determinator | ♕ EIGHTH COMMAND | VIDEO - PRIVATE TO ROCKETS

[ VIDEO - TEAM ROCKET ]
[The video opens to a neatly arranged pile of eggs. They're sitting all across a bed - one Team Rocket members may recognize as being in the base. The camera pans slowly over the eggs before moving out to focus on all of them. Archer's voice cuts in smoothly, though he doesn't appear in the frame.]

Good afternoon, my fellow members of Team Rocket. [You can practically hear the smirk.] I've come to you all today to offer you a deal. I'm sure many of you have heard of the Breeding Center outside of Goldenrod, correct? I would be interested in starting a competing business - one catered to the needs of our organization.

[The video turns to Archer then. He's sitting crossed-legged on one of the chairs, smirking. Sitting beside him is a Persian, who has her head rested next to his legs. In typical super-villain fashion, he's petting her head and attempting to sound menacing. Whether or not it works is really up to the viewer. The over-the-top haminess might be killing things just a little bit though.]

I would like to offer every member of Team Rocket one free egg. I specialize in finding unique combinations of egg moves to breed onto a Pokémon, as well as Pokémon the Breeding Center doesn't have in stock. Unfortunately, I would like to make some money off of this - any other eggs you may be interested in will cost money.

The following list contains all the Pokémon, egg moves, and prices. Please get back to me as soon as possible to receive the egg you want. It is first come, first serve, and I'm afraid I don't have a great number of these.

[Archer's smirk widens and he moves to fold his hands in his lap.] Thank you for your time.

[With that, the feed ends and a moment later, a list goes out containing all the information Archer specified.]

[ VIDEO - 2 HOURS LATER ]

[After he's sent the eggs out to the members of Team Rocket, Archer opens the video feed back up again, panning slowly over the remaining eggs.]

I'm selling several Pokémon eggs. I'll send a list out shortly containing information on the species, egg moves, and prices. Thank you in advance.

[Sure enough, that same list will hit the network a few minutes later!]

[ ACTION ]
[If you're wandering out just south of Goldenrod City later tonight, you might notice a bit of an odd sight. Archer is out training his Pokémon. Five Pokémon stand before him ~~but he only has four photos~~; Drapion, Gengar, Luxray, Jolteon, and Vaporeon. Archer stands perfectly still, his hands folded behind his back. He's smirking as usual.]

Arbiter, Isolani, Caïssa, Blitz, Epaulette... I believe it's time we did a little more with our training, wouldn't you agree?

[Each Pokémon reacts to the words differently, but the overwhelming sense of anxiety is present. Whatever it is Archer's up to, it isn't something the Pokémon want to do.]

Of course you would. Now then, Arbiter.

[The Drapion steps forward, swinging his headarms into a fighting stance.]

Attack me.

[The command is abrupt and cold, though Archer's smirk never fades. The Drapion hesitates - the fight leaving it almost immediately. Pokémon don't attack humans normally - this isn't something they're supposed to do. They are never supposed to harm their trainer. Archer doesn't seem to mind, and he moves on.]

Isolani, then? [The Gengar shrinks further into the shadows.] Caïssa? [The Luxray growls and sparks, but she doesn't attack.] Blitz? Epaulette? [The Jolteon and Vaporeon huddle together and shy away from Archer's gaze.]

Pathetic.

[The single word is sharp and all five Pokémon flinch. The reprimands for disobeying their trainer are horrible. They've seen what happens to those Pokémon who don't earn Archer's favor. It isn't pretty.]

I intend to train all five of you - but if you can't even attack a human, how useful will you be? Attack me.

[The Drapion moves then, firing off a Pin Missile attack. It's a weak attack as it is, but humans aren't meant to take Pokémon attacks.]

[That doesn't matter though - the attack doesn't connect with Archer. He doesn't move at all, but suddenly the attack is repelled, bouncing off an invisible forcefield around him. He smirks.]

Excellent. Alekhine!

[His sixth Pokémon teleports into view then. The Alakazam is Archer's favorite; he's had it for several months and it has been trained to protect him at even the slightest indication. The other five Pokémon seem to heave a collective sigh of relief.]

How far away were you? [The Alakazam doesn't give any verbal response, but it seems he's communicating with his trainer anyway. Archer nods, smirking.] Perfect. Using Protect at such a large range will certainly be useful.

[Not like he's planning on getting himself separated from his Alakazam, but it's better to be safe than sorry. Archer turns to the other five Pokémon.]

