Green Lantern

Reunited, and It Feels So Good

by Immortalwildcat and Martin Maenza

Chapter 1

“Like I told the lady, yeah, that looks like the gal that stopped in here with Red last fall. Still, it’s been most of a year, ya know?” The tall, blonde, weary-looking waitress snapped the gum in her mouth as she reached for the plates on the table.

“What about this Red person? Any idea where he’s from?” Hal Jordan leaned forward in the booth. “Does he come by here regularly?”

“I usually see him here once a month or so. He’s usually driving for Fox Lumber, but I think he was in his own truck on that trip. Wasn’t his usual time for the run, either. They stopped in here for lunch, she seemed kind of spacey, like maybe she’d been in an accident or something.”

“That makes sense, Hal. If what we found out earlier is correct, they must have been here just after she met with Sta- er, with that other woman.” Kari Limbo looked up at the waitress. “Have you seen him since then?”

“Sure, he comes through, like I said, every month. Last time was about a week ago.” The waitress looked around, noting that

“Thank you very much. You’ve been very helpful.”

“Sure, if you say so.” The waitress gathered up the rest of their plates and walked toward the kitchen.

Ten minutes later, Kari and Hal exited the diner. As they got into Hal’s forest-green Firebird, he looked over at Kari. Her face bore the expression of someone carrying a great burden. “How are you holding up? I don’t know much about psychic phenomenon, but it seems like carrying Carol’s memories has to be a strain.”

Kari turned to face Hal as he started the car. “It is difficult. I’m not sure how long I can do this. Carol has a very forceful personality, and I feel like it’s going to take over at any time.”

“Well, I guess that just makes it easier for me to justify doing this.” Hal raised his hand in front of his face, and focused on an image in his mind’s eye. An image of the car taking flight and soaring over the California countryside. An image that should become reality as Hal Jordan’s legendary will-power channeled through the power ring on his hand.

“Hal, what is it?” asked Kari.

“Nothing, I just lost track of the time.” Hal glanced at the clock on the dashboard. It read three-fifteen. “Sure, it was mid-afternoon when I last charged the ring.” Hal reached back over the seat and under a blanket. He pulled an emerald-colored object up the the front, shaped like a stylized bullseye lantern. Balancing it on top of the stick shift, leaning against the dashboard, he touched the ring to his power battery.

“In brightest day, in darkest light, no evil shall –” He stopped in mid-sentence. “There’s something wrong here. The power battery has gone dead!”

Chapter 2

“Hal, are you sure it’s dead? Try it again!” Kari Limbo stared intensely at the green power battery that sat between herself and Hal Jordan in the car.

Once more, Hal touched ring to lantern, and recited the oath by which he normally charged the ring. “In brightest day, in blackest night, no evil shall escape my sight. Let those who worship evil’s might, beware my power, Green Lantern’s light!”

“I’ve seen you charge your battery before, and I could always see a glow, a surge of power between them. Now, there’s nothing.”

“I can’t feel anything, either.” Hal grasped the handle of the lantern-shaped battery. He closed his eyes, and tried to will a green flame into existence before him. Nothing appeared. “Usually, if I focus, I can use the battery itself like the ring, but I don’t feel a single erg of power there. I better make a call before we leave.”

Hal got out of the car and walked over to a phone booth by the diner. Stepping in, he dialed a phone number known only to a select few people. The voice that answered was reassuringly familiar. “John, I’m glad it’s you! This is Hal.”

“Hal” Thank God! I tried calling you at home, and at Ferris. Salaak said you left word yesterday that you would be gone for a couple of days.”

“Yeah, Kari got a lead on Carol’s disappearance, but that’s not what I’m calling about. It’s–”

“Your power ring, right?” John Stewart’s deep voice finished the sentence for him. “We’ve had a couple of them fail here, and word has reached us from some of the Lantern’s in other space sectors as well.”

“Great Guardians! It sounds like something’s up with the main power battery on Oa! Have you contacted the Honor Guard yet?” asked Hal, referring to the Green Lanterns who had taken up a position of honor and duty on the planets Malthus and Oa.

“We’re trying, Hal, but with only half our rings functioning, and more failing every hour, it’s hard keeping up a steady communication link.” This was a third voice, that of Katma Tui. She leaned in close to John Stewart as they spoke, sharing the telephone handset.

“Contact the JLA, they may be able to raise one of them.” A new thought struck Hal, one that sent a chill through him. “John, what about Driq?”

“His was one of the first rings to lose power.” John’s voice was heavy with grief. “We’ve, we’ve preserved the remains, in hope that we might restore him once we can recharge his battery and ring, but–”

“When he lost power, that was probably the end of him.” Hal allowed himself a few moments to mourn the Green Lantern whose will was so great that it transcended even death. He would mourn properly at a later time. “John, I’m in the same boat at the others who have lost power. Pursue it from the Oan end, and I’ll get back in touch when I can.”

“What do you mean, Hal? You’re not coming in?”

“No, I have to stay on Carol’s trail. Too many time, I chose duty and the Corps over her. Not this time.”

In the Green Lantern Citadel, John Stewart and Katma Tui looked each other in the eye. They both understood, for if it were either of them in trouble, the other would place that before the Corps as well.

It was John who answered first. “You do what you have to, man. We’ll get things figured out on this end.”

Katma followed up with a phrase murmured in her own language, followed by a translation in English. “Follow your heart, my friend, and may good fortune meet you on the path.”

Chapter 3

The afternoon sun was dropping in the western sky as a couple on horseback rode through the foothills. The horses were beautifully groomed; the brown haired man took good care of the animals. Red Crawford pulled back on the reins to get his mount to stop. “Whoa, Cambridge.” The other horse started to move past on the dirt path. Red leaned out and grabbed for that one’s muzzle as well. “You too, Chestnut.”

The woman with wavy black hair smiled. “Why are we stopping here?” Carrie Ford asked as she looked about the open area.

“Misty Hollow’s such a peaceful place,” Red explained. “Nice for watching the sunset and such. Though it wasn’t always this pretty.”

“Really?”

“Yes,” Red said. “It had been clear-cut by the lumber mills many years back, but the locals rallied against the industries. They managed to win out and convinced the company to move on. That allowed it to grow back for the last ten to twenty years. Its nice and quiet here now. Very few people come out this way much.”

Carrie raised an eye towards the man. “So, you wanted to get me out to a nice secluded spot, eh? Just what do you have in mind, Mr. Crawford?”

Red was surprised by the tone as she said that. It was strong, commanding. Carrie sounded almost intimidating, and that threw him slightly. “I…uh…” he stammered, trying to form a response.

Carrie saw she had him shaken and gave him a more stern look. “Well?” She could barely keep a straight face as she watched him squirm.

“I, I thought maybe we’d have a picnic supper is all.” He hopped down from the saddle and opened one of the pouches that hung on the sides. “See, blanket and food.” Red started to pull out the items.

Carrie laughed as she climbed down from her mount. “I was just teasing,” she told him. “I hope you didn’t take me serious.” She gave him a peck on the cheek. “A picnic sounds like a wonderful idea.”

Red eased. “I’m glad. Let me get these two tied securely and then we can dig in. You like fried chicken, right?”

“You made fried chicken?” Carrie asked as she took the blanket and opened it up.

“Well, no,” Red admitted. “I sort of got it from Marty’s. I hope you don’t mind.”

“Not at all,” Carrie said. Working at the small diner all these months, she knew quite well the cooking of her employer. And Marty Falk made one mean fried chicken. Its second only to Daddy’s, Carrie thought.

Suddenly, she caught herself. Daddy? It was another stray memory from her past, a past that had been very much a mystery to her for the better part of eight months. Somehow the food had triggered this thought deep in the recesses of her mind. She tried to hold onto it, strengthen it, but it was gone as quickly as it came. “Damn,” she muttered to herself.

