The Emerald Gladiator..... "WEAPONS OF MASS CONTROL" Part 5: One Lantern's Light
Green Lantern #13 - January, Year Two	Brought to you by Steve Crosby Concluding ideas started by Gary Jones

“Take them down!” said Green Lantern to his assembled allies.

Jade immediately went to her father, but was held back by the force-field that maintained the base’s environment. “Hnn! Not so easy if we can’t get to them.” She battered at the force-field with giant green fists, but to no avail.

“Apprehend them,” a Controller ordered to his footsoldiers. “They will make welcome additions to the Effigy Corps.”

As several of the robotic Fists of the Guardians flew up, those remaining went with the Controller, taking captives Donna Troy and Alan Scott with them. Powered by the mystical Starheart, Fists of the Guardians were capable of intangibility and passed through the force-field to attack the heroes.

Blasts of green flames burned in the void of space and burned at John Stewart. Though lacking the use of his legs, with a Green Lantern ring he flew with full mobility, evading the flames. Soon he created constructs of his own, well-built cages to contain two Fists of the Guardians.

“No point in caging machines, John!” Guy Gardner yelled. The ring he wore was being used to only keep him flying. Guy raised his other arm, and it morphed into a cannon that blasted through one Fist of the Guardian. “Not when they can so easily be…uh…”

Before Guy’s eyes, the destroyed robot had reassembled itself.

“I told you Guy, they’re powered by the Starheart.” A glowing green backpack he’d carried since Earth detached from Green Lantern’s back and broke apart. Inside were wooden stakes. “And to think you made fun of me for bringing these along.”

Green life-size villagers dressed in old East European garb took up the wooden stakes and were directed at the Fists of the Guardians. A ring assist allowed the stakes to pierce the robots, but it was the wood that countered the power of the Starheart. In short order the Fists of the Guardians were disabled.

Though originally a Darkstar and untrained as a Green Lantern, Merakyn had learned to use her ring fast. The blue-skinned alien was attempting to pierce the force-field with a giant green drill. A yellow spear shattered the drill however, as Fatality appeared from around the space base and attacked with her yellow power ring.

“Get back Merakyn!” John Stewart intercepted Fatality’s attack with green constructs of his own. Like everybody else, John’s ring was an older model from before the Corps’ dissolution, and was useless against yellow. But as John had expected, the very sight of him caused Fatality to shift her attack.

“You won’t escape me this time!” Fatality screamed. “First you die, then the rest of these fake Lanterns! My homeworld will be avenged!”

Yellow swords and energy blasts ripped through John’s green constructs like they were nothing. All John could do was maneuver around the attacks and try to distract Fatality with strikes of his own. It was useless. Fatality paid these attacks no mind and they dissolved after making contact with her yellow aura.

Objects manipulated by green energy could still do damage through. Using a large bow, Green Lantern shot a wooden shaft through Fatality’s leg. “Guy! See what your powers can do against her! Everybody else, lets steer clear and work on that force-field!”

“I’ve tried to get through it,” Jade said to Green Lantern. “The Fists of the Guardians used the Starheart to go intangible. My father could do it, and I’ve never really tried, but…” Jade shook her head. “My power just isn’t the same as his.”

“Good thing I remembered having this.” Green Lantern opened his hand, revealing a ring with an actual old-style lantern on it.

“When Alan examined one of those alien weapons I found, it turned into this, a copy of his old ring.” Green Lantern slipped it onto the ring finger of his right hand, where a duplicate of Hal Jordan’s was on the index. “If this works, try to get through and back me up fast.”

Green Lantern flew down at the force-field, concentrating hard on his second ring. “And remember to patch up any holes you make! There’s innocent people in there, including your father and the woman I love!” The green energy around him flickered, resembling flames. Green Lantern’s appearance became opaque, and he disappeared through the force-field!

Donna Troy and Alan Scott were being marched to the transformation chambers by a half-dozen Fists of the Guardians and two Controllers. One of these Controllers had cybernetic parts covering half its face, as well as replacing its arms and legs. Though both were garbed in costumes, Donna in her old Darkstar exo-mantle and Alan in his old Green Lantern costume, they were held in check by the far greater power of the Controllers.

“Once you are converted into our Effigy Corps, they will be unstoppable,” the whole Controller, apparently the leader among them, said to the original Green Lantern. “Imbued wholly with the power of the Starheart, their flame powers will increase tenfold.”

