Hero Lanterns

Chapter 4: The Lantern Killer

Meanwhile, traveling through space was a fortress that is attached to a large asteroid. It is known as the Shard. The Universe is now under threat by a new enemy known as the Red Lanterns.

Lord Atrocitous leads the Red Lantern Corps. The Red Lantern Corps was formed by Atrocitus of the Five Inversions, one of the five survivors of the Massacre of Sector 666. Using the blood magics of the Five Inversions, Atrocitus harnessed the red spectrum of light, allowing him to empower the rage within him. The Red Power Ring was born out of anger and crystallized by the blood of the Inversions. Atrocitus' discovery of the red spectrum first came during the years of incarceration he endured on the prison planet of Ysmault. He blamed the Guardians of the Universe for the massacre of his sector, and because of this Atrocitus built up years of hatred and rage. When he gave in fully to his rage, it was given shape for the first time when he bludgeoned Qull, one of his fellow survivors, to death with a Red Lantern Power Battery. After that, Atrocitus apparently killed the other Inversions, using their blood as part of his plans. He then poured forth the great bloody rage drawn from his body by the power of the red spectrum. Using blood magics he forged a Central Power Battery of his own which stands before a great lake of blood, and from that Lantern emerged batteries and rings to power the Red Lantern Corps. In the shadow of the great Red Lantern. He has several of his famous soldiers who served him.

Zilius Zox is Atrocitious, Second in Command. For his master Atrocitus, Zilius was on a joyous journey to kill the Green Lanterns stationed in Frontier Space, along with Razer. However a ring of one of the Green Lanterns he killed returned to Oa eighteen months later, whom the Guardians discovered that there was a Green lantern killing spree in Frontier Space.

Bleez known as the angel of the Red Lanterns, originated from the planet Havania, known as a beautiful woman with angel wings. She was chosen a suitor by her mother until she was killed by the wrong suitor who was a Sinestro Corps member, Bleez was taken by them and was abused. This made her so enraged that she became a Red Lantern.

Once as a kitten in a litter of five, Dexter was abandoned at and later adopted from the Brooklyn Animal Shelter. His new owner loved Dexter because he was always there to keep her company. She even said that Dexter made her life a lot better, and that he would say the same thing too if he could speak. One night, a burglar broke into their apartment and Dexter scratched him. As the burglar screamed in pain, Dexter's owner woke up and called for help, but unfortunately help never arrived. The next day, when the police came to investigate the murder, one of the cops kicked Dexter out saying that the cat could contaminate the crime scene (apparently unaware that Dexter was a resident of the apartment). Dexter was left homeless for an unknown amount of time, living in a box on the street when two thugs called him out and bagged him. For their amusement, they decided to throw Dexter (while still inside the bag) off the Brooklyn Bridge to see him drown. Just as they did, a Red Lantern Power Ring flew in, detecting the rage within Dexter's heart and turned him into a Red Lantern, and thus embraced his new identity as Dex-Starr. After he killed the thugs, Dex-Starr, remembering his owner's kind words and having the ring express his rage in coherent thoughts, vowed to find and kill her murderer. Dex-Starr is now in the care of Atrocitious.

And last but not least, Razor. Razer is a tall, slender, human-like alien with a pale white skin tone and black tattooed markings on his face. He has blue eyes and wears a red helmet with two horns protruding from it. When in his Red Lantern outfit, he wears black leggings, red boots and gloves. In civilian form, he wears a dark gray tunic with long black sleeves and a belt bearing a Volkregian symbol on it. Razer presumably was once a peaceful man before his involvement with the Red Lanterns. Though he was very protective of his wife Ilana and his planet, it is presumed that he had high respect for others but he was willing to fight when someone threatened to harm them. After losing his beloved wife, he became a Red Lantern, allowing evil within to take over and becoming ruthless with rage. However, even in this state, he did seem to have some moral conscience, as he questioned Zilius Zox and Atrocitus about their methods of killing.

"The Universe. How soon will be ours for the taking. The wretched Guardians have committed the genocide in our sector." Atrocitous said which Dex- Starr meows in agreement.

"Master, I have detected several signatures from several worlds. I do believe that they are seeking their vengeance after their humiliation." Zox said.

"Good. Send them out immediately." Atrocitious said.

Zox sends some of the red rings out to search for new bearers who have raged in their hearts.


