The sun was directly above, what humans called middle day, or noon. Why was it called noon? She did not know and when she had asked, none of her human friends had known the answer either.
The heat from the star was nice, but it paled in comparison to Tamaran's. Perhaps it was because her home planet was slightly closer to its star than her adopted one's, or maybe Tamaran held heat in more than Earth, but she had grown used to the differential in heat.
Beside her was Komand'r, her sister giving all appearances of being in comfort. However, she recognized the small shivers that occasionally ran through her sister's body. She had had the same bodily reactions after taking up residence on this planet. This planet was just...too cold.
The garments she now wore were ones she had been told were acceptable by Earth standards. Their weight was heavier compared to what she preferred and they hung on her rather than gripped. She had difficulty understanding this preference humans had, but went along with it. It was something that she had went along with, among everything else.
There was this jacket, light in weight, faded in color, and she was told was called a "jean jacket." It helped with keeping heat in, even if she found multiple expressions delivered her way when she went into the settlement of Jump City on a recreational excursion. She wore it now, of course.
Komand'r had needed a dresser switch in garments as well. Koriand'r had insisted and she was backed up by her female friends and Red Robin. Her sister visiting Jump City would have attracted much attention, she had been told, and being "incognito" as Victor put it would be advantageous. The cape and the imperial crown were removed and the rest of Komand'r was placed into Earth-based cloth.
Naturally, her older sister had given a complaint about the weight of the clothing and how it hung instead of gripped.
Complaints placed to one side, they now walked side by side, the sun radiating on them from above. The journey into the settlement started towards a section of land reserved for recreation, "the beach." Here, humans tended to mimic Tamaran with their lack of clothing, as well as how the female's wore gripping garments. The males, while wearing less, continued to wear lower body garments that hung. Well, with the exception of a few that wore a garment called a "Speedo…"
"They lay their bodies in this location and remain there for an indeterminate amount of time, only moving to turn their bodies over, or to complete normal body functions. Do I understand this correctly?" Komand'r stated, and voice exhibiting her skepticism towards the humans.
"It is much like how our people take the time to absorb our sun's radiation, only humans do so for longer periods of time," the younger Tamaranean explained.
"Is it because of how cold this planet is? I would think they would wear clothing better suited for the cold," her sister replied.
"Humans tend to find this heat to be...much." Koriand'r could only give a shrug of her shoulders. Despite witnessing some of these practices, she sometimes felt herself confused by them and their logic.
"This is hot for humans? They do not know what they are missing." There was dismissal in Komand'r's voice; her sister was known not to possess patience for activities and behaviors of which she did not understand the reasoning for.
"I have to remind myself not all species are the same. Humans and Tamaraneans have similarities and also many differences." Not wanting to commence this day's schedule on the incorrect footing, the younger of the two Tamaraneans selected to advance forward. "This is but one aspect of these species. There is much and more we have not encountered yet. Come! Allow me to guide you through everything else that humans do. I believe not everything they engage in will be baffling to the mind!"
The only place two people with orange skin could blend in without getting any attention was the beach. You know what stood out in a place like that? A big guy in a hoodie who stood around staring in the direction of that beach.
Victor did not like this. He did not like having an alien queen walking around the city with a very close friend of his. He liked it even less that this same queen was also the same one that had caused so much pain to his friend.
He didn't like that Kori was walking side by side with this unwanted and unneeded sister of hers. Admittedly, he didn't know anything about Kori's sister, this Komand'r, and what he did know was what Kori had told him in the first place. The cybernetic teen knew that he needed to trust Kori about this, because despite all her problems with the English language, and a lot of culture clash, Kori did have a brain. She chose to use it for understanding people rather than being all logical.
The alien girl had the patience of a saint. You legitimately could not hate her, or even stay mad at her. By all accounts, Komand'r here could and did, so what was she doing here? An expedition that just happened to be close by? Coincidence, yeah, he could buy that; and if it was just Galfore wanting to see his old charge, okay; but no, something really stank here.
Komand'r has sold her own sister into some intergalactic slavery. That was real personal there.
"They're just walking. I'm gonna see if I can't get any closer." Not there a second before, but right now he was, Kid Flash—because he was in that yellow and red costume of his—made his report, sticking around for only the few seconds it took before racing off again.
Yeah, the rest of the team was keeping a close eye on this. No one had to speak up and point out that they didn't trust Kori's sister. It was agreed on that they were going to be keeping an eye out.
