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#8

By Neil Gow

Oa, The Centre of the Universe

There are few beings who have heard the noise of a Sun Eater dying. Even the immature Sun Eater that the Guardians harnessed to subdue the powers of Superboy Prime had developed to an extent that it was more than aware of it's own existence, it's own growing hunger and the burgeoning power growing in it's fiery heart. Now, that fiery heart is extinguished, the cold of space rushes to fill the void. Chilled at the core, weakened by a virus created with this one single purpose, the noble creature keens a psychic cry for help, a desperate call to it's siblings. A last sound in the mind of every single being on Oa … and then it dies, releasing it's captive.

Superboy Prime floats in his emerald cube prison, his head thrown back as the red sun energy he has been bathed in since his capture. Around him, the fifty Lanterns who stand watch over him are desperately reinforcing the cube, waiting for his onslaught. His words hang heavy in the air – many Green Lanterns fell in the battle that finally captured the youthful Kryptonian, the Corps was in no hurry to add to that particular roll of honour.

In the trial arena, chaos rains. A dozen delegations desperately try to use their teleportation technology to return to their ships but the multiple signals cause feedback and confusion, stifling the effort and creating more panic. The Tribunal is ushered to safety by a handful of Lanterns as the Guardians present at the trial float above the chaos, allowing their Lanterns to do what they do best – save lives.

In the Thanagarian delegation, the five remaining winged warriors fall to their knees and begin chanting in a long lost dialect of their people. Legate Tal raises his stave of power above his head, screaming a discordant counterpoint to his fellows.

Hal Jordan sweeps through the air towards Donna Troy. “Donna, get out of here now!”

Troy casts her hand aside, dismissing her Harbinger Orb. “He killed Connor Hal, I'm not running from him. Not now, not ever!” She snarls the last phrase, readying herself for the battle to come.

“I'm not doubting your prowess Donna, but New Cronus is a vital part of this universe. We cannot afford to let that boy destroy it. Only you can take it away. Now go!!” Hal's ring flashes as he thinks about propelling Donna out of danger but he stops, thinking better of it. “ Please…” Donna hesitates for a moment and then nods, leaping to the air and fleeing back to her home.

Hal turns to face Superboy Prime as the green chamber that holds him begins to crack and shatter. The guarding Lanterns strain with effort as they try to maintain the prison against the burgeoning Kryptonian strength. Superboy's fists pound the walls as he mocks his captors.

“I have pounded my way through the walls of Heaven itself! What chance do you have to hold me? What chance?!” He feels his strength building and he unleashes a might haymaker into the wall, shattering the emerald energy. The feedback sends the Lanterns reeling, their bodies broken by the whiplash of the force. Power rings slip off the fingers of dead Lanterns as they begin their mission again.

RING STATUS REPORT. GREEN LANTERN 76a DECEASED
SPACE SECTOR SCAN 76a FOR REPLACEMENT SENTIENT INITIATED

RING STATUS REPORT. GREEN LANTERN 3213b DECEASED
SPACE SECTOR SCAN 3213b FOR REPLACEMENT SENTIENT INITIATED

RING STATUS REPORT. GREEN LANTERN 987a DECEASED
SPACE SECTOR SCAN 987a FOR REPLACEMENT SENTIENT INITIATED

Hal feels a shiver of terror run through him as he sees the horror of Superboy Prime's last rampage in his mind's eye. Bodies broken in a trail of devastation strewn across the galaxy. If they let him reach full power, they will never be able to stop him. No Superman. No Kal-L. No Kara. No Jonn. Only the Corps stands between life and this agent of death.

 

Earth

The space between the Earth and the Moon flashes green as Guy Gardner and a patrol of twenty Green Lanterns fall from their hyperspace warp into orbit. Guy looks down at the slowly spinning visage of Earth and feels his stomach churn slightly. Its been a long time since he has been home, too long really. Months. He rolls his eyes. Face it Guy, there's not that much left on Earth for you to come back to now, is there?

OK Lanterns, we've got a mission to complete. Split up and scan the planet. I want a full record of all hostiles. Terek-Dem, you're with me. Let's drop in on Guardian Darla and check out her what she can tell us

With practiced ease, the Lanterns split into teams of two and speed off around the globe, trailing streams of green light behind them. Guy floats next to his crystalline companion, waiting until they have all gone and then turns his attention to the task at hand.

“OK ring, where is the old girl hiding?”

