Jessica's spear met Tarra's mace with a crackling burst of energy, emerald light clashing violently with the pulsating electricity of the Nth metal. The sound was deafening, reverberating through the store as the remaining shelves toppled and cans rolled across the floor. Jessica's arm trembled under the strain of holding her ground against the sheer force of Tarra's blow.
"You've got guts, I'll give you that," Tarra snarled, leaning into the clash, her wings unfurling to their full, imposing span. "But guts won't save you."
Jessica gritted her teeth and pushed back, the spear's glowing brighter as she forced Tarra to take a step back. "And neither will arrogance."
Tarra laughed, a harsh, guttural sound that sent shivers down Jessica's spine. "Arrogance? No, little Lantern. It's experience."
Jessica didn't respond. She couldn't afford to. Instead, she twisted her wrist, transforming the spear into a massive spiked flail. She swung it in a wide arc, forcing Tarra to leap back to avoid the construct. The Thanagarian's eyes narrowed as her mace spun lazily in her hand.
"Not bad," Tarra said, smirking as she circled her opponent like a hawk sizing up its prey. "But you're burning yourself out. I can see it in your eyes, feel it in the way your constructs hit. You're out of your league."
Jessica's heart pounded in her chest, her breaths coming in short, sharp bursts. Tarra was right—she was running on fumes. But she couldn't back down now. Shayera would never back down and Jessica refused to disappoint her mentor.
"Then why don't you just finish this?" Jessica challenged, raising her glowing hand in defiance.
Tarra's smirk widened at the invitation, "With pleasure."
She dove, her wings folding tight against her back as she plummeted toward Jessica like a missile. Jessica braced herself, summoning a massive barrier just in time to absorb the impact. The force of Tarra's attack shattered the construct, sending shards of green energy flying in every direction, but Jessica was ready. She spun on her heels, creating a massive fist that slammed into Tarra's side, sending the Thanagarian crashing through the already broken windows and skidding across the asphalt. Cars screeched as they swerved or stopped to avoid hitting the Thanagarian.
Tarra quickly regained her bearings and was back on her feet in an instant, her wings flaring as she launched herself at Jessica once more. The rookie Lantern ducked under the swing of Tarra's mace, her ring conjuring a pair of glowing chains that coiled around Tarra's legs.
"Got you now," Jessica panted, pulling the chains tight.
Tarra's eyes narrowed, "Cute trick."
With a powerful flap of her wings, Tarra yanked Jessica off her feet, dragging the Lantern into the air with her with terrifying speed. Jessica barely had time to react as Tarra's mace came crashing down, narrowly missing her head as she twisted to the side.
The two women grappled, their movements a blur of green light and metallic glints. Jessica managed to land a solid punch to Tarra's jaw but the Thanagarian barely flinched. She retaliated with a brutal jab to Jessica's ribs, knocking the wind out of her.
"You're persistent," Tarra growled, tackling Jessica to the ground with a knee on her chest. "But persistence only gets you so far."
Jessica's vision blurred as Tarra's grip tightened around her throat but she refused to give up. Summoning every ounce of her willpower, she created a construct of a massive battering ram that slammed into Tarra's side, sending the Thanagarian flying across the street and into the siding of a building
"You don't know when to quit, do you?" Tarra said, moving the debris off of herself with a scowl. She wiped a trickle of blood from the corner of her mouth, her eyes burning with rage as she flew at the Green Lantern. "Fine, let's end this."
Jessica stumbled to her feet, clutching her side as she gasped for air. She was exhausted, her ring flickering weakly, but she refused to give in. Though she also knew when she was in over her head. She brought a hand up to her ear, "Shayera..."
Tarra's eyes widened when the name left Jessica's mouth. Before the Green Lantern could say anything else, the Thanagarian struck her over the head with her mace. An uncharacteristic blow from the bounty hunter, one not meant to kill but to incapacitate.
Jessica crumpled to the ground and Tarra stood over her, chest heaving, her mace still sparking faintly from the impact. The name Shayera echoed in her mind. She should have felt triumphant, but instead, unease settled over her like a shadow.
The street was eerily quiet now, save for the distant wail of sirens. Bystanders who had gathered at a safe distance murmured amongst themselves, some pulling out their phones to record the aftermath. For once, Tarra ignored the humans, her focus locked on the unconscious Green Lantern at her feet.
"Shayera..." Tarra muttered under her breath, her grip on the mace tightening.
Kneeling, Tarra inspected Jessica's ring. It still pulsed faintly, its green light flickering like a heartbeat. Tarra could feel the willpower emanating from it, even in the Green Lantern's unconscious state. This one wasn't just some rookie playing hero; she was dangerous in her own right. But that name she uttered—Shayera—changed everything.
