Zev suppressed the frown at Lulu's sudden interest in his well-being. He chalked it up to her natural curiosity as a scientist. "I'm fine. I've never felt better." [break][break]

That much was true. The many months since his contact with Necrozma had worn away the memories of what life had been like before his Avatarship. Imprisonment on that Megalopolan spaceship had been a frustrating reminder of that time, but at least it had been brief. [break][break]

Lulu's comment on how taxing his powers must be stood out to Zev as peculiar. Why did she care? "Beast Neon has data on my energy readings if that's what you're wondering about," he offered.

TAGS – Lulu Flint[break]
NOTES – social

[attr="class","pkmn"]

jayden cross's side comment observing howard slayte's newfound arrogance was a suitable opening for Zev to speak up. [break][break]

"Your eagerness to volunteer for the glory of Team Rocket speaks well of both of you," the God General said, addressing both Howard and Shred as he locked eyes with each of them in turn. [break][break]

Zev was aware, of course, that a few people in the room would find his own words hollow. Still, keeping up with the charade was part and parcel of such meetings. The false civility held the crime syndicate together; otherwise, there would be all-out brawling. [break][break]

"But the decisions to march where and do what are not up to you. We," he meant the bosses, underbosses, and himself, "will take your suggestions into consideration as we strategize." [break][break]

Oldale and Rustboro were the obvious next steps on the road to total takeover, and if Declan wanted to utilize Dynamax, then so be it. But war required careful planning, not reckless charges. Howard acted now as if the strategy for Petalburg had not come from higher up the chain of command. [break][break]

Fixing the admin with a cold stare, Zev said, "Don't forget that your victory here was not yours alone, but all of ours."

TAGS – disseminate iii[break]
NOTES[break]
– Reminds Howard and Shred of their place.

[attr="class","pkmn"]

In an instant, Zev understood. This man was not Kyle. At least, he was not the Kyle he had known—or thought he'd known. His Kyle had been intelligent and confident in an unassuming way, always acting with a plan several layers deep. This Kyle was an imposter, a crude caricature in the real Kyle's body. [break][break]

Rage finally flared white-hot in Zev's chest. His expression contorted with fresh fury. [break][break]

"Don't give me that bullshit," he snapped. Type: Null mirrored its master, rumbling a threat low in its throat. "If you're not going to tell me, then I'll rip the answers out of you myself." [break][break]

His Pokémon leaped at Kyle, front paws extended to aim a CRUSH CLAW at the man. Zev followed at a slower pace, stalking forward through the tall grass with single-minded intent.

TAGS – kyle lopez[break]
NOTES[break]
– Zev is wearing combat gear; he is NOT armored by his powers[break]
– Realizes there is something wrong with Kyle and is pissed about it[break]
– Type: Null uses CRUSH CLAW on Kyle[break][break]

MP EARNED[break]

[attr="class","pkmn"]

A section of the Pokémon Center's wall exploded inward as an unfamiliar Pokémon burst into the building. Zev's entire body tensed and his keen gaze snapped toward it, black crystals quickly spreading across his body. They stopped at his jawline when it did not attack, leaving his frowning face uncovered. [break][break]

In many subtle ways, the creature reminded him of Miraidon from the RKS simulation. But in all the obvious ways, it was completely different. Was it an alternate version, perhaps, as some Paradox Pokémon seemed to be for each other? [break][break]

Slowly, Zev's armor retreated back into his skin as the conversation resumed. His eyes flickered to Naomi Sato as she claimed to be helping Neffatari Nzingha. This was not part of the plan he'd discussed with his wife; either this collaboration was part of Nenet's plan, or the Head Scientist was lying. [break][break]

Zev remained silent as he focused his attention on Walsh. The Blue Orb, the Sootopolis arrangement, the confirmation to kill the League's Avatars—none of that was worth a comment. [break][break]

Then Monroe arrived and mentioned claiming Ultra Space as Rocket territory. mint frost earned a nod from the God General when he mentioned the limited timeframe for visits to those realms. [break][break]

"I've been exploring Lesser Megalopolis extensively, myself. There are pockets that are safe where we can begin establishing ourselves, but it will likely take some time considering the high level of danger there," Zev offered after jayden cross and Cillian Quinn mentioned the Border and Ultra Deep Sea. [break][break]

Not that they were any less dangerous than Lesser Megalopolis. [break][break]

howard slayte's inquiry regarding Sea and Land Hoenn prompted Zev to raise another possibility. He locked eyes with fern delaney before adding, "Admin Delaney and I have also been investigating new Ultra Wilds locations as we look for the other shiny Tapus. Places without rifts here that the League doesn't know about yet." [break][break]

He paused to give Fern a chance to speak on the topic.

