"Get revenge, you mean." [break][break]

Zev spoke with a detached tone of voice and neutral expression, yet his blue eyes pinned Soyeon with an intense stare. [break][break]

He considered his options. Usually, he preferred to obfuscate the truth about himself, especially when it came to his personal life. But sharing certain information with others had proven essential in luring them into a false sense of security when with him. [break][break]

Soyeon seemed harmless enough, but how many others already thought to use her for their gain? Without knowing her exact loyalties, a half-truth sufficed. [break][break]

"It happens more often than you think," Zev said at length, deflecting with words that might nevertheless bring her some sense of camaraderie. "You don't live as long as I have in our choice of career without making some enemies." [break][break]

He raised an eyebrow at her. "Why do you ask?"

TAGS – soyeon kwan[break]
NOTES – duo wild (electric/steel) | skipping

[attr="class","pkmn"]

The mists coalesced into a familiar form, though Zev had never seen Kyle wear Johtonian clothes and shoes before. The ghost—if it was a ghost—otherwise wounded and looked like the Top Champion, though. Unbidden, nostalgia tugged at Zev at the sight of that lazy smile. [break][break]

"It's not a coincidence. I wanted to find you, so you appeared," he said, keeping his expression neutral. That was the logic that ruled his world, at any rate. The man believed neither in fate nor chance, only in plans well-researched and executed. [break][break]

Still, he could not account for the supernatural. And he had seen too much in the past few years to know that other powers ruled in places like this one. [break][break]

"How do I know you're the real Kyle and not some hallucination?" Zev asked, tilting his head, his gaze even more scrutinizing than before. [break][break]

But the real Kyle can't possibly be here, his mind argued. The real Kyle can't die.

TAGS – kyle lopez[break]
NOTES – mission

[attr="class","pkmn"]

Nidoking bellowed from the agony of the PSYCHO CUT. Turning from Greyson, the Shadow Pokémon squared off against his new foe. A SHADOW BOLT arced between them, aiming to strike the Iron Valiant. [break][break]

Zev kept the clash between Pokémon in his periphery as he bore down upon the Elite Four. The crystals along his right arm extended into a straight blade, razor-edged and black as night. Despite the brightness of the midday sun, it did not shine; instead, it was a thick line of void cut into space itself, absorbing all light. [break][break]

The blade swung at Greyson, but a sudden SPRINGTIDE STORM pushed Zev back, slowing his momentum. Crystal bit into the rocky ground instead, gouging the stone. The maneuver bought the other man enough time to back away and scramble to his feet, if he so chose. [break][break]

Eyeing the glowing Sygna Suit, Zev yanked his blade free. The metal shards reshaped themselves, morphing into a gauntlet ringed with spikes. [break][break]

"You should know better than to go anywhere alone, Connors," the monster said as he advanced again. His voice was cold and apathetic, almost aloof. "The League can't afford to lose another one of their elite soldiers."

TAGS – Greyson Connors[break]
NOTES – mission[break]
– Shadow Nidoking gets hurt by PSYCHO CUT; uses SHADOW BOLT on Iron Valiant[break]
– SPRINGTIDE STORM stops Zev from striking Greyson

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Zev watched with stony apathy as two Megalopolans punished Navy for his ravings and oscar clayton for defending him. It was a pity the guards did not pummel the other objectors in turn, but perhaps they thought it was enough to make an example of two. Zev didn't care, in the end. [break][break]

What mattered was that they were going into the Chamber of Desires at last. As they traveled down that long hallway, he steeled himself for whatever awaited them at its end. [break][break]

And after what seemed like an eternity, they reached it. Everyone's masks popped off, revealing their faces. Zev quickly scanned the circular room, taking stock of the other prisoners. The majority were members of Team Rocket, but some of them—like freya morningstar and John Sullivan—were important League personnel. [break][break]

Remembering the question Neffatari Nzingha had posed when she'd woken up, Zev tried summoning his armor to cover the back of one hand. As before, the Toxic Chain around his neck began to constrict. Before it could hurt him, he stopped. [break][break]

"It's definitely the chain, not the mask," he murmured to his wife, trusting she'd know his meaning. [break][break]

The room itself was difficult to observe, for the kaleidoscopic colors and lights obscured and distorted its other features. Zev tried to look for another exit, but a familiar voice arrested his attention. He looked toward the machine in the chamber's center and saw none other than Velmos standing beside a crystallized mask. [break][break]

