DCU Green Lantern Corps #53 For Them (The Jade Princess)

John stood outside the power center anxious. He knew Kanjar Ro was filth, but he trusted Alan and Todd enough. What he was more worried about at the moment, was the number of men slowly surrounding him. They obviously thought they were being stealthy, but they couldn't be more obvious.

 

 

When the sound of an energy blast went off inside, John immediately turned to enter, only for a large hand to grab onto his shoulder. His head turned to view a brutish alien with rock-like skin. John swung his arm, a green fist construct hitting the brute in the face. Viewing his surroundings, he saw multiple bounty hunters swarming him.

 

 

His ring sparked as he created a gatling gun, beginning to launch energy bullets at the attackers. As he did, his mind filled with visions of Kanjar Ro, the scum rigging the bomb. Katma's death. His vision became clouded with anger as he made a baseball bat, swinging at one of the men rushing him.

 

 

Upon impact, the construct faded, the attack not causing any damage. John looked down to his ring, the glow flashing before it dulled. 'Not now,' he thought to himself. The thought of anger overpowering his willpower too strongly.

 

 

John grit his teeth as he screamed out in rage, swinging his fist directly at the attacker. His fist planted itself in his forehead, the ring leaving an imprint as he fell to the ground. John knelt down, lifting a club-like pipe from the ground, reading it in his hands, staring down the 15+ attackers.

 

 

"Come on then!" he bellowed, charging forward into the group.

 

 

-^-^-

 

 

"Over my. Dead. Body."

 

 

Alan unholstered his pistol, aiming it at the pirate. "Let us leave," he demanded.

 

 

Kanjar Ro paused for a moment, as if he was considering, but aimed his gauntlet again. The blast of energy launched out, Alan narrowly rolling out of the way. Standing from his roll, he let off two shots, both bouncing off the gauntlet.

 

 

"Ya can't beat me with a pistol," he laughed, aiming the gauntlet again. "This dance will just go on until you get tired."

 

 

Alan ignored him, shooting another two shots at him, Kanjar Ro vaporizing the bullets mid-air. The next blast sent out caught Alan by the leg, making him stumble and fall to the ground. The pistol in his hand slid across the room, leaving him unarmed.

 

 

"Well? What're you gonna do?" he asked, slowly walking towards him. As he arrived, he stepped down onto Alan's fingers, crushing them with his boot. "What's the hero gonna d-"

 

 

His sentence was cut off as a blast of green energy hit him. Turning his head, he saw Jade, her arm raised in her sitting position. "Leave him… alone," she spoke, her arm lowering from exhaustion.

 

 

Alan took the opportunity to roll towards his pistol, picking it up and aiming down the iron sights. Closing one eye, Alan took a deep breath, 'Just like the 30's,' he thought to himself.

 

 

One bullet left the weapon, soaring through the air. Kanjar Ro turned his head to the noise, but it was too late. The bullet flew past Kanjar Ro, lodging itself directly into the main battery.

 

 

Kanjar Ro's face fell as energy began to spew out. "What did you do!?"

 

 

Before he could turn, Alan's fist slammed into his face, knocking him out cold. Running over to his kids, he tried to help them to a stand, but neither could. His head turned to the battery, still leaking energy, but at a faster rate than before. His gaze then fell on the gauntlet, laying on the unconscious pirate's hand.

 

 

Alan closed his eyes for a moment, before rushing to the gauntlet, tearing it off the pirate's hand and placing it on his own. "Dad?" asked Todd, regaining consciousness. Alan ignored his son, stepping towards the generator. He looked at the metal on his hand, then the generator, shoving the gauntlet inside.

 

 

An instant agony shot through Alan's body, like he was being ripped apart from the inside, slow and meticulously. Green energy coursed through his veins, like his blood was non-existent. He felt himself start to cry, the feeling too strong to hold back tears.

 

 

"Dad!? Dad what are you doing!?" shouted Jade, watching as their father screamed in pain.

 

 

"Dad, stop!" yelled Todd, hoping his father would stop the act. "There's another way!"

 

 

"I promised you both… AGH... when you were born, that I'd... I'd give you the greatest lives I could..." Alan shrieked as pain flowed through his body, his hand barely holding up. "I couldn't... couldn't do that for you… the one thing... one thing I promised."

