Post by liquidsword34 on Oct 17, 2012 17:48:53 GMT -5
Ultimate Green Lantern Corps #1
The War of the Lanterns Part 1
The War of the Lanterns Part 1
"In brightest day, in blackest night
No Evil shall escape my sight
Let those who worship evil's might
Beware my power
Green Lantern's light!
John Stewart's ring lights up as he finishes reciting the Green Lantern Corps oath and takes his hand off of the power battery. John looks like your standard marine: short black hair, a thick jaw, tall, bulging muscles, and thick veins showing through his black skin. Next to him stands his partner, Kilowog, a six and a half foot brute with dark purple skin and a face like a rabid bulldog. The two stand on the surface of a dull grey asteroid, floating silently through space close enough to see the hundreds of starts. The two wear similar outfits, black bodysuits with green trims and the green lantern corps logo: a green lantern in a white circle, representing law, order and justice throughout the galaxy. The asteroid is at least thirty miles from any inhabited planet, leaving the two Lanterns alone out in space.
"Heard the Red Lantern's got three more of us yesterday", John announces in a matter-of-fact way to Kilowog.
"Atrocitus is getting more aggressive each passing moment, his rage will not simply subside, John", Kilowog replies.
"Maybe if the Guardians told us WHY his Corps is kicking our butts at every turn we could do something, but we're still in the..."
"I understand some Corps members annoyance with the Guardians, but they have been alive for longer than all of us put together. Have some faith", Kilowog interjected.
"Over there", John tells Kilwog, pointing off in the distance to a pair of green lights.
"Late as always", Kilowog snorts playfully in his gruff voice. Seconds later Thaal Sinestro and Abin Sur land on the asteroid a few feet away from John and Kilowog, having used their green lantern rings to travel through the vacuum of space at near light speed. Sinestro sports the self confident grin he always wears, curling his lips below his thin straight moustache. His deep scarlet skin tone is normal for any Korugarian, but his unnaturally large forehead and slender build draws him attention on any planet. Unlike Sinestro, Abin Sur looks youthful and upbeat, with not a single imperfection to be found on his bald, perfectly circular head, while Thaals face is covered in wrinkles, scars and other marks of a being whom has spent years fighting to protect the universe.
"And to what do I owe this pleasure, Stewart?" Thaal quips as he and Abin approached. "I'm sure you didn't call us all the way out here to chit chat". Sinestro speaks with an air of confidence and an almost Shakespearian accent which allows him to instantly own a conversation.
"Pirates with power drainers a sector over", Kilowog responds. "Me and Stewart traced them back here, but with the quality of their equipment we need more than two of us, and not just some poozers".
"So why are we still here?" Abin chuckles while rising up into the air, followed by his fellow lanterns.
***
In Oa, the Guardians of the Universe sit in their chamber. The entire room is a dark blue colour with the twelve Guardians floating around the Green Lantern power core, a giant, lantern shaped object which emits a soft green light and a low hum. The Guardians themselves are short blue skinned humanoids sporting red robes which look both regal and modest, complete with the Green Lantern Corps symbol emblazoned on the chest. Their body's are small, but their heads are proportionately gigantic to store their brains. Some of the Guardians sport slightly different hair, maybe a unique wrinkle every so often if you looked hard enough, but overall, they exist as one entity. Uniformly the same, with only shared thoughts and no unwanted emotions. One voice for one mind. The immortal Guardians gave up their names and emotions to protect the universe, first through the android Manhunters and later the Green Lantern Corps. Using the book of Oa, a scripture older than time itself, the Guardians rule the Green Lantern Corps in the hope that one day, the universe can be safe.
"Every day Atrocitus and his red lanterns take more ground, kill more beings. His rage is spreading".
"And what can we do? Our best lanterns are fighting as hard as they can, but it is not enough".
"The book of Oa predicts a new Lantern".
"A new lantern, the greatest Lantern".
