For all the friends and enemies on both sides of the rope, Miles finds himself having a pretty good time. As the two teams heave moves fly the latest ending on Merlino who decides on an ice punch. Miles can't help but smirk despite his aching muscles. He's not gonna let Merlino have his way this time and so with a smirk He orders his own pokemon to follow up. "Stop the ice in its tracks with a light fire blast!" And so as the ice begins to spread the fire begins to consume it. Miles wanted to win as much as anyone else here and so he too wouldn't falter.

JDmovv3V+50
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Blue team sitting at 674!

Miles sits by the infinity industries table alongside a small team of researchers who served under him. For all the excitement the science fair instills in him the sound of Fernando Silph on the main stage brought a certain sickness to him and so he's chosen to sit for now. Still, he's gotten better at dealing with the disgust that came around Silph, he attributes it to his growing stronger in the time since his last passing of the man. Time spent with Rocket, with Stormy and slowly building self allowed him to better navigate pressures that would have put him out of commission months ago.

He knows coworkers and friends wander the floors and in time he'd stand and begin to visit, but for now, he sits biding his time. In the moment.

Chu-e hasn't an answer, but to know Miles isn't alone in these worries brings some measure of calm to the man. Miles focuses on the tree for a moment. It's perfectly still unchanging to the lone eye, but internally much like the organization, it was shifting with its own secrets. "After Sootopolis something is going to give." He says it offhandedly it's not as much treasonous as it is an observation.

Miles' plans are few and far between if only because the researcher doesn't know entirely what he's capable of, but he knows what's to go down in Sootopolis and a measure of him agrees with the move at least strategically. It was why he approved the plan on his side. It came with certain addendums of course. Every precaution had to be taken not to disrupt or harm the lives already in Sootopolis. As long as its people were kept safe and allowed free passage after their plans Miles could warrant the move. It would serve as a place to cool down and realign themselves away from league eyes and truly deal with the unrest in the organization. It gave them space to work everything out, and hopefully in that space things would begin to calm down.

"In the time I've been in the organization, Team Rocket has been a family for me. You all picked me up when I was at my lowest and gave me a home, gave me the means to begin working through my pain. You all are like brothers and sisters more than coworkers, and I know mamy who roam these halls feel similarly." He thinks back on the number of comrades and friends who he's supported and have supported him in turn. How tightly knit those bonds had become in so short a time. He needn't look any further than Chu-e himself as proof of that.

"But something has to change, after Sootopolis. and I don't believe that change will come if we allow Gavin to continue as he does. I'll confront Gavin and his sector alone if need be when that time comes." He'd offer his friend a small smile.

"I'm sorry Chu-e I know I must've put you in an inconvenient spot. After all, you've done for me."

And he truly is sorry. Because he wouldn't have survived in Kanto. Years ago Miles would have been shot where he stood for vocalizing even a quarter of the thoughts they shared, but in the here and now he stands willing not only to fight but to talk for what he believes in.

He's chosen route 123 for two reasons:

A: It was full of life. With constant showers and greenery, this part of Hoenn was known for its abundance of vegetation especially in the warmer months.

B: It was secluded. Not many people came this deep into the route, most traveling this way halted their journeys at Mt. Pyre, and so they were off the beaten path.

It's a group of four traveling with the tree including himself. natalie fairchild was the first, a scientist placed under him by THEO BECKETT , which was reason enough not to trust the woman, but she'd proven herself wiser than most in the labs, and thus useful. She'd be serving as his second today, and while wary Miles was pleased enough to have a competent researcher at his side.

The second was priam conrad an elite agent who Miles admittedly had a slight affinity for. His general attitude brought with him a certain levity that Miles could appreciate seeing as 'levity' was far too scarce in their line of work. Priam had experience with an assortment of these trees and would serve as a human subject in the experiment alongside himself. He was a good man.

The third was a grunt Emma Wolfe had recommended to Miles personally, she was rough around the edges, but she apparently had a good heart one that'd been too caught up in the machinations of Cillian Quinn and Theo as of late, but he hopes peggie vela finds some measure of peace in the work they do today.

The group of four would remain undercover as they traversed the route until finally, they arrive deep enough in the route to unload and begin the days work. The researcher throws a pokeball revealing an Excadrill signaling that it's time to begin. "Medit make a hole as we discussed."

"If anyone has pokemon to help with the planting now would be a good time to let them loose, we'll also need to section off the area as much as we can."

"Does anyone have any questions or concerns?"

An urasring swipes and Miles Narrowly avoids. Where he'd normally fend off the creature with his team he'd left them back protecting a group of travelers from the remainder of the pack. He'd come on rocket business scouting the area for a good place to root the tree, and while he'd found it, he'd also found a group of ursaring alongside some foolish travelers. He'd managed to separate the pack while his and another's pokemon dealt with the majority of bear pokemon. However it left him and this other to deal with a final bear on their lonesome, without any of their own monsters to fight back.