TAGS – disseminate iii[break]
NOTES[break]
– Surprised by Koraidon's sudden appearance and thinks it looks somewhat like Miraidon.[break]
– Considers Nomi's bluff but chooses neither to confirm nor deny it.[break]
– Offers to acquire Lesser Megalopolis on behalf of Team Rocket since they did not acquire Ultra Megalopolis after all.[break]
– Also mentions that he and Fern have been exploring other Ultra Wilds locations that the League doesn't know about yet (or so he thinks).

[attr="class","pkmn"]

The war machine of Team Rocket marched on. After Petalburg, expansion into Oldale and Rustboro meant securing the routes along the way. And the League, of course, put up considerable resistance. [break][break]

The playbook was similar, in ways, to what had happened in Kanto. But instead of Zev's contacts among the admins and underbosses shooting him like a gun at different objectives, he was the one in charge. The grunts that served as his bullets struck hard and fast where he aimed them. [break][break]

Still, sometimes it was necessary to deploy himself. Reports of a strong League presence on Route 102 prompted him to enter the thick woodland and high grass. With his Type: Null at his side, he set out to disrupt any displays of opposition. [break][break]

Instead, he found an unlikely face, panicked and desperate. [break][break]

"Kyle?" Zev exclaimed, flabbergasted. "You're alive?" [break][break]

Months had passed since his encounter with the ghost—or hallucination—of the former Top Champion at the Border. Zev had decided since then that Kyle was well and truly dead, never to be seen again. [break][break]

Yet there was no mistaking the person who'd frozen to the spot several meters away. [break][break]

No relief flooded Zev at the sight of the man who'd been his co-ruler for twenty years in a dream. Nor did anger seize him at the knowledge a foe had thwarted death. He simply adjusted the calculations of war in his head and came to a single conclusion: [break][break]

kyle lopez had to be killed again, or at the very least, incapacitated or captured. [break][break]

Yet he did not command his Pokémon to attack. With a hand on his Type: Null to keep the monstrous abomination from charging, the God General fixed his gaze upon Kyle and demanded, "How did you do it?"

TAGS – kyle lopez[break]
NOTES[break]
– Zev is wearing combat gear; he is NOT armored by his powers[break]
– Asks Kyle how the fuck he managed to come back to life[break][break]

MP EARNED[break]

[attr="class","pkmn"]

Lulu's mention of a second crash site in Ultra Crater prompted an approving nod from Zev, though he wondered if two ships would yield enough material for their own. He made a mental note to keep an eye out for others in the new rifts he and fern delaney were still exploring. [break][break]

Zev made to leave, but saw in her expression that she had something else to say. He corrected his half-turn away from her and tilted his head. [break][break]

"Do you need anything from me?" he asked.

TAGS – Lulu Flint[break]
NOTES – social

[attr="class","pkmn"]

Zev listened to the back-and-forth around him without interrupting: Elisabeth Fiorelli's scheme (he did not believe howard slayte actually knew, judging by the look on the admin's face), Hitoshi Inoue's report on the state of Petalburg, Naomi Sato's attempt to deflect thinly veiled accusations of fraternization, Shred's outburst. [break][break]

Even when the conversation shifted to illeana reyes as the Avatar of Palkia did Zev remain silent, observing his peers' reactions. Despite the antagonistic tension between them, her comments on their similar nature persisted in his memory. [break][break]

Only when THEO BECKETT mentioned Solgaleo was Zev compelled to speak. [break][break]

"I've already spoken with Underboss Quinn about Solgaleo," the God General said, meeting Cillian Quinn's eyes briefly before pinning his gaze on Theo and Howard in turn. His tone was neutral, almost dismissive. [break][break]

"I have someone infiltrating the League on our behalf already. Greyson Connors has unwittingly recruited her into Ultra Space research, so it's only a matter of time before she discovers where they are keeping Solgaleo."

TAGS – disseminate iii[break]
NOTES[break]
– Listens without interruption to all the discussion, but speaks up when Solgaleo is mentioned. He says he already talked with Cillian about acquiring Solgaleo and has someone (Neffatari Nzingha) who has already infiltrated the League for this purpose.