GUARDIAN DARLA IS NO LONGER ACTIVE ON THIS PLANET

“Sure, she can hide from you too. Who would have thought a Guardian could be so sneaky? Initiate a broad range search and find her, already!”

GUARDIAN DARLA IS NO LONGER ACTIVE ON THIS PLANET

“What the Hell does that mean anyway? ‘Active'? Has she retired?”

GUARDIAN DARLA BODY MASS PRESENT. ENERGY SIGNATURE ZERO. LIFE SIGNS ZERO. CONNECTION TO OA TERMINATED. GUARDIAN DARLA IS NO LONGER ACTIVE

“You mean she's dead!? Give me the telemetry, now! Terek, watch my back” Before the other lantern can react, Guy has plunged through the upper atmosphere and is speeding towards an unremarkable patch of dirt, somewhere in Arizona.

He hovers in the air, staring down at a sight he never thought he would see – a dead Guardian. Her red robes are tattered and torn, as if in her death she was battered and bruised. The body beneath the robes is a shattered husk. The shimmering vibrancy of the Guardian's skin has disappeared to be replaced by a dusty, washed out, cracked hue. Guy gently scoops the body up in a huge green hand and encases it in an emerald capsule.

“Ring, this capsule goes to Oa. Fastest possible route.” The capsule rockets through the atmosphere and disappears in a flash of green.

All Lanterns. Guardian Darla is dead. Whatever we have been sent to combat has serious power. Proceed with extreme caution

The old Guy would have dived into a battle like this with an almost suicidal gung-ho attitude. Not now. Now he is more than just the unexpected pain in Hal Jordan's side. He's a Green Lantern Honour Guard and the Corps Grand Marshal and he needs to get this right.

It was time to call up some allies and he would start with the League. His league.

(Want to know what happens? Read Swarm#2 and #3 – Neil)

 

Oa, The Centre of the Universe

Superboy Prime floats in the sky above the Central Power Battery on Oa, feeding on the energy of the centre of the universe. The scarred ‘S' on his chest glows slightly as the solar energy feeds him. Around him, the broken bodies of dead Lanterns float freely. “You cannot stand withstand me, fools. You cannot withstand my power. I am the only hero left in this sick reality and I will cleanse it of every lifeform. If I cannot save you, I will cull you!”

Around him, the Corp prepare to engage. At their head, Hal Jordan and Kilowog fly, ready to meet him for the second time. Hal calls the horde of ringbearers to a halt.

“Clark, we don't have to do this. Death is never the answer.” Hal pleads with the young godling.

“Oh, the great Hal Jordan . ‘Death is never the answer'? Tell that to the people you have killed? Tell that to the fellow Lanterns that you slaughtered in your rampage of carnage. Some people may claim that you were possessed but I know what I saw. You were a good choice as the Spirit of Vengeance, Jordan, you have the blood of innocents tattooed into your soul! It's you that made me Jordan. And I will be the one to end you!”

Superboy Prime makes his move and Oa is bathed in waves of emerald destruction. So near to the Central Power Battery, ranked en masse, the Green Lantern Corps is wonderful to behold. A single Lantern is an incredible weapon, limited only by the strength of it's willpower. Together, reinforced and reassured by numbers, they are a primal force of this universe. Green constructs batter Superboy Prime across Oa and into space. Diplomatic cruisers, sent here to monitor the trial, perform evasive manoeuvres to escape the carnage. He is thrown off the planet and into space.

And he laughs.

This is not any Kryptonian. This being known as Superboy Prime comes from a different reality and a very different Krypton. Every space-faring culture is aware of the legend of Superman. Everyone knows his power. Superboy Prime dwarfs that power. He can move planets, he can traverse time. He is indestructible. His eyes hold the power of one hundred suns. He is a killer and now he kills, with reckless abandon.

The Corps cannot win and slowly the reality of the situation dawns on some of the more experienced members. The younger recruits believe in the power of the ring, but the older ones have experienced Nekron and Parralax. They have survived assaults by the Spider Guild and the Weaponeers of Qward. They know the limits of the Corps and they know when they have been surpassed. All have learned to face fear, to live with it and no longer live in fear of fear itself. For some, that learning dissolves as they are faced with their own mortality, dressed in red and blue and prepared to wreck death upon them.

Slowly, the thin green line falters

 

Deep Space, aboard an unmarked LEGION Cruiser

“And so it has come to this – three of this sector's most dangerous criminals have been reduced to the foot-soldiers to some aging Terran? Is our ‘freedom' to be bought with this humiliation?” The blue skinned Gal Tallam stands with his hands clasped behind his back, staring out into the void as the LEGION cruiser speeds towards Oa.

