Nowhere

Do you remember who you are?

I...I can't remember much of anything. I don't know where I am. Everything's so...past, present, future...what is this? What am I seeing?

That's because you've become connected.

Connected...connected to what?

To everything. You're seeing things in a new light, Hal.

Hal...that sounds familiar...Hal...

It sounds familiar because that's who you are. Have you fallen so far that you've forgotten your own name?

Hal...Hal...Jordan?

Yes, that's right.

I'm starting to remember now. My name is Hal Jordan. That's who I am. But...I had other names, didn't I? I was part of something. I can remember a chant, a mission statement. “In brightest day, in blackest night, no evil shall escape my sight.”

Yes, that's right. The Hymn of the Green Lantern Corps. Do you remember the Green Lantern Corps? Do you remember Ganthet and Oa? Do you remember your fellow Green Lanterns?

I...I do. It's starting to come back to me now. I remember them...all of them.

And do you remember your betrayal?

...what? My betrayal? What are you talking about?

You were the best of them, Hal. You were the greatest Green Lantern who ever lived. How fitting that, like Sinestro, the man who trained you, you too would turn against the Corps.

No...I would never. I'm nothing like Sinestro, there's no way I would have—

But you did, Hal. You craved power, remember? The power to make the universe a better place. And because of that, you turned against the Corps. You slaughtered them. You stole their rings. You stole their power. And what's more?

You enjoyed it.

No...no you're wrong.

Am I? Why don't you tell me what happened after Coast City was destroyed?

I can't remember...

Yes you can, you're just trying to block it out.

No, I can't...don't make me remember. Please. I don't want to remember.

You tried to use your ring to recreate it. To resurrect it from the ashes. But it wasn't enough power, was it? You needed more. And there was only one way to get it—by stealing the power of the Green Lantern Corps.

Go away. Leave me alone.

It's too late for that, Hal. You need to face what you've done. You need to remember the monster everyone claimed you had turned into. But beyond that, there's something else you need to remember. And do you know what that is?

No...what?

You need to remember that, more than anything else, you were doing the most heroic thing anyone has ever done for this misbegotten universe.

What do you mean...?

This is not the way the universe was supposed to be, Hal. It was changed. Corrupted. Darkened. Yes, there were problems in the past, but never like this. Heroes used to be decent and villains weren't psychotic, depraved mass murderers. But now, the heroes are like the villains of old and the villains have turned into something completely inhuman.

But how did I help? If I destroyed the other Green Lanterns, aren't I just as bad as those villains?

No, Hal. Because you knew something else. You knew what was really happening. You found the courage to stand up to a universe that had turned its back on everything. You knew that the only way to save a universe so far gone was to recreate it.

Recreate it...?

Yes. Start fresh. Start again. Hit the reset button. Make everything as it was. And then, you shall be rewarded and celebrated as the greatest hero in all of creation. You'll have built a brand new world, a bright, shining beacon of hope. But to do that, you need to realize that the coming trials will be long and hard.

And this is what I have to do?

It is. The time has come, Hal. The time has come for Parallax to return. To set everything right once more. As never before, the blackest night has descended. And only your light can pierce the dark veil.

	The World's Greatest Superheroes! BLACKEST NIGHT Part One
JLA #50 May, Year Seven	by Dino Pollard

MARTIAN MANHUNTER	SUPERMAN	THE BATMAN	THE FLASH	ARSENAL
JADE	STEEL	ZAURIEL	AZTEK	MANITOU RAVEN

Watchtower

“I don't trust him.”

“Yes, we know that, Bruce,” said J'onn J'onzz, the Manhunter from Mars. “However, Zauriel has confidence in him.”

The Dark Knight faced his old friend, fixing the opaque lenses of his black leather cowl on the alien. “Who's to say he can be trusted, either? Were you able to scan his mind?”

J'onn sighed. “No. But his aid during our recent trials gives me faith that he is a good man, one who can be trusted. I find a strong sense of...relief when he is around.”

“He could be empathic,” said the Batman.

“Or it could be something more than that.” The third member of this meeting offered his voice. It was a gentle one, but its tone carried a supreme weight that the Batman's grave one could not match. “If Zauriel was manipulating our emotions, how come he isn't doing the same to you?”

“There are a number of potential explanations,” said the Batman. “Perhaps he's doing it to cast suspicion on my theory. Or perhaps for some reason he's not able to affect me.”

“Or it could just be that you don't have faith in much besides yourself,” said Superman. “Bruce, you're one of my closest friends, but we've accepted people into the League based on less.”

The Batman turned to the monitor that displayed Zauriel and the man they were discussing, Manitou Raven. Zauriel was an angel of Heaven, or so he claimed. Poisoned by the touch of Tala, he was now trapped in the Earthly realms. He recently came to the Watchtower with Manitou Raven, a mysterious mystic in tow.

