Chapter Eight: Green Lantern's Light
Realm 1994, Los Angeles, 2009
Even by Existence's standards, it was an impossibility.
If anyone could actually see Existence, they would see the various realms seemingly flow in a never ending circle, if not perfectly aligned with one another or moving at the same speed, much like planets orbiting a sun, or stars orbiting the center of their galaxies. And each realm would be a decent shot away from one another... at least, if anyone observed it.
Therefore, it should be impossible for two realms to be so close that they were practically touching, especially considering the sheer size of Creation. Indeed, it could be considered unthinkable.
And yet, such a phenomenon existed.
Realm's 1994 and 1995 almost shared the same spot, orbiting one another in perfect harmony. They had been 'born' at the same time, like twins, and never truly separated. And, with one exception, they followed the same time table, accelerating and decelerating together. As a result, they had been called The Two Sisters.
Unfortunately, it also made travel to the two of them a bit harrowing. Between the two, even more so. That detail gave 1994 the distinction of being the only realm never to be invaded before by an extra-dimensional force. It was also the only realm to only have a Guardian Outpost, instead of a whole city.
Realm 1994 had something else that was rather unique to it; the ultimate immigrants.
The first clue that there were aliens in that universe was glaringly obvious. It was also something everyone commented on, but never realized until they had turned eight... and everything changed. And all of it, for the better.
Of course, the scrutiny changed when they began singing in elementary school, and showed to have a knack at it. The scrutiny ended when, as teenagers, their music hit the top of the pop charts. It ended because, despite the fur on their bodies, the human like paws and cute button noses, they were human where it mattered most.
On the inside.
-
And, at at that moment, they were in the middle of the biggest concert of their young lives. It was a concert that would (successfully, in fact,) shoot them into the adult scene with very little trouble, even as they prepared to go their separate ways for the foreseeable future.
Now, to clarify, the six on stage were bipedal, ranging from five foot five to six foot four. They didn't scamper about like their namesake, nor did they have tails. They didn't eat wildflowers or nuts, and they definitely didn't hibernate during the winter. Two of them wore corrective lenses, due to the fact that they were nearsighted. And three of them were easily identifiable as female, having curves in all of the right places, and having a place in most males, and some females, fantasies.
But the six of them were covered head to toe in very light peach colored fur. They had claws instead of fingernails, which extended whenever they felt threatened. The three males had buck teeth, which suggested they retained the ability to crack hard nuts. The three girls had luxurious manes of hair on top of their heads. And their noses were obviously more animal than human.
They were chipmunks. Anthropomorphic chipmunks. They were among the first to be known on Earth, but not the last. They were also the most well liked of them.
The young men, brothers all, were a band known as Alvin and the Chipmunks.
The sisters were simply known as the Chipettes. And both had quite the life story.
Alvin, Simon, and Theodore were babies when their mother, Vinny, was forced to abandon them during a particularly brutal winter storm. In order to ensure that they lived and were cared for, she left them at the doorstep of Dave Seville, a struggling musician that had shown nothing but respect and kindness to the animals living in the forest. Without asking any questions, he had taken them in.
At the time, they were already the size of a full grown chipmunk, even though they were only a year old. Within the next year, they had grown to double that size, and showed the ability to walk on two feet. At age five, they were the same size as their human peers, and grew at the same pace.
After Dave moved to Los Angeles, the Chipmunks became quite the normal sight in the neighborhood, to the point that no one batted an eye when they went to school. Alvin's now legendary pranks, Simon's rapidly expanding achievements n the fields of science and robotics, Theodore's cooking skills, and their rapidly expanding singing careers, those were what they talked about. Aside from a few prejudicial remarks from close minded people, they were as normal as normal could be.
The Chipettes, led by eldest sister Britney Miller on the other hand... their path to glory was filled with far more hardship, and almost didn't happen.
She and her sisters, who had been correctly observed as being nearly identical in personality to their Chipmunk counterparts, had been left on the doorstep of an orphanage. They had no way of knowing who their parents were, or where they had come from, or even how to find them in the future. The head of that orphanage, upon hearing the little chipmunks sing, had been ready to exploit them for her own ends, but they managed to escape, and eventually made their way to America, following stories from their only friend there. Forced to work a variety of jobs just to survive, which was against child labor laws, and escaping a few who would try to use them for their own gain, they finally made it to Los Angeles, and met Alvin and his brothers. The rest, as they said, was history.
Their life story had been told by every major and local news group in the world, especially as their stars exploded, them being giant chipmunks taking center stage for the better part of a year. Afterwards, their singing took over the majority of the media attention. And, as they went through adolescence, Brittany's fashion sense and Eleanor's cooking ability captured the world's attention.
But, as time went on, the one they talked about the most, and the one who changed the most, was the Chipette's ugly duckling turned beautiful swan; the middle sister, Jeanette Miller.
When the world first saw her, she was much like Simon; studious, intelligent, and quite the scientist. She was a bit of a recluse, though, always hiding in the shadows behind the glory of her sisters. She always wore two sizes too large sweaters, wore round rim glasses(like Simon,) and shoes that always seemed to be untied, earning her the reputation of being a klutz around the school. She had great fear, never being able to stand up for herself. And, typically, she was picked on by the bullies of the world.
But, as everyone changes with time, so would she, and for the better...
"Hey, Los Angeles!" Alvin called out to the crowd. "How are you all enjoying yourselves?" He received a roar of approval in return. He grinned, grateful that they could still entertain the masses. It certainly wasn't a blow to his ego.
The young Chipmunk had grown a great deal since childhood, both physically and emotionally. His body had filled out, his athletic prowess aiding in turning him into a very handsome male. But he had also mellowed out, his egotistical ways falling to the wayside as he grew. As a result, he had become even more popular than he could have dreamed. Becoming a football player didn't hurt his image any.
"Well, we have gone through every song we have ever written or sung... at least, the ones that didn't suck, but the night's not over yet! There's still one piece of business to attend to!" he continued after the noise had abated somewhat. "Right now, I'd like to turn it over to Brittany and the Chipette's, cause they've got a surprise for all of you!" He turned his head mike off as Brittany stepped forward. "Are you sure she's ready for this?" he asked quietly.
Brittany, who had also become more humble as she had grown sexier growing up, grinned. "She's actually impatient to get started," she replied proudly, before activating her head set again, bringing her hands up. The crowd quieted down at the unspoken command; a handy talent that she had perfected over the years. "It has been quite a journey for all six of us, and I'm sorry that it has to end. As you all know, this will be the last concert for our two bands, and we don't know if we will ever get back together for a reunion. Alvin is going to college on a football scholarship. Simon is heading for Phoenix University for his degree in biochemistry. Eleanor and Theodore are going to a local cooking school to improve on their already phenomenal skills. And I'm heading for fashion school. You may see me on the runway... if I feel like gracing you with my glorious presence."
