“Is this guy serious, Ring?” I thought to my partner.

Given initial access and the added power source donated by your new physiology, I have been able to access previously unknown files in my database.

“The ones he blocked?”

Affirmative.

According to the research he has compiled, I am forced to agree with his conclusions regarding the inevitable outcome. However, I believe you should explore those options that he has disregarded as unreliable and chaotic. Therein lays a possible solution or a temporary one at the very least.

“Magic.”

Affirmative.

“You don’t think the Zamarons and this power I’m supposed to have is a solution?”

One of many. The terraforming process of Mars will be concluded within the month, enough for breathable air at the very least. We could transplant the metahumans and the potentials in question to the planet as a temporary solution. I have enough information to scan the population and find potential metas.

Shaking my head as we exited the wormhole above Zamaron, I said, “I can’t see them going for it unless they know the reasons behind the problem.”

That would be inadvisable. If the truth came out, there would be a high probability of immediate testing and a resulting genocide. The planet would be thrown into a constant state of war between the metahumans and the mundane population.

“So my choice is to kidnap 6500 plus people and move them to Mars, as a last ditch effort.”

I would use that as a last resort, yes.

“Great. We’ll call that plan B.”

~O~

Sora’nik wasn’t pleased with me for leaving unannounced.

“You don’t know what that could have done to you. Your control over your ring could have been compromised. “

“Honey, I don’t control my ring. She’s a sentient being. Besides, it’s a power up for her.”

Her lips pressed together cutely, or at least I thought it was cute. Other people might run away from her if she looked at them like that.

“Let me see your hand. I need to check if it’s progressed any.”

“Lantern Natu. I have been constantly scanning Jade’s new appendage and there has been no change since the beginning.”

I willed my glove off and the sleeve up anyway, just to placate her curiosity.

“She’s worried, Ring.”

Sora’nik’s eye lifted and her frown deepened before she continued her examination.

“Besides, if I wasn’t in top condition, I wouldn’t be able to return that nice sponge bath she gave me.”

She twisted my arm more than it really was supposed to go, but I kept my grin in place. I did notice her cheeks going a cute shade of brown though.

“Ring, could you call in Guy and the guards,” I said. “We need to bring them into the situation.”

“Acknowledged.” There was a brief pause. “Incoming transmission from American Dream.”

“Go ahead Courtney.”

“Jade, you wouldn’t happen to be on Earth, would you?”

“Uh, no, I’m about sixteen galaxies away at the moment. What’s up?”

There was a lengthy pause after that. “My bosses want to have a chat with you.”

I chuckled. “I thought I was persona non grata at the moment.”

“Gemma and I cleared that up with some help from John Stewart. The warrant has been rescinded for you and the other two. There are some human rights activists that are still up in arms, but they need something to crow about and you’re the latest hot topic. Plus, the ACLU is about to have kittens at the prospect of more clients.”

With a roll of my eyes I said, “The Sinestro Corps aren’t human.”

“I don’t really think the ACLU cares. It’s a chance to represent and alien species. Anyway, the boys in red, white, and blue want to know about the Sinestro Corps. Stewart gave them the need to know stuff to get you off the hook, but he’s not budging on other things.”

I shook my head. “It’s a moot point, Courtney. I took out their home base and their leadership yesterday. What’s left of them is in disarray at the moment and the GL’s should be able to mop them up a lot easier.”

“Oh… okay, I’ll let them know. But if you’re in the neighborhood, you still might want to stop on in, for PR’s sake if nothing else. Your image took a real hit.”

“Noted. I’ll see you soon.”

“Warrant?” Sora’nik asked as soon as the connection broke.

“The attack on Earth got filmed somehow and the government got their panties in a bunch because it happened in their airspace.”

She shrugged it off. “You’ll learn quickly that local governments are very territorial sometimes. On a happier note, your hand appears to be stable. I don’t like what it’s done to your blood and your bone marrow however.”

“As long as I can still function and I’m not looking at growing a crystal horn out of my forehead or something, I’ll let it go.”

“Try not to get traumatically injured in the near future, just in case.”

