The Golden Star

[Illidan Stormrage]

The armoured vehicle lurched forward and broke free of Sinestro's bond, wheels serving clouds of dust and sand into Orion's face as it rocketed away. The saiyan coughed and peered through the screen, catching a glint of sunlight bouncing off the vehicle's metallic surface. It was getting away. Orion didn't care overly much, but he had put in this much effort. He might as well see it through.

"I'll make sure they don't escape," Orion said, feet lifting from the ground.

He aimed an open palm at the fleeing truck, and cerulean light pooled within it. Moments later, the light blossomed into an orb, parting its colour to its surroundings. Orion took a breath to steady his shot and a stabbing jolt of pain burst in his ribs. He groaned audibly, free hand clutching at his side. The injuries from his accident would no longer be ignored, it seemed. The ki collected in his hand oscillated and popped like a bubble and with similar fanfare.

Orion descended back to the ground, pressing his weight on his right leg, as his left protested when it was used. Another stab screamed in his ribs and he hunched over.

Sinestro eyed Orion. "Is something wrong?"

The saiyan warrior snarled with lips closed. "No."

"The truck is getting away," the Lantern said, pointing at the dust cloud trailing behind the vehicle.

Orion ran his tongue over his teeth and spat on the ground. His saliva was clear. No blood. Good. "What does it matter? A handful of unorganised thugs escaping is hardly cause for concern." Orion straightened his back and his eye focused on Sinestro. He put an edge to his voice. "Unless you think this pathetic invasion is something to be worried about?"

Sinestro looked back at the saiyan with a clearly unimpressed countenance. He caught the tone. "No. But bandits aren't forgiving. If they find enough reinforcements, they might return."

The sharp flare weakened into a dull but still abundantly present ache. Orion breathed in the scent of blood and grit, checking for any twinges as his chest expanded. He flexed his arms and found a bruise that activated whenever he clenched his right fist. He gingerly added weight to his left leg and found it easier if he supported himself on the heel alone. His injuries were hanging around but knitting themselves at a much faster rate than Orion would have expected. He was rather resilient but never had his body started the healing process so fast.

"A trifling concern," Orion said. "Their attack was unsuccessful."

"I disagree," Thaal said, his eyes sweeping over the area. "They did plenty of damage, killed plenty of people. Maybe it didn't end for them the way they wanted it to, but it was hardly unsuccessful." He cleared his throat. "Plus I am the law here. I will not tolerate repeated raids like this."

"Indeed," Orion said. In his mind, the bandit's assault of the town had been messy, but ultimately not worth their while. Sinestro, on the other hand, recognised the damage done and seemed to care. Not a concept Orion was entirely intimate with, but he had defended his share of lines in the past and saw the wisdom in the red skinned man's words. They just didn't apply to him.

Orion assessed the Lantern again. A few inches taller than himself, striking yellow eyes to match his form fitting suit, and that ring on his finger. He managed to fire a malleable beam of light from it and grasp onto the armoured truck when it tried to escape. Ki manipulation? If so, why do it from a ring? Perhaps it was a magic construct, though Sinestro didn't look like any sorcerer Orion had ever seen. Still, as he mentioned, he may not even share a universe with the red skinned lawman. If nothing else, this Omniverse provided opportunities to learn.

Brushing off his chest, Orion pondered his next move. He looked at Sinestro. "You seem knowledgeable on this Omniverse. Perhaps we could have a drink and discuss our mutual fates?"