[Oa]

4 weeks later, David walks towards the cadets, Sora, Ven, Brian, Jenny, Brian, Ahsoka, and Barriss, stood in attention. Some of them had gain some muscles and they are in good shape after training.

"Congratulations, cadets. You have survived after four weeks of intense training. I have never seen a handful of warriors who had been pushed to the limit. Now follow me. The Guardians had been expecting you." David said.

David leads the group into the chamber where the Guardians await them. They stop before standing in attention.

"Green Lantern David Jordan of Sector 2814 reporting in!" David said to the Guardians.

"Impressive, Green Lantern David. You have succeeded in training the new recruits. The council is pleased of your progress." Appa said.

"Now that your training is complete, you shall receive your batteries." Ganthet said.

The Guardians reach out their arms and it flashes to lights in front of Sora, Ven, Penny, Bolt, Brian, Jenny, Ahsoka, Barriss, It forms into lanterns and the lights die down. They grab them and look at them.

"These will recharge your power rings at any time but they require time to recharge after you use them. But you must keep them safe at all times. They must not fall into the wrong hands. And your rings have a weakness." Sayd informed.

"What weakness?" Sora asks.

"The power ring will not work when there are yellow crystals around. It is a counter for willpower. Be on guard at all times." Ganthet informed.

The group look at the lanterns in amazed.

"When do I get to have access to the Interceptor?" David asks.

"You shall receive the ship in 48 hours." Appa replied.

"Thank you, Appa. You will not be disappointed." David said.

"You are dismissed." Appa said.

David salutes before he leads the group from the chamber.

"This is so cool! We get our own lanterns!" Ahsoka said with excitement.

"Yes." Barriss said.

"Sora, kinda miss our friends." Ven said with a bit of sadness.

"Yeah. Riku and... Kairi." Sora said with a bit of sadness.

"I do kinda miss my Tuck, Brad, even Mom." Jenny said with a bit of sadness.

"I do missed my little brother." Brian said.

"Hey, it's ok you guys. We will see them soon." David said.

"I see that we have new recruits."

David and the others look to see a man in his 30s, wearing a Green Lantern suit. Also, he wears a face mask.

"Uncle Hal." David smiles before being embraced by his uncle. Hal releases him before he sees David's new friends.

"I see you made some new friends." Hal said.

"Hal, this is Sora, Ven, Penny, Bolt, Jenny, Brian, Ahsoka, and Barriss." David said.

"Hi." They said including Bolt who barks saying hello.

"What brings you here, Hal?" David asks.

"The Guardians have called me here for a purpose." Hal replied.

"We should see what this is all about." David said.

David follows his uncle with his new friends following him towards the council chamber.

"Be it ever so humble, there's no place like Oa." Hal said. He sees Salaak and Kilowog.

"Hal Jordan of Earth." Salaak said.

"Salaak, of some planet whose name escapes me at the moment." Hal said before turning to Kilowog, "And Kilowog! Hey, buddy! What's going on?"

"You'll find out soon enough, Jordan. Just keep it professional. And definitely don't go looking for me to bail you out this time." Kilowog said.

"What did I leave the toilet seat up or something?" Hal asks.

"What did my uncle do?" David asks Kilowog.

"You'll find out, young Jordan." Kilowog said to him.

They head for the Guardians' quarters. From above the area, all of the Guardians arrive and they gather around the GLs. Appa was disappointed at Hal Jordan.

"Hal Jordan of Earth, Green Lantern of sector 2814. The viceroy of Demrakk 7 claims that when we assigned you to police crucial peace negotiations you punched him, in the face," Appa informed, "Is this true?"

"No, sir. I punched the viceroy in the stomach, then head-butted him in the face. Sir. The viceroy was a serious dirt bag using diplomatic immunity to cover up his slave trafficking ring."

"Uncle, you like to do things your again?" David groan by his uncle's action.

"The council should note that Jordan claims have since been proven true by Demrakks authorities." Ganthet said.

"That is not the point. This Lantern clearly seems to revel in exceeding his authority, ignoring our orders and making his own-" Appa said.

Just then the dome opens and everyone looks up. Then a green ring falls to the ground.

"Oh-no." Kilowog said.

"What is it?" Penny asks.

Hal picks up the ring before looking at the Guardians.

"We can argue about my conduct later but right now somewhere out there there's a dead Green Lantern." He said to them.

"You mean we lost a Green Lantern?" Brian asks.

