Post by jross on Nov 18, 2011 18:49:15 GMT -5
Issue #6: Homecoming, Part II
The flying vehicle-missile soared straight for John Stewart and Sarah Watson. As Sarah ducked and John jumped on top of her, Tomar-Re launched a net-like construct, gingerly arresting the motion of the incoming jeep.
“So the beast yet lives,” Sines Toro hissed through clenched teeth, “Tomar-Re, take Jordan and follow the human, Kilowog and I shall deal with Narkanthos.”
“Ah, the classic brute and genius double-pairing,” Tomar-Re chimed.
“Eh,” was the grunted response of both Hal and Kilowog.
After setting down the jeep Tomar-Re nodded Hal closer and approached John and Sarah.
“Tell me what you know of your assailant,” he demanded in a monotone.
Sarah gaped while Stewart responded, “His name's Major Paul Booker, but it looks more like he's a Major Disaster now. He wasn't supposed to go off-base with this test. Guess that's it for him.”
“Your information is valuable, thank you, citizen,” Tomar-Re nodded, then spoke to Hal, “We must follow. I will require some time to assess the situation. We fly at Mach 20.”
Jordan and Tomar-Re turned, but stalled when John Stewart spoke up, “Wait, what's going on here? If we're playing with your toys, I'm sorry. Booker wouldn't have ever been able to use this thing if I hadn't cracked it.”
“Your personal genius or lack thereof is of little relevance in this instance. As sowers of chaos the Qwardians, smiths of the suit worn by your comrade, design their weapons to be used by anyone who happens upon them. Did no one simply try to don the suit?”
“Well, uh, it was about four time the size of the Major, at the time,” Stewart looked down sheepishly, “but, about your “sowers of chaos,” this isn't going to end well for Booker, is it?”
“The longer we wait, the worse things are going to be,” Hal replied.
“Then take me with you,” John responded, straightening up, “I'm a cyberneticist, so if he needs help after what I think is going to happen happens, he'll have someone at the ready.”
Hal beckoned John forward and enveloped the man in an emerald force field. A second later the three men were in the air, streaking westward.
-
“Carol, this is silly,” Guy complained, sheepishly.
“Come on, you look fine,” Carol laughed as she worked the clay, sculpting Guy's reclining figure, covered only at the waist with a linen. She continued, “besides, you've got nothing to be embarrassed about with me.”
“It's not you that's worrying me,” Guy replied, “it's that anyone could be driving by. Why are we even here? If you were painting I'd understand; it's not like you're doing anything with the scenery.”
Rather than her familiar studio, Carol had insisted on sculpting a study of Guy in the middle of the wilderness, despite the fact that none of the landscape would be incorporated into the piece.
Carol smirked and Guy continued, “What if someone sees me?”
“Oh,” she gave a flirty mock-frown, “poor Guy. Why so modest all of a sudden? Besides, you've got a towel. You know this place is special. Can't you hear it?”
“The hum? Yeah,” Guy was referring to the phenomenon known as the “Taos Hum,” a low-frequency grinding noise audible in Taos and other parts of the Earth, “I hear it. You need that? I can hum for you back home.”
“It's more than that, Guy,” Carol went on, “I've been working here for years. There's something special about this spot, you can't feel it? Just keep posing, babe. I'm proud of you. We'll go for lunch in a few minutes.”
-
“Do not lose sight of him, Kilowog, but do not harm him. Fire for effect only, just enough to make him think we want him dead immediately. Whatever he is looking for, he will not allow fear of us to deter him from his goal.”
Sines Toro's words transmitted into Kilowog's ears, and the larger corspman obeyed. Whatever Sines Toro wanted, Kilowog understood that there would be a logical plan behind it. On the ground below the scarlet form of Narkanthos ran speedily to the Southwest, weaving serpentine as Kilowog fired potshots below.
Sines Toro was using every ounce of restraint in his being not to eliminate the filth beneath him. He contented himself with sending down bat-like constructs to nip at his prey. The bites tore into Narkanthos, undoubtedly paining him, but not damaging the resilient Ryutian physiology.
Abin Sur, Sines Toro thought to himself, what was worth dying to find?
-
Tomar-Re and Hal Jordan arrived in China only minutes after Booker, but the man had used the scant lead to terrible effect. The once-beautiful mountain landscape was charred, lava cooling into obsidian and molten steel into grotesque splotches of metal where once there had been a military base.