For Carrie Ford, who last year was in fact Carol Ferris of Coast City, this missing past continued to be a frustration.

Luckily for the woman, she had a present to focus on. Red Crawford had been a source of support and comfort since last Fall. He’d found her literally walking on the side of the road in a bewildering daze. His kind gesture in the form of a ride turned into so much more. He found her a place to stay and work in Fox Hollow, Oregon. He helped her adjust to a new life without pressuring her about her past. She appreciated that.

Over time, Red fell in love with her. And it was hard for her not to fall in love with him. He made her feel alive and gave her purpose. Although she’d only known him for so many months, she was hard pressed to think of what her life would be without him.

After their meal, the two sat by a small fire as the twilight descended upon the area. Red reached into his pocket and then turned to the woman. “Carrie, honey” he said softly. “I’ve got something to ask you. I’ve been trying to work up my nerve all afternoon to do so, and if I don’t do it now I don’t know if I can.”

“What is it?” she asked.

Red got down on one knee before her and held out a small, velvet covered box. “Carrie Ford, will you do me the honor of being my wife?” He opened the box, revealing a diamond engagement ring.

Her eyes grew wide with surprise. For a moment, she was speechless. She watched the fire light sparkling off the facets of the stone. The ring, with the glow, it reminded her of something.

“Carrie?” he asked.

She snapped back in focus. “Oh, Red, its beautiful,” she said. “It’s just…”

Red started to frown slight. “Oh, who was I kidding?” he said in a down tone. “When I lost my first wife and our unborn child fifteen years ago in Alabama, I thought my life was over. That I’d never be happy again. I moved out here to start over, to start fresh. But something was missing.” He raised his head up again. “I thought I’d found that missing something that day I met you. Like an angel had been sent down from the heavens and plopped down at that mountain road for me to come across.” He started to rise to his feet. “I’m sorry if I embarrassed you with this. I’m such a fool.”

Carrie grabbed his hand and pulled him back down. “Red, wait! You’re not a fool!” She took her other hand and gently caressed his cheek. “You’re a sweet, kind and wonderful man. Any woman would consider herself lucky to be your wife.”

Red swallowed and averted his eyes. He felt a tear forming and didn’t want the woman he loved to see them.

“Yes,” Carrie said. “Yes, I’ll marry you.” She threw her arms about him and gave him a great big kiss.

Chapter 4

Hal and Kari had driven all night and day, stopping only briefly for meals; they were trying to reach Fox Hollow as quickly as they could. Hal hadn’t allowed himself to sleep, instead staying awake with Kari so she wouldn’t lose the focus necessary to keep Carol’s memories in check. When they reached the small town just after nine o’clock, Hal spotted the diner on the Main Street and pulled into an empty spot near the door.

“Let’s recharge our own batteries before we start asking around,” he told Kari as he woke her from a light slumber. Together they walked in and looked around.

Inside, a big, bald man glanced out through a serving window from the kitchen and told them to take any table. “Carrie will be out in a moment to take care of ya, folks!” he called.

They located a table and plucked a pair of menus from their spot behind the napkin holder. Hal flipped the two coffee cups on the table upright and placed them near the edge, hoping the waitress would fill them first. As they concentrated on the menus, the waitress did stop by with a coffee pot in her hand and poured the steaming, dark liquid into each cup. “I’ll be right back for your orders,” she said as she moved off to check on another table.

“God, do I need this!” exclaimed Hal as he reached for the cup. He took a long drink, breathing in the flavorful steam off the cup at the same time. “Mmmm, yeah, just the thing.”

Kari reached for a small pitcher and the tall container of sugar. “I don’t know how anyone can drink coffee black, like that,” she said as she doctored her own cup. “So, where do we go after this? Find the lumber company, or start asking around town?”

“This place is dead center of downtown. I’d lay odds that either the waitress or the cook know him.”

“Know who? I’m still kind of new around here, but my fiancee knows most of the folks.” Hal turned to find the waitress standing at his elbow, pad in hand.

“We’re looking for a guy who drives trucks around here, goes by the name of –” Hal stopped in mid-sentence as he looked up at the waitress. “Carol!”

“What” Who are you– Oh my God! You know me?” Carrie Ford dropped the pad and pencil, and stumbled back into an empty table. “Dear Lord, you look so familiar! You know who I am?”

Confusion followed in the diner, with Marty coming out of the kitchen to see what was wrong with his waitress, and Hal and Kari both trying to explain who “Carrie” really was and for what they had come to Fox Hollow.

“Lemmee see if I understand what you’re saying here,” said Marty. “You say that Carrie here is really a lady executive named Carol Ferris from southern California. You’re telling me that she lost her memory because of some nut ball super-villain, and that this lady,” he indicated Kari with a jerk of his thumb, “can give her back her memories. Is that right?”

“You’ve got it, sir,” replied Hal. He recognized that he was on the other man’s turf and was doing his best not to antagonize him.

Marty crouched down in front of Carrie, who was sitting down and wiping tears from her eyes. “What do you think, kiddo? You think we can trust these two?”

“I’m not sure what to think. They’re the first people who’ve ever given any sign of knowing me since I’ve been here. I didn’t let anyone but Red, Jess and you know about my missing past.”

Just then, the door of the diner burst open. “I heard there was a commotion down here, and came as quick as I could! What’s going –?” Red Crawford skidded to a stop, taking in the scene. Carrie, sitting with a tear-streaked face. Marty, hunkered down the way he always did when he talked to someone having trouble. And two strangers, standing to either side, their concern for Red’s bride-to-be clearly evident on their faces. “Good God, All Mighty! You know her, don’t you?”

One of the strangers, the man, stepped forward and extended a hand. “I’m gonna go out on a limb here, and guess that you must be Red. Hal Jordan, I’m an old friend of Carol, um, that is, Carrie’s.”

Red returned the handshake absently. “Red Crawford. Nice meeting you.” He stepped over to Carrie and knelt next to her. “You OK, hun?”

“Oh, Red, I don’t know. They say they know me, and they can restore my memory.” Carrie looked imploringly into his eyes. “What do I do?”

“I don’t know yet, but we’ll get it figured out.” Red looked around “All of us. Together.”

Chapter 5

A few hours later, Red and Hal sat together on the porch of Mother Borden’s Rooming House. Inside, Carrie/Carol sat with Jess Borden and Kari Limbo, trying to recover from the surprising discovery of the morning.

“Before I recognized her, Carrie said something about a fiancée. I assume that’s you?” Hal watched as the other man nodded, his mouth turning up slightly at the corners. “Congratulations!”

“You don’t really mean that, Hal,” said Red with a grin. “You didn’t come all the way up here just because Carol’s a friend, or even your boss.” He chuckled. “Gonna take some getting used to, that change in her name.”

“I won’t argue that. Carol and I, we go way back. We even talked marriage a couple of times.” Hal sighed as he remembered those discussions, which had occasionally turned to arguments about his role as Green Lantern. “Never worked out, though. I guess she was just waiting for the better man.”

“That’ll all be for nothing if your friend gives her her memories back, though, won’t it? She’s not going to remember me.”

“You’re mistaken. According to Kari, returning Carol’s memories won’t change her memory of what she’s experienced since last year.”

“You sure about that?”

“Kari is sure. And I trust her with my life.”

Red leaned back in his chair. “So, tell me, what is Carol like?”

“Intelligent, dynamic, strong-willed. A real classy lady when she’s up for it, and a wonderful person to share your time with.”

“Sounds a lot like the Carrie that I know.”

