Good and upright is the LORD: therefore will he teach sinners in the way.
(Psalm 25:8)
*****
Zion yawned, his mind bored.
The ship was traveling at near lightspeed, but it was slow compared to the cosmic distance they need to cover. It had been 30 since start of the travel, going opposite, out of the solar system. And Zion was starting to get bored of the monotonous ride.
"Getting ready to jump," Boodika spoke from the front.
Hal and Senestro sat opposite him, watching him with alertness. Kilowog sat with Boodika piloting the ship.
The ship brightened up for a moment before it displayed itself in space-time. The boom of space displacing itself caused Solaris' ears to ring. He turned his eyes away from the Lanterns, his gaze looking past the ship into the space.
A green flourishing planet, its oceans forming the Green Lantern symbol with water that was visible from space. The planet was filled with life. most of it occupied by natural fauna and Flora while at the center of the Lanter was the metropolis.
The circle was filled with towering skyscrapers with a giant Lantern at the center standing tall as the guiding light. The building were golden green. The advance architecture was breath taking, creating a interconnected monolith.
This is Green Lantern Corp.
This is the Center of the Universe.
This was the Home of the Guardians,
He could already feel the energy pulsing out of the planet, the vitality of will. His goal for the day was near, the power he wanted was close. He could feel it in his grasp.
The ship lowered in altitude before it dispelled on the air above the metropolis. Green Lantern was about to give him a lift, but he managed himself. He scanned the ground, watching many Lanterns move above, going in and out of the massive lantern.
With the click of of his shoes, he landed on the very grounds of Oa. Solaris pocketed his hands into his long coat as it fluttered in the wind.
"Follow," Senestro commanded.
Solaris didn't comment on his command and followed him. flanked by other. Senestro took him through a lon hall with massive pillars before he brought him to the council. The massive room with a floating disk was filled with blue Dwarfs.
Solaris' smile changed to that of absolute confidence, his stride were filled with power. His eyes turned serious as he met eyes with the Guardians. He was not here as prisoner, but as equal, on business.
"Hello, Guardians," Zion waved at the Guardians.
"He is not an inferno," One of the guardians pointed.
The Guardians with their extensive knowledge and power could tell that Solaris was not an Inferno, but a Kryptonian.
Hal move forward at that question,"He is the one I fought, I confirmed it. He has the power to manipulate his DNA or something."
At Hals answer, the Guardians turned to Solaris, "Is it true?"
"Maybe?" Solaris shrugged.
The Guardians turned to each other, discussing telepathically among themselves.
"How did you obtain the data need to change yourself to an Inferno?" Other Guardians asked, "How many knows of them? How many have your reproduced?"
Solaris faked a flich, "Ooh, too much questioning. Why? Are you scared your dirty hands would be revealed?" He questioned.
"What was done had to be done," The Guardian refuted.
"Yeah, genetically modifying a race so they would evolve into lesser versions of themselves and create a strife where they would try to kill each other over skin color. Cool," Soliris' words dripped with sarcasm.
"They were not lesser, they were better. They were more peaceful than the infernos."
"Peaceful. Peaceful race the near got wiped out due to your mishandling. A peace that drove a whole species to a near extinction," Solaris turned his head and met all the Guardians' gaze. "For the same peace you hid your bloodied hands and act all noble on your high horses.
You all are nothing but a bunch of little cowered, suits your stature should I say." Solaris gave a mocking grin.
"Silence, " The voice boomed, "You do not understand. The consequences of our inaction would have been dire. The infernos would have spread across galaxies, spreading never ending terror."
"Well, what about the Manhunters?" Solaris asked, drowning the council in silence. "They were your creation who now wants to only end all life. What about the Sector 666 and all its people who got massacred? Who is going to pay for that?"
The Lanterns looked shocked at the information, turning to Guardians to explanation.
But Solaris didn't allow for them to speak more.
"What about the Pisions? You created them and now you hide your shame while they do horrible experiment in their sector? What of Korna? What about the impurity in the Central battery? What about the limiter in the Ring which caused the death of many valiant Lanterns? What of their deaths which are in millions?
What of the other Emotional Spectrum? What about the war of light and the Darkest night?
What about the New gods, Darkseid, who want to enslave all life?
What about the Magic you seal away in fear of it?
You hide many things from you own while abandoning the emotions that give your powers. You have only hidden your dirty hands, your mistakes, appearing as if your are nobles, but your are, again, nothing but a bunch of cowards."
Silence,
"Your in actions have already done too much damage.
How many are you willing to sacrifice? How many do you want to die in your name? How many more?"
Solaris lowered his head, his face darkened by shadow.
"You sealed your powers on fear, but I will use them for good," Solaris lifted his head, a victorious smile plastered on his lips. "Thank you for granting me access to one of the Sever forces of the universe."
The Guardians got up in alert, finally remembering his powers. The Lanterns moved to intercept but a Golden light flashed, stunning all that were present.
A wave of power exploded in the epicenter of the light, pushing all to the wall.
The light dimmed, revealing a bluish dwarf with black hair, his dress was tight fit with his long coat unchanged. His body was not even thin like the other Guardians but buff with vitality and power. Black coat fluttered in the wind as Will radiated from him with absolute force.
He looked at his hands, his innate power expanding tremendously, "With such power your could have ended many war by just being a deterrent."
"You do not understand the power that you try to control," the Guardians spoke.
Zion grinned, which unnerved the Lanterns since no one had ever seen a Guardian grin. "I do."