How had the Megalopolan general been compromised? What about Cotillard? [break][break]

Velmos directed the prisoners to look into the mask and witness their true potential. Internally, Zev scoffed; he already knew his own. But when it was his turn to peer into the mask, he did so without objection. What he saw did not surprise him. [break][break]

---

[break]

[break]

---

[break]

He stepped away from the mask, reeling from how real the visions had felt. Emotions roiled within him, a mix of ravenous greed and arrogant self-assuredness. His thoughts continued to dwell on the images seared into his mind, even as the guards ushered the Ugly Ward into a large, communal shower. Only when the water turned on did he snap out of his musings. [break][break]

Wordlessly, Zev stripped out of his clothing, revealing a muscular physique riddled with numerous scars. He didn't care if the others stared; he was not going to wear wet clothes out of that chamber. Carefully, he folded his uniform and put it aside in a neat pile with Neffatari Nzingha's before letting the near-scalding water wash over him. [break][break]

TAGS – Neffatari Nzingha & ugly ward[break]
NOTES[break]
– Zev is in the UGLY WARD.[break]
– Tries to use his Avatar powers again once the mask comes off to confirm it's the Toxic Chain, not the mask itself, that's preventing their use.[break]
– Willingly looks into the Wellspring Mask and sees versions of him casting off the metaphorical chains that currently bind him and Necrozma: people's expectations, Team Rocket's hierarchical structure, and the DRK Triad's meddling.[break]
– Removes his clothes to shower.

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Soyeon's last words earned her a sideways glance from Zev, but instead of asking her about it, he inclined his head to acknowledge her earlier statement. [break][break]

"Every contribution helps," he said. "Every tool in a toolbox has its own purpose; there isn't a single one that can do everything. In Team Rocket, people are the same way." [break][break]

After the grunt collected her second capture, the pair continued down the hallway, heading deeper into New Mauville. [break][break]

"So don't concern yourself with not being able to contribute in the ways I can. Fighting at my caliber is not where you are most useful," the Rocket Beast continued. "On the other hand, we always need more war machines." [break][break]

With that clarified, he addressed her final comment. "Unless being under closer scrutiny means your access to these projects is restricted, too?"

TAGS – soyeon kwan[break]
NOTES – duo wild (electric/steel) | skipping

[attr="class","pkmn"]

Nenet's answer immediately mollified Zev. He hummed a contented note, pleased that they were still on the same wavelength regarding the privacy of their relationship. Releasing her wrist, he settled his hands upon her hips. His head dipped slightly so he could plant a kiss on her neck beneath her ear. [break][break]

"Good. And I will." His voice was rough with dangerous promise. [break][break]

As Zev kissed his way down Nenet's neck to her shoulder in a slow, meandering line, he felt his frustrations melt away. Somehow, she possessed the uncanny ability to ease the tension of a long day from his body. Perhaps it was her self-confidence and capability, or how trustworthy she had become. [break][break]

Either way, she was a person he could depend on without doubting her loyalty. The only person, truly. [break][break]

"Speaking of our marriage," Zev said, pulling back to look his wife in the eye, "it's been a year now." The corner of his mouth curled in the slightest of smirks. "I didn't think we'd last this long, at first, but you've impressed me, Nenet." [break][break]

It was the highest praise, coming from him.

TAGS – Neffatari Nzingha[break]
NOTES – social

[attr="class","pkmn"]

Zev noted the frustration in Aurelie's tone as she explained Calyrex's odd behavior. He was certain he was not the first person from Team Rocket to stop by with the same questions; her exasperation was expected. But such was the price for being hand-picked by a mysterious Pokémon to carry out its bidding. [break][break]

The Beast narrowed his eyes at her attempt at humor. "Don't be ridiculous," he said. Then, relenting, he answered, "I want to know its motivations. Everyone and everything acts with an ulterior motive borne from some selfish desire." [break][break]

Even people who claimed to stand on the side of moral rightness. [break][break]

Zev glanced at his Zoroark. The Pokémon lingered nearby, her keen eyes watching the door and windows for any potential intruders. "Most Pokémon simply desire to survive, or to obey their masters, or to fight, but Legendary Pokémon are a different breed." [break][break]

He looked at Aurelie again, his expression pensive and serious. "They have goals completely separate from what humans desire. So I want to know why it wants these things," he gestured to her workspace, "and why it picked you."

