[attr="class","header"]RATHER BE THE HUNTER THAN THE PREY

[attr="class","setting"]

Taking care of the planet was in his usual line of work, but someone had to do it. Someone had to make sure Hoenn wasn't destroyed with all this poisonous gas and swamps that had appeared. After all, it would be hard to take over a place if there was no place to take over.
[break][break]
Still, though, couldn't someone else have been tasked with this? His main skill set lay in killing. He was an assassin, not some kind of cleanup crew.
[break][break]
He supposed it wouldn't be too bad, though. There was the possibility of still being able to battle. After all, poison-type Pokémon were presumed to be the ones behind this whole mess.
[break][break]
With Ares, his Gallade, beside him, he awaited the arrival of his partner. Some new rocket. Not that he had much room to talk, since he was still fairly new to Rocket himself. But unlike him, apparently the new rocket wasn't some hardened criminal, at least not yet he wasn't.[break] Ashton Steele

[attr="class","oocnotes"] + ooc notes

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

[attr="class","header"]RATHER BE THE HUNTER THAN THE PREY

[attr="class","setting"]

Strong regret, huh? He still wasn't sure he understood. At the mention of Dorian, he kept his expression perfectly neutral. Not that it was overly hard. Being unable to really connect to his emotions, it made keeping a poker face super easy. Maybe a little too easy.
[break][break]
"That must have been horrible. What would cause such an attack?" he asked before realizing what he was asking. It was something his mentor had lectured him about. "Oh, that was rude of me, wasn't it? I shouldn't ask about painful memories," he said. Had he said that right?
[break][break]
"Unfortunately, I haven't been here that long. It must have happened before I arrived," he told the younger male. Either that or it had been right before he had joined Team Rocket, when he had been living away from civilization.
[break][break]
While waiting for Josh to say something, movement from his peripheral vision caught his attention. Turning his head, he saw a Pawniard that didn't seem too happy to see either of them. Perhaps they had crossed into her territory. Either way, he was going to catch her.
[break][break]
Taking out a Pokéball, he released Ares from its contents. The Gallade looked around before spotting the Pawniard, who immediately attacked with Feint Attack. Ares barely reacted before using Sacred Sword on the Pawniard.
[break][break]
Surprisingly, despite getting hit with an attack that had quadruple damage, the Pawniard was trying to get up to fight. Seeing the Pawniard on its last leg and realizing where this would go, he tossed an empty Pokéball at the Pawniard.[break] Josh Devlin

[attr="class","oocnotes"] + Catch attempt on Pawniard

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

[attr="class","header"]RATHER BE THE HUNTER THAN THE PREY

[attr="class","setting"]

Luckily, his friend returned to normal, and he listened to what he had to say. He didn't like it. It sounded like some serious mind control, making you feel things that you didn't actually feel. It was something he would have to keep an eye on. He already had enough trouble trying to connect with his emotions on his own, without some external force trying to impose them on him. That would only lead to confusion.
[break][break]
"Seems like Pokémon or the league aren't the only things we need to be on guard against," he told his friend. He didn't do warm or fuzzy, especially not on assignments. He preferred to keep things as business-like as possible.
[break][break]
Upon his friend's comment, he shook his head. "I'm not sure. Maybe it's a Pokémon? If so, it's not a cry I'm familiar with," he said as he resumed walking, now that it was clear his friend was truly back to normal.[break] dorian westcliff
[break][break]
OLcMJfH5

[attr="class","oocnotes"] + ooc notes

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

[attr="class","header"]RATHER BE THE HUNTER THAN THE PREY

[attr="class","setting"]

He stared impassively down at the tent, with the DRK Triad from their vantage point, his gaze taking in the area around the tent. Though not obvious, he was scanning for any dangers or obstacles that could get in the way of their objective. He had already picked out a few people working under them, or as he liked to call them, grunts.
[break][break]
Hearing her comment, he simply made an affirmative noise, seeing no point in giving a response. Like her, he simply wanted to get this done and over with. So the quicker they dealt with the problem, the better.
[break][break]
Another noise of affirmation before he turned away from assessing their surroundings to respond to her final comment. "There doesn't seem to be any posted guards. They're confident in their ability to keep ahold of any data they've attained. Confident that no one will attack them. I've counted a small number of grunts that work under them in the tent. Their confidence borders on arrogance; we can use that to our advantage. I think we should create a distraction and bring them out. Then I'll call their attention to me while you get the research."
[break][break]
He said all this in an emotionless voice, making it seem like he was reading some script telling him what to say.[break] Alexandra Briarwood
[break][break]
S0FWWcTr

