What Hope Gave Back - Chapter Three

Chapter Three


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Arkillo had to admit, he found the next few days interesting. Much to his amazement, Peesh started to open up to him despite his attempts to keep her at a distance. She didn't say much about her time with the slavers, but she became almost chatty when speaking of her family, or the group of scientists who had taken her from Astonia. Though he could see that the topics pained her, they had brought her so much happiness that she couldn't hide that away.

As such, Arkillo learned more about Saint Walker in those few days than he had after spending weeks with the Lantern. Walker was too humble to talk much about himself and, while idle chatter was hardly his thing, he found he liked the insight into his friend. However after several days he was starting to crave silence and found relief when she slept.

She was still sleeping more that he believed was average for her species. But each day he noticed a little more life in her. He'd considered telling her where they were going but he was too cautious - reluctant to tell her until he knew Walker himself was safe and well.

So it was with relief and anticipation that his ring finally told him what he wanted to hear - they were approaching Mogo. From the ship he watched as the Lantern-planet came into view. "Stay in the cabin, lock the door," he told Peesh, a bloodthirsty grin crossing his face. "You may not want to see this."

She looked worried but did as she was told, though she couldn't help peering out of the small window, curiosity easily getting the better of her. Her eyes went wide as bright figures rushed up to the craft, dressed in green and ready for a fight.

"Unidentified craft, you have entered restricted space." The booming voice of Mogo echoed around them. "State your intentions."

Turning on the view-screen, Arkillo let them see him - and he them. He snarled when he saw Kilowog at the forefront- he hated the Bolovaxian, perhaps more than any other Green Lantern. Maybe this time he'd smash that oversized jaw in for good.

"Kilowog," he snarled. "I have no business with you. Where is Rayner? Or do you prefer I beat it out of you. I am happy to do that."

"Arkillo!" Kilowog's face showed his absolute disgust. "What tricks are you playing now? What's in that ship? Or has your ring finally tired of hauling your scaly butt around?"

"Still a fool, Kilowog. You're lucky my time is short. Give me Rayner or Jordan. I have questions that need answers."

"Any questions you got, you ask me, yellow belly." Kilowog's arms were crossed defiantly. "Before I declare open season."

Arkillo growled. He wanted nothing more than a good fight. Yet he was no fool – this was neither the time or the place. He could always come back...

"Just tell me where our Blue friend is and I'll be on my way." He deliberately avoided using Saint Walker's name, sure Peesh was listening to as much as she could.

"And why would I tell you that? He's got enough to deal with." Kilowog, always one to stick to his guns, was spoiling for a fight as well, goading Arkillo with his refusal to answer.

"One of these days, Bolovaxian, I will rip your jaw from your skull."

"Yeah?” Killowog's body tensed, ready to attack. “Come on then, you can have a crack at me right now!"

“As you wish.” He got up, ready to exit the craft and rip the answers from Kilowog.

"No!" Hearing Arkillo about to exit, Peesh rushed from the cabin. Though Arkillo still scared her, she was even more terrified of watching anyone else die.

"Get back in there!" He roared, looming over her in his fury, the yellow glow reaching right to his eyes.

She squealed in terror and fled, a single moment all it took to remind her of just what her rescuer was - and that she still didn't know why he had her.

"Why the hell do you have an Astonian child?" Ready to fire, Kilowog stayed the other Lanterns with a gesture. "Has Sinestro sunk to taking hostages now, that desperate to wipe out the blue rings? Wouldn't surprise me."

"This is nothing to do with Sinestro. It... Is personal."

"Yeah, like hell." Kilowog's eyes narrowed as he considered his options. Whatever was going on, he wasn't about to risk an innocent life. But how did they get the child from Arkillo safely? They had to do that before they could even start to figure out why she was there. "Just hand over the child, Arkillo and I might not blow your brains out. If there's any to blow."

“I would like to see you try,” he snorted. Still, he had come here with the intention of handing her over – eventually. Perhaps it was for the best, though the thought of not seeing things through himself grated deeply.

He went to the cabin and banged on the door. "Stay. There," he growled, before leaving the shuttle. This time, he knew she'd obey.

Flying out, it took barely a moment for the Green Lanterns to surround him. His glare fixed on Kilowog, he flatly ignored the others. "Listen, Kilowog, if you can,” he growled. I need to find Saint Walker. Now. The child is in no danger."

"Yeah, except from you," Kilowog replied in utter disgust.

"I do not intend to harm her." It sounded unbelievable even to him. "She... Is Walker's child."

In an instant Kilowog had grabbed him in a fist shaped construct, the pressure squeezing his arms. "What kind of sick joke is this? His family died! And you wanna torment him with that?!" It was a sore subject for Kilowog, the loss of his own family a permanently open wound.

Countering with construct claws of his own, Arkillo attempted to pry Kilowog off, hoping to rip the Green Lantern's arms off in the process. "I know that! But she IS his child. She survived. And all I am doing is returning her to him."

