8 Justice League the Corps

"Dear comrades, I'm afraid a choice has been laid before you," Carol addressed the human Sapphires, "Superman laid out his terms of his assistance. It is that you all surrender your rings and return to Earth."

"And you agreed?" Ivy sounded betrayed.

"I agreed to tell you of these terms," Carol chose her words carefully, as she had with Superman; "The real choice is ultimately yours. But either choice comes with a price. If you stay, your sisters and I will back you all the way. We'll fight the Green Lanterns and the Justice League. We won't rest until either they or we are conquered."

"And if we go?" Talia asked, ever prudent.

"Then you leave Zamaron, stripped of your power rings, and the Lanterns and the JLU leave with you," Carol described their choice, "You must do what your heart tells you to do. No one can make this choice for you. But you must ask yourself, first and foremost, what is the path of love and where does it guide me?"

All of the women looked stricken. Carol offered one last piece of advice, "Think of how love would best be served in all of your life."

"I think we need a moment," Owlwoman stated.

"Use the Grand Hall. Summon me through the rings when you have made your choices," Carol instructed. She graced them with a benevolent smile. It was also tinged with sadness, "Remember this always, your sisters will love you forever regardless of what choice you make."

The humans stepped inside. Fatality brought Galatea's ring to Carol, "I found this abandoned in the canyon when I retrieved the one they call Mary Marvel."

"Was our sister hurt?" Carol was alarmed.

"Galatea fought Dela. Dela took the worst of it but the fight provoked Galatea into forsaking the ring," Fatality reported.

"One less heartbreak, I suppose," Carol said mournfully.

"My Queen, it is not my place to ask, but…" Fatality faltered.

Carol read her heart, "But what of my consort?"

Fatality's dark skin flushed and Carol comforted her, "Kyle has chosen Supergirl. Of course, he and I are still joined together in heart, mind, and body. He may come to regret his choice after all."

"And if he does? Will you take him back?" Fatality was surprised by the intimation that she would.

Carol's delight was obvious, "Of course I'd take him back. He's my soul mate."

"But he wasn't your first choice," Fatality reminded her.

"How often do we choose wisely the first time around?" Carol wondered, "Kyle is mine. Make no mistake about it and the sooner he realizes that the sooner his paramour will be spared the heartbreak that this will cause."

Fatality fell silent. Deeper machinations were in play then she could fathom. Carol knew the power of Love far more intimately than any Sapphire alive. If she said Kyle would return to her then Kyle would return.


"What's up, Rayner?" Kara said as Kyle came to rest beside her, "You look distracted."

"Carol said some strange things," he said.

"That's where you went in the middle of the fight? To be with her?" Kara was immediately incensed.

"It wasn't like that. She was in trouble," Kyle protested.

"And how did you know she was in trouble?" Kara wanted to know.

"I just knew. I could feel her in my head and I knew she was in danger," Kyle admitted.

"I already don't like the sound of this," Kara declared, ""What happened after you knew she was in danger?"

"I left the group and I found Sinestro pounding the crap out of her," Kyle said.

"Understandable," Kara remarked. Kyle glared at her, "What? Don't give me that look, mister. I'm not the one that was fornicating with her."

"I wasn't in my right mind," he defended himself.

"For two days?" she shot back, "You were awfully clear headed when I found you."

Kyle stung at the unspoken accusation. The worst part was that it was true. He and Carol had carried on after the sapphire's call had worn off. It had just felt right, like he was where he was supposed to be. Kara couldn't read hearts like a Sapphire but she could read Kyle Rayner.

"That's what I thought," she said coldly.

"It's not like that. It didn't mean anything," Kyle feebly protested.

"Do me a favor. If you want to lie to yourself, that's one thing, but don't insult me by trying to lie to me," Kara felt like dying already but she had to know how far Carol's hooks had sunk in, "Tell me the rest of your rescuing Carol from Sinestro."

"Carol and I worked together to contain him and then he broke free of this box Carol constructed and he went screaming into space," Kyle described the scene.

"And then all of his goons took off to be with him," Kara said and then she asked, "Is that all?"

"Pretty much," Kyle said.

"You're lying," Kara angrily declared, "And don't lie about that too. I can see your pupils dilate; hear your pulse change, and you're starting to blush. So spill it. You can't hurt me any more than it already hurts."

Kyle felt immense guilt over that statement, "She kissed me."

"And you let her," it was statement of grim finality.

"I didn't have time to react," Kyle asserted.

