DC Wavelengths [DCAU Plus]

[AndrewJTalon]

- - -

Prison transfers were always harrowing, even on Oa. Arisia was doing her level best not to look nervous. But despite her physical growth and her ring, she still felt very, very young and small. Especially when it came to this prisoner.

He was four times her height, built broad and strong. A humanoid, his skin was a deep red and jagged, as though made of oxidized iron. He had no nose, just two nostrils over a set of jagged teeth. His eyes were a deep black, implanted in a bald head. He stood there in his prisoner uniform, restraints tight on his wrists, silently studying her.

"... Prisoner Epsilon 20143, Atros, alias Atrocitus," she spoke in as calm and level a voice as she could manage, "you are being transferred to your new section."

Atrocitus was silent. Arisia resisted the urge to gulp. She stepped forward and held up her ring, forming a transport bubble around them.

They lifted off from the cell block entrance, flying to the designated block on the other side of the planet. The silence was suffocating, and Arisia tried her hardest not to fidget.

"You have nothing to fear from me, little Lantern," Atrocitus spoke at last, the low rumble of his deep voice nearly making her jump, "I have no reason to harm you."

"Funny, coming from someone who vowed to destroy us," Arisia shot back, proud of herself for keeping her voice steady. Atrocitus tilted his head minutely to the right. The Ring translator program suggested it was similar to a shrug, but there was so little on the Ryutians after the Manhunters...

No. No sympathizing with the prisoner.

"Destroy you personally? No," Atrocitus responded at last, slow and calm like a mountain river. "Only if you get in my way."

"I kind of have to," Arisia pointed out, as another Lantern flew overhead in a different direction. "Destroying the Guardians and Oa? What will it accomplish?"

Atrocitus rumbled softly, the Ring translating it into unpleasant laughter. "Order is made to be brought down by Chaos, until it realigns into a new Order. That is the nature of change. The nature of the universe. There is no guarantee the order the Guardians bring will last forever. Nor that it should."

"But without us, the galaxy would be a lot worse!" Arisia argued. "They have-We have done so much good...!

Atrocitus stared at her intensely, and despite herself she felt her willpower waver. Not enough to break the construct, but it flustered her deeply.

"I allow some good," Atrocitus stated, "at the cost of countless mistakes. Mistakes they hid from you. I believe most races call that 'lying'." He studied her even more intently, his keen eyes almost boring through her soul.

"What is preferable?" Atrocitus asked. "A beautiful lie where all mistakes are swept under the rug, or brutal reality where you have accurate information to change things?"

Arisia wasn't sure what was worse: That she was having a civil conversation with a notorious terrorist or that she couldn't help agreeing with him on some points.

"It wasn't lies," Arisia said defensively. "They just... Didn't tell us."

"Until it became a problem too big to ignore," Atrocitus countered. "How many Lanterns died containing the 'rogue' Manhunters? How many worlds, including my own, paid the price?"

Arisia closed her eyes tightly. Atrocitus was still speaking evenly. Hadn't raised his voice. But she could feel the pain regardless. The rage...

"...I'm sorry," she said. "It... It was before my time... I'm so sorry."

Atrocitus' eyes bore into hers, and he lifted his gauntlets. He slid a sharp object from inside of his gauntlet, and Arisia made to seize him with her will-!

He slashed the sharp object over his other palm, blood dripping from the wound. The ochre liquid dripped onto the bottom of the construct bubble, ominously loud in the tiny space.

"Dead," Atrocitus stated in a voice as hard as stone, "dead. Dead. Dead. Dead. Dead. Dead. Dead. Dead."

Arisia winced, his every word punctuated by the drips of blood.

"Can you apologize to them?' Atrocitus asked, naked grief and fury barely contained under his hard tone. "Can you apologize to every man, woman and child? All of the dead? Billions of them? Can you?'

"... No," Arisia whispered, tears at the corners of her eyes. Atrocitus turned and stared out at the stars above Oa.

"Then I cannot forgive," Atrocitus stated. He offered the shiv to her, and she contained it in a separate construct bubble before ejecting it into space. She had a feeling he had plenty more though.

Neither of them said anything else the rest of the journey to the new cell block. Arisia wasn't sure what to make of it. She did know that she had never felt more relieved to leave Oa in her life afterwards...

- - -

This is part of my fanfiction universe DCAU Plus: An AU of the DCAU with elements of the Teen Titans cartoon and the comics canon being introduced. This series focuses on what's going on in the rest of the universe, and will focus on the Green Lanterns. More to come!

 

[AndrewJTalon]

- - -

One of the Guardians must have really hated her, Arisia reflected. Why else would she be getting a guard shift in the same cell block as Atrocitus?

She understood the necessity: Sinestro had figured out how to make his own Power Rings, and his own Corps. They were calling themselves the Sinestro Corps, and the former Green Lantern had been recruiting from every corner of the galaxy. This meant Oa needed more protection, given Sinestro knew the defenses almost as well as the Guardians.

It didn't mean she had to like it. Especially with her temporary partner: Laira Otomo.

The more seasoned Lantern wasn't terrible. She was competent, and friendly, and didn't treat Arisia like a kid.

(Like a certain Earth Lantern did, hmph.)

But as they observed the communal area in the cell block, where Atrocitus was holding a meeting, she couldn't help but be slightly disturbed by how much attention Laira was paying attention to the Ryutian's words.

He was in the center of a circle of other inmates, from all across the galaxy. His deep voice was calm and even, but carried far.

"This week, we are continuing our study into will, and how it relates to other emotions," Atrocitus spoke, standing like a mountain in the midst of the smaller prisoners, "in particular, fear. This is an appropriate topic, I feel, given the emergence of the Sinestro Corps."

Arisia grimaced. The knowledge that the Yellow Lanterns were powered by fear wasn't that well known, yet a prisoner in the most secure holding facility in the galaxy knew about it? Nevertheless, she continued to listen from overhead, separated from them by the green tinged forcefield.

"Fear is a natural response to threatening stimuli," Atrocitus continued, "as natural as breathing. In most species, it pushes us into one of two decisions: Fight, or flight. Fear in higher beings can cause change: Nations band together into alliances out of fear of an outside threat. Individuals create innovations to defend themselves out of fear. Fear can bring about great changes."

Atrocitus paused, his dark eyes sweeping across his attentive audience.

"Yet fear alone is insufficient as a motivational force," Atrocitus decided. "Can anyone tell me why?"

A rotund alien, mostly face and sharp teeth, raised a stumpy arm. Arisia vaguely recalled his name: Zilius Zox.

"Because, Great Atrocitus, fear exists to be conquered," he spoke in a raspy voice. Atrocitus nodded.

"Exactly," Atrocitus rumbled. "While consumed in fear, you make yourself vulnerable. You must use your will to fight within, and without. Fear can spur you to action, but half of the fear response is always to hide, to cower. Its power is therefore limited in a true fight."

"But, Great Atrocitus," Zilius Zox asked, "is not being able to hide, to flee and survive another day, a valuable trait for some fights you cannot win?"

Atrocitus stared intensely at the little alien, and Arisia swore his eyes glowed red. Zilius grimaced, but held his ground. Finally, the huge Ryutian nodded.

"It is true, fear can be useful strategically," he stated. "But ultimately, it is a matter of control of that fear that is most important. Flee from too many battles, and you will lose the fight. Freeze and delay making too many decisions out of fear, and your enemies will overcome you. Fear is a motivator, but it is up to your will to control it. Your will must be paramount in all things."

Another alien scoffed at him.

"You're starting to sound like those Green Lanterns!" He hissed. "It's called the Book of Rage, yet all you do is preach about will!"

Atrocitus very calmly turned to stare at the alien... Then, faster than Arisia could track, he punched the alien right out of his chair and into the wall. The rest of his followers got up and scooted out of the way, as the belligerent alien got back up with a snarl. He wiped the blood from his jaws and charged.

"I'LL KILL YOU!" He screamed, his clawed fingers stretching out to seize Atrocitus. Arisia held up her ring hand, but Laira seized her wrist. Laira shook her head.

"Watch," she ordered, just as the attacking alien made contact with Atrocitus. The giant Ryutian took the hit, and just as quickly and smoothly he grabbed the alien's arms and flipped him over into the deck with a hard thud. The alien, stunned, stared up at Atrocitus. He cringed, whimpering as Atrocitus tightened his grip around his wrists.

"P-Please... D-Don't...!" The alien babbled.

"Your rage is strong," Atrocitus spoke, still as calm and even as ever, "but without control, it is useless."

"You... You're bigger than me," the alien protested, his pitch going higher. "You're stronger-!"

"And that matters not, when the prison around us is constructed of pure will," Atrocitus stated. "Your rage is not lacking, but your will is."

He released the prisoner, and then helped him up. Atrocitus looked down upon him gravely.

"Rage is power, but power is useless without the will to use it. To wield it. To know how to use it," Atrocitus continued. "If you are to master anything, you must first master yourself. So says the Book of Rage."

"I... I understand, Great Atrocitus," the alien spoke, bowing to him. Atrocitus pushed his head back up, shaking his own.

"Master your own power, and you will never bow to anyone again," he rumbled.

"Save you," the alien said, now speaking in something close to awe. Atrocitus rumbled, that unpleasant laughter from before. It made Arisia shiver.

"If you will it," Atrocitus spoke.

- - -

The session ended, and Arisia and Laira began a patrol of the interior of the cell block. This was always the riskiest part of the job: Even with their power rings. Yet the cell block seemed... Peaceful. The prisoners went about their activities: Exercising, reading, eating, or talking.

Laira's path steered them towards Atrocitus, who was sitting alone in a corner of the cell block. A number of the aliens from the session were milling about, pretending to be engrossed in their own activities... But Arisia was keen enough to recognize a protective detail when she saw one. It was Atrocitus' court, despite all appearances.

Zilius Zox spotted them, and rose to walk up in front of Atrocitus. He bore his sharp teeth, and spread his stubby arms out.

"What do you want with Great Atrocitus?" He hissed.

"It is fine, brother," Atrocitus rumbled, "let them pass."

Zilius scowled, and begrudgingly moved aside. He was seething at them, but kept it under tight control. Laira didn't appear troubled at all: Just the opposite, which was scarier than her being nervous.

"Hello Atrocitus," Laira said with a smile, floating just above the deck. Atrocitus nodded to her, the slightest hint of fondness in his eyes.

"Lantern Laira, Lantern Arisia" he returned. "Back on guard duty?"

"It was my request," Laira admitted. Arisia made a face.

"It wasn't my request," she stated icily, glaring at Atrocitus.

Atrocitus nodded slowly.

"Sinestro's new Corps has been causing problems," he spoke. Laira nodded again, looking skittish. Arisia scowled.

"How did you know that?" She demanded. Atrocitus again laughed softly.

