Post by Deleted on Apr 8, 2015 5:07:17 GMT -5
Titans of Justice Vol. 2 Ch 14 - “Mocked”
Written by: Green Lantern and Stellar
Edited by: Power Guy
Featured Artist: Argos
Somewhere in the Dark
A bald hero's head throbbed and his chest pounded as he struggled to keep control of his energy ring. Lights of varying hues blinded his eyes from identifying his attacker. “Where am I?” he thought as shrieks, screams, and sounds of battle filled the air. “What is going on?” Beads of sweat covered his entire body as he willed the cerulean rays of light emanating from his ring to darken so that he could assess the situation. To his utter horror the first thing he saw was the form of one of his friends lying still on the battlefield. “Jem,” he thought, “What happened to you?”
“Daniel! Help me!” screamed a panicked female voice. Daniel knew that voice all too well.
“Sargona!?! What's going on?” asked the baffled twenty-something man.
“He's killing us!” replied the raven-haired beauty as a blood-colored wall of light burst forth from her Ruby of Light. “Do something!” she screamed in horror as a darkness descended upon her.
Tears welled up in the young Blue Lantern's eyes as his former lady-friend went down in battle. He hoped that she would survive, but knew that the shriek of desperation of his former love would haunt him for the rest of his life. Then he looked up as whitish and golden lights pierced the ebony sky. Whispering a quick prayer for the safety of Sargona and Jem, Daniel rushed to see if his power could help Illumina and Starman defeat the anonymous attacker.
“Who is doing this?!?” cried the young pastor.
“Where have you been, dude?” chastised Scott Stone as his star rod elevated him to a greater height in the battle.
“He's YOUR enemy!” added Illumina.
“Imako! Watch out!” yelled Starman. But his warning was in vain. Their Japanese teammate was already down.
Daniel then watched as the body of his Titans West friend smashed into a brick wall. He almost threw up at the sound of his friend's bones braking.
“WHO IS DOING THIS!!?!!!” demanded the son of Hal Jordan.
A blood-curdling series of laughs was the only reply.
Daniel Jordan screamed as the limp body of the Star Sapphire was hurled at him...
...and then he woke up drenched with cold sweat. “Where am I?” he thought as he scanned the bedroom he considered a haven of rest for more than twenty years. After a few moments he realized that he was in his parents' Coast City home. He was breathing heavily and still not 100% convinced that what he had experienced was only a dream.
[glow=yellow,2,300]Beep! Beep! Beep![/glow]
“Blue Lantern here,” said the young man into his Hall of Justice communicator, fogeting that he was no longer a member. He noticed that the time was 3:16am.
“Blue Lantern, if you are not otherwise pre-occupied, you are needed for a mission,” said Argos matter-of-factly, “Permission to transport you to headquarters?”
A smile crossed his face as he remembered that his position on the Titans of Justice East had been taken by the former Ice Warrior. He welcomed the opportunity to serve his former team again. Exhibiting his dry sense of humor he said in his best James T. Kirk voice, “Beam me up, Argos!”
The Blue Knight was instantly transported to the Watchtower. He was taken aback at the strange look the Dog of War was giving him. Blue Lantern glanced downward at himself and immediately understood. His first clue was his green boxer shorts. The second clue was the hairs on his chest. Before Daniel had a chance to explain or do anything about his inappropriate attire, Argos began speaking with that deep, booming voice that was often misinterpreted by other Titans as authoritative and unfeeling.
“It seems there is an unknown being creating a disturbance in Fawcett City near the Municipal Building,” stated Argos. “If you are unprepared to go into battle I stand ready to go to Fawcett City myself as you take my shift on monitor duty.”
“No, its okay,” replied Daniel Jordan as his power ring dressed him in his new Blue Lantern uniform. “I just had a bad dream. I'm better now.”
“The entity appears to be extra-terrestrial in nature,” stated Argos, “but it doesn't match any in our current files.”
“Beam me down, Argos,” said the Cerulean Gladiator, “...and lets keep my half-naked entry classified, shall we?”
The only response was the slightest of smirks from the Dog of War. “Smiling always looks strange on Argos,” thought Daniel.
In less than an instant the Blue Lantern found himself in Fawcett City in a darkness that reminded him of his dream in a very eerie way. Shivers went up and down his spine as he noticed a man dressed in a dark two-piece suit fighting a figure that was veiled by the shadows of the night. Suddenly, a black beam emanated from the ring of the suited man.
“Diamond Jack?” shouted Daniel Jordan. “Is that you?”
“Affirmative! Glad to see you finally made it,” answered Diamond Jack. “I've been trying to fight this ...this...whatever it is for about ten minutes now. He keeps taunting me and saying that you would be coming soon.”
A sense of cold and dread came over Green Lantern. “Who!?!” demanded the former protector of space sector 2814.
“Allow me to introduce myself,” said an orange-colored alien with scarlet spots on his skin and reddish hair, “I am the Mocker!”
Both Blue Lantern and Diamond Jack shot beams of light towards the alarming visage of their enemy, but the alien seemingly vanished into thin air.
“Who was that?” asked Daniel Jordan in dread.
“I was about to ask you,” replied Diamond Jack. “He seemed to know who you are and that you would be coming.”
“I...I've never heard of him before,” said the blue guardian with widening eyes.
“He mentioned something strange about a coming War of Lights and that you and I would both be a part of it,” added Diamond Jack.
