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Normally Buddingtonite wouldn't have minded others hogging all the action and especially given his orders, he'd gladly sit out the fight. His specialty was woohooing others to their cause, after all. Let the two Spec-Ops take care of the fighting and killing part. Besides, he had to wait for the shields to drop to continue draining energy, a task that he felt much more comfortable with.

However, the moment that the white and blue senshi summoned his attack and Serpentine cried out, Buddingtonite had to forsake his orders and engage. He said nothing to Benitoite before taking off, readying his boomerang and charging at Chaldene's open back. He, too, gave a shout, not only alerting Chaldene of the imminent attack but breaking Mica from her own business. "Party in the back!"

Mica was surprised with how much of a fight this Senshi was putting up, though she knew that she shouldn't have been. Despite all of her flaws, this one had made it to the rank of Eternal and she knew it wasn't simply because some guardian cat pitied her. No, she must have earned it, and that only made Mica want to pluck those feathers all the more. Her own breath caught in her throat at the sight of her wobble but she didn't fall, and Mica was beginning to find herself respecting this one the more she tried to kill her.

Such blatant fear and yet she still stuck around. But for who? The Senshi or the civilians?

The shields had dropped around the civilians and those conscious were beginning to scatter, and Serpentine's and Buddingtonite's shouts in succession was the only thing that saved Pasiphae from another strike as it enticed Mica to look back. Party in the what now? The sight of the civilians scattering made her shout, turning her back to Pasiphae for a moment as she shouted to the others. "Buddingtonite, the civilians are getting away! General, secure them before that fool ruins everything!"

When she heard Chaldene call for for retreat... Pasiphae looked at the civilians. Tears began to trail down her face. It hurt. It hurt more than she thought she still had it in her to hurt. Wasn't exposure supposed to create a callous to soften pain, rather than tweak it to acute sensitivity?

"I'm... I'm sorry..." The words practically exploded from her lips, lubricated with tears as she turned her back on those innocents who had been relying on her. If she had been alone, she would have fought on despite her fatigue. She would have fought with every last ounce of the light that burned within her. Becauser her life did not matter as much as theirs. Because they relied on her to do what they could not.

But she was not alone. Chaldene needed her. It was not fair to ask him to lay down his life... and the very thought of it, of losing anyone else to the forces of Chaos...she couldn't bear it. She began to run, calling for the other Senshi to do the same. "Get out of there... I'll cover you!"

==

Serpentine paid no mind to the escaping civilians, confident that the other Negaverse officers could handle the situation. No. He only had eyes for two individuals. One was his approaching partner, to whom he gave a nod. The other was the Senshi in white and blue that had distracted him with that bizarre light.

But there was no light now. He drew back his fist for a punch.

He would have covered himself, could have covered himself, he was sure of it and yet the eternal was shouting that she would cover his retreat. He knew it must be hurting her to be leaving the innocent people behind, truth be told it bothered him also, but if they didn't live they couldn't potentially save other people in the future. He hated this - this whole thing!

He didn't like fighting, never would, but he had to think in a realistic and smart manner. He didn't want to see, or even know these innocent people would suffer but there was no option really. He and the eternal could go on to save other lives in the future, lives no one might save if they were both dead, and he had to remind himself that in war there was always death and always casualties. This was just a case of that.

As he heard someone speak right behind him he whipped around and spotted the red haired Captain. The Lieutenant with the balled up fist in front of him forgotten for the moment. When had the Captain - was that what that call was for? For the other to sneak up on him? Oh god...he'd almost wound up in big trouble. And he had Tsui! to thank for it. Green eyes locked onto the senshi of tigers and he almost hugged her - almost - but he did smile. "Pasiphae is too tired...and I'm not strong enough." He spoke wanting to get that information tot the other eternal as fast as he could.


While others may not have felt the incoming aura of order he had felt it, and was anticipating the reveal on which senshi it was. When he saw who it was he felt a smile tug at the corners of his lips and allowed the smile to bloom. Oh, this was going to be interesting.

The General watched as Mica moved out of the way and Buddingtonite took the Eternal senshi's attack full force and landed at his feet. Bending swiftly he checked on the Captain before looking up at the scene unfolding. His gaze settling onto the other Captain finally. "If those two senshi or leaving, or going to be otherwise occupied, I believe I'd like to declaw this kitty..." A glance over her and he felt that smile morphing into a smirk. "And add a few more scars to her." Standing up he moved around Buddingtonite, perhaps to protect him in a way, but also to get closer to the Captain's assailant.

"Oh - but these senshi interrupted some energy draining and training. I was merely called in as silent back up. So really it was two vs. three." Waving a hand about in the air in some aimless gesture he held his spear in his other hand. "But now that you're here I'm more than happy to do something more than shepherding people." Nope, he would not be flying. One eternal was tired, one was a simple senshi and the other eternal was Tsui. He wanted her and he wanted her blood coating the ground. Taking his spear into his other hand as well he made his approach, that cold arrogant tone never wavering.

