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Post by Admin on Mar 7, 2006 22:08:46 GMT -5
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Post by Admin on Mar 7, 2006 22:10:38 GMT -5
Tales of the Green Lantern Corps Issue 5: "The Legion Virus Saga, Part 6: The Training Begins!" Written by Scott Kruger Cover by Jim Dufresne & Scott Kruger Edited by David Charlton
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Post by Admin on Mar 7, 2006 22:12:39 GMT -5
Hal awoke with a start, still feeling groggy from the fight. It was still nighttime… he had only been unconscious for about 30 minutes. He struggled to stand up… the wounds he suffered at Sinestro’s hands were almost completely healed. A definite bonus (among many) to wielding this particular piece of jewelry. Once up, he looked around at the devastation. Rock, upturned Earth & the wreckage of his exploded jeep covered the dry lakebed.
Well, I still have the ring & I’m breathing, so I guess he stayed down…
He looked down at the ring on his right hand and was startled to find that he wasn’t there. He had gone invisible.
Weird.
He noticed a woman approaching the flaming wreckage, cell phone in hand. It was Agent Sullivan of the DEO. She was a little dirty… nice legs though.
"I’m telling you King, you should have seen it!" She ranted into the phone, "Jordan was amazing…"
Uh-oh.
Hal wobbled over to the wreckage of his jeep, the air around it was still thick with smoke. He used the ring to generate an equally invisible gas mask to protect him from the fumes. He snuck cautiously past Sullivan, around the jeep to what had once been the front end, not quite sure what to expect.
"No there’s no sign of him… what’s your ETA?" Sullivan continued as she turned and stepped out of earshot.
Hal stepped up to Sinestro’s body, a single bullet to the forehead, very little blood from the wound. Had Sullivan shot the alien? Hal noticed the pistol on the ground next to Sinestro… it was familiar. He picked the gun up, studying it. It was the same gun that Guy held to his head earlier.
Guy… I forgot about Guy.
He dropped the gun with a thud back on the ground.
"Who’s there?" Agent Sullivan spun, hanging up her cell phone and pulling her own gun in one fluid move. She came toward Hal. "Show yourself! …Jordan? …Gardner?"
Hal took to the sky putting as much distance as he could between himself and the DEO agent. She knew who he was… Not good.
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Post by Admin on Mar 7, 2006 22:14:25 GMT -5
Agent Sullivan walked straight toward the flaming wreckage, pistol in hand.
She felt a sudden breeze pass by her, then nothing. She continued, gun aimed, toward the dead alien. She stopped near Lt. Gardner’s pistol. It wasn’t in the same spot it had been in earlier. She also noticed fresh boot-prints.
"Dammit." She cursed at herself as a caravan of unmarked vehicles appeared over the rise.
"Chloe!" Director King Faraday called out to her as he hopped out of his black sedan. "Are you all right?"
"I’m fine sir, but Jordan got away. And my camera was destroyed… may be able to pull something off the memory card…" She replied hopefully holding the smashed camera up.
"That’s OK kiddo, I’m more worried about you right now." He said with genuine concern.
"We know who he is sir… we don’t know what he is capable though. Should we bring him in?" She asked.
"If his power is anything like the Green Lantern in the 40’s we won’t have much chance at that. Like you said though, we know who he is…" he stopped mid sentence, his mind racing.
"Sir?" Agent Sullivan looked at him curiously.
"Nothing." He replied as he seemingly snapped back to reality, "Step up surveillance… level 5 protocol. Watch him, watch everyone in his family. Do not approach. And not a word to Flagg."
"Yes sir." She acknowledged turning away toward her own vehicle.
"Oh, and Chloe?" Faraday called back at her, causing her to spin back in his direction. "Good work… I want a file started on Green Lantern with all available data & anything from that memory card on my desk by 0800 hours, understood?"
"Yes sir." She replied increasing her pace.
King Faraday approached the now smoldering wreckage of the jeep. The alien pinned below was unlike anything he had seen before. He was aware of the existence of extra-terrestrials… Superman was one. But he at least looked human… And President Lord trusted him, which was good enough for King. This thing, though….
