Ultimate Green Lantern Corps #4

Green Lantern plummeted down through the clouds, an emerald streak against the blue sky. Below, his green eyes could make out the destruction that had drawn him so swiftly from Gotham City. The industrial complex was torn apart, scattered fires blazing away as emergency response vehicles struggled to contain them. With his fiery green aura sealing him from the lethal environment, the veteran hero descended into the heart of the inferno.

He reached his arms out to each side, his emerald field flaring bright and starting turn churn around him. He stole a trick from his old friend Jay Garrick, the original Flash, the energy spinning around him faster and faster. The firefighters could see from the outer perimeter as the emerald cyclone grew larger, drew in the air, pulled it from the area, starved the fires that struggled to keep blazing. But the cyclone of energy just grew more ferocious, wider, taller, the flames flickering and then died away at last. Then Alan Scott let the green power splash out over the ruined structure before washing back into him.

“Green Lantern!” The fire captain ran up to the elder hero with an excited grin. Despite being a veteran of the fire department and a middle-aged man with a family of his own and people under his responsibility, the sight of the legendary super-hero brought his childhood dreams to the fore. “What a pleasure to meet you, sir! Thank you, thank you very much. This was an ugly blaze, I'm not sure how long it would have taken us to get it under control.”

Alan Scott gazed around, eyes narrowed, focused on scanning the ruined compound, but as he stopped when the captain appeared in came into view. He dropped the fiery aura and forced a professional smile to his face. “You're welcome, captain, but I'm certain your men would have handled this just fine without me. Have you or your men seen evidence of other...” Alan paused as he looked at the tired men. He never cared much for the newer term for mystery men, especially in a situation like this. “...costumes here?” He substituted super-hero at the last minute.

“Nah, nothing like that, Lantern,” another firefighter said as the captain handed Alan a pad of paper, and patted himself down for a pen.

“I had colleagues here, but I can't sense them at all, and I should, my power is connected to theirs directly,” Green Lantern explained as his finger flamed green and he burned his signature into the paper and handed it back to the captain. “If I can't sense them, that would mean...the worst, but then the power would come back to me.”

“Sorry, Lantern, there's no sign of any bodies. The place seems to have been emptied, actually, but we've got a lot of work to do on that front before we're done here,” the captain replied as he noticed that the autograph had been seared into a number of pages for all of his personnel. “If we dig anything up, we'd be happy to let you know, if you give us a contact point?”

“Yes, thanks. This number,” Alan said as green numbers erupted across the air, “will get the information to me. Anything you think could be of help would be appreciated.” He nodded to each of the firefighters and then blazed green again as he slowly lifted into the air. “Keep up the good work, fellows.” And then he streaked back off into the sky.

Once out of view of the others, his face became stony and grim as his mind pondered the fates of those he'd sent in his stead. Fury slowly burned in his heart, and the green blazed brighter in response.

Upstate New York
A jet composed of green flame streaked through the air, a sense of urgency seeming to propel it as much as anything. There were six people aboard the bizarre craft, each focused on their own thoughts. John Stewart stood to one side of the craft, and Guy Gardner on the other, as energy flowed from each of them to form the fiery jet, while at the front, Jesse Chambers concentrated as hard as she could on her own power ring, guiding the two men with occasional signals.

The other three were lacking power rings, and sat in the center of the construct in various states of restlessness. Hal Jordan leaned back, forced himself to keep calm and did so by focusing on the blond woman directing the flight. She intrigued him, this “Jade Flash” as she told him to call her, and his eyes watched her every little move.

