Chapter 2

Sinestro sat in the dim light of his cell, his head hanging between his shoulders, hidden in shadow.

As John Stewart approached, the prisoner did not look up.

"So you finally did it," Stewart barked. "You finally sank as low as you could get!"

Sinestro didn't respond.

"He was your friend! When it all went to Hell, he was the one person who stood up for you at your trial!"

Nothing.

"Did you think that would make it easier? Did you think that he wouldn't fight back? That he'd just hand over his ring!"

Silence.

"You make me sick."

John Stewart turned to leave.

Sinestro looked up.

"Earth is such a lovely planet, John Stewart," he smiled his superior smirk. "Enjoy your trip back home."

Stewart eyed Sinestro suspiciously for a moment, and then left, deciding not to give him the satisfaction of asking for an explanation.

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The Planet Earth. Sector 2814.

Kyle Rayner sighed as he used to ring to dodge yet another of Sonar's sonic blasts.

If he could actually aim, he'd be deadly as heck, Kyle thought. Meanwhile, all he's doing is busting up concrete and scaring citizens.

"That's right. Flee, Green Lantern!" the nut in the band geek uniform and bad haircut screamed. "My sound waves are more than you and your puny ring can handle. I will prove that sound is more powerful than light!"

Kyle turned in a mid-air and fired several beams of light from his ring.

"You know something, Sonar? I think you may be right!"

Sonar dropped to the ground, holding his hands to his ears as he was suddenly surrounded by numerous bells, boom boxes, and mega phones, all made out a green energy and all aimed at him, blasting out intense and overpowering sound.

"But me? I prefer a little silence," Kyle smiled as he used the ring to create a cartoon mime, ripped on steroids, who punched Sonar in the jaw and left him unconscious.

As the cartoon performer placed the criminal safely under his invisible box, Kyle noticed he was suddenly surrounded by a crowd of people.

"Way to go, GL!"

"You rock!"

"You kicked his-"

"Okay everybody," Kyle spoke up, slightly embarrassed by all the praise. "Thanks for the kudos. All in a day's work."

As the police pulled up to collect Sonar, Kyle took his leave of the crowd and flew up above the city.

He smiled to himself and did a few loops in the air, enjoying the freedom of flight. From his ring, he produced a few stray thoughts, artistic expressions he intended to capture on paper later, giving them a more permanent life.

"Nice work back there, rookie," a voice called out from behind him.

Kyle turned to see another Green Lantern. He was shocked to see it was an Earthman like himself wearing the ring. All the other Lanterns he'd ever seen were aliens.

"Holy crap! Another GL?"

"My name is John Stewart," the other Lantern began. "It's my duty to inform you that you have been reassigned to the Green Lantern base on Oa. There you will begin your proper training. I will act as your replacement here on Earth. You have 24 hours to get your life in order, say goodbye to your friends and loved ones, and then report for duty."

His face softened for a moment, as if he really felt bad about tearing up this kid's life.

"I'm sorry," he said.

Kyle just hung there for a moment, floating on the breeze as he tried to take all this in.

"So you're telling me," he said as last, "that I have to leave Earth? And that I get to go live in space? With actual aliens?"

Kyle paused a moment, before shooting up into the sky, his arms spread almost as wide as the smile on his face.

"WOOO-HOOOO!" he hollered in joy.

Stewart watched Kyle zoom about the air, following the younger man with his eyes.

"This kid's crazy," he said under his breath.

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Nearby, deep under the Earth's surface, a spark lit. It pulsed and lingered for several moments before finally growing and consuming some of the ground around it for fuel.

This fire needed life. And it would soon find it….

On the surface.