Suddenly the sky was filled with an echoing eerie laughter, the same laughter that Daniel had heard in his dream. The two ring-weaponed warriors parted ways, but they knew that this was only the beginning of something very unpleasant...something that would haunt them again very soon.
Paris, France
A striking brunette lay alone and contemplated her life of boredom in the psychiatric division of her French cell. She really didn't belong there. They just didn't understand her. As the Star Sapphire she was able to clearly see things that others could not. One notable example was that she belonged with Green Lantern, but he, like many men, was a little slow. He needed time and convincing before he could understand that Star Sapphires and Green Lanterns belonged together. Monique knew from the day she first met her bald crush that they were destined to be together. He was neither the strongest, nor the most handsome of the super-hero crowd, but he really listened to her, and more importantly, his care for her was genuine. She had felt mocked the last time she saw him. Everything was going perfectly with the prison break she orchestrated. She successfully escaped the building. How many other European meta humans could boast of that? Green Lantern was waiting for her outside the building, just as she knew he would be. But then Sargona showed up and attacked her without provocation! Someday that witch would pay.
“Soon,” whispered an eerie alien voice.
“Who's there!?!” cried the Star Sapphire as she sat up straight in her bed.
“They're coming for you...soooooooooooooooooonnnnnnn,” repeated the voice.
“WHO ARE YOU!!?!!!” demanded Monique as she used her powers to create a soft, violet light which revealed a grotesque alien creature with red spotted pale orange skin, tentacles, and pink eyes.
“I'm the Mocker...HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhh!!!!!”
The French beauty shrieked and screamed in fear. A gigantic light-based image of the male and female who would be coming for her appeared a mere twenty feet from her bed. Both the male and female were more than familiar to her. Monique's pulse multiplied as the images ebbed closer and closer to her. Surprisingly, her star tiara levitated from where her captors hid it and lighted on her forehead. Beams of purple light shot out wildly and randomly from her star tiara. Soon scars of battle were all over the prison.
“They are coming to get you and take you away against your will,” the Mocker whispered seemingly right in her ear again and again, “...and all three of you have been drafted into the War of Lights. It's your desssssstiny...”
San Francisco: The Residence of Scott and Jerrica Trevor
Ever since his son was born Scott Trevor didn't mind baby-sitting duty so much. He and his wife, Jerrica, shared shifts and whenever he was with her it just didn't seem to matter where he was or what he was doing. He had never been so content in all his life. He enjoyed just looking at his son and Jem, his beloved wife.
“Scott, there is an alert from a French prison. Apparently the Star Sapphire has destroyed her prison cell,” reported Mrs. Jerrica Trevor.
“A jail brake?” asked Scott. “Have any other prisoners escaped?”
“No, Scott, you don't understand,” explained Jem, “She is doing all of this in her sleep! She is completely out of control. The warden said that she is screaming and begging Green Lantern to come help her in her sleep.”
“I...boy, that IS strange,” remarked Wonder Man. “She must not be aware that he is the Blue Lantern now. I don't know if Daniel is currently on a mission or not. Let me contact him to ask if he can go try to stabilize the situation.”
Star City, Connecticut
Before their brake-up, Daniel Jordan and Di Di Queen often frequented parks together and just enjoyed one another's company as they strolled. The Star City Park was one of their favorite places they frequented. Its scenery and extraordinary amount of avian life had a calming effect on the couple. This was the first time they had met there since their break-up. Sonic boom was happy that her former beau had contacted her, but was having a difficult time understanding his explanation of the strange series of events he had just experienced. Di Di still secretly wanted to be together with Daniel, but even she could see that they didn't seem to fit as naturally as they did before the Dr. Light incident. Their communication wasn't as easy as it had once been.
[glow=yellow,2,300]Beep! Beep! Beep! [/glow]
“Sonic Boom,” stated Di Di tersely into her wrist communicator, “What's up?”
“Di Di?” said Wonder Man, “...I am sorry to ask this, but do you know how I can get ahold of Daniel? I called his home, but he isn't there. There is a situation in France that seems to be right up Blue Lantern's alley.”
“Is there any way you or Jem can take this one?” asked the Black Canary. “We kind of have a situation of our own.
“Anything you need help with?” asked the Amazing Manazon.
“Dan's had some type of a traumatic experience. It has taken me 45 minutes to get him to talk about it, but apparently some villain calling himself the Mocker and something about a 'War of Lights' has really spooked him,” explained the Blond Bombshell. Turning away from her former boyfriend she added in a muffled voice, “I've never seen him like this before.”
“...alright, Di Di,” answered Scott reluctantly.
The Residence of the Trevors
“We've got a problem, Jerrica,” said Wonder Man to his lovely bride. “I've tried to contact as many active members of the ToJ as possible, but Dan's's not available and all of the other members are already on missions.”
“I'll go,” said Jem without hesitation. “...Scott, don't look at me like that. I'll be fine!”
Scott Trevor remained silent with a displeased look on his face. Jerrica rolled her eyes, but with a slight smile she betrayed a loving indulgence. Activating a turquoise-colored control on her ToJ communicator she summoned the West Coast Titans.
“Starman here,” came a male voice in which anyone could detect a good sense of humor.
“Just the man I wanted to talk with,” said Jem. “I have a proposition for you, Scott.”
“You've got my attention,” said the wielder of the star rod.
“How would you like to go out on a mission with a gorgeous, married woman...just for old time's sake?”
“Name the time and place!” answered Scott Stone eagerly.
“Paris. Now.”
“I'm there!”