Vehicles were scrambling to escape down a series of dirt roads. Booker, terrible in his Qwardian armor, hovered above ground, aiming at each one. The threads overlaid on his vision by the armor's graphic display completely laid bare the structure of his targets. With each shot a vehicle would disintegrate, hit at its most vital spot.
“Cease, Booker,” came the harsh cry of Tomar-Re.
Booker looked up from his assault. He replied, “Hold up. This isn't your concern, whoever you are. I'm a soldier at war. I'm defending my homeland!”
“War?! Booker,” Stewart cut in, “nobody's at war here! What is wrong with you? You think you're getting promoted for this? They'll execute you in international court!”
“Oh, I am so far beyond the courts of men,” Booker felt his brain racing, visions of conquest, of his own flag planted in every nation, streaking in front of him.
The delusion kept Booker from noticing the enormous green fist flying into his solar plexus. The Qwardian suit held true, preventing damage to his body but succumbing to momentum. Booker flew back swiftly, slamming into the mountain.
Not long ago, Hal would have found himself agreeing with Booker's methods. The United States and China had been at odds for years, and Hal felt himself to be a patriot. After three months of solving disputes, overthrowing tyrants and suppressing terrorist uprisings on dozens of planets, however, Hal had come to view himself as a citizen of the galaxy. Right now he was looking at Booker through the eyes of a lawman.
Hal lowered Stewart to the ground while constructing a net to restrain Booker. He felt a tug at his arm as he landed.
“I know that he's a jerk most of the time,” the voice was John Stewart's, “but I believe that Booker's doing what he feels is right. If it's possible, please don't kill him.”
Hal said noncommittally, “I'll see what I can do.”
Having been a cop, Hal was used to unquestioned authority, and he had blatantly overstepped his authority numerous times. While he had never killed anyone back in Taos, Hal was not accustomed to self-restraint. As the thought came into his head it was banished. Hal had found his work with the Lanterns giving him strength of soul. He hadn't lost his temper with a criminal and he hadn't taken a drop of liquor in months. Not that the ring would have allowed all those toxins in his system without purging them.
A sudden glare of sunlight flashed in Hal's eyes as he saw a golden tendril appear from behind Booker, raising and slashing down. In an instant Hal's net was dissolved, gone as if it had never been.
“Tomar-Re, you have any idea how this suit does that,” Hal called as he assumed a defensive posture, readying for Booker's inevitable assault.
“All data suggests that the Qwardian armor utilizes an ethereal thread targeting system. Simply put, whatever the wearer gazes upon, he will see immediately the quickest means to destroy.”
Booker charged, firing several darts toward Hal and John. Hal moved quickly to shield them. The darts were stopped by Hal's wall, but a second wave effortlessly tore through it. Milliseconds before the men would have been torn to shreds the darts fell against a honeycomb-like barrier.
“About time you got in on the action,” Hal called up to Tomar-Re, who had saved the other men.
“You mistake my stillness for inaction. Jordan, take Stewart and run. Make sure that Booker gives chase. I have a plan.”
-
Carol and Guy had finished and Guy was about to put his clothes back on when a loud crack blasted through the air. Both of them turned to see flashes of green in the sky and a great dust cloud coming towards them. Before either could react, a fist-sized rock flew, striking Guy in the jaw, dropping him like a boxer. Another larger rock smashed down on the hood of Carol's El Camino, causing a hiss of steam as the radiator was cracked.
“Guy! Oh no,” Carol shouted. Her first thought was 911, but she decided to call for more direct assistance. Whipping out her cell phone she dialed, anxious for the receiver to pick up.
“This is Tom,” came the voice on the other line.
“Tom! Guy's hurt and my car's busted. We're out in the middle of nowhere and there's a storm or something coming at us. We need you to come get us!”
“I'll be right over,” Tom replied immediately, “text me the GPS coordinates.”
Tom hung up without another word and dashed for his truck.
-
Hal had learned to trust the instincts of Sines Toro in the last few months, and he felt that anyone so trusted by Sines Toro would have judgment just as effective.
Hal scooped up John and streaked towards Booker, clipping him as they flew past. Booker roared with indignation and tore after the two. As he soared after them a vision filled his visor. An emerald image of his wife, Theresa, her voice called over the radio.
