One by one, they began coming to. Flash first, Green Lantern second, Reverend Justice third.

"What the hell was that?" Flash asked, shaking off the cobwebs.

"Beats me Flash," Green Lantern said, " One minute we’re at the Citadel, watching the Hockey game, enjoying beer and hotdogs, now we’re here … a beach with rocky spikes sticking out of the sand, not my idea of a beach resort!"

"Uh, guys? Am I seeing straight?" Reverend Justice asked, looking up at the sky over the ocean.

Flash and Green Lantern looked up. Twin golden moons shone in the reddish sky.

"Flash, the next words out of your mouth had better not be ‘Toto, we’re not in Kansas any more!’ "Green Lantern said.

"Well we aren’t!" Flash said.

"Reverend Justice to Watchtower come in? Watchtower do you copy?" Reverend Justice said, trying his communicator. "Nothing but static guys, where ever we are, it’s out of communications range from the Watchtower."

Green Lantern shot a beacon from his power ring. "We aren’t in range of any Green Lantern satellites either. Wherever here is, it’s far."

"Any life signs?" Reverend Justice asked.

Green Lantern performed a sweep from his ring. "There is definitely some life in that ocean, pretty similar to what we have on earth. I’m also getting readings for birds, rodents … a few canine-like predators and mammal-like life forms. No intelligent life forms as we know it."

"Well, plenty of trees for fire-wood so at least we won’t starve until we find a way out of here." Flash said.

"That better be sooner than later: my ring’s charge won’t last for ever" Green Lantern said.

Back at the Central City Citadel Arena, in the Private VIP box where Flash, Green Lantern and Reverend Justice were previously sitting, Superman, Hawkgirl and Vixen were having words with the Manager.

"What do you mean they were just sitting there and vanished the next moment?" Hawkgirl said eyes flaring.

Vixen stood next to her, arms crossed, an upset look on her face. "Just consider yourself lucky Flash’s wife isn’t here: you’d have an Action News team on site so fast you wouldn’t know what hit you!" She thought.

"It’s just like I said Hawkgirl: one moment they were sitting there, watching the game, eating hotdogs, drinking beer, I was coming back with more brews and poof, they were gone!" The manager said, looking flustered.

Superman detected no elevated heart rate other than that of a man fearing a pair of angry women with special powers would beat him up. The man was telling the truth. He turned his attention to the seats where his teammates sat … and detected something, a heat signature so faint only he could have detected it.

"Ladies, I think I’ve stumbled upon something here." Superman said.

"Superman to Watchtower, come in? Mike, could we have a high intensity infra-red sweep of the Central City Citadel Arena?"

"Coming up Superman, what’s up?" Mr. Terrific said.

"Just a hunch Mike, but I’ve detected a residual heat signature lingering in the VIP box, like it’s out of whack with synchronous time … I’m not sure if I can explain it any better but it seems someone or some thing was in here with our terrible trio, and I’m hoping we can track him or it down." Superman said.

The Manager breathed a sigh of relief as Hawkgirl and Vixen turned their attention to Superman.

"They were taken away from here?" Vixen asked.

"Terrible trio?" Hawkgirl said, a surprised look on her face.

Superman chuckled – "That’s right Hawkgirl, you missed the charity hockey game we held last week for the Metropolis Relief for the Poor fund raiser. Those three were a riot: RJ is a decent skater but has a lousy slap shot, Flash has no sense of balance on skates and while GL has a good wrist shot his stick work is much too sloppy … Robin kept saying: ‘Uh oh, here comes the terrible trio!’ every time they’d hit the ice! Somehow it’s no surprise they’d come to see a game together."

Vixen nodded with a smile as she had seen that game, Hawkgirl was on Sentry duty that day … Joey had omitted telling her about the "Terrible Trio" bit, knowing she’d tease him about it.

"And to answer your question Vixen, the heat signatures I’ve picked up almost read like a footprint of sorts, almost too faint for my Infra red vision to pick up … I’m hoping the Watchtower scan will provide us with better information." Superman said.

Mr Terrific’s voice crackled in Superman’s Communicator. "I’ve done a full sweep of the VIP box, and after isolating the heat signatures from the four of you, I can definitely see a lingering heat pattern, like footsteps in front of a doorway … someone was definitely in there with them. I haven’t picked up that particular heat signature anywhere else in the Citadel; it’s as if a portal opened in the VIP box and someone took them away."

Superman took a deep breath and nodded. "Thanks Mike we’ll need to analyse this somehow…"

"I’m dispatching a team of scientists immediately." Mr Terrific said.

"Thanks Mike, Superman out" Superman said.

Back on the mysterious beach, Flash, Green Lantern and Reverend Justice had setup camp. A campfire had been lit and fruit resembling coconuts had been harvested by Flash, a quick scan from Green Lantern’s ring had shown them to be safe to eat.

Reverend Justice was staring into the woods that bordered the beach, using the progressive vision of his mask.

"What’s up RJ? You’ve been staring at the woods like a cat staring at a mouse hole!" Green Lantern said.

"Might be nothing John, you did say your scan detected mammals rodents & birds … but I definitely heard something moving back there. I don’t know if the canine-like predators you’ve detected stalk their prey … but I do get the distinct feelings we’re being watched." Reverend Justice said.

"More remnants from Rà’s al Ghul’s antidote Joey?" Flash asked.

Reverend Justice nodded. "The antidote seemed to enhance my senses. It’s like my perception becomes hyper sensitive in high stress moments where I get an adrenaline surge … popping here from the Hockey game sure qualifies."

"Keep them senses sharp Joey, they might be our only defence when my ring and your gadgets run out of power. Wally’s speed won’t be impaired, but he expands a lot of energy and needs plenty of food to keep up with his metabolism." Green Lantern said.

"At least your ring had enough of a charge to find us a spring of drinkable water on a rocky hill in the woods; and we pretty much determined what’s edible and what isn’t. It looks like we’re vegans until we get out of here. We wouldn’t want to upset the locals with a hunt." Flash said.

Reverend Justice nodded and turned his attention to the campfire. "Remember that Sci-Fi movie where Earth colonists land on this planet that looks like Earth … only they realize the water’s like Acid and it is inhabited by Zombie-like beings living underground?"

Flash nodded "Yeah, awesome Sci-Fi flick, kinda creepy!"

"I know this isn’t the place, but I can’t get that darned movie out of my head, wondering what unexpected creepy twist this is gonna take." Reverend Justice said, sitting in the sand.

"Don’t let your own imagination get the better of you Joey. We’ll find a way back home. If we don’t, the Justice League will." Green Lantern said, trying to keep his own worries in check.

"In many ways, this place reminds me of Krypton, or at least of the stories Superman tells about it: the red sky, the twin moons … anyway that’s what the record from his Fortress of Solitude say." Flash said.

Green Lantern nodded. "The records also state one of the Moons had been destroyed in a Space Travel test flight, many lives were lost. This isn’t Krypton. Krypton was said to have a higher gravity, and was destroyed itself. Both these moons are whole and the gravity is the same as Earth’s."

"Would that apply to the parallel worlds? Batman tried to explain to me the similarities and differences – how for instance on Earth II, Wonder Woman and Steve Trevor actually got married and had kids … so much information my head felt it was going to explode!" Reverend Justice said.

"I guess this might be an early version of Krypton II or Krypton III …anything’s possible, but not very likely. Besides, why would we be pulled here for?" Green Lantern said.

"Well, given that there are no showers and that the water is indeed H2O and not HCL … Joey stripped down to his briefs. He wrapped his suit and gadgets in his Trench coat, tying the sleeves into a knot.

Green Lantern & Flash watched him make his way between the rocky spikes, to the water, walking on the dark sand.

"Oooh, dudes that water feels fine!" Joey said, letting the waves hit him. "Whoa! Strong riptide!"

He took a few steps back. John and Wally had joined him. "You’re right bro, that water does feel fine. Salty water won’t do much for the skin but it is an improvement from feeling sweaty." Flash said.

"All we’re missing is our better halves; make a holiday out of it." Green Lantern said, trying to smile.

"I wonder what they’re doing right now." Flash said.

Back at the Citadel, a team of Justice League scientists was going over every nook and cranny of the VIP Box; while Vixen and Hawkgirl tried their best to calm down Linda Park West, who had shown up a few minutes after the team of scientists had been dispatched.

"Three members of the Justice League disappear, one of them being my Husband and you tell me not to do an exclusive on this? Are you serious?" Linda asked, hands on her hips, a mixture of shock, disbelief and anger on her face. Something had happened to her Wally and she was upset.

"Calm down Linda, the last thing we need is a panic on our hands." Hawkgirl said.

"Our boyfriends vanished too." Vixen added, "We’re also worried and upset…but raising a stink won’t solve anything. Superman has a lead that our Scientists are investigating right now. Whatever took our boys away, we’ll figure it out, and get them back."

Linda crossed her arms and began crying from worry. Vixen hugged her, while Hawkgirl put a hand on her shoulder. "They can take care of themselves Linda. We’ll get them back." Hawkgirl said.

Atom was leading the scientific team. He walked up to Superman and said: "No doubt about it: someone with extremely advanced technology was in here. The various spectral analysis show that a portal opened right here behind where they were sitting. We actually detected footprints coming out of the portal and back in.

The prints are quite humanoid in shape. Whoever came out dragged them one by one without either one of them putting up a struggle. Toxicology reports form our forensics analysts show no signs of drugs in the food or drink, or any fallout from the floor. It’s as if their kidnapper was as quick as Flash – or if he has some sort of mind control device."

"Good work Ray." Superman said. "Any ideas on how to follow the kidnapper’s trail?"

"The technology is unknown so far; it left traces behind but not an actual trail to follow." Atom said with a wince. "What we need is someone with a more open vision of science."

Superman gave him a quizzical glance. Atom grinned. "While our pal Batman prefers a more scientific approach – very logical and structured - sometimes science fails us. This is where we need to become free-thinkers and forget our preconceived ideas about alchemy and magic."

Superman looked at Atom as if he’d taken leave of his senses. "I’ve never been more serious Superman." Atom said. "Unless of course you have your doubts about Zatanna’s capabilities."

Superman nodded and smiled. He knew better than to second-guess Atom or Zatanna’s powers. "Superman to Watchtower? Mike, could you locate Zatanna?"

