Post by Stardrifter on Jul 19, 2013 13:07:57 GMT -5
by
Stardrifter
#1 - The End of Time: Part 1
May 3rd, 2014
Tires squeal on the streets of New York City as three police cars race after an armored truck. Many of the cars along the busy street are driven off the road as the bank robbers driving the armored truck show little concern for others. One of the police cruisers pulls up close to the rear of the truck, only to be met by gunfire as one of the rear doors flies open, revealing two ski masked robbers with AK-47s. As bullets riddle the hood and windshield of the cop car, the officer driving panics and spins the wheel hard, crashing into a parked car along the road and spinning out of control.
"One down!" one of the robbers shouts, laughing at the carnage behind them. Two of the other three robbers laugh along with him. Only the driver, still frantically racing through traffic, doesn't share their sentiment. "The others are backing off! I tell you, we got thi..."
A bright blue energy blast interrupts the robber, sending him flying back into the truck. His fellow robbers raise their guns in fear and stare out the back of the truck, only to see a man fly up and land in front of them. The man places his hands on his hips, standing proud in his skin tight armor. A blue undershirt flows up to a cover the sides of his head and forehead, leaving only the top of his blond hair uncovered. A golden chestplate covers his shoulders and upper chest, a blue star placed on the center. Gold pants lead into blue boots. Golden gauntlets cover his forearms and the back of his blue gloved hands.
"I'm going to have to ask you fellas to pull over," the man says, a large smile on his face showing off his perfect white teeth. His eyes, looking out from under a golden visor, are cheerful and bright.
"Kill this freak!" one of the robbers shouts, opening fire with his AK. The bullets are met with a skin tight, bright blue force field surrounding the man. It causes the bullets to ricochet inside the truck and the robber quickly ceases fire, ducking down in fear for his life.
The last robber standing, wise to the ricochet situation, swings the butt of his rifle toward the armored man's face. It has no effect. The man, with his large smile never wavering, punches the robber square in the chest, sending him flying into the front. He lands with a thud next to the driver, who shrieks in fear, almost losing control of the truck.
"I suggest you pull over, sir. Before someone gets hurt."
The driver shrieks again when he realizes the voice is coming from the open window next to him. Floating in the air along side the truck is an egg shaped machine the size of his head. Golden and metallic, it has three fins angled backwards, and a blue glass screen on the front.
"You have the privilege of being foiled by none other than Booster Gold, Hero of the 25th Century!"
"Thank you, Skeets," Booster says, now standing next to the drivers seat. He taps the driver's shoulder gently, grinning as the driver looks over. "You've had your fun for the day. Pull over, please."
Police cars screech to a halt around the armored truck as it stops in the middle of the street. A news van pulls up behind the police, the news crew practically tumbling out as they race to catch the news story. They set up the camera just in time to watch Booster kick the second rear door of the truck open, toss the driver out onto the street, and gracefully float out and land on the street, his hands on his hips.
"No need to worry officers," Booster says with a booming, self important tone. "I've subdued the criminals for you. Cuff 'em!"
Booster walks forward, oblivious to the dirty looks from the police officers, and heads straight toward the news crew. A crowd begins to form around the scene to watch, people coming from the sidewalk and the cars stopped along the street. The news reporter, a young blond in a tight business jacket and skirt, runs up and shoves her microphone into Booster's smiling face. "Mr. Gold! That was an amazing display! How did you respond so quickly to the chase?"
"It's just Booster Gold, ma'am," Booster says, his eyes noticeably looking at everything but her face. "And..."
"Booster Gold is ever vigilant!" Skeets interrupts, the robot floating over next to Booster. "When the criminal scum of New York threatens the city's fair citizens, Booster Gold will always be there to protect the innocent!"
"That must be exhausting," the reporter says, blushing and pushing her hair back behind her ear.
