The three exit the hub building while Richard elaborates further. "From now on, I'll refer to my university as 616 and yours as Prime. For all we know, it could be only these two distinct planets that have merged." Richard starts, looking at Hal and Sam to see if they get the gist. They nod and he continues.
"On 616 the Nova Corps is the police force just like you GLs. Except we have a school for our Novas. You start as a corpsman and make your way up. I myself am a centurion. One of the highest places you can be. As a centurion I get to access the most power levels of the Nova force. But as you can see, I have become weakened. The Nova force I had has completely depleted, it's gone and who even knows if it exists now."
Hal dips his head in understanding, "Perhaps the Guardians would know."
"Guardians." Richard repeats wistfully. "You've said that before, I hope that they're the same people I know."
"The Guardians of the universe-"
Before Richard could hear anymore, his heart fell. He tried to find where his friends Peter Quill, Gamora, and the rest were but no avail. "Guess these Guardians aren't the same." he states all defeated like. "Never mind."
"Well, we can at least ask Ganthet and Sayd. They're the most grounded of the Guardians." Hal offers hopefully. "Sam you go ahead and wait."
"B-but!" Sam yelped in protest, but his voice gave way into cracking. "Fuck!" he curses through his teeth, stamping his foot. In response Hal shoots Sam a warning look, daring him to swear again. Not like Hal doesn't swear himself, but it's different when it's your son.
"We'll meet back up later, not just anyone can be the Guardians' audience you know." Hal informs.
"Yeah… makes sense."
"And behave."
"Yes dad."
"Good, see you in a bit." Hal turns and walks off with Richard.
"You seem to have a good relationship with him." Richard remarks, his eyes darting back to a sullen Sam.
"Yeah, why?" Hal asks bitterly, getting defensive.
"U-um." Richard bites his lower lip, cursing himself for saying such a thing. "Because… from what I hear, Mr. Alexander wasn't the best father in Sam's life. But when he went missing, Sam realized he loved him dearly. He wouldn't quit looking for him no matter the cost. The black Nova helmet belonged to J- Sam's dad first and then Sam inherited." he explains, trying not to reveal too much.
"Hm." Hal upturned his nose to the sky. "Have any kids of your own Rider?"
"Well um no, actually." Richard shakes his head. "But I've had the pleasure of spending time with Sam. And please, call me Richard, or Rich."
"Hm." Hal begins to float to where the Guardians reside, turning back to Richard expectantly.
"Sorry." Richard taps his helmet. "No power, no flight."
Hal shrugs, showing it wasn't an issue and creates a construct around Richard to lift him up into the air too.
Watching them fly away, Sam turns his back on them and scuffs his sneaker on the ground. So much for being involved.
He crinkles his nose, pouting. Guess I'll hafta explore then.
Sam walks around Oa, trying not to bump into any Green Lanterns he doesn't know, especially the intimidating ones. He's never seen so many alien races in his life before, hell he's only met Superman once and even then, he was more human than the rest of these guys. A part of him wanted to learn more about these aliens because he found them cool and then the other part was being a frightened little baby.
Come on Sam, these are the good guys anyway. There's nothing to be scared of.
Downing his fear into a gulp, Sam wasn't paying attention when he bumped into a familiar face.
"Kyle!"
"Sam?" Kyle looks at the boy with both eyebrows raised. He had his sketchbook tucked under his arm and a pencil behind his ear. "What're you doing here?"
"Eh… long story, I'm sure somebody will fill you in." Sam waves his hand in dismissal of the subject. He then grabs for Kyle's sketchbook who in turn holds it high over his head.
"Yeah… no. I don't think so." Kyle taunts, waving the sketchbook over his head. "Is your dad here?"
"Well how else would I get to Oa." Sam snarks, placing his hands on his hips.
Kyle sniffs indignantly, "Fair point."
"Hey…" Sam rubs his chin, getting an idea. While Hal and Richard take care of business, perhaps he could get information of his own. "Do you know about any important artifacts?"
Kyle shrugs, "I mean, all lantern rings are pretty powerful. Each color having a different caliber of strengths up their sleeve. But Black and White are especially unique. When I was the White Lantern I used to have a piece of the Life Equation."
"Mhm, and what about artifacts that may have shown up just recently on the GL radar?" Sam asks.
"That's an awfully specific question Sam."
Sam grabs his nose bridge and sighs. "Yeah, I know. But things like Dr. Fate's helm or Nth metal. Anything that spells out of place but also really powerful like something called a black Nova helmet?"
Kyle blinks, quite taken aback. He wasn't sure what to say. "I don't know anything about a Nova helmet but… as of late things have been popping up. I mean- they have been for years, but even more so now." Kyle awkwardly scratches the back of his head. "And they're just as you describe it, out of place, even for something like the mystical forces of Nabu that possess Dr. Fate's helm. Compare that to the eye of… what was it called? Agamotto, and there's a clear difference. The eye of Agamotto comes from an otherworldly place."
Sam wasn't prepared for Kyle to agree and elaborate to him. He just opened his mouth prepared to say something but stood there quote shocked. "Um…" Sam utters, "As if some other Earth shifted right onto this one?"
Kyle nods. "Yeah, kind of. I wouldn't have put it like that until you brought it up."
"How do you know about this… eye thing?"
"Saint Walker told me, he and the Blue Lanterns somehow acquired it." Kyle explains. Saint Walker was the head of the Blue Lantern Corps, the emotional spectrum embodiment of hope. Just as the Green Lanterns embody willpower.
Sam absorbs the information like a sponge, hoping to retain it long enough to relay it back to Hal and Richard.
"Well this conversation turned deep." Kyle remarks, "You okay?"
Sam nods vigorously, "Yeah! I am! No need to worry about me." he says, which of course causes Kyle to get an inkling of worry. "What about you? Are you good? Guy said you were moping in your sketchbook."
Embarrassed, Kyle's face starts to flush. "Ah well… y'know."
"No I don't really know." Sam pesters, prodding Kyle's side. Sam keeps prodding like the annoying teen he chooses to be and Kyle keeps trying to swat his hands away. Eventually Kyle's sketchbook falls open to a drawing of a woman. It was titled, "Soranik" with a small heart next to it.
"Ooh! Who's this?" Sam practically squeals, snatching up the sketchbook. Ticked off, Kyle creates a construct hand to take it back. "No one." Inside, Kyle ridiculed himself for letting a kid get the better of him. He was supposed to be good with kids, but Sam was a special case of hyperactivity.
"You still gotta teach me how to draw."
"I will. Just not now." Kyle hisses.
Sam huffs, well if that's going to be the case…
"Was that your alien GF?"
Kyle grits his teeth, he was slow to anger, but his heart wrench was worth this.
Seeing this, Sam decides to back off. "Sorry… um… thanks for the intel. I think I'll go find my dad. Nice seeing you Kyle."
"Hey wait, you still didn't tell me why you were here. What's going on?" Kyle asks, his face easing back to its normal calmness.
"Like I said, someone will debrief you." Sam says, turning on his heal. "Hopefully. Anyway, if you hear about any more mysterious items, phone in my dad 'kay?"
"... 'kay?"
"Bye!" Sam waves and heads back from whence he came. He'd love to see the look on Hal's face when he comes back with useful information.
