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thejusticelounge2014-03-30 10:44 pm
bossymarmalade) wrote in thejusticelounge2014-03-30 10:44 pm
unbreak my heart
Lianzilla makes Zee dance close to Ion. “Willy likes you,” she observes coyly and then giggles. Lian has no issue with humanoid/non-humanoid relations.
Zee mostly shuffles about as she’s not very sure of dancing with a whale, but she puts on a good show for Damian and Lian at least. “You think?” she asks, looking to the whale entity with a small smile, “Maybe it’s because I like Kyle so much. We have that in common I think.”
Damian Wayne gets close to Ion’s mouth when it sings the long notes and wonders if he could live in there like Pinocchio
Ion proceeds to swallow Damian and allows the boy to float around in its totally harmless transparent stomach-sac.
Lianzilla eyes light up. “Willy!! Willy, can we all ride inside you and go save Marmee??”
Damian Wayne yelps in a very un-stoic manner but quickly realizes no harm has come to him and stands with hands astride his hips within the whale, declaring himself King of the Whale Stomach
Zee eyes widen at Ion SWALLOWING Damian, but he doesn’t seem to be in any distress, and Ion hasn’t seemed to have any cause for eating humans prior to this, “You alright in there Damian?” she asks anyway. Bruce would kill her if he was digested by a space whale.
Ion is sure to not move too quickly and displace Damian from his throne. «Well, calfling>> Ion begins, scratching his jaw with his little fin, rather ineptly. «I do not believe it is a safe place for you, or I. There are ways to bring her here, but I fear going to the Vega System itself would be quite hazardous to all our safeties.>>
Damian Wayne sweeps his arm to show Zatanna his new see-through kingdom. “I’m quite well, Magician. Perhaps I shall allow you to visit my realm someday.”
Ion is sure to not move too quickly and displace Damian from his throne. «Well, calfling>> Ion begins, scratching its jaw with its little fin, rather ineptly. «I do not believe it is a safe place for you, or I. There are ways to bring her here, but I fear going to the Vega System itself would be quite hazardous to all our safeties.>>
Zee nods, currently not ever anticipating a journey into a space whale’s stomach, “Yeah. Perhaps.”
Lianzilla screws up her face and punches and kicks heavily and inexpertly into the air. “I can fight anything! Hyahhh!” She almost smacks Zee in the thigh and then falls backwards. “What kinda ways? Can you bring her here? I wanna see her right now! Your Majesty of the Whale Stomach, bring Marmee here now!”
Ion tilts its head thoughtfully. «Well, an infusion of love—or, indeed, will—strong enough can retrieve any being to their connected ones. It is a common practice amongst the Star Sapphires and the occasionally powerful Green Lantern. However, your parental units have deemed it unwise, and I would not want to cause distress in your family.>> Ion glances up at Zee, smiling warmly, before it leans in close to Lian. The decision ultimately, the whale indicates, is up to her.
Lianzilla doesn’t understand what Willy’s saying and looks at Auntie Zee. “Should…I…wish really hard for Marmee?”
Zee presses her lips together, not sure how much stock she should put into Ion. But she trusted Kyle…and he trusted Green Lantern things. So why not. “I’m sure it won’t hurt to try, Lian.” she encourages, rubbing the girl’s shoulder in support.
Lianzilla tugs Zee’s sleeve. “You have to try with me.”
Ion watches the two for a moment. «We will need my sibling, Predator, if you wish to proceed.>>
"Miss Pretty? Okay!!" Lian is sure Auntie Zee will go along with this, that she doesn’t ask for permission first before agreeing.
Zee nods, bending down to Lian’s level with her hand held out for her, “Of course. We’ll try together.” she looks up to Ion, asking, “Can you get um, Predator for us?”
Ion nods its head and sinks down through the lower level, after depositing Damian back in place so the boy can continue on his Robin-ly duties. A few floors down, Predator is crouched on the back of a couch, claws dug in as it screams at a TV set in front of it. «Sibling, I do not believe you will find any love in this…’Bachelor’ show. Come, I have something to show you.>>
Predator is already climbing up the wall. « I KNOW, I felt her decision, I felt it, I did— >> It skitters right up to Lian and Zee, expanding in size so it can lean over and examine them closely. « I can bring them BOTH back, did you know? I can, I can! >>
Lianzilla starts practising in really really reallyreallyREALLY wanting Marmee to return home. “How’s that? I’m trying really hard!”
Ion pats Lian on the head with its fin. «That is very good, calfling.>> It looks up at Zee. «I can use the connection of will between Kyle Rayner and myself to deliver a message to him, if you do not wish to summon him. I need to inform him of our presence on Earth, regardless.>>
Zee mouth opens and shuts for a beat, eyes growing wide at Predator’s quick claim, “Can we…can we try and focus on one person please? Just Mar’i.” Kyle could handle himself for now, she couldn’t just rip him from his duty just because she needed him. Not yet. She wasn’t that weak. Mar’i didn’t ask to go, she didn’t agree to go. He did. “A message is all I need to send to Kyle. Thank you.”
Predator watches Zee for a moment, then snatches Lian up in its arms. « Sit very still and think only of the love you possess >> it directs, sounding almost calm despite the gleeful smile across its crystal teeth.
Lianzilla sits obediently, unafraid and squinching her eyes together tightly. “I love Marmee, I love Marmee, IloveMarmee, ILOVEMARMEE” she starts to scream her chant, unaware of how freaky it sounded echoing against the walls.
