Scorched Earth
The asteroid was empty, rocky and a complete pain to be on. There was nothing but stars to look at, too. Overall not the best job he'd ever taken but still – it paid well enough and it wasn't really a lot of work, so why not? All he had to do was set up some propulsion systems to move the asteroid to where it needed to be. They probably just needed to mine it out for metals or something. People got crazier and crazier as they developed, always on the lookout for more of nature's resorces to exploit. It didn't matter to him none, though. He just moved things.
"'Ey! Proji! Quit nappin' and get movin'!"
Sometimes he had to discipline his workers. They always tended to get lazy like that.
"Y-yes, Foreman Belix! N-no whip! No whip!" begged the worker in return. It was a small orange thing. He didn't care about the species, just that it was cheap labor and couldn't read contracts. So, yes, he was a bit of a tyrant when it came to his job, but he slept easy at night knowing that his service of moving asteroids was what gave planets the resources needed to continue standing, thus forwarding progress. The need to keep his workers effectively enslaved was regrettable, but necessary…not to mention profitable for him and his company.
He didn't know much about the job, except that he needed to move the rock to Taloa. He was contracted by some company called RL Corp. Sounded like a stupid name to him, but they paid well and had all the credentials (which he may or may not have skimmed over when their representative showed him the credits). So they'd take the asteroid, mine it, and then maybe even hire him again to get rid of the excess bits from the carcass. He never really thought that far ahead, though, as he was more of a 'take the jobs as they come' kind of guy.
The deal was a bit different from the ones that he usually took. They paid extra and in cash, to boot. He took it because it meant it wouldn't appear on the records meaning he'd skip taxes, plus he could keep it all for himself. The former was a major point of insistence for them, though. Almost as if they didn't want any connection to the deal. The representative fixated on the fact that they mustn't be connected in anyway, and boy was she an odd one. Blue skin, black skeletal wings and a very revealing red outfit he spent much of their interaction admiring. He didn't get a name from her, much to his dismay, and she seemed to have a temper so maybe it's for the best.
"I don't recall paying ya to move slow, Proji! Do you want me to cut your pay again?"
"N-n-no, Foreman Belix! I work fast! I work fast!"
"Then get working! We need to get that asteroid to Taloa right-pronto!"
It was another request on their part. RL chose him out of all other companies because they found him trustworthy! The extra payment was just to make sure he moved the rock at exactly the right time interval. He didn't know what made things so urgent for them, but when credits had that many zeroes he didn't really find himself to be the talkative sort. It had to be at a specific hour of a specific day, no exceptions. They probably just needed it for a very urgent science project or something.
The truth of the matter was a lot more sinister. He was chosen because he was a buffoon, and a greedy one at that. He'd take their money and nod his head, but when people came to ask questions he wouldn't have anything to show them. Not a camera recording, not a document…not even witnesses. All they needed was his equipment and nothing more. The attack would get blamed on terrorists trying to disrupt the economy, and "RL Corp" would get a new recruit out of it. Everyone wins.
Belix watched the mangy alien finish up the circuitry in the panel. Now the asteroid would be able to move properly and controllably. Leaning backwards in his chair, the foreman reached up to scratch an itch only to remember he was wearing a spacesuit. He hated these damned vacuum jobs. Normally he had the time to set up protective spheres so they could work in their jumpsuits, but the time limit wouldn't allow it. Now he had to put up with a whining worker and unbearable (a slightly heavy suit) conditions!
"All done, Foreman!" shouted the alien happily, knowing he was off work for at least another few hours.
"Good. Now you can get to cleaning my ship. I want it spotless!"
"Oh…Yes, Foreman…"
Belix rose from his seat and made his way over the thruster. It was a standard process – the ship carries it over, sets it down on the asteroid, a ground crew secures it and then inputs the necessary commands. This asteroid was much, much smaller than the ones he normally worked on. Those could reach up to 30 kilometers in length, but this one didn't even touch a fraction of that. Maybe it had some hidden property their scientists were interested in. He'd wager something like that would be valuable to someone, somewhere…
But this wasn't the time to get greedy! He'd been burned on more than one occasion for trying to run off with a mineral rich asteroid, and he's since learned to operate on the policy of "a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush". The holographic display lit up brightly and he got to work typing in the necessary coordinates – right above the Shine on the planet Taloa. They'd wait in orbit for a team from RL Corp. to pick them up and take it off their hands. That was the plan, at least. He activated the thruster and watched as it lit up brightly, propelling them at a rather fast pace to their destination. Now they just had to wait till they got there.
