Owner	Pose
Saint Walker	True to his word Saint Walker was ready to leave the day after their talk. He left word to meet him in the hanger rather than the cafeteria and when the appointed time arrives he can be found there sitting lotus, surounded by a blue aura and floating a few feet above the deck. The techs working the bay stop and stair, but it's a skeleton crew and after the attempted sabotage they've seen a lot stranger things than this. Outside the hanger's forcefield is the curve of the Earth and the cosmos stretching beyond.
Kinsey MacKenna	Kinsey really didn't have much to do to prepare; there really weren't people 'back home' to inform. Just her superiors here in the station, and the woman she was leaving in charge in her stead while she went off on this trip. There had been a tense moment where Kinsey had had to plead her case - the opportunity to see, firsthand, an alien planet, and people - before she was given the go ahead and blessings, but beyond that, all that was necessary was packing a small bag. So it was at hte appointed time, Kinsey shows up at the hanger, her small overnight bag carefully packed with a change of clothing, and for no reason she could explain, the box her mother had given her. Her toothbrush, and a couple of other essentials tucked in the bag as well, along with the ever present notebook and pen - because you couldn't guarantee internet access everywhere, but pen and paper was a pretty universal standard when it came to working just about anywhere. There's a faint smile upon her lips as she discovers her newfound friend floating in the hanger bay. "I do hope I haven't kept you?" Her smile moving to include the few others in the space before returning to the Blue Lantern.
Saint Walker	"Not at all," Saint answers as his eyes flick open and his lips bow into a smile. "I was quite enjoying the moment of quiet but I am glad you have arrived." As he asks he lets his legs drop to the deck, and he stands. "By the presence of your bag, I assume you're ready to leave and have not come to make your apologies?' he asks head tilting in the direction of the bag. He searches for the human idiom, "Cold feet, would be quite understandable." There's no judgement in the tone indeed he sounds as if he is simply dotting I's and crossing T's so to speak. Having faith that Kinsey would come and all would be well.
Kinsey MacKenna	"I thought about it," Kinsey admits. "There's a fine line between reaching for the stars, and insanity, but again, I'd have regretted not at least trying." Her shouldesr rise and fall in an easy shrug. "Besides, I do believe there was something about telling me more of your story, and perhaps enjoying some of the more universal constants of food?" Brown eyes twinkle with mirth. He hadn't exactly said they'd share that last, but they had talked of foods that could be found across the galaxy, or at least approoximates of one another. She didn't feel it was too far off the mark to tease him about this. "I am ready, though." A finality to that, the woman accepting that whatever came of this, it was as it should be. The only factor that could change anything, now, was whether she tried or not, and Kinsey had never been one to shy away from a challenge.
Saint Walker	There is a solemn nod of understanding when she mentions she thought about not going, but it soon turns to a smile as she embraces the new opportunity before her with what he has come to take as her usual gusto. "I believe both can be arranged. Odym is not known for its cusine, but if you are successful, you will have an entire universe to sample from," he says and if she wasn't he would make sure they stopped on the way back to Earth. When she says she's ready, Saint gives a nod, "Then let us prepare our transport," he says, turning and pointing his ring at an empty spot in the bay emitting a beam of blue light forming an orb there, one with a flat floor suspended near the bottom of the orb and a door standing open in its side. "Not the most inventive construct I admit, but it should provide an excellent view of the cosmos while giving us safe passage through space." He walks towards the door and stopping outside he gestures, "Please step aboard and we'll be on our way."
Kinsey MacKenna	Those eyes of hers continue to twinkle, a crinkle at the edges of them, marking her face in what surely will be laugh lines at some point in her future, "I'm suprised you didn't way 'when' I succeed, Brother Walker. How positively cautious of you." Her teasing remaining upon those light lines she's already sent out as feelers towards him. "Regardless, I would love to spend a few hours with you just talking. Over whatever cuisine. The station's would do, though, as you've mentioned beer, I do know a couple of bars earthside we could probably sneak you into just fine." He wouldn't be the strangest things they'd seen by any stretch of the imagination. Well, depending on where they went, that was. "Construct?" Kinsey comes to where he says, and considers what she is shown as an option. "You will have to explain this, and I'm sure any myriad of other things. It is safe, yes?" Even as she asks, she doesn't wait for an answer, stepping lightly into the thing, and waiting.
