Can you imagine... having total control?

I am Leslie Anne McCraw. Currently I work as an inventor with Team Rocket. You may ask me about my work, or I could indulge you in a battle. So long as you do not waste my time, we will not have any problems. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ In association with Pokétumblr.

[kryptonite-king-of-the-syndicate]

Manical Meeting: Leslie and Namba

With Team Rocket and Galactic as now partners, the doors were open to a number of things once thought to be impossible. With two teams, two sets of trainers and leaders over two regions meant they were stronger than a number of people.

But to Professor Namba of the Science Department of Team Rocket, being partners with Team Galactic meant he could see what the science department was like. So after a quick call to Charon and Sird, stating why he wanted to go, Namba was allowed to have a one day visit. He knew what he wanted to see, but he was anxious to see what else was available in the Galactic labs.

Entering the building, stroking his mustache, he scanned the hallway to see just where exactly he would go first.

[imaginetotalcontrol-blog]

Zubat... Golbat... Wurmple... Beautifly... Dustox...

Leslie traced her hand across the cold table on which her collars were displayed. She mentally counted off her products for each of the Galactic-owned species. There were at least two for each group. Some particularly troublesome Pokemon, such as Wurmple and its evolutions, had given Leslie and her team reason to produce more collars--each version tested until they found the 'one'.

Glameow... Stunky... Bronzor... Croagunk...

"They are all accounted for."

A Porygon clicked by her side. It responded as best it could, so that the words Leslie had spoken did not dissolve into dead silence.

Her list of successful test subjects would grow soon. At least, that was her expectation. For now she waited for paperwork. This was only a matter of time. 

Another sound caught her attention. Because it was not the familiar click of her only loyal Pokémon, Leslie was inclined to investigate. Moved by sheer curiosity, Leslie opened her door, and revealed to herself the hallway as usual, lined with doors to several other laboratories...

as well as a man whom she did not recognize. She stared at him, dead-eyed, an unnatural fuchsia cutting through the emptiness. 

"Who are you?"

[kryptonite-king-of-the-syndicate]

Christmas? BAH!

I keep asking for a suitable nuclear fuel source for my death machines, but Santa always sends me coal. It can only power so much of my weaponary old man!

[imaginetotalcontrol-blog]

"You are still relying on Santa Clause?"

[imaginetotalcontrol-blog]

suavespy started following you

"You are...?"

[imaginetotalcontrol-blog]

Observations

This weather was warmer than Leslie was used to. As such, her jacket was her lab coat, which was difficult enough to separate her from without the help of the weather. She sat with a single leg raised onto the bench, overlooking a deserted park and her two Houndour, Porygon floating and clicking by her side. 

In her hands, a single remote, too small to see from a distance. The Houndour sat, stood, and rolled as she explored her own technology. Although it was close to being complete, Leslie had no choice but to spend extra time tweaking the upgrades she had made to the collar to suit the two Houndour. These two... they had seen so many stages of the product that they often reacted differently than the test subjects she had now. More accurately: they were liable to resist changes if they were not made well.

This day, her eyes were white as ice, and they skated across the dead grassy field in search of nothing. They found a wanderer through the Kanto 'cold', watched for entirely too long, and then returned, seemingly, to her hands.

[pokemoncountdown-deactivated201]

Day 228

Houndour.

[imaginetotalcontrol-blog]

Conservation of Energy

[commanderpluto]

“You saw for yourself what Sird is like. I’m not sure what working underneath her version of Team Rocket’s research department will be like for you, but I hear she is much more militant with grants than I ever was. If you want to succeed, you need to meet her approval within your first few months, otherwise you’ll fail there.”

Now, if that were to happen, she could always come back. Somebody as brilliant as Leslie would always be welcome to come back, so long as the old man was running the show. “I wish you well out there. Kanto is completely different, but you don’t need me telling you that. You already know.”

[imaginetotalcontrol-blog]

"You are doubtful of my ability to succeed?" Leslie was not. The inventor sounded neither offended nor humored. She picked up a collar, one sized for a Dustox, inspected it in her palm. So much potential in these rings. She had achieved much already with them. And yet, so much more to learn about her own work. With Team Rocket she would be able to...

