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Post by Admin on Jul 11, 2006 20:52:12 GMT -5
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Post by Admin on Jul 11, 2006 20:52:43 GMT -5
Tales of the Green Lantern Corps Issue#9: “Prelude to Disaster” Writer: Scott D. L. Kruger Cover by Scott Kruger Edited by David Charlton
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Post by Admin on Jul 11, 2006 20:53:14 GMT -5
2 Months Later…
The threat of the LEGION Virus was, at long last, over. Many Green Lantern’s perished, while others had decided the Corps life was no longer for them. The Guardians of the Universe and their Green Lantern Corps had the arduous task of rebuilding. With well over one thousand Green Lanterns either dead or missing, it would not be an easy task, to say the least.
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Post by Admin on Jul 11, 2006 20:54:33 GMT -5
Sector 112, Current Status: UNMANNED
It had been the same in every sector they had gone to. Nothing.
Katma Tui, of Korugar, flew silently through the endless void, side by side with Kilowog of Bolovax Vik. Both Green Lanterns, both on a solemn mission: track, collect and find replacements for the rings of their fallen comrades.
“This is pointless Kilowog… the ring’s dead. Why not just let it be?” Katma said irritably.
“First off, meat, The Guardians give us orders, we follow ‘em!” Kilowog shouted at her causing her to flinch. “Secondly, we’re not sure if every ring reacted the same. Sinestro’s ring’s still yellow and out there somewhere… wouldn’t want another one fallin’ into the wrong hands. Thirdly… show some sprockin’ respect! If we find our guys out here dead or alive, we’re bringin’ ‘em home. Got that?”
“Yes sir.” She replied timidly.
She thought it better not to speak for a while, for Hell hath no fury like an irritable Kilowog. They flew in silence for a while longer, until their destination came into sight.
“That’s it… the planet Jayd.” Katma confirmed.
Jayd was a small planet on the outer regions of sector 112. Its green plains, majestic oceans and small city-states remained hidden behind a thick layer of gray clouds.
“OK, Kat, new planet, same orders. We find the ring… if it’s not infected, we power it up, find a new ring-slinger and zap ‘em back to OA.”
“I know the drill… same as the last sector and the one before that and the one before…” her voice trailed off as she headed planet-side.
“YOU GOING JORDAN ON ME???” Kilowog shouted at her, knowing it would push her buttons. It was a new phrase Kilowog had coined after Hal Jordan, Green Lantern of Earth - Sector 2814, had shown a blatant disregard for Kilowog’s orders in the Battle of Qward. Katma, though, now had a grudging respect for Jordan, so where she would have seen it as an insult before, now she just finds it slightly annoying.
Katma turned and made a hand gesture that, on Korugar, meant something that had to have been terribly rude. She then turned and continued on her path toward the planet.
“Fraggin’ newbies… got no respect.” He grumbled and followed.
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Post by Admin on Jul 11, 2006 20:56:19 GMT -5
Sector 2814, Earth
Dr. Neal Emerson stood upon the wreckage of what once was S.T.A.R. Labs, Los Angeles. He had been experimenting with magnetism for some time and had recently developed gauntlets that, in theory, would have granted him the ability to harness the Earth's magnetic fields. The project, dubbed ‘Polaris’, had, until a few moments before, gone untested.
Most of the other S.T.A.R. Labs scientists did not like the idea of toying with Earth's magnetic fields. In fact, his supervisor, Dr. Tina McGee, forbade it unless the experiment was performed in a controlled environment. It would have been months before the tests could begin. Dr. Emerson, was a genius, he would not wait for others to take the credit for what he had done.
Without their approval, Emerson decided to test the gauntlets himself, after hours... Which resulted in an unexpected and catastrophic explosion. Being he was at the magnetic center of the blast was the only thing that saved Emerson’s life… unfortunately for the janitorial crew working at the time, they were not as lucky.
The amount of energy the gauntlets employed permanently fused the them to the doctor’s forearms. Confused and disoriented, Emerson staggered through the wreckage finding his first victim. He knelt down to check the woman’s vital signs. He knew her… her name was Rosa. She was a single mother of three, working two jobs just to make ends meet.
What had he done?
