Emerald Knight

Author: Tenhawk <tenhawk[at]sympatico.ca>

Disclaimer: All characters belong to their rightful owners... none of which are me. If their proper owners had the slightest concept of how valuable their characters really were... I wouldn't have to write this stuff.

Summary: Xander thought life was tough as a Slayer's sidekick, wait until he tries living as a Guardian of Galactic Peace. Earth's in double trouble, and guess who get's pegged to play the savior this time around?

Warning : Crossovers ahead. (Yes Plural.)

Rating : PG-13. For mature themes and all the other fun stuff that rarely makes network TV.

Feedback, It's the coin of the realm.

Latest addition


Chapter 1

"Alright! Slide the pin in right there!"

The workers nodded, flipping a quick salute to the emerald figure that was shoring up the ninety story stonework building with a massive emerald construct. The went about their work as quickly as possible, all of them conscious of the beads of sweat that were forming on their foreman's face.

Xander nodded approvingly as the crew hammered in the last support pin and then he slowly let the bracing construct fade, listening intently for any sign of settling in the massive building. When none made itself clear he nodded and stepped back and smiled as a quick cheer grew in the workers.

"Good job." He nodded, lifting off the ground as he slowly circled the building and used his ring to 'x-ray' the massive structure. It took a while, but finally he was confident of the workmanship.

He touched back down just outside the crowd and accepted a bottle of water from one of the workers, taking a long pull from it before handing it back. "Thanks."

"You do good work."

Xander turned around, "Hi, Tie."

Tianna rolled her eyes at the nickname, but smiled nonetheless as she approached. "How are you?"

"Good. Good." Xander said, looking back at the latest building that he had helped set straight. He took a seat on a large stone block and let out a breath of satisfaction. "You have some nice architecture here. The stone work is fabulous."

"Some of these buildings have existed for longer then our racial memory." Tianna said, sitting beside him. "They've just... always been here."

"They look it." Xander said, then caught himself and chuckled. "And I mean that in a good way. They look timeless."

Tianna nodded.

Silence stretched out for a couple minutes before Xander sighed, "What is it?"

"The Guardians have sent for you, Lantern."

"I told you, Tianna, call me Xander." Xander shrugged, getting up. "What do they want?"

"I do not know... Xander. But they seem agitated."

Xander raised his eyebrows, he'd never seen the guardians express any emotion, of course he'd only been here for three days local time. "Oh?"

"Yes."

"Well... I suppose I should go have a look see then." Xander replied. He paused, then flipped the alien woman a quick salute, and then rose swiftly into the air.

*****

"Lantern of Earth. Welcome."

"Yeah... thanks." Xander looked around the huge antechamber, "So uh... what's up?"

"Have you come to a descision concerning the ring?"

Xander glanced down at his hand in an involuntary motion, "I... I uh don't know."

"There is no more time." One of the Guardians said seriously.

"Why?"

"On Earth, things are coming to a critical juncture."

"Earth??" Xander took a step forward, his ring glowing suddenly. "What about Earth."

"How much do you know..."

"Of the history of your world?"

Xander paused, frowning. "I uh... I don't know. Depends on what part. I probably know a good bit about World War Two... maybe more then most people my age."

"No. We mean..."

"Further back..."

"To the time of the..."

"Demons."

Xander sighed, "Ah. That. I know some. Won't claim to know everything, or even to be sure that it's right. But I know some. Why?"

"A long time ago," One of the Guardians began, "Demons and their Angelic counterparts waged a great war across this universe. Suns, planets, people... all were snuffed out with equal ease. The wars waged for thousands of generations, until finally, there was a shift in power. A shift that began here. On Oa."

Xander glanced around involuntarily, wondering at the history the place contained.

"And ended on Earth."

Xander's head snapped back to the front, looking intently at the Guardian that spoke. "What?"

"Earth was the final stronghold of the demons." The Guardian said stonily, "The war that pushed them from this universe ended there, in a final battle that should have destroyed the entire system... but certain..."

"Events..."

"Intervened."

Xander blinked, looking around. "I don't understand."

"In order to seal the fate of the demons, a key was created." The Guardians explained, "One that could lock the dimensional gateways that they used to replenish their numbers."

Xander frowned, "Wait a second... Replenish? I thought the demons came from here? I thought they ruled..."

"They did rule." The Guardian responded. "But they do not originate in this universe. This is not The One."

Xander sort of 'hurrumphed' "It was an invasion."

"Indeed." The Guardians agreed. "The difficulty is that energy may not be destroyed, merely transformed... both the portals on Earth, and the Key to them, still exist."

Xander nodded, "The Hellmouth."

"Among others." The Guardians nodded.

"Others?"

"Yes. Many others." The Guardians sighed, looking at each other. "Millions times millions, spread across the entire galaxy and beyond."

Xander's eyes widened, "Wait a second... You said 'On Earth.'"

"Those that exist on earth are protected by the thinnest barrier in the dimensional walls." The Guardians explained, "Because they were at the epicenter of the power that sealed them. Should those walls fall, then others will follow."

"And the universe shall plunge into another dark age."

Xander swallowed.

"Those portals must never open."

"Yeah. Well, you should have sent someone a long time ago." Xander said bitterly. "Demons have been trying to open them for years."

The Guardians waved his comments away, "No. They merely dabbled in an impossible task... until now."

"Huh? I don't get it."

