GREEN LANTERN NEW GENESIS: RECHARGED
Chapter 6: Under the sea
Boredom…it was this single word that could describe Shinji's Saturday. Hal went out to work and since Shinji didn't have any friends to hang out with and did all of his homework it meant he was tucked away in the apartment, flocking though TV channels from both coasts. 'For a country that supposedly revolutionised television as we know it there aren't any good shows.'-Shinji thought before flicking to another channel.
"And now on GBC's late night hour classic's program block, a show that maybe inspired Superman to put on tights and soar though the skies. A cult classic that made us think where are our heroes? Miracleman now on GBC."-The announcer said as it picked up Shinji's interest as the show began with words of an narrator.
"After discovering the incredible power of the atom, scientist Guntag Barghelt searched the world for a person worthy of granting the power. After stumbling across young copy boy Micky Moran who impressed him with his integrity he was chosen to bear the mighty atom. After Barghelt's experiment young Micky gains powers far beyond human understanding. Faster than any express train! More powerful than biggest rockets! Able to soar though the skies faster than any plane! All with a single word! When Micky Moran says the magic word "KIMOTA!" he becomes Miracleman!"-The narrator said as the frail blonde boy on the screen suddenly changed into a muscular man dresses in a blue bodysuit with red boots, gloves and belt with a yellow band with a red "MM" initials across his chest before the show finally began with it's very 60s theme song. 'Oh, so it must be similar to Ultraman.'-Shinji thought as he continued to watch the show. Very standard 60s action hero show. Followed by a routine that was probably in every episode: Micky Moran finds out about the problem from his editorial, transforms into Miracleman, goes to investigate, finds the problem and connects the dots, a villain of the week is revealed, Miracleman barges into his lair and gets trapped. And this was the moment of the episode that Shinji was strapped in for, drinking a Kooba Cola and trying to find out what would happen next.
"You're too late you Blue Baboon! With my mining rocket I will gather all of the oil on the moon and I'll be stinky rich! And with you trapped nobody can stop me!"-The villain, a scientist with large goggles and black hair exclaimed as Miracleman struggled against his restraints.
"I won't let your devious plan come to fruition Gurgunza! Fortunately, those restraints you have were designed to house the mighty Miracleman, but not a brave copy boy, KIMOTA!"-Miracleman exclaimed his incantation, transforming back into Micky Moran. With his frail hands he managed to get them free.
"Oh no! What is he doing!?"-Gurgunza exclaimed as Moran yelled out his incantation again, using his now freed hands to destroy the restraints holding his legs. Miracleman then flew towards Gurgunza and grabbed the laughing scientist by the throat.
"Even if you knock my teeth out you're still too late! The rocket already launched!"-Gurgunza said as Miracleman knocked him out before soaring though skies, in a way that had to be impressive by standards of 1960s television, but comparing it to what real heroes could do…now it looked like kind of amateur. But Shinji kept watching interested as if he was a little kid. Miracleman managed to catch up with the rocket, before grabbing it and with all his might throw it into the sun. Before coming down back to Earth and handing Gurgunza over to the authorities.
"Thank you Miracleman! I don't know what the United States government would do if the commies found out about oil on the moon."-A police officer said as Miracleman turned towards the camera.
"Well officer, as long as I stand on my feet I'll defend American soil from any threat, would it be evil scientists, giant snowmen or talking vegetables. Besides, I'm sure not even the soviets are dumb enough to destroy the moon if they want to land on it."-Miracleman said as everyone laughed just as the credits begun to roll. Shinji then looked towards his ring.
"Well, it's not like I wouldn't go on a patrol."-Shinji said as he was surrounded by his uniform. Kid Lantern then turned off the TV before leaping though the closed window and down towards the city's streets, with green construct earbuds in his ears. Kid Lantern couldn't help but smile as he casually defied gravity, using his ring to listen to police frequencies trying to keep an ear and eye for trouble. It was then when the sound of the radio broke through the music.
"All units be advised, we have a robbery of a drug store at Northpoint on the corner of 34th and 23rd."-the police officer said as Kid Lantern instinctively picked up the signal and travelled where the supposed to robbery was taking place. In less than three minutes he found himself floating in front of a deli, seeing two armed robbers holding the man behind the cash counter hostage.
