After Hector left the classroom, his sudden transformation was the talk of the students. While extraordinary events weren't unheard of anymore, it was rare for someone they knew personally—especially a teacher like Hector, who was often dismissed as a "loser"—to suddenly display superhuman powers. Hector had always been overlooked at school, so this drastic reversal caught everyone's attention, though some were less thrilled about it.
Among them was Michael, who had been humiliated in front of the class when Hector had thrown him across the room. His anger led him to call the Avengers' emergency hotline to report the incident, embellishing it slightly for effect.
Jarvis, however, didn't categorize Hector's case as an emergency. Even with Michael's exaggerations, Hector hadn't shown dangerous levels of aggression or destruction, ranking this event below the recent crash involving Abin's spaceship. Jarvis deduced Hector's abilities were likely limited to telepathy and telekinesis, noting that Hector had calmly dismissed the class before leaving.
Meanwhile, oblivious to being monitored, Hector retreated to his lab, anxious to understand what had happened to him. As a biologist, his first instinct was to examine his own blood. He was shocked to find his cells being invaded by a strange yellow substance, which was aggressively integrating into his body. Unsure whether this was good or bad, he speculated that if these yellow particles merely granted him powers, he would be fine. However, if they were harmful, he needed to find a solution quickly.
Just as he began to analyze further, his phone rang with a message from his father, Senator Hammond:
"Come see me. We need to talk."
"Did he find out about my transformation? Or did the Avengers already hear about what happened?" Hector frowned, worried. He knew that crossing paths with the Avengers was risky, even with newfound powers. He was keenly aware he wouldn't stand a chance against them. Resolving to see his father, Hector put his self-examination on hold and went to Hammond's office.
Upon arriving, he was met with a smile from his father, who seemed blissfully unaware of the turmoil surrounding Hector's recent powers.
"It's been a while, Hector. How've you been?" Hammond greeted him warmly.
"Not bad. Is there something specific you wanted to talk about?" Relieved but slightly disappointed that Hammond didn't know about his powers, Hector asked directly.
"You did something great for both me and this country, Hector," Hammond said as he walked to a cabinet and took out a hard drive.
"What do you mean?" Hector asked, feeling puzzled, until he saw the hard drive and pieced things together.
"You've attracted the attention of some important people. Recognize this?" Hammond held up the drive with a knowing smile.
"How do you have that?" Hector stammered.
"I'm one of the overseers of this institution. Of course, this is top-secret information, not for general knowledge." Hammond's tone held a hint of pride.
"So, it was you… That's why I was chosen for the research on Abin's body," Hector murmured, realizing it wasn't solely his scientific talent that had led him to this opportunity.
"With this success, I can secure you a position in the organization—something many people can only dream of. You'll be part of the government's elite team, researching advanced technology far beyond Earth's current capabilities." Hammond patted Hector on the shoulder.
But instead of feeling elated, Hector lowered his head, muttering, "There are plenty of scientists more qualified than me… scientists who have devoted their lives to studying beyond Earth's limits."
Unlike many, Hector didn't rest on his family's influence or power. He'd quietly accepted the "loser" label from his students, seeing himself as simply a college professor without delusions of privilege.
"They don't have the connections you do, son." Hammond cut him off gently, wearing a kindly expression. "Don't be naive. This world is like that. So when you get a chance, you seize it and don't let go."
Hector fell silent as Hammond turned away, his face still warm and fatherly. Yet Hector heard Hammond's true thoughts: "He just doesn't get it. At his age, wasting so many opportunities and squandering his life—it's shameful…"
Watching his father's lips motionless, Hector was startled to realize he was hearing Hammond's private thoughts. Why did Hammond, who appeared so supportive, harbor such a low opinion of him?
Hammond's phone rang, and he smiled benignly at Hector before answering. But this smile now seemed unsettling to Hector, who suddenly wondered how many times that smile had been genuine. He couldn't shake the chill of doubt that gnawed at him as he quietly left the office.
Meanwhile, high above Earth, a spaceship appeared, and Hal, encased in a green aura, descended back home. Although Sinestro and others doubted his willpower, Hal had nonetheless mastered the basics of his Green Lantern ring, especially flight.
As he floated down, he had to admit that the ability to fly freely across the skies and even through space was exhilarating—something far beyond piloting any aircraft. Though he wanted to enjoy it a bit longer, he had responsibilities to attend to, so he resolved to experience it more in the future.
Hal didn't return to the training base right away. Wade had driven him there before, and he hadn't memorized the route. For now, he decided to go home and contact Wade later. Moreover, he knew Wade had already reached out to the Avengers before he left, so even if Parallax was handled by the Green Lantern Corps, he still needed to pass on the information about Parallax and the Corps.
The Avengers, Earth's frontline defenders against countless crises, were an organization he trusted.
Just as he arrived home, his phone rang, catching him by surprise.
"Carol? What's up?" He picked up quickly, recognizing the call from Carol Ferris, his boss and girlfriend. He hoped nothing urgent had come up.
"Hal! Where have you been? I've called you dozens of times! I was about to report you missing!" Carol's voice carried a blend of concern and frustration.
"Sorry, I was out and left my phone behind." Hal felt relieved he hadn't brought his phone along; after all, it would likely have been destroyed during his interstellar adventure, given the attacks, the green energy sphere, and the sudden outfit change imposed by the Green Lantern Corps.
"Are you sure you're okay? Should we get you checked out?" Carol asked, her voice full of worry.
"My health? Why would—oh, right…" Hal realized with a start what she was referring to.
"Hal, are you sure you're okay? You had to eject from your plane just yesterday. Did you forget already? Are you having some kind of PTSD?" Carol's voice grew tense again, reminding him of the incident.
With everything that had happened since then, he had nearly forgotten about ejecting from his jet. The experiences on Oa, especially, had been intense and disorienting, leaving him feeling disconnected from the normal passage of time. He was only now realizing that his journey to Oa had taken less than a day.
"I'm fine. I just didn't dwell on it, that's all. If you're still worried, I can come over and see you," Hal replied, hoping to change the subject.
"That works out perfectly. There's a party tonight celebrating a deal I just closed. Come by! Here's the address…" Carol relaxed, sounding happier.
"Don't worry, I'll be there!" Hal promised with a smile.
After hanging up, Hal took a deep breath, feeling slightly dazed as he took in his familiar surroundings. His life had changed so drastically, so quickly, since that green light first reached him. Now, even returning to his regular life felt almost surreal.
"The Green Lantern Corps… I wonder how they're doing. Tomar-Re brought me back, and Sinestro must already be hunting Parallax. Did they succeed?" he murmured to himself, gazing up at the sky.
Meanwhile, across the galaxy, Sinestro and a team of Green Lanterns were indeed tracking Parallax's movements. At the galaxy's edge, they spotted their quarry and, without hesitation, launched their attack. Green beams shot from their rings, creating a vast net of energy that enveloped Parallax's immense form.
With a united front, the Green Lanterns moved in, unleashing energy blasts upon Parallax. But as the smoke cleared, they noticed something disconcerting—Parallax was entirely unharmed.
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