Saint Walker	Saint's beetle black eyes glint. "Oh, I believe it will be when not if, but I didn't want to burden you with the expectation. You will do as you will do and all will be well." "I would also enjoy a chance to talk and share food. However, we will have to wait until after you've completed your trials," he says. "But I do like the idea of experiencing an Earthside bar. We shall have to do that sometime." After all on a world with mutants Saint might just pass. "Oh I assure you it is quite safe," Saint says as he steps after her into the sphere and jumps up and down a little to prove it. "Constructs are made by shaping the Blue Light of Hope according to our imaginations, it is one of the more fun abilities provided by our rings. They can be just about anything you can think of and are as strong as the wearer's will, so, as you can imagine this is where our brothers in green excel." With a tiny push of will the 'door' slides closed and sphere rises from the deck of the station to the stares of the crew in the hanger bay. "Shall we?" he asks her looking toward the expanse of the cosmos beyond the forcefield.
Kinsey MacKenna	"Now, see," Kinsey says of the construct, "That actually makes sense in an odd way. Hope manifest so profoundly it takes a solid shape." Of course that doesn't really explain the other Lantern colours, but it's enough that she trusts Hope to work in that fashion. When he goes on to explain about will, it makes even more sense, and explains the rest more than adequately. And quite possibly why Green and Blue share such a symbiotic relationship. "I tell you what," the woman inclines her head to Saint Walker, "No matter the outcome, we'll share two meals. One at a location of your chosing, of all your favourite places in the known universes, and one of mine upon Earth." As the door closes, and the thing rises, Kinsey looks out upon the Universe, "Oh, my. You know, you see it from earth, standing on hte ground, looking up into the sky and it looks vast. Even from the station, there's still that sense of being bound to a place. You can't really feel it. But this? Is magnificent. How do you even fetter yourself to one place after this?" There's a wistful sigh as Kinsey realizes she may have just ruined herself for life if Brother Walker is wrong about her.
Saint Walker	Saint nods, "Yes, like seeing one's heart's desire in your mind's eye, only given form by the power of the Light of Hope," he says of the construct. As to her offer he sticks out his hand. "Deal," he says. "Two meals, one in a place of my choosing and one in a place of yours." The sphere rises, and glides smoothly into space, displaying the world in all it's splendor below them and space in all it's vastness everywhere else. Saint smiles broadly at the veiw, "I do not," he answers her question. "Once I took my ring, I wandered the universe, spreading the Light of Hope, because once one sees the possibilities, it is impossible not to want to see all the Universe has to offer." The sphere hovers a moment longer to let them enjoy the view before Saint points his ring forward and a blue rimmed hole in space appears, a green planet visible through it as the sphere speeds towards it. There is no sense of movement within the sphere beyond the objects in space moving past its clear walls. Then as they meet the event horizon of the wormhole they're sucked in passing through a tunnel of blue light for a handful of seconds before emerging with the green planet directly ahead of them. From space the planet seems like nothing but unmarred verdant greens and earthy browns, save where oceans stretch away between the continents. Something about it tugs at her, like a welcoming embrace guiding her on to the surface. Saint directs the construct that way as well, hands clasped behind his back watching Kinsey's reactions.
Kinsey MacKenna	Kinsey's hand meets his own, firmly, slender fingers curling about the bottom edge of his palm, "Deal." She'd have to admit she's a bit nervous about this flight thing - the construct she might have faith in, but it's still odd to be viewing space as she is. Then again, she tells herself, flight, itself, was an act of faith: tons of metal hurtling through air on not a whole lot more than faith. Cars weren't all that far off that same concept, either, even if they were much more grounded. "I think one of the reasons I chose the fields I did was that whole idea of exploring. When I started my schooling, I thought science was the place I'd find the expanses my heart longs for. Odd that I chose genetics, but really, it's like looking into the universe itself. And by the time I was looking at graduate studies, and defending a PhD, we'd made first contact and the fact of aliens was out there. So I married my passions and found a niche." "Now look at me." ...When they pop out through the wormhole (that bit of travel met with a gasp), Kinsey is silent for a time, looking out over the place. Indeed, it tugs at her. Peaceful. Calm. Welcoming. It feels like home. "It's beautiful," she whispers in awe. "How do you bear to walk away from it?" As though she hadn't asked not too long ago how did he bear to stay in one place. "It sings to me.." Cheeks blushing as she realizes how hokey that must sound to him, and how very much she must seem to be falling into the typical human tourist role.