"You're world is now under siege, Alexander Harris." The Guardians said calmly. "A siege that they don't even know they endure. The Enemy of All has turned it's focus again to this universe. Again to your world."

Xander hesitated, "The First."

"Yes. But the First is merely His emissary... though He is younger then his emissary, He is also much more powerful."

"The First's machinations have managed to ensnare two champions. The Slayer..."

"Buffy! What about her? Tell me!" Xander's face grew hard and angry.

"Be calm." Came the reprimand. "The Slayer is merely one of many. She matters little."

"She matters to me!"

"She has allowed herself to be fooled by the First's machinations." The Guardians told him. "If she continues on this path, she could destroy the Slayer line."

Xander frowned, "But... there'd be noone to protect the Hellmouth."

"That is not our concern." The Guardians replied coldly. "Our concern is for the Key."

<Dawn.> Xander thought to himself.

"The Slayer Line is the key that maintains the dimensional barrier." The Guardians continued, pulling a shocked look from Xander. "The creation of the Slayers was a side effect of the spell that contained the demonic essence that allowed free passage to this realm. Without the Slayers to channel it's power, the demons will once more be free to pass at will."

Xander stammered, tryig to wrap his head around it. "How... How can it destroy the Slayer line?"

"There is only one way to end the Line."

"Destroy the genetic markers that designate the family line of the First Slayer."

Xander blinked, "The First... The First has been killing potentials. Could that?"

"No."

"Then how?"

"Destroying all humanity would be one way," The Guardians replied, "Perhaps the simplest... but there are many who guard against such events. Many of your people, many of ours."

"So..."

"Another way would be to *activate* all potentials. The Slayer Essence corrupts and destroys the marker when it empowers a Slayer."

"That's not possible." Xander paled.

"It is."

Xander swallowed. "How?"

The Guardians looked at each other, concerned, but finally turned back. Xander saw the hesitation and frowned, "What?"

"There are... other problems."

"Oh great. Now what?"

"The First has managed to twist and befuddle two Champions... but another is growing into their place. One of great power. One that can not be twisted by such as the First."

"That's good." Xander said, nodding.

"So the First has decided to destroy him."

"That's bad."

"Indeed. We will tell you everything we know... Then you must decide. Will you keep the ring, and serve the Corps and the Galaxy... or will you not."

Xander hesitated, then nodded. He walked over to a seat and sat down. "Talk to me."

And they did.

*****

"Lantern? I mean, Xander?"

Xander kept walking as Tianna came up beside him. "What's wrong? What's going on?"

"I have to leave." Xander replied, stopping as he stepped outside into the sunlight. He looked up, then closed his eyes and shimmered deep green as his clothes shifted to his uniform.

"Leave? To go where?"

"Home." Xander said, turning to her. "I have to go home. Goodbye, Tie."

"I don't understand... I thought you were going to keep the ring..."

"I am. They've sent me to where there's trouble, Tie." Xander said, stepping away from her.

"Are you coming back?"

"Maybe. Someday. If I live." He smiled at her and began to lift off. "Be good."

"Be careful!"

All she heard was Xander's laugh as he rose into the sky.

Chapter 2

Interstellar space wasn't like it seemed in the movies, there was no light to speak of even with the eerily steady light of the stars in the distance and Xander found himself reminded of the old adage, 'water water everywhere, and not a drop to drink'.

It was like that it seemed, he was surrounded by light on all sides, and yet none of it reached him to illuminate the cold blackness that he was racing through. So Xander shivered, then redoubled his speed through the cold black tapestry of space, racing against time as he trained his eyes on the far off speck of light that was his destination.

The green glow that was his only local light redoubled and he flashed forward faster and faster, the ring bending space and time as he ripped through the fabric of the universe enroute to destination and destiny.

*****

He was still pouring on the speed as he ripped past the Sol System heliopause and into the depths of his home star system.

Normally he'd be awed by the flash of movement his enhanced senses allowed him to pick up now that he wasn't in the depths of interstellar space. The comet shield reflected the dim light of Sol, the dance of the planets and meteors, and even the occasional space probe were all visible to him. But for once Xander didn't pause to joke around, and while the thought of popping by the latest Voyager probe to wave did occur to him, he simply didn't have the time.

<Too late. I'm too LATE!> He agonized as he focused on the rapidly growing ball of blue and white ahead of him. <NO! I can't be TOO LATE!>

*****

Lana Lang smiled softly to herself as she swept out the talon, it was midday and the sun was blazing hot, making for a fine weekend. She was happy for that, Lex was getting married soon and it would be a lovely day for it. In the distance, however, something caught her ear. It was like the roar of a train through a tunnel, or a sonic boom from a jet.

She frowned, stepping out into the streets and looking around. <What could it be?>

Then she heard a cry of shock, and saw people pointing up into the sky and her heart turned ice cold as she looked up and recognized the sound for what it was.

For what it had been, and what it was going to be again.

Death.

Destruction.

Chaos.

And pain.

All from above. All from the skies.

<Oh no. Oh God, please no.> Lana's face became etched with horror and sorrow. <Please. Not again.>

*****

Xander hit the atmosphere fast enough that an explosion announced his arrival, the shock wave actually obliterating many smaller chunks of rock that he was chasing. Others fell to concentrated blasts from the ring, and still others were thrown clear from the planet at the last moment as he dove downward in pursuit of the rocks that were leading the attack.

