San Francisco is a moody city.
Depending on the weather it can shine like the legendary El Dorado, and
when it is blanketed by darkness; it can become so dark that even the
glittering skyscrapers seem to be covered in grime. It's when
the darkness rolls in, that it is hard not to feel the pain of the
golden gate city. Even with his eyes closed Connor Hawke
could feel it.
The archer sat in front of a large bay
window. A lonely street light interrupted the dark living room. The
pale beam of light, pooled onto the hard wood floor. A light
rhythmic drumming of rain, alone battled the inhuman quiet.
Connor's legs were intertwined in an
Indian sitting position. Sitting naked from the waist up, his
dark skin looked ebony. His chiseled torso erased by the
room’s darkness. With his eyelids softy drawn, his
stark blond eyebrows bent downwards like frowns. Though it
seemed like he was meditating, he was not. For his struggle
to clear his mind had been lost. The baggage of the last few
months had taken a toll, on both his mind and his Buddhist discipline
Since his return from Rome, and the
strange prophecy was whispered, he felt like anything but a chosen
one. First his best friend The Green Lantern, was killed in a
mission with the JLA*.
Immediately afterwards, his stepfather Milo Armitage put his mother
into coma. It was only with the help of the mysterious new
Batman, Black Canary, and his friend Robin that he managed to save his
mother's life. Since then, Milo and his mother left the
country, leaving the upscale apartment in his care.
[*-
Kyle Rayner was murdered by Count Nefaria in JLA #34]
Kyle? Though it'd been months since the
Memorial
service, he had yet to mourn his friend. He still hadn't come to terms
with the loss. His father's death was so much easier.
It should have been a brighter affair.
Unfortunately the massive storm clouds had muted the vivid colors to
chromatic shadows of their former glory. The soft pelt of soggy
grass, which extended the breath of the cemetery, lashed ferociously in
the vicious wind. The vivid green they should have stood for,
were reduced to mere shadows of gray, almost a sick reminder of the
pain in everyone's heart.
Connor kept his distance from Kyle Rayner's memoriam
and the phalanx of metal chairs occupied by more aliens and super
heroes than he wished to count. Instead like a shadow he stood
silently against a decaying tree.
The tree's limbs gave little reprieve, from the
constant tap of rain against his drawn emerald hood. The weather
seemed to do little to affect him; untouched swathes of rain ran
continually down his nimble face. His body stood motionless.
Connor's brilliant green eyes still beneath the eyeholes of the slender
emerald mask. The only thought that continued to cycle through
the hardened mind of the man known as Green Arrow, was...
"I should have been there, right?" A soft
voice of velvet spoke from the quiet.
Connor did not move. The voice was all too
familiar for the need of his eyes. "That's what you are thinking.
" The soft voice continued the source drawing closer. "I
been thinking the same thing you know. Maybe it would have been
me, instead of him. But what would that prove?"
"It’s not about proving, Donna." Connor
spoke; his normal more feminine voice reduced to a monotone
growl. "It’s about being there. Having the chance, to
prevent the loss."
"Arrows don't fly in space, Connor." Donna
said, her warm hand placed on the green and brown covered
shoulder. "Neither of us could have stopped it. You know it
and I know it. What happened, has happened."
"I'm not a child, Donna." Connor spoke, his
head finally turned to her, rainwater splashing from the top of his
drawn hood.
Donna Troy's dark eyes lifted to meet the mask's
eyeholes. Her scarlet colored lips slid to a frown. "Then
stop acting like one, dammit!" She took a step back, her black
gloved hand moved from his shoulder, slipping back against the fabric
of her black strapless dress. "You can't even so much as tell
your best friend, goodbye. Instead you sit back here crying like
an emo kid. Even Roy's being more mature."
"Roy hated Kyle." A painful smile crafted
across his large lips. "What is he doing here?"
"Roy didn't hate Kyle." Donna spoke, a soft
smile licked across her features. "Roy just hasn't been able to
put our past behind him. Everyone knew Kyle was special... even
Roy."
Connor took the step separating them. "I'm
sorry, Donna." His thin arms slipped across her shoulders.
"I'm so sorry." The woman's larger arms pressed over the
rectangular dual quiver clasping hard against the youth.
"Tell him Connor." She sniffled, tears taking
thick mascara down her cheeks. The warmth of his own tears,
mingled with those of Donna's against his neck.
Now...
