13th August
19:27 GMT -6
Recruitment stage
two.
I had assumed that my Corps could limp on without a Maltusian, just staying in the Vega region and recharging directly from the Orange Central Power Battery. Guy told me that he never had any problem recharging from the
Green Central Power Battery, and I've never had much of a problem with the orange light's addictive qualities. Personal lanterns would be
better and we'd need them
eventually, but they weren't a priority.
Having actually
encountered the Orange Central Power Battery now, I'm forced to conclude that that isn't a viable option. If the blasted thing could entrance
me then I'd dread to think of the effect of putting it on an inhabited planet.
…
Maybe that's a bit much. The Okaarans have had it on their planet for the entirety of their history and while I don't consider their present civilisation as something I'd want to emulate they aren't crazy avarice monsters. But I want to put it in -or at least
near- a major city, and that will be rather different to Larfleeze's hole in the ground in the middle of nowhere.
So. While Koriand'r oversees the disbursement of the prisoners and Komand'r reviews Tamaran's census records, Ghia'ta and I step through a hush tube and out into a Maltusian street. Airborne vehicles fill the air above us and tall buildings form a respectful circle around the Controllers' centre of operations, and through windows or just walking around I can see individuals from -quick head count- seventeen different species. Armoured caterpillars appear to be the most numerous, but the partial database I took from Jordan marks several of the others as belonging to species whose worlds the Reach has overrun.
"You're confident that this is the right place?" Because wouldn't
that be embarrassing.
Ghia'ta nods, taking in our surroundings without much concern. "Yes. The building was constructed before the peoples of Maltus separated. My aunt told me that she used to visit it frequently."
I take another look around. We don't
seem to have set off any alarms… "Remind me: what sort of terms are the Zamarons and the Controllers on?"
"We have little to do with one another. I have never met a member of another Maltusian faction." She gives me a nervous smile. "I am looking forward to serving as an Ambassador between our peoples."
"Well spoken, sister.
"
I look up as a
blue skinned man in red, orange and yellow robes descends from the sky. And
why his robes aren't flapping around his face due to air resistance I don't know. I suppose that when you're as powerful as Maltusians are supposed to be
little things like that are just beneath you. He lands lightly, smiling at us-. No, at Ghia'ta as he does so.
"Or should I say niece? I hadn't realised that our Zamaron sisters were breeding.
"
"Niece would be more accurate. I am far less powerful than my aunt or her sisters."
"Your aunt?
" He tilts his head slightly to the side.
"Aga'po?
"
"Yes!" Ghia'ta's smile is almost painful in its earnestness. "Do you remember her?"
"I never knew her
well, but I do remember her. Tell me, are you-?
"
"Sorry to interrupt-" I'm not. "-but I'm here to speak to the Controllers. Are you one?"
He focuses on me, and I can feel something push against my divine resistance.
"And an Apokoliptian.
" And he looks notably less happy about it.
"Curious. Is your maleficent overlord turning his attention in our direction?
"
"Don't know, don't care. Controllers?"
"You
are aware that the Controllers represent only a
minority of the Maltusian population?
"
"Fine. Do you know anything about orange power rings?"
"Power rings were never my field of study. You should probably talk to Krona, that was always more his sort of thing.
"
"I'm reasonably sure that the Guardians executed Krona for trying to look at the alpha event and fucking up the universe."
"Oh.
" He negligently waves his left hand.
"Then try Ganthet.
"
"Ganthet's a Guardian, I'm an Apokoliptian. If I go to Oa with an orange ring and a yellow ring they'll thank me for my time and destroy them both. And possibly me along with them. They certainly wouldn't help me."
"And Hinon can't help so it looks like you're out of luck. Oh well, never mind.
" He returns his attention to Ghia'ta.
"Do you intend to stay long? There are some lovely parklands to the south of here where we've recreated the original-.
"
"Hinon who?"
"Hinon Hee Hannanan, and I doubt very much that my Controller brothers would let you see her, especially carrying a
piece of the Anti-Life Equation.
"
"Never heard of her, and if you can get it out of me you'll have my thanks."
He shakes his head.
"I'm afraid that isn't my field of study. If you would like-?
"
"To talk to someone capable of being helpful?" I turn away, striding in the direction of the Controllers' building. "Yes. Have fun, Ghia'ta."
I
hear her sigh. "Grayven, you are being
you again."
"Yeah, well, this guy just told me he didn't know anything useful and couldn't help. I've got no reason to waste time on him." Hm. There's been some nice landscaping here. The colours of the leaves and flowers are a nice complement to the-.
The Maltusian man zips through the air to take up station just ahead of me, floating backwards to maintain the distance between us.
"They won't let you in, especially if you try treating them as rudely as you are me.
"
"They're useful, you're not, I have a Central Power Battery."
He stops in surprise, barely managing to drift out of my way as I stride past.
"You have a
what?
"
"The Orange Central Power Battery. It's mine, I own it, but it needs a service. Three billion years, one careless owner. I assume that you're incapable?"
"I don't know enough about the Central Power Battery, no. You would need to speak to Hinon directly.
"
"Excellent." I take the steps up to the front entrance two at a time. "Then I'll know who to ask for. Thank you for your help, you may be on your way."
He flits ahead again-. I'm not going to get rid of him, am I?
"I can take you to her, but I doubt that she'll be able to give you what you want.
"
"If a leading expert can't make a power ring then I'm never coming back here because you're all totally worthless."
"She's been in a coma for… Let us say three billion years.
"
"What a remarkable coincidence." I reach the front door and give it a push. No, not moving.
Hm.
YOU WILL NOT DEFY ME!
The doors
explode inwards, granting me access to what looks like a fairly generic-looking office lobby. I smile smugly to myself as I stride inside, two… Oh,
that's what proper Controllers look like, looking up. They don't appear to be alarmed. Actually, they look somewhat vacant. Bah, I have the name of the one I want.
"You, purple guy on my left. I'm here to speak to Hinon Hee Hannanan. Which way?"
"Our sister is not here for your entertainment, Apokoliptian. And I-.
" He stops for a moment, the jewel thing on his forehead glimmering.
"Or perhaps I am mistaken. Please, follow me.
"
armed
