(Hal POV)
Normally, dying is not a nice thing to experience. For me, though, it was relief and freedom. I was sick my entire life. Hospitals, tests, medicine ... and pain. That was what my life was all about, and it was not a fun experience. The only time I could enjoy myself was when I was on pain medication and free from pain and could read some comic books.
I enjoyed DC and Marvel very much. Manga was also cool to read, at least some of them. I didn't know the comic community at all, but from what I gathered from fan fiction, Green Lanterns aren't the most liked or favourite characters of many people. I could be wrong here, of course, but that is the feeling I had.
Me? I loved them. Not the character per se, but the idea behind a Green Lantern. They were free. Free to imagine anything and create it, as long as they had the will for it. I liked Kyle Renner and his artistic use of the Green Lantern Ring. I thought it was smart to create mech suits, as long as you knew enough about them.
As a military man and an architect, John has assembled some of the most fascinating guns ever. With his attention to detail and understanding of complex mechanisms, he has always made constructs that appear like he was holding a blueprint in front of him. I liked that as well.
.
I made peace with my situation. I have no regrets, and whatever came afterwards was fine with me. So when I died and got to meet this existence that offered to 'transmigrate' me into someone of my choosing, I said yes immediately. The ROB said he would gift me something that would suit me perfectly; I was even happier.
"I wish to be a Green Lantern.", I said.
"Good. Since that is all you wish for, I will gift you something that will help you. I wish you all the happiness and freedom you can get."
"Thank you very much.", I said and then blacked out.
The next thing I know, I am sitting inside the wreck of an aeroplane. I received all of the memories of my life up to this point. I know who I am ... Hal Jordan.
.
Hal Jordan was born in Coast City to Jessica and Martin Jordan, the middle child between older brother Jack and younger brother Jim. As a boy, he idolised his father, a test pilot who worked for Ferris Aircraft. At a very young age, he had to face his greatest fears when his father died in a plane crash at an air show right before his eyes.
Despite his family's wishes, he followed in his father's footsteps and eventually joined the United States Air Force on his 18th birthday, turning up that very morning outside the Armed Forces Career Center before it had even opened. Hal earned the reputation of being the best pilot in the Air Force, but also the most dangerous and expensive, crashing planes during test flights and even taking unauthorised "joyrides."
This led to him getting kicked out of the Air Force. But his problems didn't end at work: his mother fell ill and died of cancer. Hal's brother, Jack, resents him for turning his back on his family and leaving their mom to die.
.
I have to say that it was quite bad of Hal to just leave when he turned 18. He worried his mother a lot. His will to prove that he wasn't afraid was strong, and it also contributed to his rather distant and arrogant personality. He tries to do things on his own, to prove that he can and doesn't need any help.
Now that I am Hal Jordan, I will change that. I no longer need to prove anything, and I am at peace with myself. This is also partially due to the Meta Essence I was granted. It is called the Essence of Sound Mind and Soul.
This grants me several boons:
- Your mind is cleansed of all mental maladies, from boredom to addiction to even insanity, and will no longer be affected by such issues for the rest of your life.
- A natural mental shield now surrounds your mind and protects you from outside influence. No matter how powerful or skilled they are, no one can affect your mind against your will.
- Beyond a genius-level intellect with a perfect memory, this individual possesses the ability to archive, index, and recall information instantly, with full retroactive capabilities and protection from harmful memories.
- Similar to your mind, your soul is cleansed of all maladies and becomes a bulwark against spiritual-based afflictions. You are completely immune to soul attacks, manipulation, destruction, etc.
- A perfect balance between your mind and soul that cannot be broken or lost. This balance protects the core of your being, thus granting you both infinite willpower and protection from personality death. Nothing can make you falter, and you will never lose your sense of self through events such as apotheosis or reincarnation.
.
I have to say that I have never felt so at peace with myself. Even though I was fine with my life, before I died, this was something completely different. I feel like a new man. Nothing can make me falter or lose myself again. And if I'm being honest, this is probably the best thing I could have been given.
The intelligence I have acquired will also greatly assist me. I looked up and saw a green light with a voice speaking to me.
[Hal Jordan. You have been chosen], a mechanical voice says, and the green energy covers my body and levitates me. And then I am transported through the air into the Californian desert as another voice speaks to me.
{I am Abin Sur. Green Lantern of your space sector. Space sector 2814.}
{I am dying. The brightest day becomes the blackest night. To serve is a great honour, bestowed upon you by the ring.}
{The ring is fueled by your willpower. The greatest power in the universe. A universe where evil is confronted by the Green Lantern Corps. By the order of the Guardians.}
{The ring will make your thoughts and wishes a reality. The Green Lantern's light must be recharged with the power battery. But there is a flaw in the battery, an impurity located within your visual spectrum. The power is ineffectual against yellow.}
{You have been chosen for a reason. Among all inhabitants of its planet ... you have the strongest will. And you have overcome great fear.}
.