The shriek of glass battered a memory's warmth as
Connor awoke. His body sprung backwards if by mere reflex.
His folded legs righting themselves the same moment his tough palms
slapped the hardwood floor. His body came to a stop a heartbeat
later, his bare feet silently catching the cold floor.
The attacker stood facing Connor, his body
surrounded by the broken glass. The lone street lamp morbidly
illuminated the man's face, which was covered in a spandex mask painted
to the likeness of a monkey. His body clothed in silver and black
moved gently, the tight outfit hissing as his right leg slid to the
side, and his left arm rose to meet his face in a loose fist; two
fingers and his thumb greeting the shirtless hero. "Where is he?"
A voice hissed from under the frightening mask.
Like the Silver Monkey who now greeted him, Connor
also found his body assuming a martial stance. His left foot slid
out in front of his right, his left-hand rose up, styled into a two
fingered dagger. His right hand was at his waist, palm
first. "Perhaps you got the wrong house?"
"You will tell me!" The Silver Monkey growled,
his left arm ridding the distance between them in a dreadful blur.
Connor moved his right hand from his waist. He
snapped his hips to his right, changing his stance instantly, attending
to the motion of his block. His rising hand struck the lethal
pronged fist at the man's wrist, batting it to the side. "I live
here alone," the archer spoke without stopping his motion. With
the balance on his left leg, his right leg left the floor, sweeping
into a wide kick.
"Predictable." The Silver Monkey spat.
His body shifted balance forcing his body's weight onto his left leg.
The bizarre left arm rose with an incredible speed, his black gloved
hand catching the boy's ankle in vice-like grip.
"Perhaps," Connor spoke in a halting grimace feeling
the pain of the man's grip tightening against his ankle. His
shimmering green eyes stared into the dark holes of the man's
mask. "And perhaps that was the point." Connor's back
tensed as both his hands stretched forward bending at his back.
His remaining foot left the ground, disappearing in a savage speed.
The Silver Monkey felt the muscles in the ankle
spreading against his fingers, only a split second before Connor
moved. The Assassin let go of the ankle, only a moment before the
hero's left leg swept towards his face.
Connor's left leg cut through the head of the silver
after image; missing the real Monkey's skull by a fraction of an
inch. His body twisted in mid air, his arms spread out for
balance. He landed in exaggerated stomps, both feet painfully finding
the jagged edges of glass.
"I am done playing around." The
Monkey's voice hissed from behind his morbid mask. His left arm
curled behind his broad shoulder grasping at his staff's wooden
frame. "I will beat the answers out of you."
Connor felt gooseflesh rise on the back of his
neck. Though he was trained as a disciple of Buddhism, he
couldn't help but feel the excitement when he fought a skilled
opponent. "You have still not told me who you are seeking," the archer
spoke, sliding his bloody right foot across the wooden floor. He
brought his left hand in front of his face again, pointing the two
fingers of his dagger style at The Monkey.
"Milo Armitage," Silver Monkey hissed. His body
moved in a sudden lunge, his white sandals leaving the
floor. Connor's mind cycled through available actions as
the blurring white form shot toward his person.
Silver Monkey extended the staff before he got
within striking range of the youth. Connor's face turned
waxen, the weapon's movement gave little doubt. The archer's
mouth expelled "oof" as the business end of the staff slammed against
his body.
Connor's body bent over the staff. His short
blond hair starkly contrasted his shadowed face. "No crunching of
bone. Too bad, I always liked that," Monkey said.
Connor slowly straightened up. A single strain
of blood ran from the corner of his lips, cutting a path to the edge of
his chin. "How about we try it again?"
"Impressive," the Silver Monkey whispered.
Connor's hands were sandwiched around the staff,
pressed against his washboard stomach. The wooden weapon squeaked
as the man's thin fingers coiled around the staff. "No,
it’s belief."
Months Ago…
Green Arrow stood silently in front of the Green
Lantern's Memoriam. His brilliant green eyes stared hard into the
series of picture frames that sat atop a long wood table. Each
golden frame presented a different news photo of the hero's
career. Rain drops beaded against the glass in a constant fury,
as though even the memories were weeping.
The archer's eyes came to a stop at the last photo
frame. His breath expelled a deep sigh. Though the photo's
glass was beaded with rain, Connor knew the image intimately.
Two emerald clad heroes stood in front of a broken
down diner. The large street side windows were boarded up with
graffiti marred wood. The red marquee once vivid had all
but been erased with time. Even the once brilliant blue paint had
cracked and chipped away exposing the murky brown underneath.