As the roar of air returned to his ears, Xander rolled over in mid air and passed under the falling swarm as he blasted away at them with his ring. At first he limited his fire to rapid bursts that could vaporize the smaller chunks of rock, eliminating distractions and hazards that might disrupt his focus when he had to deal with the big ones.

Dimly, in his peripheral vision, Xander was aware of the ground rushing upwards to meet him. He could feel it through the ring, almost as an extension of his own senses, and knew that there were people below as well.

An entire town.

And Xander also knew that he was too late for all of them. Some of the rocks had already started to hit the ground, even as he raced against them.

*****

The screaming explosion startled Lana out of her memory induced stupor and she turned around, "Everyone into the basement!! Now!!"

It probably wasn't enough, given the carnage she knew these could create, but it was all she could do for anyone. Some of the clients listened and rushed for the stairs that led to the storage Lana used the basement for, others looked around in confusion.

"Now!" She screamed, her voice and face furious for the delay. "Move NOW!"

That decided it. That and the first small piece of debris hitting the streets outside. Lana turned around as people rushed for the stairs behind her, her face ashen white, and watched as rubble fell from the brick building that had been hit and crush a car.

She paled even further, if it was possible, when she saw a head move in the back of the car and recognized a little girl who lived only a mile out of town. Lana looked up and down the street, but didn't see the girls parents, so she made a descision.

Lana Lang, survivor of the meteor strike of Smallville, rushed out into the center of round two and bolted across the street to the girl trapped in the wrecked car.

*****

"My god." Jonathan Kent was pale, remembering the last time this had happened.

The sky was ablaze with smoke and fire, long trails of fiery ruin carving the sky like arrows as they seemed aimed by the hand of God himself right at Smallville.

"Dad," Clark Kent whispered, shocked himself, but not by the same thing. "Dad!"

"What is it, Son?" Jonathan asked as he tried to push his adopted son along. "We have to get out of here!"

"There's someone up there." Clarke said in awe. "There's someone in the middle of the swarm."

"What?" Jonathan stopped in shock and looked up, shielding his eyes from the sun, "Clark you must be seeing things. There can't be..."

And then he saw it too.

A form, undeniably human, but glowing green as the meteor rocks themselves, was plummeting to earth as it seemed hell bent on outracing the meteors down. The two Kent's watched as the form pulled ahead of the rocks, firing some sort of green blasts as it did, and came straight at them. And straight at Smallville.

"Son, I really think we need to be..."

Clark Kent spun around, a distant scream echoing in his ears. "Lana!"

"Wait! Son, stop!" Jonathan tried, but Clark was already gone. "Damn it."

The man looked around for a few seconds, indecision ripping at him, but finally he bolted for his own truck and started it up.

Martha was in the hospital, which was luckily set a fair distance outside of town. It wasn't much, he knew, but the swarm seemed to be smaller then the last time, and more tightly packed. So Jonathan would pray that his wife would be ok, for now he knew that others were going to need help a lot more then Martha Kent.

*****

Xander heard a scream just as his instincts roared at him to level off, but he didn't have time to pay it any mind. He leveled his flight path about a foot from the main road of the small town he was currently rocketing through and flashed along the road for a brief second before reversing his course and heading back into the sky. He'd almost overshot his target that time by mistaking the velocities involved.

For once, Willow's obsession with math in school didn't seem so stupid.

He slid to a stop just above roof level and continued to pick off the smaller chunks of rock that were the forerunners for the big boy he could now see looming in the distance.

<Four... maybe five seconds.> Xander through to himself as he erected a flat shield to slam the smaller chunks into, reducing their velocity from potential catastrophes to minor bumps in the road of life.

As an after through, he funneled the rocks down into an empty field just out of town, then turned his attention on the big boy.

*****

"Clark!" Lana jumped in shock, looking around. "Where did you come from?"

"Just down the street." Clark replied, "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine," Lana said, turning back to the car. "But she won't be."

Clark looked in quickly, noting the girl trapped in the crumpled car. "Step back."

Lana got out of the way and Clark put his elbow through the intact glass and reached in. "Come on... I'm here to help."

Another roar brought Lana's eyes to the sky as Clarke drew the girl out of the car and she grabbed at his arm. "Look!"

Clark followed her gaze, and his eyes widened in shock. "Well... there's something you don't see everyday."

A figure dressed in green and black was projecting some kind of force that was shielding the town, preventing small meteors from striking the town. As they watched the figure let the siheld fade, and then launched a emerald beam of energy at a fiery cloud that was roaring towards the town.

Lana felt herself hold her breath as the beam slammed into the falling mountain of rock, watching in horror as the figure in the air shuddered and shook like he was being struck repeatedly.

And then he started to fall.

*****

Xander grunted in pain and exertion as his beam struck the huge chunk of rock, it was far from the last one in the sky, but he didn't have time to worry about smaller pieces anymore. This one was going to take his complete attention.

He shuddered in the air as the emerald beam struck the huge rock, enveloping the stone in a green glow. Then, a sudden blast back along the beam rocked him and blew him from the sky.

"AAAAHHHHHH!" He yelled out from the pain, falling as he struggled to keep his tenuous hold on the rock.

Wind rushed past him as he fell, but Xander ignored it, focusing on the meteor.