Speaking of, from the corner of his eye, he noticed how a couple of beach goers were talking with a cop and...pointing in his direction. Okay, time to move before this got awkward. Still, there were many of them, and all were keeping their eyes peeled. He could take his eyes off of the pair of aliens until he got himself set up in a new spot.
"It smells."
Yes, human settlements tended to odor.
"Much of it comes from the human's chosen mode of transportation," Koriand'r explained, gesturing to the land-based vehicles that she knew to be called cars. "The exhaust these automobiles emit contaminates the air, moreso when there are many of them."
"Are these vehicles so behind that they poison the air?" her sister said, wrinkling her nose at the gathering of cars on the street beside them.
"My friend, Cyborg, said that humans are in a transitional state with their transport. Currently, the majority use what is called fossil fuel to power them. There is movement towards pure electricity."
Komand'r snorted, something that was common when her sister felt scorn. "Electricity? They are that behind?"
"Humans do not possess the ability of flight as Tamaraneans do," the younger sibling felt the need to say. "They have learned to rely on machines for the majority of their transportation."
The elder of the two gazed into traffic, still not appeased. Dark eyes trailed over the ordered lines of cars, zeroing in on the tall poles that stretched over the street and held up a number of yellow-colored boxes. "And what are those?"
"They are traffic lights. Depending on the color they shine, the driver of the cars are allowed passage, or told to stop. It is the system that humans have crafted to manage traffic." It was mundane to Kori now. While she had had her cognitions about human transportation traffic, she feared that speaking them would not be received well. Suggestions for other topics had gained her flat expressions of affect before and such responses tended to make her discomforted.
Mentioning human transportation systems, the pair of them were about to encounter their own set of rules. They had reached the corner of two intersecting streets and Koriand'r had to be quick to prevent her sister from simply walking into the path of the car traffic. Beside them was a small restaurant—a cafe she believed was the correct term—where a small number of humans were patroning.
Close by was a table, one occupied by a human with dark hair and dark clothes, sipping at a containment vessel that was filled with...what human beverage was it again? It was a small distraction, but she was suddenly reminded of Raven and her favorite beverage of—tea! That was what the beverage was! And the smell was combating with the exhaust of the cars. An interesting smell, indeed. Perhaps if she remember the location of this cafe, she could bring Raven here for more of her favorite beverage.
"Why are we stopping?" Komand'r demanded, interrupting the younger sister's cognitions. Ah, she had become distracted…
"The symbol in front of us says we have to wait," she answered, pointing to the other side of the street. Attached to the pole with the traffic lights was another yellow box, one that shined with a red symbol similar to that of a human hand. "It must become white first, then we are granted permission to cross."
"This system is too complicated," Komand'r complained. For one used to flying to their destinations and having the freedom that came with wide expanses of empty space, this species of traffic was very foreign.
"Humans delight in making their civilizations complicated," Koriand'r admitted. "They have many rules, many that I am still learning and understanding."
"Complicated. I doubt these humans have experienced the inner workings of the Citadel." Komand'r tone was dismissive.
That was true. She herself had limited understanding of the Citadel as well; maybe she had more knowledge, but even someone forced into their service would only be exposed to so much. Trogaar had not been keen on educating her beyond warfare and battle.
"And why should we be restricted to such rules when neither of us need be held to them?" her sister continued. Koriand'r had turned her gaze towards her sister at the moment her elder sister began to rise off the pavement. Quickly, she grasped Komand'r's hand and pulled her back down, startling the elder.
"Humans are not accustomed to the miracle of flying," the younger Tamaranean almost hissed, green eyes scanning to see if other humans had noticed. "They tend to have all kinds of behavioral reactions to witnessing it and many tend to be negative. Only under certain scenarios are they accepting."
Komand'r was staring at their clasped together hands. Koriand'r had yet to relinquish the limb and after a moment of inattention on the younger's portion, the black-haired Tamaraian slipped her hand away. Then she attended to the topic of conversation at appendage. "Why should we hide what is normal for us? These aliens have nothing to fight against us with."
"These humans are capable of scientific feats that would surprise you." Green eyes looked up to black ones solemnly. "I have also learned of their history with new experiences. Not all are accepting of that which is new. Some act aggressively and violently. Others with fear and terror. There are those who respond with wonder and joy, but during uncertain scenarios, the species does respond with a herd mentality. They are also not entirely without choices in engaging us."
A black eyebrow lifted upwards. "Is that so?"
She gave a solemn nod. "Indeed so. This planet's defense against intergalactic aggressors, I have learned, is the Justice League. Should any off-planet threat expose itself, the Justice League would be the first to respond."