Green Lantern stood with his arm looped around the
neck of Green Arrow. Arrow's left arm ran across the guardian's
back clasping his side. "Come on Connor this is gonna be
great!" The hero heard in his head. "One more good breeze
and the place is gonna fall over.” Came his own
voice. "It’s still THE AL'S DINER!" Kyle's
voice reminded him in his memory. "The place your Dad and Hal
always went on their Road Trips. Come on just one picture.
Plllleeeeeaasssee"
"Just one, that’s all," Green Arrow whispered
with his own lips. Tears once again streamed down his
cheeks. His hand tensed into a ball, crushing the bouquet he
held. The thorns bit into his hand; ribbons of blood gently
dropping from his fist. "I can't do this GL."
"I wish I could say it gets easier." A hoarse
whisper called behind him.
Green Arrow swallowed a deep gulp. If there
was one person he did not expect to be standing behind him, it would be
the shadow that now stood there. "Without suffering..." he spoke
in a pained voice... "There is no life."
"Hmmm," the shadow grunted. "Green Lantern and
I didn't see the same picture. He was rash... quick tempered and
a pain in the ass."
"I know you mean well, sir. But really..."
"Shut up Connor, and let me finish." The voice
threatened.
The archer nodded slowly.
"There was something we both could agree on.
Heroes have to believe. We have to believe in ourselves and the
fight we wage. And until the end, Green Lantern... he believed."
Green Arrow sighed dropping the broken bouquet of
flowers on the wood table. "To hope for a greater day,
that’s what he always said."
"We also agreed about you," the shadow whispered.
Connor turned his head towards the shadow. "Is
that true Batman?" But there was no one behind him.
Now...
Connor's long arms were stretched above his head,
his hands clamped tightly to the staff's dark wooden body. His
upturned head stared at the threatening weapon, his face marred with a
grimace of stress.
"You're overconfident kid." The Silver
Monkey's voice spoke between gritted teeth. Evidently his body
was just as stressed as Connor's. "For a man whose forms resemble
Tai Chi, you know very little humility. Let me teach you some!"
Without warning The Silver Monkey moved. He
stepped back on his right heel. His body twisted with the sudden
motion of his hips. His left leg snapped from the ground in a
savage motion, the sole of his foot crashing into Connor's chest.
Connor let his body relax, bending with the sudden
force. His torso bent inwards only moments before his bloodied feet
left the ground. His body was flung like a rag doll, smashing
through the pillow white wall.
The Silver Monkey twirled his bo staff with his left
hand, letting the end thud to the ground. He stared into the
jagged hole in the wall, pieces of plaster crumbling from the marred
surface shattering on the floor into a white powder. "Hmm," the
man grumbled from under his mask, "His fighting style reminded me of
Green Arrow, a lot weaker though."
Without warning, a silver form shot from the large
hole in the wall. The small object’s speed transformed it
into a silver thread. Silver Monkey moved his staff in an oak
colored blur. The staff caught the object with a metallic cry,
the impact maligning the weapon with a fierce vibration. The
assassin's gaze titled to the floor. A silver spoon lay at his
feet. Its bowl crumpled like an aluminum can.
Silver Monkey saw the second silvery form seconds
too late. Before his muscles tensed to move, a sharp pain struck
his shoulder. He moved his head slowly his mind shocked more than
his body was pained. His eyes stared in disbelief. The stem
of a silver fork handle, painfully stuck in the meat of his left
shoulder. Curiosity was a ploy he didn’t expect.
"Weakness is often confused with humility," Connor's
voice spoke, his body painted white from the plaster, crawled from the
hole in the wall. "And humility is never a weakness."
Months Ago...
"Green Lantern, was more than a colleague and a
fellow hero. To many of us he was so much more. Though our
time in the JLA together was short, there are countless stories of his
valor and bravery. I could also tell you the many times he gave
me a laugh." The speaker's blue eyes seemed to glow from the
glittering of tears. His curly obsidian mane though wet with
rain, still formed the iconic "s" across his smooth brow.
"Though, not everyone found his quips during serious meetings as candid
as I, every member of the Justice League knew one undeniable thing
about this man. He was-- if beyond anything else-- a true
hero. And every one of us... were so golly proud to call him
teammate... to call him peer."