"Really gentlemen? With all the supervillains around and you just rob a guy? That's not even amateur level."-Kid Lantern said bringing the attention of the robbers who quickly towards him before firing their weapons towards him. 'They never learn do they?'-he thought before sending two Eva fists, both grabbed their weapons before knocking them out. Kid Lantern flew inside the shop to take a look around, he then noticed the owner and helped him up.
"Are you ok sir?"-he asked as the owner smiled at him as he pointed towards the two thieves and a bag of money of them was holding.
"You really saved my business there Kid Lantern! Although I'm still puzzled on why a sidekick is flying around alone without supervision."-He said as the young Lantern internally cringed.
"Oh, I am not a sidekick. I was just assigned to GL by our higher-ups as an expansion of my training."-Kid Lantern explained just as a police car rolled up to the crime scene, out of it came out a woman dressed in a trench coat that resembled something a 1970s private eye would wear. Her face although with strong feminine features had a small girly element in a form of freckles underneath her green eyes that contrasted well with her blonde hair. Kid Lantern could notice her mood turning grim as she saw him.
"I see the threat has been taken care of."-She said as Kid Lantern hid his shock as he realised with who he was talking to. Remembering what occurred some time ago when he was out crime fighting with Robin.
"It was you, you were on that helicopter."-Kid Lantern said pointing at her as the woman brushed off her hair.
"I was doing what I was ordered to, capturing a vigilante that was running around my city."-She said as Kid Lantern turned his head.
"A superhero, and a good one, if it wasn't for you ordering for opening fire we wouldn't had damaged the helicopter."-Kid Lantern explained as the woman kept her poker face.
"Maybe he is in Gotham, but not here. Although I would want to give you a talk regarding that helicopter I'm not here to cuff you, in fact I see you did a good job."-She observed as the store owner gave a thumbs up from behind the young superhero. But before he could reply the radio from the woman's car begun to stutter something between echo and radio static.
"This is patrol car 94! We're having a situation in the harbour, possible supervillain attack! Request assistance immediately!"-The radio stuttered as the woman looked towards Kid Lantern with a look that said more than any sentence.
"You need to go, if you ever need me I'm detective Jenifer Marz."-She said as Kid Lantern immediately jolted from the shop into the sky as Jennifer looked upwards into the clouds. 'Godspeed little Lantern.'-she thought as meanwhile Kid Lantern in little less than a minute found himself floating above the Coast City naval yard, and it was at this moment he realised what he was dealing with. 'Water, why did it had to be water? Couldn't be something campy? Like lava or LCL?'-he thought as anxiety over the fact he couldn't swim pierced him faster than a speeding bullet. But fear could wait as he saw another tidal wave hitting the boats with such strength that it attack people. Kid Lantern put on speed before creating a large sea wall allowing the frightened civilians to escape. As the coast was clear with people and with ring risen Kid Lantern was ready for anything. 'Ring! Give me a scan for heat signatures from under the water level.'-he thought as the visor on his mask lit up, allowing him to see several heat signatures, and what set him on high alert. A large heat signature, that soon revealed itself in a form of a black submarine.
"Ring?"-Kid Lantern asked as he scanned though the submarine as his ring soon answered.
"Negative, no data on the submarine, caution advised."-The Ring's AI replied as Kid Lantern only sighed, just as the submarine's hatch opened to reveal a man dressed in a black diving suit with additional armour with an addition of a bubbly-looking grey helmet with red eyes and connected via tubes to his backpack. Kid Lantern made an immediate connection that it was the bad guy as the said "bad guy" looked up.
"You're not Green Lantern."-He said in a modulated voice as Kid Lantern showed him a grimace.
