"Beside the meds? Nah. I can't smoke without a nurse swiping it. Just keep doing what you're doing." The admin nodded thoughtfully to himself. "Which is good work."

Team Rocket would need many more Genesects by the time the war was in full swing. Artillery was a cornerstone of battle, after all. Even if Howard didn't excel in combat, he recognized the ability of Rocket's mobile artillery platforms. Even if they were blasphemous to the field that Howard worked in.

His eye twitched.

"Just pick a Pokémon you love, Oscar." Howard snickered as he slumped into the bed and closed his eye. "It's not rocket science."

For Oscar Clayton, it may as well have beem.

---

oscar clayton

Howard had an innate charm that Oscar found endearing. Even when he said things that made Oscar want to pile drive him through the hospital bed, the man could not help but be likable. Oscar smiled, knocking the edge of the bed with his knuckle. "I'm glad you're alright. Get well soon, work will be a drag without you."

Oscar gave one last wave before exiting Howard's room, letting out a deep breath as he decompressed from the social activity. He informed the nurses that Howard was awake and probably needed medication before departing for home. On the way, Oscar rolled several candidates for synchronization in his mind. Boris, Grievous, Mustakrakish, Lancer, all of them were powerful soldiers that have served Oscar well. He cared for them deeply, but was their bond strong enough?

As Oscar arrived at his apartment and sat at his desk, he continued his considerations. Yet no one seemed capable, at least without a great deal of effort. Maybe he should just forego a Sygna Suit entirely. He has made it just fine without one after all, which fix what was not broken? No, it had to be done. The benefits were to numerous to ignore, a better quality of life would make it all worth it. But who would be his partner pokemon?

As Oscar stressed over what to do, the black dewpider Clavis would crawl out to comfort his master. Clavis had been Oscar's loyal pet since his days in Alola, the last living of the three original pokemon Oscar had brought with him to Hoenn. As the spider crawled upon Oscar's shoulder, he would chuckle and lightly rub the creature's bubble helmet. Clavis was not much of a fighter, so Oscar has had to leave the tyke at home. But as he stared into the spider's smiling face, he could not help but consider a daring idea.

"Clavis, how would you like to get back in the field?"

howard slayte