victory_road | ROCKET BATTLE LOG

ROCKET BATTLE LOG

As the clock nears 10 PM on Saturday, the manor (or the parts of it that people aren’t blocked off from, anyway) is completely abuzz with speculation and gossip. What could Lance possibly be planning to announce? And why haven’t any of the Elite Four even been around? They’re fairly reclusive, but it’s safe to say that everyone is at least a little curious, if not actively suspicious.

But it’s time for the big reveal, so manor staff are bustling around, reminding everybody to be in the ballroom in a few minutes for Lance’s important unveiling of… well, whatever it is he’s unveiling! The staff all seem pretty excited, so it must be big, right?

There’s been plenty of room to dance and move around in the Ballroom until now, but with everybody packed in there at once, the space is a little tighter. Especially with the small stage and podium set up in the middle. As the last (or seemingly last, assuming there aren’t any carefree stragglers who didn’t bother turning up on time) person is ushered in by staff, complete with whispers of "Psst! Hurry up, it’s almost time!", the door to the ballroom is shut and the lights dim slightly, sending a hush over the audience.

After some fumbling from whoever’s in charge of the lights (... wait, is that Captain Garfield and his Rattata up there? He’s a theater tech too?! That guy must REALLY be a jack of all trades!), a spotlight flips on and centers on the podium, where the head staffer (who might be recognized as the one with the terrible hipster mustache who’s been doing a PARTICULARLY egregious amount of schmoozing and sucking-up to trainers over the course of the party) is stepping up to the podium.

He clears his throat.

"Welcome, welcome, ladies and gentlemen! On behalf of the Elite Four, we’re all so happy you could join us! We hope you’ve all been having as good a time as we have, because I’ve got to say, I think this is our best party yet!"

He looks around at the assembled trainers eagerly, as though anticipating unanimous agreement.

When there’s an impatient buzz (and a shout of "Get on with it already!" from someone) instead, he laughs awkwardly.

"Oh, yes, well, we’re all here for one reason, right? To see what Lance has brought you all here for! Well, folks, as you can see, he’s not here with us right now… He’s had a bit of a-- how shall we say… an accident! So sad, I know! But fortunately, he’s graciously allowing us to make his announcement for him. Which is…"

On cue, the spotlight turns stark red. If anyone has the presence of mind to look, Captain Garfield's Rattata is holding a bit of red plastic filter in front of it.

But chances are, everyone’s attention is probably going to stay on the stage, because the guy at the podium literally just RIPPED HIS CLOTHING OFF DRAMATICALLY, revealing… yes… a very, very familiar black-and-red uniform underneath.

It’s followed immediately by more ripping sounds as other staff and even some partygoers scattered throughout the audience follow his lead, and the telltale noises and flashing of Pokemon being released from their balls. And many voices, all yelling at once...

"PREPARE FOR TROUBLE! AND MAKE IT DOUBLE!!"

The music shifts.

OOC Notes: The number of characters who must participate in the battle to call it a success is 37! In order to keep track, once you have made your first comment to this post (either a toplevel or a tag to someone else!), please bring it to the CHECK IN THREAD by 10 PM EST tomorrow! YOUR COMMENT MUST BE POSTED TO THIS THREAD IN ORDER FOR IT TO COUNT TOWARDS THE TOTAL.

GUESS WHAT GUYS?

glittertextmaker.info

OOC notes: Here it is, the part where your characters get to explore the Rocket Base and discover its secrets! Maps of each level will be posted in this top post as they are opened up, with blacked out sections being revealed as obstacles are cleared. Obstacle clearing will be based on total comment count to any mod comment with a count listed, whether those comments are contained in a single thread or spread out over multiple different ones. As many people can comment to an obstacle or base level as wish to, for as long as they want, even after it has been cleared. There are a total of two obstacles (including the first one) which are triggered by character actions we will be watching for!

Anyone who wants to thread anything out in the base or mansion during the time characters are trapped (and who doesn't want to use this log for whatever reason) is free to make their own network/action posts with whatever they like! But mods will not be coming around to those with interaction, and they will not count towards clearing obstacles.

Questions? Ask them HERE!

