HOME | DD

Description
All, especially Kyle, were shocked at this revelation Atrocitus gave.

“No...” Starfire said. “They cannot be dead.” She grew angrier and said “You are lying!”

“Believe what you will, child.” Atrocitus began. “I witnessed all of it. I saw all of them die, some by my own hands. The battle was glorious.” During his talk, Kyle looked back down at the ring in his hand. “My Red Lantern’s fought to the very last, their rage tearing through the Lantern’s like paper!”

More angered, Starfire flew forward and slammed her fists into his chest. Her strength pushed him back a little but it did nothing to make him stop. He lifted his fists high over her before slamming them down on her back, sending her hard against the ground. She groaned as she tried to get up, just as Atrocitus lifted his foot to crush her.

“Watch out, Star!” Cy called out before arming his missiles from his body.

This distracted Atrocitus long enough for Starfire to see and roll out of the way. Cyborg fired and all missiles flew out and hit the Red Lantern. All were direct. However when the smoke from the attack cleared it revealed Atrocitus had created a barrier around him and wasn’t even scratched. Still looking at Cy, Atrocitus aimed his ring and created a battering-ram-like construct that he rammed into Cy, sending him flying into one of the buildings.

Raven managed to cut BB free from the cage with her magic before Robin jumped over and joined them. As they saw what happened to Cyborg, Robin indicated for them to help while he went to Starfire, who was being helped up by Kyle.

BB jumped towards Atrocitus while his back was turned before turning into an octopus and wrapping his arms around the alien’s head. Both struggled as he tried to pull the little green hero off, giving Raven the chance to help Cyborg.

Robin reached Starfire and Kyle before asking her “Are you alright?”

“I believe so.” She said. “But Atrocitus may be too much for us.”

“The maybe we need to fight one ring with another.” He suggested, looking to Kyle.

Seeing this he said “Wait....me? But I...I don’t have any idea what to do. I still don’t fully get what’s going on!”

“You must’ve been given that ring for a reason.” Robin stated.

“I don’t know.” Kyle said as an explosion from the battle came from behind. “I mean I live in Coast City, that’s where Green Lantern’s from. But it’s not like I knew who he was!”

Starfire suddenly perked up and looked to Robin before saying “But we do!”

Robin looked to her before realizing what she meant and said “The Justice League!”

While Kyle looked confused Robin looked over to the other Titans still fighting Atrocitus. He gave a loud whistle which caught their attention. He nodded to them before Raven nodded in return. While Robin and the others waited, Raven, BB and Cyborg dealt with Atrocitus.

BB leapt off his head in time for him to see an arm cannon aimed right at his face.

With a smirk Cy said “Happy trails!” before firing point-blank.

The blast was strong enough to send him flying up into the air. Just as Atrocitus recovered and floated mid-air to regain his sight, the three rushed over to the other three to regroup.

Seeing this, the Red Lantern shouted “The Lantern is mine!” before rushing down towards them.

Robin nodded to Raven before looking to Kyle and saying “Hold your breath. This is going to feel really weird.”

Before Atrocitus could reach them, The Titans, and Kyle, were encased in Raven’s magic, in the form of a giant Raven, that sank into the ground. The Red Lantern roared as he saw this, increasing his speed but to no avail. He slammed his fist into the ground they’d disappeared into before standing up.

He shouted in the air “YOU CHILDREN WILL NOT KEEP THE LANTERN FROM ME! I WILL FIND HIM! I WILL SEE HIS BONE BREAK! AND WHEN I’M FINISHED WITH HIM, I WILL SEE THIS ENTIRE PLANET BURN FROM MY RAGE!”

He breathed heavily before looking down to his ring. He concentrated before making five disk-like objects, alien in design, that hovered around him, showing each had cyber-eyes in the center of them.

“Find them.” Atrocitus said, making them fly off in different directions.

**********************

Kyle found himself with the Titans as they reappeared inside an empty football stadium.
As they all exited from Raven’s magical teleport, Kyle fell to his knees and took deep breaths.

“Yeah.” He said. “That.....that felt weird.”

“First trip’s always the roughest.” BB stated.

Looking around, Cyborg asked “Why’d we come here?”

Robin answered with “It’s somewhere out of the city, and hopefully that’s where Atrocitus will do all the searching. Meantime I think we need to clear a few things out about what exactly is going on here.”

