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[boobwindow]

KAREN'S LINE ❝ Karen Starr here. Leave a message and I'll get back to you ASAP. ❞ POWER GIRL'S LINE ❝ Power Girl. Let's talk. ❞ 【 call • text • voice mail • video • action 】 ( please indicate which ID is contacted in the subject line ) top levels

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call;

[aviate]

[Clark's been handling this far better than he did, but he still wants more back up just in case.]

So what do you know about the kids? Specifically about Bart.

[boobwindow]

[ Well, this is completely left field. ]

Hal?

[ She scrunches up her face on her end, trying to comprehend his question and why Hal Jordan of all people is contacting her. ]

Other than he's still kind of a hyperactive motor mouth like the Bart Allen of our world, not much. But I don't deal with Bart much; Jay's the Flash I'm most familiar with, then Wally.

[aviate]

[Hal's return and Bart's death happened close enough that Hal's got nothing on what the Bart from their world is like so he'll take her word for it.]

Okay I'm going to tell you something because you're probably the best qualified since the JSA works with the younger guys as well.

[He knows it's weak, but they are in an even worse position and there's not a lot of people he trusts to do this right.]

You might want to sit down because it's heavy stuff and I don't want you to break anything. Also don't tell the other kids that I told you this because they don't seem to understand how serious this is.

[He doesn't expect them to have done anything, but they still should have tried to find an adult to help instead of leaving it to Hal to stumble upon.]

[boobwindow]

Slow down, Hal.

[ Bart Allen is the last person she would expect someone to raise some kind of concern about. True, he did die back home and... came back. And coming back does things to you, no matter who you are. ]

What's going on?

[ And why the secrecy? She already doesn't like this. ]

[aviate]

[He's antsy and he's wondering if this is how speedsters feel all the time.]

You've probably run into child soldiers, right? Generally I've found they fall into two categories; sullen, angry and serious or completely unaware of how messed up they are. Bart's the second type, apparently he grew up in a world where we all died or something because Earth was invaded and everyone enslaved.

[It's a lot to take in, but he needs to get it out first.]

I've been trying to get him to see someone. I've found someone who specialises in child soldiers, but it's not something I can force. Also I skipped my own mandatory psych evals back home so it's kind of weird pushing it on him.

[boobwindow]

[ Why is it always an alternate future where they're dead or enslaved? ]

What?

[ Complete and utter confusion... and surprise, naturally. As for her comfort levels, well... ]

You want me to do what? Force him to submit to a psychiatric evaluation? I barely know the kid and I don't have the authority to do that, even if I wanted to.

Does he even know about this?

[aviate]

Yeah, I told him I'd lay off the new Beetle if he talked to someone and before you say anything about that, I was already laying off him before I made that bargain.

[boobwindow]

... what's your beef with the younger Beetle?

[ Why does she feel like she's missing something here? ]

[aviate]

He's rude and belligerent and picks a fight with me every chance he gets.

[As far as Hal can tell he did nothing to warrant that.]

[boobwindow]

[ Raucous laughter erupts. ]

[aviate]

[Wow rude!!]

What's that for?!

[boobwindow]

You're kidding, right? The new Beetle's been nothing but a huge help. He's a good kid.

[aviate]

I've yet to get anything out of him that isn't uncooperative criminal and I'm doing him a favour by going against my orders.

[boobwindow]

Wait, wait — back up.

"Criminal"?

[aviate]

He'd be number one if the Corps had a most wanted list.

[When Hal first explained the situation it was simply it just was, but having to talk about it over and over means he's had to think about it. He's also consulted the Corps' databases extensively for more info and he didn't like anything he heard.]

He gets his powers from race that revolves around conquering planets. The Guardians managed to push them back, but I figure now that they can't openly go around declaring war they've figured out other means to go about it-- like planting an agent to ingratiate themselves with the big guns. It explains why he's managed to attach himself to Wally and Bart so thoroughly, they're publicly linked to me and I'm his biggest threat since I know what he's capable of.

[He's heard Booster confirm Jaime's story about Guy giving him the pass and he had believed it initially, but how reliable was Booster?]

I'd love to be wrong, but Booster is my only solid lead in his favour.

[boobwindow]

You think Blue Beetle's manipulating them? Hal, you've got it all wrong. He's done nothing but help people since he's arrived. He saved people on a sabotaged shuttle last summer! I was there.

[ If only he could see her shaking her head. ]

He's not a danger to anyone.

And seriously? Your way of helping Bart is by blackmailing him into some kind of therapy or his friend gets jumped by a Lantern?

[aviate]

I wasn't going to even if he didn't.

[Spoilers: he already tried it before.]

You make it sound so bad.

[boobwindow]

He doesn't know that, does he?

Hal, you can't just force someone into therapy! You know when it comes to people like us it doesn't exactly work that simply.

[ She drags a hand down her face. ]

I can talk to Bart, but only because I don't feel I can trust you to do it.

[aviate]

[...Hal also knows it doesn't work that way from very recent personal experience.]

I don't trust myself with this, why do you think I'm coming to you guys?

[He'd leave the planet in an effort to avoid this if he could.]

But you are a lifesaver. I promise I'll never dangle your number to get Guy to do stuff for me again.

1/2

[boobwindow]

Shucking off responsibility is just as —

2/2

[boobwindow]

— what?!

[aviate]

[What is the problem here, he's only baiting Guy.]

Don't worry, he's not going to get it from me. Anyway he and Tora have picked up again so you've got nothing to worry about.

[boobwindow]

Don't even joke about that or I'll shove that ring of yours where the sun don't shine.

Now scram and I'll take care of Bart.