Yue

 24th January

03:34 GMT -8

The completely generic construct Controller takes a moment to look at us, though he doesn't affect any particular emotion. 'Effigy' comes to attention slightly, so I'm going to assume that this is indeed the Controller he's affiliated to. Hinon looks.. mildly satisfied? I'm guessing that she was reasonably confident she knew who it was in advance and just got confirmation.

"It appears, Jevek Jos Jar, that we have had a slight breakdown in communications."

"That would imply that we were attempting to communicate. I have been occupied with my own research, as have you."

"You were researching the Burning Martian?"

"I am continuing to research the Burning Martian. I believe that I could use it as the basis for a new type of powerful and controllable weapon-servitor. In addition, I have been studying your own species. Amongst the range of 'meta human' abilities there were some that appeared to synergise well with certain aspects of martian physiology." The image turns to face Effigy. "Martyn van Wyck was a minor telekinetic-."

I can't stop my face twitching at the idea of someone named 'Wyck' having hair made of fire. Wick, burning… Is it an aspect of the universe's magic I don't understand? Did the Controller go through a huge list of people with minor mental talents and pick the one with the best-sounding name?

"Does this amuse you, Illustres?"

"You gave a person called 'wick' fire powers." Mr van Wyck narrows his eyes for a moment, then shrugs. "I realise that some Maltusians lack a sense of humour-."

"Yes, his name sounds somewhat like the English word 'wick', but that was not part of the selection criteria. His innate telekinetic abilities reduced the time it took for his brain to adapt to the modifications I made. That was why he was selected."

"And you gave him a choice?"

"He could have refused. A willing participant is far better placed to provide me with good data than one whose brain I have had to program in order to compel loyalty."

"And the mission you gave him?"

"Pirates are parasitical to interstellar trading routes. Your home Sector lacks a unifying military power strong enough to purge them, and its Lanterns are too frequently occupied dealing with emergencies to tackle the issue in a co-ordinated way."

"And it's my home sector too. I don't want space pirates attacking Earth."

"They don't.. generally.. attack planets. And if they were going to attack Earth they would have done so by now."

"I simply sought to give him a target of no moral significance. Is there a reason why you are vexed by my choice?"

"Mister van Wyck doesn't appear to have any training in conducting investigations. Were you.. expecting him to fly around until he encountered a crime in progress?"

"The extent of his ability to locate his targets is a part of his assessment. It is also his responsibility rather than mine."

I frown, then look at Hinon. "What, really? Controllers don’t have any sort of 'best practice' rules?"

She shakes her head. "You are more familiar with those Controllers directly associated with the war against the Reach. Since their objective is essentially political, they generally have more of a care for the look of the thing. But there is no requirement for Controllers to be involved in that war. Actually, taken over the whole of our history, I would say that it is Jevek's attitude that is the more usual."

Marvellous.

"Jevek, would you have any objection to Mister van Wyck getting advice or training?"

"It is not ideal. I do not intend for my work to be subordinated."

"Oh, not… This again."

"Hinon?"

"There were a great many research projects examining… The possibilities of developing exotic weapons to bring a more satisfactory end to the conflict with the Reach. But now that we have the Orange Central Power Battery and a Corps of our own-."

"We do not own it. The Guardians would never grant their mortal agents the level of freedom which you did."

"If you think that you can talk the Guardians into granting us access to the Green Central Power Battery then you are welcome to ask. As I have made very clear, the sorts of people who can use the orange light well would not respond productively to that level of external control." Hinon shakes her head in frustration. "My development of the Corps has resulted in a great many of those projects being rendered… Less important."

"Lantern Corps are only able to recruit people with specific mental attributes. The Orange Lantern Corps is already encountering a bottleneck in its ability to recruit new members. Lanterns are superlative in situations where a wide variety of approaches are called for to effectively fight opponents of unpredictable capacity, which makes them ideal for policing. However, for open warfare what is required is not finesse but brutality. Destroying the Reach calls for forces whose damage output is not dependent on the warrior's mood."

"That's.. why we're building a fleet."

"A fleet which can be stopped by conventional interdiction systems unless it gets towed into position by Lanterns. My first attempt at modifying a human resulted in someone who can fly at faster than light speed using telekinesis, who can unleash levels of destruction which rival those of a Lantern and which are not dependent on his mood."

Hinon frowns. "Are you trying to recreate the Sun-Eaters? There are reasons why we stopped using those."

"The Guardians are less numerous now than they were when they formally objected to their existence. They are no longer in a position to press us over the issue."

"Sir..? Sun-Eater?"

"A synthetic life form the Controllers created. They used it to demolish star systems."

"Which as far as the universe was concerned made us the enemy."

"This model has nothing like the destructive capacity. He might scour a world of life but he will never be able to destroy an entire star system."

"How much importance do you think that people will place upon that distinction?

"You prefer to contain the Reach?"

"I see little benefit in the slaughter of a defeated population."

"Killing them ensures that they are defeated." He turns towards his subject. "Martyn van Wyck. I instruct you to resume your attacks."

"Yes sir. Ah, but I think Orange Lantern was right about being more careful. Is it alright if I-?"

"I leave the precise approach up to you."

"Alright. I think-."

"Warning: Will detected."

We look up as Green Lantern John Stewart flies down towards us, green power armour covering his body. And I think he's wearing decent armour underneath it as well. I feel a little smug about that.

"Somebody want to tell me what the hell is going on?"

"Maltusian anti-piracy-."

"This is not acceptable." Jevek turns to Mr van Wyck. "Leave. Now."

Burning lights envelop Mr van Wyck-

"Yes sir."

-and he vanishes in a plume of fire. John's eyes go upwards and from the glow of his ring I can tell that he's thinking about doing the terrier thing and chasing after the person running from him. He shakes his head, and turns his attention to the three of us-.

Jevek's construct dissipates.

Two of us still present.

"Keep talking."