I blinked and tried to look innocent. “It’s not like I go out and hold up a sign that reads, ‘free pot-shots, and win a cupie-doll’ or something.”

She crossed her arms which was one of my more favored of her poses. “You attract trouble, Jade. Like a Mavonian rat attracts Pofors.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment, whatever it was.”

~O~

We needed drinks by the time the hour was up and the story told.

Guy was strangely contemplative as he swirled around some orange liquor at the bottom of his glass. “Just when you think your life has purpose, another case of ass-bite comes along and lets you know your place in the universe.”

Bleet was passed out on top of the table. Apparently his species doesn’t have very efficient livers.

Sora’nik sat by looking at me contemplatively.

“What?”

“I’m trying to picture you as a Guardian. I just can’t see it.”

“I’m not a Guardian,” I said.

“Not yet.”

“What?” Maybe the alcohol was confusing me.

She looked down at my hand. “Ring would you mind replaying the portion I’m talking about?”

“Not at all, Lantern Natu. Thank you for asking me.”

It was the part where Appa was giving me the turn to the dark side speech.

“You are at the precipice of your evolution, Jade. The Zamarons have seen to that.”

I watched as he motioned to my hand. I must have ignored it before, or I was so befuddled at that point that I missed it.

“You stand where I stood countless millennia ago, when offered a choice of remaining powerful and merely helpful or taking advantage of an offer for untold power and immortality so that you can mold the beings under your care into productive members of your society.”

When the replay stopped, I looked at Sora’nik and then at Guy who was staring at Bleet. Oh, nevermind, he was staring at my hand. Suu was staring at my hand… and Lyja as well. Slowly, I dragged it back and slipped it under the table.

The information that I was evolving or whatever wasn’t because Appa had any influence to make it happen, it was because the Zamarons had attached a new crystal hand to the end of my arm and altered my physiology. Apparently Appa considered this an evolutionary step up in my species with the possibility of becoming more in the future.

“If I turn blue and start to have an attitude problem, I give you permission to shoot me.”

Sora’nik smiled. “You already have an attitude problem.”

“But I’m still Caucasian… well most of me is anyway, and I plan on staying that way.”

“I wish I was purple,” Guy said with a drunken frown on his face. “Heh, I think my nipples are hard.”

I blinked. “Okay, what the heck is he drinking?”

The guards weren’t very helpful with their suggestions, but Sora’nik decided to offer something.

“You mentioned the users of magic on your world.”

I nodded.

“Perhaps we could consult one of them. Appa is known for his vast field of knowledge, but there is always something new to learn.”

Considering that for a few moments, I tried to think of someone that would be knowledgeable enough in the arcane to maybe know something about what’s going on. That was simple enough.

~O~

I contacted Gemma and we made plans to meet up at the headquarters for the BPRD, the Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense in Houston. About thirty minutes and three wormholes later, we exited into space above Earth.

Bleet was grumpy about being woken, but Sarl assured me that made him that much more dangerous of a fighter.

“There’s nothing more fearsome than a hung-over Hl’venite,” he said.

I looked back at Bleet. His fur had a pale tinge to it and he looked like he was about to barf. Fearsome was not an adjective I would attribute to the look.

“Uh-huh.”

My attention was drawn back to the big blue marble.

“Are you sure we are not going to be hunted by this planet’s authorities?” asked Sarl.

“I trust Courtney. If she says we’re clear then we’re clear.”

“If I may make a suggestion, Jade.”

I shrugged.

“Lyja’s shape shifting ability can be used to impersonate you…”

Shaking my head, I waved him off. “This is my home, Sarl.”

“As you command.”

It was starting to become clear to me when Sarl wasn’t happy with a decision I made he’d give that reply. “Come on, grumpy-bones; let’s see if we can save the universe with magic.”

We went in cloaked, just to be on the safe side. There was no need in tempting fate. No matter how good the security was at the Astrodome, the headquarters of the BPRD, it still couldn’t hold a candle to the infiltration abilities of a Power Ring.

Ring located Gemma’s position within the underground facility, which luckily enough was the strategy room. Abe was with her which made me slightly annoyed. I specifically told her it needed to be a private conversation.

