"And in addition to our joint scientific advancements, the Earth has also gained a new hero. One part human individual, one part Reach technology. Blue Beetle is the living embodiment of the peaceful union between our peoples," The Reach Ambassador states to the cameras, slowly gaining popularity with the people of Earth. "Plus, he saved us all from the Warworld. Not too shabby."
He pauses to allow the growing crowd to applaud Blue Beetle.
"And this is only the beginning. Just imagine what the future holds when together, we reach for tomorrow," He goads the audience.
A mother is seen pushing her daughter forward, clearly wanting her to as the Alien a question.
"Greetings, young one," The Ambassador greets the girl. "Do you have a question?"
She shuffles nervously in her place, still not quite sure what to make of the alien.
"Uh, I thought the Justice League protected the Earth…" She begins slowly. "Why didn't they stop the Warworld?"
'Oh you sweet child… I'm sorry we were not there… If only I had left Paradise sooner,' I find myself frowning.
"I wonder about that, too," He sighs. "Just as I wonder why they seem to attract so many outer space bullies to your planet. Maybe the Warworld was a bully too big for the League to handle. Good thing your new friends, The Reach, were here to protect you!"
'The self endorsement is gag-worthy,' I nearly vomit.
The T.V shuts off after the Ambassador's answer.
I sit on the edge of Haneul's bed, the satin sheets smooth under my touch.
Han lays still under the covers, still recovering from his brush with death as Jeong leans up against the dark-wooded dresser, debriefing me on the 'Reach situation' since I left.
"Okay, wait," I interrupt Jeong. "So, first, the Reach go public, then they decided to start up a soda company?"
"Yep," Jeong nods once.
I scowl in confusion at the proposition.
"Okay… second, an intergalactic, Thanos lookin' gladiator decides to ambush the Hall of Justice, where we were being based out of for the time being, and challenge the team, destroying the Hall in the process," I try to catch up.
"Mhm," Jeong nods again.
'You all are really testing me today,' My eye twitches.
"Third, the Reach come on down after the fight, and just reveal to the whole world that we have a base orbiting the Earth as a natural satellite," I continue.
"Uh-huh," Jeong confirms.
"And then there's a Green Beetle now," I add on.
"Yes," Jeong smiles. "But he's one of the good guys! So that should be a good thing!"
"And you and Kyung decided to do a press release for me, without having it approved by any of our superiors, and made matters worse?" My voice raises in pitch without my consent.
"A bit," He cringes.
"Then a War Planet just comes along and tries to destroy us, but don't worry! We've got it under control!" I exasperate. "We only lost half of the team to do it!"
"Blue Beetle insists that a boom tube opened up and stole them away," Jeong states.
"And we're going to believe that?" I question. "I know Jaime. I'm the one who recruited him with Nightwing and Wonder Girl. He wouldn't say something like that. And he definitely wouldn't be taking the spotlight for all of this. Something has to be up with him."
"And how do you figure?" Han rasps from behind me. "This could be who he was the entire time, jagi."
I shake my head at the notion.
"No way," I deny, coming to stand on my feet. "Not Jaime. Not this humble kid from El Paso who had the whole world ahead of him. He didn't even want to be a mainstream hero! All he wanted was to stay at home, and be a local guy. I'm telling you guys, something isn't adding up."
My fingers massage my temple as I absorb all of this information.
"Who all are missing?" I question.
"Superboy, Wonder Girl, Impulse, Beast Boy, Bumblebee, Guardian-"
"Guardian?" I halt his list. "I haven't heard that name in years."
"Sorry, Mal took up the mantel during the Gladiator fight," Han fills in.
"Of course he did," I sigh, knowing full well that he would have done it either way. "Continue."
"Batgirl, Robin, Arsenal, the Sphere, and Wolf," Jeong finishes.
I could swear that my heart stopped.
'Tim and Babs?... No. No they won't be taken from me! I simply refuse to allow it!' I feel myself beginning to rage.
"Jagi," Han calls out to me. "We're still searching for them. Nightwing and M'gann are up there on the Bioship searching for them as we speak. We won't give up."
"Then I want to search too," I demand. "Call down the Bioship, and let's search every inch of this War Planet! And since when does Arsenal do business with us? You know what, that's probably another story, isn't it? I don't want to know."
"Nightwing and M'gann are already on it, but she needs to take it easy," Jeong states, ignoring my ranting.
'It's for the best.'
"Wait, what happened to M'gann?!" I exasperate.
Jeong realizes his mistake in telling me about her exhaustion.
"She might have been kidnapped by Manta," He cringes. "But she's back now, so it's okay!"
