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Another day, same story. To the surprise of probably no one, Captain Kyanite had managed to, no doubt, add another strike to her heavily stricken record. On an extra patrol round (assigned because she bungled a simple energy drain the week before), the Negaverse Captain had found herself facing off with a base-level senshi -- inexperienced, weaker than her, an easy win. As they sparred, Kyanite had countless opportunities to take the girl out or at least cause some very real damage, and yet, over and over, her hand hesitated. Her whip slackened. That hesitation was enough for her to get some unneeded blows and then, most horribly, get in some deep trouble when an eternal senshi appeared suddenly to assist. If she couldn't pull the trigger in a fight where she could clearly win, it all went out the window when she was suddenly outnumbered.

Then Chrysocolla appeared and saved her a**. In the moment, Kyanite had been grateful, but ever since, the fretting had taken over. Would Chrysocolla report her for incompetence? It wouldn't be the first time. But Kyanite's experience was that some Negas were by the book and always reported, versus others were more merciful and viewed things as a learning opportunity. What type of comrade would this eternal corrupt senshi be?

Since Kyanite joined the Negaverse -- selected only because she was making too much noise about her missing cousin, who turned out to be a recently murdered GK Marthozite -- the South African girl had only encountered roadblock after roadblock. There was a certain pedigree, maybe, to her history, and all Kyanite had done was present herself as a failure to that bloodline, a black sheep, a lost cause.

There had been a brief glimmer when she met with Jade, seemingly taking steps down a path to work more in the PR and social media front. There had been progress there, which cheered Kyanite for a time, but one of her initial assignments to take some gritty fashion shots around the city and tag it with anti-senshi commentary had already cost her a close friend. The truth was Kyanite preferred her civilian side. It was simpler, less pressure. Initially, Kyanite was happy to throw herself into supporting recruits, but she had languished first as a lieutenant and then as a captain. She was beginning to believe the things that she sometimes heard whispered: she was a joke. She wasn't fit to wear the blacks. Brought no honor to Metallia.

Working on a team was her preferred position, but she had proven to be a liability too many times. Solo patrols in safe zones had become her mainstay, and clerical work back at the ranch. None of that was going to get her to General. But honestly? Kyanite was beginning to doubt she even wanted it.

But here she was in Negaspace, because she had been called by Chrysocolla to meet up. What would it be: punishment or mercy? She knit her fingers and stood, eyes down, nerves high.

There was always something about corrupt senshi that felt extra imposing to Kyanite. She marveled to have them fighting alongside her, all dramatic long hair and scary gaping holes in them. Some Negas, those who had existed long before her, could remember a time in the earliest days when the corrupt senshi had been powerful tools, not ranking members. But those days were long gone, and had been wrong, and Kyanite viewed the powerful senshi in front of her with the same combination of fear and awe that she felt for Generals. They had earned their place, something that Kyanite continued to struggle to do.

And this ranking eternal senshi just might be here to hand Kyanite's a** to her.

The initial brightness had Kyanite take the seat politely, with her own faltering smile, but then, immediately, it was down to business. Something to say? She could think of plenty of things, but each one, she knew, was an excuse. The Negaverse didn't tolerate excuses, and truth be told, either did Kyanite -- at least when they came from herself.

"I..." The words died on her lips. "There is no excuse."

She fell silent again, afraid that saying the wrong thing would only make what was coming worse.

Kyanite lifted her eyes to meet Chrysocolla's as the eternal corrupt spoke. She was cheered when the powerful woman shared that she, too, had once struggled. Did that mean she was the merciful type? The captain remained tense, but visibly relaxed, if marginally.

Being called weak did not cause her guard to raise; she knew it was true. She had said that, and much worse, to herself over and over. But the part about putting something in her head? Kyanite stilled. Against her will? Something had changed her?

The dark-haired girl drew in a quiet breath. She had never heard of something like this. Sure, she had known Negas who had overcome their fear and embrace Chaos, but she had always assumed that was a natural growth. Was it something else? "What... what was it? What did General Umber... how... I have never heard of something like that, that it even exists is..." Her words trailed off again. And then: "Is it... still there?"

Kyanite wanted to be better, but a worm in your brain did not sound like the kind of motivation she was seeking.

Youmaglia. The word sent an icy chill down Kyanite's spine. She knew the Negaverse had ways to make you better, some kinder than others. But putting a youma in your brain? Somehow it seemed worse than gaining a youma limb or youma eyes. She could see how those joinings made the Nega more powerful and more terrifying. Those felt more like compromise, a mutual joining of forces. But one in your brain to... to... control you? That was what it sounded like.

And it wasn't the kind of improvement Kyanite was looking for.

The Negaverse Captain felt her eyes widen. Was... was Chrysocolla going to do that to her? Was she going to have a choice? "No," she said quickly, unconsciously crossing her arms in subtle self-protection. "I can be better. I can improve. I have done it before; I am better than I was. I... this was a slip. It won't happen again." She tried to force all her conviction into the last sentence, bravely meeting the eyes of the corrupt senshi and trying not to give away her fear, though she was only partially successful.

The brightness of the Negaverse corrupt took Kyanite aback. It was as if they were making a future coffee date, not a promise to evaluate whether or not she needed brain lice to stay worthwhile. Swallowing the massive lump in her throat, Kyanite nodded sharply. "Thank you," she said, a bit too fast, but she did mean it. Chrysocolla had saved her in that fight -- maybe she was also trying to save her now? Make her better?

Despite it all, Kyanite really did want to be better. She just wasn't sure what that "better" meant. And she didn't want to be a disappointment. Well, more of one.

Standing stiffly, the captain regarded her superior courteously, and then quickly excused herself, heading straight to an impromptu training in sparring. She could be better, couldn't she? She could kill and energy drain and hurt... couldn't she?

If not... it was a thought the girl tried to ignore. Time would tell how long that would work.