Ion gently floats in front of Zee, like an oversized barrier. «I do not wish for Predator’s….personality traits to seek out your own heart. It poses no threat to the child, but bystanders can be a different story. You will be safe here.>>
Zee reaches out to pat against Ion, “Thank you.” she smiles, the space whale starting to really grow on her. She could see why Kyle was attached to it so much. It even seemed a bit huggable in it’s size, “I appreciate it.”
Predator makes a high-pitched cackling noise and closes one hand into a fist, with a single claw still unfurled. « Two hearts…attuned >> it calls, as the room goes a soft violet and Lian’s chest a brighter side. Predator looks up, as if it is staring off into space itself. « Tether targeted, heartbreak…located >> The room goes violet-bright.
Ion makes its own corner of the room a bright green, sparking constructs fighting away the organic vines of light that twirl near Zee.
Lianzilla opens her eyes and looks around, making squeaking noises not unlike Marmee’s own unbridled laughter. “MarmeeeeeMarmeeeeee,” she keens loudly.
Zee eyes grow wide at the green constructs around her, all the while holding her breath as she listens to Lian’s calls for Mar’i, both needy and excited. “Do you know if it’s working?” she whispers to Ion.
"—and I don’t think Komand’r knows, or else she’s doing a good job hiding it," Mar’i mutters to Goriam, throwing another unconscious Gordanian onto the pile. "But what I can’t figure out is—" And then the left side of her chest goes violet-bright, bursting with twirling floral shapes, and Lian calls out for her and Mar’i reaches out unconsciously and—
« Connection complete. >>
Mari wraps her muddy arms around Lian’s little frame and makes a choked noise.
Ion sinks a bit in size as the light fades around the now-three beings and emits a joyful noise. «Now, young one>> it says, turning, «we should send Kyle Rayner a message.>>
Predator pats Mar’i and Lian entirely too hard on the heads. « Hearts mended, hearts healed! >>
Lianzilla ”MARMEE!!!! WHERE ARE YOU??? Come back home!!! Papa is so sad and I’m sad too and—” She balls her fists and smacks Marmee, effectively hugging her harder. “You make me so mad, come home so I can be mad at you, I love you!”
Zee wants to ask more questions, ask how Mar’i is, and to tell Lian what a good job she’s done- but for now she’s imagining Kyle waiting too. So her questions take a backseat. “You’re right. she pats her hand against Ion, tapping a light rhythm from her fingers. “Let’s call Kyle.”
Mari makes a sobbing noise. “Li-Li, what did you do, why am I—” She squeezes the little girl to her, leaning back from where she’s sunk on her heels to drag Lian into her lap. “Oh baby, I’m so sorry, I’m sorry, my sweet little girl, I’m sorry—” She pauses to cover the girl’s face in quick kisses, then resumes burying herself in the dark curls atop Lian’s head.
Ion swells up, as if it is swallowing air, and begins emitting its own bright light, although this one seems contained solely inside its belly. «I will attempt to connect directly with his ring since the Central Battery is poisoned.>>
"Where are you? Come home! No more crying, Marmee," Lian alternates between stern and consoling, used to giving adults orders but also instinctively wanting to comfort her Marmee.
Mari sobs out a laugh. “I think I might be asleep, Li-Li, but it looks like the Watchtower.” She doesn’t look around much, though, because Mar’i is fully convinced this is either a dream or a hallucination. “I’m sorry I made you mad, baby girl.”
Lianzilla looks up at Miss Pretty, with big eyes, and her grip around Marmee gets tighter. “Is she real? Is she home forever?? DID I BRING HER HOME FOR REAL?!” She can’t wait to boast to Papa now.
Ion taps into the will in the room, and there’s no small amount of it, and sends out a beacon straight to Kyle’s ring. «FRIEND RAYNER, CAN YOU HEAR ME>> it yells, a little too-loudly.
Zee can’t help but call out along with Ion, “Kyle, it’s Zee!”
"Who’re you looking aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa—" Mar’i yelps and snatches Lian into her arms even more, skootching away from Predator. "What is that?!" she hisses, eyes wide, and they only get wider as she slams her back into one of the Watchtower walls, which should not be physical, and— "THIS ISN’T A HALLUCINATION!" Mar’i half-yelps, turning now to look at the massive whale-like thing on the other side of the room.
Kyle Rayner is sure he’s getting closer, but the situation of the ongoing wars and battles are worse than he’d ever realized, even from the footage. On course to yet another possible planet where Mar’i might be, and Kyle nearly veers out of formation when Ion bangs around in his head. Now he knows how Kate feels, when he tried to do the telepathy thing with her. “What the hell?” Kyle looks at his ring. “Who is this? Ganthet? Identify yourself? Sodam Yat? Or - wait is this - wait - Zee??! Is that you?”
Ion looks a little hurt. «I am the one Ion!>> it whines. «I am on Earth with your companions! As well as my siblings!>>
"That’s Miss Pretty," Lian says peaceably, feeling warm and safe in Marmee’s arms, even with Marmee covered in filth and smelling of blood. "And that’s Willy. They’re my friends! Miss Pretty brought you back home, Marmee. I wanna keep them as my pets."
"Hi Kyle!" Zee shouts after Ion, feeling altogether like Lian, but she really doesn’t care, "I hope this isn’t a bad time, Ion said- yeah that! Ion wanted to tell you that."
