Green Lantern Corps #20

“Against Ourselves”

By Lightshear



As he soared through warp space, John Stewart clenched his fist and felt the familiar weight of the power ring on his middle finger. It had been so long since he’d worn a ring that was his own; it was different from using a stray on the battlefield. When a power ring is given to a ring-bearer, the two are bonded. It becomes an extension of their own will, and responds to their commands with a thought. It is part of you, and you are part of it. The sensation was hard to describe to anyone who’d never felt it themselves, and was something he never thought he’d feel again. In point of fact, he had sworn that he’d never allow it.

But times had changed and shifting situations had brought him back into the Corps. He felt ready to pick up that responsibility again, but everything was different now. He was a different man than he had been. Time had changed him, and he looked back on the reckless, arrogant young man that had first put on the ring of power with mixed feelings of disappointment and pity. This time, he was going to be a different kind of Green Lantern – a better man, wizened by the crucible he’d gone through.

But wisdom begins with the knowledge that you are fallible. And nobody knew that better than John Stewart.

He had stood in the circle of light, the holographic faces of the Guardians surrounding him, as Katma performed the initiation rite. She read the text recorded in the Book of Oa, and he spoke the vows of service along with her. She placed the ring on his finger, and he looked in her eyes. He felt something powerful stirring within him as she held his hand, ring in place, as if they were looking into each others’ souls. It felt almost like a wedding ceremony, and he wondered if Korugarans had rituals similar to those of the people of Earth when bonding with a mate for life.

He raised his battery, placed the ring to its face, and recited the Lantern’s Oath to initiate the first charging of his ring. His eyes literally glowed green as the power of the battery filled the ring. Or perhaps it was the ring opening him to the central source of that power. Inwardly, he thought he was feeling the process as if for the first time. How little he had paid attention before – how little he’d cared about the subtleties and the intricacies of the power he carried.

The light swirled around him, shifting and manipulating the molecules of the fabric of his simple, heavy coveralls into a new form, becoming the shining green and black of the uniform of the Green Lantern Corps. His mind shaped its form, allowing it to subtly alter into a style fitting his sense of self as all Lanterns were allowed.

As he flew on, he looked at his hands and remembered when the ceremony had ended. He had looked at them then, too, and shook his head at the white gloves.

“My hands aren’t clean,” he’d said. “White gloves… I can’t wear them.”

“What you’ve done is in your past,” Katma had tried to reassure him. “Learn from it, grow from it, but don’t let it control you.”

“It won’t,” he said, focusing on the ring and watching the white gloves dissolve into light and flow back into the ring itself. “But I still won’t wear these gloves. I’m gonna be doing hard work, and I intend to get my hands dirty. I won’t be detached from the work I do or the people I help. That pristine white – only people can wear that are those who look down from above. That isn’t me. Not anymore.”

He nodded, remembering. His dark brown hands turned and opened; he looked at the hard lines worn into the lighter palms. He’d been a soldier’s son, a Marine, an engineer, and had brought life back to dead planets. He wore the hard years on his skin, calloused and rough. His father might have been proud to see his upstart rebel son with “working man’s hands.” Maybe not. He was always a hard man.

The mottled lights of warp space shifted and twisted, fading into the blackness of the cosmos. A planet hung before him, and his allies—his friends arrived at his side.

“Is this where the scent leads, pal?” he asked G’nort. The canine Lantern had been bothered ever since searching the site of the great battle with the Black Circle. They’d been looking for Hal Jordan’s energy trail, hoping it would lead them to where he’d vanished.

G’nort found a trail, but wasn’t sure it was Hal’s. Being unable to lock onto Jordan himself, they had decided to follow the trail and see where it led. If another Green Lantern had been to the wreckage of that battle site and then flown deeper into the forbidden sector, that meant there was a mystery worth investigating. It might lead them closer to Hal, it might not, but it was the only lead they had.

“Th-this is it,” G’nort nodded apprehensively, wringing his tail in his hands. “And it’s—it’s pretty active. I can take us to the source, but… something’s really, really wrong down there. Really, really.”