"I won't lie. Patrolling the city, senses tuned to the needs of the people, can wear on a man," Booster says, turning to look directly into the camera. "That's why when I start to lose steam, I always reach for a delicious Golden Boost Plus! The only energy drink that gives me the energy I need without the crash from lesser drinks. Golden Boost Plus, the official energy drink of Booster Gold!"
The reporter begins to ask another question, her voice stammering, but Booster continues without missing a beat. "Now if you'll excuse me, there are other people in need." He begins to fly off, but stops a dozen feet over the street to look back down at the reporter. "Are you busy tonight, Miss...?"
"Angela!" the reporter shouts, hopping in place with excitement. "Angela Erehart with Channel 15! And no!"
"Well you are now," Booster says, his voice dripping with self confidence. "What's your number?"
"555-8629!" Angela shouts, oblivious to the fact she just shouted her phone number out on live television.
"I'll call you, Angie!" Booster says, making a gun motion with one hand and a phone with the other. Then he turns and flies up into the New York City sky, Skeets following after him.
"Very well done, sir. #BoosterGold is already trending again on Twitter, and you only have two more contractually obligated plugs for Golden Boost Plus."
Booster continues into the sky, mumbling his agreeing response to Skeets. Once he's high above the street, he stops and surveys the city below him. "You got that number, right?"
"Of course, sir!" Skeets replies. "Filed away under O.N.S."
"Good, remind me to call her tonight. I wouldn't want...AH!!"
The air crackles around him with energy. Out of nowhere, a giant ball of bright golden energy appears in front of him. It spins and circles and expands, until finally the energy erupts in a loud boom. Booster raises his hands to protect his face, his forcefield automatically kicking in. When he lowers his hands, he sees in front of him a glowing metallic sphere. Before he can react, golden energy begins swirling around Booster as well.
****
March 8th, 2019
It's after midnight in Star City and it's as miserable as ever. A cold rain falls down hard, doing little to wash away the stink or the dirt. It's been a hard few years on the once proud jewel of Illinois. Organized crime has run rampant, and there's only so much that Green Arrow can do.
Leaping from rooftop to rooftop, Green Arrow follows a limousine as it heads toward the warehouse district. It's difficult work in the rain, but years of training and non-slip boots give an advantage. The limousine weaves through the warehouses, it's headlights off, hinting at the clandestine nature of it's journey.
The limousine pulls to a stop in between two tall, windowless warehouses. Cut off from prying eyes, it sits and idles for some time. Landing on top of the neighboring warehouse, Green Arrow kneels down on the edge and raises a pair of binoculars.
It's a long, miserable stake out as the limousine and it's occupants sit for over twenty minutes. Finally, an SUV pulls in from the opposite direction, it's headlights off as well. It pulls to a stop within ten feet of the limousine. Green Arrow's heart beats faster in anticipation to see what happens next.
The SUV passenger door opens and a large man in a leather jacket gets out. He walks over to the limousine, wipes the rain from his bald head, and opens the back door on the drivers side. There's an brief moment when the inside of the limousine is visible before the man gets in. A brief moment that passes like a lifetime before Green Arrow's eyes.
"Farelli!" Thea Queen shouts, her venomous voice drowned out by the rain. She slams the binoculars down on the roof beside her and pulls the green hood of her costume tighter over her head.
It's taken her years to track down one Victor Farelli. It's become something of an obsession. When he rolled into town five years ago, he was simply another fixit man for the Marino family. He took care of odd jobs and cleaned up the mess of the higher ups. Now, a few short years later, and there is no Marino family anymore. Now the organized crime in Star City belongs to Farelli.
Thea grits her teeth, her mind racing. Five years ago is when her life began to unravel. Not all at once, it happened in steps. Steps that seem like such a blur to her now. The loss of Dinah, Ollie's slow decent into obsession, Roy's addiction. Through it all she tried to remain brave. Tried to be there for everyone. She put aside her dreams in order to start patrolling with Ollie, a helpless passenger on his descent into the growing underbelly of Star City.
