016. [Anonymous Text + Images]

[explosivecombat]

[And tonight, with no fanfare, a text hits the network. Completely anonymous, as always; those who have done their homework would recognize the 'Gear number as the one ascribed to the device that's been showing off several other attacks that have been broadcast to the network.]

Good evening, Johto.

The last few times we've spoken have been a bit unbalanced, wouldn't you agree?

[Ah, there are the pictures. Still images from the attack on the square in front of the Goldenrod Department Store, along with a few other images - the attack on the Kimono Girls and against a few random civilians, the Goldenrod Pokémon Center being destroyed. Little unpleasantries like that. Scroll past them and the text will pick back up, don't worry.]

You've told me so much about yourselves, during those attacks. I've gotten to know several of you quite well, actually.

For the time being, I would like to even the playing field a little. It will keep things interesting, I think.

From the time that you contact me onward, you have an hour to ask me anything you like. I can't guarantee you'll like or be satisfied with the answers, but it'll be better than nothing, I imagine; anything is up for discussion, short of my current location.

And don't worry - I'll introduce myself, just to spare you some time.

[There's one more image after the text ends; it's the sort of picture that usually closes out these transmissions to the network - a shot of the Rocket agent in question from the chest down to about the waist. The room behind him is dark, though it appears to be a meeting room of some sort, if you squint; the Rocket insignia emblazoned across his shirt is clearly visible above his hands, which are obscured by the pale gloves that come with the uniform. Instead of the usual Pokéballs clasped in his hands, however, there's a white card with a few words written on it in thick, blocky writing, as though someone had written the letters and gone over them repeatedly, rendering them unidentifiable through handwriting alone. The words are highly visible, standing out against the stark, glaring white of the card in the flash of the camera:

MY NAME IS SETH.

PLEASED TO MAKE YOUR ACQUAINTANCE.]

Comments

[Text forever!] Sorry for the slow by the way, brain kinda fizzled on this one.

[beforethedarkness]

[There's a pause between texts before the next one comes. This one is definitely going to show how new he is here, and he's not sure he wants that. The desire to know, however, wins in the end.]

What's the name of the organization?

Don't worry, the last couple of days have been pretty flat-out horrible for tagging for me

[explosivecombat]

...you must be rather new to this place, if you're asking something like that. However, I'm certainly not going to advocate against asking if you don't know; nothing ventured, nothing gained, and I can appreciate the fact that you're willing to ask so blatantly.

The organization is called Team Rocket - don't look at me, as I didn't name it - and I suspect you'll be hearing quite a bit about it, the longer you stay here.

Yeah, life kinda sucks like that.

[beforethedarkness]

I'll keep an eye out for you.

Where and when is your next attack going to be?

[Not that he's planning to interfere (or so he's telling himself), but he wants to observe and find out more about Team Rocket in general. Even if the operation he asks about changes after he's done talking to this 'Seth' guy, it can be a vital clue to help him figure out what their purpose is.]

I can't really deny that tbh

[explosivecombat]

Unfortunately, that isn't for me to say. I have no control over what orders may or may not come in for me over the next good while; should decisions from up top interfere with my plans, I can't do much to stop it, now, can I? To say nothing of the fact that Johto itself tends to be incredibly unpredictable, given how frequently it throws what can best be considered acts of God at us on a regular basis.

So for now? I can't say that I know for sure.

[beforethedarkness]

So you're no where close to being a leader in Team Rocket.

[explosivecombat]

Whether I'm close or not is debatable; I'm not the highest-ranking person here, though, no.

[beforethedarkness]

Good to know. Is there anything else you can tell me about Team Rocket?

[explosivecombat]

That depends on what it is you want to know; there's hardly any sense in boring you with superfluous details. The images speak for themselves, in some ways.

[beforethedarkness]

Routine operations. What normally would get targeted and why. Whether or not I should expect to see you in the future.

[He knows he doesn't have a lot of time left at this point, and although he's seen the results of grander operations through photographs the smaller ones shouldn't be overlooked.]

[explosivecombat]

Bearing in mind that I still refuse to speak for the entire organization, I've found that I personally tend to choose my targets based on what will cause a spectacle; if it's something that people care about, or something that will shake them up a bit, then I'll likely target that. My selections aren't random, but they are often opportunistic; if I see something that catches my attention, I'll consider the angles and possible benefits of having at, but I won't necessarily target everything I consider, nor will I necessarily do it right away. It's a combination of importance and convenience, really.

And I'd say that you can expect to see more of my work in the future, yes. I can't give an exact date, or even an exact timeframe, but I don't intend to stop anytime soon.

[beforethedarkness]

["Seth" won't get another reply after that, partially because of the one-hour time limit and partially because he can't think of anything else to ask. "Seth" (yeah, that's really his real name, not) of Team Rocket... He doesn't even know if the name is real or not, but it's something he can ask about in the future. At the front it seems like Team Rocket is a criminal organization, but who knows...

Maybe it's the same way that Konoha would ordinarily seem like a criminal den to the rest of the world.]