The calculations must have been off… he had not anticipated such power. He had to test it again. He had to…
The sound of sirens snapped him back to reality. He looked down at the body of Rosa… he would be blamed for this. But it wasn’t his fault! The calculations were wrong. But the authorities would not understand. They would arrest him, charge him, call him a mad scientist ...
But how could they? He had unlimited power at his fingertips! They couldn’t catch him! He could manipulate the Earth’s magnetic fields now! He could fly! Coast City…! Coast City had another branch of S.T.A.R. Labs.
Emerson fled the scene, flying North toward Coast City, the lab there would have the tools he would need to adjust the gauntlets, then he would be seen as the genius he truly was!
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Post by Admin on Jul 11, 2006 20:58:26 GMT -5
Sector 112, Planet Jayd
The people of Jayd’s capital city, Arago, ran in all direction at the first sight of Kilowog and Katma Tui. Most of them screamed, some begged for mercy and others prayed to their Gods for salvation. Katma and Kilowog stared at them dumfounded.
“We mean you no harm!” Katma shouted, amplifying her voice with her power ring. The people shrank away from her unnaturally loud voice.
“It ain’t gonna work that way, Pooz…” Kilowog places his hand on her shoulder, “We’re going to have to earn their trust again.”
Rebuilding efforts on the city were just beginning, since the disappearance of the sector’s Green Lantern. The Jadyans waited for fear that Kentor Omoto, once their hero and Green Lantern, would reappear and destroy their city again.
“This isn’t like the others,” Katma said as they approached the last known signal from Kentor Omoto. “The others left their home worlds… this one stayed here and conquered his. I thought they only desired assimilation.”
The building they stood before was, at one time, the capital building of Jayd. It was destroyed utterly, the roof caved in on the rest of the building. Glass and permacrete covered the ground.
“There’s a lot we still don’t understand about what happened. According to records this is the third ring the Guardians lost track of.” Kilowog removed a large piece of rubble from the top of the heap with his ring. “It’s possible that the virus had a different effect during its early stages.”
“You think the virus may have mutated?” Katma asked weary of his response. If the virus had mutated, was it possible that somewhere it still existed?
“Maybe, who the sprock really knows? Let the Guardians figure it out. Let’s just get what we came for and get off this planet.”
As the two continued digging, a small crowd of curious Jadyans gathered. Each carried a makeshift weapon in case the Lanterns turned on them like their protector had. A woman led them. She stood defiantly upright with her proud head held high, silently challenging the Green Lanterns to act.
“Kil!” Katma shouted drawing Kilowog’s attention away from a large knot of twisted steel. “I’ve got something! Yes, a residual energy reading.”
“Don’t touch it Kat!” Kilowog ordered gliding effortlessly to her side.
He looked down too see the skeletal remains of Kentor Omoto. His uniform restored to its natural green color as had the ring on his left hand.
Kilowog bowed his head in a silent prayer, something that all Bolvaxians did in mourning. Their hive minds would link and share prayers and memories of the deceased. Here though, there was no one to share memories with… he just did it because it should have be done. A warrior had fallen.
Katma was taken aback by Kilowog’s reverence for the fallen. She too bowed her head out of respect.
Kilowog ordered his ring to scan Kentor’s for trace elements of the LEGION virus. His ring signaled in response that the virus had been burned out completely. It was clean once again. Jordan did good. He gave Katma the human ’thumbs up’ signal that Hal taught him, signaling to her that the ring was clean.
She rolled her eyes at the human response and called forth her power battery. She placed the fallen Lantern’s ring on her finger and recited the sacred oath:
“In brightest day, in blackest night, no evil shall escape my sight. Let those who worship evil’s might, beware my power, Green Lantern’s light!”
In a flash of emerald light the ring was recharged.
The gathered crowd ran for cover again, except for their leader.
“I am Laira of Jayd,” The leader proclaimed, “and I order you to leave our world and never come back!” The woman ordered holding her weapon, a piece of jagged steel dug from the ruins of the capital building, Laira knew that the Green Lanterns could destroy her with a thought, but she would not yield. Her world needed a defender and it would never again fall to a Green Lantern.
“I don’t think it’s necessary to ask the ring to find a successor.” Katma said to Kilowog flatly.