"I'm going to spill your precious blood and coat the ground in red." Oh, that was just what he wanted to do. He had every intention of it in fact. Mica certainly had her answer as to whether or not he was feeling bloodthirsty - didn't she.

Mica wasn't quite expecting this new Senshi's arrival to stir up quite a reaction, and she could only wonder what this one in tiger stripes and tattered clothing could have done to not only earn General Benitoite's fire but Serpentine's as well. The two were never quite known for allowing others to see their true emotions, so the sight of not one, but both angry, made Mica curious about this Tiger senshi.

It also made her a little weary. If Benitoite was quick to want her dead, perhaps she was quite powerful and deemed a threat, and if that was the case, she'd go for a different tactic. As bloodthirsty as her own tendencies were, she felt she had another duty, and she brought her spear in front of Serpentine, not meaning to harm him but to cut him off from his advance, as well as protect him from Tsui. "This is over, Serpentine. Grab Buddingtonite and go."

It would mean letting Pasiphae and Chaldene flee, but Mica was certain that she'd see the two again someday. Perhaps next time there wouldn't be a tiger to come to their aid?

She certainly had her answer from Benitoite, and that only encouraged her to herd Serpentine and Buddingtonite to safety. "Let the general take care of this one. If you ask nicely, he'll leave a limb or something for you to kick at."

Tsui might not have been the brightest crayon in the box, but she knew a bad situation when she saw it, and she definitely knew what burning hatred was, too. She was expecting to see it to an extend, but the sight of Benitoite and the familiar looking lieutenant, honestly made her uneasy. She didn't allow for any of this to be seen, though, at least not to her friends, and she gave Chaldene and Pasiphae a warm smile, hoping to instill some strength within him enough to fall back. "No one said you weren't strong enough, Chaldene. I'm sure you did great."

Then she looked to Pasiphae, and her expression softened, if only slightly. It was just like Pasiphae to worry so much, but Tsui didn't think little of her for it. She wanted to chide her friend, but the sight of her exhaustion called to her, more than either Serpentine's or Benitoite's lust for her head. "Get going then. I'll be following right behind you, I promise!"

She wanted to fight. She always wanted to fight. But she wasn't willing to drag two others down with her. Benitoite wasn't a general that made idle threats, and two of the scars at her waist was living proof of this. It was almost itching, as though the mere presence of the general that left his mark was having an adverse effect, and she stood strong, listening to his words and chewing the inside of her cheek with anticipation. He sounded really angry with her, and she couldn't imagine it just being because she survived their last encounter... perhaps something else had happened? Either way, he wanted her blood, and so did Serpentine, and she wasn't quite willing to give it to them. Not without a fight, anyways.

"Yeah, well, you already left your mark on me. That's not enough for you?" Tsui spat, bringing her fists to the front and prepared to defend herself, hoping that Pasiphae and Chaldene were well on their way out. "At least I know why you want me dead, sort of... not sure about that guy over there, but I'm not going to give it you either of you without a fight!"

Among this chaos and turn of events, Buddingtonite was only now beginning to stir, but he felt too weak to move, and he managed to give a groan before slipping back into unconsciousness. "Stewardess... there's something on the wing..."

Pasiphae desperately wanted to stay. She had sworn, and meant to follow her vow, of insuring that no one on the side of Order would fight alone. Her only comfort was Chaldene's soft touch, his wise words--wise beyond his experience level, and undeniably true. She could not quite muster a smile for him, but she squeezed his hand. Taking some strength from his, she nodded towards him. "I know... that we can trust Tsui... she can be impulsive,but she... would not break a promise."

With one last squeeze, she released her grip and ushered for him to go first. The Senshi of Shame certainly felt shame at not being able to rescue those that relied on her... but she would be damned if anything happened to either of her allies if she could possibly prevent it. Just in case someone struck at his back... she wanted to be sure she could take the blow first.
===

Serpentine's chest hit the spear that blocked his path, and for a few moments he simply stared down at it. His eyes flashed with anger. Mica outranked him. Buddingtonite outranked him. Benitoite outranked him. He had no choice but to follow any of their orders, no matter how it turned his stomach to run like a coward. Was this all they thought him good for? A lackey? Unworthy--or incapable--of taking revenge? They were wrong, if so... and he would prove it. Just not this night.

If the lieutenant had anything in his favor, it was his patience and his adaptablity. He would rather make the tiger-striped girl pay himself... but if the General did with her what he wished, then his revenge would be obtained as a side effect. Additionally, Mica's words made sense to him; his partner and friend would not be able to recover from his injuries and escape alone. It was more important that they live to fight another day than to lash out like a child. With a curt nod, he acknowledged her command and appraoched the sprawled out captain.

It took him only a moment to use the strength granted to him by the dark gift to lift Buddingtonite's prone form into his arms and then over his shoulder for ease of carrying. With that, Serpentine made his exit, seeking a secluded area where he and his partner could transform back into their normal selves. He was uncertain whether this night should count as a victory, a defeat, or a draw... but regardless, he would learn from what had occured. Next time... it would be an unquestioned victory. He would see to it.