“I'm surprised that one such as yourself should care who they answer to for their freedom. I presumed that for the first time in your life, freedom would be enough?” The enigmatic humanoid called Kendros smiles from his seat as Gal Tallam spins around to face him.

“And what do you mean by that?” Dark shadow begins to ooze from the knuckles of Tallam and his eyes cloud over like pitch.

“Merely that every sentient in the sector knows that you are not truly of the Royal line of Talok VIII and they can only presume that your powers are the result of genetic manipulation. Manipulation that does not come cheap and that means that you must have been backed by some very influential people … people who no doubt have been the beneficiaries of your schemes in the past. They give you power and you repay them in credits. Now you can work for your own ends and that, I imagined, would be something you would desire.”

“Your mouth never stops assassin! I should tear the lungs from your body!”

“Your words say one thing but your mind says another. You would do well to remember my powers and guard your thoughts. Your posturing simply serves to make you look foolish. You love the idea of freedom that this mission gives us.”

“If we survive? It is still to be seen what this human wants of us and I, for one, am not looking forward to a trip to Oa!” Gal Tallam stalks away from the window, casting shift shadows behind him.

“ There is a chance that this human could have presented us with the chance we need?” Both Tallam and Kendros turn to look at the Okaaran, Vhelarn – who has remained silent through the exchange.

“Silence fool. What do you know of these things? You are nothing more than a corrupt artisan!” Gal Tallam snarls at his companion, receiving a warm and knowing smile from the Okaaran.

“I am a fool, am I? If you can hold back your façade of superiority for one moment, let me explain. Until recently we were captured on Malthus in the hands of LEGION. We were condemned men sentenced to multiple life sentences in temporal suspension. We were doomed. The Gods have deemed us worthy of a second chance – an opportunity to make a difference. I know, I know, you do not have to make a difference because you are so much more superior to everyone else but I have lived a terrible life and if this is the chance to make amends, the help rather than harm, I will take it.”

“Why would you want to?” Tallam looks confused.

“Because when this sojourn ends, LEGION will be after us again. LEGION will take us back to Malthus and secure us in cells and suspend our lives forever. I will not peter out like that. I am Okaaran and a warrior-born. I will die fighting whatever this human wants me to fight, rather than spend the rest of my life running from LEGION.”

Gal Tallam looks at Kendros. “Do you agree with this madman?”

Kendros smiles. “ I find the entire affair supremely farcical. I have killed a mere twelve people. Important people, but only twelve. You? Your crimes have involved kidnapping, extortion, treason and numerous other misdemeanors but no death. Our friend here? Well…?”

Vhelarn bows his head. “Directly or indirectly my creations have been involved in the deaths of over 8 billion sentient beings.”

“Ha! Of the three of us, who is the greater killer? The cold-blooded assassin, the naive megalomaniac or the quiet inventor? I believe if he truly thinks this human can lead us to redemption, who are we to argue….?”

 

Oa, The Centre of the Universe

The Lanterns fall back, their lines broken. Superboy Prime mocks them from afar and Hal Jordan waits, looking around him for a clue to how he can save this planet and the rest of the Universe. His uniform is shredded and his nose drips with his own crimson blood. His wound is superficial compared to that visited upon the Corps. Over a hundred dead, ten times that number wounded and out of the battle.

Hal tallies in his head. He dare not recall the rest of the Corps as that would leave the Universe open to any attack that occurred. Guy's force could come back from Earth but by the time they arrived, everyone would be dead anyway. He had less than one thousand Lanterns remaining, the majority of them rookies who had never even been part of the Corps when Superboy Prime was captured. And still, the Guardians stand and watch. They would prevail, of that he was sure, but they would rarely intervene.

Hal feels a shift in the patterns of space, momentarily, as a blurred hand grabs him by the throat and a diamond hard clenched fist smashes into his jaw. Moving at unimaginable speed, Superboy Prime has him and he is helpless. A Kryptonian hand closes around his ring hand and squeezes.

“I remember Alex telling me that these power rings are indestructible. Shall we see?” Superboy squeezes, somehow holding the energy of the ring within his fist. Jordan screams a primal cry as the bones in his hand are ground into pieces. He feels his ring fracture under the pressure. He feels the power fade from him.

Power ring breached! All reserve energy to personal shield. Return to Oa immediately!

Superboy gloats. “Oh no, no, no – you'll not be going anywhere, Hal Jordan. You will stay here and I will kill you and then you will stand as the first example to the rest of this broken reality that I will never stop, never yield one inch until your depraved actions have been avenged!”