Hal smiled. “Not surprising. I’ve dealt with some amnesia cases before, and the basic personality usually remains when everything else is gone.”

“Then I guess all that’s left is to convince Carol.” Red got up from the rocking chair. “You coming in?”

Hal looked away, gazing down the street. “No, it’s better if you convince her yourself.” Hal paused a moment, then continued before Red could open the door. “Red, I saw the look on your face when you came in the diner, and how you talked to her. You really do love her, don’t you?”

“More than I ever thought possible,” replied Red in a quiet voice.

“Good. I want her to be happy.”

Inside, Carol looked up as Red came in. “Red, honey, I think I’ve decided, but I want your opinion.”

“It’s your call, baby, but for what it’s worth, I trust them.”

“So do I.” Carol turned toward Kari Limbo. “So, when can we do this?”

“I could do it now, if you wish,” replied the Asian-Romany psychic.

“No, I don’t think so,” interjected Jess Borden, Carol’s landlady. She had been sitting in quietly, taking in the conversation between Carol and Kari. “You’re pretty much exhausted, Miss Limbo. I don’t know much about psychics and such, but I figure if you’re going to be messing around with something this delicate, it’s better if you do it on a good night’s rest.”

“I hate to say it, ladies, but I think Jess is right. Can you put them up for the night?” Jess nodded. “Then how about we do this tomorrow morning? Is there anything you need?” he asked, looking at Kari.

“Just a quiet place.”

“I know just the place. Tell me, Kari, do you and Hal know how to ride?”

Chapter 6

It was midmorning when the two couples rode up the wooded path. Red and Carol rode on Cambridge; Hal and Kari rode on Chestnut. Both couples had been quiet since they left Red’s stables. In each of their minds, thoughts raced of what this morning might bring.

I know Kari can help me, but will I be able to handle the fallout?

Is there any way I can spare Carol of the hurt and pain of her past while still helping her?

Yesterday, I was on the top of the world, but will today turn out to be the worst day of my life?

It’s Carol’s choice what she does with her life, but we have to let her make the decision with all her faculties.

The two horses reached the edge of Misty Hollow. “Whoa,” Red called out to the magnificent creatures. They knew his voice well and responded.

“Wow,” Hal said as he looked out at the tranquil wooded area before him. “Amongst all this wonderful countryside, this place is so beautiful.”

“It was an old lumber company clearing area many years ago,” Carol said, restating what Red had told her the first time he brought her to the place. “It was allowed to be left alone, to renew itself. I think Mother Nature did a fine job retoring it.”

Kari nodded. “This place is a good one,” she said. They all started to dismount. She turned to the brown haired man. “Hal, I think maybe this will go better with just the two of us women here.”

“Are you sure you’ll be OK?” Hal asked.

“I am,” Kari said confidently. “I think it will be better for everyone involved.” She saw that Red and Carol were talking quietly. Inside, she knew this would be a painful process, one best not to be witnessed by either man who loved Carol so much.

“Are you sure about this?” Red asked Carol. “You know it’s really up to you.”

“I know,” the dark haired woman said. “Believe me, I sat up all night in bed going over every angle of this.” She took his hand and held it to her cheek. “Red, I have to do this. For me, for you, for us.”

Red nodded. “All right,” he said. “But just know this: no matter what happens, it doesn’t change my feelings for you.”

Carol nodded. “I know. And that’s a comforting thing.”

Kari approached the couple. “Excuse me, you two,” she said softly. “But I think Carol and I better get started. Red, if you wouldn’t mind going off with Hal, I would appreciate it.”

“But…” the man started to protest slightly.

Carol took his hand again to calm him. “It’s OK,” she said. “I trust Kari. I know somehow that she knows what is best in the situation. Its more than woman’s instinct that tells me this.”

Red nodded. “OK,” he said reluctantly. He joined Hal at the horses, they mounted, and the two rode off for the east ridge.

Kari turned to Carol. “Are you ready?”

“Let’s get started,” Carol said with only a faint hint of trembling in her voice.

Chapter 7

Carol Ferris laid on her back on an outstretched blanket, the same blanket upon which Red proposed to her the day before. She was very still, her eyes closed and her breathing normal. Kari Limbo knelt near Carol’s head and leaned forward, placing her hands upon the woman’s temples. The psychic began to concentrate so she could gather up her will and the stray psychic impressions to be focused back to their home.

Thoughts of a mustached man flowed forth, someone stern yet in a caring way. “Carol, you need to be ruthless to survive in the business world! If you act like a pretty helpless flower, the competition will see that and eat you for lunch!” Carl Ferris had always wanted a son and groomed his daughter as he would have a boy to carry on his business.

Thoughts of other strong individuals pushed through. “You have been chosen to be our queen, and thus you must act in accordance to that role! Do not disappoint us as heir to the Zamaron throne!” The warrior women from the alien world had selected Carol to be their figurehead leader, assuming she could stand up to the challenge.

Thoughts of love and desire swirled in. “If only I could get Green Lantern’s attention. He would be the perfect catch in a man.” These were indeed Carol’s thoughts for a long time after the new hero appeared in Coast City. She found him to be the perfect bachelor to pursue.

That changed. “Carol, you know as the chosen Green Lantern of this space sector, I have a duty to the Guardians of the Universe to uphold. I can’t turn my back on that for my own personal desires. I’m sorry.” Once she learned that Hal Jordan and Green Lantern were one and the same, she discovered there was much more to the pilot than she once thought. He was a complex man who wrestled with his own hard decisions, but it didn’t comfort her to be second choice.

Savage thoughts ripped through, ones of pure ruthlessness. “You don’t need him! I can be the hero and the man you’ve always wanted! One who acts as your protector and showers you with the attention you deserve!” The Predator, a silver armored mystery-man, intrigued her and caught her interest very quickly. But it was only natural, for the Predator was a manifestation of her own mind brought about by the star sapphire power she’d rejected so long ago. The Predator would do anything for her, even kill Hal Jordan. She couldn’t let that happen.

Again, another aspect of her persona barged in. “No, Hal! I am not longer the weak woman who once followed you around like a love sick puppy dog! I am now, and forever, the Star Sapphire, rightful queen of the Zamaron race! I reject you, your love and the world of my birth!” This one was a hybrid of what the Zamarons awakened in her and the Predator one that had been created as well.

“No! That is not your right! It belongs to me and only me! You stole the power from me not too long ago; I’m just reclaiming what was mine!” It was another woman’s words, one similar to Carol and yet so very much different. Born on two different worlds in two different social orders, both were given a fate to follow. The two also shared one other thing: the tainting of their very souls by the Zamarons’ star sapphire gems. The power which corrupted them made them fierce competitors for a throne so far away.

As all the pieces were falling into place, the psychic knife that cut them away to begin with was revealed. A mind, so alien and so feral, one nothing like that which Kari had ever encountered before, was exposed. “Such sweet memories! Oh the things they reveal to me! They could indeed prove useful some day!”

Sweat beaded off of Kari’s brow. She tried her best to focus on these thoughts, to reveal their owner if possible. She wanted to know who did this to Carol, so that perhaps Hal could provide some form of retribution some day. She gritted her teeth and concentrated.

The response was a backlash into her brain! “Aaaaaahhhhh!” Kari screamed. She broke contact with Carol and fell backwards.

Carol’s eyes snapped open at the sound. “Kari?” she asked. She sat up and saw the woman on the blanket, grasping her temples. “Kari? Are you OK?”

The psychic used all her abilities to clear her head. In a moment, she opened her eyes and saw Carol staring back at her. “I am fine,” Kari finally said. She took the offered hand and rose to her feet. “The bigger question is, how are you?”

