How rare for Theo to agree with Zev. The general took it as a good sign of the other man's pragmatism. During wartime, armies suffered significantly if their leaders pitted themselves against each other. [break][break]

"Slayte was out of line," Zev said when Theo brought up the admin. "Hierarchy exists for a reason. Slayte can have whatever opinion he likes, but if Fiorelli disobeyed a direct order like he claims, then punishment comes from the top, never from below." [break][break]

howard slayte had embarrassed himself enough in the past few months. He was useful, however, and two titans in his pocket meant Team Rocket was not going to let him go so easily. If anything, they would sink their claws into him more deeply. [break][break]

Zev glanced at Theo, curious if the underboss agreed. After all, if an admin could kill one underboss, what was stopping him from killing another? "What do you think?"

TAGS – THEO BECKETT[break]
NOTES – mission

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"Before we were forced to leave Mossdeep, we did manage to extract blueprint data and research from the Space Center. A significant amount of it," Zev said. "Nenet has the originals, but I can forward copies to our space research team if she hasn't done that already." [break][break]

Team Rocket's premature departure from that city was still a point of frustration for him, but neither had it been a total loss. The organization's success at the Space Center had reaped great reward, all thanks to his wife's ingenuity and deceit. [break][break]

The fact that the rocket ship needed repairs meant it had been stored in Sootopolis this whole time. While not ideal, Zev saw the opportunity as it presented itself. [break][break]

"Instead of repairing it back to its original design, I want to upgrade it. I want to make a vessel that can travel through Ultra Space." [break][break]

The idea had been brewing in his mind ever since the revelation about Necrozma and its children. War, however, had pushed that personal project aside for the past few months.

TAGS – Lulu Flint[break]
NOTES – social

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Zev listened without interrupting, his expression neutral as he observed Dorian with a critical gaze. When Dorian finished his self-evaluation, Zev gave a single nod, accepting the answer. [break][break]

"Continue your training with our Avatars," he instructed. "Learn to curb your enthusiasm for blood in situations of extreme danger. You're a valuable asset, Westcliff. Do not put yourself in a position to ever become a liability." [break][break]

A few clicks marked Dorian's profile as eligible for S.P.E.C.T.R.A. missions and training. [break][break]

"It's done. You can take S.P.E.C.T.R.A. assignments now as part of your assessment," Zev said, sitting back in his chair. "Was there anything else?"

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

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A long career carrying out high-risk objectives had turned Zev into a pragmatic man. As infuriating as it was to lose so many resources, he'd expected it as soon as he saw how much seawater had flooded Sootopolis. [break][break]

"What did we manage to save?" he asked, his mind searching for possible exceptions. "Do we have laboratories and research stations in other cities across the region?" [break][break]

He knew of a couple small ones, hidden away in dark basements. Lilycove, Mauville, Rustboro. None of them were as extensive as what Team Rocket had built in Sootopolis, however. [break][break]

"What about the rocket ship?"

TAGS – Lulu Flint[break]
NOTES – social

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Zev glanced sidelong at Oscar, allowing his exasperation to meet the scientist's confusion. "I know what a Z-crystal is. I meant the design of the mechanism itself." [break][break]

But the conversation had to wait for another day. Oscar and his Xurkitree quickly gathered what technology they could from the pile, then Zev led them in a circuitous route back to the stairwell. A glimpse down one of the halls confirmed his suspicions: a small Guzzlord had made its way to their floor. [break][break]

As they made their way back to the tower's main lobby, Zev tilted his head to the side, considering Oscar's suggestion. [break][break]

"You mean Jules Cotillard? We can try speaking with him. His disposition toward us may have cooled after Velmos' death, but we'll bring him a gift." [break][break]

Something—or someone—to satisfy a Megalopolan's hunger.

TAGS – oscar clayton[break]
NOTES – mission (repeat)

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The casual glance Zev cast in Alba's direction hid a childhood that belonged in the shadowed pit of his memory. At the same time, he knew the stock explanation of passing interest rousing into a lifetime's passion would not satisfy the grunt's curiosity. [break][break]

Alba knew better than to accept the answer that had satisfied Zev's past coaches and peers. [break][break]

"I am not like most people," the Beast said matter-of-factly. "And it is much more satisfying to feel the crunch of bone beneath my fists than to watch from a safe distance." [break][break]

Uninterested in entertaining the topic further, he started for the door to the fitness center, expecting Alba to follow. [break][break]

"Tonight, I'll email you a training plan. We'll meet here three days a week for a mix of cardio, weightlifting, and drills. When you start showing improvement, we'll start sparring."

