Earth-2 #4

Order and Chaos, Part Four – The Storm

By BlackRobin195


Lampert Laboratories

Keystone City, Missouri

The taxi stopped across the street from the building, the protestors making it hard to get any closer. At this point, it hard started raining harder, and the wind was starting to pick up. The storm was nearly on top of Keystone City.

Jay (bolting out of the car): Thank you!

The driver simply drove away, leaving Jay running through the rain to the building. He pushed past the protestors and onto the stage in the front of the building. He was approached by Lampert Labs' head of science, Dr. Edward Clariss.

Dr. Clariss: Happy you could make it on time, Jay.

Jay: Are you kidding? Of course I was going to be on time. I wasn't going to miss this. Though apparently, neither are they (gesturing to the protestors).

Jay looked over at the protestors again, and saw that a few of them had begun to leave, due to the downpour. However, a large number remained, with police officers keeping them behind the line. In front of the stage, was newscaster Bethany Snow, with her cameraman and news crew around her. She was speaking with the CEO of Lampert Laboratories, Harold Lampert.

Bethany: Mr. Lampert, as we approach the main event, are there any words you'd like to say?

Harold: Well, I'd just like to, once again, reassure the people of Keystone City that this particle accelerator will do nothing more than benefit this city, and the world. There is nothing to worry about.

Bethany: Thank you, Mr. Lampert. Now…

Jay looked over at Dr. Clariss, whose phone began to ring. He looked over at Jay.

Dr. Clariss: Excuse me for one moment, Jay. I need to take this.

Jay: Alright. Well, it's almost time. I'm going to head inside and prep the accelerator.

Dr. Clariss: Excellent idea.

Jay nodded and walked inside, leaving Dr. Clariss alone. He took out his phone, pressed a button on the touch screen and put the phone to his ear. A man spoke on the other end.

Man: I trust things are going according to plan, Dr. Clariss?

Dr. Clariss: Yes. Phase Two is ready to begin.

Off the Coast of New York City

Green Lantern was nearing the city. He could see the island of Manhattan and the Statue of Liberty ahead. It was blanketed by storm clouds, which lit up with lightning every few seconds. The thunder was deafening. A small hurricane had started to form. Cars were overturned in the street, windows were broken, and buildings laid damaged.

A family of two parents, their teenage daughter and young son ran scared in the streets among the other terrified civilians. The father picked up his son and desperately tried to calm his family as the city went to hell around them. His son started to cry.

Father: Don't worry, we're all going to be okay. Nothing is going to happen to us. We're all going to make it out of this, you hear me?

Suddenly, the family heard a sickening creaking sound above them. They all looked up to see a billboard slowly leaning off the rooftop of the building above them. The heavy winds had battered it, and its last legs had just given out. A second later, its hold on the building gave out, and the billboard fell. The family felt frozen, unable to move. All they could do was look away. A second later, the billboard would crush them. But it didn't. They looked up and their eyes went wide.

Son (in awe): Woah…

Above them was the Green Lantern. He had caught the billboard with his bare hands.

Green Lantern (inner thoughts): If I had just been a second later…

Green Lantern slowly floated to the ground and laid the billboard against the building. The mother slowly approached him.

Mother: Wh-who are you?

Green Lantern (inner thoughts): This is crucial Alan, don't screw this up. Think about how Superman does it.

He calmed himself down and spoke, a reassuring smile on his face.

Green Lantern: I'm the Green Lantern.

Father: You saved our lives. If there's anything you –

Green Lantern (stopping him): The only payment I need is to know you made it out of this. Get your family to safety. This will all be over soon, I promise.

The two parents grabbed their kids and ran off. Green Lantern turned around and floated into the air, preparing to take off. He stopped when he heard their little boy.

Son: Thank you, Green Lantern!

Green Lantern turned back around, facing the boy. He smiled and gave him a salute. A moment later, he was off into the air again.

Green Lantern (inner thoughts): "This will all be over soon, I promise." Just listen to me, saying things like that. I don't even know what's causing this thing, let alone how to stop it.

Green Lantern stopped and looked around. Below him, the streets were beginning to flood, trapping the people below in their cars.

Green Lantern (inner thoughts): Damn it, the people in those cars!

He flew down as fast he could.

Green Lantern (inner thoughts): Alright, the Starheart said I could shape the fire into any construct I could think of. Well, I guess it's time to see what this ring can do.

Green Lantern held out his hand and concentrated. Nothing was happening.

