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 Posted: Tue Feb 10, 2026 6:48 pm
Takes place after: Summoned
Lyon paused mid-step.
She wasn’t the first alien he’d ever seen, but she was the first alien he’d seen in a portrait from a billion years ago.
He’d powered up only a few seconds ago, in part because he needed to teleport up to his Wonder, and in part because he heard crunching snow nearby and did not want to get blindsided by a youma or Negaverse agent or random mugger.
Powering up happened on a timer now. He couldn’t risk being caught alone, not by youma and especially not by Cahir, who no longer had any incentive to keep them alive.
He hadn’t expected anyone else to be out here in the park. It was a chilly night, and there was supposed to be more snow later. He thought it made a good excuse to cover his tracks.
Maybe he wasn’t the only one with that idea.
There were differences between the Senshi in front of him and the woman in the portrait, but there were enough similarities that he confidently asked, “Dagon?”
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Posted: Tue Feb 10, 2026 6:49 pm
Winter’s chill refused to give up its grip on Destiny City, and Dagon found herself content. Her own planet had not exactly been a tropical paradise, to say the least; last she had visited, winter snows covered the main island there, too, making for a hazy landscape of white that reflected what starlight came through the fog that had returned, though without the creeping horror that had lurked within for the thousand years Chaos had free reign of her world.
She had intended to enjoy this evening as she did many an evening on Earth; simply enjoying the liveliness of the world, and as an aside seeking out anyone else that caught her attention—be they new allies or new enemies. One of the two had found her, clearly, and she turned when she was addressed, blinking at the young Knight before her.
(So, so young. It was tradition, of course. She had become a Senshi at age seven. But the older she got, and the more time she spent with Stirling, the more it troubled her heart to think of.)
“I am Dagon, yes. Have we met?” She didn’t think she recognized him; perhaps he had been one of those to help clear her world of Chaos, but she could have sworn that she would know a face that had been present there.
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Posted: Tue Feb 10, 2026 6:51 pm
“You don’t remember me?” Lyon said, eyes widening as if in surprise. He placed a hand on his chest and bit his lip, as if wounded.
When he exhaled, he could see his breath on the wind.
He knew better than to waste time like this. If he powered up, it was supposed to be fast, and it was not supposed to be alone. He was putting himself–and her–in danger if he screwed around.
Unfortunately, it was in his blood.
But, he was stronger than impulse.
“Just kidding. I’m Lyon. I saw your painting, up on Stirling. Literally just the other day, actually. Surprised she didn’t reach out to you. Or–no, actually, I’m not. Have you talked to her lately?” No, scratch that, he knew otherwise. Wasting time.
“Maybe not, on account of the–” there wasn’t really a word for it. He shrugged and simplified, “curse, I guess. Don’t take offense if I stand over here,” he said, staying perfectly still. “I have very good manners. I’d shake your hand, but then maybe you’d get cursed, too.”
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Posted: Tue Feb 10, 2026 6:52 pm
A brief flash of anxiety flitted across Dagon’s face—had she met him and forgotten? She hated to think that her memory might be beginning to go, but—ah, well, at least there was quickly an explanation.
She huffed, a quiet almost-laugh.
“I see,” she said. “Then it is good to meet you in person, Lyon. No, I have not spoken to her of late. I must confess that I have been concerned,” she admitted. It had been quite some time—and lapses in communication like that did worry her. But she tried not to be overbearing. She only had so much right to the space she had taken in Stirling’s life, and she knew that Stirling was…independent, given her situation growing up.
“What is this about a curse? Do you know the cause, and have you sought a cure?” Certainly there were strange magics in the world, and Dagon was not going to dismiss the possibility that something had ensnared this young Knight.
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Posted: Tue Feb 10, 2026 6:52 pm
“Oh, yeah. The cause is ‘psycho General’ and the cure is–actually, we don’t know.”
He clicked his tongue against the roof of his mouth and reached for his pocket, like he was going to pull out a phone.
Oh, right.
Cassidy could check the time. Lyon needed to start wearing a watch.
He brushed his hands off on his thighs and shrugged. “A couple weeks ago, we were all patrolling together. We ran into this General doing some experiments, it was a whole thing. I’ll spare you the details, because honestly, I don’t have time.” Which was a shame, he’d have loved to have an excuse to talk. It wasn’t like he had many people to gossip with–no one, really, that wasn’t already involved.
“The point is, he’s got these youma that are tracking us. We had scans run, there’s some sort of spore or something scorched into our uniforms. And no matter what we do–power up, power down, wash the uniforms–it doesn’t go away. If you see any youma that look like dogs please dust them, they won’t leave us alone. He’s using them to find us, too. Used to be because he wanted some keys and a USB back–we did steal them–but we gave them back recently, so now if he finds us–”
Lyon sucked in a great gulp of air between his teeth.
“Well, it hasn’t happened yet. But he’s going to be able to find us until we figure out how to get our uniforms magically dry-cleaned. And we’ve got Mauvians looking into it.” And Vanguardians, but he’d promised them secrecy.
“It’s a whole group of us–me, Stirling, and like nine other Knights.”
His storytelling was fast, but he remained nonchalant–flippant, even.
“He pulled her starseed, too. Got a few others. I mean, she’s fine now, but–”
Lyon bit his tongue. “Well, she’s alive. I don’t know about fine. It’s probably just stress. You know, not sleeping well, and all.”
