Here's chapter ten! Sorry for the delay!
Enjoy!
Rainbow Legend: Spirit of the Dragon
Chapter 10: Change of Plans
After ultra warping into another sector in frontier space, the Green Lanterns received a transmission from the Guardians, although one of them was less than pleased.
"Hal Jordan of Earth, soon to be former Green Lantern of sector 2814, you are now charged with treason, grand theft, and…" Appa accused Hal before he interrupted him.
"Let's postpone my punishment until I tell you a couple of things."
"What have you found, Hal Jordan?" Ganthet asked politely. Hal then showed them the image of both Razer and Zox from his ring.
"You see these handsome devils? They're the lantern killers you said didn't exist. They call themselves Red Lanterns. Ring any bells?"
"Red Lanterns?" Sayd said surprisingly. "Are you sure?"
"He is only constructing this ruse to save himself from a deserved punishment." Appa believed. Then Kilowog stood up and testified on his friend's behalf.
"Respectfully, sir, I got an aching jaw that says this ain't no ruse."
"Their power rings fire some sort of red energy that…"
"They have rings?!" Sayd gasped. "Powered by what?"
"Best guess: A huge desire to mash us all into pulp." Hal concluded.
"From what I've experienced, their energy is based on their anger or thirst for revenge. Either way, they have a good distaste on anyone wearing the color green." Avian spoke.
"It's good to see you again, my friend, and that you're willing to join them." Ganthet smiled.
Avian nodded to his old friend. "Something had to be done and between you and me, I sort of miss this job, especially my old GL friends."
Ganthet understood Avian. "Kilowog of Bolovax Vik, what is your recommendation?"
"I'd say we hightail it back to Oa, cram the Interceptor with as many GL's as she'll hold, ultra warp back, and kick their red butts until they're black and blue."
"Despite the colorful terminology, a logical course of action." Sayd agreed. It wasn't long until Aya suddenly spoke to the Green Lanterns on board.
"Sensors have picked up an unmanned probe sweeping the area. Markings match the insignia of the recently encountered hostiles."
"Right! Red lanterns." Hal agreed. "Aya, plot an intercept course. It's go time!" Appa Ali Apsa, however, wasn't pleased to end this argument without results.
"Hal Jordan of Earth, do not terminate this communication! We are…"
"Sorry. Gotta take this. Don't be a stranger." Hal said before he ended the communication, with a slight enthusiasm showing in his face. Then, they all saw the probe on screen and quickly pursued it. They chased it through asteroids and avoiding collisions against them.
"Forget about snaring it, just blast it!" Hal ordered Kilowog which he blasted the laser at it, only to miss each shot. The probe suddenly counterattacked with red lasers which hit the ship.
"Warning: shield degrading."
Hal ignored Aya's warning and continued on pursuit. Koren and Avian held on to their seats at each twist and turns Hal made.
"Dad, I could go out and catch it for you." Koren insisted.
"Not a chance! You're a good flyer, but in space, you have no control." Avian disagreed. "Hal, Let me take care of it!"
"No time. Stay put and hold on tight!" Hal ordered without losing sight of the probe.
"Would you remind me again why is he in charge?" Avian whispered to Kilowog, but they both saw that the wounded lantern, Shir Rev, grunted in pain from the fight. It looked like he could fall at any moment.
"Hal, break off! Stick to the plan! We'll go for reinforcements then come back!" Kilowog said.
"I agree." Avian pointed out. "There are also many warriors on my planet. We could gather them too!"
"We can't let this thing give away our position!"
"What position?! We're going home! The red lanterns caught you with your pants down back on that rock and you want payback!"
"Guys, missiles at twelve -o- clock!" Koren took cover as the probe attacked. The ship received full blast of the attack.
"Direct hit to port ampoules. Shields degrading to critical. Please do not let that happen again."
"Seriously, does Aya ever say good news on this trip?" Koren added.
"Get ready to fire when I clear that rock." Hal said as they made a huge drill construct to tunnel through a big asteroid on his way and came face to face with the probe and finally destroyed it.
"Happy?" Kilowog sarcastically said.
"Next time, let me take care of it!" Avian glared at the human who slouch back calmly and happily.
"That felt good."
"A probe like that means the Red Lanterns are more than just two killers. They're organized." Shyir deduced.
Hal agreed. "Yeah, but it looks like we can't hog all the fun. Let's head HQ and load up the boys like we've planned."
"Before we do that, I suggest a warp back to Terragon, so I can leave Koren there." Avian added.
