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#7

Oa, The Centre of the Universe

By: Neil Gow

“With all due respect, Legate Tal, the matter of your seniority in the Thanagarian military is neither here nor there. The object approaching your position is the moon New Cronus and you will move to orbit position 3 immediately.” Salaak stabs a finger at the communication button and the image of the furious Thanagarian warlord disappears.

“ I can't say I'm sad to see Donna arrive, but this looks like a nightmare even for you, Salaak?” Hal Jordan looms over the stooped alien figure of Salaak and checks out the chaos on the monitor screen. “Messy, Sal. Very messy.”

“Your sarcasm is noted, Green Lantern 2814.1 and trust me, when this is over, Honour Guard or not, I will ensure that your next duties are particularly onerous. And with that particularly pleasant introduction concluded I am required to appraise you of the situation that has transpired here.”

“ Why me Sal?”

“ Sarcasm or a hint of faux humility? I cannot quite discern your human humour on occasion. Despite my concerns on your temperament, the Guardians place great faith in you Hal Jordan, and in this instance, you are central to this situation. It concerns the being known as Superboy Prime.”

Hal blanches at the thought of the young man who wrecked so much destruction throughout the galaxy. In his minds eye, he can still see the battered, bleeding body of the dying Kal-L. He was there when Superboy Prime was finally defeated. It took all of the resources the Corps and the heroes of Earth could amass.

“ The inhabitants of the Polaris system, and representatives of the other races that were drawn into their conflict, are suing for reparations against the being that triggered their conflict. They are lead by a Thanagarian named Legate Narm Tal. He has petitioned that Superboy Prime should be tried under Thanagarian law for attempted genocide. They have gathered an armada of concerned navies to … persuade us of the veracity of their claim.”

“They would never attack Oa, surely?”

“They have been hurt, Hal Jordan, and grief can drive people to extreme measures – even a folly as potentially disastrous as an attack on the home of the Guardians. Regardless, they have employed them Tribunal of Gallo to act on their behalf. In response we petitioned the Harbinger of New Cronus to avail us of her resources. Between her knowledge and the Book of Oa, we will be capable of mounting our defence.”

“Defence?” Hal looks shocked. Surely, the Guardians could not be condoning the actions of Superboy Prime?

“ Yes, Defence. The sentence under Thanagarian law is death. We are all painfully aware of the difficulty attached to killing a Kryptonian. This individual seems to possess powers of a level even greater than Earth's Superman. To kill him, we would have to release him from the Sun Eater prison that currently holds him, and the Guardians do not believe we could control him if we did. His mental state appears to have degraded during his capture. If the Thanagarians win, Superboy Prime could well escape and I suspect he will not fall for the same trick twice?”

Hal slams his fist onto the communication console. “This is madness Sal! We can't risk that boy escaping. He's caused enough pain…”

“ Exactly. The Guardians thought that in these circumstances that you should be recalled. You have met with the Tribune before, you are intimate with the players involved and should Superboy Prime escape … well, we will need our best.”

“ And Guy? Why's he heading for Earth?”

“There are times when priority is required, Hal Jordan. This is one of them. Concern yourself with the matter at hand and leave the mission of Honour Guard Gardner to his team. Now can I suggest you make yourself useful. The Harbinger of New Cronus has requested your presence since she brought her moon into the system. And your other guest – the Zamoran construct? She needs to be dealt with before the trial. See to it.”

Deep in the bowels of the Thanagarian Flagship

Three dark figures stand beneath the heaving metal frame of the flagships main reactor engine housing. Their distinctive armour mark them has high ranking members of the Thanagarian military and their accents, thick and distinctive reveal their birth in the lower roosts of the Aerie.

“ The Legate proceeds with his plan. Soon we will have access to Oa and the Deathbringer.”

“ You have the virus?”

“ I do. It is held within my blood. The explosion will disperse it.”

“ Your sacrifice places your alongside our greatest champions. The plan is set. Soon, the Deathbringer will be released and Thanagar will stand tall again.”

New Cronus

Hal drifts through space, landing gently on the grass on New Cronus. The square is perfectly kept, the Doric columns rising from the pristine green. New Cronus never changed, it was held in perfect suspense by the inherent enchantments of the lost Titans. If he was honest, despite his long years living in the luxury of Coast City, Hal really liked New Cronus. It felt right. Of course, that might have had something to do with the company he keeps here!

