Cornered with a Place to Call Home

The scratch of pen on paper filled the grand hall as James helped Izime, the Zexxian already very familiar with the process of naturalization. Both of them pausing a bit tense as the door to the hall slid open once more.

James breathing a bit easier when he realized the two entering weren't the Dark Duo. Instead, a fringe of white was leading a man with a trenchcoat into the room.

"Bloody hell Izzy." Constantinople cursed walking forward quickly in his worry.

"Told you." Psyis said as she calmly kept walking forward, her head tilting curiously. Sending a few quick thoughts towards her adoptive uncle of sorts, brows raising as the zexxian responded.

"Hey Constantinople, Psyis" Izime looked up gesturing with his pen before continuing to fill out the forms.

"You've found Radiation Man then," Constantinople looked carefully at the leader of League Savior, before just flatly asking Izime. "Didn't say anything that'd dig you a deeper grave, did you?

"A bit of the dangerous idea talk then we moved on to more productive things," Izime explained a bit of his talk with Radiation Man, before inquiring something of the man in question. "So, about that sponsor?"

Constantinople leaned over Izime's shoulder looking at the papers trying to make sense of what exactly his mate was signing for the Zexxian. The exorcist smiling and patting Izime's back in congratulations as the previous London native recognized the same lines he'd signed.

It'd taken him about five years of living in New York City before he'd completed his own naturalization.

"That is what you think it is Constantinople." Radiation Man replied, watching as Izime shrugged of the exorcist's pats, "Seeing as this is a special circumstance we've asked he pick a League member instead of family for obvious reasons."

"Sponsor?" Psyis finally asked looking at Izime hopefully wondering why he hadn't looked a bit happier about the turn in events. It was definitely a whole lot better than being tried or any of the other things Izime had wanted.

"Radiation Man is trying to rush me through the red-tape for state-side citizenship." Izime explained with a nod. Giving the thessian a brief glance before looking down at the forms. "Filing for Earth first that way this whole debacle doesn't turn into a more galaxy sized issue."

"As much of a risk as Dark Night thinks Izime could be," Radiation Man admitted the valid sides of both viewpoints as he leaned back in his chair. "Locking him up guarantees that we'd be making interstellar headlines."

"Told you you're a hero," Constantinople said reaching out a slapping Izime on the back, quickly asking the A.I. "So, when ya moving in mate?"

"He already said no to you Constantinople but hopefully," Izime snorted as he shot down his friends hopes as having a live in drinking buddy. Dryly swallowing as he could feel Psyis' eyes on him, the question hanging in the air.

Izime finished answering quickly as he focused on the papers, "I'm only going to Kansas for a while. So, age, does anyone here even know how many zeros are in a quattuordecillion?"

"How old is that body?" Constantinople asked, leaning over and reading along. Finding that Izime had reached the portion where he was filling out personal information like age and date of birth.

"Adjusting for time dilation, this body is around ten years old. Not adjusting and considering this body was born at the edge of a black hole, old enough." Izime shrugged having already guesstimated his un-adjusted age as excessively ancient.

Looking around the table the A.I. asked for a more human opinion, "How old do I look how about that one?"

"Late twenties maybe?" Psyis surprised herself as she knocked a few trillion zeros off Izime's age. Maybe with a shave and a shower he'd look even younger than that?

Radiation Man and Constantinople both turned towards the thessian at her words. Psyis just having knocked more zero's off Izime's actual age than there were grains of sand on a decent sized beach. The actual number clashing in their human minds as they stack overflowed from the sheer size of it.

"I'll take that considering I'm technically older than your sun." Izime said with a nod. Looking away from Psyis quickly scribbling in a 28 as the only other option was to write his age as the power of exponential. Giving a slight tilt of his head Izime did just that before continuing on to fill in the rest.

The room silent aside from the scratch of Izime's pen until Psyis spoke up again.

Psyis nervously watching as Izime got closer and closer to the blank line where she knew he was planning to put in Radiation Man. The thessian's blue lines vanishing as she stepped forward, giving Constantinople a warning glance.

