"Interesting." Hinon's construct looks genuinely interested. "I hadn't realised that the Guardians were still capable of that sort of creativity. Ganthet's work?"
K'ryssma hesitates, then appears to decide that there's no point lying to someone who can already make power rings.
It's the most likely option, certainly. But evidently not, judging by the Lantern's responses...
"No. Guardian Meadlux was the designer. The project was suspended after his death, but his prototypes were preserved."
"And what was he trying to achieve? The core power ring design the Green Lantern Corps uses has been essentially unchanged since the Corps' inception."
Presumably either going for more power or more
control. Because
Guardians.
"If you want to know that, you will have to speak with the Guardians."
"I may just do that. I take it that you don't have a captured Scarab somewhere to give them?"
Man, to be a fly on the wall in
that meeting.
"Why would I reward their theft?"
"Probably for the same reason that you haven't already attacked them. It costs you something -or could cost you something- and you want to avoid that." I turn to the holographic image of Kalmin. "Are you willing to trade your antithesis ring for this?"
I rather imagine him giving OL a flat stare at this. Still, it could be a
worthwhile option. A Ring that basically kills its user within a day? Might be a useful poisoned chalice to throw at the Reach...
"No. It's the last one I have, and it's a potent reminder of my fall from grace." He regards K'ryssma impassively. "Let the Green Lantern Corps cover it's own debts."
"We don't have a Scarab, I assume?"
If they did, I doubt they'd let go of it for something like
this.
"Not an intact one, no. Clarissi Dox has a plan to remedy that situation, but at the moment it isn't worth the effort it would likely require. I'll have Dox increase fleet alertness on their likely egress routes in case the Reach do get their hands on it, but unless Meadlux became a great deal cleverer than I remember him being, it shouldn't be a problem for us even if the Reach are about to evacuate it."
I look at Lantern K'ryssma.
So, not concerned about the possible 'unlimited charge' aspect of it? Then again, probably safer
not to have Orange lanterns with unlimited charge anyway.
"Is there a reason why you're not attempting to reclaim it legally?"
"Information is traded here as readily as products and services. We do not want knowledge of the existence of this ring to spread further than it already has."
A secret more than
one person knows is
not a secret. It's a leak waiting to happen.
That sounds dubious. I mean, how much do most people actually know about power ring technology? The symbol is widely known, but if a Green Lantern turned up with a working ring that happened not to have it, would that actually bother anyone? I wouldn't have thought so, but then again I can't claim to have actually conducted any sort of survey.
"I am more interested in what these freebooters want in exchange for the Scarab."
Besides a big fat paycheck? And honestly, a green ring without a sigil might
sound good for something like covert ops, but the second you
use it, your cover's good as
blown. Because big glowing green objects? Too well associated with Lanterns.
"They seemed more interested in studying it than in trading it. I can only assume that they've got a research centre somewhere, because they all scanned as standard pattern humanoids and that ship isn't anything like advanced enough to get anything out of a Scarab."
"If the Reach get that ring then I have failed in my mission."
Your mission is hardly a priority, honey. The Reach getting that ring will be bad for
everyone.
"Right, but while we'd like to help, you're not exactly giving us a lot of reasons to prioritise this. Frankly, an unowned Scarab is more useful to us than whatever good will we'd get for recovering a ring you can't admit to having lost in the first place. I mean…" I turn to Hinon. "Am I wrong there?"
"No, not that I can see."
True enough. Honestly, there isn't much point OL getting involved, in the end.
"And-. Anyway, why can't you just recall it? Guy and Jordan can remote control their rings and they can't be that much better than you."
"The container they are storing it in disrupts remote control. And I would prefer to avoid breaking local law."
...Because recovering stolen property is illegal? Or would you have to give the case to the local law enforcement, which you
can't allow to know about the Ring? Ugh, what a Charlie Foxtrot.
"And you're trying to get me to do it?"
I mean, between phasing, invisibility, and my arcane abilities I probably could. Heck, I could probably just make them want to hand it over. But K'ryssma is obviously hiding something-.
Too much effort, not enough reward.
"Sorry, just had an attack of common sense. Goodbye, Lantern K'ryssma." I dismiss her construct image and cut communications. "Ring, call Lantern Jordan."
"Compliance."
!Quest rejected. Activating alternate Quest Path!
My ring blinks for a few moments, then Jordan's face appears.
"What is it, Paul?"
"And how many things are on fire
this time?"
"I'm on a planet called Yuna, and someone has recovered an odd-looking power ring from D'xe and is trying to-"
"What?"
Good to see he remembers
that name.
"-sell it to the Reach. Know anything about it?"
"Damn it! Did you get the ring?"
"No. That's not really my job, and Honour Guard Green Lantern K'ryssma is being suspiciously cagey about the whole thing. Anything you can tell me that might make me want to help out?"
Go on, make it worth his while.
He shakes his head.
"I don't know much about them. Three Green Lanterns in good standing used them, and they all went crazy. I thought I got them all back to the Guardians, but I guess I missed one. What does it look like?"
Okay,
that's an issue. Now we have a general idea of
why the Ring isn't being developed further...
"Plain ring with a diamond with a hole in it in place of the sigil."
He nods.
"Yeah, that's it. They told me at the time they weren't meant for deployment, so they don't have any security on them. No recall, no shutdown… The Reach can just hand them to a Scarab Warrior and they'll have the best of both worlds." He shakes his head. "I'll talk to the Guardians, find out exactly how many rings are still missing."
...No security... Oh,
fuck me.
Fucking Guardians! The only thing
worse than Bobblehead Malware on your ring: A super-ring with
no Bobblehead Malware at all. Seriously,
what made them think it was a good idea to allow that thing outside of a
lab without at least the
basic security features installed? Oh, no,
"We Guardians know better than everyone."
"Thank you, I appreciate it."
"Thank me by keeping that ring away from the Reach."
Well, knowing that it drives the user crazy fairly reliably is some
small comfort. Still don't want it
anywhere near the bad guys, though.
His face vanishes, and I turn to Hinon.
"The Reach can't use it to make new rings, right?"
"Without knowing exactly what Meadlux did, it's impossible for me to say. Reach citizens have the mental flexibility that their thralls lack. With a power ring, one of them might have the focus to create more. But you're the mortal with the best command of any colour I've seen, and you haven't been able to make a decent personal lantern yet. I doubt that we'll have to worry about them churning the wretched things out."
Then again, they may try to go for quantity over quality. Making an entire planet experience
Will for long enough to make a ring, casualties bedamned, would be
entirely in character.
"How long until a fleet can get into position?"
"This would seem to require something a little more potent than a patrol fleet. I will speak with Dox at once."
Yes, I can just see his reaction... Why, he may experience
two letters worth of
rage.
I nod.
"And I'll try and keep the Negotiator busy. Let's find out how serious the locals are about mediation."
So, basically blocking the deal form proceeding. I guess that might work.