Back on the mysterious beach, Green Lantern, Flash and Reverend Justice were walking back to the campfire. Joey couldn’t repress a giggle.

"Good to see you’re finding some humour in this predicament!" Green Lantern said.

"It’s just the irony that struck me: Shy told me Diana and Bruce are finally having their long awaited weekend on the Riviera. We three jokers get thrown on this creepy beach without our significant others while Batman and Wonder Woman enjoy actual quality time together … how ironic can you get?" Reverend Justice said.

"Yeah…ironic…our suits!" Wally said, and ran to the campfire. While they were cooling off at the beach, someone had come to the camp and stolen their uniforms and gear.

Green Lantern was livid. "Damn it! I should have known better! We should have taken turns going to the water while the other two kept watch!"

Reverend Justice didn’t know what to say. "Look guys!" Flash said. "Whoever took our stuff left an easy enough trail to follow."

"My scan was wrong," Green Lantern said, "There is intelligent life in this place. Your sensing that we were being watched was right Joey."

"Don’t beat yourself up John. Right now we need to stick together and follow that trail." Reverend Justice said.

"We’ll have to rely on your senses Joey. You lead the way." Green Lantern said.

Joey cleared his mind and inhaled, he needed to focus that last adrenaline surge. Exhaling slowly he let his senses take over. The breeze caressed his skin; he inhaled again, and recognised a hint of his after-shave in the breeze, from his suit. It followed the same direction of the tracks in the sand. Mixed in was a sharp fragrance of sweat. Their thief. Joey smiled.

"John, Wally, this way." He said in a low voice. They began following the trail.

"Wait," Flash said, "We can’t leave the fire unattended." Using hyper speed, Flash put out the campfire.

"You better be careful Wally, without the boots you’re more likely to sprain an ankle, gash your feet on a jagged piece of rock or get splinters. Keep Hyper Speed at a minimum." Green Lantern said.

"I’m fine John" Flash said.

"John makes a point Wally; we don’t even have a Med-Kit handy. We have to avoid injury as much as possible." Reverend Justice said.

"Okay, I’ll be careful! Geez! What a pair of mother-hens you two are!" Flash said rolling his eyes.

Green Lantern chuckled and looked at Reverend Justice. "Do you still have that trail Joey?"

"Certainly do! Follow me." Reverend Justice said. The proceeded quietly from the beach to the woods.

After a bout twenty minutes of walking through the woods, relying of RJ’s sense of smell and hearing; they stopped. "Wait," RJ said in a near whisper, "Can you smell that? Can you hear that?"

Green Lantern and Flash stopped. Smelling the air, Green Lantern said, "Fire…meat of some sort cooking on an open fire."

Reverend Justice smiled and nodded. Flash said "And chatter … I hear people talking."

They walked a bit more and were able to see a small village. Several small fires were lit. Women were cooking various fish and fowl on skewers on the open fires. Men and women had a skin with golden reflections from the fires, turning to a darker shade of bronze in the twin moons from the red sky.

Their language, while completely foreign had familiar ring to it, Joey couldn’t quite put his finger on it until one of the younger women stepped closer to one of the fires. She looked like a shorter version of Starfire.

"They look Tamaranian!" Green Lantern said, just as Joey had realized it himself.

"If they are, there’s a sure way to communicate with them." Reverend Justice said.

Without being quite sure of what he was saying, Reverend Justice stepped in sight. "Ameekash, ka’tur Tamaranee?" Somehow, that’s what seemed to be the right thing to ask.

The pieces of Tamaranian he had absorbed from Starfire were anchored in his subconscious mind. Without really knowing what he was saying, he wanted to ask "My friends are you Tamaranian?"

The tribe went into a commotion assuming defensive stances. Some levitated, their eyes glowing a dangerous green colour, staring at the intruder, some ran into their huts.

A small Tamaranian boy was pulling a burly older man out of his hut. The old man shouted a few commands. The warriors stopped levitating and their eyes stopped glowing. The boy pointed at three bundles on the ground – their suits and gadgets- and pointed back at Reverend Justice. Green Lantern and Flash came out of the woods and stood beside him.

"Are you insane? You almost got yourself killed!" Green Lantern said.

"Just trust me on this John. During the language transference, some of Starfire’s language and culture slipped into my subconscious. Besides, we need to get our stuff back." Reverend Justice said.

The burly old man made an exasperated gesture at the boy and growled a few orders at him too. The boy grabbed the first bundle and brought it to Joey, John and Wally. He repeated this with the other two bundles. Joey put a knee down and smiled at the boy. He pointed at his temples, then at the boy’s hands, then back at his temples.

Curiously, the boy touched Joey’s face, and gasped. "Wow, what happened?" He asked.

"You’ve just discovered one of your powers little man. You can absorb a stranger’s language and culture by physical contact." Reverend Justice said. "My name is Joey. He is John, and he is Wally." John and Wally put on a reassuring smile.

The boy looked down. "I am Tama’ronder. But you can call me Tama. I apologise. I wasn’t stealing your things; I only wanted to prove to the village I was not lying. I was going to return everything."

"Don’t worry my little friend." Green Lantern said. "You’re a brave boy approaching strangers the way you did. It looks like you’ve become our interpreter."

Tama smiled. To the village, he said in Tamaranian: "They are friends! Do not fear them!"

The Villagers came back from their huts. Joey, John and Wally proceeded putting their suits back on. "It may be better we don’t confuse them with our "hero" names. We may as well go on a first name basis until we find our way home." Green Lantern said.

"Sound advice" Flash said.

Reverend Justice put one knee down. "Tama, we don’t know how we got here. We’d like to find our way home. Would anybody in your village know?"

Tama smiled. "The Guardian must have brought you here! My Grand Father told me that a bunch of our people had left Tamaran during the Colonial Wars, looking for a place to live in peace. Their ships were overloaded and too slow. They would have all died, but Guardian found them. He became their friend and hearing how all those people wanted was to live in peace, he sent them here. I was born here."

Reverend Justice, Green Lantern and Flash looked at each other. "I’ve heard about the Civil war on Tamaran, and of the creation of New Tamaran; but the Colonial Wars are a new one on me. If his Guardian is related to the Galactic Guardians the Green Lantern Corps are associated with, there are no records of such an incident." Green Lantern said.

"Something Nightwing told me," Reverend Justice said, "as a child Starfire was sold as a slave to the enemy as a gesture of good faith to preserve peace on Tamaran. She escaped and found her way to Earth. That was long before the Civil War her Marriage of State to Karras was supposed to prevent. I wonder if that Colonial War is the same conflict because of which she was sold as a slave?"

"Timeline sounds right." Flash said.

"Tama, how can we find the Guardian?" Reverend Justice asked.

Tama gave him a curious glance. "We don’t find Guardian, he finds us."

"There must be a way to call him when you need him?" Green Lantern asked.

"Tama looked at the ground. "He made us promise we’d keep it secret."

"Tama, we need to find our way home. We have wives and families waiting for us. If the Guardian brought us here, we must find out why." Flash said.

Tama looked down, looking disappointed. "You’ll leave won’t you?"

"Well, we wouldn’t mind staying a while" Flash said, giving one of the young women an appreciative glance, making Green Lantern and Reverend Justice roll their eyes; "And if your people need our help, we’ll help; but you must understand Tama – we have lives in our own world."

"This is why we need to speak to the Guardian Tama. If he brought us here, he must have needed our help." Reverend Justice said.

"Mind you, we would have appreciated to be asked for our help, rather than be taken without an explanation and dumped unconscious on the beach." Green Lantern said.

Tama looked up at them. "Very well then, I will take you to him. After we eat!" He said, now looking all excited. He led them to the fires and sat them down nearby.

"Mother! Father! Our friends will have dinner with us!" Tama said excitedly. The young lad at times reminded them of the typical lonesome boy who didn’t have any friends, and at other times reminded them of an inter-dimensional version of Tom Sawyer.

Green Lantern, Flash and Reverend Justice exchanged a look. "Try not to get too attached to the kid guys. He’s a sweet kid, very likeable, but getting attached to him will make leaving this place that much harder. I know I’ll have a hard time" Green Lantern said.

Flash and Reverend Justice nodded. Indeed, that boy was quite endearing.

They ate heartily. Red sky and twin moons aside, this could have easily been dinner in the Caribbean: Fish, shellfish and wild fowl, with that coconut-like fruit. It wasn’t Earth, but the food was good.

A few hours after Atom and the scientific team had left the VIP box along with Linda who was promised a phone call as soon as the men were found; and long after the Citadel had closed, Zatanna had joined Superman, Hawkgirl and Vixen.

"That’s the just of it Zatanna," Superman said. "A being came through a portal which would have appeared right here behind the chairs and abducted Green Lantern, Flash and Reverend Justice before they could even react."

"Atom said the kidnapper left traces but no real trail to follow." Hawkgirl continued.

"He feels a more free-thinking approach is required to get our men back." Vixen said.

"And Atom recommended me? I’m flattered!" Zatanna said, smiling. "Let’s have a closer look at that portal."

Her wand appeared in her hand out of thin air, and waving it, she said: "Elbisiv emoceb stnirptoof dna latrop!"

The portal, a large circle of green light appeared before them. On the floor, green footprints were showing going back and forth on the floor.

"Green…why didn’t the spectral analysis reveal that colour?" Superman wondered aloud.

"Your intruder went through great lengths to cover his tracks. Even used a temporal distortion – that’s how they were taken away without a struggle. Simply put they were gone before their minds could notice anything went wrong." Zatanna said.

"How on Earth can you tell this from looking at the portal Zatanna?" Vixen asked.

"Look closely between the portal and chairs just above the footprints." Zatanna explained. "Be careful you don’t get dizzy. You’ll see something like a fine mist distorting the view, like looking though thousands of microscopic prisms."

Superman, Hawkgirl and Vixen looked … and had to shake their heads to fight a slight sense of vertigo.

"You’re not kidding, that’s enough to give you a headache!" Hawkgirl said.

"That’s residual temporal distortion. Let’s see if we can’t clear the field." Zatanna said, waving her wand again. "Noitrotsid laropmet laudiser raelc!"

The temporal distortion cleared. She walked between the chairs and portal, and looked at the portal.

"Let’s have a look at where this leads." She said, waving her wand again. "Htap latrop wohs!"

