Later . . .
Razer went into his quarters on the Interceptor. He hyperventilated as he placed his head into his hands. What was left of Aya's body in the med-bay was gone. Gone. Not even L.A.N.O.S. knew what happened to her shell-
Razer slapped his forehead and growled. "No you idiot, she is a living being! Not just a simple AI nav-com anymore."
"And that's not our only problem." Razer could hear Kilowog outside the door. The Volkregian watched as the door opened by L.A.N.O.S's will. "Atrocitus's ring is gone."
Outside, one could hear Sister P'len wailing hysterically. "She's just a child, Brother Walker! The minute that monster has the spear, HE'LL KILL HER!" In turn, several Green Lanterns and Saint Walker tried to calm down the priestess.
"Great Grotz," Razer murmured. He shuddered as he remembered how the war on Volkreg. It too left Mothers bereft when their children-
The young Blue Lantern took a deep breath and tried to clear his head, but that task was made difficult with a certain Bolovaxian that grabbed his shoulder.
"What is it?" Razer questioned.
"Look kid, you aren't the only one to see her at the other end of that portal," Kilowog said.
"Then, there's still hope," the younger Lantern murmured.
"Why do you think Atrocitus wants with Aya anyway?" the Green Lantern wondered aloud.
"I don't know, but I have several theories," Razer admitted. "One of them is that Atrocitus still has a blistering grudge against me."
"Geez kid, you don't think that he'd go as far as-"
"I don't think," Razer bluntly said as he turned to Kilowog. He added in a somber tone, "I know."
Shard II . . .
Ciev couldn't help but press her head to Aya's shoulder as the mean alien in front of the cell spoke the Red Lantern Oath:
"With blood and rage of crimson red, we fill men's' souls with darkest dread, and twist your minds to pain and hate. We'll burn you all—that is your fate," Atrocitus recited. He roared triumphantly as his Red Lantern uniform appeared over his body.
"Now this is much better!" he chuckled. He turned around to face Aya, who instinctively held Ciev closer to her body, albeit she was chained and Ciev's hands were bound by rope. "And, what do you have to say for yourself, nav-com?"
"You will be stopped," Aya retorted.
"Oh, so confident for a prisoner," Atrocitus taunted. "I am sure that your former comrades have seen you help me through the portal."
"That was under a threat. They'll come for me." Aya had to re-position herself as Ciev wiggled to hide behind her.
"What makes you think they'd come back for a traitor?" The silence from the AI made him laugh brutishly.
"Well, with you here," the Red Lantern looked at the Astorian hiding behind Aya and smirked, "I believe your father will know better now that I am not joking."
"Papa?" Ciev whispered. She turned to Aya, wide-eyed. "Why does the monster have my Papa?"
Ciev jumped when the bars in front of them opened. Atrocitus strode in and made a grab for Ciev. The girl had no chance of escaping his death-grip. She struggled in his hold as he exited the cell. He made one glance to Aya, who tried in vain to get out of the shackles she was restrained in.
With them being made of Orum however, she was weak. Atrocitus scoffed and then dragged the little girl out by her hood.
Aya struggled some more, trying to get the Orum-based shackles off of her. Nothing worked. The AI exhaled tiredly, letting her arms fall slack to her sides and onto the floor. She looked up to the red lit ceiling.
"One, last . . . try," she struggled to get under the vent at the top of the prison cell. Weakly, she managed to create a data-bubble. It faltered in keeping its spherical shape, but she hoped and hoped it would hold until it reached Oa . . .
Or another Green Lantern; whichever came first. Aya gritted her teeth as she tossed it through the vent. It slipped right through, and soon it would be out and zipped staright to Oa.
She fell down into an exhausted heap.
A/N: Oi! I am so sorry for the delay in things for this one my readers! And also for the shortness of it all.
IN ADDITION: it's almost August.
I literally have a month and a day before school starts up again. So, that means I may or may not have an update ready by then, and from there, the updates shall grow infrequent due to schoolwork.
R&R please! It helps the muses greatly.