He looked down into the aliens open black eyes, seeing his own reflection and nothing else.
Until it blinked.
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Post by Admin on Mar 7, 2006 22:18:22 GMT -5
“Ring, can you scan for any sign of Guy Gardner?” Hal said as he streaked off into the night sky. “And make me visible again please.”
{Acknowledged}
A beam of green light shot out from the center jewel and took off at a dizzying speed.
{The human you seek is no longer on Earth} came Abin Sur’s familiar voice as the beam faded from existence.
The ring… the alien was wearing green again. Guy took the ring. Oh no…
{You are the first Green Lantern to survive a clash with a Legion infected Corpsman, the Guardians demand you transfer all data to them regarding your battle for full analysis} the voice of Abin Sur came again as his spectral image appeared before Hal again.
“I could have used your assistance back there.”
{I am the ring… what other assistance did you require?}
“A little advice, maybe?”
{That is unnecessary, you survived the battle. Please transmit all data to…}
“Fine. How?” Hal demanded irritably.
{Command the ring to send the information to OA, it will be received via the Central Power Battery and delivered to the Guardians instantaneously. The Guardians were impressed by your accomplishment. They do not believe, however, that you are capable of tracking the rogue’s missing ring. You are to remain here until you are contacted by a Corps training officer}
“Right.” Hal closed his eyes, but paused & looking back toward the spectral image, a confused look on his face, “what’s ‘Oh-Ah’?”
{It is the planet at the very center of the known Universe, the home of the Guardians, and the headquarters of the Green Lantern Corps. For safety reasons, only those bearing a ring of power can find it.}
Hal closed his eyes and thought “OA
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Post by Admin on Mar 7, 2006 22:19:18 GMT -5
Fisherman's wharf, San Francisco... "Captain Carl's Tattoos & Piercing Studio", a dive that had, somehow through the years, remained open. The little hole in the wall reeked of fish & cigarettes. Not the most pleasant of tattoo parlors, but for Abel Tarrant, it was home away from home. He always felt that regardless of how poorly the parlor smelled, it was where the talent was. “Captain Carl”, though an obese ex-sailor (who generated, single handedly, most of the smell) was a true artist. Abel sat in the Captain’s chair as the finishing touches were added to the Captain’s latest masterpiece. Abel was sure that it would also be Captain Carl’s last creation.
Abel had been a very disturbed child. As a young boy he regularly tortured small animals & anyone else smaller than him. Smaller, meaning shorter. Abel was very tall and lanky even in his pre-teen years. His parents thought him quirky, and only disapproved of their “angel’s” long, jet black hair. At the age of 17 a friend introduced Abel to the Wiccan religion, hoping that a life of meditation & peace would be good for Abel. His friend thought wrong. The idea of doing spells & enchantments thrilled Abel, but, by the age of 19, Abel decided that the Wiccan religion was a bit passé. Two years of herbs & communing with nature were not his cup of tea. He needed a bit more excitement in his life, and he always preferred the darker side of life. He renounced his Wiccan ways and proclaimed himself “Warlock”. He once again took to the way of violence. At least now he had a reason to kill small animals.
Abel had covered his body in tattoos of various sizes & shape. Abel had designed the majority of his tattoos basing them off of creatures, symbols & various images he'd seen in the "Book of Shadows". One night, after a particularly nasty evening of binge drinking & ritual animal sacrifice, he decided to imbed his talisman (a stone many Wicca’s use as a focus for their power & life energies) just beneath the skin of his neck. That particular stone (the Talisman of Venus) coupled with the ritualistic tattoos had a startling effect.
He discovered (quite painfully) that he could bring his tattoos to life & that they would do his bidding. His newest tattoo, that of a large serpent, would come in quite handy with what he was planning... After all, what's an Apocalypse without a giant serpent?
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Post by Admin on Mar 7, 2006 22:20:18 GMT -5
Nothing.
