Hal couldn't sleep that night. Flying with the ring had been exhilarating, the most exciting experience of his life, but there was so much about this ring that he didn't understand. What else could he do with it? Was there a limit to it's powers? He wanted to find out, but how? He had tried asking the ring, but all it had told him was the same thing it had said before. It was programmed to execute his mental commands. Hal wasn't sure what that meant and, considering the previous owner wasn't exactly from around here, he didn't know who he could ask.

He thought about that afternoon, flying around the desert with the ring. It was more exciting than flying his jet, but it was too easy. He liked the challenge and the danger of flying a plane. He liked living on the edge. Next time he went flying, he would probably leave the ring at home or in his locker at the airfield.

He thought about his father's plane, reminiscing about the times his dad had taken him up in it. He tried as hard as he could to remember every detail of that plane. He closed his eyes as he concentrated and tried to focus on the image of it in his mind. Suddenly, he felt a tingle in his arm and felt a warm glow on his face. He opened his eyes and saw the image of his father's plane before him, created in glowing green energy. Hal couldn't believe his eyes. It was perfect in every detail, right down to the instrument panel in the cockpit.

As he examined the plane, the truth began to dawn on him. The plane had appeared because he was thinking of it. He thought of something else, a hammer, but nothing happened. "Why isn't it working?" he wondered. He thought about the plane again. He remembered concentrating, so he tried that with the hammer. Suddenly, there it was in front of him in perfect detail. "So if I think about it, the ring creates it."

He thought about flying again and took off into the night sky.

The next morning, Chloe was waiting at a diner just outside the city. She was taking a big risk, meeting in the open like this, but her contact had insisted. If this was the way to get Hal the help he would need, this was what she had to do. Still, she couldn't help looking over her shoulder every few minutes.

A moment later, the diner's door swung open and a man stepped in. He was tall and radiated confidence. He had blond hair that was turning grey at the temples and eyes that looked as if they had seen many wonders. He wore a suit, professional but not too fancy. On his hand was a bright green ring. It's shape resembled an old-fashioned railroad lantern. He strode across the diner and took a seat across from Chloe.

"Are you the one who contacted me?"

"I am. My name is Chloe Sullivan, Mr. Scott. I'm glad you could make it out here on such short notice. Thank you."

"No thanks necessary, Miss Sullivan. I was in the area on business, so I decided to drop in. My friend, Carter Hall, spoke of you once. He said you were a bright young woman with friends in high places."

"Something like that."

"So what can I do for you, Miss Sullivan?"

"I came to Coast City to follow up on some intel from a …unique source."

"The Helmet of Nabu."

Chloe's eyes widened. "You know?"

"Kent Nelson and I were friends for many years. I recognize the signs of the helmet's influence. What did you see, if you don't mind my asking?"

Chloe looked around the diner to make sure that they weren't drawing attention to themselves, then leaned across the table. Scott leaned closer, as well, and listened intently. "I saw darkness. Darker than anything I've ever seen. And I couldn't help but feel like it was…I don't know how to describe it, really, other than evil. Pure evil."

"Where do I come in?"

"I saw a light. It helped Cla-" She hesitated for a moment, then said "It helped a friend of mine fight the darkness. It was warm and bright and powerful." She looked directly into Scott's eyes. "And it was green."

Scott sat silently for a few moments, looking at the ring on his left hand. "I haven't used this ring in years, Miss Sullivan. I don't even know if it still works. I'm not sure how I'll be able to help."

"I understand, Mr. Scott, but with all due respect, I was actually talking about somebody else."

"There's another ring out there?"

"Yes, but not quite like yours. It came from somewhere out there," Chloe said, motioning skyward.

"Interesting. And the bearer?"

"Also not like you. He's different, but he's got a strong spirit. He would have to in his line of work."

"His line of work?"

"He's a test pilot."

"Okay, but if he has a ring, what do you need me for?"

"I saw it. The helmet showed you to me. You'll help him. He can learn from you and, maybe, you can learn from him."

Scott was quiet again for a moment before, finally, saying "Sounds intriguing. I'm in."

On the other side of the city, a group of federal agents had arrived in the desert to take custody of the wreckage. Two people stood to the side, watching the proceedings. One of them, a woman, spoke first. "Nice job, Agent Hammond. This is quite a find. "

"Thank you, Agent Waller."

"Any word on the ring yet?"

"I've got a team searching the city. If anything turns up, we'll know right away."

"Good. I want that ring found, Agent Hammond, at any cost." Waller walked away.

"Consider it done." Hammond put on his shades and approached the wreckage. Staring at it, he said "Show me your secrets."