"A Green Lantern, and what are you doing here? Surrender and put down your weapons immediately, same for your men."-Kid Lantern replied in a stern tone as the man suddenly fired lasers from his eyes. Immediately sensing the danger the young Lantern quickly put up a shield, tanking the barrage he transformed the shield into a battering ram, propelling himself towards the man who leaped off the sub as the ram dented the side of the ship. The man, probably distraught with the fact his ship was damaged opened the compartments on his shoulders before firing a barrage of missiles that were tanked by Kid Lantern's shield. 'A guy in a scuba suit gives me such difficulties?'-he thought as suddenly he felt bullets…rapidly approaching him as he reinforced his aura. Seconds passed as he saw himself surrounded by several men dressed in similar black diving suits and holding machine guns. 'Come on Ikari, think! It's not like your shield will stand forever.'-he thought as then he was struck with an idea. It already worked once against two supervillains and with depowered ring. He concentrated a right amount of willpower into a contaminated blast before feeling the green parts of his uniform getting hotter. Before suddenly his ring released a blast of blinding light, temporarily confusing the henchmen as they went back underwater. Allowing Kid Lantern to focus on his singular target. 'Go for the leader, if the general is out then troops will hand themselves over on a tray.'-he recited internally one of Kilowog's lessons as thanks to his mask he managed to locate him, sending him deep into the water with a determined facial expression, hiding his panic that he was far from the surface. The man knew it as he decked Kid Lantern into the chest sending him flying…or swimming as it would be seen. 'Ring keeps me with air so I don't have to worry about that…although it's a shame that doesn't do anything about the thousands of tons pressing onto me.'-he thought as the main topic going inside his head was the person currently swimming in front of him. The crimson eyes of his helmet lighting up seemingly ready for firing another blast.
"Bad move little Lantern, trying to take Black Manta on the water."-Black Manta said as Kid Lantern didn't seem to mind the water…he still had the will to fight. Suddenly he fired a massive barrage of green beams from his ring but to no avail. Black Manta seemed to swim as fast as a speedboat and had great accuracy with his eye blasts evaporating the green energy beams, the fact that they were still underwater was only a cherry on the top of the cake made out of misfortunes. Kid Lantern kept firing beams upon Black Manta before he got grabbed by the throat and put into the side of submarine. Although he was still able to breath though his aura it was getting harder with every passing second. Black Manta's eyes once again lit up reading another blast.
"Game over little Lantern."-He said before suddenly Kid Lantern turned around to see a large hammerhead shark.
"MANTA!"-A deep voice exclaimed as Black Manta was sent flying away from the young Lantern who took although being underwater took a deep breath though his aura. Although any thoughts that were forming in his head were suddenly cut as he felt a warm hand on his shoulder, confused on how he could feel it though his aura he turned around to see a girl looking at him. 'Redheads, why it always have to be redheads?'-he thought at his newly met compatriot. She had short red hair and blue eyes complementing the freckles on her face. She wore a yellow top matching her gloves and what looked like water knee socks without feet and a cyan skirt that matched her choker and details on her top.
"Are you alright?"-She asked with concern as Kid Lantern wiped the back of his head.
"Yeah…I think so."-He replied as both he and the girl now looked at Black Manta as he was being fought by a man dressed in an orange scale shirt and green pants.
"Tula! Watch out!"-Another voice suddenly said as suddenly several of Black Manta's men appeared and opened fire at them, with quick thinking Kid Lantern raised a shield tanking their bullets.
"Don't worry, I'll protect you!"-he spurted at the girl as he used the occasion of the attackers reloading their rifles to fire upon them with his ring, knocking them out and destroying their weapons in a process. As the men unconsciously floated in the sea he turned around towards the girl to ensure she was right. Not knowing the fact that one of the men woke up and aimed his rifle at the young Lantern what was noticed by the girl.
"Behind you!"-She said as suddenly both of her arms and face appeared to have glowing blue marks as she fired a singular blast made out of water knocking out the man once again. Kid Lantern was…surprised to say the least as he turned towards the knocked out man and back to the girl.
"Thanks, we should probably get going. I see you don't have problem with breathing underwater right?"-Kid Lantern asked as the girl nodded.
"Right…I should thank you as well, oh! I'm Tula by the way!"-She introduced herself as Kid Lantern lifted himself up.
