After another hour of intensive rescue work, the immediate crisis had stabilized. Emergency teams had established perimeters, the most critically injured had been evacuated, and the risk of secondary collapses had been contained. The five heroes regrouped near the central plaza, each showing signs of exhaustion despite their extraordinary abilities.
"Initial reports show remarkably low casualties given the scale of destruction," Superman reported, landing beside them. "Your early warning helped, Arthur. The harbor evacuation gave people critical minutes to seek shelter."
"Flash's evacuation of the downtown core made the difference," Arthur replied, his normally brash demeanor subdued by the gravity of the situation. "If those buildings had been fully occupied..."
"We all did what we could," Barry said, running a hand through his hair, leaving it standing at odd angles. "But honestly, if Green Lantern hadn't shown up when he did, I don't think any of us would be standing here having this conversation."
All eyes turned to Hal, who was leaning against a partially collapsed wall, his uniform's glow noticeably dimmer than before. The ring was still working to heal his injuries, but the extended use of its power had taken a toll.
"Speaking of which," Tony said, approaching Hal with curious scrutiny, "where exactly did you come from? One minute we're getting our collective asses handed to us, the next minute there's a guy in green pajamas creating giant shields out of thin air."
Hal couldn't help but smile slightly despite his exhaustion. "It's a long story. One I'm still figuring out myself." He looked down at the ring, which pulsed gently in response to his attention. "Short version? A dying alien crashed in the desert a few days ago and gave me this ring. Said I was chosen to replace him as protector of this sector of space."
"That tracks with what Red and Angry was saying," Tony observed. "Something about Sector 666 and a Green Lantern Corps."
"The Corps is... something else," Hal said, a distant look crossing his features as memories of Oa flooded back. "Thousands of beings like me – well, not like me exactly, but wearing the same uniform, wielding the same power. Each responsible for a different sector of space. I've spent the last few days on their homeworld, a planet called Oa, at the center of the universe."
Barry raised his eyebrows. "The center of the universe? Like, literally?"
"According to the Guardians, yes," Hal replied. "Little blue immortals about this tall." He held his hand at waist level. "They created the Corps billions of years ago. They've been... intense about my training."
"Training?" Arthur asked, twirling his trident absently. "You seem pretty good with that ring already."
Hal winced, memories of his first attempts at constructing complex objects flashing through his mind. "You should have seen me three days ago. My first construct looked like a child's drawing. Kilowog – he's this massive drill sergeant type, looks like a cross between a bulldog and a rhinoceros – spent twelve straight hours hurling threats at me while I tried to keep his constructs from crushing me."
"Sounds fun," Tony remarked dryly.
"It was brutal," Hal admitted. "But necessary. I wouldn't have survived today without it." His expression darkened slightly. "Though nothing prepared me for what I saw in space. My mentor Sinestro and I were dispatched to his homeworld, Korugar, when we got word of an attack. The same red energy, the same beings we fought today. They call themselves the Red Lantern Corps."
"So that's where you got that shoulder injury," Superman observed. "Before today's battle."
Hal nodded, rotating his shoulder unconsciously. "Sinestro was wounded worse than I was. They were after something in the Korugarian archives – ancient records about something called Sector 666." His expression grew troubled. "They left the planet's capital in flames. Then on the way back to Oa, we intercepted a distress call from a Nova Corps mining colony. By the time I arrived, space pirates called the Ravagers had already stolen some kind of crystal related to Sector 666."
"Space pirates?" Barry repeated incredulously. "Like, with eye patches and parrots?"
"More like with heavily armed spacecraft and a blue-skinned captain with a mystical arrow," Hal replied. "And get this – there was a human with them. Called himself Star-Lord."
"A human? In space?" Tony's interest visibly piqued. "Working with aliens?"
"Said he was abducted as a kid in the 80s. Had a Walkman and everything." Hal shook his head at the memory. "It's been... a lot to process. The universe is so much bigger than I ever imagined, and Earth is just a tiny part of it. But when I heard about the attack here, I couldn't stay away. The Guardians wanted me to complete my training, but..." He trailed off, looking around at the devastated city. "This is my home. My responsibility."
"I don't have all the answers yet," Hal admitted. "I know the Red Lanterns are seeking vengeance for something that happened billions of years ago in Sector 666. Something the Guardians did that they're not being completely forthcoming about. Atrocitus was imprisoned on a place called Ysmault until recently, and now he's building his own Corps fueled by rage instead of willpower."
He straightened up, wincing at the movement. "And speaking of leaving – I need to go. My family, my friends... they must be worried sick. I've been off-planet for days with no way to contact them."
"They are," Superman confirmed quietly. "I can hear news helicopters circling your mother's house in Coast City. Reporters are already trying to piece together who the 'Green Lantern' might be."
