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Niflhel's eyes shifted to Pollux who was speaking. Though he seemed offended by Castor's opinion. "Castor is a fool." He said flatly. "Running to his planet, making it dormant. Does he think he can fool the negaverse? Does he think that being a coward and running makes things alright? The negaverse will go there and weather sleeping beauty slumbers or not they'll figure out something weird is going on and slaughter everyone."


"Perhaps I should applaud though. At least everyone will be asleep when they all die. I shall hope it'll be painless, unlike my wife's. I thank you for your brother's sentiments but perhaps you should go with him. I however, shall stay here and hope that there are enough of us that are not cowards to attempt to foil the negaverse so that when we are reborn we few, we happy few, we band of brothers; we shall be the ones remembers. Those unable to battle, those unable to bear arms they are not the cowards here." Niflhel looked around at all those with him as he stood up snowball still cradled in his arms.

He'd been quite for so long. Hver and Fin were the few he'd spoken to of Polaris' death, and now here he was standing against an offer a way out. However, it was no way out, it was a delay. He lapsed on into another piece,
"If we are mark’d to die, we are enow
To do our country loss; and if to live,
The fewer men, the greater share of honour."

He moved closer to the princesses, "I shall walk the valley of death and fear no evil. For I know I have done my part to ensure our happiness and that justice shall be carried. I refuse to live under a cowards rule."


Hugbell nodded as she stood beside the princess when she released her hand. Though she thought to say something to Pollux, however a knight of Saturn spoke up. Causing her to pause and listen. "They are all right."

The teenager finally ventured when the knight was done. "We are walking into a world of Chaos. Those that want to flee, if Castor - apparently - will so allow you on his planet. So be it. Those that cannot do for themselves shall not be judged however.

I know, though I have no offensive power. That I too shall be willing to walk up to Chaos' face and give one last sucker punch. I cannot leave this world with the knowledge that I have not tried my best to ensure we do not have to deal with another round of rebirth because of the negaverse. Will there be other chaos? Most certainly. However and hopefully. When the cauldron sees it fit for us to be reborn it will not be this brand of evil that we shall have to deal with." That was the rest of Hugbell's thoughts on the situation at hand with cowardice and bravery.

She turned and smiled towards the ones offering to do recon. "Well then, I say we need to get a party started. I want everyone who's identity is not compromised and willing to assist in the efforts to prepare for a final show down join our two lovely ladies that own the coffee shop and book store. Dears what are your names again?" Hugbell ventured as she moved closer to them. "I think if we're going to die no matter the scenario, we should at least be able to have a proper welcome for that death."

Of course the princess of comfort was all too cheery in saying this. It seemed that well it was her job to be cheerful and optimistic. "Someone do me a favor if you know other order allies, that may not be completely with the mainstay can you get them a message I'd like to speak with them. We can arrange a meeting place later." Hugbell glanced towards Ida and Charliko. "Or is it we'd like to speak with them?"

Athene looked at the Dark Mirror Princess "I was never able to bond with my planet the way a transcended does or I'd offer Athene" he sighed "But Athene is..." he hesitated for a brief moment before continuing "There's no water at on Athene" he looked away. "I'm sorry."

He glanced at Ida at her words that those going into the city to ambush the Negaverse would be going on a death mission, his face unreadable for a moment. "I know" he said simply at last before he gaze moved to take in the others gathered round as he continued "Which is why those who choose to go have to be sure , because it's not a something you'll be able to turn from once you make the choice..." He looked back at Ida as he added. "But for my part I will go."

Athene knew he was expendable, Prince he might be, but there had always been better senshi than him - stronger senshi... smarter senshi, people who had fit the senshi life so much better than him.

He had never really wanted to be a senshi and there had been many times over the years where he'd wondered what ********* had seen in him the day that she'd given his 16 year old self his first henshin pen, especially since he'd never been the most spectacular senshi or the most wave making - hadn't wanted to be.

Despite his failings as a senshi however he'd always tried to do what felt right, whatever the consequences and Athene wasn't planning to turn back from that path now.

He looked at Niflhel and then at the civilian (Sabina). Do either of you have your knight rings?" His gaze expanded to take in the others as he continued. "Does anyone here who is a Knight have their ring? If so mayhaps we can get a message to those still in the city." He looked over to first the Super Senshi (Subamara) who had confirmed that the worse for wear guardian cat by her was still alive then back to the civilian who had spoken (Sabina) as he added "Maybe we could use it to get a message to your friend who uses the sewers."

