Ollo, readers! After uploading 5 new chapters for A Date With Justice on my second account Leyenar The Avenger and taking a long break, I've decided to resume the schedule of updating my DC stories, one at a time. This time, it's Dawnbreaker's turn.
Vuhlkansu Translation:
Ashayam=Beloved
Run, little man.
The dark voice rang in Ganthet's head, haunting him as he fled.
Your rings follow like dumb mutts, but they will not save you. Mogo, the last Green Lantern, is dead. A fitting location for your own demise, do you not think so? Your fellow Guardians Of The Universe, foolish stragglers, are now ashes blowing across the cosmos. Give me the last rings, and I will make you watch as I extinguish their light forever. And then, will you finally die.
"You think it's over?" asked Ganthet defiantly, rings of six colors hovering around him—the colors of the rainbow, minus green.
Indeed, and victory is mine. the voice chuckled darkly.
"This day?" Ganthet said. "Perhaps. But not forever. Death cannot exist without life, and so I will work towards preserving life in all its forms. And you will never win."
A blinding flash of light, and Ganthet, as well as what was left of Mogo, was gone.
Meanwhile, In Another Universe...
"Congratulations on completing your training, Lantern Kirk." the oldest of the Guardians Of The Universe spoke calmly as the heroic crew of the USS Enterprise celebrated their captain's new position as a "space cop", as to say.
"Thanks, sir." said Kirk. "By the way, you guys should reevaluate your standards. Your very first recruit, Jaylah, used the ring's power to commit crimes."
"Crimes?" said Ganthet, as he stepped forward. "Well, they might have been, for your Federation standards, but what we saw was only her weeding out evil from within."
"Guardian Ganthet might have a point. I understand your distress, ashayam, but Miss Dawnbreaker also saved Admiral Pike's life." said Spock as he stood next to his bondmate.
Sayd also came over, and gave the blonde a kind smile. "Don't you have another mission to embark on?" she asked.
"Oh, right! The Nodell-16 mission!" exclaimed Kirk, and quickly rounded up his crew.
LATER...
The Enterprise was situated in Nodell-16's orbit. From what it looked, the planet was just one big ol' rock, or an "orphan planet" or "rogue planet" to be more precise, one that had been eons since it last had been near a star.
"This one has no discernible atmosphere, and no indication of organic life, but we have, indeed, detected something on the surface. Orbital scans are inconclusive, so I recommend that an away team be dispatched to investigate." Spock suggested.
"He's right. Mr. Sulu, park us in geosynchronous orbit over the location. You have the conn." Kirk ordered.
"Aye, sir!" Sulu complied, and so Kirk, Spock, Uhura and McCoy went down to investigate.
"Is it wise for both the captain and the first officer to leave the ship on what, by all indications, is a routine scouting mission?" asked Spock.
"Aw, honey, you don't trust Sulu?" Kirk playfully teased his lover.
"My estimation of Lieutenant Sulu's capabilities, while considerable, is not relevant to the discussion, ashayam." Spock said.
"Hey, why the long face, pointy ears?" Bones chimed in. "Let's just enjoy the chance to stretch our legs!"
"Uhura, do you have trace?" asked Kirk.
"Close, sir. Should be just over this...ridge..." the African trailed off as she found a corpse wearing a robe similar to what the Guardians wore, and six rings of different colors scattered around it.
"But why in the universe would a Guardian even visit a dead planet?" Kirk asked himself, puzzled. "Also I thought they were immortal..."
"And look! Rings!" McCoy exclaimed. "I thought they only came in green..."
"OK, gang, let's bring those differently colored rings up to the ship for comprehensive scans. The body, too. If we don't get anything out of it, then maybe we'll get to Oa and ask the Guardians for some answers." said Kirk.
"Jim, I..." Spock opened his mouth to speak.
"I know what you're going to say, Spock, but this isn't a violation of the Prime Directive. It's a dead guy on a dead planet. Let's see what we can find out about him." Kirk cut him off.
"I was about to say that I agree." said Spock.
Back aboard the Enterprise, Bones exclaimed "Wow, he really is dead. Must have been for a good while."
"What about you, Scotty?" Kirk commed his Chief Engineer through his ring. "Have you found anything with the differently colored rings?"
