<span class="fixed-color" style="color:#ffffff">"Dietor, Ulquiorra, I want you two to locate Harribel, Barragon and Starrk, then gather in the North Tower by Noon tomorrow. I have something that I must announce to my top four Espada, and their Fraccion."</span><br/><br/><span class="fixed-color" style="color:green">"Hai... Aizen-sama."</span>responded Ulquiorra quietly.  He bowed lightly at the waist, placing one fist over a shoulder, before he rose and walked towards the door where Dietor stood watching nearby.  As always, he had spoken with little to no emotion present upon his melancholic features, a trait that often made him seem more akin to a brooding doll than one of the Espada's Top Four.<br/><br/>But beneath that eerily calm exterior lurked a monster who followed Aizen with a nearly single-minded purpse.  He cared naught for mercy.  And he cared even less for weakness.  This was a wellknown fact among the other Espada, as well as the other "trash" Arrancar who did their best to avoid Ulquiorra's gaze.<br/><br/>Dietor, on the other hand, was a bit more pragmatic than that.  He held a fair amount of respect for Aizen, but that was far as his admiration for the man extended.  Whereas Ulquiorra served Aizen out of a nearly blind devotion to him, Dietor did it simply because it was his job to do so.  The personal code of conduct he carried forbid him to do anything less.  And Dietor was nothing if not possessing an exceptionally strong work ethic, especially in his rather secretive line of work.<br/><br/>The only response the masked Arrancar gave to Aizen was a small but polite nod before he followed Ulquiorra out the door, keeping a respectful step or two behind from the Cuatro Espada.  Their relationship as an Espada and FracciÃ³n may have been a fraud, but appearances still needed to be kept for the benefit of the others.  As well as for Aizen's own purposes.<br/><br/>The pair had walked a short distance in relative silence before Dietor spoke first. But only when he was sure that the two of them were far enough away from prying ears.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:blue">"It is rare for Aizen-san to call upon the both of us at any one time.  What do you suppose is on his mind?"</span>he inquired, his words carrying a professional tone that painted them as equals.  And for all intents and purposes, that was exactly the case.<br/><br/><span class="fixed-color" style="color:green">"You know the answer as well as I."</span>Ulquiorra deadpanned to Dietor.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:green"> "Either Aizen-sama is planning for something beyond the ordinary to happen...  Or one of the Top Four has been branded as a traitor and needs to be executed.  Either way, you are to perform your duties without hesitation as you've always had."</span><br/><br/>Dietor seemed to consider Ulquiorra's words carefully as they walked.  If there was one thing to be said about Dietor, despite how the Cuarto Espada thought how he should do his job, it was that he made it a habit to consider all of the angles to any given situation.  No matter how improbable they seemed.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:blue">"Well... Based on the obvious thus far, Barragon seems to be the most likely suspect if the second option holds true.  He fancies himself to be King and his FracciÃ³n look upon him as though he were God himself.  It makes me wonder just how well the wisdom of his old age is able to contain the size of his ego and lust for more power."</span><br/><br/>Ulquiorra simply kept walking and answered Dietor with no expression lining his face.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:green">"And what if you are right in your assumptions, Dietor?  Would you take that as an opportunity to seize Barragon's seat for your own?"</span><br/><br/>Dietor's eyes narrowed at Ulquiorra, but they held a barely disguised mirth in them instead of malice.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:blue">"You know me better than that."</span>he replied with a hint of a chuckle.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:blue"> "Something like that is far too....public for my tastes. I am not like Nnoitra, Grimmjow, or Tentou who feel the need to brag about their power with a number tattooed somewhere on their body."</span><br/><br/><span class="fixed-color" style="color:green">"Hmph... That at least puts you slightly above the likes of them.  See to it that you remain that way."</span><br/><br/>That was the end of their conversation as they rounded a corner towards Halibel's quarters.  She would be the first to be notified of Aizen's meeting, followed by Barragon and then Starke.  The reason behind that went far behind simple numerical ordering.  Out of the Top Four of the Espada, Dietor and Ulquiorra found her to be the most reasonable among them.  At least the two of them could be sure that she would greet them cordially, if not her own FracciÃ³n.<br/><br/>After knocking upon the Tres Espada's door, all that was left was to see who answered it.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:green">"I'll leave this task to you. I have other matters that need my attention."</span>Ulquiorra said to Dietor before turning suddenly and leaving in the direction they had come.  His choice of words had hinted that he was in a hurry, but the way he walked proved that was hardly the case at all.  He probably just wanted to be alone with his thoughts, as Dietor surmised, as well as to prepare himself for the meeting tomorrow.<br/><br/>And with that, Dietor was left alone in front of Halibel's doorway.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:blue">"Capricious as always, I see."</span>he chuckled under his breath as Ulquiorra disappeared behind a corner.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:blue">"Now let's hope that things are at least civil in here."</span>