"Oh my, this may be a problem!" Zatanna said, looking concerned.

"What’s wrong?" Superman asked.

"Look!" she said turning the portal sideways with a wave of her wand for Superman Hawkgirl and Vixen to see.

They looked at what appeared to be an intricate maze of vortexes from the opening of the portal.

"Our kidnapper really made sure he covered his tracks, rearranging the vortex behind him into this maze. We could spend days taking educated guesses, but we may not have that long. We need a way to trace them. The Justice League Communicators don’t generate enough of a power signature to be of use …" Zatanna’s voice trailed off.

"How about a Green Lantern Power ring?" Vixen said.

Zatanna smiled. Waiving her wand she said: "Gnir rewop s’nretnal neerg etacol!"

The path Green Lantern’s ring had taken became high-lit and the proper vortex was found. Zatanna tilted her head with a quizzical frown. "That’s strange, come take a look? The vortex shows the signature of two power rings!"

Superman, Hawkgirl and Vixen all stepped closer and looked. Very visible from Zatanna’s projection of the portal was the vortex, and in the vortex, the distinct power signature of two Green Lantern power rings.

"More than meets the eye." Superman said.

"Understatement of the year!" Vixen said.

Zatanna waved her wand again "Nretnal dnoces laever!"

A hologram-like representation of the bearer of the second ring appeared before them.

"No way!" Superman said in disbelief, "He died years ago, reigniting the Sun!"

They all looked at the once fallen Green Lantern who sacrificed it all for final redemption; the one who had once turned his back on the Galactic Guardians and on the Green Lantern Corps out of anger and grief.

"Now it’s beginning to make sense, but how in creation’s name could he have survived?" Superman wondered.

"Never mind how." Zatanna said. "He’s alive and powerful enough to have pulled this off."

"His body was never found, looks like he was propelled light years away once the fight with the Sun Eater was over!" Hawkgirl said.

Superman nodded. Everything pointed to the conclusion that the most powerful Green Lantern of all was still alive.

Dinner was over in the small Tamaranian settlement. After checking with his Grandfather – who was also the leader of the settlement – and with his parents permission, Tama took his new friends on a trek to find the Guardian.

"Does the Sun ever rise here?" Flash asked.

Tama cast him a curious glance and smiled "What you would call ‘night’ lasts 10 Moon cycles on this planet. The Sun would be rising three moons from now, and what you would call ‘day’ would last 10 more moon cycles – when at its peak on the fifth moon it looks like there are three Suns up in the sky, and we must hide in the caves to avoid the heat."

They walked on through the woods, to another beach. "They must be located on a peninsula." Green Lantern said.

"Mind your footing" Tama said, "This side is quite rocky and slippery. I can fly, you can’t."

They made their way on the wet rocks, taking advantage of low tide. Tama led them to a cave. Its entrance must have been partially blocked by high tide, but not completely submerged, making it inaccessible; a perfect hiding place.

"In there." Tama said.

They walked in. In the extended night of this place, the cave should have been pitch black, rather it was well lit … by a giant power lantern, its green light impossible to ignore.

John looked confused and in shock. A man stepped into the green light.

"Tama! Nice of you to visit! I see you found my guests!" the man said.

Reverend Justice and Flash looked at each other, looking puzzled.

Green Lantern finally got over his shock and spoke up. "Jordan? It can’t be! Hal Jordan! They said you died reigniting the sun! Now it all makes sense: I couldn’t detect any intelligent life forms because you were scrambling them!"

"Care to fill us in?" Flash asked.

"Allow me" Hal Jordan said. "Once upon a time, before Kyle Rainer and John Stewart were approached by the Galactic Guardians to join the Green Lantern Corps, I was Earth’s Green Lantern."

"He was quite the legend." John said. "Hal was constantly quoted during training at the Corps … in spite of his betrayal."

Hal cast John an angry look. "For years I was the faithful servant of the Galactic Guardians and a devoted Green Lantern. My hometown was destroyed in an incident that should have never happened. Innocent people, good people died a senseless death. Yes, I played God. Mea culpa. However, I had the power to right a wrong. And so I did."

Hal and John stared each other down for a few moments. "Hal, I probably would have done the same thing in your place, hell I would have been pissed off too had the Galactic Guardians put me on trial for returning those innocent lives. But you turned your back on the Corps, on the Guardians and on everybody who ever supported you when you attacked the Guardians."

Hal looked down with a sigh. Tama was looking at them argue with a concerned look on his face. Reverend Justice put a comforting hand on his shoulder.

"The overcharging of my original ring on the day I attacked the Guardians nearly killed me, destroying it … but the power surge galvanised me somehow. I was able to create a new ring and a Lantern of my own to recharge it, but I soon realized the new ring had a permanent charge to it." He looked up at his guests.

"That’s how when the Sun Eater nearly destroyed Earth by putting out the Sun, I had enough power to fight him and reignite the sun."

Seeing the confused looks on Flash and Reverend Justice’s faces, he added "I do believe the official story that hit the Newspapers was that an impromptu Eclipse had occurred that day … which just happened to coincide with Green Lantern and Superman’s latest enemy being destroyed; isn’t that right John?" Hal said.

"Yes, an ‘unexplained eclipse’ was the actual version to avoid a world-wide panic." John said. "We all believed you’d gotten killed. How did you survive anyway?"

Hal shrugged "To this day I’m not sure. I saw Earth was in danger, and believed my sacrifice would be worth it if Earth were saved. Once the Sun reignited, the yellow energy from it neutralised my Power ring quite thoroughly … however, perhaps due to a combination of the pulse wave that resulted from the sun reigniting and the fact my body had been galvanised by the permanent Green Energy charge … I was blasted clear out of the galaxy and found myself here."

"The blast likely shot you backwards in time as well, which is how you encountered that group of Tamaranians looking for a peaceful place to live." Reverend Justice said, ruffling Tama’s hair.

"Makes sense" John said, "It would explain the discrepancies in timelines."

"My Grandmother told us stories of how the ship had gone through a solar storm that nearly destroyed us. She talked of something looking like a giant black tunnel that took us in and stranded us in this sector. The Guardian rescued us not long after that." Tama added.

Hal nodded. "That temporal anomaly trimmed a good 10 - 15 years off of me, and affected us in many ways. Living here has made me quite knowledgeable with temporal distortions. That’s how I brought you here before you even knew what hit you."

"Which brings us to the obvious question Hal, why? " Flash asked. "Why drag us here when you seem to have the perfect life away from the Galactic Guardians who still consider you a criminal and away from Earth whose people no longer trust you?"

Hal sighed.

"Why? I have been detecting more and more mining ships from the nearest solar system prospecting the twin moons, likely for their Cobalt content. It’s only a matter of time until they make their way here and a full-blown conflict explodes. The war-like instinct of the Tamaranian settlers has grown dormant except for the hunters. They would be sitting ducks."

"You could have placed an official request through the Green Lantern Corps or with the Justice League rather than to kidnap us!" John said.

"Would you have even listened to me? The Galactic Guardians and Green Lantern Corps have a warrant out for me, and I don’t think the Justice League would trust a man who once tried to play God." Hal said.

John had to nod at that, Hal made one hell of a point: he would have been placed under arrest before he’d even opened his mouth.

"I did a bit of recon on the miners; they’re part of a pirate-like race who calls themselves the Kharriek." Hal said, "They loot, pillage and kill anyone or anything standing in their path. I’m on a slippery hill: either I warn the settlers and in doing so, risk re-igniting their warrior instincts to allow them to defend themselves; thus failing in my mission to protect their safe haven; or get reinforcements to help defend them so they may continue to live in peace. As powerful as I may be, I’m severely outnumbered."

For a moment, Hal looked much older. Looking at them, he continued.

"It was my hope that once you had met the settlers and my little friend Tama; you wouldn’t refuse to help me protect the settlement." Hal said.

"Okay, point taken," Reverend Justice said, "But need I remind you I’m the odd man out here? No power ring, no super speed, no special powers other than my fighting skills, enhanced senses and multiple gadgets."

Hal Jordan smiled. "My friend, the temporal distortions allowed me to go back in time and check you out: - put yourself in harms way to save Hawkgirl and Batman, took to the recruit training like a fish to water, became good friends with the founding members and became Hawkgirl’s lover. You’re also good pals with Robin, Nightwing and Starfire." Hal said going to a makeshift desk. He picked up two spare rings.

"You were a natural fit for this mission, along with Wally and John. Official Green Lantern recruitment takes months and the selection is even more tedious. In this case, John will agree with me I must make an exception and select two honorary Green Lanterns." Hal said, handing a power ring to Joey and Wally.

"Honorary Green Lanterns!" Joey said with a smile. "How about it Wally?"

"John won’t live it down. I like it!" Wally said.

John gave Flash a dirty look, then shrugged. "My ring will need a charge too." He said.

Joey and Wally slipped their rings on. "Follow John’s lead" Hal said, "And repeat the Oath."

John raised his ring to the Lantern, Joey and Wally followed suite. He recited the Oath, which was repeated by the two Honorary Green Lanterns:

"In brightest day, in darkest night

Beware my power, Green Lantern's light!"

Joey’s Reverend Justice suit transformed into a modified Green Lantern suit with his silver cross superimposed on the Green Lantern crest; while Wally’s Flash suit also transformed, the Flash crest superimposed on the Green Lantern crest.

"That was wicked!" Flash said.

"Gotta love the way the two suits merged!" Reverend Justice said.

"It may take you a while to get accustomed to manipulate the power rings," John said. "Just relax, let your thoughts flow and it will follow suite. Create weapons, shields, protective bubbles, levitation fields, even change your bodies densities – no bad jokes Flash!" John warned.

Hal chuckled. "I even turned my body into an android once, to avoid a yellow forcefield. The ring has tons of potential."

Flash took a deep breath and thought "Levitate" … a green halo enveloped him and he levitated three feet from the ground. "Oh my God I’m flying!" he said, then dropped to the ground abruptly "Whoa!" he yelped.

"Concentrate on what you’re doing Wally," John said, "distractions could be fatal in combat."

"Crucial tip there John, anything else we need to know?" Flash said.

"Relax, let your thoughts flow, but focus on what you’re doing." Hal added. "John’s right: distractions can be costly."