Saint Walker	Saint's hand is warm and inviting as he takes her's a firm and brief squeeze before letting go. The deal was struck. Saint could be back in the cafeteria for all he reacts to their sudden movement and passage through the wormhole, his attention remains fixed on Kinsey, expericing the trip through her expressions and reactions. "I never had the chance to study genetics, but I understand in many ways were are the universe made small made of the same things and full of the same varieties and sameness, I envy you your studies Kinsey McKenna and am glad events conspired to make this trip possible. There is no mockery of her words only a small nod of agreement. "I too hear its song," he says as the construct glides ever closer to the planet. "And it is sometimes difficult to leave, I will admit, but I find after I stay I feel... reinvigorated and ready to once again bring the Light of Hope to the Universe." The reinvigoration is more than symbolic as his ring reports: <Power Level at 100> "Odym is the source of our power, it is where the Blue Power Battery stores the light of hope and transfers it to each Lantern so we may use it to help others. We are headed to the battery now, to begin your journey to becoming a Blue Lantern."
Kinsey MacKenna	"Very much like our universe. Though if you have not had a chance, you should look at pictures of brain synpses firing. It's like galaxies spread out before you. Breathtaking." Our Kinsey, it would seem, is a romantic on some level, even if her field is rather a polar opposite to that. "The source of your power?" She's pondering how a planet can house an emotion, let alone power things, but she has to admit she doesn't know all the secrets of the universe - far from it - let alone her own people, so his word is taken for what it is. "Already?" Kinsey is amused that there is no preamble to the testing he's spoken to her of. "Very well, then. I"m as ready as I will ever be. Let what is to be, be." The place, and her own calm acceptance of what will be, will be, fill her with not only a sense of peace and calm, but a stirring of invigoration. Excitement to meet this possible fate of hers.
Saint Walker	"I will have to do that," Saint says of the firing of synapses and means it. Being a romantic is just one part of the requirements of being a Blue Lantern after all. "Well, perhaps not the source exactly, it draws and stores the energy of the great hope that surrounds us, storing it and distributing it to our own power batteries. I know, it is such a banal description for what is at it's core a wonderous process." "Indeed, there is no time to waste, besides once it is done there will be plenty of time for tours and relaxation." He offers a warm smile at her remark about letting it be what is to be to be. "All will be well," he says. They pass through the clouds and the planet comes into sharper view, vast jugle like forests spread all around them cut through with rivers. As they draw lower, birds become visible great big things with long trailing tails and a bright magenta plumage. As they grow closer to the surface the melody grows stronger, until at last a blue light is visible from within a grotto, where one of those rivers pours down in waterfalls, to collect in a pool before carrying on through the jungle. In the center of that pool is a massive Blue Lantern with arms reaching out from it passing into and beneath the water, it glows with the same blue light as the construct and thrums like a heartbeat. The sphere lands at the edge of the pool and the door slides open letting the warm humid air of the planet rush in. It smells of plant life, and it it's rich with oxygen, giving a slightly euphoric rush after the air contained within the construct. "Welcome Kinsey McKenna," Saint says grinning nearly from ear hole to ear hole.
Kinsey MacKenna	"All shall be well," Kinsey echoes, "and all shall be well, and all manner of thing shall be well." Quoting Julian of Norwich, a 15th Century female philosopher. She's quiet until they reach their destination, merely drinking in the scenery. Allowing herself to feel and be steeped in the calm and peace of the place. How it makes her feel. Even if this isn't the start of a very different journey than she could have imagined for herself, there was something about the place that demanded you listen to it; that demanded you allow yourself to be filled with the feeling of possibility. Or, as Saint Walker had said, recharge your battery. She could see how here sufficed for that, even if you weren't a Lantern. Or maybe it is only that it suffices because kind calls to kind, and each to each, and she has, truly, come home. As the rush of air hits her, she closes her eyes and lets the scent and the brush of cool on her skin be first physical greeting from the place, and when her eyes open again, it is to offer the golden brown of them to Saint Walker, along with, "Thank-you for bringing me here."
