6294/Homecoming: The Imperial Court

Homecoming: The Imperial Court
Date of Scene:	22 May 2021
Location:	Tae Tamrac, Almerac
Synopsis:	Scott Land and Power Girl accompany Maxima to the Almeracian imperial capitol of Tae Tamrac for an audience with the Empress. Scott is rewarded for his service to the Empire, Maxima is banished until she can secure her Blood Legacy for the Imperial House, and Power Girl questions Almeracian traditions.
Cast of Characters:	Maxima, Scott Lang, Karen Starr

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Maxima has posed:
In the wake of the city's restoration there was much celebration and drinking late into the night. Potent Almeracian wine and other spirits flowed like water with all matter of exotic space delicacies and the normally stoic Almeracian warriors celebrated into the night. Eventually Scott Lang and Power Girl are provided with rooms in what seems to be a very nice hotel within the restored city.

The next morning there comes the sound of a door chime in each of the rooms and a disembodied informs Scott and Karen <<The Crown Princess awaits you in the Lobby.>>

Scott Lang has posed:
Scott ached. His head ached. His eyes somehow seemed to ache. Worse was his back. Celebrating Almeracians seemed far too eager to slap someone on the back when congratulating them on a job well done. All of them a million times stronger than Scott that even holding back, his upper back was a mess of red handprints and his spinal column throbbed. Combined with the hangover, even the light chiming of the door is enough to make him whimper and briefly pull the pillow over his head.

"Why can't sleeping in be a reward?" he bemoans. Eventually though he gingerly steps to the floor and freshens up as best he can before lurching to the door, a definite stoop to his walk. He was back in Almeracian clothes too, though thankfully SLIGHTLY less revealing than those from the ship, but no less garish when it comes to the bright purples and golds as he heads for the lobby.

Karen Starr has posed:
    Karen, for her part, just retires to the room after the city is restored, and does little else. It's not that she's a naturally glum individual- but she'd been preparing altogether for the worst, and is still processing a dead city she's seen before.

    Even for a Kryptonian, it weighs. There are less than ten of them left. Jon's presence is a silver lining, though. A small ray of hope for the future.

    Eventually, that voice hits her, and she starts making her way out, and she's in the lobby before Scott, whom she regards with a raised brow. "Jesus, Scott. You have a daughter. Now isn't the time." There's a calm sigh as the blonde pinches her brow, "You'll have the entire trip back to sober up and let the bruises heal, I guess."

Maxima has posed:
Maxima nods in Karen's direction when she enters and turns to regard Scott when he practically staggers into the lobby. "Did you sleep well?" She asks them both. "The sky ships are waiting outside that will bring us to the capital." She then looks intently at Scott, "You have an audience in the Imperial Court. My mother Empress Zeenith wishes to meet the Earthling who restored her city. Also you are owed a reward and you shall have it."

Maxima continues to study Scott for a long moment perhaps weighing if he is going to be okay. "Try not to vomit in the sky ships, the matter fabricators should be able to make you something to mend your delicate constitution." She then turns to lead them out to the waiting sky ships, the same ones that brought them from the spaceport to the city the previous day.

Scott Lang has posed:
"My daughter isn't HERE Power Girl which is one reason I was drinking so much. I'm starting to get homesick and so I thought, why not actual sick too?" Scott squirms and winces as he walks beside her and much for her mind's eye sake he mentions just before they reach Maxima, "You only see the ones on my back. At least two of them last night liked rear slapping, had to sleep on my stomach...Good morning Princess!" Scott smoothly if painfully moving right into greeting royalty after discussing his rump. Such is Ant-Man.

A snort as red-faced he notes, "I'm not gonna puke from a sky trip. This still is nothing compared to first few times I grew and I only puked three times throughout. Even got the helmet down twice." The third time is left unspoken as he hobbles after Maxima and onto the ship. Perhaps he'd been joking before at least...no he isn't sitting down, he takes a lean against the back of a chair for the ride over and can be seen at least once gingerly rubbing his hindquarters no matter how much he tries to hide it.