The look that Kari saw on Carol’s face was a different one. It was not the type of look she’d seen over the last day or so on Carrie Ford. The woman seemed to carry herself a bit differently and her eyes seemed more intense, focused. Kari also saw something more, a bit of hurt. With her past memories restored, Carol seemed to be wrestling with some emotions.

“I’ve been better,” Carol admitted. “I am just feeling a bit…torn.”

Kari swallowed. “I’m sorry about that,” she said. “I really wanted to try to make this easier for you. But once we started, the process of restoration was out of my control. Whether you wanted it or not, it all had to come back to you.”

Carol nodded. “I know. And I don’t blame you. Its my life, and I have to live with the past.”

“What about the future?”

“I don’t honestly know yet.”

Chapter 8

Two men rode along the eastern ridge of Misty Hollow, ostensibly surveying the new tree growth on the ridge. In reality, both of them were focused on their own thoughts.

Did I do the right think, seeking after Carol like this? asked Hal Jordan of himself. She seems to have made a nice life for herself up here. Do I have any right to ask her to give that up, no matter how much Ferris Aircraft needs her? How much I need her?

I can’t kid myself, Red thought. Look at this guy. Handsome, charming, daring. Guy acts like there’s nothing in the world that can faze him. Even this whole business with Carol’s memories, he’s treating it like something that happens to people everyday. If Carol has someone like that waiting for her, what is there that could make her want to stay with me?

For both Hal Jordan and Red Crawford, it was a tense period of waiting. It had been over an hour since they had left the object of both their affections, Carol Ferris, in the care of the psychic who literally held Carol’s past in her head. Neither of them could pretend to know what Carol would decided for her future, once she was fully aware of her past.

“I still can’t believe this was all stripped bare just a couple of decades ago,” commented Hal, hoping to get some semblance of conversation going.

“Yeah, when I came out here, it was still mostly young growth. Now, they could almost start harvesting some of these.” Red looked around him as his horse moved forward. “We’ve been lucky out here, no blights, no fires, no – oh, hell!”

“What’s the matter?” asked Hal, pulling up on the reins to bring his horse to a halt alongside Red’s mount.

“I may have spoken too soon. Take a good look down there.” Red pointed to a spot about a mile to the east of the ridge. Through the trees, a slender tendril of black smoke rose into the clear sky.

“Looks to small to be a wildfire, unless it’s just started.”

“Doesn’t look right for a cooking fire, though. And look,” added Red, pointing just to the left of the smoke. “I don’t know if you can see it, but there’s a stretch of trees there with the tops snapped off. Looks like something crashed down there.”

Hal nodded his head. “Could be a small plane. We’d better check it out. You know a trail down there?”

Red wheeled his horse around. “Follow me!”

Chapter 9

As Red Crawford led the way down a twisting trail through the young-growth forest, it soon became apparent that the source of the smoke was not a campfire or a downed plane. They were halfway down the slope into the valley when they started hearing the sounds of heavy machinery. They tethered the horses to a tree and proceeded on foot.

“I should have heard if there was any development or lumbering going on out here. Fox Lumber owns most of this land.” Red kept his voice low, and waited until they were stopped before speaking. “Besides, the roads into here have been closed off for years. Main access to this valley was still closed off yesterday. I could see it from the highway as I went up to the ridge where they’re cutting.”

Hal pointed down at the ground. “Take a look at those tracks. Four wheels, side-by-side.” He then pointed to the other side of the wide, cleared trail. “Looks like another matched set over there, about twelve feet away. I’ve never heard of anything making tracks like that. And whatever it is, it’s taking out a lot of underbrush.”

“Whoever it is, they’re clever. This is a firebreak, thirty feet wide. Yeah, you’ll get some brush growing up in here this early in the summer. They’re due to come and clear these breaks in the next week or so.”

They kept to the edge of the firebreak as they slowly worked their way toward the source of the noise. Soon, they heard voices.

“Grellzt jukin! Dlooort mfinir edniquit lnrrzt!”

“Perrltknuz ufnut ingnogof brrezt!”

“What the hell language is that?” whispered Red. “Sounds like something I’ve heard before, but I’ll be damned if I can remember where.”

“I think I’ve heard it before, too,” replied Hal. He started to raise his hand toward the sound, then remembered that his power ring was useless. “I may have a friend who can help,” he said, reaching into his jacket. He pulled out a small electronic device, about the size of a Zippo lighter.

“What’s that, one of those new cellular phones?” asked Red.

Hal smiled. “Something like that.” He flipped open a cover and pressed a combination of buttons. “I’ve got a code 13, plus possible hostile entities in earshot, so watch the volume, OK?”

“I read you, Hal. I heard you had some problems. What can I do?” Hal smiled hear the voice of Hawkman from the JLA satellite.

“Can you patch this feed into the computers, see if it can wangle a translation?”

“Affirmative. You’re patched in now.”

Red watched as his companion held the device out toward the voices they were hearing.

“Glizznt obfon hrejtek loonkun.”

“Wrrent urfsned asklan rtlust.”

Hal drew the device back and held it in front of his face. “Did you get anything from that?”

“It came back as ‘Auxiliary batteries are prepared for transport,’ and ‘Make sure they fall in with the third column.”

“What language is it?”

“Hal? Where in the seven hells are you? That was Khundish!”

“Great Guardians! What have we gotten into?” Hal turned to a very puzzled Red. “We’ve got to get out of here, right away!”

Red shook off his confusion, nodded once, and started leading the way back to the horses.

Chapter 10

The two men returned back to the hollow just as the two women were finished folding up the blanket. Kari noticed the concern look on their faces. “Hal, what is it?” the psychic asked.

“We need to get out of here, now,” Hal Jordan said firmly. He offered his hand to help Kari up in the saddle.

“What is it?” Carol asked as she joined Red on Cambridge. “I hope you two didn’t have a disagreement over me.”

“No, honey, we didn’t,” Red said. He glanced at the woman who put her arms about his waist. He could see she still wore the diamond engagement ring on her left hand which he placed their yesterday. That made him feel a bit better. “Are you all right?”

“I know where I came from,” she said softly as her voice trailed off.

“But?” Red asked.

“We can talk about it later, OK?” All Red could do to respond to Carol’s words was nod. The two horses started back towards town.

Kari leaned in to Hal. “You sounded urgent,” she said. “Why?”

“We’ve got trouble brewing nearby,” Hal explained.

“What kind of trouble?”

“The Khund,” he said.

Red’s horse moved adjacent to the other as they rode. “Now, I don’t mean to pry or nothin’, Hal,” he said, “but that’s the second time you’ve said that name in the last half hour. There’s something going on and I think you have an idea what it is.”

“Red,” Carol said, “I’ve known Hal a long time, and if there is a situation then he’s the right man to handle it.”

“I agree,” Kari said.

“Easier said than done, ladies,” Hal said. He tipped his head towards the ring that sat on his hand.

Kari knew what he was referring to. “Oh,” she said. “Right, I had almost forgotten.”

“I feel like the odd man out here,” Red said. “You mentioned earlier that you’re a pilot, Hal. Am I right in guessing its for the government or something? Those some kind of military friends you were talking to earlier?”

“Something like that,” Hal said. “I really should alert them though. See if they can provide us some help.”

“Help with what?” Red asked.

Hal decided there was no way to hide all of this, especially when it came to the threat at hand. “You have to trust me on this one,” he said. “What you and I stumbled upon back there was an encampment being set up by an alien race.”

“Alien race?” Red said.

“Hal, who?” Carol asked.

“The Khund. They’re a warlike race from a world shrouded in perpetual darkness and night. They’ve pretty much destroyed their ecosystem and tend to go after neighboring worlds in their pursuit of raw materials to fuel their continuous wars. I’m just rather surprised to find them all the way out here.”