“If our encounter with Tala is any indication, we will need someone with mystical knowledge on this team,” said J'onn.

“I hope you don't live to regret this,” said the Batman. “But I will be watching him. Both of them.”

Steelworks

The massive underground facility owned and operated by John Henry Irons, also serving as his home. Nicknamed Steelworks after the name of his superheroic alter-ego and recently-elected member of the Justice League.

“How are you doing in there?” he asked.

“Just fine, Mr. Irons,” said Aztek. Also a new member of the JLA, the man called Uno was raised by the mysterious Q Society to be their avatar. While donning a mysterious helmet that harnesses fourth-dimensional energies, Uno gains incredible powers that transform him into Aztek, the Ultimate Man.

“You can call me John,” said Irons. At the behest of the Martian Manhunter and the consent of Aztek, Steel was exposing one of the new Leaguers to a battery of scans to determine the extent of his abilities and the effect the mysterious helmet has on him. “How much do you know about this Q Society?”

“Well I was raised by them,” said Aztek. He was suspended upright in a harness as scanners passed over his body. “So was my father. I was chosen out of many to be their champion, the avatar of Quetzacoatl to stand against the threat of Tezcatlipoca.”

“Aztec gods?” asked Steel.

“You sound skeptical,” said Aztek with a slight grin. “Are you telling me that in a world where you've fought beside a creation of the Greek gods and an angel of Heaven that you doubt the existence of other pantheons?”

“Point taken,” said Steel. “Although I'm not so sure that those beings are actual gods and I don't put much stock in prophecies.”

“Fair enough,” said Aztek. “So what are your scans turning up?”

“This Q Society may be ancient, but they've got some of the most cutting edge technology I've ever seen,” said Steel. “There's nothing else like this. They've found a way to not only tap into and harness the energies of a higher dimension, but they've been able to miniaturize the conduit and contain it within. And you said this thing also gives you access to the memories of past champions?”

“That's right. But without the proper training, those memories would drive the normal person insane.”

“And this helmet has been around for centuries?”

“Ever since Quetzacoatl left it to them.”

“So...what you're telling me is you have no idea who actually created it or where it originally came from?” asked Steel.

“Only what the Q Society has told me,” said Aztek.

“Hmmm...”

“What's that?” asked Aztek.

“Just wondering,” said Steel. “There have long been theories that aliens came to Earth centuries ago and that many of the advancements of civilizations like the Aztecs, the Mayans, the Egyptians and so forth were actually the result of extraterrestrial influence. For the most part, the scientific and academic communities regard such theories as complete bull...”

“But...?” asked Aztek.

“But all conjecture and tinfoil hats aside, your helmet is far too advanced for the technology we have, and aliens not only exist but have come to Earth many times in the past,” said Steel. “I wonder if this Quetzacoatl was an alien emissary, not unlike the New Gods, sent here to protect Earth from the threat of Tezcatlipoca.”

“Pretty interesting theory,” said Aztek.

“One I'll have to examine more in-depth. I'd like to have Mr. Miracle and Big Barda take a look at these scans, maybe see if your helmet has any possible connection to New Genesis,” said Steel.

Watchtower

The Martian Manhunter entered the meeting room where Zauriel and Manitou Raven waited to hear their decision. The alien was flanked by Superman on his right and the Batman on his left.

“We've discussed what you've told us and we've agreed,” said the Martian Manhunter. “Given the potential threats we may face in the coming days, months or even years, the Justice League will need the experience and insight the both of you can offer.”

“Thank you,” said Manitou Raven. “I promise you, this is an honor that shall not be squandered.”

“Just do your job and forget the honor talk,” said the Batman.

“Batman...takes some getting used to,” said Superman with a slight grin.

“His reaction is understandable,” said Manitou Raven. “I'm a complete x-factor to you. Not one of you can be sure of my true intentions or goals.”

“You're certainly not making a case for yourself,” said the Batman.

“I'm not trying to, I'm simply stating the facts,” said Manitou Raven. “But you should know that I will fight with you and the Great Destroyer is coming.”

“Aztek said something to that effect as well,” said the Martian Manhunter. “He was trained by the Q Society to fend off the threat of a being called Tezcatlipoca.”

“And that could simply be a name for any number of entities,” said Zauriel. “With Heaven closed off to me and the light of the Presence hidden, there's no way I can be sure of what I've known in the past. But there is a dark presence as well."

"There are days I almost miss the Spectre's sudden intrusions," said the Batman.

“Whatever is going on, we will need all the help we can get,” said the Martian Manhunter. The entire Watchtower then began to violently quake.

“What is that?” asked the Batman.

“A quake? On the moon?” asked Superman.

The Martian Manhunter flew towards the computer console, activating it. “No...something is happening...something dangerous.”

