“Aw, hell,” Hal said, when he saw the glowing violet forms floating in the sky over his apartment. Green light flowed from his ring, covering him in his uniform, and he rose to meet the Star Sapphires.
“I thought I was rid of you,” he shouted as he got closer to the group. There was at least a dozen of them and he hoped his partners got the signal sent from his ring in time.
“We have regrouped, Hal Jordan,” a thin, grey-skinned woman said. “And we will have what we desire.”
She turned and gestured to her sisters and two came forward, each holding a captive in a violet bubble. Hal swore under his breath: they had Carol and Jill.
“Choose the one you love,” the grey-skinned woman—their leader, apparently—said. “Or they both die.”
Hal’s mind raced. How could he save them both? How could he pick one of them? What if they realized—?
“His heart beats for another,” a tentacled, nearly transparent woman said sagely. She held a dimly glowing violet crystal in her hands. “He does not desire either of them.”
“What?” Carol and Jill exclaimed in unison.
Hal could only shrug and smile apologetically. This really wasn’t the way he wanted them to find out…
Points of green appeared in the sky, steadily growing larger.
“Need some help, Jordan?” Guy asked as he came to hover next to Hal. Kyle and John stopped on the other side of him.
The sapphire flared. “His love is nearby,” the tentacled woman said. She released the crystal.
The crystal flew directly to Kyle. It hovered there in front of his face, bobbing and spinning as if confused.
“But it is male,” the leader said incredulously.
Hal risked a glance at Carol and Jill. They were staring at him, mouths hanging open. Beside him, Guy started to snicker.
“Is that true, Hal?” Carol whispered. She sounded shocked.
This was a less than ideal situation to tell them, but he couldn’t lie. Hal looked at Kyle. His face was lit up by the violet crystal. He gave the crooked smile that Hal loved so much. Hal smiled back at him and then looked at the women. “Yes, it’s true. Kyle and I are lovers.”
Carol and Jill both just gaped at him.
The leader spoke. “The Sapphire cannot spawn using Jordan’s new mate. We will have to find another.” The crystal left Kyle and flew back to it’s keeper.
“That’s it?” Hal asked. That’s all that had to be done to get rid of them? He shook his head. Too bad Kyle hadn’t been around years ago.
“Release them,” their leader said again. The violet balls disappeared around Carol and Jill, dropping them towards the beach.
“No!”
Four beams of green energy shot out at once, catching the women before they hit the ground.
The Sapphires disappeared through the clouds. “We’ll have to keep an eye out for them,” Hal said. He felt sorry for the next poor bastard who attracted their attention, though he was relieved they were apparently through with him.
The Lanterns landed on the beach next to the two women. Carol gave Kyle an appraising look, then raised her brows at Hal. “I have to say I’m a little shocked, Hal.” She shrugged and gave him a half smile. At least Carol seemed to be taking it okay. But then again, he hadn’t been dating Carol recently. Jill, on the other hand …
The slap stung across Hal’s cheek. Yeah, this wasn’t going to be good.
“I guess I have some explaining to do.”