“What is it? Do you know?” Tomar Tu asked. The bird-beaked Xudarian narrowed his eyes as if he could look to the planet and literally see what the matter was.

“Uh uh, nope,” G’nort shook his head violently. “But it’s got my insides all twisty. Smells like… like death or dyin’ or soething. Hey! How’zabout we don’t go down there?”

“Sorry, G’nort,” John said, scanning the planet to find that it was densely populated and highly industrialized. Some kind of backwater criminal world, based on some of the more unusual readings he was getting. Made sense in a sector of space where no Green Lantern was allowed to go. “Katma and Jennifer are getting themselves into trouble with the Guardians in order to buy us time to do this search; we’re seeing this through to the end.”

“If the trail leads here, we have to find out why,” Tomar agreed. “Have you been able to figure out whose ring that energy signature belongs to?”

“N-no, Mr. Tomar. I’m sorry,” G’nort hung his head even lower, kicking his foot back and forth. “I’m tryin’ real hard to be a good partner, but… See, it’s a familiar signature, but I just can’t figure out who it is. And my nose never forgets a smell! It’s all the death smell, maybe. Or… it’s like a Nurthalian Bees nest smells when you kick it real hard – they make the air smell all angry a-and stuff, so all the bees know to attack you. I don’t suggest you guys try it, just trust me – I know about kicking stuff I shouldn’t and getting’ stung on the nose and stuff.”

“Well, we’re going in,” John said, starting ahead. “At least we know exactly where to go. Let’s just hope we can make sense of what we find when we get there.”
_______________________________________

When they found the source of the energy signature, they had no idea what they’d found. The signature itself had become increasingly difficult to track as they got closer to the planet, but by the time they’d arrive it was blazing strongly again. They had homed in on it, and it led them to a seedy looking bar-slash-casino where people were flooding out the doors – some even jumping out windows to get away from whatever was inside.

The people were in such a mad panic that they didn’t even blink at three Green Lanterns flying through the doors and into the heart of the building. The noises of a loud battle were easy to pick up even from outside the bar, but as they got closer to the nexus of the fight, it was deafening. They expected to find a raging war between dozens of opponents. What they found was a massive red monster fighting a lone girl.

The monster glowed crimson and red light dripped from him like molten blood, searing the ground where it fell. The shape of its body was constantly in flux, as if it was constantly remaking itself from within. Spikes and thorns grew out then rolled across its surface and retracted. Arms grew from beneath arms, then sank back into the trunk of the torso as demonic wings spread from gnarled shoulder-blades. Thrashing red flames danced around it as it screamed in sounds that were almost human, making the whole thing deeply and profoundly disturbing.

The woman was fighting with a Green Lantern ring, so she was clearly the source of the energy trail they’d picked up back at the battle site. John didn’t recognize her, but he’d been with the AgriCorps for years and wouldn’t have been surprised if there were thousands of new Lanterns since he’d been gone. One thing he’d say for sure – the woman was good. The monster had some limited energy projection abilities, but mostly it used its size and strength to pummel at her. In return, she kept him at a distance, using rapidly oscillating constructs to daze and distract him while she hit him with tight-beam emissions.

Tomar dove in, blasting the beast in the back. It roared its scream, sounding like the howl of a furious monster being split from the throat of a sobbing man. When it turned, Tomar started to press in with another attack, but was stopped by the woman.

“Don’t!” she shouted. “You can’t hurt him!”

“What?!” Tomar cocked his head, having to dodge to the side when the thing slammed its fist down and sent a blast of crimson acid-flames raking across the floor like a localized quake.

“He can’t be hurt!” G’nort shouted. “RUN!”

“No, no!” she shook her head. “Come on, G’nort! I said you can’t hurt him, not that he can’t be hurt! I mean—don’t hurt him!”

“Why not?” John asked as he and his partners took up a triangle formation to box in the monster at the center of the room.

