[CENTER][sup][h1][center][img]https://qph.cf2.quoracdn.net/main-qimg-098ff22137b2a99d5e61436a13887ae7-pjlq[/img][/center][b][center][color=green] T H E   L A N T E R N S[/color]
[color=yellow]T H E   L A N T E R N S[/color][/center]
[/b][/h1][/sup]
[color=silver][sup][i]"Hal. Mom died."[/i][/sup][/color][/CENTER]
[h3]6 Months ago[/h3]
As Hal stepped off the plane and back onto familiar soil of Blyniville Air Base, he took a deep, refreshing sniff of the sweet California air. 8 weeks training on the USS Gerald Ford for a top secret mission made even this place look like absolute paradise. He had a few weeks before the mission took place and was being given some basic R&R beforehand. Walking across base, he headed for the front office to sign out. Maybe go visit Mom while he was here, rather than just head straight to Vegas, which was exactly the kind of place he wanted his R&R. Entering the front office to sign all of his papers, he checked his mail box. A couple of the usual letters, mostly talking about how they could make him perform better in bed with 4 easy payments. However, on the top was a number of letters informing him of missed communications. The training facility barred any and all contact with the outside, mostly because they wanted to deny the existance of the facility. Sighing, he walked over to the front desk. [color=8dc73f]"Can i borrow the phone?"[/color] He pointed at the landline. It'd take a mass of paperwork to get his mobile back. Jack, his oldest brother, had tried to call him an alarming amount of times. Jack rarely wanted to talk to him on a holiday, so it wasn't likely to be anything good. Maybe Helen's Bar Mitzva yet? Yeah, might be coming up to it. Well, he was about to get an earful. The phone rang a few times, before the familiar voice of Hal's sister-in-law, Janet, came on.

"Hello? Jordan residence." Janet said.

[color=8dc73f]"Janet. Hi, it's Hal. Sorry for not being reachable, i've been..."[/color] The clerk behind the desk shot Hal a stern look. [color=8dc73f]"Classified..."[/color] He replied.

"Oh... Hal... Ummm..." He heard the telltale sound of the phone being put down, but not hung up. "Jason, go get your father, tell him Uncle Hal's on the phone." Then the phone being picked up again. "Hal, sorry, Jack will be here in a second."

[color=8dc73f]"Ok... How's Janet doing? Did i miss her Bar Mitzva? I'm REALLY sorry about that if i did. You should have told me, i could have had something sent in my abscence."[/color] He laughed.

"Oh... Uh... No, she's not going to be 13 till next April." She replied. She sounded worried now.

[color=8dc73f]"Janet... What's going on? Jack is a sourpuss, but we've always been good, what's going on?"[/color] Hal asked, he could feel his heart sinking. This wasn't a [i]"I'm annoyed you missed something because of scheduling"[/i] kind of voice from her, it was a [i]"I have been dreading the fallout of this phonecall for the last month"[/i] kinda voice. The phone then changed hands.

[color=silver]"Hal. Mom died."[/color] Jack said. Hal stood there for a second. Not quite sure exactly what to say or how to say it or exactly... Wait, WHAT?

[color=8dc73f]"Ex-FREAKIN'-Cuse me?"[/color] He yelled. [color=8dc73f]"WHAT?"[/color]

[color=silver]"Mom died... Cancer. Started in the pancreas, quickly spread to everywhere else."[/color] Jack replied.

[color=8dc73f]"NO, THAT'S NOT ELABORATION REQUIRED, YOU DILLWEED! THAT IS, YOU JUST FREAKIN' DROPPED THAT ON ME LIKE A NEWBORN GIRAFFE KINDA DEAL! WHAT IN THE ACTUAL HELL?"[/color] He roared down the phone, the clerk pretended to look at his watch, before bidding a hasty retreat to the back, clearly not wanting to get involved in this.

[color=silver]"Mom told you not to go into the Military, after dad. You should have been here."[/color]

[color=8dc73f]"I HAVE TO MAKE A LIVING, JACK! WE CAN'T ALL BE THE DISTRICT ATTOURNEY, YOU ASSHOLE! DAD FLEW JETS, I FLY JETS, YOU KEEP SCUMBAGS OUT OF JAIL, WE DO WHAT WE NEED TO LIVE! AND DON'T MAKE THIS ABOUT THE AIRFORCE, MOM DIED AND YOU HAVE ALL THE WARMTH OF ALASKAN ROADKILL!"[/color]

[color=silver]"I told you that i make good money, and with Mom's pension and dad's military pension, you could have stayed home and just done anything you wanted for the rest of your life without worry. You could have seen the signs, you could have got her to the doctors early-"[/color]

[color=8dc73f]"NONONONO, YOU DICK! I AM NOT GOING TO BE MADE THE BAD GUY BECAUSE I ACTUALLY WANTED TO DO SOMETHING WITH MY LIFE, RATHER THAN JUST BE THE SCREW-UP LITTLE BROTHER THAT YOU CAN BRAG TO YOUR BUDDIES AT THE OFFICE WHAT A SAINT YOU ARE FOR SUPPORTING! I AM A BIG-SHOT! I AM A CAPTAIN IN THE AIR FORCE! I MAKE MORE MONEY THAN YOU DO!"[/color]

[color=silver]"I hope that money gives you all the comfort mom can't anymore than."[/color]

[color=8dc73f]"That was a low blow, you dick! When's the funeral?"[/color] Hal growled, ready to go to Jacks house and strangle him with the phone chord.

