[center][h1][color=lime]G R E E N L A N T E R N[/color][/h1][b]"Mary Jane's Last Dance" [ Part IX ] [ [url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cScVoZWVDLQ]One Day[/url] ][/b][/center][hr][hr] A heavy, Bolovaxian hand slapped the table. It was possible that the entire restaurant shook with the force of Kilowog's gesture, the porcine Lantern laughing hoarsely as he regaled Kai-ro with the story of Tyegin. It had been another vice sting, which his partner had spent months preparing for. But B'Shi had gotten sick right before the crucial phase of their investigation, and so Kilowog had gone undercover -- [i]in drag[/i] -- in order to finish the assignment. Which turned out to merely be the [i]start[/i] to a series of unfortunate events. That apparently took several hours for the Bolovaxian to properly recount, as the offer to buy Kilowog a cup of coffee was going into its second hour. Ch'p had been right. Kilowog had seemed as though he was going to decline the invitation, until Kai-ro had brought up Tyegin. Even as he listened to the Bolovaxian weave his tale about the vice sting, it made the boy aware of just how much Green Lantern history that he was oblivious to. He knew that Ch'p and Salaak had been partners once, a pairing that seemed impossible to try and imagine now. Kilowog had been partnered with B'Shi... so, who had Abin Sur been partnered with? "Ah... brings back [i]memories[/i]," the large Bolovaxian declared, still chuckling as he loomed over the cramped cafeteria table where the two were situated. Relaxed back, the boy's former drill sergeant finally asked, "So what's this about, [b]really[/b]? Ch'p didn't send you halfway around the universe just to hear me talk about the ol' glory days." The boy was fidgeting with his ring. For some reason, it felt [i]hot[/i]. Like it was burning him, except... it wasn't? It was really strange. Not to mention distracting. Purposely folding his hands down in his lap so that it was out of sight, the boy looked up at the Bolovaxian as he said, [color=lime]"We're working a homicide from Omicron Ceti IV, but we're having a hard time identifying the victim."[/color] The laughter subsided, through the Bolovaxian's jowls were still quivering. A sight, then a grunt, as Kilowog seemed to internalize the statement and grow serious. His voice was low as he rumbled, "So why come to me?" The boy's eyes cast down to the table, then off to the side. He wasn't really sure how to answer that question in any way that wouldn't make him sound crazy. When he looked up, he finally said, [color=lime]"We think she might be someone you trained."[/color] "But you checked the..." the grizzled drill sergeant began, as though preparing to launch into a lesson on one of his recruits. Except, Kai-ro [i]had[/i] been one of recruits. And he realized that he knew better. "You did. And then what?" [color=lime]"I tried to speak with the Clarissi except..."[/color] [b]"Yeah,"[/b] Kilowog growled, burying his face in the meaty palm of a large hand. "That probably went just like I'd think it would," the porcine soldier remarked flatly, lowering his hand and drawing in a deep breath. "So Ch'p sent you to me. An' fed you that tidbit about Tyegin because he knew that'd get my attention." Kai-ro's eyes diverted right, then looked back at Kilowog with a smile that did nothing to remove how utterly guilty he looked right now. "Crafty lil' bastard," the Bolovaxian huffed. Even his whisper seemed to roll like thunder. When he slapped his hand back down on the table, Kai-ro jumped at the [i]boom[/i] it delivered. It was a miracle of Maltusian construction that the table was still in one piece. "Right. What you got, then?" Kai-ro swallowed nervously, though he wasn't really all that certain why he was nervous. ...well, other than the fact that he was crammed into a cafeteria booth across from a Bolovaxian about four times his size. Who'd been his drill sergeant. Kai-ro was very much of the belief that Kilowog could [b]end him[/b] just by sneezing. Still fidgeting with the ring, the boy flexed his fingers to try and take his mind off the itching and irritation that seemed to keep biting at him from the underside of the ring. Was it possible to be allergic to these? He'd even tried changing which finger it was on, and it was still like wearing a [i]ring of thorns[/i] for some reason... The green construct leapt into existence between the two. The same artistic rendition of a living Jane Doe that Ch'p had used on Scylla. Aya had rendered the image using the data from Doctor von Buron's analysis. The Bolovaxian leaned in as he studied the image. His brow furrowed, through the recognition was clear behind his eyes. "Luna?" Kilowog uttered, as though testing whether the name sound correct or not. "No, Laura?" For his part, Kai-ro just blinked. To be totally honest, he was [i]really[/i] not sure where this was going. And, as a result, he'd just assumed this whole [i]go ask Kilowog what the Book of Oa says doesn't exist[/i] thing was going to be a bust. Now it wasn't. And the implications of that fact left Kai-ro very uncertain as to what he should do next. Other than call Ch'p as soon as possible. Ch'p would know what to do. Ch'p [i]always[/i] knew what to do. It didn't always go as planned, but that wasn't because his partner was making it up as he went... ...he totally made this up as he went. But how did he [b]do[/b] it? Kai-ro couldn't figure that part out. And he'd tried. [color=lime]"So you [b]do[/b] know her?"[/color] the boy asked, mostly because he hadn't known what else to say. Kilowog seemed lost in thought. He did a double-take at the question, as though having forgotten that Kai-ro was still there. "Yeah, I know her. Graxian, but... my memory isn't what it used to be," the aged veteran remarked candidly, letting go a heavy sigh as he sagged back into the booth. "She was the Green Lantern of Sector..." He paused there, his eyes seeming to search a bit, before they focused back on Kai-ro. [color=lime]"2814,"[/color] the boy realized, finishing the Bolovaxian's sentence for him. An uncomfortable silence fell over the table. "I ain't gonna claim to know what you boys have gotten yourselves into. But you might tell Ch'p that I said... think twice about where you're going with this one." [center][img]http://baku-panda.org/images/OU_gldivider.png[/img][/center] Maybe it was malfunctioning? Still fidgeting with his ring, the small Green Lantern exited from out of cafeteria. He was more confused [i]now[/i] than when he'd first woken up on Oa with a ring on his finger, wearing a black-and-green leotard. How was it possible for someone to have been Green Lantern and there [i]not[/i] be any record in the Book of Oa? [i]At all?