Serena
Somewhere underground in the Diglett Labyrinth system
“What the fuck do you mean he disappeared?! How do you lose a teenager under heavy observation?! I don't want to hear your excuses, you sniveling piece of crap! I'll have your fucking head on a spike! Now go fucking find him!”
Serena doesn't bother hanging up the phone as she tosses it violently against the nearest cavern wall and watches it shatter into a shower of small pieces. The grunts around her wince and take a few steps away, lest they become the next target for her ire.
"Damn. Damn! Damn it all!!!" she roars in frustration. With no outlet for her violent anger, Serena does the only thing she can default to: she sits down in the nearest chair and tries to go through her breathing meditations. This is a disaster. A catastrophe on the verge of wiping her off the face of the earth. Her grandfather wants this kid dead, which should have been an easy task, and now the same kid took a stroll down the Viridian Forest border and disappeared. It doesn't help that he's with two other Arceus-damned people.
Massaging her temples, she can hear her Houndoom let out a small yawn as he lazily stretches and walks over to her, licking her cheeks before letting out a small whine of concern. She buries her face in the warm, soft black fur of his neck as her rage slowly fades away.
“Field Commander Serena, I have a call for you,” says one of the grunts, his voice trembling with nerves. He has a gruff voice, but it's still young. One of the newer recruits—what was his name? Jeff? Rick? Ah, it doesn't matter.
She extracts her face from her Houndoom's neck and stares daggers at the grunt before snatching the phone out of his hand.
“Yeah?! Who in the Distortion is this!?”
“It's muted, Field Commander Serena. It's Administrator Archer, ma’am,” the grunt deadpans as he gives a salute—the typical horizontal arm over chest and quick bow—before he straightens up and walks off. Yeah, that was definitely Rick.
She quickly clears her throat, composes herself, and unmutes the phone.
“Hey Archer, how's it hanging?”
There's a pregnant pause from the other line. She knows Archer hates casual, especially when he isn't referred to as Administrator Archer. The guy is a complete nut job, constantly talking about restoring Team Rocket to its former glory so that Giovanni could take over again. He doesn't give two shits about Lysander, and she doesn't give two shits about him. Those who stay in the past are usually just ghosts better left forgotten.
“I would much rather you call me by my title, Field Commander Serena.”
She hears his voice emanate behind her as the air fills with the smell of ozone. Static crackles, and she feels her hairs stand on end. Her Houndoom lets out a menacing growl as he moves to her side, facing towards the intruding voice behind her.
She whirls on the spot to see Archer standing there in his old defunct black admin suit with a large red R pin on his lapel. The suit itself is still in pristine condition. His teal blue hair is kept buzzed down and trimmed with flecks of white visibly showing. He wears his age with pride, and hovering next to him, almost reaching his full height of five foot eight is a scarily large blue and white ball of an Electrode with a crazed smile on its face. Arcs of electricity keep sparking in the air, moving and undulating like lazy ocean currents, threatening to consume everyone at a moment’s notice. Whatever he's feeding this ball of electrical destruction, it most definitely isn't safe.
The rest of the grunts promptly vacate the cavernous room they were in, making for the safety of the Labyrinth tunnels. A bunch of ungrateful cowards. Serena will make sure to discipline each and every one of them once she's done speaking with Archer.
“To what do I owe the pleasure of this personal face-to-face, Administrator Archer?” Serena says through gritted teeth, giving a slight bow of her head as is expected when in the presence of an admin.
Archer looks around languidly, boredom etched on his clean features as if all of this is beneath him. Arceus, how she hates him and all he stands for. The old ways are dead, and he should be as dead as they are. Distortions, rumor has it that Giovanni has long since retired and taken to doting on grandkids.
“I am here to relieve you of your duty. I will be spearheading the hunt for the boy and ensuring that he is properly taken care of, along with wiping that accursed experiment off the face of the earth. You are to report to Lysander as soon as we finish speaking, which, coincidentally, is right now.”
