MAYA
Night came quickly here. Mike and Kai alternated turns refueling the fire. Real woodsmen, those two. I stayed in the Mega Ship, thinking about the events of today…
Karone had gone with Rorschach, a true psychopath if I ever saw one. If he hurt her… Well, let's just say it wouldn't be beneficial to his health if I caught wind of it…
The only reason I could think of for Rorschach to lash out was if he discovered her past as Astronema. I didn't doubt at all that she could defend herself, but I sensed a ferocity that even my people's strongest warriors on Mirinoi couldn't have matched.
My thoughts were interrupted when Dan Dreiberg practically shot out of the bottom of his airship and told me to help him gather everyone.
"What for?" I asked.
"We've got trouble," he replied quickly, running outside for Mike and Kai.
I only nodded. I needed to find Leo and Damon, as well as Laurie and Adrian. Dr. Manhattan would either be with one of them, or already aware and teleporting.
I still didn't understand him…
NITE OWL
"What's going on?" asked Kai. "And what's that noise?"
A soft buzzing emitted from Archie's alarm system. It was a function that I had completely forgotten about.
"It's Rorschach's old wrist beacon," I explained. "He's in trouble."
He must have found it in my workshop before we left… God, he hasn't used his tracker since the Keene Act!
Jon surprised us, teleporting directly to my side as Maya, Leo, Laurie, Damon, and Adrian climbed aboard.
"Dan," said Laurie. "What is that?"
I turned down the alarm's volume.
"Rorschach has alerted us to a troublesome situation he's in. If Karone's still with him, then she needs our help too."
"Karone has fought Trakeena before," Maya noted. "They should be fine."
"Maybe it's not your insect opponent after all," responded Adrian.
"Then what is it?" asked Leo, clearly frustrated. "Dr. Osterman. Any ideas?"
Jon's white eyes flitted rapidly in their sockets.
"My vision of the future is blocked," he said.
"Again?" asked Laurie.
"Is it a tachyon emission, Jon?" asked Adrian.
"Nothing so scientific…" Jon murmured. "This is something entirely different, something I've not encountered before."
"Well," I said. "I guess it's up to us to find the answer."
"I don't know," said Leo. "If we all go, the risk of being spotted increases."
"You propose a one-man reconnaissance," observed Adrian.
"Yeah… If that's alright with everyone."
The vote was a unanimous yes, and so I gave Leo a tracking beacon of his own to use.
"Good luck."
KARONE
Rorschach would not stop staring at me. It was bad enough to have him think that I was still Astronema. But to have him stare me down because of it while stuck in the same cell was simply unbearable! He wrote on his napkins for a period of time that I absolutely relished.
That was all I could do.
Andros, where are you when I need you?
Or Leo… He had always been the one on the team I was closest too. I remembered the adventure we had, just him and I, finding the cave with the warrior I had turned to stone as Astronema… Fighting my inner demons to save his life… Nearly allowing myself to die. But that had been the key, sacrifice.
And he'd saved my life on many occasions as well. We considered ourselves even, I suppose. He was brave, strong…
Really, really good-looking.
Wait! What?
No! He's my teammate! What the hell am I thinking? Bad Karone! Wrong!
But… But it felt right, too…
"You seem stressed," noted Rorschach.
"What?" I had completely forgotten about Inky.
"You've been pacing for eight minutes. Penny for your thoughts."
"No thanks. It doesn't concern you."
"Suit yourself."
We were silent for a while before I decided that even though I didn't really like Rorschach, talking to him was better than being alone.
"What's Earth like?" I asked.
"Hm?"
"What's Earth like?"
"Fake."
"Fake? How so?"
"After Andros left, nuclear arms race began. America and Russia nearly killed each other. Veidt blew millions of people sky-high. America and Russia sing songs of peace. Human nature stays the same. Fake."
"Oh…"
"Answer your question?"
"I guess…" A thought occurred to me. "You told me you were compelled." He grunted an affirmative. "What happened?" I asked.
And then he told me.
RORSCHACH
Rorschach's Journal
Date Unknown
Sitting in a cell with Astronema. Seems nervous, stressed. Paced for eight minutes before making conversation. Asked me what Earth is like. I told her. Then asked me a question that caught me off-guard. Asked me how I was compelled.
Told her the story of Blair Roche, the man, his dogs… I get angry every time I think of that night… That ended our conversation. Astronema fell asleep minutes later. Tired. Still in Dream Land.
Activated my wrist beacon. Dan or someone should be on the way. If they still care, of course… Psychopaths don't have many friends…
Either way, it doesn't look like I'm going anywhere soon. Might rest my eyes a bit. I shall think about this Zendorr character.
Will write again soon. Running out of napkins. May not be able to write much more. Assuming, of course, I'm alive to do that.
Wouldn't be the first time I was in that situation…
