The Arrival of the Green Lantern
Luke's arrival changed the DC world, but some things simply did not change.
The fierce impact sent the two men flying, skidding several meters across the sand before finally stopping.
Hal Jordan felt like his body was going to fall apart. He forced himself to get up and asked anxiously,
"Tom, are you alright?"
Tom waved his hand, kneeling on the ground and vomiting up all the alcohol in his stomach. After he finished, his mind cleared considerably.
Both men had been soldiers. Sensing that something was wrong, they quickly took out their weapons and cautiously approached the source of the explosion.
A ten-meter-wide crater lay in the flat sand. In the center of the pit was something resembling a flight craft. It was green, its surface flashing with light, and it did not look like any technological product from Earth.
Tom lowered his voice, his expression serious.
"An alien spacecraft!"
Hal nodded, his body taut. The last vestiges of his drunkenness vanished instantly.
Just then, the spacecraft's hatch opened, and a ball of green light emerged. It circled rapidly before shooting like a stream of light toward Hal. He couldn't dodge. The green light struck his body, and in a flash, an indescribably strange sensation surged from within him.
Bang!
A powerful burst of green light erupted. His clothes vanished, replaced by a green light battlesuit that covered his torso.
"Hal, you..."
Tom's eyes widened, and he instinctively backed away.
Hal was also startled. He carefully checked his body. His hands and legs were covered by the green suit, and a symbol resembling a lantern appeared on his chest. Most importantly, his right middle finger.
A uniquely styled green ring was sitting on his middle finger, seemingly containing some kind of power.
Hal followed an instinctual guidance in his mind, clenched his fist, and thrust it forward.
Boom!
A green basketball hoop appeared out of thin air on the ground. The bizarre sight was like a magic show.
Tom nearly lost bladder control. He quickly raised his pistol and demanded sternly,
"Who are you? Where is Hal? Give him back."
"Relax, Tom, it's me. I am Hal, Hal Jordan."
"Damn it, don't try to trick me."
Tom cautiously backed away, fumbling for his phone. As soon as he pulled it out, it was knocked away by a flash of green light. Hal raised his hands, signaling he had no hostile intent.
"Tom, don't call the police. This is complicated. I'll explain it to you later."
He then soared into the air, flying to the spacecraft. He opened the hatch and gently lifted out the purplish-brown-skinned humanoid creature inside. The residual information from the ring told him that this hairless alien was named Abin Sur, the former owner of the ring, and the Green Lantern Corps' greatest warrior. He died protecting Earth from the corrosive power of the Yellow Fear.
Hal didn't know what the Green Lantern Corps or the Yellow Fear were, but he instinctively felt he couldn't leave the body exposed in the wilderness.
Using the ring's power to dig a large pit in the sand, Hal buried the spacecraft and Abin Sur's body. He then took the green lantern and returned to his best friend. Feeling the immense power surging within him, he couldn't help but put his hands on his hips and laugh loudly.
"Doesn't this outfit look cool?"
The familiar manner of speaking made Tom remember something, but he was still unsure. "A-A-Are you really Hal?"
"Of course it's me."
Hal removed the ring, and the green battlesuit disappeared, restoring him to his normal appearance.
"See? The genuine Hal Jordan, not controlled by any aliens."
Tom looked at the lantern and the ring in his hand, glanced at the beach nearby, and then slowly put his gun away.
"What exactly is going on?"
"I don't know either," Hal shrugged. "But I am sure of one thing: from now on, I'm no longer an ordinary person. I am Coast City's protector, the superhero who maintains justice and eradicates evil."
When he emphasized "eradicates evil," his face darkened, and his tone became noticeably heavier.
Tom realized what he was thinking and frowned.
"You're not planning to go after Luke Shaw, are you?"
Hal's expression was grave. "The Young Master's Gang is a cloud of gloom hanging over Coast City. Only by getting rid of it can the city return to normal."
Tom's mouth twitched. He wanted to ask: Are you only targeting him because of Carol? But he swallowed the words. Saying that would be too much; after all, they were friends, and Luke was an outsider.
Genius at Rest
Luke, who was rolling around on the sofa with Carol in the lab, had no idea he'd just acquired a new enemy. Even if he did know, he wouldn't care. It was just one Green Lantern; what could he do?
The next morning, Luke groggily opened his eyes.
"You're finally awake, sleepyhead!"
Luke grinned, reaching out to pull the girl into his arms. Neither was wearing clothes. Their skin was tightly connected, and the slightest movement created a slippery, tempting sensation.
Morning was the prime time for surging pure energy, especially for an energetic young man like Luke.
Carol sensed something, her face flushed slightly. She held her wrist up to Luke.
"It's almost eight o'clock. If you want the researchers to see us like this, go ahead. I don't care."
"Of course you don't care; I'm the one doing all the work."
Carol angrily pinched him. "Don't say such things!"
Luke rubbed his arm, exasperated. "When did you learn to pinch people?"
"I've always known how."
"Could you at least pinch me gently next time?"
"Dream on."
The two got up from the sofa. Laughing, they picked up their scattered clothes, which involved some lingering touches. After returning to Carol's company apartment, they took a hot bath and ate breakfast. It wasn't until ten in the morning that they yawned their way back to the lab.
All twenty-two researchers were present, not one missing. They were smart people, which simplified things.
Luke drew the original framework of the engine he'd invented while fooling around with Carol last night onto a drafting paper. Then, he found a chair and lay down, falling soundly asleep.
Seeing this, the expressions of the staff were understandably strange. When they noticed Carol was also leaning on the sofa and constantly yawning, their faces instantly darkened.
They were all adults; how could they not see what was going on?
What could they do, though, about their displeasure? She was the boss. Even if having sex all night meant she was tired for work the next day, what could they, the 9-to-6 staff, say? None of your business!
The staff sneered a few times, turning their attention to the drafting paper, their eyes betraying a measure of disdain. This guy was busy all night; what good could he possibly come up with?
Unexpectedly, after just a few glances, they were completely stunned.
What is this thing? Why can't I understand it?
A turbofan engine? No!
A turbojet engine? Not that either!
What is it, exactly?
Everyone present was a first-class expert in the engine industry, the lowest-ranking being a Ph.D., yet they couldn't comprehend the basic framework on the drafting paper. Could it be a fake?
They looked at each other, their eyes unanimously turning toward Professor Neal.
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