I land in the Californian desert, in front of a damaged and broken spaceship. There, I find this Abin Sur, who has been talking to me. He is badly injured and holds the Green Lantern ring for me to take.
"Hal Jordan of Earth. Do you accept this duty?" he asks me.
"I will."
"An Earthman ... heh ... I never thought I'd live to see the day... Sinestro..." he says and exhales for the last time. Then the ring flies away from his hand and to my right ring finger.
[Hal Jordan of Earth. You have the ability to overcome great fear. Welcome to the Green Lantern Corps.], the ring says, and in the next moment, my body is grafted over by a green light. It is a hot feeling.
A moment later, I am standing there with my new suit, which is surprisingly comfortable.
[Picture]
I look at the power battery. I know that it is hidden in a pocket dimension when not in use. So that's what I'll do as well. I should also take Abin Sur with me when I leave for Oa. That would be the respectful thing to do. I don't know how his species deals with their dead, after all.
[Willpower overflowing. Overflowing willpower is recognised. Ring online.]
"Is that you, ring?"
[Affirmative]
"I see. Well then, let me store the power battery first, and then we can go for a test flight.", I say and take the Power battery.
[Affirmative. Direct your will to achieve the required effect.]
"Direct my will."
I focus, and suddenly, a space opens in front of me. I instinctively know that this is the small dimension where the Power battery is usually kept.
"Now then. With that out of the way, let's get some air."
[Orders accepted.]
"No, I wish to do this myself."
[Affirmative.]
.
Again, I think about what I want to achieve and then shoot into the air, like a rocket.
*BOOOM*
I am a bit too fast, so I direct my will to slow down my speed. I will first get used to all of this and then slowly make my way towards new heights. If I'm right, then there are not many limits to the Green Lantern Ring. With my limitless willpower, I will revolutionise the use of the Green Lantern Ring.
No rumbling of an engine, no stick to pull, no tower to get permission from ... it is just me. Me and the ring. This feeling of freedom is exhilarating. I can't help but laugh for the first time in my life; I can laugh and be happy. I speed up more.
*BOOOM*
As I shoot through the sky, I see the plane that the current test pilot, Laminski, is flying. I fly after it and listen in to their transmission. I'm not sure how that would work, but I imagine an earpiece would appear, allowing it to listen in on transmissions.
{... you are clear to open engine four, Laminski. Laminski, do you copy?}
"Yeah, yeah, I copy that, tower." I hear the voice of Laminski and the tower.
{You heard the news, right? Ferris Air bought Arden out. Carl Ferris-}
"Carl Ferris has been retired for years. He's got that sweet little piece of meat he calls a daughter running his airfields. Within a week, I'll be teachin' her a new meaning for the term 'Landing Strip--'"
*BOOOM*
{Laminski? Laminski, what the hell was that?}
"I ... I don't"
I hear the engine exploding and shake my head. Laminski is a prick, and he deserves this little fear he has right now. But since I have been given this power, I will think about the responsibility as well and save him. Lucky him.
"No fear," I say out loud, even though it isn't necessary. I don't have any fear, and I trust my mind to help me through this.
I position myself under the plane and coat it in an energy field so that it doesn't break into many different pieces.
.
It is a new experience to carry an entire plane, but I am not really carrying the entire plane. I imagine that the energy field can carry it and create hands that keep it steady. I fly to the airfield and gently land on the ground. I move the hands and have them place the plane gently on the ground.
The engine is burning because of the explosion, and I get Laminski out.
[Sentients approaching. Concealing identity.]
A small mask forms on my face, which is supposed to hide my identity. But this little thing won't hide anything. I'll have to change the design later on. I look around and see a small crowd has gathered around me.
"Hi. Your pilot might need some medical attention. I think I heard him throw up.", I say to them.
"Who the heck are you?"
[Green Lantern of Space Sector 2814], my ring answers for me.
"Green Lantern? What's a 'Green Lantern?" Carol Ferris asks and then trips. I move to catch her before she can fall to the ground. I smile at this cliché scene.
"I'm curious what a 'Green Lantern' is myself, Carol. The name's Hector Hammond. You're not trying to steal my girl ... are you, Superhero?"
My life had turned around drastically. I had become someone else. A past life, sickness-induced death, a wish, a new life, a dead alien, a willpower-powered ring and a new Green Lantern.