cobraaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa | 47

[After spending the past week, slumped over in his room unconscious, there were a few things that Cobra Commander should probably be concerned about. But those can wait, because he’d rather turn on his gear and cackle like a madman for the next few minutes over the network.]

Oh, thisss is truly the perfect thing to wake up to. Unlike before, when I was so rudely ripped away from taking back what was rightfully mine; thisss time there wasn’t anything like that! Meaning conquering Johto and making all of you miserable is now my number one priority! This place now has my complete and undivided attention! And that means-

[He stops there, not really feeling up to continuing his tirade at the moment. Spending a week without any sort of food, or any sort of water beyond what his Pokemon could get probably had something to do with that.]

Just think about what that means!

[The feed ends there, and about an hour later, another one starts on the Rocket channel. It’s short and straight to the point.]

[Private Audio for Rockets]
I need to know if anything important happened during the past week. If it did, let me know! Immediately!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Did you miss my promotion, then? I'm hurt.

[Gloat gloat gloat.]

Promotion? What promotion?

[Yes, he did.]

Nothing of particular importance. They've given me the Game Corner to manage.

[He's not even going to try and make that a jab. Just let it sit there.]

Consider it an update on your potential assets, should you require my services again.

The Game Corner? Congratulations.

[He's more or less sincere about that since it doesn't seem to threaten his standing within Team Rocket. Unless it means Malik somehow outranks him. Then he'll have issues.]

I imagine you'll have little to worry about. I won't be targeting that location a sssecond time.

I didn't think so, no.

[Malik is not sure where it falls on the superiority ladder, but that's fine with him. Someday, his status will be - undeniable.]

However, it does grant me additional resources. A permanent front, and a link to the public. Should any of those prove of service later.

Oh, I have little doubt that they will. It's just a matter of finding the appropriate ways to maximize their usefulness.

[In other words, he just woke up an hour ago. Figuring out the proper way to use a front against all of Johto isn't exactly the main thing on his mind right now.]

Were there any other promotions handed out?

[Understood.]

A few, I believe. Nothing earth-shattering.

[And nothing for you, apparently.]

I ssssee.

[So that means no one got promoted over him, right? Because he thinks that would definitely be earth shattering.]

Anything else? Any missions or commands from the Executives?

Just congratulations on a job well done.

The mission, apparently, was a success.

[Could have fooled him. But ah well. Irons in the fire, and he made quite a few good contacts.

Then, as an afterthought. Just to see what'd happen.]

...ah, a few of us made Beta. Strange name for a rank.

Beta? What's that? I've never heard of a rank called Beta!

[It's nice this is audio. He can smirk all he wants.]

It's in relation to "alpha", I suppose. A step above Private, if memory serves....

The individuals' names slip my mind. But they must have been quite active in this last operation.

[That first bit's a lie. He's working with one of them. But he doesn't feel like handing that headache to a new ally.]

One step above Private?

[Wait.]

[What? That can't be right. No one can outrank him! How is he supposed to conquer Team Rocket if someone else can give him orders? This isn't fair. He just got finished dealing with that problem in his own world.]

[And now to completely fly off the handle and just rant and rave about this injustice.]

Who? Who on earth did they promote above me? Tell me! I want names! Now! I need to know who these people are! Right now!

[Yes, audio is very useful.]

I was preoccupied by my own advancement. The others' names didn't seem as important.

You'll have to ask around the base some more.

[That was not an acceptable answer.]

How were they unimportant? You have to answer to them too! I refuse to believe you don't have the names! Now tell me!

[...he should have planned for this.]

Since this was thoughtless of me, I'll investigate.

...what exactly are you planning to do?

Nothing.

[Nothing yet, at least.]

I just want to sssspeak with them...for now.

To report your willingness to serve? How thoughtful.

[He's being glib, but oh well. This is amusing, but he'd rather not get a black mark next to his name with you. You're a convenient ally....

Still, he doesn't like giving in to pressure.]

[His willingness to serve? That's funny Malik, you should be a comedian. But there's really no way he can say he's planning to evaluate the Betas and undermine them without giving it away, so he'll just play dumb. Or try to.]

Ssssomething like that. Are you sure you don't know who they are?

[He'll throw you a bone, sure. In the interest of a continuing alliance.]

I can't be certain, but an Agent Archer's name is sticking in my head. He definitely performed admirably, from what I'd heard....

[And if you bother Archer and Archer finds out, Malik can just figure out a way to make it not his fault. Somehow.]

Archer? You're sure?

[That's not as bad as he feared. He can definitely work with that.]

Then I suppose I should congratulate him the next time I see him.

Edited 2012-05-31 03:10 (UTC)

I'm sure he'll be thrilled.

[Absolutely positive. Yeah.]

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[audio] also this was toootally always private sssh sorry

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