Zion reach the depth of his mind, opening the black door for some help. He then reach into the Emotional Spectrum, his will connecting to its endless power.
"In the brightest day, in the blackest night, No evil shall escape my sight. Let those who worship evil's might, beware my power, Green Lantern's light."
A green light exploded, a force unmatched raged like unbridal tide, ripping and destroying the very fabric of space. The whole main building exploded in a brilliant catastrofiy, a storm of will raging at its center.
The lanterns moved in urgency, to respond to the attack. But the minute their put their will into the ring, it was drained. The force that create the ring was returning to its source. The will was being drawn from all the source it could be found, even the central battery was drained of its power.
At the center of its all Zion watched as the will take form of a celestial Whale that expanded across the time and space, from the birth of sentience to the end of it all. Ion, Embodiment of Will.
"Follow," Zion commanded with the combined will of SoulBounds.
The Whale wailed before the whole energy began to condensed, changed from a ranging force to a calm sea, hiding its powerful currents. The energy reduced to a side of a ring that spun at mid air before the Zion, levitating above his hand.
"You," Guardian who were able to protect themselves from the explosion watched in horror. They could feel the power contained within that ring. Such power if interrupted would erase the whole galaxy.
Zion hummed as the will finally came under his control, but he wasn't done.
"In the fearful day, in raging night, With strong hearts full, our souls ignite. When all seems lost in the War of Light, Look at the stars, for hope burns bright."
This time when he finished, a blue calming light flooded forth, one that glowed bright blue and filled the hearts of all that were present with Hope. The Light swirled and churned like the cosmic winds before it took the form of the three headed bird that Expanded its wing beyond death.
This was Adara, the Embodiment of Emotion Hope.
"Believe" Zion asked.
The light began to condense, turning into a ring that encased the green ring, empowering it. The two emotions rotated independent of each other, encasing and enhancing each other.
"Tor lorek san, bor nakka mur, Natromo faan tornek wot ur. Ter lantern ker lo Abin Sur, Taan lek lek nok-- Formorrow Sur!"
A soft Indigo expanded from Zion, covering all that with in its calming light. No force or pressure was felt. It asked not for force but compassion. The light took the form of an octopus looking created, its tendrils extending across all species. This was Proselyte, the Embodiment of Compassion.
"Support."
The ring of compassion formed, orbiting under the protection of Will and Hope.
"For hearts long lost and full of fright, For those alone in Blackest night, Accept our light and join our fight, Love conquers all-- with violet light."
This time a violet light burst forth, rippling and thumping like the loudest drum. It was the drum of a heart filled with Love. The Violet rose to the sky, taking the form of an insect, Predator, the Embodiment of Love.
"Cherish."
The violet light encased all, amplifying their affection. But before things could go wrong, the light was encased in Will, creating the fourth ring that spun at high speed, creating a gyroscope that spun infinity.
Zion didn't need to recite the oath, but it helped him focus on the emotion that he need to push to control. He stopped his chant as he was being overwhelmed with emotions, his mind was feeling the strain of such power, and the next emotion was, Fear.
Fear was something that SoulBownds don't exhibit, they fear no evil nor are they ever afraid. But they do fear something, a fear of loss. Loss of something dear.
"Huuuu," Zion breathed out,
"What you are doing is madness!" A voice stopped his thoughts.
Zion turned to see the battered Guardians who were surrounding him, radiating power. They were tapping into their lost power, regaining strength. They were preparing to stop Zion at his maddness. No sentient being should be able to handle that much power, even at their diluted from, it would erase.
Zion smirked, "What trying to stop me? You do not have the capabilities, nor does your Lanterns."
Zion had already broken all the Lantern Ring on Oa when he summoned Ion.
"We will," The Guardians rose, ready to fight to death.
Zion scanned everyone, he smirked and forced the Will he possessed.
"Kneel."
A command to overwrite, to kneel, through the emotions that connected all Sentience, This Titanic will forced it hand, causing all that was around him to Kneel, wanted or not. Hal Jordan, Senestro and the Guardians resisted him with all their mind, but their body creaked as it lowered itself.
"Let me finish what I began," Zion stated.
"In Blackest Day, in brightest night, Beware your fears made into light. Let those who try to stop what's right, Burn like my power-- Fear's Might."
A yellow light beckoned like an earthquake, like the very earth shaking in fear. The light reached up, before it turned right, summoning Parallax. Parallax fought back the summon, yellow light under his command, yet will and hope surpassed and suppressed him.
"Surrender," Zion spoke fear.
The fearful parasite sealed in the light of Green and Blue. encompassed by Indigo and Violet.
"What's mine is mine amd mine and mine. And mine and mine and mine! Not yours!"
An orange light coiled around Zion, cowering everything in its light Greedily. It was as if it was making all that present its. The coiling surrounded the whole planet, taking the form of a serpent that coiled the whole world. Ophidian, the Embodiment of Avarice.
"Covet," Zion spoke.
The snaked uncoiled before it formed the Sixth ring.
"With blood and rage of crimson red, Ripped from a corpse so freshly dead, Together with our hellish hate, We'll burn you all, That is your fate!"
A red light like a raging tornado from the depths of hell. A roar that spoke endless anger, a red bull with four horns. THe pure anger radiating off the being caused the people who gazed at him have their blood drained. This was the Embodiment of anger, The Butcher.
"Submit."
The rage-filled Bull wanted to fight, but the other emotions suppressed it to submit.
The bloody wind vanished as the seven ring formed, floating before Zion, each emotion amplifying and balancing the other. The perfect harmony, yet he was not done.