Yue

 10th August

14:23 GMT

Lantern Medphyll's eye unglazes, blinking twice before focusing on me. The glow from his ring fades away as he lowers his right arm. "You are right. It is somewhat similar in structure to the minds that control our skyscrapers, though far more sophisticated and less… Less creative. I don't believe there was ever an intelligence inside it."

Enneret is still touching it, his leaves twitching oddly. I give him a moment to see if he wants to chip in, but he remains focused on his task. Dominators are reputed to use magic, but according to John's database it's thought to be limited to a handful of high caste types. Medphyll hasn't contradicted that, so this was probably created using conventional technology. Conventional for a people as advanced as the Dominators, at least.

"But the important question is..?"

Lantern Medphyll nods. "I can disrupt similar systems with my ring. I don't know what that will do to the rest of the prison. Since we will be evacuating the entire population life support will not be an issue, but if they are containing any exotic life forms then they may be able to escape the remaining conventional restraints."

"If there are, I imagine that they would be pretty happy about escaping Dominator containment as well. If not, then with a bit of luck we'll be long gone before it can have a serious go at us. Everything else ready?"

"I have a location where I can maroon them until either I.. or my successor, can examine the data on their convictions."

I frown. "Your successor?"

"I doubt that your sophism will have a great deal of sway with the Guardians of Oa. I suspect that I will be called upon to explain myself. We will be going well outside my Sector without due cause. Properly speaking, I should simply refer the matter to the Lanterns assigned to that Sector."

"But they're busy keeping an eye on Colu."

"That is what I have told myself."

I shift a little uncomfortably. "And… what happens if they don't like what they hear? I.. wouldn't want-."

He shakes his head. "Excessive enthusiasm in the prosecution of ones duties is only an exilable offence in cases like Sinestro's. At worse, I would be discharged."

Oh? "I… Do have a giant pile of orange rings burning a hole in my back pocket." His eye narrows. "I'm not trying to get you kicked out. I'm just saying… If they react badly… You've got the skill set I'm looking for."

He looks away, returning his attention to the Controller computer. "I was considering retirement anyway." There's a brief glow from his ring. "According to the Green Lantern Corps database on Human culture, informing you of that fact indicates that we are now doomed."

I shake my head. "No, no it doesn't."

"Lantern Gardner-."

"You're doomed. I'm fine." I pat him on his left shoulder. "Ready to go?"

He takes a moment to look around at the crowds. "I will take the lead in the initial dialogue?"

I nod. "That's what we agreed."

"Then yes." He rises off the ground, environmental shield sparkling green. "Let us liberate your ally."

"To be completely fair-" I take off after him. "-we haven't actually met yet."

He looks down at me as the ground falls away beneath us. "You are willing to take on the Dominion for a single man you have never met?"

"Sure. Why not?"

"Because they can and will bring death and ruination to everyone you know and love?"

"Them and.. an awful lot of other people. If I let stuff like that stop me I'd never get anything done." Or end up like Larfleeze. "How have you found working with Komand'r and Koriand'r?"

"Komand'r I find excessively aggressive. Though no more so than many new Green Lantern recruits. What concerns me there is that you appear to have told her that you will grant her far more freedom to act on her own initiative than a Green Lantern would be given."

"I don't believe that strict discipline will prove helpful when training Orange Lanterns. I'm more interested in recruiting people who want to do what I would have them do. Not.. that I mean to imply that I wouldn't keep an eye on them."

"I think that may be best." The atmosphere around us grows thinner and Medphyll's ring glows as he calculates his course. "My Sector has long since been peaceful. Most of the conflict I have seen has been when outsiders travelled here or when I have been called upon to aid other Green Lanterns in their Sectors. If a war like the one which Tamaran experienced came to J, if my people suffered as the people of Tamaran have… I could not be certain that I would not feel as she does."

"I don't think that the you who's lived the life you have would."

"I am uncertain as to whether you mean that as an insult or a compliment."

"Neither. An observation on psychology."

"Are you prepared to commence the journey?"

I shrug and drift closer to him, dialling my environmental shield down to the minimum. Maintaining conversations over long distance warps is a bit of a fiddle. It'll be easiest if one of us pulls the other along and he does have seniority. "I trust you."

He hesitates for a moment, then the space around us bends as he initiates the warp. Ring, match velocities during flight.

Compliance.

"And Koriand'r?"

"Quite capable. If she is representative of her world then it is a shame that no other Tamaranian has ever been called to the Green Lantern Corps."

"One was. Don't know her name. I assume that she was either living outside of Vega or got recruited before the bar came into effect." Thinking about it, if that ban was put in place just after Larfleeze moved in… "Most likely the first one."

"My ring's database indicates that you are mistaken."

"The Guardians erased a lot of entries in the Book of Oa after their attack on Apokolips failed."

"My ring's database has no record of that, either."

"Well… No. It wouldn't, would it?"

"Do you have any evidence, or… I understand that Humans have a tradition called a 'conspiracy theory'?"

"Sure, I can prove it. Do you want to stop off on Apokolips on our way back? They kept trophies."

"As I'm sure that you know, Apokolips is also off-limits to Green Lanterns. Do you have any other evidence?"

"Errr… You might be able to get Raker Qarrigat while he's wearing his ring, if you're very lucky. Maybe… New Genesis would have records of it? I could ask Canis when I go back to Earth."

"I am willing to examine any evidence that you present. Until then, I will remain true to my conviction that the Guardians of the Universe have not lied to everyone for millennia. And I would prefer it if you did not make baseless accusations."

"Noted."

"Warp terminating."