Scene Two: Act Three [Video- Locked to Rocket Frequency]

[tickleironysjudgment]

[Greetings from the desk of Agnus, fellow Rockets! Agnus is seated at his desk, the camera angled to the whiteboard behind him, and some stacks of papers are at the side.]

Hello, everyone. I would like to remind all of the kind souls who have volunteered their pokemon to the Goldenrod labs that research trials will begin as of this announcement. Anyone who has agreed to allow their pokemon for testing may contact me at leisure to coordinate days and times for best convenience.

[He reaches over to shuffle through his papers for a few moments, then nods thoughtfully.]

Thank you, the experiment is nearing fruition.


[Private Message to Dist]

Fantastic news, Ser Rose. We have come very close to isolating a baseline psychic wavelength. Once we-

[A pause, he moves his arm in mid-sentence and knocks a small stack of papers over in excitment.]

Oh, b-b-blast.

[Then picks them back up to shuffle them together and set them aside.]

Come find me when you have a moment and we can discuss the next phase of the experiment, once we have the frequency we can design a machine to produce it.
[End Message Feed]


[Message for Dist and Gorthan]

...By the way, gentlemen. There's a stay pup in our confinement center. His name is Nero and, if you don't mind, I need him to be kept in his cage for the time being.

[Have a delightfully malevolent grin, then he cuts the feed.]
[End Message]

Comments

[action]

[tickleironysjudgment]

Yes, it's been a rather thrilling month. I should say in my defense, though, that I had not nearly been so...occupied before this project began. In fact, to explain all that I've been doing for these notes; I've been looking through everything from mythology to gemology, metals to pokemon database entries, and beyond.

[For a moment, Agnus actually laughs at his own lengthy investigations. The pride of a researcher showing his work, one might suppose. He has been devoting all his efforts to this, that much is extremely clear. But...for what? Getting the spotlight is one thing, sure, but this much effort?

No, there has to be an ulterior motive. And there is. While Dist might just see him as madly obsessed, or guess that something else is going on; this is a step along the path of Agnus' life's work. The alteration of his research findings into a compatible study into the nature of pokemon, demons, and man. The very thing he sold his own soul to find, just with a few extra steps now thrown in.]

I believe I may have explained before, but my previous line of work followed a similar path. I was somewhat better equipped, but the Order had a very specific aim in mind.

[action]

[ortion]

Ah yes, you were studying gemstones when I first met you. Interesting to see how far you've come since then.

[And Dist can understand the amount of research that goes into these things. Sometimes one can be completely off-course at one point, then making leaps and bounds in progress at another.]

Actually, I've heard very little of this "Order." An organization you belonged to, I assume?

[action]

[tickleironysjudgment]

[He pauses at the inquiry and sets aside a stack of papers he had gathered to file away later. The question is simple enough, but how much he feels would be productive to explain is another matter. Dist isn't asking for his life's story after all.]

The Order of the Sword. It was a religious organization, I suppose you could say? A collective of people united under a shared faith, myself being the Chief Alchemist. My duties were many, and among them my life's work. Summoning, but not as I come to understand a summoning of spirits or sprites. No...Demons. I summoned demons.

[He grins a bit, and looks over to Dist with interest.]

I was charged with summoning demons, then conquering their souls for the Order's own use.

[action]

[ortion]

[At first Dist was with Agnus, almost relating to him somewhat because he also worked for a religious organization...

But then he got to the demons and Dist just raises an eyebrow at him. Wat.]

Well, that's, ah...interesting. And what exactly did you do with their souls?

[action]

[tickleironysjudgment]

[Now was the point of action, the junction by which something of Agnus was laid bare for his would-be conversation partner. While he spoke his eyes trailed off and became distant, his features solemn yet bitter.]

I forged them. My task was to create, to fuse and synthesize to forge from those demonic souls weapons of great power. Living armor, forged from demonic power to enforce the will of the Order. Great, living weapons for the Order soldiers. But, by far, the most shining of our achievements came from none other than His Holiness.

