explosivecombat | 02X - Reintro. [Text/Locked Audio to the Rocket Frequency]

02X - Reintro. [Text/Locked Audio to the Rocket Frequency]

[TEXT]

[Well! Those of you on the network today will be greeted by a bit of audio late this morning, from a device ID that's been bouncing back all attempts at contact for the last several weeks.]

...Oh, that's cute.

[...well, if that wasn't the most triumphant return ever, I don't know what is.

At the very least, however, he seems to get over whatever he's almost audibly linefacing at long enough to realize that the device is recording something; he promptly switches the thing over to text - he's never really liked talking at the machine when he's addressing all of Johto.]

My, it seems this place does still have its sense of humor, doesn't it? And here I thought that perhaps I'd only lost three days at worst - it was a bit of a surprise to find out otherwise.

Ah, but that's neither here nor there, is it?

[Kimblee, hon.]

There's not much to report from home, unfortunately; however, it'll be a pleasure getting in contact with all of you again - hopefully you've all been at least reasonably well.

[Oh, well. At least he doesn't seem too off-put by the whole disappearing-for-a-month-and-a-half thing?]

[PRIVATE AUDIO - TEAM ROCKET FREQUENCY]

[...At least, not until the audio message that goes out over the private Rocket network a few minutes later; Kimblee's voice is cold and clipped, and the amiable "tone" from the text earlier is completely absent.

He has no idea if he still holds his rank or not; he suspects he doesn't. Like hell if he won't throw it around anyway. He's a bit displeased at his life basically being a .gif from Community, and he's going to figure out what in the good hell is going on if it kills him.]

This is Team Rocket Beta Solf J Kimblee, reporting back in for duty; to my superiors, I admit that I don't know what happened, but I assure you that it won't happen again.

To the rest of you - check in with me immediately, particularly if you're one of my subordinates. I'm receiving a lot of "ID Not Found" nonsense, and I need to know who's still present; given that and various things that I've had to hear about secondhand, I expect a full report regarding what happened here from someone, I'm not feeling particularly choosy right now.

New members to the organization - welcome to it, and you have my personal apologies for the disarray. For now, you're welcome to introduce yourselves; it'll serve you well to know that I'm good to those who are good to me. Again, prove yourself useful and you'll be rewarded.

None of this is a request. Allow me to make that much clear.

[...oh dear. Well. At least he's not in much position to actually do anything at the moment - this is Team Rocket we're talking about, and if somebody's on the network very vocally overstating their importance and/or competence, that means it's pretty much a day ending in Y.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Kimblee stands up easily from where he was sitting at the desk off to the side of the room, biding his time until Archer arrived; there isn't any hesitation when he opens the door, though his expression is one of those strange, placid ones that he tends to offer when he isn't sure what to do with his face.

This is awkward. Why is this so awkward?]

My apologies for leaving so suddenly; it seems this place has a cruel sense of humor. I wouldn't have left like that otherwise, especially not for so long.

[The apology is sterile, as it always is; nothing behind it but the formality.]

Of course. May I come in?

[There are plenty of things they need to discuss and he's not about to talk about them in the hallway like this. Still, this entire thing seems more awkward than he would have thought and he knows he's playing it a bit too careful around Kimblee. He doesn't understand what's changed and this irritates him.]

[Kimblee simply steps back without complaint, allowing Archer in easily; he doesn't move to resettle on that chair or go anywhere near the bed, however - he remains where he is near the door, leaning back against the wall. His stance is casual, legs crossed at the ankle as he's standing and arms folded low across his body; he's looking at least somewhat curious, however, given that Archer is usually not nearly this cautious around him.]

What's on your mind, Archer? There's clearly something.

Of course there is.

[Now where does he begin? Archer can't seem to stand still and after a moment, he starts pacing. He's silent for quite some time, trying to find something to say. This shouldn't be that difficult.]

I take it you've realized how long you've been gone. I only recently arrived again. I remember returning home, but I didn't remember anything about this world while I was there.

It feels like it's been a long time since I was last here. I have no way to judge how long I was back home, however.

