18758/HUNGER: The Oans Must Answer

HUNGER: The Oans Must Answer
Date of Scene:	17 August 2024
Location:	Oa
Synopsis:	A group of allies united against Galactus travels to Oa to demand answers from the Guardians of the Universe. They get some -- eventually.
Cast of Characters:	Hal Jordan, Monet St. Croix, Peter Quill, Richard Rider, John Constantine, Xiomara Rojas, Billy Batson, Susan Richards, Mantis, Carol Ferris, Caleb Dykstra
Tinyplot:	Hunger

---

Hal Jordan has posed:
While the trk to Oa was briefly interrupted by a stop checking in on the refugees of New Themyscira and to deliver the contingent of Star Sapphires who volunteered to help get the new colony up and running, it does not take long for the Earth-born (and disperate allies) to get back on track.

Transportation is provided by both the crew of the Milano that has involved itself in the investigation into just what was causing all of these galactic problems almost from the beginning, along with the sleek new Oan built star cruiser, the Interceptor that Hal Jordan comandeered for his own purposes.

Before he got involved in all of this. Before he disobeyed deliberate, direct and long standing orders to enter the Vega System. To discover the identity the slayer of multiple Green Lanterns -- the Herald Morg -- and to find that an entity capable of devouring entire worlds now had his sights firmly fixed on his own homeworld of Earth.

The trip is thus fairly quick and without incident, especially when the little convoy through space stops to pick up some additional Green Lantern backup in the form of two of the more respected members of the Corps -- Kilowog, primary trainer of new Green Lanterns, and Sinestro, perhaps the most highly regarded of their number within the Corps.

With those reinforcements in tow, it is only a short matter of completing the rest of trip, travelling to as near as the galactic center as is viable, to Sector 0 in Green Lantern terms, and the world that the Oans -- arguably the oldest sentient beings in the galaxy -- have chosen to make their home and center of their Corps of peacekeeprs and space cops.

The planet Oa irself is a striking world of gleaming technology and stark, minimalist landscapes. Its surface is primarily covered by vast, metallic plains and towering spires that stretch towards a sky tinged with the soft glow of green energy. The architecture on Oa is sleek and angular, with buildings made of polished materials that reflect the light from multiple moons orbiting the planet. The Central Power Battery, a massive structure radiating an emerald light, dominates the skyline, casting long shadows over the ground below.

The atmosphere of Oa hums with a low, constant vibration, the result of the immense power flowing through the Central Battery. The air is filled with the faint, rhythmic pulse of energy, occasionally punctuated by the sharp, crackling sound of Lantern rings being charged. Despite the technological grandeur, the landscape has an almost serene, otherworldly stillness, with distant echoes creating an eerie, yet calming soundscape.

Their arrival is greeted by Salaak (https://tinyurl.com/44b3et6p) chief administrator and liason to the Guardians amongst the Corps who informs them that the oans are aware of their arrival and will meet with them 'soon'.

Minutes turn to hours, though there are certainly no end of potential distractions for those seeking them, but finally the officious Green Lantern returns to escort them to the masters of this planet and the Green Lantern Corps.

Assembled atop a tall, open tower that juts out over the 'city' of structures that surround it, loomed over only by the Central Battery that shines it's emerald glow over everything, each of the Guardians (https://tinyurl.com/bd5zrybc) sits atop a tal plinth, on the seat perched up there, again to look down on all who would come before them.

"Hal Jordan, John Steward, Guy Gardner of Earth. Kilowog of Bolovax Vik. Thall Sinestro of Korugar. We have summoned none of you before us," one of the Guardians intones formally. "Nor have we summoned any of these outsiders. What is it that brings you before us all now?"

Monet St. Croix has posed:
She had come into this knowing little about the Oans beyond what references there were in the Starport database. Rapidly familiarizing herself wiht them, Monet was working on a number of mental conclusions. "Confrontation and being argumentative will be of no consequence, enitehr will threatening. We will get the best results in discussion by simply turning thier own arguments against them and using their own sense of bureaucratic apathy."
    What she had decided to focus on was their mentality. Their mentality that she presumed was much like the Temporal Variance Authority. Hidebound, asinine, and unable to operate outside of thier own operational mandates simply due to inertia and ignorance. When railed against they would dig in.
    "I doubt they will be remotely convinced by any emotional appeals or statements of threats to the galaxy or the risks and price paid. I would assume that changing thier galactic-view is impossible or it would have been done so. Whether or not they mean well, we can only operate within the framework of their own logic."

Peter Quill has posed:
"Hold on to your junk."

Peter Quill pulls down on a handle above him in the cockpit, the Milano jerks through a final Hyperspace aperture and down into the realm of the normal. The gravity gets real weird here, so there's a last leg that they have to do the 'old fashioned way,' even if that's still at some non-insignificant percentage of lightspeed.

Once there, Quill checks some sensor readings, various system outputs, a dozen blinking lights of which at least 90% give the expected output. Good enough for ex-Ravaager work.

"This is your Captain Speaking, we have arrived in Sector 0, aka the Galactic Center, aka shortie town. Please put your trays in the upright position and prepare to depart the craft. The local temperature is... well, enjoy your trip."

---

Once they've disembarked, Quill stands in the waiting area, giving his pants a little bit of a hitch as he distractedly looks around. It may or may not be his first time (not answering that one), but at least on this visit, he's playing cool. No trying to rob the vaunted Guardians of the /Universe/... just yet. Even if the name still bugs him.

Aside, to Mantis: "The WHOLE universe? I mean, come on."

Richard Rider has posed:
    Richard adds another formal note to the group, clad in his full Nova Corps uniform. He stands just to the side of the Lanterns, proof that the Worldmind either sanctions or at least doesn't oppose this cause. The long wait doesn't phase him, nor does the implied majesty of the Oans sitting far above as if in judgement.

    Heaven knows, the Worldmind has judged his actions any number of times since he was taken in to the Nova Corps.

    He remains silent for the moment, letting the Lanterns take things up with their bosses. The Worldmind had a very specific chat with him about antagonizing the Guardians of the Universe.

John Constantine has posed:
While it's been required from time to time for John Constantine to take to space alongside his allies in all the plots to save the world from imminent destruction, it's still very far outside of his wheelhouse. If the trip was a 'no-smoking' zone, he might have spent and unusual amount of time in the bathroom. He also may have chewed enough nicotine gum to kill a horse in those times where he couldn't sneak a Silk in the bathroom.

Even once they landed, he was nervous. Man can walk through the pits of Hell without blinking, but take him to another planet and all bets are off. Which means, he might just be more of a wildcard than is the norm. Lord help us all.

He's standing somewhere in the vicinity of Monet when she starts babbling things that make no real sense to him - for the most part.

"Right, so wee bit hive-minded?" Probably not exactly, but that's how it translated in John's mind.

Is this a designated smoking area? He doesn't give it a beat of thought - it is now. Unless someone forcibly stops him from pulling a pack of Silkies and that old gold lighter he's so fond of out to light up.

Xiomara Rojas has posed:
Under normal circumstances, Crush would take any excuse presented to go to space, though usually for her own personal needs. This time was entirely different, this time was about saving the only planet in the universe that she could call home. Earth may not really like her, might not even want her there, but it was where she grew up, so it was home.

Quill she knew. Quill she almost, sort of, well okay not really, trusted... but at least she knew him, and had been on the Milano before. For most of the trip she spends her time reading everything she can get access to in databases, not merely about the Oans, but literally everything she can. The more knowledge she had going in, the better.

Quill or Mantis may have gotten really tired of hearing, "I need access to..." along the way, but the Czarnian was bound and determined to be informed.

Reaching the planet and disembarking, she eyes Quill a moment over his comment and offers a lopsided grin, "Whole thing man, whole thing."

Billy Batson has posed:
Shazam is awestruck. But he's trying to hide it. His previous space jaunts were a couple dates on the Moon and a rescue mission to Brainiac's ship. The technology is everywhere and amazing and... he looks a little lost. His manner is something like a man struck deaf, suddenly realizing there is no background noise.

