On the Interceptorā¦
Waking up was painful, everything sent daggers into my already aching head. I remembered, but not everything. I looked at my fellow crewmembers, who seemed to be waiting on something.
"How do you feel?" Kilowogg asked, keeping his voice low in case it might make my headache worse. Which it did, but I covered my wince of pain by rubbing my face.
"Tired Kilowogg. Which one of you figured it out?" I inquired, my own voice driving pain and memories to my brain.
"Razer did. What were you thinking? Leaving us behind? Joining up with those guys? Taking advantage of their trust to wipe them out? Something tells me that you've been taking some lessons a little too well to heart." Hal spoke out.
"I wanted answers and I got them. I know everything about this ring and some more myself now. The wiping out of those pretenders was just a final quiz." I said, sliding off the table and into a chair. Aya gave me a glass of water, which I took graciously.
"You want to explain?" Hal said, sliding into a seat across from me. Kilowogg sat next to Hal and then Razer sat next to me. At least I hadn't lost that friendship. Not that either of us would ever openly admit that we were friends.
"Sure. I'm the only true Mirror Lantern. Those guys were pretenders, part of the final test administered by the Prism. The problem with a power based in emotional potential and choice is that you can have negatives as well as positive versions of them." I started, earning everyone's look of confusion.
I sat up straighter, ready to give the lengthy speech I would need to give:
"The Mirror Lanterns were established by the Prism itself. The very first sentient being was the first Mirror Lantern because it was capable of feeling all the emotions in the spectrum. Mirror Lanterns are the protectors of Prism and the balance of powers between the parts of the emotional spectrum throughout the universe. Only one Mirror Lantern is ever chosen at a time. I can access the powers that other Mirror Lanterns had that weren't from the ring. Which is why the Central Battery is here. The Prism is this planet. Those asteroids? Yeah they're a sensory explanation of the balance of the emotional spectrum.
My memory loss is part of being a Mirror Lantern. I gave up everything I could about myself to inherit this power. It was my choice to forget." I put my head down, shame filling me. Months of wondering why and it was my own fault.
"I had no idea. But what about the no ring, no heartbeat thing?" Hal asked, trying to keep off the painful subjects.
"I don't know. All I know is that the Prism hates the fact that I have the scar on my hand." I muttered, eyes barely clearing my arms. The shock seemed to be contagious, as even Aya took an involuntary step backward.
"What's so special about the mark?" Razer asked, looking at me with sympathy.
"It wouldn't say. Only that as long I have it and the ring, my soul is bound. Whatever that means."
"So what do you remember?"
"I remember fog, and a cloaked figure handing me the ring and telling me it was time to make a choice. I guess my choice was to put on the ring."
"This must be hard for you. To find out all this. I am sorry." Razer said, honestly looking sad for me. Everyone else chose this time to go away so I decided to ask about something that was bothering me.
"I have a question for you." I replied. Razer looked at me, clearly waiting.
"Do the names Odarazor, Ventia, Oda and Razuhl mean what I think to you?" Razer getting even paler confirmed it.
"How do you know those names?" He asked, and I could hear the deadly edge in his voice.
"One of my trials involved a man named Odarazor. I think he's connected to the Prism, but it's not exactly talkative. I saw a flash of his life. He told Oda to find his Razuhl, his hope for lasting peace. I'm guessing history repeated itself in your life?" I said nonchalantly, watching as Razer folded like a sail without wind.
"It did. My grandfather had to raise me after my mother left me with him once⦠once my father died. He always called me his Razuhl. He believed that by the time I was a man, the warlords would be done. Luckily, he didn't live to see me like this. He was so against violence that he didn't even keep a weapon in our home. I've betrayed everything he taught me by joining the Red Lanterns. He would have had a fit when I married Ilana. But I know he would have gotten over it once he had some of Ilana's home cooking." Razer smiled, the memories bringing him some badly needed cheer. Why does life have to be so unfair?
"Razer," he turned to me. "I think he would have loved her and he would be proud of you now. The only thing I think he would say is that it's time to let the hate go. You don't need it and neither did your grandfather."
Like I've said before, my life sucks sometimes.