There were a few chuckles, since everyone knew she was only joking about that last bit. She had taken to poking fun at her childhood vanity at their last few concerts as a way of apology to them all.
Brittany let them laugh for a moment longer, before finally stating, "However, my sister is going to be singing for quite a while longer. So, we all decided that this would be the perfect night for her to make it happen." She waited for realization to set in, and the cheering to begin. "So, without further ado, making her solo debut... my younger sister, Jeanette Miller!"
The crowd exploded into cheers as the tallest of the Chipettes took center stage, a gentle smile on her lips. Gone were the too large sweaters, the untied shoes, and the glasses. Gone was the shy, unassuming little girl that hid behind her sister's fame, who tripped over everything. That girl was never coming back.
Instead, it became quickly obvious just how how much she had grown, even more so than her sisters. She had filled out in all the right places, gained curves that she had never had before, and wore contacts when performing so her expressive eyes could be seen. As stated before, the ugly duckling became the beautiful swan... with a body to die for, and that many a man had fantasized about. If she hadn't already been dating, she would have had a whole line of suitors lining up at her doorstep.
But the changes were more than skin deep. With the outward improvement came inward improvement as well. She had become more confident, obviously more graceful, bolder in her convictions. She had begun speaking to people more and more, shedding the persona of a scared young creature.
And, with her loosening up, her popularity both in school and on the stage soared.
It certainly helped that the core of who she was remained unchanged. She remained forever compassionate, courteous, loyal, and a nerd through and through. Her A+ Average wasn't even affected in the slightest by her new social status. And, where that had once marked her as an object of ridicule, it now made her an object of desire. 'Beauty, brains, and brawn,' they said now behind her back, considering her very impressive martial arts background... though how she managed to learn three different forms was beyond them all.
All of these factors together helped turn Jeanette from being nonexistent to becoming the most popular of the five chipmunks. And it was simply because of who she was that she was unaffected by it.
At this particular moment, she was wearing a full length blue dress that sparkled in the light. Her hair had been elegantly coiffed, and not a single strand of fur was out of place. She looked radiant and proud. And as she looked out over the crowd chanting her name, she couldn't help but think about how much had changed for everyone.
"Hey, everyone!" she called out. "Has everyone enjoyed themselves tonight?" The crowd roared. "It's been a long time, hasn't it. Ten years have come and gone, and things have changed. Ten years ago, we were all just a bunch of kids. The World Trade Towers were still standing. My sisters and I had a grubby, greedy man named Ian for a manager. We were all considered a novelty act by the record companies, thanks to the aforementioned grubby, greedy man. And Alvin was... well, Alvin. Enough said on the subject." That got a few chuckles out of those who knew what she was talking about. "Now, world peace is on the verge of happening... and Alvin and Brittany actually listened to my boyfriend and stayed out of trouble for graduation."
"Hey!" the two in question protested, though they were laughing along with the audience. "Simon helped us!" Alvin added.
"Just to keep us out of trouble," Brittany reminded him.
"... Good point."
Jeanette chuckled. "They've grown up so much, haven't they" she said, wiping an imaginary tear from her eye. "But, we're getting off track here. Now, the song that I am about to sing is to a dear, dear friend from our childhood. She helped us and others to grow and mature, to face our fears, and to always be kind and gentle to those around us. In short, next to Miss Miller, she was the closest thing to a mother figure we have ever had. But she is also someone with who life has never been kind to, caught in a destiny beyond anyone's thoughts, and hurt because of it by almost everyone around her. And she has never let that stop her from pursuing her dreams, no matter how much others tried to take them from her. And so, this song is dedicated to her, and to the lesson that she taught us all... that no matter how we look or act, no matter what dangers we face alone, we are all capable of reaching for our dreams." She turned. "Guys, if you would, please?"
Simon nodded, and cracked his fingers, poising them over the piano. "Here goes nothing," he muttered. Taking a deep breath, he began playing. The others joined in shortly.
And Jeanette began to sing, her earlier happiness falling away as she remembered those days in the past. About the bonds that connected them all, even across realms...
Britney managed to keep herself from tearing up as the lyrics washed over her. Alvin, she could see, wasn't even trying to. This wasn't something one had to act all macho about, proving that he had a heart.
Jeanette's voice entranced the whole audience. She had always been a good singer, and adolescence had merely made it even better, especially as the high pitched voices of the six had dropped down quite a bit. It was a departure from the kind of songs the Chipettes sang, but it was beautifully done, proving that the scared little girl from childhood was no longer present. And she always sung from the heart.
And the audience exploded before she had even finished singing. Not one critic was in attendance that night. All had been enraptured by the soul of the song.
Jeanette beamed at the applause, unable to believe just how well that went. She took a bow of thanks, before gesturing the other five to join her. This was their concert, after all. She had just been the final act.
"Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for everything!" Alvin shouted. "We love you all! Good night!"
If it was possible, the applause became even more deafening. But none of them minded. It meant that they were appreciated, and would be appreciated for many years to come.
-
"Jeanette, you were amazing!" Eleanor squealed joyfully as soon as they were backstage in their dressing room. Time had only helped her figure as she had a growth spurt, making it appear as though she had slimmed out a great deal. Her food preferences had also changed as she had gotten older. "I'll bet that every record company in California is going to be calling up by tomorrow morning, if they haven't already!"
Jeanette grinned as she popped her contacts out, blinking several times, before sliding a pair of thin wire rim glasses on. Despite the need for them on stage, she had yet to find a pair that didn't irritate her sensitive eyes. "I think you put a little too much stock in my singing ability," she replied, heading over to her mirror. "I mean, I'm no goddess."
Britney chuckled as she went behind the privacy curtain and began shedding her stage outfit. She wholeheartedly agreed with Eleanor, though she wouldn't say that. "Probably just as well. I think they'd send the Sirens after your ass," she stated nonchalantly.
"Exactly."
"You loved her singing too, Brit," Eleanor stated, not fooled by the eldest's attitude.
"Of course, Elle. But if I come on out and say it, she'll think something is up."
Jeanette paused as she scrubbed the makeup from her face, turning around. "So, whenever I have had people telling me that I am the greatest thing since sliced bread, you play devil's advocate," she stated.
Britney shrugged. "Actually, I don't so as to not inflate your ego."
"... I don't have an ego."
"... Let me rephrase that, then. So you don't get an ego."