Green Lantern (inner thoughts): Son of a – work, damn it! Come on, work!

Still, nothing happened. Green Lantern could hear the screams of the people below him.

Green Lantern (inner thoughts): Come on! Come on! All those people…This is a waste of time.

Green Lantern flew down and picked up a car with his left hand, and another car with his right hand.

Green Lantern (inner thoughts): Damn it. I can only carry two.

He quickly flew a number of miles away, and set the two cars down on a rooftop.

Green Lantern (inner thoughts): Need to get back - have to save as many people as I can.

He flew back to the harbor as quickly as possible, not having any idea he was being watched.

Atop his throne on Roanoke Island, Klarion observed the emerald-clad hero in his efforts, through a dark, flaming window.

Klarion: Hm, I have heard of the power of the Starheart. Given time, he could become a serious threat.

Klarion looked down at Teekl, who was sitting on his lap.

Klarion: What do you think Teekl? Should we have some fun with him?

Teekl looked up at Klarion and simply meowed.

Klarion (cackles): Hm. I'll take that as a yes.


Lampert Laboratories

Keystone City, Missouri

Jay Garrick sat in front of the control pad and monitor of the particle accelerator. He had been waiting for this moment since they had begun work on the project. Suddenly, his phone began to vibrate in his pocket. He took it out and looked at it. Joan was calling him. She stood outside, behind the crowd of protestors. He pressed "answer" and put the phone to his ear.

Jay: Hey babe. Are you outside?

Joan: Of course I am. I look forward to hearing your speech.

Jay: You have no idea how excited I am. I can't wait for you to see this Joan.

Joan: Well, I eagerly await outside in the pouring rain. Hey, I think the weather is getting worse. It's raining a lot harder and the thunder has gotten a lot closer.

Jay: That's alright, I doubt it'll affect the event.

Joan: I don't know Jay, I'm listening to Bethany Snow and Mr. Lampert right now.

Jay: What are they saying?

Joan: Hold on.

Joan walked up to the crowd and pushed past the protestors, trying to get closer to the newscaster. As she got closer, she could see Mr. Lampert speaking with a group of scientists. He turned back to Bethany, who turned back to her cameraman and spoke.

Bethany: This is Bethany Snow, live outside Lampert Laboratories. As the weather conditions worsen, more protestors have begun to leave, which due to recent develops, was probably in their best interests. As I have just been told by Mr. Lampert himself, tonight's event has been cancelled and will be moved to later date, after the storm has passed.

Joan (putting her phone back up to her ear): Can you hear me Jay? They're cancelling turning on the accelerator. Jay?

Inside the building, Jay had his phone up to his ear, but all he could hear was static.

Jay (putting his phone away): Damn. It must be the storm.

Mr. Lampert and the group of scientists walked up the steps to the entrance. One of the doctors grabbed the door to open it, but it was locked.

Mr. Lampert: What is going on?!

Scientist: Someone must have locked down the building. The only person inside with that level of access was Dr. Clariss.

Mr. Lampert: Why would he lock down the building?

Inside the building, Jay had gone back to work, prepping the accelerator. Suddenly, he heard the lab doors close. He whirled around to see Dr. Clariss enter the room. He didn't even hear the door open. He was unnaturally calm.

Jay (startled): Oh, Dr. Clariss. The accelerator has been prepped.

Dr. Clariss (approaching Jay): Excellent.

Jay (inner thoughts): Something isn't right.

Jay: Where are the other scientists?

Dr. Clariss: Well, some of them are outside. Any remaining in the building are currently, locked out of this room.

Jay (stepping away): What? Why…?

Dr. Clariss pulled a gun out of lab coat and aimed it at Jay.

Jay: Dr. Clariss? What are you doing?

Dr. Clariss: Reroute the power conduits to the accelerator and turn it on Jay. My associates will be here shortly to retrieve it, and they need to be assured that it works.

Jay was speechless.

Dr. Clariss: Something incredible is about to happen, Jay. Some very powerful people are going to make it happen and I plan on being a part of it. You can be too. We'll be among the lucky ones. Once we've eliminated the unlucky ones, of course. If you decline, however, then I will have to shoot you.

Jay: I don't know what you've become a part of, Dr. Clariss, but whatever it is, you can count me out. I'm not having any part of this.

Dr. Clariss: Well, I'm sorry to hear that, Jay. You were always so bright. It's a shame, really.

Dr. Clariss raised the gun and took aim at Jay.