A purple hand resting on the table; her table, the one she'd worked so hard to earn. The place where she made her decisions. Now where Izime sat, filling out his paperwork; this specific and important paperwork.

The alien almost convinced it was fate and not the fact it was closest to the window that had brought Izime here. 

"I'm going to sponsor you so put my name in and then I'll fill in the rest." Psyis demanded, leaning forward as she tried to impose her will on Izime at least in the physical sense.

Red eyes never leaving his teals as that shake slowed, the A.I. silently watching the telepath rage. He could almost see the argument forming in her like a storm cloud. Izime cocking his brow in mocking question as Psyis started to breath a bit heavier, tempting her into it.

"I'm going to Kan-" Izime kept his snark to himself, finally done with watching Psyis posture like the Blanes had taught her.

Even if it was laughable, Izime offered only that simple and polite refusal as he shook his head. The A.I.'s mouth snapping closed as James spoke over him.

"Miss Psyis is going to sponsor you." Radiation Man leaned forward from where he was sitting looking down at the blank spot on the form. James even agreeing with Psyis and making another point as she filled him in telepathically, "You have family of sorts in Centropolis already so theres zero reason for you to refuse."

"And you are?" Izime looked at Radiation Man more than a bit surprised that the Zexxian was agreeing with the misguided heroine. T

he A.I. not holding it against her that she was using his information against him once again. Though he was peeved she didn't have the tits to say it out-loud. If she was going to stab him, she could at least do it in the front like Bell had.

"Yes, Kansas isn't going to be a good place for you to grow." Radiation Man confirmed Izime's worries. The zexxian for the first time refusing to allow an alien to spend their sponsorship time on his family's farm.

This isn't right.

Izime glanced at Cradle who was still on his shoulder, the raven quickly filling Izime's vision with the three bio-readouts of the heroes in front of him.

"I don't know Rad's Izi-" Constantinople started to argue with Radiation Man. Right until he thought about it, Izime having a chance to find himself as a human while in the city.

The exorcist not even considering who his friend would be rooming with oddly enough, "Shite mate it might not be a bad idea, get a real gig performing while you're stuck with us on old plane dirt?"

No this is all wrong, everyone goes to Kansas.

Izime felt both the thought and the paper get pulled from his head. Psyis snatching the documents as Cradle took Izime's worries and began to process them. The thessian filling in her own information while Izime used Cradle to not only remain calm but to figure out what was going on.

Every 'alien' went to Kansas if Radiation Man got a hold of them... and they lived. That was the script, and what should have followed was a few months of boredom and corn. Izime figuring it only take that long until James and his family were willing to let him wander.

Now though even Constantinople was sounding like he'd had a whole change of heart. Izime recalling everything he'd heard between the two outside his medical room. The exorcist even spewing out some idealistic dream that the realistic anti-hero had to know was fake.

Izime leaning over and making sure Psyis was actually filling out the sponsor section. The A.I. wanting to see just how on the nose and obvious the forces at play felt like acting.

"OK, an-" Psyis started to say as she finished writing, quickly tapping and organizing the papers. Looking up her voice dying out as she turned and saw Izime's leaning in towards her.

He needs to shave.

The thought idly crossing Psyis mind as Izime's hand reached up to brush his slightly curled ponytail out of the way. The scruff on his face catching and snagging at individual strands. Her heart stopping for a second as she considered how much more alive he looked. In comparisson to the last time they'd been this close.

A second thump never coming as a voice reached across the hall.

"So, we give tours of the Station now?" Dark Night growled as he stood with his arms crossed. The brows on his cowl pulling down as he looked into the dimly lit room. Not surprised to find the usual suspects standing alongside each other and this new problem.

Psyis swallowing dryly as she glanced back towards Izime. Her heart only growing ice cold as she looked back down towards the papers in her hand. The damning evidence that she'd not only picked the opposite side as the Blanes on the matter of Izime; She was leading the charge. The thessian finding that banner stripped from her as Izime took the pages from her.

