Post by jross on Mar 1, 2012 1:34:02 GMT -5
Issue # 10: The Widening Gyre, Part III
The assembled Lanterns stood ready to face their latest threat. Narkanthos, Atrocitus, had in his last moments spawned several brutish offspring. Normally little threat to a ring bearer, each of the Ryutians below wielded their own Red Power Ring, harnessing their endless rage into a weapon.
“Come on, Lanterns,” Sines Toro commanded, “this batch falls like the rest.”
As the battle was joined, streaks of light flying, smashing the already-blighted landscape, man and beast crashing into one another, Sines Toro felt a tug at the back of his mind.
Fear calls its own, Sines Toro. Come find me. Somewhat disoriented by the message, Sines Toro shook his head. The call continued. As he looked for the source, his eyes settled on the West, and instinctively Sines Toro felt that the source of the message lay in that direction. Scanning the field Sines Toro concluded that the battle would be over in moments, as the new spawn lacked the intelligence to use their rings effectively. With a nod to Jordan, Sines Toro communicated his intent to leave briefly without a word.
Hal watched Sines Toro fly away as he engaged a Ryutian. The months that he had spent alone with Sines Toro had honed both of their instincts until the two could act with a single intent. It was slight, but Hal had noticed a difference in Sines Toro's expression. His thoughts drifted momentarily to why Abin Sur had not confided his plans to find the Tree of Light to Sines Toro, a question that he had so far neglected to ask his first mentor.
His reflection was ended when a right cross swept past his jaw, deflected by his aura. Hal set to work, amazed that he had at one time been intimidated by the hideous spawn of the beast responsible for sending him on his new life's path. Even with the red ring, this foe was one that would fall. It might take a couple minutes of fighting, but Hal could see that he had this mindless brute outclassed.
Hal's only thought was to hurry up with this enemy in order to help Carol and Tom. As he held the alien in a vice clamp, squeezing the life out of it, Hal glanced up and saw Tom. The smaller man was moving as he always had. Hal felt a surge of pride mingled with surprise. Despite Hal's fears for his friend, Tom was handling the Ryutian like he would any drunk punk back in Taos. And in addition, Hal made out a look of- peace, contentment, wholeness, that he had not seen Tom wear in a long time.
Hal dropped his dead enemy and started over to Carol and Guy before stopping short. The two were fighting back-to-back, Guy's left hand locked in Carol's right, blasting away while their auras each covered the other. Forgetting where he was, Hal felt punched in the gut. He had arrived in the middle of something special between the lovebirds, something that meant he had truly lost Carol to Guy. Despite the carnage of the scene, all Hal wanted was a drink.
John Stewart had not been truly prepared for this. He and Paul Booker had been spending their time on Qward doing disaster relief, and unlike the others they had not run into Deathsmith cultists. Stewart, who considered himself a pacifist, had never seen real combat, and was rattled at the intensity. This alien monster was coming at him, slashing, roaring, biting without letting up for an instant. John responded with brick wall constructs, and attempted to place handcuff restraints on his enemy.
“Stewart,” Booker shouted at his new ally, “fight back! Use your eyepiece.”
Booker referenced the Qwardian technology that both men wore in order to assist their efforts. The eyepieces allowed the wearer to see the connections within and without an object or being, exposing its every weakness. Booker had been experimenting with the limits of his own piece, toying with his opponent. With a single punch he had caused a nearby building to fall on the alien, had then formed a raincloud with a fan construct and with a strategically-placed bolt from his ring sent a lightning strike down onto his foe. All of this was due to the eyepiece, and there was more to explore, yet here was Stewart, a smart man, refusing to use his new weapon correctly.
“Stewart,” Booker repeated, “hit him now! You think you're doing the right thing by refusing to fight? This is an immediate situation in which civilians are placed in imminent danger. The right thing to do is to act for their good.”
John listened to the military man's officer speak while fending off blows. What Booker said made sense. He wasn't developing horrible weapons to be used indiscriminately, he was defending a shattered populace from unspeakable horrors. The thought struck John at his deepest point. Doubt turned to resolve as he locked onto the enemy with his targeting system. Luminous threads overlaid the Ryutian's aura, revealing a thin spot. John fired, indigo light lancing through the armor and dropping monster instantly.
Images of young Qwardian children smiling, of cities being rebuilt, flooded John's perceptions. Every situation called for a choice made for the greater good, to ease the most suffering and cause the least damage. Always in conflict with his beliefs and his actions, John for once new true sense of purpose. He closed his eyes, inhaled deeply and was suffused with deep sapphire energy. Looking into the horizon he spoke.
