Chapter 5 - Perseverance
Bludhaven May 18th 8:33EST
Alex had slept very peacefully that night. He felt safe. No Star Labs, No Reach and he had finally reunited with his mother. He awoke that morning feeling eager to meet the Green Lantern that would train him. He called his Mom who wished him well and reminded him to stay safe. He knew it was hard on her, letting him go off and save the world. That was why he told himself that he would do his best. Not just to stop the Reach but to protect her. The rest of the Team was on a mission so Alex and Nightwing were the only two around that morning.
"You ready?" Nightwing asked.
They stood outside of the garage that was the Team's temporary hideout. A former member gone bad had destroyed Mount Justice. From the way that the other members of the Team had described it, it sounded like this "Aqualad" was the same person who kidnapped him and brought him to the Reach. Alex didn't say anything to Nightwing about Aqualad but told himself that he would get more than even with him.
"Yeah...I'm ready..." He nodded.
Alex looked to the sky. Instead of the usual muggy weather that Bludhaven had this time of year, it was bright sunny and warm. Alex looked off into the bay outside. The light made the water sparkle and shine. He squinted his eyes as he focused on a blue dot off into the distance. As the dot got closer, he made out small details. His powers had enhanced his eyesight a little. A red cape, blonde hair flowing, moving faster than the average plane. It was Kara. She slowly descended towards them with the Sun shining against her.
"So what brings you here Supergirl? Superman finally let you join us?" Nightwing asked.
"You know he's off planet. He's got me staying in Smallville while he's away." Kara scoffed. "Besides...that's not what I'm here for."
"If it's what Connor told me then I should get going..." Nightwing grinned. Even with the mask, Alex saw the devilish look on his face.
"What did he say?" Kara jumped. Her voice had a tinge of nervousness to it.
"Just stuff...I have to contact GL. Be back in a bit!" Nightwing quickly shuffled away suspiciously.
"Despite being leader of the Team, be can be pretty immature." Kara sighed. "So...I hear you joined the Team?" She brushed back a few loose strands of hair from her face
"Yeah..." Alex looked at his feet. Kara was beautiful and that made him nervous. He felt her blue eyes gazing directly at him. "Everyone says my powers are similar to the Green Lanterns. So I'm going to train with one."
"Just don't freeze up like you did last night." She teased. Her smile put him at ease.
"Yeah...I kind of choked against Black Beetle." He looked up at her. His eyes glowing with the emerald green energy from his powers.
"So...now that we aren't in a battle for our lives...I don't know anything about you other than your name..." She shyly spoke. She noticed how vulnerable she felt around him. It was like Kryptonite without the pain, she was just weak at the knees. Her heart sped up and began to beat irregularly. In the back of her mind she cursed herself, she was much stronger than this.
"Well...I'm 17. I tend to be pretty aware of my surroundings and I like comics. I live with only my mom and my favorite color is green." He spoke quickly and kept it short. Alex was more interested in her than talking about himself. Besides, she was Supergirl. What could he tell her that could possibly be more amazing than what she does on an almost daily basis? She was a superhero who saved the world from all sorts of things. He wanted to kick himself for feeling so...average.
"I know...not so interesting...haha." He laughed awkwardly breaking a brief moment of silence. "Your turn."
Kara found his nervousness to be cute. It reminded her of a puppy. So unsure of the world and hesistant. Maybe it was because he was so opposite from her? She was an extrovert. Assertive and tough. He was an introvert. He seemed to keep things in and that made her want to dig deep.
"I'm 18, actually that's a lie. I'm actually older than Superman but my ship was stuck in a Kryptonite encrusted meteor and it affected me to where I didn't age. I'm one of the last surviving Kryptonians and I can shoot rays of heat from my eyes. Not too bad...i guess..." She put her arms behind her and her face became a shade of pink.
"I think it's cool..." He smiled. "Well...I'm going to check on Nightwing. I'm excited to start training. I hope to see you when I get back. Maybe we can hang out or grab something to eat...or something." He looked up towards her and felt a surge of confidence. If he was going to overcome his shyness with women then he should at least have the courage to speak to Kara.
"Yeah!" She perked up. "I guess...it's a date? Even if I've only known you for a day..."
"Of course! How stupid-" he began to ramble. He was asking her out already and that made him feel stupid.
Suddenly Kara started to laugh. Alex furrowed his brow, giving her a puzzling look.
"I'm joking! I'd love that." She giggled. "You've got to take it easy and relax." She began to feel a bit more comfortable and light hearted as they talked.
"I never thanked you...for saving me from Black Beetle..." His face was serious as he extended his hand.