Hal returned to his base housing, sure to find it ransacked by the DEO with armed guards to escort him away. Lock him in a room, take his ring. Or at least try to.
Hal had never been a fan of conspiracy theories. He normally believed they were the hobby of paranoid people, but even he had to admit something was happening.
The investigation into the disappearance of Lt. Guy Gardner. It had been determined quickly that Guy had gone AWOL. A little too quickly. Was that due to the DEO? As big an ass as Guy was, he was the least likely person to go AWOL. In fact, Hal was sure that Guy would be in the service for life. But it wasn’t like he could march into General Flagg or Colonel Morgan’s offices & say “Guy’s not AWOL, he killed an alien with a (possessed) magic ring in the desert while I was fooling around with my (non-possessed) ring. Then the magic (possessed) ring possessed him and he used it to fly off into space somewhere… that way, actually”. No, that would not go very well at all.
Another oddity was the complete absence of the DEO on base. Agent Sullivan saw Hal use the ring, saw Gardner do his thing too. Director Faraday was on the phone with her… it made no sense.
Otherwise, it was just a normal day at Edwards. Hour long briefing with Colonel Morgan, followed by a quick flight in an upgraded F-15 Eagle over the Mojave Desert. Upgraded, it may have been, it was still a relative antique.
He breathed in deep the all too familiar scent of jet fuel & burnt brake pads that filled the air in Hanger 18. Why did he feel the same… a relative antique? He was only 31… the prime of his life. Perhaps it was the idea of being retired from the military in 2 short weeks. He always associated the term ‘retired’ with someone 65 or older… Hell, not even half way there yet. Besides, he was moving onward & upward. A new career on the horizon flying for Ferris & now the Green Lantern Corps. He put the DEO agents and the trouble with Guy in the back of his mind. No whining and no regrets. He would face whatever came his way with his head high, fists bared and ring ready.
He suddenly felt the excitement build again… the same feeling he had the night before, using the ring to create things & fly & fight. He was going to be a space cop. How cool was that? He pulled his right glove off & looked at his bare right hand. He willed the Green Lantern ring to appear and smiled to himself as it did.
Nope, not a bad life at all!
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Post by Admin on Mar 7, 2006 22:21:09 GMT -5
In the locker room Hal changed out of his flight suit and into his uniform. That night he would finally be taking Ace & June up on the dinner offer from a few nights before. He couldn’t remember the last time he had a nice home cooked (non-commissary) dinner and June was one Hell of a cook.
Deep in thought, thinking of the roast in his near future, Hal didn’t notice the enormous man approaching him from behind. The abnormally large man dressed in fatigues was Samoan by the look of him... 100% pure muscle. His name tag sported the name & title: Capt. K.I. Lowog.
“ATTEN-HUT” The large man shouted, causing Jordan to snap to attention. “You Lt. Jordan?”
"Yes sir!"
The large captain smiled at Jordan. "At ease, Lt... Good, military types always know how to show the proper respect. Even if you are a Terran.”
"I'm sorry sir...?" Came Hal’s befuddled reply. The large man’s toothy grin widened as he placed a silencing finger over his thin lips. His finger was twice the size of a roll of quarters. He looked around to make sure no one was lurking nearby (since humans were always so nosy). Satisfied that they were alone, he turned back to Hal and whispered. “My name is Kilowog & I've been sent to begin your training."
"What training? I'm set to discharge in 2 weeks, my schedule is already set..." Hal argued.
"Not that, you poozer, the Guardians sent me. You are pretty sprockin' dense, ain't ya? You‘re my new meat." With every word, Kilowog’s grin seemed to grow larger.
"I only understood about half of what you said...” Hal said while peering over his shoulder making sure they were still alone. “I didn't know the Corps had other human members." He whispered.
"Ha! I'm not human,” Kilowog exclaimed, while jabbing a thick finger into Hal’s chest, “and don’t forget it. Your kind never qualified… too emotional. I'm from Bolovax Vik in sector 674. I'm in disguise... trust me, anyone sees me the way I really look on this mud ball, well... you'll see what I mean. So, you done for the day?"
