Green Lantern and Green Arrow

Times Past, 1980

March of the Vermin

by Martin Maenza

In a residence in Star City on the third of March, two old friends sat around a small table with a meal spread before them. “Would you like some bread, Hal?” asked a woman with black hair, dressed in a white blouse and brown slacks. She held forth a basket overflowing with cut slices of fresh French bread.

“Yes, Dinah, please,” the brown haired man replied. He was dressed in navy slacks with a light blue shirt. His necktie was loosened and his collar unbuttoned. He took the basket, removed a few pieces including one of the heels and put them down on his plate.

“Hot stuff coming through!” called out a blonde haired man with a neatly trimmed mustache and beard. Dressed in a pair of jeans and a flannel shirt, he carried a large metal pot to the table. Pot holders kept the handles from burning his fingers. He put the container down on a trivet and picked up the metal ladle he had laid out earlier. “Who’s hungry?”

The woman took a deep breath and let the pleasant aroma fill her nasal cavity. “I am,” Dinah Lance said, raising her bowl.

Her boyfriend took the it, filled it to the brim with the meaty concoction and put it back down before her. “How’s about you, Mr. Jordan?” Oliver Queen asked.

“Of course,” Hal replied. “How could I turn down an offer to partake in your famous chili? It’s one of the highlights of my passing through town.”

“Oh, go on,” Ollie replied. He handed the bowl back to his good friend who proceeded to sample the food. “I meant, go on. Go on!” He took his seat after serving himself.

“Trust me, Hal,” Dinah said with a smile. “If you don’t rave about it for at least five minutes, we’ll never hear the end of it.”

Hal Jordan chuckled. “It really is good, Ollie. I think its even better than last time. Have you changed the recipe?”

“Just made it a bit hotter is all,” the cook replied. “I like my chili like I like my women… Spicy!” He gave Dinah a little knowing wink.

“Definitely good,” Hal said. And he started to work on his portion.

“So,” Dinah said between mouthfuls, “how’s work going, Hal?”

Mr. Jordan wiped the stray sauce from his mouth with his napkin. “Good. Real good. We’ve got a new line coming out that’s very exciting.” Ollie chuckled. Hal looked at him curiously. “What?”

“It’s just funny to me,” Ollie said. “After all those years as a hot shot pilot for Ferris, it’s funny to hear you excited about a job as a suit. What was it before the toy sales job? Insurance claims adjuster?”

“So?” Hal said.

“So, what’s next? Truck driver?” Ollie joked.

“Ha ha,” Hal said mockingly. “I seem to recall from our little road trip a couple years back that between the two of us I was the far superior driver.”

“Except the time you almost hit that deer,” Ollie laughed. Hal joined in.

Dinah smiled. She missed seeing Hal so frequently, and he and Ollie were such good friends. She hoped it would always be that way.

The three friends continued the conversation over dinner. After awhile, it was time for their guest to go. “I’ve got an early sales call in the morning,” Hal said as he put on his suit coat that had been lying over the back of the couch since he arrived hours earlier. Then his eyes grew wide. “Hey, I almost forgot to tell you.”

“About what, old buddy?” asked Ollie.

“I got this the other day,” Hal said, pulling out a folded piece of paper. He handed it to Ollie to read. “It’s a telegram that was sent to me, or to Green Lantern really, in care of Coast City.”

“A telegram?” Ollie asked. He scanned over the type. “Is this for real?”

“Yup,” Hal replied. “Checked it out the other day. Turns out the Mayor of New York City has invited yours truly to be the guest Grand Marshall for this year’s St. Patrick’s Day parade.”

“Humph,” Ollie said. “I guess they wanted to go all out for the green-theme, eh?”

“I guess,” Hal said. “Say would you care to give them a double-thrill? Join me for the festivities?”

Ollie furled his lip. “I’ll think on it and get back to you,” he said.
***

 

Four nights later, Ollie was dressed in his famous emerald costume and mask. Green Arrow found himself at the computer consoles in the Justice League satellite, orbiting 22,300 miles above the Earth. “Ugh,” he grunted, pounding his hand on the counter. He lifted his hat and rubbed his forehead.

“Hey, now, easy on the hardware,” a voice called.

Green Arrow swiveled around in the chair, knowing the speaker. “What’re you doing here, Hal? You’re not next up on the monitor duty roster.”

The brown haired man dressed in green and black smiled. “I was on my way back from a mission in space when I was passing by the satellite. Figured my ring could let me pop in to say hello. Didn’t mean to startle you.”

“You didn’t,” Green Arrow said. “So, those little blue taskmasters keeping you hoppin’ again?”

Green Lantern nodded. “Yeah. When you’re responsible for a whole space sector, things can get a little busy. So, what’s the problem? Why are you beating up the computers?”

