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Thankfully he'd written the occasion in his planner, talked to the General King about it, and had spent the week scoping out a good trail to gather energy gone that didn't look like it should give any trouble. That was more than three reminding instances, so he didn't forget or make a mistake. Titan transformed and headed to the meeting park early even- if they were meeting as brothers for a night, he didn't want to be late. He brought a worn messenger bag, an oldish one he'd picked up from an army-navy surplus, and he'd packed a couple of sparkling waters and a six-carrier of gourmet cupcakes from anna's shop. It was more companionable, almost picnic-like, that way.

So he waited beneath a tree, his back to the trunk, looking out at the rippling moonpath over the lake and feeling out around himself for any suspicious approaches. He was vaguely worried if it proved an ambush, but confident that he had good chances of getting away if it was.

On feeling the sailor's approach, but no other signatures and no other bodies evident in the area, Titan relaxed and didn't regret the cupcakes. "We go about the business of collecting energy. You'll act in part as lookout, since you cannot actually gather energy, otherwise I would suggest we alternate. "

"If anyone gives us trouble, we can shoo them off."

"You can ask any more questions you have as we go. I did talk to Konge Zinkenite about you. He was not angry, he seemed glad and excited. He said that only one of the Konge could help you to kneel to become a vassal, but he seemed willing to see about that if you were serious about wanting to protect Earth's interest."

"I also brought some snacks. I didn't know if you had food problems, so there is a variety. Some are...'vegan', some are normal. There's one that has no gluten, whatever that means, too. Cupcakes. They're all good though, even if some of them had strange ingredients. And there's water for if we get thirsty." Titan motioned to the bag on his hip. "Well, we can start?"

He started into a slow walk, more towards the city.

"I checked earlier in the week what sorts of targets are in this area that are viable. There's a park ranger stand not far, and only one keeps watch at night. He will make a good target for energy- it gives a purpose to his job that he will be 'assaulted', but no real damage. Maybe he'll even get a pay raise. Then towards town more there's usually a woman that walks her dog in the evening at twilight. The dog can keep watch over her until she wakes up. Those two should be enough for one evening."

"It's a bit of walking, but that is no trouble. It is good exercise, ja?"

"You went to your home, then? I imagine it was not a comforting sight."

" A whole organization that does what I do, ja. I think others go about it different ways. Some only take energy from criminals, I have heard. I cannot speak for everyone. I do try to plan out my route and from who I take energy. I don't like to take from the same person too often, and I would rather it not interfere with them or at least not hurt them over much. "

"It would be nice to not have to at all, but that is impractical. Humans can't fight magic, not on their own. Not regular humans. I think of it like any military- some sacrifice is made that regular people can be protected. "

Listening to Avior describe his homeland was given due quiet and respect. After Pomona's words that all the senshi worlds were ruined, it wasn't that surprising that it was bad. It was surprising that so much or so crisp an image was left behind after what must have been decades at least. It begged the wondering of what happened to them all and when. It was sad that it made a return to their own worlds impractical- they'd be alone. Sitting alone on a whole world sounded lonely and pointless unless one was planning on being a monk.

"Not much of a homecoming. "
"Unless you're a scientist, anyway. Maybe the history of ruin is fascinating instead of sad to scientists or photographers. "

"But your are considering here as your home, right? So it does not have to consume you." They were getting closer and closer to the Ranger station. It was visible on a little knoll not far away- constructed of log facing and some largish windows to allow the occupants clear views if they weren't out on immediate walkabout. The windows were glowing incandescent warm in the fading light, and the pickup truck outside signaled that the shift change had already happened and the single night watchman was at his post. He was probably looking over the day's paperwork and reports, possibly filing them appropriately before stepping out to take watershed readings or some such.

"I haven't met any of our senshi, really. I know they are around, and I am glad of it. " For someone so lost not a week ago, staring out at a lake and contemplating whatever it was nobles contemplated, it was curious that Avior thought he should be counseling anyone about how to do their job, let alone some negasushi named Vespa. Vespa would have already had clear orders and objectives to be acting on. Or should have, if the handlers were doing their job in getting the poor thing acclimated.

He didn't get the Vespa on a Vespa joke, which was sad. So small, the little scooters were out of his reckoning for familiarity as much as most cars were.

The passive accusatory implications of the events Avior continued on to describe, however, were not lost on Titan. The little scout was actually blaming an enemy in a war for attacking him, completely disregarding that it was a war in the first place. It was like a noble to do that. "Another solution?"