"After the loss of Lantern Guy Gardner, it may still not be enough".
"Atrocitus's rage towards us would have to be exceeded by the willpower of this new Lantern".
"And that seems like an impossibility".
"But if the book of Oa says it is to be..."
"Then it must come to be".
"But how many will die before the prophecy comes to be?"
"We cannot know for sure".
"No cost is too great to ensure the continued defence of this universe".
***
Hal Jordan climbs down from the cockpit of the small passenger plane he has been test piloting, throwing his thick brown leather jacket down as he does and removing his helmet. Hal takes his time walking across the small runway, enjoying the warm sun and cool breeze on his face after hours stuffed inside a cockpit. Hal is quite tall, with lightly tanned skin and a mop of short brown hair in no particular style, made even more messy from having just taken his helmet off. Hal sli[s off his flight gloves, the same ones he's been using since he first flew, with the image of The Sentinel, Coast City's super hero, sown on. For as long as he can remember Hal has looked up to The Sentinel.
"And the verdict?," Carol Ferris calls across to Hal. Carol, who is holding a clip board and finishing up taking notes, runs the business and admin side of the business while Hal does the flying and repair work. Carol has long sweeping black hair and a buttoned up blue jacket with "Ferris & Jordan Aircraft LTD" printed on it in bold letters.
"It flies like it got shot down in 'Nam and put back together with paper clips and super glue", Hal merrily replies.
"I noticed," Carol sighs. "Any chance you can fix it?".
"Have I ever just given up?" Hal says with a cocky grin spread across his face, like a child who's just been given a new toy to play with..
"Good to know", Carol beams before kissing Hal, pulling him into a tight embrace.
The two had been running the airfield with minimal help for five years, testing and servicing aircraft's for both the private and public sector as their fathers had done before them. Despite being only in their late twenties the two had kept F&J Aircraft's at the top of its field while carrying on a steady relationship since high school. Despite their business booming, the two still use their small private airstrip just outside of Coast City, as F&J had always used.
"That's all we've got for today, Hal. Want to head home or are you working late again?"
"I've still got stuff to do", Hal calls as he walks over to the small, rustic plane again. Hal had spent most of his life studying planes, trying to learn as much about them as possible so he would never encounter a problem he couldn't fix. Tonight he plans to take apart the engine and repair whatever was causing it to struggle in the air, a laborious and boring task, but one Hal refused to give up on.
"Guess you do, I'll come back and pick you up about nine?" Carol asked as Hal grabbed the huge engine and started looking it over.
"Sure, I should be done by then, unless something weird pops up".
***
The four Lanterns speed past the stars, using their rings to move them faster than the human eye could usually process. Only thanks to the support from his ring can John Stewart see where he is going and avoid the environmental dangers of interstellar travel. Small asteroids and other kinds of debris pass by them, some even bouncing off the shield cast around them by their power rings harmlessly.
"Just up ahead", Kilowog calls back to the others.
"What's that?!" Abin Sur calls out, pointing to a red blob type of shape off in the distance, hurtling towards them. A few seconds later the quartet get close enough to see exactly what it is, and in an instant all four Lanterns realize that they are heavily outnumbered.
"RED LANTERN DRONES! HOLD!" Stewart bellows, taking charge of the situation as the GL's stop. The Red Lantern drones approach in their hundreds, mindless beings of rage created by Atrocitus from the red rivers of Ysmault, controlled by Atrocious's Red Lantern rings without any sort of sentience, emotions or feelings. The drones are humanoid, but with no sorts of external features, only smooth, blood red, squishy skin. Each drone is weak and easily dispatched, but when roaming in their packs of hundreds they can easily overwhelm even the best Green Lantern Corps member. The four Green Lanterns put up a wall of green light, driving it into the drones and obliterating some of the faster moving beasts.