"Better." Jeanette loosened the bands holding her hair in place, letting it fall down her shoulders in a glistening wave. Another thing that had changed was that she no longer had her hair up in a bun while out in public. "For now, can you girls get the car so we can get out of here? My boyfriend is going to be here soon, and I would like a few minutes alone."
Britney chuckled as she Eleanor traded knowing looks. "Oh, very well," she said, finished with dressing. "Just try and behave yourself... this time."
"We really don't want to walk in on you two like we did the last time," Eleanor added impishly. Of course, some things never changed, like the youngest Chipette's sense of humor and endless good cheer.
Jeanette laughed with them, even though a reddish tint appeared on her cheeks at the memory. She had learned two things on that day, the day she had turned eighteen. One; Britney had been practicing her lock picking skills. Two; her blush could be seen through fur. "I promise that it'll be at the PG rating," she promised. "I can't promise about later, though."
"We'll steer clear of your room, then." They opened the door, revealing Simon, who had been posed to knock. "Tell the boyfriend to behave!" they chorused, before heading down the hall, giggling.
Simon shook his head at their antics before closing the door behind him... and gathering Jeanette up in his arms. Their lips met, and once again, the world became perfect. As it always did between them.
Jeanette broke the kiss off, panting. "I promised my sisters that I would behave," she got out breathlessly, even though her body was screaming to do the exact opposite.
Simon nodded. "Made the same agreement with my brothers," he replied. "Somehow, I don't think Alvin wants to see my bare furry butt again." He grinned. "You were sensational out there, my love. Your solo career is off to a great start."
"Eleanor thinks that the record companies are going to be fighting over me after tonight. Dave will probably second that, so I have got a whole lot of work ahead of me." She smiled mischievously. "But, that is something to worry about tomorrow. The night is young, and so are we."
"Indeed we are. Dinner?"
"But of course."
"Then you're driving, Simon," a new voice interjected, quite rudely in fact. And it could have only come from the one person who had no problem ruining a romantic moment between two lovers.
Simon sighed. At times, he wondered if his older brother had ever truly grown up. "Alvin, remember the last time you came in here while Jeanette and I were having a moment?" he asked exasperatedly. "Weren't you scarred for life?"
Alvin grinned, not the least bit sorry. "Yeah, but this time, we told you to behave, under penalty of being locked outside the house without any clothes on. Anyway, the girls got the car ready for you. By the way, Jeanette, you knocked our socks off, and we've heard you sing before."
Jeanette grinned. "Thank you, Alvin, and I wouldn't be against that."
Simon smirked. "You wouldn't, my love. The rest of the neighborhood might have a few things to say about it, though. Though I could retaliate by..."
"Don't you dare!" Alvin cut off. "My crushes are none of Jeanie's business."
Laughing, the Chipette grasped her beau's hand tightly. "Come on, you two, get out of here so I can get changed. Then we'll get the rest of this night started. I'm hungry."
-
Vinny, the biological mother of the three Chipmunks, started laughing as Alvin and Brittany were unceremoniously shoved through the front door, Dave, Eleanor and Theodore all chuckling. Ever since she joined her kids in the city, it had been nothing but an interesting life for her. "I'm guessin' Simon and Jeanette are now on a date," she stated, noting how much her eldest had changed, and yet how much he had stayed the same. And Brittany, she had discovered, was no better.
"You guessed right, Vinny," Dave replied, chuckling. "We had to force them out of the car before they could leave."
"Alvin..."
"He meant Theodore and Eleanor, Mom," Alvin replied, rolling his eyes heavenward. "Brittany and I simply whined and complained."
"Yeah, Vinny," Britney added. "Theodore and Eleanor had to be pulled, kicking and screaming from the car."
The two youngest blushed slightly. "We just wanted to know what to do on a first date," Eleanor mumbled, her male counterpart nodding in agreement.
"Ask Dave," Alvin suggested, jerking a thumb at the Chipmunks guardian. "He can tell you. Speaking of affairs of the heart, when are you going to ask her?"
Vinny now managed to school her face into a politely confused face, though she wanted to giggle. She had no doubt in her mind what Alvin was talking about. And, judging by the looks in Eleanor and Theodore's eyes, so did they. Brittany was trying very hard not to laugh.
Dave rolled his eyes heavenward, even as he caught sight of Vinny watching him curiously. "Soon, Alvin," he replied. "And yes, I know I said that last month. It's just..."
"Nerves?" Eleanor suggested.
"Commitment issues?" Theodore added.
"Lack of a backbone?" Alvin threw in brazenly.
"Alvin!"
"Now there's the Dave we all know and love!" Alvin grinned, while Vinny started laughing. Yep, never a dull moment in this household. "Just ask her, already. I'm pretty sure..."
Sadly, the rest of Alvin's statement, however it was going to end, would be lost as a sharp rapping began at the door. Everyone turned towards it, surprised. No one came to the Seville residence after nine, as everyone knew that they turned in for the night. Ever since Miss Miller had died and the Chipettes had moved back in, that had become even more apparent. And the one time a robber tried to break in, the chipmunks had given him a beating that he would never forget. They hadn't had a break in since.
They automatically decided that it wasn't a thief, as no thief they had ever met had knocked so politely before. So Alvin made his way over to the door, peering through the keyhole to see who it was.
About a second later, he had thrown the door open, speechless for one of the rare times in his life, as he stated at the last two people he had thought any of them would never see again.
-
Simon, at least once a day, had to fight the urge to pinch himself, just to make sure that he wasn't dreaming. Actually being with Jeanette, being with her for all of these years... it all seemed to be too good to be true.
The two of them had met at the infamous Elementary School's 'Battle of the Bands,' when Alvin and Brittany declared all out war on each other, with Eleanor and Theodore going along with it. Simon and Jeanette had shaken their heads in commiseration, wondering how in the hell they managed to get saddled with such egotistical siblings. Later on, they would have a conversation about it, which would give way to far more pleasant topics.
He had learned quite a bit about her in those first few days. She was intelligent and shy, until you got through her shell. Then she became very funny, witty, and knew how to tell a story. She was a tad clumsy, probably because of her untied shoes, but he could honestly say that he didn't mind one bit catching her. She also had a confidence issue, which made it difficult for her to stand up to her older sister. He never had a problem standing up to Alvin.
But after age eight, things changed.
The Jeanette that sat across from him at the local Chinese restaurant they frequented stood tall, confident, and dressed in garments that flattered her curvy body perfectly(which meant he wanted to remove them so he could actually see them.) Her hair flowed freely down her back now, instead of being in a bun on her head. Her smile even came more easily, full of life and laughter. In short, she had become everything he had ever hoped she would become.
