7 Justice League the Corps
Shayera entered the cargo area and then turned on John, "Well?"
"Look, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you," John admitted.
Shayera thought about and then ran a hand through her hair, "You want to know what hurt the most? You were…insulting."
She could see that startled him. His eyes pleaded for more information so she decided to give it to him, "I'm not a damsel in distress. In fact, when I was the most distressed, I never turned to you. I never sought you out and I didn't ask for your help. It was something I had to work out on my own."
"You turned to Fate," John softly countered.
"He came to me," Shayera revealed, "I didn't seek him out. I didn't ask for help."
"But you did accept it," John pointed out.
Shayera was stymied and she knew it, "Yes, I accepted it. It was a valuable lesson. At that point I didn't want help, not because I felt I was too strong or proud to receive it but because I felt unworthy. Fate showed me I was still worthy of living, and of being helped, if for no other reason that I was so miserable and decrepit."
"When I returned to the League, a lot of those same feelings still dominated my thinking. I proved myself, time and again, and won the admiration of my peers…of you," Shayera shared and then she frowned, "And in one split second you took that all away."
John wore the same expression he'd had when she'd hit him, "I had no idea."
She smiled weakly, "I know but you were supposed to."
"How can I know unless you share with me?" John wondered.
Shayera threw her hands up, "I blame Carter. He's got us…well, me…thinking of us as star-crossed lovers throughout time. We're close, closer than I thought possible and we're so compatible that sometimes it's hard to know where one of us ends and the other begins. It's actually frightening when you think about it."
She pointed a finger at him, "And you had to go and toss that aside like it was all worthless!"
He reached out and took hold of her hand. She resisted at first but then she let him lace his fingers in between hers, "I had no idea. You have to know I'd never intentionally hurt you."
"You did when you were with Mari," she said flatly.
Again, the struck expression; "I swore to myself and to you I'd never do that again. How can I know what you're thinking or what you've been through unless you tell me?"
Her face adopted a wry smirk, "I guess you can't."
"I love you, Shayera Hol. I want to see you safe," he confessed.
"I'm not one of those helpless women we rescue every day, John," she stressed, "I'm just as capable as you in my own way, maybe more so."
He grinned as he nodded, "Maybe more so."
"Now that it's settled, kiss me before I change my mind," Shayera urged.
John was more than happy to comply. The kiss was surprisingly gentle and tender for two such fierce warriors. They rested foreheads after it ended. Shayera smirked again.
"We got time for a quickie?" she playfully suggested.
"You're kidding," John was only half incredulous.
"Hey, we made up. I want my make-up sex," she teased.
The latch to the door clicked as it released and John wore a rueful expression, "Love the idea, hate the timing."
Superman was surprised to find them there locked in an embrace. Neither the human nor the Thanagarian looked inclined to be remorseful so he let it go. Diana gave him an encouraging look. Obviously the scene had stirred some feelings in her as well.
"We'll be jumping in sixty seconds," Superman warned them as the rest of the JLers filed into the bay.
Shayera pulled John in and gave him one last, passionate kiss. Clark looked to Diana, who merely looked expectant. Billy never displayed public affection with Courtney when he was in his Marvel form. Actually, he never displayed affection with her in his Marvel form at all, other than when she leapt into his arms and kissed him that one time.
Mary was stand-offish so Ray didn't even bother trying. Anna gave Booster the once over but decided against it. The Green Lanterns kept their jealousies to themselves, particularly Katma.
Superman turned to face Diana. Intending to merely give her a word of encouragement he was startled when she took hold of where his cape attached to his costume and pulled him in. Her kiss was as full of hope and promise as her eyes did when she released him. He perked right up.
"John, stand by on the ramp please." He requested.
A red light next to the ramp came on. They could feel the shuttle banking. The light turned yellow and John lowered the ramp. He and Shayera gathered with the assembled heroes. They would all bail out and the ramp would be closed from the cockpit.
