#50: SCARLET REIGN (DC2 ANNIVERSARY ISSUE)

Green and red sparks flew as the sword constructs generated by Atrocitus and Hal Jordan clashed in the space above Oa. The two combatants screamed at each other as they fought, their will and their rage focused razor-sharp.

Hal Jordan had just discovered his daughter was alive. He was going to die here, tonight, high above the Citadel of the Guardians.

Atrocitus wanted nothing more than death for all of the Green Lanterns on the planet below, because it was the Corps-- in his eyes-- that allowed all the horror that had inflicted his timeline to come about.

They danced wordlessly in the void, battling as hard as they could. Below them, Red Lantern clashed with Green Lantern, light washing over the surface of the central point in the galaxy.

"Eat it assface." Guy Gardner barrelled into the two combatants, splitting their fight down the middle and sent Atrocitus spinning back toward the land below.

"Was that really necessary, Guy?" asked Hal as he rubbed his wrist.

"Made me feel better," said Guy. "Creep threw me for a loop back there."

"Okay, then we play it like this. Like we were trained. Together."

"You forget, kemosabe," said Guy, grinning. "I was never trained."

Guy shot down toward Oa and Hal groaned, then followed immediately.

Below, Atrocitus clawed himself up out of the crater his impact had formed, and looked around the battlefield. <How. Dare. They.>

"With a smile." Guy shoulder-barged Atrocitus back down into the hole, and laughed manically. "Jesus CHRIST, it's good to be me."

"Don't get cocky, kid," said Hal, batting Atrocitus' hand down before it could grasp Guy around the neck.

<How can you joke at a time like this?>

Guy looked at Hal and shrugged, then the two men aimed their rings at Atrocitus' chest. They blasted in unison, but before the energy could impact the Red Lantern belched forth a vomit of scarlet fire that displaced the beams.

<It will never be that easy,> said Atrocitus.

Hal punched Atrocitus in the face, boosted by the ring's energy.

"Says you," said Hal.

<Ha. Ha. Ha. HA. HA>

Hal and Guy froze and took a step back from Atrocitus, readying themselves for another attack as the same haunting voice from space emerged from nowhere down on Oa itself.

Atrocitus' eyes widened, confused at what he was experiencing.
<Again? Parallax, why do you insist on placing yourself in this fight? I want Hal Jordan's head. Not yours.>

The leader of the Red Lantern Corps pulled himself up off the charred Oan soil, and looked around as the battle raged all around.

<You are the herald of your own destruction, Red Lantern,> said the voice, <So single-minded, so very focused on the task at hand, you made this so simple.>

Hal was jerked back as a clawed hand grabbed him by the scruff of the neck, and pulled him out of reality. There was a pop then the Green Lantern was gone.

"Highball," said Gardner in surprise.

<Hal Jordan isn't available right now.>

A yellow construct formed in front of Atrocitus and Guy Gardner, taking the form of a portal in space.

Beyond the edges of the brightly coloured monitor, a space sector was clearly visible, swirls of light and space dust moving across the canvas of the universe.

But the lights that should have been pinpricks-- if they were stars, that is-- were not stationary. The lights were moving. Amber, infernal lights descended upon the star sector.

<What is this?> said Atrocitus.

The pale, yellow-skinned monster known as Parallax floated in front of the construct, grinning with razor-sharp, insectile teeth. He wore golden battle armour highlighted with black, and a cape swirled behind him. If not for his horrific visage he would look almost regal.

<I know your true name, Atrocitus. Or should I call you Atros?>

Atrocitus' eyes opened widely. <How--?>

<I AM PARALLAX,> screamed the armoured horror beyond the construct. <I AM HATE AND I AM FEAR AND I AM COSMIC DESTRUCTION AND YOU STIRRED ME, ATROS OF RYUT> Parallax reeled his head back, and began to laugh. <So this, this is your fault.>

There was no sound. The amber lights began to grow, and take up more and more space in the sector, and Atrocitus' eyes widened as he realised what Parallax had done.

Atrocitus stared blankly at the construct. <My home world.>

"Oh, man," said Gardner, the pieces falling into place.

<Space Sector 666, turned to cosmic dust in one aching moment,> continued Parallax. <Because you made the universe doubt my name and my resolve.>

The space sector went white as a silent explosion ravaged every square inch of an entire region of the universe. Bathed in that light, Parallax vanished for a moment--

--Then he thrust his head through the construct and laughed, the destructive force behind him whipped at his cape and the few strands of ragged hair on his head.

"I almost forgot," Parallax chuckled, "this piece of meat was cowering over the bodies of his wife and children after I had my way with them. You might know what to do with him."

Parallax threw a scarlet figure through the portal and then moved back just as Atrocitus jerked forward, clawed hands outstretched, his ring screaming.

<The universe will burn,> said Parallax, <I promise you that.>

The construct closed with a snap. The scarlet figure at Atrocitus' feet looked up desperately. The Red Lantern screamed with anger.

"Muh my children. Muh my wife." said the scarlet figure, as he wept into his open palms.

"Good god," said Guy Gardner.

The man knelt in front of Atrocitus was Atrocitus.


Even with Atrocitus taken away from the battlefield by the actions of Guy and Hal, the Red Lanterns still rained their unholy fury down upon the planet below. The Green Lanterns, running on the fumes in their rings and the short charges in their portable batteries, played defence, unable to fully withstand the fiery bolts of crimson energy that fired from their enemies.

Emerald force fields bubbled and popped as the Red Lantern’s caustic energies struck them.

Salaak zipped between buildings with a cadre of Lanterns and Sapphires, evading fire and attempted to lure the mass of Red Lanterns away from the initial area of impact, currently littered with wounded and dead.

“What do we do?” asked a young Lantern, one Salaak did not recognise.

Salaak was, for all intents and purposes, a politician, elected to his position, and not a general. He had only his wits, will and thoughts to keep him above the rising waters of this horrible situation.

Before Salaak could answer, a shrieking blade of energy turned the questioning Lantern into crimson mist, right before his eyes.

The emerald ring fell to the ground with him, nothing guiding it to a new, worthy bearer.

Salaak blinked, the fog of blood covering his face. “What--”

Salaak turned and saw four Red Lanterns blaze toward them, and raised his ring in defiance.

One blast sent the largest of the Red Lanterns reeling-- a bullish, nine-foot tall creature, with an open wound for a face-- and a second blast blew the Lantern’s arm off his body.

The lead Red Lantern, a pale-skinned thing with bone wings across her back, howled, and made a bee-line straight for Salaak.

<Killer.>

Salaak said nothing. Instead he set a construct under the Red Lantern’s chin, slammed her mouth shut before a torrent of burning, liquid energy could bubble up from her throat. She screamed, caught by surprise, her chin boiling with the scorching serum.

“You have gone too far,” said Salaak. He grabbed the woman by the ankle and slammed her into ground.

The Green Lanterns with him engaged the Red Lanterns, while the Star Sapphires headed for the wounded down below, ready to sacrifice their own lives to heal those fallen.

“You have gone too far,” said Salaak. He was angry. Angrier than he had ever been. “You have killed my Corps. You have slaughtered them when they have done nothing to you.”

<We have come far to see you die,> said the Red Lantern.

“Why?” said Salaak. “I do not even know who you are. You do not know me. You have come so far on a fool’s crusade.”

<Oh, I know you,> said the Red Lantern. <I am Bleez. I was a princess. Horrors came to my world, slaughtered my people, stripped me of my glory and then my wings. Do you know who led those horrors? Who their general was?>

Salaak had been too concerned with Bleez’s mouth, and not her eyes. With a blink from the bone-winged Red Lantern, Salaak took an energy blast to the torso, blistering his uniform and skin, the latter worse than the former. He took a step back, tried to breathe, but find himself unable to find air.

Bleez rose up, her eyes bubbling with crimson light. <It was you, Salaak. At the command of Hal Jordan-- Parallax-- you came to my home. You snarled and snapped as your comrades tortured my family. Me.>

“That… was not… me…” said Salaak.

<But it will be,> said Bleez. <So I will end the threat you pose to my people, and then Atrocitus will end the threat Hal Jordan poses to the entirety of the universe.>

“I honestly doubt that.”

Arisia landed hard on Bleez’s back, between her wing blades. Before the Red Lantern could twist up and attack her, Arisia was already gone, leaping toward Salaak’s side.

“Sorry for ducking out earlier, had an errand to run.”

“I think I can find it in my hearts to forgive you,” said Salaak.

The two of them turned their attention to Bleez and blasted her backwards, through one of the fallen buildings nearby.

Salaak pulled himself up, and checked his ring.

<Charge at 34%>

“It will do,” said Salaak. He placed a hand on Arisia’s shoulder. “You have been fraternising with the human Lanterns for too long. Last minute rescues are their forte.”

Arisia smiled. “What can I say? Guy is a bad influence.”

Bleez emerged from the rubble, energy bubbling from her eyes and mouth. <We. Shall. Kill. You. All.>

“I am considering retirement,” said Salaak. He levelled his ring at Bleez, and the gathering Red Lanterns that were landing behind her. “My brother-in-law owns a small planetoid. Mostly water. I might take up fishing.”

“I didn’t realise you had a sister,” said Arisia. She gripped her wrist, and bubbles of light formed across her ring.

“I have three brothers,” said Salaak. “So. Arisia Rrab. To die here, today? I think not. But if it were to come to pass? I could not be prouder to stand beside you in my final moments.”

“I don’t plan on dying here today,” said Arisia. “I’ve got way too much to live for.”

And with that, the two Green Lanterns charged toward their enemies.


"Jesus Christ."

Hal Jordan spun out of control, and watched the golden portal he had been snatched through swirl away from him.

The Green Lantern paused for thought, his momentum halted, and he came to a stop in the middle of dead space.

"Where am I?"

A quiet, eerie whistling floated through the void. Hal looked around, trying to figure out where it was coming from. His ring was prepped. He ran a finger absentmindedly over the cracked surface, bubbles of light billowing upwards from his hand.

"Who's there?"

The whistling became clear. It was a nursery rhyme.

"'Pop Goes the Weasel' is a nursery rhyme," said an otherworldly voice. "It has a Roud Folk Song Index number of 5249. Imagine that. Imagine how many nursery rhymes you’ve never heard. How many your daughter will never hear after I’m done with her."

Hal said nothing. He reinforced his aura. He prepared for anything. His ring sent a trail of light back toward the portal that had dragged him to wherever.

"The jack-in-the-box often plays the melody before--"

An explosive fist of vermilion fire slammed into Hal's jaw, sending the Green Lantern back.

"--Jack makes his appearance."

The red-haired man grinned as he flickered into view against the black canvas of space. He wore a long, black coat, but his skin was on fire, amber light crackling audibly, even across the void of space.

"Alex Nero."

"Half a pound of tuppenny rice, half a pound of treacle," sang Alex. He swayed from side to side, his eyes rolled up into the back of his head as the melody played out before him. "That’s the way the money goes--"

Fiery constructs formed at Nero's hands, brutal blades that flickered and stretched out from his fingers.

"Pop goes the weasel."

Hal followed suit, two swords, clear and precise, glowing emerald.

"I don't have time for this," said Hal.

"You'll make the time, Hal," said Alex. "I'm the knight of my lord Parallax. After the beating we gave you while his golden light flowed through me, I would have thought you'd have remembered me."

"When Parallax wore you like a nice new coat? You weren’t that memorable, Alex. I’ve had bigger worries since," said Hal.

Alex pouted. "I bet Kyle Rayner remembers me. And if he doesn't, I'll cut my memory into his skin, then he'll never forget."

Nero’s madness confounded Hal, and he knew that there would be no negotiation here. You cannot talk someone down from madness. Hal had come so far and he needed to get back to Oa, he needed to get back to the battle, and after all of that, he needed to get back to his daughter.

Hal tapped his ring. "Do you know what this can do?"