”
Nature's fury, pestilence' blight
Befall ev'ry one, great and small
I come to help, follow my light
Indigo Lantern shines on all
”
As John recovered from his vow, Booker favored him with a rare smile. He simply said, “Helping out feels good, doesn't it?”
Booker trained his eyepiece on the fallen aliens, and noticed that the scanner even laid bare their tissue. He focused hard, zooming in deeply. In front of his eyes the alien DNA split apart, revealing its secrets to him. Paul constructed a vial and took a portion of the tissue to analyze further.
As the new Lanterns finished off their opponents, the looked to Hal, Kilowog and Tomar Re and saw that the veterans had easily dispatched their foes and had spent the last few moments watching them fight.
“Hey,” Tom called, “what's the big deal standing around?”
“We are not standing around, rookie, we are supervising,” Kilowog responded with a toothy bestial grin.
-
Sines Toro flew with purpose. He could feel himself being drawn in to his destination. It was an unwelcome feeling. Sines Toro did not follow, he led. Yet his curiosity was piqued and he could not leave without knowing the source of the summons.
“Stop, Sines Toro.”
The voice came from nowhere, and Sines Toro found his motion arrested. In front of him, materializing from a curtain of shadows, appeared a wizened old Qwardian. He wore the trappings of a Deathsmith, and Sines Toro readied a combat pose.
“We are of one purpose, you need not attack,” the Qwardian calmly chided Sines Toro. It was to no avail, as Sines Toro struck out with a golden snake construct that bit at the Qwardian.
The snake bounced harmlessly off the Qwardian, repulsed by a field of blond light. Sines Toro raised an eyebrow quizzically.
“Did you think that you were the only one? Balok the Wise also wields a Power Ring. We are of a kind, Sines Toro, and it seems that the legendary Tree of Light has chosen both of us to represent the light of fear. It is a magnificent thing, is it not? The secrets of the rings are many, together we could plumb the depths of-”
Sines Toro could see that the Qwardian was in love with the sound of its own voice. Weary of egotistical monologues given by people other than himself, Sines Toro cut in.
“We have come to put an end to your vile cult. You impose your twisted beliefs upon the universe and must be stopped.”
“We impose our beliefs upon a weak universe, one that you protect despite its unworthiness. You serve corrupt masters, Sines Toro. We, who believe that all must be unmade in order to be remade perfectly, are the true guardians of justice. Our might proves our superior way.”
“Your might? Let's just test that might, Balok,” Sines Toro snarled, deeply offended that he was being called out by a criminal. Sines Toro fired a strong beam at the mysterious cultist, catching it square in the chest. Balok flew back, pushed by the force of Sines Toro's will. Shadowed tendrils crept from behind Balok and covered him, shielding him from the ray.
When the tendrils dissolved, Balok had vanished. Sines Toro hovered in the sky, far from his comrades, reflecting on this new development as Balok's voice came one more time.
Another day, perhaps. I will call again, Sines Toro.
-
An hour later the Lanterns were gathered in the Spire of Shelter, basking in the hearty congratulations of the keeper, Blandoc. Despite the severity of the devastation around them, the Spire had become a place of merriment. A feast had been given, and various survivors of Atrocitus' rampage mingled with the Lanterns.
Hal stood alone, watching Carol conjure up playful things for a swarm of Qwardian children, working up the nerve to approach her. Funny, an interstellar cop who had face horror upon horror in the space lanes was afraid to talk to an ex-girlfriend. Whatever had passed between Carol and Guy back there had been beautiful, and it scared Hal to think that whatever those two had was deeper than anything he and Carol had ever experienced. With a deep sigh he stepped out, resolving just to see her.
“Heya, Hal,” Tom called out from nearby. He was walking swiftly to get to his old friend.
“Oh, Tom, what's up? I haven't really told you how well you all did out there today. I was worried about what I'd gotten you into, but you held your own right and especially for your first day on the job. I'm guessing that we might have to hire on a couple more deputies to pick up the slack back in Taos.”
Tom smiled wide at Hal, “You know, I really felt right out there. I haven't felt as happy since I lost Tina and the baby as I did today. It's like nothing else.”
“I'm glad to hear it, Tom. You're showing that you belong with us.”
“I belong here, Hal,” came the serious reply.
“'Scuse me?” Hal was incredulous, “Here, here? Like Qward?”