It wasn’t that I didn’t trust Abe, but he was a normal human and once he found out about the threat to the world, I didn’t know if he would side with the metas or the mundanes.

When I dropped the cloak, Abe flinched and then frowned. “I hate it when you do that. How did you get through the aura shield we had put up?”

I cocked an eyebrow at him. “There was a shield?”

Gemma was suppressing a smile behind her hand, her little bracelet with the red stone twinkled at me.

“BLARG!”

“Why is there a chipmunk dressed in a Star Sapphire uniform yakking in my trashcan?” asked Gemma.

I motioned to the chairs surrounding the table for my guards. “He’s not a chipmunk. He’s a hung-over Hl’venite.”

“We’ll that explains that.” She leaned forward, fingering a rosary that was wrapped around her left hand. “So what’s up?”

My eyes landed on Abe for a moment before returning to her and she answered before I asked the question.

“If there’s an unexplained mystical phenomenon that needs explaining, then Abe’s your man. If it needs destroying then I’m your girl. If it needs annoying then I can call Liz in.”

“Secure the room, Ring.”

Acknowledged.

Several metal shutters dropped down covering the windows that were exposed to the outer hall and a thin violet haze covered the walls. Throughout the room, small violet orbs appeared.

Gemma and Abe looked around. It was Abe that spoke. “What are those?”

“Surveillance devices being silenced. This information must never leave this room, ever.”

Gemma looked like she was about to blow a gasket. “We’re bugged?!”

I shrugged. “Not anymore. I hope they weren’t expensive.”

Her right hand clenched and started to turn red, but it faded back just as quickly. “Oh, I hope they were very expensive. Whoever planted them is going to have to explain that expense to their superior. Would you mind…?”

I answered with a grin. “Suu, would you interface with the BPRD’s security computer and sweep the complex for everything that doesn’t belong?”

When I turned back around I had Ring display Appa’s picture of the Earth complete with all the neat little black lines crisscrossing everywhere.

Gemma looked at it for a few moments and then to Abe who answered. “It looks like a Lay Line map of the Earth. Sorry to tell you this, Jade, but you can get this off of Wikipedia. Though it…” He tilted his head to the side and then stood up to get a closer look.

“It’s shifted. Red, check out Houston.”

I rotated it and expanded the globe. “Whoa.” She looked at me, curiously. “Where did you get this, and is it current?”

“The map is current as far as I know,” I answered. “What’s a Lay Line?”

Abe sat back down, but his eyes kept exploring the globe. “Scientifically, it’s a series of chance alignments that really don’t lead to anything of any significance. It’s all just random chance that any three or more points eventually intersect each other. In other words, nothing of any significance can be attributed to the intersection points.”

At my blank stare he dumbed it down for me. “If I assigned points as New York, L.A., and Houston, and randomly drew a line in any particular direction, eventually they would intersect, over a point on Earth like Moscow or somewhere else. It doesn’t mean anything… just that there’s an intersection.”

“Okay, you said scientifically. Am I to assume there’s an unscientific explanation?”

His eyes went back up to the globe. “Magic.”

I looked back at my guards. They seemed interested in the explanation, except for Bleet. He was lying, propped up against the trashcan, holding his stomach.

“Sorcerers and various magic users are of the mind that the randomness of the intersections proves their point,” Abe continued. “The chaos of it all, that everything is connected in some way, but not in a way that is stable.”

He tapped certain areas on the map where the lines formed conjunctions. “These areas are theoretically the points where magic is highly accessible even for the layman. And Houston seems to be the grand-daddy of them all.”

Gemma broke in at that point. “That’s flows with what we’ve experienced in the past. There are always places on Earth where supernatural events are concentrated. Over the past two hundred years, it’s been in Hong Kong, Istanbul, London and New York. About a year ago, it moved to Houston. That’s why we relocated.”

I rubbed at my temples. “A year ago?”

“Yeah, right about the time that… oh.” She went quiet, as she probably came to the conclusion that it occurred when I became a Green Lantern.

“So…” I said as I gave my attention back to her. “Has anything out of the ordinary been happening, magic-wise in these areas?”

