Welcome to Gaia! ::

It was cold out and even he felt it, despite the layers of heavy fabric he wore, the ashen blond felt it. His cheeks a cold pink color, and his skin a bit rough in the area, he was a touch paler than usual save for his cheeks. He hated this cold. He wanted, more than anything, to be home with some sort of hot soup or stew and Aiden. Valentine’s day was tomorrow and he was not pleased - not at all.

He hated the day, and he felt he had every right to do so, it was perhaps the reason he was out tonight and seeking out couples who were cozying up. He wasn’t jealous, he had someone, he just disliked all this Valentine’s day s**t and he wasn’t into the public displays of idiocy, also know as PDA’s, that people seemed so into performing especially around Valentine’s day. As if they didn’t do it enough normally they needed a special day to act out even more. A license of sorts. Why they had to act so mushy on that day, and the surrounding days, was annoying. Act like a normal person, like you normally would, all the time there was no need to act out in an abnormal, and annoying, manner now.

Looking at the couple he was draining energy from, the female falling unconscious in his hold, the male looked close to falling unconscious as he continued his energy pull from him. From the female he withdrew his hand and pocketed he orb of energy he had gathered. It was..impressive but nothing he hadn’t seen before.

A bored sound passed his lips as he tilted his head and finally pulled his hand from the male, as he too was now unconscious. Arranging the pair, so she was falling onto his shoulder, he stepped back from the pair and nodded once in satisfaction.

Themisto had powered up in the wrong place at the wrong time, he realized far too late. Just a scant 20 yards away, he felt the oppressive energy of one of the agents, no doubt. It was heavy, intense, like staring into a black sun and feeling the heat as weight on his skin. Themisto had to think, couldn't move. What could he do? Could he outrun them? Maybe the person - what came after Captain, again? - was busy with something else. Maybe they wouldn't notice someone small and feeble and lame like Themisto…

He didn't even have time to put on decent shoes! He knew for a fact that as soon as he powered up, he was visible on everybody’s radar. Should he try to change shoes really quick? Could he outrun someone that powerful?

Best to try, he realized, adrenaline starting to cloud his thoughts. His fingers trembled trying to pull his geta off and lace on a normal running shoe. Themisto was in a dark alley, hidden behind a dumpster for what good it did. God, his body kept shaking and all Themisto could think about was how he royally screwed up this time and could very well never see the sun again.

Lifting his head from where he was looking at the couple, making sure they were somewhat comfortable, he shifted around and turned slowly. Someone was out here tonight and they were a senshi...how lovely. Not only was it a senshi but someone new, at least in rank, he had no way of telling how long they’d actually been around.

“How interesting…” The simple words were whispered to himself, puffs of white smoke curling out past his lips as he spoke. Moving slowly, on heeled boots, toward the signature he let his hands slip into the pockets of his coat. The gloves were helpful but being stuffed inside his coat helped a bit more.

As he got closer, and noticed a lack of people around, he decided to call out and see if he was heard. “You can come out. I can sense you. There is no use in hiding and hoping I won’t find you.” No, not when they could only run and he could teleport. If he wanted them he could have them - with ease. He wasn’t figuring on a fight though, not against some basic senshi who likely knew better than to try and fight a General.

The General probably heard the sudden panicked shuffling well before he heard anything Themisto had to say. He was caught, and just hearing the General call for him sent shockwaves through his body. Hair stood on end and the young man couldn’t staunch the shaking of his limbs. He was certain tonight would be his very last mistake.

The agent was correct - there was no sense in trying to hide and praying he wouldn’t be found. Slowly, shakily, Themisto stood up from his place behind the large metal dumpster. The darker green of his outfit made him someone difficult to see, but the bright white of his chestpiece stood out like a sore thumb. Only one shoe was fully laced and the other was left undone, laces trailing pitifully behind his left foot. Geta were abandoned behind the dumpster.

Themisto held his hands up as if the General were a police officer, head low. If the lighting were better in this alley, Benitoite could easily see the senshi was shaking. “Ah… hi…” He sounded pitiful, remorseful, terrified.

They really were a baby senshi...so meek! Watching them as they stepped into view he came closer. Enough of them, due to the color of their uniform, obscure due to the darkness of night and the alleyway itself. “Well now...a baby senshi.” Tilting his head, slate hued eyes staring up at the figure. He let his blond hair whisper across his face as he looked at them rather innocently, if not a bit blankly as well.