Dead magenta eyes lifted up to Charon's. Now Leslie explicitly waited for her answer, despite the fact that Charon's opinion couldn't tarnish her confidence in the slightest. 

[imaginetotalcontrol-blog]

Conservation of Energy

[commanderpluto]

The sound of footsteps permeated the otherwise silent laboratory. Miranda already left after the merging, for fear of becoming a Team Rocket commodity. Charon, however, could call all shots now. Team Rocket made sure of that. The only person on the face of this earth he’d ever have to answer to would be Giovanni and no other. Only Giovanni.

The fat old man made his way into Leslie’s lab. “I heard the news secondhand. You’ll be departing, won’t you?” That was fine. He figured someone this ambitious would want to try something new. “I’m not coming here to stop you. I just want to make sure you are absolutely aware of what your future with them will be like.”

[imaginetotalcontrol-blog]

The way Leslie initially responded made it seem as though she had not heard what Charon had to say. She greeted the old man, "Hello Charon," in an attempt to be polite that actually achieved the exact opposite. She left a significant pause hanging in the air before moving onto Charon's offer for insight--something she was not sure she needed, but was also willing to accept.

"I am glad. What is it you have to say?"

[imaginetotalcontrol-blog]

Conservation of Energy

There were collars. There were always collars. And as of right now, Leslie was inspecting each and every one by hand, looking for nothing less than perfection. Everything she could call her own needed to be at their best. After all, change was coming. 

Her inspection was serving two purposes, in fact. Of course, she wanted to ensure that her work was indeed in "working order", but in addition, she was expecting a guest. Her lab would be pristine. Not that it was ever far from the tediously-neat, straight-rowed, sanitized state that Leslie sought to restore, but again: perfection was key.

The room was nearly silent. Every once in a while, metal would clink against a stone table, Porygon would make a clicking noise, or a computer would whine, but for the most part, the quiet rang loudest. 

Which is why Leslie responded to the click of an opening lock, her head facing the door before it had even opened. Her guest had arrived.

[imaginetotalcontrol-blog]

Integrate and Derive

[scientistdemarus]

Damarus was slightly confused about that choice of move, it wasn’t one he would expect Isha to use.  Ah, but she wasn’t the one taking control, of course.  The young man watched Leslie, and her generally stiff posture made it easy to spot the movement of her hand.  So that’s how she was commanding the pokemon, with that device.

However, he was more interested in finishing the battle, and continued to command his Roserade.

“Use Magical Leaf.”

Leerah tumbled back from the Return tackle, but she quickly sprang back to ther feet for the counterattack.  She shook the bouquets that were her ‘hands’, causing petals and leafs to fall out.  They glowed with a shimmering aura of color, and shot out towards Lopunny.  No matter how quick the rabbit pokemon was, this attack was sure to hit its mark.

[imaginetotalcontrol-blog]

She was not going to waste her time calling a dodge on a move that would not miss. Before Leslie, Isha stood still and awaited her next command, taking damage from both the attack and poison as she did so. The influence of the collar could not stop the overworked Pokemon from buckling to her knees, but one press of a button convinced her to rise again.

Leslie was pleased and it showed. A smile creeped onto her face, making her expression such that it seemed she had tasted something delicious. Isha was tolerating her damage very well. "As you see, I have the power to have Isha stretch her limits. You will have to hit her harder than that." Or let her do the damage to herself. As the borrowed Lopunny threw herself into a Jump Kick, Leslie idly wondered if her opponents would manage a dodge. If getting the battle over with were what the two desired, it would certainly be their wisest option.

[commanderpluto]

Check

[commanderpluto]

Those smiles were an abomination. Then again, this whole display could be marked as an abomination. To be held back by plugged-in grunts, forced to watch something as traumatic as a return to the hive, was unforgivable. “Sorry, Janet,” Charon muttered, barely audible. He wanted to hand something over to Damarus, to give the boy a fighting chance, but perhaps he was too far away. In his other pocket, the old man had his trump card. Now wasn’t the time to use it. Oh, no. He could wait a little longer.

“I’ll make sure you won’t suffer for naught. That’s all I can promise you.” Let her cry, shriek, scream, and curse him; from where he currently stood, Charon had no hopes of saving Janet.

