"Mom? Please, you can't do this- Please!"
Tears were caught in Oliver's eyes. Why? Why was she doing this to him? What had changed? Didn't she love him anymore?
"Oh, Oliver, dear, can't you see that I'm doing this for you? When you were born, you were so, so very tiny, and frail. You got sick...almost died. I swore I'd never let anything hurt you ever again. I almost lost you once, Oliver. If I use this...Nothing will ever hurt you again."
She was mad with power, Oliver realized. She was beyond reason, but he had to try, just one last time.
"Mom, you're hurting me right now, by doing this. You're tearing my heart out of my chest without even lifting a finger. Please, just put the- the device down. You don't need ultimate power to protect me. Right now, I need to protect you from yourself."
She smiled. A wicked, twisted sort of grin seen only on Cheshire cats and silver screens
"Oh, Oliver. You're just...confused. They've placed lies in your mind, changed you, that's all. They're dangerous, honey…"
She picked up the glass pyramid, the orb glowing a furious purple against the white fabric of the tent
"Don't worry, Oliver,"
She reached her hand inside, and the aura of power surrounded her.
It was over.
"...I'll protect you."