Avenging Justice:

Two Worlds Collide

Part XIII

Earth, California, Coast City

Captain America took a deep breath, again reminded of the changes since his time. Huge futuristic buildings, that dwarfed any he knew, stood proudly in the sky like manmade mountains. Still a culture shock based on where he originally came from. Also a daily reminder of what he had lost going into the ice.

Outside the Quinjet, the landscape sped by, as the tiny SHIELD team made their way towards their destination. What to the outside world was an abandoned warehouse, was a secret safehouse. One that had a custom transport for them. Ready for them to continue their search.

They had struck out getting Superman while he had been aiding, after Thor's battle. Now they were in the area where Green Lantern tended to come back to. The problem of course being, finding the hero now. Little did Steve Rogers know, luck was on his side that day.

Hal Jordan raced through the sky, streaking green behind him. His ring was going ballistic, sending a message that foreign emotional energy weapon. Along with it, came a direct and curt request from the Guardians, bring in the wielder. So, this was big, he just didn't realize how big. Ganthet, the most approachable of the Guardians, had tried to slip in more information, but had been cut short.

He didn't have long to wait, as a pinkish blast lit up the city scape. Rocketing towards it, he hoped he wasn't too late. Yet, even as he queried the ring as to what emotional spectrum this blast belonged to, it didn't make any sense. Over and over again, it just said the same thing. Quite maddingly the only reply he got was, "Emotional Spectrum, Love."

Minutes earlier a carjacker took hostage a woman and her small child. The nearly manic car jacker was screaming, waving his gun around with abandon. The mother was frightened, more for her child, and she would give up everything to get the child out safely. The love of her child outweighed the fear she felt for herself.

Blocks behind them, her husband was frantically trying to get help, he nearly dropped his phone as a violet clad figure flew past him. The figure caught up to the speeding car, and brought it to a complete stop. She did it by popping all four tires, and using a ramp to stop its forward momentum.

Arresting the momentum, the newest Star Sapphire ripped open the roof of the car like a tin can. Before the carjacker could fire his weapon, she had him pulled out and thrown against the ground. Air knocked out of him, the violet clad woman was on him, nearly screaming. She pummeled into the carjacker with an emotion just as volatile as rage, love.

She had been brought here by the mother's plea, the father's loss. They had both loved each other, their offspring. That was what had called her, the pang of losing a loved one, heart break unimaginable. That was something that couldn't be left to stand, and she would stop it. Love was not something to be denied or played with, or to be used against another.

Carol Ferris felt intense anger, not rage, but anger at how this person hurt these people. She wanted to make him pay, knowing the heartbreak that she had just prevented. With how this maniac had been driving, the loss of the mother or child was more than probable. She wanted to make this guy feel that mistake. From her hand she formed a giant sledgehammer, ready to hurt this maniac.

"No! Stop!" a green hand came up to hold the sledgehammer back. "He's not a threat anymore."

Carol turned, seeing Green Lantern and her stance softened. Her construct faded away, and she felt her love explode in her heart. She ran over to him, feeling like a teenager discovering love for the first time. He grabbed her, held her tight, all the while making calming sounds. She wanted to see his face, but he kept her close to his chest.

"You need to regain control," he said gently. "You need to focus on my voice."

"Anything my love," Carol said, pulling away from him. The intoxicating feeling overwhelmed her.

"We need to get that ring off of you, it's messing with your mind," Hal said, preparing himself.

"You want to take my ring, my power!" Carol was sure of it.

Moments ago she had loved this man with all her heart, now she hated him. He was arrogant, egotistical and unworthy of the devotion she had been promising him. She lunged out, sending him flying.

Her eyes were wide in anger at being rejected. She attacked him with all the rage a spurned lover could imagine. He expected her to keep his secret, be his gal Friday, but wanted to take her power! She would not allow it, he was not worthy of the love she had for him, the sacrifices she had made.

Making the sledgehammer again, she slammed down where Hal had landed. He dodged, and she attacked again. This time he blocked it with a green shield, and pushed her back. Yet, he didn't attack, he just let her wear herself out attacking. Even as his green shield began to falter, to splinter. His power was Will, he just had to hold it for long enough for hers to burn out.

Star Sapphire threw Green Lantern into a building, only his ring's power kept every bone from breaking. He was starting to think his plan of waiting her out was a folly, especially as her hammer came down on him. He had enough time to generate another shield, but he didn't need to. Her hammer came down on, another shield took the hit. This one was colored red, white and blue, with a single star in its center.

Captain America wasn't sure who the woman was attacking Green Lantern, but knew a one sided fight when he saw one. Stopping her attack, he proceeded to guide her away from the fallen hero. She had switched from the hammer, to throwing knives, and his shield pinged from the constructs bouncing off. He had a plan though, and it included the waiting Hawkeye outside.

However, his plan didn't include being thrown back by a green hand, or another wrapping around the attacking woman. Hawkeye tried to destroy the construct but did nothing too it. Black Widow came up, shooting at it with bullets, with the same limited effect. Meanwhile Green Lantern gently put Captain America down, and away from Carol. He kept her secure, but firmly held.