As sick as someone would think it to be, if they knew, Charon did want to see how far Cyrus and Sird were going to go. They had no idea, did they? As soon as they reached the point where it’d be impossible to backtrack, where their actions stuck to them like tar to a now-extinct, prehistoric beast, then he’d fold.

“You think I’m upset? Of course I am! I don’t deny my humanity. I know what I am, but you…I think you’re losing your touch,God. Smiles are for those who feel pride. If you’re blaming me for showing my emotions, you should take a look in the mirror.”

The old man shoved a grunt into yet another, hoping they’d topple like dominoes. “Damarus, if you’ve got the balls for it, try to stop Sird. I’m going after someone bigger.” Cyrus and—

“No…two…”

They’d have to swarm over him like pigeons to spilled snack foods to keep him back. “I’ll say it one last time. That’s my employee, not yours. Touch her, and I’ll make sure you taste another emotion, too: rumination.”

[galactic-beauty]

Mars was silent. The ball was out of her hands. So why did she feel so anxious? In a few moments it would be over. Then she could finally rest, and maybe have her injuries looked at. She desperately hoped her wrist would heal - it was her good left hook! She could barely see Charon from where she stood, but seeing his growing anger made her glad she had gotten out of his range, and he had focused on someone more formidable than herself.

Even though Cyrus showed no confirmation of her presence, she hoped he had noted her join him on the stage. If need be, she would gladly step in to assist in any way possible - all of her pokemon being at full health. She’d even push herself past her injuries if that’s what was called for, but she really hoped that wouldn’t be necessary.

[imaginetotalcontrol-blog]

So, she was being called upon directly. Leslie stood still, her reaction not immediate. Which was not, for her, a moment of hesitation, but of decision: just who did she care to support? 

And caring here, was a strong word for Leslie. The implications being that she had a particular attachment to either of the assumed Galactic leaders. Moreover, that she was concerned about anything more than which party would be able to provide her with her next project. One glance around the room. From the looks of it, that party consisted of the people on the stage.

By contrast, walking up to the stage was significantly easier for Leslie than it would be for Charon. She awarded neither Janet, Damarus, nor even Cyrus a glance on her way up, directly approaching the one who had addressed her. 

"You called for me." That was Leslie's none-too-cryptic way of saying 'yes'.

[yaoiswag-blog-deactivated201904]

Houndour

[commanderpluto]

Check

[commanderpluto]

Damarus’s cry was what first distracted Charon. The old man ran toward the younger scientist’s side, only to have a Grunt stand as an obstacle. “Stand aside!” the Commander snarled, shoving the grunt out of his way. “Damarus? Lad, what’s going on here?” What was he witnessing? That would have been the better question.

“Don’t worry,” he whispered, pulling out his pocketknife to undo the restraints. “I’m untying you. You’ll be free in no time. I don’t think I’ll have to worry about you any more, but where’s Janet?”

That question was answered when Sird arrived, dragging that poor girl behind her. What Charon saw left a sinking, sickening feeling in his oversized stomach. The mystery Grunt was no mystery to him. That was how he’d first met her. “You wouldn’t dare…” he hissed. “What would you GAIN from—”

Sird’s speech left him uncomfortable, too. He felt he knew why she was really here, and this didn’t mesh with it at all. Something was off, and that something came in the form of Cyrus. The doors opened, Charon jerked around, and stood protectively in front of Damarus.

“You should have died. Giratina should have torn you limb from limb. If that didn’t end you, starvation, fatigue, or suicide should have taken you. You shouldn’t be here, and if you do so much as touch that girl, I swear to whatever god you think you are, Cyrus…I’ll end you.”

[galactic-beauty]

In his haste, to get to Damarus, Charon seemed to lose all thought of Mars, and let go of her wrist. Once her wrist was released, and Charon had moved a good distance away, she turned around to Electivire, a crazed smile on her face. “Set her down,” she ordered the pokemon. Electivire set J on a bench nearby before Mars recalled him to his pokeball, proceeding to force her way through the crowd of grunts. Her place as a commander was up front, with Cyrus. She took the side set of stairs, not wanting to be too much of a distraction from Cyrus’s beautiful face. Him being back and in control was almost too much for Mars to bear, and she kind of wished they had taken a potty-break before coming to the auditorium.

