pokebox | Locked to explosivecombat

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[Archer ran a hand through his hair, frustrated. He had woken up that morning in a strange room that definitely wasn't in the base outside of Liore. He had found a strange capsule with an even stranger metal beast inside it along with a dreadfully ugly uniform and a note, claiming he was now a member of "Team Rocket," whatever the hell that was.

Needless to say, the Colonel was furious with the interruption. He was to crush Liore in less than a day and he didn't have any time to waste in... wherever this was. Xing? It sounded like it was Xing, though he had no idea how he could have gotten here.

One of the "Grunts" he had spoken to told him to use the "PokéGear" to get information from the others. What others? Had other soldiers been brought here for some reason? The device was far too complicated for Archer and a second Grunt took pity on him and helped teach him the very basic functions. That was how Archer managed to get the feed going.]

--Is it on?

[An affirmative answer from the Grunt. The 'Gear pulls up from the lovely view of Archer's feet and is pointed at the wall. A gloved hand comes into the shot and turns the 'Gear so it's looking at Archer.]

Ah, there we go.

[The Grunt leaves Archer to his message, and Archer is quick to deliver it.]

I'd like to speak to my kidnappers. I'm certain we can come to an agreement regarding my return to Amestris. That's all.

[He fumbles with the 'Gear for a moment before finally getting it to shut off. He pockets it and moves to explore the Team Rocket base, searching for a way out.]

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[It was no real coincidence that Kimblee was in the base today, as much as he would like to cite "fortunate timing" for something like this; he had sent Isaac to Kanto again, and as reluctant as his boyfriend had been to leave him, Kimblee had managed to convince him that it had been for the best.

He had been useless for a few weeks now. He couldn't stand the idea of remaining that way any longer; returning to work was the best option, and he couldn't very well do that with Isaac constantly hanging around. Besides, Isaac's affections had started to feel decidedly like pity lately; a bad situation all around, really.

He notices the signal sent out over the feed; he shuts it off immediately once he notices the fact that whatever idiot's holding it is filming the floor. He has no patience for the new ones lately; if his superiors want him to train one of them later, he'll do it, but he hasn't felt much like giving the usual "Welcome to the rest of your life, it's likely going to be awful, also here are your battle pets" speech that those posts seem to call for.

He's given up on monitoring the 'Gear for any sign of Archer; there's no use in being a damned fool about it.

However, while there's no coincidence in the fact that he's in the base to begin with, the corridor he happens to be in is more than a bit of a happy accident; the sound of the door opening behind him gets him to turn around, and he isn't...entirely sure what to do with what he sees.]

Ah...!

[That's...all that he manages to force out, though his expression is implying that his brain may have, in fact, burst into tears completely and utterly.

It's...quite simply not possible, is it? But there he is, a fact that's unbelievably and startlingly simple - he has to resist the urge to move forward and physically confirm what's happening, simply because he and Archer have always refrained from any affectionate displays in public.

Leto take the entire goddamn vehicle.]

[Archer almost dismisses the man entirely - he's not familiar and this obviously isn't the exit - but something in the face seems far too familiar and Archer glances him up and down briefly.]

Kimbley? Where did you get that suit? ...Actually, I'd rather not know. I suppose you woke up and found yourself here as well?

[There's something decidedly off about "Kimbley" though; he's too tall, his voice is too high-pitched, his hair is... not a hideous mullet. Some part of Archer takes all that in immediately, but his overwhelming desire to see a familiar face blocks those logical thoughts out. It's Kimbley. It has to be Kimbley.]

Well there's no point staring at me like that. Come on, let's find a way out of this place.

[He doesn't wait for Kimbley to follow him - Kimbley will follow him, he always does - he simply takes off in another direction. He has absolutely no idea where he's going, but it's important that he doesn't show any signs of hesitation. He can relax around Kimbley, of course, but in a new environment like this it's best to be defensive--

Oh come on, did he lose Kimbley already?]

Kimbley? Hurry up.

I...Archer?

[Needless to say, he isn't exactly following; his expression shifts a bit, though it's not really any less confused.

This...this isn't feeling right. It seems familiar, surely, but it isn't a sort of familiarity that he likes. It's...almost as it was in Mahogany Town over a year ago, isn't it? But no, that can't possibly - ]

I've been here for a while. I wasn't expecting to see you again here.

[He leaves it open for now; he wants to see what Archer does with it. This can't possibly be what he's thinking it is...surely he's mistaken...]

That's not possible. I saw you last night, in the basement. You were playing with the chimeras. Don't play dumb with me.

