldn’t keep up. As their bodies hit the ground, he focused his attention on the remaining two, one being cut down with a Psycho Cut from Ares when she tried to run.
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Despite the odds being against him, the remaining grunt tried to swing a knife at him. Raising his hand, he used the hidden blade he kept up his sleeve to block the attack before using his other hidden blade to stab him through the heart, killing him.
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With the last one dead, he reclaimed his weapons before noticing his partner was no longer in the tent.[break] Alexandra Briarwood
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h8r3seVQ

[attr="class","oocnotes"] + ooc notes

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

Lex took a moment to peek in the bag slung over her shoulder. After a little rummaging, she seemed satisfied with what she managed to slip away with. Surely someone with a lot more brains could make sense of this stuff. She was just the thief, and that’s how she liked it.

Behind her, the tent went up in flames, consuming the evidence that remained inside. She sauntered over towards Ryker, nodding in approval as she appraised the litter of dead bodies still oozing from their wounds, “Nice work,” which was a compliment of the highest regard in her terms, “We’re done here.”

The ex-beast held out her hand as if waiting for her Shadow Gardevoir to hand her something. The phantom glitched in place, fading in and out of view. An envelope suddenly placed itself in Lex’s hand. She promptly tossed the contents towards Ryker, “Here’s your payment. I’ll deliver this where it needs to go,” she shrugged the bag higher into her shoulder, “Call me if you need anything,” a sly smile slipped across her dark red lips, and she disappeared along with the Shadow Gardevoir.

---

ryker hayes

lo_NjLGg
Total: 349

[attr="class","header"]RATHER BE THE HUNTER THAN THE PREY

[attr="class","setting"]

He eyed the burning tent before his gaze flickered to his partner. It seemed like they had both accomplished their part of the mission. As long as that was the case, he was fine with it. Though he wouldn't have minded taking on one of the dark triad. Oh well, he would just have to make do with having taken out their grunts.
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"Seems like you've accomplished your part of the mission as well, well done," he said simply. Considering dishing out compliments wasn't exactly his forte, that was the best that could be expected of him.
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Deftly catching the envelope that was tossed his way, he only gave it a brief look over before tucking it away somewhere. "Same to you," he said in response to her question, watching as they both teleported away.
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Speaking of...
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"Ares, it's time to go," he called out to his companion. The Gallade immediately came to his side at the call.
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With Ares rejoining him, he grabbed hold of the Gallade and they too disappeared in a flash of light.[break] Alexandra Briarwood
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9R2ifquO

[attr="class","oocnotes"] + ooc notes

[attr="class","pokeclass"]