Author's Notes:

Well, I'm honestly surprised at how huge this chapter is. But I think it's a great thing. :) I enjoyed writing this one.

Thank you again to Markmark261 for pointing out issues and everything I needed to improve upon. I was able to backtrack and update the story before continuing on to this chapter. :)

Enjoy!

Chapter 6 - Blood Runs Deep

Sinestro held Emily close as they traveled through another galaxy, thankful for the silence space afforded him. The last couple of months had been long and tiresome. Sadly, the four hours since their departure from Oa had been the most peaceful he'd experienced. He could only hope that it wouldn't be interrupted too soon by his travelling companion. Shifting his eyes downward for a moment, he said a silent prayer for continued peace and quiet.

"Is it always this peaceful?" She said softly, disrupting his solitude.

Sinestro released a controlled breath through his nose. "Yes," he spoke patiently. So much for silence.

"Hmm." she spoke contemplatively. "It's nice-especially when you're not hurdling through space and being tossed around in a green ball of energy." A small smile played across her lips. He could detect some sarcasm in her voice.

Sinestro's lip upturned at the memory. He had just finished an audience with The Guardians when she quite literally came tumbling down from the sky. Kilowog didn't even have enough time to finish his latest tale of training mishaps with the recruits before they were both in the air and catching their unexpected guests. He couldn't help but wonder if the tale unwinding before him would eventually become another addition to the Book of Oa or at least another tale for Tomar-Re to share among the corps. It appeared humans were making their imprint across the universe with ease.

Emily shifted under his arm, repositioning herself. "I know this is probably the worst travel question to ask, but-how much farther?"

Sinestro grunted and used his arm to hoist her up as if she were a child too far outgrown to be in a parent's arm. His hand gripped her hip to keep her steady. "Not much longer." He tried not to focus on their awkward position while flying. At first, it was nothing. He had saved many a citizen across the galaxies before. There had been numerous instances of catching, throwing, and the occasional hysterical clinger. But it wasn't common for him to go long distances between planets with someone latched onto him like a barnacle. Emily's legs were pressed against his left leg, one foot curled around his ankle and a knee pressed into his thigh. It was completely platonic; in fact the position was effective in keeping a lot of the burden off of his muscles. But he was not used to someone touching him for prolonged periods of time. He mentally sighed. He would just have to learn to deal with it. Their journey was going to be a long one. He intended to investigate each sector with a missing lantern so avoiding it was not an option.

In the distance, a lush colored green and blue planet not too different from that of Earth became visible as they approached their destination. Sinestro took the opportunity to send out a signal to the ambassadors' consulate of his coming arrival. He knew that they had been waiting for some news regarding Reever. He could only hope that this trip would reap better information.

Emily shifted in his arm once more, a light gasp escaping against his collarbone as they hit the planet's atmosphere.

Sinestro held her reassuringly, "We're entering Xanshi and should arrive at the Ambassadors' Consulate soon."

He could tell she was irritated again. She always was. "Thanks for the warning."

The final landing was smooth. She'd give him that. As soon as her feet touched the flat surface of the platform, she immediately sent out a series of pulses, trying to get a feel of the area. She was delighted to find large, lush fern like plants creeping up along the edges of where they landed. She could immediately sense a difference in the atmosphere. It smelled of flora and fresh air, even among the hustle and bustle of what she presumed was a city. Sinestro pulled Emily slightly behind him as three beaked creatures appeared from the archway of the building entrance. "What is it?" she whispered, concerned by his need to shield her.

Sinestro merely tilted his head in the negative as she continued to stare at him in confusion. Apprehension crept up her spine as her body tightened, preparing for anything. Hostility was the last thing she hoped to encounter, especially so soon.

As the group approached, one of the creatures spoke out with its arms wide in what she assumed was a welcoming gesture. And it suddenly became clear, she couldn't understand them. The language was high pitched, but sweet and melodic. It was beautiful. But she felt a sense of disquiet at the realization that her contribution would be stunted for now. And Sinestro's knowledge in dealing with the planet's inhabitants would far outreach any communication attempt she could make so she stood off to the side, arms crossed and waiting.

It was a good while that they talked. Emily continued to stare at her surroundings, taking in the feel of another planet. She was awed by Oa. It had its own enchanting, powerful appeal. But Xanshi was a different feel entirely. The planet felt alive, nature barely stomped out by progress from its inhabitants. It was the perfect balance. One that people on Earth could only dream of obtaining. She liked it here already.

Sinestro's hand landed on her shoulder, disrupting her thoughts. He nodded his head towards the entryway. "They're going to hold a small council meeting of the ambassadors. We'll be informed of the latest concerns they have regarding Reever's disappearance. We will take a meal with them and be allowed to investigate afterwards."

