Qward. Center of the Anti-Matter universe. A direct opposite to Oa. Home of the once Sinestro Corps, now merely Yellow Lanterns. Home to the Qwardian Weaponmasters.

Home to the mysterious Lord Stryker.

Four pinpoints of emerald light broke the skyline of the dark side of the planet. Four Green Lanterns, that had broken protocol, and were now pursuing their captured friend.

Alex paused. He hovered in the atmosphere. Guy and John had been here before, numerous times. For RJ and himself, this was a rookie moment for certain.

"Get yerself together, Rooks!" Gardner snapped. "This is enemy turf, at all times. You need to be alert here, or you'll wind up a former GL."

For once, Alex didn't have a sharp retort for the veteran, and cocky, Lantern.

Zipping through a guided energy trail he made with his ring RJ sighed at Gardner. "Yeah yeah... been here done that... you know how many years your senior I am technicality? But skill is skill granted... matters not if we're rookies to you. Look at Alex this kid shows potential, and more than you will ever esteem to Gardner so shut yer trap and lets get on with it!" RJ felt sort of displaced at the moment and let out a little temperamental burst; However, Guy always got under his plasma skin.

With an electric jolt he forced himself near Alex and gave a huge green smile saying to the kid, "You know do not take his words for what they are worth because you know he is just full of hot air and gonna be a show off. So Earth? wow alot of good ones with the exception of Guy come from that little rock. I must say I can see the glow of success surround you. Sure are gonna make the Corps. proud one day. By the way the names RJ, and do not try to say the other name... very complicated for non energy based tongues." If it is one thing RJ learned in previous missions it was get to know your group, and through that you gain unity and success.

Now teaming in the back his conscience was worry. Kilowog was in danger and the deeper they tread upon Qward the more worry began fill up his mind. If he had the chance he would supercharge the Yellow Lanterns hides. but he had to think back to training with Kilowog... "Patience and Vigilance will get you far. Act hasty and you can end your career in a second." So now it is was time to be in the game of things. Rj let his presence radiate outwards into space seeing if there were any energy sources such as stars that could hint him what the heck this place actually was. It was a first fr him and he was analyzing it all for what it was.

Oa.

As Rienna prepared to return to her non-Lantern life, college did, after all, await, footsteps approached her door, and the buzzer sounded. Kyle Rayner, one of the commanders, and the special trouble shooter, of the Green Lantern Corps Honor Guard, stood on the other side.

"Rienna Summers? It's Kyle Rayner. Can we talk, for a moment?"

********************************************************************

Qward. Mountains overlooking a giant compound, expansive and towering.

"Damn." Was about all Alex could come up with. The giant....citadel before them looked advanced. Complex.

Big.

"Snap out of it, rook. We ain't got time to deal with a sudden bout of rookie fever here. No fear. Suck it up." Guy's tack might have been lacking, but it got the desired results.

Alex gave Guy a nasty look, but his somewhat shaken confidence seemed to have returned to normal. "Up yours, old timer. See you inside." Alex took off, leaving a blazing trail of green.

Kid might not be half bad after all." Gardner said quietly, as he took off after the young Lantern.

********************************************************************

Qward. Inside the Compound.

"A number of your friends seem to have arrived on Qward, Kilowog. Not a very large number, however, so I'd imagine this is a personal attempt, not a sanctioned rescue mission. I'm afraid that would mean the Guardians will have denied such a request. I'll soon have five Lanterns, including four with special duties. Quite a decent bargaining chip, wouldn't you say?" Stryker asked his captive.

Rienna thought she might throw up. Her hand trembled as she held her ring against the battery. She had stood up against a bunch of veteran lanterns. She knew that she was going to be tossed out of the corps. She just couldn't go against the Oan's orders.

Rienna jumped visibly when the buzzer to her room rang. This was it. This was her exit from the corps. "Come in" she replied to the voice on the other side, resolved that she was finished.

