The World Is Still Beautiful

Chapter Six: Aliens, Aliens, Aliens


Conner was no stranger when it came to aliens. As a demi-Kryptonian himself and member of the Team, Conner's experiences with aliens had fallen into three categories. The human in an all but ability like himself, his father and Icon, the slightly bestial but mostly humanoid like the Hawks, and the Martians who fell on the opposite side of the spectrum.

But only a few moments on Oa, showed Conner the vast range of species in the universe. Zipping through the sky or walking down the streets, the lanterns came in all shapes and sizes from as small as a flea to as big as a skyscraper, their skin a rainbow of different colors breaking up the endless green of the planet.

And it was a welcome break. Although the planet was beautiful, he was not exaggerating when he said everything was green on Oa. From the grass, to the Sky, even the buildings looked like they were cut from pieces of jade and emerald. A giant version of the green lantern battery could be seen shining in the distance.

It reminded him of the time Garfield had played around with the color settings of the television in an effort to get used to his new complexion.

Sphere beeped wildly at the sight, while Wolf seemed overwhelmed by the odd scents in the air. The genetically modified canine sniffed in every direction.

There were a few nearby lanterns that had been looking oddly at him, Sphere and Wolf for his lack of uniform and looked like they were going to confront him. But noticing Guy behind him, they had quickly changed their minds and gone about their business. It seemed being associated with him being the only answer they needed.

Guy, well used to the planet was unimpressed by the amazing view of the planet. Instead he had just stretched and let out a loud yawn. It seemed the coffee he had chugged did seemingly nothing to wake him up.

"Stay close," Guy ordered.

Leading Superboy off the Zeta platform, they walked for several minutes through the busy streets of Oa. Ignoring the odd looks sent their way.

"Gardner!" A loud voice barked. "Do you have any idea how much paper work you left me with?!"

An alien that Superboy could only describe as a cross between a man, a pig and bulldog descended down from the sky. He was an imposing figure, at least four heads taller than himself. Beside him was a smaller woman who looked like she was barely eighteen as far as he could tell. Her skin had a slightly yellow tinge but she could have easily passed for human if it wasn't for her large elf like ears. Like Gardner's, her costume was a large divergence from everyone else's, the top being pure white with a green skirt, a green choker around her neck with the green lantern symbol.

"Kilowog," Gardner said with a roll of his eyes. Turning his attention to the girl, he greeted in a much warmer tone. "Arisia."

"Guy," she said smiling, used to the antics of the two lanterns in front of her. "Who is you friend?"

With a sigh, the exhausted Lantern made quick introductions. "This is Arisia Rrab of the Honor Guard, one of the best Lanterns on this dinky little planet." Arisia flushed at the praise and beamed even more widely. "The ugly one over there is Kilowog. He doesn't matter."

Kilowog snorted unaffected.

Gesturing to the Kryptonian, he added. "The kid is Superboy."

Giving the younger male a slight nod of acknowledgement, Kilowog turned his attention back on to the ginger. "Do you know how much paperwork you left me with?" The Green lantern barked, repeating his earlier statement. "I thought I was going to get a break from the biggest asshole in the galaxy for a bit and your home planet was going to have to deal with you for once."

"I heard your whining back on earth." Guy rolled his eyes."I'm here aren't I?"

Arisia now introduced turned her attention to the two figures standing behind Conner. "What a cute dog!" she gushed when she noticed a surprised Wolf. "Hal showed me a baby one before when I went to earth a few times. A pupper I think he called it? I didn't know they could get this big."

Conner was about to correct the female green lantern on the differences between dogs and wolves but a sharp glare from Guy stopped that cold. "His name is Wolf." Conner said to Arisia. Wolf, unaffected by the mischaracterization enjoyed her gentle petting.

Sphere beeped loudly in a bid for attention, surprising Arisia into instinctively leaping back into the air.

"And that's Sphere."

After waiting a beat, Guy asked, "Not good with the names are you, kid?"

Conner had been teased about his naming abilities many times over the years. But coming from a man named Guy that comment uncharacteristically stung.

Sphere, insulted as well as she instantly shifted into her Super-Cycle mode in an attempt to impress.

Arisia now impressed by the super cycle abandoned petting Wolf to examine the bike. "Hal and John didn't show me anything like this on earth."

"She's not from earth," Conner said. "She's from New Genesis."

A blank expression crossed all the lantern's faces simultaneously.

"Never heard of it," Guy said, Arisia and Kilowog made sounds of agreement. The planet was a mystery to the trio of space-officers.

"Anyway," Kilowog said, turning his attention towards Superboy. "Gardner needs to come with me for the next few hours."

