"But even though Batman has become Sleeping Beauty, he still provided us with the super serum data," Black Canary said to Guy as she leaned back slightly, the tension in her voice easing just a little.
"And you?" she added, narrowing her eyes. "Why are you here at a time like this? Do not tell me you just came to visit Earth and check on friends and family. Earth has changed a lot, has it not shocked you?"
"Not entirely."
Guy's expression shifted, becoming serious. He picked up a beer can and squeezed it lightly, leaving a dent in the metal.
"Kyle is missing. I am investigating that right now. And in another city, Metropolis, a full scale battle between the Green Lantern Corps and Homelander is already happening. Turn on the news and you will see it everywhere. The Green Lantern Corps is all over the reports. If you are lucky, you will also see how Homelander is manipulating public perception while stacking up victories."
"The Green Lantern Corps?" Black Canary frowned slightly. "What exactly is that organization?"
"Simply put," Guy explained, "it is a coalition of Green Lanterns from different sectors. Hal Jordan, me, and others. The Guardians of Oa have ordered us to bring Homelander back to Oa for judgment."
He took a breath before continuing.
"They believe Homelander has interfered too heavily with human evolution and self determination. Humanity should decide its own future. Not have someone like him control the outcome. So they authorized his arrest."
Black Canary's eyes lit up almost immediately.
"So someone is actually going to stop him?"
Guy nodded slowly.
"That was the plan."
Black Canary's mood lifted for a brief moment. The idea that Homelander might finally be punished, especially after Oliver's death, gave her a flicker of relief.
"So he cannot possibly withstand the Green Lantern Corps, right? The Guardians will handle him?"
Guy finished the beer in one long gulp.
"Unfortunately, no."
Black Canary's expression froze.
"What?"
"I have received over six distress signals," Guy said grimly. "Six Green Lantern Rings have already detached from their owners and are now searching for new bearers. That means at least six Lanterns are dead."
He paused.
"And that is only what I know."
Black Canary slowly lowered her gaze. The hope she had just felt collapsed instantly.
"So he killed six Green Lanterns?" she asked quietly. "People on your level?"
Guy nodded once.
"Yes."
Silence filled the room for a moment.
"If six Lanterns could not stop him," Black Canary muttered, "then who can?"
Her hand tightened slightly around the beer can.
"Or is everything going to come down to that super serum you mentioned?"
"I am afraid so," Guy replied.
He stood up, pacing slightly.
"This proves one thing. No one is a match for a Homelander who has lost control. He is escalating beyond reason. I even suspect Kyle's disappearance is connected to him. No proof yet, but he is the most likely suspect."
Black Canary exhaled slowly.
"It feels like he wants the entire world under his control."
"He has to be stopped," Guy said firmly.
Then his expression darkened further.
"I am starting to think he is working with Sinestro."
Black Canary frowned.
"Sinestro?"
"The only ones who knew Kyle's route were connected to Sinestro's network," Guy said. "If that is true, things are far worse than I thought."
He turned toward the door.
"The Guardians still do not know everything. I need to report back. I do not know how long it will take before I find a way to weaken Homelander."
He stopped briefly.
"Before that—"
"I will not do anything reckless," Black Canary interrupted.
Guy looked at her.
"You are worried I will act impulsively. Do not worry. Unless it becomes absolutely necessary, I will not move blindly."
She placed the empty can down.
Guy said nothing more. He simply nodded, then left.
Moments later, he flew into the sky.
A faint, knowing smile crossed his face.
"No," he murmured to himself. "You will."
He understood her too well.
Black Canary never stayed still when people she cared about were in danger.
She just did not like admitting it.
Far away, on Oa, the situation was far more disturbing.
The Guardians stood within the Stone Forest Tower, observing Earth through their cosmic projection systems.
Then it happened.
Earth disappeared.
The projection simply vanished.
"What… what is this?" Ganthet's voice carried disbelief. His usually composed expression finally broke.
"How can an entire planet just disappear from our sensors? This has never happened before."
Another Guardian stepped forward, alarmed.
"What is going on?"
"I do not know," Ganthet replied, his voice tightening. "Something has interfered with our observation systems."
"And the Lanterns we sent?"
"No contact," Ganthet said.
He stared at the empty space where Earth should have been.
The Moon remained clearly visible.
Only Earth was gone.
As if it had been erased from existence.
"I can answer that."
A voice suddenly echoed behind them.
The Guardians turned sharply.
Guy Gardner stood there.
He was injured, his uniform torn, his ring dimmer than usual. Blood marked his forehead, and his breathing was slightly uneven.
"What happened, Gardner?" Ganthet demanded.
Guy wiped the blood from his face.
"On my way back to Oa, I ran into two agents from Sinestro's faction. I took one down, but the other called reinforcements. A full Yellow Lantern unit started chasing me."
He exhaled.
"I barely escaped."
Then his expression hardened.
"They are reconnaissance units from Sinestro's Corps. They are the ones blocking the connection between Earth and Oa."
The name immediately changed the atmosphere.
Sinestro.
Thaal Sinestro.
Once a Green Lantern of Sector 1417, originally from Korugar. A Guardian's chosen champion who later became something else entirely.
He had abused his authority to enforce order, eventually enslaving his own world under the guise of peace.
For that, the Guardians stripped him of his ring and exiled him to Qward in the anti matter universe.
But exile did not end him.
On Qward, Sinestro allied with the Weaponers and created a power ring modeled after the Green Lantern Ring, one that drew strength from fear itself. The foundation of what would become the Yellow Lantern Corps.
Fear became his weapon.
And eventually, his empire.
Even Parallax, the embodiment of fear itself, had been controlled by Sinestro at one point, something that should have been impossible.
The Guardians understood one thing clearly.
Sinestro was not just a rogue Lantern.
He was one of the most dangerous beings in existence.
Guy continued, breaking the silence.
"I think Sinestro is already on Earth."
The Guardians turned toward him.
"And I think he may have contacted Homelander."
A heavy silence followed.
"This is speculation," one Guardian said.
"I know," Guy replied. "But it fits too well."
Ganthet narrowed his eyes.
"And the Lantern Corps?"
Guy shook his head.
"I do not have full details. Some are dead. Others are scattered. I left before I could confirm everything."
Then he added quietly.
"But I have a strong feeling Kyle is gone."
Ganthet exhaled sharply.
"And Hal Jordan? John Stewart?"
"I did not see them," Guy said. "They were not present during the main engagement. I cannot confirm whether they are on Earth or not."
The room grew quiet again.
Finally, one of the older Guardians spoke.
"Hal and John have disobeyed our directives before, but they still serve their purpose when required."
Another Guardian raised his voice.
"And when exactly is that? The crisis is already here. We cannot ignore Sinestro. We cannot abandon our Lanterns."
Ganthet stepped forward.
"We cannot act recklessly either. If we engage blindly, we risk total failure."