Zev did not blink as Dorian produced a set of pliers. He had an idea of what the other man would use them for, but he neither acknowledged them with his eyes nor commented on them. Instead, he addressed the bound Ranger once more. [break][break]

"We have reason to believe an attack upon the new government is being planned by people you know. People with whom you're close. Do you know anything about that?" [break][break]

In truth, the tip had come from a younger Ranger caught buying supplies for homemade explosives. While the items themselves were ordinary, the combination of them had alerted vendors. When the police had sniffed her out, she readily gave Hawthorne's name as the man who'd given her the order to procure them. [break][break]

The Ranger captain, to his credit, seemed uncowed. [break][break]

"I don't know what you're talking about," he spat, looking directly at Zev. Perhaps he was pretending that the pliers in Dorian's hand did not exist at all.

TAGS – dorian westcliff[break]
NOTES – mission (repeat) | Kanto in the past

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Zev raised an eyebrow at Nenet's boldness. Throughout their relationship, he'd made it clear that she belonged to him but had never considered if she felt that the opposite was also true. And though he always hated the idea of someone having power and authority over him, he sensed that the meaning behind her words was not the same. [break][break]

Turning his body toward hers, he ran his hand up and down her side, savoring their physical closeness. "It wouldn't be right if I didn't," he said. "We're in this together, aren't we?" [break][break]

How satisfying it was, to have someone whose values aligned with his. Who stood unified with him against the obstacles in their way. And who, ultimately, had helped him attain even more power. [break][break]

What was a ring on his finger, compared to all she had done for him already? If it made her more loyal to him, then he'd never take it off.

TAGS – Neffatari Nzingha[break]
NOTES – social

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Zev's gaze followed Nenet's gesture to the tank containing her Clefable. He nodded once. [break][break]

"Let me know tomorrow if you have any success," he said, not anticipating additional nights in the alien dreamscape. In his quiet arrogance, he was confident the next day would be their last one in prison. [break][break]

How wrong he was. [break][break]

"You be careful, too," he said, releasing Nenet's hand. He could not spend another moment in her company; their survival and escape depended on them splitting up and gaining as much knowledge as possible. "And if anything happens, we can meet back here again." [break][break]

As Zev exited the daycare, he cast a parting glance at his wife from over his shoulder. Then he was gone, disappearing into the crowds of Ultra Megalopolis.

TAGS – Neffatari Nzingha[break]
NOTES – mission | in the dream world

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Beyond the doors of the fitness center on Team Rocket's submarine, one found all manner of equipment and machinery common to a gym for humans. Treadmills, ellipticals, racks of dumbbells, cable machines, and even barbells with heavy weights. For all members of the crime syndicate, they were free to use at all hours of the day. [break][break]

Zev waited in the back, past the machines and weights. There, sparring mats covered a large area of the floor. There, he trained groups of recruits in basic hand-to-hand combat. On occasion, however, he did meet grunts for one-on-one lessons—either those with promise and potential, or those who specifically requested them. [break][break]

Zev looked up as one such grunt approached. Finishing his warm-up, he stood to address the stranger. [break][break]

"You're Khan?" the Rocket Beast asked, his tone cold and detached instead of curious. Blue eyes assessed the younger man with a critical gaze. "The one who asked for a combat lesson?"

TAGS – Derek Khan[break]
NOTES – mission

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Zev's Pokémon surged forward, following the racing Garchomp. Flutter Mane and Hatterene blinked in and out of sight around the Dragon-types, herding them toward the lone Melmetal. Attacks from both groups filled the cavern, volleying back and forth through the tunnels. [break][break]

Then, finally, the Garchomp descended upon the pool of molten metal. Blinded by their rage, they could not distinguish their foes from innocent bystanders. And the unfortunate Melmetal was caught, unable to flee thanks to the well-placed strikes of Hitoshi's Kartana. [break][break]

"Make sure your timing is right," Zev told the grunt over the radio. "Otherwise, you'll lose your prey."

TAGS – Hitoshi Inoue[break]
NOTES – mission

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The floor below was farther than Zev had anticipated. He fumbled his landing a second time, slamming hard against stone. Pain shot through him from somewhere in his ribs. Gritting his teeth, he took a moment longer than he wanted to breathe through the ache and regain his focus. [break][break]

Standing, the man touched the left side of his chest and winced. He guessed he'd broken a rib or two, but it was a concern for later. [break][break]

As he took in the sight of the numerous tubes, revelation dawned on him. Suspended in their green liquid were all manner of Pokémon, each one locked in slumber, some of them wreathed in Toxic Chains. [break][break]

Zev turned to Neffatari Nzingha and the other woman who landed near them. A Rocket grunt, MAKI YUKIMURA, if he remembered her voice correctly. [break][break]

"Our Pokémon," was all he said to convey his intention before starting off to find his team. [break][break]

It did not take him long to locate his Necrozma shard, its angular body wrapped entirely in Toxic Chains. He approached it without regard for others who might notice, trying to find a way to free it. But then the sound of shattering glass filled the room, and the air pulsed with psychic energy. [break][break]

All around Zev, the captured Pokémon emerged from their tubes. The fleshy chain around his neck withered in moments and sloughed off. The weakness in his body evaporated, though the pain in his ribs remained. [break][break]

And then he felt his mind rip wide open as the psychic link with the real Necrozma was restored. Emotions and memories poured into him, both incomprehensibly alien and intimately familiar. His skin itched as crystals spread across his body, covering him from the neck down. Inside him, his ribcage reinforced itself with living metal. [break][break]

[break]