She shrugged. “Out of the ordinary, no, not really. It’s always been the way it is, as far back as there are written records.”

Pointing at her bracelet, I said, “Even that?”

“Strangely enough, yes. There’s always something weird and mystical on the horizon, and I’ve encountered and used my fair share.”

Abe had finally had enough of the globe. “Where’s all this going?”

I glanced back at my guards and then to Abe. “We have reason to believe that this is unstable, and if I don’t do something about it within the next year then the Earth goes boom.”

They looked at each other and it appeared they were saying something with their eyes or body gestures. Then Gemma nodded. “Kale.”

“Kale?” I asked. “Like the lettuce?”

Abe shook his head. “Jennifer Kale. She’s the most knowledgeable, besides the Sorceress Supreme, and we have no idea where nurmero uno is at the moment.”

~O~

You wouldn’t expect to find the second most powerful sorceress on the planet at the fifty-sixth floor of the Bank America building downtown. The top floors, I was informed, were all hers, and from Ring’s scan’s she was on there, floating over the middle of a big room.

The windows were blacked out to the naked eye, from our side, but Ring lit it up with a cone of violet light, letting us see through the walls and windows as if they weren’t even there.

From what Gemma said, Jennifer Kale was paranoid beyond reason. It was the only reason she wasn’t chosen as the Sorceress Supreme over the current holder of the office.

That was the reason I chose not to arrive in force. Instead I talked Sarl into allowing Bleet to accompany me as my pet. The Hl’venite didn’t like the subterfuge, but submitted since it was more likely that I stood a chance of being attacked.

Jennifer Kale was seated in the lotus position with her eyes closed, floating about four feet above the floor above a pentagram that was lined with several lit candles. There was nobody else around. Since I was getting bored waiting around for her to come out of the trance or her meditation, I dropped my cloak and tapped on the window.

Her eyes snapped open and she didn’t look too happy.

The Sorceress’ legs unfolded and she dropped to the floor gracefully before waving a hand and extinguishing the candles. It was obvious by the way she was dressed that she wasn’t expecting any visitors. Short shorts and a top that barely made it past her breasts was all that she wore. Not that it didn’t look good on her, it did. Pretty much any early twenties girl in good shape could dress like that and I’d think it looked good.

A few moments later she was by the window looking me over carefully and then mouthing, “What do you want?”

I pulled up a small version of the Lay Line globe so that I could easily shield it, but enough to let her know what it was.

“Answers,” was my reply.

She stared at it for a few moments and then leaned forward to get a closer look. Her eyes narrowed then shifted to Bleet.

After taking a few steps back she waved her hand and the window disappeared. “If you enter willingly and offer me harm, I will destroy you, impressive reputation or not.”

“I’m just here for information, so the same goes for you.”

She stepped back and cocked her head, so I entered and touched down. The window was replaced immediately. “I need to erect some privacy shields.”

Jennifer Kale narrowed her eyes again. “Mine are sufficient.”

“Ring, scan the area for surveillance devices.”

“Scanning. There are none present in this room there are several located underneath and in the adjacent buildings directed at this floor.”

She smirked. “And how many are penetrating my shield?”

“Three of twenty-nine.”

Her face turned murderous. A moment later her cell phone was in her hand and she was severely cussing out whoever was on the other end.

When she finally hung up she reluctantly nodded and the room was surrounded by a faint purple light.

“The damn NSA is employing every demon they can get their hands on to find out what I’m up to. I can’t keep up with their state of the art techno-magic devices.”

“Techno-magic?”

She looked at me wide-eyed. “Don’t think that it’s not out there. Alien technology mixed with black magic. But you’d know that wouldn’t you. You’re an alien too.”

I was beginning to think coming to her was a bad idea. She was seriously whacked out. “Actually I was born, at Texas Women’s Hospital. I’m a hundred percent human.”

Jennifer rolled that around in her mouth for almost a minute before setting the issue aside.

“What’s with your Lay Line map?”

Projecting the image again I expanded it, so she could take a better look. It was studied and Jennifer walked around it looking at the various points of interest. Afterward she nodded. “Looks right. So, what about it?”