Saint Walker	Saint Walker smiles at the words. "Where is that from? I quite like it," he says of the quote. Saint gives her space to drink in what she sees watching it all through her reactions and in so doing seeing this planet again for the first time. When they land he smiles brightly, "You are most welcome Kinsey McKenna, thank you for allowing me to bring you here. It is an honour to be here at the start of your adventure." And yes, even after all of this it is just the start. Saint leads the way out of the construct, and when they both step on the lush grass beside the pool the constuct fades leaving only them, the battery and the jungle. At least until she appears, a blue skinned woman no more than three feet tall with white hair and dressed in a flowing white robe. She wears no ring but floats as Saint Walker is prone to letting her be roughly eye-level with the pair of them. "Greetings Sayd," Saint Walker greets with a grin. "This is Kinsey McKenna of Earth. I sense in her a great potential..." He has only said that much when something emerges from the lantern and zips towards Kinsey stopping in mid air before her, a blue ring like the one Walker wears. To which Sayd remarks, "You are not the only one it seems," then she turns her kind green eyes to Kinsey. "Welcome Kinsey McKenna of Earth, I suppose I need not ask why you have come."
Kinsey MacKenna	Kinsey isn't sure whether to be startled or bemused, but settles upon bemused, especially at the *zip* and appearance of the ring in midair before here. "Well, Brother Walker gives a convincing argument," she says softly, inclining her head respectfully to the woman. "It is good to meet you. And I don't know what to say of this." She gestures at the ring. "I was led to believe there was a trial. Unless this is part of the trial." Which gives her some pause to consider that. It would make sense. Hope was nothing more than faith manifest in one's heart, leading you forward despite what odds might say. Odds would say it was rather bold and brazen to reach for the thing, but odds would also say that if you didn't claim it as your own, then how could you also hope to weild it with conviction? "I see," she murmurs to herself, uncertain of if this was the one of the trials, or merely the prelude. Either way, there is a nod from the woman. A decisive nod. "Well, there is only one way to know, isn't there?" Still to herself as she reaches for the ring, claiming it.
Saint Walker	There is no comment from either Saint or Sayd when Kinsey muses upon the ring, though when she reaches for it, both smile and the ring of it's own accord slips onto her finger. There's a rush of connection, like she's bound even more closely to the feeling of this planet and the two aliens who stand next to her. The ring speaks in a male voice, faintly accented, sounding very much like her father did: "Greetings Kinsey McKenna." After giving Kinsey a moment to connect with her ring Sayd answers her question, "This is the beginning of your test, but had a ring not chosen you then it would have been the end. Fortunately that is not the case. Your ring is a powerful tool and one that will take time to master the first step in this is to find its Power Battery and call it forth to fill your ring." She waves her hand and a portal opens, showing start of a path up a towering mountain. "Your journey begins there."
Kinsey MacKenna	Kinsey has so few memories of her father, but that voice brings back memories of sunshine and a smile, a very gentle smile. And, oddly, the thought of a hand cupping a face - though it wasn't her own. The wayward thought gone almost as quickly as it comes, leaving her with a small moment of regret for the man she never knew. Her hand closes into a fist as the ring places itself upon her finger, and Kinsey takes a deep, cleansing breath, touching the thing with the fingers of her other hand, as much by a greeting as the words it gives her. "Does it - do you have a name?" Not knowing how much sentience to assign to the thing, though as Sayd speaks there's another understanding nod from the woman. "It knew me," she says, uncertain why she knows this is so, but she knows it to be. "We were meant for one another." A flush of pink creeping along her cheekbones as she says that. "Oh my, I am either every bad romance movie ever there was, or there is something about being around you people and this place that does this to a person." Not that she sounds bothered by that. Her gaze slips to the mountain path. "I see, so the journey is to see if the ring and I can become symbiotic. A working pair. If I fail in these things, then I am lacking what is necessary. And if I succeed, I will walk away with a ring that is ready to take on the tasks given, that has as much faith in me as I do in it." And myself, she thinks.
Saint Walker	There is a receptive feeling in touching the ring, a wordless sign of it's intelligence and acceptance. "I do not, you may give me one if you wish, Kinsey McKenna, or simply call me Ring." "Yes, rings may be passed on but this one is new and is meant to sit on your finger, I think," Sayd says but makes no remark at Kinsey's blushing. Saint does, "While it may be somewhat flourid in the context of romance fiction, in this case it is accurate, you were meant for the ring and it was meant for you." "Correct," Sayd says. "This journey will cement your bond with your ring and give you what you need to serve as a Blue Lantern. All you need do is step through the portal." Saint Walker nods, "And when you return I shall tell you the story I promised. One Blue Lantern to another."