“Paulie, it's me,” her familiar face bore the sad smile that always hit him in the gut, “what's going on? They said that you killed people?”
“I'm on a mission, Resa,” Booker asserted.
“Paul, just come home, please. This isn't you, I know that.”
Her pleading moved Booker, and he felt a war of conscience. He hesitated, uncertain. Right before Booker was about to turn for home, the same rush of awareness that overcame his better judgment at the proving grounds returned, surging through his mind. He convulsed briefly and shouted.
“All dies before the might of Qward!”
“Paul, please!”
The plea was more desperate than anything Booker had ever heard from his wife, but it no longer affected him. He shook his head, opening the visor of his helmet to get rid of the intrusive transmission. That was all that was needed.
Before he could even focus his eyes, the scaly fist of Tomar-Re pounded his face twice, knocking him unconscious. As the major fell, he was caught gently in a green bubble construct.
“Hey, not bad,” Hal, who had stopped in mid-air, complimented his new acquaintance, “how'd you get him to open the helmet?”
“Facebook,” was the only reply.
“Come again,” the response was the same from Hal and John.
“A scan of Earth's information networks for Paul Booker led me to a social network known as Facebook. Extrapolating the identity and personality of his loved ones was easy once I found an account for his wife with links to video files. A simple construct of his wife in front of him and audio spliced together and broadcast over all known radio frequencies was sure to distract him. What did you think that I was doing when you were fighting Booker?”
Hal was about to give respect to Tomar-Re's plan when both men's rings alerted.
“This is Sines Toro, home in on my location immediately. All other concerns are secondary.”
“You take Stewart and Booker back to the base-” Tomar Re began.
“No, if your friend is calling you from something as crazy as Booker's rampage, then there's no time to bother with us. Take me and Booker along. I'll keep an eye on him and try to take off his suit.”
Rather than argue, Hal and Tomar-Re gave their assent and headed for Sines Toro and Kilowog.
-
Tom Kalmaku prayed that he was not too late making it to Carol and Guy as he arrived at the GPS coordinates. He could see and hear the approaching storm from miles away from his friends. Tom hastily put his truck in park and ran out, leaving the engine running. Carol saw him and began dragging Guy as fast as she could.
“Carol,” he cried, “We'll have to put him in the bed. Come on-”
It all happened at once. With a boom three figures appeared before them. Monsters raging and on fire. The one on the ground charged into Tom, knocking him down. The two in the air simply hung still.
A flash of green came from his left and then there were four more people in the air. Tom shook his head.
“Tom! Carol! Guy! Get out of here,” impossibly, Tom was hearing Hal Jordan shout at him from mid-air. Tom squinted dumbly, in too much shock to move.
Hal lowered Booker and Stewart to the ground, ordering Stewart to stay with the unconscious major. His first instinct was to run to Carol and Tom, but he took his cues from Sines Toro and remained still.
Ahead, Narkanthos was skidding to a halt, desert sand kicking up a cloud behind him. The loathsome pirate uttered a series of words in a language unintelligible to the power rings. After intoning the mysterious words he made a fist and struck the earth.
There was a great shuddering as the ground split. A radiant rainbow beam shot forth into the heavens. All present gasped in shock at the sight. Narkanthos chuckled and thrust his hand towards the beam.
“Fire!”
The other corpsmen followed Sines Toro's command and all opened fire on Narkanthos. Their foe staggered and fell in a heap on the ground.
“Hal,” Carol finally noticed her old flame in his unusual uniform and among strange company, “wha-”
“Be silent,” Sines Toro gave a stern command, cowing the three crouching humans with a bear-like construct to keep them from getting in the way. Carol and Tom crouched over the now-stirring form of Guy to keep him safe.
Kilowog spoke, “What are we looking at here?”
Before anyone replied, Hal gave cry of surprise as his head spun and a construct created itself from his ring without his instruction.
“That,” spoke the construct standing in the middle of the corpsmen, “is the Tree of Light.”
“Abin Sur! My friend, how is this possible?”
Abin Sur responded to Sines Toro, “I have been residing within Hal Jordan's mind. Allow me to explain. In my pursuit of Narkanthos I discovered that he was in pursuit of the legendary Tree of Light. Surprisingly, the brute actually seemed to have a credible lead. I infiltrated his ship and accessed his databanks. I stole a shuttle programmed to find the tree and it brought me here. You know the rest.”