[He doesn't sound overly upset though, brushing it off easily. He does turn to look at Kimbley though, frowning at the sudden height difference. That's certainly... new. He doesn't question it - doesn't want to question it - and instead turns back around to keep searching for an exit.]

Now help me find a way out of here.

...I don't think you understand.

[As much as he hates it, he knows full well that Archer doesn't understand; at the same time, he has no idea how to bring it up. Or what to say once it's brought up to begin with.]

Don't understand what?

[He turns around to face "Kimbley" again, frowning.]

...I'm not the individual you know. Similar, yes, but not the same in the least.

[He sighs. All right. Let's...start from the beginning.]

I've been here for a while now. I can explain the situation to you, if you like.

[He's not...? No. He has to be. The differences aren't important, this has to be Kimbley.]

...I don't understand. Just what is going on here?

[It's obvious that he's frustrated with the situation, but the shrieking histrionics haven't started yet. Probably because he's still too confused.]

[It's been quite a while since Archer's taken that tone with him; he doesn't flinch, but he does visibly stiffen up quite a bit.]

This place brings people here from different worlds; in our case, there seems to be different versions of Amestris. I'm similar to someone from your world, but we've...

[He hesitates for a moment, clearly uncertain.]

We didn't know each other there.

...So you're expecting me to believe that we've been brought to a different world and that you're a different version of the Kimbley I know. What do you take me for?

[He's lashing out and he's well aware of it, but he can't think of what else to do. This can't be happening. This isn't happening.]

[Now wait just a minute - ]

And I suppose you have a better explanation?

Of course not. But your explanation is ridiculous.

Tell me, then. Am I the person you remember or not? Honestly this time.

[There's a long pause. A really long pause.]

...You're different. Taller. You don't have that horrible haircut and you're older.

[It's spoken softly though; he doesn't like admitting that he was wrong, or acknowledging that this is a perfect stranger when he looks kind of similar to Kimbley.]

Who are you?

I -

[He cuts himself off abruptly; he doesn't know what to do with the knowledge that he isn't sure how to answer that. He almost never has difficulty speaking; why is this so different?]

You were right when you said that I'm a different version of the person you know. I'm an alchemist from Amestris; I was formerly in the military before I was...forcibly removed and imprisoned for insubordination. I specialize in creating explosions.

There are similarities, but we aren't the same person. "Different versions" is about all the explanation we have.

[He wants to tell him about Johto; he knows it's a terrible idea.]

And your name? Is it also Kimbley?

[This is ridiculous. There's no way this is actually happening.]

How do you know about this other version of yourself anyway?

...it is, yes. Spelled differently, however.

[And that...that's a very valid question, isn't it; for a moment he considers saying something. But that will just unnecessarily complicate things, won't it?]

And surely you don't think that we're the only two from Amestris here.

[He would comment on the spelling - how is it spelled differently? why is it spelled differently? - but it's irrelevant in the face of what he's being told.]

...No, I suppose not. Who else is here?

...they come and go. Major Armstrong and Miss Rockbell are both still here, as are a few others that I don't believe you know. For a time, Colonel Mustang was also present, as was Lt. Colonel Hughes.

And I take it one of them told you about Kimbley - the other version of you?

[A pause.]

...I assume they told you about me as well?

[It certainly looked like this version of Kimbley recognized him.]

[There's no way to say it. There's no way to tell him anything that's happened over the last year and a half - the stupid thing is that it should be easy. This is just something that Johto does, something he could easy find witnesses to back up; several of the people in this base have experienced this. The answer is right in front of him; it's simple, isn't it?

Something in his chest tightens sharply; he doesn't understand why. This shouldn't bother him. It shouldn't bother him.

He doesn't let...whatever that was register on his face, however; he shoves it aside for now. He doesn't want to deal with it. He isn't sure he can.

So he simply smirks a bit, the expression easy. Not quite a smile, but close.]

They did, yes.

[Archer eyes him skeptically for a moment - something about the answer is off but he can't quite put his finger on it.]

And how do I return home? I have things to attend to; I can't afford to waste time here.

[Thank you for letting him get away with that; this is...easier. Much easier.]

...tell me, did you receive one of those red-and-white capsules upon awakening here? There should have been at least one with the belongings that were with you in that room; do you have it still?

This is relevant, I assure you.

The thing containing the metal beast?

[Archer holds it out, frowning. He somehow or other got the thing to go back into the ball, but it's something he hoped had been a dream.]

Yes, I have another one like this, but I didn't bother to see what was in it. The first one was bad enough.

I take it you've been in this world for quite some time?

I'm sure you're not going to like the answer, but I have, yes; it's been over a year.

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