Avenging Justice 3:

To Infinity and Anti-Life

Part XXIII

Earth, Delaware, Metropolis

Brainiac's gigantic skull ship slowly moved across the skyline. Pushing was a much smaller figure, in red and blue. Supergirl was staying close to the ship, having found a secret down in the bowels of the monstrous vehicle. That would have to wait though, because Earth's governments were salivating over the technology in the ship. Advanced tech like in any hands could reshape the world, either in a great way, or in horrible ways. She wasn't prepared to find out just yet.

Her mind wandered to the collection of cities, alien cities from across time and space. Collected by Brainiac throughout his time, and encapsulated inside little bottles. They were almost frozen in time, but she had noticed slight movement. Then a quick check of the nearby systems, indicated that these were actual cities, instead of intricate models. What had really caught her eye, one was labeled Argo City. Her home, where her parents had been, before the destruction.

She landed back inside, many S.H.I.E.L.D. agents and federal agents from the United States were crawling around the ship. They had at least stopped pressing buttons, for the time being. It had taken one being shrunken down, and another being turned inside out. Luckily, she had been able to find the shrunken one, but the other one was gone. Moving passed them, she went back to the miniature cities, gazing on long lost Argo, feeling so close and so far from her home.

Immediately behind her, she heard Tony Stark complaining to someone. She pushed him out, knowing he was necessary, but wishing Kal-El were here. Krypton's last son, and he wasn't here to see a little piece of Krypton salvaged from the dying planet. Once again she felt intense loss filling her, and it was all she could do not to let the tears flow.

"I keep telling Fury we don't need all this extra 'help.' If there is a way to get into these systems, Friday and I will get in," Tony was saying to Steve Rogers. "Now, where did that intern go with my latte? Just need a little pick me up, and I swear the answer is just there!"

Steve resisted the urge to pat Tony on the back, "You need rest, Tony. You've been at this for at least three days. Get some rest, the ship will still be right here."

"Not if they keep letting Super Teen move it," Tony shot back. "She's a nice kid, but she's still a teenager. The hormones alone make me fear for the world."

Steve shook his head and pointed at Supergirl, "Tony, she's right there. Besides, if she is a teen, maybe her schooling will give you an insight."

"Doubt it, we're talking about advanced astrophysics and xenolinguistics," Tony shot back, and then looked at Supergirl. "No offense, Mighty Maiden."

Steve face palmed, "Really, Tony? Get some rest, before you find yourself on Everest's peak."

Tony was about to quip back, when Supergirl shot him a withering look. He took a moment, seemingly replaying the conversation thus far, and then shrugged. He walked off, giving Supergirl a wave. Meanwhile Steve Rogers shook his head and leaned against a bulkhead.

"Apologies, Super Teen, we'll talk later. The old man isn't wrong, you may be of some use," Tony said.

Supergirl went back to watching over Argo City, even as a deadly form in black walked over to Steve Rogers. She knew her from talking with Carol and Diana. She was known as Black Widow, and was said to be very good at her job. Her job being finding and ferreting out things others wanted to be kept out of sight. Spy, Avenger, and total badass, Black Widow was somebody that Supergirl felt herself admiring.

"Looks like you should be taking your own advice," Natasha slinked up and elbowed Steve. "Even super soldiers need their rest."

He laughed, "Maybe, but everywhere I turn, it seems there is another threat to take out."

"There always will be," She replied back. "Since you've been thawed out, you've been running from one disaster to another, taking out threat after threat. When was the last time you took some time for your own needs?"

He shook his head, more to clear it of the cobwebs, "I've been going to a group, Sam introduced me to it."

"Yes, he's a good man," she answered. "Don't be shocked, I was worried about you. You two seem to have quite the bond."

Irritation filled him, but he shunted it down, she meant well. "I don't need you checking up on me."

"Maybe not, but nobody else is looking out for you," Natasha bumped him again. "Fury means well, but he's just keeping you busy. Tony relies too much on you being a moral compass. Wanda and Pietro are more like younger siblings, instead of equals. I think spending time with Clint would be good for you."

Steve laughed, "I know the minute I even try, we'll have another Ultron, another invasion, or one of those four Superman pretenders will start a world ending event."

"Maybe, but you still need it," she turned him, so he could look into her face. "I know this because they trained me well. They taught me to use these weaknesses to my advantage, to exploit them. If I were trying to destroy Captain America, I would strike now. So, I need you to get better."

His look turned to concern, "What's wrong? I'm okay, I'm good."

"No, you're not," she buried her emotions, she had to get through to him. "Right now if a piece of your past were to be dropped into your lap, it would disrupt everything. I know you wouldn't do anything to hurt anyone, but what happens when a good man's loyalties are divided? Bad things, that is what happens."

He gently pulled her to him, careful to keep a little distance. "You know this from personal experience. You've done this before, used someone's divided loyalties to get what you needed."

"I told you they made me a monster," she said and for just a millisecond, she felt her mask drop, but it was back up before he noticed. "So, you're just going to have to trust me."

Steve gave her that smile, the one that made you think everything was okay, "I do. I'll head back down and get some rest."

"Good, to make sure you don't get distracted, I'll be coming along," Natasha said matter-of-factly. "Don't make me lock you in your room!"

He laughed at this and the two walked through the skull shaped ship. Supergirl heard the whine of the Quinjet's engines momentarily later. She smiled, glad that they had each other, even if they hadn't realized it yet. Then again, maybe she was just being a silly girl again. Carol was always teasing her that she was a romantic, though the word didn't completely translate into her own language. Still, if being a romantic meant hoping that those two would find each other, she'd take it.