"Yes… I mean, no. I’m off in about an hour, but I have dinner schedule…” Hal began looking at his watch. He looked up into the narrow eyes of the large man standing before him and quickly reconsidered his last statement, “… but you know what? I can reschedule, no problem. I just have to log a report, and then I’m all yours."
"Great,” Kilowog beamed, “I'll take the time to check out some of these aircraft of yours... I love machinery, and I get to see some interesting specimens on all these planets I'm sent to. I wanna see how your machines hold up to some of the others..."
"OK, great... just don't touch anything. Our planes can be kind of fragile to someone… your size.” Hal cautioned.
“Heh, what do you know… you’re fearless.”
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Post by Admin on Mar 7, 2006 22:22:23 GMT -5
King Faraday sat at his desk poring over the file Agent Sullivan had thrown together. Only some of the photos were intact. But they were enough. He reached for another file on his desk, stamped “TOP SECRET”, opened it and laid them both side by side.
The photos and information in the second file were over 60 years old… And he was unsure of exactly how the information had been obtained. But he was sure the information would come in handy. Very soon.
Green Lantern ALPHA Real Name: Alan Scott Height: 6’0” Weight: 201 Hair: Blonde Eyes: Blue Current Status: Unknown Abilities: Wields a ring that allows subject to create anything imaginable. Unknown if ring is technologically or magically based. Known Relatives: Molly Catherine Mayne-Scott (wife) Weakness (es): The Ring is ineffectual against wood.
“Wood?” King said to himself, “Not so tough after all, are you…?”
The photo’s of the 1940’s Green Lantern were similar to those that Agent Sullivan had taken the night before. Odd energy coming from the ring creating what he could only classify as ‘hard light constructs’. The costumes were very different. But it was the 40’s, it must have seemed appropriate at the time.
He closed the file on the original Green Lantern and focused on the new file. Adding a bit more information to it.
Green Lantern BETA Real Name: Harold ‘Hal’ Jordan Height: 6’0” Weight: 186 Hair: Brown Eyes: Brown Current Status: Lieutenant, USAF (due for discharge in two weeks) Abilities: Wields a ring that allows subject to create anything imaginable. Unknown if ring is technologically or magically based. Known relatives: Martin H. Jordan (deceased), Susan Jordan (mother), Jack Jordan (older brother), Jim Jordan (younger brother). Weakness (es): Ring may be ineffectual against wood based upon known facts regarding 1940’s Green Lantern. Further study to be conducted.
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Post by Admin on Mar 7, 2006 22:24:13 GMT -5
As usual, the later the day became, the harder the desert wind blew, blowing sand across State Route 18. Hal & Kilowog drove down the long desert highway towards the spot of the battle the night before in a borrowed military jeep. The jeep bowed nearly to the ground with Kilowog’s weight in the passenger seat. Kilowog wanted to see the lakebed where Hal beat Sinestro.
“Is there some reason we didn’t just fly here Jordan?” Kilowog asked as he rubbed sand out of his eyes with his giant digits. “And is there some fraggin’ reason why you live on such an inhospitable planet & not have vehicles with tops?”
“Sorry… I can’t just disappear from the base. And most people consider a convertible style vehicle enjoyable.” Hal replied.
“Pfft… You must have thicker skin than other species as well…”Kilowog said as he spat sand. “I never studied your planet, that was always Abin’s deal, bein’ his sector & all.”
“What was he like?”
“Abin? He was a sprockin’ pain. Always questioning orders, always arguin’, never satisfied... best student I ever had… always got the job done. Had a family too… not something we recommend, but not something we can stop either. He was a good sentient… Probably one ‘o‘ the best.”
Hal let the subject drop when Kilowog’s voice faded off. It was apparently a sore subject for the larger Green Lantern.
