Ult. GL Corps #8 - When In Warworld Pt. 4

[liquidsword34]

Ultimate Green Lantern Corps #8
When In Warworld Part 4 of 4

A sea of twitching, broken and beaten bodies lie on the ground in front of Hal, Sinestro, and Mongul II. Warriors from both Warworld and resistance are injured or dead, and even though he helped his allies win the fight, Hal Jordan does not feel any better about the situation. "Mongul knows we're not playing ball, it'll be maybe half an hour before he realizes what's happened and has Alan and Arisia killed".

"My father won't do that", Mongul II coolly replies, gently rubbing a rag over a cut across his shoulder leaking blood onto his leathery yellow skin.

"How can you know?", Sinestro comes to stand by Hal.

"He's too egotistical to think everything could fall apart like this, and I'd wager he has kidnapped your friends for more than just a ransom. In fact, I'd wager that right now my father is planning to send them to fight in the arena for the entertainment of him, and his arms dealer friend, Klongun. They'll put on a good fight, and it will fulfil Klongun's lust for combat before trade".

"Then we'll return to Warworld and free them ourselves", Sinestro tells Mongul II as he creates a bubble around the two of them, gesturing for Hal to follow as he rises up into the air. As he floats off into the stars behind his partner, heading towards Warworld, Hal looks down, sighing in disgust as he takes in the uncountable number of casualties from the battle.

***

"MOVE!"

Alan Scott winces as Mongul's imperial guardsman boots him in the back of his legs again, trying to make the Green lantern move faster but only succeeding in slowing him down. Besides Alan Arisia, Jade and Obsidian also make their way along the corridor through the underground section of Warworld. They traversed up the long staircase, each step feeling like a dozen as sleep deprivation and hunger take their toll. The quartet reach the surface reach the surface and are immediately hit by Warworld's artificial lights baring down, stinging their eyes.

Mongul and Klongun stare down from the palace balcony into the arena, both leaning over the balcony with some interest. Behind them stand at least two dozen guards, a mix of Monguk's mercenaries and Klongun's rat like species. On a wooden table stands a crystal ball style object, sending out beams of yellow light which forces those on the balcony to avert their eyes. Across from the Green Lanterns, leaned against his bike, is Lobo, swinging a chain down across the sandy arena floor and occasionally uttering an expletive as he awaits his opponents. "The weapon will be yoursss soon, if thisss meetsss my satisfaction", Klongun tells Mongul while gesturing down to the arena.

"I believe it will, my friend", Mongul replies.

"We can take this guy", Obsidian mutters to Jade out of the corner of his mouth as he, his sister, his father and Arisia approach the centre of the arena, feeling their respective powers returning to them.

"We can't underestimate him", Alan warns Todd. "Mongul isn't stupid enough to have us fight somebody he knows we can beat".

Seeing his opponents reach the centre of the battlefield, Lobo hops onto his bike like vehicle, grunting as it whirls into life. Faster than the human eye can track he blasts off into the air, keeping just below the translucent force field stopping gladiators flying out of the arena. "We're just going to wing it again?", Jade asks as she rises into the air gently.

"Stick together, your father and I will go on the attack, you protect Obsidian until he gets an opening", Arisia instructs, followed by giving Alan a glance to check for his approval.

"Agreed", Alan nods to Arisia as the two take off, following behind Lobo like jet fighters dog fighting, sticking on his tail as best they can. Despite possessing the most powerful weapons in the universe, neither Alan nor Arisia can get close to Lobo thanks to the biker's experience and speed. Arisia puts up a force field of emerald green light around herself and Obsidian, as her cloaked sibling focuses in on the battle overhead.

"That high up, his shadow's being projected too far away from him", Obsidian says almost to himself.

"So what're we gonna do?", Jade sighs as she watches Lobo cackle manically and turn sharply, causing Alan and Arisia to overshoot him.

"Hope dad and Arisia can bring him down, I guess".

