XD002 (Wes)

Name of Player: Pyra
Age: 24
Contact Info: usagisimaginaryfriend

Character Name: Wes (XD002 AU)
Series: Pokemon Colosseum (Post-game AU)

Tell Me About Them “Personality”:

- Pragmatic: Wes tends to be very practical. He usually tries to sort things in the most direct way possible (battling) but doesn't hesitate to use unorthodox means to get what he wants, such as bombing the side of a rock wall in his introductory scene to steal the snag machine to not fight Team Snagem and running away.

- Robotic: Wes has always been very serious, preferring to listen and let others talk for him. From his canon point, he's literally robotic, not understanding how to do things unless it has a reason or purpose. This comes across as him being very literal-minded, which he can be at times due to his trauma. Wes constantly assumes he has to follow orders, not wanting to be punished for doing otherwise.

- Traumatised/Aggressive: Unfortunately, Wes has been traumatised due to being tortured by Cipher. He barely remembers his name is Wes and not XD002 and his positive emotions as well as many of his memories are missing due to his heart being locked. Wes is always fighting and tends to respond aggressively or violently to things that seem a threat to him or remind him that he's a broken man (like others being free). Notably, one of his main triggers is red hair and blue eyes, which may trigger an emotional breakdown from Wes. Wes naturally does not trust others due to his treatment as a weapon, though he's also looking for someone to give him orders.

- Lonely: Outside of Rui (deceased) and Doc (his caretaker) Wes doesn't have any friends besides his Pokemon. He feels like an outsider. He feels like he's not human and he hates it.

- Curious: Wes doesn't remember a lot of things outside of capturing Pokemon and killing people. As a result, things like social interaction isn't very common for him. He questions as much as he can, or at least how much he feels he's able to.

- Compassionate: Wes has a soft spot for Pokemon and people. From the start of the game, it's immediately apparent he has a deep friendship with his Pokemon (Espeon and Umbreon). While he himself is a weapon, he naturally doesn't like treating children and Pokemon harshly.

Wiki Link: Wiki to canon game: http://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Pok%C3%A9mon_Colosseum#Plot
Wiki to extra AU details: https://withoutcontrolofmyself.dreamwidth.org/523.html

Possessions: The Snap Machine (small). The function to steal Pokemon be disabled if we don't want Wes snagging any Pokemon (even just temporarily because Wes will release Pokemon if 'ordered' to do so) but he doesn't like using it. Doubles up as a mechanical arm.

Arm repair kit (small): Filled with basic engineering tools to repair the Snag Machine.

RP Sample #1: https://fallers-ooc.dreamwidth.org/7916.html?thread=231916#cmt231916
RP Sample #2: https://fallers-ooc.dreamwidth.org/7916.html?thread=231660#cmt231660

☽☾ Player Information
Name/Handle: Pyra
Are you 18 years or above?: Yes!

☽☾ Character Information
Name: Wes (XD002)
Canon: Slight AU, 11 Years Post Pokemon Colosseum.
Canonpoint: Eleven years post game and from the Yet Another Pokemon Forum’s Orre RP (Which takes place after Pokemon XD: Gale of Darkness) after Wes has finished destroying the Pokemon HQ Lab.
Age: 28 (as he’s about 17 from canon game)
HMD link: http://withoutcontrolofmyself.dreamwidth.org/392.html
History: http://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Pok%C3%A9mon_Colosseum#Plot

The story of Wes was supposed to have a happy ending. After defeating the big bad of Pokemon Colosseum with Ho-Oh’s help, purifying all of the Shadow Pokemon, and releasing all except his starters to good homes, the former criminal decided to set off with his partner, Rui, to satisfy his natural curiosity and see another land where there were such things as wild Pokemon. The saviour of Orre set off to Johto and then Hoenn, spending six years overseas learning about different cultures and Pokemon. On his travels, he met Ardos (an antagonist from from Pokemon XD: Gale of Darkness) who had just been defeated by the other game’s protagonist, Michael. After talking for a few months and befriending Ardos, Wes reveals he foiled Team Cipher’s plan previously. Ardos doesn’t take this lightly, as he is a devoted member of Team Cipher, and he begins his scheme to retake Orre and reinitiate the Shadow Pokemon plan by kidnapping Wes.