Superman's head bowed downwards. His massive
fist crumpled against the podium. The iconic scarlet cape draped
across his broad shoulders hugging his impressive physique. "Now
I think you've heard all about what he means to Earth, and to the
galaxy. But what about what he meant as a person. Who was
he to the woman he loved? Donna, would you say a few words?"
Donna Troy bowed her head, her dark tresses flowing
across her face. Sitting in the front row of the assembly she was
sure she could feel the Kryptonian's gaze. Her muscular hand
tightened its grasp on Arsenal's offered limb.
"You don't have to go," Green Arrow spoke his head
turning to Donna who sat to his immediate right.
The Flash pressed his nimble hand on Arrow's
shoulder, leaning toward the grieving girlfriend. "Connor is
right, Donna. Don't force yourself. I mean it’s only
Superman."
"He should be used to disappointment by now."
Arsenal chipped in with a sideways smirk.
"You do realize he can hear everything you are
saying," Raven spoke, her voice a cold monotone. Though the Titans were
used to the creepy voice that projected from the shadows of her azure
cloak, Green Arrow felt a cold chill course his spine.
"No, no guys. I appreciate it but... " Donna spoke, her
voice muted to a low whisper. "...but I think he'd want me to."
"Only to see you embarrass yourself," Green Arrow
told her with a smile.
"Yeah," Donna said, standing up from her seat.
Retrieving her hand from Arsenal's sweaty grip, she pushed her long
tresses behind her shoulders, and turned her gaze to the Man of
Steel. The iconic superhero looked to her with a smile, his all
too white teeth sparkling behind his thin lips. Obviously
Superman did hear everything they said.
"That was an ass thing to say, Connor," Arsenal
spoke in a low whisper.
Donna slowly walked toward the memorial platform
with a smattering of applause. Her short careful steps caused her
body to sway elegantly from side to side; the wind ruffled the fabric
of her long black dress like oceanic waves.
Reaching the edge of the platform, Superman grabbed
her much smaller hand and gently assisted her step onto the wooden
construct. Clearing the folds on her thin gown, she stepped
passed the Man of Steel, and up to the awaiting podium. "Thank
you Superman," she said leaning her mouth toward the slate gray
microphone.
"Green Lantern was a royal jerk ." Her voice
boomed through the PA systems. Silence fell over the entire
assembly. Every eye stared at the former Wonder Girl with
contempt.
"Green Arrow reminded me." She turned her gaze
to the front row. She let out a light chuckle noticing how far
down his seat, Green Arrow had slid even despite the Flash trying to
hold onto the hood of the archer's costume.
"And he is right. When I think of all the
happy times with GL they usually revolved around an inappropriate
joke. And we let a guy like that hold the most powerful weapon in
the universe." Donna took a deep breath, her withdraw of air
showering the PA speaker with static. "But who could have
imagined such a big jerk, would be the bravest man I ever met?"
Donna's head turned to her empty seat. The
faces of Green Arrow and the original Teen Titans looked up at her with
lost expressions. "I'm sorry guys, it is the truth. He was
a jerk yes, but that jerk was such an amazing man. And I swear if
he was here right now, listening to all the lovely things everyone has
said about him... he'd say something crass to ruin it all. But I
don't care. I still love him."
Donna felt the warm tears drain down her cheeks when
she turned from the microphone. Ganthet stood up his deep blue
hands slapping together in rapid succession. Alan Scott rose up
next to him, clapping with the swell of applause. Soon Jade stood
up with her father, her emerald skin almost black amidst the gray
clouds. Next Superman stood up, and beside him rose Lois
Lane. Black Canary stood up pulling Hawkman with her; Young
Justice rose at the same time, as did the Titans. Jack Knight
rose next near the back of the assembly followed by Sand, and Mr.
Terrific. Soon the entire assembly of humans and aliens stood
together in an ovation. A collection of assembly swelling with
love and sorrow. To most it was a memory they would not soon
forget.
Now...
Connor spun toward the assassin with his right
heel. His left foot moved from the floor in a sudden motion, his
leg lashing forward in a simple quick kick. Silver Monkey brought
the bo staff to his chest in an instant. His attempt at the block
was completely in vain.
The archer's toes bent easily impacting the
staff. The crunch of wood bent maliciously across Monkey's ears a
heartbeat before he felt the force of the kick slam into his
chest. Connor did not hold back, the force of the kick taking the
assassin from his feet.