“It’s—look at him! It’s Hal!”

“…What?” John mouthed, not quite speaking aloud. He looked close at the monster and saw that the shifting, roiling body was just an energy shell surrounding the shadowy silhouette of a man. As the mouth roared open, fangs grinding like saw-blades as they grew, fell out, shot out, or were replaced, and deep in the recesses of its gaping jaws he could see a man’s face twisted in anger.

“My god,” he said, stepping back. “It’s him. It’s him. How did this happen?!”

“I don’t know,” she said. “But we’ll never help him if you’re shooting him down like he’s just some mindless monster!”

“Waitaminnit,” G’nort yelped, head twisting in confusion. “A-Arisia? I-issat you?”

“Of course it’s me, you mutt!” she shouted. “Now help me!”

“Alright, Lanterns,” John said, steadying his ring-fist with his other hand. “Press in, but aim to incapacitate only. We’ve gotta get Hal out of that thing…”
_______________________________________



The Green Lantern Corps:

John Stewart (R CJ Green Lantern) – 81
Tomar Tu (E Tomar Re) – 111
R G’nort – 70
V Arisia – 103

*Use the alternate GLC Team Ability*

Total: 365

Vs.

The Monster That Was A Man:

Hal Jordan (U Super Skrull: Illuminati) - 250

Total: 250

Map: Laboratory

I would like to take this one please.
INT: 5,5
OBJ: 1,6

Sounds good. Here goes:
Initiative: 1,4=5 you have the initiative.

You don't need an object roll, you can pick if you want 2 heavies or 2 lights.

Just set me up in a square across from you (with the initiative you get to choose side). Arisa and Tomar in front, John and G'Nort behind.

HO in H12 and H13, LO in M10.

Set Up:

GLC:
1) John Stewart (6/6) H-24
2) Tomar Tu (7/7) G-23
3) G'Nort (6/6) G-24
4) Arisa (7/7) H-23

Hal Jordan:
1) Hal Jordan (10/10) I-2

HO: H-12, H-13, H-7
LO: M-10, E-12, D-13

http://www.ianparmenter.com/hcutils/...f4p2=x-510y283

1A:
1) Hal uses Running shot to H-7, destroys blocking terrain in G-9.
Free: Perplex own DV by +2
GLC:
1) John Stewart (6/6) H-24
2) Tomar Tu (7/7) G-23
3) G'Nort (6/6) G-24
4) Arisa (7/7) H-23

Hal Jordan:
1) Hal Jordan (10/10) H-7@ DV +2

HO: H-12, H-13, H-7
LO: M-10, E-12, D-13
Rubble: G-9,


http://www.ianparmenter.com/hcutils/...&t1=x-378y-291

Just for reference, here are the players:

John Stewart
cj082 R Green Lantern
Team: Green Lantern Corps
Range: 8
Points: 81
Keywords: Green Lantern Corps

10 8 15 2

8 7 14 2

8 7 15 1

6 6 14 1

6 6 13 2

6 6 12 2

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

Tomar Tu
gl007 E Tomar Re
Team: Green Lantern Corps
Range: 12
Points: 111
Keywords: Green Lantern Corps, Scientist

10 10 18 3

12 10 17 3

9 9 16 2

9 9 15 2

9 9 15 2

9 8 14 3

8 7 14 3

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

G'Nort
gl001 R G'nort
Team: No Affiliation
Range: 8
Points: 70
Keywords: Animal, Green Lantern Corps, Justice League Antarctica, Super Buddies

8 8 15 2

8 10 15 1

7 8 17 1

7 7 18 2

10 9 16 2

10 9 16 1

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

Arisia
gl004 V Arisia
Team: Green Lantern Corps
Range: 8
Points: 103
Keywords: Green Lantern Corps

10 9 17 3

9 9 16 2

9 10 16 2

8 10 15 2

8 10 15 2

8 9 14 2

6 8 14 3

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

Hal
si061 U Super Skrull: Illuminati
Team: Skrulls
Range: 6
Points: 250
Keywords: Skrulls, Spy

10 10 18 4

8 9 17 4

9 9 16 3

9 10 16 3

9 10 15 3

8 11 17 3

8 10 16 3

8 9 15 3

6 8 15 2

6 8 14 2

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

(Special) Infiltrator: Super-Skrull: Illuminati is a wild card on your turns; on opponents' turns, he can use only the Skrulls team ability.