Finally he looked over at the senshi princess (Hugbell) as she asked the civilian and Super Senshi for their names, "I know that it wasn't directed at me, but since this may well be the last time some of us meet, mayhaps all of us who are comfortable with doing so can share names. For my part I'm Athene and I was once" he realised he was speaking in the past tense and amended it to "I mean I am, Arian Laith."

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Despite hearing the bigger cat's grumpy grumbles, it didn't stop Liryn from continuing his ministrations.

Part of it was comforting - the bigger ginger tom looked like he could use the comfort, but a part (a selfish part) was his way to steal a bit of comfort for himself.

Because the talk around him was making his heart hurt.

Liryn had tried very hard to stay optimistic through all this - had tried so very, very hard - even when the team that was his to protect had fallen apart and his bonded senshi had withdrawn into himself and tried to slowly kill himself through lack of self care and overwork. He had tried to stay cheerful through losses - both personal and those of those he cared for and tried to stay cheerful despite the rebels lack of ground, despite the Negaverse's apparently rock solid grip on the city, on Earth.

But it was so hard to be the one to stay cheerful, to be the one to put a cheerful spin on things, as more and more of those he cared for went out and never came back.

He looked up at the mention of names, briefly pausing in his ministrations to the ginger tom "I'm Liryn" he said and then he turned his purplish gaze on Athene, then Ida and then the lilac haired Princess and Dark Mirror Princess. "I don't want to be left behind when you go and strike the Negaverse" his voice was serious. "I meant it when I said I will help."

And he was tired of watching as less and less people came back.

He went back to grooming the ginger tom, determined that when the time came that he would also be standing with those who decided to make a final stand.

Niflhel's attention turned to Chariklo. "I just said those that cannot fight are not cowards. Castor was there at the meeting before the battle, before the ambush. He speaking that we should leave earth. Turn our back and run abandon the fight and everything else that was here and hope they too didn't take to space. I feel fully justified that calling him a coward for leaving when the battle happened not even bothering to help us evacuate the hospital."

He paused and looked at Charliko. "Besides two things are leaving a bad taste in my mouth about his comment. Offering to see if Castor will take our children and those unable to fight but saying he likely won't since we who were able to fight wouldn't run ourselves. And if we ran to space then, where would you go? What would have happened to your court? I can't fathom you could live in mirror space forever."

He stopped and nodded when he was asked if he had his knight ring by Athene, "I do, I'm surprised you don't remember me. Though it has been a long while old friend." He sighed, he was missing a princess, one that they probably knew better than him.

Snowball stirred in Niflhel's arms. Yawning a little as he opened a sleepy eye to look around. "I think you stuck your foot in your mouth again Nif." He muttered sleepily before shifting and going back to sleep.

Letting out an audible groan Pollux wished he had the energy to tell the knight and his fellow idiots the folly of their plan. To lay out the very careful very well laid plan that the enemy had made. It wasn't his fault they couldn't see it. It wasn't his fault they were so gung-ho, ready to die. Turning to Scylla, he fought to give her a smile, one that had whatever little fragments of hope he had left. "I'll convince him. He is stubborn, but he would not turn away. For all his pettiness, his pride and morals are damn unbreakable."

With a heavy sigh he stood. "Let me lay it out as simply and as clearly as I can because that seems to be the only thing anyone in this mess seems to understand." Somewhere Castor would have been laughing. His brother might not think he had fire, but the senshi almost always did.

"The negaverse knows we have no where left to go. They know we are now on the run, hunted, and few in number. Our moral is low, our supplies low- If we try to regroup here they will find us again. If we try to fight they will be well defended, and they will use it to annihilate us. You all seem to want to fight yet are about as tactical as blindly dropping bombs. While the plan to use the mirrors are good, the obvious problem is it would mean we're limited in movement. We don't know where to strike. We know who, but the second we arrive, what keeps the general-kings from teleporting before we can remove them? That will be our biggest challenge. Their ability to teleport from an attack puts us at a great disadvantage, even more so if we take them by surprise and make no mistakes, they know we are here. They know we will fight. They will be ready for us. "