Valentina Vostok kept perfectly still in her chair, arms at her side, and eyes also focused straight ahead, but for her, she looked beyond Jesse and out of the canopy to the horizon ahead. On occasion, she would glance to the third passenger, Kimiyo Hoshi, the Japanese scientist she'd helped to rescue and then dragged into this mystery. Hoshi continued to fidget in her chair, and her dark eyes continually moved throughout the green cabin and her companions on this journey. She had no idea what to think of this 'adventure' as some of them put it, and it left her in a place Hoshi hated to be...out of her element. She caught Valentina's glance at one point, and prepared for some sort of calming smile or sage word of advice from the Russian agent. Instead, to Hoshi's relief, Vostok merely nodded in agreement and shifted in her own chair, ready for the chase to be over. This was also something Valentina was unused to, and it left her anxious and irritated, though she refused to let it slip through her stoic, professional demeanor.

“I think I've got a lock on the source,” Jesse announced, at last breaking the silence of the cabin. She glanced back over her shoulder and caught the look from Hal. She blushed, but tried to ignore it otherwise as she added, “It's definitely just past those hills, we can start dropping altitude, guys...er, fellas.”

Guy snorted and shook his head. “Good. I'm anxious to see where this is headed, and get to the head-bustin' portion of the caper.”

“Of course you are, Guy,” John answered with a sigh. “I'm less certain about this barging straight ahead without letting Alan know. Why haven't we tried to contact him yet, again?”

“Because we're grown-ups who don't need hand-holding,” Hal answered with a quick grin. “C'mon, we can handle whatever gets tossed our way. I mean, each of us already has, alone or in pairs, so if all six of us are together, we're golden.”

“I'm less certain about that, but Alan seems eager for me to prove myself, and it's just following a lead,” Jesse added in a quiet voice.

“It's just fortunate you picked up the radio signal when you did, Jade Flash,” Valentina said with a nod. “We're sure the complex was abandoned when it exploded?”

“Positive about that, none of us picked anything remotely resembling life signs with our rings,” John confirmed. “We didn't leave anyone hanging.”

“I just hope I've got this right, and it really was the same signal that Detonator was using,” Jesse said, almost to herself.

“I've got faith in you,” Hal said with a thumb's up. “You won't let us down.”

She felt her heart flutter and a smile creep over her face as the craft headed down, passing the Adirondack Preserve and headed for an isolated, fenced in compound. Buildings of simple block-like construction made up the facility, few windows and fewer signs of activity making the group suspicious.

“Okay, people, pick up your partners, doe-see-doe,” John said as he turned the energy from his ring away from the jet to surround him and Hoshi. The aircraft started to flicker apart as Jesse did the same, forming a globe to grab up her and Hal. Valentina grumbled when Guy launched himself away from the vanishing craft and generated a giant hand, palm up, for her to rest in uncomfortably.

The three pairs now continued the descent to the strange compound, finally landing within the chain link fence. For several long moments they stood in place, tense, at the ready, six sets of eyes glancing for any hint of what was to happen next.

“Well, so far, this is a big bust,” Guy said as he began to head for what appeared to be the main doors; metallic, tall, imposing doors that seemed more of a barrier than an invite.

“Gardner! What are you doing?” Valentina demanded to know as they all watched him.

“Cool your jets, Val, I'm just gonna knock on the front door.” That cocky grin of his made them all shudder as he generated a large doorknocker with his ring, pulling on it and using it to smash the doors down like tissue. “Hey, there's people in here after all! Hey! Hey, get off!”

The others watched as a horde of people poured from the ruined doorway, several piling onto the unsuspecting Guy, and the dozens of others spreading out to attack the rest of the group. They all seemed normal, everyday workers safe for the milky white eyes and lack of noise, save for the stampeding feet.

“What the hell is going on here?” Hal said as he was charged by three people, struggling to shake them off, clasped fists battering on the back of one. “There's some kind of shaved patch—oof!” He crashed to the ground suddenly, cutting off his words.

“I see what he's trying to say!” John said as he used his ring to generate a wall to cut off the rest of the horde from Val and Hoshi.

“Yes, some sort of patch of circuitry on the backs of their heads and necks,” Hoshi called out as she peered from behind John now that the wall was up. They watched as Jesse ran through the group, a green blur bouncing and dashing, and trying to draw their attentions.

“You're saying their zombies of some kind?” Guy snapped as he used his ring to fling his attackers away with abandon now.