Paris, France
The Star Sapphire screamed so loudly that she woke herself up. It took her eyes a few moments to adjust and then she realized that she had only been dreaming. It had been the most intense nightmare she had ever experienced, and yet it had seemed so real. Then she noticed the destructive effect of her dream. Apparently her tiara had blasted the prison walls as she commanded it to strike while dreaming. She was so glad to see it again. “I have missed you,” she said as she kissed her star-tiara. “Those evil prison guards won't take you from me again.” She was instantly transformed into her battle armor and flew out of the gigantic hole in her cell wall. Once outside she looked to the sunny, blue skies and to her horror saw the last thing she expected. Panic overcame her and with a series of high-pitched screams the former beauty queen attacked Jem and Starman with a series of violet-colored rays.
“It wasn't just a dream! It was real!” shrieked Monique.
“Calm down!” commanded Starman. “We aren't here to harm you. We just want to help.”
“I don't believe you!” shouted the Star Sapphire as she intensified her beams. “The mocker said that the two of you were coming for me. I saw it! STAY BACK!!!!”
“What are you talking about?” asked Starman.
“The War of Lights!” answered the French beauty as Starman continued to use the gold beams of energy created by his star rod to deflect the attacks of violet light.
Jem felt a little perplexed about the situation. She remembered over-hearing something about a 'Mocker' and a 'War of Lights' in her husband's conversation with Sonic Boom. Realizing that the key to calming Star Sapphire down might not be through force, Jem called on her holographic powers to create the image of one of her teammates.
“Don't worry, Monique,” said the holographic image of the Daniel Jordan in his Green Lantern uniform, “I won't let them hurt you.”
The Star Sapphire was confused by the sudden appearance of the man she was destined to be with. Looking at Jem, she Realized that she had been duped, and turned her attention to the famous pop singer.
Jem knew that she needed to act immediately, while she still had the element of surprise. Suddenly the 'Green Lantern' wrapped around the Star Sapphire like a straight jacked. A beam of energy then deployed from Starman's rod and successfully knocked Monique's tiara from her head.
“Don't worry,” said Starman calmly, “We're not going to hurt you.”
“He said you would take me away against my will,” said the raven-haired beauty tearfully, “I saw you both coming for me...and then he said that all three of us were doomed to be drafted into the 'War of Lights.”
Staman's confused look turned to concern as he saw Jem's face turn pale. The gut-wrenching feeling that overcame his entire being made him realize that these were not merely the idle ramblings of a crazy lady. There was something to it.
Fawcett High...
Stellar and Sherry were celebrating their sixth month anniversary at the Sadie Hawkins dance. The night was perfect in every aspect because they were together.
"Sherry, if I had to be stranded alone on a desert island with someone I would want it to be with you," the Star-Spangled Kid said to the striking young blond.
"Oh, Freddie, that's the sweetest thing that I've heard," said the Girl of a Million Tricks with a sudden sense of expectation, “Do you really mean it?”
The moon from the skylight seem to strike the young couple softly. Sherry's lips gleamed with a moist pink glow as Freddie Batson leaned his own lips closer to hers and began to close his eyes. Just before the expectant couple could enjoy their first kiss a commotion echoed thoughout the building. The sounds of screams and horror filled the room. The seriousness in Stellar's and Sherry's eyes turned to a grave expression of duty. Noting that all eyes were on the orange and red creature that had invaded the school, both heroes quickly donned their 'working' costumes.
"Who are you and what do you want?" Stellar demanded in a heroic stance.
"I've come with a message for you, young Stellar," answered the Mocker
“Sherry! Secure the crowd! Make sure everyone gets out safely,” ordered Stellar. The tentacled alien used this minor distraction to pounce on his victim and managed to get the Star-Spangled Kid into a choke-hold.
“You may have me at a disadvantage, alien, but I'm not defeated,” said Stellar valiantly as an coat of energy armor formed around him. To Stellar's dismay, the Mocker somehow mentally took control of his star powers and used them to force Stellar to hit himself in the head repeatedly. Stellar felt like a helpless puppet in a madman's game.
"Stop hitting yourself if you can! Stop hitting yourself!" exclaimed the Mocker with glee.
“I wish someone were here to help me,” thought Freddie Batson.
Then Diamond Jack burst into the scene, pointed at the Mocker and with a threatening tone said, “Leave that boy alone!”
“You and I both know this is just a dream, Diamond Jack,” said the orange-skinned visitor from another galaxy.
"Blah, blah, blah..." said Diamond Jack as a shower of knives hurled from his ebony-colored ring in direction of the Mocker. But the hard light blades changed direction mid-flight and relaunched themselves back at the masked hero.
"Look out, Jack!” cried Stellar, “ He'll decapitate you!"
"So what?” challenged the alien. “He's just a cheap knock-off of Green Lantern. Speaking of my green-ringed puppet, I think its about time he arrived to rescue you from your nightmare, don't you, little Freddie-boy?”
"Stop your sick games and face me like a man," said the blue guardian as he flew in through the gymnasium door. Stellar watched as the former Titan formed a giant blue mace and used it to hit the Mocker on the skull. He then spun him around until their adversary was helplessly dizzy.
"Our work here is done,” proclaimed Blue Lantern triumphantly as a glowing cage formed around the Mocker.
But Stellar was not comforted in the least. “How did the Mocker know BL would be coming?” he thought. Then he watched in disbelief as both Diamond Jack, Blue Lantern, and the Mocker's cerulean prison vanished before his eyes.
