Concluding Chapter 4, Alena's training begins in earnest, but first, she has to confront her own issues...

A Retcon Universe Story! http://bigclosetr.us/topshelf/book/20577/comics-retcon-universe

“Hey, sleepyhead, wake up!”

I groaned and tried to roll over, but strong hands grabbed me by the shoulders. I sighed and opened my eyes, to see my sister Alison smiling down at me. “Ali, could you at least try to pretend I live in a secret room with a locked and barred door?”

She brushed the hair out of my eyes and kissed my forehead. “Come on, Sis, no alarm clock on Earth can wake you, and besides, you promised you'd take me with you when Jade comes by!”

“Now which one of us is obsessed with Jade?” I sat up slowly, scratching my tummy.

“Sis, you really need to learn how to act like a girl.”

“What are you talking about?” I quirked an eyebrow.

“Well, girls don't scratch themselves in public, and they don't sit like that.”

“Uh..Ali. You do both all the time?”

She laughed. “Yeah, but that's because I'm a bad girl. You're a young lady, remember?”

“I'm not sure when I agreed to that...”

She grabbed my arm and pulled me up to stand. “Come on, you need a shower, and some breakfast.”

I grumbled. “I took a shower earlier..”

“Dear, our hair is impossible to manage when it's dry. And you have a serious case of bed-head.”

“Fine, fine...” I mean, technically I can change how my hair looks with my ring, but whatever kept her happy, I suppose.

-

After I ate lunch, we hiked out to the field where the Star Heart fragment fell to Earth. It's easy to find; in a circle of about ten yards or so, the soybean plants are growing much better than anywhere else in the field. There was still an indentation in the ground from where the crystal hit the ground.

We weren't waiting long, as Jade descended, her body surrounded with a halo of green light. “Hey you two, ready for a trip into space?”

Me and Sis shared a grin and replied in unison. “You bet!”

Jade laughed. “Ok, but Alison is with me. Alena, you're on your own.”

I frowned. “You know I'm not nearly as fast as you are. It's going to take forever!”

“Tough, kiddo. You need the practice. Alison?” Jade held out her hand, and the two linked arms. Had they been seeing each other when I wasn't around? I immediately discarded that notion; when would Jade find the time for a girlfriend? Besides, despite some of the comments she made, I still wasn't sure about Jade's sexual orientation.

I just didn't feel right about asking. Actually, thinking about that, Jade never volunteered information about herself. For all I used to obsess over her, the Green Lantern was a stranger to me.

Well enough of that, my sister in arm, Jade lifted off and was soon a green dot of light far ahead. “Bloody show-off.” Well there was nothing to do but follow after them. I had this recurring nightmare of smacking right into an airplane every time I moved into a cloud. It's not like I have onboard radar or anything, after all.

I was able to speed up more as I got higher up, and the atmosphere thinned. I got a lot more cautious once I got out into low Earth orbit. There's a lot of satellites and space debris up here, and I don't relish the thought of getting smacked in the head by something.

Finally I reached Jade's starship, parked on the so-called 'dark side' of the Moon. I presented my communications ring and the airlock cycled open. Once inside, Jade greeted me, arms folded, and tapping her foot. “That was absolutely pathetic, Alena. I know you can go faster than that!”

“Hey, there's a lot of stuff up here I could blunder into!”

“So? You can protect yourself with a force field, right?”

I frowned. “It's not that simple, what if I slam into a telecommunications satellite or something? That could cause a lot of problems.”

Jade shook her head and sighed. “Alena, you think too much.”

Alison stepped into view. “I've been telling him that for years, hon. If you wanted the wild adventurous twin, you got the wrong one.”

Something about her tone irritated me. “Do you enjoy making fun of my shortcomings? Screw this, I'm out of here.” I turned on my heel and went to open the airlock.

“Don't you even dare leave like that, you emo bitch! You got some nerve, ever since you turned into a girl, it's been Al this, Al that. I'm tired of walking on egg shells around you!”

“Ok both of you, enough!” Jade rose her voice, and I froze. “What's with you two?”

I turned to face them, but I kept my mouth shut. Alison was glaring at me. “I'm sorry. It won't happen again.”

Ali went to open her mouth, but Jade silenced her with a gesture. “Don't do it, Alison.”

“Oh..whatever!” She whirled and stalked off.

“...damn it. Why can't I ever say the right thing?”

“Is there ever a right thing to say to a girl?” Jade put her hand on my shoulder and gave it a gentle squeeze. “Look, what's really going on here?”

“I don't know..it's just, I know I'm not really cut out for this, I didn't need her to chime in.”

“Alena...she was just teasing you. She's the older sister, right? It's just what siblings do.”

“You have brothers and sisters?”

Jade looked away. “I have a family.”

I sighed. “Forget I asked, mystery girl.”