Letting his gaze drift up their frame he did notice the shoes, now those were interesting, and continued on as if he didn’t notice them. “You’re a senshi I’ve not seen.” Stating the obvious a bit but it didn’t matter, not to him anyway.

“Are you scared? You do sound it...and sad. Tell me...why the sadness?” He questioned lightly, curious. Had something happened, something he could use against them? Was it something else...he did wish to know, he had an interest in this.

“I am Benitoite.”

Are you scared?

Hell yeah, he was scared! He was terrified! Death had found him and told him sternly that there was no use hiding. This was Final Destination without the twelve car pileup. Death was a petite blonde man in a long coat. Death was… surprisingly polite.

Themisto kept his head low, almost deafened by the pounding of his heart in his ears. Death was named Benitoite? Well, considering everything else that had happened in his life, death having a strange name wasn't too surreal. The baby senshi, as he had been called, was attempting to steady his breathing. Themisto squinted with Benitoite’s energy signature blinding him in its proximity and power.

“Uh… yeah, yeah you could… say I'm scared… heh.” came the rather honest reply. “Are… are you here to kill me, Benitoite?”

Might as well ask.

The laughter which bubbled up and passed his lips was something one might expect from a disney villain, or some other villain. It was dark but also amused...but the twist of his lips said there was more to it perhaps.

“No...why? Do you want to die? I assure you...I doubt it’s something you should chase after.” If in fact the little senshi was, which he doubted he was. He seemed too scared to be chasing after death. He rather looked like some rabbit that was face to face with a giant wolf, that was hungry. This little senshi was more than just low in level but also easy to scare...they hadn’t been at this long - he was sure of it.

He’d seen other senshi, new ones, that had more...backbone than this one...but they had more experience as well.

“You’re new, aren’t you.” It wasn’t a question, rather a statement. He was rather sure of this so why question it, why ask the obvious. Hmmm...this was an interesting situation, and one he didn’t find himself in often.

Themisto frowned, trying to hide it with his hair while his head was bent. He wasn’t chasing death as far as he was concerned - Death had chased him.

But that was neither here nor there.

“Yeah… I’m pretty new.” he admitted, knowing full well that this Benitoite fellow could easily sense it as such. It was the same mechanism through which he sensed that both Kari and Denebola were more powerful than himself. Benitoite, unfortunately, eclipsed both women. The General’s dark aura was oppressive, smothering. Themisto kept having to squint despite being unable to physically see Benitoite’s power signature.

“I haven’t met anyone with your kind of power, though. Just smaller ones like me…” Also truthful with the exception of a Captain he had run from. “You must be a veteran, huh Benitoite?”

“I can tell. Most who hold your rank would have run, very few would remain and fewer would try and cross swords with me.” And those who were that stupid, who tried to fight him when they were basic senshi, would fall with ease . This one though was simply standing here and admittedly scared...he hadn’t run though. That was impressive, though not exactly smart. He was lucky.

“So you haven’t met any eternal senshi or knights either..I’m surprised. This city seems infested with your kind.” His own kind as well of course, but he didn’t say that. There was no bite in his words, though there could have easily been, he didn’t want to scare the poor little rabbit further.

Approaching slowly, not wanting to scare him, he reached up with a gloved hand. Resting it on the others shoulder. “I suspect I was at this while you were still a pre-teen.” The information might have been in his files, which anyone could access, but he honestly didn’t know if it listed his age upon entering the Negaverse or his current age. It was something he never paid attention to, but he knew the files on everyone were rather extensive.

“Six years...I was sixteen. I’m twenty two now.” He stated calmly, staring up at the other.

Themisto squinted slightly, wondering if Death was simply toying with him for His own amusement. “...running didn’t seem like the best idea. I’ve seen people more powerful than me move faster, anyway…” Truthfully, Themisto thought it futile to run away from someone he simple knew could outrun him in the blink of an eye if He so chose. Neither option guaranteed safety, as far as the senshi was concerned.

The senshi flinched visibly when Benitoite’s hand came into contact with his shoulder. Any movement from the General could mean certain death in Themisto’s eyes. Kari had quite a lot of people, but after Denebola’s explanation about Chaos and what it’s capable of, plus Katya’s need for a General-King to corrupt someone… Themisto knew he was in the danger zone. “N-n-no, I haven’t met anyone else like you.”

