Given Name: Identification number CP-S542-SU12 (Colosseum Pokemonis, Species #542 Leavanny, surgeon number 12). Laboratory workers have (not affectionately) given him nicknames like 'Jack the Ripper', 'Edward Scissorhands', and most popularly, 'Dr. Knives'.
Gender: Male, although he has very little interest in romance or gender except from a medical point of view.
Species: Leavanny.
Age: 4 years, but already fully mature due to his Bug-type nature and accelerated growth. Leavanny lifespans are fairly long compared to some other Bug-types, though, and he will probably make it into his teens without intervention.
Owner: A Colosseum Laboratory scientist named Professor Twitch cloned Dr. Knives for surgery work. Twitch views Knives as a tool to be used until discarded, and believes that ethics of treatment only apply to humans. Although not cruel or abusive by nature, Professor Twitch cares nothing for Knives and treats him as he would an inferior or slave, although the demented psychology of the Leavanny means that he requires no punishment or pressure to make him do what he's meant to. Dr. Knives follows Twitch's orders, but due to the nature of his 'employment', he is often given free rein on operations, so long as he accomplishes his goal. Knives treats Twitch with the same dull indifference as he treats most other beings.
Appearance: For a Leavanny, Dr. Knives is slightly taller than most, and fairly strong. Genetically he is a perfect physical specimen of his species, with no deformities in his exoskeleton, good eyesight and limb coordination, perfect balance, an agile form and no minor variations other than his height. In terms of usual appearance, though, he is a strange and frightening Pokemon. The leaves that adorn his body are slightly yellowed and dried from the lack of sunlight and long amounts of time spent in the laboratories, where the air is sterile but strange chemicals still leak out into the air vents. He sometimes wears human-like white surgeon's garb, if only for the purpose of blending in, and is commonly seen wearing a face-mask to cover his mouth. Dr. Knives is often seen with evidence of blood on his blade-like hands, and he usually folds these mantis-like into his forearms, his stance giving the false impression that he is about to lash out. He looks at others with an analysing stare, looking at them as living bodies instead of people/Pokemon.
Personality: Dr. Knives is a twisted and intimidating parody of what a Leavanny would usually be. He looks at the world with a subdued universal hatred of everything, and has never been seen showing the emotion of love to anyone. He is not emotionless, however, and does love one thing- His task as a surgeon. Dr. Knives isn't deliberately cruel or sadistic, but enjoys the complex and very subtle work involved in opening up other Pokemon, patching them up and sewing them together again. He fears very little and has no concept of self-preservation, knowing deep down that death would be a blessing to a freak of nature as perverse as him, but he also follows Human orders blindly, and has been instructed and trained to defend himself in the case of danger. However, he will only follow direct commands and will do as he likes outside of them. He cares nothing for what other Pokemon think of him. The conditions of his creation traumatised him deeply, and though he remembers little of it, he is plagued by night terrors and his mental stability is slowly degrading.
Bio: CP-S542-SU12 is the result of one damaging Human decision after the next. He was cloned, not born, created out of carefully selected Sewaddle genes. The immediate lack of social contact with other Pokemon after creation left Dr. Knives highly vulnerable, as his type of Pokemon is by nature a highly social keystone species. After creation he was forced into a growth-acceleration program, and though it transformed him from a vulnerable newborn to a physically healthy and strong Swadloon, it turned his larvaehood into a confused and terrified nightmare. The evolution to a Leavanny was more complicated, though, as Swadloon normally leave their chrysalis stage when their brains have produced enough of a hormone only produced when they are safe, well-nourished and around companions*, to ensure that they evolve in plentiful conditions. The researchers instead synthesised this hormone and injected Dr. Knives with a solution. Though he evolved without trouble, he had done so without going through the mental growth he would have underwent naturally. He was trained and conditioned as a Leavanny for almost two years after his traumatic evolutions, turning him into the Dr. Knives alive today, but not doing anything to heal his damaged mind.
Occupation: After a few early years, the Colosseum began to realise that it had a problem in repairing damaged gladiators. Some of the Arena Pokemon often did not respond very well to mechanical and Human healing, and Gladiators could lash out in pain. Healing through the moves of Pokemon like Audino and Blissey was possible, but could conflict with the alterations and plans of the Game Masters, as the move itself only provides energy and material for the casualty's body to repair itself naturally. Regeneration via sending Pokemon into a pure-energy storage state held it's own risks. The Colosseum needed to be able to perform various operations through old-fashioned surgery, and certain species of Pokemon were chosen for the task, as they could communicate with their patients and the Gladiator bodies reacted much better to their influence. Dr. Knives is the most successful of a line of such Pokemon, and was cloned and trained specifically for the task. He is often allowed to wander the complex under the Arena to observe potential patients and for the Gladiators to get used to his presence, although mutual trust is very unlikely.
Primary Moveset:
- String Shot
- Electroweb
- False Swipe
- GrassWhistle
Secondary Moveset:
- Leaf Blade
- X-Scissor
- Frustration
- Swords Dance
- Agility
- Baton Pass
- Helping Hand
Combat style: Although combat isn't his specialty, and probably never will be, Dr. Knives certainly isn't useless in combat. Though his primary moveset is filled with utility moves for his occupation, his secondary list of techniques are all for offensive purposes. His speed, grace and lethal blades can let him dance in and out of an opponent's reach, striking them with slashing moves and increasing his capabilities between blows. His knowledge of Pokemon anatomy lets him target vital organs and muscles and destroy them efficiently with a well-timed slash or kick. Several of his combat moves, however, are moves to aid other, more skilled fighters. Using Helping Hand and Baton Pass to allow other combatants to deal much higher amounts of damage, he can when necessary be a much better supporter than a fighter.
Quote: "Don't struggle. It makes it harder to operate."
Theme Song: Melancholy and slightly creepy.
*In-game Happiness.