"Please, Lantern Arisia. After being here for so many cycles, there is little I do not know," he replied. "The rage he has been causing speaks for itself. It is all too..." He trailed off briefly, his eyes fixing on hers, "familiar."

Arisia managed not to wince. Laira looked sympathetic, an expression Atrocitus waved off.

"Wars against former comrades are the worst kind," he said. "The betrayal... It burns within you. Every interaction, every moment of adulation or admiration of your former friend turned foe... It all turns to acid, burning you from the inside out."

"You're not going to be shedding any tears if Sinestro dies," Arisia pointed out. Laira shot her a warning glance, but Atrocitus again laughed.

"No. I will only regret it was not at my hand," Atrocitus stated, "a sentiment many sapients will agree with." He considered things carefully for a moment. "Then again, I suppose, in a sense... He too is a victim. A sign of the corruption of the Guardians."

"They didn't make him enslave his planet," Arisia shot back, narrowing her eyes. Atrocitus met her gaze, calm and even as ever.

"No. They merely gave him the tools needed, and failed to notice his crimes," Atrocitus spoke.

"He was a hero! He fooled them too! He fooled all of us!" Arisia protested.

"The greatest heroes require the most scrutiny," Atrocitus replied, "as admiration is the furthest thing from understanding. The image is only as good as the reality behind it." He looked over at Laira. "As Laira has found out for herself."

Arisia looked over at Laira. The purple-skinned Lantern grit her teeth, and clenched her fists. She looked down at the metal deck, trembling.

"I apologize, Laira," Atrocitus said, "I did not mean to-"

"No. It's okay," Laira said shortly. She took a deep breath and looked over at Arisia. "You know... Amon Sur? Abin Sur's son?"

Arisia winced. She hadn't heard all the details, but she knew enough...

"He's a Yellow Lantern, isn't he?" Arisia asked. Laira was silent for a moment, before she managed a nod.

"We fought over Varva. He tried to kill Ke'Haan's, my... My ex partner's family," she explained. Laira shut her eyes tightly. "I wanted to kill him... I almost did."

"And now she is on probation," Atrocitus said gently. Laira nodded, and looked up at Atrocitus. The Ryutian nodded slowly. "It is understandable, Laira. To want revenge. To destroy the wicked."

"Yes it is," Laira admitted, nodding slowly. Atrocitus reached out and grasped her hand. Laira started, and looked up. Arisia had her ring up in a second, but Laira shook her head back.

"It is natural," Atrocitus spoke softly, "to answer the pain caused to you with more pain... But never forget. Amon Sur is lost. Driven by fear and inadequacy. He is no longer his own master. Just a rabid beast trying to please Sinestro. You will destroy him, but you must not let your rage master you. Your rage will make you unstoppable... But only if you are in control."

Laira nodded, looking almost reverent.

"Yes, Atrocitus," she replied softly. Atrocitus let her go, and looked back at Arisia. She still kept her ring on him, but it didn't seem to move him at all.

"I would not want you to get in trouble," he spoke. "You should continue your patrol."

"We were just getting to that," Arisia stated, taking hold of Laira and pulling her away from Atrocitus. They got back on track, and Laira was back to looking professional. Arisia fixed her with a glare.

"What the hell was that?" She hissed to the elder Lantern. Laira shook her head.

"Atrocitus... Helped me," she said. "I just... I needed someone to talk to, and he listened."

"There are Lantern psychologists for that! Why talk to him?" Arisia whispered. Laira smiled, and shrugged.

"Because he told me to embrace what I'm feeling, instead of just suppress it or work it away," she said. She clenched her fist, and her ring glowed a bit darker. Arisia almost swore her eyes turned red, for just an instant, under the dim cell block lighting.

"He helped me, Arisia," Laira explained. "Just because he's a prisoner here doesn't make him a monster."

"He and his cell killed over twenty Green Lanterns!" Arisia insisted. Laira nodded.

"I know. I asked him about that," she explained. "He felt remorse over it. It was such a long time ago... He recognized it was wrong."

"But he still wants to kill the Guardians?!" Arisia demanded. Laira was silent, and just stared at her.

"I think, with enough time," Laira began, "he can change his mind on that too. Just locking beings away isn't the answer, Arisia." She shook her head, "we need to listen to them, too. Try to help them."

Arisia stared at her. Laira stared back. The older Lantern let out a sigh.

"Are you going to report me?" She asked. Arisia bit her lower lip.

"I... I don't know," she admitted. Laira reached out and rested a hand on Arisia's shoulder.

"All I ask is that you hear him out," she said, "then you can make your decision. Can you do that for me, Arisia? Please?"

Arisia stared back. She let out a long, soft sigh.

"... Okay," she said. "Okay... But if I report you-"

"I won't take it personally," said Laira, smiling warmly. "I just hope you realize, with the war on... We need all the help we can get."

Laira looked back over her shoulder at Atrocitus, who had not moved. Arisia followed her gaze, her eyes narrowed.

Somehow, she didn't think Atrocitus was the kind of help they needed.

- - -

 

[AndrewJTalon]

- - -

Atrocitus was kept in a Sciencell cluster with the rest of what was left of his race in Cell Block Gamma-345, a plain, white and green holding facility identical to thousands of others on Oa. The security levels were fairly low for them. They were of course allowed in general population, and they were allowed to have their cells open or closed until curfew. Even those guarding the area were at relative ease in the area: Laira was sitting in a construct chair and reading just outside the main gathering area. The other Ryutians were reading, meditating or exercising in their own cells, all perfectly placid.

None of this was reassuring to Arisia as she flew up to Atrocitus' cell, and landed gracefully on her feet.

The Ryutian was sitting in repose on his bunk, relaxing. His back was to her, but she knew he was aware of her presence. She held her ground, eyes narrowed.

Arisia still felt intimidated by the huge Ryutian, but having read all she could on him, she did feel a bit more sure footed.

"I came to ask you some questions, Atrocitus," she said.

"If you would like, Lantern Arisia," he said calmly. Arisia took a slow breath, her eyes locked on him.

"You're well informed for a prisoner," she said. "How much do you know about the Sinestro Corps?"

Atrocitus was silent for a moment, considering.

"I know about as much as you," he replied. "I'm sure you've been looking into multiple contacts and links across the galaxy."

"Yes, but I checked your file," Arisia stated. "When you and the Inversions attacked Oa, you got weapons from Qward. Which is the home base of Sinestro and his Corps."

"The Weaponeers of Qward have their own motives. Primarily to do with profit," Atrocitus replied. "That was over a hundred cycles ago. What makes you think I have any information that would be relevant?"

"Like you said. There is very little you don't know around here," she said. "You don't seem the type to neglect useful contacts like that. Especially since they gave Sinestro his first ring."

Atrocitus rumbled a bit, and her ring translated it as a vaguely amused sound.

"Other Lanterns have asked me about this before," Atrocitus said. He turned his gaze on her, his penetrating eyes probing her. "I gave them information."

"But not everything you knew," Arisia shot back. Atrocitus rumbled again, turning to face her.

"And you think you will do better than veteran Lanterns of a dozen cycles?" He asked. Arisia met his gaze, and afforded him a modest shrug.

"I want to try," she said. Atrocitus hummed.

"You always feel like you need to prove yourself, don't you Arisia?" He asked. "You're an exceptional Lantern. Did very well in your training, despite your age. You even learned how to manipulate your body form to age yourself up without genetic damage with your Ring-All to attract the attention of a fellow Lantern who saw you as a younger sibling, not a love interest." He tilted his head slightly to the right. "And now you're trying to prove yourself... To me? To the other Lanterns?"

Arisia stayed stoic, willing herself to remain calm. This was a game. But she better understood the rules now.

"Maybe I do find you... Interesting," she allowed. "Most prisoners who claim they have a big plan of revenge against the Guardians are just boasting. You though... You do have a way with beings. Even a few Lanterns at least admire you. Laira is one."

"I was a mind healer for a hundred cycles before my world was destroyed," Atrocitus replied, "as written in my file. That training doesn't go away."

"So you admit you're turning people to side with you?" Arisia countered. Atrocitus shrugged.

"There are so many beings in the universe with rage. Rage they waste on destroying themselves," he said. He looked up at the ceiling of his cell, almost wistful. "Rage is beautiful when it is used to its fullest potential. The fire that drives us forward, to conquer our enemies. To conquer ourselves. I merely show people the beauty they could have. The beauty they could be." His eyes met hers, as well. "It is a beauty you could have, as well. A power you could wield."

"We aren't talking about me," Arisia said firmly, "we're talking about what you know about Qward."

"Greedy engineers and weaponeers, all of them," Atrocitus snorted. "Selling out to whoever can provide the most profit. Why do you think they sided with Sinestro so readily? His campaign of terror will provide them with black market sales for megacycles to come, and they are now an apparatus of a new galactic empire that will cause endless conflict-Opening up endless markets for them. A winning situation for them all around." He studied her. "A far less interesting subject than you. Why do you find me interesting, Arisia?"

Arisia mentally grumbled. She was losing ground in this conversation, this game.

"Why take the time to ask me such things?" She asked. "Maybe you find me interesting, too. I checked the records, after all-You've never done anything like what you did with me during the prisoner transfer. Nothing with any of the other Lanterns."

"Careful, Lantern Arisia. I wouldn't want to sully your reputation with such salacious rumors," Atrocitus replied, almost sounding amused. Arisia was able to keep herself from blushing-It wasn't like she hadn't heard worse about her. Especially from prisoners. Even so...

"You didn't answer the question," she said. Atrocitus was silent for some time again, before he spoke.

"You did provoke a response, yes," he said. "Your sincerity. It was genuine. It was... Unexpected." He studied her in silence again. "You were disturbed by my responses. It made you question things. Like any other problem in your life, you've resolved to conquer it. That is how you became a Green Lantern in the first place: Your power of will. You seek to conquer me, and conquer your fear. Your uncertainty."

"And you admire that?" Arisia asked. Atrocitus inclined his head.

"I admire all Green Lanterns," he said. "Ultimately, true strength in this universe is determined by how much will one has. To have an unbreakable will is to be unbroken. Even a slave whose will is unbroken is mightier than his captor. You have taught me much. My rage still gives me power... But without the will to harness it, it is useless."

Atrocitus rose from his bunk, slowly, and took a few steps torwards her. He stopped just before he reached the cell door, still open. He looked down upon her, and she looked up at him.

"What enrages you, Arisia?" He asked. "What is the fire that drives you?"

"It isn't rage. It's to be the best," Arisia replied. "To live up to my family legacy. My father, my uncle, my grandfather-They all gave up their lives in service to the Corps."

Atrocitus hummed.

"And if they had died in vain? If they had died due to the Guardians' apathy?" He asked. "How would your drive change?"

Arisia was silent for a moment, holding her ground.

"I suppose a lot would change," she said. She gave him a challenging smile. "But I wouldn't believe it if you told me."

"Of course not," Atrocitus replied, looking almost amused.

