Green Lantern New Genesis
Chapter 5
I do not Own Evangelion or Green lantern.
After rescuing Kori'ander Kilowog and his trainees took her back to OA, where she was presented to the guardians, who were trying to decide what to do with her.
"I demand you return me home" the princess said.
"That is problematic" One said.
"Why?" She asked
"For ages the Vega system, of which your planet is a part, has been forbidden to the green lantern corps" Another said.
"Why?" She asked again.
"An ancient pact we made long ago" A third said causing the lanterns to look at each other.
"A pact with what?" Kilowog asked.
"That is none of your concern lantern Kilowog" The guardian said.
"So how do we get Kori'ander home?" Shinji asked, and shied away as all eyes fell on him. The guardians were silent for a long time, telepathically communing with each other.
"In this instance, we will have to make an "exception"" Ganthet said.
"We will send Princess Kori'ander back to her home planet with one lantern to accompany her" A female guardian said.
"Then I choose him" Kori'ander said pointing directly at Shinji.
"Hold on their princess. The kids still a recruit. He's not ready to go on a mission on his own yet" Kilowog said as the tamaranean floated forward.
"Perhaps by your standards, but your "recruit" has the eyes of one who has seen combat and the horror of war." She said staring deeply into Shinji's eyes, as he stared into her emerald ones, captivated.
"With all due respect princess, we shall decide your escort" The first guardian said.
"I go with Shinji as my escort or I go alone" She said.
"You can't go on your own" Shinji piped up.
"Very well. If you wish recruit Ikari to accompany you, then so be it, but we will have lantern Jordan accompany you as well" He said and called up a window.
"Sallak, please send Lantern Jordan to the meeting hall". They waited for a few minutes before Hal Jordan entered the hall. He was tall and well built, with a chiseled face. Shinji thought he looked exactly like how a hero should look.
"Ganthet, what's up?" He asked. "Lantern Jordan, this is our new, human recruit" The guardian said gesturing to Shinji.
"It's nice to meet you sir" He said bowing formally.
"Yeah nice to meet you" He said surprised. "How old are you?" He asked. "Fourteen" Shinji said, and Hal turned raising an eyebrow at Killowag who shrugged.
"Lantern Jordan, your new assignment is to oversee lantern Ikari as he escorts Princess Kori'ander back to her home planet.
"And lantern Ikari would, be you?" Hal asked.
"Yes sir" Shinji said.
"Um, no offense, but how did you get that ring. You should be in school somewhere not in an intergalactic police force" Jordan said. Shinji's head drooped a little at the comments.
"Be that as it may, Lantern Ikari has passed Killowag's training and has proven himself a capable recruit. If you are unwilling to take this assignment, we could assign it to another lantern." The guardian said.
"No, I accept" Lantern Jordan said.
"I'll go with them. The kids still my recruit after all" Kilowog said putting a heavy hand on the boy's shoulder"
"That would be acceptable" Hal said.
"Very well. We had planned on only one Lantern to go, but that was a false hope. Take the interceptor and be done with it" Appa said. Ganthet guided them toward a hanger bay where Shinji saw the interceptor, a beautifully sleek ship that took his breath away.
"I didn't think the corps used ships" Shinji said as they boarded.
"Usually we don't, but we have a VIP" Killowag said.
"I am perfectly capable of flying unaided through space" Kori'ander said.
"Not for this long a trip princess" Killowag said. They boarded and took their seats.
"This vessel is surprisingly comfortable" Kori'ander said.
"We aim to please" Hal said as they lifted off. "Leaving Oan space and preparing for warp jump" Killowag said as a portal opened and the ship entered into a tunnel of rainbow-colored light.
"We should be on the edge of Vegan space in five minutes" Killowag said.
"Why the edge?" Shinji asked.
"Vega is off limits to the Corp remember. Best if we stop on the edge and sneak in." The alien said.
"We'll wait at the border while you drop the princess off" Killowag said
"Wait, me?" Shinji asked in surprise. "Only one lantern can fly in there, and you volunteered" Killowag said.
"I still think it's a bad idea. I should be the one to escort her back" Hal said.
"Her is sitting right behind you and can hear every word you say, Green Lantern" Kori'ander said.
"I apologize princess" Hal said.
"You should also apologize to Shinji. You have not seen how capable he is in combat so you should not judge him" She said defending him, which made Shinji blush.
"It's alright Kori'ander. I'm used to it" He said morosely.
"It is not alright. You have proven yourself a warrior, and you should be recognized as such" The alien princess said heatedly.
"We're here" Killowag said, breaking up the building argument.
"Yes, I recognize these stars" Kori'ander said, standing up.
"Let us go" She said to Shinji who nodded.
"One more thing. You can only escort Kori'ander to the outer atmosphere of her planet. After that she's on her own. Killowag said.