Admittedly, it was a strange feeling, being a part of this. Not more than two days ago, she was on Earth enjoying a nice dinner among friends. Now, she was on another planet, taking counsel with aliens. Then again, she did know the Martian Manhunter. 'But that's J'onn,' she reasoned with herself. It should not have come as too much of a surprise, but knowing something about the universe and experiencing it were two entirely different things. It was a little overwhelming.

Emily rubbed her forehead and looked down at the floor. "Yeah, okay," she said, an edge of exhaustion in her voice.

If Sinestro sensed something was off, he ignored it and nudged her to follow beside him.

They were led to a large open space with row upon row of seating. Everything was a clean, crisp white color, and it shined like polished marble. The soft shuffle of their feet echoed along the walls. As Sinestro walked in with Emily by his side, he noticed some of the ambassadors were already seated high on their pedestals, patiently waiting. One of the representatives that had greeted them outside looked back apprehensively at Emily.

The council members had been concerned about letting an outsider attend. They were fine with lanterns. The people of Xanshi had dealt with the Corps for many a millennium. But the human's unexpected presence had upset a few. They always were cautious about aliens visiting the planet. It had taken over 300 years of strategic, diplomatic planning just to keep any feathers from ruffling at a Green Lantern's presence. And while these people were not prone to violence, there had been some cases. It left him feeling cautious with every step they took. His eyes briefly shifted over to Emily as she settled into the chair that was pulled out for her by one of the servicemen. She smiled politely and nodded her head at the man and proceeded to settle more comfortably into the chair. His eyes narrowed a little.

She was strong. That he could not refute. But her lack of sight still put him on edge, even if she appeared to have a grasp on it with the aid of her powers. He took her request for protection seriously, even though it was an inconvenience. He thought back on her words. It had surprised him. She seemed so self-assured and strong-willed at times, but there were many cracks most surface, but some were deep. And those were the ones that concerned him the most.

She looked up at him, her lips slightly turned down. He wondered if she could sense the tension just as much as he did. Sinestro rested his hand on her shoulder and nodded his head reassuringly before taking a seat next to her.

"The council will begin with a list of detailed occurrences within the past six months of Green Lantern Reever's disappearance," spoke one of the ambassadors, pulling Sinestro's attention to the row of pedestals now fully occupied by six high standing representatives of the planet.

His neck strained a little at the sharp angle. They had seated Emily and him at floor level in the center of a long table that stretched across the wide room. The acoustics design within the building made it easy for him to hear the council's words. Letting his body relax into the stiff chair, he let out a soft breath, preparing himself for the long discussion. "That would be best."

A multitude of dishes were placed in front of him and his companion as the council discussed minor occurrences that honestly were starting to sound like a waste of time. Sinestro's irritation was slowly building as another story regarding some missing animal was drilled into his ears. The people of Xanshi took pride in their land and the vast flora and fauna that flourished around their technological advancements. Even the slightest harm against their ecosystems by possible outsiders was severely punishable. He shouldn't have been surprised that a few of their 'suspicious recounts' would include damaged landscapes and injured flocks.

Sinestro paused suddenly when a particular mention was made regarding a mining facility. It was located in an isolated area mostly reserved for wildlife. One of the newly elected ambassadors from a smaller region of the planet made a rather enthusiastic point regarding an explosion within the mines. She found it peculiar that neither witnesses nor survivors were found. The government had labeled it as a freak accident since no evidence arose to refute it. One particular scene also occurred not too far from the mines.

"A team was dispatched to the area after the mining facility's control tower relayed a distress call near one of the great lakes. Admittedly, everyone was a little shocked that a plea for help was even made."

Sinestro's brow scrunched in question. "What circumstance would someone not?"

The councilwoman leaned forward, reaching her arms over the pedestal as if she were emphasizing her point. "They were Durarian space traders. Over the past eight years, they have been a problem for our planet, getting past our security checks and landing in isolated parts of the world. Normally, our green lantern would assist, but…" Her face dropped then, looking distressed. "As you can see, Sinestro, we are all very concerned for him. We rely on his help greatly with this issue, but Green Lantern Reever is also a well-respected and cherished member of our society."

Sinestro rubbed his chin in thought. Issues with the Durarian space traders had been mentioned in the corps before. They were a homeless species, having desolated their own planet of its resources thousands of years ago. The planet had collapsed in on itself, killing most of its inhabitants. Those that survived became purely nomadic. But their actions were a small concern in comparison to many other problems plaguing the universe. However, he recalled a couple of lanterns discussing a recent influx of illegal trade from said group.