“You really are prickly today. If I didn't know better, I'd say you were trying to pick a fight with someone.”

“Sorry. I...oh man this is so stupid.”

“Alena, talk to me.” What was it about Jade that made me want to trust her implicitly?

“Ok, fine. I had a stupid nightmare.”

“And it frightened you?”

“Yeah...big time.”

“Alena...you have to understand, fear is something that can really get you killed. The rings demand a strong will, fear causes that will to waver.”

“I know! Ok, I get that! I'm just not very brave that's all.”

“Now that's not true. I've seen you put your life on the line to save others. If there's one thing I know you're not, Miss Scott, it's a coward.”

“That's what the Star Heart said. That what I lack in will, I make up for in compassion.”

“Come on, let's go find your sister, and you can tell us about this dream.” Jade put her arm around my shoulders, and I felt a lot more secure.

-

Alison was hanging out in what I assumed was an observation area; it featured a wide, panoramic window looking out onto space. Honestly, that's just bad ship design, something like this would be an exploitable flaw. But then again, I'm not an advanced alien engineer, so what do I know?

“Ali...look, I'm sorry. I know I'm an idiot.”

She turned to look at me, shaking her head. “No, you're not, Al. You're the smart one, remember? So stop downing yourself. I'm the one who should apologize.”

“You're right though. All I can think about lately is my problems, and I know what you're going through.”

“The truth is, Al, I'm jealous. Not because of your powers, although they rock. The truth is, I've been spending all this time trying to figure out who I am. But you know who you are now. You're the Green Lantern, you're a hero. Seeing you with all these doubts annoys me...because I wish I was you.”

I blinked. “Say that again.”

She laughed and hugged me tight. “I know! What, a week ago, you were the last person I'd ever want to be. At least, I'd go to my grave saying it. But now..you're somebody, and it shows. At least, it does when you're not going emo on me.”

“I'm not emo.”

She ruffled my hair. “Sure you're not, bro. In fact, I need to point out something.”

“What's that?”

“I promise I'm not using my powers, ok? Now look down.”

I did, wondering what she was up to.

“Right, so, what am I wearing on my feet?”

“Uh...tennis shoes?”

“Yes. And you're wearing boots. With heels, right?”

I looked up at her. “So?”

“Why am I taller than you?”

I blinked. Sure enough, she was a little taller than I was!

Jade snapped her fingers. “I knew something was up, but I couldn't put my finger on it!”

“I don't understand, we should be the same size!”

“Alright, ring, what do you think?” Jade held up her hand.

Some Green Lanterns can use their Power Rings for size manipulation, a feat that takes a particular mindset and unusually strong will. The Star Heart-powered ring responds to Alena's desires as much as to her will. It may be that this is an outward manifestation of her self-doubt.

“Great. Just great. So it's not bad enough that I feel like I'm in over my head, now I'm going to end up shopping in the Junior Petite section?” I had such a headache. “Maybe you're right, Sis. Maybe I am emo.”

She poked me in the forehead. “Lighten up, Sis. Besides, you don't have to shop for clothes, remember?”

“Oh yeah. Forgot.”

“We need to find the source of your fears, Alena. Come on, let's have a seat, and you can tell us about your nightmare.” Jade created some comfortable looking chairs with her ring's power.

“Wait, what nightmare?” Alison gave me an arch look.

I sat down wearily and told them what little I could remember.

-

“What does that mean, that speech?” Alison frowned.

It sounds like a variation of the Green Lantern's Oath. Specifically: 'In brightest day, in blackest night, no evil shall escape my sight. Let those who worship evil's might, beware my power...Green Lantern's light!'

I gave Jade a look. “Did you know that?”

“Uh...that's not important right now!”

I chuckled, feeling a little better. “Ok, if you didn't know it, and I didn't know it, how did it pop up in my dream?”

“Did you try asking the Star Heart?” Alison looked to me.

“No. Hey, do you have any ideas?”

YES.

Alison frowned. “Yes? Is that all you're going to say?”

“Huh? You can hear it, Alison?” Jade seemed surprised.

She nodded. “It claims it's because I'm Al's twin.”

“Interesting. So that means you could probably wear the ring, too.”

“Great. Maybe we should do that, she'd probably make a better Green Lantern.”

Both of them shot me a look, but I didn't care.

YOUNG ONE, THIS IS CAUSING YOU GREAT DISTRESS. PERHAPS I ERR TO KEEP MY SILENCE. IN TRUTH, THAT WAS NOT YOUR DREAM ALONE. BEFORE WE JOINED, I DID NOT DREAM, BUT NOW THAT WE ARE ONE, WE SHARE OUR DREAMS. SO IT WAS THAT YOU RECEIVED A VISION OF A POSSIBLE FUTURE.

“Wait, you can see the future?”