He wasn't sure what that even meant or what it would lead to, so the best option was to ask directly. Titan slowed to a stop near the edge of the parking lot next to the ranger's station. "What have you decided on?"

Titan's mouth curled up in a half-smile, looking down at the smaller guy as he blurted out his admission. A leader? Well, that was going a little far. It took more than assertion and kindness to lead- it took intelligence and reasoning skills, not to mention the ability and willingness to manipulate where needed. Leading was politics, an arena he was ill suited for. At least in any politics he knew.

"That is very kind of you to say, and I am...honored. It is glad regard, from so high source. I woudl rather be feared because I stood for something and stood by it well and solid, not because I was unpredictable and violent. Violence and aggression ...they are necessary in an imperfect world like ours, with imperfect people. They are not a solid way to rule."

That led to revolts of nobles and peasants alike in most cases, too much death, destruction, famine and plague. He didn't want to see that on Earth or anywhere else. Fighting was one thing, Armageddon was another. " The Dark Mirror Court.."

He knew them mostly from the announcement that they were no longer in formal alliance. "I can't speak to their goals, but they were our allies. I don't know how well they get along, either. 'Always', 'everyone', 'never'- words that speak of totals are very dangerous to use for anything, especially people. "

"But if they are your goal, I do not think it bad. Finding a home on a planet somewhere, with others of your kind, it is not a bad idea. If you feel more at home there than here, it is a good idea. " He couldn't help but wonder if that played into the end of the alliance, though. While the goal of getting the senshi off planet was part of the Negaverse ideal as he understood it, letting senshi compete in harvest of energy to achieve that ideal was still competition of resources. Energy of Earth still lost to senshi and to their offworld concerns when they should be finding energy on their own worlds if they needed it so badly. Or making a treaty for it. Or something. Resources were tricky and that was back to politics again.

It was something to cross reference, though. Avior was a noble, but not a very clued-in or high ranked one. His information could be as spotty as Titan's own.

" I am glad to hear you have a direction. Though it seems you made this decision already before tonight. If you are joining them, we at least won't be enemies, but that doesn't mean we would be working together that you would need this experience from the Negaverse. Would you rather we just had the cupcakes? If you are spending time out, learning to energy drain as a shadow, training with your to-be-brothers of that court would be better time."

If it had been just going out with him to earn information or something else, Titan would have considered the whole ordeal under the umbrella heading of 'd**k move, dude', but it seemed plain it was out of a hope for something else. The compliments and high regard, mixed with the admission that he didn't believe himself a leader felt familiar. Too familiar.

"Two knights may meet in a wood, and travel together for a time on the same road, even if their paths are different out of the trees. Our people may not be political allies now, " Titan shrugged, "But they have not forbidden working together either. I think we can still help each other."

He motioned with his head towards the Ranger station, "First target then. I don't like to sneak, and just barging in at night is a good way to get shot when someone has a gun. "

"Let's put working together into it. I will hide beside the door, you knock on it and act as if you need help- someone in the park is hurt and you need him to follow. I'll catch him up when he comes out through the door. He won't be going for his gun, so we'll both be safe."

"Come on."

The ranger came to the door quickly, the slide and hurried collapse of a chair on the floor audible. There was a brief check at the door, maybe a look through a peep hole- but the presence of Avior as a worried looking youth was proof positive to the voice a moment before. The door opened, and the man took the step out starting, "Calm down, sir. Now what's this-"

No doubt going to ask for specifics about the situation and rescue, so that he could guess what course to take- how much of a med kit, what emergency services to call and where to direct them. The ranger didn't get a chance- Titan's hammered-fist first jogged the man hard on the head and disoriented him. The park authority fell to his knees, reeling and reaching instinctually for his side arm, but he didn't have powered-speed. The Negaverse Lieutenant grabbed the gloved hands away by the wrists and lifted the man clean off the ground by them.

"This way he can only kick, which isn't so bad, " He reassured Avior. It allowed direct contact to drain the ranger as well. "If you could throw his radio and slide his gun back through the door and close it? We can put him in his car once this is done. " It put the two objects out of reach just in case. This was so much easier with two people and extra arms!

"Too much taken kills. It is no good. Just enough and they'll wake up later tired. " It would be important information for the senshi if he was serious about joining the mirror court. "You'll be doing this once you are converted. They use wraiths instead of their hands. I don't know quite how that works."