16th September 2012
18:52 GMT
Dr. Balewa cautiously studies the construct helmet.
"I can not feel anything of the demonic about it. Are you well, Mister Brown?"
"I don't-? I mean, what do you mean? This thing just… Killed my son. Of course I-. I'm not… 'Well'."
With the helmet being a construct, I can just about see his face through the translucent orange. He's clearly distraught, but now that the immediate danger has passed at least the yellow has receded a little.
"Are you seeing visions? Are you in pain?"
"No. No, he hasn't said anything or done anything since…" Mike glances at me. "Since Orange Lantern did this." He looks around Dr. Balewa's workshop in the Hall of Justice. "Can I-? Take it off? I mean, no disrespect or anything, but I don't wanna… Wanna be here."
Dr. Balewa raises his eyebrows at me. "Orange Lantern?"
"I.. don't know. I mean, there's not normally a problem with removing Construct-Lanterns from things, but I don't know what magic Nabu is using to keep himself anchored."
"Can you not order him to end it?"
"Only if he can end it. If it's part of the mechanism that allows him to bind himself to people, that won't help. And I'll have to order him to tell us."
"I am heppy to research at length, but Mister Brown wishes to return to his family, and we have urgent matters to attend to."
"Mike, do you mind me waking him up a little?"
"Just… Get it off."
"Nabu of Cilia, can you be removed safely?"
"No."
"No what?"
"No... Master."
"Can that state of affairs be changed by magics known to you?"
"There are… Rituals. Rites. Vitality transfer techniques. But my magics are embedded in the body and soul of my host. It is supposed to be hard to remove me. Master."
"Can you be hidden?"
"Hidden?"
"Made completely transparent and intangible, made so that people don't notice that you're there, or anything like that?"
"I… Can, yes."
"Explain in more detail."
"I am a being of spirit bound to an energy construct. This form is malleable in certain ways."
"Any side effects for the person wearing you or those around them?"
"Any halfway competent magician would feel my presence. And you appear to have-" Mike's turns his head to look at Dr. Balewa. "-those."
"Less of your lip, Nabu. Are you able to perform these alterations yourself?"
"No. I require use of my host."
"Then I'm afraid that's the best we can do for now, Mike. Obviously we'll keep working-."
"Where did this bastard even come from?"
"A parallel universe where Earth is ruled by demons. We intend to prevent-."
"What-? That's what it was showing me?"
"Probably."
"And they're coming here? Oh God."
I shake my head. "I wouldn't worry about it. We're trained for this sort of situation, and while it would be helpful to have access to Nabu here, we can probably manage without him."
"Shit. Ah, but… He could..? Could help?"
"He lived in their world. He knows what they're likely to be able to throw at us. Or… Just what you saw. I appreciate that you've had an extremely traumatic experience and you have my utmost sympathy, so once Nabu hides himself I can take you right back to-."
"But they're… They're still coming."
"Unless we ward them off or attack them…" I nod. "Yes, probably. But this is hardly the first time we've been attacked by demons or parallel universes. That contribution-."
"Shit, man, the Sheeda killed like a billion people!"
"Of course, if you would like to contribute, Doctor Mist is the best person you could describe what you saw to. The more we learn about their magic, the easier it will be for us to counter it."
"Then I've got to, haven't I?" He shrugs helplessly. "Ask whatever you want, Doc. Telling you… That's the least I can do."
Dr. Balewa nods. "I would appreciate thet. Orange Lantern, will Nabu remain obedient in your absence?"
"Yes." I lean over and put my right hand on Mike's left shoulder. "This is a good thing you're doing, Mike, and we really appreciate it."
"Just get those bastards for me."
"Can do."
I raise my left hand to my forehead and
step out, returning
16th September 2012
12:55 GMT -6
to the material universe above Liberty. Kara is comforting Mike's wife and their other two children, but there is only so much you can do when they've just seen their son and brother… Melt.
"Kara, Mike's fine and he's sharing what he learned. We can make Nabu invisible, but getting rid of him's going to be a longer term thing. I'm-."
My ring flashes.
"New job. Answer."
"Orange Lantern."
I smile faintly. "Green Arrow. What can I do for you?"
"Remember what happened before Overgirl showed up? We're picking up those signals again."
"Where?"
"Hamburg. I don't know-."
"Nazi Earth has a major physics research institution there. We might be getting intentional visitors. I'll grab Angelika now."
I wonder if he'll be as stable as the Renegade's