Before he could respond, the sound of someone coughing interrupted him. It was Emily. She was inelegantly banging her fist into her chest and hacking up whatever it is she ate. Her face was rather pale, and she looked a little nauseous. His eyes widened at the sight. He blinked when he saw the half eaten remains of a bright green fruit and had to cover up his mouth as his lips began to twitch. He forgot to warn her about that. Clearing his throat, he asked,"Something wrong?" He raised his brow.

Everyone was staring at her at this point. She probably sensed it too because her skin began to take on a flushed look. "I'm okay," she said weakly, voice hoarse.

Sinestro grabbed a glass of water and slid it towards her as he continued the discussion as if nothing happened. "So, we've established a distress call from black market traders is unheard of, but I presume there's more to this story?"

The councilwoman cleared her throat. "Uh yes. When the team investigated, there was nothing there except an empty space craft and cargo strewn outside. They searched everywhere. There was some disturbance in the grass fields, but no other evidence. Not even blood. For a moment, we thought our green lantern had returned and was in the process of bringing the criminals in, but there was no sign of him or the outsiders."

Sinestro rubbed the back of his neck in thought, still unsure of the relevance. But both incidents were the only odd occurrences mentioned. It wasn't everyday that something blew up on the planet. At least, nothing outside of a natural disaster. He couldn't help but wonder if there was a lead there. In the end, it could be a dead end, but this was all they had to go on.

He was pulled from his thoughts when the councilwoman pulled out a recording device and began playing the distress call picked up by the communications tower. Emily tensed up, her body pulled tight like a bowstring and alarming him. Her hands had grabbed onto the table, skin a pale white from the pressure. Sinestro's eyes widened, and he made to grab her arm but hesitated. Emily's teeth were grit and bared, her head slightly pointed downward. The signal continued to play, the sound of a man's gurgled screams dying out.

She saw something, he just knew it.

When she slumped into her chair, the tension in his body dissipated. Her breathing was fast, but shallow. It took her a moment to compose herself.
He leaned in, waiting. Her words were spoken in a soft whisper. "It's there."

Excitement washed over him. Their first real lead. Sinestro's mind began to race. This was the first true clue to moving forward, and for once, the situation did not seem as hopeless as he once believed. There was hope.

Most of the council had fallen silent, but a couple whispered as they stared down at Emily. He could sense a mix of fear and concern, but he honestly didn't care about it. He had never wanted to end a meeting so quickly in his life. Gripping the sides of his chair, he sat up a little taller. "This might be a lead," he said calmly, entirely opposite of what he felt. "It will be looked into."

The councilwoman looked relieved, the others satisfied.

It took another hour as customary pleasantries were exchanged and well wishes given to both Sinestro and Emily for their investigation. Honestly, he had no idea how Reever put up with it. But then again, the lantern was a native to the planet so he was probably used to it.

They were led back to the platform they originally arrived on, and Sinestro turned to acknowledge all parties with polite gestures and a nod to signal their departure.

Emily hated to admit it, but after the whole 'choking on whatever the hell that mushy green thing was' and having a vision, she almost fell asleep during the meeting. Sinestro had managed a few subtle angry glances her way when her head lolled in his direction. She felt like a child being scolded for falling asleep at church. She couldn't help it that the whole event was boring. Carol always gave her the same look when she'd snooze in the middle of their conferences at work. At least she didn't snore this time around.

"You're lucky you had nothing useful to say to them." Sinestro's voice could have cut steel.

The group was already leaving the area, and she had waved politely. But her blood boiled at his biting words. Sometimes, she wished she could just sew his mouth shut. Forever.

Emily clamped her mouth and held her hands behind her back, tightening them into fists. So she was a little on the tired side, it's not like her actions were deliberate. "Whatever."

"Stop acting childishly," he seethed. She could see his eyes narrowing at her. Admittedly, she felt a little abashed. It wasn't like her to act that way or at least not around people who were stone faced like him. But she couldn't seem to help it. She was tired. He made her cranky. And Sinestro was so serious, but he invoked the same responses from her just like Hal did, except her friend found it funny. The thought made her gut wrench, sobering her thoughts. She missed him. A lot. She could only imagine how Carol felt, especially since she was left on Oa. Just sitting there. Waiting. God, she was being so selfish. Emily relented and made a muffled apology.

Sinestro didn't bother acknowledging it. She bit her tongue. 'Damn alien and his stupid stick up his ass,' she thought, morosely.

She let out a frustrated breath. "Anyways…, back to business." She crossed her arms and stared down at the floor, not quite ready to face more of his anger. "I'm really interested in visiting that cargo ship."

Mentioning the ship piqued his interest, she could feel the change in his demeanor and was relieved. An angry Sinestro still made her uncomfortable, and she had a knack for making the situation worse.

"What have you got?" he said, voice having gone down a notch. The lack of hostility was a relief.

