The Cauldron of Black: Unite the Chosen

The Cauldron of Black: Unite the Chosen
It was a terrible aftermath.

Despite all of the careful planning, relocation of headquarters material, arms and manpower; all of it was wasted. Hana presided over one of the worst losses the Gotei 13 and any affiliate organizations had received. Doing so wasn't something easy, that much anyone could see. The injured were tended to, critically maimed by the mysterious shooter that even pierced the unprepared Captain Commander. The only one that thwarted the projectile was Kaze and it was only thanks to his special Reishi conductor gloves he possessed.

She hid herself away in her private office within the Gotei 13 while DCO personnal uninvolved with the operation were briefed on a broader spectrum of the event. Braeburn McTavish, a valued ally of theirs, was an enemy spy. It was a hard pill to swallow and she knew there may not be a place for his return this time around. She had forgiven a lot, all of which was questionable. Her predecessor and mentor was not too popular with the nobility for his own rickshaw tactics and gut feeling decisions that made things ambiguous in nature of how he'd treat real threats. Her allowance of existence for the remaining Quincies instead of hunting them down, for example, may have not been as prudent as she once believed.

Staring at the pentacle that was placed into her hand before she was thrown into a blind fit of rage she began to thumb it with silence. She kept thinking over the words that were carefully muttered to her, even as she aimed to take his life. It wasn't too long until she pieced together, even after they escaped. Confiding with Kaze they planned to make this an Alliance initiative, bringing in Aether's RAC units to crush the enemy before they unleash that...thing...onto the world.

"So we go after this Arael and his band of misfit Quincies aiming to damn the world. Then what?"

"We'll take those into custody that we don't happen to kill in the first raid. For whatever reason they don't want to be taken down without a fight, maim them to ensure we get at least a handful of survivors. I want to know how many other cells that could be hidden from our sight. I get the bad feeling we're not fighting a singular force but an extension of another's hand."

"Yes, this does seem a bit soon. This radical group I've studied has gained a lot of resources in the fallout of the Vandenreich's forces. Still, the data I've collected from our battle, even against our mysterious ace shooter, should help us be better prepared against their comrades. Singular cores presiding within their chest make for good targets for permanent takedowns."

"They are to be eliminated. They're too strong to allow to be left alive and their powers make them capable of contending of people my caliber."

"At this rate, you may as well have to use that power. You have mastered it after all, haven't you?"

"You make it seem like its an easy feat to accomplish. Years of using an imperfect version to bolster my powers allowed my Reiryoku climb to an incredible peak. But as a result I can't force such a transformation upon an instance. Its impractical against a full offensive. Besides I won't need it to fight them."

"Truly? I think your feelings for that McTavish boy is clouding your judgement. Even knowing he was on their side you were determined to save him. That is both a disgusting and weak notion on your part. You are the Captain Commander of the Gotei 13! Start acting like it!"

"I know but...dammit, why didn't he understand? I gave him so many opportunities. Yet he was willing to almost kill his own friends who tried to save him. I was just so enraged that I didn't even think of what I'd do, but make him see what happens if he attacks his comrades! Yet, still, he was determined to tell me that message."

"It seems illogical. He works for the enemy yet is adamant not to side with us when he wants to inform us of what is about to transpire."

"Yashin did the same. He was a complete wild card and only workd for himself while dancing around the enemy's ranks, feeding us bread crumbs along the way so we could take them in their most vulnerable state. Before this is over I get the feeling we're going to see him again."

"Tch, that thing hardly qualifies as a man let alone a spirit. Things I don't understand are best left alone or destroyed if I can't analyze it."

"Onto a more useful topic, do you know when the RAC Knight Commander is supposed to arrive?"

"Heh, she'll be here in a few hours. Let me handle proceedings in organizing who is best suited to lead the attack. Those left standing anyways."

"I'll be in my office then. Inform me via Kidō when something comes up."

It had been several hours since that conversation. Upon her pondering the words she shared with the closest she had to a father or advisor within the Gotei 13 she realized on how little they talked. Perhaps it was his harsh, cynnical outlook on life or how little regard he has for it when performing her studies. But another was most certainly that dark voice in her head, telling her how she's nothing but an organic machine created for nothing more than to serve the Soul Society and have no happiness of her own.

Gritting her teeth, she forced herself to stifle any tears from being shed at the isolation she had with Braeburn. It ate her insides that she was responsible for so much harm to befall him. Foolish in her thoughts to think that he was worth being saved or their love was real. The only proof that he wasn't forsaking her was the moment he tried to push her away from the path of the bullet or giving her the pentacle. Even the vocalized poem was a warning of what was coming.

"Ultharon," She snarled with a fire burning in her eyes, "my sensei burned you. I intend to make sure there's nothing left of you when I'm through with you."