XXX
The trial was not going great, Flash had spent the entire time stalling the judges, droning on about some idea of equality related to the trial.
Truth be told, she lost interest until Killawog made an entrance. "Out of my way!" He shouted, shoving the guards aside, much to the judge's chagrin. "Now What!"
"Uh, looks like we got a surprise witness." Flash said, grinning. If only she had a staple gun, then she could clip his mouth shut. But, since that wasn't actually legal, she just face palmed, his voice threatening to give her a migraine.
As the Green Lantern began to recount tales of Jon's heroisms, she suddenly felt sick in her stomach. Almost as though something was wrong with this image. It could simply be the overzealousness of the prosecutor or the tribunal's dismissive tone.
Killowog didn't exactly provide evidence that refuted the charges, instead providing a character witness into the mind and personality of Jon Stewart. While it made the public more sympathetic to him, it didn't change the fact that there was a missing planet on the word of a pirate.
Seriously, who the fuck decided to pick the witnesses. No evidence verification, no follow up investigation, not even a written statement, just someone's questionable word. Granted, they probably didn't need one, considering Jon admitted to it, and he wasn't the type to lie under oath.
"And the Thorians would have gotten me for sure had it not been for John Stewart, he saved my life and risked his own to do it, that's the kind of guy he is." Killowog finishes proudly. "Thank you Killowog, John couldn't have asked for a better character witness." Flash replied at the end, but Christina wasn't so sure.
"Well that's easy, we catch bad guys." He responded, as if it was the simplest thing in the world.
"Commendable…" though he did not seem to mean it "…but how do you know who the bad guys are?" he asked. Christina was getting alarm bells, she recognized that trick, it swayed opinion to your side so that even if you told the truth, people would still be suspicious of you. It was something Colonel Moore tried to do to her during Oliver's trial, that bitch. And it looked like Killowog just screwed himself over with that answer.
Well, as long as he didn't say anything else, it was possible… "How? I just know." Motherfucker. Did he really have to phrase it like that? She was just rubbing her forehead at this point, a migraine settling in. The wastelander really wished she could have a drink.
"Oh so you're saying you use your obviously superior intellect to routinely sort out matters of life and death." The prosecutor spoke.
"I didn't say…I mean…Well yeah kinda." He replied, still unaware of the trap he was being led into. But by the old spirits, would he just shut up. There were points in time where you just had to pull out, and this was one definite situation.
"And then you and the other Green Lanterns enforce these decisions with those incredibly deadly rings? Allow me to rephrase the question, who gave you this power to be judge and jury? Who gave you the right!" He demands. This was getting out of hand. Any further arguments from Killowog would only make Jon Stewart look even worse. Before she could react though, a loud booming voice responded.
"We did." She turned to the entrance, seeing 5 little blue men float in, what she presumed to be the Guardians of Oa. "Well I guess there are more surprise witnesses." Flash quipped, and Christina could only feel another migraine coming.
XXX
J'onn and Superman were both out in space wearing spacesuits, and as they landed on the moon, Superman noticed something very odd. "See anything wrong with this picture?" Clarke asked, but J'onn was too focused on the damage that he didn't realize what Clarke noticed.
"Where do I start? The loss of life? The echoes of our own pasts?" He replies dramatically, staring at the empty remains of what was once a planet teaming with life. Clarke was quick to remind him. "No, not up there down here." He states, and by then, J'onn finally realized.
"It can't be…" J'onn said, surprised that he could miss something that violated the basics of gravity, something that Clarke was quick to point out. "But it is. This moon is still orbiting a planet that doesn't exist."
"It should have flown off into space the moment the planet was destroyed." The Martian spoke as another puzzle was added. "But why didn't it?" Clarke added. "Let's look for anything else, I'm not sure how much longer Flash can continue stalling the judges."