“Gardner, these people aren't in their right minds, be careful!” John shouted.

“Oh great, finally get into a decent scrap, and the babysitter's going to bitch,” Guy sneered as he started to make pillows from his green flame and smashing them into the attackers. “Happier?”

Up in the atmosphere
“Are you there, Alan?” Oracle's voice came in loud and clear, enough that Alan Scott could detect the concerned edge in her tone as she spoke. “What's the situation? My sources aren't saying much.”

“I can't detect them, and I don't have their energy back,” the original Green Lantern grumbled as he soared through the uppermost edge of the sky. “Which means they aren't dead after all, or whoever is behind this can trap my energy away from me. Tell me you have something for me to go on, Oracle.”

“It took some digging, but fortunately, I've got the best shovelers in the biz,” Oracle replied, the pride clear. “Most of the money is coming from the sell-off of Ajan Enterprises, and it's being funneled in some very creative ways into the attacks and hostile takeovers of Ferris Aviation, Toyotoshi Labs and QuickStart Solutions.”

“Good recap, now tell me anything new that can help me,” Alan grumbled. “I'm running low on time. I've who knows how many dead colleagues on my hands, and I don't even know it yet!”

“You don't even know they're dead yet, but you do know to keep it calm until you find out,” Oracle said pointedly. “And yes, I do have something new for you. I think there's a holding company called Future Concepts, Incorporated that that money's being funneled through. The corporate headquarters is located in Baltimore, and privately held by some business whiz-kid named Hector Hammond.”

“Right. I'll check it out then.” Alan Scott veered back down toward the planet, streaking toward the location Oracle had provided. “If you could keep looking.”

“For the others? Of course, Alan. My satellites are your satellites.”

“They're not you're satellites though, Barbara,” Alan replied with a tiny chuckle.

“What others don't know won't hurt me. Oracle out.”

Upstate New York
The three ring-slingers had moved back to back now, and continued to do their best to stop the horde of mindless attackers. Slowly, they had maneuvered their little group toward the building, though every one of them were beginning to feel a headache building up, and hearts pounding as their bodies tired.

“From what I can see, from here, there looks like receiver circuits on those patches,” Hoshi said. “Someone must be broadcasting something to them.” She turned to the blond ringbearer. “You were able to follow the other signal, can you find one here?”

“I don't get anything at the moment, but I can't really concentrate on anything else at the moment,” Jesse replied through gritted teeth as pressed her protective wall forward, wrapping up a half-dozen of the horde and forcing them to the far side of the compound as another four pushed forward, to be intercepted by Valentina and Hal.

“We'll hold things here, you three get in there and see if you can find anything like what Hoshi's talking about,” John said as he took a step back and let his ring flare, energy lashing out to buttress all three defensive screens with elaborate braces. He struggled to catch his breath, one hand holding the ring-bearing arm up. “But make it quick!”

“He's got the right idea,” Hal said as he grabbed Hoshi and Valentina by the arm, then quickly let Russian's go when she glared at him. “You said there's reception, which would mean a transmitter. Hopefully, on the premises.”

The trio moved into the building as the sounds of the battle receded. It was dim, with only yellowed emergency lighting still on, and it was quiet within, with only the three intruders making any sort of noise.

“Is it just me?” Hoshi asked as she wiped her forehead and took a moment to lean on against a wall. “I've done very little where the fighting is concerned, and I feel so...heavy. Fatigued.”

“Me too,” Valentina grumbled and glanced at Hal, who nodded helplessly. “This makes no sense.”

“Maybe not,” Hoshi said as she pushed off the wall and stalked down the corridor, a determined look on her face now. She paused at a set of elevators and frowned. “Maybe it's whatever is being broadcast. It could be subliminal, even if we don't have those attachments on us.”

“If it's a transmitter, it'd be up high for maximum effect, right?” Hal asked as he pressed the elevator button.