“Provided you can control the Starheart,” said Alan Scott. “I’ve had a few problems over the years.”

“We of Maltus were the first to tame all the magic in the universe,” said the cybernetic Controller. He leaned down close to Alan Scott’s face. “We created the Starheart. It belongs to us. Of course we can control it.”

“But you couldn’t control the Darkstars,” said Donna Troy. “We had free will, and too many of the agents made decisions you didn’t agree with. That was why you withdrew your support and left us to die against Grayven.”

“In small numbers the Darkstars were allowed their personal agendas,” said the cybernetic Controller. “But a larger, more unified force is needed in the universe. Free will destroyed the Green Lantern Corps, but with the Effigy Corps under our direct control that downfall will be averted.”

“Our first attempt was a modest success. Unfortunately, eroding his mind also sapped the agent’s will, making him less formidable. The willpower provided by the last Green Lantern’s ring will offset this, strengthening our agents’ will while keeping their minds pliable to us.” The whole Controller approached Donna Troy. “You once served us with distinction, Darkstar Troy. We simply offer you the chance to better serve us.”

Something the Controller said reminded Donna of something, and she gave a wry smile. “I’ll serve the universe in my own way, thank you very much.” The shoulder-mounted cannon on her exo-mantle activated and blasted the cybernetic Controller in his face. The energy had a green tinge to it, as Donna’s exo-mantle was powered by a piece of Green Lantern’s power battery.

Fully powered, Donna Troy leapt forward and kicked the second Controller hard in the face. Her cannon was operating automatically, blasting three Fists of the Guardian in short succession. With the Controllers distracted, Alan Scott’s power was no longer hampered, and the living green flame ignited within him. He reached for the Starheart fragments in each of the robots and took it. They fell lifeless to the ground while the original Green Lantern grew stronger.

“Clever.” The flesh half of the Controller’s face was singed. He raised one cybernetic arm. “We had not detected the piece of Green Lantern. However, we are prepared.” A dart of wood shot out of the cybernetic arm and into Alan Scott’s chest.

“Enough!” The other Controller sent Donna Troy hurtling away with a thought. She smashed against the wall and was held immobile as the Controller removed the sliver of Green Lantern’s battery from her exo-mantle. “We are as old as time itself, responsible for creating the most powerful of weapons and destroying the greatest of evils. Away with you both!”

Bound by the power of the Controller’s mind, Donna and Alan found themselves carried toward the conversion room where helpless people were being transformed into Effigies. A wall of multi-colored balls blocked their path, catching the pair in a children’s playpen. Between them, Green Lantern exploded out of the wall and flew at the Controllers.

“This old Corps ring is great! Who knew my constructs could change color if I concentrated hard enough?” Tiny green bald men with wispy skin jumped out of Green Lantern’s fist and rushed over the two Controllers. “And for you two yellow bastards, some Starheart power. Thanks for the loan Alan!”

One cybernetic arm was shattered, but in the other was held a wooden spear and the Controller was swinging it at the faux Guardians. “For all your power, you are only an agent, with limitations because you were only trusted so far. We are the Controllers, masters of all the power you were given and more!”

“Yeah, well it looks like your agent took a bite out of you!” An immobile Fist of the Guardian smashed into that Controller’s back. Green Lantern picked up two more robots and hurled them at the other Controller. But these were shattered apart with a wave of the Controller’s hand.

“Enough.” He held up the piece of Green Lantern’s Power Battery that he’d taken from Donna Troy. “After taking the ring, your life was spared as a courtesy. Consider that withdrawn.”

Green Lantern’s constructs were suddenly warped as the mental power of an ancient being struck them. Buffeted by a power beyond his understanding, Green Lantern fell to the floor. Behind him, the obstacle had dissolved but Alan and Donna were safely still. All around them the walls, floor and ceiling were rippling as raw power was manipulating more than intended.

Green metal claws appeared on Green Lantern’s left hand and dug into the floor. His right hand was raised, palm facing up. “That’s right. You do have my ring here. So close I can feel it, and call it!” Green Lantern gave a loud whistle, summoning his Power Ring from wherever it may be in the base.