They proceeded to scour the moon's surface, checking every nook and cranny. At first, they found nothing but dust and stones, and the longer they looked, the more disappointed. "I hope you are doing better than me, All I see are craters." Superman responded over comms, his multi spectrum eyes failing to reveal any new information. "I may have found something I just don't know what it is." J'onn communicated as he gazed at a large machine.
Superman arrived and stood near the base of the machine. "Any idea what this thing is?" He asked. "When I was a child on mars, we had small toys call illusatrons. They could project crude images over objects and even empty space." The Martian explained.
"You think this is a larger version?" Superman asked, J'onn nodding his head in response. "The engineering principle appears the same." He replied. "So it's an illusion." Superman said. "It would explain why this moon's orbit remains intact." J'onn said in a neutral tone.
"But who…" "ZZZAAAT!" "AARRRG!" Lasers blasted the two heroes into the wall, forcing debris to bury the two. As a ship flew by, Kanjar Ro smirked. "The secret will stay buried with them."
However, before he could finish the job, another ship arrived and opened fire on him. "RARRRGH!" Hawkgirl cried out, flying over him and getting ready for another pass. Meanwhile, back at the device, J'onn used his intangibility to get himself out, Superman simply punching the stones out of his way, their suits a little scratched but otherwise completely fine.
"This moon is filled with surprises." J'onn responded, quickly getting to cover.
Kanjar Ro attempted to fly out of range of Shayera, only for her to fire several missiles. They didn't directly hit his ship, but they detonated at a close enough range that he screamed, momentarily losing control and allowing Superman time to close the gap, tearing his way through the ship and grabbing the pirate.
The ship landed next to Superman, who was holding Ro by his collar, and followed by Shayera exiting it. "I followed this scum from Ajuris 5, I had to, uh, borrow one of the defense forces fighters." She finished, and while Superman could clearly tell that Hawkgirl had stolen the fighter, he was more interested in the pirate's involvement, who had publicly declared Green Lantern's fake guilt.
"So he's the one behind all of this?" He asked, looking at the pirate with disgust. Christine was right, never trust the word of a raider trying to prove someone else guilty. However, to his surprise, Hawkgirl shook her head. "Not exactly."
Meanwhile, in a room on Ajuris 5
"It is time brothers, time to avenge a 1000 years of grievances, time to regain our power and dignity." The lead Manhunter spoke as the others cheered before he continued. "Our plan has worked flawlessly so far, we've sown dissension among the Lantern Corp and stained their reputation forever, but beyond that, we've succeeded in luring the leaders of our most hated enemy, away from their home planet of Oa."
"Yes they're here, the Guardians." He spat out the word as a vile curse, the others sharing his hatred and screaming for their death. "No my brothers, not here not now, our destiny lies elsewhere. But rest assured, the Guardians will burn, for we are the Manhunters!"
"NO MAN ESCAPES THE MANHUNTERS!" They all cry.
XXX
"It's true that we Guardians control the Lantern Corp power source, but the individual Lantern has complete autonomy." The Guardian spoke, only for the Prosecutor to attack. Christina glared at contempt, prosecutors certainly did find a way to grate on her.
"So if one of them does something wrong, it's not your fault." The prosecutor questioned, and the Guardian realized what he said. "You misunderstand, we give them autonomy, because we trust their experience and…" He attempted to speak, only for the prosecutor to interrupt.
"No other questions!" He said, and Christina was horrified by what was happening. It took time, but she finally realized why she had a sinking feeling. This entire trial was built to favor the accuser, even if Jon was in fact innocent. How there was no jury, only three judges who had the complete power, who controlled the entire trial and picked the prosecutor, and had removed the defense's ability to have a lawyer.
The fact that any lawyer who worked for the defendant shared the same sentencing didn't speak of fairness or efficiency, it spoke of intimidation. It would always scare any lawyer who would be willing to speak for their client, leaving the defendant entirely vulnerable.
"How much more must we hear? We demand an immediate judgment." He demanded. "And who gave you the right to judge Jon Stewart?!" She shouted, she had enough of this. She didn't care what Jon Stewart believed, it's one thing to hold yourself accountable, but it was another thing to let yourself get fucking lynched by a corrupt system.