Kyle flashed the rookie Lantern a friendly smile, as he walked in. He looked around the room, fairly bare still. "I take it you're still pretty much living on Earth? You're in school, right? The Guardians might have known, and Mogo, who was getting the ring, but the rest of us are kinda in the dark still."

He crossed the room, and motioned to the pair of chairs near the small table in the room. "Maybe we should sit for a minute. Got some stuff we need to go over." His warm smile still in place, and he seemed pretty relaxed.

"I know this has got to be a lot to absorb, in such a short time. What with being recruited during the battle against Prime, and all that. Then a crash course in ring slinging from someone barely not a rookie himself. Even a skirmish against the new Yellow Lanterns." He motioned again to the chairs.

"Relax, Rienna. I know all about where both our partners went. And if needs be, I'll be calling in you, as well as some others, to bail them out. But John and Guy are solid vets, RJ is good, and Alex shows a lot of promise." He paused, then sat down, and looked at the young woman before him.

"That's right. You haven't been briefed on much yet, have you? Alex is your partner. Not that this means you'll always be working with him. See....Alex's special assignment to Earth has him as one of the fifty Lanterns in the Honor Guard. As his partner, that makes you the only rookie ever drafted straight to the Honor Guard. That's quite an honor. We're the elite. We're the ones who get called to handle the stuff Sector Lanterns can't, or can't alone, at least."

He conjured up a map of the sectors of the universe. "Thirty six hundred of them, Rienna. All of them are part of your juristiction. You're here, where you are, because the Guardians have faith that your history of being an overachiever isn't gonna wind down anytime soon. You're here, because we think you can handle things most Lanterns can't. Because you can conquer your fears. Because you can reign in your emotions, and use them to feed your willpower."

He was silent for a few moments, allowing his words time to register. His smile broadened. "Ready for your first official assignment?"

Rienna sat there, her stomach in knots as she listened to Kyle. The longer he spoke, the more relaxed she became. She was relieved to find out that he had not come for her ring. Kyle was obviously a veteran Lantern and his experience showed. The revelation about her status as mind-numbing. Rienna thought herself a relatively good student and of high moral character, but nothing that deserved this kind of honor. With the current situation, however, now wasn't the time to protest it.

As Kyle finished, Rienna spoke. "There is something that you should know about me, Kyle" she began as she adjusted her ring. "I am strictly by the book. I'll take on any mission that furthers the cause of the Green Lantern Corps. I will not, however, oppose or subvert orders given by the Oans."

Kilowog stood as he contemplated his actions. He had seen and heard so mauch about these new Yellow Lanterns, enough info that would have been of great use to the Corp. However, he wondered now whether it was wise to allow for himself to be captured. His friends were now risking their lives just to save him.

"I'm a fool for getting them into trouble!" Kilowog said to himself. He had to think of something to get his friends out of any trouble... but what would this Lord Stryker be interested in?

Kilowog needed to think fast or his friends blood would be on his hands.

Oa. Rienna Summers's Quarters.

Kyle laughed. His smile was genuine, his posture genuinely relaxed. Long ago, Kyle had made peace with himself, and the confidence he'd gained was among the things that made him one of the best. Here was a young girl, who might easily one day be better.

"I suppose we might as well have one of the Honor Guard that plays it strictly by the book. I don't have any worries, about whether or not your heart will be in the right place at crunch time." She was going to be tested, with her primary first assigments......

"You remember the team we worked with, on Earth....Legion? They're heading to the Vega system. Vega's a bit weird. The Guardians lifted the ban on entering the sector, but we still have no real authority there. One of the Sector Lanterns has come up missing. Scans confirm he is still alive. We want you to accompany Legion to Vega, and locate his partner, Jaha'ra. She's a native of New Tamaran, which also happens to be Legion's destination. Be prepared to not have so warm a reception in Vega. You up for it?"

********************************************************************

Oa. Office of the Corps Commander.

"Thanks for the update, Guy. Keep me informed. I've got Kyle, and fifteen of the Honor Guard on standby, and I'll be coming with them, if it looks like it's getting really hot. Arisia is Kyle's second, if we send them in." Hal Jordan smiled, as he broke contact with the Honor Guard Commander.

