[attr="class","box3"]



It would be unwise to laugh. This is something he reminds himself of. Katherine Fairburne has never been someone who he had underestimated, and he knows well that more than one of her favourite weapons of choice, the insults are a distraction.
[break][break]
She will try to kill him if he gives her the chance.
[break][break]
He will try to kill her because they stand at opposing sides.
[break][break]
The disembodied ghost disappears into what Mars easily recognizes as a PHANTOM FORCE, and at that moment, a single whistled note tells the Zeraora what to do: attack the Elite Four. He chargers towards her, fasts as lighting while PLASMA sparks up at its paws.
[break][break]
”Oh, I’d be fine with the meteor killing some people.” They’d be better off without more than a few of them, in Mars’ own opinion. Plus, it’s not like he’ll go and share his actual thoughts on this whole plan with the League. That would be stupid.
[break][break]
Once the phantom returns to strike the Thunderclap Pokémon, its timing might be favourable, but for now, the intent is obvious.
[break][break]
The masked man who goes by Tuesday is calm through it all.
[break][break]
”I’d say it’s more about seizing opportunities, no? Mount Pyre being attacked won’t stop you all from saving the day and being the heroes of the world… Or is it that you don’t trust in the League’s plan, Miss Fairburne?”
[break][break]
As he speaks, he disappears, hidden in the fog. He knows well to stay out of The Malevolent's gravitational influence.



[break][break]

---

MASK / DISGUISE

[break]+ Zeraora charges towards Kat with PLASMA FISTS
[break]+ Mars disappears in the fog bc gravity bad

[break][break]
MERITS EARNED: 80 MP

[attr="class","box3"]



Oh, Katherine. Same as always. In another place and another time, Mars would laugh at those kinds of comments.
[break][break]
On this day, though, he does no more than tilt his head while standing far behind his Zeraora.
[break][break]
”Pokkenger? Sounds like you’ve been watching too much kids’ TV lately.” He chides, tutting. After all, everyone knows that vigilantes are no more than the League’s way to sell children ideals of justice and lawfulness in a way that appeals to them. What good have vigilantes ever done? The Pokkenger didn’t even last as an Elite Four member.
[break][break]
A growl leaves the Zeraora when the strange ghost takes some of its energy, and with it, a DISCHARGE of electricity is released. Thankfully, there had been no need to call the Zeraora to battle until this moment – its health had been untouched.
[break][break]
The ghost doesn’t look like anything he’s ever seen before. Should he assume it’s one of Katherine Fairburne’s Shadow pokémon? The dark aura is familiar, but he can’t be too sure. It could be anything, really, so he remains cautious.
[break][break]
That caution lies behind a front of nonchalance:
[break][break]
”That being said, if you like my outfit, you should see some of the other guys. We’ve got some in full armour.”
[break][break]
He’d wink at her, smirking teasingly, but you know… for as helpful as they are, masks have certain disadvantages.




[break][break]

---

MASK / DISGUISE

[break]+ Zeraora is hurt by PAIN SPLIT
[break]+ Zeraora uses DISCHARGE

[break][break]
MERITS EARNED: 70 MP

[attr="class","box3"]



Fate can seem so very fickle at times. When he sees her through the mist, Mars finds himself wondering if some mercurial deity is playing tricks on him like others have done before. Dialga has been banished from this world, so who’s in charge of destiny?
[break][break]
Who should he blame for the fact that Katherine Fairburne stands only a few metres away?
[break][break]
He had been the one who teleported here in the first place, but of course he would never blame himself.
[break][break]
Should he just teleport away?
[break][break]
By the time the thought crosses his mind, it’s too late, and all he can do is act against someone who, when unmasked, Martín del Mar would call a friend. His friend, but Team Rocket’s enemy. A traitor. He had always known it would come to this, hadn’t he?
[break][break]
This is no place for sentimentalities.
[break][break]
Katherine Fairburne has always been the enemy.
[break][break]
The click of a pokéball can be heard, and in a flash of light, a white Zeraora of glowing Illumina pattern is released then. It bares its fangs at the Elite Four member, snarling.
[break][break]
”Miss Fairburne.” The man in the mask greets, his voice distorted and unrecognisable. ”Shall we?”