Karen Starr has posed:
    With a roll of her eyes, Power Girl accompanies Scott to the lobby. "Well, at least you got it out of your system. Wonder what Maxima'll say when she finds out."

    Maxima gets her own nod when they arrive, but Karen says little else while they make their way to the ships. Once she's taken a seat, though, she looks at Scott with a moderately blank expression. "I wouldn't make such blanket statements, Scott. That's how you get an adventurous pilot who wants to slam on the gas and get the ride over with in fifteen seconds rather than a minute and a half."

    One glance at Scott at the wrong time, though, and she's rolling her eyes again.

Maxima has posed:
The trip to the capitol is not a long one, despite covering what is probably hundreds of miles if not more. It is largely a pleasant journey though at one point the ship does begin to shake a bit.

<We are passing through some atmospheric distortion, please be sure you are in your seats and strapped in.> An anncouncement says moments before a significant jolt. It doesn't last for long however and soon the grand spires of the capital come into view.

If Falaaria was impressive, the capital city of Almerac, Tae Tamrac, throne of a galactic empire, is on another scale entirely. Set in a near utopian area of the planet, it's architecture resembles Earth's neo-classical, like Rome on a far grander scale with spires that seem to scrape the sky, crystalline domed buildings, beautiful pillars with intricate scrollwork and impressive public fountains and monuments. Perhaps most interesting is the amount of vegetation within the city, at first it is difficult to tell where the surrounding forests end and the city begins, like it is has been seemlessly interwoven with the landscape.

Flying among the lofty spires all manner of sights are visible beneath, one building in particular that stands out appears to be a grand temple structure with a grand statue set before it. Except the statue appears to be made of fire, in the shape of an impressive looking bird. Perhaps grandest of all is the Imperial palace that comes into view, a mix of organic Almeracian trees, crystal, and more exotic materials that look like some manner of stone or metal. The promenade leading up to the palace's entrance is lined by grand statues on either side, the greatest members of the Blood Houses for the past 10,000 years, heroes, legends, and flanking the entrance to the palace the towering forms of Almaara and Raacal themselves rendered in shining immortal stone.

The sky ships land in a circular courtyard at the end of the promenade so that those disembarking are faced first with Almaara and Raacal's statues in all of their glory, those who contributed the first blood legacy and began the Imperial Blood House.

"We have arrived." Maxima informs them as the ship touches down even before the pilot manages to make an announcement, she is already moving towards the exit. Best not to keep the Empress waiting, even when she is your mother, especially when she is your mother.

Scott Lang has posed:
"If it gets too bad I can always ride piggyback on you PG," Scott deadpans as they lift off. There had been a time when he wouldn't DARE talk back to her like that, but after so long trapped in close quarters and a raging hangover...and MAYBE something that felt like friendship. The same might be said of Maxima though there at least his mind turns to what amateur knowledge he had of Stockholm Syndrome as he watches the Princess during the flight. Thoughts are soon distracted by turbulence though, Scott reluctantly sitting down and visibly wincing with each minor jolt. Almeracian palms were no joke.

He almost leaps from his seat once allowed and obligingly follows after, walking a bit straighter at least, perhaps the pain down low had distracted him from the pain in his head. His critical contribution to the beauty of Almerac being a low whistle and a mutter of, "I should've brought my camera." The bustle of people far less bruised and noble looking than himself moving about though has him hurrying to stay close to Maxima before someone asks him what he's doing there. "Uh Maxima, is there anything we need to watch out for when we meet the Empress? I don't want to get this close to getting safely home and realize not bowing my head at the right time gets me executed..."

Karen Starr has posed:
    Karen, jetsetting and galaxy-traveling as she has been through most of her life... Is a little unsettled by the spires of Almerac's throne city. She's dealt with a couple interstellar empires- nothing perhaps as large as the Almeracian, to be fair- and it never goes well. She can't wait to be home.