“Do it anyway,” Kilowog ordered crossing his arms, engaging Laira in a glaring contest.
Katma silently ordered the ring to find someone worthy of bearing it. Someone, honest, fearless and with an unshakeable willpower.
The ring took flight and silently glided onto the finger of Laira. She stared down at the ring in shock.
“But… I…” Laira stammered.
“Congratulations, meat.” Kilowog said with a smile, enveloping her in green energy. “Welcome to the Corps.”
Laira vanished.
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Post by Admin on Jul 11, 2006 20:58:58 GMT -5
Coast City, California, the home of Carol Ferris, CEO of Ferris Aircraft.
Carol Ferris sat before her vanity preparing herself for her second date with the new test pilot, Hal Jordan. To say the first date didn't go so well would be an understatement... halfway through dinner, Hal abruptly left, promising that he would "be right back". Needless to say, after an hour, he didn't, sticking her with the check.
The following Monday, Hal came to work with a large bouquet of flowers and an apology, using a rather lame excuse about his brother Jack. He begged for a second chance and, being a sucker for his big brown eyes, she gave in.
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Post by Admin on Jul 11, 2006 21:00:02 GMT -5
Hal Jordan, test pilot and Green Lantern of sector 2814.
Hal drove his black Mustang down the highway on his way to Carol Ferris' house. So far, being GL of sector 2814, had been very interesting. He had been to space, other planets… Hell, other dimensions! Even back on Earth, living in Coast City, he'd become a bit of a local celebrity. Crime was down and the tourist trade was way up. The city council had even changed the sign leading into town to read: “Welcome to Coast City: Home of Green Lantern! Pop. 95,631”.
Some folks had even started to try and make a buck off of their local super-hero, selling t-shirts with his emblem on it.
He'd also been labeled the "Emerald Gladiator", "Emerald Crusader", "Emerald Knight" and the "Green Guardian"... and even though he’d turned down many network interviews, he’d reconsider if it could get him a date with the channel 11 news reporter. But there’s the problem… he would have to go on a date with her as Green Lantern. Hal Jordan would have to take a back-seat. There was no way he’d be able to tell a reporter his secret identity… that kind of thing only worked out in comic books.
Yes, life had become much more interesting for him... but there was just something about Carol Ferris.
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Post by Admin on Jul 11, 2006 21:01:11 GMT -5
OA, Center of the Known Universe.
In an instant Laira reappeared before the Main Power Battery. She stared in awe of the massive power battery. The rough trip through hyper-space quickly caught up with her, as grabbed hold of her stomach.
“Welcome to OA, Laira of Jayd.” A small blue man greeted her. “I am Heppa Hansu Hu, Guardian of sector 68.”
“But… I… huh?” Laira replied in shock looking at her surroundings.
“Of course. Don’t worry… Everything will become clear shortly.”
The Guardian took Laira by the hand and began to lead her away. He stopped suddenly, looking to his left. He saw a Corpsman standing before the battery, staring up at it.
“Excuse me a moment.” Heppa dismissed himself and floated to the side of the Lantern. He set himself down and stared up at the battery as well. “Something on your mind, Carthag?”
“No sir.” Carthag replied to Heppa, not taking his eyes from the battery. “Just… day dreaming.”
“Ahhh…” Heppa eyed Carthag thoughtfully. “Very well then, carry on…” Sensing no malice or trouble from the Lantern, Heppa brought his focus back to Laira.
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Post by Admin on Jul 11, 2006 21:02:19 GMT -5
Hal pulled up to Carol’s house, his mind wandered to their last date...
Well, the last attempted date with Carol. In the middle of it, some idiot calling himself ‘Evil Star’ decided to trash an observatory outside of town... The guy had a little midget minion... his own personal 'mini me'... It was sad. The overweight man looked like a reject from KISS, or, perhaps, a really bad amateur wrestler wearing red and purple spandex with a red star covering his forehead.
Hal caught sight of the action as it was unfolding on a TV in the restaurant he and Carol were at. Anytime something happened that Hal could prevent or stop, his power ring had an annoying habit of activating. The AI contained in the ring knew when he was needed, regardless of where he was or whether the time was right. When it activated, he felt an odd tingling sensation on his ring hand... Signifying that he had about 60 seconds to get clear of anyone before his uniform appeared.
