《Peacekeeper // Green Lantern》Chapter Eight: The Last- Part 1
Advertisement
Oa was the site of a mass gathering for off-duty Lanterns on one particularly special cycle. The crowd gathered around the Citadel, the meeting place of the Guardians of the Universe, as two very welcome visitors arrived to discuss the threat of a gigantic cosmic storm that was charted for a direct course with a populated galaxy. Hal kept his distance, leaning on the wall of one of the many buildings in the area. He was glad to step aside and make sure his fellow Lanterns got to meet their guests first; after all he did see them every other day back on Earth.
"Is that really him?" Arisia chirped like a little girl, cupping her mouth in shock. "I always imagined him to be really big and scary. Like a giant. But he's...so cute."
Propped up on her shoulder was Ch'p, the squirrel-like protector of Sector 1014. "All those stories are probably loads of grok."
Guy scoffed at the crowds of people gathered to meet the big blue boy scout. "Eh, he's kind of a square."
"Yeah. Being too polite would be an insult to you, wouldn't it?" Said John Stewart. "Like it or not, he's the strongest man in the universe. And I'd rather him be on my side, right?" He quipped with a smirk.
"I could take him." Guy snapped.
"Yeah, no." Hal chuckled. "I've seen him push moons out of orbit without breaking a sweat."
Arisia beamed, and Ch'p cocked his head and sneered "So...the stories are all true?"
"Except the one about how he can mould his face like clay to look like anyone he wants." Hal replied, at which John found himself shaking his head with a smirk.
"I never get tired of hearing that one." John added.
Advertisement
Hal peered over the shoulders of his comrades and caught a glimpse of Clark walking up to the Citadel via its set of emerald steps. At his side was his cousin, the Last Daughter of Krypton, Kara. She looked a lot less comfortable in front of all these people than Clark did, but she always tried her best and Hal really admired her for that. For someone her age, she's been through a hell of a lot. As he watched them stride up the stairs, he pointed out "You guys know what the best part of this is? He hates these kinds of things. Seeing people thank him and stuff like that."
Guy came roaring into the conversation yet again. "'Cause he's a goody good."
"What's wrong with that?" Said Arisia, pouting her lips.
Hal noted that Kal and Kara walked by Vell, who watched them intently as they ascended the steps to the Citadel. Hal noticed that Vell's eyes also darted from every face in the crowd of Green Lanterns, as if she were looking for someone. Hal's easy-going smile faded...and his mind ran to the one Lantern who wouldn't be here.
"This is what a real man looks like. We aren't meant to be afraid to crack skulls." Guy retorted with gusto.
"He can crack planets though. Isn't that a step above?" John prodded, purposefully trying to provoke his hot-headed friend.
Then, Vell came soaring over from her spot in front of the crowd. Her eyes pinned onto Hal as she landed, her brow furrowed in concern. "I don't see Tomar-Re. Where is he?"
The group of Lanterns fell into sombre silence. Only Arisia and Vell were left glancing in between their lowered faces in confusion.
"Uh...guys...?" Arisia timidly spoke.
Advertisement
Hal turned to his friends John, Guy and Ch'p. "I got it." He said quietly.
Ch'p silently complied, hovering off of Arisia's shoulder and following John's lead as he strode away from Hal and the alien women. Guy took a couple seconds to get out, but he eventually did, not finding any clever words.
This left Arisia and Vell staring into Hal's eyes with immense curiosity. "Okay Initiates, pop quiz. What Sector is Tomar-Re assigned to?"
"Two eight one three!" Arisia barked, as if she had always known this bit of information and was surprised that it just became useful to her.
"Nice. Vell, try to keep up here."
Vell crossed her arms "Hilarious."
"Alright, next. What sector was Krypton a part of before its core ruptured and caused it to implode, wiping out over ninety-nine percent of its population?" Hal continued.
The two rookie Lanterns found themselves glancing at each other with dread before they both answered simultaneously "Two eight one three."
Hal nodded. He'd known for a long time that Tomar-Re held himself responsible for Krypton's destruction. To this day, he hadn't felt himself able to meet Kal or even look him in the eye. Hal tried to counsel him but to no avail. He thought maybe today would be a good day to talk him into it, but like all the other times, Tomar didn't give him any consideration. For such a wise, open-minded and friendly Lantern, when Krypton was on his mind, he became a recluse.