Her shoulders relaxed. "It wasn't much. But there's something there. I kept seeing flashes of the field with the ship. The images were fragmented; but if we go there, I'm sure I can find out more."

She hoped it would be enough to placate him. Even though her visions could be helpful, sometimes they were less forthcoming. It all depended on how closely the objects related to the situation. If there's too much discord, very little could be obtained. She was lucky to have even gotten anything at the meeting. Message recordings were a lot trickier than something solid like a piece of clothing. It's why the vision was lacking in detail.

"Alright," Sinestro relinquished.

She was surprised, and it showed.

"What is it?" he asked.

'Always so straightforward,' she thought. But she wouldn't complain. Emily was thankful for his cooperation. Not everyone was as accepting when her visions were vague. And she told him so. "It's...rare for people to be understanding when I don't see everything in one big, clear picture."

All he did was hm and nod his head. And she could accept that. Was glad of it.

And then he was by her side with an arm held out, pausing long enough for her to realize his intentions. She simply nodded and held onto him for support. He took off into the sky at a speed much faster than she was anticipating. She clutched her arms around his torso and held her face to his chest tightly. Normally, she would have been irritated, but she shared in his excitement. It was time to find Hal.

It didn't take long for them to arrive in the area. Along the way, she had looked over Sinestro's shoulder and could see the remnants of the mining facility in the distance. Something to think about later. When the lake came into view, she pointed off to the side, where the tall grass was less prominent. He brought them in at a slow swoop and walked a good four steps before easing her down.

As soon as her foot touched the ground, the visions started.

Her body snapped away from Sinestro, and she felt crippled as she fell on her knees like a sack of bricks. It was all happening so fast, she barely had time to breathe.

The taste, the smell, the pain. Blood.
It was everywhere. Soaked deep into the ground and staining the once beautiful landscape. Emily dropped to her hands with her head bent low, gasping for breath.

Sinestro immediately came to her side, gripping her shoulders. "What's wrong?" he said urgently.

"Give me a minute," she cried, her neck straining down as her veins visibly pulsed. Her hands were now gripping her head, fingernails digging into the scalp. The voices in her head were overwhelming. There was fear. So much fear. Emily dragged her nails down and ripped the headbands off of her face, the tears flowing freely from her eyes. She gave a desperate whimper as flashback after flashback hit her. There were so many memories soaked into the ground. 'How many had died here? Six? Seven?'

It was like a vacuum had sucked her out of a dark tunnel and spit her into cold ocean water. The visions finally faded, and Emily cried in relief. It took her a moment to regain awareness of her surroundings. She took a deep breath, grateful that she could sense the air's freshness once more. The twitching in her muscles had stopped and her body began to relax. She was mildly shocked when she felt Sinestro pull her into his shoulder, wrapping protective arms around her. She had completely forgotten he was there. "I'm sorry," she spoke, a sob escaping her lips.

"Are you okay?" he spoke softly. She could feel his concern. It was so potent that she was mildly surprised. It was the kindest he had ever been to her.

"Yeah," she laughed through her tears, which were fading as quickly as they had appeared. "I swear I'm normally not like this." Emily wiped profusely at her tears, not bothering to look up at him. She was embarrassed. "It's just been so long since I experienced this many visions at once."

Sinestro waved her statement off. "I remember how invasive it felt when you first transferred your memories. I was drained. I won't judge you after taking in someone else's."

Her face softened, and she couldn't help but look at him a little differently. A part of her was surprised that she was getting to see this. The part of Sinestro Hal always talked about. The trustworthy friend. The comrade. Still an asshole, but one she would finally admit was worth knowing. She felt a smile tug at the corners of her mouth at the revelation. But she was never going to tell him that.

Rubbing her eyes clear of her final tears, she sniffed and slowly proceeded to stand on shaky legs. Sinestro followed suit, but continued to hold her shoulders, keeping her steady. "It's okay," she reassured, taking a deep breath and letting all of the stress out with an exhale. "We can continue."

"Are you sure?" he actually looked worried.

She reached up behind her and pulled her hair apart, tightening her ponytail. It was a nervous gesture. "Yeah."

Taking a cautious step forward, she relinquished Sinestro's gentle hold and starting wandering through the tall grass. She paused as a soft breeze swept through the air. It felt wonderful as it cooled the burning sensation against her eyes. She listened to the soft sounds of nature surrounding her, letting the gentle lull relax her. It was so beautiful here. And it was a shame that beauty was tainted by memories of violence. Something told her that the people of the planet would share her sentiments.

"How many visions did you have?"

His question caused bits and pieces of the fused memories to push to the forefront of her mind. She shrugged, the images swimming around in her head as she tried to make sense of them. "I'm not really sure." She kept looking around the area, wandering aimlessly. "They were all converging at once. It was like looking at the same scene, but through multiple lenses." She stopped near a strange device lying on the ground. It was rusted and probably didn't work anymore. "Here," she pointed at a spot in the grass not more than two meters from the metal contraption. "This is where the first man went down."

