Yeah, no time skip yet. We're dropping off exactly where we left off. And a small recap from the last chapter felt appropriate. Just saying.
"Good job, kid," Green Lantern said, now getting his vision back completely. "Now that he's down, we better call the police."
"Thanks...And way ahead of you on that, Green Lantern," Ben said, getting his phone out to call someone. "But not the kind of police force you two would know."
"Oh?" Green Lantern asked. "What do you mean?"
"You're about to find out," Ben said, already calling someone. "Hey, it's me. I was right before. Get the others at the Coast City Foundry to pick up our fake Moth Guy from earlier...And I have some company who helped me out, too."
Green Lantern and Midnight Hope were very confused. "I wonder whom he called?" Green Lantern whispered to Midnight Hope.
"Don't know," Midnight Hope shrugged, only to remember something after standing up suddenly. "Wait! What happened to Fro'Gieon?! The last I saw him, I pushed him from getting caught. Is he okay?"
Green Lantern looked around. "I don't know. I think he ran away." he assumed. "Knowing what happened, I don't blame him."
"Well, as long as he wasn't captured by that moth poser, then I'm happy," Midnight Hope said, using her ring to make a strong clamp around Animo's body. "Still, I really wished that I trusted my instincts more than doubting my judgment."
"Same here, Hope," Green Lantern said, placing an arm around her. "We need to learn to stop judging from appearances."
"I wasn't, at first, but I later did and almost accused an innocent alien of doing a crime he didn't commit," Midnight Hope said, feeling guilty. "Some Lantern I turned out to be."
"We all make mistakes, Hope," Ben said, finishing his call. "But what's important is that we learn from them."
"He's right," Green Lantern said. "After all, we didn't understand that alien."
"That's true," Midnight Hope admitted...until coming to a realization. "Wait, you're right, GL. How come we didn't have a clue about that moth alien but Ben did?"
"I don't know," Green Lantern said, looking at Ben suspiciously. "How did you know?"
"I told you; I did research," Ben said.
"What kind of research?" Green Lantern asked. "I never heard of a Necrofriggian."
"I looked him up at the Alien Lifeform Data Base or ALDB for short," Ben answered, rubbing the back of his head. "I'm surprised you've never heard of nor crossed a Necrofriggian until recently. Then again, the universe is big. Even I've never got a chance to go out into space outside the Milky Way."
"Alien Lifeform Data Base?" Green Lantern repeated. "The only info about something like that would be either from the government or Area 51. And yeah, the universe is endless."
"Are you some kind of secret agent in training or something?" Midnight Hope asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Not exactly. I've been studying to be part of a secret alien task force that should be coming here soon," Ben assured, raising his hands up halfway gently. "It will make sense eventually."
After a long wait with so many questions on our minds, Green Lantern and I were about to find out what Ben Tennyson is a part of. Which might explain a lot of things.
Two special-looking trucks came in with some guys in uniforms and weapons. And most of them seem bigger than any average human.
"Friends of yours, Ben?" Green Lantern asked.
"You could say that," Ben said.
It did not take long for Ben to see a familiar face coming out of the truck. It was an old man with a red shirt and an artificial arm. "Hey, Ben," the old man said. "Are these the Lanterns you were talking about?"
"Sure are," Ben said, looking at the surprised Lanterns. "Green Lantern and Midnight Hope, allow me to introduce...Magister Maxwell Tennyson. Or as I call him...Grandpa Max."
"Your grandfather?" Midnight Hope asked.
"Magister?" Green Lantern questioned. "Magister of what exactly?"
"Magister means I have authority over the operation," Max said.
"I know what a magister is. I meant what exactly are you a part of," Green Lantern corrected. "Who or what are all of you?"
"They're the Alien Task Force," Ben answered.
"We're called the Plumbers," Max confirmed.
"Pffft. Plumbers?" Green Lantern said, trying not to giggle.
Midnight Hope elbowed Green Lantern, knowing he thought the name was humorous. "So, you guys are like space officers that aren't too different from the Green Lantern Corps?"
"Pretty much," Ben said.
"Officially, we didn't exist. We were the guys who fixed the problems no one else could: extraterrestrial, extrasensory, extraordinary," Max furthered. "When Ben told me about you two showing up in Bellwood and coming because of a Necrofriggian, we started to put two and two together."
"Wow. A secret Alien Task Force," Green Lantern said. "Well, the Necrofriggian has fled."
"Not a problem. Knowing what he's going through, he's probably out continuing the 'miracle of birth' cycle," Ben assured, looking at Midnight Hope before smiling. "But if Fro'Gieon were still around, he'd thank you for saving him back there from Animo's trap."
"Thanks," Green Lantern said.
"You should probably head back home. We'll take Animo with us back to base," Max said.
"Oh. Well...I guess we should probably finish the mission by returning these pets back to the shop." Midnight Hope suggested, bringing out the kidnapped animals. "Is that place still even opened this late?"
"Hopefully," Green Lantern said, gathering some pets. "Let's go."
And so, the two Lanterns grabbed the pets and started flying up into the night sky in making one final stop. Ben just stared in amazement...especially one certain Lantern.
"Wow...I can't believe I just helped actual superheroes," Ben muttered in awe.
"Indeed," Max said. "This is a big step for you. The second step you made today."
"Yeah...I'm glad I came just in time to help," Ben admitted, rubbing the back of his head. "Midnight Hope almost tried attacking the wrong opponent, despite how she was doubting about Fro'Gieon."
"It's a human reaction. She did not understand Fro'Gieon at the time." Max said. "She and Green Lantern had to learn the hard way."
"And almost got beaten, if I hadn't stepped in," Ben said, nodding his head in understanding. "...Hey, Grandpa? Could you do me a small favor?"