Until three years ago. When one lucky fixit man took his first step into the big leagues by killing Green Arrow.
Thea can feel her heart racing. Her blood boiling. She's dreamt of this night for years. As the new Green Arrow, she left a trail of destruction behind her as she took out every dive, brothel, illegal gambling ring, and myriad other unsavory institutions, trying to find any clue as to Farelli's whereabouts. The Marino family realized how valuable it was to have the man who killed Green Arrow amongst their ranks. They protected him like one of their own family, moving him from location to location, all in secret. Only to discover that, in secret, Farelli took them out from the inside.
Now he sits in a car just ten stories below her. It would be so easy, she thinks to herself. Taking her bow off her back, she draws an arrow and knocks it. A high yield explosive arrow, more than enough to take out the limousine, part of the SUV, and the man responsible for the death of her brother. "So easy," Thea whispers, drawing the bowstring back. Her back muscles tense as she aims the arrow down at the limousine. Her breathing is heavy, the thrill of anticipation before her. She struggles to hold her breath, preparing to loose the arrow and end her years of torment in one single shot.
"No." Her muscles relax and she lowers the bow. "No that's too good for you, Farelli. Too quick. You need to know it's Green Arrow that ends you." She returns the explosive arrow to her quiver, instead drawing a flashbang arrow. She prepare to fire when the air around her begins to buzz.
She turns just in time to to watch the energy release from the golden sphere. She fights to remain on her feet, all the while screaming in blind rage at the interruption that will no doubt cost her her vengeance. It's a soundless scream, as golden light quickly envelopes her.
****
December 16th, 2013
Silence looms heavy on the outskirts of Poseidonis. The small party of Atlantean warriors guarding one of the entry ways into the city lets the silence lie, fear and anticipation filling the void. Almost all of the city-state's warriors have gone to fight the oncoming horde, leaving only a handful behind. The city's dome has gone up, all of the nearby inhabitants and refugees crammed inside, leaving only four easily defensible entrances along the ocean floor. Here, at the southern entrance, only ten men and women hold the gate.
<How do you think they are doing?>
The warriors all look up at the sudden question, glancing around to discover who asked. Their gazes all fall on a young warrior in a hodgepodge of found armor, shivering slightly while clutching his spear with white knuckles.
<Fine, soldier,> Captain Renn tells the obviously drafted warrior. He sighs and closes his eyes, offering a small prayer to Poseidon that the fighting doesn't come here. Not when he has warriors without a single day of combat experience.
<Yes,> the nervous soldier continues. <Yes...they have King Orm with them.> Captain Renn snorts in response to that idea.
The silence resumes, heavy and thick. Not even the normal sea life seems to be around. Unable to take it, a young woman offers up her opinion. <I am more hopeful because the Prince is with them.>
This thought perks up another warrior, <Indeed. I was there the day Prince Orin first came to court. Even without training he took out an entire unit himself!>
<I was in a group that sparred with him the other day. I have never taken such a beating before!> a third warrior chimes in.
The woman who started the conversation turns to a young man standing at the gate, his eyes vigilantly watching for any sign of the enemy. <What do you think, Kaldur? Are you not friends with the Prince?>
The questions suddenly all come at once inside Kaldur's mind as the unit's curiosity takes off. Kaldur tears his eyes away from the gate to look at Captain Renn. The seasoned veteran offers a slight nod in approval, realizing the discussion is helping with the unit's morale.
Kaldur turns to face the unit, resting his back against the crystalline wall. He takes his helmet off, revealing his closely cropped pale blond hair. It's in quite the contrast to his dark skin and even darker eyes. Kaldur's face is confident and strong, obscuring his true age of only seventeen.
<I would not say the Prince and I are friends,> Kaldur begins slowly. So slowly that he's quickly cut off.