TAGS – Aurelie Lefevre[break]
NOTES – mission

[attr="class","pkmn"]

Zev had no reason to doubt the recordings made by the Unown. If declan walsh believed their veracity, that was enough for the rest of Team Rocket's leadership. But Zev could not dismiss the nagging feeling that something was amiss, even as news reports reached his ears that kyle lopez's body had not been found. [break][break]

So he made the trek to Mt. Chimney himself, clad in dark, nondescript clothing. He anticipated that the volcano would be crawling with League officials and volunteers, so he stuck to the shadows as he ascended to the peak. [break][break]

What Zev found there was not the charred remains of Hoenn's Top Champion. Instead, he found a man—one whose face was known and admired by the region's people, and whose name was high on Team Rocket's list of League personnel to kill. [break][break]

Greyson Connors. [break][break]

Dark crystals spread across Zev's skin, covering him from head to toe. Cold blue eyes shone amidst the black void of his silhouette, focused intently on the Elite Four. As he started toward Greyson, Zev opened a Pokéball of his own. [break][break]

The FLOWER SHIELD shimmered into existence just in time, as the assassin's Shadow Nidoking charged at Greyson with MEGAHORN.

TAGS – Greyson Connors[break]
NOTES – mission[break]
– Shadow Nidoking joins the battle; uses MEGAHORN on Greyson

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For a moment, Zev was certain they had succeeded. Shaymin's HEALING WISH saw to many of Lunala's wounds, the flesh knitting closed. He saw the healing was not complete, but it was enough, he thought, for the vampyr to calm. [break][break]

His certainty was short-lived. Lunala leaped for Nenet, choosing the easier target. Zev surged into action, running for her, calculating the chance of reaching her before the METEOR BEAM struck. [break][break]

Not enough time. The window was too slim. [break][break]

"NENET!" he bellowed. [break][break]

Switching tactics, he reached for Lunala, for the beautiful and ominous light of its Ultra Burst. For the energy gathering in its mouth that heralded the fatal attack. [break][break]

For every star in the sky. [break][break]

He snatched up all the light he could and pulled it into himself. And through their psychic bond, Necrozma roared.

TAGS – Neffatari Nzingha[break]
NOTES – ultra crater #6

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[break]

The sparring area of Team Rocket's training facilities was familiar territory for Zev. He visited it frequently, sometimes for personal reasons and other times to teach. On that day, his purpose was the latter, though he doubted his new pupil would last very long. [break][break]

Footsteps heralded the arrival of the young man in question. Zev looked Alba Evovae over with a critical eye. He'd instructed the grunt to wear loose, athletic clothing and to bring a bottle of water. Everything else they needed was already there in the training center or in the duffle bag Zev had brought. [break][break]

"Have you done any kind of exercise or sport before?" he asked Alba. Scientists were notorious for sitting behind machines all day, their physical potential wasting away to nothing.

TAGS – Alba Evovae[break]
NOTES – mission

[attr="class","pkmn"]

While Soyeon's Charizard went to engage the wild Lairon, Zev hung back to wait. He glanced at his Type: Null when she mentioned it, the awe evident in her voice. "Travel into the Wilds enough times, and you might find scraps of paper describing the formula to make one," he said. [break][break]

That was what he and a few others had done. They had gathered enough data for Team Rocket's scientists to start crafting the abominations, but each person interested in owning one still had to collect the necessary parts. [break][break]

"Type: Null and Genesect are war machines, not pets," Zev continued, pinning Soyeon with cold blue eyes. "Are you planning to join the war effort? Or is it the science behind making one that interests you?"

TAGS – soyeon kwan[break]
NOTES – duo wild (electric/steel) | skipping

[attr="class","pkmn"]

Zev pocketed the slip of paper Aurelie handed him. Crossing his arms over his chest, he listened to her chatter without any of her excitement reflected in his own face. Instead, he maintained a stony expression. [break][break]

In truth, he had no interest in the specifications of the saddle and shield. The design, the materials—none of those mattered to him. What he cared about, instead, were Calyrex's motivations. [break][break]

"It sounds like you're making good progress," Zev observed. Then he tilted his head, curious. "Has Calyrex spoken to you since that day under the Dyna Tree?"

TAGS – Aurelie Lefevre[break]
NOTES – mission

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