"You expect me to believe you're doing something nice?" Kilowog snorted. "The rest of your story is ridiculous, but that takes the cake. I didn't hatch yesterday."

"Believe what you like, but it's true. I only came here because my yellow ring will not locate him."

"Of course it won't. Tell ya what... If you're telling the truth, you'll hand her over and let us do the rest."

"No.” Refusing to explain any further, he moved closer to Kilowog.

Kilowog's hammer appeared in his hand and he raised it, but he was stopped from attacking by a flash of white light placing itself between them. “Kyle?”

The White Lantern shook his head and turned to face his friend. "I thought we were past beating up on Arkillo?"

"Never," Kilowog muttered, never taking his eyes off the Yellow Lantern.

Kyle sighed. "Let me talk to him? Please? It's less likely to end in bloodshed." He looked pleadingly at his friend, feeling lucky that he'd arrived when he did. It was only when he'd been alerted to a large number of Red Lanterns in the next sector that he'd decided to get back up before continuing to investigate.

"Not always a good thing," Kilowog replied, but he moved aside to let Kyle talk, much to the White Lantern's relief. He had enough experience with Arkillo to know the alien wasn't entirely unreasonable.

"An' he's got a hostage!" The Bolovaxian yelled, as Kyle moved away.

"A hostage?" Kyle shook his head."Arkillo? What's going on?"

"She's not a hostage!" Arkillo flew at Kilowog, almost forgetting to use his ring and causing Kyle to restrain him.  

"Stop! Stand DOWN, Kilowog." Kyle glared and then gestured to Arkillo to come round the other side of the shuttle. "Okay. Now what the hell is going on?"

Kilowog out of the way, Arkillo put his anger to one side for the moment. "I found an Astonian child with Godorian slavers on Darvix V. I... owed Walker a debt and was sure he would appreciate my getting her out." He narrowed his eyes. "I was only replaying the debt, you understand."

Kyle internally rolled his eyes at Arkillo refusing to accept any possibility that he might be showing a gentler side. “Of course.”

"So I took her. Intending to drop her on Astonia and go. But then I learned she is Walker's daughter.” He held his hand up, stopping Kyle's protests. “Yes, I am well aware she is supposed to be dead. She is not. It is not a trick or a trap. No matter what the Bolovaxian says."

Kyle looked for any signs that Arkillo was lying – and found none. “But... If that's true... How? Walker told me how they died! His daughter drowned."

"He never found the body, you must know that. He didn't have time, his planet was dying. Look.” For a moment, Arkillo actually seemed to let his guard down. “She survived, it's her. I was going to take her to him, but my ring cannot find him. So I came here. I've not told her, in case something... Happened."

"Oh... No, he's fine. He um... He's rebuilding the central battery on Elpis... That probably interferes with communications." Kyle ran his hand over his face. "I can't believe this. Can I... Talk to her?"

Arkillo nodded. "Fine. But say nothing about Walker until he's confirmed safe."

Kyle nodded, hiding any reaction to Arkillo's concern for her welfare. He followed the other Lantern to the shuttle doors and stepped inside, following him to the cabin.

He watched as the large alien banged on the door. "You can come out now."

There was a barely audible patter of feet and the door slid open. He found himself looking at the young Astonian, her dark eyes wide and fearful.

"Hello..." He smiled as he looked her over. "I'm Kyle."

She glanced over to Arkillo, who nodded.

"I... My name is Peesh." Her expression fell short of a smile.

"Nice to meet you, Peesh. I'm a... Friend... Of Arkillo's." He didn't miss the muttered curse that was thrown his way as he said that. "I'm hoping you'll come and stay with us for a while. On that planet right there."

"I already told the Bolovaxian I wasn't giving up that easily." Arkillo interjected, before Peesh could reply. "I started this, I'll finish it."

"Okay, okay.” Kyle replied before it could turn into another argument. “Arkillo can come too. If he promises to behave."

"He will!" Peesh cried, before looking awkward. "I mean... I'm sure he will.” She remembered how easily he'd gutted the slave trader and winced. “I hope.”

Despite the seriousness of the situation, Kyle struggled not to laugh. Just the thought of this girl - he'd forgotten how slowly Astonians age - and the self proclaimed 'God of Terror' forming a connection was hilarious.

He smiled. "Arkillo, if you promise not to attack anyone - including Kilowog - or try to find tactical information or something - you can stay. Unconfined. Though probably not unguarded." Kilowog would never agree to that.

The thought clearly grated at the fear lantern, but, slowly, he nodded. "Very well. But you keep the Bolovaxian away from me if you don't want him dead."

Kyle wasn't really sure who'd win that fight, but he was in no hurry to find out. "Fine. Okay then. Can we go?" Because as soon as they were safely on Mogo, he was flying at top speed to Elpis. Someone else would have to deal with the Reds.

End Chapter 3