“You pulling my leg, Hal?” Red asked again.

“He’s not,” Carol said firmly. “I believe him.”

Again, Red said nothing further but continued to watch the woman he fell in love with over the past few months. Obviously, her faith in this man was solid and assured. Deep down, that concerned Red as he worried about whether they had a future together.

“Hal, can you call in some help?” Kari asked.

“I was just about to,” he replied as he removed his JLA communicator from his coat once more. Activating the device, Hal attempted to contact the satellite once more. After a moment of hushed conversation, he closed it again with a concerned look upon his face.

“What’s wrong?” Kari asked.

“Seems the others have their hands tied up at the moment,” he said. “We’re on our own for right now.”

Red shook his head. “Well, if there is an alien scouting group out there and your friends, whoever they are, aren’t able to help us, then I know of some folks who can!” The foursome galloped back to Fox Hollow.

Chapter 11

Noontime in Fox Hollow followed a routine. At noon, the whistle at the lumber mill would blow, and those working in the mill and the yard surrounding it would shut down their equipment and leave for lunch. Many brought their own lunch, and congregated in a large, combination lunchroom, meeting room, congregation hall for a local church and town meeting hall that Fox Lumber had built in conjunction with the town several years earlier. Others would depart for one of the half-dozen diners and restaurants around the town. Because of this, the biggest “rush hour” in the small, woodland town was at noon, rather than before or after work.

Horses were usually not a part of this rush hour. This day, however, several of the lumber men stopped and stared as a pair of horses raced in from the east, passing cars stopped at traffic lights, weaving around parked cars, each carrying a pair of riders toward the big firehouse at the center of town.

“I hate to do this, but it’s the quickest way to get everybody together.” said Red Crawford as they dismounted and headed for the door.

“What are you doing?” asked Kari Limbo, puffing as she tried to keep up with the others.

“Sounding the alarm for a forest fire. That’s the only surefire way to get everybody’s attention in this town.” Red opened a door labeled ‘Dispatch’ and stepped inside. “Sadie, sound a code five! Misty Hollow!”

“Five? Red, I Haven’t heard anything from Troy and Wally, out at the watch towers, are you -”

“Hit the alarm Sadie. I’m on my way to the Hall!” Red turned around and led the foursome back to the street. “Might as well take the horses again, the road will be even worse.” His words were drowned out by a low, warbling horn on top of the firehouse. As they mounted their horses, they could hear other horns taking up the call.

They were met by anxious faces at the big hall at the lumber mill. In timber country, a fire was the greatest of disasters, every resident of Fox Hollow was prepared to battle it if needed. Red and Carol spoke to those they knew, telling them that it wasn’t a fire, but a possibly worse disaster.

Within twenty minutes, most of the residents were assembled. At one end of the hall was a podium, and Red and Hal Jordan both stood there waiting. When he gauged the time to be right, Red spoke up. “First of all, you need to know that there is no fire. However, we,” and he indicated Hal, Carol and Kari, “have discovered a menace that could be even worse than a fire for this town. While riding out at Misty Hollow this morning, we discovered an alien ship there. This man, Hal Jordan, has some experience with alien visitors, and has informed me that this ship is from a warlike race that is hell-bent on the destruction of other species and planets.”

This caused an uproar among the crowd. Many were upset that they had been called away from their homes, jobs, and other pursuits on false pretenses. Many were doubtful of both what had been found, and the conclusions raised by Hal Jordan about that discovery.

Carol Ferris, whom most of the townspeople knew as Carrie Ford, stepped up to the microphone. “Many of you know me from the diner where I work, we have talked and I consider many of you to be friends. I ask you to take my word on this: Hal and I both have, umm, extensive experience with matters like this. The identity of these aliens has been confirmed by the Justice League.”

“Yeah, and how the hell did you get in touch with the Justice League?” asked one doubting member of the crowd.

“Before coming here, I was a part of Ferris Aircraft, in California, and Hal and I have both worked on technology projects for the League in the past. Because of this, Hal has one of their communication devices, so they can reach him on an as needed basis.” At her nod, Hal reached into his jacket and pulled out his JLA communicator.

“Yeah, so why don’t the JLA come and deal with these Martians, or whatever they are?” asked another.

The question was answered by someone else in the crowd. “Don’t you watch the news? All them heroes are tied up with those quakes down in California and over on the East Coast, and the freaky storms up and down the Mississippi Valley.”

Red spoke up again. “That’s right, this time we can’t count on any costumed heroes to help us. It’s up to us to do it for ourselves. I know a lot of you guys out there are veterans, and we ain’t got no shortage of heavy equipment and people who can modify it and use it. So, what do you people think? Can the people of Fox Hollow stop a bunch of bug-eyed monsters from outer space?”

Red’s challenge was met with a roar of assent.

Chapter 12

The next three days were spent in fevered preparation. Every mechanic, welder and shop fitter in town reported to the Fox Lumber equipment hangar, where they set to work modifying the heavy cranes, trucks and tractors used by the company. Those who reported for work were surprised to be met by Carrie Ford, the soft-spoken waitress from Marty’s Diner. Especially when she started barking out orders to them for refitting the cranes with pieces of rail from the lumber mills railroad siding. A couple of them quickly recognized the purpose of the rails that ran up one side of the crane, and they smiled and urged the others on.

A pair of tree-cutting machines, with great circular blades mounted on hydraulically-operated arms, were mounted on fast-moving trucks. Pairs of operators practiced working in tandem, one driving the truck, the other operating the blade, until they could attack, dismantle a vehicle, and retreat in a matter of seconds.

The local junkyard, working under the direction of Hal Jordan, started crushing all of the derelict cars that could be shoved into the compressor, and the 2000 pound-plus blocks were loaded onto caterpillar trucks that could carry them to the woods. Each night when the sun went down, convoys of these trucks made multiple trips out to Misty Hollow and the firebreak that Red and Hal had ridden through.

Kari Limbo met with and joined the Forest Service rangers who manned the observation towers around Fox Hollow and Misty Hollow. They had missed the first indications of the occupation of Misty Hollow, chalking it up to tricks of the natural mists that swirled around the woods there. Now, alert to the dangers, they were able to track the slow expansion of the Khund encampment. Kari’s clairvoyance, while erratic, gave them the edge necessary to maintain a constant surveillance without being noticed by the aliens.

Red gathered as many able-bodied men and women as he could find at the Fox Hollow school, and started training them in combat tactics. Many of them were already trained, ex-military themselves. In the football field of the local high school, they drilled in tactics for stopping large craft such as tanks and troop carriers, as well as hand-to-hand and small arms training. Guns and ammunition were plentiful in the sports shops of the town, which catered to hunters in the fall and winter. What concerned him was the lack of information about their foes.

“Look, Hal, I don’t care how you know it, we need every bit of information you can give us about these Khunds,” said Red, over lunch at Marty’s on the third day of preparation.

Hal glanced at Carol, and saw her nod her head ever so slightly. If he’s good enough for her to trust, that’s more than enough for me, he thought. “Red, I’ve dealt with the Khunds before, on several occasions. I, ah, had to deal with them in space a couple of times, and twice when they were threatening a couple of planets in the Delta Fradian system.”

“In the what?” Red put his fork down and stared at Hal. “Hal, play it straight with me. Just what or who the hell are you?”

Hal answered by reaching into his pocket for something and then extending a hand out on the table. When he opened his fist, Red saw a ring that was dark green in color, shaped like a stylized lantern with a green gem at its center.

“Jesus H. Christ! You’re the-” Red caught himself as he realized there were others within earshot, and lowered his voice to a whisper. “What the hell are we doing, making like a bunch of Army jury-riggers, with you here? You could take that whole camp down without blinking!”