"This won't hold, Stewart!" Sinestro hisses as the drones spread out, trying to attack from all sides. Kilowog creates a pair of hammers, using them to swipe at the drones and knock them away as Abin Sur uses a whip like weapon to slash through them. John Stewart, on the other hand, uses his power ring to create an M16 style assault rifle, picking off the enemies one by one with perfect accuracy, and Sinestro creates a long fighting stick before using it to fight off the drones, disposing of them swiftly and brutally.
"How are they so fast? And so numerous?" Abin asks while struggling to keep the drones at bay, nearly hundreds of them now circling him, burning Abin's skin with their every touch.
"It only means one thing," Kilowog grunts while launching his hammers away as projectiles and replacing them by conjuring up a mini-gun, spitting out hundreds of shards of green light per second. "He's near". The drones don't let up, unaware of concepts such as fear or self preservation, not even feeling any sort of pain as they get hit and dissolve away. The four find themselves separated and having to fight to keep each other in view and to stop themselves getting overwhelmed by the mass of red bearing down on them. Out of the corner of his eye John Stewart catches something, something which makes his guts feel like they're about to try to rip out of his stomach just to escape.
Atrocitus, the nine foot tall titan, floats just away from the skirmish, all ten of the Red Lantern rings he wears glowing brightly. Atrocitus's face is skeletal, baring a set of sharp teeth with liquid red rage dripping down onto his black and red body suit. His skin is blood red and covers his humongous body, making him a physical thread even without his multiple power rings. In his chest a red power battery pulsates away, powering not only Atrocitus but the entire Red Lantern Corps.
To his left floats Bleez, an angelic creature with a pair of bone wings protruding from her back. A black masks covers almost all her face, leaving but a small gap for her blood red eyes and sickly white skin. Just being near Bleez gave John a light tingling at the back of his brain from her telepathic powers through which she could communicate with, spy on or on more than one occasion, lobotomise anybody with a susceptible enough mind, even without her red lantern ring. Although his Green Lantern ring gave him telepathic protection, John remained aware that if he didn't concentrate Bleez could probe into his thoughts, finding every little detail of Johns life and sharing it amongst the Red Lantern Corps.
To the right of Atrocitus is Guy Gardner, the former Green Lantern. He still sports his short ginger hair, waist coat and self-righteous attitude from his time in the Green Lantern Corps, but had developed a love for death only seen in the worst of beings since his defection after a falling out with the Guardians of the Universe. As Atrocitus's personal assassin Guy Gardner hunts down even the most elusive of enemies and dispatches them with a gleeful joy and deadly efficiency. At first it was considered just a rumour that Guy had become a Red Lantern, possibly a thought implanted into the minds of certain Corps members, but it soon became apparent that Guy Gardner had allowed the Red Lantern ring to overcome him, harnessing his anger.
And in front of them is Dex-Starr, a blue cat like creature slightly bigger than a tiger and with foot long fangs to match. Almost as old as the universe atself, Dex-Starr has spent billions of years preying on interstellar travellers, planets which is happens to chance upon and whatever other prey it can. The rabid beast has developed enough intelligence to communicate with Atrocitus and pledge its allegiance to the Red Lantern Corps, making it a fearsome enemy.
"FALL BACK!" John yells while using his ring to form a bulldozer and smash through the drones to move away from the sentient Red Lanterns.
"Not a chance, Stewart!" Kilowog roars as he rips through drone after drone with his mini-gun, his eyes narrowed down to angry slits. "We've got to re-group and..."
"GET OUT OF THERE, NOW!" Stewart barks, causing Kilowog to retreat back to John and put more distance between himself and the sentient Red Lanterns. "Why aren't they attacking us?" John asks Kilowog.
"Because they're planning something, Stewart. Where the heck are Sinestro and Abin?!"
"GET OFF ME!" the duo hear Abin Surr cry, causing them to try and charge back into the battle, spotting Sinestro holding off almost a hundred of the lifeless drones single handedly with the projection of a giant three headed hydra style creature. Ahead of them John and Kilowog see Abin being grabbed by Atrocitus with one hand, his ring constructs not even moving the rage filled monstrosity.
