**Shhhh** The doors slide apart as you step into the Holding - SPEarth.

Holding - SPEarth
	After passing the appropriate security checks, you wander down a
dimly-lit hallway until you see a row of about twenty or so detention
cells, each closed off from this area by a shimmering force field. A
security console, which monitors the prisoner and conditions of each cell,
as well as being capaable of changing those conditions, sits against the
wall opposite the cells. Benches can be dragged in front of each cell for
interrogations if the questioner decides against interrogating via
cameras.

Lightning Lad is sitting in his cell, a strange goop covering his body. He
sighs loudly, wiping some of the goop away from his mouth and eyes.

The SP Guard looks over, "Another one'a you, huh? Well, check in, and no
wisecracks about donuts this time."

Cosmic Boy raises his eyebrows, signing in. "Nossir," he says
respectfully. "I'm...just here to visit Garth Ranzz?"

The SP nods, and thumbs back towards a cell.

Cosmic Boy heads down the hallway, stopping in front of Garth's cell. He
leans an arm up on the wall, looking in. "Hey," he says quietly.

Lightning Lad looks up, his appearance much more that of a drowned rat
than a former Legionnaire. "Rokk. Hey."

Lightning Lad pulls a hand back across his forehead, trying to look more
acceptable.

Lightning Lad says "They, uh...they covered me in this stuff."

Cosmic Boy steps back slightly, clasping his hands behind his back and
leaning back on his heels. "I, uh," he starts, hesitating, "didn't know
if...well, grife. I mean...there anything you *need* in here? They haven't
posted-" Cos pauses, peering in. "What *is* that stuff?"

Lightning Lad looks down at his hands, "It's s'posed ta be some kinda
non-conductive stuff. Keeps me from sending off bolts. I guess this looks
good on my record, huh?"

Lightning Lad wipes at his cheek. "It's cold. And it stinks like nass. And
McCauley still hasn't posted bail."

Cosmic Boy sighs.

Lightning Lad mutters, "...some hero..."

Cosmic Boy says "Do you...I mean, I..." then falls silent. He bites his
lip, then looks up again. "Look, Garth, I have some money still set aside
from those magnoball tournaments..."

Lightning Lad looks up, locks eyes with Rokk. "I already told Brainy no."
He looks back down at his feet. "Besides, I'm not a Legionnaire any
more... the lightning got me here. It's evil, y'know?"

Lightning Lad puts a hand to his forehead, closing his eyes tight.

Cosmic Boy meets the gaze, recognising and respecting the resolve. "I
hadn't realized Brainy'd offered. Okay. And...I wasn't offering as a
Legionnaire. I was offering as a friend." His voice lowers, "And the
lightning isn't evil, Garth. You've done so much good with it - are you
just going to discount all that?"

Lightning Lad breathes in deeply, "Look, I've gone way off... Brande must
hate me now. And Imra... imra..."

Cosmic Boy looks wry, crossing his arms. "I hear Imra made her emotions
pretty obvious. I take it you recovered fairly well...?"

Lightning Lad shakes his head. "My doc says I'll be walking funny for
years." He cracks a faint smile.

Lightning Lad puts both hands to his forhead, whincing slightly.
"...grife..."

Cosmic Boy chuckles, then sighs quietly and reaches up to scratch the back
of his neck. "Garth, you're hardly a hardened criminal. People go off
track all the time. I was serious when I told you we'd welcome you back -
then - and I'm serious now. No one hates you. I don't even think Imra does
- I'm sure you of all people know how mad she can get." He grins.
"Remember on the shuttle...?"

Lightning Lad looks up at his friend, blinking back tears. "I know all
that, Rokk, but I've made my decisions, and I'm with The WorkForce now.
They're my team, my family now. And the lightning is bad... you don't
understand." He looks down again, wiping at his cheek. "You never did."

Lightning Lad scuffs his feet against the cold hard floor, trying to
scrape some of the goop off his boots.

Cosmic Boy sighs again, really not sure what to say. "Maybe if you *told*
me, I would," he offers quietly.

Lightning Lad says "Fine, you wanna know? The lightning, it makes me do
things that I never would. I get angry over nothing. The lightning is like
another person inside me, and I have to keep it down, keep it back. And
it's so hard sometimes. I know why Mekt has gone off. He and I are going
through the same thing..."

Lightning Lad breathes faster, and a monitor B-Deeps at the guard's desk.

The SP Guard looks over, "Hey... keep it down, Ranzz, or we cover you with
the stuff again. Your lightning can't get through the stuff, y'know. It
was designed just for you, and your weird lightning."

Lightning Lad frowns, nodding silently. He closes his eyes, whincing yet
again.

Cosmic Boy scowls at the Guard, glancing back. "Calling names really *is*
unnecessary, y'know," he says, then looks back at Garth and says quietly,
intently, "The lightning isn't evil, any more than my magnetism is evil,
or Kent's powers are evil, or whoever else you wanna say. Everyone has a
temper, Garth. It's okay to get mad. You just have to learn how to deal
with it. You're not *bad*, do you understand? You're not, and your
lightning isn't."

Lightning Lad stands abruptly, turning his back to Cos. "No! The
lightning...it makes me do things that I know I shouldn't be doing. And
it's pulled Mekt down into all sorts of crime..."

Lightning Lad slams a fist against the wall of his cell. The occupant
next-door jumps, looking rather nervous again.

Cosmic Boy winces. "Garth...they're gonna-" He looks back at the guard,
then at the ex-Legionnaire again. "Careful?"

Lightning Lad puts both fists against the wall, leaning against the
forcefield. "Yeah, yeah... I know. More of this... nass. It's just...
sprockin' grife, it hurts!"

Lightning Lad tightly closes his eyes, breathing in deep.

The guard stands, and approaches the cell. "One last chance, Ranzz. Cool
it, or go down, big."

Cosmic Boy holds a hand up to the field, face clearly unhappy. The hand
closes, and he shoots the guard a glare, then looks back at Garth. "If
McCauley doesn't post bail,...please, *please*, let me."

Lightning Lad says "No."

Cosmic Boy stands back, obviously frustrated. "All right." His voice seems
a little more closed, but his face stops betraying his emotions. "Is there
anything you want me to bring you? My time in here's almost up."

Lightning Lad steadies himself, then sits down on the bench again. "I said
no. I'm not with the Legion any more, and my team will take care of me. I
know they will."

Lightning Lad holds his head, "...but... thanks."

Cosmic Boy answers after a slight hesitation, starting to leave, "...sure.
No problem." He pauses again, stopping in his tracks, about to say
something else - but there really wouldn't be a point. When you look up
again, he's gone.

Lightning Lad looks up, about to say something, "Wait... Rokk..." But his
friend is gone.

The guard walks over, shaking his head. "Watch it, Ranzz. You may've been
a big-shot, but now ya walk with the rest of us. And this time, yer gonna
do time for yer crimes: extortion, theft, damage to property, assault. The
list goes on..." The SP chuckles to himself as he walks back to his desk.
"Kids. Heh."

FIN