Liberation #0: "The Gathering; Finale"

{Entering Sector 1910.} Not that I give a damn. Sinestro’s voice talks, I listen, but he ain’t adding anything to the conversation. He’s been dead a good long time now. I should know, I killed him. Took his ring for my own and now I’m living the high life. The way Guy Gardner’s life should be lived.

So, let me fill you in on what’s been goin’ down in my life these past few years.

I was an air force pilot, and then there was an alien spaceship crash that nearly killed me and this punk named Hal Jordan. I barely survived, but that God damned Jordan, who is, by the way, a total asshole, gets handed a magic green ring. I tried taking him in to th' authorities, but that went to pot quicker than you can say Delilah. Jordan was all ‘nu-uh, I have this alien ring thing that can do anything… I’m gonna be a hero’. Before I can take him down, this other alien dirt bag shows up (that Sinestro bastard I was telling you about earlier) and makes a mess of things. Jordan knocks the aliens ass out, and disappears… I go up to th' alien, to take him in like I should have done Jordan, but the purple headed freak wakes up and tried to kill me… so I took him out first. You'd do the same in my position, I'm sure. Then I notice the sonofabitch had a ring of his own… so I take it. I put it on my hand and next thing I know I wake up in the middle of space.

After that, I remember flashes of stuff… Place called Qward, weird big-eyed aliens with lots a lightning’ bolts. Green Lantern’s like Jordan… I actually think I duked it out with Jordan too. Things are a bit fuzzy though… the damn ring was sick. Now it seems OK, but it’s yellow instead of green. No big deal there… I never been too fond of green. ‘Cept for my Packers. That’s the only thing I miss ‘bout my life before… football.

Anyway, here I am in space… the yellow ring tells me I’m in sector 1910... And I got some alien dirt bags tryin’ to take pot-shots at me because I came callin’ to collect.

Yeah, that’s right, I’m a bounty hunter now… pretty sweet, huh? I’m like the real Boba Fett of the now… just no helmet, tried one, it kept bangin‘ around givin’ me a headache. I been doin' it for 'bout a year anna half or so... Someone needs to get some money or something’ from someone, they call me. It's a life, I guess. I'm living it, anyways.

A few hours later I've got the Grignak back in her... whatever's... arms. He thanks me a bunch and gives me a big bag of cred's. Not bad for a couple days work.

In another hour I'm in deep space on my way back ta 'Ralph's Bar' on Hardcore Station ta spend a bit o my dough on some Cruellian brews (talk 'bout hair 'o' the dawg...) when my ring goes all tingly on me. I'm thinkin' there ain't no way Lobo found his way back that quickly...

Suddenly I'm surrounded in a green bubble kinda like my own... but, ya know, green. My ring's freakin' out on me when a little blue midget wearing black appears in front of me. He's got small Green Lantern symbols on both his shoulders, and his hands behind his back. I dunno why, but somethin' tells me, he ain't yer average GL.

"Guy Gardner of Earth, Sector 2814," His mouth ain't movin'. Sonofabitch, he's a freaking telepadic. I hate them. He seems annoyed that I interrupted his telepadics with my thinkin'. "It is called telepathy, Guy Gardner. You have shown great valor and the ability to overcome great fear. The Green Lantern Corps has need of your abilities..."

"Jordan's outfit? Thanks but no thanks Blue Jeans, I'm not the joinin' type Now if you'll 'scuse me I got my drunk-on to work on." He grabs me with somma that green hoo-doo of his and suddenly my ring is dead. There ain't nuthin' I can do and I'm in the middle of space... if he makes his bubble disappear I'm dead. I clear my throat. "OK, Blue Jeans, ya got my attention."

"I thought I might. My name is Appa Ali Apsa, Guy Gardner. I am a Guardian of the Universe, and you've just been drafted. Welcome to the resistance."

End of Prologue!

“You Can’t Go Home Again…”

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Coast City, California.

Hal Jordan, Green Lantern of sector 2814 landed gently on the steps before the police station. The large green bubble held aloft behind him contained the unconscious Abel Tarrant, the ‘Tattooed Man’.

A few years ago, Tarrant, a lunatic black magic user, tried to bring about the apocalypse with a pretty wicked spell and a stone-totem embedded just beneath the skin of his neck that gave him the ability to manifest his tattoos*. It was Hal’s first real fight with some training under his belt… And he defeated Tarrants’ tattoo constructs, destroyed the stone-totem and stopped the spell before Trigon the Terrible could enter our dimension.

(*Tales of the GLC #6)

How Tarrant was able to escape Blackgate prison and reacquire his abilities was a bit puzzling. There was no totem, no spell to bring about the end of the world… just creepy little tattooed Tarrant trying to rob a bank.

It was Hal’s first repeat offender, not counting Sinestro, and frankly, he was a bit let down.

“Sergeant Delgadillo.” Hal greeted the officer behind the booking desk.

“Lantern,” the Sergeant nodded, “who do you have for us today?”

“This is Mr. Abel Tarrant: the nefarious Tattooed Man.” Hal said a bit more mockingly than he intended.

Delgadillo looked the unconscious criminal up and down inside the green bubble he was floating inside. “Is he out cold in there?”

“Yeah… he resisted arrest,” Hal replied. “Actually, we may have a problem. I can’t seem to find a source for his power this time around. As soon as he comes to he’s going to make with the big serpents and spiders again.”

“Well, with all of the big nasties you’ve been bringing us, Captain Nichols had some new containment cells put in that should hold him until he can be transferred back to Blackgate.”