Kyle Rayner leaves a long silence for a while and looks over at Gorius. She is so tired, but she will not give up until she finds her sister. “Ion. Ion? Ion with Zee?” Kyle knows he sounds like an idiot, but this is almost too much to handle. What is the entity doing outside of Sodam Yat? If Ion has separated itself and gone to Earth, then…Kyle feels a chill. “What happened to the Corps, Ion?” And then afterwards, he adds, “Zee…” his voice breaks, just slightly.
Mari is still pecking kisses against the part in Lian’s hair, although now she looks considerably more concerned about the situation at hand, including her own mess getting all over Lian’s clothes. But honestly, the woman figures, she’s going to be helping buy Lian’s clothes for the foreseeable future, so one ruined outfit is worth getting to hold her little girl. “Miss Pretty brought me back?” she repeats, a little unclear on it all.
Ion swells more, as if it is bearing down for what it says next. «The Central Power Battery is poisoned, Kyle Rayner, and the Guardians corrupted. I suspect any Lantern who has come into contact with the Lantern since my escape is corrupted as well.>>
"Miss Pretty said my love would bring you back home and so I loved you really really hard and then you came back home! I think Miss Pretty is magical. And Willy is helping Auntie Zee talk to Uncle Kyle. And Papa’s really sad, Marmee," Lian informs her with her best upset-face.
Zee places a hand over her mouth nodding to let Ion speak. She has no answers for Kyle’s questions, but that doesn’t stop her from welling up at the sound of his voice. “Hi baby.” she finds herself whispering.
Predator scrambles over to Ion and Zee. « CAROL FERRIS, IS CAROL FERRIS WITH YOU?! >> it squeals, unable to contain its glee.
There is another very long pause before Kyle answers; and when he does, he asks in a neutral but commanding tone, “Is Predator there as well? In Earthspace?” He doesn’t answer Zee, not yet. Not with Carol there, staring at him urgently, her mouth set in a straight line. Gorius is holding her hand, and when Predator’s voice comes through Kyle’s ring, Carol grabs Kyle’s hand and starts yelling at it.
"I’m here Predator. What the hell are you doing there? What’s happened on Zamoran, Predator, tell me?" Kyle lets Carol use his ring, then wryly informs her should /could/ just use her own, hello. Carol punches his arm lightly.
Mari stares open-mouthed at Lian, looking back up at Predator, then back down at the little girl. “You brought me back?” she whispers, voice trembling as she tucks a strand of hair back into one of Lian’s messy poufs. Mar’i pulls the little girl against her. “I love you, sweetheart, and I’m so, so sorry I left,” she chokes, allowing herself to cry without sobbing. The tears drag clean lines through the dirtiness of her face. She glances up at Ion and Zee.
"I miss you, Zee. I…haven’t found Mar’i yet, but we will." Kyle looks over at Gorius again. "We have to."
Predator « I BROKE FREEEE! >> Predator shrieks excitedly, running in a circle on the tile. « Aga’po saw the call and told me to answer! She says that the Star Sapphires will halt the darkness long enough for us to gather! >>
"YAH! I BROUGHT YOU BACK!" Lian is magnanimous now, puffing out her chest in pride as she hugs Marmee back. "I’mma hero, just like you and Papa! I love you toooooo, just don’t leave again, please please."
Zee waves to Mar’i mouthing ‘hello’ then pointing to Ion and mouthing ‘Kyle’ as well. “Kyle you don’t have to find Mar’i, we brought her here!” she finds herself shouting again, it was all too much. Much too much. “Mar’i is here, we got her here I don’t know how but she’s here! She’s on the Watchtower with Lian and I and she’s HERE KYLE!”
Kyle Rayner listens to Predator and looks grimly at Carol, whose countenance matches his own. “Okay, well—” Then Zee tells him about Mar’i, and Kyle’s eyes go wide. “She’s…there? Mar’i is there?! Is she okay? How’d she get there? No - never mind, that doesn’t matter, that’s - that’s great news, honeybunch! Tell her to stay put, I’ll - I’ll handle things here.” He wonders if Queen Komand’r would be keeping track of Mar’is whereabouts. No way he was going to let more Queensguard come kidnap Mar’i again. “No wait - Zee - ask Mar’i which planet she was fighting on.”
Zee is practically bouncing by this point when she calls to Mar’i, “Do you know what planet you were on? Kyle wants to know!”
Mari looks up. “Ogyptu, near the ocean. I—” Mar’i stands up, bringing Lian up with her, into her arms. “I have a friend there, Goriam, and I don’t know what will happen if I’m gone and Komand’r finds out. Can Kyle find a way to move her or something?”
Zee nods, “Kyle, Mar’i says she was on Ogyptu, near the ocean there. She has a friend named Goriam there and she wants to keep her safe, or move her, something. She also doesn’t know what’ll happen when Komand’r finds out she’s gone.” she pauses, taking a deep breath, “Did you get all that?”
Ion is looking rather grim itself. «I wish I could say this is a joyous time, Kyle Rayner, with such reuniting, but the darkness that has invaded the Vega System is searching for entities and power. There is strength in numbers, but there is also a target. We have gathered, and you must return soon.>>
Mari moves towards the group, trying to not be completely wary of Predator’s appearance despite her war-programmed instinct to not go anywhere near it. “My hero,” she mutters to Lian, “I won’t leave again, I promise.” A foolish promise, but Mar’i is willing to be the fool for Lian’s love.
"Did Mar’i just say - did you just say Goriam?" Kyle looks over at Gorius, who flies over and takes his hand, staring up at him with large red lizard eyes of emotion. Kyle grins. "Copy that. I’m with my comrade Green Lantern Gorius. She’s Goriam’s sister." He listens to Ion.
