Avenging Justice 3:
To Infinity and Anti-Life
Part XXXI
Earth, California, Los Angeles
Alexandra, Alex, DeWitt was looking over the images she'd captured earlier in the day. It was a puff piece for the mayor, who unsurprisingly was needing some good press. She understood he was behind in the polls, needing a little bit of a boost. Which is why her job had her shadowing the reporter interviewing him. As such, she was sure it would be remembered later, once he was elected.
She had to admit, there had been some good shots. There was one with the sun in just the right position behind him, giving off a halo type effect. It would definitely play well with the public, but then there was another one that caught her eye. It was a mistake shot, where she'd accidentally pressed the button when trying to reset. However, it was a good mistake. The current mayor wasn't putting on a show, or even aware the camera was on him.
He was giving his son a quick hug, a dog jumping up to be part of the experience. She remembered it because the dog was a breed similar to a german shepherd. The mayor had thrown the dog's toy and both boy and dog ran off happily. There for the briefest of moments was the most genuine smile he'd given the whole day. It was simple, pure, and most of all the truth.
She liked it, now she just had to crop out enough of the photo to protect his kid. In the end, it would show the mayor, the throw, the dog and the hint of the child. This was the one that she sent to her editor, and to the mayor to approve. Just as a back up though, she also mocked up the one with the sun halo effect.
Of course she knew a fellow artist that would love these two shots, so she called up her boyfriend. Well, on again off again boyfriend, to be totally correct. She loved the guy, but he was your typical starving artist. Talented as hell, but in a city full of talented artists, it was hard to be seen or make money off your passion. She had the tenacity to turn her skills to work for her news agency, but he still wanted the creative freedom to do his own projects.
They were good, and he was the kind of artist that was always looking for a new medium. Painting, sculpting, digital art, and even photography, Kyle Rayner had done it all, and was very good. Which is why she felt it wrong that he still only scraped by. The same creative free spirit that she loved about him, also drove her mad. As the demands of the "real" world conflicted with the world he lived in, and the one she had tried to share with him. Still, she had a soft spot for the guy, and knew he'd love these shots.
Picking up her phone, she called him. At the same time hoping he'd kept the phone active, and hadn't forgotten to pay the bill, again. It rang, which was a good thing. However, it was getting to the fourth of fifth ring, meaning he might be engrossed with his art. Just in case, while her phone rang, she sent the images to his email, before making a copy on a removable drive.
"Hey, Alex you're not going to believe this…" Kyle's voice was full of wonder.
She had to cut him off, or spend the next half an hour talking about his newest discovery or piece of work, "Listen, I'm sending you some images over, and I'll be over after work. Care to take a look at them. I figure if we can jazz them up a little, I might be able to get you some extra money coming in."
"Alex, get over here, I have a Green Lantern in my art room!" Kyle's voice came, not reacting to the offer at all.
She was about to get annoyed with him when what he said hit her, "Wait, you've got a Green Lantern in your studio?!"
Across town, in a dingy run down apartment, with a large room doubling as a studio, Kyle Rayner looked at his visitor with disbelief. Blue and Green glowed off his guest's armor, and it looked more like armor than the other Green Lanterns he had seen. He'd kept up with both of Earth's Green Lanterns, but more to do with making inspirational art of them. This one was different though, armor notwithstanding.
It started with the cowl, with what looked like bat ears on it. The other two wore just small masks around their eyes. Also, there was what looked like five sided symbols with something inside them, on each of the Lantern's shoulders. The voice had a timber to it, a reserved leadership value to it. Closest he could get was to Peter Cullen's when he was voicing the alien robot, what was his name?
"Kyle Rayner, there isn't much time," Green Lantern Keith McCallister said. "You are needed, and there isn't much time. Inside of you is a power that will forever change worlds, but first we need to start you on your journey."
Kyle softly spoke into the phone, "Alex, I got to go, hurry." Then taking a look at the floating man in green and blue. "What can I do?"
Green Lantern McCallister, "Well you've heard of 'Save the Cheerleader, Save the world?' Well in your case, master the spectrum, bring forth Life to defeat Death."
Kyle felt his knees go weak, "What was that?"