The magic? Where is the magic? This is a world devoid of it. It's a yawning emptiness. He doubts his door-portal to the Rock trick will even work here. He's very aware in many ways he isn't human but a creature of magic. He senses and welcomes the stray bits his companions bring.

Susan Richards has posed:
The Fantastic Four had been at the Atlantic Starport when the Silver Surfer had arrived on Earth. They had watched the situation unfold from their team's hangar within the starport. It had been a harrowing thing to view, but one that the team had been resolved in finding ways to help solve this situation before it got any more out of hand.

Sue had approached the crew of the Guardians of the Galaxy, upon their return to the starport, and asked if she could tag a ride with them. The Fantastic Four had split up, each with their own assignements.

Sue was thusly on the way to Oan with all the others.

Wearing a slim fitting light blue bodysuit, with a 4 textured across her chest, the blonde disembarked the ship with the others. She was rather fond of the Guardians crew, having mostly just listened and observed them on the flight. They reminded her... of her family.

With a number of sensor devices attached to a belt around her waist, Sue began to take a few recordings, she was wandering around the foot of the ship, and viewing the horizon past the building they had just arrived at. When she turned, her blonde hair swept in the wind around her shoulders, and her devices were slipped away back upon her hip. She moved to walk with the others, quietly listening for the time being.

Mantis has posed:
When the Milano touches down, Mantis stands at the top of the ramp to assist passengers off the ship if they need it. As each passenger moves to disembark, Mantis takes a flower lei from a metal shipping container down at her feet and would try to place it over their head. It is the tradition on this world according to what she was told by another member of the Milano crew. Why would they lie to her?

---

In the waiting area, Mantis stands at attention next to Quill. She wears her usual green and black martial arts outfit with a brightly colored flower lei around her neck. Her hands are positioned down at her waist, each fingertip pressed gently against its mirror on her opposite hand. She watches Quill's body language with muted interest. Finally, she opens her mouth. "Maybe we can ask them to change," she suggests, unhelpfully. Still, she watches Quill's response with wide, inky black eyes. Her antennae slowly rise as she anticipates a positive response from him.

Carol Ferris has posed:
Many know of the Green Lantern Corps and their contribution to galactic peace. Fewer know of the Star Sapphire Corps and their mission as the defenders of love across the galaxy. Their numbers are far fewer, their mission more obscure but no less important -- the defenders of love are the defenders of all people, and Galactus has snuffed out so much life and love already...

Star Sapphire, leader of the Star Sapphire Corps, entered with Green Lantern -- at least, _her_ Green Lantern, Hal Jordan -- though she didn't stand with the Laterns.

Clad in her distinctive violet uniform, her presence contrasts sharply with the emerald surroundings of Oa, a beacon of another power in a sea of Green Lanterns. She stands behind Hal, her posture composed and regal, in easy sight and summoning distance should he need her for anything, but out of the direct conflict with the Guardians. Her presence here, among the many other gathered on Oa, is tolerated, but her own Corps poses a potential challenge to the Guardians -- namely in the form of the Zamarons.

Diplomacy is the name of the day. Star Sapphire is here to represent her Corps, her mission, and the violet light of love that fades under this threat as surely as Galactus is an imminent threat to Earth, but she is also here for the one man her ring could summon from across the known universe in a time of need -- her true love. Hal Jordan. She trusts him, his purpose, his intentions, and the last thing she wants is to make this more difficult for him.

Caleb Dykstra has posed:
Caleb... Has said very little along the trip. But he'd gotten wind that there could be some information about Galactus, so he had to come.

The trip wasn't a smooth one for him. Learning the world could be months, or weeks from being the course of an intergalactic buffet will do that to someone who's otherwise just an ordinary guy.

But, in between moments of desperation, he was cooking up plans, trying to get as much information as possible along with Crush. And also, if need be... To leave it all behind, so the world could continue.

One life for eight billion. The needs of the many and all that...

So, upon arrival, he ponders, and decides to address Sue. "Uhm, Mrs. Richards? I'm Caleb Dykstra, and I'd like to have a word with you as soon as possible, if that's alright with you?"

Hal Jordan has posed:
It may indeed be worth wondering just what sort of treasures that Guardians do have locked up away in that towering Central Battery complex, the emerald light of Will shining throughout the galaxy, powering the thousands of Green Lanterns that are out their, empowering their rings with that same emerald light that allows them to oversee their Sectors, to face down the many, many threats that they have faced over the millenia. Threats that they have always proven to be equal to.

Until, possibly, now.

Just once, it might be nice not to go through this customary approach. Just once, it would be nice if the Guardians were open and welcoming, showing some clear desire to cooperate. To make the lives of the other beings they share the galaxy with a little easier. To share freely of all that purported knowledge and wisdom.

Though really, Hal just might die of shock on the day that actually happens.

The Guardians might be few in number over all, numbering in the dozens, not even hundreds of their nigh-immortal race remaining, but like any culture, any people there are differences. Ganthet at least shows some discomfort with his fellow's officious greeting, that cold superiority that they seem to employ to try and shut down any dissension before it can even begin.

But for the most part cold superiority is what they get from the little blue men in their red robes, perched high above those others that have come before them, that unwillingness to yield. To make things simple. Even in the face of a cosmic disaster.

Given their legendary, prickly nature it is not exactly a surprise that few others would choose to speak up, certainly not with members of their own Corps present, part of the number of the delegation come to demand answers.

"You know why we are here," Hal says, a certainly amount of resignation in his voice. There are a number of things that he needs to take up with them, but Galactus is the msot pressing and the issue of the Orange Lantern perhaps better addressed behind closed doors. An internal matter for now.

But Devourer concerns them all.

"You sentme to investigate the deaths of my fellow Green Lanterns. I, with the assistance of others here and those not present," he says, gesturing behind him to the Guardians -- of the Galaxy -- along with Nova, "have determined it was a Herald of this... Galactus. So we know the clprit. And now this entity heads towards my planet, the planet the a number of your Green Lanterns call home. So we have come to entreat you to share what you know," he says, working steadfastly not to look towards Carol, or his fellow Lanterns, gaze raised to those cold beings who look down over them all.

For a moment, silence reigns, then one of the blue skinned aliens finally chimes in, "You are impertinent Hal Jordan of Sector 2814. You used our orders as an excuse to disobey one of the Corps' oldest rules," he says coldly.

Then he is cut off. "You entered the Vega system. That is forbidden. And now you come begging favors?" the second Guardian asks, just as coldly.

"The entity you call Galactus is necessary. That is all that you need to know. It is as old as the universe itself. Its purpose alien and inscrutable, but essential. In the face of that, what is one planet?"

Again, Ganthet at least has the grace to look uncomfortable and though he does not speak up, he does direct hard stares at his fellow Guardians.

Monet St. Croix has posed:
Monet St. Croix would go to muse over, "Yet it is not merely one planet. It is many. Many in a short timeframe. We are seeing an accelerating rate of consumption. Whether or not the Entity is, as you said, necessary, is there not the risk that something within them is deteoriating or altering? They clearly are.. Devouring life force at an increasing pace. Does not the coming of entropy start over with an acceleration? The Entity is clearly becoming far more active, with no indications as to why. There must clearly be a reason for this vast change in behavior. If the Entity is truly a force over, as you said, necessary and inscrutable, then a major change in how they operate must be a portent."
    Monet goes to try and bring up the scenario as best she can - namely via logic. "I would presume that such an ancient being would have been at a constant cycle of behavior and pattern. And yet even on the lifespan of a species with as non-existant a comprehension of the cosmos as our own can pick up the changes to such a timetable. Something which has existed for billions of years does not change after billions of years in such an extreme way. Have you investigated? Have you reviewed data? Have you done any level of review to ensure that such an entity that is important to the existence of the cosmos has not osmehow been altered? Corrupted? Had something done to them which has altered their purpose? Your Guardians consist of fast responders to galactic events. They are charged with investigations of aberrant circumstances. So are they not performing their duty by taking notice of such a thing, acting upon it, and bringing it to your attention?"

