Well, looks like we reached the end, doesn't it? Special thanks to everyone that stayed with me and this train wreck of a story.
The Final Chapter!
The Dominion's leader was gone and its top general had defected, it was all over. Spock, having been locked away for the majority of the final battle, was set free and he knew he had to search for Kirk when he saw everyone celebrating with their loved ones. No one can stop him.
But when he finally saw his captain, he never expected that woman Diana to be with him. Spock went to get close to Kirk, but Mogo made construct vines to stop him. "Good work, Mogo." Kirk said.
My pleasure, Corps Leader, said the planet.
"Jim, what...Please, this planet's at your command, right? Tell it to let me go!" Spock cried.
"Never!" said the Green Leader. "Don't you Jim me, you green-blooded bastard. If you didn't pull rank on Mr. Scott, he wouldn't have rigged Khan's communicator and his first plan, as well as the Taco Tuesday raid, would have worked perfectly."
"No, it had to be done, he needed to be taught a lesson, please, ashayam..."
"Don't call me that. Well, news flash, bro, I'm over you. We might be t'hy'lara but that doesn't mean I'm keeping up as your boyfriend. In fact, I found somebody new." he sad as he linked arms with Diana.
No, he couldn't be serious, Kirk was Spock's t'hy'la, he couldn't leave him!
"When we're back on Earth, I'm dropping you as my first officer. AM I CLEAR?" Kirk asked.
"Whatever, we're still bonded, and who will put a stop to your reckless decisions with me gone?" Spock spat.
"Aya will." replied Kirk. "She's much better. I've experimented with her in our spare time before the war, she can do way more complex calculations than even a Vulcan brain can."
"Just don't listen to him, he's gone off his rocker." Diana said before kissing Kirk on the cheek, and the two walked away.
LATER...
Once everyone was safely back on Earth, the Tomorrow Knights requested a meeting with the Admiralty to discuss Spock's actions during the Taco Tuesday raid, and all the admirals agreed that pulling rank on another officer AND intercepting a special Black Ops mission was very much punishable. On top of that, Nogura's promise to Khan that whatever enraged him would be compensated for still held.
"At least Lantern Commander Singh would still pay for his crimes, right?" Spock asked.
"I am sorry, but per Admiral Nogura's request, all his criminal records have been erased." said T'Pol, the female Vulcan of the Admiralty.
"What?" Spock yelled. "You can't be serious!"
"Of course we are." added Barnett. "He made good on his word and led us to victory. You, on the other hand, have done serious damage to the Federation Alliance, as well as assaulting a Delegate from another world."
Spock snorted. Of course they had to be talking about Sinestro. "He's an intergalactic terrorist, you have to..."
"Lord Sinestro is our ally, and you will not speak to him in that manner." said Barrett. "Plus, in your blind rage, you triggered his memories from his traumatic past. I don't know the story, but Mr. Jordan does, and from what he described it, he made many mistakes back in his home universe and is traumatized by them. He wasn't in a good mental state, while you were. Plus he is the ruler of the planet Qward, that technically makes him royalty. We can't afford to cause an intergalactic incident, when Earth is just a nobody in the galaxy."
Spock just looked at the admirals, outraged. "But he..."
"But nothing, son. Lord Sinestro will not face consequences, neither will Lantern Commander Singh. And one more thing, you've been demoted. Enjoy your new life, ensign." said Nogura.
So this was it, eh? Spock wanted to argue, but doing so would be illogical. He just sighed, and said "Very well, sir."
"It's alright now, Khan Noonien." Jaylah said. "You're OK now."
JAYLAH:
No doubts,
No more fears,
I see you shine and the dark disappears...
LANTERNS CHORUS:
One day you finally see him,
(one day you finally see him)
Finally see him,
(finally see him!)
EVERYONE:
For years, you look,
You look at someone passing by,
And then one day you see him,
(and then one day you see him)
One day you finally see him!
Now—
SPOCK:
How can I not see?
EVERYONE:
Me? Am I so blind?