“Okay. I’ll be home soon, once we get Lantern Gorius’ sister, and they’ll be - they’re gonna be given sanctuary on Earth. Zee, Mar’i - oh god I’m so glad you’re home, Mar’i - you guys need to inform the Justice League. There’s something evil here, that’s infecting the universe. Oa’s been compromised, and I wouldn’t be surprised if other Lantern entities have headed to Earth too. You guys gotta find them, they’ll help with the defenses. Mar’i probably knows first-hand what I’m talking about, what’s taking over people here, it’s unlike anything I’ve seen before…” And yet, there was something strangely familiar about it too. But Kyle hadn’t figured that part out yet. He continued talking, in a rush now. “You guys gotta prepare, I’ll be home soon, okay? I love you guys, I’m glad you’re home Mar’i and I’ll be home we just gotta—**” The transmission cuts off, as a warship looms into view, attacking the band of Lanterns.
Ion «His will has been directed to battle>> Ion says, almost ominously, fading to a softer green.
"Kyle? Kyle!" Zee calls, her hand raising as if to hit against Ion for another chance to speak with Kyle, but it falls down to her side. Her shoulders dropping, "Did you get that?" she asks Mar’i. It was a lot to take in all at once.
Mari tucks Lian’s head against her shoulder, using her hand to shield the little girl’s free ear from hearing anything further. “X’Hal has gone missing too, so I guess all the intergalactic entities have gotten the hell out of there.” She sighs and shifts her weight, dark circles under her eyes as she nods. “I can do a full write-up of everything immediately.”
Lianzilla lays there passively, reaching out to pet Willy’s soft suede-y snout.
Zee nods slowly to Mar’i, “You get some rest, and wash up too Mar’i. I’ll help with any write ups if you need me.” looks to Ion and Predator, “So you guys have other siblings? Kyle said they’d be coming to Earth too.”
Ion looks at Zee. «Oh yes, we have five other siblings! The Butcher and Adara have taken refuge with other children with ties to your network, while Proselyte has chosen to move randomly around the planet. Ophidian cannot leave Larfleeze’s side, but it is somewhere here as well. Parallax very well may have chosen to stay with Sinestro, we are not exactly ‘close’.>>
Zee looks between Mar’i and Ion, “Should I be concerned about a sibling named The Butcher taking refuge with a child tied to our network? Or Adara too…not to pass judgement on your names. Sorry.” she frowns, “I may be close with Kyle, but I’m not that familiar with your siblings, or the…spectrum of lanterns. Is that what it’s called?”
Predator snarls up its thin, crystalline lip. « The Butcher is RAGE, I do not love him, but Adara is hope. >>
Zee turns to Mar’i, brow raised in worry, “Rage? With a child?”
Lianzilla ”Ramsey’s really mad a lot,” Lian says suddenly, voice muted and nasal. “Ever since he was taken away.”
Ion nods, a slow movement that makes its entire body wave. «The former may be cause for alarm but the latter is harmless. We are the entities of the emotional spectrum, the key seven stops across the universal expression of emotion. Individually we are powerful, but together we may be strong enough to fight what is coming.>> He pats Zee on the head with a fin. «The Butcher can only corrupt and destroy its Red Lanterns. The child may experience a strengthening of its own rage, but The Butcher has agreed to not burn it from the inside out like it would its own Lanterns.>>
Mari rubs at her face with her free hand, then wraps it around Lian’s upper back. “Okay,” she murmurs to Zee, and looks down at Lian for a moment. “Where is Ramsey? Have you seen him lately?”
Zee looks to Ion with wide worried eyes, “So I shouldn’t…he’s not going to burn up?!” it’s all very concerning to her, even regarding a child with some powers.
Lianzilla shakes her head, rubbing her eyes and, now safe and warm and with Marmee, acting up her babyness. “He’s not living with Grampa right now.”
Mari doesn’t know what that means, so she looks at Zee and shrugs. “Should one of us text Kate and see where he is?”
Zee ”Yes. Absolutely.”
Mari nods her head. “Okay, then, I’ll get cleaned up, we’ll report everything that’s happened and then—” Mar’i rubs her eyes. “I might sleep for three days.”
Zee smiles, moving closer to Mar’i and wrapping her arms around her and Lian, “You deserve it, Mar’i.” she pecks a kiss against Lian’s cheek, “You did such a good job today, Lian. You should be so very proud of yourself for bringing Mar’i home safe with Miss Pretty.” dropping her arms she nods, “I’m so glad you’re back where you belong Mar’i. Just tell me when you’re ready and I’ll come help with the report.”
Lianzilla beams proudly, albeit sleepily now. All of her efforts have tired her out, and Marmee is so comfy and warm. “Thank you, Auntie, I love you.”
Mari looks down at Lian and then back up at Zee. “Okay,” she replies, too tired to try and think about what she may or may not deserve after everything, “thank you, Zee.”
Zee ”I love you both. Okay.” she smiles, moving back to Ion, petting against Ion’s snout just as Lian had before. It’s actually more comforting than she had assumed it would be.
Ion does a little spin with its body. «We will attempt to find and gather our siblings and discuss what will be done. Until then, please allow yourselves plenty of rest.>> It bows, then drifts towards a nearby wall, phasing straight through it.
Predator lets out a mournful cry as it skitters after Ion. « But I wanted to turn them into crystallsssssss—GOODBYE LOVERS—ssssssss >>
Mari hitches Lian up a little higher on her hip, although the little girl weighs practically nothing to her. “Let’s go find some clothes that aren’t gross, okay Li-Li?” she kisses her temple, then whispers conspiratorially: “—and maybe take a quick nap.”