 

 

Todd attempted to push himself up, but was too drained to even sit up. Jade was crying, failing to stand with her broken leg. "Dad, please!" she shouted, attempting to stand once more.

 

 

"I... I can do this though," whimpered Alan, his voice cracking as he cried. "I wasn't able... to be... be your father... but maybe I can still be your hero."

 

 

"Dad, no! I can't lose you!" screamed Todd, reaching his hand out, as if he could grab hold of his father. "Not again..."

 

 

Alan's head turned to his kids, a smile on his face. "Don't... don't forget," he started as he closed his eyes. "I love you both, more than life itself."

 

 

The screams if the children echoed as the battery exploded, Starheart energy covering the room. The explosion was reduced to that of a grenade, rather than an atomic bomb, due to the gauntlet's absorption. As the explosion faded, the room settled from the blast. Todd felt his vitality return, the explosion of Starheart refueling him. Jade felt a similar sensation, her leg completely healed. The two rushed forward, searching the rubble for any sign of their father.

 

 

Todd turned his head upon the small whimper he heard from his sister, rushing over only to feel a hole burned into his chest. On the ground was the battery, it's glow ceased. Laying next to the battery, riddled with tears and scorch marks was the red jacket that Alan had been wearing, along with the gauntlet.

 

 

The two's heads perked up upon hearing coughing. Rage boiled in them as they saw Kanjar Ro, still alive. "Well... You get what you paid for, am I right?" he asked, smirking at the two.

 

 

Todd moved forward, but was held back as Jade's hands lit up a blinding green. "You... YOU!" she shouted, flying towards him. She was only stopped as a shadow wrapped around her waist, stopping her from flying any further. "What!?"

 

 

Her head turned to Todd, who's teary eyes stared back. "It... it's not what he would want..." He spoke, closing his eyes. "It's not..."

 

 

Jade grit her teeth, before blasting all of the energy she could conjure into the wall. Her scream of agony sounding off in the room, Todd feeling exactly the same pain. He was gone, this time he was truly gone.

 

 

-^-^-

 

 

John panted heavily. His suit was bloody, rips and tears running up his body. His eyes were half lidded as he moved forward, the pipe he held dropping to the floor, blood covering the metal. The door to the reactor room pushed open with a creak, John limping his way in to see the siblings day on the floor, crying.

 

 

"T-Todd..." he mustered, gaining the attention of the two. Both rushed to him, it was only then he saw that Jade was wearing Alan's jacket. He saw their faces, both pairs of eyes filled with tears, as he slipped out of consciousness.

 

 

John awoke in... his apartment. Lifting his head up, he saw that it was night, the light in the kitchen signalling someone being here. Rising to a stand, John hobbled to the kitchen, seeing Todd, Jade, and Jessica all at the table, Jessica seeming to comfort the two.

 

 

"Jess?" he asked, gaining the attention of the group. Jessica quickly stood, making her way towards him and embracing him in a hug. When she pulled back, she too had a solemn expression. John remembered why... he remembered seeing Jade wearing the red jacket. "Jade... Todd... I'm-"

 

 

"It's okay," informed Todd with tired eyes. "You've been out for around a day now... we... he sacrificed himself."

 

 

Jade, who still wore the red jacket, looked to the ground. "I... I was the reason he died..." Before John could interject, she halted him, "Don't say I wasn't, he wouldn't have been there if it weren't for me..." Her gaze shifted to her palm, watching the light emit from it. "I... I want to make him proud..." she stated, clenching her fist and looking up to him. "It's why I'll be a hero... I'll be just like him."

 

 

John nodded slightly, his gaze shifting to Todd. "Did… did you tell Jay?"

 

 

Todd nodded, "Jay said… he said he always knew he'd throw himself into danger, as long as it meant something to him."

 

 

John smiled, "That's because you… you both did. When… when he first escaped the lantern, you were the first things on his mind."

 

 

Todd smiled softly, bringing himself to a stand. "I won't let his sacrifice be in vain," he stated, a determined look on his face. "I'll be a better hero… for him."

 

 

Jade smiled at her brother, nodding, "For him."

Done