Koriand'r tried to give what she had learned was a convincing look. That was the correct terminology, was it not? Her hope was to convey that any acts of aggression of her older sister's choice would not be unanswered. Earth had its reputation and that the might of Despero and the Collector of Worlds had both failed with their designs on this planet should be enough to dissuade any intentions of creating havoc on it.
There had been a time when she had believed she had known her sister, but then came the coup. She had been proven so very wrong. Now, she endeavored to match minds with the person she knew her sibling to be and now as she had once believed her to be. Yet...yet she still had some hope for Komand'r. It was difficult to put into any spoken word, or cognition.
"Justice League? What is this Justice League?" It was a question and one that was flavored with curiosity. Even the facial expression that accompanied the question had relaxed into the emotion.
The confidence and self-assuredness was dampened and it felt like she stood next to another Tamaranean of a similar station. An equal and not a superior. This was perhaps the first honest and authentic question Koriand'r had received from her sister this day.
A symbol across the street turned from red to white, she found she could not leave the question unanswered.
From around the cup of tea she had ordered, Raven watched Kori with Komand'r as the two conversed at the intersection. From simple observation, the pale-skinned girl had noted certain characteristics about the newly arrived Tamaranean.
There was certainly some arrogance. The questions that the elder sibling had asked exposed a lack of deference for rules and the like, especially the small, day-to-day rules that were so easy to forget, yet abide to. Someone felt that they were above the rules.
It should not be surprising that one who seized power and was able to make the rules would balk at others'.
However, Kori's openness with the individual that was in essence responsible for why she was on this planet was...discerning. Had Raven been in Kori's place, this tour of the city would never have happened as she would have refused any and all contact in the first place. Family was too much of a burden and caused more problems than absolutely necessary.
She took a moment to take another sip of her tea and grimaced at the moment on her head. She was not in any kind, or reasonable, or comfortable outfit for this act of espionage. A certain someone who may, or may not have green skin had taken the liberty of "helping" pick a disguise. While she did not object to black, she was covered from head to toe in the color, and that included a hat that was just too awkward to wear.
It looked ridiculous and she had received one too many looks from other people. Oddly enough, neither of the Tamaraneans had given her a second look.
Pulling back on the very wide brim of the head-fitting hat that had been in someone's closet for who knows what reason, Raven continued her vigil as the younger Tamaranean sibling admonished the older one. At the very least, the two were obeying pedestrian traffic laws.
"See anything? Notice anything evil happening? I can't believe you're still wearing that hat. So what's up?"
The sudden appearance of Kid Flash caused the girl in all black to jerk, jostling her cup, and causing some of the liquid to spill out. Take a wild guess where it all went.
You would think with his unique...noise that she would have picked up on the speedster heading her way before he showed up, but perhaps she had been too deep into her own thoughts.
Through clenched teeth, she said, "Nothing yet. Just talk. Now leave."
"Wow, that was kind of neat. How do you sound so clear when you don't even move your teeth andgottagoseeyoulaterbye!"
Maybe it was self-preservation kicking in, or maybe it was just the way the two Tamaraneans began to turn slightly in their direction, but Kid Flash was off before anyone could say another word, and his passage of his escape pulled at her clothing. Raven, for her part, remained as still as stone, giving away no sign she was bothered by anything.
The Tamaraneans seemed too engrossed with one another, their movement more to face one another than anything. Still, it had spooked the speedster off much to his preservation. The two of them would be talking later if only to address the waste of tea.
In the meantime, she would ignore how some of the heated liquid was absorbed into her disguise. Pain was something she had developed a high tolerance for, so this was nothing.
The pain she feared that Kori would experience, on the other hand, now that was something else altogether, she felt. Raven didn't trust this Komand'r and there was something she was hiding. She knew this for a fact.
The only question was what.
There was the front of a store that was made of glass. One could see through it, and on the other side, displayed for the human public was paraphernalia. As Koriand'r understood, this was a strategy to entice the unassuming passing by humans to enter the store and purchase the paraphernalia using an agreed upon currency rather than a bartering system.
This paraphernalia also happened to have a theme, a Justice League theme, and it made it much easier to explain the concept to Komand'r.
"A group of extraordinary humans banded together to create a defense against any threats to the planet," her sister mused. "And the humans they protect worship them and promote them through economic activity?"
"They protect as many humans from as many threats as they can," Koriand'r corrected. "Not all threats humans face are from other races, or empires. Sometimes, humans threaten themselves. It was not long ago I encountered such an individual who planned to cause untold harm to the human species. There are some humans that I struggle to understand and the ones that cause harm for the sake of causing harm are the ones that confuse me the most."
