#53: Two Lanterns Walk Into A Bar (Walsh / HoM / Rimmer)

Six months ago the Green Lantern Corps and Star Sapphires united to defeat Atrocitus and his Red Lanterns, and the universe has experienced a period of calm since!

With Hal Jordan in retirement raising his daughter, Hank Henshaw and John Stewart are currently assigned to Sector 2814, while Guy Gardner operates as the Corps troubleshooter, wandering from sector to sector assisting any Green Lanterns who need it! Teaming with him is Arisia Rrab, the Love Lantern, wielding a Star Sapphire ring to bring peace and love where the galaxy needs it.

With that in mind, we return to the ongoing adventures of the…

Part One (of Three): “Two Lanterns Walk Into A Bar…”

It was a remote world on the trailing and rimward edges of the galaxy. The inhabitants of a backwater burg on a backwater world watched as their coal-black night etched with ribbons of gold suddenly lit up with a violet light. Down from limitless upper reaches of their sky came down the violet comet, to alight on their street.

The people gasped, they stared, and they murmured at the sudden arrival. The golden-skinned young woman in dark and light shades of purple waved pleasantly to them, and the smile lit up the dim street as much as her ring had.

Arisia of Graxos, representative of the Star Sapphire Corps, walked down the street and admired what it had to offer. To most cosmopolitan members of the galactic centers, it seemed thin and lacking. To Arisia, who loved how her ring let her be a cosmic tourist, this was precisely what she searched for. Small shops offering wares crafted by the locals, with care, with such expertise as could rarely be found on planet-sized megaplexes or factory worlds.

So as Arisia headed down the street, to where her ring directed her was the source of the strange invite, she stopped at each window to ooh and to aah at what was offered.

Finally, Arisia arrived at her destination, and pushed the swinging doors apart, entering the smokey, noisy, orange-lit bar. A dozen tables littered the center of the large room; a handful of booths lined the far wall, and the long worn bar ran down another side. There were plenty of people drinking, eating, gambling and grousing about the day as she observed them all. Her presence slowly swept across the assemblage, each person in turn glanced her way; some of those stares remained on her and for a variety of reasons. Most returned to their previous companions, but most of the murmuring in the aftermath was the presence of the golden Star Sapphire, here in this out of the way bar on a world many knew nothing about.

Arisia walked up to the bar and asked politely for whatever was local and would test her fortitude. The locals laughed at the alien pixie making such a request, but the bartender handed her back a glass of something deep red and fizzing and she thanked him before finding a table, and to wait.

“You know how to make an entrance, little sister,” Katma Tui said as she slid out from a corner booth and up next to Arisia's seat. She wore local attire and spoke quietly, but had a large smile for her dear friend and former team-mate.

“Kat! You're here? What for?” Arisia gave the Green Lantern a big hug and kissed her cheek. “Have you tried these yet? They're amazing!”

“I've heard about the Glorious. I'll stick to my water, thank you,” Katma replied with a chuckle. “I suspect I'm here for the same reason as you. I was asked to come here, to listen to a pitch for a noble cause and help liberate a downtrodden people.”

“Yup, that's what I was told too.” Arisia settled back into her seat and took another swallow of the hefty brew. “I wonder if anyone else is being brought in then?”

“We'll have to wait and see,” Katma said as she sipped her water. “As well as for whoever called for us. It was a...playful note.”

“Yeah, that's a good word for it.” Arisia chuckled and drained her glass, asking for another to the surprise of most who paid attention.


“Well, it was nice while it lasted,” said Guy Gardner. He took a long swig from his beer bottle, and he was vaguely surprised to find himself finishing it in one long go. “But hey, nothing lasts forever.”

Hank Henshaw scratched his beard and shrugged. “Some things do.”

“Guardians of the Universe don’t count,” said Guy. “Especially since they skipped town and left the universe in our hands. Lucky egg-heads. They’re probably relaxing on some beach somewhere with the Zamorans.”

“Huh,” said Hank. “My round?”

“Yup.” Guy leaned back on his stool, and slammed his palm down on the bar-top as he lost his balance. “Jeez.”

Hank gave a short wave to the bartender and she made a beeline toward the two men.

“Same again, boys?” She glanced over at Guy and smiled as he stood abruptly and began staring at his feet. “Or do you think I should cut him off?”

Guy looked up immediately and went to speak, but Hank put his hand on his drunk comrade’s shoulder. “Guy’ll be fine. Getting dumped doesn’t suit him. More beer would.”