John Stewart looked on, stopping his work of pulling off Booker's armor after only managing to remove the helmet and gauntlets. Booker opened his eyes groggily but made no attempt to move.
“Tree of Light, you say? Tell me more, old friend.”
“The Tree of Light was thought to be a trivial legend. It is not much discussed, even among the Green Lanterns. Officially the Guardians denied its existence two centuries ago. I therefore saw no reason to share the stories with you, Sines Toro. There is not time enough to explain everything, so let me show you what I can.”
Abin Sur lifted his arms, initiating psychic contact with the rings of the other corpsmen. Each of the Lanterns saw the same flitting images of a structure composed entirely of energy, of stars, nebulae and galaxies swirling about, of a brilliant emerald light shining upon the cosmos. A look of comprehension appeared on the faces of the four men as they began to understand the nature of the tree.
“Now, it is time for the secrets to be revealed,” Abin Sur pointed toward the rainbow stream and uttered still more words in the same tongue as Narkanthos. The stream dissipated, revealing a seven-point star composed of silver threads snaking out from a center point. At the end of each point was an oval. Each oval was a different color, and contained a matching gem stone, save the green oval which was empty.
The full ovals each coruscated brilliantly before each shooting out dozens of beams of colored light. The observers flinched in the overwhelming brightness, unable to view the beautiful event.
As the light began to fade the air filled with crackling energy.
One person looked to their right hand and saw that it now bore a blue ring, another found an indigo ring, another an orange ring, still another a red ring, another a violet ring and the last a yellow ring. Voices audible only to the bearers called out:
<Thomas Kalmaku of Earth, your hope does not falter.>
<John Stewart of Earth, you have the ability to feel great compassion.>
<Paul Booker of Earth, you want it all.>
<Guy Gardner of Earth, unfathomable rage stirs your breast.>
<Carol Ferris of Earth, you have great love in your heart.>
<Thaal Sines Toro of Korugar, all fear you.>
“Hey,” Kilowog cut through the tense silence, “what happened to Narkanthos?”
As the recovering individuals looked about they saw no trace of the vicious marauder save a congealing pool of blood.
The flying vehicle-missile soared straight for John Stewart and Sarah Watson. As Sarah ducked and John jumped on top of her, Tomar-Re launched a net-like construct, gingerly arresting the motion of the incoming jeep.
“So the beast yet lives,” Sines Toro hissed through clenched teeth, “Tomar-Re, take Jordan and follow the human, Kilowog and I shall deal with Narkanthos.”
“Ah, the classic brute and genius double-pairing,” Tomar-Re chimed.
“Eh,” was the grunted response of both Hal and Kilowog.
After setting down the jeep Tomar-Re nodded Hal closer and approached John and Sarah.
“Tell me what you know of your assailant,” he demanded in a monotone.
Sarah gaped while Stewart responded, “His name's Major Paul Booker, but it looks more like he's a Major Disaster now. He wasn't supposed to go off-base with this test. Guess that's it for him.”
“Your information is valuable, thank you, citizen,” Tomar-Re nodded, then spoke to Hal, “We must follow. I will require some time to assess the situation. We fly at Mach 20.”
Jordan and Tomar-Re turned, but stalled when John Stewart spoke up, “Wait, what's going on here? If we're playing with your toys, I'm sorry. Booker wouldn't have ever been able to use this thing if I hadn't cracked it.”
“Your personal genius or lack thereof is of little relevance in this instance. As sowers of chaos the Qwardians, smiths of the suit worn by your comrade, design their weapons to be used by anyone who happens upon them. Did no one simply try to don the suit?”
“Well, uh, it was about four time the size of the Major, at the time,” Stewart looked down sheepishly, “but, about your “sowers of chaos,” this isn't going to end well for Booker, is it?”
“The longer we wait, the worse things are going to be,” Hal replied.
“Then take me with you,” John responded, straightening up, “I'm a cyberneticist, so if he needs help after what I think is going to happen happens, he'll have someone at the ready.”
Hal beckoned John forward and enveloped the man in an emerald force field. A second later the three men were in the air, streaking westward.
-
“Carol, this is silly,” Guy complained, sheepishly.