"Mine can burn. Mine can cut. Mine can fight. Mine can fu--"

Hal cut Nero's new rhyme short and sent out a howling, mercurial light from his chest that swirled across the distance separating Nero and himself in an eye blink.

Alex spun backward, and Jordan darted toward the closing golden portal that he had been pulled through by Parallax.

Nero collected himself, and sent barbed lines of light out to catch Jordan, but when they struck the Lantern's leg, Hal blurred emerald, then vanished.

"Where'd you go?"

Hal became visible again and grabbed Nero by the head.

Without hesitating he wrenched it to the side, breaking the young man's neck.

Job done, he shot back toward the portal, and back to-- he hoped-- Oa.


There was an almighty explosion, and a blistering, emerald construct slammed down atop the dozen or so Red Lanterns assembled against Arisia and Salaak.

Tomar Re dove down, joined the duo, and watched as the Red Lanterns dragged themselves from the rubble.

“I did not want to miss the opportunity to record a new chapter in the Book of Oa first hand,” said Tomar. “Have I missed anything of import?”

“Not much,” said Arisia. “We were just about to do something crazy.”

“The human Lanterns are a bad influence,” said Tomar.

“I said the very same thing,” said Salaak. “Here we stand, facing down death itself, and all we can do is make jokes. How utterly maddening.”

“I thought they were pre-loaded into the ring?” said Arisia.

Salaak laughed slowly, even as the Red Lanterns began to approach them. They were marching, an almighty crimson force, and they were soon joined by an airborne group, ready to rain down their rage upon the three of them.

“We need back-up,” said Tomar. A pair of emerald binoculars appeared before his eyes. “Seventy-two Red Lanterns bearing down on us.”

“The rest of their force must be spread across Oa. We have lost so much today,” said Salaak. “No more.” He put his ring to his lips and whispered something, then thrust his ring-wielding hand up into the air. A massive emerald flare shot up, scattering across the sky.

”DRIVE THEM OFF OF OA. TAKE BACK WHAT IS OURS.”


<NO>

Atrocitus was shocked by the sight that had just unfolded before him. His present day self, dragged from the fires that ravaged his home sector. The last of his kind.

Gardner clenched his fists together, not knowing what to do. "What the hell is this? Where's Jordan?"

</// unable to comply with request /// connection to-->

"Shut up," said Gardner, his ring going quiet immediately.

Gardner enveloped Atros in a sphere of energy and sent him up into the sky, away from the battle.

<This timeline is corrupted. Too much damage. There is, what is,> Atrocitus realised that the present-day version of himself had been removed from the fight and immediately turned to face Gardner. <Return him to me.>

"I think not," said Gardner. "You're the bad guy, and I'm going to mess you up. No other way to do this."

<You're too proud to sit down and die, aren't you?> said Atrocitus, his throat gargling with dregs of crimson energy.

"We're the Green Lantern Corps, Atrocitus. We don't just lie down and take the shit you bastards throw at us."

<Then this battle is not for us to pursue.>

"That's what I've been saying all night," said Guy.

<I shall detonate our Central Power Battery. You will all die.>

"Wait, what? No, that's not what--"

The skies darkened.

Guy looked up, and a crimson shape began to blot out the Sun.

Flanked by a cadre of Red Lanterns, their Central Power Battery was descending. Thick, scarlet tendrils lashed down at them from the base, barbs sprouting as it got closer to the ground.

<It wants to be here, Guy Gardner. It wants to meet you all.>

"Aww, no."

Guy kicked Atrocitus in the face and shot up, his ring sparking up and pushing up against the base of the Power Battery.

The Green Lanterns that fought the invading Red Lanterns were caught up in their own skirmishes, he was by himself, and even he didn't think he could fight back against the immensity of the Battery. He screamed, his ring strained, fighting to funnel his will up against it.

"I-- I--" More energy spilled forward as he fought. Maybe he could-- maybe he could make this work--

Atrocitus grabbed Guy by the ankle and threw him toward the ground. Smoke and ash flew upwards. The tendrils dug into the ground and drilled into the mantle of Oa, grinding deep into the ground and then splitting out, around, over, making it so that it could never be removed from where it landed.

The Red Lantern Corps' Central Power Battery was now on Oa.

<Nothing can stop us now, Guy Gardner,> growled Atrocitus, half-formed words emerging from his lips as his ring filled in the rest. <Our Central Power Battery will detonate, releasing our Guardian and giving it free reign across Oa, taking the remnants of the Green Lantern Corps with it.> He laughed, low and full of gravel, looking up at the scarlet sky. <This is how it should have always ended.>

"No," said Gardner.

He grabbed Atrocitus by the throat, his strength ramped up by his power ring, and lifted the battered leader of the Red Lantern Corps to his feet. He drew his hand back and a razor sharp construct formed across his forearm. He drove the blade into Atrocitus' chest, the emerald tip splitting straight through the leader of the Red Lantern Corps.

<Thank you,> came the voice from Atrocitus' ring, as it slipped off his finger, the heart of the Red Lantern destroyed by Gardner's attack.

The scarlet ring flew off of Atrocitus' finger, and headed straight for the emerald construct holding his younger self. The bubble popped, the ring found the younger Atrocitus' finger, and slipped on. It was home.

<YOU HAVE GREAT RAGE IN YOUR HEART>

"Yes," growled Atrocitus, blood bubbling up from his throat. "yyyyrrghhhhh"

<THE RED LANTERN CORPS DEMANDS IT>

Atrocitus screamed as his blood was expelled from his body. It scorched his lips, burning them away, flecks of the toxic, fiery blood caught his nose and it burnt away, his teeth became blackened and sharp, his skin covered in scars.

The ring did its job the only way it could-- violently, painfully, and the Atrocitus of this time period was baptised in the crimson fire.

<Yes.>

Atrocitus was on his knees, blood frothing from his mouth, but even now his scarlet and black armour formed over his body. The ring pumped his veins full of life-giving crimson energy. He looked up at Guy Gardner.

<Gardner, it will never be that easy.>

"Atrocitus?" Gardner raised his ring, ready to fire.

<The ring contains my rage and my unbridled thirst for vengeance. I believed Parallax the cause of all wrong-doing in this galaxy and I am right. The Green Lantern Corps is the cause of Parallax's creation, be it Hal Jordan's or this, this monster who destroyed my home sector. I will have my vengeance.>

"It doesn't have to be this way," said Gardner.

<Said the man who killed me,> said Atrocitus, as he floated up into the sky.

<OUR WORK HERE IS DONE,> his ring bellowed, <THE CENTRAL POWER BATTERY WILL DETONATE RELEASING OUR BLOOD RED GUARDIAN AND THE GREEN LANTERN CORPS AND THEIR STAR SAPPHIRE ALLIES WILL DIE IN AN INFERNO THAT WILL BURN THEIR TAINT AWAY FROM THE GALAXY.>

The Red Lanterns ascended, leaving the Green Lantern Corps side-by-side with the Star Sapphire Corps, battered and damaged, the Red Lantern Central Power Battery radiating crimson light across the surface of Oa.

"They're retreating?" John Stewart wiped the blood from his forehead as he approached Guy Gardner, who stared up at the sky where Atrocitus had just vanished. "Good lord, Gardner."

"What?"

Stewart was now beside Gardner, crouching down and examined Atrocitus' body. "You did a number on this bastard."

"Yeah, but what good did it do?" said Gardner.

"You took down the leader of the Red Lantern Corps, that's got to count for something," said Stewart.

"He died, sure, but then he came back," said Gardner. "God damn time travel, this shit drives me mad."

"Fill me in when we survive the day," said Stewart, turning toward the Red Central Power Battery. "What are we going to do about that?"

"That's a new landmark, I have to say," said Hal, zipping back toward his comrades from up above. "Jesus, you managed to kill Atrocitus?"

"Yeah, but it didn't take," said Gardner. "Glad to see you're not dead."

"You too," said Jordan. He looked up at the Red Lantern Central Power Battery. "Is that what I think it is?"

"Yeah," said Guy. "Pretty god damn bad."

Hal lifted up off the ground and approached the surface of the Battery, his ring throwing up sensor arrays as he went. John and Guy followed immediately.

"We've got to get this off our turf."

"Y'think?" said Gardner.

"How many actives Lanterns do we have?"

John's ring sparked up as he scanned Oa for active ring signatures. "Three hundred seventy two energy signatures within range of my ring."

"There were seventy two hundred across the universe before this week began, and now this," said Guy. "Let's get started." Guy threw a chain around the Battery, and looked at Stewart. "What are you waiting for, Johnny?"

Stewart nodded and threw his own chain around the Battery. Hal said nothing, but threw his own willpower into the effort. Three Green Lanterns prepared to lift a Battery from the surface of a world. They strained against the weight, and began to pull with all their might.

"Pull," said Jordan. "Pull, dammit."

"This. Isn't. Gonna. Work," said Gardner. His muscles strained, he grit his teeth, but the Battery didn't budge, even as Stewart and Jordan assisted him. "We're gonna need back-up."

"You're not alone," said Salaak, as a phalanx of Green Lanterns flocked to the Red Central Power Battery. "No Green Lantern need ever stand alone."

Chains and ropes of emerald energy lashed around the Battery as dozens upon dozens of Green Lanterns united, throwing their rings into the task. The crooked barbs of the Battery lashed it firmly into the Oan earth.

"I'm not dying here," said Hal. "I'm not dying."

"Then let's put our backs into it," said Stewart. "You remember this one, Jordan? In Brightest Day--"

Jordan felt the words wash over him. "--In Blackest Night--"

The Green Lantern Corps doubled down

"No Evil Shall Escape Our Sight--
Let Those Who Worship Evil's Might--
BEWARE OUR POWER--
GREEN LANTERN'S LIGHT"

There were screams and shouts, roars of exertion, but when the flaring light of their oath faded, John Stewart couldn't believe his eyes.

The Red Lantern's Central Power Battery hadn't moved an inch.

"What now?" asked Hal.

"For hearts long lost and full of fright--"

Jordan down at the base of the Battery and saw violet energy swirl around and harden, crystalline constructs forming and linking to the rings of the Star Sapphires who had flocked to the Green Lantern Corp's aid.

"For those alone in blackest night--"

The Battery creaked, and the Green Lantern Corps redoubled their attempts.

"Accept our ring and join our fight--"

Jela Karom led the Star Sapphire's in their chant, and just as their oath reached its crescendo--

"Love conquers all-- with violet light--"

The Red Lantern Central Power Battery roared and the combined might of the two Corps were able to lever it up from the ground.

“What in God’s name is that?” John was closer to the ground than the others. He peered beneath the shadow of the battery and was horrified by what his eyes fell upon.

“What’s going on, John?” said Hal.

“Get down here.”

Hal swooped down, followed by Guy, as the rest of the Corps continued their efforts.

Thousands of crimson chains and barbs were buried deep into the flesh of Oa, refusing to release their hold on the planet.

Guy didn’t know what to make of the sight. “What is that?”

“Whatever it is, hey, look--” John pointed toward the base of the battery as more and more chains began to form and shoot down into the planet below.

Even as the combined Corps were wrenching it from the surface, the battery was doubling down its own efforts to remain situated, ensuring it was harder than ever to lift it from Oa.

“I don’t understand,” said John. “How is that possible?”

“Atrocitus was never going to--”

Hal reeled back as one of the chains sprang loose from its moorings and shot toward him. He dodged the whip-like motion but was shocked to see the chain stretch and grow more barbs-- then come straight back for him.

“Typical, typical, typical,” said Hal. He generated up a force field and sparks flew when the hooks on the ends of the chains impacted. More and more of the chains began to release their grip on the planet and head toward the Corps.

“Stewart, we need to run defense,” said Guy. “Protect the Corps while they do what needs doing.”

“Whatever it takes,” said John.

The two Green Lanterns flew between the chains and the erected a shield construct. The chains slashed and criss-crossed against the surface of the construct, sending shudders through the two men.

“We aren’t going to be able to maintain this,” said John. He could feel his bones vibrating.

