Part 6
For a few moments, Katma Tui tried to retain her stoic stance, but to no avail. She rushed across the room to John and hugged him tightly. Shayera stood by with her arms folded, dark thoughts involving the mace hanging at her side and Katma's head playing through her mind. Katma finally broke the clinch and stood back, holding John's hands in hers.
"I was on leave on Korugar when I got a message from Oa. The Guardians informed me that the Lantern of 8472 was dead and his ring was seeking a new owner," the red-skinned woman explained. "Since I had a ...history with you, I volunteered to come here to train the new Ringbearer, and - to avenge your death." Katma looked at John thoughtfully. "Obviously, I don't have to do either. What happened? I stopped here to get your battery."
John Stewart sheepishly explained to his ex-lover how his Power Ring misinterpreted his nightmare and was accidentally sent to find a new owner. "- and we were just about to go track it down when you showed up," he finished.
A smile played across Katma's lips, then a chuckle, then she burst into gales of laughter. "You mean you disabled the subconscious failsafe?" she said when she could breathe again. "That's one of the most rookie mistakes you can make! G'Nort did that once and woke up to find himself chasing comets!"
"Well, that furball does that all the time anyway," John said.
Shayera glared at the two.. "I hate to break up this reunion, but don't we have a ring to retrieve?"
John stood behind Shayera and rubbed her shoulders. "Shay, don't get mad. We're just friends now." He turned to Katma. "But she does have a point. Kat, can you -"
"Of course," the Korugarian replied. "My ring can locate yours easily. We can be there in minutes." Katma Tui enclosed the pair in a bubble and they all passed through the walls of the Watchtower and headed for Earth.
Tendrils of air played around the emerald sphere as Katma pulled it through the atmosphere. Inside, Shayera reached around John's waist. "I'm sorry," she said, "I guess I'm still a little insecure. We haven't been together all that long and - " she paused, deep in thought. "Sometimes I'm afraid that...duty might drive us apart."
John laughed. "Shay, when this is all over, let's go away by ourselves and I'll show you how close we can get…"
Katma looked back. "I can hear you two in there, you know."