Komand'r gave another snort. "So humans are willing to hurt one another for no reason?"
This was something that Koriand'r knew she needed to speak up about. "While my exposure to the Citadel was limited, I did learn of the offenses that the Citadelian royal family perpetrated on its own kind. In that respect, they are much like humans. There were occasions when I only heard about one of them, Damyn, and the acts he perpetrated."
Komand'r grimaced. "Point taken. I would hardly hold Damyn as an example of his species, but point taken."
Through the glass, symbols that represented the various members of the Justice League displayed themselves prominent. There were many that had a large S on them. Some had a lightning bolt that she knew Bart to identify with the Flash. Some had a stylized circle with two bars on opposing sides, a lantern. Others had two W's and were accompanied with yellow for some reason. If one looked carefully, there was a dark shape that seemed to stand apart from the other paraphernalia, one similar to that of an Earth bat.
Symbols were so simple and yet explained so much at the same time. A simple concept that was so much more than that. It was a shame that so many species could not be as simple.
"Humans may do what they do for reasons we do not understand, but they are not alone in their randomness," Koriand'r said softly. "They rely so much on their symbols, like that of the Justice League. For hope, or perhaps a means to measure their worth. Many try to rise to the example of the League."
"That does not change that these humans use violence against one another for no reason," Komand'r interrupted. "Our coups may have violence, but there is reason to it."
"Did the deaths that occurred during your coup have reasons too?" She was unable to stop herself from asking such a question. It was too spontaneous for her to stop.
Surprisingly, her sister answered without missing a beat of her heart. "Yes, they did. You may not like my reasons, but there was a purpose, a reason. I did not enjoy, or celebrate their deaths. It was sad and it was necessary. They died so that a better Tamaran would rise. A necessary sacrifice that so many still do not want to understand. I know the reasons, no matter how you might see them."
There were reasons? Necessary? She didn't understand. Coups were deathless, or were supposed to be deathless. Yes, one could be harmed, but deliberate death? It hurt her mind as well as the beating organ in her chest.
"What are these reasons? Why was it necessary that our fellow Tamaraneans had to die?"
Komand'r shook her head, keeping her gaze on the Justice League paraphernalia. "This is not the place to speak of such a topic, Sister Dear. We will need privacy for such a topic and nothing less."
She did not like this answer, but she understood that the topic of death, at least with this segment of the human population, was not an approachable one. Her desire to know about Tamaran's last coup was strong, but it had waited so long without an answer. It could wait a little more it seemed.
There was a squawk, a young human female wearing an obscene amount of Justice League paraphernalia passed by. A hat covered her head, large glasses with a W over each eye shielded the eyes and a green bird perched on her shoulder casually. The odd human passed by with only some curiosity, but Koriand'r truly only had her optic organs for her sister.
"Humans are strange," Komand'r commented, eyeing the human. "Their pets seem normal enough, I suppose."
"You hear that? I told you we could pull it off!"
The parrot looked pleased with himself, positively preening.
There was no reason to pay any mind to the number of people stopping to either look, stare, or gawk at him.
"Why did you think a parrot was a good idea?" muttered his partner-in-crime.
"Green stands out. What better way to hide than to be something that's naturally green?" the parrot replied. "Come on, Terra, get with the program here. We're trying to be all incognito and everything!"
"But I stand out. I look ridiculous!" Terra complained, eyes darting around. "People are looking at me!" she hissed.
"But you're the prettiest thing around! Why wouldn't they look at you?" Beast Boy wondered as he carefully adjusted the grip of his talons on her shoulder.
"Kids are pointing at me."
"Kids point at everything."
"Someone's taking my picture.
"Someone's always taking someone else's picture."
"I think Kid Flash is staring at us."
"I don't see—oh, there he is. Watch this."
"Watch what? What are you doing?"
Green wings were flapping as the green bird fought to keep balanced, one of his taloned feet raised up. Two of the clawed toes were curled down while the middle one was stretched up. "What's it look like? I'm flipping him the bird!"
"Your wing is hitting my head!"
"Sorry, but it's hard standing on one leg when you're a bird."
"Will you cut it out?"
"Why? Someone's taking my picture."
When topics of grave importance were brought up, it was indicative that something had to be accomplished to raise the atmosphere. One similarity Koriand'r had found that she shared with humans when such occurrences happened was the need to fill the empty void within with processed animal byproducts.
"What is this?"
A glance of green eyes found her sister staring at the purchased food item currently held in her hands. It was identical to the one she herself held, purchased from a vendor of such items located throughout the city. Oh, she was asking about the name of the food item!
