Post by liquidsword34 on Jun 30, 2013 19:53:48 GMT -5
Ultimate Green Lantern Corps #11
Bloodlines Part 1 of 4
Bloodlines Part 1 of 4
Oa's central chamber sits in stasis as its occupants engage in a stare down. On one side, the twelve Guardians of the Universe float above their bodyguards, John Stewart, Kilowog, the rock creature Hannu and Boodikka, a well built, humanoid, female Green Lantern. Across from them stand four tall, sickly yellow aliens of the species known as the Dominators, each dressed in a long purple tunic with bony six fingered hands protruding out from the sleeves. They each have a circular mark on their forehead, differing in colour. The tallest one has a red mark embedded on its forehead, and stands in front of his comrades, who possess a green, blue and yellow mark, indicating their tribe within the Dominion. The leader grins, showing off an array of slender pointy white teeth.
"Dominator's of The Dominion", one of the Guardians starts, causing the Dominators to step forward towards the Alpha Lanterns in unison as though as part of a military formation.
"You have been committing unprovoked acts of war", the next Guardian says sternly, staring down at the creatures in front of him with a look of complete indifference.
"Explain yourselves".
"It's very simple", the Dominator with the red mark, Pirot, says in a high pitched, raspy voice. "As a species we have spent centuries working on technology to wage war against our enemies, slowly working out how this universe works. My father fought the rogue titans, his father repelled a swarm of sentient blackholes, and his father helped liberate the colonies our people lost after our empire fell. We have been through more war than any other species can even dream of, and now know what we must do. We are ready to take our rightful place as the dominant species of the universe. The four tribes have agreed on this, and now it must be done for the good of the Dominion".
"You seem very up front about this".
"As though you have no fears or reservations".
"Do you not think we will stop you?", the sixth Guardian's words seem to carry a hint of threat due to how cold and emotionless they are. Pirot looks upwards and grins even wider while raising his hand to point to the Book of Oa, which is perched on a stand behind the Guardians.
"We know of your book, Guardians. And we know of the prophecy about this event".
"An old race will return to the forefront, an empire will fall...", one of the Guardian's starts, reciting a line from the book of Oa from memory.
"...and the brightest light in the universe shall be extinguished", Pirot finishes cockily. "And that power battery your Corps runs on seems rather bright to me, Guardians. Your time is over, and we have much to do", Pirot turns back to his fellow Dominators.
"Lanterns", one of the few Guardians who has yet to speak calls, "do not allow them to leave". The four lanterns spring into action, each diving at one of the members of the Dominion. Hannu is the first to strike, punching Pirot across the face with his Goliath sized hand as the Dominator raises his arms to waist height and creates a swarm of electricity running round his hands.
"The one who refuses to use his weapons?", Pirot smiles as he looks up at Hannu, completely unfazed. "Interesting". In the blink of an eye Pirot teleports behind Hannu and electrocutes him, knocking the Green lantern to the floor. "Interesting, yet futile. Through genetic modifications, years of training and science that only our most intelligent engineers understand, we have developed weapons that will make this oafs ideals extinct". Pirot looks past Hannu to see his allies fighting the Green Lanterns, using force field of electricity to repel the green light the Lanterns project. "We have little time to waste, Guardians", Pirot turns his back on the Guardians and steps over Hannu, walking past the Green Lanterns and opening a portal behind his allies. "There is much killing to be done". The Dominators back away from the Green Lanterns without even breaking a sweat, retreating through the portal back to their home world.
***
Yrra Cynril's heavy boots stomp across the dry surface of Xanshi, creating cracks in the ground under her weight. The dark orange earth is the result of a century long drought inflicted on the dwarf planet, leaving it with less than three-million inhabitants spread out amongst mostly small, reclusive tribes. Yrra is Xanshi's empress, ruling over the majority of the planet with the exception of small pockets of resistance. Her black bodysuit, clad to her muscle bound, humanoid, athletic frame is complimented by a green warrior's breastplate and bracelets. In one hand she brandishes a metal war axe at least seven feet long, dragging along the ground and cutting through the dirt. Her jet black hair curls around wildly over her tanned skin, twisted and tangled like barbed wire but as soft as silk, and a green anti-gravity belt runs around her waist.