He hit the street, the weight of the meteor pushing him down even as his own will tried to counter balance it. The pavement cracked, cement underlay snapping and crumbling, but somehow the road seemed to hold and Xander lay flat back as he kept staring at the sky and grimacing in pain and concentration.

The rock was slowing, but not stopping, and there was little that he could do about it.

<Too late. Too late. TOO GODDAMNED LATE!> He screamed internally, even as he continued to pour energy into the beam that was the town's only remaining hope.

Xander struggled to sit up, moving to his knees and finally to his feet as he tried to push the rock back. With it's size and speed, he had to stop it. Merely turning it aside wouldn't be enough. The energy of the impact would still vaporize uncountable people.

<Too FUCKING LATE!!> He screamed mentally as his voice finally joined his mind and the sound of his cry echoed over the small town.

A sound of anger, rage, desperation and pain.

Then the very ground under his feet crumbled, and even as he dug his feet into the pavement, he found himself being forced inexorably backwards. Twin furrows marked the passage of his feet through the asphalt as Xander continued to dig in and try to force the huge rock away.

<TOO LATE!>

Chapter 3

"Lana! Get back!" Clark said, pulling Lana out of the way as the figure in black and green literally slid past them, digging furrows in the ground with his feet as he strained against the force he was trying to push back.

"We have to help him!" Lana said, looking around.

"How?" Clark asked, almost helplessly. This was something a little beyond his experience.

"I don't know... but there has to be something!"

Clark looked around, searching for something to do when a whistling shriek screamed through the air. He looked up in time to see a smaller chunk of rock come flashing down, and immediately dove over Lana and the girl to shield them with his body. "Get down!"

The chunk of rock hit the road behind them, throwing debris and flames into the air and pelting the entire street with chunks of asphalt and cement from the underlay. Clark slowly looked up, quickly blowing out a bit of flame that had caught on his shirt before Lana could notice. "You ok?"

"Y...yeah." Lana replied, holding the little girl tightly to her, "I think so."

"You better get her inside... go down in the basement of the Talon." Clark told her.

"What are you going to do??"

"I don't know. But I'll think of something."

*****

Xander flinched under the explosion behind him, letting the debris and rubble land where it may as he kept his focus on the huge rock that was shuddering as it slowed in it's path.

He was breathing hard, trying to hold his ground and push back, but the sheer force of the meteor was like an unstoppable force forcing itself against him. He ground his teeth, his eyes bulging under the lantern mask as he forced his will into the ring and through it, against the meteor.

Behind him he could hear people shouting, moving, doors slamming and tires squealing, but he couldn't turn around. Couldn't break contact with the rock.

*****

"Clark!" Jonathan Kent yelled throwing open the door to his truck as he skidded to a stop nearby. "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine, Dad... but look!"

Jonathan followed his son's hand and his eyes widened as he saw a man in a black and green costume, glaring at the sky as he was forced backwards against the very ground beneath his feet. "Clark... what... I don't understand."

"I don't either, dad. But we've got to help him, look!" Clark pointed up.

Jonathan looked up and suddenly swallowed hard as he saw the huge blazing rock in the sky that was being pushed on by the brilliant beam that originated from the man in green. "But... But how?"

Clark looked around, searching desperately. "I don't know, Dad... but look at the hole that last meteor ripped in the street!"

Jonathan Kent saw that it was true, another rock had dog an immense hole int the ground, at least thirty feet deep and twice as wide. Then he realized something else, the man in green was being pushed back into the hole. He looked up at the rock, then back at the man. "Clark... if he falls into the hole..."

"I'm on it, Dad." Clark said, instantly making the same connection his father hand. He ran behind the figure and braced himself against the man's back, lending his strength to the man.

Jonathan Kent watched, feeling helpless as he saw his son being pushed back along with the mysterious man. He threw up his hands, and ran over as well and leaned into his son. "We're getting closer to the pit!!"

*****

Xander felt a sudden strength at his back, lending strength to his stance as he struggled to keep his focus on the rock. He couldn't let his focus slip, so he didn't turn or speak as he kept pushing against the rock. <This isn't WORKING!>

Behind him he felt another, lighter, touch and knew that he was moving slower now but it wasn't until he heard a voice screaming practically in his ear that he risked a glance back.

<Pit??> He looked over his shoulder briefly, and his eyes widened even further as he saw the gaping hole in the road behind him. "Shit!"

*****

"That can't be good." Clark muttered as the man cursed, then turned back to redouble his effort.

"You can say that again, Son." Jonathan muttered as he looked over his shoulder. His feet were sliding against the street, unlike those of his son and the man, but all three of them were still moving closer and closer to the pit behind them.

Jonathan Kent looked around desperately, he didn't want to know what would happen if the man lost his footing and fell into the pit while trying to hold up that much weight. Not that he had the slightest idea HOW the guy was trying to hold up that much weight, but he'd seen enough weird stuff in his life to just accept that and move on.

"Clark! I've got an idea... I'll be right back!"

"Hurry up, Dad!" Clark said, not looking up as he began to put more and more of his strength into bracing the man. He'd started lightly, not wanting to hurt the man, but quickly found that he could put more and more effort into the task.

"Harder! Push harder!"

Clark swallowed, and then obeyed the harsh command from the man, putting all his strength into the job and backing the man with everything he had.

"More!"

"I can't!" He ground out. "That's all I've got!"

