From the foliage appears the slender figure of Indigo-1, the Lantern head of the Indigo Tribe. She holds an accusing staff towards the three males in the middle of the clearing.
"Jordan." Indigo-1 greets coldly. Despite being filled to the brim with compassion, Indigo Lanterns tended to be scarce of a real personality. They were mysterious in nature like that.
"Hello Iroque." Hal greets in return, putting his hands up in silent surrender. "There's no need for all of this, we're all good guys here."
Indigo-1 steps back but she doesn put down her staff, "Based on your last visit, I take it that there's nothing but trouble awaiting your actions." she accuses, staring down at him with black coals for eyes.
Hal approaches the subject carefully, Indigo Lanterns were good people but if you cross them the wrong way, you were sure to regret it. "That was Black Hand Iroque." Hal interjects, "You're a nice lady, surely you could help my friend and I."
"Friend." Indigo-1 echoes as she glances at Richard Rider who gives a sheepish grin and a wave.
"Then who is this?" she asks, then looking at Sam.
"Hullo. The name's… Nova- Hal's my dad." Sam had decided then and there to start going by his hero name. It made him feel %100 percent cooler and %100 percent not scared. Totally.
"I'm also Nova by the way." Richard butts in, lest anyone forget it.
Indigo-1 ignores Richard and proceeds to approach Sam. "Ah, the offspring of Hal Jordan and Carol Ferris. You have a lot to live up to little one."
Sam fights the urge to squirm in Indigo-1's presence. The purple alien woman had a way of making someone feel small. She held herself like a Royal, perfectly poised with a blank expression. Sam had no idea what this woman had been through but he couldn't help but respect her.
"Um yeah, so much to live up to." Sam mutters as he rubs his arm. He sighs and then looks up to the woman. "Listen, we have a pretty huge predicament here and we are pretty sure you can help us."
Indigo-1's eyes flicker with interest. It was in her very nature to help people. "Then I am fairly sure we can. What is it my child?" she asks.
"Well…" Sam motions towards Richard who would happily explain the situation for the millionth time that day.
"I see." Indigo-1 dips her head and orders her people to stand back. "You wish to have our purple stone to restore your power. Then you wish to keep it to restore your world."
Richard lets out a breath he didn't know he was holding and allows himself a small smile. "Yes… you understand."
"I do."
"Well?" Richard inquires.
Indigo-1 turns her back on them and consults her Indigo-2 in their native tongue. They occasionally look back at Richard to study him.
Soon she fully turns back towards them and beckons for them to follow. "Come, we will show you the way."
The Indigo Tribe leads them through the dense purple forest, careful to have Indigo Lanterns take up the back. They couldn't be too trusting after all.
They continue on for a bit until they approach a cathedral looking building. If Sam had to describe it, it would closely resemble something out of Disney. But rather than a princess castle, it would be more befitting for Maleficent to hunker down and chill there. For a group of people all of compassion, there was a serious lack of puppy dogs and rainbows.
The traveling trio was led inside and instinctively, Hal kept by Sam's side. He could feel the anticipation wafting off of him. This was all new and exciting for the boy and this was just the tip of the iceberg. Hal recalled a similar feeling when he received his Lantern ring from Abin Sur- more so a delayed reaction because he was in shock and disbelief. Sam on the other hand was well attuned to oddities and the fact that both of his parents were superheroes. Only now he was getting his turn.
Last time Hal was in this building, he was behind bars with a "compassion filled" Black Hand leering at him from the other side. The whole place had bad vibes all around and something about the situation made Hal's gut churn.
Indigo-1 brings them into an open room that much resembled one fit for kings and queens. A single throne resided on the far side of the room. It was meant for Indigo-1 herself, seeing as she was the head Lantern here. It was made from the dark wood the trees on Nok provided. Perfectly polished and absolutely menacing.
Other than that, the Indigo Lanterns seem to regard Sam with a slight bit of warmth. It must be because he was merely a child and children were positively brimming with compassion. He could do no wrong in their eyes, nothing that could be entirely his fault.
Indigo-1 tells them to wait as she sends other Lanterns to fetch the power stone for them. The silence stretches on as she seems fixated on Richard Rider.
