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As months had dragged out from the ignominy of the New Years Operation, the failing of the Negaverse to conduct anything close to an honorable and believable purpose, Titan had hoped that this particular shoe would never drop. There'd never been inquest from the acting Sovereigns, Laurelite or Apatite, nor word come down from Howlite or any General in the Special Operations. Cinnabar had vanished into the dark. Every bit gone from sight and sound as the likelihood of anyone with a half-destroyed and chaos glued starseed bearing the name 'Mia.' It was a hope that was equaled by his suspicion that nothing about his service in the Negaverse turned out well, and the latter proved the more accurate- Cinnabar appears at least. And a General now. Was she waiting specially for that upper hand in both rank and power? Why not. But what will come of the assured victory, and what is her expectation? I don't know anything about her. She is not Mia, and even that Mars Knight of dream I did not know well.

Titan didn't hesitate in approaching to the door and where the woman waited with a casual air that he didn't trust to be more than an act. He didn't put a hand to the door or make a move to enter the room beyond. He met her gaze without malice or question in his own- his expression was that of awaiting orders. "It is a General's freedom to speak when you want to be heard. I am listening, General Cinnabar. "

While he entered the room wordlessly, he did not take a seat. She performed as expected, a form of aggression in her voice and choices of cutting them off from the halls. Privacy can protect the subject...but vengeance, too. Where does she plan to go with this?

His answer came in the same incurious cadence as the rest of his words had had. "I pulled the Bull from the wall to follow the order for retreat. The policy I know is that enemies are not to be brought to the Dark Kingdom, but he was still useful and so not to be terminated. Some enemies tailed by aura. I could not win over two knights and a senshi, with only one arm to fight with. They won him back. I've reported to Laurelite I will recapture or kill him. "

"Was there anything else, General?"

He couldn't decide between surprise she was asking him, of all people, to describe any sort of detail on people he may have seen for less that five minutes at least five months previous, or concern that he'd garnered a reputation better than what he was certain he ever merited somewhere. Titan toungued the back of his labret, both of the centers of his brows lifting with uncertainty. It is direct order. All the dark must be light. Don't fish for words and don't hesitate.

"The senshi had blue hairs, and he wore the colors of red and white. There were marks on his skin. " He hadn't put much more in depth detail into any of his reports to the database either. At least saying the so-called descriptions didn't require correct spelling. It didn't sound like something anyone could really use to pinpoint Kerberos. But he hadn't stayed to see the knight that Hvergelmir had called on her ring. A mix of a car and Kairatos himself would have to do. "Both knights were women. One was a gown like rainbows and wore the Cosmos star, her hair was purple. But it was dark. The other wore a breastplate and other armor. She moved much faster and stronger than I can. Not much skin to see if she had marks or scars. Red and gold and she wore the symbol of Mars. "

He didn't have more to offer, so waited as she seemed to examine the surroundings. Her declaration of intention was met with the same leaping enthusiasm as a teacher assigning a twenty page paper over a holiday- none at all. It didn't require an answer, one way or another, so Titan left out commenting at all on her magnanimity. "I work with Lieutenant Alkahest of the Information Division. "

Her next words were questions, but they sounded like the sort that people used when they didn't actually want or care for an answer. They were questions meant as insults. He was used to those. Peers and Teachers both had used lots of questions as insults as he grew up. She asks what she already has an answer to in her mind because it makes her feel powerful, smart, and in control. Shes not actually interested in the answers to other questions either. It's chatter. Distraction. She throws words one way and she paces and paces like a cat in a small cage waiting to attack. She's going to try something.

When she planted herself behind him, it couldn't have been more plainly telegraphed that the attack was imminent. He waited for it, shocked enough by sensation to inhale sharply when the hand slid 'round starseed. The feel of the unsubtle hand all pain, he had to go down to one knee. There wasn't choice in it. He didn't worry about it. It was her aim to see him put beneath her, for whatever motivation. A petty, simple one. She is angry. She is bitter and betrayed because I 'beat' her? Some other read of the carnival? It is months ago now. It is something of that, but it is simple. It is not great, no more than I am. Why did they promote her? She is ruled by simple things. There must have been some reason? She is no lord. She is nothing I would follow- she is prideful, boasting, and under all her anger's reins. Petty. But she can kill me if she likes. There is no one to answer to. The Sovereigns would not care. Obsidian is gone. She is a risen general. The Sovereigns have some reason. And I am just a captain. Focus.

Titan breathed hard, kept his gaze forward and at the juncture of the wall with the floor to try to bring it away from swimming into clarity. "I am at your disposal-"

"- General."

Will you, General? Is that to win my fealty? I am supposed to fear if I die in such a way. Maybe it is what she fears- she chooses to wield it it as the strongest threat she knows. Do not look up. Do not give them the weapons they search for to return the yoke to it's place. Do not let them know it is loose. It will be gone, either way. In death or in kneeling to that other death of forgetfulness and a new name. I do not fear it.

If he told himself enough, if he remembered the wasting of his Lord, the creatures of the Hall of Shadows, of smiling Bazzite, the blighted dreams of the land and the conspicuous lack of anything wholesome being done by the Negaverse for the beating heart of the Earth, then he could convince himself that death wasn't the worst option. It was half a lie, really, that he didn't fear it. But he didn't want to go more than half. It seemed, in its own way, a dark and swallowing maw on the other side of the wall he stood on and tried to balance his way across. If there was no care for life at all, one despaired, or became callous. He was leaning too far that way, more and more, losing voice and learning all the ways of living a weapon.

He didn't know what to make of it, but kept still and silent. If she could savor her victories, there was less reason for her to return of her own time and volition any time soon. Docile, he stayed motionless but for breathing on the floor until the sound of her steps were less than echoes. He didn't feel like resting there anymore. He vanished to the city once more.