The man isn't a stranger nor is he a friend, but he isn't moonlighting as Viper and so Miles curbs his hostility in favor of keeping his cover and surviving the situation.

"Any ideas stranger?" The bear encroaches upon the two.


x

It'd been a more than pleasant date. The two were taking a tour around Sootopolis via cruise, Stormy had suggested it and Miles was happy to oblige spending anytime he could with his girlfriend. Over the course, he'd just found moments staring at her over the sea admiring that warmth she constantly emanated knowing that at the end of the day this magnificent woman for all she did in and for the world would find herself in his arms after all was said and done.

Even when she's flustered on the phone she's too cute. He'd watched her earlier fumble with the device holding in a chuckle, or two only for the device to ring again and that all too familiar apologetic look to appear on her face. It was nice being on the other side of the conversation for once, after all, he'd had the same look on a number of their dates.

"Pirates? Sounds exciting." He laughs pulling the woman into his chest, a kiss finds itself placed atop her forehead.

How about we deal with the problem together, and then maybe we'll have enough time for lunch?" In truth Miles could use a little exercise and the tournament was coming up. More than both of those things combined, however, Miles was simply happy he didn't have to hide anything from the woman, whether it was his combat prowess or otherwise. Of course, it'd be Stormy's show, but to be her assist was more than enough, and it made for an exciting date activity. It also gave him an opportunity to show off in front of his girlfriend not that he'd ever say it.

"One of the infinite reasons I love you, is because your heart calls you to do what's right. Don't hesitate on account of me, cause I'll be there with you no matter what. Remember, we promised." He thinks back on that night only days ago.

"Now are pirates an everyday occurrence or..." He teases further because when else would he be able to joke about pirates as an actual issue.

"Back to base, I have to run tests on these samples, it's a mission complete." Because for all their talk their day-to-day was still their day-to-day. Still, he smiles, "Coming from the office of espionage and secrets I can't say that's too reassuring." It's a joke if only because the irony is too good to pass up, still Miles feels Killian is being honest with him.

"Not just people like me, but people like you as well, my friend." And he means it for all the credit Killian gave Miles the researcher now understands that Killian isn't too far from himself in terms of humanity. It solidifies that there is still a chance for this organization.

He begins to feel the researchers in the room stir. And so Miles moves into the shadows knowing he's made something of an interesting ally in the caves today. "Perhaps there's hope for us yet Killian."

Jealousy and hate were as volatile as they were effective in the case of Matias Silph, to play with him was to play with a poison the slowly killed itself, not much unlike Miles at the end of the day, still Miles has an antidote.

"What of your other siblings, Yui? Stormy?"

He keeps his tone even, though his fist is clenched tighter now. This response would determine the fate of the two. Serena Malcolm needed to finish soon, all hell had a chance of breaking loose if she did not.

In so few words the pieces finally align, and so Miles is left with a decision, one he'd waylay for the moment.

"And who am I little Silph?"

Like Krabbys in a barrel these Silphs were, he needs to make sure Stormy is safe from them.

"Am I worth the life of your brother?"

Too vague, try again.

The electivire toes the line and so Aurorus sets up its own defenses, a glow of its eyes and an assortment of light screens are placed between the two sides.

"Speak plain little Silph. For what?

The comms line remains open.

He smirks, "And what pray tell are the qualities of the right person."

She makes it seem like her standards are low when they both know how far that is from the truth, and for good reason. Aria deserved the best, for she was one of the best.

"For all the chaos and war in the region, I'd say the dating game hasn't been better, not to mention we're nearing summer. You know you can pull any he, she, or they off the streets with little issue."

The question is why hasn't she, she hadn't even mentioned any bad dates as of late.

"I don't think you've been putting yourself out there for all your talk Aria."

Well, that's something they share at least. If only for Stormy's sake he doesn't want Fernando dead, then again he never truly did he wants him to feel powerless, to watch everything he has everything he worked for topple, to understand what it truly feels like to lose everything. To become one of those he spent his days trampling over.

"And where does that leave you when the dust clears little Silph. I'm not in the market of trading one despot for a less stable one."


He hears Serena on the comms, he wouldn't let Matias near her, even if she'd wanted.


"You sound paranoid. Worried about karmic retribution?"

"You want what he has."

Miles doesn't flinch at the question. The true heir to your family.

"From the outside looking in, you're just a jealous little brother. He probably regards you as such at the very least. Harmless."

In a family of despots and petty tyrants, Miles imagines this is how they think. Though there is an outlier in the family. How Stormy managed to maintain her sense of self in a family like this he'd never be able to understand.