There was a flash of bright light and Agua was running after a little blur in a white room. She was holding a red jacket that was all too familiar.

"Hold still," she said, gentle as ever.

He finally did, plastered to the corner. "Why?"

She held up the jacket. "It's washed." Her smile was gentle. "Father wanted me to be sure you were clean and presentable for the meeting today, Red."

Those beautiful blue eyes of his looked down. "I feel funny."

Agua slowly guided his hand into one sleeve, and then the other. "It's okay. I know you're not used to it." She smiled and her eyes began to glow. She touched the back of his head and slipped his glasses on. "Let's go. Father will be impatient if we make him wait any longer."

"Yes. Let's go." He shoved her aside and walked to the door. "Open!"

She followed him and as she passed another blur of colors and visions. But this time, sound was accompanied by the blur in the room.

Miss Martian could make out the sounds of someone yelling. "Why is it so blurry?"

Agua looked away. "This time, she wasn't so lucky."

There was a sudden clarity to the vision and Luthor picked up Candi's limp form and began to shake her back and forth. "Do you understand me? I'm telling you that you're a worthless piece of junk! You can't even carry out simple orders! What is the matter with you?" He threw her aside and her back hit the wall as she slid to the floor.

Slowly, she got to her feet. Raising her hand, Candi wiped the blood from her face onto the back of her hand. She was turning away when she heard a familiar sound as Luthor slammed his office door. She knelt down. "Come. I'm okay."

The two girls crawled out from behind the corner and when Candi stood up, they ran to her, holding their arms out.

"Shh, it's okay. I'm not badly hurt. I'm okay." She gently kissed their crowns. "Mary, Agua, I'm okay. He didn't hurt me too bad this time."

Agua buried her face into Candi's shoulder. "We have to find a way out."

"I already have," Candi whispered.

There was another whirl, but this time, the images were sharper, clearer. Candi was standing in a crowd of people, but she wore Cheshire's face. She moved through the crowd, slowly, cautiously. Finally, she broke free and took off running.

'Will this work?' came a cautious voice that sounded like the Bloody Red Queen.

'I hope you're right. I don't wanna have wasted all this time for nothing.'

"If Father's virus works the way I think it does, he'll chase us. Until then, we have to sit tight."

'Will this help with the promise you made to the Lantern Ring?'

"Yes. I promised it I would find my hope and I will." She touched her chest as they darted around a corner. "I'll find that ray of hope and show I'm worthy of those colors." She transformed into Robin and swung around, putting her back to a fence.

Roy came around the corner and slowed to a walk. He was holding a knife. The feral breathing he was doing suggested he wasn't himself.

Candi slowly raised her hand to show him that she didn't have a weapon. "I'm not going to hurt you. Just listen to me."

"Why?" Roy lunged at her and Candi ducked.

There was a flash of blue on her finger and she held her fist out. Quickly, and with conviction, she said; "In fearful day, in raging night, With strong hearts full, our souls ignite, When all seems lost in the War of Light, Look to the stars... for hope burns bright!"

Roy went for another blow, but Candi, who had parted from the other two, dove under his initial attack. Aiming for the feet, she gasped when the first blow missed and she turned and used her right arm to get him in the gut. When he went down she looked up and caught a green arrow.

Slowly getting to her feet, she dropped the arrow and lifted her hand to her ring. She began to slide it off. The blue aura around her faded and she looked down at Roy. "I'm sorry, but I guess you're looking like my ray of hope in this dismal life of mine." She put the ring back and knelt down.

Mary and Agua ran over. "Is he okay?" Mary asked, sliding to a halt.

"He'll survive, but the virus is deep in his system. I'll need someone's blood who cares for him to bring him back."

"What about me?"

Candi didn't look up. "If you care for him, then yes. Otherwise, go away, Oliver."

"Ollie, if you please." He knelt down. "He's like my son. I'm not about to just let him suffer and die."

She nodded. "Then I'll need your adrenaline going."

"Why?"

"It gives me better circulation and it hurts less." Candi got to her feet. "Now, how do you want to play this down?"

There was another mass of blurs and Candi was standing in Roy's room as Ollie closed the door to leave. She reached into her pocket and pulled out the Blue Power Ring. It was the only reason she was still there. Roy had activated her Power Ring's instincts and she'd been able to read his movements seconds before he made them.

She sat on the edge of his bed and put her hand on his chest. "I wonder..."

She reached down and touched his hand before she slowly put her ear to his chest. She closed her eyes and began to tap her fingers to the rhythm of his heart. Slowly, she felt it quicken and sat up.

"Little ray of hope." She looked away. Her elbows propped on her knees as she moved the ring within her fingers. "I promised the Blue Lantern I'd find my ray of hope. There is no ray of hope, not one who would believe in me. I'm not cut out for your job, Hal, not even in the slightest. I've got next to none for hope from outsiders." She looked over her shoulder at Roy. "My only ray of hope is a super weapon made for killing or replacements, Roy. You're lucky. There's people out there who care about you." She leaned back and flicked the ring into the air. "Little rays of hope. I'm not cut out for this Lantern stuff."