"Okay, let me try." Reverend Justice said. He relaxed, and focused on those times he flew in Shayera’s arms. Like Flash, a green halo envelopped him and he flew. He flew out the cave opening into the red sky, feeling the wind against him, nearly losing his hat.

"Angel, how I wish you were here with me right now!" he thought feverishly. He heard laughter near him. Tama had joined him in flight.

"Isn’t this fun Joey?" he asked.

"Yes Tama, it is!" Reverend Justice replied. "Let’s join our friends in the cave!"

They returned. "My friends, that was amazing!" Reverend Justice said, Tama still laughing.

Hal and John chuckled with a nod, Flash looked annoyed. "Oh sure, it works for him!" he said.

"It’s easy Wally, " Reverend Justice said, "Have you ever flown with the help of Hawkgirl or Superman?"

Flash tilted his head pensively and said: "Yes, I have!"

"Think back on how it felt the very first time you realised you were flying!" the Reverend said.

Flash focused for a few moments…and flew. He let out an excited "Wooo-hoo-hoo hooo!" as he imitated the flight pattern Reverend Justice and Tama had taken.

Flash returned to the cave, laughing with excitement.

"Wasn’t that a mega rush Wally?" Reverend Justice asked, smiling.

"Boy you said it!" Flash said, "John, you never told us being a Lantern ws so much fun!"

"Uh guys? This isn’t a party? We’re preparing to protect the setlers against an invasion?" John said.

"Killjoy!" Flash said.

Hal and Tama laughed. Reverend Justice had a hard time repressing a chuckle. Flash looked at Tama and winked at him. "Tama’ronder, sound a lot like Tamaranian." Flash said.

"As well it should" Hal said. "Tama was the first born child of this new world. Litterally translated, ‘Tama’ronder’ means son of Tamaran."

"Okay Hal, this is your show." John said. "What’s our next move?"

"With our four rings we can set up a sensor web around this planet, any unusual movement we’ll all be alerted immediately. A quick recon of the twin moons would be in order too, see if our uninvited guests are there already." Hal said.

"You and I could recon while Joey and Wally monitor the sensor web?" John suggested.

Hal smiled. "Fine suggestion Lantern! Tama, you pay close attention to what Wally and Joey tell you. If they ask you to take cover, you take cover without arguments." Hal said.

"But I want to learn to fight Guardian! Help defend my people!" Tama said, a hurt tone in his voice.

"Tama, if I could only explain this so you could understand why …" Hal said.

Reverend Justice put one knee down and looked at Tama.

"One of my good friends is also from Tamaran. Her name is Starfire, but she’s also known as Princess Kori’ander. She is kind and decent, but as she grows older, she finds it harder and harder to control her warrior instincts. As a crime fighter she uses her powers for good, but she also needs to meditate for long hours in order to find a sense of balance and not completely lose control as she fights for justice."

Tama looked back at him with a confused look on his face.

Reverend Justice continued. "The Guardian is afraid that if he teaches you how to fight, you might find it difficult to control your own instincts, and that your people’s long Journey here to escape violence will have all been in vain."

Tama turned to Hal. "Couldn’t you teach me to me-di-tate?" He asked.

Hal sighed. The young boy looked up to him as a hero, and was restless from the haven of peace the settlement provided him. Yes he could train Tama, teach him self-control and discipline … but throwing him to the wolves during an imminent threat was plain wrong.

Hal also put a knee to the ground. "Tama, if I agree to train you and teach you self-control you must promise you will follow my directions without question."

"I promise Guardian!" Tama exclaimed, looking excited, "I promise I will listen to you!"

"Then promise me this: you will let us hadle the Kharriek. Facing them takes a lot of preparation and training and there isn’t enough time for me to train you properly. Please understand me Tama: you are like a son to me. I would never forgive myself if you got hurt."

John, Wally and Joey smiled as Tama hugged Hal. Whether or not he had intended to, Hal had become a surrogate father to the young boy and had become quite attached to him.

Back at the Citadel, the Justice League team was about to wrap up.

"Zatanna, can you pinpoint their whereabouts?" Superman asked.

"I can, but it will take me a few more minutes." She replied.

"Once you do, upload that information to the Watchtower main frame." Superman said. Zatanna nodded.

"You two should call it a night and get some rest." Superman said to Hawkgirl and Vixen. I can go on indefinitely without food or sleep, you can’t. I promise I’ll page you both once we’ve figured out how to retrieve them."

Hawkgirl sighed, looking down at the floor, clenching her fists. She hated feeling helpless. Vixen put a hand on her shoulder. "You know he’s right Shy, we won’t be any good to our men if we’re too worn out to fight."

Shayera nodded. Hawkgirl and Vixen transported out, Hawkgirl to Joey’s apartment, Vixen to her own.

Zatanna once more waved her wand: " Yeoj dna yllaw, nhoj etacol!"

She nearly fainted from the effort. Superman helped her keep her balance. "Are you okay?" he asked.

"I am, but that solar system is in an alternate plane of existence, the pulse wave didn’t just blast Hal light years away; it blasted him to a parallel world." She said.

"As in Earth II?" Superman asked.

"More like New Tamaran 5000 … it’s a miracle he survived that pulse wave at all." She said. "There’s another thing my search has detected Superman, the same pulse wave that sent Hal Jordan to that solar system created a time funnel of sorts, not quite like a wurmhole but very similar. It expanded through a few Galaxies before it collapsed. Our friends may have company from other Galaxies and systems on that planet."

Superman nodded. "We need to figure out a way to get from here to there and back. Good work Zatanna, time for us to reconvene at the Watchtower!"

She smiled. They both transported to the Watchtower.

"Hawkgirl and Vixen should be asleep by now," Superman said "And Batman and Wonder Woman are still vacationing. Which leaves myself and Martian Manhunter as founding members."

"A suggestion Superman?" Zatanna asked.

"By all means." Superman said.

"We could work on modifying one of the Javelins for the inter-dimensional trip and adjusting the tracking system to find our team mates and find our way back. Then call a meeting of the available founding members?" Zatanna said.

Superman nodded. "Which means you should get some rest too Zatanna. J’onn and I can work on the Javelin using the data you’ve provided. We both can go without sleep for extended periods of time, you on the other hand need your sleep."

Zatanna smiled. "Very well, but be sure to call me along with Vixen and Hawkgirl. You might need my services should the tracking system fail."

"Agreed." Superman said. Zatanna left for her quarters, it was more practical than to sleep in her apartment given the circumstances.

Martian Manhunter walked in as Zatanna left. "I understand you need my services Kal-El?"

Superman smiled at his Martian friend. "Indeed I do my friend. I need your help modifying one of the Javelins for inter-dimensional travel so we may retrieve our friends Flash, Green Lantern and Reverend Justice. Zatanna provided us with the data we’ll need for the mods and the inter-dimensional coordinates."

"Intriguing!" Martian Manhunter said "I understand your old aquaintance Hal Jordan is somehow involved?"

"Your telepathic gift does not fail you J’onn." Superman said with a smile. "Somehow, some way, Hal is still alive and well. And he took our team mates away."

"Then let us get started, something tells me Shayera and Mari will want good news when they awake." Martian Manhunter said.

In Joey Lucas’ apartment, Shayera was in bed in the master bedroom, hugging a pillow, smelling Joey’s after shave from it. "He’ll be fine. I won’t allow him not to be fine." She thought, drifting into sleep.

She had a dream, both happy and saddening at once. She was flying in an unknown reddish sky. Joey was with her, flying on his own … but his uniform looked different.

Joey was smiling, telling her "This is wonderful Angel! How lucky you are to be able to fly! How I wish you were here with me right now!"

"But I am with you preacher!" She tried to answer, but he was gone. She bolted awake with a gasp, realized where she was and laid her head back on her pillow. "This was a sign, it had to be … Joey’s letting me know they’re okay" she thought, drifting back into sleep.

In her own apartment, Mari was having a similar experience: fragmented sleep, short dreams in which she could see John on a scary looking beach, stripped down to his briefs looking at her with a smile "Not the Bahamas Mari, but hell, as long as we’re together it’ll do!" in the next moment he was gone, and as she looked up in the sky, she could see four Green Lanterns in flight … and woke up, disappointed it had only been a dream.

Hawkgirl and Vixen weren’t the only ones having trouble sleeping: Linda was also having dreams of her own.

In it, she was sitting on the ground in a small village near a camp fire. Wally was sitting next to her, eating and shamelessly flirting with one of the girls. Unable to talk, she cast him a hurt look.

"Don’t worry Linda, I’d never cheat on you. Ever. You’re the best thing that ever happened to me." He said.

"Then stop flirting with that native girl! You’re hurting my feelings Wally!" she said, as she woke up. A dream. "Only a dream. Don’t lose your mind over it silly; Wally loves me." She thought in a half daze.

In her Quarters, Zatanna was trying to fall asleep but couldn’t – something about the mission ahead still concerned her, but she couldn’t quite figure out exactly what. She suddenly sat up at she finally realized what was bothering her.

"We’ve been tackling this problem the wrong way!" she said to herself in a low voice.

She reached for her wand on her night table. "Talk about not seeing the forrest from the trees!" she thought. "Pu sserd!" she said alout waving her wand. Now fully dressed, she said "Won yab nilevaj!" still waving her wand, and rejoined Superman and Martian Manhunter in the Javelin Bay.

"Zatanna, I didn’t realize a 15 minute nap was enough for you!" Superman said. "Just as well: the propulsion drive is more problematic than anticipated, perhaps you could …"

Zatanna smiled looking at them both "I can do you one better Superman: I’d been so preoccupied with locating our boys that the obvious never occurred to me – we can find them and get them back in the same manner Hal Jordan did – by using a Dimensional Portal of our own, following he Green Lantern power ring signature!"

Superman and Martian Manhunter looked at each other as if to say "Why didn’t we think of that?"

"Do not feel too badly Zatanna, it would seem the obvious solution eluded us as well." Martian Manhunter said.

"We don’t know how many people we’ll need – if our men are in any danger or in need of medical assistance." Superman said pensively.

"Shayera and Mari will never forgive you if you omitted them from the rescue team. Mike can hold the fort and coordinate Justice League activities while I accompany you on that mission; we will require Zatanna to operate the portal, and I do believe Bruce and Diana are due back from their Riviera vacation in a few hours. Experience tells me they would be rather upset if they were omitted from the rescue team as well." Martian Manhunter said.