"Who are you to her?" Tarra growled, though she knew Jessica couldn't hear her. She looked up, her sharp eyes scanning the skyline of San Diego. If Jessica was calling for Shayera than the former Thanagarian lieutenant couldn't be far away.
Her wings snapped open, ready to take off, but hesitation rooted her to the spot. For all her bravado, Tarra knew this confrontation wasn't going to be easy. Shayera had been a force to be reckoned with during her years in the military.
...and if the stories Tarra had heard from the invasion were true, Shayera hadn't lost her edge. Tarra doubted that living among humans could have dulled Shayera's instincts. She was a hardened soldier with decades of experience. If anything, the Justice League's influence might have made her even more formidable—a soldier tempered by purpose, not just duty.
With a low growl, Tarra stood, her gaze still fixed on the Green Lantern. Jessica's ring continued to flicker weakly, the faint green light casting an eerie glow over the asphalt. Tarra's grip tightened on her mace as she considered her options. The mission had been straightforward—track down Shayera, kill her, get the bounty. But now, with this Green Lantern thrown in...things had changed.
She sighed deeply, wings folding tightly against her back as she glared at Jessica's prone form. Her finger itched to grab her mace. She could end this all right now. Torn between killing her and using her for information, Tarra let out a growl of frustration. The Green Lantern stirred slightly, groaning as her eyes fluttered open, confusion clouding her expression.
"Surprised you're awake," Tarra noted dryly, her voice a mixture of annoyance and reluctant respect. "Stay down."
Jessica groaned, pushing herself up weakly, but her body refused to cooperate, and she slumped back to the ground. She winced as her head exploded with pain but the fire in her eyes didn't falter.
Tarra observed the fire in Jessica's eyes with a mixture of curiosity and frustration. The Green Lantern was clearly in no condition to continue but her willpower was undeniable. It was a trait she couldn't help but respect, even as it irritated her.
"You're tough for a human. I'll give you that," Tarra muttered, pacing around the fallen Lantern.
Jessica's vision swam, her mind struggling to focus as Tarra's words swirled around her. Each syllable cut through her like a blade, and yet, she could still feel that same stubborn fire burning deep within her. Despite the pain, despite the exhaustion, she refused to let herself stay down for long.
Tarra's boots clacked against the pavement, the sound echoing in the silence between them. "You really are a piece of work," she said, voice dripping with disdain. "You and your little Green Lantern crew. You think you can save everyone, don't you?"
Jessica coughed, her ribs burning from Tarra's earlier strike, but she managed to speak, her voice thick with defiance. "We do...what we can...because someone has to."
Tarra's eyes flickered with something akin to amusement before they hardened, "You humans never learn. You'll never be enough to stop me."
Jessica managed to lift her head slightly, meeting Tarra's gaze despite the throbbing pain in her skull. "Then maybe... you'll have to deal with the League. And they'll stop you, like they always do."
At the mention of the Justice League, Tarra's jaw tightened. She wanted to laugh, wanted to brush off the idea of a handful of heroes taking her down, but something about the way Jessica said it—so sure, so unyielding—stopped her. The Green Lantern had a point. The League had faced far worse enemies than her.
They had defeated the Thanagarian Empire for one.
"I've heard enough," Tarra growled, taking a step toward Jessica. "I don't have time for this. But you're right about one thing there is a bigger picture here. And if I have to go through you to get to Shayera, then so be it."
Jessica was silent for a moment. She then frowned. "I don't care... who you're after," Jessica whispered, her voice thick but resolute. "I'm not...letting you get away with it."
Tarra stared down at Jessica, her heart pounding with the realization of how deeply the young Green Lantern believed in her cause. It was the same unwavering conviction she'd seen in soldiers—before they'd fallen on battlefield. The stubbornness of youth. Tarra's lips curled into a tight smile, a mixture of admiration and something darker.
"You think you're going to stop me?" Tarra's voice dropped, cold as steel. She stepped closer, looming over the injured Lantern, her wings casting a shadow that stretched across the cracked asphalt. "You, a mere human, with a flickering ring and no idea what you're really up against? I think I'm done with you now."
"Not if I can help it," Jessica muttered, struggling to push herself up again, her body rebelling with each movement. Her hands pressed into the ground as her ring flared to life once more, the faint green light growing stronger.
Tarra took a step back, studying Jessica with renewed interest. "You're resilient," she observed, her voice tinged with begrudging respect. "I almost want to see how long you can last."
Jessica's fingers twitched, her ring flaring as her willpower surged. She pushed herself up again, this time more slowly, knowing her body was on the brink of failure. Her breath was ragged, but the green glow that surrounded her was growing brighter, fueled by her defiance. The pain in her side and head was unbearable, but it only served to remind her why she couldn't give up.