[color=silver]"Mom was Jewish, you know the rules."[/color]

[color=8dc73f]"You bet i know the rules better than you do. You seem to forget that while you and Jimmy more followed Dad, I actually did my reading. The soul is to be put to rest within 24 hours of death, BUT delays are permitted to accomodate close family members as the family needs to be there to have their souls as rested as the deceased. I swear if you put her in the ground just to spite me-"[/color] The phone slammed down and Hal stood there for a second just listening to the dial tone. [color=8dc73f]"BASTARD!!!"[/color] He screamed, while he slammed the phone down 4 times in frustration, before re-dialing. The phone just rang through to answering machine... He stood for a second as tears began to roll down his cheek. He then quickly began dialing Jimmy to find out about the funeral.

[h3]Now[/h3]

Hal and Jack crashed in a heap, Hal rolling a few times to get some distance between him and his brother. [color=silver]"Hal Jordan, you WILL know my sorrow!"[/color] Jack wheezed. Hal looked to see where they had crashed. Blyniville Cemetery... He looked around, he could see the names of the dead. Some names he remembered, Jack pointed over to one next to Hal, he dared a glance and saw the names: 'Martin Jordan' and chizzled freshly underneath it was 'And Jessica Jordan. Loving parents, who's sons will always keep them.'

[color=8dc73f]"Ok, Jack. You want Therapy? Alright, let me give you some Therapy-"[/color] He growled. Shooting forward, he created a giant green fist and upper-cut Jack away from the graves. Shooting up, he went for another punch, but Jack created a large hammer that seemed to form out of the tears streaming from his face and smashed Hal in the side, sending him hurtling away. Quickly regaining his composure, Hal formed a Jet Fighter out of ring energy and zipped across the sky, before heading back at Jack from low, pelting him with green bullets, Jack spun the hammer at mach-speeds, deflecting the bullets, and as Hal closed in, quickly formed the hammer into a Scythe, before he deftly cut the wing off the Will Jet. Of course, the Jet was made of willpower, so the form was mostly for show, so it didn't crash, but the construct did seem to unravel. Hal looked at the wing to see the tears from the scythe rapidly burning through his Jet construct. Ejecting out of it, the Willpower returned to his ring and he floated in the sky, looking at Jack, who slowly floated towards him.

[color=silver]"Hal Jordan, you WILL know my sorrow."[/color] He wheezed again. Closing in on Hal, Hal once again went for the giant green fist punch, but it was blocked by a giant fist of tears. The pair then began quickly trading blows of lighning fast, giant fists, the fists smashing into each other and perfectly blocking them, blow for blow.

[color=8dc73f]"OF COURSE I KNOW YOUR SORROW!!! MOM DIED AND MY BIG BROTHER HUNG ME OUT TO DRY!!!"[/color] He screamed, before he just straight up kicked Jack in the stomach with his own foot. Jack didn't double over, instead, he grabbed the leg and swung Hal into the way of one of his own fists made of tears, sending Hal flying. Hal was sent flying a few feet, but was caught by a Green Baseball mit, stopping himself. He then recovered and floated in the air. The pair staring each other down. [color=8dc73f]"You should have waited for me."[/color] He growled.

[color=silver]"Sorrow waits for no man."[/color] Jack replied. In a flash, his tears formed into large spears that began quickly shooting straight at Hal. Hal quickly created a construct of a large man with chopsticks, quickly catching all the spears in his chopsticks, before bowing and disappearing.

[color=8dc73f]"Why do you hate me?"[/color] Hal called. [color=8dc73f]"You hated me ever since i joined the Air Force. I missed you. I missed being able to talk to my older brother. But it's always Janet when i call. Every Birthday, every Hannukah, I ALWAYS try to talk with you and you just barely acknowledge my existance. I'm sorry i had to work over this Christmas, but evil alien warlords don't take Christmas off, turns out."[/color] Jack simply floated, watching Hal yell at him. [color=8dc73f]"I'm not getting through to the real Jack, am i?"[/color] He asked. Jack's eyes seemed to, for a second, lose their milky whiteness and return to their normal deep brown. [color=8dc73f]"Or am i?"[/color] He whispered, his Green aura seemed to strengthen as he said this. He quickly headed away from the Graveyard, he didn't want to risk damaging any of the graves, back towards the base, Jack in hot pursuit.

As they flew over Blyniville, a green beam lanced into the sky, knocking Jack off-balance, as it did so, Hal turned around and punched him towards the ground with another giant fist. Jack smashed into the concrete, only to see Hal and May approaching him, green energy radiating from Hal's ring and May's Manhunter Staff. Jack stumbled to his feet and looked at May, very confused. [color=silver]"Why... Do you not know my Sorrow?"[/color] He mumbled at May.

