[center][color=#4eacd5][h1]The Blue Beetle[/h1][/color][/center]
[table][row][/row][row][cell][img]https://i.imgur.com/EsPqxfN.png[/img]
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[color=#4eacd5][sub][b]I S S U E[/b][/sub][/color][hr][sub]#1: First Contact III[/sub]


[color=#4eacd5][sub][b]L O C A T I O N[/b][/sub][/color][hr][sub]Bayonne, New Jersey. 12:18 AM[/sub]


[color=#4eacd5][sub][b]T A G S[/b][/sub][/color][hr][sub][@Hero][/sub][/cell][cell][indent]Success! It wasn't often being the good at charades came in handy—frankly, this was the [i]only[/i] time it had come in handy—but when it paid off, it paid off! There was still a level of tension in the air as the alien floated her way towards him, but she had stopped glowing, at least! That had to be good news. Glowing almost always meant lasers, and Jaime wasn't sure how laser-proof Mr. Kord's beetle robot was. 

[code]<<Lifeform distance: close. Potential threat to host: unacceptable. Preparing to neutralize.>>[/code]

Of course, Jaime was also not so sure how laser-proof this alien girl was. He might not have been entirely sure of what the scarab was capable of dishing out, but he knew one thing for sure—it wasn't lying.

[color=4eacd5]"We aren't [i]neutralizing[/i] her. Maybe she's just... curious."[/color] He muttered through gritted teeth as the orange-skinned visitor seemed to circle around him.

[code]<<External investigation: equally unacceptable. Information exchange jeopardizes mission. Neutralization protocols required.>>[/code]

[color=4eacd5]"I said we—[i]you[/i] are not hurting her. This is [i]my[/i] body. You're just the tag along."[/color] He could feel the scarab tugging at his body from within; like it wanted him to move against his will, to do [i]something[/i] bad. But it couldn't quite force it. It couldn't take control. 

[code]<<Host: Unacceptably belligerent. Lifeform has made contact. Action required. Deploying neural shredder.>>[/code]

[color=4eacd5]"You're not deploying anything! I will put you away-"[/color] It was in that hurried whisper that Jaime realized something. He [i]could[/i] put the scarab away. Then he wouldn't have to worry about it hurting anyone! Sure, it would leave him vulnerable, but a good Captain took risks! By the time the scarab had so much as caused a crackle to flicker between its mandibles, Jaime had locked it in a battle of wills.

[color=4eacd5][i]Go back in, go back in, go back in, go back in, go back INNAAAHH.[/i][/color] 

He had forgotten, in that moment, how much it hurt to have the creepy crawling burrow its way back into his spine—he had thrown up the first couple of times. But he couldn't do that now, had to represent Earth. Had to bear it. As the metallic plating miraculous began to miniaturize and collapse inwards on itself, Jaime Reyes gritted his teeth and clenched his eyes, feeling the armor shrinking down until it all be disappeared between his shoulder blades with a sickening pop, the scarab going with it. 

The chill of wintry air that replaced the comfort of his armor shook him from the white hot pain, and he peeled his eyes open to peer at the alien without the benefit of a lens. The flying, glowy alien who had been pulverizing brick just a few minutes ago, and had apparently been poking at his chin while he muttered to himself like a crazy man.

[color=4eacd5]"I... Uh... Penny for your thoughts?"[/color]

Maybe this was a bad idea.[/indent][/cell][/row][/table]