John Constantine has posed:
"Well isn't this wanker a ray of sunshine," John mutters - perhaps a little too audibly - and around that cigarette dangling from his lips. But really? This isn't his arena, it's not his show, these aren't his clowns, it's not his circus, it's not his wheelhouse, so he bites his tongue and keeps from blurting out anything else that comes to mind lest it end with the whole lot being forced to walk the space plank or something.

He's just here for the information that may be dished out - might. From Monet's words to the cool reception Hal's receiving, he's starting to think maybe staying at home with that bottle would have been more productive.

There's one positive here - no one is likely to ask him to barter with his soul?

Monet's talking - a lot - about a lot of things that just kind of make John's eyes want to glaze over. Until the word corrupted, that he understands.

That's something to think about.

Carol Ferris has posed:
The tension in the room rises with every word exchanged. The Guardians' dismissive arrogance is infuriating, but Star Sapphire keeps her face neutral, a mask of composed serenity. Inside, though, her thoughts race, heart pounding with frustration. The lives at stake, the love that could be lost, and the cold indifference of these ancient beings gnaw at her.

'And now you come begging favors...'

Carol knows how her presence here may affect the mood of the Guardians, but her violet ring didn't choose her for her calm temperament. The passion and fire that roils inside her flares at that condemnation.

She knows Hal well enough to sense his frustration, even if he's doing his best to keep it under control. The Guardians are as obstinate as ever, clinging to their secrets and ancient rules, even in the face of a cosmic catastrophe. It must be killing him not to push back harder. She trusts him implicitly, somehow deep down knows she should bite her tongue, but she steps forward, anyway.

Stepping forward, Carol lets the soft violet glow of her ring intensify slightly, enough to remind the Guardians that she is not just an observer here. She is a leader in her own right -- leader of her own violet lantern corps -- and she will not allow them to dismiss her or the Sapphires so easily.

"Necessary or not," she begins, her voice calm but carrying an edge of steel, "Galactus is a threat that cannot be ignored. Love is what binds us all together, what gives meaning to our lives, and that's what we are fighting to protect. If you truly believe that the existence of Galactus serves some higher purpose, then share that purpose with us. Help us understand. Because standing by while countless lives are lost is not something we're willing to do."

She doesn't expect the Guardians to suddenly change their minds, but she knows she has to try. Hal is here for his planet, and she's here for him, for the people of Earth, and for all the lives and loves that could be snuffed out by this cosmic force.

The silence that follows is thick, charged with the weight of unspoken thoughts and barely restrained emotions. Carol holds her ground, her violet eyes locking onto Ganthet, the one Guardian who seems to feel some measure of discomfort. She can see the conflict in his gaze, the way his eyes shift between his fellow Guardians and the assembled outsiders.

She hopes he'll find the courage to speak up, to break the cold, unyielding stance of the Guardians. But even if he doesn't, Carol is ready. Ready to stand by Hal, ready to fight for what she believes in, and ready to protect the love that binds the galaxy together, no matter the cost.

Xiomara Rojas has posed:
Out of her league, that's what Crush decides, but there is no way she is going to let that show. Staying with the others, she looks at each and every one of the superior acting blue guys on their pedestals and wonders to herself if they are the only ones with the the information. Was it in a database somewhere on this planet?

Running her finger along the black chain around her waist, she remains silent and let's the others do the talking... for now. These creeps may not value the lives of others, may think themselves superior, but in the end they probably couldn't take a punch... but diplomacy was the name of the game today.

Peter Quill has posed:
"I... yeah I don't think they're really the kind of people who take criticism," Peter muses back at Mantis. He stands around with the others waiting, spares a sidelong glance as Sue makes it out of the ship. "Hey, first time right? Enjoy the flight?" Basically he engages in the usual Peter activities, which include, evidently, homing in on the nearest blonde. When it's not an Amazon. Or a green woman. Or...

However, while he might be content to spend his average visit to a weird planet flirting up his fellow travelers, this is sort of a big day. The Green Lanterns speak to the Green Lantern bosses. A whole group of Green Lanterns, too. Impressive stuff. He starts walking that way...

"Hey, hi. Peter Quill, also known as the Legendary Star-Lord." If THESE know-it-alls give him the 'Who?', swear to god....

"OK, maybe your guys are forbidden from going to Vega, but I'm not. I don't see Oan tags on the Milano. And, even if I haven't exactly been around, that rock that Galactus is aiming for just happens to be the one I was born on. So if you're not going to answer your ring-wearing lackeys, how about you answer me - or any of these people - as citizens of the whole 'Universe' you supposedly 'guard.'" He even does the air quotes.

Billy Batson has posed:
Shazam decides the lack of magic is too heavy to dwell on. Push on. For his 19 year old self that involves listening to a bit of music on his phone. Anyone who knows Billy, knows his choice of music: Queen, specifically 'Don't Stop Me Now.' Stat. He clicks on his Kryptonian made earbud. It's a little loud, carrying a little beyond the piece and he grabs his phone to dial it back a little.

Then the Guardian's words registers on him. He shuts the phone and rises till he is nearly on their level.

"What if that one world was Oa? Would that make a difference. Would that get a rise out of you? You style yourselves as gods, immortal, wielding great power, commanding hosts. But I deal with gods all the time and... you're scared. You don't want to seem a threat to this thing. Well I will threaten it all right. For all I'm worth and if Earth falls there won't be enough rings to keep me from you."

Susan Richards has posed:
Mantis had given Sue a flower, and with it, Sue had given the woman a smile back. She'd trundled down the ramp of the Milano, and had slipped the flower in to her hair where it was secured via a clip amongst her blonde locks. Once outside, and having finished her scans for Reed, Sue caught Caleb's approach. She considered the young man for a moment, before nodding to him. "I'm happy to chat on our way home, but for now, we'll need to focus on what we came all this way for. Hit me up when we get back aboard?" She asked him in return, before she'd followed after the others.

Sue found a place on the peripheral edge of the conversation, and when she began to get a taste of what these beings were like, she felt a sour feeling from it.

Her blue eyes glanced to her companions, and though part of her wanted to stay quiet, another part of her wanted to speak up.

"You realize that this is our home, right? Should Galactus destroy it, I can promise you that it would kill a lot of innocent people, who have very little power to stop it from being lost. But I can also promise you that those who would survive its destruction, would be a fair number of Earth's greatest powered people... And if you are witholding information that could have saved our home from total annihilation? Well, I know that I would personally hold your people, here, equally as responsible for my home's loss, as I would hold Galactus. As far as I'm concerned, this is your chance to declare yourself a friend to our people, or declare yourself... something else... entirely."

Richard Rider has posed:
    Rich has had this kind of talk before, as the Worldmind has it's own book of ironclad rules. Which he has broken far more than once. But the Worldmind could usually be reasoned with, brought to see a new viewpoint. It wasn't easy, but it was possible. These guys, however, were of a completely different type. He recognized them right off - bureaucrats, with no real care for anything outside of their chosen task. After several others have their say, he takes a stop forward and speaks up as well.

    "The Nova Corps also recognizes the danger that this being represents. Earth is an important planet, possibly the most important in the universe. It's some kind of nexus of magical and dimensional events. Look at the group gathered before you and tell me, does any other planet in the universe boast such a number and variety of powered individuals? I can answer my own question, by the way - No. No other planet even comes close. You absolutely cannot let Galactus consume that world. Look into your databases and libraries and tell me, what do they say about Earth's importance? Have you bothered to check that before signing off on it's destruction?"

