Chapter 19:
Corporal Karos stared at the display on his miniature tracking unit that he was wearing on his wrist; monitoring the comm signal that it was currently receiving from P'thal's communicator, as his winged squad quietly flew, with searchlights extended, to a darkened sub-chamber in which he had no clue even existed. However, the intricate device could only give an approximate positioning point to where her comm link may have been established, and since she was no where to be seen, finding her, he thought, may prove to be a bit more difficult than expected.
"This is where the Lieutenant's signal originated, about sixty meters that way according to this, but this doesn't make any sense," he said, looking about, as he landed softly onto the stone floor. "This is telling me that she is beyond that huge rock wall… did anyone bring the bio-sensors?"
"Got it right here, Corp," a soldier with a backpack, responded.
"Good. Begin a sensor sweep… see if you can pick up any thermal readings. "
"Okay, I'm on it."
"Lieutenant P'thal… this is Karos, we're approaching the coordinates of your last known position…" he said, speaking into his communicator, watching the young soldier setup the scanning equipment. "…what's your s-statu-?"
Suddenly, without warning, plumes of fire, rock and smoke erupted through an alcove that was enshrouded within the darkness, causing the formation of rock to arduously shake the surrounding area within the chamber. The group of winged men quickly scrambled back into the air, avoiding the sudden horizontal geyser that was spewing debris of molten rock.
"G'rok's mercy!" someone yelled.
"Lieutenant P'thal! Are you there?!" Karos cried frantically into his communicator. "Lieutenant!"
The tracker clearly displayed that the link was still up, but the feedback he'd received was nothing but silence. Staring blankly at the collapsing rock within the alcove, he knew that if she was in there, then nothing could be done for her, that it would be foolish to jeopardize his or anyone else's life by venturing further into a sub-chamber that had suddenly become a death trap. Karos grimaced, as he gave the order to retreat back to the canyon.
"Did you see that?" one of the soldiers asked, while smoke began to billow upward toward the ceiling of the outer cave, as they hovered near the sub-chamber's entrance. "Was that an explosion?"
"Looked like one to me…" another acknowledged.
Karos nodded in agreement. But… what caused it?
"You think the Lieutenant was in there?"
"I don't know," Karos murmured sadly. "She never responded…"
Glancing back at his tracking unit, he noticed that the comm signal was still pulsing… almost as if it was unaffected; and it appeared that it was getting stronger, even though it was evident that its transmission came directly from within the radius of the explosion. But how was that possible? It wasn't. The device should have been destroyed, and its link severed, especially from a blast of that magnitude. But nonetheless, it was still there.
"Karos… look!"
Through the smoke and swirling dust, high above the disintegrated alcove, fissures of bright green light began to penetrate outward, flashing from within the tumultuous facing of the rock wall as the cracks zigged and zagged, increasing in size, when finally the wall itself began to crumble, causing huge slabs of stone to crash downward, adding more dust and rock to the pile of debris, making it difficult for them to see clearly. However, clear vision was not needed, as there was no mistaking the huge glowing sphere of emerald energy that emerged slowly from the smoldering rock, advancing itself toward the group of hovering winged men, who acted as if they were caught in a spider's web, unable to move.
Karos squinted his eyes, as he realized that the sphere was carrying occupants, John Stewart stood within, his right arm extended, his right hand glowing brightly, his other arm was around Shayera Hol, as she leaned into him, two soldiers he didn't know stood in back of them, and then finally, he could see a shaken Commander Kragger with P'thal standing next to him. They were miraculously unharmed, undoubtedly protected by the mysterious rays of the human's power ring.
The sphere, once it had cleared the sub-chamber, shot upward, out into the outer cave, climbing quickly past the deep canyon walls, until reaching the cave's upper level. Setting down upon the surface, the energy bubble dispersed silently as Green Lantern helped Shayera sit upon a nearby rock.
"Are you all right?"
"Yeah… just a little dazed by the explosion. Thanks… for shielding me. By the way, what kept you?" she said smiling.
Before Lantern could answer, armed Thanagarian soldiers landed next to them, their weapons drawn.
"Don't move, Lieutenant Hol!" Karos yelled.
"Hold your fire!"
