Chapter Two
"What did you say?" Arkillo stared at the girl. He didn't know much about Walker's personal life, but he did know the Blue Lantern's family was long dead. Still... Maybe it was a common name on that planet. Best not to jump to conclusions.
"My... My name is Peesh Walker, sir." She blinked, fighting down fear that her name had somehow angered him.
"You got family, girl?" He asked, his eyes narrowed.
She shook her head. "No sir. My family died some years ago."
"Did they now?" He circled her, like a predator with his prey, watching her try to shrink away. "How did they die?" he asked, stopping abruptly. He was not one to be subtle at the best of times and wanted to clear up what had to be a misunderstanding.
Her eyes opened wide, clearly she had not expected the question. What did it matter, after all? But Arkillo stepped closer and as she backed herself up against the wall, she also sank to the ground in defeat, wrapping her arms around her knees and closing her eyes.
"My family we... Father called it a pilgrimage. Our sun was dying and there was a prophecy that a saviour could be found on the top of our tallest mountain." She could see it so clearly in her mind, her father, calm and determined, unwilling to let the planet just die. "Mother was less sure, but she trusted him and we tried to get there. But it was dangerous. My grandfather fell to his death when a bridge broke." She paused, wiping away tears that fell from still closed eyes.
"We stopped by a stream. We were so hot and tired and we jumped in. It was so good to feel the water again." She stumbled over the words, no longer feeling that way about water. "I heard my father shout as it began to flood. My mother grabbed me." She shuddered, feeling cold as she remembered the water closing around her, the force of the current dragging her under. She knew she should have died that day and sometimes, she wished she had. "I was swept away with her. I think... I think she pushed me up. I don't really remember. I just... I know I passed out. When I woke she was next to me but... but she..." Her eyes opened wide and she jumped up fled to the small bathroom, losing the meal she'd only recently had. The image of her mother, her body discoloured and bloated, her eyes open and glassy, it was something she deeply wished to forget, but could not.
Arkillo made a noise of disgust but waited until she returned, eyes downcast, dragging her feet tiredly until she could sit on the floor again. At length, she managed to finish the tale.
"I don't really know what happened after. Days later it began to rain and the sun went blue and stayed blue but it stopped killing us. I wandered for... I don't know. A long time. Down the mountain, the other side. I met people. They said my father was taken to the next life in a blue light. No one saw my brother." She kept her eyes on the ground as she spoke, fighting to keep her voice steady. "I guess he found the saviour, but he and my brother, they must both have died." The tears wouldn't stay in then and she buried her face in her arms. She hated to cry in front of others, but It still hurt to talk about it and probably always would.
Arkillo had remained impassive throughout her story, but now he felt a rising sense of frustration. There was no reason to think she was lying – indeed it was impossible that anyone else would know those things in such detail. "Damn it all to Parallax," he snarled. The Blue Lantern was going to owe him one - and more - for this.
She didn't understand why he said that, though she didn't really care. "Can I go now?" she asked, her voice devoid of emotion.
"In a moment," Arkillo replied. "How did the slavers get you?"
Her shoulders slumped as she realised the ordeal was not yet over, that he was insisting she relive more of her past. "No one would help me. They said they didn't have enough to look after themselves. So I was on my own and I... I didn't know where I was. I wandered. That part of the planet - hardly anyone lives there. I don't know how long I was alone for." She'd stopped counting after the first few weeks because it didn't matter.
"One day a ship landed. I was... lucky, I suppose. They had thought they wouldn't be seen, but I was there. They were studying our people, our culture. I'd never seen an alien before. They were good people and I... asked them to take me with them. I had nothing left and I wanted to see the stars." They had been the first people to show her care since she'd lost her family. It hadn't bothered her that they looked strange and had some strange customs. She was happy to be with them, happy to learn.
"It took me a long time to convince them. But I begged and pleaded and they did. I... I don't regret that. I grew with them. I was... I was happy." She let out a broken laugh. "The food was terrible. But there was plenty of it. I thought... I thought I'd stay with them forever." In the end, it had been a mere three Astonian years.
"We were flying through a desolate area of space. They wanted to study some rare asteroid. The slavers came out of nowhere and our ship had only basic defences. We never stood a chance. They tried to protect me. The slavers didn't care. They killed them. There was... there was so much blood. I thought they might spare them for... sale, but they said I was the only one with... value." Her small body shook with sobs. "Everyone died. Everyone always dies except me. Maybe I should want to but... I don't. Not most days anyway. My father - he said nothing is more precious than life. So I'm going to live." Her small hands clenched into fists as she held onto that with determination. "I AM."
Arkillo had to admire her tenacity, she'd certainly overcome a great deal. Although, now he knew who her father was, it was unsurprising. Still, it presented a slight problem. There was little point going to Astonia now and he had no idea where Saint Walker was.
"Indeed." He needed to think. "Get up, now."
She did and he led her to a small cabin. "I am Arkillo of the Sinestro corps. Do as I say and no harm will come to you." He pointed to the bed. "Sleep... Peesh. It's a long way." Especially as he still didn't know where they were going.
"Where are you taking me?" She dared to ask as she stepped into the cabin, the bed simple but undeniably welcoming.
"Where you're needed."
Xxxxxx
Of all the ways to spend his shore leave, this was not one he would have chosen. But he was nothing if not loyal and Walker had earned it.
"Ring. Locate Blue Lantern Saint Walker." He waited impatiently as the ring glowed.
"Error. Blue Lantern not located." The ring replied and Arkillo's glare could have killed. While yellow rings could not usually contact those of other colours there was previous interaction between his ring and Saint Walker's. It should have worked.