"Isn't it beautiful?", Yrra asks her companies as they look down over a great canyon, going miles down and running as far as the eye could see. Thaal Sinestro and Hal Jordan flank the empress, with the latter being stunned into silence by the view.
"Very much so", Sinestro says without looking up, her eyes fixed on Yrra. "But the scenery is not the reason for our visit".
"No, of course not. I've worked to push out outside influences from our society, yet your corps still seems to want to push your presence on my planet. I didn't expect you to be here for pleasure".
"Yrra", Hal interjects in a frustrated manner, "we're here because the Dominators of the Dominion have been attacking planets and taking them over. Xanshi is small, unprotected and lies close enough to their last targets that you could be next. We want to help bolster your defences".
"My tribe is perfectly safe, lantern", Yrra speaks to Hal in a much harsher tone than she does Thaal. "And my name is Empress Yrra".
"Respectfully, Empress Yrra, I think you're wrong", Hal's comment makes the empress's head snap around to face him. "You have no air defences, and your technology isn't really up to scratch compared to what the Dominators have".
"I thought you taught rookies better than this, Thaal", Yrra turns away from the canyon and waves her hand out at the empty wasteland. In the blink of an eye the ground parts, revealing a sea of tents and huts sitting hundreds of feet beneath the ground. Hal can see room for hundreds of thousands of people to live, hidden away from the outside world.
"If Lantern Jordan does not wish to research our allies, maybe being made a fool of will change his mind", Sinestro chuckles as a set of steps form in front of the trio. "But, Yrra, he is right. The Dominator's won't hesitate to simply destroy your planet if they can't find anything worth keeping".
"What's to say I will let them?", Yrra draws her great axe up to her chest in a defensive position and turns to face the lanterns, brandishing her royal weapon with both hands.
"Easy, easy", Hal steps forward towards Yrra, but receives a strike across the chest with the handle of the axe. Even with his green lantern ring protecting him Hal is sent tumbling down the stairs, rolling over and landing on his feet which clutching his chest. Sinestro calmly conjures up a sword and shield with his ring as a show of force but doesn't step forward.
"Are you OK?", Sinestro calls down to Hal, who slowly stumbles up the stairs back to Sinestro and Yrra.
"Yeah", Hal walks past Yrra back over to Sinestro, not bothering to create any weapons.
"I see you wish to further encroach my planet, so what is it you want?"
"Hand over full control of your military to the Green Lantern Corps", Sinestro replies, to the surprise of Hal.
"That's not what we were instructed to do, Thaal".
"But it's what is necessary, Lantern Jordan. Clearly, the Dominators would be too much for Xanshi to handle, even with the Empress Yrra defending it. If I run the defence campaign, your planet's existence may be extended, Empress. But without my experience? The Dominion will seize control in the near future. So, what will it be?"
Yrra stands firm, but her body language becomes less hostile. Her grip on her axe loosens, and her eyes go from being wide open back to their normal state. Hal winces as he sighs in relief, his chest still in pain. "I have had good experiences with you before, Thaal", Yrra changes her stance, holding her ace in just one hand and forcing a smile. "Temporarily, I will allow you and you alone control of Xanshi's military". Sinestro extends his hand to seal the deal, but is greeted with a turned back as the empress makes her way down the stairs to her city. "But do not expect my people or I to be happy about it".
***
Xanshi is a dot off in the distance to the inhabitants of the three dozen warships which exit the warp portal, speeding along through space towards their target. Their cloaking devices hide the fleshy, purple, bulbous monstrosities from the view of any sensor of being on Xanshi, thanks to the Dominion's advanced technology. The ships silently drift towards their target as inside, the Dominators of the Dominion prepare for war.
-To Be Continued-