Judging from the sound of conversation, neither MATIAS SILPH nor kyle lopez had looked up and noticed Zev or Elisabeth Fiorelli. Good. Team Rocket had the advantage. [break][break]

The Beast nodded at his underboss. "Good plan. Just remember our training sessions and avoid putting yourself in a vulnerable position." [break][break]

Regardless of how she felt about relying on Wo-Chien, the powers it granted her to control the battlefield were tremendously effective. Any stubborn refusal on her part to use her patron's gifts might cost them a victory against the League. [break][break]

Zev turned to his Genesect. "Prepare to fire on my order," he told the insectoid Pokémon. [break][break]

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

[attr="class","pkmn"]

After their last trip to the Ultra Crater's moon, Zev and Nenet spent some time in orbit around the satellite before allowing her Celesteela to touch down on the surface. This way, they avoided any strange storms and sightings of Megalopolans. [break][break]

"We haven't explored this area yet," the man observed as he jumped down from the Launch Pokémon. He reached up a hand to help Nenet down, should she need the assistance. "It looks the same as the rest of the moon, though." [break][break]

However, even as he spoke, he spotted movement among some distant, rocky formations. At first, he thought they were free-floating rocks drawn by the moon's gravity. However, their movement was erratic, as if they had their own method of propulsion. [break][break]

"I see Pokémon in the distance," he alerted his wife. [break][break]

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

[attr="class","pkmn"]

Zev shook his head, refusing to believe they had gotten lost. [break][break]

"The tunnel leading back up to the chasm should be nearby," he insisted. They had reached a fork in the path, with no sign indicating which one would bring them to the surface. Turning to his Genesect, he ordered it, "Scout ahead and find the exit for us." [break][break]

The insectoid Pokémon uttered a shrill cry of acknowledgement before transforming into its flight mode and zooming off down one of the tunnels. [break][break]

Just then, the ground trembled. Then again, and again. Zev frowned, recognizing the rhythmic quaking as the stride of a large Pokémon. Just as he suspected, a Great Tusk emerged from around the corner. [break][break]

[break]

It caught sight of them and uttered a tremendous, earth-shaking bellow. Its front foot pawed at the ground in agitation. [break][break]

"Nenet," Zev warned, stepping in front of her defensively. Black crystals raced to cover his body. [break][break]

The Great Tusk charged. [break][break]

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

[attr="class","pkmn"]

Zev wondered how much Illeana knew. The League had not figured him out yet—at least, based on what he could tell. But it did not take a genius to piece together the puzzle that was Necrozma and his Avatar. It was only a matter of time before the great revelation. [break][break]

But did she know? Did she sense the great yawning abyss in him as he sensed the vast gulf of space in her? He stared at her and into her, weighing his answer, watching as stars and planets formed and unmade themselves. [break][break]

"The Devourer." [break][break]

Through his link with Necrozma came a rush of emotions. Most were incomprehensible, too alien for words. Rage he recognized, and hunger too. But there was the sliver of something else: satisfaction. [break][break]

The crystals covering Zev's skin continued their slow expanse, creeping up toward his face. "There can only be one of us, Reyes." [break][break]

It felt inevitable. The inane and inconsequential bickering between Team Rocket and the League had nothing to do with it. Instead, it was a matter of cosmic existence. Palkia, the purveyor of all within physical space—even space itself. Necrozma, the ultimate destroyer.

TAGS – illeana reyes[break]
NOTES – mission (repeat)

[attr="class","pkmn"]

By this point, Zev was used to the feeling of psychic powers on his mind. He allowed the vision to come. [break][break]

Light flashed, then vanished into total darkness. No, not total—after a moment, he discerned the vague shapes of objects around him. Looking closely, he identified the familiar furniture of Neffatari Nzingha's bedroom. [break][break]

The world tilted as he suddenly found himself standing in a different part of the room. Looking down, he saw her lying in bed, fast asleep. She was alone, his side of the bed empty and well-made. Which was not unusual, since their work schedules did not always align. [break][break]

Then Zev's eyes narrowed. They had adjusted enough to the light to pick up small details here and there. And when he looked, something gleamed on a finger of the hand resting on her pillow. [break][break]

Her ring finger. Her left hand. [break][break]

Zev blinked, and the vision ended. He frowned at the Xatu, who stared back at him unblinkingly. Of course the Pokémon had no answers for him. So he turned his scowl instead upon Rhys, hoping the younger man hadn't been privy to the same vision. [break][break]

"What did you see?" Zev asked in a brusque tone.