"I might believe you if you told me something I didn't know about Qward and Sinestro," she stated. Atrocitus studied her for a moment, then rumbled again. This was a contemplative sound, according to her Ring translator.

"... You've seen the reports of the Sinestro Corps massing near Ragnar," Atrocitus spoke, "after they sacked Havania. You think they are going to strike Biot, your main industrial and support hub. You may have even seen reports of Sinestro himself making ready the invasion force."

Arisia knew all of this. Most of the Lanterns usually stationed on Oa had been redeployed to Biot and other neighboring systems in preparation for Sinestro's next move.

"And that's not his true target?" Arisia asked. Atrocitus shook his head.

"Sinestro... Is a grand stander," he said. "It shows in his actions, in his methodology. He is vain and prideful. When the Corps rejected him, he decided he would get his own Power Ring and start killing other Lanterns, to show his superiority. When that failed he joined with other powers, yet still focused on proving his superiority. Ultimately, his creation of his own Corps is the obvious final step." He made an angry sneer, his eyes glowing red for a moment, before he resumed his placid nature.

"He feels wronged by the Guardians. He feels he knows better than they do in all things. He feels he is smarter, and has to proclaim it. Has to prove it."

Arisia's eyes widened.

"You mean... He's going to strike Oa?!"

A truly cataclysmic boom rumbled through the cell block, making everything shake. Arisia's ring squawked.

"Battle Stations. Battle Stations. Code Green. Oa is under attack. Planetary Defenses are down. This is not a drill. Repeat, battle stations..." The automated warning went off.

"I believe he is already striking Oa," Atrocitus said calmly. "A few prisoners who escaped and were recaptured from the Sinestro Corps claimed they were interrogated for information on the Sciencells. Most likely Sinestro intends to break out the prisoners to cause chaos, then attack the Main Power Battery." He tilted his shoulders. "It is what I would do."

Arisia swore in the old tongue, and turned to fly out.

"Arisia!" Atrocitus called out. She looked back over her shoulder, glaring in impatience.

"What?!"

Atrocitus almost smiled.

"Remember your passion. Use it to stay alive."

Arisia glared back.

"What do you care?!"

"I enjoyed our conversation," he said, "and would hate to not have a chance at more in the future."

Arisia swore again, and flew as fast as she could out the cell doors. Laira was already standing guard-Good. She could handle this, she hoped...

- - -

Atrocitus watched Arisia go. He closed his eyes briefly.

It was too soon... He'd hoped to have more time. He'd had so much time already, and yet...

He would never see a better opportunity.

He strode out of his cell, and his gaze swept around the room. His fellow Ryutians came out, standing at attention: His four brothers, all that was left of their race.

"Brothers," he said. "It is time."

They stepped forward, each bringing with them their copy of The Book of Rage. All of them opened them up, and laid them on the deck. Atrocitus laid his own copy down, forming a five pointed star. All of them, in unison, slit a wound across their wrists, and let their blood onto the pages. Each book began to burn, red hot plasma boiling out like fat on a fire. Atrocitus ran his long, clawed fingers over the deck, using his blood as ink, as he drew an elaborate pentagrammic array between all five books.

Another explosion rocked the cell block, but the Ryutians held their ground. Atrocitus finished his drawing, and stepped carefully to the top of the star. Puhan, a former engineer, set a small block of hyper dense material in the center-The same material used to construct Lantern Rings. Atrocitus bent over, examined it, and nodded approvingly.

Atrocitus stood back up, and turned to face his brothers. He was silent for a time. Aleb, the tallest of the Ryutians, gazed at Atrocitus in confusion.

"Brother," he said, "the ritual?"

Atrocitus remained silent and still. Ikol, the youngest, looked concerned. Puhan, a former engineer, looked impatient.

"Brother?"

Xopull, the oldest of the Ryutians, reached out and rested a hand on Atrocitus' shoulder.

"Atrocitus," Xopull said, "there will never be a better time. We must see this through."

Atrocitus closed his eyes. Xopull shook his head.

"Better to die for a purpose, than to linger on to extinction," he said. "Do not hesitate. Not now."

Atrocitus took a deep breath. He opened his eyes, and looked each of his brothers in the eyes. He commited them to memory.

"You will never be forgotten, brothers," he swore. Xopull pulled his hand back, and nodded.

"We are ready," he said.

Atrocitus took one last deep breath... And released his rage. The very air turned red as he roared, the fury of five hundred cycles he kept under tight control at last allowed to run free.

- - -

Laira screamed in shock as a wave of energy swept over her, knocking her down. She got back up and ran to the cell door, ring charged. Another wave of red energy erupted from the cells, and she formed a construct chain and grapple to hang onto the doors. She looked inside, and her eyes widened.

Atrocitus grabbed Xopull, and tore him apart with his monstrous strength, his claws and teeth ripping him to shreds. He next pounced on Puhan, whom he disembowled then decapitated with a reckless, furious bite to his neck. He then lunged at Aleb, seizing his head and ripping it off with brute strength, tearing the rest of his body to shreds with his hideous rage! Ikol, the last, stood still as Atrocitus plunged his bloody claw right through his chest, and tore out his heart!

Atrocitus roared again, and the bodies of his brothers burned like flames. The blaze grew and grew, the heat and intensity so powerful Laira lost control and fell to the deck. She shrieked, she laughed, she felt like she was on fire and in ecstasy and agony and on fire...!

The light dimmed. The waves ceased, only an overpowering presence filled her senses. She trembled, and got her bearings. She looked up to the tread of heavy feet.

Atrocitus stood before her, holding a single book in his left hand. He was adorned in heavy red and black armor, shaped similarly to the construct suits of the Green Lanterns. His eyes glowed a blood red, and captured her gaze completely. She couldn't look away.

On his right hand, around his middle finger... Was a single red ring, crackling and burning with repressed energy.

"My child," he spoke to Laira, "you have repressed your passion, your power, for far too long."

He held out his right hand. She reached out her own ring hand, and took his. He squeezed her hand in his huge fist, and she felt fire scream through her veins!

"Warning," the Ring computer said, "invasive energy detected. Lantern Laira, enact resistance protocols."

Laira stared up at Atrocitus, gritting her teeth. He shook his huge head slowly.

"You may choose to follow them," he said, "or choose to follow your passion. It is your choice, Laira."

"Lantern Laira, enact resistance protocols," the Ring repeated.

"What do you want, Laira?"

Laira looked up at Atrocitus. The fire burned, it burned... But it felt wonderful. It sang in her blood and it promised everything she ever wanted, everything she had ever desired.

It was her choice, he said. Not an order... An offer. The Green Lanterns had never given her a choice. Now this being was giving her one.

It was freedom.

"L-L-Lanterrrrrn Lairrrrrra, en-en-en-act resistanccccce... Pro-Pro-Pro-srk," the Ring sputtered, fell silent. The burning energy swept over her body, burning away her Green Lantern uniform and replacing it with a lighter, smaller, sleeker outfit. It was made in deep reds and blacks, and allowed the excess energy she was generating to be radiated. Atrocitus let go of her hand, and she gazed in wonder at the Ring on her finger. It was now blood red, and shone beautifully in her gaze.

"Laira Otomo. You have great rage in your heart," it said. "Welcome to the Red Lantern Corps."

- - -

 

[Abhorsen]

Holy crap, this is so good. I can't wait to read more!

 

[Bear Ribs]

Will this Red Lantern Corps be one where the Red Lanterns are actually capable of thought instead of being pretty much beasts under Atrocitus' command?

I never did like them losing their sapience to the rings.

 

[AndrewJTalon]

- - -

One of the greatest benefits of Boomtube technology, Sinestro reflected, was that it was undetectable by even the most advanced sensor systems as long as the portal was small enough. This did limit the number of travelers through the Tube, but for his purposes it was enough.

He went first, emerging into a hellish fire of superheated plasma. His forcefield protected him just fine, his will keeping the fires from consuming him easily. Borialosaurus, Braach, Imecsub, Kiriazis, and Bendovian came through, using their rings to cast interlocking shields around themselves.

The Boomtube portal collapsed, and Sinestro secured his Motherbox on his belt. He motioned to his Lanterns, and they rose against the intense gravitational pull.

Even under these conditions, Sinestro would risk no radio communication. This stage of the mission had to work perfectly, and it would.

The glare from the star was still intense, even at the surface. But an application of his ring filtered out the intense light, and he looked across the gulf of space towards their target.

From this distance, it was just a slightly brighter star in the background of the heavens. But there was no mistaking Oa.

Sinestro turned and nodded to his Lanterns, who fanned out into formation with Bendovian in the center. The massive shelled creature, ancient even by the standards of the Guardians, focused his own will and fear and constructed a most unique weapon, as his fellow Lanterns poured their energy into him.

The weapon consisted of a dozen rods in a circle, each ten kilometers long, bound together by billions of threads that acted as superconducting material. Each rod had interlocking mechanisms at their bases, that adjusted the angles and relative distance between them all. Bendovian poked his head out of his shell, and formed a construct eyepiece that connected to advanced sensors in the Ring and that he himself created thanks to the boost in power from his fellows.

Sinestro for his part formed a gravitational lens, that he fit over the huge weapon. While he was more than capable of providing the necessary power for this construct, his talents were better suited for precision.

He keyed into his Ring, his own eyes covered by a sensor apparatus. He focused, and Oa itself came into view.

It was a brilliant green world, with two massive orbital rings around the south and north poles. An incredible feat of engineering and will, the rings were kept in perfect orbits through gravitational thrusters and precise computation. They also housed the vast majority of the planet's defenses, ranging from planetary scale forcefield projectors to energy cannons and sensors.

They also served as the world's main defenses when it came to natural threats, such as gamma ray bursts or coronal mass ejections.

Sinestro motioned to Bendovian, and the crab-like being pulled the trigger. The construct cannon thrummed and rumbled with power, as it channeled the incredible electromagnetic forces of the star through the huge rods. The plasma was concentrated, focused... And then released! Gigantic laser blasts, each the area of a continent, lashed out across the gulf between star and planet!

Shot after shot fired, hundreds of times a second. The flashes were so intense the other Lanterns quickly shielded their eyes or other sensory organs with thick layers of construct energy. Bendovian continued firing, unmoved by the hellish energies he was unleashing!

Sinestro kept his focus on Oa even as the equivalent of tens of thousands of fusion bombs were going off every second nearby. As expected, the planetary shields came on and concentrated on the populated areas, to protect from the incoming radiation. The faster than light sensors on Oa would have already picked up the spike in gamma rays and neutrinos and assumed a massive solar flare was incoming.

And it was. What the faster than light sensors couldn't account for though, was Sinestro giving the blasts a boost from the gignantic gravitational lens he had fitted. It formed "bubbles" of compressing and expanding spacetime ahead and behind the blasts, acting as a short lived warp drive. It didn't last very long-Only for a few moments-but it lasted just long enough for the huge laser pulses to skip across the distance.