“Pssh, you get this because I like your face, mister,” said the bartender.

Guy looked up, dejected. “His face?”

Hank blushed as the bartender levered the tops off two more bottles and put them down on two napkins in front of the two men. She winked at Hank as she walked away.

“It’s like the world is rubbing it in my face,” said Guy. He rested his forehead on the bar and dragged his bottle toward his temple. “I probably deserve this.”

“Probably,” said Hank. “Ah, that’s mine--”

Guy looked at the beer bottle, and then at Hank. “How’d you figure?”

Hank lifted the bottle up out of Guy’s hand and then showed him the phone number written on the napkin he had lifted it off. Hank looked over at the bartender, who gestured at him to call her.

“I hate you,” said Guy, before he picked up the second beer and started drinking.

“Great,” said Hank. “Explain why you called me tonight?”

Gardner sighed dramatically. “Thing is, kid, when you’re a highfaluting Green Lantern like me, you don’t get to cultivate many friends ‘cause most of the time you’re off in deep space. Highball is busy with his family, the kid is off somewhere continuing his training with the egghead, and Stewart is on the other side of the sector. I wanted Earth beer and I wanted a human drinking buddy. You were at the bottom of the list, but hey, you picked up the phone.”

Henshaw rolled his eyes as he took a sip.

“Hey, you asked,” said Guy. He took a swig from his beer. “Now that Arisia has dumped my sorry ass, I’m back to being a lone wolf. Present company excluded. That’s fine, sure, but it still hurts like a kick to the ball sack. And if my dad taught me anything, alcohol obviously solves everything.”

Guy chuckled, but his expression darkened after he thought about his words. He continued to drink.

“I’m surprised going out for a drink still does it for you,” Hank took a handful of beer nuts from the bar, and his power ring became visible for a split second as it removed any undesirable germs from the foodstuffs. “I thought looking for a fight would be more your speed.”

“Don’t think I didn’t consider it,” said Guy. “But I’m a responsible adult nowadays, Henshaw. My shore leave was adding up so Salaak booted me off Oa. Considering my sudden change in relationship status--”

A beautiful, white-haired young woman wandered past the two men, and Guy couldn’t help but perform a double take.

“--Uhhh, yeah, Earth is probably the best place for me right now.”

Hank looked in the direction of Guy’s gaze and caught the eye of a fiery, green-haired woman, whose exotic countenance was offset by the daggers she was staring at the two of them.

“Drink up,” said Hank. He wiped his mouth and stood, straightening his jacket as he did.

“Why’s that?” said Guy.

“Throwing yourself at women is the worst thing you could do tonight,” said Hank. “Ah, besides. We’ve got the whole night. Why pitch your tent in the first bar we wander into it?”

“I don’t think I like you, Henshaw,” said Guy. “But you make a good point.”

The two men finished their drinks, and headed out into the night.


Katma took a breath and decided to ask the question that had been playing on her mind since Arisia’s change in occupation. She glanced down at her friend’s violet power ring and then sighed. “So, I have to ask-- are you happy with the Star Sapphires?”

“Yeah. It's different, that's for sure.” Arisia leaned back in her seat and toyed at her ring. “It's a lot less formal. It's not about Sectors this, and drilling that, and all the Corps stuff with the Guardians-- wherever they are.” She looked up at Katma with that special beam in her face. “Doesn't mean I don't miss you folks a lot though. It's great to find out you're here on this.”

“Well, I'm here to listen. If this contact, whoever it is, shows a need, then of course, I'm involved,” Katma said. She drummed her fingers as she grew impatient at the wait. “How about you and Guy?”

“Done. He's decent, down under all that gunk he tosses out to everyone, but I'm tired of the gunk. The power of love drives the Sapphires, I can't have someone who won't embrace that in my life,” she explained as she took a deep gulp of her drink. “I wish him well. I hope he's okay.”

“Last I heard, he and Hank were helping each other work through their issues,” Katma said with aw shrug and a smirk. “Hence why I am out here at the edges of civilization.”

Arisia laughed deeply and Katma joined in with more restraint. They both slowly came to a stop and looked up at the human that now stood at their table. Both the women had enough dealings with Earthlings to know one when they saw one, even without their rings. They looked up at him, he looked down at them and very quickly the women realized who had joined the table.

“Captain Comet, by my word,” Katma said as she rose up to give him a handshake. “A pleasure to meet the legend.”

