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Cadet Lysanna

The Commodore had expressed interest that members of the Vanguard check out this stranger who called himself Almadel. Apparently not much was known about him. Lysanna took this as an opportunity to involve herself in the mission to find out what was going on. It would also give the cadet a chance to meet more people while in a different setting. Upon arrival to the hill top where folk were supposed to gather Lysanna could so far only see one other member of the Vanguard. Her fingers flicked with uncertainty against the side of her little axe before she took a deep breath and exhaled softly. The order from the Commodore also included further instructions to watch out for other members of the Vanguard and to avoid engaging in conflict. The last instruction, well, Lys figured it wouldn't have mattered as she was still new to the group.

One more breath in and with a slow release of the breath Lysanna moved to stand slightly behind the other member of her group before she noted the insignia on their uniform before giving a polite nod in the Commander's direction.

She would respect the hierarchy here which meant that in the Commodore's absence, Commander Vyn would call all the shots. Her voice was soft as she addressed Vyn before opening up the screen function of her Comtech, "good evening Commander Vyn. Cadet Lysanna checking in. Do you need assistance with this mission?"

Nectaris, Knight of the Moon

Almadel was Nectaris' friend, but that wasn't really a surprise. Pretty much everyone who Nectaris ran into she tried to make friends with, at least as long as they weren't completely awful, or maybe if they were loyal Negaverse agents who were trying to kill her.

Almadel was more than just her friend, though. He was also her client. They had a business relationship where they trusted each other, and he brought her shiny things, and also she'd spent like 20 to 30 hours last year making him a custom jewelry piece out of materials from multiple places in the solar system. Yeah, there was absolutely no way that she was letting her art get eaten by space bugs.

So, of course she showed up.

She was ignoring all of the terrible-people-slash-loyal agents in the vicinity, who she was really hoping were gonna play nice for the sake of rewards, and instead she was standing next to her brothers while she listened to Almadel describe his problems.

"He's trying really hard to make it sound like it isn't gonna be that bad, isn't he?" she asked them. "Acid spit? Why do I get the feeling that this is gonna be totally disgusting?"

Eternal Chariklo
It had been a hot minute since Chariklo had last ventured out to respond to a weird alien’s request for help. But the kids were sound asleep, Angus was keeping an eye on the home front and well… why not? She’d missed this while they’d been overseas. Sure, both had still ventured up to their own little places, but it just wasn’t the same as this. Though she hoped this Almadel could run a meeting better than the White Moon as a whole.

Glancing around, she spotted a familiar face and wove through those that’d gathered to get to Ida. She would have scooped the smaller woman into a bear hug, but felt that she should probably make her presence known first. Didn’t want to induce heart attacks or start an accidental intergalactic incident, after all.

“Well, you're a sight for sore eyes! Get over here and lemme look at you, girl!”

The rest of the world could wait a moment while she caught up with her friend. Besides, people were still questioning the merchant and discussing what he’d told them.

Nis Squire
Nis had come a few minutes early, and simply stood waiting for Almadel to show up. And when he did, she made sure she was standing nearby. And when he started performing tricks, she wanted to scream at him to get on with it, but knew better. Almadel would do as he did and nothing she said would ever change that. Besides, she had to admit the tricks were amusing enough. And it was something of a relief to see that her sort of friend wasn’t hurt.

But once the appointed time came and he began to talk, it took everything in her body to not leap at him and start violently shaking. Museum! He had a gods damned MUSEUM?!? That he’d never once mentioned to her? Even though he’d clearly picked up on her love for antiquities? Oh, once this little mess of his was cleared up, she was going to give him an earful…

But as he spoke, she became more and more concerned. These kosopods sounded terrible. Even with all these people, would it be enough? Almadel seemed to think so, but who could say for certain? Oh yeah, once this was settled, she would be having Words.

Corrupt Ilmare
Already, Ilmare was regretting volunteering for this mission. She’d wanted to improve her image within the ranks and an information gathering job had sounded perfect. No fighting, just watch and listen. Both things Ilmare could do and do well. And an actual, real life alien was involved! And he had a museum out in space! These were all things that she would normally find delightful. Except he started talking about big bugs that were eating his museum and the corrupt suddenly felt very small and weak. She couldn’t back out now, but she hoped that the situation wasn’t really as bad as she was hearing.