“Yeah, Hal. When I'm out there, helping people to help themselves, it feels right. I've got the power to help, and rebuilding this planet is going to take a long time. I know that you've probably got to whiz off to wherever else in a bit, but I plan to stay here until they don't need me.”
“Just like that?”
“Just like that,” Tom beamed, “it's gonna be alright. I mean to finish this and then I'll be home again.”
Both men went silent, patted each other on the back and stood their ground as the children Carol had been entertaining followed her pointing to the two men and rushed over to see what Hal and Tom could make for them.
Blandoc embraced Paul and John in a spindly, awkward hug. He exclaimed, “You've saved Qward through your actions today. We owe you a debt that can never be repaid.”
“Well, I hope not. I always collect on my debts,” Paul ribbed.
“Oh,” John interjected, “I almost forgot that you lent us these. It's so comfortable that you don't feel it.”
John peeled off his eyepiece, handing it over to Blandoc, who accepted it with both hands while bowing. With an expectant smile he held his hands out to Paul.
“Oh, come on,” Paul attempted lightheartedly, “I think you can spare one piece of equipment.”
“The technology of Qward exceeds much of the outer galaxy,” Blandoc expressed his shock, “you know all too well the effects of removing that technology from its proper place.”
Sines Toro and Kilowog were standing near. Kilowog frowned and Sines Toro stepped closely so that he was in Booker's face.
“Lanterns do not plunder, nor are we mercenaries, Booker. Return this man's property.”
“I never signed up for your organization, Toro,” Booker retorted, “I'm not under your command.”
The entire room went quiet, and Kilowog snatched at Booker's face. Booker flinched back and howled as an amber armor encased him. He pushed, expanding his protection to a large sphere.
“This is mine, I earned it and I'm keeping it. I-” Paul was overcome.
”The timid shrink from glory's glow
The one who knows what he wants is wise
Tho others fail to meet their goal
Orange Lantern's eyes are on the prize!
In a heartbeat Booker was gone, crashing through the spire and away from Qward. The others were about to give chase when John bade them wait.
“He hasn't hurt anyone,” John pleaded, “if we give chase now, that's just time that we could have spent helping someone else. I'll go find him; I'll stay in contact with our ring comms.”
Blandoc nodded his agreement and the other Lanterns relented. Stewart nodded a farewell and flew after Booker. As the moments passed they each stood, wondering what would come of their brief alliance and of the diverging paths on which it was leading each of them.
The assembled Lanterns stood ready to face their latest threat. Narkanthos, Atrocitus, had in his last moments spawned several brutish offspring. Normally little threat to a ring bearer, each of the Ryutians below wielded their own Red Power Ring, harnessing their endless rage into a weapon.
“Come on, Lanterns,” Sines Toro commanded, “this batch falls like the rest.”
As the battle was joined, streaks of light flying, smashing the already-blighted landscape, man and beast crashing into one another, Sines Toro felt a tug at the back of his mind.
Fear calls its own, Sines Toro. Come find me. Somewhat disoriented by the message, Sines Toro shook his head. The call continued. As he looked for the source, his eyes settled on the West, and instinctively Sines Toro felt that the source of the message lay in that direction. Scanning the field Sines Toro concluded that the battle would be over in moments, as the new spawn lacked the intelligence to use their rings effectively. With a nod to Jordan, Sines Toro communicated his intent to leave briefly without a word.
Hal watched Sines Toro fly away as he engaged a Ryutian. The months that he had spent alone with Sines Toro had honed both of their instincts until the two could act with a single intent. It was slight, but Hal had noticed a difference in Sines Toro's expression. His thoughts drifted momentarily to why Abin Sur had not confided his plans to find the Tree of Light to Sines Toro, a question that he had so far neglected to ask his first mentor.
His reflection was ended when a right cross swept past his jaw, deflected by his aura. Hal set to work, amazed that he had at one time been intimidated by the hideous spawn of the beast responsible for sending him on his new life's path. Even with the red ring, this foe was one that would fall. It might take a couple minutes of fighting, but Hal could see that he had this mindless brute outclassed.
Hal's only thought was to hurry up with this enemy in order to help Carol and Tom. As he held the alien in a vice clamp, squeezing the life out of it, Hal glanced up and saw Tom. The smaller man was moving as he always had. Hal felt a surge of pride mingled with surprise. Despite Hal's fears for his friend, Tom was handling the Ryutian like he would any drunk punk back in Taos. And in addition, Hal made out a look of- peace, contentment, wholeness, that he had not seen Tom wear in a long time.
