route_29 | A fresh start; [train plot epilogue]

11/23/11 18:49
We interrupt your regularly scheduled programming with this important news bulletin.

The woman on-screen looks polished and cool, but the scene behind her, the Saffron Train station, is total chaos. Evening is descending, and her neatly styled bob is periodically lit up with the red and blue of police lights. Under her, a scroll bar reads: MAGNET TRAIN HIJACKED, CURRENT MISSING POKEMON COUNT: 43.

"Hopes were high following a shareholder change that allowed for the completion of the Magnet Train renovation project. However, unexpected chaos arose today during its maiden voyage. The train was hijacked by the notorious Team Rocket about two hours into the trip; they went so far as to knock out the conductor to set up a bomb in the cab, threatening to blow the train off-track if passengers didn't hand over their pokémon."

The camera pans out to various images of people, young and old, being taken out in stretchers. A few crying faces, hands cradling empty pokéballs. Several Nurse Joys, all looking haggard, are accompanied by Chanseys and Blisseys to heal the poisoned.

"Luckily, some brave passengers were aboard, and most of the hijackers were apprehended or taken out. Many were injured, but no lives were lost—though many precious pokémon are now missing. While police here in Saffron work on taking in the captured Rockets, a concerted effort is being made on behalf of the Viridian and East Johto Police Headquarters, servicing New Bark and Cherrygrove, to find any pokémon lost in the Indigo Plateau. The Elite Four have generously volunteered their services, but this may delay the renovation in the battle halls and further push back the date at which they'll be accepting challengers."

A Jenny walks up to the newscaster's side, looking grim. The announcer politely hands her the microphone, which the police officer accepts with a nod.

"We currently have several Rocket members in custody, and are issuing warrants for several others--"

The image cuts to pictures and video showcasing several escaped Rockets, and some portraits and names. Over it, the Jenny's voice continues.

"If you have any information regarding these individuals, we ask for your cooperation in bringing them to justice. Our hotline is 1-800—"

Click. Darkness.

Ariana's eyes trail upwards from the remote control and settle somewhere around her boss' elbow, as if afraid of rising any higher. The silence hangs heavy in the room, and not one of them dares break it save for the dying hum of the enormous television. She can feel the heat rising off Archer, standing next to her, and it makes her tense. They could lose their jobs over this; they could lose more than that. It depends entirely on the whim of the man in front of them.

Certainly, this is what they'd wanted, but it's strange to find herself once again on a lower rung of the food chain.

His chair swivels, and they collectively hold their breaths. His mouth is a thin line, but neutral rather than disapproving. Just being under his scrutiny is overwhelming. Being in his presence feels like being in the middle of a roaring crowd. She wants to please him; they all do.

"Satisfactory," he declares, tossing the remote control to the desk with a clatter. "This will suit our purposes just fine."

They exhale.

"What next, sir?" Ariana dares, lifting her eyes.

"We wait," he informs her, letting his chin rest on twined fingers. "Count our gains. Train the new recruits. When the moment is right, we'll strike again. Patience is a virtue, as you well know."

"Yes, sir," they chorus.

"Good. Well done, and you are dismissed."

They turn and they march, like good Growlithes, his eyes burning into their backs. Ariana is both mournful and relieved to be out of the office.

And then Petrel opens his mouth.

"So that was a disaster, but it was a satisfactory disaster? Pardon me if I don't follow."

Proton rubs the bridge of his nose. "It wasn't meant to succeed. It was meant to be a red herring. Think, Petrel."

There is a pause, presumably while Petrel thinks. Anticipating that this may take a while, Ariana pipes up.

"The mission had three purposes: first as a loyalty test, secondly to capture pokémon, and thirdly to waylay the population."

"It's that third one I'm having trouble with."

Archer materializes at her side, looking amused. He arches a brow. "Don't you see, Petrel? This way, we're hiding our biggest asset. We already own the train line."

[[OOC NOTES:
      - You may post IC reactions to the broadcast here.
      - If your character was caught/was sighted/defected from the Team/dropped out/etc, now is the start of their two weeks of police dodging/community service/jail time! Have fun.
      -We're working on working out Kanto details and are hoping to have them out by the end of the week, keeping our fingers crossed. We hope you'll bear with us and use Bulbapedia for the time being. Gym leader levels may be modeled on those of their Johto counterparts.
      - If your character's pokemon was stolen and you're desperate to get it back, there will be opportunities.
      - This isn't the last of the Rockets! Sit tight for more nefarious scheming coming your way. ]]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

.... How much is 'a little bit'?

... A person was thrown at me, and I was struck on the face. That's all.

_{[... A PERSON was THROWN at her?]}

'That's all?!'

I got off very easily, compared to others.

Well, sure, but still!

Who threw the person at you?!

_{[Heather knows more than anybody that small injuries aren't honestly that serious compared to the shit people COULD endure-- hell, she'd be shrugging them off too. But the fact that it was INFLICTED makes her mad]}

[Siiiigh. Why so stubborn-]

... His name is Ivan, but I had only talked to him a few times before hand. I thought he was a misguided individual, and needed some help. I tried to be his friend... I never would have guessed he would do this.

Ivan... Ivan... _{[Dammit, she's never talked to anybody named Ivan that she remembers...]}

What does he look like?

_{[Of course Minnie would try to befriend even the scumbags... that's not something that Heather will condemn, considering she's no sparkly angel herself, but dammit Minnie it could get you hurt. :(]}

[NO REGRETS.]

Well, he has white hair, he's quite tall, he talks in broken English...

[what else, what else.]

And he's a little fat.

[big boned, damn you.]

I could recognize him even in the disguise he wore.

_{[... wait.]

[..... WAIT]

[Oh holy fuck, THAT guy?!]}

... Does he call you 'Little One', by any chance?

No, he calls me 'Little Tsaraina', I think it's pronounced... he says it's something akin to a female ruler, since he knows I am a Queen.

_{[... Close enough. It's the same guy.]

[Minnie will probably be able to tell by the way Heather's expression darkens dangerously that she's already familiar with the person she's talking about, but in case that wasn't enough, the girl also growls.]}

I knew that guy was bad news.

You knew him too?

We've spoken.

_{[Her tone suggests that it wasn't a pleasant conversation.]}

A fresh start; [train plot epilogue]

[Audio]

[Audio]

[Audio]

[Audio]

[Audio]

[Audio]

[Audio]

[Audio]

[Audio]

[Audio]

[Audio]

[Audio]

oh my god I'm SO SORRY, LJ won't send me notifs for comm replies! I totally meant to continue this!