Chapter 13: 8th July Morning
My sleep cycles are a mess. I usually wake up at six o'clock and go to bed at around eleven. Not only am I no longer on Greenwich Mean Time, but I've been spending time in different time zones and I think the ring is doing something to keep me alert when I would normally start to feel tired. As such, the knowledge that this is the day on which I meet my new team didn't keep me up last night. That fact just joined in with all of the other things. At about two o'clock I gave up on sleep and tried meditating. I remembered that in Justice League Animated John Stewart had been able to call his ring to his hand from several metres away, so I placed the ring on the palm of my left hand and tried to empty my mind of everything but my Hierarchy of Needs.
When my alarm went off I was sitting in the air, cross legged and glowing orange with the ring floating between my outstretched hands. When I became aware of this I fell out of the air onto my bum with some force. Still, it demonstrates that physical contact is not an essential component of ring control. Even better, the experience left me physically and mentally refreshed. Bruised posterior aside.
Breakfast was porridge with caster sugar. Alan -I now have first name privileges- doesn't use my preferred golden syrup and I would have felt silly flying to Britain to get some. My one attempt at interacting with an American supermarket left me distinctly unsettled, like a rabbit that leaves the burrow through the wrong entrance and finds itself inside the arena at a destruction derby. Smaller shops I can handle, such as the butchers and greengrocers where I got the materials for last night's Shepherds Pie, and I will make an effort to try to get to know the staff at the shops around wherever my new team is based.
Both he and Wonder Woman seemed surprised when I requested that Alan accompany us. The way I see it, giving his lantern to me marks me as his designated successor and the very least I can do for him is let him see me get properly started. Plus, I think he will enjoy meeting some of the current generation. The idea that I will have someone to speak in my favour if the League's Green Lanterns -who will be there- become hostile is also reassuring. It also gives him the opportunity to use his ring again on official business, something he seems happy about.
I think we were all surprised that he still fits in his old costume. I'm in my light armour. Turns out that Paul Gambi doesn't actually sell armour. He literally just does bespoke tailoring for supervillains. Luckily his brother Peter Gambi does have a line in personal protective equipment, and he was willing to put me in touch. I've got an appointment with him in Metropolis in a couple of days. I'm also bringing my lantern with me. Alan gave me the box he kept it in so that I would have somewhere to put it. I'm using the ring to add straps to carry it with.
Thinking about it rationally, I realise that I will probably be at the older end of the age range. Kyle Rayner would have been… what? Seven years younger than me when he got his ring, and he still ended up in… What were they called at the time? The Titans? Kathryn Kane -Batwoman- was younger than I am now when she started. Renee Montoya might have been older when she became The Question, but she had years of police experience. I hope there's at least a couple of other adults; it'll be weird if it's all teenagers.
I suppose I shouldn't be too insulted if it is all teenagers. They'll probably have been doing this sort of thing for years.
Our base of operations is going to be the newly refurbished Mount Justice facility in a place called Happy Harbour. I vaguely remember something about the early Justice League operating out of a mountain from a comic, but it was a modern addition to earlier stories and what I remember from it doesn't seem to match what I am now seeing.
It's about half seven in the morning when Wonder Woman parks her jet in a field overlooking the town. Alan makes a point of stretching when we get out. He hasn't actually activated his ring yet, though I can see the glow. I think it must have been low on power when I first saw it because there is no way not to notice the green light now. It's like a small green portal gun or something, energy wafting around the spout but never fully leaving.
The field is basically empty, but a small road runs next to it. No animals, and it doesn't look like there's a crop planted or grass harvested. Maybe she owns it? She was on the League when they worked out of the mountain so she must have parked the jet somewhere. I can see the mountain over on our left. Not much of a mountain, really. The lower parts are covered in trees and they continue up in parts to the summit. Bah, I've been up Snowdon. That is a jumped up Justice Hill.
Wonder Woman leads the way to the edge of the field and… a phone booth? A full get-in-and-shut-the-door phone booth? I can't remember the last time I saw one of those, the rise of the mobile pretty much killed them off. And who uses it out here?
Oh, I'm being stupid.
OrangeVision.
Yep, lots of circuitry and other gubbins I don't understand. So, this is a zeta tube. I stop walking.
"Oh, hell no. I've seen Star Trek. Those things are not safe."
They both look at me. Wonder Woman sighs.
"The League has been using zeta tubes since its founding. They are quite safe."
"It's all fun and games until your eye gets teleported to Poughkeepsie."
"That can't happen."
"Or into my face. I like my eyes."
She takes a breath, one hand resting on her hip.
"I don't think they've finished the ground level access yet. We closed them all off with rubble when we abandoned Mount Justice the first time."
"Is there really no other way in?"
She is about to answer, then pauses.
"There is a sea entrance."
