[center][h2][color=green][b]A K E N     S U R[/b][/color][/h2][/center][sub]Featuring [@MrDidact] as Perseus and [@Freeshooter92] as Nova[/sub]


What a way to spend the new year. Well, new Earth year in any case. Aken was familiar with the tradition, but still found it rather strange that one Earth year wasn't the same as one year on Ungara. Still, he wasn't one to pass up a good celebration. While mulling over some old historical records of Lanterns past on Oa, his mentor, Kyle Rayner, had come to him with another proposition: celebrate New Year's Day back on Earth with some of the other Green Lanterns, including his partner, Kai-Ro. Aken hadn't thought the young monk would've been one to celebrate, but he was keen to meet the other Lanterns from Earth, some of whom had worked with his grandfather before. The whole affair was lighthearted; many of the senior Lanterns in attendance talked to him at length about the deeds of his grandfather, while understandably skimming over his father's actions against the Corps. Humbled by the many compliments about his will to restore his family name, Aken spent a lot of the night enjoying himself.

He didn't expect Kai-Ro to approach him in the middle of the proceedings, pulling him away to some form of privacy outside of the convention hall.

[color=#ED1414]"Kai-Ro? What's the matter?"[/color]

The young monk held him by the shoulders and looked him in the eyes.

"Aken, I need a favour. There is a mission going on right now in New Mexico. Justice League business. But I can't leave, not when the others are around. Do you want to take this solo?"

The Ungaran looked around rather sheepishly before replying.

[color=#ED1414]"Me?"[/color]

"Yes, Aken. It will be your first solo mission. Do not worry. As soon as I am able, I will fly up to the Watchtower to keep track of you. And you will not be alone. There are other Justice League members there too. Think of this as your first real test of what I've taught you."

[color=#ED1414]"I... Do you think I am ready, Kai-Ro? I don't want to disappoint, especially since this is the Justice League we're talking about."[/color]

Kai-Ro gave him a bright smile, a rarity for the monk, and patted him on the shoulder.

"If I didn't think so, I wouldn't have asked you to cover for me. You can do this, Aken. Don't worry. Now go join the others at the Watchtower. Say that I sent you."

So he left. A few hours later and he was seated aboard a ship alongside several other Leaguers and a platoon of soldiers.

After arriving at the mission site and hearing Perseus' plan, Aken and the rest of the team waited as Toxin completed her sweep of the shack. A few minutes later, two guards were down and the security system was compromised. Toxin gave the signal and Perseus nodded to Robert Queen, the Green Arrow, who was waiting nearby. He nocked two tranquilizer arrows and let loose, hitting the two guards square in the chest and dosing them with a heavy sedative. They were knocked out before they even hit the ground.

That done, Perseus was about to give the signal to move when they suddenly heard a beep from a Peacekeeper's smartphone. Commercially, holographic communication devices, or holo-phones, were the norm. But special operators sometimes relied on ruggedized smartphones for greater reliability in the field. Now for some reason, this trooper's phone was displaying the face of a somewhat manic-looking woman. Perseus looked questioningly at the Peacekeeper, who bashfully handed Perseus the phone. Perseus took the phone with the trademark Luthor glare, his gaze cold, [color=DarkViolet]"Threatening my men and hacking into Justice League communications is no laughing manner. If I weren't on a tight time table, I'd take you in for questioning right now. As it is, I'm going to have Green Lantern transport you here. Do not attempt to flee or I will consider you a Legion spy and proceed accordingly."[/color] Perseus hung up.

May clicked her tongue. It seemed like... negotiations were beginning to break down. She could be stunningly dumb sometimes, despite her apparent intellect. [b][color=Beige]"O-okay, I understand that you're very serious and all, but I've kinda been hanging out in this desert casing the place for two weeks and then the Justice League apparently swoops in and is about to take the credit at the last second. Wh-whoah hold on, don't touch my va-!"[/color][/b] She practically shouted, before the line was cut. Oh... fuck.

Perseus uploaded a scan of the woman's face and uploaded it to Albuquerque Hall of Justice, who would then route it to the Watchtower to look in the database for known metahumans. It would take some time as the woman's eyes were concealed. He turned to several Peacekeepers, [color=DarkViolet] "Have your EOD expert begin dismantling the mines while your engineer takes care of the inactive mechs. I don't want the cordon team to have any problems. Everyone start stacking up at the lab entrance. I'll deal with our guest. Aken, bring the van here." [/color]

May was in a bit of a panic... She didn't even get an opportunity to tell them [i]why[/i] she cared so much about busting the place or even what was waiting for them in there. Spoilers: nothing good. Her last parts were affixed, and she immediately set upon the tasks that were most important. As they were likely about to drag her van over and throw the doors open, she should probably make sure her civilian parts were all hidden away. Last thing people needed to see was a disembodied pair of tits on the floor. That would be... difficult to explain.