“Are you beginning to realize that this was all just a dream, little Freddie?” taunted the Mocker as he began laughing scornfully at the young Super Friend. “I had no choice but to come here. Think of me as a friend. Do you know that if I hadn't come you would have tortured yourself in your sleep. Imagine a catch like Sherry actually kissing you? If only you realized that as you sleep she is cheating on you with your 'best friend', the Bullet Boy. But he's not really your best friend, is he? Can't you see that the only reason he hangs out with you is so that he could get on the Super Friends team? Same for Sherry! Once her position on the Super Friends team is fully secured she will leave you for him in the twinkle of an eye.”
“Liar!” shouted Stellar. “If this really is a dream than you are just a figment of my imagination and all I have to do is wake up and you will be gone forever.”
“Go ahead and try, little Freddie,” mocked the Mocker. “But a war is coming. A War of Lights...and you have been drafted onto the losing side. If you don't believe me just ask Blue Lantern and Diamond Jack when you wake up.”
Stellar jumped up in his bed and screamed. Breathing heavily he looked around his room, checking closets and the bathroom to make sure that he was alone and that there were no threatening presences there. He turned the faucet on and splashed cold water on his face. “What a wild nightmare,” he thought. I sure am glad that reality isn't as terrifying as my dreams!”
[glow=yellow,2,300]Beep! Beep! Beep![/glow]
“Yeah?” Stellar answered into his Hall of Justice communicator.
“Stellar, this is Whirlpool,” answered a youthful male voice, “This probably doesn't affect us, but I just wanted to give you a head's up. An alien calling himself the Mocker has attacked Blue Lantern, Diamond Jack, and the Star Sapphire.”
“What!?!” thought Stellar as a current of adrenaline seemed to rush over his entire being.
“Apparently, Starman and Jem have been threatened also,” added Whirlpool. “Stay vigilant.”
“Tha-thanks,” answered Freddie as he noticed a scorched etching above his closet door which read,
I'M REAL!
Hall of Justice: Metropolis
Sargona sighed as she directed the Hall of Justice computer to open the membership data base. “The only thing worse than monitor duty on the Hall of Justice Satellite is monitor duty in the HoJ headquarters on earth,” she said aloud as she typed in her personal password:
VINCE IS HOT
She felt as if someone were staring at her and looked around in paranoia to make sure she were alone. She shuddered at the thought of anyone anywhere finding out what her new password was. She knew that she was the only person in the building, but you can never be too safe. She scrolled down to her former boyfriend's entry.
“Blue Lantern.......Jerk. Ugh....I guess I have to create an entry for him regardless of how I feel. Daniel Jordan is the son of Green Lantern Hal Jordan and Star Sapphire Carol Ferris-Jordan. He used to wield one of the green will-power based rings. Apparently, he had a falling out with the Guardians of The Universe and they took his ring away. I guess Dan can’t stay committed to anyone. Anyways....he now wears a blue ring of hope which can conjure up just about anything Dan can imagine. Even though I have few good things to say about this man, he is the perfect fit for a Blue Lantern with his tenacity to never give up and help others to see the light at the end of the tunnel.”
She chuckled as she read the paragraph she had written less than a month ago. “Looks like its time to revise this one,” she muttered as she transferred the entry to the former member's category. She erased most of what she had written so that she could keep Daniel's status up to date.
Blue Lantern.......Jerk.
“How do I say this?” she thought. A wry smile appeared on her face and she began typing.
Blue Lantern.......Jerk. Daniel Jordan is the son of Green Lantern Hal Jordan and Star Sapphire Carol Ferris-Jordan. He used to wield one of the green will-power based rings. Daniel Jordan's heroic career ironically, but fittingly, mirrors his love life. First he foolishly dumped the drop-dead-gorgeous Sargona for the raving lunatic Sonic Boom, only to turn around and dump her so that he could be a hermit for some unknown and ridiculous reason. Similarly, he was foolishly dumped by the idiotic Green Lantern Corps, then after mysteriously receiving a blue power ring (based on hope, believe it or not) he was again dumped by the Titans of Justice, for some equally ridiculous reason...
...With his blue ring of hope Dan can conjure up anything he can imagine, except for a wife. He is the perfect fit for a Blue Lantern with his tenacity to never give up and help others to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Even though I have few good things to say about this man, I honestly hope the day will come soon that he is back on the Titans East roster.
Sargona sat back and proof read her new entry for the Blue Lantern. “Good job, Sarge,” she said in self-congratulations.
Then she went back to the current membership page and began typing.
Green Lantern Joseph (Jo Jo) Gardner, formerly known as Ice Warrior is the son of Guy Gardner and Tora Olafsdaughter Gardner (and I thought my name and heritage was strange). After Daniel Jordan (Blue Lantern) was expelled from the Green Lantern Corps and Scott Stone (Starman) quit, Jo Jo Gardner was selected by the Guardians of the Universe as the new Green Lantern. Jo Jo's green will-based ring can conjure up anything he wills it to. His first act as a Green Lantern was to slither his way into the Titans of Justice East in Daniel Jordan's rightful position. You know what they say, “What goes around...”
Sargona then awoke in her seat. “I must have nodded off," she thought. A jolt of adrenaline shot throughout her entire being as she read the last words of her entry.
Green Lantern and Sargona have both been officially drafted into the War of Lights. They will admit their undying love for one another before Green Lantern watches his beloved blasted to smithereens by the Mocker.
Sargona didn't know what to think of the entry, but she recognized the Mocker's name from the warning call she received earlier from Illumina. Apparently several others had received similar threats from this villain.
