Wavelength
A DCAU fanfiction by Andrew Joshua Talon
Before Sinestro had begun his work with the Qwardians, their homeworld's surface was desolate and bare. They had moved most of their weapons manufacturing beneath the surface, after repeated orbital bombardments over the millenia.
Being weaponeers, the Qwardians had suffered dissatisfied customers taking their rage out on them. It was a sensible policy, if you didn't care about appearances.
Sinestro though understood appearances and politics. So he had built Sinestro Base: A city on the surface, protected by numerous weapons emplacements and shield generators. It gave the Qwardians a place to do business in Sinestro's growing empire, so they didn't complain.
The architecture was simple and elegant: A circular perimeter, with radial sections concentrating in a single, tall tower that reached for the sky with claw-like weapons emplacements at the top. Here Sinestro held court, in a massive assembly room.
High above in the night sky, Ranxx orbited like a gigantic eye staring down upon them.
Sinestro's troops were gathered in the room, a great deal of grumbling and resentment floating upwards. Sinestro stood above them on a raised platform, Lyssa Drak on one side and the recovering Arkillo on the other. Karu-Sil was still recovering in the medical bay.
Lyssa carried a black box, ancient in its construction but clearly advanced technology. She did not look keen on holding it though, as her grimace revealed.
Not that Sinestro cared. They had bigger problems to resolve.
Sinestro walked up to the edge of the platform, and he tuned his Ring to project fear. All of the other Sinestro Corps rings responded, and all eyes and other senses were locked onto him. Sinestro looked around at his Corps, his expression deadly.
"Our operation achieved a few successes," Sinestro began, "with the large contingent of prisoners we liberated to add to our forces. Our losses were minimal-Mostly our mercenaries."
"Mighty Sinestro," Tri-Eye hissed, "we failed to achieve ultimate victory!"
Sinestro fixed his deadly glare onto Tri-Eye. The Triaxian trembled, but was able to resist Sinestro's power to glare back defiantly. A number of other Corps members stood with him, all looking up at Sinestro with accusatory expressions.
"Moreover," Tri-Eye managed, without a stutter, "you were defeated by... By a mere girl!"
Sinestro's glare continued.
"Your point, Tri-Eye?" Sinestro asked coldly, his voice unwavering. Tri-Eye trembled, but held his ground.
"Well... Why should we follow you, then, if you were defeated so easily?!"
Sinestro was silent. He then flared his aura, and flew down in front of Tri-Eye. He landed in front of the Triaxian, and Tri-Eye bared his teeth.
Sinestro then reached for his ring... And removed it. He dropped it on the floor in front of everyone. There was confused silence, as Tri-Eye looked down at the ring and then back at Sinestro. The violet skinned tyrant stood, expectantly.
"Well? What are you waiting for?" Sinestro asked.
"I... I don't understand, Sinestro," Tri-Eye said.
"You are challenging my authority, are you not?" Sinestro explained, as though to a child, "you think you could do better? Go ahead. Remove me."
Tri-Eye's eyes all widened spectacularly. He shook his head, glancing everywhere in disbelief. He looked up at Arkillo and Lyssa, who were watching in fascinated horror and confusion. He looked back at Sinestro.
"This... This is a trick!" Tri-Eye cried. "If I try anything-Your loyalists will kill me!"
"Will they?" Sinestro asked, raising an eyebrow. He walked up to Tri-Eye, closing the distance with slow, calculated steps. "If I have failed, as you say, then they would be in favor of my removal. Perdition's Flame... If I die, everyone goes up in rank."
He stopped mere centimeters in front of Tri-Eye, Sinestro's gaze as hard as steel.
"Go ahead. Remove me. I have no ring. You do. Go ahead," Sinestro stated.
Tri-Eye froze, still as a statue. The entire gallery was seemingly holding its breath. Sinestro too remained still, not a hint as to his true emotions.
