Since fleeing Shard and learning of the Red Lantern armada invasion, moral aboard the Interceptor had drastically dropped, as did the food supply. Razer had seemingly locked himself in his quarters and had no desire to emerge anytime soon. Aya's repairs were still underway. Physically she had heeled completely, but her armor and cyber-column still needed work. Hal, Kilowog, and Aya were on the main deck. Aya was seated in one of the chairs, using its built in levitation to move around the ship.
"Green Lanterns Hal and Kilowog, these are the last of your emergency provisions." Aya said as she lifted her own nutrition packet. "A constant need for food seems to be a drawback of organic life forms."
"Tell me about it." Hal said, picking up his canister. "You don't have to eat grilled cheese sandwich in a can." He opened the canister and gave it a tap. A sandwich fell out of the can flopped onto his tray. Hal looked up at Kilowog unappeased by his meal. "What'd you get?"
"Glazed mungtore." Kilowog answered. He picked up his canister and began opening it.
"Glazed! Hey, I'll eat anything glazed. Doughnuts, cookies, ham."
Hal's rambled stopped when a massive insect plopped onto Kilowog's tray. Kilowog pulled off one of the legs and began knowing on it. He pushed the tray toward Hal. "Help yourself."
"Tempting, nut I'll stick with this." Hal answered, picking up his floppy sandwich.
"What is cheese, exactly?" Kilowog asked.
"It is curdled lacteal milk for a female bovine species on Earth." Aya explained quickly.
Kilowog seemed absolutely disgusted with the idea. "Form now one, how about you eat that in a closet or something?"
"Would you rather have what Aya's got?" Hal asked. "Pure nutrition, but no flavor whatsoever."
"I have identified a nearby class G planet in our current system, that might be a source of food supplies." Aya informed.
"Nice work Aya." Kilowog said. "A Green Lantern cannot live on mungtore alone."
"How long till we land?" Hal asked.
"Approximately twenty-one point four minutes." Aya answered.
"Nice. How about your repairs?"
"My armor is eighty-six point seven percent completed, however I have run into complications with my column. I did not account for complete reconstruction." Aya explained.
"Well, you'll have plenty of time while we're on the planet. And I'm sure you could put Razer to work. Someone needs to pull that kid out of his room." Hal replied.
"I will take that under advisement Hal Jordan." Aya said. Her chair maneuvered onto the bridge, leaving the two Green Lanterns to continue eating.
Hal looked across the table to Kilowog. "Somehow I doubt she'll listen to me."
"Would you?" Kilowog asked.
"Hey!"
The Interceptor lowered to the planet's surface, but did not land. It merely orbited the surface, allowing Kilowog and Hal to depart. Razer watched their departure from the bridge. He had slipped from his quarters without being seen while they prepared to depart. He needed space from his quarters. And with the green Lanterns departure, he would finally have peace with his thoughts. He looked down at his failing ring. He'd turned against Atrocitus, turned against what the murderer stood for, but the ring had stayed with him. Why?
"Razer," Aya called, breaking him from his thoughts. She had broken him from many thoughts and actions since his commission. Talked him out of killing Atrocitus during his chance. Possibly his only chance. "it is good to see you venture from your quarters. Have you recharged your ring?"
"What business is that of yours?" he asked. He looked over his shoulder at her. It was the first time he'd seen her since departing the asteroid belt. Her long white hair was braided tightly and tossed over her left shoulder. Her bruises and cuts had healed, along with her bones. Her only shortcoming was the lack of armor and mobility.
"I am curious about the process and how it differs from the Green Lanterns." She explained.
Razer stood from his chair. "Leave me alone." He walked off the bridge, leaving her alone on the bridge. He stormed down the hall to his quarters. His eyes immediately fell to the lantern on the desk. What could she possibly learn from his charge method? Only that his oath was the vilest set of words strung together in all the galaxy.
Razer sighed and sat down at the desk. His ring was failing, and with an imminent threat of the Red Lanterns he needed to be ready for a fight. Even if it means the oath. He sighed and lifted his ring to the lantern. "With blood and rage of crimson red, we fill men's souls with darkest dread."