<You have spent much time with him!> the woman objects, as if Kaldur had called her a liar. <You would not be in the army if not for the Prince!>
Kaldur keeps calm despite the interruption, his only hint at annoyance being the dark look he offers the woman. <Prince Orin has helped me greatly, in return for my helping him. That does not make us friends.>
<Wish I had a not-so-much friend like that,> an older warrior laughs, mocking Kaldur. He sits on the ocean floor, his spear laying across his lap, while he lounges with his hands behind his head. <It took me years to earn my way into the Guard. If I was chums with Prince Orin, I could have made Captain by now!>
Some of the others laugh, sharing in his sentiment. Captain Renn quickly speaks up. <You were lucky to make it beyond plankton duty, Jonal. It would take an act of Poseidon to make you Captain.> Jonal offers Captain Renn a furious look, which the Captain ignores. <Prince Orin only gave Kaldur the chance to prove himself, nothing more. He is here due to his skill, which is greater than most of you.>
Kaldur turns away, both proud and embarrassed by the Captain's words. He looks out past the gate again, watching the water for any signs of the enemy. It only take him a moment to spot the disturbance out in the distance. It's too far to make out who it is, so Kaldur sends out a challenge telepathically. When he doesn't receive a response, he quickly puts his helmet back on. <Captain! The Trench!>
The unit quickly rises to attention, swimming over to look out the gate or over the wall and through the dome. The disturbance grows larger as it nears the city. Before long, they can begin to make out what it is. The Trench, humanoid fish creatures. Almost entirely black save for their yellow eyes and bright white fangs. Their arms and legs end in large, sharp fins. Mindless creatures with only one thought, feed.
The young drafted warrior begins to shake, disturbing the water around him. The rest of the unit starts to panic as well at the sight of the horde of monsters heading their way. Captain Renn quickly rallies them. <Pull it together! The dome has not been breached in over a thousand years! It will not be today!>
Kaldur reaches behind his shoulders and pulls out two sword handle looking devices. They glow brightly and the water surrounding them hardens, taking the shape of sword blades. He readies his weapons as the Trench rapidly swims toward the gate.
Suddenly, energy begins to ripple through the water behind them. Kaldur turns to see a shining sphere of gold light. The energy soon releases, sending a wave of water into the unit, knocking them into the wall and gate. Kaldur swims back up to find the sphere of light is now a glowing metal sphere. Before he can react, the golden light begins to surround him as well.
****
July 24th, 2022
"It's been almost ten years," Hal Jordan muses as he looks down on Earth from a high orbit. His salt and pepper stubble and gray temples punctuating the passage of time. "Ten years since I last looked upon my home. Seems like nothing's changed." From so high above the planet, Earth looks peaceful. Serene. He knows better. It's only an illusion. An illusion he's about to shatter forever.
"Hal, my dear," Bleez, Hal's lieutenant, whispers in a sultry yet slimy tone. Her once beautiful wings, now skeletal and black, wrap around Hal's back in a twisted sign of affection. "The Corps is in place. We merely await your command."
Hal clenches his fist, allowing his rage to begin to burn bright. His Red Lantern ring glows, intensifying the red aura surrounding him. "Ten years since Atrocitus crashed on Earth, his ring and power battery bequeathed to me. And now, the Red Lanterns return to Earth, to set it aflame!"
Hal looks around him. As far as the eye can see, and farther, the Red Lantern Corps encircles the planet. Tens of millions of Lanterns, all awaiting his command. From a distance, one might suspect that the Earth has a red hued ring, similar to that of Saturn. It's almost a beautiful sight. Almost.
"Kilowog!" Hal shouts, his rage starting to reach it's peak.
"Yes Master!" Kilowog roars back from the opposite side of the planet.
"WAAAAAAR!"