Directly before meeting with Guy, Rienna, and Alex, the Guardians had contected him and Salaak. While no direct rescue mission was to be planned, there was no actual ban on making the attempt. Despite what they had informed the two newest members of the Honor Guard.

Both were being tested, to see, basically, if the Guardians had been right in their choices. Alex had been chosen for his instinctive ability to do what was right, regardless of personal cost. His new partner, Rienna had been chosen, because aside from being an overachiever, she was the ultimate, play fair, and live by the books girl. The diversity, if they could meet on even ground, could make them as effective partners as he and John had once been, or as Guy and Kyle still were.

Vega concerned him. As did the Yellow Lanterns. Too much seemed tied together about them all.....

********************************************************************

Qward. Outside the Citadel.

Alex hit the side of the Citadel with and explosive release of willpower, opening up a whole several floors wide. Several workers, and two Yellow Lanterns were sent tumbling.

Surrounding himself in a field of green flames, almost sparking like lightning, Alex was on top of the closest Yellow Lantern. His fist struck with another release of willpower, sending the alien crashing down several floors.

He turned, eyes blazing green flame, to face the second foe. His next foe was already back up, and preparing to open fire, when a giant green fist struck himcrushing him to the floor. "Taking too long, rook. Gotta learn to multi-task, or you ain't gonna last too long." Guy landed not too far from Alex, a cocky grin on his face.

"Took your time, Gardner. Old age slowing you down?" Alex shot back. "Ring, locate Kilowog."

<Kilowog is three hundred meters to the north, and four floors down. Scan detects forty two Yellow Lantern Power Rings along direct path.>

Alex looked towards Guy, RJ, and John. "A little play action fake, guys?"

********************************************************************

Qward. Cell Blocks.

Stryker looked at Kilowog and smiled sadly. "The war is coming. You know it, don't you, old friend." He shook his head, "No. You're not quite him, are you? Things played out very differently here, didn't they? No matter. It is from your universe that the end will come."

Rj heading up the back slowly tilted his head at Alex's comment then grinned quickly remembering an earth game called Foot ball. Suddenly RJ took the form of a football player with the gear and helm summoning an emerald pigiskin twirling it in his finger. His electric face a gave an energetic smile.

"I think that is a good play."

Suddenly the emerald pigskin was tossed to Alex and RJ asked simply, "Give us our positions kid.... this is gonna be shockingly fun." There was a quick buzz in his shape as he returned to his plasma humanoid shape now thriving with electric green chains of lightening.

The football reference brought a smile to Guy's face, and he arched an eyebrow. "Aight, rook, whatcha got in mind?"

Alex grinned, as Guy, John, and RJ helped him form what would almost have resembled a loose huddle. "Simple, Old timer. I'm gonna play QB, with John as my offensive line. I need you to help hold them on me, as we send RJ streaking right up the middle of the field. Lantern number Uno over here, is gonna cut to the outside, then back in, for the touchdown pass, swipe Kilowog, and we head back to the home stadium, and hopefully not too heavy a court martial."

John glanced at Guy, who shook his head just slightly, then spoke, "Sounds like it might actually work, you guys blazing a false trail up the center, while I pull the fade in. Not bad, rook. You might actually have what it takes after all."

Kilowog stood silently as Lord Stryker spoke to him. The way he spoke to Kilowog was like they were old friends, his suspicions were confirmed.

"I don't know were you think you know me from but realise this. You will be stopped and this so called war that you speak of won't come to pass." Kilowog replied. He sat back in his cell and just stared at Stryker.

"Sounds good whiz kid..." RJ zipped with excitement forming a small circle formation around Alex. An eccentric sparking smirk illuminated his face as he through his fist forward. Suddenly a emerald beam shot forward and shaped a small part of the Green Lantern Insignia. "How about a little oath? Eh I am a nostalgic fan of the principle of honor and loyalty. So what do you say lets give them a little tussle they won't forget? What about it Gardner? I know your sparking for some rough and tumble action." He gave a smirking glance at the whole group hoping they would join his offer of a Green Lantern pact.