Reaching up a clawed hand, Zev tore off his mask. He threw it onto the floor and turned to Neffatari Nzingha. His eyes were hard as steel and cold with the promise of retribution. "Stick close to me," he told her, before walking away to assess the situation. [break][break]

A shout from Cillian Quinn drew Zev's attention. He followed the underboss' voice into an adjoining room where a group of frightened Megalopolans huddled together. He stared them down, his Necrozma shard looming above him like a terrible shadow. [break][break]

At first, he did not address them as he collected his possessions. Then he stood over them, authoritative, tyrannical. "Where are we?" he demanded. "How do we get out of here?" [break][break]

Noise from the floor above heralded approaching hostiles. Leaving the smaller chamber, Zev felt the change in energy before he saw the Dynamaxed Pokémon—priam conrad's Guzzlord, THEO BECKETT's Ceruledge, Cillian Quinn's Lugia. Zev's gaze snapped to the towering creatures, his hunger spiking at the taste of Dynergy in the air. [break][break]

Stepping up between Theo and Cillian, Zev activated his own Dynamax Band. His Necrozma shard grew to monstrous size, mimicking the real one. In the black void of its silhouette, its prism-like eyes flickered with the full spectrum of colors. [break][break]

As soon as the enemy entered, Necrozma's GRAVITY would pin them down. [break][break]

TAGS – prismatic penitentiary[break]
NOTES[break]
– Zev is in the UGLY WARD FREE.[break]
– Reunited with his Pokémon, including his Necrozma shard.[break]
– Rips off his mask as soon as the Toxic Chain sloughs off and the poisonining subsides. He is reconnected with the real Necrozma and covers himself from the neck down with his crystal armor.[break]
– Collects his things and demands to know where they are and how to escape from the frightened Megalopolans.[break]
– Stands with Theo and Cillian. Zev's status as Necrozma Avatar is VISIBLE FOR ALL TO SEE.[break]
– Necrozma shard DYNAMAXES and prepares to use GRAVITY as soon as enemies enter.

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"If the League is sheltering him, and Team Rocket's goal involves tearing the League apart, then what I gain from joining with you is greater than what I lose," Zev explained. He no longer examined the chess board but stared directly at Theo. [break][break]

Destroy the League and restore Caleb to his rightful place by Zev's side. Back then, that had been his goal as a Rocket Beast. His partnership with Team Rocket had been one of mutual benefit. [break][break]

"Every aspect of life involves a contract, Beckett. You do this for me, and I'll do this for you. It's all selfish greed and motivation, wrapped up in civility." [break][break]

Zev spoke matter-of-factly, as if this was the most basic truth of human interactions. [break][break]

"We had a common enemy when I agreed to become a Beast for your organization. And we have one now. I'll tolerate the chains while there's still work left undone."

TAGS – THEO BECKETT[break]
NOTES – social

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Wild Garchomp took residence in Granite Cave, turning the labyrinthine underground into a dangerous maze of fangs and claws. Many trainers wandered into the darkness to challenge themselves and their Pokémon, but few could snatch victory from the jaws of dragons. [break][break]

Zev walked into their den with purpose. He did not need a show of strength to capture them, nor did he seek their eggs or young. Like with the Drampa outside Verdanturf, all he needed was their anger. [break][break]

Volleys of MOONBLAST from his Flutter Mane and SPRINGTIDE STORM from his Hatterene sent the Garchomp into a territorial frenzy. Zev watched with detached apathy as the Dragon-types tried to fight back as their attackers herded them toward the shore. [break][break]

Hitoshi's voice crackled over the radio, though Zev barely heard it over the din. "They're on their way," the older man replied. [break][break]

He waited for the right moment, his eyes following the wild Pokémon's movement without blinking. [break][break]

"Now, Black Dog."

TAGS – Hitoshi Inoue[break]
NOTES – mission

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Zev shook his head. "No. They're still getting their bearings, like you and I are." [break][break]

Nenet was right about their circumstance. The lie fabricated by their attitudes toward each other in the Chamber of Desires could easily crumble if anyone saw them conspiring together in the dream world. [break][break]

"Then I'll leave here first," he said. "In the morning, when we wake up, we'll continue pretending to dislike each other. I'll find some reason or another to yell at you." [break][break]

Reaching out, he took her hand and rubbed the back of it with his thumb. [break][break]

"Don't hate me too much," he said, allowing himself a small grin of amusement.

TAGS – Neffatari Nzingha[break]
NOTES – mission | in the dream world

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Zev suppressed the urge to scowl at Theo. It made sense that Zev's oldest associates had learned how he operated. He had proven himself dependable, and that meant he was, to an extent, predictable. [break][break]

"Do you remember my brother?" the assassin asked, deflecting for the moment. [break][break]

Unlike Zev, Caleb Harcourt had been a proper member of Team Rocket, inducted with the rest of the police force that remained after the conquest. [break][break]

"I'm sure you know everything that's happened with him since Kanto."

TAGS – THEO BECKETT[break]
NOTES – social

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Zev's expression didn't budge at Isaac's words. What changed, however, was his skin. Darkness crept up his neck and jaw as shards of crystal spread from beneath soot-covered clothes. The pale skin of his face gave way to deepest black. [break][break]

Even his eyes transformed, bright starlight against a fathomless void. [break][break]

"Then come," Zev said, his voice underscored with alien reverb. The blazing conflagration around him seemed so distant and trivial, nothing more than a backdrop for a clash long in the making. [break][break]

Recalling his Golurk into a Pokéball, he added, "And don't hold back. We have seen it in your eyes before. We know what you are capable of, Isaac." [break][break]

The hate, Zev meant. The hate he'd seen in Isaac's face a lifetime ago, when he instructed the boy to stab him with killing intent.

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

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