"What?! But dad, I want to help!"
"This mission is not for kids. I'm your father and you do what I say."
"I'm thirteen years old and I say I'm old enough to be able to defend myself." Koren argued.
"How did you get so stubborn?" Avian groaned as he face palmed his forehead softly.
"I take after you, remember?" Koren pointed out to him.
"Look, there's no point in arguing. Koren, you're going home and that's final." Koren sighed and pouted while crossing his arms in defeat. "Hal, if you may."
Hal nodded in agreement. "Aya, take us home."
"Arching ultra-warp drives. Ready in three, two, one…Impale."
Aya then activated the ultra warp, however, the ultra-warp drive suddenly fails to activate, making a complete sudden halt inside the ship.
"Ow." Koren groaned as he rubbed his head. The force was strong for his comfort.
"Are we there yet?" Shyir weakly said.
"Aya, what happened?" Kilowog asked. She analyzed the cause of the failure and reported.
"Overload due to hairline crack in the ultra-warp coil, most likely caused by mass missile head from enemy probe."
Hal received glares form both Kilowog and Avian after hearing that the cause of their travel trouble was due to his probe hunting. "For the record she said 'most likely' not 'totally likely'."
"What does that mean?" Shyir asked.
"It means we're gonna be a little late to Oa." Hal answered. "But that's okay. I like to make an entrance. Aya, please estimate time for repairs."
"Calculating. Ultra-warp ready in 9.2…"
"Nine minutes. No problem." Hal said calmly until Aya finished her results.
"9.21 months."
Everyone's eyes widen at the news, especially Avian and Kilowog. "Oh, that's perfect!" Avian slapped his forehead in annoyance.
"Oookay. Can we form a construct and replace the defective part for the ride home?" Hal wondered.
"The construct would have to be an exact copy of the ultra-warp coil mechanism and is fifty-six million parts to ruminate a .8162 micron tolerant."
"Can either of you do that?" Hal asked the others.
"I make hammers." Kilowog shrugged his shoulders.
"Don't look at me. I was raised by farmers. Although I learned some machinery from my robot friends, I'm a flyer, not a builder." Avian shook his head.
"Look. Maybe it's for the best. The Guardians wouldn't deal with the problem like we will. We'll make those lanterns pay."
"I guess this means I'm stuck here for the whole mission." Koren said, although he was happy for this opportunity.
Avian sighed as he rubbed his head. "Fine, but if you give me or the others any trouble…"
"I won't, I promise." Koren answered. Avian nodded, but then saw Shyir collapsing from his injuries before Kilowog caught him.
"Is he alright?" Hal wondered for his comrade's state of health.
"Just… a little lightheaded." Shyir groaned.
"He's taken a beating. He needs a real doctor. He's not making nine hours, never mind nine months!" Kilowog declared.
"I was kind of looking forward to seeing Oa." Shyir said with a little disappointment in his voice.
"Aya, scan for the nearest inhabitable world, preferably one with a hospital." Hal said.
"Don't bother. I know my own sector anywhere." Shyir said looking at a nearby planet in front of them. "We're not far from my home colony."
"That sounds like a good place to lay low for a while, recover our strength, and get Shyir fixed up." Avian agreed. "Let's go."
As the Interceptor heads towards the colony, the lanterns are unaware that the killer-drone attached a tracking device to the hull.
-Shard, the Red Lantern's base-
Meanwhile, Zilius and Razer were being berated by Atrocitus himself. "You had four Green lanterns in your grasps and let them escape? Perhaps you're not fully committed to our righteous crusade."
"I live to serve the mighty Atrocitus! Your will is the core of my very being!" Zilius pleaded.
"What good is that to me, Zilius Zox, if you're not competent to kill a mere four lanterns?" Atrocitus asked sternly.
"It was this child's fault! He's been promoted too quickly and on false grounds!" Zilius blamed Razer who sneered at him. "He pitied them! The destroyers of our system!"
"What do you have to say for yourself, Razer?"
"Zox lies, but these lanterns were different from those we've eliminated before: tougher, better trained." Razer defended himself as he mumbled the last part. "And that child…he's no ordinary boy." He recalled Koren's performance of the green power in his head.
"How could they know already?"
"Who, my lord?" Razer asked.
"The Guardians of Oa! If they've sent reinforcements, then your failure may jeopardize my plans!" Atrocitus angrily declared.
