Chapter 12:
Déjà vu...? Lantern thought as he streaked across the night sky, like some emerald comet descending upon the Earth. She had left before, and again he was setting out to find her. However, this time, it was different, for he knew exactly where to look. He also knew that she didn't want to be saved from her 'fate', but he wasn't about to give up on her that easily. He had imagined starting a new future with her, and hadn't anticipated any hindrance toward their chance at happiness. Life, however, had made things a bit more challenging. Shayera's letter reflected the guilt that she had in her heart, and Lantern knew that it wouldn't allow her to embrace anything in her life, it only made her want to sacrifice all that she held dear, even her own life.
He could relate to everything that she was going through. Wasn't it just a few years ago when the Manhunters appeared on Earth to arrest him for the destruction of Ajuris Four? Didn't he also surrender himself to that same exact emotion, because he thought he had destroyed over three billion lives? Shayera didn't give up on him when he wanted nothing more than to face his 'fate', which in his own mind was what he had also chosen. She believed in him even when he wasn't willing to believe in himself. Could he do no less for her? Besides, what did she expect him to do? Just sit back and allow 'fate' to take her from him, to presume that he will move on with his life without her? Didn't she hear a word he had said to her...? Apparently not... John thought dispiritedly.
He touched down into a small clearing, surrounded by a thick forest, nearly fifteen miles east of the thanagarian camp, and receded into the cover of the trees. He had planned to use one of the communicators to monitor for loose chatter, which had worked before, however he had discovered the broken fragments of it in his kitchen trash, undoubtedly Shayera's attempt to keep him from undertaking what he's about to do now. Time for 'Plan B'... he thought urgently, quickly bringing up the images of the alien technology from an earlier scan, and proceeded to make a construct of the device with his ring.
The composed mechanism, glowing with the brightness of malachite, immediately screeched to life with static at first, and then a few unspecified, but distinctive tones, modulated across one of its bandwidths, changing every few seconds. A rotating carrier wave... Lantern mused, as he recognized the repeating pattern of the electronic pulses. Using his ring, he started to make some adjustments to the construct's fine-tuning, and eventually matched the transmitted signal to its appropriate frequency.
This is an automated message for John Stewart. We are aware that you have access to our communications... It is imperative that you respond to this message for it is in regard to a significant development for Lieutenant Hol's current situation. Please respond. There will be no hostile action taken toward you in any manner. Please respond...
Astonished by the message, Lantern wasn't sure whether or not to answer the transmitted invitation. He knew that if he were to respond, it would be possible for them to trace the signal to his current position. After careful deliberation, he decided to take the risk, but with an exception, he would generate a scrambling signal to follow his voice transmissions, which should dissipate the signal enough to prevent anyone from tracing it back to its originating source. Whatever the circumstances, in his mind, the risk was worth taking.
"This is John Stewart..."
Several minutes had slipped passed; the electronic tones were still repeating, and then stopped abruptly.
"John Stewart... this is Commander Kragger. I can see that you are still cautious to our intentions, and by all means, I can understand your reasons. I assure you that we have no hostile intentions toward you. As you may already know, Lieutenant Hol had surrendered to us several hours ago, and what I have to tell you... well, it is regarding her situation. Are you interested in hearing more?"
"That depends..."
"All right. Let's say that a dire development has arisen, which may affect the decision of whether she lives or dies."
"From what I understand, Kragger, you want her dead anyway... so why tell me?"John asked with skepticism.
"It makes no difference to me, Green Lantern. Actually, I'm looking forward to her receiving the death sentence. I just thought that in all fairness... if there were a chance for her to live... you might want to do something about it. That is... of course... if you're interested..."
"Your concern for her well being is commendable..." John scoffed, sensing that there was something more to what Kragger had in mind than what he had actually said.
"Yeah... we can meet."
"Excellent, then come to our encampment... I believe you still remember our coordinates. In say ...one hour?"
"Yeah... I'll be there."
Kragger sat back in his chair, his eyes gleaming, shutting off his transceiver.
"Yes..."
Lantern descended slowly to the front of the dimly lit cave entrance of the thanagarian stronghold. He was wary to any movement within the area for signs of an ambush like before, but nothing seemed to indicate that anything was out of the ordinary.
A young thanagarian woman, face masked by her golden helmet, walked out of the cave's darkness to meet him. It was uncanny that her stature were strikingly similar to Shayera's, the only difference was that her hair was darker in color. She stopped in front of him, all the while trying to hide her uneasiness, but Lantern could clearly see that she wasn't expecting him.
"Green Lantern or shall I call you... John Stewart?" she asked smiling.
"John Stewart is fine."
"Good. My name is Lieutenant Pilar P'thal. Commander Kragger has just informed me of your arrival, and asked me to escort you to his meeting chamber. Please... this way."
P'thal motioned for Lantern to follow her into the cave entrance. As they walked through the cave's labyrinth, John noted all of the structures and equipment that he saw, but couldn't tell how long they had been there.