“Good point.” BB said before all looked to Kyle. “Well?”

“Hey, don’t look at me.” He said, standing up now. “Look, I’, just as in the dark as you are. All I know is I got this ring” he held it up to them, “and now I’m being chased by some ager management monster and I’m standing here with the Teen Titans......although the last part is really awesome.”

The Titans all curiously looked at each other before Raven asked “What’s your name?”

“Kyle. Kyle Rayner.” He said. “I’m an art student at Coast City High.” He pulled out his sketchbook from is backpack, which he still had all this time, and said “See?” handing it to them.

BB took the sketchbook and looked through, Cyborg looking over his shoulder, before saying “Whoa. Neato.”

Meanwhile Robin asked “Look, Kyle, I know this is all a lot to take in, but if there’s anything you know that might help with...”

“Please, for the last time, I don’t know anything.” He said, cutting him off. “But right now I’d want just as much answers as you do. I mean why me? Why’d this ring come to me?”

As he sat cross-legged on the ground Starfire said “From what I know of the Green Lantern’s, the power from their rings is fueled by ones power of will; to overcome fear and fight with honesty.”

Hearing this he looked up and her and said “But I’m just a kid. I’m not any kind of...of... hero material.”

“I used to think the same thing about me.” Raven stated, crossing her arms.

“True.” Cy said, joining the conversation now. “But it’s not like this guy had some kind of inter-dimensional demon for a dad.” Thinking on this he looked to Kyle and asked “Uh....?”

“No!” he answered, knowing what he was going to ask.

“Just checking.” Cy shrugged.

BB came over, still flipping through the pages from the book, and said “Dudes! You should see some of this stuff. This guy’s got some neat ideas.” He showed a picture of a man in a large, bulky robotic suit and said “See?”

“Not now, Beast Boy.” Robin said. “Right now we need to focus. First thing we need to do is get in touch with the Justice League. See if their Green Lantern can shed any light on the subject.”

“So let’s just call them up then.” BB suggested.

“We can’t.” Cy said. “Not without a direct communication to the Watchtower, and that’s....”

BB groaned as he said “...back at the Tower.”

“Which is exactly where Atrocitus will be looking first.” Raven added.

“You know, sometimes having a giant building shaped like a letter isn’t as cool as it sounds.” BB finished.

“There may be another solution.” Starfire said, getting their attention. She looked to Kyle and said “The Green Lanterns have been known to communicate with their rings. You may be able to use it to speak with the one here on Earth.”

“That sounds good,” he said “but I still don’t know how to use it.”

She kneeled next to him and said “You must try, Kyle. Please.”

He saw the sincere look in her eyes before sighing and saying “Okay, okay.” He held the ring up in his fingers and said “Communicator.” Nothing happened. He looked around at the Titans, a bit nervous, and said “On?” Still nothing. “Activate? Open sesame?”

“How about putting it on first.” Raven suggested.

He gave an awkward chuckle before looking at the ring again. He carefully slipped it on his finger, hesitant if anything should happen when he did. Once it was on he stood still for a moment, expecting something to happen. He sighed when nothing did but then the ring began to glow, making him and the Titans jump a bit.

The ring glowed and went dark over and over for a minute, as if blipping like a light on a machine, before finally stopping. A light shot out from the top of it, mainly from where the symbol of the Lantern Corp was imprinted, and from it a small green hologram of a familiar person appeared.

“That’s....that’s Green Lantern!” Kyle said as he and the others realized who it was.

The hologram began to speak and said “My name is Hal Jordan of Earth in space sector 2814.”

“It’s him! I’m him!” BB jumped a bit.

Robin kneeled down and said “Hello, Green Lantern Jordan. We need your help. We...”

Before he could finish the hologram went on to say “If you are seeing this message, it means I have fallen in battle and that this ring has chosen you to be its new wearer.”

This sudden news made all of them look disheartened, even making Starfire gasp and Cyborg clenching his fist in anger. Robin looked wide eyed and Kyle the same, only listening to the message as it went on.