[attr="class","oocnotes"] + ooc notes

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

[attr="class","header"]RATHER BE THE HUNTER THAN THE PREY

[attr="class","setting"]

Was it really? He didn't really see it that way. To him, it was just the fact of the matter. Unless he was talking about something else. Though whatever that could be, he had no idea.
[break][break]
Deciding not to think too much about it, he just shrugged, his expression remaining impassive, making it unclear what he really thought. Or how he felt, not that he ever really felt anything.
[break][break]
While the others' Pokémon didn't seem to notice his reaction, Ryker did. Having trained to be observant, he noticed the little things. So he noticed him tensing as Apollo reacted negatively to the Spinarak's presence. A tension that dissipated after Apollo stood down after being told to do that.
[break][break]
"Apollo is really protective of me and sometimes goes overboard with seeing stuff as a threat," he told the older male.
[break][break]
Not really expecting much of a response, he continued on. Unfortunately, the path ahead narrowed, making it hard to get through. With his frame, he wasn't exactly made for getting through tight spaces.
[break][break]
From behind him, he heard the older male's breathing quicken, and he was reminded of the excursion he had done with Dorian, who had seemed to have a similar reaction when down here.
[break][break]
Unlike last time, he didn't bring attention to it though. Instead, he continued walking as the path opened back up.
[break][break]
"Keep your guard up," was his only response as his amber gaze scanned their surroundings for the lookout of any threat.
[break][break]
It was while he was doing this that he caught the sound of a cry. The same cry he had heard when down here with Dorian.[break] Kazuya Yoshida
[break][break]
iMBVtN4t

[attr="class","oocnotes"] + ROLL 89-98. - Hear the following cry echoing from somewhere deep below:
[player]https://file.garden/ZXZrnWMYuz15frfJ/HOENN%20MUSIC/MYSTERIOUSCRY1.mp3[/player]

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

[attr="class","header"]RATHER BE THE HUNTER THAN THE PREY

[attr="class","setting"]

Contrary to belief, despite his obedience, he was not stupid. Sure, he wasn't exactly book smart, having never had a formal education, but there were other smarts than just book smarts. Like being street smart or being good with strategies or having common sense. Those were more the smarts he leaned towards. Which was why he was immediately able to realize that by "his help" he meant hoist him up.
[break][break]
Of course, getting what he meant wasn't hard. It helped that he hadn't really been expecting him to know how to scale walls. He just had to ask to not assume things. Scaling walls wasn't exactly a common skill, but on one hand, it was definitely a skill he could see his fellow rockets knowing.
[break][break]
His own skill had been picked up as a kid and had never left him. His mentor, on the other hand, had been like Theo in the sense that it was a skill he didn't possess. So getting into a position to help hoist him up didn't take long.
[break][break]
"Ready, when you are," he said simply after having gotten into position to boost him up so he could climb through the window.[break] THEO BECKETT

[attr="class","oocnotes"] + ooc notes

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

[attr="class","header"]RATHER BE THE HUNTER THAN THE PREY

[attr="class","setting"]

Inspecting the sharpness of his knife, he nodded in approval before adding it to the others. His other knives had been sharpened earlier, and now that all his weapons were ready for use, he was prepared for anything, including another excursion into Area Zero. Speaking of which, it was time for him to head out.
[break][break]
Slipping all his knives into hidden places and strapping his swords onto his back, he used Apollo to make his way to the entrance of Area Zero. Reaching his destination didn't take long, and he immediately dismounted from Apollo before looking around and seeing no one else nearby.
[break][break]
Oh well, it seemed that he would have to wait a bit for his partner. Not that he minded; he would take the chance to scout ahead, not as himself, but using a Pokémon.
[break][break]
With that in mind, he sent Fenris, his Mabosstiff, to scout ahead while he resumed waiting for his partner for the mission.[break] Camellia Lemaitre
[break][break]
Gd0ndLIt

[attr="class","oocnotes"] + ooc notes

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

[attr="class","header"]RATHER BE THE HUNTER THAN THE PREY

[attr="class","setting"]