"Oh…I'm Shinji Ikari."-Kid Lantern blurted out as he flew away…realising what mistake he made. 'Way to get your identity leaked you idiot!'-his inner self scolded him as he found himself in front of the several of the enemy's henchmen. 'Just like Kilowog said, focus on the mission and the task at hand, if you lose focus, you lose courage and with that you're dead.'-he recited as he summoned a pellet rifle and finally retaliated against the enemy with something other than just his stun beam. Quickly dealing with another group as he saw yet another group of enemies approaching him, he pushed his imagination to its limits as he summoned a make-shift harpoon made out of a positron canon with a spear of Longinus at the tip. 'I hope this will work.'-he thought as he fired the harpoon at the group, imprisoning them on the side of the ship before making the spear electrocute the men knocking them out. Impressed he looked down at his weapon. 'I think we will be good friends.'-he thought as he put the harpoon on his back and got to work. For his second fight underwater after facing off against the angel with Asuka while piloting Unit 02 he did well, using both his ring and his harpoon to deal with remaining enemies, burying his fear of water and the fact that without his ring he would be immediately killed before he could feel it. 'Keep calm Ikari, it's like flying in space…but not weightless.'-he kept reciting before he was surrounded by unconscious floating bodies. 'That's all of them, I just hope Tula is okay…wait, where is she?'-he asked himself as he scanned the terrain with his ring before finally locating Tula, thank goodness safe as she talked with two teenage boys…underwater, and one of them had gills. One was dressed in blue and had medium-long black hair and lighter shade of skin, the second was dressed in red, he had a darker shade of skin and short blonde hair. What caught the young Lantern's attention were the tattoos on his arms and silver hilts on his back. He put on speed before finding himself among their group. What confused him was that the three underwater teenagers slightly bowing as then Kid Lantern to see the same man who was fighting Black Manta just few minutes ago, he could now see that the man was of muscular build probably better then Hal's and had short blonde hair with perfectly trimmed beard and blue eyes, although serious-looking he could see that the man was looking at him with a kind-hearted facial expression.
"Well done young lad."-He said putting his strong hand on Kid Lantern's shoulder.
"Uhm…thank you sir, but where is Manta?"-He asked as the man slightly looked down.
"Sadly escaped, and no thanks necessary. We should be the ones thanking you young Lantern, with your abilities and skills you've defended people on the surface and helped take down Manta's soldiers, what is your name Lad?"-The man asked as Kid Lantern wiped the back of his head.
"My name?"-He asked as the man nodded in understanding.
"If you want to use your pseudonym it's fine."-He said as Kid Lantern nodded.
"Right, I'm Kid Lantern."-Kid Lantern replied as the man once again smiled.
"Pleasure to meet you son, you must be Green Lantern's new protégé. It is nice to know we have another young warrior among our ranks, allow me to introduce my young accompanies, you've already met Tula, this is Garth and my own protégé Aqualad, Kaldur'am. And I am Aquaman."-Aquaman said pointing at the black-haired boy and the dark skinned boy respectively who both slightly bowed as well.
"It is nice to meet you."-Kaldur said as Kid Lantern slightly bowed as well Kid Lantern said as Aquaman put his hand on Kid Lantern's shoulder again.
"And as for a reward for aiding us, allow me to offer the hospitality of Atlantis."-Aquaman said as under his mask Kid Lantern raised his eyebrow.
"The Atlantis?"-He asked confused as Aquaman continued to smile.
"Yes Atlantis, I guess you have heard of it?"-Aquaman asked as Garth raised his hand.
"I think he means the human legend King Orin."-The black haired boy said as Aquaman nodded.
"Of course, then let me show the real Atlantis."-Aquaman said before blasting off like a speedboat with Garth and Kaldur following him. 'How can a human swim so fast? If they are even humans?'-Kid Lantern thought as he then felt the familiar hand grab his own. As he turned around he saw Tula smiling at him.
"Well, what are you waiting for? Come on!"-Tula said as she pulled him with surprising strength as Kid Lantern caught up with his speed to Tula's, who seemingly swam as fast as Aquaman and the two young boys, and kept looking at the young Lantern.
"You know, you can take off your mask. You are among friends Shinji Ikari."-She added as Kid Lantern slightly looked down. 'Yeah, I forgot about THAT. But let's hope the media don't go kilometres underwater, and it's not like I will step into the water again any time soon.'-Shinji thought as his alter ego outside sighed.
"Yeah…but you know, the whole secret identity thing."-Kid Lantern said as Tula kept her smile.