“Oh,” Arrow frowned. “I was just trying to get follow some leads. Bats hooked up an elaborate system that ties us in with the various police agencies around the world. Pretty fancy stuff. Much better than what I ever had in the Arrowcave or what we had back in the mountain headquarters.”

“So, what’s the problem then?”

“After having almost a year to get familiar with things, this just throws a whole new monkey wrench into the gears,” Arrow replied. “I know its useful. Its just a matter of sorting out what’s where.”

Green Lantern walked over to the console, hit a few keys on the keyboard and pulled up the correct module. “There.”

“Thanks so much,” Green Arrow said sarcastically.

“Anything else up? Any big disasters or such?”

“Nah, not really. A nature flag popped up about some insect migration patterns and such near the south of the border. Nothing to worry about really. Too bad it wasn’t birds though. With old Bird-Beak back, we could just send him down to the south and have him squawk it up with them.” He started to laugh.

Green Lantern tried not to smile. He knew that Ollie and Hawkman had this standing rivalry going. Honestly he didn’t get it, but he tried his best not to take sides. “Well, I guess I’ll be going then.”

“Right, the busy man,” Arrow said. “You still going to have time to fit in that parade?”

“I’m going to try,” Lantern answered. “You thinking about taking me up on the offer?”

“Still thinking,” Arrow said. “Got to keep my options open, you know?” He gave his friend a wink.

“OK, gotcha,” Lantern said with a smile. The ring on his right white gloved hand started to pulse. In a second, emerald energy enveloped his body and allowed him to soar right through the bulkhead of the satellite without any problem.

Green Arrow watched as his emerald energy trail streaked across the star filled sky and headed down towards the blue-green planet below. He glanced at the monitor before him and then back at the keyboard. “Now how’d he do that again?”
***

 

A week later, as the sun was about to set in the afternoon sky above Star City, two men exited the front lobby of the law offices of Herkimer and Donne. A light snow was gently falling. One of the men flipped up the fur lined collar of his coat as they spoke.

“You know you have to keep your nose clean until the trial,” one of the men advised.

“I know, I know,” the other said.

“And you know the conditions of your bail, right?”

“Yeah, yeah, I got it.”

“Make sure that you do! Don’t go skipping town or you’ll end up back in the slammer for sure. You know how tough it was to arrange this, especially given your past history in dealing arms.”

“Shhhh,” the one man hushed. He glanced around and realized there were few people on the street, certainly not anyone within earshot of the conversation. “Don’t go making this public knowledge.”

“Then don’t go causing any more trouble,” the lawyer advised.

“Not me,” the criminal smiled. “Just want to go spend some time with the family.”

“It better be local family,” the lawyer said. “If you go skipping off and get caught, there ain’t nothing I can do to help you out. Got it?”

“Got it! Got it! Sheesh.”

The two men parted ways. One headed up the street while the other returned to his parked car and drove off.

Neither realized that on a rooftop across the way, a figure had been observing them through a small pair of specialized binoculars. Interesting, Green Arrow thought. Good thing I’m skilled at reading lips. I think someone requires some keeping an eye on. And with that, the hero took off, keeping to the falling early evening shadows.
***

 

New York City had a reputation as the city that doesn’t sleep. In a lot of cases, that was true.

Take one police officer, James O’Connell, a beat cop who just finished answering a call at three in the morning. There had been a domestic disturbance between an elderly couple. A neighbor called it in, so Officer O’Connell had to check it out. Turned out to be a bunch of elderly folks arguing too loud. He let them off with a warning.

On his way back to the station, Officer O’Connell heard a commotion in a nearby alleyway.

“Hello?” he called out cautiously as he stepped into the darkened, narrow walkway. Snow had been piled up near the entrance when the walks were cleaned recently. Beyond that were discarded boxes, crates and such. Luckily, the air still had a winter’s chill else the garbage and such would start to smell.

There was scurrying in the dark, and a trash can fell over near the back with a loud crash.

O’Connell reached for his pistol, just in case. He cursed the fact he didn’t have a flashlight with him as that would have helped shine the light on the back before going further. He realized he would have to go back to where the noise came from.

As he stepped, something quick and fast brushed up against his foot. He spun around but saw nothing. “Probably a cat or something,” he said to himself. The whole thing was probably just a cat, but he was obligated to check it out just to be sure.

He got to the end and turned the corner.

Something fell before him.

“Anyone there?” the officer called out.

Something lunged at him, sinking sharp teeth into his leg.

“Aaaaah! Son of a …!” the cop screamed. Biting back the pain, he shook his leg in hopes to shake free the attacker, but whatever had latched on to him was holding firm. He tried to move out a bit to get some form of light to see what it was. He very well couldn’t shoot it blindly with his gun for fear of shooting himself.