She scrolled down just one space and was shocked to read the next line.
SOONER THAN YOU THINK...
Written by: Green Lantern and Stellar
Edited by: Power Guy
Featured Artist: Argos
Somewhere in the Dark
A bald hero's head throbbed and his chest pounded as he struggled to keep control of his energy ring. Lights of varying hues blinded his eyes from identifying his attacker. “Where am I?” he thought as shrieks, screams, and sounds of battle filled the air. “What is going on?” Beads of sweat covered his entire body as he willed the cerulean rays of light emanating from his ring to darken so that he could assess the situation. To his utter horror the first thing he saw was the form of one of his friends lying still on the battlefield. “Jem,” he thought, “What happened to you?”
“Daniel! Help me!” screamed a panicked female voice. Daniel knew that voice all too well.
“Sargona!?! What's going on?” asked the baffled twenty-something man.
“He's killing us!” replied the raven-haired beauty as a blood-colored wall of light burst forth from her Ruby of Light. “Do something!” she screamed in horror as a darkness descended upon her.
Tears welled up in the young Blue Lantern's eyes as his former lady-friend went down in battle. He hoped that she would survive, but knew that the shriek of desperation of his former love would haunt him for the rest of his life. Then he looked up as whitish and golden lights pierced the ebony sky. Whispering a quick prayer for the safety of Sargona and Jem, Daniel rushed to see if his power could help Illumina and Starman defeat the anonymous attacker.
“Who is doing this?!?” cried the young pastor.
“Where have you been, dude?” chastised Scott Stone as his star rod elevated him to a greater height in the battle.
“He's YOUR enemy!” added Illumina.
“Imako! Watch out!” yelled Starman. But his warning was in vain. Their Japanese teammate was already down.
Daniel then watched as the body of his Titans West friend smashed into a brick wall. He almost threw up at the sound of his friend's bones braking.
“WHO IS DOING THIS!!?!!!” demanded the son of Hal Jordan.
A blood-curdling series of laughs was the only reply.
Daniel Jordan screamed as the limp body of the Star Sapphire was hurled at him...
...and then he woke up drenched with cold sweat. “Where am I?” he thought as he scanned the bedroom he considered a haven of rest for more than twenty years. After a few moments he realized that he was in his parents' Coast City home. He was breathing heavily and still not 100% convinced that what he had experienced was only a dream.
[glow=yellow,2,300]Beep! Beep! Beep![/glow]
“Blue Lantern here,” said the young man into his Hall of Justice communicator, fogeting that he was no longer a member. He noticed that the time was 3:16am.
“Blue Lantern, if you are not otherwise pre-occupied, you are needed for a mission,” said Argos matter-of-factly, “Permission to transport you to headquarters?”
A smile crossed his face as he remembered that his position on the Titans of Justice East had been taken by the former Ice Warrior. He welcomed the opportunity to serve his former team again. Exhibiting his dry sense of humor he said in his best James T. Kirk voice, “Beam me up, Argos!”
The Blue Knight was instantly transported to the Watchtower. He was taken aback at the strange look the Dog of War was giving him. Blue Lantern glanced downward at himself and immediately understood. His first clue was his green boxer shorts. The second clue was the hairs on his chest. Before Daniel had a chance to explain or do anything about his inappropriate attire, Argos began speaking with that deep, booming voice that was often misinterpreted by other Titans as authoritative and unfeeling.
“It seems there is an unknown being creating a disturbance in Fawcett City near the Municipal Building,” stated Argos. “If you are unprepared to go into battle I stand ready to go to Fawcett City myself as you take my shift on monitor duty.”
“No, its okay,” replied Daniel Jordan as his power ring dressed him in his new Blue Lantern uniform. “I just had a bad dream. I'm better now.”
“The entity appears to be extra-terrestrial in nature,” stated Argos, “but it doesn't match any in our current files.”
“Beam me down, Argos,” said the Cerulean Gladiator, “...and lets keep my half-naked entry classified, shall we?”
The only response was the slightest of smirks from the Dog of War. “Smiling always looks strange on Argos,” thought Daniel.
In less than an instant the Blue Lantern found himself in Fawcett City in a darkness that reminded him of his dream in a very eerie way. Shivers went up and down his spine as he noticed a man dressed in a dark two-piece suit fighting a figure that was veiled by the shadows of the night. Suddenly, a black beam emanated from the ring of the suited man.
“Diamond Jack?” shouted Daniel Jordan. “Is that you?”
“Affirmative! Glad to see you finally made it,” answered Diamond Jack. “I've been trying to fight this ...this...whatever it is for about ten minutes now. He keeps taunting me and saying that you would be coming soon.”
A sense of cold and dread came over Green Lantern. “Who!?!” demanded the former protector of space sector 2814.
“Allow me to introduce myself,” said an orange-colored alien with scarlet spots on his skin and reddish hair, “I am the Mocker!”
Both Blue Lantern and Diamond Jack shot beams of light towards the alarming visage of their enemy, but the alien seemingly vanished into thin air.
“Who was that?” asked Daniel Jordan in dread.
“I was about to ask you,” replied Diamond Jack. “He seemed to know who you are and that you would be coming.”
“I...I've never heard of him before,” said the blue guardian with widening eyes.
“He mentioned something strange about a coming War of Lights and that you and I would both be a part of it,” added Diamond Jack.
Suddenly the sky was filled with an echoing eerie laughter, the same laughter that Daniel had heard in his dream. The two ring-weaponed warriors parted ways, but they knew that this was only the beginning of something very unpleasant...something that would haunt them again very soon.
