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Chapter 342: Leader Hal
As the interstellar peacekeeping force chosen by the Guardians, the Green Lantern Corps was, in essence, just a gun in their hands. The Power Ring was not only the most powerful weapon they relied on to traverse the universe, but it was also the Guardians' means of controlling them.
The laws of Oa were written into the most fundamental programs of the Green Lantern Ring, and no Green Lantern could defy them.
One of the more well-known laws in interstellar space was the prohibition of all lethal force.
The Green Lantern Ring was not permitted to be used to take a life.
Even using indirect means to execute a target—for instance, using the Power Ring's power to hurl a heavy object and crush the target to death—was forbidden. Because the Green Lantern Ring itself is a weapon guided by thought, it can, in turn, read the user's intentions.
The moment a user has the intent to kill, the thought of "I want to put someone to death," the Power Ring will be locked. At the same time, the violation is automatically registered and uploaded, and the Green Lantern in question will await the judgment of the court.
Just like Green Lantern Boodikka now.
"Please, no," Boodikka stared wide-eyed at the extinguished Power Ring in her hand. "Don't abandon me..."
The Guardian continued to sneer, "Willpower is fragile. The era of the Green Lantern Corps is about to end... Hmm? What is it?"
He stopped abruptly, his brow furrowed.
A communication from the Yellow Lantern channel, directly linked through the energy of the Emotional Spectrum, resounded in his mind.
"More Green Lanterns are approaching, and Jordan hasn't unleashed his full power yet," a cold voice said to him. "Retreat for now."
The Guardian replied coldly, "Don't give me orders. We are only temporary allies. The Green Lanterns are no threat to me, not a single one."
"Not now," the voice said icily.
The Guardian fell silent for a moment, then grunted heavily before looking at the assembled Green Lanterns.
"You've been spared."
Then, a golden light flashed in his eyes. The next moment, the yellow constructs in front of all the Green Lanterns exploded in unison. The energy of fear erupted like a chain of depth charges, dyeing even the sky its color.
"Boodikka!"
Hal flew forward. Boodikka's Power Ring was locked; she was the only one on the scene unable to protect herself. Hal raised a shield with the utmost speed, and the concussive force and energy from the explosion were blocked by the metallic barrier.
When the smoke dissipated, the Guardian was nowhere to be seen.
"Warp space reaction detected," the Power Ring reported. "Guardian energy signature has disappeared."
He was gone.
Kilowog, shrouded in green light, climbed out from a pile of ruins. "Is everyone alright?"
"I'll live," a Green Lantern said, patting the dust off himself.
"The Yellow Lantern Corps is assembling, and we've lost a Guardian... Damn it," Kilowog muttered. "Could things possibly get any worse?"
"Don't jinx it, big guy. You and I, of all people, should know there's no 'worst,' only 'worse,'" Hal said. "We need to get back to Headquarters immediately and figure out what's going on. Where the enemy is, what their objective is... and how we're going to kick their asses back to where they came from."
"I like that part," Kilowog grunted.
The Green Lanterns constructed a massive warship, taking all the captured Yellow Lantern prisoners aboard. Then, they all took to the sky, heading back towards Oa.
During the journey, Kilowog casually flew closer to Hal's side.
"I'm starting to get the feeling that Sinestro is behind this," he said.
"Yeah. He was the first one to start digging into the power of 'yellow'," Hal mused.
Back when Hal was still Sinestro's partner and they operated together, he had noticed Sinestro's interest in yellow energy. He just thought it was simple curiosity at the time, since Sinestro was still a Green Lantern back then.
He looked at Kilowog. "Does anyone else in the Lantern Corps know about this?"
Kilowog shook his head. "The Guardians know, but they ordered that the fewer people who knew about 'yellow', the better. So none of the other Lanterns knew about the existence of yellow energy before... but it looks like that secrecy ends today."
"Typical Guardians, always keeping secrets," Hal grumbled. "They never learn to share until their asses are on fire."
They didn't speak much for the rest of the return journey.
But shortly after their Power Rings opened a warp space for an interstellar jump and they flew into the tunnel, Hal received a new communication.
"Lantern Jordan, we have something to say to you."
The images of two Guardian Blue Men materialized before him.
"Ganthet, and Sayd?" Hal was surprised. "I heard you left Odym, that you weren't with the Blue Lantern Corps anymore. Where did you go?"