The Three heads didn't like the interruption. "BE SILENT"
"I'll speak whenever I damn well please." If they wanted to crucify Flash and Green Lantern, well fine. But she'd make sure they'd get fucked over even after this. "IS THIS HOW JUSTICE IS DONE ON AJURIS 5! YOU REMOVE A MAN'S RIGHT TO COUNSEL AND FAIR JURY!"
"Stay out of this Six!" Green Lantern attempted to respond, but she wasn't having any of it. She turned to the crowd. "HOW MANY INNOCENT MEN HAVE YOUR LEADERS KILLED BY THIS SHAM OF A TRIAL?!"
"GUARDS, REMOVE THIS INTERLOPER!" One of the heads said, and a few guards went to remove her, only for Killowag to block them. "Let the lady speak. I want to hear this."
"If this truly is how justice goes, then it only seems fair that Jon has a proper defense, and not this sham." She spoke out, calming down but her heart was still pumping. "I ask the judges that I be allowed to speak in defense of Green Lantern and the Flash, and if I am judged guilty, then I share the same fate as the other two. However, if Jon is found innocent, then I demand that the prosecutor be given the same penalty."
And to her delight, the prosecutor became vehement. "Objection! You are under no obligation to follow this woman's demands." He shouted, only for Christina to shout back. "Why not! If Jon is proven guilty, he's still going to be executed. It would only be fair that the prosecutor be executed for attempting to murder an innocent man."
"Six, back off. It's bad enough Flash decided to die for me, I don't need you doing anything stupid." Jon shouted.
"LISTEN TO YOUR FRIEND, INTERLOPER. NEED I REMIND YOU THAT YOUR FRIEND MADE THE DECISION TO TURN HIMSELF IN."
"Only on the basis that Stewart would have the right to a fair trial. But after seeing this pitiful performance, I'd refuse to even spit in your direction."
She then turned to the crowd. "Is this what you want for justice?! Three floating heads detached from reality and morality with all the power and no oversight?!"
"You asked Jon Stewart who gave him the right to act as Judge, Jury, and Executioner. Well who gave you and your bosses the right to act as god." She said,
"ENOUGH! YOU HAVE WASTED THIS COURT'S TIME, AS FAR AS WE ARE CONCERNED, THIS PERFORMANCE IS OVER!" The third head responded, the guards rushing in.
She decided, enough was enough. As the guards attempted to take her away, only for her to grab Red Glare and aim it. Before the guards could respond, she decided to fire a warning shot next to the Heads pedestal. "Try anything funny, and I'll blow your bosses sky high."
They were in a tense standoff, only for there to be a loud crashing sound. Superman had flown down destroying Jon's cuffs. "How dare you!"
"Enough! Jon Stewart is innocent!" Superman shouted, and on cue, Hawkgirl destroyed the device hiding Ajuris 4.
"Ajuris 4 was never destroyed, it's right where it's always been. It was an illusion. A frame up, as they say on my planet." Superman said, and Christina saw the raider shrinking, as if to disappear.
"YOU!" Stewart shouted, launching himself at Ro, punching him in the face.
"Why'd you do this to me! Why!" He shouted, and Ro could only reply in fear. As they continued their discussion, Christina saw the guardians leaving.
"We're too late! We have to get back immediately." One of the guardians said, moving towards a doorway.
"Going somewhere?" Christina said out loud, trying to hide the nausea from Flash carrying her. They tried to leave, only for Flash to block them. "Not so fast."
As the others finally arrived, Superman addressed them. "What's going on?" Ganthet refused to answer, as though he had something else on his mind. "We don't have time for this." He said, trying to leave, only for Christina to extend a collapsible baton and block their exit.
"Then make time." Christina growled, irritated by Ganthet's refusal to answer questions. "Where are the Manhunters?" Stewart asked.