Zee mostly shuffles about as she’s not very sure of dancing with a whale, but she puts on a good show for Damian and Lian at least. “You think?” she asks, looking to the whale entity with a small smile, “Maybe it’s because I like Kyle so much. We have that in common I think.”
Damian Wayne gets close to Ion’s mouth when it sings the long notes and wonders if he could live in there like Pinocchio
Ion proceeds to swallow Damian and allows the boy to float around in its totally harmless transparent stomach-sac.
Lianzilla eyes light up. “Willy!! Willy, can we all ride inside you and go save Marmee??”
Damian Wayne yelps in a very un-stoic manner but quickly realizes no harm has come to him and stands with hands astride his hips within the whale, declaring himself King of the Whale Stomach
Zee eyes widen at Ion SWALLOWING Damian, but he doesn’t seem to be in any distress, and Ion hasn’t seemed to have any cause for eating humans prior to this, “You alright in there Damian?” she asks anyway. Bruce would kill her if he was digested by a space whale.
Ion is sure to not move too quickly and displace Damian from his throne. «Well, calfling>> Ion begins, scratching his jaw with his little fin, rather ineptly. «I do not believe it is a safe place for you, or I. There are ways to bring her here, but I fear going to the Vega System itself would be quite hazardous to all our safeties.>>
Damian Wayne sweeps his arm to show Zatanna his new see-through kingdom. “I’m quite well, Magician. Perhaps I shall allow you to visit my realm someday.”
Ion is sure to not move too quickly and displace Damian from his throne. «Well, calfling>> Ion begins, scratching its jaw with its little fin, rather ineptly. «I do not believe it is a safe place for you, or I. There are ways to bring her here, but I fear going to the Vega System itself would be quite hazardous to all our safeties.>>
Zee nods, currently not ever anticipating a journey into a space whale’s stomach, “Yeah. Perhaps.”
Lianzilla screws up her face and punches and kicks heavily and inexpertly into the air. “I can fight anything! Hyahhh!” She almost smacks Zee in the thigh and then falls backwards. “What kinda ways? Can you bring her here? I wanna see her right now! Your Majesty of the Whale Stomach, bring Marmee here now!”
Ion tilts its head thoughtfully. «Well, an infusion of love—or, indeed, will—strong enough can retrieve any being to their connected ones. It is a common practice amongst the Star Sapphires and the occasionally powerful Green Lantern. However, your parental units have deemed it unwise, and I would not want to cause distress in your family.>> Ion glances up at Zee, smiling warmly, before it leans in close to Lian. The decision ultimately, the whale indicates, is up to her.
Lianzilla doesn’t understand what Willy’s saying and looks at Auntie Zee. “Should…I…wish really hard for Marmee?”
Zee presses her lips together, not sure how much stock she should put into Ion. But she trusted Kyle…and he trusted Green Lantern things. So why not. “I’m sure it won’t hurt to try, Lian.” she encourages, rubbing the girl’s shoulder in support.
Lianzilla tugs Zee’s sleeve. “You have to try with me.”
Ion watches the two for a moment. «We will need my sibling, Predator, if you wish to proceed.>>
"Miss Pretty? Okay!!" Lian is sure Auntie Zee will go along with this, that she doesn’t ask for permission first before agreeing.
Zee nods, bending down to Lian’s level with her hand held out for her, “Of course. We’ll try together.” she looks up to Ion, asking, “Can you get um, Predator for us?”
Ion nods its head and sinks down through the lower level, after depositing Damian back in place so the boy can continue on his Robin-ly duties. A few floors down, Predator is crouched on the back of a couch, claws dug in as it screams at a TV set in front of it. «Sibling, I do not believe you will find any love in this…’Bachelor’ show. Come, I have something to show you.>>
Predator is already climbing up the wall. « I KNOW, I felt her decision, I felt it, I did— >> It skitters right up to Lian and Zee, expanding in size so it can lean over and examine them closely. « I can bring them BOTH back, did you know? I can, I can! >>
Lianzilla starts practising in really really reallyreallyREALLY wanting Marmee to return home. “How’s that? I’m trying really hard!”
Ion pats Lian on the head with its fin. «That is very good, calfling.>> It looks up at Zee. «I can use the connection of will between Kyle Rayner and myself to deliver a message to him, if you do not wish to summon him. I need to inform him of our presence on Earth, regardless.>>
Zee mouth opens and shuts for a beat, eyes growing wide at Predator’s quick claim, “Can we…can we try and focus on one person please? Just Mar’i.” Kyle could handle himself for now, she couldn’t just rip him from his duty just because she needed him. Not yet. She wasn’t that weak. Mar’i didn’t ask to go, she didn’t agree to go. He did. “A message is all I need to send to Kyle. Thank you.”
Predator watches Zee for a moment, then snatches Lian up in its arms. « Sit very still and think only of the love you possess >> it directs, sounding almost calm despite the gleeful smile across its crystal teeth.
Lianzilla sits obediently, unafraid and squinching her eyes together tightly. “I love Marmee, I love Marmee, IloveMarmee, ILOVEMARMEE” she starts to scream her chant, unaware of how freaky it sounded echoing against the walls.
