Chapter 121: Green Man

Hal stopped what he was doing and blinked, then called out. "I know you're there. You might as well come out."

A pause and then a figure appeared, blue cloak, red bands and green skin. "Hal Jordan."

"What are you doing here, J'onn?" Hal demanded.

"I have come to talk with you." J'onn said.

"What about?" Hal asked, his guard rising, J'onn was part of the Resistance, at least that's what the latest intelligence from Bruce had said, so, Hal was trying to keep his guard up.

"Just to congratulate you. You are now the Guardian; you must feel a lot of pressure." J'onn said.

Hal took a breath and said. "It is a duty I have been given, and one I am intent on carrying out."

"Do you think that your duty is being made harder by Clark and everything on Earth?" J'onn asked.

Hal sighed. "What are you really here to talk about, J'onn?"

"I've come to make you an offer." J'onn said.

"Go on." Hal said though he had no intention of agreeing to it.

"Become neutral, you are a Guardian, you cannot go around fighting Clark's battles for him. Go neutral and I promise you, the Resistance will not bother you or your loved ones." J'onn said.

"And if I do not become neutral?" Hal asked, he had no intention of becoming neutral, he knew where his loyalties lay, and he did not believe for a moment that someone like Captain Atom would go neutral.

"Then we will destroy you." J'onn said.

Hal snorted. "How?"

J'onn sighed. "Are you going to become neutral or not?"

"No." Hal said. "I swore an oath and I intend to uphold it."

J'onn sighed. "Then you leave me with no choice." The alien disappeared.

"J'onn?" Hal called out. "Where are you?" A pause and then something hit him in the gut and something went into him. He started coughing and choking, unsure of what was happening but dimly aware that his life was fading and fast. His vision started to fade, he brought his ring hand up and muttered a few words, though no sound came out. He vaguely heard his wife's voice and then nothing.