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thejusticelounge2013-06-25 08:53 am
bossymarmalade) wrote in thejusticelounge2013-06-25 08:53 am
Entry tags:
the battle of omogo
The rookie Lantern’s eyes showed J’onn all he needed to know. She was scared. She had just seen her comrades shredded to bits. This raven haired Rannian female had the resolve of her race and the will of the Green Lanterns behind her, but she had never seen such darkness and evil as Darkseid and his minions. It was enough to drive anyone mad.
“Have fortitude child” the Martian Manhunter told her. “Remember your training. Kilowog teaches well.”
“I, uh, I just joined two days ago” she stammered as her ring translated. She dropped her shoulders. “That’s why I wasn’t in the first waves. That’s why… why I…”
“What is your name?” J’onn asked, quickly trying to change the subject and get her mind off of the horrors she had just witnessed and on to the job at hand.
“Kaaranine” she offered.
“Kaaranine” J’onn repeated, speaking with an easy tone. “I am J’onn J’onzz of the planet Mars. I need you to focus right now Kaaranine. Think of the last fight you were in. Did you see which way Darkseid’s forces headed. We must pursue Kaaranine. But do not fear. I am with you. I bring you hope.”
“There is no hope left here” she replied. “There is no more hope on this planet.”
“That’s right child” a sickly sweet voice said from the grove of charred trees behind the pair. “The only thing here is fear and death and the will of Darkseid.” J’onn and Kaaranine instinctively turned putting up powerful light shields between themselves and the direction of the voice.
A large and fearsome old woman stepped out. “And it sounds to me like the two of you have been very bad children” she gurgled. “Time for Granny Goodness to discipline you both!”
The powerful new god raised her staff and sent a blast, throwing Kaaranine flying back into a rocky outcropping. J’onn rose up in the air and fired off a blast of blue energy at Granny Goodness which turned itself into some sort of arachnid beast as it approached her. Granny slammed her Apokoliptian staff on the head of the construct, blasting it apart.
But the Martian, ever the tactician, used the distraction to retreat to his fallen comrade. “Kaaranine!” he shouted. “Are you ok?”
“I… I think so Mr. J’onzz” she said, scrambling to her feet. “But I think we need a better plan now than letting that witch pummel us.”
“Wise counsel” J’onn replied. “Come. Let’s take to the skies. And I hope the others are faring better than we are…”
All around on the blackened surface of the planet lay the beaten and broken bodies of parademons, Darkseid’s shock troopers. Some were twitching. Some were moaning. All were defeated - as was their commander Granny Goodness. The pieces of her fearsome rod were scattered around on the charred ground.
A rookie Green Lantern of Rann, emerald light glowing, came trudging out from what was once a grove of beautiful trees and is now a tangle of splintered and burned wood. The Blue Lantern Martian Manhunter walked beside her as she drug her unwilling captive behind.
“You did a terrific job, child” J’onn told her, beaming with a sense of paternal pride. “You have a brilliant mind - the kind of mind I had hoped my own daughter would have had one day! You have the battle skills of a much more seasoned tactician. I have had many adventures on Rann with your champion Adam Strange. I know your planet well. You do the people of your home world proud, Kaaranine.” Granny Goodness, tied tight with green construct rope, rolled her eyes.
The smile on Kaaranine’s face hid the weariness of the fight they had just won. “Thank you” she said, slightly blushing. “But I do not think I could have pulled this off without your help Mr. J’onzz.”
“I was merely here to assist you” J’onn replied. “And please call me J’onn. It was your suggestion to draw the battle into that narrow ravine. It was your idea to lure Granny into that reversal maneuver. Kilowog will be most pleased when I tell him of your deeds.” Granny Goodness, struggling against her restraints, clenched her teeth tight and growled.
“Well, sir, I mean Mr. J’o… I mean, J’onn” she stammered. “I certainly thank you for your compliments. But I feel like I am in this corps to do what I can to help people, not to-”
“By the hell hounds of Apokolips, I can’t take any more of this love fest!” Granny Goodness shouted. She heaved all her body weight backwards and jerked the construct snare that was holding her tight. The power of her sudden movement was enough to yank Kaaranine off her feet and sent her stumbling backwards. The green construct rope began to slough off and free Granny Goodness, so J’onn took to the sky and aimed his blue ring at Darkseid’s lieutenant.
But that was when he heard the scream. That was when his hope shattered again.
