I'm NOT DEAD! I'm so sorry for the long wait, i am back...sort of. I'm trying to get all my stories back to full focus but i am still working and to anyone reading them i'm so sorry about the long wait. I hope this long chapter entertains and, as always, enjoy!
BRL
Jason soaked up the feeling of soaring through the air. Since the Golden Dragon incident Jason had been obsessed with Yellow Lanterns. He tracked down every lead, followed up on every story, determined to wipe out all trace of the yellow rings. He had sacrificed a lot for his crusade and now, for a family he hadn't even seen in over a year, he gave up the fight, the very thing that had kept him in the Corps, indefinitely. Even if there are other Yellow Lanterns on earth, Jason won't abandon the Titans, especially with Slade using a ring.
But even as it struck him as strange, he mused that perhaps it shouldn't. With the Titans, he never did think clearly. Jason turned back to the sun and simply enjoyed the rays of light on his skin. He'd have to get back soon, have to start looking for Slade and track down any and all yellow rings in Jump. But for now, all that mattered was that Jason could relax, for the first time in who knows how long. An hour later, a red blur streaked across the sky towards the Tower.
When Jason touched down, he saw that Raven was already on the roof, waiting for him. "Something I can do for you?"
"Answer a few questions," it was a statement, not a request.
Jason nodded as he leaned against the railing, Raven had a flash back of when Jason first was a Titan and the number of times she found him on the room in that position. It was something so quintessentially Jason, it made her relax, if only slightly. "Bout what?"
Raven leaned against her staff, her cloak closed around her and her hood up. She seemed almost like a mystic from a story book, with the powers to match. "What happened to you when you were in space?"
Jason sighed and for a while didn't speak. He turned to watch the sun. "You forget how breath taking this view is. People forget how beautiful earth really is, to busy running around."
"That doesn't answer my question," said Raven.
Jason nodded as he stared across the sea. "I saw death, I killed. I saw the evils of a yellow ring, and the ineffectiveness of a green one." He shook his head. "I saw a lot of things, and did more." He turned back to Raven. "I'm sorry, that probably wasn't what you were expecting."
Raven shrugged. "With you I learned to stop expecting things."
Jason grinned slightly. "That's probably a good policy. How have you been Rae?"
Raven joined Jason against the banister. "Fine, Jump stayed the same for the most part, Slade was quiet, but we all took that as a blessing. We stayed the Titans, fighting villains, living, loving. Though, I wonder how long it can all last."
"It'll last for as long as it can, certainly much longer than we'll be teenagers. I have no doubt you all will be Justice Leaguers, and carry the fate of the world on your shoulders when it's your time," replied Jason.
Raven looked at him and was startled by the simple peace and unshakeable faith in his eyes. He really believed what he said, with every fiber of his being. "That's a lot of responsibility," said Raven.
Jason dipped his head, his grin widened slightly. "Blessing and a curse, always is."
Raven turned back to the skyline. "And where will you be?"
Jason could only shrug. "Probably in space somewhere, doing who knows what. You get real used to traveling amongst the stars. A sector's so big, constantly traveling, and fighting lots of fighting, it was a good life." He shook his head and pushed himself off the railing. "Come on, best to start working on your new powers, Robin always love training right?" Jason chuckled as he headed inside. Raven leaned her staff against her shoulder as she contemplated following. A red rope appeared around her wrist and tugged her forward.
"Construct!" screamed Raven as Jason laughed when he pulled. Raven stumbled slightly but Jason let the energy fade as he stuck his head back out.
"You called?" A barrage of rocks was Raven's response. Jason took off as Raven chased. As the pair raced into the tower, they ran into a massive blue wall.
"DUDE! I love these rings!" cried Beastboy as Jason picked himself off the ground.
Raven smacked Jason upside the head as she moved towards her boyfriend. "Don't do that again," snapped the half demon. Jason just stuck his tongue out. Then he swayed slightly. Beastboy appeared next to him. "Dude weren't you supposed to be in med bay, or at least like resting?"
Jason shrugged slightly. "Apparently I'm kind of fucked up."
"And not on active duty," said a new voice.
Jason spun to see Robin leaning against the wall. "When'd you get here, and the hell do you mean not on active duty?" asked the Lantern.
Robin smirked slightly. "I figured I'd ought to make sure Raven didn't kill you for whatever reason she was chasing you. And what I mean is that according to Cy's medical report your body is barely holding it together, and with the further strain of having your power split between the rest of us, you need to rest, get your strength back." He pushed off the wall and walked towards Jason. "Flying probably wasn't the best idea, but we were a bit in shock so we let it go. Now, if you won't stay in med bay go to your room, rest, alright?" Jason wanted to argue, but flying took more out of him than he cared to admit. So much so he didn't bother to protest when Robin made the teen lean on him. "I'll take it from here BB, you and Raven go relax."
Both Beastboy and Raven looked worried but Jason waved them off as he went with Robin. Once the two were out of ear shot Jason looked down at his leader. "What did you really want to talk about?"