"Explain! You've done it before!" He clenched his fists. "Locate!"
"Unknown. Probability - out of range."
Arkillo snarled curses under his breath. Unknown meant he *was* out of range or - well, the alternative he didn't care to think about. If something had happened to Walker just as his daughter turned out to be alive, it would be the worst kind of luck. He supposed all he could do was to try and locate him before he said anything to Peesh.
Still, the problem remained of how to find Walker. Maybe finding one of his Green Lantern friends would be enough. "Ring. Locate Green Lantern Mogo." Might as well go right to the source.
The ring glowed for a moment. "Located."
"Good." Arkillo loaded the coordinates into the ship and set it to auto pilot. If one good thing came out of this he'd get a good throw down with a few Green Lanterns. Probably have to refrain from killing them though, if he was to successfully complete his task.
Oh well. He'd take what he could get.
Xxxxx
In the cabin, Peesh tried to sleep, but, despite her exhaustion, it did not come easily. The last few years had been hard, but she'd kept going, never stopped believing what she's been taught, that somehow, all would be well. But she was worn out from the constant trials and she had no idea what Arkillo wanted with her. His attitude did not match his actions and the contradiction confused her. It didn't seem worse than the Gordanians, but she'd seen too much to be sure just yet.
His interest in her name and her past was odd too. Why did he care? Why had her name caused such a reaction? She was embarrassed by her tears, but she missed her family. They had been close, even if she hadn't always got along with her brother. She could never forget having to bury her mother, digging her deep into the dirt with her fingers to stop scavengers getting to the body. In her nightmares she still saw her mother's lifeless eyes, felt the cooling skin and the dirt under her fingernails.
Every day was a struggle, especially since she'd been taken by the slavers. But her father's beliefs were deeply instilled and held close to her heart, so she carried on. Wherever Arkillo was taking her, she'd find a way to make the best of it.
She blinked, leaning back on the bed as exhaustion finally began to catch up with her. Maybe she should sleep. There was nothing she could do right now and there was no telling when she'd see a bed again. She was not sure when she'd last seen one, if she was honest.
If she was lucky, maybe tonight she wouldn't have nightmares. At least when she woke she'd be able to see the stars. That had always soothed her and she had missed it when she was locked in a dark cell. She still feared Arkillo, but so far he'd shown no inclination to hurt her and she had few options but to trust him.
Pulling the blanket over her, she fell into an uneasy sleep.
Xxxxx.
Mogo, much to Arkillo's disgust, was several sectors away, necessitating a journey of several days in a ship like this. Still, it would give her time to heal and lessen his chances of being blamed for her injuries when they arrived. He only hoped Mogo didn't move again in the time it would take them to get there.
Mogo's distance did nothing to alleviate his concerns over Saint Walker. If his ring could locate Mogo several sectors away, it didn't bode well. But worrying was useless and Arkillo was not one for idle worries, so he put the time to good use.
When it had been quiet for a while he went to check on her. She was asleep, though seemed troubled, murmuring in her slumber.
He was troubled too. How had it come to this? Her confusion was understandable, she had been told they had seen her father 'die'. She could not have known it was the effect of his blue ring. But how had Walker not known? He knew enough about the Blue Lantern to know that he would do anything for those he cared about. If he'd even suspected she was alive he'd never have stopped looking. Perhaps answers would be forthcoming when he eventually caught up with his... Friend.
xxxxxx
Despite her uneasy slumber she slept for hours, emerging only when her body had started to recover from its deep weariness. Stepping out cautiously, she approached Arkillo.
"You're up, good. We're stopping soon. Supplies." He told her, not taking his eye off the controls. The rations on the ship had barely covered one meal and he did not intend to starve.
She nodded, wondering what sort of place they'd end up in. Hopefully not anywhere like Darvix V. That was an experience she never wanted to repeat.
So it was a relief when the planet they landed on, while a mix of various races and species, seemed like more of a regular place, with a bustling market, than the dark, uninviting Darvix V. Still, she was unprepared when Arkillo gripped her wrist like a vice. "I'll not have you running off, girl. You stay here."
"I won't!" She insisted. "Please... I promise. I won't run off. Just... Don't leave me here. Please." Alone was the last thing she wanted to be, especially here. In yet another place she didn't know.
Her fear was palpable and he took a moment to savour it. "You'd best not or you'll regret it'" he growled, relenting. "Come on then." Still holding her wrist, he pulled her into the market.
Unlike Darvix, this market was in the open air and, while there likely were sales of things that had no business being sold, most of it was standard fare - from fruits and vegetables to dried meats, brightly coloured fabrics and fine jewellery. Despite the grip he held her in she looked around in delight, savouring the sights, the sounds and the smells. It had been too long since she had such a simple pleasure as this.
She didn't protest as Arkillo purchased - actually purchased, with money and not violence - food and drink for their journey. At one stall, as he bought bread, she spotted a cake laden with fruit on the top and, seeing her look longingly, added it to the pile without a word. Truly, he was an odd creature. He also purchased her a fresh set of clothes because, he claimed, her smell was revolting to him. She had no idea if it was true, but she was grateful whatever the reason.
They stopped for a meal at a small tavern and here he finally let go of her wrist, allowing her to eat after letting her choose what she wished. With everything he did, Arkillo confused her more and more. Despite herself though, she was starting to quite like him. However much she might fear him, she was convinced that he was not all bad. Not that she had any intention of saying so. After all, she still valued her life.
End Chapter Two