“I appreciate your confidence, Red, and I wish it were possible. I don’t know how much you know about the Green Lantern Corps since a group of them set up shop here on Earth, but our power comes from a central power battery on a planet at the center of the galaxy. The day before Kari and I arrived here, that power source got shut off.”

“Shut off? How could that happen?” asked Carol.

“I don’t know, and I’m afraid it has something to do with our friends out in Misty Hollow. Khunds don’t usually go in for subtlety or espionage, so setting up an encampment like this is unheard of.”

Carol closed her eyes, thinking back on her own star-faring history as Star Sapphire. “Hal, before my attack and memory loss, I had been to Oa.” At Red’s stunned look, Carol turned, laid a hand against his cheek and smiled. “I’ll explain later, dear.” Turning back to Hal, she continued, “There was no sign of trouble when I was there.”

“That would have been over a year ago, though,” added Kari Limbo. “Whoever is behind this, they are moving quickly. From what Hal and Carol told me about the Khunds, I was not expecting the kind of stealthy growth that we’re seeing out there. In just three days, they have erected a camouflage canopy over a part of the woods, cleared the areas under it, and constructed what we think is a landing field. They have brought out prefabricated buildings that look like barracks quarters for a large force. They have tapped into the power grid, and one of the Rangers contacted the utility company. They’re seeing some massive power surges for this area, which coincide with the arrival of several batches of human prisoners.”

“Teleportation?”

“Looks like it.”

“Come on guys, cut me a break here. I mean, I’ve seen enough weird stuff in my time that I can believe this, but I’m having trouble absorbing it all.”

“Don’t try, Red. When Hal first got that ring, I didn’t know, and it drove me nuts trying to figure out what was going on. Sometimes it’s just better to roll with the punches, you know?” Carol laid a hand on Red’s arm.

“Yeah, I’ve been there, hun. Didn’t think I’d need to again.”

Their conversation was interrupted by Jess Borden coming in the door. “Mike just called from the equipment yard. The catapult is finished.”

Hal looked at the others. “Is everything else ready?” They all nodded. “Then I guess it’s show time.”

“Ixnay, Hal. These people have been burning it at both ends for three days. Unless those Khunds decide to break camp this afternoon, we’d be better to wait till dawn. We just might catch them napping, and it’ll give our people a chance to rest up.”

Hal smiled at Red. “Anyone ever tell you that you’d make a good commanding officer?”

Red smiled back wolfishly. “Yeah, when I was commissioned.”

Chapter 13

It was after 10pm when the preparations finished. Everyone in the town was excited about the next morning, full of an urgent sort of energy. Folks turned in hoping to get a few hours of sleep before the attack on the invaders was to commence.

At Jess Borden’s boarding house, Hal and Kari retired to the room they were given. “I better be going too,” Red said.

Carol grabbed him by the arm and steered him away from the front door, shaking her head. “You shouldn’t be alone tonight,” she whispered, “and I don’t want to be either.” She lead him to her room at the end of the hall.

“Carol, do you think this is a good idea?” Red asked.

“It’s never stopped us before,” Carol said as she quietly closed the door.

“Its not that,” Red said, “its just….”

“Just what?”

“Well, its different now. Your friends are just a few doors down.”

Carol sat down on the bed and motioned for Red to join her; he did so. She took his hands in hers and looked deeply into his eyes. “Listen to me,” she said, sounding a bit more commanding than usual. “I know tomorrow’s going to be hard on us all. Those Khund aren’t a bunch of pantywaists. And I think you know that too, right?”

Red tried to look away.

“Red Crawford, don’t go trying to be all coy with me,” Carol said. “I know what’s going through your head. You lost your wife and child many years ago to alien invaders, and you see this as some kind of way to make some retribution.”

Red swallowed. “Did Hal say something to you?” he asked.

“Yes, he did,” Carol said. “He felt I should know. He’s a good friend. And that’s OK that you feel this way. Believe me, I can understand that. I know all about men who feel an obligation to duty and responsibility. I was raised by one.” She also dated one, Hal, for many years, but she didn’t feel the need to mention that. “I understand your reasons for making your decisions, just as I know you’ll understand the reasons I have for making my decisions.”

Red bowed his head. “After all this is over, you’re planning to go back to California, aren’t you?”

“Yes,” Carol said, “but not for the reasons you think. I need to see my father, make sure his health is well. He’s had some problems. I also need to see to some business.”

Red started to turn away. “I see…” he said dejectedly.

Carol tipped his face towards her. “No, you don’t see! I’m not planning on staying there. I’m planning on coming back, to you.”

The words hit Red like a bolt out of the blue. He wasn’t expecting to hear this at all!

When Hal and Kari arrived and recognized Carrie as Carol, he felt the first of the threads untying. When Kari helped Carol remember who she was and where she came from, more threads of the rope seemed as if they were fraying. When Red learned that Hal was really a big super-hero, well that pretty much was it as far as he thought; how could a woman like Carol chose a nobody like Red over a man like Hal?

Red had been gravely mistaken!

He embraced Carol with a great big hug followed by a passionate kiss. She returned it in kind, and the couple laid down on the bed. They would get very little sleep that night, but somehow they would find the energy they needed for the battle ahead of them in the morning.

Chapter 14

On the Khund home world, in their ruling halls, and on the bridge of all of their ships, was a listing of all of the great Khund military victories.

The battle that took place on Earth in Misty Hollow, Oregon, would never be enshrined on that list.

Two hours before dawn, the resistance force left Fox Hollow and slowly made its way to the protected woods of Misty Hollow. The going was slow, because much of their armament was converted forestry equipment, which was built for sturdiness rather than for speed. The engines rumbled low to keep the movement masked as much as possible. Great care was taken with the pair of modified cranes that was to provide their primary air cover.

A half hour before dawn, the forces were in position about the perimeter. Dozens of walkie-talkies and citizens-band radios lay silent, awaiting a command from the two men responsible for the day’s efforts. “Looks like everybody’s ready, Red,” said Hal Jordan, looking over the visible positions through a pair of high-powered binoculars.

“Good. The Khunds are relying on solar panels and batteries for their power. With any luck, they’ll be low on power for their weapons. That, and the element of surprise should give us an advantage.” Red looked over at the man he had only known for a few days, one he’d come to respect during that time. “Give the call.”

“One second. Let me see if I can bring in any last minute help.” Hal pulled out his JLA communicator and activated it. “Come on, anybody listening up there?”

“I’m here, Lantern. What’s the situation?” came a voice known all around the world.

“Superman! We could use some help down here! We’ve got a Khund ship in the woods of Oregon, and my power ring is still dead.”

“I hate to say it, but that may be the least of our problems. Hawkman filled me in on your situation, but the whole League is tied up with a series of unexplained earthquakes, tidal waves and weather situations around the world. Things seem to be going to hell in a hand basket all at once.”

“What about you? If things are so bad, how come you’re sitting it out?”

“I’m recovering from a battle I had the other day.” Superman paused to let the implications sink in; his friend of many years would not need an explaination on this one. If Superman was sitting on the sidelines, Hal knew it had to be something serious. “Yeah. I’m out of action for a while yet. But maybe I can still lend you a hand. How are you set for artillery?”

“We’ve got a couple of jury-rigged catapults.”

“Good. I’ll zero in with the satellite’s sensors, and help you range in on your targets.” The Man of Steel used the satellite’s surveillance systems to get a better picture of the situation. “Let’s see, OK. I’ve got you, those must be your catapults, and there’s the target. Your northernmost gun is about four hundred and seventy yard away from the ship, southern gun is four hundred eighty seven yards. Bearing is zero-three-one degrees from the north gun, zero-two-seven degrees for the south gun. How are they equipped for range finding?”

