Now that he and Pharos knew who the other was, he rarely went out to patrol alone, but there were times when one or the other was busy and they went on their way with well wishes. It was weird to know his he lived with his best friend all through college and it was after they no longer live together that they find out about each other.
Neckar was lost in thought, not so much paying attention to where he was going, and mostly catching fleeting thoughts as they passed, think on one thing until the next popped up.
He'd learned to rely more on feeling for chaos than looking for it, even though he knew cats could make that impossible. Still, it made him less worried about ambush.
Currently he was closer to the outskirts of the city, not wanting to drive into the center and drive all the way back home to his farm when he was more tired and worn down than when he started. It was quieter here, but that didn't always mean less active.
Lithiasaur
Posted: Fri Jul 15, 2022 4:23 pm
Kaori_luv
Ekanite was feeling pretty proud of himself. Lately, his General had been giving him a lot more freedom than she used to. Maybe she was starting to see that he was capable? Even at home, though they were in the process of moving to some place bigger now, she was allowing him to help out more. He even cooked a dinner for her and she ate it.
She even smiled.
Kinda. It was probably a smile, anyway. The corners of her mouth didn't point as far down when she thanked him, at any rate. It was a step by step process. But now she was allowing him to stay out and do his full quota without her, where before she had insisted on accompanying him half the time. She did still make sure he knew how to contact her for immediate help if he needed it, and told him not to leave a certain area.
Probably because she wanted to sense him at all times. Her range must have been better than his, though, as he did not feel her power level at all. In fact, the only thing he felt in the area was a few White Moon auras. One was particularly close. Feeling brave, he decided to head toward it.
It did not take long to spot the source, but he had no real way to hide his approach. Alright. It was time to test his progress.
"What brings you out here, so late at night?" he called jovially.
Neckar felt the chaos aura and sided guessing that he likely wasn't in for a quiet night. The other was headed for him, and Neckar could have b-lined it out of there but decided that it was maybe best to confront the other, less someone else become their target.
He looked to the other and raised a brow, keeping his comments to himself. He had a nutcracker, school band, military, star trek vibe going on and still looked less ridiculous than he himself did. He frowned at his own pink get up. He was never going to love it.
"Patrolling .... not much else to do dressed like this in the middle of the night .... so yeah."
Lithiasaur
Posted: Thu Jul 28, 2022 5:40 pm
Kaori_luv
"Patrolling! Right, of course," Ekanite laughed, though it was not mocking. He was terrible at the mocking thing, actually, as he tended not to like to outright insult anyone, and would certainly never pick on someone for any flaws or mistakes they might make in front of him.
He was a Negaverse soldier, yes, and he wanted to be a great one, but he did not want to be a jerk. Somehow, there had to be a way to achieve both goals, proving his worth while maintaining his kindness.
Painite, of course, insisted he was a moron. And her eyes always looked so sad when he told her his plans. It made the hairs on the back of his neck stand up a bit to think about, and he shook it off as quickly as he could.
"Not a fan of your get up, huh? Well, I've seen worse! I mean. I can't lie and say I haven't seen better, but... uh. Well, anyway, I'm patrolling, too. Gotta get some more energy. Don't suppose you'd be willing to lend me some, huh?"
Neckar frowned and stopped crossing his arms and gave the other a rather incredulous look at the question posed to him. At least this guy was outright attacking him like the last two, but Pharos wasn't with him tonight, so he needed to be far more cautious.
"No thank you, Im not a energy bank ... no free donations here."
He relaxed only slightly, but noted, "you seem like you may have stumbled into the wrong career field ... never met a negaverser yet, who asked first." Neckar was keeping his distance well enough lest this be an act and he had to defend himself first. He however got the feeling that this guy, whoever he was, wasnt really acting.
"You know stealing people's energy is wrong and I cant imagine most people are going to consent to it especially once they see the process in action. Are you asking people for their starseeds as well." Strengite certainly hadnt asked him for either thing.
