A/N: Remember how Draarr referred to P'len as 'Sister P'len' in the previous chapter? I just wanted to clear a few things up: P'len was a priestess on Astoria and knew Saint Walker. She isn't his sister, in case some of you were wondering.
And according to the comics, Saint Walker had a wife and two kids: a girl and a boy. Frankly, I truly dunno if he had a family like that in GL:TAS. Let's just say he did, before his home-world was destroyed at least . . .
But if that really happened . . . oh geez, poor Saint Walker. ;_;
"This is a severe breach of security," Appa Ali Apsa stated. His expression was a bit more sour than usual. In front of him stood P'len, Saint Walker, and Hal. The others waited outside to hear of the news. As the Guardians discussed among themselves, two of the three mortals in front of them looked up at them.
Under the spotlight, P'len felt her skin crawl as the Guardian's gazes pinpointed to her from time to time. Her heart and stomach felt like they wanted to burst out of her and run back to the little planet where she settled with the orphans.
"Are you going to be all right?" Saint Walker murmured to her. "I can practically feel the aura of fear coming off you . . ."
"I'm just trying to concentrate on the energy your ring is emitting," P'len exhaled. Her right hand stroked the upper half of her broken arm. "And frankly Saint Walker, I'm just not comfortable with anyone having me stand out like this, other than when I was in service back on Astoria."
"Are you two done?" Appa snapped at them. P'len ducked her head as Saint Walker frowned a bit.
"Yes," P'len answered.
"Cut her some slack Appa," Hal stepped in. He placed a sympathetic hand upon P'len's shoulder. "Her forearm was busted up by Atrocitus; she has six kids to look after."
"As that may be, Green Lantern of 2814," Appa stated. "But with this attack, it brings out a nightmare of unthinkable proportions to all the present Lantern Corps."
"If we do not find a means of getting Atrocitus back into prison, there will be more than shattered limbs occurring."
"I . . . beg your pardon Appa Ali Apsa," P'len stepped forward. She glanced to the Blue Lantern and Green Lantern beside her. They nodded.
"Speak," Appa said.
"I don't wish to overstay my welcome, although your hospitality to us is appreciated," P'len started. She exhaled a bit, "The children I care for . . . they're not used to these surroundings."
"My own daughter is among them." Hal and Saint Walker's eyes widened at the new information.
"I did not see a child of your race among your group, Sister P'len," Sayd murmured. She came down from her spot to float in front of the woman.
"She's disguised herself," P'len explained. "She has . . . trust issues."
"Understandable given the circumstances," Saint Walker added.
"Get on with what you were saying," Appa scowl. P'len replied with a frown of her own.
"Like I said, we don't wish to overstay our welcome," she explained. She gazed at something interesting at the floor. Her thumb caressed her opposite shoulder. Saint Walker blinked in shock.
"You don't mean to say-"
"I want to get back to the planet we were situated on." P'len looked up. "As soon as possible. I am merely taking up space for the spare quarters that are intended for new Green Lantern recruits."
"P'len-"
"Please forgive me Saint Walker," the priestess murmured.
"We'll honor your request once your arm is healed," one of the Guardians answered from above.
"Thank you." The woman turned around to leave, ignoring the shocked looks Hal and Saint Walker gave her.
"Stay, Green Lantern Hal Jordan," Appa remarked when the human tried to go after the priestess. "We still need to discuss on how to handle Atrocitus, given that he was in Oan Space and most likely has taken over the building of the orphanage."
"You can't honestly say that you're letting her go back, and where-"
"Silence!" Appa scowled. "It is her decision and her decision alone, Hal Jordan." The Guardian glanced to Saint Walker, who stared at the door behind him.
"You may go, Blue Lantern."
Saint Walker said nothing as he made long strides out the door.
Razer quietly followed P'len once she left the Guardians' meeting room. He wanted to see how she treated the little ones himself.
After a few turns down several corridors, P'len stepped in front of one of the spare rooms and placed in the pass key. From his position, Razer could see the robed back of a child. The robe itself was purple, trimmed with black along the edges.
"Ciev?" The hooded figure near the door turned around at the sound of her name. She tugged her hood back, which revealed her smiling face. Razer could see then that she was indeed an Astonian.
"Mother!" she exclaimed. As P'len kneeled, Ciev rushed forward to hug her. Like dominoes, the rest of the kids amassed to their caretaker. In a matter of seconds, they shot exclamations and questions at her like bullets:
"P'len!"
"Sister P'len!"
"How did it go?"