Suddenly his doors opened.
Razer threw himself over the lantern and looked to the door. Aya was sitting at the door, entering his room. "What are you doing here? I told you to leave me alone."
"I was repairing my column when your vital signs became abnormally high." Aya answered.
Razer sighed. "You don't…you don't understand how hard this is. I've turned form Atrocitus' cult of hate. But the ring stayed with me, which means the rage in my heart remains. And so I must use the Red Lantern oath to recharge it."
"I have observed how the ring affects your emotional state." Aya said. "What is the rest of this oath?"
"And twist your minds to pain and hate, we'll burn you all, that is your fate." Razer finished.
"Interesting." Was all Aya said.
Razer snapped and stood toward her. "Interesting? It's vile. And I'm forced to say it again and again!"
"Razer, I did not intend-"
"Get out!" he yelled.
Without another word, Aya turned and left his room. Before the doors closed he caught her take one last look at him. He nearly believed she looked…scared or troubled for him. He turned from the door and glared at the lantern once more.
Aya stared at Razer's sealed door for a nanosecond. She had not meant to make him angry. She was merely observing and gathering further information. She turned and maneuvered herself back to the main deck. She looked at her column, lying on one of the biobeds. Aya lifted up her arm and entered a series of commands into her band. Her competed bots rose from the floor and crawled up onto the bed. They began working on the modifications. Aya turned her attention to more pressing issues. She entered Razer's oath into the computer and analyzed the pattern.
Razer's detest for the oath was well earned. Aya could not understand how any sentient being could enjoy repeating the oath once, let alone to charge their rings. Perhaps there was another way to aid Razer? The computer analyzed the rhythm and meter of the oath. Aya initiated a search sequence to match the criteria.
"Interceptor this is Jordan. Aya, you there?" Hal called.
Aya activated the comm system. "Affirmative Green Lantern Jordan, have you found a food source?"
"We did. Lock onto my coordinates and meet us for pick up." Hal answered.
Aya moved to the bridge and input the coordinates into the helm. The ship began flying to the location. Aya returned to the deck and continued with her search. She already and found a suitable phrase for the first line and the second was nearly completed. She felt the ship steady at the coordinates. She moved to the landing deck and opened the ramp. Hal flew up carrying several baskets of vegetation rom the planet.
"Honey I'm home." Hal called. "And we brought back dinner."
Aya picked up one of the sugar vines and analyzed it. "I believe an acceptable meal can be created with supplies onboard."
"That's good to hear. How'd the repairs go?" Hal asked.
"They are on schedule." Aya answered.
"Anything exciting happen while we were away?"
"Negative."
"Razer come out of his cave?"
"For approximately two point nine minutes." She answered.
"Well that's progress." Kilowog said.
"I'll say. I'll take the helm Aya." Hal called.
Aya nodded and returned to her consoles. She inspected her results and was quite pleased with them. Her next test would be to show Razer. She assembled her forearm band and maneuvered her chair down to the crew quarters. She entered Razer's room quickly. He was still sitting at the desk, staring at the lantern. "Have you finished your recharging ritual?"
"No." he mumbled.
"I have something that might help." She offered. Razer turned toward her. "I ran a detailed analysis of the rhythm and meter of your Red Lantern oath, and have created an alternative that should also be effective." She raised her arm and projected her results onto the wall.
Razer held his ring to the lantern and began reading the secondary oath. "The power of the crimson red, can lead your soul away from dread. And heal the deepest wounds of hate. Let no one else decide your fate."
"I detect no change in your metabolic rate." She said, lowering her hand. "Have you recharged?"
"Yes. Thank you, Aya. Your concern is…appreciated." He said. He caught a glimpse of a smile as she turned and left his quarters. Razer turned back toward the lantern. He could not deny the gratitude he felt for Aya for her efforts. He didn't have the heart to tell her it was all in vain. He raised his hand back to the lantern. "I wish it were that easy. With blood and rage of crimson red, we fill men's souls with darkest dread. And twist your minds to pain and hate. We'll burn you all; that is your fate."
short yes...but still worth the work. hopefully the next chapter will make up for this. whenever i finish it.