"What is it, Ben?" Max asked.
I'm gonna be honest. My first investigation on Earth was a disaster, despite it being solved. I jumped to conclusions where I ignored my instincts, got electrocuted by a mad scientist villain framing Fro'Gieon the Necrofriggian who was after him, and the cherry on top, discovered that Ben's part of a secret alien task force on the same case. While I did save Fro'Gieon, along with returning the kidnapped animals to the pet shop, I'm still haunted by my dumb actions in almost screwing things up. *Sigh* Lesson learned; never judge a book by its cover without reading ALL the proper facts. Should have been more sympathetic to the poor Necrofriggian. I'm just glad it's over. Or, uh...so I thought.
The next day, Lea was at the Rabbit Café waiting for Hal to come.
'Man...What a crazy night yesterday,' Lea thought, drinking her Wonderland Hot Chocolate to keep herself up. 'Returned some stolen animals and fixed up the pet shop from top to bottom. And despite the rabbit reward I agreed to, I couldn't accept the little cutie after everything. I still don't deserve anything, after that Animo disaster.'
Just then, the door opened and Lea sees a familiar face walking inside.
'Whoa. Either I'm still tired, that hot chocolate I drank got a little more zing today, or I'm seeing Ben Tennyson walk inside the Rabbit Café,' Lea thought, putting her drink down and rubbing her eyes a bit.
…I was not hallucinating. That really was Ben Tennyson at my favorite hangout place. And I think I took the surprise very well…Sort of.
After realizing that she wasn't hallucinating and Ben is there and sitting down at a nearby table with his phone, Lea started blushing and hid under the table.
But then, she sees Hal walking into the café.
"Hal! Pssssst, Hal!" Lea whispered, waving a hand while still under the table getting his attention.
Hal noticed her. And was confused.
"Lea?" He asked, as he then walked towards the table and ducked down to see her. "What are you doing down here?"
"It's Ben. He's here...in the Rabbit Café...right now!" Lea responded, slightly freaking out.
"Ben?" Hal then looked at Ben who was ordering something from the menu. "I thought he went home."
"I thought so, too. Considering he just finished that case GL and Midnight Hope finished doing the other night," Lea said, remaining in her hiding spot. "Why Ben is here and not back at Bellwood having a Mr. Smoothy's smoothie, I have no clue."
She suddenly got a message from her phone where she banged her head underneath the table in shock at what it read. "Ow!"
Everyone in the café reacted to Lea's bump sound. Hal smiled and got her back up where everyone stopped staring. "What happened that made you hit your head?" he asked.
"Oof. Just got Ben's text about asking me where I'm at and mentioned a surprise at my favorite hangout place," Lea said, rubbing her bumped head. "Although, I think I already saw the surprise. At least, he didn't see me do that embarrassing moment."
"Should you tell him you're here?" Hal asked.
"I don't know! I wouldn't know what to say!" Lea responded in nervousness.
"How about a simple 'hello'?"
Lea nearly squealed loudly and dropped her phone when hearing Ben close behind her.
"He's right behind me, isn't he?" Lea asked in shock.
Hal giggled, as he nodded while picking her phone up. Lea turned around and she sees Ben. "Hi," she managed to say, waving gently.
"Hey, Lea. Looks like you were already at the Café," Ben noted, smiling gently. "I convinced my folks to be with my Grandpa Max in exploring Coast City for almost half the Summer and was about to surprise you with the news."
"That's nice," Lea said, as she clears her throat. "This is my friend, Hal."
"Hey, Ben," Hal said.
Ben chuckled. "Hey, Hal. Great seeing you again yesterday."
"Right! You already did meet! Because we were both at Bellwood together the other day!" Lea stated, facepalming in embarrassment. "Sorry. Crazy morning."
"Yeah, tell me about it," Hal said, golding his arms. "There's a lot of crazy stuff happening I've completely forgotten."
"Oh. Well, anyway, since I showed you two around Bellwood, I was hoping you would show me around Coast City and thought I'd find you here," Ben explained. "Considering I remember Lea talking about the place being her favorite hangout as much as Mr. Smoothy."
"We'd be glad to," Hal replied with a friendly smile, before looking back at the blonde teen. "How about it, Lea?"
"Sure! I-I mean I would lo-I mean, like to!...yeah," Lea said, calming down and brushing her side hair a little bit shyly. "The answer is yes."
"Then, it's settled," Hal said. "Let's go."
Nodding, Lea took the lead and made her way to the door...only to trip and face-plant a wall next to it.
Hal then facepalmed and sighed. "This is gonna take some time."
"Whoa! Are you okay?" Ben asked, taking a knee to help Lea up.
"Yeah...Just one of those mornings," Lea muttered, her face super red.
So, Ben staying around Coast City has turned my world upside down. Not sure if it's a good thing or a bad thing. Still, I started seeing Ben in a new light, ever since that takedown with Animo. And I managed to act more clumsy than usual around him. Despite him not knowing Lea Thompson and Midnight Hope are the same girl.
I will tell you this. Ben and I do start to get close. Along with seeing Fro'Gieon again on where he's disappeared off to. And there may or may not be more embarrassing stuff, thanks to my new Lantern powers. But that's a story for another time...
The End…For Now
Characters like No Watch Ben, Grandpa Max, Animo, and the Plumbers belong to their respected owners like Man of Action. The same goes for characters like Hal Jordan/Green Lantern. I only own Lea Thompson.
Another thing. Each Blue Lantern story may or may not represent an emotional spectrum of the Lantern Corps. Can you guess what this story represents? Here's a hint: it represents what Lea/Midnight Hope was nearly lacking when dealing with Fro'Gieon.
Enjoy, and please no flames. Unless used to roast marshmallows.