"I have personally witnessed the rise and fall of countless civilizations. We Guardians have been endowed with great power, and sometimes, not using that power is the most correct decision."
Ganthet spoke to Adrian with a solemn expression.
"The people of Earth have the right to choose their own path. They should not be controlled or guided by external forces. Interference only distorts their evolution."
"Is that so?"
Adrian's brows tightened as he studied Ganthet's composed face.
"You say you've witnessed countless civilizations rise and fall," Adrian said slowly, then paused.
"Then tell me, did you witness Krypton's destruction personally?"
The question cut through the air.
"Everyone praises the Guardians for their wisdom and power. So on that day, did you choose not to act? Did you simply watch a planet die when you had the ability to stop it?"
Silence followed immediately.
Ganthet did not respond.
Instead, he lowered his head slightly.
It was as if Adrian's words had struck something deep and unresolved.
"Ganthet?"
Hal Jordan, standing behind him, stepped forward with concern.
"Are you alright?"
Adrian's gaze remained locked on Ganthet, cold and unblinking.
"And yet you come here today to lecture me about responsibility. Do you realize how ridiculous that sounds?"
His tone sharpened.
"I've never had a good impression of so called guardians who interfere when it suits them and call it justice when it benefits them."
A faint tension spread through the air.
"So this is your philosophy," Adrian continued. "Selective guardianship. Different rules depending on convenience."
His voice dropped lower.
"You didn't destroy Krypton, you just stood by and let it happen. From where I stand, inaction makes you just as guilty."
"No."
Ganthet finally spoke, lifting his head slightly.
"We did not destroy Krypton. Their own choices led to its end. Even if we had intervened, it would not have changed their fate. Civilizations must save themselves."
Adrian let out a short, humorless breath.
"Convenient logic."
He stepped forward slightly.
"No matter how you justify it, I will not allow you to control the people of this planet, Kal from Krypton."
The name hung in the air.
Adrian's eyes narrowed.
A faint red glow began building behind his pupils.
"You're threatening me?"
Ganthet's body emitted a soft green light in response, his power activating as he prepared for a possible strike.
The air between them turned heavy.
"Alright, alright."
Guy Gardner suddenly stepped in, raising both hands as if trying to calm a bomb about to go off.
"Can we not turn this into an interplanetary disaster right here? Maybe lower the cosmic death rays before someone blows up half the continent?"
He pointed between them.
"Or better yet, we go grab a drink. I know a bar nearby. Might be a bit awkward for Ganthet, but I can find him a stool or something. Hal, you're in, right?"
Hal blinked.
"Uh, yeah."
Adrian ignored him completely.
He took a slow step forward, eyes fully glowing red now.
His voice dropped into something far more dangerous.
"Get off Earth."
A sharp silence followed.
Hal swallowed.
Guy Gardner stopped smiling.
Even Ganthet's expression tightened.
The atmosphere froze.
For a moment, it looked like a single spark would trigger destruction.
Then Ganthet exhaled.
He turned away.
"I regret that this is how you choose to respond. You have clearly abandoned reason."
He rose into the air.
Guy Gardner followed quickly, muttering under his breath.
Hal hesitated.
His eyes moved between Adrian and Ganthet.
Then Adrian gave him a small nod.
Go.
Hal understood.
"Alright. I'll go."
He turned and followed after them.
When they left, the tension slowly dissolved.
Adrian's red glow faded.
He stood still for a moment, then spoke without turning around.
"Kara. Come out."
From behind the windmill, Kara stepped forward slowly.
A little awkward.
"I was just passing by."
Adrian glanced at her.
Kara sighed.
"Fine. I was watching."
She crossed her arms.
"And honestly, that blue guy from Oa is not wrong about one thing. You are definitely controlling things on a large scale. The difference is he's pretending it's moral superiority."
Adrian ignored the comment.
"Why are you here?"
Kara hesitated, then shrugged.
"Tomorrow is your birthday."
Adrian gave her a flat look.
"I don't care about birthdays."
He stepped closer.
"And don't show up near my family without permission again."
Kara's expression tightened slightly.
"Martha is my family too. I would never harm her or Rachel."
"That's not the point."
Adrian turned away.
"Then listen carefully."
His voice lowered.
"If you keep crossing that line, I won't hesitate to respond accordingly."
Kara frowned.
"You really think I'm a threat?"
"I think you don't understand boundaries."
He started walking off.
"Wait."
Kara called after him.
Adrian stopped.
"Have you been to the North Pole?"
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"The North Pole?"
"Yes. I saw a structure made of ice. And I saw you there."
She stepped forward.
"You go there often, don't you?"
Adrian's silence was enough of an answer.
"My ship landed there," Kara continued. "But now it's gone. Did you take it?"
Adrian turned slightly.
"You're blaming me because we were in the same location?"
"It's not just that."
Kara held his gaze.
"You are Kryptonian too. Even if I've never heard of you. And Mrs. Kent said you used to draw Krypton's destruction when you were a child."
Her voice lowered.
"Some memories don't come from imagination."
A pause.
"If you took my ship, I need it back."
Adrian studied her for a moment.
"Do I look like I help my enemies?"
"I'm not your enemy."
"Yes. You are."
His tone was final.
"We are not on the same path."
He turned away again.
"Leave the farm. Stay in your city. Don't come back here."
Kara's frustration rose.
"Maybe you'll need my help."
He stopped again.
"I heard everything earlier. That Guardian might come back. I can help you deal with him."
A beat.
"In exchange, return my ship."
Adrian didn't even turn around.
"I don't need help."
Kara's eyes widened slightly.
"That's your answer?"
"If I want something, I will decide when to act."
He glanced back once.
"And if you want your ship, wait until I decide whether I even care."
Kara exhaled sharply.
"That's a threat."
"You can call it what you want."
He left.
Kara stood there, watching him go, frustration settling into something more complicated.
Her original plan had been simple. Build trust through Martha Kent. Use proximity to reach Adrian.
That plan was now effectively useless.
---
On Oa, Hal Jordan stood before the Guardians.
Ganthet listened to him carefully, while the other Elders observed in silence.
Hal defended Adrian.
"He protects Earth. He has stopped invasions. He has prevented wars."
But the Guardians were unconvinced.
"He overthrew governments," one Elder replied. "And then created enhanced forces. That is not protection, that is control."
Hal rubbed his forehead.
"You're ignoring context."
"We are observing patterns," Ganthet replied calmly.
Hal exhaled.
"And what about Krypton?"
That question made the room shift slightly.
"You watched it die," Hal continued. "And now you're judging someone who is trying to prevent the same thing from happening again."
The debate continued.
No agreement was reached.
---
Later, Hal left the chamber.
Kilowog greeted him with a crushing hug.
"Good to see you, buddy."
"Yeah, yeah, you're killing me."
They laughed.
Then John Stewart arrived.
Hal's expression changed instantly, relief replacing tension.
"John."
A firm handshake, then a hug.
"What are you doing here?" Hal asked.
John shrugged.
"No idea. I was just told to report in."
Hal's expression darkened slightly.