“That’s quitting talk,” said Guy. He was gritting his teeth, sweat drenching his face. “But you ain’t far off.”

Below them Hal was zipping out of reach of the chains, trying to come up with a solution.

“Pulling isn’t working,” said Hal. “We need to think bigger, c’mon Jordan, c’mon, think.”

Hal didn’t see the chain coming, but it struck him hard in the back and sent him sprawling toward the ground. He cried out in agony as the hook began to grow barbs, sending tiny blades of hard, crimson energy into his flesh.

“Oh God, oh, Jesus,” Hal tried to get a grip on the hook but it was just out of reach in his back. His mind was fuzzy with the pain generated by the construct inside him, making his ring dead weight on his finger. “No, no, not like this, not now.”

BABUM

“What, what,” Hal’s fingers spread across the ground. He was trying to gain traction, trying to fight back against the pain, but with every movement the agony multiplied.

“Hal’s in trouble,” said Guy. “I gotta--”

The Corps were still pulling, but in retaliation the chains were attacking, striking against the construct Guy and John had generated.

“We can’t,” said John. “We have to keep them safe.”

Guy looked down at Hal. “Dammit Highball.”

BABUM

“What is that,” said Hal. “That, that sound.” He wasn’t talking to anyone but himself. He coughed and could taste blood.

”Your darkest days.”

“What, what,” said Hal. His vision was going blurry. "Chloe, I can't, I don't."

“Jordan is in trouble,” said Salaak. He floated amongst the Green Lanterns and Star Sapphires still alive, all their efforts put into separating the Red Power Battery from the surface of Oa. It was getting harder and harder to pull and the battery now hovered a hundred metres or so in the air, the chains having created a dense column, like roots, that refused to give.

”Your blackest nights.”

“Salaak, there’s nothing we can do, the Battery, something’s happening,” said Shorm.

“Never say that,” said Salaak. “We have lost too many this day, no more. No more.”

Salaak shot down, below the construct Guy and John had put up, and was at Hal’s side.

Hal’s costume was in tatters, the emerald fabric now scarlet at the corrupting touch of the battery’s chains. Salaak wrenched the barbs out of Jordan’s back and the human screamed as Salaak went immediately to work repairing the damage. The barbs rested on the ground for a second, before beginning to twitch.

“I am getting you out of here,” said Salaak. “Hold on.”

“Salaak, no, you don’t under,” Hal tried to project a construct that would surround them but his ring dribbled ineffectually. He could see movement out the corner of his eye. “Salaak, run, fly, go.”

“Jordan--” The barbs whipped at Salaak and he growled, unable to hold his tongue. Nnaaagghh. What, in, no, no.”

”All your hopes. All your futures.”

Jordan could see it in his eyes. “You hear it,” said Hal. “You can hear it.”

”Mine to twist. Mine to take.”

Up above them, the two human Lanterns watched their comrades suffer. Guy couldn’t take it anymore. “We need to help them--”

“Hold the fort,” said John. “Friendlies under fire? That’s my speciality.”

“Go get ‘em, High an' Tight,” said Guy.

John broke off from the construct, Guy picking up the slack and feeling the immense pressure falling on his shoulders immediately. “I, I got this.”

”Lie down and die choking on your own blood.”

Hal was trying to pull himself up, but his back was in agony, his every thought fire.

“Salaak, we need, we need to warn them,” said Hal. "The, the bastards."

“It is, it is trying to come, to come out,” said Salaak.

“Keep your heads down,” said John. He sliced the chains that dug into Salaak and erected a dome around the three of them. “Heads down and wits about you, we’ll make it through this.”

“John, that thing, that battery, there’s something inside there,” said Hal. He was desperate for breath, unable to fully fill his lungs with oxygen.

“Look,” said Salaak. He pointed toward the front of the battery, as two small points began to push up against the flat surface of the opening section. He was still shaking from the trauma he had experienced when the barb struck him. “The final revenge of Atrocitus.”

“What is that?” said John.

“The, the Guardian of the Red Lantern Corps,” said Hal.

”More than a Guardian, more than an avatar, more than anything you have ever known.”

Hal grabbed John by the shoulders. “John, John, do you hear that?”

“What?” said John. He steeled his will and the dome construct reverberated, the chains clashing on the exterior of it doing nothing but bouncing off after sparks flew.

“John, dammit, why the hell can’t you hear it? Are you stupid or something?” Hal was gnashing his teeth, anger flushing through his veins. “Why aren’t you--”

John punched Hal hard in the jaw. “Get it together, Jordan.”

“You shouldn’t have done,” Hal rubbed his chin and emerald blades began to form at his hand. “You shouldn’t have done that.”

“Listen to yourself,” said John. “Jordan.”

Hal’s brow furrowed. All he could see was red. All he felt was anger. That wasn’t right. That wasn’t him. He fought the idea. Pushed past it. Tried to calm down and felt the cooling green chill shudder through him.

“The battery,” said Hal, the blades vanishing from his hand, “if the battery explodes we’ll kill each other and then the universe will be overrun by whatever it is that lives in there.”

“It is mocking us,” said Salaak.

"Your will shall falter. Your love will die. Only rage. Only anger remains.”

Above, Arisia shot down beside Guy and backed up the shield construct that was showing signs of weakening. More and more chains flew into the surface of it, sending immense, groaning shudders through their bodies.

“We can do this, we just have to hold on,” said Arisia.

Guy wiped blood from his nostril but paid it no heed. “We can.”

The points forming across the surface of the battery began to take shape. Something was pushing out against the interior of the lantern, trying to get out.

Guy screamed as hundreds of chains shot through the construct he had been generating, Arisia falling as one of the barbs struck the side of her head. The collected Lanterns and Sapphires were exposed, and the barbs struck, sending horrific convulsions through their bodies.

Guy was dazed but woozily darted down to Arisia. He caught her in his arms and began screaming as the chains began targeting him. He blasted at the tips of the scarlet barbs, ensuring their distance from them.

“Figure this out,” said John. He flew back up to where he had been before, this time with a look of determination on his face that made his previous demeanour seem passive. He roared as his ring exploded outwards, severing the chains where his construct met them, and as he sent the construct outward other Lanterns joined him, ensuring that those working to pull the Battery up had protection.

“Our attempts to pull it free are not making any difference,” said Salaak. “We have to come up with a better way.”

A large,terrifying face began to form on the surface of the Red Lantern. Savage and grinning at the same time, razor sharp teeth and looping horns emerging from its forehead, the shape reminded Hal of the devil, and he was convinced that his imagination wasn’t playing tricks on him.

”You know what I am, Hal Jordan..”

As if in response to Salaak’s comment, the Red Central Power Battery flared up and sent out caustic waves of burning, crimson energy that hit the Lanterns hard and scattered the assorted Corps members all over. The chains threw themselves back into the ground, dragging the Lantern back down toward Oa.

Jordan hit the ground hard and grunted as he rolled on his back and watched more and more waves of crimson power flow outward.

"We're not going to budge this thing," he said.

Across the way, Guy tried to stand, but the throbbing bands of energy kept him grounded. He growled, but then fell back, the pain too great to overcome.

"W-what else can we do but try?" said Arisia, crawling to his side as the sky grew darker.

Gardner looked at Arisia and his brow furrowed. "I'm gonna do something stupid, and you, you helped me before, helped me get my head straight after something worked its way in, I just hope," he shook his head, looked at the floor, and then back at Arisia, smiling. "Hell, you only live once." He kissed her, and she moved her hands across his face, pulling him closer. Their lips parted, and he shook his head. "Damn."

Arisia smiled but shook her head. "What are you going to do?"

Guy reached into the dimensional rift that had held his portable Power Battery. He passed the hefty metallic lantern to Arisia, and then withdrew the emerald construct that held three red power batteries. "Something really stupid." He plunged his hand into the construct, grabbed a ring and considered it for a moment.

“Don’t you dare,” said Arisia.

“But what if that’s the only solution? What if the only way to fight rage is with rage?” said Guy.

”Put it on. Wear my amulet. Let me in.”

Arisia reached out and touched Guy’s hand. “There’s always another way.”

The red ring Guy held emitted a high pitched shriek and shattered as sparks of emerald and violent light ran through it when Arisia found his hand.

”No, wear it, put it on, become me.”

“What in--?” said Guy.

Hal crawled over, his every movement agony. “Did you just?”

“Yeah,” said Guy. “And I’ve no clue how.”

“Love and will combined,” said Sapphire Jela Karom. “The light between the two of you was capable of shattering a single ring, a more focused light might do the deed for the Lantern itself.”

“We tried that,” said Hal. “It didn’t take.”

Karom shook her head. “No, not like that. Not separately, I think together we could project the light needed to put an end to this. Will and love combined, as one, a single soul empowering the cause.”

“I think she means we have to add pink colour to our green, Highball,” said Guy. “And them too, some green to their pink.”

“We can’t generate any new rings, the Central Power Battery is dead, so is theirs, how do you suggest we even try?”

Karom opened her arms up and a sphere of violet light began to spin in front of her chest. She was wincing, the pain behind whatever she was doing excruciating, but the light sparkeled and glinted until a single power ring appeared in front of her.

<Arisia Rrab, you have great love in your heart.>

“No way,” said Guy.

”You are only anger and hate, Guy Gardner, do not think you can be anything else but that.”

As it offered itself to Arisia, the ring split in two, and the new arrival floated in front of Guy.

<Guy Gardner, you have great love in your heart.>

“No shitting way,” said Guy. “Me?”

Hal looked up. Even as the waves of crimson light washed over the skies, beads of violet were forming across the dark, Oan skyline. The surviving Star Sapphires were generating rings from their own well of love, and finding Green Lanterns capable of wielding them.

<Hal Jordan-->

“Damn right I do,” said Hal. He held out his left hand and the violent ring slipped onto his finger.

The world became brighter than anything he’d ever experienced. Every one of his sense became heightened, his heart beat loudly in his ears and he felt the blood rush to his face. He nearly toppled over, his knees suddenly weak as the Star Sapphire ring became part of him.

“Wow, this is, this is, wow,” said Hal.

Guy’s emerald costume was now violet. “I feel weird. What is that?”

Arisia was beaming. “Guys, you look great, but we’ve got a job to do.”

Salaak pushed forward, a shield crackling against the waves of scarlet energy being projected by the Red Lantern, shocked by the sight before him. “What is happening?”

“We levelled up,” said Hal.

<Salaak, you have great love in your heart.>

“I do?” said Salaak. His uniform swirled with violet and the leader of the Green Lantern Corps’ eyes flashed. “Oh my.”

"There is nothing left for you to do but split the world open and let me fill the wound with my rage." The face that was pushing out of the Red Lantern Central Power Battery twisted and roared, an ancient, unsettled thing that was trying with all its might to escape the confines of the Lantern. "I have been carried so far by my crimson knight, the scarlet reign begins now. You are pathetic. You are nothing. I am coming."

Guy smirked. “You sound like my last ex-girlfriend.” He leaned toward Hal, who shook his head, amused. “She was a very selfish lover.”

Arisia punched Guy in the shoulder and turned their attention to Salaak.

BABUM

“I have a plan,” said Salaak. He arched his neck toward the sky. “Lantern Stewart.”

John looked down from where he had managed to float up to. He was pushing a construct back against the throbbing waves of crimson light, and behind him, more Lanterns and Sapphires were arriving, sheltered by the wall Stewart had created. They pooled their love and will together and were dug in, protected for the time being.

BABUM

“The ground beneath the Battery, churn it up,” said Salaak. He looked at Hal. “We need to push whatever that thing is back into the Lantern. Give the Corps time to do their part. I have to set the trap, can you--?”

“Let’s go,” said Arisia.

BABUM

The three Lanterns made themselves targets. They blasted at the monstrous figure with their rings, the light combining into a kaleidoscope of violet and emerald shades. The creature roared, the sound of its heart-- if that was what it was-- intensified, and the throbbing waves of energy died down.