A ritual that fused demonic power with the human spirit, forged a being greater than either could ever be alone. The ascension ceremony, the highest honor of the Order of the Sword.

[It was all spoken of in a very distant, dreamy voice. A fond recollection of his proudest achievements. The highest of alchemical undertakings, all conquered by his own hand...

But, that begs the questions of why. Not 'why do this?', as is obvious, but 'why, Agnus, are you wearing such a bitter, furious scowl under those distant, reverent eyes?' Because in the course of that past bit his expression had soured over and become something terribly dark. His fists were slightly clenched, as well, a rather curious non-sequitur considering the tone of that explanation would have been rather pleasant.]

[action]

[ortion]

[Well. This is unlike anything Dist has ever heard of. Other worlds certainly are fascinating.

But he does note that bitterness, so he decides to continue where Agnus stopped.]

... But all did not go according to plan?

[If he's right, hey, it happens. It's certainly happened to Dist more than once. And to his own Order as well.]

[action] This is laaaaaaaaaaaaate.

[tickleironysjudgment]

The Order fell, I presume. One of our own betrayed the cause. A youth named after the hedonist emperor, Nero. It was discovered that he possessed Demonic power, so the Order sought to capture and study him.

[A scoff.]

And then a demon became directly involved. The hero of the story. Dante. Pitiable, I had hoped to see the aim of our fair order fulfilled. A truly noble goal, or so I should like to think.

[action] s'cool!

[ortion]

[Again, that wording...]

Noble goals have a way of dashed, or so I have learned from experience.

[action] s'cool!

[tickleironysjudgment]

...Indeed. Perhaps, if even the slightest detail had unfolded differently I could have seen the Order's aim come to fruition.

[The next part is muttered a bit, and spoken in a rather maudlin and wistful tone.]

I could have watched that impure, ignoble world burn. And then, seen humans suffer for their fickle, ignorant ways.

[action]

[ortion]

[... Wow, Agnus. So these are your true feelings.

Dist crosses his arms, keeping a close eye on Agnus.]

After hearing that, I must ask: what are your goals here? You have a second chance, and your personal project is quickly coming along. Soon, it will be finished. Obviously it is for Team Rocket's use, but what do you really plan to do with it?

[Usually he doesn't pry about these things or care because scientists have their own reasoning behind what they do, but he likes to know the people he's working with, producing things for. Especially since Agnus basically just said he wanted to destroy his world. He's sounding eerily similar to someone Dist worked for previously.]

[action]

[tickleironysjudgment]

[Agnus takes a moment to consider the question, the choices and opportunities involved in his new ventures. Certainly, this world was different than his own. Team Rocket was an interesting organization and he was enjoying the opportunity to put his skills to the test on a new medium. But, was it really so different? Were people not still callous, fickle, ignorant, and wanton in all their ways?

Pokemon, though. These creatures changed the equation. Invited new perspectives. The symbiosis was an intriguing thing to consider. Perhaps this world was different enough. Humans seemed to live more simply in some ways, more in tune with the way of nature, less abrasively to the environment and the planet; even more reverent in some ways.]

I do not know what the future will hold. Ser Rose, I detest humans. I loath how callous, fickle, ignorant, and destructive they are. How little they revere the world, revere the glory of creation. Respect and fear the architect, even.

However...this world seems different. Humans live in ways less abrasive, less offensive. They revere and praise, not disregard and abuse. For now I do not feel the same hatred as I had before. I am willing to continue my work, if for no other reason than to assist Team Rocket in providing the fear of 'God' to enforce in the hearts of foolish humans.

[He nods to himself, but glances at Dist and meets his eyes.]

My aims are different now. I will not invite the fires of perdition upon this world, but I will observe. I will judge for myself if this world is indeed a fitting place for a man of my cloth.