Well, the best thing she could do would be to stick near a general or one of the higher ranked senshi or knights. And then, all she could do was her best and hope that she didn’t end up being bug food too.

Eternal Bestla
Trailing behind Chariklo, Bestla noted that overall, the group that had gathered for this weird mission seemed a fairly good mix. She couldn’t approve of the Chaos agents being there, of course, but had to admit that they had weapons which would be useful against bugs. From a strategic standpoint, it made sense.

That didn’t mean she had to like it. And at least there were a few transcendent senshi around. She didn’t think the Negaverse would be able to pull any nasty little tricks.

So in the meantime, she would watch them and do her best to help keep people safe. And they’d be in space, somewhere new and that was certainly a silver lining. She did love space.

Brushing her hair away from her scarred eye, she wished that it had healed better, but had learned to work around her handicap. She was vaguely aware of Chariklo greeting another senshi, but stood back. Her job was to help kill weird space bugs and keep her BFF’s wife safe.

Eternal Sailor Cybele

For all that Cybele was the Senshi of the Hunt, and for all that she hunted both youma and edible animals on a regular basis, she'd never had someone offer her a reward for coming to hunt something for them before. She'd been intrigued by the offer.

It was the others who had accepted the offer who had her somewhere between curious and concerned. There were Velencyans around. She hadn't seen any of them in a while, now.

She was also, she was fairly certain, in the presence of General-King Jet.

That was something to be aware of, although she was careful not to stare. Instead, she made sure to stand close to the two who had agreed to come out here with her, and she kept a close watch on them. Steins she mostly knew from sipping tea together, or fro cutting flowers in her greenhouse. She hoped that the training they'd done together would help her be ready to face off against some bugs. Hierapolis she was just happy to spend more time with, since he was always so busy, and the fact that he wore her colors made her feel a bit protective over him.

"Is it bad that I'm a bit curious what they taste like?" she asked the two.

Coco, White moon guardian cat, Human form, X

Coco smiled and she couldn't help but laugh and she said "Well you have the wise mentor thing down packed." She titled her head to the side and asked "How are we more powerful together? Besides, I guess more lasers to shoot at the target but that isn't all that great, maybe brainstorming how to fix a problem." She pondered what the older guardian cat meant by the moment. She was certainly glad to not be the only guardian cat who had answered the call, but hey if she could learn more stuff she was glad to learn.

Eternal Sailor Alastor

On one hand, Alastor hated Almadel. There was no logical, respectable reason for him to have ever had Percy’s necklace.

On the other hand, Michael had needed it and Almadel had gotten it to him.

Would he have found it sooner if Almadel had not meddled? Maybe.

Was Alastor upset with how things had worked out?

No.

It just bothered him to think that someone–anyone–had broken in, snooped around, and taken something so important.

Alastor was visibly unimpressed with the current state of things but he was reserved enough about it because they were surrounded by Chaos.

There were more important things to focus on than demanding answers. Like staying alive. And making sure everyone else stayed alive.

Though he stood by Sessrumnir, he was glad that the boys were somewhere else. Sessrumnir could take care of himself even if he had earned the attention of two agents. He’d heard enough about Jet and Aquamarine to know them, and to know Sessrumnir’s history with them.

‘Don’t let them rile you up,’ he said to Sessrumnir, though found it hypocritical to say as much when he found it very easy to imagine snapping their necks. Yes, the Negaverse could teleport, yes, they had weapons, yes, they could pull starseeds.

But they could also die.

‘They’re here for something. Don’t let them make you emotional so they can catch you off guard.’

Maybe, after they figured out whatever Almadel wanted, things would change. But here, now? Any altercation was guaranteed to get someone hurt, badly.

It wasn’t fair to drag in anyone who signed up to hunt bugs in a museum.

In the distance, but not so far away, he heard Oberon’s voice. There were some good questions. Alastor watch Almadel and listened for the answers, but he never really took his attention away from Aquamarine or Jet.