"Well...as Nightwing would say...that's just what we do. Now go..." She gently pushed him forward. "I'll be looking forward to our...date." She forced out the last word as it make her heart skip a beat.
"Me too." His eyes blazed with a green glow that make her blush. He turned and walked away. Both of them gave a glance back and smiled.
As Alex entered the garage, he noticed that Nightwing was standing with a tall man. The man wore an Air Force jacket and had brown hair. The man exuded strength and confidence. Alex automatically knew who he was. He was the Green Lantern that he would be training with.
"Alex this is Hal Jordan." Nightwing spoke.
"Hal Jordan of Ferris Aircrafts. Pleasure to meet you." Hal smiled and gave him a firm handshake.
"The pleasure is mine sir." Alex spoke formally.
"Nightwing told me what you've been through and I commend you on your bravery."
"Thanks...You're a Green Lantern right?"
"They say I'm one of the best...but I could argue that there are better." He laughed. "So may I see what you've got kid?"
"Sure." Alex focused and concentrated the energy within him. The aura erupted around him and Hal was taken aback by its ferocity and glow. It blazed and radiated from within him, illuminating the room.
"By Ion's will..." Hal stared in awe. Alex's aura faded and he clutched his shoulders in pain. His body burned as if he had overworked all of his muscles at once. Hal and Nightwing rushed to his side.
"You alright kid?" Hal asked.
"Yeah...I'm alright." Alex panted.
"That was way stronger than what Nightwing described. You're definitely one of us...but more like Ion..." He muttered those last few words to himself.
"Ion? What's Ion?"
"Let me take you somewhere and I'll explain everything. Nightwing?"
"He's all yours...good luck." Nightwing waved and left the garage.
Hal raised his right hand revealing a green ring. A beam of light came from the ring and Hal was wearing a green and black suit with a lantern in the middle. His eyes were covered by a mask similar to Nightwing's. Alex marveled at the sight and wondered if he could do the same someday.
"Ready to go?" He asked.
Alex nodded. The two stepped outside and Hal covered him in the same aura as his own. Alex was suddenly lifted into the air and the two were flying away from the city.
Desert outside of Coast City May 18th 11:05EST
Alex and Hal had landed outside of Coast City where Hal lived. The sun blazed down on them and Alex immediately took off his green hoodie to reveal the grey tee underneath. The air was stifling and hot. The terrain, arid and dry. Nothing but red caverns and barren land. Alex questioned why they would come to a place like this. What did this desert have to do with his training?
"You're probably wondering why we are here." Hal began. "This is where I got my ring and became a member of the Green Lantern core. The Green Lantern core is sort of an intergalactic police. A few of us are assigned to sectors in which we keep peace and order throughout the galaxy. More or less."
Alex thought about the many planets in space. How could a few people protect billions of lives like that? They surely weren't that powerful.
"Ion...what's that?" Alex asked.
"I'll get to that." Hal chuckled. "When a Green Lantern is killed or dies, the ring seeks out another person worthy of becoming a member of the Core. My predecessor Abin Sur had crashed landed here in this desert. I was running a test flight when I crashed and found him. His ring chose me and I became a member of the Green Lantern Core. The ring took me to Oa, where I met the Guardians of the Universe. They're these tiny blue immortal beings that protect and watch over the Universe. They started the Core."
Alex found it hard to imagine beings with such power. His mind was limited to what he saw on Earth but after seeing what the Reach were capable of, he didn't doubt any of it
"Our rings are Green because Green is the color or Will. Will is the strongest power in the Universe and the Guardians used the light of Will to form the rings that we use. The stronger our Will, the stronger our rings will be."
"But what is Ion?" Alex was growing impatient. He didn't want to listen to some backstory. He wanted to start training right away.
"Ion is the being of Will. Ion was one of the original beings of the Universe. Ion is Will incarnate. Your powers are like someone who was empowered by Ion. Your aura is radiant and unfocused. It blazes like a flame."
"Then that's my name. Since I'm not a member of the Core, call me Ion." Alex decided that he would be Will incarnate and never back down from anything. People would see him and be able to overcome anything.
Hal chuckled. "Alright. I can respect that. We're going to start by forming a construct. Constructs are your powers being focused into a solid form. They can be whatever you need at the time and you're only limited by your own imagination. Watch this."
Hal extended his arm and from his ring came a large fighter jet made from his ring's energy. Alex stared in awe. It acted as if it were an actual jet, flying through the sky.
"You try. Just focus and imagine whatever you want."
Alex concentrated and his aura blazed. He extended his hands and formed two swords. It felt pretty easy but as they trained he found himself struggling to create larger more complex structures.