The rest of the Corps joins in, their battle cry turning into rage filled roars. All at once, the red ring surrounding the Earth flares brightly, then closes around the planet. As they grow close, Earth's meager defenses spring into action. Missiles of various shapes and sizes launch into orbit, a pitiful attempt to delay the inevitable. Most are simply avoided, firing impotently out into space. A couple manage to explode in the Corps' ranks, killing a few thousand. It's barely noticed.
As Hal enters the atmosphere, his rage so powerful now he streaks through the sky like a massive fireball, the Earth's second line of defense comes into view. The so called "super heroes". The audacity of their stand makes his blood boil. None of the other Corps could stop him. Even the Guardians themselves were no match. What hope do these fools think they have?
The fliers enter the battle first, rising to meet them in the air. A man with wings and a mace heads straight for Hal. He growls as he approaches, his anger evident. He would have made a strong Red Lantern, Hal muses, as he forms a giant mace construct and smashes it into the man's body, sending him careening down into the street below.
It soon becomes a common sight. As his Corps battles the heroes, the bodies begin to fall to the streets below like rain. Some are his own people. Most are not.
Hal looks down and sees a symbol of hope amongst the buildings below. The spinning globe atop the Daily Planet headquarters. "Hope is for the weak!" Hal roars as he streaks through the sky toward it. The rest of the Corps continues their fight, heading down into the streets of Metropolis to raze it to the ground.
Like a meteor crashing into the Earth, Hal slams directly into the Daily Planet globe, then continues down. Floor by floor he goes, killing hundreds, until he reaches the ground floor. The building, now in ruins, topples down around him. The destruction is horrific, yet not enough to sate Hal's rage.
"RRRRAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRGGGGHHHHHHHH!"
The scream fills the air, deafening. Hal grabs his ears, the pain almost too much. Yet he smiles at the pure, unfiltered rage in the voice. Up in the sky, he sees the the source. A blue and red streak blazes through the air. The Red Lanterns in it's path are exploded into clouds of blood and body parts. Hal's heartbeat quickens, his rage burning brighter than ever as the streak heads towards him.
Suddenly the air crackles around him. Golden lights shines out and a loud boom sounds behind him. Hal ignores it, his mind overcome by rage as the streak continues it's decent. Then a golden light begins to envelope him.
****
Everywhen
"Uuugh," Booster groans as he opens his eyes. The bright light that floods in hurts, so he quickly shuts them again. "Skeets? Skeets where am I and why did you let me sleep here?"
"I'm afraid I don't know where here is, sir."
Memory flooding in, Booster's eyes snap open and he bolts up into a sitting position. He looks around and finds himself on a cold metal floor of a large room. The walls and ceiling are metal as well, with a large door across from him and a ladder to his left leading up to some sort of observation area overlooking the room.
Then Booster looks down. Unconscious on the floor are three other people. One he recognizes as a Red Lantern, in his signature black and red uniform. Human, from the looks of it. Another appears to be Atlantean. The third looks like another human, a brunette woman with a bow and arrows.
"Okay Skeets, tell me I didn't black out at an orgy!" Booster shouts at his floating robot companion. "Or at least tell me I only did her!"
"You wish," the woman groans as she slowly rises to her feet.
Booster quickly offers his hand, to which she stares at for a moment before finally accepting the help. "Well then allow me to introduce myself. Booster Gold! You may have heard of me."
"Nope." She quickly takes an inventory of her various weapons and gadgets. Pushing her hood back, she reveals short brown hair pulled back into a tight ponytail. A green domino mask with white lenses hides her eyes. "Green Arrow."
"You don't say?" Booster jokes. He idly grabs one of the arrows in her quiver, causing her to swat his hand hard, as if swatting a bug. "Never would have guessed. What with the arrows. And the green."
<Where are we?> the Atlantean says in their minds as he makes it to his feet. The unexpected intrusion causes Green Arrow to jump, knocking an arrow and raising her bow, unsure where to aim it.