"I found my way here myself Dark Night." Izime's voice coming out as tense as a sleeping cat. Even as he quickly stuffed the citizenship paperwork into his orange jumpsuit. The pages had become a fuse to this powder-keg of a scene.

"Just like you set of a quantum firework across the galaxy." Dark Night accused, watching as the should be prisoner stood. Stan walking into the room with a swoosh of his cape. His Squire striding in right behind him both ready to attend to their duty.

"We all have contingency plans, not just you." Constantinople shot back in Izime's defense before turning to quickly ask his friend what the hell Dark Night was accusing him of now, "Whats a quantum firework?"

"You tricked us?" Psyis turned to Izime having already gotten Steven's warning directly. Her red eyes searching his face for any signs of dishonesty. Biting her lip as she felt a tense line draw between her and the stupid A.I.

"No, I sent exactly what I said I would." Izime deadpanned at the obviousness of his play. Not caring how Psyis felt as it was her own fault. Casually explaining what'd happened even as the hairs on the back of his neck rose, "Its simply logic that the recipient would get a notification when their package is shipped."

It was simple cause and effect that they'd all figured it out at the same time. Each recipient contacting a neighbor after the Vidan had asked who actually claimed citizenship of Izime? It was a first come first serve 'bail me out and I'll owe you one' call sent galaxy wide.

Fuck you.

Izime didn't know if the alien could hear his thought or if she was even listening, but he spat it all the same. Psyis now feeling just like she had that day in the noodle shop. This time though Izime didn't give a care, Dark Nights words had nearly spun her against him. If anyone was going to back down this time it'd be her.

"Those shuttles?" Psyis narrowed her eyes as she asked.

Fuck you.

The thessian kept the thought to herself. Trying to step back from her own disappointment in being tricked to look at what Izime had done objectively. Still far to upset at being kept outside of his loop to not think it all the same. The thessian taking several steps towards Izime accepting his challenge. Maybe after she'd laid him out once he'd understand a bit better.

"Are loaded with goods that would stop coming if they didn't make a bit of noise." Izime replied crossing his arms, leaning in as he dared Psyis to take the first swing.

"So, what were we?" Constantinople asked, butting in between the two physically before they could throw a punch or whatever it was, they'd been about to do.

"A surprising alternative?" "I didn't exactly expect you to come a snatch my data. I just managed to set off the timer sooner."

"You set a bloody kill, switch not bad." Constantinople waved away Izime's words with some sarcastic appreciation of the tactics used. Turning towards the Psyis hoping that she'd take his side on this as well.

The exorcist cursing as he jerked his thumb back towards Izime, "Fucking shite a lot of good we did him."

"I am breathing thank you." Izime could keep all the sarcasm out of his voice. Or his eyes as he looked up at the alien Constantinople was whining about him to, "And congratulations you've successfully stuck me on earth until she says otherwise."

Psyis raising her brows as Izime was apparently already considering her a prison of sorts. The look in his eyes screaming that he absolutely had some issue with her. Which really wasn't surprising considering everything. Still if it had been the whole thing with him almost dying, she figured he'd speak about it openly.

"Right I'supose there is that." Constantinople nodded rubbing at his scruff as he snarked. His anger defusing a bit as he put Izime's 'betrayal' into perspective.

As far as those had gone, simply not being trusted completely was the least of Constantinople's reasons to complain. It still stung a bit though, the exorcist chewing at his cheek a bit while he tried to think of a way to get the overly statistical A.I. back.

"I'm sorry it was offensive that I didn't have full faith in both of you past that point. This isn't my first kill the bot rodeo, so I stacked my deck." Izime apologized to his drinking buddy. Turning to face Dark Night until he felt a tingle crawl up his spine, the ire chilling him.

Izime whirling back to look at Psyis now making his own demands, "Anything you need to get off your chest in present the company or can it fucking wait Pi?"

Izime using his new favorite name for the irrational damned thessian. Huffing right back at her with each breath even as she gave him a poisonous smile. The smirk leaving Izime feeling like he'd played right into her hands reacting just as aggressively.

