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Captain Hal Jordan was chosen to represent an intergalactic police force created by the oldest beings in existence - the Guardians of the Universe. Protecting Earth and all of space sector 2814 from every extraterrestrial threat imaginable. Hal Jordan shines his light proudly as the Green Lantern

"In brightest day, in darkest night, no evil shall escape my sight.
Let those who worship evil's might, beware my power - Green Lantern's light!"

 

Coast City Dock

An unmarked truck skids to a stop on the approach to the OmniCorp Hold Facility compound, abandoned tonight in the chaos of the attack by Nekron. Four men leap from the back of the truck. Two of them are carrying shotguns, the other two are carrying cutters for the compounds defences. Their boss was adamant – take advantage of the chaos. Get into that compound and take whatever's there. Nothing OmniCorp does is kosher so it will sell on the black market – weapons, armour, circuits – who knows what might be there. A simple pick-up job.

A green shaft hits the first gunman in the head, knocking him unconscious. Another shaft pierces the second gunman's hand, pinning it to the side of the truck. A green gloved fist and a green booted foot rock the cutter-carrying rogues, beating them with a flurry of blows, into unconsciousness.

The figure scoops up the shotguns and pitches them into the dock and then turns and gets in the face of the man whose hand is pinned to the truck.

“Stop your whining and listen punk. The Lantern might be down by Coast City has still got some Green! Spread the word.”

Green Arrow turns and sprints away. He has work to do.

 

GREEN LANTERN #10

RING OF DARKNESS (2 of 4)

By Neil Gow

 

Coast City

“Hit him hard, hit him fast Justice Society!” Hawkman plummets from the sky and takes Chemo off his feet with the impact of his mace. The construct slides back across the rubble strewn street and laughs.

“Your powers cannot stop me humans. I am beyond human now. I have ascended. Soon I will absorb everything and leave this planet a lifeless husk. I will move to the stars and meet with the Creator. He will approve.”

A blur of scarlet rushes around Chemo, lifting him from the ground and into the air. “Been there, done that … what was it you kids say Courtney?” Jay Garrick, the Flash, taps his head trying to remember.

“ Got the T-Shirt!” Stargirl floats in the air and stabs her gravity staff at Chemo, blasting him across the street. He smashes into a wall but his maleable form absorbs the impact and he bounces down, rising to his feet. Within his featureless frame, fluids shift and bubble as his form begins to change once more.

“Now I will kill you all. None of you can stop me!”

“They cannot but I can.” Stepping from the shadows, the Shade taps his long ebony cane on the ground and darkness envelopes Chemo. “Nothing in, nothing out. Suspended in the nothingness of my dark existence. You can struggle but you cannot escape unless I will it. And I do not.”

The shadows recede and Chemo is gone. The Justice Society gather around for a moment and then separate to try to help against the chaos that is unfolding in Coast City. They answered Hal's call. They pray that Dr Midnite can help him.

Coast City Central Hospital

“Get out of my way! Move! This man needs attention STAT !” Dr. Midnite, the worlds leading authority on metahuman medicine rushes through the entrance of Coast City's finest medical facility. Behind him Ted Grant, the grizzled pugilist known to the world as Wildcat carries the naked limp but twitching body of Hal Jordan. Green Lantern.

Around the costumed samaritans the hospital is in chaos. Throughout the facility the dead are refusing to die. Shrieks of horror resonate around the corridors as half eviscerated corpses rise from operating tables and stagger into the wards. Grieving parents hold their dead children as they look around with lifeless eyes.

Dr Midnite kicks a door open and rushes into side room pulling a gurney around so that Wildcat can lay the body down. Pieter Cross is a remarkable physician but he has never seen anything like this. Jordan is dead but he refuses to die, like so many of the poor wretches in this city.

Midnite looks over the body. The ring-generated costume protected Jordan from the worst of Chemo's acid breath but it was gone now, as was his ring. If he could only fathom what was happening to those people – to Hal – he might be able to help.