Sinestro walked around carefully, looking for something that could have been overlooked. Looking at the ground, he noticed an indentation, like the dirt had sunk into some sort of hole. Kneeling down, he touched the ground lightly. Emily stood next to him with a sense of unease as she look at the spot.

"Blood runs deep," she whispered, her tone sounding hollow. "No matter how much you try to wash it away, the stain never leaves."

Sinestro looked up at her over his shoulder, eyebrow raised. "They said there were no traces of blood."

Her voice sounded strained. "It's in the ground."

Curious, Sinestro used a light construct to form a tool. She noticed the shape was similar to a spade and panicked. He was going to dig. "No!' she shouted in earnest, a trembling hand held out towards him.

Sinestro paused mid-motion and looked at her questioningly. "Please don't," she said more calmly this time, but the fear was evident in her voice.

Turning to look at the spot once more, Sinestro dropped his arms and allowed the construct to dissipate. The smallest pulse of energy skittered across his ring, the barest of yellow visible. His voice was hard when he spoke. "Don't be frightened." His words were sharp and cold.

She didn't know if he was attempting a poor form of comfort or if it was a lantern thing. Hal had mentioned Sinestro's obsession with showing no fear before. But she didn't expect him to express it so severely. Nodding her head, she inhaled deeply to dispel the painful feeling in her chest.

With that, she turned around and back towards the ship, ready to continue and put that awkward moment past them. She paused to point at a trail in the dirt, her arm waving in a pattern and stopping to point at another dip in the ground. "The next was dragged, died right here." Sinestro followed behind her, trying to picture the scene she was unfolding for him. "Another one here."

His brow furrowed. "Who's attacking them?"

Emily shook her head, unsure. "I don't know. Whatever it is, it hasn't shown itself."

Sinestro became frustrated, if a bit put out. "I thought you said there was a lead here?"

She ignored him and kept walking. For someone what was understanding before, he sure knew how to do a one eighty.
When they reached the ship, she stopped in front of a patch of grass that had been flattened by something heavy. "There were crates here."

"The illegal shipments." Sinestro said without missing a beat. "Confiscated and probably already destroyed."

Emily kept walking, this time towards the ship. A pity there were no crates. She was sure the objects would have given her plenty of information. But she wasn't too worried. There was an entire cargo ship to explore. Her footsteps began to falter as she walked closer to the ramp, stopping just before it. She looked down where the ground met metal, her feet planted firmly on the surface and not fully ready to take that first step. Sinestro stopped beside her, waiting patiently.

"Whatever happens next, don't touch me. Sometimes, touch can throw off my visions."

Sinestro's lips tightened into a thin line, but stood back.

With a shuddering breath, she took the first step and planted her right foot cautiously on the metal ramp. In the past, the visions were not so violent, but it had been over four years since she had blocked them. She hoped that it would be like jumping into the pool for the first time. Quite a shock in the beginning, but warm and bearable after a while. This would be the third round, she prayed there wouldn't be as many memories flooding her mind like before.
When nothing happened, she was relieved. Maybe the vision would turn out more focused. This was good.
Her stride became more confident as she made her way up the ramp and into the cargo bay, looking around for something that could trigger a memory. She huffed as she observed the walls, most of the equipment had been taken. Shaking her head, she motioned for Sinestro to follow her down the open path, hoping to find the ship's controls. It would be their best chance at finding something. Perhaps the control panels. If there were any. Everything was so weird and new, she had no clue how the ship was controlled.

Thankfully, the spacecraft was rather small. The pathway lead straight to one room, filled with black screens and a multitude of switches and buttons. The ship must have been a simple transport to something bigger. Moving towards one of the chairs, Emily carefully ran her hand along the armrest. It was like electricity flowing up her arm. Her black and blue world lit up with color as the memory played before her. There were crewmen all around, listening to orders being grunted from one man. She couldn't understand a word they were saying, but the displays were lit up. The landscape was vast, lush. Xanshi. She heard the planet's name mentioned. The imagery started to fade, and the vision ended.

"Well?" Sinestro asked plainly, his arms were crossed as he leaned against the doorway and waited patiently.

She shook her head in the negative and moved to the panels, letting her fingers skim across the many switches, hoping for better. Inhaling through her nose, she prepared herself for the next wave as another vision started. But this time, she could tell. Something was different. Something wasn't right. Her hands slammed down onto the panels hard, alarming Sinestro at the drastic change.

The memory flashed so quickly it was almost hard to follow. It was one crewman. He was running, shouting, more running. Fear. Pain. Screams. Fear. Fear. Fear.