Kinsey MacKenna	"I could call you Ring," Kinsey says simply, "That that's hardly the way to forge a relationship. Do you like Kibou?" The name falling effortlessly from her tongue. Hearing that the ring is new, and thus truly meant for her gives Kinsey a sense of even greater awe at what is being bestowed. That she's managed to understand at least part of the trial before her pales in comparison that that small fact. "Well, then I suppose I shall have to try even harder to be worthy of you," she tells her ring. Saint Walker is given a not and a smile. "I shall return. One way or another. Though I will still get that story from you. I do believe I could introduce you to a human food called wings and bribe it from you if I must." But she doesn't intend on failing. It might happen, but her steps will not start with that thought in her mind. It is as she was always given to believe by her mother, you set out as you intend. You might plan for the alternative, but you always started out out believing you would achieve what you set out to. "When I return then," Kinsey says resolutely, and steps through the portal.
Saint Walker	"Kibou... Japanese meaning: hope," Kibou answers. "Acceptable," it says sounding approving. There is a smile from Walker at the bonding that had already begun. When he's addressed he bows his head. "I shall look forward to it. And I will not need to be bribed, though wings do sound intriguing. Be well Kinsey McKenna, we shall see you when you return." He bows more fully then and then lets her step through the portal. As soon as she's through it closes with finality leaving Kinsey and her ring alone with the mountain. "Power reserves are low I will be able to provide limited assitance." Kibou volunteers. "Protection, translation, sensors, and perhaps one limited flight and one healing." As Kibou gives the littany, something moves in the growing shadows, something whispy, with a predatory aspect, for a moment she sees lantern eyes staring out of the shadows at her, then they vanish.
Kinsey MacKenna	"If I understand things correctly," Kinsey tells Kibou, "We're to help one another. How do you usually - correction - how would a ring normally sense where to receive power reserves? Perhaps we shall start there." The falsh of eyes give pause, but as they do not (yet) change into something more problematic, she reassures herself that they are nothing more than the watchful eyes of the other Lanterns overseeing her trials. She does not imagine they would allow her to die in here, even if she might fail. Just thinking that bolsters her Hope. She might fail, but she is not alone. Beneath her feet, there's that steady thrum of connection to the earth, and the strength of the place. "Kibou? Can you feel the power here? Where does it feel strongest?"
Saint Walker	"I believe you are correct.," Kibou reports. "My sensors are not detecting a source of power nearby but the Blue Lantern power batteries are stored extra-dimensionally. The strongest levels of innate power here are to the south-west in the direction of the Central Battery. "However the navigational data Sayd provided me before our departure suggests we must ascend the mountain." There is no further sign of the eyes for now but the shadows lengthen.
Kinsey MacKenna	"Well, that is interesting," Kinsey remarks. "So there is likely something to be learned by climbing the mountain, even if your sensors tell us other, and conflicting information. I think we shall take Sayd's initial words to heart and climb, but keep in mind the other should we need to." She begins climbing up the path, as that does seem to be what is required. "Interestingly, our earth literature is very much populated by stories of journeys - some very literal ones - but they're always representative of a spiritual journey. Something you must learn about yourself before you can move forward properly." "I'm going to use that as a premise, and between us, we shall make this happen. How does that sound to you? What is your power at, since you have mentioned it is low, and will this stress your resources, our talking?"
Saint Walker	"It seems that way," Kibou says of the climb illuminating to light the way as they proceed. "I am aware. There is considerable literature stored in my internal memory, including from Earth. Journeys, especially climbs are a common metaphor for spritual progression." "Your suggestion is acceptable. Power levels are at 10% and at current expediture my voice functions will last 23 years, 43 days, 2 hours and 23 minutes." "Aproximately." As they walk the path and night begins to fall, the eyes return this time in front of them and they remain, indeed their owner steps coalesses out of the dark a shadowy shape reminicent of a wolf, larger though with sharp rows of shadowy teeth. "Turn back," it growls, a deep cold sound like the sliding open of a crypt.