The light turned green and Superman led the charge.
The Javelin slowly banked and came about. The Blackhawks came over the massive city complex carved into the rocks of the canyon. Signaling the JLers and GLs, Lady Blackhawk watched them go via a monitor. When they'd gone, she turned to Blackhawk.
"They're off. Now what's your plan, stud?" she asked, "`Cause this shuttle's not going to fit in that canyon."
"We land at the entrance and I make my way on foot," he said grimly.
"You're going to be awfully exposed down there. You're sure she's worth it?" LBH inquired.
Blackhawk shot her a venomous look and she raised her hands, "Forget I asked."
He started to set the shuttle down at the entrance to the canyon. Lady Blackhawk studied him, "You do realize once you're out there, I can't save your sorry ass?"
"Just mind the radio and watch the shuttle. The League may need a hot extraction," he informed her.
"And what happens to you?" she wondered.
"Tea will get me out of there," he predicted.
"And if you're wrong?" she asked as the shuttle sat down.
"Then there's nothing worth coming back to," he said with grim finality.
He exited the cockpit while Lady Blackhawk's jaw gaped. She followed him out and saw him strapping on a holster. Removing a plasma gun from the weapons locker, he put it in the holster.
She took hold of his shoulder and spun him around. Taking hold of his lapels, she pulled him in and fiercely kissed him, "That's for luck."
He gave her a quizzical look but said nothing as he lowered the boarding ramp. He tossed off a jaunty salute and stepped out onto an alien world. Lady Blackhawk felt as though her world was caving in.
"You're coming back," she promised herself, "You have to."
The Sapphires watched as the JLers and GLs jumped out of the shuttle on its third pass. Fire, Owlwoman, and Donna were woken and told of what was happening. The three were filled with trepidation. They'd faced the League on Earth and every instinct cried against doing it again. Talia and Ivy had no problems whatsoever with it. Galatea was strangely subdued. She'd never emotionally recovered from fighting Mary and then to face off with her fellow Sapphires? She was getting disillusioned rather quickly.
Carol could see this in their body language and she took pains to address them even as their opponents approached, "Take heart sisters! Our cause is being tested. Your love is being tested. Make converts of them and they will follow our lead as we take our message to the stars!"
That seemed to bolster the reluctant warriors. Thoughts of fighting put aside and instead replaced by a quest to share their love and turn their foes into friends soothed their nerves. After all, shouldn't a hero have love in their heart?
"Now!" Carol shouted.
The Star Sapphires rose as one. They projected constructs and force beams. The League and the Lanterns were hard pressed to make an approach. But the representatives of both groups were among the mightiest of their respective teams.
Kara reached out helplessly as Mary raced off. Kara flexed her arms and widened the hand construct that gripped her. Breaking free of its grip, she went for the Sapphire that constructed it.
Miri steadied herself. Combat did not come naturally to the red head. She literally was a lover, not a fighter. But she loved her cause and her sisters more than she valued her distaste at fighting. She created a wall but Kara broke through it.
Miri suddenly found it hard to love as Kara gripped her by the tunic, "Where's Carol Ferris?"
"You!" Miri realized that this was Kyle's lost love, "You're here because of Kyle."
"Damn straight I am," Kara growled, "Where is she? Or better yet, where is he?"
Miri actually laughed at the irony, "You mean he hasn't swooped into your arms yet?"
Kara sensed a trap but she was silent as Miri continued to speak, "He's not coming you know. He's married now and he loves his wife."
Kara reeled. The dope got married? To Star Sapphire? She was gonna kill him. It was that simple. She'd hand him his ass on a platter and then drag him home after an annulment.
Miri took heart and slammed Kara with a mallet. The Argoan shrugged it off and pulled back her fist. Miri doubled up her personal field but the following blow still stunned her.
Now Kara went in search of Kyle.