"Headed back to Oa." He responded, much to the team's surprise. "Back to Oa? They've been there before?" Stewart asked, incredulous.
"Yes, we created them there." The Guardian answered, much to the group's surprise. "It was...before the Lantern Corp. We thought robots would make good peacekeepers but they were flawed. They couldn't understand the subtle gradations between good and evil." Ganthet explained to the group.
"And I'm guessing punishment was also harsh?" Christina asked, worried. "Why didn't you decommission them?" Superman asked.
We reprogrammed them for lesser duties, tracking, hunting, guarding. They didn't seem to object."
"Not out loud anyway." Stewart said, only for Christina to respond. "Well what did you expect, they see themselves as slaves." She responded
"Alright, they're smart enough to keep this all quiet, almost as if they were planning this for years. Given the fact that they are revolting, their objective is to overthrow their masters. What exactly are they targeting on Oa?"
XXX
"Don't let up brothers, they're weakening!" The lead machine spoke as the bombarded the shield placed by the few Guardians remaining.
Half the forces struck or took over planetary defenses while they fired on the shield. The Guardians inside were doing their best, but the strain was visible, with some of them sweating, and others looking as though they would fall unconscious.
"They can't hide in there forever, rip it open!" It shouted as more Manhunters attacked the shield.
"Rip them to…" The robot stopped, interrupted by the arrival of Green Lantern's bubble. "They can't stop us brothers, no one can!" the robot shouted, rallying the other Manhunters.
The Manhunters charged, the League began cutting down huge swaths, turning the formidable robots into flaming scrap and oil.
Several Manhunters attempted to lock on Flash, but their HUD was unable to process the speed, who was able to evade their blasts. Using this in conjunction with his momentum, he was able to wipe out many of them, only for the robots to counter this by instead surrounding them.
However, just as they were about to eliminate Flash, Jon used his ring to destroy them. "Got your back!" Stewart shouted, Flash relieved, only to realize the immediate danger. "Look out!" He shouted, and his friend turned to see another squad of manhunters. Without thinking, he held his ring and created a shield, trying to also use its power to take out several more robots.
"Use the guns! The Guns!" The main robot ordered, with the guardians' former defenses now targeting the heroes. The turrets attempted to shoot down the heroes, but all of them were able to avoid damage from the blasts, or in Superman's case, resist them directly.
Flash used his speed to distract the turrets, while J'onn became intangible and rushed the main turret. The Manhunter was about to lock on Flash, only to have his innards ripped apart by the alien.
Meanwhile, Flash was still running, only for the Manhunter's to catch him off guard. J'onn managed to protect him with his shield, but the robots managed to surround him.
However, before they could be vaporized, Hawkgirl, Courier 6, and the rest of the Green Lantern corps arrived, fighting alongside the League members.
"Everyone, we need to take control of the defense platforms, otherwise these robots are going to win by attrition." Christina shouted
Gallius nodded. "You heard the lady. You three, take the north tower. Killowog and I will take the south." Gallius ordered, to the Thanagarians surprise.
They charged into the fight with raw anger and determination. Hawkgirl roared in defiance, smashing one of them hard, causing it's chest to explode. Christina meanwhile spotted a cluster of the damn machines arriving, and wanting to cut their numbers, she used her missile launcher to destroy the group. "Overrun them brothers! Their weakness will be their downfall!"
As they attempted to surround her, she just threw Annabelle at two manhunters' heads, knocking them back. Without waiting, she grabbed Maria from her holster and fired at more manhunters, her other hand throwing a pulse grenade before using the laser RCW's rapid fire function to cut down more of them.
As the fight progressed, the Guardians were straining from the fight, some of them collapsing from the effort. The lead machine finally managed to break into the guardian's main battery room, Stewart trying to follow it.
"Manhunter! Stop!" Stewart tried to force it, encasing it in a forcefield. "Not till we've regained what is rightfully ours!" It shouted, as it continued draining the battery.
