030. [Anon Text + Images.]

[explosivecombat]

[Well, good afternoon, network - it's been a few months since this particular device has been active. There's an ID assigned to it, of course; those familiar with Team Rocket's activities in the past may recognize it as belonging to the individual calling himself Seth.

He's been inactive lately, as far as crime goes; that doesn't mean he hasn't been busy.

Today's message comes with a few lines of text and an attachment; the text is definitely deliberate, to say the least.]

What does this world mean to you? Do you think it's something worth protecting, or would you rather sit on the sidelines and watch it burn? This place is more than sunshine and Pokémon battles. If given the choice to make a difference, would you take it?

[As usual, there's a set of photos attached to the message; the first few show a desk in a nondescript room, covered in various mechanical things - those who are familiar with incendiary devices and triggers in your world will likely recognize them. The rest?

Those are bombs. A lot of bombs.

The last two are the usual shot of the Rocket member in question, in full Team uniform and shot from about chest-level, keeping his face and other defining features out of the shot. He's not holding anything stolen this time around; rather, it's one of those white cards that he's used to deliver messages before, the words written on it scrawled out in thick, blocky lettering as though someone had gone over the words repeatedly, obscuring any sort of distinctive handwriting for the sake of making it far less identifiable.

LET'S HAVE A WAR.

The final shot is similar to the first; only the card has changed.

OLIVINE CITY.

YOU HAVE THREE DAYS.]

Comments

[anonymous text forever]

[explosivecombat]

[...goodness, someone is irritated.]

Well, I can't speak for the entire organization; Team Rocket's official stance on that question of yours isn't one I'm authorized to give, nor are we a monolith. However, I can speak for myself perfectly well, so I'll ask that any answers I may give be taken as my own viewpoint, not the organizations.

I never said that the world itself isn't worth protecting; I simply don't have much of an opinion one way or another. If you want to protect it, I can appreciate your conviction and determination, and I look forward to seeing your sort on the battlefield. If you or others don't want to protect it...well, that's their choice, isn't it?

I facilitate change in the world. It's up to the rest of you to decide what that change entails.

[imthe_shit]

You're full of shit.

You don't have an opinion on this world, but you do have enough of a mind to blow up a city? The kind of change you want to bring to this world isn't needed.

This place has its problems, sure. Its economy is entirely dependent on Pokemon and battling them, but there are ways of changing that don't rely on destruction.

It's more likely that you're just bored and want to get your kicks. [ Snake doesn't take too kindly to bomb threats. ]

[explosivecombat]

[...WELL THEN.]

It's not boredom, really, but my motives do generally run along the lines of "Because I want to." This isn't much of an exception.

However, most don't seem to find that sort of answer acceptable for whatever reason; they want something flashy and sophisticated, and that usually quiets them down. But if you're willing to accept "I just feel like it" as a reason, then you have my apologies for assuming.

[imthe_shit]

You told me your answers are independent from the rest of the organization, right?

So they're okay with you doing what you "feel like"?

[explosivecombat]

Yes, as long as I'm not turning on them.

[imthe_shit]

Really?

Sounds like a fun little gang. [ And by fun, he means, he can't wait for it to turn on itself. ]

[explosivecombat]

It's not bad, really - at least, I find that I can't complain.

[imthe_shit]

You must fit right in with your evil plots. You tapping your finger tips together right now? [ Snake's just keeping him occupied, since he has no idea if he's already set the bombs. ]

[explosivecombat]

Of course - unfortunately, I don't have a cat to pet right now, or I would be doing that instead.

It gets a bit boring down in the lair, but that's what I have all of you for.

[imthe_shit]

[ Enough about evil plots... ]

So, what are your thoughts about this world? You said you haven't formed an opinion, but you've got to have some ideas about it. What do you think about its dependency on Pokemon?

[explosivecombat]

The dependency on Pokémon doesn't surprise me, because that's what's unique to this world; my time here has made it clear that most worlds are dependent on the very factor that makes them unique in the first place.

What I find interesting is that a world claiming to be all about love and friendship and building a solid foundation on trust and caring is so centered around battle culture.

[imthe_shit]

Yeah, I noticed that, too. Love and hate can't really exist without each other...

Back in my own world, soldiers go to war in order to protect and save people, but really, it just leads to more death, more chaos.

In this world, they can't seem to make up their mind, either. Trust between Pokemon and Trainer, building a strong bond... in order to fight other trainers and Pokemon on mutual terms. Whether or not people are satisfied after the fact and remain amiable, there's still fighting going on.

I'm still not sure how I feel about it. Maybe I'm just cynical, maybe I've had too much experience with economies that rely on fighting.

[explosivecombat]

Is that your world's uniqueness point, then? An entire economical structure based around an extreme version of "to the victors go the spoils"?

[imthe_shit]

There are no victors, except for the people whose pockets keep getting bigger. Wars fought by mercenaries. No one has any stakes, nothing to lose, nothing to gain.

People here are at least fighting to prove their worth. People back home... They aren't fighting for any reason. Just because they can, because they might make some money out of it.

[explosivecombat]

And where do you fall in the hierarchy?

[imthe_shit]

There's something I have to do, and when it's done, I can rest. That's all there is to it. More of a purpose to fight than anyone else in this war.

[explosivecombat]

I can respect that, actually. It's not something I'd do, but I can admire the conviction it takes to do it.

[imthe_shit]

Let me guess. You'd just do what you felt like?

[explosivecombat]

Yes and no; I do what benefits me, first and foremost. Sometimes that means just doing what I feel like; sometimes that means taking care of business left unfinished; sometimes that means taking sides that I don't agree with for the short term if it'll ensure I get what I want in the end.

When I go to war, I do it for myself.

[imthe_shit]

Even in a proxy war? A war that no soldier benefits from?

[explosivecombat]

I've fought in enough proxy wars to know that such things don't exist. The only reason someone will deliberately incite a proxy war and allow it to be revealed as such is because they're covering up something larger.

The soldiers benefit, usually. Certain ones. I always have.

[imthe_shit]

Don't exist?

No one refers to them as Proxy Wars, except for those who know better. The public's left to thinking these wars have meaning, but they don't. Just put in place for profits... Governments, nations... Whoever it is makes a lot of money with these wars.

[explosivecombat]

We've always had the exact opposite, where I'm from. The general public doesn't understand why the wars have been ongoing for so long; they've come to suspect they're shams, things put into motion to cover things up or keep certain factions quiet - they're given excuses, but contrary to what some would like to think, people aren't cattle. They'll raise their heads once in a while. They'll question. And they aren't given satisfactory answers. At the same time, our military is powerful to the point that no one will flat-out accuse them of any sort of conspiracy.

Everyone suspects proxy wars; very few know the actual point. And believe me, there is one.

[imthe_shit]

And what is the actual point?

[explosivecombat]

Something I'm not at liberty to discuss.

I'm fully aware of how obnoxious that sentence tends to be, and you have my apologies again.