A flash of panic crossed Hal's features. "I need to go to them. Now."
"The mask won't hold up to scrutiny for long," Tony noted, gesturing to the simple domino mask covering the upper portion of Hal's face. "Not if you're planning to have any kind of public identity as this Green Lantern."
"I haven't thought that far ahead," Hal confessed. "Everything's happened so fast. One minute I'm a test pilot, the next I'm fighting aliens across the galaxy and learning that space pirates are stealing mystical artifacts while being chased by rage-powered Red Lanterns."
"Welcome to the club," Barry said with a sympathetic smile. "It gets easier. Sort of."
Superman placed a hand on Hal's uninjured shoulder. "Go to your family. They need to see you're safe. We can handle things here."
"And afterward?" Arthur asked bluntly. "Those red ring-wielders will be back. You heard them – this was just the beginning."
Hal nodded, his expression growing serious. "I know. And I'll be ready." He looked around at the four heroes, these men who had fought alongside him without hesitation. "We'll be ready."
"I like the sound of that," Tony remarked, his eyebrows raising slightly. "The 'we' part, specifically. Earth could use a response team for threats of this caliber."
"Something to discuss another time," Superman suggested diplomatically. "After everyone's had a chance to recover."
Hal straightened, testing his injuries. The ring had accelerated his healing considerably – the concussion symptoms had faded, his ribs ached but no longer sent shooting pain with each breath, and his shoulder, while sore, had full range of motion again.
"Thank you," he said simply, looking at each of them in turn. "All of you. I couldn't have done this alone."
"None of us could have," Clark replied, his gaze sweeping across the devastation that might have been so much worse without their combined efforts.
With a final nod to his newfound allies, Hal summoned his willpower once more. The green aura enveloped him, lifting him from the ground as he prepared to depart. "I'll be in touch. Soon."
"Looking forward to it, Greenie," Tony called after him. "We should talk suit design. That outfit could use some upgrades!"
"Trust me, after training with Sinestro, I'm not changing a thing," Hal replied with a half-smile. "He'd probably sense it from across the galaxy and come back just to lecture me about 'Corps traditions.'"
"Well, the offer stands," Tony said, his armor running final diagnostics as emergency crews continued to work around them. "I should get back to Malibu. The mansion's still in pieces after Rhodey and I had our... disagreement. And the new element I synthesized didn't exactly help with the structural integrity."
"I need to get back to Central City," Barry added, adjusting his cowl slightly. "I was in the middle of tracking down Captain Boomerang when all this started. No telling what trouble he's caused while I've been away."
"And Lois is probably worried sick," Clark said, hovering slightly above the ground. "Plus I need to file a story on all this." He gestured to the devastation around them. "The Planet's going to want a firsthand account."
Arthur spun his trident absently. "I should return to the water as well. The aftermath of a battle like this leaves traces in the currents. I need to ensure nothing toxic reaches the deeper ocean ecosystems."
Hal looked at the four heroes—men who hours ago had been strangers, now comrades who had fought alongside him against a cosmic threat. "So this is it? We just... go our separate ways?"
"For now," Superman replied, his expression thoughtful. "But we should establish a way to contact each other. In case something like this happens again."
"I can set up a secure communication network," Tony offered immediately. "Untraceable, encrypted, accessible only to us. I'll include Batman in the loop—he'll want to know about these developments."
Superman nodded in agreement. "Good idea. He might have insights on how to prepare for their potential return."
"I'll have JARVIS send you all the details once it's set up," Tony continued, turning back to Hal. "What about you, Ring Bearer? Where are you headed?"
Hal's gaze drifted toward the military perimeter where he knew his family waited. "I need to see my family. Explain as much as I can, though I'm still figuring most of it out myself." He hesitated. "After that... I don't know. The Guardians expect me back on Oa for further training, but Earth needs its Lantern here, especially with the Red Lanterns making their presence known."
"One step at a time," Clark suggested, placing a reassuring hand on Hal's shoulder. "Family first. The rest will fall into place."
With nods of agreement, the heroes prepared to depart. Superman extended his hand to Hal first. "It was an honor fighting alongside you, Green Lantern."
Hal clasped it firmly. "Likewise, Superman."
The others followed suit—Flash with his enthusiastic grip, Aquaman with his warrior's grasp, and Iron Man with a metallic handshake that somehow still conveyed genuine respect.
"Earth's in good hands with you watching the skies," Tony said, his faceplate sliding closed. "Both local and interstellar varieties."
With final nods of farewell, they departed—Superman soaring upward with characteristic grace, Flash disappearing in a streak of lightning, Aquaman diving into the harbor with barely a splash, and Iron Man rocketing away with repulsors flaring.