They had its attention.

“I know you.”

“I’m the bastard that’s gonna put you down,” said Guy. “So I guess you can see the future, yeah?”

“I live in your heart.”

“Nah, I don’t think you do,” said Guy.

“Of all the victims on this world, in this universe, I live in your heart most of all, Guy Gardner. You could have been my knight in another time.”

“Woop-te-doo,” said Guy.

BABUM

“That thing you’re doing? It’s not working. You don’t intimidate us,” said Hal.

The thing laughed back in Hal’s face.

The Green Lantern’s cheeks blistered as a gust of caustic, fiery air brushed across his skin. He winced, but his shield doubled in thickness on instinct. Not that they were doing anything to project them in the first place.

“In your final moments, I can teach you fear, Hal Jordan.”

The thing grabbed at Hal with a newly formed hand but Guy blasted the limb away, only for a second hand to surge out of the Lantern and swat him away.

It was halfway out now. The thing had wings, thick, leathery wings, and skin as dark as sin, blood red and calloused, scars covered it's flesh. Whatever the thing was, it was old; large, black eyes contained an intelligence that Hal couldn't help but recognise.

"I was born in a realm of red hot rage and hate. Atrocitus found me in his darkest day, fanned the flames and gave me passage to a new reality to burn down. His anger fuels me. His light fortifies my being."

”Yeah? Who gives a damn?”

Guy swung back and pushed his rings as far as they could, violet and emerald light swimming together and punching the thing in the face.

The creature spun around from where it was clawing its way out and glared at Guy, then reached outs its clawed hand and raked at the Green Lantern, catching him in the chest and sending him spinning.

"You are nothing and I am anger made flesh. I am Abaddon," said the creature, flexing it's wings. "God of Rage."

Hal laughed. "Bullshit are you."

“Don’t aggravate the God of Rage, Hal,” said Arisia.

“I try not to buy into delusions,” said Hal. He pointed a finger at Abaddon. “You’re a tin pot monster with a hell of an ego. I put creeps like you down on a daily basis.”

"You dare?" boomed Abaddon, as it doubled in size, as it became bigger than the realm that contained it, its scream popping Hal's ear drums, setting his exposed skin alight. Hal turned away, his ring patched him up, but the pain was real. What was Abaddon's game?

"You bet your ass I do,” said Hal.

Behind them, the combined might of the Green Lantern Corps and the Star Sapphires had dug a massive trench around the Red Lantern Power Battery, the chains snapping and whipping all the while.

John ran defence along with a number of other Lanterns, but the dig was the most important thing. They were so close now, Salaak knew it, and he kept digging, kept churning up the earth until the Lantern creaked and began to topple.

“Now,” said Salaak. With a mighty roar huge constructs began to form beneath the roots the Red Lantern had laid, pushing it upward.

"This has been a revelation," said Hal. "But I'm sick of monsters spouting threats and not delivering. I have fought gods, I'm not scared of you, whatever you are."

"There is still time to learn," said Abaddon.

The creature’s hand twisted, fingers dislocating and spinning. Bones shunted under the skin and knuckles cracked, until a fist full of fingers covered in crimson power rings appeared and levelled itself at the Lanterns and Sapphires up above.

“Aww shit,” said Guy.

“We are so close,” said Salaak. The combined might of the two Corps had lifted the Power Battery, from the foundation, up into the sky. They were dancing in the dark night sky, and now Abaddon was almost ready to unleash itself completely--

But first he fired a torrent of scorching, twisting scarlet energy straight toward the Corps.

Arisia flew upwards and pooled all her strength into a barrier that joined up with John’s efforts. The entire construct was shattered on impact, but the blast from Abaddon was deflected, crimson fireworks raining down on the ground below.

“What do you call that, ya mook?” said Guy.

Abaddon shrieked and another wave of scarlet energy washed out, staggering Hal and Guy.

"You do not even recognise the power in your midst. Your ignorance will be punished, your secrets burned down before you. Love and will leading to nothing but rage and death. This is the end."

The rings on its fingers roared up and another blast flew directly for Arisia.

Without hesitating Guy shot up, pushed Arisia out of the way and took the entirety of the blast.

“No!” screamed Arisia.

Guy seized and convulsed as his skin crackled and his uniform burned. He plummeted to the ground and landed without protection from his ring.

"I am Abaddon. I am Satan. I am the Butcher. I am the thing that waits for you just out of sight. I am the blood red rage that will never die."

More blasts, taking the entirety of the Lanterns with them, sending them spiralling toward the ground. Abaddon was almost free now, and Hal, try as he might, couldn’t push the thing back into the Lantern.

"I am the dark. Welcome me." "We're doomed," said Hal.

"You're such a pessimist."

Hal looked up and saw Kyle Rayner, clad entirely in white.

"I bought help. Looks like it just arrived," said Kyle.

Abaddon was almost out now, a foot about to stretch out from inside the Red Lantern. The thin atmosphere around them crackled as the God of Rage began to assert itself into reality.

"I am rage and I am anger and I--"

Above the planet Oa was a new world, swathed in green and blue, a continent in the shape of the Green Lantern insignia emblazed across its equator.

"And I am Mogo,"said the planet.

Mogo caught the Red Lantern in its own immense gravitational pull, tearing it from the atmosphere of Oa and straight toward Salaak, who was floating in the middle of space behind an immense, artificial black hole. Floating beside him were the Green Lanterns Stel and Katma Tui, their rings sparking and bursting with light as they contributed to the creation of the grand cosmic event.

Salaak smiled. "Mogo, would you be kind enough to do the honour?"

"Goodbye."

Mogo unleashed a terrific blast of energy that, combined with that of both Corps, plunged Abaddon directly into the black hole. Darkness engulfed the monstrous thing as it was pulled back into the Red Lantern, the surface of the immense battery popping as Abaddon was returned to its prison.

The battle was over within seconds. The black hole was silent. The space around its event horizon shimmered crimson, then it was simply an absence of light.

Kyle floated beside Hal, but not for long. Hal shot down toward the surface of Oa, to where Guy had fallen.

Guy was a charred wreck. He gasped for a second as he tried to catch his breath, but the cavity of his chest was empty and before he could say a word his power ring floated up from his finger.

<Ring status report. Green Lantern 2814.2 deceased.>

"Not again," said Hal, tethering his ring to Guy's and refusing to let it fly. "I'm not losing another partner."

"Hal," said Kyle.

"No, we have to do something," said Hal, struggled against the pull of the power ring as it tried desperately to escape Hal's clutches.

“No,” said Arisia. She was quiet. “No, no. Not now. Not after all that.”
"Arisia, I--" She pushed past Hal and fell to her knees beside Guy. "Arisia."

"Shut up," said Arisia, pointing an angry finger at Hal. She shook her head and turned back to look down at Gardner. "Guy, you need to wake up. You need to get up."

"Arisia Rrab," Hal looked up and saw Kelso Noss descend, escorted by a group of Star Sapphires. The leader of the Star Sapphire Corps was weakened, the injury sustained at the claws of the Predator still required healing. The other Sapphires looked decades older than they had previously, a side effect, presumably, of the creation of the new Sapphire rings currently still on the fingers of the Lanterns. "You are capable of sharing a great love."

"He's dead," Arisia was screaming, "after all that, after all we went through--"

“You are capable of sharing a great love,” said Noss, slower this time. Her eyes glinted violet. “So prove it.”

Arisia cried out in shock as the Sapphire ring on her finger began to beat in time with her heart, making a connection directly with soul. Her costume flared from green to violet and back, then it settled, split between the two. "G-Guy--"

"Hey, what have you done, what’s happening?" Hal was about to launch himself toward the Star Sapphires but was held back by Kyle, who was suddenly much stronger than he appeared. "Kyle, what--?"

"Wait," said Kyle. White energy flowed over his costume, and he smiled. "Just wait."

Arisia grabbed Guy's hand and her violet ring sparked, sent a charge through Guy's body. His flesh began to knit back together, his wounds healing. The burns across his body were reversed and his lips grew back. His teeth went from blackened to white, and his chest was filled back in. He jerked up in shock as a final charge was sent from Arisia to him, and then he was breathing in and out, shocked at his sudden situation.

"Ah, ah crap, what just, what just happened?" said Guy.

"Don't talk." Arisia embraced him tightly, and Guy put his arm around her.

Guy stuttered, but stayed silent, only sending a glance at Hal. Jordan nodded, and then turned toward the Star Sapphires. "Thank you."

Noss nodded but then faltered, weakened by her creation of a new Star Sapphire ring. The other Star Sapphires put their arms around her then headed back into space.

<Guy Gardner of Earth.>

<You have the ability to overcome great fear.>

The ring slipped back onto Guy's finger and his uniform was repaired completely. The blood was gone. The scorch marks. He brushed some dirt off his shoulder and smiled.

<Welcome to the Green Lantern Corps.>

"Yeah, ba--" Arisia kissed Guy, interrupting him. He didn't argue.

"How did you manage that save, Kyle?" asked Hal, turning to his old friend. "Last time I saw you, you had just reignited the Central Power Battery. You're back, I see? And Ion again?"

"Not Ion, no," said Kyle. "It's more than that now. I'm more than that."

Hal tilted his head slightly. "What do you mean?"

Kyle breathed in slowly. "When the stars went out I was no longer connected to the Central Power Battery, and it was like, like I was finally opened up to everything I should have been opened up to before. I think, I think my body was changed all those years ago when the Guardians shacked up inside me. I thought I was only able to channel the energy of the Green Lantern Corps, but no. I can project the energy of creation itself."

"Jeez," whispered Hal. "So that's what all that white stuff is?"

"Don't make a white power joke, Hal," said Kyle. He suddenly looked like the twenty-odd year old he actually was. "Please, man."

“Hal, we’re not out of the woods yet,” said John as he looked at his fellow Corpsmen then over to Hal. " We've still got guys in trouble."

“Go,” said Hal. “We’ll mop up here.”

Salaak nodded. “Stel, please, go with Lantern Stewart.”

<Of course,> said Stel.

John led the way and few moments later the two Green Lanterns landed next to the broken portal that led to the secret prison beneath Oa that Stewart had been forced out of by the recently returned Sinestro and Hank Henshaw.

<What is this?> asked Stel, examining the technology.

"Guardians kept a prison down here, and right now we've got two Lanterns on the other side fighting for their lives. We've got to get this thing working again."

<Prison break in progress. Potential hostiles on entry. Understood.>

Stel opened his hand and a cable emerged from his palm. The cable found and connected to an undamaged port, then information began to flow. Odd, weirdly shaped constructs fluctuated out of Stel's ring and began to attach themselves to the outer casing of the portal projector.

"Manhunters and other cosmic terrorists, Stel. Are you ready?"

Stel didn't answer.

There was a buzz. Then a crackle.

And the portal reopened.

<Light 'em up,> said Stel, emulating Guy's voice.

"Hoo-rah," said John, his ring flaring.

The two Green Lanterns, joined by a dozen others who had followed John, entered the dank pit of the prison.

The air was still. There was no sound.

But there was light, emerald light patrolling the walkways, emerald constructs more precisely, of all shapes and sizes, of all the alien races of the universe.

"What are they?"

"Guard constructs," said Sinestro, as he emerged from one of the cells. His uniform was shredded, his face a bruised mess, but he was alive, and he smiled smugly. "The prisoners have returned to their cells. Henshaw will be joining us shortly."

"Thank God," said John. "You bastard, you kicked me out of the fight--"

Sinestro waved away the issue. "For the greater good. Besides, the prisoners know their places now better than before. My ring is currently subsidising the energy needed to maintain the warden constructs that keep the peace here. We will need to move the prisoners to a more secure location. I do not like the idea of having them under our feet."

<Sinestro,> said Stel, surprised at seeing an old friend alive all this time.

"Hello, Stel," said Sinestro. "You've upgraded yourself."