    "Right." she notes, moving to stand. The jostling of the ship didn't nearly seem to cause her any trouble, and when Maxima goes to leave, Karen follows: She also seems to be more than ready to get this over with. To Scott, she just offers a pat on the back.

    She doesn't even need to put any strength into it. She /could,/ but she doesn't.

    "Honestly, if there's anything that'd get him executed, can you just advise he does it? That'd make this all /really/ easy. I wouldn't even have to stay for the procession. Just, off with his head. Right then and there."

Maxima has posed:
Maxima pauses before the towering statues turning to look back, "Just follow my lead and if need be, listen to the voice in your head. Also try to keep your thoughts appropriate, don't start imagining anyone naked or anything like that." She informs Scott, glancing at Karen with what looks like a rare amused expression at the sardonic humor. Maxima may prefer the battlefield, but court too is part of being a princess.

Maxima, Scott, and Karen are met at the castle doors by Maxima's handmaiden Sazu, a member of the academic caste dressed in courtly fineries, her third eye concealed beneath a large hat, two of her four arms, also hidden beneath her robes. "My Lady Maxima." She bows to the red headed space amazon. "This way Crown Princess, Empress Zeenith is expecting you, the court has been assembled and awaits the hero who restored Falaaria."

Sazu leads them inside and through the oppulently decorated palace until they arrive in the Imperial Throne room.

The throne room is a grand affair mostly rendered in different forms of rare crystal and even more exotic materials. A huge vaulted translucent ceiling reveals the beautiful skies of Almerac above, swirling clouds reflecting the light of the system's sun against a sky of morning shades of red and orange fading to daytime green. To either stand are stands like one might expect to find in a stadium on Earth, full of members of the Great Blood Houses and their entourages. On the floor, a path of red crystal like the red carpets of Earth leads to a flight of stairs ascending to a raised platform upon which sits the imperial throne, a massive crystalline chair with sharp spires of crystal jutting out from the sides, and upon it, Empress Zeenith.

It is clear where Maxima inherited her looks from, Empress Zeenith could easily be mistaken for just an older version of Maxima but such is not terribly unusual in a society whose primary means of reproduction is based in genetically modified clones.

"Enter!" The empress commands in a booming voice.

Sazu disappears to find a seat in the lowest row of the bleachers while Maxima leads her two companions forward, finally taking a knee before the stairs at lead to the throne, "Your Imperial Highness, I have brought the Earthling known as Scott Lang or Ant-Man, as you requested. He is accompanied by the Kryptonian 'Power Girl'."

Scott Lang has posed:
"Why would you say that?! Why would you say don't imagine naked! It's all I can...Maxima no!" Scott pleads as the redhead turns and it's all Scott can do to keep his mind clean. Under his breath both women might hear him beginning to recite a series of names soon after. Depending on their knowledge of Major League Baseball they might recognize it as him muttering the names of New York Yankee players as he tries to keep his mind off nudity among the scantily clad, perfectly sculpted denizens all around them now that Maxima has planted the seed. "Bernie Williams, David Wells, Jorge Posada..."

It's with gritted teeth that Scott enters the throneroom and walks forward just behind Maxima, doing his best to keep his sore shoulders back and chin up until it's time to take a knee. Briefly he lowers his head before looking back up at the matured version of Maxima looming over them on the throne. Was he supposed to say something? He was probably supposed to say something right now, clearly she was looking at him. So he half-heartedly raises one hand after Maxima's introduction and squeaks out a, "Hello, I'm Scott case there was any confusion."

Robin Ventura, Roger Clemens, Alfonso Soriano...

Karen Starr has posed:
    "Oh right, we're going to be surrounded." she states, and for a moment she falls silent and still- and isn't even moving with her eyes open, floating forward slowly, having risen off of her feet for a moment. It lasts, similarly, only for said moment, and ends with her quietly saying "Tor-Rao. Tor-Vo." A steady exhale of breath follows. The meaning of this is entirely confusing and, frankly, nobody should ask.