“True. On the roof. That was my thought as well.” Hoshi gave him a look of approval. “You are more than just a set of shoulders and Hollywood looks, I see.”

“Thanks, I try.” He flashed her his best Tinseltown grin in response, and then stumbled to one side as Valentina grabbed his arm now.

“No elevators. It's safe to say that we're bearding the enemy's den, and I will not be found in a tiny box with few options for escape,” the Russian said as she marched to the left, headed for a door labeled 'stairs'.

“Ooh, good point,” Hal said as he pulled himself from her grip and shook his arms out. “Very good point. I should have thought of that.”

The three of them said nothing more as they forced themselves up three floors by the hard, concrete floors, each step seeming to sap them of energy, until at last they found themselves up in a small glass enclosure on the roof, near an antennae array.

Hoshi gave an exhausted grin and stepped up to the control panel, trying to sort out the controls as Valentina stepped onto the roof and peered at the ongoing battle down below.

“Green Lantern selected these three to replace him,” she said idly as Hal approached her. She talked loudly now, to include Hoshi as well. “One would think he chose people with skills, experiences that would make them very capable with their rings.”

“That did seem the idea. I think our 'Jade Nova' may even have been Lady Flash from a time back,” Hal said as he watched as well.

“They do not battle like skilled, experienced people,” Val grumbled. “If I had a power ring, I would...” Her words stopped and she frowned, trying to focus her mind now. “I would...”

“Would what?” Hoshi called out. “Doesn't sound like you've any better idea how to use those rings.”

“I would do something!” Valentina snapped angrily.

“No. Wait, Hoshi, I think I know what she's saying,” Hal said with wide eyes, understanding what Valentina was trying to explain. “They can fly with those. Why aren't they flying? You couldn't tie me to the ground if I had a power ring. Why aren't they flying?”

“It's not a transmitter,” Hoshi said with alarm as she stepped back from the controls, as if they threatened to bite her.

“What? What are you saying?” Valentina stepped back toward the scientist.

“That is to say, it is a transmitter, but its primary function is an amplifier.”

“What's it amplifying, Hoshi?” Hal asked as he put his hands on her shoulders, trying to give the rattled woman some assurance.

“Thoughts,” Hoshi answered simply as she stared back up at the pilot.

Indeed, my dear work force, a voice said as it rang through their heads. Amplifying my thoughts to be precise. Or to be even more precise, amplifying and broadcasting my thoughts to my drones all the while diverting your attentions, so that I might wear down those prodigious wills of yours.

“Who?” Valentina spun around, trying to locate the source of the voice that echoed so fully in her mind now. It took all of Hal's focus to realize the sounds of the battle were dimming on the ground, and he forced his exhausted head to turn and gaze down.

It doesn't matter anymore, my dear former spy, the voice replied as it grew louder in each of their brains, washing out other thoughts. Just rest assured, I have far more useful ways to apply the talent pool you all offer.

Baltimore, Maryland
Alan Scott descended to the city below, and sought out his destination. He plunged himself into the steel and glass structure with ease, the green flame allowing him to pass unhindered, and the material in his wake left intact, until at last, he arrived at a large rounded desk with an attractive younger woman seated at it.

“May I help you, sir?” she asked as she peered up through slim glasses that increased her attractiveness. Her light blue eyes were wide, and seemed to make no notice of the blazing super-hero who suddenly ghosted in before her.

“I want to see your boss, miss,” Alan replied, arms at his side, fists clenched up tight. He forced a polite smile onto his face as he spoke to her, in even, calm tones. “I really can't take no for an answer. I'm pressed for time.”

“Of course, sir,” she replied and picked up the phone. “There's a gentleman in a purple cape here to see you, Mr. Hammond.” She paused, listening to the other end of the line and nodded. “Very good, sir.” She placed the phone back down and smiled back up at Green Lantern. “You can go right in. Have a good day.”