Ion gently floats in front of Zee, like an oversized barrier. «I do not wish for Predator’s….personality traits to seek out your own heart. It poses no threat to the child, but bystanders can be a different story. You will be safe here.>>
Zee reaches out to pat against Ion, “Thank you.” she smiles, the space whale starting to really grow on her. She could see why Kyle was attached to it so much. It even seemed a bit huggable in it’s size, “I appreciate it.”
Predator makes a high-pitched cackling noise and closes one hand into a fist, with a single claw still unfurled. « Two hearts…attuned >> it calls, as the room goes a soft violet and Lian’s chest a brighter side. Predator looks up, as if it is staring off into space itself. « Tether targeted, heartbreak…located >> The room goes violet-bright.
Ion makes its own corner of the room a bright green, sparking constructs fighting away the organic vines of light that twirl near Zee.
Lianzilla opens her eyes and looks around, making squeaking noises not unlike Marmee’s own unbridled laughter. “MarmeeeeeMarmeeeeee,” she keens loudly.
Zee eyes grow wide at the green constructs around her, all the while holding her breath as she listens to Lian’s calls for Mar’i, both needy and excited. “Do you know if it’s working?” she whispers to Ion.
"—and I don’t think Komand’r knows, or else she’s doing a good job hiding it," Mar’i mutters to Goriam, throwing another unconscious Gordanian onto the pile. "But what I can’t figure out is—" And then the left side of her chest goes violet-bright, bursting with twirling floral shapes, and Lian calls out for her and Mar’i reaches out unconsciously and—
« Connection complete. >>
Mari wraps her muddy arms around Lian’s little frame and makes a choked noise.
Ion sinks a bit in size as the light fades around the now-three beings and emits a joyful noise. «Now, young one>> it says, turning, «we should send Kyle Rayner a message.>>
Predator pats Mar’i and Lian entirely too hard on the heads. « Hearts mended, hearts healed! >>
Lianzilla ”MARMEE!!!! WHERE ARE YOU??? Come back home!!! Papa is so sad and I’m sad too and—” She balls her fists and smacks Marmee, effectively hugging her harder. “You make me so mad, come home so I can be mad at you, I love you!”
Zee wants to ask more questions, ask how Mar’i is, and to tell Lian what a good job she’s done- but for now she’s imagining Kyle waiting too. So her questions take a backseat. “You’re right. she pats her hand against Ion, tapping a light rhythm from her fingers. “Let’s call Kyle.”
Mari makes a sobbing noise. “Li-Li, what did you do, why am I—” She squeezes the little girl to her, leaning back from where she’s sunk on her heels to drag Lian into her lap. “Oh baby, I’m so sorry, I’m sorry, my sweet little girl, I’m sorry—” She pauses to cover the girl’s face in quick kisses, then resumes burying herself in the dark curls atop Lian’s head.
Ion swells up, as if it is swallowing air, and begins emitting its own bright light, although this one seems contained solely inside its belly. «I will attempt to connect directly with his ring since the Central Battery is poisoned.>>
"Where are you? Come home! No more crying, Marmee," Lian alternates between stern and consoling, used to giving adults orders but also instinctively wanting to comfort her Marmee.
Mari sobs out a laugh. “I think I might be asleep, Li-Li, but it looks like the Watchtower.” She doesn’t look around much, though, because Mar’i is fully convinced this is either a dream or a hallucination. “I’m sorry I made you mad, baby girl.”
Lianzilla looks up at Miss Pretty, with big eyes, and her grip around Marmee gets tighter. “Is she real? Is she home forever?? DID I BRING HER HOME FOR REAL?!” She can’t wait to boast to Papa now.
Ion taps into the will in the room, and there’s no small amount of it, and sends out a beacon straight to Kyle’s ring. «FRIEND RAYNER, CAN YOU HEAR ME>> it yells, a little too-loudly.
Zee can’t help but call out along with Ion, “Kyle, it’s Zee!”
"Who’re you looking aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa—" Mar’i yelps and snatches Lian into her arms even more, skootching away from Predator. "What is that?!" she hisses, eyes wide, and they only get wider as she slams her back into one of the Watchtower walls, which should not be physical, and— "THIS ISN’T A HALLUCINATION!" Mar’i half-yelps, turning now to look at the massive whale-like thing on the other side of the room.
Kyle Rayner is sure he’s getting closer, but the situation of the ongoing wars and battles are worse than he’d ever realized, even from the footage. On course to yet another possible planet where Mar’i might be, and Kyle nearly veers out of formation when Ion bangs around in his head. Now he knows how Kate feels, when he tried to do the telepathy thing with her. “What the hell?” Kyle looks at his ring. “Who is this? Ganthet? Identify yourself? Sodam Yat? Or - wait is this - wait - Zee??! Is that you?”
Ion looks a little hurt. «I am the one Ion!>> it whines. «I am on Earth with your companions! As well as my siblings!>>
"That’s Miss Pretty," Lian says peaceably, feeling warm and safe in Marmee’s arms, even with Marmee covered in filth and smelling of blood. "And that’s Willy. They’re my friends! Miss Pretty brought you back home, Marmee. I wanna keep them as my pets."
"Hi Kyle!" Zee shouts after Ion, feeling altogether like Lian, but she really doesn’t care, "I hope this isn’t a bad time, Ion said- yeah that! Ion wanted to tell you that."
Kyle Rayner leaves a long silence for a while and looks over at Gorius. She is so tired, but she will not give up until she finds her sister. “Ion. Ion? Ion with Zee?” Kyle knows he sounds like an idiot, but this is almost too much to handle. What is the entity doing outside of Sodam Yat? If Ion has separated itself and gone to Earth, then…Kyle feels a chill. “What happened to the Corps, Ion?” And then afterwards, he adds, “Zee…” his voice breaks, just slightly.