NOTE FOR ITEM RNG: In order for the mods to give out your item, your character must be actively looking through the loot piles in whatever tag you'd like us to respond to with your item! Items can also be given out in the middle of an existing thread between characters, whenever they get around to searching the piles! The header does not have to be in your toplevel.

Links List

Level One

OBSTACLE - KEY CARD (CLEARED)

OBSTACLE - CONVEYOR BELT HELL (CLEARED)

Level Two

Level Three

ELITE 4 JAIL

OBSTACLE - FREE THE LEGENDARY

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[This is horrifying, and Jean has seen plenty of horrifying things. It's a testament to how bonded he is to his own little ball of destruction that the sight of those poor Electrodes makes the bottom of his stomach drop out. He barely pays any attention to the other creature in the cage, besides a quick glance, before walking over and crouching near the Electrodes.]

Hey, guys.

[He keeps his voice low and soft, and maybe it's only his lack of fear that keeps him from getting blown up immediately. But the Electrodes look so much like Blitz, currently at Jean's side and just as distressed, that he can't find it in himself to be scared. Just sad and very, very tired.]

I'm Jean. This is Blitz.

[Blitz rolls forward a little, uncharacteristically shy, and crackles his own greeting in Voltorb-language.]

Do you guys know each other?

[Jean, that's racist, just because they're all Electrodes doesn't mean they're all acquainted!]

Blitz is the only other one of you guys I've seen. Is this where you've all been? Locked up in a basement, with no sunshine or candies or anything? And just a cat to keep you company? Seems like a pretty sad way to spend your time...

[Blitz crackles: can confirm. Much better outside. More candy, and even trainers like Dumb Narrow here to feed you and take you around to beat up other Pokemon. Do you know that none of them expect Self-Destruct? Like, nobody? It's a lot of work, taking care of a human, but it's pretty rewarding too.]

[Aaah, it's Jean...how has Thida not met up with Jean this whole time? Still dizzy from the warps, she totters in, vaguely recognizing the taller teen and his butt of a Pokemon...but she'll stop by his side and look at him quietly, listening.]

...They...put 'em all down here?

[Oh hello Thida. Jean glances over at her, and while he'd normally greet his friend with more enthusiasm, most of his attention is focused on the Electrodes.]

Maybe. I mean, that would explain why I've never seen another one, wouldn't it?

[He drops his hand onto Blitz's head, gently stroking it. What if Blitz really were the last? But how can that be? There have always been Voltorbs in the world. Surely he's not the last!]

...Can't make 'em stay here. Prob'ly tired, right?

[Can they bring all these balls outside? Is that okay? Let them go repopulate their species?]

Probably.

[Good, he and Thida are on the same page. Jean smiles at her a little, then turns his attention back to the Electrodes.]

Hey, guys. You want to come outside with us?

[Well, working this hard for who knows how long had to be bad.]

Yeah, c'mon outside...we'll go outside! Somehow.

[The Electrodes don't look convinced. Jean can't blame them; whoever put them down here had to have been a person, and he wouldn't trust people either after that.]

Do you have any treats or anything on you? Like a berry or something?

[Jean does not, unfortunately.]

Mm...might...

[She does have this little sparkly prom bag with all her Pokeballs in it...and oh snap, a couple berries! She holds them out to Jean.]

Got some - try! You got Blitz, so, y'know th'balls better.

[Thida sweetie no you're fourteen]

[Jean cracks a smile at her choice of words; he knows she meant the Electrodes, but it's still funny.]

Thank you.

[He turns to the captive Electrodes and holds up the berries so they can see them before carefully breaking them in half.]

Blitz, don't try and eat these.

[Jean rolls the berry pieces over towards the Electrodes.]

Go ahead, try it. You're probably really hungry.

[If you explained the innuendo, she wouldn't really understand it to begin with. Life is strange to the oblivious.

Thida crouches down to watch, hoping the Electrodes "take the bait" as it were, watching with a very serious, unwavering expression. Will it work...?]

[He won't explain it. He'll just be amused, and his opinion of Thida will go up.]

[The Electrodes consider the berries, looking at them hungrily, until one, braver than the rest, scoots forward and takes one. Jean grins and does a small fist pump.]

Yes!

Aah, they're tryin' it!

[She stays firmly where she is, not sure if moving suddenly will spook it.]