“Thank you,” he answered, curious now at her utter lack of awareness. He was used to being reacted to, usually by fawning fans and (these days fewer and fewer) friendly fellow veterans. He didn't expect to be glorified everywhere he went, and found it a relief the few times he wasn't. But this woman didn't seem to really see him for who and what he was at all.

He turned to the doors and opened them up with a flourish, sweeping into the office, cloak flaring wide in hopes of adding to his usually impressive aura. He needed answers, and he needed cooperation, and he was ready to use every weapon in his arsenal to get them.

“Green Lantern, here in my office!” A young man, perhaps twenty-five or thereabouts, with manicured hands and well-groomed hair, in an immaculate blue suit, stood up quickly and practically leaped around his desk to greet the legendary hero. “It is a genuine honor and privilege to meet you!” He clasped Green Lantern's other hand and shook it eagerly. “Hector Hammond, president of Future Concepts. Whatever can I do for you?”

This was the sort of reaction he was used to, but now it made him more tense. He said something, Alan thought as he looked into the deep brown eyes. What was it he said? “Pleasure is mine, Mr. Hammond. I was hoping you could help me with a case I'm on.”

“Anything I can do to help,” Hector said as he guided Green Lantern to a chair. “Can I get you a drink?”

“No. Thank you, I...” he looked up, and squinted hard, then glanced at the desk, and the empty chair on the other side. That's what he said. He said Green Lantern, before I'd even really got in here. I was still opening...the...door... He let his thoughts trail off as he let a pulse of green energy burst out from him. It swept the room in the blink of an eye, passing through the young man pouring the drink as if he weren't there, but bouncing off the large object where the empty desk chair appeared to be. Immediately, emerald flames coursed over Alan's body as he lifted up into the air. “You're already in my mind! That's why I couldn't sense the others!”

The young businessman by the bar sipped on a glass of Scotch and shook his head sadly. “Damn. I'd hoped to get just a fraction more use from that particular mental block,” he said. He watched as the flames made a powerfully bright corona around Alan Scott's head and then he flickered like a bad television image. “I suppose that was too much to hope for.”

“When? How?”

“The firefighter who requested your autograph,” Hector said as he continued to drink the Scotch, though Alan didn't look at him. Instead he continued to face the empty chair. “The pad of paper had a subliminal code embedded in it from my mental essence. It reinforced the momentary block I slipped in when you first arrived.”

“Who are you?” Alan clenched his fists tighter and let the fiery field around him snap and crackle angrily to match his own fury.

“I told you, Green Lantern. I am Hector Hammond. Of course, many of you will come to know me as the future of Humanity,” the mentalist continued to say as the image approached Alan. “All of you will eventually come to know me as the benevolent ruler who tends to your needs as you make our world a better place.”

“Enough games!” Alan roared as the fire again swept the office, this time burning away everything false in its path. The desk burnt away, the image of Hector Hammond was seared into nonexistence, that chair that bedeviled Alan's vision was next and when the pulse was done, there hovered a new chair. It was made of sleek, smooth advanced polymers that glittered like silver in the light, with a rich leather padding for the figure that sat in it. The arms of the chair contained a number of touchpad controls, and the base of the chair hovered a yard from the floor, a low hum coming from it.

Seated in the chair was a strange shape of a man: a spindly body lay into the leather seat, with scrawny arms stroking the arms, stubby fingers hovered over the controls. An oversized head rested in a carefully arranged padded head rest, that kept it upright and face forward. The head seemed the same size as the rest of the stunted body, though the face itself seemed of typical size. Beady brown eyes gazed out from a heavy brow, a cruel lipless mouth quivered as a tongue swept over it quickly. The forehead was huge, the cranium deep and heavy, scraggly black hair hanging limply from all over the roughly egg shape. Hector Hammond, at your service, sir. Or more precisely, you are at my service!

“What's going on here? Why have you been doing...whatever?”