Not in eight light minutes, as required by the laws of physics... But in seconds.

The main shield generators, energy weapon emplacements, missile launchers, and sensor grids across the Rings of Oa-They went up in massive explosions as the focused energy of the gas laser struck them! The flashes were huge, and instantaneous across their surface! Sinestro was already assessing the damage, as he had for simulated invasions of Oa in the past.

Sixty percent of the shields are down... Fifty-five percent of defensive batteries, down. Sensor grid will be blind across the western hemisphere...

The other half of the planet's defenses would still be operational. It didn't matter though.

He activated his communicator system in his Ring, and spoke loud and clear.

"Sinestro to all Lanterns: Engage."

He released his will, and his construct lens vanished. Bendovian and his fellow Lanterns released their constructs as well, and flew into formation behind him. Sinestro activated the Motherbox, and another Boomtube erupted in front of him. He plunged forward, using his Ring to suck in some of the star's plasma with him and his Lanterns as they flew through.

They emerged above one of the huge cell blocks of Oa, a pair of Green Lanterns right below them. They were firing wildly at other Boomtubes opening up in the sky above them, the rest of Sinestro's attack force flying through. This pair looked up in shock and horror as Sinestro emerged above them, and he relished in their fear for just a moment.

"Burn," he ordered, as he released the captured plasma from his Ring. The improvised solar flare erupted like a volcano, consuming both Lanterns in fire. They resisted as best they could, but the energies were so intense it was pointless-They were incinerated before they had a chance to scream. The cellblock beneath them took most of the blast, exploding into a fiery column visible for kilometers around.

Sinestro allowed himself a smirk, as the fear this display generated was absorbed by his Ring. He motioned to his Lanterns.

"Rain terror upon this world!" He bellowed. "Leave not a single Green Lantern alive!"

Cheers of his name greeted him as his Yellow Lanterns dove like flying predators upon Oa. He allowed himself a precious moment to enjoy the bedlam and chaos, before he opened a communications link.

"Karu-Sil. Arkillo. With me," he ordered. "We have business with the Guardians today..."

At long last. After decades of being a wanderer, or worse, a mercenary, Sinestro would claim his rightful title. His rightful place.

The Lord of Order of the Galaxy.

- - -

 

[AndrewJTalon]

- - -

The alarms were screaming through every speaker and even her own Ring as Arisia flew outside of the cell blocks. She almost wished she hadn't-Hundreds of Yellow Lanterns were already assaulting the surface of Oa, unleashing yellow energy blasts and constructs down onto the cell blocks and security installations throughout the area.

"Ring, scan for Green Lanterns," she ordered, as she formed an energy aura and took off into the air. The Ring complied happily, forming an arrow that pointed south. That said, she didn't really need the Ring's help. A gigantic eruption of green energy blasted up into the star filled sky like a volcano, slashing through dozens of Sinestro Corpsmen like a sword. The yellow Lanterns scattered, then regrouped into small packs and began to focus their fire on the source of the eruption. More fire left the position, joined by other Lanterns blasting away. Arisia went down low, flying through the canyons and gullies formed by the interlocking buildings, avoiding attention.

She swung around a corner and a Yellow Lantern shot up, nearly blindsiding her. He was some kind of avian, with white feathers and a short beak, over which his eyes glowed yellow. Arisia stared in disbelief as they both floated back from one another, getting some distance.

"You don't look very terrifying," she taunted. The bird honked angrily, its yellow aura intensifying as it formed a gigantic clawed maw! "Oh farzbat!"

Arisia narrowly dodged the snapping construct, and she unleashed a green blast back at the bird. It took the shot head on, and was thrown into a nearby cell block. The prisoners, already let loose by the power disruptions, began to pile on the creature as it lashed out furiously with its Ring. Arisia hesitated, wondering if she should intervene, but another massive green blast from the position south of her spurred her on. Her fellow Lanterns needed her.

She got up to the center of the resistance, an administrative building. Or at least what was left of it-It had been blasted largely into rubble, and her fellow Green Lanterns had taken to moving debris up into makeshift fortifications. At the center of it all was Kilowog-The huge Bolovaxian had formed quadruple energy cannons and was firing them at the scores of Yellow Lanterns assaulting the position, while barking orders to everyone else.

"ROMAT, GET THAT BATTERY OVER HERE!" He bellowed over the roar of his repeating cannons. "VESPER, THICKEN YOUR SHIELD! Y'ZAT, GET YOUR DAMN HEAD DOWN, YA POOZER!" He locked eyes on her as she flew up. "ARISIA! WHAT TOOK YOU?!"

"Sorry, I was-!"

"NEVERMIND!" Kilowog shouted. Arisia flew up and channeled some of her power into his constructs. Kilowog immediately made his guns much bigger, and with extensions of the constructs that resembles vacuuming tubes, he sucked up large amounts of metallic debris. The forms of the cannons changed, as Kilowog gathered all the debris into chambers he formed in his cannons. Arisia knew what was coming, and closed her eyes tightly. She also gave herself earmuffs to protect her hearing.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

The energy cannons, now transformed into coil guns, sounded like lightning and thunder from a hurricane going off at the same time! Shrapnel was blasted into the sky, screaming at thousands of kilometers a second! Dozens of Yellow Lanterns were torn to shreds, their fear and wills failing, while others formed shields or weaved around the blasts.

"They've got us divided," Kilowog shouted over the comms, which was good because the blasts from his guns would have made hearing him in the open air impossible, "scattered all over! Arisia! Go guard the Central Power Battery!"

"By myself?!" Arisia asked in disbelief. Another wave of Yellow Lanterns shot up, this group holding dozens of screaming prisoners. They threw them at the Green Lanterns! One of their Lanterns up in front immediately formed multiple chutes and other soft objects to catch the prisoners and bind them tightly. The Yellow Lanterns who had thrown the live ammo opened fire, and Kilowog had to deploy shields to keep the front line intact!

"We'll follow you!" Kilowog shouted. "Soon as we can, NOW MOVE IT POOZER!"

Arisia summoned up her courage, and shot off for the Central Power Battery. She opened a comm channel.

"Laira! Laira, can you hear me? I need help, meet me at the Central Power Battery!" She called.

Silence was the only response she received. Arisia grimaced.

"Laira?! Laira?!"

Still nothing. The icy grip of fear clenched down on her insides. Had she been killed already? Laira, the warrior princess?

What did that mean for her? For all of them?

Arisia closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and doubled her speed.

She couldn't think about that now. Not with so much riding on her.

- - -

Arisia made it to the Central Power Battery complex. After the Manhunters had tried to capture it during their set up of John Stewart, the defenses around it had been considerably increased. It was housed in a will-reinforced Nth metal construct, with dozens of defensive forcefield projectors. She couldn't see anyone else around, and her Ring detected nothing. A bubble of cautious hope swelled inside her, as she flew up to the front doors.

Had she made it first? Had Sinestro been delayed somehow?

The front doors rippled, shimmering like an illusion... Arisia instinctively willed her aura to return, and it was lucky she did. The yellow blast that erupted from the façade would have killed her instantly without it. As it was, the blast sent her flying across the courtyard, slammed into a wall of pure duranium and leaving a dent in it like it was made of tin. She collapsed onto the ground, gasping for breath, as the holographic shield dropped.

Sinestro stood there, between Arkillo, his hulking, brutish second in command, and Karu-Sil, his feral accomplice. The latter had three yellow construct dog-like beasts circling her, the ever present companions of the unhinged killer woman. Sinestro smiled wanly, almost affably.

"Arisia Rrab," he spoke. "I was hoping for Rayner or Kilowog. Not the little rookie."

"Nngh..." Arisia groaned. She glared up at him, willing herself to stand vertically. "A-A holoscreen-?"

"Courtesy of Apokalips," Sinestro said wryly. He held up his yellow ring, making it burn. It cast his reddish face in shadows, making him look even more fiendish. "You'd be amazed at how quickly the savages will sell their technology without Darkseid around."

"So you pounced on them when they were weak?" Arisia shot back, holding up her green ring in return and igniting it with power. Sinestro shrugged.

"I'm doing them a favor," he replied. "Taking worlds they were mis-managing and liberating them-Out from under the barbarian heel, they can grow prosperous, and safe."

"Under your rule!" Arisia shot back. Sinestro shook his head, looking at her in something akin to pity.

"The gnomes have grown complacent," he explained, slowly and condescendingly. "The galaxy is falling apart and they keep insisting on their weak ways. The galaxy-The universe needs order. An order I am bringing." He narrowed his eyes at her. "There's room in that order for you, Arisia. We need a Green Lantern to unseal the doors. Open the way for us, and you can join us."

"JOIN THIS!" Arisia shouted, swinging her arm and unleashing a massive energy blast!

Sinestro formed a prism-like shield, dispersing the energy around himself and his confederates. He was utterly unmoved. Arkillo chuckled gravely.

"Do I get to eat this one, Lord Sinestro?" He asked. Sinestro considered it, as Karu-Sil growled.

"Only if necessary," he decided. "Subdue her first."

Karu-Sil struck first, her three construct predators growing and lunging for Arisia. Arisia formed a muzzles that she slapped over their snapping jaws, and flew upwards. She unleashed multiple bolts of green energy onto the three Yellow Lanterns, but a shield from Sinestro deflected them all. She dove like the aerial predators on her world, forming a drill that screamed almost as loudly as she did as she thrust it for Sinestro's face!

His shield held, her drill screening against the construct face. Yellow claws and chains generated by Arkillo wrapped around her from both directions, and she expanded her aura into a bubble to try and push them away! A single blast from Sinestro's Ring rang out, and she went numb. She looked down-A thin lance of yellow energy had pierced through her shield, and through her abdomen. Her blood gushed from the wound, as the pain hit. She screamed, as the yellow constructs shifted, tightened, and wrapped around her slim form. Sinestro's lance shifted, expanding around her abdomen like a tourniquet. She panted hard, trying to resist the pain, as Arkillo and Karu-Sil leered at her.

"Now now," Sinestro said, almost soothing if not for the malice in his gaze, "can't have you dying so quickly."

He pulled her close, face to face. He studied her, as she glared hatefully back. A red haze had descended over her vision, and it burned in her blood.

"Just... Just do it!" She snarled. "Kill me, you coward!"

Sinestro chuckled.

"Such spirit! It makes me nostalgic," Sinestro said. "But no. I have no desire to kill you yet. I want Jordan to watch you die." He allowed himself a smirk. "It will be most entertaining. Hopefully as entertaining as when I killed your father."

Arisia's labored breath seized in her chest. She gaped at him. Sinestro chuckled again, and reached into his belt. He pulled out a single green ring, contained in a yellow bubble. True to its nature, the green ring was still struggling to get free-Trying to find its next wielder.

"Or did you think my exile and his disappearance being so closely linked was mere coincidence?" Sinestro asked. "Would it help to know he died valiantly? Would it sooth your pain in any way to know he died with your name on his lips?"