Superman nodded. "Will you be able to hold up Zatanna? I don’t think you’ve slept much."

Zatanna nodded. "I can whip up a spell to stay alert and rejuvenate me, no worries. Perhaps we should advise Linda as well?"

Superman looked pensive, thinking it over.

"Linda does deserve to have her mind put at ease, Kal." Martian Manhunter told Superman telepathically.

"I wish you wouldn’t spring the telepathy on me like that!" Superman said.

Zatanna cast them a puzzled look.

"Yes, Linda does deserve to have her mind put at ease, I’d just hate to give her false hopes is all." Superman said.

"No harm in telling her we’re sending out a rescue team, is there?" Zatanna said.

Superman smiled and nooded. "Very well then. J’onn, any idea of Bruce and Diana’s whereabouts?"

"I can sense from Bruce that his private Jet is en route back to the US as we speak. They’re likely to drop by Wayne Manor before coming here though." Martian Manhunter said.

"That might take too long," Superman said. He activated his communicator. "Superman to Batman and Wonder Woman do you copy?"

Bruce’s voice replied, free of its usual gravelly "Bat-tone of voice" - "Batman and Wonder Woman here Kent, what’s up?"

"You sound well rested my friend! Unfortunately we have a situation here: GL, RJ and Flash seem to have been kidnapped. We’ll brief you both when you get here, but your presence is needed asap."

"Of course Kal, we’ll transport in a few minutes, give Bruce a chance to change in his Bat-suit and we’ll be there." Wonder Woman chimed in.

"We’ll have Alfred take our luggage to Wayne Manor." Bruce said. "Oh J’onn? That android pilot of yours? Pure genius! See you in a bit!"

"Superman out!" he said with a chuckle. Trust Bruce to pack a Bat-suit while he’s on vacation, just in case.

"We might as well page Shayera and Mari right away," Martian Manhunter said, "from the brainwaves I’m detecting from them their sleep is not restful at all, plagued with nightmares."

Superman nodded.

As the rescue team was getting ready to assemble, back on the lost planet Hal and John had returned from their recon mission. "Gentlemen," Hal said, "this looks bad. John and I have detected at least 10 Kharriek vessels stationed on the twin moons."

John continued: " Each ship holds at least 25 Kharriek raiders. They are quite humanoid in appearance, however the average Kharriek is about 6’10" and weighs approximately 300 lbs."

"Bigger than J’onn." Flash said.

"We are facing about 250 Kharriek raiders – armed to the teeth and with the single-minded purpose of looting, pillageing and taking prisoners as slaves." Hal said

"We scanned their ships logs thoroughly using power ring scans. No misunderstanding their intentions. They’re preparing a massive strike in a few days." John said.

"Did you have any intention of advising us of this Guardian?" an old voice said, in near perfect English.

They all turned to Cave enrance. "Grandfather!" Tama said.

"I’ll be, he speaks English!" Reverend Justice said.

"Indeed I do. The Guardian and I merged minds many moon cycles ago. It would seem he failed to properly introduce us, and since I was not sure of your intentions, I allowed my Grandson to follow you around. He is quite resourceful. We would have swarmed you quite rapidly had you tried to harm him. You did not." The chief said, smiling, looking at John, Wally and Joey.

He continued: "When I was a younger man, I was known as General Khaa’Zaar. I became increasingly disenchanted with the inner quarrels of my people. My son –a scholar- spear headed a large group of similar-minded people. When young Princess Kori’ander was sold as a slave, it became as you would say ‘the last straw’. We turned our backs on Tamaran and elected to leave. I believe you know the rest of the story." Kha’Zaar said.

Tama looked at his Grandfather in disbelief – why he did not tell him he understood the stangers language earlier.

"Khaa’Zaar, the day I rescued your people I swore an oath to help preserve the haven of peace you had found in this place." Hal said. "Had I come to you directly, your military training would have taken over and I would have failed in my mission."

"Not so, old friend." Khaa’Zaar said. "While I agree the scholars and hunters of the settlement may have trouble dealing with their warrior instincts, I am a trained soldier, as are my wife Kalia’Ana, and her brother Falu’Zonn. Well trained in the art of discipline and self-control. What good is this have on peace if we cannot fight to protect it?"

"With all due respect General, the Karriek raiders out-man you and out-gun you. Three retired soldiers and one Guardian would have been a futile effort." John said. "I may have my differences in opinion with your Guardian, but he is right: you needed us at the very least as reinforcements."

Khaa’Zaar gave John an appraising look then nodded. "Very well, your assistance is welcome. But I will be perfectly clear Guardian," he said, looking at Hal, "do not give yourself the pretense of fighting our fights for us."

"Not true Grandfather," Tama said, "Guardian promised to train me to become a protector, teach me me-di-ta-tion to stay in control of my instincts! As soon as the invaders are defeated he promised to train me!"

Khaa’Zaar looked at Tama with pride. "I was hoping you would become a scholar like your parents, but I confess: I am happy to see you take after your old military Grandfather!" he said.

"I hate to rain on anyone’s parade, but we’re still severely outnumbered: one Guardian Green Lantern, one official Green Lantern in John, two honorary Green Lanterns in myself and Joey; and three Tamaranian warriors facing 250 Karriek raiders; big, ugly and armed to the teeth." Flash said.

"This is where I wish we were withing communications range," Reverend Justice said, "we could call in some more reinforcements. Regardless of how the Justice League feels about Hal –your Guardian – given the circumstances I’m sure they would gladly lend a hand; heck I’m pretty sure Starfire would talk the Titans in helping!"

"Amen to that Joey," John said "if only we could …" he stopped in mid sentence. Green Lantern, Flash and Reverend Justice looked at each other excitedly. "What’s the matter?" Hal asked.

"Static in our Justice League communicators which means …" John said

"They found us!" Wally said, finishing John’s sentence. They all stepped out of the cave to get better reception, Hal, Tama and Khaa’Zaar following them.

John, Wally and Joey all laughed heartily. Reinforcements had just arrived.

"I take it that means they’re all right." They heard Batman’s voice say.

"Oh you bet we’re all right!" Green Lantern replied. "Zero-in on our communicators and join us at the cave on the other side of the peninsulae. We have a major briefing session to give."

"It’s good to hear your voice John!" Vixen said.

"Your voice is music to my ears Mari!" he replied.

"Joey? You better be all right preacher!" Hawkgirl said.

"Not only am I okay, but I’m doing a hell of a lot better now that I know you’re here Angel!" Reverend Justice said, smiling from ear to ear.

"Oh sure, my significant other’s a no-show!" Flash said, a mock brooding tone in his voice.

"Sorry Wally," Wonder Woman said, "but we couldn’t risk bringing her into a potentially dangerous situation. We did tell her we found you and were on our way to get you back."

"I appreciate it guys!" Flash said, with a smirk.

"We’ll be there in a few minutes – we didn’t use the Javelin this time around: Zatanna created a portal similar to the one that took you here. Justice League rescue team out." Superman said.

Joey sat down on the ground, shaking bit. Tama looked at him with concern. "Joey, are you okay?"

"I’m fine my little friend. We have more reinforcements on the way, and the woman I love is among them. For a while there I thought I’d never see her again. My emotions are getting the better of me I guess." Reverend Justice said.

Tama looked at him with a curious frown. "Maybe you need to me-di-tate?" he said.

Reverend Justice laughed heartily, smiling at Tama, ruffling his hair. "I would if she wasn’t on her way here Tama. Right now I’d settle for a nice long hug from her!" he said a dreamy expression on his face.

A few minutes later, they could see the Justice League team getting nearer by way of air: Superman, Martian Manhunter, Wonder Woman carrying Batman; Hawkgirl carrying Vixen, and Zatanna using her magic to fly. They were still outnumbered, but the odds had just improved tenfold.

They landed near the cave entrance. Vixen ran to Green Lantern, hugging him.

Hawkgirl did the same with Reverend Justice, who whispered "Angel!" as they embraced. After hugging and kissing him, Hawkgirl looked at him and said:

"That’s so weird – I had a dream about this: the changes to your suit, the red sky, the twin moons…I’m not one to believe in premonition but that’s eerie!"

"You had a weird dream too?" Vixen said, repressing a shiver, "I also dreamed: I saw John on that scary beach with the spiky rocks! Same thing about the twin moons and red skies. And four Green Lanterns flying in the sky. " She added, noticing the changes to Flash and RJ’s suits.

"Likely side-effects from the residual temporal distortions." Zatanna said. "John and Joey may have been thinking of you very intensely, and it allowed you to see a glimpse of them in this world in your dream. That may also explain the nightmares Linda described to me before we left."

Vixen hugged Green Lantern again "I thought I’d lost you for good!" she said.

"I thought I’d lost you." He said.

"Okay, this is all very touching, but we have business to attend." Batman said, staring at Hal grimly. "Our old pal Hal Jordan has just added kidnapping to a long rap sheet."

"Wait," Reverend Justice said, Hawkgirl still in his arms; "It’s not what you think."

"He’s right," Flash said, "There’s a community of Tamaranian refugees on this planet, and they’re in grave danger."

"Hal did what he did because he needed our help, and he knew he’d be arrested on the spot without any questioning if he’d come to us and asked." Green Lantern said.

Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman gave Green Lantern an appraising look. "Okay, let’s forget for now that you nearly destroyed the Galactic Guardians and turned on the Green Lantern Corps." Batman said.

"Ease off a bit Batman, he did save Earth and nearly got himself killed in the process." Superman said.

"Allow me to present to you General Khaa’Zaar and his Grandson Tama’Ronder." Hal said.

"Son of Tamaran" Batman thought. Since mending fences with Starfire, he had indulged in a few Tamaranee lessons.

They re-entered the cave. They debriefed.

"Before you begin arguing on the best strategy or course of action, let me say this," Khaa’Zaar said, "Those are my people, my responsibility. The Guardian – the man you call Hal- has tried his best to protect and shelter us from the senseless violence we left Tamaran to escape. He feels he would have failed in his mission to protect our settlement, but as a retired soldier, my failure would be greater if I do not help protect my people. Allow me to lead this mission."

"Sounds fair enough to me" Hal said, looking at the Justice League contingent. All were nodding in agreement.