[break][break]

---

MASK / DISGUISE

[break]+ ILLUMINA Zeraora is released

[break][break]
MERITS EARNED: 60 MP

[attr="class","box3"]



An explosion.
[break][break]
Not all that far from the peak, standing on one of the lowest branches of a tall tree that had been clearly visible even from within the SMOKESCREEN, the underboss firmly holds on in order not to get blown away by the blast’s pressure.
[break][break]
He watches as excess energy causes his pokémon to burst. He watches as the explosion happens. He watches as fog and smoke dissipate with the shockwave. He watches as Gunner Graves and his pokémon are caught in the blast, being thrown in the air.
[break][break]
Are they dead?
[break][break]
He could teleport closer and easily finish the job if not, but in the end, the truth of the matter is that this is just one League agent amongst many. Insignificant to him. Meaningless. Even if under different circumstances Gunner Graves may have been someone who Mars identified as a potential threat and decided to deal with before he became more of a problem.
[break][break]
Eliminating League agents is not his main objective today.
[break][break]
Today, the primal point comes first and foremost.
[break][break]
Had it also been hit by the explosion? Had it been damaged?
[break][break]
If so, perhaps that would disrupt it for long enough to buy the team headed to mine Meteno some time. Perhaps it would help them with taking the primal crystal.
[break][break]
All he can really do is count his losses, prepare, and wait for another opportunity to strike.





[break][break]

---

MASK / DISGUISE

[break]+ Mars had teleported to a nearby tree
[break]+ Watches as an attempt to use METEOR BEAM on the primal point causes his BEHEEYEM to EXPLODE. Wonders if this has caused any damage to the primal point and if it will help buy time for those attempting to mine Meteno
[break]+ Wonders if Gunner and his pokémon died, prioritizes the primal point
[break]+ Prepares to strike again

[break][break]
MERITS EARNED: 570 MP

[attr="class","box3"]



Dark fumes emitted by a roaring Typhlosion clash with the fog in air, coating their surroundings in a thick SMOKESCREEN. Behind the mask, an eyebrow quirks.
[break][break]
His vision is impaired, that much is true, but only a fool would take this as a sign that his opponent has decided to retreat. Retreating would be the wise choice, that much is true, but in Mars’ experience, League officers seldom act wisely.
[break][break]
”Find them.”
[break][break]
The masked man moves cautiously, alert.
[break][break]
It would do him no good to teleport when he can’t get a proper look at these unfamiliar surroundings. He could call an Unown and make use of its gaze, but why would he do as much when he already has a way out with him? Where his vision fails him, he knows he can count on the keen senses of the Hatterene. There are many reasons why she’s one of his aces, this is one of them.
[break][break]
The forest witch senses what others can’t sense; the turbulent emotions of those who dwell in the SMOKESCREEN. The pain, the anger, and the hostility.
[break][break]
She knows to protect her master.
[break][break]
The blade is smacked right out of Gunner Graves’s hand with a second BRUTAL SWING and at that moment, the agent would perhaps see the way it vanishes in midair – as if it had never existed. Mars senses this. To think that someone would attempt to hurt him with his own creation…
[break][break]
The Beheeyem’s lights can be seen shining amongst the smoke – intermittent and weak. It’s hurt. It won’t last much longer. Mars has never believed in allowing pokémon to outlive their usefulness. He clicks his tongue once more.
[break][break]
”Primal point.”
[break][break]
The witch is returned to the confines of a pokéball, and with one last look at their opponents through smoke, her master disappears as well.
[break][break]
All that is left is the weakened and broken Beheeyem, one that begins to channel spatial energy to launch a devastating METEOR BEAM. It won’t get to do this. Be it due to its injuries, due the move being much more potent than usual due to 99943 Meteno’s proximity, or due to the amalgamation of energies that overtake the mountain, it ends up being too much for the Cerebral Pokémon’s systems to handle.
[break][break]
All that excess energy has to go somewhere.
[break][break]
When the METEOR BEAM starts charging to shoot, what occurs instead is a terrible explosion that spells the Beheeyem’s own devastation, as well of everything in the immediate area.