Simple, Green Lantern. I have a brain of the future. With my technical and psionic prowess, it is only fitting I guide this dying world and its out of control ruling species. I will save humanity, by bringing the intelligent elite to be my ruling council, and the rest of the people will work for them. I already know the advances and innovations that will repair the damage to this poor sphere, that will allow humanity to break from its cradle in space, and spread to the stars as is our destiny! By a freak chance of nature, my marvelous brain was born a thousand years early, and it shall be the dawn of a new, and glorious day for Earth!

“Another would-be tyrant,” Green Lantern answered in disgust. “That's the best you can do? You have an over-sized brain and telepathy, and so you should rule the world? You couldn't come up with anything more original than that? After nearly seven decades, I guess there's nothing new.” He released a blast of green flame that turned into a baseball bat, aiming to smash into the chair.

How about this for something new then? Hector sneered as mental energy flared out from his huge brain and slammed into the bat and then washed over in an unstoppable wave. Alan was smashed by the tide of mental force, and crashed through the wall. Yours is the strongest will on Earth, as I have come to understand it. With you in my command, my plan can not be stopped. I will admit, your will is mighty indeed. This should prove...sporting.

“Sporting? Guess I'd better not let you down then,” Alan Scott said as he blasted the rubble off of him and hurtled his own wave of emerald energy back at Hector Hammond, crashing over the futuristic chair and its weird occupant, but it failed to crack the mental shield he erected around himself.

You aren't. But of course, you are outclassed. I already have your allies, and you have chose well. Adding them to the psionic pool I've established to enhance my already incredible power was no easy task.

The laugh crawled down the inside of Green Lantern's spine, making him shiver involuntarily, turning his stomach as he thought about the implications. “How?”

It wasn't easy. They are a motley, uneven lot, the only uniform element of the half-dozen of them being an iron will. Well, until I came along. Now, there is nothing but uniformity. Again the laughter made Alan's entire nervous system feel invaded by ants. But worn down, distracted, my subliminal broadcasts interrupting their focus, it was only a matter of time. It's all just a matter of time now. I have a thousand years head start, you could say!

Upstate New York
“Wake up, Jordan!”

Hal felt something jab him hard in the side, and he forced his eyes to open. His head ached, and the eyes had trouble focusing. It got worst when he saw Guy Gardner's face looking into his.

“You heard me, get up!” Guy Gardner forced him to sit up now. “We got a chance. Don't know why, but you seem like the only Joe here who's got it up here,” He tapped Hal's temple and made the pilot wince, “to help me save the day, so get with it.”

“My head...is pounding...” Hal blinked and looked around. The mindless horde stood around, unblinking, unmoving now, those that still stood. So did the three ring-bearers, and nearby on the ground were Valentina and Hoshi. “It...it's like my...head isn't here.”

“It's not,” Guy growled, as he fought off the same sensation. “It's getting yanked some other place. That's what it feels like to me.”

“Hoshi, she said something about an amplifier,” Hal said as he forced himself to stand and stagger slowly to the others. “All the rings come from the same source, right?”

“Not mine!” Guy smiled smugly as he held his fist up, and showed how the ring was a part of his finger. “Though it's gotten a boost, it's all Gardner, guy!” He laughed at his joke as Hal winced.

“The energy's the same. Can we connect to it? And to Green Lantern? We're all on the same case, want to bet that whatever's happening to our heads is because of him?”

“We can give it a go, I guess,” Guy said. “Never tried nuthin' like that before, but I'm game. I'll start with Blondie here.” The grin lit up again as he wrapped his ring-bearing hand around Jesse's slim fingers and the rings flared in contact.

Hal rolled his eyes and helped to bring Hoshi, John and Valentina closer to Guy and Jesse. The green aura from the joined rings spread to John's now as Hal laid the heavy, calloused hand over Guy's and Jesse's. He gripped Hoshi's hand and Valentina's hand as Guy did his part and soon, the green light turned into a vortex of energy that swirled around their senses.

“What's happening?” Hal called out to Guy as he felt the world lurch out from under his feet.

“Beats the hell outta me, Jordan! Wasn't this your idea?” Gardner spat back as the other four started to blink and look around.