“Basic elevation, with a couple of engineers on each one to calculate changes on the fly.”

“So you’ll need at least one shot for range finding. I’ll stand by for your mark.”

“Supes, do you mind if I hand this over to someone else to relay your data? I’m going in with the ground forces.”

“Will he mind the fact that he’s taking orders from Superman?”

“I don’t think so. And it’s a she, by the way.” Hal jogged over to the base of a fire-watch tower and climbed up the ladder mounted on one leg. At the top, he found a group of observers, led by Kari Limbo. “Here, Kari. You’ll have a little help with targeting the catapults.” He left before she heard who was directing her, but he did hear the exclamations of her group when she passed the information along. Kari had met Superman before, so he was confident that they’d work well together.

Back at his post with Red Crawford, Hal nodded. “Let’s do it.”

Chapter 15

The first sign of the attack was a pair of three-thousand pound blocks hurtling through the air toward the Khund ship. One overshot its target by about thirty yards, and the other struck the tail of the ship hard enough to tear off a navigational fin and turn the ship around by about five degrees.

The large Khundish sentries, who had regarded their duty as an unnecessary chore mandated by inflexible regulations, scurried to find signs of the incoming attack. Within the ship and the temporary buildings that surrounded it, alarms sounded and warriors who had sat idle for too long sprang up to grab weapons and respond to the threat.

“Outside! Now! Grab your disrupters and man your posts! A bunch of these pathetic humans are attacking!” One of the Khund commanders strode through the corridors of the ship. “No, Kisshgoth! Don’t bother with the power armor! These are humans!” At his prodding, the proud Khund warriors exited the ship and ran to the defensive perimeter to defend their positions.

As the commander stepped out of the hatch, he heard a whistling sound above him. He looked up to see a twisted mass of metal soaring through the sky, just before it struck him and the ship, killing him instantly! As his precious fluids spilled on the terran soil, the commander realized that his death was not an honorable one. His name would go down in the annals of shame back on Khundia, and those related to him would carry that burden for the rest of their days which would no doubt be short ones.

***

“OK, north gun overcompensated, but not by much! Struck the edge of the ship. Need to fire about 15 yards further out! South gun is incoming, and, hit!” The voice of Superman crackled in the small radio next to Kari Limbo. She relayed the information along via citizen’s band to the launch positions.

“Kari, I have reports that the last volley struck the ship. Can you confirm?” came the voice of Carol Ferris from the northernmost catapult.

“That’s right, it struck the edge of the ship. Disabled one of the hatches, according to our eye in the sky. Can you adjust fifteen yards to the east?”

“We’ll try! These things don’t have the finest controls on them. I’m going to try increasing the thrust instead.” Carol told the operator lifting the weight that pulled the launching cart to raise it an extra ten feet. He nodded. “OK, let’s see how that flies!”

Kari relayed that information back to the JLA satellite. Unseen by her, Superman smiled as his mind ran through the calculations. “That should nail them!”

Below, as they saw the Khunds exit their ship, drivers started their trucks and moved toward the encampment. Small cranes swung into action as they approached the defensive line, swinging bundles of logs like clubs at the Khund warriors. The wooden beams nailed the unsuspecting warriors squarely, knocking them back like bowling pins.

Behind the cranes, men and women armed with rifles, shotguns, pistols, axes and clubs appeared. They fired at the warriors, hoping to keep the battle at range. The Khunds scrambled to regroup.

Two trucks bore the latest in lumbering automation, thirty-inch circular saws mounted on a jointed, movable arms. The whirling steel blades swung out and tore into the seasoned Khund warriors with a ferocity even they had never seen before. That battle was fierce, but these people were fighting for their lives and to protect their community. They knew it was a do or die situation!

As the bulk of the Fox Hollow force tore into the Khund’s defenses, a small team skirted around the battle to make their way into the ship. Once up the gang plank, they made their way to the bridge. “I don’t know if we’ll be able to make heads or tails of their systems, but I’m hoping we can find out what the Khund’s overall plan is,” remarked Hal Jordan.

“Sounds like our folks are doing pretty well out there,” said Marty Sullivan, the burly diner owner who had been Carol Ferris’ boss for the last half of a year. “Jess is reporting that they’ve split the line and are working outward! They weren’t counting on a couple hundred angry folk with fire in their eyes!”

“Looks like this is the place,” said Red, glancing through an open doorway. There were only a few Khunds manning the controls, and the eight men rushed in. They managed to kill and disable all but one of the aliens.

“Phaugh! You only think you’ve stopped us! But are you ready to die for your victory, as we are?” The Khund commander slapped a control in his chair’s arm. “All that will be left of your home will be a smoking crater!” This was the last thing the alien said before he was silenced by a gunshot to the neck.

“Damn it! Sounds like some kind of self-destruct!” said Jordan, as klaxons started sounding around the ship. On the view screens, they could see the remaining Khund warriors outside, turning in surprise at their ship. A set of figures appeared on all of the screens, the leftmost figure changing every three seconds. “A countdown?”

“Looks like it, and I don’t know how long we’ve got,” replied Red.

“These look like helm controls. Maybe I can take it out of here!” Hal studied the panel with an experienced eye of a trained pilot. As he pressed one set of switches, the ship’s engines roared to life. “Got that one right!”

“How about lift and thrust? Steering isn’t so important right now!” asked Red.

“Dual lever controls, I’m guess one for each side of the ship. This one in the center looks like an elevation control.”

“You know, they hit the tail with one of the early catapult shots,” cautioned Red. “The controls are going to be rough, at best!”

Hal Jordan grinned. “I’ve driven worse.” As he turned back to study the controls, he told Red to take the others out. “Take care of Carol, Red.”

“No, you take care of her, Hal.” Red raised his pistol and brought it down on the back of Hal’s head. He caught Hal as he fell, lifted him, and passed him to Marty. “You’re in charge, now, old buddy. Get him out of here.” Marty nodded in grim silence.

As the other men made for the door, Red turned back to the controls.

Chapter 16

The burly diner owner managed to carry the brown haired man out of the ship and to the edge of the clearing before the man started to stir. “Ugh…” Hal groaned. “What hit me?”

“Easy,” Marty Sullivan said putting him down on the ground.

Carol saw this from the north tower and called out. “Marty! Is Hal all right?”

“He’s fine,” the diner owner said.

Hal shook off the daze from the blow. “What… Where’s Red?”

Marty solemnly looked back over his shoulder as the ship lifted into the air.

“Red!!!!” Hal yelled, his voice muffled by the blaring engine of the craft.

***

Red Crawford worked the controls of the craft. Indeed, it was difficult as he surmised. But, it was something he knew he had to do.

Higher and higher the craft rose, as the countdown on the display continued to change. That was Fox Hollow down there, his home! All the people he cared about, all the people who made him feel so welcome after he arrived so many years ago. A tear formed in his eye. He couldn’t take the moment to brush it away; he was to stay focused on the controls.

Up, up the ship rose.

“This is for you, Marie,” he said softly. “And you too, Carol.”

***

The early morning sky over Misty Hollow was lit up by a crimson ball of flame. The gleaming ship of the Khund exploded high over the battlefield!

Everyone turned up, briefly, to see the explosion. Some were surprised, some were shocked. But the people of Fox Hollow were not ready to give up yet! The battle would be won, and they would take back their land.

Hal Jordan watched as the ball of flame burned itself apart. “Damn it, Red,” he muttered to himself. “That should have been me!” He reached into his pocket for something to dry his eyes and found something else.

“What’s this?” he said as he pulled a small envelope out. Hal realized all too quickly what this was and who it was meant for.