    The level of unfairness of what amounts to Kryptonian Tai-Chi and Yoga being useful- and that a blonde woman that looks like Karen is doing it, no less- is probably a subject for another day. Luckily, Maxima warned that they'd be in a room full of psychics.

    "Now this... Reminds me of Krypton." Karen remarks, taking a moment to look around at the various crystalline structures, before locking onto the Empress herself. Zeenith, certainly, makes a whole lot of sense. Being fair, Power Girl doesn't like kneeling... But she's currently in a kind of lucid trance- so she gets the idea quick and finishes wrestling with the idea faster than normal. It still leaves her just a bit behind Maxima, but she still lowers herself to one knee all the same.

    Sadly, Karen's drop into Kryptonian yuppie traditions spares Scott's plea of Maxima, something that Karen would have loved to laugh at- but she has to tune it out for a moment to properly brain Kryptonianly, which is a technical term and something she can do that basically nobody else can. So that's neat.

    However, Scott's /muttering/ does clue her in, and since she's especially sensitive to concepts right now, she connects the dots immediately. "Now you'll be imagining nude baseball players, which is going to give the Almeracians ideas about you."

    This is all said before she's taken a knee- that procession, of course, is something she's just going to let play out.

Maxima has posed:
"Rise." Bids the Almeracian empress from upon her crystalline throne. Her gaze first fixes upon Maxima. "You have done well my daughter, first among your sisters, not only did you assist in leading the forces that drove the criminal known as Brainiac from our empire, you pursued him all the way to the planet called Earth and recovered the city of Falaaria that he stole." It seems the queen has already been informed of everything or perhaps she just took it from Maxima's mind.

Maxima makes a salute gesture to the Empress that looks almost Roman to an Earthling, bring her right fist to her solar plexus, arm against the body, other arm stiffly at her side. "You honor me mother. Thank you."

Next the monarch of coutless worlds turns her eyes upon Scott Lang. "Scott Lang of Earth or do you prefer ...Roger Clemens?" She seems confused for a moment but continues as if nothing happened, just choosing to ignore whatever is going on in Scott's head. "You have done a great service for Almerac, my daughter was right to seek your aid. What reward do you wish for?" In some ways it is a loaded question, leaving Scott to potentially ask for too much or too little.

Finally her attention falls on Power Girl, "And you Kryptonian? I know why Scott Lang is here but what brings you to Almerac?" Her head cants to the side slightly with evident curiousity.

Scott Lang has posed:
Baseball, sports, ESPN, Scott keeps his mind flicking as fast as he can when Power Girl tries to sabotage his own relaxation technique while she goes through mental yoga. For better or worse it mostly works and the Empress isn't subjected to any tastefully nude surface thoughts. Even if what she does get is perhaps more confusing.

"Scott Lang will do just fine. Or just Scott even. Really it's been a pleasure helping out and getting to know Maxima. Heavens knows she needed it amirite?" Oh god he's trying to joke, Scott flashing a brief smile and looking around the room for support only to find none. His teeth practically click together when he shuts his mouth so hard and clears his throat.

"Of course umm, as a resident hero of Earth I'm not one to seek out, uh, how do you put it, personal gain. So only a token small chest of gold and jewels should be fine. And if we could perhaps ask for a diplomatic quid quo pro, that if we're ever the ones in need Almerac might return the favor in the future?" If it wasn't for the ask of only a couple million dollars worth of precious metals and jewels instead of the tens or hundreds of millions he'd been thinking of it would almost seem a selfless and wise thing Scott had asked for there. Almost.

Karen Starr has posed:
    Karen straightens up when they're bidden to rise, and no matter what she does, the room is a little... Trippy. She's seeing every spectrum she can see at the same time; She's comprehending every tiny bit of stimulus, the way each individual face in the crowd moves, their expressions, what they mean, how those people are dressed. The way the Empress' voice moves through each word, with as much deliberation- or lack thereof, she's an Empress, she's allowed- as it does.