Lithiasaur
Posted: Thu Jul 28, 2022 6:13 pm
Kaori_luv
"Ah, well, I can understand that! I thought I might as well try, you know. Never hurts to be polite!"
Unless he was meeting a particularly angry White Moon, like Painite often told him were out there. The ones that would rip him limb from limb. While he had some bad fights, he was beginning to think the angriest folks were actually already all on the Negaverse's side. His own general included.
Not that he would ever say something like that to her.
"You haven't? I guess that makes sense. A lot of the time it makes it easier to get the drop on someone, and, you know, take it by surprise. I just don't find that very... uh. honorable, I guess? It'd make me feel guilty, and I'm sure the universe would pay me back for it in a bad way later. Karma and all."
He was a superstitious sort, at least in the way that he deeply believed in the strangest part of their reality. Before, it had been the paranormal and strange happenings, but now he was basically living the life as a secret super powered energy thief. Something those stories were made of. It made him think plenty of other things, things other folks laughed off, could be true, too. So it was better for him to just be careful.
He frowned, shaking his head.
"I haven't really taken a starseed yet, though I've seen it done." Something dark, sad, crossed his features, as he remembered that night. The night he was powered up, and his mother died. He owed everything he had left, and the knowledge that his mother was in a better place, to Painite. "I think I can get by on energy, though, if I just get enough of it! And I know you have a job to do, too. So if it makes you more comfortable to fight it out..."
Neckar laughed and shook his head, "you're turned around, that's pretty clear. You speak about being polite and honor," he chuckled harder, "but you're going to fight me for my own energy ... its mine, if you have to fight me for it, that you probably should be trying to take it."
Neckar sighed and felt a little bad because he reminded him of Pharos in a way, he couldn't imagine her being anything but good even if she was a negaverser.
He decided to go ahead and throw his magic out there, now knowing what it was suppose to do, from a visit to him homeworld and using it on Pharos. It was only mildly helpful, but everyone was different so maybe it would work well on this guy.
"Proteal Replica!" He called out his attack, touching his brooch and watching is flower bloom and sink into the ground. He had limited time, but he hoped the small boost would be enough to give him an edge.
Neckar touches his brooch and calls out his attack, it glows brightly for a moment, a glowing flower blooms out of it before disappearing and then anyone who looks at him within a 10ft radius of Neckar sees a replica of themselves only it will appear as how they envision the perfect version of themselves for whatever form they are in. Along with the illusion Neckar gains a small boost in strenght. If his opponent is at a higher level than him, it cannot make him stronger than his opponent. The attack last for 30 secs and other than being down right freaky doesnt do anything esle. Can be used twice per battle.
Lithiasaur
Posted: Thu Jul 28, 2022 6:54 pm
Kaori_luv
Ekanite could not argue the facts, really, but he chose to see them in a different way. He knew the good the Negaverse could do, no matter what their ultimate goals ending up being. He would follow their directives, because he owed his life to his General, and he would do anything to help her.
If it meant proving he could hold his own, so she did not have to worry about him, then he would do what he could to get there. He did not have to be the top of the ladder: he just had to show that there was more to it than good and evil, and that he could be strong without compromising himself.
He heard the senshi call out for magic, knowing it could be strange. The last time he saw a spell, it was because he had let a senshi practice on him. It had not been too terrible, but that did not mean everyone's would be the same. He tensed, calling his drumsticks to his hands, but he hesitated as he saw something strange where the senshi had been.
It sort of just looked like him. He did not know what the magic was supposed to do. He was not vain, but rather he was simple: the most perfect version of him was, of course, the one he already was. The one he wanted to keep being.
Neckar took advantage of his moment of hesitation and went on the attack. He wasn't going to be caught unaware again, with hands on his pulling energy from him or fondling his starseed.
Neckar balled his fist up and lunged at the negaverser intent on hitting him right in the face, aiming for his left cheek. If he could at least put the guy out of commission for the night, then no one would be drained of their energy and possibly wake up hours later in an alley.