"Oh for the love of Heracles!" I throw my hands in the air in defeat. "Why do I even bother leaving?! Every time I do it always seems like everything goes to the Hellhounds!"
'Honestly though, where is the lie?' I agree with myself.
"Look, it hasn't been easy for us either-" Han begins.
"Yeah, no dip?" I growl at him. "Oh! And don't think you're out of any trouble, sir! You didn't tell me that you were dying and that you stopped looking for your cure until recently. And from Constantine of all people! You know his shadow demon bulldozed my jet, sending me and Sko crashing into the Bermuda? Cause that's what it did!"
"Addie-"
"And on top of that! Nash decided to follow you to your hideout in Louisiana, which means that you weren't careful enough, and he nearly killed you Han!" I snap at my magician. "And while we're on the subject, who around here has even been trying to keep track of 'Fear'? No one? Cause not only did he threaten Han's life, he threatened the lives of everyone I love, and that most certainly includes all of you! I want to know exactly what he's been doing for the past few months, and what he's been planning and with who!"
"Adeline, please slow down," Han begs me.
"I can't!" I cry. "I can't slow down when there's so much to do! I need to find the rest of the team, get this Planet out of our solar system, wait for the rest of the League to return, get the Reach out of this universe, keep you alive, track Nash, and on top of all of this… I received some alarming news from the Underworld, and Nightwing has much to answer for."
"The Underworld?" Jeong questions. "That's a real thing?"
"Where do you think I went for that split moment?" I ask him. "Persephone offered me a bargain. Find Cerberus, gain Haneul's life. During which I confronted the Titan, Typhon. Stronger than Zeus himself. In my escape, he managed to catch me. Persephone engaged at the Gate to Asphodel, severing my hair to save my life. I had fulfilled my mission, at that moment, bringing Cerberus to safety. This is why I was so certain that the excilur would work on Han. His life was spared by the goddess of the Spring, Queen of the Underworld herself."
"You went on another mission to save my life?" Han clarifies. "Haven't we talked about this?"
"Yes. We have," I confirm, crossing my arms over my chest. "But your end of the promise was to quit keeping secrets from me, and my end was to stop risking my life for you without telling you, and look what happened. I figured when you lay in my arms with a shallow breath that our arrangement was rendered moot."
"Jagi-"
"No! You don't get to 'jagi' me!" I argue. "I'm mad at you. I want to stay mad at you until I feel like not being mad anymore."
"Fair enough," Han agrees, his bright blue eyes casting downward to his sheets.
"Should I go?" Jeong questions, pointing to the door.
"No," I negate. "But I should."
My boots clank together as I storm towards his door.
"Addie-"
"I need to see Nightwing," I state. "I'll be in Bludhaven."
With that, I leave Haneul and Jeong to their business, shutting the heavy door closed behind me as I make my way to the Zeta.
*slowly slides in through window* heeeeeeyyyyyy... I'm baaaaccckkkk (nervous smile)
So, life happened...
Dad got new orders, so we were moving to a different state, then I was working all summer 12 hours in the sun 6 days a week, then I had to transfer colleges (not fun you guys. Not. Fun.), then ya girl turned 19, andddddddd welcomed a new member to my family!
It's a pet, don't get too excited.
His name is Loki, and he is a Ball Python. He is the cutest, sweetest little man in my life, and if anything happened to him, I'd kill everyone, and then myself. I've been wanting a snake for quite a few years now, so this def. wasn't a spurt of the moment thing. I saved up to buy him for about a year with tip money from the restaurant I worked in. I bought him from a local exotics shop, who specialize in reptiles, avians, and water-creatures. I spent about $700 U.S dollars all together on him, his enclosure, heating and humidity. Loki himself actually cost more than what was listed. by himself, he was about $550.00 U.S dollars. He is a special type of morph (pattern) called a Sugar Killer Bee. If you haven't seen it, I suggest looking it up on Pinterest or something. He's gorgeous. He has bitten me once, but honestly, it felt like when you put one of those alligator-hair clips on your finger. I was shocked, but it didn't really hurt as much as I thought it would. And his mouth is only big enough to latch onto my thumb, so... yeah. I've been 'snake-owner' baptized.
So most of the year has been some serious pet-owner lessons, and a lot of unpacking.
And on top of this, I got a new computer that likes to delete my Documents. Fun times.
I would like to thank all of the fans who have read and left comments up on this fic, as well as sending messages asking if I'm okay, or if I had abandoned the story. You all really mean so much to me.
So, because ya girl feels bad, I will be uploading 2 chapters tonight. This, and Intervention.
And because of this, I will reply to comments in the next chapter.
Onward my loves! To the next chapter!