Sure enough, the ring came speeding to its owner. It burst through a wall, flew rapidly past the Controller’s head, and settled gently over Green Lantern’s middle finger. Green Lantern closed his fist, the three distinctive insignia of each ring clearly visible. Chaotic magic, diluted willpower, and the life force of the Guardians inter-mixed, the combined power resisting the Controller’s manipulations.

“Impossible!” the Controller cried as Green Lantern rose to his feet and floated toward him.

Green Lantern was flying faster as he approached, fist cocked back. As he crossed the distance a new oath passed through his lips.

“In this blackest night the torch burns bright.
Though now the Corps is only one man’s might,
I will right all wrongs within my sight.
To all those trying to spread evil’s blight,
Know there remains one Green Lantern’s light!”

Green Lantern’s fist connected with the Controller’s face, leaving three different impressions with his rings. He fell against his cybernetic colleague, concentration broken and mental power running wild. Green Lantern diverted the power away from him and his friends with osculating lenses created from thin air. But all the matter around them reacted, breaking apart against the
Controller’s power. The base started breaking apart in space, including the Effigy transformation chamber behind Alan and Donna.
As all air was rushed out by the vacuum of space, flames burned in the new sensation of freedom.

In space, nobody could hear Guy Gardner scream.  Blood covered half his body, obscuring the intricate tattoos of his Warrior persona. It was his Vuldarian genes keeping Guy alive, as his Green Lantern ring was useless against Fatality’s yellow ring. Unfortunately, Fatality was only too happy to keep trying to kill him, as she skewered his body over and over with spiked yellow chains.

“On Okaara I was taught all about the Vuldarians,” Fatality said. “They died because they chose to fight alone while their enemies gathered allies. You at least learned, but only to a point. Allies need to be useful.”

One of the benefits of ring that turned thoughts into reality was that it enabled multi-tasking. As Fatality ripped into Guy Gardner, other yellow constructs were seeking out John Stewart, Merakyn, and Jade. These constructs all resembled dead members of her Xanshi race, killed when the planet was destroyed by Green Lantern John Stewart’s failure.

“Jade, your inborn powers don’t have the same weakness as our rings!” John Stewart shouted. Whatever he threw up in defense, Fatality’s constructs smashed through them. “Get us some breathing room and help Guy out!”

“My own powers have been unpredictable of late, but I’ll try.” Focusing her concentration inward and not on the ring, Jade raised the palm of a hand toward approaching constructs. Swirling green energy shot out of the star imprint on her hand and the yellow constructs shattered. “All right, the power loaned by this ring must have been just the boost I needed.”

With the indomitable strength and resilience of his Vuldarian ancestry, Guy Gardner threw out an arm and grasped one of the yellow chains. His teeth grit, Guy concentrated, and suddenly all the chains Fatality was whipping him with had dissolved. As she looked on in amazement, Guy Gardner grinned.

“What? That’s impossible!”

“Something you should know,” Guy said. “I used to have one of those rings. Got to know its power inside and out. And one of the powers I have now…it’s to absorb power.” Guy’s arm had now turned into a cannon, and he aimed it at Fatality’s head. “That and shove it back down your throat, you crazy bitch.”

Fatality conjured a shield at the last second. It barely held against Guy’s blast, cracks forming all along its surface.
“Heads up!”

Jade flew down and smashed her fist against Fatality’s face as the villain looked up. The Green Lantern ring cut Fatality’s cheek, spraying blood into the void. The wound froze shut immediately, leaving the bloody imprint of a Green Lantern ring on the face of one that hated Green Lanterns more than anything.

“Your skin is green.” Yellow power erupted from Fatality’s ring at Jade. “I don’t like green!”

Constructs formed out of Jade’s hands to counter Fatality’s attack. Members of the Justice Society and Infinity Inc, formed of green, battled monstrous yellow aliens and deflected murderous energy blasts.

“Oh, I’m not green because of this.” Jade smiled. “My mother was part plant, and there’s a wooden stick in your leg.”

“What?” Fatality looked down in horror as the wood in her leg…grew. Life sprouted in the void of space and crawled along Fatality’s skin. “Yaahh!” Blades appeared and cut at the vines as fast as possible, but Jade’s power was making the plants grow faster.

Guy Gardner came up to Fatality from behind. One hand grabbed Fatality’s robotic arm and crushed it. The other hand went to Fatality’s other, restrained, arm, and snatched the yellow ring from her finger. To replace Fatality’s faded yellow aura; Guy’s ring bathed her with green energy to maintain life support in the airless space.

