I smirked, pretty much dragging Solaris to my office. See, she had been checking out a museum to hit, and I was forcing her to tell her plan to the others, knowing that it would piss her off greatly.
I burst into my office, the others looking up at me sharply as I entered. I threw Solaris in front of me and said, "Go ahead, tell them your plan."
She turned to me, and spat with venom, "It's a one person job."
"Don't care. You will involve the others, or you're out of a job."
"Did you forget that I can destroy your entire organization? Very easily, too…"
I looked away, and that stupid grin started to work its way onto her face. "I can do what I want, and there ain't nothing you can do to stop me."
I didn't meet her gaze, and she said, "Why do you even bother trying? We're both Generals, we have the same amount of power."
I turned on her with surprising force. "Not anymore, we don't! I kept this thing going, and all you care about is power!"
She shrugged, not denying it, and something in me snapped. "You know what? Do what you want…I don't care anymore." I went into my room and slammed the door. I sat on the bed and put my face in my hands, someone knocked, and I said, "Enter."
Solaris walked in, and I muttered, "What do you want. I doubt you have concerns…"
"Do you not care about Rocket anymore?"
I turned away. "Of course I care about Rocket, I just don't care about you. It's obvious you're the exact same since back then, and it was impossible to work with you then, and it still is now. So do what you want."
She gave me an odd look. "Milas…you never would let this happen. What happened in that time period between Archer and now?"
I looked at her sharply. "Get out. You can do what you want, I don't care anymore. Just what you wanted. You can probably make the morning museum shift."
She was about to speak, but I shouted, "I said get out! I don't give a damn about you now! You have what you wanted, now GET OUT!" I shoved her and slammed the door, taking a deep breath. I don't know what came over me, but…I knew I was being truthful. I simply didn't care about her anymore, especially not her legacy preservation crap. Someone knocked, and I asked, "Who is it?"
"Proton."
I opened the door. "What."
He immediately looked away. "Um…what'd you say to Solaris? She walked out looking slightly happy…figured something happened."
"Keep your nose out of it."
He nodded quickly. "Also…we found Ariana."
I gave him a sharp look. "Where?"
"Wandering the regions. She's paid her debt-so she says-and is now traveling the world trying to find purpose. Want us to bring her in?"
"Why would we want that weakling?"
"Petrel and I apparently are weaklings, too, and you took us in."
I sighed. Good point…"Fine, bring her in. How soon will she get here?"
"Uh…I took the liberty of making contact already, so…in the next few minutes."
"She's in Mauville?"
"She is now."
I rubbed my temples. "When exactly did you make contact?"
"As soon as you accepted me and Petrel."
I looked at him. "…Fine. I'm gonna head down to the lobby, then." I got up and walked down the stairs.
I got to the lobby and saw a woman with red hair standing in the middle of the lobby. "Ariana!"
She turned to me, and her face somewhat lit up. "Milas?! You're in charge?! Proton didn't mention that…how've you been?"
I glared at her, and she withered. "You weakling! You fled the Radio Tower! How could you?!"
She looked away, and I spat, "I'm gonna make one thing absolutely clear. You screw up once, you're done." She nodded and said, "I know where Archer is, if you-"
I slapped her hard. "Never mention him again! He is the biggest weakling of all of you! Do I make myself clear?"
She gingerly touched her face and muttered, "He could help…Archer could-"
I slapped her again. "Do. I. Make. Myself. Clear?!
She gave me a look, then she nodded. "Good. Barracks are fourth floor, get comfy. Also…Solaris is here now."
She grimaced. "Great…" She went upstairs, and I sighed. This was getting damn complicated…
Solaris walked in, and I asked, "Anything productive?"
She glanced at me and said, "Got keys. I can go in later and take the gems and art easily."
"Fine. Do it." I walked up, leaving her slightly confused, so I thought. Couldn't be sure…
I got to my office, and Petrel asked, "What happened?"
"Ariana's here now."
He nodded. "Will Archer-"
I slapped him. Damn, my hand was getting red…"You never mention his name again. Never. Got it?"
He nodded, rubbing his face tenderly. "What's your-oh, yeah. I suppose that would be it…"
I sighed and went to my room, but Petrel said, "You got a message."
I turned to him. "Who from?"
"Some guy named…oh, crap, what was his name? Something girly, like Trilly, Trissy…maybe a T-A something…"
I got a little colder. "Tabitha?"
He nodded. "Yeah, him. Dressed in red, he left an envelope on the receptionist's desk."
"What'd it say?"
He handed me the note, and I read, 'To Whom It May Concern, Magma and Aqua are not dead. Merely underground, similar to you. This could go one of two ways: cooperation between us…or war. Pick wisely. –Maxie'
Son of a bitch…"Did Tabitha say where he was going?"
Petrel shook his head. "No, just that he'd come back later for the answer. Should we worry?"
"That's a good question. A very good question…"