Indeed, it was. In fact it wasn't even his strength that was failing them, it was the ground beneath their feet. The asphalt was crumbling, the gravel and cement underlay cracking and rolling, and the two of them were actually folding up the pavement like tissue paper as they slid backwards.

Clark glanced over his shoulder as he heard something an his eyes widened.

"Move, son!" His father was waving him from the drivers seat of the family pickup.

"Do it, Dad! Go on! Do it!" Clark ordered, ignoring the risk of exposure if anyone saw the event.

Jonathan grimaced, but nodded, and shifted the truck into four wheel low and drove it up behind them.

The two of them slid to a stop as they hit the front of the truck, pausing in their inexorable sliding path as the solid pickup applied it's own force to the job. The trucks four tires bit into the asphalt, adding it's traction to the feet of the two young men, and for a moment it looked to be enough.

Then it jumped a gear, shuddering in it's place, jumping in place as Jonathan Kent kept the pedal down. The tires started to turn against the asphalt, smoke rising as the big truck began to shudder and jump without more and more violence.

"Clark!" Jonathan yelled out the window, "It's not going to hold!!"

Clark turned back, yelling over the sound, "We're not going to be able to hold!"

"Just a little more..." The man he was bracing grimaced. "Just a little more..."

"What are you doing!?"

There was no answer for a moment, then Clark's hearing picked up the answer over the incredible noise. "I'm building up a pulse... I'm going to try to blow it up."

Clark swallowed, and leaned harder into the man as he felt the bumper of the truck mold itself around his own body. He felt the power build around him, and then suddenly the energy seemed to flatten out.

Clark looked up, seeing the emerald pulse climb along the beam, and added his own energy to the blast. His heat vision lanced out, striking the huge rock even before the pulse, starting to superheat the rock even as the brilliant green pulse flashed against the rock.

The blast roared through the air and Clark felt the heat wave of it wash over him as everything vanished in a brilliant pulse of pure white light.

*****

As the echo of the explosion died away, Xander felt the enormous force lift off him and he immediately shifted his focused defense to a wide area umbrella that shielded the town from the shrapnel and debris of the destroyed rock.

He glanced over his should, surprised to see that the rock that had braced him was little more then a sixteen or seventeen year old boy. "You alright?"

"Yeah..." the boy answered, "I think so... Dad!"

Xander looked up to see a blond man behind the wheel of the truck and he had to smile. Whatever else ran in this kid's family, guts was certainly a family trait.

"I'm alright, Son." The man looked up wearily, soot and scorch marks along his face. "Got a little singed... but I'll live."

Xander looked up, keeping the umbrella intact as he looked around. "I'll be back in a minute."

"What? Wait!" the boy started, but Xander lifted off and rose to a place about eighty feet above as he surveyed the terrain around.

*****

"What do you think he is, Son?" Jonathan asked, looking up at the figure that was just hovering in place above them.

"I don't know..." Clark swallowed, "Do you... Do you suppose he might be from...?"

Jonathan shook his head, "Now don't get your hopes up, Clark. His powers aren't the same as yours... You know it's not likely."

"Yeah. I know, but..." Clark shrugged, "I can't help it."

"I know, Son... but don't get too..."

"Clark!"

The two of them looked over toward the sound to see Lana emerge from the Talon and rush out to them. She faltered after a few steps as she noticed the green tint of the sky and looked up. "Oh my God.... Clark, what on...?"

"I don't know, Lana." Clark shook his head, "He just... flew."

"How..." Lana asked, her voice trailing off as the figure slowly descended.

"It's actually a lot easier then it looks." The man grinned down at them. "I think that's most of the meteors... The last of them should be hitting the shield over the next few seconds."

The three Smallville citizens looked up, eyes wide with awe, as explosions flashed against the emerald shield as rock after rock smashed into it.

"I want to thank you..." The man started, then hesitated as he saw the two men look at the girl, worry in their eyes. "Both for your help." He finished smoothly, smiling warmly.

"Ah... no problem." Jonathan said, extending his hand. "And you are?"

The man shook his hand, laughing, "Call me Green Lantern."

"Right." Jonathan said, shaking his head. "Well, I can't fault the green part."

The Lantern laughed, "The Lantern is real too, trust me."

"I'm Clark Kent," Clark shook the offered hand, "This is my dad, and this is Lana Lang."

"Jonathan." Jonathan Kent added.

"Well... thanks again."

"I think we owe you the thanks." Jonathan said, shaking his head. "You saved a lot of lives here today."

The Lantern looked around, then shrugged off the compliment. "It's just... my job."

People were beginning to emerge from the buildings along the length of the street, and the Green Lantern looked around hesitantly. "Look... I'd better go. I don't want to cause a scene here, and I really have some other things to deal with."

"Wait!" Clark said, stepping forward, "Where are you from??"

The Lantern paused, looking at him in confusion. "Excuse me?"

"You can fly... You came from..." Clark looked up.

The Lantern suddenly laughed, "Sorry to disappoint you... I'm Californian, born and bred. Hey, maybe I'll stop back sometime... But right now, I've got another disaster to avert. Cya!"

People milling around watched in awe as the human just floated into the air and arced away into the sky as the green umbrella faded away from above them to reveal a clear blue sky.

"Who was that!?"

Clark looked down from the sky to see Chloe rush up, camera in hand as she traced the path of the Green Lantern through the sky. "I don't know, Chloe... but he saved the town."