He took a hop-step.

Something small got under foot. There was a wailing cry when his foot went down hard on it.

Officer O’Connell lost his balance and fell to the ground. “Ooof!” His chest and face hit the dirty, damp concrete; his gun fell from his fingers.

Before he could move, they were upon him!

Dozens if not more of small creatures, eyes glowing and teeth and claws glistening. They swarmed over him, biting and gnashing. The man screamed out for help. But it was too late.

The rats tore him apart in record time and dragged the remains back to feed their children.
***

 

Green Lantern stood next to a large float constructed of green papier-mâché and other materials atop a flat bed truck. A middle aged man finished going over the route with him; the hero continued to nod. But, his attention was diverted by something he saw out of the corner of his eye. The Emerald Gladiator waited for the man to finish and move on before he went to investigate.

“GA, is that you?” he called out.

The Emerald Archer stepped out into the street.

Green Lantern smiled. “I guess you decided to take me up on the offer after all,” he said. He started to lead his friend over to the float. “What changed your mind?”

“Let’s just say a little case I’m working on lead me here,” Arrow replied. “I’m trailing some scum bag from Star City, and it turns out he’s connected to some worms here in the Big Apple. Thought maybe I’d catch two birds with one stone.”

Green Lantern nodded. “Sounds good. No matter the circumstances, I’m glad you could make it. And you can count on me to have your back.”

“Thanks,” the archer replied. “Hopefully I won’t need it.”
***

 

As the float moved along the parade route, amidst the marching bands playing ‘Oh, Danny Boy’ and other classic Irish tunes, the two green clad heroes stood atop the float.

Green Lantern was all smiles, waving to the crowds along the street that cheered and called out. Occasionally, when he spotted a group of children huddled together, he concentrated his will power.

Suddenly little emerald green energy constructs in the form of leprechauns would appear and play hide-and-seek amidst the children. The young ones would laugh and yelp with glee as they watched the apparitions play. Then, as quickly as they appeared, they would vanish. The kids probably thought it magic.

But the hero knew better. Green Lantern turned to realize his partner was not in a partying mood. In fact, the archer’s eyes were narrowed and focused as he scanned the crowds as they moved past. Green Lantern leaned in. “This is a parade, a celebration,” he said. “Maybe I should’ve let you have a pint of green beer before we started.”

Green Arrow’s muscle tensed. He slipped the bow from his back. “Business before pleasure!” And he leapt off the float into the crowd.

The Emerald Gladiator was surprised by this. “Arrow? Arrow!” But it was too late; his friend was working his way through the crowd like a man on a hunt. He was about to go after him when he heard screams.

“Oh my God!”

“They’re everywhere!”

“Help!”

“Aaaaagh!”

People were scurrying everywhere about the intersection of 5th Avenue and 50th Street. A woman on one of the floats was screaming and pointing to a street sign. “Eeeeek!” she cried. There were hordes of insects swarming up the metal post.

“Bugs? In March?” Green Lantern wondered. This wasn’t normal.

The members of one of the marching bands, dressed in green suits and hats were running too back towards the floats. At their heels were hundreds upon hundreds of rats. “Watch out! They’re everywhere!”

Green Lantern grimaced. “Rats before bugs!” His ring began to glow as he took to the air. Swooping through the air with ease, he soon was over the band members. “Now to put a stop to this!” He concentrated.

From his ring erupted a beam of emerald energy. It quickly took shape into that of a large dust pan. In a moment, the construct was sweeping through the running creatures. “Now to take out the trash,” the hero said.

“Leave my pets be!” a female voice ordered.

Green Lantern spun around to see a lithe woman floating in the air. Her hair was magenta and eyes were blue. Her face was beautiful, and the wings on her back further added to the angelic image. But the woman in gold and black was hardly an angel! “Queen Bee!” Green Lantern scowled.

“I said, hands off!” the alien queen scowled. With a wave of her magno-nuclear rod, which looked like a fairy princess’ magic wand with its yellow bulbous end and star like points, the hero was hurled backwards in the air by a mighty blast.

Green Lantern righted himself and frowned. “Zazzala, I don’t know how you escaped imprisonment on your home world of Korll much less how you’re able to move again, but I won’t just stand your crazy schemes!” From his ring, an emerald hand formed and reached for her.

“I can take you beam for beam, Lantern!” Queen Bee replied. From her weapon, a yellow colored beam sliced through the hand projection and destroyed it. “The weakness of the Oan rings is known through out the cosmos.”

Green Lantern paused, having to consider the situation.

The screams of the crowds snapped his attention back in focus. “People first,” he decided. Again, he went after the hordes of vermin that were plaguing the parade-goers and participants.