With Wes’ Espeon and Umbreon trapped in Pokeballs, Wes spends the next three years trapped in the Colosseum in the secretly re-excavated ‘Under’ where he was mercilessly tortured and experimented on, in order to test if a human’s heart could be ‘locked’ like a Pokemon. While Ardos rebuilds the ruined Team Cipher, he begins tearing at Wes’ body, injecting hormones and serums to make him move and fight faster, and replacing his left arm with the Snag Machine- the very device that was used to take down Cipher in the first place. Years of agony takes their toll on Wes’ mind, but he remains resilient until his partner Rui finds him. After a desperate fight with himself, Wes loses and ultimately kills his best friend by crushing her skull with the Snag Machine (which doubles as a mechanical hand). In shock of Rui’s death, Wes is sent over the edge and his heart is lost to darkness, locking him in an eternally aggressive, hateful and resentful cycle. With Ardos’ manipulation, he is totally obedient to Team Cipher.

In honour of the last being whose heart was supposed to be invincible to lock (Lugia, XD001), Wes is renamed XD002, and practically doesn’t remember his former name.

XD002 is not treated well by his masters, but he is treated well by his two Pokemon -who are not Shadow Pokemon thanks to a desperate agreement Wes made with Ardos- and a clumsy grunt in Cipher, a doctor ironically named Doc. They become partners and they execute Cipher’s will, despite Doc’s unwillingness to commit murder and arson like XD002 is. At the point he is taken to any game, Wes has just finished a mission where he snapped Michael’s mother (Professor Lily)’s neck and he set off a bomb in the Pokemon HQ Lab, burning dozens of scientists inside and destroying the only Pokemon Purification Machine known to Orre. He would have been stuck in his ‘room’ which is little more than a transparent box which he had been chained by his neck and limbs.

Personality: Before his capture, Wes already was quiet, but in the way a silent protagonist is. Generally he answers ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to things, but Wes is only an obligate mute, and prefers having others speak on his behalf unless it’s giving orders to Pokemon. Wes is a dangerous combination of being a powerful, pragmatic strategist, who is calm and calculating, but willing to take risks and do dangerous tasks (such as literally blowing up a wall to Team Snagem’s base to get their Snag Machine during the INTRO cutscene). Although usually he doesn’t flinch at teasing from his opponents, being called a traitor by Team Snagem members, and physical violence, much of this ‘calm’ is lost after his torture. Shadow Pokemon (and by extension Wes) are encouraged to be brutal, aggressive and emotional creatures, so when aggravated, Wes goes from a cold machine to a fiery monster.

Sadly, Wes is fully aware of his actions as Cipher’s prized possession (even if he is abused by the scientists there) and will spend the few moments he is alone to think. Usually these are despair-filled, especially when he remembers killing people and Rui, but he doesn’t outwardly show his torment besides a hateful look and gritting his teeth. In his AU, he has no time for PTSD flashbacks, but without Cipher constantly monitoring his vitals and making sure his head is ‘clear for work’, he’ll get them a lot in the games I take him to, much to his horror and confusion. Any red-hair girl in particular will make him run away in fear of crushing her head in.

Most of the time though, he operates like a machine- do the job, return to be repaired, rinse and repeat- to the point where Doc occasionally slips up and uses less human terms such as ‘recharging’ when Wes is sleeping. Wes appears cold and emotionless whenever he’s not in battle, and is ignorant to any injustice done to him, such as inadequate sleeping accommodations, constant slaps from the head scientists for disobeying, and being silent about Doc’s false report, when Doc lies about his contribution to a mission when Wes did all the work.