“ When will I find my people, Green Lantern?”

“ I will contact them as soon as I can, Sapphire. Trust me.” Hal glances around. Where is Donna?

“ I'm up here, watching you.” He looks up and Donna is standing above him, upside down. The strange topography of New Cronus means that even an experienced Green Lantern can be caught out. “Stop floating around there and come down. We have to talk.”

Donna spins through the air and lands gently on the grass. She is wearing a long Grecian-style robe in her trademark star field cloth. Her long black hair is pinned up on her head, dropping down the side of her face in light tresses. She smiles at him and Hal is momentarily taken aback by her beauty. “ Hi Hal. Come here often?” She smiles, laughs a little and kisses Hal on the cheek. His hand snakes around her waist and holds her slightly as he shifts his face slightly, bringing his lips into the plane of hers.

“ It's more than a pleasant surprise, but why –are- you here? The Guardians summoned you?”

“ They requested my presence. I'm the only person that knows what went on throughout the galaxy. I am the ultimate witness apparently.”

“ And having an Amazonian level power on hand, should things go wrong doesn't hurt either?”

Donna wrinkles her nose. “You nervous about this as well?”

“ Putting possibly the most powerful being in the galaxy on trial? Oh yeah. Trying to kill him? Even more so.” Hal turns and looks away, into space. “I've seen enough death. I don't need any more.”

Donna steps up behind him, wrapping an arm around his waist and placing a hand on his back, resting her head at the nape of his neck. “You and me both. After this … I was thinking…”

“Yes. Whatever you were thinking, yes.” Hal smiles, still facing away from Donna. “But I have to go now.” His ring flares and he prepares to erupt into space.

“You have chosen well, human. She is a strong being. I would happily meld with that woman.”

“ I haven't ‘chosen' anyone, Sapphire.”

“The Guardians have no time to consider my petition at this time. I understand. Would I be able to stay here until the business at hand has concluded?”

“ I don't see any reason why not?” Hal answers

“I was not asking you, arrogant male. I was asking the ruler of this moon, your paramour.”

Donna blushes slightly. “I'd be honoured to have you reside here while we undertake the trial. New Cronus is open to you.”

“It's beauty matches my own. It will suffice.”

Malthus

“ This is highly irregular, General. Highly irregular.” Vril Dox paces back and forward, his hands clasped behind his back as General Stone flicks through the data files on the captured prisoners.

“ Irregular it may be, but in these circumstances, there seems to be a logical pathway to follow.” Thom Kallor maintains his vigil, looking out from the window of the LEGION headquarters, across Malthus.

“ Apparently so, however it seems to be quite spurious. According to your ‘logic', as you have been sent back in time to aid General Stone achieve his goal, a goal that will save millions of lives and yet neither he, nor you, are aware of that goal, anything that General Stone requests is likely to be moving in that direction and should be allowed. However, I would suggest that any action I were to take, or indeed anyone else, could also be attributed to the same destiny. Such are the problems with time travel, Thom Kallor.”

Stone stands up. “ Listen Greenie, I can listen to this horse hockey all day, but in the end we both know that this offer is the best you are going to get. Those three are the nastiest bunch you've got in your little lock-up here and your robot guards have problems handling them. I'm offering to take them off your hands. Gut feeling? I could use some muscle because no-one sends someone through time to make sure I fasten my shoelace at the right time. Sign them over to my custody, give me a ship and we'll be on our way.”

“A ship!? Nothing was mentioned about a ship?” Vril's brow creases.

“ How else do you think we're all going to get off this planet? Tinkerbell and faerie dust?”

Dox shakes his head and presses his thumb against the release papers. “ Have your men and your ship, General Stone, but remember that the crimes they commit in your custody are yours as well and your WILL be prosecuted for them. Now please leave Malthus, your presence here causes me pain.”

Stone smiles a contented smile. Now, lets see what he's got?

Earth

Darla, the Guardian assigned to Earth to watch Hal Jordan, floats in mid-air. Her senses are bristling with the information that is being fed to her from around the globe. Chaos created by crystalline scarabs. Scarabs. She knows of these artefacts. All Guardians know of the Swarm and still, her fellows refuse to send Jordan. They have dispatched Gardener, the lesser ringbearer. Could they be willing to sacrifice Earth to the Swarm? Could they really be that callous to a planet that they have gone to such lengths to protect in the past?