Hal watched them go, a strange mixture of emotions washing over him. Then, summoning his will once more, he lifted off, the emerald aura enveloping him as he set course for the military command post where his family waited.
The green streak crossed the devastated city, emerald light trailing behind him like a comet's tail. Below, civilians and emergency workers paused to look up, some pointing, others recording the phenomenon on their phones. The Green Lantern of Earth, making his way home.
In the command center, Carol nearly jumped from her seat as she saw Hal's green streak heading in their direction. "He's coming here," she said, her professional composure momentarily abandoned.
"The cameras at the Jordan house show press gathering," Faraday noted, checking a monitor. "He's smart enough to come here first."
Jessica stood, her hands clasped tightly together. "My boy," she whispered again, tears threatening. "My impossible boy."
Jim placed a supportive hand on his mother's shoulder, his own expression caught between relief and lingering concern. "Carol, what exactly happened to him out there in the desert?"
Carol shook her head slowly, still watching Hal's approach on the monitor. "I don't know, Jim. He called me that night, talking about a crash, something about a ring. I thought he was... I don't know what I thought. But this..."
"He's different," Thomas said quietly. "You can see it in how he moves, how he fights. That's not just Hal in a costume. That's something... more."
The green streak slowed as it approached the facility perimeter, descending toward the landing pad where Hal had taken off in the Starjumper just days earlier – though it felt like a lifetime had passed. He touched down gently, the emerald aura fading slightly but still surrounding him in a soft glow.
For a moment, he simply stood there, looking at the building where his life as a test pilot seemed to belong to another existence entirely. The memories of what he'd witnessed in space flickered through his mind – the gleaming spires of Oa, the brutal training under Kilowog's watchful eye, the devastation on Korugar, Sinestro's injuries at the hands of the Red Lanterns, the confrontation with the Ravagers and the human who called himself Star-Lord. In mere days, his understanding of the universe had expanded beyond anything he could have imagined.
He squared his shoulders and moved toward the entrance. The guards positioned there exchanged uncertain glances, clearly unsure how to treat this new arrival who wore no military insignia yet radiated authority beyond their experience.
"Sir, we need authorization—" one began.
"It's okay, Peterson," Faraday's voice came through the guard's comm unit. "Let him through."
The doors slid open, and Hal stepped inside, the green aura around him casting emerald shadows along the sterile corridor. Personnel stopped to stare as he passed, conversations halting mid-sentence at the sight of Earth's newest protector walking among them.
When he reached the main command center, the doors opened automatically. Inside, his family and friends waited, their expressions a mixture of relief, confusion, awe, and in Jessica Jordan's case, barely contained emotion.
"Hal," Carol said, the first to break the silence. She took a step forward, then stopped, suddenly uncertain how to approach this familiar stranger.
"It's still me, Carol," Hal said softly, his voice carrying that same confidence but with new undertones of authority that hadn't existed before his transformation.
That was all it took. Jessica rushed forward, maternal instinct overriding any hesitation, and threw her arms around her son. The green aura parted for her like water, allowing her to embrace him fully.
"Harold Jordan," she said against his chest, her voice choked with emotion. "You disappeared without a word. For days."
"I know, Mom," Hal replied, returning the embrace carefully, aware of the power that now flowed through him. "I'm sorry. I didn't have a choice."
Jim approached next, his lawyer's analytical mind visibly attempting to reconcile the brother he knew with the cosmic warrior who stood before them. "So this is what happens when you find aliens in the desert," he said, attempting levity despite the gravity of the situation. "Dad always said you'd find trouble no matter where you looked."
A small smile crossed Hal's face as he clasped his brother's hand. "Trouble found me this time."
Thomas hung back slightly, respecting the family reunion, but his engineer's curiosity was evident in his expression as he studied the uniform, the ring, the energy field that surrounded his friend.
Carol moved closer, her professional demeanor giving way to genuine concern. "You're hurt," she observed, noting the way he favored his side despite the ring's healing capabilities.
"I've been worse," Hal replied with a shrug that didn't quite hide his wince. "The ring helps with the healing process."
Faraday cleared his throat, drawing attention back to the operational reality they faced. "While this reunion is touching, we have a situation developing. The press is already speculating about the identity of the 'Green Lantern' who fought alongside known entities like Superman and Iron Man. It won't take long for them to connect the dots to your disappearance, Jordan."
"Let them speculate," Hal said, a new confidence in his voice. "I need to get my family somewhere safe, somewhere they can process all this away from cameras and questions." He turned to Faraday. "You have my word that I'm not a threat to national security. Quite the opposite. But right now, I need time."
