She obediently floats back down to ground level, the green flames that accompany the use of her-. Of Alan's ring, guttering as she does so.
The ring feels so… Right on her hand. And… More than that, more than its usefulness as a tool or a weapon, it represents a clean break from… Being a Crock. Becoming a Green Lantern. But whatever else it had involved, being raise a Crock had taught her patience. She'd kept up her end of the bargain with Alan, and he'd kept his. And more than that, more than these lessons, he'd introduced her to other superheroes. His old mostly retired friends, but also their students and allies. She'd met most of the Justice League. Two years, graduate from High School, and then… Anything.
A much better fate than YJ Canon, much less Earth-1 Canon.
She pulls the ring off her right ring finger and holds it out to him, and he takes it from her with a nods and a smile. And just like always she can't help but feel diminished by the absence, an impulse she ruthlessly quashes. She doesn't just 'snatch and grab' anymore. She's building something, something solid and hers. Trusting people-. Some people. People of proven dedication to their cause.
Wonder Woman was… Nicer than she thoughts that she'd be. Friendly without prying too much. Of course, if she did decide to join the Justice League, they'd probably expect more of that. A full background report as part of the process. Wonder Woman might not have pressed her, but The Question certainly would.
Given that she's proved herself as a hero, I don't foresee anyone other than Batman and the Question complaining.
But that was fine. Whatever it took. She didn't intend to let the suspicions her father beat into her control her life.
"You wanna fly home, or do you need bus fare?"
The first few times they'd trained like this, she hadn't wanted to come to the training area with him or leave with him. She said that it was because it wasn't secure, and that was… Partially true. But more than that, she hadn't wanted to have to rely on him.
Understandable given her origins. But telling that she's changed.
Not any more.
She nods. "Fly."
Alan smiles and holds out his right hand. She's suggested that he should try and avoid telegraphing his intent like that, but he just shrugged and claimed to be too old to learn new tricks. It's-.
I'm assuming he's in his nineties, kept young by the Ring. To be honest, this situation is probably good for him. Gives him something to
focus on living for.
Something catches her eyes and she looks up, focusing on… A tiny green dot, rapidly approaching them through the air. Alan spots it a moment later, frowning as he does so.
"Is that Hal? I wonder what he wants?"
Jade hopes that it's Hal. He has a serious military demeanour and as such was far easier to deal with than the abrasive idiot who served as his-.
Heheh. Guy not making a good impression on her, eh?
It's not a Lantern. It's a ring, without-.
"Jade Scott of Sector Two Eight One Four. You have the ability to overcome great fear."
Oh-ho! ... Wait, who died?
In a daze, she holds out her right hand, the ring floating towards her to replace the one she just returned to her mentor.
"Welcome to the Green Lantern Corps."
A green corona envelops her, a thin layer like Hal and Gardner have rather than the burning plume like Alan has. Her uniform, based on what Alan wears, shimmers for a moment as the ring tried to create a standard Corps uniform. She stops it-.
'Based on Alan's', eh? So, green tights, red tunic and black cape with green lining (or does she do the 'No capes!' thing). Colorful if nothing else. Wonder what the Guardians will think.
"Jade Scott, huh?"
Oh.
That.
"It beat the alternatives." She takes a breath to centre herself and regards the ring. "Ring, which of this Sector's Lanterns died?"
Sensible question to ask, given the usual cause of a Ring's transferring ownership.
Correction: 'to
center herself' I think? Centre is a location, center is the act.
"Green Lantern Guy Gardner of Sector Two Eight One Four has been critically injured and will be unable to perform his duties for an indeterminate period of time. This ring was dispatched to select a replacement."
That's… Good. She didn't like him but that didn't mean that she wanted him dead.
Ah,
that incident. So by the time the Team forms, Jade will be a senior member, if not a mentor.
"Is he in a hospital?"
The-. Her ring doesn't answer Alan's question. Alan's ring doesn't talk and can't answer questions. The only time when Hal managed to get the better of him when they sparred was when he let his ring do his thinking for him.
Hmm, Wonder if she could ask her ring to
repair Alan's. Or would it refuse due to some statue of the Book of Oa?
"Ring, state current location of Lantern Gardner."
"Lantern Gardner is presently located in The Johns Hopkins Hospital."
"What's wrong with him?"
"Traumatic brain injury. Broken right forearm. Fractured right shoulder. Broken jaw. Broken ribs. Numerous bruises and lacerations."
Hope she plans to assist with that. Assuming she thinks to do so.
Alan creates a brick wall construct around them.
"Hal said a lot of Lanterns die in the first few minutes because whatever killed the last Lantern comes after them."
She shakes her head. "Because they follow the ring. This ring didn't come from Lantern Gardner."
She has a point. Guy left the ring at home when this happened. Bet there's a small hole in his house.
"Still, it's a green glow. We should be ready just in case."
She doesn't reply that she's always ready. She suspects that he knows about the knives, but if he hasn't felt the need to draw attention to them then she won't either.
I see he's been learning from her, regardless of what he said.
"What happened to him?"
A moment of silence-.
"Answer him."
"Lantern Gardner was struck by a motor vehicle. The driver contacted the medical services. Lantern Gardner was not involved in combat at the time."
Still ridiculous. If I had a power ring or equivalent, it'd likely never leave my finger.
Hit.. by a.. car? He can't have been wearing his ring. Or looking both ways.
"Is my appointment provisional?"
"No. As of accepting this ring, you are now a Green Lantern of Sector Two Eight One Four."
Oh, my. Replacing John Stewart in the line of succession. Alan's training must have come in handy. Oh, the guardians are just gonna
love her...
"Are there any matters in this Sector which require my immediate attention?"
"No."
"Do the Guardians have any orders for me?"
No specific orders on file. Standing orders are that newly chosen Green Lanterns should report to Oa for basic training."
No need for that here. I suspect she'd teach the other rookies some dirty tricks Kilowog would hate (or at least claim to, then incorporate into his curriculum.)
She lowers her right hand. "I don't need it."
Alan chuckles, then bows his head slightly. "We've covered the basics, Jade. The rings the Corps hands out have a whole bunch of functions that my ring doesn't."
"You checked what Green Lantern Corps basic training involves when you started training me. We've covered most of it. I can use this ring's archives to learn the rest."
Confident. Like any new Lantern. It's not going to be fun when she gets that confidence tested.
She clenches her right fist and floats into the air.
"Besides, I have school on Monday."
Ha! Teen Lantern, eat your non-existent heart out.
Seriously, what the hell, DC?
"Spatial warp to Oa-."
"No."
"Spatial warp suspended."
Oh, the Guardians are going to notice that. I bet a visit from Hal will be incoming.
She smiles faintly at the idea of willing her ring into submission.
"Let's go and show Artemis my new ring."
Sibling rivalry, ha! Bet Artemis isn't going to take kindly to this...