The Darkest Night

Everything is moving according to plan. Nekron can feel the potential growing on Earth. Life is a special balance. Life and death in perfect harmony, an equilibrium of universal importance. It had always been that way – until now. He had used his power and influence to find one spot, one singular instance in all of existence and upset the balance. He has suspended death. Life has taken it's chance and refused to let go. The sweetness he can taste on his rotten flesh is the nectar of life's victory. A short lived victory. Death struggled against his dictat, desperate to reclaim its place. Who was he to deny the primal truth it's rightful bounty?

Let the backlash begin! Let death reclaim it's lost souls and in the chaos he will cast forth his army and take Earth and with it the one man who has escaped his grasp – Hal Jordan.

“Children of Nekron. I revoke my curse. Let death return!”

Oa, Centre of the Universe

The news spreads like a virus around Oa as the message is transmitted to the Central Power Battery. It is a message that some have wished for, others have feared but none thought they would hear in their lifetimes.

RING STATUS REPORT. GREEN LANTERN 2814.1 DECEASED
SPACE SECTOR SCAN 2814 FOR REPLACEMENT SENTIENT INITIATED
RING DEFICIENT. RECALL. NEW RING RELEASED

For a moment Oa falls silent as the implications of Jordan's death hits the Green Lanterns. He is more than Honour Guard. For many of their number he is their inspiration. He is the pinnacle of service that a Green Lantern seeks. He is their prime. He is Green Lantern.

And then the silence is split by one mournful sound. A deep, booming, guttural scream of pain and anguish. A wholly alien sound echoing through the massive body of that most human of aliens, the Green Lantern drill master, Kilowog.

“No! No! Not Jordan. After so many, not Jordan!” Rage and fury fill Kilowog's face and he begins to shake as he feels the emotions building in his body.” Gardner!”

Behind him the figure of Grand Marshall Guy Gardner lands. Guy is wearing his normal wrap-over tunic, but he is rarely wearing the red robes of the Honour Guard. He is flanked by a cohort of Green Lanterns – almost one hundred ring bearers. “ We're all ready, Wog.”

Kilowog nods. “OK, poozers. We transwarp to Earth and find whoever did this to Hal. And then we make them realise what happens when you cross the Corps! Now charge your rings.”

The massed ranks of Lanterns turn to the Central Power Battery only to see a Guardian floating between them and the source of their power. Next to the Guardian stands Administrator Salaak.

”The Guardians have let it be known that whilst they share your sorrow at the death of another Lantern, the loss of one man cannot jeopardise the safety of dozens of other sectors. They forbid this … force their wish to travel to Earth.” Salaak speaks slowly, purposefully, as if he was trying to reach out to the Corpsmen and transmit his disapproval of the words.

“ The Hell they can!” Gardner raises his ring and begins to chant his oath. His ring burns on his finger and his body I wracked with pain and agony. He falls to his knees, clutching his forearm and staring at his ring.

“The Guardians have made their commands known. Mourn Hal Jordan but do not revenge him. He is dead to the Corps now. A new ring has been sent forth to find a replacement in his sector.”

Guy stares at Kilowog and then they both look at Salaak. The pink skinned alien bows his strange head in shame. He is only the messenger. Guy pulls himself to his feet and takes a deep breath. “ Stand down.” No one moves. “Goddamit! I said stand down! If the little blue bastards won't help Hal, I know someone who will. Ring. Get me New Cronus. Now!”

Coast City Central Hospital

The screams are the first warning that something has changed. They are not the mournful moans of the walking dead but the emotionally charged agony of those who have seen their loved ones die for a second time. Coast City is filled with them. The noise chills the blood of even the hardest heart.

Hal Jordan stops twitching and Dr Midnite swears. Working furiously he checks the body again. Jordan would not just die. Not him. Not now. He works fast, starting CPR almost as an instinct. He methodically talks to the nurses, asking them to process test after test. He uses his amazing goggles – one of the planets most advanced analytical devices – to check blood, cell structure and other body functions.

Suddenly the door to the room bursts open. Wildcat, who has been pacing the floor before now, springs into action, grabbing the interloper and spinning him into the wall, smashing his face against the sterile surface.