<You were recorded in the Book of Oa as deceased.>

"And here I am, defying the Guardian's labelling," said Sinestro. "There are more important things to discuss. The Red Lantern threat--?"

"They're gone, but they left us a nasty going away present. We dumped it in a black hole. But they're still out there, somewhere. The way they interact with our rings, it's going to be hell figuring out where."

"We shall figure something out. You--" Sinestro pointed at the other Green Lanterns that currently examined the wreckage littering the main courtyard of the underground prison. "Stay here, ensure the warden constructs do not dissipate. Understood? Good." He lifted off, and headed toward the exit. He looked back down at Stewart and Stel. "Are you coming?"

"Am I included in that?" asked Hank Henshaw, as he headed toward them.

"Yes," said Sinestro, and nothing more. He vanished through the portal.

<Hank Henshaw too?> pondered Stel.

"It's a long story," said Hank.

John nodded. "Let's get you topside, Henshaw. You need to get some colour in your cheeks. You've been down here for too long. Let's rectify that." Stewart led the way, and the two Lanterns followed him, leaving the prison behind.


"How are you feeling?" asked Hal as Guy pulled himself up in the medical bed where he'd been the last few hours.

Arisia had excused herself when Hal had entered the room. She could tell the two old friends needed to talk.

"Like I died," said Guy. "This shit always happens to us, doesn't it?"

"Yeah," said Hal. "You done with the Sapphire ring?”

Guy held up his hand, devoid of a secondary ring. “Yeah. There are Star Sapphires that need it more than I do. I see you’ve done the same.”

“I’m Green Lantern Corps, through-and-through. But I see Arisia still has hers?”

“Yeah,” said Guy. “Yeah. An interesting conversation waiting to happen, that.”

Hal nodded. “Always. Anyway, look, I wanted to have a quiet word. Have you checked your ring charge recently?" He tapped the emerald power ring on his own finger.

Guy looked confused. "What? No. Why?"

"Go on," said Hal.

"Ring. Status?"

<Charge at 100%>

Guy was surprised. "I haven't charged my ring since, since a while, shouldn't this be closer to dead? Especially after all that fighting and ring slinging?"

"Mine's the same," said Hal.

Guy scratched the stubble that had been allowed to grow across his chin these past few days. "Huh."

"The charge isn't depleting, but everyone else's," Hal trailed off. "Our rings have always been, been weird though, right?"

"Infected by Legion."

"Your rings do work differently," said Kyle Rayner.

"Jeez, kid. Where'd you come from?" asked Guy.

"Everywhere," said Kyle, coming to a stop between the bed and Hal. "Hal, your ring was infected by Legion. Guy, so was yours. Since then, they pulled energy from the most immense power source available to them."

"And what's that?" asked Hal.

"Well, it was the Central Power Battery," said Kyle. "Then that went out. I'm working on that, by the way. But when it went out, what else was there, but me?"

"What?"

"The links between us are unbreakable," said Kyle and placed his hands on the shoulders of the two taller men. "You pull your charge from me. Torchbearer once more, I guess. That and more. Yours are not the only ones, of course. My time on Earth, there's more to it. There's so much more to it. But Hank, John, their rings too. The ring I made for Sinestro. They will not lose charge like the others."

"Can't you make more rings like that?" asked Guy. "Pass them around?"

Kyle shook his head. "To create a ring takes so much energy, I need to come up with a better solution."

"Kyle, are you okay?" asked Hal. "You've not stopped since you came back. And the way you're talking--"

"All will be revealed soon enough," said Kyle, as he began to phase through the hospital ward wall. "Trust in me."

Kyle vanished.

"That was creepy, right? I'm not just imagining that?" said Hal.

"Nah, you're not," said Guy.


Hank Henshaw stood in the center of a large chamber, surrounded by the ruling council of Green Lanterns. The hearing had been called hastily, even as the Corps continued to catalogue the dead, ready to return their bodies back to their home sectors.

There were things that had to be resolved.

Arisia, Guy (having released himself from the Medical Bay, very much against doctor's orders) Hal, John and Sinestro stood off to the side, invited to watch the proceedings. Katma and Stel were amongst the council members, listening to the testimony provided.

Guy had spoken on behalf of what might have been called the defence, if it could be called that. He explained the experience of being possessed by the Predator entity. How it felt.

Salaak had listened carefully, as had the rest of what was left of the council.

Hal had said nothing throughout the proceedings. And now it came to this.

"If you want the ring back, take it," said Hank. "I did terrible things, I don't deny that. But I knew that--"

"Hank Henshaw," said Salaak, raising his hand. "Your service to the Green Lantern Corps has always been exemplary. It was a dark day when Mongul took your life, and a darker day still when the Predator possessed you. You have the ability to overcome great fear. You are a member of the Green Lantern Corps." He looked around the circle. "Agreed?"

A chorus of voices saying 'Agreed' echoed out.

Hal left the room quietly, noticed only by Kyle.

"We are not Guardians of the Universe. Our former leaders ruled with a black and white sense of right and wrong. We are lucky enough to be tempered by emotion, not just knowledge. Guy Gardner's own testimony allows us to understand the experience you went through."

"I did something terrible," said Hank, slowly.

"Kilowog was killed by the Predator, not by Hank Henshaw," said Katma. "Hank. Good Green Lanterns are in short supply at the moment, we have lost thousands of fellow Corpsmen. Will you wield your ring for the greater good?"

"Thank you," whispered Hank. "Thank you, yes. Thank you so much."

Salaak smiled. "Let the rebuilding begin."

"Good," said Guy, looking at the others. "The poor bastard."

"C'mon, Guy," said Arisia and took his hand. "Let's get out of here."

"Will you guys be all right?" Guy asked John and Sinestro.

"I need to talk to Salaak," said Sinestro. "My role in the Green Lantern Corps is still undecided."

"I'll wait for Henshaw," said John. "He's the reason I'm in the Corps in the first place. He could use a friendly face, I think."

"Yeah, but if Katma Tui comes a-knocking, leave 'em to it. They had something going I think, back before he died. I dunno, she might want to--" Arisia tugged at Guy, shutting him up. "Yeah, well, okay."

The two Green Lanterns exited the Citadel, and floated toward the dead Central Power Battery. Below, a flock of Green Lanterns were praying. Their rings were dead. Empty of charge. They were praying for the Battery to reignite.

Their prayers were going unanswered.

"I think, well, I'm a bit of a mess," said Guy, as he sat on the edge of the towering Battery. Arisia sat beside him, her hand resting on his. "When I wore that Sapphire ring, it all became so clear. I just, get so angry, all the time. And I didn't think it was a problem, y'know? But I get taken over by these things, Legion, the Predator, whatever's running around and causing trouble at the time. And it's always me."

"So what if you're a mess?" asked Arisia. "You do what's right. Always."

"Not always," said Guy. "Not when I can't control my own body."

"That's done now, that's in the past. The future is about you. And maybe me. Maybe I can help you? I don't know," she blushed and touched her cheek as she turned away. "I want you to be happy."

"You're still wearing that Star Sapphire ring?" asked Guy, pointing to Arisia's hand as it left her face.

"Yes," said Arisia. "For one, it helped bring you back to life, and secondly, well, Salaak wants me to act as ambassador between the two Corps. There’s a group of GLs who now have two rings, and Salaak wants to see what we can do with it all. Both Green Lantern and Star Sapphire. I'm capable of great love and overcoming fear. I'm pretty badass."

"Wow," said Guy, looking up to the stars. "To think we nearly lost all this. And now we're masters of diplomacy. And 'pretty badass', to boot."

"C'mon, Guy. I'm the master of diplomacy. You're the bull in the china shop."

Gardner laughed. "You really need to stop hanging 'round with me."

"Your lexicon fascinates me," said Arisia. "But Guy." She brushed her hand against his face. "Guy." He turned to face her, and didn't say a word. "You're a Green Lantern. We face the end of the world every day, across 3600 sectors of space. Today, we nearly lost everything. But we survived. And I'm taking that as a hint from the powers-that-be, whoever they are, that we need to hold onto every moment like there's no tomorrow, because one day, there just won't be."

"Let's save the universe tomorrow. But tonight?" Guy leaned in to kiss Arisia and she put a finger to his lips, halting him a breath away from her.

"Tonight I think we can spend our time more productively." She smiled and took his hand, and the two of them flew toward the residential sector of Oa.


Hank was sat in the apartment they had arranged for him on Oa. His ring was sat on the table in front of him. He looked at it, contemplating what it all meant. He'd been underground for a year. His memory of the Predator's actions hazy, but still his. Hank wondered what it all meant, and what came next.

"So."

Hank turned, and saw Hal standing at the door.

"So." Henshaw nodded. He returned his gaze to the ring, turning his back on Jordan. "It's been a long night. Looks like the sun is finally rising though."

Hal walked slowly from the door to the seats, and stood behind Hank. He powered down his aura, and his uniform disappeared, leaving him in his father's jacket and his civilian clothes. The two of them were alone, two old friends reunited after so long.

Hal broke the long silence that formed between them. "Hank. I know it wasn't you."

"Doesn't make it any better though, does it?" said Hank.

"I don't blame you. I've been there too, with Legion. Guy too, twice. He's an unlucky bastard, that one."

Hank realised Hal was trying to alleviate the tension between the two of them. He smiled. "Better him than me."

"Yeah, but listen. The Predator wore your identity like a glove. It wore your face to do terrible things, but it wasn't you."

"Do they know that?" asked Hank, pointing outside to the green lights zipping around in the early morning light.

"Has that ever mattered to you before?" said Hal.

"Huh. So, what now?"

"I'm going home to be with my daughter and to make up for lost time. I've been gone this past year as well. I've put myself on the inactive roster. In times of blackest night, give me a call. But until then, I'm going to be a dad. How about you?"

"Salaak mentioned a special assignment, but nothing more. I'm steering clear of Earth for now."

"What about Carol, I know you were--"

"No," said Hank, interrupting. "Not yet. I'm not ready. My mind was twisted inside out by the Predator, and the further away I am from her the better, I think. For her, I mean. We'll see what happens."

Hal placed his hand on Hank's shoulder. "It's good to have you back, Spaceman."

"Thanks, Highball. And again, I'm sorry."

Hal said nothing, and left Hank to his thoughts. After a while, Hank leaned forward, picked up his ring and slipped it on his finger.

"In Brightest Day."


"Ring-to-ring communication is still down. The Book of Oa isn't accessible," said Shorm. "With the Central Power Battery down, we're going to run out of energy soon. Those whose rings have ran out of charge are working on the fleet of confiscated space craft we have in the lower hangars, so at least we can be mobile."

Salaak nodded. They were stood in the Citadel, looking out at the dead Central Power Battery. "So this is the end."

"Wait," said Shorm, squinting his single, large eye as he slithered toward the window next to Salaak. "What is that light in front of the Central Power Battery?"

"What?" said Salaak, pushing his hands against the thick plate glass. "I do not know. Come on."

The two of Lanterns phased through the window and headed for the light, and were surprised to find Kyle Rayner, floating in front of the Power Battery cross-legged, meditating. With each breath he took his white aura throbbed.

"Kyle, what are you doing?" asked Salaak.

Other Green Lanterns headed to the scene, curious as to what Kyle was doing. Those who could fly hovered above, while those whose rings were empty crowded on the ground below.

Across the way, the Star Sapphires stood assembled on their own Power Battery, no light emanating from it's centre. They watched with trepidation, their own rings now losing charge, the sparks in their heart waning. They felt prematurely aged by the use of their rings without a Central Power Battery to draw on energy.

Hal stood next to Sinestro, who still garnered suspicious looks from Lanterns who knew his history. "What's he doing?"

"Korugarian Lar-Zen Meditation," said Sinestro. "I taught it to him while we were marooned in the Forbidden Zones." He turned to Jordan. "I had expected you to return to Earth as soon as matters here were resolved."