"Aye, sir, it be quite interestin'! Come an' take a look!" the Scot exclaimed.
Later, in engineering, an excited Scotty was infodumping to Kirk. "These here rings, they possess a variation of the same complex nanostructure. Breathtakin', as I might say! As best as I can deduce, they all meant to be some kinda energy conduit, not unlike that there green ring ya have on yer hand, sir!"
"Keep a close eye on them." Kirk ordered. "We still don't know what we're dealing with."
"Understood, sir!" Scotty saluted as the captain left, then he turned to Keenser the Roylan, his loyal partner. "Aight, me grumpy little associate, time to add an invaluable addition to the sum total o' humanity's scientific knowledge!"
Keenser only let out a hrrmph in response(he was a man of few words), and started up the machine he and Scotty were holding the six rings in. Just then, the rings began emitting a bright glow—red, orange, yellow, blue, indigo and violet, much to the two engineers' wonder.
Meanwhile, on the bridge, Sulu told Kirk "Captain, proximity alert! Pirate ship approaching!"
"Shields up! Onscreen!" Kirk exclaimed.
"Captain, we're being hailed!" exclaimed Uhura.
"James Tiberius Kirk." said the pirate captain as he appeared on screen, a furry humanoid with a dog's head. "We meet again."
"Do I know you?" asked the Green Lantern.
"No, but I know you. My name is Polapol, leader of the Polapola clan, and I captained that vessel you outran at the Yuren Vortex. Many of my men, including my beloved son, were killed in the chase. After fashioning a new ship, I have been hunting you without rest so I may get revenge." hissed the captain.
"I'm flattered by your tenacity, Captain Polapol." said Kirk. "But your son was a criminal. The apple does not fall far from the tree."
Polapol's face became distorted with rage, and his mismatched eyes, one red and one blue, burned with hatred. "My son was the finest first officer a pirate captain could ask for!" he sputtered. "He was to lead the clan after me, and you killed him! For that, you will pay!"
"In that case, I will deal with you myself!" Kirk snapped back, and recited the oath that had been drilled into his mind for the last few months.
"In brightest day, in blackest night,
No evil shall escape my sight.
For those who worship evil's might,
Beware my power—Green Lantern's light!"
Instantly, the captain's golden shirt turned green, and a large Green Lantern symbol appeared on his chest. He was about to make it to the airlock when Scotty's voice stopped him. "Cap'n, we have a problem 'ere in engineerin'!"
"Not now, Scotty!" said Kirk.
"But, but...th' rings!" replied the Scot. "Their energy output is increasin' exponentially!"
With that, the comm link was broken, and a loud boom was heard over in engineering. "Captain, explosion in engineering! Cascading power failures throughout the ship! Shields failing!" Sulu exclaimed.
"Darn!" Kirk said, as he began searching his brain desperately, for a solution. Come on, ring, don't fail me now! he thought as he put his mind to diverting his ring's energy into the Enterprise. The green light of Will flowed from him, into the ship, supercharging it, saving it just in the nick of time as the six differently colored rings whizzed out of the ship to find wielders.
"Scotty, can you hear me?" asked Kirk, focusing all his willpower into keeping the Enterprise intact as the pirate vessel prepared for an attack.
"It's OK, sir, you just saved us." said Sulu. "And some to spare. Thanks for calling in reinforcements!"
Reinforcements?
Kirk was puzzled. He did not recall sending for more Green Lanterns. What the hell was Sulu talking about? But he did not have time to dwell on it as of now, as the six differently colored rings had found hands to rest on.
Polapol of Yaralo, you have great rage in your heart. Welcome to the Red Lantern Corps.
Pavel Chekov of Earth, you have the ability to inspire great hope. Welcome to the Blue Lantern Corps.
Nyota Uhura of Earth, you are capable of giving great love. Welcome to the Star Sapphire Corps.
Leonard McCoy of Earth, you have the ability to feel great compassion. Welcome to the Indigo Tribe.
"Yes!" exclaimed the pirate captain after vomiting up his own blood on the bridge floor, feeling the red flames of rage course through his veins. He flew outside the ship, with nothing on his mind except revenge.
Meanwhile, aboard the Enterprise, Chekov asked "Vhat iz happening?" as he stared at his finger.
"Holy bagumba..." Uhura breathed out as she did the same.