Six years is a very long time to be a part of this war, and if Themisto didn’t think it would offend Benitoite, he would show genuine awe of this accomplishment. If one could call it that. “T-that’s a really long time, Benitoite. You’re right, I was still pretty young six years ago…” If he had continued in the war back when he was awakened, he might have been at Benitoite’s rank by now. Instead, Themisto opted to run away and hide…

Benitoite, he assumed, must have been awfully powerful and cunning to have survived this long.

“Mmm, yes. Not only can I move faster but I can teleport.” He answered, staring up at the other calmly. His voice low and amused. Yes, he could easily catch the other if he ran, at least he knew that. It was, to a point, good to know what was stupid to even attempt...to have a grasp of what the enemy could do and very well might do even.

“Indeed, it is. You see and do many things in that time - and it all seems to fly by until you look back on it. Events, information, it seems to smudge together till you can’t remember exactly where or how you learned or saw something - you just know it. You remember key events but the little ones...you forget in time. Very little surprises you any longer and even more rare is for something new to happen - something you’ve not yet encountered.” Or at least something similar.

Shrugging his shoulders he ran his fingers through his long ashen hair, letting the silken strands fall between his fingers and fall about his face.

“You also learn to survive in that time and to read those around you. You’re new and lack in training...tell me...are you new or has your side simply not trained you?”

The senshi gave a nervous chuckle when Benitoite admitted to being not only faster, but possessing the ability to teleport. “See? Ha… I wouldn’t be able to outrun you even if I wanted to, so… didn’t seem fruitful to even try.” It was like trying to outrun a train, really. Themisto would be crushed either way if he so much as attempted it.

Benitoite’s monologue had Themisto wondering if post-traumatic stress disorder was common among the veterans of the war. Sure, they all had ridiculous outfits but the agents carried weapons. Katya said people had died during this war, and if what Benitoite said is true, the war has been raging for at least six years. That in and of itself was overwhelming to the newbie senshi, who had just begun his descent into the true horrific nature of what was going on in Destiny City.

The kinds of things the news either didn’t cover, or refused to. How could the citizens be so ignorant?

How could he be so ignorant?

The blond’s question broke Themisto free of his thoughts for a moment. “Ah… I’m p-pretty new.” Only a partial lie, really. He’d awoken two years ago and ran from it, refusing to power up until recently. In the grand scheme of things, he must’ve appeared but a child among wolves. “I-I don’t know much about training…”

“No, but that doesn’t mean people don’t try. People try things even if they know it’s futile - human nature. You learn a lot about people the longer you're in this war. You see what people will do under various circumstances...the sacrifices, the giving in to human nature, self serving behavior, and self sacrificing behavior - you see it all.” At some point anyway. There was a lot to be learned about people just by watching how people reacted in different circumstances and this war produced a lot of varied situations. It was a nice way to study people...to learn about people...and then turn it into a weapon to be used against them.

Tilting his head he felt a slight smile tug at his lips. Oh...this could be fun, he would try and play this one to his ways and string him up like a puppet. “A shame...someone should have been training you from the moment you woke. I’d never let an agent of mine go without training - not in this environment. It’s far too dangerous. To not train someone is close to signing their death certificate for them...as they become a sitting duck. So sad that no one took you under their wing.” And now here he was...scared and easily able to be killed by the General.

He was vulnerable and he was going to remind him of that, remind him that his side had failed. He’d keep prodding while offering comforts and honey coated words to the other. His words were true though, the other had been failed by his own side and he’d have never let an officer of his out like this - so clueless!

Themisto nodded during the General’s monologue. He had no doubt whatsoever that Benitoite had seen it all - even things Themisto could not imagine. The senshi had no idea of the depths of the war and could only conjure superficial ideas at best. He knew of Metallia, but not what she was. He knew of the Negaverse, but not its breadth. There were still so many missing pieces..

“Y-yeah… I think so too… someone should have trained me…” Katya said as much. That was the one thing that pulled Themisto’s heartstrings, as it were - self-preservation. He was terrified that this moment would happen if he became reckless, or powered up in the wrong place at the wrong time. Benitoite may never have found him if Zach hadn’t made that fateful decision. “I-it’s too bad, huh?”

