8 Justice League the Corps

"Our 'Queen' shouldn't have brought that Green Lantern here," Dela complained over a meal. Dela, Miss Bloss, Miri, and Race were seated at a table together. It was a bistro style affair and outside a café. The city was literally carved into the rocks. Ornate craftsmanship had gone into the structures. The ruins, for they had been ruins when the Zamarons found them, had been constructed as a palace and its surrounding city for the Lost Lovers.

Also outside were Arven, Fatality, and Maewen. They were mixing it up with the Terran recruits. It was obvious to see, despite proclamations of sisterhood Wenonah, Beatriz, and Tora didn't trust Talia and Ivy. Donna and Galatea were more forgiving but they still stayed away from the two in order to appease their friends.

Fatality took it upon herself to do something about it. Dela snorted, "Oh, this should be good."

"You're too cynical," Race proclaimed, "And you're a fine one to talk about Green Lanterns. You sealed yourself in a crystalline containment to ensure you and your Green Lantern lover were together forever."

"And it didn't work, now did it?" Dela snidely replied, "Green Lanterns' mastery over Will means they can break our love hold on them."

"If you needed to hold him, he never truly loved you in the first place," Miss Bloss said.

"What did you say?" Dela said in a very low, angry voice.

"You heard me," Miss said derisively, "He didn't love you, or at least he didn't love you the way you wanted to be loved."

"Take that back," Dela demanded slowly. Her voice had dropped an octave and it held a dangerous edge to it.

"Why should I?" Miss asked, "It's the truth. Everyone else sees it, why can't you? Oh, that's right, it's because you should be Queen."

The snide tone slapped Dela in the face and she responded, "I'll only ask once again. Take it back."

"I stand by what I said and I refuse to take it back. You need to grow up and admit your mistakes," Miss stated.

A sardonic smirk formed on Dela's face. Miri and Race scooted their chairs back. Violence was about to break out, and yet, no Sapphire had ever attacked another. Except for Dela, they remembered. She'd attacked Carol and stripped the star sapphire from her a few years ago. It took the backing of the Zamaron High Priestess to return the stone to Carol.

"You really want a piece of me?" Dela asked.

Miss was totally overconfident, "You won't attack me. Sapphires love, they don't fight amongst themselves."

"Well, I'm truly going to love beating some sense into you," Dela proclaimed.


"Sisters, why is there disharmony?" Fatality asked as she approached the tables filled with humans.

They all gave her a blank stare so she pressed on, "We are to love one another, not avoid each other as though we were dead to one another," Fatality argued.

"You don't understand," Fire informed her.

"I understand the past is dead. We have new lives now, as Star Sapphires, and we are meant to look past indiscretions and reach out to one another as true sisters in a holy cause," Fatality announced.

"Like them?" Galatea dryly asked and pointed at a point behind Fatality.

Fatality turned in time to see Dela fire a battering ram construct at Miss. Miss wisely had a shield constructed but the force of the blow still sent her flying backwards. Race and Miri leapt out the way as Dela tossed their table over. The two Sapphires were too stunned to respond.

Maewen and Arven started towards them but Fatality held them back, "Just wait for a moment."


Race created a straight jacket that bound Dela, "Stop it!"

Dela broke free of the jacket since Race's heart really wasn't in it. She hit Race with a giant fist, "Fine! Take her side!"

"Dela, this is insane!" Miri protested. Dela slapped her away with the hand construct.

Now the three affronted Sapphires joined in for a combined force bubble. Unfortunately, nearby Sapphires, disaffected by Carol's marriage when they didn't have a love of their own, joined Dela's cause.

Fatality released her sisters, "Now would be a good time."

The three leapt into action.


The humans, and one lone Argoan, began to discuss it amongst themselves.

"Maybe we should join in," Ice ventured.

"Yeah, but on whose side?" Donna asked.

"The blonde's mad because Carol married Kyle," Galatea added.

"Then we should help the others," Ice declared.

"Why?" Donna asked, "It's not like they let me bring Don, or Wenonah got to bring Jack, or Tea bring along Blackhawk. Why should she be the only one who gets any?"

"Carol is our Queen, we should defend her." Talia proclaimed as she came to stand beside their table. Ivy stood beside her in solidarity.

"I don't remember asking for your opinion," Fire said icily.

