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Keeping as close an eye on Wolframite as Birhan was, she noticed the small movements heralding Gunn's return to consciousness. When the other senshi's eyes flickered open, Birhan spoke up. Best to let Gunn know this was being handled, to not try and break free from Wolframite.

"It seems we both have captives able to walk now," she told Zinkenite. "That should make it easier for you and I to make the exchange."

She took Ilmenite from Sirius, giving the senshi a sharp nod. 'Behave, but stay on your guard' was the silent message. The Blood Moon Court wouldn't be the first to break this tentative, temporary truce, but they would be ready just in case.

The captive was tall, but so was Birhan. It wasn't too hard to lock an arm around his neck. If Wolframite's blade 'slipped', Birhan's arm might 'accidentally' twist and snap something...

"If you would take Gunn away from Wolframite before anyone decides we're being too boring for them?" she raised an eyebrow at the short General. What she really meant was 'before those two ignore the rest of us and start fighting again'.

Slowly at first, both waiting for something for go wrong, Birhan matched Zinkenite's pace as they both drew closer to each other, manhandling their captives as necessary. Birhan's hold on Ilmenite was tighter than it needed to be, a sign of her tension. It also showed in her face, eyebrows drawn down and together so tightly that she was giving herself a headache as she stared down Zinkenite with narrowed eyes.

They made an odd pair, a study of contrasts. A short young man; a tall young woman. He, covered head to toe, and she exposing more flesh than publically acceptable on the street. One of the higher-ranked Negaverse agents, and the lowest-rank Senshi. The only similarities between them were that they both led a force here, and that both were willing to give up a valuable captive in order to save a teammate.

Birhan didn't like being forced to recognise that they had anything in common. She didn't like seeing that Zinkenite was, for all his corruption and plots, human and he had a heart.

Finally they stood face to face, mere feet between them. With his goggles down, Zinkenite looked young. She'd never judged him by his height, but finally being able to see part of his face made her think that he wasn't any older than she was.

We're both just kids drafted into a war. The only difference is which side.

Birhan stiffened at the errant thought. No, she refused to think that way. She was the one doing the right thing, protecting humans from those who preyed on them, stealing their energy and their starseeds. Zinkenite wasn't some helpless draftee who didn't understand what he was doing, who was being forced to do evil things by someone far above him. The Negaverse embraced what they did. Worse, they justified it. Like Ares, and her dead civilian. Nothing justified killing innocent humans, not on either side.

"On three?" she suggested, voice gravelly after a false start. She really needed to stop thinking - she was just going to get distracted and then get herself killed.

It was a tempting thought to hold on to Ilmenite and hope that only Zinkenite would pass over his captive. But Birhan knew the moment it crossed her mind that she'd never take the risk. Even if Zinkenite was planning exactly the same, on the off-chance he wasn't, Birhan couldn't be the one to ruin this.

Besides, she wasn't helpless. There was still at least one magical attack left wafting in the air, as yet un-renewed. If anyone held on to Gunn or made to grab her back, Birhan could have the unknown attack fired off at them before they disappeared. So, backup plan in place, Birhan steeled her nerves and prepared to...(she couldn't believe she was saying this)... trust... Zinkenite.

A tightening of Birhan's mouth was the only indication that she'd heard Zinkenite's advice. Inwardly she made a quick catalog of Gunn's injuries - leg, cut neck, lord knew what else Wolframite had done once Gunn's ability to flee was impaired. Birhan would indeed have to move quickly, to get them both off the field.

Zinkenite began the countdown.

Keeping time, Birhan said, "Three."

She pushed aside all her doubts, forcing them into a literal push of Ilmenite. It was actually more gentle than she should have made it. Birhan was concerned only with aiming the Captain at Zinkenite, hoping to keep the General busy catching his man while Birhan sprung for Gunn. Before the other girl could hit the ground, before Wolframite could make a move for his lost plaything, Birhan was there. One arm around the waist, one arm looping under Gunn's arm, and Birhan was leaping backwards. The pent-up frustration of negotiating and waiting and fretting gave her an extra boost of strength (or was it simply fear?).

Back on a level with the waiting Sirius, Birhan eyed their enemies. No double-crossing? No hidden Plan B to keep Gunn or to take Birhan prisoner as well? ... Had Birhan actually met an honourable Negaverse agent? It boggled the mind, and Birhan didn't have time for such distractions.

Birhan walked backwards, not taking her eyes off the danger still present before her. She shifted Gunn to an easier position, letting the senshi take some weight on her uninjured leg. She knew Sirius would jump in if it seemed like her assistance was required.

"Everyone, scatter and flee," she said to the remaining senshi. "We're done here."

She didn't have to tell them to make sure they weren't being followed before powering down or heading home. They knew. They were smart. They were survivors. The fact that one of them might be a traitor burned in her gut. Whether someone here, or someone who'd been at the last meeting but not signed up for the op, someone had squeaked. Birhan would find that mouse and crush it. They couldn't afford to lose any more of their own. It was a miracle that no one was lost tonight.

She gave the other miracle of the night a confused, disturbed look. The tiny General who cared for his people and actually kept his word... Unexpected, unprecedented, unbelievable - and yet there he was.

No doubt already planning something new for next time, her brain reminded her. Honourable didn't mean nice, or good. The kid was still trying to kill all senshi and drain all humans dry.

Birhan's eyes narrowed, determined renewed. She looped Gunn's arm around her neck and took off. Perhaps Zinkenite's word extended to not pursuing them. Perhaps.

Concussions did not do wonders for ones balance, nor for quick wits -- Ilmenite still hadn't worked out exactly what was going on, his head still ringing and eye mostly swollen shut, when Birhan shoved him from behind. The result was a stumbling step forward, catching his toe and almost going to his knees at Zink's feet. He clutched at the young man, a full foot shorter than him, and sucked in a careful breath between his teeth.

Instead of joy at freedom, instead of relief or even regret, Ilmenite spent the next few moments trying hard not to up the contents of his stomach onto Zink's shoes. He'd have time afterward to kick himself, awash with horror and mindless fury both, to plot icy revenge on what he could remember of the three girls who'd cornered him -- but not until the nausea and the dizziness had passed, leaving it possible for him to gather up his thoughts again.

Sirius left last and she lingered a little first, after all she wanted to make sure the others got away first and well it was the least she could do. However once sure that they were out the way she ran back home through her little maze of streets and over the various roofs. She was more then happy to run and she would send Birhan a text later to make sure all was okay.

Sirius hadn't maybe stupidly thought that anyone would betray them sure she thought it was odd but never once did she think they were betrayed maybe she put too much trust in the BMC or maybe she just wanted to see them as some sort of family, either way any possible thoughts of betrayal were pushed right to the back of her mind.

Once she was safe and sure no one was following her she powered down and headed for home. This hadn't exactly ended well either and Sirius wondered more what Ares would say then how it was the negas knew they were coming.