"Jordan, are you sure?" Razer asked his friend's hologram.
"Yes. It was a zombie Erin and it killed a Guardian. The whole Corp is on high alert. Be careful out there." Hal told them and hung up. Razer pinched his nose. Everything was getting harder. Emmitt was struggling to decode the ritual, Kilowogg was bogged down in Green Lantern duties, and now this. At least they had the meeting with Aga'po to look forward to. Gi'ata had arranged the audience and with her help they might be able to secure this piece of the ritual. When Gi'ata came to get him, he woke Aya from her nap. The experience of being a living being was still new to her and she quickly tired.
"Wake up my love. It's time." Razer whispered to her, his hand running through her silken hair. Her eyes fluttered open and the sleep quickly cleared from them.
"Let us go then." Aya told him, putting her power ring on and she was immediately dressed to go. Razer smiled and took her hand in his as they began the short walk to the Queen's chamber.
"I am glad to see you have found love again Razer. And it is astounding to meet you again Aya. Gi'ata tells me you wish to ask another favor of us. One that she is rather tight-lipped about." Aga'po told Razer. He pretended he didn't see the look the queen shot to her niece.
"We would prefer that as few people know our motives as possible. We need your help to construct and maintain a large crystal formation." Razer explained, projecting the dimensions of the box. A box of pure Star Sapphire crystal 6' long, by 5' wide and 4' deep.
"Such an interesting request. It almost appears as though you are constructing a tomb. Does this have to do with the Mirror Lantern who died?" Aga'po inquired. Razer grimaced, having forgotten how clever the Queen was. Gi'ata flinched at the mention of Erin and his demise.
"It does. But we would ask that you do not inquire further. It is a personal mission and we merely ask to use this place as a base to continue our objectives." Aya piped up. Aga'po looked her, squinting in concentration.
"He did much for you, didn't he? What was it? Was he the one that brought you together?"
"He did. In his own way. He was something of a guardian angel. He convinced us to be honest with each other and kept Hal from interfering. He was rather overly protective about it though."
"He seemed to hold both of you quite close. It was not so long ago that he convinced Razer to make the journey to you by opening his heart. It was not long after that he returned to help us spread the true love that we had forgotten. I will allow this, on one condition." Aga'po explained. Razer winced. There was always a catch.
"Very well." Razer answered, glad to reach an agreement so quickly.
"Tell us why he died. Do not distract us with how. We know it was in a noble sacrifice in the name of love, but we do not know his motives." Razer blanched and Aya stiffened beside him. He turned to her and they spoke with their eyes. Aya eventually nodded and Razer cleared his throat. It was his story to tell.
"He sacrificed himself in the name of love, as you said. But what you do not know is that he did so to save Aya and me from ourselves. He saw the future and foresaw the mistakes we would make in that battle and prevented them. But this came at a great personal cost, his life in exchange for changing the future and averting a war fueled by a pain so deep it could only come out of broken love. He was… my friend and believed so strongly in my love for Aya that he died to protect it. It is to him I owe so much." Razer confessed. Aya stood by him, giving him a soft squeeze in support. The assembled Star Sapphires were in tears as Razer spoke with such emotion. Even Gi'ata and Aga'po were drying their eyes.
"For him to do such a thing, he had greater love than any of us may ever know. You will have what you have asked for and may the blessing of his love for you two protect you in the coming days of your journey." Aga'po spoke as a blessing over them. Razer and Aya shared a smile of sadness and contentment as Gi'ata followed them back to the Interceptor. They barely reached the foot of the ramp before they saw Emmitt preparing to sprint to them.
"Oh. Your meeting is over. I have much good news friends. The crystals arrayed around the castle gave me the key to decoding two more passages. We need enough soil of Erin's homeworld to fill the crystal sarcophagus and the same amount of something called "hope water." If I am correct, Odym's waters will be exactly what we need. I have already told Hal of the development and he has set out for Earth since he is closest. Kilowogg remains embattled in the colonies with the pirate fleet and his recruits." Emmitt excitedly babbled. His giddiness made his shirt cycle through all the colors of the spectrum. Something they had gotten used to seeing since Emmitt had received the ring.
"That is wonderful news. I will stay here and prepare the crystal. Go and gather the…ingredients." Gi'ata bowed and went back to the castle.
"I will go begin the calculations for the ultra-warp jump to Odym." Aya said, leaving Razer and Emmitt on the ramp. The two had never been alone like this before. Razer had made his dislike of Emmitt clear from the start but Razer had never tried to amend those rifts now that Emmitt was organic.
"Emmitt, I uh…" Razer stumbled to try and start this apology. But Emmitt smiled and nodded at Razer's bumbling.
"I accept your apology Razer. I completely understand why you felt the way you did. Now I must take my leave and stay here." Emmitt explained, floating down the ramp. Razer was flabbergasted.
"Why are you staying here?" Razer asked quickly, trying to cover up his embarrassment at being shown as less capable of communicating than a former machine.
"Hal also contacted me about the creature. I am currently trying to learn what I can about its origins and still decode the ritual. It will help my focus to stay in a single place." Emmitt leaned in conspiratorially, "Hal told of me of how the creature seemed to only be hurt by green light. If I leave, the Star Sapphires will have no protection."
Razer considered what the man said, then nodded. They parted as only two warriors could, without a single look back and the certainty of purpose in their step.