“Given that you have been chosen you should know what has caused my own death and likely the deaths of many if not all the Green Lantern Corp. A war has been waging for some time among the different corps. Within the past three days there have been many casualties on all sides. I’ve....lost many friends already. I don’t know how much longer it can last, but we may not last much longer and our enemies our getting more and more desperate to see us fall. Atrocitus. Sinestro. All of them. I’ve made sure that my ring return to Earth and find a suitable replacement to be its protector in the event of my death. Listen now and listen well: do not attempt to return to the Green Lantern home world. It is no longer a safe haven. Your best option is to remain on Earth and wait word from any surviving Green Lanterns out there. I know this may seem like big shock to you, but for all I know my ring may have come into the hands of a close friend or a complete stranger. Just keep this in mind: I did not chose you, the ring did. That means that you have the makings of a hero and protector. You have the courage and willpower needed to earn this. Never give in to fear. And remember: Once a Green Lantern always a Green Lantern.”

Kyle watched with amazement and confusion as the hologram had spoken. When the message finished the hologram of Hal Jordan disappeared back into the ring.

As all looked at each other the ring suddenly said [Downloading now.]

Kyle quickly said “Wait. What?” before the ring shot a beam into his eyes.

The Titans all jumped to pull him away, but Starfire stood and blocked them off saying “No! Do not touch him!”

They looked back to see Kyle was fine, in a sense. The beam kept glowing in his eyes but he just stared at it with a sort of bewildered look. After a few moments it finally stopped and Kyle closed his eyes. The Titans either kneeled or gathered around him as he started rubbing his eyes and forehead.

“Are you alright?” Robin asked.

He finally opened his eyes and said “Better than alright. I...I understand everything.” He looked up at them and said “I...I don’t know what happened but....I know things.
Things I didn’t even know existed. Planets. Species. Space Sectors. Everything! I...I can see it too. The war. The Lantern Corp War.”

“The ring must’ve ‘downloaded’ all the info stored in it over the years.” Cy suggested. “I remember Green lantern....the OTHER Green Lantern, saying it was some kind of hyper advanced technology that’s able to tap into someone’s mind.”

“Explains how Atrocitus was able to make all those things just like Green Lantern did.” Raven stated.

Starfire helped Kyle to his feet and said “Do you understand what power you’ve been given, Kyle?” He nodded as she continued with “Then you understand what you must do. Atrocitus has threatened this world and you must protect it.”

“But.....but I don’t think I can.” He said, hesitantly. “I mean I’m just a kid. No offense. Look, I’m just not hero material. I real don’t think I’m cut out for this.”

“You heard what Hal Jordan said.” Robin began. “He didn’t chose you, the ring did.”

Kyle looked at him and said “Well maybe the ring is wrong! Maybe Atrocitus was right and it chose wrong.” He looked at Cyborg and said “You said this thing’s just technology? Well sometimes technology can go on the fritz. Maybe that’s what happened to me. I just.....I can’t do this.”

The Titans all looked among each other, except for Starfire. She looked at Kyle as he looked down at the ring on his finger, having a sorrow look. She put her hand on her shoulder to try and comfort him, but all he did was close his eyes and drop the hand with the ring on it.

“Look, right now we can’t do anything from here.” Robin said. “I think it best if we try and get in touch with the League. Maybe they’ll have some idea on what to do.”

“But now are we supposed to get in touch with them?” BB asked. “That Atrocitus guy’s still out there looking for us.”

“We don’t really have any other options.” Raven said. “Either we take our chances at the Tower or keep hiding until Atrocitus gives up looking.”

“And given that guy’s attitude,” Cy began “he’ll likely start try to blow up the planet before giving up.”

They all looked to Robin who said “We’ll make for the Tower. If he IS there....we’ll just have to improvise.”

They all started to walk off before realizing Starfire and Kyle were still where they were.

Seeing him now looking at the ring again, Starfire asked “Kyle?” making him look at her. “Please. We must go.”

He was silent at first, as if deciding his options. He looked back at the ring again and signed before picking up his bag and standing. He nodded to her before both of them walked over to rejoin the others. All of them now made their way to Titans Tower.

Little did any of them know that their conversation had been seen by one of Atrocitus’ disk, which, after they started walking, flew off to return to its master.

********************

Kyle had reached the island where Titans Tower stood.

When he looked up and saw it he said “Wow. I never thought I’d get to see it this close.”

“You think that’s neat, you should see inside.” Cy boastfully said. “Built the whole thing myself. She’s my pride and joy.”

“You say that about anything you build.” Raven stated as they walked towards the front door.