Again! I want to see what you all are capable of!

[Each of the five Pokémon will take their turns firing off attacks at their trainer. The Alakazam looks rather bored as he repels them all with Protect.]

[...Needless to say, Archer's methods of training are a bit on the crazy side.]

[OOC: This is a double post ~~somehow~~, so you'll get either Archer or Kimblee responding with information about the eggs! Any questions about the second set of eggs on that list up there will be fielded by Kimblee! The action part is entirely Archer, however! If you'd rather reply to the action, we can just handwave the transaction!]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Even Gorthan is extremely pleased!]

Magnificent. I commend your spirit of entrepreneurship. I suppose you will write periodical reports on these breeding experiments of yours, correct? The scientific division will be delighted to receive them.

May I have the Beldum? I will also purchase one Eevee. Far be it from me to withhold my support, when your initiative is so noteworthy.

[See, he can totally manage to not piss you off sometimes, Gorthan! Really!]

[...maybe.]

Ah, would you? I suppose I can part with some of my notes.

[GORTHAN DO YOU REALLY WANT THEM]

[HE HAS TWO NOTEBOOKS FILLED ALREADY]

[AND HE HAS NO INTENTION OF STOPPING HIS TL;DR]

Of course, I'll send both of them over right away. Do you know what you plan on evolving the Eevee into?

[Of course he has to be careful about this; two of those evolved forms he's seen were stolen from the Kimono Girls. The two Eevees went to Kimblee - they're now a Flareon and a Leafeon. He owns a Glaceon, Jolteon, and Vaporeon, and Kimblee's raising two Eevees to evolve into an Espeon and Umbreon. So yes, they're attempting to collect them all.]

[You forget that as far as Gorthan's concerned, Archer has never pissed him off! ... Even though you guys are being total jerks behind his back. And even that is something he would forgive.

... And of course he wants the notes! He wants all of the notes.]

Excellent. Should these notes of yours be satisfactory, and should you provide more in the future, I will personally make sure that your efforts receive a separate reward.

Thank you, Archer. And I believe I will not have any definite plans for the Eevee until I have seen the specimen in question and evaluated its aptitude.

[His favorite out of the ones he's seen in person has to be Umbreon, though.

Gotta catch 'em all, Archer and Kimblee.]

[Oh come on, Gorthan! Throwing people under a bus is no big deal! Really! It just means you're getting in his way; it's nothing personal!]

Indeed...? Well, I'm certainly interested in that. You had said something about possibly breeding Pokémon built for battle at one point, correct? If my research can assist you with that, I would be honored.

[That's not exactly a lie! It will get him bonus points with the superiors at least!]

Ah, of course. The nature and characteristic are quite important in deciding what to raise it as.

[Well, Gorthan's been thrown under that very same bus before, courtesy of one Zotnam. Who actually had something on Gorthan. While you guys are just being suspicious, slanderous mofos. ... And he would still forgive you.]

"Built for battle" is an egregious understatement for what I have in mind. But yes, I believe your research will prove to be instrumental help.

Incidentally, are you monitoring stats as well as hereditary moves?

[See, he's great to work with! y u guise no liek him. ... Not that he cares too much about what others think of him.]

[Oh Gorthan... You should really watch out for that bus, man.]

Excellent. I'd like to help out with that. I'll send my research down to the lab tonight - though I would like to have it back as soon as possible.

[As far as the next question goes, Archer pauses for a moment.]

I haven't discovered any way to figure for stats prior to the eggs hatching, so no. It's relatively simple to figure out what a Pokémon will know due to the lineage, but stats aren't something I've found any way to monitor.

Fear not. I will have copies made, and you will have your originals.

[Like a boss.]

But surely you hatch some of what you breed, do you not?

Excellent, thank you.

I do, yes. The majority of the ones I hatch go directly to Team Rocket.

[Cruel? Hardly! It helps cover those Pokémon he and Kimblee are supposed to give to the organization, after all!]

Unfortunately, it's difficult to tell whether the stats are better or worse than the norm without having a Pokémon to compare them to. I didn't bother recording stats of my Pokémon at lower levels, unfortunately.

Understandable. I suppose that leaves the stat monitoring part up to me, unless you possess any relevant information that may be of help.

I trust that working with you will be an honor and a pleasure, Archer.

Excellent, thank you. And I'm certain it will be.

♕ EIGHTH COMMAND | VIDEO - PRIVATE TO ROCKETS | VIDEO / ACTION [ROUTE 34]

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