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Chapter 366: Christmas Approaches
"This was an alien invasion."
"The Justice League fought bravely."
"According to eyewitnesses, Ultraman was seen."
"And a Green Lantern! Many Green Lanterns!"
A witnessing villager spoke to the camera with a look of wonder.
"I saw it with my own eyes! There were many blue Green Lanterns, and they fought with the yellow Green Lanterns."
Apparently, the residents of Earth only recognized the 'Green Lantern' name, so anyone wearing a ring and flying around in mid-air like a firefly was collectively called a Green Lantern, regardless of their color.
News outlets everywhere were broadcasting similar content, though the governments and militaries of various nations had yet to issue any statements. However, Coast City had once again become the focus of public attention.
The citizens of this city made a decision when the disaster struck. They chose to stand with the Green Lanterns.
This is also why, after this day, Coast City earned itself a new title—
—the City of Valor.
"An alien Green Lantern squad is assisting in the reconstruction of the areas affected by the battle. It is suspected that leaders of an unknown organization have attempted to communicate with them, but the Green Lanterns appear to be refusing dialogue."
"However, one alien visitor did make a statement."
Green Lantern Kilowog appeared on screen. It was clear his massive frame was a full head taller than the cameraman, who had to tilt the camera up to capture his face. Through the screen, you could imagine the pressure the cameraman felt facing this Lantern.
"The Green Lantern Corps won't stay long. This was our fight, you poozers, so it's only right that we clean up the aftermath," he said.
The Coast City news report continued: "But surprisingly, the Green Lantern we are familiar with does not seem to be among his colleagues. It has been thirty-six hours since the end of the battle, and it appears no one has spotted our Green Lantern since.
But wherever he is, the entire citizenry of Coast City is praying for his safety."
Of course, Hal was fine. Not only was he fine, but he was also in better condition than ever before.
Now, he had merged with the Ion entity and become Ion, the symbol of the Lantern Corps. After the war, he entrusted Kilowog to lead the reconstruction efforts, while he personally escorted Sinestro back to Oa.
He personally confirmed that Sinestro was locked in his prison cell, standing guard outside the door with his arms crossed.
Now, Sinestro had lost his Power Ring and his power. Bare-chested, he sat in his small cell, meeting Hal's gaze through the green energy bars.
Then, the corner of his mouth twitched into a slight smirk.
"I won," he said.
Hal raised his eyebrows.
"Those are bold words coming from someone I just thrashed in Coast City," Hal said. "I seriously suspect that last punch scrambled your brain."
"Is that so?" Sinestro said coldly. "Then why aren't you smiling, Jordan?"
Hal frowned and said in a low voice, "Because of you, we lost a great number of Green Lanterns, Sinestro. Some of them you once called friends."
"No, I called them colleagues. I never call anyone a friend."
Sinestro shook his head, but after a pause, he added, "Except for Abin Sur... and you."
Hal remained silent. The two looked at each other, as if seeing past years in the other's eyes. They had once entrusted their backs to each other, once believed they had found their only confidants across the universe.
None of that could ever be brought back.
"Do you still remember those days, Jordan? When we defied the Guardians' ridiculous commands, when we hunted down Abin Sur's killer side by side? Such beautiful memories..." Sinestro murmured.
"What's the point of bringing that up now?" Hal asked.
"You may not believe it, but those memories are just as important to me," Sinestro said, his face expressionless. "I planned this war for a long time. I discovered that yellow is what the Guardians fear most. I spent a lifetime planning, unleashing the power of fear, and instilling it deep into the hearts of the Guardians.
In truth, every one of my allies in this war had their own agenda. For Hank Henshaw, he wanted death and an end. For Brainiac, he wanted your planet, and the important samples on it.
But they all failed. Only I succeeded. I have achieved my desire and obtained what I wanted."
Sinestro narrowed his eyes, looking at Hal through the green light bars.
"Look at you, Ion, the symbol of the Green Lantern Corps, the strongest combat power in the history of the Corps. Now, you alone can turn the tide, rivaling an entire legion.
Not only that, but the Green Lantern Corps has also changed. Only in this way can they be prepared for the coming cataclysm."
A flicker of surprise, gone in an instant, flashed through Hal's eyes. His face quickly grew stern again.
"So you're saying you started this war, sacrificed the Sinestro Corps you went to great lengths to build, all to manipulate the Guardians?
