Title of Prompt: Instead (Or Where Razer Decides To Stay On The Ship Instead)
Rating: T - This one is dark too. What the heck is wrong with me? Oh, and character death(s) in this too.
Timeframe/Information About This Drabble: One variation of what happened at the end of Invasion.
Disclaimer: I do not own Green Lantern: The Animated Series or Green Lantern. It all belongs to DC comics.
Authors Note: I swear I'll write a drabble some day that is nice and cheery and does not involved Razer getting the snot beat out of him. But not today. Not today.
A great big thanks to everyone who has reviewed or favorited this so far. You guys rock! [To Elvenstar Imrahil: That weird croaking thing you just described? Totally happened to me when I read your review. Thanks for giving me one of the best reviews ever! :D]
Razer knew it was going to be hard. He knew he was going to have to make a tough choice. Razer half hoped that the leader of the Red Lanterns and that infernal Zilius Zox were crushed within the caved in path through the Lighthouse because then his life would be at peace.
But Atrocitus could not simply accept his fate and be crushed by the debris field. He had to fight to get out. As much as Razer loathed the Red Lantern and his former corps, he would always be impressed by their stubborn determination to stay alive. Perhaps it was just a Lantern thing in general. Regardless, Razer now had a choice to make. He could either go with the Green Lanterns to investigate the damaged Red Lantern ship or stay onboard with Aya. Both choices had their potential consequences and both had their reward. If Razer went with the male Lanterns, there was a good chance they would find a gravely weakened Atrocitus. Ever since their last encounter, Razer's head swam in fury every time he thought about the monster and what he did. The young Red Lantern knew that Atrocitus' presence would severely compromise his self-control. Razer didn't want to do anything that he would regret, although the monster deserved worst fates than death. Because of his time with the Green Lanterns, Razer had learned so much more about right and wrong, and it infuriated him that he could no longer exact his revenge upon the murderer of his precious Illana. He knew he would have no closure until the Red Lantern was dead, but he couldn't kill him himself.
So, instead, Razer decided to stay onboard the Interceptor with Aya. He decided to play it safe.
He watched with solemn eyes as two green streaks flew to the smoking ship. He didn't know what he wanted them to return with. Razer turned from the wide window and walked slowly towards the dark hallway. The Interceptor was dark for some reason. He assumed it was Aya either making repairs from their latest escape from the Lighthouse or preparing the ship for their return trip to Oa. For whatever reason, Aya was nowhere in sight. This struck Razer as odd, for the fact that Aya herself was a green, glowing computer and she should have been visible in the dark ship. However, he didn't really care that much. He wanted to be alone, anyway.
All of a sudden the Interceptor shuddered and nearly knocked Razer off of his feet. Clenching his ring hand into a tight fist, he walked slowly towards the bay. "Aya?"
The Artificial Intelligence's voice sounded different. Instead of its usual warm, inquisitive tone, it sounded tinny and very much unlike Aya. "Yes, Razer?"
Razer found the computer standing beside the heavy door that led to the outside. Apart from her dull green glow, which was much duller than usual, Razer's ring was the only thing that produced light. It lit up the barely furnished room with an eerie red glow. It looked empty until—
There! A shadow shifted in the corner of his eye. "Reveal yourselves or I shall bl—aahh!"
Razer's threat broke down into a cry of pain. As he had raised his ring to destroy the intruder, something cold and sharp had slipped into him. He looked down in wordless shock and saw a filed piece of shrapnel lodged within his stomach.
"Not quite a beheading, but it's close enough. Don't you think so, Razer?" There was no response from the rogue Red Lantern. Zilius Zox laughed harshly as he twisted the makeshift blade deeper into Razer's gut. A rattling, harsh groan was ripped from the Red Lantern's throat as he slid off of the weapon and hit the floor with a thud. With a hand pressed to the hole in his stomach, Razer weakly propped himself up on his other elbow. His drooping eyes took in everything around him and he felt worse by tenfold.
The same technician that had hijacked Aya back on Mogo was back and her device was strapped onto Aya. It obviously was a modified version since the AI was still functional, but under complete control. Zilius was cackling beside Razer, the foul sound actually causing physical pain to Razer's ears. And then, out of the shadows, appeared Atrocitus. Razer growled at the older Red Lantern and tried to struggle to his feet. He only managed to accomplish a feeble attempt that, with a swift kick courtesy of Zilius, sent Razer back into a shapeless pile on the cold floor. Razer had a funny taste in his mouth, but ignored it as he tried to get to Aya to tear off the controlling device.
Understanding his goal, Atrocitus instructed the two guards that had come along with him to halt the Red Lantern's progress towards the AI. The armor-clad guards grabbed either upper arm of Atrocitus' new prisoner and dragged him to the front of the ship. The rest of the Red Lantern force and Aya followed behind like a funeral procession. The guards dumped Razer unceremoniously by the window. Razer was too weak by now to do much but cringe.
"I suggest you sit up, Razer. I believe you may want to watch this." Atrocitus' tone was triumphant. He had already won. Razer suddenly felt as if the cold piece of metal was still lodged within him. Atrocitus knew something that he didn't know, and whatever it was, it was bad. With darkness boarding on the edge of his vision, Razer glanced back at the disabled Red Lantern ship. In a flash of fire, light, and sound, the ship was gone. Bits of debris flew everywhere and Razer searched desperately through the smoke, trying to find the haze of a green construct.
Immediately afterwards, he wished he hadn't looked. Two glowing emerald orbs rose in the air and sped across the window, trails of green racing to catch up. The hole in Razer's stomach seemed to grow larger. He knew what was going on. He had seen this many times during his time as a "faithful" Red Lantern. Of course Atrocitus had rigged the ship to explode. He had actually done this several times with Zilius to trap guileless Green Lanterns. He cursed himself. If he had been with the Green Lanterns, he might have been able to notice the bomb. He might've been able to save them. Guilt twisted painfully within him and now Razer was certain it was causing his wound to grow.
He had been so absorbed in the deaths of the former Green Lanterns that he had completely missed the fact that Atrocitus was talking amongst his new crew. He seemed distracted enough for Razer to try one more time to free Aya. The injured Lantern looked back at Aya, hoping to find a way to break the device or break her hold. She was staring straight at him, her palm raised and glowing.
"I apologize, Red Lantern Razer, but your death is necessary for the existence of the just cause of Lord Atrocitus." Aya's voice was still flat. Although she apologized and appeared to be the AI, Razer knew the real Aya was no longer there.
Razer glanced up into the dull blue eyes. He was right; there was no light there. He was struggling to stay awake now. He could see Atrocitus' mouth moving but he couldn't quite hear what he was saying. From the angry expression on his face, Atrocitus was obviously trying to get him to hear him. Razer continued to slip into his dragging state. There seemed no point of trying to stay awake anymore anyways.
Suddenly, a flash of green. A blossom of white pain across his chest. A cool numbness. A fleeting thought.
What would have happened if I left the ship instead?
And then there was no more.
You got to admit, Razer probably saved the day by going with Hal and Killy to the Red ship.
I swear, happy fics are on the way. I'm finishing up a couple friendship and romance (WHAAOOAAO) fics at this moment :D Thanks for reading and please tell me if you liked it!