"Another lie," Kara said dispassionately, "If I didn't love you, and if I didn't think she got her hooks into your brain somehow, I'd dump your ass right here and right now."

"Kara, I…" Kyle started to speak but she cut him off by raising her hand in front of his face.

"Don't. I can't handle anything else right now," she informed him, "I know she used mind control on you. I saw that. But that mind control ended and the first thing you did was to stay here with her. That hurts. I don't think you have any idea how bad that hurts."

Kara squared her shoulders and her crystalline blue eyes locked onto his, "The last time I hurt this bad was when I found out my entire family, hell, my entire planet was dead. I don't want to hear another word out of you until I've had time to cope. I'm very good at coping. I've mastered it over the years. So until I say you can talk to me, I'd better not hear another damn word out of you."

She flew off at that point. He could tell by the direction she was flying she was headed for the Javelin shuttle. She'd probably seek Mary out. That would be a good thing. She desperately needed a friend right now.

He loved Kara. He truly did and he felt an anguish unlike any he'd ever felt before over hurting her. Yet, even through all of that, Carol was in the back of his mind. Would he ever be truly free of her? She said, 'No.' He had to believe there was a way out. He needed a way out or he'd go insane.


"What are you thinking about, my Queen?" Race asked Carol as she approached. The Sapphire Queen stood in front of an open window and embraced the sun and the wind that was blowing.

Carol could have shared her thoughts. Kyle was in pain, a dreadfully remorseless suffering that only increased as his heart anguished over which path to choose. She'd warned him but he wanted to walk the path he was on. If she truly loved him she would let him continue until he needed an intervention.

Setting such concerns aside, she turned to Race; "How is Dela?"

"The Zamaron priestesses have set the bones and knitted the internal injuries. She's asking to see you," Race reported.

Carol fingered the ring she bore, "Wanting this, no doubt."

"I would assume so," Race ventured, "If you'd forgive my asking, is it wise to give it back to her?"

Carol smirked, "And what makes you say I'll give her ring back to her?"

"Why else would you have us scrape her off of the desert?" Race countered.

"Touché," Carol quipped, Seeing Race's puzzlement, she explained; "A human term that essentially says, 'to repay in kind'."

"Interesting word," Race allowed, "Perhaps I'll use it."

"You seem to be a master of the technique," Carol dryly retorted.

The star sapphire pulsed and Carol took Race's hand, "Forgive me. Tell Dela I'll be with her shortly. Our potentially estranged sisters have reached their decisions. I must found out what they decided and then confront our taskmasters."

Race watched Carol stroll off and thanked deity that she wasn't the Queen. Carol had to juggle the concerns of the entire Corps against her own desires. Race loved her sisters but she wasn't sure she had that much love to give. Sighing, she went to Dela to deliver the message.

Dela seemed more resigned than frustrated by Carol's reply. Miri had stood by her and explained the choices being made and how they affected the entire Star Sapphire Corps. Dela was reflective as she commented on it.

"I've faced that choice, whether to place the Corps ahead of selfish ambition or not. I failed that test. Hopefully these sisters are stronger and wiser than I," Dela said.

Miri blinked and gazed at Dela, studying her to ascertain if she were the same Xanadorian that had joined their Corps. Except for the casts, bandages, and all too prevalent bruises, she seemed to be Dela Pharon. Maybe Carol's unspoken plan had worked and the usurper had finally learned her lesson.


Carol entered the Great Hall. Several of her lesser known sisters scattered. They'd loitered about trying to eavesdrop on what was occurring. Carol knew the answer at the sight of them. Their Star Sapphire uniforms were gone, only to be replaced with their normal working attire. Well, not so much in Talia's case. Her expensive suits had been replaced by a black utility jumpsuit. They all held their rings in the palms of their hands, almost reverently.

"All of you then?" Carol asked.

"Galatea wasn't here so I can't vouch for her," Owlwoman said, the obvious spokeswoman for the group.

"She already surrendered the ring even before a choice was asked for," Carol saw the looks of consternation and confusion on their faces and added, "The choice was hers. I don't know why she made it or the circumstances behind it but in the end her sacrifice compliments yours."

Carol collected the rings and then stood before them, "Your sisters thank you. Most of them were sorely tested by the Sinestro Corps and would probably fare badly against the Green Lanterns and the Justice League. You've spared them that fight. Also, the Green Lanterns are deciding whether or not our Corps represents a threat. By showing that free will is tantamount to our cause, you've ensured that they will leave us be."