I could say, say, (I could say)
Thank God that's not me,
But what does it cost to be kind?
Blinded and silent, too scared to be,
And to finally see... (and to finally see)
JAYLAH:
I felt as though,
This man revealed himself to me,
And now, I know,
(Finally see, finally see)
That once you see, you can't unsee...
After what was too short to be called a court martial, now the Tomorrow Knights had to assist Hal Jordan on the most daunting mission of his lifetime yet—marrying Thaal Sinestro.
But from the looks of it, no one could be more afraid of this moment than the Korugarian himself. When Uhura and Diana entered his ready room, it was empty and they searched in all directions for the pink alien.
"THAAL SINESTRO, YOU GET YOUR FEAR-MONGERING ASS OUT HERE!" Diana commanded. "You're getting married in 30 minutes!"
"No! I can't go out there!" a voice said from a corner, and there he was, scared sh*tless.
"Oh, no, you don't! You're not abandoning Hal at the altar!"
"I'm sorry, Wonder Woman, but this is the honest truth, I can't do it!"
"You can't get cold feet! You're the one who wanted this to happen!" Diana yelled.
"Hal's gonna be heartbroken!" Uhura added.
"What makes you think he will be?" asked the fear warlord. "What makes you think he'll care if I leave him? He'll probably be relieved!"
"How can you say that?" The Amazonian inquired.
"Well, just look at me! I don't know how I could possibly have thought I could be worthy of him! He's the most wonderful being that ever lived and I'm just a sorry excuse of a villain. He's too GOOD for me! I'm nothing! I'm just the empty shell of a man, raving on and on about my horrible past, and making crazy plans that always come back to bite me in the ass just because of my horrible ability to hold a petty grudge? Who would marry THAT?"
"Now listen here, Sinny-boy. You may be...different, but I've never seen Hal so happy in my life. You may not be the model person, but love comes in all forms." said Diana. "I know what love looks like, and I've never seen two living things more in love than you and Hal. Unless I was mistaken and you don't love him..."
"What are you talking about?" Thaal snapped. "Of course, I love him! You think I would have asked him to marry me if I didn't love him? You think I would have given up my plans for hostile takeover if I didn't love him? Well, let me tell you something, WW! I love that human more than anything! You hear? More than anything!"
The White Lantern smirked. "Whaddaya waiting for, then?"
LATER...
"I can't do this!" said Hal.
He winced as Guy nudged him in the side. "You better not bail!"
Every person was in their positions at the altar. All the Lanterns were in uniform for the occasion, and the grooms themselves were no exception.
In less than a minute, soft music began playing and, in a flash of yellow light, Sinestro descended onto the aisle with the same grace and elegance Hal remembered from way back, now with a cape to boot. Everyone was tearing up, including Joanna, the flower girl.
"It's so romantic," Carol whispered.
"I just hope he doesn't go all alien despot again." John muttered.
"Nah," Kilowog said. "If any poozer can handle that guy, it's Hal."
"Ladies, gentlemen, and creatures of the court. We are gathered here today to witness the union of this...man, (Hal huffed and rolled his eyes) and this, eh, ALIEN." Kirk began before checking the list he was in charge of, as the officiator. The ceremony itself was an extremely convoluted matter, to be honest—it involved traditional Terran vows, the ancient Korugarian ritual of handfasting, a bat'leth fight as per Klingon tradition and, finally, something Lanterns did when they wanted to get married. Diana had gladly allowed them to use her lasso of truth for the handfasting part, to ensure that neither of them would tell any lies.
Sinestro took Hal's hand in his, and Diana wrapped the lasso around their joined hands. Kirk smiled, and asked "So, do you, Hal Jordan, take this alien to be your lawfully wedded nemesis, to have and to hold captive, to hate and to cherish, through good times and through bad times, in sickness and in health, 'till death do you part?"
"Oh, I do! Yes, I most definitely do!" Hal said.
"ANYWAY…do you, Thaal Sinestro, take this…man…to be your lawfully wedded nemesis, to have and to hold captive, to hate and to cherish, through good times and through bad times, in sickness and in health, till' death do you part?"
