033 [Video/Action for Goldenrod + Anon Text]

[soggypastry]

[Private Text to: Riku and Xion]
Team Rocket's list of targets changed. You're both on it now, so stay sharp and watch your backs. I don't know when they'll move on any of us.
[/private texts]

[It's been almost three months since he left, with only a letter to say goodbye. To say that Lightning hadn't been thinking about him as the day that would have been thier first anniversary drew nearer would be a lie, and she's taken it with remarkable grace when all things are concerned.

Or maybe she's just used to getting left behind. Who knows. All she knows is there's a house on the beach with too many memories and dreams, and she can barely look at Lucky or Strike without expecting him to be right at her side. She has to put that part of her past to rest if she's going to be able to lead the Corps in the best way she can, and so she's come to the seaside once more. Something a young boy once taught her matters more than she ever thought it would now.

Those passing close to the Radio tower will find her crouched at the railing, a lit sparkler in one hand and a bottle with a letter in the other as her Lucario stands guard nearby, gear in paw. Today would have been special, if he were here. But he isn't and it's just one more anniversary of loss. One more thing that needs to be shaken off.]

Turn it off, Sen.

[The Lucario in question yelps, but it's only in surprise, not fear. Lightning's voice is steady and quiet, and she rises to her feet as the sparkler burns out and leaves ash in the wind. She moves to the railing now, but Sen manages to end the feed just as the bottle that was in her hand drops out of sight and into the ocean.

A few minutes later, however, something else hits the network. The fact that it's an anonymous text may make people wary, but there's nothing untoward about this one. No, this one is the exact opposites of the others that have gone out.]


[Anon Text]
If someone gave you a chance to help protect this world and everyone who lives here from the people who want to harm it, would you do it? Or would you stand by and watch it burn like the Lighthouse?

Comments

[soggypastry]

[he can't see it, but she's smirking. Did he really think someone wouldn't talk?]

Did you think I wouldn't know about it? You're not that subtle.

[cobraaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa]

[A slightly longer delay while he panics some more. It seems there's a leak in Team Rocket. Again. Why does this keep happening?

Okay, now that he's composed himself, he's ready to type again.]

Enjoy your source while it lasts. I promise you that I will personally see to it that whoever it is won't be in a position to do so for much longer.

[He has no clue who it is, of course.]

[soggypastry]

You can go ahead and make idle threats, but I'm not worried. If you can't even manage to take out a high-priority target, there's no way you can take out the leak in your operation.

[She'll warn her source to be careful, of course, but she really isn't worried. Yet.]

[cobraaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa]

Then your source should have nothing to worry about. We'll just have to see what happens when they're found out and who exactly gets burned for playing with fire. Won't we?

[soggypastry]

We will. Though, if I were you? I'd keep some burn cream on hand. Never know when you'll need it.

[cobraaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa]

The only one who will be needing burn cream is you, and you're lucky that I don't have access to a squadron of Cobra Incinerators to drive that point home.

[soggypastry]

I doubt that. Even if you had them here, you'd have to find and catch me first. No one's managed that, and people a lot better than you have tried.

[cobraaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa]

[Wait. Anonymous text, drawing attention to his failures, saying he'd have to catch them. This all makes sense now! He knows exactly who this is now!]

You're that thief, aren't you? Stealing my chair wasn't enough? Now you're mobilizing against me?

[soggypastry]

[If she was in a better mood, this would have gotten her to laugh. As it is...well. This failure is still amusing.]

And why should I tell you that? What good would it do me to tell you who I am?

[cobraaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa]

Oh please. It's far too late to try and play it off. I know exactly who you are and what you've done. You can't remain anonymous forever, and I'll make sure that I'm the one who ends your anonymity.

[Because everyone anonymous texter on the Gear is clearly the same person. Except when they're not.]

[soggypastry]

You can try. But like I said, you'd have to find and catch me first. If that happens, then I'll deserve what I get for being stupid enough to let someone like you catch up.

[Every anonymous texter on the Gear is not the same person, but they seem to share the habit of not-so-subtly insulting him. Easy to make the mistake with that going on.]

[cobraaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa]

You are making a dangerous mistake by taunting me. One that you will live to regret.

[soggypastry]

Right. We'll see about that.

[Any further replies will go unanswered; it would seem that whoever this is, they're ignoring Cobra from now on. Talk about insulting.]

[cobraaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa]

That's right we will!

[When he doesn't get another message, Cobra's just going to assume he got the last word in.]