“Thanks, but just call me Adam right now,” he said as he shook her hand in return. He nodded toward Arisia in greeting. “As you can see, I opted for the covert route as well, unlike our Graxosian friend here.” He winked at the Star Sapphire, who just wrinkled her nose at him in return.

“Sit down then, Adam. You have been contacted as well?” Katma asked as she called for some more drinks for the table.

“Yes. I understand there were four of us actually. I believe the fourth message was projected at Rann,” Captain Comet said. He settled into a chair, his posture still perfect, his pose rather stiff actually. It seemed as if the Terran hero was uncomfortable with social scenes.

“Adam Strange?” Arisia sat up quick in her seat, and then leaned forward to whisper excitedly. “You think he's going to come? He's so awesome!”

“Thank you,” Captain Comet retorted with that blank expression, though Katma caught the twinkle in his hazel eyes.

“Oh c'mon, you're pretty neat too, but you're here, so now I get to be excited about the other fella instead while we wait,” Arisia said with a pout as the others chuckled.

“I agree, it'll be nice to see Adam again. It's been too long.”

“Um, can we call you Comet when he does show up, because...well...” Katma gave gestured with her head in small motions, indicating the obvious.

“Right. We're both Adam. I'm so used to being called Captain Comet, I don't think I've ever noticed that before,” Adam Blake of Earth said and then the table burst out in laughter again. “Comet it is, then. I never liked the 'captain' part, that wasn't my call.”

“Uncle Adam? You're here?” The two women watched as a new figure dashed in through the door and jumped at Captain Comet's back, arms thrown around his neck and hugging for all it was worth. “Who are your friends?”

Captain Comet recovered from the sudden ambush. His hands reached up and grabbed the young woman's and pulled her around to the front of him. “Aleea Strange, does your father know where you are?” he asked in a stern voice.

“Nope! Dad was off-world with some other issue when the message arrived, and it sounded urgent, and I'd just finished working up my own suit, so I figured, why not?” She tugged herself away from her father's friend and turned around to show off the scarlet suit with the white and gold trims and the gleaming rocket pack on her back. She tugged off the eagle-surmounted red helmet and shook out her blond hair, before she dropped herself into a seat. “You know me. Now, who are you guys?”

"I'm Arisia, a current Star Sapphire but still Green Lantern buddy," the golden-skinned young woman answered as she rose to her feet and eagerly shook Aleea's hand. "They call it liaison, or ambassador, but that's just a fancy way of saying we're still family."

"Katma Tui," the Korugarian woman said as she bowed her head politely. "Still a Green Lantern. It's nice to meet you, Aleea. I've heard much about your father, though we've never met. I was unaware he had a child."

"Well he did, and that's me. It's kind of TL;DR so maybe I'll tell it another time though." She requested a drink from a server, but Captain Comet corrected it to another water. "I'm old enough to fly my own backpack, Uncle Adam!"

"Good. Do it sober for a while, okay? Your father will kill me if you crash and he has to pay for a new window or something," Comet teased her.


Guy wore a beat up old leather jacket, and he shoved his hands deep into his pockets as they walked down the street. The air was brisk, and Gardner let himself feel it.

Hank on the other hand kept his head down as they went, and Guy couldn’t help but feel sorry for the man. Hank’s whole life was upended by the Green Lantern Corps, pretty much as soon as he was inducted.

Henshaw earned the ring, showed himself to be a true emerald warrior. Then he was murdered, his body possessed by a parasite known as the Predator, something that performed horrifying acts. The Green Lantern Corps’ act of defeating the parasite returned Henshaw to life, but he still blamed himself for everything that happened.

Gardner could relate. He’d been through the same, that insidious parasite latching onto him after Hank was bought back, and it nearly drove Guy insane. They’d got through it though, and the whole experience made him appreciate his home world all the more.

Apropos of nothing, Gardner turned to Hank. “You managed to speak to Ferris yet?”

“Ah, no,” said Henshaw. “Not really, no.”

“You’ve been back on Earth for what, six months,” said Guy. “You saying you’ve still not worked up the balls to knock on her door?”

Hank shifted his head in the opposite direction of Guy and ground his teeth. “It’s not that simple.”

“Yeah, I know, I know, but still,” said Gardner.

Guy knew Carol Ferris as Hank and Hal Jordan’s boss, back in Coast City. From what he’d heard, Henshaw liked her, for sure, but when he was possessed, Ferris caught the brunt of the Predator’s machinations.