"As you wish" Kori'ander replied as the hanger door opened. Kori'ander flew out, Shinji right behind her. From the view window, Hal and Killowag watched the red and green contrails disappear into the darkness.
"Okay Killowag, what's with the kid? I mean fourteen. He doesn't look twelve" Hal said.
"Eh, don't look at me Jordan, I just train em. The princess is right though. The kid can handle himself in a fight and handled everything I threw at him in training better than a lot of rookies I've seen. Add that to how he handled his first mission and if I had to guess, I'd say the kids been through some serious combat." Killowag said.
"You're not serious, the kid looks like he wouldn't hurt a fly" Hal said.
"Maybe so, but I've been around enough vets to know the look of a soldier who's been through it, and that kid's been through it, before he ever got his ring" Killowag explained.
"A child soldier, just what we need" Hal said rubbing the bridge of his masked nose.
"Then maybe you should keep an eye on him?" Killowag.
"Excuse me?" Hal asked.
"You're human, he's human. Besides, I know about how you earth heroes like to take kid sidekicks" Killowag said.
"No, no, no, not going to happen" Hal said vehemently.
"And why not?" Killowag asked.
"I don't need a sidekick" He said.
"Maybe not, but the kid could use a mentor, a human mentor. Just think about it" Killowag said and turned back to his consoles.
It took about half an hour of flight, with Shinji and Kori'ander each talking about their worlds. He found he could relate many of the horrible experiences of the angel war as she related her experiences as a slave to the Gordanians. In a lot of ways, she reminded him of Asuka. She had that same strength and bravery, but she was also much kinder.
"You are a strong warrior to have faced such horror" She said.
"No, I'm not. If I was strong, I wouldn't have made the mistakes I did" he said.
"No one is perfect. None of us know what we will do in such circumstances" She assured him. "You're the strong one, to endure being sold into slavery by your sister" Shinji said.
"Witch she will pay for, dearly" The princess growled. At this point they had arrived in the atmosphere over Tamaran. From this high it had a scarred brown look.
"It looks so barren" Shinji commented.
"The war has damaged it, but it is my home, the home of my people" She said gravely.
"This is where we part way's Shinji Ikari" She said.
"I wish I could help. Maybe I won't get into too much trouble if I go down with you?" He asked and she gave him a dazzling smile.
"This is Tamaran business, and it will be solved by Tamaran. Rest assured, your assistance has been invaluable" She said putting a hand on his shoulder.
"Do you think we'll see each other again?" He asked blushing.
"If X'hal wills" she said, and without warning, planted a deep kiss on the boy's lips. When they parted it took a minute for him to catch his breath, and by then the beautiful warrior woman was gone, a comet of red fire descending to her world.
"So, how'd it go?" Hal asked when he returned to the ship.
"Fine, but I'm still worried" He said.
"That's what friends do" Hal said.
"I wish we could help" He said again.
"Sometimes we have to let people fight their own battles" Killowag said as they turned the ship back to OA.
"You want me to what?" Shinji asked a few hours later as he was sitting with Hal in the dining hall.
"I want you to come to earth with me. You need to be in school, with kids your own age" Hal said. "
You don't think I deserve my ring" Shinji said, resentment rising inside him.
"I didn't say that" Hal said
"But you were thinking it" Shinji accused. The man took a deep breath before continuing.
"You're still a kid, and ring or not, you need some semblance of a normal life. Hell, I need some semblance of a normal life from time to time" he joked. Shinji stared at the man, thinking. Every adult he had ever known had betrayed or abandoned him, most often both, and despite the fact that he was a green lantern Shinji was still weary of trusting the man in front of him.
"One year. I'll give you one year on earth, and if I don't like it, I'll come back and live on OA permanently" He said offering his hand. He had never been familiar with western costumes, but he knew enough to offer a handshake.
"Deal" Hal agreed taking the boys hand in a friendly but firm grip.
"But where will I live?" Shinji asked.
"About that" Hal said. A day later they were on their way to earth in uncomfortable silence. Hal tried to make small talk about thing's Shinji didn't know about or didn't care about, and Shinji wasn't willing to relate anything about his past.
"Are you sure it's alright to live with you?" He asked.
"Of course. Like you said, you don't have anywhere else to go, and I don't mind having the company as long as you're not a complete slob" He said.
"You don't have to worry about that" Shinji said.
"Well here we are" Hal said as they dropped out of subluminal space, and Shinji stopped in his tracks. In front of him was earth, a beautiful blue jewel floating in space no scars or red oceans in sight. For the first time since he had gotten his ring, Shinji Ikari realized that he was in another universe, facing an earth that wasn't his own. Everything and everyone he knew was gone.
"Hey kid, you okay?" Hal asked. Shinji looked at his ring, reminded of the oath that went with it. All his life he had run when things got hard. He had run from his father, from his responsibilities, and finally from his world. Asuka, Misato, Touji, Kensuke, His father, his entire world had died because he hadn't been strong enough to stop it. But with this ring, maybe, just maybe he had another chance, a chance to redeem himself, to be the person they had wanted and needed him to be but wasn't.