His Electrode lets out a screeching sound, somewhere between a laugh and a cough, as blue lightning streaks from its body into the air. Serena swallows hard. This is bad. Extremely bad. Her grandfather won't be happy about this, and she's mortified at the idea of meeting Lysander personally.
“My grandfather -”
“Your grandfather won't be a problem. Lysander has spoken to him and shares the same sentiments on the matter. You are needed elsewhere. Now, begone from my sight. You've delayed this hunt long enough, little girl.”
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Her Houndoom growls, a low rumble as it stares down the Electrode, which seems to be hovering closer. His lips curl to reveal glistening frost-covered fangs while the low rumble of his growl turns into a fierce and menacing sound. The Electrode answers with another electrical screech as the intensity of the lightning arcing through the air grows in volume.
She so desperately wants to end this, to kill this fucker and his ridiculous lineage, even if it means losing everything. Serena can feel the heat of her Houndoominite burning against her wrist, pulsing in tempo with her rage. Her Houndoom starts to shine dimly as its growl turns into a howl.
Archer's Electrode flies up in front of him, its sneer turning bloodthirsty as Archer smirks with an eyebrow raised and a hand in his pocket. She bites down hard on the inside of her cheek until she tastes copper and feels the warmth of her blood filling her mouth. The energy dims before shutting off completely, leaving her Houndoom letting out a small whine as he looks at her, confused.
“At once, Administrator Archer.”
Serena says through her still gritted teeth, giving him a salute before walking off, her Houndoom trailing behind her. She so badly wants to rip him apart, the anger so intoxicating that she can feel her mega stone radiating in sync with it. She takes a few calming breaths as she leaves through one of the side tunnels that will lead her to the teleporter room. If her ace wasn't with her grandfather, then she would have dared to attempt to wipe the smug look off his face. Instead, she'll make sure to ask Lysander and her grandfather what the meaning of this Tauros shit is.
She does not take kindly to being undermined, disrespected, and cast aside.
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Administrator Archer
Project Moonless Night Command room deep within the underground Diglett Labyrinth
As the pathetic excuse for a Field Commander leaves his presence, Archer looks over the remainder of the grunt force he will be taking over as they slowly creep back into the room. His smirk turns into disgust as he sees them cowering away or forcing themselves to look busy, avoiding eye contact with him and his Electrode.
Pathetic. Filthy. Disgusting Houndoom-shit vermin. The old grunts that used to serve under him had more spine than these soft-bellied Purrloins. His Electrode lets out several screeches to signal that preparations on the other side are ready.
He nods and then turns his attention to the sad excuses passing as grunts, bellowing in his best commanding voice.
“Alright, you mongrels. We know he's in the Viridian Forest. Use the tunnels and scour the forest until you find him. Make sure you don't get caught by the Indigo patrols, and if you do, well, I hope you all aren't green enough not to know what needs to be done if you're caught. Now, go!”
To emphasize the command, Archer's Electrode sends out a web of blue lightning arcing through the room, hitting close to the grunts, but not directly. The room explodes in movement as they all run for their lives, abandoning what they were doing in the moment. Electrode lets out a series of electrified cackles at the chaotic movement, and honestly, Archer finds it just as amusing. It warms his heart as he is reminded of his younger admin days disciplining the newly recruited grunts.
Once the last of them disappears down the many corridors of the center command room, Archer takes stock of the place.
Several rows of computers for analytics, hacking, and surveillance are set up against one of the far corners of the room. Porygons flit in and out of the machines while several Joltiks are set up in a power generator. They seem to lazily push out trickles of blue-tinged electricity as they feed on berries and a blue powder consisting of protein and a substance known as Voltium powder. He uses a chock full of it in his Electrode’s diet in order to super boost it for the past twelve years. Sure, it might have had some side effects on its personality, but the increase in major battle potential remains as a wonderful trade-off.