He groaned again. He doubted they'd listen. "The problem with the rebirth cycle Lady Hugbell-" He motioned to the various senshi around them. "Earth is the last known place for us to be reborn to. Once the negaverse, once chaos has taken over, it will drain the energies. It will not risk senshi being born on it's world. Unless somehow, the cauldron itself can expedite sentient beings on a yet void world, we won't be reborn in time to make a difference, not before chaos will have moved to consume other worlds. Or we'd be born corrupt. We cannot simply think of this generation and this world alone. If we die, we die very likely for the last time, unless a new host can be found in the next 1000 years. And the chances of that are nearly zero. The negaverse going to space is likely, but not for a while. Their goal was to remove us, their 'invaders'. Once we are gone they will have to reinvent themselves, use exhaustive magics to reach space, let alone breach a world's natural defenses. We can gain the upper hand in our own territory. We can use our worlds to our benefit. Here, we are fighting on their terms. This was the reason behind the choice to retreat. As for my brother?"

He turned to Nifhel. "Did you ever consider that calling him names and failing to even listen to him, or consider his goals might have, and this is pure speculation based off of being his sibling, stung his pride? Such actions might been petty, such reasonings might seem selfish, but they are the actions and reactions towards hostility. He is and was an ally, and many chose to quite frankly, mock him right at his face. Allied parties have disbanded over less in the past. You and those who are so quick to call another coward are to me, the true cowards, because you do not think. Instead you are quick to judge, quick to lash at dissent, and even quicker to place yourselves upon a pedestal that death is the option all must take because it is the one that suits you. Mocking those who do not have your will, who do not share your views, is the mark of ignorance. It drives those who oppose to shadows, to reluctance, to death without desire. Unless you have anything moderately helpful to contribute, kindly shut the ******** up and stop being a toxic piece of s**t."


A deep breath, Pollux looked back at Scylla. At Jada.

"I will contact my brother. Give me some time, but I doubt he'd ignore my demands. If there is one thing Castor is, it's easily manipulable." He muttered the last bit to himself.

"Why not do both?"

Watching with Orah still held close Bohlinia had watched those before her bicker and fight like was the traditional way of Order to do anything. If anyone ever wanted a reason why the Negaverse were winning this was a dam good reason. Everyoine had an answer, everyone knew what was best. It was times like these that she wished Senshi were divided into groups and each had a leader who would discuss such tactics, having this sort of democracy although usually fair never played well in these sort of situations and that is what was happening now. Everyone wanted their say, everyone wanted to shout the loudest. Everyone was scared.

So it made sense that some wanted to escape and others wanted to fight. Neither option was the best and no one was a coward for thinking to save themselves. Catching Chariklo's face she saw the pain reflected in her eyes, the thought of leaving her children alone either on this world or another must have been killing her. But here she was standing proudly and more importantly still defiant against the Negaverse. Bohlinia couldn’t ask for a better ally, a better friendly face in all this. She knew the Dark Mirror Princess was close to her own and Bohlinia could never thank the blond haired women enough for being there when she couldn’t.

Yet they still needed to come up with an answer and maybe combing both ideas would be the best.

"We should do both." She spoke a little louder hoping to catch those still speaking, looking at each of them in turn.

"Chariko and Pollux are both right, we need to save those that can't fight or survive on their own and we all know that Earth is no longer the place to do that. If we stay we risk total Negaverse rule and destruction and if there are those that wish that then...let them be, let them go, we cant ask more than that. If there are those that want to leave, to seek refuge and possibly rebuild what has been lost, maybe one day come back, then sending them to another planet would be best. They will be hunted here, at least on another planet they can be safe." Looking at Pollux she gave him a sharp nod as he commented on speaking to his brother. “If you could that would be great but if another world more hospitable can be found then find it and lets prepare now for evacuating. There is no time to lose because…”

She looked across at Orah and slowly release her tight grip, her eyes portraying the fear and uncertainty in her soul but her hands were steady as she stood.

“And for those that are left, like Rin said, we need to hit them hard, hit there were they wont have a chance to recover anytime soon. It might be enough to end this war or it might just give the others the chance to escape but it something that needs to be done. It will be our final mission.” Again she looked at them all, maybe looking into the eyes that would perform this task. They wouldn’t be coming back, but if Orah survived, if they escaped, there would be hope.

“Either way we are too fractured and too defeated to scale a full on attack. We get one shot at this, one final hit and once its done there is no turning back. I don’t like giving up lives needlessly so we make this count, if we fall, we take them down with us.”