"Stop." Hal called. Alex was panting heavily as he held himself. His body felt like it was on fire from the strain he put on himself.
"Your powers seem to work within the limits of your own body..."
"I can't...do it..." Alex panted.
"That's the problem. Your doubt holds you back. If we're going to continue then you have to believe that you can do anything. Try to focus. Overcome all fear. Fear is the opposite of Will. If you're going to follow the embodiment of Will then you gotta do better than that."
Alex closed his eyes. He thought of what he wanted to protect. He wanted to save Jaime from the Reach. He wanted to protect Kara, his mother and the rest of the Team. He felt energy explode from within him. His body blazed brighter than ever before. Light shot forth and he created a giant mech like something out of an anime. As the energy faded, Alex felt no pain this time. It felt natural and he had felt better than ever.
The Reach's Ship May 18th 7:35EST
"We need the boy..." Black Beetle spoke as he, the Reach Ambassador and their Scientist were gathered in their lab.
"We already have Blue Beetle under our control. Maybe we can ask our partners for a little help?" The Scientist asked.
The Ambassador paced around the room. He needed to have Alex come to them. Sending Black alone could mean the boy escaping yet again. He would need to find a way to lure the boy to them.
"I have the perfect idea...if you don't mind sullying your hands." The Ambassador spoke. "One of our friends is here with us now. Enter!"
A woman wearing an orange striped bodysuit walked into the lab. She wore a mask that resembled a tiger's face.
"Yes Ambassador." Her voice was rough and cold.
"Tigress, I need you to accompany Black Beetle for this task."
"Yes Ambassador..." She bowed.
Bludhaven May 20th 11:30EST
Claire Connors taught night classes at the university just outside of the city. Her work usually brought her home late. She would walk in as her son greeted her and they would casually talk about the day or whatever came up. She was happy that they had such a close relationship. Alex had been gone for a few days now and she missed him already. She entered through the service door of their apartment. She checked the mail then went upstairs. As she entered and turned on the light, she took a step back. Black Beetle and Tigress stood in front of her.
"I apologize if we entered without calling first but I figured a surprise visit would have been better." Black Beetle smiled.
"What do you want?" Claire glared.
"We have taken an interest in your son. Could you tell us where he is?" Black spoke politely.
Tigress watched Black carefully. She was secretly Artemis, a member of the Team who was undercover and infiltrating the Light, the Reach's partner. She could let things go wrong here but she also couldn't blow her cover either.
"I'm not telling you anything!" Claire shouted. They were here for Alex. Something told her that they wanted to harm him. She wan't going to talk and Black knew it.
"Let's grab her and go." Tigress pretended to be uninterested.
"If she resists then I was given other orders..." Black's arms morphed into blades and Claire backed away.
What is he doing? Tigress thought. If Black was going to hurt this woman the she would have to jump and risk all that she worked for.
"The Ambassador said that this would make more of an impact..." Black grabbed Claire and lifted her against the apartment door.
"No!" Tigress leapt towards Black Beetle, drawing the sword at her back. Black instinctively shot one of his Steel bolts at her pinning Tigress to a wall.
"Now I'll ask you again. Where is the boy?"
"I'm not telling you a damn thing!" Claire gave him a look that reminded him of the same glare Alex have given him the night he was interrupted by the Kryptonian. Claire spit in his face which sent Black over the edge. He was tired of these insects thinking that they were superior to him.
"Raaaaagh! I'm tired of you meat thinking that you can defy us without punishment!" Black pressed the blade to her stomach.
Tigress struggle to get free but couldn't, the bolt was in too deep.
"Don't we need her al-" Tigress voice fell as another bolt hit her, knocking her unconscious.
Claire felt no fear. She was motivated by the need to protect her son. She wasn't going to let some alien take him.
"Take your best shot. My students put but more of a fight." She taunted Black which enraged him further.
"That's enough!" Black impaled Claire with one of his blades. Her eyes widen as she saw the blood run from her torso.
"My son will beat you...I believe in him...Bastards..." Claire spit blood in Black's face. Her eyes widened as she felt the blade being pulled from her body.
Alex...always do your best...take care of yourself...Remember that love you...She thought as her body faded. She regretted that she wouldn't see her son become a great hero but she didn't need to. In her heart, he was already her hero.
A/N This is kind of 2 chapters into one, hence the long length. I felt that separately they were cut short story wise. That ending just came out of me. I felt like Tigress being undercover shouldn't be ignored. I'm trying to cover the major points of Invasion without directly following major events. Please review. I actively take suggestions and advice into the writing. Credit to Jennifer Scott for her input on where to go this chapter. Thanks for reading!