A/N: This was just a way of saying good bye to the Katma Tui as she was portrayed in those comicbooks.
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Soar on Forever
by Centuri Eagle
Chapter IV - Parting
Back in orbit around Earth in Batman's lab within the Watchtower J'onn and Kilowog were working with Batman on seedling Korugar Spirit Lilies. Several of the rose sized baby plants were planted in various soils, chemical mixtures, and hydroponics containers. They were miniature versions of the mature flower. Diana and Superman entered the lab.
"Ready to go yet?" asked Diana.
"We are sterilizing the last batch," said Batman. "But there is a problem. They won't adapt."
Kilowog, the eight foot three inch, pink skinned and Green Lantern from was looking particularly disappointed. He was unhappy with his inability to acclimate the Lilies away from Korugar.
"No!" boomed Kilowog in frustration..
Seeing the pain his voice has caused smaller ears he said softer this time, "No. They don't want to live outside their normal ecology. They need the blue-white sun of Koruagar."
Batman looked stern and grimaced. "What's the difference?" he said. "Viable flowers or not, it won't matter," he paused for effect. "…if we are not prepared to force the important issue on John."
Batman looked around. Kilowog looked away and gently fondled a little pale-yellow petal.
"Hawkgirl won't be free of Katma Tui any time too soon, will she? Especially if John doesn't have to choose."
There was a very uncomfortable silence.
"The longer this goes on," Batman continued. "The harder it gets…for all three of them. I know how things have changed up here, but Hawkgirl…"
"Hawkgirl isn't complaining," interjected Superman. "Right, J'onn?
"Correct," said J'onn. "Hawkgirl's consciousness is fine."
"That still does not make it a good situation," Batman countered. "…Maybe the one who really needs to come to the right conclusion is Katma Tui. I'm going to contact Jason."
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It was another beautiful day on Earth, outside StarCity in the house of John and Katma Stewart.
The air swelled with the sound of the Javelin-7 approaching overhead. When it had landed, a few superheroes emerged from the woods. They carried several small extra-terrestrial flower plants that were in a fragile state.
A little later, inside the house, J'onn and Jason sat and talked with Hawkgirl/Katma in the living room. Outside, John, Killowog and Diana were digging up parts of the lawn and trying to embed the little flowers into the soil. They were doing their best to show care but the Spirit Lilies were having a tough time. They looked sickly on their bent stems. Many already had a white-yellow surface and bright red underside to their small petals, but it did not help that the leaves were shriveling and folding up in the yellow sunlight of the late afternoon.
On the wooden patio deck Superman was explaining something to Lois Lane. Lois had a glass of wine in her hands.
"…I'm sorry Lois. I really do appreciate the investigative work, but you really shouldn't interview her. It's just not right."
"This is more than a simple interview." Lois insisted. "These are the questions of a lifetime. Don't you see? It's about more than a story here."
"I know it means a lot, Lois," Superman protested. "And it has a lot of interest behind it, but."
"A lot of interest?" Lois scoffed. "This Green Lantern was slain in her prime by God knows who and only God knows why. Hell, the whole world was in shock by the loss of that beauiful, courageous woman and by the dissolution of the Lantern Corps here on Earth. I know I was angry. I know you were angry too and sad. I remember that. I know you wanted answers then."
Superman had his arms folded across his chest. He stared at the floor boards. Lois put her wineglass down and tried to look up into the eyes of the Man of Steel.
"Don't you think we should find out what happened to her if we can? Don't you think we owe it to her? Don't…"
"Lois. I can give you lots of reasons but I am going to say only this. I don't think John knows the full story yet himself."
"What?" Lois could not believe her ears. "I don't believe it. Why wouldn't she tell him. Wouldn't she want..."
".And that's exactly it." Superman said. "I think it might be that she may not want him to relive the tragedy of her death."
Lois turned around to think. She was confused by this new information. She took a few paces and looked through the sliding glass door to see Hawkgirl still talking with Jason and J'onn. She turned back to Superman.
"Well, she couldn't be feeling sorry for her assailant, and certainly the whole world would be safer with…whatever monster killed her punished or put away or something."
Lois snapped her fingers at a sudden idea.
"Unless, of course she thought John was in danger."
"…Or maybe she just wants things to just rest in peace."
"If she wanted peace then why kick up such a ruckus in this house? Frighten and scare people? Why cause such a disturbance?"
"Have you ever been dead, Lois? It can make you do strange things."
"No, Superman, I don't know about death. Not my own yet anyway. I do know this. There's a certain obligation a person has to avenge a slain lover, especially a marriage partner."
"Just maybe Katma is all too aware of that, Lois."
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Later, inside the house, Hawkgirl had put on one of Katma's old dresses that was in a closet. She approached John in the kitchen. The dress did not fit her well, as Hawkgirl was shorter than Katma, who was almost six feet. It was a revealingly cut backless party dress. The loose fit in certain places gave John a somewhat immodest view of Hawkgirl. He was a bit surprised at seeing more of his Justice League colleague than she had ever shown before. He suddenly decided to turn and check up on the lasagna in the oven..