"Sea entrance is good."
"We built it for Aquaman. The external end is about two miles out to sea. "
"And I need to test my environmental shield underwater."
"Some of us don't have power rings."
"I can extend the shield over you. Or make a bubble around the three of us."
Alan looks amused by the fuss I'm making.
"I can shield myself, thank you very much."
Or possibly at Wonder Woman's irritation. I have no intention of getting involved with that piece of mad science if I can possibly help it, but it would be intelligent to make my argument in a less confrontational way.
"We're here early anyway. You said the meeting was at eight, right?"
"Yes."
"Have you ever used the sea entrance yourself?"
"Not while conscious."
Okay…
"Then this is a great chance to see what it looks like."
She exhales. "I understand that you are concerned about using a new technology, but League members use these every day. You will most likely have to use these on your missions."
"Tell you what. We'll use the sea entrance this time, and I'll spend tomorrow going over the safety records and design schematics. If I can't find any evidence that backs up my concerns, I'll use them without complaint."
"Very well. We'll use the water entrance." She lifts off the ground. I follow. Alan remains where he is. Wonder Woman smiles. "You do remember how it works, don't you?"
"Yeah, yeah, it's… Been a while, though." A ghostly green flame aura surrounds him and he rises to join us. "Might be a bit rusty to start with. Try not to leave me behind too badly."
"Don't worry. My Granddad used to walk slower than the rest of the family. I'm used to it."
He perks up. "Used to? Did he start jogging or something?"
Internal wince. Can't think of a way to avoid answering.
"No, he um. He died. Sorry."
Why did I say that I am such an idiot. My hands rise to my face and I start to nervously giggle.
Alan and Wonder Woman look at me, then at each other. Then they start laughing.
"Well I hope I'm not that out of practice."
Ring, scan for the damn entrance.
We break the surface in a plume of water.
"Alright, I admit, not as interesting as advertised."
I dismiss the environmental shield from around Wonder Woman and drift to the edge of the inner pool. She and Alan come down behind me, and I stop to let her lead the way.
"… calling it into service again, since you four are determined to stay together to fight the good fight. You'll do it on League terms."
I can just about hear someone talking. Low pitch. No idea where it's coming from. These caves are bouncing the sound around too much.
"Red Tornado volunteered to live here and be your supervisor. Black Canary's in charge of training. I will deploy you on missions."
"Orange Lantern, in accordance with the terms of your oath to Gaea I nominate Batman as the other individual whose orders you must obey."
Is that Batman's voice? Much easier to understand than the Christian Bale version.
"Rightyho."
"You realise that because of that detour we're late."
"Sorry."
"Here, it doesn't really matter. If you arrive late on a mission, people can die."
"Yes sir."
"Civilians. Your team mates. You."
"Yes sir."
A flicker of green in the corner of my eye draws my attention. I look up as a Green Lantern who must be Harold Jordan flies overhead carrying something big and mechanical looking in a glowing green hand. The hand is being projected directly from his ring. I've been using this ring for three days and I've already learned not to do that.
I can't believe Sinestro didn't teach him better than that.
He's seen us as well. He stops in the air, staring at me. I think about waving, but decide that it's probably inappropriate. He looks decidedly unhappy to see me. I reflexively strengthen my environmental shield. Just in case.
Then Alan steps forward. "Morning, Hal!"
Green two eight one four A nearly drops his construct. "Mister Sc… erm, Alan! Hi! We weren't… I wasn't expecting you."
"Thought I'd see the boy in on his first day. Especially when he keeps telling me that he's surprised I haven't dropped dead yet."
That's not what I…ugh.
I wince. Wonder Woman catches my eye and nods in the direction Lantern Jordan just came from. We walk away as he and Alan keep talking. Nice to know he gives Alan respect face to face, even if he couldn't be bothered to fix his lantern for him.
"The six of you will be that team."
We're getting closer to wherever Batman is. Since this is an actual induction, there are probably other League members around, working on other parts of the building. I'm a bit impressed that they have the knowledge to build their own bases, but I suppose they can't really hire people to do it. I remember all of the operation staff there were in Justice League Unlimited. Massive security risk.
"Cool! Wait, six?"
We exit the tunnel and enter another large cavern. I suffer a brief nerdgasm as I identify The Flash, Batman, Aquaman, Black Canary, Hawkman and Red Tornado. I wonder if he's the elemental/robot hybrid version, or the pure robot from the cartoons? Since Wonder woman had never heard of Rann, probably the latter. My future team mates appear to be Kid Flash -the Wallace West version-, Superboy, a tough looking black guy with bleached hair and a short, black haired guy. Probably a Robin, given that Batman's here. Yep, all teenagers.