Spinning back towards the sound, he saw that Kaaranine had fallen back into the very ravine and impaled herself, impaled through the chest, on a protruding shard from a burned tree. Seeing this sight, his blue light flickered. “No!” the Martian shouted as he flew down to the fallen Kaaranine. He came down swiftly at her side. “Kaaranine!”
The Ranninan could not answer. Her only response was to gurgle - gurgle and spit up gobs of blood.
As the boom tube opened and Granny Goodness escaped back to Darkseid’s rallying point, J’onn barley noticed. HIs only concern was the terminally injured Lantern.
“Kaaranine, Kaaranine…” J’onn sobbed as he tried to apply pressure to her wound. “Kaaranine!” Her breathing became shallow, than sporadic, then stopped. “Oh Kaaranine, why did you leave me again?” The Martian Manhunter cradled the lifeless body of his teammate in his arms. “Why couldn’t I stop you from dying again K’hym? Why…?”
In the black remains of the charred forest, the blue light of hope faded… faded… then went out.
It is centuries ago and J’onn is fearful, telling his wife and daughter to remain strong. The plague transmits when the minds are connected. They must not open themselves to each other in this time of need.
_______
It is seven years in the past, and J’onn is on Rann. He and Adam Strange have just led a revolution that overthrew a swarm of galactic conquerers. The battles were won, but there were dead to be buried and injured to heal.
“J’onn, we appreciate your willingness to help, but the Rannian physiology is so different from Martian” Adam told him. Strange put a hand on J’onn’s shoulder. “Come with me. We can join the grave diggers.”
“No” the Martian replied. “The Manhunters are all trained in medical arts. I can be of assistance. My shape-shifting abilities allow me precise control over my body movements. I can be an asset here.”
“And what of your ignorance of their biology?” Adam asked.
“Tell your chief surgeon to open his mind” J’onn said. “I will do the rest.”
It’s present time, back on Omogo. J’onn had thought he was long ago run dry of tears. But yet, they flowed again.
His hands had stretched and become a tourniquet. He had done that before, on Rann of all places. That was what had triggered his memory. But now he released his grip and lowered Kaaranine’s lifeless body gently to the blackened ground.
As the drops rolled down his cheek and plunked onto his chest, the faded emblem of the Blue Lantern Corps gained a faint blue glow.
“Biology…”
It is centuries ago and J’onn watches as his wife embraces his daughter, opening her mind to the deadly plague inside. His warnings go unheeded.
_______
It is five years in the past and J’onn was visiting his friends on Rann again. He walks with the great Rannian science council and observes the flora in their geranium. Adam Strange is by his side.
“I had to learn it the hard way J’onn” he laughed. “Coming from Earth, I had so little understanding of the wider universe. I don’t know how many times Sardath had to save my life after his zeta Beam brought me here.”
“Yes” the Martian said. “I learned many of the same lessons when I was brought to Earth.”
“This particular plant here” Sardath interjected, “produces a liquid that has amazing restorative powers. But in it’s rooted state, causes destruction for surrounding plant life.”
“I have found no substance on Earth with greater restorative powers” J’onn replied, “than the comfort of a Choco.”
The group laughed as they walked to the next exhibit.
It’s present time again. J’onn was preparing to send a telepathic message to Kilowog and Saint Walker informing him of his failure to protect Kaaranine and Granny Goodness’ escape. It was not a conversation to which he was looking forward.
“I am sorry Kaaranine” he sighed down to the fallen Lantern’s body. “My failures seem to always…” He stopped speaking when he noticed his blue ring slightly glowing. J’onn had thought all the light of hope had left him. But there it was - faint, barely perceptible. He had been lost in his grief that he did not realize until now hat his memory was struggling to tell him something.
“Restorative…”
It is centuries ago and J’onn watches in horror as his wife and daughter are consumed in flame. His cries echo through time.
_______
It is two years in the past and J’onn has his hand on Adam Strange’s shoulder. “You have one well, my friend” he said. “Fatherhood suits you.”
“Thank you J’onn” Adam replied. “I hope she grows up with your courage and kindness.”
“She will grow up with yours” J’onn said. “Yours and Alanna’s. And that will be enough to fill the whole galaxy.”
“Thank you J’onn” Alanna echoed from her bed as she held the newborn Aleea in her arms. “The life of this little one will bring hope to our world.”
“Yes” Adam continued. “The first child born on this planet in decades! She truly is special. And she has her mother’s eyes.”
“And her father’s heart” J’onn added as the couple smiled at him.
“Sorry to interrupt folks, but I will be your nurse for this shift” a young woman said, entering the room. “I know I am young and have not seen a child born during my lifetime, but I promise you that you are in good hands. I was top of my class in school.”