"Slow down, Robin Hood!" Booster shouts, placing his hand on the tip of her arrow and pushing it downward. "It was him," he says, nodding at the armored warrior. "He's Atlantean. Their vocal cords atrophied due to disuse. They speak telepathically."
Green Arrow looks at the warrior up and down, her mouth slightly agape. She keeps her bow lowered, yet the arrow remains knocked. Leaning in slightly to Booster, she whispers, "He can read our minds?"
<No. I can only project my thoughts.> the Atlantean assures her, his voice calm and soothing in her mind. <Only one Atlantean can read minds, and I am not he.>
Booster steps over to the Atlantean, his hand outstretched, “Hi, I'm Booster Gold. Heard of me?"
The Atlantean looks down at the outstretched hand, confused. Finally Booster lowers it. <No, I am afraid not. I am Kaldur'ahm.>
"Green Arrow."
"RAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRGH!"
The trio leap back at the furious shout. The Red Lantern rises to his feet, a red aura burning around his body. He eyes his surroundings like a trapped animal, looking for potential threats. Deciding the location is nonthreatening, he turns his attention to the three others with him. "Who are you?! Why have you brought me here?! Talk or die!"
Green Arrow draws her bow, aiming for the Red Lantern's chest. Kaldur draws his weapons, but the lack of water in the area leaves nothing for him to manipulate. Booster's wrist gauntlet begins to glow with blue energy, which he points at the Red Lantern as well.
"We, uh...didn't bring you here!" Booster shouts. "We're as confused as you. My name's Booster Gold, by the way. Perhaps you've he..."
"TELL ME WHERE I AM NOW OR DIE!"
The three brace themselves for an attack when a light flashes to the side of them. They all look over to see a man standing there. He's wearing a dark gray uniform with red padding going up his sides and down his arms. A uniform whose origin none of them recognize. Black boots, metal gauntlets, and a utility belt flesh out his ensemble. He's fair skinned and auburn haired. Day old stubble covers a strong face, most likely in its mid-thirties.
"They didn't bring you here, Hal Jordan. I did."
His rage boiling over, and now a target to focus it on, Hal flies straight at the man. Rather than killing him as expected, he flies straight through him, slamming hard into the metal wall. An impact so hard, the others are surprised the wall is undamaged.
"Hologram," the man says before disappearing. He reappears kneeling next to Hal's prone form. "I'm not stupid enough to walk in there until we set some ground rules." Hal reaches up and tries to grab the man's throat, his hand only passing through the hologram.
"And where is here?" Green Arrow demands, her tone chilly and sharp.
"I'm guessing we're inside that glowing metal sphere that came out of nowhere," Booster says, pacing a bit as he looks about the room.
"Correct," the man says, offering nothing more.
<But that sphere was barely the size of this room,> Kaldur objects. <How can we be inside it? This room is not even spherical.>
"I would surmise, sir, that the sphere contains a pocket dimension, allowing for the discrepancy between the interior and exterior."
"So it's bigger on the inside, Skeets?" Booster summarizes.
"Someone call the BBC," Green Arrow snidely remarks, obviously frustrated. She returns the conversation to the matter at hand. "So who are you and why did you bring us here?"
"My name is Rip Hunter."
"No it's not," Green Arrow interrupts. "Rip Hunter? That's the pseudonym of a ten year old boy."
"You're right," Rip says, causing a self satisfied smirk to come to Green Arrow's face. "My name is actually Dr. Rip Hunter. Or Agent Rip Hunter. Whichever you prefer." As her smirk vanishes, Rip manages to keep one from forming on his face. "And I've brought you all here to help me and help yourselves."
"I have no intention of helping you!" Hal spits, pacing around Rip like a predator waiting to strike. "And I was doing just fine before you captured me!"
"Oh were you?" Rip asks mockingly, turning to face Hal. "I seem to recall a very pissed off Kryptonian about to turn you into a pile of goo."
