A/N: Hello hello, my lovely readers. Welcome to the beginning of the climax.
Thanks to dorizard for the beautifully detailed reviews.
Chapter Nineteen: Grey Area
"Get down!"
The warning came just in the nick of time. John flattened himself to the ground as a qwa-bolt screeched overhead, disintegrating the pavement behind him with explosive force. Katma Tui, having given the alert, followed up by blasting the offending Thunderer of Qward with an entire pillar of green will. John had to marvel at how she was still making full use of her ring after nearly ten hours of fighting. John himself had given up making constructs after the first three hours and was simply relying on instinctive shields, pure energy blasts, sometimes plain old fisticuffs, and his reflexes as a Marine.
"Tui, we can't keep doing this!" John parried a blow from a Qwardian and punched him solidly on the jaw. There seemed to be no end to the flood of Qwardians — they just kept coming and coming, like a swarm of insects.
"We have to, Stewart!" Katma shouted. "Oa cannot fall to these invaders!"
"We can't just keep fighting them one on one!" John bashed another Thunderer on the head. "They outnumber us and half the Corps are rookies!"
"Well, what do you suggest?" demanded Katma.
"There has to be something we can use to take out most of these mooks in one swoop," said John. "Does this planet have anything with enough power to fry a couple thousand people at once?"
Katma used a green hammer to pound several Qwardians before answering. "The only thing with that much power is the Central Power Battery."
John recalled the massive crystal structure that sat just behind the main Corps building. The Central Power Battery collected and stored all the will from every living being in the universe, and powered all the Green Lantern rings. If its energy could be directly harnessed, and if they could lead most of the Thunderers towards it…
Katma punched a Thunderer before roughly tapping John on the chest. "Stewart? What are you thinking?"
"I think I have a plan."
The backup generator kicked in less than a minute after the power failed, but that was apparently enough time for the second Star Sapphire to disappear from Deck G. Zatanna cursed when she saw nothing but damaged machinery and sparking wires where the violet villainess had been.
"She can't have gone far," said Wildcat. He sniffed the air experimentally, then took off running down a corridor. "Come on!"
Zatanna followed closely behind. "How do you know she went this way?"
"I worked enough with Alan Scott to recognise the faint scent of hard light."
"There's a scent?"
"Only if you know what you're looking for. Come on, kid, pick it up."
They dashed down the hallway and rounded a corner, and then Wildcat screeched to a halt.
"What is it?" asked Zatanna.
Wildcat looked up, and Zatanna followed his gaze to the gaping hole in the ceiling.
Aquaman and Doctor Fate were watching Star Sapphire's attempts to break free from her prison very closely, but they were still caught off guard by the brilliant fuchsia beam that burst from the floor. Doctor Fate, who had been standing right over it, toppled and lost his balance while Aquaman reflexively swung his trident towards the intruder.
"By Poseidon!" he swore.
Before him stood a Star Sapphire who was identical to the one still trapped in the holding cell, from the gem in her cat's eye mask down to the star cutout in her leotard.
"Stand down, King of Atlantis," said the new Star Sapphire. "My quarrel is not with you."
"So speaks the woman who just invaded our headquarters." Aquaman kept his trident pointed at her.
Star Sapphire didn't look at all perturbed. "If you'd like me to fight you, I can. I'd rather not, that's all."
Aquaman gazed at her suspiciously. "Why?"
"Because my quarrel is with her." Star Sapphire jerked her head towards her lookalike in the cell. "We have unfinished business."
"And the nature of this business would be…?"
"Ours and ours alone," Star Sapphire said firmly.
"Not even Green Lantern's?" questioned Doctor Fate.
Star Sapphire whipped around to narrow her eyes at him, and her words took on a vicious undertone. "Don't talk to me about him. I never want to see him again; if I do, he'll be lucky to escape with just bruises." With effort, she appeared to compose herself again. "I'll just take my counterpart with me and we'll be going."
"Neither of you is going anywhere until we understand the situation," Aquaman declared.
Star Sapphire glared daggers at him. "I didn't say you had a choice."
Before the Atlantean could react, a plasma-charged backhand knocked his trident out of his grasp, and Star Sapphire followed up by blasting him square in the face. Doctor Fate was already incanting, but in such close quarters Star Sapphire was too fast for him. She barreled into him feet first and kicked him up against the wall. Using her energy to create a pink barrier between herself and the two Leaguers, Star Sapphire quickly crossed the room and slammed her elbow into the control pad for the detention cell.
The doors of the cell opened at once, and the other Star Sapphire stepped out, grinning maliciously.
"About time," she said to her doppelganger.