Adam laughed. “I’m sure you’ll be fine” he told the obviously nervous nurse. “What did you say your name was?”
“My name is Kaaranine” the nurse replied, standing a little taller at Adam’s reassurance. “And I hope to always hold your child in my…”
“Heart!” J’onn exclaimed. “She needs a new heart!” The Martian was on his knees at the side of Kaaranine, closing his eyes and remembering what he had learned of Rannian biology. Slowly, methodically, his hand became a heart. The heart was green, but it had all the design and form of a Rannian heart. He had recalled well what he had learned. The blue light grew brighter.
J’onn focused his laser eyes on his wrist and burned through, separating the created organ from his body. To him, the pain was immense, but he remained stoic. In time, his hands would heal and he would be able to once again form a new one. But for now time was of the essence. The blue light was bright.
He reached down with his good hand and pulled back Kaaranine’s gaping wound. In side her chest, he burned loose her old heart and quickly pulled it out. Placing the artificial green heart inside, J’onn wondered how he would restore its functionality. And that was when his eyes were blinded by the brilliant blue coming from the ring on his remaining hand.
“By H’ronmeer!” J’onn thought. “Hope.”
J’onn aimed his ring at Kaaranine’s chest. Blue filled the air between them and lifted the fallen Rannian off the ground. The blue enveloped her, surrounded her, embraced her. And soon it was joined by the green of Kaaranine’s own ring as it floated to her finger.
The blue and the green intertwined and lit up the forest around them. And Kaaranine was raised. As the blue light of hope filled her body, the green light willed it back alive. And with one giant gasp of air, the Lantern rejoined the living.
Kaaranine’s eyes were wide, her mouth agape. But the lights placed her gently down on her feet as her bones healed, as her muscles regrew, as she became whole again. The Martian heart inside of Kaaranine began to beat. And as the blood filled pumped through her again, a strange side effect took place. Her skin, so pale, so smooth, turned a shade of green.
“J’onn…?” she whispered. “J’onn, where… what happened?”
“You have come back to me, child” J’onn replied. “I am filled with the light of hope again.”
“Did that witch get away?” she asked, frowning at the Martian’s missing hand.. J’onn’s bowed head answered her question.
Kaaranine smiled. “Well then” she said, slightly wincing in pain, “we should return to the rallying point. We need to regroup with the others and decide on our next move. Mogo isn’t safe yet. We must save him!”
“Of course” J’onn said as the pair took to the sky. “Of course, my child…”
“Have fortitude child” the Martian Manhunter told her. “Remember your training. Kilowog teaches well.”
“I, uh, I just joined two days ago” she stammered as her ring translated. She dropped her shoulders. “That’s why I wasn’t in the first waves. That’s why… why I…”
“What is your name?” J’onn asked, quickly trying to change the subject and get her mind off of the horrors she had just witnessed and on to the job at hand.
“Kaaranine” she offered.
“Kaaranine” J’onn repeated, speaking with an easy tone. “I am J’onn J’onzz of the planet Mars. I need you to focus right now Kaaranine. Think of the last fight you were in. Did you see which way Darkseid’s forces headed. We must pursue Kaaranine. But do not fear. I am with you. I bring you hope.”
“There is no hope left here” she replied. “There is no more hope on this planet.”
“That’s right child” a sickly sweet voice said from the grove of charred trees behind the pair. “The only thing here is fear and death and the will of Darkseid.” J’onn and Kaaranine instinctively turned putting up powerful light shields between themselves and the direction of the voice.
A large and fearsome old woman stepped out. “And it sounds to me like the two of you have been very bad children” she gurgled. “Time for Granny Goodness to discipline you both!”
The powerful new god raised her staff and sent a blast, throwing Kaaranine flying back into a rocky outcropping. J’onn rose up in the air and fired off a blast of blue energy at Granny Goodness which turned itself into some sort of arachnid beast as it approached her. Granny slammed her Apokoliptian staff on the head of the construct, blasting it apart.
But the Martian, ever the tactician, used the distraction to retreat to his fallen comrade. “Kaaranine!” he shouted. “Are you ok?”
“I… I think so Mr. J’onzz” she said, scrambling to her feet. “But I think we need a better plan now than letting that witch pummel us.”
“Wise counsel” J’onn replied. “Come. Let’s take to the skies. And I hope the others are faring better than we are…”
All around on the blackened surface of the planet lay the beaten and broken bodies of parademons, Darkseid’s shock troopers. Some were twitching. Some were moaning. All were defeated - as was their commander Granny Goodness. The pieces of her fearsome rod were scattered around on the charred ground.