It was amazing what talking to the right people could do.
"You look dazed," the source of his musings observed, that wonderful smile out in full force. It was obvious that she knew how it affected him, and she had used it to end many an argument before they had even begun.
"I'm still wondering how I got so lucky to fall in love with you," he replied immediately, adjusting his glasses slightly. Not because he was nervous, but because the ear was bent, surprisingly because of Theodore accidentally kicking him in the face. He and Eleanor were begging them to let them come.
Jeanette laughed a little at that admission. "After nearly thirteen years? Because unofficially, that's how long we've been together."
"Britney tell you that?"
"Dave, actually. About four years ago. The four of them agree, though."
Simon had to smirk at that. "Since the day we met?" he mused. "That will be going down in history as one of the longest relationships ever." He mock frowned. "You know, I could think of a toast for that, but that would be unimaginably cheesy."
"Then how about a toast to the kiss you're about to give me," she whispered, leaning in slightly. "I doubt that'll be cheesy."
"I suspect that you may be correct, but it's only a theory." Simon leaned in as well. "Let's test it out." He gently brushed her lips with his, and was overjoyed when she reciprocated. Their life was, once again, perfect.
And then it was destroyed in an instant when every single one of the windows suddenly exploded inward, forcing everyone to take cover.
Simon quickly pulled her girlfriend over the table, shielding her from the flying glass as it came at them, though this was only to buy her time. She had quickly reached into her pocket and pulled something out, slipping it onto her right hand. Clenching the hand into a fist, she brought it up.
An emerald field suddenly appeared over the two of them, shielding them from the shrapnel. Glass embedded into the shield, but did not penetrate.
Simon looked up, before helping Jeanette stand. "At least the ring's still working," he commented. "And good thing you had it."
"Always be ready to battle. First rule of combat." Jeanette looked at the ring. "Thank the heavens that I found a way to partially charge this thing." Her gaze narrowed. "Now, I want to know who the hell decided to ruin our date."
"... That."
A massive, red skin monster jumped through one of the ruined windows, landing among the shards and terrifying the numerous customers. His gaze focused on Jeanette immediately, though that was enough time for both of them to take note of the chest plate and ankle/wrist bracelets that he wore, as well as the battleaxe type weapon that he was holding. It was pretty obvious that he had come to fight... and kill.
A green aura formed around the Chipette, and she rose slightly off the ground as she and Simon split up, flanking him.
Their nameless opponent observed them both for moment, before focusing once more on Jeanette. "So, the rumors are true," he rumbled. "You wield a Green Lantern's ring."
"The fact that you even know about that tells me that you aren't even from this reality," Jeanette replied, eyes narrowing slightly as she glared at him. She would have to be careful here. Despite her ring having a charge, the device she had created only allowed for a twenty percent recharge. The new one she had created could get it up to fifty percent, but she hadn't tested it.
Twenty percent was better than nothing. Besides, she had other talents that she could fall back on should her ring fail.
Simon's claws extended as the more primitive aspect of his brain began to stir. Here was a threat to his mate. He would have to treat it as such. "Who the devil are you?" he hissed, eyes narrowing.
"Who I am is not important," the demon said, stepping forward slightly. "However, I am an enemy of all who serve the self appointed Guardians of the Universe. And I am here to kill you." His axe came up.
The blade began to glow yellow.
Jeanette's free paw immediately went into her other jacket pocket. Yellow was the color of fear, and the Green Ring's only true weakness. She could fight it, but it would require more power than she had at that moment.
The axe came down as her paw reemerged, a slender stick, shaped like the handle of a sword in it. It became that in fact a split second later, as a blade of pure white emerged, blocking the weapon. She was forced to one knee, but the weapon held.
In that moment, Simon attacked, claws slashing across their opponents face. He followed up with a frontal kick, hoping to knock some of his teeth in. He had had the same training as Jeanette, after all. They all had, so he knew what to do.
He was about as effective as the ring would have been; not at all. Their opponent was extremely tough, and well grounded. The claws on his feet ensured that he wouldn't move unless a superior force was applied to his legs. And even combined, the two chipmunks weren't even in his weight class.
A fist slammed into Simon's face, if a hand with steak knives as fingernails could even be called that, knocking him back several feet, and smashing his glasses. How he managed to survive without even a slight cut on his face was anyone's guess.
Jeanette used that momentary distraction for everything she could. Leaping up from her position, she launched a double kick at his face. Energy from the ring increased the force of her blow, sending the monster back out into the parking lot. She went over to her boyfriend, checking him over. "Are you okay?" she asked.
"Aside from my glasses being smashed and my buck teeth wiggling, I'm great," Simon replied, dazed. "Give me a moment to regain my bearings."
"Don't take too long, honey." Watching everyone stream out of the restaurant, which she assumed would soon be crawling with law enforcement and government agents shortly, and knowing that Simon would be alright, she quickly made her way out the same way their opponent left, only to ensure that his attention remained focused on her and not the public.
She needn't have worried. Her opponent couldn't have cared less of the stream of humanity fleeing the scene. His gaze focused on her, and only her. His axe was up and ready for use.
She refused to let her fear control her. That was the Green Lantern's way; to overcome fear. And she was overcoming her fear of exceedingly angry aliens wielding very large weapons. "I will ask you one more time," she hissed. "Who are you, and what do you want?"
The alien stepped forward, keeping his gaze upon her. "Since you are so eager to learn the name of your killer, I shall tell you. My name... is Atrocitus, Jeanette Miller. And, as I have already stated, I am an enemy to those who the Guardians."
Jeanette snorted. "Well, I don't serve them, otherwise I would have remained there. But all the same, you attacked me and my mate. Therefore, you are an enemy to me." Her ring pulsed. "As for killing me... you aren't the first to try. You won't be the last." An emerald blade appeared in her ring hand, and she charged forward, both swinging in sync.
Atrocitus blocked each blow with a little difficulty, considering his weapon of choice. He was forced to modify his original opinion concerning her. The information he had on her was woefully outdated, if her garments and combat ability was of any indication. She had gone from invisible to visible. Peaceful to dangerous.
Weak to strong.
And her attack was well coordinated, properly executed. Each strike was made with laser edge precision, near blinding speed, and a deceptively predictable pattern that was just that; deceptive. She was testing his defense for weaknesses, systematically going just a hair lower on the handle each time. He needed to stop that, and so he did. He brought a foot up, sending it right into her chest. She flew back.
Jeanette righted herself, though her ribs protested the movement, not to mention the fact that she needed to breathe. If he had hit her any harder, she would most have died from internal injuries. Of course, if she hadn't had the ring in the first place, she would've been dead, period. But she wasn't. Not even close.
