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Sighing, relieved for now that Beni was not in direct danger, Painite returned her focus to the group.

She grinned when she felt another Nega show up, and a General to boot. She turned to see Hematite, knowing she recognized that voice from somewhere. Grinning ear to ear, she nodded her hello, not thinking him much for hugs and thinking she'd probably cut herself on his armor, anyway. He seemed busy glaring at Lyra, which Painite wasn't too happy with, but at least she understood that not everyone regarded them in the same light as she did.

The air was shifting. Things were getting a little more serious. A little more edged. And a whole lot more fun.

"Alright, there are quite a few of us here. I think we can take them from two points. They've already boxed themselves in for us, as thoughtful as they are, but we've got the edge. They know we're going to attack them, of course, but they don't know how or even when. Unless they come running toward us, which I know they won't do, we can take advantage."

She looked thoughtful for a moment.

"There are some strong auras down there... and I have to get down to my Lieutenant before they squish him. I say two of us each take an Eternal. We keep an eye on each other, and those of us who can move quickly can poof over if anyone is struggling or outnumbered. Senshi are weakest one on one. Focus on and split the Eternals, and the little babies won't be any trouble at all. What do you think, General Hematite?"

She grinned again, "I'd like that knight for myself later, if no one objects."

Hesperis. So that was what she should call her roommate when she looked like this. She leaned over close and whispered, "It's me, Erika," and squeezed her friend's hand a little too desperately to be reassuring. She had Tomlin and Darryl, and they would keep her safe. Right?

What was a corrupted senshi? Why did people keep telling her to stay close to them? She didn't know them, and this whole situation just didn't seem like it was working out for them. The feeling like the rising storm wasn't abating, it was just getting worse and worse. She was starting to feel nauseous, even with people she knew she could trust right nearby. Europa, even, had proven herself reliable after the rescue at the theater. Except then the eldest senshi said those three words: We're sitting ducks.

Oh god she didn't want to die.

The brunette senshi didn't even wait to see what it was Tomlin had done to the red-haired senshi. Her anger and bravery from before just broke, and she turned on her heel and bolted from the scene just as Tomlin was telling the others to run. She didn't even notice the enhanced speed she now boasted; she just fled the scene, through the gates and hooking a left along the sidewalk.

Europa hesitated. While she certainly didn't want to die, she was one of the strongest senshi here and if she ran and the others stayed, they wouldn't stand a snowball's chance in hell. The only way she was getting out of here was if everyone else left first.

Fortunately, it was down to her, Kallichore, Themis, Ganymede, and Hesperis. The most inexperienced among their number had already made a run for it, and with good reason. The other three senshi Europa trusted well enough, and again - she wasn't worried about Hesperis. She seemed competent and smart.

"Well," demanded Europa. "You heard the cat!" There were times and there were places to make your last stand. This wasn't it. Pick your battles.

"We're gonna get out of here. We're gonna run in opposite directions and we're gonna find somewhere with a lot of people and we're going to henshin down and blend in. And we're going to do it on three."

She glanced around, waiting for any small sign of confirmation but not really caring if it was given. It wasn't like they had any other choice with such a powerful force closing in.

"One, two..."

Europa glanced at the gate and at her allies, and hoped everyone was on board with the plan. "Three." she hissed desperately. Well. Super Ganymede hadn't waited. And now, neither was she.

Europa spun on her heels and took off running, vaulting over the wall and hitting the sidewalk sprinting. You had to know when to hold them and when to fold them, and it was definitely time to fold, take your chips, and cash out.

"Sounds good to me, General." It paid to have a plan. Senshi were weaker alone, but they were still vicious and magical. Especially the eternals. They didn't get where they were by being bad at surviving - well, on second thought, maybe a few of them. Them and their stupid magic cats. But it wasn't ever a safe bet. His tone changed as he addressed the group in general, echoing Painite. "Do not let them regroup, do not get killed on our watch. But if you absolutely have to die, try to be helpful and not get in the way of -"

He turned his head sharply, eyes locked on the eternal with the flowing ribbons who had taken off. There was nothing else to say. He took a half-step backward and swung one gauntleted hand out to the nearest wrist, thinking he'd take the captain with him to strike. Instead, he'd grabbed Lyra's. Without even a glance to confirm his partner, they vanished.

Hematite and Lyra reappeared very suddenly on the sidewalk, some feet in front of Europa. Hematite dropped the arm he'd pulled with him and switched it to lifting his sword, jabbing the twisted weapon in front of him like a pike. With any luck this would be over shortly and the senshi would impale herself with her own momentum. If not...

Something was going on, the senshi seemed to be getting further away, but why? He didn't hear the sounds one would associate with battle. So what had happened. He had been a little too wrapped up in his nerves and didn't hear the cat shout for them to run. If he had Benitoite wouldn't be so curious as to what was going on. But as it was he was curious, but knew better than to go peeking out from his hiding spot. He had a good, safe, hiding spot and was intent upon staying here until his General came to retrieve him, he knew she would.

Surprised, a little, by her appearance he turned around to smile at her and spotted Fluorite as well. "Captain." A bright smile, something which was rare for him, lite up his features. The two who had helped him greatly. It was nice to see them both. "What's going on? There...getting further away?" Curious as he nodded, letting Painite teleport them somewhere else.

Oh! Buttwings...they were after an eternal. That nervousness over took him once more, but no where near as bad as before. Keeping behind Painite he watched her attack, using that javelin of hers. Would this fight, with this Eternal, end in a victory? Would he wind up attacked or would he actually somehow become more involved than he was standing back where he was? These questions ran through his mind at lightning speed. Was this a good idea? It wasn't that he doubted the General or the Captain but still. It was just that a lot could happen during a fight and there was no way to predict what would happen ahead of time.

Whatever it had been that Callisto had whispered to the knight, it had a very distinct effect.

Purple eyes went wide. W-What ?! "E-Callis-" Hesperis didn't didn't have time - Callisto had already ran off. The newly super Ganymede followed, and Hesperis was the next to bolt.

She knew what a corrupted senshi was. Camelot had told her. She had been hoping to never meet one, but as always, Hesperis has the best luck in the world.

But ******** if she letting those asshats even take one hair off Erika's head. They would have to get to her first.

...Which would actually be all too easy. So she ran.

It was the emergence of another page aura that suddently made her feel better. "Val !" There was no time to explain. Instead, the blue staff was all but trust in his hands.

"Do what you can ! I have to protect Callisto !" There was something here, a panic, a sort of helplessness that no one had ever seen out of her before. "Please !"

Then she ran off, still needing to catch up.

Ganymede streaked in the direction in which Valhalla had just appeared, half terrified to see him -- what if he got hurt? -- and half relieved that he was there, and not only because he wouldn't be the only one late for their date. He slowed very little, only enough to allow him to speak at a rapid pace, "Europa and Kallichore are back that way. You'll know Europa when you see her. Dark hair, outfit looks like a bathing suit, wings on the back. There's another one with wings, too, and someone else like you."

Though it appeared that someone was also following. Ganymede lingered only a few moments longer before taking off again, shouting over his shoulder as he watched the other page hand off her staff, "Help them, Val! Swing something, throw something as hard as you can, just... do something! I need to go after Callisto! I'll be back as soon as I can!"

And he was running away, turning back around to keep Callisto in his sights. "Callisto!" he tried to call out to her again. "Callisto, it's okay!"

Only it wasn't. It really wasn't.