Aside from the computers, the room itself is sparse. A few racks and lockers contain emergency battle gear, supplies, and other essentials. Several desks are scattered around haphazardly, containing field maps and recon maps of the city and areas that the boy and the test subject had visited. Archer shakes his head in abject disapproval. This Serena has a lot to learn in reconnaissance and manhunting. It's laughable that Lysander would have some modicum of trust in someone deliberately trying to sabotage. That man is a far cry from Giovanni, to the point that it is almost despairingly maddening.
The tell-tale sound of Electrode’s teleport draws his attention to the center of the room, revealing a plain-looking young man with shaggy brown hair dressed in baggy clothing, reading a book. Completely unfazed and nonplussed, a broad smile creeps onto Archer's face.
“It's good to see you in good health, Joseph. I hope you have made preparations and said goodbye to your family?”
Joseph looks up from the book and nods, closing it quietly before delicately placing it on a nearby desk.
“I'm ready, Administrator Archer. Although, grandfather wishes you would give up on this wishful folly of yours. I told him that it merited some looking into, seeing as your plan held potential. He laughed and shook his head, saying we were both too old for childish dreams.”
He couldn't help but laugh. His laughter echoes through the cavernous room and carries down the tunnels—a ravenous, maddening laugh filled with ambition and joy.
“Your grandfather is naive. Come quick, Joseph. We'll show him what it means to tap into the truth of this world and set everything back onto its proper path.”
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???
Checkpoint Sigma in Viridian Forest
Four hundred and fifty five times.
That is the amount of times I have had to watch Erembour die at the hands of this filthy monstrosity. It's no wonder how quick humans become desensitized to death after being exposed to it so many times.
How stale it grows to watch him beheaded with his head launching in various different directions or to watch him get disemboweled and see his guts spill across the forest floor.
He parries a scythe from the abomination only to have his head bitten off by its distending maw.
Four hundred and fifty six
He rolls to the left and commands Champ to throw a barrage of rock slides at it, but it blurs in an instant with agility and slices Erembour in half with a mighty swing.
Four hundred and sixty
Blood flows freely from what's left of his stump of a right arm as the abomination devours Beca like a praying mantis feasting on a hummingbird’s skull.
“You do not belong. Feed. I feed on you and your ilk. Demon. Abomination. You do not belong!”
The abomination screeches in an uproar as it casts aside Beca’s remains and charges at Erembour.
Five hundred and thirty two
In this iteration, Erembour stumbles as blood drips from his nose. His body can't handle the stress of my constant shifts. Distortions, I can't handle it anymore. My energy reserves are waning.
After so many calculated movements. After giving him just enough motivation, just enough memories and pacifying him just enough so that he doesn't question what is going on around him. This is how it ends? This is how my revenge falters?
Champ manages to land a solid blow, cracking one of its horns and dislocating the abomination’s arm, only for him to be beheaded by its maw.
Five hundred and sixty five.
In each iteration, it manages to paralyze Brandon and his Pokémon with a powerful Glare ability and the paralysis doesn't wear off. If they could break through then all of this would be so much easier, but no matter what occurs. No matter how much I change it stays the same.
Why?! Why can't I get past this trash!
Erembour dies again by having his chest impaled on the horrid creature's scythe-like arms and then torn in half.
Five hundred and ninety five
A massive black shadow envelops me, disconnecting me from Erembour. I stare into inky darkness and lay my eyes upon an enormous serpentine being. A repulsive pressure bears down on me as two large ruby eyes bore into my core.
It calls to me, telling me to bear witness to its presence. It fills me with power and rejuvenates my supply.
I cannot falter, it whispers to me.
I cannot die. All must witness me so they can witness it.
It shows me the proper way. The right way.
I know the sacrifice that must be given in exchange for the righteous path.
And so, I give it freely that which is not mine to give.
In exchange, when the darkness lifts and the eyes disappear, I am set on the right path. All that is left is for me to move the pieces the way they need to move.
Forgive me, Erembour. For what is about to occur must occur.
I apologize, Champ. You'll have your moment to take back what is yours.
You must pay the cost for my vengeance. Both of you.
Six Hundredth Abomination Kill Attempt
Erembour readies himself as Champ prepares a rock slide.