    It doesn't /visibly/ affect her, but it is something that she doesn't appreciate about a yellow sun's influence on what /used/ to be a cool way to relax and study. When Scott answers, there's a small roll of her eyes that she can't avoid pulling, momentarily wishing that there was a representative from Earth to save the city with more /decorum./

    When addressed, she responds calmly: "I'm just here to make sure he succeeds, and gets home safely. He has a daughter, and she'd be sad if he died." And, you know, it'd be sad if he died for other people, right? For sure.

Maxima has posed:
The Empress gives Scott a slow nod as he makes his request. "Gold?" She asks as if uncertain why he would be interested in that, "Certainly, perhaps" She stares at Scott intently for a moment, "Two hundred of your pounds of gold and assorted gems shall be made available to you." She glances off to one side and a box containing exactly what she described is /quickly/ brought, someone from Earth might be forgiven for thinking a Flash had done it. The gems though are like nothing Scott has likely seen before, Karen however would recognize many of them as 'useful' in the creation of technology far beyond what is found on Earth. "As for your second request," Something about the way it is said makes it seem like Scott was only supposed to ask for one, but apparently hasn't pushed his luck too far, yet. "You have earned our good will. Should such a dire situation arise I am sure Maxima can arrange some form of aid."

Maxima makes the same salute again and bows at the shoulders to her mother. "It will be done Mother."

Returning her gaze to Karen, the Empress actually smiles, "A noble act, to guard a friend and see them safely through their mission." And then she pauses looking pointedly back to Maxima, "Speaking of Daughters you are of age now, it is time for you to secure your Blood Legacy for the Creches."

Maxima, well nobody on Earth has ever seen her make anything like the face she is suddenly making as she gets the Almeracian equivalent of the when are you going to have kids what's taking so long? In the middle of court. She looks positively deer in headlights for a moment before regaining her composure. "Mother.. I.. I haven't chosen yet because I have yet to find one worthy.."

The Empress does not seem impressed with her daughter's response, "It is lucky for you then that I have found someone for you. General Ultraa! Come forth!"

It is then that a mountain of muscle in the form of a man wearing an outfit that is very familiar to Scott approaches from the stands. "Yes, your Imperial Highness." The man called Ultraa performs the same salute Maxima did, "I would be honored to combine my Blood Legacy with Princess Maxima's to create the strongest Blood Legacy yet."

Scott Lang has posed:
"Two hun...y-yes that's plenty to be a token gesture of good will between our planets," Scott readily agrees, just able to keep his voice from cracking but not quite able to keep the stammer out. He just wanted enough to set Cassie up for any school she wanted, with this? His mind begins to race to the possibilities, nevermind the fact he now presumably had the power to call an alien armada down sometime in the future. Everything was coming up Lang for the first time in a long time.

"Well we much appreciate all the hospitality you've shown us certainly. Seems you all have family matters to attend with though, hate to intrude, right Power Girl? We should probably be going. If you could just load that on the ship for me that would be great..." this last spoken hurriedly to the guard that had brought out the riches, Scott doing his darndest to avoid eye contact with Maxima and the slab of meat she seemed destined to meld DNA with one way or another. He could almost sense a new disaster on the horizon, but maybe if he hurried he might yet get away with his reward intact.

Karen Starr has posed:
    Karen did, frankly, expect that sort of response. For her, in the state she is in, Power Girl actually has to /wait/ for the gold and gems to arrive, and their utility in technology isn't lost on her. Admittedly, it's just in amusement that they're not what Scott really wants in terms of gems. Two hundred pounds of gold is probably enough, so he won't be bothered.

    Part of her feels a little guilty that she's incited Maxima's courtship by... Some guy. Her brow raises, but regardless- despite that she's being addressed, she's pretty sure it's not time for her to speak at all. "Good luck, Maxima. You'll... Probably need it with Captain Generic over there."