Not this time! This time, to ensure no interruptions, he had left his power ring at home. Though now he felt an odd pang of guilt… what if someone did need him…?
Hal approached Carol's front door, bouquet of pink roses in his hand (not red… never red. He shuddered at the thought of red, maybe he wasn’t fearless after all…) and rang the doorbell. After a moment, she opened the door.
"You're early, flyboy, trying to get back on my good side?" She said with a smile.
"I wasn't aware that I was still on your bad side... These are for you." Hal responded with a cocky grin.
"Thanks. I'll put them with the other bouquet you gave me this week." She smirked, snatching the flowers from his hand.
Ouch, should have brought candy...
"Relax, flyboy, I'm just teasing you. They're beautiful and you need to lighten up a bit."
"You're beautiful, the flowers are just to say 'hello'," he said confidently.
"Slow down there 'Highball', I never kiss on the first date." She replied to his lame line, placing a hand on his chest to keep him an arm’s length away.
"Second date, ma‘am, remember?" he countered with a smirk.
"You call that fiasco a date? You need to raise you standards a bit. Oh, call me 'ma'am' again and I'll make sure you fly nothing but simulators for the rest of your natural life."
"Yes ma'... uh, right, ready to go then?"
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Post by Admin on Jul 11, 2006 21:03:44 GMT -5
Sector 68, en route to the planet G’newt.
Kilowog and Katma took flight again in search of missing rings and new recruits. Their next stop, the planet G’newt in sector 68.
“I know I asked this before… but I really, really have no desire to go to G’newt…”
“Don’t even continue that statement. That’s an order. We have a job ta do and we’re gonna do it.” Kilowog barked at her. “How many sprockin’ times are we gonna have this conversation? You’re a member of the elite for frak’s sake, act like it!”
Katma didn’t respond. He was right, she would have never mouthed off to Sinestro. Her mind traveled back to him. How she hated his guts, yet respected him all the same. He didn’t deserve to die on Earth, though she no longer blamed Hal for that. She let go of her anger. Jordan had proven himself and one day they’d bring Sinestro’s killer to justice.
{Trace Elements of Oan energy discovered on the planet below} The voice of Branwilla, Kilowog’s mentor, spoke through his ring. Both Lantern’s stopped in mid-flight, and looked down to the rock below. The barren world was ashen gray, devoid of water or any form of life.
Katma glanced over at Kilowog with a hopeful look on her face. He looked at her, then down at the planet below.
“Fine!” he said irritably, “Go, check it out. You find anything--- and I mean ANYTHING--- You report to OA immediately, understood? No questions, got it?”
“Got it!” she replied with a smile and flew full speed to the planet surface.
“Sprocking meat… fraggin’ impatient… Daughter of a Pooz…” he mumbled to himself as he continued the journey toward G’newt.
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Post by Admin on Jul 11, 2006 21:04:11 GMT -5
Sector 2814, Earth
"So, how long have you been in charge at Ferris?" Hal said trying to break the awkward silence, as he drove down Main Street. He turned the radio down a bit to hear her response.
"Since my father retired 3 years ago..."
"Been tough?"
"At first... getting people to listen to me wasn't easy. We all warmed up to each other eventually, and now we're a well oiled machine."
{"Breaking news out of Los Angeles,"} the radio news announcer came on. {"S.T.A.R. Labs is the scene of a major disas…"}
Hal quickly turned the radio off, even though he had a nagging feeling that he shouldn't have.
"Sorry, you were saying?" Hal smiled uneasily feeling that pang of guilt gnawing at him once again.
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Post by Admin on Jul 11, 2006 21:05:45 GMT -5
Half an hour later, Hal and Carol sat across from each other sipping wine.
"So, better than last time?" Hal asked hopefully.
"So far, so good... let's hope your brother doesn't have an emergency this time."
"Heh, yeah... My brother…” He placed the wine glass to his lips and took a large drink, draining the glass of its contents. He was supposed to be honest… that was part of the Green Lantern thing, right? Did that spill over into protecting his personal life? He hated that he had to lie to her. “Anyway, how about we get started with an appetizer? How about...?"
Hal was suddenly interrupted by a large explosion across the street. The concussion shattered the windows in the restaurant. All of the patrons ran for cover, screaming.