Mantis has posed:
Mantis leans forward so she can get a brief look at the strangers who flew with them today. For reasons that might never be clear to her, the people of Earth don't always take well to space travel. Her expression changes appropriately as she takes in their emotional vibrations, experiencing each of them in her own private way. When people are happy, her eyebrows tend to rise, antennae perked, but feelings of anger, fear, and sadness tend to deflate her a bit, like a balloon being let out. Unsurprisingly, the assembled group is a cornucopia of anger and anxiety. In particular, her brow relaxes and her expression falls as she watches Crush for a few moments, almost like she feels sorry for her for some reason. A brief glance in John Constantine's direction sours Mantis in an instant, almost like she just took a bite out of a giant lemon.

Mantis' empathic powers thrum intensely as the Guardians of Universe stir reactions from their audience. Anger is the prevailing emotion today. Seething. Boiling. It's usually a bad idea for an empath like Mantis to dabble with Lanterns. In fact, she makes a point to avoid experiencing Carol as best she can, even stepping around Quill to almost use him as a shield to keep her safe from the emotional beacon that is the Star Sapphire...

Curiosity gets the better of her, though, and it's not long before Mantis starts considering the Green Lanterns in attendance. Her gaze passes across each of them --Hal, John Stewart, Guy Gardner, Kilowog -- as their emotions trickle in. When her inky black eyes finally reach Sinestro, Mantis is unable to keep herself separated from his seething anger.

"You call yourselves GUARDIANS but you can't guard a single planet!? You guys are just a bunch of....a bunch of.... CHUCKLEFUCKS!" Mantis screams, suddenly unable to keep herself composed. Not completely aware of the meaning of what she said, especially 'chucklefucks', Mantis looks up in horror and covers her mouth with both hands.

Caleb Dykstra has posed:
The young Gothamite nods to Sue, "Will do."

And then, he hears what the Guardians have to say.

And his eyebrow twitches.

Okay, this has become a no-holds barred fro him.

"Excuse me... Guardians of the Universe, right? That's your title, am I right?", his voice sounds... pretty normal and relaxed.

Until it doesn't.

"ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING US??" Ohh, boy! "Are you telling us that Galactus is out there because you consider him /necessary/??" He summarizes, "So, you're telling us, that the guy has been out there since the beginning of time munching on worlds, and you, with your Lantern Corps, have let him roam freely, killing billions upon billions of /sentient beings/ and yet you have the gall to claim you protect the universe, and yet possibly the greatest of all threats has been left unchecked!??"

He looks around at all the assembled Lanterns, "That a number of these people, /your soldiers/ under /your command/ have died at the hands of one of his Heralds /and you knew/, and you just wanna /sweep it under the carpet/!!?? Because it's /convenient/ for the universe that billions die??"

"I-", he chuckles, really the nerves affecting him, "I-I can't. I can't." He looks at the others, "I can't keep my cool."

Back to the Guardians, "I hoped to see a united front against a threat, but I just see the same I see back on my planet - a bunch of politicians with too much time on their hands, and their thumbs up their asses! Grow some backbone to match your heads, why don'tcha?" He looks to everyone of them in turn. "For all the blue skin, you all look a little yellow to me..."

"YOU DON'T DESERVE TO BE CALLED GUARDIANS!! BECAUSE YOU GUARD SHIT, IF YOU LET A PLANET KILLER ON THE LOOSE!! YOU GUARD NOTHING!!"

Tears of rage are flowing from his eyes at this point.

It's almost palpable...

If only Atrocitus were here...

Hal Jordan has posed:
In their customary winning way, it doesn't take the Guardians very long at all to pretty much annoy or just generally piss everyone off, now goes it? They just have that kind of manner about them

Maybe it is their cold, harsh and unforgiving approach to things. Maybe it is that sneering sense of superiority, the fact that they look down on the 'lesser' races. Maybe it is the fact that in the face of planetary anihilation they hide behind their cryptic little excuses that Galactus is somehow 'necessary'. But that the reason for it is somehow unknowable. At least to those that have come to beseech knowledge for the hope of saving their world.

As those below begin to raise up their own voices, to object to the casual dismissal of the ancient and powerful rulers of this world, to the overseers of the legacy of the Green Lantern Corps, most gain only a shaking of their heads and fixed glares. Is that emotion on their cold, otherwise expressionless features at last? Is that anger. "Insolent," one of the Guardians mutters. "Unworthy," comes from a second. "You Earthling are too arrogant," comes form a third, his cold gaze sweeping over those gathered below, be it Monet or John Constatine, on to Caleb.

Still another fixes that glare on Carol and the purple glow that surrounds her in such stark contrast to the green glow that otherwise seems to permeate the planet. "The Zamarons no longer amongst us, our shared heritage a distant thing. We seek no council from them, any more then we do from their servants," a fourth Guardian states cooly. A fifth turns his attention towards Shazam, towards Susan and their more reasoned words. "Oa is an ideal, not a place, child of lesser godlings. It has been destroyed before, it will been destroyed again. But the ideal lives on, in us, it's people. The last of the primgenitor race in this universe," he states, perhaps a trifle more reasonable then his indigant fellows. "I sympathize for your impending loss," he adds, swinging his gaze to Sue. "But the Guardians need to be concerned with the entirety of the galaxy. Not just one world within." More reasonable perhaps, but the 'No' is just as bleak and, in the end, just as heartless.

The representative of the Nova Corps receives the same condescending treatment that the Star Sapphires received, one of those tiny blue skinned aliens turning pitying eyes towards Rich Rider. "*We* do not sign off on anything. *We* do not determine the actions of this entity you have dubbed Galactus. We simply do not battle fruitlessly against the inevitable. Sometimes one must pick their battles." "We know of you Star-Lord, and your haughty presumption to declare yourself a Guardian of the Galaxy," another of the blue men says dismissively. "You are correct. Your business is your own and none of our concern. And entirely beneath our notice." One hopes the Oans never need to ask favors. He gestures towards Mantis, encompassing her in the insult as well, though his brow furrows, perhaps failing to understand exactly what a 'chucklefuck' is. It doesn't cound complimentary at the very least.

"Enough of this," another Guardian finally says, disgust clear in his tone. "We waste our time." At that, and with no other word, the Guardians begin to lift up from their seats, floating above the assemblage below.

At that Sinestro rises up into the air, his purple features a tightly etched expression of barely controlled anger. "If you will not listen to these people, then listen to me. Long have I been your most lauded Green Lantern. We are charged to defend our Sectors and that is what these people are attempting to do here. You would deny them? You would deny me?" he asks, anger and disbelief at war in his words.

Hal Jordan has posed:
As the Guardians -- all save one, Ganthet -- begin to gather above, begin to swoop away, Sinestro's declaration makes them pause. Just for a moment. "Of all of those who have come before us this day, yours is the most disappointing presence Sinestro. Trust in us. In our Knowledge. In our Will. Do not let your arrogance lead you astray again," the figure says bitingly.

The Guardians do pause before floating beyond the confines of the tower entirely, glancing back towards the one of their number that stays beyond. "Ganthet," comes the warning entreaty from the rearmost of the departing assemblance. "Always we act as one. Do not defy us in this," the figure cautions.

"I am sorry my brothers and sisters, but you are wrong. I will do what I must," the solitary Guardian states with a heavy sigh, turning his back on the others even as they do the same to him.

"Very well. Upon your own head it shall be," they state flatly. And then are gone.

With that, Ganthet floats down from that lofty perch, descending to stand amidst all the others gathered. "As your questions and I will share with you what I can. Whether it is enough to allow you to find a way to save your world, I do not know. But all beings deserve that right. All beings deserve to live in Hope."

Monet St. Croix has posed:
Well, there's always an outlier amongst the group. This is enough to confirm to Monet her initial perspective of the Oans - minus that they might actually respond to logic put within their own worldview. That puts them away in the realms of mostly useless fodder completely detatched of reality and therefore of no further effort of approaching. Filed away and to be eternally dismissed as unimportant. Let them waste away in thier little hole of denial and oblivious until heat death consumed them all.

As Ganthet comes to offer to answer all their questions as best he can, Monet goes to mostly stay silent. The affairs of the cosmos are something that is far beyond her ken.. But, based on what has been said..