“Get your hands off my man!” Donna Troy swoops in and kicks Superboy Prime in the head, sending him spinning backwards through the sky. Hal floats through the sky, clutching his shattered hand. Donna stands before him, resplendent in her full Amazonian war armour. A round shield sits on her left arm and a short stabbing sword hands in her right, ready to defend Jordan.

Superboy pretends to adjust his jaw. “Oh, this is sweet. You cannot beat me woman and you, of all people, know it. You are nothing but a strange and curious anomaly – one that I am more than willing to extinguish.”

“I'll tell you who I am, boy! I am Donna Troy. I have stood by gods and Titans. I am the last of the Amazons. I am the child of Gods. I am the Harbinger of New Cronus and I am pissed off. You killed Cassie's Connor, you coward. I'll make you pay!”

Hal reaches out, desperate to get her out of the way. “Arrggh… Donna, he's …agh… too strong!”

“ Listen to him, woman. He knows!” Superboy zooms in, ready to punch through Donna. She spins, deflecting the blow with her shield. “Interesting. You are quick. However, I think this is an unfair fight.” His eyes flash and her shield melts on her arm, causing her to throw it away. He moves again, this time kicking the sword from her hand. She grabs him by the ankle and twists it, but he spins with the twist and sends her flying towards Oa.

Superboy makes to pursue her but he is captured in an emerald fist. “Not so fast, Clark ! I'm not finished yet!” Hal grimaces with agony as he controls the erratic power of his broken power ring. Hal flies straight up and blasts Superboy with his ring. The Kryptonian teen meets the green blast with his heat vision and the two energies battle for supremacy.

“You have not learned your lesson, have you Jordan. I have beaten your Corps. I have dismissed your allies and your Guardians are too wise to fight me. You are alone Hal Jordan. Alone and dying.”

Hal grits his teeth. He has one last chance. He focuses his willpower and reaches out. The other Lanterns lend their strength, stabilizing him against the power of Superboy Prime. Bolstered, he begins to whisper.

“In brightest day, in darkest night, no evil shall escape my sight…”

The Central Power Battery crackles with power as he attempts to set up a direct conduit with the core of the Lanterns power. His arm aches, his hand ruined. He feels the pain subside as the link because palpable.

“ Let those who worship evils might…”

Superboy Prime moves. He moves so fast, it is like he has teleported to five separate places at once. Like the loser in a galactic tug-of-war, Hal pitches forward, unable to control his flight. Superboy brings a knee up into his midriff, breaking three ribs. He drops an elbow on the Hal's shoulder and he feels the crack of bone as the socket fragments, despite his shielding. A backhanded slap sends him spiraling, shattering his shield once and for all. The link with the battery fails and he lies limp in space.

“ No heroics from you, Jordan. Your kind cannot win. I begin the cleansing here, now. No-one is left that can stop me.”

I beg to differ, Man of Krypton.

Donna stands beside the undulating form of the entity known as Star Sapphire

 

Sector 2261

I can feel the presence growing. I can feel the power flowing across the lines which connect the great planets in this universe. It is rising. It will come again, burning bright, scouring all life before it. If I move to meet it, I will tear planets apart, so I must remain, as always, Mogo.

 

Oa, The Centre of the Universe

“Enough! Enough of your resistance, enough of your bravado and enough of your impressive lightshow!” Superboy sneers at the people around him. The remaining Lanterns have formed a guard, resolute to stop him from escaping Oa. Hal is being held in the arms of Donna and Star Sapphire is floating, circling Superboy.

You are indestructible; child, but your words betray your weakness. You are like all men, you deny yourself the greatest feeling of all, love. I cannot let you kill this man for I love him. He is my chosen, even though he has chosen another.

Superboy swings a mighty fist but it passes through Star Sapphire, who continues her monologue.

Love will conquer all. I know that your love for your Earth and your family has driven you to insanity. I know that deep down you want to accept that loss. You want to be relieved of this burden. I am not a creature of destruction, as many believe. You want peace and I can give it to you.

“I want death, you fool. Death for every so-called hero in this reality.”

Then I feel the greatest sorrow for you man-child. All I can do is show you what could have been and hope it satisfies.

Cerise light shrouds Superboy. He tries to escape but the Lanterns form walls to repel him back towards Oa. The light catches him and the last words he hears before his mind closes are those of Star Sapphire.