"That is not important. Listen to me, Hal, what I am about to say is very important," Ganthet said. "The Green Lantern Corps needs a true leader to stop this invasion of fear."
"I think so too," Hal nodded. "With you two gone from the council, the current Guardians have become even more insufferable. The Legion needs a real commander to get through this crisis."
After a pause, Hal suddenly realized something, a look of astonishment appearing on his face.
"Wait, you're not suggesting... me?"
"Sayd and I both see the potential in you," Ganthet said.
"No way, that's absurd," Hal shook his head repeatedly. "I'm a soldier, not leadership material."
This came from the heart. He had been a rebel since he was a child, the type to pick fights with teachers, leaders, and drill instructors. He knew he had the blood of a hothead, that he wasn't good at using his brain, and he was even worse at making decisions with the lives of countless comrades on the line.
"We both believe this is your destiny, Lantern Jordan," Sayd added. "You can shine brighter than anyone else."
"You said the same thing to Sinestro, but he betrayed the Legion and once destroyed the Green Lantern Central Power Battery," Hal said, shaking his head.
"But we are willing to give you the same chance, because we know you will do better than him. You will be the greatest Green Lantern, Hal," Ganthet said. "You can overcome the fear that others cannot, and that is what's most important in the current situation. Well, I cannot say more. The rest is up to you to decide. We will also do our best to assist you in the battles to come... We will hold onto Hope."
The communication ended there, and the images of the two former Guardians vanished.
Hal was lost in thought.
***
Elsewhere in the universe.
"Detecting a Yellow Lantern energy signature," Pal said to Orin Vale from within his armor.
"A Yellow Lantern?"
"No, the readings indicate an energy level far stronger than a single Yellow Lantern. Should we go take a look, sir?"
"Of course, let's go take a look."
"..."
Interestingly, just as he decided to fly over for a look, the energy source seemed to consciously approach him as well.
It was a Little Blue Man, shrouded in a churning, yellow mist of light, looking as if he were on fire.
The Guardian, with a ferocious expression, shot forward and blocked Orin Vale's path. His face twisted as he spoke in a low, gravelly voice.
"Fear... I need more fear! It's your bad luck to run into me, but now... become my food!"
(end of chapter)
As the interstellar peacekeeping force chosen by the Guardians, the Green Lantern Corps was, in essence, just a gun in their hands. The Power Ring was not only the most powerful weapon they relied on to traverse the universe, but it was also the Guardians' means of controlling them.
The laws of Oa were written into the most fundamental programs of the Green Lantern Ring, and no Green Lantern could defy them.
One of the more well-known laws in interstellar space was the prohibition of all lethal force.
The Green Lantern Ring was not permitted to be used to take a life.
Even using indirect means to execute a target—for instance, using the Power Ring's power to hurl a heavy object and crush the target to death—was forbidden. Because the Green Lantern Ring itself is a weapon guided by thought, it can, in turn, read the user's intentions.
The moment a user has the intent to kill, the thought of "I want to put someone to death," the Power Ring will be locked. At the same time, the violation is automatically registered and uploaded, and the Green Lantern in question will await the judgment of the court.
Just like Green Lantern Boodikka now.
"Please, no," Boodikka stared wide-eyed at the extinguished Power Ring in her hand. "Don't abandon me..."
The Guardian continued to sneer, "Willpower is fragile. The era of the Green Lantern Corps is about to end... Hmm? What is it?"
He stopped abruptly, his brow furrowed.
A communication from the Yellow Lantern channel, directly linked through the energy of the Emotional Spectrum, resounded in his mind.
"More Green Lanterns are approaching, and Jordan hasn't unleashed his full power yet," a cold voice said to him. "Retreat for now."
The Guardian replied coldly, "Don't give me orders. We are only temporary allies. The Green Lanterns are no threat to me, not a single one."
"Not now," the voice said icily.
The Guardian fell silent for a moment, then grunted heavily before looking at the assembled Green Lanterns.
"You've been spared."
Then, a golden light flashed in his eyes. The next moment, the yellow constructs in front of all the Green Lanterns exploded in unison. The energy of fear erupted like a chain of depth charges, dyeing even the sky its color.
"Boodikka!"
Hal flew forward. Boodikka's Power Ring was locked; she was the only one on the scene unable to protect herself. Hal raised a shield with the utmost speed, and the concussive force and energy from the explosion were blocked by the metallic barrier.