Chapter 17

By the end of the day, the town of Fox Hollow had taken back the territory being used by the Khunds. While a few of the townsfolk suffered some minor injuries, they were blessed not to have had any fatalities.

The same could not be said for the Khund.

Besides the loss of their ship due to their own actions and Red’s selfless sacrifice, the alien squad lost many of their own at the hands of the humans. Their own arrogance played a big factor in that, assuming wrongly that a town of humans would be a match for them. Those who were not killed directly in battle took their own lives. While they preferred to die in an honorable death, they knew there would no honor if word returned to Khundia of their failure. Best to meet death than to live with the shame and ridicule.

There would be major clean up to do and equipment to analyze. Hal hoped to find some answers in there as to why the Khunds were setting up operations in the back of nowhere. But first, he wanted to rest and get a good evening meal in his stomach. He also wanted to help Kari comfort Carol at this time of loss.

Carol sat on the porch of Jess Borden’s boarding house, rocking back and forth on the swing. She stared out vacantly at the setting sun. Her fingers fidgeted with the engagement ring that still sat on left hand finger.

Hal stepped out on the porch and cleared his voice softly. He didn’t want to startle her. When Carol looked up, he said “brought you some tea.” He indicated the mug in his right hand. His left held a cup of coffee for himself.

“Thanks,” Carol said softly as she took it from him.

Hal joined her on the swing. For a moment he said nothing. They both sat quiet, listening to the crickets as they began to chirp.

Then, Hal reached into his pocket and produced a small envelope. “Carol, this is for you, I think,” he said, handing it to her.

She took the small white envelope that was a bit wrinkled and turned it over. A ‘C’ was scribed on the outside in Red’s handwriting. She looked up at Hal, tears in her eyes but the words not coming.

“He must have slipped it into my pocket,” Hal said, anticipating the question. He knew Carol well enough to do that. “I think he wanted you to have it in case…” His voice trailed off.

Carol sniffled then tore the seal on the envelope. Pulling out a sheet of paper, she began to read the handwritten note:

My dearest Carol,

I don’t know what we will be facing in the upcoming battle against those vile aliens, but I wanted to put these words down on paper to you in event that I don’t get a chance to speak them to you in person.

I love with all my heart. I know that sounds so simple, but it means so much. You’ve changed my world, and I am so thankful for that.

From the day we met, I knew there was something special about you. In helping you settle in here, I grew very fond of you. It didn’t matter to me who you were or where you came from. Even now as I know more about the real you, I realize that my love doesn’t change.

I also see that you are a woman of intelligence and wit. You’re destined for great things. I certainly wouldn’t want to stand in your way or hold you back none. A small lumbering town like this is no place for a worldly woman such as yourself. Please don’t let me stand in your way.

I hope that after all this is over, no matter what happens, that you will look upon our time together with fond memories and smiles. I cherish the time we had together. You will always hold a very special place in my heart.

Love always,
Red

As Carol finished the letter, tears were streaming from her eyes. The thought that she would never hold Red in her arms again nor be able to tell him that she loved him hurt so much. She turned and saw Hal. His face showed the concern of a loved one; he hated to see her hurting.

“Oh, Hal!” she cried, and she buried her face in his shoulder.

Hal gently put his arms about her and patted her back gently. “Shhhh,” he whispered. “It’s OK, Carol. You just cry.” And he held her in his arms well into the evening.

Epilogue 1

About a week later, at Ferris Aircraft just outside of Los Angeles, California, Carl Ferris heard a gentle knock on his half closed office door. The older owner of the company glanced up from the report he was reviewing. “Yes! What is it? Who’s there?” he said rather gruffly.

The door opened wide, and the man saw a familiar dark haired beauty dressed in a navy skirt and white blouse. “Carol?” Carl asked. “Carol! It is you!” He lifted himself from his chair, steadying with the edge of the desk, grabbed his cane and hobbled over to her. “Honey, you’re back!”

Carol met her father and gave him a hug. “Yes, I am,” she said. “Thanks to the help of Hal and others.”

“Jordan?” Carl grumbled. “Humph.” The man had given the pilot such grief when Carol first turned up missing; still he wasn’t that surprised to hear that Hal had been involved with her return. Despite Carl’s feelings, the two kids’ lives seemed to constantly come back together. “I’m just so happy you’re here!”

“Me too,” Carol said. She helped her father back to his seat. “How are you? I heard you had a stroke at the end of last year?”

“Yeah, yeah,” the man said, carefully lowering himself back into the chair. “But you know your old man. Nothing can keep me down! We Ferris are made of hearty stock!”

Carol smiled. “Yes, we are.”

“Besides, with you gone, someone had to keep this business up and running! Can’t just trust it to any Joe off the street, you know?”

“I know, Daddy,” she said. “And I’m ready to help out again. That is, if you still want me to.”

“Want you to?” Carl replied. “Want you to? Hell, yes, little girl!”

Carol was pleased to see the fire back in her father’s eyes. She could see he was tired though and needed to take some rest. “Good,” she said. “And I’ve got a feeling we’re going to be rather busy rather soon.”

“Oh?” Carl asked. “How so?”

“I think there’s some trouble brewing,” Carol admitted. “And if Ferris can help in any way, I want to make sure we’re ready to do so.”

Epilogue 2

In Coast City, a car pulled away from the offices of Ferris Aircraft. At the wheel, Hal Jordan was thinking over, for quite possibly the millionth time, the events of the past two weeks.

The day after the battle at Misty Hollow, he had joined the residents of Fox Hollow and the surrounding area at a memorial service for Red Crawford, in honor of the sacrifice he had made to save them all. Many of the townsfolk had spoken tearfully of the man whom Hal had known for only a few short days. But it was Carol Ferris, the woman who had arrived as an amnesiac stranger in the town less than a year before, who delivered the final eulogy.

“From the time we met, Red impressed me as a man who was never happy unless he was helping someone else. It was the selflessness that brought me to Fox Hollow, and that selflessness that would keep me here, even after I found out who I really was. He was very different from the men I’ve known in my life,” and here she paused, and looked directly at Hal, “and yet very much like them. It was Red who, when we discovered the threat that we faced here and found that we could not count on help from outside agencies, suggested that we could fight this battle ourselves. He had a great belief in the power of ordinary people, even in extraordinary circumstances.”

This had been preying on Hal’s mind ever since. By the time he and Carol bid farewell to Kari Limbo, who had decided to remain in Fox Hollow for a time, an idea was forming in his mind. Now, a day later, he had had time to refine the idea, and even discuss it with Carol. Her reaction had been more positive than he had anticipated.

“If you’re right about the Khunds being just the start of a larger problem, you and the other Green Lanterns have to get involved. Besides, you might also be able to travel to Oa and discover what’s happened to the main power battery.”

“Are you sure you’re all right with me going, Carol? You’re the one who always said I was putting the Green Lantern Corps before my own life too much.”

“Who said I was right on that point?” asked Carol, a look of sadness in her eyes. “If it isn’t you, it’s going to be someone else. Better someone who knows what they’re doing.”

“Carol, are you sure? At a time like this-”

“At a time like this, I need to make sure my father is putting our people and equipment to work fighting a possible alien invasion, and not rushing them off to fight some politician’s petty war in Central America.” She gripped his arm. “And you need to get the other Green Lanterns together, and see if your idea of forming a fighting force using other alien technology is going to fly with them.” She had bent down through the car window and kissed him. “Then, when it’s all over, you need to come back here, and we need to figure out if our futures are together or not.”

“I will come back, Carol!” vowed Hal as he started the car.

“I know you will, Hal.” she replied, as he started away. “I know you will.”

Now, Hal was off to the Green Lantern Citadel, to regroup the Earthbound Green Lanterns into something new.

(To be continued in INVASION! book 2….)