A Green Lantern Fiction
Chapter Two
Alec flew over the vast city of New York as he searched for his friend, Jason Stringer. He knew he'd be around here, he could feel it with his ring. He looked down on the streets hoping to see him but then was struck by realization.
"Well I'll be a monkey's uncle." He said flying higher into the atmosphere, high above the clouds. "There you are."
"Took you long enough, pal." Jason said floating with his arms across his chest, covering the lantern logo, his ring glowing slightly. Jason's face was covered with the mask most GLs wore, Alec was one of a few that were exceptions, most of those exceptions though, wore no mask by choice, Alec's decision was chosen for him when he put the ring on.
"Yeah, I had to get used to thinking in three dimensions again. And I forgot how you like your peace and quiet."
"Hehe. Glad you made the right choice, Alec. Crystal would be proud of you."
"I know." A sad look crept across his face, but was quickly dismissed. "So what's this dark force you mentioned? What do the Guardians know about it?"
"I don't know. I was just instructed to give you the choice because of the evil that was coming. They told me nothing about its identity."
"Joy of joys. What do you say we pay the 'blue-man group' a visit and try to get to the bottom of this?"
"Let's do it, partner."
The two friends shot through the atmosphere towards the planet Oa where the Guardians of the Universe made their home. If they had taken normal transportation for the planet Earth, the trip would have taken them several lifetimes, but as Green Lanterns, it took them several minutes to arrive on the planet.
They touched down outside of the citadel that housed the Green Lantern Corps and the Great Battery. Jason headed towards the door and Alec stood in awe. "Last time I was here this place was a shambles. Now look at it."
"Alec, it's been five years since you last put that ring on. Alot has changed in the universe."
"I'm beginning to realize that." He said following Jason to the door where he watched as Jason placed his fist up to a door panel, inserting his ring into a hole in the panel. "Geez, you really do have to be a member to get into this club." Alec said with a smile as Jason turned his wrist unlocking the door. It opened and the two walked through.
"Well, we've had some...unwanted, visitors lately. Somehow they were getting past our previous security measures so now, every access panel requires a lantern ring to open it. And if the ring's energy doesn't match the bioenergy of the person weilding it, then well, let's just say, things get messy."
"Christ." Alec said as he heard that last part. "What kind of visitors have you been getting?"
"Former lanterns hellbent on causing trouble and stealing the battery."
"Like who?"
"Well, remember that one guy, he was pretty new when you left. I think his name was Devin Stormwood, or something like that. Anyway, he tried to lead a revolt to overthrow the Guardians and use the Lanterns as his own personal mercenary squad. Well, him and his supporters were drummed out of the corps without the possibility of readmittence. They have tried several times to break in and steal the battery so they could start their own corps and use the good name of the Green Lanterns to get them business. Hence the high security. If they were ever to succeed, we'd be finished and the trust established by the centuries of the Green Lantern Corp's existence would be destroyed and the lanterns would never again be heroes."
"I see. Could this be the dark force? Or is it highly unlikely that the Guardians exagerated the situation just to get me back?"
"It's possible, but improbable. It is a serious threat, but I don't know. My gut tells me something worse is coming."
"Great. I was hoping you wouldn't say that so this would be a cakewalk."
"Is it ever a cakewalk, Alec?"
Alec nodded and continued walking down the hallway following Jason. They reached a set of large double doors engraved with the circled lantern. Beside the doors were two key panels, one on each side of the door. "Whoa, two panels. You get lefty, I'll get righty?" Alec asked with a smirk. Jason nodded and the two took their positions and inserted their rings. They twisted their wrists at the same time and the doors opened. Alec and Jason walked through the doorway and into the great audience chamber where the Guardians sat.
"We have been expecting you Jason Stringer. It seems you have been successful in your mission." The Guardian in the center said, his voice echoing around the huge auditorium.
"Yes masters, I have returned with Alec Michaels, and he pledges to again serve the universe as a Green Lantern."
"Alec Michaels, we have been watching you since you left the corps to fulfill your sentence. We know your actions cost you dearly and we are sorry for your pain. But what you did immediately after Crystal Silver's death was an act that we could not condone. And we also know how you punished yourself, not for your actions, but for the death of Crystal Silver. This showed to us that you had suffered greatly for all of your actions. We hope that you have learned from these experiences."
"Masters, for the last five years I have done nothing but think about that day. I have seen, over and over, how Crystal died in my arms by the hands of that bastard, Firefly.
He drained her ring of its power and then burned her. By the time I had gotten to her, she was barely alive. When she died, something inside of me snapped, and I made him suffer before I killed him, just like he killed her. I'd be lying if I said I was sorry for killing him. He deserved everything I did to him, if not more. I punished him not only for things he did, but for things I did. I gave her the ring, I brought her into the corps, and I got her killed."
"Alec, you didn't get her killed. Crystal knew the risks of the job when she joined us. You opened the door, she walked through. You can't blame yourself for that." Jason said putting his hand on Alec's shoulder.
"You're right, Jason, but that doesn't help me deal with it." Alec wiped a tear from his eye and cleared his throat. "Guardians, as much as it has been fun catching up on old times, we need some information." The Guardians nodded and Alec continued. "What is this dark force we are to face? Where does it come from and what does it want?"
"The dark force of which we spoke, Alec Michaels, is from a parallel dimension. What they want is to conquer every dimension like they conquered their own."
"But who are they?" Jason asked stepping forward.
"They are, the Green Lantern Corps." Alec and Jason's mouths hung open as they heard those words.