"Not even death will stop me." the Korugarian uttered with all the seriousness he could muster.
"That means yes…I mean…you DID just say yes, didn't you, Sin?" Thaal smirked and nodded, and Hal breathed a sigh of relief.
"All…right then, if anyone has any reason why these two cannot be joined in unholy matrimony—BESIDES the obvious—please speak now or else forever hold your peace. PLEASE…really? Nobody? No one at all?" said Kirk. "Well, then. Bat'leths, please." he said, and Diana unwrapped the lasso from the lovers' hands so they could duke it out.
Soon, a yellow bat'leth appeared in Sinestro's hands, a green one in Hal's. The Yellow Lantern struck first, but his Green counterpart was quick to block it and thrust his own bat'leth at Sinestro's neck. The alien narrowly evaded it, and twirled his bat'leth threateningly before attacking again, neither of them truly wanting to ham the other. As their constructs clashed, they shared a short kiss and then Sinestro managed to yank Hal's bat'leth out of his hands. The green construct skittered across the floor before vanishing without a trace, and the human collapsed. Sinestro placed one sharp edge of his own bat'leth under Hal's chin, and lifted his head up. The Green Lantern, not wasting a moment, got back on his feet and kicked his Yellow counterpart's construct out of his hands. The two got into a fistfight, then Sinestro was knocked out and Hal quickly made a construct bat'leth to point at his neck.
"You win." Thaal smirked.
"For the last time." Hal countered.
And finally, it was time for the last step. Ganthet and Sayd, who were in attendance, joined Kirk at the altar to contest the joining of two souls into one.
Everybody watched as Sinestro lifted the hand that contained his ring, Hal mirroring him. Sinestro's ring pulsed, the yellow light of Fear emanating from its core, waiting patiently for Hal's light to Join it's own. The Yellow Lantern spoke softly, his voice taut with emotion.
"With this ring, and this oath, I give you my promise,
That from this day forward I will give you all of my love,
I know that you must fight, and you shall not fight alone.
I have no greater gift to give.
As your love is my anchor, and your trust is my strength,
May my heart be your shelter and my arms be your home.
In war I will protect you;
In peace I will cherish and support you.
This is my vow."
The attendants, staff, and Sinestro, were clearly surprised when Hal's green ring pulsed and began emanating not a green light, but a violet shade. Though there were still obviously thick green veins of Will within it's depths, swirling through the violet, actually harmonizing with it, not merely existing beside it, much like Sinestro and Hal soon would be. "Hal...Why?..." Sinestro inquired with stunned yellow eyes, though these ceremonies, at least the first part, anyway, rare as they were, were usually silent. Ganthet and Sayd did not chastise him, however, so their curiosity must have matched his own as to the reason for the change in Hal's ring.
Hal smiled up at Sinestro, his dark brown eyes soft with love. He then spoke, voice clear and confident.
"As this ring has no end or beginning, so shall my love for you be,
As I Join my light with yours, I give you all that I am, and all that I shall become.
You give of yourself willingly, to share my burdens,
We are from a different people, and pledged to separate causes,
But we stand together as one; as one people, as one cause,
Though all that may come, whatever we must face,
We shall face it together, and never be divided,
You will protect me, and I will support you, all of my days."
"Hal..." Sinestro breathed softly in awe, his yellow eyes gentle as he looked down at him. "I love you..."
Hal smiled up at his lover. Then they both shuddered, their rings connecting by the energy within.
"Alright, then, as captain, I hereby pronounce you husband and nemesis." Kirk said. "You may now—eugh—KISS the alien. Or not. I really shouldn't be saying this but—"
"Can it, Jim."
And with that, Hal grabbed Sinestro by the collar and kissed him fiercely. A few cringed in disgust for a single moment before everyone cheered in celebration. "BEST WEDDING EVER!" Guy hollered out loud.
