Welcome to Gaia! ::

Caedus was standing at the top of the hill, looking up into the sky when he heard the voice from behind him. He turned, slowly, and then cocked his head to the side a bit as he watched him toss the crystal.

"Those may not be fragile, but I do not think of them as a toy. Be careful not to hurt yourself," he advised, crossing his arms over his chest.

He observed the smile. "You seem in good spirits though, so I suppose you are safe enough. Have you come with questions?"

"No, no the first," Caedus admitted. He held up one hand. "I do not need it yet, but thank you for the offer. I am grateful you are attempting to help me, though. Truly. I did not expect such kindness on this planet. These Senshi and Knights…truly perplex me. I do wonder, though."

He cocked his head to the side. "Do you aid me to get me off of your planet, or do you wish to strike against the Negaverse? I am only curious. Some have come to defend the Negaverse. I do not know why. They have not changed my view of them. I do not understand why people sympathize with their ranks."

"I think I understand you," Caedus said after a few second of mulling over the male's words. "But I do think this plan is the 'best deal'. I find the Negaverse reprehensible, volatile and downright incorrigible. I have no praise to deliver, and no hope that they can be corrected. I saw what they were becoming when Beryl took over. I saw what she was prepared to have them do. From what I know now, and what I have gathered from your peers, the Negaverse no longer wage war against the Moon. Instead, they intend to purge the Senshi and Knights from this planet, and they are willing to do whatever is necessary. They will harvest and kill innocents to further their goal. They claim that they are only trying to protect the Earth? From invaders. Like yourself? …But you were born on this world. It is your own. As, yours is destroyed, is it not? That is what I have gathered from those who have come to visit me. That Earth is the only world you have found with life."

He sighed, and seemed bothered—unnerved—by such a thing, but he forced himself to continue. "Beryl wanted to rule this Earth. She may have had other goals, but Metallia drove her to want this world. Metallia wants to consume the world. But your kind fights her. You keep her in check, and prevent her from expanding. If the Senshi were removed, she would have no one to stop her. She would absorb the energy from this planet and comb the universe looking for something else. But can you imagine? …All the life on this planet. Absorbed, by her. The power she would gain? She would be unstoppable. And the more the Negaverse grows, the more her power grows. Each day she exists is another day she grows stronger."

"It is reassuring to hear that you intend to fight back. I fear there are those that are so eager to avoid battle they might simply bend over backwards to accommodate the Negaverse. It will buy them time, but it will not spare them." It was an unpleasant fact, but Caedus did not have to exaggerate to stress how terrible the spread of the Negaverse would be.

"If you fail, the only thing you can do is pray that the Galaxy Cauldron will find sympathy for your starseed and grant you a quick rebirth—or a rebirth far, far away from the root of such Chaos. I have no doubt that the Earth will be lost. But, if you should succeed, the opportunities are vast. Not only will you have secured the safety of your planet, you will have granted yourselves the time and energy to restore life on your homeworlds. With Metallia's Chaos removed, you will not need to fear for the Earth in such a way. You can focus on improving it—on improving the universe. Restoring it, and all your homeworlds to their former glory."

"I have a plan," Caedus confirmed. "But it is not a bomb." He seemed apologetic, and sighed." …Unfortunately, I did not realize your allies would be so…divided. When last I walked the Earth, there were disagreements, but…there was a general understanding. When times required it, they were able to band together. Differences meant little when someone was in danger. Now…"

He sighed, once more. "…I do not know. I had hoped everyone would be more interested in fighting the Negaverse. Not each other. Chaos does not consume you, and yet I have seen some act as though it does. Perhaps Metallia's influence is worse than I thought. But I do not have a fancy weapon. What I did carry with me was lost in the past millennia. I used what I had to survive. I am sorry for that. I fear my only use now is opening a door to your target."

"I have faith in your forces," he said adamantly. "I knew many senshi, and many knights. And many that I do not see on Earth. But I learned, of all things, that to receive, you must give. I would need more energy than what a few days could spare to get home. My homeworld…is not here. Not where I can see it. Which means it is very far. That energy will take more time to collect, but I promised, in return for your aid, a doorway to the Negaverse."

His eyes seemed to droop a bit and he bowed his head tiredly. "I am used to bartering. Many of your allies seemed intent at the opportunity. I hoped that giving you what you want would aid me in getting what I want. Although, I confess, destruction of the Negaverse is a secondary goal. I wish I could go home and forget about them, but I…"

Caedus swallowed. "…I feel eyes on me, at all times. A cold stare. When I am alone, or with company. The presence of the Negaverse weighs heavily upon me. Worlds apart, and I do not know if I can escape it."

He shook his head.

"I would not risk making enemies of you. I must prove myself before I leave. If I do not deliver what I promise, I will lose your trust."

As wary as ever of physical contact, it was difficult for Caedus to relax enough to take the offered hand.

He managed, however it was after a pause.

"Apologies," he said, and sounded like he meant it; he reached out and carefully, gently, gripped Centisima's hand.

"Thank you for coming. If I can aid you in anything or answer any questions, please do not hesitate. I will be here."