This is Part II of the Veteran's Day Special. Last time, the events in Coast City didn't end especially well for the good guys, ending with Hal Jordan's death at the hands of Sorceress, who claimed the White Central Power Battery. Meanwhile, Eternal was busy while the rest were distracted, gathering quite a few artifacts while the rest of his team was out before revealing his full group, before revealing their next target is held by the Crystal Gems. So how is that going to go? Read on to discover...

(Our story resumes in Neo Metropolis, in Lexcorp Headquarters, where Luthor Jr, Breaker, and Eternal are speaking to a group of the former's associates, consisting of Harley Quinn, Magneto, Mr. Freeze, Killer Frost, Two Face, Riddler, Vulture, Girder, Kotal Kahn, Deathstroke, and Kingpin.)

Luthor Jr: I've gathered all of you here for a reason. Currently, you're the least productive in my plans.

Deathstroke: Perhaps we'd be of better help if we, you know, knew what the plans were.

Luthor Jr: You know well what I'm up to. Drain worlds of their resources to continue my empire.

?: You mean my empire.

(With that the door flies open, revealing a familiar bald man in an armored suit, but not the same one you're familiar with.)

Luthor Jr: Ah. Dad. Didn't expect to see you so soon.

Lex Luthor: You've wasted company resources sending these goons of yours around multiple worlds chasing leads.

Luthor Jr: We've been relatively successful to date. It's just once Eternal started his thing, we got a few of our assets captured.

Lex Luthor: Try all of them.

Breaker: Electro made it back safe. So did Shriek and the freaky twins.

Luthor Jr: Kabuki Twins.

Breaker: Same difference.

Lex Luthor: At this point, it only seems reasonable I take command.

Luthor Jr: Like hell. I've brought this company back from the brink of nothingness and made it the literal heart and soul of the new Metropolis.

Lex Luthor: Off of my name!

Luthor Jr: Last I checked you died fighting High Councilor Superman. I did this to honor you, and then brought you back so you could see the world I've made.

Eternal: Alright, enough of this. If I may...

Lex Luthor: (Semi-recognizing Eternal) Do I... know you?

Eternal: (Suppressing disgust) Likely from a dream. I do have a way we could settle this little dispute. Each of you take a team, and try to drain a world of it's resources. Whoever gathers the most retains control of the company.

Lex Luthor: I could never turn down an honorable wager.

Luthor Jr: Anything to prove my old man wrong. We're in.

Eternal: Excellent. And I have the perfect target.

Luthor Jr: Let me guess, another world you thought had something of interest.

Eternal: (Lying) We've already scouted the worlds we need. This isn't one of them. Consider it a gimme.

Lex Luthor: (Seeing through the lie) Very well.

Eternal: Good. Now, the rules of engagement. Lex will have this group gathered here. Junior will pick a separate team. I will personally referee the match, counting each team's takes at the end. Whoever has the most wins.

Luthor Jr: Agreed.

Eternal: Good. The teams will meet outside of this world's major city. A little place called Beach City.

(With that, we transition from Neo Metropolis to the Watchtower, where the entirety of the HRL is gathered to bid a final farewell to Hal Jordan. As a moment of silence befalls the group, as the Lanterns of the group: John Stewart, Kyle Rayner, Simon Baz, Jessica Cruz, Saint Walker, and Carol Ferris; acting as pallbearers enter bearing Hal Jordan's coffin, before loading it into some sort of escape pod chamber, and with one last farewell, send Hal Jordan's corpse through space in the direction of Oa, much like the Viking Prince before him. As the coffin floats through the stars, a green light can be seen following it, Hal Jordan's own Lantern Ring, following the coffin on it's path towards Oa, protecting it almost. Fast forward a few hours, and we see Darkblood is back in his quarters again, contemplating something at the same board from before Doctor Calamity's madness was unveiled, only now with a few more objects added to it, which now we see in full detail. The Miracle Machine, the Infinity Stones and Gauntlet, the Central Power Batteries, every single thing that's occurred since Luthor Jr's invasion of the Dragon Realms is compiled here. And after recent events, Dragnarok seems to see something in it he never did before, going back over the events that led him here, recalling specific moments along the way)

Dragnarok: That monster is dead, and never coming back!

Eternal: I wouldn't be so sure about that

Dragnarok: I AM NOT YOUR FATHER! Darkblood is dead!

Sorceress: Don't be too sure.

(Heading these lines echoing in his mind, Dragnarok realizes exactly what Eternal is up to, though he absolutely refuses to believe it. But after a few seconds, he knows it's exactly what is going on here, though he still doesn't want to believe it.)

Dragnarok: (With a look of utter disbelief) No. It can't be. But it's all that makes sense.

(In disbelief and frustration that he didn't see it earlier, Dragnarok tears everything from the board, trying to piece it all together, when Purple Diamond and Belial Aether enter the room, almost kicking down the door to do so)

Belial Aether: Dragnarok, we've got a situation. (Seeing the mess in the room) What's going on here?

Dragnarok: Long story.

Purple Diamond: (Butting in) As much as I hate rushing things, we don't have time for it at this moment. Purple Pearl just let us know there's a message we need to see.

Dragnarok: From who?

Purple Diamond: My sister, kind of.

Dragnarok: (Realizing exactly who he's talking about) What's the message?

Purple Diamond: You've got to see it to believe it.

(With that, we transition to a laboratory where Purple Pearl, Cyborg, and Donatello are working on some sort of stone device with a hole in it and a golden button on top, that immediately starts shaking the room and humming the second Purple Diamond et al enter, ending after three pulses)

Dragnarok: And what exactly is that?!

Purple Pearl: Its called a Wailing Stone. An ancient method of long range communication used by Gems when they almost colonized our Earth.

Purple Diamond: Before the Crystal Gems stopped them.

Dragnarok: So that buzzing is a message?

Purple Pearl: We're still working on making it understandable.

Dragnarok: So how do you know its from Steven?

Purple Diamond: The Crystal Gems are the only others with a Wailing Stone.

Donatello: If our calculations are correct, we should be able to.

Cyborg: All we need to do is stick a mic in it and we should be good.

Belial Aether: Let's hope so.

Cyborg: Go for it, Donny.

Donatello: (Picking up a giant microphone) Get ready, Vic.

(With that, Donatello places the microphone into the hole in the Wailing Stone before pressing the button on the top. As the signal pulses through again, Cyborg adjusts the frequency on the device he's using before projecting a holographic screen from his eye, displaying a message being broadcast by Steven Universe.)

Steven Universe: Purple Diamond! If you're receiving this, the Temple is under attack! The alliance of villains you warned us about turned their sights on our world, and they're somehow winning. They've already taken the Obelisk, and we're still unsure if they've gotten anything else. We need your help, as soon as possible!

(With that, the transmission cuts out, leaving the room in stunned silence before Dragnarok speaks up.)

Dragnarok: Get the rest of the Titans and Turtles. We're heading to Beach City forthwith.

(As the group puts in their calls to their teams, our tale ends for today.)

This concludes Part II of the Veterans Day Special. For Part III, head over to Prophecy of Masks. So, Steven Universe is calling on Purple Diamond for aid as the villains at the start have arrived, and apparently have already stolen something of power. So how is this going to go down? Time in next time to find out. Same time... same channel!