"Nothing?" said Jupiter incredulously. "Nothing at all? You saw, did you not? Purugly's panic? That whine of terror, knowing what was coming and then the sudden realization that nothing would save her? How she flinched in pain, fighting for the chance to get up and defend herself, and then realizing it was in vain? And you just watched?"
Io looked down at Purugly as the parts of her body not obscured by bright red flames, the hind paws and thin coiled tail, the ears that poked high above the flames, all writhing helplessly in pain. The heat from where he stood had become so intense it singed his own cheeks, though he didn't move. The red glow from Purugly encompassed his vision and turned everything around him into that familiar red outline. A silhouette appeared beside him, the silhouette of Jupiter. He didn't turn to look at her.
"Nothing... Even still," Jupiter continued. "What does that say, hm? What kind of lesson do you think we can take away?"
Io swallowed.
Jupiter smiled, looking up past Io to where Mars stood. "Funny, even Mars had something to say, some kind of answer. She wasn't doing as bad as you're doing though. Maybe we broke you faster."
Beneath her lips, Mars gritted her teeth, accidentally feigning a pitiful wide-lipped smile. She tried to open her eyes to look back at Jupiter with the look of scorn she had, but opening her eyes brought another large load of tears streaming down her cheeks.
Jupiter held her hand beside her head, shifting her gaze back down to Io. Stepping even closer, putting the height difference of herself and Io in plain sight, Jupiter half dropped down to one knee, bringing herself eye level with Io. One of her hands found the shoulder that Mars had put her hand on. It brought Io's attention slightly over to her hand, and though he kept his eye contact away from Jupiter, it brought a smile to Jupiter, who continued to stare at his eyes in an attempt for eye contact.
"When I tell Skuntank to stop, I want you to answer a question of mine. A question that will determine the course of this battle, and whether or not I continue to torture Purugly," said Jupiter at a near whisper.
Io nodded quickly, looking past Purugly's writhing paws and down at the floor. The light from the fire ceased and the glow left him. He turned his head slowly, making Jupiter's long-awaited eye contact, staring down with empty eyes into her purple ones.
"Do you want help?" asked Jupiter.
Io stared at her.
"Ohhh," Jupiter smiled. "Such great listening skills. You did pick up what I said, didn't you? You did see that I had an expectation of you, and you went ahead and fulfilled it! Such a fantastic grunt, you are. You know I will not help you, even when I taunt you with the mere prospect of it. Of course I will help you!"
"T-Then..." Io began.
"No," Jupiter quickly interrupted. "Keep listening. I will guide you. Guide you. It's not help, it's guidance. There's a key difference I want you to see."
By the time Jupiter had stopped talking, Io felt his entire body convulsing nervously. His gaze traveled to where Jupiter drummed her fingers on his shoulder, following it back up to Jupiter's face. Jupiter's sudden flaring eyes made his whole body flinch, eliciting a small giggle from her. Her spreading smile, thin and devious, matched with raised, skeptical eyebrows, raised high over airy purple eyes that searched his face for reason; the thoughts that ran through his head as Jupiter examined him, as though all his thoughts were plain, made him stop thinking about the motions of his body, the twisting of his own face, and how his body slowly leaned back. Though he didn't notice himself sinking back slowly, it was brought to his attention when Jupiter suddenly gripped his neck, bringing him in close for examination.
"Don't slip away, pay attention," smiled Jupiter. Her coy expression, wide smile, slowly faded as she continued to examine. The hand behind his neck, sliding up and cupping his cheeks with her palms. She looked surprised, unaware that her mouth had dropped into an 'O'. "You're shaking... Don't tell me you're afraid. Are you afraid of me? Your commanding officer?"
"I-I..." Io trailed off into silence, even as Jupiter awaited an answer.
"You cannot be afraid Io. Fear accomplishes nothing," said Jupiter. "Tell me right now, Io. Are you afraid?"
Io swallowed. "Y-Yes... Commander... I... I am..."
"The truth will set you free Io. I cannot help you if you keep it from me," said Jupiter. "If you are afraid I will cure you of it. That is what made you fail before. Holding onto your fear will make you hold onto your failure. You have to release it. Release it so I can hand you success. It will be hard, and it will be difficult, but fear will no longer rule you. I will. Team Galactic will."