“Yeah, well.....uh....I really mean it when I talk about the Tower.” He said, trying to figure a good comeback.

Kyle still looked at the Tower while the other Titans walked to the door. Starfire came up behind him and looked as well, seeing how it’s shadow casted over of them.

“It is quite the sight, indeed.” She said.

“Yeah.” Kyle added. “I’m surprised you guys you share this whole thing to yourselves. Just five of you in one big place.”

“It is capable for keeping more.” She said, making him look confused at her.

“What? You....you mean me?” he asked. “A Teen Titan?”

“You would always be welcome if you so choose.”

He considered the idea but then reluctantly said “I.....I don’t know.” Looking down at the ground now.

Star frowned a bit before saying “When I grew up on Tameran, I’d always love to hear stories of the Lantern Corp. They were like the knights of the table that is round in your Earth culture. Many of them were much like you; ordinary people who were tasked with a great burden. Do you know the part of the story I always liked best?” When he looked back to her she said “When they realized having a ring was not just about themselves, but the people they were now sworn to protect.”

Kyle was taken back a bit by this before Star smiled. She walked ahead of him while Kyle seemed to think on what she’d said to him.

Robin reached the front door of the Tower and opened it before saying “Let’s get to the communicator and try to reach the Watch...”

Before he could finish, a blast from above came down and hit the front of the Tower where Robin was standing. Pieces of debris fell from above, making Robin jump away before being crushed. All looked to the source to see Atrocitus floating down towards them.

“Did you think you could hide from me?” he said, coming closer. “None escape my wrath.”

“How about your happiness?” BB joked. “Can we escape from that?”

As Atrocitus landed near Kyle, the Titans all ran forward and stood between the two, ready to fight.

Robin said “We know about the war, Atrocitus. We know what you did. And you’re wasting your time. There’s no need to fight anymore.”

“Wrong, human.” He said, stopping now. “There is always a reason to fight. I will not rest until I see that ring, and that human, crushed beneath my boot. Then, and only then, will the war truly be over.”

“Yeah. Not happening.” Cy said. “You want him,” he indicated Kyle. “you got to get through....”

Before he could finish, Atrocitus fired a beam from his ring that sent Cyborg back and the others scattering. Cy landed on his back and had to lift himself up.

“Oh now you asked for it!” he angrily said before charging towards him.

Atrocitus managed to grab Cy as he came towards him and toss him towards Robin, who was trying to attack from the right. He turned as Raven and BB, in the form of a bull, came from the left and fired down both of them with quick blasts from his ring. Star came from above and managed to land a punch to his face, but as she passed he quickly recovered and grabbed her ankle. He spun her in the air before slamming her down on the ground. He picked her up again and slammed before tossing her away.

Atrocitus turned to Kyle and said “Such a weak little thing. To think the ring of one of the greatest Green Lanterns, chose you to be its replacement.” He picked Kyle up by the collar and said “Cowering little whelp. Time to burn.”

He held his ring up to blast Kyle in the face, the boy closing his eyes as he did, before a hard smack to the back of his head made Atrocitus drop him. The Red Lantern turned to see Robin with his staff in hand. He roared before trying to blast him, only for the boy wonder to duck and dodge each blast.

“Don’t you ever give up?” Robin asked, avoiding more shots.

“My ring is powered by my need for rage.” Artocitus said, now creating a series of red tendrils that shot out and coiled around Robin. “The more anger I feel, the stronger my power become!”

As Robin struggled, Atrocuitus made the tendrils grip tighter to squeeze him. Before Robin could be crushed, BB came from behind, as a rhino, and smashed into him, dropping Robin. As Atrocitus was pushed forward, Raven created a portal in front of him. BB stopped while he went through it. She opened another one in the air which he fell through, straight to the ground.

As he picked himself up, Atrocitus was instantly tackled by Starfire and Cyborg. While Cy held his arms down, Star reached over and tried to take his ring. Seeing this, Atrocitus grew more angered before blasting both off of him with a massive shock-wave.

As he got to his feet, Robin came flying down towards Atrocitus, throwing a grenade at him. Instead of waiting for it to hit him, Robin threw one of his birdarangs at it, making it explode above his head. It exploded into a rain of ice that covered Atrocitus. When it cleared he looked to see the Red Lantern encased in a block of ice.