"Why haven't you recalled our rings back?" asked Robin.
Jason was silent for a while, contemplating. Finally he shrugged. "Don't know, doesn't seem fair do it? Rings chose you guys, who am I to take that away?"
"Because it's your power and your body doesn't seem to be dealing well with the loss of these colors," countered Robin as they rounded a corner.
Jason waved the concern off. "I have my backup power source, which is keeping my body together, and I'm still connected to the emotional spectrum, even if that connection is strained. I'll be fine in a day or two." Robin didn't mention how he could all but feel Jason's ribs from under his costume.
Instead when they got back to Jason's room, Robin slipped his ring off. Immediately it flew into Jason's and Robin's costume returned to normal. For his part, Jason's costume got a splash of yellow and his skin took on a healthier glow. He stumbled back and even Robin could see that when he straightened he was more relax, the careful edge which had been there since he had traded rings with Robin was gone.
Jason shook his head a few times and when he looked at Robin his eyes had darkened to maroon. "You didn't have to do that."
"Yes I did, we don't need the rings right now, and we need you to get better soon, you're our best weapon against this new Slade. Even if the others are hesitant to give up the rings, I don't need one, for now anyway," answered Robin. He held up his hand and Jason, with a smirk, slapped it.
"Right boss man, well I'm gonna get some sleep, make sure BB don't bother me," replied the energy user a she entered his room. Robin nodded as he walked away.
Inside Jason shed his heavy outer coat, made his costume disappear, and then collapsed on his bed. He debated calling Laira, she was probably worried, but instead he rolled over onto his shoulder and decided against it. No doubt the alien warrior was still furious with the human and he didn't wish to add to his troubles. Nor did he feel like being reminded he wasn't exactly a Lantern anymore. Despite himself, Jason soon fell asleep, his body exhausted still.
He came too when his doors opened. Jason noted that the light had dimmed considerably behind his curtains. He kept his body still, the intruder moved stealthy, but instincts honed from a year of constant adventure alerted Jason to their presence as soon as they stepped in his room. A red knife appeared in his hand as he kept still, when the intruder stopped. "You can put the knife away." Jason's eyes widened as he flew up. Laira stood in his room, arms laced behind her back. "You don't look well, are you alright?" she asked as she slowly walked over to his bed.
Jason stared at her in shock. "How?"
She sighed. "You're not that hard to find, you leave a massive trail, and I asked Gardner." She touched his forehead, he was clammy. "You're not doing well Jason. What's wrong?"
"You saw the others yea?" he asked.
She nodded. "I was confused why I found five ring signatures that all lead to you, and I was extremely worried when one of them was yellow. But those are the Teen Titans yes?"
"Yea," answered Jason. "We had a bit of a…mishap when I tried to take down a Yellow Lantern named Slade."
Laira wanted to press her partner for details, but Jason was as stubborn as mule when he wanted to be. So she just nodded as she slowly forced Jason back down. "You need rest; we can deal with this when you're feeling better." Despite himself, Jason nuzzled into his partner's hand, and for a second both froze. Then Laira stepped back. "I will rejoin your team mates, rest well."
"Be nice to Starfire, she aint like most Tamaranians," called Jason. Laira went to respond but he had already rolled over onto his side, ending the conversation. Laira left the room only to see Raven staring at her. The empath just gestured to the common room with a blank face. Laira nodded as she followed.
Jason tried to fall back asleep, he really did. He tossed and turned for a few minutes, before finally sitting up. He ran a hand over his face. He was still tired, but he couldn't fall asleep. "To hell with it," he whispered as he stood up. His eyes flashed and his costume appeared, minus his mask. He looked at his door, then his window. "Ring, power levels."
"43 Percent," Jason looks down at the piece of jewelry, surprised.
"That little? Damn, not a good sign." He thought for a moment then opened up a small pocket dimension. Inside he pulled out of yellow lantern. He stared at it, a spoil of battle. A benefit of Jason's ring, since it was designed to contain his power, was that it could absorb energy from a variety of sources, not just his personal battery. Jason had kept the gold lantern as a backup, for what the teenager didn't know, but he knew that he'd need it eventually. That didn't mean he had to like it though. The yellow seemed to leech life, a vile gold, but still Jason raised his arm, and was about to touch it, when he stopped. "No, not yet." He tossed the lantern back into the dimension and turned away. He slung his long coat over his shoulders, the familiar weight settling almost instantly. He took a deep breath and nodded to himself. "You're a lantern, time to face your fear." With another vigorous nod to assure himself, Jason left his room.
And almost wished he hadn't. "Take that back you…you vile thing!" cried Starfire from down the hall. Jason cursed, heavily, as he rocketed forward. He flew into the common room as Starfire tried to attack Laira. Cyborg was trying to hold the Tamaranian back while Raven and Robin attempted to stop Laira from attacking.