“You know better than most,” said Hank. “You know what the Predator made you do. Made me do to her. She got over it. She shouldn’t have to reopen--”

“Excuse me.” A thin man made himself known in front of the two of them as they walked down the street. “My name is Josh and I was wondering if you heard about Supernetics and how it can recharge your life?”

Guy chuckled, but shook his head. “Sorry pal, we’re not interested.”

The two Green Lanterns kept walking, and Guy snapped his fingers as he located another bar. The two men entered, and they quickly founds themselves in possession of two beers each and a corner booth.

“I could use a life recharge,” said Hank.

Guy snorted and took a swig. “Seemed like that guy was the man to speak to.”

Hank shook his head and let out a simple “ha.”

There was a silence, and the two men drank their beers. Guy shovelled a handful of salted nuts into his mouth, and those that missed fell down onto the table top. After he chewed them up and washed them down, he wiped his mouth and looked at Hank.

“I read your mission download from a few nights ago, the run-in with those parasites on that ship you encountered above Neptune. I saw the ring download of your hallucinations.”

Hank bristled at the comment. “I can’t help but feel like that’s an invasion of my privacy, Guy.”

Defensively, Guy raised his hands. “Whoa, whoa, just doing my job, Henshaw. When the forensic team finish their analysis of the ship, more than likely I’m the one who’s gonna have to follow whatever leads they throw my way.”

Hank said nothing.

“Anyway, I realised I didn’t know shit about you,” said Guy.

“You know enough,” said Hank. “So is that the reason I’m here? Team building?”

“Nah, did plenty of that shit back in the air force. But no, I don’t think I do know enough about you. I knew you were a pilot, an astronaut, but I didn’t realise you were on the Excalibur. I guess we just, uh, we don’t remember the names of you folks. You think we would, but I couldn’t remember the names of the guys on the Challenger when it went up, it just, it seems like the kind of thing we should remember.”

“We don’t often remember the names of the victims,” said Henshaw. He took a sip from his beer. “I don’t think I came to grips with it until I was forced to.”

“You never mentioned it,” said Guy.

“We never spoke. You never spoke to me, and I never spoke to you. You said it yourself, Guy: we’re not friends. We’re colleagues.” Hank paused. “And barely that.”

“I’ll give you that, sure,” said Guy. “But I’m sorry for your loss, for what it’s worth.”

“For what it’s worth,” said Hank. “Thanks.”

“I’m surprised though,” said Guy.

“What about?”

“You got the ring, and you didn’t go after Lex Luthor,” said Guy. “Surprising.”

Hank grit his teeth. “What did he do, though?”

“It was his shielding that caused--”

Hank cut him off. “The official investigation showed that the installation of the equipment was the issue, no the equipment itself. There’s no evidence that Lex Luthor’s technology was at fault.”

“Bullshit, it’s Luthor. The man’s a monster,” said Guy. “The man has been trying to kill Superman for the last ten years, and he’s nearly succeeded half those times. Hell, he nearly killed the Justice League. Last year there were rumours that he was running a secret society of super villains out of some Caribbean island.”

“Unsubstantiated. And right now he’s on the side of angels, according to his PR team,” said Hank. “The man owns every spin factory in this country. Even if I wanted to go after him, if I shot and missed, if I even hit the mark, what happens next? I’m the rogue superhuman who killed the greatest capitalist in the United States. I’m the monster. He’s the American success story cut short. A martyr.”

Guy shrugged. “Man killed your family, could have killed you. I’d have taken that shot. And I wouldn’t have missed.”

“We’re different men, Guy.”

“Maybe. Maybe not.” Guy aimed his finger at Hank like a gun. “I’ll say this though. You wanna take a shot at Luthor, I’ll have your back.”

“We’re not a pair of assassins,” said Hank. “Godammit, if I wanted to do something like that, it’d have been done. I didn’t join the Corps to become a killer. And I don’t need the ring to deal with that kind of business.”

“Damn right we didn’t join the Corps to be killers, but just because we didn’t, doesn’t mean we aren’t,” said Guy. “We do what needs to be done. Every. Single. Day.”

“Lex Luthor doesn’t need to die. At least, he doesn’t deserve to die at my hand.”

Guy shrugged again. “You don’t run these scenarios through your head?”

“There’s a difference between imagining and acting on those imaginings,” said Hank.

Guy tapped his ring. “Think again.”

Hank scoffed. “Funny.”

With a grin, Guy leaned back against his chair. “Maybe. I dunno. Big Blue wouldn’t be best impressed if we sent an emerald bullet through his archenemy’s’ head, gotta’ keep that in mind.”