"I promise neither me nor Kaldur and Garth will tell any of your surface journalists who you are under that mask."-Tula said in a tone that Kid Lantern…or Shinji Ikari couldn't resist, either of them not knowing if it was the one or the other who couldn't resist her tone, and so with a tone of green flames Shinji's mask had vanished, allowing Tula to join the narrow group of people who had seen the face of the happy go-lucky yet responsible young superhero Kid Lantern. For some reason Tula kept looking into his face for a little too long.
"Is something wrong? Do I have something on my face?"-Shinji asked as Tula kept looking at his facial expression.
"You seem worried, is everything ok?"-Tula asked rapidly changing the subject as Shinji could feel the very reason behind his worries pressing harder against his aura as they kept swimming or "flying".
"I don't know if I can say it, for someone who lives under water you'll probably laugh at it."-Shinji said as Tula kept smiling.
"Don't worry, besides it's rude to laugh at your guests."-She said as Shinji sighed.
"Ok, I can't swim…"-Shinji said as Tula almost stopped pulling him, looking at him for a second before letting out a silent chuckle.
"Humans…well not all humans were not made to float! If we could we would all have gills!"-Shinji exclaimed in a high pitched tone as Tula kept silently laughing.
"I'm sorry if I offended you, it's just you are afraid of ocean while flying though the depths of space."-Tula said as she kept looking into Shinji's eyes, who's facial expression looked less then amused.
"Yes, but at least space doesn't press you with thousands of tons and kill you with implosion."-Shinji said as Tula gestured her free hand to showcase the view around them.
"Yet remember that space is death and isolation, the ocean is life, a breathing organism."-Tula said as they passed a group of fish and used her hand to wave at the fish. 'Well, if you are a fish…or a fish person, yet her hand doesn't feel like scales.'-Shinji thought as he saw that the ground under them was slowly turning from sand into coral, he then looked up once again towards Tula.
"How long until we will reach the city?"-He asked as then Tula once again shot a glance at him.
"We're already here, welcome to Poseidonis Shinji."-Tula said as soon Shinji saw a marvellous complex made out of several Greek styled buildings. 'A civilisation residing entirely underwater. I guess sometimes the conspiracy theories are true.'-he thought as still felt Tula's hand who kept looking at his marvelled facial expression.
"Come on."-She said as she pulled his hand along for a trip, Garth and Kaldur and Tula had toured him around the city, Shinji so immersed in the atmosphere and beauty that the fact he was thousands of miles underwater wasn't that much of a problem. The three teens proved to be great hosts, Garth was confident and boisterous but still very kind. Tula was really kind and sweet, but sometimes a little bit too pushy into his zone of comfort. Kaldur'am he grew fond of the most. Unlike his friends he was reserved and quiet but seemed kindest out of the three. The three were nothing but nice and answered any of his questions he had regarding the Atleanan history. Shinji was now being escorted towards another building, as he flew next to his newly met friends he could see Atleanians of various skin colours and shapes practicing various forms of magic…yes magic, for someone with a science background and someone with a gift of science subjects himself he should have problems with coming to grip with existence something as extra-terrestrial as magic, but after witnessing the lovecraftian horror that were the angels and after the various people he met on Oa and on his first assignment he was ready to believe in everything. Some of the young students brought Shinji's attention. Like the green skinned boy who resembled more of a fish then a human could increase his size facing off against a girl who had fish tail rather than a pair of legs.
"This is the conservatory of sorcery, it where we study…sorcery of course."-Tula said with a smile as then Kaldur turned towards them.
"And not only regular sorcery, but also combat sorcery as well. It is similar to your hard light constructs, instead made out of water rather than light."-He explained as Shinji nodded to his words.
"Look, there is Queen Mera, let's go say hi!"-Tula said as she swam down with Kaldur, Garth and Shinji following down towards the round arena as Shinji saw another woman, an older redhead with her long hair tied into a ponytail, she also wore a golden helmet on her head and her entire outfit consisted of a green bikini with golden details and a dark green skirt.
"Good La'gann, Lori…you've both made great progress."-the woman said as the quartet of teenagers landed on the floor with Kaldur, Garth and Tula all slightly bowing.
"Kaldur' am, Garth, Tula. I see you've returned. And that you brought a friend from the surface."-she said as Kaldur gestured towards Shinji.