"Even now, Abin Sur, you serve the fascist Guardians?" Atrocitus slamms his fist into Abin as Sinestro, John and Kilowog struggle to fight through the horde of drones. "You let them send your allies to their deaths and accept it like the brainless lap dog you are!?" Atrocitus then summons a jagged sword using his Red Lantern ring, wielding it in one hand like it was weightless despite it being at least five feet long. "May your death be a message to any other Green Lanterns who still stand by the little blue monsters to defend their war crimes and genocide," Atrocitus snorts as he jams the sword through Abin's gut, slicing open the young Lantern with ease. Abin struggles, trying to use any strength he has to summon a construct, each time failing as Atrocitus's pure hate overpowers the willpower Green Lanterns use to power their rings. "I am Atrocitus, may my rage be felt throughout the cosmos!" Atrocitus bellows while twisting his sword then yanking it upwards and outwards, ripping open Abin Surs chest.
Ring status report: Green Lantern Abin Sur - Deceased
Seeking suitable replacement
May your will remain strong
"YOU COWARD!" Sinestro calls out, creating a bow and arrow as he breaks through the drones. He fires, driving his arrow deep through Atrocitus's arm. The Red Lantern simply chuckles as he motions to his three sentient corps men that their job is done. They raise their rings above their heads, speeding off into the distance in a blaze of red light before the Green Lanterns can even take in what has happened, with Guy Gardner even giving John Stewart a menacing wink before laughing and cruising away. As Atrocitus moves further away his drones become weaker, and after a few minutes they are simply floating lumps of red plasma.
"He...he killed him", John whispers, staring at the now motionless body of Abin Sur as Kilowog creates a stretcher style construct under the body of Abin Sur.
"We had hundreds of drones, Atrocitus, Gardner, the telepath and the four legged beast in the same space sector, and not a single Green Lantern was sent to help?" Sinestro murmurs in disbelief. "How does this happen?"
"Sinestro, it wasn't anybody's fault, they...", John starts, but he is cut off by a flash of green light as Sinestro turns and flies away, leaving John, Kilowog and the deceased Abin Sur floating in space.
***
"Hal?" Carol Ferris calls out as he walks across the air strip. The sun has set, leaving the airfield shrouded in darkness.
"Over here", Hal replies through the pitch black. Carol follows his voice to find her boyfriend sat on the tarmac next to the control tower with the engine of the plane he was testing earlier laid out in hundreds of pieces in front of him. "I took it apart and put it together about nine times, but I still think it could run smoother. I don't know Carol, I still feel like I could be better at this".
"Oh shut up", Carol says softly as she sits down next to Hal. "You think I let you fix every plane that comes through here for no reason? You're better than anybody else at this, Hal. Trust me and stop beating yourself up over everything". Carol kisses Hal softly on the cheek to further reassure him.
"I know I'm good but...but why do I always do this?"
"Do what?"
"It's just one small thing, but I keep trying, over and over. Do I have OCD? Am I crazy?"
"Your only problem's that you don't give up. You're strong willed and determined. Hal, you have more willpower than anybody I've ever met, and that's why I love you so much".
Hal smiles and puts his arm around Carol. "I don't tell you enough Carol, but I love you too".
"I had my suspicions", Carol retorts while laughing. The two sit in silence for a while, taking in the clear night sky.
"Think we should get home, now?" Hal asks after around half an hour of sitting with Carol, holding onto her.
"Sure", Carol starts standing up, but stops as she sees a green light off in the distance. Before she has time to open her mouth the light zooms across the airfield close to the ground, revealing itself to be a shining green ring. Hal turns just as Carol lets out a scream and almost falls off his feet in surprise as the ring lands perfectly on his finger.