“For the love of…” Hal sprang up from his chair, facing the broken window pane. His hand began to tingle as his power ring suddenly materialized. The mental bond he and the ring shared was unbreakable even over distances.
“Hal!” She shouted pulling at his arm to get him get him under the table with her. He pulled her up and took her by the shoulders.
"Carol, take cover in the kitchen..." He ordered, stripping his coat off and throwing it over her head for added protection.
"What about you?" she asked pulling his left arm back toward the kitchen.
"DON'T WORRY ABOUT ME!” he shouted, yanking his arm free, “I'll get the injured folks to safety. JUST GO!”
Carol ran to the kitchen in the rear of the restaurant with the other patrons. Hal quickly glanced around to see if anyone was watching. Satisfied he was alone, he willed his GL uniform on. "Dammit, why the hell can't I just have a normal date like everyone else?"
Hal flew out of the restaurant seeing overturned police patrol cars scattered everywhere. The video store across the street was on fire with people trapped inside. Between him and the video store stood an older man in a lab coat with really big metal gloves. The man had thrown Hal's car into the video store window, causing the explosion.
"Not my car…” Hal looked up at Dr. Emerson, “Hey Pops, that car was not cheap..."
Hal sent a beam of light toward the deranged doctor wrapping him in glowing green chains, while he scooped up the endangered people in the video store with another.
"Alright, Professor, what's your damage? Does Mary Ann like Gilligan better?" Hal taunted.
A street-side mailbox ripped free of its mooring and launched itself at Hal. Hal deflected the mailbox with a green shield, accidentally knocking it into a patrol car. Apparently chaining him wasn't helping...
"Leave me alone, it was an accident, I swear! I didn‘t do anything…" Dr. Emerson screamed at Hal. “I just need to get to S.T.A.R. Labs…”
"Sure, a car flying through a video store windows is... what? An act of God? Come on pal, come quietly, take off those stupid metal mittens, and we'll work this mess out."
"NO, you idiot, you don't understand... they're a part of me now!" Emerson yelled holding the gauntlets aloft.
Hal was struck upside the head with traffic light pole, followed by a pair of parked cars. His ring automatically protected him from harm and, luckily, the folks Hal rescued were clear of the fire when his concentration was broken.
Unfortunately, Dr. Emerson was free as well.
"Dr. Neal Emerson, this is Chief Redding of the Coast City PD, drop your weapons or we will be forced to open fire." Chief Redding spoke through a bullhorn behind the cover of an over-turned cruiser.
"I can't, you morons, they're attached," he shouted back at the Police chief. “Does anyone in this damned city speak English? I must get to S.T.A.R. Labs!”
"Alright, open fire!" Chief Redding ordered.
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Post by Admin on Jul 11, 2006 21:06:25 GMT -5
Sector 68, planet Orinda.
Katma landed on the surface of the planet Orinda. The environment was inhospitable for any known life form. The planet was devoid of any atmosphere and free of liquid of any kind. She spotted canyons and crevices that suggested water once existed on the planet as she flew in… but judging from the soil, it’d been at least a millennium.
“Ring, scan the surface for Oan energy signatures.”
{scanning} Sinestro’s voice… she was unsure if she would ever get used to hearing his voice as her ring‘s AI. {Scan complete, 150 secs, southwest.}
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Post by Admin on Jul 11, 2006 21:07:42 GMT -5
The remains of a city. A strange city… ancient and primitive, but with remnants of super modern technology grafted throughout it. The tech was in a bad state of disrepair. It had been there for a very long time. Almost as if something had moved in, made it their home and quickly left again without packing.
Another collapsed building. The ancient foreign architecture yielded no clue as to its purpose. The Oan energy signal emanated from below it. Not beneath the ruins, but below ground.
She heaved the wreckage and rubble aside with her ring, finding a hatch beneath. She hesitated a moment before opening the hatch. She was not afraid, she was fearless, but her instincts told her to be cautious. She slowly opened the hatch and was met by a rush of stale air. The last vestige of atmosphere the planet had held.
She peered down into the open hatch seeing nothing. She lowered herself into it, gently touching down on a steel floor. The room was completely dark. She used her power ring to illuminate her surroundings. It was a laboratory. Ancient computers (by Korugarian standards) lined the walls. Work stations. In the center of the room was a table… an operating table by the look of it.