"The Red Lanterns are about to conquer the Earth! Release me NOW!" Hal's rage overcomes his common sense, and he fires a blast of red energy through Rip's hologram. It accomplishes nothing.
"The Red Lanterns were about to destroy the Earth. And you were about to die."
<Destroy the Earth?> Kaldur asks, confused. Booster and Green Arrow can only shake their heads, equally confused.
"You all were about to die," Rip says, turning back to the others. "Kaldur, you're position was about to be overrun by the Trench. You would have been eaten alive."
<Better to die a warrior with my people than flee!>
Rip holds a hand up and shakes his head. "Sorry. You're projecting your thoughts to a hologram. I can't hear you." He turns to Green Arrow. "And you were about to leap straight into Victor Farelli's clutches. Wanting to make your vengeance personal, he would have captured you and, after some 'entertainment,' had the death of two Green Arrows to his name."
Green Arrow's fist flies through Rip's hologram, an empty gesture. "I could have taken them! How do you know?"
"Because this is a time machine," Booster interjects. "Isn't it?"
A moment of silence falls across the room. A moment Rip lets sit before saying, "A Time Sphere, actually. But yes. Each and every one of you were about to die. So here is my proposal. You help me with a slight problem, and I'll return you to your time and make sure you survive your inevitable fate. Refuse, I return you to where you were with no memory of this and let time play out as is."
"I won't be your puppet!" Hal screams. His red aura grows in intensity. "If this is a time machine, I'll be taking it now! Prepare to..."
A snap of Rip's fingers and a small, barely visible bubble encases Hal's ring. Suddenly his red aura disappears, along with his Red Lantern uniform. Hal stands, dumbfounded, in a simple t-shirt and jeans. "This ship and everything in it are under my control. If you truly wish to return to your time and face your deaths, remain here and I will see to it. If not, walk through that door."
Rip's hologram disappears and a door on the far side of the room opens. Green Arrow, Booster, and Kaldur all look at each other, waiting to see who will make a decision first. Finally, Green Arrow walks forward. "Fuck it. It is a time machine after all."
"Like the lady said, Skeets." Booster heads off after her, Skeets floating along.
Kaldur turns back to look at Hal. What was once a powerful, if out of control, warrior has been reduced to a middle aged simpleton. Hal continues to stand, dumbfounded, at the ring on his finger. Shaking his head, Kaldur turns and heads after the others.
****
The path to their destination isn't complicated. The long corridor of metal gray with red accents only goes one direction. Every door they come across is inevitably locked.
"So when are you from?" Booster asks the others, trying to fill the silence.
<By the human calendar, I am from the year 2013.> Kaldur's tone is less than certain, so he adds, <I believe.>
"2019,“ Green Arrow says unceremoniously.
Booster frowns at that, squinting his eyes as if trying to remember. "That doesn't make sense. Oliver Queen was still Green Arrow in that year."
"What?!" Green Arrow shouts, grabbing Booster's arm and yanking him to a halt. Kaldur, unsure what's going on, stops with them. "How do you know who...and Ollie's dead! He's been dead for three years!"
"Listen sweety," Booster says with a patronizing tone, "I'm from 2467 and I'm something of a super hero expert. The original Green Arrow didn't die for a while later. Skeets?"
"Indeed, sir. My records indicate that Oliver Queen passes away on..."
"Shut up, tin can!" Green Arrow shouts, smacking Skeets away with the back of her hand. "I know what happened!"
Uncomfortable with the rising tensions, Kaldur tries to smooth things over. <If you are both so certain you are correct, then I suggest we continue on and ask the time traveler for the truth.>
Neither says anything. Booster offers a smarmy smile and pushes her hand off his arm. Green Arrow, already deciding she doesn't like Booster, gives him a dirty look and waves them on. When they finally find the only open door, it leads to a large open room.
"Welcome," Rip says from above them, floating on a metal disc, "to the nerve center of the Time Sphere!"
