"I will," Zev said, his words forming a promise he had no intention of keeping in full. Cillian would learn whatever Zev deemed relevant to the underboss' knowledge. Everything else, he preferred to keep under lock and key. [break][break]

Satisfied with the information gleaned from their conversation, the Rocket Beast rose to his feet. [break][break]

"This was enlightening. Thank you." His appreciation, at least, was genuine. "Let me know if you need anything else, Quinn. I'll be preparing for the coming conquest otherwise."

TAGS – Cillian Quinn[break]
NOTES – social

[attr="class","pkmn"]

Nomi's bluntness was new. Something about her had changed—not her hair, but an intrinsic quality that had defined her personhood. Confidence had suffused her words on the Megalopolan ship when Zev and illeana reyes stood together against Pecharunt and its puppets. [break][break]

But now, a bitterness underscored the Head Scientist's response instead. [break][break]

"Now you know better," he said. It wasn't a question. [break][break]

And perhaps he knew better, too. After all, his attempt at recruiting the Megalopolans to his side only reinforced their fears and traumas. A pity. [break][break]

"What will you do next, then?" Zev asked, not truly caring about her foolish game of peacemaking. Instead, he preferred to see her spend her time and resources on what truly mattered: finding the DRK Triad.

TAGS – Naomi Sato[break]
NOTES – mission

[attr="class","pkmn"]

In contrast, Zev did not want. He was back in Mossdeep City, and he was far away. His sandaled feet touched the asphalt of a shadowed alleyway, and he was floating through the vast expanse of space. Clouds of gas and dust curled around his obsidian limbs. The crimson light of red giants drew his starlight gaze. [break][break]

He heard Nenet, but her voice was so faint, as if she were lightyears away. Turning his head in the direction of the sound, he raised a hand to sift through the billions of planets—specks of fragile dust drifting between his fingers. [break][break]

After what felt like an eternity, he found it. Hoenn. His consciousness whipped forward through space and time. Suddenly, he recognized the side street and the sunset. The green uniforms that clothed them. The mask in her hands. [break][break]

Zev's eyes transformed back first, the empty void in his sockets solidifying into white sclera and blue irises. The starlight faded as his pupils reformed. Then the cells of his head reverted, revealing his familiar face. The metamorphosis continued in a cascade of skin and hair down the rest of his body until he appeared human again, inside and out. [break][break]

"Did you say something?" he asked, distracted, the change leaving him strangely bereft.

TAGS – Neffatari Nzingha[break]
NOTES – mission

[attr="class","pkmn"]

There it was: the most important question left unspoken by Team Rocket's leadership. [break][break]

Zev knew the answer, of course. He'd known it since the beginning of his career with the crime syndicate, all those years ago in Kanto. A good enough reason to split ways with them simply had never manifested. [break][break]

And now, when he could wipe whole cities off the map? [break][break]

"We'll have to see, won't we," the Devourer said, spreading his hands in the universal gesture of not knowing. "The extent of my mercy."

TAGS – marcus kotov[break]
NOTES – social

[attr="class","pkmn"]

Right away, Zev knew that Bryan meant a shard of Necrozma's metal body, not something akin to the miniature Necrozma that answered his beck and call. Aurelie Lefevre and Alba Evovae, along with others, had collected some from the Ancient Tomb last summer when the Galarian Dogs' shield and sword had crumbled away. [break][break]

Sitting back, Zev sifted through his mental filing cabinet for references he'd read about Blue Mulch. In the past, Bryan had given up a large amount of it to save Xerneas, then used the remainder to create the Tree of Life sapling that he guarded zealously. [break][break]

"Blue Mulch transforms Infinity Energy, doesn't it?" the assassin finally asked. It was a guess, but his tone was confident, as if he already knew the answer. [break][break]

Necrozma's ability to absorb Infinity Energy. Blue Mulch as a catalyst for change. An Avatar's blood. What outcome could that combination possibly produce when injected into another person? [break][break]

Zev pinned Bryan with an intense stare when an answer occurred to him. As unbelievable as it seemed, he wanted it to be true. "Did you gain an Avatar's powers?"

TAGS – bryan delarosa[break]
NOTES – social | pre-Prismatic Penitentiary

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Finally, Himiko's composure fell apart and she lashed out at Zev in righteous anger. On the other hand, her insults regarding Team Rocket's lack of success in Hoenn fell flat. [break][break]

First, because from what he'd read in reports and experienced himself, the crime syndicate was unusually successful in all their endeavors. And second, because the conquest was secondary to his own goals. As in Kanto, it was merely a circumstance that benefited him. [break][break]

"Take that up with Underbosses Cillian Quinn and THEO BECKETT," Zev said, unbothered. "I am sure those two veterans of the Kanto War would be interested to hear your critique of their methods here." [break][break]

He turned his attention back to the Pokémon battle. Both Ceruledge and Naganadel took the brunt of the attacks aimed at them. While the former looked like he could continue for a little longer, the latter looked fatigued, its body riddled with injuries from the fight. [break][break]

Zev whistled a different command. His Pokémon charged once more—but not at the Salandit, nor at the Zoroark. [break][break]

They aimed blade and stinger at Himiko herself.