Kinsey MacKenna	There's a laugh from Kinsey. "I see, so talking for you is much like for we humans. Relatively little expenditure. Unless you're an introvert, but still, a relatively minor task in the realms of tasks." They're mid conversation when the wolfen figure appears, it's eyes a cold lantern light, and it's voice an abyssal darkness. Kinsey stops full on, a small gasp escaping her, her ring weilding hand pulled protectively to her chest, as she's forced to think, and think fast. "We mean you no harm," she tells the figure. "Our business is not with you, nor do we seek to interfere. We seek the heights of the mountain." She's hoping her voice isn't as wavery to it as it feels to herself, willing to stand her ground. Not making it to the top of the mountain is a failure, and she's barely begun this journey.
Saint Walker	The wolfen creature steps forward drawing closer the eyes like lanterns and a smell like a charnal house. "My business is with you," it growls turn back. "This road is not for you, Kinsey MacKenna, return to Earth, return to your hiding place." The words bring up flickers of images, things, massive hulking wolfen things much like what stands before her but made of flesh and steel not shadow. Slavering, relentless hunters. "Leave Kinsey MacKenna or meet your fate." It lunches forward jaws snapping at her throat. As it does, Kibou offers, "Yellow is the colour of fear."
Kinsey MacKenna	"No, I will not return," Kinsey says calmly, her voice taking on the authoratative tones she's used to talk down more than one agressor in the past. "You are nothing more than more than my fears manifest." A thought that is helped by Kibou's telling her that yellow is the colour of fear. She remembers another thing, too.. "You do not scare me," she tells it, her voice still firm, but gentling as she reaches deep within herself to that well of calm and certainty she's always held. "You are scared. Fear is a small emotion. Fear keeps you from seeing possibility. Fear sucks the joy and the certainty out of life and leaves you alone. You are not alone, I am here with you, and I will not let fear win." The lunge is met with an instinctive holding up of her ringed hand, arm crooked like a shield. "Kibou, now!"
Saint Walker	At Kinsey's word a shield forms from the ring and when the jaws snap on it they dissipate like smoke an effect that passes through the rest of the beast in short order. Leaving Kinsey on the road illuminated by the glow of her shield. "I do not detect any further threats in the area."
Kinsey MacKenna	"Thank-you Kibou," she says simply, taking a long breath and centering herself again. "Please lower the illumination to levels that do not strain you so much. I am guessing that shield cost us power? What are your reserves at now?" She continues along the path.
Saint Walker	"Currently at 8" Kibou replies as they proceed up the path. The way is rocky and steep, though lit by the Odym's moons bathing it all in silverly light as Kinsey proceeds upwards. Though after a few hours journey she hears something, the plaintive cry of an animal beyond the path and down the cliff below it.
Kinsey MacKenna	The journey is tiring, even if it is quiet until the point where she hears the cries. "Kibou, do you know what animal that is?" Torn, not because the journey is to take her up, and this is calling her away, but because cliff-face, and knowing that Kibou's power is waning. If they are to investigate, she will have to use much of her own manpower, or so she thinks, unwilling to drain her companion ring when she's caapable without. Still, there is reassurance in knowing that Kibou can do more than direct her, or give her a shield. She's seen Saint Walker use his, and is aware that Kibou's power is more malleable than that. What had he said? Limited by the strength of hope alone. She's already moving to the cliff edge to get a better look. "Maybe some more illumination. We can see what it is we are dealing with." It could be a trap, after all, which would require a different approach. "And then we shall decide what we do next."
Saint Walker	"Scanning. It is a kiwa, a small mamalian creature local to most mountanous regions on Odym.," Kibou reports after barely a second. When Kinsey looks over the cliff Kibou lights the side of the cliff revelaing the kiwa a racoon sized creature with blueish fir, and long limbs, one of them bent out of shape as it lays on a ledge below some 30 feet below the path.
Kinsey MacKenna	Kinsey leans on her arms as she peers down, considering. "Kiwa, huh? It looks hurt." There's a small soft laugh at the back of her throat as she thinks to herself 'of course it is', because she's supposed to be doing something else. Still, she murmurs, "Well, Kibou, I hope that they're understanding that this is going to take us a little bit longer than planned. Then again, what's a nice fancy ring like you without putting it to good use, hrm?" The thought making her smile, even as she asks, "Can you find me a path down?" Because the alternative would be attempting to use the ring to go down, which would leave Kibou even more depleted. "If not, I'm going to have you lower me down there. You can do that, right?" She's not going to need anything near as fancy as what Saint Walker had used to bring them here.
