GL is mysteriously attacked by an energy designed to destroy him from within, and Shayera is left powerless to help him… or is she?

Remembrance

Chapter 1: Routine

Shayera Hol walked into the massive control center that some of it's personnel nicknamed the 'Halls of Justice', impressed with all of its high tech monitoring systems, computers, and briefing room all in one. With all the heroic personnel that were on duty, it was difficult for her to keep track of all of the new faces.

This is completely different than it was on the Watchtower, she thought, walking up to a small group of heroes that were preparing for the night shift briefing. Peering over to her left, she spied Vixen, and J'onn at one of the security screens displaying a super structure.

"I'm at the site, but there's something strange with the readings I'm getting," a voice called over the speaker system.

"What exactly are you seeing, John?" J'onn requested.

"I'm not sure, I'm gonna see if I can pick up any thermal patterns…"

"All right. Flash is on his way to give you backup."

"Understood… Lantern out."

"What's going on?" Shayera asked, approaching them with a concerned look on her face.

" Nothing special… typical terrorist threat," Vixen informed her. "Someone called, claiming that a bomb was planted at the Cyber Seven manufacturing plant, and that it will explode within the next fifteen minutes. John was in the area, so he's checking it out."

"Oh… isn't that the same plant that was threatened last month?"

"Yeah… but it turned out to be a false alarm. Hopefully, this will be the same."

Shayera turned, and headed for the lockers to store her gear, not realizing that Vixen had followed.

"I hope John can hurry, I've made a eight o'clock reservation at Maggio's," she said, with a hint of boasting in her voice, reaching to open her locker, four lockers away from where Shayera stood, opening her locker door, as well. Pausing, Vixen looked over at Shayera for a moment.

"So… how are things with you and Carter? Are you guys still dating?"

Shayera smiled, knowing the basis to her inquisitiveness. "Dating? I don't know… after finding out about his fixation with my thanagarian past… the jury's still out."

"What? You're going to let a little fixation stop you from having a good time?" Vixen remarked, not satisfied with her answer. "C'mon, girlfriend! Where's your sense of adventure?"

"Right where it's always been…" Shayera offered sheepishly, closing the locker door, progressing back toward the Command center. "I'm just taking my time…"

Uh huh… Mari thought, not liking that Shayera was not willing to move on.

Returning to the briefing room, Shayera strolled to where she could listen to what was going on with John's search. She was a little worried when she found out that he was searching for another bomb. The thought gave her a chill, and she suddenly wished that she were there to back him up.

"John, this is Flash… I just arrived at the north-west end of the structure… any luck?" his voice radioed.

"Not yet… I'm on the southern end, working my way north. Let's meet in the middle."

"Sounds like a plan."

"Two minutes before the detonation," J'onn informed them. "Anything?"

"Nuthin' here," Flash chimed.

"Same here… waitaminute…" Lantern reported. "Picking up something… at sector three, that's strange… it isn't very big though…"

Cyber Seven Manufacturing Plant

Lantern streaked downward; cutting a hole into the roof of the building with a laser beam, placing the dissected section onto the roof, and then descended downward onto the floor, spying the rectangular device, examining it for anything out of the ordinary.

"I'm taking it out of here… it's radiating some kind of black light."

"Be careful," J'onn's voice radioed back.

Encompassing the device within an energy bubble, Lantern turned and streaked upward, back through the hole, and out into the night sky.

Within the shadows of a nearby rooftop, a dark figure reached upward, pointing a metallic box directly at the departing hero, depressing a button.

Flash spotted his friend's departure as he sped within the structure's compound, when he witnessed a small explosion within the green energy bubble, just behind the unsuspecting Green Lantern. The explosion didn't seem to be very powerful, but it's own energy did not behave like that of an ordinary bomb. It transmitted an aura of its own, an aura of yellow energy, quickly overtaking the original green aura that Lantern's ring emitted.

"Uuuuarrrggghhhhhhhhh!" John's anguished scream filled the night air, as the energy dispersed brightly, concentrating upon the ring itself, then electrical yellow energy exploded throughout his body, causing him to fall awkwardly, slamming into the ground with a sickening thud.

"GL!"

Flash raced towards him, unable to comprehend what had just happened. When he reached his friend, John laid there, practically lifeless, his eyes wide open. Wally grabbed him.

"J'onn… I need immediate evac… beam us back now! Now!"