Hatred filled Arisia, like nothing she had ever felt before. It crackled inside her, outside of her, and her ring burned in her fury. Her aura reappeared, dark green with red lightning crackling across it. Arkillo started, and poured more power into his constructs to keep her restrained. Sinestro's eyebrows rose, and he poured more power in to hold her even tighter.

"You bastard," she snarled, her eyes burning like fires had been ignited inside both of them, "you bastard...!"

"Temper temper, little Arisia," Sinestro said, though his voice was slightly uncertain. Karu-Sil was growling, as were her constructs-Like they were facing a bigger predator than anticipated. "Now... Open the doors."

The lance inside her, the construct that had gone through her belly and was the only thing holding her together, twisted and squeezed. The pain it sent through her was like hundreds of icy daggers being thrust into her gut, and she screamed. The red and green energies intensified around her, and she struggled harder as the pain got worse and worse...!

The massive doors slowly opened, their green energy reinforcements fading. Sinestro glanced back, and then back to Arisia.

"Good girl," he spoke, a tad uncertain. Arkillo snorted, as Karu-Sil growled.

"Broke so easily," Karu-Sil said, sounding disappointed. Sinestro shrugged, and turned to the doors.

"Easy is better for us," he said. He floated for the entrance to the Central Power Battery, Arisia and his followers in tow.

A massive red fist burst from the darkness, slamming right into Sinestro's face! The leader of the Yellow Lanterns lost his concentration and his control, sent tumbling through the air like a ragdoll back across the courtyard right into the same spot Arisia had dented. The force of the punch though smashed him through the wall, leaving twisted, deformed metal in his wake. The other two Yellow Lanterns were hit in quick succession, sent flying across the courtyard to slam into the walls almost as hard. Arisia fell, caught by the same massive hands that had struck down her captors.

She looked up in shock and disbelief... At Atrocitus. At least, she thought it was Atrocitus. His nose had regrown, as had his lips, and his brows were now enlarged and extended back over his bald head-Like horns.

"How...?" She managed. Atrocitus held a hand over her wound, and she felt fire burn. She screamed in agony and surprise. The pain was massive, hot... Then faded away. Atrocitus withdrew his hand from her abdomen, and through the hole in her uniform she saw her belly was whole and intact.

"A long story for later," Atrocitus rumbled. He let her go, and she regained her aura to float. She felt so... Warm around him. So safe, despite her fear and confusion.

Laira floated up, all smiles. She was clad in red, white and black, her hair billowing as though caught in an invisible breeze. Arisia gaped at her in shock and horror.

"Laira?!"

Laira looked over at the recovering Yellow Lanterns, and formed a chain and sickle. She grinned, her teeth glowing red as she made to advance on them... But Atrocitus held out a hand.

"Atrocitus?" She asked. Atrocitus shook his huge head.

"Not now," he said. "Focus on getting our followers out of here."

"Our followers?" Arisia gasped. Laira seethed, even as she gave Atrocitus a pleading look.

"But Atrocitus-"

"Now," Atrocitus rumbled, and Laira shivered. She bowed briefly, and then shot off like a red comet into the sky.

"What did you-?!" Arisia demanded, but a yellow energy blast from Sinestro cut her off. She tried to form a shield, but her companion beat her to it. Atrocitus held out his fist, and formed a fiery, angry red shield construct. The yellow blast struggled against the shield, trying to pierce it, but it held fast. Sinestro ceased his blast, now back on his feet. He stared in shock and pain through the bloody bruise on his face.

"Atrocitus?! How?!" Sinestro bellowed. The Ryutian chuckled.

"Surprised, Sinestro?" Atrocitus asked. "Is it not written in the Book of Oa? 'When you shape the light of your ring, you walk in the footsteps of the first Lantern. You discovered a new form of light... But such was known to the Demon Lords of Ysmault. The ancestors of my race. Their blood still runs in my veins, as does their potential for accessing their power. The red light... Of rage."

Sinestro's eyes narrowed, as Karu-Sil and Arkillo flew up to his sides in support.

"Are you going to fight me with that gaudy knock off, Atrocitus? With this wisp of a girl alongside you?" Sinestro shouted.

Atrocitus chuckled. It was not a pleasant sound, but Arisia found her fear vanishing as the red warlord stepped out into the courtyard. She followed, flanking him as she ignited her green ring for battle once again.

"Fight you? No Sinestro... I'm going to kill you."

- - -

 

[AndrewJTalon]

- - -

Sinestro threw out multiple construct lances, each razor sharp and hurled at near supersonic speed. Atrocitus slammed his fist into the ground, shattering the metal into chunks he pulled up into a shell with the power of his ring. The projectiles impacted against the shell, the booms almost deafening through the protection from their Ring auras.

Karu-Sil charged forward, darting with her construct predators to get around and flank them, while Arkillo summoned up a massive energy cannon and began firing on the shell. His blasts ripped huge chunks out of it, quickly reducing the protection it offered.

Karu-Sil’s constructs roared and dug through the shell’s rubble, seeking vulnerabilities… Before the ground erupted underneath Sinestro. He ascended rapidly as a gigantic red explosion consumed the courtyard, and a crimson Atrocitus leaped at him. Sinestro formed a shield and fired off another lance. It pierced through the Ryutian’s belly as he charged at Sinestro. Sinestro smirked.

“Did you really think that ancient trick would work? You just got that ring, and I-”

The construct exploded in a massive blast, blinding Sinestro! He reared back in shock.

A green energy blast hit Sinestro from behind, as Arisia flew up out of the rubble piles. She expanded her green construct field out far, sweeping over everything. She pulled all of the dust from the debris, concentrating it, before she fired it off into a massive cloud. It obscured everything in the area for a moment before Sinestro had his ring form sensors over his eyes.

Arisia though struck in that moment, her green construct saber slashing across his back! He shielded himself just in time, but the real Atrocitus chose this moment to blast out of the dust cloud and hit him like a rail gun round.

Arkillo came to his aid, letting loose bolts of yellow energy that pinned Atrocitus down. The Red Lantern roared his rage, unleashing red blasts back. Sinestro saw that Karu-Sil had dug herself out of the rubble, and was rushing to flank Atrocitus from behind. Good. That only left-

Multiple green constructs attacked him from multiple angles, all furious looking monsters. Sinestro formed his own, yellow beasts lashing out to intercept the creatures. Four Arisias, cloaked in green energy, shot through the dust cloud and unleashed their own blasts. Sinestro formed layers of shields around himself, analyzing each construct carefully.

“Jordan tried this trick on me once,” Sinestro stated. “As I recall-”

He willed a bludgeon to shoot down from his protective shield, striking Arisia hard as she tried to attack from below. She fell to the rubble covered ground as her constructs vanished, and cried out as he fired another blast to slam her into the durasteel plating. He descended, his ring burning with repressed energy.

“Delays are unavoidable, I suppose,” Sinestro hissed, floating just above the ground and stalking towards the injured girl. “No plan survives contact with the enemy and all that.”

He lifted his ring, focusing its power. Arisia groaned, lit her ring, and flew up at him.

“Neither will you,” he finished, unleashing a killing blast right at Arisia.

- - -

Atrocitus was on the other side of the huge courtyard, trading blows with the huge Arkillo. The tusked alien was laughing in a booming voice, his fists encased in massive gauntlet-like constructs that added to his fearsome strength. He was a match for Atrocitus’ own great physical might, as every blow they exchanged made the ground around them shake.

The carnivore grinned, his feral bloodlust burning in his eyes.

“Not bad, ancient one,” Arkillo taunted, summoning an amber sickle blade and swinging it for Atrocitus’s head, “but not good enough!”

Atrocitus willed his rage, and a bloody red shield appeared just in time to parry the blow. Arkillo seamlessly shifted his construct into two punching daggers and thrust for Atrocitus’s hearts! The Red Lantern formed two spiked gauntlets, catching the punching daggers and pushing back against Arkillo. Arkillo’s grin widened just a bit, and-

Too late, Atrocitus felt jagged fangs clamp down on his ankles, and the back of his neck. He grit his sharp teeth as Karu-Sil’s constructs began to bite down harder, their mistress floating behind him. Despite her injuries, she was still willing herself forward, as Arkillo laughed wickedly.

“What good is your rage if all it does is distract you?” He taunted. Atrocitus’s mouth glowed, fiery plasma sparking from between his teeth.

“What good is fear if it does not compel you to be ALERT?!” Atrocitus roared, unleashing an eruption of red plasma right into Arkillo’s face. Unprepared, the Yellow Lantern’s aura failed to shield him and he fell back to cover his burned face, screaming. Atrocitus turned and unleashed another mouth blast at Karu-Sil, this one potent enough to annihilate one of the many buildings around the Central Power Battery complex!

Karu-Sil had barely dodged out of the way, and stared in fear and disbelief as she laid on the ground. Atrocitus grinned again, the plasma burning from his mouth now taking a more definitive shape.

“Your fear is weak. Only rage can end your opponents! You lost this battle before it began!” He bellowed, and unleashed the full might of his wrath.

The red energy erupted from his ring and his mouth, forming into a huge, monstrous maw. The construct monster roared, loud enough Karu-Sil covered her ears and whimpered. It bore down on her like a freight train, leaving her only enough time to summon her three predators to form a shield.

It wasn’t enough.

WHABOOM!

The durasteel construction around the courtyard was left as a smoking crater, the aftershocks rumbling throughout the area. Atrocitus extended his Ring’s sensors, probing for lifesigns…

Yes. His opponent still lived, her mind mostly composed of impotent anger and feral fear as she laid in the debris. Pity.

Arkillo struck him from behind with a massive energy blast, this one sending Atrocitus falling to the ground. He grunted and got up, forming a red shell around himself. Yellow energy blasts rained down upon him, and he looked up to see Arkillo firing everything he had at him.

“I WILL FEAST UPON YOUR BURNING CORPSE!” Arkillo raged. Atrocitus considered his words, then took a step forward. Then another step, and another. Slowly, calmly, even as the blasts pummeled him, he advanced. Arkillo held his ground, forming weapon after weapon and unleashing their energies upon Atrocitus!

A magnetic cannon unleashed a blast of positrons that made the air explode, and burned Atrocitus’s skin even through the aura of his ring.

Flak cannons fired off sharpened metal, pelting him with razor sharp projectiles moving well past the speed of sound.

A lightning gun unleashed millions of volts, threatening to electrocute him to death.

Yet Atrocitus never stopped his relentless pace, a mighty glacier. Arkillo’s face showed his fear, even through the burns.

“You… DIE! WHY WON’T YOU DIE?!” He bellowed, the pain he was experiencing only fueling his fear. Atrocitus decided to end this embarrassment, and launched himself forward!