"How, exactly, is Galactus a -necessity- of existence as it was stated?" That's a start. A cosmic balance, of yin and yang needed to exist for certain things. Thus to see of what import Galactus actually -was- before they went to poke at him too heavily back.

John Constantine has posed:
It's honestly more like sucking on a dirty sweat sock. John's eyebrows raise just a touch. He plucks the cigarette from his lips, drops it the ground and grinds it out under a heel.

Because he needs his mouth empty when he brings two fingers to his lips and /whistles/ after Mantis shows what she's made of. After the whistle, he starts applauding enthusiastically. "Good on you, luv! Tell'm like it is!"

But then there's some sort of kerfuffle happening and John's applause dies off. Someone offering to answer questions, now we're getting somewhere.

John lights another Silkie and settles in to listen - perhaps ask a question or two of his own should one come to mind.

Peter Quill has posed:
Peter may not be privvy to the level of emotional juju Mantis is dealing with. But he's also a great big man-child, and the instinctive reaction to such blatant name-calling? Well, it's to chime right in:

"Yeah! A bunch of funny looking, big-headed CHUCKLEFUCKS!"

The two of them standing there hurling the most childish of insults may reinforce a certain image. Say of young siblings chiming in, ganging up...

They have words for him, and they don't help. "Well from where I'm standing, I do a hell of a lot more 'Guarding' on the average day than you blue oompa-loompas. Maybe its JUST a Galaxy, but at least we're out there! From where I'm standing, the only people who do any work around here are standing in front of you," he waves a hand at the group that Hal leads, and the other remaining senior lanterns, survivors of the prior corps. "So I'm not even sure what qualifies you for the title if they're not on your side, either?"

Maybe he can get the trademark in the argument...

OK. It's not going well. They're leaving. Sinestro is mad. "Wait, SINESTRO?" He looks around. "You don't find that ominous, or...?" Not now, Peter. It's a bit of chaos, until there's one left. But he seems cooperative.

"...hey, so, sorry about that oompa loompa thing..."

Susan Richards has posed:
Earlier, on the approach, Sue had regarded Peter and shown him a soft smile at his words to her after disembarking from his ship. "It's a great ride. you have a very handsome, crew..." She'd fired back, able to play the game that the younger man is toying with with her, and through it she shows him a faint grin, before they had all settled in to their task at hand. During the various speeches, Sue had slowly maneuvered behind Peter, coming in from his right side, and ending up on his left. She glanced at him after he'd spoken and nodded once in affirmation of his words. She didn't know the captain, but after listening to Mantis' words, she was really starting to appreciate what the Guardians of the GALAXY could bring to this galactic table.

Sue was quiet for now, though she did end up migrating over toward Caleb, and becaue of his condition, she leaned over his shoulder lightly, whispering toward his right ear. "Keep it together, kid." Sue encourages him. "You're here representing Earth. It is your time to not fall to pieces."

She was an experienced mother, and whether that played in to any of what she was trying to bring to the table here herself? Well, that is up to others to decide. When she migrated further, her eyes fell upon the Oans once more, before she looked toward her companions, and calmly tried to keep tabs on their well beings without any empathic abilities of her own to lean upon for the task.

Billy Batson has posed:
Shazam lands. He gives Mantis an enthusiastic thumbs up. "Maybe... come on Solomon... maybe there are survivors, from planets Galactus destroyed? Maybe we can learn from them what we're up against at least? They might have ideas."

Xiomara Rojas has posed:
As the Oans, supposed Guardians debate humanity, Crush starts to pace behind the others. Something was building up inside her, something she didn't like and need to keep in check. There were times when she could very easily become her father's daughter, and this was one of them. The human race was young compared to many others out there, they were arrogant, and head strong, willful and well young, but that was what made them a powerful alley or terrifying enemy.

As the Guardians move to leave, she stops and looks after them with a, "YOU SONS OF...." then Ganthet defies his siblings and stays, which cuts her off. He was offering to answer questions, he was going to help them. Of those present, only Mantis knows what the Oans just avoided, what Ganthet's actions did that saved them.

Taking several deep breaths, shaking her hands like a fighter does to get the blood flowing, even bouncing on the balls of her feet, she 'shakes off' the rage that had just reached it's peek point. Czarnian rage was no joke, so it took her a few more bounces and pacing to get it back under control.

"Chucklefucks," she snorts, then goes back over by the others. "You said it Mantis, that they are."

She herself has no questions, she will leave that to the brighter minds with more information.

Richard Rider has posed:
    Rich joins the group around Ganthet, but his first question has already been asked. Once they know what this entity had to exist for, they might find a way to work around it, redirect it in some way. He glances over at Sinestro and gives him a quick smile and nod for standing up to his bosses. The Green Lanterns on Earth may be known as the types the push the envelope, but this guy is apparently one of the best and brightest, and even _he_ is pushing back against his leader's wishes.

    He adds his question to the pile growing on Ganthet's docket. "Since he's needed in some way, can't we just aim him somewhere else, preferably uninhabited by sentient life? I know any number of worlds brimming with life, but all at a non-sentient level. Surely there must be a way to make those more appealing to him?

Carol Ferris has posed:
Carol's heart pounds with frustration as the Guardians dismissively float away, their cold indifference leaving a bitter taste in her mouth. The arrogance, the condescension, the utter disregard for the lives at stake -- it ignites a fire within her that she struggles to keep in check. Her violet aura flares briefly, a reflection of the emotions she's holding back, but she forces herself to remain calm. This isn't the time to lose control.

She watches as Ganthet, the lone Guardian who chose to stay, descends to the group. His words are a breath of fresh air amidst the suffocating arrogance of his peers. Hope. It's what she and her Corps stand for, what they fight for. Even now, with the threat of Galactus looming, it's what drives her forward.

"Thank you," she says, her voice steady, though her heart is still pounding. "We don't need promises of victory, only the chance to fight for those we care about."

She steps forward, her gaze locked onto Ganthet's, her determination unwavering. "Galactus is not just a threat to Earth. His presence endangers everything we hold dear, everything we've sworn to protect."

She pauses for a moment, considering her next question carefully. "If he's essential, as the other Guardians claimed, then why Earth? Why does he target specific planets? Is there a pattern, a reason he chooses certain worlds over others? Has he been stopped in the past? If so, how? There must be records, histories of others who have faced him and survived."

Caleb Dykstra has posed:
"Mrs. Richards", Caleb says, his vocal chords sore. "If I'm here to represent a planet that's about to face its direst - and possibly last - moments, I'd say speaking out in outrage against cosmic injustice is representing it just fine."

He chuckles at Mantis, "Good one..." Yeah, he may've hurt his vocal chords.

But maybe the group's words of outrage have not fallen of deaf ears, since Ganthet appears to descend from his spot and come to offer information. He's about to say 'thank you', but his voice is barely audible. He coughs, taking his hand to his lips.

John Constantine has posed:
"Well, look at you, an a'right bloke in all this chucklefuck mess, refreshing. I got a few queries of my own. I've been told that this Ultimate Nullifier thing is in this Galactus wanker's possession. Is there a reason he hasn't just destroyed it? Used it himself? Just not an enemy strong enough that he needs it or?" John asks. He has some ideas, maybe it's just indestructible? Or maybe it's something else. It's worth and ask anyway. But he's not done yet.

He lights another Silkie and tucks it between his lips as he asks one more question, "Galactus, that doesn't sound like the name of somethin' what's been around since the dawn of it - do you know its true name?"

Names are important.

He glances around at the gathered masses and for a moment, just for a fleeting moment, he's damned proud to be an 'Earthling'. Or maybe that's just the tacos he had with his scotch last night?

"Takes kind of a big arse ship to hold something. like this Galactus, you know where it's parked? How we might actually get inside it without getting, y'know dead?"

His face scrunches a little as if he might be thinking - or maybe that's just the tacos he had last night with his scotch?

Nah, that's all he's got.

