Zev was not a conversationalist. Whenever he entered the break room to grab coffee or whatever lunch his wife had prepared for him that day, he pointedly ignored any other people occupying it. [break][break]

However, the conversation between two grunts caught his interest. Assassination, the woman had said. [break][break]

Despite the income he received from his position as a Rocket Beast, he continued to work as a contract killer. He liked the satisfaction of killing and keeping his skills sharp. The extra money in savings offered a measure of financial security, too. [break][break]

"Do you make it a habit of talking freely about the people you want to kill?" Zev asked the female grunt after her companion had left. His tone was detached, almost aloof. "People usually prefer to be discreet about that sort of thing."

TAGS – ameena abadi[break]
NOTES – social

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At the sound and brightness of the ELECTRIC TERRAIN, the Megalopolans surged from the police station building as if one writhing mass. They spilled onto the electrified ground with reckless speed. Many convulsed with spasms from the sudden shock, while more than half of them collapsed, paralyzed. [break][break]

Those that didn't continued to rampage toward Fern, arms outstretched, jaws snapping. One leaped for the admin, but it did not reach them. [break][break]

Standing in the shadow of the police station, Zev crushed the Megalopolan with his mind. It slammed into the ground at Fern's feet, bones crunching with a sickening sound. Its organs split open as its cells collapsed. [break][break]

Blood spread rapidly across metal and stone before dissolving into the air. [break][break]

"Your turn," Zev called from where he stood.

TAGS – fern delaney[break]
NOTES – mission

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Standing at Elisabeth Fiorelli's other side, Zev watched as her BARREN TERRAIN stripped the land of vegetation and life. He followed the path of the ensuing SPRINGTIDE STORM—and the way the blackened petals struck harmlessly against summoned earth. [break][break]

"Now," Zev said, calmly. [break][break]

Genesect launched itself at the raised pillar. Blade-like claws sank into the stone, allowing the insectoid machine to skitter along the rock face. [break][break]

Even before it sighted its prey, it launched a cloud of POISON GAS in the direction of the two men. [break][break]

TAGS – Elisabeth Fiorelli kyle lopez MATIAS SILPH[break]
NOTES – az excursion d: confrontation

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When Shred's Gliscor didn't respond to his master's summons, Zev whistled for his Noctowl. The bird didn't appear, either. Perhaps he sensed the growing electrical tension in the area and knew better than to enter it, or perhaps he was simply too far away. [break][break]

Gunshots rang through the air. Zev's head snapped in the direction of the sound. Despite emptying an entire clip, Shred had not managed to strike the long-necked creature once. [break][break]

Instead, lightning crackled with greater intensity as the Paradox Pokémon readied an attack. [break][break]

"Watch out!" Zev shouted. [break][break]

The DISCHARGE fired, and he took a deep breath. [break][break]

The bolts of electricity swerved in midair, lurching away from Shred to seek Zev out as if he were a lightning rod. Instead of slamming into his crystalline body, however, they siphoned into him. A familiar warmth entered his chest and spread through his limbs. [break][break]

A tremendous roar from the Paradox Pokémon shook the air. Enraged at the nullification of its attack, it swiped at Zev with a massive forepaw. [break][break]

TAGS – Shred[break]
NOTES – gc excursion c: monster hunter

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Zev paused mid-step, his entire body growing still. [break][break]

If his opinion of Theo hadn't already plummeted to the lowest point, then the underboss' mention of Neffatari Nzingha would have brought it there. Zev suppressed the instinctive desire to lash out. If Theo wanted to harm her to rein Zev in, he would have done so already. [break][break]

The Devourer half-turned to look back at Theo, his blue eyes unflinching in their stare. Black crystals covered half of his face, their brutal edges a sharp contrast to pale flesh. A few jutted out from his body in rows of small spikes. [break][break]

"You've already made yourself clear, Beckett," Zev said. His voice was hard and cold. "We don't need to talk about her."

