"Get it filmed as fast as possible. Every Hollywood resource is at your disposal. The government won't issue any official statements, but the public has a right to know. Even if we lose, the survivors need to understand that unity is humanity's only path forward."
"Don't worry, Thea. We're going to win this." The hacker didn't care whether Earth's invaders would be blue or purple giants. She hugged her friend tightly, her eyes resolute.
To fulfill her friend's request, Felicity worked the entire Hollywood machine into a frenzy. Casting, set design—everything happening simultaneously. Avengers One had to be completed within three months, followed by three more films over the next two months. One film per month, shot back-to-back.
Forty-one production crews running simultaneously.
What's that? You're an acclaimed director? You want to pursue your artistic vision? Sorry, we don't need any of that. Treat this like an assembly line.
Want to protest? Sure, go ahead. Would you prefer the White House or the Capitol Building? Sit-ins, hunger strikes, whatever you want.
The heiress had shut down the entire entertainment industry. She was stretched thin, barely eating or sleeping, and these people dared to complain?
Every theater pulled their scheduled films, replacing them with propaganda pieces about disaster relief and wilderness survival. Theater owners were furious at first, but after two of the loudest complainers got arrested for tax evasion, everyone fell in line.
Even the dumbest civilians could sense something unusual in the air. They lived each day in fear, desperately scraping together any information they could find.
The tense atmosphere affected everyone. Even criminals scaled back their operations. Who had the energy to rob banks when the world felt like it was holding its breath? They wanted to know what was happening too...
Thea had no idea that historians in the distant future would name this year the beginning of a New Era—the year magic finally stepped into the public eye. With everything arranged on Earth, she prepared to travel to Oa.
Her responsibilities were endless, but the first priority for cosmic reinforcements was the Green Lantern Corps. With 3,600 sectors and two Green Lanterns per sector, that meant 7,200 members. Add in the reserves, and the numbers easily exceeded ten thousand. The Green Lantern Corps would be a crucial force for Earth's defense.
She teleported directly to Oa and headed straight for the Guardians. Last time she'd visited, she'd been just a minor mage. Now, with divine power radiating from her presence, she'd practically returned as royalty.
"Guardians, it's been a while." Today Thea wore her Divine Retribution robes, their sleeves flowing with indescribable divine power. The small blue Guardians' eyes flickered as they exchanged glances.
Two of the original twelve seats stood empty. This had to be the consequence of Ganthet and Sayd's defection to form the Blue Lantern Corps. The Guardians themselves had fractured. With the most open-minded and life-cherishing Guardian driven out, this was hardly good news.
"Indeed it has, Goddess." The Guardian with the largest head confirmed her new status with certainty.
"Sharp eye, Guardians. This universe is about to face a terrible catastrophe. Are you aware?" She employed the ancient strategist's tactic of seizing the initiative—dropping a bombshell first to command attention.
Ignoring their wooden expressions, she recounted everything from start to finish, emphasizing Earth-2's tragic fate and how precious little time they had left.
The story was lengthy. As she spoke, more and more Green Lanterns were drawn by her impressive appearance and joined the audience.
"That's the situation. We don't know when Darkseid will attack, but time is running out. Unlike the Earth-2 universe, there's a high probability he'll send an avatar personally this time. This universe needs the Green Lantern Corps' help."
Since she'd come to request aid, she didn't throw her weight around despite her superior power. Instead, she maintained a relatively equal stance.
Unfortunately, her sincere appeal received no positive response.
The large-headed Guardian asked, "We know of Darkseid, the Dark Tyrant. We have only one question: why would he focus on this universe?"
They'd cut straight to the heart of the matter. The superheroes believed saving a world that drew evil's attention was beyond reproach. Neither Superman nor Batman had questioned it—to them, it wasn't even a question. Any superhero would have done the same.
Constantine had asked, but Thea had deflected, and he hadn't pressed the issue afterward.
But these rigid-minded Guardians, their heads filled with calculations, immediately struck at the core truth.
Thea wouldn't stoop to deception. "Because I stopped Darkseid. I drove back Steppenwolf's invasion in that universe, which brought this retaliation."
The Green Lanterns began whispering among themselves. To Thea's relief, many supported her. Only a handful believed she'd brought disaster upon them.
When she looked at the Guardians' faces, her heart sank. These bastards clearly agreed with the minority.
Sure enough, the lead Guardian's tone carried a hint of mockery. "This is a mess of your own making. You should take responsibility. If you truly have any honor, you'd leave this universe rather than bringing catastrophe back with you."
Thea nearly thought she'd misheard. Had their vaunted justice really become this twisted?
She was stunned, and the majority of righteous Green Lanterns found it equally incomprehensible. The Guardians were essentially suggesting they exile a hero who'd fought for justice. This was marginally better than binding Thea and delivering her to Darkseid to appease him, but not by much...
"Guardians, we should support Earth. Justice doesn't retreat!" The first to voice support was naturally Earth's Green Lantern, Hal Jordan. Like Abin Sur and Sinestro before him, he now bore the title of "Greatest Green Lantern."
Several of Hal's friends immediately echoed their support, and the momentum grew.
The Guardians remained unmoved. They waited until the Green Lanterns quieted down before speaking slowly. "The Yellow Lantern's creation was a mistake from the start. Hand over the Yellow Lantern Central Power Battery, and we'll let you go. Fight whatever Darkseid you want after that."
The plaza holding thousands fell silent. Thanks to Sinestro, the Yellow and Green Lanterns had fought several serious battles. The Green Lanterns didn't dare act rashly on this subject.
Thea's expression darkened. "Not only will you not answer my call for aid, you want my Yellow Lantern battery? Did I hear that right? Which is more important—the battery or the universe?"
"Hand over the battery, and we'll let you go." The ten Guardians spread out, subtly surrounding Thea.
"You're no match for us. Hand over the battery, and we'll let you go." The large-headed leader repeated his demand, then turned to command the Green Lanterns. "Prepare for combat!"
The Green Lanterns looked confused. Weren't they just discussing how to fight an evil tyrant? How had this turned into a Yellow versus Green Lantern conflict?
Most Green Lanterns reflexively obeyed orders, summoning their ring constructs.
Only Hal Jordan and a few of his friends chose to observe.
"Ha ha ha!—You're killing me! Seems your Guardians have a proud tradition of empty boasting!" Thea's face went pale with rage. Even now, someone dared treat her like cannon fodder. This couldn't stand.
"Green Lantern, Yellow Lantern—they're all misguided paths in my eyes. You don't understand the true nature of power. Did you really think I stopped Darkseid with a Yellow Lantern?"
Soul divine power surged wildly. Beneath her silver hood, her eyes flickered with deep, lonely gray light. Thea's entire aura transformed.
Her whip danced, its tip crackling as gray-white soul fire radiated waves of death. The flames scattered in all directions as she moved.