She began to feel nauseous as the world began to spin around her, turning everything into a blotched haze.

'I can smell your fear…'

Her body jolted back, lungs gasping for air. She could feel Sinestro behind her, close but not touching. His hands were held up, inches away and twitching. Beads of sweat were covering Emily's skin. She was shaking.

"What happened?" He sounded a little shaky himself.

She felt rueful as she put the pieces together. Durarian space traders murder hundreds to obtain their expensive, illegal goods. Then sneak onto Xanshi to trade said goods. Everyone dies. "Karma's a bitch," she said grimly, but without sympathy. The bastards had it coming.

Sinestro started to look impatient. It wasn't the answer he was looking for.

She waved him off, leaning against the chair for support. "It was a good vision. Last images of the crewman that sent out that distress call. I saw what did it." Her voice was shaking as she fought off the effects of the memory. She could still see the sludge-like tendrils, yellow currents pouring over it. "It was him. He was here."

He pushed himself off from the doorway and straightened up at the news. She could tell he was excited. "Reever?"

She shook her head. "No. Parallax."

This time, he tensed up, the muscles in his body pulling tight and hands twitching. "Parallax," he spat out with contempt. "How do you know for sure?" His words were like venom.

Emily squeezed her eyes shut to try and dispel the feelings of fear still clouding her brain, pinching the bridge of her nose. "I saw it. Or some form of it. It was similar to what Hal fought against back on Earth, but smaller. Much smaller."

Sinestro grimaced, not liking the news one bit. If Parallax had been unleashed for over two months, he's had plenty of time to grow. But Sinestro couldn't help but wonder. "It's strange."

Her brow furrowed. "What is?"

He inhaled slowly, rubbing his forehead. "When Parallax previously escaped the confines of his prison, he consumed every planet he could get his hands on. So why is Xanshi still flourishing?"

Emily shrugged, unable to provide any concrete answers. Her vision had been informative, but not all seeing. At this point, her breathing had leveled out and she was leaning against the backrest of the seat, legs crossed and arms folded. "I'm afraid my visions haven't gotten quite that far."

Pushing away from the backrest, she began to walk towards the entrance but stopped in front of Sinestro. "Let's look around a little more. Make sure we didn't miss anything and head out to the mining facility."

Sinestro paused to look at her in question. "The mining facility?"

She nodded as she looked down the hall, past the cargo bay and at the land in the distance. "It's strange, but I could still see what was happening even after the crewman died. It crawled into the distance. I could see the smoke stacks in the background." Her voice sounded distant as she looked on, the memory so fresh in her mind.

Sinestro was the first to move out of the control room, effectively pulling her back to reality. He called over his shoulder casually. "Let's go." He didn't bother waiting up for her as he entered the cargo bay.

A bit miffed, she began to trot down the corridor to catch up. Just as she was ducking a little to get through the door, her hand glided against a small compartment. Her heartbeat skipping as she felt heavy breathing in her head, and blurred images of something dragging itself out of the ship and into the grasslands. The image kept facing in the direction of the mines. And thankfully, the memories were getting easier to bear. She kept walking towards the fields, hopping down off the ramp casually.

"Rothchild!" Sinestro suddenly called out in a strained voice, not bothering to look back at her.

She tensed up at her name, still irked at the way it rolled off his tongue. Balling her fist and raising it in his direction, she stomped over. "God damn it, Sinestro!" She seethed. "I told you not to-." the sentence dying on her lips as she looked over. The biggest beast she had ever seen was glaring back at them, its eyes piercing into her. She felt her stomach clench tightly as a feeling of dread started to build. It was the size of a large, building and its long sharp teeth were menacing. It didn't help that the damn thing was dark and angry looking streaks were all over its body. It looked like lava pouring over obsidian. She wondered how they didn't notice its approach earlier.

Before she could really evaluate further or really accept that the thing was real, the beast's hind talons dug into the ground, tossing up chunks of dirt and grass as it flew forward. Emily knew she wouldn't be fast enough to dodge it, but was spared becoming ground beef when Sinestro grabbed her and flew into the air. But he couldn't rise fast enough and part of the beast's head slammed into his legs, tossing him back. He broke his hold on Emily, and she went flying forward, landing on the creature's tail. She tried to dig her threads into its flesh, but the tail thrashed and threw her to the side. Her body slid across the grass, it's smooth texture softening some of the blow when her shoulder and leg dug into the ground. Her breathing was ragged as she hit the surface with her palm, reestablishing her equilibrium. In the distance, she could see Sinestro preparing to stand. But the large beast had already spotted him and was charging forward. Gritting her teeth, Emily cast out hundreds of threads towards the creature's legs, weaving them into a thick rope along the way. With all of her might, she slammed her end into the ground, digging the rope deep into the dirt and hoping it would be enough to trip the monster.