"You, Nova." she prompts, causing Richard to awkwardly lock gazes with her dark eyes.
"Yes?"
Indigo-1 seems to be staring right through him, eating at his discomfort. "You seemed troubled."
Richard rubs the back of his neck awkwardly, "Well when the word needs saving-"
Indigo-1 cuts him off. "Are you entirely sure that you were a hero where you come from?"
Appalled by the question, Richard shifts his weight awkwardly. "Why yes, the Nova Corps is highly regarded as-"
"I mean you Nova, as an individual." Indigo-1 reiterates.
"Of course. I have done a lot of good in my day." Richard answers, standing his ground. How dare she question his heroship?
Indigo-1 studies his once over from head to toe. "I sense a scarce amount of compassion in you Richard Rider."
"What-?" Richard squints his eyes, words catching in his throat. First of all, no one had told her his name and second of all, what?
"I only see some reserved for the boy, the other Nova." She flicks a slender hand towards Sam who stood stiffly with his arms at his sides.
Suddenly, two Indigo Lanterns grab at Richard's arms and bind him, rendering him unable to move. Hal steps up and throws Indigo-1 an accusing look.
"Hey, what's going on here? I thought you were just going to let us by?" the Green Lantern asks, preparing for a scuffle. Sam also gets ready by bearing fists, albeit a bit awkwardly since he was still very new to fighting.
"I told you that we were giving you the stone, and we are. I don't lie Jordan." Indigo-1 states calmly, keeping hold on the situation. Not once does she falter.
Richard tossed his head back and groaned in response. "Oh I am so not getting thrown into another prison." he retorts. "Not again, and not like this."
"Take him away." Indigo-1 instructs.
Hal sweat drops and attempts to be the voice of reason. Avoiding a fight with the Indigo Lanterns would be the smartest approach.
"Iroque, I'm sure that we can-"
Sam interjects as Nova Force power flickers in the palms of his hands. "We're not going to have that!" He shoots a blast of energy that causes Indigo-1 to fly back. The rest of the purple clad Lanterns tighten their circle around them, bearing their weapons.
"Sam!"
Sam flinches at his father's yell, physically recoiling his elbows to his torso. "Uh… I guess I shouldn't have done that."
"Nah," Richard snarks sarcastically as he begins to be pulled away, "that was the best idea you had yet." The Nova Prime groans and tears out from the grip holding him. He delivers a swift punch in the jaw to the first one and a backhand towards the second one. "Well it's too late now kid!" he calls out, "Keep blasting them!"
Sam obliges and keeps hitting random Indigo Lanterns with what he got. So far, it was the only thing he knew how to do. He couldn't fly nor generate more powerful attacks. For now, he was left blundering with his father flanking his side.
Hal makes sure that Sam doesn't get hit with any Indigo light because if anything is harmed on that boy, Carol was going to kill him.
"Alright Sam, I want you to listen to me and listen to me good." Hal instructs in a raised tone to be heard above the action.
"Yeah dad?" Sam squints, trying to keep the bright flash of the constant blasting out of his eyes.
"I want you to fly above all of them and locate that stone, okay?"
Sam's blood nearly freezes. "But dad-" the boy protests, "I can't!"
Hal wins his head around to look at him. "Yes you can!" he barks. There was no room for insecurities right at the moment. "When there's a will, there's a way."
"Easy for you to say." Sam mumbles as he tosses a careless energy blast. "You're the greatest Green Lantern there ever was."
For a moment, Hal's eyes soften. "Sammy, you can do anything you set your mind to do."
"Hate to break the tender moment guys, but I'm starting to get tired. I don't exactly have my powers right about now and having that power stone would be really nice." Richard complains above the riot, interrupting their moment.
Hal dips his head, "Right. Now fly my son, fly."
Sam breathes in deeply.
Should be easy enough right? If Sam knew anything about being a Jordan was that they could do anything, and flying was just something they all loved. It should come easy to him.
Before he knows it, he's soaring with his heart elating with glee and purpose.
"Now go!"
Clenching his fist in anticipation, Sam blasts off, evading any Indigo Lanterns in pursuit.