[Somehow, someway, Sasha manages to end up behind all the boys at some point of the night and this time, it's Jean's turn to enjoy (or suffer) her company. She's probably already introduced Jean the Human to Jean the Deerling and gotten ribbed for it (and no, the name's sticking, too bad so sad) but all that is in the immediate past once she enters the room and sees what could very well be Blitz' extended family.

It's a horrible sight. Pokemon stuck in cages like they are wild animals to be led to slaughter. They aren't animals in her eyes, not anymore. They are friends.]

Is this what they do with the Pokemon they steal?

[It's not a question she really expects an answer for, not when the answer is so obvious. Team Rocket are horrible people, the worst kind of people in Sasha's eyes.

They need to be stopped.]

Yes, Blitz is just like you! He can be your friend if you want.

[Helping! She's helping!]

[Jean looks up at the sound of Sasha's voice. He might still be a little butthurt at her over the whole naming-her-Deerling after him thing, and sees absolutely no irony in how he named his Trubbish Eren, but that's all forgotten for the moment. Anyone willing to help him free the Electrodes is okay by him.]

I don't know. Maybe just the Electrodes.

[Jean strokes the top of Blitz's head, chewing on his lower lip and nodding.]

See? Blitz is my friend. It doesn't have to be like this. There are people out there who are good, too.

[Sasha nods at Jean's statement, trying to figure out how to back him up. These Electrodes look angry--rightfully so--and upset and distrusting. The Spoink Sasha picked up from another Rocket Hideout room seems the same way, not letting her hold it in her arms. But Sasha gets it. She totally understands not being able to trust anybody but yourself, but she also understands that not everybody is out to hurt you. How to get this across to a Pokemon, though, is a mystery.]

I know they probably did bad things to you. They left you in here with no one to talk to. That's horrible! But we'll help you!

[If the Electrodes let them. One already shoots off a bevy of sparks. Pokemon speak for STAY AWAY! That one seems like it's going to be trouble.]

[Armin stands a little behind Jean, a little further removed from both Blitz and the caged electrodes. He doesn't dislike electrodes, but he is well aware of the damage and pain they can deal out, and unlike Jean, he's not as skilled evading quick zaps.

Still, you don't need to have an electrode to feel a hot knot of anger at the sight of them confined like that. It's cruel. How long have these pokemon been here, mistreated like this, used as nothing more than batteries. It has to end.

Armin fiddles with the pokeballs on his belt --six now, Ambrose not replaced, but his spot on Armin's roster filled up for the moment by the caged carvanha he had freed-- before he selects on, letting Holly out of her ball.

The Vileplume appears in a flash of light, and the sight of Jean makes her toddle up to him, patting at his face with one hand. Bless your soul, you look worse for the wear, the gesture seems to say. She doesn't seem as wary of the electrodes as Armin. It seems her new evolution got rid of the shyness that had marked her while she was a Gloom.]

Jean, please step back. Blitz too.

[Armin only intend to put the electrodes to sleep. They deserve a rest. And it is the only way they are going to be able to break that cage.]

[It's okay, Armin, you can say it: you don't really like Electrodes. It's a fair assessment, considering the only one you know if something of a wild card and an asshole.]

[Jean hears Armin release something, and then Holly is gently patting his face. For the first time since he came to this room, Jean smiles a little, and covers her hand with his.]

Hi, Holly.

[He looks back at Armin, raising an eyebrow at his request.]

What are you going to try and do?

[Armin figures Electrodes are rather like religion; totally fine in the hands of other people, but he doesn't want one.

Holly pats his cheek again. There you go, that smile looks a lot better. She glances shortly at the caged electrodes, her petals drooping when she does. This is just awful. Someone ought to teach those Team Rocket fellows some manners!]

It seems to would be best if we put them to sleep. That should stop the electricity flowing through the cage and will allow us to free both them, and the pokemon they are holding captive. Holly can scatter enough sleep powder that they should all be hit at once.

[That must make Jean the Pope of the Church of the Voltorb, whatever a Pope is.]

[Jean pets Holly's petals when he sees them droop. He'd get Blume out of her ball, but she got pretty beat up on the way down here, and she's also big enough that she might be intimidating in the enclosed space. He doesn't want to upset the Electrodes. He also winces when Armin suggest putting them to sleep.]

