Back dated to last summer, June 2014.

Many things were going on in his life and none more important than that which was done for the Negaverse, for chaos, even though he had several outside obligations including ones to himself. He was still working through his emotions, feelings, and other such things but he didn’t allow it to keep him from his perusal of a solution to a problem which faced the Negaverse and her agents. It wasn’t the senshi, nor the knights, it wasn’t something so simple and yet difficult to solve. He was not a miracle worker nor some deity, thus he could not single handedly solver the issue of senshi and/or knights.

No, the issue was something easier to handle though difficult it certainly was, but what in life that was worth anything was easy? With power came pain, came struggle, came effort, and work. And for this side project, as he had his tea shop going, all those things applied.

The problem in question was an addiction to starseeds, not that he had one. It was the very notion that such an addiction was possible, though he could understand why, and that officers suffered from it currently. Not only that but others would, and could, fall to it with a fair amount of ease; in his opinion. It was that which had him seeking some sort of “cure” for the problem. Maybe cure wasn’t the best word but perhaps starseed substitute worked better? Yes, it was exactly what he had been working on for a little over two weeks now.

Putting his knowledge of plants to use he had cracked open books, bought things from the store he worked out, picked leaves and stems from plants he himself owned and tracked other plants down that he didn’t own, the neighbors wouldn’t be pleased if they knew he’d gone into their backyard to “borrow” some pieces of a prized plant of theirs – too bad. He’d tried mixing things up in the blender, steeping them, boiling them, and grinding things with mortar and pestle. Plants on there own he knew would not work, they would not provide the energy which a starseed did, how could they? If they did than every civilian would know by now, as someone would have long ago discovered it. No, he needed something…some additive. He’d thought on it and settled on grinded starseeds as he hoped the plants added in would assist somehow in handling the addictive qualities of starseeds. All he’d round up with were stomache aches and time lost spent over a toilet bowl with the shakes as he heaved up what he’d drank; testing this concoctions on himself.

Seeing as that didn’t work he’d tried different plant blends but found starseeds wouldn’t work, now having a talk to a fairly intelligent youma he’d found down in the Rift. He knew better than to trust them as Bischofite had but for a simple question he was fairly certain he could trust the youma's answer. A starseed was a starseed no matter what he added to it. The problem of addiction would persist, he was lucky he didn’t have an issue with wanting to devour them considering the taste testing he’d done, though to be honest he’d grinded up only a few starseeds and spread the ground up powder amongst the various concoctions he’d brewed over the week and a half he’d been brewing.

With his supplies depleted he’d gone out shopping again, spending even more money that he’d have to explain to his parents somehow, dove over his neighbor’s fence to abuse their poor plant again, trimmed his own plants and in general he gathered more supplies and even brought in a few new things. What was he missing though? He’d thought on it the whole time he’d been purchasing, browsing the jars at the occult shop, diving over fences, and trimming his plants. There had to be some method to gain the energy that was needed without using a starseed. He could take energy from civilians and grind that up? But no…he knew from the past that breaking an energy orb returned the energy to the person from which it was taken. That wouldn’t do then.

It was while tending to his plants, outside of trimming them for materials, that the idea had smacked him in the face. They had plants down in the rift! They were youma and plants and youma consumed starseeds and energy orbs! He’d seen the plant youma so long ago that it was no wonder he’d forgotten about them. Back when gathering the pieces of the great youma they’d gone and trimmed the plants, he had a feeling they hadn’t liked his gentle manner and how he’d gone about trimming them and taking his time in doing so. Would they remember him? Would he be able to reach them and trim them a bit? All for brewing, blending, grinding, and concocting things with the parts? He hoped so. This might just yield what he needed and he would have something else to present to the General Queen who had put such faith in him and his abilities whilst ignoring, or over looking, his past mistakes. He wanted, and had, to prove himself to her because it was a matter of pride and redemption as far as he was concerned. He had to accomplish something to help others and to stand apart from the crowd, to make his mark, and help the Negaverse in taking one step forward; even if it was a small one.

His mind made up the blond had left his house that night and once a safe distance from home he had powered up and teleported down into the Citadel from where he walked to the Rift, could someone please fix things so he could teleport into the Rift? It was such a long walk down there, and then to where he was headed, and back. If it weren’t for the morning runs he went on, and time at the gym, it would have tired him out; without a doubt. But after sometime, he didn’t even know how long, he had made it and stood some feet back looking at the plant youma. Would they attack him? He had only his weapon and his pockets, deep as they were, to provide him a way to remove the parts and a place to store them until he got home with them. Biting his lip he took a slow step forward, trying not to show hesitance, as he spoke up to the youma gathered.

