"It's simple, my lovely doctor." Himiko said quietly, keeping an eye along the beach, as Rouge's tail swayed left and right as most of her body was buried underneath the sand. "The beach has a poison infestation, and I require restocking some of my supplies for some upcoming missions that require my delicate touch. It's a mutually beneficial proposition, if you take away the subterfuge, wouldn't you say?~"

The woman walked along until their first quarry would show itself as two Pokemon causing a ruckus near the coastline. A Seviper picking a fight with a nearby Gorebyss.

"That being said, I wouldn't mind another water-type or so. I'll require the Seviper, for now."

Himiko let out a sharp whistle. From behind them, her Salandit quickly hopped to her side and stood at attention for what she may have wanted. The two wild pokemon in front of them had noticed their presence while Himiko's hand went to casually stroke the Salandit's scaly head.

"Let's see if you've improved, Rouge. Flamethrower."

The Salandit reared its head back, gathering heat and fire inside of its mouth. After a moment of charging, the pokemon unleashed a wave of flames around the Seviper. While not knocking it back entirely, the move had caused a pretty good amount of pain. Himiko stood impressed, fetching an empty pokeball and throwing it at the poison-type.

[Attempting catch on Seviper]

ameena abadi

☉

"It would make sense. Hoenn is some distance away from the Galar region. I'm sure you can feel a bit homesick at times. Happens to the best of us."

Himiko wouldn't chide her on such things. She missed Kanto with all of her heart, wanting nothing more than to fly back home after being welcomed back and retiring to her grandmother's old shrine, where she could just live out the rest of her days in peace. While idyllic, there was a high chance that the shrine had fully been sold, demolished, or left to rot. As much as Himiko desired to, she knew in the back of her mind that such hopes were far too outlandish.

But to her surprise, Ameena actually invited her to Galar, had she ever the chance to go there again in the coming year. Excitement flooded into her body behind the stoic, somewhat annoyed resting face. She was sheltered, yes, but the eviction to Hoenn had really made the woman curious about what all the other regions were like. Galar was known for its curry, and she had a desire to see if they could true Kanton cuisine.

"A little vacation with you would be delightful~ A safari for shiny Pokemon with such a ravishing mind by my side would be nothing but heaven. I'll be a good little companion for your travels. I'm sure I can cover some of the expenses as well, I'm not a mooch, after all."

Oh, right, they were in the middle of simulation. Whatever was going on.

The Moltres used PROTECT against their attacks as if they were nothing. Large, darkened wings that covered its body wholesale as the two were left to come up with a new direction to attack here. Onna surrounded itself in unregulated hatred as it sent the energy barreling towards the Moltres, as they continued the fight.

"Tell me, what's the best part about Galar? It's where dynamax energy started, wasn't it?"

---

- Himiko chooses ATTACK

ameena abadi

☉

"The reason's simple. His family has deep pockets and far too much hope than anybody in our line of work should have. Rocket could care less about a family's struggle and losing a hospital bed if the money is paid upfront. Maybe there's a reason his condition hasn't gotten anywhere in so long, but I'm not the agent you were, now am I?"

Himiko replied while watching the show for herself. Just casually leaning on the wall overlooking at the other people present as they continued the effort to destroy the car. The Zoroark continued its assualt on the car alongside Thomas and the Scizor. Onna sunk into the shadows again, swiping her claws against the exposed innards of the car as she swiftly swung her tail back and forth, an eye on the Scizor, sizing it up.

"We're making good progress here. Great work as always, team."

She chuckled with a grin.

"What have you been up to? Keeping that cute nose of yours out of Rocket business, hopefully?"

---

IKeEWMwm

Thomas Benoit

☉

"Most likely." Himiko said, canting her head across to Thomas while watching him pick up a sledgehammer and get to work. She allow him and the Pokemon to get to work, opting to remain from afar with an amused look on her face.

"One of them, I think it was Saito. I never really did pay much attention to their names. He still hasn't woken up from the coma you put him in. Doctors doubt he ever will."

The Zoroark stepped aside enough for Thomas to get some licks in without being in danger of getting smashed himself. Onna followed up on her previous attack by lunging backwards and creating a ball of darkness between her paws. The whirling maelstrom of energy was sent careening with the car, much like the other members presently smashing it.

"They really know how to make durable cars, don't they? Don't hold back, Onna. And do give our guest plenty of room."

The Zoroark let out what sounded like the mixture of a hiss and a snicker, eyes flickering to Thomas as her white mane swayed in the breeze.

---

Mq8lON9x

Thomas Benoit

☉

Himiko sauntered into the area with as much vanity for herself and disdain for anybody beneath her. He gait was calculated, sensual. Every step was a master class in being an utterly cold-hearted woman who aspired to be something more than a face in the crowd.