[/i] And why couldn't he get a connection with either Aya or Ch'p? Even if the H'lven was maintaining [i]radio silence[/i] because of the stake-out, Kai-ro still should have been able to reach Aya in orbit of Scylla. Was there a place he could take his ring for a check-up? Was that even a thing? Kai-ro felt like he should know the answer to these questions. He really was a [i]poozer[/i], wasn't he? [color=skyblue]"Come away, O human child."[/color] So far as he knew, Kai-ro was the only [b]human[/b] in the Green Lantern Corps. So how was it that everybody seemed to automatically know what his species was? And why was that a substitute for his name? The boy turned, then did a double take when he realized who was addressing him. [center][img]http://baku-panda.org/images/OU_scar.png[/img][/center] [color=skyblue]"To the water and the wild, with a fairy hand-in-hand..."[/color] the bald, scarred Guardian uttered, in the same softly melodic voice. She was Kai-ro's same height, looking him calmly in the eye as he stood there, open mouthed, in awe of the fact that there was a Guardian literally in arm's reach. A Guardian in arm's reach, who was speaking to him. Immediately, Kai-ro bowed toward the ancient alien, holding the pose so that his head was focused firmly on the ground at his feet. [color=lime]"M... my Guardian."[/color] Seriously, what was he even supposed to call these people? They were basically [i]gods[/i]. [color=skyblue]"Do you know the poet William Butler Yeats of your homeworld?"[/color] [color=lime]"[i]Uhhh[/i]..."[/color] the boy uttered, shifting uncomfortably under the Guardian's attention. [color=lime]"How... how do you know so much about Earth?"[/color] he finally asked, blurting the question aloud before he'd even really thought about it. [color=skyblue]"I am the director of our Science Division. I know many things about many worlds,"[/color] the woman's voice answered cryptically. The hem of her red robe came into Kai-ro's field of vision, as a voice commanded him. [color=skyblue]"Look up, child."[/color] The boy fidgeted. Was this a test? Was there any right answer in this situation? [color=lime]"I mean no disrespect your... your Guardianship."[/color] [i]Guardianship?[/i] Where, even, had he gotten that from? Let alone said it? [color=skyblue]"[b]Look up.[/b]"[/color] [i]That[/i] popped the child firmly upright, rigidly at attention like this was the second day of Sergeant Kilowog's training. [color=skyblue]"Better,"[/color] the scarred Guardian uttered approvingly. [color=skyblue]"I cannot have a Green Lantern looking down all the time. You would be forever running into things."[/color] Kai-ro just flashed a nervous smile. Was this conversation over now? This conversation should [i]really[/i] be over now. [color=skyblue]"What brings Green Lantern 2814.2 to Oa?"[/color] the woman asked, seemingly happy to continue this... whatever this was. Glancing off in the direction that the boy had been headed, the woman paused a moment before adding, [color=skyblue]"Or should I ask what takes you from us?"[/color] [color=lime]"I'm, uh, just eager to get back to my partner, m'am,"[/color] the boy uttered shyly, then seemed to stop and wonder if he'd said that right. [color=lime]"Miss? My lady?"[/color] Seriously, how were you supposed to talk to these people? And why wasn't that part of the training? [color=skyblue]"And where is Green Lantern 2814.1?"[/color] the Guardian asked in turn. [color=lime]"Scylla, your... [i]uh[/i]"[/color] [color=skyblue]"Ah, Scylla,"[/color] the Guardian uttered, as though fondly recalling a memory of yesteryear. With a faint nod of approval, she added, [color=skyblue]You travel some distance then."[/color] Reaching out with her left hand, the woman took hold of the boy's ring hand and cradled his hand in the palm of her hand. The itching sensation in his ring finger stopped. [color=skyblue]"Have you been charging your ring regularly, as you're supposed to?"[/color] the Guardian asked curiously. Kai-ro's eyes immediately diverted to the right. Still holding firm to his hand, the woman became more pointed as she asked, [color=skyblue]"When was the last time that you charged your ring?"[/color] The boy's eyes flickered back the woman for a moment, then diverted away again as he stammered, [color=lime]"[i]Uh,[/i] well, you see... what happened was..."[/color] Squeezing his hand, the woman released him as she said, [color=skyblue]"Go to the Central Battery. Re-charge. Whatever awaits you on Scylla has time enough for that."[/color] An opportunity to make a break for it. Kai-ro took it. [b][i]Eagerly[/i][/b]. Bowing, he scooted away. Bowed a second time. And took off in a dead sprint for the Central Battery. The blue-skinned Guardian watched the child as he fled from her presence. Glancing down, the woman looked as she opened her right hand. A Green Lantern power ring sat in the center of her palm. A single drop of H'lven blood spider-webbed across the lines of her hand. Closing her fist, the same indigo eyes looked up to fix upon the child's retreating back as she finished the poem. [center][img]http://baku-panda.org/images/OU_gldivider.png[/img][/center] [color=skyblue][i]"...from a world more full of weeping than you can understand."[/i][/color] The scarred Guardian featured at the center of one of the monitors overhead. A second recorded Kai-ro breathless as he stumbled into the Central Battery. In the shadows, the Slyggian sat. And watched. And wondered... how had it all come to this? [center][img]http://baku-panda.org/images/OU_salaak.png[/img][/center]