She spins, sensing energy spikes crackling around her. High in the sky, she can feel their approach, borne on wings of glowing silicate. Flight or flee?

Her choice is made for her as the Swarm appears above, below and around her. She can feel her connection with Oa faltering. She can feel it splutter and start. She concentrates on her own power – she is a living power battery. She will win.

The fist sized scarabs swirl around her – hundreds now – the air criss-crossed with static energy. Darla launches bolt after bolt of jade power, shattering one scarab and then another. Too many. Far too many. The scarabs core's glow a gentle green as they begin to absorb her power. She can fell her mind fading, her power lessening. One of the Scarabs fastens itself to her head. She struggles with it, desperate to release it, only to have another one hit her and another and another. She feels the Scarabs reach into her mind and tap her link to Oa! A Scarab, touching the power battery? NO!

She has no alternative. She can only pay one price. She closes her eyes and uses the last of her considerable will to sever her connection with Oa. The Scarabs scream at the lost chance and tear at her one last time. She has no power left. She dies, a blue skinned bleeding husk.

Darla falls through the sky, making an unnoticed impact in the desert below. A wild dog sniffs the corpse and nudges it with it's nose. High above the empowered Scarabs move on, seeking fresh prey.

Oa, The Centre of the Universe

The emerald heads of three Guardians float above and around the confines of Superboy Prime. The Boy of Steel stands in the midst of his Sun Eater prison, guarded by his cohort of Green Lantern prison guards, staring at the crowd that have amassed. He is naked from the waist up, the stylised ‘S' he has clawed into his chest now a field of ferocious red scars. Sneering, he glances left and right, nervously, as people move through his field of vision.

Beyond the glare of the Sun Eater containment field, curved platforms of hovering emerald energy hold the delegations from a dozen alien races. Each has gathered evidence, witnesses and the best legal minds of their worlds to bring their prosecution. The delegations are headed by the military might of the Thanagarian empire. Legate Tal confers with a subordinate as he awaits the start of the trial. His guards mill around him, watching for any danger that could threaten their commander in chief.

Opposite the aliens, Salaak and his team of Green Lantern administrators stand with Donna Troy and Hal Jordan. Emerald portals open the information from the Book of Oa to the entire assembly and the Harbinger Sphere floats next to Donna, ready to reveal it's secrets.

Between them all are the three beings that form the Tribunal of Gallo – renowned across the galaxy as the finest and fairest legal minds in existence. They will sit in judgement of Superboy Prime.

Pale skinned, the Tribunal stands and addresses the gathered crowd. “ It is rare that we are called to assemble the Tribunal outside the confines of Gallo. We understand the pressing security needs that dictate our presence, and we would like, in the interests of justice, to thank the Guardians for letting this trial take place, and for access to the writings of the Book of Oa. Similarly, we would like to thank the Harbinger of New Cronus for making her knowledge available to us. We have received depositions from a number of agencies, including L.E.G.I.O.N., and the Vega system. May we remind those present that we expect the same levels of decorum in this trial as we would on Gallo. You do not want to be held in contempt…” The three beings float next to each other and then they speak again, in unison. “ Let us hear the opening accusations of the prosecution?”

Legate Tal stands forward, dressed in the ornate robes of the Thanagarian military legislature. In his hand he holds the claw-ended staff which shows him as the leader of the Thanagarian delegation. The room falls silent as he speaks.

“Thanagar is no more. We have a planet which is being formed into a new aerie for us, but Thanagar is dead. We have a planet, Ranagar, that we share with the people of Rann, but Thanagar is dead. Look in your Book of Oa. Look in your sphere of history. Speak to the great races of the Universe and Thanagar is there, but now it is no more. We know that the human Alexander Luthor sought to rearrange the Universe in his own image. We know that he brought together a cabal of superhuman beings to aid him. We know that this Superboy Prime was used to make Rann and Thanagar collide. We know that he triggered the destruction of our planet. We know that the blood of billions is on his hand. What we want to know is what is going to be done about this? The matter is clear to us. Thanagarian law dictates that he must die.” He strikes the staff down, the sign of justice in his court.

“ And now, the case for the defence?”

Salaak begins to step forward, but Hal places a hand on his shoulder. “ Are you sure you want to do this Sal?”