Sird hadn’t been lying, though, the man looked in poor shape, to say the least. Mars wished she was smarter so she might be of more use helping him recover. Seeing as Sird was the only one who would know anything about Cyrus’s physical state, once this whole debacle was over, Mars would do whatever she could to help Sird help Cyrus. But right now, she needed to be strong.

Aside from the bruises on her face, and the slight limp to her step, Mars held herself straight and proud. She took her place at on the stage, seven steps behind Cyrus, clasping her hands in front of herself, as she couldn’t seem to get her injured wrist to stop shaking in any other manner. She had to ignore Janet — yes, that was Janet on that chair. Instead, she focused her gaze on the back of Cyrus’s head; she needed to be strong, she had to prove that she was still worthy to be a commander of Team Galactic. As much as it was going to break Mars’s heart to watch Janet be reinserted back into the hive, Mars had to be strong and mask her feelings. There were just some things more important than friendship.

[imaginetotalcontrol-blog]

Charon's was not the only attention that Damarus managed to grasp. At the sound of his voice, Leslie's eyes flicked in his direction, catching that he was bound just before Charon motioned to release him. So, he had not been here of his own will. Ah, but Leslie had known. Charon's actions made plain to Leslie that he had not wished this upon Damarus, either. So then, who had? Considering the manner in which everyone had entered, there were only two plausible answers.

The first of whom had an interesting grunt in a chair. Leslie might not have known for certain who she was, had Charon not gushed his feelings on the matter all over the room. Seeing Janet returned in such a manner pleased the Galactic scientist. Leslie was inclined to agree: Janet should not have left in the first place.  

Leslie was pulled out of that train of thought, her voice following the sound of yet another superior. Cyrus was clearly haggard, if Leslie were putting his appearance into polite wording. He did not have anyone in his direct possession, and in fact seemed to be following the lead of his subordinate. 

Leslie considered the pair: Sird and Cyrus. At least one of them had what Leslie needed. Perhaps if she remained in the background, she could figure out which person that was. 

[imaginetotalcontrol-blog]

“Hello. I am Leslie; an inventor.”

[chili-loves-gravy-blog-blog]

Ooooh!!! An inventor!! What kinda stuff do you build?? Anything useful that maybe a chef like me could use!?!

[imaginetotalcontrol-blog]

"I am certain any person could find use of my invention... however it has not yet been released to the public..."

[chili-loves-gravy-blog-blog]

elitefour-bertha started following you

 firstrocktotheleague started following you

 kick-yourass started following you

 imaginetotalcontrol started following you

 prycecold started following you

 darachthevalet started following you

HI EVERYONE!!! I’m Chili, and I love to cook!!

[imaginetotalcontrol-blog]

"Hello. I am Leslie; an inventor."

[imaginetotalcontrol-blog]

OOC: Ky is now in the hospital and will post as Leslie and Sylvia as soon as she gets back (might be as soon as tomorrow afternoon).

[commanderpluto]

Check

OOC: I know that we don’t have a legitimate posting order for this main event, but since everyone involved’s gotten to the point of gathering into the Veilstone Galactic Building, we might as well set up an order, right? How about the following?

Charon

Mars

Leslie

Proton/Damarus (a combination post for those with multiple accounts should speed up the process)

J

Sird

Cyrus (just because I’m an ass and want to post RIGHT AFTER those two)

Whatever final posting order we decide on, I think it’s high time we get the show started.

IC:

At long last, the doors appeared. Charon’s clammy, hammy hands moved to touch them, even as he gasped for air. Every last muscle in his body ached, sore from the run. For that reason, he wanted to take a brief moment before opening the door. Recovering his strength would be vital, and the same went for the strength of his Pokemon. Each and every one of them could use a Hyper Potion (and in Vullaby’s case, a Max Revive).

“This is it.” His voice sounded so hoarse, maybe even raw. With Electivire holding J, that was one person taken care of. As for Mars, that was another matter he’d quickly remedy, all by grabbing her sore wrist and dragging her beside him. ‘If you’re going to take my favorites, Cyrus, I’ll take one of yours.’ And if he ventured to destroy those favorites, Charon would be more than glad to return the favor.