Aken nodded to Perseus and wordlessly took off. The message wasn't hard to understand; this mystery woman was hiding out in an unmarked and old van a ways back from their position and Perseus required her here. Aken slipped his power ring, which had been off and in his pocket since they'd required stealth, back onto his finger and waited a moment as the light within covered him in its signature green shield. He dimmed its glow as much as he could and took off silently, gliding low across the ground so as not to attract attention, until he spotted the van on a road near the lab. He extended his arm and a beam of green shot from his ring, encasing the van in a solid globe of light. With some effort, he lifted the van as quietly as he could into the air and glided back across to where Perseus was, setting it back down onto the dirt and letting the light globe dissipate. The van thumped gently back onto solid ground, a small cloud of dust lifting up from its wheels. [color=#ED1414]"Done, Perseus. Shall I open the van doors?"[/color]

She gritted her teeth as she felt the van begin to float, but it was a remarkably smooth ride, all told! Lanterns sure were amazing. At least, she assumed that's what was going on, judging by the green light pouring in through the windows. She rode out the short trip, and took a deep breath, time to make her big... second impression! Yes. She tried to open the doors and gracefully step outside... but the doors were, well. Already opened. So she ended up losing her balance and flopping face-first into the dirt outside the van.

Perseus nodded. Aken grabbed the door handles using two beams of emerald energy and opened the doors. Two Peacekeepers advanced with stun pistols raised. They both were taken aback by heap of cyborg that fell out of the van. Perseus raised an eyebrow, [color=DarkViolet] "Well if you're a Legion spy, you're either incredibly incompetent or a brilliantly clever one. And there is an outside chance, you're genuine. Until I know which you are, I'm not keeping my eye off of you." [/color]

The hero looked at Aken, [color=DarkViolet] "Aken, you're on guard duty for this woman. If she makes a wrong move, rip her limbs off. We'll take the torso and head in for questioning."[/color]

May grumbled a bit from her spot on the floor, slowly climbing up to stand, gingerly raising her hands in a hopefully non-threatening manner. Not how she envisioned today would go, if she was being entirely honest. She decided that maybe just talking might help. [b][color=beige]"M-my name is Dr. Maybelline Anne Albrecht. I am a Scientist specializing in Cybernetic Augmentation and the founder and former CEO of Lotus Security Solutions, a military research company. You can check your records but I'm sure I've been... un-personed. I wasn't great at managing a corporation and my board of directors managed to steal the company out from under me and throw their lot in with the legion, I've been running ever since."[/color][/b] She said, swallowing.

She nodded toward the building. [b][color=beige]"I was hiding out near here when I heard there was some kind of... drug ring operating here. I wanted to help, but I saw a couple of goons wearing [i]my[/i] augments wander into the place a few weeks ago, and the last thing anyone needs is more of them running around unchecked... Is that enough for just a [i]little[/i] bit of trust?"[/color][/b] She asked with a heavy sigh, looking between him and the lantern. [b][color=beige]"[sub]A-and don't rip my arms off, I just put them on...[/sub]"[/color][/b]

Aken kept his ring trained on the lady as she stood, attempted to open the doors, but since they were already open, she fell flat on her face instead. He raised an eyebrow in disbelief as she then introduced herself as a scientist that specialised in cybernetics, what he understood as the robotics that made up most of her body. He kept his ring trained on her as he spoke.

[color=#ED1414]"As much as I'd like to believe your story, madam, you are staying here until my mission is finished."[/color]

Aken turned to glance at Perseus.

Perseus listened to Aken and the so-called scientist speak, carefully watching her expressions and mannerisms, [color=DarkViolet] "I'll convey the information through our databases, but it'll take time to verify that. For now, I'll let you come with us, but with the Lantern watching you at all times."[/color]

The hero stepped forward, [color=DarkViolet]"I'm putting some trust in you. Betray it and I'll throw you into Bell Reve before you can blink."[/color] Perseus nodded to Aken and motioned for the team to form up at the entrance to the lab. The Green Lantern returned the nod and waited for the lady to step out of her van to follow them, taking up the rear as they made their way to the lab.