“I have a good source that says something about this, um map, isn’t right. It’s unstable, growing.”

She looked taken off guard. “Unstable? It’s magic derived from Chaos. Of course it’s unstable. But if you mean more unstable than normal then you need to fire your source. It’s wrong. The lines of power have been the same since the beginning and they will remain the same. The web shifts around the world, never staying in the same place for more than a half-century, but never alters its shape.”

I was considering what she was saying and wondered if Appa took the shift into account maybe he was measuring the same power or whatever in the same place every time. Perhaps he had reached the wrong conclusion because what might have been a weak place a thousand years ago was now a nexus point today.

“Have you ever heard of the multiverse?” I asked.

She looked puzzled for a second. “Multi… you mean alternate dimensions? What about them? By the way, your chipmunk looks ill.”

I spared a glance at Bleet. “He’s hung-over.”

Jennifer took the news in stride like it was an everyday occurrence. The woman was seriously weird.

“You don’t want to mess around with other dimensions. Lots of demons. Dormammu is starting to become a serious pain in my butt.” She paused for a second. “Say… how did you hear about me. I go to a lot of trouble to stay under the radar.”

“BPRD. I have friends.”

Jennifer’s eyes went glassy and a look of pleasure drew across her face. “Has Red figured out a way to restore that gorgeous body of his? I tell you the man has stamina like you wouldn’t believe.” She held her hands almost a foot apart. “And his shlong… woof.”

“Uh, no.”

Her lower lip pouted out. “Poo. What a waste. Damn Sewer Fairies. I would have annihilated them for him, but he had to go and destroy the whole lot before… ah, ancient history.”

The globe blinked out and I was trying to get the image of Gemma possessing a foot-long shlong out of my head, but it was an unwieldy sight that just wouldn’t go away.

“Are we done? Can I astral project in peace now?”

“One more question.” She started tapping the toe of her foot against the hardwood floor. “Do you think the dramatic rise of the metahumans in certain areas can be attributed to the position of the Lay Lines… the concentrated areas?”

She pondered and stopped tapping the foot. “Sure. I can see the mystical energy that’s available in the area, especially Houston, could jump start them. Think of it like a bunch of firecrackers on the ground and a flame hovering over them. The bigger the flame is the more likely that any number could be lit. If the flame is big enough then all of them could go off. Boom.”

Boom.

~O~

By the time we’d gotten to Mars and bordered the Phy’zzon, I was tired of trying to figure everything out. I just went straight to my room, showered, and found my bed.

Eight hours later I woke up to silence. For once in about a week I hadn’t been awakened to find some kind of crisis. I lay in bed for another thirty minutes reveling in the calm and semi-sleep until I couldn’t take it anymore. It seemed like I’d gotten into such a routine that I could just stay there not being responsible.

The fact of the matter was there was a crisis that had to be dealt with, the sooner the better.

Once I’d made myself presentable, I had Ring place a call in to Appa.

“Hello, you’ve reached the message reception account of Appa Ali Apsa. He’s not available at the moment, but if you leave your name and sector number he’ll return your message as soon as possible.”

I frowned. Even on Oa, voicemail is the bane of my existence. “Appa, it’s Jade. I’ve run into a snag about the thing we discussed yesterday. We need to talk. Oh… 281…” Beep! “4.”

“Jade do you feel up to creating the next set of rings for assignment?”

“Already?”

“The secondary rings in most sectors have been claimed. There are still a number of primary rings in search for military minded wielders.”

“How many total are we talking about?”

“1510 of 1753 Primaries and 3802 of 3972 Secondary for a total of 5312 of 5725 Star Sapphire Corps members have been chosen.”

“Whoa. Didn’t we just send those secondary rings off a couple days ago?”

“The standards are much lower for regular Corps members, simply that they have the ability to possess great love, the willingness to help others, and the not evil restriction. There are a number of sectors that have few inhabited planets and those that will support life are limited to non-sentient life forms.”

That made me feel a little better. Apparently there was a lot of love in the universe. “Yeah, let’s make sure they get the help they need. The universe may be chock full of love, but it has its share of misery as well.”