"Yours?" Jon Stewart asked, as the Manhunter continued firing at him, as it continued spewing reasons why it hated the little blue men. "The power the Guardians stole from us." It responded, as they continued to fight.
"It was never yours! It was always the Guardians!" he growled out as he fought the machine for dominance.
"And they betrayed us…" speaking with utter scorn for the beings "…just as they betrayed you!" before pushing him back.
"ZAT!" "ARRG!" Jon yelled out, collapsing on a wall. "This power is our destiny." The manhunter said, entering the battery. Jon reached out. "No!"
His attempt to stop the Manhunter was in vain, as the robot grew to an enormous size, its form now brewing with energy. This also had the effect of shutting down the Lantern rings, their weapons now powerless without the source under the Manhunter's control.
The Guardians could not maintain their defense, and the ones still standing collapsed. "All is lost." One of them said weakly to Stewart. "Not while I'm standing."
With determination, he decided to give one final push, and Christina watched as he thrust his ring forward and chanted the Green Lantern Oath.
"IN BRIGHTEST DAY...IN BLACKEST NIGHT...NO EVIL SHALL ESCAPE MY SIGHT... LET THOSE WHO WORSHIP EVIL'S MIGHT…" as he almost finished, his eyes glowed with fury, the ring's energy building up. "BEWARE MY POWER...GREEN LANTERNS LIGHT!"
With the final word, the ring let out a boom, the flash of power sent straight to the giant. "NOOOO!"
XXX
In the aftermath of the battle, Oa was in ruins, and some of the Green Lanterns were trying to clean up. Christina was perusing the battlefield, picking up Annabelle, only to find it wedged underneath a Manhunter's dead body.
"Here, let me help you." She turned to find Killowog, who used his ring to lift the robot, allowing her to grab it. "Thanks. Probably shouldn't have thrown it, I'm gonna have to bring it back to my workbench to assess the damage."
"Hey, no need. We've got a workbench here in the Armory. It's the least we could do to show our gratitude." Killowog said. "You sure? It looks like this entire place got bombed by a nuke."
"More like a dozen nukes. But hey, we'll manage. Afterall, you're the reason why it's still standing, and why I'm not out of a job." Killowog said, holding out his hand. Christina nodded, grabbing his hand and shaking it out of respect for each other. "Nah, it's ok. I appreciate the offer, but I really should get going. Plus Arcade's probably worried that I didn't call him yet, so I need to let him know I'm ok."
Meanwhile, the others were also cleaning up following the battle, trying to process that they had managed to win.
The Guardians stood together in front of Stewart. "We chose wisely when we offered you the ring, thank you John Stewart." Ganthet spoke, Jon quietly acknowledging the fact. Meanwhile, Hawkgirl was talking to the other Green Lanterns. "You're some fighter lady." Gallius said to Hawkgirl.
"Heh, we already knew that, didn't we?" Arkus joined in, although Hawkhirl remained silent when Jon flew back. The Green Lanterns tried to make amends with Jon, although Christina could tell that the betrayal was not something he was taking well. "Yeah, you should have."
"Are you all right John?" J'onn asked his friend. Jon nodded, before replying. "You believed in me, even when I didn't believe in myself."
"Hey, what are friends for?" Flash said smiling, with Christina following up. "Like Hanlon always said, Rangers never leave a man behind." She said, shaking Jon's hand.
With that, Jon simply smiled, out of gratitude and respect for his friends. "Let's go home guys." He said, forming a Bubble, the three of them leaving.
XXX
Secret Bunker
Have all the pieces been recovered?" A man asked, to which a woman responded. "Yes sir, although not as intact as we may have expected. But then again, given what she used this armor for, I'd say it's a miracle we got anything at all."
"It doesn't matter if the core systems are functional, you're taking this to forensics." The man said, to which the woman questioned. "Sir? I don't understand."
"Higher ups are gonna want to see this." He said, flashing a light at the faded E symbol on the armor's pauldron.
To be continued...