John Diggle had long accepted his role as back up. Despite taking the hood a few times from Oliver, John had always accepted even those times he was just filling and that it was only a matter of time before Mr. Queen resumed his nightly duties. John wasn't hero in the hood, nor the speedster that was bolting around Central City. He was just a regular guy, and John learned a long time ago in Afghanistan that tactical support was just as vital to the success of any mission. John Diggle knew his role and he did it well because not everyone can be the alpha; he was content to be someone's back up. Yet one evening as John sat alone looking out his living room window, his wife and little boy were fast asleep, he wondered if this was the most he would ever do. John was never the kind of man to accept his limitations but the presence of the Flash and other meta-humans was slowly starting to change that. These changes made John feel a lot smaller and weaker than ever before. The presence of Supergirl didn't help out either as John was seriously worried about his safety. Rather than worry about it to much, John went the fridge to eat some leftovers but it he wasn't two steps towards the microwave when the cell phone buzzed in John's pocket. Any call at this time of night only meant one thing; it was time to get back to work. He pressed the button and opened the line.
"What's going on, Felicity?" John asked.
"We got a lead that needs following up on." she replied.
"Alright," John said, as he stated to walk the food back to the fridge, "Tell Oliver that I'm on my…"
Just then glass shattered all around him as a bright light shone into the room. The light shone into his face so brightly that John dropped his phone to cover his eyes. The light was almost like the sun but the biggest difference was it was suddenly all around him, encasing him within a circle. The light was hovering around him, slowly surrounding him like a hand that was reaching in and plucking him out of the living room. And that's exactly what it did as John was sucked out of the living room through the broken and flung outside. To his surprise, John wasn't falling to his death as the green orb was carrying him away. The speed of this orb had begun started to increase, to the point where it was similar to the speed Barry would carry him at. John began to bounce around in the light as if it was a bubble, carrying him off to some far off distant place. Turns out the light only went as far as the Coast.
Just like his arrival, John came crashing through the window and rolled into the floor with a rather harsh thud. When the light finally died down and he was able to see again, it didn't take John very long to realize he was in someone else's house. He slowly got back to his feet and took a few seconds to adjust to his new surroundings. There was a man standing at the other end of the room.
John took two steps back when he spotted him. "Where the hell am I?"
The man on the other end of the room raised his hands to signal that he wasn't a threat. "Don't get all bent out of shape. I'm not going to hurt you."
"I said where am I?" John asked again, his patience thinning.
"Relax man," The guy said, hands still up. "You're in Coast City."
"Coast City?" John repeated as he did the math in his head. "But that's over five hundred miles. How did I cover that much time in what was only minutes?"
"You'll get used to it." The man replied, "It takes time to make the adjustment."
John didn't like the direction this conversation was taking but he needed more intel. "Who the hell are you?"
"I'm sorry about that," The man said, "I'm Hal Jordan."
"John Diggle." John replied.
"Diggle?" Hal repeated, "Really?"
"Yeah," John said, looking at him. "You have a problem with that?"
"No, No," Hal said as he walked over and offered a hand to shake. "It's a pleasure to meet you John."
John took the man's hand and sternly shook it. "Care to tell me what I'm doing here, Mr. Jordan?"
Hal raised a hand upon hearing the formal lingo. "Please, call me Hal."
"What am I doing here… Hal?" John asked again.
"You're here because you were chosen." Hal answered.
"Chosen for what?" John inquired.
"A higher calling." Hal explained.
"Who died and made you god?" John asked, his arms crossed.
"Oh, this wasn't my choice." Hal said, pointing down at the coffee table. "You were chosen by the ring."
John looked down at the coffee table and saw the ring he was referring to. It looked about the size of a ring someone might get for winning the Superbowl but it was all green. The substance was glowing as well, as if it were radioactive. Diggle had never seen anything like it before.
"How can I be chosen by a ring?" John asked.
"It's not just any ring." Hal said as he reached behind the couch and pulled out the lantern. "It's a conduit to let you access the power of this lantern."
John looked at the green lantern set before him and then back up at Jordan. "Are you kidding me? Is this some kind of practical joke?"
Hal could see how Digs could think it was a gag, so he decided to show him a little proof. He pointed his own ring at the lantern. Another green light came from the lantern and went into Hal's green ring, charging it with more power. Then without warning there was another bright flash of green light. When John's vision came back to him seconds later, Hal's clothing had changed. He was no longer wearing jeans and a shit but was in what looked like a full body suit of black and green. There was also a green mask on his face, which very much resembled the one Oliver work on his face when he was the Green Arrow.
"What do you think?" Hal said, as he did a little twirl. "Pretty snazzy, right?"
"What are you?" John asked, taking another step back.
"I'm Hal Jordan." Hal said again, walking closer. "I'm also the first human being to ever become a member of the Green Lantern Corps."
"The corps?" John repeated.
"Yes." Hal confirmed, "There are thousands of creatures like myself from all over the universe. Every one of us was chosen to defend their home territories from the evils that mean to do harm."
"And now I've been chosen?" John said, remembering being told that earlier.
"Yes, you have." Hal said, again gesturing to the ring. "This ring has picked you to be the second defender of this solar system."
"How did this ring pick me?" John said, looking at it, "And why me?"
"The ring saw something in you." Hal replied, "It looked into everyone's soul and took a good look at what really makes us all tick. Based on that, the ring has chosen you out of everyone to be Earth's second defender."
"What about you?" John asked, "Are you retiring or something?"
"No, no." Hal said, as he laughed at the thought. "I'm not going anywhere. We are expanding due to a heavy work load. I could use the help and the company."
"So what am I supposed to do?" John asked.
"Put the ring on, point it at the lantern and speak the oath." Hal answered.
"What oath?"
"You'll get it." Hal answered with a smile. "The ring will help."
John stood there for what seemed like a long time but was only mere minutes in the room. He looked down at the green ring and all he could think about was Oliver and Barry. Two men who were heroes only for one reason and one reason alone: they never backed down when destiny came for them. They both took to the stage when their name was called. Digs was looking at the ring and he knew what was going on. It was his turn… his name was being called. He also thought about his fiancé and his little girl as well as Oliver and Felicity. The entire universe included them as well. He knew what they would do and it suddenly became an easy decision.
John picked the ring up off the table and put it onto his left index finger. He stood there looking at the ring, waiting for something to happen. He then remembered what Hal had told him; point it at the lantern and then speak the oath. John turned towards the lantern and pointed the ring at it. He was just about to say something snarky to Hal when the beam came out of the lantern struck John's ring. Before he knew it, there were words coming out of his mouth as he began to recite the oath as if he had practised it several hundred times.
"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!"