To make them grant me immense power, and then trick them into authorizing the Green Lantern Corps to use lethal force?"
Sinestro said expressionlessly, "I never said the universe doesn't need the Green Lantern Corps; I just don't like the way you do things. Everyone knows the Green Lantern Corps is a paper tiger. Unable to fire on criminals, you cannot win the coming cataclysm.
So yes, I knew we would lose this war in the end, but I would win. Because under the influence of fear, the Guardians would inevitably grant you greater authority and ability, as you are all they have to rely on.
They would lift the restrictions on the Green Lantern Corps, allowing the Corps to truly do what they must—what the universe needs them to do."
Hal frowned at him, saying nothing.
"You still don't believe me. It doesn't matter," Sinestro shrugged. "I did what I had to do, and I never expected you to understand. But since you have no intention of listening to me, why did you come down here?"
"I just came to apologize to an old friend," Hal said flatly.
"Apologize?" Sinestro raised an eyebrow.
"Thanks to that new law you forced the Guardians to write, you no longer have to just sit foolishly in some random high-tech Oan prison cell."
Hal paused.
"...The cell you're sitting in now is on death row."
"Yellow... Green... Blue... Violet."
Kara blinked her big eyes, leaning over to observe the four different colored lights swirling around Orin Vale.
Then she looked up, gazing curiously at Orin Vale.
"Are you trying to collect all seven colors to summon a rainbow?"
"I do need to collect all seven colors, but it's not a rainbow I'll be summoning," Orin Vale smiled.
"Then what is it?" Kara tilted her head.
Orin Vale smiled mysteriously. "You'll know when I have all seven."
He now had four colors from the Emotional Spectrum, all of which were fairly compatible with him. He couldn't say for sure about the remaining spectrums he hadn't encountered, but he felt the indigo light of Compassion might be a bit easier. As for the Red Light of Rage and the Orange Light of Greed, that was harder to say.
It wasn't that an Ultraman was incapable of feeling rage, but for Orin Vale, it was a distant emotion. The last time he remembered being angry... was the last time he was angry.
As for greed... does a greed for knowledge count?
If so, he felt he was greedy and insatiable every day.
But the further a light was from the center of the spectrum, the more careful he had to be. The Red, Orange, and Indigo Lights were all known to corrupt and control their wielders. Although Orin Vale had mastered the Blue Light, which could negate the negative effects of the other spectrums, he still needed to proceed with caution.
"I don't get it."
Kara shook her little head and didn't ask any more questions.
"Oh, anyway, more importantly, quick! Try the cookies I made myself!"
She brought out a plate of small cookies. They were quite exquisitely made, with patterns carefully pressed into them. In the center of each cookie was an "S" emblem.
Orin Vale casually picked one up and took a bite. "Hmm, they taste pretty good."
"Right?" Kara was very happy. "I plan to bring them out for the Christmas party in a few days—"
Before she could finish, Orin Vale suddenly realized he had eaten something strange. He silently plucked a golden hair, covered in cookie crumbs, from his mouth.
He looked at Kara wordlessly.
Kara touched her forehead. "Oops, one must have fallen in by accident..."
Her small hand fumbled around on her forehead for a moment. Phew, her ahoge was still there...
Orin Vale made no comment and simply finished the cookie.
"Speaking of which, it's almost Christmas time again..."
"Yeah."
Kara looked out the window, where snowflakes had begun to fall on the streets. Across the way, a child holding their mother's hand was pointing at something in a shop window, crying and making a fuss.
Kara watched, lost in thought for a moment.
Orin Vale pondered for a moment, then said, "There's something you should probably know."
"What is it?" Kara turned her head.
"I've already defeated Brainiac."
"Mhm, I know that," Kara nodded.
"Afterward, I confiscated his remaining warships and am now working on cracking their systems," Orin Vale said. "Of course, it won't be easy and will take some time.
But if I'm not mistaken... all the cities Brainiac abducted were shrunk into bottle cities and are being kept together somewhere. Just like what he tried to do to Metropolis."
Kara was stunned as she listened. "Oh, oh, that sounds right."
"So, that means the city that disappeared when Krypton was attacked..."
Kara's pupils contracted.
"Are you saying... Kandor might still exist!?"
"If we find Brainiac's 'action figure shelf'? Yes." Orin Vale nodded. "I believe that Krypton's former capital, Kandor City, and the Kryptonians living within it are still out there."