Alex grinned at RJ's enthusiasm. "You want an oath? Something to fire up the team? How's this for you? Let's put it to 'em where the brightest light don't shine!"

Alex fired up his aura, almost electric flames of emerald energy formed around him, as he launched forward, just as several Yellow Lanterns flew into the chamber they were in.

"I believe that's a hike, people, and they're bringing the blitz!" He fired several beams of energy, striking the first Lantern to approach, as he flew forward to engage them up close.

********************************************************************

A tall man, with a deep reddish skin approached Stryker and Kilowog. His uniform marked him as a Yellow Lantern. His thin mustache twitched, as he looked at the captive Green Lantern.

"Been a few years, old friend. Happy to see you've lasted them. Gardner is here. As is Stewart. The energy based replicator, and the young football hero from Earth. Somehow, against almost two hundred of the new Corps, I think you're outgunned." Sinestro smiled, almost sympathetically.

********************************************************************

Green Lantern Sector House 2814, Earth's Sector: A Crimson Dawn Prelude

Viridian watched over his charge carefully. The man had been trafficking some dangerous mutagens, before he'd been aprehended. He was considered armed, and exceptionally dangerous, even when unarmed.

<Prisoner is a Czarian. His body is cabale of regenerating...>

"Thank you, ring. I'm well aware of what this man is capable of. I've been on the job for some time now. What's this his major malfunction?"

<He is wanted for traficking, as well as the brutal, and unprovoked assaults of a number of beings. Over two hundred counts of random assault. His lisence to bounty hunt is revoked, per general issuing order, universal level.>

Viridian glanced at the prisoner questioningly. His prisoner merely smiled and shrugged in responce.

A beam of red energy blasted through the side of the Sector House, sending Viridian crashing through a wall, laying dazed for several moments.

"Of course he has. He's practically made for rage." A male voice spoke through the red haze. "Ring, replicate. Seek potential wielder."

A flash of red light signified the replication of a red power ring, that floated towards the prisoner.

<Lobo of the Czarians, you are capable of inspiring great hatred. You have been chosen to join the Red Legion.> The new ring told the prisoner, as it blasted open the door to his cell.

"Sinestro!" Kilowog replied to the sight of his former ally now foe. "I should have realised that you would be apart of this group of wannabe Lanterns. Thou I must admit, I though you were dead!" Kilowog added.

His line of sight travelled between Stryker and Sinestro, he could try to escape but his brute strength would not be enough and with his power ring running on empty... Kilowog was a sitting duck.

Rienna listened intently as Kyle explained the mission. She was a bit concerned about going to a place that did not recognize Lantern authority. There was, however, a fellow lantern in need. Rienna wasn't about to stand idle when there was something she could do. She knew that the Corps would try to find her in like circumstances.

Rienna stood, the muscles in her toned legs flexing as she did so. She had an athletic figure. She was not bulky, but her form was well defined from years of athletic activities. Her green eyes met Kyle's. "I'll go. I'll find Jaha'ra, and then her missing partner." Her voice was not cocky nor braggiose. It was a voice of resolve. After several minutes of discussion with Kyle and then saying goodbye to a few other Lanterns that she had met, Rienna headed for the airlock. Her ring began to glow as a thin film of emerald energy surrounded her body. The inner door slowly closed and then the eternal hatch opened. Rienna exited into the cold blackness of space, rocketing off to meet up with Legion.

Qward.

Alex kept the pressure up, blasting forward against the ranks of Yellow Lanterns that rose to oppose them. RJ and John Stewart at his side, he blazed headlong into their midst.

Guy shook his head and grinned. "Not much for refined tactics there kid. But I like your style." He whispered, as he flew off, easily shaking the two lanterns that impeded his path. They'd follow, of course, but by the time they realized where he was actually going?

