[center][img]http://s2.postimg.org/dnqcwd7k9/green_lantern_the_animated_series_51671685105ef.png[/img][/center]
[b]Date unknown, 2005
Time unknown[/b]

Carol Danvers had fought long and hard as she flew through the underground caverns of Arthoros in search of Green Lantern Amanita’s ring. The hordes of insectoids were seemingly endless and for every one she batted back with a construct another two would hurtle in her direction. It was exhausting work. She lost all track of time beneath the ground as she pushed deeper and deeper into the caverns. Amanita’s ring was nowhere to be found. By the time Danvers had realised it she was too deep in the caverns to turn back. The only way out was by pushing through. At least that was what Carol had thought. The further she pushed the more voluminous the horde. Finally in the pit of the cavern, so near to the planet’s core that she could almost feel it throbbing, Carol fell to a knee and made her final stand. Dripping in sweat she made construct after construct. The green Gatling gun in her hands rattled loudly as it fired construct bullets at the insectoids. There was a sudden pain in the back of the Green Lantern’s head and the world went black.

Then she heard it. The voice. It cut through the blackness and sounded like nails on a chalkboard as the words came hissing out. “Awaken, Green Lantern.”

Slowly Carol’s eyes opened. The first thing that struck her was the dull pain in the back of her head. She could feel a patch of her blonde hair had become caked in blood at the back. The cut reopened slightly with each breath she took. She wasn’t sure where she was but it was much cooler here than it had been when she’d been knocked out. It was a dwelling of sorts that had been fashioned out of an alcove in the caverns. It was the closest thing that Carol had seen to some kind of design that resembled something one might have found back on Earth. It the corner of the dwelling was a figure that Carol struggled to make out barring the bright green eyes that were fixed on her.

Carol cleared her throat a little and called out to it. “Who are you?”

The figure stepped forward from the shadows. It was one of the insectoids that lived in the caverns but this one was different. The figure was taller, stronger, more metallic, and exuded an air of malice that was unmistakable. All deep, dark purples and greens barring the yellow tendrils that hung from around its neck like an Anglerfish. It stepped forward several paces and stopped in front of Carol.

“I am Annihilus.”

“You abducted those Lanterns,” Carol muttered as she noticed the Green Lantern ring on one of Annihilus’ claws. “You murdered Amanita and stole his ring.”

A mocking laugh escaped from the insectoids lips as he stared down at Carol. Were she not shackled to the wall of Annihilus’ dwelling she would have throttled him right there and then. She tried to communicate with her ring non-verbally but something was wrong with it. It wasn’t out of energy but it felt as if somehow Annihilus had found some way to interfere with Carol’s connection to her ring. Something resembling a grin appeared on Annihilus’ face as he sensed that Carol was attempting to reach her ring.

“Were it only so simple,” Annihilus screeched, turning his back on the Green Lantern. “Blastaar has enslaved my people, Lantern, crushed the mewling babes beneath his feet like they were no better than vermin and scorched our homes to the ground. One by one the planets of the Negative Zone fell to him and now only Arthoros stands. That is not by coincidence, terran, but because my people have resorted to whatever means necessary to ensure our survival.”

[center][img]http://s13.postimg.org/5m6r9uc5j/148571_176482_annihilus.jpg[/img][/center]
“I make no excuses for apologies for abducting your Lantern brethren,” He continued as he reached out a claw for Carol’s ring rested atop a platform made out of rock. “We sought to harness the power of their vaunted power rings to beat Blastaar back once and for all. My people were peaceful once, Lantern, though it might be hard to believe in this moment. Being driven to the point of extinction has changed that. Once I unlock the power of the power ring I shall take back [i]all[/i] of the Negative Zone.”

A rage bubbled in Carol’s stomach as the insectoid spoke and she pulled at her shackles desperately. She hadn’t even considered what she’d had done once she was free or how she’d have fought Annihilus without her ring. Carol stared down at her legs. Her construct prosthetics had gone but Annihilus seemed oblivious to the fact. Carol however was not. She needed her ring back. Sinestro could not find out about her secret. She’d find a way to get her ring back, defeat Annihilus, and take Amanita’s ring back from him.

“You can’t use it.” Carol said as she gestured towards the ring on Annihilus’ finger. “Amanita’s ring won’t answer to you.”

Once more the sickening laugh came forth from Annihilus’ mouth. “I would not be so certain.”

There was a crackle of green energy and the ring on his finger burst into life for the briefest of seconds. It was only a spark, half a spark even, but it was far more than Annihilus ought to have been able to summon up. He wasn’t a Green Lantern and as far as Amanita’s ring was concerned its wielder was not dead. How had Annihilus found a way to bypass the Green Lantern protocols? It wasn’t possible.

Annihilus tried again to spark up Amanita’s ring. “We could never have defeated two Green Lanterns at once, not ones as experienced as you and the pink skin, but alone… Alone you were weak. Your power comes in numbers, Lantern, though I am thankful your ignorance to that fact has delivered to me exactly what I needed.”

“Needed?” Carol muttered, a confused look appearing on her face. “What? I don’t understand.”

“With your power battery I shall recharge this ring,” Annihilus said as he produced a power battery from behind the platform. “My will is like no other, Lantern, I shall force your weapon to heel and use it to destroy the pink skinned one, Blastaar, and anyone else that might stand in my way.”

It was [i]another[/i] thing that made no sense. Had Annihilus forced Carol to conjure up a power battery whilst she was unconscious? How else could he have got it? Carol shook her head vociferously as her head began to spin with the possibilities. Suddenly her confusion turned to complete and utter disbelief as the sparks of energy that bounced from Amanita’s ring on Annihilus’ finger suddenly turned into a tidal wave. The room lit up with a burst of green energy that Carol recognised as the very same she wielded using her Green Lantern ring. A cackle escaped from Annihilus ring and he turned his piercing green gaze in her direction.

“You I shall save until last.”