And when her eyes fell on Thomas, those lips tore into a gleeful grin. Her snake-like eyes seemed to hone in on every little detail about him since they had last met.

The very man she had come to know well. She knew that he was likely sour about taking the life of that precious little dog of his, but she honestly cared very little. If it wasn't such a weakling, it would have survived. The rules of nature applied to everybody, you either cried about it or you survived.

"Ah, I didn't think I'd see you again, handsome." Himiko said in the sweetest tone possible as she called her Zoroark to be her chosen Pokemon for the destruction derby. "It's been far too long! How is that little pooch of yours doing? What's the name again?..."

Onna was next to begin her own destruction. She raised both claws into the air, gathering darkness in them until goth limbs surrounded themselves in a dark energy. She then brought both down on the hood of the car, as metal crunched and bent underneath the force of their attack.

"Keeping busy as usual, I see."

---

W9ar1tXy

Thomas Benoit

☉

"Hm."

Himiko tapped her sandal wearing foot against the sand while watching her skittish Salandit make her way across the dunes of sand leading around the beach. She had heard that potent poisonous Pokemon had made their home here at the beach here. Something about the shifting temperatures or whatever, she wasn't a scientist nor did she have the time for it.

Her guise today was as a representative of one of the ecological societies around Hoenn, here to help clean up some of the Pokemon that had been so rudely taken from their homes. She came dressed in a sundress, sandals and sunglasses. It was probably not the best kind of attire to go marching around as some vapid plastic hating ecowarrior, but she wasn't going to be caught wearing something so plain as a worthless cotton shirt here.

Black fingernails drummed on top of her pokeballs, looking towards her precious Salandit

"We're here on business, not pleasure."

The poor Pokemon would let out a series of hissing, gargled noises in response. Himiko exhaled and then looked back towards the coastline.

"Fine, once we have enough for our next round of sampling, we can spend some time here. But only if you're good."

The Salandit snickered to herself in agreement and hurried off into the sound to "attempt to find hiding Pokemon" that only further made her owner groan.

ameena abadi

☉

In a royal burst of plume and smoke, toxic gas filling the arena while the two Rockets stood before their imposing challenge. Himiko tossed her hair back with a scoff, fetching a pokeball from her belt and twirling it around her fingers. After one rotation, the Kanton tossed out her Hisuan Zoroark, who landed in front of her, claws outstretched and ready to fight.

"I don't plan on it. Don't deny a girl like me a show." Himiko replied, assuming that the words were meant for her.

Why else would she?

The Gardevoir was first to launch the attack against the Moltres with an Alluring Voice directly after its mega evolution. Himiko found herself amused by it, as she felt a little showed up. One of these days, she'd have to get her hands on one of those bracelets. Kanto never had such an amazing toy for sale, for whatever the reason.

The Zoroark sunk into the shadows beneath its body, quickly vanishing from its view. After the Gardevoir's attack had found its mark, the Zoroark popped up beside the legendary and swung its claws at the darkened avian using SHADOW SNEAK.

The news of a shared interest had graced Himiko's ears as a smile anchored itself to her lips.

"Likewise in Kanto. Although I used to work as a black market operator in Kanto, I collected shiny pokemon as well. I had many before they were confiscated, enough to fill up a small plot of land, perhaps. My pride and joy was my Purugly, when I had her still. I love them all, even the more unflattering ones. Although I've always wanted a shiny Obstagoon from Galar~."

---

- Himiko chooses ATTACK

ameena abadi

☉

Damn, this cut stung like hell. Himiko inhaled with clenched teeth as her darkened nails stained crimson from the sleak cut that ran along her front. Torn fabric had sopped up most of the blood, though at the cost of ruining the outfit she had worn. It only proved to infuriate her further.

Zev didn't even appear too involved after the attack, just walking away and dismissing her.

"You think I don't know that already? I work for Rocket!"

Maybe he believed it, maybe he didn't. But Himiko huffed and pushed herself back to her feet. The Salandit by her feet looked up at her as she carefully leaned down to offer it her hand. The poison-type slithered up to the woman's shoulder and then made her way to the medic's office...and hopefully a tailor on base.

"I hate that crystal loving bitch sometimes..."

Zev Harcourt

☉

Himiko stood beside the good Doctor Ameena. The vain daddy's girl tapped her foot impatiently while waiting on her partner for the mission to make a decision for what kind of enemy they would be up against. Beside her was a Zoroark whose expression matched his owner's apathy towards being present for this kind of training.

"I've only heard of the normal Moltres. There's a Galarian version? How does that even work?"