[color=bc8dbf]"Because i know how to compartmentalize it."[/color] She replied. [color=a187be]"Now that i'm prepared, i know just how to deal with you."[/color] She blasted him again, straight in the knee, sending him doubling down to the one knee. Hal then put out a hand in front of her.

[color=8dc73f]"I've got it from here."[/color] He replied. Walking towards Jack, he saw Jack throw a regular punch at Hal, who caught it in his hand, before forcing Jack's balled up fist back into his own nose, sending Jack stumbling back a few paces. [color=8dc73f]"Yeah, Jacky, that's the problem with these things. They take you for a ride, but they suck out everything a little too quickly. It's gonna need a new host soon."[/color] Hal just kept advancing.

[color=silver]"KNOW MY SORROW, HAL JORDAN!!!"[/color] Jack cried, before jumping at Hal, who quickly ducked under the jump and threw a punch upwards into his gut, Jack landing in a heap. Jack kept his fist balled as he got up again. Hal looked at the Sorrow ring... It was shaking, trying to move down Jacks finger, but Jack had his thumb pressed underneath the ring. The Ring was already trying to escape, but Jack wouldn't let it. Was he trying to help Hal? No, that makes no sense, he doesn't know anything about the mission. Hal ducked under another punch.

[color=8dc73f]"You're not the Ring anymore, are you. You're just Jack."[/color] Hal sighed. Hal dodged a few more lamps coming from Jack. [color=8dc73f]"Jack, i'm a Boxer, the Army trained me to kill people with my bare hands, you are a DA that gave up on Tae-Kwan-Do because it made you too sweaty. You aren't going to beat me like this."[/color] He sighed. A tear construct fist launched at Hal, but it quickly destabilized and just splashed on the ground. [color=8dc73f]"Jack, let the ring go and just talk to me."[/color] He sighed. Jack dived at him, but Hal caught his arms and rolled back to kick Jack over himself, before he kipped back up to his feet and walked over to Jack slowly trying to push himself up. He grabbed Jacks arm and pulled him to his feet, before pulling him into a hug. [color=8dc73f]"Come on, bro. You don't need a ring. You just need to hug it out with me."[/color] He said a solitary tear began rolling down his cheek. Jack's eyes slowly turned back to their deep chocolate brown as the Ring finally managed to slip away from his finger and shoot off eastwards at Mach speeds. The Sorrow Lantern costume melted away and the brothers were just left embracing.

[color=silver]"HAL, I'M SORRY, I'M SO SORRY I HAD TO BLAME YOU!!!"[/color] Jack cried.

[color=8dc73f]"It's alright, bro. I get it. I'm an easy target."[/color] Hal patted Jack on the back as Jack began squeezing harder.

[color=silver]"NO, YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND, IT WAS ME, IT WAS ALL ME! I DIDN'T CHECK ON HER AS MUCH AS I SHOULD HAVE, I KEPT SAYING NEXT WEEK, NEXT WEEK, NEXT WEEK! I WAS RIGHT THERE! YOU COULD COME SEE HER FROM JAPAN OR GERMANY OR QATAR, BUT I COULDN'T DRIVE 30 MINUTES DOWN THE ROAD? WHAT KIND OF SON AM I?! I KILLED HER, HAL! I COULD HAVE SAVED HER, BUT I JUST SAT THERE AND LET HER DIE AND I WAS TOO WEAK AND PATHETIC TO ACCEPT THAT!!!"[/color] He sobbed loudly/

[color=8dc73f]"Jacky, you did what you could. You did what you needed to. You needed to be strong for Janet and Helen and Jason. I don't mind. I'm pissed that you buried her just to spite me, but... I can't hold a grudge."[/color] He patted Jack on the back harder. [color=8dc73f]"Let it all out, big guy."[/color] Jack's sobs quickly abated as he slowly began to slump forward, completely drained of all energy by the ring. [color=8dc73f]"May, can you call me a bus?"[/color] He asked. As he did so, Sinestro and Dex slowly floated down towards them.

[color=ed1c24]"If you attempt to tell anyone of what happened, i will decorate my litter box with your entrails."[/color] The cat growled.

[color=fff200]"Hal Jordan, we need to go after that ring."[/color] Sinestro demanded, forcing the Green Power Battery into Hals hands. Sinestro's eyes were noticably bloodshot.

[color=8dc73f]"What did he make you see?"[/color] Hal asked.

[color=fff200]"Irrelevant. The Director just informed me that the Orange ring is attacking New York and that Grey ring is now bee-lining for it. This cannot be good."[/color] May turned back to them.

[color=bc8dbf]"I have just received word, S.W.O.R.D. Agents are present and they engaged the Orange Ring alongside Captain Marvel. We need to get there now."[/color]

[color=8dc73f]"Captain Marvel? The guy from the Lava Golems incident?"[/color] Hal asked. [color=8dc73f]"Alright, me, Sinestro and Dex will get there ASAP, you follow along in The Bus. And make sure Jack gets some good treatment... We gotta talk properly when i get back."[/color] He then spun a finger around his head to indicate he was going as green, gold and red streaks shot into the air, heading East.