Saint Walker	The kiwa looks up at the light with wide pained eyes. "There does not appear to be a way down. /We/ will have to get you down there. Will a force field around you to negate gravity then lower yourself down to the kiwa. I will provide the energy."
Kinsey MacKenna	"Fine," Kinsey tells Kibou. "I'm concerned, though. How much energy will that take from you?" She's not really aware she can heal the poor creature once she's down there, but she's already working though ideas of how to help, or at least bring it up to the path. "We'll need either a way down from there, or to return to back up here. Either way, I need you to conserve enough power to do that. Please lower the light. It will be easier on the creature, and yourself." She's not particualrly bothered one way or another. A dusklike illumination will be fine. Just enough to to trip over anything, or fall off the cliff would be sufficient.
Saint Walker	"Returning to the path through flight would be the best solution, there appears to be no path down from the ledge. Power consumption would reduce us to 2% upon returning to the path. However we are near the top of the mountain." The illumination lowers and with the ring's power Kinsey decends to the injured animal, that squirms and cries out as she draws near though with the power of the ring surrounding her, it calms and looks pleadingly up at her.
Kinsey MacKenna	"Two percent. That much, hrm?" Thinking dryly, 'delightful'. Still, there was little help for it, she'd both heard and seen the animal, and to walk away would have been not only crass, and cruel, but unbecoming of the entire task she'd been set upon. "It's okay," she tells the poor kiwa as they get down there. "We're going to take you and get you help." Though that, there, is a bit of a problem. The angle that the creature's leg is at proposes a certain dilemna for moving it. She's not a doctor, but she knows a broken leg when she sees one. One that is likely a compound fracture to boot. "Kibou, is there anything we can to do stabilize its leg?" Saint Walker had healed the injured technician. "Something that won't drain you completely?" The thought occurring, what exactly happened if Kibou did get drained fully. A thing she asks him.
Saint Walker	"Correct," Kibou says about the drainage. "In my current state power drain is high, once the battery is found I will be capable of more activity." Basically he's running on a lower less efficient setting until he can be powered by Kinsey's own power battery. A blue light washes across the kiwa as Kibou reports, "Repairing the leg would take all of our remaining energy."
Kinsey MacKenna	"All," Kinsey says, calculating the options. "And if we do not heal the creature, then we cause it more distress by moving it in this condition." As she says that, she knows it's not really a case of what do they do, but how do they do it. "Shame the battery isn't here," Kinsey laughs to herself. "Actually, Kibou, here is a question for you, must it be the planet's battery that refills you?" Because it occurs to her she isn't actualy sure what the mechanism is, and how do the rings power when they are such vast distances from the planet? Surely there must be power drain that does not allow them to refuel quickly enough when need arises. So what do they do then, assuming that the rings usually could draw a constant power from Odym itself, like a background generator. "Could you use me instead of your own reserves?" She's turning the thought over in her mind. "Use me," she says with certainty, even before Kibou answers. "The heal is likely the largest drain, so we start with that." The thought alone fills her up, as she knows they can do this. She feels it in her bones, deep down inside. Just like she can feel the planet - and the thought gives her Hope. "Screw the mountaintop. We've got this."
Saint Walker	"It is possible to draw power that way," Kibou responds. "Though it can be dangerous." Though as Kinsey presses on the ring does that, drawing on Kinsey herself to fill her power as she does a thought comes to her mind. Words, a litany, that seems to resonate with the power flowing through her: "In fearful day, in raging night, With strong hearts full, our souls ignite. When all seems lost without the light, look to the stars, for hope burns bright!"
Kinsey MacKenna	"What's a little danger between friends," Kinsey says with more conviction that she rightly feels. However, at this moment she's not about to let Kibou know that. And much like the encounter in the labs, she immerses herself into that state of being, letting it exude from herself, letting herself be the Hope the other needs, even if the other is a sentient AI in the form of a mind-bogglingly powerful ring. The words, when they hit her, tug at the edges of her lips, only adding to her certainty, their litany a well of groundedness within her, much like her telling Saint Walker 'all would be well, and all would be well...' "In fearful day, in raging night.." Smiling to herself at the irony of that one, though they'd need a storm for raging night. Still, symbolically, this probably sufficed. "With strong hearts full, our souls ignite. When all seems lost, without the light, look to the stars for Hope burns bright!" She can't help herself, as her confidence in the phrase grows, and it reaches its conclusion, she does look upwards to where the stars would be - the self same stars she'd always looked to. The stars that had always told her everything was going to be alight. That this would be well, and all would be well, and all manner of thing would be well. "Now, Kibou!"
