Roxana came to the front of the ship with the others. She gasped as she stared out into space. Hal smiled at this and Kilowog chuckled as he said "Welcome to the outer-rim kid."
She came closer to the window in a steady walks as she said with "I've never seen the stars like this. It's beautiful. I can even tell that some of the stars are different colors, or are they planets?"
Razer then said "I do not understand your fondness. It is just space. We've all seen it." She then said "Well I haven't. Only from the ground, never from up her." She came closer to the window and looked down. There was no ground, just more space, more stares, more emptiness. At first she was interested but with those thought her face paled as she gasped, backed off and fell on her bottom, breathing heavily.
Hal and Kilowog ran up to her as Aya said "Your vitals show an increase in stress. What has caused it?" As the two males helped her up her legs felt like jelly and then she said "I made the mistake of looking down when there's no ground." She felt so dumb and embarrassed doing that in front of everyone.
Hal then said "Not a fan of heights?" She shook her head no but said "Though I probably wouldn't be so scared if I could fly." The two males chuckled at that and Hal said "Well I guess that makes sense." He then said as he walked to his pilot chair "Everyone buckled up where heading to the prison asteroid."
Razer just slouched in his seat. He remembered Aya finding out about his past in there. He closed his eyes and thought about his Ilana. He missed her. He went into deep thought for a while. It still hurt so much and yet the memories he still kept, to keep her with him. How could he ever love anyone ells?
Meanwhile Roxana asked "So what's this place like?" Kilowog then said "I'll tell you what it's like-" he then started to explain their adventure there Roxana was slacked jawed as she exclaimed "They tried to eat you!" Razer was still in thought when "There it is?" He heard Hal say, and looked up to see the asteroid that he was tortured in.
Was it strange he found those memories bitter sweet, it was the day he had a chance to see his Ilana again, but he was hurt constantly. It was the day he was no longer a prisoner and was given trust, it was also the day Aya took Ilana's form. Something he had to see every day, a reminder of her.
Roxana looked at it and said "It looks freaky. Like there's an ominous feeling to it." He grunted a bit finding it a bit of an understatement. He looked to see that she was staring out at the prison, entranced to see every detail she could, while staying away from the edge of the ship's window.
He found her eyes quite strange, they looked like they were absorbing everything she could. Roxana did not notice his stare. She looked at the strange details. Razer noticed her eyes were brown like halls, but a bit darker, and larger.
Little did he know she was taking in every detail she could, but she was also thinking, her mind always was. What would happen there? What did the aliens look like? Would it be dangerous? Should she stay on the ship or stick with the others? She had a weird feeling about all this.
They landed in the brig like last time. Hal then said "Everyone be careful, those yellow crystals are here and they stop us from using our rings." They nodded at that Razer then said "Maybe yours but not mine." His ring glowed as he pulled it up. Roxana looked confused but Aya then explained about the strange yellow rocks and their affects. She said "That's never good. I can see how they would affect the green rings but not the red. But it's not exactly a good thing."
Razer then said "I don't know how it's not. It means we have a backup plan." Roxana frowned but said "I guess but doesn't rage result from fear as well." Razer seemed to stop at that and Kilowog laughed as he said "She's got you there poozer." Before Razer could respond, Goggan, the little squid creature came to greet them and said "Ah work work work, they never sent new warden. But welcome." Roxana gasped when she saw him, first she though he looked strange. Then he smile and waved at her.
She looked closer at him and then said "Oh how cute, he's like a squid puppy." Hal chuckled at that while the others looked confused. Goggan looked confused but knew what cute meant and took it as a complement. He came up to her and said "Thank you. You are new. And so is the other female." Roxana then said "Yeah I'm Roxana. My first time in space. Hope I didn't offend." She kneeled down and patted his head. He blushed lightly and smiled as he wagged his tail. She chuckled at this.
Aya said "You have met me before. I am the ships Artificial intelligence. I believe you called me computer, but you may address me as Aya." Goggan then said "Oh I remember you, yes it is good to see you as well. I am Goggan, the warden of the prison for now. All there is, is work work work. What brings you all here?" Hal then said "We just needed to see if you had any spared supplies we could use. Now that we have another crew member we'll need more food."