"Holy ka-pow. You look…exquisite." He tried not to stare at her.
"I hope it doesn't bother you...me wearing this. It was the only thing that fits with these wings and all."
Green Lantern just chuckled at that and put on an oven mitt. "Of course not."
"I told Hawkgirl she could have this dress, if that is alright with you." said Hawkgirl/Katma.
"Sure. I guess she...you will have to haven't taken in a bit."
"John? Do you love Hawkgirl?"
The roar of the bat plane overhead shook the glass fixtures and windows in the house. Green Lantern shook his head as he opened the oven door.
"More company. We'll have to put a landing beacon on the roof if this keeps up. It's beginning to seem like old times, huh?"
Hawkgirl walked over to a large plastic box sitting on the counter. As she opened the top, the internal heating coils and white u.v. light of the incubator inside the box lit her face from below. She reached in with both hands and brought out Katma's full grown Spirit Lily.
"I am going to go now, John." Tears welled up in her eyes. "God. I don't want to go. It's been so nice touching being with you, but before it gets any harder...I've got to…die."
The word hit John like a ton of bricks.
"Now? Right now?" he asked.
"J'onn and Jason…mostly J'onn have convinced me that it is really unfair to interfere with Hawkgirl's individual destiny, no matter how short…"
"What's a few more…" he started to protest but trailed off..
"Oh…and John.?"
"Hmm?"
"When I am gone…finally gone…take care of Shayera." A familiar and reassuring smile appeared beneath the mask. "You know…if you were to marry again someone,… I'd…"
John silenced her with a passionate kiss.
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Sunset approached outside. Everyone was there. Green Lantern was busy trying to shore up the wilting flowers without much success. Everyone tried to help. Batman tested the soil. When Hawkgirl emerged from the house they all stood up, except for John who simply picked out another seedling flower from a container and dug it into the lawn. Katma/Hawkgirl took the opportunity to shoot up a little into the sky and then float back down. One last short flight for Katma.
She hugged each person in turn. Batman first.
"Thanks. I am sure you have done everything you can for the flowers. It will be okay."
"Goodbye. Katma," Batman said evenly.
Next she came to Wonder Woman who looked to be on the verge of tears, "Goodbye, Diana."
They embraced and Diana said while still hugging, "Take care, Sister."
Next was Flash.
"Goodbye, Flash." she said semi-cheerfully. "You slow down now, okay?"
"Bye. Thanks for making things lighter in the Watchtower, and with John. It won't be the same..."
His voice started to choke up a little so he decided to say no more.
"Don't worry." she said. "I think things might change in time."
"Goodbye, my friend," she said as she came to J'onn. "I wish I could have met more Martians."
"Be at peace, Katma Tui."
Next, Jason tried to shake her hand stiffly.
"I'm sorry about the mix up." Jason said.
Hawkgirl/Katma forced a hug on him.
"Don't be. Don't be. I…we…are not sorry. We thank you. Thanks."
She turned to the next person. It was Kilowog. "Oh, my old friend Kilowog..."
The very large Green Lantern lifted her up in his embrace and put her down again.
"Thanks for covering my planet." she continued saying. "If there is anyone that Sinestro respects and fears, I know that it is definitely you."
"Ohhkay, Katma. Galius, Ch'p, and the others all wanted say goodbye. Even Arkkis. They will be so sorry they missed you…oh...don't worry about your sister neither, okay?
Hawkgirl clasps to Kilowog again.
"Jahdis..." Hawkgirl cried.
"Don't worry, Katma. When the ring came seeking her out, she wasn't gonna do it. Was finishing studying to be an architect like her big brother-in-law John. But I convinced her, and she's doing great. When she gets back from Oa she'll be under the expert tutelage of me. Because I'm the best teacher of Green Lanterns there is...after the great Katma Tui. Right, John?"
John looked up from planting a flower. He shook his head and smiled as he said, "Ya big poozer."
Hawkgirl laughed a little, "Yeah. Yeah, you big poozer you. You better train her well. Very well. And you tell them all I miss them all so very, very much and…and…I wish them all, all the love in the Galaxy. Please tell Jahdis…tell her to be good...to be a real good Green Lantern. And that I love her. You got that? Don't forget. Don't forget."
Hawkgirl kissed him and then wiped tears from his face.
"Yeahhh. You can trust me, Katma. Good ol' Kilowog won't forget."
Hawkgirl finally released him and hugged Lois.
"Well, good bye, Lois Lane. Keep the press free."
"Oh, God, Katma. Katma Tui. I will. In your name, I will. I never told you this when you were here but if I had a daughter if I ever have a daughter I'd want her to be like you."
"Thanks, Lois. That's a beautiful thing to say. But don't tell her to be like me. Just to be fair, and honest, and strong. Like her mother, right?"