(Speed) Avenging Fury: Super-Skrull: Illuminati can use Charge, Flurry, and Plasticity. Once per turn before making a close combat attack roll for Super-Skrull: Illuminati, you can declare that damage from the attack will be penetrating damage.

(Attack) Elastic Entanglements and Black Bolts: Super-Skrull: Illuminati can use Quake. When Super-Skrull: Illuminati succeeds at an attack, roll a d6. On a result of 4 or 5, if a target of the attack has no action tokens, give the target an action token after the attack is resolved. On a result of 6, damage from the attack is penetrating damage.

(Defense) Iron Defense: Damage dealt to Super-Skrull: Illuminati is reduced to 1.

(Damage) Strange Magicks: Super-Skrull: Illuminati can use Perplex. He can use it normally, or he can modify any one of his own combat values by +2 or -2 until the beginning of your next turn.

Hitting that 20 def is going to be a bear.

Turn 1b:
1) Arisa moves to L14.

Free) Tomar Tu will Perplex G'Nort's movement to 9.

2) G'Nort moves to L15.

G'Nort will PC an attack that hits.

GLC:
1) John Stewart (6/6) H-24
2) Tomar Tu (7/7) G-23
3) G'Nort (6/6) L15 @
4) Arisa (7/7) L14 @

Hal Jordan:
1) Hal Jordan (10/10) H-7@ DV +2

HO: H-12, H-13, H-7
LO: M-10, E-12, D-13
Rubble: G-9,

http://www.ianparmenter.com/hcutils/...55&t3=x-295y-7

Maybe, you got the perplex and GL ATA to help.

2A:
1) Clear
Free: Hal will perplex up his DV by +2


GLC:
1) John Stewart (6/6) H-24
2) Tomar Tu (7/7) G-23
3) G'Nort (6/6) L15 @
4) Arisa (7/7) L14 @

Hal Jordan:
1) Hal Jordan (10/10) H-7 DV +2

HO: H-12, H-13, H-7
LO: M-10, E-12, D-13
Rubble: G-9,



http://www.ianparmenter.com/hcutils/...55&t3=x-295y-7

Yeah the new ATA will help. Got it mixed up with the feat that makes barriers into a breakaway item. I also have a few tricks up my sleeve.

Turn 2b:
1) Tomar Tu to J16.

2) John to K17.

Free) Tomar Tu Perplexes up Arisa's def to 18.

G'Nort will PC if Hal hits someone.

GLC:
1) John Stewart (6/6) K17 @
2) Tomar Tu (7/7) J16 @
3) G'Nort (6/6) L15
4) Arisa (7/7) L14 {+1 def.}

Hal Jordan:
1) Hal Jordan (10/10) H-7 DV +2

HO: H-12, H-13, H-7
LO: M-10, E-12, D-13
Rubble: G-9,



http://www.ianparmenter.com/hcutils/...18&u2=x-304y20

I hope your tricks aren't too good, I already lamed out on Choons X-men villan.

3A:
1) Hal will Running Shot to G-9 destroying F-9.
Standing Order: Perplex own DV by +2 unless otherwise noted.

GLC:
1) John Stewart (6/6) K17 @
2) Tomar Tu (7/7) J16 @
3) G'Nort (6/6) L15
4) Arisa (7/7) L14 {+1 def.}

Hal Jordan:
1) Hal Jordan (10/10) G-9@ DV +2

HO: H-12, H-13, H-7
LO: M-10, E-12, D-13
Rubble: G-9,F-9



http://www.ianparmenter.com/hcutils/...18&u2=x-304y20

Yeah Choon told me about it. Anytime you see Nova Blast on someone, you MUST counter it. Either by spreading out, Outwiting, or jump into the middle of the other team.