Goggan nodded at him and said "Stay for lunch my friends. I found some food stored away under the cells, more than enough for the whole jail." Hal then said "Guess that make sense as the spiders usually ate the prisoners." Roxana then said "Ew, I still can't get used to that. Especially how they liked to tenderize their food." Goggan then yelled "The torturer!" Roxana then exclaimed "Sorry didn't mean to bring back bad memories." Hal then said "Goggan relax their gone and you're in charge, no torture ever again. Okay buddy?"
Goggan smiled after taking a deep breath and nodded as he started leading them to a room where they could sit and eat. Suddenly some robots came in and set everything up. Razer almost destroyed one but Goggan said "No they are friendly not enemies!"
Hal then asked "Where you get these?" Goggan replied with "No one wanted to be new warden so they sent me robots instead. They do anything I say." Kilowog then said "As long as it's legal." Goggan then said "I learned my lesson friend. Never again." Kilowog was pleased with that and then started to eat.
Aya told them which food was safe for who. Roxana prayed before she ate and then tried to see what would be edible and still taste good. She found some meet that Razer was also eating; Aya assured her it was safe. So they ate.
Kilowog stuffed his face like at breakfast. Hal ate with a knife and fork, so did Razer but he was slow in eating. Aya did not need food. Roxana ate with a fork and knife as well, but she tended to eat faster and make some noises. Hal stared at her, but decided her table manners didn't bother him, he's eaten with Kilowog enough time to not be effected as easily.
Razer on the other hand looked confused at her and stared as he said "You make noise when you eat." She then said "Sorry. I don't always know when I'm doing that. Habits I have trouble with." She then found a drink that was safe and drained it in one gulp.
Hal then said "Wo slow down there cowgirl. The foods not going anywhere." Kilowog just said "Nice chug kid. Where you learn that?" She licked her lips and said "I think on TV." Hal then said "That explains it."
As they ate Razer was thinking about what Roxana had said that the red may help them when the green couldn't work with the yellow crystals around but that it wasn't such a good thing because rage comes from fear. He remembered that drifter on Mogo telling him something similar.
He hated his ring power, but without it he be useless to the others. But was it that useful if it brought out a side to him he didn't like. If he was making something he didn't like. He looked around the room, the yellow crystals weren't very concentrated so the affect didn't really work at making them fear, just counter acting the Green lanterns rings.
But it didn't affect his; he didn't get weaker or stronger. But he wonder if that was a good or bad thing. Did it not decrease because he couldn't and did it not increase because he was already too far gone? Maybe there was a way to help tame his rage, but how?
Once they were done eating they went down to where the food was held. They then found what food was safe for them and started to stock up on what they needed. What they didn't know was that as they did this, a prisoner had just unlocked it's door, and it wasn't just thinking about escaping.
A robot came to the hall and noticed a door was opened. It came to it and said "Halt who goes there?" But it was cut into ribbons by the inmate's claws. The creature was grey, with two tentacles on his head for hair, his hands were long and sharp, he was thin, but he did have muscle, he wore a black suite with no sleeves. He walked out of the room and said "It's time to have some fun." He showed a toothy maniacal grin as he walked on.
The team had finished packing up and Hal said "Thanks for the help buddy. Hope everything keeps going well." Goggan nodded and was about to say something when a beep was heard. He took a device out and gasped as he said "Oh no. The danger is out! Pleas my friends help. If we do not contain him he well destroy all in his sights!"
Kilowog then said "Calm down there buddy. Who are you talking about and why's he so dangerous?" Goggan then said "The danger is prisoner 52. Bartoo. He is mad and insane. He wants to take over prison and then concur planets. He is skilled fighter and has no mercy."
Hal then said "I don't think this prison is secure enough to contain this guy. We'll have to take him to Mogo." Aya again explained to Roxana. She nodded and said "We just need a trap. What could we use to lure him out?"
The original members stared at each other. Hal then said "Sorry Roxana but you're not gonna help on this. You have no power ring and no fighting skills." She glared at him and was about to say something but was cut off as Razer said "Aya and you should return to the ship, neither of you can handle Bartoo. I've heard of him. Plus you have no means to defend yourself. You will only get in our way."
