Carol Ferris wasn't sure what she was doing. It was the morning of her wedding, a day she'd dreamed about since her early childhood. She was marrying her longtime sweetheart, the man who'd been, in so many ways, her knight in shining armor. He'd lifted her up during all of her darkest days... and yet she'd lied to him this morning, telling him she was going to get her makeup and hair done. She hadn't told him about her attempts to find Deathstroke -- and through him, her father -- and she certainly hadn't told him that she'd accepted membership into the Secret Society to further her aims.

"You look lost in thought, Star Sapphire" the Cheetah purred at her side. The feline villainess ran across the floor like her namesake, her tail flicking with every word.

"Just wondering who else is going to be on the squad, that's all. I'm anxious to get started."

The Cheetah smiled, baring her teeth. "I am, as well. The sooner I can get revenge on Wonder Woman, the better. You're still chasing after Green Lantern, aren't you?"

"You could say that." Carol looked around her. This building -- the so-called Sinister Citadel -- was amazing. There were offices in the lower floors, with some sort of dummy corporation operating out of them, funneling the Society's funds into something more legitimate.  The upper floors were reserved for the Society members and the rooms were certainly lavish. Carol had seen sophisticated training facilities, living quarters and more. "Who paid for all this?"

"Not your concern, lovely." 

Star Sapphire stopped in place, the Cheetah rising to stand at her side. The room at the end of the hall had opened, revealing a bizarrely garbed figure in red, yellow and green. "And who are you supposed to be?" she asked, hoping to keep up the facade of being a master villain.

"Signalman at your service," he replied with a bow. "Or Phil, if you prefer."

"You're one of Batman's villains, right?"

"Not one... the one. I'm his arch-nemesis."

"Really? I thought that was the Joker. Or Black Mask. Or the Riddler. Or the Penguin."

Signalman's smile faltered a bit. "I love a woman who's hard to impress. Makes me work harder."

"You'll need to work yourself to death, I'm afraid." Star Sapphire strode past him, trying to project a cool, confident air. It wasn't that difficult -- facing these sharks was no worse than going into the many government meetings she'd chaired as head of Ferris Aircraft. 

Inside the room was a motley collection of pure evil. Carol wandered over to a large rectangular meeting table, recognizing which chair was hers from the Sapphire symbol on the back of the seat. Around the table, some villains were standing while others sat back in their chairs, but all were watching her with looks of curiosity and interest.

In addition to Signalman and the Cheetah, who were taking their seats as Sapphire had done, there was the Wizard, the Queen Bee and several others who, like Sapphire, were newer recruits: Killer Frost, the Floronic Man, the Reverse-Flash and a young girl in a costume suspiciously like Deathstroke's. 

Carol could scarcely believe her luck -- she looked across the table and locked eyes with the Cheetah, who smiled like the proverbial cat who'd eaten the canary. A questioning look from Star Sapphire made the Cheetah laugh a bit and she said "So. Should we all introduce ourselves?"

Star Sapphire watched as the men and women spoke their names, most with a bit of arrogance in how they voiced the words. It was obvious that they assumed everyone should know them by reputation. When the young girl's turn came, she smiled and said "Ravager. Deathstroke's daughter and partner."

"Where's he?" Star Sapphire asked.

"Off on a job. He isn't into groups like this but he said he didn't mind if I kept myself busy while he's working. So here I am."

"Something's not right," the Floronic Man whispered. When everyone turned to look at him, he leaned forward with a slight rustling sound. His skin was like the bark of a tree and Carol was repulsed to see tiny stick-like limbs growing from him, each adorned with greenery. "We were told that there was to be one recruit for each of the Inner Circle. Star Sapphire makes five recruits, yet I see only four Inner Circle members: Signalman, the Wizard, Cheetah and Queen Bee."

"You're a zzzzzmart one, aren't you?" the Queen Bee said, her droning voice dripping with condescension. "Too zzzmart for you own good, I bet."

"He's right," Killer Frost stated, her voice coming in a tumble of icy breath. "If this is a trap...."

"There's no trap, dear friends. None at all."

Carol nearly jumped from her chair. That voice... she looked about, trying to find its source. It's not possible. Hal said he was dead... but then so was daddy. What does the world mean when death isn't the end?

He appeared in a sparkling display of yellow-gold, appearing above the meeting room table. He was tall and thin -- almost elegant -- with purple-red skin. A yellow power ring blinked on his right hand. "I was the one who originally brought the Inner Circle together."

"Sinestro," Carol breathed under her breath. She suddenly realized that she was way, way over her head. A million thoughts ran through her head, all dealing with how to contact Hal, but none of them seemed feasible.

"What makes you think you should be in charge?" the Reverse-Flash whispered, a mad glint in his eyes.

"Because I -- and I alone -- have the capacity to outwit our enemies. I have been to the abyss and I have emerged stronger and more dangerous than ever before! For instance, do you any of you realize that there is a traitor in our midst right now? Someone who is not what they claim to be?" Sinestro's grin widened until it became a leer. 

Several members of the Society were rising, looking accusingly at those around them. Sinestro, however, never took his eyes off Carol.

Just as she started to use the alien jewel that powered her abilities, a voice brought her to a dead stop.

"Give up, darling... and I promise you, it won't hurt much at all."

Carol whirled about to see the one man she never would have expected to see here. The man she'd hoped Deathstroke would have led her to... her father, Carl Ferris. "Daddy?"

A yellow field suddenly surrounded her as Sinestro bound her tightly with his ring's power. "Ladies and gentlemen of the Society, I give you Carol Ferris -- the fiance of my hated enemy, Hal Jordan."

"She lied to me!" the Cheetah hissed. 