Khaa’Zaar said "Thank you my friends. Here’s what I propose: let us relocate the settlement in the caves and give the invaders –The Kharriek- a false target to waste their ammutition on. We can then handle them in hand to hand combat."

"Sound strategy, but man to man the Kharriek are still heavily armed." John said.

"Ah, but little do they know that a Tamaranian’s body is a lethal weapon in itsef!" Khaa’Zaar said, firing an energy bolt from his hand through the cave’s entrance, followed by a flurry od laser-like beams from his eyes.

"We can also fly, which I doubt the Kharriek can. And if the Guardian asked you all as reinforcements, I believe it is safe to assume you are all gifted warriors yourselves." Khaa’Zaar looked at the Justice League contingent with a satisfied smile.

"We can’t all fly, but we do have a few surprises in store" Batman said.

"I would have created a few extra rings If I’d known more reinforcements were on the way." Hal said.

"Originally, this was supposed to be a rescue mission," Superman said. "But given the circumstances, we understand your predicament. I think I speak for all of us when I say we’re willing to help."

"Agreed." Martian Manhunter said.

"Count me in." Zatanna said.

"Those people deserve to live in peace. I’m also in." Wonder Woman said.

"Count me in too." Batman said.

"Fighting for those who can’t defend themselves is what makes me tick. You can bet I’m in." Hawkgirl said.

"Try and stop me from helping!" Vixen said.

"We have a Fellowship!" Flash said.

They turned to look at him. He shrugged and said "What?"

"Nothing Wally, I find this pretty appropriate in fact!" John said with a smile.

Khaa’Zaar nodded with an appreciative smile "Yes, I like that: the Fellowship of the Peace keepers! Let us reconvene at the village, I will discuss our plan with my wife Kalia’Ana, and her brother Falu’Zonn; who are also trained soldiers. We can proceed with the evacuation of the settlers to the caves and prepare the village as a decoy."

In the Kharriek mother ship in orbit around the Moons, Grand Kharriek Navara contemplated her next move, in her quarters. She was delaying a full scale raid as long as she could, insisting the Cobalt Ore from the twin moons was more valuable to them than whatever was on the planet’s surface:

there was no proof the small settlement they had located on the planet had any riches or technology worth their while and gathering slaves would be near impossible with the smaller ships’ cargo holds full of Cobalt Ore, and the Mother Ship did not have the luxury of a brig.

While her orders were followed by her subordinates, the Kharriek instinct of raiding and pillaging was hard to subdue. She used logic to justify her decisions, but the truth was she was weary of the raids, tired of repressing her disgust over the many lives ruined, the many women, childern and elderly people being abused and forced into lives of slavery.

But she knew that if she were to show any sign of mercy, pity or compassion towards "the ennemy", she was likely to find herself with her throat slashed or thrown out of the nearest airlock; her killer becoming the new Grand Kharriek.

She sighed. She had to keep up a hard, cruel front to assure her men’s obedience. No matter how badly she wanted the raid to be avoided, it was imminent.

Unless …unless the inhabitants put up a fight and hold their own against the raiders, she could pull her troups without losing their respect and call for Balaham. The Kharriek were very profit-minded, Balaham was called whenever the potential losses outweighed the profits.

The inhabitants could pick their champion, she would select her own and let them fight it out. The rite is sacred and will not be disputed by the Kharriek. If the inhabitant’s champion winds, the miner ships and raiders would leave, for good.

If on the other hand the Kharriek’s champion wins, then the inhabitants must submit. And then she would pray there is no further bloodshed. Deep within she wished the Kharriek champion would lose, and relieve her of the decision of retreating. She could save face and many innocent lives. If only …

Back on the planet, the last of the Civilians had reconvened to the Caves. Zatanna had volunteered to guard them, and cast a spell to renderthem invisible to the Kharriek scans.

Hal told the Tamaranian civilians: "This is my friend Zatanna, she has very special powers. Do not fear her, she will keep you safe."

After the last Civilian had entered the caves, Zatanna waved her wand: "Elbisivni sdneirf!" and a magical mist surrended them all, rendering them invisible and safe.

Hal returned to the Village, where Kha’Zaar, Kalia’Ana, and her brother Falu’Zonn were going over the strategy with the Justice League contingent. Kalia’Ana and Falu’Zonn had also absorbed the Justice league’s English, so they could all communicate.

"My wife, brother in law and I will serve as ‘bait’. We shall remain in plain sight giving the ennemy the impression it is life as usual. When those Kharriek Raider Vessels swoop down, I am counting on you four with your power rings to shield the Village," he said, looking at Hal, John, Wally and Joey.

"Precise timing will be crucial as we do not know what kind of weaponry they use." Kha’Zaar continued, "With our villagers well hidden in the caves they should hopefully expand their ammunition and either foldback to reload, or land their ships abnd fight us person to person."

"If I may make a suggestion General?" Superman said, "J’onn and myself can’t be hurt by traditional weaponry or by energy blasts. We could camouflage ourselves just outside the Village. Once the shield comes up, we could cut the retreat of any ship needing to reload and give them something else to shoot at."

"Perhaps even take down a few ships ourselves and even up the odds a bit more." Martian Manhunter added.

"I was worried we did not have the bodies to use that strategy, but I forgot our Guardian’s friends are also quite gifted with powers of their own!" Khaa’Zaar said, smiling. "Of course, cutting off their retreat is a very sound strategy! Once the Kharriek are grounded, we attack."

They all turned around as a tall woman whose hair and skin looked various shades of gray under the extended night’s twin moonlight had approached them. She wore a dark cloak and what seemed to be a military uniform which glittered in the dim moonlight.

"N’a kuma Navara, nemele baka!" she said, hands raised.

"Hold your positions," Hal said, getting a dirty look from Khaa’Zaar "She came alone and unarmed" he finished after scanning her with his power ring. He generated a translator box from his power ring.

"Please repeat what you just said?" Hal said, his words interpreted to the visitor.

She smiled, "I am Navara, I come unarmed. If my men discover I am here with you, I am as good as dead, and a new Grand Kharriek will be named."

"We are listening," Khaa’Zaar said. "I am Khaa’Zaar, leader of this settlement."

"I come from a race of raiders, slavers and looters." Navara said with a disgusted expression on her face. "In order to become the first female Grand Kharriek, I have had to be more cruel, rutheless and underhanded than the average male. It is the only way to have full obedience, discipline and respect in my society."

Flash couldn’t repress thinking "I thought they were all ugly? She’s kinda cute… in a Extra-terrestrial Amazon sort of way!" but elected to remain quiet.

"Honestly, I have used every logical excuse to delay a raid of this planet. The Cobalt Ore deposits on the twin Moons have kept my people busy, and I have repeated to them that we had no proof of any technology or ressources worth a raid and potential losses." She said.

"Our tradition is based on profit. We loot, pillage and try to get rich … but we will not pursue a target that could inflict us losses exceeding our potential margin of profit." She looked up at her enemies with a smile.

"Why are you telling us all this?" Khaa’Zaar asked.

"I have lost a husband and a daughter in those raids." She said, looking grim. "I find the taking of innocent lives distasteful, nauseating really. The very thing that used to drive me as a youth keeps me up at night. But any show of compassion out of me would result in the loss of my own life. My assassin would become the new Grand Kharriek, and more raids, looting, pillaging and bloodshed would occur."

She paused, looking down.

Martian Manunter said: "I sense no deception from her, she is telling the truth."

"If you deliver a crippling enough blow to the Raiders, they will turn to me demanding the ritual of Balaham. When Balaham is invoked, a challenge is issued between the Kharriek and their opponent. A Champion is chosen for both sides and they are to fight one on one. Your camp wins, the Kharriek leaves in dishonor, never to return. Your camp loses, your people must submit peacefully to our troops." She said.

"This makes no sense, "Khaa’Zaar said, "You call Balaham at the first sign of defeat! What if we refuse Balaham and decide to fight you until you retreat?" Khaa’Zaar said.

Navara sighed. "Then what’s left of our fleet returns to our home world and a retaliatory force is sent; perhaps ten times the amount of vessels. Balaham is a sacred ritual, perhaps the only way to protect your settlement from any further raids."

"I still sense no deception from her General Khaa’Zaar. She is telling the truth" Martian Manhunter said.

"With all due respect, the best laid plans can go awry," Batman said. "How do we know your men will comply with Balaham?"

"There might be one or two rogues within the Raiders who will refuse to surrender," Navara said, "but Balaham occurs when we see our losses will exceed our profits. If on top of losing ships we lose Balaham, it is proof that the prize is not worth the losses."

She looked at Khaa’Zaar, Hal, Batman, Martian Manhunter then back at Khaa’Zaar. "I must return to the Mother Ship before they notice I am gone. Please believe me when I say I hope our efforts are fruitless and that you defeat us."

She tapped on a badge on her cloak’s lapel and was enveloped in an energy beam returning to her Mother Ship.

"This is getting better and better," Reverend Justice mumbled to Hawkgirl "First day as a Honorary Green Lantern and I’m already involved in an Inter-Galactic conflict!"

"Don’t sweat it preacher, I’ve seen many of those in my day." She replied to him in a low voice, "I have your back!" she whispered in his ear sending a shiver down his spine, and gave him a discreet kiss.

He smiled at her. "Shield the Village, let the ennemy run out of ammo, go berzerk on them, then let them call Balaham…that’s the extent of the plan right?" Reverend Justice said.

"Yeah Lovebirds, that’s the extent of the plan." Flash said with a smirk.

"Wally, do you mind?" Reverend Justice and Hawkgirl said in unison, giving Flash an annoyed look.

Wonder Woman, Green Lantern and Vixen giggled.

"Here’s one thing nobody bothered to ask Navara: when are the raids expected?" Vixen asked, "Imminent is hardly a time frame!"

All looked at her "Hell of a point you’re making Mari." Green Lantern said, " I guess it’s best we stay on our guards – you guys hear that?"

They all paused and listened. A low rumble was becoming louder and louder.

Reverend Justice looked up. Even in an unfamiliar sky the progressive vision of his mask could not mistake that sight. "Incoming!" he yelled.

In a split second that felt like an hour, Khaa’Zaar, Kalia’Ana, Falu’Zonn, Hal and the entire Justice League team seemed frozen in place, staring at that same spot in the sky Reverend Justice had detected the incoming Raider ships.

Batman snapped them out of it by yelling "Shields up, NOW!"