"They should ally themselves with you," Talia ventured, "Their cause would be bolstered by yours."

"And in time, they will be. The Green Light of Will and the Violet Light of Love are drawn together. It is inescapable. As the Oans and the Zamarons once comprised one race, so too do our separate Corps. They will be united someday but that day is far off. None of us may live to see it but it will happen because love is necessary to all things," Carol proclaimed, "Now let us join the Justice League so they can see you free and unfettered. They are undoubtedly growing concerned as the wait grows."

"What…what if we return?" Donna voiced the thought that was undoubtedly on all of their minds.

Carol's smile was beneficent, "Then you will find your rings waiting for you."


"Here they come," John observed. Katma snorted while Superman regained focus on the job at hand.

Carol went to Superman for he had voiced the onerous demands in the first place, "I let them choose. Each chose to protect their fellow Sapphires by surrendering their rings and returning with you. This is not a choice they wanted to make but you forced it with your threat of violence."

"We didn't threaten anyone," Superman hotly retorted.

"I can see into your heart, Superman," Carol informed him, "I know what steps you were willing to take and subjugation of my sisters was only the first of them."

"And if they'd chosen to stay?" he wondered.

"Then I would defend their decisions with my very life. And it would come down to a matter of life and death because you'd have to kill me before I saw them forced to leave," Carol revealed.

Clark could tell by her physiological reactions that she was telling the truth. Were they forcing the issue? It was true the JLU and the GLs had agreed to take the women back by any means necessary. That could be construed as being violent, he supposed. But would it really have been a matter of life and death?

He doubted it but Carol was convinced and she led the Star Sapphires. Her example would inspire the rest. That meant they'd be facing a small army of fanatics. Fanatics with power rings. That thought chilled him.

Carol shook her head sadly, "How little you understand us."

Superman gaped and she smirked, "It's written on your heart."

She turned to John and Katma, "So are we a threat?"

John sighed, "You're misguided, but you aren't an immediate threat."

"Like a Blue Lantern then?" and impish spark was in her eye.

"Carol…" he grated.

She smirked again, "Learn to lighten up, John. You have so many good things inside of you. It's a shame you keep them bottled up. Let a few things, like your love for Shayera, loose and see where it leads. It could change your life."

She looked to Katma, "Katma."

Katma's voice was cool, "Carol."

Kyle was skulking behind the others and Carol called him out, "I'll be thinking of you, Kyle. I know you'll be thinking of me."

She turned to the former Sapphires, "Take care, sisters. Our love goes with you always."

She walked off and re-entered the palace. Superman felt awkward as he confronted the resentful stares of the ex-Sapphires, "I guess the Green Lanterns can arrange transport for those of you who can't fly."

"Don't put yourself out," Fire sniped.

"Look, we did it for your own good," he defended the League's role.

"Did you ever wonder if we were happy?" Donna asked, "And who gave you the right to determine what was best for us? Can't we determine the course of our own lives?"

"There were larger issues," Superman argued.

"Name one," Talia challenged him.

"What?" Superman was thrown off balance by Talia's perfectly calm exterior and the rationality of her question.

"Name one of the larger issues," Talia pressed, "It shouldn't be so hard. After all, there were so many."

Clark turned red as he struggled to reply. Diana jumped in, "What about your loved ones? Don't you care that you abandoned them?"

"Free will is the blessing of every Sapphire," Owlwoman said, "I was free to visit Jack any time I wanted. I was free to bring him here. I was just a little busy fighting off multiple invasions."

That stung them. Superman recoiled while Diana grew irritated, "We did what we did to help."

"We didn't need your damn help," Ivy spat.

"You're obviously still under the influence of the rings," Superman decided, "You'll get better over time."

"Do with us what you will," Talia sighed. If the JLers and the GLs got it into their heads that the women were captives, held under the influence of their rings, they would classify the Star Sapphires as enemies. The whole point in them giving up the rings was to avoid that fate. It was better to concede than to press for the truth. A truth that they were unwilling to see.

"John?" Clark asked.

Owlwoman stepped aside as did Fire and Donna. John's construct enveloped Talia, Ivy, and Ice. The rest of the JLU could fly as could the remaining GL's. John constructed loungers for the ladies and they relented and took their seats. The others joined the formation and followed it as it flew down the canyon towards the plains beyond.

There, in the distance was a Javelin-9 shuttle. It was their ride home, back to Earth and their loved ones. It was also the last place they wanted to be.