TAGS – Rhys Collins[break]
NOTES – the rks simulation

[attr="class","pkmn"]

Zev shrugged. "Someone desperately wanting the Johtonian Trio to be alive, I guess." [break][break]

Ultimately, he did not care for the creatures' origins. He was not a scientist; the joy of discovery was not something he shared. What mattered, to him, was whether these Pokémon could be caught and trained. [break][break]

He whistled a command to his Genesect, who veered out of the way of a searing FLAMETHROWER from the Suicune-like beast. At Zev's command, the metallic bug released an ELECTROWEB to ensnare its foe. [break][break]

The fight was far from over, though. Despite its snarls of agony and the wounds gathering along its hide, the not-Suicune tore at the webbing. Zev prepared to give another command when a startling thing happened. [break][break]

A squad of ten Genesect, all painted different colors, flew overhead. As they passed, they unleashed a barrage of TECHNO BLASTS at the two Paradox Pokémon. Screams and the smell of burnt flesh filled the air. The strange Pokémon collapsed, struggling to rise. [break][break]

"Now!" Zev shouted. His Genesect swooped in to attempt another capture with ELECTROWEB. [break][break]

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

[attr="class","pkmn"]

Zev considered Nenet's question as he watched her pick up the detached Tera crystal. [break][break]

"Not precisely. Everything gives off an Infinity Energy signature, some more than others," he said. "There have been times when I've noticed the heightened signature of Avatars and times when I haven't." [break][break]

He did not know that the appetite for Infinity Energy was diminished in him, compared to when Chu-e Choi had been under Necrozma's influence. [break][break]

Zev paused to watch Nenet's Pyroar undergo Terastallization without the aid of a Tera Orb. "I've seen that happen before, whenever there was a large concentration of Tera crystals in an area," he said, thinking back to the battle against Chien-Pao in the Cave of Origin. [break][break]

Suddenly, a robotic cry echoed through the cavern system. Tensing, he whirled around, trying to pinpoint the direction of the noise. But the sound echoed through the tunnel; it could have come from anywhere. [break][break]

"We should keep moving," Zev urged Nenet, beckoning with a hand. If something hostile was stalking the area, they were better off leaving than sitting around. [break][break]

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

[attr="class","pkmn"]

bryan delarosa did not look fine, not as he bled from countless wounds. Zev caught the glimpse of new flesh as they knitted closed. He had no time to stare, however; a Machamp grappled with Bryan, threatening to wrestle the Rocket Beast to the floor. Not even a vicious-looking headbutt slowed it down. [break][break]

As Bryan bellowed, Zev stepped in, crystals surging along his arm. He shoved his hand toward the Machamp, piercing the Pokémon with a gauntlet of black spikes. A terrible scream ripped from the throat of the Fighting-type. [break][break]

Zev yanked back his arm. Blood and viscera cascaded from the gaping wounds. The Machamp was dead in an instant. [break][break]

A few of the surviving Pokémon turned and fled. Distantly, Zev heard the wail of a siren; a glance out the window confirmed his first thoughts. [break][break]

"Cops," he warned. "I'm going to head them off." His blue gaze flickered back to Bryan, then Xerneas. "Meet me outside once you're done here." [break][break]

A high-pitched whistle summoned his Iron Crown to his side. At the same time, a flash of light from a Pokéball revealed his new Iron Leaves. Flanked by the two robotic Pokémon, Zev started down the hall to kill the police.

TAGS – bryan delarosa[break]
NOTES – social

[attr="class","pkmn"]

Zev shrugged a shoulder, not caring if what Shred said was true or not. "Maybe they do. Maybe my lack of faith is why my Paradox Pokémon get irritable when they're hungry." [break][break]

The path sloped downward between trees with enormous trunks and vines hanging from their branches. The canopy above was dark and thick, blocking out most of the sunlight. When Zev looked up, he frowned; the familiar shape of his Noctowl had vanished. [break][break]

The sound of water grew louder. Ahead, a winding stream confirmed his theory. He pointed it out to Shred, then to the ground. "The tracks are heading in its direction." [break][break]

In the corner of Zev's eye, something moved between the trees. He whirled in its direction, heart racing with a sudden flooding of adrenaline in his veins. [break][break]

The air suddenly charged with electricity. [break][break]

