{Chapter: 76 - In The World of Green Lantern}
When Aiden's scenery abruptly shifted, he barely had time to register the jarring change before his senses were hit with a tidal wave of stimulation. Loud, pulsing music thundered through the air, vibrating through his bones and rattling his thoughts. A surge of flashing strobe lights painted the room in erratic bursts of neon color, casting dancing shadows across the sea of writhing bodies.
People were packed wall-to-wall in the dim room, their faces half-lit by rotating beams of artificial light. The bass dropped, and the crowd roared with energy. Shouts, laughter, whistles, and the clinking of glass melded into a chaotic symphony of nightlife. The scent of alcohol, sweat, and perfume clung to the air like a second skin.
Aiden blinked, disoriented for a moment. "Where the hell am I?"
He was standing on a small raised platform near the back of the nightclub, and thankfully, no one seemed to have noticed his sudden arrival. The crowd was too busy dancing, flirting, or losing themselves to the music.
[Although the host always reappears within the general region where the main storyline unfolds, the exact teleportation destinations are entirely random,] the system chimed in his mind, utterly unfazed by the chaos around him.
Aiden sighed internally, mildly disappointed. He had hoped to be dropped right into the center of action, maybe even close to the crash site. He only had three days to secure the Power Ring—an object of immense cosmic importance—and time was a luxury he didn't have.
Still, he knew the system wouldn't drop him too far from his objective. He was in Coast City, that much was clear. The real question was: Had the ring already chosen its next bearer? Was Jordan already in possession of it? Or did Aiden still have a window of opportunity?
His target was the emerald ring of willpower, the one that had once belonged to Abin Sur—a dying Green Lantern whose ship had crash-landed on Earth. In the canonical timeline, the ring sought out Hal Jordan as its successor, birthing the legacy of Earth's most famous Lantern. But timelines were fickle, and small shifts in events could alter destiny itself. Aiden was here to ensure the ring ended up in the right hands... his.
Just as he prepared to leave, weaving his way through the crowd and heading for the exit, a flicker of movement caught his eye. He turned.
And froze.
She stood in the far corner of the lounge, barely lit, but her presence was magnetic. Long, flowing black hair framed an exquisitely sculpted face. Her figure, clothed in an elegant yet form-fitting black dress, was nothing short of captivating. Confidence radiated from her posture, and she had an air of mystery that made her seem almost otherworldly.
Aiden found himself changing course without a second thought. Something about her tugged at his instincts. Not caution, but curiosity.
Long black hair, exquisite facial features, S-shape figure, Very charming!
Aiden changed his mind and decided to head over to her. The girl saw Aiden coming towards her with a smile.
She noticed his approach, offering a subtle, amused smile. Her eyes sparkled with intelligence and just the right touch of challenge.
Caroline "Carol" Ferris—billion-dollar aerospace CEO by day, elegant mystery by night—tilted her head slightly as her eyes met the stranger's. It wasn't just a glance; it was a moment of quiet appraisal, the kind a woman like her had mastered after years of navigating boardrooms, gala nights, and the ever-persistent orbit of men who thought charm alone could win her over.
But this man was different.
He moved through the pulsing neon haze of the nightclub with a calm gravity that seemed almost out of place in such chaos. His stride was unhurried, his expression unreadable, and yet his gaze carried an intensity that cut through the smoke and strobing lights like a blade. He was tall, broad-shouldered, and carried himself like someone who was no stranger to danger—or power. But what caught Carol's attention even more was his face: sharp lines softened by a hint of warmth, midnight-black hair, and striking amber eyes that suggested both experience and curiosity. A rare combination.
And he was half-Asian, something not common in Coast City, a metropolitan sprawl dominated by generational families and familiar legacies. His mixed heritage only added to his allure—a face that seemed to straddle two worlds, ancient and modern, east and west. His features were refined, symmetrical yet marked by faint traces of hardship—someone who had seen a lot, perhaps lost more, and come out stronger on the other side.
