20th July
17:48 GMT
"So how hard is this going to be?
"
We're standing at the entrance to a small amphitheatre, the stalls around us populated by Controllers. I'm not completely sure whether this is
all of the Controllers, or just all the ones on Maltus or even just the ones who could be bothered to turn up. Most look roughly like Controller Jevek, though there is a
degree of individual variation. Longer robes and slightly softer face
here, shorter and with hair
there. Skin colour ranges from Guardian blue to purply-red and hair comes in black and white with nothing in between.
The
general style of the robes appears to be set, but precise length, cut and colouration vary in a number of cases. The glowing crystal and glowing forehead are universal, though the one Controller Hinon wears is dimmer as she draws power from her ring. There are far more males than females… But I'm wondering if some of those I mentally designated as 'male' are actually gender neutral.
"I really couldn't say for certain.
" Hinon looks down at her ring.
"Oh, if only Ganthet was answering me. We always worked
so well together.
"
"Sorry, but I think they blacklisted orange rings.
"
"I'll go and bother him in person later. We will need to send a formal deputation once everything's up and running, and I do
so want to see what they've done with Oa since I've been gone.
"
"Made lots of green stuff.
"
"But all of the
people! I find it astonishing to think that they're prepared to tolerate an actual
population when-. Oh, they're ready for us.
" The portal melts away in front of us to allow us access.
"Follow me.
"
She floats through the air, feet trailing a little behind her as she goes. I fly after her while maintaining my upright posture. I didn't think that armour was appropriate, but with my initial impression
made I've switched to grey robes with orange trim. I've only met a few of the Controllers while I've been here, and I'm not… I left Earth after haranguing the Justice League. Superman has been
the iconic superhero on Earth Prime since the forties and I didn't think twice. So while even Guy hesitates to make cracks about the Guardians, to me? They're.. just some people in robes.
Maybe I'd feel differently if they weren't jamming my empathic vision…
Hinon occupies the centre and looks up and around at her fellow Controllers.
"Brethren. You've all had the chance to consider the matter under contention. The Orange Lantern and I have given the matter a considerable degree of thought, and we believe that we have a methodology which offers us the best possible chance to recover the Orange Light Fountain. And neutralise its present owner.
"
There's a flash from the gem at the neck of one of the blue-skinned female Controllers.
"The Guardians?
"
Jevek's gem glitters.
"What does it
matter? The Vega Systems have been off-limits to the Green Lanterns since their inception. And now we know why.
" He looks around the room.
"The light will be ours. The Controllers will be in control.
"
Another flicker from another Controller.
"The continuous presence of Green Lanterns on the borders of Reach space slows the Reach advance. It would be advantageous for them to remain.
"
Another.
"Alienating our Guardian brethren would serve no useful purpose, but it is a secondary matter. The orange light must be recovered and put to our use.
"
One of Jevek's look-alikes.
"How do you intend to remove the Orange Light Fountain from Larfleeze's control? Your equations indicated that after so much direct exposure he will have become even more powerful than he was when he enslaved our brother Ogandu Onna Oslan.
"
"I'm glad you ask.
" Hinon raises her right hand and generates… I think that's the Maltus version of Atlantean rune equations.
"I won't know for certain until we can observe him directly, but I
believe that I have a model for how Larfleeze could survive his experiences, even remaining capable of coherent speech. The most
likely possibility is that he had what we might call a natural affinity for avarice, for seeing everything in terms of wants and needs. Without anything very much to get in the way of it, the orange light could form a most
intense bond with him. At this point I'm not certain he needs either ring or lantern.
"
A glimmer from Jevek.
"But his link can be severed.
"
"Yes. With difficulty. Over time. In the short term we're going to attempt to neutralise his capacity to focus his desires on any one object, and so paralyse him. That
should enable us to transfer the Light Fountain into a proper Central Power Battery housing.
"
"And we can control the link. Cut him off.
"
"Perhaps. Eventually. If we actually
want to do that, we'd have to wean him off it and then feed in other colours gradually. It wouldn't be a quick process.
"
I form an orange gem on my own chest and forehead and flash it before anyone else can get in.
"Yes, we do want to. Orange light damage is something we're going to end up having to treat amongst Orange Lanterns. We don't need crazy ones running around the place and making the rest of us look bad. Anything we learn from treating the worst case in existence would be invaluable in that regard.
"
"If it is inevitable, how did you manage?
"
"I didn't-.
"
"Very weak desires, possibly aided by his lack of an attendant arcane construct. There was so little opportunity for the egress of orange energy that he had nearly enough time to learn to channel it without being overwhelmed.
" She brings up another chart. Me, presumably.
"Then he had a construct created in such a way that it would encourage proper interfacing. Unfortunately, for those future Lanterns not fortunate enough to spend a great deal of time in high magic regions, it won't be practical to use it on others.
"
And also because you'd need to destroy their existing souls in order to do so.
"Larfleeze's current slaves?
"
"Once we disrupt him, he should become listless and apathetic. He won't be able to direct them.
"
"I would very much like to see if restoring them is possible. If nothing else, Ogandu Onna Oslan's restoration to flesh would assist us in maintaining good relations with the Guardians.
"
Various Controllers look around the room, and there's a shining of gems.
Then a short, Guardian-looking one nods.
"We have a consensus. You are to proceed. We will begin constructing a Central Power Battery and holding cell in line with your specifications.
"
Hinon looks pleased.
"Thank you, brothers. The Orange Lantern and I will make our final preparations and depart.
"
She turns and heads back towards the door, me close at her heels. She eyes me sidelong as the door closes.
"I thought you weren't going to talk.
"
"You told me not to. It isn't quite the same thing.
"
"Starting as you mean to go on?
"
"Yes. I told you that I don't intend for the Controllers to completely control the Orange Lantern Corps in the way that the Guardians do the Green.
"
"And I agreed that their sort of control wouldn't
work with orange light users. But we need to lure the other Controllers into accepting that situation. Tempt them into committing to it fully.
"
I give my head a small shake.
"What's left to do?
"
"I want to check the system with the Ophidian once more. Then, nothing. We're off to see the Beast.
"
"'We'? I thought you were keeping out of sight?
"
She pats me on the shoulder.
"I'll be with you in spirit. Ready to
begin again more intelligently if you lose.
"
"Let's hope it doesn't come to that.
"