Your burden is ended. Mine has begun

 

Smallville, Kansas

“ Clark ? Clark! Come on in Clark, the pancakes are cooked and you've got homework to do before you go to the dance!” Ma Kent stands at the door of the farmhouse and calls out across the dusty farmyard to the muscular young man chopping wood by the barn. He smiles and runs into the kitchen, deftly snatching up a glass of cold lemonade and draining it before he sits at the table and presses his hands together to say grace.

“ I hear from Mrs Lang that Lana will be going to the dance as well.” Ma Kent teases Clark as she slides another couple of pancakes onto his plate. “I like that girl. Very pleasant.”

“Ma? Is that a new set of china?” Clark looks quizzically at the plates, cups and well… everything in the room. It all seems tinged with … pink.

“No dear, I've had those since your father and I were engaged. Is there something wrong?”

“No Maam, nothing at all.”

 

Oa, The Centre of the Universe

Hal gingerly stands as three Guardians float down to the table he is sitting at with Donna.

“There is no need to stand, Hal Jordan of Earth. You have done the Corps a great service today. We trust that your ring is well?”

“The ring's fine. It repairs itself as well you know. And it repairs me… but I hurt like hell. How is the rest of the Corps?” Hal is guided to his seat by Donna.

“The broken will mend. The dead will be honoured. That is our way. The Corps will persevere.”

“Will it?” Hal stares seriously at the Guardians. “We have lost so many recently. The ranks are filled with rookies. We've lost so many veterans. And John. If this were to happen again, could we hold? If the other races took their chance?”

“The Thanagarians were mad men seeking a new God. They sought to free Superboy Prime to lead their race. They failed. The other races were swept up in the hyperbole of Legate Tarn and his minions. None would be stupid enough to attack Oa again.”

“Even the Swarm?”

The Guardians blue faces blanche at the sound of that word. “We have warned you, Hal Jordan . The Swarm and the Corps are a matter best left to others. They are no concern of yours but you have discovered their secret. Lanterns and Swarm are matched. We cannot defeat them and they cannot defeat us. It is written in the Book of Oa. Earth cannot be that battleground.”

“And what of Superboy Prime?” Donna speaks with assured confidence but slight deference.

“He has been enveloped by the Star Sapphire entity, undergoing some sort of emotional sedation. She has sacrificed her reunion with her Zamoran kin to save you Jordan . We thank you for the new Sun Eater childling, Harbinger. The prison is secure again. He will never escape again.”

“It's so unfair.” Donna sighs.

“What is?” Hal puts an arm on her shoulder.

“Sapphire. She never asked to be created, a bit like me. All she has ever had to do is the bidding of others. Be Queen. Find a mate. Follow the orders of one leader or another. She was so close to that reunion, something she wanted to do, and she gave that up for … for you Hal. You heard her. You were her chosen.” Donna looks away, hiding her face.

“And you heard her say something else. I have chosen another….” Hal puts his hand on her chin and turns her head. “ I know … I know about .. Kyle. Terry. Roy . When you're ready, I'll be here for you, if you …. If you want me.”

“Ahem. I believe you are still on duty, Green Lantern 2814.1 ?” One of the Guardians interrupts as Hal's ring flashes a message – a hologram of a battered Guy Gardener.

Hal, this is Guy. I hope this message reaches you in time. It's all gone to hell in a handbasket here pal and we need your help. Bring help. Everyone the Guardians can spare. Earth's goin' down Hal. We need the Corps!

Hal stares hard at the Guardian. “This is the Swarm? This is the battle that can never happen on Earth. Too many people have died today. I won't allow this to happen.”

The Guardian floats before Hal. “We forbid it. You cannot beat the Swarm.”

Hal takes a deep breath. “When we defeated the Fatal Five, you made me and Guy Honour Guard. You said we were the heart and soul of the Corps. You said that we were an example to everyone who wears a ring. Well this example isn't going to stand here and let his sector partner die at the hands of an enemy that you are scared of. I'm ignoring your order Guardian. Do what you need to do but I will not allow Guy to die there.”

The Guardian makes to argue but his companions shake their heads. They know better…

Hal stands and then flies into the air. “Then we go. Now. Kilowog, gather who you can and prepare to transwarp to Earth. It's time we settled this!”

Donna looks on and smiles. What has she got herself involved in…?

Next Issue: The Green Lantern Corps are involved in the battle against their ancient enemy in The Swarm (check out that title for more details). Meanwhile in Green Lantern, Hal faces the evolved Chemo with an ending that … well, that would be telling!

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