"Bad move, bastard," she growled. "Should have brought another weapon with you. Because you're going to lose that one right now." Two quick bursts of energy shot out of her ring at that.
Not at the axe, since that would have been worse than useless, but at the hands that held the axe.
Atrocitus roared in pain as his hands were forced to release their grip on his weapon. Shaking them out, he glared at the young lady.
Simon accepted the new gift from Jeanette as he joined her, returning that glare. His spare set was now in his hand, and he slid them on. "You wrecked our date, sir," he growled menacingly. "Now we're going to wreck you."
Two small bars shot out of his wrist bracelets, energy blades emerging from them. Grabbing them in midair, he went into a battle stance. "We shall see, boy!" he snarled, slashing at them... even as his chest plate began to crackle.
Jeanette now wished that she hadn't said anything concerning his weapons.
-
Britney looked into the living room one more time, just to make sure that their guest was indeed there. Seeing nothing had changed, she went back into the kitchen. "Yep, she's here," she said. "She's not a mirage."
"Oh, good." Eleanor finished putting the last of the cups down on their plates, even as the water began boiling. "You know, the last time I saw her, she was older than us by three years."
"Whatever the reason, it doesn't quite explain what she's doing here," Alvin replied, sitting in a chair. This was his gift and curse; his bluntness. "I mean, didn't the big GoH Cosmos tell us that we would never see them again?"
"She's become a Trainee, Alvin. I think that means she can do whatever she wants to without the Timelord telling her otherwise."
Theodore closed one of the cabinets and turned around, a box of tea bags in his paws. "That seems like the most logical thing, brother," he said. "I mean, not everything has to be life and death."
Britney shook her head. "No, Alvin's right. She's here for a reason, and it concerns all of us. I mean, look who she brought with her? That means they both remember."
Alvin tapped his finger against his head thoughtfully, thinking hard. In spite of his laid back attitude towards life, he was actually quite intelligent. He was trying to figure out why they had come after all of this time, and what was so important that they would defy the law of the gods.
Eleanor poured the hot water into each cup. "Well, for whatever reason they're here, they're here," she said. "We might as well talk with them until Simon and Jeanette get home." She carefully picked up two of the cups.
A green streak suddenly illuminated the kitchen window, followed by the sound of a body hitting the ground at a considerable speed in their front yard.
The four of them looked at each other, then the window, then back at each other. "You were saying, Elle?" Britney asked rhetorically.
"I can't recall."
-
Jeanette picked herself up off the ground, shaking her head to collect herself. She rushed her jacket off, forever grateful that the damn thing was indestructible. Otherwise, the energy blast would have cooked her. If she ever saw the person who gave it to her ever again, she was going to thank them profusely.
She was also grateful that her ring still worked. If it wasn't, then she would have been a splat... wherever she had just landed.
Atrocitus's bracelets seemed to be more than simple defensive devices. They also seemed to act as a set of blasters. The concussive force, coupled with the actual impact of the blades, had knocked her into the sky, and all the way to... their street. Just what she needed; more innocent lives at stake.
As if to sour her already terrible mood, the source of her annoyance came hurtling down towards her, blades pointing right at her. She was already moving, of course, but the sight of him made her move just a little faster. Planting herself on her hands, she leaped back at him, slamming both feet into his leg. When that failed, she whirled around to hit the back of his knee, hoping to break his balance. That also failed. 'Damn it, his muscles and tendons are just too thick!' she thought angrily. And despite the fact she was a mutant chipmunk, that really didn't give her real strength. She was only as strong as a human of similar build and height.
So she did the only logical she could think of. She bent the rules of engagement.
As he came in, she avoided his attack and leaped up, jabbing one of his eyes. It seemed that it was a weakness that all creatures shared, as he promptly screamed in pain, swinging at her widely with one arm while holding the other over his injured eye. She took solace in that as she quickly fell back, taking note of something peculiar; a canister attachment on his back that looked like it was airtight.
WARNING. RING POWER LEVEL DOWN TO FIVE PERCENT.
"Another thing I need to worry about," she grumbled. She had lost her grip on her mystic blade back at the restaurant, so she was running low on options. Simon was on his way, but he probably wouldn't make it in time to do any good.
She had no time to formulate a plan, as Atrocitus was coming at her again. She dodged his wild swing, only to get kicked in the face for her trouble. She flew right into Dave's garage, feeling her button nose cry out in protest. 'At least it isn't broken,' she thought, picking herself off of the ground.
"Hits pretty hard for a guy who can't even make a fist, huh?" a new voice said next to her, one that she thought she would never hear again. It was somewhat deeper, but it was recognizable.
Turning her gaze, she caught sight of a familiar face; a young girl of only thirteen dressed completely in black. Soft wavy hair fell across her shoulders, though at one time it had been bushy. Chocolate brown eyes told her immediately who it was; eyes that held a wealth of hidden intelligence. "Hey, Hermione," she said in greeting, giving her a small smile.
Hermione Granger, Hogwarts Brightest Witch and Trainee, grinned at her. "You look like you could use some help, old friend," she mused mock thoughtfully. "Well, I think I can provide you with that, if you like."
"Only if you think you can handle it," Jeanette replied, charging forward immediately, ducking under another energy blast.
Hermione quickly slid under the attack to avoid it, her sai's coming out. The attack demolished the garage door, though a dousing spell prevent anymore damage from occurring.
Dave arrived at the door, just as their other guest rushed out to help her, blinking a little at their alien attacker. "All right, who are these two?" he asked Alvin.
Alvin grinned. "Harry Potter and Hermione Granger," he replied, grinning at the dumbstruck look on his legal guardian's face. "Yeah, that Harry Potter and Hermione Granger. And from the looks of it, they got a huge power boost."
Harry Potter, the Boy-Who-Lived and son of the Guardian's of Magic, immediately proved him right by leaping up, slamming both of his feet into Atrocitus's face. And, unlike Simon's earlier attempt, his was far more effective in actually hurting the giant alien. Hermione's follow up strike brought him off of his feet. Jeanette followed through with two strikes at once; and emerald attack from her ring, and a powerful mystical blast, her eyes turning to gold for a brief moment.
Atrocitus's armor took the combined blast easily, much to their everlasting shock. The concern ratcheted up a bit as he regained his footing, and charged at them. They immediately separated, becoming three targets instead of one. Harry quickly dodged, leaping over head and kicking him in the back of his skull. "Bloody bastard's head is like a rock," he grumbled to himself.
