• Lance Harper
  • Harper Industries Headquarters in Goldenrod City
  • Affected RPers: @Death's Spook



---

A darkness crept upon the screen as the video began. Then a light with a soft florescent glow was turned on, revealing the face of a man known as Oliver Harper.

"Is it recording?"

"Yes," a very familiar female voice replied.

"Good. Lance, if you're watching this, then I fear the worst has happened. Giovanni has more than likely silenced us, and left you to run our company. Which if he has left, means the downfall of Harper Industries," Oliver spoke quietly but clearly. He pause to allow a woman to join him at his side.

"Giovanni held this insufferable weight on out shoulders. It was like the moment we signed with him to be our partner and primary investor, he forever held that gun to the back of our heads. My god, we were such fools. I hope you'll forgive us for all of this. We should have never trusted Giovanni," Mary Harper's words grew shakier every second. Her emotions swelled and tears formed in her eyes.

"I know this man has been like an uncle to you and Alastair. However, this man is a monster who used our company to experiment on innocent people and Pokčmon. All for knowledge on these Burst Hearts. You've already experienced the powers of these stones with Speedy, haven't you? Giovanni sought something even more powerful. An object called the Ancient Burst Heart. There were supposedly 4 ever discovered, but they disappeared from the eyes and thoughts of men. If we are truly dead, it means Giovanni has found the Ancient Burst Heart here in Johto," Oliver began to get shaky in his words, as well, "I don't know how, or what it will take, but Giovanni cannot succeed, Lance!"

"Honey, calm down. There isn't any more we can do," Mary said softly in an attempt to calm her husband.

"Mary, I can't stand being helpless like this. I'm not going to wait around for Giovanni to kill us!"

Oliver Harper stood up and stormed off screen.

"Lance, I know we've been distant these last couple years. But words could never express how much we love you, and how proud we are of the man you have become. It is my wish that you never have to see this video. That we'll grow old and watch you and your brother become great men," Mary paused, and sighed heavily.

"Lance, don't tell any of this to Alastair. He doesn't need to know that Giovanni killed his mother and father. It would devastate him more than anything else you could ever say to him. We love you, and we love Alastair. Take care of your little brother, Lance. Learn from each other and grow stronger, together. Good-bye, Son."

The video faded to black with the sounds of a woman sobbing.

---

In a dimly lit office space on the top floor of the largest skyscrapers in Johto, a young man sat in a black office chair made of genuine leather, and there he rested in a state of deep thought. Before him was a wooden desk of mahogany make. He believed it more valuable than anything else in his building. Though that proved untrue with the evidence resting upon the desk. Upon the desk set just a laptop. A standard model created by the company who owned the chair he sat in, the laptop he was using, and the desk the laptop was displayed on. The company is Harper Industries. Which, until recently, was the economical titan upon which Johto stood for years. That was until Giovanni ripped the rug from under their feet, and sent the business spiraling out of control.

Upon the screen of the laptop, a video window was displayed, it was stopped at the replay request screen. The man in the leather chair had just finished watching that video, and thus left speechless by its contents. The man in the chair wore a worn out red hooded sweater, under that you could visibly see the white t-shirt thanks to the zipper being half unzipped on the sweater. Also resting upon the desk were his new sneakers. They were black with a red trim. The laces were a dark shade of yellow to resemble the colors of Speedy, his Scizor. As such, there was a white silhouette of a Scizor embedded on the outer ankle of each shoe. His eyes were like ice as he stared into the screen of his laptop. Although slightly bloodshot from staring, his gaze never shifted. The laptop created by the company he owns. This young man is Lance Harper.

Giovanni had killed his parents, destroyed his company, and had stolen a powerful weapon that shouldn't be in the hands of human beings. Giovanni needed to be stopped. Suddenly, he felt a turning in his stomach as several thoughts rushed through his mind.

'How do I stop him? What can I do that the police couldn't? How am I supposed to carry this vendetta as well as support my region in this debilitating world war?' Lance had been pondering many questions. When answers came up, more questions surfaced. His mind was in a fog. This was all so sudden, and all too much for one young man to bear. Without his parents or his brother around, what was he going to do?

A young man sat in a dimly lit office room, pondering a great many things. His next step would be the greatest step he would ever have to take. He needed to be cautious with it.

[OoC: Giovanni doesn't actually have the Ancient Burst Heart, it is simply assumed by Lance that he does have it. However, if the rest of you don't mind it.. =P]