Paris, France
A striking brunette lay alone and contemplated her life of boredom in the psychiatric division of her French cell. She really didn't belong there. They just didn't understand her. As the Star Sapphire she was able to clearly see things that others could not. One notable example was that she belonged with Green Lantern, but he, like many men, was a little slow. He needed time and convincing before he could understand that Star Sapphires and Green Lanterns belonged together. Monique knew from the day she first met her bald crush that they were destined to be together. He was neither the strongest, nor the most handsome of the super-hero crowd, but he really listened to her, and more importantly, his care for her was genuine. She had felt mocked the last time she saw him. Everything was going perfectly with the prison break she orchestrated. She successfully escaped the building. How many other European meta humans could boast of that? Green Lantern was waiting for her outside the building, just as she knew he would be. But then Sargona showed up and attacked her without provocation! Someday that witch would pay.
“Soon,” whispered an eerie alien voice.
“Who's there!?!” cried the Star Sapphire as she sat up straight in her bed.
“They're coming for you...soooooooooooooooooonnnnnnn,” repeated the voice.
“WHO ARE YOU!!?!!!” demanded Monique as she used her powers to create a soft, violet light which revealed a grotesque alien creature with red spotted pale orange skin, tentacles, and pink eyes.
“I'm the Mocker...HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhh!!!!!”
The French beauty shrieked and screamed in fear. A gigantic light-based image of the male and female who would be coming for her appeared a mere twenty feet from her bed. Both the male and female were more than familiar to her. Monique's pulse multiplied as the images ebbed closer and closer to her. Surprisingly, her star tiara levitated from where her captors hid it and lighted on her forehead. Beams of purple light shot out wildly and randomly from her star tiara. Soon scars of battle were all over the prison.
“They are coming to get you and take you away against your will,” the Mocker whispered seemingly right in her ear again and again, “...and all three of you have been drafted into the War of Lights. It's your desssssstiny...”
San Francisco: The Residence of Scott and Jerrica Trevor
Ever since his son was born Scott Trevor didn't mind baby-sitting duty so much. He and his wife, Jerrica, shared shifts and whenever he was with her it just didn't seem to matter where he was or what he was doing. He had never been so content in all his life. He enjoyed just looking at his son and Jem, his beloved wife.
“Scott, there is an alert from a French prison. Apparently the Star Sapphire has destroyed her prison cell,” reported Mrs. Jerrica Trevor.
“A jail brake?” asked Scott. “Have any other prisoners escaped?”
“No, Scott, you don't understand,” explained Jem, “She is doing all of this in her sleep! She is completely out of control. The warden said that she is screaming and begging Green Lantern to come help her in her sleep.”
“I...boy, that IS strange,” remarked Wonder Man. “She must not be aware that he is the Blue Lantern now. I don't know if Daniel is currently on a mission or not. Let me contact him to ask if he can go try to stabilize the situation.”
Star City, Connecticut
Before their brake-up, Daniel Jordan and Di Di Queen often frequented parks together and just enjoyed one another's company as they strolled. The Star City Park was one of their favorite places they frequented. Its scenery and extraordinary amount of avian life had a calming effect on the couple. This was the first time they had met there since their break-up. Sonic boom was happy that her former beau had contacted her, but was having a difficult time understanding his explanation of the strange series of events he had just experienced. Di Di still secretly wanted to be together with Daniel, but even she could see that they didn't seem to fit as naturally as they did before the Dr. Light incident. Their communication wasn't as easy as it had once been.
[glow=yellow,2,300]Beep! Beep! Beep! [/glow]
“Sonic Boom,” stated Di Di tersely into her wrist communicator, “What's up?”
“Di Di?” said Wonder Man, “...I am sorry to ask this, but do you know how I can get ahold of Daniel? I called his home, but he isn't there. There is a situation in France that seems to be right up Blue Lantern's alley.”
“Is there any way you or Jem can take this one?” asked the Black Canary. “We kind of have a situation of our own.
“Anything you need help with?” asked the Amazing Manazon.
“Dan's had some type of a traumatic experience. It has taken me 45 minutes to get him to talk about it, but apparently some villain calling himself the Mocker and something about a 'War of Lights' has really spooked him,” explained the Blond Bombshell. Turning away from her former boyfriend she added in a muffled voice, “I've never seen him like this before.”
“...alright, Di Di,” answered Scott reluctantly.
The Residence of the Trevors
“We've got a problem, Jerrica,” said Wonder Man to his lovely bride. “I've tried to contact as many active members of the ToJ as possible, but Dan's's not available and all of the other members are already on missions.”
“I'll go,” said Jem without hesitation. “...Scott, don't look at me like that. I'll be fine!”
Scott Trevor remained silent with a displeased look on his face. Jerrica rolled her eyes, but with a slight smile she betrayed a loving indulgence. Activating a turquoise-colored control on her ToJ communicator she summoned the West Coast Titans.
“Starman here,” came a male voice in which anyone could detect a good sense of humor.
“Just the man I wanted to talk with,” said Jem. “I have a proposition for you, Scott.”
“You've got my attention,” said the wielder of the star rod.
“How would you like to go out on a mission with a gorgeous, married woman...just for old time's sake?”
“Name the time and place!” answered Scott Stone eagerly.
“Paris. Now.”
“I'm there!”
