"And what a relief to drop the pretence," said Saturn Girl turning to J'Onn. "Playing your skeleton is the creepiest thing I've ever had to do, J'Onn. What a relief to be outside again at last! I swear," she added, grimacing, "there's no one else alive I'd allow to engulf me like that."
"That I know," said the Manhunter dryly. "But it worked, both to conceal that we two were disguised as one and to make up the weight, needed to fool those on the lookout for us. And of course you knew I had no ulterior motives."
"No. Our species are hardly compatible."
"I don't understand," said Sindy. "What—why—"
"The jig was up when Death's Head cottoned on that your party was more than it seemed," Saturn Girl informed her. "For you, naturally, but for us as well, since it was on our word that you were let into the Ring in the first place. Especially after questions were raised about certain, shall we say, happenings in the Entropy Sector. Fortunately, Vril Dox contrived to tip us off in time—"
"Dox?" cried Sindy. "But—but he's the one who tipped off Death's Head! I overheard—"
"Yes," said J'Onn. "I suspected some such trimming on his part—Dox was ever one to have a foot on both sides of the fence. He keeps his place by playing off one against the other, and remaining valuable to both and efficient and useful in the place he occupies. His, however, is a matter for future resolution. He knows nothing of how we eluded capture, nor, I imagine, of how you did. His ability either to help or hinder our cause is at an end. The matter before us now is how we get you two through to Backstage Peripheral, preferably together with your absent companions. For only there can you find safety, and only there can you aid the Keeper in breaking the Conclave's tyranny over the Antipodes, Ring and Centerlands alike."
It was well said. The problem was that neither the renegade Supers nor the travelers knew just how or where to find those absent companions. And short of that, there was little to be done to forward their mutual goals. The four talked and plotted far into the evening without coming any nearer as solution to this basic problem. Finally, seeing that their guests were weary, the two Supers suggested they retire to their own tent for the night. They provided them with a scrambler like their own to ensure their privacy.
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Tue Sep 23 01:09:24 2003
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