“I come in need of assistance. I need to collect parts from you each, leaves and stems, in order to attempt to further our goals. You will submit and allow me that which I seek from you.” He spoke in a clear voice as he shoved as much confidence, and command, into the words as he could. He knew they should take his orders, bend and bow to his request, and yet somehow he didn’t trust them. He hadn’t a reason to trust them given that they’d tried to attack him the last time he’d encountered them. It seemed that he was however in luck as he was able to get closer, as they seemed to wilt in on themselves, sort to speak, and pulling out the sheers he had brought he set to work. Being quick and careful, he didn’t want to take too much, he ignored the complaints they voiced as leaves and vines, stems, and even little flowers were snipped free of the whole and stuffed into his pockets. Ducking as one seemed to stretch, one long stalk coming out and almost hitting him, he finished his work minutes later and thanked them before he turned on his heels and hurried back the way he’d come.

It could have gone worse, much worse, as he’d thought it was likely to go but he was pleased as he left the dark kingdom. It had gone well enough that he had a suitable amount of material to work with and a varied sort of material to deal with. Working with plants as he did he knew that with some plants the leaf and what it contained could be rather different from a flower or a berry and so having a little of everything it allowed him to try different pairings. He could keep everything the same except the plant part used and perhaps gain different results, he just hoped he didn’t somehow poison himself to death, or into a hospital trip. He doubted he’d be able to explain this to Luralite if she were to find him in a hospital bed after having his stomach pumped, as it was likely she’d want to know why he hadn’t used someone else to test his concoctions on rather than himself - as he was useful and needed by the Negaverse.

Powered down and pushing his door open he locked it behind himself and toed off his shoes. His keys went down on the small table by the door and he headed for the kitchen where he emptied out the pockets of his coat, he’d transferred the items from his General’s coat to the ground and than to the pockets on the coat he wore as a civilian. “Time to get back to work.” Sighing to himself he went about gathering everything he had and started to process again.

It was hours later, and two trips to the bathroom later, that he glanced to the clock and fought back yet another wide yawn, he was tired. He’d been at this for hours and was feeling the strain, both mentally and physically, he was glad it was a sunday and the tea shop was closed today so he could run himself so ragged with his private work. What would have happened had he dragged himself in like this to work in front of other officers? No doubt someone would ask him about his state of exhaustion and perhaps even show some worry for him. Someone might even asked him what had him so tired and he wasn’t up for divulging the private task he’d taken up - it wasn’t something he wanted others knowing when he didn’t even know if he could, or would, find a solution to the problem he had set about solving.

Leaving everything out, he didn’t worry about the little terrier he had getting onto the counter, he headed to take a shower and crash for what little remained of the night.

It wasn’t until the next day, around noon, that a breakthrough occurred as he found himself not running for the bathroom, which had been seeing far too much of him lately, but rather he felt full of energy. Staring at the half full vial in his hand, one of two with this particular brew, he took the risk of powering up in his home and drank down the rest of the vial in his hand and again he felt that boost of power that only ingesting a starseed or energy orb could bring. The feeling of energy and refreshment that had him feeling less tired that he had felt before he’d drank the first half of the vial's contents. Powering down, despite his joy, he didn’t need to be discovered by some random senshi or knight wandering about powered up in the middle of the day. “I found it…” He breathed out before looking around and wondering just what to do. Should he clean everything up? The mortar and pestle could use a cleaning and the blender...the poor thing needed to get into the dishwasher along with a load of other things. But he needed to see Luralite also.

Biting his lip as he shifted on the balls of his feet he finally made up his mind, rather in a rush to be honest, and took the single remaining vial of this brew and corked it, he didn’t need it spilling, and ignoring the mess he’d made of his kitchen counter tops he hurried into the living room where he proceeded to grab his keys and pull on his shoes. That done he was calling out a good bye to Cadha, he’d be home soon, and out the door he went. Locking the door behind him, he actually did remember to do that, he hurried down the block and to a nearby alleyway where the vial was set gently on the ground so he could power up. Once powered up he picked up the vial and slipped it into a coat pocket and off he teleported down into the palace which made up the main safe haven of the Negaverse.

Boots clicked on the dark crystal floors as he called out for the General Queen whom he sought. “Luralite.” he hoped she was down here, even though he knew she was also a civilian and had a life outside of the Negaverse, but he hoped that today she had no life and was down here. It might sound selfish but it was far from it and he hoped she wouldn’t have an issue with him calling out for her as he was, for coming in the middle of the day seeking her out. One hand was inside his pocket holding onto the vial as if to keep it safe - but from what? Nothing here would take it or destroy it. Yet he still held onto it as though it were something precious - and it wasn’t...wasn’t it?