In a city where polished surfaces often masked hollow ambition, this man had presence.
Not the loud, boisterous kind that swaggered into a room expecting the world to applaud—but the quiet, steady kind that made people instinctively give way. There was something in the way he scanned the room—not searching, but assessing—that made Carol's breath catch for a split second.
She sipped her drink slowly, keeping her posture relaxed but her mind sharp. She wasn't one to get flustered easily. She'd been courted by foreign dignitaries, corporate predators, and even the occasional masked vigilante. And yet something about him set her on edge—in a good way.
She watched as he finally approached, stopping just a pace away before offering a faint, disarming smile.
"Do you mind if I sit?" he asked, voice smooth and confident, with a subtle undertone that hinted at deeper stories. Not the kind rehearsed in front of mirrors, but the kind earned through fire and blood.
She nodded slowly, intrigued despite herself. "Be my guest," she said, gesturing to the barstool beside her.
He took the seat with an ease that suggested he belonged anywhere he chose to be. No flashy introduction. No over-eager compliment. Just presence.
"Name's Aiden," he said, eyes not leaving hers.
"Carol Ferris," she replied, her voice calm but velvet-edged. There was no trace of surprise in her tone, only curiosity. "So where's a man like you hiding when he's not making dramatic entrances into dimly lit clubs?"
Carol Ferris—CEO of Ferris Aircraft, elite businesswoman, and one-time love interest of Hal Jordan. So, she's here. That confirms it. This is the right city, the right timeline.
Aiden smiled slightly, the kind of smile that hinted at danger but promised a good time. "Far from here," he said. "Ever heard of the Isles Land?"
She raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. "Sounds…exotic."
"More than exotic," Aiden leaned closer, lowering his voice just enough to draw her in without seeming deliberate. "The skies are bluer. The food can make grown men cry. The nights? They stretch on forever—fiery, unforgettable."
Carol tilted her head, studying him with a new gleam in her eyes. "Maybe I've just been waiting for the right guide."
Aiden smirked. "Maybe that's something we could fix."
Then Carol broke the moment. "You don't seem like a tourist, Aiden. And you certainly don't look like a local. So tell me, what are you doing in Coast City?"
He paused. He couldn't exactly say, Oh, I'm here to steal the most powerful weapon in the universe from the guy you might fall in love with.
So instead, he offered a half-truth. "Let's just say I'm here for something important. And it has to be done within three days."
Carol tilted her head. "Deadline man. I respect that. But here's a tip from someone who juggles more deadlines than sleep cycles: don't forget to breathe."
Aiden grinned, but his thoughts were already spinning. Carol's presence confirmed that Hal Jordan was likely not far. That meant the ring couldn't be far either. He had to track the location of Abin Sur's crash site. He would start tonight.
But for now, a part of him chose to linger—not out of distraction, but calculation. Gaining Carol's trust might not just be a detour... it might be the key to getting to Hal Jordan himself.
"So, Carol," he said, swirling the ice in his untouched drink. "Tell me something honest. If you could leave this place—just disappear for a week, no calls, no board meetings, no responsibility... where would you go?"
She looked at him, surprised by the question. Then smiled.
"Somewhere no one could find me."
"Then maybe," Aiden said softly, "we're not so different after all." Aiden chuckled, the dim glow of neon bouncing off his features as he raised a hand and waved to the bartender. "Two bottles of your best," he said with casual charm, tapping the counter with two fingers. "I'll drink to that. Care to join me?"
Carol's lips curled into a half-smile, her fingers brushing a lock of hair behind her ear. "Only if you promise not to fall in love after the second bottle," she teased, reaching for the bottle he slid her way and clinking it lightly against his.
Aiden raised his brows, amused. "Then I'll pace myself," he said with a glint of mischief in his golden-brown eyes. "But I make no promises after the third."
They laughed, a shared rhythm between two strangers who felt oddly in sync. Carol took a sip, savoring the cool bitterness as she leaned her elbow on the counter. "Are you traveling to Coast City, or just passing through for the work?"