“Whoa! Big guy, I'm on your side!” Green Arrow shrugs off Wildcat and shakes himself down. “Holy …, I came as quickly as I could. You got his signal too? How is he?” Oliver Queen has perfected the visage of the detached loner over the years but Hal is like a brother to him.

“ I know what's done this but I'm not sure what I can do. Hal has received a massive dose of toxins from Chemo. His blood is poisoned and it's killing him from the inside out. He needs a transfusion but Hal's blood type is pretty rare. In this chaos…”

“I'll get the blood.” Green Arrow is heading for the door already.

“ You don't know what his blood type is!”

“ No, I don't. But I know where his daughter lives!”

Deep Space, Sector 2814

When I was a child we would play a game in the time between lectures. We could commune, mind touching mind and then we would share the most horrific deaths that we could imagine and see who was the last person to jump out of the mind circle. We really did come up with some sickness but no one ever came up with the horror I am faced with. Alone.

I was a child when he came. We thought he was our saviour and for a time he was. His knowledge fed our mind web, enriched our lives. He came and he went, arriving from the stars with stories of great battles and wretched oppressors. If only we had known? If only we had been present enough to see the traps, the hidden suggestions, the tiny nuances of panic that he placed within the mind web. When the time came it was all too easy. A prolonged absence, a sense of fear spreading like a virus through our population, the panic, the discord and then the exaltation upon his return.

And then he fed. His mind opened to us like a giant maw and swallowed us whole. He sucked our minds clean of every shred of emotion, independence and telepathic potential. The shock rippled across the planet triggering the Great Panic. Thousands committed suicide rather than face the horror of the loss of the mind web. Millions more simply stopped and died. Some of us, the young, the rebellious, those of us that were not subsumed into the routines of the elders fled to the stars. Or we tried to. His mind reached out and closed down the ships. The drives were powered by our minds and he just ate them, one by one. Our shields would never be strong enough. It was the end.

My ship was the last to fall. The last one to splutter and fail in the darkness and be claimed by the icy cold of the vaccuum. I survived because I was injured. Sedated in the sickbay, my mind neutered. I woke up to find everyone dead and the ship still and cold. Only the orthodox emergency generators were operational, enough for limited emergency life support. I have been trapped in this sterile tomb for a week now. I cannot leave or I will be consumed by the vaccuum. I cannot stay because the life support is failing. I cannot tell anyone because my mind has no anchor, they have all gone. My people are dead, eaten by him. I am the last and now I will die.

The slender young woman slides down the bulkhead of the sickbay. Her skin has a pale blue hue. Her short cropped hair is white. Her eyes begin to fade, from a piercing blue to a dull and lifeless grey. She smiles and exhales one last time … and then a shimmering irridescent green light shocks one more breath into her body!

Kerys Va of Eclipsis, you have the ability to overcome great fear.
I am a power ring sent by the Guardians of the Universe.
We will travel to Oa.
There you will be trained as a member of the Green Lantern Corps.

Suburban Coast City, Mansfield Residence

Hal would not approve. It was a piece of work that would make Batman proud.

To understand the relationship between Oliver Queen and Hal Jordan you have to understand that in a world where people can be slipped into any number of constricting demographic segments some things just don't make sense. Hal is the galactic policeman, soaring through the stars with a weapon that can do virtually anything, delivering justice for a group of enigmatic aliens. He's a member of the military, an officer, a conservative – everything Oliver Queen hates. Queen is a liberal, a rebel albeit a wealthy one. He fights injustice on the street armed with his smarts, attitude and a quiver of arrows that have sometimes bordered on the ridiculous. However, after one summer where fate brought them together to travel across America, Hal and Ollie discovered a bond that has since remained unbroken. Neither of them could explain it and neither tried to hard to do so – they were just happy that when it was down to the line they both knew that they had someone they could always rely upon.

