JSA Brownstone

[jla_goldenage]

While the team is away, other members of the JSA have remained behind. One in particular received a visitor who has a "rotating" sort of admission.

And he's not happy at the moment.

"Do you know...no. That's a stupid question. I know you do. But you want to tell me one good reason why there's been no change yet

Comments

[lanterns_light]

With his teammates and daughter off fighting one of the world's most dangerous men, Alan himself isn't that happy. The fact that his nose is twice its normal size and roughly the color of a concord grape doesn't help his mood. "Normally I'd be happy to see you, old friend, but right now I have to ask...what the devil are you talking about?"

[jla_goldenage]

"Normally I'd be making more of a social call. But Wendi's at home and has to be sedated just to get any sort of sleep. She breaks into tears each time the phone rings, thinking that its someone telling us that we lost our son."

Rex rubs on his forehead, showing off an impressive amount of grey hair. "For God's sake, Alan...we can't live like this. There has to be something here to help."

[lanterns_light]

Alan rubs his face and immediately winces. Bad move. Sighing, he replies, "Rex, if I had any notion about why there's been no change...I didn't even realize there hasn't been news. Blast it, I'm sorry. I've been spending too much time focused on having Terry Sloan..."

A sour expression crosses Alan's countenance, and he exhales again. "Look, let me see what I can find out. Pieter is off with the team right now, but someone must be able to give us some information."

[jla_goldenage]

His face goes ghost-white, just staring at Sentinel. "Terry's dead, Alan. And if someone doesn't do something, besides wait for nurse's aides my son is going to join him. Jesus...what if it was Todd? What if it was Jennie? You'd tear this universe apart looking for a way to fix them."

Rex stops to collect himself, reaching into a nearby satchel. "But...this might help. I don't know, its...early. Untested, but...its something." He produces a shining brown and gold orb, grasping hold tightly.

[lanterns_light]

Alan's features fall, suffused with shame, and quietly he iterates, "You're right. If it were Jennie or Todd I wouldn't rest until they had the best help." He glances at the orb and adds, "And Terry's downstairs right now, Rex. Alive. As God is my witness, alive and breathing."

[jla_goldenage]

"...he's alive. Then he can help! I've seen Terry extract bullets with tweezers and dental floss. He can, he can use this!" Rex excitedly shows his offering. "Its a prototype, but...its the next generation of Tyler tech. A self-repairing organ that...that can fix things. Please, Alan...he has to."

[lanterns_light]

Earth's first Lantern pauses for a second or two at most; in the aftermath of the guilt trip and in the face of this resurgent hope, what can Alan say but, "Let's go talk to him together then."