Galatea rose and joined them, "She's right. Carol has done nothing but shown us kindness. She's supported us in joining the Star Sapphires. I won't abandon her."

"Well, I will," Donna declared hotly, "It's not right that she gets the only man."

"What if she shared?" Ivy asked.

That garnered her a lot of incredulous stares. Ivy shrugged, "He is cute."

Owlwoman rolled her eyes, "It's not our fight and we're not going to share Kyle Rayner. I'd be more inclined to support Carol if she let me bring Jack here but as it stands, she's on her own."

"And it's not like she's even here defending her name anyway. She's with him," Fire retorted.

This earned her some wry looks and Fire shrugged, "No one said anything about giving up men when I signed on."

"We can have men!" Talia snapped, "It's just none of them have been deemed worthy by the rings."

"Who cares if they're worthy? I just want to get laid," Fire yelled.

Everyone looked at her and she was slightly embarrassed, "Within discriminating limits of course."

"Then go out and find someone and quit your complaining," Ivy said, "It's useless and it's annoying."

"Annoying?" Fire was on her feet, "I'm never annoying. I'm loved by everyone."

"Then why do you need a man?" Ivy quipped, "You should be able to find plenty of love here."

"Why you…" Fire growled.

"Look!" Owlwoman got to her feet, "I remember Star Sapphire as a caring person but this is no longer Star Sapphire we're dealing with. Carol Ferris has done us a great wrong and I want to see that wrong rectified."

Talia's ring blazed, "Over my dead body."

Owlwoman, Donna, and Fire all smiled coldly. Only Ice seemed to shrink back.


Mary and Kara sat together in the Javelin. Ray sat alongside Mary but she'd continually assured him she was all right. He could tell though, something was off about her. She wasn't sad or gloomy any more. But there was something in her eyes. Something he hadn't seen since Darkseid had a hold on her. He tried to point this out but she put him down in very concrete terms. He'd fallen silent since then and just worried now.

Kara was understandably upset. She wasn't really mad at Kyle, he'd obviously been out of his head, but Carol Ferris was another story. Listening to Kyle's stories about how Carol was prisoner to the star sapphire, she'd adopted a lenient air towards her as well. That leniency had bit her on the butt.

Carol was obviously in league with the star sapphire. Its goals were her goals and so on. Katma had been kind enough to explain the Guardians' theory regarding the matter. They felt the stone was still a parasite but now it acted in a symbiotic fashion. Empowering Carol and giving her heart's desires in exchange for a few considerations and her body as a source of transportation.

To be fair, if Kara could be so generous, Carol had approached Hal Jordan first. Despite their long standing relationships, romantic and professional, he'd rebuffed her. So she went after Kyle. Now, why Jordan could reject her and Kyle couldn't was a source of worry for Kara. What if he truly did love Carol?

"Don't go there," Mary warned.

"Go where?" Kara asked.

"To Kyle loving her," Mary said, "He doesn't. He loves you."

Kara gave her a quizzical look, "How did you…?"

"I know you," Mary offered as an explanation, "You blamed yourself for Argo's destruction for years. It's only natural that you would blame yourself for Kyle being taken by another woman."

Kara sighed, "I can't help but wonder how much 'taking' she's been doing."

"You can't go there," Mary said, "It'll drive you nuts if you do."

Kara offered her a weak laugh, "Too late."

Supergirl studied Mary for a moment, "And what greeting are you going to give Galatea?"

"I don't know what you're talking about," Mary rebutted.

"I've seen those storm clouds in your eyes before. You've got trouble on your mind and heart. Your kind of trouble gets people hurt."

"So?" Mary asked.

"Now I know we have a problem," Kara countered, "Look, Galatea is as out of her head as Kyle. She probably has no idea of what she did."

"So, I'll remind her," Mary said coldly.

"Mary, promise me you won't confront Galatea," Kara requested.

"No, I won't," Mary said.

"So you won't confront her?" Kara said hopefully.

"No, I won't promise not to confront her. It's gonna be a fight. Who knows who I'll run into?" Mary stated.

"Just don't go looking for her," Kara urged.

"We'll see," Mary replied. She rose from her seat, "I'm getting some coffee. Anybody want anything?"

"I'll take a cup and a doughnut if they have any left," Kara asked.

"I'm good," Ray said.