Alex drove forward hard, his ring updating him to a rapid power usage, and advising him to reduce said usage. He ignored it, of course, and plunged headlong through a series of walls, making the Yellow ring bearers back pedal, if they wanted to stay in the fight. "Keep on them, we've got them reeling, we need to keep the pressure on!"

********************************************************************

Sector House, Space Sector 2814.

Viridian stood slowly, shaking himself off. His sharp senses tore through the light spectrum. The newcomer seemed to have left, leaving a defining power trail. Red light. He raised an eyebrow. The Guardians believed all but a few red power rings had been destroyed.

His spectrum vision detected more red light energy. Coming from a ring now on Lobo's hand. He sighed. At least Lobo had no experience wielding a power ring. It had been difficult enough taking him captive before....

"Stand down Czarian. I don't want to have to hurt you. But I'm warning you, against red corpsmen, my ring is authorized to use lethal force."

"Where is he?!?!" was the words heard through out the whole Yellow Lanterns Base. More of a roar than words... then the source of the words appeared. The Yellow Lanterns Drill Instructor... the beast known to the team as Arkillo!

Arkillo had been on patrol, when he got word that a prisoner had been brought in.

A Green Lantern...

One that Arkillo had an old score to settle with...

Kilowog!

Arkillo, stormed into the main hall and straight away his eye sight fell on Kilowog!

"KILOWOG!!!!!" Arkillo growled. As he made his way towards him.

Arkillo still remembered the battle they had on Mogo and the battle they had on Earth. He especially remembered when Kilowog dropped an aircraft carrier on top of him! However, Kilowog didn't kill Arkillo... instead he took Arkillo's power ring, along with his finger! Since then Arkillo had managed to grow a new finger due to genetic science but he still held a little grudge against Kilowog.

Qward. Stryker's Citadel.

Alex poured on the juice, his ring alerting him to rapid drain of power. He ignored it, as he plowed through the Yellow Lanterns. His constructs more explosive energy than form, he tore through level after level, on a beeline for Kilowog's location.

Beside him, solid as ever, was John Stewart. The battering rams he sent out were solid, hard, and hit with maximum force. His will power remained constant, unflinching. Alex never left his attention. John didn't approve of this test. Honor Guard or no, this was a dangerous mission, better left to veterans, and a lot more of them. There were a lot of Yellow Corpsmen here. "Hal, this is John. Send in the reinforcements. This is gonna get dicey fast."

The trio of Lanterns burst into the large chamber where Kilowog was being held. John pulled up fast, the moment he saw Arkillo and Sinestro. "Alex, RJ, pull back. Reinforcements are inbound. Guy, stow the plan, Sinestro is here!"

Not far from there, Guy grimaced. Things just got bad. And here he was going to chastise John for calling backup to early. He poured on the speed, discretion now of no importance, shooting straight towards the others.

Alex grinned. He knew exactly who Sinestro was. "I got Sinestro. Get Kilowog and go!" Alex unleashed a stream of blasts at Sinestro, who merely erected a barrier, deflecting them all.

Sinestro smiled. "Ah. Alex Masters. I've been looking forward to this meeting, for some time now. Welcome to Qward. Is there anything specific you'd like on your tombstone?"

Lord Stryker smiled, almost sadly, as anti-matter energy began to swirl around his hands. "You should not have come, Lanterns. I do not take kindly to my home being invaded. You leave me no choice but to remove you from here. Permanantly."

********************************************************************

Oa. Citadel of the Guardians. Chamber of Stars.

The Guardians faced each other. Expressionless, as always. Each nodded in turn. As usual, their logic had allowed them all to reach the same conclusion.

"Then we are agreed? The growing danger posed by Lord Stryker's ever growing Alliance must be brought in check. We must remind the Masters of the specifics of our treaty, before a mishap leads to open warfare."

Again, each nodded in turn.

Before Arkillo could unleash his beating on Kilowog, the Green Lantern Corp showed up... well a small group of them did. Arkillo decided it better to leave Kilowog alone for now.

"I'll deal with you later!" Arkillo said as he rose off the ground and attacked the green invaders.

