Questions and Answers #13

As we shot into the air, I couldn't help but gawk at my own body, wrapped in this shimmering green energy like a cosmic burrito. It was like being embraced by a weightless, see-through, glow-in-the-dark blanket. 

Now, Green Lantern powers might not make you bench press buildings like Superman, but it's undeniably one of the coolest and most versatile superpowers in all of fiction. You could say it's the Swiss Army knife of the superhero world. 

The possibilities are only limited by your imagination and, of course, your willpower. In the right hands, that glowing ring would undoubtedly live up to its reputation as the most powerful weapon in the universe – as those Green Lantern Corps folks liked to boast.

Glancing up at Hal Jordan, I found him staring back at me with an almost disappointed expression. "I expected more of a reaction," he remarked.

I couldn't help but chuckle at his comment. "Well, you weren't exactly pulling off a subtle surprise party..." I said with a shrug. 

"I saw you scheming to pull the rug out from under my feet a mile away..." I replied with a nonchalant shrug, pausing as everything around me started turning dark. I was in friggin' space!

"Can we stop here for a moment?" I requested, and Hal Jordan shot me a confused look before realization seemed to dawn on him. He slowed down, and I couldn't help but marvel at the breathtaking view of the universe around us – the ultimate pitstop, if you will.

"First time, space rookie?" Hal Jordan quipped with a mischievous grin. 

I shot him an incredulous look. "What do you think?" I retorted, the sass in my tone enough to make even Rattigan proud.

Hal chuckled, his eyes glancing toward the cheeky rat perched on my shoulder. "Your pet rat seems like a seasoned space traveler, though..." He gestured to Rattigan, who responded with a series of angry chitters, evidently offended by Hal's assessment.

Setting aside Rattigan's protest, Hal's observation was spot on. The audacious critter sat on my shoulder as if space travel was a routine affair, gazing down at Earth with an air of superiority. It made sense, considering the interdimensional nature of the cheeky rat, concealed beneath its deceptive appearance.

"Well, Rattigan does have an inflated opinion of himself... that's just his way," I replied with a nonchalant shrug. "Now, can I get a minute to soak in the cosmic view, or are you on a tight schedule?" I added, shooting Hal Jordan a playful side glance.

"You've got five. Despite appearances, I'm a busy space guy," Hal Jordan quipped back, and I simply nodded, ready to enjoy my brief moment among the stars. Or at least, that's how I made it look. 

As much as I wanted to savor the cosmic scenery, duty called. Without skipping a beat, I summoned the system's interface, navigating my way to the shop section. 

Eyes dancing over the holographic controls, I fine-tuned the filters until, voila, I found exactly what I needed—the Improved Acting Skill.

'Just what the doctor ordered,' I mused, silently perusing the skill's description. 

[Improved Acting Skill: Master the art of deception with this upgraded acting prowess. Become a virtuoso in the theater of life, capable of delivering performances so convincing that even the most discerning eyes won't detect a hint of falsehood. Whether you're spinning tall tales or navigating complex social situations, this skill turns you into the ultimate thespian, leaving no room for immediate doubt or suspicion]

'Leaving no room for immediate doubt or suspicion...' I mused, a smile playing on my lips. The system's choice of words made a lot of sense. No matter how convincing or flawless a lie, in the end, is just that—a lie. 

You simply had to dig deep enough to uncover it. Since the Justice League would have to find my original world to unearth it, I was more than comfortable buying the skill, and so I did. It came at the price of 210 points, which seemed pretty fair, all things considered.

Anyway, seeing as I had some time, I decided to navigate to the daily deals section. Much to my disappointment, I only found one option: an "Elixir of Ludicrous Laughter," promising uncontrollable and riotous laughter for the user, which was downright useless in any serious situation. 

And what do you know? It was on a huge, 99% discount, bringing its price from 100 points all the way to just 1 point. Yup, the system's sense of humor seemed intact.

'Whelp... it's back to staring into space for me, I guess...'

...

As Martian Manhunter peered through the one-way mirror into the interrogation room reserved for criminals, a soft sigh escaped him. Inside, a young man, easily lost in a crowd, sat across from Hal Jordan. 