(end of chapter)
"This was an alien invasion."
"The Justice League fought bravely."
"According to eyewitnesses, Ultraman was seen."
"And a Green Lantern! Many Green Lanterns!"
A witnessing villager spoke to the camera with a look of wonder.
"I saw it with my own eyes! There were many blue Green Lanterns, and they fought with the yellow Green Lanterns."
Apparently, the residents of Earth only recognized the 'Green Lantern' name, so anyone wearing a ring and flying around in mid-air like a firefly was collectively called a Green Lantern, regardless of their color.
News outlets everywhere were broadcasting similar content, though the governments and militaries of various nations had yet to issue any statements. However, Coast City had once again become the focus of public attention.
The citizens of this city made a decision when the disaster struck. They chose to stand with the Green Lanterns.
This is also why, after this day, Coast City earned itself a new title—
—the City of Valor.
"An alien Green Lantern squad is assisting in the reconstruction of the areas affected by the battle. It is suspected that leaders of an unknown organization have attempted to communicate with them, but the Green Lanterns appear to be refusing dialogue."
"However, one alien visitor did make a statement."
Green Lantern Kilowog appeared on screen. It was clear his massive frame was a full head taller than the cameraman, who had to tilt the camera up to capture his face. Through the screen, you could imagine the pressure the cameraman felt facing this Lantern.
"The Green Lantern Corps won't stay long. This was our fight, you poozers, so it's only right that we clean up the aftermath," he said.
The Coast City news report continued: "But surprisingly, the Green Lantern we are familiar with does not seem to be among his colleagues. It has been thirty-six hours since the end of the battle, and it appears no one has spotted our Green Lantern since.
But wherever he is, the entire citizenry of Coast City is praying for his safety."
Of course, Hal was fine. Not only was he fine, but he was also in better condition than ever before.
Now, he had merged with the Ion entity and become Ion, the symbol of the Lantern Corps. After the war, he entrusted Kilowog to lead the reconstruction efforts, while he personally escorted Sinestro back to Oa.
He personally confirmed that Sinestro was locked in his prison cell, standing guard outside the door with his arms crossed.
Now, Sinestro had lost his Power Ring and his power. Bare-chested, he sat in his small cell, meeting Hal's gaze through the green energy bars.
Then, the corner of his mouth twitched into a slight smirk.
"I won," he said.
Hal raised his eyebrows.
"Those are bold words coming from someone I just thrashed in Coast City," Hal said. "I seriously suspect that last punch scrambled your brain."
"Is that so?" Sinestro said coldly. "Then why aren't you smiling, Jordan?"
Hal frowned and said in a low voice, "Because of you, we lost a great number of Green Lanterns, Sinestro. Some of them you once called friends."
"No, I called them colleagues. I never call anyone a friend."
Sinestro shook his head, but after a pause, he added, "Except for Abin Sur... and you."
Hal remained silent. The two looked at each other, as if seeing past years in the other's eyes. They had once entrusted their backs to each other, once believed they had found their only confidants across the universe.
None of that could ever be brought back.
"Do you still remember those days, Jordan? When we defied the Guardians' ridiculous commands, when we hunted down Abin Sur's killer side by side? Such beautiful memories..." Sinestro murmured.
"What's the point of bringing that up now?" Hal asked.
"You may not believe it, but those memories are just as important to me," Sinestro said, his face expressionless. "I planned this war for a long time. I discovered that yellow is what the Guardians fear most. I spent a lifetime planning, unleashing the power of fear, and instilling it deep into the hearts of the Guardians.
In truth, every one of my allies in this war had their own agenda. For Hank Henshaw, he wanted death and an end. For Brainiac, he wanted your planet, and the important samples on it.
But they all failed. Only I succeeded. I have achieved my desire and obtained what I wanted."
Sinestro narrowed his eyes, looking at Hal through the green light bars.
"Look at you, Ion, the symbol of the Green Lantern Corps, the strongest combat power in the history of the Corps. Now, you alone can turn the tide, rivaling an entire legion.
Not only that, but the Green Lantern Corps has also changed. Only in this way can they be prepared for the coming cataclysm."
A flicker of surprise, gone in an instant, flashed through Hal's eyes. His face quickly grew stern again.
"So you're saying you started this war, sacrificed the Sinestro Corps you went to great lengths to build, all to manipulate the Guardians?