The Star Sapphire who was holding back Aquaman and Doctor Fate merely stared grimly at her. "Let's finish this."
The other Star Sapphire's smirk widened. "Let's."
In a blaze of violet and fuchsia, both Star Sapphires crashed through the wall and disappeared.
John and Katma soared through the sky, taking the opportunity to scan the battlefield and solidify their strategy in their minds. They managed to neutralize several Qwardians as they passed them, but they remained more focused on their primary objective: finding a Green Lantern with enough authority to command the rest of the Corps to carry out their plan. John had convinced Katma that his plan was solid and their best chance at winning this battle, but being relative rookies in the Corps, neither of them had the right to direct the other Lanterns to follow their idea.
They finally spotted Salaak fighting off three Thunderers at once, and they dove down to assist, seeking to dispatch the immediate threat quickly so they could convey their plan. The Corps Clarissi, second in command only after the Guardians themselves, listened to their rushed explanation with a solemn face.
"You want to do what?"
"We need to lure all the Thunderers to the Central Power Battery," Katma said.
"Why?"
"So we can take them out all at once with a surge of power from the battery," John stressed. "We can't keep doing this, Salaak — there's too many of them and every minute we spend fighting them off is another minute we can't spend dealing with the real threat."
"Sinestro," Salaak agreed. "But how do you propose to activate the Central Power Battery directly? You'd require the combined concerted efforts of countless Green Lanterns."
"All of them," John confirmed. "The Battery powers all our rings, right? If we get everyone — and I mean everyone — to use their rings in the exact same way at the exact same time in front of the Battery itself, we should be able to trigger a response from the Battery, an energy surge to replenish whatever combined energy our rings are using up."
"A direct conduit," surmised Salaak. "You wish to establish a mainline between the Central Battery and all our power rings — make our rings a channel to harness the energy from the Battery itself."
"That's possible, right?"
"Theoretically, yes. But what you're proposing has hardly been attempted before — certainly not with a Corps that is half composed of newcomers."
"It's our best shot, Salaak," Katma said bluntly. "We need to deal with Sinestro as fast as possible. The Thunderers are only a distraction."
"Once his army is gone, then we can focus Sinestro," added John. "Until then, we can't do shit."
Salaak considered for only seconds before he nodded decisively. "I'll give the order. You'd better pray this works, Stewart."
Zatanna and Wildcat skidded into the containment unit moments after the two Star Sapphires had vanished.
"Where is she?" Zatanna demanded.
"What happened?" Wildcat asked.
"Gone, both of them." Aquaman sounded extremely disgruntled.
"Gone?!" Zatanna exclaimed, at the same time Wildcat repeated, "Both of them?"
"It appears," Doctor Fate interjected, righting his helmet, "that we have been missing a large piece of the puzzle. Apparently, there are in fact two Star Sapphires."
"Two?!" Zatanna looked from Fate to Aquaman to Wildcat, who looked just as bewildered as she. Before she could continue to ask what the hell was going on, Batman's stern voice crackled over the intercom.
"Everyone, report to the bridge now."
The Green Lantern Corps were not considered the most effective peacekeeping force in the universe for nothing. Each and every one was trained and held to a high standard, and even the platoon of new Lanterns who had been hurriedly inducted over the last month had been subjected, albeit hastily, to some meticulous drills and vital rules.
One such rule was to listen to the Corps clarissi. While the Guardians were still the ultimate authority, they did not often deliver explicit instructions, trusting instead that their Green Lanterns were wise enough to make independent decisions. More frequently, directions were given by the clarissi, sometimes on behalf of the Guardians, sometimes not — but always, these orders were to be obeyed. Salaak did not pull rank often; when he did, he normally had good reason to, and he got extremely grumpy if he was not heeded.
Thus, the instant they received Salaak's order, every single Green Lantern ceased their individual efforts against the scattered Thunderers, and began surreptitiously shepherding their opponents towards the Central Power Battery. This was accomplished in a variety of ways: from provoking the Qwardians into giving chase, to pushing them with energy blasts, or, as in Kilowog's case, outright kidnapping them in green balls and slinging them towards the desired location.
Whatever the method, the end result was the same. Within thirty minutes of Salaak's order, the majority of Qwardians and nearly all the Green Lanterns were gathered in front of the Central Power Battery, where Salaak himself was already stationed, flanked by John and Katma.
"Now!" shouted John.
As one, the assembled Corpsmen, their backs to the Power Battery, aimed their fists at the invading horde and willed their rings to draw power straight from the battery. The immense reservoir, always gently humming with energy, now pulsed tangibly with the willpower of every living being in the universe, feeding its light directly into the army of Green Lanterns in a continuous stream of pure energy. The viridescent wall slammed into the mass of Qwardians, incinerating them on the spot.