[break][break]

---

MASK / DISGUISE

[break]+ Can't see due to SMOKESCREEN
[break]+ Hatterene senses Gunner's hostile intent and slaps the knife out of his hand with BRUTAL SWING
[break]+ Gunner would likely see knife disappear in midair
[break]+ Mars orders Beheeyem to attack the primal point and leaves
[break]+ Beheeyem attempts to charge METEOR BEAM but in doing so it EXPLODES
[break]+ Beheeyem dies

[break][break]
MERITS EARNED: 310 MP

[attr="class","box3"]




[break]
It does not ring to him as simple recognition of a threat, not with how familiar MARISOL SIMONE is to him. If she knows who they’re dealing with, then that either makes her someone who he has faced in battle before or someone who has been affiliated with Team Rocket. Her combat style leads him to suspect the latter. A traitor, then.
[break][break]
Even worse than any simple League officer.
[break][break]
Even worse than a businessman trying to play hero.
[break][break]
He has half the mind to pull the trigger there and then, so when the command to use SWEET KISS is given, a decision is easily made. The Urshifu becomes confused by way of fay charms, yet even though it often would be, this is of no concern to its trainer.
[break][break]
At his wrist, a keystone shines, resonating with the mega stone worn by the Wushu Pokémon. Infinity energy sparks wildly, and in its light, there’s a metamorphosis. With a resounding roar, the Urshifu changes, MEGA EVOLVING.
[break][break]

[break]
CONFUSION fades at that very instant, as would all status ailments, and it’s the increase in its defences allows it to withstand the all-too-effective DISCHARGE. His nose wrinkles in annoyance at the painful electricity produced by Leonidas Stone’s Electivire, but he stands tall. Much taller than before. Quite the sight, when paired with BARNABY FINCH’s Shadow Steelix.
[break][break]
The masked man does no more than click his tongue. The ursine response to the command with a swiftness fitting of the Rapid Strike title it has been given.
[break][break]
In the blink of an eye, water gathers at its fist, and a G-MAX RAPID FLOW attack born of its SURGING STRIKES is aimed for the Blissey – powerful and too quick to be dodged.



He had come here to help BARNABY FINCH, but he has never been one to leave battles unfinished.


[break][break]

---

MASK / DISGUISE

[break]▷ URSHIFU is hit by SWEET KISS (becomes CONFUSED)
[break]▷ URSHIFU MEGA EVOLVES (CONFUSION FADES)
[break]▷ URSHIFU is hit by DISCHARGE
[break]▷ URSHIFU uses G-MAX RAPID FLOW (PHYSICAL) on BLISSEY
[break]
[break]MERITS EARNED: 120 MP
[break]

[attr="class","box3"]



A blade cutting cleanly through fresh, spilt blood, and screams of pain. The same scene repeats itself in a different manner yet again. This time, it results in no death. Gunner Graves had managed to block the attack at the very last second, but at what cost?
[break][break]
A gloved hand lets go of the blade, leaving it embedded into the special agent’s arm as if this were where it now belongs – discarded like a tool that has served its purpose.
[break][break]
He does not see the Zoroark leaping towards him, being too preoccupied by the sudden appearance of the Aromatisse. The Beheeyem does notice. Just as before, it makes use of its ALLY SWITCH, but instead of taking the place of the Hatterene, it appears where the masked man had been. Lights flicker yellow and red when the KNOCK OFF hits, the attack being effective against the Psychic type that the damage it caused is more than visible.
[break][break]
There’s a clicking sound.
[break][break]
The witch cackles.
[break][break]
Without her master being in the way, she aims to devastate. She moves from side to side, and gaining momentum, its with a BRUTAL SWING that she attacks Gunner, his pokémon, and even the Beheeyem if it does not move away in time. Through it all, she laughs.





[break][break]

---

MASK / DISGUISE

[break]+ IMPRISON IS ACTIVE (BEHEEYEM)
[break]+ MARS leaves the blade in GUNNER'S ARM
[break](Will disappear when he's more than 30 ft. away at end of battle)
[break]+ BEHEEYEM uses ALLY SWITCH to trade places with MARS
[break]+ BEHEEYEM is hit by KNOCK OFF
[break]+ HATTERENE uses BRUTAL SWING (AoE)

[break][break]
MERITS EARNED: 90 MP