Hal dropped his dead enemy and started over to Carol and Guy before stopping short. The two were fighting back-to-back, Guy's left hand locked in Carol's right, blasting away while their auras each covered the other. Forgetting where he was, Hal felt punched in the gut. He had arrived in the middle of something special between the lovebirds, something that meant he had truly lost Carol to Guy. Despite the carnage of the scene, all Hal wanted was a drink.
John Stewart had not been truly prepared for this. He and Paul Booker had been spending their time on Qward doing disaster relief, and unlike the others they had not run into Deathsmith cultists. Stewart, who considered himself a pacifist, had never seen real combat, and was rattled at the intensity. This alien monster was coming at him, slashing, roaring, biting without letting up for an instant. John responded with brick wall constructs, and attempted to place handcuff restraints on his enemy.
“Stewart,” Booker shouted at his new ally, “fight back! Use your eyepiece.”
Booker referenced the Qwardian technology that both men wore in order to assist their efforts. The eyepieces allowed the wearer to see the connections within and without an object or being, exposing its every weakness. Booker had been experimenting with the limits of his own piece, toying with his opponent. With a single punch he had caused a nearby building to fall on the alien, had then formed a raincloud with a fan construct and with a strategically-placed bolt from his ring sent a lightning strike down onto his foe. All of this was due to the eyepiece, and there was more to explore, yet here was Stewart, a smart man, refusing to use his new weapon correctly.
“Stewart,” Booker repeated, “hit him now! You think you're doing the right thing by refusing to fight? This is an immediate situation in which civilians are placed in imminent danger. The right thing to do is to act for their good.”
John listened to the military man's officer speak while fending off blows. What Booker said made sense. He wasn't developing horrible weapons to be used indiscriminately, he was defending a shattered populace from unspeakable horrors. The thought struck John at his deepest point. Doubt turned to resolve as he locked onto the enemy with his targeting system. Luminous threads overlaid the Ryutian's aura, revealing a thin spot. John fired, indigo light lancing through the armor and dropping monster instantly.
Images of young Qwardian children smiling, of cities being rebuilt, flooded John's perceptions. Every situation called for a choice made for the greater good, to ease the most suffering and cause the least damage. Always in conflict with his beliefs and his actions, John for once new true sense of purpose. He closed his eyes, inhaled deeply and was suffused with deep sapphire energy. Looking into the horizon he spoke.
”
Nature's fury, pestilence' blight
Befall ev'ry one, great and small
I come to help, follow my light
Indigo Lantern shines on all
”
As John recovered from his vow, Booker favored him with a rare smile. He simply said, “Helping out feels good, doesn't it?”
Booker trained his eyepiece on the fallen aliens, and noticed that the scanner even laid bare their tissue. He focused hard, zooming in deeply. In front of his eyes the alien DNA split apart, revealing its secrets to him. Paul constructed a vial and took a portion of the tissue to analyze further.
As the new Lanterns finished off their opponents, the looked to Hal, Kilowog and Tomar Re and saw that the veterans had easily dispatched their foes and had spent the last few moments watching them fight.
“Hey,” Tom called, “what's the big deal standing around?”
“We are not standing around, rookie, we are supervising,” Kilowog responded with a toothy bestial grin.
-
Sines Toro flew with purpose. He could feel himself being drawn in to his destination. It was an unwelcome feeling. Sines Toro did not follow, he led. Yet his curiosity was piqued and he could not leave without knowing the source of the summons.
“Stop, Sines Toro.”
The voice came from nowhere, and Sines Toro found his motion arrested. In front of him, materializing from a curtain of shadows, appeared a wizened old Qwardian. He wore the trappings of a Deathsmith, and Sines Toro readied a combat pose.
“We are of one purpose, you need not attack,” the Qwardian calmly chided Sines Toro. It was to no avail, as Sines Toro struck out with a golden snake construct that bit at the Qwardian.
The snake bounced harmlessly off the Qwardian, repulsed by a field of blond light. Sines Toro raised an eyebrow quizzically.
“Did you think that you were the only one? Balok the Wise also wields a Power Ring. We are of a kind, Sines Toro, and it seems that the legendary Tree of Light has chosen both of us to represent the light of fear. It is a magnificent thing, is it not? The secrets of the rings are many, together we could plumb the depths of-”
Sines Toro could see that the Qwardian was in love with the sound of its own voice. Weary of egotistical monologues given by people other than himself, Sines Toro cut in.
“We have come to put an end to your vile cult. You impose your twisted beliefs upon the universe and must be stopped.”