“Anything Jordan could do, I can do,” Guy said. Utilizing enormous strength, he crushed the yellow ring. “John, Merakyn, any luck getting us in to save the day?”

John Stewart answered with, “We have bigger problems now!”

Guy turned to see John and Merakyn fending off the attacks of dozens of fiery men and women. The space station had been reduced to scrap. Jade flew past Guy to join in the battle, and Guy Gardner sighed before following.

“Damn, can’t hear anything out here with no air.”

The rush of escaping air and the wave of cosmic flame rid Donna Troy of her Darkstar exo-mantle. When these had passed, Donna was floating in the void of space, yet still protected from the lack of heat and oxygen. Alan Scott was floating beside her, and had sheathed Green Lantern’s girlfriend with his Starheart power.

“Thanks, Green Lantern,” said Donna, followed quickly by, “Sorry. Sentinel.”

“That’s all right Donna. I’m wearing my old costume after all, and I don’t think many people like the Sentinel name.” Alan Scott grinned. “I see you’re not the only one making rapid costume changes.”

Donna Troy looked down, and saw that her clothes were now a single-piece black suit with starfield design. “Hunh, finally. The Titans of Myth had turned me down when I asked for my powers back, but when I make a subconscious wish…I’m Troia again.”
Troia balled both her fists and looked up. “Let’s go help Kyle.”

Green Lantern needed the help. Dozens of the Effigy Corps were converged around him, and in the center was Martyn Van Wyck. The original victim of the Controllers’ Effigy experiment was locked in battle with Green Lantern, trying to smother him in flames as the hero was also trying to fend off the dozens of other fiery sociopaths. Out of the corner of his eye, Green Lantern saw the two Controllers he’d been fighting collect Fatality and disappear.

“It looks like your creators gave up on you again Effigy,” Green Lantern said with a grim smirk. A fire extinguisher appeared in front of him and sprayed Effigy. “Now why don’t you calm down and help me help these poor people?”

Effigy opened his mouth and fire exploded out with his words. “Why would I do that? After they help me kill you, I’ll lead them against the Controllers. Then Earth will burn!”

The extreme barrage of flames from Effigy and his Corpsmen threatened to burn through Green Lantern’s force-field. But then came a new flame to push the attack away, a green flame. The original Green Lantern that was Alan Scott had appeared beside the current model. Between them, Troia had flown up through Effigy’s flames and punched him hard in the face.

“You aren’t the only guy with an army at your back!” Troia spread her arms wide. They were coming from all directions. John Stewart, Merakyn, Guy Gardner and Jade, all wearing the colors of Green Lantern.

What happened next was a battle between fire and green, passion against willpower. Dragons of green grappled with robots of flame. Burning arrows were blocked by green bulls-eye targets. Green starships exploded against the fiery attacks of catapults. Massive tidal waves of green water boiled on contact with flaming surfers. For what seemed like hours, Green Lantern and his allies struggled against overwhelming odds.

With no ring, Troia was of no use in the fight. “Keep me sheathed Kyle! There’s something I’ve got to find!” Off she flew, knocking aside two the Effigy Corps on her way to the planet far below.

Green Lantern had managed to trap Effigy in thick chains, and took the opportunity to move in for a talk. “Effigy, this is pointless. These people are mindless drones like you were! Let me help you all.”

“How? By taking away my powers?” Solid flames surged around Effigy. The green chains shattered, and Effigy slammed a fiery ram’s head against Green Lantern’s chest. “I like what I’ve become! Finally I’m going to be feared, respected, and everybody who doesn’t is going to burn!”

“Oh, shut up!” No boxing glove for this Green Lantern. A large, bare-knuckle green fist shot out of his ring and against Effigy’s jaw.
Guy Gardner slammed two fiery enemies together with opaque green hands. “Bad news gang! I can feel the juice on this ring getting low.”

“Me too,” John Stewart said. Near him, Merakyn nodded. “These rings weren’t meant for your power Kyle. Of course the charge wouldn’t last a full 24 hours.”

“Alan, Jade, stay close and get ready to help when their rings fail,” Green Lantern said.

“No need to babysit me!” His ring spent, Guy Gardner went Warrior in front of a cat-like alien screaming fire. “Pussy, I’m going to tear you up!” As Warrior plunged a hand at the Effigy, claws closed together into a single point. The long needle sank into fiery fur, and the flames began to recede.