“You know that we must.” Salaak turns back and addresses the Tribunal. “ Gathered sentients, there is nothing I can say to refute what the honoured Legate has stated. We know of the devastation wrecked by Alexander Luthor. We know of the fates of Thanagar and Rann. We know of the terrible war that came of this and we know of the role that this child – for he is a child – played in that situation. The defence cannot argue against this. We can, however, question other matters. We can question whether the actions of Onimar Synn have been taken into consideration. We can ask why so many star-faring nations felt it necessary to join in this skirmish. We can question whether a child, the last surviving being from his reality, wrought with powers beyond the ken of mortals and subject to the manipulations of a twisted genius was aware that his actions would have such catastrophic consequences. Superboy Prime did indeed, do some terrible things, but does he deserve death…. Or does he deserve our aid?”

“AID!!” Legate Tal storms across his platform and glowers at Salaak. “This boy destroyed my homeworld! He aided in an attempt to destroy creation itself! HE MURDERED SUPERMAN!”

“I did not.” The entire assembly turns and looks at Superboy Prime, deep within his cell. “Someone has to be dead in order for them to be murdered. At least, that's how it was the last time I heard?”

The Tribunal turns and waves his hand. The room falls silent. “ We will not have these interruptions. Both counsels will now present their cases…”

Hal glances at Donna and mouths to her ‘He's not dead?'. She shrugs as the trial continues.

Deep Space, aboard an unmarked LEGION Cruiser

“OK, Thom, release them.” Stone nods as his companion releases the stasis cuffs on their three charges. The criminals are freed from their suspended animation and stagger slightly in the hold of the ship.

“Who dares do this to me!! I demand your name and then your life!!” The blue black skin of the first prisoner appears even darker in the half light of the hold.

“ And what do you mean by ‘do'? If you mean free from captivity and give a second chance at life, then that's me. My name is General Hercules Stone. You may remember me – I was the man who you all backed down from on Malthus. That was quite possibly the first sensible thing you have done in a long time.”

“ You are the grellek that shot my knee?! I will throttle your neck, human!” The blue skinned Okaaran snarls at Stone, absent mindedly fingering the brace on his reconstituted knee.

“Shut your mouth, tusk face, or I'll shut it for you! Now, that's got the first thoughts from those two, what about our final guest eh? Any bile and vitriol you want to spew in my direction?”

“You have freed me from an inevitable life sentence, probably in solitary dimensional confinement. You have given me a chance to do whatever I wish to do – be that escape, slaughter you all, or even help you. Why should I be filled with bile and vitriol?” The final prisoner is a tall man, vaguely human with blonde hair in a mop of tight braids and a dark, rich brown skin.

“Well, that's a better attitude. So, who are you all? What are your names?” Stone walks past them, running an eye over them like new recruits on the parade ground.

“ My name is Gal Tallam, I am Second Glaive in the Protectorate of Talok VII. I wield the power of a shadow champion, possessed of the spirit of my ancestors. You would do well to remember that, human.” The blue skinned man stands tall, looking down his nose at General Stone.

“Thom?”

“LEGION files say that Gal Tallam is a traitor to the Royal Protectorate of Talok VII. He has been genetically manipulated to produce powers similar to those of a shadow champion. He is a darkness caster. His crimes include piracy, mutiny and murder.” As Thom finishes his exposition, Gal Tallam sneers at him.

“Yes gentlemen, this isn't a chance for you to impress your shipmates with delusions. Lets hear the truth?” Stone shakes his head. “What about you?” He points at the Okaaran.

“My name is Vhelarn. I am a … designer of weapon systems, from Okaara. “

Thom replies. “Vhelarn is indeed a designer of weapons from Okaara. His weapons are sought after by just about every dictatorship in the quadrant. He is considered one of the most accomplished creators of destruction alive today. His weapon designs start with planet killers and work up.”

Stone smiles as the Okaaran bows his head slightly, as if acknowledging his own expertise. Stone turns his gaze to the last man. “ And you?”

”My name is Kendros. I am space born. I am an assassin. My mind is my weapon.”

“That's about it. Records say he is a master telepath and telekinetic. Kills with the power of his mind, almost undetectable and totally lethal.”

“And yet we are alive? I wonder why?” Stone watches Kendros closely.

