sum of their parts

[overcame_fear]

[After this.]
 
Hal is still partly stunned by what happened out on the streets, but inside the headquarters of the Doom Patrol, things are not getting much easier to digest. Whoever this Niles Caulder is, the tech he uses includes things Hal hasn't even seen on Oa. And considering how twisted a lot of it seems, GL is very glad of that.

And yet... as Hal watches Caulder grafting a bizarre metal arm to his shoulder, he wonders if they really have much choice but to depend on the man if they hope to make things right again. Even Caulder seems to think so:

"Cliff's spare Robotman parts are a poor substitute, but I'm making do."

When told he should be glad his sensory nerves aren't part of the graft, he figures Caulder is probably right. But at least operating the arm depends on willpower. Hal has plenty of experience with that. Provided he can keep the arm's energy blast from killing them all.

Comments

[raptorcanaria]

Dinah remembers a conversation with X-23, and reflects that it might be an advantage if they had a mind reader on their team. The thought, however, makes her frown. She's definitely not comfortable with that idea, hands down.

She lifts her head to say godoby to the Doom Patrol, and finds J'Onn looking at her steady, his newly reattched red eyes unreadable. When she speaks, he breaks his stare.

"We can't take claims about a holocaust lightly. Locus stole one of the alien creatures that brought the JLA together. Their techonlogy may outstrip our powers, and that's trouble. Find out what you can on your end."

"Yeah, we find anything, we'll buzz ya," Robotman assures her.

As goodbyes are said, Dinah looks around to make sure they're all together, and discovers a member from each team is missing...

[overcame-fear.livejournal.com]

That would be Hal and Larry, who have taken a moment to look out over the city from the high balcony of the DP headquarters.

"What do you mean you don't know exactly who's financing the JLA?" Larry is exclaiming. "Don't you guys check things like that out? Isn't that super-villain plot number eighty-two?"

"You're right," Hal has to admit. "We're new at this. We'll look into it first thing in the morning."

The Lantern goes quiet for a moment, then sighs, "Larry, how do you handle it, man? The responsibility?"

Negative Man lifts his head in surprise to hear Hal Jordan ask such a thing. "You seem to be doing well enough, flyboy. Hey, you were an iceman as a jet jockey. Why so rattled all of a sudden?"

"I never really thought of the ring as a killing tool before today," Hal answers. "Kind of changes my perspective on what we're capable of."

"Yeah," Larry nods. "I can see that. Look, Hal, take it from someone slightly more experienced: never failing to use our abilities wisely. That's the real power. Don't forget that."

Hal takes a moment, then smiles, but only slightly. "I won't."

"Listen... Any time you want to crack the sky again, look me up. I can put you behind a stick for an afternoon."

"Sounds good," Larry says, taking Hal's hand in a firm shake. "Take care, Hal."

Hal intends to. And he has to admit, it's good to know Larry is part of this new world he's found himself in. Even a Green Lantern needs someone to talk to now and then.