Misuzu, Annie, Kawamoto, and Taniuchi sat inside Blackout once more.
Kawamoto and Taniuchi held hands. They looked outside to a vortex of swirling colors surrounding them. They all saw colours shifting blues, purples, and greens, twisting up and down.
Annie stood silently. She looked at the full birds and scoffed.
"I can't wait to be back," Taniuchi said as she firmly held Kawamoto`s hand.
"Me too," Kawamoto said as she looked at Taniuchi`s chest. She licked her lips.
"Misuzu, do you have plans when we are back?" Taniuchi asked.
"The Goddess may need us," Misuzu replied.
At that moment, the colors collapsed inward, and Blackout shot out of the portal. There was a blinding flash of light. Blackout then landed and opened his doors. "We are here," Blackout said.
They stumbled out. "My clothes stink," Taniuchi remarked as she could smell the zombies rotting flesh and burnt cornfields on her clothes.
"We can shower together," Kawamoto remarked as she reached around and hugged Taniuchi. Her large breasts pressed against Taniuchi`s back.
"The Goddess has said to put the Pack-a-Punch Machine II and Ted away for recalibration," he said as he took them away.
The Goddess" Annie started but she was cut off.
"Well Done my Angles," she said. In a flash of light, the air around them shimmered and folded inward. They found themselves standing in the Goddess Room. They saw a golden archway, framing a staircase that led to a towering throne. The Goddess sat upon it.
Without a word, Misuzu, Kawamoto, and Taniuchi dropped to their knees. They bowed their heads low.
Annie looked up. She stood tall and looked at the Goddess. "That monster," she said. "It was there. We had to fight it. You didn't mention it would be waiting for us," she added as she crossed her arms.
The Goddess leaned her cheek against her hand. The world is becoming unstable, Annie. The very rift that brought him there, is the same instability that allowed Legion to manifest," she said.
"So he was not from our world," Annie muttered.
She looked at her. "Then what was the chip for? Why put us through that for a piece of plastic?" she questioned. She thought that chip being there caused that thing to appear.
Misuzu's eyes snapped toward Annie. She rose up. "You dare question the purpose of her," she started.
"Peace, Misuzu," the Goddess interrupted softly. She looked back at Annie. "The chips or Navcards are keys, Annie. They are designed to weaken the rift. My angels will be the ones to usher in a new age," she added.
"A new age," Misuzu, Kawamoto, and Taniuchi chanted together. "Praise the Goddess," they all added.
The Goddess looked at Taniuchi. A warm, radiant smile spread across her face. "Taniuchi," she said softly. "I have been watching. I am so proud of how you have used your weapons to protect my angels," she said. "You are a good angel," she added.
Taniuchi's face flushed with a mixture of pride and relief. She smiled back and nodded vigorously. "Thank you Goddess, I will make you proud," she responded.
Kawamoto looked up then. "Goddess, I want to help as well. I want to fight. I don't want to just watch," she said.
"There is a certain something intended for both of you," the Goddess promised. "Soon, you will be sent to retrieve it," she added. "All of you," she said with a smile on her face.
Annie crossed her arms. She narrowed her eyes. "And why should I go with them?," she asked.
"We do not need her," Misuzu snapped as she finally stood. "She does not deserve to walk the path with us," she added.
"You are all needed," the Goddess said. "Unity is the only path. You seek power to destroy him, Annie. To achieve your goal, you must learn to work together. I believe in you," she said in a calm voice.
Annie blinked. She thought she was hiding something.
Misuzu looked down at her hand. She rubbed the ring on her finger. "My Goddess, the ring you have given me is glowing less brighter," she said.
"The energy is low," the Goddess explained calmly. "You will need a Lantern to charge it back to its full potential. There is some power left, but not much," she added.
"Where is this Lantern?" Misuzu asked. She thought she needed this power to serve the Goddess.
The Goddess smiled. "You will know," the Goddess responded.
"Always talking in riddles," Annie remarked.
Misuzu shot her a dirty look.
The Goddess stood from her throne. Her robes flowed down. "I am proud of the progress you have made. For now, enjoy your free time. You have earned it my angels," she said.
Annie turned and walked toward the exit without a word. Her mind was already elsewhere. She thought free time. She thought there was no free time when he was around.
Behind her, Kawamoto and Taniuchi shared a look. There was hunger in their faces.
Meanwhile in her private quarters, Drowned lay back on her bed. She stared at the ceiling. She missed the warmth of her lover. Her Sylvester, she thought. She thought of the happy times they had together. She thought the Goddess was hiding something but she had the power. Power beyond her imagination, she thought. She thought soon.
"Drowned," a sweet voice said.
Drowned thought the voice was in her head.
"The Lantern," the voice added.
Drowned thought that was the Goddess. She got up slowly and thought against the League, there was the Sapphire Lantern. She thought she only brought this for some reason even though she did not have the ring.