"What a story." Chloe grinned, flushed with the exhilaration of the moment.

Clark groaned, "Chloe... I really don't think he wants to be a media star."

"Hey, he's a public figure." She grinned at him as she checked her footage.

Chapter 4

Xander circled around as soon as he was out of sight of the crowd. He didn't want to answer any questions, but he wasn't willing to leave the town just yet. The Guardians had been specific, there were two targets for the First on earth right now. Buffy was one, but the other lived here.

<In Smallville.> Xander thought to himself, noting the street signs, proclaiming the place as the meteor capital of america. He snorted lightly, <Boy is that truth in advertising.>

His eyes searched the skies, noting a few stray rocks entering the atmosphere, and he calmly disposed of them. It wouldn't take too much longer, the main part of the swarm, including all the big rocks had been dealt with. But even one the size of a baseball would do a pretty nasty job on someone if it got through, so Xander would wait for a while.

The town was pretty much in the middle of nowhere, so once the earth's rotation brought it out of the line of fire in this cosmic shooting gallery he could safely leave and head back to Sunnydale. <Another small town hiding a big secret.>

"Hello?"

Xander spun around, startled by the hesitant voice, and saw the girl he'd just met on the street earlier sticking her head through a hatch in the roof.

"Oh..." She said, "It's you."

<Lana.> He thought, then he nodded. "Yeah. I'm not much for crowds. Bad experiences in the past."

"I heard noises." She said, climbing up onto the roof. "You mind telling me why you're hanging out on the roof of the Talon?"

Xander smiled slightly, noticing the humor in her voice and eyes. "Just making sure that the storm is passed."

Lana shivered involuntarily, looking up. "Is it?"

"Mostly." Xander said, turning his attention back to the skies. After a moment he zapped another small rock, one that probably wouldn't have made it to the ground anyway, but it didn't pay to be careless. "Just stragglers left is all."

"H... how do you do that?" She asked hesitantly, taking a half step forward.

Xander smiled, "Perks of the job."

"Job?" She looked like she was holding back a smile, maybe even a desire to laugh. "Is there much need for meteor fighting men?"

Xander chuckled at that, realizing that he was probably taking the ring and the uniform for granted by now. He shook his head, "That's just part of the service, Ma'am."

"Well thank you." She said, now smiling openly. "You provided a very good service."

"Aim to please." He grinned, still keeping an eye on the sky even as part of his attention was turned to her.

She reminded him of Cordy a little, in how she held herself as well as her looks. Confident, at least in some things, even cocky. But her face held more laughter then Cordelia ever did, she smiled with her eyes, something that Xander didn't remember in his ex. Cordelia could light up a room with her smile, but this girl could do it with her eyes alone.

She stepped up beside him, following his gaze to the skies, then looked back at him. "How did you get this job?"

"Accident." Xander snorted with laughter. "Just one big joke of the universe. I've been the universe' favorite straight man for years now, weird stuff just loves me."

"I know how you feel." Lana said, smiling crookedly as she looked down over the town. "Somehow... strange things keep happening to me too."

Xander looked at her sharply, then down at the town. He wasn't surprised by her statement, but he was surprised at his lack of surprise. Until he thought about it.

If there was a champion here, then he or she was here for a reason. Xander knew enough of the world to know that. And when a place needed a champion, then there were bound to be oddities in the local fauna, so to speak.

"What did you mean," Lana asked suddenly, disrupting his thoughts. "About it being an accident?"

"The job was meant for someone else." Xander smiled, "Probably anyone else but me."

"Who? Can't you just give it up then?"

Xander shook his head, "Never back down. I learned that from someone very dangerous... If you're going to do something... do it. All the way, or not at all. I have the job now. I won't ask someone else to take it, not even if they were destined for it."

Lana nodded, "I... I guess I can understand that."

"No. You probably can't." Xander said, but he smiled, "But that's ok too. Destiny isn't something you want to stare in the face... She hurts people."

Lana didn't have anything to say to that, so she finally just shrugged. "For what it's worth... I think you're doing a pretty good job."

"Thanks." Xander replied, smiling.

"I think that's supposed to be my line." She smiled in return, "You saved the town... we owe you our thanks."

Xander just shrugged it off, "Just part of the..."

"Job. Yeah, so you said. If you don't mind my asking, what is this job?" She asked, her eyes sparkling with humor. "It seems to me that jumping into front of a huge rock that's falling from space is a bit beyond the call of duty for most professions."

"Not this one." Xander said, his face serious.

"You get go health benefits?" She asked, only half joking.

"Yeah. If I survive, I'm allowed to live." Xander grinned.

"Generous."

Xander shrugged, "Soldier, Cop, Fireman, Ranger, and Rescue Tech... all in one."

"I can't believe we've never heard of you before then."

Xander hesitated, then suddenly smiled. He didn't really have anything to hide except maybe his identity, and even that seemed kind of stupid. Not that he was planning on taking the mask off, but the Lantern's weren't a secret, they just didn't exist on Earth. "I'm the first human to wear this uniform."

Lana was struck silent, her mouth open and her eyes wide. "Uh... umm... oh."

"Yeah. Know the feeling." Xander turned back to the skies, still watching for strays. "It was supposed to go to someone else. Someone here."

"In Smallville?"

Xander frowned, "I don't know. I just know his name, but it's not a human name... Kal El. The ring couldn't find him... but it was supposed to be his."