Sunshine Alouette

Proximity to Aqua!

Guine

“Oh, dear. I meant no offense, of course,” Almadel was quick to assure Oberon. “I understand that things probably seem much more black and white to you all on Earth, but truely, I would not ask if I had any other choice. Besides, when you’ve seen as much as I have, sometimes you have to look at the bigger picture. Not that I mean to be vague.”

Or rather, not that he was avoiding answering Chalcanthite’s question about what numbers they had to deal with.

“It’s just–don’t you ever stop and think about how small Earth is and how big the universe is? I might cause a bit of trouble, here and there, but let’s not catastrophize it! I would never inconvenience any of you on purpose, much less put you in any real danger. I’m very fond of Earth. But, that being said–yes, I really am desperate.”

That was honest, at least.

“I may not always have the best ideas but I have the best intentions. Everything in life is transactional. I know you have your differences here, and naturally I would not ask anyone to help me if it did not align with their personal morals. Sometimes, however, I think goals align regardless of our allegiances. If it’s important enough, you make sacrifices, don’t you? And, well. I just happen to think that it might also be beneficial to have a friend who might, say, be able to give you a heads up if he hears rumblings in some deep corner he knows you can’t reach.”

Almadel seemed to bear no hard feelings but he was something of a showman, anyway. He wouldn’t let something rile him up in front of an audience. It would be bad for business.

“But I wouldn’t be able to visit Earth so often if I have to rebuild and restore my collection. Which is a shame, because I have so much to fill you in on. But that will have to wait, of course.”

He maneuvered the string of stars between his fingers, and it looked as if he were plotting some course or selecting some path.

Finally, he returned to Chalcanthite’s question, though not without first giving Fafnir a disparaging look. “It’s probably no more than a few dozen. I tried to lure them out with bait but I’ve run out. Really, I have done the best that I can do. I don’t like to ask for favors. I don’t like being in debt. Naturally I’ll repay you for this hardship. I’ve never skimped, there’s plenty of you among this crowd that can vouch for me. I think I’ve been very generous, even.”

For Ekstrom, he reassured, “You have no Kosopods on Earth, that I can tell. The pods last year–I don’t suppose you’ve found anymore this year? No? Well, let me know if you do–are not a species I am intimately familiar with. Kosopods are much more of a widespread, universal creature. Your little buggies are far more rare.”

He caught Nis’ gaze and flashed a smile, undaunted by her daggers but appreciative of her concern. Back to Fafnir’s question–and perhaps one of his favorites, given that he got to talk about his museum. “The layout of my museum is phenomenal, really. It’s safe guarded to protect from external threats. I have a lot of treasures there. Some things are a bit more dangerous than others. So please be mindful when we go up. I’ve already isolated the rooms that are at risk. Much of the museum is already closed off and secure. Only one wing is completely vulnerable, and a few smaller rooms as well. I’ve got them all marked out on a map up there, it’ll be easier to let you see what we’re working with. I’ll have to give you the grand tour one day. After I’ve cleaned everything up.”

His tail twitched behind him but he smiled again.

“Assuming it’s still safe to travel, of course.”

Reims, Squire of Ganymede

Part of him wondered if he should even be there. His arm was still painful, although he was grateful for the quickened rate of healing he seemed to have as a knight. Injuries like what he currently had would have lasted a lot longer, prior to getting a magical name and identity.

Still, Reims was careful not to do anything to injure himself further. Which would make it difficult if he had to fight. Maybe it would be good for him to practice swinging with his non-dominant arm. He could always be a switch hitter for the team if he got good enough at it.

Reims saw Amarynthos and Ephesus, but it looked like they were already talking to someone else. A Page in blue that he didn’t know, and he didn’t want to know. He was already feeling cranky about there being so many Chaos people there. He wasn’t really in the mood to make new friends. He just wanted to find out what was going on, and make sure these strange insects didn’t make it to Earth.

So he held back, farther away from the crowd but close enough to make sure he knew what was going on, and if there was anything he could do to help.