Fic: Rainbow’s Freedom (Rainbow Prisms Arc) (33/42)
Title: Rainbow’s Freedom (Rainbow Prisms Arc) (33/42)
Author: BradyGirl_12
Pairings/Characters: (this chapter): Hal/Steve/Diana (Steve & Diana do not appear in this chapter), Gronk Lee, Merrilee Pride D’Kor
Series Notes: In the 23rd century, Earth is a technologically-advanced society that practices the ancient institution of slavery. Clark finally learns about his identity and heritage. Will that knowledge tear him and Bruce apart? Meanwhile, Rebellion and Abolition twist and turn in the pageantry of events.
The entire series can be found here.
Genres: AU, Challenge, Drama, Slavefic
Rating: (this chapter): G
Warnings: None
Spoilers: None
Summary: Hal hears rumors of war on Oa.
Date Of Completion (First Draft): January 16, 2011
Date Of Posting: January 19, 2012
Disclaimer: I don’t own ‘em, DC does, more’s the pity.
Word Count: 1147
Feedback welcome and appreciated.
Author’s Note: The magnificent story cover is by the wonderfully-talented ctbn60. Thanks so much, luv! :)
"And ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars
For nation shall rise against nation
And kingdom against kingdom."
Matthew 24:7
Christian Bible
XXXIII
RUMORS OF WAR
Hal listened to the lecture given by the Oan professor. Psychology of different species was always a fascinating topic, and living in the Galactic Empire meant that he was going to interact with many lifeforms. It only made sense that the Guardians of Oa would want their Green Lantern Corps to be well-versed in the subject.
He watched the holographs interacting in the lecture hall, the professor pausing the simulation. “See, here, the Maxima is offended by the Eldorans’ use of the word ‘Klaath’. That is a term meant for the lower castes, and not to be used when addressing a High Caste Maxima.”
A Jovaran raised his hand. “Are not the Maximas doing away with the caste system?”
“They are, but only in the process. The forms of address are still used.”
Hal tapped the information into his compac. The small, hand-held computer was handy for lectures like this. His Ring would be programmed with the information, but occasionally a fact interested him enough to make his own notation.
“Thank Grak the Ring will have all this,” muttered his companion. Gronk Lee was a prime specimen of his Garkan heritage: well-muscled, bright red skin, ears that were large flaps that heard everything from three times the distance of Human ears. Gronk looked like a fierce warrior, yet was one of the gentlest creatures Hal that had ever met, layered over with typical Garkan bluster.
On Hal’s other side was Merrilee, her tawny skin and emerald eyes an interesting combination. She was a Leonine, her navigational skills on par with Corellians. Hal had felt a little nervous around her at first, but she had laughingly informed him that she kept her claws sheathed.
Hal smiled to himself. He was glad of that!
The lecture concluded and Hal and his friends headed to the cafeteria. They took seats next to a window, enjoying the view of the scarlet-and-sapphire gardens.
“I agree that it’s a good thing the Rings help us with all this information,” Hal said. “There’s just so much to learn!”
Merrilee grinned, her canines showing. “Poor babies! Eh, we’ll get through it.”
Hal was glad of the translation application in the Ring, through he would not have minded speaking Standard. Still, it made things easier not to translate.
Merrilee eagerly chomped down on a hamburger. Hal put mustard, pickles, and ketchup on his burger, yet again marveling how this cafeteria could accommodate the culinary needs of so many species.
At first, Merrilee’s eagerness at enjoying hamburgers rattled him a little, but was that any worse than Gronk eating some squishy purplish stuff that looked like squid? Though admittedly, a female resembling a lioness devouring a hamburger could be considered a little nerve-wracking.
Merrilee had slathered ketchup on her burger, licking some off her lip. Her burger wasn’t steak tartar, but Hal could see the pink interior.
“Have you heard the latest rumor?” she asked.
“No, what?” Hal took a sip of Bavarian bluejuice.
“That the Kadorans are laying low.”
Hal frowned. “So the rumblings about their itching to start a new war weren’t true?”
“Oh, they were true. The Kadoran higher-ups just figure the time isn’t right.”
“The time’s never right for war,” Gronk groused. He stuck his fork in the purple squishiness.
Hastily Hal said, “I agree. War isn’t a good thing at any time.” His own war memories flitted through his mind.
Merrilee’s eyes glittered. “So you gentlemen are opposed to war?”
Hal took another bite of his burger, uncertain of how to answer. He was a soldier but war had never been something he had gloried in.
“So, Warrior mentality is suspect to you?” she persisted.
Gronk snorted. “ Of course not! I’ll go to war if I have to, but I’m more interested in peace. Aren’t we supposed to be guardians of peace as Green Lanterns?”
Merrilee frowned. “We are also soldiers in this guardianship.”
“Sure, but that doesn’t mean we don’t go for peace first,” Hal argued. He looked around at the throng in the cafeteria, all clad in their uniforms. “Everyone here comes from very different backgrounds, but we all agree that we share certain beliefs otherwise why would the Guardians have chosen us?”
Merrilee flipped her tawny hair back, “Sometimes it’s uncertain what they’re up to.” She reached for the ketchup bottle. “Besides, the Rings choose their bearers, not the Guardians.”
Hal silently agreed with her first point. “Well, I’m glad that the Collective pulled back, and that the Kadorans are thinking twice.”
“Maybe after their failure to grab Prince Mirax of Rigel VII, they figured they had to regroup,” said Gronk.
“Wasn’t one of your friends instrumental in thwarting that plot?” asked Merrilee.
“Yeah, Bruce Wayne and his Household. The slaves all helped.” Hal smiled. “Actually, Bruce said that they did the actual thwarting. He just came in at the tail end.”
“Refreshing that a Master gives his slaves so much credit.”
“Well, that’s Bruce.”
“He sounds interesting.”
“He is. He’s got that patrician thing going on, but he’s surprisingly down-to-earth.”
“Down-to-Terra?” Merrilee frowned.
Hal laughed. “Just a colloquial expression. It means grounded, without pretension.”
“Ah.”
“Is he a royal? I thought he was referred to as the ‘Prince of Gotham’?” asked Gronk as he guzzled his own bluejuice.
“It’s just an honorific, as the country he lives in, the United States of America, has no official royalty.”
“Why not?”
Hal shrugged. “It’s just an American thing. We pretend that everyone has equal opportunity when of course class is the biggest thing in society.”
“Sounds hypocritical,” said Merrilee, tearing into her burger again.
“That’s us Humans,” Hal said with a smile.
Merrilee grinned, ketchup gleaming on her incisors. “I can work with people like that.”
Hal shivered slightly as Gronk guffawed.
& & & & & &
Hal wandered through the Great Hall, marveling at exhibits that covered a big chunk of the history of the Universe. He wished that he could show all this to Steve and Diana.
Maybe I could ask permission. It’s not like they’re going to blab everything.
Hal paused before the exhibit showing details of the Kadoran War of the last century. Kadorans had roughly the same lifespans as Humans: approximately one hundred years, so there were handfuls of veterans still around, but while the Galactic Empire focused on more recent conflicts, the Kadorans thirsted for revenge. The sting of defeat still burned deeply within their cultural consciousness.
Hal hoped that somehow the Green Lantern Corps could head off any trouble. He’d seen his share of war, and he far preferred peace. He knew that Steve and Diana felt the same way.
Homesick again, he decided to send them a letter by Galaxy Mail as soon as he finished lunch.
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