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Posted: Tue Feb 10, 2026 6:54 pm
What a heavy burden, carried on such young shoulders. As she listened to Lyon’s story, Dagon felt something cold and frosty settle in her heart, a sort of rage that built under the surface while she worked to keep it out of her expression. Lyon might not be the type to misunderstand and assume she was angry with him, but she knew enough people who were that she made the effort regardless.
She had softened on Chaos, some, over her time on Earth. Or at least on the poor individuals who found themselves in its poison grip. But there were those among the Negaverse’s forces who deserved no mercy and no quarter, and clearly this Cahir was one of them.
If naught else, he had dared to pull Stirling’s starseed, and for that Dagon wished to see him utterly destroyed.
“You are all very brave, to face such a threat. And I am glad that you are not doing it alone. Whatever foul Chaos magic is imbued in these spores, hopefully they will find an answer.” Though there was, of course, a much more direct solution. Perhaps these young Knights were not yet ready to take it.
“I would imagine that the stress of such danger is affecting all of you. Is there anything I might do to aid you? I understand that you might not wish to spread these spores, but I cannot turn away from this.” Not when Stirling had been hurt. Nor when others were in danger.
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Posted: Tue Feb 10, 2026 6:54 pm
At the mention of bravery, Lyon tipped his head up just slightly. He wasn’t one to shy away from praise of any sort, so he basked in it.
Pride and confidence were becoming scarcer, so he had to embrace them when they flitted by.
“Are you sure?” he asked, shifting his weight just slightly.
He crossed his arms over his chest and cupped his chin with one hand.
“I mean, we do have a plan. But it’s dangerous. And I’m not in charge of leading things so I’d have to check with a few people. Are you good at fighting?”
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Posted: Tue Feb 10, 2026 6:56 pm
There was no hesitation; as soon as Lyon asked if she was sure, Dagon nodded firmly.
“Entirely,” she said, unhesitatingly. Even if it weren’t for Stirling, so many from this world had showed up to aid her in cleansing hers. She would never repay that debt in full, but she could try.
“And I am very good at fighting.” She didn’t think it was prideful to say so; she had centuries of experience, and even in just the few short years she had been on Earth, she had found herself in plenty of fights as she worked to regain her Eternal’s wings. “If you have use for me in battle, I will be all too glad to fight.”
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Posted: Tue Feb 10, 2026 6:56 pm
Well, she had conviction, so that was good enough for Lyon. He couldn’t fight–not like them, with magic–but they still let him hang around. Or, they had to, considering he was in the same boat as them.
Being very good at fighting was a huge perk.
She wasn’t even puffing out her chest or flexing or making a dramatic pose. So she probably meant it. It would have been embarrassing if she was a million years old and not even good at fighting, though.
“Yeah, I’ll ask then. I think the plan’s going to be Friday night, if all goes well. We obliterated some of the youma that were following us, and we got trackers on a few. A bunch of people are trying to get everything squared away. So probably Friday, but–”
Something snapped in the distance and he jerked his head in that direction immediately.
Nothing moved, but the hairs on the back of his neck stood up.
“...I should go,” he said after a moment. Though, it was very tempting to stick with a very good fighter. If the youma showed up, maybe she could–
If Cahir showed up…
He felt cold in his bones more than on his skin.
“Do you know Lucien, or Soleiyu? They’re Mauvians. They’re helping get everything sorted out. They’ve got more information, they can fill you in. It’ll be safer that way. You’ve got a Senshi phone, right? I can ask them to send you what we have. They can fill you in better than I can. Is that okay?”
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Posted: Tue Feb 10, 2026 6:57 pm
Dagon nodded. It was good, to know that there was a plan, a way she might be able to help. It would make knowing Stirling was in danger ache less—at least she was capable and among other capable fighters, and Dagon would be able to assist them in taking down this General and scattering whatever he planned to the winds.
“Friday,” she said, and she gave a little nod. But given all he’d said, it likely wasn't safe for them to linger—when he looked to follow a sound, she did too, eyes narrowing and searching the dark for any sign that the enemy Lyon had described was here.
Perhaps she didn’t see anything. But that did not mean it wouldn’t change.
“I do not know either of those names,” she admitted, “but I trust that Mauvians have their ways, and I do have a Senshi-phone. I will take whatever information they can give, and I will be there when you call.” A simple, but determined promise.
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Posted: Tue Feb 10, 2026 6:58 pm
Lyon didn’t have time to consider many other options. He was resourceful. Mauvians were resourceful.
Someone would know how to get in contact with Dagon–and why wouldn’t they want to?
Sure, he knew that they were supposed to keep this quiet. They needed this to be a sneak attack and they couldn’t risk anyone sharing too much information too soon, or sabotaging them, or just being stupid.
He wouldn’t have invited just anyone.
Stirling just really needed some extra support, and if she knew that Dagon had pulled up for her–
It was a push in the right direction. He hoped.
And he was not going to be upset if there was some extra magic getting thrown around. He didn’t have that much experience with Senshi–hardly any at all–but Dagon had lived for this long. He doubted a General–even one as awful as Cahir–could handle all of them.
Another chill crawled down his spine, and he hoped that wasn’t the universe’s way of telling him that he was very wrong about what Cahir could–or couldn’t–do.
“Okay,” he said, brushing himself off. It didn’t do anything, and he had to worry about accidentally dusting her with tracking spores. The Velencias said it was unlikely that they’d transfer anything but he didn’t want to take that risk.
“I appreciate it, Dagon. And I think Stirling will, too. I’ll catch you around. Be safe–and if you see any dog youma, just…you know, watch out. All of his youma look like dogs. So just keep an eye out. And if you see a General with white hair and a big sword–you know. Just be careful.”
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