After storming out of the infirmary Star took the elevator upstairs, limped down the hall, shouldered his way into his quarters and deposited his mission gear on the floor. He glared at the small room. He'd disliked it at first but realizing now how much nicer it was than what he'd have by day's end he was livid. He was so furious he felt sick to his stomach. It was inexcusable.. treating him this way. After all he'd done. Trembling slightly, he tightened his hands into fists and tilted his head downward.

"Star.." The ball of feathers on his shoulder eyed him, looking concerned. Sky enjoyed harassing his master, but the day's events had clearly demonstrated to the little bird that things had changed. He was there when Tethys pulled the guns out and realized just how alone the roboticist was. He knew it wasn't the time for harassment.

Star sniffed and plucked Sky's ball off his belt, returning the pokémon. The little Starly wasn't the friend he needed right now. Grunting, he crossed the room and shoved the window open.

Lucere was back at his desk, trying to wrap his head around the large amount of of work that'd piled up in the weeks since Lore and the others were kidnapped. The dark blur that passed his window followed by the sound of something landing on the roof of his penthouse office was an unwelcome surprise. Frowning, his eyes drifted upward.

Star stepped off Scream, surveying the roof of Rocket headquarters. He used to spend his more tranquil evenings perched atop Galactic HQ. He could list this as another step down from what he'd had before. The top of the desert skyscraper wasn't nearly as relaxing a venue as the sleek hull of a massive airship. Shoulders sinking, he collapsed to sit on the edge of the roof. Scream stood behind him. "Pidge.."

The spindly ex-Galactic stared across the desert for a long time. He felt better, being up high and away from the mob of Rockets. Their attempts at mockery and morale boosting were annoying and confusing.

".....we could leave." He muttered glumly, tilting his head to look up at Scream, "......but I'm not sure where we'd go."

"You seem troubled." A deep voice floated across the rooftop.

Both Star and Scream jumped. The roboticist turned to look over his shoulder. His surprise quickly shifted to a glare when he saw Team Rocket's boss standing in the open roof access door, watching him. How long had he been there?

"You lied to me."

"Mm.." Lucere abandoned the doorway and crossed the roof, braid caught in the wind. "I could have made you a Trainee."

Star turned his glare back over the desert. "You know this isn't what I wanted."

"Of course. I also know that you want more than a high-ranking position. Your lust for power is as easy to read as your cowardice. It's why you left your other team." Lucere came to a stop beside Star, near the edge of the rooftop.

Still seated, Star twitched his head to fire another nasty look up at the suited man. A moment passed and his eyes shifted down toward Lucere's expensive shined shoes... so close to the edge....

"Are you thinking of pushing me off?" Lucere was smirking now, looking down at him.

Star jumped. "What? No, I-"

"What would it accomplish? Would it improve your status here? Do you think you would succeed me? You're just a Grunt, Ian. Someone else would take my place and you'd still be nobody." Lucere rested his hands in his pockets, gaze drifting out across the desert. "If you want power, you'll have to work much harder for it than that."

Brow furrowing, Star looked back up at the other man.

"If you want to exact your revenge on me and steal my command, as I've no doubt you intended from day one, you'll have to move up the ranks until you're the one who would replace me. To have any hope of reaching such a position you'll have to work very hard for me." Lucere cast a knowing glance down at the defeated Galactic, "I'll look forward to seeing that hard work, Mister Sager."

The Boss turned and calmly crossed the roof back to the door, which he shut behind him.

Star stared, then looked at Scream.

"...pidgeot."