Kilowog watched as his team mates showed up to rescue him, he was relieved and disappointed in himself. He knew that the Guardians would punish the team for disobeying the agreement they had. Kilowog had to help out thou, with his hands still in yellow energy restraints, he got to his feet and shoulder barged a few of the guards, knocking them over. Using his brutish form he knocked over several guards and even charged down several Yellow Lanterns.

RJ got the sound from Hal to fall back, but it did not stop Alex as he headed straight forward after Sinestro. "Oh sweet Mother Star!" Is all RJ could say as he followed Alex trail. He had to pump himself up with an ego because out of all he heard about Sinestro... It was not good. Sinestro gave Hal and Kyle a run for their money not mention having been among the few GL affiliated to whoop the holy hell out Guy.

"Yeah... I am gonna need a vacation after this." RJ groaned as his ring would reply almost as if to purposely contradict him. >A Lantern never takes a vacation as is one most forever hold the Oath, and...< Began the ring and RJ simply retorted, "I know the spiel do not waste you nonsense on me just get me to Alex's back... The kid is foolish but I admire that spunk... Oh hot damn do I admire it." A grin etched across his face like chiselings bolts of lightening.

Not far from RJ, by Sinestro...

In his time all the Green Lanterns he had faced were fragile and foolish. The fools were blemishes that needed to be rubbed out. #9 though was an expert at the removal of blemishes and extracting of the insufferable dirt under the Yellow Lantern Corps skin. He would break the Green Lanterns and toy with them. He would play you to expose your weakness then exploit that with your fear and make you unworthy. #9 on a good day would make the average Lantern so fearful and struck with doubt that ring would reject the user. He was deadly, but that is why he is Sinestro's Grand Inquisitor.

His black eyes glimmered to the clashing of Yellow and Green light. and a smile slightly broke as he saw his masters effortless retaliation. "Shall I dispatch these imbeciles for you Master?" He asked Sinestro giving a kneel.

Suddenly there was accompanying bang as an energy form of emerald erected beside Alex. This being laughed at the group as he prominently took form. Another Green lantern. #9 gave a scowl at this arrival.

RJ... by Alex

"Ok kid I know you want to play hero, and that is fine... However the only way you beat this game is by gaining experience... and you just jumped to the final boss." Rj spoke to Alex with a smile and made his ring form duplicates of himself. Each of them laugh and spoke in order.

"But"

"What..."

"Can"

"I"

"Say?"

RJ assumed attack formation with a grin, "I like your style." The emerald green flickered with all 5 energy forms including RJ igniting smiles.

=========================================
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sector House, Space Sector 2814.

Lobo simply cracked a smile and looked at the red ring he now placed on his finger. "Fancy that... one'a dem ring doohickeys. They say the red ones are fueled by anger right?" The smile became ever more menacing as his bounds and shackles quickly disappeared in red light as a suit of his imagining formed over him. Giving a crack of his knuckles he simply roared, "Well a Bastich like you always PISSES ME OFF!!!" A huge torrential beam expelled from Lobo's ring... though not creative he knew how to tap into anger. His ring reflected that emotion fluently in turn.

John was smashing yellow Lanterns one by one with his will power taking shape of a battling ram. Looking at RJ and the rookie Alex they were the only one’s that could turn the tide of this battle. Knocking 3 of the yellow Lanterns out of his way with the will powered shape fist John yells,“Until these canaries stop trying to run into me I need you Alex and RJ to give it all you got until us vet can help you out.”

Seeing 5 more Yellow Lanterns show up John uses his will power to take shape of a machine gun and start firing on the enemy.

Qward.

Alex didn't miss a beat. "On my tombstone? Sure....make sure they inscribe, 'the man who whooped Sinestro's sorry ass!'" Alex focused his willpower, unleashing a steady stream of emerald beams at the former 'greatest Green Lantern'.

Sinestro merely shrugged off the effects. His ring was fully charged. His multitude years of experience, his sharp mind, his mastery over the power of fear....this young ring slinger would not overly trouble him. "You're a foolish boy. You lack the experience to face me. You should have let John, or Guy, handle this one. But so like your father.....so much pride."