"Jim, look!" exclaimed Spock as the main viewscreen revealed the mysterious "backup".
"Nice ship." said the other Green Lantern. "Why is my friend's dead body aboard?"
"What are you talking about?" asked Kirk.
"I know you have my friend's skeleton on board. I scanned it with my ring." said the brown-haired human. "I want answers."
"Look, I appreciate the help, whoever you are," Kirk said, "but I've got my hands full."
"Keptin, I feel wery, wery strange!" Chekov exclaimed as he and Uhura floated about.
"I'm flying?!" Uhura asked incredulously.
"Life signs are stable. You are emitting a most unusual form of radiation." said Spock.
"I want your help, you pointy-eared hobgoblin, not your analysis!" screamed the African.
"You OK, Pavel?" Kirk asked his youngest crew member.
"Aye, Keptin! I feel like I can suddenly do anything!" Chekov exclaimed, and sent a stream of blue light at the main console, powering up the whole ship even more. Kirk could also find that his own green ring's energy being replenished.
"Looks like you've found a new power source." said the brunette. "Now if you'll excuse me, I'll deal with angry red guy over there." Then he zoomed towards the wrathful pirate captain, who vomited a stream of napalm blood at his new enemy, but the brunette made a construct shield to block it. Polapol then made a construct cannon, and fired. A stream of red energy hit the brunette, and he was blasted away.
"Keptin, our new friend's taking one helluva beating owt there!" Chekov exclaimed.
"Sulu, arm photon torpedoes." Kirk ordered.
"Weapons system offline." the Asian informed him.
"Not to worry! We can improwise!" said Chekov, and pressed a button. Blue phaser shots were sent hurtling towards the pirate ship and her raging captain, and the brunette finished it by delivering a swift energy blast to the newly christened Red Lantern's back.
"Now, let's get to warp!" Kirk exclaimed, and commed the brunette with his ring. "We're leaving, stranger. You're welcome to follow us. I think we both have questions we want answered."
"Running away from the fight?" asked the brunette.
"No, avoiding escalation of conflict." said Kirk. "Pirates here are more like space Mafia than space pirates, they're a force to be reckoned with."
"OK, since you put it that way..." muttered the brunette, as he followed the Enterprise into who-knows-where.
Sector Z-6, the planet Romulus
"Expansion means survival." said a praetor named Decius. "For too long, we have been content to hide within our borders, chastened by accusations that we were responsible for the destruction of Vulcan. Meanwhile, competing civilizations have continued to increase their influence across the galaxy at our expense. We all know that the missions of "exploration" carried out by the Federation's fleet are just cover for expanding their own region of control. The longer we wait to resume our own territorial expansion, the fewer systems will be left for us to exploit."
"Exploit, you say, Praetor Decius?" asked a senator. "The word lacks the necessary...nobility as befits our proud Star Empire."
"Nobility does not carve out dilithium mines, Senator. It does not harness energy from solar arrays or harvest crops from agricultural colonies. Each of them necessary for the growth of the Empire. Each of them a form of exploitation." Decius answered. "If this august body is unprepared to grant me the powers necessary to ensure the security and prosperity of the Empire, then I will be forced to..." His speech was cut short as an orange light descended from the open ceiling.
Decius of Romulus, you want it all. The Orange Lantern can give it to you.
Jaylah was splashing around in a lake, wearing nothing but a green swimsuit, relaxing after a painful mission. She and her crew, the faithful crew members of the USS Vengeance, had finished evacuating the people of a doomed planet called Krypton to another habitable planet, Nibiru, which had a yellow sun. The Kryptonians had thanked her, calling her savior, and with the resources they carried over, had just begun to rebuild civilization, and while some had wished to subjugate the Nibiran natives, a vast majority of the new settlers disagreed, saying that they should respect the native people.
Just then, she saw a yellow streak whizz through the clear sky, and hurried out of the lake. Her swimsuit morphed into a full suit of armor, with the Green Lantern symbol on her chest. She hurriedly flew towards the direction where the yellow streak went, and found her friends there. "Mateys, I—" she began, but before she could finish, a yellow ring fell from the sky, and forced itself onto the finger of her pardner.
Khan Noonien Singh of Earth, you have the ability to instill great fear. Welcome to the Sinestro Corps.