Heisenberg tossed out a teasing remark, then turned his head to gaze up at the sky. As he watched the green light rapidly coalescing above, beside him—
and beside Clark and Tiff too—a deep yet simple voice rang out.
"Even if you say I'm pretty, I'm not going to forgive you for trying to kill me~"
The moment that voice emerged, Heisenberg immediately raised a hand. His holographic projection rubbed its head in exasperation.
Then, looking up at the green light that had long since gathered overhead, he spoke softly.
"Hello there, Mogo. I've heard your name many times before, but this is my first time meeting you. So..."
He extended a hand, tracing a few casual gestures through the empty air.
"It's nice to meet you."
"Ah, even if you say that, I'm not going to be especially happy about it."
Mogo's bashful voice drifted out from the void, and as it did, the green light in the sky rapidly receded.
Then, a voice manifested out of thin air.
"I can sense that you bear no hostility. Though that Kryptonian beside you—her hostility is rather astonishing!
Still, she defers to you, doesn't she?
In my life, I have rarely encountered other living beings. Your appearance leaves me puzzled, and also...
a little pleasantly surprised.
I can feel it—your companions are Kryptonians. But they are very unusual Kryptonians. At least one of them is very unusual.
As for you... I taste something out of the ordinary.
Are you a remnant Old God from the ancient era?
My apologies, 'remnant' is not the best word. In any case, you are a god, aren't you?
You said I was pretty. So, tell me—your divine kingdom and I, which of us is prettier?"
"I..."
Hearing Mogo's words, Heisenberg nearly coughed up a mouthful of blood.
"If my divine kingdom could talk... I'll admit it, it's not as pretty as you," Heisenberg replied.
As he spoke, he rubbed at his hair in resignation.
Clark... oh, Clark. You really are the protagonist of the DC universe. Even when you casually pick someone up, it spins off into its own story!
With that thought, Heisenberg sighed, then waved a hand at the planet beneath his feet.
"Mogo?"
"Hmm?"
The ethereal voice drew closer and closer, finally settling right beside the ears of Heisenberg and Clark.
Listening to the voice at his ear, Heisenberg sighed again.
"Let's get acquainted, Mogo. I am Heisenberg—Kryptonian God, God of the Sun."
"Understood. I am Mogo—a... a rather interesting planet.
Oh, right. I believe I'm also what you call a Green Lantern!"
At this, Mogo paused, her voice growing even more bashful.
"I don't really know why I'm a Green Lantern. The ring just... came to me. But I do like green—it's the color of so many plants.
Plants are beautiful. Truly beautiful."
"They are. And so are you, Mogo. I have never seen a planet more beautiful than you."
Heisenberg spoke with utter sincerity.
Their exchange left Clark utterly baffled. Before he could even ask, Heisenberg offered a quiet explanation.
"Clark, Tiff—come meet the most powerful Green Lantern of them all. The legendary Mogo. A living planet. A pure planetary consciousness!"
With those words, Heisenberg gave a slight wave of his hand. Before the three of them, a miniature planet formed entirely of green light materialized.
As the planet appeared, that bashful voice from before chimed in once more.
The tiny sphere of light bobbed a couple of times in front of them, then spoke.
"Hello to you both. I know your names—Heisenberg, God of the Sun. And Kal-El, Kryptonian."
Here, it paused, then turned toward the cold-faced Tiff and said gently,
"And you—Tiff Don-El!"
As the words faded, the green light coalesced into an enormous hand. That luminous hand danced lightly around the three of them for a moment.
As the green glow bobbed up and down, Mogo's deep voice continued.
"Especially you, Tiff. Your words frightened me.
I am merely a stable, unambitious, peace-loving planet. I have always safeguarded the peace and stability of Space Sector 2261.
I truly do not understand—why would you want to kill me?"
The green sphere circled around Tiff.
This turn of events made Tiff draw a deep breath.
After a moment, she turned to Heisenberg and bowed with the utmost deference.
"My Lord, she is..."
"She is the very Mogo you spoke of."
Heisenberg nodded, his tone resigned.
"Your earlier words were not far wrong. If three or more Green Lanterns work in unison, they can indeed open a temporal tunnel and travel through time.
But there are many prerequisites.
First, the wielders must be actual Green Lanterns. We may not necessarily possess the ability to manipulate a Green Lantern ring.
Second, our actions must not cause drastic changes to history. If our interference becomes too intense, it will draw the gaze of the Watchers.
And lastly..."
Heisenberg rubbed his hair and let out a chuckle.
"Lastly, you should at least figure out who your target is before you act!"
With that, he lifted a foot and tapped the ground beneath him lightly.
"Do you know the name of the planet you're standing on right now?"
"Uh... no. It's an uncharted planet. A primordial world."
"Yes. A primordial world. And her name is Mogo."
Heisenberg was utterly speechless.
After a long pause, he chuckled softly and continued.
"The Green Lantern Corps is a rather fascinating organization. Countless exceptional beings unite in the name of hope, wielding the power of the green light to uphold peace across the universe.
Krypton has had numerous dealings with the Corps, though our contact has always been with the Lantern of Sector 1669.
As for Mogo..."
Heisenberg shook his head.
"The membership of the Green Lantern Corps has always been extraordinarily diverse. There is always one special ring that chooses one special life form."
At this, he turned to the green sphere beside him and gave a light wink.
"Wouldn't you agree, Green Lantern Mogo? Living planet. The sole sentient life form among all planets?"
"Yes!"
The green sphere bobbed up and down decisively.
"I came into being over three point seven billion years ago. In the three point five billionth year of my existence, I awakened to my own intelligence.
Then, seven hundred and eighty-two thousand years ago, a Green Lantern ring arrived on my surface. It did not choose any of the life forms living upon me. It chose me instead."
As the words fell, the ground in front of Heisenberg suddenly churned. Great fissures split open across the planet's surface.
From within the roiling earth, a simple, unadorned green ring—ordinary in every way—floated up into the air.
"It changed my life. It made me more active, more capable of movement, more attuned to the desires and aversions of countless living beings."
Here, the spinning green sphere paused briefly, then continued.
"That is why I absolutely will not permit you to harbor malice toward me. Nor will I permit any attempt to take the Green Lantern ring from me.
It may be just a small amusement in my life, but it is also a form of recognition. A kind of justice. And a responsibility."
The green sphere gave a gentle spin, and the ring sank back down into the planet's depths.
Seeing this, Heisenberg shook his head noncommittally. He said to Mogo,
"Rest easy, Mogo. My kinswoman was merely overcome with regret at the destruction of our homeland.
No one wants to kill you. No one intends to take anything from you."
"But she looked so fierce~~"
Mogo sounded utterly aggrieved.
"I was sleeping, you know. I had no idea who had come to play on me.
Then I felt someone causing damage—smashing up my mountains, racing back and forth across my surface.
That sort of thing happens all the time, so I didn't pay it much mind. But...
But still...
You didn't have to try to destroy me..."
/-\
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