Hal turned onto the frontage road leading to the lakebed. Luckily, again the coast was clear. Hal drove the jeep onto the lakebed and toward the site of the battle, but found nothing. The blackened spot where the burning wreckage of his jeep & Sinestro’s body once was were unmarked. The area where the pit had been was also gone. The entire area looked as if it had been leveled by a massive bulldozer, but without leaving any tracks in the sand.
Hal hopped out of the jeep with ease… Kilowog, on the other hand, had to pry his oversized body out, a limb at a time. Kilowog stretched after regaining his footing.
“So… you sure the big battle was here?” Kilowog asked.
“I don’t understand,” Hal said looking at his watch. “It was only 18 hours ago. I’m standing in the spot where my jeep exploded. I know I was followed, but…”
“Followed?” Kilowog’s eyebrow arched.
“Government agent…” Hal replied dismissively, “Didn’t know she was there until after I came to. I knew the DEO were powerful… but good lord, the lakebed looks like no one’s set a foot or track on it. Ever.”
“Well, nothing’ we can do about it now. Suit up newbie, I ain’t here for my health.” Kilowog’s massive Green Lantern ring materialized on his right hand and the air around him was energized. Quickly the Samoan disguise he had chosen faded to reveal Kilowog’s true visage, leaving Hal speechless with his mouth agape.
Kilowog’s massive muscular frame was impressive. Standing at 7’3” and with a face like a bald warthog, Kilowog could give even the bravest child nightmares for the rest of his or her life.
"Wow… Right. Hang on, I need to recharge my ring.”
Hal willed his power battery to existence and recited the sacred oath: “In brightest day, in blackest night, no evil shall escape my sight. Let those who worship evil’s might, beware my power, Green Lantern’s light!” The air around Hal, charged as his uniform appeared, replacing his civilian clothes.
“Never get tired of hearing that…” Kilowog said smiling (at least Hal thought it was a smile), “You may want a mask to protect your identity. Though doesn‘t sound like you‘re doin’ a real good job ‘o’ that.”
Hal quickly complied, wondering why he hadn’t thought of that.
“So, meat, this is where you took out Sinestro, eh?"
"I didn't kill him though, that was Guy... another pilot like me," Hal replied defensively.
“Yeah we know. We were able to learn quite a bit from the information you sent to the Guardians. Your ring took energy level readings from Sinestro’s ring. Was also able to analyze some o’ the chemical compounds that make up the virus. Looks like the virus originated in the anti-matter universe of Qward. Another scheme to try and invade our Universe... the Qwardians have never been quite this successful before. First rule of inter-dimensional warfare, make your enemies destroy themselves, then come on in & collect your prize. You know you're the first to beat an infected Corpsman... How'd you do it?”
"I'm still trying to get my mind around what you just said...” Hal replied, “Anti-matter Universe? Kward?”
Kilowog, just shook his head and rolled his small beady eyes "It’s Qward… Alright poozer, we'll get into that later... let's get some training under your belt, then we'll find out how a rookie beat, arguably, one of our best. Have you tried flying yet.?"
"A bit... I've gone straight up, straight down & I did some defensive flying against him, nothing too complicated, but I…”
"Don't just stand there yakking about it junior, show me." Kilowog interrupted.
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Post by Admin on Mar 7, 2006 22:25:34 GMT -5
Throughout the night and into the early hours of the morning, Kilowog trained Hal. Speed control, stopping, stealth flight, air combat, construct formation, simple beam blasts, and image manipulation amongst other skills. Hal’s mind soaked up the information like a sponge.
“Your ring can protect you from G-Forces… you’ll be able to make maneuvers that would kill someone in one of your little toy planes.” Were the type of pointers that came from the big brute as Hal practiced flight.
After several hours had passed, Kilowog stood silently as Hal continued. No longer offering up advice… He thought 3 dimensionally, covering all angles, offensive & defensive. Jordan was obviously a natural… though pilots usually were naturals when it came to flight… didn’t hurt that the greenie was a military pilot.
Kilowog yawned looking up into the sky as dawn began to break. The sky was turning its normal morning hue. “Hey… you may have an inhospitable home planet, but yer sunrise is pretty.”
