*Aerik isn't reckless with his flames, he never is... one thing he, somehow, has never experienced problems with in terms of control, was his flames. Perhaps because they are so entwined so his own essence and respond so much better than even his psionics which are clumsy next to the elegance of his soulfire. So the degree to which he drains is always perfectly aligned to his desires... he automatically shuts off when he's had enough to survive, even were he unconscious, but that's not what he's going for this time. This time, he's going for incapacitating Sai.... and self-preservation. Its really a very pointless exercise to engage in physical combat with Aerik, flesh to flesh, for this reason alone... his trump card. Now, Sai could have demolished Aerik had he followed up on his first blow, but he didn't, for some reason, and with the passing of time and the ruining of Aerik's body, the drain to his form, Sai has literally reduced Aerik to this point, made it inevitable. Aerik has held back on purpose, hadn't used his flame until his subconscience forced the issue here and now. The fact that Sai was Aerik's first love was something that's protected him till now, till it went too far... anyone else would have been dealt with long ago, never allowed to touch, never gotten as close at Sai did. And Aerik has learned a lesson today, a mistake he will never make again, a mistake based on pointless and stupid emotional baggage.... on fondness and whimsy... he takes only little more than he needs from Sai, his black fire lancing and arcing off his body like an inky corona, as if blotted out the sun, so black and bright, sheathed in darkest life force... power sings through him, sparkles and crackles. With the boost comes all he needs to shove his healing into high gear; wounds courtesy of Sai, healing courtesy of Sai. The poison is burned away almost completely... the ribs fully heal. The fever fades... only angry, swollen red welts remain on his throat where Sai had partly torn it out. Tender, not fully healed, but closed over at least, the wound still looks vicious, but he'll live and he's whole. He drops the link with Rock, takes his own weight, begins to pull away off Sai, always keeping contact however, a hand, a palm, keeps the flames on him even as his features are obscured by the pitch fire. Into a crouch, hunkered near Sai, the drain slowing... flame ebbing... and he watches carefully links ready to grab*

*he remains still- some sacrifices were made in over-all syntant development with Sai's model to make it possible for them to carry such a charge. his eyes are closed as his body shuts down anything not needed to immeditally keep him alive, a reaction to so suddenly losing so much strength. oh, he'll awaken soon when he realizes his resources are no longer being drained, but only the slight movement of his chest gives any indication that he's still alive. he doesn't so much as flinch as Aerik moves off him, or take the reactionary deeper breathe most beings do when something heavy is pulled off of them. His mind is as active as his body is inactive, though...preparing itself for Aerik to strike. Why shouldn't he? Sai attacked him, and lost. Predator-Prey, one should die, right?*

*Still as the Black Panther he resembles... or the hooded cobra, sleek and black and paused... Aerik takes his flames back into himself, replenished, fresh again though he desperately needed a bath. Touch is removed from Sai, that was too dangerous now, Aerik charged and overflowing and horribly /needing/... he straightens, rakes his hands through his tangles and dirt-fraught hair, lifts his chin and lets his gaze rest on the syntant body, inactive. Links are made, shields in place, streamlined. Sai will not touch him again unless he knows an attack Aerik doesn't. Aerik now just looks like Aerik, no fire, almost pristine in body save the dirt and torn clothing and red throat. But as ever yes... tall and straight and still lovely. And like that, he waits for Sai to stir*

*it takes several moments...but finally, silver-blue eyes open…cat pupils dilated a moment as his body basically takes restock of itself and decides what to recover first...then they fix on Aerik, narrowing dangerously. He sits up- but slowly. He IS bruised from this, and unlike the bastard psionic, he has no way of speeding his healing up. But the rule is pretty simple here...he lost the fight. This isn't a place he has claim to anymore...as shows when the aggression abruptly fades...replaced by resignation as he stands*

*Aerik has, by now, figured out what the hell got into Sai. He can smell it, scent of chemicals... he can SENSE it... in an odd way, he's sympathetic to Sai's plight, but that understanding doesn't find its way into his words... or the stinging, acidic tone of his illusory voice as he forges the link to Gild* ....You sought to best me, Sai. /Me/. *and right now, of all the attacks, Aerik's keenly recalling having his throat bitten. His eyes narrow and flash in muted, amber displeasure* But what you failed to recall is that you simply are. Not. Good. Enough. *Aerik offers a silky snarl, shadowgold hard* My territory is wherever I choose to stand at the time, understand? *then he looks Sai boldly over, almost from down his nose, almost reproachful, but not quite* A suggestion... unless you desire to hop beds every time you need to release your aggressions... *and here, from the heart, but a true growl, dark and low* /Learn to control it/.... *its why he left Sai in a coma. And didn't leave a note. Sai's situation isn't exact, but it /is/ similar now. And Aerik's fought the battles, won and lost... but at least he kept his dignity. Or it slipped only in the presence of one. He pauses a moment and seems to gather his calm, gives an off-handed remark, flippant* ... You can keep this place. I give it to you, it holds nothing for me. */I give it to you. You did not win it. I GIVE it. //You live now because of my whims/// Aerik's pride has been piqued perhaps, and his hold, his carriage, is all pride, all power, all victory...*