"That's twice you've mentioned my dad, egghead. I know he's got a few issues, but I seriously doubt hanging with someone who couldn't hack being a Green Lantern would be one of them!" Alex shot back. Sinestro was only reinforcing the frontal portion of his energy barrier. He was assuming Alex's only attack was the obvious one. Idiot.

"I know a great deal about you, brat. Moreso, obviously, than you know about me. You being chosen by the ring signals in the end of an era, and the dawning of a new age. The final age.....arghhh!" Sinestro's comments were cut short, as a tiny ball of green light Alex had wedged in through the back of Sinestro's field exploded. Hundreds of pinpoint shards of emearld willpower bounced through his field. It was all minor cuts and scrapes.

But it served it's true purpose. The field fell, broken by the distraction. Alex didn't hesitate for a moment. Emerald flames crackling around his body, he was on Sinestro in an instant. "Dawn of a new age? Maybe one that forgets to include you as anything but a failed memory, egghead!"

Sinestro tasted the blood, as he fended off Alex's onslaught. His smile darkened to a scowl. And a thousand points of yellow light poured from his ring, each latching on to a part of Alex's skin. Each hooking on tight to him. "You hurt me, boy. I may have been asked not to kill you.....but never was I asked to not disfigure you."

A giant wheel of razor sharp green sliced through the yellow strands. Kyle Rayner shook his head, floating side by side with his partner, Guy....and alongside a number of reinforcements. "Not today, Sinestro."

Arisia moved fast. shattering Killowog's chains. "Move Kil! We don't have a lot of time here!"

An odd glow extended from the almost forgotten Lord Stryker. "Each and every one of you wields cosmic energy. Linked to an almost unlimited power source."

<Alert! Power levels fading rapidly. Unknown source draining rings power>

The warning came from each Green Lantern's ring at once. And Stryker's eyes pulsed bright green. "I am a living conduit, for cosmic energy. And you?" His eyes fell upon RJ, "You are made of cosmic energy. I can absorb all that you are."

Guy reacted first, reaching up, and tearing a huge chunk of ceiling.....several stories worth, and sending it crashing down on Stryker....Sinestro....Arkillo...and about a dozen other yellow ring slingers. "Move! That ain't gonna hold 'em for long! Hal, it's Guy. Immediete extract. We got Killowog. So far we still got everyone. Get the smurfs on the extract button now!"

Guy aimed his ring at the wall....towards out...and released a massive expenditure of willpower. "Let's go! And somebody grab the rookie, too."

********************************************************************

Sector House, Space Sector 2814.

The blast of crimson light struck Viridian hard, sending him crashing out into space. It was unrefined. It was uncreative. But it was certainly not weak. Lobo had rage to spare. Anger and hatred to spare.

Viridian sized up his opponent. The last of the Czarians had been difficult enough to capture, without a red power ring. It had taken every ounce of skill the veteran Lantern had possessed. Time to adjust my tactics. Need to get him to burn out that ring, and fast. I doubt....that's it!

"That all you got, Slow-bo? A rookie ring slinger hits harder than that!" Viridian sent a pack of wild animals, green in color, back into the sector house. Fast, but more likely to be an annoyance, than a threat. If he was guessing correctly, Lobo would deal with the annoyance with the exact same amount of overkill he'd deal with any other thing he disliked. All I need to do, is keep enough of them, and keep them moving as fast as I can. Let him burn out most of his ring's juice, then take him on.

With his chains now broken, Kilowog managed to make his way through the battle, knocking over guards and he even knocked out a few yellow lanterns...

"Rookies!" Kilowog said as he punched a yellow lantern.

As the Green Lanterns retreated, Kilowog made sure that RJ was with them.

As he looked to his team mates, Kilowog was greatful for their rescue, even Kyle's appearance showed that the Guardians most have had a change of heart.

"Thank you all... and I'm sorry I got you all into trouble!" Kilowog said as he awaited their escape.