Just in time: as the first flurry of energy blast had hit the trees surrounding the Village, the second flurry was deflected by the Green Lantern power ring shields.

The Raids had begun. Energy blasts, laser canons and plasma grenades shook the Village but the Shields held firm.

"Hal, could you make an opening in the Shields and let J’onn and me out?" Superman said.

A small opening, large enough to let them out opened in the South side of the shield. Superman and Martian Manhunter exited, and proceeded in a counter attack.

Kha’Zaar looked at them with satisfaction through the shield "Ah, they can also fly! Very powerful friends you have Guardian! What made you turn away from them?"

Arm extended, his portion of the Shield flowing from his ring, Hal replied "My own power went to my head, corrupted me. You helped redeem me old friend."

Batman looked at them, an incredulous look hidden under his mask. "Could Hal have really redeemed himself?" he wondered. Wonder Woman noticed that look she knew too well on his face.

Stepping closer to Batman, she whispered: "Still don’t trust him my love?"

He looked at her, a subtle smile on his lips. "I’m beginning to wonder if I shouldn’t give my paranoia a rest Princess."

She smiled back at him and kissed him. Flash rolled his eyes, repressing the urge to blurt out "What’s with all the kissing? Get a room you guys!"

Superman and Martian Manhunter were having fun with the Raider ships. Flying circles around them, drawing their fire, getting them to fire at each other.

Two Raider ships had taken pursuit of Superman, firing energy blasts at him, missing at every shot. Superman looped above them, until he was behind the Raider ships. He fired heat vision beams at them, fusing their propulsion engines. They crash landed in the woods.

"Looks like they believe in 2 on 1’s J’onn!" Superman said in his communicator.

"Indeed Kal, the fact that their shots go through me without hurting me seems to fuel their anger even more." Martian Manhunter said. "Shall I ground them then?"

"By all means!" Superman said with a chuckle, 2 more Raider ships coming at him.

Martian Manhunter stopped in mid flight, morphing into a flying Dragon. "I do not know if they have ever seen a dragon before, but it should have some effect!" he told Superman.

Indeed, the Kharriek Raider ships veered off when they saw the transformation that had occurred and tried to retreat, to the surprise of the rest of the Raider Fleet. J’onn wrapped himself around the hull of the first ship, crushing it only to the point of rendering it useless, then dropped it at low altitude. His goal was to disable it, not kill the Warriors inside.

He fired a blast of Dragon’s breath at the other ship that was after him earlier, fusing the propulsion, as well as the controls. It also crash landed in the woods.

"Four ships down and they keep on coming" John said.

"Looks like they’re in no hurry to call Balaham," Hal said, "Fierce warriors."

The 50 Kharriek raiders from the two ships grounded by Superman were already beginning to circle the shielded Village, also firing at the shield with their hand held weapons.

"Ugly looking bunch aren’t they? Their females are kinda cute though!" Flash said.

Reverend Justice chuckled. Hawkgirl gave Flash an exasperated look "You’re a married man, can’t you think of anything else?"

"I was only making an observation! Geez! Don’t distract me Shy, I need all my concentration to keep this shield up!" Flash said.

"He ain’t kidding Shayera, controlling the power ring takes a lot of concentration for the first few times." John said. "And you Wally, more focus on the shield and less on the Kharriek females?"

Flash looked sheepish and Reverend Justice kept chuckling. The shield held.

Outside the shield Superman had allowed a few energy blasts to hit him square in the chest, to get the point across to the Raiders their best shots couldn’t phase him. The pilot of one of the two Raider ship decided he wasn’t going to be intimidated and flew straight at Superman.

"Play chicken with me will you?" Superman mumbled, meeting the Raider ship head on. They collided, Superman tearing through the hull of the ship as if it were made of aluminium foil paper, ripping the Kharriek Raider ship in half, its 25 raiders bailing out, deploying their versions of parachutes.

The second Kharriek Raider ship that had taken Superman as a target veered off, trying to head to the Mother Ship but was intercepted by Martian Manhunter in his flying Dragon form, tearing that one apart in the same way Superman had just done, sending its crew parachuting to the ground.

The remaining 4 Raider ships retreated, as the grounded 150 Kharriek warriors were wasting ammunition trying to penetrate the Green Lantern shield surrounding the village.

Martian Manhunter reverted to his humanoid form. "Do you think they will call Balaham yet?" he asked Superman.

"Seems to me they still need more convincing J’onn." Superman replied. They flew back to the village, to hear General Kha’Zaar scream:

"They are retreating! Lower the shield! Take the grounded Raiders hand to hand!"

The honorary Green Lantern Corps lowered the shield. Hand to hand combat started.

Flanked by his wife and brother-in-law, Khaa’Zaar took on a group of Kharriek raiders, flying, throwing energy bolts from their hands and eyes. Surprised but not intimidated, the Kharriek tried firing back, only to realize their weapons were out of ammo.

Frustrated, they threw their weapons to the ground and took on the old Settlers hand to hand, surprised on how quick, agile and powerful they were.

Hawkgirl swooped down on one of the tallest Kharriek raider and mace blazing she knocked his weapon out of his hands. Angered, he tried to grab onto her, but she effortlessly lifted him up and flew at a higher altitude.

The warrior screamed in a high pitched voice when he realized what was happening.

"Diana?" Hawkgirl said toWonder Woman who had joined her in flight, "This jerk won’t take no for an answer! Here, talk to him!" she said, tossing him at Wonder Woman like a giant rag doll.

Wonder Woman caught the Kharriek Warrior who was still screaming in a most comical way. "Talk to him? I don’t even like him! Here Kal, you talk to him!" She said to Superman who had just joined them, tossing the Kharriek to him.

Superman caught the Kharriek who at that point looked terrified beyond words. "Women," Superman said, "Can’t live with them can’t live without them … so scram!" Superman tossed the giagantic Kharriek into the ocean.

"Sure hope he can swim!" Reverend Justice said, joining them.

"You can fly too! Just like in my dream! You must have been thinking of me so hard!" Hawkgirl said.

"I was! Shall we give the Kharriek more grief?" reverend Justice said.

"Joey my friend, lead the way!" Superman said.

As they flew back to the village, they could see John, Flash and Vixen chasing a group of Kharrieks who were looking positively terrified and running for cover; Hal and Martian Manhunter were assisting Khaa’Zaar, Kalia’Ana and Falu’Zonn handling their share of oponents.

Reverend Justice’s mask detected movement just behind Vixen. She, John and Wally had been so busy giving chase they hadn’t noticed another Kharriek raider skeaking up behind them, a nasty looking knife in his hand.

Superman had detected it too. "Mari, behind you!" he said in his communicator.

Before she had a chance to turn, Joey had generated a shield from his ring and projected it right behind Vixen, deflecting the attempted stabbing.

John and Mari knocked down that Kharriek with a kick to the face from her and a Green Lantern energy punch to the gut from him.

"Thanks for the assist Joey, I wouldn’t have turned in time to avoid his blade!" Vixen said.

"Yeah Joey, thanks for covering our backs!"

"Anytime guys, we’re on our way down to help!" Reverend Justice said.

"Stay in pairs and watch one another’s backs." Batman said, tying up one Kharriek with his own weapons belt, after knocking him down with an exploding Bat-a-rang.

"Sound advice Bruce" Superman said.

"On my way to cover your back!" Wonder Woman said.

"And I got yours preacher!" Hawkgirl said.

They joined the battle on the ground.

Wonder Woman levelled a Kharriek that was trying to sneak up on Batman.

Superman allowed another Kharriek to take a few swings at him, bruising his knuckles, then tossed him aside like a rag doll.

Hawkgirl disarmed a few more Kharrieks with her mace while Reverend Justice pummelled them with multiple energy fists from his power ring. "I’m really gonna miss being a Honorary Green Lantern Angel!" He told Hawkgirl.

"You’re a formidable oponent to begin with preacher," She said, smiling at him. "The ring’s a welcome equalizer when facing oponents like these, but under normal circumstances, trust me; you don’t need it!"

A loud siren was heard. The Kharriek who were still standing retreated, and lined up. They all put one knee down as the Grand Kharriek made her appearance.

"I guess they’ve finally invoked Balaham." Batman said.

"You have a gift for understatement my love!" Wonder Woman said.

Navara paraded in front of her men, trying not to let her own sense of satisfaction show: her men had been defeated, quite badly by a handful of very powerful men and women. She was getting her honorable solution, no slaves or bloodshed. A few bruised bodies and wrecked ships, but no more blood on her hands.

Putting on a solemn, serious face, she spoke up. Hal generated the translation box so all could understand.

"You have inflicted my fleet of raiders quite a loss. Yet my men do not wish to relent the riches of your planet. We believe in profit. More violence and bloodshed is unprofitable. We call upon Balaham; the Challenge. Choose a Champion, we will select one of our own; let them fight, hand to hand. Your Champion comes out the victor, we shall leave, never to return. Our champion wins…you must subit to us. Refuse…and we shall come back with reinforcements. More bloodshed and useless loos of lives."

"Needless to look for a Champion," Khaa’Zaar said. "They are my people, my responsibility. I will fight for them."

"Husband!" Kalia’Ana said, worried.

"Please my wife, comply. It was my decision to leave Tamaran that brought us all out here. I am nothing if I cannot defend my people." Khaa’Zaar said.

"I am willing to fight for you," Hal said. "I did after all take an oath to protect you all."

"Guardian, allow me this chance to do good for my people." Khaa’Zaar said.

"Very well, the Kharriek’s Champion shall be … myself." Navara said.

All looked at her in shock. She walked up to Khaa’Zaar. "No weapons, no strength enhancers."

Kha’Zaar looked at her in disbelief. In a voice low enough for Navara only to hear, he said "I do not wish to harm you, you tried to help my people, please don’t make me fight you."

Navara looked at him with a very faint smile: "I told you: I have grown disgusted with the looting, pillaging and taking of innocent lives. My husband and daughter are dead. Saving your people is the only thing that would give my life meaning. You must fight me, defeat me, kill me if you must." Navara said, taking a swing at Khaa’Zaar’s face.

Khaa’Zaar rolled with the punch, giving Navara an angry look. "I will not fight a woman!" He said, grabbing her wrist. "Especially not one who tried to help!" he added in a low voice.