"My Queen, this is Shinji Ikari from the surface world, he is a Green Lantern that helped us fend off Black Manta."-He said as Shinji upon reaction quickly bowed before he was overran by La'gann and Lori.
"Are you a real Green Lantern, can you show us your ring?"-Lori asked as Shinji awkwardly lifted off his ring hand as both she and La'gann inspected his hand.
"Amazing, is it the truth you can soar though the stars as if you were swimming in the ocean?"-La'gann asked as Shinji only nodded. But before he could answer any of the question the younger kids were pushed away by Garth.
"All right you two, I believe you have another class soon."-Garth said as the two younger students only sighed in dissatisfaction before swimming away from them. Shinji however turned towards Kaldur.
"Excuse me, you said Combat Sorcery was similar to my constructs. But aside from a singular blast from Tula I never had a chance to fully see it."-Shinji said as then Garth shot a smile at Kaldur.
"What do you say Kaldur? Do you think we could demonstrate how we do things here?"-Garth asked as Kaldur nodded before the two swam away and took their stances.
"Now watch it."-Tula said as the sparring began with Garth shooting out a whirlpool at Kaldur, who took out the silver hilts from his back and reshaped the attack into a pair of swords. As Shinji kept watching marvelling at their technique and he himself making mental notes Tula once again chimed in.
"You know…for someone who is afraid of water you took your fight very well."-She said as Shinji blushed while trying to keep attention on the duel. As Kaldur swung his swords and Garth kept dodging his attacks.
"I only focused and what was the task at hand, it's better that way then just be afraid of something and lose your focus, and with that your life."-Shinji said as his thoughts went back to the battle with the living shadow Leliel, where his cockiness almost got him killed. Tula for a second puzzled on what he said before she lifted up her finger.
"I know that if Green Lanterns are afraid then they lose their powers, maybe…I could teach you how to swim? There isn't anyone better than an Atleanan to teach you."-Tula said as Shinji immediately blushed as he kept watching.
"I SUMMON THE POWER OF THE TEMPEST!"-Garth exclaimed as he begun to build up a large water blast while Shinji couldn't keep his attention between what was happening in front of him and what Tula just proposed to him.
"B-But, I probably live thousands of kilometres away from here, it would be hard for me to come here."-Shinji said as Tula looked at him with a cheeky facial expression.
"And it's not like your ring cannot find people Galaxies away, ever since our king became a surface hero we have access to surface media. If you have other worries, then know I don't have problems with breathing on the surface."-Tula said as meanwhile on the arena Kaldur focused the water in his hilts into a shape of a gigantic sea monster. While that was happening Shinji thought about Tula proposed to him. He didn't want to admit it but she was right. Not every villain Shinji would face would be land-based, the fight with Black Manta proved it, if it wasn't for Aquaman then it couldn't end up well. The fact that someone proposed him to tutor him in something he was lacking in also helped. It's not like Asuka ever bothered to help him, and even if she would she would just brag about being a child prodigy. As he kept thinking the two attacks clashed as both Kaldur and Garth seemed to struggle against each other before they both vanished. Both of the participants panting for…air?...water?
"See…this is combat sorcery."-Garth said as Mera clapped her hands.
"Bravo! I see you are making progress even after you paused your studies at the conservatory Kaldur' am."-Mera said as she swam towards the two boys just as Shinji then turned towards the redhead.
"You know…ok, it's about time I've learned how to swim."-Shinji said as Tula smiled.
"Great! Visit me next week and we will formulate some form of a graph."-Tula said as suddenly in the distance all of them heard an explosion.
"It's from the science centre."-Kaldur said as he swam away alongside Garth with Tula and Shinji, who at that point put his mask back on followed them. As they reached their destination they witness a giant creature crashing through the wall, it seemed to resembled a giant purple serpent with giant teeth and angry looking yellow eyes. Kid Lantern immediately sent out several bands of light to tie the creature around, him visibly struggling with keeping the construct intact.
"What the? It shouldn't be that hard. Ring! Power percentage remaining?"-Kid Lantern asked as his ring lit up.