She was about to retaliate but a noise caught all their attention and Kilowog ordered "Aya get Roxana and Goggan to the ship and keep them there. Don't come out to help. Your abilities are useless here." Aya nodded, knowing the yellow crystals would keep her form helping and closed the Interceptor's doors.
Hal, Kilowog, and Razer walked through the halls of the prison. Everything was quite, it seemed the inmates were still in shock after the spider epidemic they use to have.
As they walked Kilowog asked "So how are we going to take down this Bartoo guy if we can't use our rings?" Hal then said "Same why we defeated the spiders, help Razer take them on." He pointed a thumb at the red.
Razer then said "It is a pitty I have to be the one babysitting you two." "Babysitting? Why I oatta-" Hal then said "Cool it you two. No fighting with each other. Save it for our prisoner. I think Roxana's idea was a good one. Lure him out with bait. Only what could we lure him out with?" He held his chin.
Razer scuffed and said "A female with no military strategy giving you advice. Really is that how desperate you have become?" Hal then said "Girls aren't that disadvantaged on my planet Razer. Believe me some can make a man do almost anything they want. I should know. I work for one."
They both stared at him like he was mad. Hal just walked past them then froze as he said "Wo." They snapped out of it and came to see what he saw, the robot that was cut down. Kilowog then said "It looks like the only thing that would lure this guy out is a chance to cut someone down." Hal then had an idea and said "Nice idea Kiliwog. But who are we going to use as bait?" "I was joking Hal." "Well now it's a strategy."
Meanwhile back in the Interceptor, Roxana was venting. She said "I cannot believe they think I'm so week." Aya then said "You do not have the same abilities as us or the training. So it is our job to protect you."
She was about to retaliate, but once again was interrupted, but by hearing a whimper. They both turned to see Goggan curled up in a corner of the ship. Roxana's face fell at that. She came up to him and came down to his level and asked "Hey what's wrong?"
Goffan then said "What if he finds me? If he gets me he will either kill me into ribbons, or put me in the torture devices. Unfathomable torture!" Roxana looked sad at this and did something strange. She picked up the little squid and hugged him close to her.
Then she sat down and said "Hey he's not going to get you. We're safe." The little squid calmed down at this and relaxed in her arms. Aya then said "His readings have calmed down expediential. How did you do that?" She then said "Same thing I would do with a small human. It's call maternal instinct." Aya then starting looking it up.
The guys were still looking and thinking of what to use as bait, until they came to the main room where most of the crystals where. Hal and Kilowog shivered with the memory. Razer then said "To think that such things make you Lanterns quiver."
Hal and Kilowog glared at him and Hal said "In case you forgot, those things can cause allot more than just taking away our powers." "Oh do the little lanterns feel scared?" They looked down to see Bartoo was the one that said that.
Hal then said "Not of you. So why did you come out all of a sudden where we can beat you senseless?" Bartoo chuckled and said "You're rings don't work here lanterns." "But mine does!" Yelled Razer and shot at him a red beam.
A pile of dust came up and they thought they had won, but when the dust settled they saw a figure still standing and chuckling as he said "Was that supposed to hurt?" Razer was shocked but angry as he said "How could you protect yourself?" he chuckled and said "My suite can protect me from any type of lantern enemy. I've been around long enough to make sure not to be affected by any of your tricks."
Razer growled and said "I don't need my ring to take you down!" Razer ran at him but Hal yelled out "Don't-" but it was too late and Razer was on his back. The mad creature laughed again and said as he loomed over Razer and his hand up ready to strike "This should be fun." "Ahhh!" He didn't get a chance to strike as Hall and Kilowog piled on him.
Aya looked up in worry. She looked to Roxana and said "Hal and Kilowog's vitals are low." Roxana looked up with a pale face with Goggan holding on to her more tightly. Roxana had had enough and said "Open the door, I'm going to help."
Aya then said "I cannot do that. Hal and Kilowog would be angered to have their orders disobeyed. You are also not a lantern and would be easily defeated." Roxana glared and said in a loud voice as she put Goggan down "I don't need to be a lantern to do the right thing!"
