[VIDEO]

[you_tried]

[The communicator blinks on, revealing the face of a reasonably handsome blond man in navy blue and blindingly gold spandex, wearing – are those orange sunglasses? What year does he think it is? How can he possibly think that looks cool? Whatever the case, he’s obviously impressed with himself. He’s grinning broadly, clearly aiming for dazzling but winding up somewhere on the border between cheesy and embarrassing.]

Goooood afternoon, ladies and gentlemen! Booster Gold’s the name, and I’m coming to you live from Wherever-We-Are-I-Didn’t-Catch-The-Name-Sorry, Florida! You might remember me from my many thrilling exploits – please, feel free to ask about those – or, slightly more recently, from the third season of Celebrity Dance-A-Thon. You probably don’t have that here. Don’t worry, I’ll give you the highlights. I didn’t learn to samba for nothing.

[There’s a brief hesitation, and he takes a few steps to the left, where the lighting is better. It really shows off his hair. That seems to have satisfied him. God, how is anyone this shiny?]

And before you ask, yes, I do sign autographs.

[Another gleaming smile. He must floss like a madman.]

Oh, yeah, and does anyone know where a guy can get a drink with a tiny little umbrella in it? First answer gets a free photo-op with yours truly. Don’t say Booster Gold never did anything for you.

Comments

[boobwindow]

[ It's a small relief, but an important one nonetheless. She breathes a sigh and nods, uncrossing her arms and standing akimbo now in midair. Down below, passerbys point and snap a photo on smart phones as quick as they can at the two costumed heroes.

Peej arches a wary, but curious brow. He's got her attention. ]

Shoot.

[you_tried]

Okay, so say you knew that something really bad was gonna happen — not like a premonition, but 100% undisputable fact. And you were the only one who had any idea. Great, right? Total hero stuff. Except the problem is, there's a really good chance that trying to do something about it might make something even worse happen.

What would you do? You know. Hypothetically.

[boobwindow]

[ Booster Gold: superhero from the 25th century who's come back to the 21st. Immediately, she's suspicious — and concerned. ]

I don't know how to answer that, Booster. [ Not without the proper context. ] What's going on?

[you_tried]

[ Sigh. ]

Not in front of the paparazzi. Come on.

[ He leads her over to a nearby rooftop. Midair conversations are always a little awkward. ]

[boobwindow]

[ She follows him without another word, her brows furrowed. Only when her feet are planted on the rooftop she asks: ]

Are you in trouble, Booster?

[you_tried]

What? No. Why does everyone always assume that?

[boobwindow]

[ She leans her head back, staring at the sky and sighs loudly before straightening herself out to level him a firm, but genuinely concerned look. ]

I don't have the time for games.

If you're in some sort of trouble, Booster, tell me. Maybe I can help.

[ In spite of their differences and the years spent apart, they were still friends. ]

[you_tried]

[ Damn it, this breaks just about every single rule he's supposed to be following. Then again, he was never very good at doing what he was told. ]

... It's about Max.

[boobwindow]

[ The concern doesn't lift, though her brows knit even closer together at his response. She appears more confused than anything else, trying to grasp at something just out of her reach. ]

What about him?

[you_tried]

Oh good. You remember him.

[ He paces a little, running a hand through his hair. ]

[boobwindow]

What?

[ Peej shakes her head, eyeing Booster incredulously. ]

Of course I remember Max.

[you_tried]

[ There's no good way to deliver this news, is there? ]

You missed out on a global mindwipe.

[boobwindow]

What do you mean? Global mindwipe?

[ Didn't he just tell her the world was safe? This is the complete opposite. Peej takes a step forward, her hands unfolding before Booster. ]

[you_tried]

What you just said? That you remember Max? Well, for a while there, almost no one did. Just Nate, Bea, Tora, and me.

[boobwindow]

Wait, back up, Booster.

[ She narrows her eyes, mouth hanging open slightly as she tries to find the words. ]

What do you mean "no one" else did? How?

[you_tried]

I mean no one. And how do you think? When in doubt, blame the guy with the mind control powers.

[boobwindow]

[ A measured pause.

... Right. Max developed those powers. Mind control of all of them.

That's as far as her line of thinking goes. It doesn't feel right. ]

Do you have proof he did that? I didn't think his powers were that strong.

[you_tried]

[ Oh, no. No no no no. Not this again. ]

... Proof? I— well, no, but...

[boobwindow]

Why would he need to erase our memories in the first place?

[ If Max is a threat, why didn't he wipe her mind on the boat? ]

[you_tried]

You're kidding, right?

[boobwindow]

I'm not.

[you_tried]

[ He doesn't want to get angry — it's not her fault — but damn it, this is the last thing either of them need. ]

He's a wanted criminal. He's a murderer! Why wouldn't he? For God's sake, he killed Ted. Tell me you remember that.

[boobwindow]

[ She hasn't risen to anger yet. Exasperation, always. She wants Booster to stop skirting the subject and get to the point.

And he does and she's left speechless for a few seconds.

Ted Kord was murdered, but not by Maxwell Lord, is what her (tampered) memories tell her. In response to his accusation, Peej throws him another unconvinced look. ]

It's not like that. [ She never thought she would have to defend Max Lord, but if it wasn't him, doesn't he deserve it? She raises both hands, trying to temper the situation. ] Max wasn't in control of himself.

[you_tried]

He what?

[ That stops him in his tracks. Max wasn't in control of himself. It's what he wants to believe — what was always in the back of his mind, before Max came back — even though he's pretty damn sure he knows better by now.

But he's more concerned about Peej. ]

You don't seriously believe that.

[boobwindow]

I don't... [ She trails off initially, averting Booster's gaze, like the answer will come to her from elsewhere. ] I don't know.

I wasn't there when it all went down and it's still hard to believe Max would turn his back on all of us. After everything.

He's been taken advantage of before, Booster. He's too close to our community. He's the perfect pick.