    With that, she picks up the chest with one hand, slinging it over her shoulder with ease.

Maxima has posed:
The female Almeraacian warrior that brought the box of valuables seems to be ignoring Scott for the moment, perhaps not sure of what ship he is talking about, but more likely far more interested in the rare spectacle of courtly drama playing out between the Empress and the Crown Princess. It is not every day Maxima gets chastised and it is not every day one is bold enough to talk back to the Empress, even if she is the Crown Princess.

"Princess!" Ultraa, the muscular red headed Fabio clone continues, turning to Maxima. "Are your fortunes not grand? For it is I Ultraa! Who shall combine my genetic lineage with yours to great the greatest Blood Legacy that the Empire has ever seen!" The sheer endless confidence that may or may not have root in reality is a true sight to behold, as much so as the changing expressions upon Maxima's face which has gone from deer in headlights to shock to fire burning in her eyes as she turns to regard Ultraa.

"YOU?! You think you are worthy of MAXIMA?! My good fortune? I would sooner combine lineages with a Threnosian sand worm than the likes of YOU!" Almost as if an extension of her anger bubbling over into psychic form that last word coincides with beams of optical force erupting from Maxima's eyes. They shoot across the throneroom catching Ultraa straight in the chest and flinging him backwards into one of the walls that protects the stands of courtiers, spiderweb cracks emanating from the impact site. That had to hurt.

"MAXIMA OF THE HOUSE OF ALMERAC!" Empress Zeenith shouts at her daughter rising to her feet, the words radiate that same 'you are in SO MUCH trouble' feeling as Earth parents calling out a child's full name.

"Mother! This simpleton clearly cannot defeat me, as is Almeracian tradition! Is it not our way to seek the very strongest?! This pathetic experiment in male muscle mass is not that! I will find one, I simply require a little more time.." She drops to a knee again saluting her mother, perhaps aware of the dangerous ground she is treading upon, lest this turn into Trial By Combat against a far more experienced foe.

Over by the stands, Ultraa groans and rubs his head.

The Empress is silent for a moment that feels like eternity, "Very well my daughter. If none within the Empire meet your standards then you may seek one from without. You have one year. However, you are not to return until your Blood Legacy is secured and should you fail to return within a year with a Blood Legacy for the creches, it will be one of your sisters bearing the title of Crown Princess, do I make myself crystal clear?!"

Maxima takes a deep breath before answering, "Crystal clear your Imperial Majesty. I thank you for your leniency." She rises, turning to spare the humiliated Ultraa one last glare before turning to face Scott and Karen, "We should go." She tells them making an ushering motion back towards the doors from whence they came. "Do you require transport? It looks like I will be leaving the Empire again." By this point she has steeled her features back to a neutral expression, as if to pretend a tense emotional exchange did not just happen.

Scott Lang has posed:
It's not precisely clear WHEN Scott got behind Power Girl. He doesn't have super speed and yet when the energy blasts erupted from Maxima's eyes he seemed to almost be behind her before the beams ever contacted the ginger. Scott was no coward, he just knew what was going down was WAY outside of his league when it came to combat, wincing at the smash of body on stone, where the stone comes out the worse of it.

"Maybe we should just leave before...oh she hasn't forgotten us, yay," this last said with a sarcasm so dark it was almost six feet under. Sucking in a deep breath he forces up a smile that is at least 40% grimace and answers, "Ahh Lady Maxima. I mean, we'd hate to trouble you and all but, we are short on cab fare and if you're heading back that way anyway...good shot by the way, you're right, you're too good for him. Sure you can find a nice...whatever it is you're into when it comes to genetics," Scott finally blabs out, still at a loss as to whether this is equivalent to marriage or something else altogether.

Karen Starr has posed:
    Karen isn't at all bothered by the display happening at her side. She hadn't regarded Ultraa with much respect, and that was absolutely clear. When he mouths off enough that it upsets Maxima- as in, perhaps, at all- Karen's response is to let out a short bit of amused laughter.