"Yer gonna have to try harder den that, ring slingers", Lobo grunts as he swings out the metal chain wrapped around his arm with all his might, narrowly missing Alan's feet. Feeling the chain whip past him at high velocity, Alan swoops downwards, realizing that Lobo may be strong enough to dent the ring's protective shield and caus him damage. Arisia goes to follow her partner, but feels a tug on her leg preventing her from flying down. Arisia's surprise turns to horror as she turns to see one of Lobo's gigantic, pale, grease soaked hands clutching at her ankle. Before Arisia can react Lobo speeds off, flinging the Green Lantern away like a Frisbee. Alan reacts quickly, switching his flight path upwards and catching Arisia on a trampoline made of green light extending from his ring.

"You didn't need to do that", Arisia calls down as she tries to get her bearings again.

"Yer right little lady", Lobo roars as he switches up a gear and puts his head down, charging at Alan as the crowd roars. "But am glad yah did!". A sickening thwack rings in Arisia's ears as she looks on in horror. Lobo's bike slams into Alan with such force it shatters his shield of green light on route to his ribs, knocking Alan out of the air and sending him tumbling down like a lifeless doll.

"DAD!", Jade screams out, dropping her shield and trying to focus her powers to catch her dad. As a jet of green light leaves her palm, she sees a black shape form out of her father's shadow and catch him, placing Alan down on the arena floor safely.

"You OK?", Obsidian asks his dad, gasping for breath.

"I've been better...but I've survived worse". Up above their heads Lobo and Arisia clash, Lobo's chain of cold, rusty metal vs Arisia's spear of green light. Lobo's chain wraps around the spear as Arisia valiantly attempts to stab at the sneering hyena, her inexperience leading to her struggling to dual her powerful opponent.

"Get over 'ere!", Lobo roars, spit flying from his mandible as he pulls Arisia in and grabs her by the throat. Before Lobo has a chance to continue his assault, he feels his bike shudder beneath him. The pitch black form of Obsidian slivers up in front of him, waving a chunk of metal at Lobo while grabbing Arisia with his free hand. "Oh yah little-" Lobo lets out before he starts to plummet down, realizing that Obsidian has stolen a part of his bike, sending it into a freefall. "This'll teach yah..." Lobo mutters as he kicks his bike away and pulls a detonator from one of the many pouches adorning his waist. Lobo grins as he slams his gigantic finger down onto the oversized red detonator, causing his bike to explode in a shower of blue energy, incapacitating both Arisia and Obsidian as they drop to the ground, saved only by the life support functions on Arisia's ring kicking in and shielding the duo from the full impact of the fall. The crowd lets out cheers as the pair collapse to the ground in a heap, barely conscious.

"Not long ago, the main man got short changed on a payment by some, third dimensional, one eyed monster freak shows things. Could've been humans like you, thinking about it, ah wus plenty hammered see", Lobo sighs as he examines the carnage laid around the arena. Jade stands up from her father's side, her chest burning with rage. "So, ah stole all the special junk they used on their ships, and blam, made my bike pack as much as a punch as ah do". Arisia floats up into the air, creating a suit of green armour around her body with her powers, complete with a shoulder mounted cannon of some kind. "Impressed?"

"No, Lobo", Jade calls back. "I'm not impressed. I'm sickened. And I want you to stop".

"Or what, huh? The lil' Earth girl's gonna get mad at me?", Lobo mocks, swinging his chain around in his hands.

Jade looks over at her dad, then to her brother. The emerald green light surrounding her shimmers as Jade tries to block out the rabid animals in the stand, calling for blood. "Yes". Jade launches herself at Lobo, her aggression catching the mercenary off guard. The gigantic shoulder mounted cannon fires out a blast of green light into Lobo's chest, throwing him down into the sand. As he climbs up to his feet Lobo swings his chain at Jade, who's force field deflects the weapon thanks to Jade's pure willpower flowing through her mind. The noise in the arena is deafening, filling Lobo's head with a buzzing sound as Jade springs up and drives her fist into Lobo's unwashed face with all her might. Catching her balance, Jade smashes her fists into Lobo's head three more times, dropping the gladiator to the ground. The noise dies down as Jade towers over her fallen opponent, her expression one of shock.

