"Can't believe you're actually taking the plunge, Hal. I think we'd given up hope on you."

Hal Jordan sipped his beer, trying and failing to suppress a grin. He was standing on the back deck of his older brother's house, enjoying the company of both Jack and Jim, his siblings. "Carol's the kind of woman you can't let get away... though Lord knows I've tried to do just that often enough."

"She's done her share of pushing you away, too, from what I've seen." Jim stared up into the night sky, the scent of Ollie Queen's spicy chili filing his nostrils. "Marriage is going to do you a world of good, Hal. Makes you more settled. Secure feeling."

Hal couldn't help laughing at that. He'd been picked to be the Green Lantern of Sector 2814 because he had been deemed fearless. That wasn't exactly true, of course -- having no fear meant having no sense, after all. But he had the ability to overcome the fear that might paralyze others, to use it as energy to fuel his actions. "I'd like that, Jim. I really would. I've spent too many years wandering from place to place, looking to find myself... and in the end, I've discovered that I was at home all along."

"Too bad Coast City's gone, though." Jack finished his own beer. "That would have been a great place to start a family."

Hal didn't reply at first, thinking about the horrors that Malvolio had forced upon him. Coast City's destruction had been the final chink in his emotional armor... giving Malvolio everything he needed to destroy Hal's legacy. Only I've been given a second chance, he mused. I have the rarest of all opportunities -- redemption.

"The chili's ready to go, guys!" 

Hal turned to see Ollie Queen standing in the doorway. He wore a chef's hat and an apron with the slogan "Kiss the Cook" emblazoned across its front. His trademark beard was looking especially dashing this evening, Hal noted. Leave it to Ollie to go to the barber before a bachelor's party, he thought with affection. "You didn't need to cook the chili, Oliver. Really."

"You'd never forgive yourself if you missed out on it, Hal. I've made it extra spicy this time."

Hal clapped his old friend on the shoulder, stepping back inside. "Thanks for doing this," he whispered. 

"I missed you, you old fascist," Ollie replied. There was an uncharacteristic gleam of moisture in the Archer's eye and Hal felt extremely touched. Though the two of them were polar opposites in many ways, they'd bonded on a level that surpassed what Hal shared with his brothers. "I'm glad it worked out better for you and Carol than it did for me and Dinah."

"You never know what the future holds," Hal said. "Believe me."

Ollie's response was drowned out in a chorus of cheers as the men entered the living room. Hal saw that the lights had been dimmed and his friends -- both from his career as a test pilot and as a superhero -- were standing in a semicircle around the room's edge. So many of them had played a part in the tapestry of his life... Hal felt lucky to have so many wonderful friends: Tom Kalmaku, Clark Kent, Ralph Dibny, Will Payton, Wally West, John Stewart, even Guy Gardner. He'd shared good times and bad with them, through thick and thin. 

Hal felt a shiver of confusion run through him as his friends continued to laugh at his expense. He was about to ask what was so funny when a throbbing drum beat echoed through the room, preceding a loud dance tune that sent the raucous crowd into an even louder mood. 

"You didn't," he pleaded, glancing at Ollie. "Please say you didn't...."

Ollie shrugged. "The chili can wait, old pal." He pushed Hal into a chair in the center of the room. "Enjoy yourself before the old ball and chain gets wrapped around your manhood."

Hal groaned as a scantily-clad woman danced into the room, heading towards him. She was wearing a costume that resembled Power Girl's and she filled it amply. I hope you're having as much fun as I am, Carol. I'd much rather it was you in that outfit, he thought to himself. A smile slid across his features as he relaxed to enjoy the moment. What could it hurt?

It hurt. 

A lot.

Star Sapphire ignored the pain, however, using the alien jewel that powered her abilities to unleash another powerful round of energy blasts. The men and women around her -- second-rate villains, all -- were thrown backwards in agony.

Carol stood in the center of the bar for a moment, panting. She'd begged out of her bachelorette party early, citing pre-wedding jitters. The truth had been less savory, however, leading her to the darkest part of San Francisco. At a dive called The Black Hand she'd found the kinds of people she was looking for. Stepping up to the dark-skinned man known as Crowbar, she put a high-heeled boot down firmly on his hand. "How do I get in contact with Deathstroke?" she repeated once more.