On the other side of the tiny asteroid, Proji was making his way back to the ship. He was not happy about this at all…he was ecstatic! At last he'd see the death of the vicious owner he was tricked into serving, and it would happen right under his nose! He made his way to the cockpit and opened up a communications channel to contact the RL representative. Belix was a fool to think they actually required his useless services when they had someone much more capable and ready to serve right next to him.
Before long the face of the aforementioned woman appeared on the screen and she didn't seem pleased at all.
"What is it?" she asks, already lashing out at him with an aggressive tone.
"Mistress…" he begins, trying to butter her up, "The device is set and primed, ready to be activated on your command."
"Excellent work. Further orders will be given once you reach the planet."
"I will be waiting. But what about Belix?"
"Leave him. I want everything to operate normally until the next phase of the plan."
This news made Proji a bit unhappy. It meant he'd have to play the part of tedious slave even longer. Taking a deep breath, he figures that their professional relationship had gotten to the point where he could be included in some of the higher functions of the plan. Till now he'd been kept in the dark almost completely, but they did promise that he would not only keep the money given to Belix, but they'd also set him up on his home planet with a comfortable life. Just like the foreman, he was too greedy to ask questions.
"I…I think I'd like to know a bit more about the plan. What's on this asteroid that you need?...And what was the device you asked me to put in the thruster?"
It took every ounce of self control in her body to stop herself from lashing out at him, destroying him verbally in ways that would make even Belix the tyrannical slave driver blush and look away in shame. Who did this scum think he was? Asking questions like he actually mattered in the slightest degree to anything? This was why she hated dealing with people. They had to be stupid and pretentious every single time. Why couldn't the sphere handle this mission? He loved blabbering endlessly!
"I'm…afraid that we can't disclose that yet," she replies, trying to uphold the thin veil of professionalism, "Understand that it's for your own protection."
"But I…I…Yes, very well. I understand."
"You have your orders, Proji, and you carried them out. Once we reach Taloa, everyone will get exactly what they wanted from this."
With a firm nod, he closed the communication and got to sweeping the floors. She said everything had to operate normally and the last order he got was to clean the ship. It'd be difficult to concentrate with how giddy he was feeling, but in the end he knew it'd be worth it. An hour or two more and they'd reach the planet, RL would deliver their dues and he'd be free of a life of servitude forever. He just needed more time…
Back on Belix's end, he finished inputting the commands and returned to the ship, treading lightly on the barren ground of the asteroid. It was moving at a decent pace, and they were relatively close to Taloa anyway. The asteroid belt was frequently used for things like this, but the asteroids themselves were usually kept at the belt to be used by the colonies. To take it back to the planetary capital was…strange. He'd already chalked it up to scientific needs, though, so there wasn't much point in debating it further. He climbed up the ramp and took a seat, desperately in need of a good rest after a long day of shouting at Proji to get working.
Time passed slowly, but even they had to reach their destination eventually. They couldn't go too fast or else they would be at risk of rendering the asteroid uncontrollable, possibly even crashing into the planet. As such, a relative snail's pace was used to get them from the farther edges of the Aetis system to its habitable zone. It was once they were finally nearing orbit that Belix went to turn off the thruster. Taloa was about the size of Earth – maybe a bit bigger –with most of it arid yet fertile. It wasn't the best place to live, but it was alive and virtually every building had cooling built into it. Even its architecture – the incredibly tall towers – lent to their efforts of staying cold.
