Disclaimer: the usual ones.
CHAPTER TEN (of Eleven)
4 Lanterns, different from any others, from the same space sector, even from the same planet, Earth., and all powerless against the alien they are fighting with, Sinestro, but this, this isn't going to stop them. In Coast City, they've finally put an end to the ties that bounded Parallax with Kyle, once and for all, and now here they are, fighting outside Jim Jordan's place, where, in spite of everything, they are winning. Fighting at bare hands, they are showing to the former lantern that they no longer fear him, that he can no longer use what they fear against them, that they have overcome them all. And, when Gantheth arrives with their Lanterns, charging their rings and trapping in each one of them a part of Parallax, they know it's finally over, at least for this time. They know sinestro will be arrested. They know it's time for them to bright.
"So, Jordan, how do you think your girl is doing?"
"You don't know her, Guy. Cowgirl is one of the strongest person I've never know, she can take care of herself, she doesn't need me to be safe."
"Actually, I was talking about the Phoenix, Blackdragon, Chris, or whatever her name is…. you know, hot chick in leather?"
"The same goes for her, Guy – he pauses .- besides, she isn't my girl."
"Right, you don't need a girl to be your girl to sleep with her, what a stupid I am."
Hal doesn't answer, at least not verbally, what he says and how he says it, it's the most simple thing, primal in nature: a punch, directly on Guy's jaw, that sends him knock out.
"What? Jordan, are you crazy or what? I want your excuses I was just joking, and you overreacted!"
"Guy – Kyle says as he gives the man an hand to stand again – let him stay. At least, this way, maybe you'll learn that there are things you don't have to joke about with him."
"Wonna stay over there to speak or are you gonna join us?" John is already flying, near to Hal, and stops, just to look at his co-workers, still on the soil.
"Ring, detect the presence of the Phoenix Force and of her hosts."
"C'mon, Jordan, do you really think that you'll find her that easily? Do I really have to be the one to remember you that you chick avoided you for almost a whole year?"
"Guy, please – Kyle tells him while flying – I don't think you want a repeat, do you?"
"You said, Guy?"
"Nothing, Jordan, nothing at all- Guy looks at a smirking Kyle – stop it, Kyle, and shout up."
[Presence of the Phoenix Force and of her human hosts localized]
"What are we waiting for? Let's go get them!"
Later, they arrive in a cave, inside a mountain outside Coast City. They've walked and flow the entire time – short minutes that seemed hours and days to hal Jordan, but, finally, here they are; it's hot, since now they are near to the very core of the planet, but it's not dark, since, from one of the rooms, arrives a shining light, and, once inside said room, they see it. They see a gem, at center of the room, surrounded by the two Phoenixes, who shield it with both bodies and powers. They see thousands and thousands of smaller crystals all over the room, and they see the Sinestro corps members, about ten of them, trying to get to the violet gem.
"Seriously, how many time do I have to tell you people to let her stay?" Hal says as the Green lanterns of Earth start to attack at the same time.
"Guess what, kids? Extreme measures have been established against you! It means – Guy says as he keeps firing at everybody – that I can do everything I want to you!"
"We're not going to let the M'Kraam in your hands!" Jean says, not seeing that there's an incoming, a sinestro corps soldier, a young woman with a pack of wolves made of yellow energy,; she says in the shadow, guiding her pack via ring, her pack, the one she had lost, and now, the one she had found again, thanks to Sinestro…. And she is good, that good, and, being so animal, so primal, is difficult to spot, like any other animal, like any other creature so primitive and animal, like Wolverine. And, worst, she is able to find the one and only opening, because they are soldiers of fear, and they know everything about fear, and people's fears…and when they attack, the wolves go directly to Chris, pointing at her, making her scream in pain at their mere presence, at their simple sight; she panics, like she hasn't done in a long time, and her shields collapse, creating the opening they were waiting for.
"No, seriously, I'm really tired to tell you to let her stay!" Hal repeats, as he makes his way in her direction. Once he arrives where she is, he sees that the wolves are not caring about her any more, since both the Phoenixes are on the soil, screaming in pain, blood from their eyes, as the wolves are attacking the gem, trying to eat it, to consume it.
"Don't… - Chris starts – don't let them hurt it… if they… if they damages it…. The universe will cease to exist….. and it could be.. the end of… the entire multiverse…."
"You heard her, Guys…."
"Loud and clear, Hal – Kyle answers for everybody – let's bright them up!" And again the battle starts, but, although they are Lanterns, there are so many of their adversaries, it's like a hydra, for each one they defeat, two more of them appear; the more they try to arrive in front of the gem, the more the Sinestro corps send them back, and then, then they finally do it, the wolves scratch the M'Kraan, and, as soon as a bright red and violet light starts to emerge from the construct, Jeans keeps getting closer and closer to her friend, crawling on the soil.