The former member of the Cadre bit his lip. "I told you, bitch... I don't know. He doesn't hang around here. He's too high-class for that."

Star Sapphire swept her gaze over the room. She recognized only a few of these people, but she knew their reputations well. Being Green Lantern's girlfriend had brought a certain amount of knowledge with it. "I want you to spread the word. Star Sapphire's looking for him. I want to talk to him as soon as possible. And if any of you can bring his head to me on a platter... you'll be rewarded."

With those words, she strode from the bar. She felt slightly soiled inside and she knew that Hal would never approve of these techniques... but it wasn't Hal's father who had seemingly returned from Hell, intent on serving some demon named Neron. If she was going to find Carl Ferris, she'd have to deal with the man who had worked for him most recently -- Deathstroke.

"Letting off a little steam?" a woman purred.

Star Sapphire stopped in place, scanning the darkness. It was late and the bar was located on the wharf, meaning that there were few passerby around. So who had...?

A feline figure emerged from the shadows, her cat-like eyes narrowed. Carol felt cold fear pass through her -- the Cheetah, one of the more bloodthirstyy villains in Wonder Woman's rogues gallery. "You saw what I did inside, I suppose," Carol replied. "Do you know anything that might help me?"

The Cheetah sniffed the air disdainfully, her tail swishing. "I don't associate with that sort of rabble. I have higher standards."

Carol remembered Crowbar's words... that Deathstroke had more class than to be in a dive like this. "I want Deathstroke."

"I know you do. You've made that quite clear." The Cheetah leaped forward, landing in a crouch near Carol's feet. She looked predatory and dangerous. "I don't know him personally, but I might be able to help you. I came here tonight on a recruiting mission -- and you'll do quite well."

"Recruiting....?"

The Cheetah held out a small card to her. "You're an alumnus, correct?"

Sapphire took the piece of paper and stared at it. The words were printed clear enough: You have been cordially invited to attend the first meeting of the all-new Secret Society.

Carol resisted the urge to laugh. The "other" Star Sapphire -- Remoni-Notra -- had been a part of several incarnations of the Secret Society of Super-Villains*. "Is Deathstroke going to be a part of this?"

(*Most recently in Justice Squadron # 7-9)

"Who knows? Each of the inner circle has the authority to recruit members. Perhaps one of the others might bring him into the fold. Or know how to contact him...."

Star Sapphire swallowed before answering. She could turn this over to Hal and let the League bust up the Society... or she could use this to further her own research. She'd spoke only vaguely with Hal about her father's return, saying he was back but had seemed different somehow. She'd avoided revealing his demonic connections, though she knew that Hal was at risk. This just seemed too personal to share right now -- after all, how do you deal with the fact that your father died, went to Hell and came back as an enemy?

"Are you interested, Sapphire. We need more women on the team."

Carol made her decision, wondering how she would justify all this to Hal later on. "When's our first meeting?"

"This is quite a party, Uncle Hal."

Hal, busily wiping a large lipstick stain off his cheek, laughed aloud at his nephew's words. Lawrence had become a hero in his own right, using both the Air Wave and Maser identities. "You said a mouthful. I just hope nobody took any pictures."

Lawrence smiled, but looked distinctly uncomfortable.

Hal took one glance back into the main living room. Clark was looking distinctly uncomfortable as Ollie fast-forwarded through a blue movie on the big screen. Good old Smallville, Hal mused, using the nickname that Clark's wife had tagged him with. "Something bothering you?" he asked his nephew.

"You have your own branch of the League now, right?"

"Well... it's not 'mine,' but I'm a part of the cosmic group. You need help with something?"

"I want to join. I'm tired of being seen as some second-tier hero."

Hal stared at him for a moment before sighing. "It's not that simple. The League faces very dangerous threats and--"

"You don't think I can handle it, do you?"

Hal saw the hurt in the younger man's eyes and tried to reign things back in. "It's not that. It's just that people usually join the League after being active for years and--"

"Supergirl."