"Nothing major, we just need you to save all life," the Green Lantern said. "You've done it before."
Sector 99, Deep Space
The Milano rocketed through the emptiness, stars flashing by as the ship juked and jived. Energy fire came from the rear where Gamora and Drax were firing at their pursuers. In the front, Star-Lord flew, while Rocket and Groot were quickly baking something up on the workbench. Behind them dark, ominous shapes that leeched all life, the Black Lanterns.
"Rocket, how are those bombs coming?" Quill yelled from his pilot seat. He pulled the controls just in time to dodge another of those zombie things came at them.
Behind him, Rocket's curt reply didn't surprise him, "If you would learn to fly and keep, I'd be done by now. However, if you keep this up, we'll end up blowing up ourselves and three other sectors!"
"Hurry, you saw what those things did to my baby," Peter quickly said.
Groot piped in, "I am Groot!"
Rocketed nodded, "Yes, listen to the big guy, don't rush genius!"
"You need of me?" Drax called from the back, the sound of his rifle booming. "I'll be there soon."
Rocket growled, "I wasn't talking about you, mush for brains!"
"You guys need to cut it out, and focus or we are all dead!" Gamora yelled. "Drax, you got one on your left. Peter, hurry up and get us out of here."
Rocket's chuckled, "Listen, we've jumped five times, each time they've caught up with us. We need to try something….explosive." The last part said with a glee in his eye, and a smile upon his face.
The Milano hit something, and Quinn cursed, but had to quickly jive to miss another Black Lantern. Gamora called up to the front, but he didn't hear, because of a loud crash behind him where Rocket and Groot were. He really didn't have time to look back, but with what Rocket had been talking about, it would be nice if he was about to die suddenly. So, he hazarded a look back, only to see Gamora pulling an unconscious form beside her.
"Don't worry, I got him," she said. "Didn't you hear me tell you to turn back?"
"Honey, I don't think he's got brain one between those big ears of his," Rocket sneered.
Peter really wanted to strangle Rocket, but he had bigger problems, "No, still dodging those space zombie things."
"Well, I believe the expression you would use it, you ran over royalty," Gamora said as she put the injured man on the medbay table. "He looks Asgardian."
Peter shook his head, "Just what we need, those uptight assholes are almost as bad as the Nova Corps and Green Lanterns."
"Ready!" Rocket shouted as he ran towards the airlock. "Get ready to really punch it, Quill!"
Quickly hitting his emergency space suit, and locking himself into place, Rocket opened his area up to the outside. He felt the air leave, and then tossed the bomb out. Then closing the opening, he hit the communications system. Already he was entering the inside of the ship again, and he felt the ship change as it picked up speed suddenly. Behind them was a massive light explosion that sent energy in three hundred sixty degrees. All that was touched by the blast was incinerated, and the energy wave was catching up with the Milano.
Peter held the course, and watched the blast catching up with them. A beep came on his controls, and he instantly pushed the faster than light controls. Instantly the Milano disappeared and the energy wave slammed into nothingness. However, the black specks just flew off, this wasn't done yet.
Half a lightyear away, the Milano came out of FTL. Quill quickly checked his systems, while Gamora checked their scanners. The things following them weren't there anymore. She fell back into her chair. That was way too close, and the worst part, she felt this only the beginning. These things were coming from everywhere at once. With nothing from any of the major powers, Gamora felt like things were really bad.
"I am Groot," Groot sat down hard, either really tired or imitating Peter's sudden fatigue.
Rocket came scampering up to his chair, "Don't say that! You're going to jinx us. I mean really!"
"Is the Plant thing a prognosticator?" Drax asked. "What is this jinx?"
Rocket sighed, "You are, meathead. You're a jinx. Someone says big guy and you think of yourself."
"I am big!" Drax said proudly.
Rocket cackled, "Groot's taller than you, he's the biggest one of us."
"I will bring him down to size," Drax turned towards Groot.
Groot got up, "I am Groot."
"You two settle down," Peter got up from his chair. "Rocket, let's get to repairing the ship. Groot, keep an eye on our new guest. Gamora, Drax keep an eye out for anything that enters our space."