In moments, the six of them felt their minds yanked away from the strange compound up in New York, and witnessing the battle of wills raging in a Baltimore office.

You selected excellent candidates to aid me in my conquest! You have gotten old, and slipping, Alan Scott! It does not matter at all how young your body remains as your allies fall one by one to the Grim Reaper! It only matters that your aged mind grows weak, and tired, and lonely! Alone! Your allies, mine now, your power in their hands, now mine, and you turned them over to me!

Alan Scott blinked hard as he pulled himself up from the ruined outer office, more pieces of wall and glass hurtled at him by the telekinetic prowess of Hector Hammond. Tattered and worn by the battle, Green Lantern stood again and launched a new assault, as green flame lashed out in the form of artillery pieces, firing a rocket after rocket at the mentalist. Hector Hammond showed none of the fatigue that plagued his opponent though, as he parried Alan's newest attack.

“Say what you want...won't matter...” Alan growled, teeth clenched, knuckles white and perspiration dripping down his temples. Both of them knew the truth, that Hector's words were indeed worming into the iron fortress of Alan Scott's mind, finding all the small cracks that worked against him. Molly's recent death and his failure to act in the wake of the funeral; the realization that he had sent six young people to their deaths on his own mission; even if they weren't dead, they now were in this monster's clutches; how few of his JSA comrades remained alive; how his one hope for a child in the form of Jade failed to be the case. All of this and more, Hector Hammond found and tore up and threw into fore of Alan's thoughts, and left him vulnerable to the ceiling and the floor being slammed into him.

The fiery sphere ate at the weapons though, and left Green Lantern floating in place. “No!”

Sporting is sporting, but I grow weary of this now. If you will not be beaten, then you will be killed!

Hal looked around, not sure how to act in this ethereal state, feeling Hector Hammond draw on his will to power the assault on Alan. “Circuits. He's a circuit, we're batteries,” he muttered five hundred miles away as it echoed in the corporate office.

“Huh?” Gardner said, as he could feel John Stewart and Kimiyo Hoshi smile in response to Hal's statement. “What? What's the big joke?”

“Don't fight it, Guy,” John said. “Don't any of us fight it. Hammond wants to use our power...give it to him!” He turned his attentions on the mentalist and furrowed his brow several states to the north.

“Right,” Hoshi said and followed suit, as did Hal. Guy didn't get it at first, but he noticed the results. He saw Jesse and Valentina slowly wake up as Hector's relentless mental attack stuttered, and slowed.

“Something the matter, Hammond? Something not right up there?” Green Lantern taunted as he wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth. “Need a moment to think? Too bad!” He threw a punch, a green fist firing out from the hand and smashing into Hammond's nose, breaking it.

“Go, Alan!” Jesse cheered now, as Guy started to catch on and also turned his focus on Hector. All of them, all seven Green Lanterns, now saw Hector Hammond's veins throb along his temple, saw his eyes go bloodshot, saw blood drip from his crushed nose.

NO! Stop! I...I control...the flow! Cease your...attentions...cattle... He spun the chair to face the other six adventurers, but they were only mental entities, and nowhere to be seen in the office. He felt the back of his chair gripped by Alan Scott now, the green fire slipping beneath the surface to fry the circuitry. Get out of here! Hector ordered in a panic as he broke his connection to the other Green Lanterns, but failed now that they knew to hold on.

“Let me help,” the original Green Lantern said to Hector, peering over the top of the chair as it smoked and sputtered and crashed to the ground. The green flames tore the armrests off and crushed them to tiny pieces.

Suddenly, the six others were back in New York, disconnected harshly from the battle and from Hector. Their heads hurt, their senses reeled, and they nearly fell over, as did all the other mindless horde they had fought.

But they were free of Hector Hammond, and so they smiled, and slowly, the cheers of triumph followed. Quiet cheers, and handshakes rather than high-fives, but triumph none the less.