"You fool, fight me! Balaham has been called, Champions were chosen! Break Balaham and my people will return with reinforcements!" She said, taking him down with a move quite reminescent to Judo.

Khaa’Zaar stood up with a grunt. "If I must!" he said, clenching his teeth. He took a flying leap at Navara, hitting her full force in the mid-section with both fists, sending her reeling.

She looked back at him with the same angry look she gave whenever she fought. But her face relaxed in a smirk. "Very well Tamaranian! See how you like this!" in a move too quick to parry, she faked him with another attempted roundhouse punch, but delivered a kick to the jaw instead, which Khaa’Zaar managed to partially block with his left forearm.

Holding his chin with his right hand, more out of reflex than out of conscious decision, he fired an energy beam at her from his eyes, which nearly hit her.

"No weapons!" Navara’s second in command yelled "What kind of treachery is this?"

"That was no weapon, shut up or I shall break your neck!" Navara shouted at her second in command. "That is a natural ability my oponent has. There was no treachery, Balaham has not been broken."

The Kharriek were heard mumbling but kept their place. Navara and Khaa’Zaar’s locked up in a face to face hold, making it look like they were arguing. In a voice loud enough only to be heard by him, she said "Don’t hold back Khaa’Zaar. They see you are a formidable opponent. Don’t let my gender stop you I am the ennemy, you must defeat me!"

They broke apart in a shove, and she took another roundhouse kick at him. While the kick looked impressive, Khaa’Zaar blocked it effortlessly, and grabbed onto her ankle. He flew upward dragging her along, Navara letting out a surprised shriek.

"If I drop her at this height, she will die." He screamed at the Kharriek. "Leave this planet, and I may let her live."

To his surprise she bent upward punching him in the stomach. She managed to control her fall and land on her feet. "Agile as well as strong …gods of Tamaran don’t make me kill her! Khaa’Zaar thought.

He descended towards her throwing energy balls at her, firing beams from his eyes. She ducked the blasts almost too easily, noticing Khaa’Zaar wasn’t aiming properly on purpose.

Once again they locked up, looking like they were arguing. If Khaa’Zaar wouldn’t give her a lethal blow … "Is there a way for you to knock me out, make it look as if you’d killed me?" She asked in a low voice.

"Yes, but …" he said

"Do it! If you won’t kill me, it’s the only way." She said. She put her arms around Khaa’Zaar, making it look like she as trying to break his back, but really not squeezing that hard. Khaa’Zaar had clued in, selling the hold as if it were killing him.

In a theatrical manner, he raised his hands to her face, touching it, delivering a low intensity energy blast. Navara collapsed to the ground. As his feet touched the ground, he held his back as if it had been injured.

"Your champion has been defeated! You must respect Balaham and leave this planet.!" Khaa’Zaar said.

"Never!" one angry Kharriek screamed. "Kill them all! The Grand Kharriek is dead! Revenge!"

He was silenced by the Second in command who stepped behind him and broke his neck.

"Balaham is sacred!" he screamed at the Kharriek troups. "Does anyone else dare challenge its outcome?"

No-one stepped forward. "Good." He looked at Khaa’Zaar "I guess I owe you thanks, I am now Grand Kharriek." Looking at the lifeless body of Navara, he said " Her body is now but an empty shell. Do with it as you wish. As I said, Balaham is sacred. We will leave this planet and leave your people in peace."

They all began transporting back to the Mother Ship.

Kalia’Ana ran to Khaa’Zaar. "Husband! Are you injured?"

"My face is a bit sore form punches and kicks, but I am not permanently damaged." He said with a smile.

"But your back…" she said.

Khaa’Zaar laughed. "Never felt any better!" He bent down and gave Navara another very low intensity energy burst, making her come to.

"Have they left?" Navara asked, massaging her forehead.

"Yes. Your idea was quite good." Khaa’Zaar said.

"Her idea?" Kalia’Ana said.

"As we were fighting I could see your husband was having conscience problems with killing me. So as we were locked up I asked him if there was a way to render me unconscious and simulate death." Navara said.

"You used the paralysing touch!" Kalia’Ana said. "The technique was believed to have been abandonned decades ago! How did you know this?"

"Every soldier has his secrets my wife. The technique was passed down to me from my father, he from his father and so on. I had never needed to use it … until now." Khaa’Zaar said.

"Either way, I’m glad you did!" Hal said. "Hal Jordan to Zatanna do you copy?"

"Zatanna here Hal!" She said.

"The Settlers can return to the Village. It’s over. The Kharriek are gone for good … except for one!" Hal said.

"Copy that, Hal, we’re on our way!" She said.

John, Wally and Joey walked up to Hal, Shayera and Mari joining them.

"Jordan, I had my doubts about you, and I had my problems with the way you brought Flash RJ and me here." John said. "But your heart’s in the right place; you wanted redemption … saving Earth before being sent here, then seeing to the well-being of these Settlers qualifies in my book."

The old Green Lantern and the new Green Lantern shook hands.

"I’m gonna miss being able to fly on my own, and generating shields and stuff," Reverend Justice said with a smile, "but keeping this power ring might get unwanted attention from the Green Lantern Corps and from the Galactic Guardians – something tells me they might still be holding a grudge against you. Here Hal," he said returning his power ring;

"It was a blast being a Green Lantern for a day, and an honnor fighting by your side. But I don’t want this place to disturbed any more than it has today, I don’t want the Corps or the Galactic Guardians to find you." His suit returned to normal. Hawkgirl put a hand on his shoulder whispering "I like this suit better anyway!" in his ear.

"Same here Hal," Flash said, "Joey’s right, I like these people. I don’t want them disturbed again." He returned his power ring, his suit also returning to normal.

"Guardian! My friends!" Tama was returning to the caves, along with Zatanna and the other Villagers.

Tama flew around them, laughing with joy.

"Tama!" Hal said.

Tama landed, first giving Hal a hug, then John, then Joey, then Wally. He looked up at Shayera and Mari.

"You are very beau-ti-ful, so are the ones you call Zatanna and Wonder Woman…now I understand why John, Joey and Wally were in such a hurry to go back home!" Tama said, a look of pure innocence on his face, very similar to the one Starfire sometimes had.

They chuckled. Vixen put one knee down, smiling, and gave Tama a hug "Aren’t you the little charmer!" She said.

Shayera also put one knee down and hugged him, "That you are my little friend, absolutely adorable!" She said with a smile.

Tama blushed and said "Uh … thank you?" looking a bit embarrassed.

Navara was talking to Khaa’Zaar. "I am not really dead but I might as well be: I have no home, no family, and my former fleet believes me to be dead." She said.

Khaa’Zaar, who no longer needed Hal’s translator box as he had absorbed her language as they fought, said:

"Lady Navara, you helped save my people, save this planet. You are forever welcome here. You said the violence and taking of innocent lives had become nauseating to you, you shall find none of that here. We do not have much to offer, but we do have we are willing to share with you."

Navara smiled. "I thank you, your wife and your people from the bottom of my heart for accepting me!" she said.

Batman, Wonder Woman, Superman, Martian Manhunter and Zatanna had joined Hal, Green Lantern, Tama, Flash, Vixen, Hawkgirl and Reverend Justice.

"Superman’s right: I should have eased off on you since the day you re-ignited the Sun." Batman said. He shook Hal’s hand.

"And Hal, the next time you need our help, ask us first?" Superman said, "I promise we won’t shoot first and ask questions later." He also shook Hal’s hand.

They said their farewells. Zatanna waved her wand, reciting the incantation: "Emoh, kcab latrop!"

They all walked through, re-emerging in the Main Watchtower, the portal closing behind them.

"Wow, it’s hard to believe we’ve just come back from so far away … and that Flash and I could actually fly!" Reverend Justice said.

"Either we all had a vivid dream or it all really happened!" Green Lantern said.

"Wally!" Linda’s voice was heard. She ran to him, nearly knocking him down and held him. "I was so worried I’d never see you again!" she said.

"I was worried too baby … ow!" Flash said, as she punched him in the arm, an amused smirk on her face. "What was that for?" Flash said.

"For flirting with the natives you bad boy!" She said. Her smirk turned to a smile and she kissed him.

"That’s my wife for you: she’s very passionate." Flash said with a smirk, holding Linda in his arms as the others chuckled.

Martian Manhunter put a hand to his forehead "I do not know about the rest of you, but the time distortions are leaving me feeling rather fatigued." He said.

"Same here," Superman said "It may be prudent to take us all off the duty roster for at least 48 hours, allow us to recuperate."

"No objections from me. "Batman said.

"Ditto." Green Lantern said, Vixen snuggled against him..

"No arguments here." Flash said, still holding Linda.

"Or from me" Hawkgirl said, putting an arm around Reverend Justice’s waist.

"I guess it’s unanimous among the founding members!" Wonder Woman said, imitating Hawkgirl, putting an arm around Batman’s waist.

"I shall advise Mr. Terrific to adjust the Duty Roster." Martian Manhunter said.

"Very well then, everybody go home and rest!" Superman said, "I have a wife to pacify!" He added with a grin.

Reverend Justice Looked at John, Mari and Shayera and asked: "How about we pay young Rex a visit at Dr Fate’s Domain since we have the time off?"

"Good idea preacher!" Green Lantern said.

"Yes, we’ve been so busy as of late poor Rex must be feeling pretty lonely! Let’s do it!" Vixen said.

Hawkgirl huged him. "You are a kind man Joey Lucas, yes, let’s go visit my son!" she said, smiling.

"After this adventure I need a shower and a change of clothes, then we’re on our way!" Reverend Justice said.

They went to change. Zatanna smiled and said: "I could use some rest myself, I’ll see you all later!" And disappeared out of thin air.

"Think you can handle me for the next 48 hours babe?" Flash asked Linda.

"The real question is: can you handle me?" She said, smiling teasingly. "I thought I’d lost you for good, I’m not letting you out of my sight!"

"Ciao guys, I’ll see you in 2 days!" Flash said as he and Linda took their leave.

"That leaves you and me Princess." Batman said, looking at Wonder Woman, smiling. "Care for another impromptu escapade, perhaps to the Caribean this time?"

"Sounds wonderful Mr. Wayne!" She said, smiling sensuously. "How about … a quick detour by my quarters first?" She added, in a near whisper.

"I like the way you think Princess!" He held and kissed her. They made their way to her quarters.