Paris, France
The Star Sapphire screamed so loudly that she woke herself up. It took her eyes a few moments to adjust and then she realized that she had only been dreaming. It had been the most intense nightmare she had ever experienced, and yet it had seemed so real. Then she noticed the destructive effect of her dream. Apparently her tiara had blasted the prison walls as she commanded it to strike while dreaming. She was so glad to see it again. “I have missed you,” she said as she kissed her star-tiara. “Those evil prison guards won't take you from me again.” She was instantly transformed into her battle armor and flew out of the gigantic hole in her cell wall. Once outside she looked to the sunny, blue skies and to her horror saw the last thing she expected. Panic overcame her and with a series of high-pitched screams the former beauty queen attacked Jem and Starman with a series of violet-colored rays.
“It wasn't just a dream! It was real!” shrieked Monique.
“Calm down!” commanded Starman. “We aren't here to harm you. We just want to help.”
“I don't believe you!” shouted the Star Sapphire as she intensified her beams. “The mocker said that the two of you were coming for me. I saw it! STAY BACK!!!!”
“What are you talking about?” asked Starman.
“The War of Lights!” answered the French beauty as Starman continued to use the gold beams of energy created by his star rod to deflect the attacks of violet light.
Jem felt a little perplexed about the situation. She remembered over-hearing something about a 'Mocker' and a 'War of Lights' in her husband's conversation with Sonic Boom. Realizing that the key to calming Star Sapphire down might not be through force, Jem called on her holographic powers to create the image of one of her teammates.
“Don't worry, Monique,” said the holographic image of the Daniel Jordan in his Green Lantern uniform, “I won't let them hurt you.”
The Star Sapphire was confused by the sudden appearance of the man she was destined to be with. Looking at Jem, she Realized that she had been duped, and turned her attention to the famous pop singer.
Jem knew that she needed to act immediately, while she still had the element of surprise. Suddenly the 'Green Lantern' wrapped around the Star Sapphire like a straight jacked. A beam of energy then deployed from Starman's rod and successfully knocked Monique's tiara from her head.
“Don't worry,” said Starman calmly, “We're not going to hurt you.”
“He said you would take me away against my will,” said the raven-haired beauty tearfully, “I saw you both coming for me...and then he said that all three of us were doomed to be drafted into the 'War of Lights.”
Staman's confused look turned to concern as he saw Jem's face turn pale. The gut-wrenching feeling that overcame his entire being made him realize that these were not merely the idle ramblings of a crazy lady. There was something to it.
Fawcett High...
Stellar and Sherry were celebrating their sixth month anniversary at the Sadie Hawkins dance. The night was perfect in every aspect because they were together.
"Sherry, if I had to be stranded alone on a desert island with someone I would want it to be with you," the Star-Spangled Kid said to the striking young blond.
"Oh, Freddie, that's the sweetest thing that I've heard," said the Girl of a Million Tricks with a sudden sense of expectation, “Do you really mean it?”
The moon from the skylight seem to strike the young couple softly. Sherry's lips gleamed with a moist pink glow as Freddie Batson leaned his own lips closer to hers and began to close his eyes. Just before the expectant couple could enjoy their first kiss a commotion echoed thoughout the building. The sounds of screams and horror filled the room. The seriousness in Stellar's and Sherry's eyes turned to a grave expression of duty. Noting that all eyes were on the orange and red creature that had invaded the school, both heroes quickly donned their 'working' costumes.
"Who are you and what do you want?" Stellar demanded in a heroic stance.
"I've come with a message for you, young Stellar," answered the Mocker
“Sherry! Secure the crowd! Make sure everyone gets out safely,” ordered Stellar. The tentacled alien used this minor distraction to pounce on his victim and managed to get the Star-Spangled Kid into a choke-hold.
“You may have me at a disadvantage, alien, but I'm not defeated,” said Stellar valiantly as an coat of energy armor formed around him. To Stellar's dismay, the Mocker somehow mentally took control of his star powers and used them to force Stellar to hit himself in the head repeatedly. Stellar felt like a helpless puppet in a madman's game.
"Stop hitting yourself if you can! Stop hitting yourself!" exclaimed the Mocker with glee.
“I wish someone were here to help me,” thought Freddie Batson.
Then Diamond Jack burst into the scene, pointed at the Mocker and with a threatening tone said, “Leave that boy alone!”
“You and I both know this is just a dream, Diamond Jack,” said the orange-skinned visitor from another galaxy.
"Blah, blah, blah..." said Diamond Jack as a shower of knives hurled from his ebony-colored ring in direction of the Mocker. But the hard light blades changed direction mid-flight and relaunched themselves back at the masked hero.
"Look out, Jack!” cried Stellar, “ He'll decapitate you!"
"So what?” challenged the alien. “He's just a cheap knock-off of Green Lantern. Speaking of my green-ringed puppet, I think its about time he arrived to rescue you from your nightmare, don't you, little Freddie-boy?”
"Stop your sick games and face me like a man," said the blue guardian as he flew in through the gymnasium door. Stellar watched as the former Titan formed a giant blue mace and used it to hit the Mocker on the skull. He then spun him around until their adversary was helplessly dizzy.
"Our work here is done,” proclaimed Blue Lantern triumphantly as a glowing cage formed around the Mocker.
But Stellar was not comforted in the least. “How did the Mocker know BL would be coming?” he thought. Then he watched in disbelief as both Diamond Jack, Blue Lantern, and the Mocker's cerulean prison vanished before his eyes.