"I want to apologize about the little skirmish from yesterday," P'thal said lightly, while looking back at him momentarily, still impressed with the fighting prowess that both Green Lantern and Hawkgirl had displayed.
"You were the first to ever escape the Black Talon in a long time."
"P'thal... hmmm... Shayera mentioned you, she said that you two were ...friends," he commented, realizing the name that the young winged woman had just given him.
"Yes, that is correct. We met at the police academy, about six years ago."
"I see... close friends?" John asked, trying to get an insight of the lieutenant.
"Yes, we actually shared a room together during that year. We got to know each other pretty well. I would like to think that we still are...friends."
"I see... Where is Shayera?"
"She's in a holding cell... I'm sure that the commander would allow you to see her if you were to ask him," P'thal replied, hearing the concern in his voice. She also realized that this is the man that Shayera held such strong feelings for, which sparked a curiosity within her.
Finally making their way to conference area, P'thal pointed in the direction of two arched doorways.
"You'll find the commander in there. I'll wait here."
"Thanks."
Lantern walked into the left doorway, proceeded down a small hallway, and saw Kragger sitting down at the end of a large, rectangular metal table in the semi-spacious room, studying readouts from an electronic pad that he held in his right hand.
"Lantern. Welcome. I suppose you're wondering why I've invited you here... hmmm?" Kragger said, never looking up, keeping his attention on the electronic pad, motioning for Lantern to take a seat across from where he sat.
"Yeah... you could say that." Lantern replied, still standing.
"Well... it's really quite simple. Our laws have changed quite a bit in the past five years, and unbeknownst to Lieutenant Hol, her surrender put her in a place that would not allow her to have the ability to defend herself to the Tribunal." Kragger replied.
"What has that got to do with me?" Lantern retorted impatiently.
"It could have everything to do with you. But... that would depend on you, wouldn't it?" Kragger smiled, judging that he was clearly causing the dark-skinned human to get a bit more agitated. He looked up, placing the metal pad to the side, and grinned even more.
"The problem is this, no one here is willing to defend Lieutenant Hol, and without a defense, the High Council will undoubtedly sentence her to ...termination."
John knew that Kragger was enjoying this on the grounds that he made no attempt to hide his pleasure in presenting the chance that Shayera may be killed, and there was absolutely nothing that John could do about it, at least not at the moment.
"Now, there is one other way to provide a defense for her... however it would involve the inventiveness of an off-worlder."
"What do you mean?" Lantern countered.
"Well, the real question would be: 'How are your survival skills?'" Kragger said eagerly.
What?! John thought, clearly perplexed.
"I am sure that you would like to check on the lieutenant's condition. Why don't you take a little time so you can think about it. If it's something you want to do, I will give you the details at that time."
"Yeah... I'll do that," Lantern responded.
"Oh and one more thing... I am sure that I have your word that you will not try to escape with the prisoner?"
"You have my word..." John promised glumly.
P'thal saw Lantern as he stepped out of the doorway, stopped, and then looked up at her, his face filled with bewilderment. Her communicator suddenly flared with vibration.
"Lieutenant, please escort our guest to the prisoner's cell..."
"Yes, Commander." P'thal replied.
"And Lieutenant..."
"Sir...?"
"Green Lantern has given his word that he will not try to escape with the prisoner. Make sure that he doesn't."
"Yes, sir..."
P'thal led Lantern deeper into the cave's core, moving swiftly through the heavily reinforced structures. They walked in silence as they made their way through the dimly lit corridors toward the holding cells. Lantern was deep in thought wondering what to say to Shayera, and P'thal didn't intrude. They stepped up to a solitary doorway with angled bars covering its entranceway, P'thal reached over to the control panel, and punched in several codes, which started the bars to retract into both sides of the doorway.
"You'll find her down the corridor on the right... I'll wait out here."
"Thanks again."
John walked into the doorway, headed down the corridor, peered into the right doorway, and saw her sitting down within a force field, her back to the entrance. Her shoulders were drooped which made Shayera appear defeated in a way that made his heart wrench with pain.
"Hey..."
Shayera turned her head towards him in shock. "John!! What are you doing here?!"
"I'm here to make sure you're ok. Are you?"
"I'm fine. D-didn't I tell you not to come after me...n-not to waste your time," she cried.
"When it comes to you, I'm never wasting my time. Shayera, you want to tell me why we couldn't have talked about this?"
She stood up and walked over to him, only the thin gleaming wall of light between them.
"John, if we had, you would have eventually talked me out of doing this, and I knew ...that this was something that I had to do. Especially before anyone else could have gotten hurt. I couldn't allow it."
"So, I'm just supposed to forget about you... forget what we've felt for each other?"
"Yes," she said weakly.
"How am I supposed to do that?"
"John, you have to realize that I'm no good for you... no good for anybody... all I'm good for... is deception..."
John walked up to the force field. "That's your guilt talking, Shayera. That's not you... talking at all."
"Guilt... yeah ...that's what I feel. That's all I feel. I can't stop thinking about it. All I can see is the pain that I've caused you... I see it on your face... on everyone's faces."