Faraday studied him for a long moment, his scarred face impassive. Then he nodded once. "We can arrange secure transport to a safehouse. Give you 48 hours before we need to have a more... comprehensive debriefing."
"Thank you," Hal said simply.
"Don't thank me yet," Faraday replied. "This situation is unprecedented. A test pilot wielding technology from an interstellar peacekeeping force, fighting aliens in downtown Coast City. The Pentagon's going to have questions. A lot of them."
"And I'll answer them," Hal promised. "But not tonight."
Jessica, who had been watching this exchange with growing concern, stepped forward again. "My son needs rest," she said with the fierce protectiveness that had defined her parenting since Martin Jordan's death. "Whatever questions your superiors have can wait."
Faraday's expression softened marginally. "Of course, Mrs. Jordan. I'll arrange the transport immediately."
As the family gathered their belongings and prepared to leave, Hal took Carol aside, his expression serious. "There's so much I need to tell you," he said quietly. "About what happened out there. About what I saw."
"I know," she replied, meeting his gaze directly. "And I want to hear all of it. But your mother's right – you need rest first."
Hal nodded, grateful for her understanding. "I'll come find you. Soon."
"You'd better," she responded, a hint of her usual commanding tone returning. "You're still technically employed by Ferris Aircraft, even if your current uniform doesn't include our logo."
A smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. "Yes, ma'am."
Within twenty minutes, they were loaded into a nondescript black SUV with military escort, heading away from the command center toward a secure location where they could process the day's events in private. As they passed through the gates, Hal looked back once at the facility where his old life seemed to have ended and his new one begun. The ring pulsed gently on his finger, a reminder of the responsibility he now carried.
"So," Jim said from beside him, breaking the contemplative silence. "Space police, huh?"
"Something like that," Hal replied with a tired smile.
"Cool," Jim said simply, and in that word was acceptance, pride, and the unshakable bond of brotherhood.
Jessica reached across to take Hal's hand, her fingers brushing against the ring. "Your father would be proud," she said softly. "Terrified for you, but proud."
Hal squeezed her hand gently, knowing she was right. Martin Jordan had always taught his sons to face fear with courage, to stand up when others stepped back. In becoming Green Lantern, Hal had finally understood that lesson in its fullest sense.
As the SUV disappeared into the night, carrying Earth's newest guardian toward a brief respite before the challenges to come, Director Faraday returned to his private office within the command center. He closed the door, activated a series of security protocols that would prevent any surveillance, and removed a specialized communication device from a hidden compartment in his desk.
"Connect to Fury," he instructed the device, which hummed to life with advanced technology that seemed beyond standard military issue.
After several seconds of encrypted connection protocols, a stern face appeared on the small holographic display – dark-skinned, one-eyed, expression carved from granite.
"Faraday," Nick Fury acknowledged, his single eye narrowing slightly. "I'm guessing this isn't a social call."
"We have a situation," Faraday replied without preamble. "Abin Sur has a successor."
Fury's expression didn't change, but his posture straightened almost imperceptibly. "Explain."
"Test pilot named Hal Jordan. Found Sur's crash site in the desert four days ago. Apparently received the ring and has spent the time since then off-world. Returned today to help fight off a hostile force of alien beings with similar technology – they call themselves the 'Red Lantern Corps.'"
"Casualties?"
"Remarkably low given the scale of destruction. Superman, Iron Man, Flash, and Aquaman were on scene to assist with evacuation and defense."
Fury was silent for a moment, processing. "So the rumors about a coordinated response were accurate."
"They worked together effectively," Faraday confirmed. "Left together too, but established communication protocols before departing."
"And Jordan?"
"Currently with his family at safehouse Delta. I've given him 48 hours before official debriefing."
Fury's eye narrowed further. "Generous of you."
"Strategic," Faraday countered. "He's not just some kid who stumbled into powers. He's Earth's official representative to an interstellar peacekeeping force that's existed for billions of years. The same force Abin Sur represented when he helped us during the Skrull-Kree incident."
A shadow passed over Fury's face at the memory. "Does he know about that? About J'onn's involvement?"
"No mentions were made. I doubt Sur had time to brief him on Earth's previous extraterrestrial encounters before passing the ring."
"Keep it that way for now," Fury ordered. "J'onn's built a life with Maria and Monica. Danvers is off-world handling other matters. The last thing we need is this Green Lantern rookie stirring up past operations."
"Understood," Faraday acknowledged. "But he'll need to be briefed eventually. Especially if these 'Red Lanterns' return."
"One crisis at a time," Fury said, his tone making it clear the decision was final. "Continue monitoring Jordan. Full report in 48 hours."
"Yes, sir."
As the connection terminated, Faraday leaned back in his chair, contemplating the implications of the day's events.