Aya was surprised at this, a person that she had barely met and probably had no battle experience still wished to do the right thing. It reminded her of when she first came out of the ship to help the lanterns but couldn't, on this very asteroid.
Aya then checked on the teams vitals, and they were weakening and didn't have much time. She then looked at the girl and opened the door as she said "I will not be able to assist you if you go." She nodded and said "I just need a pipe or a bat." Goggan then said "Down there is a pipe if you wish to use it." She nodded and said "Now where do I go." She prayed that she would help and that God would give her strength.
Hal and Kilowog where hit against a wall one more time before they were both knocked out. Bartoo was laughing again, then he turned to Razer to see him trying to get up. He then said "How cute. You still trying to fight me even when you have no way to defend yourself."
Razer took a pointed rock, held it as a sword and said "Like I said. I don't need a ring to fight!" So they charged at each other. They two fought with intensity. Bartoo blocking the rock with his nails. Razer hadn't felt this way since his time in the militia.
They didn't know however that someone was sneaking in as they were fighting. Suddenly Bartoo hit Razer over the head and he put a foot on-top of him as he fell to the ground. He pointed his claws at him and said "Now where were we before you're friends interrupted?"
He raised his hand up and was about to cut him down, when a rock hit his back. "What?" He asked and looked around as someone yelled "AYAYAYA!" He then was met with a pipe to his face and fell back. But then got up to see Roxana. He laughed and said "You wanna play too little girl?"
She growled a feral growl and said "I didn't come here to play." She raised the pipe up like a sword and taunted him to come at her. He chuckled as he wiped his lip from the hit she gave him and said "Nice touch using that pipe. It's made for some of the strongest sells."
But as he was talking Roxana took the chance to try and hit him, but he cut the pipe and said "But not strong enough to hold me." He then had a foot meet his face. Roxana said "You talk too much." As she kicked him in the gut. He couldn't get up and then she put some sort of cuffs around his hand.
They then covered his hands even his nails and with a shock he was rendered useless. He looked surprised and said "How did you know to use these?" She replied with "Goggan stopped me before I left and told me that it was the only way to stop the evil."
Razer mound as he tried to get up. She went to him and said as she put her hands on his back and chest to help him up "So who can't defend herself?" Razer ignored the comment, shrugged her hands off and went to wake up the other two males.
As they did she told them the same thing. They were shocked to see what had happened and Kilowog asked "No way. Red did that. Didn't you?" He looked up at the red and he said "Sadly no. It seemed Goggan forgot to give us something." He then showed them the cuffs on Bartoo and they both glanced at the girl. Hal then said "Told you two girls were tough where I come from."
They finely came to the ship, they put Bartoo in some regular dark grey cloths and put him in a the cell of the ship. Goggan then said as they were leaving "I am sorry for not giving you the tool my friends. I was too afraid at the moment to say anything."
Kilowog then said "Well that little scare could have gotten us killed!" Goggan screamed and hid behind Roxana. She picked him up and said "I suggest telling us how to defeat our enemies before you panic next time." He nodded and then hugged her.
She giggle and hugged him goodbye as well. Hal then said "We'll take Bartoo to Mogo. He shouldn't cause any trouble there."
Once they were in the ships control room Hal said "Thanks for the help back there Roxana. But how did you get him to go down so easily." She replied with "With God giving me strength and watching too many movies. I just had to hit him in the right places. Plus he talked too much."
Kilowog chuckled at that and said "Well you did good kid. Looks like we won't need to worry about you too much." She then sighed and said "That was what I was trying to tell you guys but you wouldn't listen."
Aya then said "We will now have to put you as part of the team. Your skills will be quite appreciated." She nodded and said "Thanks." Razer then said "You where brave today." He then left for his room. Hal then said "Wow a complement from Razer. That's rare right within itself."
Kilowog then said "She did just save the poozer's life." He was mad that Razer didn't give her anymore credit and for his cold attitude. Roxana smiled at all of this, something told her she was going to like hanging out with this bunch, but she looked back to where Razer was going. She smiled and thought 'I guess we'll get along just fine, and he's okay, when he's not too snarky.'