"No matter," Sinestro replied. He focused his willpower on Carol's cage, which held tight against her energy blasts. "What is important now is that we undo the mental blocks that have been placed on her mind. And then she will gleefully join us, body and soul." He gestured to Signalman. "You are adept at hypnosis, correct?"

"Very much so."

"Good. A woman who calls herself Dr. Light has placed a hold on the dark side of Ms. Ferris' personality. I want you to unleash it."

Signalman moved forward eagerly. He liked the opportunity to prove himself -- especially to the snooty little bitch who'd insulted him. "It won't take more than five minutes. Tops."

Carl Ferris watched as his daughter began to scream. He made no move to aid her, for what was being done was for the best, he believed. 

His daughter would be safe from Hal Jordan. 

Forever.

Hal wondered what the Guardians would think about him using his ring to remove the effects of a hangover. Having been a Guardian himself not long ago, he finally decided they wouldn't approve of it. Instead, he sipped another cup of coffee and stared at himself in the mirror. He looked pretty good in a tux, he decided -- and the silver at his temples added a bit of distinguish, he had to admit.

"You're still here? I figured you'd have wised up and taken off for Mexico by now." Oliver Queen stepped next to him, clapping his old friend on the shoulder.

"Nah. I'm under orders to stay out of that country -- ever since you took me there on vacation, remember?"

"Heh! Yeah, we raised some hell, didn't we?"

Hal nodded, his mind tracing over the wandering trails of his life. "A lot's changed, hasn't it? Do you remember when it all seemed so simple?"

Ollie's face darkened. "Yeah. There was a time being Green Arrow was one big lark... but that was before I lost everything, then found out my kid sidekick was a junkie. And all that time I spent alongside you...! Whew. Talk about wasted years."

Hal grinned. "You're incorrigible."

"That's what everybody says. I just don't know what it means."

"Please. You can't play that simple act with me. You're as highly educated as anybody in the League. Speaking of which," Hal turned to face him. "Why not join my team?"

"The Justice Corps? Nah. I don't do cosmic anymore."

"Justice Corps?"

"Yeah, as in GL Corps? That's what everybody's calling 'em since you're in charge."

"I didn't know that."

"It's a decent name. Not as dumb as some I've heard."

"Well, if you ever decide to go cosmic again, you've always got a place with me."

"Aw, Hal... you keep that up and I'm gonna try to steal you away from Carol. You're such a sweet talker."

Hal laughed, but his eyes remained serious. "Thanks for being my Best Man."

"I always was."

They embraced briefly, in the way that men sometimes do. Clearing his throat, Hal said "I guess it's time, huh?"

"Let's do it, partner. We're gonna get you hitched if it kills me."

The chapel was filled with people and Hal could scarecely believe that he and Carol had touched so many lives, had made so many friends... He saw his brothers, standing at his side with Ollie and Tom. They looked pleased and proud -- and that touched Hal more than anything else. His duties as a Green Lantern and his lifestyle as a pilot had kept him from his family for far too long. He silently promised that that was going to change.

The wedding march rang out and made Hal stiffen. He turned towards the doorway, watching as a vision of loveliness appeared  there. It was Carol, flanked by one of her uncles. They were preceded by one of Hal's nieces who threw flowers about in a rather haphazard fashion, making all the adults present grin. 

Hal tried to catch Carol's eye but it was impossible. Her veil covered most of her face, but what he could see took his breath away. 

They came to the aisle, walking in step to the march. Her uncle smiled warmly at Hal, whose ears were burning from nervousness. He barely heard the priest calling the ceremony to a start. He could smell Carol's perfume and he had to restrain himself from reaching out to her. He waited for her uncle to place her hand in Hal's, but it was the longest few seconds of his life. 

"I love you," he whispered. He wasn't sure if she heard him at first, for she didn't answer... but then he knew she had, for she laughed.

It was loud enough to break the priest to a halt and make a few people shift uncomfortably. This was not the nervous titter of a woman on her wedding day, nor was it the sly chuckle of a lover who has heard something amusing from the lips of their mate. This was mocking, pure and simple.

"Carol?" he asked, something in his blood telling him that something was very, very wrong.

She whirled to him, her veil falling away. Beneath it she wore the mask of Star Sapphire... and her eyes glittered coldly at him. "A gift, my love... from a truer mate than you'll ever be." Something materialized in her right hand. It was a golden blade, its yellow shape gleaming. She drove it forward into his chest, into his heart.

Hal backed away in shock. There was something in the weapon, some form of poison, and it was eating at him already. Though his ring protected him from most forms of harm, it was useless against yellow, as his foes knew very well.

There was a rush of noise in the church as a number of people rushed forward to grab Hal and surround Carol. Star Sapphire, however, only sneered "See you in hell, Hal. My father tells me it's not a very nice place." A flash of magical energy....

And she was gone.

Star Sapphire settled down next to her teammate, the Wizard. The man grinned. "Did you do it?" he asked eagerly, stroking his beard.

Sapphire nodded, watching as Sinestro flew towards her. They were on a hilltop only miles from the chapel. "He's dead," she shouted, so that her true love could hear.

Sinestro landed beside her, looking satisfied. "Excellent. And now your father can give you away in your true wedding." He took her into his arms and they kissed, long and hard.

Next Issue: Hal Jordan is dead! And the strangest adventure of all is about to begin! 

AUTHOR'S NOTE

No letters. Everyone must love me, right? 

I hope that some of you were surprised by the events of this issue, since I've been building towards an apparent GL & Star Sapphire series for awhile now. Where do we go from here? Will this series star a new GL? Or is Hal Jordan's story not yet over? You'll have to come back to find out -- I'm sneaky like that!

Keep in touch,

Barry Reese