[He cuts himself off there, staring at Kimblee expectantly.]

But none of what happened is important now. We're back here and nothing will stop us from reaching our goals.

[Kimblee just watches him; Archer is clearly agitated and at this point, he knows better than to interrupt when Archer is agitated. He'll let him talk it out; he isn't sure what to think of the knowledge that Archer doesn't quite...finish it, and he takes a second to process it.

No way to judge...?

Ah, but Archer's said that he was in the middle of battle, hadn't he. And some sort of array -

...oh. Oh.

He's quiet for a moment longer, unfolding his arms and then folding them again, the gesture awkward; he doesn't let the silence linger, however.]

Of course - understood. I remain entirely at your command, until dismissed from my position; my loyalty is still yours.

[He steps forward after that's out there, closing some of the distance between Archer and himself; he reaches out one-handed, running his fingers through Archer's hair, the gesture gentle.]

Relax, Archer; whatever happened back home can't touch us here. You know that.

[That's all the invitation Archer needs. He latches onto Kimblee, gripping the front of his suit hard and leaning into that touch. For a moment he can't help but shiver, but he quickly manages to put a stop to that. He's stronger than that.]

I know. I knew that from the moment I woke up here. As for your loyalty... good. I don't want to lose it.

[He flinches at that sudden latching-on, but he doesn't pull away; he just continues playing with Archer's hair lightly, resting his free hand against Archer's waist, not quite holding him but establishing more contact just the same.]

...You mentioned there being an array.

[That's all he says regarding the matter, but the implied question is obvious; he isn't pressing, however - it's more of an invitation than the usual sharp interrogation. He's obviously unsure of how to proceed, and with good reason - he doesn't usually ask about things in this way - but he's at least making an attempt.]

Yes. Yes, I did.

[Archer is silent for so long it almost seems like he's not going to continue. When he speaks again, his voice is soft, almost unsure. It's quite the change from his usual tone.]

...It didn't kill me. Killing me would have been a mercy.

[He freezes up at that.]

I'm...sorry?

[He doesn't resume petting Archer's hair for a good long moment; when he does, the gesture is almost strangely mechanical as opposed to anything natural.]

Talk to me, Archer.

...It took half my body. My left arm, my left leg, my left eye...

[He laughs, though the sound isn't sane at all, nor is it humorous.]

I don't know how they saved me. I don't know how I lived. But I did and I... I don't know how long passed or what was even going to happen to me. I heard something about automail but...

[He shrugs half-heartedly.]

[Kimblee doesn't seem off-put by that laughing; he simply resumes playing with Archer's hair properly, the gesture calm. His expression is a bit on the strange side - it's almost completely blank, the sort of look he gets when he's literally not sure how he should be presenting but he knows the usual placidity would be inappropriate, and so he quite simply isn't presenting any emotion at all.

He recognizes, on some level, that what Archer is describing to him is horrifying; personally, he doesn't feel anything toward it one way or another. Casualties are simply a price of war; Archer had wanted his war, and he had paid for it. Perhaps he had paid for it more closely than he deserved, perhaps not - it isn't really Kimblee's place to judge that. He sees no point in judging it.

What happened to Archer was arguably not fair and definitely not kind, the battlefield isn't a place for fairness, and it isn't a place for kindness. It's something Archer didn't seem to have realized until now, but Archer's approach to battle has always been naive; there's no glory to be found on the battlefield. There's only death, and whomever brings the most of it to the other side wins; Kimblee had long ago accepted his role as one who exists alongside death, and he more than enjoys it. But Archer has always seemed to think there's something more - that the battlefield isn't a place to die, but rather a place to be immortalized. Stupid. Naive.

Kimblee can't say that he feels sorry for him.]

You won't be sent back to that.

[His grip tightens against Archer's clothes then and he pulls him closer, jerking him forward and holding him flush against his body, continuing to speak quietly to him as he shifts to press his hand tightly into Archer's lower back.]

We'll find whatever brings us here, and we'll use it as we see fit, and then we'll destroy it. This world can be ours, Archer; nothing will stop us. I don't care how many have to burn.