The young man, one Micah Foster, with his short black hair, unassuming features, and casual attire, looked far from extraordinary. There was a subtle peculiarity in the way he moved and carried himself that caught Martian Manhunter's attention. 

His rat companion, which was held in another room, seemed a bit too intelligent and strange in many ways, but that was all. 

The young man didn't fit the typical profile of someone slated for interrogation or mind probing, but Martian Manhunter understood the necessity of scrutinizing individuals from other worlds. 

His experience and mastery of telepathic abilities allowed him to discern truth from lies without needing to delve into the opponent's mind, so he had no reason to refuse Hal Jordan's request despite his reservations. 

Before Martian Manhunter could delve too deep into his own thoughts, Hal Jordan initiated the questioning. 

"For the record, please state your full name and age," Hal requested with a focused gaze. 

Micah, seemingly composed, nodded in response. "Micah Foster, twenty-seven years old," he replied, his voice steady. 

Martian Manhunter keenly observed Micah for any subtle tells but found none, prompting him to turn to the console, searching for anyone that might match Micah's profile. 

'Truthful, but I found no record of him in our database,' Martian Manhunter telepathically conveyed, projecting his thoughts directly into Hal Jordan's mind. 

Hal acknowledged Micah with a nod, a furrow of concentration on his brow, before proceeding with the interrogation. "Do you have any close friends or family?" he inquired, adding a touch of empathy to the questioning. 

Micah's expression shifted, a brief flicker of discomfort crossing his features at the mention of personal connections. 

"No," Micah responded a bit too quickly, his gaze momentarily distant. "I grew up in the foster care system, and I was too busy studying and then working to maintain any friendships," he calmly explained. 

Hal Jordan registered a momentary surprise, his eyes narrowing slightly, as Martian Manhunter once again confirmed Micah's honesty. With a subtle nod, Hal continued, probing deeper into Micah's unique circumstances.

Hal delved into a multitude of questions about Micah's background. The young man didn't flinch at the inquiries, offering detailed information about the various foster families, schools, and colleges he attended, concluding with insights into the company where he interned and later worked. 

Martian Manhunter, stationed in his spot, scrutinized Micah closely, searching for any subtle hints of falsehoods. Throughout this process, he cross-referenced the provided information, identifying similarities and disparities between Micah's world and their own.

As the green-skinned Martian unearthed these findings, including shared people and places as well as those exclusive to Micah's reality, he conveyed his discoveries to Hal Jordan. 

Hal, in his characteristic calm demeanor, simply nodded at the insights. "That would be all I need to know about your background," he stated evenly. 

Hal then transitioned seamlessly to the next line of inquiry, his tone neutral. "Would you mind if I asked you some questions about your world?" he proposed, to which Micah responded with a nonchalant shrug, signaling his readiness to field whatever questions came his way.

"You seem to have recognized Superman, the beacon of hope, despite just stepping into our world," Hal remarked, his tone acquiring a touch of gravity. "Does that mean Superman and the legendary Justice League exist in your world?" he inquired, his keen gaze fixed on Micah.

Micah, maintaining an air of nonchalance, responded with a smile, "Almost everyone knows Superman and the Justice League where I come from. How else would I recognize him?" His words carried a subtle undertone of familiarity.

"In that case, are you well-acquainted with the perils and challenges the Justice League faced in your world?" Hal Jordan pressed on, his eyes revealing the weight of the question. 

"Take a moment to think before answering; your insights might be crucial in saving lives and preventing potential disasters," he urged, emphasizing the profound impact of Micah's responses.

"Sorry to disappoint, but how would I have insight into that?" Micah replied, a hint of incredulity in his tone. He shot a slightly judgmental look at Hal. "Wait... you don't go around disclosing the League's confidential matters in this world, do you?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

Hal chuckled wryly and shook his head. "Of course, we don't. It's just that the allure of preventing future tragedies was too compelling for me not to inquire," he admitted with a sigh, receiving Martian Manhunter's telepathic confirmation that Micah's responses were genuine.

"In any case, we're almost done here..." Hal said, regaining his serious demeanor. "I'll only need to ask you a few more questions and run a few simple, non-invasive tests, and you'll be free to go..." 

...

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