Like Connor however, The Silver Monkey knew how to
take a hit. When his back hit the hard wood floor he shifted his
weight forward. His body somersaulted in a quick rotation.
His slippered feet gripped the floor in a light thud. His body
raised slowly, a grin marring his lips from beneath his mask.
Connor stood in a defensive stance. His right
arm pressed against his chest, his left hand open in front of his
face. "Your form is a curtain to your true intent. You have
studied with a true ninja. Color me impressed," Silver Monkey
stated as he took a step forward.
Silver Monkey was correct. In his time
studying under Master Jensen, Connor learned that the sharp sight he
had inherited from his father had another use beyond archery. He
learned though the training of his master to watch the very motions and
patterns of another's martial abilities and to understand them.
It served him to predict an opponents strike, but also he could
replicate another's form and ability. When he fought skilled
fighters, he often borrowed stances and skill sets to add to his own
arsenal. And it was just over a year ago now that he fought with
two very skilled ninjas in the form of Shado, and his brother Robert *. However until this
moment he had no idea how much they influenced him.
[[*see issues 1-5]]
The Monkey's motions were fluid, spinning with the
balls of his left foot. His right leg swept wide, the limb
disappearing into a blur. Connor's thin left arm moved towards
the sweeping kick. His open palm struck against the sole of the
assassin's foot.
The force jagged the archer's bones from the sheer
force of the roundhouse kick. The kick's speed masked its true
intention to be blocked. Its strength was meant to distract, a
lesson Connor would not soon forget. Silver Monkey, however
didn't wait for the younger fighter to find his stance again. His
left hand moved from his shoulder. The black gloved fist slamming
brutally into the Archer's chest.
Connor felt the weight of his body give way once
more along with the air in his lungs. He stepped back on his
right foot, halting the sudden motion. Only to have a second fist
blur into his sight connecting with his jaw. The young fighter
gave off a hoarse whisper-- his skull pushing his neck painfully
backward.
Silver Monkey smiled under his mask, as the boy's
beaten body slammed maliciously against the white dry wall. "This
is only beginning," the assassin said, his body twisted to the right,
his left leg driving his foot into the boy's bruised chest once again.
"Gah!" was the closest sound the assassin could understand from the
boy's pained rasp.
"I will kill you," Silver Monkey said when he
withdrew his slippered foot from Connor's chest. "Tell me where
Milo Armitage is."
"I... don't... know," Connor said in a labored
voice. Strains of red blood dripped from his lips.
"Then I'm going to enjoy this," Silver Monkey said
balling his hand into a street-fighting fist. The fist slammed
into Connor's left cheek. The pain swelled against the boy's
sinuses. A second punch slammed into his face,
followed by a third and a fourth.
Connor's bright eyes looked into The Silver Monkey's
gaze. His full lips crafted a smile. "You are not very good
at killing people," the boy said as he lunged from the wall.
Connor's forehead slammed against the looming silver mask.
The head butt shocked The Silver Monkey. His
body wobbled backward. Connor's right leg stepped towards the
dizzy assassin. His right hand moved from his hip. The open
palm slammed into the man's chest sending him off his feet.
Silver Monkey bent his legs, his feet clapping
against the wall. Both his hands slapped against the wall next,
before he pushed off the white surface. His body lunged toward
the archer, pointing his left leg forward.
Despite the pain that still plagued his body,
Connor's body moved quick and precise. His left hand curved at
the wrist batting the left foot at the ankle. However the moment
the leg moved to the side, Monkey's right leg lashed out.
Connor's back bowed, his torso bending a full seventy degrees.
The assassin's body passed right over the boy's frozen movement.
Silver Monkey's feet clapped the ground. He
turned spinning his body around, the same instant Connor straightened
himself. The assassin's body rose up in single snapping
motion. His left leg lashed from his hip slamming into the boy's
back.
"Slowing down?" Silver Monkey taunted as
Connor fell forward. The archer's hands clapped against the
hardwood floor. His palms protected his face from impacting the
hard floor.
Connor pushed off the floor with both his
hands. His body spun in cylindrical blur. His right leg
lashed in a sweep toward his opponent. The Silver Monkey easily
brought up his left hand batting the sloppy roundhouse at the boy's
heel.
"CONNOR!" A voice shouted through the
door. "CONNOR, YOU OKAY, KID?" The voice
continued.