The Thanagarian soldiers looked dumbfounded, as they turned to the source of the one who had issued the order.
"Sir?"
"I said hold your fire," Kragger repeated, walking up to them, staring at Shayera. "Corporal Karos…"
"Yes… Commander?"
Kragger eyed Shayera steadily for a moment, as if measuring her for some unknown purpose. "Take two men, and escort the prisoner back to her cell."
"What? Now wait-a-minute!" Lantern interjected, stepping in front of Shayera protectively.
"John… its ok… " Shayera said calmly, standing up, returning Kragger's gaze. "I need to see this through…"
Stepping forward, she placed her hand onto Lantern's arm, letting him know that everything would be all right. She turned and looked deeply into his eyes, then without a word, she bent downward, and leapt into the air. The winged men followed suit, but kept their weapons trained on her, as they made their way into the darkness.
"Y-yeah…" John uttered with reluctance, staring after her. Then looked back at Kragger. "I'd like to go with them, if that's ok."
"Of course, it's the least that I can do." Kragger smiled slyly.
"Yeah… I'm sure it is…" Lantern said with disdain, flying off.
Kragger stared after the human, as he increased his speed so that he could catch up with the departing detail as they headed toward the encampment. He then turned, facing Ghanja and the still groggy Turlak, shaking his head with disappointment.
"Guards… I need you to take these two to solitary, and keep them under wraps… I have some questions for them," he said speaking to the remaining soldiers.
"Yes, sir."
P'thal watched as the remaining soldiers flew away with the two prisoners, not sure of what to make of the superior officer's intentions. She looked around, then realizing that she was the only one that had remained behind.
"You don't think that she should stand trial, do you?" he asked, out of the blue, a few moments later.
"It isn't up to me, sir," P'thal answered. "But… she is my friend."
"Yes, I know… however, your friend is guilty of betraying our people in their greatest time of need. And yet…" his voice trailed off, as he placed his hand on the hawk emblem that was strapped across his chest.
"Sir?"
"Come with me, Lieutenant… I have something to show you."
Upon reaching his private chambers, Kragger offered P'thal a seat at his viewing station, and then went to clean himself up, as the machine came to life. Instructing her to depress the play button as soon as the boot up was completed, the video began to flicker upon the view screen, displaying what she had least expected.
When he'd returned, Kragger had put on a fresh uniform, and sat down next to her in a pulled up chair.
"Well?"
"Sir… I don't know what to say. I'm at a loss of words you might say…"
"I'm not surprised. Listen, Lieutenant… I know that you don't approve of my methods, but this incident is going to put me into a very bad position. You do understand that, don't you?"
"Yes, sir… but—"
"I already know what you're going to say… that the Council needs to see this… right?"
"Yes, sir… she saved your life… and so did that soldier named Ghanja…"
Kragger stood up, and walked over to the entrance of his chamber, staring at an artifact that hung upon the smooth wall.
"I still feel that she should be punished for what she did… but now I'm beginning to realize that this shouldn't be the focus here…"
"Huh?"
"Lieutenant… Nor was a 'Praetorian Raptorclaw'."
"Yes, sir…"
"You realize that 'Raptorclaws' only care for one thing and that one thing is power. There's a good chance that someone on the Council may also be a 'Praetorian'."
"I don't understand…" P'thal responded with confusion.
"It's pretty clear, Pilar. The whole plan for the Hyperspace Bypass came from the Council… I wouldn't be a bit surprised if the one who suggested the plan, had his own agenda all along… maybe even had a part that started the war with the Gordanians in the first place."
"So what are you going to do?"
Kragger smiled to himself with the irony of the whole situation.
"We have no choice… but to play it smart…"
Shayera Hol sat motionless upon her bunk as Green Lantern paced back and forth outside of her cell, unable to relax. Nervous energy he'd called it, when she had asked him to stay calm.
"How can you be so calm at a time like this?" Lantern asked. "Do you really think that the Council is gonna listen to me?"
"I don't know… what I do know… is that you love me," she smiled. "And you know what?"
"What?"
"I think I would have always questioned that, because of what happened with the invasion and all… but…"
"But?"