“Guy, what the hell are you doing?!”

“I don’t know! My hand just morphed on its own. Dammit! Somebody help me out here! This cat needs life-support before it-” But it was too late. The flames died, and with those so too did the alien.

“New plan!” Green Lantern fired Effigy out of a cannon, propelling the most experienced and competent enemy far from the battlefield. “John and Merakyn, conserve as much power as you can for life-support. Alan and Jade, get ready to keep everyone alive. Guy, sorry.”

“Sorry about wha-aahh!”

All three of his rings were getting low on power for any one alone to do the job. So Green Lantern used all three – magic, willpower and Guardian life – to create a massive I.V. against Warrior’s needle arm and funnel dozens of tubes from that into the various Effigy Corps. It was a stupid, reckless move with no real idea of the consequences, one that anybody else would have been too fearful to try.

But the whole point of Green Lantern was that he overcame great fear.

Each of the Effigy Corps screamed, and for a split-second Green Lantern feared that he may have killed dozens of innocent alien beings. Resolve wavered but did not break. Green Lantern maintained the connections, and the fires began to die.

“Go!”

The command wasn’t needed. Alan Scott and his daughter Jade had already acted, sheathing each of the aliens in green light to protect them in space. Green Lantern saw Effigy flying down at them from high over the scene.

“It’s over Martyn. Just hold still while I reverse your transformation too.”

“No!” Fires flared around Effigy’s body. “I am never going to be that loser again!” The massive burst of flame erupted out of Effigy, burning over Green Lantern as well as encompassing the whole of the former Effigy Corps.

Green Lantern heard both Alan Scott and Jade scream. Were they strong enough to maintain so many force-fields against such an attack? Green Lantern didn’t wait to find out, and flew up at Effigy.

“This ends now!” For an instant it seemed as though the tidal wave of green water would overtake Effigy’s power, as Green Lantern’s will was stronger. However, the water began to fade, and then disappeared entirely. Except for enough power to sustain life-support, Green Lantern’s rings had failed him.

“Yes it does!” Effigy threw out a hand, and a massive claw of flame took hold of Green Lantern around the chest. Solid flame slowly squeezed, both crushing and burning Green Lantern at once. “Hahahaha-hkk!”

Fire was bleeding out the massive hole that had appeared in Effigy’s chest. All his constructs dissipating, the bitter and angry villain went limp, floating lifelessly in space. Behind Green Lantern, Warrior lowered his cannon arm.

“God that guy was getting on my nerves. You alright, kid?”

Coughing uselessly in space, Green Lantern nodded. “Yeah. Thanks.” He looked over at Effigy’s body as it floated ever distant. “I guess.”

“Save the speech. I’m wiped and there was no time.”

Green Lantern shook his head. “No. I just regret it had to be done was all.” He looked down and said, “Is everybody…?” He saw green bodies floating, and immediately thought the worst.

“Only unconscious,” Alan Scott said. “I don’t think we could have held another second though.”

Jade began to corral all the aliens into stacks, including the unconscious John and Merakyn. “What I’m wondering is, how are we going to get home with all these passengers?”

“We aren’t,” Green Lantern said. “First, we’re going to drop these refugees off somewhere they can get help, hopefully back to their families. That bar we were at, Alan. And as for transportation,” Green Lantern was looking off a distant point and smiled. “That has been provided by the most beautiful woman in the world.”

The Darkstar Puddle Jumper flew close to the assembled heroes and Donna Troy’s voice piped through each of their rings. “Come aboard! There’s room for everybody.”

Soon everybody was piled into the space cruiser. As soon as the airlock was closed, Warrior slid off his ring. “Whew! That felt good and all, but I can’t wait to get my feet back on solid ground and this back in its display at Warriors. And you’re all joining me for some beers.”

“I’ll have to meet you guys there,” Green Lantern said. He’d taken two of the rings off, leaving his own. “I need to stop at home first. Partly to recharge my ring.” He turned his head and met Donna Troy’s eyes. “But mostly so Donna and I can finish moving her into my place.”

“Oh, sure. After I did all the hard work.” Donna leaned in and kissed Green Lantern. “Be prepared to do a lot of redecorating.”
Green Lantern laughed, and everybody joined in. “A hero’s work is never done.”

THE END