Atrocitus stopped his forward progress, and turned, eyeing them all appraising. "It appears that my information on you all is woefully out of date," he rumbled in approval. "You are so much more than you appear. Impressive." His swords came back up. "It won't save the three of you in the end, but I am impressed."
Now, it should be noted that Jeanette Miller was not a trained Green Lantern, or a trained sorceress for that matter. She didn't have a Kilowog or a Gaius to help her learn. Under normal circumstances, that meant she was nothing more than a rookie in either camp.
However, she, like her sisters and friends, had a crafty trainer nonetheless; the seemingly endless Cycle Wars that she had found herself in the middle of, watching the most fearsome warrior the whole of Creation had ever seen in action, then practicing what she had seen in her spare time. She was willing to pit that experience against any being.
Harry blocked two strikes, leaping overhead and landing next to the Chipette. "Why is it that you always find yourself in the middle of a fight whenever I see you?" he asked.
"Stupidity on my part," she replied. "I don't know how, but I somehow manage to piss them all off. Besides, you're no better, Mister Boy-Who-Lived."
"Well, we should do something about those problems." Hermione brought her weapons up. "Like break him."
The three of them attacked as one, only to be knocked down immediately. Hermione managed to sink a sai into one of his wrist bracelets, which was better than nothing.
Jeanette saw the bracelet fritz from the strike, even as Atrocitus pulled it out and tossed it away, and felt emboldened. She brought her ring up, ready to deliver a blast right at his arm.
WARNING. POWER RING LEVEL 2.2 PERCENT.
"Damn it!" she cursed, realizing that the ring's energy was presently protecting her from mortal peril. She couldn't use it for offense any longer.
Atrocitus picked up his swords once more, pointing one at them. "I have seen your future, Jeanette Miller, and it is death!" he snarled. "As is the fate of all!"
"Your point?" Jeanette retorted, angling her own blade. "I don't fear death. Never have."
"There are far worse fates than death, Green Lantern!" The alien lunged forward, blades out...
… only to be stopped by an emerald force field. One that did not emanate from the young lady.
"I told you this once before, Atrocitus," a new, far more cultured voice stated. "If I had a ring for every time I heard that, I'd have my own corp." And with that, the barrier shot forward, slamming into the enemy with the force of a mack truck. He slammed into a nearby car, totaling it completely.
Hermione managed to pick herself up from the ground, rubbing her arm for a moment. "Hello, Sinestro," she said in greeting. "How have you been?"
Thaal Sinestro, the red skinned Korugan member of the Green Lantern Corp, smiled lightly. "Better than I ever anticipated," he replied cheerfully, "though in need of a recharge. Atrocitus managed to steal my power battery, and, if you haven't realized it yet, is using it to power his armor."
Jeanette managed to hold in a gasp, though it was difficult. The batteries of the Green Lantern Corp were akin to sacred objects, a testament to the level of trust the Guardians had in their recruits. To turn that very power against them... At least she now knew what that canister like protrusion on his chest plate was. "Let's ask him why he is doing that," she hissed, starting forward.
Atrocitus managed to free himself from the wreck, eyes bugging out widely. "Sinestro?" he got out. "You're still a Green Lantern?"
Sinestro nodded. "It's amazing what speaking to the right people can do," he said. "And, as you are no doubt guessing, that is my power battery. I would like it back now."
Yellow crackled across his armor as he stood up fully. "The only way you are getting it is if you kill me, Lantern!" he shouted. He had to, because of the fact that a car engine was going.
And then it suddenly dawned on him. A car engine was going, and it was getting pretty damn close.
That was all the warning he got before the vehicle slammed into him, sandwiching him in between two wrecks now. While he was relatively unharmed, the delicate circuitry in his armor was crushed. He had suddenly lost his primary advantage.
Simon got out of the car, none the worse for wear as he took in Atrocitus, then looking up at Sinestro. "Hello, Mister Sinestro," he said in greeting. "I'm guessing that he has your Power Battery."
"He does indeed."
That was all he needed to know. He started for the point of impact.
The Seville car was suddenly tossed back, revealing the enemy. The canister split open immediately, revealing an emerald glowing lantern. Pulling it out, he immediately swung hard at a jagged piece of metal.
Simon suddenly staggered as a shock wave buffeted him and the others. Barely stopping himself from falling over, he blinked. "What the hell is he doing?" he asked, confused.
Sinestro's eyes widened in horror, having seen this tactic before. "He's trying to break it!"
As if to prove him right, Atrocitus swung again. His efforts bore fruit, as cracks began appearing on the shell. His claws sank in, widening them even further. Energy began leaking out from them as the power matrix destabilized. "Here, catch!" He threw it into the air, as hard as he could.
Sinestro's eyes widened as he took in the sight, his mind immediately going back to a time before Hal Jordan's ascension. "Jeanette, if that explodes, it could wipe out the city!"
"And that's just being nice about our chances!" The young woman shot into the sky, heading for the battery. Grabbing it once in range, she launched herself towards the heavens at the four times the speed of sound.
Once more, Sinestro found the whole situation looking terrifyingly familiar. "Miller!" He shot off after her, praying that history would repeat itself tonight.
The other three, who had watched as the two Lanterns flew off, turned back to Atrocitus... only to find him mysteriously absent from the proceedings. "What the-?" Simon got out.
Harry shook his head. "He realized that he couldn't win, so he fled, the coward," he growled. "And by the time we pick up his trail, he will be long gone." He turned his attention to the heavens once more. "Let's just hope that it's not a total defeat."
-
About thirty seconds after she exited Earth's atmosphere, an explosion suddenly lit up the skies of the Northern Hemisphere. It was an explosion that made the atomic detonations of Hiroshima and Nagasaki combined look like the flickering of a night light. It was one that no one would have survived.
And if it was the simple, then the Green Lantern Corp would have been wiped out long ago.
Jeanette shot out of Ground Zero, for lack of a better term, power humming in a way that she hadn't felt in a long time. During her flight out of Earth, she had taken the time to perform an emergency recharge of her ring, just so she stood a chance at surviving. Then she had tossed the battery away, making sure not to send it in the direction of the moon.
She met Sinestro halfway back, who was looking thoroughly relieved and pissed at the same time. "Where is that slime ball?" she hissed angrily. "I want to give him a proper greeting to our universe.
"Gone, most likely," Sinestro replied. "He did something similar with Abin Sur on his home planet. It seems that he modified his approach so it would be more effective." He looked at his own ring, which looked as though it wanted to start sputtering. "And I can't spare the power to try and locate him. My ring is at four percent power."
"I might have a way to help you get some more power. And then one of you can explain why you're here in the first place."