At last, Tri-Eye held up his clawed hands, and backed away. He dropped to a knee, and bowed his head.
"I... I have no desire to rule, Mighty Sinestro," Tri-Eye stated. "I-I have no wish to remove you!"
Sinestro nodded. His ring flew from the deck back to his finger, and Sinestro clenched his hand into a fist.
"Nor should you," Sinestro stated smoothly. He looked at his troops, and raised his voice. "Circumstances have changed. There are new players in the galaxy. The Thanagarians have fallen to the Gordanians, and the Apokalypsian Civil War continues to spread to new sectors. The road to empire is not an easy one."
Sinestro shook his head. He flew up to Lyssa, who looked a bit put out. Arkillo grinned in admiration at his leader.
"That said," Sinestro continued, "it is clear I underestimated the Green Lanterns. I admit to that mistake."
Lyssa hesitated. Sinestro nodded.
"It is a mistake I will not repeat," he stated. "Lyssa... Speak to us of your prisoner."
Lyssa took a deep breath. She projected her voice over the crowd, crisp and clear.
"There was a being that fed on fear itself," she stated, "ancient and powerful. It was contained by the Guardians, long ago, and left in orbit around a black hole. It was to be forgotten, and eventually consumed. It possessed Hal Jordan for a time, before he was freed of it and the beast returned to its prison."
Much whispering ensued. For the deeds of Hal Jordan were well known. Horrified understanding filled every being there, and Sinestro Corpsmen or not, many began to back away from the platform. Lyssa took a deep breath and continued.
"But Sinestro has retrieved it..."
She again looked at Sinestro imploringly, her face a silent warning against this action. Sinestro shook his head.
"It is a being I will now take on, as a symbiote," Sinestro stated, "and use to fuel our fear to greater heights. To increase our power, ten fold!"
Sinestro fired a beam at the box, surrounding it in a yellow aura. He activated the release sequence, sweat beading on his brow. Lyssa stepped back, her ring held up protectively. Arkillo followed suit, ready to strike if needed. The entire room went quiet, as the box was opened.
The being... Screamed as it escaped its prison. A scream echoed by every Sinestro Lantern in the building. Terror swept over the city, like a swarm of locusts. The being itself resembled a huge insectoid, but no clear form could be seen-As though the entity was too foreign to this universe for mortal eyes to comprehend.
Sinestro roared as he pulled the entity into him, pulling it deep inside himself with the power of his ring. He floated there, surrounded by yellow burning energy, as he struggled and growled. He then began to scream himself, as his aura burned as bright as a sun. Every being cowered, forming shields and barriers and places to hide from the terror.
Then... The light faded. Lyssa lowered her shield first, followed by Arkillo. Their shock and awe was almost as overwhelming as their fear had been.
Tri-Eye got down and bowed to the being as he floated above them, and he was not the only one. Sinestro now wore a full set of yellow and black armor, the Sinestro Corps symbol on his chest. He wore a long cape that fluttered behind him. His black hair gained a strip of white that encircled the sides of his head like a crown. And his eyes now glowed a deadly, vibrant yellow.
He lifted his ring and fear filled everyone, a horror as deep and terrible as death approaching.
"With my mastery over the power of Parallax," Sinestro spoke, in the ears and minds of all beings in the city, "we will rule the galaxy!"
He held his ring aloft, and fired a powerful beam up into the air. It shot up, high enough even Ranxx was illuminated by its power. The other Sinestro Corps members joined him, holding their rings aloft and emitting supporting light.
"SINESTRO! SINESTRO! SINESTRO!" They cheered. Sinestro smirked. Even now, he could feel Parallax struggling to break free. Trying to overwhelm his will and take control. It would be a constant battle, inward and outward.
It was the story of Sinestro's life though. A fitting new chapter, that defined him further.
For the simple fact was... There was no time left at all.
I had to finish this up somehow. Hope you enjoyed!