The secure facility's conference room was deliberately nondescript—gray walls, simple table, comfortable but not luxurious chairs. The kind of place designed to put people at ease while reminding them they were still in official custody, however voluntary.
Hal Jordan sat across from Fury, his civilian clothes a stark contrast to the footage of him in the green and black uniform that had been playing on every news channel for the past twenty-four hours. Without the mask and the emerald aura, he looked remarkably ordinary—just another military pilot with sun-weathered features and alert eyes.
"Director Fury," Hal acknowledged as Fury settled into his chair. "I was wondering when you'd show up."
"You know who I am?"
"Carol Ferris mentioned you once. Something about a consultant who evaluated Ferris Aircraft's security protocols a few years back. She said you had... interesting credentials."
Fury allowed himself a slight smile. Carol Ferris had a good memory and better instincts. "I wear a lot of hats. Right now, I'm here as someone trying to understand what happened yesterday and what it means for Earth's security."
"Where do you want me to start?" Hal asked, his tone professional but tinged with exhaustion.
"Actually," Fury said, leaning forward, "let's start somewhere else. What do you know about your predecessor's activities on Earth?"
Hal's brow furrowed. "Abin Sur? He mentioned he'd been protecting this sector for over a century, but—"
"He was here. On Earth. In 1995." Fury's single eye watched Hal carefully. "Were you aware of that?"
"No. The ring hasn't mentioned any previous Earth visits."
"Ring," Fury addressed the device directly, "access records: Abin Sur, Earth, 1995."
The ring pulsed, and to Hal's surprise, responded:"Accessing. Records available. Abin Sur responded to Kree incursion on Earth, designated incident 'Project Pegasus Aftermath.' Collaborated with Earth defenders including Carol Danvers, Nicholas Fury, J'onn J'onzz, and Kingsley Faraday."
Hal stared at his ring, then back at Fury. "You knew Abin Sur?"
"Briefly. It was a complicated situation." Fury stood, moving to pour himself coffee from a thermos on a side table. "The Kree Empire had sent a strike team led by Yon-Rogg. They were hunting Skrull refugees who'd sought asylum on Earth. Carol Danvers—she'd just discovered her true origins, her powers. We were in over our heads."
"And Abin Sur showed up?"
"Not immediately. J'onn J'onzz—you might know him as the Martian Manhunter—sent out a telepathic distress call when things went sideways. Abin Sur picked it up while patrolling near Jupiter." Fury sipped his coffee. "He said something about Earth being a 'nexus point' that required special protection."
The ring pulsed again."Confirmed. Earth designated as evolutionary nexus point by Guardians of the Universe. Special protective protocols in place since 20th century Earth calendar."
"Thanks for sharing that now," Hal muttered to the ring.
"The five of us worked together to stop Yon-Rogg," Fury continued. "Abin Sur was... impressive. Professional. He treated us as equals, even though we were clearly out of our depth with the cosmic stuff. Afterward, he filed reports with both the Guardians and the Nova Corps about Earth's strategic importance."
"Nova Corps?" Hal asked.
"The other cosmic police force. They work alongside the Green Lanterns." Fury set down his coffee. "Ring, what's the current status of Carol Danvers?"
"Carol Danvers, designated 'Captain Marvel,' currently active in Kree space. Recent engagements include peacekeeping operations in the Large Magellanic Cloud, mediating disputes between Kree and Skrull factions. Last recorded position: Hala, assisting with governmental transition following Supreme Intelligence deactivation."
Fury's expression shifted slightly—pride mixed with concern. "She's been busy."
"Sounds like it," Hal agreed. "So you've been dealing with cosmic threats for decades?"
"Earth's been on various alien radars for longer than most people realize. The difference now is that it's becoming public knowledge." Fury returned to his seat. "After that incident, I started developing a contingency plan. Something that would bring together remarkable people to deal with extraordinary threats."
Fury reached into his jacket and pulled out a small data drive, placing it on the table between them. When he pressed his thumb against it, a holographic interface sprang to life, projecting a file labeled "Avengers Initiative."
"This has been my pet project for nearly fifteen years," Fury explained, opening the file to reveal a series of profiles. "The idea came to me watching Carol, Abin Sur, and J'onn work together. I thought, what if Earth had its own team of protectors? People with unique abilities who could stand against threats beyond conventional military response."
Hal leaned forward, studying the projected profiles. Superman's familiar face was there, alongside Iron Man, Batman, Flash, and Aquaman. Other profiles included Bruce Banner, J'onn J'onzz, and several individuals Hal didn't recognize—a woman with a winged helmet labeled "Shayera Hol/Hawkgirl," a warrior woman identified as "Diana Trevor/Wonder Woman," and a bearded figure called "Thor."
"Quite a lineup," Hal observed. "Have you approached them?"
"Some. Stark and I had our first serious conversation about it last month, after the Stark Expo incident with Vanko. He's... cautiously interested. Superman's aware of the concept but hasn't committed. Batman's proving difficult to pin down, as you might expect."
"And the others?"
