Document 1278803-4576b

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Entry 33 –

It is true what they say; absence does indeed make the heart grow fonder. However, the next morning, I quickly remembered exactly how frustrating Thaal could be. I also was able to recall in fine detail exactly how loud he could be, as he sailed into my private lab gesticulating wildly and speaking at a volume that I had previously believed impossible to maintain for an extended period of time.

"QUERL! THERE YOU ARE!" Thaal roared as the doors to my lab opened. "THIS PLACE IS FANTASTIC!"

I managed to pull myself together, still feeling a bit groggy. I'd slept nearly 12 hours, approximately thrice my average night's sleep the past two weeks. "Thaal?" I said weakly, wondering if I were somehow lucid dreaming. Usually I can identify a dream through simple observation (not all of my thought-tracks dream concurrently), but it seemed ridiculous to me that Thaal would be here. We'd only spoken the night before! True, he'd intimated that he was well connected, however I hadn't realized just how well connected he was.

I realized that Thaal had likely been waiting for my invitation, and that he'd been ready to come at the first indication that I needed him to come. Suddenly I felt awash with a myriad of emotions - shame and guilt, for not contacting him sooner, but also joy and wonderment. I couldn't quite comprehend the fact that he would be so eager to come to my aid. That he had already coordinated everything. That he had likely arrived early and waited for me to begin to stir before barging in to my lab.

At least, I hoped that were the case. Then again, it being Thaal, he probably had just asked COMPUTO where I was and barged in without thinking twice.

"ARE YOU AWAKE, YOU BEAUTIFUL GENIUS?" Thaal trumpeted in my ear.

"Yes, Thaal, I am awake and coherent, thank you for being so sensitive and respecting to my need for a quiet environment in which to sleep," I said drily.

Thaal blinked. "Was that sarcasm?" He grinned. "I forgot how cheeky you could be."

I wasn't sure if I should be proud or offended by his comment. I settled for miffed. "Thaal. You are louder than the emergency alarms in this building. I am unsure if this is an oversight in the decibel levels prescribed for emergency klaxons, or if your vocal chords have reached a level of sound production previously believed unattainable."

Thaal grinned and ruffled my hair, a familiar gesture that I found both comforting and exceedingly patronizing. "Do not touch my hair," I told him.

"Aww, Querl, I missed you, buddy!" Thaal exclaimed.

"And I you," I admitted, "Though I cannot for the life of me remember why."

Thaal clasped a hand to his chest, imitating a mortal injury. "You wound me!"

"Yes, yes, I'm sure. Have you received the grand tour?" I asked.

"Oh yeah, Cosmic Boy showed me around, and I had a chat with Saturn Girl and Invisible Kid before coming to wake you up from your beauty sleep," Thaal told me. "Let me tell you, you do not need any more beauty sleep. You already have the smoothest skin and the shiniest eyes. Had you slept any longer your eyelashes would be the longest in this quadrant of the galaxy."

"I know I look terrible Thaal, I haven't been eating or sleeping regularly, and it's easy to see by looking at me," I shot back.

Thaal's grin dimmed slightly, his face growing serious. "Yeah. I know," he said softly. "Brainy…"

I gave him a furious look. "Not here," I hissed.

Thaal shook his head. "Querl," he tried again, "I'm still worried about you, you know."

"I know. I can't believe you got here so quickly. How did you do it?" I asked.

"Connections," Thaal said vaguely. I did not press him for further detail. In retrospect, this may have been an oversight on my part.

"What do you wish to do now?"

"Well first of all, I want to see what all you've done with a mess," Thaal said.

"A mess?" I repeated, sounding confused.

"Yeah! A mess! Your suit thing! Remember? I had to wear it? Then you didn't even let me use it at the auditions?"

"You mean the AMESS?" I clarified.

"Amos, a mess, same difference," Thaal said dismissively.

"It's pronounced amos," I reminded him. "Also I'm wearing it currently."

"No way, really?" Thaal held me back at arm's length. "I'm sure Arno would appreciate the design, I think it needs more colors, but…"

I shook my head. "Three colors is sufficient for me."

"I like the gold accents. Very classy," Thaal said.

I immediately began considering alternative color schemes. Perhaps I would ask Arno for advice. "Thank you," I said slowly.

"So, I've already had the grand tour, do you mind if I just sort of, I dunno, follow you around?" Thaal asked.

At the time, I somehow convinced myself this was a good idea. I am unsure as to what must have come over me. "Certainly," I replied. "I'll be working with Invisible Kid in the lab today…"

And I must go for the moment, as I am being called to a meeting by Saturn Girl. I admit to feeling the tiniest bit of concern at this development. After all, I have not heard from the founders in weeks. Now, mere minutes after Thaal has departed, the current Legion Leader desires my presence?

I wish I could feel confident about the purpose of this meeting, but I do not.

A/N: aaaaaaaand another entry is uploaded! Whooo!

So I somehow managed to keep up my schedule for the second update. Here's to hoping I can maintain an update schedule of once every two weeks for the forseeable future. I'll be trying to upload these semi-regularly, so stay tuned!

THIS FIC HAS FANART! SOUND THE ALARMS!

check out this great picture of the last chapter, artfully crafted by fluffyowll aka thewistfulwood - just remove the spaces: fav. me / d99mjki