"It is called...a hot dog."
Flat black eyes returned her gaze. "What is a dog and does it need to be hot?"
Koriand'r could only give a shrug with her shoulders. "Contrary to its name, I have found it does not contain any element of dog in it. I do not know why this Earth-based mammal would then be the moniker for this meal, but yes, it does need to be hot like most food-based edibles procured from meat."
Something was...not right. The younger Tamaranean found her gaze zeroing in on the hot dog her sister held, noting how its appearance was...wrong. Wrong as in something was missing. But what?
She had followed the rules of the hot dog as given to her by Victor. She had used obscene amounts of condiments to cover the not-made-of-dog hot dog and the bread-based holding apparatus. What could be missing? With such thoughts, her gaze traveled to her own, newly purchased, and awaiting the journey into her digestive tract. Hers was also missing something. Of this, she was sure.
"This does not look appealing," Komand'r stated, holding her hot dog as if it would become aggressive with her. That could not be further from the truth as hot dogs lacked the ability to bite, unlike normal not-hot dogs. "Humans eat this on a regular basis?"
"As do I. I have found the ingredients to this particular meal to be exquisite." What could it be? What was hers missing?
"This looks less appealing than the mystery meat meal located in the Citadel Imperial Palace cafeteria," was the answering remark.
"I assure you, my sister, the only mystery about the hot dog is that no one knows of what creature it comes from." She had used the relish, spooned in as much chili as she could with a focus on the peppers, some ketchup was added...oh, that was it! Now she knew what it was!
Ignoring any more of her dark-haired sister's commentary, Koriand'r slipped her hand into her jacket and removed a yellow-colored "squeeze bottle." She had learned many a time to carry one of these on her person, in case of an emergency.
With a careful squeeze, mustard oozed out of the bottle and onto her hot dog, coating most of it generously. Oh yes. Now this was indeed perfect.
"What...are you doing?"
Not even removing her eyes from her now-perfected meal, she answered, "Applying the pinnacle of human culinary arts. Would you like some mustard?"
Without even waiting for an answer, Koriand'r gave her sister a generous squeeze of the tasty delight. Now everything was correct in the galaxy. It was time to engorge.
Seconds later, she was licking the tips of her fingers, smiling like she was dreaming as the taste of mustard coated the inside of her oral orifice. As ecstasy began to diminish, she noticed that Komand'r was giving her a familiar expression, one similar enough to the ones she received whenever a challenge to a contest of eating was declared and she was still consuming.
Looking away with either shame, or a fullness of bash, her voice was softer than average when next she spoke. "My apologies. I find myself lacking control once mustard has been appropriately applied. Are you going to consume yours?"
Perhaps her sister would relinquish the hot dog. Mayhap she would get another taste of the flavorful condiment?
For the smallest of Earth-based time measurement units, Komand'r appeared as if she was willing to surrender her meal, but then dark eyes hardened and the older of the two sister stood straighter. "I believe I will keep mine," she said with a tone that was imperious. Then she took a bite of her hot dog, condiments and mustard and all.
Those dark eyes widened in such a way that Koriand'r was unsure she had ever seen them as such. Her sister's jaw moved exaggeratedly until it opened wide once more and took a large portion of the remaining hot dog. The younger Tamaranean found herself relaxing as she watched, wondering briefly if this was how she appeared only moments ago.
"What is this wonder? I have never tasted something so…" The next word was pure Tamaranish. The elder of the pair did not possess the correct word in English, but Koriand'r could translate it to exquisite. She knew exactly what her answer was to such a question.
"It is the mustard. It is the most delicious condiment I have ever encountered. Its delicacy is such that I am unable to identify anything from Tamaran that approaches its majesty."
"This planet has treasures. You have not shown me all of them, have you?" Black eyes were twinkling in a way that the bearer of green eyes had not seen...in too long. Very long. Extremely and incredibly long. It was a relic of her childhood, when she was still so young, and so was her sister, and nothing was wrong.
She felt herself smiling, a real smile and not one that was polite. "There are many treasures that Earth possesses. There is not enough time in one day to show them all."
"Is that so?" Komand'r appeared thoughtful. Looking away, the older Tamaranean appraised their surroundings, looking at them differently. "Then perhaps leaving would be too soon."
Koriand'r tilted her head to a side. "Are you not pursuing an expedition? Is that not more important?"
A smirk was given back to her in answer. "You are right. However, I do think the...crew would not object too much if I were to increase my stay, if only for another complete rotation. Maybe two whole day cycles. You have opened my eyes to one of the marvels of this planet, my sister, and I want to see more. You will show me more, yes?"