*and what does Aerik get for his pretty speech, his pride? a disdainful look...and a laugh* I was good enough to nearly take your throat out and poison you, wasn't I? if Id used the venom in my fangs, you'd be a corpse, not some stupidly arrogant prick right now. You know- Ryan was right about you, all the way around. -never thought I'd say /that/. *Then he turns to just walk away...instincts still pushing at him, but also knowing this place appears to belong to someone much stronger....so he'll have to find a new area. Unlike aerik, the drive to find a mate isn't life-or-death...it will pass in time. And Aerik isn't the only one beginning to figure things out...and damned if Sai doesn't want to get his claws around the throats of the people who designed him. Did they leave his kind NO dignity? Just animals with killing minds, were they?* and I certainly want nothing of yours. *the band on his wrist glinting...Sai knows of another area to go to after all...some place he's quite sure Aerik's never been to. it wouldn't be hard to lose himself in the forests there...they're so large, he could easily live in one for years and never see another sentient being...*

I /allowed/ that and you know it, Sai. Else you would have never gotten so close. *he doesn't say why he allowed it... why he didn't shield off... why he'd hoped he'd wouldn't have to do that* Had I treated you as I should have, from the beginning, you would never had made a move I did not allow. And Ryan is a weakling. *Aerik gives a snort of disdain, eyes narrowing as Sai...* Fleeing, Sai? Can you hold no ground any longer? Easier to run, is it not? I am truly surprised you did not run off when I first arrived. *Then quietly, tho a being like Sai might hear him... murmurs...* You need not fear. You have nothing of mine. Any more. *Well, at least Aerik didn't kill him...*

*a small smirk* when you can finally think clearly, you simply learn that some fights just aren't worth it. And if you're stupid enough to lower your guard around something like me, then that's your own problem, isn't it? *at the muttered comment, he gives a short, disdainful laugh* oh cut the melodramatics, aerik. *And he partially wishes Aerik had. This little episode is pointing out something in painfully bright colors to Sai. He may have a partially human mind, even his own personality. But the fact remains he's still just a weapon, all he can really do is fight. And it's pretty sad when you can't even win at /that/...* *he reaches to activate the band- once on Arcadia, he'll simply find himself a nice, distant forest to wait this out in. preferably one with an ice-cold waterfall.*

Perhaps I was not thinking clearly when I fought for you then. *he breathes a laugh* Something like you... *Aerik's lip twist into a tiny meou of amusement* Yes, I suppose it would be a problem. *At the melodramatic comment, Aerik almost laughs* You are the one who attacked me, Sai. Your lusts take spectacular form, I must admit. *Its not a compliment, that much is evident in the tone* And what would you do if I did not let you go... *he murmurs this to himself mostly, and it brings the frightening possibility of Aerik interfering with that bracelet... and if Sai think Aerik couldn't find him in a forest when he's a telepath, Sai's the one with the problem*

Aerik, I don't think you've had a single clear thought in your whole damned existence. and I'd rather have blood lust over the other. *at least the bloodlust he could control to some degree...the other was too confusing and mind fogging...* and I'd just go anyway. teleporting with this, or just walking...either works just as well. *and all else failing...there was always returning to his own dying Terra. the matrices were still here, he was sure of it...Ryan would never cut a lifeline to a world that may wind up being the evacuation point for his own*

As you wish, Sai. *Aerik smiles generously, nods his head* Good bye, then. *he waves slightly, blinks his wide eyes in rapt attention, and clasps his hands behind his back, waiting, watching Sai leave. He doesn't look hurt, he looks amused... he'd been the winner after all and Sai, as they all did, had been the one to back down, to walk away first. That suited Aerik fine*

*he vanishes into the forest shadows- though if Aerik were to look down, he'd find that Sai apparently decided against the band...since he left it lying on the ground. he's decided he needs to go back to his terra...if he wants to know how to go about controlling this problem, he has to go to the only place that knows anything about his kind in depth. there's a matrice circle not too far off...one set to general use. Sai used to need help with these, but hes gained enough telepathy of his own to manipulate them...and Mystic is likely not paying /too/ much attention to who's coming and going…he'll have plenty of time to find what he wants to know and get out*

*Aerik watches after him for a long moment, large darkgold eyes blinking slowly.... stares where Sai was, then he sweeps his gaze over to glance at the areas they'd destroyed in their battle... and finally, after another moment, Aerik smiles.... just smiles, nothing but for the pleasure of it... and then he, too, vanishes*