"Ring power: 45 percent."-the AI replied as Kid Lantern gritted his teeth. Kaldur and Garth also rushed at the serpent seeing their newly-met friend struggling with keeping the monster intact, Garth summoned a whirlpool while Kaldur formed the water into whips. Kid Lantern then turned around towards Tula and saw that she begun to chant, in a second bands of blue light appeared alongside Kid Lantern's construct, easing the strain on his ring and willpower. It was finally then when the giant serpent became unconscious. Finally letting go of his construct Kid Lantern begun to pant for air as his mask vanished.
"Are you ok?"-Tula asked as she put her hand on Shinji's back who kept panting for air though his aura.
"What, what was that?"-Shinji asked as Tula kept her smile.
"Oh don't worry, that was just an accident."-She said as Shinji turned towards her.
"Accident?"-he asked as Kaldur and Garth swam towards them.
"The staff of the science centre is already taking care of the creature. It's fairly often when you work both with magic and science."-Kaldur said as he and Garth joined Tula and Shinji.
"It's not a big deal, another day in Poseidonis."-Garth said as Tula turned towards Shinji.
"But we still thank you for your help."-she added as Shinji's ring begun to glow signalling an incoming message. Turning around he allowed his ring to project a holographic image of Hal.
"Kid Lantern? Shinji? Are you there? Where are you?"-The voice of Hal asked as Shinji nodded.
"Twenty thousand leagues under the sea."-Shinji joked rubbing his nose as Hal nodded.
"Everything is ok Green Lantern, he is in good company."-Kaldur said as the holographic Hal raised his eyebrow.
"Aqualad?"-He asked as Kaldur nodded.
"It is good to see you again."-He said as Hal rubbed his forehead.
"I should be there when Manta attacked the harbour, but I can read and see that Kid did a good job. Giving him a tour of home as reward?"-Hal asked as Kaldur nodded.
"Indeed, he has proven to be great help against Black Manta."-Kaldur said as Hal nodded.
"Right, but it's dark outside and he should get home."-Hal sternly said as Shinji nodded in agreement, 'Better to get out of here my ring dies.'-he thought as then Tula got close to him.
"Are you sure he can't stay? We have accommodations for surface people."-Tula said as Garth nodded
"Yeah, Tula's right, he's been good help and we enjoyed having him."-Garth added as Shinji turned towards them.
"That's all right, I have school tomorrow and my ring will soon be running on fumes."-Shinji said as Kaldur nodded.
"Understandable, it was good meeting you, until we meet again Kid Lantern."-Kaldur said holding out his hand that Shinji shook as his mask appear.
"Thank you, it was good to meet all of you as well. But now I'm off."-Kid Lantern said as he lifted up.
"Good luck on the surface world."-Tula said as Kid Lantern gave a small salute before finally flying towards the surface. Him picking up speed before finally jolting out of the ocean before rapidly turning towards Coast City.
"You know, that in America schools aren't open on Sundays right?"-Hal asked though the comms as Kid Lantern nodded.
"Yes, but they didn't know that."-Kid Lantern said as he kept thinking on what transpired today, there was a whole of fish people living under water, and one of them offered teaching him how to swim. A pretty girl in fact. 'I have a whole week to think of it. Let's hope nothing else like that will happen.'-he thought as in the distance he saw the tall skyscrapers of Coast City.
A/N: Welcome back to New Genesis Recharged! We are soon approaching the independence day! We're setting up some plot threads and we get a little bit of exploring of Shinji's inner self as well as his masked heroic alter ego, and more obscure DC/Marvel/Who owns Miracleman now? references. Also some things I want to get out of the way. Whenever a character is in mask or costume they will be referred by their secret identity, like Shinji/Kid Lantern or Wally/Kid Flash etcetera etcetera, except for Robin since he hides his identity from the team. Also you can probably notice the naming of the chapters changed. Since we are in a story that will take place over a long period of time I decided to put the year of the team's existence as to differentiate different steps of Shinji's journey and him unlocking new levels of power. Also an announcement, since for some reason Independence day was skipped in the original we will get our first original chapter much sooner, does this mean Kid Lantern will accompany Robin, Aqualad and Kid Flash? Maybe yes or maybe no. But it is still one chapter left to go. Until we meet again. And as always I don't own Evangelion or DC Comics, that belongs to Studio Khara and Warner Bros Discovery.