Mari is still pecking kisses against the part in Lian’s hair, although now she looks considerably more concerned about the situation at hand, including her own mess getting all over Lian’s clothes. But honestly, the woman figures, she’s going to be helping buy Lian’s clothes for the foreseeable future, so one ruined outfit is worth getting to hold her little girl. “Miss Pretty brought me back?” she repeats, a little unclear on it all.
Ion swells more, as if it is bearing down for what it says next. «The Central Power Battery is poisoned, Kyle Rayner, and the Guardians corrupted. I suspect any Lantern who has come into contact with the Lantern since my escape is corrupted as well.>>
"Miss Pretty said my love would bring you back home and so I loved you really really hard and then you came back home! I think Miss Pretty is magical. And Willy is helping Auntie Zee talk to Uncle Kyle. And Papa’s really sad, Marmee," Lian informs her with her best upset-face.
Zee places a hand over her mouth nodding to let Ion speak. She has no answers for Kyle’s questions, but that doesn’t stop her from welling up at the sound of his voice. “Hi baby.” she finds herself whispering.
Predator scrambles over to Ion and Zee. « CAROL FERRIS, IS CAROL FERRIS WITH YOU?! >> it squeals, unable to contain its glee.
There is another very long pause before Kyle answers; and when he does, he asks in a neutral but commanding tone, “Is Predator there as well? In Earthspace?” He doesn’t answer Zee, not yet. Not with Carol there, staring at him urgently, her mouth set in a straight line. Gorius is holding her hand, and when Predator’s voice comes through Kyle’s ring, Carol grabs Kyle’s hand and starts yelling at it.
"I’m here Predator. What the hell are you doing there? What’s happened on Zamoran, Predator, tell me?" Kyle lets Carol use his ring, then wryly informs her should /could/ just use her own, hello. Carol punches his arm lightly.
Mari stares open-mouthed at Lian, looking back up at Predator, then back down at the little girl. “You brought me back?” she whispers, voice trembling as she tucks a strand of hair back into one of Lian’s messy poufs. Mar’i pulls the little girl against her. “I love you, sweetheart, and I’m so, so sorry I left,” she chokes, allowing herself to cry without sobbing. The tears drag clean lines through the dirtiness of her face. She glances up at Ion and Zee.
"I miss you, Zee. I…haven’t found Mar’i yet, but we will." Kyle looks over at Gorius again. "We have to."
Predator « I BROKE FREEEE! >> Predator shrieks excitedly, running in a circle on the tile. « Aga’po saw the call and told me to answer! She says that the Star Sapphires will halt the darkness long enough for us to gather! >>
"YAH! I BROUGHT YOU BACK!" Lian is magnanimous now, puffing out her chest in pride as she hugs Marmee back. "I’mma hero, just like you and Papa! I love you toooooo, just don’t leave again, please please."
Zee waves to Mar’i mouthing ‘hello’ then pointing to Ion and mouthing ‘Kyle’ as well. “Kyle you don’t have to find Mar’i, we brought her here!” she finds herself shouting again, it was all too much. Much too much. “Mar’i is here, we got her here I don’t know how but she’s here! She’s on the Watchtower with Lian and I and she’s HERE KYLE!”
Kyle Rayner listens to Predator and looks grimly at Carol, whose countenance matches his own. “Okay, well—” Then Zee tells him about Mar’i, and Kyle’s eyes go wide. “She’s…there? Mar’i is there?! Is she okay? How’d she get there? No - never mind, that doesn’t matter, that’s - that’s great news, honeybunch! Tell her to stay put, I’ll - I’ll handle things here.” He wonders if Queen Komand’r would be keeping track of Mar’is whereabouts. No way he was going to let more Queensguard come kidnap Mar’i again. “No wait - Zee - ask Mar’i which planet she was fighting on.”
Zee is practically bouncing by this point when she calls to Mar’i, “Do you know what planet you were on? Kyle wants to know!”
Mari looks up. “Ogyptu, near the ocean. I—” Mar’i stands up, bringing Lian up with her, into her arms. “I have a friend there, Goriam, and I don’t know what will happen if I’m gone and Komand’r finds out. Can Kyle find a way to move her or something?”
Zee nods, “Kyle, Mar’i says she was on Ogyptu, near the ocean there. She has a friend named Goriam there and she wants to keep her safe, or move her, something. She also doesn’t know what’ll happen when Komand’r finds out she’s gone.” she pauses, taking a deep breath, “Did you get all that?”
Ion is looking rather grim itself. «I wish I could say this is a joyous time, Kyle Rayner, with such reuniting, but the darkness that has invaded the Vega System is searching for entities and power. There is strength in numbers, but there is also a target. We have gathered, and you must return soon.>>
Mari moves towards the group, trying to not be completely wary of Predator’s appearance despite her war-programmed instinct to not go anywhere near it. “My hero,” she mutters to Lian, “I won’t leave again, I promise.” A foolish promise, but Mar’i is willing to be the fool for Lian’s love.
"Did Mar’i just say - did you just say Goriam?" Kyle looks over at Gorius, who flies over and takes his hand, staring up at him with large red lizard eyes of emotion. Kyle grins. "Copy that. I’m with my comrade Green Lantern Gorius. She’s Goriam’s sister." He listens to Ion.