"I don't know why Mister Potter and Miss Granger are here, though I suspect it is for the same thing." He sighed. "And it isn't with good tidings."
Jeanette sighed. "No, it probably won't be, will it?" she grumbled.
-
"Atrocitus is part of a terrorist cell called the Five Inversions," Sinestro explained to everyone present, accepting a cup of tea from Vinny. "He was captured and imprisoned on the planet Ysmault for nearly seven hundred years for his crimes, with a brief period when he managed to escape. Two weeks ago, he did so again. No one knows how he was able to do so this time, as there were no ships scheduled to land. Then, he was able to penetrate Korugar's planetary defense network, stole my power battery, and fled. His entry and escaping is vexing even the Oa Guardian Council to no end. Thus, Ganthet asked me to come and get you, Jeanette."
Harry sighed as he leaned back, looking at Hermione. When the memory blocks Alania had set up had come tumbling down and they had remembered everything, they had realized that something would happen. But after Hermione searched the latest updates from Zion, they both realized that their expectations had been blown right out of the water. "Probably the same people who launched a surprise attack, and somehow managed to avoid being tracked," he replied, wishing for the seeming simplicity that had been his life but a mere year earlier.
"The Nineteenth Century in Realm 1995 was attacked," Hermione explained. "It was complete and utter chaos. Every area where there was consolidated human civilization was targeted. None of them escaped devastation."
Every chipmunk in the room gasped in unison, which you usually only found in the movies. It would have been funny, were the situation not so serious. "Did anyone survive?" Eleanor asked, fearing the worst.
Harry shook his head. "As far as we can tell, Alice and her family managed to get out safely. But none of our enemies have claimed responsibility. And Alania hasn't been able to locate the point of origin. The people who did this were professionals."
"What about unexploded ordinance?" Britney asked. "A bomb or something?"
"Unfortunately, the damage was so great that the Realm itself ejected it before it could change the time-line irrevocably. It's already beyond the Protectorate's borders."
Jeanette breathed out in relief, even as she and Sinestro sent out a prayer to the victims of that tragedy. To be grateful that a universe had managed to handle this kind of situation effectively, showed just how vicious this mysterious enemy was. Action had to be taken to prevent another such catastrophe from occurring.
"I'm going," Jeanette stated, standing up. "I'm going to go and find Faith. She's the only one who can stop this."
Dave blinked, surprised beyond measure, not to mention somewhat confused. "Jeanette, you and Simon were almost killed tonight by that... monster!"
"And so long as I wield this ring, it will most likely happen again," she replied calmly. "And next time, Atrocitus will be ready."
Britney nodded, having known what her sister would do. "And we're coming with you," she said.
"Brit..."
"Your sister's right," Vinny replied, "just as you are. Atrocitus was going to use you girls to get to Faith. So we're involved now. And so, we are going."
"Besides, you think we're going to let you have all the fun?" Alvin snorted. "I can't speak for Simon or Theodore, but I want in on the action."
Simon shook his head. "Your need for adrenaline is going to get you killed one day, Alvin," he said. Hermione shook her head in commiseration, throwing a pointed look at her counterpart.
Sinestro managed to restrain a chuckle at the rather abrupt but heartening display of solidarity with this group. Time had done nothing to weaken the bond between the two families. If anything, it had grown even stronger. "Well, after I attempt to recharge, I will be returning to Oa... after one more stop. Every Lantern has been mobilized short of Mogo. And that's because of two reasons."
"The first one is obvious; it's a planet," Theodore said, even as Dave sat down in his seat, suffering a little from information overload. "What's the second?"
"Laira is presently living on it."
-
"What happened?" Jeanette asked, as the two of them made their way down into the basement, where hers and Simon's lab was situated. "Was it because of the Cycle Wars? Or was it because Chaos forced her to kill?"
"Chaos was part of the problem, but so were the majority of the Council," Sinestro replied, thinking of how stupid the Guardians of the Universe were when it came to showing compassion over extenuating circumstances. "She was already trying to deal with that, when she overheard Ganthet and Scar arguing. Ganthet was all for simply having her seek psychiatric therapy and place her on administrative leave while she dealt with them. Unfortunately, Scar was thinking of stripping her of her ring and return her Jayd for trial, and the majority of the Council agreed with him. She didn't want to tear the Council apart like it was after the Great Crisis, so she resigned." He sighed. "Unfortunately, due to the fact that her own brother has exiled her from Jayd due to the events surrounding her last visit, and Faith effectively disappearing back on Earth, she had nowhere to go. Mogo offered her sanctuary, and so she settled there. Aside from monthly journey's to collect supplies, she rarely leaves. I suspect the tranquility has done much to soothe her soul." His eyes rested on a crude looking battery that looked like it had been put together by a kid. "Is that it?"
Jeanette followed his line of sight, before shaking her head. "No, that's the prototype. I used that to get the twenty percent I used in the fight." She quickly pulled the tarp off of one of the work tables. "This is the one I haven't tested yet."
One look at the far smoother cuts and welds, and he had to admit that her skills had improved considerably. Of course, she had grown up a quite a bit since he had last seen her. "Mos impressive, but how does it work?"
"Well..." She went over to her lab computer, and booted it up to give herself some time to think. "After our little adventure, I began studying the ring, and I discovered something interesting. While it is powered by will, the energy is only partially emotion based. So I decided to try and duplicate part of the energy transfer process. The prototype can't connect with the Central Power Battery on Oa, simply because it's in the wrong universe. So I went with the visible light spectrum instead. Simon helped me design and build the device, and placed it in a lantern shaped shell, sort of like a tribute." She grinned. "The damn thing burned out after I used it, but it worked better than I expected. And the ring itself was very helpful with the calculations."
He could believe that. If anyone could figure out an alternative method of recharge, it would be Jeanette Miller. She was simply that intelligent. "So, do I need to do anything?" he asked, knowing that he was risking his ring, and knowing that there were no good alternatives.
Jeanette nodded. "You'll need to put the ring in the lantern," she replied. "It's collecting visible light and transforming it into energy, which will be quite hot. The prototype seared all the fur from my hand. You have no fur, so it'll go right to work on your skin."
That was all he needed to know, as he hurriedly followed her instructions, then stepped back. "What if this doesn't work?"
"You have a warranty on it?" She typed in several commands that were needed. "All right, here we go." Taking a breath, she pressed ENTER.
A sound of electricity and microwaves filled the room. Green light filled the room as it touched the ring, seemingly doing nothing to recharge it. But then again, that wasn't unusual.
Two minutes later, the device shut down. Sinestro reached for this ring.