“We impose our beliefs upon a weak universe, one that you protect despite its unworthiness. You serve corrupt masters, Sines Toro. We, who believe that all must be unmade in order to be remade perfectly, are the true guardians of justice. Our might proves our superior way.”
“Your might? Let's just test that might, Balok,” Sines Toro snarled, deeply offended that he was being called out by a criminal. Sines Toro fired a strong beam at the mysterious cultist, catching it square in the chest. Balok flew back, pushed by the force of Sines Toro's will. Shadowed tendrils crept from behind Balok and covered him, shielding him from the ray.
When the tendrils dissolved, Balok had vanished. Sines Toro hovered in the sky, far from his comrades, reflecting on this new development as Balok's voice came one more time.
Another day, perhaps. I will call again, Sines Toro.
-
An hour later the Lanterns were gathered in the Spire of Shelter, basking in the hearty congratulations of the keeper, Blandoc. Despite the severity of the devastation around them, the Spire had become a place of merriment. A feast had been given, and various survivors of Atrocitus' rampage mingled with the Lanterns.
Hal stood alone, watching Carol conjure up playful things for a swarm of Qwardian children, working up the nerve to approach her. Funny, an interstellar cop who had face horror upon horror in the space lanes was afraid to talk to an ex-girlfriend. Whatever had passed between Carol and Guy back there had been beautiful, and it scared Hal to think that whatever those two had was deeper than anything he and Carol had ever experienced. With a deep sigh he stepped out, resolving just to see her.
“Heya, Hal,” Tom called out from nearby. He was walking swiftly to get to his old friend.
“Oh, Tom, what's up? I haven't really told you how well you all did out there today. I was worried about what I'd gotten you into, but you held your own right and especially for your first day on the job. I'm guessing that we might have to hire on a couple more deputies to pick up the slack back in Taos.”
Tom smiled wide at Hal, “You know, I really felt right out there. I haven't felt as happy since I lost Tina and the baby as I did today. It's like nothing else.”
“I'm glad to hear it, Tom. You're showing that you belong with us.”
“I belong here, Hal,” came the serious reply.
“'Scuse me?” Hal was incredulous, “Here, here? Like Qward?”
“Yeah, Hal. When I'm out there, helping people to help themselves, it feels right. I've got the power to help, and rebuilding this planet is going to take a long time. I know that you've probably got to whiz off to wherever else in a bit, but I plan to stay here until they don't need me.”
“Just like that?”
“Just like that,” Tom beamed, “it's gonna be alright. I mean to finish this and then I'll be home again.”
Both men went silent, patted each other on the back and stood their ground as the children Carol had been entertaining followed her pointing to the two men and rushed over to see what Hal and Tom could make for them.
Blandoc embraced Paul and John in a spindly, awkward hug. He exclaimed, “You've saved Qward through your actions today. We owe you a debt that can never be repaid.”
“Well, I hope not. I always collect on my debts,” Paul ribbed.
“Oh,” John interjected, “I almost forgot that you lent us these. It's so comfortable that you don't feel it.”
John peeled off his eyepiece, handing it over to Blandoc, who accepted it with both hands while bowing. With an expectant smile he held his hands out to Paul.
“Oh, come on,” Paul attempted lightheartedly, “I think you can spare one piece of equipment.”
“The technology of Qward exceeds much of the outer galaxy,” Blandoc expressed his shock, “you know all too well the effects of removing that technology from its proper place.”
Sines Toro and Kilowog were standing near. Kilowog frowned and Sines Toro stepped closely so that he was in Booker's face.
“Lanterns do not plunder, nor are we mercenaries, Booker. Return this man's property.”
“I never signed up for your organization, Toro,” Booker retorted, “I'm not under your command.”
The entire room went quiet, and Kilowog snatched at Booker's face. Booker flinched back and howled as an amber armor encased him. He pushed, expanding his protection to a large sphere.
“This is mine, I earned it and I'm keeping it. I-” Paul was overcome.
”The timid shrink from glory's glow
The one who knows what he wants is wise
Tho others fail to meet their goal
Orange Lantern's eyes are on the prize!
In a heartbeat Booker was gone, crashing through the spire and away from Qward. The others were about to give chase when John bade them wait.
“He hasn't hurt anyone,” John pleaded, “if we give chase now, that's just time that we could have spent helping someone else. I'll go find him; I'll stay in contact with our ring comms.”
Blandoc nodded his agreement and the other Lanterns relented. Stewart nodded a farewell and flew after Booker. As the moments passed they each stood, wondering what would come of their brief alliance and of the diverging paths on which it was leading each of them.