“Indeed. You live. Strange isn't it? I wonder if I am feeling generous, or whether there is something about insane plan of yours that might just be entertaining enough for me to let you live?” Kendros smiles and places his hands behind his back, standing ‘at ease'

Stone looks at them one last time. A time-lost man, a traitor, a purveyor of genocide, an assassin and a retired USAF warhorse. It could be worse.

“Gentlemen. I am willing to give you all a chance to be something better than these labels you have earned yourself. Something is going to happen and I damned well have to stop it. You are going to help me do that, and if we do, you are going to walk free. If you cannot handle that, the airlock is that way. Now, find yourself somewhere to bunk on this ship and … Christ, I can't believe I'm saying this! Prepare for jump. Thom, set course for that place the Green Lanterns come from?”

“Oa?”

“Yeah, Oa. It's time I saw an old friend.”

Oa, The Centre of the Universe

Salaak stalks his prey, the Psion commander of their Third Fleet. His questioning is fierce, probing and direct.

“Why were you there? Why were you involved? How many sentients were killed by your ships. Did any of these deaths have anything to do with Superboy Prime?”

“Do not take that tone with me, Guardian dog. You are lucky that we have honoured our Thanagarian allies request to come to this … court. Those of Vega are not held within the thrall of the dictators of Oa” The reptilian officer hisses his disrespect.

“ You will answer the question. This Tribunal does not care of the political machinations of your empires.”

“ We were there to honour a pact with our Thanagarian allies. We were involved as support for their forces, weakened as they were during the shift of their planet and the destruction of their home system's infrastructure. We did fight and we killed, in retaliation and self defence, the troops of the axis belonging to Rann. The Guardians may see little point in observing treaties but we do. Had Thanagar not been moved in orbit, had the planet not been destroyed, then this war would never have sparked. Superboy Prime may not have pulled the triggers, fired the missiles or launched the salvos but he purposefully and wilfully created the situation to suit the plans of his master.”

Hal shudders as he hears that interpretation of events. The Psions and the Spider Guild are always trying to find a way to undermine the Guardians. The recent attack on Oa had underpinned the theory that they were building in confidence. For a Psion-Thanagarian alliance to gain a victory like this over the Guardians would only fire that progression. Were the Psions behind this? Were they playing with their allies, stoking their anguish to create a scenario where the Guardians were seen to be foolish and weak?

Salaak rounds on the Thanagarian delegation “ What I see, your honours, is a proud race laid low. I see warrior princes made to look like plebeians. I see a proud planet take them into it's bosom and I see those princes stab them in the heart. Superboy Prime caused the situation but let us not make a mistake – Superboy Prime did not start this war, he did not prosecute this war, he did not LOSE this war and he is not now standing here, desperate for some sort of reparations to make right their own failures!!”

The Thanagarian delegation bursts into furious objection at Salaak's comments. Legate Tal strikes down with his rod of office, desperate the regain order, but the winged warriors are furious. Three take to the air, circling their platform with charged weapons.

A purple skinned Green Lantern moves to intercept the three flyers, beginning to create a sphere of emerald energy around them. However, before it can be completed, one of the warriors disintegrates! Where once a warrior floated gracefully through the air, now a cloud of blood red mist drifts, tinged by green. The room falls silent, shocked by what has happened. The Green Lantern withdraws his sphere and looks around, shocked, desperate for someone – anyone – to tell him that he didn't do that!

The microscopic blood mist, unseen by the eyes of the room, splits again and again. Tiny explosions on a sub-atomic level. Technology hidden from all but the most loyal Thanagarian generals. The virus, held within the suicidal warrior, is held deep within his blood. The blood that has now passed through the containment field and into the Sun Eater within.

The virus specifically engineered to kill the evolving Sun Eater.

It takes seconds to take effect, the massive energies within the space entity powering it's acceleration through it's system. The Guardians sense it first and through them, the fifty Green Lanterns who watch the prison. Detailed plans kick into action, exercises that none of them thought they would ever have to undertake.

But it is too late. The Sun Eater is dead. It dissipates into the aether, leaving it's prisoner floating in nothingness.

“It would appear that my imprisonment is at an end. Now, who would like to die first?” The twisted smile of Superboy Prime chills the hearts of everyone watching. “Don't worry. You can all die!”

Next Issue: Superboy Prime is free. Nuff said!

(Note: Green Lantern #7 and #8 take place between Swarm #1 and #2)