Shayera faced Owlwoman and Donna again. Her smile was predatory, "Oh good, we get to play again."
The Sapphires tried creating conversion chambers but Shayera always side slipped them. Her nimble flight left the Sapphires feeling overwhelmed and helpless. Owlwoman, who was also a creature of the air, decided enough was enough.
"Cover me," she requested and took off after Shayera. Wherever Shayera went, Owlwoman followed but her focus was so much on to her flying, she couldn't muster the heart to create a construct. It wasn't until it was too late that she realized Shayera was making a bee line for Donna.
"Donna!" Owlwoman cried out.
Donna turned just in time to see the mace smack her in the face. Only her personal field kept her from serious bodily harm. Her impact with the dirt below took the fight out of her and she slipped into unconsciousness.
Shayera sped by the spot that Donna had occupied and beat her wings as she built up speed. Owlwoman, whose magical abilities granted her the flying ability of an owl, could only match her not surpass her. She was beginning to recognize the keen intelligence behind the apparent madness. The flight itself was erratic enough to occlude Shayera's next move. No, the Thanagarian wasn't so clumsy as to telegraph her intentions.
The only thing obvious about the pattern was that she would attack the closest Sapphire, or Sapphires, within range of her flight. Owlwoman grew desperate enough to try wrangling Shayera as she neared one of her sisters. That being said, all she accomplished was interfering with that Sapphire's defense and insuring that she was brought down.
Shayera climbed and then went into a steep dive. Her wings folded back, she gained speed as she raced towards the ground. And it was the ground she was headed for. Owlwoman's sharp eyes caught sight of Talia and Ivy at the last minute. It was too late to warn them.
They fell before Shayera's onslaught. Her wings stretched forth at the last moment and caught air and lifted her off of the ground. It was only as Owlwoman saw Shayera lift that she realized her own dive was too steep. She collided with the rocks below.
The Native American managed to get to her feet and began to search the skies. It was a rustling sound in the air that gave Shayera away. Owlwoman formed a catcher's mitt and caught the approaching JLer. Shayera slumped to the ground.
Owlwoman cautiously approached. She made certain her personal field was up and her ring was aglow. Still, when she got close enough, Shayera came up swinging. Like at the UN, she relentlessly beat at Owlwoman's defenses until they crumbled. Then she put Wenonah down for the duration.
Shayera studied her most elusive prey. Owlwoman had wavered at the last, as though she didn't have the heart for the battle. If that were true, and if it were universal, she'd have the advantage every time. Still, it was a lot of ifs.
Kyle reached the outer courtyard. He was dressed in his GL uniform and he wore his ring, freshly recharged; now he just had to decide what to do. He liked Carol, he honestly did. She was a vivacious woman. But he didn't love her the way she wanted to be loved, needed to be loved, and deserved to be loved.
The ground shook as Kara landed in front of him. His heart soared into his throat. He wore a stupid grin, he knew it, and didn't care.
"Kara!" so much hope was put into that name, he couldn't quite believe it.
"You're married?" she demanded verification from the source.
Uh oh, he thought. Outwardly, he said, "Kinda."
"To Star Sapphire?" her anger wasn't dissipating. In fact her irritation seemed to be growing.
"Sort of," he helplessly admitted.
She looked disgusted but her posture relaxed somewhat, "How do you get a divorce around here?"
"He doesn't, sweetie," Carol said from behind Kara, "Marriage on Zamaron is a sacred, permanent trust."
Kara glared at her and then she turned to Kyle, "C'mon Kyle, we're going to be living in sin from now on."
"Are you talking about moving in with me?" he wondered.
"It seems it's the only way I can keep you from running off and getting married willy nilly," she said as her humor began to return.
"Excuse me, but that's my husband you're talking about running away with," Carol said forcefully, "I am going to put up a fight."
Kara rubbed her knuckles into the palm of her other hand, "Good. I've been hoping you'd say something like that."