"When a charged ring is a commodity, I can't leave you all hanging, can I?" said Hal. "I was going to try and shove my charge back into a Portable Battery, but then I saw this commotion." Hal cupped his hands around his eyes. "Why is he meditating?"

"To do the impossible," said Sinestro. He began to lift up from the ground, and he looked down at Jordan as he did. "Come."

Jordan did what he was told, and the two of them approached Salaak and Shorm.

Rayner hadn't answered and paid no attention to what went on around him. His kept his eyes closed, his breathing slow and shallow. The symbol on his chest throbbed with each breath, a triangular base a rounded arc above which cut through sharp slats that reached out across his body like an open hand..

"I reignited the Central Power Battery once before," said Kyle. He didn't open his eyes.

"Yeah, but then you died," said Hal.

"No, I was just lost," corrected Kyle.

"Jordan, be quiet," said Sinestro. "Kyle. Do what you need to do."

"Thank you, Thaal," said Kyle. "It's time."

Kyle raised up his hands, and waves of energy throbbed outward, distorting the air around them. In the pit of the Central Power Battery, emerald light began to flicker up. It wasn't much, but it was a start. Kyle sweated, whispered fervently to himself. More light began to funnel into the Battery. Below them, the Lanterns who watched then prayed to their own gods, goddesses, demons and angels. They prayed to the Guardians of the Universe. And now, with Kyle at their backs, their prayers were being answered.

"Guh-get back--" said Kyle, and the Green Lanterns floating nearby put some distance between them and the White Lantern, as directed. "Nuh nuh NOW"

A green beam of immense size shot out of Kyle's chest and hit the Power Battery dead center. Emerald fire flickered outward, then flared to life.

The Central Power Battery had been reignited.

<Connection to the Book of Oa re-established,> sang the power rings within earshot. <Ring-to-ring communication linking up-->

Kyle wasn't done though. He turned to the Star Sapphire Central Power Battery, and another beam exploded out of him, incandescent violet light this time. The process repeated, and he had reignited the Star Sapphire Battery too.

Kyle doubled over and Hal and Sinestro caught him. "You okay, kid?"

"Yuh-yeah," said Kyle, sweat dripping from his brow, his entire body ravaged by the act of reigniting not one, by two such Batteries. Wisps of light flew off his back as he tried to speak. "We're back. We're back. Now, now we can bury our dead."

Sinestro tousled Kyle's hair with a nod, and said, "You did well, son. You did well."

The rings buzzed. Messages poured in from injured Lanterns, stranded Lanterns and joyous Lanterns, happy to be alive and relieved to hear that the Corps was still standing.

The Green Lantern Corps had their Battery back. Now came the rescue effort. The rebuilding. The burying of the dead.

With that done, Hal took to the skies, and headed home.

There was one last thing he needed to do before he could power down his ring.


Chloe Sullivan held her daughter in her arms. A year had passed since she had last seen Jessica, but the affection her daughter showed her filled her heart up with so much emotion.

One year.

One year without Jessica. One year of Hal Jordan being AWOL, hiding out in a ghost city, refusing to confront his own failures.

"Chloe," said Hal, as he stepped through the doorway, into the private room at the hospital where Jessica had been left by Sinestro. He didn't know what to say now. He didn't know what came next.

Chloe didn't turn to face him. "Hal."

Hal tried to speak but Chloe cut him off.

"One of your Lanterns came to collect the nurse that was brought here with Jess. Katma? She sent her regards. Surprised I saw her before I saw you. Well. Not surprised, not after this past year."

Hal swallowed hard. "Chloe, I, I'm so sorry."

"Don't be," said Chloe. "For a 'man without fear', you're a goddamn coward. That's what you are." She drew Jessica close to her and held her tight. "I called you. Hal. Every day. I could have sent my men after you, dragged you back to me, kicking and screaming, but no, the great God damned Hal Jordan, I let him have his space, I let him suffer with his ghosts and his booze, running away from me. Me, of all people." She turned to face him. "Hal, I love you. I love you so much, and you left me alone. We lost her. We lost her and you abandoned me. And now she's here, now what? You gallivant off across the galaxy, leaving us behind?" Chloe sobbed. "Hal, just, why did you do it?"

"I couldn't bear to see her every time I looked at you," said Hal, taking a step forward. "I couldn't."

"Hal." Chloe wiped the tears from her eyes. She held Jess in one arm and slowly drifted her fingers down Hal's face. "If you ever pull a stunt like that again, I'll kill you myself."

"Completely acceptable," said Hal as he leaned in to kiss her.

It was late on a Friday night when she walked into my life. I’ll remember that moment until the day I die. That and her Coty L’origan Perfume; yeah, that Dame was real Fifth Avenue from head to toe.

My chair was as far back as it was willing to go and my feet were firmly propped up on my desk, with its lamp giving off a low soft glow that gave my small office very little light and too many shadows. I had just come back from casing a joint down by the south docks. Marriage on the rocks; is the husband stepping out with some two bit floozy? Just the usual for a second rate P.I. like me.

The Old Fitzgerald-- three fingers, neat-- was going down pretty good that rainy September night in Coast City, when I saw her outline through the frosted glass of my office door. I watched that shadow hesitate for just a second before knocking three times on the wooden frame. Something told me right then and there to keep my mouth shut, let her walk away, but my curiosity got the best of me. I guess in a way, that curvy silhouette had already caught me in its song. How’s that sayin’ go? “If I only knew then…”

“Door’s open.” I called out, not bothering to bring myself to a more proper position. It had been a rough night and I wasn’t really in the mood for company to begin with-- curves or not. Besides, I was off the clock.

The door opened and there she stood, five foot eleven inches of heaven. When she stepped into the room I recognized her immediately, even with the lace veil that fell from the front of her hat. I shot forward in my chair, caught by surprise, which is rare for me. But this Dame, she was well known, not only in Coast City but all over the country. A real life celebrity right here in my hole in a wall office.

“Mr. Jordan?”

Her scent filled the room, filled my senses and I was a goner. I stood up awkwardly, spilling my drink in the process. Not my best first impression. “Miss Ferris, come in.”

“Good, you recognize me.”

“A guy would have to be livin’ on the moon not to know who you are; the golden child of Coast City’s most elite and influential family, with connections that reach from here to Timbuktu. Yeah babe, I know who you are.” I wanted to get to know her though-- her and those gams that seemed to stretch to heaven.

“I need your help, Mr. Jordan… or can I call you Hal?”

“Mr. Jordan is fine for the moment, Ms. Ferris.”

The smile she answered me with was cold and calculating, just as I expected it to be. I knew this type. Problem was… I liked this type. It’s a weakness of mine (if her dress had been yellow I woulda’ been putty in her hands). Still, she wanted me for a reason and I decided I wanted to know what that reason was.

I offered her a chair but she ignored me, choosing to pace and examine my office as she spoke. “Have you heard of the Emerald Lantern?”

I placed my newspaper on the desk, a picture of the mysterious artifact was prominently displayed on page one of the “About Town” section. “I’m glad to know you can read, Mr. Jordan. Two hours ago it was taken from the Coast City Natural Museum where it was on display until the end of the month. So far we’ve been able to keep it out of the newspaper but time is not on our side and the police are getting nowhere. I know who took it, Mr. Jordan but the police can’t prove it and I’m running out of time. “

“I’ll bite, toots, who ya’ think nicked it?” I liked the fact that her eye twitched with the way that I was talking to her. Good.

That smile that could have sunk the Titanic never left her face. “His name is Professor Hector Hammond. He’s rather famous in certain circles. A rather brilliant but troubled young man. He believes the Lantern is from an alien race that roamed the stars. My father and he would spend many evenings together, discussing that nonsense.”

I wanted another shot of the corn in a bad way but knew now wasn’t the time. The whole thing stank like a Coast City alley in the middle of August. But she came to me for a reason and it wasn’t my reputation as a good private dick-- ‘cause I really wasn’t. No, she came to me for a reason: “Why me?”

Her eyes narrowed. Damn, she was a beautiful dame. “It is rumored, Mr. Jordan, that Professor Hammond has hired himself his own trigger man; a real specialist from what I hear; a man by the name of Major Clifford Force. Have you heard of him, Mr. Jordan?”

My stompers hit the floor hard, my body knocking the chair back from behind me at the mention of the slime-balls name. She jumped back quickly at my sudden outburst and I liked that. Of course I knew who he was. “You bet I know ‘em.” I growled between clenched teeth. “That’s the dirty rat that killed my brother!” Clifford Force was exactly that too, the rat that plugged my brother. The ex-army punk got away with it too, or at least he thinks he did.

“That’s what I thought.” She replied. Her eyes twinkled in the dimly lit room. It was the first time I really got a good look at her peepers and their color took my breath away. I’d never actually seen a dame with lavender eyes, but she had them. No, not lavender, something else. Something harder, but still as pretty… sapphire.

I’m not a dumb man, see, but I have been prone to acts of stupidity from time to time. The mention of Major Force was a carrot, not an answer to my question. But it was the one damn carrot I’d always go after. The son of a bitch killed my brother. I took a moment as she studied my face, my reaction. She was using me and I was just as certain of that as I was the Red Sox were gonna’ trounce the Cardinals in the World Series next week. Alright, let’s play ball.

“Any idea where he’s keeping the prize?”

“They say he has a deluxe suit that he keeps at the Hotel Ayers down in the Pacific Heights. That’s where I’d look first, Mr. Jordan. I’m willing to pay an awful lot to get this back.”

“I’ll make you a deal, doll; I get a chance to put daylight in Force, this one’ll be on the house.”

“My card, Mr. Jordan, and good luck.”

She didn’t say it, but I heard it: you’re going to need it.

Her scent lingered long after she had walked out of my, ten by ten, office. Of course the whole thing stank, but like I said-- the carrot. Besides, as soon as she mentioned the Hotel Ayers the idea began to formulate. I had a guy on the inside there. His name was John Stewart; the Ayers House Dick. We had been bro’s ever since he ate some lead for me. Never thought I’d be buddies with a smoke but he was one of the few that I had that I’d trust.

I took a cab over to the Ayers, hoping that John would be working but he wasn’t. His shift wouldn’t start for another four hours. So I walked through the fog, across the street to the all night dinner. Cup a java was exactly what I needed.

I sat in the back booth, next to the window so I could keep an eye on the front door of the hotel. The third time refill I decided to spring for a piece of cherry pie just to stop the ninety year old waitress from giving me the evil eye. The pie was old too. Didn’t matter to me, I was focused now. This appeared to be another box job and I’ve done those many times in the past, but not like this. There were warning signs all over the place. My mind raced for over two hours as I tried to figure out what was really going on. I was lost in thought and almost missed him… almost. His flamboyant little cape made him obvious to even the most unobservant person.

There he was, Professor Hammond, slipping back in in the early morning hours. Looking at my watch I noticed it was nearly four. Obviously the good Professor kept late hours. What did he want with this Emerald Lantern in the first place? From what I read about it in the paper, it had been found in the Sahara Dessert. The brains had no idea where it came from, or even what it was made of. Some idiots even guessed it came from outer space. Right.

I got up and slipped the waitress a fin for her troubles. As I was crossing the street I heard my name come across the predawn air. I turned, squinting through the Coast City fog to see who was there in the deserted street with me. It came as no surprise to see John Stewart crossing the street heading my way.

“What’s the skinny, Jordan? Ain’t seen you around these parts in ages.”

I filled him in to what was going on. He agreed to help me, mostly because he knew my brother too and was willing to help. Like me, he could have given a rat’s ass about some ancient artifact; it was about pure revenge. If Major Force was up there, he was going to pay. It didn’t take us long for the plan to come together.



Hammond opened the door on the second knock and I was there to greet him; heater in my hand. His eyes opened wide as he stood in his little silk robe. If he wasn’t a Daisy he sure would have fooled me. After having weighed all my options, this was the route I chose to take; the direct approach.

He backed out of the doorway with me following. I should have caught it but I was too focused on that damn carrot. Turned out, the carrot was behind the door waiting for me.