“Come on,” he snapped at Mars, ready to make a far from pleasant display of her in this requested assembly. “I’m sure you’re dying to see your commander in chief again, aren’t you? You’ll get your wish, but let me tell you something.” Easing in close, so she could smell his breath and cologne once more, he hissed a few additional words. “He is going to fail, and it will be beautiful.”

Walking down the aisle felt strange and alien to him, although he’d come here just recently to deliver a speech to the Grunts. None of them were as he’d left them. The code was on system, and he could have heard a pin drop. So, where was Cyrus? Where was Sird? This was the meeting ground, but where were they? More importantly, where were his scientists?

“Keep an eye out for me,” he whispered to Rotom. “If anyone comes remotely near me…fry them.” The Pokemon nodded in understanding and snickered to itself.

“YOU CALLED ME OUT HERE!” the old man bellowed. “WHAT IS IT YOU WANTED ME TO SEE? GO ON, THEN! SHOW ME! JUST KNOW THAT IT IS POINTLESS!”

[galactic-beauty]

Mars cast a look over her shoulder at Electivire, making sure he was keeping up. She shouldn’t have worried, noting that he was right on her heels, although his expression had darkened upon noticing Charon forcing Mars along. Mars wasn’t too concerned, aside from the returning pain  in her wrist. In fact, she couldn’t keep a smile off her face. Somehow she managed to keep herself from chuckling at Charon’s comment about Cyrus falling. If anyone was going to fall today, it was going to be Charon.

He had no idea what was going to happen! It was just too much for Mars to bear! She had to refrain from humming to herself, happily. It was almost over! All her heartache, all the abuse was about to pay off!

[imaginetotalcontrol-blog]

It appeared as though Charon had been the first to arrive. Leslie could hear the anger in his booming voice as she approached her destination. And so she had a hunch that she had been more correct than she was led to believe. Leslie was not going to jump to conclusions, however--if she were correct, she would know soon.

Leslie opened the door with one hand, keeping her entrance as unassuming as possible. Charon has a Commander in his hand. As well as a more formal prisoner, it would seem. But what was there to be curious about? Leslie had hypothesized a power-struggle, and she was bearing witness to evidence. The scientist took her place none too far from the doors, crossed her arms, and waited. She had nothing to say to the group ahead; she was merely interested in observing.

[imaginetotalcontrol-blog]

Integrate and Derive

[scientistdemarus]

Damarus could have choose to end the battle very quickly if he used Rotom, but the young scientist didn’t want anyone besides him, Charon, and Janet to know he had the pokemon.  That left his Roserade as his best choice, she had an attack that would never miss no matter how fast Isha was.

“Let’s try to make this quick, Leerah.”  He said to the grass-type pokemon by his side, who nodded an affirmative and took her position in front of him.  He knew it wasn’t going to be painless, but hopefully they could resolve it quickly.

They were granted the first move?  Very well, he wasn’t going to let that go to waste.  ”Toxic Spikes.”  With the poisonous barbs spread across the tile battle zone, the rabbit pokemon was going to have to be careful with its steps, and if it rushed through them anyways it would be poisoned.

[imaginetotalcontrol-blog]

Leslie's eyes were on Roserade as Damarus spoke. This man nicknamed all of his Pokémon, she gathered. That this was for convenience, she had her doubts. Roserade, though, did not seem confused, as his Floatzel had been. Perhaps this was a more matter-of-fact being, or maybe she had overheard. Whatever the case, Leslie felt it would beseech Damarus to act more like his Pokémon. His reservations had been such a terrible waste.

Neither Isha nor Leslie flinched were bothered spikes. In fact, the former attacked immediately, seemingly without warning, if Damarus had not paid attention to Leslie's hand. Running through Toxic Spikes came with the consequence of a purple surge of poison spreading from the Lopunny's feet to head, but if Isha was in pain, she did not express it. She sprang forward to deliver her attack: Return, which under the influence of Isha's apparent indifference, did exactly half of its maximum damage. Such was the case with its sister move, as well. It was an imperfection that Leslie had yet to iron out.