New York City

Green Lantern flew around franticly, trying to save as many people as possible, as the storm worsened. Pieces of buildings began to collapse into the streets. Flooding worsened, having now made its way farther into the city and into the subway. The tunnels were beginning to fill, trapping people in the subway cars.

Green Lantern (carrying a couple onto a rooftop): Don't worry, you'll be safe here.

He flew back down to the streets, thinking to himself along the way.

Green Lantern (inner thoughts): This isn't working. For everyone I save, there are two more in danger – and I can't even get this damn ring to work.

Suddenly, he heard a young voice cry out for help behind him.

Voice: Help me, please!

Green Lantern (turning around): Huh? Hold on, I'll be right – Agh!

As soon as he turned around he was met a large blast of red and black fire. It hit him directly, sending him flying into a building behind him. Debris rained down on the streets from the impact. Inside the building, Green Lantern got up, holding his head.

Green Lantern (groaning in pain): What hit me…?

He regained his bearings and flew back outside. No one was there.

Green Lantern (looking around): Come on! Where are you?!

To his left, he could hear crackle of flames. He turned, seeing another mass of fire coming at him. He evaded at the last second, just barely dodging the attack. He looked back and saw who had attacked him. He wore a black suit, his hair was pointed to resemble devil horns, his nails were pointed and black, his skin a chalk white, and his eyes a piercing blood red. In his arms he held a tiger striped cat.

Klarion (laughing): You know, observing you from my beautiful view, I thought you may have actually posed a threat. But seeing you in person, I can see how mistaken I was. All that power and you can't even use it!

Green Lantern (inner thoughts): He looks like he's 18 and yet I can feel the amount of power he has. I'm out of my league, there's no way I can beat him…

Klarion: Don't worry though, I'll make this as agonizing as possible. Hm, I'll need both hands for this, which means I won't be able to hold you, Teekl.

Klarion grabbed Teekl, and tossed him towards one of the buildings, where he landed on his feet. He sat down and purred, watching was about to happen. Klarion turned back toward Green Lantern and grinned, his hands glowing with black fire.

Green Lantern flew directly at him.

He didn't even get close before Klarion sent him into the flooded streets below with a blast of fire too wide to even dodge.

Green Lantern (under the water): Argh. He hits hard. I need get out of here, I'm a sitting duck…the pain though….

Klarion laughed. He raised his arms and began to chant. Bolts of lightning lit up the sky and struck downwards into the water, hitting Green Lantern directly. In the water, Green Lantern cried out in pain, only for his mouth to fill with water.

Green Lantern (inner thoughts): Damn it…I need to…

He concentrated and the surface exploded in an emerald light. Green Lantern emerged. He took off as fast he could, straight for Klarion. If he couldn't summon up a construct, then he was at least going to collide into him as hard he could.

Green Lantern (inner thoughts): This has to work. If it doesn't, I'm –

Just mere feet away, and he could hear Klarion chuckle. With astonishing speed, Klarion threw out his right hand, grabbing Green Lantern by the throat, stopping him in his tracks.

Green Lantern (inner thoughts): - dead.

Klarion: It's a shame you don't have enough control over your power. This would have been more fun. Sadly, I doubt this will last for much longer, so I'm afraid I'll just have to kill you now.

Green Lantern (inner thoughts): No – come on, break free…

He tried reaching up to grab Klarion's hand, but he couldn't summon the strength.

Klarion (eyes beginning to glow): I'll make this hurt as much as possible.

Green Lantern (inner thoughts): This can't be it, not after what the Starheart told me. The Starheart – maybe it was wrong. Maybe I'm not the one. I was stupid to think I was…that I could be a hero like all of them. I should've died on the train...in just a few seconds, I'll be with them. I'm sorry everyone. I failed…

Klarion held up his left, readying it to strike. He was grinning. Then, a voice yelled out.

Voice: Klarion!

Klarion (turning to look): What?!

A beam of golden energy struck Klarion in the chest. He cried out as he was sent downward into the flooded streets. The water exploded, and the pavement under it shattered as Klarion made impact.

Green Lantern, still floating in the air, looked to face his rescuer. He wore a golden helmet, cape, gloves and boots, with a dark blue shirt and pants. He floated before Green Lantern, shining with a golden aura. His rescuer turned to look at him.

Green Lantern (inner thoughts): Woah…

Dr. Fate: Hello, Green Lantern. I am Doctor Fate and I have come to help.


To be continued in Earth-2 #5!