There was something in her chest and it felt so warm. Very warm. And it was growing, though not in a way to cause any alarm. Right now, it really did feel like a time so long ago, nearly forgotten and covered with years upon years of pain and hurt and betrayal. There was still the need to clean up the air, but it did not seem as important now. Right now, it felt like she was being invited to share a secret—a secret between sisters. Had there ever been one before? It was so long ago…
She knew what her answer was without needing to ask herself, or others.
There was always something to watching Kori eat. It was one of those sights you could not look away from, and if you were lucky, your appetite survived.
The girl did love her mustard, Tim mused.
"Why is it I don't feel hungry anymore?" Cassie asked from beside him. "Oh damn, the other one is the same."
That was perhaps the biggest surprise. Tim had a sneaking suspicion there was something about Tamaraneans and mustard, because that had to be it.
"Keep your cool, or go for some fresh air. I'll keep a look out," he offered.
Blonde hair nearly whipped him in the face from how quickly the headstrong female shook her head. "No. No, I need to be here."
They all did, because the team's protective streak was really rearing its head, and naturally it had to involve Kori. And to add the cherry to all this, it was Kori's sister, the one responsible for setting everything into motion to bring their alien friend, who they were watching like hawks, to this planet. There had to be some kind of plan here, something that she was up to and somehow Kori was key to it.
Who sells their sister into slavery? Who does nothing to try and save her from it? Who kills someone during an overthrow of their planet's government and seizes power? Tim may be an only child, but all of those things were ones he never would do.
He wanted to be closer to the two aliens, he did. However, he didn't want to get too close and blow his cover, Cassie's too. All of this hiding was to make sure that if the chance did come up, they could nail Kori's sister and find a way to kick her off the planet.
Really, this was not how he saw things going down. It was only the other night he was making a promise to the extraterrestrial big sister of the team that he and the others would be at her side when she finally found a way to return home and make things right. To have the bad guy...bad girl of the story come to them had not been part of the plan, or the fantasy he had in his head, that was truly unexpected. But you had to work with how things were and not how you wanted them to be.
Back to the present, neither of the Tamaraneans had moved other than to approach the hot dog vendor once more for a second helping. At the very least they knew that mystery meat over there was something the orange-skinned aliens could eat. It was going to be another gorging of a feast, especially once Kori brought out the mustard again.
Where were they going to go after this? While there was the possibility the two would stay close, maybe eat away the rest of the day, this was also suppose to be a tour of the city, so they would have to continue at some point. Where would Kori lead them next? It was hard to predict since the wandering was seemingly at random.
Before he could contemplate further, he felt a buzzing in his pocket. His phone was going off, set to vibrate, but not on airplane mode in case of an emergency. Grimacing, he reached into his pocket and pulled the device out, checking to see who the caller ID claimed it was. A phone number with no identifying name was his answer, a sign of a scam caller if there ever was one.
Now, Tim would love to say that there was a restricted list of people who could dial this number, but that would be a lie. Not even some of the best scanning programs out there could catch every robocall and scam number. Really, there was only one way to find out who was on the other end.
So he answered.
A moment later, he spoke to Cassie, "Hey, can you keep an eye on those two? Something came up and I need to check on it."
Cassie glanced at him. "What's going on?"
"I'll let you know later. Right now, Kori and her sister are the priority. If something changes, we notify the other. I'll be back as soon as I can." He was starting to feel the knots in his gut. However, he was proud that he didn't show any signs he was bothered. Cassie would always have some skepticism, but she was keeping it to herself this time. Answers would be expected later, but that was later. Right now was something else and for the time being they would need to go their separate ways.
Though he tried to appear calm, his stride was long as he powerwalked away.
The center of Jump City was where Koriand'r brought them next. The structures around them towered to the sky, casting their shadows on the streets below. It could be said this was a symbol of the pinnacle of this city's development.
The center also hid away secrets. Such secrets tended to be underneath the earth. The last secret to be exposed was recently reducing in its aftereffects. None of this would be of interest to Komand'r, so she spoke nothing about it.
"These humans seemed to be trying to correct a shortcoming of theirs," her sister remarked, head craned back to gaze at the tops of the taller buildings. "They build so high, it is almost not practical."
"The winds here are not strong enough to topple them. Humans have advanced much in their construction tactics," the younger of the pair argued in return. "I have found when space is limited, humans will build higher."
"It does not look to me that they want for land," Komand'r replied.
"I once said the same thing to my friends. I was taught that geography tends to undo many plans of horizontal expansion." It had been quite an informative lesson. Raven knew so much about a great many topics.