[Archer's grip tightens on Kimblee's jacket, leaning into his touch. It's good to hear Kimblee confirm what he already knows. He feels safe now, something he hasn't felt in what feels like years.]

I... I know. It'll be the two of us. We'll rule this world.

[He manages to force a smirk after a moment, relaxing a bit.]

Everything will be just fine.

Of course, Archer.

[He loosens his grip against Archer's body then, though he still isn't moving away.]

Hopefully I didn't keep you waiting for too long.

No, no... you didn't. That's the one damn good thing here. I wasn't here without you for long.

[He loosens his grip a bit on Kimblee's suit then, though doesn't pull away.]

I've only been here a few days. I was worried you might never come back.

Come now, you know me better than that; I wouldn't leave our work unfinished.

[It's not what Archer's getting at and he knows it; he's rather aware of several reasons why that would have been a concern.]

...Of course, Kimblee. I wouldn't attempt to pursue this without your assistance. It would be a shame for our plans to fail so early on.

[He can't talk about Kimblee's death, or about how Kimblee simply ceased to exist when he left Johto. The idea is terrifying and not something he wants to deal with right now.]

[Kimblee is more than content to not talk about it, really, so this suits him just fine; however, Archer's words will just get him to step back a bit, giving him a bit of a Look in the process.]

Don't give me that.

[His hand is still running through Archer's hair as he speaks, but his tone is strict regardless.]

I should hope you wouldn't let an opportunity like this go to waste, whether I'm here or not.

How would I have accomplished anything without you? You know how to network and you placed the groundwork for all of our hard work. It wouldn't feel fair to attempt to complete it without you. Would you have continued this without me?

[Kimblee's expression flickers sharply at that, a brief flash of anger apparent across his features.]

You know exactly why that question is unfair.

[Archer hesitates for a moment, recognition flashing across his features along with surprise.]

I--! I'm sorry, I didn't mean--!

[Clearly some of his memories are still a little hazy around the edges.]

My apologies, Kimblee.

[He seems to relax at that, at least.]

...It's fine.

[He pauses for a moment, forcing whatever remaining agitation may be there out of his system before continuing.]

It's all right, Archer, don't worry about it; it's a moot issue at this point anyway, and besides, we have more important things to concern ourselves with.

[...well, that was short-lived, as he's getting somewhat annoyed again, though this time it isn't at Archer.]

Are they seriously expecting us to start over here, after all the contributions we've made? I'm still using my former rank for now to get information and no one seems to be questioning it so far, but I imagine that won't last long.

[Archer sighs in relief at that. Kimblee isn't mad at him. He's not sure what he'd do if Kimblee was mad at him.

Kimblee does bring up a good point though, and Archer frowns at that.]

I'll be incredibly displeased if we have to start over entirely. Cobra is still here so I imagine he can at least attempt to reason with the superiors after he-- Ah, you weren't there for it, were you?

[Archer smirks, though it's half-hearted at best.]

Cobra launched an attack after his demands weren't met. He was arrested for his efforts. It seems the Johto police force finally managed to do something.

So I heard. Of all times for the police force to decide to do something competently...

[LOOK HOW PLEASED HE IS ABOUT THAT.]

I've gotten information in bits and pieces about what's happened in our absence; apparently our numbers are down again, and nothing regarding these losses has been addressed by our superiors - if anything, they're being more elusive than ever, no one seems to have heard from them.

If we want anyone to re-organize the ranks, we're likely going to have to do it ourselves; I'm hardly opposed to this, but it's not going to be easy due to all of the disappearances.

Then I suppose we'll have to branch out to the new recruits. I know you're quite good at that; perhaps you'll be able to find someone useful.

[He hesitates for a moment, then adds onto that.]

I'll attempt to help. I'm not very good at gathering support, but I can at least assess the new recruits to see who has potential.

That would be appreciated, yes - really, if anything your methods tend to be more efficient than mine among some people; I wouldn't be too concerned about it, were I you.

02X - Reintro. [Text/Locked Audio to the Rocket Frequency]

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