Chapter Text
A/N: Because the plot bunnies just won't shut up in my head and demanded for me to start this before completing Lost or updating Ramifications. This picks up roughly four months after the events of Alien v2.
"We had an anomaly to the planetary orbit on Ungara in Sector 2814," Salakk said as he uploaded the latest information from his ring into the Oan databanks. He remained silent for a moment before continuing. "Upon your request I once again reached out to John Stewart yet he again did not respond to your calls to report to Oa. We had to send Arisia to assist instead. This left the Honor Guard short a vital member as they proceeded to Sector 1417 to stop the coup attempt on Ogoro. I am glad to report that casualties were kept to a minimum in both incidents."
"What of Kyle Rayner?" One of the Guardians of the universe asked the Green Lantern Administrator. "What has Katma Tui said of him recently?"
Salakk nodded his head curtly, "Katma reported that Kyle's stay on Earth proved to be beneficial and that he is no longer in need of her guidance. Though she noted that since his return to Oa that he is rather...depressed you could say. He has already requested to be sent back to Earth."
One of the other Guardians exhaled in frustration, "First the one Green Lantern refuses our summons and now the second is making demands. This is why I was against humans joining this Corps in the first place. They are incorrigible Neanderthals and that is putting it lightly."
"But Ranakar," another Guardian contended. "John Stewart has been instrumental to the Green Lantern Corps since his recruitment. That is not even speaking of the feats Hal Jordan accomplished while alive. Kyle Rayner on his own has proven to be just as formidable and with perhaps even more potential than either Hal Jordan or John Stewart."
"Only a possibility," Ranakar retorted dismissively. "With his reliance on Katma Tui for so long I highly doubt it. You fail to even mention the mounting issues we have with Guy Gardner and his overt disobedience since his recruitment. Your problem, Ganthet, is that you are too-"
Ranakar was not able to finish his sentence as a Green Lantern abruptly raced into the Guardians' chambers, "Pardon the intrusion but both Green Lanterns from Sector 2820 have come to Oa with an urgent matter."
"You are acknowledged Tomar-Tu," Ganthet gestured for him to continue. "What of Sector 2820's Green Lanterns Gorish and Vray?''
"They're here with a...um...well..." Tomar-Tu faltered momentarily "I'm not sure how to classify this. I suppose a refugee and a known criminal?"
"IT WAS MINE! THEY TOOK IT FROM ME!" A voice yelled from beyond the doors. "They took it from me! They destroyed it all! It was my stuff! Mine! Mine! Mine!"
"Shut your trap already!" A Green Lantern entered the chambers with another Green Lantern. Both of the Green Lanterns had the blithering humanoid in chains created by their power rings.
"I swear if I have to hear about this guy's stuff one more time," the other Green Lantern muttered.
One of the Guardians looked at the captive creature in contempt before deeply frowning, "Larfleeze why did you leave Sector 2828? Our agreement was that you would remain on Okaara and within the Vega system. Why did you venture so far that you came to be within Sector 2820?"
The Orange Lantern looked around sporadically as he was nearly hyperventilating, "They took it all! They did! My stuff! Mine!"
"Who did?" Ranakar asked. "You did not answer Appa's question directly. Who took your things and why does that concern us?"
"Those ogres. Those damned ogres!" Larfleeze yelled. "They sent those ogres! They destroyed my stuff!"
"We are getting nowhere with this prattling," another Guardian stated. "I say we release Larfleeze back into Sector 2828 unless he wishes to sit within a Sciencell for the rest of eternity."
"Now Herupa you must remember to have patience with Larfleeze," Ganthet stated before glancing back to Gorish, Vray, and Larfleeze. "You may release him from his bonds and they you are both dismissed and may return to your sector."
The two Green Lantern looked rather surprised at the order but complied as they released their constructs before hastily leaving the chamber. Larfleeze immediately shook himself out as he began to scratch all over his body. "My stuff...my stuff..." He began to mumble. "Gone...all gone..."
"Larfleeze please, for everyone's sake including your own, elaborate on what or who it was," Ganthet slowly spoke to him as though he were speaking to a toddler. "Stating it was ogres does not help."
Larfleeze shook his head as he hit his fist against the side of his temple before he gave out a yell in frustration, "But it was ogres. The ones they sent from Karna. Those scaly ogres. The ogres went and killed them and then destroyed my stuff."
"Guardian Counsel if I may make an observation," Salakk said as he stepped forward.
Herupa sighed," You're acknowledged Salakk."
"I believe these scaly ogres are the Gordanians. They have been allied with the Citadelians for centuries now. For one reason or another the Citadelians must have sent the Gordanians to Okaara," Salakk narrowed his eyes at Larfleeze. "Why is that Larfleeze? Why did the Gordanians go to Okaara? Who did they kill?"
Larfleeze scratched at his face as he grunted, "Pain in the asses Omega Men came and tried to help. Karnans were stupid and let them kill them all. None were left. Remaining Karnans were cowards and ran. Then the ogres came for my stuff and my ring. Then the small lizards came and helped the ogres."