“You gonna’ put that down or do I get to fill ya’ with lead.” Force whispered hoarsely from behind me.

I dropped the gun and turned around slowly. Hammond wasn’t a problem, obviously, but this son of a bitch? He was bad with a capital B. Rumor had it that after he had been kicked out of the service he turned into a dope fiend-- the hard stuff. Then he got clean and became a hired gun. The hired gun that killed my brother.

“How ya’ doin’ Jordan? We thought you’d be here hours ago.”

“You know this guy?” Hammond asked as he reached for my gun.

“DON’T!” Force shouted at him and with that a lot of the pieces began to fall into place. Of course it was a trap, it was my life, could it have been anything but?

“Where is she Force? She here in the room or waiting for you somewhere else?”

The Major smiled but the idiot with the degree stood there stuttering like an idiot. “What is he talking about? Who is this guy?”

“I’m the patsy who’s here to take the fall for your murder, you idiot. Then Force here and his gal, Carol Ferris get to take the artifact while you take a dirt nap and I head to Blackgate.”

Force sneered. “Where you’ll spend the rest of your life knowing I’m still out here and you can’t do nuttin’ about it. Took care of both Jordan brothers; heh, my old man would be proud.”

“Your old man was a flimflam artist and a lousy one at that. Spent more time hitting the pipe than being a father to you, that’s for sure.”

“Eat lead.” He muttered as he pulled the hammer back.

I had one chance and one only. I grabbed the table lamp next to me in the foyer and threw it at him. The gun went off and my aim was good, which meant his wasn’t. The bullet shattered the hall mirror as I dove for my own weapon. I lost track of Hammond as another shot hit the wall right above me.

I rolled into a side room, skipping the retrieval of the gun. I was in some kind of sitting room. Pretty fancy with French doors that went out to some a balcony and mahogany furniture; this Professor was getting paid pretty well.

Another shot struck near my right hand and I looked up in time to see Force running into the room. There was nowhere else to go so I did the only logical thing. I leapt up and into him, hoping it would startle him-- it did. We crashed into some kind of china cabinet before he took the advantage and tossed me practically across the room. He was strong, stronger than me. It didn’t matter, he was the dirty rat that killed my brother and now I was going to get my revenge.

With his gun knocked out of his hand he did exactly what I had hoped he would do, he charged me. I crouched there, waiting. Our eyes locked and I met his sneer with one of my own. It was too late for him, he was already in the air when he realized the position he had placed himself in. I grabbed his writs, rolled myself onto my black and flipped him perfectly out the French doors and over the railing. Wish I could have told you I had even the briefest regret, but I didn’t.

As I got up I heard the cocking of the weapon. I knew who it was before I turned around. “Guess I got the answer to my question after all-- you’re here.”

Carol Ferris sighed. “The Major was an idiot but the idea was solid. If it hadn’t been for his anger issue we would have pulled it off. No matter, I just wanted the artifact anyway. Two dead bodies are as good as one at this point.”

“You’re not going to kill me, doll.”

That beautiful cold smile came back. It made me kinda’ sad. I didn’t even get to know her; maybe next time. She came from money so I had no doubt she’d walk away from this without a scratch. Daddy’s money would take care of everything, but she wouldn’t have that stupid lantern and that was fine with me. Besides, if it wasn’t for her I’d have never been able to finally put closure on my brother’s death.

“Why not, Mr. Jordan?”

I motioned for her to look behind her. “Cause a’ him.”

“I don’t think so, Mr. Jordan. I’m not stupid.”

Another cocking of a weapon, “Yeah, you really are.” John Stewart said as he pressed the muzzle of the gun into the back of that pretty head of hers. “You’re under arrest. Well as soon as the cops get here.”

She lowered her gun but that beautiful and chilling smile never left her face. “Well played Mr. Jordan. It’s been a pleasure meeting you. Perhaps we shall meet again someday.”

“Perhaps.” I said, trying to sound as if I could have cared less. But I cared; I wanted to see that ice queen with the sapphire eyes again.

I walked out of the hotel expecting to see people all around, looking at the body that should have landed on the ground like an over ripe watermelon. There was nobody around in the early morning sun. There was no body either. I looked up and took note of several ledges that he could have grabbed a hold of. It would have been a long shot but it could have happened. Since there was no body it appeared the carrot was still out there.

I headed home, to my dingy apartment and its depressing second hand furniture. I saved a life, found, retrieved a mysterious artifact to the proper people and yet I felt dirty. At the moment, I didn’t care though. Home, shower, two or three hours of sleep and then back on the streets; cause if I stayed still too long, this messed up cesspool of a world might pass me by and I sure wouldn’t want that to happen. Would you?

Sweeping unselfconsciously through the locker room of Ferris Aricraft, CEO Carol Ferris paused only long enough to harangue her newest test pilot: “Hal Jordan, wipe that smirk off your face, get in your flight-suit and so help me if you put a scratch on that X3000, the closest you’ll ever get to flying again is when my foot boots you off the roof of my hanger!”

Hal saluted, nonplussed, wearing nothing but the offending smirk and a towel around his waist. “You got it, Carol,”

“That’s Miss Ferris to you, Jordan,” she growled to the general amusement of the other assembled test pilots, all of them long-used to their brassy, no-nonsense boss. She favoured one or two of them with a glare, muttered something about “arrogant throttle-jockeys” under her breath and was gone before laughter began.

“Big government contract riding on this test flight today,” one of the other pilots told Hal, looking a bit resentful. “All those VIPs from Washington will be watching. Weird that she gave it to a pretty-boy rookie like you.”

“Who’re you calling a rookie, Bandit,” Hal climbed into his one-piece beige flight-suit, zipped it up and tossed his sometime rival the smirk that had never left his face. “Besides, my new purpose in life is to keep Carol Ferris happy.”

This was greeted by catcalls and whoops by the dressing and undressing fighter jocks.

“Just don’t blow it and make us look bad, Highball,” Bandit growled, unable to maintain his ire; Jordan had had his back in a bar fight the night before, and the grizzled veteran knew the former USAF pilot had the chops.

“Wouldn’t want to take away the only reason they keep you around,” Hal raised his guard and faked a punch at Bandit on his way out, leaving his rival shaking his head.

Hal jogged down the hallways of Ferris HQ, feeling on top of the world. He had a great new job, he was pretty sure his boss was as hot for him as he was for her, and-- most important of all!-- the ring on his finger made him feel invincible.

Outside, he strode to his plane and waved to the dignitaries assembled on the grandstand by the runway. Carol was there, he saw, as well as the suits from DC.

She wants a show, I’ll give them a show, Hal thought, catching the helmet tossed to him by one of the techs inspecting his plane.

“You’re cleared for go, Highball,” his crew-chief gave him a thumbs up.

“Thanks, Tom. See you back on the Big Muddy.”

In the cockpit, Hal rushed through the pre-flight checklist, anxious to get in the air.

“Jordan,” Carol Ferris’ voice came over his comm. “Hal. Tell me you’re ready for this. Tell me you’re not just all talk. Tell me you can fly the most sophisticated aircraft ever built.” She sounded genuinely worried.

“I’ll tell you over breakfast tomorrow.” Hal grinned and waved towards the grandstand.

“In your dreams, flyboy. Now light it up.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

The X3000 broke land speed records hurtling into the sky. Hal pulled back on the controls and took the plane up at an angle at which most aircraft would have stalled.

Loud cheers and applause came over his comm, but he merely smiled and guided the X3000 into a series of manoeuvres designed to demonstrate the versatility of the plane.

“Don’t get cocky, Highball,” Carol warned, an edge to her voice. “Stay within the protocols we discussed at the briefing.”

“I’m sorry Miss Ferris, you’re breaking up,” The X3000 corkscrewed across the sky, banking hard first to one side, then another.

“There’s nothing wrong with the reception, smartass. Now, let’s show the Senate Armed Services Committee just what that plane can do. Execute Manoeuvre Charlie Hotel Whiskey.”

“Your wish is my--”

There was a flash and the X3000 shook violently, alarms sounding. At first Hal thought that something had exploded just outside his cockpit window, but his ring quickly corrected him. <Unidentified object dropping out of subluminal space on collision course. Intent presumed hostile.>

You don’t have to tell me twice.

Hal yanked on the stick and peeled away; something fiery and moving too fast to see narrowly missed slicing through his aircraft.

Ring, what the hell is that?

<Scanning…> came the serene voice of Abin Sur, the alien who had worn the ring before Hal. Whatever the object was, it was coming in hot, and was probably not from anyplace local. <Analysis inconclusive. However, there is a 77% probability object is of Oan origin.>

…Huh? The little blue guys..? That didn’t make any sense. It also probably meant that whatever this was, it was his most likely his fault. If she ever found out, Carol would kill him.

The bogey was cooling from its hot atmospheric entry, starting to look less like a flaming comet and more like… a person.

The being that fell out of space continued falling, but its speed was slowing. It was going in for a landing not far from the grandstand where the group of onlookers had begun to panic.

Just then Hal’s ring made a sound he didn’t like, an insistent alarm, and even Abin Sur’s voice now sounded stressed: <Threat analysis update: target assessed as Alpha-One Priority. Eliminate immediately, at all cost.>

Alpha-One...? That meant whatever this was the Guardians had deemed it Public Enemy #1, Hal remembered from his crash course on intergalactic law enforcement. And whatever it was, it was skimming low across the ground, heading straight for the grandstand. Straight for Carol and the senators. So he needed to hit it as fast and as hard as he could. He pushed his stick all the way forward, kicked out his altitude and fired every engine he had.

Before it reached the grandstand, the X3000 slammed into the extra-terrestrial being. The resulting fireball blossomed high above the desert floor, showering the onlookers with heat and the dust kicked up by the explosion.

“Hal!” Carol screamed squinting against the blinding light. She had been hustling the senators off to safety, but was now horror-struck by the crash and apparent death of her newest test-pilot.

The point of impact smouldered and smoked. Nothing could have survived it. Except something did. A figure walked out of the haze, blackened and scorched and unsteady, but driven by a single purpose.

“DEATH TO THE GREEN LANTERN…”

It was not human. It wasn’t organic at all, but a blue-faced metallic thing of red armour and servos and relentless purpose. It trudged step by heavy step over sand fused into glass by the heat of the X3000’s destruction.

“I think you’re looking for me,” called a clear voice over the roar of the flames.

Limned in a glowing emerald aura, Green Lantern rose up out of the flames, hovering over the alien robot.

The robot halted, turned to look at Green Lantern; the light behind its eyes flickered and sparks scintillated from a gaping hole in the back of its head. One shoulder flinched. Then it turned back and started forward, again, fixed on the stand of Ferris VIPs.

“NO MAN ESCAPES… NO GREEN--”

“I don’t care if you have a screw loose or what,” Hal muttered raising his ring-hand. “You’re going down, Tin Man!”

A blast of willpower engulfed the robot, smashing it across the desert floor. It skittered and skipped over the ground, chunks of it melted into slag. But when it rolled to a stop, it came up with a big, ugly weapon in its hand, aimed straight at Hal. It fired and Hal took the full brunt of it against his green aura. It blew him out of the air. He hit the ground hard, the wind knocked out of him. Expected the killer robot to press its advantage, he scrambled up quickly, gasping for breath-- and was surprised to see the thing trudging away from him.

“DEATH TO GREEN LANTERN…NO MAN ESCAPES… SCAPE-SCAPE-SCAPES ZZzzZZppPPttt!”

The stupid thing seemed broken and malfunctioning! He must have hurt it pretty bad crashing his X3000 into it, so in addition to buying him time to save Carol and the others, it just may have fatally damaged his foe, too.

The VIPs were running across the open ground from the grandstand towards the relative safety of the Ferris HQ. Secret Service agents covered their retreat, down on one knee and firing their service weapons at the incoming robot, but the bullets bounced harmlessly from a metallic shell that had withstood the pressures and rigor of space and millions of years. The alien blaster blazed again, and the line of Secret Service agents were scattered like tenpins.