"Ring?"

Xander cursed mentally, "Nothing."

"Oh. Ok." Lana nodded, "Kal El, huh? Strange name."

"He must be some guy." Xander said, "This... job... is passed down from some pretty lofty people. It once belonged to a guy named Tomar Re... He was... well, we'd call him a great lawman. He gave his life for a lot of people."

"He saved them..."

"No." Xander corrected sadly. "No, he didn't. But it didn't stop him from trying."

"That's... tragic."

"Yeah." Xander said, straightening up. "Hey, it's been fun, but uh... I've got to go."

Lana looked like she was about to object, but then she nodded. "Ok... will you be back?"

"I don't know. There's... something bad happening." Xander replied, "When I'm sure that the shooting gallery is closed, then I have to move on."

"Good luck...." Lana said just as he lifted off the rooftop.

Xander turned in mid air and glanced back, "Thanks."

He flipped her a mock salute, and then accelerated away in a blur of green light.

Lana watched after him, tucking her hair behind her ears, "Wow."

Then she turned and headed back down into the Talon.

*****

Xander spent the next few hours on a roving patrol, as much to avoid any further meetings with people as any actual need to move around. By nightfall he was satisfied that the rocks had missed Smallville this time, and he knew that it was time to move on.

He paused over an empty field, holding out his clenched fist and summoned the lantern.

"In brightest day, or blackest night. No evil shall escape my sight. Let those who worship evils might... beware my power, Green Lantern's light!"

The Lantern fed his ring as he recited the oath, charging him and covering the area in a brilliant green glow as Xander closed his eyes and let the power wash over him. When it was done, he opened his green eyes again and turned west.

It was time to go home.

*****

Chapter 5

Dawn's shriek brought the entire household, armed and ready to kill, into the living room.

"Dawn!" Buffy blurted out in shock, seeing her sister pointing at the tv in shock. "Dawn? What is it??"

Dawn was shaking, pointing at the screen, until Buffy and the others crowded around.

On the TV a woman was looking into the camera and talking in a remarkably calm voice as fires and destroyed buildings and streets showed in the background.

"... The streets of Smallville are once MORE the scene of incredible carnage, again caused by the sky, literally, falling."

The scene cut to a grainy video that showed fireballs streaking through the skies, smashing down into the buildings and streets.

"Here we see amateur video of the meteor strike, filmed by school reporter Chloe Sullivan, clearly showing the flaming streaks of destruction raining down on this small town." The reporters voice said over the images, "However, this is where things get *really* interesting."

On the screen an image of a green figure plunging through the swarm could slowly be made out and the shot stopped as the studio zoomed in on the figure and enhanced the shot. Through the room, breaths were drawn in as they could easily see the human like figure that was bathed in the green light.

"My God." Buffy whispered in shock. "Is it...?"

"As you can see, there appears to be a figure *flying* through the swarm, and it seems to be human." The woman continued, "The current opinion of our experts here is that this video has not been retouched, and that these shots are possibly authentic. As we continue to watch..."

The scene jumped back to life, showing the figure weaving through the rain of fire, firing green pulses outward to destroy some of the rocks. Suddenly, then, a brilliant line of green force intercepted something off screen and the figure halted in mid air for a moment, shuddered, then fell off camera, behind a row of buildings.

"Keep watching." Dawn said, having already seen the highlights of the clip.

The group, now almost a dozen strong, gathered in closer and watched the scene carefully.

The camera came down from the sky for a moment as the operator started running through the streets, occasionally pointing up at the sky again to show the powerful looking green line that was cutting the very sky in half. More rocks rained down around the camera as the operator ran, then the camera steadied for a moment as it was pointed high into the sky and a muffled voice was heard.

"My god." The group echoed the camera operators words as it showed a huge rock in the sky, one that was visibly shuddering and slowing as it was bathed in a green light.

The camera shook again as the operator again broke into a run, heading toward the source of the light.

There was labored breathing from off camera, and occasional yelps of fear and terror as explosions were heard in the distance, then a huge blast roared through the air, ratting the camera and operator. The camera was rushed skyward again, only to show a cloud of debris where the huge rock had been.

"Wha... what happened??" Buffy demanded of the TV.

"I don't think they can hear ya, B. Yell louder." Faith advised her sarcastically.

"Keep watching." Dawn said again.

They did.

The camera shook again, once more pointed at the ground as the operator ran around a corner and was leveled at a group of three people standing in the middle of the street. Of the three, two were almost depressingly normal.

The third, wasn't.

It was a figure dressed in a body hugging black costume that was adorned with emerald green armor over a few key areas, leaving an impression of a warrior with an almost minimalist theme. In the center of his chest, an odd green and white symbol was shown proudly as the man turned from the other two he was talking with to look straight at the camera for a moment.

Then he turned back, said something, and rose into the air with an effortless motion as he accelerated away.

The screen stopped as the picture was at it's best and the scene zoomed in on the figure as the reporters voice returned.

"Who is this man? What is he? Those are the questions on the lips of a very relieved town today... on most of their lips at least." The woman said as the scene flickered again, showing a young man.

"Mr Kent, can you tell me what he said to you?"

Mr Kent shifted uncomfortably, looking off cameras. "Look, I don't really know if I should..."

"Did he give you a name?" The reporter pressed, "A title... anything? Who was that man, why did he save Smallville? How did he do it?"

