The Doomsday Clock (Cont.)

[Kyle Rayner - Green Lantern]

Kyle landed in an alley on the Coast City boardwalk and dismissed his costume. It was around 1:30 Earth time, so it was perfect timing for lunch, and he had landed conveniently close to Tubular, so he walked over and entered the restaurant.
"Hi, welcome to Tubular. How many?" the waitress asked Kyle as he walked in.
"Just me. And could I sit outside?" Kyle asked.
"Sure, if you'll follow me." The waitress said, leading Kyle to a table on the patio. Kyle sat down, and a few minutes later another waitress appeared.
"I would like a Heineken, please." Kyle said before the waitress could even begin speaking. Fighting evil in the cosmos had a way of building one's appetite.
"It'll be here in just a moment." The waitress said, bowing her head slightly then turning an running off.
Kyle leaned back in his chair and pulled out his phone. He answered the text he had received from J.R. and just relaxed. He would have played a game on his phone, but the ring always seemed to tire him out, even though it had it's own source of energy.

[John Stewart - Green Lantern]

Stewart used his ring to trace Rayner to a little restaurant in Coast City. He landed in the same area as Kyle had minutes before and also switches to civillian clothes. Though he did keep a pair of darks hades over his eyes. John had wielded his power ring for so long that the iris' an pupils of his eyes were a bright green now. So he got a less amount of weird looks when he kept the shades on. Anyways though, Stewart walked out of the alley and into the restaurant.

Hostess: Hi, welcome to Tubular sir. Just one today?

At first John ignored the perky hostess. He looked at his ring and scanend the area. Once the ring detected Kyle outside it blinked. Stewart nodded and then finally addressed the woman.

JS: I'm meeting a friend, thank you.

She nodded and went back to her business. Stewart nodded at people as he made his way through the place. He stepped out onto the patio area and approached Rayner's table. The young man was texting on his phone when John walked up. Kyle had put the phone down when Stewart spoke up.

JS: Kyle Rayner? I believe we have a profession in common

Kyle looked up at John. Stewart held up his right hand so that Kyle could see the power ring on his finger.

JS: And I understand that you just had a run-in with an old friend of mine..

John said as he sat down across from Kyle.

[Kyle Rayner - Green Lantern]

"I wasn't exactly expecting to meet another Green Lantern when I sat down here to have my lunch. Much less another human Green Lantern." Kyle replied. The waitress brought him his drink, then turned to go wait on other tables, not even noticing John's arrival. Kyle took a sip, and said, "And by 'old friend', I sincerely hope you don't mean that cowardly jackass Sinestro."
"Afraid so." John replied.
"What's the relation?" Kyle asked.
"He was my trainer. And a close friend." John replied.
"I suppose I lucked out when they assigned me to Kilowog for training." Kyle said, in an attempt to lighten the mood.

[John Stewart - Green Lantern]

Stewart grinned as he recalled some of the horror stories he'd heard of Killowog's training. He shook his head for a sec before responding.

Some of the stories I've heard? I think I'd take the purple-skinned traitor again.

John laughed. Kyle seemed to have a smirk as well, he must've understood form his own experience being trained by Killowog. Stewart was looking around the area at everyone on their phones. People were either playing games or viewing things on the web or talking. He shook his head.

You know its strange....Last time I was really home; here on Earth, the big thing was pagers

Really?! Pagers? How long have you been off the planet?

More than ten years.

Wow. I didn't even know there were other human lanterns.

As far as I know there's only us. Though I'm not surprised you weren't aware of myself. When I was recruited years ago I was recruited for deep cover missions. For the longest time the only other lanterns who knew of my appointment were Sinestro, Killowag, and Tomar.

Rayner nodded.

Kyle I got to be honest, I didn't track you down just to introduce myself to a fellow lantern from Earth. I heard the distress call about Sinestro enroute to Oa. Its been awhile since Sinestro has made a play out in the open. Much less one towards Earth. Did he say anything to give a clue as to his plans?

[Kyle Rayner - Green Lantern]

"Not really, though he did make quite a few taunts about how weak humans are. I think he's going to systematically kill every single Lantern, and he appears to have me be the first casualty." Kyle said. Would you like a drink?"
John grinned, and said, "As long as you're paying. Being off patrolling the galaxy for more than a decade has a way of eliminating any sort of funds."
"I'm practically loaded, thanks to my new job." Kyle said, referring to his job at Hunter.
"You have a job other than being a Green Lantern?" John said, slightly incredulous.
"I do need to keep up a cover story." Kyle replied, as he flagged down a waitress. "You strike me as a Budweiser man."
"Lucky guess." John replied, as the waitress showed up.
"My friend here would like a Budweiser." Kyle said. The waitress nodded, jotted something down, and walked off to pour the drink. "First beer in over a decade! I'm not certain I could go more than a year without seeing another human." Kyle said.

[John Stewart - Green Lantern]

It certainly took awhile to get used to. Though the hardest part for me was adjusting to the cuisine of different worlds.

The lady returned with John's beer and sat it down. She offered a friendly smile before walking away. Stewart grabbed the beer and took a drink. Afterwards he wiped his mouth and let out a satisfied "ahh".

Now that, I have missed.

John said.

As far as Sinestro is concerned it doesn't sound like he's changed much since his turn on the Guardians. He swore he'd make us all pay when he turned on the corps. Though I think he's bluffing when he calls us humans weak.

Oh yeah?

Yeah. He used to treat me like a second-rate nobody when I first met him. He was angry at the guardians for assigning him as my trainer. Sinestro boasted that we humans were too young of a race to be included in the corps. Said we were too fearful.

John took another drink of beer.

I proved him wrong. He eventually came to regard me as one of his best students. So I guess in a way you may have me to blame for him targeting you first. The whole mis-proving his theory on humans being weaka nd fearful....If he's finally acting again, Sinestro probably figures taking out human lanterns first is his best shot at success.

[Kyle Rayner - Green Lantern]

"So he's not just hunting easy pickings, he's scared that the human Green Lantern has the potential to be among the most powerful?" Kyle said.
"Pretty much. After his experience with me, it would appear he's taking no chances." John replied, taking another sip.
"It seems strangely ironic that the guy harnessing the power of fear is scared of little old me." Kyle said, chuckling.
"He's not scared of you, per se. He's scared of what you could become." John clarified. "Though that does seem ironic."

[John Stewart - Green Lantern]

Stewart finished up his beer and set the glass back upon the table. He nodded towards Kyle and stood up.

Its been an honor to meet you Kyle....as well as share a beverage with another human again.

A small chuckle escaped Stewart on this one.

But I need to be getting back to Oa soon to brief the guardians on my mission. Beforehand I'm going to drop in at home in Detroit. Be careful though, things aren't always as they seem when Sinestro is involved. It may seem like he's gone but most likely he's just waiting.

And with that John waved and walked away. Moments later and Kyle saw a green light zoom out of the nearby alley headed towards Michigan. There were some others around who pointed and "OoOo"ed an "Ahh"ed at the sight.