best_laid_plans | Turn 008 // Video (Text to Rockets)

[Today the feed opens up on a bright, sunny view of the Goldenrod Game Corner. It zooms in on the name of the building, then on the motto inscribed on the sign - "A Safe and Sound Playground!" - before finally landing on someone's smiling face.

Someone's slightly bruised, smiling face.]

Good morning! Is everybody doing all right? How about that weather....

No, I shouldn't joke. [He looks more thoughtful.] I do hope everybody made it through the storm okay. But let's focus instead on the present, and future.

I never introduced myself in full! I'm Malik, and starting today, I'm the new manager of the Goldenrod Game Corner!

[Another pan out. Ta-da! (Whoever's filming this is having a lot of fun.)]

Pretty much everybody on their Pokémon journey goes through Goldenrod at some point, huh? Well, if you've been, I hope you'll give us a second look, and if you haven't - I hope you put us on your list.

Here, I'll show you a little of what's in store.

[He holds the door open for his cameraman, who says "smoo" in reply as something she's riding on lumbers in.]

Right now, in addition to the usual slot machines, we've got a very special game unique to Johto! It's called "Voltorb Flip", and while I'd bore everybody explaining the rules, I'll give you a demonstration today...

[He then proceeds to sit in front of the machine and pwn at it. While doing so, he chats.]

Sorry, is this still boring? Turn it off at any time....but I hope you'll come in and give this a shot for yourself. We've got lots of great prizes - TMs, but also some rare Pokémon, who I'm sure would love to meet great trainers and find welcoming homes. But we can't give those out to just anybody - you have to prove you're dedicated, so be sure to keep stopping back to win coins.

[His game concluded, he turns back to the camera and smiles.]

The staff and I would love to meet you, too! So that's the Goldenrod Game Corner, and my name's Malik. Best of luck on your journeys, and happy playing!

[The feed cuts out. Malik, for his part, has to rub his cheeks from smiling too hard and immediately types up a little memo for his fellow Rockets. Best show them how quickly he can change gears.]

Congratulations to everyone on the mission's overall success. I'm sure it proved profitable for us all.

Onto further business. Advertising could always use an additional boost...

Tell me what you know about the Psychic type.

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

They pretend to do card readings and stuff but it's all really fake, right?

Cause if it was real they'd have all won the lottery by now right

Human psychics? You'd be surprised.

Currently, I'm more concerned with the Pokémon. Drowzee, Ralts, the like. Own any?

[There's a slight shuffling sound, like a shifting blanket or crumpled tissues.]

Don't be so... happy.

[Sniffle.]

It's stupid.

I'm training one at the moment; it's a very interesting creature.

[Archer smirks at that text; you certainly do seem to be capable of lying wonderfully.]

I've been raising several Psychic-types lately. What do you want to know about them?

You think?

Sorry for the trouble, then....but isn't being unhappy when we've just made it through something to terrible even stupider?

Just my opinion...

[Someone over the public line who isn't all sunshine and rainbows? Tell him more.]

[Ah, excellent. Always good to reconnect with Teammates.]

You don't say.

Which species, if I might inquire? I've - accumulated several, myself.

[You should see me when I've got someone around to claim to be Malik Ishtar in my stead.]

The human mind is such a fragile thing, isn't it?

It naturally follows that those - attuned to manipulation - might be capable of undue influence. Special abilities don't vanish outside of battle, after all.

Ever discovered anything along those lines? I'm investigating myself, but. No need to reinvent the wheel.

No. 'Cause then you're not fooling yourself. 'Cau-

[She sneezes.]

'Cause everything's still terrible.

And you're saying things are terrible right now?

I'm sorry to hear that.

Of course. Are you stupid? 'S what happens with this stuff.

Big disaster and even when the disaster's gone there's still stuff destroyed all over.

But you made it out all right - or well, mostly all right. Otherwise we couldn't be talking.

In the face of everything that happened, isn't it better to pick up the pieces and move forward? Here, tell me the worst thing that's happened. I'll try and think of a way to help, if you like.

Hmph. I guess.

[A few strings of coughs as she thinks.]

Dunno... some trees fell. Road might be blocked. 'S probably worse in the cities.

Lunatone; it's half Psychic, half Rock. Odd sort of creature.

[[Rocket teammates are the best, let's be real here.]]

Have you heard of it?

Well, you're together with people who have Pokémon, right?

Get them all working on clearing the road.

I'm pleased to say this is a first.

[No, actually, he likes getting the drop on people. But moving along.]

An interesting combination, indeed. What's it capable of, so far?

...

She has a baby bird.

Nothing too groundbreaking at present, but it's still a fairly young Pokemon. It's Psychic type moves include Psybeam, Confusion and Hypnosis. I have high hopes for it, however; at some point it will be able to Explode.

[[Which is all he cares about, really.]]

Although if you need to borrow it for any reason, I can't see why that would be a problem. It's very obedient.

And there's really no one else?

[Wait a moment.]

Unless, perhaps, I should be welcoming you to Johto instead of lecturing.

[He - has an idea now of why you, in particular, want this Pokémon, yes.]

A generous offer. I'd repay it in kind.

--have you ever turned its abilities on human targets?

[[Subtle, isn't he?]]

I can't say I have, although I must admit you've intrigued me. What are you plotting?

Depends on what experimentation yields.

If the people here are as easily swayed as I presume, it seems we've wasted our time doing the dirty work ourselves.

[He hadn't really wanted to show his cards to the rest of his team, but he'd asked on the network, nothing for it. It seemed he actually would have to continue cooperating right up until he reached the top, making himself too valuable an ally to betray.]

[Don't worry, Yuugi at least watched all the way through, even if it was propped at his room's desk ~~on the dry second floor~~ with an uncertain face the whole time, warring with. The intrigue.

What did he miss, barging through the place last week?

He'll have his face schooled back to just the curious by the time he reciprocates the feed.]

That was sure fast. I didn't expect to see that place up and running and dry again already... Nice job.

Congratulations to you, too, Malik. However, you seem injured. I do hope it is nothing serious.

I train a Gallade and a Beheeyem, and I have also been doing research on the genomes of Exeggcute and Exeggutor. Additionally, you may say that psychic powers are a bit of a specialty of mine. Is there anything specific you would like to know? Personally, I would be enthusiastic to inform you about the genetic pathways that make such powers possible, but I doubt you would be interested in that.

...I see.

[[And he does! It's not too hard to put two and two together.]]

Have you done any research regarding the effects?

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