Please don't. Electrodes hate getting put to sleep; if you don't hit all of them and get them all to go to sleep at once, the ones that don't will get upset. They might Self-Destruct.

Then what do you think we should do?

[His voice is calm, neutral -- or as calm and neutral as things can be in this sort of situation. He doesn't mind Jean challenging his plans. He welcomes it. He'd rather be challenged than to have people simply go along with him without questioning if they spot potential flaws.]

I don't want to hurt them, but we do need to be able to move them. I'm not really sure I see any other way of accomplishing that.

[Jean glances over his shoulder at Armin, surprised and a little pleased that he's listening to him. It's well established that Armin is smarter than he is, so it's nice that he's not just bulling past Jean with his superior intelligence.]

You know, they're not as bad as everyone thinks they are.

[He turns back and looks at the trapped Electrodes, and unconsciously reaches an arm out, holding it parallel to the floor. A moment later, Blitz is up under his armpit, and Jean hugs his own Electrode tight.]

They don't want to Self-Destruct. Not even Blitz. But that's all anyone ever remembers about them, so they think they're all loose cannons who'll blow up at a moment's notice.

[Blitz makes a grumbling sound of agreement, and a few of the trapped Electrodes lift their eyes and look at Jean, listening curiously.]

They're not bad Pokemon. People just don't understand them. And when they find someone who does... [He hugs Blitz closer.] They'll do anything for that person.

I don't think they are bad pokemon.

[An acquired taste, maybe.]

The situation they are in, the things they may have gone through... I think that would make any pokemon behave like this. I don't believe there is such a thing as a naturally cruel or bad pokemon. That sounds like it is simply humans projecting their own morality on what is in essence animal behaviour.

[See, he'll even step a bit closer, though he keeps some distance between him and the electrodes. He doesn't believe in pokemon that are cruel or bad by nature, but that doesn't mean there aren't some pokemon that can't do more damage than others when made that way by humans.]

But these electrodes... I imagine they were caught in the wild by Team Rocket. All they have known is human cruelty. I don't think we can expect them to trust us. That doesn't change the fact, however, that we do have to make certain they cannot hurt us while we free that pokemon inside of the cage. Putting them to sleep seems like the kindest solution.

Edited 2017-04-16 12:06 (UTC)

[They are very much an acquired taste.]

So you want to scare them even more by putting them to sleep? Then they'll never trust humans at all!

[Your logic, Armin, it is backwards.]

Look, let me just talk to them! They're already listening! And look, Blitz is trying to make friends!

[It's true: Blitz has rolled up to the smallest of the captive Electrodes--who is still a good quarter bigger than he is--and is crackling softly, making crooning sounds Jean has only heard before when he's been very upset and Blitz has been trying to make him feel better. The captive Electrode is listening and crackling back, and wobbling back and forth, like it wants to come closer but is afraid.]

We're not going to hurt you, sweet thing. We want to help you.

[It is not that his logic is backwards, it's just ruthless. It would most likely make those Electrodes hate Armin, but he is willing to accept that.

But it does seem like Jean's more friendly, emotional strategy is paying off as well.]

Then, lets compromise. We'll try your plan first. You and Blitz can talk to them and try to calm them down, and I won't interfere. But if it goes on too long or the situation gets more dangerous, we'll go with my plan.

[And, to show that he really does consider Jean's plan worth a shot, rather than something he is agreeing to to entertain Jean for the moment, he adds:]

Holly can use her Sweet Scent. It should help make them calmer.

[As someone who has been on the receiving end of far more zaps than Armin, Jean can tell him that Electrodes are not an enemy you want to make. Especially when you're kind of slow dodging their sneak attacks on your nuts.]

All right, that's reasonable.

[Jean pets Holly again, calling the Electrodes attention to her.]

Holly is going to use Sweet Scent, okay? It won't make you go to sleep, I promise. It'll just make everything feel a little better. She's not going to hurt you. None of us are going to hurt you.

ROCKET BATTLE LOG

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the first of many, many ball jokes

eeeeeeey

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I tried to tag this yesterday and DW ate it!

DW das rude

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