Same disclaimers as before

Chapter 11: Where to?

The collected crew of the Aya except for Razer stood on the bridge, trying desperately to look everywhere except for Ch'p's accusing eyes. He didn't chitter or chatter, he just glared at them.

They had flown through space for a full ten minutes before anyone said anything. Finally, Arisia couldn't take it anymore. "Oh just yell at us already!" she wailed angrily, "Get it over with!"

"Arisia!" snapped Hal. Ch'p's paw shot up in the air to silence Hal. The superior Lantern immediately shut up. Ch'p began to grunt and twist his face. Arisia groaned and grabbed her pointed ears.

"What's he saying?" asked Kilowog.

"He's not speaking so much as turning his tongue into a separate being."

"I…" Everyone stared at Ch'p. His eyes were screwed in determination and his face was turning red from effort.

"Ch'p, did you just speak slow enough for us to-"

"I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU!" Hal stumbled backwards and fell over the pilot's chair in surprise. Kilowog and Arisia took a big step back as the squirrel-like alien raged. "YOU LEFT ME BEHIND! YOU COMPLETELY FORGOT ABOUT ME!"

"We-we're sorry!" said Arisia, her hands raised in defense.

"Y-yeah! Our bad!"

Ch'p panted, his tiny chest rising and falling with each angry breath. "I want extra rations."

"Yours." Said Hal, standing up.

"And a bigger bed."

"You can have mine." Offered Arisia.

"And a shorter shift on radar duty."

"Don't push it, rookie," muttered Kilowog. Ch'p spun and glared at him, look so cold and unforgiving that Kilowog felt he was facing an imploding star rather than a tiny alien. "C-consider you shift halved!" he stammered as he backed away.

Ch'p grunted and flew out of the bridge, squeaking to himself as he left. The door slid shut behind him. Arisia sighed in relief and Hal exchanged a nervous glance with Kilowog. The door slid back open and they all straightened up, their hearts beating like jackhammers. "AND LEARN TO TALK FASTER!" screamed Ch'p shaking his fist at them before leaving once more.

Hal dropped into his seat and sighed. "This has been a weird day."

"At least we got a lot done," reasoned Kilowog as he lowered himself into his seat at the consol. He groaned and stretched out his arms, cracking them violently, "I'm getting too old for this."

Arisia rubbed her wrists anxiously. "Does this mean I have to sleep in Ch'p's bed? Because that's just a shoebox with a towel in it."

"We'll figure something out, Arisia," said Hal with a yawn, "You guys get some sleep, Arisia, you can use my bed for now."

Arisia blushed deeply and glanced away. "What'll you do, Jordan?" asked Kilowog.

"Well, someone has to wake up you-know-who." Arisia and Kilowog stared at him.

"J-Jordan! Are you crazy? Nobody should have to handle him alone!"

"Relax," said Jordan with a sigh, "I'm only turning him on to find where the next ring is." Kilowog stood up and walked toward the door. He patted Hal on the shoulder and left the room, Arsia quickly joining him. Hal sighed and pressed a button on the board before him.

The cube shaped hologram blinked into existence. "Greetings Lantern Jordan!" Said Lame-o happily, "Thank you for turning me back on! What can I do for you?"

"I need you to find the closest power ring."

"Yours is the closest ring Lantern Jordan!"

Hal stared at the computer. "You really want to do this again?"

"What do you mean, Lantern Jordan?"

Hal clenched his fist. "I swear you're trying to raise my blood pressure."

"Do you have a problem with your blood pressure, Lantern Jordan? Perhaps I should inform the guardians that you are injured! They would certainly give you the necessary time to recover!"

Hal slumped in his chair. "Please don't. I…I just can deal with you and the guardians right now. Look, just…just scan for any rings that aren't green, red, orange, blue, or a Star Sapphire."

"The nearest ring that falls into those parameters is a silver ring in the hold of this ship, Lantern Jordan!"

Hal groaned and fell out his chair. He lay spread eagle on the floor and stared at the ceiling. "Lame-o…I…I just can't. Take silver, gold, and grey rings out of the parameters of the search and try again."

Lame-o was quiet for a moment while he calculated his search. "The nearest ring that falls into those parameters is in the Vega System! There seems to be a lot of ring activity there, I can't quite narrow it down! Maybe if I was closer to the ring, I could detect it easier!"

Hal looked up. "The Vega System?" He slowly pushed himself up. "That's just a few systems away. How long would it take to get there with hyper speed?"

"Twelve hours, Lantern Jordan!"

"Perfect," muttered Hal, "Set a course and take the wheel."

"Are you sure, Lantern Jordan?"

"You're a Nav computer, navigate." Hal walked out of the room before Lame-o could reply. He sighed to himself, resigned too figure out how he could sleep in a shoebox.

. . .

A flash of nothingness blew through the cosmos. The black light spun like a top amongst the stars and swung back and forth between the planets, seeking its target.

After what could have been eternity but could also have been ten minutes, the black light found what it was looking for. A single wire connected to a single computer chip that drifted amongst the wreckage of what must at one point been a battlefield. The black light engulfed the chip and circled around the wire. Slowly, the light solidified and began to work its way outward.

It twisted and shaped itself until it took the massive shape of the former body of the computer chip. Its giant eyes slowly illuminated as the black ring did its work.

A voice with no source could not speak in the void of space, but if it could, it would whisper, "Anti-Monitor, rise."

. . .

Komand'r glared at her ring. "What's wrong with me?" she muttered to herself. She shook her hand to try and jump start her powers, but nothing happened. Luckily, she was alone in her room so nobody could see her powers fading. Well, almost alone.

"You're getting weaker," whispered Koriand'r, latched firmly to the wall. Komand'r glared at her sister and walked to her desk where a bronze lantern stood glowing.

She raised her ring to the lantern's light and closed her eyes. "You kept what you want, you took what I need. My power stems not from lust or greed. To those who oppose me; hear my creed: by my jealous light I'll make you bleed!" her ring and lantern lit up as power rushed back into her ring. She smiled in relief as she raised her hand to admire it. "Just needed a little boost, that's all." To be certain, she formed a club with her ring.

Her eyes widened and she scowled when she saw her creation. The club was bent and shook in and out of existence. "What's wrong you stupid ring?" she demanded as she dropped the construct.

"You have everything you need," said Koriand'r. She started a slow, soft laugh of relief. Her sister was loosing power; Komand'r could no longer hurt her as she once did. "You're not jealous of me anymore."

Komand'r spun and smacked her sister. Koriand'r continued to laugh to herself. "Shut up," growled Komand'r, "I deserve more! I deserve the Orange Light!"

"But your jealousy of the Orange Lantern isn't nearly as old or bitter as your jealousy of me." Koriand'r's laughter died off and she settled for a knowing smile.

There was a knock on the door and Koriand'r's eyes widened. "Her powers are g-" She started to yell before Komand'r punched her in the stomach and Koriand'r coughed as the air was forced out of her body.

Komand'r slapped her hand over her sister's mouth and turned to the door. "What is it?" She demanded.

A lone soldier slowly shook as he poked his head in and gulped when he saw Koriand'r splayed across the wall, struggling against her sister's grip. "W-we've spotted a force of orange constructs charging through the Arbian Forests. Should we move on the offensive?"

Komand'r smashed her fist into her sister's abdomen. "Of course! Send out our main force to intercept them. We'll lead them south to Okran Plains and send a smaller force to invade their cave."

"V-very good, my queen. I-I'll just-"

"Out!" Komand'r screamed. The soldier yelped and raced out the door.

. . .

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