"You either build with it, or around it. It sounds more like their problem," Komand'r dismissed. "So what is there to look at here?"
This had been a question Koriand'r had asked herself. Why take her sister to this part of the city, a place she herself infrequently visited? During the day, a large percentage of the settlement's population tended to gather here, expressed by how many humans trafficked on the designated walking paths and how many cars monopolized the streets.
For an extremely short period of time, she spotted yellow in the corner of her eye, one that was gone as soon as she began turning her head to see if Kid Flash was perhaps nearby. Returning her attention to her sister, "I have been told there are a number of establishments located in this portion of the city. I wondered if perhaps we can explore them between ourselves."
"What have you been doing with your time? There are still areas in this city you have not explored?" Komand'r teased.
As they passed by a large human holding up several sheets of large paper with small text inked on it, the human abruptly raising the papers higher, Koriand'r answered, "I have found much to occupy my time. Recently I have managed to gain employment with a newly created social program. It has been fulfilling me that I do not experience wanderlust."
"You will need to repeat yourself. The vocabulary I obtained happens to lack many of those foreign words you used." For her part, Komand'r managed to keep her confusion hidden.
"We could share our respective knowledge with one another," Koriand'r suggested. Such knowledge was only one lip contact away.
Komand'r was quick to refuse. "I would prefer not to, not in that way. So you found something to keep you busy. Good for you."
The dark-haired Tamaranean sounded dismissive. This part of Jump was not retaining her interest. Perhaps it had been an ill choice to tour. Even as she gazed at the human-made structures, she felt nothing, not even awe towards them. She understood little, or what took place in this section of the settlement. Why did she conclude coming here would accomplish...what did she think it would accomplish?
"Somehow, it is colder here than out by that ocean," Komand'r commented. Dark eyes looked about their surroundings. "These buildings are blocking out the sun. The shade is always the coolest part of the natural world. In this, our worlds are the same."
As they passed what was called an "alley," a cat fell off a refuse receptacle and ran off, green fur dirtied by the filth and grime. "I was told that there were 'happening' places in this portion of Jump. I fear I was misdirected."
Air rushed out of Komand'r nostrils. "You were always easy to misdirect. Too easy, now that I think about it."
"Is it so difficult to wish to believe in others? That they wish you no harm?"
Komand'r was not quick to reply. How did she put this; her question must have rendered her sister the bottom portion of a decapitated tree. It would be some length of time before she was eventually given an answer to either of her questions.
"Why believe in others when they will only disappoint you?" Komand'r finally answered, though it was a question being used as an answer. There was a tone inflecting itself in her sister's voice, one that Koriand'r was unable to identify.
She found that she could not respond to the answer given to her.
Silence ruled them for some time, weakened slightly as they obeyed human traffic laws. Their journey through this section of the settlement eventually took them towards an area that catered more to entertainment. Only when they stood before one of the establishments did Komand'r break the quiet with a question.
"Comedy club? What is that?"
Peering at the establishment in question, it took the younger Tamaranean a few units of human time measurement to recall what little she did know. "I have been told it is a place devoted to humor and causing great numbers of patrons to laugh. I have not visited this place before, though my friend Beast Boy claims I need to."
A human in black standing nearby exhaled air through the nostrils much as her older sister had earlier.
"Humor. Jokes?" was the question that demanded clarification.
"I believe they are both used."
"So a place for humans to try and laugh. Heh. Well, how about a good Gordanian joke? What do you call a Thanagarian with no wings?" Dark eyes gleamed at her, promising a salary should she engage.
Seeing no reason not to, even though she disliked the Gordanians as much as a Thanagarian, Koriand'r prompted, "What?"
Komand'r gave a chuckle and declared, "Dead." Then a short laugh followed, though only one of them engaged in the act.
"I...do not fully understand the joke," she said with some embarrassment.
Shaking her head, Komand'r said, "You never were able to understand a joke."
A long day was coming to an end. Who would have thought trying to shadow two Tamaraneans on a trip to the big city would be so tiring? The only one who didn't look tired whatsoever was Kid Flash, but he always seemed to have an endless amount of energy so he didn't count. And also he was from the future. So there.
Red had to duck out early for some reason, but Cassie was keeping a lid on it. By now she had built some trust with the guy. He wouldn't ditch without a good reason and he had told her before that he needed to go.