"Lord Mongul has sentenced this battle's losers to death. You must carry out the execution", a small metal drone flutters down next to Jade, commanding her in a cold, monotone voice. Jade looks down at Lobo, then at her fallen allies.

***

A pack Mongul's men chase Sinestro, Hal and Mongul II through the narrow streets of Warworld on hover board type devices, no longer firing their weapons, knowing that the projectiles will simply bounce off of the Green Lantern's shields.

"How much access to Warworld do you have?", Sinestro inquires as the trio turn a sharp corner between a pair of high rise blocks, causing at least four guards to slam into the metal building wall. Below them the streets are decrepit and covered in debris from the frequent battles which rage on.

"As long as my father does not realize what is happening, unlimited. I still have allies in Warworld, Thaal. Your friends should be in battle now, and as long as they can keep father and that jackal Klongun watching for long enough, we should be able to save them", Mongul II is still wielding his weapon, clutching it close to his chest in his gargantuan hands. In the distance he can make out the shape of the arena, and can almost hear the roar of the crowd from miles away.

"Good. My ring called for back-up automatically, so as long as we can defeat your father before he takes any more lives, he shouldn't be a threat to anybody for much longer".

***

"No", Jade responds, letting the green light around her disperse and then run back into her palm. A torrent of boos reigns down on Jade, who ignores the crowd's reaction as she goes to check on her allies, all of whom are now huddled together, tending to their wounds and keeping an eye on Lobo.

"Thisss hasss tried my patttience, Mongul", Klongun hisses angrily while slamming his bony little claws against the marble balcony. "I sssshall take my leave, along with the parallax bug you ssso desssire to haveee".

"Calm yourself", Mongul says without taking his eyes off of the arena, trying to keep it together. One of his reptile like guards whispers something in the warlord's ears, making him chuckle heartily. Mongul turns away from the balcony and gestures to his guards, who lead his way to the double doors back into the palace. "Wait here, my friend. You will get the entertainment you require".

***

Mongul II focuses his mind as he and the Green Lanterns approach the seal of energy around the roof of the arena, creating a gap in the otherwise translucent roof. The three of them descend down into the arena in a green bubble of light, with Hal spotting Mongul standing in the middle of the arena looking up at them. Behind Mongul is a platoon of his guards, each wielding a gun and one holding a metallic box in both hands. Lobo is on his feet, his teeth grinding together like pestle and mortar as he glares across the arena at Jade, who is helping her father to his feet. Hal, Sinestro and Mongul II land in front of Mongul, leaving around six feet between them and the emperor.

"I'm glad to see you have returned my son, lanterns", Mongul declares while stepping forward.

"Let's stop pretending we don't know what you're planning, Mongul", Sinestro says. "Buying weapons from Klongun, setting out to invade other planets? You thought we would sit back and allow that to happen?"

"No. I thought you would bring my son to me one way or another. Sadly, it appears that you arrive with him as a ally, instead of as a prisoner. That disappoints me greatly".

"So now what?", Hal asks. "We brought back your son, despite your best efforts, our friends are alive, but something tells me we're not just going to be allowed to fly out of here".

"No, you are correct. Klongun requires blood to be spilt before he can make a transaction, as is the custom on his planet. And as your friends offspring", Mongul motions his hand to Jade, who along with Obsidian and Arisia has helped Alan up to his feet, "refused to take Lobo's life, you will have to be the sacrifice".

"All of this, over a weapon that doesn't exist?", Sinestro snaps at Mongul, who laughs and snaps his fingers, prompting his guard to hand him the perfectly square, teal metal box he is holding. Mongul carefully opens the lid of the box and pulls out an orb about the size of a basketball. It glows bright with a yellow glow which seems to swim around inside of its prison.