“Pretty?” Hal asked with a smile as he came to an abrupt halt next to Kilowog.
Kilowog turned to look to the northern sky and screwed up his face when he noticed fast moving cloud formations. They started moving in slowly at first, but they started coming in faster and faster.
Hal looked upward into the dark gray & black cloud that covered they sky entirely. The rain came next. At first just a mild drizzle, turning quickly into a full downpour.
"You People have some sprockin' weird weather." Kilowog commented holding out his enormous hand. The red rain drops staining his white glove.
"This isn't natural...” Hal said as he touched a red stained finger to his tongue & quickly spit “It's raining blood"
"You’re blood’s red?” Kilowog asked absently as he formed an energy shield around his massive form. “Huh… Well, in my experience anytime it starts raining blood, it's a bad thing.”
"You think?” Hal asked sarcastically as he formed an aura around himself as well. “We need to find out what's going on. It’s coming from the North.”
"Will your ring to show us the source of the problem ... and don't be such a poozer."
Pointing his ring towards the sky, Hal shot off a blast of green energy and almost instantaneously an image appeared in front of him. A lone figure in a dark cloak stood on the prison wall on Alcatraz Island. The figure was summoning black energies from deep within San Francisco Bay upward into the atmosphere. The figure was surrounded by several large beasts, of various shape & size, destroying the old prison walls and terrorizing tourists.
"Well, time to prove yourself hotshot, let’s see if all that training keeps you from getting killed…"
“Ah crap…” Hal said to himself as he took to the sky.
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Post by Admin on Mar 7, 2006 22:26:50 GMT -5
Epilogue 1:
King Faraday poured through file after file. It seemed like it was happening again. Perhaps a little different this time. Superman. Batman. Yet some of the names were familiar. Wonder Woman. The Flash. And now Green Lantern. All Alpha level threats. And they were spreading… some of them had sidekicks. Kid Flash, Robin…
King’s cell phone rang snapping him out of his dark train of thought.
“Faraday.” He barked and fell silent as the agent on the other line spoke.
“What? WHAT??? Alright, fall back, return to headquarters, I want a full report on my desk in 2 hours.” He snapped his cell phone shut.
He strode up to his window looking out into the courtyard as rain began to fall. He was so lost in thought that he paid no attention to the hue of the rain.
“Dammit.”
He turned walked back to his desk and sat down at his laptop. He typed his login and password, when the screen activated, the image of a White Knight chess piece appeared. He sat in silence staring at the computer screen. A moment later an instant message popped up.
BLKKing1: “What is it?”
WHTKing1: “Subject Green Lantern” King typed.
BLKKing1: “Status?”
WHTKing1: “Unknown; however, there is a bigger problem.”
BLKKing1: “I’m waiting…”
WHTKing1: “There’s more than one.”
BLKKing1: “We knew that upon capture of subject Zeta. How many more?”
WHTKing1: “Unknown, GL Cappa is extra-terrestrial”
BLKKing1: “Like the other?”
WHTKing1: “No, nothing like the other.”
BLKKing1: “Unexpected, but not fatal to our plan.”
>End Transmission<
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Post by Admin on Mar 7, 2006 22:28:43 GMT -5
Epilogue 2:
Elsewhere...
The lackey dragged himself toward his master’s throne. Though he had good news to pass onto his master, he never quite knew how his master would react. Such was the way of things here. He went down on one knee at the foot of his master’s throne and waited to be acknowledged.
His master waited to acknowledge simply because he could.
“What is it worm?” His master finally spoke.
“It has been done, my lord. We have infiltrated the Green Lantern Corps.” he dropped his face to the floor as he spoke, not looking his master in the eyes.
“Excellent. When we strike, the Guardians and their puppets will be useless. You have done well… leave my sight while you still can.”
The lackey stood fast and left the room quickly not risking a look back.
“Everything is proceeding as I have foreseen…”
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Post by mockingbird on Jul 31, 2011 13:11:05 GMT -5
To let us know what you think of this issue, please visit the letters page here!
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