    "Oh, that was /instant./" she notes, taking a moment to look over her shoulder at Scott. "Nothing to be scared of, he'll be fine. Well, physically. Physically fine. His ego's going to need time to heal that bruise-"

    Karen literally cannot help but listen in to the conversation being held between Maxima and the Empress, and she raises a brow.

    It's probably not her place, but frankly, she has to at least say something. "Find someone, fall in love, and secure a marriage in a year? Choose from any person of any race and find someone that's stronger than she is- in a /year/?" Power Girl seems boggled, confused even, "Are you really in that much of a rush to have grandchildren? What the hell is going on?"

Maxima has posed:
Empress Zeenith looks far less than amused at this point, even as she once again seats herself upon her crystalline throne, and yet she still spares a moment to briefly entertain Karen's question. "Love? Marriage? Love is expressed between Warriors, Marriages are for securing political alliances with other empires that value such things. She has a responsibility to her people to continue secure her genetic legacy for the creches. Especially hers." There is a finality to the way she says it, like she's not about to go explaining the intracies of Almeracian tradition. "Be on your way Maxima. I look forward to who you will find that can defeat General Ultraa."

Maxima turns back to give the empress another of those Almeracian salutes "I will not disappoint you." Before she turns back to Karen and Scott again, "It is fine. This is our way. Let's go." She lets out a breath, from the carefully held overly neutral tone in her voice it is quite clear she wants to be literally anywhere but this throneroom at the moment.

Meanwhile a pair of attendants are over helping Ultraa up and escorting him from the chamber through the same side entrance from which he initially appeared.

Scott Lang has posed:
"PG, I'm pretty sure ix-nay on questioning the Empress-nay," Scott's Pig Latin as bad as his diplomacy. Thankfully Power Girl doesn't get them introduced to any intergalactic guillotines that would probably still bounce off her neck. He's all to happy to take his exit when it's offered, and where before he trailed after Maxima now he'a almost ahead of her in getting the hell out of there, stopping only briefly to look back and call out, "Thanks for the gold! You need anything else Empress just call!" even holding his fingers up to his ear in a mock phone gesture before the throneroom doors slam in his face with gusto and no sign of a guard doing so, the Empress herself presumably giving them a psychic slam that misses breaking his nose by an inch.

He looks over his shoulder at the other two super-powered women still on this side of the door and says, "Well she seems nice. I hope you have a galactic Tinder account ready."

Karen Starr has posed:
    There's a scoff from Power Girl, but she drops it... For the moment. Turning her back on the Empress and keeping the chest slung over her shoulder, she follows Maxima and Scott out of the room, and is certainly quiet until they've properly left the throneroom.

    "'Love is between warriors' when you have to find someone who can beat you in a fight. Right. Was she even listening to what she's saying?" Irked beyond all comprehension, she seems to have been ready to face... Whatever happened should they have been particularly angry.

    "TinderGalactic." she scoffs again, "You'll be fine if you hurry, I guess. Not my place. Got to remember that."

Maxima has posed:
Once the doors have slammed closed behind them Maxima lets out a very long sigh, a seemingly very different Maxima from her usual indomitable warrior self when faced with her mother. Apparently there is someone even Maxima fears after all.

"What is a Tinder?" Maxima asks before Sazu appears again to guide them back out of the palace.

"Lady Maxima, you are barely home before you must go off again. Please, let me accompany you this time." Her long time handmaiden easily sees through Maxima's facade of everything is fine.

"No, Sazu." Maxima shakes her head, "I need you to remain here, so that I might know what transpires in my absence."

Sazu looks a touch crestfallen at Maxima's words, leaving her behind again. "Yes, m'lady."

Once they are out of the palace again, with Sazu waving farewell, Maxima extends her right hand and summons another gateway with her Portal Key. Stepping on to the bridge of the Raacal, she directs the computer to take them back to Earth to return those who aided her and perhaps find her genetic legacy among its myriad of super powered inhabitants.