It was on that trip that Hal had told Ollie about some of his daliances when he first received the ring. Ollie couldn't tell whether he was ashamed or proud of the fact that he could bed any woman he wanted, flaunting his celebrity status through the upper eschelons of society. Even in those days, Ollie only had eyes for Dinah. Years later when things started to go crazy for Hal, Ollie had acted on a hunch, something that Batman had mentioned at the time about heriditary insanity and the possibility of a new host for Parallax. Ollie tracked down some of Hal's former paramours and their children. It wasn't easy but he thought he had all of the time in the world. He didn't. Three weeks after he discovered the existence of Ali Mansfield and managed to acquire a good enough DNA sample to run through the Leagues analysers, Final Night occurred and Hal sacrificed himself to save Earth. Ollie had struggled. Should he tell the girl that the insane despot who sacrificed himself was her father or should he keep the secret? He decided that discretion was best but he pledged to keep an eye on the girl as she grew up.

And then Hal returned and began to rebuild his life and his reputation. Ollie watched him as he flitted between the Earth and Oa and God knows where and there was never a good time. Not to tell Hal. He would have done something stupid and implusive. He wouldn't have thought it through. Ollie kept the secret until now.

Ollie raps on the door. There is a scream from inside and paniced shouting. The entire city is in the middle of a living hell – its not like they are going to open the door to anyone. Ollie rolls his eyes and shoutings ‘”Ms Mansfield, this is Green Arrow … of the Justice League. You must let me in.”

Ollie wouldn't repeat the reply in polite company. Sighing he takes a step back and plucks an arrowhead from his quiver and runs it down the edge of the door. The crimson beam from the lazerhead arrow slices through the locks and he pushes the door open. The women on the other side scream and a vase smashes next to his head as he moves into the apartment.

“Mom! That really IS Green Arrow!” A dark-haired teenage girl grabs her mothers arm as she prepares to continue her futile defence of her home.

“Ms Mansfield, please, calm down!” Ollie raises his hands in a peaceful sign. “ Ms Mansfield. I'll have to make this quick and I apologise in advance. Fifteen years ago you … spent a night with Green Lantern. You became pregant. Young Ali is Green Lantern's daughter. Ha…Green Lantern is dying and he needs a blood transplant. He needs some of Ali's blood. She's the only person we know who can save his life.She has to come with me. Now!”

Louise Mansfield looks stunned. She staggers back and looks at her daughter who looks equally taken aback. She looks at Ollie and at Ali and shakes her head. “No. No! This isn't happening. This is all a really bad dream and I'm going to wake up and never …”

“Mom? It's not a dream. This man says … he says my father is Green Lantern? Is that true? You always said .. you always said my father was a soldier who died. That you were going to get married and he died and … Mom?”

Green Arrow rolls his eyes. Trust Hal. “ Ladies, while I appreciate this is difficult, Ali is the only person in Coast City that can save the only man I know who can save the city. She's coming with me!” Ollie reaches out his hand in a gesture that is more of command than a request. For a moment Louise falters and then she nods. Ollie grabs Ali by the hand and gestures to the door. “Don't worry Ms Mansfield. I promise. I'll get her back to you in one piece.”

Ollie holds his promises dear. This is one he refuses to break.

New Cronus, en route to the Polaris system

Donna Troy watches the emerald image of Guy Gardner fade from the centre of the viewing area she received his message within. She thinks about the words he spoke. Soft, gentle, guarded. She remembers a moment of pain. Hal is dead. The Guardians have abandoned him. No rescue. No retrieval. She remembers the nights spent in his strong arms. She can still smell him. She tries to be the Harbinger. She tries to embrace her new role. She tries.

But she cannot ignore the screaming, maddenning visceral rage that tears through her body. She has walked with Gods, she has lived with mortals but in her heart she will always be an Amazon. A Warrior born, bred and trained. If the Guardians will not avenge her loss, she will.

She straightens, her jaw fixed in fierce determination. ‘ Activate Fortress. Close New Cronus. Bring me my armour. Personal transwarp to Earth. Now.'

A silver sphere appears from the core of the amazing abode and envelopes her as it shimmers, shakes and disappears into the starry darkness.

Coast City Central Hospital

All across Coast City, the screams of the newly dying pierce the darkness that has enveloped the city. The murky twilight seems to cling to every shadow, deepening it and adding a sense of menace. The light and the noise dress the stark lines of the modern rebuilt city in a shroud more akin to a horrific dytopia. John Stewart, swathed in shadow, floats in the midst of the terror and wears a smile of quiet content. The master, Nekron, is pleased with his work. The desperate dead are coming and His realm grows. Death has reached out and reasserted itself against Life. Soon Jordan will join them and his master' will be done.

