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[u][b]January 1st, 8:46 PM. 
Chipotle Mexican Grill, West 34th[/b][/u]

[color=orchid]"Oh, wonderful to meet you![/color] said Karen, smiling.

She smiled, but in truth she was a little apprehensive that a stranger had just showed up at the table. Did Starfire even know this man? Hopefully he wouldn't recognize her. In any case, she had made her offer to Clio and V, and they were sure to pass it on to Starfire at some point. But as for herself, it was really getting very late. She had a lot to prepare for--the inevitable interview with the press tomorrow regarding the attack, plans for the next concert and what additional precautions would be needed, a meeting with her label...it was going to be a nightmare.

[color=orchid]"Listen, I'm sorry to cut this short, but I need to start heading home! You guys feel free to keep chatting if you want,"[/color] said Karen, picking up her now empty tray and making her way over to the trash bin. Turning back to the table, she offered each one of them a final shake of her hand, using the opportunity to slip Clio, V, and Starfire her number. [color=orchid]"I owe you all big time for tonight, and I won't forget it! If you ever need anything, you know who to call."[/color]

Glancing to Jones, she turned and made her way out of the restaurant. Hopefully she would see at least some of them again. But even if she didn't, she would remember them, and take solace in the fact that there were still heroes that were willing to put their lives on the line for a stranger, famous or no.

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[u][b]January 18th, 10:34 AM (Eastern Standard Time)
Lunar Orbit, the Atuum[/b][/u]

[color=darkcyan]"Well, there it is,"[/color] mumbled Kyrona, observing the ball of blue slowly rising above its barren moon, [color=darkcyan]"the 'Earth', as its called in their English language. Kind of a primitive little shithole, isn't it? But it has a species that looks a whole lot like mine. You'll be able to find an appearance you like there, for sure!"[/color]

Glancing over her shoulder at the massive creature sprawled across the floor of her ship, the Atuum, Kyrona smiled. That was Kailani for you, just lounging about while licking out a fuel cell like it was a cup of yogurt. [color=darkcyan]"There'll be plenty to eat for you there in general! When I visited last time, it was stupidly polluted! Preliminary scans show that it's even worse now! It's a feast waiting to happen for a devourer!"[/color]

According to her local chronometer, it was now 2021. Hard to believe how quickly time flew, even for her. It had been 1993 when she had last set foot on that world--nearly thirty rotations of their sun!

[color=darkcyan]"Let's see, if I recall, [i]this[/i] country has a good variety of appearances!"[/color] she said, focusing the screen over North America. Her green eyes narrowed slightly, her head tilting to the side. Something appeared to be wrong there. There were ridiculously high traces of Chaotic energy in the atmosphere over that place. [color=darkcyan]"Wow, when did this place get so fucked up?"[/color]

Normally, she'd turn the ship around when she saw a planet in that sort of state, but she had promised to let Kailani eat a species that looked like hers, and this place would still be much easier than the likes of Daxam or other advanced worlds. It was a good thing they arrived when they did, too--judging by the readings she was getting, Earth wasn't going to last too much longer.

[color=darkcyan]"Alright, Kaila, I'm bringing her in, so brace yourself."[/color]

Following her own advice, nanofiber straps shot out from her seat to fasten her securely in place as she guided the ship towards the planet. Even at sublight, the distance between the Earth and its moon was cleared in a mere twenty seconds. The Atuum could of course go much faster than that, but it was ill advised to initiate atmospheric entry at relativistic speeds.

By the time a firey blanket had enveloped the ship, they had decelerated all the way down to mach 10. When they at last broke through the atmosphere, their speed was but a third of that. Passing through the cloud layer, Kyrona smiled. The ship's on board A.I. had just found a suitable spot for them to land, outside the American city of Chicago. Apparently, it was a cemetery--a place where humans dumped the corpses of their dead in some bizarre religious ceremony.

Apparently, leaving the dead body of your loved ones to be devoured by worms was a sign of affection here.

[color=darkcyan]"Activate stealth field generator,"[/color] commanded Kyrona.

For a brief moment, the viewscreen became distorted, but soon enough returned to normal functionality. From their perspective, nothing had changed. To the outside world, the Atuum had vanished from sight.

Identifying a clearing just outside the graveyard, the surrounding trees barely rustled against the gentle hum of the landing engines as brought the Atuum to a rest on the ground.

[color=darkcyan]"...Right, landing successful! Let's go find somebody for you to eat!"[/color]