Something sat on the table. Whatever it was faced the opposite wall. From behind, it looked like a severed humanoid head, wearing a helmet.
“Scan for defenses.” She ordered her ring.
{Scanning. Indications negative}
She approached the table, walking around it to face the thing. It was a head, but it was not organic. It was the head of a deactivated android. And judging from the layer of dust on it, nowhere near as ancient as the lab or the ruins outside.
“Ring?” she asked hoping for further information.
{Scanning... Report to OA immediately with the artifact}
“Artifact?” she questioned the ring. She quickly enveloped the head in her protective aura and took flight.
Once she was free of the planets gravitational pull, she jumped into hyper-space for OA without hesitation.
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Post by Admin on Jul 11, 2006 21:10:18 GMT -5
Sector 2814, Earth.
Hal emerged from the beneath the car wreckage just as CCPD’s finest opened fire on Emerson. Emerson raised both his gauntleted hands, creating a wall of magnetic energy that stopped the bullets just centimeters from his face. He turned his hands around, forcing the bullets to mimic the movement. He flung his hands forward, sending the bullets back toward the police that fired them.
“NO!“ Hal shouted throwing himself with super-speed between the Police and Emerson, creating an emerald barrier to stop the bullets. Hal’s arm was grazed by one of them, but he ignored the pain, keeping his concentration locked onto the task at hand.
"Hey Chief, you're not helping here! Can we try to not piss off the guy with the big magnet hands?" Hal shouted over his shoulder toward Chief Redding.
"Why won't you people listen to me???" Emerson sobbed into his gloved hands.
"Listen, Dr. Emerson, is it? Come on guy, just power down and let's talk about this." Hal tried to reason with him.
"My life is over, Emerson is dead. Polaris…. The Polaris project… yes… Polaris." Emerson shouted over and over again. “I am Polaris!”
"I'll call you Susie, if that's what you want, just knock it off..." Hal replied.
Polaris began to buckle the girders in the restaurant Hal and Carol had been dining at, bringing the façade of the restaurant down first, followed by the entire building. Hal quickly placed green support columns underneath the falling structure to hold it up. He generated giant nets to catch excess debris before it killed anyone or destroyed more property.
Using Earth's magnetic fields, Polaris took the opportunity to make his escape, quickly flying out of sight. He knew that if he continued to S.T.A.R. Labs, he would be pursued. He had nowhere to go. He just fled.
Hal decided to save the restaurant patrons instead of pursuing Polaris. He rushed into the ruined restaurant, sure the building was secure for the moment. He found Carol in the restaurant kitchen helping to treat some of the wounded.
"Ladies and gentlemen, if you please come with me... quickly..." Hal urged using his ‘hero’ voice.
He wrapped everyone in his protective aura, and flew them out to relative safety. Once outside he noticed that Polaris was long gone. Carol Ferris just stared in awe at her rescuer.
Chief Redding stormed up to Green Lantern, jabbing a meaty finger in his chest.
"You let the psycho go... hero,” Redding barked, spittle flying into Hal’s face. “You could've let us go in after the people and taken off after that nut job."
"Yeah, and possibly gotten you and your men killed. I made a judgment call that I can live with, chief. I’m sorry if you don’t like it.” Hal barked back, unflinching. “And anyone ever tell you it's not nice to point?"
Hal moved Chief Redding out of his way with a transparent green hand and stalked off into the street.
“I’ll be watching you Lantern!” the chief shouted at Hal. “You and your kind are a menace!”
Hal ignored the chief as he stopped to look at the ruined wreck of his car still smoldering in the video store. Sonuva… why is it that my cars always end up exploding? He felt a sudden pain in his left shoulder. He glanced down at his shoulder and noticed the open wound created by the bullet.
What the Hell… I thought you were supposed to automatically protect me? And help heal me…
There was no response… there hadn’t been one since the battle on Qward.
"Excuse me Mr. … ummm… Mr. Lantern..." Carol tapped him on the shoulder.
"Uh, yes ma‘am… ahem!” Hal replied, quickly clearing his throat and deepening his voice. “What can I do for you young lady...?"