"Point taken. She's new -- but she's also as strong as Superman.&quoot; Hal placed a hand on his nephew's shoulder. "I'll put your name out there, okay? If nothing else, maybe you can spend some time with the Titans and train until we have an open... ing." Hal's words trailed off as he stared off at something out the window. He saw a faint yellow glow for a moment, illuminating a solitary figure, hovering in the air. The man had purple-tinted skin and a thin moustache. "No."

"Uncle Hal?"

Hal pushed past his relative and hurried out onto the back deck. The figure was gone, as if he'd never been there. 

"You look like you saw a ghost."

Hal turned to see Will Payton following him outside. "I... thought I saw something."

Starman nodded, looking up at the moon. "You taking some time off from the League? For the honeymoon, I mean?"

"A few days -- a week, maybe. Carol's got a lot of work back at Ferris." His voice held a distracted note in it, but he didn't think Will would take offense. For a moment there, he could have sworn he'd seen Sinestro... but the rogue Green Lantern was more like a mythical beast than a real threat these days. Malvolio's recent return had made Hal suspect that his old arch-foe was back...but in the end it had turned out not to be the case. 

Of all his enemies, Sinestro was the most terrifying. For that reason, he was very willing to write off any ghostly apparitions as being wedding jitters.

Carl Ferris stood on the Golden Gate bridge, his heart heavy with regret and barely-tempered rage. "You need to be careful," he warned his companion.

The slender being at his side sneered derisively "You are a coward at heart, my friend."

"You went to see him, didn't you?"

The figure sighed, but said nothing.

"We have to be patient," Ferris murmured. "We have to treat this like a business. You take it one step at a time."

"Says the man who risked unveiling us just to save his weak-willed daughter."

Carl's eyes crackled with fury. "Shut your alien mouth, Sinestro!"

The Korugarian laughed at his companion's outburst. "Stay your anger... I have taken action to bring your daughter back into the fold, don't worry. And then you can continue Neron's work without all the emotional baggage that you currently possess."

"What are you talking about? You best not hurt her...."

Sinestro placed a hand on Carl's shoulder and allowed a golden energy to surround them both. "Watch." A second later, the two of them were standing in a large building located in downtown San Francisco. "Let me welcome you to the Sinister Citadel. Home to the Secret Society... and soon to be home to both you and your lovely daughter."

Carl Ferris looked around him, staring at the elaborate meeting room... and the holographic images of the team's inner circle: Sinestro, Cheetah, Signalman, the Wizard and the Queen Bee. "I don't understand," Carl stammered.

"I just heard from the Cheetah. She's bringing Star Sapphire to us -- in the morning, just hours before her wedding to Hal Jordan." The rogue GL smiled. "She's going to join us, one way or another -- just like the others." Sinestro gestured to a second set of holographic images, shimmering into view alongside the inner circle. "And once she's at your side again, we'll strike Hal Jordan where it hurts the most -- in the heart."

TO BE CONTINUED 

Next Issue: The long-awaited wedding is here... but dark forces are massing. Forces which threaten to turn the happy occasion to one of profound sadness.

AUTHOR'S NOTE

Hope you enjoyed seeing a few old friends with this issue. The next story will wrap up a few of the themes I've been playing with since our first issue -- and will lead straight into the upcoming Justice Corps limited series.

Here's a letter from Mark "Puff" Anderson:

Tom defending Hal rings true.

Super breath, excellent! All that was missing was icicles forming on the truck's chassis as it slowed.

"With words full of taunting..." is a hard phrase to read structurally.

I know I said it before, but a power battery amplified Dr. Light is a great idea.

Great visual of the League attacking Psimon. Nice!

I like the anti-Identity Crisis swipe that you take here with Zatanna and Hal talking.

Oh yeah, I agree with Carol. I prefer the original Star Sapphire uniform as well.

Wow! I'm looking forward to Father's Day. Wicked good stuff!

I give it 7 out of 10 cigars.

Thanks for the kind words, Mark! I hope you enjoyed the last two issues.

Keep in touch,

Barry Reese