"Yeah. When one dies or retires, the ring is sent back to Oa or another bearer." David replied.

Hal then places the ring on Salaak's computer.

"Salaak, whose ring is this?" Kilowog asks.

Salaak researches the ring of the dead Green Lantern. It shows a holographic image of a Lantern.

"Green Lantern Meten." Salaak replied.

"Never seen this guy before in my life." Kilowog said.

"Salaak, display Guardian Space." Ganthet said.

Salaak displays a holographic globe. Sora and the others were amazed about the technology the Green Lanterns possessed.

"There are 3600 sectors in Guardian Space. For millennia, we have dispatched our Power Rings to choose a worthy protector of each sector. You are Green Lantern Corps." He said.

"This part we know Display home-world of Frontier Lantern number ten." Hal said.

"Almost like my geography class." Jenny said.

"Cool" Ahsoka said.

"Frontier Lantern?" Kilowog asks.

Salaak displays more information on the holographic map.

"This is the Guardian Frontier, the very edge of our territory. We have seeded Lanterns there, but they are few and far between." Sayd said.

"The vast distance makes contact with the Frontier Lanterns sporadic, at best." Ganthet said smiling.

"Then who trains them?" David asks.

"They receive limited instruction from their rings. That is all." Sayd replied.

"What do these lights signify?" Hal asks pointing to the rings.

"These are locations where operatives went offline. Those Power Rings are currently in search of new hosts. Or en route back to Oa." Appa said.

"What does that mean?" Astro asks.

"It means they're dead." Hal replied.

"That is unfortunate, but accurate." Appa said.

"And you just sit there, doing nothing?" Hal asks.

"Hal, we are doing everything we can to come up with a strategic plan." David said to his uncle.

"You did not even see it fit to inform us about these Lantern deaths?" Salaak said to Appa.

"There is nothing to be done right now. Flying at top speed you wouldn't reach the frontier for 18 months. We are formulating a plan." Appa said.

"There are Lanterns dying out there! We need to get out there and stop whoever is targeting them now!" Hal opposed.

"Let me remind the Green Lantern of Earth that the Guardians are not on trial here. He is." Appa said pointing to Hal.

"Appa Ali Apsa, it has been an eventful session. Perhaps a period of refreshment is required. Or as our earth man would say "A coffee break." Ganthet said.

After the trail, Hal, David, Kilowog, Sora, Ven, Penny, Bolt, Brian, Jenny, Ahsoka, Barriss, and Ganthet fly out of the quarters.

"Good call Ganthet. Another minute and I might've said something-" Hal spoke

"Incredibly stupid? Yeah, I think that ship sailed a long time ago Jordan." Kilowog said.

"You always want to get out of the grip, but you can't hide forever." David said to Hal.

They then turn left to another path.

"Hey, this ain't the way to the commissary." Kilowog said.

"Indeed." Ganthet said.

"Where are we going?" Penny asks.

"I thought we might enjoy taking a more scenic route." Ganthet said.

"I'm not following this." Sora said.

"Me either." Ed said.

They reach to a dome and the roof opens. Everyone except Ganthet is in shocked to see an experimental ship.

"Whoa." Ahsoka said.

"What is that?" Hal asks.

"Oh, that! Nothing really. An experimental prototype powered by the green energy itself." Ganthet said.

"Can't wait to fly it." David said.

"How fast?" Hal asks.

"Well, the Interceptor is potentially the fastest ship ever created by sentient life." Ganthet said.

"Potentially?" Barriss said.

"This prototype is so sophisticated and travels so fast that the nav-computer is an actual artificial intelligence." Ganthet said.

Hal smirks and moves a little closer but Kilowog and David stop him.

"Whoa there. I know that look Jordan, this isn't one of your earthen jet thingies." Kilowog said.

"Uncle, I have been granted to fly the ship by Appa." David said.

"Look, I'll take her up and work the bugs out. Then we'll fly to the frontier and we'll take care of the Lantern killer." Hal said.

"I doubt that will come to pass. It is much too risky. And all Guardians must be in agreement. Some will doubt the very existence of this Lantern killer. Besides, David and his new friends will be the first to fly the Interceptor." Ganthet said.

"So why did you show it at us?" Ven asks.

"I told you my friends. We're simply taking the scenic route." Ganthet said.

Hal looks at the hangar as it closes before smirking.

I will write more also I will add the villains to the Red Lantern Corps...