"Parallax exists, Sinestro", Mongul declares as he holds up the sphere. The packed stadium roar like crazed gorillas, ignorant as to what is happening on the ground and only seeing Mongul holding up a bright object, potentially ready to strike.

"The Guardians have informed me otherwise".

"Your undersized slave masters have lied to their pet, it seems", Mongul chuckles. Sinestro narrows his eyes and raises his ring, but doesn't attack. His eyes strafe from Mongul's face to the orb, trying to work out if he is being lied to.

"It seems that way", Sinestro concedes. Out of the corner of his eye Sinestro spots Alan, Arisia, Obsidian and Jade being herded over towards Hal, Mongul II and himself by Mongul's guards at gun point.

"You only need one sacrifice to make...Klongun happy, right?", Hal interjects.

"Correct".

"So let everybody else and take me". Hal meets Mongul's gaze.

"Interesting, but unacceptable. The seven of you will only continue to be rods in my side, and it would be easier for me to deal with yo-", Mongul stops talking suddenly as a blade drives itself into his back, protruding through out of his chest. The mad emperor stumbles forward as the blade is yanked out of his back and he is kicked forward onto the ground where he crumples into a heap.

"Sorry ah took so long", Lobo chuckles as he wiped his oversized knife on his jacket. Mongul's guards are frozen in shock, while the crowd are hushed to silence. "Thought ah would see if the old brick had anything in mind which would benefit me, turns out the barf-bag was just doing his old rambling routine".

"What the hell is this?", Hal yells out at Lobo, who gives the lantern a wide grin, exposing his grisly, yellow teeth.

All four Green Lantern's conjure up weapons, ranging from swords to blunt objects, but pause as Mongul II steps between them and the grinning biker. "I told you I still have allies in Warworld", Mongul II calmly replies. Sinestro nods as he picks the yellow parallax orb up from the ground, cradling it in his hands.

"We'll take your father back to Oa, get him medical attention, and then he can stand trial", Alan starts as he extends a beam of light from his ring towards Mongul, who is still writhing in pain, but he is halted by Mongul II raising his weapon towards him.

"Warworld does not recognise your authority here. My father will be tried for what he has done by me, as Warworld's new emperor".

"And let me guess", Alan sighs, "Klongun..."

"Will be of use to me in the future", Mongul II smiles knowingly. "You may keep the parallax weapon, my father was a fool to believe it could lead to anything good for him. Now, leave Warworld. Your work is done".

***

"So is it always like that?", Jade, now dressed in her street clothes and in her real identity of Jennie-Lynn, asks her father. Along with her brother, the two are sat in a small coffee shop near one of Coast City's many beach fronts.

"Yes, sadly", Alan sighs as he finishes his coffee and fishes his wallet out of his pocket, finding a fifty dollar bill. "Not much you can do. Sometimes it's just one jerk out, another in".

"Still, I'd like to think we at least did something", Todd interjects.

"We did what we can", Alan puts the bill under his cup and stands up. "Look, I know we haven't known each other for long but...I like this. Having kids, getting together like this. With me being in the corps again, and you two being young and having your own lives, we probably won't get to see each other all the time...but when we can, I'd like it if we did".

"You're still not used to all of this, are you?", Todd jokes as Alan swings his jacket on over his shirt.

"It's been three hours since we escaped from an alien planet, I'm still a bit shook up yeah". Alan smiles as Jennie rises up to her feet and hugs him.

"I love you, dad".

***

"So how was dinner?", Hal asks Carol as they lie on the couch, watching some sort of Muppet's Christmas special. Hal is wearing an itchy sweater his mother gave him, with Carol's head rested against it, her brown hair covering up the assortment of badly sown snowmen.

"You know how my cooking is, Hal. Everybody kept it down, that's the important thing".

Hal laughs as he reaches his arm over Carol and holds her hand. "You're too hard on yourself".

"How about you? I mean, you're back, so it can't have gone too bad but..."

"Don't worry about it", Hal reassures Carol as he puts his head down against the couch cushion, glad to finally be home.

-The End-