"I figured you'd be in town," said Nero. "New look I see. It looks like I'm looking into a mirror. Without the goatee, of course."
"Let's take a walk Alex," said Rayner.
"You know I'm not the one who did this," said Nero.
"No. I know you didn't," replied Rayner.
"Then again, someday down the line I probably would have," said Nero coldly. "I guess someone saved me the trouble."
Kyle didn't respond and just kept walking.
"I had to laugh when I saw that you made the best sellers' list," said Nero. "Really, Kyle--Ring Lords?"
Kyle grinned.
"That's not professional jealousy, is it Alex?" commented Rayner. "Just because Demon Light didn't quite make it as far as my book, you have no reason to be ashamed."
"Ahh, you saw my initial foray into horror--as far as books go anyway," said Nero. "Do you like my pseudonym?"
"Alexis Baak. Clever," said Rayner. "Thanks for letting me know of your return."
Nero snorted.
"I see that not only did you take a female name, but you're wearing a piece of jewelry along with it," said Rayner, motioning to Nero's hand.
"Yes, we're forming a band," said Nero. "It's not like your Corps. or anything. What is it up to, 7200? Factor in losing a few here and there.
"Sinestro wanted to have a few recruits of his own. It's just a handful of us now. You'll encounter us soon enough. But first I had some business to take care of here on Earth."
"Needed to cash a check?" said Rayner.
"No, Kyle," said Nero. "It's family business."
"Say again?" said Rayner. "Last time I checked you took care of that long ago."
"You're referring to my parents' deaths?" said Nero. "Here's the thing, they weren't my parents."
"Well, my mother was," Nero continued. "She gave birth to me, but the man who I thought was my father--wasn't. I wasn't his seed it turned out.
"That's why I killed them. They were lying to me my entire life. The whore, I once called mother, had an affair. It was a one time thing she told 'dad.' She went out on one of those ladies nights with her whore friends and got drunk. She ended up with some clown and got preggers.
"The poor sap I called dad, couldn't have children, so he saw it as a blessing at the time. You believe that? A blessing! Little that he knew...who 'mom' met that night.
"Then the day before my parents met their demise, they got a visit from my real father. He had a gun with him and was going to kill us all. But before he pulled the trigger, good ol' Pop told him how grateful he was, while he was pleading for our lives.
"Dad couldn't stop laughing at this guy's story. Everything's a joke to him. He just kept on laughing. He was laughing so much that he put the gun on the mantle, as he grabbed his sides. He left laughing.
"The thing is, he left the gun behind. Maybe my parents were still in shock. They didn't even touch the gun. They never saw the sunrise either.
"So you know who your father is?" Rayner interjected.
"You know him too, Kyle," replied Nero. "I know him as Dad. You and your kind know him by his other name."
"He's the Joker. I'm heading to Gotham to say hello."