"Yeah," Aiden nodded, glancing around the club before returning his gaze to her. "I've heard it's beautiful here. And looking at you, it doesn't seem wrong about it."
Carol arched a brow, feigning surprise. "Smooth talker."
"Only when the truth makes it easy," he replied without missing a beat.
She tilted her head, visibly intrigued now. "So, tell me, why is a mysterious man like you suddenly appearing in nightclubs alone?"
Aiden grinned. "I could ask the same. Why is a woman like you alone tonight? I'd imagine there'd be a line of admirers."
Carol shrugged playfully, eyes twinkling. "Maybe they can't see what you can."
"Then maybe I should take their eyes out," Aiden said in mock seriousness, drawing a giggle from her.
Their banter flowed easily, like they were old friends reunited by chance. They talked about cities they'd been to, food they loved, childhood memories that still haunted or warmed them. It wasn't loud or boisterous, but warm and textured, like a conversation over candlelight in another life.
The hours flew by. The club, once a wall of noise and color, faded into the background, becoming little more than ambiance for something more intimate.
Carol blinked at the clock and suddenly sat straighter. "I didn't expect it to be so late. It's almost dawn already. I should probably get going."
Aiden looked genuinely surprised. "Time flies when you're having good company. Shame the night has to end."
Carol hesitated for a moment, then reached into her purse. She pulled out a small note, scribbled her number down, and passed it to him. "This is my number. If I'm free, I'll give you a call."
Aiden took it, smiling as he saved it into his phone. "I'll take you home."
The two stepped outside together. The air was cooler now, fresh with the smell of ocean mist that occasionally drifted into the city from the distant shoreline. Neon signs buzzed and flickered behind them.
Carol turned to him with a sly grin. "Where do you live? I can take you there."
Aiden chuckled, raising an eyebrow. "I don't think that's a good idea. You seem a little drunk."
"Aiya, don't worry about me," she waved him off, her confidence unshaken. "I'm a good driver. Come on!"
With a grin, Aiden followed her to a sleek black sports car parked at the edge of the lot. Inside, the leather seats smelled faintly of expensive perfume and cherry polish. As she started the engine, he leaned back comfortably.
"By the way," he said casually, "I haven't booked a hotel today. Mind helping me find one?"
Carol gave him a sideways look. "No hotel? And you don't have any luggage either?"
Aiden chuckled. "Hehe, I guess I travel a little… uniquely."
She shook her head, amused. "Alright, mysterious traveler, I know a good place nearby."
The drive through the city was smooth, lit by a quiet world that was just beginning to stir. Street sweepers passed by. A few joggers braved the early dawn. Carol and Aiden talked about everything and nothing—from Coast City's politics to childhood cartoons.
After a few minutes, Carol slowed the car in front of a tall, modern-looking hotel with a glowing sign. "This is a good one. I've used it for clients flying in. Clean, quiet, and no weird neighbors."
Aiden unbuckled his seatbelt and smiled. "Many thanks for the recommendation."
He turned slightly. "Wanna come in for a cup of coffee?"
Carol smirked, brushing her hair back with playful elegance. "Inviting me into your room already? Bold move. We did have a good chat… but I'm not sure we've reached that point yet."
Aiden laughed, unbothered. "Then I'll see you later, Miss Ferris."
He stepped out, waved, and disappeared through the hotel doors. Carol watched him go, lips curved in thought, before shifting her car into drive and heading off into the waking city.
Inside his room, Aiden let the door click shut behind him. The silence was immediate and strangely grounding. He moved to the desk, powered on the hotel-provided computer, and began typing rapidly.
News sites, city updates, meteor reports, strange sightings. He filtered through Coast City's local headlines, looking for anything out of place—crashed objects, military lockdowns, unexplained disappearances.
His mission was still the same: find Jordan. Find the ring. And make sure it ends up in the right hands.
*****
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