In truth, Himiko didn't care enough. All that did matter was how painful this was going to be given the expectations of their superiors. Attempting to fight a Legendary Pokemon with only two people was what many Rockets in Kanto would call "spring cleaning". Maybe here, it was expected of them but Himiko wouldn't hold her breath for a chance to even think about success.

Maybe it was one of those stupid "you can't win" type of tests?

"Whatever. Load it up and let's get this over with."

She flicked her nails up to check up them after a quick touch up. Her eyes went to the Gardevior beside Ameena, her eyes entranced by its shiny color.

"You've got a lovely little friend there, haven't you?"

ameena abadi

☉

Well it wasn't like she could just get a meeting with two of the most powerful Rocket agents in the entire organization, now could she? Himiko scoffed at Zev's retort and rolled her eyes.

”Yeah, well...maybe I just might.”

His next approach caught her unaware, as her Salandit was already approaching his final stand alongside a damaged Zorua. The two Pokémon he had called against her own rushed by them. Instead, they focused their attacks on her!

”Wh-What?”

She stood in place as both of her companions moved to intercept the attack. The Zorua disappeared from plain sight again, only to pop out in front of the Nagandel with a SHADOW SNEAK. The Salandit, meanwhile, put himself in the way of Ceruledge's blade. Himiko watched him with an unimpressed face, but when the blade drew closer.

Himiko shoved it out of the way, feeling the sword slash across her chest.

The grunt let out a pained yelp, clutching the wound while her gaze locked on the ground. Pain wracked her chest as furious eyes honed in on Zev.

"What the FUCK is your deal? You think going after me is supposed to teach me a lesson about playing dirty?"

Zev Harcourt

☉

Himiko's natural stoicism was beginning to crack as Zev worked at her faults. Lips curled into an annoyed frown as the battle continued before her. Both Pokémon weren't having the greatest of times at the moment.

The Salandit ate the attack against it and was thrown back again. It was wounded, maybe somewhat close to exhaustion, but still willing to fight. Her Zoroark was faring better, taking another Fire Blast from his opponent without issue. No doubt jt was the typing difference that was saving him here.

”You don't know a single thing about me or my family.” Himiko hissed at her superior as her temper gave out in the end. ”You've seen what they do, maybe took part in it yourself. Cruelty is just a measurement which has no end to Rocket. Why would they bother to give him the time of day and send me here? They could have just ignored him, let me starve to death or worse.”

She whistled to her Pokémon again, causing both to switch targets once more. The Zoroark focused on the Ceruledge and launched another SHADOW BALL at the fellow ghost-type. The Salandit returned to its original target with a DRAGON PULSE for the Nagandel's troubles.

”Meanwhile, I come to find out that ineptitude is in abundance here. At least in Kanto, we could deal with uprisings and League issues easily. You can't even hold a city permanently, even with how many advantages? No wonder you need every living body you can afford here.”

Zev Harcourt

☉

The Salandit peered up at the Ceruledge as it reappeared before it. Both of them shared a moment to observe the other as the lizard reared its head back to collect as much poison as it could muster at the ghost-type. Once full, she spat out a glob of chores at the ghostly swordsman with VENOSHOCK.

The Zoroark, meanwhile, was hit full force with the sudden Fire Blast. It raised its arms to defend itself as the white fur had been signed by the sheer heat. He peeked out from his guarding stance to counter by dashing at the Nagandel with a FOUL PLAY.

Himiko narrowed her eyes at his remark about her family.

”It's not like they had a choice. After I was reprimanded for being the scapegoat for something that's clearly not my fault, my father had to beg for me to be sent here instead of rotting in some Rocket cell. If he expected me to meet my end here, I'd venture that he expects quite the opposite.”

Yet something about Himiko was different. Her eyes pried onto Zev for a moment before fleeting back to the battle. The haste at which she had replied back. The grunt shot him a look while the battle continued.

”I've lived through high expectations before. I'll survive this war and do just fine.”

Zev Harcourt

☉

”I've had my eye in a few different places. Might go help establish bases, or find a nice outpost to watch the frontline from.”

The Salandit’s apprehension aside, both Pokémon were still ready to give their all in the fight. The Salandit's meager size made it easy to skitter out of the path of the Shadow Claw. It countered with another shot of DRAGON PULSE at the Nagandel.

”You've been a very good boy for the people holding your leash. Maybe they'll give you an extra portion at dinner as a reward.”

Her eyes moved to her Zoroark, who had eaten the full brunt of the Bitter Blade. He stumbled back some but wasn't fully out of the fight. Sickly purple colors burned across its skin, the phantasmal flames licking across its fur. They burst forth from the Zoroark with BITTER MALICE

”But I'll do whatever it takes to get back home. I just have to play nice until I get word back. Then I'm gone. This war is meaningless to me.”

Zev Harcourt

☉