His red construct blade clashed with Arkillo’s improvised gauntlets, and he let his anger flow. The constructs burned with incredible heat and energy, the yellow constructs creaking, weakening… Then giving way. Atrocitus pressed forward, his burning hands grasping Arkillo’s and squeezing hard enough to break them!

Arkillo screamed in rage and agony, as Atrocitus’ grip crushed his hands and burned his skin. The Red Lantern kicked him hard in the stomach, then head butted him.

“Pain fuels my rage!” He hissed. “Every time you strike me, I grow stronger!”

He punched Arkillo, again and again, driving the huge alien into the ruined courtyard floor. He summoned up a huge hammer, blazing red with his fury, and slammed it onto Arkillo. He smashed the monstrous alien into the rubble, again, and again and again!

He paused, long enough to note that Arkillo still lived though his breathing was labored. He glared into the Yellow Lantern’s eyes.

“Your fear grows… Yet you are no stronger!” He shook his head. “Pitiful!”

He hefted up his hammer, willing it to take the form of a mighty axe. Best he cleave him in two before he had the-

Green and yellow light erupted from across the courtyard, and he looked up. He saw Sinestro and Arisia engaged, and the Green Lantern was faltering. He considered for a moment, then let the construct fade away.

He could kill these misguided beings later. Now he had more important things to do.

- - -

Arisia summoned her willpower and fired a blast back, narrowing the beam to deflect Sinestro’s own. Sinestro, annoyed, pushed more power into the beam, and Arisia kept summoning up willpower to push back. He continued to walk towards her, his beam’s power increasing with every step.

“You thought the beast would aid you, didn’t you?” Sinestro taunted. “What is he to you? A pet? A lover?” His lip curled as Arisia struggled against his power, “or a replacement for your father?”

Arisia’s eyes burned red, and the furious energy that had propelled her began to crackle around her aura. Her beam grew stronger, but only just-Sinestro still pulled out all the stops and pushed her back. She landed on the ground, and the force pushed her down onto her knees. She kept her ring up, trying to summon more willpower, trying to fight back…

She saw Atrocitus out of the corner of her eye, across the courtyard. He made no move towards her, Arkillo’s still body lying near him. She gritted her teeth-Why wasn’t he helping her?!

He was going to leave her to die?! After saving her life?! It didn’t make any sense!

“Little Lantern,” Atrocitus’ voice spoke to her, and Arisia started before she realized it was a transmission through her Ring, “I will never abandon you… But you must win this fight yourself.”

“Are you kidding?!” Arisia shot back angrily, “this is frakking Sinestro! I’m no match for him! HELP ME!”

Atrocitus shook his head.

“You have all that you need,” he said. “I can feel your rage, your anger… Yet you resist it! You hold it back!”

Her ring arm was getting tired. Every part of her was getting tired. She could only see yellow, save for the smallest hint of green that her ring was putting out.

“Unleash your anger! Unleash your rage!” Atocitus spoke. “This man took your father from you! He means to destroy you and all you hold dear! He will take your life! ONLY YOUR HATRED CAN DESTROY HIM!”

Arisia pulled her head up, her eyes narrowing as she focused. She could see Sinestro there, smug, enjoying her fear. It would only be a few moments more before he overwhelmed her. He wasn’t even trying anything fancy-Just blasting her with Ring energy until she wore out and he annihilated her.

The red filled her vision, and she grit her teeth so hard they creaked. She grabbed hold of her wrist and held her ring up high, letting her emotions fuel her ring.

“YES!” Atrocitus cried, “TAKE THE PAIN HE HAS CAUSED, AND MAKE IT YOUR POWER!”

Fire erupted from within her depths, and Arisia let out a scream of rage. Dark green energy roared out of her ring, red lightning bolts shooting through it. It shot up through Sinestro’s blast, consuming his yellow light. He had only enough time to cry out in surprise before the energy overwhelmed him!

KABOOOOOM!

The massive explosion obscured Sinestro, and Arisia collapsed onto the ground, panting desperately for air. She shook from the exertion, fingers tightly gripping the hard metal-It felt like the entire planet was spinning, and she didn’t want to be thrown off. She groaned and managed to look up.

The smoke cleared. Sinestro floated there, covered in burns and scorch marks, his aura burning as he stared down in a mixture of rage and disbelief.

“You…!” He hissed… Then Atrocitus was above him. He didn’t even get the chance to finish-Atrocitus shot up like a missile behind him, and rammed a fist into the back of his neck. The pink skinned tyrant fell, eyes wide in surprise, and landed hard in front of her. She held up her hands to protect herself from the kicked up debris, then lowered them.

Sinestro lay in a new crater, groaning softly. Atrocitus landed next to her, and extended a large hand. Shakily, she took it, letting him pull her up to her feet.

Arisia stared at her fallen foe, and then back up at Atrocitus. Atrocitus was smiling, pride in every inch of his craggy face. She smiled back, feral and bloody.

“Your hatred has made you powerful,” he complimented. “Your anger burns brilliantly.” He let her go, and held out his hand towards Sinestro. “Now… Kill him. End his tyranny, Arisia. Avenge your father. Avenge the fallen. Together, we will forge a new order for the galaxy.”

Arisia panted hard, the burning heat flooding her veins. It hurt, and yet it was exhilarating. Already, her Ring was turning red and vibrating furiously, and her uniform was reforming in decadent scarlets and blacks.

She advanced on Sinestro, a thrill shooting through her as she saw his blood dribbling out of his mouth. She lifted her Ring, the transformation nearly complete. The heat of her aura was melting and warping the metal underneath her feet.

Just one thought. One act of will, of rage and her father would be avenged. There was so much evil in the galaxy, so much that the Guardians couldn’t stop it all. They weren’t willing to go far enough. Her rage… She had bested Sinestro, something even the great Hal Jordan, Kyle Rayner, Guy Gardner and John Stewart hadn’t managed to do.

Sinestro would only be the first. She would paint the galaxy red in vengeance, and...

Sinestro rolled onto his side in the shifting rubble, groaning in agony. A green ring dropped out of his ruined belt. Her father’s ring.

It rolled and flipped down to her feet, silent. She stared down at it, as it glowed softly. It rose, like a bird long confined now back in the open. It floated before her for a moment, a long moment.

Then it flew off into the stars above, seeking a new bearer. As her Ring had done. As they all did.

Arisia watched it go, then she looked down at Sinestro.

He was beaten and helpless, and stared up at her in naked fear. His throat was injured, he couldn’t say a word. His Ring hand had been crushed and burned, rendered useless.

She stared down at her own Ring, nearly completely consumed by red rage. Her hand shook, and she sucked in a deep, haggard breath. She looked around the ruins of the courtyard.

Fires burned in many areas, and smoke rose from cracks in the super strong metals. Buildings had been laid to waste. The greenery from a hundred worlds that had brought life to the courtyard was all ashes, floating into the atmosphere as it burned.

Arisia trembled.

“Why do you hesitate, Arisia?” Atrocitus rumbled gently. “Your moment of triumph is at hand. You just need to take it!”

“... No,” Arisia whispered. Atrocitus was silent for a moment.

“No?” He asked.

Arisia shook her head.

“I can’t… I can’t do it,” she whispered. “I can’t…”

“Yes you can,” Atrocitus said urgently. “It is within you! Just let go! Let go, and be free!”

The rage seemed to intensify, but now all it brought was agony. Arisia gritted her teeth, and slowly pulled her Ring to her face. The Red had nearly taken it all, there was nothing green left…

She closed her eyes, and willed herself to speak.

“In brightest day… In darkest night,” she began softly, “no evil shall… Escape my sight…!”

The rage began to subside, and the red retreated from her Ring and clothing as her voice grew stronger. The green light erupted from every inch of her body.

“Let those who worship evil’s might… Beware my power…!”

The energy burst, driving Atrocitus back. He regained his footing, and stared in shock as Arisia floated before him-Her uniform restored to green and white.

“GREEN LANTERN’S LIGHT!” Arisia finished, her voice strong and confident.

She hovered over the beaten Sinestro, her eyes locked onto Atrocitus.

“That’s not what this Ring chose me to do,” Arisia stated, louder now. “It’s not what I choose to do.” She turned to Atrocitus. “I won’t let my rage control me, Atrocitus. You think it gives you freedom. You think it’s set you free.”

She held her hands out, trying to encompass the ruins and destruction around them.

“What will it do to the galaxy you want to save though?” She asked. “It won’t make things better, Atrocitus. It will only make things worse. You think you can do better than the Guardians? They’re not perfect… But will this be an improvement?”

Atrocitus stared back.

“So,” he said, “this is your choice?”

He sounded… Sad. Disappointed. It hurt more than she thought it would, but she refused to back down.

“I am a Green Lantern,” she said, “like my father before me.”

Atrocitus watched her for another long, terrible moment. He nodded grimly, and his Ring began to burn.

“So be it, Little Lantern.”

- - -

 

[AndrewJTalon]

Atrocitus was so huge a being, it was easy to forget how fast he could be. In an instant he was on her, slamming a fist into her gut. Even with her protective aura, it knocked the wind out of Arisia’s lungs and left her feeling numb.

Then the pain hit, and she gaped in a silent scream.

Atrocitus gripped her by her uniform, and tossed her aside like a ragdoll. She landed in the rubble, head down, trying to get air into her lungs. She willed her ring aura into her body, and gasped loudly. She got up just in time to see Atrocitus form a giant, cruel sword and raise it up over Sinestro’s prone body.

“Nngh…!” She formed a construct arm, seizing the huge Ryutian in her grip, and threw Atrocitus with all her might! He flew off, landing in another rubble pile some meters away with a boom. His eyes narrowed and burned yellow, locked onto her as she flew in front of Sinestro. She cast a shield-Just in time, as Atrocitus unleashed a massive red plasma blast.

“You are at war! He is your enemy!” Atrocitus bellowed, advancing on her. “Why do you protect him?!”

The intensity of the blast doubled, then tripled, and Arisia formed her shield into a complex, pointed polyhedron to deflect the energy away from her. She gripped her wrist and pulled on more willpower into the ring, the heat rising around them. She chanced a glance back at Sinestro, who was struggling in the rubble pile.

“Get out of here!” She snarled. “GET OUT OF HERE!”

Sinestro stared at her in disbelief, not quite understanding the situation he was in. Arisia could barely grasp it herself. Yet the infamous commander of the Yellow Lanterns hit a small box on his belt, and a Boomtube formed. He allowed himself to be pulled in by the gravimetric pull, and vanished into the light.

“NO!”

Arisia turned back and saw Atrocitus. He had advanced on her, his energy blast never waning. Clearly though, he had seen and heard the Boomtube. His eyes burned like tiny suns, and the red plasma assaulting Arisia ceased. It instead coalesced into a gigantic clawed hand that wrapped around Arisia, growing around her shield.

She shifted into a bubble defense, but the burning red constructs squeezed around her. She grunted and focused more will, expanding her shield further. The walls held for a moment… Then shrank, smaller and smaller around her. She crouched in mid air, closing her eyes, blocking out everything but her shield and her will…!