On his end, Sinestro already had a wall construct in place when the rope snapped tight as the slack ran out. The creature screeched as it pulled hard, its body falling forward and landing into the wall construct. But the rope suddenly gave way, Emily's end pulling up from the ground.

She cursed and quickly got to her feet, pain shooting up her right leg. As much as it stung, she couldn't afford to stop. Doing her best to ignore it, she ran through the grass trying to reach Sinestro.

In the distance, he was forming multiple massive nets to try and tie the beast down before the wall construct could completely collapse. He had six thick nets locked in before he had to fly back as the wall crumbled, chunks scattering everywhere. She could see the determination in his face as he started to build more walls, encasing the whole thing. Emily had to wonder, why wasn't he attacking it yet? She was next to him in an instant, slightly winded. "Are you okay?"

Sinestro didn't bother looking at her as he concentrated on his constructs. "I'm fine."

Looking him once over, she paused at his shoulder. His suit was damaged and she could see blood seeping from the wound. "You're not," she spoke tightly. Moving around him, she rested a hand on his bicep and the other centimeters above his wound. He twitched at the contact, but kept his stance.

"What are you doing?" His voice was apprehensive, but firm.

"Don't move and keep concentrating on what you're doing," she said as she steadied her breathing and began to focus on the wound. "I'm going to heal you."

Her entire hand began to glow blue, and a small thread released from her palm, extending into his shoulder. She tightened her hand on his bicep as he tensed up. "You okay?" she whispered through her teeth, sweat falling from her forehead.

"Yeah."

But his voice was a little shaky. She wondered if it was pain. No one had ever mentioned it before when she healed them, unless the wound was old. But he had just gotten it. Shaking her head, she refocused on the task at hand. The small thread started on the outer edge of the wound and wove into the healthy part of the skin. It worked like mending, the thread moving quickly as it started to sew up the wound and encase it in pure, blue energy. When the entire part was closed off, she released the end. The light flashed blindingly for a few seconds before dissipating into fresh, untouched skin. She smiled in relief and laughed as Sinestro released a long, steady breath. "Better?" she said cheekily.

But the sound of snapping interrupted them, putting Sinestro on high alert. "It's breaking free!"

His muscles tightened up again as he braced himself for the struggle. Sure enough, the beast started to slam into the walls, its talons tearing against the surface with a high pitched screech. Emily had to cover her ears from the sound.

Sinestro was shoved back as the creature broke through the wall. He flew back out into the field as Emily had leapt to the side crashing into the creature's tail before being lashed off and into the ground behind. "Sinestro!" she yelled out in panic.

She didn't understand. Why wasn't he fighting back? All of his moves were purely defensive. Moving to try and slice at the creature with her threads, she was shocked when a massive green construct pushed her out of the way, before the giant beast could swipe at her. "What the hell!" she cried out, eyes wide in disbelief at his actions.

"Get inside the ship!"

Sinestro had his hand held outward and the other slightly behind him in a protective manner. He waved it violently, commanding her attention without looking away from the massive beast not more than three yards away.

"Go!," he yelled as massive amounts of tiny green specs began to attach themselves to the creature, making it swat around in irritation.

He must have heard her hesitate, and his frustration grew. "Now would be a bad time to second guess yourself, Rothchild!"

When she huffed, he knew he had her focused. They both began to back away towards the ramp and back into the ship. A loud snap broke the serenity of the scene as Emily's foot crushed a large twig. Some birds in the distance broke forth from the lake and up into the sky.

"Well shit," Emily said in a defeated tone. And without hesitation, they both began to run as a loud roar filled the air, a majority of the constructs being thrown off its body and dissipating. The ground shook as the creature ran towards them.

Sinestro was fast, already ahead of her as they made their way into the ship. She gasped as a pair of green constructs suddenly hooked under her shoulders and lifted her up from the ground, tossing her into Sinestro's arms. The large beast had leaped towards the ship's opening, attempting to bite off Emily's limbs as its huge face tried to push its way in. But she lifted her legs up to avoid the attack, and Sinestro jolted backwards, slamming his back into the wall. She screamed against the sudden gust of wind filling the cargo bay. "Jesus, that thing is fast!" And she gagged as she realized it was the monster's breath.

Sinestro pulled her farther into the ship, trying to keep them both steady as the beast kept shoving its head into the opening. Emily stared at the beast warily, backing up as the ship shook from the force of its movements. "Can we close this thing off from us?"

Sinestro looked around for some sort of hatch. The bay doors were fairly large. Large enough to let the creature in if it got any farther through the first opening. Giving up, he used his ring to force the door closed.

