Chapter 29: Faction

Supergirl:

"Okay," I yell, slamming my fists through the air. "That's enough."

Getting up from the stand, I launch myself toward the green giant.

"Wait," Arisa says, "No!"

The Man:

Lobo's chain wraps around my arm, I look up at Garnder's giant green foot. Directly in its green shadow, I raise my sword high into the air, the blade pointed outward.

"No matter how big you are," I say, "You're still going to feel this."

The shadow gets bigger as it approaches, but all of a sudden, it disappears. Looking up, I see Kara pushing against Garnder's green giant. Despite his best effort, the arena's platform is just too small, and he falls over the ledge.

While falling, he lets go of Laria and she flies away. Meanwhile, Lobo is too busy watching Garnder fall. Taking the opportunity, I spin around and slice the chain.

"What the frag," Lobo screams as he stumbles back, the broken chain disappearing. Before Lobo could summons anything else, I throw my sword once more and watch as it spins through the air before the handle hits and knocks Lobo to the ground.

Kara:

Landing on the platform with The Man, I'm glad to see him walking toward me.

"Are you okay," I ask The Man, but he ignores me and walks past. "What?"

I turn around to see him approach Laria as she lands on the platform.

"Laria," he starts, "Are you okay?"

He places his hand on her shoulder and I cross my arms.

"I'm fine," Laria replies, "Really, I should be asking the two of you that."

"Why's that," I ask.

"Because the Guardians seem really angry now," Laria answers, pointing toward the sky as the Guardians of Oa approaches us.

The Man:

"Oh boy," I say, my shield disappearing as the Guardians of Oa approach the three of us. I can see the veins pulsing on most of their heads as they get closer and closer.

"You cheated," Ranakar screams, pointing a stern finger at us. Ranakar's eyes are twitching, and his teeth are grinding against each other.

"We cheated," I say, stepping up. "Screw you, you blue leprechaun."

"Stop calling us leprechaun," Ranakar screams, wads of splits flying out.

I'm about to raise a finger against Ranakar but stop. Again, I don't like to swear.

"This was supposed to be a test of my will," I ask, looking directly at Ganthet, Ganthet lowering his head in response. "I get the whole Kilowog pinning me down and trying to crush me thing, but how is battling Lobo and Garnder at the same time suppose to be anything more than a grudge match? Tell me."

All the Guardians stay silent. They stay silent but they stay staring with pulsing veins and grinding teeth.

"Tell me," I yell, a wave of green will shooting out and hitting the Guardians. As they're forced back, many of the Green Lanterns from the stand shoot into the sky and fly toward us. In less than a minute, they fire their ring and trap Laria, Kara, and me in a half bubble. Even Garnder joins in. Flying back up, he fires his ring and reinforces the half bubble.

"Let them go," Arisia says, flying to us. Aiming her ring at the green lantern, Sallaak is the first to first. Firing his ring, he knocks her away.

Watching as she spins uncontrollably through the air, I swing my hand and shatter the half bubble. The half bubble's destruction causes a few green lanterns to shake and fly back. While they're recovering, I swing my hand and shoot out a beam. The beam curves as it turns into a bed and catches Arisia.

As Arisia steady herself, I see all the Green Lanterns surrounding us prepare to shoot. Their rings are all glowing bright, and their eyes are completely focused on us. I raise Hal's ring and focus my will into it. Now, like their rings, Hal's ring is glowing brightly.

"Enough," Ganthet yells, flying in between us. Holding out his hands, he turns over and over, making sure none of us firing. He stops when he turns to me.

"This was supposed to be a test of your will," Ganthet starts, "I promise you, I did not intend for this."

Ganthet and I look at each other, I eventually nod my head and lower Hal's ring.

"Now," Ranakar yells, pointing at us. "Fire!"

"No," Ganthet yells, holding up his hands. "No! For the moment, for this very moment, I would strongly recommend we all rest. This had been a very intense test, and I suggest we all take some time to rest and recover before the yellow lanterns attack again. Does everyone agree?"

All we turn our heads and look at each other before nodding.

"Agree," Ranakar says, closing his hands.

"Then it is decided," Ganthet says. "We Guardians will regroup to discuss this matter, and for the time being, we ask that you and your team return to your ship."

"Understand," I say.

Blasting the ground, I call forth a green hoverboard. Standing on it, I kick against the floor and fly into the air. However, before I can make it far, Ganthet stops me.

"For the time being," he repeats, his arm blocking me. "I think it would be best if Laria and Arisia join you."

"What," Arisia says. Before she could say anything, I get in front of Ganthet and pull up my hand. Arisia seeing this nods her head.

"Come on," I say, nudging my head. "The Rusted is this way."

One-by-one, slowly at first but then quickly, we all dispense. While the Guardians float away, and many of the green lanterns fly away, Kara and I regroup with the team.

"I assume you heard all of that," I say as my hoverboard bursts into dust and I land onto the standing area.

"Yeah," Barry says. "We heard everything."

"Awesome, let's go then."

About to take a step, I stop.

"Hal," I say, pulling off his ring. "This is yours. Catch."

Dr. Crane:

A yawn forces its way out as I take off my glasses to rub my eyes. Shaking my head left and right, I look back at the book. Pressing my finger against the page, I turn to my right to take down some notes.

While looking between the book and my notepad, I begin to hear some footsteps and even a few familiar voices.

"This is where you two will be staying for the meantime," The Man says. "I know it doesn't look like much, but there's a warm bed and hot meals. Life's comforts."

"Strange," I think, turning to look behind me. "I thought he already gives everyone a tour of the ship. Why he is giving another tour?"

Closing both the book and the notebook, I get up from my chair and head for the infirmary's exit. As I leave the room, I find myself almost walking right into The Man.

"Personal space, Doc," The Man says, shooting out his hand and pushing me back.

"Sorry about that," I say, adjusting my glasses. After fixing them, I see the rest of the Insurgents; Mr. Oliver Queen. Mr. Barry Allen. Ms. Kara. Mr. Hal Jordan?

"Mr. Hal Jordan," I say, "And you two?"

Standing beside Hal Jordan are two other green lanterns I didn't recognize. One of them looks like a short woman with blonde hair in a white shirt with a green skirt. The other green lantern looks slightly taller, with purple skin and long orange hair.

"Hmm, hello? I'm, I'm Dr. Crane. Who are you?"

"This is Arisia," Mr. Hal Jordan answers, "And this is Laria. They'll, uh, I guess they'll be staying with us for a while. Myself included."

"Okay," I say, "Why? What did I miss?"

"Do you want the short version or the long version," Mr. Leonard Snart asks.

"Long version."

"The short version goes like this," Mr. Leonard Snart starts. "Basically, all the green lanterns don't trust us, hence why after stealing Hal's ring, the stupid blue bastard, the Guardians of Oa, put The Man to a quote 'test of will'. He beat the rigged test, and now everyone hates us even more. Except for these two. Which is why they've been kicked out."

"Oh," I say, clearing my throat. "Okay. I did ask for the long version, but that works. It tells me basically everything."

"More or less," Mr. Leonard Snart adds, nodding his head.

"Anyway," The Man interrupts, "I guess now it's us versus the green lanterns. Despite being on the same side."

"If it's us versus them," Dinah says, everyone turns to face her. "Then maybe we should leave them."

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