“Excellent, he’s all…” Hal’s ring suddenly flashed a warning. One that had not happened in quite a while… Kyle Rayner, the living embodiment of the Oan Power Battery known as Ionwas in danger!

“… And with Diana how she is now... After losing Hippolytus*, I don't think it's right that I leave her for a while. She won't admit it, but... Well. She's proud, Kyle."

(*Wonder Woman #26)

"Sister like sister then, Donna?" Kyle Rayner smiled as Donna Troy and he walked the street. There was bustling activity every way around them, but they ducked into an alley, and continued to talk. "It's fine. You got see her, stay with her however long you need to. I'm not going anywhere, am I? And if you need me, call me." He ran his fingers down her cheek. "I'll be there in a heartbeat."

She kissed him gently on the lips, and then moved away from him, her forehead leaning against his. "I don't deserve you."

"Says the immortal Amazon princess to the unemployed artist wannabe." He kissed her again, and then climbed onto his motorbike, parked on the side of the road. "Call me though, Donna. If you need anything, call me."

She waved at him, as she began to lift up into the air under the cover of an alley. "You know I will."

He was happy. Happier than he had been for a long time. Everything was going so well! As soon as he thought that, he wanted to hit himself in the head. He was a superhero now, and any moment of perfection would have to be punctuated with some tragedy. He knew the rules, unwritten as they were. He laughed to himself, and continued to flit through the traffic. He knew buying the motorbike was a good investment, and right now--

"Hhh." His stomach churned as a feeling of vertigo gripped him from the chest out. He had felt this a few times before, whenever the power inside of him sensed danger, and it was not a feeling he enjoyed nor welcomed. "You had to tempt fate, didn't you, Rayner?"

He fought back the feeling of nausea to look over his shoulder. A large glowing yellow chopper wove soundlessly through the mid-afternoon traffic.

He knew he had to get off the road quickly to avoid any innocent getting in the way of the fight he knew was coming. He gunned the throttle and zoomed through the nearest off ramp. The nausea was beginning to subside as he pulled into the deserted shipyard. He hit the brakes sending the motorcycle into a slide, allowing the power of Ion to fully engulf him.

The yellow chopper pulled up beside his waiting frame. The man driving was wearing a tattered old leather jacket, old well-worn camouflage pants, large combat boots and a pair of mirror shades. His hair had a military cut, though it was apparently growing out.

“Are you Kyle Rayner?” he asked with a thick accent… he sounded like Arnold Schwarzenegger.

“…Yeah…” Kyle hesitated at first, how did this guy know his name?

The rider held his hand out, keeping a stoic look on his ugly face as he spoke.

“Come vith me if you vant to live.”

“Huh?”

The man's stoic façade shattered, and he laughed long and loud. “Oh, God, sorry kid, I’ve always wanted to say that.” he turned his open hand into one offering a handshake. “The name's Gardner, Guy Garrrr…..”

In a flash of green, the guy was snatched off of his chopper and into the sky. "GARDNER!"

The feeling of a bare fist slammed into Guy’s gut as he tried to regain his wits, knocking the wind out of him. Before he could recover, another knocked him across the jaw. He needed to get a bit of distance between him and his attacker… fast.

He kicked out with both legs, breaking away and gaining a bit of distance before another blow could find its mark.

“Today’s just full of surprises.” came a familiar voice.

“Jordan?” Guy stiffened as he asked.

Another swing came at Guys head in response, which he quickly evaded keeping the distance he’d acquired.

“Honestly, I didn’t think you’d have the balls to come back here after our last match*.” Jordan growled.

(*Tales of the GLC #8)

“Trust me Highball, this was not my idea.” Guy replied as he ducked another fist only to get hit with an energy beam. “If this is the way you wanna play it though… game on, chump!” Guy threw himself at Jordan, slamming head & shoulder first into his gut, followed with a quick uppercut to his jaw.

Hal, now on the defensive, created a net ensnaring Guy.

“Think this can hold me? I got the yellow power, pal!” Guy struggled to break free, but couldn’t budge. “Hey, what gives?”

“No weakness to yellow… chump.” Jordan replied just before conjuring a green boxing glove and slamming it into Gardner.

Guy shot through the air splashing into the bay. Hal quickly followed him down, but was knocked back as Guy rocketed back out of the water right at him.

“Not caring jackass!” Guy boasted as his ring began glowing brighter and brighter.

{Energy levels at 70% and falling} Hal’s ring spoke.

“What the Hell?” Hal asked no one in particular just before Guy’s fist slammed into the bridge of his nose.

{Energy levels at 40% and falling}

Before Hal could retaliate, both he and Guy were wrapped up in separate green bubbles.

“Are you two through exerting your inner alpha-male?” Katma Tui asked them both, her energy bubble containing Guy.

“Hey Hal!” Kyle said, his energy bubble holding Hal.

Gardner wordlessly passed Katma after five minutes had passed, and Hal smiled a reply as Katma looked at him in confusion. "What did he say?" she asked Guy, as the door began to close.

"Nothin'." He looked at his ring, and then back at Katma. "I'll be in my bunk."

The repulsor-lift whined loudly as the craft lifted off of the plateau, blowing sand and stone into the air. The deep grumble of the crafts main engine vibrated through the ground beneath Hal’s feet. Suddenly with a burst of heat and light the ship shot forward and up into the atmosphere. "God speed," whispered the Green Lantern of Earth.