Unfortunately, if there had been anyone coordinating their efforts, it had been Red. Cyborg had nearly had the cops called on him five times. Raven had been in control until the Tamaraneans stumbled onto the club scene and someone got it in their heads to hit on her. Terra had no idea what she was doing and had walked past the two aliens no less than twenty times. Beast Boy had somehow not drawn attention to himself despite being green twenty-four seven—she still had no idea how that worked out.
And when Kori finally got away from her sister, she didn't seem to have a clue that she had been followed the whole day. Huh, maybe they were better at this than she had thought.
Well, the person whom the blonde suspected to be the oldest in the room must have come onto a sight. On one end of the couch sat Cyborg in his civilian get up and for some reason he was gripping a newspaper in one hand. On the far other side was Terra in a lot of Justice League crap and a certain green cat was nestled into her side while giving himself a little cat bath. In between the two of them were herself and Kid Flash splaid out and taking up as much space as they possibly could. Raven was...somewhere; Cassie could have sworn she smelled of smoke.
"You seem tired my friends. Did something happen during my absence?" everyone's favorite Tamaranean asked once she had entered the, um, it was suppose to be called the commons' room, right? Living room didn't quite work and there was no way anyone was calling it a family room, though what the difference was between those two terms escaped her.
Whatever it was called, with the large couch and TV and kitchenette, this was the room they were crashing in when their friend caught up with them.
"Nothing big," Cassie answered for them. Then to change the subject, "So how was the big day?"
"I do not believe the day increased in any size, but the time I spent with Komand'r was successful, I hope. I still feel there is much earth to be crossed before any resolutions can be committed to," Kori answered.
A number of glances were shared between the rest of them, minus one Tamaranean.
"Um, you're...you're sure that this is the way you want to go?" Cyborg began, hesitant.
Kori tilted her head to a side. "Which way are you speaking of, my friend?"
Cyborg looked like he was trying to find a tactful way of saying what they were all thinking. Cassie really wanted to throw all tact out of the window because this was just going around in circles. Plus, so much went over Kori's head, so sometimes tact was a waste of time.
It was a good thing that in this group, she wasn't the most tactless person around. In fact, Kid Flash was making a final shot for glory by racing right up to the alien gal and showing just how little tact he had. "Spending time with the sister that sent you into slavery for an evil alien race and everything that went along with that. Some of the details you've dropped since I joined the team doesn't make her seem like a good person, you know? If she hurt you so much, why are you even talking with her?"
"Oh. I see." Green eyes were blinking slowly. "If you are confused about my actions, I apologize. Days ago, I would be in a different scaffolding of my brain. I saw myself in a violent confrontation with Komand'r on Tamaran. Now, she has set foot on Earth, and I am loath to apply pressure. Any actions I take on this planet may have no standing at all on my home planet. A coup on foreign earth does not have the same status."
"So overthrowing the Tamaranean government while not on Tamaran would accomplish nothing. Komand'r would still be in power and you would have given up any kind of advantage you had." Looking over the back of the couch, Cassie found Raven at the bar where the cloak-wearing girl had summed up everything so concisely.
"That is correct," Kori confirmed. "This means I need a different strategy. I hope that diplomacy may accomplish what violence is unable to right now. Maybe I am also to gain some closing to the experiences that I have suffered. Maybe...maybe I will be able to regain family that I have lost. I appreciate our time together, do not misunderstand. This is my family from before and I...I would love to fix it somehow and correct the fractures in it."
"Okay, so let's say you do that. Then what are you going to do?" Cyborg asked. His grip on the newspaper he still held crinkled the paper further.
Orange eyelids covered green eyes. "I...have not considered that far ahead. I do not know what I can accomplish. If I were to, with words and diplomacy, it would be the first time in my people's history that such an accord has happened."
"So everything on your planet involves fighting to get anything done?" Terra wondered.
Green eyes opened as lips curved softly. "My people follow the path of the warrior in everything, including politics. I have come to understand that it is not the same on this planet. If nothing else, all I want to know is if Komand'r has been treating my people correctly, and not in any horrible fantasy my brain may create. I can learn to live with that knowledge. If there has been any suffering, then I will correct it, and do so in the only way my old home will accept. Until I can ascertain this, I will continue with diplomacy despite the pain she has inflicted on me."
Really, what could any of them say to that? Even the loudmouths they had couldn't really say anything to argue with that. If there had been respect for the Tamaranean before, it has reached new heights. Really, how could you ruin a moment like this?
The doors to the common room slid open and in entered Red in all his costumed crimefighting glory. He was wearing the domino mask, which covered his eyes, and they slid over every single one of them before his head gave a quick nod.
"Guys, something's come up. Something has gone down with the Justice League and we need to talk about what we're going to do about it."