When the smoke dissipated, the Guardian was nowhere to be seen.
"Warp space reaction detected," the Power Ring reported. "Guardian energy signature has disappeared."
He was gone.
Kilowog, shrouded in green light, climbed out from a pile of ruins. "Is everyone alright?"
"I'll live," a Green Lantern said, patting the dust off himself.
"The Yellow Lantern Corps is assembling, and we've lost a Guardian... Damn it," Kilowog muttered. "Could things possibly get any worse?"
"Don't jinx it, big guy. You and I, of all people, should know there's no 'worst,' only 'worse,'" Hal said. "We need to get back to Headquarters immediately and figure out what's going on. Where the enemy is, what their objective is... and how we're going to kick their asses back to where they came from."
"I like that part," Kilowog grunted.
The Green Lanterns constructed a massive warship, taking all the captured Yellow Lantern prisoners aboard. Then, they all took to the sky, heading back towards Oa.
During the journey, Kilowog casually flew closer to Hal's side.
"I'm starting to get the feeling that Sinestro is behind this," he said.
"Yeah. He was the first one to start digging into the power of 'yellow'," Hal mused.
Back when Hal was still Sinestro's partner and they operated together, he had noticed Sinestro's interest in yellow energy. He just thought it was simple curiosity at the time, since Sinestro was still a Green Lantern back then.
He looked at Kilowog. "Does anyone else in the Lantern Corps know about this?"
Kilowog shook his head. "The Guardians know, but they ordered that the fewer people who knew about 'yellow', the better. So none of the other Lanterns knew about the existence of yellow energy before... but it looks like that secrecy ends today."
"Typical Guardians, always keeping secrets," Hal grumbled. "They never learn to share until their asses are on fire."
They didn't speak much for the rest of the return journey.
But shortly after their Power Rings opened a warp space for an interstellar jump and they flew into the tunnel, Hal received a new communication.
"Lantern Jordan, we have something to say to you."
The images of two Guardian Blue Men materialized before him.
"Ganthet, and Sayd?" Hal was surprised. "I heard you left Odym, that you weren't with the Blue Lantern Corps anymore. Where did you go?"
"That is not important. Listen to me, Hal, what I am about to say is very important," Ganthet said. "The Green Lantern Corps needs a true leader to stop this invasion of fear."
"I think so too," Hal nodded. "With you two gone from the council, the current Guardians have become even more insufferable. The Legion needs a real commander to get through this crisis."
After a pause, Hal suddenly realized something, a look of astonishment appearing on his face.
"Wait, you're not suggesting... me?"
"Sayd and I both see the potential in you," Ganthet said.
"No way, that's absurd," Hal shook his head repeatedly. "I'm a soldier, not leadership material."
This came from the heart. He had been a rebel since he was a child, the type to pick fights with teachers, leaders, and drill instructors. He knew he had the blood of a hothead, that he wasn't good at using his brain, and he was even worse at making decisions with the lives of countless comrades on the line.
"We both believe this is your destiny, Lantern Jordan," Sayd added. "You can shine brighter than anyone else."
"You said the same thing to Sinestro, but he betrayed the Legion and once destroyed the Green Lantern Central Power Battery," Hal said, shaking his head.
"But we are willing to give you the same chance, because we know you will do better than him. You will be the greatest Green Lantern, Hal," Ganthet said. "You can overcome the fear that others cannot, and that is what's most important in the current situation. Well, I cannot say more. The rest is up to you to decide. We will also do our best to assist you in the battles to come... We will hold onto Hope."
The communication ended there, and the images of the two former Guardians vanished.
Hal was lost in thought.
***
Elsewhere in the universe.
"Detecting a Yellow Lantern energy signature," Pal said to Orin Vale from within his armor.
"A Yellow Lantern?"
"No, the readings indicate an energy level far stronger than a single Yellow Lantern. Should we go take a look, sir?"
"Of course, let's go take a look."
"..."
Interestingly, just as he decided to fly over for a look, the energy source seemed to consciously approach him as well.
It was a Little Blue Man, shrouded in a churning, yellow mist of light, looking as if he were on fire.
The Guardian, with a ferocious expression, shot forward and blocked Orin Vale's path. His face twisted as he spoke in a low, gravelly voice.
"Fear... I need more fear! It's your bad luck to run into me, but now... become my food!"
(end of chapter)