"You were… amazing, but... My, uh, friend… was here helping the injured... tall, brown hair, brown eyes, black suit?"
"Friend? ...Right…”
Friend!?
“I think I saw him round the corner over there." He pointed to a building on the southwest corner of Main St.
"Thank…”
Hal flew off in the opposite direction, quickly disappearing from sight.
“…you… Wow.”
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Post by Admin on Jul 11, 2006 21:11:33 GMT -5
Hal doubled back, in stealth mode. He used the ring to bandage the wound on his shoulder. It didn’t hurt, but he didn’t want to get blood all over his suit.
Carol gingerly walked in the general direction the Green Lantern pointed to in regard to Hal‘s location. She kept her eyes on the sky the entire time. That uniform, that body...
"Carol! Thank God you're alright,” Hal said trying to hide his disappointment toward the ‘friend’ comment. “I was able to get some of those folks to safety when all hell broke loose. Can I walk you home?"
"Walk, what happened to your car?" Carol asked, suddenly drawn back to her date.
"Crazy guy with the wacky gloves tossed it into that video store across the way."
"Oh Hal! I’m so sorry. You loved that car.”
“Yeah… but, it’s just a car. You’re safe, that’s what really matters. Let me walk you home…”
“No... you know what Hal…” She said, looking to the sky again. Hal did not like the tone in her voice. “I think that maybe this isn't such a great idea. I'll hop a cab and see you at work on Monday."
"Carol, come on, this wasn't my fault..."
"I know,” She looked back at Hal, “it's just that... I’ve been thinking. I don't think I should date employees, it sets a bad example. And... and we're not getting off on a very good foot."
She stood up on her tip-toes, kissed Hal on the cheek and walked away.
She spent the whole brief conversation glancing up. Great, I'm being dumped for myself... give me a freaking break.
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Post by Admin on Jul 11, 2006 21:13:03 GMT -5
OA, Center of the known Universe.
Katma Tui reentered real space above the Oan atmosphere. She flew down to the planet’s surface and landed before the Main Power Battery as she always had. She felt it was a sign of respect to honor the Battery. She saw a fellow Green Lantern there staring at the Battery, Carthag of Sector 2306.
“Katma Tui, of sector 1417” he nodded to her, turning his attention from the power battery.
“Carthag…” she nodded back strangely suspicious… though he had proven himself many times over as a worthy Green Lantern, she always regarded him cautiously due to his Apokoliptian heritage.
He glanced down at the android head she cradled.
The sign.
As if not of his own accord, Carthag snatched the head from her hands. Before she could react he placed his ring on the android’s forehead.
“Katma! I can’t stop it…” He shouted to her, “Please… help…”
His voice was interrupted by an enormous explosion. Carthag was incinerated and Katma was thrown backward, crashing into a wall. Her ring took the brunt of the blast, but immediately died out. She slumped over, feeling groggy, the ringing in her ears was almost as deafening as the blast itself. The last thing she saw before slipping into darkness… Corpsmen falling from the sky and the smoldering ruin of the Central Power Battery...!
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Post by Admin on Jul 11, 2006 21:14:04 GMT -5
Hal stepped into an empty alley and changed back into his uniform. He took to the sky heading back toward his apartment. He flew over Centennial Park when his ring suddenly lost power.
He began an uncontrollable freefall when his ring suddenly surged back to life. He stopped dead, righting himself. He glanced down at his ring, as it pulsated and spewed excess energy. More energy than he has ever seen from any ring. Was this a result of what he had done on Qward?
A loud ‘BOOM’ interrupted his train of thought as the sun went dim. He glanced up and was horrified by the sight. In the sky above him, filling his vision, was a black planet vomiting fire!
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Post by Admin on Jul 11, 2006 21:16:35 GMT -5
BE HERE NEXT MONTH FOR THE LAST REGULAR ISSUE OF TALES OF THE GREEN LANTERN CORPS AND WE EXPLODE INTO OUR CONTINUITY-WIDE MEGA-CROSSOVER EVENT CRISIS: THE APOKOLIPS IMPERATIVE!
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Post by mockingbird on Jul 31, 2011 13:13:30 GMT -5
To let us know what you think of this issue, please visit the letters page here!
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