[attr="class","pkmn"]

Zev glanced at the workbench Lulu indicated. In some ways, the Megalopolan battery resting upon its surface seemed familiar; in other ways, it was totally foreign. [break][break]

"I know there's a Megalopolan ship in the Ultra Deep Sea that we can use for parts," he said, recalling the many reports he'd read about that world. The battery had likely come from it. "We should look for others that might exist beyond the rifts." [break][break]

He directed his attention back to the scientist. [break][break]

"You have my full support in this. Money and manpower are not an issue; just ask for what you need."

TAGS – Lulu Flint[break]
NOTES – social

[attr="class","pkmn"]

Thunderous noise filled Zev's ears from thousands of tons of water rushing through the cave system of Meteor Falls. He stalked down the rocky trail, every sense on high alert. His Walking Wake scouted ahead, choosing the safest route across slippery stone. [break][break]

Reports of strange Pokémon aglow with golden light had drawn Zev to that place. His bond with Necrozma prompted an interest in any new sources of light or energy. Perhaps if he could capture one such Pokémon, he and oscar clayton could study it for the light extraction machine the scientist was building. [break][break]

Farther down the spacious cavern, a sudden light flashed. [break][break]

"Over there," Zev instructed his Paradox Pokémon, who darted down the path toward the illumination. The man followed at a slower, more cautious pace. At the bottom of the slope, he paused. [break][break]

Someone else had come. He could not see them—not yet—but the telltale signature of Infinity Energy told him all he needed to know.

TAGS – illeana reyes[break]
NOTES – mission

[attr="class","pkmn"]

"Then you're dismissed." [break][break]

Zev turned his attention away from both Dorian and his laptop, resuming his earlier task of sorting through the reports on his desk. He did not look up even as the other man left the office. [break][break]

War was almost upon them, and there was still so much to do.

TAGS – dorian westcliff[break]
NOTES – mission (repeat)

[attr="class","pkmn"]

Zev inclined his head toward fern delaney when the admin and their shiny Tapu Koko arrived, a silent acknowledgement of their recent work together. [break][break]

Shred's more noisier entrance drew Zev's attention away from the other conversations; Shred had been the only Beast who'd failed to report to Zev before the Mossdeep and Petalburg operations. [break][break]

But instead of rising to speak with the obvious new Avatar, the God General remained where he sat. As he continued sipping his coffee, he watched the exchange unfold between Shred and howard slayte. It quickly devolved into childish theatrics, put to death by the arrival of none other than declan walsh. [break][break]

And Elisabeth Fiorelli. [break][break]

Zev stood as the others did at the arrival of their Boss. During the quiet shuffle to sit down again, he took the chair next to Elisabeth—not because he cared she was alive, but because her appearance drove home a point in his favor. [break][break]

That they were gods after all, and they defied death. [break][break]

"Well done in Petalburg," Zev said to Elisabeth, his tone conveying none of the warmth that words of praise normally did. "Regirock aside, I trust the advice I gave you helped with your assault on the city." [break][break]

He met priam conrad's eyes and gave the blue-haired Beast the slightest nod of approval, then glanced at Howard. [break][break]

The admin received no such nod. [break][break]

Zev finished his coffee and directed his attention back to Declan.

TAGS – disseminate iii[break]
NOTES[break]
– Silently acknowledges Fern and shiny Tapu Koko with a tilt of his head[break]
– Silently suffers the yelling of imbeciles (Howard and Shred)[break]
– Rises when Declan arrives and pointedly sits down next to Elisabeth[break]
– Tells Elisabeth "good job," nods in approval at Priam, looks at Howard but only finishes his coffee before paying attention to Walsh

[attr="class","pkmn"]

Despite Howard's threats, Zev's smile remained, easing into an expression of mild amusement. The admin was wrong in so many ways, but the instincts that caused stubbornness to manifest in humans would not allow him to believe otherwise. The acceptance of their existential smallness was enough to destroy them, so they refused. [break][break]

They would never stop refusing. [break][break]

"Whatever you need to tell yourself so you can sleep better at night, Slayte," Zev said, unfazed. [break][break]

He moved from one side of Howard's bed to the other, a dark shadow set against the backdrop of the deepening twilight. The door to Howard's room was still open, throwing a rectangle of light from the hallway into the chamber. Zev stood within it, haloed by its brightness, to give Howard a final, dismissive glance. [break][break]

"Shout and threaten and throw your phone all you like. It will mean nothing in the end." [break][break]

Zev did not need to remind Howard to whom such behavior did matter. He let the unspoken words linger in the space between them for the briefest moment before turning to leave.

TAGS – howard slayte[break]
NOTES – social

[attr="class","pkmn"]