Arisia’s world turned upside down as Atrocitus flung her across the courtyard, her shield protecting her as she barreled through the main doors to the Central Power Battery. She bounced along the ground, her construct breaking as she hit the floor right in front of the huge power reserve.

“Ungh…” She looked up at the comforting green glow. She held up her ring-She didn’t need the AI to tell her she was running low on power. She could feel it.

“In brightest-ARGGHHH!”

A red construct knife pinned her hand to the ground. Arisia screamed in agony as it burned through her hand, her blood dribbling out of the wound. Tears peeked from the corners of her eyes as she tried to will the pain away-Then Atrocitus’ foot stomped down on her hand.

“EEEYYYAAAHHH!” She screamed again, the pain icy and harsh throughout her entire body. She looked up, desperately pulling air into her lungs, as Atrocitus glared down at her in rage.

“You could have had everything,” he growled. “I would have given you anything you wanted! Yet you spared him?!”

Arisia gritted her teeth, hissing her pain through them.

“He needs… Justice… Not… An execution…!” She managed. Atrocitus seized her and pulled her up, the knife still embedded in her hand. He held her up over nothing. The Central Power Battery was on a raised platform, a seemingly bottomless pit leading down deeper into the planet below it. Only the platform that led to the Power Battery held them aloft. Arisia’s good hand grasped onto Atrocitus’ larger one, her injured hand weakly scrabbling at his wrist on the other side.

“You would defy me just to spare the life of a monster like that?!” Atrocitus roared. “I should burn you-BURN YOU WITH THE REST OF THIS PLANET! WITH THE GUARDIANS! WITH EVERYTHING!”

Arisia locked her eyes onto Atrocitus’. Her heartbeat slowed. Her pain faded. Everything seemed crystal clear to her now.

“Then do it,” she whispered. “I’m in your way… Get rid of me.”

Atrocitus glared back at her. She didn’t flinch. She didn’t cower.

“I’m in your way,” she repeated. “Do it.”

He held up his ring, burning with his fury. He charged it, the power radiating from it hot and horrible. It was bright and painful, but Arisia kept her eyes open. She wouldn’t back down-Not now. Not here.

She wondered who would get her Ring after this…?

“Atrocitus,” Laira’s voice came through on his Ring, loud and clear, “Mogo is confirmed Inbound with substantial Green Lantern reinforcements.”

Atrocitus dimmed his Ring, as his eyes stayed locked onto Arisia’s.

“Your status?” He gritted back.

"We're away with seven cruisers and ten transports; along with a number of prisoners,” Laira spoke. "Ready for hyperspace jump."

Atrocitus stared at Arisia. She stared back.

“Atrocitus? Are you there?” Laira asked. “We must go now!”

“... I will join you shortly,” Atrocitus stated. The Red Rage energy again burst from his ring, and wrapped itself around Arisia as bindings. He stalked to the doors of the Central Power Battery complex. She grunted, trying to focus her will into her Ring again as she struggled.

“I won’t be your hostage!” Arisia shouted. Atrocitus tossed her aside, and she landed hard on the floor. “OOF!”

“Hostages are for cowards,” Atrocitus said. He stared at her intently. “I have other business to attend to. Setbacks are, after all, part of life. But the goal remains the same.”

His eyes burned as he gazed upon her.

“You unlocked your potential, Little Lantern,” he said, “you know your true strength. You will embrace it, given enough time. I look forward to the day we meet again.”

Arisia glared at him, silent. He turned away from her.

“You’ll make everything worse,” she called out. “You’ll just cause more and more bloodshed, and death, and horror... You’ll just make more people like you, Atrocitus.”

Atrocitus froze for a moment, his entire body tense. He then let out a long sigh, and glanced back over his huge shoulder. His eyes no longer burned with fiery rage… Just an ancient sadness that hit her like a splash of icy cold water. A grief so deep and heartwrenching she couldn’t put it into words.

Then he spoke, in a tired voice.

“The path of life has endless twists and turns. The goal will be obscured, the path will be darkened. The future is seen not by those who make the journey… But those with the will and faith to finish it.”

He turned back, and lit up his aura to take flight.

“So sayeth the Book of Rage,” he concluded, before he shot up into the sky and vanished in a flash of red.

 

[AndrewJTalon]

The Sinestro Corps were driven off, called into retreat by their own leader. Their assaults on Biot and Mogo had failed, and the ultimate victory Sinestro had hoped for was denied. He had lost a lot of his best troops, and Mogo of course had dealt serious damage to his own mobile base: Ranxx, the Living City. The Green Lanterns, despite everything, had held and turned back the attack. They had suffered their own losses, and large numbers of rings were now travelling the galaxy to find new bearers, but the victory was theirs.

Arisia was happy about all this, of course. It was just hard to express it from the sciencell she had consigned herself to.

She stared down at the floor, sitting on the bunk. She had handed her Ring to Kilowog when she turned herself in many hours ago. She traced imaginary patterns in the hard metal with her gaze, head hung low.

After a time, she heard boots on the deck outside. She looked up, and Hal Jordan was standing in front of the cell’s forceshield. He stared at her in silence, before he shook his head. With a flash of his Ring, he passed through the forceshield and into the sciencell proper.

“Mighty strange for a heroine to have herself locked up,” he observed. Arisia sighed.

“I don’t… Feel like one,” she admitted. Hal chuckled.

“Why not?”

Arisia felt like a child again. Hal was always good at making her feel that way. She narrowed her eyes at her feet.

“I let Sinestro escape,” she said. She snorted. “Perdition’s Flame, I told him to run. To save his worthless life.”

“To prevent Atrocitus from murdering him,” Hal said gently. He sat down on the bench next to her, and she felt his body heat. It was comforting, as was the hand he rested on her shoulder. “In a situation like that, there are no good choices. Just less bad ones. You still saved the Central Power Battery from Sinestro and Atrocitus.”

“Atrocitus,” Arisia sighed, looking up at the ceiling. “Him… I don’t think I stopped him. He had better things to do than-”

“Now don’t sell yourself short,” Hal said gently, squeezing her shoulder, “I saw the recordings your Ring took. I saw from every angle. You could have joined him. You could have handed him the whole dang galaxy… But you didn’t.”

She could feel his smile. The same smile that always sent her stomachs into flip flops. Arisia shook her head again.

“I didn’t… But I still didn’t stop him,” she said. “He was called away. He had better things to do… I didn’t do anything.”

“Bullshit,” Hal snorted, and Arisia looked up at him in shock. “You fought him. You delayed him. You held out until backup arrived. More than that… I think you got to him.”

Arisia looked back down at her hands.

“For all the good it’ll do everyone he kills,” she murmured. Hal slapped her on the back, not painfully but it made her jump. “Ah! Hey!”

“None of that,” Hal stated, grasping her shoulders and turning her body so she could look him in the eyes. He trapped her with his warm, caring gaze.

“But-” She tried, and he just plowed on ahead.

“You aren’t responsible for what Atrocitus did,” he stated, slow and firm. “You aren’t responsible for Laira’s actions. You aren’t responsible for Sinestro’s choices, either. You were tempted. You had a choice. You made the right one. You saved the galaxy.”

Hal smiled at her, not in condescension but in understanding. Her heart nearly leapt into her throat as she realized he saw her not as a rookie underling… But as an equal.

A fellow soldier. It warmed her from head to toe.

“Repeat after me: ‘I saved the galaxy.’”

“I saved the galaxy,” Arisia parroted, and she felt like so much weight suddenly lifted off her shoulders. Hal could always do that. Even now.

“Now, come on,” Hal said with a smile, taking her hands in his. He stood up, and she went up onto her feet with him. “The Guardians are going to talk to us.”

“I-I see,” Arisia said, fear gripping her newborn hope in a chokehold. “I… Will you come with me?”

Hal flashed that happy grin at her again. The starstruck fangirl inside her grew, but matured.

“Wouldn’t miss it,” he said. He let go of her hands, and the forceshield dropped. He headed out and looked over his shoulder with a grin.

“Would you?”

Arisia followed him, almost happily.

- - -

The Guardian’s main citadel had been hit hard during the invasion, but it had retained enough integrity for them to hold their meetings. They had shifted to another, slightly smaller room though: Their main conference hall had taken several direct hits, and was filled with rubble.

All nine of the ancient overseers of the Green Lantern Corps were congregated in a circle, at eye level with Arisia. Yet even with them at their height, she felt small and meek.

What was worse was that they’d gathered several dozen other Green Lanterns, many standing outside the doors to listen in and watch. Even with Hal there, she felt like she was facing her execution. Even so, she stood up straight and silent, waiting for the Guardians to begin.

“Arisia Rrabb,” spoke the head Guardian, “Green Lantern of Sector 2815. We have reviewed your Ring’s files thoroughly and investigated the events that transpired yesterday. Do you have anything to say?”

Arisia didn’t look over at Hal, who she knew was smiling encouragingly at her. She took a deep breath.

“Only that… I did my best,” she said. “I did my best to honor my family. To honor the Corps. To try and make the galaxy a better place. And I accept any punishment you deem necessary.”

“Punishment?” Asked Sayd, one of the female Guardians. She looked puzzled. “What do you mean, punished?”

Arisia stared in disbelief. She tried to regain her composure, as there was a lot of murmuring behind her.

“I-I mean… I let Sinestro escape,” she stuttered. “I protected him-!”

“Which was the right thing to do,” Ganthet, the youngest of the Guardians, spoke. He gave her a small smile. “As we observed, under the circumstances, you had few good options. Allow Atrocitus to murder a criminal under your protection, or allow him to escape.”

“But-But it’s Sinestro!” Arisia insisted. “I could have ended the war-!”

“By allying with another enemy of peace?” The Head Guardian asked, almost wryly. Arisia flushed.

“Well… I mean, put it that way…”

Ganthet looked at the Head Guardian. They seemed to communicate silently for a moment, before Ganthet looked back at Arisia.

“Lantern Rrab… Arisia,” Ganthet began, “this war and your actions have demonstrated something to us. That try as we might, we have lost our connection to our Lanterns. To the galaxy we protect. We have grown complacent. You Lanterns are our sword and our shield. Yet despite all our experience, all our wisdom, Sinestro and other threats have grown in power and cunning. Power to match ours. Power to match yours.”

The Head Guardian sighed, long and low. He looked… Old and tired. True, the Guardians were millions of years old but Arisia had never thought of them as being… Old.

“We Guardians worked over millennia to control our emotions, to become objective,” he spoke, “but we went too far. We lost the impetus to change, to evolve. The Manhunters, this war and the invasion… All the result of our inflexibility. It is our failure: A failure you and many others have paid for.”

He inclined his head, as did the other Guardians, to the Lanterns. There were a few gasps and cries of disbelief. Hal and Guy Gardner stood firm, though Guy was clearly resisting the urge to smirk. He did that a lot.