"I'm married now! Let's party, y'all! I'm married!" Hal bubbled as the Enterprise glee club, Treble With Tribbles, began singing a special song they had been practicing for this occasion.
He's got lots o' money,
His clothes are kinda funny,
His gang is kinda wild and free.
Oh, but love grows,
Where my Sinestro goes,
And nobody knows like me.
He talks kinda lazy,
And people say he's crazy,
And his life's a mystery,
Oh, but love grows,
Where my Sinestro goes,
And nobody knows like me.
There's something about his hand holding mine,
It's a feeling that's fine,
And I just gotta say, Hey!
He's really got a magical spell,
And it's working so well,
That I can't get away!
I'm a lucky fella,
And I've just got to tell him,
That I love him endlessly,
Because love grows,
Where my Sinestro goes,
And nobody knows like me.
The celebration lasted until midnight, and even Khan had lots of fun. Relief flooded him, easing the pain that had grasped his heart since 2259.
"Well, this has been a day," Kirk noted.
"Indeed it has," Khan agreed. "But I'm afraid I cannot remain in this team."
"You're leaving?" Scotty exclaimed in shock.
"I am." Khan replied. "Red Lanterns and Green Lanterns are meant to walk different paths, but if the universe wills it, they might just cross again."
"I believe it." Diana said.
"You'll always be welcome here, Lantern Commander Singh." Uhura added.
Jaylah pulled her pardner into a tight hug. "Khan Noonien, I will see you in the stars." said the alien woman before letting him go.
With one last smile at his crew, Khan spread his powerful wings and took off, shortly followed by Saaya and the other 72. The Tomorrow Knights watched their fiercest crew member vanish into the stars. As he streaked through space, one nebula in particular seemed to circle around him, as if pleased.
A nebula in the shape of a bat out of hell.
I Will Survive-Demi Lovato
At first I was afraid,
I was petrified,
Kept thinking I could never live,
Without you by my side,
But then I spent so many nights,
Thinking how you did me wrong,
And I grew strong,
And I learned how to get along!
And so you're back,
From outer space,
I just walked in to find you here,
With that sad look upon your face,
I should have changed that stupid lock,
I should have made you leave your key,
If I'd a-known for just one second,
You'd be back to bother me!
Go on, now go, walk out the door,
Just turn around now,
'Cause you're not welcome anymore,
Weren't you the one who tried to hurt me with goodbye?
Did you think I'd crumble?
Did you think I'd lay down and die?
Oh, no, not I,
I will survive,
Oh, as long as I know how to love,
I know I'll stay alive,
I've got all my life to live,
I've got all my love to give,
I will survive,
I will survive, hey-hey!
Ooh...
It took all the strength I had,
Not to fall apart,
Kept trying hard to mend,
The pieces of my broken heart,
And I spent oh-so-many nights,
Just feeling sorry for myself,
I used to cry,
But now I hold my head up high!
And you see me,
Somebody new,
I'm not that chained up little person,
Still in love with you,
And so you felt like dropping in,
And just expect me to be free,
Now I'm saving all my lovin',
For someone who's lovin' me!
Go on, now go, walk out the door,
Just turn around now,
'Cause you're not welcome anymore,
Weren't you the one who tried to break me with goodbye?
Did you think I'd crumble?
Did you think I'd lay down and die?
Oh, no, not I,
I will survive,
Oh, as long as I know how to love,
I know I'll stay alive,
I've got all my life to live,
I've got all my love to give,
And I'll survive,
I will survive...
Ay-ay-ay-ay-ay-ay!
Go on, now go, walk out the door,
Just turn around now,
'Cause you're not welcome anymore,
Weren't you the one who tried to break me with goodbye?
Did you think I'd crumble?
Did you think I'd lay down and die?
Oh, no, not I,
I will survive,
Oh, as long as I know how to love,
I know I'll stay alive,
I've got all my life to live,
And I've got all my love to give,
I will survive,
I will survive, yay-hey!
Oh!
Ooh, ooh,
I will survive,
I will survive,
Oooh,
I will survive, yeah, yeah, yeah!