TAGS – Alba Evovae[break]
NOTES – mission

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Zev made his way to the laboratories of the Team Rocket submarine, familiar with the route even if he remained an outsider to the pristine white rooms. He had only a half-hour to spare in his schedule, reserved for an appointment with Head Scientist Lulu Flint. [break][break]

"Flint," he said in greeting upon entering her lab. Skipping the pleasantries as usual, he launched into his reason for the meeting. "How is the state of the laboratories on Sootopolis proper? Have you and Sato calculated the loss to our science department?" [break][break]

Only a few days had passed since the crater island had flooded, then emptied, thanks to Kyogre's volatile behavior and the battle to contain it.

TAGS – Lulu Flint[break]
NOTES – social

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In the days following the battles of Petalburg and Sootopolis, Zev traveled frequently between the two cities to assess damages, recalculate Team Rocket's assets, and field reports from various operatives. THEO BECKETT was the first to find him in his office, sifting through the mountain of new information. [break][break]

Zev suppressed a frustrated sigh. Glancing up from his laptop, he said, "Petalburg is a mess. Regirock's appearance was not something we could have prepared for, and it tore up the city. Reconstruction efforts there will take a lot of time." [break][break]

He was fine with howard slayte seizing the titan on their organization's behalf, but the death of Elisabeth Fiorelli had been unnecessary. [break][break]

"The compromise over Sootopolis is better for us than the League. We can continue to poison the civilian population against the League through propaganda tactics, especially rebuilding efforts and the memory of Kyogre's rampage." [break][break]

There was nothing to say about Mossdeep. Though the crime syndicate had fought hard there, their effort meant nothing when they had no victory to show for it.

TAGS – THEO BECKETT[break]
NOTES – mission

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In Howard's clouded eyes, Zev saw the spark of impotent rage swelling in the broken man. The words that unraveled from Howard's tongue were a raving lunatic's, made all the more pathetic by his lucid ferocity. [break][break]

Standing at Howard's bedside, beholding this fragile creature striving to rise from the sediment of that godsforsaken rock into the celestial plane, Zev laughed. A deep, rich sound, it started as a chuckle. A tremble of broad shoulders. Then it erupted out like water from a dam. [break][break]

Behind the terrible noise was the echo of an alien reverberation, the sound of dark matter that dwelled between the stars. [break][break]

"Kill us?" Zev repeated, amused, when his laughter subsided. A toothy grin remained, an uncanny wrongness present in the smile. "Like you'd kill the sun or the rain?" [break][break]

Another laugh, a shorter one. [break][break]

"You could spend the rest of your brief human existence trying to kill us, howard slayte, and you wouldn't even put a scratch in our armor. We existed before the dawn of time. We will live on even when you are dust. So rage as much as you want. In front of your superiors, or in the privacy of your room." [break][break]

Then, because he wasn't actually there to kill the admin, Zev pulled away, withdrawing the blade that rested above Howard's heart. [break][break]

"It doesn't matter to us."

TAGS – howard slayte[break]
NOTES – social

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Starlight eyes followed Isaac's movement, even as the fight seemed to seep out of him. Zev did not allow himself to be fooled for one moment, however. He stared, unmoving and unfeeling, as bitter nostalgia poured from Isaac's mouth. [break][break]

The boy's eyes were open now. No longer could he turn a blind eye to the horror of the void in front of him. No longer could he deny the truth beneath the myriad layers of masks. [break][break]

Zev almost laughed at the mention of Neffatari Nzingha. What last trick was Isaac trying to pull by mentioning her? Did he think he could sway the Devourer with an emotional plea? About a woman who had already accepted the monstrosity her husband had become? [break][break]

But preserving the lie for Nenet's sake was more important to Zev than gloating at Isaac. After all, the boy was nothing. A nobody. A mere amalgamation of blood and flesh that would, one day, rot away to dust. [break][break]

And so the words flowed easily from Zev's mouth, as easily as every falsehood that had come before: "And I really don't care." [break][break]

A resounding crack shattered the tension in the air as brittle wood split apart. All around them, every towering tree, blackened by the earlier forest fire, snapped. [break][break]

[break]

The air filled with a rushing sound as they crashed to the ground, great trunks shattering as they smashed into each other. The charred earth disappeared beneath a mountain of toppled wood, including Isaac himself and the log he'd been sitting on. Zev stood amidst it all, watching with cruel dispassion. [break][break]

At the same time, the shard of Necrozma glowed with sudden brilliance. It charged at Suicune, detonating the light enveloping it in a devastating Z-MOVE. [break][break]

[break]

After the dust and ash settled, silence fell upon the ruined jungle. Zev turned to his shard, who floated to his side. Without a backward glance at Isaac's burial place, the pair soared into the air and departed for the heavens.

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

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