Jade went to open her mouth, but Alison held up a hand.

I DO NOT PERCEIVE TIME IN THE SAME MANNER THAT YOU DO, ALENA. HUMANS, BY NECESSITY, PERCEIVE TIME AS A STRAIGHT PATH, LINEAR, UNBENDING. IN TRUTH, THE PATH OF TIME HAS MANY TWISTS AND TURNS. IT FORKS, EVEN DOUBLES BACK UPON ITSELF. THUS, I OCCASIONALLY GLIMPSE EVENTS THAT I WAS NOT PRESENT FOR, OR EVEN WHAT IS, TO YOU, THE FUTURE. AND NOW, BECAUSE WE ARE JOINED, YOU SHARE MY PERCEPTIONS IN YOUR DREAMS.

“But why not just tell me?”

WHAT YOU SAW, IS THE DAY I WILL BE FREED FROM YOU. AT LEAST, THE POSSIBILITY OF THAT DAY.

I opened my mouth, then shut it. “I never wanted to imprison you...”

THIS IS PRECISELY HOW I KNEW YOU WOULD FEEL. ALENA SCOTT, I DO NOT SEE YOU AS A JAILOR. IF ANYTHING, I AM A BURDEN UPON YOU.

“That's ridiculous, you've helped me achieve everything I've ever wanted!”

AND YET, I HAVE ALSO BROUGHT YOU DOUBT. FEAR. UNCERTAINTY. YOUR LIFE IS MORE COMPLEX, AND I DO NOT KNOW HOW TO CONSOLE YOU. WHAT I KNOW OF HOW HUMANS FEEL, I HAVE LEARNED FROM YOU. AS I AM STILL LEARNING. THOUGH I KNOW THAT ONE DAY WE WILL PART, I DO NOT WISH THAT DAY TO COME.

“...me neither. I just wish I felt like I was the right person.”

Alison put her arms around me, and I leaned into her touch. “Sis..you are. You totally are! I believe that! You need to believe it too!”

“Yeah, really. Do you think I was stupid to let you keep that ring?” Jade gave me a look.

“Ah...no. No, you're not stupid.”

“Then get it through your head! You are the deputy Green Lantern of Sector 2814, and I expect you to maintain the standards and the honor of the Corps! Now stand up!”

I stood up at once. “Yes Ma'am!” Something about Jade's tone left no room for argument.

Jade walked up to me and nodded to herself. “Alison, if you could stand up as well?”

She did so, and I was curious as to what Jade was up to.

“Well, I guess you're starting to get your confidence back, Alena.”

I blinked. “What makes you say that?”

“The fact that you and your sister are the same height?”

I looked to Ali, who, sure enough, was maybe an inch shorter than I was, and that was only due to my boots! “Woah. When did I...?”

Alison hugged me. “I'm not sure, but I'm glad you're feeling better, Sis.”

“I feel like a jerk, the way I was acting.”

“I'm not going to say it's alright, although it is understandable. Just don't let it happen again, ok?” Jade's lips twitched, and I smiled.

“Yes Ma'am!”

-

From there we moved on to my actual training, which involved fine control of my powers, finding out exactly how intricate my constructs could get, and lifting multiple objects with my ring at once. Finally, I slumped, exhausted. “No more, please?”

“I think that's enough for now. I expect you to keep practicing on your own. I also want you to patrol the city for an hour each night. The break-in at the LexCorp building strikes me as suspicious; we know Luthor is up to something, so keep an eye out for anything unusual.”

I nodded. “I'll do my best.”

Jade nodded. “I know you'll try. I know this is all hard to come to terms with, but this was your wish, after all. You wanted this life, so live it, already! You have no idea...” She paused. “A lot of people would kill for what you have. Don't forget that.”
I got the feeling that Jade had just let something important slip, but what?

-

I made better time on the way down, and Jade kept pace with me the whole time. I did notice however, that Alison had practically draped herself all over poor Jade. I guess it's her own fault, with all that mutual flirting, but I couldn't help but feel sorry for Jade; I knew how my sister could be when she wanted something.

Sure enough, when we landed, she rose up on tip toe and kissed Jade on the cheek. “I had a really good time, Jade.”

Jade blushed a little. “Look, Alison...I don't want you to get the wrong idea. I'm really flattered, but I don't have the time for a relationship right now.”

Alison grinned. “And I'm too young for you. I know. Still, I think you're going to make someone very lucky one of these days.”

I don't think Alison noticed it, but for a brief instant, I saw a look of pain in Jade's eyes. She quickly covered it, smiling. “I hope you're right.”

Ok, something was up. What was Jade hiding? Had someone hurt her? I was torn; I wanted to find out, and do what I could to help my new friend...but at the same time, if she didn't trust me with the truth, was it really my place to pry?

That thought stayed with me for the rest of the night.