Saint Walker	The words do more than summon the energy from within, it also draws the lantern to her, /her/ lantern, appearing out of the ether lighting them all in a wash of blue. A beam of light passes from her lantern to her ring, sending a energy along her body shifting her clothes from what she'd worn up the mountain to a version of the blue uniform Saint Walker wore. All the while Kibou is reporting, "Power at 5, 10" and on and on, even as the blue light emitted from the ring heals the kiwa it's leg shifting and straightening, pain lessening, until it manages to get on its feet and lick it's fur back into place. When the healing light withdraws back into the ring, Kibou reports:"Power levels at 100. All functions available."
Kinsey MacKenna	"Would you look at that," Kinsey says of the kiwa licking itself. "You know, I wonder how it got here. Let's finish this job, Kibou. I think they're waiting for us at the top of the mountain." She shakes her head at the 'uniform'. "This is going to take some getting used to," she laughs softly, more than a little proud of herself, and thankful she hadn't been wrong, that she'd believed in this strongly enough for all of them. And oddly, where she should have been depleted, she felt full up. "Hmm. Me. A Lantern." Bemused, "You're going to have to tell me about those functions later. First, Kiwa to safety. Then seeing how smug Brother Saint Walker is." Then, "Thank-you Kibou." Because she couldn't have done it without him, much as he couldn't have without her. Well, it, but she truly did think of it as him, whatever the implications of that.
Saint Walker	Ring full up, the lantern winks out of view again, but she can feel it now, connected to her and her ring, only a litany away when she needs more power. As for the Kiwa it hops readily into her arms, giving her face a lick before it is carried to the path and set free. As it bounds away, pausing once to look back at Kinsey, Kibou replies. "You're welcome." Then using flight it's an easy trip to the top of the mountain where Sayd and Saint Walker are waiting, both floating, Saint Walker playing music on a some form of stringed insturment constructed out of blue light. At Kinsey's arrival Saint Walker grins, "Welcome Sister Kinsey," he says as he rises to greet her. "I trust your journey was not too eventful." Sayd too floats her way, "Well done Sister Kinsey," she chimes in.
Kinsey MacKenna	The kiwa is put down gently and shooshed along its way. "Only eventful enough," she tells SAint Walker. "Though I have to say, you are a very incredible man, Brother Walker. I don't think I fully appreciated it until this moment." She nods to herself as she says that, then inclines her head to him, and gives Sayd a wry little smile. "I was hoping it wouldn't be a problem if I stopped along the way. I see now that was the point of it. I think I'm a little overwhelmed. But happy." That pulse of connection is something new, and will take getting used to, but it isn't unpleasant.
Saint Walker	Saint Walker grins giving her new outfit a nod. "I would say so," he says of the change. "And incredible? How so?" he asks honestly. "The stop was necissary," Sayd agrees. "While we did not plan the harm of the creature it was a chance to see how you responded to the needs of others, even if they were not a sentient being. I am happy to say you passed that test as well as the rest." She pauses a moment and inclines her head, saying: "Welcome to the Blue Lantern Corps, Kinsey MacKenna."
Kinsey MacKenna	"I couldn't just leave it," Kinsey says simply. "It wouldn't have been right. Even if I failed the rest of the test because of it." Even if it would have been okay to walk away from the animal, it wouldn't have been right within herself, her own moral code demanding that she tend to the animal because she'd heard it and seen its distress. As for Saint Walker, she shakes her head at him, and the fact of his honest unawareness, "You saved everyone. By yourself. All that within you? That's amazing. Incredible beyond words. It's truly an honour to know you, let alone have been called to work beside you."
Saint Walker	"It was the right decision," Sayd confirms with a solemn nod. There was little doubt that to walk away fromt he animal was to walk away from the Corps. While their mission was as often wide as the Universe it was sometimes as small as one wounded kiwa. "I did have some help," Saint Walker says with a nod to Sayd. "Though I am quite please to have been able to save my world from it's fate. And it is an honour to know you as well Kinsey MacKenna, it am proud to call you Sister."