"No! They must be destroyed! They must die for Shard! All for you and Shard, master!" Zilius panicked as he floated to his leader's side.
"That's right, Zilius." Atrocitus agreed while overlooking their city. "Shard is sacred ground; a piece of the remains of our world which the Guardians attempted to erase from the universe."
Then, Razer receives the last transmission from the killer-drone, confirming that it fulfilled its mission to attach a tracking unit which will lead them to the Lanterns.
"And then we'll draw out these Guardians lap dogs and destroy them, wherever they may hide." Atrocitus declared. Then suddenly, one of his soldiers approached them with a message.
"Lord Atrocitus, you have a visitor. He requested your attendance."
"Who dares enter my domain? He must be so desperate to die!" Atrocitus growled as his ring glowed red. The soldier backed away a little, but continued on.
"It's him, sir. The Black Assassin."
Atrocitus growled until he directed to the others. "Move towards the lanterns' position and notify me of our arrival!" He then followed the soldier to an empty room. The soldier quickly left him. Atrocitus knew that the visitor is lurking in the shadows and called out.
"You better have a good reason to come during my crusade!"
"Tsk, Tsk. It's disappointing when things don't go the way you want them to." At that moment, Darkheart came with his shrouded cloak on out of the darkness. "You want something done; you got to do it yourself."
"Don't patronize me, Darkheart! What do you want?"
"Nothing much. Just came to check on things." He said while walking around, eyeing on Atrocitus who glared. "So, how's my spy doing?"
"He is not your spy! Razer is my top red lantern; a prodigy in my corps!"
"Oh, good to know." Darkheart clasped his hands together and he spoke coolly. "However, if I hadn't killed one of your red lanterns, his ring would have never made it to Razer's hand which is why I enchanted it to give me the location of his whereabouts in case he runs into some Terragonians or some new prey for me or you."
"You know better that the reason I let you do it is to spare Shard from your pet dragon!"
"And you'll continue it if you value your life and the others. But I'm not looking for a fight, not yet at least. My loyal subjects and I fight when we choose. I hope that next time we meet won't be last."
"Is that a challenge?!" Atrocitus glared as he blasted his ring at him, but he quickly jumped away. Atrocitus proceeded to blast again, only for Darkheart to quickly immobilize him with his blood bending. "What is this? What did you do to me?!"
"Consider this a warning. I may not be at my full power, but that doesn't mean I'm weak. But I wouldn't dream of challenging you, because when it comes to brains and assassination, I have the biggest share." He then released Atrocitus who gasped at the sudden release. "Remember that, Red leader."
"Darkheart!" Darkheart suddenly heard his name. He turned his head to see Drago coming towards him while he caught his breath from the travel. "I have some news."
"Speak, Drago."
He bowed. "Master, as you feared, the gauntlet has been found, but to a mere child. The boy also used some sort of green energy that defeated the red lanterns."
"A child? A powerful ancient relic is in the hands of a boy?" Darkheart said with shock until he calmed down and turned to the Red Lantern leader. "You did not tell me that your red lanterns have come across this relic, not to mention that they failed as well." Atrocitus growled at this remark.
"It won't matter." Darkheart continued. "The wearer is not the issue. When the lanterns learn that the legend is real, they will be encouraged to challenge us. I can't let them have hope."
"I will find the boy and kill him before he becomes a man." Atrocitus offered, but Darkheart shook his head.
"No. Let's see how far he'll go. One child won't make a difference."
"Master, there's more." Drago started. "The boy is Terragonian and he's accompanied by a Terragonian Green Lantern whose dragon form is green and orange with feathered wings."
"What?!" Darkheart hollered. "So, he's alive and back into action. My old rival, Avian, is protecting some special boy who he brought into space."
"I've heard the boy calling the green lantern 'Father'." Drago added.
"What? The boy is Avian's son?" Darkheart growled.
"Well, it looks like it."
"How?! How can Avian possibly have a son if I killed off his mate?"
"Maybe Avian kept his son in hiding. But for now, he's just a reckless little boy."
"Silence! Hmm, this might be a new chance for me. I can probably finish the boy myself, but to get to him, I have to get past the Green Lanterns and Avian himself." He said while crossing his arms until he turn to Atrocitus. "I'll leave you now with your mighty crusade. When you come across the Terragonians, don't finish them off, they're mine. As for the rest, they're yours to kill. Come, Drago. We're leaving."
"Yes, my master." The Biogon bowed and followed him out of Shard.
Hope u like it!
Please leave reviews!