The room is large and spherical. Hundreds of video screens showing hundreds of different things form along the walls like patchwork. In the center of the room is a large, silver, round table with an empty center. Five silver chairs are placed around the table.
"Please, have a seat," Rip says as he floats down on his disc, landing on the floor and walking over to sit down. The others all slowly walk around the table until they find their own seats. One remains empty, until Hal finally appears. He doesn't say a word, simply walks over to the empty chair and sits down.
<So what is this 'slight' problem you ask us to assist you with?> Kaldur says, looking out from under his helm with skepticism. <Assuming this is the real you.>
A smirk forms on Rip's lips at the remark. "Oh this is the real me, Kaldur. And the task at hand..."
"Wait, I want some answers!" Green Arrow interrupts, rising to her feet and slamming her fist down on the table. "Blubber Gold here says he's from my future and Ollie wasn't dead yet!"
"His name is Booster Gold, ma'am."
She ignores Skeets. "So what's the deal?"
Rip sighs, leaning back in his chair, his hands intertwining in front of his face as he thinks it over. Despite her outburst, his eyes remain focused on Booster. After a moments silence, he leans forward and hits a button on his gauntlet.
The hollow center of the table suddenly springs to life. Tiny blue beams of light spring up from the ground and head straight up over the table. From those beams, more break off like branches from a tree. Its a beautiful, densely packed image.
"This," Rip says with a bit of flourish, "is time. Or as best as it can be presented for our simple three dimensional minds. Each line is a universe's path from creation to destruction."
"Wait, 'universe's'?" Booster asks.
"So you're saying, Booster and I, we're from alternate realities?"
An approving smile lights up Rip's face, obviously impressed at Green Arrow's grasping of the situation. "Yes. Well, not exactly. You see, alternate realities, or universes, do exist, but they are few and far between. What we're really talking about is alternate timelines." Rip presses another button on his gauntlet, causing the image to zoom in to a specific set of branches. "Now this is the timeline designated U3.“
<U3?>
"Universe 3. I know," Rip says, holding his hands up. "Very original. Now the U3 timeline is straight as an arrows flight, as it were. And that timeline is where Kaldur and Booster come from." Two white dots appear along the main blue line, emphasizing his point. "Now I'm sure at least one of you has heard the phrase, 'Everything that can happen, does happen,' in regards to alternate realities?"
"Of course," Booster says. "That's basic temporal me..."
"That's bullshit," Rip says, eliciting a laugh out of Hal. "Frankly most of our choices don't mean squat. The universe doesn't care if you have peanut butter or ham for lunch. No, what causes alternate timelines are the big choices. The major events where time splits off from the main universe and continues on it's own path. That is where you are from, Thea," Rip says, highlighting a specific branch off of the U3 timeline. "U3.479. A world which was the same in every way as the main U3 timeline until one day when Ms. Dinah Lance was killed due to a severed artery. That one event caused a separate timeline to skew out from the main one."
Green Arrow stares up at the projection in front of her, understanding but not comprehending. That one, single event was all it took to cause a separate timeline in which her entire life unraveled. While she lost the people closest to her, including her brother, another Thea in another timeline gets to live on with those she loves.
She finally tears her eyes away and looks at the others. Rip looks back at her with cold, calculated eyes. Hal smiles, enjoying what little he can without access to his ring. Booster avoids her gaze, ashamed to have brought this all up in the first place. Kaldur looks back at her from under his helmet, an expression of deep regret on his face. It's hard to see under the helm, but she almost thinks she can see a tear run down his cheek.
"Now then, on to the business at hand," Rip continues as Green Arrow sinks back into her chair. "Our mission is simple. We're going to travel to the end of time, break into a heavily fortified and incredibly advanced space station, and stop an immortal madman from using the energy generated by the end of time to go back and take over life as we know it. Any questions?"
-To Be Continued-