Mantis has posed:
Mantis didn't mean to call them that word -- whatever it meant -- but was so sure it had compromised everything. It had been a minor fugue state fueled by Sinestro's anger and, unable to control herself, she called them a bunch of chucklefucks. She was so sure that it had compromised the mission, that it would ruin their chances of getting actual information out of this, that she had all but doomed the Earth. But, that's not quite what happens.

Mantis looks around and listens as shows of support come from several of their travel companions. Some are shouting, too, but not at her. She watches with a coy smile, embarrassed but also a little proud. Her fingers are dilly-dallying with each other down at her waist. That's all fine and good, but what about Peter? What would he say about it? Did she just buy herself a one-way ticket back to Ego? When Peter Quill takes his place at her side, her antennae and eyebrows rise. Her smile can barely be contained by her own cheeks. What she said a moment ago was an accident, but now that Peter's here? Maybe this is that 'fun' thing he's always talking about.

"Hold me back, hold me back, hold me back!" Mantis shouts, now behind Peter and shoving her chest forward against his back, as though she's trying to pick a fight and Peter's putting a stop to it.

The moment passes, though, as the Guardians putter away without Ganthet. Mantis slips back into her usual posture of standing quietly with her hands down at her waist. Still, curiosity gets the better of her and she can only stay silent for so long. Mantis leans in to ask Xiomara something very important.

"What is a chucklefuck?" she wonders.

Hal Jordan has posed:
While he might wish it otherwise, Hal can't truly be surprised at how it all turns out here today. That the Guardians would choose to retreat behind disapproval and self-righteousness, rather then give reasonable answers to reasonably questions.

But then he is also not exactly shocked that at least one of the Guardians has broken with that stark tradition of obstinance. Has chosen to remain behind. To offer what answers he can to those gathered. To those seeking to do the right thing, no matter how stacked the odds might seem to be for them.

And it leaves no doubt in his mind at all of just who Hal is going to have to have a chat with regarding the Orange Lantern and it's strange wielder that he found hidden beneath the surface of Okaara.

While there might be some palpable relief that at least one of the Guardians would choose to linger, would choose to answer their questions -- along with a lot of name calling and insults.. all well deserved -- hurled at the backs of the departing Guardians, there is still that tension hanging in the charged air of Oa over just what it is that they might finally discover.

At least there is for some. For others, like Sinestro, he hangs in the air where he was, still wrapped up in that green glow, staring with clear disbelieve after the departing Guardians. The masters he has served better then any of the other thousands of Green Lanterns. Masters that have publically rebuked him.

And the anger seethes from him despite the tightly controlled mask his purple features otherwise make.

Lowering himself back to the ground, back amongst his fellow Lanterns, he offers a few tight, clipped words. "Find our what you can here. The Guardians have already proven they are not the only source of power in the galaxy and increasingly I question if they are the most deserving of our service. Learn about this Galactus, about this Ultimate Nullifier. I go to seek another weapon in which to aid us," he says, his voice as barely in control as his expression.

Then he shoots straight up into the air, little more then an emerald streak that vanishes into the night sky in a heartbeat, leaving his fellow Lanterns peering after him warily in his wake.

"To understand Galactus' purpose, you must understand his, it's existence," Ganthet says heavily. "Galactus is one of the primal forces of the Universe. He is the last surviving sentient being of the Universe that preceeded our own, known then as Galan of Taa'an according to legend, before being swallowed up as that reality experienced it's final heat death. Then 'born' anew into this reality at the moment of creation. And in that moment he was inevitable, inexorably tied to the Power Cosmic. Perhaps the essence of the universe itself. He is a wellspring and that power should not, cannot be allowed to die," Ganthet offers up quietly," giving that explanation to Monet's question.

At the questions from Nova, from Star Sapphire, the little blue man swings his gaze towards them. "What drives him to consume the life essence on any planet is a mystery, even to the Oans. It is both reassuring and terrifying that after all these billions of years of existence there are things that are still unknowable to us. The hungry drives him, that we know. It sustains the cosmic power that he in trun feeds ot the universe itself. But how he selects his targets? That we do not know," Ganthet admits.

"But," he adds, "Your notion is a good one, Richard Rider, representative of the Nova Corps. This entity has been turned aside in the past. He must endure. Survival is his overriding function, an impulse that he cannot resist. If the energy that he must expend to consume a world is greater then the energy he will reap in consuming it, he can be deterred. Can be turned aside and forced to seek out other worlds to consume," he offers up.

Hal Jordan has posed:
"This is why the Ultimate Nullifier has been effective in the past. It is an ancient weapon with enough power that it can damage him. Enough that the threat of it's use has turned him aside in the past. Before he seized control of it for himself, at least."

At the questions about the nullifier, Ganthet looks discomforted once more. "Some few of you know that the Oans and Zamarons are actually descended from another race, an older race. The first race. The Maltusians. The Ultimate Nullifer was created to fight a vast galaxtic war near to the dawn of time. It's power is such that Galactus cannot destroy it without destorying himself. And he cannot destroy himself. It is entirely foreign to his very nature," Ganthet offers up.

That final question regarding the ship brings a shrug from Ganthet. "That I cannot say, beyond that it will be in close proximity to Galactus himself. While he might not need it to travel the cosmos, it makes it easier to do so without consuming additional eenergy. It likewise holds the apparatus that he must setup before consuming the worlds that he devours to maximize the efficency of the energy transfer. So it is indeed a point of vulnerability."

Monet St. Croix has posed:
Information. Useful. Disturbing. Extremely disturbing. Of the history of the Oans and of the primordial universe. The likes of which only the eldest of beings, the most knowledgable of Earth could have fathomed to ever learn. So when the expression came 'with knowledge comes power'.. Why did this knowledge not make her feel any m ore empowered? Monet listens to Ganthet attentively even over as she would watch Sinestro fly away in rage. Watching a member of the Justice League depart, her attention shifting back to Ganthet.

So they had a way to stop Galactus, and a theoretically tangible way of doing so. That was at least a start. Now they had to find his ship, find Galactus, and locate hte Ultimate Nullifier. Difficult, perhaps impossible. But there was a way out of the war of extinction. Monet's face would be twitching instead of it's normal neutrality bordering on belittling passivity.

But reminding herself to stay very quiet so the others could discuss how to make use of this information and followup questions with Ganthet.

Carol Ferris has posed:
Carol stands quietly, taking in everything Ganthet is saying. The weight of his words settles over her like a heavy cloak, but she remains composed, her violet aura steady. The revelation that Galactus is tied to the very fabric of the universe is daunting, yet it only strengthens her resolve.

As Ganthet's words settle over the gathered group, Carol remains quiet, absorbing the information. The weight of what he's revealed is heavy, but she knows this is just the beginning of what they'll need to face.

Seeing how the current situation has unfolded -- the retreat of the guardians, all except for one, and the opening of the floor to questions -- she quietly moves to Hal's side, her presence a steadying force amid the tension. Standing shoulder to shoulder with him, she lets her arm brush against his, a small but significant gesture of solidarity. The violet glow surrounding her seems to soften as she gazes up at him, violet eyes speaking volumes -- unwavering love, quiet strength, and a deep understanding of the burden he carries.

As Ganthet continues to share what he knows about Galactus, Carol's attention roams back to him, listening intently to the details without interjecting any more of her own questions.

Richard Rider has posed:
    Nova nods to Ganthet and simply says "Thank you." This is the first sign of a schism in the Oan's ranks, and he files it away with the Worldmind. Apparently the viewpoint of the Guardians of the Universe are not as monolithic and unchanging as had previously been the case. At least they have something to work on now, a tiny light at the end of the tunnel.

    He looks around the group and says, "If you like, I will patrol the space between Tamaran and Earth. I doubt he's taking side trips for sightseeing, so he's got to be somewhere on that flightpath. If I can find him, then we can make further plans to try and get our hands on this Nullifier. And at least we'll have some warning before he's actually at our solar system."

