Welcome to Gaia! ::

Pulling his coat tighter about himself the dark haired teen snuggled into the warmth it provided. Under the coat was a hoodie, black with little white stars scattered about it, and under that a t-shirt was worn. He wasn't one who believed in layers but he did believe in warmth and comfort; and layering equaled those two things just by chance. He was out to meet up with Tsui, for what he didn't know, he hadn't really stated when he'd sent her a message asking to meet. He'd just wanted to see someone familiar and he'd needed to get out of the house.

His mother was out working a shift at the hospital, he would never hold that against her, and his father had gotten home late so wasn't as drunk as he normally would be. It had been the crash, the first one, which had brought him away from his computer screen and brought him downstairs, albeit tentatively, but his father not being nearly so drunk had heard him and turned and lashed out at him. The man ha thrown things, he'd done that for a while now, and only recently and on rare occasion has he thrown something at his own son. Tonight however he's struck out with a fist and knocked his son over. The ranting and raving wasn't all directed at him, though some of it was, as he'd shouted about him not helping by getting a job and how all he did was shuffle about the house and go to school - as if he needed it. Why couldn't he just go out and get a manual job and contribute to the house. Why it had become about money he didn't know, he didn't know of his fathers financial burden as the man never had mentioned it where he could hear, so the comments had caught him by surprise. It had been an accident, a sudden loosening of lips, that had him responding to his father. He hadn't shouted, when did he ever? But the man had struck him across the face and shouted at him, he hadn't heard what as shock over being struck had filled him.

He'd not been able to escape immediately but the moment an opportunity had risen he'd snatched it and taken off up to his room to yank on clothing before throwing his window open and he'd climbed down the tree outside his window. The landing hadn't been the most painless, it was jarring and hurt a bit, but he couldn't remain home. His cell phone in hand and henshin pen in the other. He'd powered up, briefly, as he'd left his tiny backyard and came up between the townhouse he lived in and the neighbors, and summoned his senshi phone and sent out a message to someone he knew...someone he hoped would meet him and not ask questions - he had his fingers crossed. He couldn't go to his civilian friends - they would ask questions. Tsui might, and hopefully, would think it was some battle or fight and not ask. As he'd sent out the message, not bothering to wait for a return message, he'd powered down before stepping out from the alleyway between the houses, where the garbage cans were brought for collection, and headed on his way.

His hands sunk into his pockets as he gripped his henshin pen and phone tightly as he headed for where he'd requested her to meet him. His feet shuffling more than stepping as he headed for the city library. The library would be closed but it was a big place and one which everyone knew the location of. So he'd picked the place out of need and not being able to think of anywhere else, his mind running too quickly for him to calmly think. What was he going to tell his mother? She'd see? His face was red and surely bruised, it felt like it, and he was sure that either way the mark was distinctly that of a hand print. Toying with one of his lip piercings, a nervous habit, he felt his fingers twitch around his henshin pen as he worried himself to the point of feeling slightly ill.

As the library came into sight he looked around quickly hoping to see a familiar figure - he hoped she was already here. He needed someone and he had reached out...would she come? She wouldn't abandon him...right? She was an allie and a friend...right?

Was she coming? He didn't see her and he hoped she was coming, that she had gotten his message, and wasn't being held up. He didn't think Tsui the sort to leave him but she could be held up by something. For a moment he thought about pulling out his senshi phone before remember he wasn't powered up and that he needed to be in order to retrieve that particular phone. Maybe that was why? Maybe she was here and powered up and just didn't see/sense him...

He hadn't wanted to come here, all the way from his home, powered up as he wanted to avoid detection by those who served chaos. He had more than enough to night in the way of violence and didn't wish to partake any further. But if she was here, or on the way, he should be safe. That in mind he ducked behind a group of trees used for decoration, they made better hide behind objects than decorations, and powered up.

Standing there powered up, leaning his back against the rough bark of a rather large tree, he sighed as he glanced around the trees trunk and out toward the steps and the road beyond. He could sense chaos...and order. Was that Tsui he could sense? And if so who owned those two chaos signatures he sensed? Because they were getting closer also.

Benitoite wasn't the only one that felt the Order aura(s), as Vespa couldn't help but break formation to look around them. They were definitely senshi of the White Moon Court, and one of which felt powerful, causing Vespa to twitch before looking back at the general. Others may have taken his words as a request but Vespa saw it as an order and immediately saluted, before following after Benitoite. "Yes, sir! I feel them too… they won't escape us, General. I promise!"

Though he all but towered over the General, he remained as obedient and subservient as possible, completely forgetting for a moment which general he was talking to. General Mica would have expected him to walk in perfect rhythm and address her as 'ma'am' or 'general', but Benitoite he knew to be different, yet he addressed him in the same manner. Somethings just came out as habit, he figured.

He was surprised to hear Benitoite's concern and he did little to hide it as he followed after him. "I'm doing alright, sir. You don't need to worry about me… I promised you and General Mica that I'd become stronger, and I'm going to show you tonight! I refuse to let either of you, nor the Negaverse down."