“Okay, we're done, and I know what's coming now, so let me just say, right up front,” Guy Gardner, Warrior, announced to the assembled group of people, “I'm not interested. It was neat to have all this power, but I like having my own power, and I'm just a lone wolf.” He winked at Valentina, “One good-lookin' lone wolf, a maverick, making my own rules.” She recoiled at the clear pass he was making. “Yeah, anyway, so I'm not sticking around for this...this...Green Lantern...corps of yours. Thanks anyway, GL.”

Alan nodded in response and made a circular motion with his fingers, his energy leaping back out of Warrior's organic power ring and into his own body. Immediately, a grinning Gardner made the hand shift through any number of weapons. “Thanks for your help.”

“Yeah, you did good, in the end there,” John forced himself to admit.

“Well, please, no gushing. I know I'm the hero of the day, but I'm still not changing my mind. But hey, if you really need the powerhouse to save the day in the future, give me a buzz, I'll help out if I'm not too busy.” He gave a thumb's up, and then made a finger-gun movement, making it into a real gun and a click of the hammer. “You guys have a good...whatever you're gonna do now.” He turned to Val one more time and added, “And if you're looking for more of that great political talk we started earlier, I'm happy to continue. Maybe on a date? I know this theater, shows the greatest flicks. Call me.”

The six people watched Guy Gardner head out of the door, and as one, they all let out a deep exhalation of relief. “He was a help, and he is tough, but I can't say I'm sorry he's not sticking around,” Hal admitted.

“I'm very happy he's not sticking around,” Valentina emphasized with a shudder, as the other two women nodded.

“Onto more important matters,” Alan said to the group now. “You all did amazing, and while I don't really know you three, I think I can say you know me very well, and I've seen your mettle in the way that matters.” He looked at Hal, Hoshi and Valentina, and held his hand out to them, three power rings in his palm. “You've more than earned these. If you want. If you're interested in this 'corps'. I need people, people to help me spread Green Lantern's light across the world. It's much too big a job for a guy looking at his hundredth birthday.”

Hal didn't hesitate, snatching a ring up and sliding it on his finger. He let the emerald aura wrap around him and lift up into the air. “You've got yourself one recruit here. And count on it, I'm going to make you proud.”

Valentina paused for a moment then nodded and took a ring. “Only if I can put this to use for Mother Russia, and other parts of the world super-heroes often leave untended.”

“That's the idea, Ms. Vostok,” Alan assured her. “I'd want you all to go and continue your lives, wherever you live, and be...whatever heroes you want to be. I don't want six Green Lanterns. I want...whatever you think you are, and fighting the good fight.”

“Okay then. You have yourself...” She slipped it on her finger and watched it flicker and flare. “...Zorya Utrennyaya.” She smiled, almost to herself.

“Morning Star,” Hoshi said softly. “That's pretty.” She finally took the third ring. “I'm a scientist and mother first, Mr. Scott.”

“Of course you are, Dr. Kimiyo. Family is very important to me.”

“Doctor Light,” Hoshi said as she felt the ring pulse on her finger now.

“Well, if we're all picking out names, I'm going with Sentinel,” John said with a broad smile as he kicked back in an emerald energy chair of his own making. “Since I'm the guy monitoring the intelligence channels anyway, right?”

“Sounds good to me. As for you, Mr. Jordan,” Alan said, turning to Hal.

“I haven't a clue what to call myself, but I'll figure something out.”

“Don't bother,” Alan said as he put a hand on Hal's shoulder. “I need a guy at point, I need a tough guy with a quick, strong head on his shoulders, to pick up the mantle. I want you to be Green Lantern. I'm going to be out there helping you guys, but as Jay has shown, there can be a new model out there. I want that to be you. Kind of the leadership spot, in a manner of speaking. If you think you're up to it, kid.”

“Up to it?” Hal muttered and beamed as he looked over the others and then to Alan. “Sir, it'll be an honor to be Green Lantern.” He gave a tight loop in the room and blazed bright. “Yup, nothing better I can imagine being, than Green Lantern!”