Susan Richards has posed:
The Noir Detective that is John Constantine, gets a look from Sue. After leaving Caleb to his own emotional devices, the blonde wandered over to the man who was chain smoking like he was afraid the Cops were about to finger him for a murder. She ended up beside him, and leaning over toward him to quietly whisper to him next. "You've really done your homework on this." She tells him, as she extends a blue gloved hand to him. "Nice to meet you. I'd be curious to know what else you've learned about all of this, as I need to make sure I've gotten all the information there is to have, especially with regard to space fairing vessels, that we may need to be targeting."

She put her blue eyes on his for a spell, before she'd nod once and stop pestering him.

Sue moved on again, casually striding at a pace that would not draw too much attention to her. She ended up near Peter and Mantis once more, ovearing Mantis' words which drew a restrained smile to her lips for the briefest of moments.

To Peter, Sue spoke once more. "I think we have our work cut out for us, and may need more of your help with it all." her voice was low still, keeping this mostly to her general area.

Xiomara Rojas has posed:
After a few more breaths, while staring at Ganthet, Crush has full control of herself again. A small smile plays over her lips, she did it. She reached the point of no return and managed to return. No Oans died today.

Looking to Mantis she blinks a few times, then the grin broadens. Leaning down to whisper, though she doesn't whisper all that quietly, "Chucklefuck, it's a real good word cause it means someone whose inept or stupid, like majorly so. Ya nailed it, even if ya didn't mean to."

Then she adds far more quietly, in fact Mantis might have a hard time hearing her, "Sorry bout the rage."

Billy Batson has posed:
Shazam shrugs. "I'm not suited for any of this. Unless Galactus is dripping in magic I won't sense him coming. I have no technical knowledge to speak of. I can consult my library, see if anyone had any sort of prophecy... something like this had to be foreseen. It's major. I'm sorry I wasn't more help GL. Thank you for your advice Mr. Ganthet." He sees an open doorway and walks into it, vanishing. There is a brief flare of a portal.

John Constantine has posed:
Well, well, look there. "Likewise, luv. Names Constantine, John Constantine." Unlike STAR-LORD, he doesn't say it as if everyone should already know. He more than expects the (who?) to be asked. "Drop by the Laughing Magician in Hell's Kitchen. We can have chat - over Tacos."

When John watches Sue walk away, he /watches Sue walk away/. C'mon, who wouldn't?

But then she's gone and he's left all alone with his Silkies and no scotch to go with them.

He can only hope that Sue, or anyone else for that matter, doesn't find out the price he paid for that information.

Peter Quill has posed:
Mantis bouncing off of Quill is probably not any kind of threatening situation. Not because she's not dangerous - she could space kung-fu his, and various other asses pretty good - but because she's very obviously just mimicking one of half a dozen 'New Yawk' mannerisms they picked up over the prior week. So he puts his mind to something more productive: defining funny curse words.

"Uh, it's maybe like... Dingleberry? Asshat? Whistledick?" Peter can come up with alternatives for the woman to apply in the future (which is possibly a terrible idea, or the best idea...) but not easily supply a definition. "It's kind of a feeling... a state of being? Of unseriousness but also raging assholery? It's not good. Don't be a chucklefuck."

Now Ganthet is talking, though, and he's laying... well, big ones on them. Cue Michael J Fox impression: "Woah, this is heavy." But in this case, he's maybe more literally correct, if entirely by accident.

"Wait, you do?" Sue wanting hi- their help earns a bit of a sudden brightening of his focus and interest. "Well, right, of course." He stands a little taller. "I got a whole bunch of info on the Milano's logs the first time around. Whatever more you need, we're on it. Because we're the -real- Guardians." He has no other motives!

Caleb Dykstra has posed:
Following Gathen and listening, he offers, still straining his voice, "I spoke with the 'surfer' one. Apparently, his Heralds do the choosing, and it may have something to do with life or at least the potential for life to flourish."

Looking at John, he replies, "I don't think his vessel is parked any longer. I think it's on its way to Earth, following the convergence of the four Heralds."

He looks back to Ganthet, "The 'silver surfer' has told me that they - the Heralds - have had him spare their world for servitude to him. So, there could be some plea bargain there."

And moemtarily, he's looking at Xiomara, his eyes going pensive.

Back to Ganthet, "Can you tell us anything about the Heralds? Anything at all? How they operate, for instance, and roughly a timeframe for Galactus' arrival after their convergence on a planet?"

Mantis has posed:
"Oh," is Mantis' reply to Xiomara's explanation of what a chucklefuck is. She hesitates, briefly disturbed that the perfect word was buried somewhere in her empty brain. It couldn't be an accident. The moment passes.

Mantis's antennae fall as Xiomara makes the choice to apologize for the way she felt about their interactions with the Guardians of the Universe. She hesitates a beat and looks away, trying to find the exact right thing to say here. She doesn't find it and, instead, removes her flower lei and extends her hands to put it over Xiomara's head if she lets her. "Here," is all she says.

There isn't much time to say or do more because Peter Quill is talking to Sue Storm. Peter is talking to a woman. This is a good thing. He seems happy about it. Suddenly, Mantis enters their peripheral vision. She smiles, standing there awkwardly for what feels like too long. Finally, she speaks. "I am Mantis," she tells Sue, unasked, uninvited. She is Mantis and she is in the way.

Hal Jordan has posed:
Finally. Some answers.

The answers are not particularly comforting. They aren't meant to reassure. They are meant to be daunting. They are dealing with an entity that sprung into existence at the moment of creation. It doesn't get more basic then that.

But Hal Jordan is very much the sort of man -- the sort of Green Lantern -- that prefers to confront his problems head on. To know, rathern the not. So as Ganthet offers up what answers he can to the assembled group, he gives the seemingly one, reasonable Guardian a nod of respect, that gesture returned, even if there is a troubled look in his eye.

Glancing over towards Carol, Hal lets out a quiet sigh before reaching out to slip his hand easily into her own, grateful for her presence here. Grateful that she was able to keep a clear head in the face of the Guardian's snub. Even, perhaps, if they expected it to come.

It is nonetheless reassuring. To finally have a place to start. To have some idea of what they're up against. The sheer scale of it.

As the questions begin to die out, Ganthet once more glances towards Hal, John, Guy and Kilowog, though they also fall upon John and Sue as well. "While I cannot pinpoint the location of Galactus' ship for you I fear, I can perhaps help you find a means to discover it for yourself. I am unlocking all the relevent information about how it traverses the cosmos to your Green Lantern rings. It does not travel through conventional, realspace, but instead through a seperate layer that makes travel easier for such a massive construct. Less energy consuming," the blue skinned Guardian offers up. "Which this perhaps you can find a means to construct some sort of detector, to help aide the Nova Corps search," he suggests with a nod towards rich.

Ganthet's gaze does flicker towards Caleb briefly, inclining his head. "Galactus is said to have employed many Heralds over the millenia. They seek out prospective worlds for him and attempt to quell resistance before his arrival. Each are given a sliver of the Power Cosmic that he embodies and that tiny fraction of his own power makes them immensely powerful themselves. More then a match for most if not all of our individual Lanterns," he cautions. "But like any gifted power, it can be drained through expenditure. That is perhaps your one hope against any of them, though I'm given to understand that for the first time Galactus now has more then one Herald serving him at once," he adds.

Looking over the group, Ganthet sighs once more. "If you have no more questions, I would suggest that you depart with haste, the sooner the better. My brothers and sisters will not directly oppose you, but they might find petty ways to inconvenience you otherwise," he says, again sounding a little resigned about the entire thing. "Lantern Jordan. If you and the others could speak with me briefly about what you discovered in the Vega System before you depart, I believe it is perhaps overdue," he suggests. "You are of course welcome as well, Queen of the Zamarons. The matter concerns you and your Star Sapphires as well, afterall," the little blue man says as he turns to depart.

