Seeing Red

The Man:

"What," Oliver yells, "Dinah, you can't be serious."

"Why not," Cheetah interrupts. "Canary is right. If these sons of-."

Cheetah pauses and looks at me. I nod my head.

"If these sons of bastards," Cheetah goes on, "If these sons of bastards don't want us here, then I said we just go. So long green lanterns, thank you for almost killing us a bunch of times."

"Exactly," Cold says. "Why help a bunch of ungrateful people?"

"Because you're supposed to," Arisia yells, now all eyes turning to her. "Remember, I called you here to help us."

"And you were one of the first to fire at us," Dinah replies. "And even after we helped to fight back against some yellow lanterns, you guys still try and fight us. Just ask him."

Dinah raises her hand and points at me. As she did, I start to see a little steam coming out of Arisia's ears.

"Okay fine," Arisia says, "Even I'll admit. That test of will wasn't what I was expecting."

"Wasn't what you were expecting," Dinah repeats.

"But," Arisia screams, "But you guys still can't leave. We need you. It may not look like it but we do need you. All of you. Every single one of you."

"Arisia is right," Laria joins. "Some of you saw it for yourself. Our infirmary is filled with injuries green lanterns. They need help."

"Help yourself," Cheetah says, turning to walk around. However, before she can get fast, Harleen grabs her shoulder.

"Not so fast, Pookla Dot," Harleen says, pulling her back in. "Now, as much as the green lanterns have been as--."

I cough into my fist and Harleen looks at me.

"Butts," she says, "Now, as much as the green lanterns have been butts to us, I think Blondie and Redhead are right. We can't leave. We have to stay."

"You're outvoted," Reverse-Flash says, walking behind Cheetah and Dinah. "I voted we ditch these sorry sons of bitches and--"

I slap Reverse-Flash on the back of his head and he stops talking.

"Ouch," he yells, turning to face me.

"Don't swear," I say, facing him. "Also, we're staying."

"What," Dinah yells, turning to face me now.

"Yes," Harleens shouts, raising both her arms into the air. "Thank you."

"How can you, out of everyone here, even say that," Dinah asks. "They tried to kill you."

"The Guardians did not try to kill him," Laria corrects.

"They tried to kill me," I re-corrects, "Well, most of them did. Nevertheless, as much as I'm okay with leaving them, we, unfortunately, cannot."

"Why not," Dinah asks.

"Because they are allies. You know the old saying. The enemy of my enemy is my friend. Sun Tzu."

"I think in this case," Leonard says, "The enemy of my enemy is still my enemy."

"Shut up, Leonard," Oliver says, "The Man said it. We're staying."

I sense a series of arguments on the verge of erupting, so just as everyone opens their mouths to speak their minds, I step forward and clap my hands.

"At least for now," I say, looking at everyone as they stare me down. "We are staying for now, and the reason for it is because, from more than plenty of observations, Superman and is One Earth government have already partnered with Sinestro and his yellow lantern corps. That means his army just got a lot stronger. If we can somehow convince the green lantern corps we are indeed allies, we may be able to level the battlefield."

"That does make sound," Dinah says, "But still. How are supposed to convince every green lantern we're friendly?"

"You could start by asking the Super to leave," Laria says. "Even with the jacket, we all know you're a Super."

As I watch Kara back away, I step forward and am about to punch Laria but stop. My fist already, and pull back, I force myself to stop. Laria looks ready to block, but she too stops.

"Kara is not leaving," I say, my hand falling to the side. "Please don't say that again."

Laria's hand falling to her side, I turn back to everyone.

I let out a sigh.

"Everyone," I start, "For now. Just get some rest. I sense there won't be much time for resting afterward. If nothing happens, then dinner will be in one hour."

I wait as everyone slowly leaves. Whether they go to their rooms or the bathroom, I could not care less. I do however care about Kara. Before she could leave, I grab her shoulder.

"I think it's time you return Leonard his jacket," I say. "No offense to him or anything, but he looks weird in just a T-shirt."

Kara turns to face me, she clutches the zipper of Leonard's jacket.

"I can't," she replies, "You heard Laria. The green lanterns don't like me."

"So," I say with a shrug. "I've been in more fights in one year than people who actually like me. Listen, Kara, something I've learned over the years. You just need to learn not to give a rat's butt."

"A rat's butt," Kara repeats.

"Yes. A rat's butt. You need to learn not to care what people think. At least, not the people who don't know you."

"What are you talking about?"

"We know you. Everyone on this ship knows you; The Doc, Oliver, Barry, Leonard, me. We all know you. We all know you're nothing like Superman, so you don't have to hide the S. To people and apparently, also green lanterns, that S means bad news. To me, that S actually means hope."

Kara looks up at me.

"You know what this S stands for."

"Would you be surprised to learn that I know a little bit about Kryptonian culture?"

"Really? How?"

"I'll tell you later. For now."

I hold out my hand. Kara seeing it smiles and unzips Leonard's jacket. Giving me the jacket, I head off to find Leonard.

"I'll see you later," I say, waving at Kara as I walk away.

"I'll see you later," Kara says, "And I'll hold you to that. You will tell me how you know about Kryptonian culture."

"Promise," I say.

Harleen:

As I wander around the Rusted, I stop when I see Arisia. She looks lost, considering she's spinning around.

"Hey Blondie," I say, walking up to her. "What are you doing? Other than trying to make yourself fall."

"I'm trying to figure out which way my room is," Arisia replies, her head still spinning around. "Ahh, this place is a maze."

"Yeah, it is," I laugh. "Don't worry, I kind of figured out the layout. More or less. Follow me."

With a nudge of my head, I start to lead Arisia down a hallway, toward the rooms.

As we walk side-by-side, Arisia starts asking me a bunch of questions.

"How did you learn the layout of this strange ship," Arisia asks. "Who is that man in the glasses? How did he pull off Hal's ring? Did you know you can do that? I'm sorry about attacking you, but thank you for staying. Why did you choose to stay with us?"

As Arisia goes on and on with more and more questions, most I can't really answer, I couldn't help but chuckle a bit. She looks so silly when she asks the questions.

About to reach the room, the Rusted shaking knocks me off my feet.

"Whoa," Arisia says, catching me in her arms. "Are you okay? What was that?"

"No clue," I answer, back on my feet. "Let's go see."

The Rusted's shaking intensifies as Arisa and I run through the hallway and up the stairs onto the main deck. As we step onto the deck, we see The Man, Captain Cold, and Laria.

"What's going on," Arisia asks.

"Someone is attacking the Rusted," The Man answers, scanning the sky. "Watch out."

Grabbing Cold and Laria and pushing them down, a beam from out of nowhere hit the Rusted's shield, the ship shaking as the shield turns red.

"A red beam," The Man says, pushing himself up.

"A red beam," Cold repeats.

"A red beam," Arisia says. Arisia, Laria, and The Man then look at each other.

"Red lantern," they all say. Somehow, as if on cue, a huge, glowing red alien with yellow eyes and wrinkled skin appears in front of us. He's wearing some sort of armor. It's a lot like it's made from stone and lava.

"Are you him," the red alien asks, raising his hand. As he raises his hand, I see a red ring smack on his finger. "Are you the fable, man in glasses I have been seeking?"

"That depend," The Man answers, "Why are you looking for some guy in glasses, Atrocitus?"