“There's a powerful force here, the most powerful weapon in the universe made flesh,” said Manitou Raven.

“What do you mean by that?” asked the Batman.

“The most powerful weapon in the universe—the Green Lantern ring?” asked Superman.

“So...so much more now,” said Manitou Raven. He shut his eyes and when they opened once more, they began to glow bright red.

“Kyle back from the dead, or someone else?” asked Superman.

“Our systems are beginning to go offline,” said the Martian Manhunter. “Oxygen levels are dropping.”

“Batman, you and Manitou Raven need to get to the transporters,” said Superman.

“I'm not abandoning the rest of you,” said the Batman.

“We can survive in space—you can't,” said Superman. “You're no use to us if you're dead.”

The Batman wanted to protest, but instead he just nodded silently.

“Hurry, oxygen levels are already down fifty per cent!” shouted the Martian Manhunter.

The Batman looked to Manitou Raven. “Follow me.” The two left the meeting room, heading towards the transporter room.

“Zauriel, Superman, I want you search the Watchtower from top to bottom, see what you can discover,” said the Martian Manhunter. “I'm going to the monitor womb, see what I can uncover from there. Maintain telepathic contact at all times.”

New York City

Wally West looked down at the headstone with the name KYLE RAYNER carved into it. He knelt down, laying his hand on the hard granite. “Sorry I haven't been around lately. Things have been pretty hectic, you know. Even though I left the League after your death, looks like I've been suckered back into it again.”

“Don't that just make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside.”

Wally sighed. “Roy. What are you doing here?”

“Linda called,” said Roy Harper, approaching from the road. “She's pretty worried about you, for obvious reasons.”

“I'm fine,” said Wally.

“Hey man, you're talking to me here. I know we've both buried our share of friends. I get what you're going through.”

“Not really,” said Wally. “Roy...when I first met Kyle, I thought he was just an incompetent nobody who would never live up to Hal's legacy. I pretty much despised the guy at first. Who the hell was he to try and step into those shoes?”

“Hey, I know what you mean,” said Roy. “We grew up idolizing Hal. The Titans were our family, but Hal, Ollie, Barry...those were our fathers, I guess you'd say. Especially Hal, that guy was like the quintessential hero for us. So it's understandable why you'd doubt some new guy who doesn't know Oa from Thanagar stepping into the role.”

“I was wrong, though. Turns out Kyle had what it takes to be a hero. Hal was fearless, but Kyle was scared every time he put on that ring. Guess that makes him the brave one, huh? Even when he was scared, he didn't give up. That's not something Hal ever had to worry about.”

“Makes you think,” said Roy.

“He went out a hero,” said Wally. “That's what matters in the end, doesn't it?”

“You're asking the wrong guy,” said Roy. “Personally, I think I'd be much more satisfied dying of old age as I'm retiring in the Caribbean.”

“Didn't expect to run into the two of you out here.”

Roy and Wally turned and saw a woman walking towards them with green skin and matching hair. Jennie Lynn Hayden, an old friend and a new teammate.

“Didn't expect to see you, either,” said Wally.

“I come here about once a month,” she said. “Still can't really believe that he's—ARGH!”

She fell to her knees, her body surrounded by a green energy field. Wally and Roy tried to help her up, but the field prevented them from even touching her. “What's going on?” asked Roy. “Jennie, are you—”

“I-it's coming...” she said. “...tearing apart...”

“What are you talking about?” asked Roy. “Wally, what's—?”

“Call the Watchtower!” said Wally. “I have a feeling we'll need some help on this.”

Steelworks

“You think my helmet is conencted to New Genesis?” asked Aztek. Steel had just helped him out of the harness now that the tests were complete and he stretched his body out.

“I'm not sure, to be honest,” said Steel. “It's just a theory, and one I won't be able to confirm until Miracle and Barda have looked at these results. But it wouldn't be the first time that the New Gods have intervened on Earth's behalf.”

“Something centuries in the making, though?”

“You never know,” said Steel. “But for now, let's—”

Steel was silenced by the sound of an alarm coming from a nearby computer station. He stood and moved over to that workstation. “What's that?” asked Aztek.

“I'm linked into satellites monitoring interstellar trends, detecting for things like approaching crafts or asteroids and observing any changes in planetary mass and orbit.”

“And...?”

Steel couldn't believe what he was seeing. With a thought, the armor cybernetically complied to his silent command, the faceplate on his helmet retracting to show his face. “My god...”

“What's going on, Steel?” asked Aztek.

“This can't be right, but...” Steel began entering commands, trying to verify the data on the screen. His fears however, had been realized—the scans were accurate.

“Steel...?”

“It's the solar system, Aztek,” he said, turning to face his teammate with wide eyes filled with fear. “Our solar system is shrinking.”