Denebola’s teachings about losing one’s memories, family and friends… that is what kept Themisto from willing turning heel.

“I-I guess I wouldn’t be much of a trophy, huh…?” he mumbled absently, keeping his head down. “S-since I’m not, you know… higher rank… and everything…”

“I wouldn’t say that. I’d say it depends on the person, not the rank. I’d rather a willing person change sides than one by force. But without training...that leaves you without any bad habits to deal with. Or with any other negative things clinging to them which need to be addressed. It’s like a clean slate in a sense...as if brought on to this side from the start.” He spoke lightly, honestly. If it was one thing about him - he was honest. He might leave things out, manipulate things, but he didn’t lie. He just worked things to his favor, he had to get around being a poor liar somehow.

“I could bring you to my side and take you under my wing - train you properly. You’d leave how to fight, so you wouldn’t have to worry so much about injury...or worse. I’d tell you about what’s happened since I joined, what I learned happened before I joined. You’d have questions answered, if I had to put you in touch with others who knew more - knew better...knew first hand. I would offer a home and help whenever needed.” He took care of his officers, and always would. They were his! And he was, just a bit, protective of them.

“You’d have my teach to help you, to be out there with you, to teach and train you. You wouldn’t be so alone…”

Truth be told, if Benitoite wasn't an officer of the Negaverse, Themisto might be seriously considering his offer. He wanted training, he wanted information, he wanted his questions answered. He hated being so out of the loop and ignorant and afraid. He wanted to know why they fought, why the Negaverse was trying to take over the city, why the senshi were from space and ended up here. Why? Why?

But Ember and Denebola’s teachings showed him that turning over to Chaos wasn't an option for him, and Benitoite confirmed it. A blank slate meant he forgot his friends and family, forgot Kari and Denebola and Ember. He would lose his identity, he would lose…

….everything.

He couldn't fathom that.

And so lifted his head and looked Benitoite in the eye. He couldn't turn himself over, no matter how sweet the blonde’s offer was. No matter how much he craved safety and security. “I… I'm sorry, Benitoite. But… I can't do that. I can't forget Kari or Denebola or Ember. I just can't. Perditus Anima!” Upon his command, a disembodied upper half of a ghostly human being appeared about ten feet behind the General and rushed forward, wailing its sorrow and pain. It reached out to the blonde as if to cling to him, to never let him go.

Themisto prepared to run because his life depended on it.

He would have said something, would have tried further to gain the others favor, but instead the other seemed fit to attack him! How dare he! He wanted to lash out, and was just summoning his weapon when something hit him. He wasn’t sure where from but it was unexpected, he was honestly expecting some sort of painful magic...or some mildly irritating magic. He didn’t get hit with either such thing.

Instead it was another magic which played with the feelings, which he truly detested, as he found himself feeling things he had never felt before. He felt...a deep sense of just...loss and sadness. It suddenly felt like there was just a big, huge, empty space somewhere in his chest and the pit of his stomach.

Biting down on his lip, trying in vein to fight off the feeling, he knew it was magic and it wasn’t real but it was honestly strong and the feelings wouldn’t shake. He just had to deal with it, which left time for the senshi to take off unfortunate for him. He’d deal with them though...just not now. Once the feeling passed it took a few moments, a minute or so really, so recover and at that point he wanted to sort of go home. He’d deal with the senshi another time, they were a basic anyway. He would remove them as soon as he could...just not right now. He hated emotional attacks, mental ones, he could handle physical ones...that he knew how to deal with - easily.

Themisto ran as far and as fast as his legs could carry him. Breath hitched in his thrower, his lungs ablaze. Feet smacking against the pavement, he knew he had only a limited time to get away and power down and hide. Hide like he was a lamb and the wolf was hot on his trail.

The only place he could find in the immediate vicinity was a convenience store, its fluorescent light spilling out onto the concrete and into the darkness. He powered down midway there, skidding to a halt to open the door and duck inside. He looked like hell and the attendant thought perhaps he was there to rob the place.

Zach put up his hands while trying to catch his breath. “I...I was just… those crazy costume people… the terrorists… can… can I… hide here please…?” Breathing was difficult and the old store clerk seemed unmoving for a few eternal moments. Finally, he waved the boy to the side of the large register counter behind which he took cash. There, Zach hunkered next to candy bars and energy drinks, away from the window, so he could catch his breath.