"I'll be damned, poozer," Kilowog said to John. "That actually worked." He smacked his fist into his palm. "Now we find Sinestro."
"What's this Fate is telling me about two Star Sapphires?" Zatanna demanded as she stormed onto the Watchtower bridge.
"He's right," replied Hawkgirl. She pulled up the feed from Coast City, which showed the two women battling against each other in the heart of the city.
"Well, that's confusing," Wildcat remarked.
"They are…fighting each other?" Aquaman looked perplexed. "Were they not working together to escape the Watchtower?"
"It's a complicated relationship, I surmise," said Doctor Fate. "From what I gather, the second Star Sapphire freed the one we had in custody so they could settle some sort of dispute." On-screen, one Star Sapphire slammed the other into a car. "A rather violent dispute, apparently."
"Whatever the connection between them," Batman interjected, "we need to assume they're both hostile. And we should definitely stop them from tearing up Coast City. Fate, take Hawkgirl and Aquaman."
With a quick nod, Doctor Fate opened an ankh portal and disappeared into it with the other two heroes. Zatanna looked momentarily mutinous that she hadn't been included in the advance team, but at a cautionary glance from Wildcat, she subsided.
"They'll need backup," said Wildcat.
"I know." Batman was already sending out messages to the two Leaguers he knew were well rested and immune to Star Sapphire's crystal. "Flash, Vixen, teleport in three…two…one…"
"Where is he?" Katma seethed as she scoured the skies with John.
She noticed movement out of the corner of her eye and dodged the anti-matter bolt from the Thunderer below — one of the few stragglers who hadn't been eradicated by the beam from the Central Power Battery. John smacked the Thunderer with a hard light fist and swept him away.
"You're getting the hang of that ring," Katma observed with some pride.
"I had a good teacher."
"That's not what you said before."
"Well, I've changed my mind," John admitted. He ignored Katma's smug grin and said, "Sinestro can't stay hidden for long. He's got half the Corps out looking for him."
"He also knows Oa better than half the Corps," Katma pointed out. "I wouldn't put it past him to know of some secret alcove with a fancy experimental weapon that he's planning to use to —"
A sudden shockwave screamed past them, forcing them back several yards before they managed to regain their bearings.
"What was that?" demanded John.
"It came from that building." Katma pointed at the spire in the distance, on one of the few tall towers that were still intact on the ravaged planet. "It has to be Sinestro. Let's go, Stewart!" She put on a burst of speed and shot away, John trailing close behind her.
They landed on a convenient balcony and ducked inside, wary. There was an uncomfortable tension in the pit of John's stomach; he just knew they were walking into something not good.
"Tui, shouldn't we call for backup?"
Before Katma could respond, a pillar of yellow slammed into her and crushed her into the wall.
"Katma!" John tried to reach her, but another bolt blazed past him and he was forced to flatten himself to the floor. He was able to just barely roll out of the way of the next two attacks, but the third was a yellow hand that seized painfully around his neck and pulled him towards the center of the room, where Sinestro was standing, armed with a new ring in place of the one Arisia had stolen off him. The former Green Lantern scowled as he studied John.
"Your ring is the ring of Sector 2814, but you are not Hal Jordan."
"No…shit." John was struggling for air in Sinestro's chokehold, but he still managed to sound irate.
"Who are you? What happened to Jordan?" Sinestro demanded. He loosened the grip on John's neck slightly so John could answer.
John, for his part, glared balefully at the renegade Lantern. "He resigned."
That actually seemed to take Sinestro aback. "Jordan gave up?"
John saw his chance and took it. He powered up his ring and sent a storm of daggers at Sinestro, but watched in astonishment as they all disintegrated against his yellow aura.
Sinestro sneered. "Didn't they tell you your ring doesn't work against mine? Fear is superior to will."
"Is that why you're hiding out in here?" John taunted. "Are you scared?" He'd noticed Katma beginning to stir; all he had to do was buy time, keep Sinestro talking…
"Hardly," Sinestro snorted. "This tower is one of many equipment caches around Oa."
John noted, for the first time, the circular disc in Sinestro's right hand. "You wanted something specific."
"I did. You have no idea, do you, of the powers that exist beyond Oa? Will is not the only emotion on the spectrum."
"Yeah, I get it, fear is superior, you're gonna take over the world, blah blah."