"Listen to me, I can help you," he said gently. "This power is dangerous."

"I won't let you take this from me!" she snarled back.

Steve paced around, readying in case the woman attacked again. It seemed she was expending herself on the giant green hand. Another thing he just wasn't expecting to see today, or any day for that matter. He'd have to put this on the list of surprises he had running. Hawkeye and Black Widow came around, keeping their weapons trained on the woman.

"You're Green Lantern," Captain America said. "Who is this?"

Hal formed a half smile, a sad one, "She's a friend who's going through something right now. Thanks for the help, but I've got this."

"Well we actually dropped in for another reason," Steve said. "We came with an invitation."

"Maybe some other time, Captain," Hal turned and gave a quick nod. "I need to get her help. If you ever need anything, know you have a friend in the Green Lanterns."

With that Hal flew off, with the still struggling Carol behind him. Left behind, Captain America gave a quick salute. He recognized another soldier when he saw one. Black Widow and Hawkeye looked a little defeated, but Steve knew better. They hadn't brought Green Lantern in, but they had made a friend. That was the first step in building something more.

About three miles off the coast of California, Hal Jordan found an uninhabited island to set down on. He kept the construct up on the still struggling Carol Ferris. His brow perspired from the sustained concentration of keeping the construct up. It was taking all his willpower to keep this up, but he wasn't about to give up on her.

"Carol, listen to me!" He said, pleading. "You need to regain control. You are better than this, you're an amazing woman and I do not deserve you."

Something in his words must have cut through to her, or his open, heartfelt emotions triggered her ring. She stopped struggling, and images began to play before her. Their lives up, intertwined through the years. The loss of his father, her giving up one career for another. The love they sparked and the trust he had given her. Showing her his secret, what had made him special, being chosen to be his home's intergalactic protector. Superman may have protected Earth, but he was responsible for the planet and the sector she was in.

He had shared that with her, not to brag, but because she was important to him. Enough that she was the first person he told about it, he loved her enough to hold nothing back. She felt their bond grow that day, and every day since as he had become the hero she knew he was.

Something shifted inside of her and she felt the love for him well up again. Instead of the giddy, head clouding love, this one was more mature. It was the deep well, the reservoir of love, that replaces the volatile emotional love. This was the love that linked people together, through tough times and through good times. It was the same love she still felt for Hal Jordan, despite all his flaws.

"Hal….what did I do?" she asked, her head clearing as she pushed forward. "I attacked you! I'm sorry, I don't know what came over me. I was so angry, felt betrayed..I'm dangerous!"

"Hold on, Carol," Hal said, pulling her tightly against him. "You aren't dangerous. You remember how I told you my ring runs on Will?" She nodded, fearing she might lose control again. "Well that ring on your finger runs on the power of Love, according to what the ring tells me. It also says the Guardians found it too dangerous, too volatile of an emotion to mine."

"You can say that again," Carol grit her teeth. "I feel powerful, but it's like having a maelstrom inside of me. I don't know why I lost it with you, but when you asked me to take the ring off. It felt like you were trying to take my specialness."

"It's okay, the Guardians might be able to help you," Hal said. "They're a bit stuffy, but if there is a way to help you, they can."

"Hal, I'm not going there, I need to figure this out on my own," Carol said. "Now that I'm in control again, I'm seeing a place in my head. I think it's a planet where I need to go."

Hal thought for a moment, and then told her, "It was similar when the ring chose me, right before it took me to Oa. There might be answers for you there, I'll come along. You could use a friendly face."

Carol smiled, gently put a hand to his face. Love pulsed through her, but she was handling the surge in power better than before. She could still stay rational, and that was why she knew the next thing she said was her. This was something that she was being called to, and as sweet as it was, she had to do it on her own.

"Hal, I need to go alone," she said softly. "I appreciate your concern, but this is something I need to do, for myself. Maybe I can get some answers."

"You know the Guardians want me to bring you in," Hal said.

She smiled, "And this is the first time you've ignored orders?"

"True," he laughed. "Take this, you get into trouble and the cavalry is on its way."

He handed her a green solid switch. Created from his will, it contained enough energy to call out over any distance. Hal wasn't sure of the exact science behind it, but it would work. She just pressed the button, he'd move heaven and earth to find her. It was also with great sadness that he watched Carol fly off.

Once she was gone, he looked at his hands. There was going to be a lot of paperwork off of this. However, he had his ring's scans of Carol's ring, and that should be enough to hold the Guardians off. They wouldn't be happy, but they'd be pacified. At least then they'd have more information on this anomaly, and maybe send other lanterns out to find others.

This new power could be used for good or ill, he knew this. He also trusted that woman he loved, would prove to be better than the Guardians feared. Next would come another challenge, just as another would come after that. Each one he'd meet head on, but with an eye, looking for a beacon. He'd be prepared in case she needed him, for she'd been there for him when he needed her.