Monet St. Croix has posed:
Monet St. Croix would slowly rise up and consider, "One more. Or rather some related ones. Why then is he having multiples? And he seems to be consuming at a greater rate. Within the last year on Earth we are aware of him consuming a minimum of three, potentially up to six. Those are merely the ones that we are directly aware of. So what are the reasons for his vast increase in.. Appetite and expenditure?" Behavior did not change without a reason.
    So what was it that lead to the Devourer of Worlds' hunger expanding?

John Constantine has posed:
John really has to take a breath, hold it, look heavenward and count to ten to keep from turning Caleb into a newt. "It's a turn of phrase, mate sarcasm - it's not like I'm over here thinkin' there's a giant parking garage out there with a big old sign saying: Monthly parkin' passes available to planet eatin' wankers."

Wheels are still turning though. All the talk about realspace and traveling outside it. Maybe it's time to buy his house some pretty flowers, she likes that. "A'ight then, been a treat but it's time for me to go. I'm almost out of Silkies and I got a full bottle of scotch waitin' that's beggin' to be empty by morning."

A swirling purple mist begins to form in the air - as it becomes more solid and less transparent, John steps on through it. If anyone pays any mind to it, they might catch a glimpse of what appears to be the foyer of a Victorian style home - that's probably haunted. Wednesday Addams would love it there. Whatever happens next out there, John'll read the Cliff notes somewhere.

Xiomara Rojas has posed:
Bending down, Crush accepts the lei without words, she merely smiles and nods. Flowers are pretty, she doesn't like them on her clothing, but they have a place in the universe and right now, that is around her neck.

She may not appear to be listening, or interested in the conversation going on around Ganthet, but she is in fact hearing every word spoken. If questions are asked of her later, she'll be able to repeat what was said, and who said it, though the names may not come out correctly, the information will.

So when Ganthet suggests that his brothers and sisters might inconvenience them, she lifts a brow and finally steps forward, "You can look at me and know who my father is, so you know what I am, what I can do, and what I will do to protect Earth and these people, if I have to. You... I like you," she offers the Oan a nod. "You have my protection, and my respect, but warn your siblings that respect will only protect you should they seek to try anything."

Looking back to Quill, only then noticing he's hitting on Sue she laughs, "Hey Quill, she's outta your league! I think it's time to go."

Susan Richards has posed:
Sue gave Peter a quick smile, before she regarded their Hosts again. At the topic of more regarding the ship of Galactus, Sue reached for her belt. She was recording all of this via a proximity holographic capture system mounted upon her right hip, but she had other gadgets that she was adorned with, and one was a small phone-sized tablet, that grew larger when Sue tugged upon its clear-glass edges. She was activating it, to take down some notes, when Mantis slid in to view, and Sue regarded her.

The flower that Mantis had given Sue, was still fluttering gently with its colored petals against her blonde locks, and the woman's blue eyes sparkled toward that of Mantis. She reached her left hand out, to place it gently upon her shoulder. "Mantis. I'm Susan, and I'm looking forward to working with you more on this. We gotta find this ship, and we're going to need everyone focused on it, collectively. All hands on deck on this one, as it is the most important thing on any of our agendas now, or... should be."

She said those last few words, with a glance cast toward the Oans, before her blue eyes dropped down to her glass tablet that suddenly glowed with an activated screen.

Richard Rider has posed:
    Rich looks over to Hal, saying "I'll head back to Earth, when you're done here we can talk about the detector Ganthet is talking about. Once we have that, I'll start the search for his ship and we'll take it from there. At least we've got a start now, something to work towards. If you need anything, let me know. The Worldmind is _very_ interested in anything that can turn Galactus aside. Because he might target Xandar next, and that thought makes the Worldmind go all to pieces. One of it's primary functions is preserving itself and Xandar, so you have the Nova Corps one hundred percent behind you." He steps somewhat away from the group and says, "See you when you get back" before lifting towards the stars in a streak of light.

Carol Ferris has posed:
Carol feels the tension in Hal's hand as he slips it into hers, and she responds with a gentle squeeze, offering him the warmth of her touch and the strength of her presence. She catches his gaze, giving him a small nod of sympathetic understanding.

As Ganthet speaks of the Vega System, there's a flicker of concern that crosses her features. The matters they've uncovered there are troubling, not the least of which surround Hal's violation of long-standing rules to go into the Vega system at all... not to mention what he discovered there.

Not just Galactus and his heralds. A being that possesses a ring from another color on the emotional spectrum.

Turning her attention back to Ganthet, Star Sapphire offers the Guardian a brief nod of her head, accompanied by a sincere smile of gratitude. "Thank you, for your graciousness and for sharing what you can. We know this isn't easy, and your willingness to help means a great deal to us all."

Her voice is steady, though the weight of the situation is evident in the gravity of her tone. With another glance at Hal, she gives him another reassuring squeeze of his hand, preparing to follow Ganthet.

Peter Quill has posed:
'Mantis awkwardly blows up his spot' is becoming a regular enough occurence in Peter's life that he has made some peace with it. "She's one of my crewmates," he tacks on to the introduction. FOR CLARITY. ('She's my sister' would be even better, but ALAS, the dramatic irony). "I know it was kind of a rushed trip over and you didn't get a chance to meet much of the crew, but we can do something about that on the way back." Which 100% won't further blow up in his face.

Being a good hero, a good LEGEND, Peter isn't ignoring the further Ganthet infodump, although some parts are pretty limited in application. "I'm sure whatever data you've got," and now he's calling over to Hal, "that Rocket might be able to take a look, too. He's pretty smart for a guy who looks like he ought to be, and sometimes is, living out of the nearest dumpster."

"And I can attest to the 'extra Heralds' thing. We basically got caught up between two of them, ourselves. Pair of doofy dorks with axes. I got the mark to prove it." He tugs on his collar. Is this for Sue? Chicks dig scars, right?

The last bit he doesn't say quite as 'aloud' because it sounds like Ganthet is trying to be all sly with his Lantern buddies, but he can't help himself: "They're... gonna talk about that orange guy, I bet. Dude had the same energy construct thing going, right? I never knew they came in other flavors but mint."

A glance over at Carol. "And grape I guess? Strawberry?"

Mantis has posed:
Mantis' smile fades a little as Peter reduces her to just one of his crewmates. She's so much more, but that's a secret Mantis has been keeping for quite some time now. Instead of protesting this point or revealing the true nature of their connection to each other, Mantis allows her antennae to fall with her expression.

"That is correct. I am just one of his crewmates," she tells Sue, making a point to say the words as robotic and joylessly as possible. "And nothing else."

Mantis sighs silently and looks over at where Ganthet is holding court. "I am going over there to apologize to the 'whistledick' for calling him a chucklefuck," Mantis announces before shifting her weight to walk over before Ganthet leaves. More unfamiliar words.

Hal Jordan has posed:
Pausing just long enough to catch Monet's question, Ganthet again gives a small shake of his head. "The cycle that Galactus operates on is as mysterious as how he chooses the worlds that he must consume. He has sped up the rate of consumption in the past, or even slowed it dramatically. If there is some hidden meaning in it, we Guardians cannot say," he offers up, something close to an apology coloring his words.

Crush also gets a breif glance before he goes, something actually resembling a smile crossing his features. "Perhaps you would at that. And perhaps my family would deserve it. Though it might be better for all involved if that can be avoided," he suggests quietly, lingering near the edge of the towering platform that towers above the city below, showing at least a few more social graces then his fellows managed at least.

At that, Hal assumes that they have gotten whatever they can, turning his ring to transmit the data to those who cna make use of it -- Susan, Quill and Nova, before turning back to his fellow Lanterns. "If there is anything you want to do, anyone you want to see while you're here I'd suggest that you go do that now. We can meet up again in an hour or so. See what Ganthet knows about that other matter," he says quietly, before glancing Quill's way as he shouts out his own -- pretty damn accurate -- guess about just what that conversation might be. "I don't think we are otherwise going to be here long."

exchanging looks, John, Guy and Kilowog nod before taking flight, their own emerald streaks darting down towards the city below.