Neckar of course felt a little bad about possible injuring or really hurting the other, but also this is what they did right? This why they patrolled. To protect those who can't protect themselves. He wondered briefly if his best friend would have fought or if she would have given the energy freely.
He didnt speak, feeling it was hard to maintain the illusion if his voice came out of the other's body.
Lithiasaur
Posted: Thu Jul 28, 2022 7:45 pm
Kaori_luv
Ekanite blinked. Was he attacking himself? He knew he was not the smartest lightbulb in the crayon box, but he was pretty sure he would know if he had any sort of twin or clone out there. It occurred to him that this was the senshi's attack, some sort of appearance altering thing.
Maybe it occurred a little too late, but at least he had gotten there.
"Whoa!"
Ekanite threw his hands up in an effort to defend himself, though he could not stop a lot of the force of the punch that connected with his face. He did have enough time to swing his drumsticks, but he was not sure if he had even hit anything as he was sent stumbling sideways. The taste of blood was in his mouth, and he was unsure if he had knocked a tooth loose, or if he bit his cheek.
"You might look like me, but you don't fight like me!" Ekanite yelled, thinking he would never throw such a cheap shot. At least not willingly. He charged now, holding both drumsticks in one hand, however short and sort of pathetic looking they were. They were probably not capable of doing a lot of damage, but he had to do something to defend himself. Instead of swinging them, then, he jabbed them for Neckar's mid-section, hoping to knock the wind out of him.
Neckar was quite glad when his hit connecting watching the other stumble, but he frowned because the other recovered very quickly and jabbed him with a dang drumstick. So maybe band geek was the look, Neckar still thought he gave of such a mixed vibe with his look.
He groaned, but bore the brunt as best as he could not wanting to stumble, not wanting to disengage.
He grabbed for other's arm trying to keep him from getting to arm, if he managed to make purchase, he would squeeze trying to make him drop the drumstick, meanwhile he kept his other fist poised to deliver a blow to the others kidney.
"I won't lose, you cant have my energy or any one else's. Go home kid."
Neckar didn't know how old the guy was, but he was just generally much larger than most people at 6'2" and as muscular as he was, even with his baby face people tended to think he was older, especially if he didnt shave.
Lithiasaur
Posted: Thu Jul 28, 2022 8:37 pm
Kaori_luv
Ekanite was pretty sure he was about to get his face kicked in. Or however this opponent chose to finish a battle: it would not be nice, whatever it was. He was just too strong, and Ekanite was too inexperienced. He felt fear pulsing through him, heart thundering in his throat as pain blinded him to most everything else.
He was just thinking how disappointed his General would be, when he felt her energy signal flare to life nearby. So she was still following him, or she happened to teleport to the fight just to check it out. Though it would be difficult to believe, the truth was actually the latter: she had not realized it was Ekanite she was coming to see in a battle when she sensed the two auras.
General Painite's tired, sea green eyes narrowed at the sight, though, of her Lieutenant barely standing and the senshi currently fighting with him. While two drumsticks were not the scariest weapon ever, Painite's spear had a far different feel to it. When she called it to her hand, it was with every intention of using its wickedly bladed end to its full potential.
"I suggest," she said, with barely constrained anger behind the forced, measured words, "you release my Lieutenant."
Neckar realize briefly that the negaverse officer seemed to have lost some of his drive, and he back off slightly. He tensed fully at the new and much stronger aura that come right up on them. The voice made him turn and the spear made him instantly drop the lieutenant and back away quickly.
Everything in him, told him to run because this woman felt far more dangerous than the guy one the ground in front of him.
Neckar was actually scared, not even sure having Pharos there would have made him feel better. He wanted to say something smart, but instead turned pulling his phone out and running a quickly as he could to the nearest building so he could take to the rooftops. He called Pharos, just in case because he might be in deep s**t, should that woman choose to give chase.