"No can do," Guy said, grabbing Superboy close to him in an act feigning close friendship. "Got to drop off the kid to the genetic division first. He's got a big problem earth just can't fix you know and I promised his dad I'd get him looked out. Besides I'm not going anywhere for the next few days. Don't worry I got lots of time to finish my reports. I give you my word. "


"We're bailing as soon as you're fixed," Guy confessed as soon as they were out of ear shot of the duo of other lanterns with Superboy and Wolf following the flying lantern on the super cycle. "Can't stand the paperwork."

"Then why'd you come back?" Conner asked confused.

"Well, you're a big boy. So I'll be honest. Black Canary guilted me into taking you here," Guy said bluntly. "I got all my business on Oa done ages ago."

Conner felt a conflicting combination of annoyance and affection for the heroine at that.

After nearly an hour of flying, they finally slowed their descent, What Conner had imagined when he had heard the words science division was a building the size of STAR labs. But on Oa, the science division was the size of a large city. Breaking down into smaller divisions focusing on separate fields.

Flying into the heart of the city structure, Guy finally stopped in front of a building with a sign in a language that Conner could not recognize. "Follow me."

Leading him into a building that internally reminded Conner eerily of Cadmus as they walked through the hall, aliens of all shapes and sizes reminding him far too much of the g-gnomes that were trapped in the Cadmus building.

Stopping at a seemingly random office with more of the language, Guy knocked once before opening the door roughly.

Standing in the center in the office was a young woman who looked barely older than he was; she was a purple haired, pink skinned woman. The most noticeable feature was her right arm which had been replaced with a metal prosthetic and a large green tiara that separated from the other lanterns. She was holding a bright green and alien looking tablet. Noticing Guy, a flash of annoyance crossed her face.

Ignoring that, Guy pushed on, "Superboy, this is Boodikka; she's in charge of the medical division. Boodikka, this is Superboy. He needs your help."

"Hello," she said kindly, concern evident in her face. "What seems to be the problem?" As soon as Superboy opened his mouth, she glared at Guy and added coldly. "I'd rather talk to the patient alone, Gardner."

Guy rolled his eyes and turned his attention to Wolf and Sphere who had transformed back to enter the building standing in the doorway, gesturing for them to follow him.. "Come on, we'll be outside."

After making sure they were alone, Boodikka turned her attention back towards Superboy. "Go on."

"I can't age," he confessed, explaining his status as a clone and the forced aging process that grew him over a period of sixteen weeks that caused him to be unable to move past the physical age of sixteen.

As soon as he was finished talking, Boodikka simply said, "My, my, that seems to be a predicament."

That was the understatement of a century.

Pushing on she said with a bright smile, "Well good thing you're on Oa. Let's see what we can do about that."


It was nearly ten in the evening by the time Superman managed to get to Mount Justice, a case of folded cardboard boxes in hand. Superman forced a smile as the Zeta tube announced his entrance. Without skipping a beat he was surrounded by a majority of the young sidekicks who seemed eager to see the man of steel. The only adult that Clark could see watching over them was Miss Martian.

Because of course it would be.

Beast Boy stood uncharacteristically separate from the group that greeted him. The changeling had always been particularly happy to see him. Instead he stood beside his sister in a obvious attempt to show where his loyalties lied, making sure his eyes didn't meet him.

M'gann on the other hand was blatantly staring daggers into him.

But frankly compared to the myriad of death glares he received from enemies, Bruce and especially his wife. It was nothing special and he ignored it with ease to focus on the children in front of him.

"Where's Superboy?" Wonder Girl asked. Not being a girl who minced words.

"He's away," Superman said. While he didn't approve of Conner's trip to space with the lantern earth had to offer. He didn't think that it was his place to tell the children, he was off having an interstellar vacation.

"Is he really joining the League?"

"He felt that it was best." Superman said.

Lagoon Boy let out a particularly loud snort at that but was cowed from saying more by a sharp glance from Superman.

"Superman," she said frostily, ruining whatever illusion of cheer the mountain had at the moment. The other sidekicks quickly distanced themselves from the Man of Steel as a result. "What are you doing here?"

"I've come for Conner's things." Clark said, raising the folded cardboard boxes to get her attention. Lois and he had noticed the limited wardrobe and his avoidance to go back to the mountain, and had decided it'd be best to take care of the issue before he returned to make the transition easier.

M'gann's expression became even darker. Pushing her brother to join the other children who quickly made a excuse to leave, she gestured for the Kryptonian to follow her into her room. Following her down the narrow hallway, M'gann let him inside before closing the door behind her.

Placing the boxes down on the ground, Clark became sincerely grateful for Conner's need to be organized as he saw that the boy had left all his clothing in neat little rows and already folded. It was a far cry from the blankets and shirts that belonged to the Martian girl, littering the ground.

"It's funny how things change isn't it?"M'gann asked, leaning on the closed door with her arms crossed.