The young man shrugged, a little helplessly as he looked at the reporter. "I don't know how... As for why... why not? Isn't that what people are supposed to do when they can?"

Then he quickly pushed away from the scene.

"Excuse me, Mr Kent! Mr Kent!"

"No further comments." An older figure said, as he and the younger man got into a slightly beat up pickup truck and quickly started the engine.

As the red truck drove off, the reporter quickly turned to another person and shoved the microphone in her face. "Miss Lane... what are your reactions to a second meteor strike in...?"

The girl blanched white and barely managed to mumble, "Excuse me..." As she shoved her way through the crowd and rushed off.

The reporter looked frustrated, but recovered quickly as she turned back to the camera, "As you can see it's an emotional time for everyone here, after a miraculous savior prevented the total destruction of this small town... Next I'd like to talk with Chloe Sullivan, the brave young journalist who risked her own life to bring you the footage you just saw... Chloe..."

The camera shifted to a blonde girl, but Dawn hit mute.

"The rest is just her talking about the meteors," Dawn explained, "She didn't see the guy in green until he was flying away."

A silence fell on the room as everyone digested the information, then Buffy finally spoke what everyone was thinking.

"D... do you think that was Xander?"

Dawn shrugged, not wanting to say exactly, "The glow was right."

"It was probably the guy who kidnaped Xander." Wood said dryly. "This guy had full control over whatever magic he was using. The magic that took Xander had control over him."

Giles sighed, nodding his head sadly. "I'm afraid that Robin is most likely correct."

"But..." Buffy looked plaintive.

"They're right pet." Spike said, shrugging. "I don't know who that bloke was, but if that green stuff is the same as what took Xander, you can bet he was involved."

"He just saved a town..." Buffy said, halfheartedly. "He could be a good guy..."

"Just cause a guy don't want a big section of the planet to go poof, don't make him a good guy luv." Spike shrugged. "I didn't want Acathela opened either, y'know... Wasn't cause I felt bad for people, was cause there'd be less of 'em to eat."

Wood scowled at him openly while Dawn grimaced and pantomimed gagging.

"Gee thanks for that lovely imagery." She muttered.

Buffy took a few breaths, clearly thinking about the situation, then sighed. "Alright... You're probably right, so let's start looking this guy up... research time. As flashy as he is, *someone* must have seen him in the past... you don't just come out of nowhere with that kind of power."

*****

The damned thing had just come right out of nowhere.

Captain James Masters had been up on a routine flight when he'd received sudden orders to change course and accelerate to Mach 2 on an intercept course. When he'd radioed in a query, he was told to shut up and follow orders.

So the Air Force pilot did what he was told, he shut up and followed orders.

The F-16 Falcon respond to his command, arcing around on a tight turn as he took up the new heading and then acclerated like the proverbial bat out of hell. Captain Masters was pushed back into the seat as the jet fighter responded to his demands for speed, and he kept his eyes peeled as he recieved a second set of orders.

"Falcon Two Three, your are ordered to go weapons active at this time."

Masters blinked and frowned as he toggled the mic. "Control, please repeat. I heard weapons active?"

"Confirmed."

As he activated his missiles and guns Masters let out a silent whistle as he considered that order. He was flying over the heartland of the US of A. What in the hell could be flying around this neighborhood that he may be required to shoot down?

A few moments later he got his answer.

Masters toggled the comm again, "Control... I... I see a green light up ahead... it's leaving some kind of a contrail behind it as it moves... There's something in the light... it's too small to be a plane, Control... it's... it's..."

"Falcon Two Three? Falcon Two Three! Respond!"

*****

Xander felt the approach of the Jet fighter long before it saw him, he was certain, but he waited just the same until it was in sight. As it approached he hooked around and slowed down a little as he matched speed with it and slid in close.

In the cockpit of the fighter he could see the pilot, presumably gaping at him in surprise behind that mask and dark visor, and Xander smirked.

He flipped the pilot a salute, and chuckled when the pilot returned it reflexively.

*****

Masters put his hand down as fast as it had come up, command's still ringing over his radio.

"Two Three! Respond! Are you alright!"

"Uh... yeah. Affirmative, Control. Falcon Two Three reporting..."

"What the hell is up there??"

"Control... I don't think you'll believe me."

Another voice came over the radio, "Goddammit Masters! You either answer the question or I'll have you flying remotes over the bearing strait by Tuesday!"

"Yessir, General... It's just..." Masters watched the figure suddenly accelerate away from him, waving back slightly. "It's a man, Sir."

"A Man??"

"Yes Sir... A... A little green one." Master winced, not believing he'd just said that.

There was a long silence.

"I think you'd better come down here Captain."

Masters sighed, nodding. "Affirmative Control."

He turned the plane around and headed back for the base, not able to help but look over his shoulder every now and then and wonder.

<Damn. I hope the camera's on this rig were working...> He thought to himself. <Cause if they weren't... I don't think anyone will ever believe that I wasn't stoned, drunk, AND insane.>

*****

Xander felt the fighter turn away and wondered if he'd be met by any more on his way to Sunnydale

He hoped not. They might not be as stunned as this last guy, and the last thing he needed was a trigger happy jock popping off missiles because he wasn't registered with the FAA.

Xander grinned again at that thought and sped on, urging a little more speed from the ring as the Rockies came into sight.

TBC…