"He blames himself for not being able to save Krypton. Not just from it imploding...but from Brainiac."
"The Bottling of Kandor?" Arisia probed.
"Yeah. He was too late to stop it. His personal logs are on record in the archive...but you need executive permissions to access them." Hal summoned a holographic interface, swiped at a couple buttons, then closed the screen. "They're all yours if you girls want to know more."
Vell shot Arisia a stern look, then gazed back at Hal. "Thank you. We'll check them out now."
The two Lantern recruits soared over to the local archive server together, their minds racing. By the time they got to into the empty archive chamber, Vell's curiosity became insatiable. "I wonder what happened."
"It's kind of sad...that he blames himself."
"It depends on whether or not he could've actually saved them."
Arisia's expression dropped. "I dunno if that's fair, Vell."
"It doesn't matter. We'll know the full story in a couple seconds."
Advertisement
When Immortal Ascension Fails Time Travel to Try Again
What is my 1000-year-old monster self to do when I’ve failed my immortal ascension? Time travel — accidentally — and wind up back in my 9-year-old body, needing to re-cultivate, of course. But after that? Get REVENGE! Muahahahaha! But the idiot who killed me — also accidentally — was the main character of the dumb harem Xianxia I transmigrated into. But wait. Wasn’t he only 7 or 8 at this point in time? Well, since I can’t harm a child or the main character without suffering in some way, then I’ll just have to raise him better, faster, stronger, and loyal! Muahahahaha! This is a Xianxia comedy and satire by the author of Cold Steel Dig and Tome of Stealth. But it is also a series of interconnected and chronological short stories (featuring the same main characters). Updates Every Thursday. Find it on Top Web Fiction!
8 313Spaceship and Dragon
A mining spacecraft crash-landed into a fantasy planet. Emma, a young spacecraft engineer, is one of the crews abroad. Armed with her knowledge, a neural assistant, and her dark energy manipulator, she has to find a way to get back home with her surviving crews. Their crazy-sounding plan was to rapidly advance the human race to space-age, build a spaceship, and go home. Will the crew achieve their plan in a fantasy world with magic, mythical creatures, and political turmoils?
8 172Tales of My Ascension Have Been Exaggerated
When Val’s village finally makes peace with the inhuman raiders that have plagued them for years, she uncovers a scheme aiming to use the magical energies of countless kidnapped souls to change the world. Finding herself at odds with the ideology of sacrificing anyone, even to improve the world, Val aims to put a stop to those behind the plot and prevent their catastrophic changes from becoming reality.
8 81Phire Chronicles
For a century, it has been foretold Ebskil will be a hero. First-born in the chief's family, coming from a bloodline of warriors and growing white hair, which deeply connects him to nature, his destiny would be to protect the world. However, Ebskil lives a lie. At eighteen, he has no achievements except for his inability to conjure a phlame and talent at finding trouble. Unable to stand in his father's shadow or fulfil the expectations set by the clan, he runs away with a group of unusual travellers. However, on this path that seeks a peace and clarity, trouble pursues him and pushes him closer to his true destiny.
8 122Blood Drinker
What happens when someone dies? Obviously, they stay dead just kidding they reincarnate, sometimes they get to revisit worlds they have lived before sometimes new, so do good or bad deeds matter? No, it definitely does, chances of being reborn into what your desire increase, or if your bad into what you hate. Each life is supposed to be a learning process for your soul to make amends to fight for what you believe in. Some souls are tainted and they continue to taint themselves and the others around, so too does the opposite happen. Kindred souls are drawn together and they can bring calamity or salvation to their respective worlds. But what does this have to do with the story well, our friend Alexander is reborn into a world of magic but of course that’s not enough to mention him, no the true reason we will follow his story is because much like there are those who claim to remember their past life, he truly does have a head start in his case. Author's Note: Thanks for taking your time to read my first try at writing. English is my first language, so please correct me on anything that sounds wrong. I'll try to write it once a week, sometimes more if I feel like I’m on a roll but please I hope this stays a pleasant experience for us both.
8 189"He's just a friend" Or is he...
What happens when Y/N is in a relationship but likes another boy? And that boy just so happens to be her best friend. What problems will this cause in their relationship? And how much is Bryan willing to do for her though!
8 148