“Come on, you look fine,” Carol laughed as she worked the clay, sculpting Guy's reclining figure, covered only at the waist with a linen. She continued, “besides, you've got nothing to be embarrassed about with me.”
“It's not you that's worrying me,” Guy replied, “it's that anyone could be driving by. Why are we even here? If you were painting I'd understand; it's not like you're doing anything with the scenery.”
Rather than her familiar studio, Carol had insisted on sculpting a study of Guy in the middle of the wilderness, despite the fact that none of the landscape would be incorporated into the piece.
Carol smirked and Guy continued, “What if someone sees me?”
“Oh,” she gave a flirty mock-frown, “poor Guy. Why so modest all of a sudden? Besides, you've got a towel. You know this place is special. Can't you hear it?”
“The hum? Yeah,” Guy was referring to the phenomenon known as the “Taos Hum,” a low-frequency grinding noise audible in Taos and other parts of the Earth, “I hear it. You need that? I can hum for you back home.”
“It's more than that, Guy,” Carol went on, “I've been working here for years. There's something special about this spot, you can't feel it? Just keep posing, babe. I'm proud of you. We'll go for lunch in a few minutes.”
-
“Do not lose sight of him, Kilowog, but do not harm him. Fire for effect only, just enough to make him think we want him dead immediately. Whatever he is looking for, he will not allow fear of us to deter him from his goal.”
Sines Toro's words transmitted into Kilowog's ears, and the larger corspman obeyed. Whatever Sines Toro wanted, Kilowog understood that there would be a logical plan behind it. On the ground below the scarlet form of Narkanthos ran speedily to the Southwest, weaving serpentine as Kilowog fired potshots below.
Sines Toro was using every ounce of restraint in his being not to eliminate the filth beneath him. He contented himself with sending down bat-like constructs to nip at his prey. The bites tore into Narkanthos, undoubtedly paining him, but not damaging the resilient Ryutian physiology.
Abin Sur, Sines Toro thought to himself, what was worth dying to find?
-
Tomar-Re and Hal Jordan arrived in China only minutes after Booker, but the man had used the scant lead to terrible effect. The once-beautiful mountain landscape was charred, lava cooling into obsidian and molten steel into grotesque splotches of metal where once there had been a military base.
Vehicles were scrambling to escape down a series of dirt roads. Booker, terrible in his Qwardian armor, hovered above ground, aiming at each one. The threads overlaid on his vision by the armor's graphic display completely laid bare the structure of his targets. With each shot a vehicle would disintegrate, hit at its most vital spot.
“Cease, Booker,” came the harsh cry of Tomar-Re.
Booker looked up from his assault. He replied, “Hold up. This isn't your concern, whoever you are. I'm a soldier at war. I'm defending my homeland!”
“War?! Booker,” Stewart cut in, “nobody's at war here! What is wrong with you? You think you're getting promoted for this? They'll execute you in international court!”
“Oh, I am so far beyond the courts of men,” Booker felt his brain racing, visions of conquest, of his own flag planted in every nation, streaking in front of him.
The delusion kept Booker from noticing the enormous green fist flying into his solar plexus. The Qwardian suit held true, preventing damage to his body but succumbing to momentum. Booker flew back swiftly, slamming into the mountain.
Not long ago, Hal would have found himself agreeing with Booker's methods. The United States and China had been at odds for years, and Hal felt himself to be a patriot. After three months of solving disputes, overthrowing tyrants and suppressing terrorist uprisings on dozens of planets, however, Hal had come to view himself as a citizen of the galaxy. Right now he was looking at Booker through the eyes of a lawman.
Hal lowered Stewart to the ground while constructing a net to restrain Booker. He felt a tug at his arm as he landed.
“I know that he's a jerk most of the time,” the voice was John Stewart's, “but I believe that Booker's doing what he feels is right. If it's possible, please don't kill him.”
Hal said noncommittally, “I'll see what I can do.”
Having been a cop, Hal was used to unquestioned authority, and he had blatantly overstepped his authority numerous times. While he had never killed anyone back in Taos, Hal was not accustomed to self-restraint. As the thought came into his head it was banished. Hal had found his work with the Lanterns giving him strength of soul. He hadn't lost his temper with a criminal and he hadn't taken a drop of liquor in months. Not that the ring would have allowed all those toxins in his system without purging them.