As his friend started to tell him the plan, he listened to what he had to say with rapt attention, wanting to commit whatever his friend planned to memory. However, before his friend could fully explain the plan of action, the older male cut himself off, causing him to frown.
[break][break]
As his friend tensed up and backed away with wide eyes, his hand fell to the hilt of a hidden knife before whipping around, expecting to see a league member or wild Pokémon coming at them. Seeing nothing out of the ordinary, he turned back towards his friend, wondering what could have caused such a reaction if they weren't in any immediate danger.
[break][break]
"Dorian, you need to calm down. Nothing good will come out of panicking," he said, his tone sharp, as he approached to grip the older male's shoulder in the hopes of getting through whatever had come over him.
[break][break]
If successful, he would back up a bit and continue to keep an eye on the older male. Before he could consider asking his friend what had happened, he would hear a cry from deep down.
[break][break]
'Was that a Pokémon?' he asked himself.[break] dorian westcliff
[break][break]
pnrTPlFO

[attr="class","oocnotes"] + prompt: ROLL 89-98. - Hear the following cry echoing from somewhere deep below:

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

[attr="class","header"]RATHER BE THE HUNTER THAN THE PREY

[attr="class","setting"]

Having lived in a desert environment where the weather could fluctuate from hot during the day to cold at night for a good part of his life, the cold didn't really bother him. Even the wind that seemed to go right through him didn't bother him. He was dressed considerably less prepared for the cold than the older male, simply wearing a down jacket over a pair of jeans and boots.
[break][break]
Upon arrival, his gaze would immediately scan the area for potential threats before he gave a curt nod of his own, ready to start when he heard that the older male was ready.
[break][break]
Hearing the comment, he turned his head towards the white-haired man. "I'm prepared for anything," he said in response before they started descending into the chasm. Luckily, with Apollo still out of his pokeball, they still had a bit of light as they ventured through the chasm. However even with Apollo light the way it was a bit hard to see which was why he failed to notice the Spinarak until it ended up on him. Feeling something crawling around on him he batted it off knocking the Spinarak onto the ground where it immediately began to scurry away. Seeing Apollo about ready to go after it he head up a hand to halt the Charizard. “Leave it, it’s not causing any harm,” he told the fire pokemon watching as the Spinarak scurried out of sight.
[break][break]
After that silence lapsed between them again and the only sound to be heard was their footsteps. Eventually, though, they would reach the research station.[break] Kazuya Yoshida
[break][break]
kbQrYyTJ

[attr="class","oocnotes"] + ROLL A NUMBER WITH AN 8. - Run into an Ariados or Galvantula web. Alternatively, find a Spinarak or Joltik climbing on you.

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

[attr="class","header"]RATHER BE THE HUNTER THAN THE PREY

[attr="class","setting"]

He followed the older male, stopping when he did. As the order was issued, his eyes were already scanning the building, taking notice of every entrance. There was a front and back door, but both were obvious choices and probably secure.
[break][break]
An open window could provide a way of entering, but there was no ladder around. Even if there was one, using a ladder would definitely be noticeable, not to mention stupid. Not that he would really need to use a ladder to crawl through an open window.
[break][break]
He knew how to scale walls, something he had picked up during his childhood but had never forgotten. And despite his height, he was agile enough to pull off going through a window if he had to.
[break][break]
The real problem lay in Theo's skills. Depending on his skills, some of the options might be out the window unless he went in first and let him in. But he supposed that before coming to a decision, he should ask first.
[break][break]
"I don't suppose you know how to scale a wall?"[break] THEO BECKETT

[attr="class","oocnotes"] + ooc notes

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

[attr="class","header"]RATHER BE THE HUNTER THAN THE PREY

[attr="class","setting"]

He supposed Arcanine wouldn't be a bad choice. Arcanine was known for being incredibly loyal to their owners. And that was something he could definitely get behind. Loyalty was something he was actually very big on. And with it being a canine Pokémon, he could use it in his line of work.
[break][break]
"I may look into acquiring an Arcanine then," he stated, his thoughts momentarily straying to the benefits an Arcanine would have on his team.
[break][break]
In the wilderness where anything could happen, it was good not to dwell on one's thoughts for too long, so he decided to think more on it later, instead focusing on the layout in front of him.
[break][break]
As the younger male explained about the rift as well as what lay beyond it, he couldn't help but be curious. "Unfortunately, a Sygna suit isn't something I have," he told the dark-haired man, his eyes remaining fixed on the rift as questions ran through his mind. In the end, he decided to at least ask.
[break][break]
"What would make a person not be able to move on?"
[break][break]
He didn't understand it. Maybe because he didn't really believe in an afterlife himself.[break] Josh Devlin

[attr="class","oocnotes"] + skipping

[attr="class","pokeclass"]