Being tricky is the only way I beat Choon. He can beat himself though, he has horrible luck sometimes.

Turn 3b:
Free) Tomar Perplexes up Arisa's Def. to 18 again.

1) Arisa moves to G15.

2) G'Nort moves to F15.

GLC:
1) John Stewart (6/6) K17
2) Tomar Tu (7/7) J16
3) G'Nort (6/6) F15 @
4) Arisa (7/7) G15 @ {+1 def.}

Hal Jordan:
1) Hal Jordan (10/10) G-9@ DV +2

HO: H-12, H-13, H-7
LO: M-10, E-12, D-13
Rubble: G-9,F-9

http://www.ianparmenter.com/hcutils/...18&u2=x-304y20

4A:
Clear
Perples up DV +2

GLC:
1) John Stewart (6/6) K17
2) Tomar Tu (7/7) J16
3) G'Nort (6/6) F15 @
4) Arisa (7/7) G15 @ {+1 def.}

Hal Jordan:
1) Hal Jordan (10/10) G-9@ DV +2

HO: H-12, H-13, H-7
LO: M-10, E-12, D-13
Rubble: G-9,F-9


http://www.ianparmenter.com/hcutils/...18&u2=x-304y20

Sorry for the delay. Haven't had time to get this done for a bit, didn't want to rush because it is an important turn.

Turn 4b:
1) John to G12.

2) Tomar Tu to H12.

Free) Tomar Tu will Perplex John's Def. to 16.

GLC:
1) John Stewart (6/6) G12 {+1 Def.} @
2) Tomar Tu (7/7) H12 @
3) G'Nort (6/6) F15
4) Arisa (7/7) G15

Hal Jordan:
1) Hal Jordan (10/10) G-9@ DV +2

HO: H-12, H-13, H-7
LO: M-10, E-12, D-13
Rubble: G-9,F-9

Map:
http://www.ianparmenter.com/hcutils/...&u2=x-406y-156

NP, your game at your pace. I will be using the roller on the hctils for rolls.

Hal Growls,
1) Hal running Shot to B-9 double target on Arisia and G'nort. AV 10 vs DV 15 +3=18, 17+1=18. Roll is 6,5=11, hit. PC from G'nort is 4,5=9. Hit for 3 damage to Arisia 1 damage to G'nort.

GLC:
1) John Stewart (6/6) G12 {+1 Def.} @
2) Tomar Tu (7/7) H12 @
3) G'Nort (5/6) F15
4) Arisa (4/7) G15

Hal Jordan:
1) Hal Jordan (10/10) B-9@ DV +2

HO: H-12, H-13, H-7
LO: M-10, E-12, D-13
Rubble: G-9,F-9

Map:
http://www.ianparmenter.com/hcutils/...&u2=x-406y-156

That's Fine. Well it could have been worse. Tricky plan #1.

Turn 5b:
1)G'Nort will Barrier A9, B8, C9, B10.

G'Nort was less singed by Hal's ruby blast. He whipped his hand forward and a giant dog cage formed around him. Hal raged aginst it and G'Nort struggled to maintain it.

Free) Tomar Tu perplexes Arisa's Def. (Because he can!)

Tomar Tu formed a giant fire extinguisher and green foam shot out and put the fires out on Arisa.

"Are you ok?"

"Not great but still going! Help G'Nort!"

GLC:
1) John Stewart (6/6) G12 {+1 Def.}
2) Tomar Tu (7/7) H12
3) G'Nort (5/6) F15 @
4) Arisa (4/7) G15

Hal Jordan:
1) Hal Jordan (10/10) B-9@ DV +2

HO: H-12, H-13, H-7
LO: M-10, E-12, D-13
Rubble: G-9,F-9
Barrier A9, B8, C9, B10
Map:
http://www.ianparmenter.com/hcutils/...2&t2=x-468y-15