"Don't touch it just yet," Jeanette warned him immediately. "That ring's going to be this side of hot. Initiating decontamination procedure." Several squirts of cooling liquid hit the ring, complete with enough compounds to clear out any free radicals that may have formed from the process. A very small towel wiped the ring down, before a slight ding sounded. "Now you can take it."
Sinestro did so gingerly, slipping it on carefully. "Ring... run diagnostic check."
WORKING... … … RING POWER LEVEL AT FIFTY PERCENT. STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY: STABLE.
Breathing out in relief, he turned his attention back to Jeanette. "Your machine is a success," he said, smiling. "And you may have just helped solve several problems that we've been facing on the Frontier."
Jeanette shut the device down, smiling as well. "I'm just glad that it worked," she replied. "And once I've figured out how far I can push the recharge rate without destroying the ring, I'll find a way to make it more portable." She sighed. "It'll never replace the lanterns, but it should help if you're in a bind and there's no battery nearby." She looked up. "Now, here's a question that's been bugging me ever since the battle. How did Atrocitus know about your dilemma with the Yellow Power Ring?"
Sinestro sighed, sitting down on a nearby bench. This was a story that he wasn't particularly fond of, but one that had a place in the here and now. "Well, it was he who first told Abin Sur of the prophecy of Blackest Night," he began. "It was after his first escape..."
-
Britney, surprisingly enough, dd not have a massive suitcase set up, like she had been known to do in her childhood.(The Great Balloon Race having been the last time.) Each had a duffel bag set up, with two changes of clothes in each one. There were also items that they would probably need, like knives, some healing potions that Eleanor had made a few days ago, and a book of magic that Brittany had been given by Cosmos herself. Money wouldn't be a problem, as they kept an emergency stash at the house for emergencies.
"You know, I never quite understood why you lot have so much here," Vinny stated, tossing each one of the girls a roll of bills. "What's it all for?"
"Bail, Vinny," Britney replied, rooting through her closet. "Your son was having a bit of a problem two years ago, as you will recall."
Vinny did recall, in fact. Alvin had toed the line that year, and only the fact that he managed to save several children from being sold as slaves because of it had kept him from being put in Juvenile Hall. But after that, things had calmed down... until tonight, that is. "So, you girls have everything? Because if ya do, I'm going to go mother my own kids for a while."
"Just about... blast it all, where is that scroll? Eleanor, do you have it?"
Eleanor shook her head. "You gave it to Simon for safe keeping," she reminded her older sister.
"And now I remember why; for this precise reason." Britney made her way down to Simon's room, opening the door. "Hey, Simon, did you remember to pack that scroll?" she asked, poking her head inside.
Simon turned around, irritated beyond measure. "Two things. One; I might have been in the middle of changing, so please remember to knock. Two; Alvin did. He never even opened it."
"Smart man. He knew what I'd do to him if he did." She returned to her room. "Alvin's got it. He actually behaved himself for once."
"How is he your son again?" Eleanor asked rhetorically.
Vinny shrugged, smirking. "I gave birth to him," she replied. "The rest is pretty self explanatory."
The two Chipettes nodded, knowing what she meant. Ever since they learned the truth concerning their people, the boys had opted to not know their biological father in any capacity... except as an enemy.
"Well..." Britney zipped her bag up, and hoisted it over her shoulder. "Let's get a move on. Alice isn't going to destroy the forces of evil by herself, you know."
Eleanor grinned. "Hear you, sis."
-
"She put me together with Ron?" Hermione shook her head. "I love the guy like a brother, but seriously? Why would she put me with him? I ought to go to her home right now and tell her off!"
Dave had to keep himself from laughing as Hermione perused his copy of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, and was promptly indignant with several decisions J.K. Rowling made, including the direction of several people's lives. "It's fiction, Miss Granger, " he replied, managing to keep a straight face. "It's not real."
"We are," Harry reminded him, a grin on his face. While he was also wondering what Miss Rowling was thinking, he also found the whole situation to be rather funny. "Though Hermione, you being righteously indignant on both of our behalf is kind of funny."
"I am so glad that I could help out, Harry." Hermione set the book back on the shelf, shaking her head. "Honestly, some people just don't have sense."
"It's a book for a reason, Hermione," Simon stated as he entered the living room. "Alvin has the scroll, by the way, and Theodore is packing our weapons. And yes, we were able to hide weapons, Dave. Kind of had to."
Now, Dave was a reasonable man, perhaps too reasonable sometimes. He had to be, when one's entire adopted family was all furry. But here, this was something that threw him for a loop. Knowing that his son's had weapons... was not the sort of thing that one wanted to hear. "How?" he asked, quite calmly.
Hermione held up her hand guiltily. "Notice-Me-Not charms," she replied. "It was the only way."
"And before you blow a gasket, we were fighting for our lives," Simon continued, as if telling people this was old news. "We weren't going to get caught with our pants down again if we could help it."
Well, when he put it that way, and considering the fact that someone did try to kill both him and Jeanette tonight... "... Fair enough. It doesn't mean I have to like it."
"We don't either," Theodore replied, appearing in the living room with the rest of the furry brigade. "I don't really like being paranoid whenever we go on tour, but that's the way it is." He held his bag up. "Still have them, and they're still charged."
Hermione grinned. "Well, of course they are. They don't shut down until they're completely drained of power.
"And that's a good thing." Alvin smirked. "Well, we're all ready, and so is Sinestro. What about you, Dave?"
Dave nodded, holding his own bag up. He had decided to come with them, if only to make sure that they didn't get into anymore trouble than what they were already planning. "About as ready as I'll ever be."
Jeanette smiled, though inside, she was sad. She had never wanted to worry about war again. And yet, here it was, ready to engulf her family in its stink once again. And to think; just a few short hours before, her biggest worry was whether or not her song, a song she sang from the heart, would appeal to the world at large. How quickly priorities changed. "Well, let's get move on," she said at long last. "Laira won't leave Mogo without a push in the right direction, and Faith and Alice are going to need all the help they can get."
Now, those who knew both of them, knew that to be true.
Chapter Nine is finished, though I had a few problems along the way while I was writing it. For starters, I was originally wasn't going to include anyone from either of my other stories in this one, but Hermione would fit right into the the plot point for this particular arc very nicely, and I'll use Silver Star to fill in the blank spots. As for the Chipmunks... I'm still working it all out in my head as to what they are exactly. They're based off of the cartoon series of course, though I have made them all furry, as opposed to just the boys. No tails, though. And, as you've already figured out, it's quite a while after the series and movie.
Please read and review. Tell me what you think. If you want, send suggestions on how to make the chapter be better, even if it's only how to make it flow easier. All suggestions will be appreciated.