"Yeah, what are the Guardians like?"
"Are they going to kill Atrocitus?" Razer's eyes widened in alarm.
The other children gasped in shock as they turned to the one who asked such a thing. Ciev clapped both of her hands over her mouth, making the long sleeves of her robe billow. One would have to use a saw to cut the silence in the air and the tension that came from P'len.
"Loem," P'len rubbed the side of her head as she suppressed a frown, "what did I say about saying such things? Even to people who should be in prison?"
"But-"
"No 'buts' young man," P'len frowned.
"But the Red Lanterns-"
"They were children once as well you know," Razer finally said. As he stepped in, the orphans all jumped and squealed.
"Oh! You followed me." P'len gaped at him with her hand over her heart.
"Lookie! A Blue!" the youngest of them shouted. P'len was momentarily forgotten as they crowded around Razer. The former Red Lantern awkwardly lifted his arms up, with his elbows at an angle as a few of them hugged him.
"Oh! Easy E'nchixx, don't hug him to tight," P'len suggested as one of the taller kids began to squeeze Razer into a hug. He resembled an upright giraffe, although he had a short neck. Once E'nchixx let him go, Razer coughed.
"Sorry, they tend to do that," P'len apologized. Even when they protested, she tugged a few behind her. "Behave," she whispered. Ciev stayed close to her mother. The child clutched the helm of her mother's shirt as she stared at Razer.
"Do you leave soon?" P'len asked the Volkregian.
"Not yet, Hal Jordan and Sergeant Kilowog are still discussing with the Guardians and how to deal with a certain Red Lantern." Just as Loem opened his mouth to speak, P'len turned to him and gave him a look. He immediately quieted himself.
"I couldn't help but overhear you," Razer spoke to the child. "Loem, is it?" Loem nodded, but kept his eyes to the floor.
Loem looked like a four foot tall tropical frog. On his narrow forehead, he had black goggles. His skin was a bright orange with black and white spots. His feet and hands were slightly webbed.
"All right . . . now why did you say that?" Razer asked. He kneeled in front of the small child. "You mustn't be thinking about topics such as death and killing. You're just a child after all."
"The Red Lanterns destroyed my planet," Loem murmured. He gestured to the rest of the room. "Everyone here lost their planet because of them, one way or another. So why can't I be mad about that?"
"Loem-" P'len shushed.
"It is all right Sister," Razer intervened. "Let him speak."
"I mean . . . why?" Loem sighed. He looked up at the Volkregian. "Because we were under protection of the Guardians? What made them so angry at the Green Lantern Corps to make them attack planets that didn't want the Red Lanterns 'help' in the first place?"
Razer tilted his head to the side as he saw Loem trembling in anger. His body was very tense . . .
"First of all, take deep breaths Loem. I know you're angry, but you must calm down."
"Hatred is what fuels the Red Lanterns after all." Loem breathed in and out deeply. As Razer predicted, Loem soon relaxed his tense posture.
"There we go, now I want you to do this," Razer scooted a bit closer to Loem as he looked the upright frog in his eyes. "Try to purge the thought of killing Atrocitus from your mind. Nothing good will come out of it." Before Loem could ask why, Razer's ring blinked.
The Blue Lantern quickly bid the orphans and the priestess farewell and left.
Back at the orphanage . . .
"There's nothing much of value here, Atrocitus," a Red Lantern guard grumbled as he kicked away a small bag full of sparkling rocks. "Only simple amenities for the kids that lived here."
"I know that woman has hidden that spear around here somewhere!" the founder of the Red Lanterns growled. "According to the slave leader of the ship that priestess was on, it held great power. Could blast objects or people with great devastation. The highest radius to attain was to ten feet."
"Perhaps she has it on her person?" another one suggested. Atrocitus scowled at the Red Lantern and the man quickly quieted himself.
"If that is so we'd have to cross into Oan space," another frowned.
Atrocitus growled indignantly as he stalked over to a toy box in the corner of the room. He looked inside and saw a lone, Astorian doll. It resembled the priestess, seeming to be in meditation whilst standing upright. It had a hooded robe and the cloth itself was violet.
"Maybe," he smiled wickedly as he plucked the dolly from its refuge. He turned around and dangled it by the hood.
"We'll just need to persuade her. Our new prisoner will help draw out the one thing that will make that priestess crack." Atrocitus squeezed the cloth toy, choking it in wicked glee.
A/N: Read and Review please! Your thoughts really help encourage me to write more; you guys are the best! *hugs you all*