“Hey, you stupid bucket of bolts!” Hal kicked himself back into the air, flying back at the robot hunter. “I think I’m the guy you’re looking for!”

The robot turned just in time to receive an almost comically-large green-tinged boxing glove swinging at him. It leaped up, thrusters firing from the bottoms of his feet, dodging Hal’s attack. It let loose with another barrage from the blaster, but Hal was ready for it, choosing to take evasive action rather than let his ring shielding absorb the powerful energy.

The robot swooped away from him and resumed his pursuit of the Ferris VIPs, diving in fast after them.

In horror, Hal saw that Carol had lagged the furthest behind, ensuring that the dignitaries had made good their getaway, but one of the senators had come back for her, a solid-looking man, with fair hair and a demeanour calm in the face of the chaos all around him. He had one arm around her, partially shielding her with his body against the incoming hunter/killer robot. But in seconds, the robot was going to fire his weapon, incinerating the senator and Carol Ferris.

“DEATH TO GREEN LAN-- zzzZZZpppTTT!”

The blaster beam lanced out to the doomed pair-- but Hal acted swiftly and instinctively, in perfect concert with his power ring, just as Kilowog had taught him. He conjured his most intricate construct yet, a concave funnel that he threw up between the robot and its target. The funnel intercepted the blaster’s beam, and used its momentum to twist it around and angle the energy straight back at the robot. It hit the robot full-on and the resulting explosion forced Hal to shield his eyes from the light and heat.

Hal flew past the smouldering ruin of the robot, landing by Carol and the senator. They had been knocked down by the destruction of the robot, but seemed relatively unhurt.

“Green Lantern!” Carol gasped, accepting the glowing green hand he offered to help her up.

“That thing didn’t think so,” quipped the Emerald Gladiator, with a glance over at the smoking ruin of the robot. “Are you okay, Miss Ferris?”

Carol brushed ash and cinders off her face, eyes wide, clearly in shock from the events of the last few moments. “I’m not hurt, but my pilot-- Hal! His plane--!”

“The pilot ejected,” he told her, to her evident relief. “I saw his parachute go down a few miles out. He’s fine. The real question is, what the heck was that thing?” He turned towards the steadily burning pile of metallic debris few meters away. The senator that had stood with Carol had approached it cautiously, and was examining it.

“Senator Scott!” exclaimed Carol, “Be careful, please!”

The senator glanced back over his shoulder at them, his chiselled features handsome but grim. “I don’t think we have anything more to worry about from this thing, Miss Ferris. Thanks to Green Lantern, that is.”

Hal inclined his head, coming up beside the senator to look down at the destroyed robot.

“DEATH TO-- zzzZZZpppTTT! NO MAN… NO-NO-NO M-M-MAN ESCAAAAAApppeessss…” With a low whirring and grinding noise, the robot finally fell silent forever.

“Whatever it was, it kept saying it was after me, but I don’t think it quite recognized me,” Hal gave a half shrug, at a loss to explain the near-deadly altercation. “I guess it must have been malfunctioning.”

“It kept saying it was after Green Lantern,” Mused the senator, who shook his head, as if trying to remember something that just wasn’t coming to him. After a moment, he sighed and turned to Hal with an extended hand. “I’ve been wanting to meet you for a while now, Green Lantern. Thanks for saving our lives. I’m Alan Scott.”

Hal shook the older man’s hand. “Not ideal circumstances in which to meet, Senator Scott, but I hope you won’t hold that against Ferris Aircraft. From everything I saw, that X3000 is a helluva machine, and the economy of Coast City sure could use that contract.”

Senator Alan Scott’s eyes narrowed slightly as he pumped Hal’s hand. “That test pilot-- Jordan, did you say was his name, Miss Ferris?-- certainly put the X3000 through her paces.” Scott crossed his hands over his chest, nodding decisively. “I liked what I saw here today. Killer robot attack notwithstanding. Ferris will have the contract.”

Emergency vehicles were pulling up to the tarmac, and crews were piling out, helping with the injured Secret Service Agents and putting out the scattered fires of burning plane and robot.

“Now if you’ll excuse me,” Alan Scott clapped Green Lantern on the shoulder and gave a smile to Carol Ferris. “I want to make sure my security detail is alright. It was an honour to meet you, Green Lantern. I’m glad you’re on the job.”

Something in the older man’s bearing caused Hal’s military training to kick in, and he found himself saluting the senator as he jogged away towards his injured men. Hal thought he saw something flash green on the senator’s fist, but when he looked twice it was gone.

The thought was chased from his head by crackle and pop of the smouldering robot. “Ring, transmit battle report to Oa for analysis. I want to know exactly what that thing was, and just what the hell happened here today…”

<Transmitting…> chirped the ring.

But at that moment across the universe, the deadly plan of a renegade Oan was building to fruition and an inter-dimensional tyrant was readying his invasion of Earth; very soon, Hal Jordan-- Earth’s second Green Lantern!-- would forget all about this minor encounter and stand with the world’s greatest heroes for the fight of their lives…

-1-

It was black. Pitch black and freezing cold.

He was afraid to move.

Flat on his back and in the dark, he felt nothing but cold metal beneath him. What must have been a thin sheet was draped over his body and his fingers trembled as it took every ounce of courage to lift his hand up and pull the sheet down.

Inch by inch he pulled the sheet down until it fell away from him. It took several moments for him to realize that he was laying there-- wherever there was-- naked. He reached up and his fingers brushed over his mouth. He couldn’t move his lips. Were they glued together? Not only that, but something was holding his eyes shut. What, who, was doing this to him? He reached back and traced his fingers to the base of his skull. He traced his index finger over the wet opening in his head that shouldn’t have been there.

If he could have screamed, it would have been the loudest scream you’d have ever heard.

There were sounds nearby, sounds he couldn’t make out at first, but as he lay there he was slowly able hear what he thought were voices. It was muffled-- was there something in his ears, too?-- but he was sure he could hear laughter.

The realization dawned on him. The sounds, the voices, the laughter; it was his father.

And then it all began to come flooding back, like someone who had held their breath for as long as they could before finally gasping for air, it all came rushing back at him as natural as oxygen, every moment, every memory, it all came back as William Hands life began to flash before his eyes…

Little William was six years old and crying himself to sleep in a small broom closet his mother stuffed him in. He was waiting for his Father to come home. She would have to tell him what he had done… again. His three older brothers laughing at him for being too slow. Too small. Too dumb to play with them. He ran away from home time and again. Eventually they stopped coming for him.

More memories flooded his mind.

When he was older William went to live with his aunt and uncle. He was happy there. His cousin slapped him when he tried to kiss her. He was ten, she was twelve. She was his first love. The cancer took her before her next birthday. He watched his aunt cry when she thought no one was watching.

Shortly after, his aunt took her own life.

William began to help his uncle with his work at the Hand mortuary. His uncle never minded. He never looked down at William, or laughed at him.

William was never judged.

His uncle was a peaceful man who had surrounded himself with death all his life. His uncle’s death came and went on the eve of William’s eighteenth birthday. His heart had finally given out.

William’s father marked the occasion by selling his brother’s business and promptly telling William it was time for him to finally ‘get a life.’

The memories raced past him still, more scattered than before…

College. Black sheep. Robbing his father’s banks. The perfect criminal. Green Lantern. Black Hand. The power device. The perfect super villain. The brain tumor. Time running out. The plan. Being Green Lantern. Being Hal Jordan. Then… Wonder Woman… and it was gone. Taken into custody. Abandoned by those who had made promises. The prison hospital. The surgery to remove the tumor. They needed a specialist to fly in. He couldn’t be bothered. The doctor on site removed the tumor…

William Hand died…

And then it all went to black…


“You didn’t die William. You were sedated through the entire procedure.”

William Hand looked at the man across the table from him with a blank look on his face. He instinctly reached back and ran his fingers across the base of his skull. There was a patch of hair starting to grow around the scarred area.

“Forgive me, doctor. My memory isn’t what it used to be. Not since the surgery.” Hand slowly replied as he glanced around the small room. There were bars on the windows. A steel door with an armed guard on the other side. It didn’t take much to remember he was back in prison.

“It’s understandable given what you have been through. But you do remember who I am, yes?”

“Doctor Randolph.”

“Very good. Excellent.” The man didn’t look up from the notes he was taking. “Now, tell me, how you are feeling today?”

“Empty. Cold inside. Powerless.”

The man stopped writing and glanced up at Hand. “You’re not powerless, William.”

“The tumor. The powers it gave me. It’s all gone.” Hand said as he pondered the reality of the situation. “Talking about it seems pointless.”

“On the contrary. We’ve been meeting for months now. You’ve made progress. It’s almost time.”

“Time,” Black Hand scoffed, “it’s all I have. I had everything. Now, nothing.”

“You’re angry. I understand.” The man sat his pen down and leaned forward in the small metal chair. “But you have power, William Hand. You just didn’t know how to use it. That’s why I had to intervene when I did.”

“Intervened?”

Hand looked at him confused.

The man’s voice began to change. “Everything that happened to you was for a reason. My reasons. The doctors that diagnosed the ‘inoperable’ brain tumor,” he almost laughed, “I was there. The shadowy forces in the government that ‘gave’ you the powers you used to switch places with Green Lantern? I was there as well, guiding you.”

Hand’s confusion turned to irritation.

“I just met you, doctor. Here, in the prison. Your delusions of grandeur are worse than mine.”

The man only smiled.

“I master in illusions, William.”

With that his appearance changed. His short black hair was now stark white with streaks of red. His lab coat changed to a white suit, blue vest, and red cape that was draped over his back.

Panic set in and Hand glanced behind him at the camera in the corner of the room.

“If they see…”

“They see what I want them to see,” the man stated.

“If you were there... if this was all for a reason,” Hand was still confused, “I had the most powerful weapon in the universe and Hal Jordan’s body to boot. Why didn’t you stop Wonder Woman from taking it all away from me?”

The man in White cackled. “It wasn’t Wonder Woman who ‘switched’ you back, my foolish boy. Do you really think her lasso could do that? That was me again. Wonder Woman made a deal with one of her ‘Gods’ to release her precious friend. Little does she know she got more than she bargained for.”

Confusion and irritation turned to anger. “You? All these talks while you pretended to be a doctor, telling me to confront my feelings, process what had happened so I could move on, and it was you I have to blame for being locked up in here!”

“You are here because it is where you needed to be. To prepare for the next step in your journey. I needed you to process what had happened. I needed you to understand that true power resided in you all along. All you need is a more stable way to channel it. Are you ready to be free now, William Hand?”

The man asked as he reached across the table and placed a single, perfect, white ring in front of Hand.

Hand looked down at it. He hesitated briefly before picking it up. It was cold to the touch, but at the same time, it was almost like the ring was calling to him.

Without another thought he slid it onto the ring finger of his left hand.

It fit perfectly.

“Yes. No more silly devices. No more emerald rings,” the man stated as he pulled a small wand from his suit pocket. He then slowly and methodically waved it back and forth in front of the ring Black Hand wore. “Now you are ready.”

As the doctor waved his wand, Hand felt a spark run through the ring, up his arm and into his chest. He felt a connection form between the doctor and himself. The spark energized him, made him feel more alive than he had in months.

“Who… who are you?”

The doctor bowed dramatically and clutched the edge of his cape. “My name is Thomas Asquith Randolph. I am the White Magician!”

“The ring. Where did you find such beautiful thing?”

“There will be time for answers later.” The White Magician stood and swung his cape to side. “Now son, tell me, how do you feel?”

William considered the white ring on his finger. “I feel… for the first time in my life… I feel whole. I feel powerful”

There was a coolness in his voice that had never been there before.

The White Magician walked over and stood next to the Black Hand, whispering in his ear “They abandoned you. Left you to die. I can give you your life back. I can give you anything you desire.”

“I desire revenge.”

The White Magician smiled seductively. “Then revenge you shall have.”