The first creature that came straight at him, he was half-sure it was Garnet-Delta--except that it was coming straight at him. His head jerked the other way, alert, even as the first Batcat Jr. swept for his face.

The Garnet, he wasn't even sure if that was Garnet--but the Garnet was swift as hell, as well, and between it and that bat he had only fractions of a second to react.

Head dipped, the batcat missing him by sweeping inches--luckily it was pulling up and away, too, with a screech; and his entire form leapt, pivoting on the spot, as the second thing swept toward him. It was too fast for him to even register what it was--another bat? How the hell had Garnet done that-?--but he felt the rattle of claw across his quills nonetheless.

Did a hit against his quills count-? Perhaps not for an assassination, but then, he hadn't clarified. But had that even been Garnet-? Vargas didn't stop, his figure perhaps a little comical as he wheeled this way and that, still watching for his attacker. Or attackers. But the little hybrid was already well gone, having scored its glancing hit, and when nothing more came after a few moments had passed, Vargas called out.

"Garnet-Delta! Was that second creature you-?" Half hilarity, half puzzlement; how had it done that..?

Vargas gave a loud, delighted laugh. A proud one, even; pleased. "Come down!" he boomed, with the tail-end of the whispers still surging through his mind. He felt its distant touch of eagerness, so feather-light that he hardly registered it as a conscious realization. But its words were right, and its plan had been, quite frankly, brilliant.

He waited for it to approach, his own senses on half-alert watch for further Batcats.

He watched, too, for Garnet's approach--curious to compare it with its prior sweep. How was it so silent? Was it as quick as he'd thought-? Would its approach be so swift as he'd imagined..?

"That was very, very good!" he praised, and it was not intended to be condescending. It was honest and straightforward praise. "I would not have thought of using another creature as cover, let alone several of them, by controlling its behavior. That can be an interesting use of that magic, in and of itself, if you are hidden! On a target, on someone near a target--remember that trick! It is a good one, and you did well in thinking of it. I was expecting you to be hidden among them, and for only one creature to move, and so many of them at once most certainly flustered my senses. And for something with so little time to plan, it was excellent resourcefulness. You are a very quick thinker, Delta." He had no further praise to give: the action's genius had been self-evident and there was only so much he could say about that. "Certainly a success, and I hope that this first lesson has been helpful to you?"

Vargas paused, thinking.

"I will task you, then, with finding others to teach you of these other magics we discussed. To learn magics to watch from a distance, whatever methods you choose to use for that. You will find me again any time that you have questions--and whenever you have an update to give me, whether on that magic, or on something else. That is our schedule. As for your other task, I was going to task you with a false 'assassination' on me: but given how successful this was I am sure it would be little challenge. And anything more dangerous risks harm to you from my reflexes..."

Vargas eyed it, thoughtfully.

"I think I will send you on a real mission, instead. No practice mission, but a genuine and dangerous one. But you must not tackle this until you are truly ready--not merely to impress me. Remember my age, Delta; patience is the trait of the survivor." He remembered now that brief spark of eagerness--he had to use caution not to throw it into something it wasn't ready for, something it might tackle with all too much enthusiasm before it was wholly prepared. "The dragons of Monoceros are powerful, and I have long been mulling over finding a way to... remove them, if it became necessary. I do not want you to kill them, harm them, even to be seen--but find them and watch them, and return to me with potential plans for their removal. A foolproof plan--as best you can imagine one. But as I say, do not tackle this now. Only when you deem yourself ready, do you understand?"

A pause, then, to ensure that it did; and then Vargas asked, "Now; do you have any comments, or questions of your own?"

He waited, and listened, eyes gleaming. And he observed.

A bow--deference--the spread of wings. Good. Coherent thought, and comprehension. Good. Planning, understanding. All very good, and Vargas gave a stern nod. "Stumbling blocks are to be expected. There may be some that attain perfection in their servants and followers by killing each who fails, but I find that to be... a waste of potential. And you hold potential; so do not fear a misstep." He'd known Overseers like that. And it was, in his mind--if rigorous--foolish.

Its promise that it would continue to impress had him belt out a single guffaw of laughter. "You had better," he said, and there was clear humor in it; "But I believe that you will." He paused, thoughtful. "Your stone-giver was never created to stand in a position of authority. Only to run these trials, over and over; to see how long it survived, how useful its design was. But Garnet Five-Seven-Nine turned out to be something more than merely a tough body or swift instincts. It rose to the challenge of commanding, in turn; it holds a calculating mind that we did not expect. Not merely a trial-runner, but a perfectionist, a sharp creature with a strong attention to detail and a powerful sense of duty. It seems it passed that on to you; and you share its strongest aspects." Where was he going with this-? It was an observation, as much as encouragment, really. "Thus far you are... equalling its potential, and I suspect you will surpass it, should you continue on this course. Go, now; find me when you have need of me."

A nod, and Garnet-Delta was dismissed. He offered no 'you're welcome' for the thanks; truth be told he ought to be thanking the creature for having this much interest, this much of a sense of responsibility toward its duties, but he'd already praised those qualities well enough. Its work ethic was strong, and Vargas respected that; he hoped that luck did not offer it failures where its skill should lead it to success.

Of course, it should plan for such things... but he would have to wait and see.