On the flight back to the Jordans' place, Richard refrained from asking Sam what he saw in the time stone. But the silence was becoming unbearable, he would have preferred Sam's talkative nature of their trip to Elpis than this.
The Nova Prime glanced over at Sam who flew beside him. His eyes were set and his jaw was slacked. He didn't even acknowledge that Richard was looking at him.
Despite this, Richard waited until they got to Sam's home.
"Okay," he says as the touch base on the driveway. "Something's been obviously eating at you. Spill."
Sam brushed it off and concealed his hurt expression from behind the safety of his helmet. "I just didn't realize how tired I was from all this flying." The boy replied.
Richard inwardly sighed. "Sam… I know you don't know me that very well but I'd like to say that we're ah, closer normally. You helped me realize my humanity through the mindset of the Worldmind."
"You know…" Sam says. "I have no idea what any of that means but I appreciate it."
Sam bent down to retrieve the emergency key from beneath a particular rock hidden in the shrubbery. He then used it to open the door for them, earning a greeting from man's best comrade, Cosmo. The dog jumped up on them, happy to see that they've returned.
"You'll hopefully get your memory back when all this is fixed." said Richard. He gave Cosmo a generous pat on the head before continuing. "But that's besides the point. I want you to know that you can tell me anything you can't tell your dad. My lips are sealed."
Sam looked at the man briefly, and considered his offer. It would be nice to confide in someone who understood him. After all, they were both Novas now and Richard wasn't imperious to feeling the offness in the world. He was the one who knew something was amiss, Sam was just the one who felt like it was.
The boy took his helmet off and reverted back into civilian clothes and gave Richard a long hard look in the eyes. He didn't even know where to begin, but he tried anyway.
"For a long time I've dreamt about the world you come from. You know, like the Nova Corps and the types of problems you've faced. The dreams felt so real and yet… no one actually paid much attention when I talked about it. My friends will just laugh at me, or my parents would just say it's because dad is already a space cop. Or that I just have a wild imagination."
"It drove me nuts, those dreams. I don't know why, but I'd wake up in a cold sweat sometimes. As I got older, I started to get anxiety because of them. I still do, actually. I would suddenly get washed over with a wave of despair because everything in my world felt wrong. But everything in the dreams felt so right…"
Sam deflated as he felt a sense of relief come over him. It felt good to share that, but he wasn't sure what good it would do for him.
As fat as Richard was concerned, Sam was right to feel worried. His life is actually perfect here. He has both of his parents— even if they weren't really his— and he was doing pretty okay for the most part. Richard hated to be the bearer of bad news, but he couldn't let the lives of others simply be erased. They all counted on him, he could feel it. It wouldn't do no good if he forgot them too.
The worlds needed to be separated for the greater good.
"It'll be alright." Richard assured, more so for himself than Sam but Sam accepted it graciously.
Richard took off his own helmet and trained his eyes onto Sam's. Brown on black. Eyes of experience on eyes of youth.
"Is that what the time stone made you see?" Richard asked softly.
Sam gave a small nod in return. "I was taken back to a time when my parents were arguing over what to do about it. It was when dad spent a lot more time in space than here."
"I won't lie to you, things from here on out won't get easier." Richard admits as he places a hand onto Sam's shoulder. "But we'll brave through it. We Novas are made of tough stuff."
It was almost comical how Richard reminded Sam of Hal in this moment. Not just because of how similar they looked, but because of their assuredness in what they believed in. Sam took small comfort in this and gave Richard a smile.
"Thank you."
Richard shrugged and brushed the thanks off. "Ah, it's nothing kid."
Sam shook his head. "No really. Thank you for that. I was never able to say that and get that kind of feedback."
Richard allowed himself to grin in return. "As promised, I won't say anything to your mom or dad. But maybe you should consider it. I can see how much they care for you. They'd want to know how it really makes you feel."
Especially since their time together was limited. But Richard wasn't going to say that out loud.
After a bit, Sam pulled away to make lunch or something.
"Speaking of mom and dad," he says. "I wonder how they're holding up."
The Red Lanterns have taken Hal and Carol the rest of the way to Ysmault where certain doom is probably awaiting them.
Rankorr led the way while Bleez and Dex-Starr flanked them. It was too late to try and turn back now, the asphalt smell of blood rivers already greeted them. Not that Hal and Carol wanted to leave. They needed the mind stone, and the easiest way to get close enough to Atrocitus is to feign weakness and pretend to be prisoners. From there on out, the couple would have to rely on their understanding of each other to follow through with the plan. Talking aloud was out of the question.
One they had touched base, Dex-Starr went to retrieve his master as Rankorr and Bleez stood guard. The tension between those two practically radiated off of each other. Partially because they loved each other and partially because Red Lanterns were always angry.
If Hal and Carol wanted to get them riled up and out of commission. Shouldn't be too difficult.
"I can't believe we've gotten taken down by Bleez and Dex-Starr of all people." Hal remarks, speaking loud enough for the two Red Lanterns to hear.
"It was Rankorr who got us." Carol adds, playing into Hal's game. "Now we're probably getting killed by Atrocitus."
Hearing this, Rankorr maliciously smiled to himself and gave a passing glance at Bleez. The woman didn't even look at him in return and bore a scowl on her face. Between the two of them, Atrocitus was probably going to favor Rankorr in their success than her. Bleez didn't know why but the Red Lantern head had made her into his punching bag. The other Red Lanterns weren't impervious to getting beaten by their leader— it was just a byproduct of rage and hatred— but it just had to be her.
And if Rankorr had to show up for an assist, Bleez was not looking forward to what Atrocitus' fist might have to say.
Rankorr might've sensed this discomfort because his smile faltered. Despite it all, he housed some sort of love for Bleez. But they both know that if they let the love consume them… they'll both die. If a Red Lantern is no longer fueled by hatred, their heart will cease to stop pumping artificial blood. In the past they've made it work, but they broke it off for this very reason. They were getting too attached.
But what if…
"You did good today Bleez." Rankorr says as he turns his attention away. It was impossible to hide his expression due to his fiery hair lighting his face but Bleez didn't look anyway. Right now, she'd much rather hate him.
"I won't let him hurt you," he continues.
That must've sparked something in the scantily clad woman because she spun toward him with wide eyes. "Oh yeah?" Bleez inquires. "Where was that all the other times?"
Hal and Carol exchange glances. They hadn't expected this, but if it was working, then so be it.
"Tell me Rankorr!" Bleez presses. The angrier she got, blood oozed from her lips. Every word she spoke flicked blood onto Rankorr's face. "Tell me! What changed huh? You think you're so high and mighty for me? That I need your protection?"
Rankorr briefly flinched before matching her rage. "I tried Bleez, okay?! No wonder we didn't work if you're going to be like this!"
Ouch.
The two continued to bicker and even started to attack each other, giving Hal and Carol an opening.
Because Rankorr was distracted, his Red Lantern construct around them dissipated, effectively freeing them. All the couple had to do now was find the mind stone and get out of there.
Or more like the mind stone found them.
Overcome by a psychic backlash, both Hal and Carol gripped their heads in pain. Their very thoughts became garbled as it was invaded by Atrocitus.
The large red alien himself entered the scene with his loyal cat Dex-Starr trailing behind him.
His first action was to backhand Bleez as he turned to Rankorr to do the same. He was disappointed in them but that would have to wait. By the very least he had Hal Jordan— who had been a thorn in his side long enough— right where he wanted him. He also had his wife which was almost delightful.
If only they didn't remind Atrocitus of the family he had lost.
Either way, he hated him both and he had the mind stone to play around with.