"We'll talk later." Psyis gave a thin smile as Izime finally acknowledged they were going to have a talk about how little he kept telling her at every single turn.

Only taking a bit of satisfaction in the way Steven had stood a bit straighter. Psyis making a mental not to have Izime never use that name again. This was the only and last time she'd let any version of sweetie pie give her a bit of satisfaction.

"Good." Izime spat returning the same smile he was getting for a single second before turning to face the one who'd caused this whole mess, "Now that you haven't flipped them like you wanted what actual issue do you have Dark Night."

"I-" Dark Night started to growl as he walked forward. That growl faltering as Izime matched his pace an shoved a stack of papers into his armored chest. The hero now feeling like he was in a very bad shareholders meeting instead of the Hall of Saviors.

"And it had better be a bigger issue than the alternative." Izime finished the threat now that he had Stan's full attention, "Which is me not stopping that."

"Are you threatening us?" Dark Squire stepped forward only to find Radiation Man stopping him.

"No because technically they are." Izime sidestepped the accusation, conveniently using the names on that list by proxy instead. The A.I. casually mentioning one of the more artistically violent among them. One he knew that the sidekick's senior had faced before.

Izime casually explaining the predatory bipedal split fanged warriors to Stan's stupid tag-along, "Not that Dark Night would have taught you anything about these species beyond their weak points. But I can assure you that the Akadan Separi are not a species you want declaring anything on you. Earth is already a hunting ground for them let alone telling the honor-less that its open season."

"Squire step down." Dark Night ordered his sidekick back as Izime painted out at least one full stroke of his thousand cuts. The super-hero not wanting to try and tangle with one of the high-tech overly equipped invisible stalkers once more.

Let alone with members of their species that didn't even honor the rules of the game they played.

"I think you should understand the meaning behind this, seeing as the fact I have a direct line to the Zytomian tribunal wasn't enough of a hint." Izime looked over at Dark Night. The A.I. done poking his dog, returning to point out just how blind Stan had been to not see this coming.

"You kicked the crutch to the galaxies welfare system." Radiation Man spoke up, wanting to try and wet the fuses that were being lit. James warning Stan now as well having already looked into the matter personally, "The galaxies view on earth would not be good Dark Night. Especially us, the League classically remains impartial to Earth."

"We are." Dark Night gestured towards the man who'd just threatened the entire planet. Sighing as Radiation Man cocked his head. The dark hero knowing he'd been the one to throw the first stone weakly tried to defend his position still.

Stan waving towards Izime holding on to that one singular point still, "Tell me this isn't a potential risk."

"So am I and so are you. It's the reason the League exists, to curb that risk." Radiation Man gave a chuckle as the response left his lips before a thought crossed his mind. Looking back towards the A.I. as he recalled Izime's warning about itself. "Izime already knew he was anyway, so this response seems even more appropriate."

"I'm not a her-" Izime started in with his classic denial until Psyis once again tried to start shit with him.

"Says you." Psyis spoke up, her smile more genuine even as she cut Izime off. Walking forward so she could hear any complaints he had with her assesment, "Not anyone on that list."

The A.I. grinding its teeth as Psyis took that smile on her little victory lap. Izime could tell she was happy about the turn of events for him. Though he could also tell that the thessian was very much in a mood. Her colors rotating about as her body was still internalizing the entire argument she'd like to have with him.

Izime figured he'd likely blow a coolant line considering how badly he'd like to wipe that same smirk off her face.

"She's got a point Izime." Constantinople spoke up now as well. Glad that someone was finally taking his side on that particular matter. The exorcist had always known Izime was more than just a salesman of stuffs.

Jim giving a bit of side-eye towards the window that showed the planet Izime would be spending a bit more time on, "Maybe not on earth but out there it seems someone thinks you are."

"A lot of someones." Radiation Man smiled as well having already read the number of signatures and symbols on the paper Stan was still struggling with. "Not to bad for a startling hero, huh?"

All three of the heroes patting the A.I. on the back as they cornered him further into being trapped on the planet below.