"It doesn't really matter whether the Council listens or not... because in my heart, I know that you showed me exactly what I mean to you. What you did for me… I'll never forget that, John…"
"Listen…" Lantern started.
"Ahem…" P'thal said as she entered the cellblock, and walked over to the containment controls, shutting down the force field. "Sorry, about disturbing you… but I think you'd want to know this."
"Pilar, what is it?" Shayera asked.
"The Tribunal has been cancelled."
"Cancelled? Why?"
"Because of the new evidence."
"What new evidence?"
"Apparently, the Council has found that there was some merit in your actions, and that you did what was necessary to prevent a terrible atrocity."
"Huh?" John said, confused now.
"Shayera, they saw the video, and heard what you said to Nor… why you did what you did."
Shayera smiled. "Well, I'll be… Kragger had his vidcam on… didn't he?"
"Yes…"
"Will someone please tell me what's going on?" Lantern pleaded.
"It means that Shayera can go free…" P'thal answered.
"What! That's great!"
"However… there's a price…"
"A price?" Shayera asked.
"You'll be branded a traitor, and will be forever banished from Thanagar."
"Why?" John asked.
"This can't go public, John," Shayera answered.
"What can't go public?"
"If it becomes known that Nor was a 'Raptorclaw'... let's just say that it's a political powder keg. The Elders doesn't want that to ever get out, because they've got enough on their plate to deal with right now. Anyway, the official report says that there was a cave-in, that killed Nor when he attempted to save Commander Kragger from your devilish plot, and that you were gravely injured, with no chance of survival," P'thal explained.
"I'm sure that Kragger is thrilled about this…" Shayera smirked.
"Actually, he doesn't like the idea of you saving his life…"
"I see… what about you? What will you do now?"
"The Talon will do whatever the Council orders, and right now, we must do what we can to survive. So… all that is left is to see that you are released," P'thal smiled.
Shayera hugged her tightly.
"You take care of yourself, Pilar. You're a good friend. I'll miss you."
"I'll miss you, too. Take care of her, John Stewart."
"You know I will Pilar… and thank you." He said, shaking her hand briskly.
Pilar P'thal led the pair to the hanger area, careful that no one had seen them, and took a final look at her friend.
"Shayera, you and John must get out of here, unseen…"
"I think we've got that covered."
"Good, take care… you two."
The energy bubble formed quickly around John Stewart and Shayera Hol, and then it began to phase around them, until they disappeared from sight, as it inverted the light upon itself.
Lantern steered the bubble up into the open sky and looked back at the mountain.
"Are you going to be okay?"
Shayera shook her head, and put her head upon his shoulder. "Yeah… I'm gonna be fine. I just hope that it will be the same for Thanagar, too."
"So… where do you want to go?"
Shayera thought for a moment, maybe they should head back to Wayne Manor, and let the others know that she was back. There would be plenty of time for that later she decided. She then looked up into John Stewart's eyes.
"Let's go home."
He sat quietly in the darkened room, studying the display screen of the file he'd been reviewing for the past two hours. Placing a forefinger and thumb onto his bearded chin, he began rubbing it absently as a slight buzz occurred from the earpiece he'd worn in his left ear.
"Lantern here…" he answered. "Okay… I'm on my way."
Hitting the eject button on the compact disc reader mounted on the high speed computer, he watched the disc pop outward, where he grabbed it and placed it back into its jacket, labeled: 'Justice Lords Sensitive Material Division – ID No.: 52489-873'.
Exiting from his quarters aboard the new Watchtower, Green Lantern saw his objective, and waved.
"Lantern."
"Batman."
"Well?"
"Interesting," Lantern said, handing him the disc.
"Interesting… huh? It's not everyday that you can see what could have been."
"Yeah… that's true."
"Do you regret your decision…?"
"Sometimes…"
"What are you going to do?"
"What can I do? I wouldn't even know where to begin."
"You could do what your counterpart did… it looked to be a good solution."
"No good. It's been months since she left… the trail is too cold. I will just have to… what was it you once told me? 'Deal with it'."
"I see… so, where're you off to now?"
"J'onn asked me to check on Green Arrow… I'm on my way to the teleporter now."
"Oh… that's right, he never did give us an answer. Well… see you when you get back."
"Yeah…"
Fin