Surprisingly, Zazzala did little to stop him. In fact, she hovered there watching and smiling. What was her game?

Green Lantern decided to call her on it. “How’s attacking an Earth parade leading to your ultimate goal of immortality?” he asked as he continued to gather up the creatures in large emerald energy barrels. “Seeking perhaps leprechaun magic this time?”

The Queen Bee smiled, her weapon glowing. “Not this time, fool! Immortality can wait. Right now, I’m after something more satisfying.”

“Yeah?” Green Lantern said as he covered the barrel with an energy lid. “And what’s that?”

“You!” Zazzala shouted.

A blast from her magno-nuclear rod caught Green Lantern off-guard, trapping him. Stupid! he thought to himself as he tried in vain to move. It was like being a fly caught in amber. She had laid a trap, and he had blundered into it.

The Queen Bee laughed. “Of all the Justice League members, you are the biggest thorn in my side. You destroyed my last weapon, and for that I will make you pay!”

“You going to turn me into your personal slave again?” Green Lantern asked. He recalled her last visit to Earth and how she turned the JLA members into bee-drones to do her bidding. “To help you find a new way to become immortal?”

Queen Bee smiled wickedly. “No,” she said with a turn of her head, her magenta hair bouncing. “I’m going to kill you!”
***

 

“Halt, scum bag!” Green Arrow shouted as he pushed through the crowd. A woman glared at him in surprise. “No, ma’am not you. That scum bag!” He pointed to the man who was fleeing with another by his side.

“Damn!” the second man said. “He must have trailed you from Star City!”

“I know! I know!”

The second man pulled a gun and took aim.

Green Arrow, in a single fluid motion, notched an arrow and let it fly. The shaft soared with perfect aim and jammed in the nozzle of the weapon.

When the trigger was pulled, the weapon exploded. “Oooowww!” the man exclaimed, his hand stinging.

“This’ll help you forget the pain!” Green Arrow said, swinging his fist. “This is for aiding and abetting a man who broke parole!” His punch connected, knocking the man to the ground.

The other man stood wide eyed. The archer had just floored his cousin. “Can’t we talk about this?” he pleaded.

“Nope!” Green Arrow said as he was upon him.

Within a few moments, the hero had both men subdued and turned them over to the police. That’s when he learned about the other battle going on a few blocks away. With a quick run, Green Arrow rounded the corner and saw what was happening.

Oh great! he thought to himself as he watched from the corner of a building. Hal’s in for it this time! Gotta try and even up the odds a bit!

Green Arrow leapt into the fray, an arrow ready to fly. “Hey, Queenie! Got something for you!”

Zazzala whirled about in the air just as the arrow whizzed past her. From the shaft released a net, which dropped down upon her. “You!” she cursed. “Your little weapons are nothing compared to my magno-nuclear rod!” With a wave of the weapon, the net disintegrated to dust. “Now, I’ll do the same to you!”

“Not if I can help it!” Green Arrow countered. Another arrow launched into the air and pierced the transparent yellow cocoon holding Green Lantern fast.

“Idiot! Your puny weapons won’t free him! Not as long as I have this weapon!”

That’s the idea, Green Arrow thought. He let two more shafts fly.

The first emitted a sonic wail as it whirled about her. “Aaaaagh!” Queen Bee cried, covering her ears. “You’ll pay for your treachery!” She waved her wand to make the sonic attacker go away.

That’s when the second arrow hit her hand firmly!

“Wha….?” The rod fell from her hand as the arrow latched onto the weapon and carried it back to the archer.

“Boomerang arrow!” Green Arrow said. “Never leave home without it!” He grabbed her alien device and tried to figure out how to make it work.

“Fool!” Zazzala cried. “That won’t work for you! Now, give it back!”

“Uh uh,” the archer said. “If I can’t use it, let’s see what this does!” Grabbing each end, he brought it down hard over his one knee. It was strong but not strong enough. He was able to snap it in two. “Damn! That smarted, but did it do the trick?”

“Noooo!” Queen Bee cried.

The cocoon about Green Lantern began to shimmer and fade. Without the weapon, its creation vanished.

“Whew!” the emerald gladiator said, taking in a deep breath. “That was a close one, buddy.”

“Would you like the honors, Lantern?”

“Of course, GA.” Green Lantern pointed his ring as the alien queen and enveloped her in a container of emerald energy. “Let’s see how you like it, Queen Bee!”

“No! No!” She pounded on the prison in vain.

“I think I better take care of this one right away,” Green Lantern said. He started to rise into the air. “Care to accompany me on a little space trip, Arrow?”

“I’ll pass, buddy,” Green Arrow said. “Besides, someone needs to hold down the fort here while you’re gone.”

Green Lantern nodded. “Save a green beer for me.”

“You got it!” Green Arrow gave him a wink.