“Jesus, ‘arch enemy’? You’re talking like a cartoon, Gardner. Talking like a crazy person.”

“‘Crazy’ Guy Gardner, that’s me.” He laughed, then checked the contents of his second bottle.

“I don’t think so,” said Hank. “Shifting gears for a minute, but you just want people to think you’re a loose cannon. You’re a good little soldier, like me.”

Guy didn’t say anything.

“Something on your mind?” said Hank.

After a moment, Guy held up his bottle and swung it from side to side slowly. “I’m empty.”

Henshaw finished his beer and placed it on the table. He wiped his mouth, and said, “Jarvis, McAuliffe, McNair, Onizuka, Resnik, Scobee and Smith.”

“Huh?” said Guy.

“The names of the Challenger’s crew,” said Henshaw, as he left the table and headed to the bar.

Planet Telnar:

"If this is not a most rousing sight!" As the booming voice interrupted the discussion, the quartet turned in its direction. It belonged to a large man, six and a half feet tall and piled with smooth-skinned muscle, loosely wrapped in a blue-and-white tunic edged in gold, and dark blue trousers barely holding in thick-set legs.

The stranger grabbed a chair from a table in passing and settled down onto it backward, leaning onto the back as he beamed bright and handsome. "Thank you all for coming so quickly to my request. I could not have hoped for better."

"You put out the call for help?"

"I did. I am Atmos, the Auhlmost Prince and Champion of the Imperial Throne," he answered and Arisia could swear she saw a glint on his teeth as he smiled. "And I have done all I can to make life better for my people, but I fear I have reached the end of that generosity."

"What do you mean?" Comet asked, eyes narrowed, a suspicious mind scanning each of the prince's actions as the mountainous man spoke. He noted the tall flame-red hair like a fin on the bald head; he noted the metallic blue eyes lit by an inner fire as Atmos spoke; he noted the energetic movement of the hands as he told his story. If Atmos noticed the scrutiny, he paid it little heed.

"I am loathe to admit it, but my mother, my family, they are poor rulers, and allow an corrupt bureaucracy to burden the citizens. I must bring an end to this den of criminals!" His fist smacked the wooden tabletop, causing it to crack and bow under the force.

Arisia shared a glance with Katma, the two amused ring-slingers not sure how to take the speech. "I can see you're pretty passionate there, Prince, but I'm not really sure it's our place to go around overthrowing governments because you don't like them."

"I can understand your hesitation, dear lady," Atmos continued. He leaned across the table and rested the large hand over hers as he continued to speak. "I could rally the people, rouse them to anger, arm them and bring this to revolution. But my people have suffered enough. Do they need to bleed and die in futility against a family such as mine?"

"Such as yours?" Katma glanced at the hand on her friend's and frowned. "What do you mean?"

"You have powers, don't you? And your family does as well?" Captain Comet theorized.

"Yes, truly. I am the Prince of Power, fueled by mighty nuclear forces. I share this power with my sister Ig'nea, and both of us pale before our mother," Atmos said. His voice grew subdued as he added, "Empress Tiamat."

"Tiamat?" Captain Comet leaned back and looked thoughtfully away. "Not--"

"Aye!" Atmos said with vigor returned to his voice. "The very same. Mother has told me many of her stories when I was growing up. I have patterned much of my life after her very youth."

"Who is Tiamat?" Arisia asked.

"A mythological being on Earth. A primordial being of great power, often considered a dragon or sea serpent," Adam Blake spoke slowly, as he drew on the tales of his home world of Earth from long ago. "Aleea's dad would be the better choice to get more details, he's an archaeologist."

"I know Earth myths!" Aleea diverted her attention from the handsome young prince opposite her at the table, finally drawn to speak up and show off. "Dad told me all about them. He said we'd visit some of the locations soon, actually."

"Can we stop talking about my mother as a myth?" Atmos laughed as he tapped Comet's shoulder with his fist. The Earthling rocked to one side and noted the raw power in the playful motion. "She is real enough, and did indeed give birth to these old stories of your world, good Captain."

"Then she's as tough as you claim," Arisia said. "Any sort of uprising--"

"Would indeed be crushed, I fear. My sister Ig'nea as well. She loves the comforts of her privilege, and has made all manner of friends with beings of ill-repute. I have no doubt she would call on them to help secure her place." He turned now to Katma, his hand moved to hers, brushed fingertips and looked with such sincere and hopeful eyes. "You understand why I called on comrades of my own to balance out the engagement?"