"Shayera... you're letting it consume you," John said, looking into her eyes with affection.
"Who knows better than you... that it almost consumed me...? If you and the others hadn't have stepped in when you did, I'd be dead... because of it."
"Yes... that's true, ...but the difference is that you were manipulated into believing it," she pointed out. "Me... on the other hand, I did the manipulating. How do you forget something like that?"
"Y-you don't..."
"Well, I know that I couldn't, and if I had stayed, it would have eaten me up on the inside, and things would have gotten worse between us..."
Shayera looked at him nervously for a moment, stared up into the lights of her cell, then closed her eyes.
"It's better this way... You can find someone that will love you... the way you deserve. Someone that you can trust..."
"Trust? Is this what this is about? You think that I don't trust you?!!" John said vehemently, placing both of his gloved hands on the force field causing it to buzz, and fluctuate .
"Baby... I told you that trust could be earned... Don't you know that nothing has changed... that I trust you with my life?"
"It doesn't matter. It's too late now. I'm sorry," Shayera remarked apprehensively, her temper starting to build.
"It's time for me to be held accountable for everything that I've done."
A look of stubbornness came across her face, "You should go, John. There's no future for us... it's over!"
"Wha..."
"GO!! I DON'T WANT YOU HERE!!" she shouted.
"But I don't..."
"John, I don't need you here!! Get OUT!!!" Shayera said, turning her back on him. "I don't want you here. GO!!"
"So, you've given up, huh?" John shook his head. "You're not even willing to accept my help or anyone's for that matter..."
"It doesn't matter! There's nothing you or anyone else can do!! So please leave!!" she stood there fighting back her tears, her back still to him, and her arms folded in defiance.
John stood there for a moment, staring at her, in stunned silence.
"This isn't over," he said quietly.
Lantern slowly turned around, and walked out of the room. He knew what she was doing, and he knew why. He came to a stop when he reached the outside corridor. He had to do something, even if she didn't want him to, time was running out.
P'thal was still standing near the doorway when he walked out of the corridor. She noted the look of distraught on his face, and could tell that their conversation didn't go well. What was Shayera thinking? Did she ask him? P'thal could ask him, but she gave her word that she wouldn't, and she always kept her word.
"I'm sorry..."
"Not your problem... That girl can be so stubborn... she's so determined to sacrifice everything... even us," he muttered absently.
He then looked at P'thal. "Is it true that she can't defend herself at the Tribunal? That they're going to sentence her to death because of it?"
"Yes, I'm afraid so..." she answered sadly.
"No one will stand up for her?"
"No."
"What about you... aren't you her friend?"
"Yes, but I can't... I wasn't there." P'thal replied.
P'thal looked into Lantern's eyes, she could see the desperation starting to swell within them.
"May I ask you something?" she inquired with curiosity.
"Yeah..."
"Forgive me... but, why do you care so much? Did she not betray you, too?"
His gaze soften somewhat, "Yeah... she did..."
"It's complicated..." he smiled weakly, shaking his head.
P'thal could see that he was truly afraid for her, and that he felt exactly the same for Shayera Hol as she did for him. He risked his life just to come here to see her, and even now he wanted nothing more than to break her out of that holding cell, but his honor was preventing him from carrying out the deed. She was beginning to become more impressed with these humans.
"Is it also true that I could possibly do something that would allow her to be represented at the Tribunal?" John asked, changing the subject.
What? P'thal pondered. She promised Shayera that she wouldn't ask him, but this was different. Wasn't it? Did Shayera mention it to him after all? Was he willing to do it?
"Um...yes, there is..."
"What exactly would I have to do?" John asked, open to anything at this point.
"You would have to participate in the T'jinn Jakat..."
"T'jinn Jakat?"
"Yes, it is what is known as our rite of Ascension, which is how our culture recognizes the transition from childhood to adulthood, and is used to validate the strong from the weak."
"Ok, how does this pertain to me?"
"Well, our law states that any person that commits a treasonous act and there is evidence to support it, the accused will have no voice at their Judgement and the sentence is automatic. However, if there is an honorable Thanagarian citizen that had witnessed the act and is willing to speak on the behalf of the accused, then the citizen is permitted to speak to the High Council."
"Ok?"
"Well, the High Council will not recognize anyone who has never proven their worth without completing the T'jinn Jakat, however if this same person were to successfully complete this task, then he would be considered as an honorable Thanagarian citizen."
"Let me get this straight... if I complete this 'Jakat' thing, I would be regarded as a Thanagarian citizen? How can that be, considering that I'm not from Thanagar?" John asked, still confused.
"Citizenship on Thanagar is not based on whether you are born there, it is based more on your worthiness ...your courage."
"However, let me finish before you decide to do this." P'thal added.
"The T'jinn Jakat immerses into the use of one's strength, intellect, and will. You would have to battle to the death one of the deadliest creatures ever known to my people, and you would have to do this without your power ring."
"I knew there was a catch..."