"J'onn's on board—he's been an unofficial advisor from the beginning. The Flash is new to the scene, but his actions yesterday speak for themselves. Arthur Curry—Aquaman—has oceanic responsibilities, but I believe he can be persuaded." Fury gestured to the remaining profiles. "Diana Trevor has been living quietly since her husband Steve died seven years ago, but her actions during World War II make her a prime candidate. And Banner... well, Banner's complicated."
"What about this Hawkgirl? And Thor?"
"Shayera Hol is a Thanagarian who crash-landed on Earth two years ago. Been keeping a low profile in Midway City, but our intel suggests she's a trained military officer from her homeworld. As for Thor..." Fury's expression turned thoughtful. "Until last week, I'd have classified him as mythology. But after what happened in New Mexico, we're reassessing."
Hal studied the profiles more carefully. "This is... ambitious."
"It's necessary," Fury countered. "The threats are escalating. Kree infiltrators. Iron Monger. Abomination. The Destroyer in New Mexico. And now Red Lanterns. Individual heroes, no matter how powerful, won't be enough against what's coming."
"And where do I fit in this Initiative?"
Fury closed the file with a gesture. "That depends on you, Jordan. The ring gives you unprecedented powers, but it also ties you to an extraterrestrial organization with its own agenda."
"Now, let's talk about your story," Fury shifted topics. "Start from the beginning."
For the next hour, Hal recounted his experiences—finding Abin Sur's crashed vessel, receiving the ring, his transportation to Oa, the accelerated training under Kilowog, the mission to Korugar with Sinestro, the encounter with the Red Lanterns, and finally his return to Earth to face Atrocitus.
"This Corps," Fury said when Hal finished, "how many Lanterns are we talking about?"
"Officially? 3,600. One for each sector of space. But from what I gathered, those numbers have been declining. The Red Lanterns have been targeting Corps members systematically."
"And these Guardians—the little blue immortals—they're the authority?"
Hal's expression tightened slightly. "They created the Corps billions of years ago. They're... not exactly forthcoming with information. Even Sinestro, who's been a Lantern for years, seemed frustrated by their secrecy."
"Abin Sur had similar observations," Fury noted. "He respected the Guardians but didn't always agree with their methods. Ring, did Abin Sur leave any messages for his successor?"
"Scanning... Personal logs detected. Message for successor located. Shall I play it?"
Hal straightened. "There's a message? Yes, play it."
The ring projected a small hologram of Abin Sur, recorded sometime before his fatal encounter with Atrocitus.
"To whoever bears this ring after me," the image began, "know that our duty extends beyond mere law enforcement. The Guardians speak of order and control, but true justice requires compassion and understanding. Earth, in particular, holds a special place in the cosmic tapestry. Its people are young by galactic standards, but their potential is limitless. Protect them, guide them, but do not control them. They must find their own path to the stars."
The message ended, leaving both men in thoughtful silence.
"He understood us better than most aliens I've encountered," Fury said finally.
"Seems like it." Hal looked at the ring with new appreciation. "You mentioned Carol Danvers earlier. What happened to her after 1995?"
"She's been out there," Fury gestured upward, "dealing with cosmic-level threats, trying to end the Kree-Skrull war. She checks in occasionally, but Earth hasn't needed her... until recently."
"Ring, can you contact her?"
"Communication protocols available. However, current distance and ongoing Kree military operations make real-time communication inadvisable. Message relay possible."
"Maybe later," Hal decided. "Right now, I need to focus on the immediate threats."
Fury nodded approvingly. "Speaking of which, let's discuss these Red Lanterns. What's their endgame?"
Hal's expression darkened. "Revenge, primarily. Against the Guardians for something that happened billions of years ago in Sector 666. A massacre involving the Guardians' first attempt at a police force—robots called Manhunters that went rogue and wiped out an entire sector."
"Jesus," Fury muttered. "Billions of years is a long time to hold a grudge."
"Atrocitus—their leader—was one of only five survivors. The Guardians imprisoned them on a planet called Ysmault, where they stewed in their rage for eons. Somehow, they found a way to tap into the red part of the emotional spectrum, creating their own corps."
"Emotional spectrum?" Fury's interest sharpened.
"Yeah, that's where it gets complicated. The green light of willpower is just one part of a larger spectrum. Each color represents a different emotion—red for rage, orange for avarice, yellow for fear. There are others, but I don't know all the details yet."
"Ring," Fury addressed the device again, "what's the full spectrum?"
"The Emotional Electromagnetic Spectrum consists of seven colors: Red (Rage), Orange (Avarice), Yellow (Fear), Green (Will), Blue (Hope), Indigo (Compassion), and Violet (Love). Each can theoretically power a corps. Historical records indicate attempts to weaponize multiple colors."
"Fantastic," Fury said dryly. "So we're looking at potential armies powered by different emotions."
"The Guardians didn't exactly cover this in orientation," Hal admitted.
"They rarely tell the whole story," Fury agreed. "Abin Sur learned that the hard way. He discovered things about the Corps' history that the Guardians preferred to keep buried."
"Like what?"
Fury reached for his tablet, swiping through a series of classified files before finding what he wanted. He placed it on the table, sliding it toward Hal.