…And it would all come crashing down soon enough. The Shine was reaching its final moments, as unbeknownst to both Belix and Proji, the small gray box planted deep inside the thruster activated and began broadcasting its signal. The ship's engines, life support, transmitters, scanners and communication disabled entirely, and Belix, who was there scratching his head as to why he was unable to shut off the propeller, now looked in horror as the controls jammed and remained unresponsive. He opened up his communicator to call the ship and tell Proji to pull the plug, but it wasn't answering! He had to get there ASAP and shut everything down or else millions of people – as well as his chance at getting paid – would die in a fiery explosion!
"No, no, no, this isn't good. Thiiis isn't goooood!" he thinks to himself in panic, desperately looking through the controls before hauling rear-end and running as fast as he could back to the ship. There he was presented with a new obstacle.
The hatch was closed. The hatch was closed! There was no use trying to yell in space, and pound away as he might at the door, it still wouldn't open. Inside the vessel, his alien servant was trying to get the systems online. He heard the dreaded crackling of electricity and knew what had happened – he'd been betrayed! That blue bitch lied to him! All their promises…and he believed them! Millions were going to die and it would be entirely his fault. There was no more use in trying to get things working as "RL Corp.", assuming that's even who they really were, were thorough in their sabotage and subterfuge. His greed will have laid waste to everyone and everything in that city, and he knew he'd be paying for it in either this life or the next. All he could do now was sit there and wait for the inevitable. It was all he could do now...
Luckily for the planet, however, the asteroid was both small and slow moving meaning its momentum was quite frankly much, much smaller than what it could have been. It wouldn't destroy the environment, shift the climate or otherwise cause any truly devastating long term destruction. The capital was forgone, however, along with anyone living there. Inch by inch the meteor descended onto the hopeless Shine, its people screaming in terror, but not moving. They knew there would be no point and they'd accepted the inevitable. In a bright flash of light, the shockwaves annihilated everything in the blink of an eye, shattering spires, toppling buildings, crushing the people with rubble or burning them to a char instantly. All the while an innocent financial advisor was peacefully sleeping aboard a cargo transport, eagerly waiting to return home to his wife. Hours passed and rescuers were slow, with survivors numbering only in the double digits. They were the last remnants of a city that once housed tens of millions. To call the destruction 'thorough' would be an understatement. It was utterly and irrevocably complete.
Scouring the wreckage of the city, topping over the rocks and climbing over the twisted metal, the grotesque image of a warped city, once proud and beautiful, now reduced to a wasteland made itself clear. Shal'ai was rushing back to where he believed his house was, but truth be told he couldn't recognize anything. It was a futile effort and he knew there was no point to it at all. The chances of him being caught looting or 'interfering with operations' were slim to none, because no doubt everyone was doing it. The navy had blockaded the planet to prevent any would-be pirates or raiders from trying to take advantage of the chaos, but as for order on the ground…there was little. He was glad the planet would survive, but could he? Could he move on from having his entire life's slate wiped clean so brutally? He didn't know. He couldn't know. Not yet.
"Eletae! Eletae!" he shouted in vain after his wife, "Krav'ai? Faela?" Perhaps his children would hear him. Perhaps they'd come running from behind a rock and tell him everything was alright. His wife would be in a shelter and they'd be reunited, and then they'd move to one of the colonies and forge a new living as peaceful farmers, away from the big city and death and destruction. It was a lie, though. There was nothing here but heat and wreckage with the sun burning brightly on him. The red rays beat down on the planet mercilessly every day, but his people survived it and flourished.
Maybe this was just another test of endurance…To see his strength of character. If it was, then he'd failed it. He failed it miserably. What he couldn't understand, however, was why. Why would anyone do this? What possible 'greater good' would anyone aspire to serve if it involved slaughtering over twenty million innocent people? Was it to prove a point? Was it to teach everyone the folly of placing their faith in money for some ideological cause? Or was it just a sick move made by madmen, eager to revel in the suffering of others? Regardless of what it was, there existed a much more sinister connotation to all this.
He wasn't the most active or pious of followers, but he still subscribed to his people's beliefs. Aetis, the Sun Mistress, was head of the Pantheon and traditional defender of his planet. Would any higher power sit by and let this happen? He didn't want to believe it, but the evidence spoke for itself.
"You were supposed to protect us!" he shouts to the sun in defiance, unsure of what he was even saying. "We looked to you for guidance, venerated you, even worshipped you…and this is our repayment?!"