Sinestro's eyes flashed with annoyance at John's deliberately patronising tone. "Not just fear. There are others — some even the Guardians are unaware of. The Qwardians have long been investigating the metaphysical forces in the universe, and they have concluded that there are seven colours on the emotional spectrum. There is a legend — not of Qwardian origin — that the one who can master all seven will unlock the full power of the spectrum and become the White Lantern." Sinestro smiled nastily. "I plan to be that one."
"I think I've heard this in kindergarten," said John. "ROY G BIV, seven colours of the rainbow, and all that."
Behind Sinestro, Katma had silently gotten to her feet.
"I tire of this prattle," said Sinestro. "It's a shame you won't be alive to see the error of your ways when I unite all the colours of spectrum."
John smirked. "I don't think so. Tui, now!"
Katma flung rubble at Sinestro, who snarled as he dropped John and whirled to face his fellow Korugarian. John reached out a green pincer and, with remarkable precision under pressure, snatched the disc — which wasn't enveloped in yellow aura — from Sinestro.
Enraged, the Yellow Lantern dove for John, slinging a backhanded blow towards Katma as he did so. John nimbly rose out of the way, but Sinestro's next blast caught him on the leg. Pressing his advantage, Sinestro stung John's hand with a particularly vicious shot, causing him to drop the device. Without missing a beat, Sinestro grabbed and activated the disc, opening up a wormhole, which he vanished into just as Katma's energy dagger flew past where he'd been an instant ago.
"The wormhole!" Katma shouted, racing towards it.
John glanced down, saw the rapidly shrinking wormhole, and, without hesitation, rushed headfirst into it. The portal closed just as he entered, leaving Katma an instant too late and unable to follow.
"Watch your head!" Flash warned, zipping over to sweep a civilian out of the way of a stray blast of violet energy.
Above them, Doctor Fate and Hawkgirl were trying — and failing — to intervene in the vicious duel between the two Star Sapphires, while Aquaman and Vixen were aiding Flash in getting citizens out of harm's way and attempting to limit damage to Coast City's infrastructure.
"So, what exactly is the story here?" Vixen asked as she leaped over an overturned car to catch a flying piece of tree before it could hit a bystander.
"No idea," Aquaman answered honestly. "The Star Sapphires clearly know each other and obviously have animosity between them. Which of them is responsible for crystallizing men, or whether both of them are, is still up for debate. The current objective is merely to detain both and try to get some answers."
"Easier said than done," Vixen observed, wincing as the two Star Sapphires teamed up to throw Doctor Fate into Hawkgirl before resuming their battle against each other.
Flash sped up to them. "I think the area's all clear of civilians now." He stared up at the Star Sapphires. "Does anyone have any ideas how to get up there?"
"Flash!"
No sooner had Vixen and Aquaman registered with bewilderment that there was still apparently one civilian in the middle of the chaos than Flash streaked towards the street corner, where one familiar figure was taking cover.
"Hal, what the hell are you doing here?" Flash hissed.
"I…don't know," Hal admitted. "I heard about this on the news and I just…felt I had to be here."
Flash took a microsecond to quell his exasperation with his boneheaded best friend. "Hal, do I have to remind you that you don't have a ring anymore? There are two crazy pink ladies beating the living daylights out of each other and we're just trying to do damage control. Right now, the best thing for you to do is to stay far away from —"
"You!"
Both Hal and Flash startled at the venomous screech as one of the Star Sapphires suddenly lunged for Hal. She grabbed the hapless pilot and soared into the sky with him, leaving the other Star Sapphire to tangle with Doctor Fate.
"This is your fault!" she accused Hal.
"What the — what?!" Hal was utterly speechless.
"You failed as a Green Lantern, Hal Jordan. You failed as the protector of Coast City. And you failed me."
Hal gaped at her, dumbfounded. "What — how…"
"How do I know who you are?" Star Sapphire huffed derisively. "Take a good long look, Hal. Do you really not recognize me? We've only known each other half our lives."
Hal stared through her mask, noting for the first time the crystal blue eyes behind the violet glare. Realization crashed into him like a ton of bricks.
"Carol!?"
A thunderous boom erupted behind them and a swirling wormhole appeared, flinging them in opposite directions with its force. Star Sapphire managed to right herself in the air before she crashed into a tenth-story window, and Flash cushioned Hal's fall with an arm tornado. Out of the wormhole shot a glowing yellow figure, closely followed by another in green.
"Hal Jordan!" shouted Sinestro. "Where are you?!"
A/N: If this were a comic miniseries, this would probably mark the end of the third-to-last issue. Yes, that's a hint as to how much more there is in this story - and how epic (I hope) the remaining chapters shall be.
You now have a month of speculation. Begin! ;)