She faced Superman and hugged him.
"Good bye, Superman. Thank you."
"No. Thank you, Katma Tui. You are breaking our hearts again. We are glad you came back. You had to come back. So that we could say goodbye and thank you. You are what is best in all beings."
When it could be no more she broke away, and went to the plant incubator and picked up her giant Lily. She grabbed a hand spade and knelt near John who was hard at work.
She cut into the lawn with the spade. She carved out a fairly deep and wide hole. Batman held a container with an enriched mulch, soil, and fertilizer combination. One by one everyone took handfuls of the soil mixture and placed it into the hole she had dug. Kilowog was last. He grabbed a big handful of soil and walked over to where she was kneeling. She was looking over at John who was fitting another plant into the soil of the yard, seemingly ignoring the ceremony. Kilowog squeezed the soil compactly in his big pink hand and then crumbled it again and let it slip between his fingers into the hole
"Goooodbye, Katma," his deep Bolovxian voice sounded.
When that was done, Hawkgirl took Katma's lily in one hand and reached into the hole with the other. She scooped up a handful of soil that her friends had dropped in and then placed the plant in that hand.
She winced and doubled over in pain. John did not look back, but he talked to Superman without looking up.
"Go ahead." John said
Superman signaled everyone to join hands. John continued planting the little Korugar Spirit Lilies.
Superman:
"For the peace of Katma Tui.
Daughter of Korugar
Guardian of Earth
Brave warrior.
Most beloved wife
We will remember her spirit with her Lily and commend her soul to the heavens.
May..."
Flash started sniffing the air. Everyone started looking around.
"Is it just me or are those flowers actually starting to look…and smell good?" said Flash.
Sure enough, of the lilies that had been planted through the yard, they all were now standing up on their stems. The petals were turning a brilliant shade of lemon yellow and began swelling to near orchid proportions. A stimulating fresh fragrance wafted through the garden. Diana gave the widest most satisfied smile anyone had ever seen her give. She made eye contact with Green Lantern nodded exuberantly at him.
"By the Gods. It worked. It's beautiful," Diana said.
J'onn and Kilowog turn and looked at each other and congratulated one another. J'onn gave a grin.
"Hmm…It would seem that we have a new Earth viable hybrid of the Korugar Spirt Lily," J'onn analyzed.
Hawkgirl/Katma was still struggling with the end. She was now clutching her chest with one hand while holding the the biggest blossoming lily just above the Earth in the other. She was breathing heavily and her face was near to the ground.
John walked over to her, and softly knelt. He gently tilted back Hawkgirl's head and kissed her on the lips
"I love you, Kat." he said.
He reached into the hole and came out with two hands full of soil. Hawkgirl released the plant into his hands. As she reached with both hands for more soil, her lips found John's lips again. She placed her soil filled hands around John's. She took a sudden convulsive breath and her eyes opened wide. She was all Hawkgirl now.
"I will never forget you, Katma. Never." said John.
John and Hawkgirl's hands plunged into the hole. The Korugaran flower's roots become firmly and deeply planted into the soil of its new host planet - Earth.
Green Lantern said, "May your spirit soar on forever."
Superman repeated, "May her spirit soar on forever."
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Epilogue
On the patio deck Superman had a telescope setup and was showing a star to Lois Lane.
"That is a very red star," commented Lois. "Very pretty."
"Yes and big too." Superman could see the star with his naked eyes. "So big it swallowed all of its inner planets. Krypton was among them."
Lois moved close to the man of steel as they looked up at the night sky together. In a reclined patio chair next to them was the sleeping form of Flash. Three empty lasagna pans lay next to him. Someone had graciously covered him with a blanket. Someone else had covered his head with the blanket to muffle his snoring.
Hawkgirl walked across the lawn close to where Batman and Diana were sitting and looking at the stars.
"...And there is Casseiopeia," pointed out Diana. "And there is Taurus the bull, and there is ursa minor the little bear."
"Where's 'the bat'?" Batman asked.
Diana turned to look at him. "But there is no constellation called 'the bat,'" Diana advised.
"There should be."
When Hawkgirl got to John he was lying on his back looking at the stars too. She sat very close to him.
"Which star is Korugar's?" she asked. "Can you tell?"
"Well, do you see that group of stars that looks like a small upside down stove pot? The last star at the end of the handle. That is Korugar's sun. We know it as Polaris here."
"We really have to go back there some day and check up on mother…I mean Katma's mother."
"Yeah," agreed John. "We will some day."
She lay down next to him on the soft cushiony grass and lay her head on his chest.
"She told me to take care of you. Katma did." Hawkgirl said. She suddenly yawned greatly.
"Do you mind if I fall asleep like this, Lantern? Just for a little while." she asked.
"Go ahead. Rest easy, Shayera." he said gently stroking her red hair. "Nothing will happen to you. I swear it."
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