Now there were two Chaos energy signatures, unique in their own way but worth investigating nevertheless. One was a senshi, and the other was an officer, definitely a high ranking one too, which meant she had a general on her hands. And Tsui couldn't help but flash a grin as she chased after the signatures, unable to resist the thrill of the incoming fight, despite how wrong it might have been for her to look forward to a confrontation. Despite the bandages that still decorated her leg from an earlier ordeal, despite the fact that she had told Chaldene that she'd meet him soon, she couldn't allow the Chaos duo to go unnoticed, and the Tiger senshi gave chase.

Halfway through her chase she felt the Order aura and it was clear that whoever that aura belonged to was their target. That only made her double her speed, running through the trees and she made a bee-line for the Order signature. To her luck, she spotted Chaldene, and she came to a skidding halt, kicking snow and pine needles in her wake and actually resorting to grabbing a low-lying branch to stop herself. "Hey! Chaldene! Looks like I'm arriving just in time for the party… you ready for a fight?"

She knew he wasn't the type to want to engage in a fight and the fact was still present in her mind, even as she was preparing herself for a throw down. Still, with the two Chaos orders rapidly approaching, Tsui figured that Chaldene's window to escape was rapidly closing, and she figured she'd try to offer him the option even when she stood in a defensive pose. "If not, then I recommend looking for a good place to hide. I think I can handle this…"

As the signatures of chaos grew closer he could feel his nerves setting in as he glanced about. This didn't feel good - not good at all. A general...and something and he didn't like it. Memories of almost being thrown off a roof top flashed in his mind as the panic took hold. Frozen in place he wondered what it would be like to die, surely if a General was headed his way he didn't stand a chance, and thought of his poor mother. He'd be found in the morning, maybe tonight, and she'd be notified. He didn't worry about how his father would take it, the man would just crawl right into his bottle of booze and that would be that, his mother would care though. Thinking of his father and the man drinking reminded him of why he was here tonight. Reaching a hand up to touch his bruised cheek just as the owner of that order signature became known to him.

"Ummm...n-no?" He questioned as he dropped his hand and stared at her. He was both happy to see her and also scared. This meant a fight for certain and he wasn't ready for one; he'd come here powered down in order to avoid a fight!

"I-I can't leave you here though..." No, no he couldn't. Not when she was preparing to handle the fight on her own because he couldn't and wouldn't. "I-I'll help...I can't leave you here." Shaking his head he turned and flashed her a very nervous smile. "I need to talk to you...when this is over...please?" He asked hopeful as he looked at her, green eyes pleading.

The difference between the general Benitoite and Mica were as clear as night and day, and yet as relieved as Vespa was to have been in the presence of someone that genuinely welcomed his presence, he still felt completely out of his element. He tried to keep this all to himself as he suspected that the general wouldn't approve of it and would tell him to relax, but that'd be like telling a cat to not chase a laser pointer. It was just in his nature!

For example, Benitoite's request felt more like a reprimand to Vespa, and he couldn't stop himself from muttering aloud, apologizing and then immediately apologizing for apologizing. "I'm sorry, Gen- I mean, Benitoite. It's just that… I'm not used to the idea of the Negaverse being family. Everyone else I've spoken with gives me the impression that we're more militaristic and that officers, especially general-kings, queens, and generals themselves, should be treated with the utmost respect. But I'll try to remember to call you Benitoite…"

In regards to the questioning of his physical condition, he replied with earnest, though he made sure to keep the details to himself. He didn't want there to be any problems between Benitoite and Mica, especially if she'd follow up on her promise for 'retaliation', and worse than that, he didn't want to reveal the true details of his miraculous recovery. "Never felt better, si-I mean, Benitoite! And I don't care for rank. An enemy is an enemy… I don't have the luxury to back off of an enemy no matter what the rank. The fate of Earth doesn't allow for that…"

In truth, Eternals never stopped him before… he simply hoped that the Eternal wasn't the one he fought his own shade with. He'd take any Eternal senshi instead of her right now...

Tsui might not have been the sharpest tool in the crayon box, but she could tell that something was definitely on Chaldene's mind. The first and foremost of clues to this was just how skittish he appeared, and the way he covered his cheek was certainly off putting. Why was he covering his cheek and what did he feel he needed to hide it? However, his honesty took her by surprise the most, and for a brief moment, she was more worried for her friend's state of mind that she was for the two approaching Chaos officers, as she turned to him completely. "Hey, Chaldene, you alright?"

She remembered him being reluctant to fight but knew him to be willing when there was no choice, but there was something definitely wrong here and it was driving her nuts not knowing what it was. The two Chaos signatures were practically upon them now, but her attention was turned to Chaldene, which gave the black and yellow senshi the perfect opening to lay the first punch. "Don't worry, then… I'm not going anywhere that you're not, okay? The moment we're done here, we're going to have all the time to talk ok-AUGH!"