Somewhere in Space, Sector Undetermined

Hal Jordan found himself hurtling through space, spinning wildly in chaotic fashion. Carol was beside him, her energy shield weakening. Another portal opened, but this one of dread black, and from it several horrifying figured vomited out. Hal's mind raced, even as the little part of his brain that was over threats, was giving him the fight or flight response.

He managed to stop his movement, and brought the ring up to his face, "This is Lantern Jordan of Sector 2814, requesting immediate assistance. Unknown attackers have followed me."

Images began flooding back into his brain, and the more that did, the his adrenaline kicked up. What was coming at him was Death pure and simple. These things had cut through the other Lanterns like a knife through hot butter, and even had overwhelmed Agent Orange's army. All the while, the Guardian's words had been full of the one thing they hated, fear. All except one, and she was cackling like a madwoman.

He and the other Lanterns had gone out to meet the being the Guardians called Agent Orange. They were supposed to subdue him and bring order back to the universe. Which is how their fight with a near unending barrage of orange constructs began. Will and Avarice, or Greed if your prefer, were duking it out amongst the stars. That was when the first darkness had appeared, and then these space zombies had attacked.

To their credit, the Green Lanterns pivoted and fought like glorious warrior monks. However, the sheer numbers of attackers meant they couldn't keep it up for long. It wasn't long before the Guardians had called for a retreat, and each of the Lanterns had tried hold the darkness back as they did. Many fell doing that, while others did what Hal did, and tried to lead the dark enemies away. The idea was to scatter to all corners, and then regroup back on Oa.

Unfortunately for him, the darkness' numbers were enough for some to follow him as he fled. Even worse, Carol had been running from an ambush of her own. They nearly collided, in what would have been more hilarious, if they hadn't been running for their lives. Soon they were fighting back to back, and racing off again, with more of the dark things following them. So immediate was the need for their flight, that they didn't even notice if any of the space zombie things had been destroyed.

"Listen uglies, the zombie thing is overdone. Walking Dead, 28 Days Later, World War Z, it's been done," Hal quipped as he sent a massive green tank rolling over the nearest group. "How about we do this later, when zombies are fresh again."

Behind him Carol groaned, "Did you really say when zombies were fresh again? They're dead, they aren't going to be fresh, ever!"

"Yes, but these guys don't know that!" Hal brought a green mace down on another, quickly switching to a green gatling gun on another group coming up on his side.

Carol grunted, "I don't think we can win this. Every time I damage one, it just keeps coming."

"Noticed that too?" Hal grunted as one of the figures tackled him. "I can't seem to find an opening, any from where you're at."

She snickered, "You do realize I'm literally right behind you!"

"Different vantage and all that," he shrugged. "So, you're saying we're in for a long fight."

They fought along side one another, few of the space zombies fell, but they were distracted enough not to see how it had happened. Instead, they kept going and going, even as their energy began to wane, and their rings began to lose charge. An unwinnable situation, and not how Hal Jordan had seen his time as a Green Lantern ending. If there was one silver lining, Carol was here with him. His last moments would be with her. Even as he hated that she would die with him, he would give anything to save her. Which is when a horrible idea came over him.

Carol saw that look and immediately ribbed him, "Don't even think it. I know that look and it is never good."

"Listen.."Hal began but was stopped as a green odachi sliced through several of the enemy, followed by a swarm of blue daggers.

He looked around, finding a new Green Lantern had caught up. This one with blue mixed in with the green on his uniform, and wearing a cowl that must have been inspired by Batman. Hal was just about to make a quip about hero worship, but the figure spoke first.

"Lantern of Sector 2814, Star Sapphire," the figure said as he took out another. "Combine your ring's energies."

Hal was confused, until he saw a blue glowing ring on the newcomer's other hand. The Blue Light either infused with the Green Light attacks, or quickly followed up with its own. The result of this were the newcomer's targets were actually falling limp. Even more interesting, black specks moved off the now unmoving attacking zombies. They were Black Rings! What in the hell was going on?

"Well, sweetheart, you heard the man," Hal said as he blasted another incoming enemy, and she followed up with her own attack on his target.

The enemy fell lifeless, and again the black ring on its hand flew off. He didn't have time to marvel at this, as another came at Carol. She turned and slammed a staff construct into its jaw, and he followed up with a massive green hammer. The space zombie exploded, and its black ring flew off. They both turned to find more to come, and even with this new information, they didn't have long.

"I think we need to get out of here," Hal called out.

Carol nodded, "I'm still not seeing a way out!"

The newcomer smiled, "Leave that to me. Get ready to run!"

The odd Green Lantern unleashed a tsunami of green water, knocking the enemy back. Following up that was a blue circle that began to spout lasers in all directions. The enemy were being destroyed, while Hal felt his ring's energy levels getting a small boost. Carol seemed to understand this was their chance, so she grabbed Hal by the hand and flew off. He looked back to see the newcomer covering their six.

"Keep going, we're almost there!" the other Green Lantern yelled.

Hal shot back, "What do you think we're doing, going for a stroll?"

Carol gave him a look, but the other Green Lantern laughed, "No, but you have questions and this isn't the time for them. We're heading for home."

"Where is that exactly?" Hal asked.

The other man blasted more of the zombies before opening up a portal, "Sector 1128, Elemiar and her Emerald Knight welcome you."