A rookie Green Lantern of Rann, emerald light glowing, came trudging out from what was once a grove of beautiful trees and is now a tangle of splintered and burned wood. The Blue Lantern Martian Manhunter walked beside her as she drug her unwilling captive behind.
“You did a terrific job, child” J’onn told her, beaming with a sense of paternal pride. “You have a brilliant mind - the kind of mind I had hoped my own daughter would have had one day! You have the battle skills of a much more seasoned tactician. I have had many adventures on Rann with your champion Adam Strange. I know your planet well. You do the people of your home world proud, Kaaranine.” Granny Goodness, tied tight with green construct rope, rolled her eyes.
The smile on Kaaranine’s face hid the weariness of the fight they had just won. “Thank you” she said, slightly blushing. “But I do not think I could have pulled this off without your help Mr. J’onzz.”
“I was merely here to assist you” J’onn replied. “And please call me J’onn. It was your suggestion to draw the battle into that narrow ravine. It was your idea to lure Granny into that reversal maneuver. Kilowog will be most pleased when I tell him of your deeds.” Granny Goodness, struggling against her restraints, clenched her teeth tight and growled.
“Well, sir, I mean Mr. J’o… I mean, J’onn” she stammered. “I certainly thank you for your compliments. But I feel like I am in this corps to do what I can to help people, not to-”
“By the hell hounds of Apokolips, I can’t take any more of this love fest!” Granny Goodness shouted. She heaved all her body weight backwards and jerked the construct snare that was holding her tight. The power of her sudden movement was enough to yank Kaaranine off her feet and sent her stumbling backwards. The green construct rope began to slough off and free Granny Goodness, so J’onn took to the sky and aimed his blue ring at Darkseid’s lieutenant.
But that was when he heard the scream. That was when his hope shattered again.
Spinning back towards the sound, he saw that Kaaranine had fallen back into the very ravine and impaled herself, impaled through the chest, on a protruding shard from a burned tree. Seeing this sight, his blue light flickered. “No!” the Martian shouted as he flew down to the fallen Kaaranine. He came down swiftly at her side. “Kaaranine!”
The Ranninan could not answer. Her only response was to gurgle - gurgle and spit up gobs of blood.
As the boom tube opened and Granny Goodness escaped back to Darkseid’s rallying point, J’onn barley noticed. HIs only concern was the terminally injured Lantern.
“Kaaranine, Kaaranine…” J’onn sobbed as he tried to apply pressure to her wound. “Kaaranine!” Her breathing became shallow, than sporadic, then stopped. “Oh Kaaranine, why did you leave me again?” The Martian Manhunter cradled the lifeless body of his teammate in his arms. “Why couldn’t I stop you from dying again K’hym? Why…?”
In the black remains of the charred forest, the blue light of hope faded… faded… then went out.
It is centuries ago and J’onn is fearful, telling his wife and daughter to remain strong. The plague transmits when the minds are connected. They must not open themselves to each other in this time of need.
_______
It is seven years in the past, and J’onn is on Rann. He and Adam Strange have just led a revolution that overthrew a swarm of galactic conquerers. The battles were won, but there were dead to be buried and injured to heal.
“J’onn, we appreciate your willingness to help, but the Rannian physiology is so different from Martian” Adam told him. Strange put a hand on J’onn’s shoulder. “Come with me. We can join the grave diggers.”
“No” the Martian replied. “The Manhunters are all trained in medical arts. I can be of assistance. My shape-shifting abilities allow me precise control over my body movements. I can be an asset here.”
“And what of your ignorance of their biology?” Adam asked.
“Tell your chief surgeon to open his mind” J’onn said. “I will do the rest.”
It’s present time, back on Omogo. J’onn had thought he was long ago run dry of tears. But yet, they flowed again.
His hands had stretched and become a tourniquet. He had done that before, on Rann of all places. That was what had triggered his memory. But now he released his grip and lowered Kaaranine’s lifeless body gently to the blackened ground.
As the drops rolled down his cheek and plunked onto his chest, the faded emblem of the Blue Lantern Corps gained a faint blue glow.
“Biology…”
It is centuries ago and J’onn watches as his wife embraces his daughter, opening her mind to the deadly plague inside. His warnings go unheeded.
_______
It is five years in the past and J’onn was visiting his friends on Rann again. He walks with the great Rannian science council and observes the flora in their geranium. Adam Strange is by his side.