Tsui took the punch straight to the face, throwing the Tiger senshi back despite the difference in rank, and just like that, the fight had started!

'Like a family?' Vespa thought to himself, admittedly hopeful that what he said was true, even when he had seen very little family dynamics within the Negaverse. Maybe it was just because of the ones he had been interacting with that left this confused feeling within him. Mica, Buddingtonite, and so many others... never gave him that feeling, but when Benitoite said it, he could feel himself believing it. He wanted so desperately to be a part of that family, so tonight, for Benitoite, he'd do his best!

Vespa had tried to keep everything that Benitoite said in mind as he made his assault. He knew that one of the enemy was at a rank higher than him and thus would have made him or her an Eternal, but that didn't stop Vespa from his assault, nor would he hold anything back. When his fist collided with Tsui's face, he couldn't help but think of just how proud Benitoite would be, though his warning, admittedly, fell on deaf ears. He knew nothing about this senshi nor the history she had with the general, and even if he did, it was likely that he'd still throw caution to the wind. This was the enemy. They couldn't afford to be careful!

Vespa charged in for another punch, giving a shrilled battle cry as he aimed for Tsui's face.

Whatever heavy thoughts were occupying Chaldene's mind was forced to the back of Tsui's mind thanks to the punch, and had she not seen Benitoite in the short distance, Tsui might have taken a moment to laugh at herself for letting the other senshi get the jump on her. However, of all senshi, Tsui knew better than to leave Benitoite unchecked, and the concern she heard from her friend made it easy for her to decide how best to split their forces. Vespa was coming in for another punch, but this time, the Tiger senshi was able to dodge the strike and managed to twist around, lifting a leg and sweeping the ankles, sending the other crashing to the ground, right at Chaldene's feet.

"I'm alright- all my teeth are here. You can handle this guy, right?" Tsui asked the question but never really stuck around to hear the answer. She was aware she was sending a super rank against Chaldene, but that was far better than allowing him to try and take on Benitoite on his own, and the moment Vespa was out of her way, she turned her attention to the general, seeing his spear out and knowing that it'd be thirsting for her blood real soon. Not that she blamed him now, but she couldn't let that drag her down. Once again, it wasn't just her life on the line, but Chaldene's, and she wouldn't allow anyone to harm him. She fought back the memories of their last encounter and the hours she spent on her home planet, sobbing at what she had realized, though one could hear the slight hesitation in her voice as she addressed the general. "Alright, since I know there's nothing I could say or do to talk you out of a fight. You ready?"

It was certainly an embarrassing turn of events for Vespa, though he wasn't quite sure if it could have been considered a new record for just how quickly he had made a fool of himself in battle. He should have known better to attack the Eternal, and he'd pay the price as she sent him tumbling over, right at the feet of the other senshi. Perhaps that was for the best, as this one seemed considerably weaker, both in strength and in resolve, or so Vespa thought.

With the Eternal senshi's attention on the general, that left Vespa to take on the other one, and the Wasp senshi pushed himself to his feet, trying to act as if he hadn't just been kicked and sent tumbling forward. At Chaldene's words, he spat, tightening his fists and going for a strike, not once daring to summon his wasps, not with Benitoite nearby! "Vespa, Negaverse senshi of Wasps, and more importantly, your enemy! Now fight me!"

He lashed out, hoping to put some distance between Benitoite and himself so that he could use his magic. He still held no control over their brutal stings, but if someone had to suffer their wrath, he'd prefer it be this one and himself...

It was hard not to want to laugh at Vespa's tumble, just as hard as it was not to shrug off Chaldene's concern. Oh, Tsui was quite confident in herself most of the time, but the enemy she faced today? Thus far, their track record had not once ended gloriously for the senshi of Tigers. He had nearly killed her and left his mark on her waste, and given what she had discovered of Bazzite's fate, he now left a more permanent mark on her heart and psyche. Even after she let out what could have been considered a playful spat, it was only a disguise to hide the turmoil that churned within her. Benitoite considered her responsible for Bazzite's fate, and she was certain that she made the matter worse by fleeing to her home planet instead of 'accepting her fate' at his hands.

By the time she had turned completely away from Chaldene to face Benitoite, any humor, mirth and swarm was gone from her face, and only Benitoite would see her serious frown now. If anyone had the right to want to kill her, she knew it'd be him, but as guilt ridden as she was, she wasn't willing to lay down at his feet, and nor could she run away. Not now... her pen was still recharging, and she couldn't risk leaving Chaldene to this kind of danger on his own! So she had to stay and fight... not just for Chaldene's sake, but perhaps for Benitoite's. And Bazzite's.

As foolish of a tactic as it was, Tsui charged as Benitoite, hoping that she could at least move fast enough to avoid the blade of that spear as she looked for an opening. He was too short to try diving under his legs, but maybe she could jump over him and strike him from above? It was worth a shot! "Alright, then let's settle this! You better work for that blood, because like hell I'm just going to give it to you!"