Connor knew the voice immediately as his friend and
sometimes partner Eddie Fyiers. However at that moment, answering
Eddie was the last thing on his mind. Once the boy's leg found
the floor once more, his left hand left his hip. Silver Monkey
stepped toward the punch his right hand slamming into the boy's wrist,
causing the striking arm to swing wide.
Before Connor could regain control of his arm, the
Silver Monkey took the initiative. The assassin's left fist
slamming once more into the clouding bruise on the boy's chest.
The archer stepped backward. Every muscle in his legs focused to
right his balance.
"Glek!" His voice spat outwards. Faster
than the boy registered the assassin stepped forward and grabbed his
neck. The white eyes stared out of the dark holes in the mask of
the Silver Monkey. "It’s over. Can't say I didn't
enjoy this. But now you will tell me."
The two men looked at each other. The tension
seemed almost suffocating. It was in this moment, that the
boy wondered if the match would have been different if he had his
bow. Strangely for a man called Green Arrow, his archery was
always played as a second fiddle to his skills as a martial
artist. But it was always when he faced great odds that his
father's weapon of choice always gave him that little edge that his
skills of body didn't have.
Without warning, a gun fired from beyond the door,
followed by a brutal kick. "Kid!" Eddie's voice called into
the room.
Silver Monkey growled under his mask, throwing
Connor to the ground. "This isn't over. Not by a long
shot." Connor could only lift his head, to see the silver and
black form leap through the broken window, and disappear into the gray
night.
Months Ago…
"In retrospect I didn't really know Green Lantern
very long," Green Arrow spoke. His bright eyes peered from the
slender emerald mask he wore. "But he was... no, is... the best
friend I ever had." His head slowly leaned down to the podium, a
wavy reflection of himself staring back at him from the lacquered dark
wood.
"Our friendship, started out as a forced
thing. We felt that since the original Green Arrow and Green
Lantern were good friends, we had to do team ups and keep the 'Hard
Traveling Heroes' gimmick alive. Though at first I felt Buddha's
words --to be lenient in all character-- to truly be tested."
A soft hum of laughter attacked the silence; Arrow
simply looked back up to the crowd. "But with Green Lantern I
understood exactly what the great master meant. We are lenient to
people, not because we have noble intent, but because often they will
surprise us, they will humble us. And Green Lantern proved that
it's unwise to judge a book by its cover."
"He was a brother to me. When I left the
Ashram, to devote myself to continuing the legacy of Green Arrow, I had
little knowledge of the world. And though some might disagree,"
he turned his head to the crimson crown of Arsenal, "I believe I've
learned a lot. And most of it I attribute to my best
friend. He taught me that being naive is something that a hero
simply can't be. Though we carry restrictions, we also need
conviction. We need to believe in what we are doing."
He looked to the crowd, a glitter of liquid
shimmering against his lenses. "And of course I took all of what
he said with a grain of salt. But in retrospect I believe perhaps
he was right. As heroes we live in violence. Though we
believe in stopping bloodshed, there is wisdom in believing that the
violence we give, is not equated to that which we receive. Active
passivism is not a concept many understand. To many it equates to
might equals right. But if I am to be understood, active
passivism as believed by the Shaolin is about the strength of courage,
the conviction to believe that through violence one can overcome it--
predestination paradox if there is any."
Another small hum of laughter broke though the
cemetery. "But if there is one thing I believe. I believe
that Green Lantern died for his belief-- his conviction. And perhaps in
his death, he gave us all a final lesson, one we can all
understand." The young archer moved his head low, the sniffing of
a sob was heard across the PA system. "Every one of us has to
believe in ourselves. Whether we fight super-villains or our own
darkness... we all have to keep on fighting. For that one
glimmering moment, the one grand breath... of peace."
Green Arrow rose slowly from the microphone, and
looked towards the crowd, of aliens, meta humans, and human
beings. Each one applauded his words. Perhaps it was
a forced reaction, but it made his heart skip a beat. He stood
and watched the greatest heroes in the world applauding Kyle. It
was only when he turned from the crowd, he saw the smallest glimmer of
emerald light from the corner of his eye. He turned his head
sharply looking to the crowd once more, but it was gone.
"Its a shame Ollie couldn't make it Hal," a
masculine voice crackled beyond the ears of any living body.
"He's here Kyle, just not with us. And I'm
sure my friend is as proud of Connor, as I am of you."
Now...
"Kid what the hell happened?" Eddie Fyiers asked,
his head tilted down at Connor.