Raven flew over next to Robin, seeing this, but soon the ice cracked as they heard Atrocitus inside begin to growl. They could see his ring glowing more and more red as the ice began to crack. When it finally exploded, Atrocitus burst out and flew towards the two, grabbing both in one hand and smacking them together. Both feel to the ground, out cold.

Atrocitus turned as BB, now as a gorilla, leapt towards him and tried to smash his fists down on him. He blocked with his arm before his ring covered his free hand in a red gauntlet construct. He smashed it hard against BB, sending him flying back against a rock. He landed on the ground in his normal form and groaned.

Cyborg fired both his arm cannons at Atrocitus from the right, making him fire a beam from his ring to meet both. Both power struggled for a minute before Atrocitus gained the upper hand. Cyborg was hit hard as he fell backwards, parts of his body smoking from the powerful blast.

Atrocitus yelled out “You’re making this too easy, earthlings! Give me a REAL challenge!”

Suddenly, from behind, Starfire gave a loud yell as he turned to see her. She slammed her fists against his face before belting him again and again. Atrocitus finally managed to grab both her hands and hold her back.

As both struggled he said to her “Ha! I can feel your rage, Tamerianian. Your people have always shown such potential! A shame the last one I met was fighting against me and my Corp. He didn’t put up as much of a fight though!”

This angered Star so much her eyes flared, making them give large flash that blinded Atrocitus. He packed away, covering his eyes, giving Starfire the change to focus all her energy before firing it right at him. The Red Lantern went flying back but managed to land on his feet. When she stopped he rushed forward and managed to slam her against the ground.

As Star tried to recover, Atrocitus brought his foot towards her. She caught it in time and tried to hold it back with all her strength.

Kyle watched and started to panic, saying “What do I do? What do I do?”

Star, seeing him, struggled to say “K-Kyle.....please.....you must...assist.”

“But....I....I...” he said, not knowing what to do.

Seeing this, Atrocitus said “Ha! The boy cannot help you. He has neither the will nor the courage to face me. He is no Green Lantern.” He looked down at her as he kept trying to stomp on her and said “You have no hope.”

Star still struggled while saying “Kyle....remember...remember what....Hal Jordan said.....you DO have the courage! You need.....to believe! The ring....chose you!”

Kyle looked down at the ring and closed his eyes. All through his mind he was conflicted with what to do. What could he do? He had the ring but did that mean he knew what to do with it? Was he even worth keeping it? He had to help the Titans, but would he even be a match for Atrocitus? Deep down all Kyle Rayner felt was more and more afraid.

But then the words of Hal Jordan echoed in his mind, with “You have the courage and willpower needed to earn this. Never give in to fear. And remember: Once a Green Lantern...”

Kyle opened his eyes and finally said “.....always a Green Lantern.”

As Atrocitus felt Starfire’s strength waning, he chuckled and said “Time to die, child!”

Before he could give the final blow, a rock hit him from behind. He turned to see Kyle Rayner standing there, standing tall and with a bold look on his face. The Red Lantern laughed as he turned, taking his foot away from Star. She sat up to see Kyle standing there as Atrocitus walked towards him.

“So you finally mustered the courage to stand up to me.” He said. “Does that make you feel any stronger, boy?”

“I’m not afraid of you, Atrocitus!” he said. “The ring chose me, and I won’t sit by and let you hurt my friends anymore!”

“If that is so,” he said, raising his ring towards him. “then you can burn with them!”

As Atrocitus charged his ring to fire, Kyle lifted his own and concentrated. He closed his eyes and Atrocitus was about to fire, only for a sudden burst from Kyle’s ring to shoot out and blast him back. Atrociitus flew back before skidding hard against the ground.

As he looked up, the Titans all recovered in time to see as Kyle’s ring glowed brighter and brighter. Suddenly the light flowed from the ring around his body. It began to construct a uniform for him, made from his own willpower and imagination.

Went it was done Kyle Rayner stood there with a black underclothing, similar to Atrocitus, and green armor. He had wrist gauntlets that had green glove parts that covered his hands. A large breastplate was around his chest with shoulder pads and bearing the symbol of the Green Lantern Corp in the center of it. And on his face was a large metal-looking mask that covered around his eyes and his nose. His eyes, instead of showing past the mask, were glowing bright green.

“Alright, you big ugly jerk.” he said, aiming his ring as Atrocitus. “Pick on someone your own size!”