“To that end,” Ganthet spoke, “we have decided to fully support you, our Green Lanterns, in this war. To push Sinestro, Atrocitus-All of them back! To defeat them!”

Ganthet floated into the center of the circle, right alongside Arisia. He held his hand up, and holograms appeared overhead. Holograms of advanced technologies and weapons.

“With the help of the finest minds in our Corps and the galaxy, we the Guardians are undertaking a massive modernization program,” Ganthet spoke, “three fruits of which will be introduced immediately. The first: The Great Green Fleet!”

Numerous holograms of advanced looking starships materialized overhead. All of them with central green-glowing cores. A wave of amazement and awe flew through the crowd as Ganthet allowed himself a confident smile.

“The Great Green Fleet starships will all be powered by Power Batteries, much like the prototype Interceptor,” Ganthet explained. “To protect you, our Lanterns, and ensure you have a power supply at all times.”

Sayd floated up onto the other side of Arisia, and the holograms shifted to multiple alien beings all receiving rings.

“The second will be the Deputization Program,” Sayd spoke, “we will modify all Rings to allow for the creation of temporary Rings for allies of the Green Lantern Corps. There are many heroes in this galaxy on other worlds who will fight against evil and fear: We trust you, our Lanterns, to choose your allies wisely.”

The Head Guardian floated out, now beside Arisia. He looked gravely upon her, and reached out his hand. He rested it on her shoulder, and she felt a surge of power!

“Finally,” the head Guardian spoke, as green constructs formed around Arisia’s body, “the greatest of our Green Lanterns are not those who work alone. No, they are the ones who work for all of us, who fight for all of us. Such Lanterns lead the fight, and lift up those who fight with them!”

The construct formed, and Arisia looked down at herself. The outfit was thicker than her usual Green Lantern Uniform: Heavier, more durable, but still form fitting and sleek. On her belt was the biggest change though: A heavy glowing buckle, emblazoned with the Green Lantern Corps symbol. The Head Guardian gestured to the belt buckle.

“These Alpha Lanterns shall carry heavier armor, and the smallest Power Batteries we have been able to create,” he explained. “They will never run out of power, and can provide recharges to other Lanterns in the thick of combat. They will lead by example, and push us onwards in the darkest night.”

Ganthet flew up to the top of the room, to ensure every Lantern heard him. He looked at them with a bright smile.

“No matter how long the road! No matter how dark the night! We will fight on until victory! Victory at all costs, victory in spite of all terror! For without victory, there is no survival! There is no freedom! THERE IS NO DAWN!”

There were cheers and claps. Then Ganthet pushed it over the top as he threw his fist into the air.

“BRING US THE DAWN! GREEN LANTERN’S LIGHT!” He shouted.

Every Lantern in there, Arisia included, thrust their Rings skyward and let them glow.

“GREEN LANTERN’S LIGHT! GREEN LANTERN’S LIGHT! GREEN LANTERN’S LIGHT!”

Arisia no longer restrained her grin. Her ring glowed, as though happy to be with her again.

Everything would be all right.

All they needed was time.

- - -

 

[AndrewJTalon]

Two Earth Months Later…

Kanto was Darkseid’s assassin and the best killer of his forces. It had therefore been logical for him to take his place on the throne of Apokalips after the Justice League of Earth had slain him. Steppenwolf had died, after all, and without any other contenders there was only Kanto.

He deserved to win it.

The rest of Darkseid’s elites had betrayed him though. Betrayed, in Kanto's mind, the memory of Mighty Darkseid. Their forces had driven Apokalips into a savage civil war, with no end in sight. The empire had fallen apart into endless conflict, and vultures in the forms of the Reach and the Yellow Lanterns had begun to take advantage.

Ultimately, it mattered little, Kanto reflected as he looked down upon the world his forces were converging on. His skill in battle would tell, and he would conquer it all. Pull it all under his rule. As Darkseid would have wanted.

The planet in question was named Ho’mahr. It was rich in natural resources, green and blue from orbit, and they had extensive mining and fuel refining infrastructure around their sun and their gas giants. They would have been conquered sooner, but the Green Lanterns had put up an incredible defense against their incursions.

That had been before the Sinestro Corps had emerged. Now the Green Lanterns were occupied. So much the better for them.

“Their planetary defenses have opened fire, my lord,” one of his sensor operators said. The main screen showed their first wave of attack ships receiving laser and particle beam fire from several satellites. Kanto snorted in contempt.

“Blast through them,” he ordered, flipping his neatly coifed hair out of his face. “Mass drivers, fire!”

The huge electromagnetic/gravimetric coils mounted beneath each of his heavy capital ships launched multiple small asteroids taken from the system’s own belt. Accelerated to ten percent of the speed of light, these clouds of projectiles tore through the defensive satellites like they were made of dried skin.

In mere moments, the planet was defenseless and already some of the larger pieces of ammo were headed for the surface.

“Target the major cities,” Kanto ordered. “Begin bombardment on my command!”

The mass drivers began to charge up again, this time bringing forth much larger asteroids. These would hit the planet at slower speeds, but be no less devastating. The entire ecosystem would collapse, and millions of unnecessary inhabitants would be obliterated.

It would make the occupation and re-education of the survivors much easier.

The sensor operator stood straighter in his chair, his entire body part of the elaborate interface.

“My lord, the asteroids are being intercepted,” he spoke. Kanto shook his head.

“Any ground based batteries will be obliterated-”

“No my lord, they are being intercepted from space,” the sensor operator warned. Canto snorted, glaring at the screen as he stood up and strutted up to the viewscreen.

“Show me!” He ordered. A section of the viewscreen expanded, focused on the line of night moving over the world. Three red stars appeared, glowing brightly.

“Lock on with the main battery,” Kanto ordered, waving his arm commandingly. “Begin bombardment-!”

The entire ship shook violently, and alarm klaxons began to scream. The bridge went dark, dull red emergency lighting casting everything into deep, dark shadow. The ship shook again, and Kanto barely kept his footing.

“Sensors! Report!” He ordered.

“Unusual energy signatures detected in the asteroids, my lord,” the sensor operator said. “Similar to a Green Lantern’s.”

“Similar?!” Kanto demanded. The rumbling got worse. He felt every impact-Felt metal being torn and smashed from within his ship. He turned to the main entrance to the bridge. “Intruders! Parademons, troops, with me!”

The barely sapient monsters and his elite warriors roared in agreement, and followed Kanto as he ran through the long corridor at the center of the ship’s superstructure. They just got to the next section’s hatch, when even that lighting abruptly died. Only the glow from the bridge’s instrumentation gave them any light to work with. The rumbles ceased, but the sounds of metal groaning continued.

Kanto looked out into the inky abyss of the corridor, hand upon his elegant sword as the Parademons chattered nervously behind him. A floorplate creaked. A pipe dripped. His breath was hot and loud in the sudden silence.

A feline… Meowed softly.

Then… Red light burst forth. A huge blade of burning red fire illuminated the corridor. A gigantic being in red and black armor stood there, as tall and imposing as Darkseid. His yellow eyes burned in rage.

“OPEN FIRE!” Kanto bellowed, and his men and parademons unleashed energy blasts from their guns and tridents. The sword became a translucent shield, and the demonic monster strode forward. Their shots bounced off the shield, many ricocheting back and lancing his troops in the chest. Three Parademons roared and charged, their razor sharp talons aching for blood.

The demon’s shield became a cruel, curved blade and he swung it, slashing them to ribbons before transforming it back into a shield. A small crimson monster shrieked and shot forth among his men, and they screamed as every pass of the creature left them in pieces.

Kanto charged forward with his sword, swinging it with all his might! The tall demon merely pulled his fist back, and punched him.

Kanto flew backwards, the screams of his men following him, as he smashed through his command chair. He wretched his head up, forcing his eyes to focus as the crimson beasts smashed through the blast doors to the bridge.

The tall monster was just as fearsome as he had seen him in the dark-Cruel eyes still glowing. At his side was a blue feline in red and black armor, a crimson ring around its tail. The feline hissed at him, floating alongside the mighty red monster.

“Who… What are you?!” Kanto demanded as his fine, ruined clothes were turned red from his blood.

The red man formed a blade from his Ring, and thrust it through Canto's gut! The pain burned through him, ripping a scream from the assassin's mouth!

“I am vengeance,” the red man stated. “The blood of your victims called out to me… And this? Is my answer.”

The feline screamed, unleashing a massive red blast of energy. It ripped through the sensor operators, the hull, like a knife through butter! The bridge was opened to space, and Canto was yanked out into the abyss!

While stronger than many races, even a New God could not survive in a vacuum for long. Especially not with the fiery energy consuming him from the inside!

Yet Canto lived long enough to see the remains of his fleet.

Dozens of beings, wielding red energy, slashed and burned through his fleet. Casting his men out into the vacuum and burning them with savage delight. His forces, among the mightiest of the Apokaliptian warlords… Reduced to nothing in minutes.

Darkseid, Canto reflected as his consciousness faded, would have been impressed.

- - -

Atrocitus looked over the remains of the Apokaliptian fleet with satisfaction. Dex-Starr, his newest recruit, was perched on his shoulder and nestled against his neck. The feline had saved blood from some of his victims, and was licking it up eagerly.

The small creature’s rage was still amazing to behold. One pure, unfettered. One of their first recruits after he had sent out his newly formed Red Rings into the galaxy from their base on Ismault.

A lot had happened since the escape. So much more was to come.

“Atrocitus, this is Razer,” a young male voice spoke from his Ring, “we have recovered captives from the warships.”

“Take those who wish to leave down to Ho’mahr,” Atrocitus ordered. “Those who wish to join, bring them aboard our ships.”

“Yes sir,” the young Red Lantern said crisply. He could sense the hesitation before the Red Lantern spoke again. “What of the remaining Apokaliptians?”

Atrocitus’ eyes burned. He clenched his fists. Dex-Starr hissed eagerly, already thirsty for more blood. He lifted his ring to give the command…

The faded burns on his hand from fighting Arisia stood out to him in the fearsome red light. He paused.

“... Give them to Ho’mahr as well,” he said.

“Sir?” Razer asked.

“We will let them deal with these would be conquerors, as they see fit,” Atrocitus ordered. “We have much to do. So much to do.”

“As you command, sir,” Razer replied crisply.

Atrocitus looked out over the stars, his Red Lanterns still mopping up any resistance. Dex-Starr hissed, but was appeased when Atrocitus stroked his fur. His Corps was young but strong. Already there were hundreds of members, even more joining them every day. The war against Sinestro had only begun, and there were hundreds of other worlds demanding vengeance.

He would not be like Sinestro and attack the Guardians out of ego. He would be patient. He would grow his forces. He would become a force to be reckoned with across the stars.

Then… he would show Arisia. Show them all.

All he needed was time.

- - -