“I had to learn it the hard way J’onn” he laughed. “Coming from Earth, I had so little understanding of the wider universe. I don’t know how many times Sardath had to save my life after his zeta Beam brought me here.”
“Yes” the Martian said. “I learned many of the same lessons when I was brought to Earth.”
“This particular plant here” Sardath interjected, “produces a liquid that has amazing restorative powers. But in it’s rooted state, causes destruction for surrounding plant life.”
“I have found no substance on Earth with greater restorative powers” J’onn replied, “than the comfort of a Choco.”
The group laughed as they walked to the next exhibit.
It’s present time again. J’onn was preparing to send a telepathic message to Kilowog and Saint Walker informing him of his failure to protect Kaaranine and Granny Goodness’ escape. It was not a conversation to which he was looking forward.
“I am sorry Kaaranine” he sighed down to the fallen Lantern’s body. “My failures seem to always…” He stopped speaking when he noticed his blue ring slightly glowing. J’onn had thought all the light of hope had left him. But there it was - faint, barely perceptible. He had been lost in his grief that he did not realize until now hat his memory was struggling to tell him something.
“Restorative…”
It is centuries ago and J’onn watches in horror as his wife and daughter are consumed in flame. His cries echo through time.
_______
It is two years in the past and J’onn has his hand on Adam Strange’s shoulder. “You have one well, my friend” he said. “Fatherhood suits you.”
“Thank you J’onn” Adam replied. “I hope she grows up with your courage and kindness.”
“She will grow up with yours” J’onn said. “Yours and Alanna’s. And that will be enough to fill the whole galaxy.”
“Thank you J’onn” Alanna echoed from her bed as she held the newborn Aleea in her arms. “The life of this little one will bring hope to our world.”
“Yes” Adam continued. “The first child born on this planet in decades! She truly is special. And she has her mother’s eyes.”
“And her father’s heart” J’onn added as the couple smiled at him.
“Sorry to interrupt folks, but I will be your nurse for this shift” a young woman said, entering the room. “I know I am young and have not seen a child born during my lifetime, but I promise you that you are in good hands. I was top of my class in school.”
Adam laughed. “I’m sure you’ll be fine” he told the obviously nervous nurse. “What did you say your name was?”
“My name is Kaaranine” the nurse replied, standing a little taller at Adam’s reassurance. “And I hope to always hold your child in my…”
“Heart!” J’onn exclaimed. “She needs a new heart!” The Martian was on his knees at the side of Kaaranine, closing his eyes and remembering what he had learned of Rannian biology. Slowly, methodically, his hand became a heart. The heart was green, but it had all the design and form of a Rannian heart. He had recalled well what he had learned. The blue light grew brighter.
J’onn focused his laser eyes on his wrist and burned through, separating the created organ from his body. To him, the pain was immense, but he remained stoic. In time, his hands would heal and he would be able to once again form a new one. But for now time was of the essence. The blue light was bright.
He reached down with his good hand and pulled back Kaaranine’s gaping wound. In side her chest, he burned loose her old heart and quickly pulled it out. Placing the artificial green heart inside, J’onn wondered how he would restore its functionality. And that was when his eyes were blinded by the brilliant blue coming from the ring on his remaining hand.
“By H’ronmeer!” J’onn thought. “Hope.”
J’onn aimed his ring at Kaaranine’s chest. Blue filled the air between them and lifted the fallen Rannian off the ground. The blue enveloped her, surrounded her, embraced her. And soon it was joined by the green of Kaaranine’s own ring as it floated to her finger.
The blue and the green intertwined and lit up the forest around them. And Kaaranine was raised. As the blue light of hope filled her body, the green light willed it back alive. And with one giant gasp of air, the Lantern rejoined the living.
Kaaranine’s eyes were wide, her mouth agape. But the lights placed her gently down on her feet as her bones healed, as her muscles regrew, as she became whole again. The Martian heart inside of Kaaranine began to beat. And as the blood filled pumped through her again, a strange side effect took place. Her skin, so pale, so smooth, turned a shade of green.
“J’onn…?” she whispered. “J’onn, where… what happened?”
“You have come back to me, child” J’onn replied. “I am filled with the light of hope again.”
“Did that witch get away?” she asked, frowning at the Martian’s missing hand.. J’onn’s bowed head answered her question.
Kaaranine smiled. “Well then” she said, slightly wincing in pain, “we should return to the rallying point. We need to regroup with the others and decide on our next move. Mogo isn’t safe yet. We must save him!”
“Of course” J’onn said as the pair took to the sky. “Of course, my child…”