47 | Audio

[cobraaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa]

[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!

Comments

[Private Audio] Done

[cobraaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa]

[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!

[Private Audio]

[best_laid_plans]

[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.

[Private Audio]

[cobraaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa]

[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!

[Private Audio]

[best_laid_plans]

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

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

...what exactly are you planning to do?

[Private Audio]

[cobraaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa]

Nothing.

[Nothing yet, at least.]

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

[Private Audio]

[best_laid_plans]

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.]

[Private Audio]

[cobraaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa]

[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?

[Private Audio]

[best_laid_plans]

[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.]

[Private Audio]

[cobraaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa]

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.

[Private Audio]

[best_laid_plans]

I'm sure he'll be thrilled.

[Absolutely positive. Yeah.]