While I was waiting for the guard to assemble themselves I thought about the Nexus/Lay Line problem. I wasn’t entirely convinced anymore that Appa was infallible. On the other hand, Jennifer Kale wasn’t the most stable person on Earth. However, she was paranoid. If there was a remote possibility that she suspected the Lay Lines might pose a problem then I think she would have been on top of it or making a big foil hat for her head.

“Ring, do you know how to detect these lines? I mean can you keep track of their growth?”

“I would have to have a Corps member in the vicinity to relay the scans, Jade.”

I frowned. “We don’t have any yet?”

“Yes, we do. You are responsible for Sector 2814.”

“Oh.” Bad Jade. “Well, hopefully we can send a couple to Earth and see if we can get any pickings.”

Until I spoke with Appa, I was tabling the problem.

~O~

The scene was becoming all too familiar: Planet Zamaron, cave, me standing in the middle. The only difference was that Ring sent everyone out and told them to watch from the entrance. I found out why a few seconds later. Virtually the entire cave was filling with purple and pink crystals.

“You’d think I’d be used to this by now.”

“Relax Jade.”

In an instant I was encased once more, except this time things went a little bit different than before.

“Greetings, Star Sapphire Jade Cross.”

The voice was very androgynous; I couldn’t tell if it was male or female.

“We are both and now, due to your sacrifice on Qward, we are one with you as well.”

I felt my heart start to hammer on the inside of my chest. “You’re talking about the loss of my hand, right?”

“Correct.”

If I could breathe properly I would have sighed in relief.

“We felt your need and sent you more than you desire at that moment in time. We apologize for the attachment and transmutation of your circulatory system without your permission; however it was needed in order to maintain the portion of you that we now share.”

“Well, um, thanks, I guess.”

“You are most welcome. Taking into consideration that we are a part of you now, we may travel go with you on your travels. It has been an amazing adventure. We are very pleased.”

That didn’t sound right to me. “I thought the crystals that we carried to power our rings were a part of you.”

“Sadly no. They were once part of us, but they are simply a type of relay now. You and your fellow Sapphires may access power and some minor talents through their crystals, but nothing is transmitted back.”

“So how did you know I was in trouble?”

…

“Hello?” I said when I thought I’d been abandoned.

“We are not sure.”

I mentally shrugged. “At least that’s an honest answer.”

“The Guardian Appa Ali Apsa, Jade Cross.”

“Um, what about him?”

“He is incorrect in his assumptions. You must not interfere with the life on your home planet in the way he describes.”

That revved me up mentally. “You know what’s going on?”

A pleased sensation coursed thought me. “Everything in the universe has its place, Jade Cross.”

“What’s that supposed to mean. Are those line things dangerous?”

“If abused yes. We have several on this planet as well. Please do not interfere with the natural progression of your planet’s evolution.”

At least they were asking me instead of giving me ultimatums. “I’ll monitor the situation and make my decision later.”

“Agreed.” A few moments passed and it opened another subject with me. “Will you accept the Guardianship of your Star Sapphires? We have the opportunity at the moment to complete your transition.”

“Transition to what?”

“Appa Ali Apsa was correct in his observation of your hand. It is the beginning for you if you wish.”

I wanted to rub my temples or pace, something other than being frozen in a block of crystal. “What does that mean?”

“Your talents have increased, Jade Cross, but you are still mortal while we are everlasting. The new blood that courses through your body will slow the process down, and the regenerative properties of your ring can slow that process even further, but you can still be injured. If you cease to exist then you will be lost. If you choose to be one with us you will not experience this problem.”

It didn’t take long at all for me to ask the next question. “What exactly does that entail?”

“Your body will become as your hand. Mobile, under your individual control, separate but a part of us.”

“You mean I’ll be like a human violet crystal…” I was about to say thing, but changed it to, “… person?”

“Correct.”

“No thanks. I’m fine the way I am.”

“Fear of the unknown is natural.”

“It’s not fear. It’s me. I like being who I am,” I said. “And I think immortality has more pitfalls than it has perks. Thanks, but no.”

“As you wish."

“Conversion Complete.”

TBC...