Mary left and Kara turned to him, "We have a problem."

He nodded, "I thought when Darkseid left her it would end but now…?"

"Watch over her, Ray. She'll listen to you," Kara suggested.

"I hope," he said sadly.


Dela's supporters hemmed in Miss, Race, Miri, Fatality, Maewen, and Arven. They were restrained in binders and their rings were contained in force bubbles projected by at least two Sapphires apiece. Dela wore a cruel smile.

"You each thought yourselves my equal?" she laughed, "Now you are my prisoners. Carol will surrender to me or you will die, one at a time, until she gives in to my demands."

"Oh, you're a great nominee for Queen," Race quipped.

Dela slapped her across the face. It was humiliating and it was the only part of her body that was exposed, "Mind your manners. I shall be your new Queen in a matter of minutes."

A left cross suddenly sent her sprawling. Galatea stood over her. Talia and Ivy supported her. Over at the tables where they'd fought the others, Owlwoman, Donna, and Fire lay across the ground, unconscious. Ice had stayed out of the fight and was edging towards the palace entrance.

"You really want to do this?" Dela asked with an ironic edge to her voice.

"Try me," Galatea said.

Dela's bar construct swept Tea's feet out from underneath her. She laughed as she rose, "You fool. You rely so much on your physical gifts; you forget to use the ring. There's a reason it was gifted to you."

A force beam from Galatea's ring almost knocked Dela's teeth out. She grinned, "Yeah, I think I could get the hang of it."

Dela got back onto her feet as Galatea also rose. They aimed their rings at one another and constructs formed. They began to clash. As they did so, the captive Sapphires freed themselves in an explosive display of violet light. Talia and Ivy joined their side and the battle raged on.


"So, what are you thinking?" Carol wore a playful smile as she came over to where Kyle was sitting.

"My God woman, you're insatiable," Kyle accused as he recognized the look in her eye.

"It is our honeymoon," she eased herself onto his lap, "Actually I was thinking we could do a little travelling."

"You're kidding," he retorted.

Carol frowned, "What do you mean?"

"I didn't think you'd want me anywhere but in these rooms," he admitted.

Carol softly chuckled, "Kyle, you aren't a prisoner. You're my husband and my consort, free to move about as you please. You could even go back to Earth if you wanted. Or we could go together."

"You're serious," he realized.

She gave him an exasperated look, "Of course I'm serious. Kyle, I love you. Love doesn't keep prisoners. Besides, I've got to trust you. I'm an older woman. That means I have to keep your interest. How long would I be able to do that if I held you here?"

"You're only ten years older than me," Kyle said dryly.

"Kyle, that just means I'll start to sag before you," she said with equal dryness.

She slipped out of his lap and did a twirl. Her nightgown and nightie moved with her, "I'm in my thirties; you're just into your twenties. My hair may be jet black for now but the gray will creep in. I'm 5' 7" and weigh 126 lbs but how long with that last? Will I grow fat? Will you still love me if I do?"

"You're really serious about going somewhere?" Kyle rose out of the chair.

Carol almost convulsed, "Yes."

"Let's go to Earth," he suggested, "We could take a tour of Europe and Asia."

She grinned, "Good choice. On Earth I have money. Lots of it."

"I'm not exactly a pauper," he said.

"Do you have billions?" she asked. When he admitted that he didn't, she smirked; "Well, I do. So don't try and compete."

There was a knocking on the door. Carol looked to Kyle. Seeing he was as baffled as her, she ignored it. The knock became a pound and Carol finally opened the door. Ice stood revealed on the other side.

"Carol, Dela Pharon is leading a revolt. She wants to be Queen. Some of the Sapphires are defending you but most are in rebellion," Ice explained.

"Why are they unhappy?" Carol asked.

Ice's eyes fell on Kyle and Carol's lips pursed, "I see."

She went to the bedroom and retrieved the headband with the star sapphire mounted on it. She concentrated and the band became a mask. She slipped it on. Her night clothes became a Sapphire uniform.

Kyle joined he rand retrieved his ring. His clothes became a Green Lantern uniform complete with mask.

"No Kyle, I need to do this on my own," she advised.

"But…" he protested.

She kissed him, "I'm their Queen. If I can't put this down on my own then I deserve to lose my crown."

Kyle watched her follow Ice out of the royal suite and he honestly worried about her.