John Stewart finished off the remaining Yellow Lantern that were pursing him he appear by Kyle and Guy ready to go. Looking a bit tired John looks at RJ and Alex saying,“Alex... RJ let move it there no time to spare.”

The energy began to become absorbed and RJ was helpless as his spectrum of green faded slolwy back to the original ruby glow. The color of his form began to change going fro bright pink to dark blues and all around. RJ was stunned and sick his form shifting from solid to malleable to energy stabalizing on a rather faded energy form. He was dieing easily all of his energy he collected through his time and all that he was. This was now be seeped away.

"Alex..." RJ's voice began to beg taking a scattered and mixed vibrational tone. The look in the slowly dieing pyres of his eyes was fear... a fear of death, a loneliness, and an emptiness. Take my ring... Save it... recharge it away from here... I am sorry kid. The energy form lantern spoke now taking on a flickering smile. If one looked close enough it seemed RJ was taking form again but that of a more feminine design. Before Alex would be able to reply RJ's weak voice changed into a soft voice of a woman, "I let you down kid..." RJ's ring slid off his form as RJ began to fade into it. No doubt RJ stowed a trace of himself inside the ring with pain.

The ring would now shoot to one of Alex's free fingers mounting itself as it commenced <Emergency User command... Shutting down, reserving energy, and powering down.> Alex would be able to feel RJ in the ring faintly.

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Lobo gave a Viridian a cocky a grin as it switched into a diabolic contortion an illuminated red artillery saying, "Yeeehaw kiddies git yer A$$ UP HERE I SMELL A FANBOY!!!" A torrent of crimson bullets and beams unleashed upon the green figures as Lobo gave a Rambo like charge moving quick very quick.

The diabolic grin contorted even more as Lobo lept forward and his arsenal turned into a huge ball and chain he was swinging overhead of Viridian before releasing it down. "Jolly Green Cucumber boy... You want to be hit harder why didn't you just ask?" The ball grew great spikes and other twisting and ripping devices. It was a primitive ball of shredding doom and it was so quick Viridian would have to be fast about his actions, "FRAG AND TAG BASTICH!!!"

Alex struggled painfully to his feet. The marks from Sinestro's hooks red and bleeding. He glanced down to the second ring he now wore. RJ was gone. All trace of the veteran Lantern was gone, save what little there had been time to store inside the power ring.

Rage bubbled up inside the young Honor Guardsman, and his eyes lit with an eerie green fire as he turned to face the pile of rubble Guy had buried Sinestro and the others under. It wouldn't hold them long. Reinforcements for the opposition were likely on route to deal with the intruders.

It didn't need to hold them long. A few seconds, and Alex could....

"Not today, kid. We'll take 'em down, but on our ground, not theirs. Right now, we need to get the hell back to Oa. We came for Kilowog. We have him. We'll get the egghead and his pals the next time." Gardner's voice was suprisingly mild, as he set his hand on Alex's shoulder. "Let's get while the getting's good."

As a unit, watching each other's backs the whole way, the Green Lanterns blasted their way out of the citadel, and off of Qward.

Moments before the group faded out of the Anti-Matter Universe, Alex turned back to face the citadel, the same green flame burning bright in his eyes. "This is not over. This isn't even close to being over...."

In the distance, a powerfully built man, bathed in red light watched, and laughed. "You have no idea how true that is, Alex. This has barely begun...."

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Viridian braced himself. He was made of a fairly dense metal, and so he merely raised a standard level of shielding. "Would have thought you'd have learned from before, Lobo, hitting me alone isn't likely to do more than dent me a bit. And I can pull dents."

A second stream of wild animals swarmed the last of the Czarians, as the attack from Lobo sent Viridian sprawlingback out of the Sector House.

"All Lanterns within quick distance to Sector House 2814, this is Lantern Viridian of Sector 2814. I have re-engaged Lobo, and he is currently wielding a red power ring. Requesting back up."

Ok, Lobo....let's dance! Viridian powered up his frontal shield, and sped back towards his foe.....


To be continued!