“Are you beginning to realize that this was all just a dream, little Freddie?” taunted the Mocker as he began laughing scornfully at the young Super Friend. “I had no choice but to come here. Think of me as a friend. Do you know that if I hadn't come you would have tortured yourself in your sleep. Imagine a catch like Sherry actually kissing you? If only you realized that as you sleep she is cheating on you with your 'best friend', the Bullet Boy. But he's not really your best friend, is he? Can't you see that the only reason he hangs out with you is so that he could get on the Super Friends team? Same for Sherry! Once her position on the Super Friends team is fully secured she will leave you for him in the twinkle of an eye.”
“Liar!” shouted Stellar. “If this really is a dream than you are just a figment of my imagination and all I have to do is wake up and you will be gone forever.”
“Go ahead and try, little Freddie,” mocked the Mocker. “But a war is coming. A War of Lights...and you have been drafted onto the losing side. If you don't believe me just ask Blue Lantern and Diamond Jack when you wake up.”
Stellar jumped up in his bed and screamed. Breathing heavily he looked around his room, checking closets and the bathroom to make sure that he was alone and that there were no threatening presences there. He turned the faucet on and splashed cold water on his face. “What a wild nightmare,” he thought. I sure am glad that reality isn't as terrifying as my dreams!”
[glow=yellow,2,300]Beep! Beep! Beep![/glow]
“Yeah?” Stellar answered into his Hall of Justice communicator.
“Stellar, this is Whirlpool,” answered a youthful male voice, “This probably doesn't affect us, but I just wanted to give you a head's up. An alien calling himself the Mocker has attacked Blue Lantern, Diamond Jack, and the Star Sapphire.”
“What!?!” thought Stellar as a current of adrenaline seemed to rush over his entire being.
“Apparently, Starman and Jem have been threatened also,” added Whirlpool. “Stay vigilant.”
“Tha-thanks,” answered Freddie as he noticed a scorched etching above his closet door which read,
I'M REAL!
Hall of Justice: Metropolis
Sargona sighed as she directed the Hall of Justice computer to open the membership data base. “The only thing worse than monitor duty on the Hall of Justice Satellite is monitor duty in the HoJ headquarters on earth,” she said aloud as she typed in her personal password:
VINCE IS HOT
She felt as if someone were staring at her and looked around in paranoia to make sure she were alone. She shuddered at the thought of anyone anywhere finding out what her new password was. She knew that she was the only person in the building, but you can never be too safe. She scrolled down to her former boyfriend's entry.
“Blue Lantern.......Jerk. Ugh....I guess I have to create an entry for him regardless of how I feel. Daniel Jordan is the son of Green Lantern Hal Jordan and Star Sapphire Carol Ferris-Jordan. He used to wield one of the green will-power based rings. Apparently, he had a falling out with the Guardians of The Universe and they took his ring away. I guess Dan can’t stay committed to anyone. Anyways....he now wears a blue ring of hope which can conjure up just about anything Dan can imagine. Even though I have few good things to say about this man, he is the perfect fit for a Blue Lantern with his tenacity to never give up and help others to see the light at the end of the tunnel.”
She chuckled as she read the paragraph she had written less than a month ago. “Looks like its time to revise this one,” she muttered as she transferred the entry to the former member's category. She erased most of what she had written so that she could keep Daniel's status up to date.
Blue Lantern.......Jerk.
“How do I say this?” she thought. A wry smile appeared on her face and she began typing.
Blue Lantern.......Jerk. Daniel Jordan is the son of Green Lantern Hal Jordan and Star Sapphire Carol Ferris-Jordan. He used to wield one of the green will-power based rings. Daniel Jordan's heroic career ironically, but fittingly, mirrors his love life. First he foolishly dumped the drop-dead-gorgeous Sargona for the raving lunatic Sonic Boom, only to turn around and dump her so that he could be a hermit for some unknown and ridiculous reason. Similarly, he was foolishly dumped by the idiotic Green Lantern Corps, then after mysteriously receiving a blue power ring (based on hope, believe it or not) he was again dumped by the Titans of Justice, for some equally ridiculous reason...
...With his blue ring of hope Dan can conjure up anything he can imagine, except for a wife. He is the perfect fit for a Blue Lantern with his tenacity to never give up and help others to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Even though I have few good things to say about this man, I honestly hope the day will come soon that he is back on the Titans East roster.
Sargona sat back and proof read her new entry for the Blue Lantern. “Good job, Sarge,” she said in self-congratulations.
Then she went back to the current membership page and began typing.
Green Lantern Joseph (Jo Jo) Gardner, formerly known as Ice Warrior is the son of Guy Gardner and Tora Olafsdaughter Gardner (and I thought my name and heritage was strange). After Daniel Jordan (Blue Lantern) was expelled from the Green Lantern Corps and Scott Stone (Starman) quit, Jo Jo Gardner was selected by the Guardians of the Universe as the new Green Lantern. Jo Jo's green will-based ring can conjure up anything he wills it to. His first act as a Green Lantern was to slither his way into the Titans of Justice East in Daniel Jordan's rightful position. You know what they say, “What goes around...”
Sargona then awoke in her seat. “I must have nodded off," she thought. A jolt of adrenaline shot throughout her entire being as she read the last words of her entry.
Green Lantern and Sargona have both been officially drafted into the War of Lights. They will admit their undying love for one another before Green Lantern watches his beloved blasted to smithereens by the Mocker.
Sargona didn't know what to think of the entry, but she recognized the Mocker's name from the warning call she received earlier from Illumina. Apparently several others had received similar threats from this villain.
She scrolled down just one space and was shocked to read the next line.
SOONER THAN YOU THINK...