One thing that is clear though out the game and post-transformation into XD002 is that Wes is willing to do bad things to get what he wants and he isn't afraid to use violence when necessary. He believes the end justifies the means, and will eliminate anyone who stands in his way. While he isn’t beyond being able to change his opinion of things, Wes usually will stick to his beliefs to the bitter end and will fight for his interpretation of what’s right (which may be jaded by Team Cipher’s torture now).

Before, Wes didn’t talk much, but he was warm and opened up to those whom he loves or cares about, such as Rui and generally children. Though he's been literally rewired not to show any signs of ‘weakness’ sometimes parts of his old self would leak through, such as patting Doc on the head like one of his Pokemon when ‘congratulating him’ for making it out of a mission alive. Generally, Wes has a soft spot for animals/Pokemon, and he despises those whom would harm them, which stems from having being a defenceless child on the streets of Orre and having raised them from scratch. Having an Umbreon and Espeon even shows this love for Pokemon/non-humans, as these two can only evolve via Happiness and having a strong bond with the trainer. Even though as XD002 will now hurt children and harmless critters if ordered to, Wes will feel immense guilt for it.

Interestingly enough, this doesn’t apply when he’s harming teenagers, since the line is blurred for Wes since he had to grow up quickly in Orre. Especially when he feels like he has been wronged, Wes will feel no remorse for beating someone up. Again, this is a jaded interpretation: Michael having a Snag Machine that wasn’t partially his arm and being ‘free’ to go wherever he likes/not be a slave to an organisation infuriated Wes, resulting him in smashing Michael’s face into the wall several times.

Wes is a mess. He’s paranoid, hateful and broken, but he’s fighting on for the wrong team. He refuses to trust himself anymore (since he failed to fight himself and killed his best friend) and will actively search for someone to be responsible for him. Cipher has made him dependent, and he loathes it.

Powers & Abilities:

• Super Strength.
• Enhanced Speed and Endurance.
• A mechanical arm (Snag Machine) that allows him to capture Pokemon (Not relevant for game) and complements his super strength.
• Level-headed and highly intelligent.
• Skilled with machines.
• Very good survival skills/basic medical education.
• Hyper Mode- which activates like in Pokemon. When Wes’ emotions ‘rise to a fever pitch’ he becomes aggressive and disobedient. Though he becomes a lot more powerful by an adrenaline rush (amongst other physiological details) He stops following orders, he may attack a team mate, or harm himself. In this state, he’ll be unable to receive medical attention as he’s violent but will be able to shrug off physical and special attacks more easily. Hyper Mode ends when his TRUE name is called or a memory is triggered, though it may end when he tires himself out.

Fears, Weaknesses:

• Paranoid: With Ardos’ betrayal, Wes is going to be paranoid of strangers. Though he has to work with Team Cipher members, anyone not wearing the uniform is dubbed an enemy and will be regarded as such.
• Dependent (emotionally): While he doesn’t trust others, ironically he’s searching for someone to be responsible for him.
• Poorly expresses any emotion other than anger: An extension of being XD002. His heart is locked, and despite being able to show himself sometimes (especially when someone treats him well), he generally is as stiff as a robot.
• Highly aggressive and dangerous: See above. Has extra emphasis during ‘Hyper Mode’.
• Stagnant with positive emotion: He displays trouble expressing it (such as patting Doc’s head instead of smiling) since he’s been discouraged from it for the last three years. He’ll probably crush a hand if taught to handshake.
• Resentful of others: Tends to bear grudges. Forgive and Forget? More like Resent and Remember, then hunt down and harm those who’ve wronged you.
• Still a human and will die to poison and a headshot if he doesn’t dodge them. Hyper Mode may slow down how fast he dies, but very, very slightly.
• Constantly guilty over causing Rui’s death and can get paralysed by remembering. He displays PTSD symptoms.