TAGS – Yamaguchi Himiko[break]
NOTES – mission

[attr="class","pkmn"]

The sounds of Genesect Prime's tantrum stopped with such abruptness that Zev stood stock still for a long moment, waiting to see what would happen. When nothing did, he decided to slink back down to the third floor to assess the damage. [break][break]

Needless to say, the war machine's rampage had totally wrecked the area. Zev picked his way carefully over shattered furniture and fragments of broken walls. Ceiling lights, torn down from their fixtures, hung on their wiring and hinges. [break][break]

Perhaps, in the course of Genesect's wrath, it had loosened items from their hiding places. There was only one way to find out. [break][break]

TAGS – oscar clayton Hitoshi Inoue[break]
NOTES – mission | inv: 1X key[break]
– Zev moves to the 3rd floor and searches

[attr="class","pkmn"]

Zev ran up the stairs to the fourth floor, triumphant. The sounds of Genesect's rampage from below indicated just how successfully he had evaded the machine. He took the briefest moment to gather his breath, then proceeded through the rooms. [break][break]

His goal: find the key. And because of who he was, he could not imagine failure. [break][break]

As he conducted a thorough, quiet search, Zev caught a brief glimpse of Hitoshi rummaging through a liquor cabinet. He gave the grunt a nod of approval before continuing on his way. Deft hands opened desk drawers, coat closets, and hidden compartments, while trained ears listened for movement from the third floor. [break][break]

Would Genesect travel up, or down? [break][break]

TAGS – oscar clayton Hitoshi Inoue[break]
NOTES – mission | inv: 1X key[break]
– Zev moves to the 4th floor and searches

[attr="class","pkmn"]

Zev watched with dispassion as Nenet cracked open the Minior's shell. The death of a Pokémon meant nothing to him, especially if it helped him achieve his goals. And any new knowledge gained from the experiment could go a long way. [break][break]

"We can keep testing—not just different Pokémon, but different states and forms," he reassured her. "Unless, of course, there's something about Lunala that makes it unique." [break][break]

He preferred their current working theory, however. [break][break]

Directing his attention to the transformed Necrozma shard once more, Zev turned his thoughts inward, assessing his energy levels. "Not at this moment, but it wouldn't surprise me if exerting effort while it's in this form did tax me. Or us."

TAGS – Neffatari Nzingha[break]
NOTES – mission

[attr="class","pkmn"]

Necrozma's alien scream echoed through the forest as wave after wave of SURF crashed down upon it. It retaliated with BRUTAL SWINGS of its razor-edged claws, cruel obsidian seeking to spill the warmth of blood and flesh. [break][break]

Isaac was a blur as he danced around Zev's attacks, his speed a boon granted by the winds themselves. Though Zev would never admit it, it was taking all of his concentration to keep up with the boy. Over and over, he sent his tendrils into the space Isaac occupied, only to miss by fractions of seconds. [break][break]

Frustration built up inside Zev, enough for him to decide to switch tactics. But before he could act, Isaac had disappeared again, only to reappear directly in front of him. A flash of light and a sudden tremendous weight followed. [break][break]

Zev landed hard on his back, protected by his crystals, with an Aggron on his chest. The Iron Armor Pokémon drew back a steely fist, aimed at the man's center. He had only a split-second to react. [break][break]

His tendrils retracted rapidly as crystals shot forward from his torso to strike the Aggron like a hammer. At the same time, he warped her gravity, making her light as a feather. As soon as his crystals connected with the Pokémon, she shot backward into the air like a bullet from a sling. [break][break]

Black shards of alien metal rippled as they returned to Zev's body, restoring his original form. He stood from the indentation in the ground. By then, the steam had risen above his head. With a thought, he siphoned the last embers of the fire into his body, replenishing his energy a small amount. [break][break]

Then he turned pale starlight eyes upon Isaac. "Is that all?"

TAGS – Isaac Merlo[break]
NOTES – social | takes place after this thread

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"Your father could have begged to have you sent anywhere," Zev pointed out. "Kalos is rife with connections among our branch there, and Galar's destabilized economy provides plenty of opportunity for our organization to profit." [break][break]

Ceruledge weathered the Salandit's VENOSHOCK without issue, the poison doing little against his armor. Charging forward to overwhelm his foe, he raked at the lizard with SHADOW CLAW. [break][break]

Meanwhile, the FOUL PLAY sent the Naganadel rolling across the arena floor. With a frustrated cry, it rose back into the air and followed up with another FIRE BLAST. [break][break]

"But no. Your father begged for Team Rocket to send you here, to the death trap called Hoenn," Zev continued, cruel in his apathy. [break][break]

"Don't think for a moment that your family has no understanding of what's been happening to this region. Every nation has their eyes on us to see what other tragedies might befall us."

TAGS – Yamaguchi Himiko[break]
NOTES – mission

[attr="class","pkmn"]

With permission granted, Zev continued sapping the Minior of its Infinity Energy, with no plans to stop until it had no more left. The Pokémon's whimpers grew louder and more forceful until they were high-pitched wails of agony. Its body spasmed uncontrollably as its very essence drained to feed the Devourer. [break][break]

Only an empty husk, dark and cold, remained when Zev finished. [break][break]

He shook his head at Nenet. "No, the bond doesn't feel different. And it seems that absorbing the light and Infinity Energy of an ordinary Pokémon does nothing for Necrozma, either." [break][break]

The shard had retained its Lunala-esque form throughout the experiment. Not an inch of it had changed to resemble anything like a Minior.

TAGS – Neffatari Nzingha[break]
NOTES – mission

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