A sudden glare of sunlight flashed in Hal's eyes as he saw a golden tendril appear from behind Booker, raising and slashing down. In an instant Hal's net was dissolved, gone as if it had never been.
“Tomar-Re, you have any idea how this suit does that,” Hal called as he assumed a defensive posture, readying for Booker's inevitable assault.
“All data suggests that the Qwardian armor utilizes an ethereal thread targeting system. Simply put, whatever the wearer gazes upon, he will see immediately the quickest means to destroy.”
Booker charged, firing several darts toward Hal and John. Hal moved quickly to shield them. The darts were stopped by Hal's wall, but a second wave effortlessly tore through it. Milliseconds before the men would have been torn to shreds the darts fell against a honeycomb-like barrier.
“About time you got in on the action,” Hal called up to Tomar-Re, who had saved the other men.
“You mistake my stillness for inaction. Jordan, take Stewart and run. Make sure that Booker gives chase. I have a plan.”
-
Carol and Guy had finished and Guy was about to put his clothes back on when a loud crack blasted through the air. Both of them turned to see flashes of green in the sky and a great dust cloud coming towards them. Before either could react, a fist-sized rock flew, striking Guy in the jaw, dropping him like a boxer. Another larger rock smashed down on the hood of Carol's El Camino, causing a hiss of steam as the radiator was cracked.
“Guy! Oh no,” Carol shouted. Her first thought was 911, but she decided to call for more direct assistance. Whipping out her cell phone she dialed, anxious for the receiver to pick up.
“This is Tom,” came the voice on the other line.
“Tom! Guy's hurt and my car's busted. We're out in the middle of nowhere and there's a storm or something coming at us. We need you to come get us!”
“I'll be right over,” Tom replied immediately, “text me the GPS coordinates.”
Tom hung up without another word and dashed for his truck.
-
Hal had learned to trust the instincts of Sines Toro in the last few months, and he felt that anyone so trusted by Sines Toro would have judgment just as effective.
Hal scooped up John and streaked towards Booker, clipping him as they flew past. Booker roared with indignation and tore after the two. As he soared after them a vision filled his visor. An emerald image of his wife, Theresa, her voice called over the radio.
“Paulie, it's me,” her familiar face bore the sad smile that always hit him in the gut, “what's going on? They said that you killed people?”
“I'm on a mission, Resa,” Booker asserted.
“Paul, just come home, please. This isn't you, I know that.”
Her pleading moved Booker, and he felt a war of conscience. He hesitated, uncertain. Right before Booker was about to turn for home, the same rush of awareness that overcame his better judgment at the proving grounds returned, surging through his mind. He convulsed briefly and shouted.
“All dies before the might of Qward!”
“Paul, please!”
The plea was more desperate than anything Booker had ever heard from his wife, but it no longer affected him. He shook his head, opening the visor of his helmet to get rid of the intrusive transmission. That was all that was needed.
Before he could even focus his eyes, the scaly fist of Tomar-Re pounded his face twice, knocking him unconscious. As the major fell, he was caught gently in a green bubble construct.
“Hey, not bad,” Hal, who had stopped in mid-air, complimented his new acquaintance, “how'd you get him to open the helmet?”
“Facebook,” was the only reply.
“Come again,” the response was the same from Hal and John.
“A scan of Earth's information networks for Paul Booker led me to a social network known as Facebook. Extrapolating the identity and personality of his loved ones was easy once I found an account for his wife with links to video files. A simple construct of his wife in front of him and audio spliced together and broadcast over all known radio frequencies was sure to distract him. What did you think that I was doing when you were fighting Booker?”
Hal was about to give respect to Tomar-Re's plan when both men's rings alerted.
“This is Sines Toro, home in on my location immediately. All other concerns are secondary.”
“You take Stewart and Booker back to the base-” Tomar Re began.
“No, if your friend is calling you from something as crazy as Booker's rampage, then there's no time to bother with us. Take me and Booker along. I'll keep an eye on him and try to take off his suit.”
Rather than argue, Hal and Tomar-Re gave their assent and headed for Sines Toro and Kilowog.
-
Tom Kalmaku prayed that he was not too late making it to Carol and Guy as he arrived at the GPS coordinates. He could see and hear the approaching storm from miles away from his friends. Tom hastily put his truck in park and ran out, leaving the engine running. Carol saw him and began dragging Guy as fast as she could.