The young martial artist sat silently in the
darkness, just as he had the last three times Fyiers had fielded the
same question. His legs were drawn up to his chest; his toned
arms folded against his kneecaps. His form was silent as
death. After all the baggage he was carrying the last thing he
needed was to have his friend hear about his defeat.
"So that’s it then? You gonna mope about
like a pussy then?" The aging man turned on his heels his large
arms folding against his chest. "So some guy busted into your
place and kicked your ass. So what? Ya think I never had my
ass handed to me? Ya think your dad, never had some guy better
than him kick his ass? It’s part of the job, boyo.
You get used to it, or you quit."
"It’s not about my pride," Connor said under a
sob. "It’s about how I am now. The words I said at
Kyle's funeral..."
"That loss ain’t going anywhere,
kid…” Fyier's hand slid his pack of Marlboros from
his shirt pocket. "Look I ain’t Dr. Phil but if ya need
something off your chest let me have it."
"It’s true that Kyle's death is still
fresh. But that’s not what I mean. Silver Monkey all
but pointed out exactly what’s wrong with me."
Sliding the cigarette inside his lips he flicked his
Zippo lighter igniting the tightly rolled white stick. He closed
his eyes taking in a deep drag. "The Silver Monkey?" Eddie asked,
as a plume of silver fog rolled from under his thick moustache.
"No wonder this place looks like Stalingrad. What did he want?"
"He was looking for Milo. But
that’s not the point."
"Milo?" Eddie spoke; his head turned back
towards the archer's tear glistened face. "What exactly is going
on here, Connor?"
Botanical Solutions: Board meeting room…
"Obviously there are problems," a balding man spoke,
his body rising from the circular onyx table. His stature
was squat, with a large belly threatening the buttons of his gray
sports coat. "Herbal remedies are the fastest growing market in
the sector. Yet here we are under your leadership, still failing
our modest projections!"
"What you say is right," a gray haired man spoke
from the head of the table. A silver goatee lightly presented a
ring around his full lips; his thick head of hair was cut coarsely into
short quills. "And I owe every single board member in this room
an apology." His bright blue eyes scanned each posh face that sat
behind the large table, before turning his gaze to the chubby man who
stared daggers into his gaze. "I will admit I've made
mistakes. I am responsible for the pitfall this company has
become. But I think you all will agree that we have room for
improvement. We need something innovative to put us back on top."
"Innovative?" a woman's voice questioned. Her
narrow face tilted toward the elder gentleman with a decisive
look. Her sculpted eyebrows knitted coolly toward her narrowed
eyes. "In every innovation you have attempted, at least three of
our competitors have beaten us to the punch.” Her small
porcelain hands slammed on the table, exposing her thin wrist from the
folds of charcoal sleeves of her loose blouse. "Even N.O.W., a
maker of vegan vitamins beat us to your last 'innovation'. What
makes you think this time is any different?"
A smile ripped across the CEO's lips. His
brilliant white teeth seemed to glimmer against the dim overhead lights
of the boardroom. "What if I told you, that we have a new hybrid
plant? A plant which grows a revolutionary herb—one that
has all the health benefits of kombucha
and the revitalization of rose hip?"
The woman let a smile play against her own petal
painted lips. "I'd say I'd like to see this herb."
"As you wish," the CEO said, and slowly walked
towards the door. The entire group of board people watched on in
silence, watching the man slowly grab the silver knob of the door and
pull it open. "Doctor?"
"Thank you, Mr. Collins." A thin silhouette
spoke sliding past the CEO, and stepped into the boardroom. Every
face at the table looked up in shock as the featureless form stepped
toward the table. The form’s left hand reached to the brim
of his emerald hat, and slipped it off his head, bowing to the members
of the board.
"What is this, some kind of joke?" the chubby man
asked his lips drawn down in shock. His eyes were as large as saucers
unable to quite get a grip on exactly what he was staring at.
"Not even quite my unsavory fellow," the thin man
spoke rising from his bow.
"This is Dr. Jason Woodrue," Collins spoke, his hand
pressing the door closed. "He is the one who created the miracle
herb."
The thin man let a Grinch like smile craft across
his limestone colored face. His sharp wooden teeth looked more
like shrapnel against his grotesque lips. "My child is not a
miracle. She is but a stepping stone." Woodrue's left hand
reached into the pocket of his coat withdrew a single pink bulb.