Martian Manhunter and Miss Martian walk towards the cluster of people from the direction of what I assume is the zeta beam base station. Batman flicks his gaze in our direction for a moment, but everyone else is watching the Martians.
"This is the Martian Manhunter's niece, Miss Martian."
She waves, nervously. "Hi?"
"And that-"
Batman turns back toward me, and this time everyone turns with him. Still haven't quite reached them so I can clearly see everyone stare. Gulp.
"-is Orange Lantern, protégé of the original Green Lantern."
Chin up.
"Sorry I'm late, sir. I'm afraid that I took some horror stories about teleportation rather to heart and asked to come in by the sea entrance."
Kid Flash looks at me for a moment, and then decides he'd rather talk to the green girl. "Welcome aboard. I'm Kid Flash! And this is the -slightly extended- gang."
Another look at me. They all already know each other, don't they. Definite ingroup intrusion vibe. Might as well introduce myself properly.
"Robin." I nod. "Kid Flash. Miss M'orzz. Superboy. And… I'm sorry, I've got no idea who you are." I extend my right hand to the black guy.
He takes it. "I am Kaldur'ahm. My code name is Aqualad."
"Orange Lantern two eight one four. Pleased to meet you all."
I'm not the biggest Aquaman fan, but wasn't Aqualad white? Went on to become Tempest? I think his name was Garth, or Gareth, or something. Another difference.
Kid Flash squints at me. "Hey, wait a second. Orange Lantern? How many Lantern colors are there?"
I turn to him. "That I know about? Nine. Though, logically I… I suppose you could make one of any colour."
"Nine?!"
Robin puts a hand on his shoulder. "Try to stay whelmed, Kid."
Whelmed? "Whelmed?"
Kid Flash winces. "Don't."
I dismiss the environmental shield from around Wonder Woman and drift to the edge of the inner pool. She comes down behind me, and I stop to let her lead the way.
"… calling it into service again, since you four are determined to stay together to fight the good fight. You'll do it on League terms."
I can just about hear someone talking. Low pitch. No idea where it's coming from. These caves are bouncing the sound around too much.
"Red Tornado volunteered to live here and be your supervisor. Black Canary's in charge of training. I will deploy you on missions."
"Orange Lantern, in accordance with the terms of your oath to Gaea I nominate Batman as the other individual whose orders you must obey."
Is that Batman's voice? Much easier to understand than the Christian Bale version.
"Right."
"You realise that because of that detour we're late."
"Sorry sir."
"Here, it doesn't really matter. If you arrive late on a mission, people can die."
"Yes sir."
"Civilians. Your team mates. You."
"Yes sir."
A flicker of green in the corner of my eye draws my attention. I look up as a Green Lantern who must be Harold Jordan flies overhead carrying something big and mechanical looking in a glowing green hand. The hand is being projected directly from his ring. I've been using this ring for three days and I've already learned not to do that.
I can't believe Sinestro didn't teach him better.
He's seen us as well. He stops in the air, staring at me. I think about waving, but decide that it's probably inappropriate. He looks decidedly unhappy to see me. I reflexively strengthen my environmental shield. Just in case.
Maybe asking Mr Scott to come along would have been a good idea.
Lantern Jordan lowers himself to the floor in front of me, and deposits his load on the ground. He crosses his arms in front of his chest. "So, you're an Orange Lantern."
My eyes flick to Wonder Woman for a moment, but no. I knew this was coming, I will deal with it myself. "Orange Lantern two eight one four, sir. Pleased to meet you."
"There's nothing pleasing about it. Why don't you tell me where you really got that ring?"
"This ring? This ring was made for me by a group of Leprechauns. They forged it from the concentrated avarice given off during the grand opening of the Ikea superstore in London. Beware the Vikings, Green Lantern. They will flat pack your life. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm late for an appointment."
This is the Martian Manhunter's niece, Miss Martian."
She waves, nervously.
"Hi?"
"And that-"
Batman turns back toward me, and this time everyone turns with him. Still haven't quite reached them so I can clearly see everyone stare. Gulp.
"-is Orange Lantern, protégé of the original Green Lantern."
Chin up.
"Sorry I'm late, sir. I'm afraid that I took some horror stories about teleportation rather to heart and asked to come in by the sea entrance."
Kid Flash looks at me for a moment, and then decides he'd rather talk to the green girl.
"Welcome aboard. I'm Kid Flash! And this is the -slightly extended- gang."
The ring told me that moving faster than light in an atmosphere was perfectly safe, so long as I have the course fully programmed in advance.
[IMG]
There is a momentary orange flare, then I'm next to Kid Flash with an arm around his shoulder. I'm both taller and more heavily muscled than he is, and he starts at my presence and then freezes.
Yeah. Guess who isn't the fastest guy on the team.
"I'm so sorry, Kid Flash. Would you have preferred it if I'd padded my bra?"
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