TAGS – THEO BECKETT[break]
NOTES – mission

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Nenet was right. The Pokémon going about their business on the moon were none other than the living meteorites with their familiar crescent-shaped bodies. Zev's gaze lowered from them to their immediate surroundings. [break][break]

In the middle of the rocky outcroppings stood a curious structure, its unnatural curves and lines suggesting that a human species had built it. The Lunatone circled the structure in lazy orbits, as if it was the center of their habitat. [break][break]

"What do you think that is?" Zev asked as he walked toward the alien monument. "Some kind of… shrine or altar?" [break][break]

He wasn't a religious man, but he didn't know what else to call it. Its form vaguely reminded him of churches and temples back in their world. [break][break]

As he neared, several Lunatone turned sharply and advanced upon him, their bodies glowing with psychic energy. Zev paused mid-step, then danced aside as a PSYSHOCK blasted the ground where he'd stood a moment ago. [break][break]

"Shit!" At once, a Pokéball was in his hand, his Zoroark emerging from it to fight back. [break][break]

TAGS – Neffatari Nzingha[break]
NOTES – ultra crater #5

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Zev's smile remained despite the absence of one on Theo's face. Whatever the underboss used to intimidate other members of Team Rocket had no effect on a man who knew no fear. Instead, the hatred and resentment in him only amplified. [break][break]

But if Zev killed Theo there and then, Team Rocket would turn against him. They might turn on Neffatari Nzingha, too. Perhaps even kill her. Most importantly, Necrozma relied on his ability to navigate the human world on its behalf. If they were going to locate and kill the DRK Triad, he needed the crime syndicate's compliance and resources. [break][break]

In the grand scheme of all the universes, Theo was a minor nuisance. Zev could put up with him—for now. [break][break]

The black-haired man turned away to continue down the path, detaching himself from the smallness of humans. "If that's what you want." [break][break]

Beneath his clothing, his skin itched with spreading crystals.

TAGS – THEO BECKETT[break]
NOTES – mission

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Realizing the situation, Genesect stopped and turned in midair, crying out for the humans and Pyroar to follow. Running for the surface, they burst out of the darkness and into the fresh air of the Giant Chasm just as a tremendous earthquake shook the ground. Instinctively, Zev grabbed at Nenet to steady her. [break][break]

Far behind them, the Great Tusk bellowed in outrage but did not follow. [break][break]

As they caught their breaths, Zev scanned their surroundings to orient himself. "I see the research station up ahead," he said, releasing his wife to point at the encampment in the distance. He uttered a word of praise to his Genesect, then turned once more to Nenet. [break][break]

"Your Pyroar did well down there. You've improved as a trainer," he said, meaning it. A rare, satisfied smile touched his lips. "Though I think that's enough action for one day." [break][break]

TAGS – Neffatari Nzingha[break]
NOTES – area zero excursion a: explore

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Zev nodded at Lulu's suggestion of a trip into Lesser Megalopolis with Neffatari Nzingha. Not only could they search for possible connections to what he saw in that other universe, but his wife could feed her curiosity about Ultra Space and the Pokémon that lived there. [break][break]

As for the Tera crystals, he turned Lulu's words over in his mind before speaking again. [break][break]

"There don't seem to be any logical constraints to what the crystals can do, and their power seems infinite," he observed. "There must be some connection to Interdream Mist, too. Both can conjure objects and Pokémon based on what people are thinking, whether consciously or not." [break][break]

He recalled the spaceship in the report from Route 119. The Megalopolans' desire to return home must have prompted the crystals to conjure it for them. [break][break]

"I agree with you. Something so unpredictable is a huge risk. We need to learn more before it becomes a danger to us."

TAGS – Lulu Flint[break]
NOTES – duo wild (psychic/ghost) | skipping

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Control. [break][break]

Inwardly, Zev bristled at the word. Here, again, was an insignificant human who thought he ought to dictate how Zev should act and think. Fear of the cost of Avatarship on one's mind was only an excuse. [break][break]

Theo wanted to keep all the Avatars in line, to make sure they obeyed him, no matter that their powers put them above what he was capable of. [break][break]

This man is my enemy. The thought did not come to Zev as a shocking revelation but as an inevitability. Humans were all the same. Time and time again, they disappointed him with their fears, insecurities, and prejudices. [break][break]

"That won't be necessary," the Devourer said. He flashed Theo a rare, reassuring smile, tapping into the charming persona he had once worn a lifetime ago. "Like you said, I've maintained my sense of self as an Avatar."

TAGS – THEO BECKETT[break]
NOTES – mission

[attr="class","pkmn"]

Zev's cold gaze flickered from the Tera crystals to Theo. The highest echelons of Team Rocket's leadership could continue to claim that peace was their ultimate goal, but Zev simply did not care. His goals were higher. [break][break]

Still, he chose not to comment on it. Let his superiors in the organization think that their objectives aligned. So he maintained a detached, neutral expression—up until Theo's offer of support. [break][break]

Zev raised an eyebrow at the other man. I don't need an anchor, was his instinctive reaction. Specifically, he did not need to be chained down by anything—or anyone. [break][break]

"What do you mean by 'anchor'? What would that look like for you and me?" he asked instead.

TAGS – THEO BECKETT[break]
NOTES – mission

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