Woodrue extended his sharp fingertips toward the
overweight man. He steadily presented the closed bulb, which sat in the
center of his bizarre hand, the smile never leaving his own green
features. Miraculously the bulb's petals began to open, blooming
into what looked like a brilliant rose.
"What is this?" the man asked, his jowls shaking
against his large neck. When suddenly to his terrified eyes, a
pale yellow fog rolled from the flower head swarming over his face in a
curling mist. His eyes grew wide as the sweet smelling gas rolled
into his nose. A heartbeat later his body went as rigid as a
board.
The room went silent, the board members watching in
wonder, as the man's face began to change. His chin shrunk
exposing his once lost cleft. His jowls melted against his newly
angular jawbone. Even his neck suddenly shrunk against his throat
exposing his Adam’s Apple. In the matter of seconds the
rolls of fat of the man's body melted away showing the bone and muscle
that had for decades been hidden away from the plagues of fast food,
and beer.
The now healthy man collapsed into his seat, his
mouth wide with wonder. His eyes focused on the sharp branches of
a nose that belonged to the face of the Floronic Man. "And this
my disbelieving deviants—is as we say, only the first step."
TO BE CONTINED…
Next
Issue: What is The Floronic
Man doing in San Francisco? Why was the Silver Monkey looking for
Milo? What does all this have to do with Green Arrow? Find
out in the first part of a story we like to call "Growth Industry"!
ARROW MAIL:
Two years in the making, the funeral of Kyle Rayner and the coming of
the Floronic Man. Okay not really, I just got wrapped up in so
many things, I forgot I was supposed to be writing Fan Fiction.
But I’m trying to get in the saddle again here at the JLU, and at
least for the next few months expect to see a lot of me, and I hope to
get back into some sort of pattern for this series. As I have
tons of ideas I want to write, and I do hope you enjoyed this story
enough to continue with me as we pause the travelling, and focus on San
Francisco. It’s a shift of gears, but I believe that it’s
needed to continue Connor’s growth as a hero, and try to showcase
the city he’s calling home.
This story itself originally was not going to be about Kyle’s
funeral. However my plot notes relating to this issue were mostly
already covered in issue fifteen, so I was unsure how to run it.
And if by fate, Morrissey’s new record “Years of
Refusal” arrived, and there is a track on that record called
“Someday Goodbye, Will Be Farewell.” As I was doing
tai chi to the record, the song came on, and in a sudden instant of
inspiration, I knew where the meat of this issue would be coming
from. Lucky for us last month, Steve Crosby finished up
Kyle’s last story. So I suppose now we can finally let the
Green Lantern rest in peace.
Before I go, I do have another tidbit relating to this story arc.
On occasion I will be mentioning various ‘herbal remedies’
and ‘vitamins’ and things relating to the story. I
myself am actually rather knowledgeable about these things, and I feel
they are important to know about. So in the essence of learning,
I thought I’d share the terms with my readers should you not know
about them. You can take them or leave them. But I’m
sure a little extra knowledge is always appreciated.
So again, I thank you all for reading the fiction, and I hope you stick
around for the rest of the arc. It’s gonna be an
interesting ride.
-Jae Lizhini 03/2009
LEXICON
Rose Hip-
also known as Rose Haw, is a pretty common red fruit, which is an
amazing source of fatty vitamins including C, D, and E. It is
also a wonderful antioxidant that is well known as a remedy for bladder
infection. In a powder it is used as a natural remedy against
Rheumatoid Arthritis, and often-mixed in facial oils to revitalize skin.
Kombucha-
the western name for a Russian tisane (or microorganism culture), that
is claimed to have all sort of amazing results aimed at
digestion. To some it’s a miracle detoxification remedy
aimed at the liver, while others use it to promote more efficient
digestion of foods. In most herbal “detox” kits
kombucha is present. It is also frequently made into a tea, which
is found in most every health store on the planet.
NOW Vitamins-
NOW is a manufacturer of vitamin and dietary supplements that are
completely vegan. They don’t use animal testing, and the
supplements are 100% plant derived.
(Explanation of the usage in this issue) For under schooled
medical professionals and traditional athletes NOW products are looked
down upon, as per the hype that one can’t be healthy on a plant
based diet. Of course this is merely a myth, and there are actually a
good number of professional athletes that eat a 100% plant based
diet. This including Olympian Carl Lewis, UFC fighter Mac Danzig,
Miami Dolphins running back Ricky Williams, and fictional DC heroes
Animal Man, and Green Arrow.