Emily slumped against the wall, the adrenaline rushing through her ears as she caught her breath. She rested her hand against her head as the ship continued to shake. "How long do you think it'll be before that thing gives up?"

Sinestro's lips thinned. "No idea."

She was relieved that she didn't have to stare at the damn thing anymore and sighed. But her relief was short lived as the ship rocked violently to one side, throwing both of them into the opposite wall. "Shit!" she cried out, panic rising in her voice. Her ribs protested as the ship rolled over and her back slammed into the ceiling. "Sinestro!"

"Hold on!" he shouted, using a light construct to hold his body in the center of the hallway and another to grab Emily and pull her towards him.

The ship was shaking too hard for her to get a clear view of anything anymore. The vibrations were scattering the images. A sense of dread hit her at the feeling, her body clamming up as she grabbed onto Sinestro for dear life. She knew he could sense the change in her, but she didn't care. He was the only lifeline she had in all of the chaos. "Please don't drop me!" she cried out. This is what she feared the most, being completely blind and without personal resources. She was helpless and now had to rely 100% on others. Emily could feel his arms tightening around her as objects started crashing around them. She wasn't sure how long it lasted, but the strained sounds of metal bending and breaking made her stomach drop. And then she could feel the whole damn thing being lifted. And with a final crash, the walls gave way and light peeked in through the large cracks as the ship rolled. Slowly, everything came to a stop.

Sinestro covered his eyes with one arm. The walls were unstable and creaked farther apart as the construct strained against the ship. Without hesitating, Sinestro dropped it and held Emily tightly.

"What are you doing!?" She yelled, already frazzled from being jerked around and completely blind.

Sinestro grimaced and swung her up, catching her under her back and behind her knees. She gasped in shock as he secured her against him.

"We need to find a place to hide. I don't want to waste too much energy unless it's absolutely necessary. We'll be stranded if my ring dies out."

"Of all the…" She completely forgot about that one, important little detail about their power rings. "You didn't bring your lantern?" She said condescendingly.

"Jordan tells you too much," he said, further irritated by her attitude. And started to lecture her. "Carrying a lantern around wherever you go is not always the wisest of actions."

"Whatever," she grumbled, holding onto him tightly as she felt him weaving their bodies through the sharp remnants of metal that once made up a ship. As she felt light touch her face, the wind kicked up suddenly as Sinestro broke out at breakneck speed. She clutched to him in shock.

"Time to move," he said in a rushed voice as the air shook with the sound of another roar. Damn thing spotted them.

Her head began to clear as the dizziness finally started to fade. "Where are we going?" she asked directly into his ear, her ponytail whipping behind them.

The air dropped as Sinestro sharply descended towards the flat cliff on the side of a mountain.

"Whoa! Whoa! Whoa! What are you doing!?" she shouted in his face. In the distance, she could hear the creature's heavy footsteps coming closer and fast.

He was clearly not amused. "Stop yelling!" he yelled back. "There's a crack in the side of that cliff. We're going to hide in there."

The crevice in the wall was deep, but not very spacious. Sinestro had managed to shove her in first and force his way in just as the large beast caught up and slammed into the wall. A string of curses left her as she felt the sharp edges jutting out of the rock cut and scrape into her exposed skin. Sinestro moved closer and attempted to shield her as best he could.

"Why didn't we just down the damn thing?" She seethed.

Sinestro continued to push her farther into the crevice, moving them around a sharp corner and out of the creature's sight.

"I don't make a habit of killing innocent animals." he whispered offhandedly as they nudged themselves into a tighter part of the wall. "Especially on planets where it is a heinous crime to disrupt the delicate ecosystem."

They were chest to chest now, and Sinestro had his hands braced over her shoulders and onto the rock. The light was dim, and Emily's sight had yet to fully recover. Breathing hard, she pushed a little against Sinestro, trying to give herself some distance. The space was too small.

Giving up, she snorted into his chest, humored by his words. "Sinestro, friend to woodland creatures everywhere. I never would have guessed." Her snort turned into a bark of laughter, but she quickly covered her mouth. The mountain shook once more as another loud roar broke out, pieces of rubble falling onto them. A putrid wind wove its way into the crevice. "Ugh, gross."

Sinestro managed to look even more irritated. "If you're finished putting us into more danger…," he whispered in anger.

She froze in place and mumbled out a whispered apology. That uncomfortable feeling was inching its way forward again, but this time it was sharper. More succinct. Before, she could feel the anger in his voice. Now, she could feel it in his body as she was pushed tightly against him. Her fear was briefly lived, but she noticed little tendrils of light in his suit trail across his chest as she rested her head against his collarbone. Sinestro's breathing was steady now and her adrenaline rush finally decided to crash.

It wasn't long before she fell asleep, head resting against his chest.