To make them grant me immense power, and then trick them into authorizing the Green Lantern Corps to use lethal force?"
Sinestro said expressionlessly, "I never said the universe doesn't need the Green Lantern Corps; I just don't like the way you do things. Everyone knows the Green Lantern Corps is a paper tiger. Unable to fire on criminals, you cannot win the coming cataclysm.
So yes, I knew we would lose this war in the end, but I would win. Because under the influence of fear, the Guardians would inevitably grant you greater authority and ability, as you are all they have to rely on.
They would lift the restrictions on the Green Lantern Corps, allowing the Corps to truly do what they must—what the universe needs them to do."
Hal frowned at him, saying nothing.
"You still don't believe me. It doesn't matter," Sinestro shrugged. "I did what I had to do, and I never expected you to understand. But since you have no intention of listening to me, why did you come down here?"
"I just came to apologize to an old friend," Hal said flatly.
"Apologize?" Sinestro raised an eyebrow.
"Thanks to that new law you forced the Guardians to write, you no longer have to just sit foolishly in some random high-tech Oan prison cell."
Hal paused.
"...The cell you're sitting in now is on death row."
"Yellow... Green... Blue... Violet."
Kara blinked her big eyes, leaning over to observe the four different colored lights swirling around Orin Vale.
Then she looked up, gazing curiously at Orin Vale.
"Are you trying to collect all seven colors to summon a rainbow?"
"I do need to collect all seven colors, but it's not a rainbow I'll be summoning," Orin Vale smiled.
"Then what is it?" Kara tilted her head.
Orin Vale smiled mysteriously. "You'll know when I have all seven."
He now had four colors from the Emotional Spectrum, all of which were fairly compatible with him. He couldn't say for sure about the remaining spectrums he hadn't encountered, but he felt the indigo light of Compassion might be a bit easier. As for the Red Light of Rage and the Orange Light of Greed, that was harder to say.
It wasn't that an Ultraman was incapable of feeling rage, but for Orin Vale, it was a distant emotion. The last time he remembered being angry... was the last time he was angry.
As for greed... does a greed for knowledge count?
If so, he felt he was greedy and insatiable every day.
But the further a light was from the center of the spectrum, the more careful he had to be. The Red, Orange, and Indigo Lights were all known to corrupt and control their wielders. Although Orin Vale had mastered the Blue Light, which could negate the negative effects of the other spectrums, he still needed to proceed with caution.
"I don't get it."
Kara shook her little head and didn't ask any more questions.
"Oh, anyway, more importantly, quick! Try the cookies I made myself!"
She brought out a plate of small cookies. They were quite exquisitely made, with patterns carefully pressed into them. In the center of each cookie was an "S" emblem.
Orin Vale casually picked one up and took a bite. "Hmm, they taste pretty good."
"Right?" Kara was very happy. "I plan to bring them out for the Christmas party in a few days—"
Before she could finish, Orin Vale suddenly realized he had eaten something strange. He silently plucked a golden hair, covered in cookie crumbs, from his mouth.
He looked at Kara wordlessly.
Kara touched her forehead. "Oops, one must have fallen in by accident..."
Her small hand fumbled around on her forehead for a moment. Phew, her ahoge was still there...
Orin Vale made no comment and simply finished the cookie.
"Speaking of which, it's almost Christmas time again..."
"Yeah."
Kara looked out the window, where snowflakes had begun to fall on the streets. Across the way, a child holding their mother's hand was pointing at something in a shop window, crying and making a fuss.
Kara watched, lost in thought for a moment.
Orin Vale pondered for a moment, then said, "There's something you should probably know."
"What is it?" Kara turned her head.
"I've already defeated Brainiac."
"Mhm, I know that," Kara nodded.
"Afterward, I confiscated his remaining warships and am now working on cracking their systems," Orin Vale said. "Of course, it won't be easy and will take some time.
But if I'm not mistaken... all the cities Brainiac abducted were shrunk into bottle cities and are being kept together somewhere. Just like what he tried to do to Metropolis."
Kara was stunned as she listened. "Oh, oh, that sounds right."
"So, that means the city that disappeared when Krypton was attacked..."
Kara's pupils contracted.
"Are you saying... Kandor might still exist!?"
"If we find Brainiac's 'action figure shelf'? Yes." Orin Vale nodded. "I believe that Krypton's former capital, Kandor City, and the Kryptonians living within it are still out there."
(end of chapter)