"I'm fine" he said, smiling sadly.
"Then let's get going" Hal said. They descended through the atmosphere and looking to the side Shinji saw a building floating in orbit.
"What's that?" He asked turning and pointing while still falling.
"That's off limits for the time being" Hal said.
"Why?" Shinji asked as they entered the atmosphere and space turned to blue sky as they hit the sun side of the planet.
"You may be a full member of the corps, but there are other superheroes on earth, a lot of them. A lot of us are part of a group called the justice league, and that's our base" Hal explained as they leveled off and flew over the ocean.
"You're a member of a club of superheroes?" Shinji asked amazed.
"A league" Hal corrected as they flew toward the coast.
"But why does it make you're base off limits?" Shinji asked.
"You're not a member, and only members are allowed in the watchtower. Most of the heroes your age don't even know about it" Hal continued as they flew over the city.
"Who are these other heroes?" Shinji asked.
"You'll meet them all eventually. In fact, in a few weeks we're gathering all the sidekicks up and having them meet for the first time. You in?" he asked and descended through a window. Shinji followed.
"Um, sure, if you think they won't mind" Shinji said.
"Of course, they won't" Hal said making his uniform vanish. Shinji did the same and stood in the middle of Hal Jordan's bedroom dressed in the same uniform he had worn when he had last piloted unit 01 during third impact.
"Okay, step one, get you a new wardrobe" Hal said.
"Maybe I could get settled first?" Shinji asked.
"Right, let's find you a room" Hal said, and they went into the apartment.
"I have a guest room, but it's pretty small" He said and opened a door to a room with a decent sized bed."
"It's fine" Shinji said remembering the closet Asuka had shoved him into when she first moved in.
"Do you have anything of your own?" Hal asked.
"no" Shinji said simply.
"Step two, get you stuff" Hal said.
"But first cloths" he said. Shinji followed the man out of the apartment and down to the front of the building to find an open roofed car.
"Hop in" He said and walking around leapt into the driver's seat, hopping over the closed door. Shinji opened the door and got into the passenger's seat. Hal cranked it up and sped down the street at breakneck speed.
"So where are we going?" Shinji asked, not batting an eye when Hal weaved into the opposite lane and narrowly missed getting smashed by a semi.
"Coast city mall" Hal said.
"I've never been to a mall" Shinji said, causing Hal to almost flip the car in surprise.
"Would you mind not driving like a complete lunatic?" Shinji asked deadpan
"Sorry, what do you mean you've never been to a mall?" Hal asked.
"I never saw the reason. There were plenty of smaller cloths stores where I lived that I could buy what I needed" He explained.
"What about your friends?" Hal asked.
"I never really had any" Shinji admitted.
"Okay I'm trying really hard not to flip the car" Hal said.
"I'm not that sociable a person, and I don't mind being alone" He said.
"Well you're not alone anymore, I'll make sure of that" Hal said as they pulled into the parking lot of the mall. It was enormous, a sprawling building of red, white, and grey brick. They found a parking space and walked in. After the relative peace of OA and outer space, the din and crowding of the mall was like a whole other world. Still, he sucked it up as Hal dragged him to a clothing store and made him try on various articles of clothing.
"Geez kid, I've seen supermodels bigger than you" Hal joked looking as Shinji handed back the size 2 shirt, claiming it was too large. He looked around and found a size 1 that he handed him. When they were done, Shinji had a new (and fashionable by Hal's opinion) wardrobe.
"Let's get lunch" Hal said and took Shinji to a burger place. Hal had the burger while the boy had a salad.
"No wonder you're so thin" Hal teased him.
"I'm Japanese, we don't eat a lot of meat" He said flatly, taking a bite.
"I don't know if you're joking or not" Hal said. The boy didn't clarify, only continuing to eat. "So, how about school?" Hal asked suddenly, deciding he should get the boys input.
"I wouldn't mind it, but how are you going to register me? It's not like I have any kind of records or information" Shinji said taking another bite of salad.
"I've got a few friends who can help with that" Hal said taking a bite of a fry.
"It isn't anything illegal is it?" Shinji asked, and Hal held his fingers slightly apart. They finished their meal and walked back to the car and drove back to the apartment in silence. Shinji showered and went to bed, but before he got to his room Hal stopped him. "Listen kid...I just wanted to say I'm impressed by how you're handling everything. I'm starting to see why the ring chose you" He said. "Thank you" Shinji said blushing slightly. "Sweet dreams kiddo" Hal said. Shinji opened his door and crawled into bed. He stared up at the unfamiliar ceiling, and for the first time in a while, he felt like he could make this ceiling home.
Sorry if this seemed a bit of OOC for Hal and that he seemed to do an emotional 180, but he's an all or nothing guy, and now that he's got this kid, He's going to do the best he can by him.