“Okay. I’ll be home soon, once we get Lantern Gorius’ sister, and they’ll be - they’re gonna be given sanctuary on Earth. Zee, Mar’i - oh god I’m so glad you’re home, Mar’i - you guys need to inform the Justice League. There’s something evil here, that’s infecting the universe. Oa’s been compromised, and I wouldn’t be surprised if other Lantern entities have headed to Earth too. You guys gotta find them, they’ll help with the defenses. Mar’i probably knows first-hand what I’m talking about, what’s taking over people here, it’s unlike anything I’ve seen before…” And yet, there was something strangely familiar about it too. But Kyle hadn’t figured that part out yet. He continued talking, in a rush now. “You guys gotta prepare, I’ll be home soon, okay? I love you guys, I’m glad you’re home Mar’i and I’ll be home we just gotta—**” The transmission cuts off, as a warship looms into view, attacking the band of Lanterns.
Ion «His will has been directed to battle>> Ion says, almost ominously, fading to a softer green.
"Kyle? Kyle!" Zee calls, her hand raising as if to hit against Ion for another chance to speak with Kyle, but it falls down to her side. Her shoulders dropping, "Did you get that?" she asks Mar’i. It was a lot to take in all at once.
Mari tucks Lian’s head against her shoulder, using her hand to shield the little girl’s free ear from hearing anything further. “X’Hal has gone missing too, so I guess all the intergalactic entities have gotten the hell out of there.” She sighs and shifts her weight, dark circles under her eyes as she nods. “I can do a full write-up of everything immediately.”
Lianzilla lays there passively, reaching out to pet Willy’s soft suede-y snout.
Zee nods slowly to Mar’i, “You get some rest, and wash up too Mar’i. I’ll help with any write ups if you need me.” looks to Ion and Predator, “So you guys have other siblings? Kyle said they’d be coming to Earth too.”
Ion looks at Zee. «Oh yes, we have five other siblings! The Butcher and Adara have taken refuge with other children with ties to your network, while Proselyte has chosen to move randomly around the planet. Ophidian cannot leave Larfleeze’s side, but it is somewhere here as well. Parallax very well may have chosen to stay with Sinestro, we are not exactly ‘close’.>>
Zee looks between Mar’i and Ion, “Should I be concerned about a sibling named The Butcher taking refuge with a child tied to our network? Or Adara too…not to pass judgement on your names. Sorry.” she frowns, “I may be close with Kyle, but I’m not that familiar with your siblings, or the…spectrum of lanterns. Is that what it’s called?”
Predator snarls up its thin, crystalline lip. « The Butcher is RAGE, I do not love him, but Adara is hope. >>
Zee turns to Mar’i, brow raised in worry, “Rage? With a child?”
Lianzilla ”Ramsey’s really mad a lot,” Lian says suddenly, voice muted and nasal. “Ever since he was taken away.”
Ion nods, a slow movement that makes its entire body wave. «The former may be cause for alarm but the latter is harmless. We are the entities of the emotional spectrum, the key seven stops across the universal expression of emotion. Individually we are powerful, but together we may be strong enough to fight what is coming.>> He pats Zee on the head with a fin. «The Butcher can only corrupt and destroy its Red Lanterns. The child may experience a strengthening of its own rage, but The Butcher has agreed to not burn it from the inside out like it would its own Lanterns.>>
Mari rubs at her face with her free hand, then wraps it around Lian’s upper back. “Okay,” she murmurs to Zee, and looks down at Lian for a moment. “Where is Ramsey? Have you seen him lately?”
Zee looks to Ion with wide worried eyes, “So I shouldn’t…he’s not going to burn up?!” it’s all very concerning to her, even regarding a child with some powers.
Lianzilla shakes her head, rubbing her eyes and, now safe and warm and with Marmee, acting up her babyness. “He’s not living with Grampa right now.”
Mari doesn’t know what that means, so she looks at Zee and shrugs. “Should one of us text Kate and see where he is?”
Zee ”Yes. Absolutely.”
Mari nods her head. “Okay, then, I’ll get cleaned up, we’ll report everything that’s happened and then—” Mar’i rubs her eyes. “I might sleep for three days.”
Zee smiles, moving closer to Mar’i and wrapping her arms around her and Lian, “You deserve it, Mar’i.” she pecks a kiss against Lian’s cheek, “You did such a good job today, Lian. You should be so very proud of yourself for bringing Mar’i home safe with Miss Pretty.” dropping her arms she nods, “I’m so glad you’re back where you belong Mar’i. Just tell me when you’re ready and I’ll come help with the report.”
Lianzilla beams proudly, albeit sleepily now. All of her efforts have tired her out, and Marmee is so comfy and warm. “Thank you, Auntie, I love you.”
Mari looks down at Lian and then back up at Zee. “Okay,” she replies, too tired to try and think about what she may or may not deserve after everything, “thank you, Zee.”
Zee ”I love you both. Okay.” she smiles, moving back to Ion, petting against Ion’s snout just as Lian had before. It’s actually more comforting than she had assumed it would be.
Ion does a little spin with its body. «We will attempt to find and gather our siblings and discuss what will be done. Until then, please allow yourselves plenty of rest.>> It bows, then drifts towards a nearby wall, phasing straight through it.
Predator lets out a mournful cry as it skitters after Ion. « But I wanted to turn them into crystallsssssss—GOODBYE LOVERS—ssssssss >>
Mari hitches Lian up a little higher on her hip, although the little girl weighs practically nothing to her. “Let’s go find some clothes that aren’t gross, okay Li-Li?” she kisses her temple, then whispers conspiratorially: “—and maybe take a quick nap.”