"We've… we've to save this world… I need – she says as she touches Chris' hand with her own – I need it all if we want…" Chris doesn't have to answer, nor Jean has to end the sentence, as two birds of fire, of pure, simple and primitive fire emerge from their bodies, becoming then one, freezing time once they enter inside the gem, fire filling the whole cave…. It seems to the lantern that the fire is embracing the whole universe, like the Phoenix was embracing it to heal it, and, as flames surrounded them, the Green Lantern known as Hal Jordan finds himself in another place.
"What the hell… where am I?"
"Welcome to the white hot room" a voice says at his back, causing him to turn, and, somewhere inside the infinite, bright, empty space, he sees her.
"Phoenix…."She walks in front of him, and they are no more Green Lantern and Phoenix, no more costumes, secret identities or masks, they are simply Hal and Chris.
"I'm no longer Phoenix, and I think I'll never be again. The force used me in order to arrive to Jean and save her. It knows I'm the kind of girl who does whatever it takes in order to get the job done- she says, smirking, but lowering her eyes, remembering who had told this once, and how he had hurt her – it was Pete's motto, he always said that it could stick with me, too…"
"Your hair, it's…" he says, taking locks of hair in his hands.
"White, I know. I gave all my energy to the Force and Jean. They'll be normal again, it's not such a big problem."
"Chris, I…" he goes closer and closer, his hands still on her face, but she stops him, putting a finger on his lips, still at low eyes, looking at the soil.
"I knew this wasn't my place, Hal… also when I didn't have my memory. And… I had a life, and I want to come back to it…. I have my brother, my friends, people who's waiting for me…"
"And then? Are you telling me this is goodbye? Is this the end? Then, tell me , repeat everything, but look into my eyes… - he pauses, removing his hands from her face and putting them on her shoulders – Stay here. With me. I need you. I... I love you, and I want you here, with me! This.. this could be your place, the one you belong to, your home, you just have to want it!"
"The force… the force says our powers are somehow connected, like, related, that it's the reason we are so… close… she says that, according to a legend, we… both you and us… emerged from the core of the White Hot Room…. That the White Hot Room is the place the central power battery takes its energy from… or one of the places…. I'm still not sure how to translate what the Force tells… told me…"
"Do you really think this is the reason I said what I just told you, or is, simply, what you want to believe?"
"I… I don't know, Hal…"
"Are you telling me this is goodbye? That you are going to leave me here, alone?" he shouts at her, still threatening the now white head for her shoulders.
"I… I don't know what to think… I have people waiting for me, who cares about me! I can't stay here!" she screams, in desperation, tears in her eyes, without looking at him, a tremble clear in her voice.
"I refuse to believe it! This is simply what you wanted to hear from the Force! I don't buy it!" It seems like a paradox, how opposite their voices sound. While is Chris' one is persistent the presence of a tremble, Hal has never sounded more sure, strong, resolute.
"Hal, no, please, stop… you don't know what you are saying…. I don't want to… I can't… this isn't my place, I have to came back to where I belong, to the people who truly cares about me!"
"People who cares about you? You've been here for more than a year, and no one has been here to bring you back home! They went on with their lives, and so you have to! I know that I've committed some mistakes with you, I've never been too close to you when you needed me, but it was simply because I didn't want to…."
"No, shout up! It's time, I know it! The door is open!" she says, as turning towards a tunnel made of pure light, erupting like a volcano, at her back. She tries to reach it, with Hal standing at her back, silent, deluded, and, once she is close to the entrance, someone stands in her way, stopping her, avoiding her to go in.
I'm sorry Chris, but it's not time yet, you'll have to wait… I still need you here. This place needs you here. Will you do me that favor? The red head says as she disappears in the light, leaving them where they once stands, the cave, now empty of the Sinestro Corps, with just the 4 Lanterns and her, Chris, on knees, on the soil, giving punches to the land she is standing on, in tears, almost hysterical.
"No…. no… it's not right… why Jean.. why… what did I do wrong? Why are you doing this to me… why…"
"What… what happened? Where's Jean?" John asks, as confused as Kyle and Guy.
"Jean went away, that's all."
"But Chris…."
"Better if we leave her alone, for now. She needs time. And I'll give her all the time she needs to readjust herself to this new life…"
"Why Jean, why did you left me here, why didn't you let me die in peace? Why are doing this to me…." She whispers between tears, desperation is too well visible in her eyes, as Hal puts an hand on her shoulder, to let her know they are leaving.
There's still work for you here, my child, but soon, soon enough, everything will have meaning again… you'll find yourself again, my starchild.