"Get down!" Zev shouted, a split second before a SHOCK WAVE lanced toward him and Shred. Zev leaped to the side, his armor covering him from head to toe in an instant. He hit the ground and rolled, then quickly sprang back onto his feet. [break][break]

Lightning scorched the ground where he'd been standing. Looking up, he stared in awe at the yellow, long-necked creature that stepped out from between two massive trees. [break][break]

[break]

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

[attr="class","pkmn"]

Zev stopped short at the sight of the bizarre creatures battling the two Genesect. [break][break]

"More new Pokémon. They look like ancient forms of Entei and Suicune," he observed. Their existence implied an alternative Raikou, but a quick scan of the area showed none in sight. "We should capture these if we can. Our scientists will want to study them." [break][break]

His Genesect veered toward the not-Suicune, launching a Dark-type TECHNO BLAST at it. The bipedal beast screeched in pain and fury. Red eyes flashing, it countered with a DRAGON BREATH that pushed Genesect backward. [break][break]

Zev's eyes narrowed. These new Pokémon were often different typings than their original counterparts. Moves sometimes revealed the typing, but not always. [break][break]

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

[attr="class","pkmn"]

"I didn't participate in the Sootopolis takeover," Zev admitted, letting his gaze wander over the burning cityscape. "But considering the brutality on display here, you can imagine how it was then." [break][break]

The backdrop of Fuschia was not meant to remain, however. It melted away as it had dozens, if not hundreds, of times before. In its place, the Alolan cliffside appeared, the ocean pounding away at its base. [break][break]

"This again," Zev mused aloud as he spotted the nearby Xatu. The last time he'd done this scenario, he'd witnessed a strange and confusing vision: him moving out of his Slateport City apartment. He'd dismissed it for ridiculous nonsense, until it had actually come to pass. [break][break]

"What do you want us to see this time?" he challenged the Psychic-type. [break][break]

TAGS – Rhys Collins[break]
NOTES – the rks simulation

[attr="class","pkmn"]

Dorian was right to feel dread. As Zev reached the tree, the two children started hurling insults down at him and Ursaluna. [break][break]

"Old man! Betcha can't catch us now!" [break][break]

"We sure fooled you and your dumb friend! You're both dumb!" [break][break]

Now, Zev could either order his Ursaluna to attack the children, risking damage to the tree, or he could deal with them himself. His crystals could be very precise when he needed them to be. [break][break]

He weighed his two options in a matter of seconds. Extending a hand at the boy, he let fly a black tendril of metallic shards. It moved as if it had a mind of its own, snaking toward its target. [break][break]

The boy shrieked as the tendril's razor edge bit into his shoulder. Shocked by the pain, he fell, the force of the impact knocking him to the ground. [break][break]

"Tommy! Oh my gods, Tommy!" the girl screamed. "You killed him!" [break][break]

Irritation boiled within Zev at the high-pitched screaming as he retracted the crystal into his body. "He's fine," he snapped at the girl, who was suddenly wailing. [break][break]

The boy was, in fact, alive—but sobbing uncontrollably as he curled into the fetal position. His opposite hand clutched his injured shoulder. Blood was spreading quickly over his shirt. [break][break]

"Now get out of here, or I'll do much worse. To both of you." [break][break]

Fear shot through both of them, evidenced by the way their faces paled behind their tears. The girl jumped to the ground and helped the boy to his feet. They dashed away in an instant, clutching each other and crying.

TAGS – dorian westcliff[break]
NOTES – mission

[attr="class","pkmn"]

Understanding flashed across Zev's face at Theo's explanation. "Kyurem must have done considerable damage to it when they fused together. A pity it couldn't do the same to Zekrom." [break][break]

Unfortunately, the League's meddling and the power of the Deep Black Pokémon's own Avatar had prevented that from happening. Perhaps in the future, Zev himself would have the opportunity to kill Remiel Calcifet and offer up Zekrom for Necrozma's feasting. [break][break]

As if detecting the Rocket Beast's thoughts, the Tera crystals shimmered. Fleeting images of Reshiram and Zekrom flashed across their multifaceted bodies. But neither of them manifested into reality as had happened with other Pokémon. [break][break]

"Has the battle against Kyurem and Hoopa changed our direction as an organization? Should we look into where both Legendary Pokémon disappeared to? And what about Palkia?" Zev asked Theo.

TAGS – THEO BECKETT[break]
NOTES – mission

[attr="class","pkmn"]