Clark said nothing, using his super speed to move things along. Anything to end the awkwardness he was feeling at the moment.

Continuing, the Martian added, "It's funny, five years ago, you couldn't even look at him and I was there for him, loving him while you were too afraid to. Now we have our first real fight and he can't even look at me. Seems he really learned a lot from you in the mean time. Run away and hope your problem disappears. No matter how much it hurts someone."

Clark was taken aback by the surprisingly low blow from the normally cheerful girl. While he had been aware of her growing aggression, the past few minutes was showing a whole new side to M'gann that was incredibly unflattering. If this was how she acted behind literally closed doors, it was no wonder why Conner had ended things.

Packing away the last of Conner's things, he lifted the now dozen or so boxes he had with ease. "Are you done, M'gann?" he asked disappointment evident in his voice.

Opening the door with a thought, she was unaffected by his tone and instead dug in her heels and said with her voice dripping in sarcasm, "Tell Conner congratulations for me."


The next few days on Oa were a process Conner was far too used to, constrained to a bed as he was constantly poked and prodded as he quickly became the star of the science division's curiosity. As a Kryptonian hybrid, a clone and his aging problem made him far too appealing to ignore. Doctors, biologists, geneticists among many others visited him to examine him.

They had him change into a hospital gown. Which like everything else on the planet was a green, a color that he was becoming very irritated by over the past few days, particularly since this shade matched a certain Martian's skin color, a constant reminder to the girl he left behind on earth that he could do without.

Guy, to his credit had done his best to keep him distracted, sneaking in food and games to keep his mind busy as dozens of people came into his room, in between masterfully avoiding Kilowog's attempts to find him, which must have taken far more energy than merely finishing the work.

"Well obviously," the Green Lantern said when he brought it up the issue. "It's not as much fun though is it?"

It was nearly noon and the duo were playing cards, when Boodikka arrived. A short blue skinned, white haired old man in a red and white robe stood beside her, from Guy's description he had to be a Guardian of the Universe. Boodikka, unlike her more chipper visits was uncharacteristically grim.

"You said earlier. This is your first time in Oa," Boodikka asked.

Conner nodded, a knot forming in his stomach.

"I was searching through Oa's files on kryptonians and I found that you already have a file here," Boodikka said, skimming through her tablet. "My deceased predecessor had one on you. It was submitted by a Superman and Hal Jordan over five years ago."

The knot in his stomach instantly transformed into a lead weight.

Conner wasn't surprised that his father had never told him. He wasn't the type of person to tell someone something until he came back with good news.

But that meant he came to Oa and failed. Internally Conner started to reassure himself that five years was a long time with technology. That there was still a chance their scientists could have discovered a cure with the issue that they could have missed. There certainly had to be a cure for his aging issue here.

The blue elderly man cleared his throat, getting everyone's attention. "Considering the curiosity you have given the Science division, I have looked over your file. I doubt there is anyone on this planet that can help you with your problem, child."

And with that whatever hopes Conner had evaporated.

"Just a fountain of good news aren't you, Ganthet?" Guy said snidely, throwing the cards he had in his hands onto the bed.

After sending a judgmental glance at the earth born lantern, the man named Ganthet asked Superboy abruptly, "That Sphere of yours I've seen wandering around the complex is from New Genesis is it not?"

Sphere who had been resting in a corner had beeped in acknowledgment to her name.

"Yeah, what about it?"

Ganthet gave him the same judging look he had given Guy just moments earlier. Turning to Boodikka, he said, "To this day I do not understand how we managed to get three lanterns from earth."

"Hey!" Guy said.

Ignoring the annoyed earthlings, Ganthet continued, "As I said I doubt Oa has the ability to heal you of your condition. But that is certainly not the case with the new gods. I have never seen anybody more advanced that those two terrible planets."

And in an instant the hope was relit. The intelligence of Sphere and the wondrous powers of the teenage new gods that he had met had always impressed him. But for even the guardians to say that their technology dwarfed his own gave Conner a whole new level.

"Cool," Guy said. "Tell us how to get there and we'll be on our way." Conner nodded fervently in agreement.

Ignoring their exuberance, Ganthet said. "If you wish to go on your own, you will not be stopped, child. But to get to New Genesis you must first pass the Vega System, which is forbidden to all Green Lanterns to enter. And that rule won't change for you, Gardner."

Guy took the warning in stride and waved the guardian away."Yeah, yeah."

Still suspicious, Ganthet left with Boodikka in tow, with the doctor sending him a sympathetic look as she followed her boss to leave the two earthlings to their business.

After making sure they were out of earshot, Guy reached into the nearby basket to throw Conner's clothes back at hm. "What are you waiting for?" Guy asked. "Get changed. We're heading to New Genesis, kid."


End Chapter

Oa was always a stepping stone to New Genesis.