“Carol,” he cried, “We'll have to put him in the bed. Come on-”
It all happened at once. With a boom three figures appeared before them. Monsters raging and on fire. The one on the ground charged into Tom, knocking him down. The two in the air simply hung still.
A flash of green came from his left and then there were four more people in the air. Tom shook his head.
“Tom! Carol! Guy! Get out of here,” impossibly, Tom was hearing Hal Jordan shout at him from mid-air. Tom squinted dumbly, in too much shock to move.
Hal lowered Booker and Stewart to the ground, ordering Stewart to stay with the unconscious major. His first instinct was to run to Carol and Tom, but he took his cues from Sines Toro and remained still.
Ahead, Narkanthos was skidding to a halt, desert sand kicking up a cloud behind him. The loathsome pirate uttered a series of words in a language unintelligible to the power rings. After intoning the mysterious words he made a fist and struck the earth.
There was a great shuddering as the ground split. A radiant rainbow beam shot forth into the heavens. All present gasped in shock at the sight. Narkanthos chuckled and thrust his hand towards the beam.
“Fire!”
The other corpsmen followed Sines Toro's command and all opened fire on Narkanthos. Their foe staggered and fell in a heap on the ground.
“Hal,” Carol finally noticed her old flame in his unusual uniform and among strange company, “wha-”
“Be silent,” Sines Toro gave a stern command, cowing the three crouching humans with a bear-like construct to keep them from getting in the way. Carol and Tom crouched over the now-stirring form of Guy to keep him safe.
Kilowog spoke, “What are we looking at here?”
Before anyone replied, Hal gave cry of surprise as his head spun and a construct created itself from his ring without his instruction.
“That,” spoke the construct standing in the middle of the corpsmen, “is the Tree of Light.”
“Abin Sur! My friend, how is this possible?”
Abin Sur responded to Sines Toro, “I have been residing within Hal Jordan's mind. Allow me to explain. In my pursuit of Narkanthos I discovered that he was in pursuit of the legendary Tree of Light. Surprisingly, the brute actually seemed to have a credible lead. I infiltrated his ship and accessed his databanks. I stole a shuttle programmed to find the tree and it brought me here. You know the rest.”
John Stewart looked on, stopping his work of pulling off Booker's armor after only managing to remove the helmet and gauntlets. Booker opened his eyes groggily but made no attempt to move.
“Tree of Light, you say? Tell me more, old friend.”
“The Tree of Light was thought to be a trivial legend. It is not much discussed, even among the Green Lanterns. Officially the Guardians denied its existence two centuries ago. I therefore saw no reason to share the stories with you, Sines Toro. There is not time enough to explain everything, so let me show you what I can.”
Abin Sur lifted his arms, initiating psychic contact with the rings of the other corpsmen. Each of the Lanterns saw the same flitting images of a structure composed entirely of energy, of stars, nebulae and galaxies swirling about, of a brilliant emerald light shining upon the cosmos. A look of comprehension appeared on the faces of the four men as they began to understand the nature of the tree.
“Now, it is time for the secrets to be revealed,” Abin Sur pointed toward the rainbow stream and uttered still more words in the same tongue as Narkanthos. The stream dissipated, revealing a seven-point star composed of silver threads snaking out from a center point. At the end of each point was an oval. Each oval was a different color, and contained a matching gem stone, save the green oval which was empty.
The full ovals each coruscated brilliantly before each shooting out dozens of beams of colored light. The observers flinched in the overwhelming brightness, unable to view the beautiful event.
As the light began to fade the air filled with crackling energy.
One person looked to their right hand and saw that it now bore a blue ring, another found an indigo ring, another an orange ring, still another a red ring, another a violet ring and the last a yellow ring. Voices audible only to the bearers called out:
<Thomas Kalmaku of Earth, your hope does not falter.>
<John Stewart of Earth, you have the ability to feel great compassion.>
<Paul Booker of Earth, you want it all.>
<Guy Gardner of Earth, unfathomable rage stirs your breast.>
<Carol Ferris of Earth, you have great love in your heart.>
<Thaal Sines Toro of Korugar, all fear you.>
“Hey,” Kilowog cut through the tense silence, “what happened to Narkanthos?”
As the recovering individuals looked about they saw no trace of the vicious marauder save a congealing pool of blood.