Jason took a deep breath and shouted. "That's E-Nough!" Waves of yellow energy battered into the two women. To the surprise of the Titans though, Jason didn't just stop at getting their attention. He charged right for his partner, with weapons drawn. "Rob Rae get back! Laira I told you to be nice!" Raven pulled Robin out of the way as Jason zoomed past the pair, and attacked the female Green Lantern.
Laira, for her part, snarled as she made a broadsword appear in her hands. "You defend that Trog over your own partner!?"
"Don't you dare call her a trog!" roared Jason in response.
Much to the shock of the others, the pair fell into a complicated, almost choreographed fight. Jason lashed out with his long sword, while using his short sword almost like a shield, even as Laira switched to a sickle and chain weapon. She whirled the weapon around her before bringing the chain and ball down on Jason. The Yellow Lantern dodged left and flung his shortsword. It hit Laira square in the chest and staggered her. Jason sprang forward. "Laira that's enough!" He grabbed her wrist, but she smashed a palm heel strike into his face, then side kicked him away.
Both staggered back, weapons at the ready when massive green hands separated them. "Calm down you two!" shouted Cyborg as he forced the two away from each other. "What the hell is wrong with ya'll, first you!" he said as he rounded on Laira. "The hell? What in your purple head makes ya think insultin someone in their home is acceptable!? And Jay since when do partners go at it like that!?"
Jason's eyes flashed and the green hand holding him disintegrated in a burst of red energy. His aura was blood red, and a katana formed in his hand. He pointed it at Cyborg. "You don't understand what's going on here, don't interfere." With that he charged again. The red energy, backed by Jason's fearsome will, sliced through Cyborg's green arm, and Laira was again on the defensive.
"God damn it!" shouted Cyborg as he went to stop the again, but Robin appeared in front of him.
"Watch Jason, carefully," said the teenaged detective. He turned back to the fight. "Neither of them have actually come close to hurting each other, and every time Jason has an opportunity to switch his colors and confuse her, he doesn't." It was true, Jason was holding back, slightly, and so was Laira. But the fight was wearing on Jason, his body was still too weak from the loss of power, not to mention the hard living Jason had put it through. He was slowing down. Laira saw Jason losing steam, and renewed her attack. Jason growled, but didn't change his red aura, nor did he surrender. "Cyborg, Beastboy, take off your rings, now!" snapped Robin. Both teens sent each other unsure looks, though they've only had the rings for the day, it was hard not to get attached to the raw power the rings gave them. Robin sent them a baleful stare.
Finally BB just sighed. "Might as well dude." He took off his ring and it flew into Jason. Jason pitched forward, almost into Laira's sword, when a blue light exploded from him. When the light cleared Jason stood up straight, his uniform now sported splashes of blue mixed with the red, and his eyes were cerulean. New energy filled Jason, and for a second, he looked like his old self, from before he went into space. Laira paused as she tried to understand the new development.
"Presence of Green Lantern, unlocking attack constructs," rang Jason's ring.
"Blue Light detected, power levels at 100 percent and rising" responded Laira's. Again the pair charged. The two dueled well, Laira relied more on speed and grace, while Jason used strength and quick reactions. Cyborg watched, but still didn't relinquish his ring, he…couldn't. He felt…for the first time in so long, he could feel, he felt alive. He wasn't ready to give that up, not yet anyway. But the mechanical teen knew this couldn't continue.
Yet, it was Starfire who stopped it. "Friends that is enough please!" she cried as she jumped in the middle of the fight. Her eyes flashed, and violet light gleamed from them as she unleashed her ring. Violet crystals exploded and captured both Jason and Laira, encasing them almost completely. Starfire's eyes widened as she gasped. "Friend Jason how could you lash out at"
Her words were cut off by an explosion of violet crystals. Jason floated in the sky, wrapped in crimson energy, his eyes bright with anger. All touches of blue had been wiped out, and those Titans still wearing a ring were bombarded with rage. He floated, almost imperiously over the others, an evil glare in his eyes. A blood red sword appeared in his hand, though Laira was still trapped. "Let her go Star." His voice dripped with menace.
Cyborg stepped forward, green light surrounding him. "Back off Construct, take a second and cool down." A red wall pushed the green covered teen away.
Jason cast a glare at the mechanical hero. "Don't interfere." Jason landed and was about to walk toward Laira when the alarm sounded. That snapped Jason out of his rage. "Ring recall order!" Raven, Cyborg and Starfire all felt their rings rip away from them. They flew into Jason who almost looked in pain as the energy bombarded him. Laira's bonds fell away as the bright light around Jason dimmed. When it cleared, the first thing the Titans saw was the brilliant Lantern symbol on his chest. Jason's skin had a healthy glow, his emaciated face had filled out, even his body looked healthier. When the light fully disappeared, Jason stood up right, his costume back to its old form, and with Jason looking like he never left the Titans. "Lantern Black of Space Sector 2814, reporting for duty."