Inside the hospital, Oliver Queen rushes through the crowded corridors, dragging the young girl behind him. He pushes past a pair of irate security guards and barges into the Emergency Room, where Dr Mid-Nite has Hal under observation. The guards barrel through the doors after him, tasers raised, screaming for him to stop.

Dr Mid-Nite stands between Ollie and the guards, raising a hand to calm them. “Gentlemen, he is with us.” The guards grunt, shrug and resume their vigil. “ Is this the girl?”

“ No, I'm just in the business of kidnapping kids and touring hospitals! This kid will have the stuff you need to save Hal.”

“The likelihood of that occurance is slim to none, Oliver. Whilst I appreciate your fervour, your energies would have been better placed searching for Jordan's immediate family rather than these longshots.”

“This ain't no longshot! This girl is called Ali Mansfield. Her mother is Louise Mansfield, also known as Lois Fuller. This girl is Hal's daughter!”

“And you know this for sure?” Dr Mid-Nite looks closer at the quivering teenager, who is clearly terrified by the entire ordeal.

“Bet my shiny quiver I am!”

Dr Mid-Nite weighs up the possibilities and then snaps into action. “OK, the first thing I need is for you to get this young child's guardian here STAT so I can get a consent form signed, I need Hal prepped for transfer and I need to have a word with you young lady.”

“Me?” Her voice shakes as he talks to her.

Dr Mid-Nite reaches under his neck and pull his mask up to reveal the blind-eyed face of Pieter Cross. “Yes. I need to explain to you what is going to happen. You are a very special girl.”

Outside the hospital, John Stewart's eyes flash open from the half-closed ecstacy he is enjoying, feeding on the terror. Something has changed. He can feel …. Hope!!

He turns in the sky and looks directly at the hosipital. There. That is the source of the hope. By the Darkest Night! Someone could save Jordan?! He grits his teeth and his ring flashes black and green. A murky hand forms in front of him and reaches out, tearing into the wall of the hospital, sending mortar and girders cascading to the ground. Inside the hospital, panic grips the staff and patients alike as Stewart begin to tear the place apart, searching for the source of this insidious, final chance of redemption. He will snuff it out. Kill it. Finish this forever.

He senses the presence of Ali Mansfield and his face is flushed with a sudden bloodlust. Young. Fresh. Innocent. Her death will be like a shot of pure enjoyment to his black soul. He blasts away the rest of the building, exposing the Emergency Room. As the rubble flies around the sterile white environment, Ollie grabs Ali and rolls with her, protecting her body from the flying stone and metal. Dr Mid-Nite tries to shield the dying body of Hal as best he can. The cold night air and the cloying shadow of the Darkest Night seep into the room, feeling for life and light to corrupt.

“Give me the girl!” John Stewart hovers in front of Ollie, his ring flaring with power.

“Over my dead body!” Without his bow, Ollie is virtually helpless but he'll be damned before he sells out Hal's last chance of life to that turncoat bastard! He whispers to the girl. “Close your eyes honey…”

John Stewart laughs. “That can be arranged, mortal.” He raises his hand and power surges from his ring, sending a searing blast at the prone archer and his ward. And the deadly beam is stopped by an emerald green shield. “Who dares!”

From behind him a deep, resonant voice answers. “It's time we had words John. This has gone on long enough!” Bathed in flickering green fire and dressed in the familiar green, red and yellow costume that has acted as an inspiration to heroes since World War Two, Alan Scott floats down, ready to battle John Stewart.

Ali whispers to Ollie. “He's going to kick his ass, isn't he?”

Ollie smiles. “It's what the Big Man does best, kid.”

Next Issue: Will Alan Scott kick John Stewart's ass? Will Hal recover in time? And if he does, what use is he without a ring? What the Hell is up with the Guardians? Who is Donna going to smack when she arrives? More about the new Green Lantern? Something happening on Mogo? Can one title hold this much story and still be safe for reading?!