All of the Guardians frowned as they looked amongst each other before they all nodded.
"Larfleeze," Ranakar began with mild disdain within his tone. "The Honor Guard will be sent to Sector 2828. You will accompany them."
"Why?" Larfleeze indignantly asked. "What do I get?"
Ranakar let out an exasperated sigh, "You will get your planet back as well as new stuff."
Larfleeze smiled giddily, "Mine! It'll be all mine! My home, my planet, my stuff! Mine!"
"We can't promise him the planet Ranakar!" Appa sharply whispered.
"I propose we allow it to play out," Herupa quietly suggested.
"Agreed," Ganthet stated. "We do not desire a war with the Citadelians quite yet. Hopefully the Honor Guard will not find a need for the Green Lantern Corps to become involved."
"I'm telling you it's bullshit," Kyle complained to Kilowog as they lounged in the Warriors Bar. "I get to stay on Earth for less than a year before getting shipped back to Oa. Complete and utter bullshit!"
"Could be worse poozer," Kilowog then downed his drink and roughly placed his stein back onto the bar. "There's some Lanterns here that haven't been able to go back home for decades. Hell some of us don't even have a home anymore."
The destruction of Bolovax Vik and the extinction of the Bolovaxians was known by all of the Green Lanterns to be Kilowog's greatest failure. Everyone, even the Guardians, had tried to assure Kilowog that it was never his fault. It was easy to see that Kilowog did not share that same mindset. To him it was due to his weakness as an overconfident Green Lantern that had allowed this to happen. Kilowog swore he would never see the destruction of another planet again which was why he was so tough on his new recruits. He never wanted to see any of his recruits to suffer what he had.
Kyle swallowed as he looked away from Kilowog and scratched the back of his head awkwardly, "Look I didn't mean to come off like that. I shouldn't be complaining. You and Katma always told me to be grateful that I have a planet to go back to." Kyle sighed as he momentarily looked up at the ceiling. "Sometimes I'm jealous of John. He gets to stay on Earth and only deal with Justice League stuff most of the time. I can't even remember the last time I saw him on Oa or helping out anywhere in our sector that wasn't Earth."
"You know Earth is a busy little planet," Kilowog casually mentioned as he raised his hand to signal to the bartender for another drink. "I don't think I've ever encountered a planet that has so many crises every week. It's like you guys are prone to them. I'm sure John doesn't have it that easy."
"Please," Kyle rolled his eyes. "He's got it as good as anyone right now. The guy even got married a few months ago."
Kilowog snickered, "I still can't believe he managed to get a Thanagarian to marry him. Though I met Shayera plenty of times. She's not like other Thanagarians...well not completely. The wild side is definitely there. That's for sure but she's a bit calmer than other Thanagarians I've met over the years."
"Wild's an understatement," Kyle replied. "I don't get how John can live with a person like her. Are all Thanagarians crazy?"
"I wouldn't necessarily say they're crazy," Kilowog then paused for a moment. "I'd like to think of them as battle-hungry assholes who tend to be mildly sociopathic."
Kyle chuckled, "And they say I'm the jerk."
Salakk listened in quietly as he was sitting alone at a table on the other side of the bar. He had been at the bar for a few hours. He had arrived there not long after the Guardians dismissed him from their chambers after summoning the Honor Guard. He of course had settled in his usual spot, off to the table in the very corner of the room. Out of sight and mind which is what Salakk preferred. After a few drinks, the other Green Lanterns normally forgot about his presence and would begin to say rather interesting things in front of him. Things he could report back to the Guardians if need be. This time proved to be no different, much to his satisfaction.
Just as quietly as he had entered the bar, Salakk exited with full intentions of heading back to the Guardians' chambers, "So this is why John Stewart has not responded to the Guardians' orders. This will be quite interesting to report indeed."
Kilowog chugged and finished his freshly filled stein in one shot before belching, "Still he won't be having it easy for too much longer."
"Maybe we should throw John a pity party," Kyle jokingly stated. "Think about it, after all Shayera-"
"Can't you talk about anything else?" A female Green Lantern at the other end of the bar asked with a frown. "I don't necessarily want to hear about John Stewart's love life."
Kyle looked unamused before he mumbled, "Not my fault you're still salty about it."
"What was that Rayner?" She asked as she stood from her stool.
Kilowog held his hands up in defense as he moved his upper body in front of Kyle, "Relax Katma, me and the kid were just wrapping up. Right?"
Kyle glanced at Katma before looking back at Kilowog as he then nodded, "Yeah we got things to do. Just needed a little break beforehand, like you taught me. Keep your mind fresh so that you're alert and ready."
Katma curtly nodded, "At least you listened to something I said and retained it."
"Funny," Kyle sarcastically retorted.
Kilowog stood and gestured to the door with his head, "Come on let's get out of here. We actually do need to go find Guy. I was going to have one of my last lessons with him today."
"What's that?" Kyle asked him.
Kilowog smirked as he cracked his knuckles, "Humility."