The crimson-skinned Lantern pretended not to feel the touch, but she provided him with a comforting smile. "I do understand, very well. Do you know who any of your sister's friends might be?"

"No, but that is why I propose our first strike must be Station Zomnis, a military outpost near to here," Atmos explained. "It has a communications array that Ig'nea often uses to coordinate with her friends, among other less savory antics."

"Not a big fan of your sister, are ya?" Arisia teased the prince.

"It seems like there's no harm in investigating this outpost, looking into the family and checking out the Prince's story," Comet admitted, still unconvinced. "Besides, it seems like some at this table are all in, and I'm not explaining to their father why I left them behind." He tipped his head toward the smitten Aleea, and elicited a chuckle out of Arisia.

"My first adventure! This is gonna rock!" The youngest of the heroes whooped it up.

"Stick by me, kid, and you'll be fine," Arisia assured her with a hand on Aleea's shoulder.

"It's decided then. With such compatriots as the legendary Captain Comet, and you fine ladies, at my side, nothing can keep us from restoring glory to the empire," Atmos announced as he raised his cup in a toast. "And justice," he quickly added after looks from several at the table. "For the people!"

The five people toasted, drank up, then rose from their seats. Atmos led them out from the tavern, Aleea and Katma at his sides as they talked about his people, and his family. Arisia hung back with Captain Comet though, and leaned in to whisper to him.

"You're have a problem with our 'Prince of Power', Captain?"

"A few. If his mother is actually THE Tiamat, that's kind of frightening. She'd be thousands of Earth years old," Adam replied as the pair conspired during the walk to the town's outskirts. "Doesn't make her evil though. The problem is, Auhlmos is well off the beaten stellar track. I know very little about it."

"Same here. Not a place that drew much Lantern attention, probably because of it being out of the way. And if the ruling family was super-powered, that would help.'

"Aleea seems star-struck," Comet mused. "I'd expect more restraint from Katma however. From what I know of her, she's nothing but a consummate professional."

"Yeah, about that. She is. I think there's more to Atmos then just muscles."

"Okay then." He stopped and turned to the spritely Star Sapphire, putting a hand out. "You and I, we'll keep it all on the up and up, and make sure our friends come out okay. Deal?"

"Deal, Captain!" Arisia replied with a bright smile and shook his hand. "And get to the bottom of this Atmos and his family."

"Are you two going to drag your heels the whole time?" Aleea called back as the group stopped at a small rocky rise overlooking the small town. "Geez, we have justice to restore! Didn't you hear the Prince?"

"Atmos, my young spitfire," Atmos said to her, a hand between her shoulder blades. "No formality among blooded companions!"

Arisia rolled her eyes and Comet gritted his teeth as the five people gathered together. Arisia, Katma and Atmos combined their energies in a shimmering, coruscating globe of power and streaked out into the stars before an eye could blink, leaving only a blackened circle of rock in their wake.



“Christ, how much did we drink?” said Guy.

“A bar,” said Hank.

Gardner waved his hand around in a gesture Henshaw didn’t understand, and it didn’t take the former astronaut long to realise that the former pilot didn’t know what it meant either. “Well… watch yourself, I’m not carrying you home.”

“Excuse me,” the same man who interrupted the two Lanterns earlier stood in front of them, pamphlets in hand. “Have you--”

“I am drunk,” said Guy. “Really, really trashed and I don’t--”

Henshaw put his hand up in front of Guy to signal for him to stop talking, and Gardner fell silent, blinking in confusion at Hank’s palm. “I’m sorry, we’re really, not interested in, uh--”

“Supernetics,” said the man, “the way to--”

“Yeah, right, Supernetics, which, uh, I’m sure is, really, uh, really great,” said Hank.

“It is! If you want to consider this literature, you’ll see that there’s only one way to purge your soul of all the negativity and weight it accumulates across your lifetime. It’ll answer any questions you might--”

The man pushed a pamphlet into Hank’s hand and his hand brushed against the Green Lantern’s, sending an immense spark of energy crackling across Henshaw’s invisible protective aura projected by his power ring. The sudden explosion of light caused Hank and Guy to immediately transform into their Green Lantern uniforms, and Guy grabbed the man by the collar, lifting him up off the ground while aiming his power ring at his face.

“I’m not drunk anymore,” said Guy. “Bad news for you.”

Henshaw nodded, his ring processing the alcohol out of his bloodstream as a crystal clear clarity fell across his senses. “Supernetics?” His power ring flared. “Yeah, I have some questions.”