No answer. Only the blistering heat. A single tear slid down his cheek as it all finally set in firmly. His family was dead, his life had collapsed and this planet…it could never be his home again.
"YOU LIED TO ME!" he screamed, now breaking into full sobs, wallowing in the destruction. But from his sadness came a new emotion – rage. He was a simple man, never a threat to anyone. But made it a vow that he would find those responsible and wipe them from the face of the galaxy, only after making sure they lived to witness every horror imaginable and more. There would be no rest, no penance, no quarter given, no mercy shown. He would live to become the instrument of vengeance for his people.
"I'LL KILL THEM ALL!" he shouts once again, fingers gripping tightly into the sand and gravel beneath him. Woe be to anyone who stood in his way. He would scour the universe, pursue every lead, kill anyone who came in his way. He'd…wait. Something was wrong. In his seething and sobbing, he seemed to have missed the object looking over him, hovering in the air and watching silently. He stood up and dusted himself, taking a few steps closer. It was…a ring? Redder than blood and glowing like the sun.
"Shal'ai of the Forgotten Zone…" it says, identifying him. Its voice was deep, menacing almost, but also…caring? It seemed to sympathize with him in a way. "You have great rage in your heart. You belong to the Red Lantern Corps…Give in…The Ring knows your pain."
He…he didn't know what to do now. Nothing the ring told him made any sense, but it didn't need to. Ever since he left the space station, so proud of himself for sealing a petty and meaningless deal, he'd felt different. Something was off. He was used to knowing all the facts before doing anything, being sure of every possible outcome and knowing exactly how to handle every situation. Not this time. And he didn't care. Just once in his life, especially now that he was effectively starting anew, he'd like to do something on a limb to see where it takes him.
"I must find those responsible for this…" he says, making a sweeping hand motion to the destruction, "And kill them all…Can you…Can you help me?"
The ring seemed to already know what he was about to ask, because it was quick to answer. "You will have your revenge. This your new master, Atrocitus, promises."
The ring moved onto his finger, firmly attaching itself almost as if it was specifically crafted for his personal use. A beam of red light exited the insignia carved upon it and made its way to his mouth, drizzling down his throat and into his stomach. It burned like all hell, but he could take it. Bending forward and gripping his stomach, he closed his eyes in an attempt to contain the fiery pain that was now spreading all across the entirety of his body. When he felt it was over, he leaned back and delivered a bloodcurdling scream louder than he even thought possible. The pain was welcome, though. His family felt it. His people felt it. Why shouldn't he feel it, too? The light engulfed him entirely. His attire, once consisting of average black formal attire, now shifted to what he could only describe as a sort of…advanced military battle suit, complete with a red and black paint scheme and crest of the Red Lanterns on his chest.
Taloa had nothing left to offer him and the ring functioned automatically, lifting him to the heavens, breaking through the atmosphere and making its way back to Shard with him following closely behind. It was, frankly, terrifying but he was much too angry to be scared. It seemed like the ring functioned as a sort of enhancer – absorbing his rage and dishing it back out tenfold. His destination was a mystery, but if he had to guess, it was going to take him to his supposed 'new master', this 'Atrocitus' fellow. His name sounded unpleasant, but if he was going to help him find those responsible for his family's death then he'd be able to put up with some minor discrepancies.
It wasn't long before a miniature black city came into view, pulsing with red outlines. This was to be his new home. A headquarters, of sorts, from which he would aid the Red Lanterns in their quest for vengeance. He would help them only if they helped him in return. Time would tell what would happen to him, but for now…he was happy to at least have a place to call his home.
Author's Note: Chapter 2 finished. I hope I won't catch any flak for basically reusing the speech the ring gave Razer in "Razer's Edge", but I figured that if he went out of his way to shape Razer's life and ensure he would become a Red Lantern, then he'd do the same to most, if not all his recruits. As such, he'll have had plenty of experience in manipulation to the point where he could literally use the same message each time and have the desired effect. Next we'll follow his formal introduction and I was thinking about a timeskip after that. The details aren't set in stone, so stay tuned! As always, feedback is highly welcomed!