"These are Abin Sur's notes from a conversation with J'onn after the Kree incident. He mentioned something called 'The Blackest Night' – a prophecy that greatly concerned him."
Hal scanned the document, his expression growing troubled. "Atrocitus mentioned this too. The 'Blackest Night.' Said it was coming for all of us."
"The way Abin Sur described it, it involves death itself rising against the living. Something about the emotional spectrum being fractured into competing corps." Fury took his tablet back. "Sounds mystical, but Abin Sur took it seriously enough to investigate, even against the Guardians' wishes."
"That might explain why he was in my sector when he crashed," Hal realized. "He said Earth would play a crucial role in what's coming."
"That aligns with what he told us in '95," Fury confirmed. "He believed Earth was at the center of multiple possible futures. Some promising, some catastrophic."
Hal leaned back, processing this information. First the ring choosing him specifically, then Abin Sur's message about Earth's importance, and now this prophecy connected to the Red Lanterns. None of it felt like coincidence.
"Let's talk about yesterday," Fury changed topics. "You worked with Superman, Iron Man, Flash, and Aquaman. First time meeting them?"
"Yeah. We just... clicked. When you're facing that level of threat, you don't have time for ego contests."
"Would you work with them again?"
"Absolutely. They're skilled, dedicated. They put civilian safety first."
Fury reopened the Avengers Initiative file, this time adding Hal's image to the roster. "This is where you could fit in. Not just as Earth's Green Lantern, but as part of a coordinated response team. The best of humanity—and its allies—standing together."
"You seem pretty confident I'd sign up."
"I'm not confident about anything when it comes to people with extraordinary abilities," Fury admitted. "But I've seen enough to recognize potential allies. You fought to protect this city yesterday, not just as a Green Lantern following orders, but as someone who cares about the people here."
"My responsibility extends beyond Earth," Hal reminded him.
"I'm not asking you to abandon your Corps duties. I'm suggesting that when threats to Earth arise, it might be beneficial to have a framework for cooperation already in place. Resources, intelligence, coordination."
"And oversight?"
"Information sharing," Fury corrected. "You've got a galaxy's worth of knowledge in that ring. We've got decades of experience handling terrestrial threats. Seems like a fair exchange."
"I'll think about it," Hal promised, which was more than he'd intended to offer when the conversation began.
"That's all I ask." Fury closed the file. "Now, for practical matters. Your family situation, your career at Ferris Aircraft—"
Before Hal could respond, alarms began sounding throughout the facility. Agent Faraday burst through the door.
"Director, we have a situation. Energy signature matching yesterday's Red Lantern readings just appeared on our satellites."
Hal was instantly on his feet. "Where?"
"Not entering the atmosphere," Faraday clarified quickly. "It's stationary, approximately 50,000 miles above Earth's surface. It appears to be... waiting."
"Waiting for what?" Fury demanded.
Hal's ring pulsed with recognition. "For me. It's either a messenger or a scout. Either way, I need to check it out."
"Alone?" Fury questioned.
"Unless you've got a spacecraft that can reach that altitude quickly, yes."
Fury and Faraday exchanged glances. There were options—classified ones—but nothing they could deploy immediately.
"Ring," Hal asked, "can you identify which Red Lantern it is?"
"Scanning... Energy signature consistent with Red Lantern designate: Razer. Previously encountered during Korugar incident."
"Razer?" Hal remembered the more composed of the Red Lanterns, the one who seemed to follow orders more from duty than rage. "He was different from the others. More... controlled."
"Different how?" Fury pressed.
"Less consumed by rage. More tactical. Like he was thinking beyond just destruction."
"Interesting." Fury considered the implications. "Could be a defector?"
"Or a spy." Hal moved toward the door. "Only one way to find out."
"Jordan," Fury called after him. "First sign of trouble—"
"I'll call for backup," Hal promised. "After yesterday, I know better than to face these threats alone."
"And Jordan? If this is some kind of diplomatic overture... remember you're representing Earth now, not just the Green Lantern Corps."
"Understood." Hal paused at the threshold. "Director Fury... thanks for telling me about Abin Sur. It helps to know he had connections here, that he cared about Earth specifically."
"He was a good being," Fury said simply. "He'd be proud of how you handled yesterday."
Hal nodded and left, heading for the exit and the unknown that awaited above.
Fury turned to Faraday. "Get me full satellite coverage. And contact J'onn J'onzz—he might have insights about the Red Lanterns."
"Already reaching out, sir." Faraday hesitated. "Sir? About Jordan..."
"Spit it out, agent."
"He reminds me of Danvers when she first got her powers. That same mix of confidence and uncertainty."
"I noticed." Fury moved to the window, watching as a green light streaked upward into the sky. "The question is whether he'll follow her arc—embracing the cosmic responsibility while staying connected to Earth—or chart his own path."
"Which would you prefer?"
Fury considered the question. "Jordan's got something Danvers didn't have at the start—a support system. Family, friends, a girlfriend. Those connections might keep him grounded in ways Carol never was."
"Or they might hold him back."
"Maybe." Fury watched the green light disappear into the atmosphere. "But I'm betting on them making him stronger. Earth needs protectors who remember why they're fighting, not just what they're fighting against."