Hal Jordan of Earth
You have the power to over come great fear, and the will to do what is right
Welcome to the Green Lantern Corps
***
"We did what we could, Lantern Thaal Sinestro," one of the Guardians of the Universe proclaims in its usual monotone and emotionless voice.
"Four of us had to fight nearly hundreds of those monsters, and not a single Lantern was sent a signal to help us?" Sinestro yells out as Kilowog and John Stewart stand by his side. "We're losing this war and you just sit back and do NOTHING!"
"We do what we can".
"We enlist new Lanterns every day".
"And we organise the Lanterns as best we can," a trio of the Guardians reply.
"But nobody was sent to help? That, that rabid beast is killing us one by one in his crusade against you, and you simply sit back and let it happen! You could have detected the amount of activity in the area and any Lantern would've came to help us!" Sinestro yells, standing in the centre of the circle of Guardians. Even in a room of immortal beings, he stands firm, showing no fear of reprisal for his outburst. John Stewart and Kilowog stand by the entrance to the chambers, watching Sinestro as he rants in anger.
"We have to monitor all sectors, Lantern Thaal Sinestro".
"And sending more Lanterns to help you would have compromised that".
"So instead you let Abin die? And you still refuse to tell us WHY Atrocitus wishes to destroy the Guardians of the Universe. What are you hiding from us?" Sinestro paces around the chamber, his fists clenched in anger.
"We cannot reveal all to you at this time, Lantern Thaal Sinestro".
"If you are dissatisfied I advise you to..." another of the Guardians starts to say, but Sinestro doesn't listen and instead turns and leaves, followed by John and Kilowog.
"We cannot simply let this continue", Sinestro roars as he and his fellow Lanterns walk through the halls of Oa. The metallic green hallways go on for miles, linking the various areas of the headquarters of the Green Lanterns floating at the very epicentre of the universe. Hundreds of Lanterns roam the halls or otherwise spend time on Oa between going on patrol, making it a hive of activity at all times, but especially after the loss of a lantern. "We must strike back. We must hurt the Red Lanterns and make them regret the day they killed Abin Sur," Sinestro growls while stomping away from John and Kilowog, who can't even begin to condole their fellow Lantern.
***
Alan Scott awakes from his bed to the sound of his ring buzzing away, annoyed that he'd been disturbed at almost seven AM. It'd been almost a year since Alan had used his ring at all, and almost ten since he'd used it in combat. If a message was being sent to him, it'd have to be something extremely important. At fifty years old, after a life of crime fighting on Earth and in space, Alan is still in decent shape, and other than a slightly busted hip he is as healthy as he was in his twenties thanks to a strict work out routine. Alan lives alone in his apartment in Coast City, occasionally writing articles for a local news paper but mostly spending his days enjoying his early retirement after a thirty year career in property development. The dresser is cluttered with pictures of Alan with his family and friends, magazines and various pieces of junk. But at the very back is a small, velvet black box containing Alan's Green Lantern Ring. Alan grabs his ring, instantly making it light up and start talking to him.
Alan Scott of Earth
The Guardians of the Universe desperately need your help
Last night a new Lantern was created, a Lantern the book of Oa prophesied will save us from Atrocitus and his Red Lantern horde
That Lantern's name is Hal Jordan
We need you, Earth's greatest Green Lantern, to help train him
Alan sighs as he slips his ring on, instantly conjuring up a flowing black cape, a red shirt with the Green Lantern insignia on it, long green pants and a black domino mask. "Seven AM when I've got a golf game at ten? As good a time to ring sling as any I guess", Alan mumbles to himself as he steps out onto his balcony. Alan had forgotten the joy of flying over Coast City in the night, but as he takes off it all comes back to him. "Ring, direct me to Lantern Hal Jordan". Alan's hand moves with the ring, pointing off into the distance to show Alan where he needs to fly. In a flash of green light Alan hits mach-one, launching himself across the city.