Tarra watched her with a mixture of amusement and contempt. "You know, you should just let it go. You don't have what it takes." Her wings rustled, the faint hum of her energy field vibrating in the air. She raised her mace, eyes narrowing as she sized up her opponent. "I'm out of your league."
"Maybe," Jessica whispered, gritting her teeth as she staggered to her feet. "But I'm not going anywhere. Not until you're gone."
Tarra's lip curled into a smirk. "You really think you can stop me? What do you think this ring is, some magical talisman that can defeat me?" She stepped forward again, her eyes flashing with an intensity that matched the surge of power in her muscles. "I was a soldier long before you even born and I've fought against far worse than anything you have ever seen."
But even as she spoke, something about Jessica's words began to sink in. Despite the pain, despite everything, the Green Lantern had fought tooth and nail just to survive this long. There was no way Tarra could ignore the grit in her eyes. The Thanagarian's wings twitched, her mace held loosely in her hand, as she took a step back, considering the situation. She could crush Jessica right here and now, end this fight, and move on to the true target—Shayera.
Tarra's wings flared again, the air around them growing thick with anticipation. She didn't just want to fight anymore—she wanted to break this defiant human, force her to see how futile resistance was. Tarra finally made a decision, her wings sliced through the air. Tarra's grip on her mace tightened, her mind set on finishing what she started.
She launched herself forward, a blur of deadly precision aimed directly at Jessica, the beating of her wings and the crackle of her mace cutting through the air like a death sentence. Her target, weak and vulnerable, was a sitting duck now.
But just as Tarra's strike was about to land, a shadow swept across the street, the air pulsing with the heavy beat of powerful wings. Before Tarra could react, a blur of motion collided with her, sending her sprawling backward onto the cracked pavement. Her mace flew from her hand, skidding across the asphalt.
Tarra growled, pushing herself to her feet, but the sight before her made her stop cold.
Shayera Hol.
The former Thanagarian lieutenant stood between Jessica and Tarra, her wings flared wide and her posture exuding the quiet, deadly confidence of someone who had fought countless battles. Her gaze was locked on Tarra.
Jessica faintly smiled as she collapsed to her knees with a relieved breath, "Shayera."
"Stay away from her!" Shayera growled through clenched teeth. She continued to study Tarra. She hadn't seen her in decades. It also worried Shayera that someone like Tarra was even on Earth to begin with. Then a scowl formed on her face. She didn't need to put two and two together to figure out who had been behind those murders now. It all made sense.
Tarra smirked, "You're protecting a Green Lantern? How precious."
"What do you want with her? Why are you even on Earth?" Shayera took a precautionary step back. She would be lying if she said she wasn't a bit intimidated by Tarra. She had heard the stories. She had heard of the horrors that Tarra inflicted on those that she hunted. She had even seen her on the battlefield first hand. Tarra was ruthless and didn't know the meaning of mercy. Tarra was not just deadly but a well-trained soldier as well. Though even Shayera could recognize that Tarra would have the upper hand in combat. She toiled day after day in life or death battles. Shayera could no longer say the same for herself.
Tarra let out a laugh, "Her? You think I'm here for the Green Lantern. Oh Hol, why would I ever come for this pathetic, little human?" Tarra's smile twisted into something more sinister as she slowly stood to her full height. Tarra's smirk faded, her expression hardening as she took a step forward. "It's always been about you, Hol. You know that?"
Shayera's posture remained stiff, though the words cut deep. Her eyes, once calm, now burned with a quiet fury that she had tried to bury since the Thanagarian Invasion. Tarra had always been a ruthless and cunning hunter but the sting of being targeted for a bounty after all these years. The years spent trying to move on, to find some semblance of peace. It struck at a raw nerve.
Shayera clenched her fists, the weight of her mace suddenly feeling heavier in her hand. She was not the same as she was on Thanagar. She was no longer driven by the cold, impersonal orders of a war machine. The years spent on Earth and with the Justice League had taught her about hope, about protecting others, about standing with those she cared for. But facing Tarra now, she could feel her old instincts scratching at the back of her mind. It was a bitter reminder of the person she used to be, the person she had tried to bury.
"You've been living a comfortable life here, protecting these pathetic humans, hiding behind your little Justice League," her voice was low, dripping with disdain. "I'm coming for you. I'm getting that bounty one way or another."
"I'm not hiding behind anything, Tarra," Shayera said, her voice growing firmer, more controlled. "I'm standing here for what I believe in."
Tarra chuckled darkly, "Time for the fun."
With a quick motion, Tarra lunged forward, her wings folding against her back as she launched herself into the air. The space between them closed in an instant, and Shayera was ready—her mace raised, her stance solid and unyielding. She had no intention of backing down.
A/N: So instead of doing my self-review for work...I'm finding any other excuse to not do it. Which entails me going on a writing fest. Hooray for procrastination!